had, however, banished every particle of romance from the heart of Charles; love was with him no longer a sentiment. He gave Hortense a residence at Chelsea, and a pension of 4000l. a-year, and visited her occasionally, but her influence never equalled that of the duchess of Portsmouth.' None of our monarchs, with the exception of James II., and our late patriotic and beloved sovereign, William IV., appear to have taken a more lively interest in naval affairs than Charles II. Catharine of Braganza entered very fully into his tastes as regarded aquatic excursions, going to ship-launches, and down to Chatham to inspect the vessels building there, and was happier still if permitted to see the fleet go out of port and drop down to the Nore. Charles did not always gratify his poor little queen by making her his companion on his voyages, which were sometimes suddenly and privately undertaken by him. The earl of Arlington gives the following account of one of these impromptu expeditions. "On this day seven-night, his majesty left Windsor, with a pretence only to see the New Forest, and Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight, where, as soon as he arrived, he put himself on board a squadron of ships, posted there on purpose to take him to Plymouth, to see the new fort there, where he arrived on Monday night, which is the last news we had of him. If the wind were fair for it, we should quickly expect him again, and by long sea, where twenty leagues are more pleasing to him than two by land. It is a new exploit for kings, but I hope God will bless him in it, according to those happy constellations which have yet appeared for him." The same minister, when the fleet under the command of the duke of York was preparing for sea in April, 1672, tells lord Sunderland, "that his majesty had gone down that evening to make them weigh anchor as fast as they could for the Downs," adding, "and I am to follow him by break of day to-morrow." The reason of this haste was the report that the Dutch fleet had come out, and Charles was determined that no want of vigilance on his part should cause a second surprise. "I was ordered,” says Evelyn, May 10, "by letter from the council to repair forthwith to his majesty, whom I found in the pall-mall in St. James's Park, where his majesty, coming to me from the company, commanded me to go immediately to the sea-coast, and to observe the motion of the Dutch fleet and ours, the duke and so many of the flower of our nation being now under sail coming from Portsmouth through the Downs, where 'twas believed there might be an encounter." A glorious victory was won by the English fleet, under the command of the duke of York, over the Dutch, May 28th, off Southwold Bay. 1 Waller celebrates the quarrels between the three duchesses, Mazarine, Portsmouth, and Cleveland, in a poem, entitled the "Triple Combat;" it commences with these lines: "Now through the world fair Mazarine had run, Hither at length the Roman eagle flies, As the last triumph of her conquering eyes." 2 This letter is dated July 20th, 1671. So written; probably, open sea. 4 King Charles went down to the Nore, with all the great men of his court, to meet and welcome his victorious brother on his return. He went on board the shattered fleet, and ordered particular care to be taken of the wounded seamen. On the 17th of June, when all the stains of battle, and everything that might shock the heart and eye of woman, had been removed, queen Catharine accompanied his majesty on his second visit to the fleet, which was then refitting for sea.' The first Italian opera ever performed in England, was produced January 5th, 1674, under the auspices of Catharine of Braganza, whose devotion to that style of music, and exclusive patronage of foreign mu sicians, did not increase her popularity in England. The divine compositions of Purcell were then considered the perfection of melody, and were more in unison with national taste than the artificial and elaborate style which has since been permitted to supersede the inspirations of native talent. It was, however, long ere an English audience learned to relish the Italian opera, much less to give it the preference over the masques of Ben Jonson and Milton and the operas of Dryden, combining, as they did, the simple sublimity of the Greek tragedy with the enchantment of vocal poetry and instrumental music. It was not easy to persuade the public in those days that a combination of incomprehensible sounds, however harmonious they might be, were capable of exciting feelings of admiration and delight, like those with which they listened to the national opera of Arthur, where Dryden's numbers are wedded to Purcell's melodies, compelling British hearts to thrill impulsively when the stormy defiance of the battle chorus of the Saxons is answered by the spirit-stirring air of "Britons, strike home.” Catharine of Braganza, as a foreign princess, could not be expected to share in the enthusiasm which was awakened by the historical traditions connected with the subject of "Arthur," neither could she enter fully into the beauties of English poetry; but Purcell's music had in it a poetry independent of