The Gay King; Charles II, His Court and Times (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1911. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... VI FLIGHT 'He that is thy friend indeed, He will help thee in thy need.' Twenty-five miles from Worcester, on the outskirts of Brewood Forest, stood a solitary farm-house, by name Whiteladies. Once a Cistercian convent, it had passed into the hands of the Giffards, a Catholic family. The sons of their old steward, Penderell, still lived on the estate in 1651--William and his wife at Boscobel House; Richard and old Mrs. Penderell at Hobbel Grange, the birthplace of them all; George, Humphrey, and John at Whiteladies itself. Like the Giffards, they were Catholics, and loyal. After the defeat at Wigan in August the Earl of Derby had taken refuge with them; and to them, after Worcester, his thoughts turned once more when the question arose, " Whither shall our King flee for refuge?" Whiteladies had been dark and silent for some hours on the night of September 3 when the noise of galloping hoofs roused young George Penderell from sleep. Whilst he was still in a half-dreaming state, a knock at the front door turned his dreams into actualities. He jumped out of bed and opened the casement. Below, in the faint light of coming dawn, he saw a knot of horsemen. It was too dark to distinguish faces; but one rider seemed taller than the rest, and beneath the shadow of a broad-brimmed hat fell the darker shadow of a profusion of long black hair. "What news from Worcester?" called young George. "The worst " replied a voice briefly. "The King is defeated." "Where is he ?" asked Penderell; and the same cautious voice made answer: "He is here " Without further questioning, George ran downstairs to admit the fugitives. By the time the King and his companions--the Earls of Derby, Shrewsbury, Cleaveland, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Wilmot, and many others--had entered the ...