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GEORGE MONK,
DUKE OF ALBEMARLE.
Lineage of this Personage-Cudgels the Under-Sheriff for arresting
his Father-Adopts the Military Profession-Sides with the
King in the Civil War-Taken Prisoner by Fairfax-His Im-
prisonment in the Tower-Released by Cromwell-Curious
Particulars relating to his Wife, Anne Clarges-Her Cha-
racter and Share in the Restoration-Monk effects the Return
of the King-Honours heaped upon him by Charles-
Anecdotes Monk's Conduct during the great Plague
Gumble's Account of its Ravages-Instances of Monk's
Intrepidity-Summary of his Character-His last Sickness
His Death and Burial-Notice of Christopher, the second
Duke of Albemarle-Extraordinary Character of his Duchess
-Suitors of this Lady-Her Death
-
PAGE
41
GEORGE VILLIERS,
SECOND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
CHAPTER I.
Character of this Nobleman-His Education with the Children
of Charles I.—Present at the storming of Lichfield-His
Estates confiscated by the Parliament-His Defeat under the
Earl of Holland at Nonsuch-Melancholy Death of his
younger brother, Lord Francis Villiers-The Duke escapes
to St. Neot's-Present with Charles II. in Scotland-Escapes
from the Battle of Worcester-His subsequent Adventures
Performs the Character of a Mountebank in the Streets of
London-Escapes to France-Returns privately and marries
Fairfax's Daughter-Anger of Cromwell, who commits the
Duke to the Tower-Released by Richard Cromwell_
Honours conferred on Buckingham at the Restoration-His
Wit and conversational Talents—Anecdotes-Instances of his
whimsical Caprice
• 64
CHAPTER II.
Buckingham's Conspiracy against Charles II.-Proclamation issued
for his Apprehension — Conceals himself in London — Sur-
renders himself to the Lieutenant of the Tower-His Conduct
at his Examination-Pardoned by Charles-Buckingham's
Quarrel with Lord Ossory-His late Hours-His Fray with
Lord Dorchester-Kills the Earl of Shrewsbury in a Duel—
His Intrigue with the Countess of Shrewsbury-The Duke's
Seat at Cliveden-Sent on a Mission to France-Anecdote-
Again in Disgrace at Court-Sent to the Tower-Witty
Reply to Lord Shaftesbury-Retires from Court at the Death
of Charles II.—His vast Debts-Amusing Controversy with
Father Petre-His last Moments and Death-Character of
Buckingham
83
JAMES, DUKE OF MONMOUTH.
Summary of Monmouth's Character-His Parentage and Education
-His brilliant Appearance at the Court of Charles II.—
Monmouth kills a Beadle in a midnight Frolic-His Marriage
with the Heiress of Buccleugh-Character of the Duchess-
Monmouth's Military Services - His Popularity — General
Belief in his Legitimacy-Charles denies having been married
to Monmouth's Mother-Monmouth banished to Holland
112
Monmouth returns to England without Leave-Joy of the Populace
on his entering London-His magnificent Progress through
the disturbed Districts-He mingles in the Sports of the
Peasantry-Is arrested in the Town of Stafford by Order of
the King-Wins the Prize at a Horse-race near St. Germain-
en-Lai-His share in the Rye-House Plot Conceals himself
-Is reconciled to the King-Joy of Charles on Monmouth's
Return to Court-Again banished-Resides at the Hague, and
is hospitably entertained by the Prince and Princess of
Orange-Extracts from Monmouth's Diary-Death of Charles
II.-James II. procures Monmouth's Dismissal from the
Hague He retires to Brussells with his Mistress-Persuaded
though unwillingly to invade England-Sails from the Texel-
Lands at Lyme-Takes the title of King
123
CHAPTER III.
Monmouth's Affairs decline-His Despondency-Battle of Sedgmoor
-Monmouth's Flight-Terrors of his Mind-His humble Sub-
missions to the King-Conducted to London-Colonel Legge
ordered to stab him should his Rescue be attempted-His
Interview with James at Whitehall-His extraordinary super-
stition-His Interview with his Duchess on the Morning of
his Execution-Becomes reconciled to his Fate-Bishop of
St. Asaph's Account of his Behaviour-Monmouth's Devo-
tion to Lady Henrietta Wentworth-Distressing circum-
stances which attended his Execution--Some Account of the
Duchess of Monmouth--Remainder of King Charles's natural
Children The Duke of Southampton-Duke of Grafton-
Duke of Northumberland-Duke of St. Alban's-Duke of
Richmond-Earl of Plymouth-Countess of Yarmouth-
Countess of Sussex-Countess of Lichfield-Countess of
Derwentwater-Barbara Fitzroy-Mary Walters.
