royalty restored-第55章
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killed a man； was baited by dogs； but fought so hard for his life 〃the fiercest of them could not fasten on him till he was run through with swords。〃 Not only bull and bear baiting； cock and dog fighting were encouraged； but prize combats between man and man were regarded as sources of great diversion。 Pepys gives a vivid picture of a furious encounter he； in common with a great and excited crowd； witnessed at the bear…garden stairs； at Bankside； between a butcher and a waterman。 〃The former；〃 says he； 〃had the better all along； till by…and…by the latter dropped his sword out of his hand； and the butcher； whether not seeing his sword dropped I know not； but did give him a cut over the wrist； so as he was disabled to fight any longer。 But Lord！ to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play； and the butchers to defend their fellow； though most blamed him； and then they all fell to it to knocking down and cutting many on each side。 It was pleasant to see； but that I stood in the pit； and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt。〃
Among the more healthy sports which obtained during the reign were horse…racing； tennis； and bowling。 The monarch had； at vast expense； built a house and stables at Newmarket； where he and his court regularly repaired； to witness racing。 Here likewise the king and 〃ye jolly blades enjoyed dauncing； feasting； and revelling； more resembling a luxurious and abandoned route than a Christian court。〃 He had likewise a tennis…court and bowling green at Whitehall； where at noonday and towards eve； blithe lords； and ladies in brave apparel； might be seen at play。 Bowling was a game to which the people were much devoted； every suburban tavern having its green； where good friends and honest neighbours challenged each other's strength and skill。 And amongst other pleasant sports and customs were those practised on May…day； when maids rose betimes to bathe their faces in dew； that they might become sweet…complexioned to men's sight； and milk…maids with garlands of spring flowers upon their pails； and posies in their breasts； danced to the merry music of fiddles adown the streets。
CHAPTER XX。
Court customs in the days of the merry monarch。Dining in public。The Duke of Tuscany's supper to the king。 Entertainment of guests by mountebanks。Gaming at court。Lady Castlemaine's losses。A fatal duel。Dress of the period。 Riding…habits first seen。His majesty invents a national costume。Introduction of the penny post。Divorce suits are known。Society of Antiquaries。Lord Worcester's inventions。 The Duchess of Newcastle。
Few courts have been more brilliant than that of the merry monarch。 All the beauty of fair women； the gallantry of brave men； and the gaiety of well…approved wits could compass； perpetually surrounded his majesty； making the royal palace a lordly pleasure house。 Noble banquets； magnificent balls； and brilliant suppers followed each other in quick succession。 Three times a weekon Wednesdays； Fridays； and Sundaysthe king and queen dined publicly in ancient state； whilst rare music was discoursed； and many ceremonies observed； amongst these being that each servitor of the royal table should eat some bread dipped in sauce of the dish he bore。 On these occasions meats for the king's table were brought from the kitchen by yeomen of the guard； or beef…eaters。 These men； selected as being amongst the handsomest； strongest； and tallest in England； were dressed in liveries of red cloth； faced with black velvet； having the king's cipher on the back； and on the breast the emblems of the Houses of York and Lancaster。 By them the dishes were handed to the gentlemen in waiting； who served royalty upon their knees。 〃You see；〃 said Charles one day to the Chevalier de Grammont； 〃how I am waited on。〃 〃I thank your majesty for the explanation；〃 said the saucy Frenchman； 〃I thought they were begging pardon for offering you so bad a dinner。〃 ＇This mode of serving the sovereign continued unto the coming of George I。＇
The costliness and splendour of some royal entertainments require the description of an eye…witness to be fully realized。 Evelyn； speaking of a great feast given to the Knights of the Garter in the banqueting…hall； tells us 〃the king sat on an elevated throne； at the upper end of the table alone； the knights at a table on the right hand； reaching all the length of the roome； over against them a cupboard of rich gilded plate； at the lower end the musick； on the balusters above； wind musick； trumpets； and kettle…drums。 The king was served by the lords and pensioners who brought up the dishes。 About the middle of the dinner the knights drank the king's health； then the king theirs； when the trumpets and musick plaid and sounded； the guns going off at the Tower。 At the banquet came in the queene and stood by the king's left hand hand； but did not sit。 Then was the banquetting stuff flung about the roome profusely。 In truth the crowd was so great that I now staied no longer than this sport began for fear of disorder。 The cheere was extraordinary； each knight having forty dishes to his messe； piled up five or six high。〃
