Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Page 5
CHAPTER II.
SHOWING HOW THE MAYOR OF WORCESTER AND THE SHERIFF WERE TAKEN TOUPTON-ON-SEVERN, AND HOW THEY GOT BACK AGAIN.
Fatigued by his long march of three hundred miles and upwards, Charlesslept so soundly in his tent on Perry Wood, that neither the beatingof the drum at daybreak, the challenging of the sentinels, nor any ofthe customary camp sounds, disturbed him. The men themselves answeredvery reluctantly to the reveill?. However, the fresh morning air soonrevived them. A day of ease and enjoyment lay before them. No moretoilsome marches, no more skirmishes, but rest--for that day, at least.Two-thirds of the infantry were without shoes, but being hardy Scotsthey did not count this an inconvenience. They all bemoaned the raggedand weather-stained condition of their uniforms, but they had heardthat Worcester was famous for broadcloth, and the king had promisedthem better garments when they reached the city.
The morn was lovely, and gave promise of a splendid day. At that earlyhour, the view from the heights of the old and picturesque city, withthe broad river flowing past it, was enchanting, and delighted eventhe rough soldiers who gazed at it. The fair Malvern Hills, however,chiefly called forth their admiration as reminding them of their nativemountains, though they admitted that few of the Scottish valleys couldcompare with the fertile vale of the Severn.
While many a greedy eye was fixed on Worcester, and many a cunningtongue was talking of its wealth, and the plunder it would yield, ifthey were only allowed to pillage it, the attention of the soldiers wasattracted to the walls, which had now become thronged with the citizensand their wives and daughters, while all the church bells--and nochurch in the old city lacked its proper complement of bells--began toring forth joyous peals. It was clear that the city was now awake andastir, and the half-famished soldiers hoped that immediate preparationswould be made for their refreshment, and on an extraordinary scale.
It was about this time that Major Careless, who had attired himselfrather hurriedly, being excited by the prodigious clangour of thebells, entered the king's tent, and found the young monarch fastasleep--fast as a top.
"Zounds!" mentally ejaculated the aide-de-camp; "his majesty must sleepsoundly, since this din does not disturb him--but no wonder. I'll givehim another hour."
And he turned to depart, when Charles suddenly ceased breathing hard,and opened his eyes.
"What sound is that?" he cried, raising himself on his elbow andlistening.
"The bells of Worcester ringing for your majesty's gloriousvictory--that's all," replied Careless.
"And enough too," cried the king, looking well pleased. "What hashappened to the garrison?"
"Evacuated the fortifications--taken to flight."
"Just what I expected--just what I desired."
"But your majesty did not expect--nor, I presume, desire--that ColonelJames would take the mayor of Worcester and the sheriff with him."
"'Sdeath!" exclaimed the king. "Has he had the audacity to do so?"
"Even so, my liege. No doubt they were specially obnoxious to him onaccount of their loyalty, and he might wish to hold them for ransom.'Tis lucky he didn't carry off others. There are several prisonersof note in Worcester--Lord Talbot, Sir John Pakington, and ColonelMervin Touchet. But the rascal contented himself with the mayor and thesheriff. At what hour will it please your majesty to enter the city?"
"At noon," replied Charles.
"Not till noon! why, we have no rations," cried Careless, in dismay."Your army has nothing to eat. Will your majesty keep the men fastingtill noon? If you could only see how hungry they look, you would feelsome pity for them."
"They shall all have a good breakfast in Worcester--that I promisethem."
"There will be plenty of grumbling at the delay."
"Bah! they always grumble. I must give my loyal subjects time todecorate their houses and make all necessary preparations for myentrance, or I shall disappoint them of their anticipated spectacle."
"Your hungry soldiers will pray that twelve o'clock may come."
"Let them listen to the bells. How blithely they sound!"
"Excuse me, sire. When we are enduring the pangs of hunger the sweetestsounds become a mockery. Spare us this aggravated torture."
"Leave me; and let it be announced by sound of trumpet throughout thelines that we shall make our triumphal entrance into Worcester at noon."
As Careless went forth on his errand with a dissatisfied look Charlessprang from his couch, and with the aid of a groom of the chamber anda page, for he had brought a large retinue of servants with him on hismarch, proceeded to dress himself, bestowing infinitely more care onthe decoration of his person than he had done since he left Scotland.
