ourted Mrs。 Middleton no more； but devoted himself to 〃la belle Hamilton；〃 who subsequently became his wife。
Meanwhile； the merry monarch behaved as if he had no higher purpose in life than that of following his pleasures。 〃The king is as decomposed ＇dissipated＇ as ever；〃 the lord chancellor writes to the Duke of Ormond； in a letter preserved in the Bodleian library； 〃and looks as little after his business； which breaks my heart； and makes me and other of your friends weary of our lives。 He seeks for his satisfaction and delight in other company； which do not love him so well as you and I do。〃 His days were spent in pursuing love； feasting sumptuously； interchanging wit； and enjoying all that seemed good to the senses。 Pepys； who never fails to make mention of the court when actual experience or friendly gossip enables him； throws many pleasant lights upon the ways of the monarch and his courtiers。
For instance； he tells us that one Lord's daythe same on which this excellent man had been to Whitehall chapel； and heard a sermon by the Dean of Ely on returning to the old ways； and； moreover； a most tuneful anthem sung by Captain Cooke； with symphonies betweenwhom should he meet but the great chirurgeon； Mr。 Pierce； who carried him to Somerset House； and into the queen mother's presence…chamber。 And there； on the left hand of Henrietta Maria； sat the young queen； whom Mr。 Pepys had never seen before； and now thought that 〃though she be not very charming； yet she hath a good； modest； and innocent look； which is pleasing。〃 Here； likewise； he saw the king's mistress； and the young Duke of Monmouth； 〃who； I perceive；〃 Pepys continues； 〃do hang much upon my Lady Castlemaine； and is always with her； and I hear the queenes； both of them； are mighty kind to him。 By…and… by in comes the king； and anon the duke and his duchesse； so that； they being all together； was such a sight as I never could almost have happened to see with so much ease and leisure。 They staid till it was dark； and then went away； the king and his queene； and my Lady Castlemaine and young Crofts； in one coach； and the rest in other coaches。 Here were great stores of great ladies。 The king and queen were very merry； and he would have made the queene mother believe that the queene was with child； and said that she said so。 And the young queene answered； 'You lye；' which was the first English word that I ever heard her say； which made the king good sport。〃
Others besides Mr。 Pepys had begun to notice that the young Duke of Monmouth hung much upon the Countess of Castlemaine； and that her ladyship lavished caresses upon him。 Whether this was to provoke the uneasiness of his majesty； who she hoped might find employment for the lad elsewhere； or to express her genuine affection for him； it is impossible to say。 However； the duke being come to an age when the endearments of such a woman might have undesired effects upon him； the king resolved to remove him from her influence； and at the same time secure his fortune by marriage。
He therefore selected a bride for him； in the person of Lady Anne Scott； a young gentlewoman of virtue and excellence； who was only child of Francis； Earl of Buccleugh； and the greatest heiress in Great Britain。 Their nuptials were celebrated on the 20th of April； 1663； the bridegroom at this time not having reached his fifteenth birthday； whilst the bride was younger by a year。 The duke on his marriage assumed his wife's family name； Scott； and some years laterin 1673both were created Duke and Duchess of Buccleugh。 From this union the family now bearing that title has descended。 A great supper was given at Whitehall on the marriage…night； and for many days there were stately festivities held to celebrate the event with becoming magnificence。
Now at one of the court balls held at this time； the woman of all others who attracted most attention and gained universal admiration was Frances Stuart； maid of honour to Queen Catherine。 She was only daughter of a gallant gentleman； one Walter Stuart； and grand…daughter of Lord Blantyre。 Her family had suffered sore loss in the cause of Charles I。； by reason of which； like many others； it sought refuge in France。 This young gentlewoman was therefore bred in that country； and was； moreover； attached to the court of the queen mother； in whose suite she travelled into England。 Her beauty was sufficient to attract the attention of Louis XIV。； who； loath to lose so fair an ornament from his court； requested her mother would permit her to remain； saying； he 〃loved her not as a mistress； but as one that would marry as well as any lady in France。〃
