royalty restored-第6部分

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g　was　beheaded；　the　Scots；　who　regarded　that　foul　act　with　great　abhorrence；　invited　Charles　to　come　into　their　kingdom；　provided　he　accepted　certain　hard　conditions；　which　left　the　government　of　all　civil　business　in　the　hands　of　Parliament；　and　the　regulation　of　all　religious　matters　in　charge　of　the　Presbyterians。　　No　other　prospect　of　regaining　his　rights；　and　of　enabling　him　to　fight　for　his　throne　presenting　itself；　he　accepted　what　was　known　as　the　Covenant；　and　landed　in　Scotland　in　1650。　　He　was　received　with　the　respect　due　to　a　monarch；　but　placed　under　the　surveillance　forced　on　a　prisoner。　　The　fanatical　Presbyterians；　jealous　of　that　potent　influence　which　his　blithe　ways　exercised　over　all　with　whom　he　associated；　neither　permitted　him　to　attend　the　council　nor　command　the　army；　they；　however；　preached　to　him　incessantly；　admonished　him　of　his　sins　and　those　of　his　parents；　guarded　him　as　a　captive；　and　treated　him　as　a　puppet。　　Meanwhile　Cromwell；　being　made　aware　of　his　presence　in　the　kingdom；　advanced　at　the　head　of　a　powerful　body　into　Scotland；　fought　and　won　the　battle　of　Dunbar；　stormed　and　captured　Leith；　and　took　his　triumphal　way　towards　Edinburgh　town。　　Charles　was　at　this　time　in　Perth；　and　being　impatient　at　his　enforced　inaction　whilst　battles　were　fought　in　his　name；　and　lives　lost　in　his　cause；　made　his　escape　from　the　Covenanters；　with　the　determination　of　arousing　the　Royalists　who　lay　in　the　north。　　But　the　Scots　soon　overtook　and　recaptured　him。　　However；　this　decisive　action　awoke　them　to　a　better　understanding　of　the　deference　due　to　his　position；　and　therefore　they　crowned　him　at　Scone　on　the　first　day　of　the　year　1651；　with　much　solemnity；　and　subsequently　made　him　commander　of　the　army。

After　spending　some　months　in　reorganizing　the　troops；　he　boldly　declared　his　intention　of　marching　into　England；　and　fighting　the　rebel　force。　　Accordingly；　on　the　31st　of　July；　1651；　he　set　out　from　Sterling　with　an　army　of　between　eleven　and　twelve　thousand　men。　　At　Carlisle　he　was　proclaimed　king；　and　a　declaration　was　published　in　his　name；　granting　free　grace　and　pardon　to　all　his　subjects　in　England；　of　whatever　nature　or　cause　their　offences；　saving　Cromwell；　Bradshaw　and　Cooke。　　He　then　marched　to　Lancashire；　and　on　the　23rd　of　August　unfurled　the　Royal　standard　at　Worcester；　amidst　the　enthusiastic　acclamations　of　his　troops　and　the　loyal　demonstrations　of　the　citizens。　　Weary　of　civil　strife；　depressed　with　fear　of　Cromwell's　severities；　and　distrustful　of　the　Presbyterians；　who　chiefly　composed　the　young　king's　army；　the　Royalists　had　not　gathered　to　his　standard　in　such　numbers　as　he　had　anticipated。　　His　troops；　since　leaving　Scotland；　had　been　reinforced　merely　by　two　thousand　men；　but　Charles　had　hopes　that　fresh　recruits　would　join　him　when　news　of　the　rising　got　noised　abroad。

