royalty restored-第7章
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e mill…door； he being in white clothes； it being a very dark night。 He called out sturdily； 'Who goes there？' Upon which Richard Pendrell answered； 'Neighbours going home；' or suchlike words。 Whereupon the miller cried out： 'If you be neighbours； stand； or I will knock you down。' Upon which； we believing there was company in the house； Richard bade me follow him close； and he ran to a gate that went up a dirty lane up a hill。 The miller cried out： 'Roguesrogues！' And thereupon some men came out of the mill after us； which I believe were soldiers； so we fell a…running； both of us up the lane as long as we could run； it being very deep and very dirty； till at last I bade him leap over a hedge； and lie still to hear if anybody followed uswhich we did； and continued lying down upon the ground about half an hour； when； hearing nobody come； we continued our way。〃
This led to the house of an honest gentleman named Woolfe； living at Madeley； who was a Catholic； and loyal to his king； and as such was known to the Pendrells。 When they drew near to his house； Richard； leaving his majesty in a field； went forward and asked this worthy man if he would shelter one who had taken part in the battle of Worcester； whereon he made answer he would not venture his neck for any man unless it were the king himself； upon which Pendrell made known to him it was his majesty who sought refuge from him。 Mr。 Woolfe came out immediately and carried the king by a back way into a barn； where he hid him for the day； it being considered unsafe for him to stay a longer period there； as two companies of militia were at that time stationed in the town； and were very likely to search the house at any minute。 Moreover he advised his majesty by no means to adventure crossing the Severn； as the strictest guard was then kept at the ferries to prevent any Royalist fugitives from escaping into Wales。 The king was therefore obliged to retrace his steps； and now sought Boscobel House； not far distant from his first resting…place of Whiteladies。 Arriving there； he remained secreted in the wood； whilst Richard went to see if soldiers were in occupation of the dwelling。 There was no one there； however； but Colonel Careless； the same good man and true who had helped to keep Sudbury Gate whilst Charles made his escape。
The Colonel had been hiding in the forest； and； being sore pressed by hunger； had come to beg a little bread。 Being informed where the king was； he came forth with great joy； and； the house not being considered a safe refuge； they both climbed into the branches of a leafy oak； situated in an open part of the wood； from whence they could see all round them。 They carried with them some bread and cheese and small beer； and stayed there that day。 〃While we were in the tree；〃 says the king； 〃we saw soldiers going up and down in the thicket of the wood； searching for persons escaped； we seeing them now and then peeping out of the wood。〃 When this danger had passed away； the king； worn out by his sore fatigues； laid his head on his friend's breast and slept in his arms。 At night they descended； and going to Boscobel House； were shown a secret hiding…place； such as were then to be found in the mansions of all Catholic families； called the priests' hole a little confined closet built between two walls； in the principal stack of chimneys； and having a couple of exits for the better escape of those compelled to seek its shelter。 Here the king rested in peace for a day and a night。
Meanwhile Humphrey Pendrell went into Shifnal to pay his taxes； and it being known he had come from Whiteladies； he was questioned closely as to whether he knew aught of Charles Stuart。 On stoutly denying all knowledge of him； he was told that any man who discovered him would gain a thousand pounds； but he that sheltered him would suffer death without mercy； these being the terms of a proclamation just issued。 This the honest miller on his return narrated to the king； swearing roundly he would run all risks for his sake。 It chanced at this time one of the Pendrells heard that my Lord Wilmot who had not been able to make his way to London； was hiding in a very secure place； at the house of a gentleman named Whitegrave； above seven miles distant。 This coming to the king's knowledge； he became anxious to see his faithful friend and hold communication with him。 Accordingly one of the Pendrells was despatched to request Lord Wilmot to meet his majesty that night； in a field close by Mr。 Whitegrave's house。 And the time of night being come； the king was impatient of delay； but his feet were sore from the rough shoes he had worn on his journey； so that he was scarce able to walk； therefore he was mounted on Humphrey's mill…horse； and； the four loyal brothers forming a guard； they directed their way towards Moseley。 The king's eagerness to see Wilmot being great； he complained of the horse's slow pace。 〃Can you blame him； my liege；〃 said Humphrey； who loved a jest； 〃that he goes heavily； having the weight of three kingdoms on his back？〃
When they had travelled with him a great part of the journey it was thought safer three of them should withdraw themselves。 They therefore turned away； but scarcely had they gone when the king； who； being lost in thought； had remained unconscious of their departure； suddenly stopped； and caused John； who remained； to speedily summon them back。 When they returned he gave them his hand to kiss； and； with that charm of manner which never failed in winning friends； said to them sadly； 〃My sorrows make me forget myself。 I earnestly thank you all。〃
