Wife to Charles II by Hilda Lewis

Author:Hilda Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Wife to Charles II
ISBN: 9780752472089
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2011-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

Everything blowing up for a second war with the Dutch; Charles made a last attempt to prevent it. In spite of the sworn alliance William, it seemed, did not trust his uncle. If Charles could bind his nephew to him? If he offered to support William in a bid for full sovereignty of the States of Holland? Surely William would think twice before leading the Dutch in a new war!

That autumn he invited the young man to England.

‘Oddsfish, Kate, I can do nothing with the fellow!’ Charles said half-laughing, half-vexed. ‘He’ll not play my game—he’s too good a Dutchman; no Stuart in him at all! A dull creature; cold. Yet for all that I’ll keep him in mind for James’ girl; for Mary. An alliance to please the people.’

‘Will it please Mary?’

‘Were you asked when your match was made?’

‘There was no need.’

He was, for the moment, ashamed in the face of her love.

Nothing, it seemed, could stop the war. Fight they must. And because he believed that men free to worship as they will make better fighters, he once more declared an Indulgence for Tender Consciences... and once more angered Parliament. Parliament, he knew well, would remember it when he needed money. Meanwhile he had three quarters of a million saved from the bankers; and the first part of Louis’ subsidy had come in. He spent his windfalls strengthening the Fleet.

Now it was the Dutch that would have avoided war.

‘I am, myself, a man of peace,’ Charles told the Dutch ambassador, ‘but my people—!’ he shrugged.

Admiral Holmes brought matters to a head. He attacked Dutch cinnamon ships peacefully returning from the east. Immediately the Dutch declared war.

In May the Fleet sailed. Catherine went with Charles to wish it Godspeed. White sails crowding against blue sky; great polished cannon all-but blinding in the sunlight; men drawn up trim and ready. A glorious sight. But this time Catherine could not rejoice. So she had seen that other proud fleet sail; and against the same enemy. Would this one like that other return with torn sails and blood-washed decks... and with what ships and men missing?

It was as though, Cassandra-like, she had been granted a glimpse into the future; or as though the past had returned again. For all was as before. De Ruyter, the Dutch admiral, found the English Fleet sheltering from dense fog in Southwold Bay. Through the fog, the ships like ghosts gliding, faced each other upon the shrouded sea. And, in the ghostly silence—the sudden boom of guns, the crack of bursting shells; and flames flaring smoky red upon the reddened waters, reddened still further by the blood of the wounded.

In Whitehall Charles received the news. First it was all of victory; then, while they rejoiced—all defeat. And then, at last, the truth. Fearful loss—both sides. The Royal James—James’ flagship, blown skyhigh. But, at once, boarding the Royal Catherine and fighting magnificently, James had, at last, driven the enemy back to their own doorstep. Blackened with soot, singed and

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