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.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129