people again danced their old dances around them. The Cavalier restored the royal insignia on his fire-place to its old position; the King's Head, the Duke's Head, and the Crown were once more favourite signs by which taverns were distinguished; drinking of healths and deep potations, with all their Low-Country honours and observances, were again in vogue. Oughtred, the mathematician, died of joy, and Urquhart, the translator of Rabelais, of laughter, at hearing of the enthusiasm of the English to "welcome home old Rowley."[1] The King's health—
Here's a health unto his Majesty, with a fa, la, la,[2]
was made a pretext for the worst excesses, and irreligion and indecency were thought to secure
- ↑ "Welcome home, old Rowley," is the name of the well-known Scottish tune called "Had away frae me, Donald." See Johnson's Scott's Musical Museum, iv. 318.
- ↑ One of the seven "Choice New English Ayres" in Songs and Fancies in three, four, five parts, both apt for the Voices and Viols, with a brief Introduction to Musick, as taught in the Musick-School of Aberdeen, third Edition, enlarged, Aberdeen by Jo. Forbes, 1682, is—
"Here's a health unto his Majesty, with a fa, la, la.
Conversion to his enemies, with a fa, la, la.
And he that will not pledge his health,
I wish him neither wit nor wealth,
Nor yet a rope to hang himself.
With a fa, la, la, la,
With a fa, la," &c.The music appears to have been the composition of "Mr. John Savile." Shadwell refers to the song, Works, ii.268; iii. 52.