The　Republicans　were　filled　with　dismay　at　the　king's　determined　action；　but　were　prompt　to　make　a　counter…move；　Accordingly；　additional　troops　were　levied；　London　was　left　to　be　defended　by　volunteers；　and　Cromwell；　heading　an　army　of　thirty…four　thousand　men；　marched　against　the　Royalists。　　On　the　28th　of　August；　they　drew　near　Worcester；　and　on　the　3rd　of　September　the　battle　was　fought　which　will　remain　for　ever　famous　in　the　annals　of　civil　war。　　On　the　morning　of　that　day；　the　king；　ascending　the　cathedral　tower；　saw　the　enemy's　forces　advancing　towards　Worcester：　　before　reaching　the　city；　it　was　necessary　they　should　cross　the　Severn；　and；　in　order　to　prevent　this　if　possible；　Charles　hurried　down　and　directed　that　some　of　his　troops；　under　the　command　of　Montgomery；　should　defend　Powick　Bridge；　whilst　he　stationed　others　under　Colonel　Pitscottie　lower　down；　at　a　point　of　the　river　towards　which　the　Republicans　were　marching　with　pontoons；　by　means　of　which　they　intended　to　cross。　The　young　king；　hopeful　of　victory　and　full　of　enthusiasm；　rode　speedily　out　at　the　head　of　his　troops　and　placed　them　at　their　various　stations。　　Scarcely　had　he　done　so；　when　he　became　aware　that　the　main　body　of　the　enemy　had　opened　an　artillery　fire　on　Fort　Royal；　which　guarded　the　city　on　the　south…east　side。　　He　therefore　galloped　back　in　hot　haste　to　headquarters；　and　reconnoitred　the　advanced　posts　eastward　of　the　city；　in　full　front　of　the　enemy's　fire。　　Meanwhile　Montgomery；　having　exhausted　his　ammunition；　was　obliged　to　retreat　in　disorder　from　Powick　Bridge；　followed　by　the　Cromwellians。　　The　king　now　courageously　resolved　to　attack　the　enemy's　camp　at　Perry　Wood；　which　lay　south…east　of　Worcester。　　Accordingly　he　marched　out　with　the　flower　of　his　Highland　infantry　and　the　English　cavaliers；　led　by　the　Dukes　of　Hamilton　and　Buckingham。　Cromwell；　seeing　this；　hastened　to　intercept　the　king's　march；　whereon　a　fierce　battle　was　bravely　fought　on　either　side。　Nothing　could　be　more　valiant　than　the　conduct　of　the　young　king；　who　showed　himself　wholly　regardless　of　his　life　in　the　fierce　struggle　for　his　rights。　　Twice　was　his　horse　shot　under　him；　but　increasing　danger　seemed　but　to　animate　him　to　greater　daring。　So　bravely　did　his　army　fight　likewise；　that　the　Republicans　at　first　gave　way　before　them。　　For　upwards　of　four　hours　the　engagement　raged　with　great　fierceness。　　Cromwell　subsequently　declared　it　　was　〃as　stiff　a　contest　as　he　had　ever　seen；〃　and　his　experience　was　great。　　Success　seemed　now　to　crown　the　Royalists；　anon　to　favour　the　Roundheads。　　The　great　crisis　of　the　day　at　length　arrived：　　the　Cromwellians　began　to　waver　and　give　way　just　as　the　Royalist　cavalry　had　expended　their　ammunition；　the　king　had　still　three　thousand　Scotch　cavalry　in　the　rear　under　the　command　of　Leslie；　who　had　not　yet　been　called　into　action。　　He　therefore　ordered　them　to　advance；　but；　to　his　horror；　not　one　of　these　men；　who　had　looked　on　as　passive　spectators；　made　a　movement。　　In　this　hour；　when　victory　or　defeat　hung　upon　a　thread　the　Scots　ignominiously　failed　their　king。　　Charles　instantly　saw　he　was　undone。　　The　English　cavalry　continued　to　fight　bravely；　in　their　desperation　using　the　butt　ends　of　their　muskets；　but　they　were　gradually　compelled　to　give　way　before　the　enemy；　who；　seeing　their　condition；　had　renewed　the　attack。　　The　Royalists　therefore　fell　back　into　the　city。　When　the　king　re…entered　Worcester　he　saw　before　him　a　scene　of　the　most　disastrous　confusion。　　Royalists　and　Republicans　encountered　and　fought　each　other　in　every　thoroughfare；　the　air　was　filled　with　the　report　of　muskets；　the　imprecations　of　soldiers；　the　groans　of　wounded　men；　and　the　shrieks　of　women。　The　streets　ran　red　with　blood。　　At　such　a　sight　his　heart　sank　within　him；　but；　manning　himself　for　fresh　efforts；　he　called　his　troops　together　and　sought　to　incite　them　with　courage　to　make　a　final　charge。　　〃I　would　rather；〃　he　cried　out；　〃you　would　shoot　me　than　keep　me　alive　to　see　the　sad　consequences　of　this　fatal　day。〃　　Those　who　heard　him　were　disheartened：　　it　was　too　late　to　retrieve　their　heavy　losses：　　most　of　them　refused　to　heed　him；　many　sought　safety　in　flight。　　Then　the　young　king's　friends；　gathering　round；　besought　him　to　make　good　his　escape；　and　accordingly；　with　a　sad　heart；　he　rode　out　of　St。　Martin's　Gate　humbled　and　defeated。　　In　order　to　cover　his　retreat　from　the　enemy　now　advancing；　my　Lord　Cleveland；　Sir　James　Hamilton；　Colonel　Careless；　and　some　other　worthy　gentlemen　defended　Sudbury　Gate；　towards　which　the　main　body　of　the　Republicans　approached。　　They　held　this　position　a　sufficient　time　to　gain　the　end　for　which　it　was　undertaken。　　But　at　length　the　Republicans；　forcing　open　the　gate；　marched　upon　the　fort；　defended　by　fifteen　hundred　soldiers　under　Colonel　Drummond。　This　loyal　man　refusing　to　surrender；　the　fort　was　speedily　stormed；　and　he　and　those　of　his　men　who　survived　the　attack　were　mercilessly　put　to　the　sword。

