The Second Book 63 



Nor was this the only honour my Lord received from his 

 Majesty — but his Majesty and all the royal race, that is to say, 

 her Highness the then Princess-Royal, his Highness the Duke 

 of York, with his brother the Duke of Gloucester (except the 

 Princess Henrietta, now Duchess of Orleans), being met one 

 time in Antwerp, were pleased to honour my Lord with their 

 presence, and accept of a small entertainment at his house, 

 such as his present condition was able to afford them. 1 . And 

 some other time his Majesty passing through the city was 

 pleased to accept of a private dinner at my Lord's house ; 

 after which I receiving that gracious favour from his Majesty, 

 that he was pleased to see me, he did merrily, and in jest, 

 tell me that he perceived my Lord's credit could procure 

 better meat than his own. Again, some other time, upon a 

 merry challenge playing a game at butts with my Lord (when 

 my Lord had the better of him), What (said he) my Lord, have 

 you invited me to play the rook with me ? 2 although their 

 stakes were not at all considerable, but only for pastime. 



These passages I mention only to declare my Lord's happi- 

 ness in his miseries, which he received by the honour and 

 kindness not only of foreign princes, but of his own master and 

 gracious sovereign. I will not speak now of the good esteem 

 and repute he had by his late Majesty King Charles the 

 First, and her Majesty the now Queen-mother, who always 

 held and found him a very loyal and faithful subject, although 

 fortune was pleased to oppose him in the height of his en- 

 deavours ; for his only and chief intention was to hinder his 



in the art as any man ; and no man makes a horse go better than I have seen some go 

 under his Majesty the first time that ever he came upon their backs, which is the height 

 and quintessence of the art.' 



1 This entertainment is probably the one mentioned as taking place in February 

 1658. Sir Charles Cotterell writes to Nicholas : ' At the ball at Lord Newcastle's was 

 the Duchess of Lorraine and her son and daughter, with the King and his brothers and 

 sister, several French people, and some of the town. The King was brought in with 

 music, and all being placed, Major Mohun, the player, in a black satin robe and gar- 

 land of bays, made a speech in verse of his lordship's own poetry, complimenting the 

 King in his highest hyperbole. Then there was dancing for two hours, and then my 

 Lady's Moor, dressed in feathers, came in and sang a song of the same author's, set 

 and taught him by Nich. Lanier. Then was the banquet brought in in eight great char- 

 gers, each borne by two gentlemen of the court, and others bringing wines, drinks, etc. 

 Then they danced again two hours more, and Major Mohun ended all with another 

 speech, prophesying his Majesty's re-establishment.' — Calendar of State Papers, 1657-8, 

 pp. 206, 311. 



2 Rook, a sharper. Cotton, describing an ordinary at night, says : ' This is the time 

 (when ravenous beasts naturally seek their prey) wherein comes shoals of Huffs, Hectors, 

 Setters, Gills, Pads, Biters, Divers, Listers, Filers, Budgies, Droppers, Crossbiters, etc., 

 and these may all pass under the general and common appellation of Rooks.' — The 

 Complete Gamester. » 



