royalty restored-第62章
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st to me；〃 introduced him to Bradshaw； soon after which he was made assistant…secretary to Milton； who was then in the service of Cromwell。
He had not been long engaged in this capacity； when the usurper died； and Marvell's occupation being gone； the goodly burgesses of the town of Hull； who loved him well； elected him as their representative in parliament； for which service； in accordance with a custom of the time； he was paid。 The salary； it is true； was not large； amounting to two shillings a day for borough members； yet when kindly feeling and honest satisfaction mutually existed between elector and representative； as in Marvell's case； the wage was at times supplemented by such acceptable additions as home…cured pork and home…brewed ale； 〃We must first give you thanks；〃 wrote Marvell on one occasion to his constituents； on the receipt of a cask of beer； 〃for the kind present you have pleased to send us； which will give occasion to us to remember you often； but the quantity is so great； that it might make sober men forgetful。〃
He now； in the warfare of political life； made free use of his keen wit and bitter sarcasm as serviceable weapons。 These were chiefly employed in exposing measures he considered calculated to ruin the country； though they might gratify the king。 However； he had no hatred of monarchy； but would occasionally divert Charles by the sharpness of his satire and brilliancy of his wit。 Considering how valuable these would be if employed in service of the court； Charles resolved to tempt Marvell's integrity。 For this purpose the Lord Treasurer Danby sought and found him in his chamber； situated in the second floor of a mean house standing in a court off the Strand。 Groping his way up the dark and narrow staircase of the domicile； the great minister stumbled； and falling against a door； was precipitated into Marvell's apartment； head foremost。 Surprised at his appearance； the satirist asked my Lord Danby if he had not mistaken his way。 〃No；〃 said the courtier with a bow； 〃not since I have found Mr。 Marvell。〃 He then proceeded to tell him that the king； being impressed by a high sense of his abilities； was desirous of serving him。 Apprehending what services were expected in return； Marvell answered that he who accepted favours from the court was bound to vote in its interests。 〃Nay；〃 said my lord； 〃his majesty but desires to know if there is any place at court you would accept。〃 On which Marvell replied he could receive nothing with honour； for either he must treat the king with ingratitude by refusing compliance with court measures； or be a traitor to his country by yielding to them。 The only favour he therefore begged was； that his majesty would esteem him a loyal subject； the truer to his interests in refusing his offers than he would be by accepting them。 It is stated that Lord Danby； surprised at so much purity in an age of corruption； furthermore tempted him with a bag of gold； which Marvell obstinately refused to accept。
He died suddenly in the year 1678； leaving behind him a reputation for humour and satire which has rarely been excelled。
Besides these poets and dramatists； there were other great men； who as prose writers； helped to render the literary history of the period remarkable for its brilliancy。 Amongst these were Lord Clarendon； High Chancellor of England； concerning whom much has already been said； and Thomas Hobbs of Malmesbury； better known as author of 〃The History of the Causes of the Civil War；〃 and of 〃Human Nature；〃 than as a translator of the Iliad and the Odyssey。 Dr。 Gilbert Burnet； author of 〃The History of his Own Times；〃 and Dr。 Ralph Cudworth； author of 〃The True Intellectual System of the Universe；〃 were likewise men of note。 But one whose name is far more familiar than any writer of his time is John Bunyan； author of 〃The Pilgrim's Progress。〃
He was the son of a tinker； and was born within a mile of Bedford town in the year 1628。 He imbibed at an early age the spirit of Puritanism； fought in the civil wars； took to himself a wife； and turned preacher。 Six months after the merry monarch landed； Bunyan was flung into Bedford gaol； where； rather than refrain from puritanical discourses； in the utterance of which he believed himself divinely inspired； he remained； with some short intervals of liberty； for twelve years。 When offered freedom at the price of silence； he replied； 〃If you let me out to…day； I will preach to…morrow。〃 Nay； even in his confinement he delivered sermons to his fellow…prisoners； and presently he commenced to write。 His convictions leading him to attack the liturgy of the Church of England； and the religion of the Quakers； his productions became popular amongst dissenters。 At length； by an act annulling the penal statutes against Protestant Nonconformists and Roman Catholics； passed in 1671； he was liberated。 When he left prison he carried with him a portion of his 〃Pilgrim's Progress；〃 which was soon after completed and published； though at what date remains uncertain。 In 1678 a second edition was printed； and such was the growth of its popularity； that six editions were issued within the following four years。
Now he became famous； his lot was far different from what it had been； his sermons were heard by eager audiences； his counsel was sought by those in trouble； his prayers were regarded as the utterances of inspiration。 Once a year he rode； attended by vast crowds； from Bedford Town to London City； that he might preach to those burdened by sin； and from the capital he made a circuit of the country； where he was hailed as a prophet。 His life extended beyond the reign of King Charles； his influence lasted till his death。
