all others out of the way at the instant of his Majesties arrival All which after a while answered their desires even beyond their expectation Between nine and ten the next morning the Colonel and his Lady walking towards the fields adjoining to the house espied the King riding before Mrs Lane and Mr Lassels in their company Assoon as his Majesty came near the Colonel He called to him Frank Frank 〈◊〉 how dost thou do By which gracious pleasance the Colonel perceived that though his Majesties habit and countenance were much changed yet his Heroick spirit was the same and his mind immutable The Colonel to avoid the jealous eyes of some neighbours instantly conveyed the King and Mrs Lane into the Lady Wyndham's Chamber where the passions of Joy and Sorrow did a while combat in them who beheld his Sacred Person For what loyal Eye could look upon so Glorious a Prince thus eclypsed and not pay unto him the homage of tears But the consideration of his Majesties safety the gracious words of his own mouth confuting the sad reports of his untimely death together with the hope of his future preservation soon dried them up In al short time the Colonel brought the Lord Wilmot to the King and then the Ladies withdrew into the Parlour having first agreed to call Mrs Lane Cousin and to entertain her with the same familiarity as if she had been their near Relation That day she stayed at Trent and the next morning early Mr Lassels and she departed His Majesty after he had refreshed himself commanded the Colonel in the presence of the Lord Wilmot to propose What way he thought most probable for his Escape into France for thither he desired with all speed to be transported The Colonel the King giving him this opportunity entertained and encouraged his Majesty with this remarkable passage of Sir Thomas Wyndham his Father Who not long before his death in the Year 1636 called unto him his five Sons having not seen them together in some years before and discoursed unto us said he of the long Peace and Prosperity this Kingdom had enjoyed under its Three last Glorious Monarchs Of the the many Miseries and Calamities which lay sore upon our Ancestors by the several Invasions and Conquests of Forein Nations and likewise by Intestine Insurrections and Rebellions And notwithstanding the strange mutations and Changes in England He shewed how it pleased God in love to our Nation to preserve an undoubted Succession of Kings to sit in the Regal Throne He mentioned the healing Conjunction of the two Houses of York and Lancaster and the blessed Vnion of the two Crowns of England and Scotland stopping up those fountains of Blood which by National feuds and quarrels kept open had like to have drowned the whole Island He said he feared the beautiful garment of Peace would shortly be torn in pieces through the Neglect of Magistrates the general Corruption of manners and the prevalence of a Puritanical faction which if not prevented would undermine the very pillars of Government My sons We have hitherto seen serene and quiet Times but now prepare your selves for cloudy and troublesom I command you to honour and obey our Gracious Soveraign and in all times to adhere to the Crown and though the Crown should hang upon a Bush I charge you forsake it not These words being spoken with much earnestness both in gesture and manner extraordinary he arose from his chair and left us in a deep consultation what the meaning should be of The Crown hanging upon a Bush These words Sir said the Colonel made so firm an impression in all our breasts that the many afflictions of these sad Times cannot raze out their undelible characters Certainly these are the days which my Father pointed out in that Expression And I doubt not God hath brought me through so many dangers that I might shew my self both a dutiful Son and a loyal Subject in faithfully endeavouring to serve your Sacred Majesty in this your greatest Distress After this Rehearsal the Colonel in obedience to his Majesties command told the King That Sir John Strangways who had given many testimonies of his loyalty having two Sons both of them Colonels for his Royal Father lived but four miles from Trent That he was a person of great fortune and interest in Dorsetshire and therefore he supposed that either Sir John or his Sons might be serviceable to his Majesties occasions The King in prosecution of this proposal commanded the Colonel to wait on them and accordingly the next morning he went over to Melbury the place where Sir John dwelt No sooner was he come thither but he met with Colonel Giles Strangways and after usual salutations they walked into the Park adjoyning to the house where Colonel Wyndham imparted the reason and end of his present Visit Colonel Strangways his answer was That he was infinitely grieved because he was not able to serve his Majesty in procuring a Vessel according to expectation That he knew not any one Master of a Ship or so much as one Mariner that he could