" And, bowing
low, the fine old soldier left her presence. It may be added,
though the duke was deprived of the lord lieutenancy, the
countess's pious wish regarding him was never fulfilled.
It now occurred to those who had relentlessly persecuted the
chancellor, that though they were safe as long as Charles
reigned, his death would certainly place them in peril. For they
sufficiently knew the Duke of York's character to be aware when
he ascended the throne he would certainly avenge the wrongs
suffered by his father-in-law. Accordingly these men, prominent
amongst whom were the Duke of Buckingham, Sir Thomas Clifford,
Lords Arlington, Lauderdale, and Ashley, and Baptist May,
resolved to devise means which would prevent the Duke of York
ever attaining the power of sovereignty. Therefore scarce a year
had gone by since Lord Clarendon's downfall, ere rumours were
spread abroad that his majesty was about to put away the queen,
This was to be effected, it was said, by the king's
acknowledgment of a previous marriage with Lucy Walters, mother
of the Duke of Monmouth, or by obtaining a divorce on ground of
her majesty's barrenness.
The Duke of Buckingham, who was prime mover in this plot, aware
of the king's pride in, and fondness for the Duke of Monmouth,
favoured the scheme of his majesty's admission of a marriage
previous to that which united him with Catherine of Braganza.
And according to Burnet, Buckingham undertook to procure
witnesses who would swear they had been present at the ceremony
which united him with the abandoned Lucy Walters.
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