CHAPTER XXII.
HOW THE EARL OF DERBY ARRIVED AT WORCESTER.
The end of August had arrived. The anniversary of the battle ofDunbar--fought on the 3rd of September, 1650--was close at hand.Cromwell, as we have shown, had resolved to wait for this auspiciousday, if he should not be forced by the king to accept a battle sooner.But Charles had been so much discouraged by the failure of thecamisade that he hesitated--perhaps too long--before risking a generalengagement. A few unimportant skirmishes had taken place between theoutposts, sometimes with advantage to one party, sometimes to theother, but these were all.
The interval was employed by Cromwell in making strong intrenchmentsat Perry Wood, where he had mounted a battery with heavy guns. Asthis battery threatened Fort Royal and the city, Charles was eagerto attack it, but was dissuaded from the hazardous attempt by hisgenerals. The jealousies among the Royalist leaders, already alludedto, had increased in bitterness, and, in consequence of these disputes,which he found it impossible to check, he could form no plan with thecertainty of carrying it out. All his designs were frustrated.
Cromwell, on the other hand, took counsel from no one. His instructionswere implicitly obeyed. What his precise plans now were could only beconjectured. They were known to Lambert, Fleetwood, Ingoldsby, and thegenerals stationed at Upton, but to no others.
Charles had recently changed his quarters, and had removed to theancient mansion belonging to the mayor, where he enjoyed greaterprivacy than he could command at the palace. The residence he hadchosen is one of the largest old houses in the city, and stands at thenorth end of New-street, looking into the Corn Market. Over the porchis the appropriate inscription, "LOVE GOD--HONOUR THE KING." Here hecould retire when completely worn out by the ceaseless toils of theday, certain of being undisturbed.
On the evening of Monday, the 1st of September, he was seated in alarge old-fashioned room on the ground floor of the ancient mansionreferred to. The dark oak panels were hung with tapestry, and thecumbrous oak furniture was of Elizabeth's time. He had just dined, buthad eaten little, and was in a very despondent mood. Careless, who wasin attendance, filled a large silver goblet with claret, and handed itto him. The king raised the cup to his lips, but set it down untasted.
"I never saw your majesty so downcast before," remarked Careless. "Acup of wine will cheer you. The claret is good, I'll answer for it, forI have emptied a flask."
"Wine will not rouse my spirits," rejoined Charles, gloomily. "I amquite worn out. I will hold no more councils of war. They are utterlyunprofitable. There is no deliberation--no unanimity of opinion--eachplan, however promising, is violently opposed. What will be the end ofit all?--certain defeat."
"Yes, I own your generals are difficult to manage, my liege," repliedCareless. "But you humour them too much, and in consequence theypresume on your good-nature, and disregard your authority. Enforceobedience to your commands. That is Old Noll's plan."
"Would you have me resemble him?" cried Charles.
"Yes, in that particular, my liege. He would not be where he now is ifhe were not absolute. At your next council explain your plans, but donot allow them to be discussed."
"Why summon a council at all, if those composing it are not todeliberate?"
"Merely that your generals may hear the expression of your will."
"Well, thy notion is not a bad one," replied Charles, smiling for thefirst time.
"Let no one speak but yourself, my liege, and there can be nowrangling, no contention."
"That is indisputable," said Charles.
At this moment a sound was heard in the passage.
"Some one is without!" exclaimed the king. "But be it whom it may, Iwill not be disturbed."
Thereupon Careless left the chamber, but almost immediately returned.
"I have disobeyed your majesty," he said; "but I am sure you willpardon me."
As the very distinguished-looking personage who had entered with himadvanced slowly towards the king, Charles perceived who he was, andsprang forward, exclaiming:
"Welcome, my dear Lord Derby! Welcome to Worcester! Of all men livingyou are the one I most desired to see. Once more, welcome! You havearrived most opportunely. We are on the eve of a great battle--a battlethat must decide my fate!--and I could not have fought it successfullywithout you."
"Thank Heaven I have arrived in time!" cried the earl. "I was awarethat a battle was imminent, and almost despaired of reaching Worcesterin time to take part in it; but here I am at last, ready to fight foryour majesty."