trust All that were formerly of his acquaintance in Weymouth being for their loyalty banished and gone beyond the sea and in Pool and Lime he was a meer stranger having not one Confident in either A hundred pounds in Gold he delivered to Colonel Wyndham to present to the King which at his return by command was deposited in the hands of the Lord Wilmot for his Majesties use About this time the Forces under Cromwell were retreated from Worcester into the several Quarters of the Country some of which coming to Trent proclaimed the Overthrow of the Kings Army and the Death of the King giving out that he was certainly killed And one of them affirmed that he saw him dead and that he was buried among the rest of the slain no injury being offered to his body because he was a Valiant Soldier and a Gallant man This welcome News so tickled the Sectaries that they could not hold from expressing their joy by making Bonfires firing of Guns Drinking and other jollities And for a close of all to the Church they must and there ring the Kings knell These rude Extravagancies moved not his Majesty at all but onely as if he were more troubled for their madness than his own misfortune to this most Christian and compassionate Expression Alas poor people Now though the King valued not the menaces of his proud Enemies being confident they could do him no hurt yet he neglected not to try the faithfulness of his Friends to convey him out of their reach Thus the former design proving unsuccessful and all hope of Transfretation that way being laid aside the Colonel acquainted his Majesty that one Captain William Ellesden of Lime formerly well known unto him with his Brother John Ellesden by means of Colonel Bullen Reymes of Wadden in Dorsetshine had conveyed over into France Sir John Berkley now Lord Berkley in a time of
cunning till the blessed Restauration of his Majesty to his glorious Throne so filled their hearts with joy that it broke open the door of their lips and let their tongue loose to tell this Miracle to the amazed World would were not the Persons yet alive and the Story fresh in memory rarifie it into a Romance The reproaches and scandals by which some envious persons have sought to diminish and vilifie the faithful services which the Colonel out of the integrity of his soul performed unto his Majesty shall not here be mentioned Because by taking up dirt to bespatter him they defile their own hands and the gun they level at his Reputation recoils to the wounding of their own These things thus premised by way of Introduction open the Gate through which you may enter and in the ensuing Pages as in several Tables take a full view of the Particulars The Disguise his Majesty put on secured him from the Cruelty of his Enemies but could not altogether hide him from the prying eyes of his dutiful Subjects For in the time of his stay at Leigh one John Pope then Butler to Sir George Norton but formerly a Soldier for the King in the West through all those clouds espied the most Illustrious Person of the King With him his Majesty after he saw himself discovered was pleased familiarly to discourse And speaking of the great Sufferings of very many of his Friends in the Western parts most whereof were well known to Pope his Majesty enquired if he knew Colonel Francis Wyndham who in the time of the late Wars was Governor of Dunster-Castle Very well Sir answered Pope The King then demanding what was become of him Pope replies That the Colonel had married Mrs Anne Gerard one of the daughters and heiresses of Thomas Gerard Esq late of Trent in Somersetshire and that he had newly brought thither his Mother the Lady Wyndham his Wife and family and that he believed the Colonel intended there to reside and live His Majesty having received this intelligence concerning the Colonel together with an exact information of the scituation of Trent sought an opportunity to speak with Mrs Lane from whom the better to conceal himself he then kept at a distance and by means of Mr Lassels who accompanied the King in this journey obteining his desire his Majesty with much contentment imparted to Mrs Lane what Pope had informed him concerning Colonel Wyndham and his habitation telling her withall That if she could bring him thither he should not much doubt of his safety In this very point of time comes the Lord Henry Wilmot since Earl of Rochester from Dirham in Gloucestershire the seat of John Winter Esq a person of known loyalty and integrity to Leigh My Lord had attended his Majesty in his passage Westward and on Friday morning September the 13. met accidentally Captain Thomas Abington of Dowdswell in the County of Gloucester at Pinbury Park and being known by the Captain who had served under his Lordship in the Wars was that night by him conducted to Mr Winter 's from whom his Lordship as he hath often since acknowledged received great Civilities Mrs Lane presently reveals to the Lord Wilmot the Kings resolution to remove to Trent