f　affairs　is　unreasonable。　　Lay　aside　this　pussillanimity；　every　moment　is　precious；　your　enemies　spend　the　time　in　acting　which　we　waste　in　consulting。〃　　〃Talk　no　more　of　it；〃　answered　the　Protector。　　〃I　am　thankful　for　your　friendship；　but　violent　counsels　suit　not　with　me。〃
  The　climax　was　at　hand；　his　fall　was　but　a　question　of　time。　　〃A　wonderfull　and　suddaine　change　in　ye　face　of　ye　publiq；〃　writes　Evelyn；　on　the　25th　of　April；　1659。　　〃Ye　new　Protector　Richard　slighted；　several　pretenders　and　parties　strove　for　the　Government；　all　anarchy　and　confusion。　　Lord　have　mercy　on　us！〃
  Before　the　month　of　May　had　expired；　the　House　of　Commons　commissioned　two　of　its　members　to　bid　Richard　Cromwell　leave　the　palace　of　Whitehall；　and　obtain　his　signature　to　a　deed　wherein　he　acknowledged　complete　submission　to　Parliament。　　His　brief　inglorious　reign　was　therefore　at　an　end。　　〃As　with　other　men；〃　he　wrote　to　the　House　of　Commons；　〃I　expect　protection　from　the　present　Government：　　I　do　hold　myself　obliged　to　demean　myself　with　all　the　peaceableness　under　it；　and　to　procure；　to　the　utmost　of　my　power；　that　all　in　whom　I　have　any　interest　to　do　the　same。〃　　He　retired　into　Hampshire；　where　he　dwelt　as　a　private　gentleman。　　His　brother　Henry　resigned　his　position　as　Lord　Lieutenant　of　Ireland　and　settled　in　Cambridgeshire。　　From　this　time　the　name　of　Cromwell　was　no　longer　a　power　in　the　land。
  During　two　years　subsequent　to　the　death　of　Oliver　the　government　of　England　underwent　various　changes；　and　the　kingdom　suffered　many　disorders；　until；　being　heartily　sick　of　anarchy；　the　people　desired　a　king　might　once　more　reign　over　them。　　accordingly；　they　turned　their　eyes　towards　the　son　of　him　whom　〃the　boldest　villany　that　ever　any　nation　saw〃　had　sent　to　the　block。　　And　the　time　being　ripe；　Charles　Stuart；　then　an　exile　in　Breda；　despatched　Sir　John　Grenville　with　royal　letters　to　both　Houses　of　Parliament；　likewise　to　the　Lord　Mayor　of　London　and　members　of　the　Common　Council；　to　Monk；　commander　of　the　forces；　and　Montagu；　admiral　of　the　fleet。　　These　letters　were　received　with　so　universal　a　joy　and　applause；　that　Parliament　forthwith　ordained　Charles　Stuart　should　be　proclaimed　〃the　most　potent；　mighty；　and　undoubted　King　of　England；　Scotland　and　Ireland。〃　Moreover；　both　Houses　agreed　that　an　honourable　body　of　Commissioners；　all　men　of　great　quality　and　birth；　should　be　sent　to　the　king　with　letters；　humbly　begging　his　majesty　would　be　pleased　to　hasten　his　long…desired　return　into　England。　　And　because　they　knew　full　well　the　royal　exchequer　was　empty；　Parliament　ordered　these　noble　gentlemen　to　carry　with　them　a　present　of　fifty　thousand　pieces　of　gold　to　the　king；　together　with　ten　thousand　to　his　brother　of　York；　and　five　thousand　to　his　brother　of　Gloucester。　　Nor　was　the　City　of　London　backwards　in　sending　expressions　of　loyalty　and　tokens　of　homage　and　devotion；　to　evince　which　twenty　valiant　men　and　worthy　citizens　were　despatched　with　messages　of　goodwill　towards　him；　and　presents　in　gold　to　the　amount　of　twelve　thousand　pounds。
