Read Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 2


  CONTENTS.

  PAGE

  DEDICATION iii.

  PREFACE v.

  BOOK I.

  THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER.

  CHAPTER I.

  HOW CHARLES THE SECOND ARRIVED BEFORE WORCESTER, AND CAPTURED A FORT, WHICH HE NAMED "FORT ROYAL" 1

  CHAPTER II.

  SHOWING HOW THE MAYOR OF WORCESTER AND THE SHERIFF WERE TAKEN TO UPTON-ON-SEVERN, AND HOW THEY GOT BACK AGAIN 9

  CHAPTER III.

  HOW CHARLES MADE HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO WORCESTER; AND HOW HE WAS PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR AND SHERIFF OF THAT LOYAL CITY 15

  CHAPTER IV.

  HOW CHARLES WAS LODGED IN THE EPISCOPAL PALACE; AND HOW DOCTOR CROSBY PREACHED BEFORE HIS MAJESTY IN THE CATHEDRAL 21

  CHAPTER V.

  HOW CHARLES RODE TO MADRESFIELD COURT; AND HOW MISTRESS JANE LANE AND HER BROTHER, WITH SIR CLEMENT FISHER, WERE PRESENTED TO HIS MAJESTY 24

  CHAPTER VI.

  HOW CHARLES ASCENDED THE WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON; AND OF THE AMBUSCADE PREPARED FOR HIM AS HE CAME DOWN 29

  CHAPTER VII.

  HOW COLONEL LEGGE BROUGHT IMPORTANT NEWS TO THE KING, AND HOW HIS MAJESTY PAID A VISIT TO SEVERN END 32

  CHAPTER VIII.

  OF THE COUNSEL GIVEN BY COLONEL LESLEY TO THE KING 38

  CHAPTER IX.

  OF THE GRAND MUSTER AT PITCHCROFT 40

  CHAPTER X.

  THE BIVOUAC ON THE PLAIN 44

  CHAPTER XI.

  COLONEL ROSCARROCK RELATES HOW THE EARL OF DERBY WAS ROUTED AT WIGAN 48

  CHAPTER XII.

  HOW URSO GIVES WAS WEDDED TO MARY RUSHOUT 51

  CHAPTER XIII.

  SHOWING HOW THE KING HAD FORTIFIED THE CITY 53

  CHAPTER XIV.

  BY WHAT MEANS GENERAL LAMBERT GAINED THE PASS AT UPTON BRIDGE 56

  CHAPTER XV.

  HOW CROMWELL RECONNOITRED THE CITY FROM RED HILL 60

  CHAPTER XVI.

  IN WHICH MASSEY PROPOSES A NIGHT ATTACK ON THE ENEMY 63

  CHAPTER XVII.

  HOW THE SUBURBS OF THE CITY WERE BURNT 66

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  HOW URSO GIVES HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LORD GENERAL IN THE STABLE OF SPETCHLEY MANOR-HOUSE 69

  CHAPTER XIX.

  THE CAMISADE 76

  CHAPTER XX.

  HOW URSO GIVES WAS ARRESTED 79

  CHAPTER XXI.

  SHOWING HOW DAME GIVES BECAME A WIDOW 87

  CHAPTER XXII.

  HOW THE EARL OF DERBY ARRIVED AT WORCESTER 91

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  IN WHAT MANNER JANE LANE WAS CAPTURED, AND BROUGHT BEFORE CROMWELL 97

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  WHAT CHARLES BEHELD FROM THE SUMMIT OF THE CATHEDRAL TOWER 100

  CHAPTER XXV.

  HOW CROMWELL CONSTRUCTED A BRIDGE OF BOATS ACROSS THE SEVERN 106

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  HOW CROMWELL THREW A FLYING BRIDGE OVER THE TEME 108

  CHAPTER XXVII.

  THE FIGHT OF POWICK BRIDGE 110

  CHAPTER XXVIII.

  HOW THE BATTERY ON PERRY WOOD WAS TAKEN BY THE KING 113

  CHAPTER XXIX.

  HOW THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER WAS LOST BY THE KING 117

  CHAPTER XXX.

  HOW THE ENEMY ENTERED THE CITY, AND HOW THE KING QUITTED IT 119

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  THE LAST STAND MADE BY THE ROYALISTS 123

  CHAPTER XXXII.

