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Biography of William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton 1634-1694
Paternal Family Tree: Douglas
Maternal Family Tree: Catherine Balsac Duchess Lennox
In 1601 [his father] William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas (age 12) and Margaret Hamilton Countess Angus (age 16) were married. He the son of [his grandfather] William Douglas 10th Earl Angus (age 49) and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Oliphant Countess Angus. They were half third cousin once removed.
Before 1634 [his father] William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas (age 44) and [his mother] Mary Gordon Marchioness Douglas (age 33) were married. She by marriage Countess Angus. She the daughter of [his grandfather] George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly (age 71) and [his grandmother] Henrietta Stewart Marchioness Huntly (age 60). He the son of [his grandfather] William Douglas 10th Earl Angus and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Oliphant Countess Angus. They were half fourth cousins.
On 24 Dec 1634 William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton was born to William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas (age 45) and Mary Gordon Marchioness Douglas (age 34).
In 1646 William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 11) was created 1st Earl Selkirk.
On 29 Apr 1656 William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 21) and Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 24) were married. She by marriage Countess Selkirk. He by marriage Duke Hamilton. She the daughter of James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton and Mary Feilding Duchess Hamilton. He the son of William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas (age 67) and Mary Gordon Marchioness Douglas (age 56). They were third cousins.
In 1657 [his daughter] Mary Hamilton was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 22) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 25).
On 11 Apr 1658 [his son] James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 23) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 26) at Hamilton Palace, Hamilton.
Around 1659 [his son] William Hamilton was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 24) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 27).
Evelyn's Diary. 23 Aug 1660. Came Duke Hamilton (age 25), Lord Lothian (age 55), and several Scottish Lords, to see my garden.
On 20 Sep 1660 William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 25) was created 1st Duke Hamilton.
In 1662 [his daughter] Catherine Hamilton Duchess Atholl was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 27) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 30).
Around 1662 [his son] Charles Hamilton 2nd Earl Selkirk was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 27) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 30).
Around 1664 [his son] John Hamilton 1st Earl Ruglen 3rd Earl Selkirk was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 29) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 32).
On 09 Feb 1666 [his son] George Hamilton 1st Earl Orkney was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 31) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 34).
In 1667 [his daughter] Susannah Hamilton was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 32) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 35).
In 1668 [his daughter] Margaret Hamilton was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 33) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 36).
In Dec 1668 John Kennedy 7th Earl Cassilis (age 15) and [his sister-in-law] Susannah Hamilton Countess Cassilis (age 35) were married. She by marriage Countess Cassilis. The difference in their ages was 20 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton and Mary Feilding Duchess Hamilton. He the son of John Kennedy 6th Earl Cassilis and Margaret Hay Countess Cassilis. They were half second cousins.
In 1671 [his son] Basil Hamilton was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 36) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 39).
On or before 17 Feb 1673, the date he was baptised, [his son] Archibald Hamilton was born to William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 38) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 41).
In 1682 William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 47) was appointed 486th Knight of the Garter by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 51).
Evelyn's Diary. 25 Nov 1682. I was invited to dine with Monsieur Lionberg, the Swedish Resident, who made a magnificent entertainment, it being the birthday of his King. There dined the Duke of Albemarle, Duke of Hamilton (age 47), Earl of Bath (age 54), Earl of Aylesbury (age 56), [his son] Lord Arran (age 24), Lord Castlehaven (age 65), the son of him who was executed fifty years before, and several great persons. I was exceedingly afraid of drinking (it being a Dutch feast), but the Duke of Albemarle being that night to wait on his Majesty, excess was prohibited; and, to prevent all, I stole away and left the company as soon as we rose from table.
Before 06 May 1684 [his son-in-law] John Murray 1st Duke Atholl (age 24) and [his daughter] Catherine Hamilton Duchess Atholl (age 22) were married. She by marriage Duchess Atholl. She the daughter of William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 49) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 52). He the son of John Murray 1st Marquess Atholl (age 53) and Amelia Stanley Marchioness Atholl (age 51). They were half fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
In 1686 [his son] James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 27) and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Spencer Countess Arran (age 19) were married. He by marriage Duke Hamilton. She the daughter of Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland (age 44) and Anne Digby Countess Sunderland (age 40). He the son of William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 51) and [his wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 54).
