bonfires blazing brightly; but before the Countess of
Castlemaine's house, where the king, according to his custom was
at supper, there was no fire, though such signs of joy burned "at
all the rest of the doors almost in the streets, which was much
observed."

Next day the fleet arrived in the harbour of Portsmouth, about
four in the afternoon. Heath says the people gathered to receive
the bride with all possible demonstrations of honour, "the
nobility and gentry and multitudes of Londoners, in most rich
apparel and in great numbers, waiting on the shore for her
landing; and the mayor and aldermen and principal persons of that
corporation being in their gowns, and with a present and a speech
ready to entertain her; the cannon and small shot, both from
round that town and the whole fleet echoing to one another the
loud proclamations of their joy." These good people were,
however, destined to disappointment; for though the bride was
impatient to land, because suffering from prostration consequent
on a rough voyage and severe illness, she was not, in observance
of court etiquette, permitted to leave the ship until the king
arrived. This did not take place until six days later, Charles
being detained in town by reason of some important bills then
passing in Parliament, which it was necessary for him to sign.
He had, however, despatched his royal brother of York, then Lord
High Admiral of England, to meet her at sea, and give her
greeting in his name. Accordingly the duke had encountered the
fleet at the Isle of Wight, and gone on board the queen's ship,
when she received him in her cabin seated under a canopy on a
chair of state. His royal highness expressed his joy at her
arrival, presented "his majesty's high respects and his exceeding