royalty restored-第7部分

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nd　a　Papist；　had　sheltered　him　in　Boscobel　House；　not　far　distant　from　where　they　then　rode。　　Hearing　this；　the　king　resolved　to　trust　this　same　faithful　fellow；　and　for　the　present　seek　such　refuge　as　Pendrell　could　afford。　　It　was　not　easy；　however；　for　his　majesty　to　escape　the　Scots；　but　when　night　came；　he　and　his　gentlemen　slipped　away　from　the　high　road；　which　the　others　continued　to　pursue；　and　made　for　Boscobel　Wood；　led　by　Charles　Giffard；　a　loyal　gentleman　and　true。　　The　house　they　sought　was　situated　between　Tong　Castle　and　Brewood；　in　a　woody　place　most　fitting　for　retreat；　it　was；　moreover；　six　and　twenty　miles　from　Worcester；　and　stood　in　Shropshire；　on　the　borders　of　Staffordshire。

In　order　to　gain　this　haven　of　rest；　it　was　necessary　for　them　to　pass　through　Stourbridge；　where　a　troop　of　the　Republican　army　lay　quartered。　　Midnight　had　fallen　ere　they　reached　the　town；　which　was　now　wrapt　in　darkness；　and　was；　moreover；　perfectly　still。　　The　king　and　his　friends；　dismounting；　led　their　horses　through　the　echoing　streets　as　softly　as　possible；　being　filled　the　while　with　dire　apprehensions。　　Safely　leaving　it；　they　rode　into　the　wood　until　they　came　to　the　old　convent　of　Whiteladies；　once　the　home　of　Cistercian　nuns；　who　had　long　since　been　driven　from　their　peaceful　retreat。　　The　house　was　now　the　habitation　of　the　Giffard　family；　with　whom　George　Pendrell　lived　as　servant。　On　being　aroused；　he　came　forth　with　a　lantern；　and　admitted　them；　when　Charles　Giffard　made　known　to　him　in　whose　presence　he　stood；　and　acquainted　him　with　their　situation。　　Thereupon　the　honest　fellow　promised　to　serve　the　king　faithfully；　and　sent　immediately　for　his　brothers　four：　　William；　who　took　charge　of　Boscobel　House；　not　far　removed；　Humphrey；　who　was　miller　at　Whiteladies；　Richard；　who　lived　at　Hobbal　Grange；　and　John；　who　was　a　woodman；　and　dwelt　hard　by。　　When　they　had　all　arrived；　Lord　Derby　showed　them　the　king's　majesty；　and　besought　them　for　God's　sake；　for　their　loyalty's　sake；　and　as　they　valued　all　that　was　high　and　sacred；　to　keep　him　safe；　and　forthwith　seek　some　place　of　decent　shelter　where　he　might　securely　lurk。　　This　they　readily　swore　to　compass；　though　they　risked　their　lives　in　the　attempt。

It　being　considered　that　greater　safety　lay　in　the　king　being　unattended；　his　loyal　friends　departed　from　him　with　many　prayers　and　hopes　for　a　joyful　reunion：　　all　of　them　save　my　Lords　Wilmot　and　Buckingham　set　out　to　join　Leslie's　company；　that　they　might　proceed　together　towards　Scotland；　but　they　had　not　marched　six　miles　in　company　with　the　Scots　when　these　three　thousand　men　and　more　were　overtaken　and　were　routed　by　a　single　troop　of　the　enemy's　horse；　and　my　Lord　Derby；　being　taken；　was　condemned　and　executed。　　Lords　Wilmot　and　Buckingham　set　out　for　London；　to　which　place　it　was　agreed　the　king　should　follow　them。

