# Of Philip Lisle and His Good Horse Caesar explained — When Charles the First Was King > Chapter companion for When Charles the First Was King by J. S. Fletcher. ## What happens Will Dale spends two afternoons with Rose Lisle, exploring the woods and sharing stories. On the second day, he meets her father, Philip Lisle, who gives them a ride on his horse Caesar and gifts Will a guinea. Later, Jacob Trusty reveals that Philip Lisle is the notorious highwayman Black Phil. Will buries the guinea and a primrose from Rose in a leaden box, keeping his new friends a secret. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Courtship Will and Rose's innocent friendship and the affectionate farewell hint at early romantic bonds. ### Rural Life and Nature The chapter is rich with descriptions of the woods, stream, mill, and farm life, emphasizing the pastoral setting. ### Honor and Enmity Jacob Trusty's discourse on highwaymen contrasts the courtly behavior of Black Phil with the dishonesty of lawyers, reflecting themes of honor and lawlessness. ## Character check-ins ### Will Dale Narrator and protagonist; spends time with Rose Lisle, meets Philip Lisle, and learns of his true identity. ### Rose Lisle Philip Lisle's daughter; befriends Will, shares stories about her father, and gives him a primrose. ### Philip Lisle Rose's father, revealed to be the highwayman Black Phil; gives Will a ride on Caesar and a guinea. ### Jacob Trusty Farmhand who informs Will that Philip Lisle is Black Phil the highwayman. ### Lucy Will's sister; mentioned but does not appear in the chapter. ## Key lines > I am going to find primroses," said Rose, picking up her basket. "I know where they grow," said I. "Come along, and I will show you the best places." Rose announces her plan to gather primroses, and Will offers to guide her to the best spots. _This exchange initiates the children's first adventure together._ > And so we went through the wood, gay as the spring air that breathed upon us, and talking childlike about ourselves and our fathers and of such matters as children best love to dwell on. They walked joyfully through the woods, chatting innocently about their families and childhood interests. _Highlights the idyllic and innocent nature of their friendship._ > But her father, she said, was the most admirable man that ever lived, for he could sing and dance, and play music upon several instruments, and tell stories and legends, so that when he was at home they were as happy as the day is long. Rose described her father as a wonderful man who could sing, dance, play instruments, and tell stories, making their time together very joyful. _Foreshadows the revelation of Philip Lisle's dual identity as a highwayman._ > And now and then he took her with him when the weather was fine, she riding before him on his great horse, and he telling her stories of the fine houses they passed, or the dark woods through which they rode. Occasionally, when the weather was good, he would take her riding on his horse, sharing tales about the places they passed. _Illustrates the close bond between Rose and her father._ > Much did she tell me, too, about her father's horse, which understood him when he talked to it as if it had been a Christian, and would follow him about, and ate bread and sugar out of his hand, and had more than once saved his life, though how she did not know. Rose also spoke at length about her father's horse, which seemed to understand him like a person, followed him, ate from his hand, and had saved his life on multiple occasions. _Introduces Caesar as a remarkable and loyal animal._ > And though I told Jacob Trusty about my tumble from the elm-tree, yet I said nothing either to him or to my sister Lucy about Rose Lisle. Will mentioned his fall from the elm tree to Jacob, but kept his meetings with Rose a secret from both Jacob and Lucy. _Shows Will's desire to keep his new friendship private._ > But I saw that the man was going to leap his horse across the stream, which is there about twenty Will noticed the man preparing to jump his horse over the stream, which was roughly twenty feet wide. _Sets up the dramatic introduction of Philip Lisle._ > And away we went over the ground on Caesar's back at a swift canter, and yet travelling as safely as if we had been in an easy-chair. They rode off at a fast canter on Caesar, feeling as safe and comfortable as if sitting in an armchair. _Emphasizes the smooth and secure ride provided by Caesar._ > She came up to me where I stood silent and sad, and lifted up her little red rosebud of a mouth to kiss me. And, why I know not, I was so moved, that I put my arm about her neck and kissed her again and again, and then turned and cast down my eyes, and, I dare say, blushed as red as any June rose. Rose approached the sad and silent Will and offered a kiss, which moved him to embrace and kiss her repeatedly, then he looked down, blushing deeply. _A tender moment that underscores the emotional bond between the children._ > Jacob, did you ever hear of a man called Philip Lisle?" "Ay, marry," said Jacob, sticking his fork into a great heap of straw, and lifting the latter on his back with a prodigious grunt. "Ay, marry, have I! What, man, and so hast thou. Did I never tell 'ee of Black Phil?" Will asks Jacob if he knows Philip Lisle, and Jacob replies that he does, revealing that Philip is the infamous highwayman Black Phil. _The pivotal revelation that connects Philip Lisle to a life of crime._ > And I felt very sorry for Philip Lisle, and wondered what little Rose would do when they hanged her father, as they would do in the end, because Jacob Trusty said so. Will felt pity for Philip Lisle and worried about Rose's future after her father's inevitable execution, as Jacob had predicted. _Shows Will's empathy and foreshadows the tragic fate of Black Phil._ > So I went into the house, and found a little leaden box which Jacob Trusty had once bestowed upon me, and I wrapped up the guinea within a sheet of paper, inside which I placed a primrose that Rose Lisle had pinned in my coat that afternoon, and I put the paper in the leaden box, and fetched a spade and dug a hole in the corner of my own patch of garden, and buried the leaden box two feet deep, and put stones above and below it, and stamped the earth well in, and so hid out of sight the connecting link 'twixt me and Philip Lisle. Will took a leaden box from Jacob, wrapped the guinea and a primrose from Rose in paper, placed them in the box, and buried it two feet deep in his garden, hiding the evidence of his connection to Philip Lisle. _Symbolizes Will's secret loyalty and the hidden nature of his relationship with the highwayman._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/iv-of-philip-lisle-and-his-good-horse-caesar - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters