was of this opinion also, and a palace plot was soon on foot.

6. Anne's spirit rose to meet these enemies. 'Braver than a lion,' she faced them all. Fitzwilliam was a prudent knight, but Guilford let the lady see his mind. When I am Queen,' said Anne, with lofty air, I shall depose you from your office.' Guilford thought of her as of a creature nearly crushed. 'When you are Queen, you shall not have that trouble; I shall then resign.' Going straight to Henry, who was fond of him, as an old servant, Guilford told his tale and so laid down his staff. 'You must not mind such female talk,' laughed Henry, giving him the staff again; but finding Anne was mistress of the situation, Guilford shrank apart, and was compelled to keep his house. Exeter and Montagu were watched, and had to hold their tongues in order to escape their comrade's fate. Suffolk was caught in one of his own snares. At all times gross in his amours, there had lately gathered round his name a scandal more revolting than usual, and Lady Anne reported what she heard to Henry, so that he might know what kind of man had injured Wyat and insulted her.

7. The plotters and their plot were foiled, and conscious of the peril they had just escaped, they had to close their lips and bide their time. The lady stood too high. Norfolk, Suffolk, Exeter, and Shrewsbury, were required to go with Wiltshire and

some other peers to Catharine's closet, and announce to her the King's displeasure, that, through her intrigues, the Pope had cited him to appear in Rome, against the dignity of his crown and state. In all the zeal of a repenting sinner, Norfolk heaped abuse on Catharine's head. The Queen repaid his heat with scorn. She stood on her rights. No English judge was free, no English court was likely to be just. Her advocates were subjects of the King. True judgment must be sought in Rome, and she would take no other verdict than the Pope's. They talked to her about the royal conscience. 'God grant the King,' she cried, a quiet conscience! This, my lords, shall be your answer: I am his wife; lawfully married to him by order of Holy Church and so I will abide until the court of Rome, which was privy to the beginning, shall have made an end.'

8. The hour of fate was come. On the 14th day of July, 1531, the King rode off from Windsor, leaving Catharine at the Castle, with an order that she must not follow him. For years he had been treating her as Dowager Princess of Wales. He wished to keep a separate house. He was a bachelor, the lawyers told him, and was weary of this clinging of a brother's widow to his skirts. Catharine might go into a convent, as her ghostly counsellors told her was the only course now left for her to take. If so, he offered her St. Albans as the place of her retirement from the world; if not, she had her choice,

not only of the manors settled on her by Prince Arthur, but a list of other places, such as Ampthill and the More. The King rode off to Hampton Court, while Catharine, with a proud and heavy heart, set out for Wolsey's palace at the More. 'Go where I may,' she said, 'I am his wife.' They never met again.

Book the Twenty-second.

THE NEW QUEEN.

CHAPTER I.

VICTORY.

1531-2.

1. FROM the moment of that parting in the hall at Windsor, Anne, though she remained at Durham House, was treated as Queen-elect. Ortiz wrote to say that Clement was about to launch an interdict; and Henry told the pontiff that unless his business were remitted to an English court, England would cease all intercourse with Rome. But neither Norfolk, Suffolk, nor their fellow-plotters, had the heart to rise. Younger than the dukes, Exeter caused some gentlemen to gather in Cornhill and the adjacent streets, and call on passers-by to rally for the Pope and Queen. In place of coming to their help, the citizens collared these gentlemen and swept them to the Tower. Exeter was seized on a charge of intending to leave the kingdom without a license,