Charles was, when expedient, to profess the Roman Communion; he was to join France, when so required, in a war against the United Provinces, and for these services he would receive two million livres, and six thousand men in case of any insurrection at home. Here, then, was the kernel of the matter. Money was always lacking, the hunger for it altogether unsated; even the portion of Zealand which was promised out of the future conquest of the Dutch was little in comparison, and the English King might have been induced to make further promises for a corresponding amount of hard cash.
The tragic death of the Duchess of Orleans was also destined at the time to affect the family of her brother the Duke of York in quite another direction.
HENRIETTA, DUCHESS OF ORLEANS
Duchess Anne has been accused, among other failings, of the unlovely propensity of eating too much, and this habit was certainly inherited by her younger daughter and namesake.[[270]] Whether from this, or from some other cause, the Lady Anne of York very early contracted a weakness of the eyes, a complaint, moreover, which lasted to the end of her life. For the cure of this disorder the parents had taken the precaution of sending the child to France, to the care of her grandmother the queen-mother, who was then at Colombes.
[270]. “Lives of the Queens of England.” Agnes Strickland.
Henrietta Maria, however, died there on 10th September 1669,[[271]] to the deep grief of Madame her daughter, to whose family her young niece was next transferred; and she remained with her for many months. Anne was still at St Cloud at the time of her aunt’s sudden and tragic death, but the small English princess became, on this event, a somewhat inconvenient visitor in the disorganised household of Monsieur. She was therefore sent back to England, after spending a considerable time in France, a visit which was kept more or less a secret at home, on account of the strong prejudices which existed in England against all French influences. The experiment does not seem to have materially benefited the child’s health, but at any rate back she came. Her parents despatched Colonel Villiers and his wife to bring home their little daughter, and the pair accordingly embarked at Rye for Dieppe on 2nd July, thereafter reaching the former port on their return journey on the 23rd of the same month, but whether the weather was unfavourable or not, the party did not land on English shore till the 28th.[[272]] There is a piece of information which reads oddly in the light of subsequent events: “Lady Anne was presented on her departure from France with a pair of bracelets set with great diamonds, valued at ten thousand crowns, by the French King.” One can fancy the child bridling over her magnificent ornaments, and thinking how kind and splendid was the stately, gracious King, with the long, dark eyes and perfect manner, who clasped them on her chubby wrists as if she were a woman grown.
[271]. Madame—Julia Cartwright (Mrs Ady). Macpherson’s “Original Papers.”
[272]. “Calendar of Domestic State Papers.” 27th June 1670: “Their Royal Highnesses have sent Col. Villiers and his lady to France to fetch their daughter.” Colonel Villiers was of the Duke’s bedchamber, and his wife governess to the children.
Neither he nor any one else could have foreseen the fierce struggle of forty years later, when the old feud would be revived, when the armies of each were to be face to face on many a stricken field, when Blenheim and Malplaquet and Ramilies were to bear a bitter significance in French ears, and when the splendid Roi Soleil of these early days of glory would perforce veil his lofty crest before the stubborn, invincible troops of the little stolid English cousin.