Boscobel

After the King had entred Dan. 11. 9. into the Kingdom, and returned to his own land, the 5. brothers attended him at White-hall, on Wednesday the 13. of June 1660. when his Majesty was pleased to own their faithful service, and graciously dismiss'd them with a princely reward.

And soon after Mr. Huddleston and Mr. Whitgreave made their humble addresses to his Majesty, from whom they likewise receiv'd a gracious acknowledgment of their service and fidelity to him at Mosely; and this in so high a degree of gratitude, and with such a condescending frame of spirit, not at all puff'd up with prosperity, as cannot be parallel'd in the best of Kings.

Here let us all with glad and thankful hearts humbly contemplate the admirable Providence of Almighty God, who contriv'd such wonderful wayes, and made use of such mean instruments for preservation of so great a person: Let us delight to reflect minutely on every particular, and especially on such as most approach to miracle; let us sum up the number of those, who were privy to this first part of his Majesties disguise and concealment; Mr. Giffard, the five Penderels, their mother and three of their wives, Col. Carlis, Francis Yates and his wife, some of the inhabitants of Whiteladies, Mr. Woolf, his wife, daughter and maid, Mr. Whitgreave and his mother, Mr. Huddleston, Col. Lane and his sister; and then consider whether it were not indeed a miracle, that so many men, and (which is far more) so many women should faithfully conceal so important and unusual a secret; and this notwithstanding the temptations and promises of reward on the one hand, the danger and menaces of punishment on the other.

To which I shall adde but this one circumstance, that it was concealed by persons, for the most part, of that religion, which has long suffer'd under an imputation (laid on them by some mistaken zelots) of disloyalty to their soveraign.

Dan. 3. 10. And now, on my bended knees, let me joyfully congratulate his restored Majesty, and humbly offer him this short and hearty wish, O King, Live for ever. And not content with my own inconsiderable prayers, with all my soul I beg the universal assistance of others, earnestly inviting all the nation, even all the three nations, to sing

Te Deum Laudamus2 Sam. xix. 14 And he bow'd the hearts of all the people, as the heart of one man; So that they sent this word unto the King, Return thou and all thy servantsFINIS

1

This is not the only account that is published, for we find it related by Bates, in his Elenchues, and by the Earl of Clarendon, whose account he received from the king himself.

2

The original style, &c. being preserved, will account for the very erroneous punctuation, to which it was deemed necessary to adhere.

3

Excommunicated by an ecclesiastical court similar to ours, only more rigid in its effects.

4

D. Parkes, in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1792, p. 893, says there is the following epitaph at White Ladies.

"Here lieththe Bodie of a friendethe King did callDame Joane —but now she isdeceast & gone.Interred anno Do.1669."