When　his　majesty's　friends　had　departed；　the　Pendrells　undertook　to　disguise　him；　towards　which　end　one　of　them　cut　the　long　locks　reaching　his　shoulders；　another　rubbed　his　hands　and　face　with　dust；　and　a　third　brought　him　a　suit　of　clothes。　　〃The　habit　of　the　king；〃　says　Pepys；　〃was　a　very　greasy　old　grey　steeple…　crowned　hat；　with　the　brims　turned　up；　without　lining　or　hatband；　the　sweat　appearing　two　inches　deep　through　it　round　the　band　place；　a　green　cloth　jump…coat；　threadbare；　even　to　the　threads　being　worn　white；　and　breeches　of　the　same；　with　long　knees　down　to　the　garter；　with　an　old　sweaty　leathern　doublet；　a　pair　of　white　flannel　stockings　next　to　his　legs；　and　upon　them　a　pair　of　old　green　yarn　stockings；　all　worn　and　darned　at　the　knees；　with　their　feet　cut　off：　　his　shoes　were　old；　all　slashed　for　the　ease　of　his　feet；　with　little　rolls　of　paper　between　his　toes　to　keep　them　from　galling；　and　an　old　coarse　shirt；　patched　both　at　the　neck　and　hands；　of　that　very　coarse　sort　which　go　by　the　name　of　nogging　shirts。〃

When　Charles　was　attired　in　this　fashion；　Richard　Pendrell　opened　a　back　door　and　led　him　out　into　the　wood；　not　a　moment　too　soon；　for　within　half　an　hour　Colonel　Ashenhurst；　with　a　company　of　Cromwell's　soldiers；　rode　up　to　Whiteladies；　rushed　into　the　house；　searched　every　chamber　and　secret　place；　pulled　down　the　wainscoting；　and　otherwise　devastated　the　mansion　in　the　search　for　the　king。　　A　damp　cold　September　morning　now　lengthened　to　a　day　of　gloom　and　depression。　　Rain　fell　in　heavy　torrents；　dripped　from　the　leafless　branches　of　trees；　and　saturated　the　thick　undergrowth　and　shrubs　where　his　majesty　lay　hidden。　　Owing　to　the　condition　of　the　weather；　the　soldiers　neglected　to　search　Boscobel　Wood；　and；　after　uttering　many　threats　and　imprecations；　withdrew　from　Whiteladies。　　When　he　considered　himself　quite　alone；　Richard　Pendrell　ventured　forth；　taking　with　him　a　billhook；　that　if　observed　he　might　seem　engaged　in　trimming　hedges；　and　drawing　near　the　spot　where　his　majesty　lay；　assured　him　of　his　safety。　　Later　on　he　besought　an　old　woman；　his　neighbour；　to　take　victuals　into　the　wood　to　a　labourer　she　would　find　there。　　Without　hesitation　the　good　woman　carried　some　eggs；　bread；　butter；　and　milk　towards　the　spot　indicated　to　her。　　On　seeing　her　the　king　was　much　alarmed　fearing　recognition　and　dreading　her　garrulity；　wherefore　he　said　to　her：　　〃Can　you　be　true　to　anyone　who　hath　served　the　king？〃　　Upon　which　she　readily　made　answer：　　〃Yes；　sir；　I'd　die　sooner　than　betray　you。〃　　Being　reassured　at　this；　he　ate　heartily。

When　night　fell；　Richard　brought　him　into　the　house　again；　and　the　king；　now　abandoning　his　intention　of　proceeding　to　London；　expressed　his　anxiety　to　reach　Wales　where　he　had　many　friends；　and　which　afforded　him　ready　opportunities　of　escaping　from　the　kingdom。　　Pendrell　expressed　himself　willing　to　conduct　him　thither。　　Accordingly；　about　nine　of　the　clock；　they　set　out　with　the　determination　of　crossing　the　Severn；　intending　to　pass　over　a　ferry　between　Bridgenorth　and　Shrewsbury。　　When　they　had　walked　some　hours　they　drew　near　a　water…mill。　　〃We　could　see　the　miller；〃　said　the　king　in　relating　the　story；　〃as　I　believe；　sitting　at　the　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　s