Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/161

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him what houses he might safely go to for shelter and entertainment.

23. On the third day after the battle, he was obliged to hide in a wood, in Boscobel, on the borders of Staffordshire, where he met with a friend, Major Carlis, who was hiding himself.

24. They heard soldiers about the wood, so they both got up into an old oak tree, with some bread and cheese and beer, that one of the Penderels had brought to Charles, and while they were there, they heard the soldiers talking close under the tree, and saying how glad they should be to find the king, and that they were sure he must be somewhere thereabouts.

25. The tree was afterwards called the Royal Oak; and there is a tree now on the same spot, raised from an acorn of the original one, which is still distinguished by that name.

26. One time he travelled with a lady, as her groom, and when they stopped at an inn, he went into the kitchen, where the cook told him to wind up the jack, which he did so awkwardly, that she scolded him.

27. He made an excuse, saying that where he came from, they did not have roast meat very often, and never used a jack; but I dare say, he laughed heartily afterwards, for he was always merry in the midst of his troubles.