language, which every ear might comprehend, and every heart appreciate. The angelic voice of Mrs. Knight was considered by Evelyn and other of the cognoscenti of that era to excel those of the queen's Italian vocalists, and her singing was regarded as a greater attraction than the wonderful violin playing of signor Nicholao at musical meetings, where, also, the lute of Dr. Wallgrave rivalled the harpsichord of signor Fran cesco. The king's excessive admiration for Mrs. Knight excited Catharine's jealousy, although she was first introduced at court, to sing Waller's complimentary verses on her majesty's recovery from sickness, in 1663. Eleven years after that period, another novelty was introduced in the way of royal amusements, which was the performance of a celebrated Italian scaramouch at Whitehall; and it is noticed that money was paid by the public for the first time on that occasion, for admittance to the theatre at that palace. This was regarded as a disgraceful innovation in the customs of the good old times. 'Arlington's Letters. The maids of honour, and even the two princesses, Anne and Mary, were accustomed to perform in the masques at the royal theatre. Crowne wrote the celebrated masque of Calisto, for the use of the two princesses and ladies of Charles's court, at the express desire of queen Catharine. Several of Dryden's tragedies were brought out there by the public actors. Among the few memorials that have been preserved of queen Catharine's doings in the year 1676, is Evelyn's record of the 28th of April : "My wife entertained her majesty at Deptford, for which the queen gave me thanks, in the withdrawing-room at Whitehall." It is to be regretted that he did not indulge us with the particulars of her majesty's visit, and the manner of her reception at his little paradise, Say's-court, where everything that could interest persons of elegant tastes and cultivated minds had been collected and arranged by that accomplished virtuoso, whose memory renders even despised and deserted Deptford classic ground. CATHARINE OF BRAGANZA, QUEEN OF CHARLES THE SECOND, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. CHAPTER III. Queen presides over the marriage festivities of the princess Mary-Receives her farewell visit-Estrangement of the king from queen Catharine-Persevering malice of Shaftesbury against Catharine-Her servants accused of the murder of sir Edmundbury Godfrey-Oates accuses the queen of conspiring against the king's life-Contradictions in his statement against her-Bedloe's perjuries -Execution of her servants-Oates accuses the queen of high treason-Proposal to remove her from Whitehall-the king protects her-Malice of her enemies-The king's affectionate demeanour to her-His dangerous illnessThe queen with the king at Newmarket-Her letter to the duke of OrmondShaftesbury's last struggle to effect the queen's divorce-Queen present at lord Stafford's trial-Fresh attempts against her-Queen goes with the king to Oxford-His kindness to her-Temporary disgrace of the duchess of Portsmouth -Queen's pecuniary difficulties-Ryehouse plot-Queen intercedes for Monmouth-Her birthday fête-Splendid illuminations on the Thames-The king attacked with apoplexy-Queen's attendance on him-They exchange forgiveness-Death of Charles II.-Respect paid to Catharine as queen-dowager-Her manner of mourning Retires to Somerset House-Debt owed her by the crown-Pleads for the duke of Monmouth to James II.-Her suit against lord Clarendon-She wishes to go to Portugal-Puts off her voyage-She is present at the birth of the prince of Wales (son of James II.)-Stands godmother to him-Attests the verity of his birth-Revolution of 1688-Arrest of queen Catharine's lord chamberlain-She is visited by the prince of Orange-Queen 1 Warton's History of English Poetry. Catharine experiences hostility from Mary II.-Harassed and unkindly treated -She leaves England-Her journey to Portugal-Reception-Respect paid her there--Her English ladies-Visited by the king of Spain-Governs Portugal during the illness of her brother-Her popular administration-Constituted queen-regent of Portugal-Her brilliant successes-Her death-Obsequies— Burial. THE arrival of the king's nephew, William, prince of Orange, caused more than ordinary festivities in the court, in the autumn of 1677. Queen Catharine was present at the marriage of that prince with the princess Mary, eldest daughter of the duke of York, which was celebrated at Whitehall on the 4th of November. The queen's birth-day was kept that year on the 15th,' instead of the 25th of that month, because the departure of the newly-wedded pair was appointed for the 21st. A very splendid ball was given on that occasion, both on account of her majesty's anniversary commemoration, and in honour of the recent nuptials of the royal cousins. They both danced; but the ill-humour and ungracious deportment of the bridegroom, and the evident distress of the youthful bride, cast an unwonted gloom over the entertainment. Catharine, who had known the princess Mary almost from the day of her birth, and regarded her with the affection of an aunt, felt great compassion for her when she came bathed in tears to take leave