royalty restored-第60部分

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Florian　Marchand；　〃the　water…spouter；〃　was　another　performer　who　enjoyed　considerable　fame。　　Such　was　the　dexterity　of　this　conjurer　that；　〃drinking　only　fountaine…water；　he　rendered　out　of　his　mouth　in　severall　glasses　all　sorts　of　wine　and　sweete　waters。〃　　A　Turk；　who　walked　up　an　almost　perpendicular　line　by　means　of　his　toes；　danced　blindfold　on　a　tight　rope　with　a　boy　dangling　from　his　feet；　and　stood　on　his　head　on　the　top　of　a　high　mast；　shared　an　equal　popularity　with　Barbara　Vanbeck；　the　bearded　woman；　and　〃a　monstrous　beast；　called　a　dromedary。〃　These　wondrous　sights；　together　with　various　others　of　a　like　kind；　which　were　scattered　throughout　the　town　and　suburbs　during　the　greater　part　of　the　year；　assembled　in　full　strength　at　the　fairs　of　St。　Margaret；　Southwark；　and　St。　Bartholomew；　in　Smithfield。　These　gatherings；　which　usually　lasted　a　fortnight；　were　looked　forward　to　with　considerable　pleasure；　and　frequented　not　only　by　citizens　bent　on　sport；　but　by　courtiers　in　search　of　adventure。

Nay；　even　her　majesty　was　tempted　on　one　occasion　to　go　a…　fairing；　as　we　gather　from　a　letter　addressed　to　Sir　Robert　Paston；　contained　in　Ives's　select　papers。　　〃Last　week；〃　says　the　writer　thereof；　〃the　queen；　the　Duchess　of　Richmond；　and　the　Duchess　of　Buckingham　had　a　frolick　to　disguise　themselves　like　country　lasses；　in　red　petticoates；　waistcoates；　etc。；　and　so　goe　see　the　faire。　　Sir　Bernard　Gascoign；　on　a　cart　jade；　rode　before　the　queen；　another　stranger　before　the　Duchess　of　Buckingham；　and　Mr。　Roper　before　Richmond。　　They　had　all　so　overdone　it　in　their　disguise；　and　look'd　so　much　more　like　antiques　than　country　volk；　that　as　soon　as　they　came　to　the　faire；　the　people　began　to　goe　after　them；　but　the　queen　going　to　a　booth　to　buy　a　pair　of　yellow　stockins　for　her　sweethart；　and　Sir　Bernard　asking　for　a　pair　of　gloves；　sticht　with　blew；　for　his　sweethart；　they　were　soon；　by　their　gebrish；　found　to　be　strangers；　which　drew　a　bigger　flock　about　them。　　One　amongst　them　＇who＇　had　seen　the　queen　at　dinner；　knew　her；　and　was　proud　of　her　knowledge。　　This　soon　brought　all　the　faire　into　a　crowd　to　stare　at　the　queen。　Being　thus　discovered；　they　as　soon　as　they　could　got　to　their　horses；　but　as　many　of　the　faire　as　had　horses；　got　up　with　their　wives；　children；　sweetharts；　or　neighbours　behind　them；　to　get　as　much　gape　as　they　could　till　they　brought　them　to　the　court　gate。　Thus　by　ill　conduct　was　a　merry　frolick　turned　into　a　penance。〃

On　another　occasion　my　Lady　Castlemaine　went　to　Bartholomew　fair　to　see　the　puppets　play　〃Patient　Grissel；〃　and　there　was　the　street　〃full　of　people　expecting　her　coming　out；〃　who；　when　she　appeared；　〃suffered　her　with　great　respect　to　take　the　coach。〃　Not　only　the　king's　mistress；　but　likewise　the　whole　court　went　to　St。　Margaret's　fair　to　see　〃an　Italian　wench　daunce　and　performe　all　the　tricks　on　the　high　rope　to　admiration；　and　monkies　and　apes　do　other　feates　of　activity。〃　　〃They；〃　says　a　quaint　author；　〃were　gallantly　clad　A　LA　MODE；　went　upright；　saluted　the　company；　bowing　and　pulling　off　their　hats；　with　as　good　a　grace　as　if　instructed　by　a　dancing　master。　　They　turned　heels　over　head　with　a　basket　having　eggs　in　it；　without　breaking　any；　also　with　lighted　candles　on　their　heads；　without　extinguishing　them；　and　with　vessells　of　water　without　spilling　a　drop。〃

