Books: Memoirs of Lady Fanshawe
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Lady Fanshawe >> Memoirs of Lady Fanshawe
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There was a numerous sort of people about the Ambassador's door, as is
usual amongst them. A poor little boy, that his mother had animated
daily to cry for relief so troublesomely, that at last the Ambassador
would say, 'What noise is that at the gate of perpetual screaming? I
will have it so no more:' upon which they carried the child to his
mother, and bade her keep him at home, for it screamed like a devil,
and if it returned, the porter swore he would punish him severely. Not
many days after, according to his former custom, the child returned,
louder than before, if possible; the porter keeping his word, took the
boy and pulled off his rags, and anointed him all over with honey,
leaving no part undone, and very thick, and then threw him into a tub
of fine feathers, which as soon as he had done, he set him on his legs
and frightened him home to his mother, who seeing this thing, for none
living could guess him a boy, ran out into the city, the child
squeaking after her, and all the people in the streets after them,
thinking it was a devil or some strange creature.
But to return to the business: we were visited by many persons of the
Court, some upon business, and others upon compliment, which is more
formal than pleasant, for they are not generally a cheerful people.
About February the King intended to go into the field and lead his
army himself: during this resolution my husband prepared himself to
wait on his Majesty, which cost him much, these kind of expenses in
that place being scarce and very dear; but the Council would not
suffer him to go, and so that ended. The King loved hunting much, and
ever when he went would send my husband some of what he killed, which
was stag and wild boar, both excellent meat. We kept the Queen's
birthday with great feasting: we had all the English merchants.
There was, during my stay in this town, a Portugal merchant jealous of
his mistress favouring an Englishman, whom he entertained with much
kindness, hiding his suspicion. One evening he invited him to see a
country-house and eat a collation, which he did; after which the
merchant, with three or four more of his friends, for a rarity showed
him a cave hard by the house, which went in at a very narrow hole, but
within was very capacious, in the side of a high mountain. It was so
dark that they carried a torch. Says one to the Englishman, 'Did you
ever know where bats dwell?' he replied no; 'Then here, Sir,' say
they, 'you shall see them;' then, holding up the light to the roof,
they saw millions hanging by their legs. So soon as they had done,
they, frightening the birds, made them all fly about them, and putting
out the light ran away, and left the Englishman there to get out as
well as he could, which was not until the next morning.
This winter I fell sick of an aguish distemper, being then with child;
but I believe it was with eating more grapes than I am accustomed to,
being tempted by their goodness, especially the Frontiniac, which
exceed all I ever eat in Spain and France.
The beginning of May 1663, there happened in Lisbon an insurrection of
the people of the town, about a suspicion, as they pretended, of some
persons disaffected to the public; upon which they plundered the
Archbishop's house, and the Marquis of Marialva's house, and broke
into the treasury; but after about ten thousand of these ordinary
people had run for six or seven hours about the town, crying 'Kill all
that is for the Castile,' they were appeased by their Priests, who
carried the Sacrament amongst them, threatening excommunication,
which, with the night, made them depart with their plunder. Some few
persons were lost, but not many.
Upon the 10th of June came news to this Court of the total rout of Don
John of Austria at the battle of Evora;[Footnote: Pepys, speaking of
this battle, in which the Portuguese completely defeated the
Spaniards, says--"4th July, 1663. Sir Allen Apsley showed the Duke the
Lisbon Gazette, in Spanish, where the late victory is set down
particularly, and to the great honour of the English beyond measure.
They have since taken back Evora, which was lost to the Spaniards, the
English making the assault, and lost not more than three men."-Diary,
vol. ii-p. 68.] after which our house and tables were full of
distressed, honest, brave English soldiers, who by their own and their
fellows' valour had got one of the greatest victories that ever was.
These poor but brave men were almost lost between the Portuguese
poverty and the Lord Chancellor Hyde's neglect, not to give it a worse
name.[Footnote: It appears however, from Sir Robert Southwell's
Account of Portugal (p.138), that Charles II was so pleased with the
gallantry of his troops at the battle of Evora, (or, as it is more
commonly called by historians, of Ameixal,) that he caused a gratuity
of 40,000 crowns to be distributed among them. It would seem that the
"neglect" of which Lady Fanshawe complains, was entirely on the side
of the Portuguese. Sir Robert Southwell mentions some curious
anecdotes on this subject, particularly with reference to the
statement in the Lisbon Gazette, alluded to in the preceding note.]
