royalty restored-第74章
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； 〃what must we think of his majesty's execution upon a scaffold？〃 To which question his royal highness vouchsafed no reply。
It was a favourite custom of his majesty； who invariably rose betimes； to saunter in the park whilst the day was young and pass an hour or two in stroking the heads of his feathered favourites in the aviary； feeding the fowls in the pond with biscuits； and playing with the crowd of spaniels ever attending his walks。 For his greater amusement he had brought together in the park a rare and valuable collection of birds and beasts； amongst which were； according to a quaint authority； 〃an onocratylus； or pelican； a fowl between a stork and a swana melancholy water…fowl brought from Astracan by the Russian ambassador。〃 This writer tells us； 〃It was diverting to see how the pelican would toss up and turn a flat fish； plaice or flounder； to get it right into its gullet at its lower beak； which being filmy stretches to a prodigious wideness when it devours a great fish。 Here was also a small water…fowl； not bigger than a more…hen； that went almost quite erect like the penguin of America。 It would eate as much fish as its whole body weighed； yet ye body did not appear to swell the bigger。 The Solan geese here are also great devourers； and are said soon to exhaust all ye fish in a pond。 Here was a curious sort of poultry not much exceeding the size of a tame pidgeon； with legs so short as their crops seemed to touch ye earth； a milk…white raven； a stork which was a rarity at this season； seeing he was loose and could fly loftily； two Balearian cranes； one of which having had one of his leggs broken； and cut off above the knee； had a wooden or boxen leg and thigh； with a joint so accurately made that ye creature could walke and use it as well as if it had ben natural； it was made by a souldier。 The park was at this time stored with numerous flocks of severall sorts of ordinary and extraordinary wild fowle breeding about the decoy； which； looking neere so greate a citty； and among such a concourse of souldiers and people； is a singular and diverting thing。 There are also deere of several countries； white； spotted like leopards； antelopes； an elk； red deere； roebucks； staggs； Guinea goates； Arabian sheepe； etc。 There are withy…potts or nests for the wild fowle to lay their eggs in； a little above ye surface of ye water。〃
Hyde Park； lying close by； likewise afforded a pleasant and convenient spot for recreation。 Here； in a large circle railed off and known as the Ring； the world of quality and fashion took the air in coaches。 The king and queen； surrounded by a goodly throng of maids of honour and gentlemen in waiting； were wont to ride here on summer evenings； whilst courtiers and citizens looked on the brilliant cavalcade with loyal delight。 Horse and foot races were occasionally held in the park； as were reviews likewise； Cosmo； Grand Duke of Tuscany； 〃a very jolly and good comely man；〃 whilst visiting England in 1669； was entertained by his majesty with a military parade held here one Sunday in May。
On arriving at Hyde Park； he found a great concourse of people and carriages waiting the coming of his majesty； who presently appeared with the Duke of York and many lords and gentlemen of the court。 Having acknowledged an enthusiastic greeting； Charles retired under shade of some trees； in order to protect himself from the sun； and then gave orders for the troops to march past。 〃The whole corps；〃 says the Grand Duke； 〃consisted of two regiments of infantry； and one of cavalry； and of three companies of the body…guard； which was granted to the king by parliament since his return； and was formed of six hundred horsemen； each armed with carabines and pistols； all well mounted and dressed； which are uniform in every； thing but colour。 When they had marched by； without firing either a volley or a salve； his majesty dismounted from his horse； and entering his carriage； retired to Whitehall。〃
Besides such diversions as were enjoyed in the parks； the people had various other sources of public amusement； amongst these puppet…shows； exhibitions of strength and agility； bear…baiting； cock…fighting； and dancing obtained。 Until the restoration； puppet…shows had not been seen for years； for these droll dolls； being regarded as direct agents of Satan； were discountenanced by the puritans。 With the coming of his majesty they returned in vast numbers； and were hailed with great delight by the people。 One of these exhibitions which found special favour with the town； and speedily drew great audiences of gallants and ladies of quality； was situated within the rails of Covent Garden。 And so perfect were the marionettes of this booth in the performance of divers sad tragedies and gay comedies； that they had the honour of receiving a royal command to play before their majesties at Whitehall。 Amongst the most famous tumblers； or； as they were then styled； posturemakers； of this reign were Jacob Hall the friend of my Lady Castlemaine； and Joseph Clarke； beloved by the citizens。 Though the latter was 〃a well…made man and rather gross than thin；〃 we are told he 〃exhibited in the most natural manner almost every species of deformity and dislocation； he could dislocate his vertebrae so as to render himself a shocking spectacle； he could also assume all the uncouth faces he had seen at a quaker's meeting； at the theatre； or any public place。 He was likewise the plague of all the tailors about town。 He would send for one of them to take measure of him； but would so contrive it as to have a most immoderate rising in one of his shoulders； when his clothes were brought home and tried upon him； the deformity was removed into the other shoulder； upon which the tailor begged pardon for the mistake； and mended it as fast as he could； but on another trial found him as straight…shouldered a man as one would desire to see； but a little unfortunate in a hump back。 In fact； this wandering tumour puzzled all the workmen about town； who found it impossible to accommodate so changeable a customer。〃
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 dis
