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 secure place, at the
house of a gentleman named Whitegrave, above seven miles distant.
This coming to the king's knowledge, he became anxious to see his
faithful friend and hold communication with him. Accordingly one
of the Pendrells was despatched to request Lord Wilmot to meet