--Some notable courtiers.--The Duke of Ormond
and his family.--Lord St. Albans and Henry Jermyn.--His Grace of
Buckingham and Mistress Fairfax.--Lord Rochester.--Beautiful
Barbara Palmer.--The King's Projected marriage.--Catherine of
Braganza.--His Majesty's speech.--A Royal love-letter.--The new
Queen sets sail.
A general idea obtains that the libertine example set forth by
Charles II. and his courtiers is wholly to blame for the spirit
of depravity which marked his reign. That it was in part
answerable for the spread of immorality is true, inasmuch as the
royalists, considering sufficient aversion could not be shown to
the loathsome hypocrisy of the puritans, therefore fell into an
opposite extreme of ostentatious profligacy. But that the court
was entirely responsible for the vice tainting all classes of
society whilst the merry monarch occupied the throne, is false.
Other causes had long been tending to produce this unhappy
effect. The reign of the Commonwealth had not been, remarkable
for its virtue, though it had been notable for its pharisaism.
With the puritan, words of piety took place of deeds of grace;
the basest passions were often hidden under sanctimonious
exteriors. Even Cromwell, "a man of long and dark discourses,
sermons, and prayers," was not above reproach. Bishop Burnet,
who has no harsh words for him, and few gentle ones for Charles,
states the Protector's intrigue with Lady Dysart was "not a
little taken notice of;" on which, the godly man "broke it off.
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