Berkley； who began to repent of the calumnies he had spoken。 Accordingly； the 〃lewd informer〃 went to the duke； and sought to repair the evil he had wrought。 Believing； he said； such a marriage would be the absolute ruin of his royal highness； he had made the accusation which he now confessed to be false； and without the least ground； for he was very confident of the lady's honour and virtue。 He then begged pardon on his knees for a fault committed out of pure devotion； and trusted the duke would 〃not suffer him to be ruined by the power of those whom he had so unworthily provoked； and of which he had so much shame that he had not confidence to look upon them。〃
James was so much relieved by what he heard that he not only forgave Sir Charles； but embraced him； and promised him protection。 Nor did his royal highness longer withhold the reparation due to his wife； who； with the approval of the king and the reluctant consent of the queen； was received at court as Duchess of York。 Such was the romance connected with the marriage of her who became mother of two English queensMary； wife of William of Orange； and Anne； of pious memory。
CHAPTER V。
Morality of the Restoration。Puritan piety。Conduct of women under the Republic。Some notable courtiers。The Duke of Ormond and his family。Lord St。 Albans and Henry Jermyn。His Grace of Buckingham and Mistress Fairfax。Lord Rochester。Beautiful Barbara Palmer。The King's Projected marriage。Catherine of Braganza。His Majesty's speech。A Royal love…letter。The new Queen sets sail。
A general idea obtains that the libertine example set forth by Charles II。 and his courtiers is wholly to blame for the spirit of depravity which marked his reign。 That it was in part answerable for the spread of immorality is true； inasmuch as the royalists； considering sufficient aversion could not be shown to the loathsome hypocrisy of the puritans； therefore fell into an opposite extreme of ostentatious profligacy。 But that the court was entirely responsible for the vice tainting all classes of society whilst the merry monarch occupied the throne； is false。
Other causes had long been tending to produce this unhappy effect。 The reign of the Commonwealth had not been； remarkable for its virtue； though it had been notable for its pharisaism。 With the puritan； words of piety took place of deeds of grace； the basest passions were often hidden under sanctimonious exteriors。 Even Cromwell； 〃a man of long and dark discourses； sermons； and prayers；〃 was not above reproach。 Bishop Burnet； who has no harsh words for him； and few gentle ones for Charles； states the Protector's intrigue with Lady Dysart was 〃not a little taken notice of；〃 on which； the godly man 〃broke it off。〃 He therefore； Heath records； began an amour with a lady of lesser noteMrs。 Lambert； the wife of a puritan； herself a lady devoted to psalm singing and audible prayer when； not otherwise pleasantly engaged。
The general character of many news…sheets of the day proves that morality under the Republic was at a low ebb。 Anarchy in a kingdom invariably favours dissoluteness in a people； inasmuch as the disturbance of civil order tends to unsettle moral law。 Homes being divided amongst themselves by political strife； paternal care was suspended； and filial respect ignored。 In the general confusion which obtained； the distinction of social codes was overlooked。 Lord Clarendon states that； during this unhappy period； young people of either sex were 〃educated in all the liberty of vice； without reprehension or restraint。〃 He adds； 〃The young women conversed without any circumspection or modesty； and frequently met at taverns and common eating…houses。〃 An additional description of the ways and manners of young maidens under the Republic is given in a rare and curious pamphlet entitled 〃A Character of England as it was lately presented in a Letter to a Nobleman of France〃； printed in the year 1659； for Jo。 Crooke； and sold at the Ship in St。 Paul's Yard。 Having spoken of taverns where 〃fury and intemperance〃 reign； and where； 〃that nothing may be wanting to the height of luxury and impiety； organs have been translated out of the churches for the purpose of chanting their dithyrambics and bestiall bacchanalias to the tune of those instruments which were wont to assist them in the celebration of God's praises；〃 the writer continues： 〃Your lordship will scarce believe me that the ladies of greatest quality suffer themselves to be treated in one of those taverns； where a curtezan in other cities would scarcely vouchsafe to be entertained； but you will be more astonish't when I shall assure you that they drink their crowned cups roundly； strain healths through their smocks； daunce after the fiddle； kiss freely； and tearm it an honourable treat。〃 He furthermore says they were to be found until midnight in company with their lovers at Spring Garden； which seemed to be 〃contrived to all the advantages of gallantry。〃 From which evidences it may be gathered； that London under the Commonwealth was little less vicious than under the merry monarch。