Evelyn's Diary. 12 Jan 1688. My [his son] Lord Arran (age 29), eldest son to the Duke of Hamilton (age 53), being now married to [his daughter-in-law] Lady Ann Spencer (age 21), eldest daughter of the Earl of Sunderland (age 46), Lord President of the Council, I and my family had most glorious favors sent us, the wedding being celebrated with extraordinary splendor.
Evelyn's Diary. 18 Aug 1688. My lady (age 42) carried us to see Lord Northampton's (age 23) Seat, a very strong, large house, built with stone, not altogether modern. They were enlarging the garden, in which was nothing extraordinary, except the iron gate opening into the park, which indeed was very good work, wrought in flowers painted with blue and gilded. There is a noble walk of elms toward the front of the house by the bowling green. I was not in any room of the house besides a lobby looking into the garden, where my Lord and his new Countess (age 19) (Sir Stephen Fox's (age 61) daughter, whom I had known from a child) entertained the Countess and her daughter the [his daughter-in-law] Countess of Arran (age 21) (newly married to the [his son] son (age 30) of the Duke of Hamilton (age 53)), with so little good grace, and so dully, that our visit was very short, and so we returned to Althorpe [Map], twelve miles distant.
Evelyn's Diary. 30 Oct 1688. Visited Mr. Boyle, when came in the Duke of Hamilton (age 53) and Earl of Burlington (age 76). The Duke told us many particulars of Mary Queen of Scots, and her amours with the Italian favorite, etc.
Evelyn's Diary. 24 Jun 1690. Dined with Mr. Pepys (age 57), who the next day was sent to the Gatehouse, and several great persons to the Tower [Map], on suspicion of being affected to King James (age 56); among them was the Earl of Clarendon, the Queen's (age 28) uncle. King William (age 39) having vanquished King James in Ireland, there was much public rejoicing. It seems the Irish in King James's army would not stand, but the English-Irish and French made great resistance. Schomberg (age 74) was slain, and Dr. Walker, who so bravely defended Londonderry. King William received a slight wound by the grazing of a cannon bullet on his shoulder, which he endured with very little interruption of his pursuit. Hamilton (age 55), who broke his word about Tyrconnel (age 60), was taken. It is reported that King James is gone back to France. Drogheda [Map] and Dublin [Map] surrendered, and if King William be returning, we may say of him as Cæsar said, "Veni, vidi, vici". But to alloy much of this, the French fleet rides in our channel, ours not daring to interpose, and the enemy threatening to land.
In 1694 [his sister-in-law] Susannah Hamilton Countess Cassilis (age 61) died.
On 18 Apr 1694 William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 59) died. His son [his son] James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 36) succeeded 4th Duke Hamilton. His son [his son] Charles Hamilton 2nd Earl Selkirk (age 32) succeeded 2nd Earl Selkirk.
On 17 Oct 1716 [his former wife] Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 84) died.
Grammont. Hamilton, if possible, more astonished, and more confounded than himself, was far from being in a proper state to afford him advice on the present occasion: he listened to nothing but jealousy, and breathed nothing but revenge; but these emotions being somewhat abated, in hopes that there might be calumny, or at least exaggeration in the charges against Lady Chesterfield, he desired her husband to suspend his resolutions, until he was more fully informed of the fact; assuring him, however, that if he found the circumstances such as he had related, he should regard and consult no other interest than his.
Upon this they parted; and Hamilton found, on the first inquiry, that almost the whole court was informed of the adventure, to which every one added something in relating it. Vexation and resentment inflamed his heart, and by degrees extinguished every remnant of his former passion.
He might easily have seen her, and have made her such reproaches as a man is generally inclined to do on such occasions; but he was too much enraged to enter into any detail which might have led to an explanation: he considered himself as the only person essentially injured in this affair; for he could never bring his mind to think that the injuries of the husband could be placed in competition with those of the lover.
