Gillian Bagwell's Blog: www.theroyalmiracle.blogspot.com, page 4

Giveaway on Writerspace Halloween Mash!

Hi, dear readers,

Please join me and dozens of your favorite authors at the 2011 Halloween Mash at Writerspace tonight from 8pm ET to 11pm ET. We're giving away 100s of fantastic prizes -- Kindles, autographed books, gift cards and more. The more who enter, the more Kindles will be awarded! You don't have to be present to win, but you must be registered.  I'm giving away a copy of The September Queen, which will be released on Tuesday!  To register and for details visit http://www.writerspace.com/halloween/

September Queen blog tour dates

Hello, friends,
I have quite an exciting blog tour lined up in connection with the November 1 release of The September Queen.  I'm thrilled to be working again with so many of the wonderful bloggers who promoted The Darling Strumpet.  Here's what's up so far, but check back because there are still dates to be added:

October 27 - Historical Fiction Connectionguest post and giveaway
http://www.hf-connection.com

October 28 - Pittsburgh Historical Fiction Examinerhttp://www.examiner.com/historical-fiction-in-pittsburgh/kayla-posney
review

October 31 – Peeking Between the Pages http://www.peekingbetweenthepages.com
guest post

November 1 - Seductive Musingshttp://seductivemusings.blogspot.com
giveaway

November 1 - Passages to the Pasthttp://www.passagestothepast.com
guest post

November 1 – Wonders and Marvelshttp://www.wondersandmarvels.com
guest post and giveaway

November 2 - Savvy Verse and Withttp://savvyverseandwit.com
guest post and giveaway

November 2 - Yankee Romance Reviewshttp://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com
guest post

November 3 – Scandalous Womenhttp://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com
guest post and giveaway

November 3 – My Book Addictionhttp://mybookaddictionandmore.com
review, guest post, giveaway

November 3 – Unusual Historicals
http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com
guest post

November 4 - Lori's Reading Cornerhttp://www.lorisreadingcorner.com
guest post and giveaway

November 5  In the Hammockhttp://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
giveaway

November 6 - Unusual Historicalshttp://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com
Q&A

November 7 - Historically Obsessedhttp://historicallyobsessed.blogspot.com
giveaway and guest post

November 9 - Season for Romancehttp://theseasonforromance.com/wordpress
guest post and giveaway

November 10 - Broken Teepeehttp://www.brokenteepee.com
guest post/review/giveaway

November 12 - Historical Tapestryhttp://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com
review and guest post

November 13 – Savey Spender
http://saveyspender.com
review and giveaway

November 14 - Crazy for Bookshttp://crazy-for-books.com
guest post and giveaway

November 15 - The Muse in the Foghttp://muse-in-the-fog.blogspot.com
review, giveaway, and guest post

Penguin – The Author's Desk bloghttp://community.penguin.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=22451264&as=150186&b
Dates TBA – 3 guest posts in November

Misadventures of Moppetreview
Date TBA

October 16, 1651 - France - at last

On October 15, Charles, with Lord Wilmot, finally boardedCaptain Tattersall's boat and set sail for France.  But, in keeping with the events of the pastsix weeks, there was one final scare, as Charles described to Samuel Pepys in1683.

"The next morning a little before day we saw the Coast.  But the tyde fayling us and the Winde comeingabout to the South-West, we were forced to come to an Anchor within 2 Myles ofthe share, till the tide of Flood was done. Oostend fisheman/privateers"We found our selves just before an Harbour in France calledFeckham [Fécamp], and just as the tyde of Ebb was made, espied aVessell to Leeward of us, which by her nimble working, I suspected to be anOstend-Privateer.  Upon which I went to myLord Willmott, and telling him my oppinion of that ship proposed to him ourgoeing a Shoare in the Little Cock-Boate, for feare they should prove soe, asnot knowing but finding us goeing into aPort of France (there being then a Warr between France and Spaine) they mightplunder us and possibly carry us away and sett us a-shoare in England; theMaister himselfe had the same opinion of her being an Ostender, and came to meto tell me soe.  Which though I made itmy business to diswade him from, for feare it should tempt him to sett sayleback againe with us for the Coast of England, yet soe sensible I was of it thatI and my Lord Willmott went both on shoare in the Cock-Boate, and goeing upinto the Towne of Feckham stayed there all the Day to provide horses for Roan[Rouen]. But the Vessell which had soe affrighted us proved afterwards only aFrench sloop. Rouen in 1680"The next day we got to Roan to an Inn (one of the best inthe Towne) in the Fish-Market, where they made difficulty to receive us,takeing us by our Cloathes to be some Theeves, or persons that had beene doeingsome very ill thing, untill Mr. Sandburne a Merchant (for whome I sent) cameand answered for us.

