“Then if you think that there will only be a peaceable entry, will you not let me ride with you?  It will be a brave sight to see the king enter London again; one to tell of all one’s life.”

The colonel made no reply for a minute or two.

“Well, Harry, I will not say you nay,” he said at length.  “Scenes of broils and civil war are not for lads of your age.  But, as you say, it would be a thing to talk of to old age how you rode after the king when he entered London in state.  But mind, if there be fighting, you must rein back and keep out of it.”

Harry was overjoyed with the permission, for in truth time had hung heavily on his hands since the colonel had ridden away.  His companionship with Herbert had ceased, for although the lads pressed hands warmly when they met in Abingdon, both felt that while any day might bring news of the triumph of one party or the other, it was impossible that they could hold any warm intercourse with each other.  The school was closed, for the boys of course took sides, and so much ill-will was caused that it was felt best to put a stop to it by closing the doors.  Harry therefore had been left entirely upon his own resources, and although he had ridden about among the tenants and, so far as he could, supplied his father’s place, the time often hung heavy on his hands, especially during the long hours of the evening.  After thanking his father for his kindness, he rushed wildly off to order his horse to be prepared for him to accompany the troop, to re-burnish the arms which he had already chosen as fitting him from the armory, and to make what few preparations were necessary for the journey.

It was some days, however, before any move was made.  The king was occupied in raising money, being sorely crippled by want of funds, as well as of arms and munitions of war.  At the beginning of November the advance was made, Sir Henry with his troop joining Prince Rupert, and advancing through Reading without opposition as far as Maidenhead, where he fixed his quarters.  Two days later he learned that Essex had arrived with his army in London.  On the 11th King Charles was at Colnbrook.  Here he received a deputation from the Houses of Parliament, who proposed that the king should pause in his advance until committees of both Houses should attend him with propositions “for the removal of these bloody distempers and distractions.”  The king received the deputation favorably, and said that he would stop at Windsor, and there receive the propositions which might be sent him.

Unfortunately, however, the hopes which were now entertained that peace would be restored, were dashed to the ground by an action which was ascribed by the Royalists to the hotheadedness of Prince Rupert, but which the king’s enemies affirmed was due to the duplicity of his majesty himself.  On this point there is no evidence.  But it is certain that the advance made after this deputation had been received rendered