While my husband stayed there, he did what he could, but not
proportionably either to their merits or wants.
About this time my husband sent great assistance to the Governor of
Tangiers, the Earl of Peterborough then being Governor, whose letters
of supplication and thanks for kindness and care, my husband and I
have yet to show.
June the 26th, I was delivered of a son ten weeks before my time: he
lived some hours, and was christened Richard by our Chaplain, Mr.
Marsden, who performed the ceremony of the Church of England at his
burial, and then laid him in the Parish Church in which we lived, in
the principal part of the chancel.
The Queen sent to condole with me for the loss of my son, and the
Marquees de Castel Melhor, the Marquees de Nica, the Condessa de Villa
Franca, (Donna Maria e Antonia,) with many other ladies, and several
good gentlewomen that were English merchants' wives.
Several times we saw the Feasts of Bulls, and at them had great
voiders of dried sweetmeats brought us upon the King's account, with
rich drinks.
Once we had some dispute about some English Commanders that thought
themselves not well enough placed at the show, according to their
merit, by the King's officers, which did so ill represent it to my
husband that he was extremely concerned at it. Upon notice being given
to the Chief Minister, the Conde de Castel Melhor came from the King
to my husband, after having examined the business, and desired that
there might be no misunderstanding between the King and him, that the
business was only the impertinence of a servant, and that it might so
pass. My husband was well satisfied, and presented his most humble
acknowledgments to the King for his care and favour to him, as well as
the honour he had received. The Conde de Castel Melhor, when he had
finished his visit to my husband, came to my apartment, and told me he
hoped I took no offence at what had passed at the feast, because the
King had heard I was sad to see my husband troubled; assuring me that
his Majesty and the whole Court desired nothing more than that we
should receive all content imaginable. I gave him many thanks for the
honour of his visit, and desired him to present my humble service to
the King, assuring him, that my husband and I had all the respect
imaginable for his Majesty; true it was, according to the English
fashion, I did make a little whine when I saw my husband disordered,
but I should ever remain his Majesty's humble servant, with my most
humble thanks to his Excellency. And so he returned well satisfied.
The 14th, the Chief Ministers met my husband in order to his return
home for England, and expressed a great trouble to part from him; they
from the King presented my husband with twelve thousand crowns in gold
plate, with many compliments and favours from the King, whom my
husband waited on the next day to receive his Majesty's commands for
his Master in England. After giving his Majesty many thanks for the
many honours he had received from his Majesty's kind acceptance of his
service, he thanked his Majesty for his present, saying that he wished
his Majesty's bounteous kindness to him might not prejudice his
Majesty, in this example, by the next coming ambassador; to which his
Majesty replied, 'I am sure it cannot, for I shall never have such
another ambassador.' Then my husband took his leave, performing all
those ceremonies with the same persons and coaches as he made at his
entry.
Upon the 19th of August my husband and I took our leaves of the Queen-
Mother, at her house, who had commanded all her ladies to give
attendance, though her Majesty was then in a retired condition.
Her Majesty expressed much resentment at our leaving the Court; and
after our respects paid to her Majesty, and I receiving her Majesty's
commands to our Queen, with a present, I took my leave with the same
ceremony of coaches and persons as I had waited on her Majesty twice
before.
Upon the 20th, my husband took his leave of Don Pedro, his Majesty's
brother. The 21st of August, the Secretary of State came to visit me
from the King and Queen, wishing me a prosperous voyage, and presented
me with a very noble present. The same day I took my leave of my good
neighbour the Condessa de Palma, as I had done of all the ladies of my
acquaintance before, who all presented me with fine presents, as did
my good neighbour the Countess Santa Graca, who had with her, when I
went to take my leave, many persons of quality, that came on purpose
there to take their leaves of me, and from whom I received great
civility, and the Countess gave me a very great banquet.
On the 23rd of August 1663, we, accompanied by many persons of all
sorts, went on board the King of England's frigate, called the
Reserve, commanded by Captain Holmes, where, as soon as I was on
board, the Conde de Castel Melhor sent me a very great and noble
present, a part of which was the finest case of waters that ever I
saw, being made of Brazil wood, garnished with silver, the bottles of
crystal, garnished with the same, and filled with rich amber-water.
