Boscobel

Here his Majesty made a stand, and consulted with the Duke, Earl of Derby, Lord Wilmot, &c. whether he might march at least to take some hours rest; The Earl of Derby told his Majesty, that in his flight from Wiggan to Worcester, he had met with a perfect honest man, and a great convenience of concealment at Boscobel house (before mentioned,) but withall acquainted the king, it was a recusants house. And it was suggested, that those people (being accustomed to persecution and searches) were most like to have the readiest means and safest contrivances to preserve him; His Majesty therefore resolv'd to goe thither.

The Lord Talbot being made acquainted with his Majesties resolution, and finding Walker dubious of the way, called for Mr. Charles Giffard, (a faithful subject, and of the noble family of Chillington) to conduct his Majesty towards Boscobel, which office Mr. Giffard willingly undertook, having one Yates a servant with him, very expert in the wayes of that countrey; and being come neer Sturbridge, it was under consideration whether his Majesty should march through that town or no, and resolved in the affirmative, and that all about his person should speak French, to prevent any discovery of his Majesties presence.

Mean time Lesley, with the Scottish horse, had, in the close of the evening, taken the more direct way Northward by Newport, his Majesty being left only attended by the Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Derby, Earl of Lauderdail, Lord Talbot, Lord Wilmot, Colonel Thomas Blague, Colonel Edward Roscarrock, Mr. Marmaduke Darcy, Mr. Richard Lane, Mr. William Armorer, (since Knighted) Mr. Hugh May, Mr. Charles Giffard, Mr. Peter Street, and some others, in all about sixty horse.

At a house about a mile beyond Sturbridge, his Majesty drank and eat a crust of bread, the house affording no better provision; and as his Majesty rode on, he discoursed with Col. Roscarrock touching Boscobel-house, and the security which the Earl of Darby and he found at that place.

Upon further consideration by his Majesty and council, and to the end the company might not know whither his Majesty directly intended, Mr. Giffard was required to conduct his Majesty to some house neere Boscobel, the better to blind the design of going thither: Mr. Giffard proposed Whiteladies (another seat of the Giffards) lying about half a mile beyond Boscobel, and 26. miles from Worcester, and still retains its ancient name of Whiteladies, from its having formerly been a monastery of Cistertian nuns, whose habit was of that colour.

His Majesty and his retinue (being safely conducted to Whiteladies by Mr. Giffard) alighted, now, as they hop'd out of danger of any present surprise by pursuit; George Pendrel (who was a servant in the house) opened the Dores, and after his Majesty and the Lords were entered the house, his Majesties horse was brought into the hall, and by this time it was about break of day on Thursday morning: Here every one was in a sad consult how to escape the fury of bloud-thirsty enemies, but the greatest solicitude was to save the king, who was both hungry and tired with this long and hasty march.

Col. Roscarrock presently caused Barthol. Martin (a boy in the house) to be sent to Boscobel for William Penderel, and Mr. Charles Giffard sent also for Richard Penderel, who lived near hand at Hobbal Grange, they both came forthwith to Whiteladies, and were brought into the parlour to the Earl of Derby, who immediately took them into the inner parlour, where the king was, and told William Penderel in particular, This is the king (pointing at his Majesty), thou must have a care of him, and preserve him as thou didst me; to which commands William yielded ready obedience, and Mr. Giffard did also much conjure Richard to have an especial care of his charge.

Whilst William and Richard were thus sent for, his Majesty had been advised to rub his hands on the back of the chimney, and with them his face, in order to a disguise, and some person had cut off his locks of hair: His Majesty, having put off his blue ribband, buff-coat, and other princely ornaments, put on a noggen course shirt of Edward Martins, who lived in the house, and Richard Penderels green suit, and leather doublet, but had not time to be so exactly disguised as he was afterwards; for both William and Richard Penderel did advertise the company to make haste away, in regard there was a troop of rebels commanded by Colonel Ashenhurst, quartered at Cotsal, but three miles distant; some of which troop came to the house within half an hour after the company were gone.

Richard Penderel conducted the king out at a back dore, unknown to most of the company, (except some of the Lords and Colonel Roscarrock, who waited on his Majesty into the backside, and there with sad hearts took leave of him) and carried him into an adjacent wood belonging to Boscobel, call'd Spring Coppice, about half a mile from Whiteladies; William, Humphrey and George scouting abroad, and bringing what news they could learn to his Majesty in the wood, as occasion required.

