SHOWING HOW THE MAYOR OF WORCESTER AND THE SHERIFF WERE TAKEN TO
UPTON-ON-SEVERN, AND HOW THEY GOT BACK AGAIN.
Fatigued by his long march of three hundred miles and upwards, Charles
slept so soundly in his tent on Perry Wood, that neither the beating
of the drum at daybreak, the challenging of the sentinels, nor any of
the customary camp sounds, disturbed him. The men themselves answered
very reluctantly to the reveillé. However, the fresh morning air soon
revived them. A day of ease and enjoyment lay before them. No more
toilsome marches, no more skirmishes, but rest--for that day, at least.
Two-thirds of the infantry were without shoes, but being hardy Scots
they did not count this an inconvenience. They all bemoaned the ragged
and weather-stained condition of their uniforms, but they had heard
that Worcester was famous for broadcloth, and the king had promised
them better garments when they reached the city.
The morn was lovely, and gave promise of a splendid day. At that early
hour, the view from the heights of the old and picturesque city, with
the broad river flowing past it, was enchanting, and delighted even
the rough soldiers who gazed at it. The fair Malvern Hills, however,
chiefly called forth their admiration as reminding them of their native
mountains, though they admitted that few of the Scottish valleys could
compare with the fertile vale of the Severn.
While many a greedy eye was fixed on Worcester, and many a cunning
tongue was talking of its wealth, and the plunder it would yield, if
they were only allowed to pillage it, the attention of the soldiers was
attracted to the walls, which had now become thronged with the citizens
and their wives and daughters, while all the church bells--and no
church in the old city lacked its proper complement of bells--began to
ring forth joyous peals. It was clear that the city was now awake and
astir, and the half-famished soldiers hoped that immediate preparations
would be made for their refreshment, and on an extraordinary scale.
It was about this time that Major Careless, who had attired himself
rather hurriedly, being excited by the prodigious clangour of the
bells, entered the king's tent, and found the young monarch fast
asleep--fast as a top.
"Zounds!" mentally ejaculated the aide-de-camp; "his majesty must sleep
soundly, since this din does not disturb him--but no wonder. I'll give
him another hour."
And he turned to depart, when Charles suddenly ceased breathing hard,
and opened his eyes.
"What sound is that?" he cried, raising himself on his elbow and
listening.
"The bells of Worcester ringing for your majesty's glorious
victory--that's all," replied Careless.
"And enough too," cried the king, looking well pleased. "What has
happened to the garrison?"
"Evacuated the fortifications--taken to flight."
"Just what I expected--just what I desired."
"But your majesty did not expect--nor, I presume, desire--that Colonel
James would take the mayor of Worcester and the sheriff with him."
"'Sdeath!" exclaimed the king. "Has he had the audacity to do so?"
"Even so, my liege. No doubt they were specially obnoxious to him on
account of their loyalty, and he might wish to hold them for ransom.
'Tis lucky he didn't carry off others. There are several prisoners
of note in Worcester--Lord Talbot, Sir John Pakington, and Colonel
Mervin Touchet. But the rascal contented himself with the mayor and the
sheriff. At what hour will it please your majesty to enter the city?"
"At noon," replied Charles.
"Not till noon! why, we have no rations," cried Careless, in dismay.
"Your army has nothing to eat. Will your majesty keep the men fasting
till noon? If you could only see how hungry they look, you would feel
some pity for them."
"They shall all have a good breakfast in Worcester--that I promise
them."
"There will be plenty of grumbling at the delay."
"Bah! they always grumble. I must give my loyal subjects time to
decorate their houses and make all necessary preparations for my
entrance, or I shall disappoint them of their anticipated spectacle."
"Your hungry soldiers will pray that twelve o'clock may come."
"Let them listen to the bells. How blithely they sound!"
"Excuse me, sire. When we are enduring the pangs of hunger the sweetest
sounds become a mockery. Spare us this aggravated torture."
"Leave me; and let it be announced by sound of trumpet throughout the
lines that we shall make our triumphal entrance into Worcester at noon."
As Careless went forth on his errand with a dissatisfied look Charles
sprang from his couch, and with the aid of a groom of the chamber and
a page, for he had brought a large retinue of servants with him on his
march, proceeded to dress himself, bestowing infinitely more care on
the decoration of his person than he had done since he left Scotland.
