IX.
By what means Sir Thomas Wyat obtained an Interview with Anne Boleyn--And how the Earl of Surrey saved them from the King's anger.
The incident above related gave new life to the adherents of Catherineof Arragon, while it filled those devoted to Anne Boleyn with alarm.Immediately on Anne's return to the castle Lord Rochford had a privateinterview with her, and bitterly reproached her for endangering hersplendid prospects. Anne treated the matter very lightly--said it wasonly a temporary gust of jealousy--and added that the king would be ather feet again before the day was past.
"You are over-confident, mistress!" cried Rochford angrily. "Henry isnot an ordinary gallant."
"It is you who are mistaken, father," replied Anne. "The king differsin no respect from any of his love-smitten subjects. I have him in mytoils, and will not let him escape."
"You have a tiger in your toils, daughter, and take heed he breaks notforcibly through them," rejoined Rochford. "Henry is more wayward thanyou suppose him. Once let him take up a notion, and nothing can shakehim from it. He has resolved upon the divorce as much from self-will asfrom any other consideration. If you regain your position with him, ofwhich you seem so confident, do not consider yourself secure--not evenwhen you are crowned queen--but be warned by Catherine of Arragon."
"Catherine has not the art to retain him," said Anne. "Henry will neverdivorce me."
"Take care he does not rid himself of you in a more summary manner,daughter," rejoined Rochford. "If you would stand well with him, youmust study his lightest word, look, and action--humour him in everywhim--and yield to every caprice. Above all, you must exhibit nojealousy."
"You are wrong in all but the last, father," returned Anne. "Henry isnot to be pleased by such nice attention to his humours. It is becauseI have shown myself careless of them that I have captivated him. ButI will take care not to exhibit jealousy, and, sooth to say, I do notthink I shall have cause."
"Be not too sure of that," replied Rochford. "And at all events, let notthe king have cause to be jealous of you. I trust Wyat will be banishedfrom court. But if he is not, do not let him approach you more."
"Poor Sir Thomas!" sighed Anne. "He loved me very dearly."
"But what is his love compared to the king's?" cried Rochford. "Tut,tut, girl! think no more of him."
"I will not, my lord," she rejoined; "I see the prudence of yourcounsel, and will obey it. Leave me, I pray you. I will soon win backthe affections of the king."
No sooner had Rochford quitted the chamber than the arras at the fartherend was raised, and Wyat stepped from behind it. His first proceedingwas to bar the door.
"What means this, Sir Thomas?" cried Anne in alarm. "How have youobtained admittance here?"
"Through the secret staircase," replied Wyat, bending the knee beforeher.
"Rise, sir!" cried Anne, in great alarm. "Return, I beseech you, as youcame. You have greatly endangered me by coming here. If you are seen toleave this chamber, it will be in vain to assert my innocence to Henry.Oh, Sir Thomas! you cannot love me, or you would not have done this."
"Not love you, Anne!" he repeated bitterly; "not love you I Words cannotspeak my devotion. I would lay down my head on the scaffold to prove it.But for my love for you, I would throw open that door, and walk forth sothat all might see me--so that Henry might experience some part of theanguish I now feel."
"But you will not do so, good Sir Thomas--dear Sir Thomas," cried AnneBoleyn, in alarm.
"Have no fear," rejoined Wyat, with some contempt; "I will sacrificeeven vengeance to love."
"Sir Thomas, I had tolerated this too long," said Anne. "Begone--youterrify me."
"It is my last interview with you, Anne," said Wyat imploringly; "donot abridge it. Oh, bethink you of the happy hours we have passedtogether--of the vows we have interchanged--of the protestations youhave listened to, and returned--ay, returned, Anne. Are all theseforgotten?"
"Not forgotten, Sir Thomas," replied Anne mournfully; "but they must notbe recalled. I cannot listen to you longer. You must go. Heaven grantyou may get hence in safety!"
"Anne," replied Wyat in a sombre tone, "the thought of Henry's happinessdrives me mad. I feel that I am grown a traitor--that I could slay him."
