Presently succeeding in this object,
the king, yet wearing his livery, and now riding before Mistress
Judith Coningsby, cousin of Colonel Windham, started with high
hopes for Lyme; but at the last moment the captain of the vessel
failed him, and he was again left in a state of painful
uncertainty and danger. Lord Wilmot was sent to ascertain the
cause of this disappointment, and for greater safety the king
rode on to Burport with his friends. Being come to the outskirts
of the town, they were alarmed at finding the streets in a state
of confusion, and full of Cromwell's soldiers, fifteen hundred of
whom were about to embark for Jersey. His majesty's coolness and
presence of mind did not fail him; he resolved to ride boldly
into the town, and hire a chamber at the best inn. The yard of
the hostelry was likewise crowded with troopers; but this did not
dismay his majesty.
"I alighted," said he, "and taking the horses, thought it the
best way to go blundering in among them, and lead them through
the middle of the soldiers into the stable; which I did, and they
were very angry with me for my rudeness. As soon as I came into
the stable I took the bridle off the horses, and called the
ostler to me to help me, and to give the horses some oats. And
as the hostler was helping me to feed the horses, 'Sure, sir,'
says he, 'I know your face?' which was no very pleasant question
to me. But I thought the best way was to ask him where he had
lived, or whether he had always lived there or no.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73