the papers and the vote; which done and demanding their opinion, the seamen did all of them cry out, "God bless King Charles!" with the greatest joy imaginable. That being done, Sir R. Stayner who had invited us yesterday, took all the Commanders and myself on board him to dinner, which not being ready, I went with Captain Hayward to the Plymouth and Essex and did what I had to do there and returned, where very merry at dinner.

After dinner to the rest of the ships [stayed at the Assistance to hear the harper a good while] quite through the fleet. Which was a very brave sight to visit all the ships and to be received with the respect and honour that I was on board them all: and much more to see the great joy that I brought to all men, not one through the whole fleet showing the least dislike of the business. In the evening as I was going on board the Vice-Admiral1, the General1 began to fire his guns which he did all that he had in the ship and so did all the rest of the Commanders: which was very gallant and to hear the bullets go hissing over our heads as we were in the boat.

This done and finished my Proclamation, I returned to the Naseby, where my Lord was much pleased to hear how all the fleet took it in a transport of joy, showed me a private letter of the King's to him and another from the Duke of York in such familiar style as to their common friend, with all kindness imaginable. And I found by the letters, and so my Lord told me too, that there had been many letters passed between them for a great while, and I perceive unknown to Monk. The King speaks of his being courted to come to the Hague, but do desire my Lord's advice whither to come to take ship. And the Duke offers to learn the seaman's trade of him, in such familiar words as if Jack Cole and I had writ them. This was very strange to me that my Lord should

1 Vice-Admiral, the London; General, Sir John Lawson.

carry all things so wisely and prudently as he do and I was over joyful to see him in so good condition and he did not a little please himself to tell me how he had provided for himself so great a hold on the King.

May 4. I wrote this morning many letters: and to all the copies of the vote of the Council of War I put my name, that if it should come in print my name may be on it.

CHAPTER III

GOD SAVE THE KING!

May 7. My Lord went this morning about the flagships in a boat, to see what alterations there must be, as to the arms and flags. He did give me orders also to write for silk flags and scarlet waistcloths1, for a rich barge, for a noise of trumpets, and a set of fiddlers. Very great deal of company come to-day, among others Mr. Bellasis, Sir Thomas Leventhorpe, Sir Henry Chichley, Colonel Philip Honywood, and Captain Titus, the last of whom my Lord showed all our cabins, and I suppose he is to take notice what room there will be for the King's entertainment. After I was in bed Mr. Shepley and W. Howe came and sat in my cabin, where I gave them three bottles of Margate ale, and sat laughing and very merry till almost one o'clock in the morning. And so good-night.

May 10. At night, while At night, while my Lord was at supper, in comes my Lord Lauderdale and Sir John Grenville, who supped here, and so went away. After they were gone, my Lord called me into his cabin, and told me how he was commanded to set sail presently for the King and

1 Painted canvas coverings for the hammocks when they were stowed in the hammock-nettings.

was very glad thereof. I got him afterwards to sign things in bed.

May II. This morning we began to pull down all the State's arms in the fleet, having first sent to Dover for painters and others to come to set up the King's1. About eleven at night came the boats from Deal with great store of provisions. By the same token John Goods told me that above twenty of the fowls are smothered.

May 12. My Lord did give order for weighing anchor, which we did and sailed all day. In our way in the morning, coming in the midway between Dover and Calais, we could see both places very easily and very pleasant it was to me that the farther we went the more we lost sight of both lands. In the afternoon at cards with Mr. North and the Doctor.

May 13. Trimmed in the morning. After that to the cook's room with Mr. Shepley, the first time that I was there this voyage. Then to the quarter-deck upon which the tailors and painters were at work, cutting out some pieces of yellow cloth in the fashion of a crown and C.R. and put it upon a fine sheet, and that into the flag instead of the State's arms, which after dinner was finished and set up. In the afternoon a council of war, only to acquaint them that the Harp must be taken out of all their flags2, it being very offensive to the King. No sermon to-day, we being under sail: only at night prayers.

1 The upper portion of a ship's stern above the gallery and stern windows was decorated with the armorial bearings of the Sovereign or State whom she served. The arms were richly carved in high relief and emblazoned with paint and gilding.

On the death of Charles I the Union Flag was abolished. The flag of the Commonwealth comprised two shields of antique shape on a red ground. One shield was white and displayed the cross of St. George. The other was blue and bore the gold harp of Ireland. In 1658 the Union Flag was restored but with the Irish harp in its centre.

May 14. In the morning when I woke and rose, I saw myself out of the scuttle, close by, the shore which afterwards I was told to be the Dutch shore; the Hague was clearly to be seen by us. My Lord went up in his nightgown into the cuddy, to see how to dispose thereof for himself and us that belong to him, to give order for our removal to-day. Some nasty Dutchmen came on board to proffer their boats to carry things from us on shore, etc., to get money by us.

May 15. In the afternoon my Lord called me on purpose to show me his fine clothes which are now come hither, and indeed are very rich as gold and silver can make them, only his sword he and I do not like. In the afternoon my Lord and I walked together in the coach two hours, talking together upon all sorts of discourse. My Lord, the Captain and I supped in my Lord's chamber, where I did perceive that he did begin to show me much more respect than ever he did yet. After supper, my Lord sent for me, intending to have me play at cards with him, but I not knowing cribbage, we fell into discourse of many things, and the ship rolled so much that I was not able to stand, and so he bid me go to bed.

May 16. My Lord in his best suit, this the first day, in expectation to wait upon the King. But Mr. Edward Pickering coming from the King brought word that the King would not put my Lord to the trouble of coming to him, but that he would come to the shore to look upon the fleet to-day, which we expected, and had our guns ready to fire, and our scarlet waistcloths out and silk pendants, but he did not come. My Lord and we at ninepins this afternoon upon the quarter-deck, which was very pretty sport. This evening came Mr. John Pickering on board, like an ass, with his feathers and new suit that he had made at the Hague. To supper and after supper to cards. I stood by and looked on till

eleven at night and so to bed. This afternoon Mr. Edward Pickering told me in what a sad, poor condition. for clothes and money the King was, and all his attendants, when he came to him first from my Lord, their clothes not being worth forty shillings the best of them. And how overjoyed the King was when Sir J. Grenville brought him some money; so joyful, that he called the Princess Royal and Duke of York to look upon it as it lay in the portmanteau before it was taken out. My Lord told me, too, that the Duke of York is made High Admiral of England.

May 17. Before dinner Mr. Edward Pickering and I, W. Howe, Pim, and my boy1, to Scheveningen, where we took coach and so to the Hague, where walking, intending to find one that might show us the King incognito, I met with Captain Whittington (that had formerly brought a letter to my Lord from the Mayor of London) and he did promise me to do it, but first we went and dined. At dinner in came Dr. Cade, a merry mad parson of the King's. And they two got the child and me (the others not being able to crowd in) to see the King, who kissed the child very affectionately. Then we kissed his, and the Duke of York's, and the Princess Royal's hands. The King seems to be a very sober man; and a very splendid Court he hath in the number of persons of quality that are about him; English very rich in habit.

May 18. Very early up, and, hearing that the Duke of York, our Lord High Admiral, would go on board to-day, Mr. Pickering and I took waggon for Scheveningen, leaving the child in Mr. Pierce's hands, with directions to keep him within doors all day till he heard from me. But the wind being very high that no boats could get

1 Not Eliezer who upset the beer, but "my Lord's" eldest son, afterwards Lord Hinchinbrooke.