The　cruel　sport　of　bull　and　bear　baiting　was　also　commonly　practised。　　Seated　round　an　amphitheatre；　the　people　witnessed　these　unfortunate　animals　being　torn　to　pieces　by　dogs；　the　owners　of　which　frequently　jumped　into　the　arena　to　urge　them　to　their　sanguinary　work；　on　the　result　of　which　great　wagers　depended。　　Indignation　arising　against　those　who　witnessed　such　sights　may　be　somewhat　appeased　by　the　knowledge　that　infuriated　bulls　occasionally　tossed　the　torn　and　bleeding　carcases　of　their　tormentors　into　the　faces　and　laps　of　spectators。　　Pepys　frequently　speaks　of　dense　crowds　which　assembled　to　witness　this　form　of　cruelty；　which　he　designates　as　good　sport；　and　Evelyn　speaks　of　a　gallant　steed　that；　under　the　pretence　that　he　had　killed　a　man；　was　baited　by　dogs；　but　fought　so　hard　for　his　life　〃the　fiercest　of　them　could　not　fasten　on　him　till　he　was　run　through　with　swords。〃　　Not　only　bull　and　bear　baiting；　cock　and　dog　fighting　were　encouraged；　but　prize　combats　between　man　and　man　were　regarded　as　sources　of　great　diversion。　　Pepys　gives　a　vivid　picture　of　a　furious　encounter　he；　in　common　with　a　great　and　excited　crowd；　witnessed　at　the　bear…garden　stairs；　at　Bankside；　between　a　butcher　and　a　waterman。　　〃The　former；〃　says　he；　〃had　the　better　all　along；　till　by…and…by　the　latter　dropped　his　sword　out　of　his　hand；　and　the　butcher；　whether　not　seeing　his　sword　dropped　I　know　not；　but　did　give　him　a　cut　over　the　wrist；　so　as　he　was　disabled　to　fight　any　longer。　　But　Lord！　　to　see　how　in　a　minute　the　whole　stage　was　full　of　watermen　to　revenge　the　foul　play；　and　the　butchers　to　defend　their　fellow；　though　most　blamed　him；　and　then　they　all　fell　to　it　to　knocking　down　and　cutting　many　on　each　side。　　It　was　pleasant　to　see；　but　that　I　stood　in　the　pit；　and　feared　that　in　the　tumult　I　might　get　some　hurt。〃

Among　the　more　healthy　sports　which　obtained　during　the　reign　were　horse…racing；　tennis；　and　bowling。　　The　monarch　had；　at　vast　expense；　built　a　house　and　stables　at　Newmarket；　where　he　and　his　court　regularly　repaired；　to　witness　racing。　　Here　likewise　the　king　and　〃ye　jolly　blades　enjoyed　dauncing；　feasting；　and　revelling；　more　resembling　a　luxurious　and　abandoned　route　than　a　Christian　court。〃　　He　had　likewise　a　tennis…court　and　bowling　green　at　Whitehall；　where　at　noonday　and　towards　eve；　blithe　lords；　and　ladies　in　brave　apparel；　might　be　seen　at　play。　Bowling　was　a　game　to　which　the　people　were　much　devoted；　every　suburban　tavern　having　its　green；　where　good　friends　and　honest　neighbours　challenged　each　other's　strength　and　skill。　　And　amongst　other　pleasant　sports　and　customs　were　those　practised　on　May…day；　when　maids　rose　betimes　to　bathe　their　faces　in　dew；　that　they　might　become　sweet…complexioned　to　men's　sight；　and　milk…maids　with　garlands　of　spring　flowers　upon　their　pails；　and　posies　in　their　breasts；　danced　to　the　merry　music　of　fiddles　adown　the　streets。