Dr。　George　Bate　gives　a　quaint　and　striking　picture　of　what　followed。　　〃Deplorable　and　sad　was　the　countenance　of　the　town　after　that；〃　writes　he；　〃the　victorious　soldiers　on　the　one　hand　killing；　breaking　into　houses；　plundering；　sacking；　roaring；　and　threatening；　on　the　other　hand；　the　subdued　flying；　turning　their　backs　to　be　cut　and　slashed；　and　with　outstretched　hands　begging　quarter；　some；　in　vain　resisting；　sold　their　lives　as　dear　as　they　could；　whilst　the　citizens　to　no　purpose　prayed；　lamented；　and　bewailed。　　All　the　streets　are　strewed　with　dead　and　mangled　bodies。　　Here　were　to　be　seen　some　that　begged　relief；　and　then　again　others　weltering　in　their　own　gore；　who　desired　that　at　once　an　end　might　be　put　to　their　lives　and　miseries。　　The　dead　bodies　lay　unburied　for　the　space　of　three　days　or　more；　which　was　a　loathsome　spectacle　that　increased　the　horror　of　the　action。〃

Concerning　his　subsequent　dangers　and　narrow　escapes；　the　king；　in　his　days　of　peace　and　prosperity；　was　wont　to　discourse　at　length；　for　they　had　left　impressions　on　his　mind　which　lasted　through　life。　　Edward　Hyde；　Lord　Clarendon；　his　Lord　High　Chancellor；　Dr。　George　Bate；　his　learned　physician；　and　Samuel　Pepys；　Esquire；　sometime　Surveyor…General　to　the　Victualling　Office；　have　preserved　the　records　of　that　time　of　peril；　as　told　by　his　majesty。　　True；　their　various　stories　differ　in　minor　details；　but　they　agree　in　principal　facts。　　The　king　had　not　ridden　many　miles　from　Worcester　when　he　found　himself　surrounded　by　about　four　thousand　of　his　army；　including　the　Scots　under　the　command　of　Leslie。　　Though　they　would　not　fight　for　him；　they　were　ready　enough　to　fly　with　him。　　At　first　he　thought　of　betaking　himself　to　Scotland；　but　having　had　sad　proof　of　the　untrustworthy　character　of　those　with　whom　he　travelled；　he　feared　they　would　further　betray　him　if　pursued　by　the　enemy。　　He　therefore　resolved　to　reach　London　before　the　news　of　his　defeat　arrived　thither；　and　make　his　escape　from　thence；　but　this　scheme　presented　many　difficulties。　　Amongst　the　persons　of　quality　who　accompanied　him　were　my　Lord　Duke　of　Buckingham；　the　Earls　of　Derby　and　Lauderdale；　and　the　Lords　Wilmot　and　Talbot。　　During　their　journey　it　fell　from　my　Lord　Derby's　lips；　that　when　he　had　been　defeated　at　Wigan；　one　Pendrell；　an　honest　labourer　and　a　Papist；　had　sheltered　him　in　Boscobel　House；　not　far　distant　from　where　they　then　rode。　　Hearin