Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651

by William Harrison Ainsworth

  CHAPTER I.

  HOW CHARLES THE SECOND ARRIVED BEFORE WORCESTER, AND CAPTURED A FORT,WHICH HE NAMED "FORT ROYAL."

  During the Civil Wars, the old and faithful city of Worcestersuffered severely for its devotion to the royal cause. Twice was itbesieged--twice sacked by the Parliamentarians. In 1642, the Earlof Essex marched with a large force against the place, stormed andpillaged it, and sent several of the wealthier citizens prisoners toLondon. Four years later--namely, in 1646--the city again declared forthe king, and being captured by the Roundheads, after an obstinatedefence, underwent harder usage than before. Besides plunderingthe inhabitants, the soldiers of the Commonwealth, exasperated bythe resistance they had encountered, did much damage to the publicbuildings, especially to the cathedral, the interior of whichmagnificent edifice was grievously injured. According to their custom,the troopers stabled their horses in the aisles, and converted thechoir into a barrack, and the chapter-house into a guard-room. Theorgan was destroyed; the rich painted glass of the windows broken;many monuments mutilated; and the ancient records preserved in thelibrary burnt. The exquisitely carved stone cross in the churchyard,from the pulpit of which Latimer and Whitgift had preached, was pulleddown. Before this, John Prideaux, somewhile Bishop of Worcester, hadbeen deprived of his see, and the dean and prebends dismissed--Churchof England divines having given place to Presbyterian ministers,Independents, and Anabaptists.

  But notwithstanding their sufferings in the good cause, the loyalty ofthe Worcester Cavaliers remained unshaken. Heavy fines and imprisonmentcould not subdue their spirit. To the last they continued true to theunfortunate king, though any further attempt at rising was checkedby the strong garrison left in charge of the city, and commanded byColonel John James, one of the strictest of the Republican leaders.

  After the terrible tragedy of Whitehall, the Cavaliers of Worcestertransferred their allegiance to the eldest son of the royal martyrand heir to the crown. All the principal citizens put on mourning,and every countenance, except those of the soldiers of the garrison,wore a sorrowful aspect. A funeral sermon, the text being, "Judge, andavenge my cause, O Lord," was preached by Doctor Crosby, the depriveddean, to a few persons assembled secretly by night in the crypt ofthe cathedral, and prayers were offered up for the preservation ofPrince Charles, and his speedy restoration to the throne. The service,however, was interrupted by a patrol of musketeers, and the dean wasseized and lodged in Edgar's Tower, an old fortified gate-house at theentrance of the cathedral close. Never had Worcester been so gloomy anddespondent as at this period.

  Nor did the hopes of the loyal citizens revive till the middle ofAugust, 1651, when intelligence was received that Charles, who hadbeen recently crowned at Scone, had escaped Cromwell's vigilance, andcrossing the border with a considerable army, had pursued the directroute to Lancaster. Thence he continued his rapid march through Prestonto Warrington, where he forced the bridge over the Mersey, in spite ofthe efforts of Generals Lambert and Harrison to arrest his progress.The young king, it was said, was making his way to his faithful city ofWorcester, where he meant to establish his head-quarters and recruithis forces before marching on London.

  The news seemed too good to be true, yet it obtained ready credence,and it was evident Colonel James believed it, for he forthwith began toput the fortifications in order. The commandant, in fact, had receiveda despatch from General Lambert, informing him that he and GeneralHarrison had failed in preventing the young King of Scots from passingthe bridge over the Mersey at Warrington, and had been disappointed intheir expectation that he would give them battle on Knutsford Heath,where they awaited him.

