Courtier in the Royal House of Stuart

by Leslie Hatton

  Thomas with the map spread out on the ground started by poking a finger at Lyme Regis. ‘If we find the sea we cannot get lost, and I have to admit that on the way I would like to see what damage Cromwell did to Corfe Castle, and also to find out what has happened to Lady Banks, the lady who on her own was defending the castle. She only lost when she was betrayed by one of her own servants.

  ‘Going straight down to the coast may take us longer than the more direct route, but that way has some merit because we will avoid going through Salisbury.’

  ‘We have yet to see a single Roundhead,’ I said. ‘Not one.’

  ‘And I don’t think we will Toby… not many anyway,’ Thomas said as he folded up the map. ‘We now know that Cromwell expected us to travel south through Worcester and Gloucester to Southampton. So if I am correct, we won’t see any Roundheads until we cross to the east side of Southampton Water.’

  ‘And where will that be?’ asked Charles.

  ‘Romsey. But we have a long way to walk before we need to worry about that.’

  We relaxed, ate the pork pies while they were still reasonably fresh and some fruit. We then washed it all down with some of Mary’s cider.

  ‘Which port do you think we will be leaving England from?’ I asked.

  Both Charles and I stood facing Thomas, waiting for his answer.

  ‘I think we may have an ally in Sir Algernon Percy, the 11th Earl of Northumberland. His home is Petworth House… somewhere north of Portsmouth. About fifteen miles I think. We should find him and ask his advice.’

  Satisfied that we had a reasonably sensible plan, and anxious to make progress, we didn’t wait for complete darkness before leaving our camp near Shepton Mallet late in the afternoon.

  The days were getting shorter giving us more time for travelling, but now after being six weeks on the road, we were all weary. The sole was coming away from one of my boots, Charles had a swollen toe and blisters on the heels of both feet, and Thomas was suffering with his knees. But nobody really complained. If we were to escape England we had no choice but to continue.

  Travelling during the hours of darkness, it took us three days to reach the south coast at Lyme Regis, by which time we had run out of food and had very little money to buy more.

  Not wanting to risk entering the town, we walked eastward along the beach path until we came upon a small hamlet. Thomas gave me the rest of our money, and sent me to buy what provisions I could.

  Continuing eastwards, we avoided Weymouth by crossing a chalk stream just south of Dorchester eventually finding Corfe Castle at daybreak on the fourth day.

  The horizon to the east was a fiery glow, gradually changing as the sun climbed slowly in the sky. There was just the occasional whispery white cloud to break up what would otherwise have been a clear sky.

  The once proud Corfe Castle which stood on a natural hillock was now no more than a pile of rubble.

  Charles gazed up in bewilderment, and with tears in his eyes whispering quietly to himself, ‘what sort of a man would do that, how could anyone justify such cruelty, how can Cromwell defend such vindictive vandalism?’

  Thomas lamented. ‘Poor Lady Banks, the unfortunate brave lady. If he can do this to her home I hate to think what he has done to her.’

  We were all startled when a voice from behind called, ‘He made a bloody mess of the castle didn’t he?’

  We turned to face a portly farmer carrying a shepherd’s crook.

  ‘What happened to Lady Banks?’ asked Charles.

  ‘The army took her away in 1646, and no one has seen her since… are you travellers?’

  ‘We have been on the road all night, is there anywhere we can lay our heads for an hour or two?’

  ‘You can use my barn… it’s just beyond those trees,’ he said pointing with his crook.

  We didn’t see him again, twelve hours later when we were ready to continue on our journey, he still had not returned.

  Walking by night and sleeping by the day, we avoided Christchurch, crept silently through Romsey and Petersfield, arriving at Petworth House, West Sussex, in total darkness, a little over a week after landing on the north coast of Somerset.

  Apart from the gentle trickle of a stream meandering its way towards the River Rother a mile away, all was quiet in the grounds of Petworth House. We found a gardener’s shed where we took shelter from the cold, deciding it best to wait until daylight before presenting ourselves at the house.

