r a free
parliament, and departed from Holland without order, as soon as he
understood that there was nothing that could longer oppose the re-
establishment of monarchal government, with a design to crave
letters of recommendation to General Monk. This lord considered
him, as well because of the birth of his wife, which is illustrious,
as because Downing had expressed some respect for him in a time when
that eminent person could not yet discover his intentions. He had
his letters when he arrived at midnight at the house of the Spanish
Embassador, as we have said. He presented them forthwith to the
King, who arose from table a while after, read the letters, receiv'd
the submissions of Downing, and granted him the pardon and grace
which he asked for him to whom he could deny nothing. Some daies
after the King knighted him, and would it should be believed, that
the strong aversions which this minister of the Protector had made
appear against him on all occasions, and with all sorts of persons
indifferently, even a few daies before the publick and general
declaration of all England, proceeded not from any evil intention,
but only from a deep dissimulation, wherewith he was constrained to
cover his true sentiments, for fear to prejudice the affairs of his
Majesty."--Sir William Lowers Relation . . . of the Voiage and
Residence which . . . Charles the II. hath made in Holland,
Hague, 1660, folio, pp. 72-73.]

By the same token he called me to him when I was going to write the order,
to tell me that I must write him Sir G. Downing. My Lord lay in the
roundhouse to-night. This evening I was late writing a French letter
myself by my Lord's order to Monsieur Kragh, Embassador de Denmarke a la
Haye, which my Lord signed in bed. After that I to bed, and the Doctor,
and sleep well.

23rd. The Doctor and I waked very merry, only my eye was very red and ill
in the morning from yesterday's hurt. In the morning came infinity of
people on board from the King to go along with him. My Lord, Mr. Crew,
and others, go on shore to meet the King as he comes off from shore, where
Sir R. Stayner bringing His Majesty into the boat, I hear that His Majesty
did with a great deal of affection kiss my Lord upon his first meeting.
The King, with the two Dukes and Queen of Bohemia, Princess Royal, and
Prince of Orange, came on