  Favoured by night, the young king had continued his march unmolested,it being understood from prisoners they had taken, that he was makingfor Worcester. Charles Stuart's forces, Lambert said, had been greatlyreduced by desertions since he entered England, and now amounted tono more than eight thousand infantry and three thousand horse, and hewas only provided with sixteen leathern guns. As yet he had obtainedfew recruits, the country gentlemen holding aloof, or being preventedby the militia from joining his standard. But the Earl of Derby hadundertaken to raise large levies in Lancashire and Cheshire, and hadbeen left behind by the king for that purpose. It was to defeat theearl's design that the two Parliamentary generals deemed it expedientto remain where they were rather than pursue the royal army. Manymalignants, Papists, and Presbyterians, ill affected towards theCommonwealth, would doubtless join Lord Derby, who, unless he werespeedily discomfited, might become formidable. But discomfited heassuredly would be, and his forces scattered like chaff, since the Lordwould fight on the side of his elect. This good work achieved, thetwo generals would hasten to the relief of Worcester. Speedy succourmight also be expected from the Lord General Cromwell, who was in closepursuit of the Scots' king, at the head of twelve thousand cavalry andinfantry. Colonel James was, therefore, exhorted to hold out.

  General Lambert further stated in his despatch, that Charles wasaccompanied by the most experienced leaders in the Scottish army--bythe crafty and cautious Colonel Lesley, who had so long baffledCromwell himself--by Generals Montgomery, Middleton, Massey, andDalyell, and by the valiant Colonel Pitscottie, with his Highlandregiment. Besides these, there were several English and Scotch nobles,the Dukes of Buckingham and Hamilton, the Earls of Rothes, Lauderdale,Carnworth, and Cleveland; Lords Spyne, Sinclair, and Wilmot; Sir JohnDouglas, Sir Alexander Forbes, and others.

  While scanning this imposing list, and reflecting that the royal forcesnumbered at least eleven thousand men, Colonel James asked himselfhow he could possibly hold out against them with a garrison of onlyfive hundred? He was ill supplied with cannon and ammunition, and thefortifications were ruinous. Moreover, the citizens were hostile,and so far from lending him aid, were ready to rise in favour of theking. He should have to contend against foes within as well as enemieswithout. His position seemed desperate, and though as brave a man asneed be, he was filled with misgiving.

  Before proceeding, it may be proper to ascertain how far the oldcity was capable of defence. Five years previously it had stood alengthened siege, but the circumstances then were wholly different,for the citizens were arrayed against the besiegers, and foughtobstinately. The walls were much damaged at that time, and had onlybeen partially repaired, consequently the towers and bastions were ina dilapidated state. Outside the walls, on the south-east, there was astrong detached fort of recent construction. The castle, which in daysof yore rose proudly on the south side of the cathedral, completelycommanding the navigation of the Severn, had long since been pulleddown, the only vestiges of it left being some fragments of the donjon.The mound on which the mighty fabric once stood could have been easilyfortified, if time had permitted, and would have formed an importantwork. The city, which was of great antiquity, had four gates, eachflanked with towers. The strongest resembled a barbican, and commandedthe quay and the ancient stone bridge across the river. On the northwas the Foregate, "a fair piece of work," as it is described by oldLeland, and not far from it was St. Martin's-gate. On the south wasSidbury-gate, giving access to the London-road. The Sidbury-gate wascovered by the modern detached fort to which reference has already beenmade. Deep dykes, supplied by the Severn, strengthened the defences onthe east and south-east, but the suburbs constituted a danger, sincethe habitations would afford shelter to an enemy. Thus it will beseen that the city was not in a condition to stand a siege, and thecommandant might well despair of holding out, even for a few days,against the royal forces.

  No city can be more charmingly situated than Worcester on the banksof England's noblest river, in the midst of fair and fertile plains,abounding in orchards and hop-gardens, and in full view of the lovelyMalvern Hills; but in the middle of the seventeenth century it waseminently picturesque, as well as beautiful. It was then full ofancient timber houses, with quaintly carved gables and open balconies,from the midst of which rose the massive roof and tower of thevenerable cathedral, and the lofty spire of St. Andrew's Chu
rch. Theold walls, grey and ruinous as they were, the fortified gates, thesculptured crosses, and the antique stone bridge, with its many-pointedarches, contributed to its beauty. The noble episcopal palace, thegroup of old buildings near the cathedral, and the ruins on the castlehill--all formed a striking picture when seen from St. John's on theopposite side of the river.

