“It is the king, of course, who seeks to escape,” the sailor said.  “Well, young gentlemen, for such I doubt not that you are, I am ready to try it.  We sailors are near all for the king, and the fleet last week declared for him, and sailed for Holland.  So, once on board, there will be little danger.  Pay me the fifty guineas at once, and you may rely upon the Moonlight being at the point named.”

Harry handed over the money, and arranged that on the third night following the lugger should beat the post appointed, and that it should at once run them across and land them at Cowes.  It was now the middle of May, and Harry and his friends, who were still in the disguise of countrymen, walked across to Newport.  Their first step was to examine the castle.  It lay a short distance from the town, was surrounded by a high wall with towers, and could offer a strong resistance to an attacking force.  At the back of the castle was a small postern gate, at which they decided that his escape must, if possible, be made.  Harry had been well supplied with money by Sir John Berkeley before leaving Southampton, Sir John himself, on account of his figure being so well known at Newport, during his stay there with the king, deeming it imprudent to take any personal part in the enterprise.  After an examination of the exterior of the castle Harry bought a large basket of eggs, and some chickens, and with these proceeded to the castle.  There was a guard at the gate, but persons could freely enter.  As Harry’s wares were exceedingly cheap in price, he speedily effected a sale of them to the soldiers and servants of the officers.

“I should like,” he said to the man to whom he disposed of the last of the contents of his basket, “to catch a sight of the king.  I ha’ never seen him.”

“That’s easy enough,” the man said.  “Just mount these stairs with me to the wall.  He is walking in the garden at the back of the castle.”

Harry followed the man, and presently reached a spot where he could look down into the garden.  The king was pacing up and down the walk, his head bent, his hands behind his back, apparently in deep thought.  An attendant, a short distance behind him, followed his steps.

“Be that the king?” Harry asked.  “He don’t look like a king.”

“That’s him,” the man said, “and he’s not much of a king at present.”

“Where does he live now?” Harry asked.

“That is his room,” the man said, pointing to a window some ten feet from the ground.  After a little further conversation Harry appeared to be satisfied, and returning to the courtyard, made his way from the castle.  During that day and the next they remained quiet, except that Jacob walked over to Cowes, where he purchased two very fine and sharp saws, and a short length of strong rope, with a hook.  The following night they hired a cart with a fast horse, and this they placed at a spot a quarter of a mile from the castle.