CHAPTER XXII。
Time's flight leaves the king unchanged。The Rye House conspiracy。Profligacy of the court。The three duchesses。The king is taken ill。The capital in consternation。Dr。 Ken questions his majesty。A Benedictine monk sent for。Charles professes catholicity and receives the Sacraments。Farewell to all。His last night on earth。Daybreak and death。He rests in peace。
His majesty's habits changed but little with the flight of time； To the end of his reign the court continued brilliant and profligate。 Wits； courtezans； and adventurers crowded the royal drawing…rooms； and conversed without restraint； the monarch pursued his pleasures with unsatiated zest； taking to himself two new mistresses； Lady Shannon and Catherine Peg； who respectively bore him a daughter and a son； duly created Countess of Yarmouth and Earl of Plymouth。 For a while； indeed； a shadow fell upon the life of the merry monarch； when； in 1683； he was roused to a sense of danger by discovery of the Rye House conspiracy。
This foul plot； entered into by the Whigs on failure of the Exclusion Bill； had for its object the murder of his majesty and of the Duke of York。 Before arriving at maturity its existence and intentions were revealed by one of the conspirators； when William Lord Russell； the Earl of Essex； and Algernon Sidney； second son of the Earl of Leicester； were arrested and charged with high treason。 My Lord Essex died in the Tower by his own hand； Lord Russell was condemned on testimony of one witness； and duly executed； as was likewise Algernon Sidney； whose writings on Republicanism were used as evidence against him。 On the revelation of this wicked scheme the country became wildly excited； and the king grievously afflicted。 A melancholy seized upon his majesty； who stirred not abroad without double guards； and the private doors of Whitehall and avenues of the park were closed。
From this condition； however； he gradually recovered； and resumed his usual habits。 Accordingly； we find him engaged in 〃luxurious dalliance and prophaneness〃 with the Duchess of Mazarine； and visiting the Duchess of Portsmouth betimes in her chamber； where that bold and voluptuous woman； fresh risen from bed； sat in loose garments talking to the king and his gallants； the while her maids combed her beautiful hair。
〃I can never forget；〃 says John Evelyn； writing on the 4th of February； 1685； 〃the inexpressible luxury and prophaneness； gaming； and all dissoluteness； and as it were total forgetfullnesse of God （it being Sunday evening）； which this day se'nnight I was witnesse of； the king sitting and toying with his concubines； Portsmouth； Cleveland； and Mazarine； etc。； a French boy singing love songs in that glorious gallery； whilst about twenty of the greate courtiers and other dissolute persons were at basset round a large table； a bank of at least two thousand in gold before them； upon which two gentlemen who were with me made reflexions with astonishment。 Six days after was all in the dust。〃
For now the end of all things had come for Charles Stuart。 It happened on the morning of the 2nd of February； 1685； the day being Monday； the king whilst in his bedroom was seized by an apoplectic fit； when crying out； he fell back in his chair； and lay as one dead。 Wildly alarmed； his attendants summoned Dr。 King； the physician in waiting； who immediately bled him； and had him carried to bed。 Then tidings spread throughout the palace； that his majesty hovered betwixt life and death； which should claim him no man might say。 Whereon the Duke of York hastened to his bedside； as did likewise the queen； her face blanched； her eyes wild with terror。 His majesty after some time recovering consciousness； slowly realized his sad condition。 Then he conceived a fear； the stronger as begotten by conviction； that the sands of his life had run their course。 Throughout that day and the next he fainted frequently； and showed symptoms of epilepsy。 On Wednesday he was cupped and bled in both jugulars； but on Thursday he was pronounced better； when the physicians； anxious to welcome hope； spoke of his probable recovery。
But； alas； the same evening he grew restless； and signs of fever became apparent。 Jesuits' powders； then of great repute； were given him； but with no good result。 Complaining of a pain in his side； the doctors drew twelve ounces more of blood from him。 Exhaustion then set in； all hope of life was over。
Meanwhile； the capital was in a state of consternation。 Prayers for his majesty's recovery were offered up in all churches throughout the city； likewise in the royal chapels； where the clergy relieved each other every quarter of an hour。 Crowds gathered by day and night without the palace gates； eager to learn the latest change in the king's condition from those who passed to and fro。 Inside Whitehall all was confusion。 Members of the Privy Council assembled in the room adjoining that where the monarch lay； politicians and ambassadors conversed in whispers in the disordered apartments； courtiers of all degrees flocked through the corridors bearing signs of deep concern upon their countenances。
And amongst others who sought his majesty's presence was the Archbishop of Canterbury； together with the Bishops of London； Durham； Ely； and Bath and Wells； all being anxious to render spiritual services to the king。 Of these good men； Charles liked best Dr。 Ken； Bishop of Bath and Wells； having most faith in his honesty。 For； when his lordship was a prebend of Winchester； it had happened Charles passed through that city； accompanied by Nell
