Ere long the others arrived, and now that they were all assembled, armed and accoutred in the best way they could, Charles thought he had never seen a finer set of men.
“With such a body-guard I shall not fear the enemy,” he said.
“Your majesty shall not be taken, while we can defend you,” they cried with one voice.
“I hope you have brought your horse for me, Humphrey?” said the king.
“Ay, sire,” replied the sturdy miller. “Robin is already in the barn.”
“’Tis well!” cried Charles. “Now sit down to supper, and mind me not.”
The king had already supped, and supped very heartily, for his misfortunes had not taken away his appetite, but his majesty ate little in comparison with those who followed him.
It was wonderful to see how quickly the heaped up trenchers were cleared, and how soon the tall tankard of ale was emptied. But the trenchers were filled again, and so was the tall tankard, though only to be emptied once more. Luckily, there was enough and to spare, for Joan knew the powers of her guests, and had provided accordingly.
When the plain but plentiful repast was ended, and the horn cups were filled for the last time, the stalwart brethren arose, and drank the king’s health and confusion to his enemies; after which, William Penderel asked pardon for the freedom they had taken, and declared the impulse was uncontrollable, adding that whenever it pleased his majesty to set forth they were ready to attend him.
Charles sighed, for he was unwilling to depart.
However, there was no help. So he took leave of Dame Joan, expressing his deep sense of the great services she and her husband had rendered him, and promising to reward them adequately, if he should ever be able to do so.
“I have every belief that a time will come, when I shall be able to prove my gratitude to you, my good dame, and to your worthy husband — indeed, to all my good friends and servants whom I see around me, and then be sure that I will not forget you, one and all. Trust to my royal word.”
“We want no reward, my liege,” said William Penderel. “What we have done has been from pure devotion to your majesty, and from no sordid motive.”
“That is quite true,” cried the others, “and we entreat your majesty to believe what William says.”
“I firmly believe it,” said the king. “Loyal and disinterested you must be, or you would never serve a fugitive king, who can reward you only with promises. But I shall not forget your services — yours, especially, my good dame. And now adieu,” he added, taking Joan’s hand, and preventing her from making the profound obeisance she meditated. “We shall meet again in happier days.”
So saying, he quitted the house by the back door, followed by William Penderel and his sturdy brothers and brother-in-law.
The miller’s horse — a short, well set, strong animal, which in these days would be described as a stout cob — was brought out of the barn by his master, who held the bridle while the king mounted.
Meantime, Joan had come forth with a lantern, and its light showed a curious scene — all the stalwart brothers, armed with their bills and pikes, grouped around the king, who was now in the saddle — while William Penderel was arranging the order of march.
With the king’s approval, it was settled that Humphrey and John should form the advanced guard, while the rear should be brought up by George Penderel and Francis Yates. William and Trusty Dick were to march on either side of his majesty, who was well pleased to have their companionship, as they were his favourites. Till this moment Charles had not formed an exact notion of William Penderel’s height, and he was surprised to find that the gigantic forester stood on a level with him, though he himself was seated on the mill-horse.
Before the little band got into the order of march, William Penderel said to his brothers, in deep impressive accents which vibrated through the king’s breast, and moved him greatly:
“His majesty needs no assurance of our fidelity. Nevertheless, since he has deigned to choose us as his guards, let us swear by all we hold sacred to defend him to the last, and against all odds.”
“We swear it,” cried the others. “We will die before harm shall befal him.”
Charles thanked them earnestly for their zeal, adding that he well knew their oath would be kept.
The brave little band then quitted the yard in the order prescribed.
Proud of the trust reposed in them, the loyal brothers almost hoped that their fidelity might be proved. Woe to any rebel patrol that might attempt to stop them! In addition to their wood-bills, William and Trusty Dick had each a pistol — taken from Madmannah. But it was not in their weapons, but in their stout hearts, and strong thews and sinews, that Charles had the greatest reliance. Perhaps, no monarch ever had such an escort as he now possessed in those hardy foresters.
Just as Charles rode out of the yard with a guard on either side, he saw Dame Joan standing at the door with the lantern in her hand, straining her eyes through the gloom, and shouted an adieu to her. This was the last he beheld of the faithful creature.
After passing some outbuildings, the party came in front of the house, which presented a long irregular outline. The night was not dark, for the moon, then in its first quarter, had just risen, and its beams illumined the gables and black and white chequer-work of the old hunting-lodge.
Not without emotion did Charles contemplate the huge fantastic chimney-stack, in the recesses of which he had been hidden; while the little arbour, which next caught his eye, excited a different kind of interest. Mentally he bade farewell to a spot which he felt would always have interest for him. Yet strange to say, though he often spoke of Boscobel in after times, he never revisited the house.
“Take me past the oak,” he said to Trusty Dick. “I desire to see the tree once more.”
Word to this effect was given to those in advance, but they had anticipated his majesty’s wishes, and intended to take him past the royal oak.
