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Charles Stuart, of song and legend, subsequently the “Merry Monarch,”
King Charles Second, is perhaps the most romantic figure in English
history. Much has been said of him; little good, much evil; but at
all events whatever his shortcomings and capitulations to the flesh,
it cannot but be conceded that he is the focussing point for all the
speculation and cogitation of the romanticist. He gave to history a
chapter of sovereignty replete with debauchery and misrule. But there
was occasional worthy reading between the lines; reading that conveyed
friendship, faith, and loyalty.

The incidents of the following narrative, “Patricia at the Inn,”
purport to deal with Charles Stuart’s adventures immediately subsequent
to the historical battle of Worcester. It will be remembered that
following the execution of the ill-fated Charles the First, the
Prince of Wales was crowned by the Scottish people at Scone, January
1, 1651. Oliver Cromwell was not to be declared Lord Protector of
the Commonwealth until almost two years later, but already he had
stamped his inexorable will upon the nation. Prince Charlie backed by
twenty thousand men marched upon Stirling, determined to enforce the
sovereignty of the Stuart dynasty and by right of blood and sword to
teach this upstart man of the people that sovereigns were born, not
made, and that the memory of the “martyred king” should be vindicated
in the person of the surviving Stuart. However, the redoubtable
Cromwell wasted no time on vow-making, but with his usual energy
placed himself in the rear of the Royalist army and cut it off from
communication with Scotland. Prince Charlie was thus compelled to
continue his march on England. He got as far as Worcester, where the
mayor and certain unclassibles crowned him King Charles the Second.
But on the same day Cromwell appeared for the coronation festivities
and a memorable battle ensued, lasting five hours. The Scots were
decisively routed. Prince Charlie escaped, and after experiencing many
vicissitudes and amazing adventures, extending over a period of some
six weeks, finally succeeded in being smuggled aboard a waiting vessel
and so won safely away to Normandy.

It was this period of outlawry, during which a price was set on the
royal head of Charles Stuart and he was being hunted like a dangerous
criminal, that Mr. Snaith has employed as the basic theme on which to
graft a romance. In the main the narrative offers a striking instance
of the predominant trait of the Stuart character--the sovereignty of
the flesh to the exclusion of all else, even personal safety.
***
Фергюссон.