The new Parliament met on the twenty-fifth of April, and on the first of May the King's letter from Breda was read, and the Restoration determined by a vote of the House. The King immediately repaired to the coast, and, after meeting with some obstruction from the roughness of the weather, went on board the NAZEBY on the 23rd of May. On the 25th he landed at Dover. He made his entry into London on the 29th.

To the tune of "When the King enjoys his own again."

Where's those that did prognosticate, And did envy fair England's state, And said King Charles no more should reign?

Their predictions were but in vain, For the King is now return'd, For whom fair England mourn'd; His n.o.bles royally him entertain.

Now blessed be the day!

Thus do his subjects say, That G.o.d hath brought him home again.

The twenty-second of lovely May At Dover arrived, fame doth say, Where our most n.o.ble generall Did on his knees before him fall, Craving to kiss his hand, So soon as he did land.

Royally they did him entertain, With all their pow'r and might, To bring him to his right, And place him in his own again.

Then the King, I understand, Did kindly take him by the hand And lovingly did him embrace, Rejoycing for to see his face.

Hee lift him from the ground With joy that did abound, And graciously did him entertain; Rejoycing that once more He was o' th' English sh.o.r.e, To enjoy his own in peace again.

From Dover to Canterbury they past, And so to Cobham-hall at last; From thence to London march amain, With a triumphant and glorious train, Where he was received with joy, His sorrow to destroy, In England once more for to raign; Now all men do sing, G.o.d save Charles our King, That now enjoyes his own again.

At Deptford the maidens they Stood all in white by the high-way Their loyalty to Charles to show, They with sweet flowers his way to strew.

Each wore a ribbin blew, They were of comely hue, With joy they did him entertain, With acclamations to the skye As the King pa.s.sed by, For joy that he receives his own again.

In Wallworth-fields a gallant band Of London 'prentices did stand, All in white dublets very gay, To entertain King Charles that day, With muskets, swords, and pike; I never saw the like, Nor a more youthfull gallant train; They up their hats did fling, And cry, "G.o.d save the King!

Now he enjoys his own again."

At Newington-Buts the Lord Mayor willed A famous booth for to be builded, Where King Charles did make a stand, And received the sword into his hand; Which his Majesty did take, And then returned back Unto the Mayor with love again.

A banquet they him make, He doth thereof partake, Then marcht his triumphant train.

The King with all his n.o.blemen, Through Southwark they marched then; First marched Major Generall Brown, (106) Then Norwich Earle of great renown, (107) With many a valiant knight And gallant men of might, Richly attired, marching amain, There Lords Mordin, Gerard, and The good Earle of Cleavland, (108) To bring the King to his own again.

Near sixty flags and streamers then Was born before a thousand men, In plush coats and chaines of gold, These were most rich for to behold; With every man his page, The glory of his age; With courage bold they marcht amain, Then with gladnesse they Brought the King on his way For to enjoy his own again.

Then Lichfields and Darbyes Earles, (109) Two of fair England's royall pearles; Major Generall Ma.s.sey then Commanded the life guard of men, The King for to defend, If any should contend, Or seem his comming to restrain; But also joyfull were That no such durst appear, Now the King enjoyes his own again.

Four rich maces before them went, And many heralds well content; The Lord Mayor and the generall Did march before the King withall.

His brothers on each side Along by him did ride; The Southwark-waits did play amain, Which made them all to smile And to stand still awhile, And then they marched on again.

Then with drawn swords all men did side, And flourishing the same, then cryed, "Charles the Second now G.o.d save, That he his lawfull right may have!

And we all on him attend, From dangers him to defend, And all that with him doth remain.

Blessed be G.o.d that we Did live these days to see, That the King enjoyes his own again!"

The bells likewise did loudly ring, Bonefires did burn and people sing; London conduits did run with wine, And all men do to Charles incline; Hoping now that all Unto their trades may fall, Their famylies for to maintain, And from wrong be free, 'Cause we have liv'd to see The King enjoy his own again.

London, printed for Charles Tyns, on London Bridge.

