Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/367

 12 S. III. JULY, 1917.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

361

JUplus.

ROUTE OP CHARLES I. FROM NEWCASTLE TO HOLMBY.

(12 S. iii. 300.)

ITINERARIES of travel deserve to be studied, especially when associated with remarkable or distinguished people. There is great reason for MR. TAYLOR'S question, because historians have neglected this incident in the history of Charles I. Had Macaulay dealt with the subject, one can picture what a wealth of allusion lie would have brought to bear upon such a journey.

There are at least * three contemporary accounts of this progress, not in detail, but at any rate giving the names of places where Charles stayed. The principal of these is

the

" Iter Carolinum : being a succinct relation of the necessitated marches, retreats, and suffer- ings of His Majesty Charles the first from January 10, 1641, till the time of his death. Collected by a daily attendant upon his Sacred Majesty during the said time [Thomas Manley]."

This tract is found in the Somers Collection, vol. v. The route given by this authority is as follows :

Feb.

3. From Newcastle to Durham. 1 night.

4. Thence to Aukland [Bishop Auckland].

1 night.

5. Richmond. 1 night.

6. Rippon [sic]. 2 nights.

8. Wakefield. 1 night,

9. Rotherham. 1 night.

10. Mansfield. 1 night.

11. Nottingham. 1 night.

12. Leicester. 1 night.

13. Holdenby.

The next contemporary authority is found in a pamphlet in the Thomason Collection (B.M.) :

" The Kings Maiesties letter intercepted by the Commissioners attending his Majesty. . . .and Mr. Mungo Murrey apprehended, who was ap- pointed by the King to deliver it to Montrel, the French Embassador, who is going over to the Queen to France [&c.]. London, 1647."

At the end of the letter is :

A list of the Jests, and severall places appointed for His Majesties quarters each day be- twixt Newcastle, and Holmby House. Wednesday Feb. 3. his Majesty went from New- castle to Durham. Thursday Feb. 4. his Majesty passed to Bishop

Aukland. Friday Feb. 5. his Maj. was to passe to Richmond.

Saturday Feb. 6. his Maj. was to passe to Repton.

Sunday Feb. 7. his Majesty was to stay at Repton all that day.

Munday Feb. 8. his Maj. was to passe to Leeds.

Tuesday Feb. 9. his Maj. was to passe to Wakefield.

Wednesday Feb. 10. his Maj. is to passe to Rothram.

Thursday Feb. 11. his Majestic is to passe to Masfield.

Friday Feb. 12. his Majestic is to passe to Notting- ham.

Saturday Feb. 13. his Maj. is to passe to Leicester.

Sunday Feb. 14. his Majestic is to stay all that day at Leicester.

Munday Feb. 15. his Majesty is to go to Holmby House.

The third account may be found in another pamphlet in the Thomason Collec- tion :

" Papers of the Kings Majesties Answer to the Propositions ; Concerning the setting of the Church. .. .and other Passages of note from Newcastle, And the Kings Majesties severall Jests." London, 1647.

On p. 7 we read :

" The King is now 011 his way toward Holmby, His Maiesty lay Wednesday Feb. 3 at Durham, at Auklaud Feb. 4, at Richmond the 5, at Rippon the 6 and 7, at Leedes the 8, at Wakefield the 9, at Rothram the 10, at Masfield the 11, at Notting- ham the 12, at Leicester the 13, and 14.... [Signed] your affectionate Servant,

" T. PITSON."

There is no doubt, therefore, as to the route taken by Charles. Whitelock and Thurloe, the chief authorities for the period, say very little in detail as to the journey ; and modern historians do not appear to have troubled to enlarge upon it. It could not be regarded as a triumphal progress. It was the beginning of the end, and a month or so after the journey was taken Cornet Joyce arrived at Holmby and took Charles more or less into custody.

I now add a few notes as comments upon the journey.

Three thousand pounds were voted by Parliament to defray the charges of the King's journey to Holmby (Whitelock, p. 237).

The Parliamentary Commissioners who accompanied Charles were attended by " nine hundred horse " (Whitelock, p. 237).

While in Newcastle the King resided in Pilgrim Street, in the centre of the town. ' The Kings Answer to the Commissioners ; Concerning, His Majesties coming from Newcastle on Wednesday towards Holmby,' &c., London, 1647, has on p. 4 :

' His Majesty quarters at Mr. Liddels house in Pilgrim-street, but our quarters are in St. Johns Parish."