The court Charles speedily gathered round him on his restoration was the most brilliant the nation had ever witnessed。 Those of birth and distinction who had sought refuge abroad during the late troubles； now joyfully returned： whilst the juvenile branches of noble families living in retirement in England； to whom royalty had been a stranger； no less eagerly flocked to the presence of the gay young king。 The wit and politeness of the men； the grace and beauty of the women； who surrounded Charles II。 have become proverbial； whilst the gallantries of the one； and the frailties of the other； savour more of romance than reality。
That the condition of the court on its establishment may be realized； it is necessary； at this stage of its history； to introduce briefly some of the chief personages who surrounded his majesty； and occupied prominent attention in the annals of his reign。 Notably amongst them were the gallant Duke of Ormond and his family。 His grace； now in his fiftieth year； was distinguished for his commanding appearance； gracious manner； and excellent wit。 During the troubles of the civil war； he had proved himself a most loyal subject； inasmuch as he had vested his fortune and ventured his person in service of the late king。 Subsequently refusing liberal offers made him by Cromwell； on condition of living in peaceful retirement； he； after the execution of Charles I。； betook himself to France； and shared exile with the young king until the restoration。 In consequence of his proven fealty； honours were then deservingly showered upon him： he was made grand steward of the household； first lord of the bedchamber； and subsequently lord lieutenant of Ireland。 The duchess； who had participated in her husband's misfortunes with a courage equal to his own； was a high…minded and most virtuous lady； who had brought up her family with great care。 Scarcely less distinguished in mien and manner than the duke； were his two sons； Thomas； Earl of Ossory； and Lord Richard Butler； afterwards Earl of Arran。 My lord of Ossory was no less remarkable for his beauty than famous for his accomplishments： he rode and played tennis to perfection； performed upon the lute to entrancement； and danced to the admiration of the court； he was moreover a good historian； and well versed in chronicles of romance。 No less was the Earl of Arran proficient in qualifications befitting his birth； and gifted with attributes aiding his gallantry。
A third member of this noble family played a more remarkable part in the history of the court during her brief career than either of her brothers。 This was the Lady Elizabeth Butler； eldest daughter of the duke； who； unfortunately for her own happiness； married my Lord Chesterfield at the Hague； when； a few months before the restoration； that nobleman fled to the continent to escape the consequences of Francis Woolley's murder。 In Lely's picture of the young Countess of Chesterfield； her piquancy attracts at a glance； whilst her beauty charms on examination。 Her cousin； Anthony Hamilton； describes her as having large blue eyes； very tempting and alluring； a complexion extremely fair； and a heart 〃ever open to tender sentiments；〃 by reason of which her troubles arose； as shall be set down in proper sequence。
Henry Jermyn； Earl of St。 Albans； and his nephew； 〃the little Jermyn；〃 were also notable as figuring in court intrigues。 The earl was member of the privy council to his majesty； and moreover held a still closer connection to the queen mother； for； according to Sir John Reresby； Madame Buviere； and others； her majesty had privately married his lordship abroadan act of condescension he repaid with inhumanity。 Madame Buviere says he never gave the queen a good word； and when she spoke to him he used to say； 〃Que me veut cette femme？〃 The same authority adds； he treated her majesty in an extremely ill manner； 〃so that whilst she had not a faggot to warm herself； he had in his apartments a good fire and a sumptuous table。〃 ＇This testimony concerning the queen's poverty is borne out by Cardinal de Retz。 In his interesting Memoirs he tells of a visit he paid the queen mother； then an