DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0335
THE DUCHESS OF PORTSMOUTH. 283
but she had so many spies and dependants around her, she was so
well served through fear or interest, that she contrived to anticipate
or defeat all the plots against her, and keep old Rowley chained to
her footstool while he lived.*
Nor did she reign merely through the influence of her beauty
and her feminine arts. If this woman had confined herself to
securing her personal influence in the heart of Charles,—if she had
been satisfied with amassing wealth and appropriating diamonds,
the world had wanted one signal instance of mischievous, mis-
placed power in our sex. We find the Duchess of Portsmouth,
almost from her first arrival in England, engaged in the deepest
and most dangerous state intrigues; and so completely did she
fulfil the intentions and instructions of Louis in binding her lover
to the French interests, that England, to use the strong expres-
sion of one historian, C( was, in her time, little better than a pro-
vince of France.” As far as the government was concerned, this
was true; but, fortunately, the tide of national feeling had set in a
contrary direction, and though repressed for awhile, it was after-
wards nobly asserted.
In the boudoir of the Duchess of Portsmouth was concerted
that treaty, or rather that conspiracy, between Charles II. and
Louis XIV., a principal article of which was, that Charles should
not call a Parliament for a certain number of years j and that
during that time, he should have money from the court of France
to enable him to govern independently, and carry his measures
* The interest of the story of “Peveril of the Peak” turns on a plot of this
kind,—fictitious of course, but resembling in its outline the story of Miss Law-
son, (seep. 186)). The King obtained the nick-name of Old Rowley from that of
an ugly old horse in the royal stud, which was celebrated for the number and
beauty of its offspring. He was ignorant of this satirical cognomen, till one day
happening to visit one of the Maids of Honour, he found her singing a most
libellous song on “ Old Rowley the King.” After listening a few minutes at
-the door, he tapped gently: “ Who’s there ?” said Miss Howard from within ;
“ Old Rowley himself, madam,” replied the King, opening the door.
but she had so many spies and dependants around her, she was so
well served through fear or interest, that she contrived to anticipate
or defeat all the plots against her, and keep old Rowley chained to
her footstool while he lived.*
Nor did she reign merely through the influence of her beauty
and her feminine arts. If this woman had confined herself to
securing her personal influence in the heart of Charles,—if she had
been satisfied with amassing wealth and appropriating diamonds,
the world had wanted one signal instance of mischievous, mis-
placed power in our sex. We find the Duchess of Portsmouth,
almost from her first arrival in England, engaged in the deepest
and most dangerous state intrigues; and so completely did she
fulfil the intentions and instructions of Louis in binding her lover
to the French interests, that England, to use the strong expres-
sion of one historian, C( was, in her time, little better than a pro-
vince of France.” As far as the government was concerned, this
was true; but, fortunately, the tide of national feeling had set in a
contrary direction, and though repressed for awhile, it was after-
wards nobly asserted.
In the boudoir of the Duchess of Portsmouth was concerted
that treaty, or rather that conspiracy, between Charles II. and
Louis XIV., a principal article of which was, that Charles should
not call a Parliament for a certain number of years j and that
during that time, he should have money from the court of France
to enable him to govern independently, and carry his measures
* The interest of the story of “Peveril of the Peak” turns on a plot of this
kind,—fictitious of course, but resembling in its outline the story of Miss Law-
son, (seep. 186)). The King obtained the nick-name of Old Rowley from that of
an ugly old horse in the royal stud, which was celebrated for the number and
beauty of its offspring. He was ignorant of this satirical cognomen, till one day
happening to visit one of the Maids of Honour, he found her singing a most
libellous song on “ Old Rowley the King.” After listening a few minutes at
-the door, he tapped gently: “ Who’s there ?” said Miss Howard from within ;
“ Old Rowley himself, madam,” replied the King, opening the door.