No doubt Mrs。 Stuart understood the motives of his majesty's interested kindness； of which； however； she declined availing herself； and therefore departed with her daughter for England。 At the time of her appearance at Whitehall； Frances Stuart was in her fifteenth year。 Even in a court distinguished by the beauty of women； her loveliness was declared unsurpassed。 Her features were regular and refined； her complexion fair as alabaster； her hair bright and luxuriant； her eyes of violet hue； moreover； her figure being tall； straight； and shapely； her movements possessed an air of exquisite grace。 An exact idea of her lineaments may be gained unto this day； from the fact that Philip Rotier； the medallist； who loved her true； represented her likeness in the face of Britannia on the reverse of coins； and so faithful was the likeness； we are assured； that no one who had ever seen her could mistake who had sat as model of the figure。
Soon after her arrival in England； she was appointed one of the maids of honour to Queen Catherine； and as such was present at all festivities of the court。 Now； at one of the great balls given in honour of the Duke of Monmouth's nuptials； the fair Frances Stuart appeared in the full lustre of her charms。 Her beauty； her grace； and her youth completely eclipsed the more showy gifts of my Lady Castlemaine； who on this occasion looked pale and thin； she being in the commencement of another pregnancy； 〃which the king was pleased to place to his own account。〃 The merry monarch had before this time been attracted by the fair maid of honour； but now it was evident his heart had found a new object of admiration in her surpassing beauty。 Henceforth he boldly made love to her。 The countess was not much disturbed by this； for she possessed great faith in her own charms and implicit belief in her power over the king。 Besides； she had sufficient knowledge of mankind to comprehend that to offer opposition in pursuit of love is the most certain method to foster its growth。 She therefore resolved to seek Miss Stuart's society； cultivate her friendship； and constantly bring her into contact with his majesty。 This would not only prove to the satisfaction of the court she had no fear of losing her sovereignty over the monarch； but； by keeping him engaged with the maid of honour； would likewise divert his attention from an intrigue the countess was then carrying on with Henry Jermyn。 Accordingly； she made overtures of friendship to Miss Stuart； invited her to private parties； and appeared continually with her in public。
Concerning these ladies and the merry monarch； Pepys narrates a strange story which Captain Ferrers told him as they 〃walked finely〃 in the park。 This was； that at an entertainment given by my Lady Castlemaine； towards the end of which his majesty played at being married with fair Frances Stuart； 〃with ring and all other ceremonies of Church service； and ribbands； and a sack posset ＇A drink composed of milk； wine； and spices。＇ in bed； and flinging the stocking。 My Lady Castlemaine looked on the while； evincing neither anger nor jealousy； but entering into the diversion with great spirit。〃 Nor was this the only indiscretion of which she was culpable； for； in the full confidence of her charms； she frequently kept Miss Stuart to stay with her。 〃The king；〃 says Hamilton； 〃who seldom neglected to visit the countess before she rose； seldom failed likewise to find Miss Stuart with her。 The most indifferent objects have charms in a new attachment； however； the imprudent countess was not jealous of this rival's appearing with her； in such a situation； being confident that； whenever she thought fit； she could triumph over all the advantages which these opportunities could afford Miss Stuart。〃
No doubt Lady Castlemaine's imprudences arose from knowledge that Miss Stuart was devoid of tact； and incapable of turning opportunities to her own advantage in the king's regard。 For though the maid of honour was richly endowed with beauty； she was wholly devoid of wit。 She was not only a child in years； but likewise in behaviour。 She laughed at every remark made her； delighted in playing blind man's buff； and was never more happy than when building castles of cards。 At this latter amusement she continually employed herself whilst the deepest play was taking place in her apartments； being always attended by groups of courtiers； who were either attracted by the charm of her beauty； or were eager to make court through her favour。 As she sat upon the floor； intent on her favourite occupation； they on their knees handed her cards；