Escape of Charles II

King Charles II in Boscobel Wood by Isaac Fuller (died 1672)
Map of the route taken: • 1 Worcester • 2 Barbon Bridge • 3 Kinver Heath • 4 Stourbridge • 5 White Ladies • 6 Hobbal Grange • 7 Evelith • 8 Madeley • 9 Boscobel • 10 Pendeford • 11 Moseley • 12 Bentley • 13 Bromsgrove • 14 Wooton • 15 Stratford • 16 Long Marston • 17 Campden • 18 Cirencester • 19 Sodbury • 20 Bristol • 21 Abbots Leigh • 22 Burton • 23 Castle Cary • 24 Trent • 25 Charmouth • 26 Bridport • 27 Broadwindsor • 28 Trent • 29 Wincanton • 30 Mere • 31 Heale • 32 Stonehenge • 33 Heale • 34 Clarendon Park • 35 Warnford • 36 Old Winchester • 37 Broadhalfpenny • 38 Hambledon • 39 Arundel • 40 Houghton • 41 Bramber • 42 Beeding • 43 Brighton • 44 Shoreham

After the final defeat of Royalists in the English Civil War against Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651, the future Charles II of England (already by that time King of Scotland) was forced to flee England. With the support of a network of Royalist gentry, Charles first attempted to escape into Wales, then to Bristol disguised as a servant, then to the south coast at Charmouth. Finally, he rode east to Shoreham from where he sailed for France on 15 October 1651. During the six-week flight, he passed through numerous English counties, and at one point was forced to hide in an oak tree on the grounds of a house that was being searched by Parliamentarian soldiers. A £1000 reward had been offered for information leading to Charles's capture.