Lewrie had himself a pleasing smirk of glee over McCann's nigh illiterate ignorance, well hidden by the shade of his cocked hat.
'… of Our Lords-commissioners of Our Admiralty respectin' th' proceedin's of th' seamen and Marines on board certain of Our ships at th' Nore'… hah! All ships at th' Nore, an' more to come, count on't, lads! Here, uhm… where th' Devil was I…? Ahem! 'We were pleased to command Our Lords-commissioners of Our Admiralty to signify to th' seamen and Marines Our gracious intentions, ex…' hmmph! '… under Our sign m… man'-means he writ his name-then, '… bearin' date at Saint James's th' 27th day of May instant; and, whereas …! Our right trusty and beloved…' Devil take 'em! He says Earl Spencer, th' Lord Arden, and Rear Admiral Young are 'trusty,' th' old half-wit. Loony as a bedbug, an' ever'body knows it! Here, someone with good eyes, read this shitten thing! Brother Bales, you're a scholard, ain't ye?"
Bales, Lewrie noted, was ever eager to step forward and bask at centre-stage. A quickly whispered conference, McCann's tarry finger on the place he'd left off, and Bales began to declaim.
"… 'did cause Our gracious intentions, expressed in Our declaration, to be signified to the crews of Our ships at the Nore, and did require such crews to return to their due obedience accordingly; and, whereas it has been represented to us, that some of the crews of Our said ships have been desirous of returning to their obedience, accordingly, but have been prevented from doing so by violence
"Who, by Jesus?" McCann howled, peering about the gathered hands as if seeking witches in New England, making the crowd of sailors balk and cringe. "No one I know wants t'return t'duty, by God! Violence… twaddle! We're free men here, of our own free will for th' Cause!"
Then why, Lewrie almost chuckled to himself, did Fleet Delegates now travel in very well-armed packs, escorted by weapons-heavy guards!
"Read on, Brother Bales! Read on!" McCann boomed.
Bales shrugged, then turned back to face the crew below him in the waist, crowded on the gangways. "Ah… 'doing so by violence, and others of Our ships in the actual discharge of their duty having been fired upon, and attempts having been made to prevent some of Our ships from proceeding according to the orders of their commanders, and whereas such continued perseverance in rebellious and treasonable attempts… against Our Crown and dignity…' " Bales began to mutter and frown at those words, and Lewrie perked up his own ears; "Rebellious" and "Treasonable" were not words idly bandied about!
"Louder, damn ye; we can't hear!" some hands demanded.
"Uhm, '… after repeated admonitions and offers of Our gracious pardon, render it necessary for Us to call on all Our loving subjects to be aiding and assisting in repressing the same!' Listen, mate, we best not…" Bales fretted, turning to McCann, as if pleading to leave off.
"Go on, Brother Bales… louder! What's it say, then?" McCann insisted, oblivious to the consequences. Bales dashed a hand 'cross his brow as if sweating lead pistol-balls. He peered about the deck for a bit of help, it looked like, someone with sense he might appeal to.
Lewrie lowered his feet, blew breath on his now-trimmed nails, and sauntered a few feet further forward, suddenly filled with hope as he realised that the King's letter was an ultimatum!
Bales heaved a petulant, despairing shrug, then continued where he had broken off. " '… We have thought fit, by the advice of Our Privy Council, to issue this Our royal proclamation, and we do hereby strictly enjoin all Our admirals, generals, commanders, and officers of Our forces by sea and land, and all of Our magistrates whatsoever, and all others of Our loving subjects… that they in their several stations do use their utmost endeavours, according to the law, to suppress all such mutinous and treasonable proceedings, and to use all lawful means to bring the persons concerned therein, their aiders and abettors to… to justice!' '
Some few still dared to boo or hiss like geese; the rest stood rooted by alarm; it was an ultimatum: His Majesty's patience had come to an end!
