“It is the Evil One,” Besadaiah rejoined, rubbing his eyes. “But how comes he here, in yonder pulpit, and in the garb of a minister of the Church? I am not afraid—I will address him.”
With this he got up, and supporting himself with his carabine, staggered towards the pulpit.
“Aha!” he exclaimed, as he drew near, “I have it now, sergeant. Whom dost thou think his Satanic Majesty turns out to be? No other than Master Increase Micklegift, the Independent minister, whom we ejected from the neighbouring mansion by our captain’s commands. How comes he here? Doth he take up his abode altogether within this church?”
“If it be indeed Master Micklegift, and not an evil spirit in his form,” Delves rejoined, ” question him thyself.”
“He shall not need to do so,” cried Micklegift, for it was he. “I have placed myself here to see how you who profess to be soldiers fighting for the cause of religion and truth would comport yourselves, and I find that ye are as riotous and intemperate as the scoffers, brawlers, and tipplers whom ye profess to reprobate. Are ye not ashamed to be wallowing in drunkenness when ye should watch and pray? Call ye yourselves good soldiers of the Republic? You are said to be the favoured host of our great Joshua, Cromwell; but is it by conduct like this that you have earned his regard? Hardly so, methinks! If you must needs turn this tabernacle into a place of duresse for your prisoners, why should you thus defile it? For your profaneness and irreverence ye ought to be driven forth with stripes, and if a judgment should fall upon your heads ye will have richly merited it.”
“Peace!” exclaimed Besadaiah; “I will hear no more from thee.”
“Nay, there is reason in what the good man saith,” cried. Delves. “We deserve his rebukes. It must be owned that our conduct this night hath not been in accordance either with our principles or our duty.”
“Our captain mislikes this man, and suspects him of being in league with the malignants,” cried Besadaiah. “By his own showing he hath been playing the spy upon us. Let him come down from that pulpit, and free us at once from his presence, or I will send a bullet through his brain.”
“Thou darest not lift thy hand against me, thou sacrilegious ruffian,” thundered Micklegift. “My purpose is to hold forth unto thee and to thy comrades, and to strive to awaken ye all to a sense of your sinfulness.”
“It will be labour thrown away, worthy sir,” said Delves, “so I pray you forbear. With what intent you have come hither, and hidden yourself away until this moment, is best known to your secret heart. But such conduct is questionable, and seems to justify our captain’s doubts as to your sincerity to the cause. I have prisoners in charge here, as you are aware-prisoners for whose security I am responsible. I cannot tell but you may have some design to give them aid, and must therefore enjoin you to quit the church without delay.”
“What if I refuse to go?” rejoined Micklegift. “What if, in my turn, I command thee and thy sacrilegious crew to depart from the tabernacle which ye have profaned? ”
“You will do well not to provoke me further,” Besadaiah cried, in a menacing voice, and levelling his musket at the Independent minister as he spoke. “Come down, I say, at once, and quit the church—or that pulpit shall be thy coffin.”
“Put down thy weapon, Besadaiah, and harm not the man,” interposed Delves. “Though his conduct be suspicious, he may have no ill intent. Hearken unto me, Master Micklegift, and compel me not to have recourse to harsh measures with thee. Thou canst not stay here.”
“The church is mine, and nothing but force shall make me quit it,” cried Micklegift, vehemently.
“I grieve to hear you say so,” the sergeant rejoined. “I desire not to use violence, but your obstinacy will leave me no other alternative.”
“Better let me put an end to the discussion, sergeant,” growled Besadaiah, again raising his carabine.
“Not in that way, I tell thee,” Delves rejoined. “For the last time, I say unto thee, Master Micklegift, wilt thou depart peaceably, or must I put thee forth?”