pectators of the
ensuing commotions, till the king injudiciously sought here an
asylum.

On the 12th of November, 1647, Charles, who had just fled from
Hampton Court, was met at Tichfield by Colonel Hammond, governor of
the Isle of Wight, who invited him to take up his residence at
Carisbrooke Castle. The offer was accepted, and for some time the
royal guest appeared to be quite free and unrestrained in his
actions and company; but afterwards his liberty was gradually
abridged, his confidential servants removed, and himself imprisoned
within the castle; the various unsuccessful attempts that were made
to effect his escape only serving as a pretext to increase the
rigor of his confinement. Yet during the subsequent negociations of
the Treaty of Newport, he was set at large on his parole,--till a
detachment of the army broke off the negociations by arresting and
conveying him to Hurst Castle; 30 days before he lost his life at
Whitehall.

As its situation preserved it from scenes of hostility between the
troops, the island enjoyed a much happier state than any other part
of the kingdom during the civil war, which caused many families to
retire hither: a circumstance that for the time rose the farm-rents
in the proportion of 20 per cent. The subsequent local history
presents nothing of any interest, with the exception perhaps of the
powerful armaments which assembled in the neighbourhood during the
last French war, and the large bodies of military which were in
consequence here quartered.

The absolute lordship of the Isle of Wight was given by William the
Conqueror to one William Fitz-Osborne (in reward for his services
at the battle of Hastings), "to be held by him as freely as he
himself held the realm of England"; but in consequence of the
defection of his descendant, it was resumed by the Crown. Henry I
granted it to the Earl of Devon, in whose family it long continued,
till the alienation of it was obtained by Edward I, for a
comparatively small sum. The last grant was to Edward de Woodville
in 1485; from which time there have been successively appointed by
the Crown,--wardens, captains--and governors of the island: but the
powers attached to the office have gradually declined, and at
present it is a mere title, unaccompanied by dut