The period of this famous book for children is set immediately after the final defeat of King Charles I. This king is a fugitive in the New Forest. The ‘children’ of the title are Edward, Humphrey, Alice and Edith, orphans of a Royalist whose home has been destroyed by Cromwell’s men. Set in a humble forester’s cottage but with danger from roaming Roundheads. The youngsters learn to shoot, to cook and to run their new cottage home.