King Charles II: England's Merry Monarch

Summary

An evocative exploration of Stuart resilience, 'King Charles II: England’s Merry Monarch' functions as a historical diptych, juxtaposing the visceral mud of the Battle of Worcester against the gilded redemption of the Restoration. The narrative follows Clavering Maunsel, a scion of loyalty who abandons the pastoral serenity of Ovingdean Grange and the embrace of his beloved Dulcia Beard to champion the Royalist cause. The film meticulously contrasts the ascetic, calculated precision of Cromwell’s Roundheads with the vibrant, if doomed, hedonism of the King’s cavaliers. Following a catastrophic defeat and a harrowing escape involving a perilous sixty-foot descent, Clavering becomes the clandestine guardian of the fugitive King Charles II. Their odyssey through the Sussex landscape—marked by narrow escapes from the relentless Captain Stelfax and a tense sanctuary within Ovingdean’s ancient walls—culminates in a maritime flight to France. The second act shifts from the gloom of Clavering’s subsequent imprisonment to the resplendent return of the monarch in 1660, where personal devotion is finally rewarded in the opulent halls of Whitehall.

Synopsis

The picture opens with an introductory scene in which we first meet Clavering Maunsel, only son of Colonel Maunsel, at their home, "Ovingdean Grange." He is bidding his father good-bye, and riding forth to fight for the king. He takes a last farewell of his sweetheart. Dulcia Beard, the chaplain's daughter, and rides away. The preparations of the rival troops are then shown. Cromwell and the Roundheads take every precaution on the field, while in contrast we have a following scene, showing the Royalists toasting the king. Next follow a number of realistic scenes depicting the final sortie of the Battle of Worcester, in which the Royalists are defeated by the Roundheads, and King Charles is obliged to flee for his life. Clavering Maunsel is wounded and carried home to "Ovingdean Grange" by his faithful servant, John Habergeon. At the Grange an attempt is made by Captain Stelfax, at the head of the Roundhead troops, to make him prisoner. He escapes and succeeds in shooting both of the Roundhead riders. His horse is shot under him at the top of a sixty-foot embankment, and they roll, horse and man, from the top to the bottom. Clavering is now able to make off on foot. He has not gone far when he meets with a party of horsemen whom he recognizes as the king and his friends, Colonel Gunter and Lord Wilmot. The king is on his way to the coast, and readily agrees to Clavering's offer to take shelter at the Grange. They ride over the ancient bridge at Shoreham, and soon arrive at Ovingdean. Here the merry monarch, feeling secure from capture, charms the company with his joviality. Captain Stelfax has been on the watch, however, and having procured troops surrounds the house, and makes a sudden and unexpected entrance to the dining hall. He captures the king, and takes the entire company prisoners. We picture the famous escape from Ovingdean church, and how Clavering and the king succeeded in locking the church door with Stelfax and his men inside. Later we see the dramatic escape from the top of the cliff, when good Nick Tattersal lent his aid, and the king was safely rowed out to the schooner in waiting. A fine picture is presented of the schooner sailing to the friendly shores of France, while from the cliff top Stelfax gazes on the prize he has lost. We come to the restoration of the king in the year 1660. Clavering is still languishing in prison when Charles makes his triumphant procession from Dover to London. Colonel Maunsel and Dulcia join the cheering throng. The girl remembers the king's kindly manner in the days at Ovingdean, and implores him to release her lover, at which the throng cheers and cheers. A well-earned reward. In the palace at Whitehall, surrounded by his magnificent court, the king, in royal fashion, acknowledges his gratitude and unites the lovely Dulcia to her lover, now Sir Clavering Maunsel.