36 THE BOSCOBEL OAK. 



was very much shattered; from that time it 

 went fast to decay, and in 1755, its last re- 

 mains were sold for firewood." 



And what is the Boscobel Oak ?" said Fre- 

 derick. I have read of that, in the English 

 History." 



Boscobel is in Staffordshire. At the house 

 so called, Charles II. took shelter, when fleeing 

 from the victorious Cromwell, after the deci- 

 sive battle of Worcester. There was a large 

 oak near it, which Charles ascended, until its 

 spreading branches veiled him from the eyes of 

 his eager pursuers. The tree has long since 

 perished. Mr. Gilpin mentions one, at Ox- 

 ford, called Alfred's oak, which is said to have 

 been a sapling when that monarch founded 

 the university ; though I cannot give implicit 

 credence to the tradition. It is now gone." 



Has the oak two sorts of fruit?" asked 



