DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0026
xii editor’s introduction.
Buckingham; now the King’s favourite and chief minister; was a
mad debauchee; as destitute of ability as of conduct. While
Prime Minister of the crown; he had seduced the Countess of
Shrewsbury; and kept her as his mistress. The earl challenged
him; and each came to the field with two companions; one of whom
was killed on the spot; and Shrewsbury received a wound of which
he died shortly after. From this time he lived publicly with the
countess. In the May of 1068, Pepys notes that “ the Countesse
of Shrewsbery is brought home by the Duke of Buckingham to
his house; where his duchesse saying that it was not for her and
the other to live together in a house; he answered; ( Why; madam;
I did think so; and therefore have ordered your coach to be ready
to carry you to your father’swhich was a devilish speech; but
they say, true; and my Lady Shrewsbery is there; it seems.”
Four months after this, we have an anecdote highly characteristic
of the unbounded arrogance and insolence of this minister, then in
the plenitude of his power. “ Buckingham now rules all; and
the other day, in the King’s journey he is now in, at Bagshot and
that way; he caused Prince Rupert’s horses to be turned out of
an inne, and caused his own to be kept there; which the prince
complained of to the King, and the Duke of York seconded the
complaint; but the King’ did over-rule it for Buckingham, by
which there are high displeasures among them; and Buckingham
and Arlington rule all.”
Amidst the senseless measures of his ministers, and the in-
creasing- indignation of his people, Charles still lived easily and
“ merrily ” with his vicious and debasing companions. The
squabbles of his mistresses caused more troubles than the dangers
of the state. A ridiculous circumstance happened at court in the
day is still as backward for giving any money as ever, and do declare they will
first have an account of the disposals of the last Poll-bill and eleven months’ tax.
And it is pretty odde, that the very first sum mentioned in the account brought
in by Sir Robert Long of the disposal of the Poll-bill money, is 50001. to my
Lord Arlington for intelligence; which was mighty unseasonable, so soon after
they had so much cried out against his want of intelligence.”—Vol. iii. 46.
Buckingham; now the King’s favourite and chief minister; was a
mad debauchee; as destitute of ability as of conduct. While
Prime Minister of the crown; he had seduced the Countess of
Shrewsbury; and kept her as his mistress. The earl challenged
him; and each came to the field with two companions; one of whom
was killed on the spot; and Shrewsbury received a wound of which
he died shortly after. From this time he lived publicly with the
countess. In the May of 1068, Pepys notes that “ the Countesse
of Shrewsbery is brought home by the Duke of Buckingham to
his house; where his duchesse saying that it was not for her and
the other to live together in a house; he answered; ( Why; madam;
I did think so; and therefore have ordered your coach to be ready
to carry you to your father’swhich was a devilish speech; but
they say, true; and my Lady Shrewsbery is there; it seems.”
Four months after this, we have an anecdote highly characteristic
of the unbounded arrogance and insolence of this minister, then in
the plenitude of his power. “ Buckingham now rules all; and
the other day, in the King’s journey he is now in, at Bagshot and
that way; he caused Prince Rupert’s horses to be turned out of
an inne, and caused his own to be kept there; which the prince
complained of to the King, and the Duke of York seconded the
complaint; but the King’ did over-rule it for Buckingham, by
which there are high displeasures among them; and Buckingham
and Arlington rule all.”
Amidst the senseless measures of his ministers, and the in-
creasing- indignation of his people, Charles still lived easily and
“ merrily ” with his vicious and debasing companions. The
squabbles of his mistresses caused more troubles than the dangers
of the state. A ridiculous circumstance happened at court in the
day is still as backward for giving any money as ever, and do declare they will
first have an account of the disposals of the last Poll-bill and eleven months’ tax.
And it is pretty odde, that the very first sum mentioned in the account brought
in by Sir Robert Long of the disposal of the Poll-bill money, is 50001. to my
Lord Arlington for intelligence; which was mighty unseasonable, so soon after
they had so much cried out against his want of intelligence.”—Vol. iii. 46.