Installation of a 3-year old as KG, 1666
S. S.
Samuel Pepys had an entry written under 6 Dec 1666 (courtesy of pepysdiary.com, https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1666/12/06/)
Up, but very good friends with her before I rose, and so to the office, where we sat all the forenoon, and then home to dinner, where Harman dined with us, and great sport to hear him tell how Will Joyce grows rich by the custom of the City coming to his end of the towne, and how he rants over his brother and sister for their keeping an Inne, and goes thither and tears like a prince, calling him hosteller and his sister hostess. Then after dinner, my wife and brother, in another habit; go out to see a play; but I am not to take notice that I know of my brother’s going. So I to the office, where very busy till late at night, and then home. My wife not pleased with the play, but thinks that it is because she is grown more critical than she used to be, but my brother she says is mighty taken with it. So to supper and to bed.
This day, in the Gazette, is the whole story of defeating the Scotch rebells, and of the creation of the Duke of Cambridge, Knight of the Garter.
The gazette mentioned is the London Gazette, No 110, 3 Dec 1666 (I attach a PDF of it below if someone is interested in reading it).
It records the ceremonial of the installation of Prince James, Duke of Cambridge, second but eldest surviving son of James, Duke of York (later King James II), by his first wife, Anne Hyde. The ceremony being done by his uncle, King Charles II. A fascinating insight into installation ceremonies of the past, even more so when you realize the young Prince James was but 3 years, 4 months and 21 days old at the time!
He would tragically die on 20 June 1667, probably from smallpox or bubonic plague.
Pepys actually records his bodily “spots” under 30 Apr 1667: (https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1667/04/30/)
Up, and Mr. Madden come to speak with me, whom my people not knowing have made to wait long without doors, which vexed me. Then comes Sir John Winter to discourse with me about the forest of Deane, and then about my Lord Treasurer, and asking me whether, as he had heard, I had not been cut for the stone, I took him to my closet, and there shewed it to him, of which he took the dimensions and had some discourse of it, and I believe will shew my Lord Treasurer it. Thence to the office, where we sat all the morning, but little to do, and then to the ’Change, where for certain I hear, and the News book declares, a peace between France and Portugal. Met here with Mr. Pierce, and he tells me the Duke of Cambridge is very ill and full of spots about his body, that Dr. Frazier knows not what to think of it. Then home and to dinner, and then to the office, where all the afternoon; we met about Sir W. Warren’s business and accounts, wherein I do rather oppose than forward him, but not in declared terms, for I will not be at, enmity with him, but I will not have him find any friendship so good as mine. By and by rose and by water to White Hall, and then called my wife at Unthanke’s. So home and to my chamber, to my accounts, and finished them to my heart’s wishes and admiration, they being grown very intricate, being let alone for two months, but I brought them together all naturally, within a few shillings, but to my sorrow the Poll money I paid this month and mourning have made me 80l. a worse man than at my last balance, so that I am worth now but 6700l., which is yet an infinite mercy to me, for which God make me thankful. So late to supper, with a glad heart for the evening of my accounts so well, and so to bed.
As an aside, Prince Charles, Duke of Kendal (b 4 July 1666), third son of James, Duke of York, by Anne Hyde, would also die shortly thereafter on 22 May 1667, probably from the same illness as his elder brother, judging by the short time period. Note that young Charles’s peerage was only by styling, as letters patent never passed creating him as Duke of Kendal. His elder brother, the young Prince James, was actually created Duke of Cambridge. The eldest brother to these two was Prince Charles, Duke of Cambridge (b 22 Oct 1660; d 5 May 1661), who was also merely styled as Duke of Cambridge. The fourth son was Prince Edgar (b 14 Sept 1667; d 8 June 1671), who was also merely styled Duke of Cambridge.
By his second wife, Mary of Modena, James, Duke of York had an elder surviving son (two children were stillborn March or May 1674 and Oct 1675), being Prince Charles, Duke of Cambridge (b 7 Nov and d 12 Dec 1677), again also merely styled Duke of Cambridge.
Peter de Loriol Chandieu
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