had fought and been taken prisoner by the Roundheads, and in the Convention Parliament had voted for the Restoration. These services to the royal cause would account for the introduction, first of Richard's eldest daughter Frances, and later of Sarah, his youngest, to the court of Charles II.; it was a cheap way of repaying the family. While Sarah is still an infant, let us glimpse at the court where in a few years she was to make her début. At the time of Sarah's birth the second Charles had only been proclaimed king a month. He was not crowned until the following year. This was the first historical event that took place in our heroine's life, to be followed by many others when later she was old enough to appreciate and take part in them. Charles The coronation ceremonies lasted two days. went to the Tower overnight to start early. tells us that a magnificent cavalcade escorted him in state to Whitehall, passing through the City. The streets were strewn with flowers and brilliantly decorated, the windows and balconies being filled with welldressed ladies and their attendant cavaliers; the populace shouted for joy, while music played, bells pealed, fountains flowed with wine, and bonfires were lighted everywhere. Such a pageant had not been seen for many a year. The second day Charles went by water from Whitehall Palace to Westminster Abbey, where the coronation. was to take place. The service took several hours, including as it did the acclaiming and anointing of the King, the actual ceremony of coronation, the presentation of the sword of Edward the Confessor, the gift of the ring with the cross of St. George, and the two sceptres, the one with the dove, the emblem of peace, and the other with the globe, the emblem of dominion and power-these ceremonies being interspersed with prayers and hymns and a sermon. At the conclusion of the service the Archbishop of Canterbury pronounced the blessing, after which, while the Te Deum was being sung, the King ascended his throne to receive the homage of the peers; the archbishop and bishops bestowing on his Majesty the kiss of peace. Before divesting himself of his robes, the King received the Sacrament. The procession returned in the same order as on entry, the King walking to the west door of the abbey, with the crown still upon his head. A triumphal barge conveyed him back to Whitehall, where a great feast was prepared for all who had taken part on this auspicious occasion. Among the peers who did homage to Charles was his brother James, Duke of York, who had accompanied him to England on the Restoration. During his exile, when on a visit to the Queen Dowager in Paris, James had met Anne Hyde, maid of honour to his sister the Princess of Orange. Anne's age was twenty-one, she had a shapely figure and a pleasing countenance, and was not deficient in wit or accomplishments. The Duke of York, fell in love with her, and they were secretly married on November 24, 1659, but were soon parted, as James followed his brother to England. Anne's father, Edward Hyde, the great Lord Clarendon, had been Privy Councillor and Chancellor of the Exchequer to Charles I., but on the King's execution fled to France, where he joined Charles II. On the Restoration, the Chancellor was reinstated in his former appointment, and established himself and family at Worcester House, in the Strand, which he entirely rebuilt and furnished with great magnificence. Anne's condition now made it imperative that the Duke of York should openly declare his marriage. He therefore sought the King, confessed the union, and implored him to sanction it. Charles, considering James heir to the throne, was much astonished and disturbed at this intelligence, and, before giving him a definite reply, conferred with the Marquis of Ormonde and Earl of Southampton, whom he sent to inform the Chancellor of the event. Hyde's astonishment equalled his indignation, and notwithstanding the fact that the culprit was his own daughter, he advised that she should be sent to the Tower. The news spread rapidly, and caused a good deal of popular excitement. Charles, however, to show his regard for Clarendon, and his belief that he had no hand in the matter, presented him with £20,000 and created him a baron. About this time Charles's sister, the Princess of Orange, arrived in this country, and shortly afterwards was followed by her mother, Henrietta Maria, who strongly objected to the Duke of York's marriage, and did everything she could to have it annulled. A plot was set on foot to undermine James's affection for his wife, and several men were found willing to swear away her good name, among others Dick Talbot, afterwards Lord Tyrconnel, and Sir Charles Berkeley. In consequence of these tales, James for a time wavered in his allegiance; but the King said at once it was a "wicked conspiracy set on foot by villains," and he did not believe a word of it. The Princess of Orange, one of the principal movers in the scheme, fell sick of the small-pox at the end of December. On her death-bed she sent a message on the subject to the other schemers. Shocked by her death, Sir Charles Berkeley confessed to James that all their accusations were false, to the great relief of the Duke of York, who had real affection for his wife. Charles now began to think of marriage, as his brother's mésalliance and religion were obstacles to his succession. There was, however, a difficulty in finding a suitable princess; a German one being suggested to Charles, he declared they were all "dull and foggy." It was then remembered that Charles I. had formerly proposed a marriage for his son with the Princess of Portugal, then a child. The Portuguese ambassador having presented the King with a pleasing portrait of this princess, who was still unwed, negotiations for her hand forthwith commenced. Princess Catherine was to have brought a dowry of £500,000; but although this sum was amassed with difficulty by the Queen Regent, who sold her jewels to raise it, by the time the English ambassador, Lord Sandwich, arrived, the Queen of Portugal had to confess that she was unable to pay more than half the promised sum. War had broken out with Spain while negotiations were pending, and the money had been spent in equipping the army. She promised that an equivalent would be provided in sugar, spices, etc., which could be converted into money in England. With this the ambassador had to be content. Charles was somewhat disgusted when, instead of money, only sacks of merchandise were forthcoming with his bride. Later, however, the Portuguese Minister, Duerta da Silva, paid in all £35,250. Catherine also brought as her dowry the island of Goa, the nucleus of our Indian Empire, but it was some time before this was ceded to Charles. At first everything promised well for Catherine's happiness. Charles was delighted with his bride, who became devoted to him. He wrote to his brother-in-law on her arrival as follows: "PORTSMOUTH, 23rd May 1662. "Your Majesty's of the 21st of last month has come to my hands. Having robbed you of the brightest jewel of your crown to adorn my own, I must employ all my powers in defence thereof, and so you will have gained a brother without losing a sister, who, although lost to your sight, will never lose you from her memory. We both pray that God may grant long life to your Majesty."1 Charles also sent a letter to the Queen of Portugal, who, in return, wrote that her daughter gave her news that she was quite happy with him. Unfortunately, the young queen's happiness was of short duration. was Queen Catherine of Braganza arrived at Hampton Court on the 29th of May, attended by a numerous suite of very plain Portuguese ladies, who were all dressed in monstrous farthingales or guard-infantas. "The young queen," said Lord Chesterfield, exactly shaped, had lovely hands, excellent eyes, a good countenance, a pleasing voice, fine hair; in a word, what an understanding man would wish for a wife." Moreover, it was remarked, "she painted well"-meaning her face-this being considered part of the necessary toilet of a great lady at that time. Evelyn, who was also among those to greet her, remarked that the Queen was rather good-looking; she had a small, well-shaped figure, fine eyes, and rather prominent teeth. He describes some of the bridal gifts; how the rich gondola, a present from the states of Venice to the King, although managed by Venetians, was not so swift as the common wherries. He tells us the states of Holland presented the Queen with a state bed of crimson velvet, richly embroidered with silver, which cost £8000. Catherine 1 Egerton MSS., British Museum Historical Letters. |