JAMES II, (1633-1701). King of Great Britain.
Document Signed ("James R") authorising payment of £10,000 to Richard [Graham], Viscount Preston; George [Legge], Lord Dartmouth; James Graham and Francis Gwynne, to be used for the benefit of Lady Katherine Darnley, "his Majesties Naturall daughter by Da
Katherine Sedley (1657-1717) was the daughter of the Restoration dramatist and poet Sir Charles Sedley. She succeeded Arabella Churchill as the favourite mistress of the Duke of York (as James then was) in the late 1670's. Although highly intelligent she was not thought to be at all beautiful, and once wondered aloud why James was attracted to her: "it cannot be my beauty for he must see I have none, and it cannot be my wit, for he has not enough to know I have any." In the month of this document, January 1686, James created Katherine Sedley Countess of Dorchester. The surname James chose for his daughter, Darnley, was a family one; Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Mary Queen of Scots' husband, was the child's great-great-grandfather. Lady Katherine Darnley married twice, is the ancestress of the Marquises of Normanby, and throughout her life was always very conscious of her royal blood.
The four trustees originally appended their seals besides their signatures at the foot; unfortunately the seals have been removed, affecting portions of all four signatures. Otherwise this unusual document, although creased along the original folds, is in clear fresh condition.
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