Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651Ainsworth, William Harrison
History
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Ainsworth, William Harrison
Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Fiction
"'Tis true I have a horse of that colour," replied Sir Rowland. "But
you will find him in the stable, and his freshness will prove that I
could not have ridden him as you state. Satisfy yourself, I pray you,
general. If it should appear that I have deceived you, treat me as you
list."
"Since you affirm this so roundly I will go see," observed Goff,
somewhat staggered. "But you must not stir from this chamber."
"I have not the power to leave it," said Sir Rowland, feigning extreme
debility.
Placing a guard at the door of the chamber, Goff then proceeded to the
stable, where he found a handsome charger, which, being stripped of
its covering, proved to be piebald in colour, and exactly resembled
the steed he had seen. The freshness of the horse showed that he could
not have been out during the day. Astounded at the sight, Goff made no
further inquiries, but returned without his prey. As a declared enemy
of the Commonwealth, however, Sir Rowland had subsequently to compound
for his estate by the payment of two thousand pounds.
We must now repair to the Commandery, whither, as already related, the
Duke of Hamilton was conveyed from the field of battle. His right leg
had been shattered by a slug shot, and the injury was so severe that
amputation of the limb was deemed absolutely necessary by the king's
chirurgeon, Kincaid, who was in attendance upon him; but the duke
would not submit to the operation. He had passed a night of almost
intolerable agony, and was lying on a couch in the room adjoining the
great hall.[7] His countenance was livid and distorted; and a cloak was
thrown over his lower limbs.
A word as to the dying hero. William, Duke of Hamilton, then in his
thirty-fifth year, had succeeded his elder brother, James, who was
beheaded for high treason in 1649. Of the large train of distinguished
personages who accompanied Charles in his march from Scotland, none was
more devoted to the royal cause--none more determinately hostile to the
rebellious Parliament--than the Duke of Hamilton. Though despairing
of success, the duke adhered firmly to the king to the last, and that
he was as brave as loyal was proved by the prodigies of valour he
performed on the battle-field at Worcester.
"The torture I endure is almost insupportable, Kincaid," he groaned. "I
could not suffer more from the rack."
"No anodyne will assuage the pain, my lord duke," replied the
chirurgeon. "As I have already represented to your grace, amputation of
the shattered limb is the sole means of saving your life."
"I would rather die than lose the limb," groaned the duke. "'Tis not
pain I dread, but disfigurement."
"The Lord General has signified his intention of sending his own
surgeon, Trappam, to attend your grace. You will hear what he has to
say."
"I will not suffer him to come near me," said the duke, sternly. "I
will accept no favour from the regicide Cromwell."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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