royalty restored-第19节
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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 Portsmouth。 At which news there was great rejoicing throughout the town； church bells ringing merrily； and bonfires blazing brightly； but before the Countess of Castlemaine's house； where the king； according to his custom was at supper； there was no fire； though such signs of joy burned 〃at all the rest of the doors almost in the streets； which was much observed。〃
Next day the fleet arrived in the harbour of Portsmouth； about four in the afternoon。 Heath says the people gathered to receive the bride with all possible demonstrations of honour； 〃the nobility and gentry and multitudes of Londoners； in most rich apparel and in great numbers； waiting on the shore for her landing； and the mayor and aldermen and principal persons of that corporation being in their gowns； and with a present and a speech ready to entertain her； the cannon and small shot； both from round that town and the whole fleet echoing to one another the loud proclamations of their joy。〃 These good people were； however； destined to disappointment； for though the bride was impatient to land； because suffering from prostration c
