THE RESTORATION 33 



King Charles the Second to the throne of his ancestors. 

 Romantic it was because of the home-coming of the 

 interesting exile who had fled, years before, for his 

 life ; and was now come, greatly daring, to meet, not 

 only his loyal citizen-subjects here, but to stand 

 again face to face with the veteran regiments of the 

 army which had finally crushed the Royalist hopes 

 at Worcester Fight. No one knew how they would 

 behave. Commanded by Loyalist officers, they were 

 drawn up here to meet the king, but, amid all the 

 rejoicings of the people, that Puritan soldiery looked 

 on, scowling, and not all the personal charm of the 

 king, nor the enthusiasm of the people, could chase 

 away the sadness with which they looked upon the 

 undoing of that work in which they had gained their 

 scars. Charles and his brothers of York and Gloucester 

 moved about, unarmed, graciously acknowledging the 

 shouts of " Long live King Charles ! " and receiving 

 old supporters who saw this glorious Restoration with 

 tears of joy running down their cheeks ; and their gay 

 demeanour showed their courage, for little was wanting 

 to make the Ironsides declare for the Commonwealth, 

 and, spurring their horses, change this scene of rejoicing 

 to one of blood and dismay. But the moments of 

 suspense were safely passed ; the king pressed on to 

 London, and the Restoration was accomplished. It is 

 in the pleasant pages of Woodstock that one reads how 

 the old cavalier. Sir Henry Lee, of Ditchley, " having a 

 complacent smile on his face and a tear swelling to his 

 eye, as he saw the banners wa^'e on in interminable 

 succession," came here to witness the return of his 

 sovereign. Here, too, came Colonel Everard, and xA.lice, 

 his wife ; Joceline Joliffe, who wielded quarterstaff so 

 well, and with him Mistress Joceline ; Wildrake, from 

 Squattlesea-mere, and Beavis, old and feeble, a shadow 

 of the great wolf-hound he had been. To this little 

 company came Charles, and, dismounting, asked for 

 the old knight's blessing, who, ha\'ing witnessed this 

 day, was content to die. 



