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266 Boscobel for concealment, as he resided in the neighbourhood and was an old acquaintance of William Penderel." Richard told him who was waiting in the wood for shelter and safety, and he and the two brothers went out and found the King sitting on the root of a tree, and conducted him into the house, where, says Blount, in his simple narrative, "He did eat bread and cheese heartily, and William Penderel's wife made his Majesty a posset of thin milk and small beer, and got ready some warm water to wash his feet, not only extreme dirty but much galled with travel. The Colonel pulled off his Majesty's shoes, which were full of gravel, and stockens which were wet, and there being no other shoes in the house that would fit his Majesty, the good wife put some hot embers in those to dry them, whilst his Majesty's feet were washing and his stockens shifted."

And now comes the most touching scene in this bitter experience, and I wonder no painter has made it a subject for his canvas. After the long night walk from Madeley with soaked shoes full of gravel, the Boscobel house was deemed unsafe even for an hour's sleep in a garret bed. So, after his bread and cheese, the King was conducted back into the wood, where William and Richard helped the two wearied and hunted fugitives up into "a thick-leafed oak," and raised