her.

It was some months after these events that Lord Arthur, turning out of his club in Pall Mall, ran against Sir Thomas Clutterbuck, who said :

perils which he had escaped. This Newcastle," while later critics thought was the third brush that she had won so highly of her that, in "A Vision that season, she told him, and he ob- of Female Poets" Shakespeare and tained leave to have it mounted for Milton are represented as respectfully helping her to alight from her Pegasus. The imputation of insanity probably troubled the duchess but little; she would console herself with the reflection that "great wits are sure to madness near allied;" and if, as some of her biographers assert, her devoted loyalty to her husband, in the extremely disloyal court of Charles II., earned her the nickname of "Mad Madge," it becomes a title of honor.

"So you're to be congratulated, I hear. Well, she's a nice girl, and if a man must needs marry, I don't know that he could do better than choose a girl of that sort. For my own part, I've come to the conclusion that the less one has to do with women the There is no indication of madness in more likely one is to enjoy life. It's the laurel-crowned and graceful portrait possible to get along quite comfortably prefixed to her "Description of a New without 'em, I can assure you. Been World ;" simply robed, reclining easily consulting any more amateur vets in her chair, and absorbed in reflection, lately?" she looks an ideal young Muse -grave, Lord Arthur made a retrospective calm, with firmly closed lips, rounded grimace. "I haven't had occasion to cheeks and chin, wavy hair flowing do so, I'm thankful to say," he replied. | over a beautiful throat, and large, dark, "Have you been making any more ex- earnest eyes. The engraving, pubperiments in the hair-restoring line?"lished in 1799 by Harding, is very fine. "My dear fellow, you wouldn't be- It is obviously taken from the large lieve what a job I had to get rid of that infernal stuff! The end of it was that I was obliged to have my head shaved and go off on a sea-voyage for three weeks. However, I'm my own master now, anyhow, which is more than can be said for you. I think, Fulton, we may as well draw a decent veil over the episodes of our visit to your future wife's family. It makes a good story, I admit, but one isn't justified in telling tales about ladies, you know."

family group representing the duchess with the duke and his children, which forms the frontispiece to "Nature's Picture drawn by Fancie's Pencil.”

The writings of the duchess in extenso by no means commend themselves to a busy and practical age, but such of them as record her own and her husband's experiences can never lose their interest; while shrewd observations and poetic fancies are mingled with even her wildest speculations. Two comparatively recent editors have laid very judicious selections from her folios before the public, but there are still good gleanings left for those who refer to the originals,2 though it must be admitted that a great deal of chaff has to be winnowed away before the precious grain is discovered.

1 Connoisseur, vol. ii., p. 265, edit. 1774.

2 "Lives of William Cavendishe, Duke of Newcastle, and his Wife," edited by M. A. Lower, 1856; and "The Cavalier and his Lady" (Golden Treasury Series), edited by Edward Jenkins, which does not give the life of the duke, but selections from the works of both, including the autobiography of the duchess. In the passages quoted in this paper, Mr.

Jenkins's plan of modernizing spelling and the use of capital letters, has been adopted.

Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas | tion was complete while Margaret was Lucas, was born at St. John's, near still a child, "loved virtue, endeavored Colchester. She does not give the merit, practised justice, and spoke year, but it is supposed to have been truth; they were constantly loyal and about 1624. She was the youngest of truly valiant." "" Both scholars and soleight children, of whom she writes, diers from early youth "there was not any one crooked nor their practice was, when they met together, any ways deformed, neither were they to exercise themselves with fencing, wresdwarfish nor of giant-like stature, but tling, and shooting; for I observed they did every way proportionable, well-fea- seldom hawk or hunt, and very seldom or tured, clear complexions, brown hair, never dance or play on music, saying it sound teeth, plain speeches, tunable was too effeminate for masculine spirits. voices - I mean not so much to sing, Neither had they skill or did use to play, as in speaking." for aught I could hear, at cards or dice or the like games; nor given to any vice, as I

did know.

