royalty restored-第17节
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Cardinal de Retz。 In his interesting Memoirs he tells of a visit he paid the queen mother； then an exile in Paris。 He found her with her youngest daughter； Henrietta； in the chamber of the latter。 〃At my coming in；〃 says the Cardinal； 〃she （the queen） said； 'You see； I am come to keep Henrietta company； the poor child could not rise to…day for want of a fire。' The truth is； that the Cardinal （Mazarin） for six months together had not ordered her any money towards her pension； that no tradespeople would trust her for anything and there was not at her lodgings a single billet。 You will do me the justice to think that the princess of England did not keep her bed the next day for want of a faggot。 。 。 Posterity will hardly believe that a princess of England； grand…daughter to Henry the Great； hath wanted a faggot in the month of January； in the Louvre； and in the eyes of the French court。〃＇ Pepys records that the marriage of her majesty to the earl was commonly talked of at the restoration； and he likewise mentions it was rumoured 〃that they had a daughter between them in France。 How true；〃 says this gossip； 〃God knows。〃
The earl's nephew； Henry Jermyn； is described as having a big head and little legs； an affected carriage； and a wit consisting 〃in expressions learned by rote； which he occasionally employed either in raillery or love。〃 For all that； he being a man of amorous disposition； the number of his intrigues was no less remarkable than the rank of those who shared them。 Most notable amongst his conquests was the king's eldest sister； widow of the Prince of Orangea lady possessing in no small degree natural affections for which her illustrious family were notorious。 During the exile of Charles II。； Henry Jermyn had made a considerable figure at her court in Holland by reason of the splendour of his equipage； entirely supported by his uncle's wealth； he had likewise made a forcible impression on her heart by virtue of the ardour of his addresses； wholly sustained by his own effrontery。 The effect of his presence on the princess soon became visible to the court。 Rumour whispered that as Lord St。 Albans had already made an alliance with royalty； his nephew had likewise followed his example； but scandal declared that young Jermyn and the princess had omitted the ceremony which should have sanctioned their happiness。 The reputation of such an amour gained him the immediate attention of many women； whose interest in his character increased with the knowledge of his abilities； and helped to associate him in their memories with tenderest emotions。
Another figure prominent in this gay and goodly assembly was George Villiers； second Duke of Buckingham。 The faultless beauty of his face； and graceful symmetry of his figure； would have rendered him distinguished in a court less sensuously impressionable to physical perfection； even if his talents had not dazzled； and his wit amused。 On the death of the first Duke of Buckingham； 〃styled the handsomest bodied man in England；〃 the late king of pious memory undertook the charge of the young duke； and had him educated with his own sons。 Subsequently he was sent to Cambridge； and then travelled into France； the better to acquire that polish of manner and grace of bearing for which he became distinguished。 But； whilst abroad； word was brought him of the distress of his master； the king； on which the young duke hastened back into England； became a cavalier； and fought his majesty's battles with great gallantry。 Soon after Charles I。 had been beheaded； his faithful servitor went abroad； but being loyal to the Stuart cause； he journeyed with Charles II。 to Scotland； and afterwards fought beside him in the bloody battle of Worcester。 Whilst the monarch was hiding in Boscobel Wood； the duke betook himself to London； where； donning a wizard's mask； a jack…pudding coat； a hat adorned with a fox's tail and cock's feathers； he masqueraded as a mountebank； and discoursed diverting nonsense from a stage erected at Charing Cross。 After running several risks； he escaped to France。 But alas for the duke； who was born as Madame Dunois avows； doubtless from experience〃for gallantry and magnificence；〃 he was now penniless； his great estates being confiscated by Cromwell。 However； conceiving a scheme that might secure him part of his fortune； he hastened to put it into execution。
It happened that my Lord Fairfax； one of Cromwell's great generals； had allotted to him by the Protector a portion of the Buckingham estates that returned five thousand pounds a year。 The general was； moreover； placed in possession of York House； which had likewise belonged to his grace。
Now it happened Lord Fairfax； a generous…tempered man and brave soldier； had an only child； a daughter destined to become his heiress； aware of which the duke resolved to marry her； that he might in this manner recover portion of his estate。 The fact of the lady never having seen him did not interfere with his plans； that she would reject his suit seemed an impossibility； that she would succumb to the fascination he invariably exercised over woman was a certainty。 Nor did it matter that Mistress Fairfax was no beauty； for the duke； being grateful for past favours liberally bestowed by the opposite sex； had no intention of becoming under any circumstances churlish enough to limit his devotion to one lady； though she were his wife。
Carefully disguising himself； he journeyed to London； where he was met by a faithful friend； who promised he would aid him in winning Mistress Fairfax； towards which end he promptly introduced the duke to that estimable gentlewoman。 Having once obtained speech of her； the remainder of his scheme was comparatively easy of accomplishment。 She loved the gay and graceful gallant at first sight； and through years of bitter wrong and cruel neglect continued his faithful and devoted slave。
Though she had become clandestinely acquainted with him； she was too good a daughter to wed without her father's consent。 But this she had not much difficulty in obtaining。 Though Lord Fairfax had fought against his king； he was not sufficiently republican to scorn alliance with nobility； nor so thoroughly puritan as to disdain connection with the ungodly。 Accordingly he gave his sanction to the union； which was celebrated at his mansion at Nun Appleton； within six miles of York。 Now； my Lord Fairfax had not consulted Cromwell's goodwill concerning this alliance； the news of which reaching the Protector in due time； made him exceedingly wroth。 For he had daughters to marry； and； that he might strengthen his power； was desirous of wedding them to scions of nobility； Buckingham being one of those whom he had mentally selected to become a member of his family。 His anger was therefore at once directed against Fairfax and his grace。 The former he could not molest； but the latter he committed to the Tower； and if the great Protector had not been soon after seized by fatal illness； the duke would have made his last journey from thence to Tower Hill。 As it fell out he remained a prisoner until within a year of the coming of Charles； whom he welcomed with exceeding joy。 Being bred with the merry monarch； he had from boyhood been a favourite of his majesty； with whom he shared a common love for diversion。 He was； therefore； from the first a prominent figure at Whitehall； his handsome person and extravagant dress adorned the court； his brilliant wit and poignant satire amused the royal circle。
His grace； however； had a rival； the vivacity of whose temper and piquancy of whose humour went far to eclipse Buckingham's talent in these directions。 This was the young Earl of Rochester； son of my Lord Wilmot； who had so successfully aided the king's escape after the battle of Worcester； for which service he had been created Earl of Rochester by Charles in Paris。 That worthy man dying just a year previous to the restoration； his son succeeded to his titles； and likewise to an estate which had been preserved for him by the prudence of his mother。 Even in his young days Lord Rochester gave evidence of possessing a lively wit and remarkable genius； which were cultivated by his studies at Oxford and his travels abroad。 So that at the age of eighteen； when he returned to England and presented himself at Whitehall； his sprightly parts won him the admiration of courtiers and secured him the favour of royalty。 Nor was the young earl less distinguished by his wit and learning than by his face and figure； the delicate beauty of his features and natural grace of his person won him the love of many women； whom the tenderness of his heart and generosity of his youth did not permit him to leave unrequited。
Soon surfeited by his conquests in the drawing…room； he was anxious to extend his triumphs in another direction； and； selecting the sea as a scene of action； he volunteered to sail under my Lord Sandwich in quest of the Dutch East Indian fleet。 At the engagements to which this led he exhibited a dauntless courage that earned him renown abroad； and covered him with honour on his return to court。 From that time he； for many years； surrendered himself to a career of dissipation； often abandoning the paths of decency and decorum； purs
