After the final Royalist defeat of the English Civil War against Cromwell's New Model Army at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651, the future Charles II of England (already by that time King of Scotland) was forced to flee, famously avoiding detection by hiding in an oak tree in a wood that was being searched by Parliamentarian soldiers. A £1000 reward was announced for information leading to Charles's capture. Relying on the support of a network of Royalist gentry, Charles first attempted to escape into Wales, then to Bristol disguised as a servant, then to the south coast at Charmouth disguised as an eloping lover. Finally, he rode east to Shoreham from where he took a coal boat to France on 15 October 1651.