The Col. pull'd off his Majesties shoos, which were full of gravel, and stockens which were very wet, and there being no other shoos in the house that would fit his Majesty, the good wife put some hot embers in those to dry them, whilst his Majesties feet were washing and his stockens shifted.
Being thus a little refreshed, the Col. perswaded his Majesty to go back into the wood (supposing it safer then the house,) where the Colonel made choice of a thick leafed oak, into which William and Richard help'd both the King and the Col. and brought them such provision as they could get, with a cushion for his Majesty to sit on; In this oak they continued most part of that day, and the Col. humbly desired his Majesty (who had taken little or no rest the two preceding nights,) to seat himself as easily as he could in the tree, and rest his head on the Colonels lap, who was watchfull that his Majesty might not fall; and in this posture his Majesty slumber'd away some part of the day, and bore all these hardships and afflictions with incomparable patience.
In the evening they returned to the house, where William Penderel acquainted his Majesty with the secret place, wherein the Earl of Derby had been secured, which his Majesty liked so well, that he resolved, whilst he staid there to trust onely to that, and go no more into the royal oake, as from hence it must be cal'd, where he could not so much as sit at ease.
His Majesty now, esteeming himself in some better security, permitted William Penderel to shave him, and cut the hair of his head, as short at top as the scissars would do it, but leaving some about the ears, according to the country mode; Col. Carlis attending, told his Majesty, Will was but a mean barber; To which his Majesty answered, He had never been shav'd by any barber before: The King bade William burn the hair which he cut off, but Will, was only disobedient in that, for he kept a good part of it, wherewith he has since pleasur'd some persons of honor, and is kept as a civil relique.
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; as the reward for discovering him, which should be one thousand pounds certain pay, but neither fear of punishment, nor hope of reward, was able to tempt Humphry into any disloyalty; He pleaded ignorance and was dismiss'd; and on Saturday night related to his Majesty and the loial Colonel at Boscobel, what had pass'd betwixt him and the rebel Colonel at Shefnal.
This night the good wife (whom his Majesty was pleased to call My Dame Joan [ [4]) provided some chickens for his Majesties supper, (a dainty he had not lately been acquainted with,) and a little pallet was put into the secret place for his Majesty to rest in; some of the brothers being continually upon duty, watching the avenues of the house and the road way, to prevent the danger of a surprize.
After supper Col. Carlis ask'd his Majesty what meat he would please to have provided for the morrow, being Sunday, his Majesty desired some mutton, if it might be had; But it was thought dangerous for William to goe to any market to buy it, since his neighbors all knew he did not use to buy such for his own dyet, and so it might beget a suspition of his having strangers at his house; But the Col. found another expedient to satisfy his Majesties desires; Early on Sunday morning he repairs to Mr. William Stauntons sheep cote, who rented some of Boscobel grounds, here he chose one of the best sheep, sticks him with his dagger, then sends Wil. for the mutton, who brings him home on his back.
On Sunday morning (Sept. the seventh) his Majesty got up early (his dormitory being none of the best, nor his bed the easiest,) and near the secret place where he lay, had the convenience of a gallery to walk in, where he was observ'd to spend some time in his devotions, and where he had the advantage of a window, which surveid the road from Tong to Brewood; Soon after his Majesty coming down into the parlor his nose fell a bleeding, which put his poor faithful servants into a great fright, but his Majesty was pleased soon to remove it, by telling them, It often did so.
As soon as the mutton was cold, William cut it up and brought a leg of it into the parlor, his Majesty cal'd for a knife and a trencher, and cut some of it into collops and prick'd them with the knif's point, then cal'd for a frying pan and butter, and fry'd the collops himself, of which he ate heartily, Col. Carlis the while being but under cook, (and that honor enough too,) made the fire and turn'd the collops in the pan.