royalty restored-第18部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ht　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　consequent　on　a　rough　voyage　and　severe　illness；　she　was　not；　in　observance　of　court　etiquette；　permitted　to　leave　the　ship　until　the　king　arrived。　　This　did　not　take　place　until　six　days　later；　Charles　being　detained　in　town　by　reason　of　some　important　bills　then　passing　in　Parliament；　which　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　sign。　He　had；　however；　despatched　his　royal　brother　of　York；　then　Lord　High　Admiral　of　England；　to　meet　her　at　sea；　and　give　her　greeting　in　his　name。　　Accordingly　the　duke　had　encountered　the　fleet　at　the　Isle　of　Wight；　and　gone　on　board　the　queen's　ship；　when　she　received　him　in　her　cabin　seated　under　a　canopy　on　a　chair　of　state。　　His　royal　highness　expressed　his　joy　at　her　arrival；　presented　〃his　majesty's　high　respects　and　his　exceeding　affection　for　her；〃　and　paid　her　many　compliments。　　Lord　Chesterfield；　who　had　been　appointed　chamberlain　to　the　queen；　tells　us：　　〃Although　James；　in　consequence　of　his　near　connection　with　the　sovereign；　might　have　saluted　the　royal　bride；　he　did　not　avail　himself　of　this　privilege；　out　of　a　delicate　regard　to　his　majesty's　feelings；　that　he　might　be　the　first　man　to　offer　that　compliment　to　his　queen；　she　coming　out　of　a　country　where　it　was　not　the　fashion。〃　　The　Duke　of　York　presented　some　noblemen　who　had　accompanied　him；　after　which　she　introduced　the　members　of　her　suite。　　The　queen　and　her　brother…in…law　then　held　a　conversation　in　the　Spanish　language；　when　James　assured　her　of　his　affection；　and　besought　her　to　accept　his　services。　　To　these　compliments　she　replied　in　like　manner；　when　he　arose　to　depart。　The　queen　advanced　three　paces　with　him；　not　withstanding　that　he　protested　against　such　courtesy；　bidding　her　remember　her　rank。　At　this　she　smiled；　and　answered　with　much　sweetness；　〃She　wished　to　do　that　out　of　affection；　which　she　was　not　obliged　to　do〃a　reply　which　made　a　favourable　impression　on　his　mind。　　Whilst　she　continued　on　board；　the　duke　and　his　suite　visited　her　daily；　entering　freely　into　conversation　with　her；　and　finding　her　〃a　most　agreeable　lady。〃　　Probably　at　the　desire　of　the　king；　she　left　the　ship　before　his　arrival；　and　was　conveyed　to　his　majesty's　house　at　Portsmouth；　where　she　was　received　by　the　Countess　of　Suffolk；　first　lady　of　the　bedchamber；　and　four　other　ladies　who　had　been　appointed　members　of　her　household。　　One　of　her　first　requests　to　these　wasas　may　be　learned　from　a　letter　of　Lord　Sandwich；　preserved　in　the　Bodleian　library〃that　they　would　put　her　in　that　habit　they　thought　would　be　most　pleasing　to　the　king。〃　　Before　leaving　the　〃Royal　Charles〃　she　spoke　to　all　the　officers　of　the　ship；　thanked　them　for　their　services；　and　permitted　them　to　kiss　her　hand。　　She　then　presented　a　collar　of　gold　to　the　captain；　and　gave　money　to　be　distributed　among　the　crew。

When　at　length　the　parliamentary　business　was　concluded；　the　king　found　himself　in　readiness　to　depart。　　The　last　words　he　addressed　to　his　faithful　commons　before　starting　are　worth　recording：　　〃The　mention　of　my　wife's　arrival；〃　said　he；　in　the　pleasant　familiar　tone　it　was　his　wont　to　use；　〃puts　me　in　mind　to　desire　you　to　put　that　compliment　upon　her；　that　her　entrance　into　this　town　may　be　made　with　more　decency　than　the　ways　will　now　suffer　it　to　be；　and　to　that　purpose　I　pray　you　would　quickly　pass　such　laws　as　are　before　you；　in　order　to　the　mending　those　ways；　that　she　may　not　find　Whitehall　surrounded　with　water。〃

At　nine　o'clock　on　the　night　of　the　19th　of　May；　his　majesty　left　London　in　Lord　Northumberland's　carriage；　on　his　way　to　Portsmouth。　　Arriving　at　Kingston　an　hour　later；　he　entered　Lord　Chesterfield's　coach；　which　awaited　him　there　by　appointment；　and　drove　to　Guildford；　at　which　town　he　slept　the　night。　　In　the　morning　he　was　up　betimes；　and　posted　to　Portsmouth；　where　he　arrived　at　noon。　　The　queen；　being　ill　of　a　slight　fever；　was　yet　in　bed：　　but　the　king；　all　impatient　to　see　the　bride　which　heaven　had　sent　him；　sought　admittance　to　her　chamber。　　The　poor　princess　evidently　did　not　look　to　advantage；　for　his　majesty　told　Colonel　Legg　he　thought　at　first　glance　〃they　had　brought　him　a　bat　instead　of　a　woman。〃　　On　further　acquaintance；　however；　she　seemed　to　have　afforded　more　pleasure　to　the　king's　sight；　for　the　next　day　he　expressed　the　satisfaction　he　felt　concerning　her；　in　a　letter　addressed　to　the　lord　chancellor；　which　is　preserved　in　the　library　of　the　British　Museum；　and　runs　as　follows：

