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
Charles did not wait for any reply, but, as if afraid of betraying the
emotion he felt, walked quickly towards the arbour. On gaining the
summit of the mount, he looked round and saw that Father Huddlestone
and his two companions were gazing anxiously at him from the skirts of
the wood. Waving his hand to them, he entered the arbour, and was for
some time lost in painful reflection.
End of Book the Third.
Book the Fourth.
MOSELEY OLD HALL.
CHAPTER I.
CHILLINGTON HOUSE.
Father Huddlestone being as well acquainted with the paths through the
forest as the Penderels themselves, took his companions through the
thickest part of it, where they were not likely to encounter a patrol
of the enemy, and brought them safely to Chillington Park.
They were now at the lower end of the long and beautiful avenue leading
to the ancient mansion, but before proceeding further, the priest
deemed it advisable to consult the old gate-keeper, who dwelt in the
lodge adjoining the entrance of the park.
Like all the old retainers of the Giffards, John Eccleshall, the
gate-keeper, was a Roman Catholic, and consequently devoted to Father
Huddlestone. He informed the priest that there was no danger whatever
in his entering the park, since Colonel James, with the whole of his
troopers, had evacuated the hall.
"Heaven be thanked the rogues are gone to Brewood!" said the old man.
"Not one is left behind. I counted them as they passed through the
gate."
While Father Huddlestone was talking with the gate-keeper, Jasper's
curiosity was excited by an old wooden cross standing in a small green
inclosure near the lodge, and in answer to his inquiries as to why it
had been placed there, the priest related the following legend:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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