CHAPTER V.
A MISSION OF STATE.
When Harry rode into Oxford with the news that the Roundheads had made a raid as far as Abingdon, no time was lost in sounding to boot and saddle, and in half an hour the Cavalier horse were trotting briskly in that direction.

They entered Abingdon unopposed, and found to their disgust that the Roundheads had departed an hour after their arrival.

A party went up to Furness Hall, and found it also deserted.

The Roundheads, in fact, had made but a flying raid, had carried off one or two of the leading Royalists in the town, and had, on their retirement, been accompanied by several of the party favorable to the Commons, among others, Master Rippinghall and the greater portion of his men, who had, it was suspected, been already enrolled for the service of the Parliament.

Some of the Royalists would fain have sacked the house of the wool-stapler; but Colonel Furness, who had accompanied the force with his troop, opposed this vehemently.
"As long as we can," he said, "let private houses be respected.