CHAPTER I.
HOW THE TWO GROOMS CHANGED HORSES AT STOKE-ON-THE-WOLD.
A fine, fresh, autumnal morning gladdened Charles and his faircompanion as they set out from Long Marston. The king was in excellentspirits, and laughed at his adventures on the previous night. Afterpassing Church Honeybourne and Weston Subedge, they ascended Dover'sHill, on which the renowned Cotswold Games, sung by Ben Jonson andDrayton, were celebrated in the time of the king's grandsire, but werediscontinued on the outbreak of the Civil Wars. While crossing thishill, which had been the scene of so many pleasant gatherings in formerdays, Charles promised himself that if he ever ruled the land thosemanly sports should be revived. From this eminence they looked downupon the fair and fertile valley in which Chipping-Campden is situated,and after enjoying the delightful prospect for a short time, theydescended from the uplands and rode towards the pleasant old town.
Chipping-Campden, at the period of our story, was a great mart forwool; and it chanced that on this very day a large sheep fair washeld in the vicinity of the town. Numerous flocks of sheep driven byshepherds and attended by farmers, mounted on horses as rough-lookingas themselves, beset the road.
As Charles rode on, hoping to pass through the throng unmolested, thesheep-breeders pressed around him, each vaunting the excellence of hisfleeces, and affirming that he had the best sheep on the Cotswolds.Jane took upon herself to answer, and explained that they were merelytravellers, and did not desire to purchase wool. The explanation didnot prove altogether satisfactory, and the churlish farmers began toeye the supposed groom suspiciously.
"Thee warn't bred on the Wowlds," remarked one of them. "Where dostcome from?"
"Why, thou'rt as fierce as a Cotswold lion, and that's a sheep,"rejoined Charles. "What be it to thee where I come from?"
"Thou look'st as sharp as if thou lived on Tewkesbury mustard," criedthe farmer.
"And I should take thee to be a man of Dursley," responded Charles, whowas acquainted with some of the local proverbs.
"Why, there he has hit thee, Guy Naunton," cried another of thefarmers. "I never knowed thee keep a promise."
"I never broke my word to thee, Mat Mickleton, or to any one else,"rejoined Naunton, angrily.
"Did any of you ever join the sports on Dover's Hill?" cried Charles.
"Why dost ask?" cried Mickleton.
"Because I would challenge one and all of you to run, leap, wrestle, oruse the quarter-staff," rejoined Charles.
"There be no more Cotswold Games now--more's the pity!" criedMickleton. "But I be ready and willing to try a bowt with thee atquarter-staff."
"No, no, Will Jones," interposed Jane. "Pass on thy way. Thou wilt getinto a brawl with these men."
"Thy groom be a saucy knave, and shall give an account of himself tothe town bailiff," said Naunton.
"Keep thy hands off my bridle, or I will lay my whip on thy shoulders,"cried Charles, sharply.
"Contain yourself, or we shall have a quarrel," whispered Jane,beginning to feel alarmed at the menacing looks thrown at the king."Let me go, I beg of you," she added aloud to the others. "I have apass for myself and my servant."
"Show it to the bailiff," rejoined Naunton. "We'll take you to him."
Chipping-Campden consisted of a single street of some length, in thecentre of which stood the Court-house and the Market-house. Owing tothe fair the little town was very full, and the concourse collected inthe market-place stared hard at the strange cavalcade as it approached,the general impression being that a fugitive Cavalier had been captured.
Informed that an arrest had been made, the bailiff, as the chiefmagistrate of the place was styled, came forth from the Court-house,to ascertain particulars, and when an explanation had been given him,and Jane's pass produced for his inspection, he directed that the ladyshould be allowed to proceed on her journey without further hindrance.
"As you have thought fit to stop her without authority," he said to thefarmers, "my order is that you make amends by conducting her to thefurther end of the town."
This was done, and Charles and his fair companion got safely out ofChipping-Campden.
Skirting Northwick Park, and passing over the bleak downs beyondBlockley, they reached Bourton-on-the-Hill, where they halted for ashort time. Being now among the wolds, they had nothing before them buta succession of low, rolling downs, which afforded excellent pasturefor sheep, but were entirely uncultivated, and covered with greatpatches of furze. Not a village was to be seen for miles--only, hereand there, a solitary farm-house or a shepherd's cot.
On mounting the lofty hill on which Stow-on-the-Wold is situated,the travellers obtained an extensive view of the wild district theyhad just traversed. Stow-on-the-Wold is said to want three of theelements--fire, earth, and water. How this may be we know not, butair it can never lack, seeing that it is exposed to all the winds ofheaven. Bleaker place cannot be found. What the old town might be likein winter, when the hill on the summit of which it was perched wascovered with snow, and when the bitter north wind howled round thecorners of the houses, and found its way through every window and door,Charles did not care to consider. It looked pleasant and cheerful now,with the sun shining brightly on the quaint old buildings, and upon thepinnacles of the lofty church tower.
