Ovingdean Grange
Ovingdean Grange
THE LIBRARY OF CLASSICAL HISTORICAL FICTION
Blow the dust off the pages of history: The 1873 Press is pleased to bring you thousands of lost treasures from the golden age of historical fiction, from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century.
For as long as novels have been written, readers have thrilled to delve into the past through the pages of fiction. Usually appearing as serials in scores of publications, these tales were the popular entertainment of their time, much as television is today, crafted to lift their audience above their ordinary existence with exotic locales, heroic deeds, and driving narrative. Hundreds of authors, many of them still household names, learned their craft by mixing documented events, period details, and liberal measures of imagination. Napoleon and Josephine, Oliver Cromwell, Robespierre, Dick Turpin (the greatest highwayman of all time) — these and countless others, and the events that they shaped, emerged from history as full-blooded characters in stories of intrigue, crime, passion, and adventure, with motley supporting casts including swashbucklers, cavaliers, courtesans, dutiful servants and dedicated ministers.
Yet for more than a hundred years, most of these volumes have been unavailable - until now. The editors of the 1873 Press have assembled a unique collection, and, utilizing the newest publishing technology, have the privilege of offering these books to modern readers in a variety of printed and electronic formats at prices anyone can afford.
Now you can treasure your own copies of these long-lost works. Join us in relishing the stories of the exciting lives and struggles of famous, infamous, and barely remembered men and women.
Welcome to unforgettable reading.
William Harrison Ainsworth (1805-1882) was among the most popular novelists of the Victorian era. A brilliant student, he intended to join his father's prominent law firm until his ambition turned to publishing and literature — in particular the genre of historical fiction. His first novel, Sir John Chiverton, was published in 1826. After traveling in Europe in 1830, Ainsworth returned to England and began work on Rookwood (1834), based largely on the life of the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin. This "Newgate" novel (referring to the prison) enjoyed extraordinary success and launched the author into London's highest social and literary circles. Strikingly handsome and rather dandified, Ainsworth counted Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, and William Wordsworth among his many friends.
A tireless writer and editor, Ainsworth produced thirty-nine novels, and directed and owned a succession of prominent literary journals, including Bentley's Miscellany, Ainsworth's Magazine, and the New Monthly Magazine. His historical novels, noted for their accuracy and pageantry, were usually first published in serial form, many of them illustrated by George Cruikshank and "Phiz" (Hablot Knight Browne), both outstanding 19th century illustrators. Ainsworth took great care in reproducing historical settings, and his vigorous and pleasing style is punctuated with broad, farcical humor. His works give readers a true taste of the pleasures and conventions of the Victorian novel, and they will reward and satisfy those who seek an intimate look into England's past.
First published serially in Bentley's Miscellany (1859-1860) and afterwards in many editions illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz), this tale of the South Downs is one of a series of novels about the plight of Charles, Prince of Wales, and later Charles II during the Civil War. Ovingdean Grange describes the events that followed the Prince's escape to the South Downs region in the wake of his father's [Charles I] defeat in battle. The novel offers a moving portrait of life in England under the Commonwealth and striking descriptions of the South Down region. The book culminates in an extended account of the fugitive Prince's visit to Ovingdean and ends with an account of his escape by sea from Shoreham to France. A very brief Epilogue (L'Envoy) carries the reader to the Restoration.
Ovingdean Grange
A Tale of the South Downs
William Harrison Ainsworth
Illustrated by Hablot K. Browne
1873 Press
First Published 1859
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by 1873 Press, New York.
