"The habit of
the king," says Pepys, "was a very greasy old grey steeple-
crowned hat, with the brims turned up, without lining or hatband,
the sweat appearing two inches deep through it round the band
place; a green cloth jump-coat, threadbare, even to the threads
being worn white, and breeches of the same, with long knees down
to the garter; with an old sweaty leathern doublet, a pair of
white flannel stockings next to his legs, and upon them a pair of
old green yarn stockings, all worn and darned at the knees, with
their feet cut off: his shoes were old, all slashed for the ease
of his feet, with little rolls of paper between his toes to keep
them from galling; and an old coarse shirt, patched both at the
neck and hands, of that very coarse sort which go by the name of
nogging shirts."
When Charles was attired in this fashion, Richard Pendrell opened
a back door and led him out into the wood; not a moment too soon,
for within half an hour Colonel Ashenhurst, with a company of
Cromwell's soldiers, rode up to Whiteladies, rushed into the
house, searched every chamber and secret place, pulled down the
wainscoting, and otherwise devastated the mansion in the search
for the king. A damp cold September morning now lengthened to a
day of gloom and depression. Rain fell in heavy torrents,
dripped from the leafless branches of trees, and saturated the
thick undergrowth and shrubs where his majesty lay hidden. Owing
to the condition of the weather, the soldiers neglected to search
Boscobel Wood; and, after uttering many threats and imprecations,
withdrew from Whiteladies.
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