  And　presently　Admiral　Montagu　arriving　with　his　fleet　upon　the　coast　of　Holland；　awaited　his　majesty　near　Scheveling；　and　all　things　being　in　readiness　the　king　with　his　royal　brothers　and　a　most　noble　train　set　sail　for　England。
  It　came　to　pass　that　on　the　25th　day　of　May；　1660；　a　vast　concourse　of　nobility；　gentry；　and　citizens　had　assembled　at　Dover　to　meet　and　greet　their　sovereign　king；　Charles　II。；　on　his　landing。　　On　the　fair　morning　of　that　day　a　sound　of　cannon　thundering　from　the　castle　announced　that　the　fleet；　consisting　of　〃near　forty　sail　of　great　men…of…war；〃　which　conveyed　his　majesty　to　his　own；　was　in　sight；　whereon　an　innumerable　crowd　betook　its　joyful　way　to　the　shore。　　The　sun　was　most　gloriously　bright；　the　sky　cloudless；　the　sea　calm。　　Far　out　upon　the　blue　horizon　white…winged　ships　could　be　clearly　discerned。　　By　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　they　had　reached　the　harbour；　when　the　king；　embarking　in　a　galley　most　richly　adorned；　was　rowed　to　shore。　　Then　cannon　roared　once　more　from　the　castle；　and　were　answered　from　the　beach；　bells　rang　from　church　towers；　and　a　mighty　shout　went　up　from　the　hearts　of　the　people。
  In　the　midst　of　these　rejoicings　Charles　II。　landed；　and　the　gallant　General　Monk；　who　had　been　mainly　instrumental　in　bringing　his　royal　master　to　the　throne　without　loss　of　blood；　now　fell　upon　his　knees　to　greet　his　majesty。　　The　king　raised　the　general　from　the　ground；　embraced　and　kissed　him。　　Then　the　nobility　hastened　to　pay　their　duty　likewise；　and　the　Mayor　and　Aldermen　of　Dover　presented　him　with　a　most　loyal　address。　　And　presently；　with　the　roar　of　cannon；　the　clangour　of　bells；　the　sound　of　music；　and　the　shouts　of　a　great　multitude　ringing　in　his　ears；　the　king　advanced　on　his　way　towards　Canterbury。　　At　the　gates　of　this　ancient　city　he　was　met　by　the　mayor　and　aldermen；　and　was　presented　by　them　with　a　golden　tankard；　Here　he　spent　the　following　day；　which　being　Sunday；　he　went　with　a　great　train　to　the　cathedral；　where　service　according　to　the　Church　of　England；　long　disused　by　the　Puritans；　was　restored；　to　the　satisfaction　of　many。
  Setting　out　from　Canterbury　on　Monday；　the　29th　of　Maywhich　was；　moreover；　the　anniversary　of　his　birthhe　journeyed　to　Blackheath；　where　he　reviewed　the　forces　drawn　up　with　great　pomp　and　military　splendour　to　greet　him；　and　bestowed　many　gracious　expressions　on　them。　　Then；　having　received　assurances　of　their　loyal　homage　through　their　commander；　Colonel　Knight；　he　turned　towards　London　town。　　And　the　nearer　he　approached；　the　more　dense　became　crowds　thronging　to　meet　him；　the　fields　on　either　side　the　long　white　road　being　filled　with　persons　of　all　conditions；　who　cheered　him　lustily。　　As　he　passed　they　flung　leaves　of　trees　and　sweet　May　flowers　beneath　his　horse's　feet；　and　waved　green　boughs　on　high；　And　when　he　came　to　St。　George's　Fields；　there　was　my　lord　mayor　in　his　robes　of　new　velvet；　wearing　his　collar　of　wrought　gold；　and　attended　by　his　aldermen　in　brave　apparel　likewise。　　