whereupon my Lord demanded of Henry Rogers Mr Winter's servant and his Lordships guide from Dirham to Leigh whether he knew Trent He answered That Colonel Wyndham and his Master had married two Sisters and that he had often waited on his Master thither These things so happily concurring his Majesty commanded the Lord Wilmot to haste to Trent and to ascertain the Colonel of his speedy Approach His Lordship took leave and continuing Rogers for his guide with one Robert Swan arrived at Trent the sixteenth of September Rogers was sent in forthwith to the Colonel to acquaint him that a Gentleman a friend of his desired the favour of him that he would please to step forth and speak with him The Colonel enquiring of Rogers whether he knew the Gentleman or his business answered No he understood nothing at all but only that he was called by the name of Mr. Morton Then without further discourse the Colonel came forth and found the Gentleman walking near the Stable whom as soon as he approached although it was somewhat dark he saluted by the Title of My Lord Wilmot His Lordship seemed to wonder that he should be known but it was nothing strange considering the Colonels former acquaintance with him being one of the first that engaged under his Command in his late Majesties service Besides his Lordship was not in the least altered except a Hawk on his fist and a Lure by his side might pass for a Disguise This Confidence of his Lordship really begat admiration in the Colonel calling to mind the great danger he was in and whose Harbinger he was For he advertised the Colonel that the King himself was on his way to Trent intending that very night to lodge at Castle-Cary a Town six miles thence hoping by Gods assistance to be with him about ten of the clock next morning At this joyful news the Colonel was transported there having run a report that his Majesty was slain in the Fight at Worcester and giving God thanks for his wonderful mercy he assured his Lordship That for his Majesties preservation he would value neither his life family nor fortune and would never injure his Majesties confidence of him Not doubting but that God who had led his Majesty through the midst of such inexpressible dangers would deliver him from all those barbarous threats and bloody intentions of his Enemies With these and such like expressions the Colonel brought the Lord Wilmot into his parlour where he received an exact account of his Majesties condition and present affairs Next morning the Colonel found it necessary to acquaint the Lady Wyndham his mother and also his own Lady with the particulars the Lord Wilmot had over-night imparted to him concerning the King The relation he gave them did not through the weakness of their sex bring upon them any womanish passion but surprized with joy they most cheerfully resolve without the least shew of fear to hazard all for the safety of the King And so begging Gods blessing upon their future endeavours they contrive how his Majesty might be brought into the house without any suspition to their family consisting of above twenty persons Among them therefore Mrs Julian Coningsby the Lady Wyndham's Neece Elianor Withers Joan Halsenoth and Henry Peters whose loy alty to the King and fidelity to themselves they had sufficiently experienced are made privy to their design Next they consider what Chambers are fittest for his Majesties reception Four are made choice of amongst which the Lady Wyndham's was counted most convenient for the day-time where the servants might wait with most freedom upon his Majesty Then a safe place is provided to retreat unto in case of search or imminent danger And lastly Employments are designed to remove
danger To this Captain therefore his Majesty sends the Colonel who lodging at his house in Lime took an opportunity to tell him That the Lord Wilmot had made his escape from Worcester that he lay privately near to him and that his Lordship had earnestly solicited him to use his utmost endeavours to secure him from the hands of the pursuers To this purpose he was come to town and assured the Captain if he would joyn in this affair his courtesie should never be forgotten The Captain very cordially embraced the motion and went with the Colonel to Charmouth a little place near Lime where at an Inne he brought to him a Tenant of his one Stephen Limbry assuring the Colonel that he was a right honest man and a perfect Royalist With this Limbry Colonel Wyndham treated under the name of Captain Norris and agreed with him to transport himself and three or four friends into France The conditions of their Agreement were That before the two and twentieth day of that instant September Limbry should bring his Vessel into Charmouth-Road and on the said two and twentieth in the night should receive the Colonel and his company into his Long-boat from the Beach near Charmouth from thence carry them to his Ship and so land them safe in France This the Colonel conjured Limbry to