002 - Chapter 2

Children of the New Forest is a captivating childrens novel published in 1847 by Frederick Marryat, set against the tumultuous backdrop of the English Civil War and the Commonwealth. The story follows the adventurous journey of the four Beverley children, who, after losing their parents to the conflict, find refuge in the enchanting New Forest. As they evade their Roundhead pursuers, the children learn to survive in the wild, honing their skills and adapting to a life far removed from their aristocratic roots. The tale begins in 1647, following the defeat of King Charles I, when Parliamentary soldiers threaten to destroy their home, Arnwood. Believed to have perished in the flames, the siblings—Edward, Humphrey, Alice, and Edith—are saved by the resourceful gamekeeper Jacob Armitage, who shelters them in his secluded cottage, posing as their grandfather. Under his mentorship, the children grow from nobility to skilled foresters. After Armitages passing, Edward steps up as their leader, developing their farmstead with the help of his ambitious younger brother Humphrey and a gypsy boy named Pablo, whom they rescue. The plot thickens with the menacing presence of a Puritan gamekeeper, Corbould, who threatens their safety, while Edward forges a bond with a sympathetic Puritan, Heatherstone, and bravely saves his daughter, Patience, from a fire. As Edward navigates this complex world, he takes on a role as Heatherstones secretary, all while maintaining the facade of being Armitages grandson. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia)