The Union and journal., 1870-01-21
MORNING, JANUARY 21, 1870.

set out for Moseley, tho residence of Squire
Whitgreave, on route to Bentley Hall.
The king. being too footsore to walk, was
mounted on an old mill-horse, with a
pitiful old saddle, and worse bridle," a
stced which His Majesty declared twas
the heaviest dull jado he ever rode on"
To this complaint tho miller walking by
his side made the slIrcwd answer. my
liegc! can you blame tho horse for going
heavily when he has the weight Of three
kingdoms on his back ?" Ho only TO
manned one night at Moscly, and there ran
the most imminent peril Of capture; for
several soldiers boltcd In, but finding all
the doors SO open and free, their suspicious
were disarmed, and they departed from
the house without making diligcnt search.
BY night the king set out for Bentley
Hall. the scene of ono of the most roman
tic incidents in his remarkable wander
ings.
Col. Lane had made tho most ample
though secret preparations to entertain
His Majesty in comfort and security. The
yule log cracked on the hearth ut mid
night, and there was goodly supply Of
boar's head and spiccd ale. The Coloncl's
daughter. Jane Lane, the heroine of the
subsequent story, had busted herself to
prepare chamber for the royal guest,
perfuming the fair white linen sheets will,
sprigs Of lavender, and filling tho CRATE
with embers oil aglow. Tho rank Of the
expected visitor was unknown to all save
the colonel and his daughter, and certain
ly there was nothing in his appearance or
manner Of approach to betoken royal
blood. His attire consisted of 80 leathern
doublet, pair of green brecches, jump
coat, (as the rustics call it) Of the same
green. pair Of his own stockens, with
tho tops cut Off because embroidered, a
pair Of old shoes cut and slashed to give
case to his feet m old greasy shirt Of the
coarsest linen, and his face and hands
made of reechy complexion by the stain
of walnut leaves"
A large share Of the night was spent in
discussing the mode of his escape next
day. His life had now become In immi-
nent peril. Tho Roundhcads having got
some idea of his concealment in Stafford.
shire. were hungrily searching cot and
f.rmstead, hill and glen. lurcd by the
substantial reward offered for the safe
apprehension OF "Charles Stewart" On
the next day, according to previous ar
rangemcnt, the king in his mean attire
and with rueful countenance, mounted
"a milk-white steed," and Jane Lane, on
a "prancing palfrey." rode before him
down the field.peth to tho road. The
king carried hawk for tho sport of hi,
assumed mistress, but, owing to fear and
want of experience, no acted the part of a
page SO awkwardly that even In Bentley
village, near the homestead known for
generations rs Fosters" troop OF
Roundhcads wcro attracted by him, and,
but for clever expcdient Of Jane Lanes,
he would probably have excited their sus-
picions. The lady. seeing his trenor, be-
gan to scold him for 'lazy laggari" in
no measured terms, and concluded by nd
ministering to him sound thnsshing
with her riding-whip. The rest of their
journey TO Bristol, although requiring a
constant exercise of stratagcm on the
part of the lady, was accomplished with
out danger, and it was not until the king
made good his escape from the encnIy's
country that Jane Lane bade him with
many tears God speed" ...