***
We entered Worcester early in August, and that was when we heard that the whole of Scotland was now in the hands of George Monck.
More bad news was that Cromwell’s army was marching north, and had crossed the River Severn, ten miles south of Worcester at Upton Bridge with a legion of dragoons, and were now coming at us from both sides of the Severn. I still carried my sword, but I could not see what use it would be against artillery. At this point I was probably more scared than at any time in my life.
Cromwell’s superior forces armed with cannons mounted an attack on August 28th. Hopelessly outnumbered, the King’s commanders fought on courageously, and those who were not killed were eventually swept out of Worcester’s North gate… most of the Scottish commanders had already been killed. The battle lost almost before it had begun.
The young King Charles, now in his darkest hour, depressed, dejected and beaten was finally persuaded to make good his escape, and after travelling through the night with a small band of his most loyal supporters… myself, Thomas, five squires and three knights (one of which was Paul Cullum), we rested in a small copse, somewhere north of Bridgnorth.
‘It will soon be daytime, so we need to find a place to hide,’ Thomas said, the others agreed. We had part walked and part jogged for over thirty miles and I could see that Thomas was really struggling to keep up. Luckily we found shelter in a small derelict building which we thought might have been a cattle shed, close to a stream and just a mile outside a village called Tong.
It was almost daybreak and though the building was not perfect, it was infinitely better than sleeping under trees. There were no windows in the stone building and it had holes in the roof, but that didn’t matter, we had all gone 24 hours without sleep so we just collapsed onto the floor and within minutes, some were snoring. An hour must have passed and Thomas had just about recovered. He was with Charles in a corner, they were talking quietly to themselves. I was sitting on my own tired, apprehensive and afraid but unable to sleep.
The door opened and a man in a long coat and wide brimmed hat stood silhouetted in the doorway.
All eight of our soldiers jumped to their feet and faced him, swords in hand.
‘I am alone and unarmed,’ said the man.
‘Then state your business,’ commanded Thomas.
The stranger stepped into the room. He was about forty years old, clean shaven, average height but a little overweight, but he had a jolly looking face and did not look at all menacing to me.
He didn’t speak at first… just looked around at each of us in turn, eventually stopping at Charles. Bowing his head in respect he spoke to him directly. ‘My Lord King. My master Sir Hugo Haworth would like to offer you food and shelter until you consider it safe to continue on your journey.’
‘How did you know who I was?’
‘You are accompanied by soldiers, you are fleeing from the Parliamentarians and you are the only one who is twenty years old and two yard tall.’
‘Who is Sir Hugo Haworth?’
‘I will be back for you in a trice my Lord, I will then take you to him,’ he said without answering… and then he was gone.
I sat down on my own… the others remained standing.
‘What do you think Thomas?’ asked Charles.
The soldiers had all sheathed their swords and were waiting for Thomas’s answer.
‘I think we must trust the man, but first we must consider the question of our numbers.’
‘In what way?’
‘He recognised us by our numbers, and so would Cromwell’s soldiers if they saw us. Eleven persons is too many.’
‘Are you suggesting we split up?’
‘Yes Charles. We have with us a knight and squire from York, two squires from the county of Lancaster and the remainder from East Anglia. Given the choice I think they would all prefer to return to their homes.’
Paul Cullum stepped forward. ‘This is true my Lord, my home is Bury St Edmunds, and that is where I will be making for as soon as I know you are safely out of the country, but I know I speak for us all when I say that our allegiance is with you, your welfare is paramount.’
‘Thank you all, I know your loyalty is without question, but Thomas is right, we are too conspicuous in such a large group. I therefore release you all from your pledge to serve me… go with my blessing or stay… it must be your decision.’
He then sat down next to me and for the first time in a week he smiled and whispered: ‘Who needs soldiers, together we will survive somehow?’
Those four words somehow gave me fresh optimism, fresh positivity and in a strange way, a new self-confidence.
Thomas sat on the other side of me… leaving our eight seasoned warriors standing in a corner discussing Charles’s proposition, eventually they agreed that Thomas was right and that we would all stand a better chance of survival if we split into smaller groups.
‘Have you a plan?’ asked Charles.
Paul, as usual, assuming the role of spokesman answered. ‘David, Alan and I are all from the same area of Suffolk, we plan to go east from here for a few miles before turning south in a wide circle to avoid Cromwell’s Roundheads. The others are heading for York.’
‘When will you go?’
With a broad smile on his face he said, ‘We will stay here until darkness and then we are going hunting my Lord.’
‘Hunting?’
‘Yes my Lord. We need horses, and if we can kill a few dragoons while getting them, and perhaps create a diversion, that would be an added bonus.’
‘Good hunting and go with God’s speed… but do be careful.’
***
A few minutes later, our benefactor arrived back as promised.
‘Where are the rest of your party my Lord?’
‘They will not be joining us, they are all going their separate ways.’
‘That makes my task a little easier, please follow me.’
