1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of I 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Hello and welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: a show that uncovers the past, one day at a time. 4 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: My name is Gabe Bluisier, and one of my goals 5 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: with the show is to remind people that the world 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: of the past had just as many bizarre and unexpected 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: moments as the one we live in today. And here's 8 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: a story that shows exactly what I mean. It's the 9 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: time when the King of Scotland and future King of 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: England spent all day hiding in an oak tree. The 11 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: day was September six. After fleeing for his life following 12 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: his defeat at the Battle of Worcester, Charles the Second, 13 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: the King of Scotland and rightful King of England, took 14 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: refuge in a tall oak tree, where he remained until 15 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 1: the coast was clear. A few days earlier, on September three, 16 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: Oliver Cromwell and his Parliamentarian forces had won the final 17 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: battle of the English Civil War. When it was clear 18 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: the Royalists had lost, the twenty one year old Charles 19 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: the Second escaped the battlefield on horseback with some of 20 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: his most trusted men. They rode forty miles through the countryside, 21 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: until at last reaching the ruins of the White Ladies 22 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: Nunnery on the northern border of Shropshire. When they arrived, 23 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: Charles troops set about disguising him. They dressed him in 24 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: old clothes, cut his hair and smeared his face with soot. 25 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: It was a necessary measure because Cromwell had already dispatched 26 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: soldiers to hunt down the rogue King wanted. Posters quickly 27 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: appeared far and wide, and a one thousand pound reward 28 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: was issued for his capture. With the King's safe for 29 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: the time being, most of his friends departed to avoid 30 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: drawing attention to the group. Only Richard Penderrell remained with 31 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: Charles to help lead him through the woods. On September five, 32 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: the pair fled towards the River Severne, where they hoped 33 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: to cross into Wales and from their sail to the 34 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: relative safety of France. Unfortunately, they found that the Severn 35 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: was heavily guarded by Cromwell's patrols. Left with no way forward, 36 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: Charles and Richard were forced to turn back the way 37 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: they came. This time they headed for Boscobell House, a 38 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: remote hunting lodge about a mile away from the nunnery 39 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: where they had hidden the night before. When they arrived 40 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: at around three am on the morning of September six, 41 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: they were informed by Richard's brothers that the White Ladies 42 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: nunnery had already been raided by Cromwell's soldiers. Another Royalist 43 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: fugitive named Major William Carlos was also hiding out at Boscobell. 44 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 1: He suggested that it would be safer if Charles didn't 45 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: stay in the house. Instead, he recommended that the two 46 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: of them climb a bushy oak tree on the house grounds. 47 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 1: That way, they could see in all directions and keep 48 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 1: tabs on the enemy soldiers who would surely come looking 49 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: for them. Charles agreed, and at daybreak he and Carlos 50 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: climbed into a great oak tree about a hundred and 51 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: fifty yards from the house. The two men passed the 52 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: remainder of the day huddled close in the oaks thick branches. 53 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: They dined on beer and cheese, but for the most 54 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: part they stayed silent and kept watch on the woods below. 55 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: Some thirty years later, Charles recounted his experience, saying, quote, 56 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: while we were in the tree, we see soldiers going 57 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: up and down in the thickest of the wood, searching 58 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: for persons escaped, we seeing them now and then peeping 59 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: out of the woods. Despite the stress of their situation, 60 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: the exhausted Charles couldn't keep his eyes open. He reportedly 61 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: spent part of the day asleep in the arms of 62 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: Major Carlos, who made sure the sleeping king didn't give 63 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: away their position by falling out of the tree. That evening, 64 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: under cover of darkness, the two men climbed down and 65 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: returned to the house, where they enjoyed a chicken dinner together. 66 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: Charles spent the night in a small hidie hole under 67 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: the floor of a room in the attic. It was 68 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: a tight fit for the lanky king, but probably still 69 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: more comfortable than a tree branch. The next morning, Charles 70 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: is said to have helped fry some sliced mutton for breakfast. 71 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: We know this because years later Charles recalled his skill 72 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: with the frying pan with a great deal of pride, 73 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: and to be fair, he had been through a lot 74 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: by that point, so we'll just let him have it. 75 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: After this brief respite at Boscobell House, Charles continued his 76 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: life on the lamb for an additional six weeks, being 77 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: ushered from one safe house to another by those who 78 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: remained loyal to him. Then, at last, on the morning 79 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: of October fift Charles boarded a boat and made his 80 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: escape to France. Once there, he engaged in a very 81 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: long waiting game. It would be nearly ten years until 82 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: Cromwell died and it was finally safe for him to 83 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: return to England and reclaim his rightful throne. After Charles 84 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 1: the Second's return, the Penderell brothers were rewarded for their loyalty, 85 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: and the tree where the king hid became a popular 86 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: tourist destination known as the Royal Oak. Sadly, souvenir hunters 87 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: were a bit too eager and their bid to own 88 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: a piece of history. By seventeen twenty, so many pieces 89 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: of the tree had been hacked off and turned into 90 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: snuff boxes and other trinkets that almost none of it remained. 91 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: The oak tree that stands at Boscobell today is believed 92 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: to be a descendant of the original, which likely grew 93 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: from one of its acorns, but the trees offspring isn't 94 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 1: the only reminder of this pivotal event In British history today, 95 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: you'll also find plenty of pubs named the Royal Oak 96 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: and its honor. In fact, there are well over five 97 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: hundred Royal Oak pubs and counting. I'm Gay, Bluesier and 98 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: hopefully you now know a little more about history today 99 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: than you did yesterday. If you'd like, please follow us 100 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at t D I HC Podcasts, 101 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: and if you have any comments or suggestions, you can 102 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: send them my way at this Day at i heart 103 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: media dot com. Thanks to Chandler Mays for producing the show, 104 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: and thank you for listening. I'll see you back here 105 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: again tomorrow for another day in History class. For more 106 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: podcasts for my Heart Radio, visit the i Heart Radio app, 107 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.