His Majesty being thus, as they hoped, in a way of security, the Duke, Earl of Derby, Earl of Lauderdail, Lord Talbot and the rest (having for their guide Mr. Charles Giffard, and being then not above 40. horse, of which number his Majesties pad-nag was one, rode by Mr. Richard Lane, one of the groom's of his Majesties bed-chamber) march'd from Whiteladies Northward by the way of Newport, in hope to overtake or meet General Lesley with the main body of Scotch horse.

As soon as they were got into the road, the Lord Leviston (who commanded his Majesties life guard) overtook them, pursued by a party of rebels, the Lords with their followers faced about and repeld them; but when they came a little beyond Newport, some of Lilburn's men met them in the front, other rebels from Worcester pursued them in the rear, themselves and horses being sufficiently tired, the Earl of Derby, Earl of Lauderdail, Mr. Charles Giffard and some others, were taken and carried prisoners, first to Whitchurch, and from thence to an inn in Bunbury, where Mr. Giffard found means to make an escape; but the noble Earl of Derby was carried to Westchester, and there tryed by a pretended court martial, held the first of October 1651. by vertue of a commission from Cromwell, grounded on an execrable rumpact, of the 12. of August then last past, the very title whereof cannot be mentioned without horror, but it pretended most traiterously to prohibit correspondence with Charles Stuart (their lawful soveraign) under penalty of high treason, loss of life and estate– Prodigious Rebels!

In this black tribunal there sate, as judges, these persons, and under these titles:

Col. Humphry Mackworth (who was plac'd in the Sella Curulis) PresidentMajor General MittonCol. Robert DuckenfieldCol. Henry BradshawCol. Thomas CroxtonCol. George TwisletonLieu. Col. Henry BirkinheadLieu. Col. Simon FinchLieu. Col. Alex. NewtonCapt. James StepfordCapt. Samuel SmithCapt. John DownesCapt. Vincent CorbetCapt. John DelvesCapt. John GriffithCapt. Tho. PortingtonCapt. Edward AlcockCapt. Ralph PownallCapt. Richard GranthamCapt. Edward Stelfax

This was the authority, and some of these the persons that condemned this noble Earl to death, notwithstanding his just plea, That he had quarter given him by one Captain Edge, who took him prisoner. But this could not obtain justice, nor any intercession, mercy; so that on the 15. of October, he was executed at Boulton in Lancashire, in a most barbarous and inhumane manner.

The Earl of Lauderdail with divers others were carryed prisoners to Windsor castle, where they continued many years.

Whilst the rebels were plundring these noble persons, the Duke, with the Lord Levistan, Col. Blague, Mr. Marmaduke Darcy, and Mr. Hugh May, forsook the road, and betook themselves to a by-way and got into Chessardine woods, not far from Newport, where they receiv'd some refreshment at a little obscure house, and afterwards met with two honest laborers in an adjoining wood, to whom they communicated the exigent and distresse which the fortune of war had reduc'd them to, and finding them like to prove faithful, the duke thought fit to imitate his royal master, quitted his horse, delivered his George (which was given him by the Queen of England) to Mr. May (who preserved it through all difficulties, and after restor'd it to his Grace in Holland) and chang'd habit with one of the workmen; and in this disguise was convey'd by one Nich. Mathews a carpenter, to the house of Mr. Hawley an hearty cavalier at Bilstrop in Nottinghamshire, from thence to the Lady Villiers house at Brooksby in Leicestershire, and, after many hardships and encounters, his Grace got secure to London, and from thence to his Majesty in France.

At the same time the Lord Leviston, Col. Blague, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. May, all quitted their horses, severally shifted for themselves, and most of them, through various dangers and sufferings, contriv'd their escapes; In particular Mr. May lay 21. days in a hay-mow belonging to one Bold an honest husbandman, who liv'd neer Chessardine; Bold having all that time rebel-souldiers quartered in his house, yet faild not to give a constant relief to his more welcom guest, and when the coast was clear of souldiers, Mr. May came to London on foot in a disguise.

