William Harrison Ainsworth

Boscobel, or, The Royal Oak

A Tale of the Year 1651

Warsaw 2022

Contents

PREFACE

BOOK I. THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER

CHAPTER I. How Charles the Second arrived before Worcester, and captured a fort, which he named “Fort Royal”

CHAPTER II. Showing how the Mayor of Worcester and the Sheriff were taken to Upton-On-Severn, and how they got back again

CHAPTER III. How Charles made his triumphal entry into Worcester; and how he was proclaimed by the Mayor and Sheriff of that loyal city

CHAPTER IV. How Charles was lodged in the Episcopal Palace; and how Doctor Crosby preaohed before His Majesty in the Cathedral

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

CHAPTER VI. How Charles ascended the Worcestershire Beacon; and of the ambuscade prepared for him as he came down

CHAPTER VII. How Colonel Legge brought important news to the King, and how His Majesty paid a visit to Severn End

CHAPTER VIII. Of the counsel given by Colonel Lesley to the King

CHAPTER IX. Of the Grand Muster at Pitchcroft

CHAPTER X. The Bivouac on the Plain

CHAPTER XI. Colonel Roscarrock relates how the Earl of Derby was routed at Wigan

CHAPTER XII. How Urso Gives was wedded to Mary Rushout

CHAPTER XIII. Showing how the King had fortified the City

CHAPTER XIV. By what means General Lambert gained the pass at Upton Bridge

CHAPTER XV. How Cromwell reconnoitred the City from Red Hill

CHAPTER XVI. In which Massey proposes a night attack on the Enemy

CHAPTER XVII. How the suburbs of the City were burnt

CHAPTER XVIII. How Urso Gives had an interview with the Lord General in the stable of Spetohley Manor-House

CHAPTER XIX. The Camisade

CHAPTER XX. How Urso Gives was arrested

CHAPTER XXI. Showing how Dame Gives became a widow

CHAPTER XXII. How the Earl of Derby arrived at Worcester

CHAPTER XXIII. In what manner Jane Lane was captured, and brought before Cromwell

CHAPTER XXIV. What Charles beheld from the summit of the Cathedral tower

CHAPTER XXV. How Cromwell constructed a bridge of boats across the Severn

CHAPTER XXVI. How Cromwell threw a flying bridge over the Teme

CHAPTER XVII. The Fight of Powick Bridge

CHAPTER XXVIII. How the Battery on Perry Wood was taken by the King

CHAPTER XXIX. How the Battle of Worcester was lost by the King

CHAPTER XXX. How the Enemy entered the City, and how the King quitted it

CHAPTER XXXI. The last stand made by the Royalists

CHAPTER XXXII. The consultation at Barbourne Bridge, and the King’s flight

BOOK II. WHITE LADIES

CHAPTER I. How Cromwell visited the dying Duke of Hamilton at the Commandery; and what passed between them

CHAPTER II. How the fugitive King and his companions rode from Barbourne Bridge to White Ladies

CHAPTER III. The Penderels

CHAPTER IV. How Charles was disguised as a woodman

CHAPTER V. How Charles was concealed in Spring Coppice, and how it rained there, and nowhere else in the neighbourhood

CHAPTER VI. How Charles supped at Hobbal Grange, and whom he met there

CHAPTER VII. How Charles And Trusty Dick were frightened by the Miller of Evelith

CHAPTER VIII. How the King was received by Mr. Francis Woolfe at Madeley Court

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

CHAPTER II. How Trusty Dick bethought him of the oak

CHAPTER III. How the King and Careless took refuge in the oak

CHAPTER IV. How Careless captured an owl in the oak

CHAPTER V. How they breakfasted in the oak

CHAPTER VI. How Colonel James halted beneath the oak

CHAPTER VII. How they played at dice in the oak

CHAPTER VIII. How they had a visitor in the oak, and in what manner they treated him

CHAPTER IX. How Charles slept in the secret closet; and how Careless slept in a priest’s hole in the garret

