Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Page 58
CHAPTER IV.
WHERE THE KING FOUND JASPER.
Not long afterwards, they reached Chillington Park, but they did notenter it as Father Huddlestone and his companions had done by theavenue gate, but at the back of the hall where the wood was thickest.
This part of the park was overrun with bushes, and it was here, inRock's Coppice, as it was called, that the dry pit was situated towhich Madmannah had been brought. They forced their way, not withoutsome difficulty, through this broad barrier of brushwood, and then amost charming scene burst upon them for which the king was not at allprepared--having heard no description of it.
At the bottom of a long and deep valley, which constituted the mostbeautiful feature of the park, were several large pools. In later timesthese pools have been thrown together so as to form an extensive lake,which has been further embellished with a bridge, boat-houses, andfishing-houses; but at the period of our history the valley was leftin its wild natural state, and had an air of seclusion which gave it acharm almost as great as that possessed by the present ornamental lake.The high banks on either side were clothed with magnificent timber, andmany trees grew so near the pools as to overshadow them.
Charles first beheld this exquisite scene from an elevation commandingthe whole length of the valley, and the numerous sheets of waterfringed by trees and glittering in the moonlight produced a trulymagical effect, that filled him with rapture.
He halted for a short time to gaze at it, and while his eye wanderedover the pool immediately beneath him he fancied he descried a boatstealing along under the shadow of the trees on the further side ofthe pool, and pointed out the object to Trusty Dick, who was standingbeside him.
"Your majesty is right," said Dick. "'Tis the fishing-boat belongingto the pool. I know it well--having often used it. There is only oneperson in it now--and that person, unless I am very much mistaken, isno other than the page Jasper. How say'st thou, William?" he added,appealing to his elder brother.
"I am of the same opinion," replied William. "I believe it to beJasper."
"Oddsfish! this is strange!" exclaimed the king; "give him a signalthat we are here."
Upon this, Trusty Dick descended the bank, and approaching the marginof the pool, gave a loud whistle.
The signal did not require to be repeated. In another moment the boatwas seen to cross the pool, and now that the bright moonlight fell uponit there could be no doubt that its occupant was Jasper.
A few strokes of the oar brought the page to the spot where TrustyDick was standing, and with very little delay they mounted the banktogether, and came to the king.
"How is it that I find you here?" cried Charles. "Are you alone?"
"Quite alone, sire," replied Jasper. "Major Careless and FatherHuddlestone have left me. But your majesty shall hear what hashappened. Having been told that Colonel James and his troopers had leftChillington House, we were foolish enough to go thither, and foundit in a terrible state, everything knocked to pieces by the rebelsoldiers. While Major Careless and the priest went up-stairs to seewhat further damage had been done, I remained below, and being tired,presently fell asleep on a bench in the hall.
"I was awakened by a great noise in front of the house, and yourmajesty may conceive my fright when I found that a small detachment oftroops had just arrived. At this moment, I heard Major Careless callme, and not knowing what to do ran up the great staircase, but couldfind no one. Listening, I heard that the troopers had come in, so Idid not dare to go down, but hid myself in a closet, and did not quitit for some time, when finding all quiet, I stole forth, and descendedby a back staircase. But this very nearly led to my capture, for someof the troopers were in the kitchen. Fortunately they were eating anddrinking at the time, and did not perceive me, so I hastily retreatedand went up-stairs again as quietly as I could.
"After this narrow escape I did not dare to make another attempt atflight, but wandered about among the deserted rooms during the restof the day. Though I was tired to death of my confinement, I was nottroubled by the troopers, for none of them came up-stairs, though Icould hear them moving about below.
"At length, to my great delight, it began to grow dark, and I hoped myhour of deliverance was at hand. Taking every precaution, I once moredescended the back staircase, and approached the kitchen. No one wasthere. But the troopers had only just left, for I heard them ride outof the court-yard. On the table were the remains of their repast, andyour majesty will not wonder that I picked up all the fragments I couldfind when you consider that I had eaten nothing since I left Boscobelin the morning."
"I fear you made a very scanty meal," said Charles, compassionately.
"No, indeed, my liege, I got quite enough, and having satisfied myappetite, I quitted the house at the back, and very soon gained thepark. Being totally unacquainted with the place I knew not which wayto shape my course, and was afraid of losing myself, but I had heardFather Huddlestone say that your majesty and your escort would be sureto pass through this part of the park, so I determined to look out foryou.
"When I left Chillington House it was almost dark, but the moon hadnow risen, and revealed all the beauties of the scene. I wandered oninsensibly till I came to this valley, when my further progress waschecked by the pool, and I should have turned back had I not discovereda boat moored to the bank. I immediately availed myself of this modeof crossing, but I had only just got into the boat and begun to usethe oars, when I heard sounds on the opposite bank that convinced mesome persons were there. I hoped it might be your majesty and yourattendants, but not feeling quite sure, I thought it best to keep inthe shade lest I might be caught in a trap. Your majesty knows therest, and I have only to beg pardon for my long and tedious narration."
"You have had adventures enough to-day to last you your life," laughedCharles. "But we must not stop here longer. Get up behind me. My horseis somewhat rough, but he is strong enough to carry double."
"He has carried honest Humphrey and Mistress Jane Lane, so I think hewill be able to carry me," replied Jasper.
And assisted by Trusty Dick, he sprang up behind the king. Robin'sbroad back afforded a very comfortable seat, and the page held onsecurely by the king's girdle.
Once more in motion, the little band, which had now got a slightaddition to its numbers, took its way through the woods that hemmed inthe long valley. Frequent glimpses were caught of the shining pools asthey passed along, and so beautiful was this part of the park, that itwas not without regret that Charles quitted it.
The park being inclosed by high pales, they had to make for a gate, andthe nearest place of exit being on the Codsall side, they proceeded inthat direction, and soon issued forth on a wide heath, which spread outfor several miles.
The district that now lay before them was rendered exceedinglypicturesque by its undulating surface, and by the patches of gorse thatcovered it. Here and there arose a knoll crowned with trees. On theright the heath extended to the little village of Codsall, but on thisside, there was more wood. Before them, and reaching almost as far asPendeford, whither they were bound, was a broad uncultivated tract,almost destitute of trees, yet not without a charm of its own.
Viewed, indeed, on a moonlight night like this, when its harsherfeatures were subdued, and its beauties heightened, the heath presenteda very lovely picture.
The night, however, was much too bright and fine for the king's escort,who would have preferred a sky covered with heavy black clouds, andnot a star visible. They consulted together for a few moments in a lowtone, but did not communicate their fears to the king.
"Your attendants do not like crossing this moonlight heath, my liege,"whispered the page.
"So I perceive," rejoined Charles. "Hark ye, my friends," he added tohis guard; "we shall be very much exposed methinks, on this heath. Isthere no other road?"
"None, my liege, without going too far about," rejoined WilliamPenderel. "Yon clump of trees is our mark," he added, pointing to adistant eminence. "Those trees are not far from Moseley
Old Hall.Heaven grant we may get there in safety!"
They then set off across the heath, and the stalwart brothers marchedon as blithely as if they had felt no apprehension. Charles, too,appeared unconcerned, though it may be doubted whether he was not moreuneasy than his guards; but the page gazed timorously around, expectingevery instant to behold a party of the enemy start up from the furzebushes.