tain of conquering an old manor-house. But at last, he hit upon a successful plan. The wind was blowing across the house from the direction where stood the barns. To these barns the Prince set

fire. The smoke quickly surrounded the house, and in the shelter of it the Royalists gained the doors, and quickly beat them down. Further resistance was now useless, and Mrs. Purefoy came forward herself to claim from the Prince, that while she surrendered her house, her brave defenders should be spared.

Rupert was too true a soldier not to respect such brave people, even though they were his enemies; and when the little company stood forward, and he saw how few they numbered, he could not conceal his admiration of their gallantry, but praised them openly for their conduct before his own soldiers. No doubt he thought it a pity such courage should be spent in the cause of rebellion; but he drew off his men, not suffering that any further harm should be done to those who had shown themselves so worthy of a brave man's respect.

There was not much gained by this romantic little affair, and more than one good cavalier lost his life in the struggle.

On September 17 the King reached Stafford, and met his nephew there, as had been arranged beforehand. Rupert had much to tell his uncle of the various adventures which had befallen him on the way. He had also to showwhich was better still-a great number of new and well-armed soldiers, very different in appearance from the small and dispirited body of men who had followed him from Nottingham.

CHAPTER VI.

WORCESTER AND EDGEHILL.

NEWS reached the royal camp at Stafford, soon after Rupert's arrival there, that Lord Essex, the Lord-General of the rebel army, was marching to take the town of Worcester. Essex was not a foe to be despised. He was a most experienced soldier, and had fought many a battle in his day, before the time of which we are now writing. Only a few years before, the King had given him the command of an army he had sent to punish the discontented Scotch; and at this time, when Charles was about to set up his standard, he had sent to Essex requiring his services. The Earl returned such a cold reply that his royal master was highly offended, and dismissed him from his office of chamberlain.

From henceforward Essex appeared openly on the Parliamentary side, though he was more moderate in his opinions, and more respectful to the King than most of those rebels who were now under his orders. Indeed, many of those who took the part of the Parliament were anxious to make the people believe that it was for the good and safety of Charles they had taken up arms. They said that the King was surrounded by bad

friends, and that they went to war in order to save him out of their hands. And so they always signed his name, as well as that of the Parliament, in all their public orders and proclamations.

It was very important to prevent Essex from getting into Worcester, because the town was just then full of treasure, which secret friends to the King had sent down from London. Sir John Byron held this treasure in charge, but he could not hope to defend it against the enemy without assistance. Rupert, who had already made something of a name for himself, was the man chosen to drive back Essex, and accordingly, with that intention, he set out for Worcester on September 19.

The Prince was all impatience to begin. And he sent an officer on before him, with a challenge to the rebel general, inviting him to a battle, or (if he should like it better) to a single fight with himself. In this letter Rupert wrote:

"I know my cause to be so just that I need not fear; for what I do is agreeable both to the laws of God and man, in the defence of true religion, a king's prerogative, an uncle's right, a kingdom's safety."

Essex was a brave man, and he would have fought with the Prince single-handed, but that a false report reached him, to the effect that Rupert had been severely wounded in a skirmish with some Parliamentary troops on his way to Worcester. This led the Earl to change his mind, and so the intended duel never took place. In reality it was Prince Maurice, Rupert's brother, who had been wounded, and but slightly so: as

for Rupert himself, he pressed on with what haste he could, and soon found himself in the old town of Worcester.

It was easy to see that it was a most unsafe place in which to keep any precious treasure. The walls were in many parts broken down, and the gates old and weak. Sir John Byron and Rupert very soon agreed that it would be far better to leave Worcester and carry off their treasure to Shrewsbury, which was known to be a very loyal town, and stoutly built.

While preparations for this change were being made, the Prince and a few cavaliers went to take a little pleasant rest in the fields outside the town. They knew that Essex and his army were approaching the place, but they believed them to be still a good way off, and so they were not watching very carefully. Prince Maurice was there, and Sir John Byron himself, and Lord Northampton with his troop, all composed of gentlemen; and their resting-place in those "quiet autumn fields was very pleasant to the weary cavaliers.

But in a moment all was changed. Haste, confusion, and excitement took the place of pleasant repose. A strong body of rebels were seen approaching the fields by a narrow lane, at a little distance, and forming into a line as they reached the open ground. In an instant Rupert and his comrades were mounted, and charging headlong at the enemy. They had no armour, and only little in the way of arms, but there was no time for hesitation. Rupert cried aloud" that he would charge," and the next minute this little company of almost unarmed gentlemen were rushing on the

rebels with a speed and force that seemed to sweep everything from their path. "For a kingfor a king!” burst from their lips, as each seized the nearest horse, and dashed after his leader.

The result was a decided and brilliant victory for the Prince-so much so, that the very name of " Rupert's Horse was a word of terror to his foes for long afterwards. The Roundheads (as the rebels were called by the Royalists, from their habit of wearing their hair closely cut) tried bravely at first to stand; but presently, finding themselves fairly ridden down by these Cavaliers at full gallop, they turned and fled swiftly towards the high road. The Lord-General was posted about four miles away, at a place called Pershore; and to him the wretched fugitives made their way, and told their tale of utter rout and defeat. Essex lost a great number of men in this action. Some were drowned in the river that ran close by, some were trampled down by the horses, and not half of the terrified flying multitude escaped with their lives from that terrific charge. Some accounts say there were a thousand rebels present on that occasion, and others say only five hundred; but, whichever may be the true number, it is certain the troop of Cavaliers that routed them was but small in comparison.

An immediate attack from Essex was now no longer to be feared, and the Royalists retired quietly to Shrewsbury, taking their treasure with them. Essex meantime, when they were gone, advanced upon Worcester, and took easy possession of it, for there were neither men nor walls to hinder his entrance. It is related that the