The daughters

were bred vir

Sir Thomas Lucas died when Margaret was an infant, and she only knew him by reputation as a gallant and unfortunate gentleman (which title," tuously, modestly, civilly, and honshe says, "is given and grounded by orably." Lady Lucas, unlike those merit, not by princes; and 'tis the act mothers of the period, who by the tesof time, not favor"). "One Mr. timony of Lady Jane Grey and others Brooks " did him an injury; "my ruled by fear, and punished their father by honor challenged him, with shrinking children with "nips and valor fought him, and in justice killed pinches," was both tender and firm. him," on which Lord Cobham, who was the protector, and as some suppose the brother, of the fallen man, used his influence with Queen Elizabeth to send Sir Thomas into an exile which only terminated with her life. He did not long survive his recall to England on the accession of James I. Lady Lucas is described by her daughter with love and veneration :

Her beauty was beyond the ruin of time. She had a well-favored loveliness in her face, a pleasing sweetness in her countenance, and a well-tempered complexion, neither too red nor too pale, even to her dying hour, although in years; and by her dying one might think Death was enamored of her, for he embraced her in a sleep, and so gently as if he were afraid to hurt her.1

After the death of Sir Thomas Lucas, his widow "made her house her cloister, enclosing herself, as it were, therein, for she seldom went abroad except to church."

Her whole life was devoted to the education of her children, and the careful management of the estates which would ultimately become theirs. The sons of the house, whose educa

p. 49.

The Cavalier and his Lady. Macmillan, 1872,

My mother [says Margaret] naturally did strive to please and delight her children, not to cross or to torment them, terrifying them with threats or lashing them with slavish whips; instead of threats reason was used to persuade us, and instead of lashes the deformities of vice were discov

ered, and the graces and virtues were pre

sented to us.

In like manner the wise mother refrained from undue economy, never restricting her children in "honest pleasures and harmless delights," lest, "if she bred us with needy necessity, it might chance to create in us mean thoughts and base actions, which she knew my father as well as herself did abhor."

her sons, paying a sum of money for portions to her daughters either at the day of their marriage or when they should come of age, yet by reason she and her children agreed with a mutual consent, all their affairs were managed so well, as she lived not in a much lower condition than when my father lived, and was never in debt, being rather beforehand with the world, buying all with ready money, not on the

score.

all

by reason she and her children were loyal to the king, for which they plundered her and them of all their goods, plate, jewels, money, corn, cattle, and the like cut down their woods, pulled down their houses, and sequestered them from their lands and livings. In such misfortunes my mother was of a heroic spirit, in suffering patiently when there was no remedy, and being industrious where she thought she could help. She was of a grave behavior, and such a

For tutors, she says, in singing, danc-majestic grandeur continually hung about ing, writing and the like, they had her that it would strike a kind of awe into beholders, and command respect from the sorts of virtuosos," but "rather for rudest (I mean the rudest of civilized people formality than benefit," as Lady Lucas thought the formation of her children's characters more important than accomplishments. Their pastimes were "to read, write, work, and walk with each other."

I mean not such people as plundered her and used her cruelly, for they would have pulled God out of Heaven had they had power, as they did royalty out of his throne).2

At this time, to the surprise and There was such perfect harmony in even grief of her family, Margaret, the family at St. John's that even after the youngest, shyest, and most studiseveral of its members were happily ous (or rather, perhaps, meditative, for married, they lived with Lady Lucas she admits that her "study of books when she was in the country; and was little," though she would walk though in London they were "dis-alone for hours" in a musing, considerpersed into several houses of their ing, contemplative manner") of them own, yet for the most part they met every day, feasting each other like Job's children." In winter they made parties to visit the theatres, or drove about London in their coaches "to see the concourse of people, and in the springtime to visit the Spring Garden, Hyde Park, and the like places, and sometimes they would have music and sup in barges upon the water."

all, announced her wish to join the queen at Oxford, hearing that she had not the same number of maids of honor as formerly. The romantic and generous spirit of her house prompted this impulse. She had not been attracted by court gaieties and splendor, but when the throne was shaken her loyalty shone out. She could not fight for the king like her gallant brothers, but she could offer her dutiful service to the queen, flying in distress from her enemies.