One particular more there is observable in Relacion to thisour Passage into France, that the Vessell that brought me over had noe soonerLanded me, and I given her Maister a Pass, for feare of meeting with any of ourJerzey-Friggates, but the Winde turned soe happily for her as to carry herdirectly for Poole, without its being knowne that she had ever beene upon theCoast of France. 17th century drawing of St. Hillary's Gate into Rouen"We stayed at Roan one day to provide our selves betterCloathes and give notice to the Queene my Mother (who was then at Paris) of mybeing safely Landed.  After which settingout in a hired coach I was mett by my Mother with Coaches short of Paris, andby her conducted thither, where I safely arrived."
Rouen, with buildings that would have
been there when Charles wasCharles arrived in Paris on October 20.  He had been on the run, and in fear for hislife, since September 3.  As of October29, there were rumors in England that he had been lost at sea, as there hadbeen so many rumors since the Battle of Worcester about where he might be.  But on October 30, newspapers in Englandproclaimed the momentous news that he was at the French court, where he was welcomedby his mother, Queen Henrietta Maria; his brother James, the Duke of York; andhis youngest sister Henrietta Anne, affectionately known as Minette.
 [image error] Charles's mother, Queen Henrietta MariaAgainst all odds, and despite innumerable and overwhelmingdifficulties, many times when he came close to being discovered, and the factthat he was recognized by dozens of people who could have claimed a vast rewardfor turning him, Charles had outrun and outwitted Cromwell and Parliament.  The next eight and a half years were to be hard,with constant penury and frequent despair. But when Charles once again set foot on English soil, on May 25, 1660,it was as king, returning in triumph to a nation joyful at his Restoration.

The six weeks that came to be known as the Royal Miracle because Charles so many times escaped what seemed to be certain disaster were an enormously formative period in his life.  When he returned to the throne, he rewarded the many people who had helped them, and told the story of his adventures for the rest of his life.
[image error]
Charles II, with his brothers
riding into London in May 1660

If you're just joining us...

Welcome, readers from Good Reads and anyone else who's just found me!  If you're interested in reading about Charles's six-week odyssey trying to escape after the Battle of Worcester, go back to the post about September 3, 1651, and follow on from there!
Also, I plan to be adding more photos and other images to some of the earlier posts, so anyone who's been reading might want to check back in a week or two.

Thanks for reading!

October 15, 1651 - Farewell to England

Colonel Gounter had persuaded Charles and Lord Wilmot to liedown and get some rest late on the night of October 14, and in the wee hours he"called them up, shewing them how the tyme went by my watch. Horses beeing ledby the back way toward the beach, we came to the boate and found all readie."

Charles described this last leg of his journey throughEngland, from Brighton to Shoreham, to Samuel Pepys in 1683.  "About 4 a Clock in the morning, my selfe andthe Company before named went toward Shoram, takeing the Maister of the Shippwith us on horseback, behinde one of our Company, and came to the Vessellsside, which was not above 60 Tunn."
Map of Charles's route
from Allan Fea's 1897 The Flight of the KingGounter, who it seemed had finally achieved the nearimpossible in finding passage for the king away from England, recalled hisfinal moments with Charles.   

"Soe I tooke my leave, craving his Majesties pardon ifanything had happened through error, not want of will or loyaltie.  How willingly I would have waited further butfor my family (being many), which would want mee; and I hope his Majestie wouldnot, not doubting but in a very little tyme hee should bee where he would."

[image error] "A proclamation for the Discovery and
Apprehension of Charles Stuart, and other
Traytors his Adherents and Abettors"Gounter, like the many other people who had sheltered andhelped Charles over the six weeks since the Battle of Worcester, had risked hislife for the king, as he would have been arrested and executed for treason ifwhat he had done became known to Parliament. 

"My only request to his Majestie," Gounter recalled, "wasthat he would conceale his instruments, wherein their preservation was soe muchconcerned.  His Majestie promist noebodyshould knowe."

