royalty restored-第15节
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ffices； and settled in his residence at Worcester House in the Strand； sent for his wife and children； the more speedily as he had received an overture from a noble family； on behalf of 〃a hopeful； well…bred young gentleman；〃 who expressed himself anxious to wed with Mistress Anne。
The same young lady had not long returned； when she informed her husband she was about to become a mother； whereon the duke； seeking the king； fell upon his knees before him； laid bare his secret； and besought him to sanction his union； 〃that he might publicly marry in such a manner as his majesty thought necessary for the consequence thereof；〃 adding that； if consent were refused； he would 〃immediately take leave of the kingdom and spend his life in foreign parts。〃 King Charles was astonished and perplexed by this confession。 James was heir； and as such it behoved him to wed with one suited； by reason of her lineage； to support the dignity of the crown； and calculated by her relation towards foreign powers to strengthen the influence of the throne。 The duke was fully aware of this； and； moreover； knew he could without much difficulty have his marriage annulled； but that he did not adopt this course was an honourable trait in his character； and； indeed； his conduct and that of the king was most creditable throughout the transactions which followed； an account of which is set forth with great minuteness in the 〃Continuation of Edward Hyde； Lord Clarendon's Life。〃
Without the advice of his council； the king could give no satisfactory reply to his brother。 He therefore summoned two of his trusty friends； the Marquis of Ormond and the Earl of Southampton； whom he informed of the duke's marriage； requesting them to communicate the same to the chancellor； and return with him for private consultation。 The good man's surprise at this news concerning his daughter was； according to his own account； exceeding great； and was only equalled by his vast indignation。 His loyalty towards the royal family was so fervent that it overlooked his affection to his child。 He therefore fell into a violent passion； protested against her wicked presumption； and advised that the king 〃should immediately cause the woman to be sent to the Tower； and to be cast into a dungeon； under so strict a guard that no person should be admitted to come to her； and then that an act of parliament should be immediately passed for the cutting off her head； to which he would not only give his consent； but would very willingly be the first man that should propose it。〃 All this he presently repeated to the king； and moreover； assured him an example of the highest severity； in a case so nearly concerning himself； would serve as a warning that others might take heed of offences committed against his regal dignity。
News of this marriage spread throughout the court with rapidity； and caused the utmost excitement； which in a little while was somewhat abated by the announcement that the king's youngest brother； Henry； Duke of Gloucester； was taken ill of small…pox。 This young prince； who is described as 〃a pretty boy；〃 possessed parts which bade fair to surpass his brothers。 He was indeed associated by his family with their tenderest memories； inasmuch as he had been with his father on the sad day previous to his execution。 On that melancholy occasion； Charles I。 had taken him upon his knee； and said to him very tenderly； 〃Sweetheart； they will cut off thy father's head；〃 at which the boy shuddered and turned pale。 〃Mark； child； what I say；〃 continued the unhappy king； 〃they will cut off my head； and； perhaps； make thee a king； but mark what I say； you must not be made king as long as your brothers Charles and James are alive； for they will cut off thy brothers' heads when they catch them； and cut off thy head at last； and therefore I charge you not to be made a king by them。〃 To which the lad replied very earnestly） 〃I will be torn in pieces first。〃 Sometime after the death of his father he was allowed to join his family in France； and； like his brother James； entered the army of that country。 On the restoration； he had returned with the king； and； three months later； this 〃prince of very extraordinary hopes〃 died； grievously lamented by the court； and especially by his majesty； who declared he felt this loss more than any other which had previously fallen upon him。
Scarcely had he been laid to rest in the vault containing the dust of Mary Queen of Scots and Lady Arabella Stuart； when the Princess of Orange arrived in England to pay the king a visit of ceremony。 No sooner was she settled at court； than rumour of her brother's marriage reached her； on which she became outrageous； but her wrath was far exceeded by that of the queen mother； who； on hearing the news； wrote to the duke expressing her indignation 〃that he should have such low thoughts as to marry such a woman。〃 The epistle containing this sentence was at once shown by James to his wife； whom he continually saw and spent much time with； unknown to her father； who had given orders she should keep her chamber。 Parliament now sat； but no mention was made of the duke's marriage by either House； and； inasmuch as the union so nearly concerned the nation； this silence caused considerable surprise。 It was surmised the delay was made in deference to the feelings of the queen mother； who at this juncture set out for England； to prevent what she was pleased to term 〃so great a stain and dishonour to the crown。〃 The king regarded his brother's alliance in a lenient spirit； and not only spoke of it frequently before the court； but expressed his desire of bringing the indiscretion to a； happy conclusion by a public acknowledgment。
The queen mother； being an ambitious woman； had cherished certain schemes for extending the power of her family by the respective marriages of her sons； which the duke's union was； of course； calculated to curtail。 She therefore regarded his wife with the bitterest disdain。 Whenever that woman should be brought into Whitehall by one door； her majesty declared she would leave it by another and never enter it again。 The marriage was rendered all the more disagreeable to the queen； because the object of her son's choice was daughter of the lord chancellor； whose influence over Charles II。 had frequently opposed her plans in the past； and threatened to prevent their realization in the future。 The monarch； however； paid little attention to his mother's indignation。 He was resolved no disgrace which he could hinder should fall upon the family of one who had served him with disinterested loyalty； and； by way of proving his friendship towards the chancellor on the present occasion； he； before setting out to meet his mother on her arrival at Dover； presented him with twenty thousand pounds； and left a signed warrant for creating him a baron； which he desired the attorney…general to have ready to pass the seals at his return。
In the meantime a wicked plot； for the purpose of lessening James's affection for his wife； and ultimately preventing the acknowledgment of his marriage； was promoted by the chancellor's enemies and the duke's friends； principal amongst whom were the Princess of Orange and Sir Charles Berkley； 〃a fellow of great wickedness；〃 Sir Charles was his royal highness's most trusted friend； and was； moreover； devoted to the service of the princess and her mother。 He therefore determined to hinder the duke from taking a step which he was of opinion would injure him irretrievably。 Accordingly； when James spoke in confidence concerning his marriage； Sir Charles told him it was wholly invalid； inasmuch as it had taken place without the king's consent； and that a union with the daughter of an insignificant lawyer was not to be thought of by the heir to the crown。 Moreover； he hinted he could a tale unfold regarding her behaviour。 At this the duke became impatient to hear what his good friend had to say； whereon that valiant gentleman boasted； with an air of bravery and truth； of certain gallantries which had passed between him and the lady。 On hearing this； James； being credulous was sorely depressed。 He ceased to visit his wife； withdrew from general company； and so well did Sir Charles's scheme succeed； that before the queen's arrival； the duke had decided on denying his marriage with one who had brought him dishonour。 The king； however； put no faith in these aspersions； he felt sure 〃there was a wicked conspiracy set on foot by villains。〃
It therefore happened the queen was spared the trouble she had anticipated with her son； indeed； he humbly begged her pardon for 〃having placed his affections so unequally； of which he was sure there was now an end〃a confession most gratifying to her majesty。 The duke's bitter depression continued； and was soon increased by the death of his sister； the Princess of Orange； which was occasioned by smallpox on the 23rd of December； 1660。 In her last agonies Lord Clarendon says 〃she expressed a dislike of the proceedings in that affair； to which she had contributed too much。〃 This fact； together with his royal highness's unhappiness； had due weight on Sir Charles Berkley； who began to repent of the calumnies he had spoken。 Accordingly； the 〃lewd informer〃 went
