from Ireton, he authorized the earl of Southampton to state to Colonel Rainborowe, that the king was ready to deliver himself up to the army, on receiving a pledge that his personal safety should be respected.[1] But Rainborowe referred him to the parliament; and the unhappy monarch, having exhausted every expedient which he could devise, left Oxford at midnight,[d] disguised as a servant, following his supposed master[e] Ashburnham, who rode before in company with Hudson, a clergyman, well acquainted with the country.  They passed through Henley and Brentford to Harrow; but the time which was spent on the road proved either that Charles had hitherto formed no plan in his own mind, or that he lingered with the hope of some communication from his partisans in the metropolis.  At last he turned in the direction of St. Alban’s; and, avoiding that town, hastened through bye-ways to Harborough.  If he expected to find there a body of[f] Scottish horse, or a messenger from Montreuil, he was disappointed.  Crossing by Stamford, he rested at Downham,[g] and spent two or three days in fruitless inquiries for a ship which might convey him to Newcastle or Scotland, whilst Hudson repaired to the French agent

[Footnote 1:  Hearne’s Dunstable, ii. 787-790.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1646.  April 22.] [Sidenote b:  A.D. 1646.  April 25.] [Sidenote c:  A.D. 1646.  April 26.] [Sidenote d:  A.D. 1646.  April 27.] [Sidenote e:  A.D. 1646.  April 28.] [Sidenote f:  A.D. 1646.  April 30.]

at Southwell, and returned the bearer of a short note sent by Montreuil, from whom the messenger understood that the Scots had pledged their word—­they would give no written document—­to fulfill on their part the original engagement made in their name at Oxford.[1] On this slender security—­for he had no[a] alternative—­he repaired to the lodgings of Montreuil early in the morning, and about noon was conducted by a troop of horse to the head quarters at Kelham.  Leslie and his officers, though they affected the utmost surprise, treated him with the respect due to their sovereign; and London in the name of the commissioners required that he should take the covenant, should order Lord Belasyse to surrender Newark, and should despatch a messenger with the royal command to Montrose to lay down his arms.  Charles soon discovered that he was a prisoner, and when, to make the experiment, he undertook to give the word to the guard, he was interrupted by Leven, who said:  “I am the older soldier, sir:  your majesty had better leave that office to me.”

For ten days the public mind in the capital had been