Rough Justice - Part 5 (of 6)

Cleansing of Body & Spirit

Diggley, who had been quietly watching the girls as the Shire Reeve took care of formalities, started for the door. “I’ll leave you with the Parson here. I’ll be back shortly.” Bugglesworth had a placid if toady air about him, and began speaking to them in a calm, measured and mellifluous voice. “I have been informed that both of you know something of our Lord, Jesus Christ?” The ladies nodded solemnly. “Then you know that he is with you now, in your hour of need, and that if you repent of your sins and cleanse your souls before you die, you will take your place amongst all the angels in heaven. Now let me speak to you of the resurrection and the life of our Lord…”

The man’s voice was hypnotically easy to listen to, but the words faded into an indistinguishable melody of stresses and intonations as both of their minds began to wander, even as they absent-mindedly nodded in the right places. “…in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost…Amen” The last word shook Sarah out of her daydream. “If there is anything you wish to speak of, anything at all, I will be here to listen, but leave it not too late, as your time is short, and I do not wish to see you meet your death in mortal sin.” He sighed, clearly distressed that he had made little impression on his charges, and motioned to the guard at the door to let him out. “Peace be upon you my children” he intoned as he made his exit.

A large tub of lukewarm water arrived shortly afterward, dragged in by two guards and deposited in the centre of the cell. The hub-bub was enough to finally wake Jane from her deep slumber, and she greeted her two cellmates brightly. “Good morning Kate, good morning Sarah” she smiled “It’s my birthday today! shall we have a?” She looked up at the window, and noticed the gloom “Oh dear, it seems to be raining, maybe another day then!” Then she saw the bath, giggling “Oh goodness! Is it bathing time – I do feel awfully dirty!” Kate went and put an arm around her shoulder. “Happy Birthday love. I’ll tell you what, you take the water first love. Let’s see you clean, dressed and looking lovely.” Sarah examined the items of the table. “Soap, comb, white ribbons - even a scrubbing cloth! – Diggley has done us proud.”

She opened one of the three boxes and pulled out the dress inside. It was made of tailored black cotton, long-sleeved and ankle length, but its most striking feature was the neck line. Deeply scooped at the front, and with a shallower scoop at the back, the neckline, the hem and the cuffs were trimmed with a thin ribbon of white lace. She realised that with their hair tied up and placed under a white bonnet, each of them would cut a striking figure. In different circumstances, it would not have been unthinkable to wear such a dress to a country ball. Now she would be buried in it. Pushing the dark thought to one side, she turned to the other two.

“Isn’t it lovely – look ladies, one for each of you as well” she said, as she opened the other two boxes, revealing identical dresses. Jane looked it up and down “It’ll do I suppose” she said haughtily, but Kate’s reaction was quite different. She took hers in hand, feeling the material, checking the stitching and fingering the lace – and then looked at Sarah, and choking back the tears welling in her eyes, said “Sarah, I’ve never had anything so fine in my whole life. It’s beautiful. So beautiful…” She checked her emotions and put it back in its box, turning back to practical matters. “Right, Jane, you first, then you bathe Sarah, and I’ll have the last go. No arguments – let’s get to it before it gets cold…”

The girls took it in turned to bathe and comb each other’s hair. The two girls not bathing stood in front of the tub to screen their companion from prying eyes. Finally realising that there would be no free entertainment, the frustrated guards gave up trying to peek through the window in the cell door and returned to their card games. The room was getting brighter, but the rain continued to fall, keeping the stale air pregnant with heat and humidity.

After bathing, Sarah dried herself off as best as she could with her old dress. Kate helped her put on the new one, and Sarah wished she had left it a bit longer as she began to perspire again in the figure hugging dress. It fit her, but snugly, the deeply scooped front accentuating her cleavage. Had the cut been any lower, she would have struggled to keep her ample breasts harnessed underneath, but as it was, there was just enough material to give her a modicum of decency. She kept her hair down for the moment in the vain hope it would dry a little, as she attended to Jane’s. The girl had thick blonde tresses, which Sarah braided and tied up with ribbons, accentuating the fine lines of her delicate, swan-like neck with its porcelain white skin. Sarah winced as she imagined how the beauty of it would be spoiled and rubbed raw by the rough hempen rope.

Sarah turned to Kate, who had just finished adjusting her own hair, and beamed at her. “You look lovely” she said. “You haven’t scrubbed up too badly yourself if I don’t say so” she replied. A few stray wisps of Kate’s red-brown hair had escaped the ribbons and neatly framed her pretty face. Her bath had done her a world of good. She looked fresh faced, full of zest and life. It was so unfair to think she would be cut down in the prime of her life, as would they all.

