royalty restored-第8章
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went to the buttery…hatch to get my breakfast； where I found Pope and two or three other men in the room； and we all fell to eating bread and butter； to which he gave us very good ale and sack。 And as I was sitting there； there was one that looked like a country fellow sat just by me； who； talking； gave so particular an account of the battle of Worcester to the rest of the company that I concluded he must be one of Cromwell's soldiers。 But I； asking how he came to give so good an account of that battle； he told me he was in the King's regiment； by which I thought he meant one Colonel King's regiment。 But questioning him further； I perceived he had been in my regiment of Guards； in Major Broughton's companythat was my Major in the battle。 I asked him what kind of man I was； to which he answered by describing exactly both my clothes and my horse； and then； looking upon me； he told me that the king was at least three fingers taller than I。 Upon which I made what haste I could out of the buttery； for fear he should indeed know me； as being more afraid when I knew he was one of our own soldiers than when I took him for one of the enemy's。 So Pope and I went into the hall； and just as we came into it Mistress Norton was coming by through it； upon which I； plucking off my hat and standing with it in my hand as she passed by； Pope looked very earnestly in my face。 But I took no notice of it； but put on my hat again and went away； walking out of the house into the field。〃
When he returned； however； the butler followed him into a private room； and going down on his stiff knees； said； with tears in his old eyes； he was rejoiced to see his majesty in safety。 The king affected to laugh at him； and asked him what he meant； but Pope told him he knew him well； for before he was a trooper in his father's service he had been falconer to Sir Thomas Jermyn； groom of the bedchamber to the king when he was a boy。 Charles saw it was useless longer to deny himself； and therefore said he believed him to be a very honest man； and besought he would not reveal what he knew to anyone。 This the old man readily promised； and faithfully kept his word。 Having spent a couple of days at Norton's； the king； by advice of Lord Wilmot； went to the house of a true friend and loyal man； one Colonel Windham； who lived at Trent。 This town was notable as a very hotbed of republicanism； a proof of which was afforded his majesty on the very day of his entrance。 As he rode into the principal street； still disguised as a waiting man to Mistress Lane； he heard a great ringing of bells； and the tumult of many voices； and saw a vast concourse of people gathered in the churchyard close by。 On asking the cause he was informed one of Cromwell's troopers was telling the people he had killed Charles Stuart； whose buff coat he then wore； whereon the rebels rang the church bells； and were about to make a great bonfire for joy。
Having brought him to Trent； Mistress Lane returned home； carrying with her the king's friendship and gratitude； of which he gave her ample proof when he came unto the throne。 Charles stayed at Colonel Windham's over a week； whilst that gallant man was secretly striving to hire a ship for his majesty's safe transportation into France。 Presently succeeding in this object； the king； yet wearing his livery； and now riding before Mistress Judith Coningsby； cousin of Colonel Windham； started with high hopes for Lyme； but at the last moment the captain of the vessel failed him； and he was again left in a state of painful uncertainty and danger。 Lord Wilmot was sent to ascertain the cause of this disappointment； and for greater safety the king rode on to Burport with his friends。 Being come to the outskirts of the town； they were alarmed at finding the streets in a state of confusion； and full of Cromwell's soldiers； fifteen hundred of whom were about to embark for Jersey。 His majesty's coolness and presence of mind did not fail him； he resolved to ride boldly into the town； and hire a chamber at the best inn。 The yard of the hostelry was likewise crowded with troopers； but this did not dismay his majesty。
〃I alighted；〃 said he； 〃and taking the horses； thought it the best way to go blundering in among them； and lead them through the middle of the soldiers into the stable； which I did； and they were very angry with me for my rudeness。 As soon as I came into the stable I took the bridle off the horses； and called the ostler to me to help me； and to give the horses some oats。 And as the hostler was helping me to feed the horses； 'Sure； sir；' says he； 'I know your face？' which was no very pleasant question to me。 But I thought the best way was to ask him where he had lived； or whether he had always lived there or no。 He told me that he was but newly come thither； that he was born in Exeter； and had been ostler in an inn there； hard by one Mr。 Potter's； a merchant in whose house I had lain in the time of the war。 So I thought it best to give the fellow no further occasion of thinking where he had seen me； for fear he should guess right at last； therefore I told him； 'Friend； certainly you have seen me then at Mr。 Potter's； for I served him a good while above a year。' 'Oh；' says he； 'then I remember you a boy there；' and with that was put off from thinking any more on it； but desired that we might drink a pot of beer together； which I excused by saying that I must go wait on my master； and get his dinner ready for him； but told him that my master was going to London； and would return about three weeks hence； when he would be there； and I would not fail to drink a pot with him。〃
