Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
I.<br />
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.<br />
Buckingham's aptitude for mimicry and ridicule, and so<br />
pronouncedbecame this influence that he was his chosen<br />
companioninevery viceand folly,and wasnotinfrequently<br />
exercisedfor the downfallof personshighin the State.<br />
Himself of a vicious and profligate nature, he was a<br />
fitting instrument in the handsofthe debasedKing. As<br />
an instance of Buckingham'sdepravity,and the shameless<br />
profligacyof the time in whichhe lived, his intrigue with<br />
the Countess of Shrewsbury and its tragic connection<br />
place him in the worst light. Boasting to the Earl of<br />
Shrewsbury ofthe success of his amour, the Earl, though<br />
a diminutiveand feebleperson,was provoked to send him<br />
a challenge. Theyfought in thepresence of two seconds,<br />
who also fought at the same time. The Earl fell at the<br />
first thrust, while the Duke's second was killed at the<br />
same instant. Buckingham, elated with the victorious<br />
result of the encounter, hastened to the Countess at<br />
Cliveden, who received him with every demonstration of<br />
satisfaction. The account of the Countess, disguised as<br />
a page, and holdingthe bridleofthe Duke's horse during<br />
the duelis considered to be entirely fictitious.<br />
The young Earl of Shrewsbury, through the Duke of<br />
Westmoreland,afterwardstriedto annul the Royal pardon<br />
which was granted to the Duke because he had received<br />
great provocation from the Earl of Shrewsbury, having<br />
fought him twice before, "and as often given him his<br />
life," and that the Earl had nevertheless threatened<br />
that unless he would fight him again he would " pistol<br />
him " wherever he found him. These reasons of pardon<br />
werementioned by the Duke inhis defence, and also the<br />
fact that the lady had then "gone into retirement," and<br />
though a datewas fixed for the consideration ofthe young<br />
Earl's petition, it does not seem to have been further<br />
noticed. It is said that the Countess had one son by the<br />
Duke, and who died in earlyinfancy.<br />
On the death of Charles,in1685, the Duke,recognising<br />
the fact that in James he would find a monarch far more<br />
difficult to control, or even conciliate, than he had in<br />
147