  "The wealth of Worcester standeth most by drapery," quoth old Leland,who wrote in Henry VIII.'s time, and the place had long been notedfor its broadcloths and gloves. But many of the wealthiest drapers,glovers, and hop-merchants had been ruined by the heavy fines inflictedupon them by the grasping Parliamentarians, and the city had scarcelyyet regained its former prosperity.

  Almost simultaneously with the arrival of General Lambert's despatch,a letter was brought by a secret messenger to Mr. Thomas Lysons, thenmayor of Worcester, and an avowed Royalist. It came from CaptainFanshawe, the king's secretary, and gave a very different version ofthe affair at Warrington from that furnished by Lambert.

  According to Fanshawe, his majesty had displayed great personalcourage on the occasion. He found the enemy, consisting of about seventhousand men, united under Lambert and Harrison, in possession of thebridge across the Mersey, which they had partly broken down, and heimmediately attacked them with his advanced troops. His impetuosityproved irresistible. A passage being forced, the whole army followed,and the enemy retreated in great disorder, and with heavy losses.During the night, upwards of three thousand of the "rebellious rogues,"as Fanshawe styled them, disbanded. The Parliamentary generals did notventure to attack the king again, but allowed him to continue his marchtowards Worcester without further interruption. The faithful citizensmight, therefore, prepare to welcome their sovereign, who would soon bewith them.

  The mayor immediately called a public meeting in the Guildhall, andread Captain Fanshawe's letter to the assemblage. Great was theenthusiasm excited by it. The hall resounded with cries of "Long liveCharles II.!" The joyful intelligence quickly spread throughout thecity, and crowds collected in the High-street, shouting "Down withthe Commonwealth! Up with the Crown!" The concourse was dispersed byColonel James and a troop of horse, but in the conflict several personswere wounded, and some killed. The mayor and the sheriff, Mr. JamesBridges, were seized, and detained as hostages for the good behaviourof the citizens--the commandant threatening to hang them both if anyfurther disturbance occurred. Luckily for the two gentlemen, thecity remained tranquil throughout the night, for most assuredly thecommandant would have been as good as his word.

  Next day--Friday, the 22nd of August, 1651--the scouts sent out byColonel James reported that the first division of the royal army,commanded by the young king in person, was close upon Red Hill--alreadydescribed as a woody eminence about a mile distant, on the south of thecity.

  Shortly afterwards, the enemy's cavalry skirmishers could bedistinguished on Perry Wood. Then the advanced guard appeared--thehelmets and corslets of the cuirassiers glittering in the sunbeams.Thousands of loyal citizens, who were forbidden to mount thefortifications, climbed to the roofs of the houses, and to the topsof the churches, to obtain a glimpse of the royal army, and could notrestrain their enthusiastic feeling when they beheld it.

  Colonel James, who had been actively employed throughout the wholenight in making the best defensive preparations in his power, had seenthat all the engineers on the ramparts were at their posts, and he nowproceeded to the detached fort near the Sidbury-gate.

  Mounting to the summit, which bristled with cannon, he turned hisspy-glass towards the brow of the hill opposite to him, and presentlybeheld a company of richly accoutred officers ride out of the wood thatclothed the eminence, and proceed to reconnoitre the fortificationsfrom various points. That the foremost of the troop was the youngking himself he had no doubt, as well from the splendour of hisaccoutrements and the white plume in his hat, as from the deferencepaid him by his attendants. Evidently his majesty's brilliant staffwas composed of the general officers and nobles mentioned in GeneralLambert's despatch. That they were planning the attack of the city wasclear.

  While watching the young monarch's movements and gestures narrowlythrough his glass, Colonel James saw him sign to one of hisaides-de-camps, a fine-looking young man, and remarkably well mounted,who instantly rode up at the summons.