"You can do more than merely fight for me, my lord," said Charles. "Youcan give me the benefit of your advice. I sadly want a counsellor."
"I fancied you had already too many counsellors, sire," observed theearl.
"Nay, that is true," rejoined Charles. "But I want a leader likeyourself--entirely devoted to me--one who will not thwart me. Heavenhas sent you to me at the right moment, and my hopes are now revived."
"If I had not been protected by Heaven, I could not have overcome thedifficulties I have had to encounter in coming hither, my liege,"replied the Earl of Derby.
"Have you quite recovered from the hurts you got at Wigan, my dearlord?' asked the king, anxiously.
"Not entirely, my liege," replied the earl. "Six-and-twenty wounds arenot cured in a week. But I am able to sit a horse, and wield a sword.Finding myself strong enough for the journey, I left Boscobel thismorn, attended by Captain Giffard of Chillington and his brother, witha dozen of their retainers. We got on without accident or interruption,till within a few miles of Worcester, and though we had quitted thehigh road, and taken to the fields and lanes in order to avoid theenemy, we were discovered by a party of skirmishers, and chased almostto the gates of the city. We found the Foregate walled up, and soentered by St. Martin's-gate."
"The Foregate has been walled up as a matter of precaution," saidCharles. "But you look pale, my good lord. Be seated, I beg of you. Acup of wine, Careless."
The earl emptied the goblet proffered him.
"That has marvellously restored me," he said. "I did feel somewhatfaint and exhausted after my long ride."
The colour was now, in some degree, restored to the earl's pallidcountenance, but as Charles gazed at him with deep interest, he saw howseverely he still suffered from his numerous wounds.
Never did the spirit of loyalty burn more strongly in any breast thanin that of James Stanley, seventh Earl of Derby. This is sufficientlyproved by the earl's haughty response to Ireton, when summoned tosurrender the Isle of Man to the Parliament. "I have received yourletter with indignation," he wrote, "and with scorn I return you thisanswer, that I cannot but wonder whence you should gather any hopesfrom me that I should, like you, prove traitorous to my sovereign,since you cannot be insensible of my former actings in his latemajesty's service, from which principle of loyalty I am in no waydeparted. I scorn your proffers; I disdain your favours; I abhor yourtreasons; and so far from delivering this Island to your advantage, Iwill keep it to your destruction. Take this final answer, and forbearany further solicitations, for if you trouble me with any more messagesupon this occasion I will burn the paper and hang the messenger."
To Charles II. this loyal and chivalrous peer was as devoted as he hadbeen to that monarch's martyred sire.
Born in 1606, the Earl of Derby was still in the prime of manhood,and was endowed with a frame of extraordinary vigour. Skilled in allathletic exercises, brave to a fault, prompt, determined, undismayedby danger, he would have been a great general but for his excessiverashness. Somewhat below the ordinary height, he was powerfullybuilt and well proportioned. His features were cast in a large andnoble mould, and his dark, deep-sunk eyes had a grave and thoughtfulexpression, that harmonised with his sombre and melancholy aspect.Baines, the historian of Lancashire, thus describes him: "His was oneof the old Stanley faces which we love to look upon as they darken intheir frames, and to associate with deeds of chivalry, as enduringas the history of that country with whose annals th
eir names are soproudly connected."
The Earl of Derby was married to Charlotte, daughter of Claude de laTremouille, Duke of Thuars, and through this union he became alliedto the royal houses of Nassau and Bourbon. The Countess of Derby wasexceedingly beautiful, and her high spirit was equal to her beauty.Her heroic defence of Latham House for four months against theParliamentarian forces is one of the most memorable incidents of theCivil Wars.
Such was the seventh Earl of Derby, not the least illustrious of a longand illustrious line. The earl's tragical end is well known, and itforms one of the darkest pages in the sanguinary annals of the period.
"I must now inquire after Roscarrock," observed the earl. "He is here,I trust. But I have heard nought of him since he left Boscobel."
"He arrived here safely nearly a week ago, and has well-nigh recoveredfrom his wounds," replied Charles. "Go find him, and bring him here atonce," he added to Careless.
"I shall only have to tell him that Lord Derby has arrived, and he willhurry hither," replied Careless, who instantly departed on his errand.
