royalty restored-第17部分

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The　merry　monarch　was　therefore　well　pleased　at　the　prospect　of　his　union；　as　were　likewise　the　chancellor　and　four　or　five　〃competent　considerers　of　such　an　affair〃　whom　he　consulted。　These　worthy　counsellors　and　men　of　sage　repute；　who　included　in　their　number　the　Duke　of　Ormond　and　Sir　Edward　Nicholas；　Secretary　of　State；　the　Earl　of　Manchester；　and　the　Earl　of　Southampton；　after　regretting　it　was　not　agreeable　to　his　majesty　to　select　a　queen　who　professed　the　protestant　religion；　gave　it　as　their　opinion　there　was　no　catholic　princess　in　Europe　whom　he；　with　so　much　reason　and　advantage；　could　marry　as　the　infanta　of　Portugal。　　They；　moreover；　added　that　the　sum　promised　as　part　of　her　portion；　setting　aside　the　places；　〃was　much　greater　almost　double　to　what　any　king　had　ever　received　in　money　by　any　marriage。〃　　The　council；　therefore；　without　a　dissenting　voice；　advised　him　to　the　marriage。

On　the　8th　of　May；　1661；　his　majesty；　being　clad　in　robes　of　state；　and　wearing　the　crown；　rode　in　great　pomp　to　open　Parliament；　which　he　addressed　from　the　throne。　　In　the　course　of　his　speech；　he　announced　his　approaching　marriage　in　a　singularly　characteristic　address。　　〃I　will　not　conclude　without　telling　you　some　news；〃　he　said；　〃news　that　I　think　will　be　very　acceptable　to　you；　and　therefore　I　should　think　myself　unkind；　and　ill…　natured　if　I　did　not　impart　it　to　you。　　I　have　been　put　in　mind　by　my　friends　that　it　was　now　time　to　marry；　and　I　have　thought　so　myself　ever　since　I　came　into　England。　　But　there　appeared　difficulties　enough　in　the　choice；　though　many　overtures　have　been　made　to　me；　and　if　I　should　never　marry　until　I　could　make　such　a　choice　against　which　there　could　be　no　foresight　of　any　inconvenience　that　may　ensue；　you　would　live　to　see　me　an　old　bachelor；　which　I　think　you　do　not　desire　to　do。　　I　can　now　tell　you；　not　only　that　I　am　resolved　to　marry；　but　with　whom　I　am　resolved　to　marry。　　If　God　please；　it　is　with　the　daughter　of　Portugal。　　And　I　will　make　all　the　haste　I　can　to　fetch　you　a　queen　hither；　who；　I　doubt　not；　will　bring　great　blessings　with　her　to　me　and　you。〃

Next　day　addresses　of　congratulation　were　presented　to　his　majesty　by　both　Houses。　　This　gratifying　news　was　made　known　to　the　Portuguese　ambassador；　Count　da　Ponte；　by　the　lord　high　chancellor；　who　visited　his　excellency　for　the　purpose；　attended　by　state　befitting　such　a　great　and　joyful　occasion；　two　gentlemen　preceded　him；　bearing　respectively　a　gilded　mace　and　a　crimson　velvet　purse　embroidered　with　the　arms　of　Great　Britain；　and　many　others　following　him　to　the　ambassador's　residence。　　A　month　later；　the　marriage　articles　were　signed；　the　new　queen　being　guaranteed　the　free　exercise　of　her　faith；　and　the　sum　of　thirty　thousand　a　year　during　life；　whilst　the　king　was　assured　possession　of　her　great　dowry；　together　with　the　territories　already　mentioned；　one　of　which；　Bombay；　ultimately　became　of　such　vast　importance　to　the　crown。

Charles　then　despatched　the　Portuguese　ambassador　to　Catherine　from　this　time　styled　queenin　order　to　make　arrangements　for　her　journey　into　England。　　Likewise　he　wrote　a　letter；　remarkable　for　the　fervour　of　its　sentiments　and　elegance　of　its　diction；　which　da　Ponte　was　commissioned　to　convey　her。　　This　courtly　epistle；　addressed　by　Charles　to　〃The　Queen　of　Great　Britain；　my　wife　and　lady；　whom　God　preserve；〃　is　dated　July　2nd；　1661；　and　runs　as　follows：

