the best inn of the place, and found the yard full of soldiers. I alighted, and taking the horse, thought it the best way to go blundering in amongst 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 rudness. As soon as I came into the stable, I took the bridles off the horses, and called the hostler to me to help me feed the horses. Sure, Sir, I know your face!-which was no very pleasant question, but I thought the best way was to ask him where he had lived, wether he had always lived there or no; he told me he was newly come thither, that he was born in Exeter, and had been hostler in an inn there hard by one Mr. Potter's, a merchant there, in whose house I had lay'd in the time of the war. So I thought it best to give the fellow no further oc casion of thinking where he had scen me, for fear he should guess right at last ; therefore I told him, friend, Certainly you have seen me at Mr. Potter's, for I served him a good while above a year: O! says he then, I remember you a boy there, and with that was put off from asking any more about it; but desired we might drink a pot of beer together, which I excused by saying, that I must go wait upon my master, and get his dinner ready for him, but told him my master was going to London, and w'd return about three weeks hence, when he would lay there, and I would not fail to drink a pot with him. As soon as we had dined, my lord Wilmot came into the town from Lyme, but went to another inn. Upon which we rode out of the town, as if we had gone upon the road for London, and when we had got two miles off, my lord Wilmot overtook us, he having observed, while in town, where we were, and told us he believed the ship might he ready next night, but that there had been some mistake betwixt him and the master of the ship. Upon which, I thinking it not hitt to go back again to the same place where we had sat up the night before, we went to a village called about four miles in the country, above Lyme, and sent Peter to know of the merchant wether the ship would be ready; but the master of the ship doubting that it was some dangerous employment he was hired upon, absolutely refused the merchant, and would not undertake to carry us over; whereupon we were forced to go back again to Frank Windham's, at Trent, where we might be in some safety till wo from Frank Windham's, and to cover the matter the better, I rode before a cousin of Frank Windham's, a Mrs. Judith Connesby, I still going by the name of Wm. Jackson: memb'd that one day during my stay at Tent I hearing ye bells ring, (ye church being close by Frank Windham's) and seeing a company got together in the church-yard, I sent down the maid of the house, who knew me, to enquire what was the matter; who returning, told me, that there was a rogue, a trooper, come out of Cromwell's army, that was telling the people that he had killed me, and that that was my buff coat which he had then on. Upon which, most of the village being fanaticks, they were ringing the bells and making a bon-fire for joy of it. This merchant having apointed us to come to Lyme, we, viz. meself, i Wilmot, Frank Windham, Mrs. Connesby, and a servant of Frank Windham's, whose name was Peter, were directed from him to a little village hard by Lyme, the vessel being to come out of the cobb at Lyme, and come to a little creek that was just by this village, wither we went, and to send their boat on shore to take us in at the said creek, and carry us over to France; the wind being then very good at north. So we sat up that night, expecting the ship to come out, but she failed us, upon which I sent Frank Windham's man, Peter, and my 14 Wilmot, to Lyme, the next morning, to know the reason of it. But we were much troubled to know how to pass away our time the next day, till we c'd have an answer. At last we resolved to go to a place on the road to London called Bridport, about four miles from Lyme, and here stay till my Wilmot sh's bring us news wether ye vessel could be had the next night or not, and the reason of last night's failure. So Frank Windham, Mrs. Connesby, and I, went in the morning on horseback away to Bridport, and just as we came into the town, I could see the streets full of red coats (Cromwell's soldiers), being & reg' of Col. Haynes's, 1500 men, going to embark to take Jersey. At which F Windham was very much troubled, and asked me what I w'd do; I told him, we must go impudently into the best inn in the town, and take a chamber there, as the only thing to be done, because we sh' otherwise miss my d. Wilmot, in case we went away any where else, and that wd be very inconvenient both to So we rode directly into him and me. bad had hired another vessel or ship; as soon where Mrs. Hyde lived, about the time as we came to F W'. I sent away pre- appointed, wher I went up into the sently to Col. Rob Phillips's, who then hiding hole, that was very convenient lived at Salisbury, to see what he c'd do and safe, and stayed there all alone; for the getting me a ship, which he un- Robin Phillips then going to Salisbury, dertook very willingly, and had got one some four or five days, somtimes Mrs. at Southampton, but by misfortune she Hyde, and somtimes her sister, bringing was amongst others prest to transport me meat. After four or five days stay, their soldiers to Jersey, by which she Robin Phillips came to the house, and failed us also; upon this I sent further acquainted me that a ship was ready into Sussex, where Robin Phillips knew provided for me at Shoreham, by Col one Col. Gunter, to see wether he could Gunter,, upon which, at two o'clock in hire a ship any where upon that coast, the morning, I went out of the house by and not thinking it convenient for me to a back way, and with Robin Phillips met stay any longer at F* W', wher I had Col. Gunter and my Wilmot together, been in or about a fortnight, and was some fourteen or fifteen miles off, on become known to very many. I went