Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Page 66
CHAPTER IV.
HOW WILL JONES BREAKFASTED WITH THE MEN-SERVANTS IN THE BUTTERY.
Entering the buttery hatch, the king found the men-servants assembledat their morning meal. They were breakfasting very substantially oncold roast beef and ale. Concluding that he was the new groom, theyasked him to join them, and Mr. March, the butler, who sat at the headof the table, and was treated with much respect by the others, carvedhim some slices of meat, and bade him fill his cup freely from the bigbrown jug before him.
"You will find the ale good in this house, young man, I'll warrantyou," observed Mr. March, whose stout person showed that he drankplenty of it himself. "We brew no small beer here. You are lucky ingetting the place, let me tell you--all the more lucky that our younglady never before had a groom to attend her."
"That's very true, Mr. March," said one of the men. "Mistress Janewould never ride on a pillion with old Lutwyche. This young man maytherefore consider himself highly honoured."
"Will Jones I believe is your name," said the butler. "Well, then,Will, you look like an honest young man--a simple young man, I maysay--but you may be a very great rogue for all that." Here there was ageneral laugh, in which Charles himself joined good humouredly. "Nay, Imean no offence," pursued Mr. March. "I repeat, you look like an honestyoung man, but you may be a Roundhead, and all Roundheads are rogues.Am I not right?" he cried to the others.
General assent to the proposition.
"You see what sort of society you are in, young man, and can draw yourown conclusions," pursued the butler. "There may be good fellowshipamongst us, or there may not, according as we find you. What are yourprinciples--Royalist or Republican?"
"I am as staunch a Royalist as yourself, Mr. March," rejoined Charles,sturdily.
"Give me your hand. Now that we know your principles, we can trustyou, and talk freely. This is a Royalist house. All within it are swornto the king. Our honoured master, the colonel, fought for his majestyat Worcester, and we should have fought for him had we been there. Ouryoung mistress rendered the king great service."
"Ay, that she did," cried Charles, earnestly--"services he ought neverto forget."
"Ay, she's a brave young lady," said March, "and has more spirit in herthan many a man. If the king could be saved by a woman, Mistress Janeis the one to do it."
"What has become of the king since Worcester fight?" inquired thesupposed groom.
"Thou canst keep a secret, Will Jones?--ha!"
"Ay, marry, can I," was the answer.
"But swear thou wilt not reveal what I shall disclose to thee."
"If an oath be necessary, I swear to keep silence."
"Then learn that his sacred majesty is in this house. He came hereyesterday. I recognised him at once, and let him see that I did so."
"Did he admit his high rank?"
"Not exactly--but he didn't deny it. Thou thyself hast seen him andconversed with him!"
Will Jones expressed his astonishment.
"Yes, he went with thee to the stables this morning."
"Was that the king?" cried Will Jones. "I should never have thought it."
"Wherefore not? Undoubtedly the person in question is much handsomerthan his majesty is reported, for the Roundheads always paint him inblack colours--but 'tis the king I will maintain."
At this moment Careless entered the buttery, and looked around as if inquest of some one.
"'Tis he!" exclaimed the butler, rising.
All the other servants rose at the same time, but Will Jones went onquietly with his breakfast.
"Get up," said March, in a low tone. "I tell thee 'tis the king."
"I am not supposed to know him," replied Will Jones.
"Don't disturb yourselves, I beg," said Careless. "When thou hastfinished breakfast, Will, I want to speak to thee."
"I shall have done directly," rejoined the disguised groom, regardlessof the butler's glances.
"Was there ever such an oaf!" cried March, in a low voice. "Has yourmajesty any commands that I can execute?" he added, stepping forward,and making a profound obeisance to Careless.
"Hush!" exclaimed the other. "You will betray me."
"No fear of Will Jones, my liege," rejoined March. "A dolt, but trusty.Your majesty may take him into your confidence."
"He knows who I am, then?" said Careless.
"He does, my liege. I made the revelation to him under a solemn pledgeof secrecy. I hope I have not done wrong."
"If a mistake has been made, 'tis too late now to remedy it," saidCareless.
"No harm has been done, I can assure your majesty. I'll answer for theyoung man. Will Jones!" he cried, authoritatively, "dost not perceivethat thou art wanted?"
But the obstinate groom refused to move.
"Let him finish his breakfast, and then send him after me to thestables," said Careless, quitting the buttery.
"Is this thy respect for the king, sirrah?" cried March, rushing to thetable, and snatching away the plate which the supposed Will Jones hadjust filled. "Not another mouthful shalt thou eat. After his majesty atonce, and crave pardon for thy ill manners."
"He has interfered with my breakfast," grumbled Will Jones.
"Interfered with thee! Thou hast eaten too much already. Begone!"
But the imperturbable Will Jones deliberately filled a horn cup withale, emptied it, and then marched off, leaving the butler and the otherservants perfectly astounded at his coolness.