Page:Catherine of Bragança, infanta of Portugal, & queen-consort of England.djvu/65



O the causes just stated was certainly due the destruction of Charles's character. The poverty he had staggered under so long made money seem to him the chief good in life, but it was only that it might be employed in easing life, and buying pleasure. Like Louis XIV., his cousin, he thought a King a person with a right to use his subjects and his kingdom for his own enjoyment. His friendship with the young King of France and his experiences at the Court of Versailles sapped the last remnant of self-denial and morality in him. The Court of Versailles was given over to licentiousness. It was the fashion of the time, and the King's open example only encouraged his courtiers to out-Herod Herod. Charles's whole ideas of Court life were taken from the glittering circle around King Louis. Pleasure was their only aim, dawdling their only occupation. It was at this time of his career also that Louis ob- tained the influence over Charles that was to have so fatal an effect in the future.

The hopes of the little pinchbeck English Court in France were raised to a sudden height by the death of Cromwell in 1658. The news reached Charles in Brussels, and he at once went to Calais, so that he should be on the high road to England, if events turned out in his favour. Two years after-