xxiv Editor's Preface 



pictures, for extravagance would make him dependent upon 

 parliaments instead of their master. ' Riches, sir, in a king, 

 is more advantageous both at home and abroad than I can 

 express, therefore, Sir, put money in your purse and be rich.' 

 While however Newcastle thus warned Charles against 

 extravagance he at the same time sketched a programme of 

 1 divertisements ' for the King throughout the year. In 

 winter there were to be masques, and plays and balls at White- 

 hall. There were to be tiltings too, on coronation day, and 

 riding ' horses of manege '. In the summer he was to make 

 stately progresses through the country. In spring and autumn 

 he was to recreate himself with hunting and hawking. New- 

 market would be excellent for this, ' which is the sweetest 

 place in the world and the best air, and no place like it for 

 hunting, hawking and coursing, and horse races.' The people 

 too were to have their amusements, and it was of great political 

 importance that these should be encouraged when the King 

 was restored. For ' the divertisements will amuse the people's 

 thoughts and keep them in harmless action, which will free 

 your majesty from faction and rebellion. Once more there 

 must be bear-baiting at Paris Garden for ' the meaner people ■ 

 and five or six playhouses for the pleasure of the better sort. 

 ' Puppet plays there will be to please them besides, as also 

 dancers on the ropes, with jugglers and tumblers, besides 

 strange sights of beasts, birds, monsters, and many other 

 things with several sorts of music and dancing, and all the 

 old holidays with their mirth and rites set up again. Feasting 

 daily will be in merry England, for England is so plentifull 

 of all provisions, that if we do not eat them they will eat us, 

 so we feast in our defence.' Still more enthusiastic is his 

 enumeration of ' the country recreation '. There will be 

 once more ' may games, morris dances, the Lords of the May 

 and the Lady of the May ; the fool and the hobbyhorse must 

 not be forgotten ; also the Whitsun Lord and Lady, threshing 

 of hens at Shrovetide ; carols and wassails at Christmas, with 

 goodly plum porridge and pies, which now are forbidden as 

 profane, ungodly things ; wakes, fairs and markets (which 

 maintain commerce and trade) ; and after evening prayer 

 every Sunday and holiday, the country people with their 

 fresher lasses to trip on the town green about the may-pole 

 to the louder bagpipe and to be refreshed with their ale and 

 cakes.' 



