Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Page 35
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE CONSULTATION AT BARBOURNE BRIDGE, AND THE KING'S FLIGHT.
We left the king at Barbourne Bridge. By this time he had been joinedby the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Lauderdale, the Lords Talbot andWilmot, Colonel Roscarrock, Colonel Blague, Charles Giffard, andmany other Cavaliers, and a consultation was held as to what courseshould be pursued. All were of opinion that the day was irretrievablylost, and this opinion was confirmed by the arrival of Careless andthe others, who told how they had been worsted in the last desperatestruggle at the Guildhall.
"More than half of this brave battalion are gone," exclaimed Careless."The rest are dispersed, and will never be got together again. Suchfrightful havoc has been made among the citizens, who have been slainby hundreds by these ferocious Roundheads, that no more fighting mencan be got together. All is lost! Your majesty's standard has been torndown everywhere, and replaced by the flag of the Commonwealth. Fromthis spot you may see their hateful standard floating on the cathedraltower."
Overpowered by this ill news, Charles could make no reply.
"All we can now do for your majesty is to save you from these raveningwolves and regicides," cried the Earl of Derby, "and that, withHeaven's grace, we will do!"
"We will defend your majesty to the last," cried the Lords Talbot andWilmot, and several others.
"Alas! how many are gone!" exclaimed Charles. "Brave Sir JohnDouglas dead--the Duke of Hamilton mortally wounded. Where is LordSinclair?--where are others of my Scottish peers?--where is Sir JamesHamilton?--where is Sir Alexander Forbes?"
"Sir James Hamilton is killed, my liege," replied Careless. "SirAlexander Forbes is badly hurt--perhaps dead. Several of the Scottishnobles have been taken prisoners in the city. But think not ofthem--think of your own safety. What will you do?"
"Make all haste to London," replied the king. "By riding hard I shallarrive there before tidings of the battle can be received."
"A good plan," cried Lord Wilmot. "Your majesty has many staunchadherents in London."
"I like not the plan," cried the Duke of Buckingham. "If adopted, itwill end in your majesty's destruction. The moment your defeat isknown, your adherents will fall from you, and you will be at the mercyof your enemies."
Almost all the others concurred with the duke in opinion, and werestrenuously opposed to the king's plan.
"Nay, then," he exclaimed, "there is nothing for it but Scotland. Iwill go thither."
"Your majesty has decided right," observed Lesley.
"His approval is enough to make me change my mind," observed Charles,withdrawing to a short distance with the Earl of Derby.
"Go not to London, my liege, I entreat you," said the earl. "'Tis themost perilous and rash scheme you could adopt. You will have dangersenough to encounter in whatever direction you proceed, but London ismost dangerous of all. That you will be quickly pursued, and a heavyprice set on your head, is certain, for Cromwell's victory will beshorn of half its splendour if you escape him. In England your chanceis lost. It grieves me to say so, but I cannot hide the truth. Youcannot get another army together. To Scotland, I see, you like not toreturn. The sole alternative, therefore, is an escape to France."
"That is what I desire," replied Charles. "But where can I embark?"
"At Bristol, my liege, it may be--but that must be for afterconsideration. Conceal yourself for a time, and no safer hiding-placecan be found than Boscobel, where I myself took refuge."
At this moment Colonel Roscarrock came up.
"How say you, Roscarrock?" asked the king. "Think you I should be safeat Boscobel?"
"I am sure of it, my liege," replied the other. "Strange your majestyshould put the question to me, seeing I was just about to counsel youto take refuge there."
"You have already described the house to me," observed Charles. "Butcan the occupants be trusted?"
"Perfectly," said the Earl of Derby. "Your majesty has no more faithfulsubjects than the Penderels of Boscobel. Charles Giffard is here. Willyour majesty speak with him?"
"Not now," replied Charles. "I would not have it known that I am aboutto seek a place of concealment, and were I to confer with CharlesGiffard just now, my design would be suspected. We have only onetraitor here--but I must guard against indiscretion. How far is it toBoscobel?"
"Some six-and-twenty miles, my liege," replied Roscarrock. "Yourhorse looks fresh, and will take you there in a few hours, if we arenot interrupted. We must go by Kidderminster and Stourbridge towardsWolverhampton."
"Lord Talbot is well acquainted with the country, and will serve asguide," observed the Earl of Derby. "He has a servant with him, whoknows the whole district, and will be very useful."
The king now signed to Careless, and taking him apart, informed him ofhis design, but bade him say nothing about it, except to Lord Talbot,Lord Wilmot, Colonel Lane, Charles Giffard, and a few others. Carelessentirely approved of the plan, for he was terribly alarmed for theking's safety.
The word being now given that every one must shift for himself, SirRowland Berkeley, Captain Hornyold, and several other county gentlementook leave of the king with such warm expressions of unwaveringdevotion and loyalty as greatly touched his majesty. Lesley, with hisScottish cavalry, took the direct road northward by Newport.
Escorted by some sixty Cavaliers, all well mounted and well armed, andaccompanied by the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Derby, the Earl ofLauderdale, Lord Wilmot, Colonels Roscarrock, Lane, Blague, and CharlesGiffard, and of course attended by Careless, the king started on hisflight.
End of the First Book
Book the Second.
WHITE LADIES.