"Sir Thomas!" she exclaimed, in mingled fear and anger.
"I will not go," he continued, flinging himself into a seat. "Let themput what construction they will upon my presence. I shall at least wringHenry's heart. I shall see him suffer as I have suffered; and I shall becontent."
"This is not like you, Wyat," cried Anne, in great alarm. "You were wontto be noble, generous, kind. You will not act thus disloyally?
"Who has acted disloyally, Anne?" cried Wyat, springing to his feet, andfixing his dark eyes, blazing with jealous fury, upon her--"you or I?Have you not sacrificed your old affections at the shrine of ambition?Are you not about to give yourself to one to whom--unless you areforesworn--you cannot give your heart? Better had you been the mistressof Allington Castle--better the wife of a humble knight like myself,than the queen of the ruthless Henry."
"No more of this, Wyat," said Anne.
"Better far you should perish by his tyranny for a supposed fault nowthan hereafter," pursued Wyat fiercely. "Think not Henry will respectyou more than her who had been eight-and-twenty years his wife. No;when he is tired of your charms--when some other dame, fair as yourself,shall enslave his fancy, he will cast you off, or, as your father trulyintimated, will seek a readier means of ridding himself of you. Then youwill think of the different fate that might have been yours if you hadadhered to your early love."
"Wyat! Wyat! I cannot bear this--in mercy spare me!" cried Anne.
"I am glad to see you weep," said Wyat; "your tears make you look morelike your former self."
"Oh, Wyat, do not view my conduct too harshly!" she said. "Few of my sexwould have acted other than I have done."
"I do not think so," replied Wyat sternly; "nor will I forego myvengeance. Anne, you shall die. You know Henry too well to doubt yourfate if he finds me here."
"You cannot mean this," she rejoined, with difficulty repressing ascream; "but if I perish, you will perish with me."
"I wish to do so," he rejoined, with a bitter laugh.
"Wyat," cried Anne, throwing herself on her knees before him, "by yourformer love for me, I implore you to spare me! Do not disgrace me thus."
But Wyat continued inexorable.
"O God!" exclaimed Anne, wringing her hands in agony. A terrible silenceensued, during which Anne regarded Wyat, but she could discern no changein his countenance.
At this juncture the tapestry was again raised, and the Earl of Surreyissued from it.
"You here, my lord?" said Anne, rushing towards him.
"I am come to save you, madame," said the earl. "I have been justliberated from arrest, and was about to implore your intercession withthe king, when I learned he had been informed by one of his pages thata man was in your chamber. Luckily, he knows not who it is, and while hewas summoning his attendants to accompany him, I hurried hither by thesecret staircase. I have arrived in time. Fly--fly! Sir Thomas Wyat!"
But Wyat moved not.
At this moment footsteps were heard approaching the door--the handlewas tried--and the stern voice of the king was heard commanding that itmight be opened.
"Will you destroy me, Wyat?" cried Anne.
"You have destroyed yourself," he rejoined.
"Why stay you here, Sir Thomas?" said Surrey, seizing his arm. "You mayyet escape. By heaven! if you move not, I will stab you to the heart!"
"You would do me a favour, young man," said Wyat coldly; "but I will go.I yield to love, and not to you, tyrant!" he added, shaking his handat the door. "May the worst pangs of jealously rend your heart!" And hedisappeared behind the arras.
"I hear voices," cried Henry from without. "God's death! madam, open thedoor--or I will burst it open!"
"Oh, heaven! what is to be done?" cried Anne Boley
n, in despair.
"Open the door, and leave all to me, madam," said Surrey; "I will saveyou, though it cost me my life!"
Anne pressed his hand, with a look of ineffable gratitude, and Surreyconcealed himself behind the arras.
The door was opened, and Henry rushed in, followed by Richmond, Norfolk,Suffolk, and a host of attendants.
"Ah! God's death! where is the traitor?" roared the king, gazing round.
"Why is my privacy thus broken upon?" said Anne, assuming a look ofindignation.
