gentle and unreproaching influence which, mingling its voice with that of revelation, awakens in succession the loftiest sentiments of piety and religion of which the heart is susceptible of feeling. Well has the poet Wordsworth remarked "Nature never did betray The heart that loved her. 'Tis her privilege Thro' all the years of this our life to lead Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb Our cheerful faith-that all which we behold If this humble narrative should prove instrumental in arresting the attention of the reader and inducing him to go forth and inquire into the numerous interesting stories belonging to the many attractive spots in this our 66 merry England," the author will be thankful that he has ventured to take up a subject which, whilst it afforded him considerable pleasure in compiling, may possibly prove amusing and satisfactory to the reader. CHAPTER I. Under the greenwood tree, who loves to lie with me, Here shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather. SHAKESPEARE. F all the pleasing and picturesque spots in England-and they, indeed, are many-there are few, probably, invested with a more lively interest, or which recall to our mind associations of a more mingled character than the retired ancient Manor House of BOSCOBEL. The bold eminence upon which this demesne is situated forms, perhaps, one of the finest tracts of table land in England; while the surrounding scenery presents some of the loveliest views in the midland counties. The stranger who comes suddenly upon this romantic and historical old forest lodge just as Charles II. for the first time came upon it in the grey twilight of a September morning, cannot fail to be struck by its solitariness, and to be deeply impressed with its appropriateness as a place of retirement and secrecy, embosomed as it was when erected, and for many years afterwards, in trees or woods, and affording no very flattering example of the comforts of a country life little more than a century ago. Even as late as this, many parts of England were wide expanses of woodland-wood being the only or chief fuel- -as little cultivated, and quite as lonely as is a great part of the newly settled provinces of British North America at the present day. Still, alluding to the past, we cannot but exclaim with the poet Cowley "Hail, old patrician trees! so great and good! Hail ye plebian underwood, Where the poetic birds rejoice, And for their quiet nests and plenteous food But, alas! for North and South America, poetic birds there are none. Boscobel is thus described by a writer of the seventeenth century :"The house, a very obscure habitation, is situate in Shropshire, but adjoining upon Staffordshire, and lies between Tong Castle and Brewood, in a kind of wilderness. John Giffard, Esquire, who first built this house, invited Sir Basil Brooke, with other friends and neighbors, to a housewarming feast, at which Sir Basil, being desired to give the house a name, B aptly called it BOSCOBEL, from the Italian Bosco bello, which in that language signifies fair woods, because seated in the midst of many fair woods."* It appears, however, that this "obscure" house was built for the express purpose of protecting recusants, who, during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and James 1. were visited by the most severe penalties. By referring to the history of those times we find, that, by different Acts of Parliament, the most stringent laws and oppressive burdens were inflicted upon those persons who professed the tenets of the Church of Rome. For instance-an Act was passed which prohibited a member of the Church of Rome for performing the rites of his religion on pain of forfeiture for the first offence, of a year's imprisonment for the second, and of imprisonment for life for the third. Those who refused to take the Oath of Supremacy were called recusants and were guilty of high treason. On the deposition of Elizabeth by the bull of Pius, a law was enacted which provided that if any Papist should convert a Protestant to the Church of Rome that both should suffer death as for high treason. † These penal statutes were very oppressive to the Giffard family, who were members of that Church; and this is the principal reason why Boscobel was erected, with its secret hiding places, where priests and others might find a safe asylum from persecution, and at the same time exercise the formulas of their faith. At the period of the " O Great Rebellion" Boscobel House became the secure refuge of many a fugitive Cavalier, and will ever be an object of peculiar interest, as having afforded a place of concealment for Majesty itself in the person of Charles II. The manor of Boscobel is now the property of Miss Frances Evans, of Darley House, who has not allowed the general character of the building to be materially altered. Nothing of importance in the interior has been removed. The priests' holes and places of concealment are just as they were of yore. The chequer work of black timber which once existed, and may be seen in the old prints, has yielded to the less picturesque appearance of a smooth surface of cement. Like many old granges or forest lodges, with their fantastic chimney stacks, rude gables, and dark oaken beams curiously intersecting each other, it still exhibits a pleasing specimen of that quaint style of architecture peculiar to mansions of old, so plenteously distributed throughout Cheshire, Salop, and Staffordshire. After admiring the extensive views which, on a clear day, comprehend the long range of the Cley hills, the Welsh mountains, Caradoc, and our old * Boscobel House is on the exact boundary line between Shropshire and Staffordshire, and once formed a portion of the Royal Forest of Brewood, which was disafforested by King John. It is distant from the Albrighton Station on the Great Western Railway about three miles. Those who prefer riding to walking will find every accommodation at Albrighton. "Myne hoste" of the CROWN, a zealous loyalist, is noted alike for civility, good cheer, and reasonable charges. + Whether right or wrong it is not our province to determine, but from what we can learn of this reign it appears that, while Elizabeth condemned Papists and Puritans alike, she loved Catholicity. Her sympathies were probably more with Rome as a religious system than with the extreme Puritans. In matters of government and ceremonies she seems to have taken the Primitive Church rather than those of Calvin or the Geneva school for her model. familiar friend the Wrekin, we are equally charmed by the beauty of the sylvan scenery around us. The foliage of the waving woods, which, under the influence of an autumnal sun, are peculiarly rich, the straggling villages and scattered homesteads, the rich pastures, the