[204]. “Diary.” 4th March 1668.

There, too, in the ancient palace, when night came the tables would be set for basset, the favourite game; and at them Duchess Anne, eager in her imperious way, would set down broad pieces on the hazard, staking on the cast now a thousand pounds, now fifteen hundred. One night she even lost twenty-five thousand pounds, and it became to her an absorbing passion, to be inherited by her second daughter.[[205]] Over and over again in later days did James II. pay the debts of the Princess Anne, himself the reverse of extravagant, being in this the antithesis of his elder brother.

[205]. “Memorials of St James’s Palace.” E. Sheppard, D.D.

It is an unlovely side of Anne Hyde’s perplexing character, and one displays it with reluctance. Certainly it was a strange outcome of her narrow upbringing in her father’s careful household. Of her thirst for gain Pepys has a word to say: “Mr Povy do tell me how he is like to lose his £400 a year pension of the Duke of York which he took in consideration of his place that was taken from him. He tells me that the Duchess is a divil against him and do now come like Queen Elizabeth and sits with the Duke of York’s council and sees what they do, and she crosses out this man’s wages and prices as she sees fit for saving money, but yet he tells me she reserves £5000 a year for her own spending and my Lady Peterborough by and by tells me that the Duchess do lay up, mightily, jewels.”[[206]] This was written in 1668, and it may or may not be true. In a succeeding chapter a different and totally contrasting aspect of Anne Hyde must be unfolded, one to be dwelt upon, in one direction, with far greater satisfaction.

[206]. “Diary.” 27th January 1667-1668.

CHAPTER VI
THE FALL OF CLARENDON

Whatever might be the consternation of the Chancellor at his elder and favourite daughter’s stolen match, however great his anger and disappointment at the failure of the duty and confidence which he felt she owed him—and there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of the feeling he manifested on the disclosure—it is nevertheless evident that the affectionate terms on which father and daughter lived, suffered but a very short eclipse.

The Duke of York himself treated his father-in-law with unvarying respect and consideration, and to Anne the latter was always a welcome visitor. For a time, at least, it would seem that Clarendon was on the crest of the wave. High, and deservedly so, in his King’s favour, reconciled to his once inveterate foe, the queen-mother, his daughter established on the steps of the throne, his position appeared altogether unassailable. Still, as in the days before the marriage, the Chancellor and his daughter spent much of their time together, and at some time during those happy days, before the breaking of the storm that was to overwhelm the wisest head in England, we find the record of a pretended wager between them, a piece of very innocent fooling which no doubt served its purpose of amusement for the moment:

“Hugh May, Esqre his award of arbitration in a jocular suit pending between Edward Earl of Clarendon and his daughter Anne Duchess of York relative to a wager between them.