Now my history mightn't be all that it could but I was reading a book on English history just last night and Charles II (he of the spanials) did survive the flight, after Cromwell's death was invited back to be king (The so-called "Restoration"), regaled his guests for many a year on tales of his derring do during the flight, and, as you say, died peacfully, when his brother James took over (he of the Fire of London).

Pepys (whose diaries I've read) knew both of them, and had been at the beheading of Charles I.

Trouble is, I'm racing through the chapters of that book so fast I may get my monarchs out of synch, but this is the period I'd just got up to, esp. Cromwell, when Alex posted. :-)

>Wait a second. Charles II died peacefully on throne, but his brother James II was really chased away. However, 'Royal Oak' episode must be about Old Pretender (James's son) in 1715 attempt to recover Stuart monarchy, though I could be mistaken here.

Don't you mean "The Young Pretender" - Fatty Prince Charlie, the France-brought-up milksop?
James II, although an inept king, was the main driving force in directing ops during the Fire of London, while the Lord Mayor flapped. He was profligate in entertaining, brought back all the gaiety that Cromwell had suppressed (Pepys was chuffed with all this), but allowed the debacle of the Dutch sailing up the Medway River, setting fire to half the English fleet, and making off with its flagship, indeed, "The Royal Oak" :-)

>
>>That was throwing me too! True, Charles II did try and start his own rumble with the parliamentarians, but was trounced, and ended up on the run (the famous hiding in an Oak tree one day - hence the proliferation of English pubs called "The Royal Oak" - and "Priest Holes" in Catholic sympathisers' houses). He eventually escaped to France, via the Sussex port of Shoreham (just 4 miles up the coast from where I live). There was a pub - later also a night club - in Brighton (where I live) called "The Royal Escape".
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>>>Sorry, but Battle of Culloden was about 100 years later. Cromwell lived in 17th century.

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