Series 1 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (First volume)

INTRODUCTION
233
The portrait of the Duchess of Lauderdale by Lely, now in
the possession of the Earl of Dysart,1 represents her when she
was past middle life, and shows us one still possessing good
looks, and one who certainly in earlier years might well have
justified the contemporary eulogies of her beauty. Without
accepting the discreditable view of their relations which has
sometimes been put forward,2 there need be no question as to
the strong personal influence exerted over Oliver Cromwell by
this clever and beautiful woman. And we may believe that
Lady Dysart did not go beyond the truth when she claimed
the credit of having, by her intervention with Cromwell, saved
the life of Lauderdale after the battle of Worcester. Sir
George Mackenzie {Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland, p. 218)
believes that Lauderdale’s gratitude for her protection at that
critical juncture was a potent influence in bringing about the
marriage, but he adds, e nor was her wit less charming than
the beauty of other women ; nor had the extraordinary beauty
she possest whilst she was young ceded to the age at which she
was then arrived.’ According to ‘ her friends] as the same writer
playfully remarks, she was then ‘ but forty-five years of age.’
Certainly the fascination she exercised over Lauderdale cannot
be doubted. His friends pointed out that he had no son to
inherit his honours; both friends and the public were clamorous
against the match effected with such indecent haste; but he
was not to be stayed.
Another among many who had fallen under her spell for a
time was the grave and reverend divine, Gilbert Burnet.
Those who know the Bishop of Sarum best by his Exposition
of the Thirty-nine Articles and his Pastoral Care will find
it hard to picture him writing enthusiastically eulogistic verses
to the beautiful Countess of Dysart.
1 This is reproduced in a not very meritorious etching in C. Kirkpatrick
Sharpe’s edition of Kirkton.
2 Sir John Reresby, who was on such friendly terms as to be a guest at Ham,
speaks of her as the ‘ supposed mistress of Oliver Cromwell.’