It happened as Cromwell had foreseen. Instead of finding Lilburn unprepared, when General Middleton and Sir William Keith reached the camp on the hill, they quickly discovered that their design had been betrayed. Duped by stratagems which they ought to have suspected, they entered the camp, but had scarcely done so, when they were completely surrounded by a force more than trebling their own. Thus entrapped it would seem that nothing was left to Middleton but to surrender. But the brave general was undismayed by numbers, and when summoned to surrender, answered by a charge so fierce and impetuous that the ranks of the enemy opened, and, ere they could close again, he and his two regiments had passed safely through. Down the hill they dashed at a headlong pace, and, though hotly pursued by Lilburn, very few of them were captured. Luckily for the fugitives, Cromwell was not able to get his life guards out of the field in time to intercept them, or their utter destruction would have been inevitable. As it was, they escaped with very little loss, considering the terrible hazard they had encountered. On reaching the nearest outpost of the royal army, Middleton found Colonel Legge, and learnt the disaster that had befallen him. "I cannot carry this bad news to his majesty," said Legge. "Tell him what has happened." "The king will not reproach you," said Middleton. "You have done your best. We have been betrayed." "That is certain," said Sir William Keith. "Lilburn was prepared for us." "And Cromwell himself was with the outpost when I attacked it," said Colonel Legge. "I knew it not till too late." "Would I had known it!" cried Middleton, furiously. "He should not have lived to boast of this triumph. One of his spies has served him well on this occasion. I will not rest till I have discovered the traitor." "Lesley may help you to find him," said Legge. "No; Lesley knew nothing of this," rejoined Middleton. "But come with me to the king, and get it over. A word will explain all. We have been betrayed." [Illustration: OLD HOSTELRY OF GREY FRIARS.] CHAPTER XX. HOW URSO GIVES WAS ARRESTED. About the same time that the interview took place in the stable at Spetchley between Cromwell and Urso Gives, Major Careless, who had been upon the eastern walls to satisfy himself that the fires in the suburbs were completely extinguished, descended from the ramparts at Friars'-gate. This was one of the smaller gates, and derived its appellation from a convent of Franciscan friars that stood hard by--the old religious house having been subsequently converted into a prison. On quitting the ramparts, as just stated, Careless proceeded to the old hostelry of the Grey Friars, where he knew that several officers about to take part in the camisade would be assembled. The old inn--an ancient timber-built house, with quaint gables, and a projecting upper story--is still standing in Friars'-street.