SAVED BY A WOMAN'S WIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

SAVED BY A WOMAN'S WIT

One of the oldest of Britain's perpetual pensions has recently been recalled by a question in Parliament. This particular jwusion was granted by King Charles IT. to the Penderell family, who hid him after the battle of Worcester, when Cromwell's troops were combing the country for him. The pensions arc not paid by the State, but by trustees. They are derived from fee farm rents, and go to descendants of the Penderells in the United States and Australia. Many stories are told of Charles' adventures while in hiding at Boseobel House, the Penderell home. On one occasion, when soldiers arrived unexpectedly to make a search for the King, lie was sitting in the kitchen watching the cooking, it seemed inevitable that he should be recognised; but one of the Penderell women saved the situation. Walking up to the royal fugitive, the woman slapped his face and thrust the baby she was holding into his arms. " Take the babe, you lazy lout," she exclaimed, " while I show these gentlemen over the house." After that no one dreamed of suspecting that the " lazy lout " was the King, and the search, of course, was fruitless.