A KING'S HEAD CUT OFF.

65

"I will be torn in pieces first," was the young prince's answer.

6. When the day came on which Charles was to be put to death, he was led to a scaffold that had been erected in front of his palace in London. The scaffold was covered with black cloth, and upon it was a large block of wood on which he was to lay his head.

7. Standing near the block were two men dressed in black, and with masks on their faces, so that no one might know who they were. One of them held a sharp axe in his hand.

8. Thousands of people were gathered in the streets, and numbers of soldiers, some on horseback and some on foot, were present to keep the crowd from getting too near the scaffold.

9. Charles spoke a few words to the persons near him, and then laid his head on the block. When he had said a short prayer he stretched out his hands as a sign that he was ready. In a moment the axe fell, and his head was severed from his body.

Charles the First did so many unlawful acts that war broke out between him and the Parliament. In the end he was defeated and taken prisoner. Then he was tried and sentenced to death. Two of his children visited him in prison. He tried hard to make his little son understand that the crown did not belong to him while his elder brothers were alive. The king's head was cut off on a scaffold built in front of his palace in London.

E. H. III.

E

XXVII. THE ROYAL OAK.

1. After the death of Charles the First, the English said that they would not have another king. The chief man in the country was Oliver Cromwell, and he was chosen to be their ruler. They called him "The Lord Protector."

2. Prince Charles, the eldest son of Charles the First, thought that he should be king as his father had been, and by the help of his friends he raised a large army, but was defeated by Cromwell at the battle of Worcester.

3. When Charles saw that the battle was lost, he began to think of the best way of saving himself, for he knew that if he were taken prisoner he would be put to death.

4. That night he rode twenty miles with some of his friends to a place called White Ladies, where the only food they could get was some bread and cheese.

5. The next day the prince dressed himself in the clothes of a countryman, and cut his hair very short that he might look like one of Cromwell's men, for the king's friends wore very long hair.

6. He then set off with a companion to try to get out of the country. On their way they had many narrow escapes from being taken.

7. One night as they were going past a mill, the miller saw them and called out, "Who goes there?" The prince's companion answered, "Neighbours going home." "Well," said the miller, “if you are neighbours, stop, or I will knock you down."

THE ROYAL OAK.

67

8. Instead of stopping they ran off as quickly as they could, with the miller after them shouting "Rogues, rogues"; but they got safely away.

9. At another time, when Charles went to the house of a friend for food and shelter, he was told that it was not safe for him to stay there, and that he had better climb up a great oak tree which stood in a neighbouring wood.

10. The people gave him some bread and cheese and small beer. Then he and an officer climbed the tree, and hid themselves amongst the thick leaves at the top. There they had to remain the whole day.

11. From their hiding-place they could see soldiers walking about the wood looking for any who had escaped from the battle, and could even hear them say what they would do to "that rogue Charles" if they could catch him.

12. At night the prince came down from the tree and went on his journey. After much trouble he reached France in safety.

13. Some years afterwards the English invited him to return, and he became King Charles the Second. Then many went to visit the oak in which he had concealed himself. Great care was taken to preserve the tree, which came to be known as the Royal Oak.

Con-ceal'ed, hidden, placed out
of sight.
Jour'ney, space walked or tra-
velled over.

Pre-serve', take care of.

Battle of Worcester,

| Reach'ed, got to.

Small beer, very weak beer. Worcester (Wors'ter), a cathedral city, and the capital of Worcestershire.

A.D. 1651.

SUMMARY.

On the death of Charles the First, instead of having another king, the people made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector. Prince Charles, the eldest son of Charles the First, tried to become king, but was defeated by Cromwell at Worcester. After the battle the prince tried to escape from the country. At one time he was nearly taken by a miller, and on another occasion he had to pass a whole day in an oak tree. At last he succeeded in getting to France. The oak in which he hid himself was taken care of, and called the Royal Oak.

XXVIII. THE PLAGUE: 1665.

1. In the winter of the year 1664, when Charles the Second was king, a dreadful disease made its appearance in London. It was called the plague. At first only a few persons had it, but when the weather got warmer, more and more people became ill.

2. As most of those who had the plague died, the inhabitants were very much alarmed, and all who could do so left the city and went to live in the fields or in country towns and villages.

3. When a person was known to have the plague, the house in which he lived was closed. On the door a large red cross was painted, and over it were written these words, "Lord, have mercy upon us." An armed watchman was placed outside the house, to prevent any one leaving it.

4. Large numbers of the poor, who had been thrown out of work, were engaged to bury the dead. Carts were driven through the streets at night to collect the dead bodies. As they passed along, the drivers rang bells, and cried, "Bring out your dead."

5. The dead were not placed in coffins; no mourners followed them to the grave; and no funeral service was read over them. There were so many to be buried that graves could not be dug for them. Large pits were made, and in these the bodies were placed.

6. Very few persons were to be seen in the streets, and most of the shops were closed. It is said that there were some streets in which all the houses were empty. The people had either fled into the country, or had died of the plague.

7. When the cold weather returned the number of deaths became less, and the disease almost disappeared. Then those who had left the city went back to their homes, the shops were opened, and life went on as usual.

ployed.

En-gag'ed, set to work, em- | In-hab'it-ants, dwellers, those who live in a place. Pre-vent', hinder, stop from going on.

Fu'ner-al Serv'ice, prayers, etc.,
when the dead are buried.

Charles II. began to reign,
The Plague,

SUMMARY.

In the reign of Charles the Second a disease called "The Plague" appeared in London. So many people died of it that those who could do so left the city. When a person was known to have the plague, a large red cross was painted on his door, and over the cross the words, "Lord, have mercy upon us." No one was allowed to leave the house. Carts went through the streets at night to collect the dead. The bodies were buried in great pits. When the weather got colder the disease almost disappeared.