The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-19 00:00:00

,WAYS.

LITEI,;.2ITURE.

The Boscobel Tracts. Edited by J. Hughes, Esq.,
A.M. Second Edition. Blackwood and Sons.
A revised edition, which, after very careful scru-
tiny, we can pronounce to be one really all but
perfected. Mr. Hughes has performed his part
conscientiously. It has evidently been with him
a labour of love, that of collecting and collating
this very charming and celebrated compilation.
And no wonder—for what more fascinating than
these Boscobel Tracts, in which loyalty and love have
combined to record in the language of truth the ro-
mantic narrative of the King's escape after the Battle
of Worcester ? A 'narrative abounding with hair-
breadth 'stapes and very marvellous vicissitudes.
It is emphatic ally remarked by Lord Macaulay in
one of his Essays, the Essay upon Mackintosh (vol.
ii., p. 229), "If we had to choose a lot from among
all the multitudes of those which men have drawn
since the beginning of the world, we would select
that of Charles the Second on the day of his return."
So might we select from all the tales of romantic
adventure that have ever been penned with a strict
regard to historical accuracy—not, remember, fan-
tastic incidents born purely from some dreamer's
imagination—Boscobel ! A wonderful contrast,
in truth, is that presented to the fancy by that ever
memorable Mayday in the year of grace 1660,
selected by the great Whig annalist as the one that
witnessed the most enviable lot in the history of
mankind—the Day of the Restoration And these
terrible three-and-forty days during which the
king's life was constantly in more or less imminent
jeopardy—the three-and-forty days which elapsed
between his flight from Worcester to Whiteladies
on the 3d of September, 1651, and his landing at
Fescamp in Normandy on Thursday, the 16th of
October Mr. Hughes, already favourably known
to the world of letters as the author of " Provence
and the Rhone," it may be remembered by those
who bear in mind the former edition of these Bos-
(rebel Tracts, undertook the alluring project of their
accumulation and revision at the suggestion of the
late Right Rev. Edward (Coppelston) Lord Bishop
of Llandaff—to whom, in consequence, the work
was immediately upon its issue appropriately dedi-
cated. This was no less than seven and twenty years
ago—a whole life time—and now, at last, another
and an improved edition of the work has happily
madeits very welcome appearance. After an expla-
natory introduction, it sets forbb, by way of pream-
ble, with the really admirable Diary compiled by
the author, tin ough the aid of which we can follow
the footsteps of the young King day by day, almost
hour by hour, with a perfect appreciation of the
,exact sequence of the incidents--incidents, bat for
this, bewildering the reader by their multiplicity.
Besides the renowned narrative of " Boscobel," by
Thomas Blount, giving " The Complete History of
the most miraculous Preservation of King Charles
the Second," precisely as it was printed in the two
parts as originally published—the editor groups
about that central historiette of " Boscobel,"
several other scarcely less famous illustrative nar-
ratives of the self-same adventures. Conspicuous
among these, of course, the King's own version of
the story, as dictated by his Majesty to Mr. f
Samuel Pepys, at Newmarket I Moreover, there
is duly extracted a notable passage (picturesquely,
but in many particulars most erroneously recount-
ing the manner of the escape), contained in
the Thirteenth Book of my Lord Clarendon's
" History of the Rebellion." Besides all which,
have we not Mr. Whitgreave's authentic " Narra-
tive," and Mr. Ellesdon's " Letter," and that other
"Letter from a Prisoner at Chester,"—and (fol-
lowed by an appendix full 'of curious genealogical
information)—Mistress Anne Wyndham s far-famed
" Claustrum Regale Reseratum." Yet are we in-
satiable—even after feasting delightedly upon this
ample banquet of romantic adventure ! Why have
we not, beyond all the foregoing Tracts illustrative
and corroborative of Boscobel—why have we not
also, in addition to Father Huddleston's "Rela-
tion," the " True Narrative and Relation in
the Harleian Miscellany" (vol. iv., p. 441), and
with this the other Narrative given by Bates in
the second part of his " Elenchus 1" Then, the col-
lection of tracts would indeed be complete—bet
hardly till then. Though it might even then be
objected that something still more could be added
in the shape of Gunter's narrative in Cary (vol
p. 430). However, after all that Mr. Hughes has
done for us, we don't remain in earnest perversely
obdurate in our objections. We are thankful for the
treasures he has strung together for us like a chap-
let of precious stones—very motley and diversified,
it must be confessed, in their general colouring. We
should indeed be ungrateful if we quarrelled with
a book minutely finished, even to its embellishments.
Among which, in addition to a sketch of the Battle
of Worcester, and a chart of the King's journey
have we not agreeably scattered through the
volume by way of appropriate illustration two
views of Boscobel House, one from the north, the
other from the west • a view of Trent House,
another of Moseley hall, another representing
Charles the King escaping in disguise, attended by
the five faithful Penderells ; and last but not least
to engraved portraiture of the ever green and
ever glorious "Royal Oak at Boscobel 1" Where-
fore, frankly be it spoken after all, we have 111
acknowledgment for this enthralling addition to
our historic treasury really nought to offer bet
grateful words of unaffected thanks and admira-
tion. Gladly should we welcome from the press of
the Messrs. Blackwood another and a companion
narrative—one that we marvel has never yet been
issued from the press in a kindred volume—a work
recounting the hairbreadth 'stapes and romantic
adventures of Charles Edward, the Young Che-
valier.