and terrified by the fearful accounts of Cromwell's severity in Ireland, the inhabitants had deserted the whole district through which the English army had to pass; and, before going, they had destroyed everything they could not carry with them.

Cromwell was thus forced to keep close to the coast so as to draw supplies from his fleet. In this way he

9

advanced as far as Edinburgh, which was most skilfully defended by Leslie. But want of provisions and illness among his troops at last forced him to retreat. As he retired, he was pursued by the Scots; and, at Dunbar, his army would have been destroyed or forced to take refuge with the fleet, had not the rash advance of the enemy at the last moment enabled him to win a great victory."

10

From Dunbar the victor advanced upon Edinburgh. As Leslie withdrew to Stirling with the remains of his army, the city was undefended; but the castle held out for three months. In order to cut off the supplies of the army at Stirling, Cromwell crossed into Fife, which he subdued, and then advanced as far west as Perth.

Meanwhile the young king was crowned at Scone,11 in the first month of the new year.12 Presbyterians and Royalists united in his defence, and he was put in actual command of the army. Seeing no force between himself and England, Charles resolved to march boldly southwards. To all Leslie's arguments he turned a deaf ear, and assured the Scots that the whole body of English Royalists only awaited his presence to rise against their hated oppressors.

CROMWELL AND THE YOUNGER CHARLES.

THE

HE Crowning Mercy.'-When Charles had crossed the border at Carlisle, a herald proclaimed him. King of England. The Royalists did not join him as he had expected, kept back perhaps by dislike of his Presbyterian army. His advance was almost unopposed; but the country was closely watched by detachments of the troops of the Commonwealth, and a small reinforcement which was marching to join him from the Isle of Man, under the Earl of Derby, was cut to pieces near Wigan. When Cromwell heard of this movement, he set out in pursuit, leaving the affairs of Scotland in the hands of General Monk. Before going he wrote an encouraging letter to Parliament, telling them not to be alarmed, but to do their utmost to check the advance of the invaders until he was able to reach up to them. He added these significant words, This will be a hopeful end of your work.'

6

Cromwell, with the main body of his troops, came up with the Royalists at Worcester, where Charles had strongly entrenched himself. The city was attacked on both sides; and, after a desperate contest of four or five hours' duration, the Scots, with the exception of a few of their cavalry, were all either killed or taken prisoners. Cromwell might well exult in such a victory. It was indeed the crowning mercy of the war.' Ireland was subdued, Monk had firm hold of Scotland, and now the last force of the enemy in England was completely crushed. A battle which he himself said was as stiff a contest as ever he had seen, had ended in the 'total defeat and ruin of the enemy's army.'

The Fugitive King.-The adventures of Charles, after Worcester, read like a page from some old romance. A price was laid upon his head as Charles Stuart, son of the late tyrant.' For six weeks he sought in vain for an opportunity of escaping from the country,

wandering through the west and south of England like one of Spenser's 1 errant knights

66

1

'High over hills and over dales he fled,

As if the winds him on their wings had borne ; Ne 2 bank nor bush could stay him, when he sped? His nimble feet as treading still on thorn." 4

5

For a time he was guarded by the fidelity of a family of woodcutters called Penderell, who lived near Boscobel woods. With cropped hair and dress like that of his peasant protectors, the fugitive accompanied them to their daily toil. The pursuers were close on his track, and dangers thickened round him. At one time we find him lying under a tree covered with a single blanket, while the rain poured in such torrents that his enemies did not care to continue their search. At another we may hide with the hunted king in that giant oak

"Wherein the younger Charles abode
Till all the paths were dim;
And far below the Roundhead rode,
And humm'd a surly hymn."6

We can trace the flight of Charles from Worcester to Shropshire and Staffordshire, and thence towards Wales. We next find him, once more hurried on like a stormdriven ship among the breakers, vainly endeavouring to escape from Bristol, and then almost driven to despair by the close watch kept up on the coast of Dorset. His last hiding place was in Wiltshire, and his weary flight came to an end when he sailed from Shoreham on the 15th of October-forty-two days after his defeat at Worcester.

8

7

The ship was only a collier, and the captain had been told that his passenger was to be a merchant, but he recognised the king.

"Gentlemen!" he said, "you have not dealt fairly with me; for he is the king; I know him very well; and by the grace of God, I will venture my life and all for him." Well did the noble skipper keep his word,