Page 91 of The Armor of Light

There were no lawyers in the room other than the clerk to the justices, Luke McCullough. Lawyers rarely appeared before justices, except perhaps in London. In most cases the victim of the crime was also the prosecutor. Today, as the brawl had been a public event, Sheriff Doye would prosecute.

Doye announced the names of those accused of common assault, including Jarge Box, Jack Camp and Susan Hiscock. The list did not include the Slaughterhouse lads: Mungo Landsman, Rob Appleyard and Nat Hammond. Hornbeam had told the sheriff to release them without charge. However, they were in the room as witnesses.

Riddick murmured to Hornbeam: ‘A pity that bitch Sal Clitheroe wasn’t arrested.’

Drinkwater said: ‘One of the defendants, Jarge Box, was also among the organizers of the event, so let’s hear his case first.’

Hornbeam realized he was not the only one who had made plans for this trial. He was surprised that Drinkwater had shown so much foresight. But perhaps Drinkwater had discussed the case with his more intelligent son-in-law, Pastor Midwinter, who would have suggested the best way to deal with it. And Jarge Box seemed to have been briefed too, for he did not look surprised to be called first.

Box was charged with assaulting Mungo Landsman, and pleaded not guilty. Landsman swore to tell the truth and said that Box had knocked him down then kicked him. Box was asked if he had anything to say.

‘If it please your worships, I would like to tell you what happened,’ he said; and Hornbeam felt sure that sentence had been rehearsed.Also, Box was dressed in a respectable coat and decent shoes, which were certainly borrowed for the occasion.

Drinkwater said: ‘Yes, all right, go ahead.’

Box was made nervous by the formal court setting, but he overcame his anxiety and began with confidence. ‘The meeting was peaceful and quiet for nigh on an hour before trouble broke out,’ he said. ‘Reverend Small from Oxford—’

Hornbeam interrupted: ‘Small was not the only speaker, was he?’

This put Box off his stride. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, then said: ‘Spade spoke. David Shoveller, that is.’

‘On what subject?’ Hornbeam asked.

‘Um, Archdeacon Paley’s book for the labouring people.’

‘Isn’t it true that he made the audience laugh?’

‘He only read out bits from the book.’

‘In a funny voice?’

‘In his normal voice.’

Drinkwater said: ‘Well, if people laugh when the book is read out, perhaps it’s the fault of the author, not the reader.’ There was a titter from the spectators. ‘Carry on, Box.’

Box was encouraged. ‘Reverend Small was speaking about monarchs in general, nothing about King George himself, when Mungo Landsman got up and shouted out: “God save the king.” Some others then stood and shouted the same. We couldn’t understand what had offended them. It seemed like they had come to the meeting intending to cause trouble. We wondered if someone had paid them to do it.’

From among the spectators came a shout: ‘Too true!’

It was a woman’s voice, and Riddick muttered: ‘That’s the Clitheroe woman.’

Box went on: ‘Mr Small continued his talk but they interrupted him again, shouting that he was a traitor, a republican and a leveller. Mrs Sarah Clitheroe said they could not know what he was unlessthey listened to him, but they shouted that she was a whore, which is a wicked lie.’

Hornbeam interrupted again. ‘Are you talking about Sal Clitheroe?’ It was said she was the real organizer of the society.

Box said: ‘Yes.’

Hornbeam looked directly at Sal as he said: ‘The woman who was banished from the village of Badford for assaulting the squire’s son?’

Box was put on the defensive, and there was a pause before he answered: ‘Riddick killed her husband.’

Will Riddick spoke from the bench. ‘I most certainly did not.’

Drinkwater said impatiently: ‘We’re not here to try that case. Carry on with your evidence, Box.’

‘Yes, your worship. Me and Jack Camp went and stood near the troublemakers, but that did no good. The noise was so bad the speaker couldn’t go on, and Pastor Midwinter called for a break, hoping Mungo and his friends would shut up or leave, so we could have a quiet discussion and learn something. But a lot of people rushed to the doors, I think the shouting got them scared, like, and they just decided to go home.’

Hornbeam interrupted a third time. ‘Get to the point, man. Did you assault Mungo Landsman?’