Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
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CHAPTER XXIII.
HEALE HOUSE.
Heale House was a large stone structure, with square turrets at thecorners, pleasantly situated on the banks of the Avon.
Colonel Philips had ridden on from Wishford to announce the approachof the party, so that when they arrived Mrs. Hyde came forth with herbrother-in-law, Mr. Frederick Hyde, to give them welcome.
Though Mrs. Hyde cannot be described as young, she was still veryhandsome, and being rich, it is somewhat surprising that she stillremained a widow. In the presence of her servants, who were drawn up atthe door, she took care that not a look or gesture should betray herknowledge of the king, though she recognised him the moment she beheldhim. Her chief attentions were bestowed upon Juliana, to whom sheseemed to take a great fancy.
All the guests were quickly conducted to their rooms by thechamberlain, but that discriminating personage, not having receivedspecial orders from his mistress, and judging merely from personalappearance, assigned a very small room to his majesty.
About two hours later the whole party was assembled at supper ina large room panelled with oak, and adorned with portraits of theHyde family. The season was now sufficiently advanced to make a firedesirable, and the logs blazing on the hearth gave the room a verycheerful look. The repast was excellent and abundant, and the guests,whose appetites had been sharpened by the keen air of Salisbury Plain,did ample justice to it. Hitherto, as we have said, Mrs. Hyde hadacted with the greatest discretion, but she was now so transportedwith delight by seeing the king seated at her board that she couldscarcely contain herself. Some excellent trout from the Avon wereserved, and she took care he had one of them. A roast bustard happenedto be among the dishes--for that almost extinct bird then abounded onSalisbury Plain and the adjoining downs--and observing that the kingseemed pleased with the dish, she ordered the carver to take him somemore slices from the breast, with plenty of sauce. Subsequently, shesent him a couple of larks, though the others had only one each, andshe quite surprised the butler by drinking to her humble guest in aglass of malvoisie, and sending him a silver flagon full of the samewine. After supper, Mr. Frederick Hyde, a lawyer, who eventually roseto be Chief Justice of the King's Bench, had a long discourse withthe king, not in the slightest degree suspecting who he was, and wasastonished at the young man's quickness and wit. Among the guests wasDr. Henchman, a prebend of Salisbury, who had come over to Heale onthat day, but without acquainting the widow with the real object of hisvisit, which was to deliver a message to the king from Lord Wilmot.Observing the utmost caution, Dr. Henchman waited till Charles retiredto his own room, and then had a private conference with him there. Letus state that after the Restoration Dr. Henchman was created Bishop ofSalisbury, and in 1663 was translated to the see of London.
Next morning Mrs. Hyde found an opportunity of saying a few words inprivate to the king during a stroll which they took together in thegarden.
"I find I was very indiscreet last night," she said. "I allowed myloyalty to carry me too far, and have awakened the suspicions of myservants. To prevent any ill consequences, your majesty must apparentlytake leave this morning, but you can return privately at night, when Iwill have a safe hiding-place prepared for you. Then there will be norisk, for the servants will not be aware that you are in the house."
Charles entirely approved of the plan, but hoped he should not have totrouble her long, as he expected to receive an early communication fromColonel Gunter.
"I will go to Stonehenge this morning," he said. "If Colonel Guntershould arrive, send him on to me there. In that case, I shall notreturn. If he comes not, you will see me again."
"And the hiding-place shall be ready; but I sincerely trust yourmajesty may not require it."
"I hope so too," rejoined Charles. "But there is no certainty of mydeparture."
They then proceeded towards the house, but had not gone far when theymet Dr. Henchman coming towards them.
"I am about to return to Salisbury immediately," he said. "Has yourmajesty any message for Lord Wilmot? I am sure to find him with Mr.John Coventry."
"Tell him to meet me at Stonehenge," replied Charles. "He must comeprepared for a ride to the Sussex coast."
"I will tell him exactly what you say, my liege," rejoined Dr. Henchman.
"Perhaps he may bring me news," said the king. "Perhaps I may have newsto give him. In any case, let him be prepared."
"Heaven protect your majesty!" exclaimed Dr. Henchman. "I trust yourdeliverance is at hand!"
With a profound obeisance he departed, and Charles and Mrs. Hydereturned to the house.
The king found his attendants in the hall, and at once communicatedhis intentions to them. After breakfast the whole party took leave ofMrs. Hyde and her brother-in-law, mounted their horses, and set offapparently for Salisbury.