登陆注册
14195800000024

第24章 CHAPTER IV.(3)

Now for a fortnight previous to the night on which he designed to escape, James made it his habit to play at hide-and-seek every evening after supper with his brother and sister, and the children of the officers then located in the palace; and in such secure places did he secrete himself that his companions frequently searched for over half an hour without discovering him. This of course accustomed the household to miss him, and was cunningly practised for the purpose of gaining time on his pursuers when he came to be sought for in good earnest.

At last the eventful night fixed for his escape arrived; and after supper a pleasant group of merry children prepared to divert themselves in the long dark halls and narrow winding passages of the grim old palace. James, as usual, proposed concealing himself, and leaving his companions for the purpose, disappeared behind some arras; but, instead of hiding, he hastened to his sister's chamber, where he locked up a favourite dog that was in the habit of following his footsteps wherever he went, and then noiselessly slipped down a back stairs which led to an inner garden. Having taken care to provide himself with a key fitting the garden door, he quickly slipped into the park.

Here he found Colonel Bamfield waiting, who, giving him a cloak and a wig for his better disguise, hurried him into a hackney coach, which drove them as far as Salisbury House in the Strand.

From thence they went through Spring Garden, and down Ivy Lane, when, taking boat, they landed close by London Bridge. Here entering the house of a surgeon friendly to their adventure, they found a woman named Murray awaiting them, who immediately provided a suit of woman's wearing apparel for the young duke, in which she helped to attire him. Dressed in this costume he, attended by the faithful Bamfield, hastened to Lion Quay, where they entered a barge hired for their conveyance to a Dutch frigate stationed beyond Gravesend.

Meanwhile, the children not being able to discover their playfellow in the palace, their elders became suspicious of the duke's escape, and began to aid the search. Before an hour elapsed they were convinced he had fled, and St. James's was thrown into a state of the utmost excitement and confusion.

Notice of his flight was at once despatched to General Fairfax at Whitehall, who immediately gave orders have all the roads from London guarded, especially those leading to the north; for it was surmised he would in the first instance seek to escape into Wales. The duke, however, had taken a safer course, but one which was not unattended by danger. He had not sailed far in the barge when its master became suspicious that he was aiding the escape of some persons of consequence, and became frightened lest he should get into trouble by rendering them his services. And presently his surmise was converted into certainty; for looking through a cranny of the barge-room door, he saw the young woman fling her leg on the table and pull up her stocking in a most unmaidenly manner. He therefore at once peremptorily declared to Colonel Bamfield they must land at Gravesend, and procure another boat to carry them to the ship; for it would be impossible for the barge to pass the block-house lower down without being observed, and consequently inspected, as was the custom at this troubled time. On hearing which Colonel Bamfield was filled with dismay; but, knowing that at heart the people were loyal towards the Stuarts, he confided the identity of his passenger, and begged him not to betray them in this hour of peril. To give his appeal further weight, he promised the fellow a considerable sum if they safely reached the frigate; for human nature is weak, and greed of gold is strong. On this, the bargee, who was a loyal man, promised he would help them to the best of his powers; the lights were therefore extinguished, the oars drawn in, and, the tide fortunately answering, the barge glided noiselessly down under cover of night, and passed the block-house unobserved. In good time they reached the frigate, which, the duke and Colonel Bamfield boarding, at once set sail, and in a few days landed them at Middleburgh. James proceeded to the court of his sister, the Princess of Orange, and later on joined his mother in France.

