Colonel in the King's service, during the late war, and was then upon his way to Worcester the very day of the defeat, men of all affections in the country, and of all opinions, paid the old man a very great respect; that he had been very civilly treated there, and that the old gentleman had used some diligence to find out where the King was, that he might get him to his house, where he was sure he could conceal him till he might contrive a full deliverance.

The King enquired of the monk of the reputation of this gentleman; who told him "that he had a fair estate, was exceedingly beloved, and the eldest justice of peace of that county of Stafford; and though he was a very zealous Protestant, yet he lived with so much civility and candour towards the Catholics, that they would all trust him as much as they would do any of their own profession; and that he could not think of any place of so good repose and security for his Majesty to repair to." The King liked the proposition, yet thought not fit to surprise the gentleman; but sent Wilmot thither again to assure himself that be might be received there; and was willing that he should know what guest he received, which hitherto was so much concealed, that none of the houses where he had yet been knew, or seemed to suspect more than that he was one of the King's party that fled from Worcester. He carried him to a house at a reasonable distance, where he was to expect an account from the Lord Wilmot, who returned very punctually with as much assurance of welcome as he could wish. And so they went together to Mr. Lane's house, where the King found he was welcome and conveniently accommodated. Here he lodged, and eat very well, and began to hope that he was in present safety. In this station the King remained in quiet and blessed security many days, receiving every day information of the general consternation the kingdom was in,

Escape of King Charles the Second.

421

out of the apprehension that his person might fall into the hands of his enemies, and of the great diligence they used to inquire for him. He saw the proclamation that was issued out and printed; in which a thousand pounds were promised to any man who would deliver and discover the person of Charles Stuart, and the penalty of high treason declared against those who presumed to harbour or conceal him; by which he saw how much he was obliged to all those who were faithful to him. It was now time to consider how he might get near the sea, from whence he might find means to escape, and he was now near the middle of the kingdom, saving that it was a little more northward, where he was utterly unacquainted with all the ports and with all the coasts. In the west he was best acquainted, and that coast was most proper to transport him into France, to which he was inclined. Upon this matter he communicated with those of this family to whom he was known, that is, with the old gentleman, the father, a very grave and venerable person; the Colonel, his eldest son, a very plain man in his discourse and behaviour, but of a fearless courage, and an integrity superior to any temptation; and a daughter of the house, of a very good wit and discretion, and very fit to bear any part in such a trust.

Mr. Lane had a niece, or very near kins woman, who was married to a gentleman, one Mr. Norton, a person of eight or nine hundred per annum, who lived within four or five miles of Bristol, which was at least four or five days journey from the place where the King then was, but a place most to be wished for the King to be in, because he did not only know all that country very well, but knew many persons also, to whom, in an extraordinary case, he durst make himself known. It was hereupon resolved that Mrs. Lane should visit this cousin, who was known to be of good affections, and that she should ride

boots; and that a servant of her father's, in his livery, should wait upon her. A good house was easily pitched upon for the first night's lodging, where Wilmot had notice given him to meet. And, in this equipage the King began his journey; the Colonel keeping him company at a distance, with a hawk upon his fist, and two or three spaniels *; which, where there were any fields at hand, warranted him to ride out of the way, keeping his company still in his eye, and not seeming to be of it. In this manner they came to their first night's lodging. Here the Lord Wilmot found them; and their journeys being then adjusted, he was instructed where he should be every night so they were seldom seen together in the journey, and seldom lodged in the same house at night. In this manner the Colonel hawked two or three days, till he had brought them within less than a day's journey of Mr. Norton's house; and then he gave his hawk to the Lord Wilmot, who continued the journey in the same exercise.

When they came to Mr. Norton's house it was on a holy-day, and they saw many people about a bowling-green that was before the door, and the first man the King saw was a chaplain of his own, who was allied to the gentleman of the house, and was sitting upon the rails to see how the bowlers played. William, by which name the King went, walked with his horse into the stable until his mistress should provide for his retreat. Mrs. Lane was very welcome to her cousin, and was presently conducted to her chamber; where she no sooner was, than she lamented the' condition of a good youth who came with her, and whom she had borrowed of his father to ride before her, who was very sick, being newly recovered of an ague, and desired her cousin that a chamber might be provided for him, and a good fire made, for that he would go early to bed, and was not

* Hawking was a common amusement in those days.

On the Observance of the Sabbath. 423

fit to be below stairs. A pretty little chamber was presently made ready, and a fire prepared, and a boy sent into the stable to call William, and to shew him his chamber, who was very glad to be there, freed from so much company as was below. When it was supper time, there being broth brought to the table, Mrs. Lane filled a little dish, and desired the butler who waited at the table, to carry that dish of porridge to William, and to tell him that he should have some meat sent to him presently. The butler carried the porridge into the chamber, with a napkin and spoon and bread, and spoke kindly to the young man, who was willing to be eating. The butler, looking narrowly upon him, fell upon his knees, and with tears told him he was glad to see his master." The King was infinitely surprised, yet recollected himself enough to laugh at the man, and to ask him" what he meant?" The man had been falconer * to Sir Thomas Jermyn, and made it appear that he knew well enough to whom he spoke, repeating some particulars which the King had not forgot. Whereupon the King entreated him "not to speak of what he knew, so much as to his master, though he believed him to be a very honest man. The butler promised, and kept his word; and the King was the better waited on during his abode there. From Lord Clarendon's History of the Rebellion. (To be continued.)

ON THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. "WE learn from Scripture, that the appointment of the Sabbath was a sign or token of the Lord's special favour to Israel. Their strict and constant observance of it was to distinguish them, as the worshippers of the one true God, from the idolatrous nations by

whom they were surrounded. And is not the ob servance of the Sabbath a mark of distinction by which we know God's faithful people now?

Enter a family where you find the day of holy rest marked by its proper duties and delights, where all is piety and peace, and the labours which are allowed are labours of love. Who is there that can fail to see, by these undoubted marks, that here dwell "a people who have chosen the Lord for their God," or refuse to say, with Jacob, " surely the Lord is in this place, this is none other but the house of God."And this distinction becomes still more striking when its influence extends through a whole neighbourhood. Have you ever lived where the Sabbath was diligently kept, every family striving only how they should be most attentive to the observance of it? What feelings of deep and powerful emotion does the return of that good day bring with it, where such is the case! With what delight do they hail the Sabbath morn, who know that it will not only bring to themselves a period of rest from the cares, and troubles, and toils, of the world, but that they shall witness, all around them, the same happiness; no sounds but that of the crowds who hasten to their appointed place of worship; no shout of profane mirth rising, as it were, in defiance to the God of heaven, from the riotous assemblages of evil doers, but the note of praise and thanksgiving lifted up from grateful hearts in acknowledgment of past mercies, and the voice of supplication for the help of God's Holy Spirit in all future trials.-Brethren, this is no imaginary picture, I have seen such neighbourhoods. Let us then, each for himself, apply the description, and ask, "have we any claim to consider it as a resemblance to ourselves?"-See Six Sermons on the Observance of the Lord's Day, by I. M. Turner, M.A. (Hatchard's.)