CHAPTER XVII.
THE REVEREND BARTHOLOMEW WESLEY.
On entering the house the colonel found Charles and his attendants ina state of the greatest anxiety. His looks announced the ill-tidingshe brought; and it was scarcely necessary for him to relate what hadhappened. The king bore the grievous disappointment better than mighthave been expected, but he could not wholly repress his feelings ofvexation.
"If I had had to do with a man of mettle, master in his own house, aswell as master of his ship, I should have been half-way across theEnglish Channel by this time," he cried. "Fate thwarts me at everyturn; but I will not be cast down. We shall hear what Captain Ellesdonsays. Perhaps he may be able to find me another vessel."
"After what has occurred, I do not think it will be safe for yourmajesty to remain here," said Colonel Wyndham. "Limbry's wife willprobably publish all she knows. Besides, I do not like the looks of theostler. The knave eyed me suspiciously as I gave him my horse just now,and muttered something about my being out all night."
"Where would you have me go? What would you have me do?" cried Charles.
"Perhaps Captain Ellesdon may suggest some plan," said the colonel."We shall hear when Peters returns; but my notion is that your majestyshould ride on to Bridport. You may have better luck there than here."
"My horse has cast a shoe," said Lord Wilmot, rising to quit the room."If we are going to start immediately, I must send him to a smith."
So saying, he went out, and proceeding to the stable, gave the ostlerthe necessary instructions. Like Colonel Wyndham, he was struck withthe man's inquisitive manner, and declined to have any conversationwith him.
"I can't make these folks out," thought Reuben. "There's the strangestgoings on with them I ever knew. 'Tis my belief they're a pack ofmalignants trying to escape; but I'll soon find it out."
Thus ruminating, and considering what reward he should obtain forgiving information against his mistress's guests, he took Lord Wilmot'shorse to a blacksmith, named Seth Hammet, whose smithy was in the lowerpart of the village. Bidding the smith good morrow, he told him he hadbrought him a job.
Seth Hammet, who was a sharp-looking young man, thanked him, but beingof an inquisitive turn, he added, "You've got some gentlefolks at theinn, I think?"
"Ay, ay," replied Reuben, not desiring to take him into his confidence."This horse belongs to one of them."
"A fine horse," observed Hammet, looking at him admiringly. "But theyall seem well mounted. Where do they come from?"
"I don't happen to know," replied Reuben, in a tone meant to signifythat he did not feel inclined to tell. "Somewhere in Devonshire, Ibelieve."
"Well, I can easily find out," observed Hammet, with a knowing look.
"I should like to know how?" rejoined Reuben, surprised.
"I'll show you presently," said the smith.
"If there's witchcraft in it, I won't have anything to do with it,"said Reuben.
"Bless you! there's no witchcraft in it. 'Tis the simplest thingpossible, as you'll see. Two of your guests have been out all night."
"How do you know that?" asked Reuben.
"Because I saw them return, not half an hour ago. The servant rode onto Lyme. I'm sure of it, for I heard his master tell him to go on toCaptain Ellesdon's house."
"Ah, indeed!" exclaimed the ostler, surprised.
"Yes, you didn't know that, Reuben," said the smith. "Now let usproceed to business."
Thereupon, he took up the horse's feet, and examined the shoes, twiceover, very deliberately.
After the second examination, he said, with a grin:
"Now, Reuben, I can tell you something that will surprise you. Thishorse has only three shoes on, as you know. Each shoe has been put onin a different county--Somerset, Stafford, Worcester."
"Did you say Worcester?" cried Reuben.
"Look here," replied Hammet, lifting up one of the horse's fore-feet."That shoe came from Worcester. Now, don't you think I'm a conjurer?"
"I don't know what to think," replied Reuben.
But it seemed as if something had suddenly struck him, for he saidrather hastily, "I can't stay any longer. I want to see our minister,Mr. Wesley; I'll come back for the horse presently."
So saying, he ran off to Mr. Wesley's dwelling, which was at no greatdistance, but he found that the minister was at prayers with hisfamily, and knowing from experience that the reverend gentleman'sdiscourses were rather lengthy, he would not wait, but went on to theinn.
During his absence Harry Peters, who had galloped there and back, hadreturned from Lyme, and was now with the king. Peters had seen CaptainEllesdon, who was quite confounded to hear of the failure of the plan,having persuaded himself that his majesty was then on the way to St.Malo.