"Your privacy!" echoed Henry, in a tone of deep derision--"Your privacy!--ha!--ha! You bear yourself bravely, it must be confessed. My lords,you heard the voices as well as myself. Where is Sir Thomas Wyat?"
"He is not here," replied Anne firmly.
"Aha! we shall see that, mistress," rejoined Henry fiercely. "But if SirThomas Wyat is not here, who is? for I am well assured that some one ishidden in your chamber."
"What if there be?" rejoined Anne coldly.
"Ah! by Saint Mary, you confess it!" cried the king. "Let the traitorcome forth."
"Your majesty shall not need to bid twice," said Surrey, issuing fromhis concealment.
"The Earl of Surrey!" exclaimed Henry, in surprise. "How come you here,my lord? Methought you were under arrest at the guard-house."
"He was set free by my orders," said the Duke of Richmond.
"First of all I must entreat your majesty to turn your resentmentagainst me," said the earl. "I am solely to blame, and I would not havethe Lady Anne suffer for my fault. I forced myself into her presence.She knew not of my coming."
"And wherefore did you so, my lord?" demanded Henry sternly.
"Liberated from the guard-house at the Duke of Richmond's instance, myliege, I came to entreat the Lady Anne to mediate between me andyour majesty, and to use her influence with your highness to have mebetrothed to the Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald."
"Is this so, madam?" asked the king.
Anne bowed her head.
"But why was the door barred?" demanded Henry, again frowningsuspiciously.
"I barred it myself," said Surrey, "and vowed that the Lady Anne shouldnot go forth till she had granted my request."
"By our lady you have placed yourself in peril, my lord," said Henrysternly.
"Your majesty will bear in mind his youth," said the Duke of Norfolkanxiously.
"For my sake overlook the indiscretion," cried the Duke of Richmond.
"It will not, perhaps, avail him to hope that it may be overlooked formine," added Anne Boleyn.
"The offence must not pass unpunished," said Henry musingly. "My lord ofSurrey, you must be content to remain for two months a prisoner in theRound Tower of this castle."
"Your majesty!" cried Richmond, bending the knee in supplication.
"The sentence is passed," replied Henry coldly; "and the earl may thankyou it is not heavier. Richmond, you will think no more of the fairGeraldine; and it is my pleasure, Lady Anne, that the young damewithdraw from the court for a short while."
"Your majesty shall be obeyed," said Anne; "but--"
"But me no buts, sweetheart," said the king peremptorily. "Surrey'sexplanation is satisfactory so far as it goes, but I was told Sir ThomasWyat was here."
"Sir Thomas Wyat is here," said Will Sommers, pointing out the knight,who had just joined the throng of courtiers at the door.
"I have hurried hither from my chamber, my liege," said Wyat, steppingforward, "hearing there was some inquiry concerning me."
"Is your majesty now satisfied?" asked Anne Boleyn.
"Why, ay, sweetheart, well enough," rejoined Henry. "Sir Thomas Wyat,we have a special mission for you to the court of our brother of France.You will set out to-morrow."
Wyat bowed.
"You have saved your head, gossip," whispered Will Sommers in theknight's ear. "A visit to Francis the First is better than a visit tothe Tower."
"Retire, my lords," said Henry to the assemblage; "we owe some apologyto the Lady Anne for our intrusion, and desire an opportunity to makeit."
Upon this the chamber was instantly cleared of its occupants, and theEarl of Surrey was conducted, under a guard, to the Round Tower.
Henry, however, did not find it an easy matter to make peace with theLady Anne. Conscious of the advantage she had gained, she determined notto relinquish it, and, after half an hour's vain suing, her royal loverproposed a turn in the long gallery, upon which her apartments opened.Here they continued conversing--Henry pleading in the most passionatemanner, and Anne maintaining a show of offended pride.
At last she exhibited some signs of relenting, and Henry led her intoa recess in the gallery, lighted by a window filled with magnificentstained glass. In this recess was a seat and a small table, on whichstood a vase filled with flowers, arranged by Anne's own hand; and herethe monarch hoped to adjust his differences with her.
