DETAILED CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I. Cromwell is sick unto death.—Fears and suspicions.—Killing no Murder.—A memorable storm.—The end of all.—Richard Cromwell made Protector,—He refuses to shed blood. Disturbance and dissatisfaction.—Downfall of Richard.—Charles Stuart proclaimed king.—Rejoicement of the nation.—The king comes into his own.—Entry into London.—Public joy and festivity.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II. The story of the king's escape.—He accepts the Covenant, and lands in Scotland.—Crowned at Scone.—Proclaimed king at Carlisle.—The battle of Worcester,—Bravery of Charles.—Disloyalty of the Scottish cavalry.—The Royalists defeated.—The king's flight.—Seeks refuge in Boscobel Wood. The faithful Pendrells.—Striving to cross the

Severn.—Hiding in an oak tree.—Sheltered by Master Lane. Sets out with Mistress Lane.—Perilous escapes.—On the road.—The king is recognised.—Strange adventures.—His last night in England.

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III. Celebration of the king's return. Those who flocked to Whitehall.—My Lord Cleveland's gentlemen.—Sir Thomas Allen's supper.—Touching for king's evil.—That none might lose their labour—The man with the fungus nose.—The memory of the regicides.—Cromwell's effigy.—Ghastly scene

at Tyburn.—The king's clemency.—The Coronation procession.—Sights and scenes by the way.—His majesty is crowned

CHAPTER IV.

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.—Schemes against the Duke of York's peace.—The "lewd informer."—Anne Hyde is acknowledged Duchess of York.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V. Morality of the restoration.—Puritan piety.—Cromwell's

intrigues.—Conduct of women under the Republic.—Some notable courtiers.—The Duke of Ormond and his family.—Lord St. Albans and Henry Jermyn.—His Grace of Buckingham and Mistress Fairfax.—Lord Rochester.—Delights all hearts.—The king's projected marriage.—Catherine of Braganza.—His majesty's speech.—A royal love-letter.—The new queen sets sail.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI. The king's intrigue with Barbara Palmer.—The queen arrives at Portsmouth.—Visited by the Duke of York.—The king leaves town.—First interview with his bride.—His letter to the lord chancellor.—Royal marriage and festivities.—Arrival at Hampton Court Palace.—Prospects

of a happy union.—Lady Castlemaine gives birth to a second child.—The king's infatuation.—Mistress and wife.—The queen's misery.—The king's cruelty.—Lord Clarendon's messages.—His majesty resolves to break the queen's spirit.—End of the domestic quarrel.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII. Their majesties arrive at Whitehall.—My Lady Castlemaine a spectator.—Young Mr. Crofts.—New arrivals at court.—The Hamilton family.—The Chevalier de Grammont.—Mrs. Middleton and Miss Kirke.—At the queen's ball.—La belle Hamilton.—The queen mother at Somerset House.—The Duke of Monmouth's marriage.—Fair Frances Stuart.—Those who court her favour.—The king's passion.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII. The Duke of York's intrigues.—My Lady Chesterfield and his royal highness.—The story of Lady Southesk's love,—Lord Arran plays the guitar.—Lord Chesterfield is jealous.—The countess is taken from court.—Mistress Margaret Brooks and the king.—Lady Denham and the duke.—Sir John goes mad.—My lady is poisoned.

CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER IX. Court life under the merry monarch.—Riding in Hyde Park.—Sailing on the Thames.—Ball at Whitehall.—Petit soupers.—What happened at Lady Gerrard's.—Lady Castlemaine quarrels with the king.—Flight to Richmond.—The queen falls ill.—The king's grief and remorse.—Her

majesty speaks.—Her secret sorrow finds voice in delirium.—Frances

Stuart has hopes.—The queen recovers.

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X. Notorious courtiers.—My Lord Rochester's satires.—Places a watch on certain ladies of quality.—His majesty becomes indignant.—Rochester retires to the country.—Dons a disguise and returns to town.—Practises astrology.—Two maids of honour seek adventure.—Mishaps which befell them.—Rochester forgiven.—The Duke of Buckingham.—Lady Shrewsbury and her victims.—Captain Howard's duel.—Lord Shrewsbury avenges

his honour.—A strange story.—Colonel Blood attempts an

abduction.—Endeavours to steal the regalia.—The king converses with him.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI. Terror falls upon the people.—Rumours of a plague.—A sign in the heavens.—Flight from the capital.—Preparations against the dreaded enemy.—Dr. Boghurst's testimony.—God's terrible voice in the city.—Rules made by the lord mayor.—Massacre of animals.—O, dire

death!—Spread of the distemper.—Horrible sights.—State of the deserted capital.—"Bring out your dead."—Ashes to ashes.—Fires are lighted.—Relief of the poor.—The mortality bills.

CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII A cry of fire by night.—Fright and confusion.—The lord mayor is unmanned.—Spread of the flames.—Condition of the streets.—Distressful scenes.—Destruction of the Royal Exchange.—Efforts of the king and the Duke of York.—Strange rumours and alarms, St. Paul's is doomed.—The flames checked.—A ruined city as seen by day and night.—Wretched state of the people.—Investigation into the origin of the fire.—A new city arises.

CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII. The court repairs to Oxford—Lady Castlemaine's son.—Their majesties return to Whitehall.—The king quarrels with his mistress.—Miss Stuart contemplates marriage.—Lady Castlemaine attempts revenge.—Charles

makes an unpleasant discovery.—The maid of honour elopes.—His majesty rows down the Thames.—Lady Castlemaine's intrigues.—Fresh quarrels at court.—The king on his knees.

CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV. The kingdom in peril.—The chancellor falls under his majesty's displeasure.—The Duke of Buckingham's mimicry.—Lady Castlemaine's malice.—Lord Clarendon's fall.—The Duke of Ormond offends the king's mistress.—She covers him with abuse.—Plots against the Duke of York.—Schemes for a royal divorce.—Moll Davis and Nell Gwynn.—The

king and the comedian.—Lady Castlemaine abandons herself to great

disorders.—Young Jack Spencer.—The countess intrigues with an acrobat.—Talk of the town.—The mistress created a duchess.

CHAPTER XV.

CHAPTER XV. Louise de Querouaille.—The Triple Alliance.—Louise is created Duchess of Portsmouth,—Her grace and the impudent comedian.—Madam Ellen moves in society. The young Duke of St. Albans.—Strange story of the Duchess of Mazarine.—Entertaining the wits at Chelsea.—Luxurious suppers.—profligacy and wit.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI. A storm threatens the kingdom—The Duke of York is touched in his conscience.—His interview with Father Simons.—The king declares his mind.—The Duchess of York becomes a catholic.—The circumstances of her death.—The Test Act introduced.—Agitation of the nation.—The Duke

of York marries again.—Lord Shaftesbury's schemes.—The Duke of Monmouth.—William of Orange and the Princess Mary.—Their marriage and departure from England.

CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII. The threatened storm bursts.—History of Titus Oates and Dr. Tonge.—A dark scheme concocted.—The king is warned of danger.—The narrative of a horrid plot laid before the treasurer.—Forged letters.—Titus Oates

before the council.—His blunders.—A mysterious murder.—Terror of the citizens.—Lord Shaftesbury's schemes.—Papists are banished from the capital.—Catholic peers committed to the Tower.—Oates is encouraged.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII. Reward for the discovery of murderers.—Bedlow's character and evidence.—His strange story.—Development of the "horrid plot."—William Staley is made a victim.—Three Jesuits hung.—Titus Oates pronounced the saviour of his country.—Striving to ruin the queen.—Monstrous story of Bedlow and Oates.—The king protects her majesty.—Five Jesuits executed.—Fresh rumours concerning the papists.—Bill to exclude the Duke of York.—Lord Stafford is tried.—Scene at Tower Hill.—Fate of the conspirators.

CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX. London under Charles II.—Condition and appearance of the thoroughfares.—Coffee is first drunk in the capital.—Taverns and their frequenters.—The city by night.—Wicked people do creep about.—Companies of young gentlemen.—The Duke of Monmouth kills a beadle.—Sir Charles Sedley's frolic.—Stately houses of the nobility.—St. James's Park.—Amusement of the town.—At Bartholomew

Fair.—Bull, bear, and dog fights.—Some quaint sports.

CHAPTER XX.

CHAPTER XX. Court customs in the days of the merry monarch.—Dining in public.—The Duke of Tuscany's supper to the king.—Entertainment of guests by mountebanks.—Gaming at court.—Lady Castlemaine's losses.—A fatal duel.—Dress of the period.—Riding-habits first seen.—His majesty invents a national costume.—Introduction of the penny post.—Divorce

suits are known.—Society of Antiquaries.—Lord Worcester's inventions.—The Duchess of Newcastle.

CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI. A period rich in literature.—John Milton's early life.—Writing "Paradise Lost."—Its publication and success.—His later works and death.—John Dryden gossips with wits and players.—Lord Rochester's revenge.—Elkanah Settle.—John Crowne.—Thomas Otway rich in miseries.—Dryden assailed by villains.—The ingenious Abraham Cowley.—The author of "Hudibras."—Young Will Wycherley and Lady

Castlemaine. The story of his marriage.—Andrew Marvell, poet and

politician.—John Bunyan.

CHAPTER XXII.

Time's flight leaves the king unchanged.—The Rye House

conspiracy.—Profligacy of the court.—The three duchesses.—The king is taken ill.—The capital in consternation.—Dr. Ken questions his majesty.—A Benedictine monk is sent for.—Charles professes catholicity and receives the Sacraments.—Farewell to all.—His last night on earth.—Daybreak and death.—He rests in peace.