When Charles arrived within a mile of Stratford, perceiving a body of troopers, he and his party proceeded, by the road marked A in the plan, as far as the junction B. They then returned by the road marked C, and at the end of the lane, went down the hill into Stratford between the two large estates of Clopton and Welcombe, and over the bridge to Marston. [Illustration: ++ MAP OF ROAD TO STRATFORD.] CONTENTS. PAGE DEDICATION iii. PREFACE v. BOOK I. THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER. CHAPTER I. HOW CHARLES THE SECOND ARRIVED BEFORE WORCESTER, AND CAPTURED A FORT, WHICH HE NAMED "FORT ROYAL" 1 CHAPTER II. SHOWING HOW THE MAYOR OF WORCESTER AND THE SHERIFF WERE TAKEN TO UPTON-ON-SEVERN, AND HOW THEY GOT BACK AGAIN 9 CHAPTER III. HOW CHARLES MADE HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO WORCESTER; AND HOW HE WAS PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR AND SHERIFF OF THAT LOYAL CITY 15 CHAPTER IV. HOW CHARLES WAS LODGED IN THE EPISCOPAL PALACE; AND HOW DOCTOR CROSBY PREACHED BEFORE HIS MAJESTY IN THE CATHEDRAL 21 CHAPTER V. HOW CHARLES RODE TO MADRESFIELD COURT; AND HOW MISTRESS JANE LANE AND HER BROTHER, WITH SIR CLEMENT FISHER, WERE PRESENTED TO HIS MAJESTY 24 CHAPTER VI. HOW CHARLES ASCENDED THE WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON; AND OF THE AMBUSCADE PREPARED FOR HIM AS HE CAME DOWN 29 CHAPTER VII. HOW COLONEL LEGGE BROUGHT IMPORTANT NEWS TO THE KING, AND HOW HIS MAJESTY PAID A VISIT TO SEVERN END 32 CHAPTER VIII. OF THE COUNSEL GIVEN BY COLONEL LESLEY TO THE KING 38 CHAPTER IX. OF THE GRAND MUSTER AT PITCHCROFT 40 CHAPTER X. THE BIVOUAC ON THE PLAIN 44 CHAPTER XI. COLONEL ROSCARROCK RELATES HOW THE EARL OF DERBY WAS ROUTED AT WIGAN 48 CHAPTER XII. HOW URSO GIVES WAS WEDDED TO MARY RUSHOUT 51 CHAPTER XIII. SHOWING HOW THE KING HAD FORTIFIED THE CITY 53 CHAPTER XIV. BY WHAT MEANS GENERAL LAMBERT GAINED THE PASS AT UPTON BRIDGE 56 CHAPTER XV. HOW CROMWELL RECONNOITRED THE CITY FROM RED HILL 60 CHAPTER XVI. IN WHICH MASSEY PROPOSES A NIGHT ATTACK ON THE ENEMY 63 CHAPTER XVII. HOW THE SUBURBS OF THE CITY WERE BURNT 66 CHAPTER XVIII. HOW URSO GIVES HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LORD GENERAL IN THE STABLE OF SPETCHLEY MANOR-HOUSE 69