The night was both dark and cold, and his Majesties clothing thin, therefore Mr. Huddleston humbly offer'd his Majesty a cloak, which he was pleased to accept and wore to Bentley, from whence Mr. Huddleston afterward received it.
As soon as Mr. Whitgreave and Mr. Huddleston heard his Majesty was not onely got safe to Bentley, but march'd securely from thence, they began to reflect upon his advice, and, lest any discovery should be made of what had been acted at Mosely, they both absented themselves from home; The one went to London, the other to a friends house in Warwickshire, where they liv'd privately till such time as they heard his Majesty was safely arriv'd in France, and that no part of the aforesaid transactions at Mosely had been discover'd to the rebels, and then return'd home.
This Mr. Whitgreave is descended of the ancient family of the Whitgreaves of Burton in the county of Stafford, and was first a Cornet, afterwards Lieutenant to Capt. Tho. Giffard, in the first war for his late Majesty.
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. Lane perform'd the part of a most faithful and prudent servant to his Majesty, shewing her observance, when any opportunity would allow it, and at other times acting her part in the disguise with much discretion.
But his Majesties particular Gifts to Bristow and to the houses of several loyal subjects, both in Somersetshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and so to Brighempston in Sussex, where he, about the end of October 1651. took shipping, and landed securely at Deip in France, and the several accidents, hardships and encounters, in all that journey, can be exactly related by none but his Majesty himself; now since the much lamented death of that faithful subject and excellent souldier the Lord Wilmot, who was created Earl of Rochester, as a part of that recompence his Majesty thought due to so great a fidelity.
The very next day after his Majesty was gone from Boscobel, being Monday the 8. of September, two parties of rebels came thither, the one being part of the county troop, who search'd the house with some civility; The other, Capt. Broadwayes men, these search'd severely, eat up their little store of provision, plunder'd the house of what was portable, and one of them presented a pistol to William Penderel, and much frighted my Dame Joan; yet both parties return'd, as empty as they came, of that intelligence they so greedily sought after.
This danger being over, honest William began to think of making satisfaction for the fat mutton, and accordingly tender'd Mr. Staunton its worth in money; but Staunton, understanding the sheep was kil'd for the relief of some honest cavaliers, who had been shelter'd at Boscobel, refus'd to take the money, but wish'd, much good it might doe them.
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.
His Majesty had not been long gone from Boscobel, but Col. Carlis sent William Penderel to Mr. Humphry Ironmonger, his old friend, at Wolverhampton, who not only procured him a pass from some of the rebel commanders in a disguised name to goe to London, but furnish'd him with money for his journey, by means whereof he got safe thither, and from thence into Holland, where he brought the first happy news of his Majesties safety to his royal sister, the Princess of Orange.