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rcise his capacities。 His ready wit amused the king so much； that he was occasionally led to freedoms of speech which taxed his majesty's good…nature。 His escapades diverted the court to such an extent； that he frequently took the liberty of affording it entertainment at the expense of its reputation。 The 〃beau Sidney；〃 a man 〃of sweet and caressing temper；〃 handsome appearance； and amorous disposition； Sir George Etherege； a wit and a playwright； and Charles Sackville； Earl of Dorset； a poet and man of sprightly speech； were likewise courtiers of note。
Among such congenial companions the merry monarch abandoned himself wholly to the pursuit of pleasure； and openly carried on his intrigue with Barbara Palmer。 According to the testimony of her contemporaries； she was a woman of surpassing loveliness and violent passions。 Gilbert Burnet； whilst admitting her beauty； proclaims her defects。 She was； he relates； 〃most enormously vicious and ravenous； foolish but imperious； very uneasy to the king； and always carrying on intrigues with other men； while she yet pretended she was jealous of him。〃 Pepys testifies likewise to her physical attractions so long as she reigned paramount in the king's affections； but when another woman； no less fair； came betwixt my lady and his majesty's favour； Mr。 Pepys； being a loyal man and a frail； found greater beauty in the new love； whose charms he avowed surpassed the old。 To his most interesting diary posterity is indebted for glimpses of the manner in which the merry monarch and his mistress behaved themselves during the first months of the restoration。 Now he tells of 〃great doings of musique；〃 which were going on at Madame Palmer's house； situated in the Strand； next Earl Sandwich's； and of the king and the duke being with that lady： again； in the Chapel Royal； Whitehall； he observed； whilst Dr。 Herbert Croft prayed and preached；〃how the Duke of York and Mrs。 Palmer did talk to one another very wantonly through the hangings that part the king's closet and the closet where the ladies sit。〃 And later on； when he witnessed 〃The Humorous Lieutenant〃 performed before the court； he noted the royal favourite was likewise present； 〃with whom the king do discover a great deal of familiarity。〃
Presently； in February； 1661； exactly nine months after his majesty's return； Mrs。 Palmer gave birth to a daughter。 To the vast amusement of the court； no less than three men claimed the privilege of being considered father of this infant。 One of these was my Lord Chesterfield； whom the child grew to resemble in face and person； the second was Roger Palmer； who left her his estate； the third was King Charles； who had her baptized Anne Palmer Fitzroy； adopted her as his daughter； and eventually married her to the Earl of Sussex。
Soon after the restoration the subject of his majesty's marriage was mooted by his councillors； who trusted a happy union would redeem him from vice； and； by bringing him heirs； help to establish him more firmly in the affections of his people。 The king lending a willing ear to this advice； the sole difficulty in carrying it into execution rested in the selection of a bride congenial to his taste and equal to his sovereignty。 King Louis of France had no sisters； and his nieces had not commended themselves to the merry monarch's favour during his stay abroad。 Spain had two infantas； but one was wedded to the King of France； and the other betrothed to the heir of the royal house of Austria。 Germany； of course； had princesses in vast numbers； who awaited disposal； but when they were proposed to King Charles； 〃he put off the discourse with raillery；〃 as Lord Halifax narrates。 〃Odd's fish；〃 he would say； shrugging his shoulders and making a grimace； 〃I could not marry one of them： they are all dull and foggy！〃
Catherine of Braganza； daughter of Don Juan IV。 of Portugal； was unwedded； and to her Charles ultimately addressed himself。 Alliance with her commended itself to the nation from the fact that the late king； before the troubled times began； had entered into a negotiation with Portugal concerning the marriage of this same infanta and his present majesty； and such was the esteem in which the memory of Charles I。 was now held； that compliance with his desires was regarded as a sacred obligation。 The Portuguese ambassador assured the merry monarch that the princess； by reason of her beauty； person； and age； was most suited to him。 To convince him of this； he showed his majesty a portrait of the lady； which the king examining； declared 〃that person could not be unhandsome。〃 The ambassador； who was of a certainty most anxious for this union； then said it was true the princess was a catholic； and would never change her faith； but she was free from 〃meddling activity；〃 that she had been reared by a wise mother； and would only look to the freedom of practising her own religion without interfering with that of others。 Finally； he added that the princess would have a dowry befitting her high station； of no less a sum than five hundred thousand pounds sterling in ready money。
Moreover； by way of addition to this already handsome portion； the Queen of Portugal was ready to assign over and annex to the English crown； the Island of Bombay； in the East Indies； and Tangier on the African coasta place of strength and importance； which would be of great benefit and security to British commerce。 Nor was this all。 Portugal was likewise willing to grant England free trade in Brazil and the East Indies； a privilege heretofore denied all other countries。 This was indeed a dower which none of the 〃dull and foggy〃 German princesses could bring the crown。 The prospect of obtaining so much ready money especially commended the alliance to the extravagant taste of his majesty； who had this year complained to Parliament of his poverty； by reason of which he 〃was so much grieved to see many of his friends come to him at Whitehall； and to think they were obliged to go somewhere else for a dinner。〃
The merry monarch was therefore well pleased at the prospect of his union； as were likewise the chancellor and four or five 〃competent considerers of such an affair〃 whom he consulted。 These worthy counsellors and men of sage repute； who included in their number the Duke of Ormond and Sir Edward Nicholas； Secretary of State； the Earl of Manchester； and the Earl of Southampton； after regretting it was not agreeable to his majesty to select a queen who professed the protestant religion； gave it as their opinion there was no catholic princess in Europe whom he； with so much reason and advantage； could marry as the infanta of Portugal。 They； moreover； added that the sum promised as part of her portion； setting aside the places； 〃was much greater almost double to what any king had ever received in money by any marriage。〃 The council； therefore； without a dissenting voice； advised him to the marriage。
On the 8th of May； 1661； his majesty； being clad in robes of state； and wearing the crown； rode in great pomp to open Parliament； which he addressed from the throne。 In the course of his speech； he announced his approaching marriage in a singularly characteristic address。 〃I will not conclude with