The Spanish government, as soon as Charles's plan of espousing Catharine became known, attempted to prevent the match, as it would greatly increase the strength and influence of Portugal by giving to that country so powerful an ally.The sky was one vast lurid canopy, like molten brass, day and night, add link link popularity for four days, while the whole city presented a scene of indescribable and awful din the cracking and thundering of the flames, the frenzied screams of the women and children, the terrific falling of spires, towers, walls, and lofty battlements, the frightful explosions of the houses, blown up by gunpowder in the vain hope of stopping the progress of the flames, all formed a scene of grandeur so terrific and dreadful, that they who witnessed the spectacle were haunted by the recollection of it long afterward, as by a frightful dream.He had always some female favorite, chosen from among the ladies of his court, high in rank, though not high enough to be the wedded wife of the king.When the day arrived, the queen descended the grand staircase of the palace, and at the foot of it took leave of her add link link popularity mother.In a word, I think myself very happy, and I am confident that we shall agree very well together.This add link link popularity gay and splendid spectacle beguiled the night, but the wind continued unfavorable all the next day, and confined the squadron still to the river.The other articles of furniture in the apartment, the mirrors, the richly inlaid cabinets, the toilet service of massive gold, the canopies, the carved chairs, the curtains, the tapestries, and the paintings, corresponded in magnificence with the bed, so that Catharine, when she was introduced to the scene, felt that she had attained to the very summit of human grandeur.CHARLES add link link popularity REX.You may depend upon it, said he, that nobody will ever think of killing me to make you king.After a long and stormy passage, the squadron arrived off the Isle of Wight the Duke of York came add link link popularity out to meet it there, with five other ships, and they all entered the harbor of Portsmouth together.After very anxious hesitation and suspense, he decided to proceed with his enterprise, and the preparations were made for the princess's embarkation.He seemed to care little add link link popularity about it.Still, however, they might have been conducted with ordinary success by his ministers, and perhaps they were, in fact, managed as well as was usual with the governments of Europe in those days.Arrangements were made for add link link popularity transferring the foreign possessions promised to the British crown and, lastly, the money intended for the dower was collected, tied up in bags, sealed, and deposited safely in the strong room of the Castle at Lisbon.There was a small society of philosophers that was accustomed to meet sometimes in Oxford and sometimes in London.