Charles II and his court

Preface

I WISH to thank heartily and sincerely foi: help, the following persons : — In the compilation of the text : my Wife; the Rev. F. A. Hibbert, M.A., Headmaster of Denstone College ; Messrs. A. C. Wentworth Lewis, O. Nicholas, A. H. Montagu, and G. A. T. Davies ; for reading through the MS., etc., and making many useful suggestions : my Mother, and Professor and Mrs. Herbert Bruce, of Cardiff.

C. B.

Alton, Staffordshire, 14 September, 19 10.

Contents

PAGE PREFACE Vii

Chapter I Early Days, 1630-49

Birth and christening of Charles — Stories of his chiJShood — Lord Newcastle and Brian Duppa, his tutors — Succeeded by Lord Hertford, he by Lord Berkshire — The Civil War — Charles and James at Edgehill — The Prince of Wales at Reading — Oxford — Cropredy Bridge — Newbury — Oxford again — He is made General of the Western Association — Travels by Devizes and Bath to Bristol — Mrs. Wyndham — The Prince in Devonshire and Cornwall — Goes to the Scilly Isles — Debates as to Charles' ultimate destination — Lady Fanshavve's Account of the Scilly Isles and of Jersey — The Prince in Jersey — His household and occupations — He goes to France — His cool reception — His personal appearance — Mile, de Montpensier — Escape of James of York from England — Attempted sea "fight between the Prince and Lord Warwick's fleet — Paris in the Fronde — Poverty of Henrietta Maria — Gilles de Retz — Prince Charles stays with the Prince of Orange—Murder of King Charles— Effect upon the Cavaliers and upon Charles II. .

Chapter II 1649-51

Charles proclaimed in Scotland — Montrose— Sophia, Princess Palatine — Embassy to Spain — Death of Dorislaus — Mile, de Montpensier — Her opinion of Charles and James — Charles goes to Jersey — Privations of the Court — Return to France— The King at Ghent— The " Pomme d'Or»— At Breda — Treaty of Breda — Death of Montrose — Charles goes to Scotland — His treatment — Secret interview of the King and Dean King — Battle of Dunbar — Charles' good management in Scotland — The King marches to England — Arrives at Worcester — Battle of Worcester and defeat of the King — Traditions of his escape 29

X CHARLES II AND HIS COURT

CHAPTER III "after WORCESTER FIGHT"

PAGE

Sidbury Gate — St. Martin's Gate — Barboume Bridge — Kinver Edge — Whiteladies — Hobbal Grange — A night walk — At Mr. Woolfe's— Back at Boscobel— Royal Oak— Mr. Whitgreave of Moseley and Mr. Huddleston — At Bentley with Colonel Lane — The ride to Bristol — The blacksmith befooled— Charles and the Meat-Jack — The King discovered at Bristol — He goes to Colonel Wyndham's at Trent — Jane Lane — Charmouth — Bridport — Broadwindsor — Heale House, Salisbury — The ride to Brighton — The " George " at Brighton — Mine host — The skipper — Charles lands at Fecamp — Rouen — Paris 50

Chapter IV 1651-60 — The Second Exile

Charles arrives at Paris ; his treatment there — Mile, de Montpensier — Duchesse de Chastillon — Privations of English Court in Paris — Factions and quarrels — Charles goes to Germany — Cromwell's spies — The King at Coin — Attempted conversion of Duke of Gloucester — The '^Sealed Knot" — Charles and Spain — He fights at Dunkirk-^Goes to Bruges — Death of Cromwell — The King goes to Spain — Charles and his sister — Declaration of Breda and proclamation of Charles in England— He leaves Holland, and lands at Dover — Journey to London 109

XTHAPTER V

THE RESTORATION— AND AFTER

The King's personal appearance and qualities — His accomplishments and learning — Charles as author — His dogs — Newcastle's advice to the restored King — Monk — Charles at the Council-table— The Regicides' fate— Act of Indemnity— The Convention Parhament — The Cavalier Parliament and religion — The Army — Finance — Charles and his divines — Growth of scientific spirit-fCharles as scientistJ^-Touching for the King's Evil — Superstitions — The King's Marriage — Katherine of Bragan5a-4Court amusementSlHTunbridge Wells—" Flatfoot, the Gudgeon-taker "—Second Dutch War -The Plague— The Fire 14 T