  Major Careless, the aide-de-camp in question, was as brave as he washandsome, though somewhat rash, and an especial favourite of theking. Having received his majesty's orders, he promptly obeyed them.Accompanied only by a trumpeter bearing a flag of truce, he gallopeddown the hill, shaping his course towards the Sidbury-gate, and, withinfifty yards of it, he halted, and the trumpeter blew a blast so loudthat the old walls rang again.

  A shower of bullets from the battlements would have answered thesummons, if Colonel James had not previously sent word that the flag oftruce must be respected.

  The men eyed the insolent Cavalier sternly, and one of them called out,"If thou hast any message for the commandant of the garrison, he willbe found in yonder fort."

  Thereupon Careless moved off, glancing haughtily and contemptuously atthe artillerymen on the ramparts as he rode along.

  On reaching the fort, he descried Colonel James stationed near the edgeof the parapets, and leaning upon his sword. Half a dozen musketeers intheir steel caps, buff coats, and bandileers, were standing behind him.

  "Are you the commandant?" he called out.

  "Ay," replied Colonel James. "What wouldst thou with me?"

  "Thus much," said Careless, in a loud authoritative voice: "In thename of his majesty, King Charles II., who is on yonder hill with hisarmy, I require you to deliver up this his city of Worcester, which youunlawfully hold as deputy of a presumptuous and rebellious parliament.His majesty is willing to extend his clemency towards you, and if youat once throw open the gates, and lay down your arms----"

  "Hold!" interrupted the commandant, sternly. "I do not recognise theauthority of him whom thou stylest king. The house of Jeroboam, whosinned, and who caused Israel to sin, has been cut off. I will not denythat the young man, Charles Stuart, hath been crowned in Scotland,but in England he hath no rule. His proclamation has been burnt bythe common hangman in London, and a counter-proclamation publishedby the Parliament, declaring him, his aiders and abettors--of whomthou, thyself, art one--guilty of high treason against the State, andpunishable by death. Shall I, an officer of the Commonwealth, andintrusted with the charge of this city, open its gates to a proclaimedtraitor? Shall I command my men to lay down their arms to him? Not so.I utterly disregard thy king's summons, and though he be backed by thewhole Scottish host, yet will I not yield the city to him, but placingmy trust in the Lord, will maintain it against him."

  "Provoke not the king by your obstinacy," said Careless, losingpatience. "If you force us to storm the fortifications, you can expectno quarter. We will put you all to the sword."

  Perfectly unmoved by the threat, Colonel James answered, in thereligious jargon then habitually adopted by the Republican soldiers:

  "The Lord of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. I doubtnot we shall have timely succour."

  "From whom?" demanded Careless, with a sneer.

  "From the Lord General Cromwell, who is hastening hither with hislegions."

  "The city will be ours, and thou and thy rebel horde will be destroyedere that arch-traitor and parricide can arrive," cried Careless,fiercely.

  "Keep guard upon thy tongue, or I will not answer for thy safety," saidthe commandant, checking the musketeers behind him, who were preparingto give fire. "Take back my answer to the king, thy master. I havenothing to add to it."

  "We will soon be with you," shouted Careless.

  And, shaking his hand menacingly at the soldiers, he rode off with hisattendant.

  While this interview took place, Charles remained on Perry Wood withhis generals. He was not in the least surprised to learn from Carelessthat his gracious offer had been rejected by the commandant.

  "Let th
e attack be made at once," he cried. "I will lead it in person."

  "I admire your majesty's spirit," observed General Dalyell. "But I prayyou not to run so much risk."

  "Risk, say you?" cried Charles, gaily. "Faith, Tom, you would have allthe credit of the affair. But you shall not rob me of it. I mean to befirst to enter yonder fort."

  Generals Middleton and Montgomery likewise attempted to dissuade himfrom his purpose, but ineffectually.

