The Stuarts

(Victoria and Albert Museum)

(Musée Crozatier)

(Private collection via Sotheby’s)

The last changed his name to Nicholas.

Portrait of Louise de Keroualle by Simon Verelst, late 17th century

James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, was an illegitimate son of Charles II and pretender to the British throne. On Charles II’s death in 1685, he led an expedition to Britain from abroad but was defeated and captured by James, brother of Charles. He tried to purchase his life by a slavish submission and offer to take on the Roman faith. James refused to accept the offer. Monmouth eventually met his death at the Tower of London in 1685.

Guido ‘Guy’ Fawkes signature before and after torture.

“My lord, out of the love I have for some of your friends, I want to make sure you are safe. Because of this I would advise you to not attend this sitting of parliament because God and man have agreed to punish the wickedness of this time. Do not think this is a joke, go to your estate in the country where you will be safe, because although there is no sign of any problem yet, this parliament will receive a terrible blow, but they will not see who it is that hurts them. This advice should not be ignored as it may do you some good, and it can do you no harm because the danger will have passed as soon as you have burned this letter. I hope God grants you the grace to make good use of it, and that he protects you.”

Today in 1606: Guy Fawkes is hung, drawn and quartered for his part in the Gunpowder Plot.

(State Hermitage Museum)

Sotheby’s 

Constantijn Netscher (16 December 1668 – 27 March 1723)[1] was an 18th-century painter from the Northern Netherlands.

Note: Was a “favourite” of King James I of England

She was simply one of his women, and while she could not give him what his more exciting bedfellows gave, she occupied a place in his life that none of them could occupy. He often discussed important matters with her, as when he invited Evelyn into the queen’s bedchamber and together all three of them pored over designs for the rebuilding of London after the fire. - From ‘All the Kings Women’ by Derek Wilson

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

By John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester

1661

A portrait of a man writing by candlelight by Pietro Paolini (1603-1681)