Charles II., nevertheless, wrote the boy a stern letter of warning, and appealed passionately to James for aid, he being then at hand, bidding him even leave the service of France sooner than refrain from supporting his brother. Besides this the King despatched the faithful Ormonde to enforce his command, the latter moreover on arrival finding it necessary to sell his own George, the last jewel remaining to him, to help the young Duke in his destitution.
On this Henrietta flew into one of her tempests of rage and promptly turned her youngest son out of her house, believing she could thus coerce him into surrender. After a piteous scene with his little sister Henrietta, who seemed beside herself with terror, only gasping “Oh me! my mother!” amidst her sobs, the poor young Duke, forlorn and helpless, but unshaken in his resolve, fled to his brother James, who did his best to console him, and proved indeed always kind and affectionate. On this occasion, moreover, the Duke of York attempted in vain to soften his mother’s anger, but the only result was that she refused to communicate with either son, except through Walter Montague, who was much in her confidence as a messenger and go-between on many occasions. This favour he probably owed to the fact of his being a convert from the Anglican Church. He entered the religious life, and died as Abbot of Pontoise.
The two royal brothers during their Paris sojourn attended together regularly the English service which was held at the house of Sir Richard Browne and was frequented by many of the exiled Cavaliers. If at this time James had indeed begun to entertain doubts as to the Church of his baptism, they were not yet strong enough to lead him away from her worship. He appears to have been instructed early in the doctrines of the Church, especially in that of the Real Presence, by Dr Steward, who was successively Prebendary of Worcester and Provost of Eton. During the progress of the war, the latter became (nominally) Dean of St Paul’s and of Westminster, and while Clerk of the Closet to Charles I., was one of the commissioners at the Treaty of Uxbridge. He also taught the Prince of Wales, and became one of the Duke of York’s Cabinet Council, Sir George Radcliffe spitefully calling him “the heifer the queen plowes with.”[[80]] The support James gave to his younger brother testifies to his loyalty, at any rate for that time, and something also may be due to the ardent veneration which the memory of their father inspired in the children of Charles I. To him the offices of his Church had been his stay and consolation up to the supremest moment of the great tragedy, and his son could not but remember the fact. And moreover it must be recollected that among the many faults of James, Duke of York, dissimulation had no place. Even Burnet, though no friend to him, could not but acknowledge him to be “candid and sincere,” therefore we must conclude that whatever difficulties may have presented themselves to his mind, at the time when he and his brother Henry knelt side by side at Mattins and Evensong in Sir Richard Browne’s house, the Duke of York was still conscientiously an English churchman, and it is significant that in after years he never tried to turn his daughters from their faith.[[81]]
[80]. Burnet’s “History of My Own Time.”
[81]. Eva Scott, “The King in Exile.” Cosin, Dean of Peterborough, afterwards Bishop of Durham, was chaplain in Paris.
The Duke of Gloucester was afterwards for a time with his elder sister in the Low Countries, and, as we have seen, in 1657 took up arms with his brother.[[82]] Both were well known for their extreme and reckless courage, an attribute not, it must be confessed, shared by the leaders of the Spanish forces, who were their brothers in arms, for the latter for the most part took care to watch the battles in which they were engaged from the safe and distant harbourage of their coaches.[[83]]
[82]. Madame—Julia Cartwright (Mrs Ady). In June 1657 both were reported slain or prisoners, but reached Bruges safely.
[83]. Thurloe State Papers.
At the end of the campaign James had, as in the case of the army of France, won the confidence of his men and the respect of Condé and of the Spanish leaders in general.[[84]]
[84]. Clarendon State Papers. Marquess of Ormond to E. H. Brussels, 21st June 1657: “The Duke of York will take exceedingly in the army. He is as brave and as little troublesome as any prince can be.”