These and the like discourses
held until word was brought that dinner was served; we endeavoured
all we could to withdraw, but there was no possibility for it after
he had made us this compliment, "I assure you, Gentlemen, I shall
never be for straining man's inclinations; however, our
grandfathers, who were worthy people, dined, and I hope there can be
no fault found that we do the same." There is every day a regular
table of ten or twelve covers well served, unto which some of the
qualified persons of his court, or travellers, are invited: it is
supplied with English and French cooking, French and Italian wines;
but I took notice that the Pretender eat only of the English dishes,
and made his dinner of roast-beef, and what we call Devonshire-pie:
he also prefers our March beer, which he has from Leghorn, to the
best wines: at the dessert, he drinks his glass of champagne very
heartily, and to do him justice, he is as free and cheerful at his
table as any man I know; he spoke much in favour of our English
ladies, and said he was persuaded he had not many enemies among
them; then he carried a health to them. The Princess with a smiling
countenance took up the matter, and said, "I think then, Sir, it
would be but just that I drink to the cavaliers." Sometime after,
the Pretender begun a health to the prosperity of all friends in
England, which he addressed to me. I took the freedom to reply, that
as I presumed he meant his own friends, he would not take it ill
that I meant mine. "I assure you, Sir," said he, "that the friends
you mean can have no great share of prosperity till they become
mine, therefore, here's prosperity to yours and mine." After we had
eat and drank very heartily, the Princess told us we must go see her
son, which could not be refused; he is really a fine promising
child, and is attended by English women, mostly Protestants, which
the Princess observed to us, saying, that as she believed he was to
live and die among Protestants, she thought fit to have him brought
up by their hands; and that in the country where she was born, there
was no other distinction but that of honour and dishonour. These
women, and particularly two Londoners, kept such a racket about us
to make us kiss the young Pretender's hand that to get clear of them
as soon as we could, we were forced