At the end of the week Margaret took a mournful farewell of her weeping family and friends, by whom she was deeply loved. Her uncle, Charles VII. of France, went part of the way with her. At parting, he pressed her in his arms tenderly, and said, with his eyes full of tears: "I seem to have done nothing for you, my dear niece, in placing you on one of the greatest thrones in Europe, for it is scarcely worthy of possessing you." The young queen was sobbing so that she could not reply, and they parted never to meet again. Her father went with her still further, and when they embraced in farewell they could not speak, but turned away from each other with hearts too full to permit of their uttering a single word. The wars with France that had lasted so long had made Henry so poor that he was obliged to call a meeting of parliament, when his bride was coming, to get money to defray the expenses of his wedding and Margaret's coronation, and for the same purpose he pawned some of the crown jewels. The young queen had been so ill on the voyage that she {287}had to be carried from the boat to the shore. A terrible storm was raging when she landed, but in spite of the thunder and lightning, people flocked in crowds to look at her. It was many days before she could proceed on her journey, because her illness proved to be something that looked very like small-pox. However, it could not have been a very severe case, because her beauty was not impaired in the least. [[A.D. 1445.]] She was able to join her husband at last, and their nuptials were solemnized at Tichfield Abbey, in April, 1445. The bridal ring contained a ruby of great value, and had been a present to the king from his uncle, Cardinal Beaufort. Poor Margaret's wardrobe was so scanty that Henry was obliged to buy her some clothing before she could appear in public. This to a girl of fifteen, who probably expected a fine trousseau when she married at least, must have been distressing. Although the English were dissatisfied because their new queen brought no dower, and because of her relation to the royal family of France, her beauty won its way to their hearts, and secured for her a hearty welcome where ever she appeared. All the knights and nobles wore her emblem flower, the daisy, in their caps, when they came in a body to receive her in state. This must have been a very flattering compliment, and the king carried it still further by having "Marguerites" engraved on his silver. Grand preparations had been made in London for the young queen's reception; there were triumphal arches across the principal streets bearing mottoes and beautiful designs in flowers, besides banners and evergreens. At every corner there were pictures or dressed-up figures having some political meaning, or offering some mark of welcome and loyalty to the new sovereign.