340 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 261. 



wliere they were congregated, and repel the 

 attack of their enemies. W. W. 



Malta. 



BALLAD ON THE ESCAPE OF CHARLES II. 



If the subjoined has not been reprinted, and I 

 cannot discover it in the collections at present ac- 

 cessible to me, it is sure to be an acceptable con- 

 tribution to " ]Sr. & Q." It is copied from the 

 original cotemporary black-letter broadside in my 

 own possession. J. O. Halliwell. 



" The Royall Oak, or the wonderfull TraveVs, miraculous 

 Escapes, strange Accidents of his sacred Majesty King 

 Charles the Second. 



How from Worcester fight, by a good hap, onr royall 

 King made an escape : 



How he disrob'd himself of things that precious were. 



And with a knife cut off his curled hair : 



How a hollow oak his palace was as then; and how 

 King Charles became a serving man. 



To the tune of In my Freedom is all my J'or/.' 



" Come, friends, and unto me draw near; 

 A sorrowfull dity you shall hear. 

 You that deny your lawfiill prince, 

 Let conscience now your faults convince. 

 And now in love and not in fear. 

 Now let his presence be your joy, 



Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" The relation that here I bring, 

 Concerning Charles our royall King ; 

 Through what dangers he hath past. 

 And is proclaimed king at last. 

 The prince's sorrows we will sing. 

 Which the Fates sorely did annoy. 

 And God in mercy would not destroj'. 



" After Worcester most fatall fight, 

 When that King Charles was put to flight. 

 Then many men their lives laid down. 

 To bring their Sovereign to the crown. 

 The which was a most glorious sight ; 

 Great was his Majesties convoy. 



Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" In Worcester battle, fierce and hot, 

 His horse twice under him was shot, 

 And by a wise and prudent thrift. 

 To save his life was forced to shift. 

 Without difliculty it was not. 

 Providence did him safely convoy. 



Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" And being full of discontents, 

 Stript off Iiis princel}^ ornaments; 

 Thus, full of troubles and of cares, 

 A knife cut off his curled hairs, 

 Whereby the hunters he prevents ; 

 God did in mercy him convoy. 



So that they could not him destroy. 



" A cliain of gold he gave away. 

 Worth three hundred pounds that day; 

 In this disguise by honest thrift. 

 Command all for themselves to shift. 

 With one friend both night and day, 

 Poor prince alone to God's convoy. 

 His foes they could not him destroy. 



" These two wandred into a wood. 

 Where a hollow oak there stood. 

 And for his precious lives dear sake 

 Did of that oak his palace make ; 

 His friend towards night provided food. 

 So their precious lives they did enjo}'. 

 Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" Lord Willmot, most valiant and stout. 

 He was pursued by the rout ; 

 Was hid in a fiery kiln of mault, 

 And so escaped the souldiers' assault. 

 Which searched all the house about, 

 Not dreaming the kiln was his convoy, 

 Wliich God in mercy Avould not destroy. 



" The Second Part. To the same tune. 



" And relates King Charles his miseries, 

 Which forced tears from tender eyes. 

 Mistress Lane entreats him earnestly 

 Por to find out his Majesty, 

 And him to save she would devise ; 

 Unto her house they him convoy. 



Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" King Charles a liveiy cloak ivore than, 

 And became a serving-man. 

 And westward rode towards the sea, 

 Intended transported to be ; 

 And Mistress Lane now please he can. 

 Which was the King's safest convoy. 

 Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" In accident of great renown, 

 As they were for to ride throw a town. 

 A troop of horse stood crosse the street ; 

 Then jealousie the King did greet. 

 And Fortune seem'd on him to frown ; 

 He thought the Fates would him annoy. 

 Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" The captain commanded his men 

 To the right and left to open then, 

 Por harmlessc travellers he them did take. 

 And an interest for them did make ; 

 And so they passed on again. 

 Unto King Charles's no small joy. 

 Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" His mistress, coming to her in, 

 Left William her man in the kitchen; 

 The cook-maid askt where he was born. 

 And what trade that he did learn. 

 To frame his excuse he did begin ; 

 Thus his sorrow was turn'd to joy. 



Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



" To answer mild he thus begun : 

 ' At Brumigam a nailer's son ; ' 

 Then said the maid, 'The jack stands still, 

 Pray wind it up, if that you will.' 

 Which he did, suspition to shun. 

 And somewhat did the same annoy, 

 Yet did not the same quite destroy. 



"As those that were by do say, 

 He went about it the wrong way. 

 Which angred the maid the same to see. 

 She call'd him a clownish boobee. 

 In all my life that ever I saw ; 

 Her railing caus'd him laugh for joy. 

 Whom God in mercy would not destroy. 



"After many weeks in jeopardy 

 He was wafted into Normandy; 



