Charles escapes from Hampton Court 1647
Charles' stay at Hampton Court under the guard of Col. Edward Whalley was a relaxed one - he had given his word not to escape. He had plenty of visitors including his children and even Cromwell's family. He had the freedom of the 1500 rooms in the house but he was carefully watched so he could not communicate with his wife Henrietta Maria, now in France.


Charles' children - Elizabeth, James Duke of York and Henry.
Nov 1 John Ashburnham, Sir John Berkeley and other attendants are dismissed from the King's service. Charles had been keeping in touch with the activities of Lilburne and the Agitators. 
Nov 9 A letter arrives from the agitators detailing plans to kill the King. It was signed 'E.R.'
Nov 11 In the evening Charles leaves his greyhound whimpering in his room and walks out of Hampton Court. He is soon joined by Col. William Legge who leads him to Thames Ditton where he meets Ashburnham and Berkeley with horses. They make their way in the rain, getting lost in Windsor forest, to Hampshire arriving at Bishop's Sutton in the morning. 
On hearing that a Parliamentary Committee meeting is taking place there they get fresh horses and move on to the south coast. Charles and Legge stay at Tichfield with the Earl of Southampton while Ashburnham and Berkeley go over to the Isle of Wight to find Col. Hammond.  Charles is inclined to leave the country but Ashburnham persuades him that the Isle of Wight under Col. Robert Hammond is safe.
Nov 12 They are delayed by bad weather but manage to sail across. Berkeley asks Hammond if he knows who is near. Hammond says he does not and Berkeley tells him - 'Even good King Charles, who is come from Hampton Court for feare of being murdered privately.' They decide to all go back to the King. When Ashburnham tells the King that Hammond is here, the King replies  'Oh Jack! thou hast undone me!'
Nov 13 The party crosses to Cowes and on to Carisbrooke Castle. Hammond soon informs the Army that the King is with him. 
 The people on the Isle are friendly towards the King. One woman picks a rose from her garden and puts it in Charles' hand.
While in the Castle Charles still negotiates, not only with the Army but also with Commissioners from Parliament and from Scotland. He likes the Scottish deal - he gives them Presbyterianism for three years and they give him an army. He makes a secret deal known as the Engagement. 

He plays for time but is forced to respond to the Parliamentary Commissioners - he tells them he will not go along with their plans (The Four Bills).

 Nov 28 : Berkeley takes a proposal to the Army Council at Windsor asking that they support the King. Fairfax rejects this.
Mar 20
1648		 Charles decides to leave the country. A boat is waiting for him and Hammond is seeing the Parliamentary Commissioners off - but the wind changes so it cannot sail. Security is tightened and His attendants Ashburnham, Legge and Berkeley are sent away.