The Lord Talbot, (seeing no hope of rallying,) hasted towards his fathers house at Longford neer Newport, where being arriv'd, he convey'd his horse into a neighbours barn, but was immediately pursued by the rebels, who found the horse saddled, and by that concluded my Lord to be not far off, so that they search'd Langford house narrowly, and some of them continued in it four or five dayes; during all which time my Lord was in a close place in one of the outhouses, almost stifl'd for want of air, and had infallibly perish'd for want of food, had he not been once relieved in the dead of night, and with much difficulty by a servant; yet his Lordship thought it a great providence, even by these hardships, to escape the fury of such enemies, who sought the destruction of the nobility, as well as of their king.

In this interim the valiant Earl of Cleveland, (who being above 60. years of age, had marched 21. days together upon a trotting horse) had also made his escape from Worcester, when all the fighting work was over, and was got to Woodcot in Shropshire, whither he was pursued, and taken at one Miss Broughtons house.

The Scotch cavalry (having no place to retreat unto neerer then Scotland,) were soon after totally dispersed, and most of them taken by the rebels and country people in Cheshire, Lancashire, and parts adjacent.

Thus was this royal army totally subdued, thus dispersed; and if in this so important affair any of the Scottish commanders were treacherous at Worcester, (as some suspected) they have a great account to make for the many years miseries that ensued thereby to both nations, under the tyrannical government of Cromwell.

But to return to the duty of my attendance on his Sacred Majesty in Spring Coppice; by that time Richard Penderel had conveyed him into the obscurest part of it, it was about sun-rising on Thursday morning, and the heavens wept bitterly at these calamities; insomuch as the thickest tree in the wood was not able to keep his Majesty dry, nor was there any thing for him to sit on; Wherefore Richard went to Francis Yates house, (a trusty neighbour, who married his wifes sister,) where he borrowed a blanket, which he folded and laid on the ground for his Majesty to sit on.

At the same time Richard spoke to the goodwife Yates, to provide some victuals, and bring it into the wood at a place he appointed her, she presently made ready a mess of milk and some butter and eggs, and brought them to his Majesty in the wood; who being a little surpriz'd to see the woman (no good concealer of a secret,) said cheerfully to her; Good woman, can you be faithfull to a distressed cavalier? She answered, Yes, sir, I will dye rather than discover you; with which answer his Majesty was well satisfied.

The Lord Wilmot in the interim took John Penderel for his guide, but knew not determinately whither to goe, purposing at first to have march'd Northwards, but as they passed by Brewood forge, the forgemen made after them, till being told by one Richard Dutton, that it was Col. Crompton whom they pursued, the Vulcans happily, upon that mistake, quitted the chase.

Soon after they narrowly escaped a party of rebels as they passed by Coven-brook; so that seeing danger on every side, and John meeting with William Walker (a trusty neighbour,) committed my Lord to his care and council, who for present conveyed them into a dry marl-pit (where they staid awhile,) and afterward to one Mr. Huntbaches house at Brinsford, and put their horses into John Evans barn, whilst John Penderel goes to Wolverhampton to see what convenience he could find for my Lords coming thither, but met with none, the town being full of souldiers.

Yet John leaves no means unessayed, hastens to Northcot, (an adjacent village) and there, whilst he was talking with Goodwife Underhill (a neighbour,) in the instant Mr. John Huddleston (a sojourner at Mr. Thomas Whitgreaves of Moseley, and of Johns acquaintance) was accidently passing by, to whom John (well assured of his integrity,) presently addresses himself and his business, relates to him the sad news of the defeat of his Majesties army at Worcester, and discovers in what straits and confusion he had left his Majesty and his followers at Whiteladies, and in particular that he had brought thence a person of quality, (for John then knew not who my Lord was) to Huntbaches house, who, without present relief, would be in great danger of being taken.

Mr. Huddleston goes home forthwith, takes John with him and acquaints Mr. Whitgreave with the businesse, who freely resolved to venture all, rather than such a person should miscarry.