Shortly afterwards the party halted beside the noble tree. How beautiful it looked at that hour! its summit silvered by the moonlight, while a few beams found their way through openings in the branches, and fell upon the massive stem. Charles was enchanted.
“Truly that is a royal tree!” he thought. “How majestic it looks among the oaks that surround it, though they are all noble trees, and how it lords it over them — like a king among his peers!” He then added aloud to Trusty Dick, “But for you, my good friend, I should not have made acquaintance with this grand old tree, and I should therefore have lost some of the happiest moments of my life, for though in great jeopardy, I was never happier than during my day’s sojourn in the oak; and if I am spared I shall ever look back to the time with satisfaction. Farewell, old tree!” he added. “May I spend another happy day amid thy friendly boughs!”
He then moved on, and the party took their way through a thicket, where the moon’s radiance being intercepted by the branches overhead, it was so dark that they could not see many yards before them, and they had to proceed with great caution — the advanced guard halting ever and anon. But nothing occurred to cause them alarm.
At length they reached an opening in the wood, and a broad moonlit glade lay before them, but they hesitated to cross it, and kept among the trees; and the prudence of the step was shown a few minutes afterwards, when a patrol, whom they must infallibly have encountered had they gone straight on, appeared on the lawn.
The sight of the enemy aroused the choler of the loyal brothers, and Humphrey expressed a strong desire to give the knaves a drubbing, but, of course, he was not allowed to gratify his inclination.
There were no witnesses of the passage of the king and his companions through the forest — but had there been, the sight would have been worth viewing. Those dark gigantic figures indistinctly seen among the trees looked strange and mysterious. And when the party issued forth into some more open spot not overhung by boughs, so that the moonlight fell upon them and cast their black shadows on the ground, they looked
still more unearthly. Despite the peril to which he was exposed, and the many difficulties and hindrances he had to undergo, the king enjoyed the ride. He would have enjoyed it still more if the horse he bestrode had been less rough of motion. But his majesty’s seat in the saddle was far from easy.
At last he lost all patience, and exclaimed:
“Plague take thy horse, Humphrey! Never before was I so jolted.”
But his good humour was instantly restored by the miller’s ready response.
“Generally, Robin goes well enough,” said Humphrey. “But your majesty must consider that he has now got the weight of three kingdoms on his back.”
Charles laughed, and made no further complaint.
* * *
CHAPTER IV.
WHERE THE KING FOUND JASPER.
Not long afterwards, they reached Chillington Park, but they did not enter it as Father Huddlestone and his companions had done by the avenue gate, but at the back of the hall where the wood was thickest.
This part of the park was overrun with bushes, and it was here, in Rock’s Coppice, as it was called, that the dry pit was situated to which Madmannah had been brought. They forced their way, not without some difficulty, through this broad barrier of brushwood, and then a most charming scene burst upon them for which the king was not at all prepared — having heard no description of it.
At the bottom of a long and deep valley, which constituted the most beautiful feature of the park, were several large pools. In later times these pools have been thrown together so as to form an extensive lake, which has been further embellished with a bridge, boat-houses, and fishing-houses; but at the period of our history the valley was left in its wild natural state, and had an air of seclusion which gave it a charm almost as great as that possessed by the present ornamental lake. The high banks on either side were clothed with magnificent timber, and many trees grew so near the pools as to overshadow them.
Charles first beheld this exquisite scene from an elevation commanding the whole length of the valley, and the numerous sheets of water fringed by trees and glittering in the moonlight produced a truly magical effect, that filled him with rapture.
He halted for a short time to gaze at it, and while his eye wandered over the pool immediately beneath him he fancied he descried a boat stealing along under the shadow of the trees on the further side of the pool, and pointed out the object to Trusty Dick, who was standing beside him.
“Your majesty is right,” said Dick. “’Tis the fishing-boat belonging to the pool. I know it well — having often used it. There is only one person in it now — and that person, unless I am very much mistaken, is no other than the page Jasper. How say’st thou, William?” he added, appealing to his elder brother.
“I am of the same opinion,” replied William. “I believe it to be Jasper.”
“Oddsfish! this is strange!” exclaimed the king; “give him a signal that we are here.”
Upon this, Trusty Dick descended the bank, and approaching the margin of the pool, gave a loud whistle.
The signal did not require to be repeated. In another moment the boat was seen to cross the pool, and now that the bright moonlight fell upon it there could be no doubt that its occupant was Jasper.
A few strokes of the oar brought the page to the spot where Trusty Dick was standing, and with very little delay they mounted the bank together, and came to the king.
“How is it that I find you here?” cried Charles. “Are you alone?”
“Quite alone, sire,” replied Jasper. “Major Careless and Father Huddlestone have left me. But your majesty shall hear what has happened. Having been told that Colonel James and his troopers had left Chillington House, we were foolish enough to go thither, and found it in a terrible state, everything knocked to pieces by the rebel soldiers. While Major Careless and the priest went up-stairs to see what further damage had been done, I remained below, and being tired, presently fell asleep on a bench in the hall.
