UNDER CHARLES THE SECOND.

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of what His Majesty squandered on concubines and buffoons ™| p 'would gladden the hearts of hundreds of old Cavaliers who,after cutting down their oaks and melting their plate to helphis father, now wandered about in threadbare suits, and didnot know where to turn for a meal.

At the same time a sudden fall of rents took place; Theincome of every landed proprietor was diminished by fiveshillings in the pound. The cry of agricultural distress rosefrom every shire in the kingdom; and for that distress thegovernment was, as usual, held accountable. The gentry,compelled to retrench their expenses for a period, saw withindignation the increasing splendour and profusion of White-hall, and were immovably fixed in the belief that the moneywhich ought to have supported their households had, by someinexplicable process, gone to the favourites of the King.

The minds of men were now in such a temper that everypublic act excited discontent. Charles had taken to wifeCatharine Princess of Portugal. The marriage was generallydisliked; and the murmurs became loud when it appeared thatthe King was not likely to have any legitimate posterity.Dunkirk, won by Oliver from Spain, was sold to Lewis theFourteenth, King of France. This bargain excited generalindignation. Englishmen were already beginning to observewith uneasiness the progress of the French power, and toregard the House of Bourbon with the same feeling withwhich their grandfathers had regarded the House of Austria.

Was it wise, men asked, at such a time, to make any additionto the strength of a monarchy already too formidable? Dun-kirk was, moreover, prized by the people, not merely as aplace of arms, and as a key to the Low Countries, but also as atrophy of English valour. It was to the subjects of Charleswhat Calais had been to an earlier generation, and what therock of Gibraltar, so manfully defended, through disastrousand perilous years, against the fleets and armies of a mighty