perform with all secresie because all the Passengers were of the Royal party and intended to be shipped without leave to avoid such Oaths and Engagements which otherwise would be forced upon them And therefore Privacie in this transaction would free him from Danger and themselves from Trouble the true cause why they so earnestly thirsted for some time to leave their native Country Limbry's Salary was Sixty pounds which the Captain engaged to pay at his return from France upon sight of a Certificate under the Passengers hands of their landing there To the performance of these Covenants Limbry with many vows and protestations obliging himself the Colonel with much satisfaction and speed came back to his Majesty and the Lord Wilmot to Trent who at the narration of these passages expressed no small contentment The business being thus far successfully laid the King consults how it might be prudentially managed that so there might be no miscarriage in the prosecution Necessary it was that his Majesty and all his Attendants contrary to the use of Travellers should sit up all the night in the Inne at Charmouth that they ought to have the command of the house to go in and out at pleasure the Tide not serving till twelve at night To remove therefore all suspicion and Inconveniencies this Expedient was found out Henry Peters Colonel Wyndham's servant was sent to Charmouth Inne who inviting the Hostess to drink a glass of wine told her That he served a very gallant Master who had long most affectionately loved a Lady in Devon and had the happiness to be well beloved by her and though her Equal in birth and fortune yet so unequal was his fate that by no means could he obtain her Friends consent And therefore it was agreed between them that he should carry her thence and marry her among his own Allies And for this purpose his Master had sent him to desire her to keep the best Chambers for him intending to be at her house upon the two and twentieth day of that moneth in the evening where he resolved not to lodge but only to refresh himself and friends and so travel on either that night or very early next morning With this Love-story thus contrived and acted together with a Present delivered by Peters from his Master the Hostess was so well pleased that she promised him her house and servants should be at his Masters command All which she very justly performed When the day appointed for his Majesties journey to Charmouth was come he was pleased to ride before Mrs Julian Coningsby the Lady Wyndham's Neece as formerly before Mrs Lane The Colonel was his Majesties Guide whilst the Lord Wilmot with Peters kept at a convenient distance that they might not seem to be all of one company In this manner travelling they were timely met by Captain Elesden and by him conducted to a private house of his Brothers among the hills near Charmouth There his Majesty was pleased to discover himself to the Captain and to give him a piece of forein Gold in which in his solitary hours he made a hole to put a ribbin in Many like pieces his Majesty vouchsafed the Colonel and his Lady to be kept as Records of his Majesties favour and of their own fidelity to his most Sacred Person in the day of his greatest Trial. All which they have most thankfully treasured up as the chiefest Jewels of their Family This Royal Company from thence came to the Inne at Charmouth a little after night where Captain Elesden solemnly engaging to see the Master of the ship ready the wind blowing then fair for France took leave of his Majesty About an hour after came Limbry to the Inne and assured the Colonel all things were prepared and that about midnight his Long-boat should wait at the place appointed The set hour drawing nigh the Colonel with Peters went to the Sea-side leaving his Majesty and the Lord Wilmot in a posture to come away upon call where they remained all night expecting but seeing no Long-boat neither hearing any message from the master of the ship at the break of day the Colonel returns to the Inne and beseeches the King and the Lord Wilmot to haste from thence His Majesty was intreated but the Lord Wilmot was desirous to stay behind a little promising to follow the King to Bridport where his Majesty intended to make a halt for him When the King was gone the Lord Wilmot sent Peters into Lime to demand of Captain Elesden the reason why Limbry broke his promise and forfeited his word He seemed much surprised with this message and said He knew no reason except it being Fair-day the Seamen were drunk in taking their Farewell and withall advised his Lordship to be gone because his stay there could not be safe But since that Limbry himself hath given this account under his own hand That according to an Agreement made at Charmouth September the 19. 1651. betwixt himself and one Captain Norris since known to be Colonel Francis Wyndham he put forth his Ship beyond the Cobs-mouth into Charmouth-rode where his servants on the 22. of the same moneth were all ready in her waiting his coming That he going to his house about ten that night for linen to carry with him was unexpectedly locked into a chamber by his Wife to whom he had a little before revealed his intended Voyage with some Passengers into France for whose Transportation at his return he was to receive a considerable sum of money from Captain Elesden This woman it seems was frighted into a panick fear by that dreadful Proclamation of the tenth of September set out by the Men
