have listened to them, though, perhaps, he had heard them repeated five or six times before. "His stories," he says, "were invariably retouched and embellished with some fresh circumstance to attract attention." Burnet, however, observes, with his usual malice, that "the courtiers grew so tired with the king's stories that, though he might have commenced one of them in a crowded room, it was generally nearly empty by the time he had concluded it." Rochester said, he wondered "how a person who possessed so good memory as to repeat a story without missing a word, should have so bad a one as to forget that he had told it to the same company but the day before." Evelyn, however, who was admitted to his society, mentions the king's large store of anecdotes, and his particular talent for relating them.

Charles possessed real wit himself, and valued it in others. The happy reply of Blood, when Charles inquired how he dared to make his bold attempt on the crown jewels, seems originally to have prejudiced the king in his favour. "My father," said Blood, "lost a good estate in fighting for the Crown; and I considered it no harm to recover it by the crown." On another occasion, a stranger presenting him with a petition, Charles inquired rather angrily of him, how he dared to bring him such a paper. "May it please your Majesty," said the intruder, impudently, "my name is Dare." Charles could even pardon

a jest when personal to himself.

"Shaftesbury,"

he one day said to the unprincipled earl, "I believe thou art the wickedest fellow in my dominions." "For a subject, sir," said the other, "I believe I am."

Among those whom he admitted to familiar intercourse was William Penn, the celebrated Quaker, and lawgiver of Pennsylvania. Penn, thinking proper to carry his sectarian prejudices into the presence of royalty, on his introduction had continued standing before the king without removing his hat. Charles quietly rebuked him, by taking off his own hat, and stood uncovered before Penn. "Friend Charles," said the future legislator, "why dost thou not keep on thy hat?” "'Tis the custom of this place," replied the witty monarch, "for only one person to remain covered at a time."

Charles delighted in the society of learned foreigners. Among others whom he honoured with. his notice was Gregorio Leti, a native of Milan, and formerly popular as a historian. Charles once said to him, "I hear, Leti, you are writing the history of the court of England." Leti admitted that he was collecting materials for such a work. "You must take care," said the king, "that your work gives no offence." "Sir," replied Leti, "I will do what I can; but if a man were as wise as Solomon, he would scarce be able to avoid giving some offence." "Why, then," said Charles,

with his usual quickness, "be as wise as Solomon; write proverbs, not histories."

He loved what may be called fun as much as the youngest of his courtiers. On one of his birthdays, an impudent rascal of a pickpocket had obtained admission to the drawing-room, in the garb of a gentleman. He had succeeded in extracting a gold snuff-box from a nobleman's pocket, and was quietly transferring it to his own, when, looking up, he suddenly caught the king's eye, and discovered that he had been perceived by his Majesty. The fellow, aware, in all probability, of the king's easy character, had the impudence to put his finger to his nose, and winked knowingly at Charles to hold his tongue. Shortly afterward, the king was much amused by perceiving the nobleman feeling one pocket after another in search of his treasure. At last, he could resist no longer, and looking about him (probably to make certain that the thief had escaped), he called out to the injured person, "You need not, my lord, give yourself any more trouble about it. Your box is gone, and I own myself an accomplice. I could not help it, I was made a confidant."

Charles was fully aware of the frailties of his friends, and, as we have seen in his speech to Shaftesbury, took a pleasure in bantering them on their evil courses.

On the principle of noscitur a sociis, we cannot

wonder that many of the individuals for whom his courtiers interested themselves were men not of the most reputable character. When Lord Keeper Guildford once interceded for a man whose reputation was somewhat indifferent: "It is strange," said Charles, "that every one of my friends keeps a tame knave."

CHAPTER XVII.

CHARLES II.

Instances of Charles's Right Feeling and Kindness of HeartHis Good-natured Support of Lord Keeper Guildford- His Kindness to Sir John Reresby - Liberality of Charles — His Excellent Natural Capacity - His Knowledge of the Arts and Sciences - His Interest in Naval Affairs - His Taste for the Sea Becomes Fashionable at Court- His Love of Theatricals Anecdotes - Verses Believed to Be the Com

position of Charles - Profligacy of the Court - Remarkable

Punishment of Sir Peckshall Brockas - Desecration at Court of the Sabbath Day-A Court Ball - Ancient Palace of Whitehall - The King's Mode of Living at Windsor - His Taste for Fishing - His Manner of Living at NewmarketPicture of a Royal Debauch - Anecdotes - Royal Mistresses - Their Rapacity - The King's Nickname of "Old Rowley" - His Poverty — His Custom of Attending the Debates in the House of Lords.

THE enemies of Charles have denied to him every sense of rectitude, and even the common merit of good nature. In their sweeping charges of profligacy, indolence, and ingratitude, they have divested him of the few better feelings and principles, of which his reputation cannot afford to be deprived. As regards one point of his character, Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, justly stands up