Part 3 (1/2)
His Majesty, understanding by John Penderel, that the Lord Wilmot was at Mr. Whitgreaves, (for John knew not of his remove to Bentley,) was desirous to let my Lord know where he was, and in what security.
To this end John Penderel was sent on Sunday morning to Mosely; But John, finding my Lord remov'd thence, was much troubled, and then acquainted Mr. Whitgreave and Mr. Huddleston, that his Majesty was return'd to Boscobel, and the disaccommodation he had there; whereupon they both resolve to goe with John to Bentley, where having gain'd him an access to my Lord, his Lords.h.i.+p design'd to attend the King that night at Mosely, and desired Mr. Whitgreave to meet his Lords.h.i.+p at a place appointed about 12 of the clock, And Mr. Huddleston to nominate a place where he would attend his Majesty about one of the clock, the same night.
Upon this intelligence my Lord made stay of Mrs. Jane Lanes journey to Bristoll, till his Majesties pleasure were known.
John return'd to Boscobel in the afternoon with intimation of this design'd meeting with my Lord at _Mosely_ that night, and the place which was appointed by Mr. Huddleston, where his Majesty should be expected. But his Majesty, having not recovered his late foot-journey to _Madely_, was not able without a horse, to perform this to _Mosely_, which was about five miles distant from Boscobel, and near the mid from thence to Bentley.
It was therefore concluded that his Majesty should ride upon Humphry Penderels mill-horse (for Humphry was the miller of Whiteladies mill).
The horse was taken up from gra.s.s, and accoutr'd not with rich trappings or furniture, befitting so great a king, but with a pittiful old saddle and a worse bridle.
When his Majesty was ready to take horse, Col. Carlis humbly took leave of him, being so well known in the country, that his attendance upon his Majesty would in all probability have prov'd rather a disservice than otherwise, however his hearty praiers were not wanting for his Majesties preservation.
Thus then his Majesty was mounted, and thus he rode towards Mosely, attended by all the honest brothers, _William_, _John_, _Richard_, _Humphry_, and _George Penderel_, and _Francis Yates_, each of these took a bill or pike staff on his back, and some of them had pistols in their pockets, two march'd before, one on each side his Majesties horse, and two came behind a loof off; their design being this, that in case they should have been question'd or encountr'd but by five or six troopers or such like smal party, they would have shew'd their valor in defending, as well as they had done their fidelity in otherwise serving his Majesty: And though it was near midnight, yet they conducted his Majesty through by-ways, for better security.
After some experience had of the horse, his Majesty complain'd, _It was the heaviest dull jade he ever rode on_, to which (Humphry the owner of him) answer'd (beyond the usual notion of a miller,) _My Leige! Can you blame the horse to goe heavily, when he has the weight of three kingdoms on his back?_
When his Majesty came to _Penford Mill_, within two miles of _Mr.
Whitgreaves_ house, his guides desired him to alight and goe on foot the rest of the way, for more security, the foot way being the more privat and the nearer, and at last they arriv'd at the place appointed by _Mr. Huddleston_, (which was a little grove of trees in a close of _Mr. Whitgreaves_ cal'd the Pit-leasow,) in order to his Majesties being privatly convey'd into _Mr. Whitgreaves_ house; William, Humphry, and George, returned with the horse, the other three attended his Majesty to the house; but his Majesty, being gon a little way, had forgot (it seems) to bid farewel to William and the rest, who were going back, so he cal'd to them and said, _My troubles make me forget myself, I thank you all_, and gave them his hand to kiss.
The Lord Wilmot, in pursuance of his own appointment; came to the meeting place at his hour, where Mr. Whitgreave receiv'd him and conveyd him to his old chamber, but hearing nothing of the King at his prefixed time, gave occasion to suspect some misfortune might have befaln him, though the night was very dark and rainy, which might possibly be the occasion of so long stay; Mr. Whitgreave therefore leaves my Lord in his chamber, and goes to Pit-leasow, where Mr.
Huddleston attended his Majesties coming, and about two hours after the time appointed his Majesty came, whom Mr. Whitgreave and Mr.
Huddleston, convey'd, with much satisfaction into the house to my Lord, who expected him with great solicitude, and presently kneel'd down and embraced his Majesties knees, who kiss'd my Lord on the cheek, and ask'd him earnestly, _what is become of Buckingham, Cleveland, and others_? To which my Lord could give little satisfaction, but hop'd they were safe.
My Lord (addressing himself to Mr. Whitgreave and Mr. Huddleston,) said, _though I have conceal'd my friends name all this while, now I must tell you, this is my master, your master, and the master of us all_; not knowing that they understood it was the King; Whereupon his Majesty was pleased to give his hand to Mr. Whitgreave and Mr.
Huddleston to kiss, and told them he had receiv'd such an account from my Lord Wilmot of their fidelity, that he should never forget it; and presently ask'd Mr. Whitgreave, _where is your secret place?_ which being shew'd his Majesty, he was pleas'd therewith, and returning into my Lords chamber, sate down on the bed-side, where his nose fell a bleeding; and then puld out of his pocket a handkercher, suitable to the rest of his apparel, both course and dirty.