of Westminister and published that day at Lime In this a heavy Penalty was thundred out against all that should conceal the King or any of his party who were at Worcester Fight and a Reward of a Thousand pounds promised to any that should betray him She apprehending the Persons her husband engaged to carry over to be Royalists resolved to secure him from danger by making him a Prisoner in his own chamber All the perswasions he used for his liberty were in vain For the more he intreated the more her violent passion increased breaking forth into such clamors and lamentations that he feared if he should any longer contend both himself and the Gentlemen he promised to transport would be cast away in this storm without ever going to Sea Thus a Design in a business of the highest nature carried on with industry and prudence even to the very last still promising full hope of a happy production by one mans single whisper the bane of Action proved abortive For no doubt had Limbry kept his counsel he had gained the honour of Conveying over his Majesty of whose Noble Courage and Vertue God was pleased to make yet farther trial as the sequel will inform The King passing on upon London Road from Charmouth met many travellers among whom was one of his Fathers servants well known both to his Majesty and the Colonel who were very well pleased that he was not guilty of so much Civility as to give either of them the complement of a Salutation As they drew near to Bridport the Colonel riding a little before and entring the town perceived it full of Soldiers whereupon stopping his horse till the King came up he inreated his Majesty to keep on and by no means to put himself into the mouth of them who gaped greedily after his destruction Nevertheless the King having engaged to the Lord Wilmot to expect him there without the least apprehension of danger rode into the George and alighting in the Court was forced to stay there and in the Stable near half an hour before the Colonel could procure a Chamber All this while his bloody Enemies were his onely Companions with whom he discoursed freely without fear and learned from them their intended Voyage for Jersey and Guernsey and their Design upon those Islands Here may you see the Pursuers overtaken and the bitterest of Enemies friendly discoursing with Him whose utter Ruine they accounted would compleat their Happiness He that sate in Heaven certainly laughed them to scorn and by the interposition of his mighty Arm eclypsed their glory and by his admirable Wisdom reproved and confuted their malice against the King and their blasphemies against Heaven No sooner had the King withdrawn himself from this dangerous Company into a Chamber with much difficulty obtained but Mrs Coningsby espied Peters riding into the Inne He being beckned up acquainted his Majesty that the Lord Wilmot humbly petitioned him to make haste out of that place and to overtake him slowly passing on the road and waiting his Majesties coming Presently upon the dismission of Peters the King having taken some small repast not far from the Town joyned in company again with the Lord Wilmot and discoursing of the several Adventures of that hopeful and as it fell out most perilous Journey concluded that London-Road was very unsafe and therefore resolved to follow the next Turning which might probably lead towards Yeavill or Sherborn neither of which is computed to be above two miles distant from Trent Providence the best of Guides directed these Strangers for so they were all to those parts to a way which after many hours travel brought them into a Village in which was a small Inne for entertainment This entred these masqued Travellers to enquire where they were And to this purpose calling for some Beer the Host of the house one Rice Jones came forth and informed them that the place was called Broadwinsor The Colonel knew the Innkeeper and his wife to be very honest loyal persons and that for their fidelity to the King and his party they had according to their condition undergone their share of troubles The King understanding the affection of the people resolves to lodge in the house that night it being already somwhat dark and his Majesty and Company sufficiently wearied with their former nights watching and that days travel The Colonel while the horses were put up desired Mr. Jones to shew him the most private rooms the reason he gave was Because his Brother-in-law Colonel Reymes whom the Lord Wilmot personated