  It was still dark when we saw the first signs of life. Domestics had lit the house fires and started their daily chores.

  Charles pulled once on the door bell and waited in a state of anxiety not knowing what to expect or who might answer.

  A smartly dressed footman opened the door looking surprised and slightly annoyed at being disturbed by strangers so early in the morning.

  ‘How may I help you… are you looking for work?’

  ‘We request an audience with Sir Algernon Percy.’

  He looked at each of us in turn… stopping when he realised who we were, his mouth was open, and there was fear in his eyes. He looked over his shoulder to check nobody was listening then talking directly to me asked, ‘Tell me young sir… is your name Toby?’

  I glanced at Thomas not being quite sure how I should answer, he nodded.

  ‘I am sir.’

  ‘Then you sir must be Thomas Hudson?’ he said.

  ‘Indeed I am.’

  ‘Then welcome my Lord King,’ he whispered to Charles as he bowed his head, ‘but I confess my Lord that I am baffled as to why you should come here to see Lord Percy. Unless it is to surrender.’

  ‘That is the last thing we wish to do. I was hoping Lord Percy would help find us a ship to the continent.’

  ‘Wait here. I will be only a minute,’ he said as he shut the door and scurried away.

  ‘It appears that you two are more recognisable than I,’ said Charles.

  True to his word our benefactor was back in seconds with some keys.

  ‘The summerhouse is shut up for the winter. Hide in there, lock yourselves in and I will get to you as soon as I can. Trust me my Lord… you do not want to see Algernon Percy.’ He pointed to his right. ‘Follow that path… you will find the summerhouse 200 yards on the left.’

  He closed the door leaving us perplexed and confused, and with no choice but to put our trust in a man who as yet we knew nothing about.

  We found the summerhouse easy enough and let ourselves in, locking the door behind us.

  Apart from a large marble table, the only furniture was seating. There were four high backed wicker chairs with cushions, a couple of settees and some soft armchairs, all covered with protective throws. The windows were hidden behind drapes, protecting us from inquisitive eyes. We had been walking for many hours and were happy just to settle down, to wait and to hope, surely we can’t fail now… not after coming so far.

  We occasionally peeped through the drapes, but saw nothing or nobody until well into the afternoon when we were then disturbed by someone tapping quietly on the door, and a female voice calling, ‘My Lords… let me in.’

  Thomas unlocked the door and let in a young woman about my age.

  ‘My father says he won’t be able to see you until this evening… he says to keep quiet and stay here until he comes.’ She handed a basket to me and smiled, ‘It’s some food and drink. I prepared it for you myself.’

  ‘Who is the man who sent us here?’ asked Thomas.

  Ignoring Thomas and looking at me she said, ‘He is my father Edward Fowler. I am Jenny.’

  I took the basket from her and smiled back at her. ‘Thank you Jenny you’re very kind. Pretty too.’

  She curtsied, blushed and replied, ‘Thank you my Lord.’

  ‘Tell me Jenny. Do you know who we are?’

  ‘Yes my Lord. You are R
oyalists running away from Cromwell’s soldiers.’

  ‘I wonder if you could do something for me.’ I showed her the boot that was falling apart. ‘Do you think you could find some boots that would fit me, and something for the blisters on my friend’s feet?’ I said pointing to Charles.

  ‘I will do my very best my Lord.’

  ‘I know you will Jenny. But don’t tell anyone else. It can be our little secret.’

  She started to walk to the door, turned her head and smiled again at me, and then she was gone.

  ‘You’re very kind Jenny,’ Thomas said copying my voice. ‘And pretty too,’ Charles mimicked. ‘And how long have you been a Lord?’

  ‘Shut up you two… we may be able to use her later, I’m just keeping her sweet.’

  ‘Telling your king to shut up is treason is it not Thomas?’

  ‘I do believe it is my Lord.’

