of Middlesex。 Twenty…nine of these were condemned to death。 The king was singularly free from desires of revenge； but many of his council were strangers to clemency； and； under the guise of loyalty to the crown； sought satisfaction for private wrongs by urging severest measures。 The monarch； however； shrank from staining the commencement of his reign with bloodshed and advocated mercy。 In a speech delivered to the House of Lords he insisted that； as a point of honour； he was bound to make good the assurances given in his proclamation of Breda； 〃which if I had not made；〃 he continued； 〃I am persuaded that neither I nor you had now been here。 I pray； therefore； let us not deceive those who brought or permitted us to come together； and I earnestly desire you to depart from all particular animosities and revenge or memory of past provocations。〃 Accordingly； but ten of those on whom sentence of death had been passed were executed； the remainder being committed to the Tower。 That they were not also hung was； according to the mild and merciful Dr。 Reeves； Dean of Westminster； 〃a main cause of God's punishing the land〃 in the future time。 For those destined to suffer； a gibbet was erected at Charing Cross； that the traitors might in their last moments see the spot where the late king had been executed。 Having been half hung； they were taken down； when their heads were severed from their trunks and set up on poles at the south…east end of Westminster Hall； whilst their bodies were quartered and exposed upon the city gates。
Burnet tells us that 〃the regicides being odious beyond all expression； the trials and executions of the first who suffered were run to by crowds； and all the people seemed pleased with the sight；〃 yet by degrees these cruel and ghastly spectacles became distasteful and disgusting。 〃I saw not their executions；〃 says Evelyn； speaking of four of the traitors who had suffered death on the 17th of October； 〃but met their quarters mangled and cutt and reeking as they were brought from the gallows in baskets on the hurdle。 Oh the miraculous providence of God！〃
Seven months later； the people were diverted by the more cheerful pageant of the king's coronation； which was conducted with great magnificence。 〃Two days；〃 as Heath narrates； 〃were allotted to the consummation of this great and most celebrated action； the wonder； admiration and delight of all persons； both foreign and domestick。〃 Early on the morning of the 22nd of May； the day being Monday； the king left Whitehall； by water； for the Tower； in order that he might； according to ancient custom； proceed through the city to Westminster Abbey。 It was noticed that it had previously rained for a month together； but on this and the next day 〃it pleased God that not one drop fell on the king's triumph。〃 At ten o'clock the roaring of cannon announced the procession had left the Tower on its way to Whitehall； where his majesty was to rest the night。 The splendour of the pageant was such as had never before been witnessed。 The procession was headed by the king's council at law； the masters of chancery and judges； who were followed by the lords according to their rank； so numerous in all； that those who rode first reached Fleet Street； whilst the king was yet in the Tower。
No expense was spared by those who formed part of that wonderful cavalcade； towards rendering their appearance magnificent。 Heath tells us it was incredible to think 〃what costly cloathes were worn that day。 The cloaks could hardly be seen what silk or satin they were made of； for the gold and silver laces and embroidery that was laid upon them； the like also was seen on their foot…cloathes。 Besides the inestimable value and treasures of diamonds； pearls； and other jewels worn upon their backs and in their hats； not to mention the sumptuous and rich liveries of their pages and footmen； some suits of liveries amounting to fifteen hundred pounds。〃 Nor had the city hesitated in lavishing vast sums towards decorating the streets through which the king was to pass。 Four triumphal arches were erected； that were left standing for a year in memory of this joyful day。 These were 〃composed〃 by John Ogilby； Esquire； and were respectively erected in Leadenhall Street； the Exchange on Cornhill； Wood Street； and Fleet Street。