had been a long time imprisoned as well as himself That they had lately obtained their Paroles and to be seen together so far from their homes might create new jealousies and so consequently crush them with new troubles The good Host upon this brought them up into the highest chambers where Privateness recompensed the meanness of the Accommodation and the pleasantness of the Host a merry fellow allayed and mitigated the weariness of the Guests Now the face of things began to smile which all the day and night preceding looked so louring and ill-favoured But this short Calm was on a sudden interrupted by a violent Storm For in comes the Constable with almost Forty Soldiers to be billeted that very night in the Inne All the lower Receptacles were thronged up with this unexpected Company so that the King was in a manner besieged there being no passage from above but through those suspected Guards Thus every place brought forth its troubles and every period of time disclosed fresh dangers Shortly after the Soldiers had taken up their Quarters a Woman in their company fell in labour in the Kitchin The pangs she endured made the Inhabitants of that place very ill at ease fearing lest the whole Parish should become the reputed Father and be enforced to keep the Child To avoid this charge the chiefest of the Parish post to the Inne between whom and the Soldiers arose a very hot conflict concerning provision to be made for the mother and the infant This dispute continued till such time as according to orders they were to march to the Sea-side This quarrelsom Gossipping was a most seasonable diversion exercising the minds of those troublesom Fellows who otherwise were likely to have proved too too inquisitive after the Guests in the house the sad consequences of which every loyal heart trembles to think on Surely we cannot except we wilfully shut our own eyes but clearly see and with all reverence and thankfulness adore the Divine Goodness for his Majesties signal Deliverances in this Voyage Especially if looking back upon Charmouth we consider the dangers that threatned him occasioned by the Lord Wilmot's short stay there after the Kings departure For one Hamnet a Smith being called to shoe his Lordships horse said He well knew by the fashion of the shoes that they were never set in the West but in the North. The Hostler a bird of the same feather hearing this began
to tell what Company had been there how they sate up and kept their horses sadled all the night and from hence they conclude That either the King or some Great Persons had certainly been at the Inne The Hostler whose heart was soured against the King runs presently to one Westley of the same leaven then Minister of Charmouth to inform him of these Passages and to ask counsel what was to be done This Westley was at his Morning Exercise and being somthing long-winded And by the way it may be observed that long Prayers proceeding from a Traiterous heart once did good but by accident onely the Hostler unwilling to lose his reward at the Gentlemans taking horse returns without doing his errand As soon as my Lord was mounted and gone Hamnet tells Westley of the discourse between himself and the Hostler Away comes Westley upon full speed to the Inne and almost out of breath asks the woman of the house what Guests she had entertained that night She said They were all strangers to her she knew them not I tell you then said he one of them was the King Then hastily turning away from her he and Hamnet ran to Mr. Butler of Commer then Justice of Peace to have him dispatch abroad his Warrants to raise the Country for the apprehending of the King and those persons the last night with him at Charmouth But he spends his mouth in vain a deaf ear is turned upon him no Warrant would be issued forth This check given to his zeal so vexed him that it had like to have caused a suffocation had not Captain Massey as errant a Hotspur as himself given it vent by raising a Party and pursuing the King upon London-Road But God preserved his Majesty by diverting him to Broadwindsor whilst Massey and his hot-mettled company outran their Prey as far as Dorchester And indeed the report of the Kings being at Charmouth was grown so common that the Soldiers lying in those parts search'd the houses of several Gentlemen who were accounted Royalists thinking to surprize him Amongst which Pilesdon the house of Sir Hugh Wyndham Uncle to Colonel Francis Wyndham was twice rifled They took the old Baronet his Lady Daughters and whole Family and set a Guard upon them in the Hall whilst they examine every corner not sparing either Trunk or Box. Then taking a particular view of their Prisoners they seize a lovely young Lady saying she was the King disguised in womens apparel At length being convinced of their gross and rude mistake they desisted from offering any farther violence to that Family And here it is much to be observed that the same day the King went from Charmouth