town. Charles was at this time in Perth, and being impatient at
his enforced inaction whilst battles were fought in his name, and
lives lost in his cause, made his escape from the Covenanters,
with the determination of arousing the Royalists who lay in the
north. But the Scots soon overtook and recaptured him. However,
this decisive action awoke them to a better understanding of the
deference due to his position, and therefore they crowned him at
Scone on the first day of the year 1651, with much solemnity, and
subsequently made him commander of the army.

After spending some months in reorganizing the troops, he boldly
declared his intention of marching into England, and fighting the
rebel force. Accordingly, on the 31st of July, 1651, he set out
from Sterling with an army of between eleven and twelve thousand
men. At Carlisle he was proclaimed king, and a declaration was
published in his name, granting free grace and pardon to all his
subjects in England, of whatever nature or cause their offences,
saving Cromwell, Bradshaw and Cooke. He then marched to
Lancashire, and on the 23rd of August unfurled the Royal standard
at Worcester, amidst the enthusiastic acclamations of his troops
and the loyal demonstrations of the citizens. Weary of civil
strife, depressed with fear of Cromwell's severities, and
distrustful of the Presbyterians, who chiefly composed the young
king's army, the Royalists had not gathered to his standard in
such numbers as he had anticipated. His troops, since leaving
Scotland, had been reinforced merely by two thousand men; but
Charles had hopes that fresh recruits would join him when news of
the rising got noised abroad.

The Republicans were filled with dismay at the king's determined