1873 Press and colophon are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Book Design by Ericka O'Rourke, Elm Design
www.elmdesign.com
Inscribed
to the
Rev. Alfred Stead
Rector of Ovingdean
by one of his Flock
Contents
BOOK I
JOHN HABERGEON
A View from an Old Barrow on the South Downs
Ovingdean grange in the Year Sixteen Hundred and Fifty-One
Showing What Befel Clavering Maunsel after the Battle of Worcester
BOOK II
INCREASE MICKLEGIFT
Showing that a Chimney may Serve for other Purposes than as a Passage for Smoke
What passed between the Independent Minister and Dulcia in the Churchyard
Some of the Vexations Experienced by a Royalist Gentleman at the Time of the Commonwealth
BOOK III
Hawking on the Downs
The Ostreger and His Son
The Proclamation
The Tartaret and the Heron
Captain Stelfax
BOOK IV
THE SEARCH BY THE IRONSIDES
The Priory Ruins
Mock-Beggar Hall and its Inmate
How Ninian Delivered his Message
In What Manner the Cpatain of the Ironsides Employed his Time at the Grange
Showing How Increase Micklegift did a Good Turn to Clavering
BOOK V
FOX AND WOLF
How Clavering Came Down the Chimney; and How Mickelgift Lent him Aid for the Second Time
How Micklegift was Ignominiously Expelles from the Grange
How the Captain of the Ironsides took Possession of the Colonel's Chamber
Of the Message sent by Micklegift to Stelfax; and of the Plan for Ensnaring the Fugitives Devised by the Latter
How the Captain of the Ironsides Inspected the Village Church, and Made Another Capture
BOOK VI
THE DEVIL'S DYKE
Showing how Ninian escaped; and How the other prisoners were taken to the Church Tower
The Chase of the Cavalier
Of the Guests at the Poynings' Arms
The Legend of the Devil's Dyke. As Related by Master Cisbury Oldfirle, Schoolmaster, of Poynings
How Stelfax took the Cavalier to the Grange; and What Happened by the Way
By What Means the Prisoners Escaped from the Church
BOOK VII
CAPTAIN TATTERSALL OF THE SWIFTSURE
How Sergeant Delves was Reprimanded by his Leader
In What Manner Colonel Gunter was Liberated
The Night Ride to Newhaven— The Brig and the Frigate
The "Star" at Alfriston
How Mr. Beard and Dulcia were taken as Hostages for Colonel Maunsel
The Shepherds on Mount Caburn
What happened at the "Dolphin" at Shoreham
BOOK VIII
CHARLES THE SECOND AT OVINGDEAN GRANGE
The Paper Bullet
A Royal Wandered
An Encounter with the Governor of Arundel Castle
The Blacksmith of Angmering
The Patriarch of the Downs
What happened at the "White Horse" At Steyning
Ditchling Beacon
Of the King's Reception at the Grange
How the King was Shut Up in the Hiding-Place
The Puritan's Daughter
In which the Tables are turned upon Stelfax
BOOK IX
BRIGHTELMSTONE IN 1651
A Glance at Brightelmstone in the Nineteenth Century
The "George" at Brightelmstone
Introducing Two of the Captain Tattersall's Crew
Containing Particulars of the Conflict on Kingston Hill and of the Embarkation at Shoreman
Illustrations
Clavering Setting Out to Join the King
Micklegift and Dulcia
Hawking on the Downs
Mock-beggar Hall
Micklegift has his Mouth Stopped
Sergeant Delves Reprimanded
Charles II at Ovingdean Grange
Book I
John Habergeon
I
A VIEW FROM AN OLD BARROW ON THE SOUTH DOWNS
FAIRER spot than this cannot be found amidst the whole range of the South Downs—nor one commanding more delightful views.
Look at it and judge.
It is the rounded summit of a hill; or, to speak with greater precision, the mid-summit of a series of soft bosomy eminences, springing from a hilly ridge, that trends towards the coast, and rises and falls smoothly and gently in its course, like the waves of a slightly agitated sea. The lovely mount is covered with short elastic sward, redolent of thyme and other sweet-smelling herbs, and is crowned by an ancient bowl-shaped British barrow, on the bank of which we will seat ourselves, and look around.
How pleasing is the prospect! how fresh the air that visits us! No breeze so fine and invigorating as that of these Sussex downs; no turf so springy to the foot as their smooth greensward. A flock of larks flies past us, and a cloud of mingled rooks and starlings wheels overhead. Mark yon little T-shaped cuttings on the slope below us—those are the snares set by the shepherds for the delicious wheatear—our English ortolan. The fairies still haunt this spot, and hold their midnight revels upon it, as yon dark-green rings testify.
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