〃PORTSMOUTH；　21st　May　（Eight　in　the　Morning）。

〃I　arrived　here　yesterday　about　two　in　the　afternoon；　and；　as　soon　as　I　had　shifted　myself；　I　went　into；　my　wife's　chamber；　whom　I　found　in　bed；　by　reason　of　a　little　cough　and　some　inclination　to　a　fever：　　but　I　believe　she　will　find　herself　very　well　in　the　morning　when　she　wakes。　　I　can　now　only　give　you　an　account　of　what　I　have　seen　abed；　which；　in　short；　is；　her　face　is　not　so　exact　as　to　be　called　a　beauty；　though　her　eyes　are　excellent　good；　and　not　anything　in　her　face　that　in　the　least　degree　can　shock　one：　　on　the　contrary；　she　hath　as　much　agreeableness　in　her　looks　altogether　as　ever　I　saw；　and　if　I　have　any　skill　in　physiognomy；　which　I　think　I　have；　she　must　be　as　good　a　woman　as　ever　was　born。　　Her　conversation；　as　much　as　I　can　perceive；　is　very　good；　for　she　has　wit　enough；　and　a　most　agreeable　voice。　　You　would　wonder　to　see　how　well　acquainted　we　are　already。　　In　a　word；　I　think　myself　very　happy；　for　I　am　confident　our　two　humours　will　agree　very　well　together。　　I　have　no　more　to　say：　　my　Lord　Lieutenant　will　give　you　an　account　of　the　rest。〃

The　king　was　attended　by　Lord　Sandwich　during　this　interview；　and　his　lordship；　in　a　letter　addressed　to　the　lord　chancellor；　informed　him　the　meeting　between　his　majesty　and　the　infanta。　〃hath　been　with　much　contentment　on　both　sides；　and　that　we　are　like　to　be　very　happy　in　their　conjunction。〃　　Next　morning　the　Countess　of　Suffolk；　and　other　ladies　appointed　to　wait　upon　the　bride；　dressed　her　according　to　the　English　fashion；　in　〃a　habit　they　thought　would　be　most　pleasing　to　the　king；〃　in　which　she　was　married。　　The　ceremony　was　first　performed　according　to　the　rites　of　the　Catholic　Church；　by　the　Rev。　Lord　Aubigny；　brother　to　the　Duke　of　Richmond；　in　the　queen's　bedchamber；　that　apartment　being　selected　for　the　purpose；　as　affording　a　privacy　necessary　to　be　maintained；　by　reason　of　the　prejudice　then　existing　towards　Catholicism。　　There　were　present　the　Duke　of　York；　Philip；　afterwards　Cardinal　Howard；　and　five　Portuguese；　all　of　whom　were　bound　over　to　keep　the　strictest　secrecy　concerning　what　they　witnessed。　　Later　in　the　day；　Dr。　Sheldon；　Bishop　of　London；　married　their　majesties　according　to　the　form　prescribed　by　the　Church　of　England。　　The　latter　ceremony　took　place　in　the　presence　chamber。　　A　rail　divided　the　apartment；　at　the　upper　part　of　which　the　king　and　queen；　the　bishops；　the　Spanish　Ambassador；　and　Sir　Richard　Fanshaw　stood；　the　lower　portion　being　crowded　by　the　court。　　When　Dr。　Sheldon　had　declared　their　majesties　married；　the　Countess　of　Suffolk；　according　to　a　custom　of　the　time；　detached　the　ribbons　from　the　bride's　dress；　and；　cutting　them　in　pieces；　distributed　them　amongst　those　present。

Feasting；　balls；　and　diversions　of　all　kinds　followed　the　celebration　of　the　royal　nuptials；　and　for　a　time　the　king　was　delighted　with　his　bride。　　Four　days　after　the　marriage　he　writes　again　to　the　lord　chancellor　in　most　cheerful　tone：

〃My　brother　will　tell　you　of　all　that　passes　here；　which　I　hope　will　be　to　your　satisfaction。　　I　am　sure　'tis　so　much　to　mine　that　I　cannot　easily　tell　you　how　happy　I　think　myself；　and　must　be　the　worst　man　living　（which　I　hope　I　am　not）　if　I　be　not　a　good　husband。　　I　am　confident　never　two　humours　were　better　fitted　together　than　ours　are。　　We　cannot　stir　from　hence　till　Tuesday；　by　reason　that　there　is　not　carts　to　be　had　to…morrow　to　transport　all　our　GUARDE　INFANTAS；　without　which　there　is　no　stirring：　　so　you　are　not　to　expect　me　till　Thursday　night　at　Hampton　Court。〃

They　did　not　reach　the　palace　until　the　29th　of　May；　that　being　the　king's　birthday；　and；　moreover；　the　anniversary　of　his　entrance　into　London；　a　date　which　the　Queen's　arrival　now　caused　to　be　celebrated　with　triple　magnificence　and　joy。　　When　the　coach　that　conveyed　their　majesties　drew　near；　the　whole　palace　seemed　astir　with　happy　excitement。　　Double　lines　of　soldiers；　both　horse　and　foot；　lined　the　way　from　the　gates　to　the　entrance。　　In　the　great　hall　the　lord　chancellor；　foreign　ambassadors；　judges；　and　councillors　of　state　awaited　to　pay　homage　to　their　majesties；　whilst　in　various　apartments　were　the　nobility　and　men　of　quality；　with　their　ladies；　ranged　according　to　their　rank；　being　all　eager　to　kiss　the　new　queen's　hand。　Sure　never　was　such　show　of　gladness。　　Bells　rang　people　cheered；　bonfires　blazed。

In　the　evening　news　was　brought　that　the　Duchess　of　York　was　being　rowed　to　Hampton　from　town；　hearing　which；　the　king；　with　a　blithe　heart；　betook　his　way　to　meet　her　through　the　garden；　now　bright　with　spring　flowers　and　fragrant　with　sweet　scents；　till　he　arrived　at　the　gate　by　which　the　silver　streak　of　the　plea