CHAPTER VII
WHITEHALL
PAGE
The water pageant— Arrival at Whitehall — James Crofts — Somerset House — A stately palace — "The Lady's" Court — A neglected Queen — Supping with "The Lady" — Letter to the Pope — Letters to Cardinals — Dislike to writing letters — On behalf of others — Courland shipping — The pinch of poverty — Capitula- tion — A fatal step — The fatal effect — Loss of influence — Lady Castlemaine's conversion — Catherine's birthday — Waller's ode — Ball at Whitehall — Court gossip — Condolences — Whitehall — The Banqueting House — A medley of rooms — Furnishings — Whitehall Gardens — Impeachment of Clarendon — Madame's letters 145
CHAPTER VIII
THE COURT
The Restoration Court — A world to itself — Old London — Pele-Mele — Dress of the period — Early hours — The Tour — The lodge for refreshments — The life of one day — Visit to the Mansion House — Straitened means — The slavery of courtiers — Death of the Prince Palatine — Ordered to Tunbridge Wells— Grand review — Darby and Joan — Frances Stuart — Card-house build- ing — Catherine at Bath — Visit to Bristol — Catherine's illness — Charles's grief— The turn of the scale — Out of danger — Formal condolences — Back to life — Giving thanks — Pretty pious pic- tures — A glazed coach — Misappropriation — The new Parlia- ment — Montague's dismissal — Portraits by Lely — Simple tastes — The Spanish ambassador — Ship launching — The new rela- tion — The people's King 177
CHAPTER IX
THE PLAGUE AND THE FIRE
The Red Cross — At Oxford— Death of Catherine's mother — Lady Castlemaine's folly— The simple life — The Great Fire — London rebuilt — A state ball — Wagging tongues — Charles's advisers — Catherine's support — The marriage — The banquet — Nell Gwynn — Early history — The people's Nell— Downfall of Clarendon — Burnet's efforts— An undignified Court — Portu- guese affairs— Duchess of Richmond's illness— Death of the Queen-mother 216