He hastened to Lord Chesterfield, in the transport of his passion, and told him that he had heard enough to induce him to give such advice, as he should follow himself in the same situation, and that, if he wished to save a woman so strongly prepossessed, and who, perhaps, had not yet lost all her innocence, though she had totally lost her reason, he ought not to delay one single instant, but immediately to carry her into the country, with the greatest possible expedition, without allowing her the least time to recover her surprise.
Grammont. Those who appeared the most attentive to their conduct, were not the least interested in it; Hamilton and Lord Chesterfield watched them narrowly; but Lady Denham, vexed that Lady Chesterfield should have stepped in before her, took the liberty of railing against her rival with the greatest bitterness. Hamilton had hitherto flattered himself, that vanity alone had engaged Lady Chesterfield in this adventure; but he was soon undeceived, whatever her indifference might have been when she first commenced this intrigue. We often proceed farther than we at first intended, when we indulge ourselves in trifling liberties, which we think of no consequence; for though perhaps the heart takes no part at the beginning, it seldom fails to be engaged in the end.
Grammont. Hamilton, who saw him as yellow as jealousy itself, and particularly thoughtful, imagined that he had just discovered what all the world had perceived long before; when Chesterfield, after a broken insignificant preamble, asked him how he succeeded with Lady Castlemaine. Hamilton, who very well saw that he meant nothing by this question, nevertheless thanked him; and as he was thinking of an answer: "Your cousin," said the earl, "is extremely coquettish, and I have some reason to suppose she is not so prudent as she ought to be." Hamilton thought the last charge a little too severe; and as he was endeavouring to refute it: "Good God," said my lord, "you see, as well as the whole court, what airs she gives herself: husbands are always the last people that are spoken to about those affairs that concern them the most; but they are not always the last to perceive it themselves: though you have made me your confidant in other matters, yet I am not at all surprised you have concealed this from me; but as I flatter myself with having some share in your esteem, I should be sorry you should think me such a fool as to be incapable of seeing, though I am so complaisant as not to express my sentiments: nevertheless, I find that affairs are now carried on with such barefaced boldness, that at length I find I shall be forced to take some course or other. God forbid that I should act the ridiculous part of a jealous husband: the character is odious; but then I do not intend, through an excess of patience, to be made the jest of the town. Judge, therefore, from what I am going to tell you, whether I ought to sit down unconcerned, or whether I ought to take measures for the preservation of my honour.
Grammont. Miss Hamilton had much difficulty to suppress her laughter during this harangue: however, she told him, that she thought herself much honoured by his intentions towards her, and still more obliged to him for consulting her, before he made any overtures to her relations: "It will be time enough," said she, "to speak to them upon the subject at your return from the waters; for I do not think it is at all probable that they will dispose of me before that time, and in case they should be urgent in their solicitations, your nephew William will take care to acquaint you; therefore, you may set out whenever you think proper; but take care not to injure your health by returning too soon."
The Chevalier de Grammont, having heard the particulars of this conversation, endeavoured as well as he could to be entertained with it; though there were certain circumstances in the declaration, notwithstanding the absurdity of others, which did not fail to give him some uneasiness. Upon the whole, he was not sorry for Russell's departure; and, assuming an air of pleasantry, he went to relate to the king, how Heaven had favoured him, by delivering him from so dangerous a rival. "He is gone then, Chevalier?" said the king "Certainly, Sir," said he, "I had the honour to see him embark in a coach, with his asthma, and country equipage, his perruque à calotte, neatly tied with a yellow riband, and his old-fashioned hat covered with oil-skin, which becomes him uncommonly well: therefore, I have only to contend with William Russell, whom he leaves as his resident with Miss Hamilton; and, as for him, I neither fear him upon his own account, nor his uncle's: he is too much in love himself, to pay attention to the interests of another; and as he has but one method of promoting his own, which is by sacrificing the portrait, or some love-letters of Mrs. Middleton, I have it easily in my power to counteract him in such kind of favours, though I confess I have pretty well paid for them."