The Last Hour

There was nothing left to do but wait. The rain had reduced to a fine drizzle but it was clear that the inclement weather was going to do little to dampen the enthusiasm of the waiting crowd. It had been building since they woke up – it started as a low murmur, but slowly escalated to an audibly excited rumble. It was obvious that the town was busy with comings and goings – mainly comings as they heard a multitude of horses and carriages clattering along the cobbles outside. As the morning went on, the sound of hawkers selling their wares joined the clamour, as they did a roaring trade in food and drink. The church bells had begun to toll the time at 9am, so the ladies knew how much time they had left from then on.

Jane was blissfully ignorant, but as the time wore on, Kate began to get more and more fidgety and flustered. Shortly before 11am, there was a big roar, and the crowd began to chant a name which Sarah was barely able to identify. “They’re cheering on that bastard Ketch” Kate confirmed. “he’s coming for us Sarah. He’s coming and there be no stopping him. He’ll come for us soon to do his job he will. It’s soon now, I know it is…” There was a sudden silence, followed by a bang and the roar of the crowd, before the noise reduced to its previous low rumble. They were saving themselves for the main event. The church bell struck eleven. Kate counted the chimes. “One. Two. Three….Eleven. One more Sarah. When we hear one more it will be finished.”

Sarah started as the cell door opened and Diggley came in. Kate, with urgency in her voice pleaded “It’s not time yet is it? They said 11:30 – it’s too soon – the clock’s only just struck eleven!” Her voice was on the edge of breaking. Diggley stood there, with Bugglesworth gawping, and just shook his head. “He’s back again for good now ladies. He’ll be with you until it’s done.” He let out a tired and resigned sigh. “My job’s almost done ladies. It’s been a pleasure ‘avin yer. Might I say befores I go just how lovely you all look. It’s a travesty in my opinion. A real shame. God be with you if you believes in him, and I’m very sorry for your troubles, really I am.” “Diggley!” called Sarah. “Yes miss. How can I help you miss” he replied. “That bang and crash we heard earlier – were there… others… today?”. “No miss, that was Ketch testing the, uhm, you know…” Diggley was reluctant to finish the sentence, so Sarah just nodded to save him from discomfort. He left, visibly upset.

Bugglesworth laid his Bible on the table, turned to the three expectant women and said “Let us pray” before falling to his knees in penitence. Jane looked confused “Are we having supper? Why else would I pray?” Bugglesworth arched an eyebrow. “Young lady, we pray for your soul, which is scheduled to depart this earth less than an hour’s hence! Now, do stop this silliness and come close”.

Kate whispered something in the Parson’s ear which made his eyes go wide, before he nodded in understanding. “We shall pray silently and then I will hear each of you in turn, should you wish to speak.” They knelt on the floor, in a circle, heads bowed, each lost in their own thoughts – all except Jane who fidgeted with the lace on her sleeve. “Can I get up now? Only my knees are getting a bit sore and the floor’s a bit sticky.” Bugglesworth nodded at her sympathetically. Jane got up and made her way to the bunk, where she kept herself busy by weaving together some loose strands of straw.

Sarah and Kate continued their meditation, as the Parson started praying with them in a low whisper. However, the noise from outside intruded too sharply into their little circle and served as a constant reminder of their impending fate.

Preparations

Kate flinched as she heard the grating of the iron key in the lock. She found, in Sarah’s eyes, the fearful recognition that the time had come. She grasped Sarah’s hand and together they got to the feet. Kate beckoned Jane over to them as the three stood, arm in arm facing the door.

The first person in was the Shire Reeve. As he walked into the centre of the room to meet the three condemned women, six soldiers in ceremonial red dress filtered in, three on each side of the room. The Parson, clutching his bible to his chest, so hard that his knuckles were white said, in a kindly voice “Come now children. It is time for you to be with the Lord. Be brave.” He turned away as the oafish figure of Ketch, and the snivelling Bridges slunk into the already crowded cell. Bridges looked particularly smug, and it was all he could do to hide his growing excitement when he saw the women in their lovely dresses.