Charles was no doubt ready to drop with exhaustion andstress, and probably wanted desperately to be aboard in case anything elseshould go wrong.  "It being low Water,and the Vessell lying dry, I and my Lord Willmott got up with a ladder into herand went and lay downe in the little Cabbin, til the tide came to fetch us off.

"But I was no sooner gott into the Shipp and Layn downe uponthe Bedd, but the Maister came in to me, fell downe upon his Knees and kist myhand, telling me that he knew me very well, and that he would venture Life andall that he had in the World to sett me downe safe in France."Soe about 7 a Clock in the Morning it being High-Water, wewent out of the Port.  But the Maisterbeing bound for Poole laden with Sea Coole, because he would not have it seenefrom Shoram that he did not goe his intended Voyage; but stood all the day witha very easy sayle toward the Isle of Wight (only my Lord Willmott and my selfeof my Company on board), and as we were sayleing the Maister came to me anddesired me that I would perswade his Men to use their endeavours with me to gethim to sett us on shoare in France, the better to cover him from any suspicionthereof.

Shoreham by J.M.W. Turner"Upon which I went to the Men (which were 4 and a Boy) andtold them, truely, that we were 2 Merchants that had some misfortunes and werea Little in Debt, that we had some money owing us at Roan in France and wereafraid of being arrested in England, that if they would perswade the Maister(the Winde being very faire) to give us a Tripp over to Diepe or one of thoseports neere Roan, they would oblige us very much; and with that I gave them 20sto drinck.  Upon which they undertook tosecond me if I would propose it to the Maister, soe I went to the Maister andtold him our condicion, and that if he would give us a Tripp over to France, wewould give him Consideracion for it. Upon which, he counterfeited difficulty, saying that it would hinder hisVoyage.  But his men, as they hadpromised me, Joyned their perswacions to ours, and at last he yeilded to settus over."So about 5 a Clock in the afternoon (as we were in sight ofthe Isle of Wight) we stood directly over for the Coast of France, the Windebeing then full North."

 Colonel Gounter stood watching from the shore.  "At 8 of the clock I saw them on sayle, andit was the afternoon before they were out of sight.  The wind (O providence!) held very good tillnext morning to ten of the clock."

Charles didn't know it yet, but his friend and faithful allythe Earl of Derby, who had accompanied him on his desperate flight fromWorcester to Whiteladies on the night after the battle, was executed fortreason on the same day the king was finally making his way toward France.

[image error] A miniature of Charles by Samuel Cooper
from The Flight of the King
And there is little doubt that Charles would have sufferedthe same fate if he had been captured. To the end, luck was with him. Gounter marveled, "I was not gone out of the towne twoe houres butsouldiers came thither to search for a tall black man, 6 foot and 2 incheshigh."

October 14 - 1651 - so close and yet...

Charles went to bed on the night of October 13 at the homeof Colonel Gounter's sister and her husband, Thomas Symonds.  According to Gounter, "the King slept wellall night; and by breake of day, the Colonel putting twoe neats-tongues [oxtongues] in his pocketts, which he thought they might neede by the way, theysett out and began their journey."

Charles was traveling with Gounter and his cousin ThomasGounter, and Wilmot and his man Robert Swan. Colonel Phelipps made for London, to make arrangements for money to bewaiting for the king at Rouen. (I'm not sure how he managed this, but apparently he must have had some financialcontact in London who could make the necessary arrangements clandestinely.) Arundel Castle"They were no sooner come to Arundel hill, as they rodeclose by the castle," but they nearly ran into the Governour, Captaine Morley,who was out hunting. "The Colonel, the better to avoid them, it being a steepehill they were to goe downe, presently alighted, and his company … did as hedid, and soe happily they escaped them. The King, being told whoe it was, replyed merrily: 'I did not like hisstarched mouchates.'" (I think this means moustache, but haven't been able toconfirm that!  It sounds as if Charles'sspirits were good, as it seemed that he might actually get out of England soon.)"So wee came to Howton," Gounter continued, "where onhorseback wee made a stop at an ale-house for some bread and drinck; and thereour neats-tongues stood us in very good steede, and were heartily eaten.  From thence, being come to Bramber, wee foundthe streetes full of soldiers, on both sydes the houses, whoe unluckily, and unknowento mee, were come thither the night before to guard.  But luckily (or rather, by a special providence)were just then come from their guard at Bramber-bridge into the towne for refreshment.  Wee came upon them unawares, and were seenebefore wee suspected any thing."

