Believe or Die Read Online Free Page A

King? Charles is appalled by the very idea. But if that alone was not enough, a study of these conditions rendered His Majesty incoherent with rage, his habitual stammer making him virtually speechless.
    Primary amongst the list was a demand for an end to Charles’ policy of ‘High Church’, of the glitter and ceremony Archbishop Laud was so diligently introducing at the King’s behest. Next was a further demand, not a request, a DEMAND, that the King desists in his desire to introduce his new Book of Common Prayer. The King didn’t bother with reading further. The whole thing was intolerable. He was King; he did not have to take heed of anyone. Only he knew what was right for the Kingdom that much was plainly obvious. Then Charles makes a dangerous error of judgement. With the list of conditions crumpled up in his hand, he marches a company of soldiers from his palace in Whitehall to Parliament, his intention being to arrest Pymm and his followers and have them dragged to the Tower. But he is too late. Already warned by a sympathiser in Whitehall, Pymm and his companions have fled. Seething with frustration, the King orders Parliament to be dissolved and closed.
    The King’s contempt for Parliament, and thus for the people themselves is now clearly apparent to all. England, and with it all of Britain began sliding down a very slippery slope. Many can see the anarchy looming ahead. None want it yet none seem able to stop it. People are beginning to take sides, some of their own volition; others find themselves being propelled into it by events outside of their control. Mobs supporting one side or the other take to the streets. Damage is done and people are hurt. The madness spreads. No longer confined to the cities and towns, vandalism and violence enter the shires and villages. Soon the anger, the frustration, the built up fear and suspicions spreads its tendrils into even the most docile of hamlets.
    “Did you hear Dick? Did you hear about the
Black Horse
?” cried an excited Wil.
    “I heard of a gang of ruffians breaking the heads of some loyal workers doing nobody any wrong if that’s what you mean.”
    “Those ‘ruffians’ as you call them were God-fearing men trying to bring the misled back to the fold.”
    “With cudgels? They were thugs bent on provoking the King’s loyal subjects and if they come back this way again they will learn that it is they who are misguided!”
    “And how will that be done pray tell?”
    “In the same manner that they started the issue, with a well-fashioned spade around their thick, cropped, Roundheads, that is how.”
    The two glared at each other each reluctant to go further into debate yet unwilling to concede any point of issue.
    “It is going to be King or Parliament Dick. Sooner or later, that and that alone is going to be the choice.”
    “I believe you are right Wil. I never thought it would come to this. I still pray that this madness can yet be stopped.”
    “How? We have a King who will not listen to his people, who would see us all in ruination rather than admit his errors. He must be made to see the folly of his ways and now, God help me, I believe that only force of arms can achieve this, it is our only recourse.”
    “
Our
only recourse say you? You have had your mind addled by Puritans and fanatics, but hold, are they not the same thing, merely opposite sides of the same coin? Is there even a pinch of difference between what the Puritans preach and the rabble-rousers advocate?”
    “And what of the King’s cronies? Royalist gangs are out abroad as well, nigh to murdering any honest man who dares to question the King’s edicts.”
    “It is not our place to query His Majesty.”
    “No, it is Parliament’s. And what did the King do when they attempted to question him? Question him on behalf of his loyal subjects? He did away with them! I tell you Dick, we, the people, we must do something!”
    “Aye then, so we will. We will try and stop this insanity