  THE CONSULTATION AT BARBOURNE BRIDGE, AND THE KING'S FLIGHT 125

  BOOK II.

  WHITE LADIES.

  CHAPTER I.

  HOW CROMWELL VISITED THE DYING DUKE OF HAMILTON AT THE COMMANDERY; AND WHAT PASSED BETWEEN THEM 128

  CHAPTER II.

  HOW THE FUGITIVE KING AND HIS COMPANIONS RODE FROM BARBOURNE BRIDGE TO WHITE LADIES 133

  CHAPTER III.

  THE PENDERELS 137

  CHAPTER IV.

  HOW CHARLES WAS DISGUISED AS A WOODMAN 142

  CHAPTER V.

  HOW CHARLES WAS CONCEALED IN SPRING COPPICE, AND HOW IT RAINED THERE, AND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 147

  CHAPTER VI.

  HOW CHARLES SUPPED AT HOBBAL GRANGE, AND WHOM HE MET THERE 150

  CHAPTER VII.

  HOW CHARLES AND TRUSTY DICK WERE FRIGHTENED BY THE MILLER OF EVELITH 155

  CHAPTER VIII.

  HOW THE KING WAS RECEIVED BY MR. FRANCIS WOOLFE AT MADELEY COURT 156

  BOOK III.

  THE ROYAL OAK.

  CHAPTER I.

  SHOWING HOW THE HUNTING-LODGE WAS BUILT BY THE LORD OF CHILLINGTON, AND HOW IT ACQUIRED ITS NAME 163

  CHAPTER II.

  HOW TRUSTY DICK BETHOUGHT HIM OF THE OAK 167

  CHAPTER III.

  HOW THE KING AND CARELESS TOOK REFUGE IN THE OAK 172

  CHAPTER IV.

  HOW CARELESS CAPTURED AN OWL IN THE OAK 174

  CHAPTER V.

  HOW THEY BREAKFASTED IN THE OAK 176

  CHAPTER VI.

  HOW COLONEL JAMES HALTED BENEATH THE OAK 179

  CHAPTER VII.

  HOW THEY PLAYED AT DICE IN THE OAK 180

  CHAPTER VIII.

  HOW THEY HAD A VISITOR IN THE OAK, AND IN WHAT MANNER THEY TREATED HIM 182

  CHAPTER IX.

  HOW CHARLES SLEPT IN THE SECRET CLOSET; AND HOW CARELESS SLEPT IN A PRIEST'S HOLE IN THE GARRET 185

  CHAPTER X.

  IN WHICH THE KING PROVES HIMSELF A GOOD COOK 189

  CHAPTER XI.

  WHAT BROUGHT FATHER HUDDLESTONE TO BOSCOBEL 191

  BOOK IV.

  MOSELEY OLD HALL.

  CHAPTER I.

  CHILLINGTON HOUSE 195

  CHAPTER II.

  HOW THE KING WAS WELL-NIGH CAPTURED BY MADMANNAH 198

  CHAPTER III.

  HOW THE KING RODE THE MILLER'S HORSE; AND HOW HE WAS ESCORTED DURING HIS RIDE 203

  CHAPTER IV.

  WHERE THE KING FOUND JASPER 208

  CHAPTER V.

  BY WHAT DEVICE THE KING ESCAPED BEING CAPTURED BY COLONEL ASHENHURST 211

  CHAPT
ER VI.

  HOW THE KING BADE FAREWELL TO THE PENDERELS; AND HOW HIS MAJESTY WAS RECEIVED BY MR. THOMAS WHITGREAVE OF MOSELEY OLD HALL 215

  CHAPTER VII.

  HOW THE KING WAS PRESENTED TO MRS. WHITGREAVE 220

  CHAPTER VIII.

  HOW TWO SPIES CAME BY NIGHT TO MOSELEY OLD HALL 223

  BOOK V.

  JANE LANE.

  CHAPTER I.

  BY WHOM THE TWO SPIES WERE PUT TO FLIGHT 227

  CHAPTER II.

  HOW THE KING ARRIVED AT BENTLEY HOUSE 231

  CHAPTER III.

  HOW WILL JONES FOUND A FRIEND IN THE STABLE 234

  CHAPTER IV.

