THE LADY BARBARA FITZROY. JAMES, Earl of Arran, who succeeded his father as fourth Duke of Hamilton, having, after the death of his first wife, Anne Spencer, in 1690, seduced, under a promise of marriage, Lady Barbara Fitzroy, youngest daughter of King Charles II., by the Duchess of Cleveland, she bore a son to him at Cleveland House, St. James's, 30th March, 1691, during his incarceration in the Tower, where he was thrown by the warrant of Mary II. That Queen, and the Earl's mother, the Duchess of Hamilton, were so incensed at the discovery of the intrigue, as to make the banishment to the Continent of the unfortunate girl, then but in her eighteenth year, the only condition of Arran's release. Lady Barbara was accordingly forced to abandon her infant, and retire to the convent of Pontoise, in France, where she afterwards died. In commenting on this mournful passage in the "Romance of Real Life," Miss Strickland justly remarks, that "it would have been more in consistency with the angelic characteristics attributed to Queen Mary, if she had used her power for the purpose of inducing the Earl of Arran to repair his wrongs, in some measure, by a legal marriage with his victim, the daughter of her uncle Charles, than to drive her into a foreign land, and a conventual prison." Her ladyship's son was brought up at Chiswick, un dar the care of her grandmother, Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland, and afterwards entered the service of James II. He wrote a book, called "Transactions of the reign of Queen Anne," which contains much curious information His father, the Duke of Hamilton, was slain in the memorable duel with Lord Mohun, which we have Larrated in a preceding page. THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE. OF Sir John Bolle, of Thorpe Hall, in Lincolnshire, who distinguished himself at Cadiz, in 1596, tradition records a romantic story. Among the prisoners taken at that memorable siege, one fair captive of great beauty, high rank, and immense wealth, was the peculiar charge of our gallant knight, and, as customary in such interesting situations, became. deeply enamoured of her chivalrous captor, so much so, that she proposed accompanying him to England as his page. Faithful, however, to his conjugal vows, Sir John rejected the lady's suit, who in consequence retired to a convent, having previously transmitted to her unconscious rival in England her jewels, and other ornaments of value, including her own portrait drawn in greena circumstance which obtained for the original, in the neighbourhood of Thorpe Hall, the designation of the "Green Lady"--and still, according to the superstition of successive generations, that seat is deemed haunted by the lady in green, "who is wont," says the credulous historian, "nightly to take her station beneath a particular tree close to the mansion." It is also stated, that during the life of Sir John's son, Sir Charles Bolle, a knife and fork were laid for her especial use, should she feel disposed to take her place at the festive board. The attachment of the Green Lady gave rise to a curious ballad, written about this period, entitled, “Th: Spanish Lady's Love for an Englishman," a beautiful edition of which has recently been illustrated by Lady Dalmeny. The following version is taken from Dr. Percy's "Relics of Ancient English Poetry:" Will you hear a Spanish lady, How she wooed an English man? Of a comely countenance and grace was she, As his prisoner there he kept her, In his courteous company was all her joy, But at last there came commandment None to do them injury. Then said this lady mild, "Full woe is me; "Gallant Captain, show some pity To a ladye in distresse; Leave me not within this city, For to dye in heavinesse : Thou hast this present day my body free, "How shouldst thou, fair lady, love me, "All the harme I wish to thee, most courteous knight, "Blessed be the time and season That you came to Spanish ground; Gentle foes we have you found: With our city, you have won our hearts eche one, "Rest you still, most gallant lady; Spain doth yield a plenteous store." "Leave me not unto a Spaniard, I am lovely, young, and tender, Love is likewise my desert: Still to serve thee day and night my mind is prest, "It wold be a shame, fair lady, For to bear a woman hence, English soldiers never carry Any such without offence." "I'll quickly change myself, if it be so, And like a page I'll follow thee, where'er thou go." "I have neither gold nor silver And to travel is great charges, As you know, in every place." "My chains and jewels every one shall be thy own, And eke five hundred pounds in gold that lies unknown." “On the seas are many dangers, Many storms do there arise; Which will be to ladies dreadful, And force tears from watery eyes." Well, in troth, I shall endure extremity, For I could find in heart to lose my life for thee." |