Woodstock (novel)
| Company type | Historical novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1826 |
| Founder | Sir Walter Scott |
| Products | Novel |
Woodstock, or The Cavalier. A Tale of the Year Sixteen Hundred and Fifty-one (1826) is a historical fiction work by Sir Walter Scott, forming part of the Waverley novels series. Set in the aftermath of the English Civil War, the story incorporates the legend of the Good Devil of Woodstock, said in 1649 to have plagued parliamentary commissioners occupying a royal residence at Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The plot traces Charles II's flight in 1652 during the Commonwealth period and his victorious return to London in 1660.
Composition and sources
Scott commenced writing Woodstock in late October 1825, initially making swift progress but encountering some delays; he completed the second volume by 11 February 1826 and finished the final volume by 26 March.
For historical background, Scott extensively consulted David Hume's History of England (1754–62), complemented by his broad familiarity with seventeenth-century literature. The supernatural episodes at Woodstock Manor were inspired by narratives found in Satan's Invisible World Discovered by George Sinclair (1685) and Saducismus Triumphatus by Joseph Glanvil (1700). Additionally, he referred to a more skeptical account from The Natural History of Oxford-shire authored by Robert Plot (1677).
Editions
The initial edition appeared anonymously on 28 April 1826, published in Edinburgh by Archibald Constable and Co. and simultaneously in London by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, priced at one and a half guineas (£1 11s 6d). Scott revisited the novel in spring 1831 to revise the text and include an introduction and annotations for the 'Magnum' edition, which was issued as Volumes 39 and 40 in August and September 1832.
The authoritative modern edition, edited by Tony Inglis alongside J. H. Alexander, David Hewitt, and Alison Lumsden, was released as Volume 19 of the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels in 2009. This version is based on the first edition with corrections drawn from manuscripts and proofs; materials from the 'Magnum' edition are incorporated into Volume 25b (2012).
Plot summary
During a thanksgiving service at Woodstock church celebrating victory at Worcester (3 September 1651), Reverend Nehemiah Holdenough was compelled to relinquish the pulpit—previously held from the deceased rector Dr Rochecliffe—to Joseph Tomkins. Clad in military uniform, Tomkins condemned monarchy and prelacy while announcing that Cromwell and his supporters had seized control of the royal lodge and park. At the lodge itself, Sir Henry Lee prepared to relinquish his charge alongside his daughter Alice. The forester Joliffe covertly delivered supplies to his hut where Sir Henry and Alice planned to rest for the night. There they encountered Colonel Everard, a Roundhead who offered protection; although Sir Henry rejected him as a traitor, he bade farewell at Alice’s request. On his journey, Everard met Royalist Captain Wildrake whom he sheltered despite their political opposition and tasked him with petitioning Cromwell for reinstatement at Woodstock. Disguised as a Roundhead, Wildrake obtained Cromwell’s consent on condition that Everard would assist in apprehending the murdered king’s son if he sought refuge with the Lees.
Armed with an eviction order, Everard and Wildrake confronted the Commissioners during their evening revelry alongside the mayor and minister to investigate strange occurrences. Everard heard a voice within a shadowy gallery and sensed a sword pressed to his throat. Reuniting with Wildrake, they returned to find Dr Rochecliffe conducting service for Sir Henry and Alice. Following reconciliation between uncle and nephew, Alice cautioned Everard against betraying the king. Unexplained phenomena persisted; an apparition commanded Everard to change quarters. Sentinels reported eerie noises prompting Commissioners to withdraw to the village inn. Holdenough admitted being startled by a mirror image resembling a drowned college friend.
The following day Sir Henry resumed his duties; his son Albert arrived accompanied by "Louis Kerneguy," presented as his Scottish page but actually Charles in disguise. Sir Henry treated him with coldness; while Rochecliffe and Everard devised plans for Charles’s escape to Holland, Charles sought Alice’s affection but was rejected despite revealing his true identity. A dispute between Charles and Everard nearly escalated into a duel but was prevented by Alice risking herself. Tomkins attempted to harm Phoebe but was fatally struck down by Joliffe. The next evening Everard, Wildrake, and Holdenough were captured by Cromwell who aimed to uncover knowledge regarding the king’s presence at Woodstock. Wildrake sent a warning through his page Spitfire; Alice guided Charles while Albert concealed himself in Rosamond’s tower dressed in Charles’s clothing. Cromwell’s forces arrived with Rochecliffe and Joliffe—who had been arrested while burying Tomkins—but failed to locate Charles before detonating the tower. Albert escaped prior to the explosion; Cromwell ordered execution of Sir Henry and his supporters but later released all except Albert, who was imprisoned and died at the battle of Dunkirk (1658). Alice safely returned bearing news of the king’s escape along with a letter sanctioning her marriage to Everard whose political stance had evolved.
