royalty restored-第20章
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the air was filled with roaring of cannon； strains of music； and hearty shouts of a loyal multitude。
Mr。 Samuel Pepys； though he offered as much as eight shillings for a boat to attend him that day； could not obtain one； and was therefore obliged to view this gallant procession from the roof of the royal banqueting hall； which commanded a glorious view of the Thames。 But what pleased his erratic fancy best on this occasion was； not the great spectacle he had taken such trouble to survey； but a sight of my Lady Castlemaine； who stood over against him 〃upon a piece of Whitehall。〃 The worthy clerk of the Admiralty 〃glutted〃 himself with looking on her； 〃but methought it was strange；〃 says he； 〃to see her lord and her upon the same place walking up and down without taking notice of one another； only at first entry he put off his hat； and she made him a very civil salute； but afterwards took no notice of one another； but both of them now and then would take their child； which the nurse held in her arms； and dandle it。 One thing more： there happened a scaffold below to fall； and we feared some hurt； but there was none； but she of all the great ladies only ran down among the common rabble to see what hurt was done； and did take care of a child that received some little hurt； which methought was so noble。 Anon there came one there booted and spurred；that she talked long with。 And by…and…by； she being in her haire； she put on her hat； which was but an ordinary one； to keep the wind off。 But methinks it became her mightily； as everything else do。〃
It was notable the countess did not accompany her majesty in the procession to Whitehall； as one of her attendants； but in fact she had not obtained the position sought for； though she enjoyed all the privileges pertaining to such an appointment。 〃Everybody takes her to be of the bedchamber；〃 the lord chancellor writes to the Duke of Ormond； 〃for she is always there； and goes abrode in the coach。 But the queen tells me that the king promised her； on condition she would use her as she doth others； that she should never live in court； yet lodgings I hear she hath。〃 Lodgings the countess certainly had provided for her in that block of the palace of Whitehall； separated from the main buildings by the old roadway running between Westminster and the city。
A few days after their majesties' arrival at Whitehall； the queen mother returned to town； and established her court at Somerset House； which had been prepared for her future abode。 She had arrived in England before the king and queen left Hampton Court； and had taken up her residence at Greenwich Palace。 The avowed object of her visit was to congratulate them upon their marriage。 Charles and his bride therefore took barge to Greenwich； one bright July day； followed by a brilliant and illustrious train； that they might wait upon her majesty。 And she； being made aware of their approach； met them at the portal of the palace。 There Catherine would have gone down upon her knees to this gracious ladythe survivor of great sorrowsbut she took the young queen in her arms； and calling her beloved daughter； kissed her many times。 Then she greeted her sons Charles and James； likewise the Duchess of York； and led them to the presence…chamber； followed by the whole court。 And presently when Catherine would； through her interpreter； have expressed her gratitude and affection； the elder queen besought her to lay aside all ceremony； for she 〃should never have come to England again except for the pleasure of seeing her； to love her as her daughter； and serve her as her queen。〃 At these sweet words the young wife； now in the first days of her grief； was almost overcome by a sense of thankfulness； and could scarce restrain her tears； but she answered bravely； 〃Believe me； madam； that in love and obedience neither the king nor any of your children shall exceed me。〃
The court of the merry monarch and that of the queen mother being now settled in town； a period of vast brilliancy ensued； during which great festivity and much scandal obtained； by reason of intrigues in which the king and his friends indulged。 Whitehall； the scene of so much gaiety and gallantry； was a palace by no means befitting the luxurious Charles。 It consisted of a series of irregular houses built for different purposes at various periods； these contained upwards of two thousand rooms； most of which were small； and many of which were without doors。 The buildings were intersected by grassy squares； where fountains played； statues were grouped； and dials shadowed the passing hour。 At hand stood St。 James's Park； with its fair meadows and leafy trees； close by flowed the placid Thames； bearing heavily laden lighters and innumerable barges。 Attached to these dwellings； and forming part of the palace； stood the great banquet hall； erected from designs by Inigo Jones for James I。 Here audiences to ambassadors； state balls； and great banquets were held。 The ceiling was painted by Rubens； and was； moreover； handsomely moulded and richly gilt。 Above the entrance…door stood a statue of Charles I。；〃whose majestic mien delighted the spectator；〃 Whilst close by one of the windows were the ineradicable stains of blood； marking the spot near which he had been beheaded。
