DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0211
CARISBROOKE CASTLE. I99
not go direct to the ifland, but would flop at Tichfield—the
houfe of the Earl of Southampton, where the Earl’s mother
was flaying—whilft Afliburnham and Berkeley went over and
founded the governor. This was done ; and here occurs the
only difcrepancy of any moment in the accounts of the nar-
rators. Afliburnham fays that Berkeley weakly let it out that
the king was not far off, and was coming to the ifland to throw
himfelf on the protection of the governor; and Berkeley fays
that it was Afliburnham who did this. Unfortunately it was
done, and Hammond, who was a great friend of Cromwell’s,
was thrown into violent agitation at the predicament in which
he was placed between his regard for the king and his honour
as the officer of the parliament. But he pledged himfelf to
deferve the king’s confidence, as a man of honour and honefty.
He entreated that he might accompany them to bring in the
king ; and, though they at firft objected, they were again weak
enough to comply. When they arrived at Tichfield, accom-
panied alfo by Bafket, governor of Cowes, and Afliburnham
went up to the king, and told him what they had done, Charles
exclaimed that they had undone him, and that he felt convinced
that, in fpite of what the governor had pledged, he would make
him a prifoner. Afliburnham replied, that this fhould not be
the cafe : if the king declined to go, they were ftrong enough,
and he would foon difpofe of the governor and his companion,
the governor of Cowes. But this difpofing of by difpatching-
which was what Afliburnham meant—Charles would not con-
fent to. He took a frefli pledge from Hammond, and went
with him.
The upfliot was certain. No fooner did the parliament
learn where the fugitive monarch was, than they ordered
Hammond to keep him faft : and he did fo. Charles’s three
attendants were difmiffed, and a ftrift guard was kept over
him. But his three faithful followers did not defert him. They
not go direct to the ifland, but would flop at Tichfield—the
houfe of the Earl of Southampton, where the Earl’s mother
was flaying—whilft Afliburnham and Berkeley went over and
founded the governor. This was done ; and here occurs the
only difcrepancy of any moment in the accounts of the nar-
rators. Afliburnham fays that Berkeley weakly let it out that
the king was not far off, and was coming to the ifland to throw
himfelf on the protection of the governor; and Berkeley fays
that it was Afliburnham who did this. Unfortunately it was
done, and Hammond, who was a great friend of Cromwell’s,
was thrown into violent agitation at the predicament in which
he was placed between his regard for the king and his honour
as the officer of the parliament. But he pledged himfelf to
deferve the king’s confidence, as a man of honour and honefty.
He entreated that he might accompany them to bring in the
king ; and, though they at firft objected, they were again weak
enough to comply. When they arrived at Tichfield, accom-
panied alfo by Bafket, governor of Cowes, and Afliburnham
went up to the king, and told him what they had done, Charles
exclaimed that they had undone him, and that he felt convinced
that, in fpite of what the governor had pledged, he would make
him a prifoner. Afliburnham replied, that this fhould not be
the cafe : if the king declined to go, they were ftrong enough,
and he would foon difpofe of the governor and his companion,
the governor of Cowes. But this difpofing of by difpatching-
which was what Afliburnham meant—Charles would not con-
fent to. He took a frefli pledge from Hammond, and went
with him.
The upfliot was certain. No fooner did the parliament
learn where the fugitive monarch was, than they ordered
Hammond to keep him faft : and he did fo. Charles’s three
attendants were difmiffed, and a ftrift guard was kept over
him. But his three faithful followers did not defert him. They