The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-27
DUDLEY's ESCAPE.

squire. Inc peIson Wnom nc auuIeeo-
ed was q man of fine presence and mil.
itary bearing; Of good descent, yet
with a decided business turn. His
father had been a nobleman and at the
same time an iron manufacturer. This
son had left Oxford at twenty to as
sumo direction of his father forge and
furnaces. In such work he was deeply
interested and actively engaged when
the great civil war broke out-the war
between Charles l and the people Of
England. bud Dudley had by reason
OF birth and education, espoused the
cause OF the King, and had risen to the
rank Of general OF artillery. After
many successes by the Parliamentary
army lull had fallen which was bro
ken in 1913 By tumults and uprisipgs
in Wales. The influence OF this COM
motion had extended through all Eng
land but the vigorous measures OF Fair
fax, the Parliamentary commander, had
compelled the concentration OF the in
surgenls OF Colchester, in Essex.
Against them a strenuous siege was
being carried on by Fairfax ct the
time our story opens.
all enough, Master Hodgsop," was
Dudley's answer Our friends are
hard bestead 10 Colchester, and the
roundhesd Cromwell is sitting down
before Pembroke. Yet both places
make gallant resistance. and the right
cause may yet triumph"
"Twere a good deed to raise troops
here in the west and strike blow for
King Charles while the crop>ears are
busy otherwhere."
ayes. neighbor you have reason on
your side, sad my blood tiDges to re-
cover for his Majesty something OF what
be has lost in these evil times. Besbrew
me, but it shall bed one"
So Dudley rode forth among his
neighbors.
HARBOUR" be said TO one who had
been Major in the royal forces during
the struggle that ended in 1916; "Har-
court, Ihall we not make head once
more for our good lord and king? He
has right to our swords and lives; and
it is to our shame that we lie still when
our friends elsewhere are in peril for
the cau=e
with all my heart, Dudley was
the answer. ives, | will ride with
you to rouse the country side, aud take
the field against the frantic rebels
whose successes have made them more
insolent than can bear"
They rode together, therefore, and
gathered about them many more gems
tlemen and their sdherents, until they
could number two hundred men.
In the neighborhood OF the village Of
Madeley, in Staffordshire, the place
where John Fletcher lived and wrote
more than century later, was wood
called Bosco Bello. The rendezvous OF
Dudley and his friends was appointed
there for safety and secrecy until such
time as being drilled and organized,
their forces might be fit for come fea-
sible enterprise,
But ia the meantime, the adherents
OF the Parliament had not been idle
either.
One bright morning q company Of
Purtans marched into the wood with
the firm purpose OF destroying the ma
Iignants,' rs they called them. In
vain Dudley and his fellow officers
urged their followers to the conflict
The desperate intensity OF the Parlia-
ment men was not to be withstood, and
in comparatively c few minutes they
Wele wholly triumphant. Many OF the
poor fellows Who had meant to fight |
for the divine right OF kings lay dead |
under the trees o! Bosco Bello, and Of
those who remained alive nearly all |
were taken prisoners. Among these
were the officers and men Of rank, with |
Dudley at their head.
$50, Master Dudley" said the leader
OF the successful party, here is but an
i'll end OF your misplaced loyalty. A
man like you had better have feared |
God, and fought for the Parliament,
than to be misleading tenants and serv-
ants to death, for tyrant and traitor"
"False traitor, thou" cried Dudley,
ION thee and such az thou be the curse
oil ell the blood spilt, and the desolation |
made in our fair country"
lie would have gone on in his pas
ionate utterances, but the Puritan COM
mander cut him short.
Take Master Dudley ard his fel.
low malignants to Worcester" said he; |
he once fortified it against us; now
that it is 10 our hands let ps test its
strength as q prison
So Dudley and Harcourt, with Ma
ior Elliott and others, were taken away
10 Worcester, which Dudley had indeed |
strengthened and fortified for the King,
but which had since fallen into the |
hands Of his enemies. The treatment
Of the captors VAS far from gentle, for
those were rough as we'll as earnest
times. When they reached the CITY
they were conducted to the prison like |
dangerous felons, and strict measures
were taken FOR their safe detention.
Let double guards be stationed at
the prison doors, to be relieved every |
four hours. Double guards likewise at |
every gate OF the city, and strict watch |
at every outlet, that no knaves and
traitors may escape" Such were the !
orders given in the presence OF Dudley |
and his company, who were then push
ed into the courtyard OF the prison,
and presently locked in a large upper
room. There they were lett to such |
as the place and circum-
stances might suggest.
Immediate escape ia what they sug,
sested to Dudley. He looked carefully |
Tor means 10 that end.
The wiDdows were barred with iron
Dudley belped by hIs comraIes clinbcj