Now in the train of the queen mother there had travelled from France 〃a most pretty sparke of about fourteen years；〃 whom Mr。 Pepys plainly terms 〃the king's bastard；〃 but who was known to the court as young Mr。 Crofts。 This little gentleman was son of Lucy Walters； 〃a brown； beautiful； bold creature；〃 who had the distinction of being first mistress to the merry monarch。 That he was his offspring the king entertained no doubt； though others did； inasmuch as young Mr。 Crofts grew to resemble； 〃even to the wart on his face；〃 Colonel Robert Sidney； whose paramour Lucy Walters had been a brief while before his majesty began an intrigue with her。 Soon after the boy's birth that beautiful woman abandoned herself to pleasures； in which the king had no participation。 He therefore parted from her； had her son placed under the guardianship of Lord Crofts； whose name he bore； and educated by the Peres de l'Oratoire at Paris。 The while he was continually at the court of the queen mother； who regarded him as her grandson； and who； by the king's command； now brought him into England。 The beauty of his face and grace of his figure could not be exceeded； whilst his manner was as winning as his air was noble。 Moreover； his accomplishments were numerous； he danced to perfection； sang with sweetness； rode with skill； and so gallant was his nature that he became at this early age； as Hamilton affirms； 〃the universal terror of husbands and lovers。〃
The king betrayed the greatest affection for him； and took exceeding pride in being father of such a brave and comely youth； at which my Lady Castlemaine was both wrathful and jealous； fearing he would avert the royal favour from her own offspring； but these feelings she afterwards overcame； as will be duly shown。 His majesty speedily showered honours upon him； allotted him a suite of apartments in the royal palace of Whitehall； appointed him a retinue befitting the heir apparent； created him Duke of Orkney and of Monmouth； and installed him a knight of the garter。
But； before this had been accomplished； there arrived in town some personages whose names it will be necessary to mention here； the figure they made at court being considerable。 These were Sir George Hamilton and his family； and Philibert； Chevalier de Grammont。 Sir George was fourth son of James； Earl of Abercorn； and of Mary； sister to James； first Duke of Ormond。 Sir George had proved himself a loyal man and a brave during the late civil war； and had on the murder of his royal master sought safety in France； from which country he； in the second year of the restoration； returned； accompanied by a large family； the women of which were fair； the men fearless。 The Hamiltons being close kin to the Ormond great intimacy existed between them； to facilitate which they lived not far apartthe duke residing in Ormond Yard； St。 James's Square； and the Hamiltons occupying a spacious residence in King Street。 James Hamilton； Sir George's eldest son； was remarkable for the symmetry of his figure； elegance of his manner； and costliness of his dress。 Moreover； he possessed a taste shaped to pleasure； and a disposition inclined to gallantry； which commended him so strongly to the king's favour； that he was made groom of the bedchamber and colonel of a regiment。
His brother George was scarcely less handsome in appearance or less agreeable in manner。 Another brother； Anthony； best remembered as the writer of Grammont's memoirs； was likewise liberally endowed by nature。 Elizabeth； commonly called 〃la belle Hamilton；〃 shared in the largest degree the hereditary gifts of grace and beauty pertaining to this distinguished family。 At her introduction to the court of Charles II。 she was in the bloom of youth and zenith of loveliness。 The portrait of her which her brother Anthony has set before the world for its admiration is delicate in its colours； and finished in its details。 〃Her forehead；〃 he writes； 〃was open； white； and smooth； her hair was well set； and fell with ease into that natural order which it is so difficult to imitate。 Her complexion was possessed of a certain freshness； not to be equalled by borrowed colours； her eyes were not large； but they were lovely； and capable of expressing whatever she pleased； her mouth was full of graces； and her contour uncommonly perfect； nor was her nose； which was small； delicate； and turned up； the least ornament of so lovely a face。 She had the finest shape； the loveliest neck； and most beautiful arms in the world； she was majestic and graceful in all her movements； and she was the original after which all the ladies copied in their taste and air of dress。〃
Now； about the same time the Hamiltons arrived at court； there likewise appeared at Whitehall one whose fame as a wit； and whose reputation as a gallant； had preceded him。 This was the celebrated Chevalier de Grammont； whose father was supposed to be son of Henry the Great of France。 The chevalier had been destined by his mother for the church； the good soul being anxious he should lead the life of a saint； but the youth was desirous of joining the army； and following the career of a soldier。 Being remarkable for ingenuity； he conceived a plan by which he might gratify his mother's wishes and satisfy his own desires at the same time。 He therefore accepted the abbacy his brother procured for him； but on appearing at court to return thanks for his preferment； comported himself with a military air。 Furthermore； his dress was combined of the habit and bands pertaining to an ecclesiastic； and the buskins and spurs belonging to a soldier。 Such an amalgamation had never before been witnessed； and caused general attention； the court was amazed at his daring； but Richelieu was amused by his boldness。 His brother regarded his appearance in the dual character of priest and soldier as a freak； and on his return home asked him gravely to which profession he meant to attach himself。 The youth answered he was resolved 〃to renounce the church for
