1646-05-04: CHARLES 1st IN SECRET HIDEOUT IN STAMFORD

From "The Stamford Mystery", February 1647

Left: Charles I in better days, before the English Civil War

The "Stamford Mystery" can now reveal exclusively that the controversial King Charles I, on the run from the siege of Oxford last May, actually stayed at a humble merchant's address in the east of the town, and not at a supporter's house in Barn Hill, as was reported at the time.

The failed monarch, who weaseled his way out of Oxford through Parliamentarian lines disguised as a servant called "Harry", was on his way to Southwell, near Newark, where he arrived on 8th May last year to strike a desperate deal with the Scots for his story. Charles was no doubt helped along the way by supporters of his long-time ally, Lord Montagu Willoughby de Eresby, (38), 2nd Earl of Lindsey, on whose father, Lord Robert Bertie, he conferred the original Lindsey title on his coronation in 1626. The father was killed in an earlier battle four years ago.

To avoid both the Parliamentarians and our reporters, instead of taking the obvious option to seek shelter at Willoughby's pile at Grimsthorpe, the wily King avoided his captors by staying in Stamford on the night of 4th May last year. His alleged host Richard Wolph (58), of 9 Barn Hill, known to have Royalist ambitions, told "The Mystery" at the time that his leader enjoyed his hospitality at this time of need.

Right: Stukeley House, a Georgian redevelopment built on the site of 9 Barn Hill, where Wolph claims to have accommodated King Charles I on his final night of freedom last May.


Our investigations have led us to another residence entirely, a humble merchant's house in the Blackfriars area, where the scurrilous monarch is said to have eaten, drunk and been merry the night before his bid for freedom and riches. A manservant of this establishment, on behalf of his master, a Mr Cave, said only:

'No comment - Verily he doth wish to keep his Head'

Neither would the lackey confirm whether his master was in Lord Willoughby's pay. Mr Cave was charged and convicted of harbouring an enemy of the State, and was never heard of again, in spite of our best endeavours to secure an interview with him.

The "Mystery" has it on good authority that the Scots army, encamped at Newark, was successful in a £400,000 deal to give Charles up to the Parliamentarians.

Charles, having been tried for "notorious Treasons, Tyrannys and Murders", and executed on 30 January this year at Newcastle upon Tyne, was unavailable for comment.

Wolph's publicity stunt was so effective that hundreds of years later, the Stamford authorities saw fit to publish a permanent record of his claim:



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Author's note: The only fictitious element is the manservant's comment. The remainder comes from secondary sources, mainly Wikipedia.


(c) Janette Clare, 2010