"Since your affairs proceed so prosperously with the Russells," said the king, "I will acquaint you that you are delivered from another rival, much more dangerous, if he were not already married: my brother has lately fallen in love with Lady Chesterfield." "How many blessings at once!" exclaimed the Chevalier de Grammont: "I have so many obligations to him for this inconstancy, that I would willingly serve him in his new amour, if Hamilton was not his rival: nor will your majesty take it ill, if I promote the interests of my mistress's brother, rather than those of your majesty's brother." "Hamilton, however," said the king, "does not stand so much in need of assistance, in affairs of this nature. as the Duke of York; but I know Lord Chesterfield is of such a disposition, that he will not suffer men to quarrel about his wife, with the same patience as the complaisant Shrewsbury; though he well deserves the same fate." Here follows a true description of Lord Chesterfield.
He had a very agreeable face, a fine head of hair, an indifferent shape, and a worse air; he was not, however, deficient in wit: a long residence in Italy had made him ceremonious in his commerce with men, and jealous in his connection with women. He had been much hated by the king, because he had been much beloved by Lady Castlemaine: it was reported that he had been in her good graces prior to her marriage; and as neither of them denied it. it was the more generally believed.
He had paid his devoirs to the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ormond, while his heart was still taken up with his former passion. The king's love for Lady Castlemaine, and the advancement he expected from such an alliance, made him press the match with as much ardour as if he had been passionately in love: he had therefore married Lady Chesterfield without loving her, and had lived some time with her in such coolness, as to leave her no room to doubt of his indifference. As she was endowed with great sensibility and delicacy, she suffered at this contempt: she was at first much affected with his behaviour, and afterwards enraged at it; and, when he began to give her proofs of his affection, she had the pleasure of convincing him of her indifference.
They were upon this footing, when she resolved to cure Hamilton, as she had lately done her husband, of all his remaining tenderness for Lady Castlemaine. For her it was no difficult undertaking: the conversation of the one was disagreeable, from the unpolished state of her manners, her ill-timed pride, her uneven temper, and extravagant humours: Lady Chesterfield, on the contrary, knew how to heighten her charms, with all the bewitching attractions in the power of a woman to invent, who wishes to make a conquest.
Besides all this, she had greater opportunities of making advances to him, than to any other: she lived at the Duke of Ormond's, at Whitehall, where Hamilton, as was said before, had free admittance at all hours: her extreme coldness, or rather the disgust which she shewed for her husband's returning affection, wakened his natural inclination to jealousy: he suspected that she could not so very suddenly pass from anxiety to indifference for him, without some secret object of a new attachment; and, according to the maxims of all jealous husbands, he immediately put in practice all his experience and industry, in order to make a discovery, which was to destroy his own happiness.
Hamilton, who knew his disposition, was, on the other hand, upon his guard, and the more he advanced in his intrigue, the more attentive was he to remove every degree of suspicion from the earl's mind: he pretended to make him his confidant, in the most unguarded and open manner, of his passion for Lady Castlemaine: he complained of her caprice, and most earnestly desired his advice how to succeed with a person whose affections he alone had entirely possessed.
Chesterfield, who was flattered with this discourse, promised him his protection with greater sincerity than it had been demanded: Hamilton, therefore, was no further embarrased than to preserve Lady Chesterfield's reputation, who, in his opinion, declared herself rather too openly in his favour: but whilst he was diligently employed in regulating, within the rules of diseretion, the partiality she expressed for him, and in conjuring her to restrain her glances within bounds, she was receiving those of the Duke of York; and, what is more, made them favourable returns.
He thought that he had perceived it, as well as every one besides; but he thought likewise, that all the world was deceived as well as himself: how could he trust his own eyes, as to what those of Lady Chesterfield betrayed for this new rival? He could not think it probable, that a woman of her disposition could relish a man, whose manners had a thousand times been the subject of their private ridicule; but what he judged still more improbable was, that she should begin another intrigue before she had given the finishing stroke to that in which her own advances had engaged her: however, he began to observe her with more circumspection, when he found by his discoveries, that if she did not deceive him, at least the desire of doing so was not wanting. This he took the liberty of telling her of; but she answered him in so high a strain, and treated what he said so much like a phantom of his own imagination, that he appeared confused without being convinced: all the satisfaction he could procure from her, was her telling him, in a haughty manner, that such unjust reproaches as his ought to have had a better foundation.
