THIS building, rendered remarkable in English history, as having afforded an asylum. to King Charles the Second, after the fatal battle of Worcester, is situated at a short distance from the village of Tonge, in Shropshire, but on the border of Staffordshire. The end and back part of the house remain nearly in the same state as when the King took refuge in it; but some of the other parts have been much altered, particularly an out-building converted into a sitting parlour, the principal entrance removed, and the area of uninclosed land in front of the house laid out with taste, as a pleasure ground. The interior has also been much altered; but whatever could be traced relative to the King's concealment has been preserved with care. The places in which he was hidden are chiefly in, and adjoining to, a large chimney: the garret, or, as it is termed, the gallery, entered by a trap-door, was probably one of them. From this there is a descent by a step-ladder to the next hiding-place, and from thence to a door near the bottom of the chimney that leads to the garden. The large wainscoted parlour is nearly in its original form. The place of concealment behind the wainscot has long been stopped up; and the gloves and garters, said to have been left by the

King, were lost before the present possessor came to the house.

The royal oak, reported to have sprung from an acorn of the original oak that sheltered the King, stands near the middle of a large field adjoining the garden. The rainous wall surrounding it has been rebuilt, and a brass plate, bearing an inscription, affixed to it. *

The particulars of the flight and concealment of the King are detailed in "A true Narrative and Relation of his most sacred Majesty's miraculous escape from Worcester, on the third of September, 1651, till his arrival at Paris; from which it appears, that, when the King had quitted his court and lodgings, to which he had retired from the field of battle, he rallied the most faithful and distinguished of his friends, who had resolved to accompany him in his flight. The Earl of Derby, who was among the number, recommended to him one Charles Gifford, Esq., a person of consequence in that part of the country, as a conductor in his escape. Colonel Carlos, or Careless, a very gallant officer, undertook to keep the enemy at bay while the King gained distance, a service which he very bravely and successfully performed. Francis Yates, a follower of Mr. Gifford, acted as guide to the royal escort. After a rapid flight of twenty-five miles, the King, with his attendants, arrived, at about three in the morning of Thursday, September 4th, 1651, at a house called White Ladies, † about three *The inscription, which is in Latin, may be rendered into English thus:

Basil and Jane Fitzherbert recommended to posterity this most fortunate tree, which the all-gracious and almighty God, by whom Kings reign, ordained here to grow, to be an asylum of the most potent prince, King Charles II., and have begirt it with a wall, as well in perpetual remembrance of so great an event, as a testimony of their firm allegiance to Kings.

'The oak beloved by Jove." "

+ White Ladies Priory is a picturesque ruin, in a sequestered and romantic spot. The date of its foundation is uncertain, but it was inhabited by White or Cistercian nuns as early as the reign of Richard the First, or John. The circular arches in the walls, without pillars, indicate it to be of Saxon origin. The area of the church is still used as a burying-ground, chiefly for Roman Catholics.

quarters of a mile from Boscobel. The Narrative informs us, that "the White Ladies was a house belonging to one Fitzherbert, where one George Pendrill, hearing somebody knocking at the gate so early, and opening the window, espied the aforesaid Francis Yates, who was his brotherin-law, with Mr. Gifford, to whom he presently opened the door, and inquired of his brother Yates, what news from Worcester, who told him that the King was defeated, and in pursuit, and therefore bade him make haste, and put on his clothes; but before he could make himself ready, the King, with most of his lords, had entered the house, and come into the hall, where, after a short consultation held among them, the Earl of Derby called for William Pendrill, the eldest brother, who, being come, George was sent to Tonge, to one Robert Beard, an honest subject, to inquire of him whether there were any scattered parties of the King thereabouts, or any of the enemy appearing,, who brought word that the coast was yet clear, and no parties at all to be seen. In his return, he met with his brother Richard; for now those few inhabitants that lived there were awaked with the noise, and their own ill-boding thoughts and fears of the success at Worcester. Richard was no sooner come in, but Esquire Gifford called for him, and bade him make haste and bring with him his best clothes, which were a jump and breeches of green coarse cloth, and a doe-skin leather doublet; the hat was borrowed of Humphrey Pendrill, the miller, being an old grey one, that turned up its brims; the shirt (which in that country language they called a hurden, or noggin shirt, of cloth that is made of the coarsest of hemp) was had of one Edward Martin; George Pendrill's band, and William Cresswell's shoes, which the King, having presently unstripped himself of his own clothes, did nimbly put on. His buff coat and linen doublet, and a grey pair of breeches which he wore before, he gave into these brothers' hands, who forthwith buried them under ground, where they lay five weeks before they durst take them up again. The jewels, off his arm, he gave to one of the lords then departing. Then Richard came with a pair of shears, and rounded the King's

hair, which my Lord Wilmot, having before cut with a knife, had untowardly knotched; and the King was pleased to take notice of Richard's good barbering, so as to prefer his work before my Lord Wilmot's, and gave him the praise of it; and now His Majesty was à la mode the woodman."

The Narrative goes on to relate, that the lords departed, leaving the King in the care of these honest people, who, as soon as they were gone, with a wood-bill in his hand, was conducted by Richard into an adjoining wood, leaving Humphrey and George as scouts; and, to render his dis guise still more complete, the King took the name of William Jones, a wood-cutter, newly come thither for work, and was accordingly instructed how to converse and behave. The day proving wet, Francis Yates's wife brought the King a blanket to cover himself with, and a dish of milk and apples for his refreshment. They had not been in the wood an hour, before a troop of the enemy's horse came to White Ladies, and inquired if some of the King's horse and himself had not passed that way. The answer given was, that, about three hours before, there had been a party of horse, and, as they supposed, the King with them; but that they presently departed without making any further search. The King, being apprized of this by his scouts, remained in the wood till evening, when he returned to the house. After supping on the homely fare of his hosts, he prepared to depart, having resolved to go into Wales. Jane Pendrill, the mother of the five brethren, came to see him, and expressed her joy that Providence had made her sons the instruments, as she hoped, of His Majesty's safeguard and deliverance. Francis Yates offered him thirty shillings in silver; of which the King accepted ten, and bade him keep the remainder. When it was near night, these faithful people took leave of their royal guest on their knees, beseeching God to guide and bless him. The King, accompanied by Richard, proceeded to Madeley, to the house of Mr. Francis Wolfe, who gave them to understand that it would be extremely dangerous to attempt to pass into Wales, as the country was in all parts overrun with soldiers. He durst not afford them an asylum in his house; but