CONTENTS xi

* CHAPTER VI

LONDON

PAGE

London under Charles II — Streets, taverns, shopping, travelling, holidays, amusements — Dress and fashions — Games — Furniture I94

CHAPTER VII

LA HAUTE POLITIQUE

Fall of Clarendon— Temple and the Triple Alliance— Ambassadors— Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans — Treaty of Dover — Marriage of William of Orange and Mar>' of York — Beginnings of Popish Plot— Marvell's " King's Speech ". . . 203

CHAPTER VIII

THE POPISH PLOT

Titus Gates — Shaftesbury, the Whigs, and the Green Ribbon Club — Pope-burnings — The question of the succession — Fall of Danby — Charles and the plot — Temple's Privy Council — " King Monmouth " — Illness of Charles — Petitioners and Abhorrers — King at Oxford — Dissolution of Parliament, fall of Shaftesbury, and Whig plots — Charles absolute — Bruce's account of the King's last illness and death 221

CHAPTER IX THE COURT

A week in a courtier's life— The great men at Court— James, Duke of York— Henry, Duke of Gloucester— The Duke of Buckingham — The Duke of Lauderdale — The Earl of Rochester and Sir Charles Sedley— Earl of Dorset—" Mob of Gentlemen "—Prince Rupert— Duke and Duchess of Newcastle — Two Duchesses of York — Barbara Palmer — Anne Fitzroy — Duchess Mazarin — Louise de Keroiialle — Nell Gwyn— Character of Charles II 252

LIST OF WORKS CONSULTED 289

INDEX 305

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Charles II Frontispiece

From the Painting by John Greenhill in the National Portrait Gallery

*. PACING PAGE

Henrietta Maria of France, Queen of England . 3

From the Painting by Vandyck in the National Portrait Gallery (Photo, Mansell)

Charles I 27

After the Painting by Vandyck at Windsor

James Graham, Marquis of Montrose .... 30

After the Painting by Houbraken

Charles II, about 165 i 65

From an Engraving by Faithorne, fornierly in the possession of F. Roe, Esq.

Prince William II of Orange and his Bride, Princess

Mary Henrietta Stuart n6

From the Painting by Vandyck at Anasterdam

Charles II .146

From the Painting by Mary Beale in the National Portrait Gallery

John Dryden 151

From the Painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller in the National Portrait Gallery

Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine . . .177

From the Painting by Lely at Althorp, (Photo, Hanfstaengl) ziii xiv CHARLES II AND HIS COURT

FACING PAGE

Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon 202

After the Picture by SiR Peter Lely

Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans 208

From a Painting at Hardwick Hall. (Photo, Hanfstaengl)

From the Painting by Kneller in the National Portrait Gallery

Charles II 251

From the Miniature by Samuel Cooper in the Wallace Collection. (Photo, Hanfstaengl)

The Duke of Gloucester .

From a Miniature by Samuel Cooper

King Charles II

From a Miniature by Samuel Cooper -'

George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham . . . .262

From the Painting by Sir Peter Lely in the National Portrait Gallery

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester ..... 269

From the Painting by William Wissing in the National Portrait Gallery

Chapter I Early Days, 1630-49

" And that bis birth should be more singular, •• At noon of day was seen a silver star,"

Herrick, Pastoral Upon the Birth of Prince Charles,

Birth and christening of Charles — Stories of his childhood — Lord Newcastle and Brian Duppa, his tutors — Succeeded by Lord Hertford, he by Lord Berkshire — The Civil War — Charles and James at Edgehill — The Prince of Wales at Reading — Oxford — Cropredy Bridge — Newbury^ — Oxford again — He is made General of the Western Association— Travels by Devizes and Bath to Bristol — Mrs. Wyndham — The Prince in Devonshire and Cornwall — Goes to the Scilly Isles — Debates as to Charles' ultimate destination — Lady Fanshawe's Account of the Scilly Isles and of Jersey — The Prince in Jersey — His household and occupations — He goes to France — His cool reception — His personal appearance — Mile, de Montpensier — Escape of James of York from England — Attempted Sea fight between the Prince and Lord Warwick's fleet — Paris in the Fronde — Poverty of Henrietta Maria — Gilles de Retz — Prince Charles stays with the Prince of Orange — Murder of King Charles — Effect upon the Cavaliers and upon Charles II.

