The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
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w. LOvE'LETTER ?as@MA


This letter, written just before Cath
crime of Braganza left for England to be
welded to Charles II, is the only love
letter to be found of the many that were
doubtless written by this royal lothario.
expressed, and may have struck chill
to the heart of the unhappy princess, as
g. presage of the neglect and wretched-
ness which she was to suffer as his wife.
MY lady and wife, already at my re-
quest, the good Count da Ponte has
set off for Libson; for me, the signing
OF the, marriage has been great happiness,
and there is about to be dispatched at
this time after hime, one of my servants,
charged with what would appear neces-
sary; whereby may be declared on my
part. the inexpressibe joy at this. felici-
tous conclusion, which, when received,
VIII hasten the coming of your majesty.
I am going to make short progress
into one of my provinces; and in the
meantime, whilst l go from my most
sovereign good, yet / do not complain
as to where / go, seeking vain tranquility
IN my restlessness; hoping to see the be-
loved person of your majesty in these
Kingdoms, already your own, and that
with the same anxiety with which, after
my long Punishment, l desired to see
myself within them, and my subjects de-
string also to behold me anon gthem
having manifested their most ardent
wishes for my return, we'll known to the
world
The presence of your serenity is
only wanting to unite us, under the pro-
lection of God, in the health and content
desire. have recommended to the
Queen, our lady and mother, the business
of the Count da Ponte, who, l must
avow, has served me in what I regard
as the greatest good in the world. which
cannot be mine less than 1t is that of
your majesty; likewise not forgetting the
good Richard Russell, who labored on his
part to the same end
THE very faithful husband of your
majesty. whose hand he kisses.
CHARLES. REX"
Catherine was born at the palace of
Villa Vicosa, In the Portugal province OF
Alemetejo in November, 1898. She be-
came betrothed to King Charles ON May
s, 1861, when she WAS % years of age.
The news of the betrothai spread the
widest joy in Portugal.
On April 10 to the 20, 1902. began the
magnificent festivities that accompanied
the infantas departure from Lisbon. On
May 10 the fleet bearing Catherine to
England landed at Portsmouth Charles
was detained in London by the need of
proroguing parliament, IL not by the
charms Of Mrs. Palmer, and was not
present when his future Queen landed.
On the third day after Der landing
Catherine became i'll of n cold and when
Charles finally arrived he found her still
confined to her bed. She absolutely in
sisted on a Catholic ceremony and only
after seeing her did Charles consent to
this step. Accordingly on May q, a Cath
Ollie wedding service was performed with
the utmost secrecy in GATHERINGS bed
chamber, WHILE later in the day a mutt
lated public ceremony, after the rites of
the Church of England. was performed
by Sheldon, bishop of London, in the
presence chamber of the royal palace.
Catherine was not educated for her po-
sition and for a long time Spanish was
the only means of communication be-
tween her and her husband. She had
hardly left the royal palace 10 minutes in
her life, and though amiable, dignified,
and in quiet way attractive. the only
positive trait that observers could find in
her was a simple and childish piety that
consumed her time In the routine per-
Torrance of her religious duties, and
soughtby pilgrimages to favorite saints
to express her thanks to heaven for her
advancement to the Queen of England.
The first few weeks of the marriage
nearly everything looked promising.
though discerning observers already an
ticipated difficulties. Charles was at
tracted by the simplicity and childishness
of his wife and promistd eternal love and
constancy. The first rupture was when
Charles forced his paramour, Mrs. Pal
mer, upon his Queen as lady of her bed
chamber. There wa sa violent disagree
n ent which lasted for daye, and finally
ended In the King dismissing all of her
Portuguese household, leaving her with
out friends or confidants.
Finally Catherine was subdued. and
henceforth received with Kindness and
forebearance the long series of her hus-
bands paramours. In return for this
ccmpliasance Charles treated his wife