ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF CHESTERFIELD
Poor Duchess Anne, however, took it passionately to heart, and complained vehemently not only to the King, who was scarcely likely to give her much sympathy—though he did remove Lord Chesterfield from his office of Groom of the Stole to the Queen—but to Ormonde himself, who, it must be remembered, was her father’s old friend. It is also probable that she and Lady Chesterfield must have had some degree of intimacy.
Pepys, of all people, took it on himself to moralise on the subject. “At all which I am sorry,” he writes, “but it is the effect of idleness and having nothing else to employ their great spirits upon,” which seems an insufficient reason. Lady Chesterfield, who never returned to London, died two years later at Bretby, leaving a daughter who eventually married Lord Strathmore.[[171]]
[171]. “Royalty Restored,” J. F. Molloy. Lord Chesterfield himself is said to have been in love with Lady Castlemaine, a fact which did not interfere with his jealousy of his wife.
By the month of January 1663 the Duke and Duchess appear to have made up their differences, for they appeared together at the Cockpit to see Claracilla done by the King’s players, and there scandalised the ubiquitous Secretary by “dalliance there before the whole world, such as kissing and leaning upon one another,” a very curious picture of the manners of the time.[[172]]
[172]. “Diary.” 5th January 1662-1663.
In the autumn of the same year Charles II., wishing perhaps to familiarise the Queen with her new country, as well as to procure for himself the change and variety for which he was always restlessly seeking, set out on the first of his royal progresses, on which he was accompanied by his brother and the Duchess, with a brilliant train.[[173]] The party first visited Bath, which was recovering from the paralysing effect of the Civil War, and about to enter on the era of its fame, though its best period was not reached till the succeeding century; but its waters had been long known and valued, and had been sought by Queen Anne of Denmark fifty years earlier.
[173]. “Calendar of Domestic State Papers.” News Letter, 21st September 1663: “The Duke and Duchess are leaving Portsmouth, and the Duke’s guards are to meet him on the way.” 17th September, Portsmouth.—Thomas Lancaster and Hugh Salisbury to the same (Navy Commissioners): “Arrived of the Foresight at Spithead, the Duke and Duchess of York being in Portsmouth on their way to Winchester, boats have been sent by Mr Coventry’s order to bring the Duke down to see the Dock,” etc.
On the 22nd September the King and his train left Bath and proceeded first to Badminton, where they dined, their host being Lord Herbert. They went thence to Cirencester, where they were received by Lord Newburgh, and remained for that night. The next day they went on to Oxford, and were met on the border of the county by Lord Cornbury (Duchess Anne’s elder brother) with the high sheriff and two troops of horse militia, besides volunteers. Further on they were met by Clarendon himself as Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, and he entertained them with great splendour and hospitality at his house of Cornbury. Then on the 28th the expedition passed on to Oxford itself, near to which they were received by the heads of houses, the vice-chancellor in a short speech giving the usual presents to the King and Queen.