Note 85 — Chapter III · JAMES STUART
Reading edition
Eva Scott, “Travels of the King,” “The King in Exile.”
In this connection a letter from Mr Jennings (Captain Titus) to Hyde seems to point to the increasing arrogance of the Protector’s family. Writing from Antwerp on 11th February 1656-1657, he says: “There was lately a wedding of a kinswoman of Laurence’s, whither all the grandees and their wives were invited, but most of the Major-Generals and their wives came not. The feast wanting much of its grace by the absence of those ladies, it was asked by one there, where they were? Mrs Claypole answered: ‘I’ll warrant you washing their dishes at home, as they use to do.’ This hath been extremely ill taken, and now the women do all they can with their husbands to hinder Mrs Claypole from being a Princess and her Highness” (Clarendon State Papers). It will be remembered that Elizabeth Claypole, Cromwell’s favourite daughter, predeceased him by a few weeks.