At the start of the English Civil War (1642 - 51) The Borough of Bewdley was a staunch supporter of the King. The Town had been established as a Royal Borough in 1472 and belonged to the crown.

After Charles 1 was beheaded by Parliament in 1649 he was succeeded by his son, Charles II, who was by this time living in exile in France. He returned to Scotland in 1650 and marched south to recover his throne but was defeated by Oliver Cromwell at the battle of Worcester, which finally finished on the outskirts of Bewdley in a valley known to this day as "The Bloody Hole".

Charles II escaped by hiding in an oak tree at Boscobel, near Wolverhampton, whilst Roundheads searched the countryside. He then returned to exile on the continent until restoration in 1660. During this period of puritan rule Royalists were persecuted and the Royal Toast was forbidden.
Charles was of a swarthy complexion and in order to confoundthe Roundheads supporters of the Crown would drink to the health of...

"The Black Boy Across The Water"