He went to the most infamous places, to seek for the most infamous disease, which he met with; but his revenge was only half completed; for after he had gone through every remedy to get quit of his disease, his lady did but return him his present, having no more connection with the person for whom it was so industriously prepared.

[Bishop Burnet, taking notice of the Duke of York’s amours, says, “a story was set about, and generally believed, that the Earl of Southesk, that had married a daughter of the Duke of Hamilton’s, suspecting some familiarities between the duke and his wife, had taken a sure method to procure a disease to himself, which he communicated to his wife, and was, by that means, sent round till it came to the duchess.  Lord Southesk was, for some years, not ill pleased to have this believed.  It looked like a peculiar strain of revenge, with which he seemed much delighted.  But I know he has, to some of his friends, denied the whole of the story very solemnly.” —­history of His Own Times, vol. i., p. 319.  It is worthy of notice that the passage in the text was omitted in most editions of Grammont, and retained in that of Strawberry-hill, in 1772.]

Lady Robarts was then in the zenith of her glory; her beauty was striking; yet, notwithstanding the brightness of the finest complexion, with all the bloom of youth, and with every requisite for inspiring desire, she nevertheless was not attractive.  The Duke of York, however, would probably have been successful, if difficulties, almost insurmountable, had not disappointed his good intentions:  Lord Robarts, her husband, was an old, snarling, troublesome, peevish fellow, in love with her to distraction, and to complete her misery, a perpetual attendant on her person.

She perceived his Royal Highness’s attachment to her, and seemed as if she was inclined to be grateful:  this redoubled his eagerness, and every outward mark of tenderness he could possibly show her; but the watchful husband redoubling his zeal and assiduity, as he found the approaches advance, every art was practised to render him tractable:  several attacks were made upon his avarice and his ambition.  Those who possessed the greatest share of his confidence, insinuated to him that it was his own fault if Lady Robarts, who was so worthy of being at court, was not received into some considerable post, either about the queen or the duchess:  he was offered to be made Lord Lieutenant of the county where his estate was; or to have the management of the Duke of York’s revenues in Ireland, of which he should have the entire disposal, provided he immediately set out to take possession of his charge; and having accomplished it, he might return as soon as ever he thought proper.