Page:The Book of Nullification.djvu/28

 saries, James, the Captain of the Host, commanded them to pause, and he opned his mouth and spake unto his followers, and said

7. "Men and Brethren! behold the Idolaters, and evil workers, have set up a Captain to lead them up to battle with you, and to slay all who are faithful to Andrew, the King, and who strive for the peace and unity of the Realm.

8. "And lo! they have uplifted a Banner which is terrible to the sight, and they trust to smite your hearts with fear; behold they liken you, and the people of the whole Realm, to the youth from whose body they will tear the limbs.

9. "And they are the ferocious beast, even the tiger, which shall deliver you as a prey to the vulture; and verily the inscription is just, for of a surety their banner leadeth to.

10 Yet fear not, O men of Charleston! but put your trust in the Lord, and he will deliver your enemies into your hands, that ye may smite, and utterly destroy them.

11 "But be ye not over zealous; for behold the multitude which Henry, the High Priest, hath gathered together, are your countrymen, and, peradventure, many just men amongst them have been beguiled by the snares of James, who is called the Deluded, and the great Nullifier.

12. "Wherefore before ye smite them, let us send unto them Messengers, who shall bear with them the olive branch of peace, and it may come to pass that we shall yet live together in unity and concord."

13. Then, all the Host of James, the courteous, hearkened unto his voice, and they kneeled before Heaven, and they earnestly prayed that strifes should cease between brethren, and they besought a blessing on the righteous cause; and they arose, and their hearts were strengthened.

14. And James, who is called the courteous, did even as he had said, and he sent up Messengers unto the Host of Henry, the High Priest: and when the Messengers were brought before Henry, and before all the Leaders, and Captains of his Host, they opened their mouths and said.

15. "O men of Charleston! ye are our brethren: verily, we have eaten and drunk together in days past, and we have loved one another; wherefore let us not spill each other's blood in the strife of battle, but rather let us mingle together in peace.

16. "Behold, we may yet appease the enmity between us. Let us put off armour, and let us gather together all the elders, and counsellors, and wise men, and people of the city, and let them take counsel together, and let them declare which is the more worthy to rule over us, thy Captain, or our Captain.

17. "And if the greater number of the elders, and of the counsellors, and of the wise men, and of all the people, shall say that Henry, the High Priest, is more worthy than James, then let Henry be made the Ruler over us, and we will bow before him.

18. "But if the greater number shall declare in favour of James our Captain, then shall ye overturn your Banner, and forsake your strange Gods, and render obedience unto James, and to the Statutes of the Realm."

19. And when the Messengers had thus spoken, it came to pass that Henry the High Preist, and the Leaders, and Captains, and officers of his Host, took counsel together to devise what answer they should make unto the Messengers of the Host of "."