On Munday his Majesty and my Lord resolv'd to dispatch John Penderel to Col. Lane at Bentley, with direction for the Colonel to send my Lords horses for him that night about midnight, and to expect him at the usual place: 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. Whitgreave presently secures his Royal Guest in the secret place, and my Lord also, leaves open all the chamber dores, and goes boldly down to the souldiers, assuring them (as his neighbours also testified) that he had not been from home in a fortnight then last past; with which asseveration the souldiers were satisfied, and came not up stairs at all.
In this interval the rebels had taken a Cornet in Cheshire, who came in his Majesties troop to Whiteladies, and, either by menaces or some other way, had extorted this confession from him concerning the King, (whom these bloud-hounds sought with all possible diligence) that he came in company with his Majesty to Whiteladies, where the rebels conceived he might still be; whereupon they posted thither without ever drawing bit, almost kill'd their horses, and brought the faint-hearted prisoner with them.
Being come to Whiteladies on Tuesday, they call for Mr. George Giffard, who lived in an apartment of the house, present a pistol to his breast, and bad him confesse where the King was, or he should presently dye; Mr. Giffard was too loyal, and too much a gentleman to be frighted into any infidelity, resolutely denies the knowing any more, but that divers cavaliers came thither on Wednesday night, ate up their provision and departed, and that he was as ignorant who they were as whence they came, or whither they went, and beg'd, if he must dye, that they would first give him leave to say a few prayers: One of these villains answered, If you can tell us no news of the King, you shall say no prayers: But his discreet answer did somewhat asswage the fury of their leader, yet they searched every corner of the house, broak down much of the wainscoat, and at last beat their intelligencer severely for making them lose their labours.
During this Tuesday, in my Lord Wilmots absence, his Majesty was for the most part attended by Mr. Huddleston, Mr. Whitgreave being much abroad in the neighbourhood, and Mrs. Whitgreave below stairs, both inquisitive after news, and the motions of the soldiery, in order to the preservation of their Royal Guest; the old gentlewoman was this day told by a countrey man, who came to her house, that he heard the King, upon his retreat, had beaten his enemies at Warrington bridge, and that there were three Kings come in to his assistance; which story she related to his Majesty for divertisement, who smiling, answered, Surely they are the three Kings of Colein come down from heaven, for I can imagine none else.
His Majesty out of the closet window, espy'd two souldiers, who pass'd by the gate in the road, and told Mr. Huddleston, he knew one of them to be a Highlander and of his own regiment; who little thought his King and Colonel was so near.
And his Majesty for entertainment of the time was pleas'd to discourse with Mr. Huddleston the particulers of the battle of Worcester (the same in substance with what is before related.) And by some words which his Majesty let fall, it might easily be collected that his councils had been too often sooner discovered to the rebels, than executed by his loyal subjects.
Mr. Huddleston had under his charge young Sir John Preston, Mr. Thomas Palyn and Mr. Francis Reynolds, and on this Tuesday in the morning (the better to conceal his Majesties being in the house, and excuse his own more than usual long stay above stairs) pretended himself to be indisposed and afraid of the souldiers, and therefore set his schollers at several garret windows, that survey'd the roades, to watch and give notice when they saw any troopers coming; This service the youths perform'd very diligently all day, and at night, when they were at supper, Sir John cal'd upon his companions, and said (more truly than he imagin'd,) Come lads, let us eat lustily, for we have been upon the life-guard to day.
On Tuesday night between twelve and one of the clock, the Lord Wilmot sent Col. Lane to attend his Majesty to Bentley, Mr. Whitgreave meets the Colonel at the place appointed, and brings him to the corner of his orchard, where the Colonel thought fit to stay, whilst Mr. Whitgreave goes in and acquaints the king that he was come: Whereupon his Majesty presently took his leave of Mris. Whitgreave, saluted her and gave her many thanks for his entertainment, but was pleas'd to be more particular with Mr. Whitgreave and Mr. Huddleston, not onely by giving them thanks, but by telling them, he was very sensible of the dangers they might incur by entertaining him, if it should chance to be discover'd; Therefore his Majesty advis'd them to be very careful of themselves, and gave them direction to repair to a merchant in London, who should have order to furnish them with moneys and means of conveiance beyond sea, if they thought fit. However his Majesty concluded, that if it should please God ever to restore him to the government of his dominions, he should not be unmindful of their civilities and fidelity to him. Thus grateful was this excellent King, for even that which was every good subjects duty, and thus sollicitous (in the midst of his own dangers), for their security.
After his Majesty had vouchsaf'd these gracious expressions to Mr. Whitgreave and Mr. Huddleston, they told his Majesty all the service they could now do him, was to pray heartily to Almighty God for his safety and preservation, and then kneeling down, his Majesty gave them his hand to kiss, and so went down stairs with them into the orchard, where Mr. Whitgreave both humbly and faithfully deliver'd his great Charge into Col. Lanes hands, telling the Colonel who the person was he there presented to him.