Hereupon Mr. Whitgreave repaires to Huntbaches house, speaks with my Lord, and gives direction how he should be privately convey'd into his house at Mosely about ten of the clock at night; and, though it so fell out that the directions were not punctually observ'd, yet my Lord and his man were at last brought into the house, where Mr. Whitgreave, (after some refreshment given them) conveys them into a secret place, which my Lord admiring for its excellent contrivance, and solicitous for his Majesties safety, said, I would give a world my friend (meaning the king) were here; and then deposited in Mr. Whitgreaves custody a little bag of jewels, which my Lord received again at his departure.

As soon as it was day Mr. Whitgreave sent William Walker with my Lords horses to his neighbour Col. John Lane of Bentley near Walsal, South-East from Mosely about four miles, (whom Mr. Whitgreave knew to be a right honest gentleman, and ready to contribute any assistance to so charitable a work) and wished Walker to acquaint the Colonel, that they were the horses of some eminent person about the king, whom he could better secure than his horses: The Col. willingly receives the horses, and sends word to Mr. Whitgreave to meet him that night in a close not far from Mosely, in order to the tender of farther service to the owner of the horses, whose name neither the Colonel nor Mr. Whitgreave then knew.

On Thursday night, when it grew dark, his Majesty resolv'd to go from those parts into Wales, and to take Richard Penderel with him for his guide; but, before they began their journey, his Majesty went into Richards house at Hobbal Grange, where the old goodwife Penderel had not onely the honour to see his Majesty, but to see him attended by her son Richard: Here his Majesty had time and means better to complete his disguise; his name was agreed to be Wil. Jones, and his arms a wood bill: In this posture about nine a clock at night (after some refreshment taken in the house) his Majesty, with his trusty servant Richard, began their journey on foot, resolving to go that night to Madeley in Shropshire, about five miles from Whiteladies, and within a mile of the river Severn, over which their way lay for Wales; in this village lived one Mr. Woolf, an honest gentleman of Richards acquaintance.

His Majesty had not been long gon, but the Lord Wilmot sent John Penderel from Mr. Whitegreaves to Whiteladies, to know in what security the king was, John returned and acquainted my Lord that his Majesty was marched from thence; Hereupon my Lord began to consider which way himself should remove with safety.

Col. Lane, having secured my Lords horses, and being come to Mosely according to appointment on Friday night, was brought up to my Lord by Mr. Whitgreave, and (after mutual salutation) acquainted him, that his sister Mrs. Jane Lane had by accident procured a pass from some commander of the rebels, for her self and a man to goe to Bristol to see her sister, then near her time of lying in; and freely offer'd, if his Lordship thought fit, he might make use of it, which my Lord seem'd inclinable to accept; and on Saturday night was conducted by Col. Lanes man (himself not being well) to the Col. house at Bentley, his Lordship then and not before discovering his name to Mr. Whitgreave, and giving him many thanks for so great a kindnesse in so imminent a danger.

Before his Majesty came to Madely, he met with an il-favoured encounter at Evelin Mill being about 2. miles from thence; The miller (it seems) was an honest man, but his Majesty and Richard knew it not, and had then in his house some considerable persons of his Majesties army, who took shelter there in their flight from Worcester, and had not been long in the mill, so that the miller was upon his watch, and Richard, unhappily permitting a gate to clap, through which they passed, gave occasion to the miller to come out of the mill and boldly ask who is there? Richard, thinking the miller had pursued them, quitted the usuall way in some haste, and led his Majesty over a little brook, which they were forced to wade through, and which contributed much towards the surbating and galling his Majesties feet. Here his Majesty (as he afterwards pleasantly observed) was in some danger of losing his guide, but that the rustling of Richards calves-skin breeches was the best direction his Majesty had to follow him in that dark night.

His Majesty arrived at Madely about midnight, Richard goes to Mr. Woolfs house, where they were all in bed, knocks them up and acquaints Mr. Woolfs daughter, (who came to the dore) that the king was there, who presently received him into the house, where his Majesty refreshed himself for some time; but, understanding that the rebels kept several guards upon Seavern, and it being fear'd that some of their party (of which many frequently passed through the town,) might quarter at the house (as had often hapned,) it was apprehended unsafe for his Majesty to lodge in the house (which afforded no secret place for concealment,) but rather to retire into a barn near adjoining, as less liable to the danger of a surprise, whither his Majesty went accordingly, and continued there all the day following, his servant Richard attending him.

