The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-11
EN9LAND's BAR-sINIsTER DUKE
DOMS.


bers increase and multiply and flourish exceed
ingly. or the twenty one dHkedoms, Charles H.
contributed, to use Defoes words, four to
the peerage by his own efforts, and there is not
the least likelihood of any OF them becoming
extinct"
These bar-sinister dukedoms are Buccleuch,
Grafton, st. Adams, and Richmond. In point Of
possessions and influence, the lrst is by far the
most important The Duke OF Buecleuch IL the
direct descendant OF the Duke OF Monmouth,
Charless unfortunate son by Lucy Walters.
From time to time rumors have run to the effect
that Charles was In reality married to this lady.
Such reports are alluded to in Evelyn's Me-
moirs Charles H. solemnly aud publicly denied
the allegation. lie even wrote this denial in
the Council Book, and It was attested by m en-
bers Of the Privy Council. The fact Of his
having gone through this formality tends to
show that the report had assumed a serious
character.
Monmohth's mother was daughter OF Welsh
gentleman, but "havng little means and Tess
grace, came to London to make her fortune"
The famous Alnernon Sidney, then a colonel
In Cromwell's army. had agreed TO give her Afty
broad pieces (as be told the Duke OF York;. but
being ordered hastily away with his regiment,
he missed his bargain. She went into Holland.
There she formed the acquaintance OF his
BROTHER Can't. Robert Sidney, with whom she
remained for some time till the King Chen in
exile in that country, hearing OF her, got her
from him"
Very soon after she left Sidney her son. after
ward the Duke Of Monmouth, was born. lie
very much resembled the Colonel, even to a
wart on his face. However. strange to say, the
King persisted In owning him, though every one
believed Sidney to be hts father. Ultimately
Wnifara or ~ fail lou nd
went to Paris" Evelyn speaks of having seen
her thore, aud SAYS that she died mserably,
without anything to bury her." Such WAS the
ances,ress OF the Dukes Of Buccleuch. The de-
scendant OF the courtesan, who died destitute,
II TODAY the greatest land owner In the United
Kingdom.
Monmouth was beheaded In July. 1885 His
titles were attaintcd. but his wife had herself
been separately created Duchess Of Buccleuch,
and her son succeeded to bis mothers titles.
THIS lady was daughter and heircss Of tho
Earl OF Buccleuch, aud the greatest fortune Of
her day. She was married to Monmouth at the
age OF twelve. he being then fourteen. She 1t
was to whom Scott alludes In The Lay Of the
Last Minstrel" in the lines:
In pride o. youth in beauty's bloom
Had wept DER Monmouth's bloody tomb.
She was a good wife TO a bad husband, for
Monmouth deserted her for Lady Henrietta
Wentworth. daughter OF the celebrated Earl OF
STAFFORD. For this inGdelity the best excuse IL
that he was married when mere boy and IN
union was entirely matter Of cOnrendnce. The
Duchess, like nearly every woman whose first
husband has come to an untimely end, married
again. her second husband being Lord Corn
wallis, ancestor OF the well-known Marquis Of
American war fame. She also lived for some
time at Moor Park, In Hertfordshire (this must
not be COMPOUNDED with tho place Of the same
name In Surrey, where Swift was secretary to
Temple). aud the legend fingers there to this
day Of how the pollard oaks IN the park werc
beheaded 10y the Duchess TO commemorate the
decaptaiion OF her husband.
Up To the earlier half OF the last century tn o
Buccleuchs passed through period OF no great
prosperity but for long time now fortune has
steadily continued to heap wealth aud honors
upon them. One duke married into the family
OF the Duke OF Queensberry, and that dukedom
and great estate ultimately deyolved on the
Duke OF Buccieuch; while the marriage OF the
present dukes grandfather with the eventual
boiress of the Duke Of Montagu brought him
the great possessions OF that house. including
quantities Of the personal treasures accumu =
lated by the nrst ID Ike and Duchess of MARI
borough, whose daughter marred a Duke OF
Is the sword which the Duke OF Marlborough
wore at Dleuhem. One day. AZ drawing room
at 81. James,, the present Duke of Buccleucn
was standing by rho Duke OF Wellington. when
the latter said. rs he adjusted his sword. " RMS
Is the sword wore at Waterloo" And this,
STR snd the Duke 81 Buccleuch, taking his
sword In his hand. is the sword the Duke Of
Marlborough wore at Blenheim."
Some Of the most interesting memorials OF
Monmouth are In the possession OF the Count
ess OF Home, daughter and heiress o. Walter
SCOTS friend, Lord Montagu, the Duke Of Buc-
clouch's uncle. Among these Is the richly laced
nghtcap and gown the Duke OF Monmouth wore
the night before his execution. The dukes ser
wants stll wear the liyeries OF the same color AS
those worn by the Duke Of Monmouth, aud not
the scott color, although they have always
called themselves Scott instead of Crofts, the
name b. which the Duke OF Monmouth was first
known, The peeraGe contains no worthier mem
Der than the present Duke OF Buccleuch. He Is
n model Of what a great nObleman should be
and Is beloved and respected accordingly
throughout his territories The annual valua-
ton for taxation Of his scotch estates is glsi OOO
and altogether his income can scarcely be less
than fj00,OOO Among his English estates Is a
very large property In Lancashire, and, in con
Junction with the Duke OF Dsvonshlre, he has
had much To do with the rise Of the wonderful
new town OF Barow-in-Furness, I'm that county.
No man Is more strongly impressed with a sense
OF the dctum that " Property has It's duties as
well ~ ITS rights"
Altogether Charles had six natural children
TO whom he gave the highest rank IN the Eng
lish peerage The Dukes Of Northumberl
southampton, and Grafton were his children by
Barbara, daughter OF William Vtlliers, and
grandnieoe Of George, Duke OF Buckingham,
favorite OF James |.
Evelyn SAYS Of the Duke Of Northumberland
under date cath October, 1881; " | dined At Sir
stephen Foxs with the ID. IN. He seemed to
be young gentleman of good capa ,ity, well
bred, civil, and modest. OF all his Majesty's
children (of which he now has six dukes thi,
seemed the most ACCOMPLISHED and worth tn e
owning. lie is extraordinary handsome and
well shaped" subsequently he speaks OF him
as splendid horseman, quite surprising al
others in that respect. lie died chldts-s - td6
when all his honors became extinct.
His brother, tho Duke Of southampton who
on his mothers death succeeded to her duke
| dom OF Cleveland alsu), married and had sev
eral sons but they all died childess. and these