140
MARY VILLIERS,
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND.
Her Accomplishments and splendid Fortunes-She is weaned with-
out the King's Permission-Curious Letter addressed by her
Mother to King James-Her almost Infantine Marriage-
Death of her Young Husband-Her narrow Escape from being
shot-Her Second Marriage (to the Duke of Richmond)-
Character of the Duke-The Duchess's third Marriage (to
Thomas Howard)-Her Position at the Court of Charles II.—
Sides with Nell Gwynn against the Duchess of Portsmouth-
Introduces her Niece to the King-Lampooned by Rochester
-Her Death
. 173
MARY FAIRFAX,
DUCHESS OF BUCKINGHAM.
A Follower of her Father's Camp when only Five years old-Her
Marriage with the Duke of Buckingham-Her Character
-Mixes in the Intrigues of the Court-Description of her
Person-Her Death and Burial
. 179
BARBARA VILLIERS,
DUCHESS OF CLEVELAND.
Lineage of this Lady-Her Marriage-Joins the exiled Court with
her Husband-Made a Lady of the Bedchamber-Her Intrigue
with Lord Chesterfield-Her Husband is raised to the Peerage
-Their Disagreements and final Separation-Notice of her
weak Husband-Person of the Duchess-Her Extravagance,
and Addiction to Play-Her Imperiousness, and Influence
over the King-Anecdotes-Her Insolence to Lord Clarendon
-Her Quarrel with Charles-De Grammont mediates between
them-Her intrigue with Henry Jermyn-With Hart the
Actor-With Goodman the Actor-With Jacob Hall, the
Rope-dancer-With William Wycherley, the Poet-Notices
and Anecdotes of these Persons-The Duchess retires to
France-Her Intrigues in the French Capital-Charles re-
monstrates with her on her Gallantries-Her marriage with
Beau Fielding-His harsh Treatment of her-Her Death 182
LOUISE DE QUÉROUALLE,
DUCHESS OF PORTSMOUTH.
Accompanies the Duchess of Orleans to England-Charles is
fascinated by her beauty-Lineage of this Lady-Her connec-
tion with the Political Intrigues of the Period-Her baneful
Influence over the King-Honours conferred upon her-Her
Avarice-Her splendid Apartments at Whitehall-Descrip-
tion of her Person-Lampoons of the Period-The Duchess
supposed to be married to Charles-She is avoided by the
ancient Nobility-Intrigues with Lord Danby and the Prior of
Vendôme-Her Distress at the Death of Charles-She retires
to France-Her old Age, and Death
HORTENSIA MANCINI,
DUCHESS OF MAZARIN.
.
Character of the Duchess-Her Lineage-Anecdotes connected with
her early History-Her Marriage with the Duke de Meilleraye
-Her extraordinary Conduct-The Duchess institutes a Suit
for a Separation-Her wild Frolics-She flies from Paris in
male Attire Her subsequent Adventures - Arrives in
England and becomes the Mistress of Charles II.-St. Evre-
mond's Admiration of her Person and Talents-Charming
Society of her House at Chelsea-Rochester lampoons her-
Her Poverty-Her Death supposed to have been hastened by
drinking strong Spirits-Her body is seized by her Creditors
-St, Evremond's characteristic Lament
FRANCES STEWART,
Her Lineage and foreign Education-De Grammont's Portrait of
her-Description of her by Pepys-Her frivolous Tastes—
The Duke of Buckingham and George Hamilton become her
Lovers-Romantic Attachments of Francis Digby and Rotier
the Medallist-Charles distracted by her Obduracy-The
Duke of Richmond declares himself her Suitor-Discovered
in her Apartment-Rage of the King-Elopes with, and is
married to the Duke-Returns to Court-Charles boasts of
her Favours over his Wine-Disfigured by the Small-pox-
Specimen of her Correspondence-Her Death
FRANCES JENNINGS,
DUCHESS OF TYRCONNEL.
Her Beauty and Wit-The Duke of York a Candidate for her
Favours-She makes him appear Ridiculous before the Court
-The King equally unsuccessful in his Addresses-Her wild
Frolic in the Character of an Orange-girl-Her different
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