Bramber Bridge
from Alan Fea's The Flight of the KingCharles's heart must have sunk to see the troops – it was arepeat of the situation he had encountered at Stratford-upon-Avon and Bridport,though it was good they had left their post guarding the bridge.

"My Lord Wilmot was readie to turne back, when I stept inand said: 'If wee doe, wee are undone. Lett us goe on boldly, and wee shall not be suspected.'  'He saith well,' said the King.  I went before, he followed, and soe passthrough without any hinderance.

"It was then betweene three and fower of the clock in the afternoone.  Wee went on, but had not gone farre but a newterror possessed us: the same soldiers riding after us, as fast as theycould.  Whereupon the King gave mee ahem.  I slackt my pace till there werecome up to mee, and by that tyme the soldiers were come, whoe rudely passed byus (beeing in a narrow lane), soe that we could hardly keepe out sadles forthem; but passed by without any further hurt, being some 30 or 40 in number."

Another close call, and just when safety was almost insight! 
Bagshall's house, Beeding
from The Flight of the King"When wee were come to Breeding, a little village where Ihad provided a retreatement for the King (one Mr. Bagshall's house), I wasearnest that his Majestie would stay there a whyle, till I had viewed thecoast.  But my Lord Wilmot would by noemeanes, for feare of those soldiers, but carried the King out of theroade.  Soe wee parted: they were theythought safest, I to Brighthemston, being agreed they should send to mee whenfixed anywhere and readie."

Eventually Charles, Wilmot, and Swan followed Gounter toBrighton, where, as Charles recalled "we were to meete with the Maister of the ship,as thinking it more convenient for us to meet there, then just at Shoram wherethe ship was."

Gounter reached the rendezvous first.  "Being come to the said Brighthemston, Ifound all cleere there and the inne (the George) free from all strangers attthat tyme.  Having taken the best roomein the house and bespoken my supper, as I was entertaining myselfe with a glassof wine, the King, not finding accommodation elsewhere to his mind, was come tothe inne.  And upp comes myne host (oneSmith by name) 'More guests,' saith he to mee. He brought them up into another roome, I takeing no notice.  It was not long, but drawing towards the Kingsroome, I heard the Kings voice saying aloud to my Lord Wilmot: 'Here, Mr.Barlow, I drinck to you.'  'I knowe thatname,' said I to myne hoast… 'I pray enquire, and whether he was not a major inthe Kings army.'"

The host having confirmed that Barlow/Wilmot was the man whoGounter thought he was, and forestalling any suspicion on the part of thelandlord, Gounter "made a motion to joyne companie and because my chamber wasthe largest, that they would make use of it: which was accepted, and soe weebecame one companie againe.

King's Head, No. 9 West Street, Brighton, demolished in 1934
It was formerly the George, and may have been the inn at which Charles waited at Brighton"At supper, the King was cheerfull, not shewing he leastsigne of feare or apprehension of any daunger, neyther then or att any tymeduring the whole course of this busines. Which is noe small wonder, considering that the very thought of his ennemies,soe great and soe many, soe diligent, and soe much interested in his ruine, wasenough, as long as he was within their reach and as it were in the very middestof them, to have daunted the stoutest courage in the world."

Now another complication arose.  As Charles told Samuel Pepys in 1680, themerchant Mançel who had negotiated with Captain Tattersall had onlybeen told that his passenger was a gentleman who had escaped fromWorcester.  But the king "observed thatthe maister of the vessel looked very much upon me.  And as soon as we had supped, calling theMerchant [Mançel] aside, the Maister told him that he had not dealtfairly with him: for though he had given him a very good price for the carryingover that Gentleman, yet he had not been cleare with him, for says he, he isthe King, and I very well know him to be soe. Upon which the Merchant denying it, saying that he was mistaken, theMaister answered, I know him very well, for he tooke my ship, together withother fishing Vessels at Bright-Hempson in the yeare 1648 (which was when Icommanded the King my Fathers Fleete, and I very kindly let them goeagaine).  But sayes he to the Maister, benot troubled at it, for I thinck I doe God and my Country good service inpreserveing the King, and by the grace of God I will venture my life and allfor him, and sett him safely on shoare (if I can) in France.