  The general officers then rode off to give the necessary orders for theattack. Trumpets were sounded, and shortly afterwards the sides of thehill were covered with troops in rapid movement. Ere they got half-waydown, the guns of the fort opened upon them, but did not check theirprogress. Presently the artillery of the Royalists returned the fireof the Republicans, and the king, who was at the head of the advancedguard, saw the cannon pointed.

  His majesty being recognised, the commandant directed the musketeerson the ramparts to make him their mark; but he really seemed to bear acharmed life, for though an officer close beside him was hit by a roundshot, and his own horse was killed under him, he himself was uninjured.

  The leathern guns of the Royalists were worked so well, that three ofthe fort guns were speedily silenced, and Charles then ordered instantpreparations to be made for the assault.

  Scaling-ladders were placed against the walls. Several men werestruck down while executing this perilous task, but no sooner was itaccomplished than Charles caused the trumpet to be sounded, and swordin hand, mounted the nearest ladder.

  A soldier, armed with a pike, strove to hurl him from the ladder, butthe man was shot by Careless, who followed the king closely.

  Again, while springing over the parapets, Charles was opposed by amusketeer, but he cut him down, and next moment the heroic youngmonarch was joined by Careless, and instantly afterwards by a dozen ofhis body-guard, and their number was quickly augmented.

  Charles was now master of the fort, for the Republican soldiers, afteran ineffectual resistance, were put to the sword.

  In the struggle, Colonel James discharged a pistol at the king, butmissed his mark, and in his turn was attacked by Careless.

  "I told you we would soon be with you," cried the Cavalier. "Yield, andI will spare thy life."

  "I would not accept life at thy hands," rejoined the commandant. "Lookto thyself!"

  And beating down Careless's point with his heavy blade, he steppedquickly backwards and disappeared. He had, in fact, dashed down anarrow staircase communicating with the lower chambers of the fort, andsecured his retreat by pulling a trap-door over the entrance.

  Meanwhile, Charles had torn down the flag of the Commonwealth, andreplaced it by the royal standard. As soon as this signal of victorycould be distinguished by his forces loud cheers were raised.Possession was immediately taken of the fort, but no prisoners weremade, for Colonel James, and the few of his men left alive, hadevacuated the lower chambers. They had fled, it appeared, by a coveredway, and had entered the city through a postern near the Sidbury-gate.

  SITE OF FORT ROYAL.]

  By-and-bye the general officers came to congratulate the king on hisvictory and express their admiration of his prowess, and it then becamea question whether the siege should be continued--General Dalyellbeing of opinion that the city could be captured before night, if animmediate attack were made upon the fortifications; but Charles decidedon waiting till the morrow.

  "I have done enough for the day," he said. "Since I am master of thisfort, the city is at my disposal, and I can occupy it at my leisure."

  "Very true, my liege," observed Dalyell. "But the garrison will takeadvantage of your forbearance to escape."

  "I will not molest them if they adopt that prudent course," said theking, laughing. "They have ceased firing from the walls."

  "But the men are still at their posts."

  "If they give us any further trouble, we can turn these guns upon them.Hark ye, gentlemen. Henceforth this fort shall be known as Fort Royal."

  "A fitting designation, since your majesty has captured it," saidDalyell.

  "Let the tents be pitched," said Charles. "The day's work is over. Wecan take our rest after our long march. To-morrow we will enter thecity in triumph."

  All happened precisely as Charles had foreseen. Not another shot wasfired by the Republicans. The Royalists encamped quietly on the hill.But though no apprehensions were entertained of an attack, those withinFort Royal were kept on the alert throughout the night.

  Colonel James, however, had other designs. Convinced by what hadhappened that the fortifications were no longer tenable, he decidedon abandoning them. With the whole of his men, he quitted the citysecretly at dead of night, taking the mayor and the sheriff with himas prisoners. Crossing the bridge over the Severn, he rode off in thedirection of Gloucester.

  The Royalists were aware of his retreat, but, in obedience to theking's injunctions, did not seek to interrupt him.