142 LETTER XXX. WALLER TO ST. EVREMOND. I was much pleased with a conversation, which I overheard a few days ago, between the King and an honest Worcestershire Baronet, who was lately elected for a borough in that county. The good-natured man came up to take his seat among us, and, as he lived in the neighbourhood of the royal oak, he supposed that he could not pay a better compliment to his majesty than by bringing him a branch of his old asylum. Who is that antique (said the king,) with a withered branch in his hand? -It is Sir Thomas***, member for****. The KING. Sir Thomas, I am glad to see you: I hope you ean give a good account of our friends in Worces tershire. Sir THOMAS **** I wish I could please your majesty; but there is a blacksmith's wife The KING. No matter for her I enquired only after the health of your family. Sir THOMAS. Thank God! in good health--but this woman, please your majesty The KING. What of her? Sir THOMAS. Has sworn a child to your majesty. The KING. I am glad of it-I do remember that I met a woman, when I went a wood-cutting with farmer Penderell. Sir THOMAS. A rosy complexion please your majesty. The KING. No matter! What is become of the woman and her child? Sir THOMAS. She is very well taken care of, please your Majesty! The church-wardens are iny tenants, and I ordered them to allow her an upper sheet. Fye! Fye! The KING. Sir THOMAS Please your majesty, I was near losing my election by it. Some of that parish were freemen, and they said that 1, as a magistrate, ought to have sent a warrant to your majesty, to give a bond to the Parish, or to pay ten pounds. The KING. Why did you not do your duty ? Sir THOMAS Because, please your majesty, I thought it my duty not to do it. Your majesty has been at a great expence of late. The KING. True; very true, Sir Thomas! What is that branch in your hand? Some token, I suppose, by which you hold your lands Sir THOMAS No; 'tis something by which your majesty holds your lands-'tis a branch of that blessed Oak which preserved your majesty's precious life This is a wooden compliment; but it is honest and I thank you for it-You have wit Sir Thomas, why do we not see you oftener at Court? Sir THOMAS. I can do your majesty much more service in the country, by keeping up a spirit of loyalty and good will towards you amongst my neighbours. The KING, And how do you manage that point? Sir THOMAS I give them beef, and bid them fall to without the long grace of the Roundheads. Then I give 'em strong beer, and they cry God bless your majesty. The KING, If that is the toast, Sir Thomas, you are the king; and in truth, I think you govern with profound policy. Could I adopt the same measures, I should have much less trouble ; but there is no finding beef enough for that hungry circle which you see there, N Sir THOMAS God bless your majesty! I have ten fat oxen in Worcestershire; and nine of them are heartily at your majesty's service. This bountiful offer of the honest baronet's made the king laugh so violently, that it put an end to the conversation. His majesty told us, with great good humour, what we had to expect, and added he that hoped every member ofthe house would be as ready to give as Sir Thomas*****, that he might be able to find wine for the feast. This is a measure which I will promote with all my power; for the king's necessities are truly deplorable. Considering his extreme poverty, his good humor is astonishing. I believe there never was a prince at the same time so pleasant and so poor. |