IN WHAT MANNER JANE LANE WAS CAPTURED, AND BROUGHT BEFORE CROMWELL.
Though often urged to do so by the king, Jane Lane did not leave
Worcester till the last moment, but when it became certain that a
battle was imminent, Charles insisted upon her departure. Very early on
the morning of the 2nd of September she quitted the city, accompanied
by Colonel Lane and Sir Clement Fisher. By riding hard, she hoped to
reach her home in Staffordshire before night. Her companions were not
going with her further than Bewdley, where they hoped to procure a safe
escort for her.
Having selected the road they deemed most secure, the party were
galloping along a lane near Hindlip, when they heard a shout, and the
next moment a party of musketeers, evidently Parliamentarians, with an
officer, came upon them from a cross road. There was nothing for it
but instant flight. As they turned back, the musketeers galloped after
them, and fired a few shots--luckily without effect.
Thinking to escape more quickly, Jane Lane jumped a hedge on the left,
and gained a broad meadow. But neither her brother nor Sir Clement
followed her, while the sounds she heard convinced her they were being
hotly pursued. She rode partly across the meadow, and then stopped,
uncertain what to do, still hoping her companions would join her. But
they came not, and fresh firing at a distance added to her fright. What
was she to do? She could not proceed on her journey alone, and yet a
return to the city was fraught with the utmost peril. Yet this was the
course she resolved on after a few minutes' consideration, and she rode
down to the bottom of the field, anxiously listening for any warning
sounds. The enemy, however, was nearer at hand than she imagined, and
she had no sooner got out of the field by clearing another hedge than
she was made prisoner by a couple of musketeers. No rough usage was
offered her, but seizing her bridle, the men took her to their leader,
who was posted beneath a wide-spreading beech-tree, with a dozen
troopers beside him.
"Soh! you have captured the Moabitish maiden," observed the leader.
The words and the stern tone in which they were uttered caused Jane
to look at the speaker, and she then, to her astonishment, perceived
she was in the presence of the Lord General himself. Instead of being
alarmed by the discovery, she felt her courage return.
"Thou knowest me, damsel, I perceive," observed Cromwell, perceiving
the effect he had produced upon her. "Answer truthfully the questions I
shall put, and you have no cause for fear."
"I have no fear," replied Jane, stoutly.
"Who were the malignants with you? Was Charles Stuart one of them?
Speak! I will have an answer."
His manner was so authoritative, that she felt almost compelled to
obey. Still she remained silent.
"I ask again, was Charles Stuart one of them?" said Cromwell, still
more sternly. "I have received intelligence from one not likely to
deceive me, that he meditates flight from the city on this very morn.
And I am here on the watch for him."
"You have received false intelligence," rejoined Jane. "The king will
never leave the city."
"Ah! you have plenty of spirit, I find," cried Cromwell. "But you draw
suspicion on yourself by your reluctance to answer. For the third time,
who were those with you?'
"My brother, Colonel Lane, and my brother's friend, Sir Clement
Fisher," she replied.
"And your own suitor, perchance," remarked Cromwell.
"You are right," rejoined Jane.
At this juncture several of the troopers returned, and Cromwell called
out:
"Have you captured the men of Moab? Have you smitten them with the
sword?'
"No, your excellency," replied Dighton, who commanded the party. "They
have escaped into the city."
"Heaven be thanked for that!" exclaimed Jane. "Then I care not what
becomes of me."
Cromwell regarded her fixedly, not without a certain admiration.
"You are a stout-hearted maiden," he said. "'Tis a pity you cannot
understand the truth."
"I understand some things," replied Jane, boldly. "I understand treason
and rebellion, and I will have nought to do with traitors and rebels.
Your excellency is fond of texts. Forget not that it has been said,
'Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and shall be so punished.'
Remember also what Rabshakeh said to Hezekiah, 'On whom dost thou trust
that thou rebellest?' Lastly, I ask with Nehemiah, 'What do ye? Will
you rebel against the king?'"
"There is no king left," replied Cromwell. "The Lord has smitten the
house of Ahab, and the seed royal shall be destroyed."
"Not so, thou worse than Athaliah," said Jane. "The blood of the royal
Martyr cries for vengeance upon his murderers, and it will not cry
in vain. Thou mayest capture yonder city--mayest destroy its brave
and devoted citizens, but the king will escape--ay, escape, I tell
thee--and mount the throne when thou art dust."
"While I live he shall never mount the throne," rejoined Cromwell.
His brow had grown very dark as he listened to Jane's imprudent speech,
but he repressed his wrath, and a seasonable interruption was offered
by the arrival of another party of musketeers under the command of
Cornet Hardiman.
With them was a young and good-looking woman on horseback, seated on a
pillion behind a serving-man. She was habited in deep mourning.
"How is this?" cried Oliver, angrily. "Can ye bring me none but women
as prisoners to-day?"
"May it please your excellency," replied Hardiman, "this young dame is
not a prisoner. She is the widow of that Urso Gives who was hanged by
Charles Stuart. Having heard that you made some promise of a reward
to her late husband, she entreated me to bring her before you, and
believing her story, I consented."
"Is this the Widow Gives?" demanded Cromwell, regarding her with
attention.
"Ay, marry, your excellency," replied the young dame. "I am the widow
of that unfortunate man, who lost his life in your service. I have been
informed by the Reverend Laban Foxe--a most godly minister--that your
excellency promised Urso a reward, and that if he perished I should
receive it."
"It is true, and I will not fail one word of my promise," replied
Cromwell. "You shall have the reward, but you must be content to wait
for it till the city is in my hands."
"Then I trust she will have to wait for it long," observed Jane.
Cromwell took no notice of the remark, but said to the young widow:
"You are passing fair, and I marvel not at your husband's strong
attachment to you."
"Of a truth, poor Urso was greatly attached to me," replied the young
widow, putting her handkerchief to her eyes.
"Be constant to his memory, if you can--though I fear 'twill be a hard
matter with you to be so," observed Cromwell. "But I have no further
time for idle discourse. Since there is no chance of capturing Charles
Stuart, I shall not tarry longer here. Take charge of this damsel," he
added. "Her friends have left her. But mark me! she must not return to
the city. Neither return thither thyself, if thou wouldst live to enjoy
thy pension."
"Your excellency's injunctions shall be obeyed," replied Dame Gives,
trembling.
"I thought I was a prisoner," remarked Jane, surprised.
"I do not make prisoners of women," replied Cromwell, coldly.
With this, he gave the word to Dighton, and immediately rode off in the
direction of Perry Wood, followed by his troops.
No sooner was he gone, than Jane said to Dame Gives:
"Notwithstanding the Lord General's prohibition, I must, and will,
return to Worcester. I must relieve my brother's anxiety on my account."
"Beseech you do not, dear lady," replied the young widow, earnestly.
"Come with me to Droitwich, whither I am going, and I will undertake to
provide you a faithful messenger, who shall convey a letter or a token
from you to Colonel Lane or Sir Clement Fisher."
"You know me then!" cried Jane in astonishment.
"There are very few in Worcester who do not know Mistress Jane Lane,"
replied Dame Gives.
"But your sympathies are with the enemy--not with us," cried Jane.
The very significant look given her by the young widow satisfied her
she was mistaken.
"Major Careless would tell you differently," whispered Dame Gives,
leaning forward.
"My doubts are removed," said Jane. "I will go with you to Droitwich."
"You will not find your confidence misplaced," replied Dame Gives. "And
it will delight me to be of service to you."
They then rode off at a brisk pace, and were soon on the high road to
Droitwich.