Ketch stood directly in front of Kate, who was standing in the middle and whispered “No trouble Miss”. Kate did her best to look defiant, but her self-confidence and bravado had slowly ebbed out of her during the long, dark night, and any final vestige of resistance vanished as she meekly said “Yes sir. I’ll be good sir.” As she proffered her wrists for the manacles Bridges had produced. “Blimey, that’s an unexpected result” chortled Ketch, as Bridges bound her wrists behind her back. They were about to repeat the procedure with Jane, who was frowning, before Kate caught Ketch’s attention and had a quiet word. Like the Parson before him, Ketch nodded in understanding before turning to Jane.

“We’re going to play a little game. You’ve been a good girl Jane, but you know as well as we do that we can’t let you go – so I have to make you a little uncomfortable first so that everybody knows you’ve learned your lesson. Now, be a good girl and let me get these on yer. Do what the other girls do, and, if you behave, it’ll all be fine.” Jane nodded, giving Ketch a knowing smile, before stealing a glance at Kate and winking. Kate smiled wanly, her feelings in turmoil at being party to the necessary subterfuge. Jane’s hands were duly bound, and it was Sarah’s turn to feel the cold steel on her wrists. She stood, motionless as Bridges locked them in place, all the while fixing Ketch with a defiant glare.

With their arms bound behind them, they stood, waiting for the next step. Bridges produced three white bonnets, and placed one over the head of each of the women, neatly covering their hair, but for a few strands that had worked their way loose. The final step was to bind them at the elbows, something Sarah had been dreading, as her breasts were already straining against the thin fabric of her dress. However, Ketch was not rough. He tightened the thin rope between her elbows, pushing her chest forward and head back, but it was uncomfortable, rather than unbearable. Kate looked beaten. Jane looked fidgety. Sarah just wanted them to get on with it.

The prisoner’s secured, the Shire Reeve stepped forward and formally identified each of them, asking them to confirm their names and addresses. Satisfied that he had the right women, not that there had been room for any doubt, he ordered the guards to each take an arm, so that the women had a soldier on each side. Ketch called them forward. Sarah first, Kate second and Jane last. Seeing Sarah’s quizzical look, Bridges whispered “First on – last off.” She hated that he had been able to guess her unspoken question, but kept her thoughts to herself. He was an odious fellow, well suited to his task.

Journey to Death

Satisfied, Ketch motioned for the little procession to leave the cell. The Shire Reeve took his place at the head of the line, followed by the Parson, the prisoners and then Bridges. Diggley was nowhere in sight, and Sarah was saddened that she would not have the chance to see the agreeable old man again. Sarah could feel the damp, but warm flagstones under her feet. She couldn’t see around the fat form of the Parson, so was surprised when they emerged into the gloomy courtyard and was splattered by fat drops of rain. There were two carts in the courtyard, one empty and clearly for them, and the other held the terrifying sight of three pine coffins. One for each of them.

It was but a short distance to the waiting open cart, and it became quickly apparent to Sarah that they were going to get thoroughly wet. The Shire Reeve clambered onto the cart and sat next to the driver. Sarah was first to the cart and was helped up a small stepladder by her escorts. There was no seating, and with her arms bound behind her, she had to lean against the side rails, facing in and awkwardly grip the cart with both hands. Kate and Jane followed her in, and when the Shire Reeve was satisfied that they were well balanced, he motioned for the Parson to get on as well. The fat man, unassisted, struggled aboard and almost lost his balance, providing a brief moment of levity in the circumstances.

They waited for about five minutes after Bridges and Ketch had disappeared through a small side door. The women were clearly shaken by the shouted insults and invective clearly audible from the other side of wall. Then, as the crowd broke out into a spontaneous chant of “Oh my, I think I’m going to die..” the Shire Reeve nodded at the gatekeeper, who drew back the iron bolts to the gate and opened them wide.

The procession was greeted by a wall of noise. Around 100 soldiers had created a twenty foot wide corridor through the crowd, which ran from the prison, all the way to the waiting gallows. Ketch and Bridges were barely visible as they waited at the top of the steps for their charges. The cart lurched forward, almost throwing Sarah down, but she kept her feet as they inched forward.

However, as they moved away from the clink, something extraordinary happened, the roar subsided to a mere murmur as the crowd were greeted by the sight of the three young women in the cart. Abuse evolved into a sympathy at their plight, as cries of “Hang ‘em” and “Make ‘em dance!” gave way to whispered platitudes and blessings. “Bless you darlings” cried one old woman, who was soon joined by exhortations to “Be brave”. Sarah flinched as an object was thrown in her direction, ducking her head as it fell on the floor of the cart. It was a bunch of flowers. White lilies.

