been long accustomed. The States-General of Holland besought him "to grace
the Hague with his royal presence," and received him with all the honour
that an anxious ally could display, and all the pomp of magnificence which
their wealth enabled them to lavish on the festivities with which they
marked his visit. A few days later, letters were brought from Montague,
who commanded the fleet, to announce his presence on the Dutch coast, and
to ask the orders of the King. The Duke of York assumed the supreme
command, and a day was passed in receiving the catalogue of the Fleet, and
renaming those ships which recalled dismal memories of the Commonwealth.
Soon after, the deputation from the Lords and Commons arrived at the
Hague, bearing the supplication of both Houses "that his Majesty would be
pleased to return, and take the Government of the kingdom into his hands,"
and as an earnest of their loyal duty they presented £50,000 to the King,
£10,000 to the Duke of York, and £5000 to the Duke of Gloucester. A
deputation from the City attended at the same time, to tender their
loyalty to the King, and to make an offering of £10,000. It was little
wonder that the King, who a few weeks before was hard put to it to borrow
a few pistoles, and was deep in debt for the maintenance of his household,
should receive such messengers with overflowing welcome. The citizens of
London were sent home rejoicing in the honour of knighthood--in abeyance
for twenty years, and now conferred on the whole of the deputation.

At the same time there arrived a deputation of the Presbyterian clergy who
had different aims in view. They could lay no lavish offerings at the
King's feet, and could bring no contribution to the tide of spontaneous
loyalty. But they could plead that they had had no lot or part in the
fight against the monarchy or in the murder of the King, and that they had
given some effective aid in the resistance to the Commonwealth. Could they
not manage to secure beforehand some compliance with their religious
views, some concessions to tender consciences, some hope that the