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From a life of innocence she was brought for the first time face to face with vice； by one who should have been foremost in shielding her from its contact。 All her training taught her to avoid the contamination sought to be forced upon her； all her new…born love for her husband prompted her to loathe the mistress who shared his affections。 A stranger in a strange land； a slighted queen； a neglected wife； an outraged woman； her sufferings were bitter； Her wrongs were hard to bear。 Therefore when my lord chancellor came and made known the object of his visit； she broke into a passion of tears； and could not speak from force of sobs that seemed to rend her heart； and wholly choked her utterance。
The chancellor then retired with some dismay； but waited on her again next day； when he found her more calm。 She begged he would excuse the outburst of feeling he had witnessed； but added very pitifully that when she thought of her misfortunes 〃she sometimes gave vent to that passion which was ready to break her heart。〃 The advice； or； as he terms it； 〃the evidence of his devotion；〃 which the chancellor gave was worthy of a courtier and a philosopher。 He told the young queen he doubted 〃she was little beholden to her education； that had given her no better information of the follies and iniquities of mankind； of which he presumed the climate from whence she came could have given more instances than this cold region would afford。〃 Had she been properly instructed； he furthermore hinted； she would never have thought herself so miserable； or her condition so insupportable； and indeed he could not comprehend the reason of her loud complaint。
At this she could no longer suppress the tears which came into her dark eyes； and cried out she did not expect to find her husband in love with another woman。 Then my lord besought her submission to the king； but she remained unshaken in the resolution she had formed。 She was ready to ask his majesty's pardon for tiny passion or peevishness she had been guilty of； but added； 〃the fire appearing in her eyes where the water was；〃 she would never endure the presence of his mistress； and rather than submit to such insult she would 〃put herself on board any little vessel〃 and return to Lisbon。
Back went the chancellor； with a heavy heart and a troubled face； to the king。 He softened the queen's words as much as possible； and assured his majesty her resistance to his will proceeded 〃from the great passion of love she had for him； which transported her beyond the limits of reason。〃 But this excuse； which should have rejoiced a husband's heart； only irritated his majesty's temper。 That night a violent quarrel took place between the husband and wife； yet scarce more than bride and bridegroom。 When they had retired； the kingbeing inflamed with the words of his courtiers； who assured him the dispute had now resolved itself into a question of who should governreproached the queen with stubbornness and want of duty； upon which she answered by charging him with tyranny and lack of affection。 One word borrowed another； till； in his anger； he used threats when she declared she would leave the kingdom。 〃The passion and noise of the night reached too many ears to be a secret the next day；〃 says the chancellor； 〃and the whole court was full of that which ought to have been known to nobody。〃
When the royal pair met next morning； they neither looked at nor spoke to each other。 Days passed full of depression and gloom for the young wife； who spent most of her time in seclusion； whilst the king sought distraction in the society of his courtiers。 The chancellor； after his second interview with the queen； absented himself from court； not wishing to be furthermore drawn into a quarrel which he saw himself powerless to heal。 During his absence the king wrote him a letter which evinced determination to carry out his design。 This epistle； preserved in the library of the British Museum； runs as follows：
〃HAMPTON COURT； THURSDAY MORNING。
〃I forgot when you were here last to desire you to give Broderich good council not to meddle any more with what concerns my Lady Castlemaine； and to let him have a care how he is the author of any scandalous reports； for if I find him guilty of any such thing； I will make him repent it to the last moment of his life。
〃And now I am entered on this matter； I think it very necessary to give you a little good council in it； lest you may think that by making a farther stir in the business you may divert me from my resolution； which all the world shall never do； and I wish I may be unhappy in this world and in the world to come； if I fail in the least degree of what I have resolved； which is of making my Lady Castlemaine of my wife's bedchamber。 And whosoever I find in any endeavours to hinder this resolution of mine （except it be only to myself）； I will be his enemy to the last moment of my life。 You know how true a friend I have been to you； if you will oblige me eternally； make this business as easy to me as you can； of what opinion soever you are of； for I am resolved to go through with this matter； let what will come on it； which again I solemnly swear before Almighty God。
〃Therefore； if you desire to have the continuance of my friendship； meddle no more with this business except it be to bear down all false and scandalous reports； and to facilitate what I am sure my honour is so much concerned in。 And whosoever I find is to be my Lady Castlemaine's enemy in this matter； I do promise； upon my word； to be his enemy as long as I live。 You may show this letter to my lord lieutenant； and if you have both a mind to oblige me； carry yourselves like friends to me in this matter。〃
The chancellor was； soon after the receipt of this letter； summoned to Hampton Court； when his majesty； with some passion； declared the quarrel was spoken of everywhere； and wholly to his disadvantage。 He was therefore anxious to end it at once； and commanded my lord to wait again upon the queen； and persuade her to his wishes。 The chancellor informed the king he 〃had much rather spend his pains in endeavouring to convert his majesty from pursuing his resolution； which he did in his conscience believe to be unjust； than in persuading her majesty to comply with it； which yet he would very heartily do。〃 Saying which； he departed on his errand； to which the queen answered； her conscience would not allow her to consent that the king's mistress should be one of her attendants。 Then the chancellor besought his royal master； saying he hoped he might be no more consulted with； nor employed concerning an affair； in which he had been so unsuccessful。
By reason of this opposition the king was now more resolved than ever to honour his mistress and humble his wife； and； with a cruelty unusual to his nature； determined to break her majesty's spirit； and force her into obedience。
On coming to England the young bride had brought in her train some Portuguese gentlewomen and nobles； whom she was anxious to employ in various offices about her person； that she might not feel quite in the midst of strangers。 These his majesty believed were in some measure answerable for the queen's resistance to his