put on trial, and found guilty of misprision of treason. Fisher and More were also tried, convicted, and condemned. Abell was lodged in prison till the King made known his will. Fisher and More were spared this misery; one from the reverence due to age and virtue, the other in respect for wit and scholarship. The Queen was busy in their cause. Her power was less than it had been a year ago; the King being vexed with her because she had not borne a son. Untrue to her in heart, he was beginning to roam after prettier faces, and a prettier face than Anne's was seen in every street. The 'spirit,' that in his better days had seemed to him so 'worthy of a crown,' was ceasing to amuse him, and his temper was become so fierce and sullen, that the slightest contradiction brought the menacing thunder to his brow. It was no craven fear, but a true knowledge of the King, which led her uncle Norfolk to declare that her free speech would be the ruin of his house. One momentary gleam of hope restored her to his heart, and in that moment of returning fondness she renewed her plea for mercy. She was heard. For her sake, some of the prisoners were discharged, and others, whom the council dared not set at liberty, received more lenient usage. Fisher and More were pardoned. Abell, expecting the fate of Rich and Gould, was handed to Kingston, and received a lodging in the state apartments of Beauchamp Tower.

7. Anne knew that Henry was finding a fairer face than hers in that of Jane Seymour, daughter of

Sir John Seymour, of Wolf Hall, in Wiltshire. A scheming girl, Jane Seymour threw her eyes at Henry and engaged him in a love intrigue. At thirty-four, Anne was no longer young; yet whispers of her condition brought her husband back, a fond yet faithless lover, to her side. Unhappily for Anne, this gleam of hope died out. Jane courted him, as though he were again a bachelor, and wore his portrait on her bosom, even in presence of the Queen. When Anne complained, the truant told her, and repeated what he said to others, so that pages and abigails might know, 'that she ought to be content with what he had done for her, since, if he had to do it over again, he would not marry her at all!' Anne led so sad a life, that some of those who loved her least were outraged by the airs of Jane. Mary was blinded by her passions; so that she stooped to court the favourite, who affected to be her friend and patroness. 'Keep up your heart,' Jane wrote to Mary, 'your misfortunes are almost ended; when the opportunity arrives, you may rely on me.' Chapuys reported all these underground intrigues as signs of Anne's approaching fall.

8. Mary imagined she might now defy 'the concubine.' When Henry sent an order for his children to come to Greenwich, Mary's jealousy was roused by the question of precedence. If she travelled with Elizabeth through the streets, one must go before the other; and she feared that, as the royal servants would obey their orders, and carry her sister first,

she might appear to have yielded the foremost place. Her mother's genius for the stage came in to help her. Elizabeth was to be carried in a litter; she insisted on being carried in a litter also. Elizabeth's litter was to be rose-colour, fringed with gold; she insisted on her litter being painted rose-colour, and fringed with gold. At starting, she tried to get out first. On reaching the door, she found the infant going out, and was obliged to follow; but she made her people run, and passing her sister on the road, arrived at Greenwich first. Chapuys was quickly at her side, not openly, with the King's knowledge, but in secrecy and in disguise.

9. A trial proved to Chapuys that his party held the keys of power. When James fell back, and peace was made, Dacres, the busiest traitor in the Border country, was arrested and conveyed to town. His goods were seized, and after brief examination by the council he was carried to the Tower. True bills were found against him in the usual form. As no one could recall a case in which the peers had undone the finding of a grand jury, Dacres was regarded as a lost man. But Dacres was a friend of Spain. If Henry gave a sign, Dacres was dead; but with a plain wife pulling one way, and a pretty mistress the other way, would Henry make that sign? Chapuys spoke of this approaching trial as a test. Would Henry allow his peers to snatch their colleague from the block? Dacres had many friends. Shrewsbury was his father-in-law. Cumberland and Northumber

land were his brothers-in-law. Suffolk and Norfolk were his comrades in the council and in the camp. Pole, Courtney, Grey, and Stanley stood around him. Cromwell used high language, but those high and mighty plotters held this blacksmith's son in great contempt. Norfolk managed the affair. Twenty-four peers, all favourable to Dacres, were selected by him as triers. Norfolk presided. Kingston brought up his prisoner, with the usual pageantries of barge, and guard, and axe, when Dacres, standing at the bar, addressed his judges in a lofty tone. Chapuys was waiting near the hall, while the French ambassador watched the proceedings in disguise. The peers acquitted Dacres, and the Savoyard hastened to inform his master that a victory was won for Spain. The Lady was against him, because he has always carried the Queen's quarrel; and it is the first time a man has been acquitted for upwards of a hundred years.' The friends of Spain felt strong enough to bear down every one. Cromwell, some one said, might give them trouble. If he dares to lift his hand,' growled Norfolk, 'we shall serve him as we served the Cardinal.'

CHAPTER IX.

SWORD AND BLOCK.

1534-5.

1. IMPERIAL emissaries met with more success among the Irish septs than in the Scottish clans. Kildare was with them heart and soul, and being Lord Deputy, he could make his preparations for a great revolt at leisure, step by step. His first act was to disarm Dublin, by removing all the guns. Some of these guns were carried to his castles of Maynooth and Ley; others were given to such Irish comrades as the O'Connors and O'Neills. Desmond and other rebels were encouraged, and attempts were made to win the Butlers over. Skeffington, though supplanted by Kildare, was still in Ireland with his troops, a small, but gallant corps, not easily resisted in the open field. His presence in the island made the deputy cautious. Lady Kildare came over to London, bringing her little daughter, afterwards so famous as Surrey's Fair Geraldine. Norfolk was a friend of Lady Kildare, and Geraldine was a visitor at Howard House. On Skeffington's report, Kildare was summoned to a conference with the council.