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。

Few　courts　have　been　more　brilliant　than　that　of　the　merry　monarch。　　All　the　beauty　of　fair　women；　the　gallantry　of　brave　men；　and　the　gaiety　of　well…approved　wits　could　compass；　perpetually　surrounded　his　majesty；　making　the　royal　palace　a　lordly　pleasure　house。　　Noble　banquets；　magnificent　balls；　and　brilliant　suppers　followed　each　other　in　quick　succession。　　Three　times　a　weekon　Wednesdays；　Fridays；　and　Sundaysthe　king　and　queen　dined　publicly　in　ancient　state；　whilst　rare　music　was　discoursed；　and　many　ceremonies　observed；　amongst　these　being　that　each　servitor　of　the　royal　table　should　eat　some　bread　dipped　in　sauce　of　the　dish　he　bore。　　On　these　occasions　meats　for　the　king's　table　were　brought　from　the　kitchen　by　yeomen　of　the　guard；　or　beef…eaters。　　These　men；　selected　as　being　amongst　the　handsomest；　strongest；　and　tallest　in　England；　were　dressed　in　liveries　of　red　cloth；　faced　with　black　velvet；　having　the　king's　cipher　on　the　back；　and　on　the　breast　the　emblems　of　the　Houses　of　York　and　Lancaster。　　By　them　the　dishes　were　handed　to　the　gentlemen　in　waiting；　who　served　royalty　upon　their　knees。　〃You　see；〃　said　Charles　one　day　to　the　Chevalier　de　Grammont；　〃how　I　am　waited　on。〃　　〃I　thank　your　majesty　for　the　explanation；〃　said　the　saucy　Frenchman；　〃I　thought　they　were　begging　pardon　for　offering　you　so　bad　a　dinner。〃　　＇This　mode　of　serving　the　sovereign　continued　unto　the　coming　of　George　I。＇

The　costliness　and　splendour　of　some　royal　entertainments　require　the　description　of　an　eye…witness　to　be　fully　realized。　　Evelyn；　speaking　of　a　great　feast　given　to　the　Knights　of　the　Garter　in　the　banqueting…hall；　tells　us　〃the　king　sat　on　an　elevated　throne；　at　the　upper　end　of　the　table　alone；　the　knights　at　a　table　on　the　right　hand；　reaching　all　the　length　of　the　roome；　over　against　them　a　cupboard　of　rich　gilded　plate；　at　the　lower　end　the　musick；　on　the　balusters　above；　wind　musick；　trumpets；　and　kettle…drums。　　The　king　was　served　by　the　lords　and　pensioners　who　brought　up　the　dishes。　　About　the　middle　of　the　dinner　the　knights　drank　the　king's　health；　then　the　king　theirs；　when　the　trumpets　and　musick　plaid　and　sounded；　the　guns　going　off　at　the　Tower。　　At　the　banquet　came　in　the　queene　and　stood　by　the　king's　left　hand　hand；　but　did　not　sit。　　Then　was　the　banquetting　stuff　flung　about　the　roome　profusely。　　In　truth　the　crowd　was　so　great　that　I　now　staied　no　longer　than　this　sport　began　for　fear　of　disorder。　　The　cheere　was　extraordinary；　each　knight　having　forty　dishes　to　his　messe；　piled　up　five　or　six　high。〃

Concerning　the　habit　mentioned　by　Evelyn；　of　mobs　rushing　into　banquet…halls；　in　order　to　possess　themselves　of　all　on　which　they　could　lay　hands；　many　instances　are　mentioned。　　The　Duke　of　Tuscany；　amongst　other　authorities；　narrates　the　inconvenience　it　caused　at　a　supper　he　gave　the　king。　　When　his　majesty　drove　to　the　duke's　residence　he　was　preceded　by　trumpeters　and　torch…　bearers；　attended　by　the　horse…guards　and　a　retinue　of　courtiers；　and　accompanied　by　a　vast　crowd。　　On　alighting　from　the　coach　the　Duke　of　Tuscany；　together　with　the　noblemen　and　gentlemen　of　his　household；　received　and　conducted　him　through　passages　lighted　by　torches　to　the　banquet…hall。　　From　the　ceiling　of　this　saloon　was　suspended　a　chandelier　of　rock　crystal；　blazing　with　tapers；　beneath　it　stood　a　circular　table；　at　the　upper　end　of　which　was　placed　a　chair　of　state　for　the　king。　　The　whole　entertainment　was　costly　and　magnificent。　　As　many　as　eighty　dishes　were　set　upon　the　table；　foreign　wines；　famous　for　great　a