I observed [continued Margaret] they did seldom make visits, nor ever went abroad with strangers in their company, but only themselves in a flock together, agreeing so Lady Lucas understood her child, well that there seemed but one mind and did not oppose her resolution, amongst them. And not only my own although she let her go with pain. brothers and sisters agreed so, but my But the brothers and sisters were less brothers and sisters in law. And their easily reconciled, "by reason," Margaret, "I had never been from home and seldom out of their sight." They feared that her inexperience might lead her to act to her own disadvantage, "which indeed I did," she confesses, "for I was so bashful when

children, although but young, had the like agreeable natures and affectionate disposi

tions.

The civil war broke up this happy circle. Lady Lucas was forced from her house, says her daughter,—

say's

1 Lord Lucas married the daughter of Sir Chris-out of my mother's, brothers' and sistopher Neville; Sir Thomas Lucas, the daughter of Sir John Byron (an ancestor of the poet); the daughters married Sir Peter Killigrew, Sir William Waller, and Sir Edmund Pye.

ters' sight, whose presence used to give The Cavalier and his Lady. Macmillan, 1872, pp. 48, 49.

"Love's Welcome at Welbeck," was written for this visit, and "Love's Welcome at Bolsover," for " a more stupendous entertainment, to the king and queen, given in the following year, which no man ever after in those days imitated.” 1 The two visits cost the host £20,000.

me confidence, thinking I could not doing, as had scarce ever been known amiss whilst any one of them were by, in England." Ben Jonson's masque, for I knew they would gently reform me if I did." This reserve and selfdistrust made Margaret, with all her beauty and talent, unpopular in the quecu's circle. She was studying character, observing and pondering, and in her grave young mind reprobating levity and worldliness; and the courtiers who felt those serious eyes upon them tried to avenge themselves by turning her into ridicule. 66 Being dull," by which she apparently means quiet, "fearful and bashful," she says she heeded only "what belonged to my loyal duty and my honest reputation

In 1638, the then Earl of Newcastle was summoned to court and made privy councillor, and governor to the Prince of Wales.

Strong personal regard, combined. with the principle of loyalty, attached insomuch him to the Stuarts at all costs and hazards; but it is not possible here to

as I was thought a natural fool." This state of things became so pain-follow in detail the series of sacrifices ful to young Mistress Lucas that she soon wished to return to her mother, or to one of her married sisters, Lady Pye, with whom she often lived when in London, and whom she "loved with a supernatural affection.' But Lady Lucas disapproved of a step which would have looked like caprice or irresolution, and counselled her daughter to remain, though I put her to more charges than if she had kept me at home, and she maintained me so that I was in a condition rather to lend than to borrow, which courtiers usually are not." In obedience to her mother's advice, Margaret Lucas, instead of returning home, accompanied Henrietta Maria to France, and so decided her own fate, there meeting her future husband.

and exertions on behalf of Charles which, from 1641 to 1644, dissipated his fortune and nearly broke his heart. His second wife adds many picturesque touches to her narrative of this period, such as “the dismal sight of the horse of his Majesty's right wing, which, out of a panic fear, had left the field and run away with all the speed they could; and though my lord made them stand once, yet they immediately took themselves to their heels again, and killed even those of their own party that endeavored to stop them;" and an encounter with a Scots regiment of foot, "in which my lord himself killed three with his page's half-leaden sword, for he had no other left him; and though all the gentlemen in particular offered him their swords, yet my lord refused to take a sword of any of them."2 He was a gallant soldier, and a most zealous and indefatigable servant of the king; but the royal cause was hopeless, and, according to Clarendon, "transported with passion and despair," at the way in which the army he had with such difficulty raised had been "thrown away," he left England after the battle of Marston Moor. His wife had died in 1643, and he was only

William Cavendish was born in 1592 (his wife, with her persistent disregard of dates, does not mention the year), and on leaving Cambridge, having been made a Knight of the Bath at sixteen, accompanied Sir William Wotton when sent as ambassador to the Duke of Savoy. Returning to England, he married Elizabeth Basset of Blore, "by whom was added a great part to his estate." Honors were heaped upon him by King James and his successor, which, however, entailed costly recognition, for when the latter monarch went to Scotland, he was entertained at garet, Duchess of Newcastle, edited by Mark AnWelbeck "in such an excess of feast-thony Lower. Russell Smith, 1872, pp. 61-63.

