The White King; or, Charles the First, and the men and women, life and manners, literature and art of England in the first half of the 17th century

Front matter

OB, CHARLES THE FIRST. The origin of the prophecy also as to the dangerous character of the colour white to England is unknown ; but it is imagined to be at least as old as the time of Merlin. Thomas de Quincey, who takes notice of the prophecy of the ' A^*hite King,' says of Charles I. , that the foreboding of the misfortunes of this ' AVhite King ' were supposed to have been fulfilled in his instance, because he was by accident clothed in white at his coronation, it being remembered afterwards that white was the ancient colour for a victim ... As an earlier instance of this singular superstition, the story of that ill-fated royal White Ship occurs to memory, as the vessel was called wherein Prince William, the son of King Hem-y I., the heir apparent . . . embarked on their return to England from Normandy . . .

The ' AVhite Kose ' wasjhejinfortnnate rose (and the conquered one) of the contending two Koses in tnuTcountry. — Hakgkave Jennings, in ' The Kosicrucians.' OK, CHARLES THE FIRST, AND THE /Iben ano Women, OLtfe ano Manners, literature ano art of England in tbe first bait of tbe I7tb Century. by W. H. DAVENPOKT ADAMS.^. IN TAVO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON : GEORGE RED WAY, YORK STREET, CO VENT GARDEN. 1889.

Preface

. It must not be supposed that in the following pages the author puts forward any pretensions to compete with the historians who have made the period of English history to which they refer emphatically their own. They are designed, on the contrary, to deal with incidents and details Avhich the historian overlooks or but briefly touches ; in a word, with the gossip of history, with personal characteristics, Avith the ana and anecdotes which float like straws on the great currents of thought and action. Thus, the personal history of 'the White King' (as Lilly the astrologer calls him) is narrated at considerable length, including numerous particulars Avhich the historian passes over, though they are not Avithout value as illustrations of character and of the manners of the time. That memorable Trial, whicb remains to this day so startling a fact in our history, is described Avith special fulness, though chiefly from the personal point of view.

Sketches are also introduced of some of the notable men and women of the period ; these have been composed on the same principle, namely, of presenting the personal rather than the historical aspect of their biographies. And, as supplementary to the work of the historian, the writer has endeavoured to supply an outline of the condition of our English art and literature in the early Stuart period, with such biographical notices as he conceived might interest and entertain the general reader. An analysis of Lord Herbert VI Preface. of Cherbury's remarkable book, 'De Veritate,' and a digest of the ' Strafford Correspondence,' are also included among the contents. The writer believes, therefore, that a good deal will be found in his two volumes which is not to be found elsewhere in so convenient a form ; and as, in their preparation, he has carefully consulted the best and latest authorities (most of which are indicated in the Appendix), he ventures to hope that they will accomplish the twofold object he has had in vieAV — the amusement and information of that large portion of the public which is debarred by circumstances from historical research and regular study.

At the same time he trusts it is not impossible that the student may meet in these pages with some pleasant reminders of the by-ways of history and biography into Avhich it is so refreshing to stray. W. H. DAVENPORT ADAMS. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. CHAPTER PACE I. PERSONAL HISTORY OF CHARLES I. - - - - 1 II. SOME OF THE ROYAL CHILDREN— PRINCESS ELIZABETH, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, PRINCESS MARY, AND HEN- RIETTA, DUCHESS OF ORLEANS - - - - 142 III. THE COURT OF CHARLES I. — PHILIP, EARL OF PEM- BROKE. — THE COUNTESS OF CARLISLE. — SIR KENELM DIGBY - - 162 IV. A KING'S FAVOURITE : GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM 185 NOTES - 222 V. A MODERATE STATESMAN : LUCIUS CARY, LORD FALK- LAND - 230 VI. AN ABSOLUTE STATESMAN : THE EARL OF STRAFFORD 258 VII. A PHILOSOPHER OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES I. : EDWARD, LORD HERBERT OF CHERBURY - - - 288 VIII. GLIMPSES OF LIFE AND MANNERS : THE STRAFFORD LETTERS - - - 367

Appendix

— NOTES AND CORRECTIONS - - - 403 INDEX - -