His tall, fine figure was well displayed in doublet and hose of crimson
velvet and white satin; his yellow maroquin boots were deeply fringed
with lace, and he wore point-lace at his wrists and around his throat.
His shoulder-knot was enriched with diamonds, his sword-hilt glittered
with gems, and his plumed hat was looped up by a large diamond brooch.
His long black locks were worn in the true Cavalier fashion, and fell
over his shoulders. All his princely ornaments were put on for the
occasion, the Garter, the George of Diamonds, and the Blue Riband.
Charles was then in the heyday of his youth, being just twenty-one.
Though his features were harsh--the nose being too large, and not
well-shaped--and his complexion swarthy as that of a Spanish gipsy, his
large black eyes, full of fire and spirit, gave wonderful expression
to his countenance, and made him, at times, look almost handsome. His
manner was singularly affable and agreeable, and very different from
the cold, repelling stateliness of his ill-fated father.
The young king was adjusting his mantle before the little mirror hung
up in the tent, preparatory to going forth, when a noise outside
attracted his attention.
Next moment Major Careless entered the tent, his looks beaming with
satisfaction.
"How now, Will!" cried the king. "Have you found a breakfast that you
look so gay?"
"No, my liege, but I have found the mayor and the sheriff, and that is
more to the purpose. They have escaped from the commandant, and have
ridden up from Worcester to pay their homage to you, and relate their
adventures."
"Are they without?"
"Just alighted, sire. They are in a sorry plight, but in their zeal to
attend upon your majesty they would not tarry to change, and hope you
will excuse them."
"Excuse them! marry will I! I shall be delighted to receive them. Bring
them at once."
The two gentlemen were then introduced, and their habiliments
undoubtedly bore traces of the hardships they had undergone. But
Charles was better pleased to see them thus than if they had been in
their robes of office, and said so.
Mr. Lysons, the mayor of Worcester, and a wealthy draper of the city,
was a middle-aged man, but strong and active, and had a ruddy, pleasant
countenance. Mr. Bridges, the sheriff, and by trade a glover, was a few
years younger than the mayor, and not quite so stout. Both of them had
looked exhausted when they arrived, but they brightened up wonderfully
as they entered the king's presence.
Charles advanced to meet them, and gave them his hand to kiss in the
most gracious manner possible. After congratulating them heartily on
their escape, he inquired, with an air of much interest, how they had
contrived it.
"Your majesty shall hear," replied the mayor. "It will always be a
feather in our cap to have escaped from Colonel James. With what
particular object he carried us off we know not, but it is certain he
meant to take us to Gloucester. Shortly after midnight we were brought
out of Edgar's Tower, where we had been imprisoned, and were strictly
guarded by the troopers as we rode out of the city, but no attempt
whatever at rescue was made by our fellow-citizens. Probably no one
knew at the time that we were being carried off. Little did we dream as
we rode across the bridge that we should be back so soon.
"A dreary ride we had, and our thoughts, which were not very pleasant,
were disturbed by those psalm-singing Puritans. They did not speak
very respectfully of your majesty. But we told them a day of reckoning
was at hand, and that you would drive them all before you. 'Let him
first set your worship free, and his honour the sheriff,' said one
of the troopers--a snuffling rogue, whom his comrades called Ezra.
'Ay, let him follow us to Gloucester,' observed another, who was very
appropriately named Madmannah. 'Be sure that he will follow, and force
you to evacuate the city, as you have done Worcester,' I rejoined. In
such pleasantries the time was passed.
"A halt was made at Upton-on-Severn. Now the Roundheads have no
especial dislike to ale and cider, and do not hold it sinful to indulge
in those liquors if good. Knowing the drink they delight in was to be
had in perfection at the Red Lion, at Upton, they roused the house,
and compelled the host and tapster to broach a cask of stout March ale
and another of cider. The troopers then dismounted, and tied up their
horses while they emptied their cans, leaving us to the care of Ezra
and Madmannah.
"Apparently, no one suspected us of any attempt to escape; yet we were
already meditating flight, if any favourable opportunity should occur.
By the light of the lanterns we could see the men filling their cans.