"Upon which the Merchant came and told me what had past betweenthem; and thereby found my selfe under a necessity of trusting him. But I tookenoe kind of notice of it presently to him. But thinking it convenient nott to let him goe home, least he should beasking advice of his wife or any Boddy elce, we kept him with us in the Inn,and satt up all night drinking beer and takeing Tobacco with him."  Charles didn't want a repeat of what hadhappened with Stephen Limbry at Charmouth.

Drinking and takeing TobaccoBut the evening's alarms were not at an end.  Charles recalled "And heere I also runanother very greate danger… for as I was standing after supper by theFire-Side, leaneing my hand upon a Chaire (and all the rest of the Companybeing gon into another Roome) the Maister of the Inn came in and fell a-talkingwith me, and just as he was looking about and saw there were no boddy in theroome, he upon a suddain kissed my hand that was upon the back of the Chaire,and said to me, God bless you, where soe ever you go; I doe not doubt before Idye but to be a Lord, and my Wife a Lady. So I laughted and went away into the next Roome, not desireing then anyfurther discourse with him, there being noe Remedy against my being known byhim, and more discourse might but have raised suspicion.  On which consideracion I thought it best forto trust him in that manner, and he proved very honest."

Gounter also described the incident, which he found verydistressing.  "Supper ended, the Kingstood his back against the fyer, leaning over a chaire.  Up comes mine host … runs to the King,catcheth his hand; and kissing it, said, 'It shall not bee said but I havekissed the best man's hand in England.'

Brighthelmstone by J.M.W. Turner"He had waited att the table att supper, where the boatemenalsoe sate with us, and were then present. Whether he had seene or heard anything that could give him any occasionof suspicion, I knowe not.  In verydeede, the King had a hard task, soe to carrie himself in all things that hemight be in nothing like himselfe, majestie beeing so natural unto him, thateven when he said nothing, did nothing, his very looks (if a man observed) wereenough to betray him.  It was admirableto see how the King (as though he had not beene concerned in these words, whichmight have sounded in the eares of another man as the sentence of death) turnedabout in silence, without any alteration of counternance or taking notice ofwhat had beene said.

"About a quarter of an hower after, the King went to hischamber, where I followed him, craved his pardon with earnest protestation thatI was as innocent, soe altogether ignorant of the cause how this hadhappened.  'Peace, peace, Colonell,' saidthe King, 'the fellow knowes mee, and I him. He was one … that belonged to the back-staires to my Father.  I hope he is an honest fellow.'"

The king was lucky, and the host and Captain Tattersall wereamong the many people over the course of his adventures who recognized him butdidn't give him away. Still, things didn't progress smoothly that night.  Gounter asked Tattersall "in what readiness hewas.  He answered hee could not off thatnight, because, for more securitie, he had brought his vessel into a creeke andthe tyde had forsaken it, soe that it was on the ground… [A]ll the whyle thebusiness had beene in agitation, to this very tyme, the winde had beenecontrarie.  The King then opened thewindowe, tooke notice that the wind was turned, and told the master of the ship,Whereupon, because of the wind and a cleare night, I offered 10li. More to the man to get of that night.  But that could not bee."
[image error] Posy ring given to Captain Tattersall by Charles II
from The Flight of the KingGounter also recalled that though Tattersall kept his mouthshut, he wanted more money, and the carefully laid plan almost fell apart atthe last minute. "When we thought wee had agreed, the boateman starts back, andsaith 'Noe,' unlesse I would ensure the barke. Argue it wee did with him how unreasonable it was, beeing soe well paid&c., but to noe purpose, soe that I yielded at last and 200li. was his valuation, which was agreedupon.  But then, as though he had beeneresolved to frustrate all by unreasonable demands, he required my bond.  At which, mooved with much indignation, Ibegan to bee as resolute as he, saying, among other thing, there were moreboates to bee had besides his; if hee would not, another should, and made asthough I would go to another.

"In this contest, the King happily enterposed: 'Hee saithright (saith his Majestie),' a gentlemans word, especially before witnesses, isas good as his bond.  At last the man'sstomach came downe; and carrie them he would, whatever came of it; and beforehe would be taken, he would runn his boate under the ater.  So it was agreed that about twoe in the nightthey should bee aboard.

"The boateman in the meanetyme went to provide fornecessaries, and I persuaded the King to take some rest.  He did, in his cloaths, and My Lord Wilmotwith him, till towards twoe of the night."