His Majesties attire, as was before observ'd in part, was then a leather-doublet, a pair of green breeches, and a jump-coat (as the country calls it) of the same green, a pair of his own stockens with the tops cut off, because embroider'd, and a pair of stirrop stockens, which were lent him at Madely, a pair of old shoos, cut and slash'd to give ease to his feet, an old grey, greasy hat without a lyning, a noggen s.h.i.+rt, of the coursest linnen, his face and hands made of a reechy complexion, by the help of the walnut tree leaves.
Mr. Huddleston observing the coursness of his Majesties s.h.i.+rt to disease him much and hinder his rest, ask'd my Lord, if the King would be pleased to change his s.h.i.+rt, which his Majesty condescended unto, and presently put off his course s.h.i.+rt and put on a flexen one of Mr.
Huddleston's who pul'd off his Majesties shoos and stockens, and put him on fresh stockens, and dry'd his feet, where he found some body had innocently but indiscreetly put white paper, which, with going on foot from the place where his Majesty alighted to the house, was roll'd between his stockens and his skin, and serv'd to encrease rather than a.s.swage the soarness of his feet.
Mr. Whitgreave had by this time brought up some biscuit and a bottle of sack, his Majesty ate of the one, and drank a good gla.s.s of the other; and, being thus refresh'd, was pleas'd to say cheerfully, _I am now ready for another march; and if it shall please G.o.d once more to place me in the head of but eight or ten thousand good men, of one mind, and resolv'd to fight, I shall not doubt to drive these rogues out of my kingdoms_.
It was now break of the day on Munday morning the eighth of September, and his Majesty was desirous to take some rest: In order whereto a palet was carried into one of the secret places, where his Majesty lay down, but rested not so well as his host desired, for the place was close and inconvenient, and they durst not adventure to put him into any bed in an open chamber.
After some rest taken in the hole, his Majesty got up, and was pleased to take notice of, and salute Mr. Whitgreaves mother, and (having his place of retreat still ready) sate between whiles in a closet over the porch, where he might see those that pa.s.s'd the road by the house.
Before the Lord Wilmot betook himself to his dormitory, he conferr'd with _Mr. Whitgreave_, and advised, that himself or _Mr. Huddleston_ would be alwayes vigilant about the house, and give notice if any souldiers came, and (sayes this n.o.ble Lord) _If it should so fall out that the rebels have intelligence of your harbouring any of the Kings party, and should therefore put you to any torture for confession, be sure you discover me first, which may happily in such case satisfie them, and preserve the King_. This was the expression and care of a loyal subject, worthy eternal memory.
On Munday his Majesty and my Lord resolv'd to dispatch John Penderel to Col. Lane at Bentley, with direction for the Colonel to send my Lords horses for him that night about midnight, and to expect him at the usual place: My Lord accordingly goes to Bentley again that night, to make way for his Majesties reception there, in order to a resolution taken up by his Majesty to go Westward, under the protection of _Mrs.
Jane Lanes_ pa.s.s; it being most probable, that the rebels wholly pursu'd his Majesty Northwards, and would not at all suspect him gone into the West.
This Munday afternoon _Mr. Whitgreave_ had notice that some souldiers were in the neighbourhood intending to apprehend him, upon information that he had been at Worcester fight: The King was then laid down upon Mr. Huddlestons bed, but Mr. Whitgreave presently secures his _Royal Guest_ in the secret place, and my Lord also, leaves open all the chamber dores, and goes boldly down to the souldiers, a.s.suring them (as his neighbours also testified) that he had not been from home in a fortnight then last past; with which a.s.severation the souldiers were satisfied, and came not up stairs at all.
In this interval the rebels had taken a _Cornet_ in _Ches.h.i.+re_, who came in his Majesties troop to Whiteladies, and, either by menaces or some other way, had extorted this confession from him concerning the King, (whom these bloud-hounds sought with all possible diligence) that he came in company with his Majesty to Whiteladies, where the rebels conceived he might still be; whereupon they posted thither without ever drawing bit, almost kill'd their horses, and brought the faint-hearted prisoner with them.
Being come to Whiteladies on Tuesday, they call for _Mr. George Giffard_, who lived in an apartment of the house, present a pistol to his breast, and bad him confesse where the King was, or he should presently dye; Mr. Giffard was too loyal, and too much a gentleman to be frighted into any infidelity, resolutely denies the knowing any more, but that divers cavaliers came thither on Wednesday night, ate up their provision and departed, and that he was as ignorant who they were as whence they came, or whither they went, and beg'd, if he must dye, that they would first give him leave to say a few prayers: One of these villains answered, _If you can tell us no news of the King, you shall say no prayers_: But his discreet answer did somewhat a.s.swage the fury of their leader, yet they searched every corner of the house, broak down much of the wainscoat, and at last beat their intelligencer severely for making them lose their labours.