there some shocking irregularity； or some disgusting disagreeableness。 But how unluckily do I succeed in my design。 Every feature about her has a particular beauty； that does not in the least yield to that of her eyes； which； by the consent of all the world； are the finest in the universe。 One thing there is that entirely confounds me： her teeth； her lips； her mouth； and all the graces that attend it； are lost amongst the great variety of beauties in her face and what is but indifferent in her； will not suffer us to consider what is most remarkable in others。 The malice of my curiosity does not stop here。 I proceed to spy out some defect in her shape； and I find I know not what graces of nature so happily and so liberally scattered in her person； that the genteelness of others only seems to be constraint and affectation。〃
The kingto whom the presence of a beautiful woman was as sunshine to the earthat once offered her his affections； the gallants tendered their homage； the ladies of the court volunteered the flattery embodied in imitation。 And by way of practically proving his admiration； his majesty graciously allotted her a pension of four thousand pounds a year； with apartments in St。 James's Palace。
The sovereignty which the Duchess of Portsmouth had held for five years over the monarch's heart was now in danger of downfall； and probably would have ended； but for Madame Mazarine's indiscretions。 It happened a few months after her arrival in London； the Prince of Monaco visited the capital。 Young in years； handsome in person； and extravagant in expenditure； he dazzled the fairest women at court； none of whom had so much power to please him in all as the Duchess of Mazarine。 Notwithstanding the king's generosity； she accepted the prince's admiration； and resolved to risk the influence she had gained； that she might freely love where she pleased。 Her entertainment of a passion； as sudden in development as fervid in intensity； enraged the king； but his fury served only to increase her infatuation； seeing which； his majesty suspended payment of her pension。
The gay Prince of Monaco in due time ending his visit to London； and leaving the Duchess of Mazarine behind him； she； through the interposition of her friends； obtained his majesty's pardon； was received into favour； and again allowed her pension。
She now ruled； not only mistress of the king's heart； but queen of a brilliant circle of wits and men of parts； whose delight it became to heed the epigrams and eccentricities which fell from her lips。 Her rooms at St。 James's； and her house in Chelsea； became the rendezvous of the most polite and brilliant society in England。 In the afternoons； seated amongst her monkeys； dogs； parrots； and pets； she discoursed on philosophy； love； religion； politics； and plays； whilst at night her saloons were thrown open to such as delighted in gambling。 Then the duchess； seated at the head of the table； her dark eyes flashing with excitement； her red lips parted in expectation； followed the fortunes of the night with anxiety： all compliments being suspended and all fine speeches withheld the while； nought being heard but the rustle of cards and the chink of gold。
Dainty and luxurious suppers followed； when rare wines flowed； and wit long suppressed found joyous vent。 Here sat Charles beside his beautiful mistress； happy in the enjoyment of the present； careless of the needs of his people； and close beside him my Lord of Buckingham； watchful of his majesty's face； hatching dark plots whilst he turned deft compliments。 There likewise were my Lord Dorset； the easiest and wittiest man living； Sir Charles Sedley； one learned in intrigue； Baptist May； the monarch's favourite； Tom Killigrew who jested on life's follies whilst he enjoyed them； the Countess of Shrewsbury； beautiful and amorous； and Madam Ellen； who was ready to mimic or sing； dance or act； for his majesty's diversion。
And so； whilst a new day stole upon the world without； tapers burned low within the duchess's apartments； and the king； his mistress； and a brave and gallant company ate； drank； and made merry。
CHAPTER XVI。
A storm threatens the kingdom。The Duke of York is touched in his conscience。His interview with Father Simons。The king declares his mind。The Duchess of York becomes a catholic。The circumstances of her death。The Test Act introduced。Agitation of the nation。The Duke of York marries again。Lord Shaftesbury's schemes。The Duke of Monmouth。William of Orange and the Princess Mary。Their marriage and departure from England。
Whilst the surface life of the merry monarch sped onward in its careless course； watchful eyes took heed of potent signs boding storms and strife。 The storm which shook the kingdom to its centre came anon； the strife which dethroned a monarch was reserved for the succeeding reign。 These were not effected by the king's profligacy； indolence； or extravagance； but because of a change in the religious belief of the heir…apparent to the crown。
The cloud； no bigger than a man's hand； which presently spread and overcast the political horizon； was first observed towards the beginning of the year 1669。 The Rev。 J。 S。 Clarke； historiographer to George III。； chaplain to the royal household； and librarian to the Prince Regent； in his 〃Life of James II。； collected out of Memoirs writ of his own hand；〃 tells us that about this time the Duke of York 〃was sensibly touched in his conscience； and began to think seriously of his salvation。〃 Accordingly； the historian states； 〃he sent for one Father Simons； a Jesuit； who had the reputation of a very learned man； to discourse with him upon that subject； and when he came； he told him the good intentions he had of being a catholic； and treated with him concerning his being reconciled to the church。 After much discourse about the matter； the Jesuit very sincerely told him； that unless he would quit the communion of the Church of England； he could not be received into the Catholic Church。 The duke then said he thought it might be done by a dispensation from the pope； alleging the singularity of his case； and the advantage it might bring to the catholic religion in general； and in particular to those of it in England； if he might have such dispensation for outwardly appearing a protestant； at least till he could own himself publicly to be a catholic； with more security to his own person and advantage to them。 But the father insisted that even the pope himself had not the power to grant it； for it was an unalterable doctrine of the Catholic Church； not to do ill that good might follow。 What this Jesuit thus said was afterwards confirmed to the duke by the pope himself； to whom he wrote upon the same subject。 Till this time his royal highness believed （as it is commonly believed； or at least said by the Church of England doctors） that dispensations in any such cases are by the pope easily granted； but Father Simons's words； and the letter of his holiness； made the duke think it high time to use all the endeavours he could； to be at liberty to declare himself； and not to live in so unsafe and so uneasy a condition。
Inasmuch as what immediately followed touches a point of great delicacy and vast importance； the words of the historian； mainly taken from the 〃Stuart Papers；〃 are best given here； 〃His royal highness well…knowing that the king was of the same mind； and that his majesty had opened himself upon it to Lord Arundel of Wardour； Lord Arlington； and Sir Thomas Clifford； took an occasion to discourse with him upon that subject about the same time； and found him resolved as to his being a catholic； and that he intended to have a private meeting with those persons above named at the duke's closet； to advise with them about the ways and methods fit to he taken for advancing the catholic religion in his dominions； being resolved not to live any longer in the constraint he was under。 The meeting was on the 25th of January。 When they were met according to the king's appointment； he declared his mind to them on the matter of religion； and said how uneasy it was to him not to profess the faith he believed； and that he had called them together to have their advice about the ways and methods fittest to be taken for the settling of the catholic religion in his kingdoms； and to consider of the time most proper to declare himself； telling them withal that no time ought to be lost； that he was to expect to meet with many and great difficulties in bringing it about； and that he chose rather to undertake it now； when he and his brother were in their full strength and able to undergo any fatigue； than to delay it till they were grown older and less fit to go through with so great a design。 This he spoke with great earnestness； and even with tears in his eyes； and added； that they were to go about it as wise men and good catholics ought to do。 The consultation lasted long； and the result was； that there was no better way for doing this work than to do it in conjunction with France； and with the assistance of his Most Christian majesty。〃 Accordingly the secret treaty with France was entered into； as already mentioned。
No further movement towards professing the catholic religion was made by the king or