'… and We do hereby strictly enjoin and command all of Our loving subjects whatsoever not to give any aid, comfort, assistance, or encouragement whatsoever, to any person or persons concerned in any such mutinous and treasonable proceedings, as…' " Bales paled, " 'as they will answer the same at their peril; and also to the utmost of their power, and according to the law, to prevent all other persons from giving any such aid, assistance, comfort or encouragement. Given at Our court at Saint James's, the 31st day of May, 1797, and in the 37th year of Our reign! G… God save the king!' "
"What?" McCann erupted in spittle-flinging fury. "God-damn th' 6Y bugger, is more like it! Listen, Brother Bales…"
"It's what's written here, you fool!" Bales screeched back at him. "See it? It's how any royal proclamation ends, damn your eyes!"
Glorious! Lewrie felt cause to exult in his heart; oh, thankee Jesus… maybe Lir, too! They should never have read that to the mutineers!
When the Crown spoke of Rebellion or Revolution and portrayed the mutineers as Treasonable…! That could get hundreds hung higher than Haman! And to order the entire nation to deny any mutineer aid, comfort, to deem anyone who did as co-conspirators!-like the Romans Lewrie could recall from his schooldays-exiles had to leave the furthest border of the Empire and never return, shunned as lepers and denied all aid on the way-"neither fire, nor food, nor forage," he thought the phrase was- or end up nailed to a cross, exile and aider alike!
The King demanded that family, neighbours, friends, wives, even shopkeepers, publicans, and whores shun the mutineers now; the children flee from their father's sight, lest they be tainted and taken up!
Opportunity! Lewrie exulted; look at 'em waver, even the stout radicals… grim as a cartload of condemned men on the way to Tyburn and the gallows.1
"Empty threats, I tell ya!" McCann ranted, too stupid to realise the harm he'd done his cause. "The common folk are with us! We got th' North Sea Fleet, in spite of any royal decree! Thirteen ships of th' line, strong enough t'sail right up t'London Bridge, smashin' all th' forts along th' way! Take th' arsenal at Woolwich, all th' guns, shot an' powder… gather up th' soldiers too, just ripe for comin' over to us, and don't ye doubt it, brothers! They're tremblin' in their boots!"
And you're whistlin past the graveyard, Lewrie thought!
"Now, lads, I'll show ye how our Floatin' Republic answers those high-flown tyrants an' butchers! Wrote in plain English, not all that 'gilt-an' beshit'… ahem!" McCann said, producing another letter.
"Brother MeCann," Lewrie could hear Bales urge, laying a hand on his arm to dissuade him. "It's too much for them; they're fearful…"
"Let 'em stew an' fester on the King's writ, Brother Bales? No, they shan't. This'll nip fear in th' bud. Are you growin' fearful, Brother Bales? Turnin' cool to th' Cause, backin' off like Parker is? Mayhap this ship should elect you, day-t'day, like we do him! Nossir, lemme go… ahem!"
McCann shook loose of Bales's restraint, and drew a deep breath.
"My Lords!" he roared, " '… we had th' honour t'receive your Lordships' proclamation, for we don't conceive it t'be his Majesty's, accompanied by an insipid address from Admiral Buckner. They met with th' fate they justly deserved! How could your Lordships think t'frighten us as old women in th' country frighten children with such stories as th' Wolf and Raw Head, and Bloody Bones… or, as the Pope wished to terrify th' French Republic with his famous Bull at th' beginnin' of th' Revolution! Know, gentlemen, that we're men! Men long tried for courage and per perseverance in a cause not altogether so interestin' to ourselves as the present. Shall we then now be induced from a few paltry threats t'forsake our glorious plan, an' lick your Lordships" "-he paused to titter-" 'feet!… for pardon an' grace, when we see ourselves in possession of thirteen sail of as noble ships as any in his Majesty's, service! And men not inferior to any in the kingdom! Do we demand anything but what justice licenses, and preservation approves?