The Success of the Two English Travellers Newly Arrived at London facts for kids
The Success of the Two English Travellers, Newly Arrived in London is a fascinating English broadside ballad from the late 1600s. A broadside ballad was like a popular song printed on a single sheet of paper. People would buy them to read or sing. This particular ballad tells the story of two English sailors. They faced many challenges during 20 years of travel around the world. Finally, they returned home to England. There, they decided to serve King James II. The ballad was sung to a tune called "An Excellent New Irish Tune." You can find copies of this old song at places like the National Library of Scotland, the British Library, and Magdalene College, Cambridge.
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A Journey Around the World
This ballad tells the exciting story of two English sailors. They wanted to travel the world just for fun and adventure. However, their journey was not easy at all. Everywhere they went, people treated them badly. Locals would call them "English rebels." They also wrongly accused the sailors of killing their king, King Charles I.
Trouble in France and Spain
Their first stop was France. But the people there were not friendly. They threw stones at the sailors in the streets! So, the travelers decided to leave France. Next, they sailed to Spain. When they arrived on the beach, locals pulled out their swords, called rapiers. This was a clear sign of danger. The two travelers quickly realized it was time to move on again.
More Challenges in Venice
From Spain, the sailors traveled to Venice, a famous city in Italy. Even there, they continued to face unkind treatment. It seemed like no matter where they went, they were met with hostility. They kept traveling for a very long time. In total, they spent twenty years exploring the world.
Returning Home to England
After two decades, the sailors finally returned to London. When they arrived, they found the royal court in a sad mood. King Charles II had recently passed away. This meant that King James II was now the new ruler.
Serving the New King
Soon after their return, two important figures, The Duke of Monmouth and The Earl of Argyll, tried to remove King James from power. This event is known as the Monmouth Rebellion. However, their attempt failed. After seeing this, the two travelers made a big decision. They promised to stay in England. They vowed to serve King James and his wife, Queen Mary. They also pledged to help protect England from the French and Dutch.