1 Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. i., p. 167.

2 Life of William, Duke of Newcastle, by Mar

Which

me by a deed of time, sealed by constancy, and assigned by an unalterable decree of his promise; which makes me happy in despite of Fortune's frowns.

accompanied by his two sons, his | orable, being placed upon merit. brother, Sir Charles Cavendish, and affection joyed at the fame of his worth, some friends. All the money with was pleased with delight in his wit, was which his steward could provide him proud of the respect he used to me, and was ninety pounds, and it is not sur- triumphed in the affection he professed for me. Those affections he hath confirmed to prising to learn that on landing at Hamburg he had to dismiss some of his servants and to travel by wagon instead of coach. However, he managed to obtain more money1 with which in the following year he proceeded to Paris, And fortune frowned darkly on the where he immediately "went to tender early days of the marriage, for Marhis humble duty" to Queen Henrietta garet tells us that her husband, having Maria. There he for the first time met no estate or means left to maintain the young maid of honor, of whose himself and his family, "was necessibeauty and talents he had heard much tated to seek for credit, and live upon from her eldest brother, Lord Lucas, the courtesy of those that were pleased his friend and comrade. The duketo trust him. Which though they did or rather, as he was then, the marquis for some while, and showed themselves was handsome, with a dignified and very civil to my lord, yet they grew To such straits noble carriage, and a thoughtful, ami- weary at length." able expression; his reputation for were the bride and bridegroom then chivalrous and self-sacrificing loyalty reduced that their steward announced had preceded him. His behavior, says that he was not able to provide a dinMargaret, was such "that it might be a ner for them, the creditors being repattern for all gentlemen. Courtly, solved to trust them no longer. On civil, easy and free, without formality this, observes the patient bride : My or constraint, and yet hath something lord, being always a great master of his in it of grandeur, that causes an awful passions, showed himself not in any respect towards him." They were manner troubled, but in a pleasant mutually attracted at once, and after manner told me that I must of neceshe had stayed in Paris some little time, "he was pleased," she says simply, "to take some particular notice of me, and express more than an ordinary affection for me, insomuch that he proposed to choose me for his second wife," and in her autobiographic sketch 2 she adds:

sity pawn my clothes to make as much money as would procure a dinner.” The poor young wife had to confess that her scanty wardrobe would not answer the purpose, and asked her 66 some small waiting-maid to pawn "which she had given her. This toys was done, and, fortified by the meal, the marquis presented himself before Though I did dread marriage, and his creditors, and, "by his civil deportshunned men's company as much as I "incould, yet I could not nor had the power to ment and persuasive arguments,' refuse him, by reason my affections were duced them not only to furnish him fixed on him, and he was the only person I with goods, but to lend him money to ever was in love with. . . . Neither title, redeem the pledged toys." The wealth, power, nor person, could entice me marchioness then sent her waitingto love; but my love was honest and hon-maid to England, to ask Lord Lucas to 1 Partly by pawning his late wife's jewels. He had, as one of the Royalist leaders, been excluded from pardon by the Parliament, and his estates had been confiscated. They were in part restored to him (strange to say) after the return of Charles the

Second.

...

For the future it seems unnecessary to distinguish between short passages taken from the lives of the duke and duchess. Both are contained in

one volume of the "Library of Old Authors."

forward her slender dowry, reduced by the losses to which her family had been subjected. Thither also the marquis despatched his son's tutor, to endeavor to raise funds amongst his friends, but Mr. Benoist effected little, "by reason everybody was so afraid of the Parliament they durst not relieve him who