History of King Charles the Second of EnglandAbbott, Jacob
History
History of King Charles the Second of England
Abbott, Jacob
Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685
The king consented to this plan. They took some provisions, therefore,
as soon as the day began to dawn, and something to answer the purpose
of a cushion, and proceeded to the tree. By the help of William and
Richard the king and the colonel climbed up, and established themselves
in the top. The colonel placed the cushion for the king on the best
support among the limbs that he could find. The bread and cheese, and
a small bottle of beer, which Richard and William had brought for their
day's supplies, they suspended to a branch within their reach. The
colonel then seated himself a little above the king, in such a manner
that the monarch's head could rest conveniently in his lap, and in as
easy a position as it was possible, under such circumstances, to attain.
Richard and William, then, after surveying the place of retreat all
around from below, in order to be sure that the concealment afforded
by the foliage was every where complete, went away, promising to keep
faithful watch during the day and to return in the evening. All things
being thus arranged in the oak, the colonel bade his majesty to close
his eyes and go to sleep, saying that he would take good care that he
did not fall. The king followed his directions, and slept safely for
many hours.
In the course of the day the king and Carlis saw, by means of the
openings between the leaves, through which, as through loop holes in
a tower, they continually reconnoitered the surrounding fields, men
passing to and fro, some of whom they imagined to be soldiers searching
the wood. They were not, however, themselves molested. They passed the
day undisturbed, except by the incessant anxiety and alarm which they
necessarily suffered, and the fatigue and pain, which must have become
almost intolerable before night, from their constrained and comfortless
position. Night, however, came at last, and relieved them from their
duress. They descended from the tree and stole back cautiously to the
house, the king resolving that he could not bear such hardship another
day, and that they must, accordingly, find some other hiding place for
him on the morrow. We can scarcely be surprised at this decision. A
wild beast could hardly have endured a second day in such a lair.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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