On Monday he went to Rochester, and the next day, being the 29th of May and his birthday, he entered London, all the ways from Dover thither being so full of people and exclamations as if the whole kingdom had been gathered. About or above Greenwich the Lord Mayor and aldermen met him, with all those protestations of joy which can hardly be imagined; and the concourse so great that the King rode in a crowd from the bridge to Temple Bar. All the companies of the city stood in order on both sides, giving loud thanks for his Majesty's presence. And he no sooner came to Whitehall but the two Houses of Parliament solemnly cast themselves at his feet, with all the vows of affection and fidelity to the world's end. In a word, the joy was so unexpressible and so universal, that his Majesty said smilingly to some about him, that he doubted it had been his own fault that he had been absent so long, for he saw nobody that did not protest he had ever wished for his return.
(b) At Blackheath the army was drawn up, where his Majesty viewed them, giving out many expressions of his gracious favour to the army, which were received by loud shoutings and rejoicings; several bonfires were made as his Majesty came along, and one more remarkable than the rest for its bigness, where the States arms were burned.
Thence the army being placed according to his Excellencies order, his Majesty marched towards London: and now because God himself, when he would set a mark of observance upon his own magnalia, hath taken notice of the circumstance of time, it is very considerable here that it was his Majesties birth-day. He was heir-apparent when first born, but had jus in re now when entering the metropolis of his kingdom, he took possession. All lets and hinderances, which have interven'd since his Majesties just right, are now so many arguments of his future fix'd and peaceable enjoyment. This the ancients intimate, when they tell us, Jupiter himself was not quiet in heaven till after a long war with the giants; may that God, by whom kings reign, long preserve him and the nation, a mutual blessing to each other!
When his Majesty came to St. George's field, the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen were in a tent ready to receive him: there the Lord Mayor delivered unto his Majesty his sword upon his knees, which his Majesty gave back to him. After a repast taken there, his Majesty came to Whitehall in this manner: all the streets being richly hang'd with tapestry, and a lane made by the militia forces to London-bridge, from London-bridge to Temple-bar by the trained bands on one side, and the several companies in their liveries, and the streamers of each company, of the other side, by the rails; from Temple-bar to Westminster by the militia forces, regiments of the army, and several gentlemen formerly officers of the king's army, led by sir John Stawell; first marched a troop of gentlemen, led by major-general Brown, brandishing their swords, in clothes of silver doublet, in all about 300, besides their servants; then another troop, of about 200, in velvet coats, the footmen and liveries in purple; then another troop, led by alderman Robinson, with buff coats, silver sleeves, and green scarfs; after this, a troop with blue liveries, and silver lace, colours red, fringed with silver, about 130; after that, a troop, 6 trumpets, 7 footmen in sea-green and silver, their colours pink, fringed with silver; then a troop, with their liveries gray and blue, with silk and silver laces, 30 footmen, 4 trumpets, consisting of about 220, their colours sky, fringed with silver; another of gray liveries, 6 trumpets, colours sky and silver, of about 105 gentlemen; another troop of 70 gentlemen, 5 trumpets, colours sky and silver; another troop, led by the lord Clevland, of about 200 noblemen and gentlemen, colours blue, fringed with gold; another troop of about 100, black colours, fringed with gold; another troop of about 300.
After these came two trumpets, with his Majesties arms, the sheriffs men in red cloaks and silver lace, with half pikes, 79 in number; then followed the several companies of London, with their several streamers, all in black velvet coats with gold chains, every company having their footmen of their several liveries, some red and white, some pink and white, some blue and yellow, etc.; three trumpets in liveries richly laced and cloth of silver sleeves, went before the company of the Mercers. After all these, came a kettle-drum, five trumpets, and three streamers, and very rich red liveries, with silver lace. The number of the citizens were about 600. After these, 12 ministers, another kettle-drum, four trumpets, then his Majesties life-guard, led by the lord Gerrard; another party, led by sir Gilbert Gerrard, and major Rosecarron, and the third division by colonel Pragues; then three trumpeters in rich coats and satin doublets; the city marshal, with 8 footmen, in French green, trimmed with crimson and white; the city waits, the city officers in order, Dr. Warmstry, the 2 Sheriffs, and all the Aldermen of London, in their scarlet gowns, and rich trappings, with footmen in liveries, red coats, laced with silver, and cloth of gold; the heralds and maces in their rich coats; the Lord Mayor, bare, carrying the sword; his Excellency and the duke of Buckingham bare; and then, the glory of all, his sacred Majesty rode between the dukes of York and Gloucester; afterwards followed a troop bare, with white colours, then the generals lifeguard; after which, another company of gentry, sky, fringed with gold; after which, five regiments of the army horse, led by colonel Knight, viz. his Excellencies regiment, colonel Knight's, colonel Cloberrie's, lord Fauconberg's, lord Howard's; after whom, came two troops of nobility and gentlemen, red colours, fringed with gold. There was never such a sight of noblemen and gentlemen that marched then, brandishing their swords all along. Soon after his Majesty was passed, all the musketeers that lined the streets gave many volleys of shot.
Thus was his Majesty conducted to his royal palace at Whitehall; where after the lord mayor had took his leave, his Majesty went to the Lords, where was a speech made to his Majesty, and another in the Banqueting-house by the Speaker of the House of Commons, which is printed at large by the printers of the said house: which done, his Majesty retired himself, and supped with the two dukes in the Chast chamber. This day his Majesty dined in the Presence chamber.
The solemnity of this day was concluded by an infinite number of bonfires; it being observable, that, as if all the houses had turned out their chimneys into the streets (the weather being very warm) there were almost as many fires in the streets, as houses, throughout London and Westminster; and among the rest in Westminster, a very costly one was made, where the effigy of the old Oliver Cromwell was set up upon a high post, with the arms of the Commonwealth; which having been exposed there a while to the public view, with torches lighted, that everyone might take better notice of them, were burnt together.
The foreign ambassadors and public ministers here did likewise highly express their joy for his Majesties happy arrival here on Tuesday last, by their bonfires and other public demonstrations; specially the ambassadors of France and Portugal, and the plenipotentiaries of the king of Sweden; in particular, his plenipotentiary lying at Charing-cross, besides his bonfires, giving of wine and throwing of money among the people, made very gallant emblems upon the business of the day.
STATE OF LONDON BEFORE THE PLAGUE
(1661).
Besides the insanitary conditions which rendered the City so liable to outbreaks of infectious disease, there were other nuisances which afflicted the inhabitants of the City. It is rather difficult to imagine what John Evelyn would have said about a Black Country town of the present day, where the effects of smoke must be much more noticeable than in the London of 1661. But his indictment, although severe, is in the main true; the smoke nuisance has not decreased since the seventeenth century, and probably we tolerate it only because we are accustomed to it. It must be remembered that in Evelyn's day the use of coal for fuel, although not great, was rapidly increasing; and a tax on coal was often a source of considerable revenue.