We followed him into the woods, and along a path. Charles trying to hide his identity under a hood… though he could never disguise his height. Me with my toes bursting out of my boots and Thomas now with a full beard and moustache, something that was completely alien to him as he always found time to shave off his facial hair. Eventually, we came to a clearing where a horse and cart stood waiting for us.
‘I think it best if you and the boy hide under the canvas in the back my Lord. You sir,’ he said addressing Thomas, ‘can sit with me.’
***
This was to be the first day of an extraordinary adventure lasting two months… the first of the most frightening, but also the most remarkable, journey I could ever have imagined, a two-month adventure that I shall remember for the rest of my life.
Thomas Hudson was a man of wisdom whose knowledge appeared to have no boundaries. He was a man… the only man that I knew I could always rely on.
I had only known him for three years but in that time he had become the father I never had, and Charles more like an older brother than my king.
Over the next two months all protocol, conventional rules and formalities were forgotten, we became simply Thomas, Charles and Toby.
‘We are putting a lot of trust in you sir,’ Charles and I heard Thomas say from our hiding place under the canvas sheet. ‘If you are leading us into a trap I promise that you will be the first to die.’
‘Fear not sir, there is not a man, woman or child within fifty miles of here that would betray you.’
‘Not even for a large reward?’
‘Not even for a thousand pounds sir.’
The driver took us a mile out of town, between two stone posts and onto a driveway lined with rhododendrons, stopping eventually in front of a large black and white Tudor Manor.
In front of the house was a large circular lawn and standing in the middle was a majestic oak tree
surrounded by seats.
We followed our man through large double doors into a reception area, past a well-stocked library and into a drawing room.
‘If you could just wait here my Lord, I will just see if my master is awake, he usually takes a nap in the afternoons.’
Squire of Bishop’s Wood
I wondered why anyone would want to sleep at this time of day, but a few minutes later I understood why. An old man using a stick shuffled into the room wearing an elaborately decorated housecoat, and a red cap with golden tassels.
He tried to bow in deference to his king but almost fell over. Charles and Thomas jumped to their feet and helped him into a large soft chair.
From his sitting position, and addressing Charles, he began. ‘Let me introduce myself my Lord, I am Hugo Haworth, Squire of Bishop’s Wood and a former courtier to your grandfather, King James.
‘George… my most faithful servant, tells me that Cromwell’s thugs are searching for you, and that you are in need of sanctuary. If that be true, you have come to the right place.’
‘I don’t want to put you in any danger, but if you could spare a little food and shelter for the night I would be most grateful sir.’
The man who brought us here stepped forward and addressing his master said, ‘I will ask cook to prepare some food.’
‘Thank you George,’ he replied. George left the room closing the door quietly behind him.
‘We have room for you all here at Boscobel House, but it may not be the safest place. Cromwell’s hooligans have already searched the place twice. They know who I am and what I stand for, and I have no doubt they will be back again.’
‘Then we will accept your generous offer of food and be on our way.’
‘This house may not be the safest place, but that does not mean I cannot hide you.’ Looking at Thomas he asked, ‘What is your profession sir?’
‘I was hired by our late King Charles to tutor his children, I am now a privy councillor and tutor to this young man here,’ he said pointing to me. ‘Toby is a ward of court. I graduated from Oxford with degrees in Theology, History and Languages. I am sure my Lord King will elaborate further if you wish.’
‘I have heard enough sir, with a degree in Theology we can easily hide you in the church. George,’ he called, ‘send for the vicar, and tell him it’s urgent.’ Then turning to me said, ‘So Toby, you are the famous young man who saved the life of our new King?’
Charles put a hand on my shoulder. ‘He certainly did sir.’
At this point the door opened and a girl probably slightly older than me came into the room carrying a tray of food. She was dressed in black with a white pinafore and mop cap. She smiled at me, and put the tray on the table, George followed her in carrying a tray of hot coffee.
‘Thank you Alice.’
‘Will there be anything else sir?’
He looked at me… hesitated then asked, ‘Do you have a maid’s uniform that would fit this young man?’
‘I think so sir.’
‘Good,’ he said. ‘This is Toby, when he has finished his food take him to your room and let us see what he looks like as a girl.’
I was not too happy at the idea of dressing as a girl, but if it helped to keep me alive I suppose I shouldn’t complain. I ate my food slowly, conscious of the fact that Alice was watching me; she was hopping from one foot to the other anxiously waiting to take me to her room… which was also something I was not too happy about. I could delay no longer, I had eaten my fill and drank two mugs of coffee.
‘Come on Toby,’ she said taking hold of my hand.
‘Don’t be too long Alice,’ called Sir Hugo as we hurried out of the room.
Alice was a few years older than me but about the same height. I followed her downstairs to a small basement room, not too unlike my old room in Fleet Alley.
‘Sit on the bed Toby while I see what I can find.’
I sat on a chair next to a dressing table.
‘Here… try these on, I’ll wait outside.’
I quickly stripped off and had almost finished dressing when Alice came back in the room.
She put a hand over her mouth and giggled. I didn’t think there was anything to laugh about, but I could see the funny side.