THE husband of my son's nurse going to France about some business of his wife, I write you this letter by him, believing that you will be very glad to ask him news of my son, of whom, I think, you have seen the portrait that I sent the queen, my mother. He is so ugly that I am ashamed of him ; but his size and features supply the want of beauty. I wish you could see the gentlernan, for he has no ordinary mien ; he is so serious in all that he does that I cannot help deeming him far wiser than myself. ... He is so fat that he is taken for a year old, and he is only four months. His teeth are already beginning to come. I will send you his portrait as soon as he is a little fairer, for at present he is so dark that I am ashamed of him." ^

This baby was Charles, Prince of Wales, born 29 May, 1630 ; his mother is describing him in a letter to her old governess, Mme. de Motteville. His birth was greeted by innumerable poems, most of them containing some allusion to the star which had been visible as Charles I rode to St. Paul's to give thanks for the Queen's delivery.^ From this omen " most men presaged that that prince should be of high undertakings and of no common glory among kings." If he had spoken of this later in life, Charles II might well have anticipated the words of Pope's Achilles, " Portents and prodigies are lost on me ! " If, however, the star was, as Lilly the astrologer declared, the planet Venus, its appearance was certainly appropriate enough.

" The star-led birth of Charles the Prince," so auspicious for European politics, was the prelude to one of the most troubled and stormy youths ever spent by a royal child. Charles' earliest years, however, were comparatively happy and normal. At his birth he was declared Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester ; and he received the Garter at Windsor when he was eight. His christening was a sufficiently splendid ceremony, even though certain hopes of preferment appear to have been disappointed. He was baptized on Sunday " about four in the afternoon, at St. James', in the King's little chapel (not in the Queen's), by my Lord of London,^ Dean of the Chapel, assisted by the Bishop of

1 Strickland, viij. 60 ; Clayton, i. ; and Airy, pp. 4, 5.

2 Cf. Cowley's Ode on His Majesty's Restauration and Return^ st. i. ; Dryden, Astrcca ReduXy 11. 288 sqg. ; and Annus Mirabilis, st. 18 j and Waller's poem on St. James^ Park^ etc.

» Laud.

the gentlernan, for he has no ordinary mien; he is so serious in all that he does that I cannot help deeming him far wiser than myself. . . . He is so fat that he is taken for a year old, and he is only four months. His teeth are already beginning to come. I will send you his portrait as soon as he is a little fairer, for at present he is so dark that I am ashamed of him." ^

This baby was Charles, Prince of Wales, born 29 May, 1630 ; his mother is describing him in a letter to her old governess, Mme. de Motteville. His birth was greeted by innumerable poems, most of them containing some allusion to the star which had been visible as Charles I rode to St. Paul's to give thanks for the Queen's delivery .^ From this omen " most men presaged that that prince should be of high undertakings and of no common glory among kings." If he had spoken of this later in life, Charles II might well have anticipated the words of Pope's Achilles, " Portents and prodigies are lost on me ! " If, however, the star was, as Lilly the astrologer declared, the planet Venus, its appearance was certainly appropriate enough.

" The star-led birth of Charles the Prince," so auspicious for European politics, was the prelude to one of the most troubled and stormy youths ever spent by a royal child. Charles' earliest years, however, were comparatively happy and normal. At his birth he was declared Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester ; and he received the Garter at Windsor when he was eight. His christening was a sufficiently splendid ceremony, even though certain hopes of preferment appear to have been disappointed. He was baptized on Sunday " about four in the afternoon, at St. James', in the King's little chapel (not in the Queen's), by my Lord of London,^ Dean of the Chapel, assisted by the Bishop of

1 Strickland, viij. 60 ; Clayton, i. ; and Airy, pp. 4, 5.

2 Cf. Cowley's Ode on His Majesty's Restauration and Return^ st. i. ; Dryden, Astnca ReduXy 11. 288 sqq. ; and Annm Mirabilis^ st. 18 ; and Waller's poem on St. James' Parky etc.

» Laud.

