The Battle of Sedgemoor: The work of military slaughter

Arthur Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke: Reading Notes, Part Eight

Eve of the battle of Sedgemoor: "nothing less than a miracle could preserve us from defeat, and most of us were of the opinion that the days of miracles were past. Others, however, thought otherwise. I believe that many of our Puritans, had they seen the heavens open that night, and the armies of the Seraphim and the Cherubim descending to our aid, would have looked upon it as by no means a wonderful or unexpected occurance."

"The whole town was loud with the preaching. Every troop or company had its own chosen orator and sometimes more than one . . . Men were drunk with religion as with wine. Their faces were flush, their speech thick, their gestures wild."

The somber Micah: "win who will, English blood must soak the soil of England this night."

The devil-may-care Sir Gervas: "The more room for those who are left."

Micah: "The chances are that few of us will ever see tomorrow's sun-rise."

Sir Gervas: "I have no great curiosity to see it. It will be much as yesterday's."

When it becomes apparent that the battle is lost, Monmouth rides off with his entourage: "There, far away, showing up against the dark peat-colored soil, rode a gaily-dressed cavalier, followed by a knot of attendants, galloping as fast as his horse would carry him from the field of battle. There was no mistaking the fugitive. It was the recreant Monmouth."

Sir Gervas, who dies bravely among his men, initially mistaken by Royal troops for Monmouth. Clear that Monmouth can only act the part of nobility and bravery.

Of the carnage, Micah reflects: "men must either give up war or they must confess that the words of the Redeemer are too lofty for them, and that there is no longer any use in pretending that His teaching can be reduced to practice."

While escaping after the rout, Micah prevents Decimus from finishing off a helpless Royal officer, earning the dangerous enmity of the soldier-of-fortune.



Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry