DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0016
ii editor’s introduction.
the lax virtue of the dames of Louis XIV., were too grating to
the public feelings to take firm root in England; and, whilst the
nation went on gradually increasing and improving upon the
refinements which were now introduced, a few years saw the more
objectionable fashions which had accompanied them, disappear.
The joy which seemed to hail the accession of Charles to the
throne of his father, was but the gleamy sunshine which often
ushers in a gloomy overclouded day. Many people, tired of the
uncertainties which had for some time filled their minds, hailed a
change which seemed to promise them some settled government.
The King was not brought in by the strength of his own party,
but rather by the dissatisfaction of those unquiet people, who,
irritated because the government was not moulded according to
their own ideas and influenced by themselves, hastened the recall
of the exiled monarch, that they might at least see the overthrow
of the party of which they were jealous. They bore no love to
Charles in their hearts, but they shouted at his elevation, because
it was the downfall of the Protectorate. The leading men seized
the occasion which they saw presented, and made their own ad-
vantage of it, by making their peace with the exile, and hurrying
his restoration. But many of his best friends, who knew well his
incapacity for the throne to which he was called, were not without
their fears of the future. Yet there were not wanting many also,
who, in the warmth of their zeal, thought the joy of every body
was as sincere as their own.
“ This day,” (29th May,) says Evelyn, “his majestie Charles
the Second came to London, after a sad and long exile and calami-
tous suffering, both of the King and church, being 17 years. This
was also his birth-day, and with a triumph of above 20,000 horse
and foote, brandishing their swords and shouting with inexpressible
joy ; the wayes strew’d with flowers, the belles ringing, the streetes
hung with tapistry, fountaines running with wine; the maior,
aidermen, and all the companies in their liveries, chaines of gold,
and banners; lords and nobles clad in cloth of silver, gold, and
the lax virtue of the dames of Louis XIV., were too grating to
the public feelings to take firm root in England; and, whilst the
nation went on gradually increasing and improving upon the
refinements which were now introduced, a few years saw the more
objectionable fashions which had accompanied them, disappear.
The joy which seemed to hail the accession of Charles to the
throne of his father, was but the gleamy sunshine which often
ushers in a gloomy overclouded day. Many people, tired of the
uncertainties which had for some time filled their minds, hailed a
change which seemed to promise them some settled government.
The King was not brought in by the strength of his own party,
but rather by the dissatisfaction of those unquiet people, who,
irritated because the government was not moulded according to
their own ideas and influenced by themselves, hastened the recall
of the exiled monarch, that they might at least see the overthrow
of the party of which they were jealous. They bore no love to
Charles in their hearts, but they shouted at his elevation, because
it was the downfall of the Protectorate. The leading men seized
the occasion which they saw presented, and made their own ad-
vantage of it, by making their peace with the exile, and hurrying
his restoration. But many of his best friends, who knew well his
incapacity for the throne to which he was called, were not without
their fears of the future. Yet there were not wanting many also,
who, in the warmth of their zeal, thought the joy of every body
was as sincere as their own.
“ This day,” (29th May,) says Evelyn, “his majestie Charles
the Second came to London, after a sad and long exile and calami-
tous suffering, both of the King and church, being 17 years. This
was also his birth-day, and with a triumph of above 20,000 horse
and foote, brandishing their swords and shouting with inexpressible
joy ; the wayes strew’d with flowers, the belles ringing, the streetes
hung with tapistry, fountaines running with wine; the maior,
aidermen, and all the companies in their liveries, chaines of gold,
and banners; lords and nobles clad in cloth of silver, gold, and