Chapter I: Front Matter

The Life-Story

of

Charlotte de la Trémoille

Countess of Derby

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_Charlotte de la Tremouille._

(_Countess of Derby._)

_From the painting by Vandyke._
]

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The Life-Story

of

Charlotte de la Trémoille

Countess of Derby

By

Mary C. Rowsell

Author of
“The Friend of the People,” “Thorndyke Manor,” “Traitor or
Patriot?” “Love Loyal,” “Richard’s Play” (comedietta), etc. etc.

London

Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd.

Dryden House, Gerrard Street, W.

1905

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Contents

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CHAPTER I

PAGE

Birth. Parentage. Descent. Peaceful Times. A 1
Gallant Soldier. Huguenots and Catholics.
More Storm-clouds. A Stately Home. The Idle
Sword. A Royal Summons; and a Death
Summons. A Troubled Wife and Mother. An
Unfortunate Princess. A Doubtful Honour.
Roundhand and Ruled Paper. A Naughty Little
Girl. Sisters indeed. Happy Days. The
Rubens Portrait

CHAPTER II

At the Hague. A Dreary Court. A Marriage of 16
Convenience. A Lady-of-Honour. Home. The
Firstborn. Cloudy Sunshine

CHAPTER III

“Res Angusta Domi.” A White Elephant. 32
Gathering Clouds. Keeping a Brave Heart. A
Grand Function. Royal Gifts. Fresh
Anxieties. Baron Strange. National
Grievances. “Shortcoats.” A Contract

CHAPTER IV

Lathom House. Orm the Saxon. The Ancestry of 40
the Earls of Derby. A Family Legend. “Sans
Changer.” A Stately Old Home. The Royal
Guest, and the Fool. The Baron’s Retainers.
A Goodly “Checkrowle.” Public Troubles. The
Siege of Rochelle. “The Villain has killed
me.” National Grievances. An Earnest
Request

CHAPTER V

A Chapter of Correspondence 56

CHAPTER VI

_Otium cum Dignitate._ The New Earl. A Royal 62
Water Journey to Hampton Court. “Merrie
England.” Cavaliers and Roundheads.
“Household Words.” The New Letter-Post.
Hackney Coaches. Linen. Faithful Friends. A
Lordly Home

CHAPTER VII

Manx Land. The Son of Leir. St. Patrick. 73
Prehistoric Man. King Orry and his
Highroad. The House of Keys. Public Penance
in Manx Land. A Fortunate File. Breast Laws
and Deemsters. The Little People. A Haunted
Castle. A Thorough Bad Dog. Cats’ Tails. “A
Ship in her Ruff.” A Contested Prize. The
Three Legs. The Lord of Man

CHAPTER VIII

A Fatal Choice. Strafford and Laud. Huguenots 84
and Anglicans. Royal Prodigality. Pleasant
Hours in the Pillory. Ship-money. A
Patriot. Moderate Men. No more Peaceful
Days at Lathom. “The Red Horse of the
Lord.” Virgil under Difficulties. Edgehill.
“Come like Shadows, so Depart”

CHAPTER IX

The Fate of Kings. Only once again. The Crown 95
Jewels. A Loyal Vassal. “The Vain Shadow of
a King.” Slander. Temptation scorned. More
Ardour than Discretion

CHAPTER X

No Rest. The Queen’s Journey to Holland. A 107
Friend in Need. “Master, go on, and I will
follow Thee.” The Green-Eyed Monster astir.
Through Good Report and Ill. An Indignant
Refusal. Back at Lathom. A Boisterous
Friend

CHAPTER XI

Charlotte of Derby. A Journey to London in 114
Olden Days. Queen of her Home. Learned
Ladies. “His Reverence.” Lady Derby spells
Lancashire. A Demand, and a Refusal.
Defence, not Defiance. “A Nest of
Delinquents.” The Sermon Text. Orders to
March. Demands and Terms. Surprises. Worthy
of a Painter’s Brush. The Astute
Ecclesiastic and Roundhead Friend. More
Conditions. “Look to your own Ways.” A Day
of Rest. No Surrender

CHAPTER XII

False Move. “Do not reckon that Lathom will 133
be yours.” A Letter from the Earl.
Ineffectual Fires. At Prayers, or Asleep? A
Sad Massacre. Hospital Nurses. Unwelcome
Visitors. In the Eagle Tower. Brave
Maidens. A Change for the Worse. Threats.
The Countess’s Answer. “Long Live the
King!” A Terrible Monster, and his Ignoble
End. Rigby’s Irritation. Gleams. Good News.
Decamping. Victory! And Prince Rupert’s
Homage

CHAPTER XIII

At Castle Rushen. An Honourable Surrender. 149
The Maudlin Well. Correspondence
recommences. Disappearance of Lord Strange.
A Price on Lord Derby’s Head. Holmby House.
Miss Orpe again. A Lawsuit. Divisions among
the Parliamentarians. A Lull in the Storm.
A Noble Author. At Knowsley. The Substance
and the Shadow. The Sectaries. “A Good
Exchange”

CHAPTER XIV

An Indignant Refusal. Illness of Lady Derby. 163
The Great “Tabouret” Question. A
Misalliance. A Pitiable Story. After
Dunbar. The Fatal Fight of Worcester. The
Royal Exile. Wounded and Spent. Lord Derby
taken Prisoner. A “Court-Martial.” Farewell
Letters. A Friendly Service? Leave-takings.
_Finis Coronat Opus_

CHAPTER XV

Bearing the Burden alone. The 180
Parliamentarians demand the Isle of Man.
Lady Derby a Prisoner. Cast on Cromwell’s
Mercy. Fair-haired William and his Fate.
The Tide turns. “I must depart.” The King
has his own again. Marriages, and Giving in
Marriage. Peaceful Times at Knowsley.
“Swift to its Close ebbs out Life’s Little
Day.” Court Fairness. The Last Letter. An
Honoured Memory

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The Life-Story of

Charlotte de la Trémoille

Countess of Derby

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