CATHERINE OF BRAGANZA. 477 ceecling with so unpleasant a topic. This forbearance led Catherine the next day to beg his .pardon, for giving way to a passion that "was ready to break her heart," and to ask his advice in the matter, upon which she now desired him to speak freely. Notwithstanding this favorable chance for the politic minister, with all his preamble, he could obtain no better answer than his employer, viz., that "sooner than submit she would embark for Lisbon in any little vessel." Notwithstanding this, Charles followed up his purpose in his own way ; reproaching Catherine with want of duty, and with seeking her amusements out of his society,* knowing well at the same time, that he possessed the heart of this amiable and ill-used woman. He then ceased to insist ; but by neglecting her, and excluding her from his parties of pleasure, he showed her that she was an object of indifference to him. The very courtiers, watchful of their master's feelings, crowded round Lady Castlemaine, so that Catherine seemed to have become a mere cypher and to have lost her influence over those around her. Her pride gave way under, these repeated humiliations, and she yielded at last against her principles. For this she was despised by those who had honored her firmness, and even in- curred the contempt of Charles, who from having respected her motives for resistance, now came to regard them as proud and petulant, rather than originating in female dignity. Lady Castlemaine was accordingly chosen lady of the bed- chamber and from that time forward Charles and Catherine preserved outwardly their good understanding towards each other. Catherine seems to have closed her eyes to all the king's
- At that time masquerading was much in vogue, and in encouraging
this taste Catherine met with several very ludicrous adventures. One instance is particularly mentioned when Catherine, with the Duchesses of Richmond and Buckingham, had assumed the disguise of country lasses in red petticoats, and repaired to a fair at Audley-End, where the court was staying at the time. Sir Bernard Gascoigne, who had been appointed to ride before the ladies on a sorry cart-horse, having, on their arrival, attended the queen into one of the booths, Catherine is said to have asked to buy a pair of gaiters for her sweete harte, with such an extravagant rusticity that they were discovered, and scarcely could effect their retreat to their horses for the crowds of men and women and children who flocked about them and followed them even to the gates of the court. On another occasion the queen's chairman "not knowing who she was, went away from her, so she was all alone and much disturbed, and came to Whitehall in a hackney-coach, some say in a cart."
