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s of 〃robbery； murder； and every species of depravity and wickedness of which the heart can think。〃
Besides the grounds and gardens surrounding these stately mansions； a further aspect of space and freshness was added to the capital by public parks。 Foremost amongst these was St。 James's； to which the merry monarch added several fields； and for its greater advantage employed Monsieur La Notre； the famous French landscape…gardener。 Amongst the improvements this ingenious man effected were planting trees of stately height； contriving a canal one hundred feet broad and two hundred and eighty feet long； with a decoy and duck island； ＇The goodnatured Charles made Monsieur St。 Evremond governor of Duck Island； to which position he attached a salary much appreciated by the exile。 The island was removed in 1790 to make room for fresh improvements。＇ and making a pleasant pathway bordered by an aviary on either side； usually called Bird Cage Walk。 An enclosure for deer was formed in the centre of the park； not far removed was the famous Physic Garden； where oranges were first seen in England； and at the western end； where Buckingham Palace has been erected； stood Arlington House； described as 〃a most neat box； and sweetly seated amongst gardens； enjoying the prospect of the park and the adjoining fields。〃
The great attraction of St。 James's Park was the Mall； which Monsieur Sorbiere tells us was a walk 〃eight hundred and fifty paces in length； beset with rows of large trees； and near a small wood； from whence you may see a fine mead； a long canal； Westminster Abbey； and the suburbs； which afford an admirable prospect。〃 This path was skirted by a wooded border； and at the extreme end was set with iron hoops； 〃for the purpose of playing a game with a ball called the mall。〃 ＇〃Our Pall Mall is； I believe； derived from paille maille； a game somewhat analogous to cricket； and imported from France in the reign of the second Charles。 It was formerly played in St。 James's Park； and in the exercise of the sport a small hammer or mallet was used to strike the ball。 I think it worth noting that the Malhe crest is a mailed arm and hand； the latter grasping a mallet。〃NOTES AND QUERIES； 1st series； vol。 iii。 p。 351。＇
In St。 James's Park Samuel Pepys first saw the Duke of York playing at 〃pelemele〃； and likewise in 1662 witnessed with astonishment people skate upon the ice there； skates having been just introduced from Holland； on another occasion he enjoyed the spectacle of Lords Castlehaven and Arran running down and killing a stout buck for a wager before the king。 And one sultry July day； meeting an acquaintance here； the merry soul took him to the farther end； where； seating himself under a tree in a corner； he sung him some blithesome songs。 It was likewise in St。 James's Park the Duke of York； meeting John Milton one day； asked him if his blindness was not to be regarded as a just punishment from heaven； due to his having written against the martyred king。 〃If so； sir；〃 replied the great poet and staunch republican； 〃what must we think of his majesty's execution upon a scaffold？〃 To which question his royal highness vouchsafed no reply。
It was a favourite custom of his majesty； who invariably rose betimes； to saunter in the park whilst the day was young and pass an hour or two in stroking the heads of his feathered favourites in the aviary； feeding the fowls in the pond with biscuits； and playing with the crowd of spaniels ever attending his walks。 For his greater amusement he had brought together in the park a rare and valuable collection of birds and beasts； amongst which were； according to a quaint authority； 〃an onocratylus； or pelican； a fowl between a stork and a swana melancholy water…fowl brought from Astracan by the Russian ambassador。〃 This writer tells us； 〃It was diverting to see how the pelican would toss up and turn a flat fish； plaice or flounder； to get it right into its gullet at its lower beak； which being filmy stretches to a prodigious wideness when it devours a great fish。 Here was also a small water…fowl； not bigger than a more…hen； that went almost quite erect like the penguin of America。 It would eate as much fish as its whole body weighed； yet ye body did not appear to swell the bigger。 The Solan geese here are also great devourers； and are said soon to exhaust all ye fish in a pond。 Here was a curious sort of poultry not much exceeding the size of a tame pidgeon； with legs so short as their crops seemed to touch ye earth； a milk…white raven； a stork which was a rarity at this season； seeing he was loose and could fly loftily； two Balearian cranes； one of which having had one of his leggs broken； and cut off above the knee； had a wooden or boxen leg and thigh； with a joint so accurately made that ye creature could walke and use it as well as if it had ben natural； it was made by a souldier。 The park was at this time stored with numerous flocks of severall sorts of ordinary and extraordinary wild fowle breeding about the decoy； which； looking neere so greate a citty； and among such a concourse of souldiers and people； is a singular and diverting thing。 There are also deere of several countries； white； spotted like leopards； antelopes； an elk； red deere； roebucks； staggs； Guinea goates； Arabian sheepe； etc。 There are withy…potts or nests for the wild fowle to lay their eggs in； a little above ye surface of ye water。〃
Hyde Park； lying close by； likewise afforded a pleasant and convenient spot for recreation。 Here； in a large circle railed off and known as the Ring； the world of quality and fashion took the air in coaches。 The king and queen； surrounded by a goodly throng of maids of honour and gentlemen in waiting； were wont to ride here on summer evenings； whilst courtiers and citizens looked on the brilliant cavalcade with loyal delight。 Horse and foot races were occasionally held in the park； as were reviews likewise； Cosmo； Grand Duke of Tuscany； 〃a very jolly and good comely man；〃 whilst visiting England in 1669； was entertained by his majesty with a military parade held here one Sunday in May。
On arriving at Hyde Park； he found a great concourse of people and carriages waiting the coming of his majesty； who presently appeared with the Duke of York and many lords and gentlemen of the court。 Having acknowledged an enthusiastic greeting； Charles retired under shade of some trees； in order to protect himself from the sun； and then gave orders for the troops to march past。 〃The whole corps；〃 says the Grand Duke； 〃consisted of two regiments of infantry； and one of cavalry； and of three companies of the body…guard； which was granted to the king by parliament since his return； and was formed of six hundred horsemen； each armed with carabines and pistols； all well mounted and dressed； which are uniform in every； thing but colour。 When they had marched by； without firing either a volley or a salve； his majesty dismounted from his horse； and entering his carriage； retired to Whitehall。〃
Besides such diversions as were enjoyed in the parks； the people had various other sources of public amusement； amongst these puppet…shows； exhibitions of strength and agility； bear…baiting； cock…fighti