〃MY　LADY　AND　WIFE；　　　　　　〃Already；　at　my　request；　the　good　Count　da　Ponte　has　set　off　for　Lisbon；　for　me　the　signing　of　the　marriage　act　has　been　great　happiness；　and　there　is　about　to　be　despatched　at　this　time　after　him　one　of　my　servants；　charged　with　what　would　appear　necessary；　whereby　may　be　declared；　on　my　part；　the　inexpressible　joy　of　this　felicitous　conclusion；　which；　when　received；　will　hasten　the　coming　of　your　majesty。

〃I　am　going　to　make　a　short　progress　into　some　of　my　provinces；　in　the　meantime；　whilst　I　go　from　my　most　sovereign　good；　yet　I　do　not　complain　as　to　whither　I　go；　seeking　in　vain　tranquillity　in　my　restlessness；　hoping　to　see　the　beloved　person　of　your　majesty　in　these　kingdoms　already　your　own；　and　that　with　the　same　anxiety　with　which；　after　my　long　banishment；　I　desired　to　see　myself　within　them；　and　my　subjects；　desiring　also　to　behold　me　amongst　them；　having　manifested　their　most　ardent　wishes　for　my　return；　well　known　to　the　world。　　The　presence　of　your　serenity　is　only　wanting　to　unite　us；　under　the　protection　of　God；　in　the　health　and　content　I　desire。　　I　have　recommended　to　the　queen；　our　lady　and　mother；　the　business　of　the　Count　da　Ponte；　who；　I　must　here　avow；　has　served　me　in　what　I　regard　as　the　greatest　good　in　this　world；　which　cannot　be　mine　less　than　it　is　that　of　your　majesty；　likewise　not　forgetting　the　good　Richard　Russell；　who　laboured　on　his　part　to　the　same　end。　＇Richard　Russell　was　Bishop　of　Portalegre；　in　Portugal；　and　Almoner　to　Catherine　of　Braganza。＇

〃The　very　faithful　husband　of　your　majesty；　whose　hand　he　kisses；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃CHARLES　REX。〃　London；　2nd　of　July；　1661。

During　many　succeeding　months　preparations　were　made　in　England　to　receive　the　young　Queen。　　The　〃Royal　Charles；〃　a　stately　ship　capable　of　carrying　eighty　cannon　and　six　hundred　men；　was　suitably　fitted　to　convey　her　to　England。

The　state　room　and　apartments　destined　for　use　of　the　future　bride　were　furnished　and　ornamented　in　most　luxuriant　manner；　being　upholstered　in　crimson　velvet；　handsomely　carpeted；　and　hung　with　embroideries　and　taffeties。　　Lord　Sandwich　was　made　commander　of　the　gallant　fleet　which　in　due　time　accompanied　the　〃Royal　Charles。〃　　He　was　likewise　appointed　ambassador　extraordinary；　and　charged　with　safely　conducting　the　bride　unto　her　bridegroom。

In　due　time；　my　lord；　in　high　spirits；　set　sail　with　his　gallant　fleet；　and　on　arriving　at　Portugal　was　received　with　every　remark　of　profound　respect；　and　every　sign　of　extravagant　joy。　　Stately　ceremonies　at　court　and　brilliant　rejoicings　in　public　made　time　speed　with　breathless　rapidity。　　But　at　length　there　came　a　day　when　my　Lord　Sandwich　encountered　a　difficulty　he　had　not　foreseen。　　According　to　instructions；　he　had　taken　possession　of　Tangier　before　proceeding　for　the　queen；　and　he　had　likewise　been　directed　to　see　her　dowry　put　on　board　one　of　his　ships；　before　receiving　her　on　the　〃Royal　Charles。〃

