And now, with shouts and clapping, 28. They gave him of the corn-land," As much as two strong oxen Could plough from morn till night; And there it stands unto this day, 29. It stands in the Comitium," How valiantly he kept the bridge, 30. And still his name sounds stirring. As the trumpet-blast that cries to them As his who kept the bridge so well, brave'-ly com-it'-i-um Macaulay. Vol-sci-an HISTORICAL PROSE. XXXVII. THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES II (1). [The following extract is from Sir Walter Scott's story of "Woodstock." This story is what is called an historical novel; but though the author keeps to the main facts of history, it must be borne in mind that the details are supplied by his imagination. He tells us how Charles had fled before Cromwell's troops, and found his way from the city of Worcester to Woodstock (in Oxfordshire), the residence of Sir Henry Lee, Expecting that his hiding-place would be found, the Prince disguised himself as a young page, and was ready for flight. Cromwell and a band of soldiers arrived at Woodstock in the night, and while they were searching one part of the mansion, Charles was sent out, in company with Alice, daughter of Sir Henry Lee, and he was conducted safely beyond Cromwell's reach. The Prince made his way to Brussels, where he held his court for a few years. During that period, Alice Lee was married to Colonel Everard, who was on friendly personal terms with Cromwell.] * 1. YEARS rush by us like the wind. We see not whence the eddy comes, nor whitherward it is tending, and we seem ourselves to witness their flight without a sense that we are changed; and yet Time is beguiling* man of his strength, as the winds rob the woods of their foliage. 2. After the marriage of Alice and Markham Everard, the old knight (Sir Henry Lee) resided near them, in an ancient manor-house, belonging to the redeemed portion of his estate,1 where Joceline and Phoebe,† now man and wife, with one or two domestics, regulated the affairs of his household. When he tired of Shakspeare and solitude, he was ever a welcome guest at his son-inlaw's, where he went the more frequently that Markham had given up all concern in public affairs, disapproving of the forcible dismissal of the Parliament, and submitting to Cromwell's subsequent domination,* rather as that which was the lesser evil, than as to a government which he regarded as legal. 3. Cromwell seemed ever willing to show himself his friend; but Everard, resenting highly the proposal to deliver up the King, which he considered as an insult to his honour, never answered such advances, and became, on the contrary, of the opinion, which was now generally prevalent in the nation, that a settled government could not be obtained without the recall of the banished family. There is no doubt that the personal kindness which he had received from Charles, rendered him the more readily disposed to such a measure. He was peremptory, however, in declining all engagements during Oliver's life, whose power he considered as too firmly fixed to be shaken by any plots which could be formed against it. * 4. Meantime, Wildrake continued to be Everard's protected dependant as before, though sometimes the connexion tended not a little to his inconvenience. That Lee. Joceline and Phoebe were two servants in the house of Sir Henry * respectable person, indeed, while he remained stationary in his patron's house, or that of the old knight, discharged many little duties in the family, and won Alice's heart by his attention to the children, teaching the boys, of whom they had three, to ride, fence, toss the pike, and many similar exercises; and, above all, filling up a great blank in her father's existence, with whom he played at chess and backgammon, or read Shakspeare, or was clerk to prayers when any sequestrated divine1 ventured to read the service of the Church. Or he found game for him while the old gentleman continued to go a-sporting; and, especially he talked over the storming of Brentford, and the battles of Edgehill, Banbury, Roundway-down, and others, themes which the aged Cavalier delighted in, but which he could not so well enter upon with Colonel Everard, who had gained his laurels in the Parliament service. 7 5. The assistance which he received from Wildrake's society became more necessary after Sir Henry was deprived of his gallant and only son, who was slain in the fatal battle of Dunkirk, where, unhappily, English colours were displayed on both the contending sides, the French being then allied with Oliver, who sent to their aid a body of auxiliaries, and the troops of the banished King fighting on behalf of the Spaniards. Sir Henry received the melancholy news like an old man, that is, with more external composure* than could have been anticipated. He dwelt for weeks and months on the lines forwarded by the indefatigable Dr. Rochecliffe, superscribed in small letters, c. R., and subscribed Louis Kerneguy, in which the writer conjured him to endure this inestimable loss with the greater firmness, that he 8 had still left one son, (intimating himself,) who would always regard him as a father." THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES II. (2). 6. But in spite of this balsam, sorrow, acting imperceptibly, and sucking the blood like a vampire, seemed gradually drying up the springs of life; and, without any formed illness, or outward complaint, the old man's strength and vigour gradually abated," and the ministry of Wildrake proved daily more indispensable." # 7. It was not, however, always to be had. The Cavalier was one of those happy persons whom a strong constitution, an unreflecting mind, and exuberant spirits, enable to play through their whole lives the part of a schoolboy-happy for the moment, and careless of consequences. 8. Once or twice a year, when he had collected a few pieces,1 the Cavaliero* Wildrake made a start to London, where, as he described it, he went on the ramble, drank as much wine as he could come by, and led a skeldering life, to use his own phrase, among roystering* Cavaliers* like himself, till by some rash speech or wild action, he got into the Marshalsea, the Fleet,2 or some other prison, from which he was to be delivered at the expense of interest, money, and sometimes a little reputation. 9. At length Cromwell died, his son resigned the |