登陆注册
4132100000027

第27章 CHAPTER V.(1)

Morality of the Restoration.--Puritan piety.--Conduct of women under the Republic.--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."He therefore, Heath records, began an amour with a lady of lesser note--Mrs. Lambert, the wife of a puritan, herself a lady devoted to psalm singing and audible prayer when, not otherwise pleasantly engaged.

The general character of many news-sheets of the day proves that morality under the Republic was at a low ebb. Anarchy in a kingdom invariably favours dissoluteness in a people, inasmuch as the disturbance of civil order tends to unsettle moral law.

Homes being divided amongst themselves by political strife, paternal care was suspended, and filial respect ignored. In the general confusion which obtained, the distinction of social codes was overlooked. Lord Clarendon states that; during this unhappy period, young people of either sex were "educated in all the liberty of vice, without reprehension or restraint." He adds, "The young women conversed without any circumspection or modesty, and frequently met at taverns and common eating-houses." An additional deion of the ways and manners of young maidens under the Republic is given in a rare and curious pamphlet entitled "A Character of England as it was lately presented in a Letter to a Nobleman of France"; printed in the year 1659, for Jo. Crooke, and sold at the Ship in St. Paul's Yard. Having spoken of taverns where "fury and intemperance" reign, and where, "that nothing may be wanting to the height of luxury and impiety, organs have been translated out of the churches for the purpose of chanting their dithyrambics and bestiall bacchanalias to the tune of those instruments which were wont to assist them in the celebration of God's praises," the writer continues: "Your lordship will scarce believe me that the ladies of greatest quality suffer themselves to be treated in one of those taverns, where a curtezan in other cities would scarcely vouchsafe to be entertained; but you will be more astonish't when I shall assure you that they drink their crowned cups roundly, strain healths through their smocks, daunce after the fiddle, kiss freely, and tearm it an honourable treat." He furthermore says they were to be found until midnight in company with their lovers at Spring Garden, which seemed to be "contrived to all the advantages of gallantry." From which evidences it may be gathered, that London under the Commonwealth was little less vicious than under the merry monarch.

The court Charles speedily gathered round him on his restoration was the most brilliant the nation had ever witnessed. Those of birth and distinction who had sought refuge abroad during the late troubles, now joyfully returned: whilst the juvenile branches of noble families living in retirement in England, to whom royalty had been a stranger, no less eagerly flocked to the presence of the gay young king. The wit and politeness of the men, the grace and beauty of the women, who surrounded Charles II. have become proverbial; whilst the gallantries of the one, and the frailties of the other, savour more of romance than reality.

That the condition of the court on its establishment may be realized, it is necessary, at this stage of its history, to introduce briefly some of the chief personages who surrounded his majesty, and occupied prominent attention in the annals of his reign. Notably amongst them were the gallant Duke of Ormond and his family. His grace, now in his fiftieth year, was distinguished for his commanding appearance, gracious manner, and excellent wit. During the troubles of the civil war, he had proved himself a most loyal subject, inasmuch as he had vested his fortune and ventured his person in service of the late king.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 十里桃花不及佳人美

    十里桃花不及佳人美

    叶落前世生于21世纪古武世家小姐,被奸人陷害穿越架空王国,面对家长里短的极品亲戚,带母走出农村发家致富奔小康,顺带拐个酒鬼小哥哥。
  • 石头怪就是可以为所欲为

    石头怪就是可以为所欲为

    我,石头怪,无敌!重生成一块石头,怎么办,吃吃吃,变身石头怪,不服?一口一个神技,开局就是满级,修炼?这辈子都不可能修炼的!——弄了个QQ沙雕网友唠嗑群——今晚点(613411011)等小红点小胖石头嘟嘟嘟,不好意思,石头怪就是可以为所欲为!
  • 景圣诗词散文集

    景圣诗词散文集

    这是我以前写的一些古体诗词散文,如今整理出来发表,不为别的,只是想看看还有多少人喜爱传统文学。另外,除了我以前写过的诗词散文会加上写作背景后集中上传以外,新的作品不敢保证更新,因为古体诗词并非是想写就能写得出来,这需要感觉,因此更新是不定期的,建议读者们收藏一下,这样一旦有了更新,必然可以及时看到。
  • 秋夜闻笛

    秋夜闻笛

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 齐天大圣新传

    齐天大圣新传

    本书简介:“师太啊!你就成全我们吧!”希望读者收藏。
  • 雪球专刊第044期:家庭理财实用指南

    雪球专刊第044期:家庭理财实用指南

    债券(包含可转券)的确定性强一些,计划用两个月的时间掌握常用投资思路。然后主要是学习股市中的知识。以价值投资为准绳,由面到点,逐步深入学习。具体来说,就是学习格雷厄姆、彼得·林奇、巴菲特等人的书籍,建立投资思想,然后学习财报分析知识,再选三四个关联度弱的行业慢慢深入(目前设想是:电力、医药、钢铁、快消品)。
  • 理想国与哲人王

    理想国与哲人王

    《理想国与哲人王》是王小波杂文的精编,同时收录了他与爱人李银河恋爱时期的部分情书。作家祝勇先生说:王小波的杂文大多涉及文化状态与知识分子命运,自然少不了尴尬与苦涩,所以读王小波杂文,是不能笑笑就了事的。他的幽默为我们展示了一个神秘幽黑的洞口,是浅尝辄止还是深入其中,就全看我们个人的兴趣了。王小波的幽默,点到为止,却是一枚余味无穷的橄榄,常嚼常新。
  • 陪伴是与时光等长的事

    陪伴是与时光等长的事

    畅销书作家贾九峰全新中短篇故事集。书中没有华丽的辞藻和刻意的修饰,作者沿用一贯真诚朴实的笔调,向读者细细诉说生命中的人和事,他的文字如同午后的一盏茶,真实、恬淡,而又余味绵长。全书围绕“陪伴”这一永恒的主题,如同一部电影,为你定格生命中的人和事,那些温暖与美好、柔软与坚强,都凝聚在一个眼神里、一句话里、一首歌里,无一不提醒着人们,趁着时光正好,去珍惜、去付出、去爱人。
  • 碧眼金雕

    碧眼金雕

    美少年石砥中偶得武林中人梦寐以求的秘笈《将军记事》,为解开鹏城之秘密,他展开了一段扑朔迷离的奇幻冒险,并与天龙大帝之女东方萍经历了悲欢离合的生命之旅。
  • 梦想乐团

    梦想乐团

    穆老师冲我笑了一下,他说,对啊,这么多键!其实我们常用的远远没有这么多,就那么几个键,但钢琴设计那么多键是有它自己的道理的,就像我们每个成员一样,有的唱高音,有的唱低音,有的唱和声等等。发出声音的总是常常被用到的几个键,但不发出声音的键就不重要吗?不!很重要!就跟我们在工作中一样,有的人是需要经常发出声音的,有的人不需要经常发出声音,但需要他们的时候,就是他们发出声音的时候,所以,生活不如意不用时时抱怨,相反,只要保持好自己的状态就行,轮到需要你的时候,你这个键就要发出你该发的声音,不要弹不准,或者弹不响就行!一首优美的曲子,之所以会让人赏心悦目,是所有的键配合的结果,如果每个键都需要发出声音,那就是乱弹琴!