Now　the　Queen　of　Portugal；　who　acted　as　regent　since　the　death　of　her　husband；　being　strongly　desirous　of　seeing　her　daughter　the　consort　of　a　great　sovereign；　and　of　protecting　her　country　from　the　tyranny　of　Spain　by　an　alliance　with　England；　had　gathered　the　infanta's　marriage　portion　with　infinite　trouble；　which　had　necessitated　the　selling　of　her　majesty's　jewels　and　much　of　her　plate；　and　the　borrowing　of　both　plate　and　jewels　from　churches　and　monasteries　all　over　the　land。　　The　sums　accumulated　in　this　manner　she　had　carefully　stowed　away　in　great　sacks；　but；　alas；　between　the　date　on　which　the　marriage　treaty　had　been　signed；　and　arrival　of　the　English　ambassador　to　claim　the　bride；　Spain　had　made　war　upon　Portugal；　and　the　dowry　had　to　be　expended　in　arming　the　country　for　defence。　　Therefore；　when　my　Lord　Sandwich　mentioned　the　dowry；　her　majesty；　with　keen　regrets　and　infinite　apologies；　informed　him　so　great　were　the　straits　of　poverty　to　which　her　kingdom　was　reduced；　that　she　could　pay　only　half　the　stipulated　sum　at　present；　but　promised　the　remaining　portion　should　be　made　up　the　following　year。　　Moreover；　the　part　which　she　then　asked　him　to　accept　was　made　up　of　jewels；　sugars；　spices　and　other　commodities　which　she　promised　to　have　converted　by　arrangement　into　solid　gold　in　London。

The　ambassador　was　therefore　sorely　perplexed；　and　knew　not　whether　he　should　return　to　England　without　the　bride；　or　take　her　and　the　merchandise　which　represented　half　her　dowry　on　board　his　ship。　　He　decided　on　the　latter　course；　and　the　queen；　with　her　court　and　retinue；　set　sail　for　merry　England　on　the　23rd　of　April；　1662。



CHAPTER　VI。

The　king's　intrigue　with　Barbara　Palmer。The　queen　arrives　at　Portsmouth。Visited　by　the　Duke　of　York。The　king　leaves　town；　First　interview　with　his　bride。His　letter　to　the　lord　chancellor。Royal　marriage　and　festivities。Arrival　at　Hampton　Court　Palace。Prospects　of　a　happy　union。Lady　Castlemaine　gives　birth　to　a　second　child。The　king's　infatuation。Mistress　and　wife。The　queen's　misery。The　king's　cruelty。Lord　Clarendon's　messages。His　majesty　resolves　to　break　the　queen's　spirit。End　of　the　domestic　quarrel。

Whilst　the　king　conducted　the　negotiations　of　his　marriage　with　Catherine　of　Braganza；　he　likewise　continued　the　pursuit　of　his　intrigue　with　Barbara　Palmer。　　The　unhappy　fascination　which　this　vile　woman　exercised　over　his　majesty　increased　with　time；　and　though　his　ministers　declared　a　suitable　marriage　would　reform　his　ways；　his　courtiers　concluded　he　had　no　intention　of　abandoning　his　mistress　in　favour　of　his　wife。　　For　Barbara　Palmer；　dreading　the　loss　of　her　royal　lover　and　the　forfeiture　of　wealth　accruing　from　this　connection；　had　firmly　bound　him　in　her　toils。　　Moreover；　in　order　that　he　might　continually　abide　under　her　influence；　she　conceived　a　scheme　which　would　of　necessity　bring　her　into　constant　intercourse　with　him　and　the　young　queen。　　She　therefore　demanded　he　would　appoint　her　one　of　the　ladies　of　the　bedchamber　to　her　majesty；　to　which　he；　heedless　of　the　insult　this　would　fix　upon　his　wife；　readily　consented。

In　order　to　qualify　Barbara　Palmer　for　such　a　position；　it　was　necessary　she　should　be　raised　to　the　peerage。　　This　could　only　be　accomplished　by　ennobling　her　husband；　unless　public　decency　were　wholly　ignored；　and　she　was　created　a　peeress　in　her　own　right；　whilst　he　remained　a　commoner。　　After　some　faint　show　of　hesitation；　Roger　Palmer　accepted　the　honours　thrust　upon　him　by　reason　of　his　wife's　infamy。　　On　the　11th　of　December；　1661；　he　was　created　Earl　of　Castlemaine；　and　Baron　Limerick　in　the　peerage　of　Ireland；　when　the　royal　favourite　became　a　countess。

And　now　the　merry　month　of　May　being　arrived；　the　queen　was　speedily　expected；　and　on　the　night　of　the　13th　joyful　tidings　reached　London　that　the　〃Royal　Charles；〃　accompanied　by　the　fleet；　was　in　sight　of　Po