CHAPTER X. In which the King proves himself a good cook

CHAPTER XI. What brought Father Huddlestone to Boscobel

BOOK IV. MOSELEY OLD HALL

CHAPTER I. Chillington House

CHAPTER II. How the King was well-nigh captured by Madmannah

CHAPTER III. How the King rode the miller’s horse; and how he was escorted during his ride

CHAPTER IV. Where the King found Jasper

CHAPTER V. By what device the King escaped being captured by Colonel Ashenhurst

CHAPTER VI. How the King bade farewell to the Penderels; and how His Majesty was received by Mr. Thomas Whitgreave of Moseley Old Hall

CHAPTER VII. How the King was presented to Mrs. Whitgreave

CHAPTER VIII. How two spies came by night to Moseley Old Hall

BOOK V. JANE LANE

CHAPTER I. By whom the two spies were put to flight

CHAPTER II. How the King arrived at Bentley House

CHAPTER III. How Will Jones found a friend in the stable

CHAPTER IV. How Will Jones breakfasted with the men-servants in the buttery

CHAPTER V. How they set out on the journey

CHAPTER VI. What passed between Will Jones and the blacksmith

CHAPTER VII. How they were received at Packington Hall

CHAPTER VIII. How they were stopped by the Troopers at Wootton Wawen

CHAPTER IX. How they arrived at Long Marston

CHAPTER X. How Charles incurred the cook’s displeasure

BOOK VI. ABBOTS LEIGH

CHAPTER I. How the two grooms changed horses at Stoke-on-the-Wold

CHAPTER II. How Charles took shelter during a storm in Rats Abbey barn; and how he delivered Careless and Dame Gives from the Troopers

CHAPTER III. What passed in the barber’s shop at Cirencester

CHAPTER IV. Bristol in the Seventeenth Century

CHAPTER V. How Charles found a faithful adherent at Abbots Leigh

CHAPTER VI. Careless brings the King good news

CHAPTER VII. The Tavern-Keeper and the Skipper

CHAPTER VIII. St. Augustine’s Green

CHAPTER IX. The Gorge of the Avon

BOOK VII. TRENT

CHAPTER I. Of the vengeance taken by Careless on the Troopers

CHAPTER II. How Jane Lane agreed to attend the King to Trent

CHAPTER III. Colonel Francis Wyndham, of Trent

CHAPTER IV. Juliana Coningsby

CHAPTER V. How Charles arrived at Fleet

CHAPTER VI. Of the Parting between the King and Jane Lane

CHAPTER VII. Of the interview between the King and Sir John Strangways in Melbury Park

CHAPTER VIII. How the King heard the particulars of his own death and burial

CHAPTER IX. Captain Ellesdon, of Lyme Regis

CHAPTER X. Stephen Limbry of Charmouth, Shipmaster

CHAPTER XI. Of the arrangements made by Harry Peters with Dame Swan

CHAPTER XII. How the King played at hide-and-seek at Trent

CHAPTER XIII. How Charles set out for Charmouth

CHAPTER XIV. How the King and Juliana were received by Dame Swan

CHAPTER XV. The Watchers by the Sea

CHAPTER XVI. How the grey mare proved the better horse

CHAPTER XVII. The Reverend Bartholomew Wesley

CHAPTER XVIII. How the King fled from Bridport Harbour

CHAPTER XIX. Broad Windsor

CHAPTER XX. Colonel Robin Philips, of Montacute House

CHAPTER XXI. How the King left Trent

CHAPTER XXII. How they dined at the George at Mere; and how the host related his dream

CHAPTER XXIII. Heale House

CHAPTER XXIV. How Charles encountered Desborough on Salisbury Plain

CHAPTER XXV. The Parting at Stonehenge

PREFACE

IN his letter to Mr. Hughes, the then Bishop of Llandaff describes King Charles the Second’s wanderings after the Battle of Worcester “as being by far the most romantic piece of English history we possess.”

