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s enemies and the duke's friends； principal amongst whom were the Princess of Orange and Sir Charles Berkley； 〃a fellow of great wickedness；〃 Sir Charles was his royal highness's most trusted friend； and was； moreover； devoted to the service of the princess and her mother。 He therefore determined to hinder the duke from taking a step which he was of opinion would injure him irretrievably。 Accordingly； when James spoke in confidence concerning his marriage； Sir Charles told him it was wholly invalid； inasmuch as it had taken place without the king's consent； and that a union with the daughter of an insignificant lawyer was not to be thought of by the heir to the crown。 Moreover； he hinted he could a tale unfold regarding her behaviour。 At this the duke became impatient to hear what his good friend had to say； whereon that valiant gentleman boasted； with an air of bravery and truth； of certain gallantries which had passed between him and the lady。 On hearing this； James； being credulous was sorely depressed。 He ceased to visit his wife； withdrew from general company； and so well did Sir Charles's scheme succeed； that before the queen's arrival； the duke had decided on denying his marriage with one who had brought him dishonour。 The king； however； put no faith in these aspersions； he felt sure 〃there was a wicked conspiracy set on foot by villains。〃
It therefore happened the queen was spared the trouble she had anticipated with her son； indeed； he humbly begged her pardon for 〃having placed his affections so unequally； of which he was sure there was now an end〃a confession most gratifying to her majesty。 The duke's bitter depression continued； and was soon increased by the death of his sister； the Princess of Orange； which was occasioned by smallpox on the 23rd of December； 1660。 In her last agonies Lord Clarendon says 〃she expressed a dislike of the proceedings in that affair； to which she had contributed too much。〃 This fact； together with his royal highness's unhappiness； had due weight on Sir Charles 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 na