134 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book IX. 



the Scottish army on the other. These negotiations 

 necessitated the utmost expedition. Hudson seemed 

 to have been here, there, and everywhere at the same 

 moment, so swift were the movements of this famous 

 horseman. But his most arduous duties did not begin 

 until April 27th, 1646, when he took command of the 

 royal fugitive — the whole party consisting of five 

 persons, and subsequently reduced to himself, the 

 king, and Ashburnham — in the flight to the north, 

 which he describes as follows : — 



" Upon Sunday after beinge April 26 at Dinner I came 

 to M"" Ashburnham as soone as he was awake (beinge returned 

 but that Morninge from a Treatie at Woodstocke, being sent 

 thither the Eveninge before with 2. Lords & S'' W" Fleetwood) 

 & he told me the Kinge must goe my way, for they had made 

 tryall of other waies, but nothinge could be effected, & wished 

 me to bringe all things to his Chamber, and thither the Kinge 

 would come about 11. of the Clocke, that night, all which was 

 accordinlie done, & about \2, the Kinge came with the Duke 

 of Richmond, & there M'' Ashburnham cut off his Locke, & 

 some part of his beard.* In the Interim they sent me to call 

 the Governor, who came about two of the Clocke, & the Kinge 

 having acquainted me with his Intentions to goe out of 

 Oxford, the Governor went back for the Keyes, and just as 



* Although it appears the king's barber in ordinary was at Oxford, it 

 seems he was not trusted to assist in disguising Charles prior to his 

 flight : " To Thomas Davyes Esq"' Barber to his Late Ma''° Kinge 

 Charles y' first (of Blessed memory) for severall sumes of money by 

 him disbursed whilest hee attended on his late Ma"' at Oxford and other 

 places in the late warres, for severall necessary provicons by him made 

 for his sayd late Ma'' Tryming and for washing his Tryming Lynnen &= 

 from Michas 1642 to our Lady Day 1646 by vertue of his Ma''" warrant 

 vnder the Signett and Signe Manuall beareing date the xij"" day of August 



c 



1 661 An° RR Caroli Secondi xiij"" vj iiij"."— Audit Office Records, Declared 

 Accounts, bundle 396, roll 81. 