Lord Chesterfield had taken the same alarm; and being convinced, from the observations he had made, that he had found out the happy lover who had gained possession of his lady's heart, he was satisfied; and without teazing her with unnecessary reproaches, he only waited for an opportunity to confound her, before he took his measures.
After all, how can we account for Lady Chesterfield's conduct, unless we attribute it to the disease incident to most coquettes, who, charmed with superiority, put in practice every art to rob another of her conquest, and spare nothing to preserve it.
Grammont. "His royal highness honoured me yesterday by a visit to my wife." Hamilton started at this beginning. "Yes," continued the other, "he did give himself that trouble, and Lord Arran took upon himself that of bringing him: do not you wonder that a man of his birth should act such a part? What advancement can he expect from one who employs him in such base services? But we have long known him to be one of the silliest creatures in England, with his guitar, and his other whims and follies." Chesterfield, after this short sketch of his brother-in-law's merit, began to relate the observations he had made during the visit, and asked Hamilton what he thought of his cousin Arran, who had so obligingly left them together. "This may appear surprising to you," continued he, "but hear me out, and judge whether I have reason to think that the close of this pretty visit passed in perfect innocence. Lady Chesterfield is amiable, it must be acknowledged; but she is far from being such a miracle of beauty as she supposes herself: you know she has ugly feet; but perhaps you are not acquainted that she has still worse legs." "Pardon me," said Hamilton, within himself: and the other continuing the description: "Her legs," said his lordship, "are short and thick; and, to remedy these defects as much as possible, she seldom wears any other than green stockings."
Hamilton could not for his life imagine the drift of all this discourse, and Chesterfield guessing his thoughts: "Have a little patience," said he: "I went yesterday to Miss Stewart's, after the audience of those damned Muscovites: the king arrived there just before me; and as if the duke had sworn to pursue me wherever I went that day, he came in just after me. The conversation turned upon the extraordinary appearance of the ambassadors. I know not where that fool Crofts had heard that all these Muscovites had handsome wives; and that all their wives had handsome legs. Upon this the king maintained, that no woman ever had such handsome legs as Miss Stewart; and she, to prove the truth of his majesty's assertion, with the greatest imaginable ease, immediately shewed her leg above the knee. Some were ready to prostrate themselves, in order to adore its beauty; for indeed none can be handsomer; but the duke alone began to criticize upon it. He contended that it was too slender, and that as for himself he would give nothing for a leg that was not thicker and shorter, and concluded by saying, that no leg was worth any thing without green stockings: now this, in my opinion, was a sufficient demonstration that he had just seen green stockings, and had them fresh in his remembrance."
Hamilton was at a loss what countenance to put on, during a narrative which raised in him nearly the same conjectures: he shrugged up his shoulders, and faintly said that appearances were often deceitful; that Lady Chesterfield had the foible of all beauties, who place their merit on the number of their admirers; and whatever airs she might imprudently have given herself, in order not to discourage his royal highness, there was no ground to suppose that she would indulge him in any greater liberties to engage him: but in vain was it that he endeavoured to give that consolation to his friend which he did not feel himself. Chesterfield plainly perceived he did not think of what he was saying; however, he thought himself much obliged to him for the interest he seemed to take in his concerns.
Hamilton was in haste to go home to vent his spleen and resentment in a letter to his cousin: the style of this billet was very different from those which he formerly was accustomed to write to her: reproaches, bitter expostulations, tenderness, menaces, and all the effusions of a lover, who thinks he has reason to complain, composed this epistle; which, for fear of accidents, he went to deliver himself.
