Our last letters told us the King's indisposition was much abated, that the ague was the only thing feared, which yet the physicians hoped would go
shallop (not being discovered, by reason of the disguise he had put himself in, neither by the crew, nor at Dover itself, except by the Port Master, who was an honest man and held his tongue): he took port from thence, leaving my Lord Peterborough behind, who was not able to go so fast, and arrived that night at London. As soon as he light, he called a hackney-coach, and went first to Mr. Frowd, the Post Master, to know what news, where he found to his great satisfaction that the King was much better; from thence he went to Sir Allen Apsley's house, where he lay all night, and sent for Mr. Hyde and Mr. Godolphin. They told him his coming was still a secret; that neither the Duke of Monmouth, nor any of his gang, knew or suspected it; and therefore they advised him to make all the haste he could to Windsor, while the thing was undiscovered. Accordingly, he came thither the next morning by seven o'clock, just as his Majesty was shaving, and was himself the first man that advertised him of his arrival.
"The King, though seemingly surprised, received him very kindly; and the Duke, after his compliments and telling his
Majesty how extreme glad he was to find him so well recovered, pursued his directions; and speaking aloud, sayd, He hoped his Majesty would pardon him for coming without his leave, considering the occasion, but that, as he had already gone out of England in obedience to his Majesty's commands, so now that he had the satisfaction of seeing him, he was ready to go into any part of the world he should appoint.
"This scene being over, all the Courtiers flocked about him to make their compliments, his enemies as well as his friends."—Clarke's Life of James I., 565.
