To Catch a King

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In January 1649, King Charles I was executed, leading Britain into a republic. His son, Charles, returned in 1651 to reclaim the throne but faced defeat at Worcester, where thousands of his supporters fell. With his dreams seemingly shattered, capture appeared inevitable. Standing six foot two with dark skin inherited from his mother, Charles was hard to miss. The next six weeks would become a legendary chapter in his life as he evaded Cromwell's soldiers and a hefty bounty on his head. Utilizing disguise, deception, and sheer determination, he endured immense hardships, including hiding in an oak tree—an event so iconic that over 400 pubs are named Royal Oak in tribute. Lesser-known episodes include witnessing a village celebrate his supposed death and a medical student suffering due to their resemblance. He cleverly disguised himself as a servant and as part of an eloping couple. After eventually regaining the throne as Charles II, he recounted his thrilling escape to Samuel Pepys, who documented the adventures. This gripping narrative, based on extensive archival research, draws on Pepys's accounts and others to vividly recount this extraordinary true story.