WORFIELD IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY (PART 2) This article is not specifically linked to Worfield but since the events described were of such national importance, happened so locally and must have involved the parish, I hope you will forgive this diversion. There is another reason for telling this story – it is a fantastic tale and who better to tell it than a parishioner who is a descendant of one of the key families involved The first English Civil War ended in 1646. King Charles 1 surrendered to the Scots but unfortunately for Charles the Scots made a deal with Parliament and the King was handed over to Parliament. In 1648 there was a second Civil War organised by the King from his prison on the Isle of Wight. This was soon put down by Oliver Cromwell. King Charles 1 was beheaded on 30th January 1649 for treason. The treasonable offence was waging war on his own people. England became a republic and was ruled as a Commonwealth by Oliver Cromwell until his death in 1658. There was a third Civil War in 1651 when King Charles 11 attempted to regain the throne, with the help of the Scots. The war began and ended with Charles' defeat at the Battle of Worcester on 3rd September 1651 and that is where this story begins. Charles was a brave soldier and reluctant to admit defeat. He urged his followers to fight, even as they were throwing down their arms. He rode up and down among them, shouting, “I had rather you would shoot me, than keep me alive to see the sad consequences of this fateful day.” But it was a lost cause. Somehow Charles managed to escape from Worcester. and headed north, along with his Scottish cavalry. Wisely, Charles kept at a distance from the Scotsmen most of whom were captured. The question was, where should the King go? One of his party, the Earl of Derby, suggested Boscobel House which lay deep in the Brewood Forest. Mr Giffard who owned Boscobel was riding with the King and offered his servant, Francis Yates as a guide to take the King to his hiding place. (Francis was subsequently hanged for his part in the King's escape.) The route took them through Stourbridge and then along tracks to Whiteladies, the home of Charles Giffard, a catholic Also living at Whiteladies were George and John Penderel, two of the five Penderel brothers. The other brothers were William, who lived at Boscobel, Humphrey who was a miller and Richard who was a woodman. All the Penderel brothers were to play a vital role in securing the King's escape to France. The King had an idea to go to Wales, where he had much Royal support. The plan was to travel to Cardiff and then sail to France. To this end Richard Penderel took the King to Madeley so that he could cross the Severn to Wales. The journey of nine miles from Boscobel was heavy going through swamps, streams and thorn hedges. The King's feet, unused to walking, were rubbed raw. Nor was the journey without danger. Two miles from Madeley, at Evelith Mill in Kemberton the King and his companion tried to cross the stream but the suspicions of the miller were aroused and they had to make a run for it. Eventually Richard and the King arrived at the home of Francis Woolfe in Madeley. Woolfe was also a catholic and informed them that all the river crossings for miles up and down the river were guarded by Parliamentary soldiers. There was also a Parliamentary garrison in Madeley. Crossing the river was out of the question and staying in the town too dangerous. Woolfe let Richard and the King hide in his barn during the day (there is a plaque on the barn to this effect) but told them they must leave at night. Poor Richard had little option but to take the King back to Boscobel. They avoided the danger spot of Evelith Mill by wading up to their waists through the stream. This was the King's suggestion although Richard was reluctant because he couldn't swim. The two arrived safely at Boscobel to find that one of the King's colonels, William Carlis, had also taken refuge at the house. The whole area was swarming with Parliamentary troops so the King and Carlis had to be hidden quickly. Carlis chose a tall oak tree as a perfect hiding place and so it proved to be. While Parliamentary forces swarmed about in the woods, the King and Carlis were safe for the moment. The catholic underground devised a new plan to move Charles from Boscobel to Moseley Old Hall, the home of the Whitgreave family. All five Penderel brothers escorted the King who rode on Humphrey Penderel's cart horse as far as Pendeford Mill and thence on foot to Moseley with just John and Richard Penderel and Francis Yates accompanying him. Again, danger was close at hand. There was a parliamentary garrison at Codsall and parliamentarian sympathisers everywhere. After all this was the regime in power. Fortunately the journey was without incident and the King was handed over to Mr Whitgreave at Moseley Old Hall. But Charles needed to be got out of the area quickly. The parliamentarians knew that the King was close and they were certain that it was the catholics who were hiding him. They were sure the Penderels had been involved and gave Whitgreave a good grilling but the King slipped through the net and the way he did so is as improbable as the wildest fiction. The ambitious plan was for Charles to be the escort of Jane Lane, the sister of Colonel Lane of Bentley Hall. Jane Lane had a permit to travel to Bristol and the only question now was whether Charles could play his role well enough for them to complete the journey. Charles' appearance was very different from that of the average Englishman. He was 6ft 2in and had a dark appearance. His nickname was “the Black Boy” hence the pub in Cartway, Bridgnorth thought to be named after him. Nonetheless the two arrived safely in Bristol. This is where the Midlands involvement ended. Charles escaped from England, not from Bristol but from Shoreham, near Brighton on the 15th October 1851. Oliver Cromwell died on 3rd September 1658 and King Charles 11 was restored to power by popular demand of the people on May 29th 1660. The Battle of Worcester had been a disaster, 2,000 soldiers died and 3,000 were taken prisoner but thanks to the courage and ingenuity of a few Midlands families loyal to the Crown, most notably the Penderels and Jane Lane, the King's life was saved. _________________ Written in conjunction with Roger Pendrill All historical articles are available online at www.historypie.com Search for Worfield..