Page:Catherine of Bragança, infanta of Portugal, & queen-consort of England.djvu/20

XIV CHAPTER X

TIMES OF QUIET

PAGE

A serenade — Catherine's renewed hopes — Lord Roos's bill — Catherine at cards — Mazarin's advice — "Madame's" influence — Charles's Catholicism — Louise de Keroualle — Her father — Her appearance — " Madame's " journey — Landing at Dover — Pleasant intercourse — The secret treaty — Departure — Loaded with gifts. 239

CHAPTER XI

CATHERINE'S DEADLIEST RIVAL

An alternative — Journey to England — Louise's charm — Her arrival at Court — Her power — A mystery — Ballet at Whitehall — A Court progress — A frolic — On to Euston — Reception at Yar- mouth — Visit to Norwich — Touching for the King's Evil — At Oxnead — Cavalier virtue — Evelyn at Euston— Sermon in Chapel — Louise's tact — Her schemes — Ballet at Court — The Court dressmaker — Duke of York's second marriage — Sense- less rumours — Duchess of Portsmouth — Further honours — Whitehall apartments — Nell Gwynn's house — Gifts of Freehold — Death of Nell's mother — Jane Roberts — A political schemer — The sale of England — The Grand Prior — The silver medal — Somerset House — Life barely tolerable — Card-playing — Duke of Richmond — Duchesse Mazarin — Sensational end — Time- servers 256

CHAPTER XII

THE POPISH PLOT

Princess Mary's departure — Attack on Holland — The black box — Titus Oates— Danby's action — Confused evidence — Accusations — The Popish Plot — Trials of the accused — Prelude to accusa- tion — Dismay and apprehension — Wages — Chapel preachers — Other servants — Catherine's portion — Bedloe's information — The people's detestation — Exposure of untruths — Impeached of treason — Express to Portugal — Catherine's protector — France accused — A new informer — Courageous fortitude — Anger of Portugal — Great apprehensions — Charles's letter — Pro- rogation of Parliament — The special envoy — At Windsor — Letter to Pedro — Catherine's grief— A second letter— Passing of the Test Act — Monmouth — Charles's protest — Deposition of Buss — Acquittal of Wakeman — The King's illness — At New- market — The Duke's enemy — The Duke warned^ — Recommen-