The Black Box

The story of the "Black Box" referred to in "Lorna Doone," by R. D. Blackmore, may be found in any full history of the period. It is twice mentioned by Macaulay. The box was supposed to contain the marriage contract of Charles II. and Lucy Barlow [or Walters], the mother of the Duke of Monmouth, and to have been stolen from her. Had the papers been found, they would have secured Monmouth's right of succession to the throne of England. The following is from Macaulay's History of England, Vol. I.

"Much was said of a certain black box, which, according to the vulgar belief, contained the contract of marriage. * * * When Monmouth had returned from the low countries with a high character for valor and conduct, and when the Duke of York was known to be a member of a church detested by a great majority of the nation, this idle story became important. For it there was not the slightest evidence, but the multitude, always fond of romantic adventures, drank in eagerly the tale of secret espousals and the black box."