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