Moreover, the
Earl of Carlisle, who likewise favoured the contrivance, offered
to bring this subject before the House of Lords. However, the
king would not consent to trifle with the succession in this vile
manner, and the idea was promptly abandoned. But though the
project was unsuccessful, it was subsequently the cause of many
evils; for the chances of sovereignty, flashing before the eyes
of the Duke of Monmouth, dazzled him with hopes, in striving to
realize which, he, during the succeeding reign, steeped the
country in civil warfare, and lost his head.
The king's friends, ever active for evil, now sought other
methods by which he might rid himself of the woman who loved him
well, and therefore be enabled to marry again, when, it was
trusted, he would have heirs to the crown. It was suggested his
union might, through lack of some formality, be proved illegal;
but as this could not be effected without open violation of truth
and justice, it was likewise forsaken. The Duke of Buckingham
now besought his majesty that he would order a bill to divorce
himself from the queen to be brought into the House of Commons.
The king gave his consent to the suggestion, and the affair
proceeded so far that a date was fixed upon for the motion.
However, three days previous, Charles called Baptist May aside,
and told him the matter must be discontinued.
But even yet my Lord Buckingham did not despair of gaining his
wishes. And, being qualified by his character for the commission
of abominable deeds, and fitted by his experience for undertaking
adventurous schemes, he proposed to his majesty, as Burnet
states, that he would give him leave to abduct the queen, and
send her out of the kingdom to a plantation, where she should be
well and carefully looked to, but never heard of more.
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