they wrote: "The Prince hath deeply vowed that he will come to London, swearing he cares not a pin for all the Roundheads, nor their infant works, and saying he will lay their city and inhabitants on the ground." But the citizens need not have been so frightened, for no such thing occurred, as we shall see.

The Royalists now began to discover how mistaken the King had been in not marching straight to London after the battle of Edgehill. His position at Oxford was uncomfortable and dangerous. While he was debating and considering, Essex had filled all the neighbouring towns with rebel soldiers; and the King, in spite of the brave and constant efforts of his nephew to keep the country clear, soon found himself surrounded by enemies. Uxbridge, Brentford, Windsor, Kingston, and Acton-every one of them important posts were occupied by rebels. The royal party, however, managed to push on as far as Reading. They arrived there without opposition on the 4th of November, and soon afterwards the Parliament sent some gentlemen to the King to try to make peace, for the citizens of London were beginning to get very tired of a war that was destroying the trade of the country.

These gentlemen, who were very kindly received by the King, requested that a place might be fixed on where a committee could meet to settle all the disputed points that had caused the war. Charles named Windsor, and added, that he could also hear what they had to say, at the gates" of London. But these messengers— who, we may believe, were not really very anxious

66

even

for peace-chose to take great offence at the King's reply, and even refused to carry back such a message to the Parliament, which the King sent afterwards by private hand.

While all this was going on, neither party knew whether they were at peace or at war. Essex was obliged to ask the question in the House of Parliament, and the same question was at the same time asked by a member of the King's Council. The consequence was, that by the time it was decided that there should be no more fighting until the King and the Parliament had finished what they had to say, the impatient armies had already engaged in a battle at Brentford.

In fact, the Royalists thought that they could not begin too soon. The King seemed so surrounded by rebel armies that, if possible, it was necessary without delay to drive some of them away. Two of the best regiments belonging to the Parliament were stationed behind some strong barricades near at hand, at Brentford, under the command of Hampden and Holles. Rupert, who was ever foremost in the performance of any dangerous duty, headed the "Prince of Wales's " regiment, and charged into the town. fearful effort to the Royalists, for the chances were all against them, and they lost a great many men in their attempts to break through the barricades. For a moment they were obliged to retire before the murderous fire of their enemies, for the brave horsemen that at first followed the Prince could make no way against heavy barricades. But Rupert's voice was soon heard again cheerily

It was a

urging forward a regiment of Welsh mountaineers. They soon cleared an entrance for their comrades. Climbing upon the barricades, they tore them down with their hands, and then Rupert and his horsemen charged victoriously up the street. The enemy was completely driven out of the town, and the Cavaliers, with their devoted Prince, occupied that night the quarters they had so hardly won.

Brentford was not far from London, and the people in the city were rather frightened when they found a battle had taken place so close to them. They made great preparations to keep off the Royalists, and Charles began to think it would not be so easy to get into London as he had at first supposed. He determined, therefore, to retire to Oxford, and establish himself there as strongly as he could.

Essex meantime appeared before Brentford, and succeeded in driving Rupert and his followers out of it, and it thus fell again into the hands of the rebels. As the Cavaliers passed over the bridge leading out of the town, Rupert sat on horseback in the midst of the river, trying to keep his men steady by his brave encouraging words. All the while he himself presented an easy mark for the bullets of his enemies. He escaped, however, without a wound, and in due time, with his faithful followers, joined the King at Oxford.

CHAPTER VIII.

A DREARY WINTER.

RUPERT found constant employment for himself during the following winter, spent by the King and his Court at Oxford. He could not bear to live a life of ease and pleasure while so many dangers surrounded his beloved uncle and sovereign. He rode all about the country, chasing and harassing by every means in his power the rebel regiments he found in the neighbourhood. He was never idle for a day, and one could never tell where he might be heard of next. Indeed, but for these exertions of his nephew, the poor King would not have been able to supply his soldiers or even his horses with the food needful for their support; for the Parliament had very quietly taken for their own use most of the money which had in former days belonged to the King, and Charles was now a poorer man than many of his own subjects. As it was, however, the Cavaliers were provided with all things necessary during those anxious winter months. 10,0007. was contributed by the people in the town of Oxford alone, and besides that, friends in London sent secretly, and at much risk of being discovered,

all that they could spare for the service of their sovereign.

But it must not be supposed that Oxford was the only place in England which remained loyal in those bad times. On the contrary, all the northern part of the kingdom was true and steady to the royal cause; and Lord Newcastle, a nobleman of great influence in that portion of the country, took great pains to keep the district free from rebels. Most of the people in the West of England were also friendly to the King. It was in the east and south that the greatest numbers of rebels were to be found, and the famous Oliver Cromwell made himself very busy in going through these parts and directing the affairs of the Parliament.

Many of the King's friends urged him at once to leave Oxford, where he was surrounded by so many dangers, and set up his Court at some town in the North of England instead. But the King would not listen to such advice. Oxford had been faithful to him, mined that he would not go away poor people there to their enemies. resolved that he would put on a brave front, and stand fast in the midst of his little circle of friends.

The town of and he deterand leave the No, Charles

It was indeed a dreary winter to the Royalists. Messages about making peace passed continually to and fro between the King and the Parliament, but no good ever came of them, for neither party would grant what the other demanded. Rupert received endless complaints. Every one applied to him to settle their quarrels, or to see justice

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