loyal to him. It is to the credit of the King that he spoke in no
uncertain tone.

"It is not to be wondered at," he wrote to Sir Arthur Apsley on April
29th, "that at the same time that I have so many enemies, those that are
faithful to me should have some; and it is from some of those who are not
much my friends, that the report comes that the Chancellor should have
lost my favour. The truth of it is, I look upon the spreaders of that lie
as more my enemies than his, for he will always be found an honest man,
and I should deserve the name of a very unjust master if I should reward
him so ill, that hath served me so faithfully."

Hyde's strict constitutionalism was dreaded by those whose ideal of a
Restoration Government was one which would lavishly reward its adherents
without concerning itself with observance of the law. It was his fidelity
at once to the King and to the Constitution that inspired the opposition
to his return. Friends and enemies alike recognized that if he returned
with the King, his must be the guiding hand in the administration, as his
had been the chief task in setting the policy of the exiled Court.

Hyde accompanied Charles on his return to England. The King embarked at
Scheveningen, on May 24th. On the 26th, as we have already seen, he landed
at Dover amidst the thunder of cannon, and that day took coach to
Canterbury. The great cathedral had suffered sorely from sacrilegious
hands, but there gathered within its walls a goodly company of the
notables of the kingdom to join their King in a Service of Thanksgiving.
Upon General Monk, the Marquis of Hertford, the Earl of Southampton, and
Admiral Montague, [Footnote: Montague was created Earl of Sandwich next
month.] he conferred the honour of the Garter; and amidst the acclamations
of his people, he proceeded next day to Rochester. On the 29th, his