our way towards Shoreham, and were to away to a widdow gentlewoman's house, lodge that night at a place called Hamone Mrs. Hyde, some four or five miles bleton, seven miles from Portsmouth, from Salisbury, wher I came into the because it was too long a journey to go house just as it was almost dark, with in one day to Shorehamn; and here we lay Robin Phillips only, not intending at first at a house of a brother-in-laws of Col to make myself known. But just as Gunter, one Mr. Symonds, where I was I alighted at the door, Mrs. Hyde knew not to be known, I being still in the same me, though she never had seen me but grey cloth suit as a serving man, tho' the once in her life before, and that was master of the house was a very honest with the king, my father, in the army, poor man, who, while we were at supper when we marched by Salisbury some came, (he having been all the day playyears before in the time of the war; but ing the good-fellow at an ale-house in she being a discreet woman, took no the town), and taking a stool, sat down notice at that time of me; I passing with us, where his brother-in-law, Col only for a friend of Robin Phillips's, by Gunter, talking very fullingly concerning whose advice I went thither. At supper Cromwell and all his party, he went and there were with us, Frederick Hyde, wispered his brother in-law in the ear, (since a judge) and his sister-in-law, a and asked wether I was not some roundwiddow; Robin Phillips, myself, and headed rogue's son, for I looked very docu Henshaw, since bishop of London, suspiciously. Upon which Col Gunter whom I had appointed to meet me there, answering for me, that he might trust his While we were at supper, I observed life in my hands, he came and took me Mrs. Hyde and her brother Frederick, to by the hand, and drinking a good glass look a little earnestly at me, which led of beer to me, called me brother roundme to believe they might know ine. But head. About that time, my 14 SouthI was not at all startled at it, it having ampton, that was then at Titchfield, susbeen my purpose to let her know whopecting (for what reason I do not know) was; and accordingly immediately after supper, Mrs. Hyde came to me, and I discovered myself to her, who told me she had a very safe place to hide me in, till we knew wether our ship was ready or not, but she said, it was not safe to trust any body but herself and sister, and therefore advised me to take my horse the next morning, and make as if I quitted the house, and return again about night, for she would order it so that all her servants, and every body should be out of the house but herself and sister, whose name I remember not. So Robin Phillips and I took our horses, and went as far as Stonehenge, and there we stay'd Jooking upon the stones some time, and returned back again to Heale, the place that it was possible I might be in the that that was escaped from the battle of Worcester, without naming any body, and as we were all together, viz. Robin Phillips, myle Wilmot, the merchant, and the master of the vessel, and I; I observed that the master of the vessel looked very hard on me, and as soon as we had supped, called the merchant aside, and the master told him that he had not dealc far with him, for tho' he had given him a very good price for the carrying over that gentleman, yet he had not been clear with him; for (says he), he is the king, as I very well know him to be so; upon which the merchant denying it, Saying, that he was mistaken, the master answered, I know him very well, for he took my ship, together with other fishing vessels at Brighthelmstone, in the year 1648; which was when I commanded the king, my father's fleet, and I very kindly let them go agam: but (says he be not troubled at it, for I think I do God and my country good service in preserving the king, and by the grace of God I will venture my life and all for kim, and set him safe on shore if I can in France. Upon which ye merchant came and told me what had passed between them, and therefore found myself under the necessity of trusting him, but I took no kind of notice of it presently to him, but thinking it convenient not to let him go home lest he should be asking advice of his wife, or any one else, we keept him in the inn, and sat up all night drinking beer, and taking tobacco with him and here I run another very great danger, as being confident I was known by the master of the inn. For as I was standing after supper by the fire-side, leaning my hand upon a chair, and all the rest of the family being gone into another room, the master of the house came in and fell a talking with me, and just as he was looking about, and saw there was nobody in the room, he upon a sudden kissed my hand that was upon the back of the chair, and said to me, God bless you, wheresoever you go, I doubt not before I die but to be a lord, and my wife a lady; so I laughed and went away into the next room, not desiring then any further discourse with him, there being no remedy against my being known by him, and more discourse might have raised suspicion, on which Consideration I thought it best to trust him in that matter, and he proved honest. About four o'clock in the morning, myself and the company before named, went towards Shoreham, taking the mas ter of the ship with us on horseback, behind one of our company, and came to the vessell side, which was not above sixty tons; but it being low water, and the vessel lying dry, I and my lord Wilmot got up a ladder into her, and went and lay down in the little cabbin till the tide came to fetch us off; but I was no sooner got into the ship and lay down upon the hed, but the master came into me, fell down upon his knees and kissed my hand, telling me, that he knew me very well, and that he would venture life and all that he had in the world, to set me safe down safe in France. So about seven o'clock in the morning, it being high water, we went out