Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-25
Samllg Cmtlt,
AN FEC ING lNClDE T.

Y0 FH SF0
Jealous l~oyalist, used every exertion to
forward the success of his lawful mon
arch. He left his family, lhrn living in
retirement near Chepstnw, to join the
standard Of Charles, who was marching
with an army from Scotland iulo the
southern part OF toe country. expecting
to be reinforced by his friends. aud ali
those who were discontinued with the
wild enthusiasm of Cromwell and his
followers. These expectations were. in
a great measure, disappointed The
royalists, in general, were not aware Of
their Kings approach, and the Scoctii,
On whose assistance he had confidently
relied. were deferred from uniting with
them unless they previously 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 we'll known. Nor
timer was one of the few who. escaping
from the field. accompanied the King il
his fight and although history is silent
upon the subject, it has been handed
down by tradition. that Charles, dismiss
ing all his faithful attendants for fear OF
hazarding a discovery. and accompanied
only ty William, who was well acquainted
with the localities Of the country, re.
solved, if possible, to escape into Wales.
The attempt, however, was frustrated by
means of the various passes of the Severn
being SO well guarded by soldiers, who
were every where eager for his apprehen-
sion, not as 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
unexpectedly failure, they travelled by
night (hiding themselves in marshes and
among the river reeds in the day time)
and, with much peril and exertion, con.
triyed to reach Monmouth. Here they
soon perceived that it was impossible for
them to remain long without being dis
covered and Mortimer, having arranged
has plans accordingly, seized a 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 till it reached a
range of romantic rocks On the banks of
the above mentioned river. Here they
landed, and letting the boat adrift with
the stream, to elude pursuit secreted
themselves in the natural recesses of the
| cliffs. Mortimer had sufficient confidence
in the faith of a young lady, to whom he
was betrothed, to contde TO her the Sc.
cret OF the King and as he was afraid
to make his appearance near q place where
he was SO well known, this loyal and at
~tectlonate girl. at the hazard of her own
lie aud honor, brought them, at the dead
OF night, their provision. One fatal
night she was traced to the spot bv a
militia man who was eager for the des.
tructlon Of his sovereign, and on her
return YVES seized and confined by this
ruthless traitor. In the meanwhile. Nor.
timer, fearful that a discovery might
take place from these midnight inter.
views, In a neighborhood where he was
we'll known, and anxious for the further
safety OF his royal master, whose danger
was increased by delay, ventured to de-
scend from their secret cave, to the resi-.
dence of a peasant, who was under the
greatest obligations to him, and informed
him that a friend of his, a cavalier. who
had escaped from the battle Of Worcester,
was anxious to get out oil the country
The old a was sworn TO secresy. and
the King vas Immediately conided to
bis care. Mortimer then retired to his
hiding place, with the intention of pass
ing the remainder of the night, but his
pursuers, with their hot blood hounds.
were then hunting about the spot be
saw the light Of their torches g~larjne
among the cayerEs, and heard the cliffs
re e no the bowling of the wolf dogs.
as they forded the river and climbed the
preclpiees, in the eager pursuit of their
prey. He attempted to retreat, bat in
vain ; the monsters of death were al.
ready fast approaching, and after a short
but desperate struggle, he sank down,
bleeding and exhausted, under their
greedy fangs. The pursaers called
of their dogs in order to save his life.
that they might extort from him a con.
fessfon of the kings retreat they sue.
ceeded in muzzling the ferocious animals.
bus when they lifted their victim from
the bloodstained sward where he chad
fallen, they found him stiff and cold in
the arms of death they passed their
torches before his face, but his eyes we're
forever closed. Even the b~arbarians
themselves, when they looked upon his
well proportioned limbs, and saw his fac
and manly coun .enance, beautiful in
death, cursed the cause that BETRAYED
from their allegiance, mi compelled them
TO the comrnission Of a crime, at which
their hearts now shudderd. AS they
had gained nothing BY their cruelty,
they released their unhappy captive next
morning. without making sher acquainted
with the bitterness other destiny. She
FASTENED towards the spot of her lovers
retreat, anxious for his safety, and vet
scarcely daring to proceed, 1t was in
the month OF October the morning was
chilly and cold, the dew drops were Law
ing thick upon the lank blades of grass.
aud a gray mist was rising from the
earth, which partly obscured the distant
Objects. She yentured onward. invoking
Heaven for the safety CT her lover, for
then she thought not of the klng.l when
suddenly turning her eyes to t e ground,
she witnessed the object of ali her solicit
tude, lying OF a cold bed OF turf before
her. He wl.o had often hailed the
sound ofner footsteps, was now heed
less of her approach lis cheek, with
her pure kisses felt not her pale and del
ieate lips as they fed greedily upon the
death damps of his face. She passed her
Write fingers oyer his brow, and when
she saw them smeared with the annatu
ral etain OF ilvic por. sha auvhad III IA