The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-02-24
From a late English paper.
AN AFFECTING INCIDENT.

was convuIsed by civil discord, and Crom-
well and his partizans were contendlng
against the scattered forces of the King,
William Mortimer, a young and jealous
loyalist, used every exertion to forward the
success of his lawful monarch. He left mis-
family, then living in retirement near Chep-
stow, to join the standard of Charles, who
was marching with an army from Scotland
into the Southern part of the country, ex-
pecting to be reinforced by his friends, and
all those who were discontinued with the
enthusiasm of Cromwell and his followers.
These expectations were, in great meas
ure, disappointed. The royalists. in gen.
eral, were not aware of their Kings ap-
proach, and the Scotch, on whose assistance
he had confidently relied, were deferred
from uniting with them unless they prevl-
ously subscribed to the covenant. In this
posture of affairs, Charles encamped at
Worcester, and was compelled to hazard
that fatal battle, the result of which is so
well known. Mortimer was one OF the few,
who, escaping from the field, accompanied
the King in his flight; and although history
is silent upon the subject, it has been hand
ed down by tradition, that Charles, dismiss
ing all his faithful attendants for fear of
hazarding a discovery, and accompanied
only by William, who was well acquainted
with the localities of the country, resolved,
if possible, to escape into Wales. The at
tempt, however, was frustrated by the varl-
GUS passes of the Severn being so we'll
guarded by soldiers, who were eager for
his apprehension, not so much in obedience
to the commands of their generals, as on
account of the immense reward that was
offered for his person. Not dismayed at
this unexpected failure, they travelled by
night lhiding themselves in marshes and
among the river reeds in the day time) and,
with much peril and exertion, contrlved to
reach Monmouth. Here they soon percelv-
ed that it was impossible for them to remain
long without being discovered: and Morti-
mer, having arranged his plans according
", seized little boat on the banks of the
Wye, and covering the King with the bark
of trees, suffered the vessel, during the
night, to be carried down by the current I'LL
il reached range of romantic rocks on the
banks of the above mentioned river. Here
they landed, and, letting the boat adrltt
with the stream, to elude pursuit secreted
themselves in the natural recess OF the ellis.
Mortimer had sufficient confidence IN the
faith of a young lady, to whom he was be-
trothed, to confide to her the secret OF the
King; and as he was afraid to make his APP
pearance near place where he was so well
known. this loyal and affectionate girl, at the
hazard of her own life and honor, brought
them, at the dead of night, their provision.
One fatal night she was traced to the spot
by militia man, who was eager for the de-
struction of his sovereign, and on her return
was seized and confined by this ruthless
traitor.
In the meanwhile. Mortimer, fearful that
discovery might take place from these mid
night interviews in a neighborhood where
he was so well known, and anxious for the
further safety of his royal master, whose
.daDaAE-s1Ias-insxeasad -hr-delaX, ZentRred to
dence of a peasant, who was under the
greatest obligations to him, and informed
him that friend of his, a cavalier, who had
escaped from the battle of Worcester, was
anxious to get out of the country. The old
man was sworn to secrecy, and the King
was Immediately confided to his care. Nor
timer then retired to his hiding place. with
the intention of passing the remainder of
the night; but his pursuers, with their hot
blood hounds, were then hunting about the
spot he saw the light of their torches glar-
ing among the caverns, and heard the cliffs
re-echo the bowling of the wolf dogs as
they forded the river, and climbed the preci-
pices in the eager pursuit of their prey. He
attempted to retreat, but in vain; the mon
sters of death were already fast approach
ing, and after short, but desperate strug
gle, he sank down, bleeding and exhausted,
under their greedy fangs. The pursuers
called off their dogs in order to save his
life, that they might extort from him con-
fession Of the Kings retreat; they succeed
ed in muf1ing the ferocious animals; but
when they lifted their victim from the blood
stained sward where he had fallen, they
found him stiff and cold in the arms ofdeath.
They passed their torches before his face,
but his eyes were for ever closed. Even the
barbarians themselves, when they looked
upon his well proportional limbs, and saw
his fine and manly countenance, beautiful
in death, cursed the cause that betrayed
from their allegiance, and compelled them
to the commission of crime, at which their
hearts now shuddered.
AS they had gained nothing by their cruel |
ty they released their unhappy captive next
morning, without making her acquainted
with the bitterness of her destiny. She
fastened toward the spot of her lovers re-
treat anxious for his safety, and yet scarce
ly daring to proceed. II was in the month
of October; the morning was chilly and
cold, the dew drops were lying thick upon
the lank blades of grass and a gray mist
was rising from the earth, which partly OBJ |
scured the distant objects. She ventured
onward, invoking Heaven for the safety Of
her lover, flor then she thought not of the
King,) when suddenly turning her eyes to
the ground. she witnessed the object of all
her solicitude, lying on a cold bed of turf
before her. He who had often hailed the
sound Of her footsteps, was now needless of
her approach; his cheek felt not now her
pale and delicate lips as they fed greedily
upon the death damps of his face. She
passed her white fingers over his brow, and
when she saw them smeared with the un-
natural stain of livid gore, she laughed in
the daliriurn of her dnsnair til the sou.,d of