after　death；　in　order　that　search　might　be　made　for　the　fatal　drug。
  The　surgeons　followed　these　directions；　as　we　learn　from　the　Orrery　state　papers；　but　no　trace　of　poison　was　discovered。　　For　all　that　the　public　had　no　doubt　her　husband　had　destroyed　her　life；　and　Hamilton　tells　us　the　populace　〃had　a　design　of　tearing　Sir　John　in　pieces　as　soon　as　he　should　come　abroad；　but　he　shut　himself　up　to　bewail　her　death；　until　their　fury　was　appeased　by　a　magnificent　funeral；　at　which　he　distributed　four　times　more　burnt　wine　than　had　ever　been　drunk　at　any　burial　in　England。〃
  As　for　the　duke；　he　was　sorely　troubled　for　her　loss；　and　declared　he　should　never　have　a　public　mistress　again。
  CHAPTER　IX。
  Court　life　under　the　merry　monarch。Riding　in　Hyde　Park。　Sailing　on　the　Thames。Ball　at　Whitehall。Petit　soupers。　What　happened　at　Lady　Gerrard's。Lady　Castlemaine　quarrels　with　the　king。Flight　to　Richmond。The　queen　falls　ill。The　king's　grief　and　remorse。Her　majesty　speaks。Her　secret　sorrow　finds　voice　in　delirium。Frances　Stuart　has　hopes。The　queen　recovers。
  Views　of　court　life　during　the　first　years　of　the　merry　monarch's　reign；　obtainable　from　works　of　his　contemporaries；　present　a　series　of　brilliant；　changeful；　and　interesting　pictures。　　Scarce　a　day　passed　that　their　majesties；　attended　by　a　goodly　throng　of　courtiers；　went　not　abroad；　to　the　vast　delight　of　the　town：　　and　rarely　a　night　sped　by　unmarked　by　some　magnificent　entertainment；　to　the　great　satisfaction　of　the　court。　　At　noon　it　was　a　custom　of　the　king　and　queen；　surrounded　by　maids　of　honour　and　gentlemen　in　waiting；　the　whole　forming　a　gladsome　and　gallant　crowd；　to　ride　in　coaches　or　on　horseback　in　Hyde　Park：　which　place　has　been　described　as　〃a　field　near　the　town；　used　by　the　king　and　nobility　for　the　freshness　of　the　air；　and　goodly　prospect。〃
  Here　in　a　railed…off　circle；　known　as　the　ring；　and　situated　in　the　northern　half　of　the　park；　the　whole　world　of　fashion　and　beauty　diverted　itself。　　Noble　gallants　wearing　broad…brimmed　hats　and　waving　plumes；　doublets　of　velvet；　and　ruffles　of　rich　lace；　and　fair　women　with　flowing　locks　and　dainty　patches；　attired　in　satin　gowns；　and　cloaks　wrought　with　embroidery；　drove　round　and　round；　exchanging　salutations　and　smiles　as　they　passed。　　Here　it　was　good　Mr。　Pepys　saw　the　Countess　of　Castlemaine；　among　many　fine　ladies；　lying　〃impudently　upon　her　back　in　her　coach　asleep；　with　her　mouth　wide　open。〃　　And　on　another　occasion　the　same　ingenious　gentleman　observed　the　king　and　my　lady　pass　and　repass　in　their　respective　coaches；　they　greeting　one　another　at　every　turn。
  But　Mr。　Pepys　gives　us　another　picture；　in　which　he　shows　us　the　king　riding　right　gallantly　beside　his　queen；　and　therefore　presents　him　to　better　advantage。　　This　excellent　gossip；　sauntering　down　Pall　Mall　one　bright　summer　day；　it　being　the　middle　of　July；　in　the　year　1663；　met　the　queen　mother　walking　there；　led　by　her　supposed　husband；　the　Earl　of　St。　Albans。　　And；　hearing　the　king　and　queen　rode　abroad　with　the　ladies　of　honour　to　the　park；　and　seeing　a　great　crowd　of　gallants　awaiting　their　return；　he　also　stayed；　walking　up　and　down　the　while。　　