The Merry Monarch's Wife Read Free Page B

some time. I am just telling you that your father has sent our ambassador with a suggestion that this might be. They are a great nation, but at war. We are a small one in semi-captivity. These matters depend on negotiations. Your father is in a position to bestow a good dowry on you and the King of England will need money to conduct his war.”
    â€œSo because of the money…”
    â€œNo, because you are the daughter of a king and young Charles is the son of one. We must accept these things as they are. It is the rulers who decide them. To marry a man who will one day be a king is a great destiny and one must be prepared for it.”
    â€œI should like to know something about this prince.”
    â€œHe is fourteen years old—a charming boy, so I have heard.”
    â€œThat seems very old,” I ventured.
    â€œYou think so because you are younger. As you grow up, these seven years will seem nothing. It is better for a husband to be older than his wife. Charles is clever and charming, a loyal son and he will be a good husband.” My mother drew me to her. “You must not be anxious,” she went on. “It will not be for a long time, but I tell you now so that you will be prepared when the time comes. So far this is only a suggestion. With Oliver Cromwell at his heels, the King may have many matters with which to concern himself as well as the marriage of his son.”
    It proved to be that he had, for there was no enthusiastic response brought back by my father’s ambassador. I learned from little scraps of gossip that my religion was a handicap. The King of England had had enough trouble through marrying a Catholic wife. He did not want his son to fall into the same trap.
    That startled me. Our religion was of the utmost importance to us and I had always believed that anyone not of the Catholic faith was doomed.
    I asked my mother about the King of England’s objection to our religion.
    â€œWhere do you hear such things?” she demanded.
    I did not way to betray anyone, so I said vaguely: “Oh, it must have been something I heard someone say…”
    â€œWho has been talking?”
    â€œOh…several…Not talking to me but to each other. I cannot remember who…but there was a good deal of talk about the proposed marriage.”
    She was thoughtful for a moment, then she said: “The people of England have rejected the true faith. It happened a long time ago after Queen Mary died and Queen Elizabeth came to the throne. And after Elizabeth there came the Stuarts.”
    â€œBut if they are not of the true faith…”
    â€œFirst,” she said, cutting me short, “we have to think of an alliance which would bring honour to you and to our country.”
    â€œBut…”
    â€œMy dear child, you are too young to concern yourself with such matters which can safely be left to your father and to me.”
    â€œBut if Prince Charles is a Protestant…a heretic…”
    â€œThe Prince of Wales must be brought up in the religion of the country he will one day rule.”
    â€œThen how…?”
    She smiled secretively and whispered: “Who knows? If he had the right wife…”
    â€œBut the King himself married a Catholic…and…”
    Again I was interrupted. “How knowledgeable you have become! That pleases me. You must learn what is going on. King Charles of England married the daughter of the great King Henri of Navarre who became the fourth Henri of France. It was a match of great benefit to both France and England. King Henri was a Huguenot at one time and he became a Catholic. Sometimes these matters are necessary. Who knows what might happen?”
    â€œPrince Charles’s mother did not make his father a Catholic.”
    â€œPerhaps she was not clever enough. If the Prince married a good Catholic wife, who knows what influence she might have on him…”
    â€œYou mean, I might