They kissed his hand heartily； and prayed God to save him。 In the days of his prosperity he remembered their kindness and rewarded their loyalty。
Arriving at the trysting place the king found Mr。 Whitegrave； a Benedictine monk named Father Huddlestone； Sir John Preston； and his brother awaiting him。 It may be mentioned here this monk was destined； many years later； to play an important part in the closing scene of his majesty's life。 Mr。 Whitegrave conducted Charles with great show of respect to his house； where the king spoke with my Lord Wilmot； feasted well； and rested safe that night。 Next morning the worthy host had private notice given that a company of soldiers were on their way to arrest him as one who had served in the king's army。 He； being innocent of this charge； did not avoid them； but received them boldly at his door； spoke confidently in his own defence； and referred them to the testimony of his neighbours； whereon they departed quietly。
It was feared； however； the house was no longer safe； and that another refuge had best be sought for his majesty。 Therefore； Father Huddlestone informed the king of an honest gentleman； the owner of a fair estate some six miles removed； who was generous and exceedingly beloved； and the eldest justice of peace in the county of Stafford。 This gentleman was named Lane； 〃a very zealous Protestant； yet he lived with so much civility and candour towards the Catholics； that they would all trust him as much as they would any of their own profession。〃 The king； however； not being willing to surprise this worthy man； immediately despatched the Benedictine to make certain of his welcome； receiving due assurances of which he and Lord Willmot set out by night for Master Lane's mansion； where they were heartily received； and where Charles rested some days in blessed security。 Knowing； however； in what risk he placed those who sheltered him； and how vigilant the pursuit after him； he became most anxious for his safe delivery out of the kingdom。 To this end it was desirable he should draw near the west coast； and await an opportunity of sailing from thence for France。
The members of Master Lane's family then living with him consisted of a son and a daughter： the former a man of fearless courage and integrity； the latter a gentlewoman of good wit and discretion； as will be seen hereafter。 Consulting； amongst themselves as to the best means of compassing the king's escape； it was resolved Mistress Lane should visit a kinswoman of hers with whom she had been bred； that had married one Norton； and was now residing within five miles of Bristol。 It was likewise decided she should ride on her journey thence behind the king； he being habited in her father's livery； and acting as her servant； and for greater safety her sister and her sister's husband were to accompany them on the road。 Mistress Jane Lane then procured from a colonel of the rebel army a passport for herself and her servant； her sister and her brother…in…law； to travel without molestation to her cousin Mistress Norton； who was ready to lie in。 With this security Jane set out； her brother bearing them company part of the way； with a hawk upon his fist and two or three spaniels at his heels； which warranted him keeping the king and his friends in sight without seeming to be of their company。
The first day's journey was not accomplished without an exciting incident。 The horse ridden by Mistress Lane and the kingnow bearing the name of William Jacksonlost a shoe； and being come to Bromsgrove； he must dismount and lead the animal to the village blacksmith。
〃As I was holding my horse's foot；〃 said his majesty； when narrating the story to Mr。 Pepys； 〃I asked the smith what news。 He told me that there was no news that he knew of； since the good news of the beating the rogues of the Scots。 I asked him whether there was none of the English taken that joined with the Scots； He answered he did not hear if that rogue； Charles Stuart； were taken； but some of the others； he said； were taken。 I told him that if that rogue were taken； he deserved to be hanged more than all the rest； for bringing in the Scots。 Upon which he said I spoke like an honest man； and so we parted。〃
At the end of the first day's journey they were met by Lord Wilmot at the inn； and he continued to join them wherever they rested at night； without appearing to travel with them by day。 Mistress Lane took all possible care to guard the king against recognition； stating at every house of accommodation where they tarried he was 〃a neighbour's son whom her father had lent her to ride before her in hope that he would the sooner recover from a quartan ague with which he had been miserably afflicted； and was not yet free。 〃Which story served as sufficient excuse for his going to bed betimes； and so avoiding the company of servants。 At the end of three days they arrived at their destination。 Jane Lane was warmly received by her cousin； and the whole party made heartily welcome。 Jane； however； did not entrust her secret to Mistress Norton's keeping； but repeated her tale of the good youth being newly recovered from ague； and desired a chamber might be provided for him； and a good fire made that he might retire early to bed。 Her desires being obeyed； the king withdrew； and was served with an excellent good supper by the butler； a worthy fellow named Pope； who had been a trooper in the army of Charles I。； of blessed memory。
〃The next morning〃 said the king continuing his strange story； 〃I arose pretty early； having a very good stomach； and went to the buttery…hatch to get my breakfast； where I found Pope and two or three other men in the