During his Majesties stay in the barn, Mr. Woolf had often conference with him about his intended journey, and in order thereto took care by a trusty servant (sent abroad for that purpose,) to inform himself more particularly of those guards upon Seavern, and had certain word brought him, that not only the bridges were secured, but all the passage-boats seized on; insomuch as he conceived it very hazardous for his Majesty to prosecute his design for Wales, but rather to go to Boscobel-house, being the most retired place for concealment in all the country, and to stay there till an opportunity of a further safe conveyance could be found out; which advice his Majesty inclined to approve: And thereupon resolv'd for Boscobel the night following; in the mean time his hands not appearing sufficiently discoloured, suitable to his other disguise, Mrs. Woolf provided walnut-tree leaves, as the readiest expedient for that purpose.

The day being over, his Majesty adventured to come again into the house, where having for some time refreshed himself, and being furnished with conveniences for his journey, (which was conceived to be safer on foot than by horse) he with his faithful guide Richard about eleven of the clock at night, set forth towards Boscobel.

About three of the clock on Saturday morning, being come near the house, Richard left his Majesty in the wood, whilst he went in to see if no souldiers were there or other danger; where he found Col. William Carlis, (who had seen, not the last man born, but the last man kild, at Worcester, and) who, having with much difficulty, made his escape from thence; was got into his own neighbor-hood, and, for some time concealing himself in Boscobel wood, was come that morning to the house to get some relief of William Penderel, his old acquaintance.

Richard having acquainted the Col. that the king was in the wood, the Col. with William and Richard goe presently thither to give their attendance, where they found his Majesty sitting on the root of a tree, who was glad to see the Col. and came with them into the house, and did there eat bread and cheese heartily, and (as an extraordinary) William Penderels wife made his Majesty a posset, of thin milk and small beer, and got ready some warm water to wash his feet, not onely extreme dirty, but much galled with travail.

The Col. pull'd off his Majesties shoos, which were full of gravel, and stockens which were very wet, and there being no other shoos in the house that would fit his Majesty, the good wife put some hot embers in those to dry them, whilst his Majesties feet were washing and his stockens shifted.

Being thus a little refreshed, the Col. perswaded his Majesty to go back into the wood (supposing it safer then the house,) where the Colonel made choice of a thick leafed oak, into which William and Richard help'd both the King and the Col. and brought them such provision as they could get, with a cushion for his Majesty to sit on; In this oak they continued most part of that day, and the Col. humbly desired his Majesty (who had taken little or no rest the two preceding nights,) to seat himself as easily as he could in the tree, and rest his head on the Colonels lap, who was watchfull that his Majesty might not fall; and in this posture his Majesty slumber'd away some part of the day, and bore all these hardships and afflictions with incomparable patience.

In the evening they returned to the house, where William Penderel acquainted his Majesty with the secret place, wherein the Earl of Derby had been secured, which his Majesty liked so well, that he resolved, whilst he staid there to trust onely to that, and go no more into the royal oake, as from hence it must be cal'd, where he could not so much as sit at ease.

His Majesty now, esteeming himself in some better security, permitted William Penderel to shave him, and cut the hair of his head, as short at top as the scissars would do it, but leaving some about the ears, according to the country mode; Col. Carlis attending, told his Majesty, Will was but a mean barber; To which his Majesty answered, He had never been shav'd by any barber before: The King bade William burn the hair which he cut off, but Will, was only disobedient in that, for he kept a good part of it, wherewith he has since pleasur'd some persons of honor, and is kept as a civil relique.

Humphry Penderel was this Saturday design'd to goe to Shefnal, to pay some taxes to one Captain Broadway; At whose house he met with a Colonel of the rebels, who was newly come from Worcester in pursuit of the King, and who being inform'd the King had been at Whiteladies, and that Humphry was a near neighbor to the place, examin'd him strictly, and laid before him as well the penalty for concealing the King, which was death without mercy; as the reward for discovering him, which should be one thousand pounds certain pay, but neither fear of punishment, nor hope of reward, was able to tempt Humphry into any disloyalty; He pleaded ignorance and was dismiss'd; and on Saturday night related to his Majesty and the loial Colonel at Boscobel, what had pass'd betwixt him and the rebel Colonel at Shefnal.