Royalty Restored | Page 5

memorable storm.--The end of all.--Richard Cromwell made Protector,--He refuses to shed blood. Disturbance and dissatisfaction.--Downfall of Richard.--Charles Stuart proclaimed king.--Rejoicement of the nation.--The king comes into his own.-- Entry into London.--Public joy and festivity.
CHAPTER II.
The story of the king's escape.--He accepts the Covenant, and lands in Scotland.--Crowned at Scone.--Proclaimed king at Carlisle.--The battle of Worcester,--Bravery of Charles.-- Disloyalty of the Scottish cavalry.--The Royalists defeated.-- The king's flight.--Seeks refuge in Boscobel Wood. The faithful Pendrells.--Striving to cross the Severn.--Hiding in an oak tree.--Sheltered by Master Lane. Sets out with Mistress Lane.-- Perilous escapes.--On the road.--The king is recognised.-- Strange adventures.--His last night in England.
CHAPTER III.
Celebration of the king's 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
CHAPTER IV.
The king's character.--His proverbial grace.--He tells a story well.--"A warmth and sweetness of the blood."--Beautiful Barbara Palmer.--Her intrigue with my Lord Chesterfield.--James, Duke of York. His early days.--Escape from St. James's.--Fights in the service of France.--Marriage with Anne Hyde.--Sensation at Court.--The Duke of Gloucester's death.--The Princess of Orange. --Schemes against the Duke of York's peace.--The "lewd informer." --Anne Hyde is acknowledged Duchess of York.
CHAPTER V.
Morality of the restoration.--Puritan piety.--Cromwell's intrigues.--Conduct of women under the Republic.--Some notable courtiers.--The Duke of Ormond and his family.--Lord St. Albans and Henry Jermyn.--His Grace of Buckingham and Mistress Fairfax. --Lord Rochester.--Delights all hearts.--The king's projected marriage.--Catherine of Braganza.--His majesty's speech.--A royal love-letter.--The new queen sets sail.
CHAPTER VI.
The king's intrigue with Barbara Palmer.--The queen arrives at Portsmouth.--Visited by the Duke of York.--The king leaves town. --First interview with his bride.--His letter to the lord chancellor.--Royal marriage and festivities.--Arrival at Hampton Court Palace.--Prospects of a happy union.--Lady Castlemaine gives birth to a second child.--The king's infatuation.--Mistress and wife.--The queen's misery.--The king's cruelty.--Lord Clarendon's messages.--His majesty resolves to break the queen's spirit.--End of the domestic quarrel.
CHAPTER VII.
Their majesties arrive at Whitehall.--My Lady Castlemaine a spectator.--Young Mr. Crofts.--New arrivals at court.--The Hamilton family.--The Chevalier de Grammont.--Mrs. Middleton and Miss Kirke.--At the queen's ball.--La belle Hamilton.--The queen mother at Somerset House.--The Duke of Monmouth's marriage.--Fair Frances Stuart.--Those who court her favour.--The king's passion.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Duke of York's intrigues.--My Lady Chesterfield and his royal highness.--The story of Lady Southesk's love,--Lord Arran plays the guitar.--Lord Chesterfield is jealous.--The countess is taken from court.--Mistress Margaret Brooks and the king.--Lady Denham and the duke.--Sir John goes mad.--My lady is poisoned.
CHAPTER IX.
Court life under the merry monarch.--Riding in Hyde Park.-- Sailing on the Thames.--Ball at Whitehall.--Petit soupers.--What happened at Lady Gerrard's.--Lady Castlemaine quarrels with the king.--Flight to Richmond.--The queen falls ill.--The king's grief and remorse.--Her majesty speaks.--Her secret sorrow finds voice in delirium.--Frances Stuart has hopes.--The queen recovers.
CHAPTER X.
Notorious courtiers.--My Lord Rochester's satires.--Places a watch on certain ladies of quality.--His majesty becomes indignant.--Rochester retires to the country.--Dons a disguise and returns to town.--Practises astrology.--Two maids of honour seek adventure.--Mishaps which befell them.--Rochester forgiven. --The Duke of Buckingham.--Lady Shrewsbury and her victims.-- Captain Howard's duel.--Lord Shrewsbury avenges his honour.--A strange story.--Colonel Blood attempts an abduction.--Endeavours to steal the regalia.--The king converses with him.
CHAPTER XI.
Terror falls upon the people.--Rumours of a plague.--A sign in the heavens.--Flight from the capital.--Preparations against the dreaded enemy.--Dr. Boghurst's testimony.--God's terrible voice in the city.--Rules made by the lord mayor.--Massacre of animals.--O, dire death!--Spread of the distemper.--Horrible sights.--State of the deserted capital.--"Bring out your dead." --Ashes to ashes.--Fires are lighted.--Relief of the poor.--The mortality bills.
CHAPTER XII
A cry of fire by night.--Fright and confusion.--The lord mayor is unmanned.--Spread of the flames.--Condition of the streets.-- Distressful scenes.--Destruction of the Royal Exchange.--Efforts of the king and the Duke of York.--Strange rumours and alarms, St. Paul's is doomed.--The flames checked.--A ruined city as seen by day and night.--Wretched state of the people.--Investigation into the origin of the fire.--A new city arises.
CHAPTER XIII.
The court repairs to Oxford--Lady Castlemaine's son.--Their majesties return to Whitehall.--The king quarrels with his mistress.--Miss Stuart contemplates marriage.--Lady Castlemaine attempts revenge.--Charles makes an unpleasant discovery.--The maid of honour elopes.--His majesty rows down the Thames.--Lady Castlemaine's intrigues.--Fresh quarrels at court.--The king on his knees.
CHAPTER XIV.
The kingdom in peril.--The chancellor falls under his majesty's displeasure.--The Duke of Buckingham's mimicry.--Lady Castlemaine's malice.--Lord Clarendon's fall.--The Duke of Ormond offends the king's mistress.--She covers him with abuse.--Plots against the Duke of York.--Schemes for a royal divorce.--Moll Davis and Nell Gwynn.--The king and the comedian.--Lady Castlemaine abandons herself to great disorders.--Young Jack Spencer.--The countess intrigues with an acrobat.--Talk of the town.--The mistress created a duchess.
CHAPTER XV.
Louise de Querouaille.--The Triple Alliance.--Louise is created Duchess of Portsmouth,--Her grace and the impudent comedian.-- Madam Ellen moves in society. The young Duke of St. Albans.-- Strange story of the Duchess of Mazarine.--Entertaining the wits at Chelsea.--Luxurious suppers.--profligacy and wit.
CHAPTER XVI.
A storm threatens