Ballad: The n.o.ble Progress

Or, A True Relation Of The Lord General Monk's Political Proceedings.

The n.o.ble Progresse, or a True Relation of the Lord General Monk's Political Proceedings with the Rump, the calling in the secluded Members, their transcendant vote for his sacred Majesty, with his reception at Dover, and royal conduct through the City of London to his famous Palace at Whitehall. One of the broadsides in the British Museum, found in the lining of an old trunk by Sir W. C.

Trevelyan.

Tune - "When first the Scottish wars began."

Good people, hearken to my call, I'le tell you all what did befall And hapned of late; Our n.o.ble valiant General Monk Came to the Rump, who lately stunk With their council of state.

Admiring what this man would doe, His secret mind there's none could know, They div'd into him as much as they could, - George would not be won with their silver nor gold: The sectarian saints at this lookt blew, With all the rest of the factious crew, They vapour'd awhile, and were in good hope, But now they have nothing left but the rope.

Another invention then they sought, Which long they wrought for to be brought To claspe him with they; Quoth Vane and Scot, I'le tell you what, Wee'l have a plot and he shall not, Wee'l carry the sway: Let's vote him a thousand pound a yeare, And Hampton Court for him and his Heire.

Indeed, quoth George, ye're Free Parliament men To cut a thong out of another man's skin.

The sectarian, etc.

They sent him then with all his hosts To break our posts and raise our ghosts, Which was their intent; To cut our gates and chain all downe Unto the ground - this trick they found To make him be shent: This plot the Rump did so accord To cast an odium on my lord, But in the task he was hard put untoo't, 'Twas enough to infect both his horse and his foot, The sectarian, etc.

But when my lord perceived that night What was their spight, he brought to light Their knaveries all; This Parliament of forty-eight, Which long did wait, came to him straight, To give them a fall, And some phanatical people knew That George would give them their fatall due; Indeed he did requite them agen, For he pul'd the Monster out of his den.

The sectarian, etc.

To the House our worthy Parliament With good intent they boldly went To vote home the King, And many hundred people more Stood at the doore, and waited for Good tidings to bring; Yet some in the House had their hands much in blood, And in great opposition like traytors they stood; But yet I believe it is very well known That those that were for him were twenty to one.

But the sectarian, etc.

They call'd the League and Covenant in To read again to every man; But what comes next?

All sequestrations null be void, The people said none should be paid, For this was the text.

For, as I heard all the people say, They voted King Charles the first of May; Bonfires burning, bells did ring, And our streets did echo with G.o.d bless ye King.

At this the sectarian, etc.

Our general then to Dover goes, In spite of foes or deadly blowes, Saying Vive le Roy; And all the glories of the land, At his command they there did stand In triumph and joy.

Good Lord, what a sumptuous sight 'twas to see Our good Lord General fall on his knee To welcome home his Majestie, And own his sacred sovereignty.

But the sectarian, etc.

When all the worthy n.o.ble train Came back again with Charlemain, Our sovereign great: The Lord Mayor in his scarlet gown, His chain so long, went through the town In pompe and state.

The livery-men each line the way Upon this great triumphant day; Five rich maces carried before, And my Lord himselfe the sword he bore.

Then Vive le Roy the gentry did sing, For General Monk rode next to the King; With acclamations, shouts, and cryes, I thought they would have rent the skyes.

The conduits, ravished with joy, As I may say, did run all day Great plenty of wine; And every gentleman of note In's velvet coat that could be got In glory did shine.

There were all the peeres and barrons bold, Richly clad in silver and gold, Marched through the street so brave, No greater pompe a king could have.

At this, the sacristan, etc.

And thus conducted all along Throughout the throng, still he did come Unto White Hall; Attended by those n.o.ble-men, Bold heroes' kin that brought him in With the geneall; Who was the man that brought him home And placed him on his royal throne; - 'Twas General Monk did doe the thing, So G.o.d preserve our gracious King, Now the sacristan, etc.

Ballad: On The King's Return