HENRIETTA MARIA OF FRANCE, QUEEN OF ENGLAND

FROM THE PAINTING BY VANDYCK IN THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

CHRISTENING 3

Norwich, almoner. The gossips were the French King, the Palsgrave, and the Queen-Mother of France ; the deputies, the Duke of Lennox, Marquis Hamilton, and the Duchess of Richmond, which last was exceedingly bountiful. The ordnance and chambers of the Tower were discharged, the bells did ring, and at night were in the streets plenty of flaming bonfires. The Duchess was sent for by 3 lords, divers knights and gentlemen, 6 footmen, and a coach with 6 horses plumed (all the Queen's), and alighted not without the gate, but within the court. Her retinue were 6 women, and gentlemen I know not how many. But all, of both sexes, were clad in white satin, garnished with crimson, and crimson silk-stockings. I hear not of any presents from the gossips ; but the Duchesse for her own particular, presented to the Queen for the Prince, a jewel estimated at seven or 8000 ;^ ; to the Welch^ nurse a chain of rubies estimated at 200 ;^ ; to the midwife and dry nurse, store of massy plate ; to the 6 rockers, each a fair cup, a salt, and a dozen of spoons. All the Lords also gave plate to the nurse. Besides, the Duchess gave to every knight and gentleman of the Queen's who came for her, and brought her back to her house in the Strand, 50 pieces ; to the coachman 20, and to every of the 6 footmen, 10 pieces. There were neither lords nor knights made that I hear of, as there was said there would be." ^

In spite of the obvious reasons for such a description, we need not distrust Eglesfield's glowing account of Charles' good temper and genius as a child, since it is so well confirmed by the Prince's later life. Certain incidents of his childhood are all that remain to us, and not unnaturally, they are all interesting. "When he was but very young, he had a very strange and unaccountable

^ Qy. Melch = milch ? Or more probably Welsh, as the usual custom was for the Prince of Wales to have a Welsh nurse.

2 Mr. Sam.' Meddus to Mr. Jos. Meade, 2 July, 1630; ap. Peck, Desiderata Curiosa, ed. 1736 ; ij. 36, and quoted in Captain Clayton's Personal History of Charles II, ed. 1859, vol. i. p. 41.

fondness to a wooden billet, without which in his arms he would never go abroad or lie down in his bed ; from which the more observing sort of people gathered that when he came to years of maturity either oppressors or blockheads would be his greatest favourites ; or else that when he came to reign he would either be like Jupiter's log for everybody to deride and condemn ; or that he would rather choose to command his people with a club than rule them by the sword." Though afterwards so fine an athlete, Charles as a little child was forced to wear iron supports for his legs, which at length so oppressed his spirits, that an old rocker took it upon herself to remove and hide the irons, telling the Countess of Dorset, the head nurse, that she would take the responsibility for the action. The King was at first angry, but on being reminded that Lady Cary had done the same with him in his childhood, with good results, allowed the Prince to leave the irons off. In spite of this early weakness, and a broken arm, fever, and jaundice, in his tenth year, Charles grew gradually stronger, and at ten " he would ride leaping horses, and such as would overthrow others and manage them with the greatest skill and dexterity, to the admiration of all that beheld him."i

His advance in health and strength he owed to the Earl of Newcastle, who, together with Brian Duppa,^ was appointed his tutor in April, 1637. These two early guides, unlike their successors, Hertford and Berkshire, were, perhaps, the best that could have been chosen for the young Prince. Clarendon says of Newcastle that he was " a very fine gentleman, active and full of courage, and most accomplished in those qualities of horsemanship, dancing, and fencing, which accompany a good breeding. Besides that he was amorous of poetry and music, in

* Memoirs of the Duke of Newcastle, by his wife.

' Then Bishop of Salisbury, and afterwards Bishop of Winchester. Charles always retained an affection for the Bishop, and visited him on his death-bed, and received his blessing.

