John Inglesant: A Romance (Volume 1 of 2)Shorthouse, J. H. (Joseph Henry)
History
John Inglesant: A Romance (Volume 1 of 2)
Shorthouse, J. H. (Joseph Henry)
Great Britain -- History -- Charles I, 1625-1649 -- Fiction; Religious fiction
name of Jesus simply in the lonely nights kept his brain quiet when it
was on the point of distraction, being of the same mind as Sir Charles
Lucas, when, "many times calling upon the sacred name of Jesus," he was
shot dead at Colchester.
More than a year passed over him. From the scraps of news he could
gather from his jailer, and from the soldiers in the court during his
walks, he learnt that the King had been given up by the Scots, had
escaped from Hampton Court, had been retaken and sent to Carisbrooke,
and was soon to come to London, the man said, for his trial.
It was soon after he had learnt this last news that his jailer suddenly
informed him that he was to be tried for his life.
Accordingly, soon after, a warrant arrived from Bradshaw, the President
of the Council of State, to bring him before that body.
The Council sat in Essex House, and some gentlemen, who had surrendered
Pembroke upon terms that they should depart the country in three days,
but—accounting it base to desert their prince, and hoping that there
might be further occasion of service to His Majesty,—had remained in
London, were upon their trial. When Inglesant arrived with his guard
these gentlemen were under examination, and one of them, who had a wife
and children, was fighting hard for his life, arguing the case step by
step with the lawyers and the Council. Inglesant was left waiting in the
anteroom several hours; from the conversation he overheard, the room
being constantly full of all sorts of men coming and going—soldiers,
lawyers, divines—he learnt that the King’s trial was coming on very
soon, and he fancied that his name was mentioned as though the nearness
of the King’s trial had something to do with his own being hurried on.
It was a cold day, and there was a large fire in the anteroom.
Inglesant had had nothing to eat since morning, and felt weak and faint.
He wished the other examinations over that his own might come on; his,
he thought, would not take long. At last the gentlemen were referred to
the Council of War, to be dealt with as spies, and came out of the
Council chamber with their guards. The one was a plain country
gentleman, and neither of them knew Inglesant, but, stopping a moment in
the anteroom, while the guard prepared themselves, one of them asked his
name, saying he was afraid they had kept him waiting a long time. This
was Colonel Eustace Powell, and Inglesant met him again when he thought
he had only a few minutes to live.
The Council debated whether they should hear Inglesant that day, as it
was now late in the afternoon, and the candles were lighted, but finally
he was sent for into the Council.
As soon as he came to the bar, Bradshaw asked him suddenly when he saw
the King last, to which he replied that he had not seen the King since
Naseby field.
"You were at Naseby, then?" said Bradshaw.
"Yes," said Inglesant.
"And you ran away, I suppose?"
"Yes," said Johnny, "I ran away."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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