royalty restored-第26章
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position and gentleness of her manner； the city was likewise afflicted； for the people thought so good a queen could not fail in time to reclaim even so erratic a husband； and trade became suddenly depressed。 Crowds gathered by night and by day outside the palace to learn the most recent change in her majesty's condition many thinking her death inevitable； because the doctors had pronounced her recovery impossible。 And for days her soul hovered betwixt two worlds。
On the night of the 19th； a fierce storm raged over England； and Mr。 Pepys； being waked by the roaring of mighty winds； turned to his wife and said： 〃I pray God I hear not of the death of any great person； this wind is so high。〃 And fearing the queen might have departed； he rose betimes； and took coach to the palace that he might make inquiries concerning her； but found her majesty was still living。 She was now； however； unconscious； and gave free voice to the secret sorrow which underlay her life； because she had not borne children to the king。 Had she given him heirs； she felt assured he would certainly love her as well as he loved his mistresses； and would feel as proud of her offspring as of those borne him by other women。 But though she had proved capable of becoming a mother on more than one occasion； it pleased heaven to leave her childless； to her great grief。 Therefore in her delirium； desires shaped themselves to realities； and she believed she had given birth to three children； two boys and a girl。 The latter she fancied much resembled the king； but she was troubled that one of the boys was plain featured。 And seeing her grief at this； his majesty； who stood by； sought in pity to console her； saying the boy was indeed pretty； at which she brightened visibly； and answering him said： 〃Nay； if it be like you； it is a fine boy indeed； and I would be very well pleased with it。〃 This delusion continued through her illness； and so strongly did it force itself upon her mind； that one morning when she was on her way to recovery； on waking suddenly and seeing the doctor bending over her； she exclaimed； 〃How do the children？〃
Now all this time； whilst the shadow of death lay upon the palace； and laughter and music were no longer heard within its walls； there was one of its inmates who pondered much upon the great fortune which the future might have in keeping for her。 This was fair Frances Stuart； who； not having yielded to the king's request by becoming his mistress； now entertained high hopes of being made his wife。 In this dream she was； moreover； flattered by an unusual deference and high respect paid her by the court since the beginning of her majesty's illness。 The king continued his attentions to her； for though he had proved himself 〃fondly disconsolate〃 and wept sorely for her majesty； he never during her sickness omitted an opportunity of conversing with Miss Stuart； or neglected supping with Lady Castlemaine。 But the hopes entertained by the maid of honour were speedily overthrown； for contrary to all expectation the queen recovered； and was so well on the 10th November as to 〃bespeak herself a new gowne〃
And so the court remained unchanged； and life went on as before； the queen growing gradually stronger； the king making love to Miss Stuart by day； and visiting Lady Castlemaine by night。 And it happened one evening when he went to sup with the latter there was a chine of beef to roast； and no fire to cook it because the Thames had flooded the kitchen。 Hearing which； the countess called out to the cook； 〃Zounds； you must set the house on fire but it shall he roasted！〃 And roasted it was。
CHAPTER X。
Notorious courtiers。My Lord Rochester's satires。Places a watch on certain ladies of quality。His majesty becomes indignant。Rochester retires to the country。Dons a disguise and returns to town。Practises astrology。Two maids of honour seek adventure。Mishaps which befell them。Rochester forgiven。 The Duke of Buckingham。Lady Shrewsbury and her victims。 Captain Howard's duel。Lord Shrewsbury avenges his honour。A strange story。Colonel Blood attempts an abduction。Endeavours to steal the regalia。The king converses with him。
Prominent among the courtiers； and foremost amid the friends of his majesty； were two noblemen distinguished alike for their physical grace； exceeding wit； and notable eccentricity。 These were the Earl of Rochester； and his Grace of Buckingham； gallants both； whose respective careers were so intimately connected with the court as to make further chronicle of them necessary in these pages。
My Lord Rochester； though younger in years than the duke； was superior to him in wit； comeliness； and attraction。 Nor was there a more conspicuous figure observable in the palace of Whitehall than this same earl； who was ever foremost in pursuit of such pleasures as wine begets and love appeases。 His mirth was the most buoyant； his conversation the most agreeable； his manner the most engaging in the world； whence he became 〃the delight and wonder of men； the love and dotage of women。〃 A courtier possessed of so happy a disposition； and endowed with such brilliant talents； could not fail in pleasing the king； who vastly enjoyed his society； but was occasionally obliged to banish his person from court； when his eccentric conduct rendered him intolerable； or his bitter satire aimed at royalty。 For it was given no other man in his age to blend merry wit and caustic ridicule so happily together； therefore those who read his lines were forced to laugh at his fancy； even whilst hurt by his irony。
