England under Charles II. from the Restoration to the Treaty of Nimeguen, 1660-1678: English History from Contemporary Writers
Taylor, W. F.
1889
Charles sets sail, lands at Dover, and proceeds to Canterbury. Mercurius Publicus, No. 22, p. 342.
Tuesday morning the duke of York went to the fleet to give order as high admiral of England for his Majesty's reception and the transportation of all his retinue. On Wednesday his sacred Majesty, the queen of Bohemia, the princess Royal, the most illustrious the duke of York, and duke of Gloucester, and prince of Orange went aboard general Montague in his good ship, formerly named the Naseby, but now christened by his Majesty the Royal Charles, where, after a repast, the queen of Bohemia, the princess Royal, and prince of Orange having taken leave of his Majesty, they set sail for England; his Majesty in the royal Charles, the duke of York in the London, and the duke of Gloucester in the James, formerly | |
16 | called the Swiftsure; the Speaker was likewise now christened Princess Mary. On Friday, about three o'clock in the morning, they were in sight of Dover, whereupon an express was sent to the general [Monk], then at Canterbury, to haste to Dover, which he did accordingly, and about one of the clock came thither. His Majesty landed about three in the afternoon at the beach near the pier of Dover with the duke of York, duke of Gloucester, and many of his nobles. Now did all put themselves in a posture for to observe the meeting of the best of kings and most deserving of subjects: the admirers of majesty were jealous on the king's behalf of too low a condescension, and the lovers of duty fearful on the other side of an ostentation of merit ; but such an humble prostration was made by his Excellency kneeling, and so fitting a reception by his Majesty kissing and embracing him, that all parties were satisfied .... his Majesty walked up with the general, a canopy being carried over his head, towards the coach about two miles beyond Dover his Majesty took horse, and the dukes on the right hand of the king and the general on the left, bare, after whom followed the duke of Buckingham and several of the nobility and gentry, bare to Canterbury-where he remains till Monday, and then intends to set forward on his journey, to be on Tuesday at London. |
It is reported that his Majesty gave the George and Garter to his Excellency general Monk, and that the duke of York, to express his affection to him, put them on. | |