“So I came into the house a back way, where I found Mr. Woolfe, an old gentleman, who told me he was very sorry to see me there, because there was two companies of the militia foot at that time in arms in the town, and kept a guard at the ferry, to examine every body that came that way, in expectation of catching some that might be making their escape that way; and that he durst not put me into any of the hiding-holes of his house, because they had been discovered, and consequently, if any search should be made, they would certainly repair to these holes; and that therefore I had no other way of security but to go into his barn, and there lie behind his corn and hay. So after he had given us some cold meat that was ready, we, without making any bustle in the house, went and lay in the barn all the next day; when, towards evening, his son, who had been prisoner at Shrewsbury, an honest man, was released, and came home to his father’s house. And as soon as ever it began to be a little darkish, Mr. Woolfe and his son brought us meat into the barn; and there we discoursed with them whether we might safely get over the Severn into Wales, which they advised me by no means to adventure upon, because of the strict guards that were kept all along the Severn, where any passage could be found, for preventing any body’s escaping that way into Wales.” In Harrison Ainsworth’s “Boscobel” several inaccuracies occur, so far as the description of the king’s visit to Madeley is concerned. He speaks of the Court as the place of retreat, and of a moat and drawbridge, all of which is incorrect. In the old house, now the property of Mr. Eastwick, where Mr. Wolfe lived, is a portrait of Dame Joan, in the curious head-dress of the period; and among the tombstones in the chapel of White Ladies, which has been converted into a burying-place, is, or was, one bearing the following inscription:— “Here lyeth The bodie of a Friende The King did call Dame Joan But now she is Deceast and gone Interr’d Anno: Do. 1669.” The _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1809, p. 809, contains a description of this headstone at the White Ladies, by the late Rev. T. Dale, who says:— “The stone stood on the north side of the chancel of the chapel, on the left as you entered the chancel door. When, however, I became curate of Donnington, in the year 1811, it had disappeared. I made frequent inquiries, afterwards, at intervals, of the cottagers and others, as to the disappearance of the monument, but without obtaining any satisfactory information.” The writer then describes his researches, and says:—