登陆注册
14195800000087

第87章 CHAPTER XV.(2)

Evelyn, writing in the following October, says it was universally reported a ceremonious espousal, devoid of the religious rite, had taken place between his majesty and Mademoiselle Querouaille at Lord Arlington's house at Euston. "I acknowledge," says this trustworthy chronicler "she was for the most part in her undresse all day, and that there was fondnesse and toying with that young wanton; nay, 'twas said I was at the former ceremony, but 'tis utterly false; I neither saw nor heard of any such thing whilst Iwas there, tho' I had ben in her chamber, and all over that apartment late enough, and was myself observing all passages with much curiosity."She now became a central figure in the brilliant court of the merry monarch, being loved by the king, flattered by the wits, and tolerated by the queen, to whom--unlike the Duchess of Cleveland--she generally paid the greatest respect. Her card tables were thronged by courtiers eager to squander large sums for the honour of playing with the reigning sultana; her suppers were attended by wits and gallants as merry and amorous as those who had once crowded round my Lady Castlemaine in the zenith of her power. No expense was too great for his majesty to lavish upon her; no honour too high with which to reward her affection.

The authority just mentioned says her apartments at Whitehall were luxuriously furnished "with ten times the richnesse and glory beyond the Queene's; such massy pieces of plate, whole tables and stands of incredible value." After a residence of little more than three years at court she was raised by King Charles to the peerage as Baroness of Petersfield, Countess of Farnham, and Duchess of Portsmouth; whilst the French king, as a mark of appreciation for the services she rendered France, conferred upon her the Duchy of Aubigny, in the province of Berri in France, to which he added the title and dignity of Duchess and Peeress of France, with the revenues of the territory of Aubigny.

And two years later King Charles, prodigal of the honours he conferred upon her, ennobled the son she had borne him in 1672.

The titles of the Duke of Richmond and Lennox having lately reverted to the crown by the death of Frances Stuart's husband, who was last of his line, the bastard son of the French mistress was created Duke of Richmond and Earl of March in England, and Duke of Lennox and Earl of Darnley in Scotland. To these proud titles the present head of the noble house of Richmond and Lennox--by virtue of the grant made by Louis XIV. to his ancestress likewise adds that of Duc d'Aubigny in the peerage of France.

But though honoured by the king, and flattered by the court, the Duchess of Portsmouth was far from enjoying uninterrupted happiness; inasmuch as her peace was frequently disturbed by jealousy. The principal cause of her uneasiness during the first five years of her reign was the king's continued infatuation for Nell Gwynn; now, by reason of the elevated position she enjoyed, styled Madam Ellen. This "impudent comedian," as Evelyn calls her, was treated by his majesty with, extreme indulgence and royal liberality. In proof of the latter statement, it may be mentioned that in less than four years from the date of her first becoming his mistress, he had wantonly lavished sixty thousand pounds upon her, as Burnet affirms. Moreover, he had purchased as a town mansion for her "the first good house on the left-hand side of St. James's Square, entering Pall Mall," now the site of the Army and Navy Club; had given her likewise a residence situated close by the Castle at Windsor; and a summer villa located in what was then the charming village of Chelsea. To such substantial gifts as these he added the honour of an appointment at court: when the merry player was made one of the ladies of the privy chamber to the queen. Samuel Pegg states this fact, not generally known, and assures us he discovered it "from the book in the lord chamberlain's office."From her position as the king's mistress, Madam Ellen moved on terms of perfect equality with the Duchess of Portsmouth's friends--supping with my Lady Orrery, visiting my Lord Cavendish, and establishing a friendship with the gay Duchess of Norfolk.

This was a source of deep vexation to the haughty Frenchwoman;but Nell Gwynn's familiarity with the king was a cause of even greater mortification. Sir George Etherege records in verse when the monarch was "dumpish" Nell would "chuck the royal chin;" and it is stated that, mindful of her former conquests over Charles Hart and Charles Lord Buckley, it was her habit to playfully style his majesty "Charles the Third." Her wilfulness, wit, and beauty enabled her to maintain such a strong hold upon the king's heart, that he shared his time equally between her and the Duchess of Portsmouth. Indignant that a woman from the playhouse should receive such evidences of the royal affection, her grace lost no opportunity of insulting Nell, who responded by mimicry and grimaces, which threw those who witnessed the comedy into fits of laughter, and covered the wrathful duchess with confusion.

