Witchfinder General Page #4

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-Nothing.

I heard about Brandeston, Richard.

Hopkins and Stearne.

-I'll find them somewhere.

-But what can you do?

What proof have you

that they committed any crime?

-I've got Sara's word on it.

-Is that enough for the magistrates?

-There'll be no magistrates involved.

-What do you mean?

We'll talk more later, Richard.

We must be on our way.

We're after horses for this skirmish

that's coming up.

-All right.

-Come on.

Parliament men,

comrades of friend Marshall.

There's some good ones

coming now, look.

-Hey!

-Let's make a run for it, shall we,

-while we can.

-Be calm.

Yeah, but if they find out

who we are, they'II...

They won't. Come on.

That's a fine horse you've got there, friend.

The army needs mounts of such caliber.

I am not selling.

But you will get your money

when the war's over.

You don't appear to understand.

I am not selling.

Oh, but you are selling, friend.

And we'll take that one, there, too.

So you filthy soldiers can

butcher my mare?

Sergeant, he thinks we're filthy soldiers.

Do you hear?

Aye, I heard.

You can't go saying things like that, friend.

What he needs is a little army discipline.

I hear you need more pikemen

in your platoon, Sergeant.

You'll pay for this!

Good horse you had, there.

Cost a pretty penny, I reckon.

We robbed the canteen mint.

A right jester, he is.

Yeah, well, a day's fighting in Cromwell's

army will soon cure your wit, my lad.

I am not doing any fighting,

neither for the King

or your precious Cromwell, either.

-You mark that well, soldier.

-Yeah, you coward.

Just like your friend.

-Matthew Hopkins is no friend of mine.

-Hopkins?

The fancy boy who just made a fool

of your cavalry, comrade.

-You rode with him.

-I had reasons.

-He pays you?

-We were partners.

-In what business?

-Extermination.

-Eh?

-And what does that mean?

Now,

Matthew Hopkins, sir.

-Adequate, very adequate.

-We did our best, sir.

Lavenham has served me well,

Master Webb.

Now I must find out how I can serve you.

They're all women, sir.

Strange, isn't it, how much iniquity

the Lord vested in the female?

Pardon, sir?

-Who makes the accusations?

-Myself, sir. I'm representing the town.

-How many?

-Three, sir.

And what age?

Well, two are young, sir,

Elizabeth Clark and Mary Reynolds.

The other's worn and old.

Fetch the young pair here to me.

What of the other hag?

Well, the old ones are more sensible.

It's the young ones who are stubborn.

They require time.

Oh, I see.

-Sir?

-Yes, man?

Your assistant, sir. We were told

he, too, would be coming to Lavenham.

He's engaged elsewhere.

He's fighting for the Parliamentary cause.

Oh. He will be joining you here, sir?

I really can't say.

-You can manage without him?

-Of course.

-I apologize...

-No.

Not only can I manage without him,

but I intend to instigate

a new method of execution,

and you, Master Webb,

you shall aid me in carrying it out.

-What's that, sir?

-You'll see.

It's a fitting end for the foul ungodliness

in womankind.

Yes, sir.

Now, fetch that young pair here.

Sir.

An excellent meal, gentlemen.

There is little I find so satisfying

as good food after a well-earned victory.

-Wouldn't you agree?

-Entirely, General.

The conflict at Naseby, sir, will go down

as a triumph of your strategy.

Perhaps.

I would rather that it went down as

a triumph for the forces of true godliness.

Nevertheless, your name will symbolize

the victory, sir.

Whether I like it or not, eh, Captain?

That cornet you so highly recommended

to me, is he to join us?

He's coming now, General Cromwell.

Good.

Amongst the most pleasurable aspects

of victory, gentlemen,

is the opportunity it affords

to reward valor.

It ranks almost with good food.

-Cornet Marshall, sir.

-All right. Rest, Cornet.

Your captain has told me about you.

-He says you're a good soldier.

-Thank you, sir.

He recommends that

I promote you to captain.

I thank you, sir.

I have a special mission for you, Captain.

Take three men

and ride back into East Anglia.

The King has escaped us and is rumored

to be making for the Norfolk coast.

If that is the case, find and apprehend him

before he can escape to the continent.

-It's an honor, sir.

-Pick your men. Start at once.

If you find the King,

you will escort him then to Norwich.

If not, join us in the west.

Good luck, Captain.

Shall we rest up for the night, Richard?

We've got a job to do.

We'll go on till we've done it.

Do you mean looking for the King?

Or finding Hopkins and Stearne?

Both.

Richard, you can't go off and desert again.

I don't plan to desert!

But supposing you do find out

where they are?

Then I shall take temporary leave again.

For God's sake, Richard,

I know how you feel,

but to risk court-martial

to kill Parliament's own appointees,

you'll be hanged yourself.

Robert! I've taken an oath.

I won't break it!

-It's madness!

-It's justice!

It's my justice.

And what about

one of them, sir?

You won't find better horseflesh

in the whole of Suffolk.

So, how much you going to try

to drag out of me if I take that one?

-He's yours for a couple of guineas, sir.

-A guinea.

A guinea and a half for getting me

out of bed at this hour of the morning.

-One guinea.

-And a quarter?

I'll quarter you.

-You drive a hard bargain, sir.

-Yeah.

And where would you be heading

that you need a horse in such a hurry?

-To find my partner.

-Your partner, eh?

And what line of business

might you be in?

God's business, witch-finding.

Witch-finding. Oh, that's nice.

That's very nice.

You wouldn't make it a guinea

and a quarter, would you?

Do you know a man

called Matthew Hopkins?

-You know where he is?

-I heard tell of such a man down south.

Lavenham, I believe.

What's he doing in Lavenham?

Extracting confessions, I don't doubt.

You let me have

that four-legged cripple now!

This happened three days ago.

Why didn't you report it

to the militia then?

How should we know

it was the King himself?

A stranger, obviously a townsman,

tries to hire a boat to cross to France

-and you suspect nothing?

-When the country's torn by civil war?

I didn't know there was a war on

till you gentlemen told me so.

Oh, come on, Richard.

We'd better go back.

Aye, I suppose so. I want to pass through

Lavenham and see how Sara is.

-Lavenham?

-Aye, how far is it from here?

About two days ride, I reckon.

They got more excitement over there

than any of your city folk's wars.

-What do you mean?

-They're burning witches there, I hear.

-Some such rigmarole.

-They're in Lavenham!

Richard!

Elizabeth! Elizabeth!

Oh, God!

-All is ready, Master Hopkins?

-Aye.

Proceed with the executions, then.

Bring forth Elizabeth Clark.

Right. Siegel, fetch the rope.

-Get the rope.

-Oh, come on, you little b*tch!

No! Help!

No!

No!

-Lower away.

-Slowly, now. Keep her slow.

Elizabeth!

Master Hopkins,

there are two more to be burned.

Yes, Magistrate. Master Webb, the others!

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