His tall, fine figure was well displayed in doublet and hose of crimsonvelvet and white satin; his yellow maroquin boots were deeply fringedwith lace, and he wore point-lace at his wrists and around his throat.His shoulder-knot was enriched with diamonds, his sword-hilt glitteredwith gems, and his plumed hat was looped up by a large diamond brooch.His long black locks were worn in the true Cavalier fashion, and fellover his shoulders. All his princely ornaments were put on for theoccasion, the Garter, the George of Diamonds, and the Blue Riband.
Charles was then in the heyday of his youth, being just twenty-one.Though his features were harsh--the nose being too large, and notwell-shaped--and his complexion swarthy as that of a Spanish gipsy, hislarge black eyes, full of fire and spirit, gave wonderful expressionto his countenance, and made him, at times, look almost handsome. Hismanner was singularly affable and agreeable, and very different fromthe cold, repelling stateliness of his ill-fated father.
The young king was adjusting his mantle before the little mirror hungup in the tent, preparatory to going forth, when a noise outsideattracted his attention.
Next moment Major Careless entered the tent, his looks beaming withsatisfaction.
"How now, Will!" cried the king. "Have you found a breakfast that youlook so gay?"
"No, my liege, but I have found the mayor and the sheriff, and that ismore to the purpose. They have escaped from the commandant, and haveridden up from Worcester to pay their homage to you, and relate theiradventures."
"Are they without?"
"Just alighted, sire. They are in a sorry plight, but in their zeal toattend upon your majesty they would not tarry to change, and hope youwill excuse them."
"Excuse them! marry will I! I shall be delighted to receive them. Bringthem at once."
The two gentlemen were then introduced, and their habilimentsundoubtedly bore traces of the hardships they had undergone. ButCharles was better pleased to see them thus than if they had been intheir robes of office, and said so.
Mr. Lysons, the mayor of Worcester, and a wealthy draper of the city,was a middle-aged man, but strong and active, and had a ruddy, pleasantcountenance. Mr. Bridges, the sheriff, and by trade a glover, was a fewyears younger than the mayor, and not quite so stout. Both of them hadlooked exhausted when they arrived, but they brightened up wonderfullyas they entered the king's presence.
Charles advanced to meet them, and gave them his hand to kiss in themost gracious manner possible. After congratulating them heartily ontheir escape, he inquired, with an air of much interest, how they hadcontrived it.
"Your majesty shall hear," replied the mayor. "It will always be afeather in our cap to have escaped from Colonel James. With whatparticular object he carried us off we know not, but it is certain hemeant to take us to Gloucester. Shortly after midnight we were broughtout of Edgar's Tower, where we had been imprisoned, and were strictlyguarded by the troopers as we rode out of the city, but no attemptwhatever at rescue was made by our fellow-citizens. Probably no oneknew at the time that we were being carried off. Little did we dream aswe rode across the bridge that we should be back so soon.
"A dreary ride we had, and our thoughts, which were not very pleasant,were disturbed by those psalm-singing Puritans. They did not speakvery respectfully of your majesty. But we told them a day of reckoningwas at hand,
and that you would drive them all before you. 'Let himfirst set your worship free, and his honour the sheriff,' said oneof the troopers--a snuffling rogue, whom his comrades called Ezra.'Ay, let him follow us to Gloucester,' observed another, who was veryappropriately named Madmannah. 'Be sure that he will follow, and forceyou to evacuate the city, as you have done Worcester,' I rejoined. Insuch pleasantries the time was passed.
"A halt was made at Upton-on-Severn. Now the Roundheads have noespecial dislike to ale and cider, and do not hold it sinful to indulgein those liquors if good. Knowing the drink they delight in was to behad in perfection at the Red Lion, at Upton, they roused the house,and compelled the host and tapster to broach a cask of stout March aleand another of cider. The troopers then dismounted, and tied up theirhorses while they emptied their cans, leaving us to the care of Ezraand Madmannah.
