CHAELES THE SECOND.

Duchess of Portsmouth hung over him with the familiarity ofa wife. But the alarm had been given. The Queen and theDuchess of York were hastening to the room. The favouriteconcubine was forced to retire to her own apartments. Thoseapartments had been thrice pulled down and thrice rebuilt byher lover to gratify her caprice. The very furniture of thechimney was massy silver. Several fine paintings, whichproperly belonged to the Queen, had been transferred to thedwelling of the mistress. The sideboards were piled withrichly wrought plate. In the niches stood cabinets, the master-pieces of Japanese art. On the hangings, fresh from thelooms of Paris, were depicted, in tints which no English ta-pestry could rival, birds of gorgeous plumage, landscapes,hunting matches, the lordly terrace of Saint Germains, thestatues and fountains of Versailles.* In the midst of thissplendour, purchased by guilt and shame, the unhappy womangave herself up to an agony of grief, which, to do her justice,was not wholly selfish.

And now the gates of Whitehall, which ordinarily stoodopen to all comers, were closed. But persons whose faceswere known were still permitted to enter. The antechambersand galleries were soon filled to overflowing; and even thesick room was crowded with peers, privy councillors, andforeign ministers. All the medical men of note in Londonwere summoned. So high did political animosities run thatthe presence of some Whig physicians was regarded as anextraordinary circumstance.** One Roman Catholic whoseskill was then widely renowned, Doctor Thomas Short, wasin attendance. Several of the prescriptions have been pre-served. One of them is signed by fourteen Doctors. Thepatient was bled largely. Hot iron was applied to his head.A loathsome volatile salt, extracted from human skulls, was

* Evelyn’s Diary, Jan. 24. 168J, Qct. 4. 1683.

** Dugdale’s Correspondence.