irtles; some of demure aspect, others with laughing eyes
and dimpled cheeks, who exchanged glances, and sometimes words, with
youths of serious apparel but joyous countenances; while here and there
might be recognised divines, whose iron physiognomies disdained to be
affected by any of the usual feelings that flesh is heir to; and ladies
on horseback, or in the lumbering heavy carriages, progressing from the
horse ferry, "with stealthy pace and slow," towards the centre of
attraction.

The English even now make a business of enjoyment; but in those days,
what we designate pleasure, was known by no such unholy term; it was
called "recreation," "the refreshment of the creature," "the repose of
the flesh,"--by any name, in fact, except the true one. But in the
particular instance to which we refer, it was considered a sacred duty
to uphold and applaud the Lord Protector whenever there occurred an
opportunity for so doing; and sound-hearted Puritans would make a
pilgrimage for the purpose with as much zeal as ever Roman Catholics
evinced in visiting the shrine of some holy saint. The ships rode
proudly in the harbour, and groups of the gentry were occasionally
conveyed on board by boats, that waited for the purpose both at
Queenborough and Sheerness. It was an animated scene, but the soul of
all was wanting, for neither Cromwell, nor any portion of the court,
made their appearance. When it was noon, the people hoped he would
arrive ere evening; but, as the evening advanced, and he failed to enter
upon the scene, there was a general manifestation of disappointment
throughout the crowd, although some few rejoiced at the occurrence,
holding it a sign of fear on his part, as if he dreaded to be seen among
them.

A party, consisting of ten or twelve persons, at Queenborough, had
gathered round the trunk of a withered and hollow oak, growing in front
of a public-house, that displayed the head of the Lord Protector--a
political lure, that was certain to attract all Commonwealth people to
the receipt of custom. The noble tree had been one of magnificent
growth, but age or accident had severed the trunk, and within its heart
decay had long been revelling. It was now perfectly hollow, and afforded
a free passage; two enormous props had been found necessary, to prevent
its making a last resting-place of the earth it had for ages
triumphantly protected. The cavity that time had created was
sufficiently extensive to afford shelter dur