〃By…and…　by；〃　says　he；　〃the　king　and　queene；　who　looked　in　this　dress　（a　white　laced　waistcoate　and　a　crimson　short　pettycoate；　and　her　hair　dressed　A　LA　NEGLIGENCE）　mighty　pretty；　and　the　king　rode　hand　in　hand　with　her。　　Here　was　also　my　Lady　Castlemaine　riding　amongst　the　rest　of　the　ladies；　but　the　king　took；　methought；　no　notice　of　her；　nor　when　they　light　did　anybody　press　（as　she　seemed　to　expect；　and　staid　for　it）　to　take　her　down；　but　was　taken　down　by　her　own　gentlemen。　　She　looked　mighty　out　of　humour；　and　had　a　yellow　plume　in　her　hat　（which　all　took　notice　of）；　and　yet　is　very　handsome。　　I　followed　them　up　into　Whitehall；　and　into　the　queene's　presence；　where　all　the　ladies　walked；　talking　and　fiddling　with　their　hats　and　feathers；　and　changing　and　trying　one　another's　by　one　another's　heads；　and　laughing。　　But　it　was　the　finest　sight　to　me；　considering　their　great　beautys　and　dress；　that　ever　I　did　see　in　my　life。　　But；　above　all；　Mrs。　Stuart　in　this　dresse　with　her　hat　cocked　and　a　red　plume；　with　her　sweet　eye；　little　Roman　nose；　and　excellent　taille；　is　now　the　greatest　beauty　I　ever　saw；　I　think；　in　my　life；　and；　if　ever　woman　can；　do　exceed　my　Lady　Castlemaine；　at　least　in　this　dresse：　　nor　do　I　wonder　if　the　king　changes；　which　I　verily　believe　is　the　reason　of　his　coldness　to　my　Lady　Castlemaine。〃
  Having　returned　from　the　park；　dined　at　noon；　walked　in　the　palace　gardens；　or　played　cards　till　evening　came；　their　majesties；　surrounded　by　a　brilliant　and　joyous　court；　would　in　summer　time　descend　the　broad　steps　leading　from　Whitehall　to　the　Thames；　and　embark　upon　the　water　for　greater　diversion。　　Never　was　there　so　goodly　a　sight；　seldom　so　merry　a　company。　　The　barges　in　which　they　sailed　were　draped　to　the　water's　edge　with　bright　fabrics；　hung　with　curtains　of　rich　silk；　and　further　adorned　with　gay　pennants。　　And；　as　the　long　procession　of　boats；　filled　with　fair　women　and　gallant　men；　followed　their　majesties　adown　the　placid　Thames　towards　pleasant　Richmond；　my　Lord　Arran　would　delight　the　ears　of　all　by　his　performance　on　the　guitar；　the　fair　Stuart　would　sing　French　songs　in　her　sweet　childlike　voice；　or　a　concert　of　music　would　suddenly　resound　from　the　banks；　being　placed　there　to　surprise　by　some　ingenious　courtier。
  And　presently　landing　on　grassy　meads；　delightful　to　sight　by　freshness　of　their　colour；　and　sweet　to　scent　from　odour　of　their　herbs；　the　court　would　sup　right　heartily；　laugh；　drink；　and　make　love　most　merrily；　until　early　shadows　stole　across　the　summer　sky；　and　night…dews　fell　upon　the　thirsty　earth。　　Then　king；　queen；　and　courtiers　once　more　embarking；　would　sail　slowly　back；　whilst　the　moon　rose　betimes　in　the　heavens；　and　the　barges　streaked　the　waters　with　silver　lines。