The thoroughfares were newly gravelled； railed all the way on both sides； and lined with the city companies and trained bands。 The 〃relation of his majesty's entertainment passing through the City of London；〃 as narrated by John Ogilby； and by the papers of the day； is extremely quaint and interesting； but too long for detailed description。 During the monarch's progress through 〃Crouched Friers；〃 he was diverted with music discoursed by a band of eight waits； placed upon a stage。 At Aldgate； and at several other stages of his journey； he was received in like manner。 Arriving at the great arch in Leadenhall Street； his ears were greeted by sounds of trumpets and drums playing marches； when they had finishes； a short scene was enacted on a balcony of the arch； by figures representing Monarchy； Rebellion； and Loyalty。 Then the great procession wended its way to the East India House； situate in the same street； when the East India Company took occasion to express their dutiful affections； in a manner 〃wholly designed by person of quality。〃 As the king advanced； a youth in an Indian habit； attended by two blackamoors； knelt down before his majesty's horse； and delivered himself of some execrable verse； which he had no sooner ended than another youth in an Indian vest； mounted on a camel； was led forwards and delivered some lines praying his majesty's subjects might never see the sun set on his crown or dignity。 The camel； it my be noticed； bore panniers filled with pearls； spices； and silks； destined to be scattered among the spectators。 At Cornhill was a conduit； surmounted by eight wenches representing nymphsa sight which must have rejoiced the king's heart； and on the tower of this same fountain sounded 〃a noise of seven trumpets。〃 Another fountain flowed with wine and water； and on his way the king heard several speeches delivered by various symbolic figures。 One of these； who made a particularly fine harangue； represented the River Thames； as a gentleman whose 〃garment loose and flowing； coloured blue and white； waved like water； flags and ozier…like long hair falling o'er his shoulders； his beard long； sea…green； and white。〃 And so by slow degrees the king came to Temple Bar； where he was entertained by 〃a view of a delightful boscage； full of several beasts； both tame and savage； as also several living figures and music of eight waits。〃 And having passed through Temple Bar into his ancient and native city of Westminster； the head bailiff in a scarlet robe and the high constable； likewise in scarlet； on behalf of the dean； chapter； city； and liberty； received his majesty with great expressions of joy。
Never had there been so goodly a show so grand a procession； the citizens； still delighted with their young king； had certainly excelled in doing him honour； and some foreigners； Heaton says； 〃acknowledged themselves never to have seen among all the great magnificences of the world any to come near or equal this： even the vaunting French confessed their pomps of the late marriage with the Infanta of Spain； at their majesties' entrance into Paris； to be inferior in its state； gallantry； and riches unto this most illustrious cavalcade。〃 Amongst those who witnessed the procession was Mr。 Pepys； who has left us a realistic description； without which this picture would be incomplete。 He tells us he arose early on this day； and the vain fellow says he made himself as fine as could be； putting on his velvet coat for the first time； though he had it made half a year before。 〃And being ready；〃 he continues； 〃Sir W。 Batten； my lady； and his two daughters； and his son and wife； and Sir W。 Pen and his son and I； went to Mr。 Young's； the flag…maker； in Corne…hill； and there we had a good room to ourselves； with wine and good cake； and saw the show very well。 In which it is impossible to relate the glory of this day； expressed in the clothes of them that rid； and their horses and horses' clothes； among others； my Lord Sandwich's embroidery and diamonds were ordinary among them。 The Knights of the Bath was a brave sight of itself。 Remarquable were the two men that represent the two Dukes of Normandy and Aquitane。 My Lord Monk rode bare after the king； and led in his hand a spare horse； as being Master of the Horse。 The king； in a most rich embroidered suit and cloak； looked most noble。 Wadlow； the vintner； at the Devil； in Fleet Street； did lead a fine company of soldiers； all young comely men in white doublets。 There followed the Vice…Chamberlain； Sir G。 Carteret； and a company of men all like Turkes。 The streets all gravelled； and the houses hung with carpets before them； made brave show； and the ladies out of the windows； one of which over against us； I took much notice of； and spoke of her； which made good sport among us。 So glorious was the show with gold and silver； that we were not able to look at it； our eyes at last being so much overcome with it。 Both the king