ect to his house； where the king spoke with my Lord Wilmot； feasted well； and rested safe that night。 Next morning the worthy host had private notice given that a company of soldiers were on their way to arrest him as one who had served in the king's army。 He； being innocent of this charge； did not avoid them； but received them boldly at his door； spoke confidently in his own defence； and referred them to the testimony of his neighbours； whereon they departed quietly。
It was feared； however； the house was no longer safe； and that another refuge had best be sought for his majesty。 Therefore； Father Huddlestone informed the king of an honest gentleman； the owner of a fair estate some six miles removed； who was generous and exceedingly beloved； and the eldest justice of peace in the county of Stafford。 This gentleman was named Lane； 〃a very zealous Protestant； yet he lived with so much civility and candour towards the Catholics； that they would all trust him as much as they would any of their own profession。〃 The king； however； not being willing to surprise this worthy man； immediately despatched the Benedictine to make certain of his welcome； receiving due assurances of which he and Lord Willmot set out by night for Master Lane's mansion； where they were heartily received； and where Charles rested some days in blessed security。 Knowing； however； in what risk he placed those who sheltered him； and how vigilant the pursuit after him； he became most anxious for his safe delivery out of the kingdom。 To this end it was desirable he should draw near the west coast； and await an opportunity of sailing from thence for France。
The members of Master Lane's family then living with him consisted of a son and a daughter： the former a man of fearless courage and integrity； the latter a gentlewoman of good wit and discretion； as will be seen hereafter。 Consulting； amongst themselves as to the best means of compassing the king's escape； it was resolved Mistress Lane should visit a kinswoman of hers with whom she had been bred； that had married one Norton； and was now residing within five miles of Bristol。 It was likewise decided she should ride on her journey thence behind the king； he being habited in her father's livery； and acting as her servant； and for greater safety her sister and her sister's husband were to accompany them on the road。 Mistress Jane Lane then procured from a colonel of the rebel army a passport for herself and her servant； her sister and her brother…in…law； to travel without molestation to her cousin Mistress Norton； who was ready to lie in。 With this security Jane set out； her brother bearing them company part of the way； with a hawk upon his fist and two or three spaniels at his heels； which warranted him keeping the king and his friends in sight without seeming to be of their company。
The first day's journey was not accomplished without an exciting incident。 The horse ridden by Mistress Lane and the kingnow bearing the name of William Jacksonlost a shoe； and being come to Bromsgrove； he must dismount and lead the animal to the village blacksmith。
〃As I was holding my horse's foot；〃 said his majesty； when narrating the story to Mr。 Pepys； 〃I asked the smith what news。 He told me that there was no news that he knew of； since the good news of the beating the rogues of the Scots。 I asked him whether there was none of the English taken that joined with the Scots； He answered he did not hear if that rogue； Charles Stuart； were taken； but some of the others； he said； were taken。 I told him that if that rogue were taken； he deserved to be hanged more than all the rest； for bringing in the Scots。 Upon which he said I spoke like an honest man； and so we parted。〃
At the end of the first day's journey they were met by Lord Wilmot at the inn； and he continued to join them wherever they rested at night； without appearing to travel with them by day。 Mistress Lane took all possible care to guard the king against recognition； stating at every house of accommodation where they tarried he was 〃a neighbour's son whom her father had lent her to ride before her in hope that he would the sooner recover from a quartan ague with which he had been miserably afflicted； and was not yet free。 〃Which story served as sufficient excuse for his going to bed betimes； and so avoiding the company of servants。 At the end of three days they arrived at their destination。 Jane Lane was warmly received by her cousin； and the whole party made heartily welcome。 Jane； however； did not entrust her secret to Mistress Norton's keeping； but repeated her tale of the good youth being newly recovered from ague； and desired a chamber might be provided for him； and a good fire made that he might retire early to bed。 Her desires being obeyed； the king withdrew； and was served with an excellent good supper by the butler； a worthy fellow named Pope； who had been a trooper in the army of Charles I。； of blessed memory。
〃The next morning〃 said the king continuing his strange story； 〃I arose pretty early； having a very good stomach； and went to the buttery…hatch to get my breakfast； where I found Pope and two or three other men in the room； and we all fell to eating bread and butter； to which he gave us very good ale and sack。 And as I was sitting there； there was one that looked like a country fellow sat just by me； who； talking； gave so particular an account of the battle of Worcester to the rest of the company that I concluded he must be one of Cromwell's soldiers。 But I； asking how he came to give so good an account of that battle； he told me he was in the King's regiment； by which I thought he meant one Colonel King's regiment。 But questioning him further； I perceived he had been in my regiment of Guards； in Major Broughton's companythat was my Major in the battle。 I asked him what kind of man I was； to which he answered by describing exactly both my clothes and my horse； and then； looking upon me； he told me that the king was at least three fingers taller than I。 Upon which I made what haste I could out of the buttery； for fear he should indeed know me； as being more afraid when I knew he was one of our own soldiers than when I took him for one of the enemy's。 So Pope and I went into the hall； and just as we came into it Mistress Norton was coming by through it； upon which I； plucking off my hat and standing with it in my hand as she passed by； Pope looked very earnestly in my face。 But I took no notice of it； but put on my hat again and went away； walking out of the house into the field。〃
When he returned； however； the butler followed him into a private room； and going down on his stiff knees； said； with tears in his old eyes； he was rejoiced to see his majesty in safety。 The king affected to laugh at him； and asked him what he meant； but Pope told him he knew him well； for before he was a trooper in his father's service he had been falconer to Sir Thomas Jermyn； groom of the bedchamber to the king when he was a boy。 Charles saw it was useless longer to deny himself； and therefore said he believed him to be a very honest man； and besought he would not reveal what he knew to anyone。 This the old man readily promised； and faithfully kept his word。 Having spent a couple of days at Norton's； the king； by advice of Lord Wilmot； went to the house of a true friend and loyal man； one Colonel Windham； who lived at Trent。 This town was notable as a very hotbed of republicanism； a proof of which was afforded his majesty on the very day of his entrance。 As he rode into the principal street； still disguised as a waiting man to Mistress Lane； he heard a great ringing of bells； and the tumult of many voices； and saw a vast concourse of people gathered in the churchyard close by。 On asking the cause he was informed one of Cromwell's troopers was telling the people he had killed Charles Stuart； whose buff coat he then wore； whereon the rebels rang the church bells； and were about to make a great bonfire for joy。
Having brought him to Trent； Mistress Lane returned home； carrying with her the king's friendship and gratitude； of which he gave her ample proof when he came unto the throne。 Charles stayed at Colonel Windham's over a week； whilst that gallant man was secretly striving to hire a ship for his majesty's safe transportation into France。 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； 〃a