  At　other　times　magnificent　entertainments　filled　the　nights　with　light　and　revelry。　　Pepys　tells　us　of　a　great　ball　he　witnessed　in　the　last　month　of　the　year　1662　at　the　palace　of　Whitehall。　He　was　carried　thither　by　Mr。　Povy；　a　member　of　the　Tangier　Commission；　and　taken　at　first　to　the　Duke　of　York's　chambers；　where　his　royal　highness　and　the　duchess　were　at　supper；　and　from　thence　〃into　a　room　where　the　ball　was　to　be；　crammed　with　fine　ladies；　the　greatest　of　the　court。　　By…and…by　comes　the　king　and　queene；　the　duke　and　duchess；　and　all　the　great　ones；　and；　after　seating　themselves；　the　king　takes　out　the　Duchess　of　York；　and　the　duke　the　Duchess　of　Buckingham；　the　Duke　of　Monmouth　my　Lady　Castlemaine；　and　so　other　lords　other　ladies；　and　they　danced　the　bransle。　　After　that；　the　king　led　a　lady　a　single　coranto；　and　then　the　rest　of　the　lords；　one　after　another；　other　ladies：　very　noble　it　was；　and　great　pleasure　to　see。　　Then　to　country　dances：　　the　king　leading　the　first。　　Of　the　ladies　that　danced；　the　Duke　of　Monmouth's　lady；　and　my　Lady　Castlemaine；　and　a　daughter　of　Sir　Harry　de　Vicke's　were　the　best。　　The　manner　was；　when　the　king　dances；　all　the　ladies　in　the　room；　and　his　queene　herself；　stand　up：　　and　indeed　he　dances　rarely；　and　much　better　than　the　Duke　of　York。〃
  PETIT　SOUPERS　were　another　form　of　entertainments；　greatly　enjoyed　by　Charles；　and　accordingly　much　in　vogue　with　his　courtiers。　　The　Chevalier　de　Grammont　had　principally　helped　to　make　them　fashionable；　his　suppers　being　served　With　the　greatest　elegance；　attended　by　the　choicest　wits；　and　occasionally　favoured　with　the　presence　of　majesty　itself。　　Nor　were　Lady　Gerrard's　PETIT　SOUPERS　less　brilliant；　or　her　company　less　distinguished。　　Her　ladyship　boasted　of　French　parentage　and　understood　the　art　of　pleasing　to　perfection；　and　accordingly　at　her　board　wine　flowed；　wit　sparkled；　and　love　obtained　in　the　happiest　manner。　　Now　it　happened　one　of　her　delightful　entertainments　was　destined　to　gain　a　notoriety　she　by　no　means　coveted；　and　concerning　which　the　French　ambassador；　Count　de　Comminges；　wrote　pleasantly　enough　to　the　Marquis　de　Lionne。
  It　came　to　pass　that　Lady　Gerrard；　who　loved　the　queen；　requested　the　honour　of　their　majesties　to　sup　with　her。　　She；　moreover；　invited　some　of　the　courtiers；　amongst　whom　she　did　not　include　my　Lady　Castlemaine。　　On　the　appointed　night　the　king　and　queen　duly　arrived；　the　other　guests　had　already　assembled；　and　the　hour　gave　fair　promise　of　entertainment。　　But　presently；　when　supper　was　announced；　his　majesty　was　missing；　and　on　inquiry　it　was　discovered　he　had　left　the　house　for　Lady　Castlemaine's　lodgings；　where　he　spent　the　evening。　　Such　an　insult　as　this　so　openly　dealt　the　queen；　and　such　an　indignity　put　upon　the　hostess；　caused　the　greatest　agitation　to　all　present；　and　subsequently　afforded　subject　for　scandalous　gossip　to　the　town。　It　moreover　showed　that　the　monarch　was　yet　an　abject　slave　of　his　mistress；　whose　charms　entangled　him　irresistibly。　　At　least　four　times　a　week　he　supped　with　her；　returning　at　early　morning　from　her　lodgings；　in　a　stealthy　way；　through　the　privy　gardens；　a　proceeding　of　which　the　sentries　took　much　notice；　joked　unbecomingly；　and　gossiped　freely。
  Now　in　order　to　avoid　further　observation　at　such　times；　and