The king and his friends； having dined at the inn； got word that the master of the ship； suspecting that it was some dangerous employment he had been hired for； absolutely refused to fulfil his contract。 Therefore they； being sad at heart and fearful； retraced their steps to Trent； and presently his majesty went further into Sussex； and abode with a staunch Royalist； one Colonel Gunter； who resided within four miles of Salisbury。 This excellent man at last succeeded in hiring a ship to carry away the king； and so Charles made another journey to Brighthelmstone； where he met the captain of the vessel and the merchant that had hired her on behalf of Colonel Gunter； both of whom had been kept in ignorance of their future passenger's identity。 Arriving at Brighthelmstone； they entered an inn and ordered supper； during which the captain more than once looked hard at the king。 And the meal being ended； the captain called the merchant aside and said he was not dealt with fairly； inasmuch as he had not been told the king was the person to be conveyed from thence。 The merchant； not being so wise as the master； denied such was the case； but the honest fellow told him not to be troubled。 〃For I think；〃 said he； 〃I do God and my country good service in preserving the king： and by the grace of God I will venture my life and all for him； and set him safely on shore； if I can； in France。〃
Nor was this the last of his majesty's numerous risks； for being presently left alone； he stood thoughtful and somewhat melancholy by the fire； resting one hand on a chair； and the landlord； coming in and seeing him engaged in this manner； softly advanced； suddenly kissed the king's hand； and said； 〃God bless you； wherever you go。〃 Charles started； and would have denied himself； but the landlord cried out； 〃'Fore God； your majesty may trust me； and；〃 he added； 〃I have no doubt； before I die； to be a lord； and my wife a lady。〃
That night； the last his majesty was to spend in England for many years； he was sad and depressed。 The scenes of bloodshed he had witnessed； the imminent dangers he had escaped； were vividly present to his mind。 The past was fraught with horror； the future held no hope。 Though a king； he was about to become an outcast from his realm。 Surmising his thoughts； his companions sought to cheer him。 Now the long…desired moment of escape was at hand； no one thought of repose。 The little vessel in which he intended sailing lay dry upon the shore； the tide being at low water。 The king and his friends； the merchant； the captain； and the landlord； sat in the well…lighted cosy parlour of the seaport inn； smoking； playing cards； telling stories and drinking good ale。
With all such diversions the hours wore heavily away。 Their noisy joviality had an undercurrent of sadness； jokes failed to amuse； laughter seemed forced； words； mirthful in leaving the lips； sounded ominous on reaching the ear。 At four o'clock the captain rose to survey his ship； and presently returned saying the tide had risen。 Thereon the king and his friends prepared to depart。 A damp； chilly November fog hung over the sea； hiding its wide expanse without deadening its monotonous moan。 A procession of black figures leaving the inn sped noiselessly through darkness。 Arriving at the shore； those who were not to accompany his majesty； knelt and kissed his hand。 Then he； with Lord Wilmot and the captain； climbed on board the vessel and entered the cabin。 The fog had turned to rain。 Four hours later； the tide being favourable； the ship sailed out of port； and in due time the king was safely landed in France。
CHAPTER III。
Celebration of the Kings return。Those who flocked to Whitehall My Lord Cleveland's gentlemen。Sir Thomas Allen's supper。 Touching for King's evil。That none might lose their labour。 The man with the fungus nose。The memory of the regicides。 Cromwell's effigy。Ghastly scene at Tyburn。The King's clemency。The Coronation procession。Sights and scenes by the way。His Majesty is crowned。
The return of the king and his court was a signal for universal joy throughout the nation in general and the capital in particular。 For weeks and months subsequent to his majesty's triumphal entry； the town did not subside from its condition of excitement and revelry to its customary quietude and sobriety。 Feasts by day were succeeded by entertainments at night； 〃and under colour of drinking the king's health；〃 says Bishop Burnet； 〃there were great disorder and much riot。〃
It seemed as if the people could not sufficiently express their delight at the presence of the young king amongst them； or satisfy their desire of seeing him。 When clad in rich velvets and costly lace； adorned with many jewels and waving feathers； he walked in Hyde Park attended by an 〃abundance of gallantry；〃 or went to Whitehall Chapel； where 〃the organs and singing…men in surplices〃 were first heard by Mr。 Pepys； a vast crowd of loyal subjects attended him on his way。 Likewise； when； preceded by heralds； he journeyed by water in his barge to open Parliament； the river was crowded with innumerable boats； and the banks lined with a great concourse anxious for sight of him。 Nor were his subjects satisfied by the glimpses obtained of him on such occasions； they must needs behold their king surrounded by the insignia of royalty in the palace of his ancestors； and flocked thither in numbers。 〃The eagerness of men； women； and children to see his majesty； and kisse his hands was so greate；〃 says Evelyn； 〃that he had scarce leisure to eate for some dayes； coming as they did from all parts of the nation： and the king being as willing to giv
