AN "ANCIENT MARKET-TOWNE " 185 



up to the entrance of the hall. The Earl was away 

 from home, but the visitors were immediately ad- 

 mitted, and one of them proved to be none other than 

 Charles I. 



The King, it appeared, fearing danger, had secretly 

 left Hampton Court by a back staircase the evening 

 before, and accompanied only by Mr. Ashburnham, 

 Sir John Berkley, and Mr. Legge, had ridden through- 

 out the stormy night as far as the village of Sutton 

 in Hampshire, where at daybreak a relay of horses 

 awaited them. Setting off again immediately, for a 

 Committee of Roundheads was assembled in the very 

 inn at which they alighted, the party proceeded towards 

 the coast, till when near Southampton the King called 

 a halt to consider the situation. It was finally decided 

 that Mr. Ashburnham and Sir John Berkley should 

 take boat for the Isle of Wight, in order to sound 

 Colonel Hammond the Governor, while Charles, ac- 

 companied by Mr. Legge, should proceed to Titchfield, 

 and there await the result of the negotiations. Un- 

 fortunately for the King, his friends performed their 

 mission unskilfully. They agreed to Hammond's 

 " Engagement," that if the King " pleased to put 

 himself into his hands, what he could expect from 

 a person of honour and honestie, His Majesty should 

 have it made good by him," and even allowed the 

 Governor, together with the "Captaine of Cowes 

 Castle and their two servants " to " embarque " with 

 them for the mainland. 



The party landed at the mouth of the river Meon, 

 and passing over a bridge, still known as Hammond's 

 bridge, " we were together," says Ashburnham, " till 

 we came to Titchfield Towne, when I desired to go 

 before to the Lord of Southampton's, and acquaint 