October 13, 1651 - Charles as "Brother Roundhead"

At two o'clock in the morning of October 13, Charles leftHeale House by the back way to meet Colonel Phelipps for the clandestinejourney to Shoreham, where Captain Tattersall was to be waiting with his coal-brigSurprise, to carry the king tosafety.  
[image error] Phelipps was bringing the king'shorse from where it had been hidden at a neighbor's house, but according to hisaccount, he "came to the place at the time appointed, but had the misfortune tohave the King's horse, at the entring of the meadowe gate, to breake his bridleand run upp the river – which, after some short time, with noe small trouble,he recovered and brought back.  Andhaving in some tolerable manner amended what had bin broken, the King and theCollonel sett forward to Brighthempson."

As the king later told Samuel Pepys, he and Phelipps were to meet Gounterand Wilmot "some 14 or 15 Myles off on my way towards Shoram, and were to lodgethat night at a place called Hammelton, 7 Myles from Portsmouth, because it wastoo long a Journey to goe in one day to Shoram." 

The plan was that Charles would spend the night at the homeof Mr. Hyde or possibly with Gounter's sister, but Wilmot and the Gounters neededa plausible reason to be seen riding around while they waited for Phelipps andthe king.  So, as Gounter recalled, "theLord Willmot, Colonel Gounter and Captaine Thomas Gounter, being alltogetheratt dinner, agreed to ride upon the Downes. The Colonel, for a blinde, went to Hambledon, hard by, to give hissister a visit, and there borrowed a brace of grey-hounds," telling her "thathis Cozin Gounter and other gentlemen were upon the Downes and had a mind tohave a course att a haire.  And 'twaspossible, if they did not beate to farre and should stay out late, they mightall come and bee merry with her that night… 'If you doe, you shall be heartily welcome,'was her answer.
 Hunting fallow deer with greyhounds"The Colonel brought the greyhounds, and beate with my Lordand his cozin untill his tyme served, and then left them, resolving to ride untillhe mett the King.  And just as he came toWarneford townes-end from old Winchester, he met Colonel Phillips conducting theKing.  Beeing near the houses, theColonel ridd by them and tooke noe notice, went to an inne in the towne, calledfor some beere and tooke a pipe, and stayed soe long, that they were atop oldWinchester before he overtook them."

Drinking and smoking in a 17th century innHaving "directed them the safest way," Gounter went to findWilmot, and all the men gathered.  Whenthey reached "Brawde-Halfe-Penny, a little above Hambledon, the King spake tothe Colonel: 'Canst thou get mee a lodging hereabout?'  The Colonel told him that his Cozin Hyde'shouse aforesaid was taken up for him and was very convenient, beeing neere andin the way.  But whether his Majestiethought it to publick a place, or what other reason I know not, hee said, 'knowyou noe other?' 'Yeas, may it please your Majestie, I know divers yeomanly menwhere for a night we may be welcome.  Andhere is one whoe married my sister, whose house stands privatly and out of theway.  'Lett us goe thither,' said theKing.

[image error] Pension granted to Robert Swan, Lord
Wilmot's man, after the Restoration"Whylest wee were consulting this affaire, Captaine ThomasGounter … and Swan, my Lord Wilmot's man, ridd scouting about Broade-Halfe-penny… the Colonel conducting the King, my Lord Willmot, and Colonel Robert Philippsto his sisters house, a private way and the backside of Hambledon, it being buthalfe a mile from the place aforesaid."

The party arrived at the home of Gounter's sister at "aboutcandlelighting."  She brought them "wine,ale, and biskets … with a very cheerefull countenance, as though the Kingspresence had had some secret influence upon her [and she] suspected nothing lessethen that a king was present.

"In an hower's space wee went to supper, being all settpromiscuously att a round table: and having halfe-supt, in comes the Colonel'ssister's husband, Mr. Thomas Symones, whoe, as it plainly appeared, had been incompany that day.  'This is brave,' saidhe, 'a man can noe sooner be out of the way, but his house must be taken upwith I know not whome.'"