Meanwhile, word having reached Wolsey and Campeggio of the new cause ofjealousy which the king had received, it was instantly resolved that theformer should present to him, while in his present favourable mood, adespatch received that morning from Catherine of Arragon.
Armed with the letter, Wolsey repaired to the king's closet. Not findinghim there, and being given to understand by an usher that he was inthe great gallery, he proceeded thither. As he walked softly alongthe polished oak floor, he heard voices in one of the recesses, anddistinguished the tones of Henry and Anne Boleyn.
Henry was clasping the snowy fingers of his favourite, and gazingpassionately at her, as the cardinal approached.
"Your majesty shall not detain my hand," said Anne, "unless you swear tome, by your crown, that you will not again be jealous without cause."
"I swear it," replied Henry.
"Were your majesty as devoted to me as you would have me believe, youwould soon bring this matter of the divorce to an issue," said Anne.
"I would fain do so, sweetheart," rejoined Henry; "but these cardinalsperplex me sorely."
"I am told by one who overheard him, that Wolsey has declared thedivorce shall not be settled these two years," said Anne; "in which caseit had better not be settled at all; for I care not to avow I cannotbrook so much delay. The warmth of my affection will grow icy cold bythat time."
"It were enough to try the patience of the most forbearing," rejoinedthe king, smiling--"but it shall not be so--by this lily hand it shallnot! And now, sweetheart, are we entirely reconciled?
"Not yet," replied Anne. "I shall claim a boon from your majesty beforeI accord my entire forgiveness."
"Name it," said the king, still clasping her hand tenderly, andintoxicated by the witchery of her glance.
"I ask an important favour," said Anne, "but as it is one which willbenefit your majesty as much as myself, I have the less scruple inrequesting it. I ask the dismissal of one who has abused your favour,who, by his extortion and rapacity, has in some degree alienated theaffections of your subjects from you, and who solely opposes yourdivorce from Catherine of Arragon because he fears my influence may beprejudicial to him."
"You cannot mean Wolsey?" said Henry uneasily.
"Your majesty has guessed aright," replied Anne.
"Wolsey has incurred my displeasure oft of late," said Henry; "and yethis fidelity--"
"Be not deceived, my liege," said Anne; "he is faithful to you only sofar as serves his turn. He thinks he rules you."
Before Henry could reply, the cardinal stepped forward.
"I bring your majesty a despatch, just received from the queen," hesaid.
"And you have been listening to our discourse?" rejoined Henry sternly."You have overheard--"
"Enough to convince me, if I had previously doubted it, that the LadyAnne Boleyn is my mortal foe," replied Wolsey.
"Foe though I am, I will make terms with your eminence," said Anne."Expedite the divorce--you can do so if you will--and I am your fastfriend."
"I know too well the value of your friendship, noble lady, not to do allin my power to
gain it," replied Wolsey. "I will further the matter, ifpossible. But it rests chiefly in the hands of his holiness Pope Clementthe Seventh."
"If his majesty will listen to my counsel, he will throw off the pope'syoke altogether," rejoined Anne. "Nay, your eminence may frown at meif you will. Such, I repeat, shall be my counsel. If the divorce isspeedily obtained, I am your friend: if not--look to yourself."
"Do not appeal to me, Wolsey," said Henry, smiling approval at Anne; "Ishall uphold her."
"Will it please your majesty to peruse this despatch?" said Wolsey,again offering Catherine's letter.
"Take it to my closet," replied the king; "I will join you there. Andnow at last we are good friends, sweetheart."
"Excellent friends, my dear liege," replied Anne; "but I shall never beyour queen while Wolsey holds his place."
"Then, indeed, he shall lose it," replied Henry.
"She is a bitter enemy, certes," muttered Wolsey as he walked away. "Imust overthrow her quickly, or she will overthrow me. A rival must befound--ay, a rival--but where? I was told that Henry cast eyes on acomely forester's daughter at the chase this morning. She may do for thenonce."
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