She thought back to her nightmare earlier, but oddly, the sight of flowers in the cart was calming. She was still terrified, but she did not feel paralysed by it now. Even the sight of the second cart, with its three plain coffins, still sticky with resin from the unfinished pine, did little to dent her composure. More flowers were thrown. Jane was laughing, bless her, her face upturned to the sky, relishing the plink plonk of the warm rain upon her face. Even poor Kate - Kate who had been so strong until a few hours ago - had a broad smile on her face. It was almost enough to distract Sarah from the ordeal ahead.

However, the fatal apparatus loomed large as the cart led them inexorably closer. The gallows was built under the wall of the courthouse, directly opposite the Haywain where she had worked. It consisted of a thick oak beam, supported by two posts at either end with diagonal bracing struts to help take the weight (not that there was much of it between them), and from it, even at this distance, Sarah could see the three hemp nooses dangling through the raindrops. The whole structure was covered in black bunting. The area immediately around it was roped off to provide a ten foot cordon between the crowd and its base. A drummer, with a snare drum, in full military dress, stood off to one side.

The Gallows

The journey was all too short. As the cart came to a stop, someone lead the gathered crowds into a hearty rendition of “Rock of Ages”. The Parson, looking pleased, jumped off the cart and turned to face it as Jane was helped down first. She looked more and more like the child her mind had regressed her to, and if it were not for her escorts, Sarah thought she might have broken into a skip.

Kate was clearly unsteady on her feet, but some part of her brain connected with the words the crowd were singing, and she had clearly surrendered herself to religious feeling. Sarah could see her take up the popular hymn as she sang the closing verse“…while I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.” She looked hopefully at the Parson, who nodded agreeably, before busying himself with his bible, vainly trying to keep it dry.

As the final strains of the hymn died down, Sarah was assisted down from the cart. An evening of rain, which showed no sign of letting up, had made the ground muddy, but she managed to get down with a modicum of grace. The sodden earth squelched pleasingly between her toes as the procession moved to the foot of the gallows steps. The crowd was deathly silent and the Parson, who had started to dutifully intone the 23rd Psalm, could clearly be heard as the women were readied for the ascent.

Held firmly by her guards, Jane stepped onto the wide but slick steps and tentatively began to go up them. Kate was two steps behind, and as she started her ascent, Sarah was gently cajoled by her escorts to follow. Sarah could not see ahead of her, but the Parson’s voice was clearly audible “…I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…” Sarah winced as she stubbed her toe on one of the steps. She could feel the grain of the wood under the soles of her feet. She could smell the newly cut wood through the rain, and was also acutely aware of the slightly metallic smell of cold sweat on her own body as it intermingled with the summer shower.

She reached the platform as the Parson finished “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. May God have mercy on your soul”. The Parson moved to one side, but even with Bridges meticulous description, Sarah was not prepared for what she saw before her. He had said that the sight and proximity of the noose revealed the true nature of a person, and he was not wrong. Her courage made a concerted effort to desert her, as her knees went weak and she felt herself sag as her guards momentarily took her weight. Seeing Bridges knowing look, she quickly recovered herself, determined not to give him any satisfaction.

Her guards quickly moved her under the crossbeam, so that the noose dangled inches in front of her face. She looked down and saw the faint outline of the trapdoor she was standing on, the rain having almost completely washed away the white chalk “X” which had been drawn to indicate the proper position. She was soaked to the skin, and the nearness of death quickened her breath, causing her bosom to heave involuntarily against her clinging black dress as she fought to stop from hyperventilating. She felt slightly dizzy and nauseous and made a conscious effort to raise her head and meet death head on.

In doing so, she finally saw the crowd. They were packed in to the square, with people hanging off every possible vantage point to witness the spectacle. There was not a spare window, tree, chimney or lamp post to be had. All of them, looking at her - in morbid fascination - faces upturned in expectation. For a moment she forgot about Kate and Jane, until she heard Kate’s earnest voice, repeating the Lord’s prayer over and over.

The Shire Reeve walked to the front rail of the gallows, produced an official looking document and read it out loud. “Jane Daniels, Katherine Andrews and Sarah Thorn. You have been found guilty of crimes for which you have been sentenced to the ultimate punishment. With the power vested in me by the Assizes, it is my sworn duty to see that sentence is carried out against you, so that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead. I order this execution to proceed.” As he withdrew, Ketch took it as a signal to get to work.

...to be continued

(c) 2006 Son of Ketch