lomatist who valued his own interests.
Toddington Place, therefore, was _not_ explored.

[Footnote 1: Vide King _Monmouth_.]

[Illustration: MOYLES COURT, HAMPSHIRE]

[Illustration: TODDINGTON MANOR HOUSE, BEDFORDSHIRE, IN 1806 (FROM
AN OLD DRAWING)]

Few hiding-places are associated with so tragic a story as that
at Moyles Court, Hants, where the venerable Lady Alice Lisle,
in pure charity, hid two partisans of Monmouth, John Hickes and
Richard Nelthorpe, after the battle of Sedgemoor, for which humane
action she was condemned to be burned alive by Judge Jeffreys--a
sentence commuted afterwards to beheading. It is difficult to
associate this peaceful old Jacobean mansion, and the simple
tomb in the churchyard hard by, with so terrible a history. A
dark hole in the wall of the kitchen is traditionally said to be
the place of concealment of the fugitives, who threw themselves
on Lady Alice's mercy; but a dungeon-like cellar not unlike that
represented in E. M. Ward's well-known picture looks a much more
likely place.

It was in an underground vault at Lady Place, Hurley, the old
seat of the Lovelaces, that secret conferences were held by the
adherents of the Prince of Orange. Three years after the execution
of the Duke of Monmouth, his boon companion and supporter, John,
third Lord Lovelace, organised treasonable meetings in this tomb-like
chamber. Tradition asserts that certain important documents in
favour of the Revolution were actually signed in the Hurley vault.
Be this as it may, King William III. failed not, in after years,
when visiting his former secret agent, to inspect the subterranean
apartment with very tender regard.

CHAPTER IX

JAMES II.'S ESCAPES

We have spoken of the old houses associated with Charles II.'s
escapes, let us see what history has to record of his unpopular
brother James. The Stuarts seem to have been doomed, at one time
or another, to evade their enemies by secret flight, and in some
measure this may account for the romance always surrounding that
ill-fated line of kings and queens.

James V. of Scotland was wont to amuse himself by donning a disguise,
but his successors appear to have been doomed by fate to follow
his example, not for recreation, but to preserve their lives.

Mary, Queen of Scots, upon one occasion had to impersonate a
laundress. Her grandson and great-grandson both were forced to
masquerade as servants, and her great-great-grandson Prince James
Fre