The disturbances which troubled the court were principally caused
by her infidelities to him, and his subsequent jealousies of her.
Chief among those who shared her intrigues at this time was Harry
Jermyn, with whom she renewed her intimacy from time to time,
without the knowledge of his majesty. The risks she frequently
encountered in pursuit of her amours abounded in comedy.
Speaking of Harry Jermyn, Pepys tells us the king "had like to
have taken him abed with her, but that he was fain to creep under
the bed into the closet." It being now rumoured that Jermyn was
about to wed my Lady Falmouth, the countess's love for one whom
she might for ever lose received a fresh impulse, which made her
reckless of concealment. The knowledge of her passion,
therefore, coming to Charles's ears, a bitter feud sprang up
between them, during which violent threats and abusive language
were freely exchanged.
At this time my lady was far gone with child, a fact that soon
came bubbling up to the angry surface of their discourse; for the
king avowed he would not own it as his offspring. On hearing
this, her passion became violent beyond all decent bounds. "God
damn me, but you shall own it!" said she, her cheeks all crimson
and her eyes afire; and moreover she added, "she should have it
christened in the Chapel Royal, and owned as his, or otherwise
she would bring it to the gallery in Whitehall, and dash its
brains out before his face."
After she had hectored him almost out of his wits, she fled in a
state of wild excitement from the palace, and took up her abode
at the residence of Sir Daniel Harvey, the ranger of Richmond
Park.
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