Going　down　on　his　knees　my　lord　mayor　presented　the　king　with　the　city　sword；　which　his　majesty　with　some　happy　expressions　of　confidence　gave　back　into　his　good　keeping；　having　first　struck　him　with　it　upon　the　shoulder　and　bade　him　rise　up　Sir　Thomas　Allen。　　Whereon　that　worthy　man　rose　to　his　feet　and　conducted　the　king　to　a　large　and　richly　adorned　pavilion；　and　entertained　him　at　a　splendid　collation；　it　being　then　one　of　the　clock。　　And　being　refreshed　his　majesty　set　forth　again；　and　entered　the　city；　which　had　never　before　shown　so　brave　and　goodly　an　appearance　as　on　this　May　day；　when　all　the　world　seemed　mad　with　joy。
  From　London　Bridge　even　to　Whitehall　Palace　the　way　was　lined　on　one　side　by　the　train…bands　of　the　city；　and　on　the　other　by　the　city　companies　in　their　rich　livery　gowns；　to　which　were　added　a　number　of　gentlemen　volunteers；　all　in　white　doublets；　commanded　by　Sir　John　Stanel。　　Across　the　streets　hung　garlands　of　spring　flowers　that　made　the　air　most　sweet；　and　at　the　corners　thereof　were　arches　of　white　hawthorn　in　full　bloom；　bedecked　with　streamers　of　gay　colours。　　From　wooden　railed　balconies；　jutting　windows；　and　quaint　gables　hung　fair　tapestries；　rich　silks；　and　stuffs　of　brilliant　hues；　and　from　the　high　red　chimneys；　grey　turrets；　and　lofty　spires；　floated　flags　bearing　the　royal　arms　of　England；　and　banners　inscribed　with　such　mottoes　as　loyalty　and　affection　could　suggest。　　The　windows　and　galleries　were　filled　with　ladies　of　quality　in　bright　dresses；　the　roofs　and　scaffolding；　with　citizens　of　all　classes；　who　awaited　with　eager　and　joyous　faces　to　salute　their　lord　and　king。
  And　presently；　far　down　the　line　of　streets；　a　sound　was　heard　of　innumerable　voices　cheering　most　lustily；　which　every　minute　became　nearer　and　louder；　till　at　last　a　blare　of　trumpets　was　distinguished；　followed　by　martial　music；　and　the　tramp　and　confusion　of　a　rushing　crowd　which　suddenly　parted　on　all　sides。　Then　there　burst　on　view　the　first　sight　of　that　brave　and　glorious　cavalcade　to　the　number　of　twenty　thousand；　which　ushered　the　king　back　unto　his　own。　　First　came　a　troop　of　young　and　comely　gentlemen；　three　hundred　in　all；　representing　the　pride　and　valour　of　the　kingdom；　wearing　cloth　of　silver　doublets　and　brandishing　naked　swords　which　flashed　in　the　sunlight。　　Then　another　company；　less　by　a　hundred　in　number；　habited　in　rich　velvet　coats；　their　footmen　clad　in　purple　liveries；　and　next　a　goodly　troop　under　the　command　of　Sir　John　Robinson；　all　dressed　in　buff　coats　with　cloth　of　silver　sleeves；　and　green　scarves　most　handsome　to　behold。　　These　were　followed　by　a　brave　troop　in　blue　doublets　adorned　with　silver　lace；　carrying　banners　of　red　silk　fringed　with　gold。　　Then　came　trumpets；　and　seven　footmen　in　sea…green　and　silver　liveries；　bearing　banners　of　blue　silk；　followed　by　a　troop　in　grey　and　blue　to　the　number　of　two　hundred　and　twenty；　and　led　by　the　most　noble　the　Earl　of　Northampton。　After　various　other　companies；　all　brave　in　apparel；　came　two　trumpets　bearing　his　majesty's　arms；　followed　by　the　sheriffs'　men　in　red　cloaks　and　silver　lace；　and　by　a　great　body　of　gentlemen　in　black