On this occasion there is ample evidence of James’ misery and despair. He was, besides, in deep grief for the death of his brother the Duke of Gloucester, who had been so closely associated with him through the Spanish campaign, and whom he loved with a protecting and indulgent affection: and indeed at this time he had himself fallen ill, having refused food in his grief.
And now, just a month after Gloucester’s untimely death, in the midst of this web of deceit, of false witness, of distress and unbearable anxiety, an event occurred to which the persons most nearly concerned looked with mingled sentiments, but which was likely to prove of profound consequence to the kingdom. On 22nd October, Anne, Duchess of York, gave birth to her first-born son.
As matters then were, this child, it must be remembered, stood in the line of succession, the King not being yet married; and he, at any rate, fully recognised the importance of the occasion, for he despatched Lady Ormonde and Lady Sunderland (Waller’s “Sacharissa” of other days) to Worcester House to be present at the birth of the expected heir.[[127]] Dean Morley, Anne’s spiritual adviser since her childhood, was also summoned, and in view of the aspersions against her now current, the poor mother was solemnly exhorted in that extreme hour to make profession on oath of her innocence in respect of Berkeley’s hideous accusations, which she did with a vehement earnestness and passion in a degree which seems to have carried conviction to those present.
[127]. “Life of Henrietta Maria.” J. A. Taylor.
It also appears that the King at this time laid the facts of the contract at Breda before “some Bishops and Judges,” and that they pronounced that “according to the doctrine of the Gospel and the law of England it was a good marriage.”[[128]] The second ceremony, that at Worcester House, which was thus rendered unnecessary, was kept for some time a secret, but John Evelyn was one of the first persons to have any accurate information on the subject. As early as the 7th October we find him entertaining at a farewell dinner a French count with Sir George Tuke, “being sent over by the Queen Mother to break the marriage of the Duke with the daughter of Chancellor Hyde. The Queen would fain have undone it, but it seems matters were reconciled on great offers of the Chancellor to befriend the Queen, who was much in debt, and was now to have the settlement of her affairs to go through his hands.”[[129]]
[128]. Bishop Burnet’s “History of His Own Time.”
[129]. “Diary of John Evelyn,” introduction by Austin Dobson.
Evelyn is too weighty and dispassionate as a chronicler for his evidence to be set aside, but this account reads a little strangely in the face of Hyde’s anger and dismay, which no one supposed other than sincere, when he was first made aware of the matter, even begging the King’s permission to give up office and go far from the Court. On this point Burnet further declares that all Clarendon’s enemies rejoiced at the marriage, “for they reckoned it would raise envy so high against him, and make the King jealous,” and so “end in his ruin.” One must arrive at the conclusion that finding how far things had gone, the Chancellor had for his own sake, his daughter’s, and indeed for that of the country, set himself to deprecate the wrath of Henrietta in the readiest manner possible to him. Most of her dower-lands had been parted among the regicides, and he was probably able to adjust some sort of restitution.
Pepys, inquisitive as he was, like all inveterate gossips, was entirely ignorant of the real facts of the case till much later. On 24th October he speaks of the Duke’s “amour,” though he knows of the birth of the child. Even as late as 16th December he writes: “To my Lady’s [Lady Sandwich] and staid with her an hour or two, talking of the Duke of York and his lady, the Chancellor’s daughter, between whom, she tells me, all is agreed, and he will marry her.” This, it must be remembered, is more than three months after the Worcester House ceremony.
But before this the principal enemy to the marriage had arrived in England.