In the old days at The Hague and Breda, as we have seen, Elizabeth had been good to Chancellor Hyde’s young daughter, and had strenuously backed the Princess Mary’s choice of the girl as maid of honour, little dreaming how nearly they were destined to be related.
Did the Duchess of York remember the many kindnesses shown to Nan Hyde, now when it had become possible to repay them? One must hope so, for there is no record to tell us.
The day of the Queen of Bohemia’s funeral, on 20th February, there was a terrible storm, a type indeed of the unquiet life now closed.[[159]]
[159]. “Merry Monarch: England under Charles II.” Davenport Adams.
That spring of 1662 saw the expected change in the position and prospects of the Duchess of York, for the negotiations for the King’s marriage were now completed. One of the basest of the many slanders current against Clarendon was that he pushed on the match with Catherine of Bragança by every means in his power, knowing that she would never bear children, in order to ensure the succession to the Crown to his daughter’s offspring.
As a matter of fact, though the Queen was destined never to become the mother of a living child, it is yet certain that more than once she had the hope of maternity.
However, scandal of every sort and kind was never more rife than in the reckless, pleasure-loving, unscrupulous Court of Charles II. Every one seems to have said whatever he or she chose, without the slightest reference to truth, if that was likely to spoil a piquant story, and no one was more victimised in this respect than the Lord Chancellor, who thus paid the penalty of success. His friend Evelyn was among the few who never wavered in their loyal attachment, and who never said a bitter or ill-natured thing. This friendship, by the way, brought the diarist into closer relation with the Duke of York, for in January we find the latter announcing that he intended to visit the garden at Sayes Court, already famous for its rare and lovely plants, the care bestowed on it, and the culture of its gifted owner.[[160]] The next month, too, Evelyn records that he is present at a comedy acted before the Duchess at the Cockpit.
[160]. Evelyn’s “Diary.” Wm. Bray. 1850. “1662, 16th January.—Having heard of the Duke of York’s intention to visit my poor habitation and garden this day I returned.”
But the new queen was soon to be expected. On the 23rd April, the anniversary of the coronation, she set sail for England, arriving at Portsmouth on 14th May.
The Duke of York, in virtue of his office of Lord High Admiral, was despatched to receive her as his brother’s representative, and she welcomed him in her cabin, sitting under a canopy on a chair of state, but displaying frank, if shy cordiality.[[161]] Charles himself was in no violent hurry to see his richly-dowered bride, for he did not leave London till the 19th, travelling in Lord Northumberland’s coach. However, when he did arrive, no further time was lost, for the pair were married by Sheldon on the 22nd, in the great hall or presence-chamber in the governor’s lodging (now swept away) at Portsmouth. The register is in the Parish Church of St Thomas. They finally reached Hampton Court, where the honeymoon was to be spent, on the 29th, the King professing himself perfectly satisfied with his new wife.