swelling uplands, all combine to cast a feeling of gladness and cheerfulness over the spirits, which considerably enhance the pleasure of a visit to dear old Boscobel; and although the alterations, which are quite in accordance with the notions of the present day improvements, have divested this locality of its wildness, still there is a loneliness about Boscobel strongly appealing to the imagination; and few are the curious visitors who do not indulge in a pleasing reverie of bye-gone days and events, and congratulate themselves that Monarchial or Republican tyranny no longer distract and desolate their country, and that, in the words of England's best of Kings, we are, as we deserve to be, "free as our own thoughts." : Highly gratified with the beauties of the scenery, we turn our attention to the house, where the first object which presents itself to our notice is the following inscription, most tastefully laid in white pebbles :- -"Sext. Id: Sept. 1651, in hâc domo Carolus Secundus tutelâ quinque fratrum de stirpe Penderel potitus est, eorumdemque ope incolumis evasit:" which is thus translated-" On September the 6th, 1651, Charles II. in this house received the protection of five brothers of the Penderel family, and by their aid escaped in safety." On entering the porch we tread on the very stone which once supported royal elbows, having formerly been part of the octagon stone table still seen in the old engravings of Boscobel. The other portion of this table forms the upper step at the wicket at the end of the path which leads into the field before the house in which stands the Royal Oak. The next object of interest is the dining room which Charles probably used. The walls are wainscotted with oak panels; and over the chimney place is a portrait of Charles II., "the easiest prince and best-bred man alive." This portrait is supposed to be a copy of Sir Godfrey Kneller's characteristic likeness. The fire-place, of black marble, from the quarries of Derbyshire, contains some highly appropriate sketches, in three compartments, illustrative of the events of the fugitive Prince's stay at Boscobel, and his night journey to Moseley Hall. The compartment nearest to the door is a copy from a print in the Bodleian Library, and represents the King on his journey to Moseley Court, attended by the five Penderels and Francis Yates. "Each of them," says Blount, "took a bill or pikestaff on his back, and some of them had pistols in their pockets; two marched before and one on each side His Majesty's horse, and two came behind aloof off; their design being this, that in case they should have been questioned or encountered but by five or six troopers, or such like small party, they would have shewed their valour in defending, as well as they had done their fidelity in otherwise serving His Majesty ; and though it was midnight, yet they conducted His Majesty through by-ways for better security." Passing on to the small room adjoining, you behold there a portrait of his redoubtable enemy, Oliver Cromwell, or "Old Nol," as he was called, whose peculiar features formed an inexhaustible topic for the wit of the gay cavaliers. The two portraits call up vivid recollections of the past. The contrast is truly remarkable. They afford an admirable lesson for the physiognomist, and are well deserving of careful study. Our attention is next called to two separate places of concealment, the most attractive objects of interest connected with Boscobel. Ascending the staircase and entering the large bedroom on the first floor, you are shown the chimney place, in which is a secret recess or closet, with a trap door in the floor, by which is a descent to the bottom of the chimney stack, where there is a secret door opening into the garden, to serve as a means of escape in the event of the recess or closet being discovered. It is believed that some part of the floor in this chimney stack could be removed, and again be replaced by the person who had thus dropped, by means of a ladder, to the bottom of the stack. The door is now overgrown with ivy. Ascending to the garrets, up a narrow flight of stairs, you are shown into an apartment formerly known as the cheese room, in the floor of which is a trap door, artfully contrived. It is called the secret hole, from the assumption of its having concealed the King when the Parlimentary troopers were in search of him, and indulging further in the marvellous, were actually walking over his head. It should be observed, however, that, on this occasion of the King's visit, the trap door was completely covered over and hidden with cheeses. The door and ladder for descent are precisely in the same state as they were when Charles sought refuge at Boscobel. Having said thus much for the house, let us now turn our attention to the HERO of BOSCOBEL, that we may the more clearly explain the future incidents connected therewith, as relate to his finding refuge there, and his lucky escape therefrom in search of a vessel to secure a passage to France. Prince Charles, upon the execution of his father, on the 30th of January, 1649, had found a refuge at the Hague; and the States of Holland, on that melancholy event, paid him their compliments of condolence. Nevertheless, he was coldly treated, and was at a loss where to go or to reside in safety. In the following March, the Earl of Ormond proclaimed him King in Ireland. In September, Charles retired from Holland to the Isle of Jersey, with his brother, the Duke of York, and his small court, and was proclaimed King; when the Scots sent him conditional propositions for his coming to Scotland, and the King named the 15th of March following for the Scotch Commissioners to meet him at Breda, to consult thereon. 1650, April 29, the Marquis of Montrose landed in Scotland, and raised forces for the King. He was, however, taken prisoner and hanged and quartered at Edinburgh, notwithstanding he held the King's commission, and the Scots had invited the King to come over to Scotland. They also executed Sir W. Harvey, Sir Francis Hay, Colonel Spottiswood, and about forty more of the Marquis's followers, gentlemen of the best families in the kingdom. On the 23rd of June, Charles landed at Spey, in the north of Scotland, and was received with great respect by the Duke of Argyle; and on the 15th of July was solemnly proclaimed King at Edinburgh Cross. On the 3rd of September, Cromwell defeated the Scots at Dunbar; and on the 24th of December, Edinburgh Castle surrendered to the "Usurper." -1651, January 1, Prince Charles was crowned at Scone, and swore to promote the Established Presbyterian religion, &c. in Scotland. He set up his standard at Aberdeen, and put himself at the head of the Scotch army, consisting of 18,000 horse and foot. July 31, Cromwell then being |