DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0208
196
CAR1SBR0OKE CASTLE.
lowing year. The circumftances which led him thither have
occafioned, perhaps, as much controverfy as any hiftorical event
of that troubled age. Clarendon—who is fuppofed not to have
liked John Afhburnham, who principally induced Charles to
feek refuge in the file of Wight, becaufe he was more in the
confidence of the king than himfelf—has given an account of
the flight of the king, which, though confufed and inconfiftent
in itfelf, feems nearly, if not entirely, to accufe Afhburnham
and Berkeley, who accompanied Charles with Major Legg, of
treafon to their mafter. Both Aftiburnham and Berkeley have
written narratives of the tranfadfion, and Clarendon ftates dis-
tinctly that he had carefully read and confidered thofe narratives
before he compofed his “ Hiftory of the Rebellion,” and yet
he makes various ftatements unwarranted by either.
Charles was at Hampton Court, and the Parliamentary army
was encamped on Putney Heath. He was under the furveil-
lance of the army : and had been in adtive correfpondence with
the leading officers of it, endeavouring to come to terms of
agreement for his reftoration. Cromwell and his fon-in-law,
Ireton, appeared at that time quite earneftly to defire his
reftoration : and conditions were fubmitted to Charles by what
were termed the adjutators, or “ agitators,” of the army. The
king could not bring himfelf to accept them. Jealoufies fprang
up amongft the officers ; fome of them thinking Cromwell and
Ireton too much difpofed to allow Charles to recover the crown
on terms advantageous to themfelves and dangerous to the
reft. The levelling part of the adjutators declared, or were
faid to declare, that they would feize on Charles, and, if he did
not accord with their defires, would kill him. Such were the
circumftances when Charles fuddenly efcaped in the night with
Sir John Berkeley, Mr. John Afhburnham, and Mr. William
Legg, gentlemen in attendance on him, but who had lately been
CAR1SBR0OKE CASTLE.
lowing year. The circumftances which led him thither have
occafioned, perhaps, as much controverfy as any hiftorical event
of that troubled age. Clarendon—who is fuppofed not to have
liked John Afhburnham, who principally induced Charles to
feek refuge in the file of Wight, becaufe he was more in the
confidence of the king than himfelf—has given an account of
the flight of the king, which, though confufed and inconfiftent
in itfelf, feems nearly, if not entirely, to accufe Afhburnham
and Berkeley, who accompanied Charles with Major Legg, of
treafon to their mafter. Both Aftiburnham and Berkeley have
written narratives of the tranfadfion, and Clarendon ftates dis-
tinctly that he had carefully read and confidered thofe narratives
before he compofed his “ Hiftory of the Rebellion,” and yet
he makes various ftatements unwarranted by either.
Charles was at Hampton Court, and the Parliamentary army
was encamped on Putney Heath. He was under the furveil-
lance of the army : and had been in adtive correfpondence with
the leading officers of it, endeavouring to come to terms of
agreement for his reftoration. Cromwell and his fon-in-law,
Ireton, appeared at that time quite earneftly to defire his
reftoration : and conditions were fubmitted to Charles by what
were termed the adjutators, or “ agitators,” of the army. The
king could not bring himfelf to accept them. Jealoufies fprang
up amongft the officers ; fome of them thinking Cromwell and
Ireton too much difpofed to allow Charles to recover the crown
on terms advantageous to themfelves and dangerous to the
reft. The levelling part of the adjutators declared, or were
faid to declare, that they would feize on Charles, and, if he did
not accord with their defires, would kill him. Such were the
circumftances when Charles fuddenly efcaped in the night with
Sir John Berkeley, Mr. John Afhburnham, and Mr. William
Legg, gentlemen in attendance on him, but who had lately been