The temptation soon became too strong for Madmannah. He joined the
others, but soon returned with a bottle of cider for Ezra. While they
were enjoying the pleasant drink, we suddenly broke away and plunged
into a hop-garden that adjoined the inn-yard. Both musketeers fired at
us, but did us no harm. Fortunately the night was dark, and we were
screened by the tall hop-poles.
"Alarmed by the firing, several other musketeers joined in the pursuit,
but they got into each other's way, and created great confusion, in the
midst of which we reached a wood, and being well acquainted with the
locality, made our way for the meadows on the banks of the Severn. Then
we were safe.
"After keeping in these meadows for two or three miles, we ventured on
the high road, and galloped off at full speed for Worcester, without
hearing anything more of the troopers or their commander. We caught
sight of the old city just at daybreak. 'Here we are back again, after
only a few hours' absence,' I remarked, as we passed through the
barbican at the head of the old bridge. 'Who would have thought it!'
'Not I,' replied the sheriff. 'We are in ample time for the rejoicings
on his majesty's glorious victory.' 'What if we ride up to the camp on
Perry Wood, and seek an audience of him?' I remarked. 'Not in this
plight,' said Mr. Bridges. 'His majesty will excuse us,' I replied."
"Ay, that I will, my good friends," cried Charles. "I am truly glad
that you came to me at once. With such subjects as you I shall never
stand upon ceremony. I have long known you both as two of the king my
father's most faithful adherents."
"We are equally devoted to the king, your father's son, my liege,"
rejoined the mayor. "And now, having been honoured by this audience, we
will return to the city and prepare for your majesty's reception."
"Before you take your departure, gentlemen," interposed Careless,
"permit me to remark to you that the entire army is without provisions.
The sooner, therefore, you can prepare for us the better."
"We will expedite matters as much as possible," said the mayor. "But I
am afraid we shall require three or four hours."
"His majesty's forces number eleven thousand men, as I understand,"
said the sheriff. "It will be impossible to provide for so many without
some little delay."
"Quite impossible," observed the king. "I will only beg you, as my
loving subjects, to treat my Scottish soldiers hospitably, even if you
make a great sacrifice."
"Your majesty shall have no ground of complaint," said both magistrates.
"There is a point on which I must address a caution to you," pursued
Charles. "The greater part of my army, as you are doubtless aware, is
composed of members of the Scottish Kirk. They are bitter sectarians,
ever ready to dispute on religious questions, and to reprove those who
differ from them. Prevent, if you can, all quarrels among them and your
fellow-citizens."
"We have had plague enough already with those Anabaptists,
Presbyterians, and Independents," said the sheriff. "I am happy to
say there are very few left in faithful Worcester now we are rid of
the garrison. We will not quarrel with the Scots, since they have
come hither with your majesty. At noon all shall be ready for your
reception."
Making a profound reverence to the king, the two gentlemen then
withdrew, accompanied by Careless.
The king had lost his favourite charger at the attack on the fort
on the previous day; but another steed, in no respect inferior, had
been supplied him by the Duke of Buckingham, and mounted on his new
acquisition, he now proceeded to make an inspection of the camp. He
was attended by all his general officers, and by the nobles who had
accompanied him in his march from Scotland.
The men had begun to strike the tents at Perry Wood; for it had been
decided by his majesty, after consultation with Lesley, Middleton, and
Massey, that the main body of the army should be moved lower down
the hill, and not far from the Sidbury-gate, while Dalyell, with his
brigade, should fix his quarters at St. John's, on the right bank of
the river, and Middleton, with two thousand men, should encamp on the
Pitchcroft, a large plain, extremely convenient for the purpose, on the
north of the city, and on the left bank of the Severn.
Having completed his tour of inspection, Charles rode down with his
staff to Fort Royal; and he was surveying the scene of his late
brilliant exploit, and receiving fresh compliments from his attendants,
when he was surprised to see Careless come forth.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Breakfast is served, sire," replied the aide-de-camp.
"Breakfast!" exclaimed Charles.
"By St. George! I am glad to hear it," cried the Duke of Buckingham,
Lord Wilmot, and several others. "I hope there is enough for us all."
"Enough, and to spare," replied Careless.
Amid general exclamations of satisfaction the king and those with him
then dismounted, and were conducted by Careless into a large chamber,
where a plentiful repast awaited them.