I have always entertained the same opinion, and after reading the “Boscobel Tracts,” so admirably edited by Mr. Hughes, I resolved to write a story on the subject, which should comprehend the principal incidents described in the various narratives of the King’s adventures; but not having at that time visited any of the hiding-places, I deferred my design, and possibly might never have executed it, had I not seen a series of Views depicting most graphically the actual state of the different places visited by Charles, and privately published by Mr. Frederick Manning, of Leamington.

Stimulated by these remarkable sketches, I at once commenced my long-delayed Tale.

An enthusiast on the subject, Mr. Manning has collected all the numerous editions of the “Boscobel Tracts,” and has printed a list of them, which is exceedingly curious. The collection is probably unique. His nephew, Mr. J.E. Anderdon, of Henlade, near Taunton, is also an enthusiastic collector of all matters relating to Boscobel and the King’s escapes, and from both these gentlemen I have derived much valuable assistance.

I am under equal obligations to my excellent friend, Mr. Parke, of the Deanery, Wolverhampton, who has furnished me with many curious tracts, prints, plans, and privately printed books relating to Boscobel, Brewood, and Chillington. I shall always retain a most agreeable recollection of a visit paid to Chillington in company with Mr. Parke and the Hon. Charles Wrottesley, and of our hearty reception by the hospitable Squire.

Among the various works relating to Boscobel that have come under my notice is a charming little volume written by the Rev. George Dodd, Curate of Doddington, in Salop, the village where Boscobel is situated, who has ascertained all the facts connected with the story.

Boscobel House, I rejoice to say, is in very good preservation, and I sincerely hope it may not be altered, or improved, as is the case with Trent–a most interesting old house. Moseley Hall is still extant; but, alas! Bentley House and Abbots Leigh are gone.

Finer figures do not appear in history than those of the devoted Jane Lane and the stalwart and loyal Penderel Brothers. “The simple rustic who serves his sovereign in time of need to the utmost extent of his ability, is as deserving of commenda- tion as the victorious leader of thousands.” So said King Charles the Second to Richard Penderel after the Restoration. It is pleasant to think that several descendants of the loyal family of Pen- derels are still in existence. With some of them I have been in correspondence.

Good fortune seems to have attended those who aided the fugitive monarch. Many representatives of the old families who assisted him in his mis- fortunes are to be found?Mr. John Newton Lane, of King’s Bromley Hall, near Lichfield, a lineal descendant of the Lanes; Mr. Tombs, of Long Marston; Mr. Whitgreave, of Moseley; the Giffards, of Chillington; and the ennobled family of Wyndham.

In describing the King’s flight from Worcester to White Ladies on the night of the fatal 3rd of September, I have followed exactly the careful topographical description furnished by the Rev. Edward Bradley to Notes and Queries, June 13th, 1868. Mr. Bradley has been the first to trace out the King’s route, and to him all credit is due.

“I know of no part of our annals,” remarks Mr. Hughes, “which continues to be so familiar a subject of conversation among the commonalty as that connected with “King Charles and the Royal Oak.’ In every village directly or indirectly marked by particular incidents of the King’s escape, the honest rustics preserve their scattered legends in a shape more or less correct, and mixed and transposed as they must necessarily be in many cases; and it is pleasing to witness the yeomanly pride with which, like Catholics zealous for the honour of Our Lady of some particular shrine, they contend for the appropriation of some well-known incident, as connected with the good and loyal service performed by the companions of their forefathers. The interest is, in most cases, strengthened by the existence of the identical houses where he circumstances in question took place, and of the principal families whose names figure conspicuously in the Tale, as well as by the slightness of difference between our present domestic habits and those of a time commencing, as it were, the more familiar era of dates. And to all ranks, in fact, the occurrences in question are calculated to present one of those pleasing episodes in history, distinct from the wearying details of bloodshed and political intrigue, which we dwell on with unmixed satisfaction as reflecting honour on our national good faith, and as brought home to our fancy by those domestic minutiae, which form so great a charm in the Odyssey. The reality here presents all those features of romance which the imagination chiefly supplies in the Partie de Chasse d’Henri IV., or the incognitos of Haroun Alraschid.”

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