Eight years later Wildrake brought tidings to Charles in Brussels that following Richard Cromwell's abdication, the Protectorate collapsed into disorder. Stability was restored when George Monck marched into London compelling the Rump Parliament to reinstate excluded members. The Long Parliament dissolved itself; subsequent elections resulted in the Convention Parliament voting for Charles's restoration. During Charles’s procession to London he greeted a family including Sir Henry Lee who soon died contentedly having witnessed his long-cherished hopes fulfilled.
Characters
Key figures are highlighted in bold
- Sir Henry Lee, of Ditchley, custodian of Woodstock Park
- Albert Lee, his son and a Royalist colonel
- Alice Lee, his daughter
- Dr Anthony Rochecliffe, former rector of Woodstock
- Rev Nehemiah Holdenough, a Presbyterian clergyman
- Colonel Markham Everard, a Roundhead and Sir Henry’s nephew
- Joceline Joliffe, Royalist forester and servant to Sir Henry
- Phoebe Mayflower, his beloved
- Council of State Commissioners
- Colonel Desborough
- General Harrison
- Joshua Bletson
- Joseph Tomkins, steward to the Commissioners
- Captain Roger Wildrake, from Squattlesea-mere
- Spitfire, his pageboy
- Oliver Cromwell
- Zerobabel Robins, soldier under Parliament (also spelled Zerubbabel in certain editions)
- Captain Pearson, aide to Robins
- Louis Kerneguy, a page who is the future Charles II of England
- Bevis, a wolf-dog companion
Chapter summary
Volume One
Preface: The author compiles memoirs derived from the papers of the [fictional] 17th-century Woodstock rector, Rev. J. A. Rochecliffe, D.D.
Ch. 1: Joseph Tomkins, an Independent, replaces Presbyterian minister Nehemiah Holdenough at Woodstock parish church; Joliffe disrupts Tomkins’ service with jeers.
Ch. 2: Within the park, Tomkins overhears Sir Henry Lee and his daughter Alice debating their conflicting loyalties; Sir Henry submits to Tomkins acting as steward for Parliamentary Commissioners; the Lees take refuge in Joliffe’s hut.
Ch. 3: On their way to the Lodge, Tomkins and Joliffe exchange sharp words; Joliffe dispatches Phoebe Mayflower with refreshments.
Ch. 4: Markham Everard offers assistance to Sir Henry and Alice but is turned down.
Ch. 5: Markham meets Roger Wildrake; Tomkins reluctantly consents to shelter them overnight.
Ch. 6: Markham sends a letter to Cromwell via Wildrake requesting that Woodstock be spared from confiscation.
Ch. 7: Wildrake interviews Cromwell at Windsor Castle.
Ch. 8: Wildrake obtains an order granting the Lodge to Markham and delivers it at Woodstock.
Ch. 9: While traveling to the Lodge, Markham, Wildrake, Woodstock’s Mayor, and Holdenough discuss the order and rumors of supernatural occurrences.
Ch. 10: The Commissioners Desborough, Harrison, and Bletson are introduced.
Ch. 11: The Commissioners and Markham converse about strange happenings; Markham perceives two warning voices and sustains a minor injury.
Volume Two
Ch. 1 (12): At Joliffe’s hut, Markham reassures Sir Henry and Alice of his honorable intentions.
Ch. 2 (13): Wildrake informs Markham that Cromwell suspects the Lodge is a trap for the fugitive King; Wildrake confronts a deranged Harrison before Markham intervenes.
Ch. 3 (14): After hearing warning voices, Markham fires at two shadowy figures but fails to hit them.