Riding up to the hostel, which bore the sign of the Three Choughs, ourtravellers alighted, and while Charles took the horse to the stables,Jane put herself under the care of the landlady--a decent middle-ageddame--and was conducted by her to a private room, where refreshmentswere soon afterwards set before her.
As Charles was returning from the stable, another arrival took place,that brought forth host and hostess. A second groom, with a young dameseated behind him on a pillion, had ridden up to the inn door.
Great was the king's astonishment on discovering that the new-comerswere no other than Careless and Dame Gives, the latter having resumedthe habits of her sex, while the former had put on a disguise similarto his own. On beholding the king, Dame Gives called out:
"Ah, Will Jones, I am glad to see thee. My man, Tom Elton, has riddenhard to overtake thee and thy young mistress, and at last he hassucceeded."
"I did not know you were following us, madam, or I would have stopped,"replied Charles. "My young lady is in the house."
"She is partaking of a slight repast within, madam," remarked thehostess. "Shall I take you to her?"
Dame Gives then alighted and entered the house, while Charles andCareless marched off together to the stable. As soon as he couldfind an opportunity Careless explained the cause of his unexpectedappearance, as well as the object of his disguise.
"Those confounded troopers, Ezra and Madmannah, are following yourmajesty," he said; "and I have adopted this disguise to baffle them.Evidently, the object of the rogues is to secure to themselves thewhole of the reward offered for your apprehension, and they will not,therefore, let any of their comrades into their plan. Had they done soyou must have been captured. That Worcester horse has been the maincause of their getting on your track. The blacksmith at the littlevillage near Packington Park described the horse you had broughtto his smithy, and Madmannah at once knew it to be his own. Havingobtained this information, they came to Packington Hall, and owing tothat piece of imprudence I discovered their plans, and immediatelystarted after them. They went on to Henley-in-Arden, to Wootton, andStratford-on-Avon, where they passed the night. At Stratford I wasfortunate enough to meet with Dame Gives, and she suggested the plan tome, which, as you see, I have put into execution. Everything necessaryto carry it out was procured at Stratford, the groom's dress I nowwear, and the pillion for Dame Gives, who readily agreed to accompanyme. All that now remains to be done is that your majesty and myselfshould change horses, and then I will undertake to put the rogues on afalse scent."
"Oddsfish! 'tis an excellent plan!" cried Charles, laughing heartily."No wit like a woman's wit, and Dame Gives is as sharp-witted as any ofher sex."
Careless then proceeded to inform the king th
at he had leftStratford-on-Avon before sunrise, so that as far as he could judge theymust be considerably in advance of the troopers.
"I give your majesty half an hour here--not longer," said Careless.
"Half an hour will suffice," said the king. "But let us in at once. Ifeel outrageously hungry."
Entering the house, they called out lustily for something to eat,whereupon a cold meat pie and the remains of a ham were set beforethem. On these they set to work, and in less time than had been allowedby Careless had entirely demolished the pie and emptied a jug of ale.They had just finished their repast when the hostess informed them thatthe ladies were ready to start, whereupon they proceeded to the stableand changed horses, as agreed upon.
Meanwhile, Dame Gives had fully explained matters to Jane, whoquite approved of the plan. On coming forth she made no remark, butunhesitatingly took her seat behind the king, who was now mountedon the horse previously ridden by Careless. Dame Gives was equallyexpeditious in her movements, and the two grooms setting off at once,the change of steeds was unnoticed by the host and hostess.
Before descending the hill Careless surveyed the country round, butcould descry nothing of the pursuers.
Leaving the old mansion of Maugersbury on the left, they entered apleasant valley, watered by a clear trout-stream, and proceeded alongthe old Roman Foss Way. After crossing Stow Bridge, they passed acharming little village through the midst of which ran the trout-streambefore mentioned, and shaped their course towards Bourton-on-the-Water.
Nothing could be pleasanter than this part of the ride, and enlivenedby the cheerful companionship of Careless and Dame Gives, Charles for atime gave vent to his natural gaiety, and seemed quite to forget thatthe enemy was on his track.
Though apparently quite as unconcerned as his royal master, Carelesskept a sharp look-out. Nothing, however, had occurred to cause themalarm. After passing through the pretty town of Bourton-on-the-Water,the houses of which are built on either side of the river Windrush,they returned to the Foss Way, which they had temporarily quitted.
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 73
