Some of Charles's best friends were very much grieved at his pursuing
such a course; others were very indignant; but the majority of the
people around him at court were like himself in character and manners,
and were only led to more open irregularity and vice themselves by
this public example of their sovereign. In the mean time, the king
moved on to Portsmouth, escorted by a body of his Life Guards. He found
that his intended bride was confined to her bed with a sort of slow
fever. It was the result, they said, of the roughness and discomforts
of the voyage, though we may certainly imagine another cause. Charles
went immediately to the house where she was residing, and was admitted
to visit her in her chamber, the many attendants who were present at
the interview watching with great interest every word and look on
either side by which they might judge of the nature of the first
impression made by the bride and bridegroom upon each other. Catharine
was not considered beautiful, and it was natural that a degree of
curiosity should be manifested to learn how Charles would regard her.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233