Symonds welcomed his brother-in-law Gounter, but "peeping inthe King's face, said of him, 'Heer's a Round-head'; and addressing his speechto the Colonel, said, 'I never knew you keepe Round-heads' company before.'  To which the Colonel replyed, ''Tis noematter; he is my friend and, I will assure you, no dangerous man."  Att which words, he clapt himself downe in achaire next the King, and tooke him by the hand, shaking him, and saying 'BrotherRoundhead, for his sake thou art wellcome.' …

Roundheads, with their cropped hair on the right,
Royalist Cavaliers, with their long hair, on the left "Now and then he would sweare before he was aware, for whichthe King reprooved him, 'O deare brother, that is a 'scape: sweare not, Ibeseech you.'  Nevertheles, in that humorhe was, hee plyed us hard with strong waters and beare…

A punch bowl that Charles presented to the
Symonds family after his Restoration"Supper being ended, it beeing tenn of the clock, theColonel began to bethinck himself that the King had ridd neere fourty milesthat day, and was to undergoe a very hard journey the next; and how to get theKing out of his company and to bed, he could hardly devise.  Yet the Colonel whispered his kinsman in theeare, saying … "hee is a Round-head indeede, and if wee could gett him to bed,the house were our owne, and wee could bee merry.'  Hee readily submitted, and the Colonelpresently (leaving the Lord Wilmot behind) conducted the King and Colonel Rob.Philips (whoe lay in the Kings chamber) to bed.

October 12, 1651 - a ship for the king

Early on the morning of October 12, Colonel Phelipps leftLawrence Hyde's house at Hinton Daubney and rode to Heale House near Salisburywhere Charles was hidden. "After 4 or 5 days [at Mrs. Hyde's house]," Charlestold Samuel Pepys many years later, "Robin Phillipps came to the House, and acquaintedme that a Shipp was ready provided for me at Shoram, by Coll. Gunter."

His description is surprisingly matter-of-fact, consideringwhat he had been through over the five and a half weeks since he had fled Worcester.  But maybe he was recalling that after so manyfailures he couldn't quite believe he was really about to make his escape.  Or maybe his recollection of the actual newsis a little off, as according to Colonel Phelipps he informed Dr. Henchman ofthe plan, and "the same evening, Dr. Henchman went to Heale to give notice ofthe success and to prepare the King to bee ready at the meadow-gate openinginto the river, where Coll. Philipps would bee by three of the clock in themorning with a leade-horse for the King."

The coal-brig Surprise by Willem van Velder the Elder
after Charles converted it to a yacht which he kept moored near Whitehall
According to Richard Ollard's The Escape of Charles II After the Battle of Worcester, "NicholasTettersell, master and owner of the coal-brig Surprise (thirty-four tons)," who was to carry the king to safety, "wasa native of Brighton and an experienced Channel seaman.  He belongs to a type, now all but extinctsince the decay in the last fifty years [Ollard was writing in 1966] of theinshore fishery and the coastal trade, which altered perhaps less than anyother in our society between the Norman conquest, and the death of QueenVictoria … not only because of the obvious fact of geography but by the natureof the life they led, isolated from the world behind the harbor and untouchedby social and technological change.  ColonelGunter had recognized this when he told Wilmot that though he had lived all hislife next door to these people he knew absolutely nothing about them."

A small coal-brig usually used for fairly short trips out ofa tiny place like Shoreham was probably not the kind of vessel Charles hadfirst thought of when he conceived the idea of escaping from England by sea,but it was probably better that he would travel that way than in a larger shipfrom a more prominent port, which were much more conspicuous and likely to besearched. 

An old print of a collier, or coal-brig, unloading
According to a post by Iain MacFarlaine, (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8546308), Tattersall or Tettersell in later years bought the Old Ship Inn and was High Constable of Brighthelmstone.  Mr. MacFarlainen posted the photo below of the churchyard of St. Nicholas Church in Brighton where Tettersell is buried.

Iain MacFarlaine's caption to this photo says
"Captain Tettersell's grave is just to the left of the red door."His headstone reads, in part, "Captain Nicholas Tettersell, through whose prudence, valour and loyalty Charles the Second King of England and after he had escaped the sword of his merciless rebels and his fforces received a fatall overthrow at Worcester Sept 3 1651 was ffaithfully preserved and conveyed into Ffrance, departed this life the 26th. day of July 1674. Approved ffaith honour and loyalty, In this cold clay he hath now tane up his station, At once preserved ye church the Crowne and nation, When Charles ye Greate was nothing but a breath, This valiant soule slept between him and death, Usurpers threats nor tyrant rebells froune, Could not affraight his duty to the Crowne, Which glorious Act of his for Church and State, Eight Princes in one day doth Gratulate, Professing all to him in debt to bee, As all the World are to his Memory."