Captain Elesden came to Pilesdon and enquired of Sir Hugh and his Lady for the King and Colonel confidently affirming that they must needs be there His Majesty having with an evenness of spirit gotten through this rough passage safely anchored at Broadwindsor Where at length enjoying some rest he commands the Colonel to give his opinion what course was to be taken as the face of affairs then looked The Colonel seeing Forces drawn every where upon that shore thought it very hazardous to attempt any thing more in Dorsetshire and therefore humbly besought his Majesty that he would be pleased to retreat to Trent He hoped his Majesty was already satisfied in the fidelity of his servants and that he doubted not his Majesty might lie securely in that Creek till it was fair weather and a good season to put forth to Sea He humbly advised that Peters might conduct the Lord Wilmot to Mr Huit's house at the Kings-Arms in Sarum where he and many of his friends had been sheltered in the time of troubles That Peters being at Sarum should by a private token bring his Lordship to Mr John Coventry his Kinsman a Person Noble Wise and Loyal with whom he had kept Intelligence in order to the Kings service ever since his Majesty had set foot in Scotland That he was assured Mr Coventry would think himself highly honoured to correspond in this matchless employment The King's Preservation He desired the Lord Wilmot to be confident of lying concealed And likewise to treat with Mr Coventry and by Peters to return his Majesty an account how he found that Gentleman affected towards this service This counsel being well relished and approved 't was resolved That between Sarum and Trent lying 30 miles distant and better an Intercourse should be kept by trusty messengers and a secret way of writing to avoid danger in case of interception All things being thus concluded the King left his jovial Host at Broadwindsor and returned with the Colonel and Mrs Coningsby to Trent The Lord Wilmot with Peters went that night to Sherborn and the next morning was waited on by Swan who attended his Lordship to the Colonels and that day got into Sarum where he soon saluted Mr Coventry in all things fully answering his Lordships expectation And the 25. of September Peters was sent back with this joyful message from the Lord Wilmot to his Majesty That he doubted not by Mr Coventry's assistance and those recommended by him to be able in some short time to effect his desires Whilst his Sacred Majesty enjoys his peace at Trent and the Lord Wilmot with those other Worthies is busied at Sarum to procure its continuation It cannot be impertinent to mention a Circumstance or two which inserted in the midst of the web and texture of this Story would have looked unhandsom but added as a fringe may prove ornamental Upon the Sunday morning after the King came to Trent a Tailor of the Parish informed the Colonel That the Zealots which swarmed in that place discoursed overnight that Persons of Quality were hid in his house and that they intended to search and seise them and therefore he desired the Colonel if any such there were to convey them thence to avoid surprisal The Colonel rewarding the good man for his care and kindness towards himself and family told him That his Kinsman meaning the L. Wilmot was not private but publick in his house for so his Lordship pleased to be and that he believed he would shew himself in the Church at the time of Prayers When the honest fellow was gone the Colonel acquaints the King what had passed between himself and the Tailor and withall besought his Majesty to perswade the Lord Wilmot to accompany him to Church thinking by this means not only to lessen the jealousie but also to gain the good opinion of some of the Fanaticks who would be apt to believe that the Colonel was rather brought to Church by my Lord then his Lordship by the Colonel who seldom came to that Place since Faction and Rebellion had justled out and kept possession against Peace and Religion He alledged moreover that he sate in an I le distinct from the body of the Congregation so that the Parishioners could not take a full view of any of his company
These reasons joined with his Majesties command prevailed with his Lordship and though he thought it a bold adventure yet it not only allayed the fury but also took out the very sting of those wasps insomuch that they who the last night talked of nothing but searching began now to say that Cromwell's late success against the King had made the Colonel a Convert All being now quiet about home the Colonels Lady under a pretence of a Visit goes over to Sherborn to hear what news there was abroad of the King And towards evening at her return a Troop of horse clapt privately into the town This silent way of entring their Quarters in so triumphant a time gave a strong alarm to this careful Lady whose thoughts were much troubled concerning her Royal Guest A stop she made to hearken out what brought them thither