  ‘I could have your head cut off… but I might let you off this time,’ said Charles as he wrestled me to the floor laughing.

  ‘You will be thanking me when she brings something to soothe your sore feet.’

  ‘Be quiet children,’ Thomas scolded.

  ***

  Edward Fowler did not appear until early evening, just as the last glimmer of daylight was dropping behind the trees. He arrived with more food and drink and introduced himself as Edward the house manager.

  ‘My Lords. By coming to Petworth House you have walked into a hornets’ nest. I am surprised you got this far. Cromwell’s army are on every road between here and Gloucester, they are also covering all roads leading to London and to Dover.’

  ‘We didn’t come that way, we crossed the Severn into Somerset by boat, and wherever possible avoided the towns and cities, sleeping in forests in the daytime and travelling at night. We didn’t go near Gloucester or use any of the roads south of there.’

  ‘Then you must have come through Romsey.’

  ‘We skirted round the town and were especially careful not to be seen.’

  ‘My master is away at the moment… probably looking for you, so we must get you away from here as quickly and safely as possible.’

  ‘The reason we chose Petworth,’ said Charles, ‘was because we thought we had an ally in Lord Percy. His sister Lucy and younger brother Henry were members of my father’s household.’

  ‘Algernon Percy is an officer in the puritan army. So the sooner we get you away from here the better it will be for us all. I have a home in Steyning… a village close to Shoreham-on-sea ten miles from here. I need to find a way to get you there unseen where I can hide you until I find a ship to take you to France.’

  ‘We have walked past soldiers undetected on our way here by being in disguise,’ said Thomas. ‘We dressed Toby as a woman, Charles as her husband and myself as a clergyman… perhaps you could try that.’

  Fowler stood for a moment scratching his head… seemingly considering Thomas’s suggestion.

  ‘A mile south of here, there is a crossroads with a sign pointing to Burdocks. You will find plenty of cover there, you can take shelter until my daughter finds you. Do you still have some women’s clothes?’ he asked me.

  ‘Afraid not… I was glad to get rid of them.’

  ‘No matter, I will find you some more… and perhaps something warmer for you and Mr Hudson my Lord. I suggest you leave after midnight when everyone is asleep.’

  ‘How long do you think it will take us to get to Steyning?’

  ‘Jenny will take you to my mother’s cottage and I will follow as soon as I can.’

  Before we had a chance to ask any more questions he turned and was gone.

  We did as Fowler advised and left Petworth House two hours after midnight. We followed the road south east covering the short journey to the crossroads in less than an hour. We then settled down in the trees to wait for Jenny. It was a clear cold night with a full moon lighting up the night sky. An early frost covering the fields in a blanket of white.

  We had seen not a soul since leaving Petworth, and had no idea how long we would have to wait. But just before dawn, we heard the sound of a trotting pony and wheels on the road. Fowler had chosen his timing well, knowing that it would be quiet at this time in the morning.

  I didn’t recognise Jenny at first, her hat and scarf covering almost all of her face against the cold, and her heavy coat making her look much larger than she was.

  ‘Here’s your girlfriend Toby, are you looking forward to seeing her again?’

  ‘My girlfriend is in The Hague at Noordeinde Palace.’

  ‘Still pining for little Anne Huxley are you?’ teased Charles.

  ‘I will marry her one day.’

  ‘Not if her father has any say in the matter… though I don’t understand why. You would make a good catch for his daughter.’

  ‘If that was meant as a compliment, I thank you.’

  Jenny acknowledged us with a wave but continued past for a hundred yards before turning into the trees. By the time we caught up with her she had taken the horse to a clearing in the forest and turned it round ready to continue the journey. She removed her scarf to smile at me and then completely ignoring the King of England, handed me a basket. ‘These are for you… I picked them myself.’

  I took the basket off her, quickly changed into my new clothes and was the first up on the trap to claim the seat next to the driver before Jenny had finished dealing with the others.

