While we were all in a fever of impatience, Philip stayed at Southampton, for the rain fell heavily and incessantly, which made traveling difficult; while there he met members of the Council and the nobility who had been waiting for him.
I feared he was not getting a very good impression of my country; and people were already beginning to say that the rain was sent by God as an omen.
Philip behaved with wonderful charm and astuteness. He must have been aware of the suspicions which were directed against him. I was delighted to hear that he told the Councillors that he had come to England not to enrich himself but because he had been called by divine goodness to be my husband. He wanted to live with me as a right, good and loving prince. He hoped they would accept this; and they had promised to be faithful and loyal to him.
The more I heard of him, the more I loved him, and I rejoiced because soon we should meet.
What was so delightful was that, after his first encounter with Lord William Howard, he made great efforts to establish a good relationship between them. They chatted together, and Philip did all he could to show an appreciation of Howard's jokes—which was noble of him, because they were not noted for their wit. He ordered that beer should be brought because he said that he wished, while he was in England, to adopt our customs.
This greatly pleased everyone, and I was so happy that my bridegroom was making such efforts to be accepted by my people. I knew how stubborn they could be, but I did believe he was beginning to win them to his side.
We were to meet at Winchester. The weather continued to be appalling. The rain was torrential. When Philip left Southampton, he had to borrow a hat and cloak to cover his magnificent apparel, but even this was not adequate to protect him, and he was obliged to stop on the way to change his garments. What he must have thought of our weather, I could not imagine. I hoped he did not notice the murmuring that it meant God disapproved.
Poor Philip, how uncomfortable he must have felt to arrive in Winchester, his beautiful velvet garments splashed with mud and his bedraggled entourage soaked to the skin.
Fortunately it was dusk when he arrived and, because of the weather, there were few to see him. He went to the church, and there it was a different story. People had crowded into the building more to get a glimpse of him than to thank God for his safe, if damp, arrival.
After the service of thanksgiving, he went to the Dean's house close to the church. He was to stay there. I was in the Bishop's palace. I was waiting with great impatience. This was to be the most wonderful moment of my life so far. I was wildly excited, and I could not hide my state. Susan was beside me with some of my other favored ladies. I was aware of their anxious eyes on me.
And then he came… escorted by a few of the Spanish nobles who had accompanied him.
My heart leaped with joy at the sight of him. Small he undoubtedly was, and slight, but I had been warned of this, and it mattered not at all. He was wearing a doublet and trunks of spotless white kid. His surcoat was white and silver decorated with gold and silver thread-work. His cap matched it, and in this was a long white feather.
As he came toward me, I was conscious of his handsome looks, his youth, and I was filled with apprehension because I was eleven years older than he and doubtless looked it, particularly after all the trials of the last year. How did I look in my black velvet gown, my petticoat of frosted silver, my headdress of black velvet lined with gold? Was I too somber? Was he going to be disappointed in me? Never had I prayed so fervently that this might not be so.
Now we stood face to face, smiling at each other. I kissed my own hand and took his. He was determined to follow our customs and kissed me on the mouth. I was so happy. I refused to think of my age and that I was not beautiful. I was the Queen, and this man was to be my husband.
I led him to a canopy of state and sat down with him.
He could not speak English, so I spoke in French, which he understood, and he replied in Spanish, of which I had learned a little from my mother.
I told him how glad I was that he had arrived safely, and he said that he was happy to be here.
I asked him to tell me about the crossing and his journey to Southampton.
It was all trivial conversation for two people who were shortly to embark on what is surely the greatest adventure in life. All the time we talked we were studying each other. I was enchanted. I should have been in a state of ecstasy if I could have stopped myself wondering what effect I was having on him.
He was so dignified. If he were disappointed, he would never betray the fact. He said that he must learn some English, for he felt greatly at a disadvantage.
I understood how he felt, I said, and he would be surprised how quickly he would become familiar with our tongue.
“I hope it will be so,” he said. “The people will expect that.”
“I will teach you,” I told him.
“Teach me what I shall say to the lords of the Council when I take my leave.”
“That is simple. You could say, ‘Good night, my lords all.'”
It was amusing to hear him struggling with the words. We smiled together, and I was happy.
Then he said he would introduce me to his gentlemen, and I should do the same for him and my ladies.
He called his party to come to us, and they were presented to me. I was immediately struck by Ruy Gomez da Silva, a most distinguished man who, I discovered later, was a very close friend of Philip.
Then we turned to my ladies. Philip kissed them all. I was rather surprised but he said, “It is an English custom, is it not? I am determined to follow the English customs.”
The ladies were flushed and smiling, liking the attention. And I smiled with them. I was so happy that everything seemed wonderful.
We parted and I returned to my apartments in the palace. Susan was with me.
“What thought you of him?” I asked.
She hesitated and I looked at her sharply. “He is handsome—as they said he was,” she replied.
“You sound reluctant to admit it,” I said.
“N…no. He is like his portrait.”
“But what, Susan?”
“He is a little solemn.”
“It is a solemn occasion.”
“But perhaps not so when he kissed the ladies.”
I laughed. “Oh, he is trying to please us all by following what he thinks are our customs.”
“The custom to kiss the ladies…”
“He has an idea that we kiss, and he has to do it on every occasion.”
“That is a custom of which you will have to cure him,” she said.
“Susan, you are like the rest. You are critical of all those who are not English.”
“Is that so, Your Majesty? Then if you say so…”
I was a little put out because I had the feeling that she did not admire him as I thought she should.
Later that day he called on me. It was dark; the candles had been lighted; he asked to be admitted to my presence, and I was delighted. How romantic, that he should come to me thus, unceremoniously.
“I must speak with you,” he said. “It is why I have come.”
“I am so happy that you did,” I told him.
“I have just heard from my father. He is giving up the kingship of Naples, and it is to be mine. He does this because he thinks you should marry a king and not a mere prince.”
“How delightful! How wonderful!” I took his hand and kissed it. “Your Majesty, I am happy for you.”
Philip did not smile easily, I noticed, but he looked gratified.
So I was betrothed not merely to the Prince of Spain but to the King of Naples as well.