то The Meu OF WHOM DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON SAID, THAT "THE HAPPIEST AS WELL AS THE MOST VIRTUOUS PERSONS WERE TO BE FOUND AMONGST THOSE WHO UNITED WITH A BUSINESS OR PROFESSION A LOVE OF LITERATURE," THIS VOLUME Is Kyatqrually Dedicated, BY GEORGE GRIFFITH. "There is a history in all men's lives, -SHAKESPEARE, Henry IV., Act 3, Scene 2. T is recorded by one of our greatest English Authors, that fill up their spare time in literary pursuits. This happiness may be most fully enjoyed by tradesmen who have to travel during the day, and who, when they have closed their mercantile books, after their return home, open books written by our most profound and popular Authors, to improve their minds. This change is very agreeable and beneficial to those who can relish literature, especially if they have to "bump the saddle" all day, or drive a gig with a smart nag in the shafts. In addition to this, we must not forget the good dinners, provided with so much care by the innkeeping landlords and their wives, and prepared by the staff; and also the great pleasure of meeting with a variety of intelligent farmers and active commercial travellers at the tables, day after day. Such was my lot; and I may say, with the utmost confidence, that my business travels not only gave me a fair share of health, but an eager desire to read our best Authors, when I returned daily to "my ain fire-side." Having written a Drama, styled "Charles the Second," at the end of 1867, but which was not well circulated until 186970, after friendly reviewers had dissected it, I must explain as a beginning of a new book the various places and circumstances whereat and whereby the young King Charles II. escaped the malignity of Cromwell's Officers and Soldiers, after the Battle of Worcester. This battle took place on the 3rd of September, 1651; and it was very singular that, on the same date in 1650, Cromwell won the great Battle of Dunbar, and that he died on that date. On the 29th of August, 1651, he and his army had reached Redhill, within a mile from Worcester, but he and his staff were received by Judge Berkeley, at Spetchley, as head-quarters. Before the battle took place the king held a council of war upon the top of the Cathedral, so as to discover Cromwell's position. The battle was a severe one, Cromwell himself owning that it was as stiff a contest for four or five hours as 66 ever he had seen." (Vide Parl. Hist. chap. xx. p. 44). As "Mounche (General Monk) commandit all, of quhutsummever sex, to be putt to the edge of the sword. Eight hundred men and soldiers, and two hundred women and children were killed, and the plunder was equl to £200,000." (Vide Balfour, vol. iv. pp. 314-5). The route that the King took, as advised, to Boscobel, made the miles fifty to the White Ladies, instead of thirty-six, the usual route. The course taken was through Barbourne at Worcester, Barnhall, and Ombersley, to Kinver Heath; thence to Stourton Castle, Wordsley, and Kingswinford, Himley, and Wombourn, and finally across Wrottesley Wood to White Ladies, which was then occupied by one of the Giffard family. From thence he and Richard Penderel, being alarmed by scouts, went by Hobbal Grange to Madeley, where Francis Woolfe, a royalist, resided, from whence they returned to Boscobel, which was only one mile from White Ladies. They arrived at Boscobel at three o'clock in the morning on foot. Here they found Colonel Carlos who had left the battle of Worcester at the same time, but knowing the roads well he had arrived first. The Colonel and the King then took possession of the oak, where the King fell fast asleep with his head on the Colonel's knees. The White Ladies convent was built in the reign of Richard the First. It was dedicated to St. Leonard, and belonged to the Giffard family. When the King arrived there it was inhabited by one of that family. The chapel had been converted into a burial ground long before, and was approached |