  HOW WILL JONES BREAKFASTED WITH THE MEN-SERVANTS IN THE BUTTERY 236

  CHAPTER V.

  HOW THEY SET OUT ON THE JOURNEY 238

  CHAPTER VI.

  WHAT PASSED BETWEEN WILL JONES AND THE BLACKSMITH 241

  CHAPTER VII.

  HOW THEY WERE RECEIVED AT PACKINGTON HALL 243

  CHAPTER VIII.

  HOW THEY WERE STOPPED BY THE TROOPERS AT WOOTTON WAWEN 247

  CHAPTER IX.

  HOW THEY ARRIVED AT LONG MARSTON 249

  CHAPTER X.

  HOW CHARLES INCURRED THE COOK'S DISPLEASURE 252

  BOOK VI.

  ABBOTS LEIGH.

  CHAPTER I.

  HOW THE TWO GROOMS CHANGED HORSES AT STOKE-ON-THE-WOLD 258

  CHAPTER II.

  HOW CHARLES TOOK SHELTER DURING A STORM IN RATS ABBEY BARN; AND HOW HE DELIVERED CARELESS AND DAME GIVES FROM THE TROOPERS 262

  CHAPTER III.

  WHAT PASSED IN THE BARBER'S SHOP AT CIRENCESTER 266

  CHAPTER IV.

  BRISTOL IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 269

  CHAPTER V.

  HOW CHARLES FOUND A FAITHFUL ADHERENT AT ABBOTS LEIGH 272

  CHAPTER VI.

  CARELESS BRINGS THE KING GOOD NEWS 275

  CHAPTER VII.

  THE TAVERN-KEEPER AND THE SKIPPER 278

  CHAPTER VIII.

  ST. AUGUSTINE'S GREEN 281

  CHAPTER IX.

  THE GORGE OF THE AVON 283

  BOOK VII.

  TRENT.

  CHAPTER I.

  OF THE VENGEANCE TAKEN BY CARELESS ON THE TROOPERS 287

  CHAPTER II.

  HOW JANE LANE AGREED TO ATTEND THE KING TO TRENT 291

  CHAPTER III.

  COLONEL FRANCIS WYNDHAM, OF TRENT 293

  CHAPTER IV.

  JULIANA CONINGSBY 299

  CHAPTER V.

  HOW CHARLES ARRIVED AT TRENT 304

  CHAPTER VI.

  OF THE PARTING BETWEEN THE KING AND JANE LANE 306

  CHAPTER VII.

  OF THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE KING AND SIR JOHN STANGWAYS IN MELBURY PARK 308

  CHAPTER VIII.

  HOW THE KING HEARD THE PARTICULARS OF HIS OWN DEATH AND BURIAL 311

  CHAPTER IX.

  CAPTAIN ELLESDON OF LYME REGIS 315

  CHAPTER X.

  STEPHEN LIMBRY OF CHARMOUTH, SHIP-MASTER 318

  CHAPTER XI.

  OF THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY HARRY PETERS WITH DAME SWAN 322

  CHAPTER XII.

  HOW THE KING PLAYED AT HIDE-AND-SEEK AT TRENT 324

  CHAPTER XIII.

  HOW CHARLES SET OUT FOR CHARMOUTH 329

  CHAPTER XIV.

  HOW THE KING AND JULIANA WERE RECEIVED BY DAME SWAN 332

  CHAPTER XV.

  THE WATCHERS BY THE SEA 337

  CHAPTER XVI.

  HOW THE GREY MARE PROVED THE BETTER HORSE 339

  CHAPTER XVII.

  THE REVEREND BARTHOLOMEW WESLEY 342

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  HOW THE KING FLED FROM BRIDPORT HARBOUR 348

  CHAPTER XIX.

  BROAD WINDSOR 352

  CHAPTER XX

  COLONEL ROBIN PHILIPS, OF MONTACUTE HOUSE 354

  CHAPTER XXI.

  HOW THE KING LEFT TRENT 357

  CHAPTER XXII.

  HOW THEY DINED AT THE GEORGE AT MERE; AND HOW THE HOST RELATED HIS DREAM 360

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  HEALE HOUSE 362

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  HOW CHARLES ENCOUNTERED DESBOROUGH ON SALISBURY PLAIN 364

  CHAPTER XXV.

  THE PARTING AT STONEHENGE 366