  Jenny talked for the whole two hours of the journey to Steyning, hardly stopping to take a breath.

  We stopped just short of the village beside a thatched cottage surrounded by roses… which in the summer must have been a blaze of colour but was now sad and dying.

  ‘Come and meet my nan,’ she said as she leapt down… throwing the reins off her lap.

  Her nan was a woman not much older than Thomas, and my first thought when I saw her was that she must have been a beautiful woman when she was younger. We had followed Jenny into the kitchen where she was chopping vegetables, but as we entered she stopped to wipe her hands on her pinafore.

  Jenny kissed her grandmother and then introduced me. ‘This is Toby. Father says you have to hide him and his friends from the soldiers for a few days.’

  Charles and Thomas looked at each other and smiled.

  ‘Welcome to my home gentlemen, if I had known I was having visitors I would have been better prepared,’ she said as she took a heavy pan off the trivet.

  Thomas stepped forward. ‘Here… let me do that for you my dear.’

  The cottage was large but the rooms were small and dark… and a little smoky from the fires.

  ‘Jenny my dear… make some coffee for the gentlemen while I prepare the spare rooms.’

  Jenny scurried away and came back with a jug of coffee. ‘It will only take me a minute, why don’t you two gentlemen go and sit in the parlour. Toby and I will bring the coffee.’

  Thomas whispered to me, ‘It’s clear she does not know who we are… so we must maintain the charade. It appears Toby that you are the most important person in our party, so try to impress on your girlfriend the importance of secrecy.’

  I quite liked the idea of me being more important than the King of England, but I was not sure I wanted to encourage Jenny into thinking that I was. She was a little too tactile for my liking.

  Fortunately, after an hour or so, my problem was solved when she told me she had to return to Petworth House.

  I do believe Thomas was quite taken by Jenny’s nan, and she to him. He was certainly given the best bedroom at the front of the cottage, and in the morning the biggest breakfast.

  We had to stay out of sight which was boring for me with nothing to do all day. I was hoping Thomas might have suggested a game of chess, but he clearly preferred to spend the day with his new best friend Matilda.

  It was early in t
he morning of the second day before Fowler came to the cottage with a man he introduced as his brother Alfred.

  Alfred in contrast to Jenny knew exactly who we were and bowed in deference to his king.

  ‘My Lord, we are expecting a Dutch merchant ship in Southbourne tomorrow, it’s called Pride of Zeeland. The captain is a Dutchman called Sven. He is a regular visitor to Southbourne and a good friend. I am sure he will consider it an honour to take you across the channel to the continent.’

  ‘How well do you know this man?’

  ‘I am the Harbour Master at Southbourne, and part of my job is to distribute cargoes to and fro from the continent. He relies on me for work.’

  ‘Assuming this man agrees… do you have a plan Alfred?’

  ‘I do my Lord. It’s too dangerous for you to come anywhere near Southampton, Portsmouth or Southbourne. All those ports are crawling with Roundheads, so I will ask him to pick you up just down the road from here on the coast at Shoreham.’

  Thomas interrupted. ‘Unfortunately we have no money to pay you or your friend.’

  ‘I don’t expect to be paid, and neither will he. But for now you will have to forgive me my Lord… I must return to my post, I will return tonight, by then I will have more details.’

  Edward Fowler, who had been standing by the door, stepped out of the shadows. ‘I too must leave you my Lord, I must return to Petworth House before I am missed, please excuse me.’

  ‘Before you go,’ called Thomas. ‘Is your mother aware of who we are?’

  ‘We thought it better she didn’t know my Lord… you know how women gossip,’ he said with a smile.

  ***

  Alfred, true to his word, returned to the cottage later that evening after a long day spent working at Southbourne docks.

  ‘The master of the Dutch merchant ship is called Sven Hendrickson… he will be at the entrance of Shoreham Harbour shortly after midnight.’

  ‘How far is that from Southbourne?’