Left alone with the earl, Charles acquainted him with the presentposture of affairs, and explained his difficulties to him. Afterlistening with deep interest to all that was said by the king, the earlreplied:
"I am sorry to find your majesty thus embarrassed, but I trust I shallbe able to relieve you from your perplexities. I have some influenceboth with Hamilton and Buckingham, and I will use it to heal theirdifferences. If they can be reconciled--and this shall be my firstbusiness--there will be little difficulty with the others, exceptperhaps with Lauderdale, but I will endeavour to soothe his woundedpride. This is not the moment for disputes. All quarrels must besettled after the battle."
"You give me fresh heart, my dear lord," cried Charles. "I was indespair, but you have restored my confidence. With my father's best andstaunchest friend by my side, I shall yet triumph."
Just then the door opened, and Roscarrock entered, followedby Careless. Joyful exclamations were uttered as the twocompanions-in-arms embraced each other. There was something so touchingin their meeting that both Charles and Careless were moved by it.
As soon as the excitement caused by seeing the earl was over,Roscarrock made a reverence to the king, and said, in an apologetictone:
"I trust your majesty will pardon me. I have been carried away by myfeelings."
"The warmth of your feelings does you honour, colonel," observedCharles. "I am as rejoiced as yourself at the Earl of Derby's arrival.His presence will animate my troops. He will have the command of aregiment, and you will be with him."
"I thank your majesty," replied Roscarrock, bowing. "Heaven grant wemay be more fortunate than we were at Wigan!"
"That disaster will now assuredly be repaired," observed Charles;"though you will have Cromwell himself to contend with. But you saidthe two Giffards of Chillington accompanied you from Boscobel," headded to the earl. "Where are they?"
"They are waiting to learn your majesty's pleasure respecting them,"replied Lord Derby.
"In the street?" cried Charles.
"Ay, in the street, my liege," said Roscarrock. "I spoke with them as Icame in. They have not dismounted. Your majesty has not two more loyalsubjects than Thomas and Charles Giffard."
"That I will answer for," added Lord Derby. "And they are brave as wellas loyal."
"You praise them so highly that I must needs see them," remarkedCharles, smiling. "Bring them to me, Careless. Boscobel belongs tothem, you said, my lord?"
"To Tom Giffard, the elder brother, my liege. The Giffards are a veryancient Roman Catholic family, and have remained constant to the faithof their forefathers."
"I do not dislike them for adhering to the old religion," said Charles.
"Besides Chillington, they have another seat called White Ladies,"pursued the earl. "Your majesty will understand what Boscobel is likewhen I mention that it is a secluded recusant's house, full of priests'hiding-places, so wonderfully contrived, that none concealed withinthem were ever discovered. I felt perfectly safe there."
"A good place of refuge, no doubt," remarked Charles. "'Tis well toknow of it. But here come the Giffards."
As he spoke, the two brothers were ushered in by Careless. Both werehandsome, stalwart young men, and their good looks and manly bearingvery favourably impressed the king. A strong family resemblance existedbetween them. They were fully armed, as were all gentlemen at thatdistracted time. The king accorded them a most gracious reception.
"I am glad to see you, gentlemen," he said. "And since you have come toWorcester, I must, perforce, detain you till after the battle. I wantrecruits--above all, such recruits as you."
"We have come to offer our services to your majesty," replied CaptainGiffard.
"I accept them," said Charles. "You shall serve under Lord Derby."
"Your majesty has anticipated the request we were about to prefer,"observed Charles Giffard.
"My Lord of Derby," said the king to the earl, "you must take up yourquarters here. For many reasons I desire to have you with me." The earlbowed, and Charles turned to the two Giffards and said: "Gentlemen, youwill likewise find quarters here. The kindness and hospitality shown byyou to Lord Derby demand some return. Nay, nay, good sirs, you will notincommode me. The house is large, and has plenty of rooms within it.Major Careless will see you comfortably bestowed."
It need scarcely be said that this gracious proposition was gladlyaccepted--indeed, it could not be declined. The Earl of Derby and thetwo Giffards were lodged that night in the old mansion in New-streetwith the king.
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