Lisbon with the river is the goodliest situation that ever I saw; the
city old and decayed; but they are making new walls of stone, which
will contain six times their city. Their churches and chapels are the
best built, the finest adorned, and the cleanliest kept, of any
churches in the world. The people delight much in quintas, which are a
sort of country houses, of which there are abundance within a few
leagues of the city, and those that belong to the nobility are very
fine, both houses and gardens. The nation is generally very civil and
obliging. In religion divided, between Papists and Jews. The people
generally not handsome. They have many religious houses, and
bishopricks of great revenue; and the religious of both sexes are for
the most part very strict.
Their fruits of all kinds are extraordinary good and fair; their wine
rough for the most part, but very wholesome; their corn dark and
gritty; water bad, except some few springs far from the city. Their
flesh of all kinds indifferent; their mules and asses extraordinary
good and large, but their horses few and naught. They have little wood
and less grass.
At my coming away I visited several nunneries, in one whereof I was
told, that the last year there was a girl of fourteen years of age
burnt for a Jew. She was taken from her mother as soon as she was
born, in prison, her mother being condemned, and brought up in the
Esperanca; although she never heard, as they did to me affirm, what a
Jew was, she did daily scratch and whip the crucifixes, and run pins
into them in private; and when discovered confessed it, and said she
would never adore that God.
On Thursday, August 25th, 1663,[Footnote: The 25th of August, 1663,
fell on a Tuesday.] we set sail for England. On the 4th of September,
our style, being Friday, we landed at Deal, all in good health, God be
praised!
Saturday 5th, we went to Canterbury, and there tarried Sunday, where
we went to church, and very many of the gentlemen of Kent came to
welcome us into England.
And here I cannot omit relating the ensuing story, confirmed by Sir
Thomas Barton, Sir Arnold Braeme, the Dean of Canterbury, with many
more gentlemen and persons of this town.
There lives not far from Canterbury a gentleman, called Colonel
Colepeper,[Footnote: Lady Barbara, daughter of Robert Sydney, Earl of
Leicester, and widow of Thomas, first Viscount Strangford, married
secondly Sir Thomas Colepeper, by whom she had Colonel Colepeper, and
a daughter, Roberta Anna, who married Major Thomas Porter, and died
issueless, June 16th, 1661, more than two years before Lady Fanshawe
was told this story, the circumstances of which she states to have
happened only three months previously. The Colonel was a most
extraordinary character, and though a man of genius and erudition, was
very nearly a madman. A voluminous collection of his MSS. is preserved
in the British Museum, whence it appears that he was in the habit of
committing his most private thoughts to paper; that there was scarcely
a subject to which his attention was not directed; and that the
Government and eminent persons were continually tormented with his
projects and discoveries, embracing among others the Longitude. His
quarrel with the Earl of Devonshire, which led to the imposition upon
that nobleman of the exorbitant fine of, L30,000, is well known. But
he was always involved in disputes and law-suits, and not unfrequently
he was a prisoner for debt. He filed affidavits in Chancery, denying
his sister's marriage, with the view of justifying his refusal to pay
her portion to her husband; but the only thing which in any way bears
on the anecdote of the vault, is the fact that one of the Colonel's
conceits was a plan for embalming dead bodies. The horrible suspicion
alluded to by Lady Fanshawe is unsupported by any other statement, and
it may be hoped that she was as misinformed on the subject as she was
about the time of Mrs. Porter's decease. Part of Colonel Colepeper's
papers relate to the particulars of a secret marriage, which he says,
in a petition to the Court of Chancery, had taken place between him
and the daughter and heiress of Alexander Davies, of Ebury, the widow
of Sir Thomas Grosvenor; the unusual engagement into which they
entered on the wedding-night; the pretended capture of the lady by the
Algerines; his correspondence with the French Government to procure
her release; the various attempts to violate her person by one
Fordwich; her refusal after her return to England to acknowledge the
Colonel as her husband, and his efforts to effect that recognition.
