Young did give us a dinner, at which we were very merry and
pleased above imagination at what we have seen."

The next day, being the feast of St. George, patron of England,
the king went in procession from Whitehall to Westminster Abbey,
where he was solemnly crowned in the presence of a vast number of
peers and bishops. After which, surrounded by the same brilliant
company, he passed from the Abbey to Westminster Hall, the way
being covered with blue cloth, and lined with spectators to the
number of ten thousand. Here his majesty and the lords,
spiritual and temporal, dined sumptuously, whilst many fine
ceremonies were observed, music of all sorts was played, and a
great crowd of pretty ladies looked down from the galleries. And
when the banquet was over, and a general pardon had been read by
the lord chancellor, and the champion had drank out of the king's
gold cup, Charles betook himself to Whitehall. Then, after two
days of fair weather, it suddenly "fell a-raining, and thundering
and lightning," says Pepys, "as I have not seen it do for some
years; which people did take great notice of."



CHAPTER IV.

The King's character.--His proverbial grace.--He tells a story
well.--"A warmth and sweetness of the blood."--Beautiful Barbara
Palmer.--Her intrigue with my Lord Chesterfield.--James, Duke of
York.--His early days.--Escape from St. James's.--Fights in the
service of France.--Marriage with Anne Hyde.--Sensation at
Court.--The Duke of Gloucester's death.--The Princess of Orange.