The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684 · Chapter 69The Glory of These Nations;
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Or, King and peoples happinesse. Being a brief relation of King Charles’s royall progresse from Dover to London, how the Lord Generall and the Lord Mayor, with all the nobility and gentry of the land, brought him thorow the famous city of London to his pallace at Westminster, the 29th of May last, being his Majesties birth-day, to the great comfort of his loyall subjects.
One of the six curious broadsides found by Sir W. C. Trevelyan in the lining of a trunk, and now in the British Museum.
The new Parliament met on the twenty-fifth of April, and on the first of May the King’s letter from Breda was read, and the Restoration determined by a vote of the House. The King immediately repaired to the coast, and, after meeting with some obstruction from the roughness of the weather, went on board the Nazeby on the 23rd of May. On the 25th he landed at Dover. He made his entry into London on the 29th.
To the tune of “When the King enjoys his own again.”
Where’s those that did prognosticate, And did envy fair England’s state, And said King Charles no more should reign? Their predictions were but in vain, For the King is now return’d, For whom fair England mourn’d; His nobles royally him entertain. Now blessed be the day! Thus do his subjects say, That God hath brought him home again.
The twenty-second of lovely May At Dover arrived, fame doth say, Where our most noble generall Did on his knees before him fall, Craving to kiss his hand, So soon as he did land. Royally they did him entertain, With all their pow’r and might, To bring him to his right, And place him in his own again.
Then the King, I understand, Did kindly take him by the hand And lovingly did him embrace, Rejoycing for to see his face. Hee lift him from the ground With joy that did abound, And graciously did him entertain; Rejoycing that once more He was o’ th’ English shore, To enjoy his own in peace again.
From Dover to Canterbury they past, And so to Cobham-hall at last; From thence to London march amain, With a triumphant and glorious train, Where he was received with joy, His sorrow to destroy, In England once more for to raign; Now all men do sing, God save Charles our King, That now enjoyes his own again.
At Deptford the maidens they Stood all in white by the high-way Their loyalty to Charles to show, They with sweet flowers his way to strew. Each wore a ribbin blew, They were of comely hue, With joy they did him entertain, With acclamations to the skye As the King passed by, For joy that he receives his own again.
In Wallworth-fields a gallant band Of London ’prentices did stand, All in white dublets very gay, To entertain King Charles that day, With muskets, swords, and pike; I never saw the like, Nor a more youthfull gallant train; They up their hats did fling, And cry, “God save the King! Now he enjoys his own again.”
At Newington-Buts the Lord Mayor willed A famous booth for to be builded, Where King Charles did make a stand, And received the sword into his hand; Which his Majesty did take, And then returned back Unto the Mayor with love again. A banquet they him make, He doth thereof partake, Then marcht his triumphant train.
The King with all his noblemen, Through Southwark they marched then; First marched Major Generall Brown, [106] Then Norwich Earle of great renown, [107] With many a valiant knight And gallant men of might, Richly attired, marching amain, There Lords Mordin, Gerard, and The good Earle of Cleavland, [108] To bring the King to his own again.
Near sixty flags and streamers then Was born before a thousand men, In plush coats and chaines of gold, These were most rich for to behold; With every man his page, The glory of his age; With courage bold they marcht amain, Then with gladnesse they Brought the King on his way For to enjoy his own again.
Then Lichfields and Darbyes Earles, [109] Two of fair England’s royall pearles; Major Generall Massey then Commanded the life guard of men, The King for to defend, If any should contend, Or seem his comming to restrain; But also joyfull were That no such durst appear, Now the King enjoyes his own again.
Four rich maces before them went, And many heralds well content; The Lord Mayor and the generall Did march before the King withall. His brothers on each side Along by him did ride; The Southwark-waits did play amain, Which made them all to smile And to stand still awhile, And then they marched on again.
Then with drawn swords all men did side, And flourishing the same, then cryed, “Charles the Second now God save, That he his lawfull right may have! And we all on him attend, From dangers him to defend, And all that with him doth remain. Blessed be God that we Did live these days to see, That the King enjoyes his own again!”
The bells likewise did loudly ring, Bonefires did burn and people sing; London conduits did run with wine, And all men do to Charles incline; Hoping now that all Unto their trades may fall, Their famylies for to maintain, And from wrong be free, ’Cause we have liv’d to see The King enjoy his own again.
London, printed for Charles Tyns, on London Bridge.