‘Don’t make me look too beautiful, I don’t want the king to take a fancy to me.’
She started laughing and I laughed with her.
‘Your hair is long enough to be tied with a bow… what do you think?’
‘We’ve come this far so you might as well go the whole way. What about some shoes, these are falling apart?’
I let her tie a bow in my hair but she couldn’t find any shoes to fit.
‘Do you have a girlfriend Toby?’
‘Yes, she’s called Anne. She is a lady-in-waiting at the court of Prince William of Orange in The Hague.’
‘Is she as pretty as me?’
I was not sure where these questions were leading, and not sure how best to answer without upsetting her.
‘As pretty. As pretty as you Alice. Now I think I should present myself to Sir Hugo don’t you?’
Charles burst into laughter, it was the first time I had seen him anything other than miserable and dejected in months, and then Thomas joined in.
‘I’m glad you all think it’s funny,’ I said.
‘I have no shoes to fit him sir,’ Alice said to the old man.
‘No matter my dear, George will find some of his old ones or buy some new.’
‘That just leaves you my Lord,’ said Sir Hugo. ‘To start with I think it less likely you would be recognised if your hair was shorter, and you will need some new clothes, unfortunately I can do nothing about your height. Did you know that Cromwell has put a reward of £1,000 on your head?’
‘I did not,’ said Charles.
‘The posters say you are a young man who stands two yards high. But even for £1,000 I do not believe anyone in this county would betray you.’
The old man smiled and looked sideways at Charles. ‘Have no fear my Lord. When we were young, my sister and I had a hiding place the whole of Cromwell’s army of thugs would never find.’
‘You have a priest hole?’
‘Much better than that my Lord, did you notice our mighty oak at the front of the house when you arrived?’
‘How could we miss it.’
‘The trunk is hollow and there is plenty of room in there for two children… or one adult.’
I was beginning to feel a bit silly standing there dressed as a serving maid. ‘Can I get out of these clothes now?’ I asked.
Before anyone had time to answer, George came in the room with the vicar, who on seeing Charles for the first time, knelt in reverence. ‘My Lord King, as a Christian and Royalist, I humbly place myself at your disposal.’
‘Thank you vicar,’ said Charles. ‘I think I am going to need your help sooner than you perhaps would have expected.’
‘Vicar,’ called Sir Hugo. ‘This is Thomas Hudson, he is your new curate. Mr Hudson studied at Oxford and has a doctorate in Theology. So I think he may know more about the workings of the good Lord than you do, can you find him a cassock and collar?’
The vicar turned to Thomas. ‘If it is not too inconvenient sir, you could come back with me now, and I will see what I can do, you can take a look at my church at the same time.’
‘Thank you so much vicar that is most kind.’ Thomas then turned to face me. ‘Stay just as you are, you look beautiful Toby… or should I now call you Tabatha. See you in church.’
They all laughed and I laughed with them, but I did feel a little silly.
***
The opportunity for Charles to test out the hollowed tree came sooner than he had expected.
It was the Lord’s Day, Sir Hugo and his staff, including me dressed as a gir
l, were preparing to go to St Bartholomew’s Church in Tong, it was a special day for the local church as the new curate was taking the service for the first time.
Charles was wondering if he should risk coming with us when a labourer from home-farm came galloping to the house to warn Sir Hugo that a small squad of soldiers were heading his way.
Without waiting to be told, Charles climbed quickly up the oak and dropped silently inside.
Sir Hugo was already sat in the front of the carriage when they arrived… about a score of Roundheads on foot.
‘What do you lot want?’ he shouted to the soldiers as they sat down under the tree. ‘I have already told you twice there’s nobody here other than me and my staff, so why don’t you just bugger off.’
‘Calm down old man, we just wanted to ask have you seen a group of strangers, about a dozen, one is a boy about thirteen years old.’
‘My answer is still no, now leave before I turn the dogs on you.’
‘We will leave when we are good and ready old man.’
‘We are off to church,’ said Hugo, ‘and I want you gone before we get back.’
I was unhappy about leaving Charles on his own in the tree with a squad of soldiers only inches away… What if he sneezes or coughs?
The soldiers sitting beneath the tree seemed completely unconcerned, some took food out of their tunics and began to eat.
I climbed in the back of the carriage and sat next to Alice. I was wearing my new Sunday dress and a pink bonnet tied with a ribbon under my chin, I had white ankle socks and shiny new shoes with pink bows to match my bonnet. As soon as I sat down Alice linked my arm, looked me in the eye and smiled. The cook, a rounded jolly lady, was helped up by George. She sat facing us, smiled and winked. ‘You girls are looking beautiful today,’ she said.
The best of summer was almost over and autumn was fast approaching. The fields were full of happy joyful workers gathering in the harvest before the weather changed, many leaves had already fallen from the trees and were creating a golden carpet on the roads and woodland, others still clung to the branches and were slowly shrinking and dying.
Courtier in the Royal House of Stuart Page 13