His wife's letters to him during his imprisonment, which are preserved
in the Harleian MS. 7005, and the account of her efforts to procure
his release, exhibit proofs of the most touching and devoted
affection, and cannot be read without the highest esteem for her
character. She was one of the co-heiresses of the last Lord
Frecheville.] whose mother was widow unto the Lord Strangford: this
gentleman had a sister, who lived with him, as the world said, in too
much love. She married Mr. Porter. This brother and sister being both
atheists, and living a life according to their profession, went in a
frolic into a vault of their ancestors, where, before they returned,
they pulled some of their father's and mother's hairs. Within a very
few days after, Mrs. Porter fell sick and died. Her brother kept her
body in a coffin set up in his buttery, saying it would not be long
before he died, and then they would be both buried together; but from
the night after her death, until the time that we were told the story,
which was three months, they say that a head, as cold as death, with
curled hair like his sister's, did ever lie by him wherever he slept,
notwithstanding he removed to several places and countries to avoid
it; and several persons told us they had felt this apparition.
On Monday, the 7th of September, we went to Gravesend, and from thence
by water to Dorset House, in Salisbury Court, where we stayed fifteen
days. The 8th of September, 1663, within two hours after our arrival,
we were visited by very many kindred and friends, amongst whom his
Grace of Canterbury, who came the next day and dined with us. The same
day came the Bishop of Winchester, as did many others of the greatest
clergy in England.
Upon the 10th of September, my husband went to Bath, to wait upon his
Majesty, who was then there: his Majesty graciously received him, and
for a confirmation that he approved his service in his negotiation in
Portugal, he was pleased to make him a Privy Counsellor. He was also
very graciously received by her Majesty the Queen. Being indisposed
with a long journey, my husband fell sick, but it continued but two
days, thanks be to God!
On the 17th he went by Cornbury, where the Lord Chancellor then was,
and so to London, and, in his absence, I, on the 16th, took a house in
Boswell Court, near Temple Bar, for two years, immediately moving all
my goods thereto, as well those, which were many, that I had left with
my sister Turner in her house in my absence, as those that I brought
with me out of Portugal, which were seventeen cart-loads.
Upon Saturday, the 19th, my husband returned from his Majesty, and met
me at our new house in Boswell Court.
On Monday, the 21st, being at a great feast at my sister Turner's,
where there met us very many of our friends upon the same invitation,
whereof Sir John Cutler was one, who after dinner brought me a box,
saying, "Madam, this was to go to Portugal, but that I heard your
Ladyship was landed." In it there was a piece of cloth of tissue for
me, and ribbons and gloves for my children. Whilst we were at dinner,
there came an express from Court, with a warrant to swear my husband a
Privy Counsellor, from Sir Henry Bennet. The 22nd we went down to
Hertfordshire, to my brother Fanshawe's; 24th we dined at Sir John
Wats', where we were nobly feasted with great kindness, and to add to
my content, I there met with my little girl Betty, whom I had left at
nurse within two miles of that place, at my going to Portugal. After
being entertained at Sir Francis Boteler's, our very good friend, we
went to St. Albans to bed, where, the next day, we bought some coach-
horses, and on the 26th we returned to London.
On Tuesday, the 29th, we went again to St. Albans, where my husband
bought eight more coach-horses; the same night we returned to London.
On the 1st of October, my husband was sworn a Privy Counsellor, in the
presence of his Majesty, his Royal Highness, and the greatest part of
his Majesty's honourable Privy Council. On the 3rd, my husband waited
on her Majesty the Queen-Mother, who received him with great kindness:
the 4th I waited on her Majesty at Whitehall, and there delivered the
presents which the Queen-Mother of Portugal had sent her Majesty, who
received both them and me in her bed-chamber, with great expressions
of kindness. I stayed with her Majesty about an hour and a half, which
she spent in asking questions of her mother, brothers, and country;
after which I waited on her Majesty in the drawing-room, whereinto the
King entered presently after, and I seeing the King, retired to the
side of the room, where his Majesty came to me presently, saluting me,
and bade me welcome home, with great grace and kindness, asking me
many questions of Lisbon and the country.
On Sunday the 4th of October, my husband took his place as Privy
Counsellor in the Lords' seat; likewise this day his Grace of
Canterbury took his seat, and the Bishop of Winchester, both in the
same place: his Grace of Canterbury did his homage to the King. The
same day that my husband was sworn a Privy Counsellor, I waited on the
Queen-Mother at Somerset House, and the Duke and Duchess of York at
St. James's, who all received me with great cheerfulness and grace. On
the 7th, the Lord Mayor invited all the Lords of the Privy Council to
dinner, among whom was my husband.
