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
Careless did not lose sight of the prisoner until he had seen him
safely bestowed in Edgar's Tower. With the strictest injunctions to
watch carefully over him, he then committed him to the custody of
Martin Vosper, who, it may be remembered, was one of the party that
bivouacked on Pitchcroft on the night of the Grand Muster. Vosper
had since been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Placed in the
strong room in which Dr. Crosby had been confined by Colonel James,
Urso immediately threw himself upon the pallet that formed part of
the scanty furniture, and, being greatly fatigued, soon fell asleep.
But his slumber was disturbed by fearful dreams, and his broken
exclamations seemed to have reference to some dark deed he had
committed. These muttered words attracted the attention of Lieutenant
Vosper, who remained with him in the chamber. From the first Vosper
had been struck with the prisoner's resemblance to the spy whom he and
Trubshaw--now a corporal--had pursued, and he now felt sure he was the
same individual.
While the wretched sleeper was muttering some incoherent words, but
amidst which the name "Wicked Will" was plainly to be distinguished,
Vosper stepped up to the couch and shook him violently.
Thus roused, the guilty wretch started up, looking the picture of
horror and despair. His hue was death-like, his eyes stared wildly, and
cold drops gathered thickly upon his brow.
"Lighten your breast of its heavy load," said Vosper. "When you played
the spy on me and my comrades at Pitchcroft, you cried out in a solemn
voice that Wicked Will's death was a judgment. But you neglected to
tell us who was the instrument of the judgment. Supply the information
now. Who drowned him in the Severn?"
"Not I," replied Urso, shuddering. "If I have talked in my sleep, as I
do sometimes, my words must not be taken against me."
"Die not with a lie on thy lips," said Vosper. "Since thou art certain
to be hanged, give yourself a chance hereafter, by confession and
repentance."
"I will not confess my transgressions to thee," rejoined Urso. "If I
may have some godly man to pray with me, I will lay bare my breast to
him. I would fain see the Reverend Laban Foxe, who hath known me long
and well."
"And needs not to be told of thine iniquities, I'll be sworn," said
Vosper. "I know the Reverend Laban, and a cunning old fox he is--his
name suits him perfectly."
"A sorry jest, and ill-timed," said Urso. "Shall I see him?"
"Content thee--thou shalt."
"I thank thee," replied Urso. "In return, I will tell thee how Captain
Hodgkins perished. Though I hated him as a bloodthirsty and wicked
malignant, I did not compass his destruction. One evening, about dusk,
he was staggering along the bank of the Severn, raging and roaring from
strong drink, when he fell into the river."
"Wretch! you pushed him in," said Vosper, sternly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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