The whole entertainment
was costly and magnificent. As many as eighty dishes were set
upon the table; foreign wines, famous for great age and delicate
flavour, sparkled in goblets of chased gold; and finally, a
dessert of Italian fruits and Portuguese sweetmeats was served.
But scarce had this been laid upon the board, when the impatient
crowd which had gathered round the house and forced its way
inside to witness the banquet, now violently burst into the
saloon and carried away all that lay before them. Neither the
presence of the king nor the appearance of his soldiers guarding
the entrance with carbines was sufficient to prevent entrance or
hinder pillage. Charles, used to such scenes, left the table and
retired into the duke's private apartments.
A quaint and curious account of a less ceremonious and more
convivial feast, also graced by the king's presence, was narrated
by Sir Hugh Cholmely to a friend and gossip. This supper was
given by Sir George Carteret, a man of pleasant humour, and
moreover treasurer of the navy. By the time the meats were
removed, the king and his courtiers waxed exceedingly merry, when
Sir William Armorer, equerry to his majesty, came to him and
swore, "'By God, sir,' says he, 'you are not so kind to the Duke
of York of late as you used to be.' 'Not I?' says the king.
'Why so?' 'Why,' says he, 'if you are, let us drink his health.'
'Why, let us,' says the king. Then he fell on his knees and
drank it; and having done, the king began to drink it.
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