Here likewise the
king and "ye jolly blades enjoyed dauncing, feasting, and
revelling, more resembling a luxurious and abandoned route than a
Christian court." He had likewise a tennis-court and bowling
green at Whitehall, where at noonday and towards eve, blithe
lords, and ladies in brave apparel, might be seen at play.
Bowling was a game to which the people were much devoted, every
suburban tavern having its green, where good friends and honest
neighbours challenged each other's strength and skill. And
amongst other pleasant sports and customs were those practised on
May-day, when maids rose betimes to bathe their faces in dew,
that they might become sweet-complexioned to men's sight; and
milk-maids with garlands of spring flowers upon their pails, and
posies in their breasts, danced to the merry music of fiddles
adown the streets.
CHAPTER XX.
Court customs in the days of the merry monarch.--Dining in
public.--The Duke of Tuscany's supper to the king.--
Entertainment of guests by mountebanks.--Gaming at court.--Lady
Castlemaine's losses.--A fatal duel.--Dress of the period.--
Riding-habits first seen.--His majesty invents a national
costume.--Introduction of the penny post.--Divorce suits are
known.--Society of Antiquaries.--Lord Worcester's inventions.
--The Duchess of Newcastle.
Few courts have been more brilliant than that of the merry
monarch. All the beauty of fair women, the gallantry of brave
men, and the gaiety of well-approved wits could compass,
perpetually surrounded his majesty, making the royal palace a
lordly pleasure house.
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