At the age of twenty he served in the French army, under Turenne, against the Spanish forces in Flanders, and subsequently in several campaigns, where he invariably showed himself so brave and valiant that the Prince de Conde declared that if ever there was a man without fear, it was James, Duke of York. Now it happened that in 1658 the Princess of Orange went to Paris in order to visit the queen mother, as the widow of Charles I. was called. The Duke of York was in the gay capital at this time, and it soon became noticed that he fixed his attention overmuch on one of his sister's maids of honour, Anne Hyde. This gentlewoman, then in her twenty-first year, was the possessor of a comely countenance, excellent shape, and much wit. Anne was daughter of Edward Hyde, a worthy man, who had been bred to the law, and proved himself so faithful a servant to Charles I., that his majesty had made him Privy Councillor and Chancellor of the Exchequer. After the king's execution, in 1649, the chancellor thought it wise for himself and his family to seek refuge in exile, and accordingly joined Charles II., with whom he lived in the closest friendship, and for whose return he subsequently negotiated with General Monk.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • A Room With A View

    A Room With A View

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 神州天帝纪

    神州天帝纪

    神奇的云起大陆,这个叫做白夜的少年,云黛的少女,经历了那场劫难之后,能都真正的走向巅峰,最令人向往的世界?
  • 重生之注定作死

    重生之注定作死

    被吸粪车崩死?无所谓!被厉鬼勾魂?无所谓!重生以后不是主角?无所谓!可偏偏穿成一个永恒炮灰,头上永远顶着一个黑气腾腾的作死光环!天知道有多少“天命主角”正在虎视眈眈,待天机来临时,一刀砍下云杉这颗大好头颅!据说城南有个廖老师,正是天命主角,身负恐怖至极的爆发力,为了博得校花苏雪冰的欢心,要把云杉活活碾死,从此踏上坐拥数美、醉枕江山的都市后宫之路!据说市里还有一个穿越系统达人,也是天命主角,穿越后身负成长性无限的超级武器系统,为了达成系统任务,要把云杉扒皮抽筋,从此踏上狂刷系统点数、换取无数无敌装备的都市兵王之路!据说……云杉默默给贼老天点了个三十二个赞。
  • 重生之男神老公别太坏

    重生之男神老公别太坏

    温馨,温家二女儿,温良和善,四九城出了名的私生女,二十岁,死于突发心脏病。意外重生,她成为米家养女,竟然发现前世死亡的真相,她决定亲手解开那些人的真面目,势要把真相大白于天下,还自己一个公道。却不想,复仇之路,遇上了他。他神秘、诡异,就连她那双过目不忘可以洞悉人心的眼,也无法看透。她是他买来的妻子,也是他用来掩人耳目的棋子。(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 无敌兵王

    无敌兵王

    传奇兵王追风隐归故里,奈何现实逼迫想着平静生活的他一再出手。看他从小保安做起,如何坐拥白富美,傲视群豪,成为无敌王者!无敌是多么、多么的寂寞啊!—李风站在巅峰忍不住感叹。
  • 独角离殇

    独角离殇

    青春是一场终将散场的盛宴,在这灯红酒绿的筵席中,我们失了方向,醉了自己。谁还记得谁曾许下的诺言?当时的诺言太唯美,剧情到最后,却洒落一地悲伤。。
  • 我是谁之轮回

    我是谁之轮回

    新人新书,写着玩玩,不好见谅!作者会多多的慢慢的改进的!
  • 我的老婆叫嫦娥

    我的老婆叫嫦娥

    嫦娥吞服仙丹奔月而去,给箭神后羿留下了无尽的遗憾!身死之后,他的灵魂却意外来到了一个修仙鼎盛的世界,成了一个穷家儿郎。这个世界的天空明月依旧,嫦娥则是那高高在上的月神。这让后羿决定走上修仙之路,他要飞升去那月亮之上,见嫦娥!神箭问情,魔枪证道,请看箭神后羿如何演绎精彩纷呈的修仙登月路!
  • 孤独你好

    孤独你好

    孤独,熟悉的字眼,当我提起笔来,竟描绘不出它的“轮廓”。不禁惭愧万分,读书十余载,竟写不出几句通顺的话语来描述这伴随我的孤独。沏上一杯茶,静静的坐着,品位这茶的香醇,体会着夜的寂静,“享受”着我的孤独。回不去的青春,回不去的时光
  • 慈禧及光绪宾天厄

    慈禧及光绪宾天厄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。