“I was awakened by a great noise in front of the house, and your majesty may conceive my fright when I found that a small detachment of troops had just arrived. At this moment, I heard Major Careless call me, and not knowing what to do ran up the great staircase, but could find no one. Listening, I heard that the troopers had come in, so I did not dare to go down, but hid myself in a closet, and did not quit it for some time, when finding all quiet, I stole forth, and descended by a back staircase. But this very nearly led to my capture, for some of the troopers were in the kitchen. Fortunately they were eating and drinking at the time, and did not perceive me, so I hastily retreated and went up-stairs again as quietly as I could.
“After this narrow escape I did not dare to make another attempt at flight, but wandered about among the deserted rooms during the rest of the day. Though I was tired to death of my confinement, I was not troubled by the troopers, for none of them came up-stairs, though I could hear them moving about below.
“At length, to my great delight, it began to grow dark, and I hoped my hour of deliverance was at hand. Taking every precaution, I once more descended the back staircase, and approached the kitchen. No one was there. But the troopers had only just left, for I heard them ride out of the court-yard. On the table were the remains of their repast, and your majesty will not wonder that I picked up all the fragments I could find when you consider that I had eaten nothing since I left Boscobel in the morning.”
“I fear you made a very scanty meal,” said Charles, compassionately.
“No, indeed, my liege, I got quite enough, and having satisfied my appetite, I quitted the house at the back, and very soon gained the park. Being totally unacquainted with the place I knew not which way to shape my course, and was afraid of losing myself, but I had heard Father Huddlestone say that your majesty and your escort would be sure to pass through this part of the park, so I determined to look out for you.
“When I left Chillington House it was almost dark, but the moon had now risen, and revealed all the beauties of the scene. I wandered on insensibly till I came to this valley, when my further progress was checked by the pool, and I should have turned back had I not discovered a boat moored to the bank. I immediately availed myself of this mode of crossing, but I had only just got into the boat and begun to use the oars, when I heard sounds on the opposite bank that convinced me some persons were there. I hoped it might be your majesty and your attendants, but not feeling quite sure, I thought it best to keep in the shade lest I might be caught in a trap. Your majesty knows the rest, and I have only to beg pardon for my long and tedious narration.”
“You have had adventures enough to-day to last you your life,” laughed Charles. “But we must not stop here longer. Get up behind me. My horse is somewhat rough, but he is strong enough to carry double.”
“He has carried honest Humphrey and Mistress Jane Lane, so I think he will be able to carry me,” replied Jasper.
And assisted by Trusty Dick, he sprang up behind the king. Robin’s broad back afforded a very comfortable seat, and the page held on securely by the king’s girdle.
Once more in motion, the little band, which had now got a slight addition to its numbers, took its way through the woods that hemmed in the long valley. Frequent glimpses were caught of the shining pools as they passed along, and so beautiful was this part of the park, that it was not without regret that Charles quitted it.
The park being inclosed by high pales, they had to make for a gate, and the nearest place of exit being on the Codsall side, they proceeded in that direction, and soon issued forth on a wide heath, which spread out for several miles.
The district that now lay before them was rendered exceedingly picturesque by its undulating surface, and by the patches of gorse that covered it. Here and there arose a knoll crowned with trees. On the right the heath extended to the little village of Codsall, but on this side, there was more wood. Before them, and reaching almost as far as Pendeford, whither they were bound, was a broad uncultivated tract, almost destitute o
f trees, yet not without a charm of its own.
Viewed, indeed, on a moonlight night like this, when its harsher features were subdued, and its beauties heightened, the heath presented a very lovely picture.
The night, however, was much too bright and fine for the king’s escort, who would have preferred a sky covered with heavy black clouds, and not a star visible. They consulted together for a few moments in a low tone, but did not communicate their fears to the king.
“Your attendants do not like crossing this moonlight heath, my liege,” whispered the page.
“So I perceive,” rejoined Charles. “Hark ye, my friends,” he added to his guard; “we shall be very much exposed methinks, on this heath. Is there no other road?”
“None, my liege, without going too far about,” rejoined William Penderel. “Yon clump of trees is our mark,” he added, pointing to a distant eminence. “Those trees are not far from Moseley Old Hall. Heaven grant we may get there in safety!”
They then set off across the heath, and the stalwart brothers marched on as blithely as if they had felt no apprehension. Charles, too, appeared unconcerned, though it may be doubted whether he was not more uneasy than his guards; but the page gazed timorously around, expecting every instant to behold a party of the enemy start up from the furze bushes.
* * *
CHAPTER V.
BY WHAT DEVICE THE KING ESCAPED BEING CAPTURED BY COLONEL ASHENHURST.
If the king and his escort formed a very striking picture while involved in the forest, the little band looked infinitely more picturesque as they wended their way across the heath. They had begun to dismiss their fears, when, on a sudden, the greatest consternation was caused by the appearance of a detachment of troopers advancing towards them.
The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth Page 666