Page:Catherine of Bragança, infanta of Portugal, & queen-consort of England.djvu/176

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140
DIEGO SILVAS IMPRISONED
[chap. vi


the great heart of the Queen," Clarendon tells us. He says that she had no money with which to be liberal to them, and had lavishly promised them all advancement in her household — a promise she now found herself quite unable to keep. She looked on Charles's conduct as a direct affront and indignity to herself, which there is not the least proof that they were meant to be. The King was merely irritated and angry that he could not get his own way with her. It was quite unlike his whole character to take revenge on any woman. Catherine's whole testimony is of his kindness to her. The fact certainly was that he was more determined to carry out his reparation to

    • The Lady " the more Catherine protested against it.

He believed her obstinacy was chiefly caused by the advice and urgings of her Portuguese, and determined to rid himself and her of them.

He was off-hand to the Portuguese ambassador, and 'ictually threw into prison the Jew factor, Diego Silvas, because he had not yet paid into the Exchequer the promised money obtained for the sugar and spice of the dowry. This was most unfair, as the time set ^or payment was not due.[1]

Catherine specially felt de Sande's treatment. She was warmly attached to her godfather, even though he was blamed by her as much as by Charles for his con- versation with each at the time of the treaty. Charles was annoyed that he should have mentioned " The Lady " to Catherine and her mother. She was even more indignant that he had painted Charles as virtuous and good-natured, and reproached the ambassador with having deceived her about him.[2]

Things still went hideously between the newly married couple. The Queen sat "melancholie" in her own apartments, and was constantly crying. Charles only came near her very late at night, from "company that was pleasing, and tried to amuse."[3] The Court was divided over the quarrel. Young and "frolick"

  1. Hist. Casa Real Portuguese
  2. Clarendon.
  3. Idem.