The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 233: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, ome! SO) pote OA e poe OF le protection to a skulking traitor. I will keep further off.’’ And so saying, he moved away from the narrow high road to the place where the old nDger-post stood pointing the way to Notting- am. CHAPTER IX, THE KING AT HOLMBY—THE ORDER FOR THE REMOVAL TO LONDON—THE APPEARANCE ° “~ -OF THE HOSTILE FORCE—THE BATTLE—THE KING'S SUSPICIONS—THE HIDDEN FOES— THE SECRET DOOR AT 8ST, JAMES'S, THE continued incarceration which King Charles had now suffered had greatly weighed upon his Spirits, and he had begun to believe firm! y that some great evil was threatening him. The gloomy manners of those who guarded him, the refusal of all to permit the visits of friends, the long-continued captivity, and the evident endeavours of those in authority in London to bring about his trial and execution, made him at length give way to a gloomy kind of terror; while at other times a calmness and resignation appeared to overcome all other feelings. The king was treated with every respect. He had been permitted to see his children by Cromwell’s orders, and he was allowed also to ride out and hunt, _A strong guard, however, always accompanied im; and on more than one occasion, persons who had brought him letters from the queen had been intercepted and sent away. One morning, at Holmby, the king and the Commissioners who were there to watch him were out hunting, They had had a good day's sport, and the king, amid the excitement of the chase, almoat forgot. the fact that he was a prisoner, The exhilarating breeze, the long run, and the various circumstances connected with the scene, had made him for the time imagine him- self at the head of his courtiers, and as he neared Holmby House, he waa conversing pleasantly with one of the commissioners, when & curious accident took place. Just as they were about to cross s narrow wooden bridge, over a stream, a man sprang forward from behind a tree. In his hand was a letter, _ He succeeded in reaching the king’s side, and had just said the words, “FOR YOUR MaszEsry,” When he was arrested. The letter was from the queen, but King Charles never saw it. The man who thus risked his life on such an errand was a captain in a foreign legion, and he suffered no punishment for his temerity. On a second occasion, the daughter of a gentleman in the neighbourhood, holding a high position in Cr omwell’s favour, suddenly expressed a wish to see the king. The request Was pranted. The king receiwed her very graciously, and baw, with great emotion, that as she departed from his presence she pinned a letter to the hangings of the room, This was also diseovered by the commissioners, and after this the king was more severely watched than ever. It was not long after this that Harold and the armourer made their appearance at Holmby House with the order for the king’s removal to London. The king heard the news unmoved. ‘‘ T expect no better treatment than I get from such persons as my enemies are,” he said. “ If they try me it is illegal, so whatever judgment —good or bad—they come to, I shall think jast the same.”’ “And pray, young sir,” he added, turning to Harold, “when do my judges sit ?” “T do not know, sire,” . “‘ And are you the captain they send to convey their king to London ?” he added, with a aneer. Harold bowed deprecatingly. ‘I am bat a messenger, your majesty,” he answered, : “Well, well, boy,” returned the king, “I blame you not. They bring youths up now to despise all that_is good and honourable ; there- fore, you are not justly answerable. I remember well your face ; 1 met you once in less troublous times near Whitehall.’ ‘‘ I remember it, your majeaty, and the horee which your equerry was endeavouring to ride.” “Yes; that was the time. But it does not do,” he added, with some emotion, “to look back upon the past. I must look to the future, which in this world may be so short. When do Istart for London?” he continued, turnin g to one of the commissioners who were present. ‘In three days, your majesty,” returned he. The king glanced out upon the smiling country. “Three more days of pleasant pastures and bright sunlight and air which seems to breathe of freedom, and then London—and DEATH !" Tnese were the words he murmured to himself unheard by all save Harold. Three days passed, During these three days the armourer and his apprentice remained at Holmby Hofise. On the third day, there arrived a large de- tachment of soldiers—cavairy, infantry and artillery. . The king was placed in a coach, and, in the midst Of this formicable array started for the metropolis, To describe the king's entire journey would make but a weary chronicle, As they approached London, however, there were evidences that some movement was con- templated, and this was more especially the case when they neared the house of Master Laurence near Martin’s Ferry House, where, it will be re- membered, that in the commencement of our story Ben Firebrace left Lizzie Woodhead under the care of Harry Martin, Several horsemen were seen nearing them, and, after a hurried glance, riding away across country, Kvery now and then fizures sprang from behind hedges, and scoured away until they were lost in the distance. Near Martin’s Ferry, Colonel Dalzell, who was in command of the convoy, ordered a halt, and had a conference with his officers—a con- GOhVC OOO eS if . t