Grammont. Never did she before appear so lovely, and never did her eyes speak so kindly to him as at this moment: his heart quite relented; but he was determined not to lose all the fine things he had said in his letter. In receiving it, she squeezed his hand: this action completely disarmed him, and he would have given his life to have had his letter again. It appeared to him at this instant, that all the grievances he complained of were visionary and groundless: he looked upon her husband as a madman and an impostor, and quite the reverse of what he supposed him to be a few minutes before; but this remorse came a little too late: he had delivered his billet; and Lady Chesterfield had shewn such impatience and eagerness to read it as soon as she had got it, that all circumstances seemed to conspire to justify her, and to confound him. She managed to get quit some way or other of some troublesome visitors, to slip into her closet; he thought himself so culpable, that he had not the assurance to wait her return: he withdrew with the rest of the company; but he did not dare to appear before her the next day, to have an answer to his letter: however, he met her at court; and this was the first time, since the commencement of their amour, that he did not seek for her. He stood at a distance, with downcast looks, and appeared in such terrible embarrassment, that his condition was sufficient to raise laughter or to cause pity, when Lady Chesterfield approaching, thus accosted him: "Confess," said she, "that you are in as foolish a situation as any man of sense can be: you wish you had not written to me: you are desirous of an answer: you hope for none: yet, you equally wish for and dread it: I have, however, written you one." She had not time to say more; but the few words she had spoken were accompanied with such an air, and such a look, as to make him believe that it was Venus with all her Graces who had addressed him: he was near her when she sat down to cards, and as he was puzzling himself to devise by what means he should get this answer, she desired him to lay her gloves and fan down somewhere: he took them, and with them the billet in question, and as he had perceived nothing severe or angry in the conversation he had with her, he hastened to open her letter, and read as follows:
"Your transports are so ridiculous, that it is doing you a favour to attribute them to an excess of tenderness, which turns your head: a man, without doubt, must have a great inclination to be jealous, to entertain such an idea of the person you mention. Good God! what a lover to have caused uneasiness to a man of genius, and what a genius, to have got the better of mine! Are not you ashamed to give any credit to the visions of a jealous fellow, who brought nothing else with him from Italy? Is it possible, that the story of the green stockings, upon which he has founded his suspicions, should have imposed upon you, accompanied as it is with such pitiful circumstances? Since he has made you his confidant, why did not he boast of breaking in pieces my poor harmless guitar? This exploit, perhaps, might have convinced you more than all the rest: recollect yourself, and if you are really in love with me, thank fortune for a groundless jealousy, which diverts to another quarter the attention he might pay to my attachment for the most amiable and the most dangerous man of the court."
Hamilton was ready to weep for joy at these endearing marks of kindness, of which he thought himself so unworthy: he was not satisfied with kissing, in raptures, every part of this billet; he also kissed several times her gloves and her fan. Play being over, Lady Chesterfield received them from his hands, and read in his eyes the joy that her billet had raised in his heart. Nor was he satisfied with expressing his raptures only by looks: he hastened home, and writ to her at least four times as much. How different was this letter from the other! Though perhaps not so well written; for one does not shew so much wit in suing for pardon as in venting reproaches, and it seldom happens that the soft, languishing style of a love-letter is so penetrating as that of invective.
Be that as it may, his peace was made: their past quarrel gave new life to their correspondence; and Lady Chesterfield, to make him as easy as he had before been distrustful, expressed on every occasion a feigned contempt for his rival, and a sincere aversion for her husband.
Grammont. So great was his confidence in her, that he consented she should shew in public some marks of attention to the duke, in order to conceal as much as possible their private intelligence. Thus, at this time nothing disturbed his peace of mind, but his impatience of finding a favourable opportunity for the completion of his desires: he thought it was in her power to command it; but she excused herself on account of several difficulties which she enumerated to him, and which she was desirous he should remove by his industry and attentions.
This silenced his complaints; but whilst he was endeavouring to surmount these obstacles, still wondering how it was possible that two persons who were so well disposed to each other, and who were agreed to make each other happy, could not put their designs in execution, accident discovered an unexpected adventure, which left him no room to doubt, either of the happiness of his rival, or of the perfidy of his mistress.
Misfortunes often fall light when most feared; and frequently prove heaviest when merited, and when least suspected. Hamilton was in the middle of the most tender and passionate letter he had ever written to Lady Chesterfield, when her husband came to announce to him the particulars of this last discovery: he came so suddenly upon him, that he had only just time to conceal his amorous epistle among his other papers. His heart and mind were still so full of what he was writing to his cousin, that her husband's complaints against her, at first, were scarce attended to; besides, in his opinion, he had come in the most unfortunate moment on all accounts.
