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Show 79 returned and he continued his walk toward Lathrop until he came to Sam Howse who was standing protectively in front of the Reverend. Sam Howse would not break path for him. Howse was short in stature, but gargantuan in spirit. It had been his suggestion that this small band of Separatists covenant together to take care of one another. To him, the covenant was more than just words. The glare of Tomlinson did not move him. "Move!" sputtered Tomlinson who was a head taller than Howse. Tomlinson, not to be intimidated by one he considered a wisp of a man, gave Sam Howse a hard shove backwards. That was the turning point for the indomitable Puritans. All pandemonium broke loose. "Arrest them! Arrest them all!" was the command. While Tomlinson and his two henchmen went directly for Lathrop to assure his capture, the ruffians pulled out clubs and swords to use on the unarmed men who resisted. The Puritans put up a good fight, but they were not a match for the trained fighters. The house was rattling as though it would collapse. When the battle was obviously hopeless on the part of the Puritans, those who could escape did so. The remainder were put in fetters and taken off to the Newgate Prison and the Gatehouse. |