But though the light-hearted actress frequently treated disdain with ridicule, she could occasionally analyze the respective positions held by herself and the duchess with seriousness, Madame de Sevigne tells us, Nell would reason in this manner:

同类推荐
  • Main Street and Other Poems

    Main Street and Other Poems

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 送人游南越

    送人游南越

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 感类篇

    感类篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Dona Perfecta

    Dona Perfecta

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 玉笥集

    玉笥集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • TFBOYS之不完美的爱

    TFBOYS之不完美的爱

    虽然这个故事是纯属虚构的,但一定是每个四叶草都想发生在自己身上的。可谁又能知道,最后会是谁成为那三个被我们含泪祝福的人呢?
  • 爆笑斗罗

    爆笑斗罗

    虾米!海神大人变性了!
  • 逍遥世妃

    逍遥世妃

    跳入海中,寒冷侵蚀着四肢,眼前越来越模糊,陌筱筱的意识逐渐消失。本以为会这样死去,却不想自己华丽丽的穿越了!陌筱筱看着眼前这一切整个人都不好了,老天爷,不带这样玩的啊!可陌筱筱最终还是得接受现实,可是,原本想做一枚安静的美少女,哪知在古代却处处遭人陷害,甚至想要她死!叔可忍婶不可忍,继母,嫡姐,绣女,呵呵,看我不玩死你们!
  • 市场营销策划

    市场营销策划

    策划是具有前瞻性的行为,它要求对未来一段时间将要发生的事情作当前的决策。策划就是找出事物的主客观条件和因果关系,选择或制定出可采取的对策,作为当前决策的依据。即策划是事先决定做什么(What),如何做(How),何时做(When),由谁来做(Who)的系统方案。策划如同一座桥梁,它联系着理论与实践、出发点和所经途径。策划的内容极为丰富,涉及到现代社会活动的诸多方面,政治策划、外交策划、区域经济发展战略策划和市场营销策划。本书主要对市场营销策划进行讨论和分析。
  • 百位世界杰出的外交家(上)(世界名人成功启示录)

    百位世界杰出的外交家(上)(世界名人成功启示录)

    斗转星移,物是人非。漫长的世界历史画卷上写满了兴盛与衰亡、辉煌与悲怆。多少风流人物,多少英雄豪杰,在历史的长河中悄然隐去。然而,仍有许许多多曾创造了不朽业绩的杰出人物名彪史册,业传千秋。拭去历史的风尘,人们依稀看见那些改写人类历史的政治家、军事家;人们仍旧忆起那些拯救人类危机的谋略家、外交家;人们还会记得那些推动人类文明进程的思想家、科学家、发明家;人们至今难忘那些为人类生产精神盛宴的文学家、艺术家;人们深深感谢那些创造人类物质财富的企业家、经济学家
  • 冷漠公主复仇

    冷漠公主复仇

    她们从前有爱她们的爸妈,可是她们被姐妹陷害,被后妈赶出家门,她们被一个老爷爷收养了,又把她们变成了冷血杀手,十年后她们回来了,为了报仇。她们遇见了他们,又能擦出怎样的火花,复仇又如何进展呢?
  • 地球的花衣:自然奇观(地理知识知道点)

    地球的花衣:自然奇观(地理知识知道点)

    山是地球上分布最为广泛的地貌之一,高耸入云的山峰常常给人一种博大宽厚之感。正因为如此,山历来都是人们向往之地,历史上的隐士常常选择名山作为隐居之地,孔子也曾说过“智者乐水,仁者乐山”这样的话。
  • 穿越女尊为妾

    穿越女尊为妾

    作为一个土木工程专业的普通本科毕业生,林悦从Z城某城铁公司才出来,一脸的悲催,她又被拒绝了。作为一个穿越人士,林悦躺在床上,一脸的悲催,穿到女尊国也没机会扬眉吐气了,因为她穿成了男的。
  • 穿越民国:锦绣田园

    穿越民国:锦绣田园

    她本是现代一个普通大学生,一次意外的科学实验,使得自己穿越民国,穿越民国也就算了,为什么要穿越到家徒四壁的穷人家?而且还要替嗜赌如命的“老爹”还赌债,如果不还,就要把她卖进如意楼接客!万般无奈之下,她答应替沈家女儿代嫁,从此嫁给山野莽夫,过起了遥遥无期的种田生活……
  • 官道曾国藩

    官道曾国藩

    曾国藩的评价,近百年来仁者见仁,智者见智,对曾国藩褒扬者有之,斥骂者也不乏其人?誉之者称其为实现了“立功、立德、立言”三不朽的“完人”、“千古圣相”;毁之考’称其为“汉奸”、“刽子手”……曾国藩是一个永远值得你去认识、了解的人物。官道亦为人道,人道成就官道,为官之道,学曾国藩。曾国藩:初名子城,字伯涵,号涤生,谥文正,汉族,湖南省长沙府湘乡县人。晚清重臣,湘军的创立者和统帅者。