Concerning the habit mentioned by Evelyn； of mobs rushing into banquet…halls； in order to possess themselves of all on which they could lay hands； many instances are mentioned。 The Duke of Tuscany； amongst other authorities； narrates the inconvenience it caused at a supper he gave the king。 When his majesty drove to the duke's residence he was preceded by trumpeters and torch… bearers； attended by the horse…guards and a retinue of courtiers； and accompanied by a vast crowd。 On alighting from the coach the Duke of Tuscany； together with the noblemen and gentlemen of his household； received and conducted him through passages lighted by torches to the banquet…hall。 From the ceiling of this saloon was suspended a chandelier of rock crystal； blazing with tapers； beneath it stood a circular table； at the upper end of which was placed a chair of state for the king。 The whole entertainment was costly and magnificent。 As many as eighty dishes were set upon the table； foreign wines； famous for great age and delicate flavour； sparkled in goblets of chased gold； and finally； a dessert of Italian fruits and Portuguese sweetmeats was served。 But scarce had this been laid upon the board； when the impatient crowd which had gathered round the house and forced its way inside to witness the banquet； now violently burst into the saloon and carried away all that lay before them。 Neither the presence of the king nor the appearance of his soldiers guarding the entrance with carbines was sufficient to prevent entrance or hinder pillage。 Charles； used to such scenes； left the table and retired into the duke's private apartments。
A quaint and curious account of a less ceremonious and more convivial feast； also graced by the king's presence； was narrated by Sir Hugh Cholmely to a friend and gossip。 This supper was given by Sir George Carteret； a man of pleasant humour； and moreover treasurer of the navy。 By the time the meats were removed； the king and his courtiers waxed exceedingly merry； when Sir William Armorer； equerry to his majesty； came to him and swore； 〃'By God； sir；' says he； 'you are not so kind to the Duke of York of late as you used to be。' 'Not I？' says the king。 'Why so？' 'Why；' says he； 'if you are； let us drink his health。' 'Why； let us；' says the king。 Then he fell on his knees and drank it； and having done； the king began to drink it。 'Nay； sir；' says Armorer； 'by God； you must do it on your knees！' So he did； and then all the company； and having done it； all fell acrying for joy； being all maudlin and kissing one another； the king the Duke of York； the Duke of York the king； and in such a maudlin pickle as never people were。〃
Throughout this reign the uttermost hospitality and good…fellowship abounded。 Scarce a day passed that some noble house did not throw open its doors to a brilliant throng of guests； few nights grew to dawn that the vicinities of St。 James's and Covent Garden were not made brilliant by the torches of those accompanying revellers to their homes。 The fashionable hour for dinner was three of the clock； and for greater satisfaction of guests it now became the mode to entertain them after that meal with performances of mountebanks and musicians； Various diaries inform us of this custom。 When my Lord Arlington had bidden his friends to a feast； he subsequently diverted them by the tricks of a fellow who swallowed a knife in a horn sheath； together with several pebbles； which he made rattle in his stomach； and produced again； to the wonder and amusement of all who beheld him。 ＇At a great dinner given by this nobleman； Evelyn； who was present； tells us that Lord Stafford； the unfortunate nobleman afterwards executed on Tower Hill； 〃rose from the table in some disorder； because there were roses stuck about the fruite when the descert was set on the table； such an antipathie it seems he had to them； as once Lady St。 Leger also had； and to that degree； that； as Sirr Kenelm Digby tell us； laying but a rose upon her cheeke when she was asleepe； it raised a blister； but Sir Kenelm was a teller of strange things。〃＇ The master of the mint； worthy Mr。 Slingsby； a man of finer taste； delighted his guests with the performances of renowned good masters of music； one of whom； a German； played to great perfection on an instrument with five wire strings called the VOIL D'AMORE； whilst my Lord Sunderland treated his visitors to a sight of Richardson； the renowned fire eater； who was wont to devour brimstone on glowing coals； melt a beer…glass and eat it up； take a live coal on his tongue； on which he put a raw oyster； and let it remain there till it gaped and was quite broiled； take wax； pitch and sulphur； and drink them down flaming； hold a fiery hot iron between his teeth； and throw it about like a stone from hand to hand； and perform various other prodigious feats。
Other means of indoor amusement were practised in those days； which seem wholly incompatible with the gravity of the nation in these latter times。 Pepys tells us that going to the court one day he found the Duke and Duchess of York； with all the great ladies； sitting upon a carpet on the ground playing 〃I love my love with an A； because he is so…and…so； and I hate him with an A； because of this and that；〃 and some of the ladies were mighty witty； and all of them very merry。 Grown persons likewise indulged in games of blind man's buff； and amusements of a like character； whilst at one time； the king； queen； and the whole court falling into much extravagance； as Burnet says； 〃went about masked； and came into houses unknown； and danced there with a great deal of wild frolic。 In all this they were so disguised； that without being in the secret； none could distinguish them。 They were carried about in hackney chairs。 Once the queen's chairmen； not knowing who she was； went from her； so she was alone and was much disturbed； and came to Whitehall in a hackney coach； some say it was in a cart。〃
Dancing was also a favourite and common amusement amongst all classes。 Scarce a week went by that Whitehall was not lighted up for a ball； at which the king； queen； and co
