royalty restored-第33章
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to commend himself by ministering to the royal pleasures。
Accordingly he entertained the king as became a loyal gentleman； giving him luxurious banquets and agreeable suppers； to which； by way of adding to his majesty's greater satisfaction； the noble host invited his nieces； Mistress Brooke and her sister。 The wily earl had； indeed； conceived a plan the better to forward his interests with the king； and was desirous one of these gentlewomen should subdue his majesty's heart； and become his mistress。 Margaret Brooke； the elder of the maidens； was at this time in her eighteenth year； and was in the full flower of such loveliness as was presented by a fair complexion； light brown hair； and dark grey eyes。 The merry monarch's susceptible heart was soon won by her beauty； the charming lady's amorous disposition was speedily conquered by his gallantry； and nothing prevented her becoming his mistress save Lady Castlemaine's jealousy。
This； however； proved an insurmountable obstacle； for the countess； hearing rumours of the pleasures which were enjoyed at my Lord Bristol's table； insisted on attending the king thither； and soon gave his gracious majesty an intimation he dared not disregardthat she would not suffer Miss Brooke as a rival。 Margaret Brooke was grievously disappointed； but the Duke of York beginning his attentions at the point where his majesty discontinued them； she was soon consoled for loss of the monarch's affection by the ardour of his brother's love。 But a short time after； probably foreseeing the ambiguous position in which she stood； she forsook her lover； and accepted a husband in the person of Sir John Denham。
This worthy knight was a man of parts； inasmuch as he was a soldier； a poet； and a gamester。 At the time of his marriage he had passed his fiftieth year； moreover； he limped painfully and carried a crutch。 His appearance； indeed； was far from imposing。 According to Aubrey； he was tall； had long legs； and was 〃incurvelting at his shoulders； his hair was but thin and flaxen； with a moist curl； his gait slow and rather astalking； his eye was a kind of light goose…grey； not big； but it had a strange piercingness； not as to shining and glory； but when he conversed he looked into your very thoughts。〃 His personal defects； however； were to a great degree compensated for by his great wealth。 Moreover he was surveyor…general of his majesty's works； had a town house in Scotland Yard； and a country residence at Waltham Cross in Essex。 But there are some deficiencies for which wealth does not atone； as no doubt Lady Denham promptly discovered； for； before a year of her married life had passed； she renewed her intrigue with the Duke of York。 His love for her seemed to have increased a thousandfold since fate had given her to the possession of another。 At royal drawing…rooms he took her aside and talked to her 〃in the sight of all the world；〃 and whenever she moved away from him he followed her like a dog。
Indeed； he made no effort to screen his passion； for not only did he make love to her in presence of the court； but he visited her at noonday； attended by his gentlemen； before all the town。 Nor did Lady Denham desire to conceal the honour with which； she considered； this amour covered her； but openly declared she would 〃not be his mistress； as Mrs。 Price； to go up and down the privy stairs； but will be owned publicly；〃 and in this respect she obtained her desire。 Meanwhile Sir John was rendered miserable； and； indeed； his desperation soon overthrew his reason； and rendered him a lunatic。 This affection first appeared during a journey he made to the famous free…stone quarries near Portland in Dorset。 When he came within a mile of his destination； he suddenly turned back； and proceeded to Hounslow； where he demanded rents for lands he had disposed of years before； and then hastening to town sought out the king and informed him he was the Holy Ghost。
This madness lasted but a short time； and the first use he made of his recovered senses was to plot vengeance on his wife。 Now there was one honour which she coveted above all others； that of being appointed a lady of the bedchamber to the Duchess of York。 This her royal lover； following the example of his majesty； sought to obtain for her； but the duchess； who had already suffered many indignities by reason of her husband's improprieties； refused him this request； which would render her liable to continual insult in her own court。 The duke； however； had a strong will； and the duchess was on the point of yielding to his demand； when rumour announced that Lady Denham had been taken suddenly ill； and scandal declared she had been poisoned。 The wildest sensation followed。 His royal highness； stricken with remorse and terror； hastened to Scotland Yard and sought his beloved mistress； who told him she believed herself poisoned； and felt she was now dying。 The most eminent physicians were speedily summoned； but their skill proved of no avail； for she gradually became worse； and finally died； leaving instructions that her body should be opened after death； in order that search might be made for the fatal drug。
The surgeons followed these directions； as we learn from the Orrery state papers； but no trace of poison was discovered。 For all that the public had no doubt her husband had destroyed her life； and Hamilton tells us the populace 〃had a design of tearing Sir John in pieces as soon as he should come abroad； but he shut himself up to bewail her death； until their fury was appeased by a magnificent funeral； at which he distributed four times more burnt wine than had ever been drunk at any burial in England。〃
As for the duke； he was sorely troubled for her loss； and declared he should never have a public mistress again。
CHAPTER IX。
Court life under the merry monarch。Riding in Hyde Park。 Sailing on the Thames。Ball at Whitehall。Petit soupers。 What happened at Lady Gerrard's。Lady Castlemaine quarrels with the king。Flight to Richmond。The queen falls ill。The king's grief and remorse。Her majesty speaks。Her secret sorrow finds voice in delirium。Frances Stuart has hopes。The queen recovers。
Views of court life during the first years of the merry monarch's reign； obtainable from works of his contemporaries； present a series of brilliant； changeful； and interesting pictures。 Scarce a day passed that their majesties； attended by a goodly throng of courtiers； went not abroad； to the vast delight of the town： and rarely a night sped by unmarked by some magnificent entertainment； to the great satisfaction of the court。 At noon it was a custom of the king and queen； surrounded by maids of honour and gentlemen in waiting； the whole forming a gladsome and gallant crowd； to ride in coaches or on horseback in Hyde Park： which place has been described as 〃a field near the town； used by the king and nobility for the freshness of the air； and goodly prospect。〃
Here in a railed…off circle； known as the ring； and situated in the northern half of the park； the whole world of fashion and beauty diverted itself。 Noble gallants wearing broad…brimmed hats and waving plumes； doublets of velvet； and ruffles of rich lace； and fair women with flowing locks and dainty patches； attired in satin gowns； and cloaks wrought with embroidery； drove round and round； exchanging salutations and smiles as they passed。 Here it was good Mr。 Pepys saw the Countess of Castlemaine； among many fine ladies； lying 〃impudently upon her back in her coach asleep； with her mouth wide open。〃 And on another occasion the same ingenious gentleman observed the king and my lady pass and repass in their respective coaches； they greeting one another at every turn。
But Mr。 Pepys gives us another picture； in which he shows us the king riding right gallantly beside his queen； and therefore presents him to better advantage。 This excellent gossip； sauntering down Pall Mall one bright summer day； it being the middle of July； in the year 1663； met the queen mother walking there； led by her supposed husband； the Earl of St。 Albans。 And； hearing the king and queen rode abroad with the ladies of honour to the park； and seeing a great crowd of gallants awaiting their return； he also stayed； wal
