Crime & punishment > Peveril of the peak, or, The days of Charles II

PEVERIL OF THE PEAK.
Jet I.
groaned beneath the yoke of their new masters; and,
on the restoration of our monarch, they burst my:
bonds.
Jul. And Christian—This decided act drew, as I;
hear, displeasure from the king.
Cottn. The king was new in the royal chair; and,!
fearing less to wrong his friends than to offend his-
enemies, issued a disgraceful warrant for my appre-'i
hension, induced, I doubt not, by his Grace of Buck-;
ingham, who thirsted for our power and estates. I
flew for shelter to your father’s house, who preserv¬
ing me from the fury of one Bridgenorth,—a rela-f
tion of the traitor Christian. The king was pleased :
at length to mitigate my persecution to the payment'
of a heavy fine.
Jul. An ill reward for your distinguished service. ';
Cmin. My rewards end not here:—Some plot,i
real or fictitious, has been discovered among those of
our persuasion ; and our friend at court has kindly j
added the name of Derby to the list of the conspira-:'
tors. My son, indignant at the accusation, resolves
to visit London, and, as a peer of England, demand ;
justice for the insult thrown upon his house by base •
and perjured witnesses. Alas ! when once they havet
him in the toils, he will but share his noble father’s;
fate.
Jul. Madam, your fears are just Your enemies ,
are powerful; and, with the rumours here of insur- :
rection, your son must not be absent. Let me then1
go ; and trust your Julian’s duty and affection.
Coun. Know you the risk ?
Jul. Shall I think of risk when your fortunes are
in danger ?
Coun. Brave boy I I have not firmness to refuse
your offer:—But yet conceal your purpose from my
son. This night Fcnella shall conduct you, by a se¬
cret outlet of the Castle, to a boat which shall at-