of the port, but ye master being bound for Pool, laden with sea-coal, because he w'd not have it seen from Shoreham that he did not go his intended voyage, but stood all the day with a very easy sail towards the Isle of Wight, only my lord Wilmot and myself of my company on board, and as we were sailing, the master came to me, and desired me to persuade his men to use their endeavour (with me) to get him to set us on shore in France, the better to cover him from any suspicion thereof, upon which I sent to the men, (which were four and a boy, and told them, truly that we were two merchants that had had some misfortunes, and were a little in debt; that we had some money owing us at Rouen, in France, and were afraid of being arrested in England; that if they would perswaid the master (the wind being very fair) to give us a trip over to Dieppe, or one of the ports near Rouean, they would oblige us very much; and with that I gave e'm twenty shillings to drink, upon which they undertook to second me if I would propose it to their master. So I went to the master and told him our condition, and that if he would give us a trip over to France, we would give him a consideration for it; upon which he counterfeited a difficulty, saying, it wd hinder his voiage, but his men, as they had promised, joined their perswaisions to our's, and at last he yielded to set us over. So about five o'clock in the afternoon as we were in sight of the Isle of Wight, we stood directly for the coast of France, the wind being then full north, and the next morning a little before day we saw the coast; but the tide failing us, and the wind coming about to the southwest, we were forced to come to an anchor within two miles of the shore, till the tide of flood was done: we found ourselves ourselves just before an harbour in France called Feckham, and just as the tide of ebb was made, espied a ship to leward of us, which by her nimble working, I suspected to be an Ostend privateer, upon which I went to my lord Wil mot, and telling him my opinion of that ship, proposed to him our going on shore in the little cock-boat, for fear they shd prove so, as not knowing, but finding us going into a port of France, there being then a war between France and Spain, they might plunder us, and might possibly carry us away, and set us ashore in England; the master also himself had the same opinion of her being an Ostender, and came to me to tell me so. Which tho' I made it my business to disswaid him from, for fear it she tempt him to set sail back again with us for the coast of England, yet so sensible was I of it, that I and my Wilmot went both on shore in the cock-boat, and going up into the town of Feckham, stayed there all day to provid horses for Rouen; the vessel which so affrighted us proved only a French sloop. The next day we got to Rouen, to an inn, one of the best in the town, in the fish-markett, where they mad a dificulty to receive us, taking us by our cloths to be some thieves, or persons that had been doing some very ill thing, untill Mr. Sanbourne, a merchant for whom I sent, came and answered for us. One particular more there is observable in relation to this our passage into France, that they vessel that brot us over had no sooner landed me, and I had given them a pass for fear of meeting with any of our Jersey frigates, that the wind turned so happcly for her, as to carry her directly over to Pool, without it being known that she had ever been upon the coast of France. We stayed at Rouen one day, to provide ourselves better cloths, and give notice to the queen, my mother, who was then at Paris, of my being safely landed; after which, setting out in a hired coach, I ON LEAVING E was met by my mother with coaches, short of Paris, and by her conducted thither, where I safely arived. A few short Notes of the King's, relating to the foregoing Narrative. There were six brothers of the Penderell's, who all of them knew the secret, and as I have since learnt froin one of them, the man in whose house I changed my cloths, came to one of them about two days after, and asking where I was, told him he might get a 1000 pounds if they wd tell, because there was that sum laid upon my head; but this Penderell was so honest, althoʼ he knew at that time where I was, he bid him have a care what he did, for that I being got out of all reach, if they she now discover I had ever been there, they wd get nothing but hanging for their pains. It was Mr. Giffard that brought me acquainted with the White Ladies. I would not change my cloths at any of the Penderell's houses, because I meant to make farther use of them, and they might be suspected, but rather chose to do it in a house where they were not papists, I neither knowing then, nor to this day, what the man's name was at whose house I did it. The Penderells' have since endeavoured to mitigate the business of their being tempted by their neighbours to discover me. But one of them did certainly de clared it to me at that time. I did not depend upon meeting my lord Wilmot, but sent only to know what was become of him; for he and I had agreed to meet at London, at the Three Cranes, in the Vintry, and to enquire for Will Ashburnham. When I got to Trent, Mrs. Lane and Mr. Lassels went home. I could never get my lord Wilmot to put on any disguise, he saying, that he sh'd look frightfully in it, and therefore did not put on any. ORIGINAL POETRY. Y. leave. Thy Yet the hand of Omnipotence still shall up. hold me, And lead me in paths of religion and truth. ANN ON PRESENTING A YOUNG LADY WITH A ROSE. ACCEPT, fair maid, this fragrant flower, Sweet emblem of frail beauty's power; 'Tis these which feed that lambent fire, D. TO FLORELLA. Occasioned by her bidding the Author leave her. BY JOHN ROCHE, Esq. HOW could you, on that luckless day, How could you, cruel! bear to chide me? What have I done; lov'd the too much? To hurt thy peace, or to deceive thee! ON |
