CHAPTER XIV.

CHARLES II.

Boscobel Searched by the Parliamentary Soldiers - Their Visit to Moseley-Charles Removes to Bentley - Rides" Double" as a Servant before Miss Lane - His Awkwardness in His New Character - Adventure with the Blacksmith at Bromsgrove-Employed to Wind the Meat-jack at LongmarstonArrival at Abbotsleigh - Recognised by Pope, a ButlerJourney to Trent-Cavalier Family of the Wyndhams - Their Affectionate Loyalty - Rejoicings at the King's Reported Death - Charles Listens to Them from His Hiding-place- Removes to Charmouth — Disappointed in His Hopes of Escape His Narrow Escape at Lyme- Nearly Recognised by a Hostler-Parliamentary Soldiers in Pursuit of Him-Quartered with the Enemy's Troopers at Broad Windsor Journey to Hele-Arrival at Brighthelmstone Charles Escapes to France.

THE anxiety which Charles had felt to join Lord Wilmot proved to be a most providential circumstance. Only a few hours after he had quitted Boscobel, the old house was visited by the Parliamentary soldiers, who not only plundered William Penderell of his homely fare, but, suspecting that the honest woodman was in the secret of the king's hiding-place, threatened him with instant death unless he disclosed to them all he

knew on the subject. It is needless to say that he remained true to his trust.

Charles passed two entire days at Mr. Whitegrave's. From a small closet over the porch, he could see what was passing in the Wolverhampton road, and thus more than once witnessed his own straggling and wretched followers begging for bread at the gate. He was thus passing his time, on the second day after his arrival, when, to his consternation, he suddenly beheld a party of soldiers approaching the house. Of course he instantly retreated into his hiding-place. On the soldiers drawing up before the gate, Mr. Whitegrave came boldly forward to meet them. They had imagined him to have been present at the battle of Worcester, but his evident ill state of health, and the testimony of his neighbours, convinced them that they were mistaken. Fortunately they took their departure without insisting on any examination of the premises, or even ascending the staircase.

During the preceding night Lord Wilmot had repaired to the residence of Colonel Lane, at Bentley, to which place it was proposed that the king should next remove. Accordingly, every preparation having been made for his reception by that loyal family, on the following night Colonel Lane came in person to Moseley, in order to conduct his Majesty to his new retreat. Charles took leave of his host, and the priest

Huddlestone, with every expression of gratitude; directing them, in the event of suspicion and danger falling on them on his account, to repair to a merchant in London, who would supply them with money, and find means to effect their escape to the Continent. Neither did he forget his hostess. "He sent me," says Whitegrave, "for my mother to come and take leave of him; who brought with her some raisins, almonds, and other sweetmeats, which she presented to him; whereof he was pleased to eat, and took some with him; afterward we all kneeling down and praying Almighty God to bless, prosper, and preserve him, he was pleased to salute my mother and give her thanks for his kind entertainment; and then giving his hand to Mr. Huddlestone and myself to kiss (saying if it pleased God to restore him he would never be unmindful of us), he took leave and went, conducted by Mr. Huddlestone and myself to the colonel, and thence to his horses expecting him, where, he having got on horseback, we kneeled and kissed his hand again, offering all our prayers for his safety and preservation; Mr. Huddlestone putting on him a cloak of his to keep him from cold and wet, which afterward, by the colonel's order, was sent to me, we took leave." The same night Charles arrived in safety at Bentley.

Colonel Lane's proposition was to conduct the king to Bristol, in which city he was known to have many adherents, and from whence it was

hoped he might obtain a passage to the Continent. The plan was rendered the more feasible in consequence of the colonel's sister, Miss Jane Lane, — a young lady of considerable personal accomplishments, having recently obtained a Parliamentary pass to convey herself and friends to the neighbourhood of that mercantile city; her object being to visit a near relation who was on the eve of her confinement. This plan having been agreed upon, it was decided that the king should personate a servant, and ride "double" before the young lady. The remainder of the party consisted of her cousin, a Mr. Lascelles, and his wife, as well as a Mr. and Mrs. Petre. The next morning, the seventh of the king's adventures, after a few hours' rest, he appeared in his new dress and character. His name was changed from William Jones to William Jackson; and, instead of his woodman's dress, he was clad in the gray cloth of a country serving-man.

The cavalcade being ready to start, old Mrs. Lane, who had been kept in ignorance of the rank of the new servant, descended to the courtyard in order to bid her daughter farewell. The colonel made a sign to Charles that he ought to offer his sister his hand, and assist her to mount. This he accordingly did, with his hat in his hand, but with. so much awkwardness, or rather perhaps with so much ignorance of the duties of a serving-man, that it attracted the old lady's attention. Turning

to the colonel with a smile, "What a goodly horseman," she said, "my daughter has got to ride before her." At length the party set forward on their hazardous journey, Lord Wilmot riding boldly before them, with a hawk on his fist and spaniels by his side, pretending to be a sportsman in pursuit of his favourite recreation.

This day was an eventful one. The first accident occurred at Bromsgrove, at which place, in consequence of Miss Lane's horse losing a shoe, it was necessary that Charles, in his capacity of servant, should take the animal to a blacksmith's to be shod. Charles's account of his conversation with the blacksmith is curious. "As I was holding the horse's foot," said the king, "I asked the smith what news. He told me that there was no news that he knew of, since the good news of the beating of the rogues the Scots. I asked him whether there were none of the English taken that joined with the Scots. He answered that he did not hear that the rogue Charles Stuart was taken; but some of the others, he said, were taken, but not Charles Stuart. I told him that if that rogue were taken he deserved to be hanged more than all the rest, for bringing in the Scots. Upon which he said I spoke like an honest man, and so we parted."

At Wotton, not far from Stratford, the travellers proposed to ford the River Avon. On a sudden, however, they caught sight of a troop of