“Anne, what will happen to these men?”
“I know not. Dr. London is preparing a case against them.”
“Dr. London! That rogue. He was Cromwell’s man. That is he, is it not? He roamed the countryside and turned the monks from their monasteries while he took their treasure.”
“He took those treasures for his master, Kate. He is a man without principles. Then he worked against the Catholic monks; now he works for Catholic Gardiner and the King’s Secretary, Wriothesley. He is wily; he is clever and he is unscrupulous. What is to become of these men, I do not know. They say they have found Marbeck’s notes on the Bible. That will ensure a fiery death for him.”
“But, Anne, the King has a fondness for Marbeck. He complimented him on his singing.”
“Gardiner has no fondness for Marbeck’s religious views.”
“The King is all-powerful.”
“But, Kate, Gardiner will show that Marbeck has disobeyed the King’s orders. I am afraid… desperately afraid. Not only for these men… but for you.”
“We must help them, Anne. We cannot let them die.”
“Let well alone. Listen to me, dearest Kate. Remember those who went before you. You have the King’s favor now. Keep it. Do everything you can to keep it, and stay away from trouble.”
“But I must do everything I can for these men, Anne.”
“You tempt Fate.”
“No, Anne. I must prove my courage in this. I have to acquire courage. Something within me tells me this. If I fail now I should fail later.”
“Later?” said Anne Herbert fearfully.
“Anne, there may come a time when I shall have to be very brave indeed.” Katharine put her arm about her sister. “Speak what is in your mind, dearest. You talk of four men of Windsor, and you think of two Queens. Remember, I have an advantage over them. I know what happened to them; though they, poor souls, had no indications of what they would come to. All will be well, I promise you. The King is fond of me and he grows fonder.”
“Dearest sister,” said Anne, “I would that you were merely my sister and not my Queen.”
IN THE DARKNESS of the royal bedchamber the Queen whispered to the King: “My Lord, you are pleased with me?”
The King’s laugh was a deep, satisfied rumble.
“Your Grace has been good to me.”
“Well, sweetheart, that is what I would wish to be to one who pleases me as you do.”
“In my happiness I think of others less happy.”
“That’s like you, Kate. You’re a kind woman.”
“I trust my ways do not displease you.”
“And what is all this talk of pleasing and displeasing? It seems that women talk in this way when they would ask a favor.”
“You are clever. You follow the workings of my mind.”
“I am well versed, Kate, in the ways of women.”
“It is of those men of Windsor so recently arrested that I think. They have been condemned to the flames.”
The King grunted. This was no time to talk of state matters. He wished Kate would ask for something for herself, some ornament, some fancy velvets to make a gown. Now, first, she must ask that his daughters might be reinstated; then she must ask for money for them. He had given way to her there. Now she was going to plead for these heretics who were condemned to die.
“Poor Marbeck!” she said.
“Aye!” said the King. “Poor Marbeck.” The man had an enchanting voice. A plague on Gardiner for arresting him. Why should he interfere with the King’s pleasure? For Marbeck, with his pleasant singing, had brought pleasure to his King. “It would be well if Marbeck’s accusers spent their time in no worse way than he does,” growled Henry.
Katharine felt exultant. “Your Majesty will pardon this man?”
Henry himself had been thinking of doing that; but he was not going to say that he would immediately. Katharine was going to ask a pardon for all four, and he did not wish to pardon them all. He was not going to allow men to act with impunity against himself; and these men, in acting against laws which he had approved, were acting against him.
Blood must flow, he reasoned. If any lift the mildest voice against the King’s command, blood must flow …or, as in this case, flesh must burn.
He could not therefore pardon all the offenders; but he liked Marbeck. What if he gave Marbeck to Katharine? But the other three would have to go to Gardiner.
“Kate,” he said, “this man has been condemned. Books have been found in his house.”
He felt the Queen’s shiver, and he knew that, had he allowed those men to search her apartments, they would have found similar books there. Well well, let her read her books for the time being; it was pleasant to discourse with a woman of good sense.
“Pardon them, my dearest lord,” pleaded Katharine. “Show your clemency.”
