Memoirs of Lady Fanshawe | Page 8

Chancellor, for a
fortnight after his Royal Highness's departure, when he and his wife
went to Caen, to his brother Lord Fanshawe, who was ill, leaving their
infant at Jersey, under the care of Lady Carteret, the wife of the
Governor. From Caen, Mrs. Fanshawe was sent to England, by her
husband, to raise money: she arrived in London early in September
1646, where she succeeded in obtaining permission for him to
compound for his estates for the sum of 300 pounds, and to return.
They continued in England until October 1647, living in great seclusion;
and in July in that year, whilst the unfortunate Charles was at Hampton
Court, Mr. Fanshawe waited upon him, and received his instructions to
proceed to Madrid. Mrs. Fanshawe states that she had three audiences
of his Majesty at Hampton Court, and her description of the last
interview with which she and her husband were honoured, exhibits the
injured monarch as a husband, a father, a master, a sovereign, and a
Christian, in the most pleasing light, and is ample evidence of the
natural goodness of his heart. "The last time I ever saw him," she says,
"was on taking my leave. I could not refrain from weeping, and when
he saluted me, I prayed to God to preserve his Majesty with long life
and happy years. He stroked me on the cheek, and said, 'Child, if God
pleaseth it shall be so; but both you and I must submit to God's will,
and you know in what hands I am.' Turning to Mr. Fanshawe, he said,
'Be sure, Dick, [Footnote: That the Royal family were accustomed to
address Mr. Fanshawe in so familiar a manner, appears from a letter
from the Duke of York, afterwards James the Second, dated at Paris,
18th November, 1651, to Sir Edward Nicholas: "I have received yours
of the 8th of November from the Hague, and with it that from DICK
FANSHAWE."--Evelyn's Correspondence, vol. v. p. 188.] to tell my
son all that I have said, and deliver those letters to my wife. Pray God
bless her! I hope I shall do well;' and taking him in his arms, observed,

'Thou hast ever been an honest man, and I hope God will bless thee,
and make thee a happy servant to my son, whom I have charged in my
letter to continue his love and trust to you;' adding, 'I do promise you,
that if ever I am restored to my dignity, I will bountifully reward you
both for your services and sufferings.'"
In the few days they passed at Portsmouth, previous to their quitting
England in October 1647, they narrowly escaped being killed by a shot
fired into the town by the Dutch fleet. From that place they embarked
for France, but returned to England, in April 1648, by Jersey, whence
they brought with them their daughter, whom they had left under the
care of Lady Carteret. In September Mr. Fanshawe attended the Prince
of Wales on board the fleet in the Downs, in which a division existed,
part being for the King and part for the Parliament. The Prince resolved
to reduce the latter to obedience by force, but a storm separated the
ships, and prevented an engagement. Three months afterwards, Mr.
Fanshawe went to Paris on the Prince's affairs, whither he was followed
by his wife; and they passed six weeks there in the society of the
Queen-Mother and the Princess Royal and their suite, amongst whom
was the poet Waller and his wife. From Paris they went to Calais,
where they met Sir Kenelm Digby, who related some of his
extraordinary stories: from that town she again went to England with
the hope of raising money for her husband's subsistence abroad and her
own at home. Mr. Fanshawe was sent to Flanders; and thence, in the
February following, into Ireland, to receive whatever money Prince
Rupert could raise by the fleet under his command, but that effort
proved unsuccessful. At her husband's desire, Mrs. Fanshawe
proceeded with her family to join him, and landed at Youghal after a
hazardous voyage. They took up their residence at Red Abbey, a house
belonging to Dean Boyle, near Cork, and passed six months in
comparative tranquillity, receiving great kindness from the nobility and
gentry of the neighbourhood.
Their happiness, however, was but transitory. On the 2nd of September
in that year Mr. Fanshawe was created a Baronet; and it is singular that
no other allusion should occur to the circumstance in the Memoir than a
notice of his having left the patent in Scotland before the battle of
Worcester.
The Queen received them at Paris with great attention; and after many

acts of favour, she despatched Sir Richard to the King, who was then
on his way to Scotland.