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to a greater number of women.

However, if he signally failed in his honourable proposals, he at least succeeded as entirely in his libertine attachBut we must return to the more stirring

ments.
events of the Restoration.

CHAPTER XVI,

CHARLES II.

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Restoration of Charles II. - The King Sails for England Received on Landing by General Monk- His Splendid Progress toward London His Gratitude to Heaven Singularly Exemplified - Coronation — Familiarity of Charles with His Subjects - His Habit of Fast Walking- His Saying to Prince George of Denmark - His Custom of Feeding the Fowls in St. James's Park - Anecdotes The King's Witty Retort to the Duke of York - The Royal Barber - Fondness of Charles for Dogs - Lampoons on the Subject - Social Qualities of Charles - His Love of Wit-Shaftesbury's Retort to Charles

Anecdote of Blood - The King's Quiet Reprimand of Penn, the Quaker — His Witty Sayings and Love of Fun.

MONK, by his wily and skilful conduct, having prepared the way for the king's return, Charles accepted an invitation from the States of Holland to embark from their shores; and, accordingly, in the beginning of May, 1660, he proceeded to Breda, and from thence to The Hague, where he was received with all kindness. and splendour by the Dutch nation. Admiral Montague, afterward Earl of Sandwich, with the English fleet under his command, was expecting his orders on the coast of Holland. Accordingly, after passing a few days at The Hague, in the society of his sister, the

Princess of Orange, Charles embarked at Scheveling on the twenty-fourth of May, on board the Naseby, a name, however, which, as it must have somewhat grated on royal ears, had recently been changed to the Royal Charles.

The voyage was prosperous, and on the twentyfifth of May the heights of Dover were perceptible. "I conversed," says an anonymous writer, "with some of our seamen who brought over King Charles in the Naseby, and they told me the first time they had ever heard the common-prayer and God-damnye, was on board that ship as she came home with his Majesty." Charles delayed disembarking till the following day.

He was received on landing by Monk and other persons of distinction. The general, than whom no man had ever performed a greater service for his sovereign, instantly dropped on one knee and kissed the king's hand. Charles, raising him from the ground, and taking him in his arms, embraced him affectionately. Together they walked under a rich canopy toward the town. On their way they were met by the mayor and corporation of Dover, who presented the king with a large Bible, ornamented with clasps of gold.

The same day, attended by Monk, and the Dukes of York, Gloucester, and Buckingham, Charles entered his coach, and departed for Canterbury. The most magnificent preparations and the wildest effusions of joy encountered him at every

step. The road was everywhere thronged with spectators; in the towns through which he passed the houses were decorated with silken streamers; while the perpetual sound of music and acclamations almost deafened his ears. On Barham Downs he was met by a brilliant train of the nobility, "clad in very rich apparel," as well as by four gallant regiments composed of the loyal men of Kent. As Charles presented himself at the head of each troop on horseback, the men kissed the hilts of their swords, and then, flourishing their weapons in the air, mingled their shouts with the clamours of their trumpets.

The same fervent joy was everywhere demonstrated, and such was the exultation of the old cavaliers, that more than one person is said to have died of excessive delight; among these is said to have been Oughtred, the celebrated mathematician. "The whole country," says an old writer, "flocked in, and cutting down palms, and strewing the ways with all sorts of fragrant flowers, and decking the lanes and passages with the greatest variety of country pomps, garlands beset with rings, ribands, and the like, the air echoing all along, and redoubling the perpetually iterated hosannas, he came to London."

At Canterbury the king was met by the mayor and aldermen of that ancient city, who, after having presented him with a cup of gold, conducted him to the house of Lord Camden. The next day

being Sunday, he attended divine service in the cathedral and remained that day and night in the city. On the Monday he proceeded in the same triumphal manner toward Rochester, where he rested another night. The houses in the streets through which he passed are said to have been completely covered with streamers, ribands, and garlands of flowers.

The following morning, the twenty-ninth of May, being his birthday, he entered his coach and departed toward London with an increased and more brilliant train. At Blackheath the army were drawn up and received him with the loudest acclamations. Charles, having previously exchanged his coach for a charger, bowed frequently to the military as they marched before him. The country people were not backward in displaying their loyalty. The old music of tabor and pipe, their favourite morrice-dances, and other rural sports, added considerably to the effect of the joyous scene. In the town of Deptford, a hundred young girls, dressed in white, and with gay baskets in their hands, walked immediately before the king, and strewed flowers in his path.

In St. George's Fields, Southwark, he was met by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, in their scarlet gowns. By these dignitaries he was conducted to a large tent covered with tapestry, under which was a chair of state, surmounted by a rich canopy.

The lord mayor then presented

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