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Among his many gifts was that of telling a story wella rare one 'tis true in all ages。 Never was he better pleased than when； surrounded by a group of gossips； he narrated some anecdote of which he was the hero； and； though his tales were more than twice told； they were far from tedious； inasmuch as； being set forth with brighter flashes of wit and keener touches of irony； they were ever pleasant to hear。 His conversation was of a like complexion to his tales； pointed； shrewd； and humorous； frequentlyas became the manner of the timesstraying far afield of propriety； and taking liberties of expression of which nice judgments could not approve。 But indeed his majesty's speech was not more free than his conduct was licentious。 He could not think； he gravely told Bishop Burnet； 〃God would make a man miserable for taking a little pleasure out of the way。〃 Accordingly he followed the free bent of his desires； and his whole life was soon devoted to voluptuousness； a vice which an ingenious courtier obligingly describes as a 〃warmth and sweetness of the blood that would not be confined in the communicating itselfan overflowing of good nature； of which he had such a stream that it would not be restrained within the banks of a crabbed and unsociable virtue。〃
The ease and freedom of his continental life had no doubt fostered this lamentable depravity； for his misfortunes as an exiled king by no means prevented him following his inclinations as an ardent lover。 Accordingly； his intrigues at that time were numerous； as may be judged from the fact of Lady Byron being described as 〃his seventeenth mistress abroad。〃 The offspring of one of his continental mistresses was destined to plunge the English nation into civil warfare； and to suffer a traitor's death on Tower Hill in the succeeding reign。
〃The profligacy which Charles practised abroad not being discontinued at home； he resumed in England an intrigue commenced at Brussels a short time before the restoration。 The object of this amour was the beautiful Barbara Palmer； afterwards； by reason of her lack of virtue； raised to the peerage under the titles of Countess of Castlemaine； and Duchess of Cleveland。 This lady； who became a most prominent figure in the court of the merry monarch； was daughter of William； second Viscount Grandison； a brave gentleman and a loyal； who had early in life fallen in the civil war whilst fighting for his king。 He is described as having； among other gifts； 〃a faultless person；〃 a boon； which descended to his only child； the bewitching Barbara。 In the earliest dawn of her womanhood she encountered her first lover in the person of Philip Stanhope； second Earl of Chesterfield。 My lord was at this time a youthful widower； and is described as having 〃a very agreeable face； a fine head of hair； an indifferent shape； and a pleasant wit。 He was； moreover； an elegant beau and a dissolute mantestimony of which latter fact may be gathered from a letter written to him in 1658； by his sister…in…law； Lady Essex； to prevent the 〃ruin of his soule。〃 Writes her ladyship： 〃You treate all the mad drinking lords； you sweare； you game； and commit all the extravagances that are insident to untamed youths； to such a degree that you make yourselfe the talke of all places； and the wonder of those who thought otherwise of you； and of all sober people。〃
When Barbara was sixteen； my lord； then in his twenty…third year； inherited the title and estates of his grandfather： he therefore became master of his own fortune and could bestow his hand where he pleased。 That he was in love with Barbara is； indeed； most true； but that his passion was dishonourable is likewise certain： for though he wrote her letters full of tenderness； and kept assignations with her at Butler's shop； on Ludgate Hill； he was the while negotiating a marriage with one Mrs。 Fairfax； to whom he was not； however； united。 His intrigue with Barbara continued for upwards of three years； when it was temporarily suspended by her marriage to one Roger Palmer； a student of the Inner Temple； the son of a Middlesex knight； and； moreover； a man of the most obliging temper； as will hereafter be seen。 Barbara's loyalty to her husband was but of short duration。 Before she had been nine months a wife； we find her writing to her old lover she is 〃ready and willing to goe all over the world〃 with hima sacrifice he declined to accept！ though eager to take advantage of the affection which prompted it。 A little while later he was obliged to quit England； for it happened in the first month of the year 1660 he quarrelled with and killed one Francis Woolley； a student at law； to avoid the consequences of which act he speedily fled the country。
Arriving at Calais； he wrote to King Charles； who was then preparing to return； throwing himself on his mercy； and beseeching his pardon； which the king granting； Lord Chesterfield sought his majesty at Brussels。 Soon afterwards Barbara Palmer and her complaisant husband； a right loyal man； joined the king's court abroad； when the intrigue begun which was continued on the night of the monarch's arrival in London。 True the loyal PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCER stated 〃his majesty was diverted from his pious intention of going to Westminster to offer up his devotions of prayer and praise in publick according to the appointment of his Majesty； and made his oblations unto God in the presence…chamber；〃 but it is； alas； equally certain； according to Oldmixon； Lord Dartmouth； and other reliable authorities； he spent the first night of his return in the company of Barbara Palmer。 From that time this abandoned woman exercised an influence over the king which wholly disgraced his court； and almost ruined his kingdom。
Another prominent figure； whose history is inseparable from the king's； was that of his majesty's brother； James； Duke of Yorka man of greater ambition and lesser talents than the merry monarch； but one whose amorous disposition equalled the monarch's withal。 At an early period of his life the Duke of York was witness of the strife which divided his unhappy father's kingdom。 When only eight years old he was sent for by Charles I。 to York； but was forbidden by the Parliament to leave St。 James's Palace。 Despite its commands he was； however； carried to the king by the gallant Marquis of Hereford。 That same year the boy witnessed the refusal of Sir John Hotham； Governor of Hull； to admit his majesty within the gates； and James was subsequently present at the siege of Bristol； and the famous battle of Edgehill； when his life at one period of the engagement was in imminent peril。
Until 1646 he continued under the guardianship of his father； when； on the entrance of Fairfax into Oxford； the young duke was found among the prisoners； and by Cromwell's orders committed to the charge of Sir George Ratcliffe。 A few months later he was removed to St。 James's Palace； when in company with his brother； the Duke of Gloucester； and his sister； the Princess Elizabeth； he was placed under the care of Lord Northumberland； who had joined the Republican cause。
Though by no means treated with unkindness； the young duke； unhappy at the surveillance placed upon his actions and fearful of