and whither they were bound But not one grain of Intelligence could be procured by the most industrious enquiry When she came home she gave his Majesty an account of many stories which like flying clouds were blown about by the breath of the people striving to cover her trouble with the vail of cheerfulness But this the King perceiving to be rather forced then free as at other times was earnest to know the cause of her discomposure And to satisfie his Majesties importunity she gave him a full relation of the Troop at Sherborn At which his Majesty laughed most heartily as if he had not been in the least concerned Yet upon a serious debate of the matter the Colonel and his Lady supplicated the King to take a view of his Privy chamber into which he was perswaded to enter but came presently forth again much pleased that upon the least approach of danger he could thither retreat with an assurance of security All that night the Colonel kept strict watch in his house and was the more vigilant because he understood from Sherborn that the Troop intended not to quarter there but only to refresh themselves and march And accordingly not so much as looking towards Trent about two of the clock next morning they removed towards the Sea-coast This fear being over the King rested all the time of his stay at Trent without so much as the apprehension of a disturbance The strangeness of which will be much increased by the addition of what a Captain who served under Cromwell at Worcester reported to two Divines of undoubted veracity long before the King 's blessed Restauration That he was followed and troubled with Dreams for three nights together That the King was hid at Trent near Sherborn in a house nigh to which stood a Grove or patch of trees and that thither he should go and find him This suggestion thus reiterated was a powerful spur to prick him forwards But the hand which held the reins and kept him back was irresistible Now the hands of his Majesties enemies were not only restrained from doing him evil but the hands of his friends were strengthened to do him good In order to which Colonel Eward Phelips of Montacute in the County of Somerset came from Sarum to his Majesty Septemb. 28. with this intelligence That his brother Colonel Robert Phelips was employed to Southampton to procure a Vessel of whose transaction his Majesty should receive a speedy account In the mean time Captain Thomas Littleton a Neighbour of Colonel Wyndham was dispatch'd up into Hampshire where by the aid of Mr. Standish he dealt with the Master of a Ship who undertook to carry off the Lord Wilmot and his company upon the condition his Lordship would follow his direction But the hope of Colonel Phelips his good success at Hampton dash'd this enterprise and the Captain was remanded to Trent and to make no progress till farther order Upon the first of October Mr. John Sellick Chaplain to Mr. Coventry brought a Letter to his Majesty In answer to which the King wrote back That he desired all diligence might be used in providing a Vessel and if it should prove difficult at Hampton trial should be made farther That they should be ascertained of a Ship before they sent to remove him that so he might run no more hazards then what of necessity he must meet with in his passage from Trent to the place of his Transportation October the fifth Colonel Phelips came from the Lord Wilmot and Mr. Coventry to his Majesty with this assurance That all things were ready And that he had informed himself with the most private ways that so he might with greater probability of safety guide his Majesty to the Sea-side Assoon as the King heard this message He resolved upon his Journey Colonel Wyndham earnestly petitions his Majesty that he might wait on him to the shore But his Majesty gave no grant saying It was no way necessary and might prove very inconvenient Upon the renewing his request the King commanded the contrary but sweetned his denial with this promise That if he were put to any distress he would again retreat to Trent About ten next morning October the sixth his Majesty took leave of the old Lady Wyndham the Colonels Lady and Family not omitting the meanest of them that served him But to the good old Lady he vouchsafed more then an ordinary respect who accounted it her highest honour that she had three Sons and one Grandchild slain in the defence of the Father and that she her self in her old age had been instrumental in the protection of the Son Both Kings of England Thus his Sacred Majesty taking Mrs Juliana Coningsby behind him attended by Colonel Robert Phelips and Peters bade Farewel to Trent the Ark in which God shut him up when the Floods of Rebellion had covered the face of his Dominions Here he rested Nineteen days to give his faithful Servants time to work his deliverance And the Almighty crowned their endeavours with success that his Majesty might live to appear as Glorious in his Actions as Couragious in his Sufferings FINIS