Ch. 4 (15): Under Cromwell’s directive, the Commissioners reluctantly vacate the Lodge.
Ch. 5 (16): Holdenough believes he has seen the spirit of Albany—a former fellow student turned priest who was killed due to his own actions; Markham convinces him to assist the Lees if necessary.
Ch. 6 (17): Sir Henry spars verbally with Tomkins and celebrates with Joliffe; Alice encounters Charles disguised who drops a ring into her cup.
Ch. 7 (18): Albert Lee arrives unexpectedly and narrowly avoids harm from his father’s anger.
Ch. 8 (19): Albert reports Charles’s escape following the Battle of Worcester; he introduces Louis Kerneguy [Charles in disguise], who is mocked by a drunken Wildrake.
Ch. 9 (20): Private conversation between Charles and Albert ensues.
Ch.10 (21): Dr Rochecliffe advises Albert that the Lodge remains a safe haven for Charles; Alice praises the King’s qualities while Louis listens.
Ch.11 (22): Louis defends Charles’s conduct before evading Sir Henry’s Shakespeare recital and ceasing pursuit of Alice.
Ch.12 (23): Phoebe warns Markham about Louis’s intentions toward Alice; Louis fights Markham who mistakes him for Lord Wilmot due to a ring he wears.
Volume Three
Ch.1 (24): Sir Henry breaks up Louis and Markham’s fight and debates Milton with Markham.
Ch.2 (25): Alice refuses Louis even after he reveals himself as Charles.
Ch.3 (26): Wildrake delivers Markham’s challenge for a duel to Louis; Rochecliffe and Alice plan to prevent it.
Ch.4 (27): At the duel site Alice struggles to explain why Louis must be protected; Charles discloses his identity; Markham promises limited assistance constrained by Commonwealth obligations.
Ch.5 (28): Phoebe repels Tomkins’s advances near Rosamond’s Well; Joliffe kills Tomkins thereafter.
Ch.6 (29): Cromwell arrives at Woodstock; survives an attack by Wildrake; arrests Markham while searching for Charles; Wildrake sends page Spitfire to alert Alice.
Ch.7 (30): Albert prepares Charles for departure at the Lodge; Joliffe and Rochecliffe bury Tomkins after Bevis brings his glove as evidence.
Ch.8 (31): Spitfire delivers Wildrake’s feather; Charles reveals himself to Sir Henry as departure plans progress; Sir Henry and Albert arrange tactics to delay pursuers.
Ch.9 (32): Cromwell discovers Joliffe and Rochecliffe burying Tomkins; hesitates but continues on Captain Pearson’s urging; enters Lodge via petard and interrogates Sir Henry while searching its labyrinthine interior.
Ch.10 (33): Cromwell oversees an assault on a turret from which Albert impersonating Charles makes his escape jump.
Ch.11 (34): Albert is unmasked and condemned alongside other captives; Captain Pearson hesitates before executing orders for their deaths.
Ch.12 (35): While awaiting execution Rochecliffe confesses to Holdforth that he is Albany from Ch.16.
Ch.13 (36): Encouraged by soldier Zerobabel Robins, Cromwell pardons prisoners individually; Sir Henry receives Charles’s letter blessing union between Alice and Markham.
Ch.14 (37) [Final chapter set in 1660]: Wildrake informs Charles in Brussels about political developments enabling the Restoration; on journey to London he passes Lee-Everard family estate and receives Sir Henry’s blessing shortly before the elder man dies.
Reception
Critics typically ranked Woodstock as a mid-level entry within the Waverley series, with a mix of favorable reviews and notable criticisms. The storyline was frequently described as somewhat insubstantial, characterized by a repetitive sequence of deceptions involving the Commissioners. Nevertheless, several figures—especially Cromwell, Charles, Lee, Alice, and Wildrake—received commendation for their vivid and compelling characterizations. Although some reviewers challenged the historical accuracy and emotional tone of Cromwell’s portrayal, it was commonly viewed as impactful. Assessments diverged regarding Scott's neutrality as an author. The Westminster Review particularly highlighted concerns about the novel’s historical authenticity and inconsistencies in the style of character dialogues.
Cultural references
In Two Years Before the Mast, the narrator mentions reading Woodstock aloud to his shipmates.