Historian Arthur R. Nicholls describes Yak Bob Day

IT IS difficult for us in our present sophisticated society to appreciate how ordinary people in the past enjoyed such simple pleasures.

One such was Yak Bob Day. The name means Oak Apple Day and was celebrated each year on May 29.

People decorated their houses with branches and leaves of oak trees. The celebration went back to an event some 450 years concerning King Charles II.

He was just 19 years old living in exile in France when his father was beheaded. The Royalists in Scotland summoned him to come and be their king.

On New Year’s Day 1651, was crowned King of Scotland at Scone. With an army of 40,000 men, he marched into England to claim the throne of his late father. A battle ensued at Worcester and Charles’s army was utterly defeated and routed by Cromwell’s soldiers.

He escaped with his life and for 40 days became a fugitive fleeing from his enemies disguised as a common serving man with a prize of £1,000 on his head. He was helped and protected by a few of his loyal subjects and none betrayed him.

Making his way towards the coast, where he intended to catch a boat to sail to safety in France, he came near to capture a number of times but managed to evade his pursuers.

On May 29 together with a Royalist refugee like himself, he entered Boscobel Wood, taking with them supplies of bread, cheese and beer. With their pursuers close behind, they climbed up into a large oak tree and managed to hide away in its leafy branches.

Cromwell’s men followed them into the woods and spent the day beating the bushes and thickets below the trees looking for Charles or any other fugitive.

Charles and his companion sat, safely concealed, holding their breaths as the soldiers came nearer but failed to discover them. The search went on all day and, safe in their perch, Charles fell asleep.

At one point the soldiers came uncomfortably close to the two men and his companion was afraid that Charles would make a sound or fall out of the tree so he quietly woke him.

The searchers gradually moved away and by nightfall the two fugitives felt safe to go on with their journey.

After many more adventures Charles eventually escaped to France where he lived in exile for the next ten years.

Some time after Cromwell’s death Charles was proclaimed King by Parliament. His landing at Dover was met by cheering crowds. May 29 was celebrated annually and the oak tree in Boscobel Wood was named “The Royal Oak” and given special respect. A number of public houses or inns were named “The Royal Oak” too.

Over the years the meaning of the day faded from memory and the day became just a holiday. In 1816 there were complaints in Kendal about the wholesale damage being done to the oak trees and the day fell out of favour.