Lucy Walter's father, William, was a rogue. He inherited a fortune, which should have enabled him to keep his family in some comfort, but he was a spendthrift and rumour had it that he was virtually penniless.

Because of his wifeElizabeth'sCarbery connections, Roch Castle was requisitioned by the Cavaliers and William Walter was obliged toprovidehospitality he could not afford.He sent the king a bill, which was considered bad form andmeant he would never gain preferment. Furthermore, he had fathered two illegitimate children who were cared for by Elizabeth, so the household wasnot harmonious.

The role of unmarried women during this time was difficult. Apart frombecoming companions to elderly relatives, there were few genteel occupations available. Many whiled away their timeby embroidering garments or repairing household linen.

Lucy's father had a house in Covent Garden, London, which the family visited and this was how William Walter became acquaintedwith the Percy family, whose sons were Puritan Colonels in the pay of Cromwell.

Walter struck a bargain with Algernon Percy, agreeing to sell his daughter, Lucy,for fifty broad pieces of gold, effectively making the eighteen year old girl Percy's mistress. However, before Algernon claimed his share of the bargain, his regiment called him away and she was passed to his brother Robert.

By now, Charles Stuart wasin The Hague, where he had taken refuge form the Civil War. Lucy, too, travelled to The Hague soon after, under the assumed name of Mistress Barlow. (I am unsure if she was under the protection of Colonel Robert Percy ormerely a camp follower.) However, she renewed her frienship with Charles and soon they were lovers.They settled into a comfortable relationship, Charles delighting in Lucy and his infant son and Lucy calling him her 'Black Boy', for he was darkly handsome in a swarthy way.

Charles had grave matters to attend to and was often away andLucy found it difficult to be faithful andtook other lovers.We'll talk about some of them tomorrow.