Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Page 67
CHAPTER V.
HOW THEY SET OUT ON THE JOURNEY
About half an hour afterwards, Charles, fully equipped for the journey,rode round from the stables to the front of the house. He was mountedon the horse about which there had been so much discussion, and had apillion behind him, and a musket at the saddle-bow. He was accompaniedby Lutwyche, who was likewise mounted on a "double horse," intended forMr. Petre and his wife.
It may be incidentally remarked that this sociable and agreeable modeof travelling was customary at the time, and continued to be commonenough in certain parts of the country up to the close of the lastcentury, and even later.
Having arrived in the middle of the night, Charles had scarcelyseen the old mansion, but while waiting with Lutwyche for the comingforth of the party, he had an opportunity of examining it, and was muchstruck with its aspect. Ordinarily, it must be owned the house had asomewhat gloomy look, but it was seen to peculiar advantage on thatbright and cheerful September morning, and Charles thought he couldhave passed a few days there very pleasantly, if his enemies would haveallowed him.
He was still surveying the house, noting its picturesque outline ofgables, when the front door was thrown open by March, the butler, andseveral persons issued forth. Foremost among them was Mr. Petre, astout, hearty country gentleman, with nothing very remarkable abouthim. Mr. Petre was of a good Buckinghamshire family, and was married,as we have already intimated, to Jane Lane's elder sister. He wasclosely followed by his wife, who possessed considerable personalattractions, and behind Mrs. Petre came Jane Lane and her mother. Mrs.Lane was a sister of Sir Hervey Bagot, of Blithfield, and a very fineold gentlewoman.
The horses were now led to the door, and Mr. and Mrs. Petre havingmounted, the king's turn came. He was not very successful in his firstessay, and got sharply reprimanded for his awkwardness by Mrs. Lane.Totally unacquainted with the real rank of the supposed groom, theold lady had regarded him curiously, and was quite puzzled by hisappearance and manner. She felt sure he did not understand his work,and wondered that Colonel Lane should engage such a man. But when WillJones in assisting his young mistress to mount her horse, despite allhints given him, offered her the wrong hand, the old lady could nolonger contain herself, but called out:
"Why, how now, thou clumsy fellow! Art thou such a block-head as not toknow thy right hand from the left? Thou art not fit for thy place."
"Chide him not, dear mother," said Jane. "He has had but littleexperience."
"So it would appear," replied the old lady, dryly.
"Excuse me, madam, I hope to do better in time," said Charles,modestly. "I shall use my best endeavours to please my young mistress."
And as he spoke he sprang into the saddle with a grace and quicknessthat surprised the old lady.
"By my troth, now that he has taken his seat on horseback, the fellowlooks like a Cavalier," remarked Mr. Petre to his wife.
"Yes; he may not understand the duties of a groom--but he sits a horsewell--that's certain," replied Mrs. Petre.
At this juncture, a large party appeared at the other end of theterrace. Colonel Lane came from the stables accompanied by Lord Wilmotand Careless, and followed by Randal, the head falconer, bearing onhis wrist a hawk in her hood and bewits. With Randal were two otherfalconers, one of whom was furnished with a hoop on which two or threehawks were perched, while the other had a hawking-pole and a couple ofspaniels in leash.
Of course, Colonel Lane and his friends were on horseback, and thewhole party, viewed in connexion with the old mansion, formed acheerful picture, which the king contemplated with undisguised pleasure.
"Methinks Will Jones would prefer joining that hawking-party to ridingon with me," remarked Jane, in a low voice.
Charles sighed, but made no other response.
At this moment Colonel Lane rode up to Mr. Petre, and said:
"Pray don't wait for us. We shall come on slowly, for we may chance ona heron in the park, and we are certain to find plenty of partridges inthe corn-fields. We shall always be in your rear as a guard, and if wedon't overtake you before, we shall find you at Packington Hall, whereyou will halt for a couple of hours."
Colonel Lane then rode up to Charles, and said, in a significant tone:
"Should anything happen on the road, Will, turn back and thou wilt findus."
Charles promised obedience, and doffing his cap to Mrs. Lane, who wasexchanging adieux with Mr. Petre and his wife, rode on. Colonel Laneand his party did not follow them for some minutes, and by that timethose in advance had nearly reached the gates of the park.
CHARLES AND JANE LANE SETTING OUT FROM BENTLEY HOUSE.]
On gaining the high road to Darlaston and Wednesbury, the horsemenproceeded side by side, in order that the ladies might conversetogether, and Jane did not seem to feel the king's presence as arestraint, for she chatted very pleasantly with her sister. Charles,of course, took no part in the conversation, and never spoke unlessaddressed, but he was amused by what he heard. Mrs. Petre talked aboutthe events at Worcester, and wished to have a particular description ofthe king from her sister.
"I have already described him to you," said Jane.
"Yes, you told me he did not realise the notions you had formed of him;that his manner was somewhat light and reckless; and that he wanted thegravity and dignity of his father."
"You must have misunderstood me," observed Jane, uneasily. "I said hehad many royal and noble qualities."
"But you added that he rarely displayed them."
"If I said so, I did him an injustice. I never think of hismajesty--never speak of him, save with enthusiasm."
"Colonel Lane is equally enthusiastic," remarked Mr. Petre. "In hiseyes the king has not a fault."
"He is a brave and chivalrous monarch," cried Jane, "and deserves fargreater success than he has obtained."
"I am sure I should know the king were I to see him," observed Mr.Petre. "Colonel Lane has often described him to me as tall andwell-made, but harsh-featured, and dark as a gipsy."
"Why that description would exactly apply to Will Jones," said Mrs.Petre.
"So it would," remarked her husband, laughing heartily.
Having passed through Wednesbury, they were now on the road toBirmingham, but not desiring to enter the latter town, they soon struckoff into a by-road, which led them through a very beautiful country,where one large park succeeded another, and the only houses that camein sight were large and important. Most of the persons who resided inthese old mansions were friends of the Lanes, but Jane and her sistercalled upon none of them, but pursued their journey for nearly threehours without halt of any kind.
Hitherto they had encountered no obstacle of any kind, and Charles,though he ran the greatest risk, enjoyed the ride far more than anyone else in the party. Without addressing him, Jane contrived to givehim such information as she thought would be interesting, and wheneverthey skirted a large park, or came in sight of an ancient mansion, shementioned the name of the owner.
Mrs. Petre was lively and chatty, but her husband was full of secretanxiety, being apprehensive, as we have said, of an encounter withRoundhead troopers. This anxiety was entirely on his own account, forhe had no suspicion of the important charge committed to him. Hadhe been consulted, we fear he would have shrunk from such a heavyresponsibility.