NEWCASTLE'S INSTRUCTIONS 5

which he indulged the greatest part of his time. He loved monarchy, as it was the foundation and support of his own greatness ; and the Church, as it was well constituted for the splendour and security of the Crown ; and religion, as it cherished and maintained that order and obedience that was necessary to both." ^ Newcastle was a little worldly, a little too stiff and ceremonious, a little too conscious of his own magnificence and worth, but one of the most faithful and efficient servants of Charles I. He left England after his defeat at Marston Moor, where his " white-coats " died in their ranks, and we shall meet him again, entertaining Charles II at Antwerp. His instructions to his royal pupil have been preserved and are extremely interesting, not only from the light they throw on Newcastle's opinions, but also from the comparison which they inevitably suggest between their advice and Charles' subsequent actions and course of life. The letter is as follows :^ "May it please your Highness — since it pleased your most gracious father, his sacred Majesty, to think me worthy to be your governor, I will justify his Majesty's choice ; for, what I may want in abilities I will make up with fidelity and duty to his Majesty, in diligence and service to you. Then for your education, sir, it is fit you should have some languages, though I confess I would rather have you study things than words, matter than language ; for seldom a critic in many languages hath time to study sense, for words ; and best he is, or can be, but a living dictionary. Besides, I would not have you too studious, for too much contemplation spoils action, and virtue consists in that. What you read, I would have it history, and the best chosen histories, that so you might compare the dead with the living ; for the same humours

^ History of Rebellion.

' From a copy preserved with the Royal Letters in Harl. MS. 6988, Art. 62. Printed by Ellis, Original Letters^ ser. i. vol. iij. p. 288, and by C. H. Firth, in his edition of the Life of Duke of Newcastle^ pp. 184-187. Quoted by Airy, Charles 11^ pp. 9-11.

is now as was then ; there is no alteration but in names, and though you meet not with a Caesar for the Emperor of the whole world, yet he may have the same passions in him ; and you are not to compare fortunes so much as humours, wit, and judgment ; and thus you shall see the excellency and errors both of Kings and subjects ; and though you are young in years, yet living by your wading in all those times, be older in wisdom and judgment than Nature can afford any man to be without this help. For the arts, I would have you know them so far as they are of use, and especially those that are most proper for war and use ; but whensoever you are too studious your contemplation will spoil your government, for you cannot be a good contemplative man and a good commonwealth's man ; therefore, take heed of too much book. Beware of too much devotion for a King, for one may be a good man, but a bad King ; and how many will history represent to you that in seeming to gain the kingdom of heaven have lost their own ; and the old saying is, that short prayers pierce heaven's gates ; but if you be not religious (and not only seem so, but be so), God will not prosper you ; and if you have no reverence to Him, why should your subjects have any to you. At the best, you are accounted, for your greatest honour. His servant. His deputy. His anointed, and you owe as much reverence and duty to Him as we owe to you ; and why, nay justly, may He not punish you for want of reverence and service to Him, if you fail in it, as well as you to punish us ; but this subject I leave to the right reverend Father in God, Lord Bishop of Chichester, your worthy tutor : your tutor, sir, wherein you are most happy, since he hath no pedantry in him ; his learning he makes right use of, neither to trouble himself with it nor his friends ; reads men as well as books ; and goes the next way to everything that he should, and that is what he would, for his will is governed by that law ; the purity of his wit doth not spoil the serenity of his judgment; travelled, which you shall perceive by his

RELIGION IN A PRINCE 7

wisdom and fashion more than by his relations ; and in a word strives as much discreetly to hide the scholar in him, as other men's follies to shew it ; and is a right gentleman, such a one as a man should be. But, sir, to fall back again to your reverence at prayers, so far as concerns reason and your advantage is my duty to tell you ; then I say, sir, were there no heaven or hell, you shall see the disadvantage for your government ; if you have no reverence at prayers, what will the people have, think you ? They go according to the example of the Princes ; if they have none, then they have no obedience to God ; there they will easily have none to your Highness ; no obedience, no subjects ; no subjects — then youi^ power is off that side, and whether it be in one or more then that's King, and thus they will turn tables with you.^ Of the other side, if any be Bible mad, overmuch burned with fiery zeal, they may think it a service to God to destroy you and say the Spirit moved them and bring some example of a king with a hard name in the Old Testament. Thus one way you may have a civil war, the other a private treason ; and he that cares not for his own life is master of another man's. For books thus much more ; the greatest clerks are not the wisest men ; and the great troublers of the world, the greatest captains, were not the greatest scholars ; neither have I known bookworms great statesmen ; some have heretofore and some are now, but they study men more now than books, or else they would prove but silly statesmen. For a mere scholar,^ there is nothing so simple for this world. The reason is plain, for divinity teaches what we should be, not what we are ; so doth moral philosophy, and many philosophical worlds* and

^ Newcastle may seem here to be too much a follower of Machiavelli or the Bacon of the essays, but he is deliberately confining himself to the worldly point of view.

