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m the honour to kiss his hand； which favour was so highly received by them； that they could no longer stifle their joy； but as his majesty was walking out （a thing thought unusual at court） they brake out into a loud shouting。〃
Then the nobility entertained the king and his royal brothers with much magnificence； his Excellency Lord General Monk first giving at his residence in the Cockpit； a great supper； after which 〃he entertained his majesty with several sorts of musick；〃 Next Earl Pembroke gave a rare banquet； also the Duke of Buckingham； my Lord Lumley； and many others。 Nor was my lord mayor； Sir Thomas Allen； behindhand in extending hospitality to the king； whom he invited to sup with him。 This feast； having no connection with the civic entertainments； was held at good Sir Thomas's house。 The royal brothers of York and Gloucester were likewise bidden； together with several of the nobility and gentry of high degree。 Previous to supper being served； the lord mayor brought his majesty a napkin dipped in rose…water； and offered it kneeling； when his majesty had wiped his hands； he sat down at a table raised by an ascent； the Duke of York on his right hand； and the Duke of Gloucester on his left。 They were served with three several courses； at each of which the tablecloth was shifted； and at every dish which his majesty or the dukes tasted； the napkins were moreover changed。 At another table in the same room sat his Excellency the Lord General； the Duke of Buckingham； the Marquis of Ormond； the Earl of Oxford； Earl of Norwich； Earl of St。 Albans； Lords De la Ware； Sands； Berkeley； and several other of the nobility； with knights and gentlemen of great quality。 Sir John Robinson； alderman of London； proposed his majesty's health； which was pledged standing by all present。 His majesty was the while entertained with a variety of rare music。 This supper was given on the 16th of June； and a couple of weeks later； on the 5th of July； the king went 〃with as much pompe and splendour as any earthly prince could do to the greate Citty feast； the first they had invited him to since his returne。〃
But whilst entertainments were given； and diversions occupied the town； Charles was called upon to touch for the evil； an affliction then most prevalent throughout the kingdom。 According to a time…honoured belief which obtained until the coming of George I。； when faith in the divinity of kings was no longer possible to the most ignorant； the monarch's touch was credited with healing this most grievous disease。 Majesty in those days was sacred； and superstition rife。 Accordingly we read in MERCURIUS PUBLICUS that； 〃The kingdom having for a long time； by reason of his majesty's absence； been troubled with the evil； great numbers flocked for cure。 Saturday being appointed by his majesty to touch such as were so troubled； a great company of poor afflicted creatures were met together； many brought in chairs and baskets； and being appointed by his majesty to repair to the banqueting house； the king sat in a chair of state； where he stroked all that were brought to him； and then put about each of their necks a white ribbon with an angel of gold on it。 In this manner his majesty stroked above six hundred； and such was his princely patience and tenderness to the poor afflicted creatures； that though it took up a long time； the king； being never weary of well doing； was pleased to make inquiry whether there were any more that had not been touched。 After prayers were ended the Duke of Buckingham brought a towel； and the Earl of Pembroke a basin and ewer； who； after they had made their obeysance to his majesty； kneeled down till his majesty had washed。〃
This was on the 23rd of June； a few days earlier than the date fixed by Evelyn as that on which the king first began 〃touch for ye evil。〃 A week later we find he stroked as many as two hundred and fifty persons。 Friday was then appointed as the day for those suffering from this disease to come before the king； it was moreover decided that only two hundred persons should be presented each week and these were first to repair to Mr。 Knight； his majesty's surgeon； living at the Cross Guns； in Russell Street； Covent Garden； over against the Rose tavern； for tickets of admission。 〃That none might lose their labour。〃 the same Mr。 Knight made it known to the public he would be at home on Wednesdays and Thursdays； from two till six of the clock； and if any person of quality should send for him he would wait upon them at their lodgings。 The disease must indeed have been rife： week after week those afflicted continued to present themselves； and we read that； towards the end of July； 〃notwithstanding all discouragements by the hot weather and the multitude of sick and infirm people； his majesty abated not one of his accustomed number； but touched full two hundred： an high conviction of all such physicians； surgeons； and apothecaries that pretend self… preservation when the languishing patient requires their assistance。〃 Indeed； there were some who placed boundless faith in the king's power of healing by touch； amongst whom was one Avis Evans； whom Aubrey； in his 〃Miscellanies；〃 records 〃had a fungus nose； and said it was revealed to him that the king's hand would cure him。 And at the first coming of King Charles II。 into St。 James's Park； he kissed the king's hand； and rubbed his nose with it； which disturbed the king； but cured him。〃
The universal joy which filled the nation at the restoration of his majesty was accompanied； as might be expected； by bitter hatred towards the leaders of Republicanism； especially towards such as had condemned the late king to death。 The chief objects of popular horror now； however； lay in their graves； but the sanctity of death was neither permitted to save their memories from vituperation nor their remains from moltestation。 Accordingly； through many days in June the effigy of Cromwell； which had been crowned with a royal diadem； draped with a purple mantle； in Somerset House； and afterwards borne with all imaginable pomp to Westminster Abbey； was now exposed at one of the windows at Whitehall with a rope fixed round its neck； by way of hinting at the death which the original deserved。 But this mark of execration was not sufficient to satisfy the public mind； and seven months later； on the 30th of January； 1661； the anniversary of the murder of Charles I。； the bodies of Oliver Cromwell； Henry Ireton； and John Bradshaw were taken from their resting places in Westminster Abbey； and drawn on hurdles to Tyburn； the well…known site of public executions。 〃All the way the universal outcry and curses of the people went along with them；〃 says MERCURIUS PUBLICUS。 〃When these three carcasses arrived at Tyburn； they were pulled out of their coffins； and hanged at the several angles of that triple tree； where they hung till the sun was set； after which they were taken down； their heads cut off； and their loathsome trunks thrown into a deep hole under the gallows。 The heads of those three notorious regicides； Oliver Cromwell； John Bradshaw； and Ireton are set upon poles on the top of Westminster Hall by the common hangman。 Bradshaw placed in the middle （over that