1679.] THE OCTOBER MEETING. 357 



" It is now almost a week since the King has had any 

 appearance of ague ; and you may guess by the methods 

 he takes, he will soon recover his health, having Newmarket, 

 exchanged water-gruels and potions for mutton Charles li. 

 and partridges, on which he feeds frequently and September— 

 heartily ; and whereas the general discourse of October, 

 the Court about a week since was of his Majesty's speedy 

 return to Whitehall, it's now a generally talk't of, and as 

 generally believed, that he will take Newmarket in his way, 

 having lately reassumed fresh resolutions of removing thither 

 about the i8th of this month, and having likewise given order 

 that all necessary preparations be made there to that purpose: 

 this day his Majesty has been abroad, which is the first 

 attempt he has made of that kind since his illness." — John 

 Mountstevens to the Hon. Henry Sidney, Windsor, Aug. 29, 

 1679. Sidney, "Diary," vol. i., p. 99. 



" London, Sept. 6. From Windsor we have daily Advice 

 That His Majesty is every day sensibly better, being free from 

 all Symptoms of his late Distemper. And it still continues, 

 That His Majesty, as soon as it pleases God to restore a little 

 more strength, intends to divert himself at New-Market, the 

 Air of which place is the Opinion of most, will much conduce 

 to His Majesty's health." — "The Domestick Intelligence, or 

 News both from City and Country, published to prevent false 

 reports," Sept. 8, 1679, No. 18, 



" On Monday last in the Afternoon, His Majesty returned 

 safely and in Health to Whitehall from Nezv-Market, accom- 

 panied with the Queen, and attended by the Nobility and 

 several persons of honour." — Ibid., Oct. 17, No, 30. 



" His Majesties design (as is reported) to return to White- 

 hall on Monday next : But the Physitians having advised that 



royal buck-hounds, were put forward in support of the court party in 

 opposition to Messrs. Winwood and Starkey, the sitting members. The 

 royal candidates were returned by a considerable majority through the 

 votes of the retainers and servants of the castle ; but on a petition to 

 the House of Commons the royal huntsmen were unseated, and the old 

 members reinstated on the grounds that their opponents were informally 

 returned "by the voices the King's servants, who have no pretence of 

 voting there but as such." — Ibid., p. 98. 