of her, previously to her embarkation for Holland. The sight of her grief doubtless recalled to the queen's mind her own feelings on bidding a long adieu to her own country and friends; and she reminded the weeping bride, "that such was the lot of royalty, and that she had herself experienced a similar trial when she came to England, where she was a stranger to every one, and had not even seen the king her husband." Mary, who thought no sorrow like her sorrow, petulantly replied, "But, madam, you came into England, and I am leaving England." ,2 Catharine of Braganza had had little reason to rejoice in the destiny that had conducted her to this country, for never had any queen, with the exception of Anne of Cleves, been treated more injuriously both by the sovereign and his ministers. Her case was, at this period, worse than it had ever been before, for the king had for the last five years wholly withdrawn himself from her company, so that they rarely met except in public, and had ceased to occupy the same apartment. The cause of this virtual separation may doubtless be traced to the increasing infatuation of the king for the duchess of Portsmouth, and the machinations of Shaftesbury, who, although he had been unable to obtain Charles's sanction for a parliamentary divorce, was pertinacious in his determination to effect the ruin of the queen. He had injured Catharine too deeply to allow her to remain in peaceful possession of the name of queen-consort and the few privileges she retained. His hatred of the duke of York was a still more active principle, and his desire of depriv 1The 15th was, according to the new style, the 25th in Portugal, and the day on which Catharine had been accustomed, before her marriage, to celebrate St. Catharine's anniversary and her own fête. Dr. Lake's Private Journal, quoted from the inedited MS., by R. Blencowe, Esq., in his Diary of the Times of Charles II. ing that prince of the succession to the crown, urged him into incessant attempts either to dissolve or invalidate the marriage of the king with the childless Catharine. Relying on Charles's parental fondness for his illegitimate offspring, which on many occasions betrayed him into the most inconsistent acts of folly, he one day had the audacity to tell his majesty that if he would but say he had been married to the mother of the duke of Monmouth, he would find those that should swear it."1 The last lingering spark of honour, and all the pride of Charles's nature, revolted at the idea, not only of being considered the husband of so abandoned a woman as Lucy Walters, but of avowing himself an unprincipled bigamist; nay, suborning false witnesses to establish him as such, by a series of perjuries, for the purpose of depriving his brother of his rightful place in the regal succession, invalidating his own marriage with his lawful wife, and imposing a surreptitious heir on his people. "I would rather see James hanged up at Tyburn than entertain such a thought," was his indignant reply to the insulting proposal.2 4 Charles proved his sincerity, by taking the earliest opportunity of ridding himself of his subtle tempter. In this he acted on the advice of holy writ-" Resist the devil, and he will flee from you;" but it was not in his power to fight manfully against evil. His own paths were crooked, and of course those persons who had once been in his councils, became the most dangerous of his enemies. Shaftesbury, who, on account of his frequent changes of party, bore the nickname of "my lord Shiftsbury," was speedily transformed, by his loss of office, from the master-fiend of the cabinet into the master-fiend of the opposition. He was a man, alike devoid of honour and religion; his ruling passions were ambition and revenge. Little doubt now exists that the bugbear called the popish plot was got up by his emissaries, for the purpose of effecting the destruction of the queen and the duke of York, he having vainly laboured for nearly ten years to annul the marriage of the one and to rob the other of his rightful place in the succession. The details of this complicated tissue of iniquity would occupy a folio, and can only be briefly sketched. The infamy of the characters of Titus Oates, Bedloe, and, in fact, of every person who came forward, in the shape of informers and witnesses, to swear away the lives of a great number of innocent victims, has been acknowledged by every historian of integrity, and stands forth so palpably in the State Trials and Journals of the House of Lords, that it is needless to dwell on them further than as connected with the audacious attempts to fix the charges of high treason and murder on queen Catharine and her servants. On the 13th of August, 1678, Charles II. was about to take a walk in the Park, when a person of the name of Kirby stepped forward, and begged his majesty not to separate from the company, as his life was in 1 Journal of James II.; Macpherson; Lingard. "Ibid. "Some papers I have seen convince me he contrived it," says that profound documentarian, sir John Dalrymple, "though the persons he made use of as informers ran beyond their instructions.”—Memoirs of Great Britain, vol. i., p. 43. |