oming home again; and they have resounded it back
again in our ears that they are ready, and their hearts open, to
receive him. Both Parliament and People have cried aloud to the
King of Kings in their prayers _Long live King Charles the
Second_." The rest of the speech was compliment to Sir John
himself.

_Same day, in Montague's Fleet in the Downs_:--His Majesty's
letter to Monk and Montague, intended to be communicated to the
Fleet, having been sent by express from Monk, reached Montague that
morning on board his flagship the Naseby. His secretary Pepys
describes what followed: "My Lord summoned a Council of War, and in
the meantime did dictate to me how he would have the vote ordered
which he would have pass this Council. Which done, the Commanders
all came on board, and the Council sat in the coach [Council
cabin], the first Council of War that had been in my time; where I
read the Letter and Declaration; and, while they were discoursing
upon it, I seemed to draw up a vote, which, being offered, they
passed. Not one man seemed to say _No_ to it, though I am
confident many in their hearts were against it. After this was
done, I went up to the quarterdeck with my Lord and the Commanders,
and there read both the papers and the vote; which done, and
demanding their opinion, the seamen did all of them cry out _God
save King Charles_." Pepys then made a circuit of the other
ships with the same great news. "Which was a very brave sight, to
visit all the ships, and to be received with the respect and honour
that I was on board them all, and much more to see the great joy
that I brought to all men, not one through the whole fleet shewing
the least dislike of the business. In the evening, as I was going
on board the Vice-Admiral, the General began to fire his guns,
which he did, all that he had in his ship, and so did all the rest
of the Commanders; which was very gallant, and to hear the bullets
go hissing over our heads as we were in the boat! This done, and
finished my proclamation, I returned to the Naseby, where my Lord
was much pleased to hear how all the fleet took it in a transport
of joy, and shewed me a private letter of the King's to him, and
another from the Duke of York, in such familiar style as their
common friend, with all kindness imaginable. And I found by the
letters, and so my Lord told me too, that there had been many
letters p