He was, however, obliged to listen to him, and he soon entertained quite different sentiments: he appeared almost petrified with astonishment, while the earl was relating to him circumstances of such an extravagant indiscretion, as seemed to him quite incredible, notwithstanding the particulars of the fact. "You have reason to be surprised at it," said my lord, concluding his story; "but if you doubt the truth of what I tell you, it will be easy for you to find evidence that will convince you; for the scene of their tender familiarities was no less public than the room where the queen plays at cards, which, while her majesty was at play, was, God knows, pretty well crowded. Lady Denham was the first who discovered what they thought would pass unperceived in the crowd; and you may very well judge how secret she would keep such a circumstance. The truth is, she addressed herself to me first of all, as I entered the room, to tell me that I should give my wife a little advice, as other people might take notice of what I might see myself, if I pleased.
"Your cousin was at play, as I before told you: the duke was sitting next to her: I know not what was become of his band; but I am sure that no one could see his arm below the elbow: I was standing behind them, just in the place that Lady Denham had quitted: the duke turning round perceived me, and was so much disturbed at my presence, that he almost undressed my lady in pulling away his hand. I know not whether they perceived that they were discovered; but of this I am convinced, that Lady Denham will take care that every body shall know it. I must confess to you, that my embarrassment is so great, that I cannot find words to express what I now feel: I should not hesitate one moment what course to take, if I might be allowed to shew my resentment against the person who has wronged me. As for her, I could manage her well enough, if, unworthy as she is of any consideration, I had not still some regard for an illustrious family, that would be distracted were I to resent such an injury as it deserves. In this particular you are interested yourself: you are my friend, and I make you my confidant in an affair of the greatest imaginable delicacy: let us then consult together what is proper to be done in so perplexing and disagreeable a situation."
Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Philip IV King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Archibald "Bell the Cat" Douglas 5th Earl Angus 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Douglas 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Boyd Countess Angus
Great x 2 Grandfather: Archibald Douglas 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Auchinleck
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Douglas 9th Earl Angus 11 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Keith 1st Earl Marischal
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Keith 2nd Earl Marischal
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes Keith
GrandFather: William Douglas 10th Earl Angus 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Graham 1st Earl Montrose 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Graham 2nd Earl Montrose 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Annabella Dummond Countess Montrose 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Graham Master of Montrose 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Keith 3rd Earl Marischal
Great x 3 Grandmother: Janet Keith Countess Montrose
Great x 1 Grandmother: Egidia Graham Countess of Angus 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fleming 2nd Lord Fleming 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Malcolm Fleming 3rd Lord Fleming 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eupheme Drummond
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Fleming Countess Atholl 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King James IV of Scotland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Janet Stewart Lady Fleming 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isobel Stewart 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Father: William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Oliphant 2nd Lord Oliphant 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Colin Oliphant 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Campbell Lady Oliphant 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Laurence Oliphant 3rd Lord Oliphant 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Keith 2nd Earl Marischal
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Keith
Great x 1 Grandfather: Laurence Oliphant 4th Lord Oliphant 11 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Sandilands
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Sandilands Lady Oliphant
GrandMother: Elizabeth Oliphant Countess Angus 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Hay 3rd Earl Erroll 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Hay 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Gordon Countess Erroll 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Hay 7th Earl Erroll 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Lyon Logie Logie
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Logie
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Hay Lady Oliphant 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Robertson
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Robertson Countess Erroll
William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Gordon 3rd Earl Huntley 11 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Gordon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jean Stewart Countess Huntley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Gordon 4th Earl Huntley 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King James IV of Scotland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Stewart 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Drummond 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: George Gordon 5th Earl Huntley 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Hamilton 1st Lord Hamilton
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Stewart Countess Arran 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Home 2nd Lord Home
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Home Countess Arran
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Hamilton Countess Huntley 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Douglas 2nd Earl Morton 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Douglas 3rd Earl Morton 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Janet Crichton Countess Morton
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King James IV of Scotland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Stewart Countess Morton 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Boyd
Mother: Mary Gordon Marchioness Douglas 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox 11 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Lennox 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stewart Duke Orkney 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Atholl 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Sinclair Countess Atholl 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Queuille Lady Aubigny
GrandMother: Henrietta Stewart Marchioness Huntly 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Balsac Duchess Lennox