1671.] ROYAL VISIT TO HENRY CROMWELL. 311 



recorded by the Rev. Mark Noble : " After residing at Chippen- 

 ham with his father and brother-in-law sir Fra. and sir John 

 Russell, for five or six years he [Henry Cromwell] removed to 

 his estate at Spinney Abbey, near Soham, in Cambridgeshire 

 (a most retired situation) ; the estate was worth 4 or ^600 per 

 ann. ; here ' he spent the remainder of his days, descending from 

 the toilsome grandeur^ of governing men, to the humble and 

 happy occupation of his husbandry' : In this employment he 

 was discovered by his sovereign k. Ch. II. who returning from 

 Newmarket, in the month of Sept. \Qy. October], 1671, ex- 

 pressing his wish to call at some house and take refreshment, 

 lord Inchiquin, Henry's brouther-in-law, when his majesty 

 observed, that there was a very honest gentleman in this 

 neighbourhood, that would think it an honour to entertain his 

 majesty, which the king was pleased with, and desired him to 

 conduct them to his friend's seat ; when they came into the 

 farm yard (which led to the house) his lordship, taking up a 

 muck-fork, and throwing it over his shoulder, went before Mr. 

 Cromwell, who w^as then in the yard, and wondering at so 

 large a company coming so unexpectedly upon him, and still 

 more so at this ceremony of the muck-fork ; nor was the king 

 without his surprize ; What, says his majesty of fun, is the 

 reason of this } Why, sire, says the muck-fork bearer, this 

 gentleman, before whom I carry this implement of husbandry, 

 is mr. Henry Cromwell, to whom I had the honour of being 

 mace-bearer, when he was in Ireland ; Charles laughed, poor 

 mr. Cromwell was confounded ; but the ease of the sovereign 

 dissippated all disquietude ; the hungry company were treated 

 with what the hospitable Henry had, and they departed with 

 good humour and pleasure on all sides." * 



" From the Court at Nezvniarket, October 3. 1671. Friday the 29 past, 

 His Majesty having Dined at Sir John Hubbarts House at Bleckifig, 

 arrived about six a clock in the evening at Sir Rol. Pastoii's at Oxfiey, 

 where His Majesty together with his Royal Highness, and the whole 

 Court, were very nobly Treated at Supper; and the next day Her Majesty 

 attended with all the Ladies of Quality of Her Court, came thither like- 



* " INIemoirs of the Cromwell Family," Birmingham, 1787, vol. i., 

 pp. 211, 212. 



