Queen Mary of Modena
By Simon Verelst
When James, the Duke of York and future king of England, travelled to Modena in Italy to meet his fourteen year old potential new bride Mary, he was immediately enchanted. She on the other hand was not so happy. She had set her heart on becoming a nun and had never even heard of England, let alone the Duke of York. She screamed and wept for two days when her mother insisted she marry the forty year old Duke. They were first married by proxy, before coming to England for another, Church of England wedding ceremony.
When Mary and her new husband arrived in London, they were met by James’ brother King Charles II off his barge in Greenwich. The king was kind to Mary and she was dazzled by him; “He was so truly amiable and good-natured that I loved him very much, even before I became attached to my Lord the Duke of York”
Although it was said that at the beginning of their marriage Mary would flinch whenever James touched her, her feelings for him did soften over time; “I became very fond of my husband and my affection for him increased with every year that we lived together”
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