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V.—Some familiar Letters of Charles II. and James Duke of York addressed to their daughter and niece, the Countess of Litchfield
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 November 2011
Extract
The letters contained in the volume before us now preserved at Ditchley consist of five written by Charles II. and forty written by James II. while Duke of York. They are addressed to Charlotte Fitzroy, Countess of Litchfield, their daughter and niece. Sir Edward Henry Lee, the fifth baronet of that name, was by patent dated 5th June, 1674, created Earl of Litchfield, Viscount Quarrendon, and Baron Spelsbury. On 11th August, 1674, he was betrothed t o Charlotte Fitzroy, daughter of Charles II. by Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, and on 3rd August, 1670, created Duchess of Cleveland. The bride and bridegroom were very young, he having been born 4th February, 1663, and she 5th September, 1664. A little later, on 22nd February, 1677, the actual marriage took place, and, as recorded on their monument in Spelsbury Church, “at their marriage they were the most graceful bridegroom and most beautiful bride, and that till death they remained the most constant husband and wife.” a Their married life lasted forty-two years, during which time she bore him eighteen children, the youngest of whom, Robert, eventually succeeded as fourth and last Earl of Litchfield.
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- Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1902
References
page 153 note a The Earl of Litchfield was made Lord Lieutenant of Woodstock Park and High Steward of Woodstock 1680, and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to Charles II. 2nd April, 1683.
page 155 note a The references to Macky relate to Memoirs of the secret services of John Macky Esq., &c., including Characters of the Gourt of Great Britain drawn up by him by the direction of the Princess Sophia, and published by his son Spring Macky, London, 1733.
page 156 note a He died 1694. His poems were first published 1704.
page 160 note a See Burnet, i. 512.
page 163 note a Colonel Russell, brother to the Earl of Bedford, having disposed of that command.
page 164 note a Robert, Lord Hudson, was appointed Colonel of the 12th Regiment, 30th November, 1688.
page 165 note a Composed by his brother, Lord Wharton.
page 169 note a Original Papers, 1688-1714 (London, 1775), i. 135.Google Scholar
page 173 note a In 1685 he was colonel of the 1st troop of Horse Guards (Life Guards). Having followed King James's fortunes he is now in France. He was always a great sportsman and brave; a good companion, turned of sixty years old (Macky).
page 175 note a The Fubbs yacht, of 8 guns, with a crew of 30 men. Our Fellow, Mr. W. Barclay Squire, has kindly referred me to Sir Hawkins's, J.History of Music, 1776, in which work, at vol. iv. p. 359,Google Scholar it is noted that the king's yacht derived her name from the Duchess of Portsmouth, whose plump and pleasing figure had got her that name from her royal lover. There is still in Greenwich a public-house called The Fubbs Yacht.
page 179 note a ‘Right against the Marquis of Winchester's house where the wrestlings are used to be.’ (Verney, iv. 271Google Scholar.)