villany that ever any nation saw" had sent to the block. And the
time being ripe, Charles Stuart, then an exile in Breda,
despatched Sir John Grenville with royal letters to both Houses
of Parliament, likewise to the Lord Mayor of London and members
of the Common Council, to Monk, commander of the forces, and
Montagu, admiral of the fleet. These letters were received with
so universal a joy and applause, that Parliament forthwith
ordained Charles Stuart should be proclaimed "the most potent,
mighty, and undoubted King of England, Scotland and Ireland."
Moreover, both Houses agreed that an honourable body of
Commissioners, all men of great quality and birth, should be sent
to the king with letters, humbly begging his majesty would be
pleased to hasten his long-desired return into England. And
because they knew full well the royal exchequer was empty,
Parliament ordered these noble gentlemen to carry with them a
present of fifty thousand pieces of gold to the king, together
with ten thousand to his brother of York, and five thousand to
his brother of Gloucester. Nor was the City of London backwards
in sending expressions of loyalty and tokens of homage and
devotion; to evince which twenty valiant men and worthy citizens
were despatched with messages of goodwill towards him, and
presents in gold to the amount of twelve thousand pounds.

And presently Admiral Montagu arriving with his fleet upon the
coast of Holland, awaited his majesty near Scheveling; and all
things being in readiness the king with his royal brothers and a
most noble train set sail for England.

It came to pass that on the 25th day of May, 1660, a vast
concourse of nobility, gentry, and citizens had assembled at