Now in order to keep this talent in constant practice； he was wont to celebrate in inimitable verse such events； be they private or public； as happened at court； or befell the courtiers； and inasmuch as his subjects were frequently of a licentious nature； his lines were generally of a scandalous character。 He therefore became the public censor of court folly； and so unerringly did his barbed shafts hit the weaknesses at which they aimed； that his productions were equally the terror of those he victimized； and the delight of those he spared。
This liberal use of satire he was wont to excuse on the plea there were some who could not be kept in order； or admonished； by other means。 Therefore； having the virtue of his friends keenly at heart； an ingenious plan occurred to him by which he might secretly discover their vices； and publicly reprove them。 In order that he might fulfil this purpose to his greater satisfaction； he promptly sought and found a footman； who； by virtue of his employment； was well acquainted with the courtiers。 This man the 〃noble and beautiful earl〃 furnished with a red coat and a musket； that he might pass as a sentinel； and then placed him every night throughout one winter at the doors of certain ladies of quality whom he suspected of carrying on intrigues。
In this disguise the footman readily passed as a soldier stationed at his post by command of his officer； and was thus enabled to note what gentlemen called on the suspected ladies at unreasonable but not unfashionable hours。 Accordingly； my lord made many surprising discoveries； and when he had gained sufficient information on such delicate points； he quietly retired into the country； that he might with greater ease devote himself to the composition of those lively verses which he subsequently circulated through the court； to the wonder and dismay of many； and the delight and profit of few。
To these lampoons no name was attached； and my lord took precautions that their authorship should not be satisfactorily proved； no matter how sagely suspected。 Moreover； in his conversation he was judicious enough to keep the weapon of his satire in reserve； sheathing its fatal keenness in a bewitching softness of civility until occasion required its use； when forth it flashed all the brighter for its covering； all the sharper for its rest。 And satire being absent from his speech； humour ever waited on his words； and never was he more extravagantly gay than when assisting at the pleasant suppers given by the merry monarch to his choicest friends。
Here； whilst drinking deep of ruddy wine from goblets of old gold； he narrated his strange experiences； and illustrated them with flashes of his wit。 for it was the habit of this eccentric earl； when refinements of the court began to pall upon him； or his absence from Whitehall became a necessity； to seek fresh adventure and intrigue disguised as a porter； a beggar； or a ballad…monger。 And so carefully did he hide his identity in the character he assumed； that his most intimate friends failed to recognise his personality。
No doubt the follies in which he indulged were in some measure due to the eccentricity ever attendant upon genius； but they were probably likewise occasioned by craving for excitement begotten of drink。 For my lord loved wine exceedingly； and when he drew near unto death in the dawn of his manhood； confessed to Bishop Burnet that for five years he was continually drunk： 〃Not that he was all the while under the visible effects of it； but his blood was so inflamed； that he was not in all that time cool enough to be perfectly master of himself。〃 Charles delighted in the society of this gay courtier； because of his erratic adventures； and his love of wine。 Moreover； the licentious verses which it was the earl's good pleasure to compose； the names of some of which no decent lips would whisper in this age of happy innocence； afforded the monarch extravagant enjoyment。 Withal his majesty's satisfaction in Lord Rochester's wit was not always to be counted upon； as it proved。 For it came to pass one night at the close of a royal supper； during which the earl had drunk deep； that with great goodwill to afford the king diversion； he handed his majesty what he believed was a satire on a courtier； more remarkable for its humour than its decency。 Whereon Charles； with anticipation of much delight； opened the folded page； when he was surprised to see； not a copy of verses； but an unflattering description of himself； which ran as follows：
〃Here lies our mutton…eating king； Whose word no man relies on； Who never said a foolish thing； And never did a wise one。〃
Now the king； though the best tempered of men and most lenient of masters； was naturally wrathful at this verbal character： the more so because recognising its faithfulness at a glance。 He therefore upbraided Rochester with ingratitude； and banished him from the court。
Nothing dismayed； my lord retired into the country； but in a short time； growing weary of pastoral solitude which gave him an appetite for adventure it could not wholly supply； he returned privately to town； and assuming a disguise； took up his residence in the city。 Here exercising his characteristic tact； and great capacity for pleasing； he speedily made friends with wealthy merchants and worthy aldermen； who subsequently invited him to their hospitable tables； and introduced him to their gracious ladies。
And as his conversation had not failed to delight the husbands； neither were his charms unsuccessful in affording satisfaction to their wives。 To the one he railed against the impotence of the king's ministers； to the other he declaimed upon the wickedness of his majesty's mistress
