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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Francis Drake's Story! :-

Chapter IX: The Cinque Port!

Rye, a later member of the Cinque Ports¹ constructed in William the Norman Conqueror's time, would be a safe haven for our vessel after our traumatic battle with the channel storm. Walt said that the sea was receding from the port, leaving it stranded inland. (But this unlikely scenario isn't our immediate concern. It might take a hundred years or more). At that time we were too weary to take in this impossible image.

After a couple of days Walt declared that the badly stricken ship would need a lot of skilled work done to return it to complete seaworthiness. We reacted with dismay when he said that all he could accomplish at Rye were some minor repairs in order to sail it, in well-chosen weather and inside coastal waters, round to Chatham on the north coast of Kent for a complete overhaul and refit.

In the meantime Papa decided that we needed to earn our living by obtaining some local employment. Our first glance at the countryside convinced us that this wasn't going to be easy. Agriculture seemed to be in a parlous state and we were amazed at the paucity of trees in the area. On further investigation we discovered that many had been wisely coppiced² for use as fuel, or charcoal for smelting metals. The oaks and other major trees, however, had all but disappeared. One explanation we received was that they had been cut down for building work in London; and for making ships for the new navy. The land in general seemed neglected, crops were wilting through lack of care and attention, animals had been abandoned, and the people appeared to be deprived of the will to work.

We combed the surrounding neighbourhood and eventually met up with a farmer from the Kent marshes, who wanted some farm buildings repairing and some badly needed labour on his  neglected land. He said that all his farm-hands had forsaken the land to join in the rebellion led by Sir Thomas Wyatt from Allington Hall in Kent. They were, he declared, fearful of the ardently Catholic Queen Mary and her new husband the ambitiously expansionist Prince Felipe of Spain. They planned therefore to march to London to oust Mary, and replace her with the younger and Protestant Princess Elizabeth. "They think that Elizabeth will ease all their woes", he explained. "But I'm not yet convinced they're on the right track; they will simply get a bloody nose for interfering in the politics of the realm", he cautioned.

"Meanwhile I could certainly use some help on my lands", he emphasised. We travelled with him to his farm, then set to with a will. Mama and Liz helped with looking after the house and the cooking for the extended family. Meanwhile Papa, Francis, Adam and Sam started to repair the buildings, commencing with a barn which also served as living quarters for the men.

The Gaffer, as we called the farmer, explained that he normally produced enough food for his own family and some surplus to send to London via the traders who passed nearby. By these means he could earn a little extra money to plough back into the farm, and afford a few luxuries for his family. He told us that they called Kent the Garden of England because it helped to feed the growing metropolis. "All this is now grinding to a halt", he grumbled, "as vast swathes of the Country are rising up to rid the land of a Spanish monarch who aspires to annexe the Kingdom to the powerful and thrusting Spanish empire".

Several busy months passed and the building work was gradually completed. Moreover, there was plenty to do on the land: replanting and fertilising damaged crops and tending badly nurtured animals. Francis, Sam and Liz also had great fun exploring the marshes. They soon had an excellent idea of the layout of their temporary home, and spent many hours spotting and drawing new (Well, new to them!) animals, birds and plants.

There were frequent reports of menacing gangs of men roaming the marshes. Everyone kept out of sight during these raids if possible. And one day a column of Spanish soldiers was reported to be marching up the ancient track from Hastings towards London. It was thought to be part of the growing personal bodyguard of Prince Felipe.

At this juncture Francis and Liz decided to walk the ten or so miles back to Rye to see how Walt was getting on with the ship. Walt explained that it was painfully slow progress as nearly all the required materials were scarce or unobtainable and the local skilled labour-force had been harried into leaving their regular jobs to assist the uprising. However, he was determined to restore the ship to a level that could attempt the coastal waters round to Chatham, where he might get a complete refit to make the ship seaworthy again.

They returned to the farm to report this to Papa and Adam, but discovered a darker mood prevailing. The farm had been visited by thugs threatening everyone with violence if they didn't join the rebellion. It was obviously time to move on. We explained our intentions to the Gaffer who suggested we take some farm produce with us to sell in Chatham. This would act as a cover when travelling the road, and also provide us with some food for the journey.

However, on reflection, we chose to strike South to Rye and the ship with a view to rejoining Walt and sailing round to Chatham acting as crew. But on arrival at Rye it was clear that all was not as it should be. When we reached the harbour we discovered Walt and the ship gone. The Harbourmaster told us that Walt was forced to take this action because the town was being threatened, and he and his ship and remaining crew were in mortal danger from marauding gangs.

This was devastating news and we hastily retraced our steps to the farm in the marshes. But our troubles were by no means over for we found the farm deserted and in disarray. The Gaffer and his family had obviously left in haste. We stayed for a few days to tidy up in case they should return, but there was no further sign of them. We therefore took advantage of the Gaffer's original offer and packed some farm produce in panniers on the abandoned farm-horse to set off on foot northwards towards Chatham. As we passed through the marshes near the Isle of Oxney, we heard more rumblings of discontent in the outlying farmsteads and hamlets. We therefore decided it was safer to hole up by day and travel by night. So we hid in unused barns and ditches during the daytime, and travelled by lesser frequented pathways at night. 

Eventually this became too difficult because of the treacherous landscape, and the increased usage of the minor roads and paths. So we resumed our daytime guise of traders. As we journeyed along the highway we encountered fellow travellers going mainly on foot in both directions. These included merchants travelling between Europe and London; peddlers with their wares; tinkers with their tools for repairing household and agricultural implements; carters complaining about their mainly empty vehicles; displaced friars and nuns from the  disbanded monasteries and nunneries; entertainers of all ages, shapes and sizes; gypsies from Eastern Europe with their multi-coloured carts and decorated horses; and itinerant musicians with their pleasant voices and invaluable instruments.

We were invited by one passing group of gypsies to share a campfire and meal with them. We accepted with pleasure, and were entertained with wonderful gypsy generosity, songs and exciting dances. We determined to repay their kindness and hospitality by leaving some of our farm produce with them.  On departing they advised us to avoid Maidstone and Rochester as these were the main collecting points for the rebel army. One elderly gypsy drew Mama to one side and predicted that we would encounter difficult and dangerous times ahead, but to hold our nerve and we would pull through. (Of course you don't have to take these gypsy warnings too seriously, do you? Well . . . Do you?). However, we followed their advice and sought roads and paths which took us further to the west.

Footnote 1.  The original five Cinque Ports on the coast of Kent and Sussex were: Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich. Winchelsea and Rye were added later, together with a number of subordinate ports. These Cinque Ports were required to furnish a prescribed number of ships, ready for service. In return they were granted many privileges. The official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is Walmer Castle. The first woman ever appointed to this post was the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.  Foot-foot note: The beautiful town of Rye is now a mile or so inland and can only claim to be on a river, and not a coastal port. Return to Story.

Footnote 2.  A coppice is a wood (or a wood within a forest) comprising of artificially stunted trees designed for periodic cutting in order for the sprouts from the stumps to provide a replaceable supply of fuel, canes etc. Return to Story.

Click the vessel's bow to continue the exciting tale . . .

Francis Drake's Story! :-

Chapter X: Ups and Downs through Kent!

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