 Chairman, Sybil Saunders, opened the meeting by telling us about Hampshire Open Studies, 15th to 30th August. You can visit artists and craftsmen at work throughout Hampshire and brochures were distributed with all the information.
Sybil then introduced two new members, Joy and Diana. Several members were too unwell to attend and Sybil suggested friends might like to visit them.
Mrs Elsie Russell then gave us a fascinating insight into the many mistresses of Charles II.
Charles was born at St James' Palace on 29 May 1630 when Venus, the planet of love was visible, which may have had some bearing with the fact he fathered 75 children. His nickname was Black Boy because of his swarthy complexion and although his mother hoped he would grow fairer, he never did.
At the outbreak of the English Civil War Charles went to Bristol, then the Scilly Isles and Jersey. His first affair began there with his governess, Mrs Wyndham. He first fathered a son at the age of 16.
He then went to join his mother in France and had several affairs there. In 1648 he moved to Holland where he met a Welsh girl, Lucy Walter, and they had a son who later became the Duke of Monmouth, then James II. A daughter followed, but this was to be the only child where Charles would not acknowledge paternity. He may have married Lucy, but denied this when he met Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese, whom he married. His marriage to Lucy was never proven.
Charles' next mistress was Barbara Villiers who, needless to say, did not get on with Catherine. Barbara's blood line includes the Duke of Marlborough, Duke of Bedford and the Churchills. Charles was attracted to Frances Stuart, maid of honour to Catherine, but she always resisted his advances. Frances was named La Belle Stuart and modelled for Britannia on our coins. Meanwhile, Charles accepted paternity of several of Barbara's children, which were not always his. He eventually tired of Barbara and had several more mistresses, the most famous being Nell Gwynn.
Barbara went to Paris in 1676, but was at Charles' deathbed when he died in 1685. His last wish was that his mistresses be taken care of. Barbara died in 1709, at the age of 68 and her ghost is said to haunt Walpole House.
Mrs Russell concluded with the very apt Pepys quotation: 'and so to bed'.
The afternoon ended with tea, sandwiches and the usual delicious homemade cakes.
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