"Apparently, no one suspected us of any attempt to escape; yet we werealready meditating flight, if any favourable opportunity should occur.By the light of the lanterns we could see the men filling their cans.The temptation soon became too strong for Madmannah. He joined theothers, but soon returned with a bottle of cider for Ezra. While theywere enjoying the pleasant drink, we suddenly broke away and plungedinto a hop-garden that adjoined the inn-yard. Both musketeers fired atus, but did us no harm. Fortunately the night was dark, and we werescreened by the tall hop-poles.
"Alarmed by the firing, several other musketeers joined in the pursuit,but they got into each other's way, and created great confusion, in themidst of which we reached a wood, and being well acquainted with thelocality, made our way for the meadows on the banks of the Severn. Thenwe were safe.
"After keeping in these meadows for two or three miles, we ventured onthe high road, and galloped off at full speed for Worcester, withouthearing anything more of the troopers or their commander. We caughtsight of the old city just at daybreak. 'Here we are back again, afteronly a few hours' absence,' I remarked, as we passed through thebarbican at the head of the old bridge. 'Who would have thought it!''Not I,' replied the sheriff. 'We are in ample time for the rejoicingson his majesty's glorious victory.' 'What if we ride up to the camp onPerry Wood, and seek an audience of him?' I remarked. 'Not in thisplight,' said Mr. Bridges. 'His majesty will excuse us,' I replied."
"Ay, that I will, my good friends," cried Charles. "I am truly gladthat you came to me at once. With such subjects as you I shall neverstand upon ceremony. I have long known you both as two of the king myfather's most faithful adherents."
"We are equally devoted to the king, your father's son, my liege,"rejoined the mayor. "And now, having been honoured by this audience, wewill return to the city and prepare for your majesty's reception."
"Before you take your departure, gentlemen," interposed Careless,"permit me to remark to you that the entire army is without provisions.The sooner, therefore, you can prepare for us the better."
"We will expedite matters as much as possible," said the mayor. "But Iam afraid we shall require three or four hours."
"His majesty's forces number eleven thousand men, as I understand,"said the sheriff. "It will be impossible to provide for so many withoutsome little delay."
"Quite impossible," observed the king. "I will only beg you, as myloving subjects, to treat my Scottish soldiers hospitably, even if youmake a great sacrifice."
"Your majesty shall have no ground of complaint," said both magistrates.
"There is a point on which I must address a caution to you," pursuedCharles. "The greater part of my army, as you are doubtless aware, iscomposed of members of the Scottish Kirk. They are bitter sectarians,ever ready to dispute on religious questions, and to reprove those whodiffer from them. Prevent, if you can, all quarrels among them and yourfellow-citizens."
"We have had plague enough already with those Anabaptists,Presbyterians, and Independents," said the sheriff. "I am happy tosay there are very few left in faithful Worcester now we are rid ofthe garrison. We will not quarrel with the Scots, since they havecome hither with your majesty. At noon all shall be ready for yourreception."
Making a profound reverence to the king, the two gentlemen thenwithdrew, accompanied by Careless.
The king had lost his favourite charger at the attack on the forton the previous day; but another steed, in no respect inferior, hadbeen supplied him by the Duke of Buckingham, and mounted on his newacquisition, he now proceeded to make an inspection of the camp. Hewas attended by all his general officers, and by the nobles who hadaccompanied him in his march from Scotland.
The men had begun to strike the tents at Perry Wood; for it had beendecided by his majesty, after consultation with Lesley, Middleton, andMassey, that the main body of the army should be moved lower downthe hill, and not far from the Sidbury-gate, while Dalyell, with hisbrigade, should fix his quarters at St. John's, on the right bank ofthe river, and Middleton, with two thousand men, should encamp on thePitchcroft, a large plain, extremely convenient for the purpose, on thenorth of the city, and on the left bank of the Severn.
Having completed his tour of inspection, Charles rode down with hisstaff to Fort Royal; and he was surveying the scene of his latebrilliant exploit, and receiving fresh compliments from his attendants,when he was surprised to see Careless come forth.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Breakfast is served, sire," replied the aide-de-camp.
"Breakfast!" exclaimed Charles.
"By St. George! I am glad to hear it," cried the Duke of Buckingham,Lord Wilmot, and several others. "I hope there is enough for us all."
"Enough, and to spare," replied Careless.
Amid general exclamations of satisfaction the king and those with himthen dismounted, and were conducted by Careless into a large chamber,where a plentiful repast awaited them.