Thomas Blount

“ We are presented with a picture of the sufferings of one, by lineal descent born to be the governor of a kingdom, reduced to the alternative of either suffering on a scaffold, or quitting the kingdom in habits of disguise. ”

“ Here his Majesty gave an incomparable example of valor to the rest, by charging in person, which the Highlanders, especially imitated in a great measure, fighting with the but-ends of their muskets, when their ammunition was spent; but new supplies of rebels being continually poured upon them, and the Scotch horse not coming up in due time from the town to his Majesties relief, his army was forced to retreat in at Sudbury gate in much disorder. ”

“ 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 ”

“ By this time Cromwell was got to an advantageous post at Perry wood within a mile of the city, swelling with pride and confident in the numbers of his men; but Duke Hamilton (formerly Lord Lanerick,) with his own troop and some Highlanders, Sir Alexander Forbus with his regiment of foot, and divers English lords and gentlemen voluntiers, by his Majesties command and encouragement, engaged him, and did great execution upon his best men, forced the great sultan (as the Rhodians in like case did the Turk) to retreat with his Janizaries, and were once masters of his great guns. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 asswage the soarness of his feet. ”

“ Lane and his sister, the rebels had an intimation that some of the brothers were instrumental in his Majesties preservation; so that besides the temptations Humphry overcame at Shefnal, William Penderel was twice questioned at Shrewsbury on the same account by Capt. Fox and one LLuellin a sequestrator, and Richard was much threatned by a peevish neighbour at Whiteladies; but neither threats nor temptations were able to batter the fort of their loyalties. ”

“ After a tedious march, his Majesty with his army arriv'd at Worcester on the 22. of August, (being near three hundred miles from S. Johnstons in Scotland,) having left the Earl of Darby in Lancashire, as well to settle that and the adjacent counties in a posture of defence, against Cromwell and his confederates; as to raise some auxiliary forces to recruit his Majesties army, in case the successe of a battle should not prove so happy as all good men desired. ”

“ It is well known that he wishes to add India to his possessions, and in the present disaffected state, nothing is more favourable to his designs; as they would immediately flock to a leader, who would hold out universal tolerance of religion; which has always been his maxim where he has extended his arms. ”

“ When men are enthusiastically partial to an opinion, they are so zealous in its cause they will die in its support. How many people have suffered on this account, in all classes of religious opinions, in different nations? ”

“ Th' Earl of Cleveland, Sir James Hamilton, Col. William Carlis (then Major to the Lord Talbot) Capt. Tho. Hornyold, Capt. Tho. Giffard, and Capt. Richard Kemble, (Captain Lieutenant to the Lord Talbot) rallied what force they could (though inconsiderable to the Rebels numbers,) and charg'd the enemy very gallantly at Sudbury gate and in the street of that name: Here Sir James and Capt. Kemble were desperately wounded, and others slain; yet this action did much secure his Majesties march out at S. Martins gate, who had otherwise been in danger of being taken in the town. ”

“ 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 ”

“ In which conflict the Lord Widdrington, Sir Thomas Tildesley, Colonel Trollop, Lieutenant Colonel Galliard, (faithful subjects and valiant souldiers) with some others of good note, were slain, Col. Roscarrock wounded, Sir William Throckmorton, Sir Timothy Fetherstonhaugh, (who was afterwards beheaded by the rebels,) Colonel Baines and others taken prisoners, and their General the Earl of Derby forced to fly to save his life; In which flight be made a sad choice of the way towards Worcester, whither he knew his Majesties army was design'd to march. ”

“ The same spirit of innovation is too prevalent in the present day: the principles they profess are at variance with the prosperity and happiness of the country. They have made their way into our possessions in the East Indies ”

“ 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 grass, and accoutr'd not with rich trappings or furniture, befitting so great a king, but with a pittiful old saddle and a worse bridle. ”

“ 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 ”

“ Mr. John Huddleston is a younger brother of the renowned family of the house of Hutton-John in the county of Cumberland, and was a gentleman voluntier in his late Majesties service, first under Sir John Preston the elder, till Sir John was render'd unserviceable by the desperate wounds he received, and after under Colonel Ralph Pudsey at Newark.
His Majesty being safely convey'd to Bentley by Col. Lane, staid there but a short time, took the opportunity of Mris. Janes pass, and rode before her to Bristow, the Lord Wilmot attending, for the most part at a distance. In all which journey Mris. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 Lordship design'd to attend the King that night at Mosely, and desired Mr. Whitgreave to meet his Lordship 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. ”

“ From the organization of their native laws, they are particularly tenacious of their theological principles; according to which a man had better die than be a sceptic; for on embracing any other faith, he must first lose his cast ”

“ 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. ”

“ These Penderels were of honest parentage, but mean degree, six brothers born at Hobbal Grange in the parish of Tong, and county of Salop, William, John, Richard, Humphry, Thomas, and George; John, Thomas and George were soldiers in the first war for his late Majesty, Thomas was slain at Stow fight, William, as you have heard, was a servant at Boscobel, Humphry a miller, and Richard rented a part of Hobbal Grange. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 pass; 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. ”