of oars splashing in the tide was heard, and anon a barge came in
sight, hung with silken curtains and emblazoned with the arms of
royalty. From this the Duchess of York disembarked, aided by the
king. When she had offered her congratulations to him, he,
taking her hand, led her to his bride, that such fair speeches
might be repeated to her majesty. And coming into the queen's
presence the duchess would have gone upon her knees and kissed
her majesty's hand; but Catherine raised her in her arms, and
kissed her on the cheek. Then amidst much joy the happy evening
waned to night.

The royal palace of Hampton Court, in which Charles had decided
on spending his honeymoon, had been raised by the magnificent
Wolsey in the plenitude of his power as a place of recreation.
Since his downfall it had been used by royalty as a summer
residence, it being in truth a stately pleasure house. The great
pile contained upwards of four hundred rooms. The principal
apartments had cedar or gilded and frescoed ceilings, and walls
hung with rare tapestries and curtains heavy with gold.
Moreover, these rooms contained furniture of most skilful design
and costly manufacture, and were adorned by the choice works of
such masters of their art as Holbein, Bellini, Vansomer, Rubens,
and Raphael; and withal enriched with Indian cabinets, such as
never were seen in England before, which the queen had brought
with her from Portugal.

The great hall had been the scene of many sumptuous banquets.
The chapel was rich in carved designs. Her majesty's bedroom,
with its curtains of crimson silk, its vast mirror and toilet of
beaten and massive gold, was a splendid apartment--the more so