Albans, conducted the correspondence
between her majesty and the king, ciphering and deciphering their
letters, and such as were sent or received by those immediately
concerned in the cause of royalty. In this situation he remained
until four years previous to the restoration, when he was sent
into England for the purpose of observing the condition of the
nation, and reporting the same. Scarce had he set foot in London
when he was seized, examined, and only liberated on a friend
offering bail for him to the amount of one thousand pounds.
The better to disguise the object of his visit, and lull
suspicions of republicans, he took out the degree of Doctor of
Physic at Oxford; after which he retired into Kent, where he
devoted a great portion of his time to the study of botany and
the composition of poetry. On Cromwell's death he hastened to
France, and remained there until the king's return; which he
celebrated by a song of triumph. Like hundreds of others who had
served Charles in his exile, he looked forward to gratitude and
reward, but met disappointment and neglect. Amongst the numerous
places and employments the change of government opened in court
and state, not one was offered the loyal poet.
Nay, his hardships did not end here; for having, in 1663,
produced his merry comedy, "Cutter of Coleman Street," it was
treated with severity as a censure upon the king. Feeling over-
nervous to witness the result of its first representation, the
poet absented himself from the playhouse; but thither his friends
Dryden and Sprat sped, hoping they might be able to bear him
tidings of its triumph.
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