 Iain MacFarlaine's photo of Tattersall's gravestone

October 10 and 11, 1651 - Another new plan - will this one succeed?

Charles spent October 10 and 11 as he had spent the dayssince October 6, hidden in the secret little chamber at Heale House, with Mrs.Hyde and her sister bringing him food, and waiting for further news.

On the morning of Friday, October 10, Colonel Gounter, oncemore having had very little sleep, set out from his house to Chichester to meetFrancis Mançel or Mansell, the French merchant who he hoped would beable to provide a ship to get the king out of England.  "The marchant being destitute of a horse,"Gounter lent him the horse that Mr. Hyde had lent him the previous night and borrowed one for himself from his cousin Captain Thomas Gounter, who he sent toLord Wilmot to report on how plans were progressing.

Brighton in the late 18th centuryColonel Gounter and Mansell arrived at Brighthelmstone (nowBrighton) at about two o'clock, but "the seaman [Mansell] chiefly depended on"had gone to Chichester, where he was to pick up some freight. Fortunately, "asProvidence would have it," Captain Tattersall was touching at Shoreham, onlyfour miles from Brighthelmstone.  Gounterpersuaded Mansell "to send to him immediately to come to him upon earnestbusiness," and asked Mansell to handle the negotiations, such matters "beinghis affaire and trade … promising the marchant to make good and pay himwhate're he should agree for, but withall desired to get it as low as he could." Brighton in the early 19th century
Tattersall insisted "he would knowe what he should carrie,or he would not treate," so Mansell told Tattersall what Gounter had told him –that he would be carrying as passengers a couple of gentlemen who had to getout of England because they had been involved in a duel.  By two a.m. on Saturday, October 11, Gounter,Mansell, and Tattersall had "made a parfect agreement."  Tattersall would get sixty pounds "in hand,before he tooke them into the boate," and on Tuesday, October 13, he "was tobee in readiness upon an hower's warning and … to stay there under pretence offraughting his barke, to see all things in readiness against the Colonel andhis twoe friends arrival." 

Gounter had to go make arrangements to get the king toShoreham, but "privatly promised the marchant to defray all his charges, and togive him fifty pounds as aforesaid for his peynes, which was afterwards accordinglydone….

1583 map of southern coast of England
"Brighthelm" at right and "Shoram" to its left
"All things agreed upon, the Colonel tooke leave of themarchant about 3 of the clock, with all expedition to give my Lord Wilmot thisaccount."  He arrived at Hyde's house,where Wilmot had been staying, between eight and nine that night, only to learnthat Wilmot and Thomas Gounter had gone to the home of a Mr. Browne, a tenantof Hyde who had married Thomas Gounter's sister.  But Hyde was home, as well as Colonel Phelipps, "in hischamber goeing to bed, who was very inquisitive to knowe how things stood."

[image error] ShorehamWhen Gounter told Phelipps the much-hoped for news that "allthings were well and in a readines … the noble Colonel Philipps replyed, 'Thoushalt bee a sainct in my almanack for ever.'" Hyde urged Gounter to stay the night, but "he knew he was expected, andcould not in honour but give his account without delay."

Church of St. Mary de Haura, Shoreham
the name means St. Mary at the Harbor
It was falling into disrepair even in the 17th centuryPhelipps insisted on accompanying Gounter to tell LordWilmot the good news.  When Gounter "hadsaluted him and given him a full account of all the proceedings, the noble Lordwas infinitly pleased and satisfied." They agreed that Phelipps would go to fetch the king, "by reason thatColonel Gounter was much tyred, and would need rest for further imployement."

It seemed that finally things were going as hoped.

Two reviews for "The September Queen"!

I'm thrilled to say that there are already two reviews out for The September Queen!

"An extraordinarily engrossing read! ... it had everythingthat I look for in a novel – drama, romance, danger and adventure. I devouredit in two sittings."5 Stars! - Passages to the Past
http://www.passagestothepast.com/2011/10/review-and-giveaway-september-queen-by.html


"Gillian Bagwell did an exceptional job at writingJane and Charles' on-the-run romance. Charles not only seduces Jane, but thereaders as well… The September Queenis a love story that will stay with you long after you finish the novel."Fresh Fiction http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=31005