title, and whom he called his wife; but their continuance to
abide in harmony and goodwill was, soon after the birth of this
child, interrupted for ever. My lord was certainly a loyal
subject, but he was likewise a religious man, as may be judged,
not by that which has been recorded, but from the narration which
follows. Having been bred a Catholic, he was anxious his wife's
son should be enrolled a member of the same community. To this
end he had him baptized by a priest, a proceeding of which the
king wholly disapproved; not because his majesty was attached to
any religion in particular, but rather that he resented
interference with the infant whom he rested satisfied was his own
child. Accordingly, by the king's command, Lady Castlemaine's
son was rebaptized by the rector of St. Margaret's, Westminster,
in the presence of his majesty, the Earl of Oxford, and the
Countess of Suffolk, first lady of the bedchamber to the queen
and aunt to the king's mistress.

This exasperated my Lord Castlemaine to such a degree that high
words passed between him and his lady: on which he resolved to
part from her for ever. However, she was more prompt to act in
the matter than he; for, taking advantage of his absence one day,
she packed up her jewels, plate, and household treasures, and
departed to the residence of her uncle, Colonel Edward Villiers,
at Richmond. This step was probably taken, if not by his
majesty's suggestion, at least with his full approval; for the
house she selected brought her within an easy distance of Hampton
Court, into which the king designed promptly to introduce her.

Now rumour of the king's liason had spread beyond the English
nation, and had been whispered even at the secluded court of