The 1st of January 1664, New Year's day, my husband, as Privy
Counsellor, presented his Majesty with ten pieces of gold in a purse;
and the person that carries it hath a ticket given him of the receipt
thereof, from the cupboard of Privy Chamber, where it is delivered to
the Master of the Jewel-house, who is thereupon to give him twenty
shillings for his pains, out of which he is to give to the servant of
the Master of the Jewel-house eighteen-pence.
We received, as the custom is, fifteen ounces of gilt plate for a
Privy Counsellor, and fifteen ounces for Secretary of the Latin
Tongue; likewise we had the impost of four tuns of wine, two for a
Privy Counsellor, and two for a Master of Requests.
January 15th, I took my leave of the King and Queen, who, with great
kindness, wished me a good voyage to Spain. Then I waited on the
Queen-Mother at Somerset House: her Majesty sent for me into her bed-
chamber, and after some discourse I took my leave of her Majesty.
Afterwards I waited on their Royal Highnesses, who received me with
more than ordinary kindness, and after an hour and a half's discourse
with me, saluted me and gave me leave to depart.
On Tuesday, January 19th, my husband carried the Speaker, Sir Edward
Turner's eldest son, and my brother Turner, to the King, at Whitehall,
who conferred the honour of knighthood on them both, my husband
particularly recommending my brother Turner to his Majesty's grace and
honour.
On the 2Oth of January my husband took his leave of his Majesty and
all the Royal Family, receiving their dispatches and their commands
for Spain, from which hour to our going out of town, day and night,
our house was full of kindred and friends taking leave of us; and on
Tuesday the 21st, 1664, in the morning, at eight o'clock, did
rendezvous at Dorset House, in Salisbury Court, in that half of the
house which Sir Thomas Fanshawe then lived in, who entertained us with
a very good breakfast and banquet. The company that came thither was
very great, as was likewise that which accompanied us out of town.
Thus, with many coaches of our family and friends, we took our journey
at ten of the clock towards Portsmouth.
The company of our family was my husband, myself, and four daughters;
Mr. Bertie, son to the Earl of Lindsey, Lord Great Chamberlain of
England; Mr. Newport, second son to the Lord Baron Newport; Sir
Benjamin Wright, Baronet; Sir Andrew King; Sir Edward Turner, Knight,
son to the Speaker of the Commons' House of Parliament; and Mr.
Francis Godolphin, son to Sir Francis Godolphin, Knight of the Bath.
The most part of them went by water.
We lay the first night at Guildford, the second at Petersfield, the
third at Portsmouth, where we stayed till the 31st of the same month,
being very civilly used there by the Mayor and his brethren, who made
my husband a freeman of the town, as their custom is to persons of
quality that pass that way; and likewise we received many favours from
the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Philip Honywood, with the rest of the
commanders of that garrison. As I said before, we went on board the
31st, being Sunday, the Admiral of the Fleet then setting out, Sir
John Lawson, Chief Commander, in his Majesty's ship called the
Resolution; there was Captain Berkeley, Commander of the Bristol
frigate, Captain Utber, Commander of the Phoenix, Captain Ferne,
Commander of the Portsmouth, Captain Moon, Commander of the York, and
Sir John Lawson's ketch, commanded by Captain King.
Thus, at ten o'clock, we set sail with a good wind, which carried us
as far as Torbay, and then failed us; there we lay till Monday the
15th of February, at nine o'clock at night, at which, it pleasing God
to give us a prosperous wind, we set sail, and on the 23rd of
February, our style, we cast anchor in Cadiz road, in Spain.
So soon as it was known that we were there, the English Consul with
the English merchants all came on board to welcome us to Spain; and
presently after came the Lieutenant-Governor from the Governor for the
time being, Don Diego de Ibara, to give us joy of our arrival, and to
ask leave of my husband to visit him, which Don Diego did within two
hours after the Lieutenant's return. The next morning, stilo novo,
came in a Levant wind, which blew the fleet so forcibly, that we could
not possibly land until Monday, the 7th of March, at 10 o'clock in the
morning. Then came the Governor, Don Diego de Ibara, aboard,
accompanied by most of the persons of quality of that town, with many
boats for the conveyance of our family, and a very rich barge, covered
with crimson damask fringed with gold, and Persia carpets under foot.
So soon as it was day, we set sail to go nearer the shore. We were
first saluted by all the ships in the road, and then by all the King
of Spain's forts, which salutation we returned again with our guns.
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