"Never in my life have I seen a man so greatly troubled as the captainappeared," said Peters. "He humbly tenders his advice to your majestynot to make any longer stay in Charmouth. He would have ridden over tooffer his counsel in person, and urge your immediate departure, had itbeen safe to do so. Rumours, he says, are sure to be bruited abroad,which will infallibly lead to strict search and pursuit by CaptainMacy."
Captain Ellesdon's counsel so completely coincided with the opinionpreviously expressed by Colonel Wyndham and his other adherents, thatthe king determined to act upon it, and preparations were made for hisimmediate departure. Juliana had retired to rest in a chamber providedfor her by Dame Swan, but she had been astir for some time, and was nowin the hostess's room, quite ready to start.
Dame Swan was with her, when a maid-servant entered and informed hermistress that Reuben, the ostler, desired to speak with her, and shewent out to him.
Displeased by his manner and looks, Dame Swan said to him very sharply,"Why are you not in the stable, Reuben, helping the young man to getready the horses? If you have aught to say to me, it can be said at amore convenient opportunity, when the guests are gone."
"No, it cannot," replied the ostler. "No opportunity like the present.Hear what I have to say, and be warned. I will not saddle or bridlethe horses--neither will I suffer your guests to depart. They aremalignants. I have proof of it."
"Fie upon you, Reuben!" cried his mistress. "You have been drinkingstrong waters on an empty stomach, and your brain is confused."
"I have only drunk my customary pot of cider," he rejoined; "and mybrain is clear enough to convince me that Charles Stuart is now in thishouse."
"What do I hear?" cried Dame Swan, putting the best face she could onthe matter. "Out on thee, for a false knave! Dost want to injure myhouse by thy lies? There are none but gentlefolks here--men true to theCommonwealth. Go to the stable at once, and bring round the horses, orthou shalt quit my service."
"I do not design to remain in your service, misguided woman," herejoined; "and I warn you not to let these malignants depart. I am nowgoing to the Reverend Bartholomew Wesley, and will bring him back withme."
"A fig for thy minister!" she rejoined.
But as soon as he was gone she flew to the parlour in which Charles andthe others were assembled, and informed them of the danger. On this,the whole party hastened to the stable.
Fortunately, Harry Peters had got the horses ready, so that in anotherminute they were all mounted--all, except Lord Wilmot, whose horse hadnot been brought back. Careless accompanied his lordship to the smithy.
As Dame Swan assisted Juliana to take her seat on the pillion behind,the king bade her adieu, and putting his arm round her neck, kissed herheartily.
He then rode off with his attendants towards Bridport, Lord Wilmot andCareless being left behind.
They had not been gone long, when a short, stout personage enteredthe inn, and greeted the hostess, though in rather a singular manner.He was arrayed in a black gown with Geneva bands, and a close-fittingblack velvet skull-cap, that set off his ruddy visage. This was theReverend Bartholomew Wesley, an ancestor we may remark of the renownedJohn Wesley. His countenance had a strange sarcastic expression, thoughhe put on an air of m
ock respect.
"I scarce know how to approach you, Margaret, you are grown such amighty grand dame," he said, with an affected reverence.
"Eh day! what's the meaning of this foolery?" she cried.
"You must be a maid of honour, at least," pursued the minister. "Nay,nay, you can't gainsay me. Charles Stuart slept at your house lastnight, and kissed you when he went away. 'Twas a great honour, nodoubt--a very great honour--and you may well be proud."
"I should be proud, if I thought it was the king who had kissed me,"she rejoined, sharply. "But the guests who slept in my house last nightwere plain country gentlemen, and it's no business of yours to meddlewith them."
"Slept, quotha!" cried Wesley, lifting up his hands. "Why, not one ofthe party has been a-bed except the young damsel, and two of them havebeen out all night. You see I'm well informed, Margaret!"
"I know who has told you these shameful falsehoods--'tis that false,mischief-making knave, Reuben Rufford."
"Reuben is an honest man, and of the right leaven. You will have torender an account of your guests, dame."
"I tell you my guests were all strangers to me. How can I give anaccount of them? They paid their lawful reckoning, and that's more thaneverybody does. All you desire is to get me into trouble--but I'm notafraid. Out of my house with you!"
