10 Mistress Jane Lane. 
small closet. ‘ Priest chambers,” as they were called, existed all 
over England at a time when fanaticism, or perhaps rebellion, or 
ill-judged persecution, put the lives of Roman Catholic priests in 
Worth’s danger. These hiding-places, as a rule, were very 
pee small, and contrived in the thickness of the walls, 
beneath a floor (as at Trent), or in a recess of the huge chimney- 
stacks, and in gables, and gablets, which, apparently belonging to 
bedrooms or attics in use, were in reality detached, and so built as 
to escape the notice of anyone but an architect, or a person in 
possession of the secret. Such a recess existed in a chimney of an 
old house in my possession at Compton Chamberlayne—part of 
which parish was formerly called Compton Nicholas, and at one 
time may have been in the possession of the Nicholas family. At 
Fyfield Manor-House, near Pewsey, where King Charles I. slept 
before the first battle of Newbury, there are palpable hiding-places 
covered with panel-work. ‘The exit from these places, in case of 
surprise, was often down a brewhouse chimney into a cellar, or out 
of an unsuspected door. The King’s hiding-place at Boscobel is 
described as being near a long gallery. It is known that the King 
disliked it for its discomfort and confined space. 
Leaving His Majesty awhile in Boscobel wood, Richard Penderel, 
who has heard of Colonel Careless lurking in the neighbourhood, 
finds him and brings him with the King into Boscobel House. 
Then, as a panacea for all ills, William Penderel’s wife makes them 
a posset. As the Penderels were poor people, the posset on this 
occasion was compounded of thin milk and small beer! The King 
had suffered horribly from his rough clothes and terrible shoes— 
slashed in all directions to give his poor feet ease—but 
Howeobet eis considerably relieved by the humane attentions of 
Mrs. William Penderell to his sufferings. 
Harl, MSS, About 90yds. from Boscobel House there grew an 
are oak, which evidently, from the King’s description, 
was what is called a “ pollard” oak, z.e., one which had its branches 
Baker’s Chronicle, lopped at a certain height, causing them to 
Ed. 1674, p. 627. form a circle of shoots round the outer edge. 
It was not a hollow tree, but had a hole in the middle of its firm 
Ne 
