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you saying that all churches are to be thus adorned? Why the cost would be … unthinkable!”
    “Archbishop Laud says it shall be so, and he speaks for the King.”
    “Then so must it be indeed then. We are the King’s men are we not?”
    “There are those who question it. No, I mean not the rabble-rousers and troublemakers. I speak of decent, honourable men of consequence. They fear the King is being ill-advised and must be saved from himself if needs be.”
    “Shssh now! Such talk leads on to other words, which in turn leads to charges of treason. If the King wills it, then there is an end to debate.”
    “Perhaps not. I have heard that Parliament is refusing to grant the King funds to fight the Scots unless His Majesty places restrictions on Laud’s activities.”
    “How can a King be refused? You have been reading those damned tracts again I find!”
    “The country is heading for trouble Richard. I for one would not be happy to be told how to worship the Almighty, not if the manner of it went against my conscience.”
    “Conscience is it? Is this the boy, now the young man, who has drunk, fought and caroused over half the county with me?”
    “This is different. I tell you Richard, I am seriously considering where my allegiances lie.”
    “You would not go against your father for shame! And he is a King’s man as is my father. Forget this foolishness Wil. Nothing will come of it, you mark my words, all this fuss will be resolved soon enough. We are Englishmen for heaven’s sake, we do not draw a sword over such issues!”
    “I hope and trust you are in the right of it Richard. Yet if it does come to a quarrel, I fear we may both have to choose a side and draw that sword of which you speak.”
    “Never in life brother!” scoffed Richard. “Anyway, I must away to my father’s stable or it will be the worse for me. The King himself could not save me from his wrath should I shirk my duties. I will see you anon Wil, and for the love of God, stop fretting about nothing!”
    Wil watched his friend walking back across the field and shook his head. Richard was the King’s man right enough but what of Wil Pitkin? Where do my allegiances lie if I am truthful to myself he wondered? He withdrew a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and read the tract yet again.
    When men put themselves above the word of God and tread down the people they are sworn to protect, is it not time for an honest man to consult his conscience and reach for his sword?
    Is it indeed worried Wil?
    Events go from bad to worse; a momentum is gaining. The King attempts to introduce a new Prayer Book, part of his vision of one united Kingdom cemented together by a single method of worship. So convinced is King Charles that, being the King, he must obviously be in the right, any one attempting to suggest that he might be making a mistake is scornfully dismissed out of hand. Charles attempts, without any discussion or debate, to impose his new Prayer Book on the Scots as a first step. The Scots reject it utterly and violently. Charles is outraged. Do they not know he is ordained by God? An army is raised and despatched north to bring the Scots to heel. The result is a disaster, so much so that Charles is forced into making a deal to bring about a peace. Yet Charles has no intention of keeping to the terms of the truce. The Scots must be taught a lesson and to that end the King approaches Parliament for money to raise a new army. The very notion of this act is an anathema to him. Every other monarch in Europe could simply demand the necessary money; he has to ASK for it! But ask he does. And this is what a number of members of Parliament have been waiting for. The King’s request is refused unless certain conditions can be guaranteed. Led by Mr Pymm and his supporters, a list of conditions is presented to His Majesty. Without these conditions being met, no money will be forthcoming. Conditions? They have the effrontery to issue conditions to the