"^ Cf. Bishop Earle's Microcosmographie (1628-33), inuch read at this time, ed, Arber, 1895, p. 40. "A downe right Scholler." This same Earle was afterwards Prince Charles' tutor in Paris, 1646,

10 CHAK;.ES II AND HIS COURT

before you, or to cry every morning that you are mortal, for I would not have you fall into a divine melancholy, to be an anchorite or a capuchin, or with a philosophical discourse to be a Diogenes in your tub ; but to temper yourself so by this means, as to be a brave, noble and just King, and make your name immortal by your brave acts abroad and your unspotted justice at home, qualified by your well temper and mercy."

It may be said that Charles did not forget one of these precepts, though he carried some of them further than Newcastle would have approved. The earliest letter of Prince Charles which we possess, belongs to this time, written between pencil lines, ruled by Peter Massonet, the Prince's writing-master. Henrietta Maria had been applied to by Newcastle, in despair, for he could not make the Prince take his medicine ; and Charles wrote after the terrible event to his tutor : " My Lord, I would not have you take too much Phisik, for it doth allwaies make me worse, and I think it will do the like with you. I ride every day, and am ready to follow any other directions from you. Make hast to returne to him that loves you. Charles P. For my lord of Newcastle." ^

Before we pass out of the sunshine of Charles* boyhood into the shadow of the Civil War, there remains one story of a vision which appeared to him at the age of five, of a large blackbird in a tree of the royal garden ; the little Prince sent some one down with a gun to shoot the bird ; but to the sportsman's surprise he found, not a bird, but the twelve-year-old widow of Lord Herbert, eldest son of the Earl of Pembroke, engaged in stealing fruit, with which she pelted her hunter, till he consented to take her in a basket to the Prince, as " a butterfly" ; when the little Prince opened the basket, she jumped out and kissed him, gaining for herself the Court-name of "Butterfly."^

1 Airy, Charles 11^ pp. I2, 13 ; Captain Clayton, Personal History 0/ Charles 11^ i.

"^ Lady Burgh clere, George Villiers, Seco-nd Duke of Buckingham ^ pp. 16-17 ; and Mme, d'Aulnoy, Memoirs de la Cour d* Angleterre^ ii. 59.

LORD HERTFORD ii

Charles' initiation into serious affairs was on 1 1 May, 1641, when he carried his father's letter on behalf of Strafford to the Lords, without success. In August, the Earl of Newcastle resigned his charge to William Seymour, Marquis of Hertford, " a man of great honour, great interest in fortune and estate, and of a universal esteem over the kingdom ; ... it is very true, in many respects he wanted those qualities which might have been wished to be in a person to be trusted in the education of a great and hopeful Prince, and in the forming his mind and manners in so tender an age. He was of an age not fit for much activity and fatigue, and loved, and was even wedded so much to, his ease, that he loved his book above all exer«ises ; and had even contracted such a laziness of mind that he had no delight in an open and liberal conversation, and cared not to discourse and argue in those points which he understood very well, only for the trouble of contending ; and could never impose upon himself the pain that was necessary to be undergone in such a perpetual attendance. But then those lesser duties might be otherwise provided for, and he could well support the dignity of a governor, and exact that diligence from others which he could not exercise himself ; and his honour was so unblemished that none durst murmur against the designation " ; though unwilling, through consciousness of his constitutional defects for such a post, the Marquis accepted the governorship of the Prince, because " the refusing it might prove disadvantageous to his Majesty."^ On 12 January, Charles went to Cambridge, took his honorary M.A., and went away the same day ; he was incorporated M.A. of Oxford on All Hallows Day, 1642 ; while the Duke of York was then made M.A. also.

In February, 1642, Prince Charles came to Greenwich to meet his father, leaving his former residence at Hampton Court, in spite of the Parliament's protests. It was even rumoured that the rebellious party were ready