FLORIZEL'S FOLLY BOOKS BY JOHN ASHTON. Crown 8vo., cloth, 7s. 6d. each. A HISTORY OF THE CHAP-BOOKS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. With 334 Illustrations. HUMOUR, WIT, AND SATIRE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. With 82 Illustrations. ENGLISH CARICATURE AND SATIRE ON NAPOLEON THE FIRST. With 115 Illustrations. MODERN STREET BALLADS. With 57 Illustrations. * * * * * SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE. With 84 Illustrations. Crown 8vo., cloth. 3s. 6d. London: CHATTO & WINDUS, 111 St. Martin's Lane. [Illustration: _M^{rs} Fitzherbert_ 1792] FLORIZEL'S FOLLY BY JOHN ASHTON AUTHOR OF 'SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE,' 'MODERN STREET BALLADS,' ETC., ETC. [Illustration: Decorative motif] WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1899 [Illustration: Decorative scroll] CONTENTS CHAPTER I. PAGE Early history of Brighthelmstone--Domesday Book--The Flemings--The French harry the South Coast--At Brighthelmstone--Defences of the town--Rumours of the Spanish Armada--Armament of the town 1-13 CHAPTER II. Escape of Charles II. to France--The story of it--The 'Royal Escape'--Brighton in 1730--In 1736--In 1761--Forty-five different ways of spelling the name of the town 14-27 CHAPTER III. Brighton becomes fashionable--Duke of Cumberland there--His character--The Royal Marriage Act--His influence over the Prince of Wales--The Duke and the King--Bad conduct of the Prince of Wales 28-39 CHAPTER IV. Mrs. Robinson--Her story of Florizel and Perdita--Her after-career--Coming of age of the Prince of Wales--His new establishment--His first visit to Brighton--His and Colonel Hanger's adventure 40-51 CHAPTER V. Memoir of, and anecdotes about, George Hanger 52-64 CHAPTER VI. The Prince goes to Brighton for his health--Description of Brighton in 1784--Royal visitors--The Prince takes a house--Weltje--Sam House--Fox and the Prince--Brighton in 1785 65-80 CHAPTER VII. The Prince's acquaintance with Mrs. Fitzherbert--His courtship and marriage--Satirical prints thereon 81-94 CHAPTER VIII. The Prince's debts--Appeal to the King--His retrenchments--'The Jovial Crew, or Merry Beggars'--Satirical prints--Help from Parliament--Schedule of his debts 95-108 CHAPTER IX. Fox's denial of the marriage--Once more at Brighton--Again in 1788--The Prince at a fatal prize-fight--His birthday--Dress at Brighton--The Prince leases his house at Brighton--Unfilial conduct of the Prince--Probability of a Regency 109-122 CHAPTER X.