"Woman! woman! listen to me!"
"No, I won't listen to you any longer. Out of my house, I say; or I'llfind some one to kick you out."
Not knowing to what extremities the indignant dame might resort, theminister deemed it prudent to retreat, but he shook his clenched handat her as he went out.
On coming forth he was joined by Reuben, and they went down to thesmithy together. Seth Hammet told them that the gentleman had takenaway his horse not many minutes ago, whereupon they both upbraided himfor his want of zeal.
"Dolt! we should have captured the malignant, had you deprived him ofthe means of flight," said Wesley.
"I did resist," rejoined Hammet; "but he had a friend with him, andthey forced me to deliver up the horse. However, I was right well paidfor the job, for one of them flung me a pistole."
"Which way did they go? To Bridport?" demanded the minister.
"I think so," replied Hammet. "They rode up Stonebarrow Hill, andseemed to be making for Moorcomblake."
"They have fled, but they shall not escape," said Wesley. "We willhie unto Mr. Butler of Commer. He is the nearest justice of peace,and when he has heard our statement, he will despatch his warrants toraise the country for the apprehension of the Malignant Prince, andthose traitors to the Commonwealth who were with him last night at DameSwan's hostelry."
Thereupon, they all set off for Mr. Butler's residence, which was at nogreat distance from Charmouth, and on arriving there they were quicklyadmitted to the presence of the justice.
Now Mr. Butler was secretly a Royalist, though he prudently concealedhis opinions, and on hearing Reuben Rufford's statement, he assumed avery severe countenance, and said,
"I know your mistress, Dame Swan, to be a very honest woman, and I alsoknow you to be an arrant knave, having had several complaints madeagainst you. I attach not the slightest credence to your statement. Ido not believe that Charles Stuart is in this part of the country, andI therefore refuse to issue a warrant for his apprehension."
Mr. Wesley made an effort to move him, but the justice continuedinflexible, and the applicants, who had made certain of success, leftin high dudgeon.
But they were determined not to be baffled, and at the minister'sinstance, Reuben and Hammet set off at once for Lyme Regis, for thepurpose of laying the matter before Captain Macy.
"I shall be greatly surprised," said Wesley, "if the captain, whois keen and clear-sighted, very different from this dull-witted,prejudiced justice, does not immediately discern the truth."
They were not long in getting to Lyme Regis, and very soon foundCaptain Macy--a fierce and zealous Republican soldier--who listened toall they had to narrate with the utmost interest and attention.
As Mr. Wesley anticipated, he took a very different view of the casefrom Justice Butler.
"You have done well in coming hither," he said; "and if the young man,Charles Stuart, be captured, as with Heaven's grace he will be, yeshall both be amply rewarded. I will start in pursuit of him at once,Ye say that he and his attendants are gone towards Bridport."
"The person, whom I believe to be Charles Stuart, is gone in thatdirection," said Reuben. "You will know him, inasmuch as he hath a fairyoung damsel seated on a pillion behind him."
"Two of his companions took a different course," remarked Hammet. "Butno doubt they will rejoin him."
"Charles Stuart is the prize I aim at," cried Captain Macy. "Him will Ifollow."
"Him will you assuredly capture, provided you loiter not by the way,captain," said Reuben.
"'Tis not my custom to loiter," rejoined Captain Macy. "Thou shalt gowith me. I may need thee."
Not five minutes afterwards, he was riding at a rapid trot, at thehead of a dozen men, across the hard sands to Charmouth. Mounted ona stout trooper's horse, Reuben rode beside him, and it was a greatsatisfaction to the spiteful ostler, when the detachment was drawn upbefore the little inn, and Dame Swan was summoned forth to speak toCaptain Macy.
The interrogation did not last many minutes, the captain stating thathe would question her further on his return. He was detained a littlelonger by Mr. Wesley, who wished to have a few words with him, anddeclared it to be his firm conviction that Charles Stuart had passedthe night at Dame Swan's hostel.
After this, Captain Macy gave the word, and the troop trotted off, inthe same order as before, on the road to Bridport.
"Heaven grant the king may escape them!" ejaculated the hostess as shereturned to her room. "I wonder I didn't sink to the ground when thatstern officer spoke to me. I trembled in every limb. This is all thatwicked Reuben's doing. I saw the villain with the troopers. May heavenrequite him!"
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 98
