opinion that matrimony contracted by pledge of troth was matrimony before God. As to the second point, he and his authorities were of opinion that such marriage was not consummate, as the word was used alike by laymen and divines. laymen and divines. With this expression of opinion, Cromwell seemed to rest content, and Cranmer's notes were carefully laid up for future

use.

4. Percy was sought again. If he would say that something in the nature of a troth had passed between himself and Lady Anne in the old days when they were lovers, Henry might sue for a divorce on the ground of Anne's pre-contract with the Border chief. A chance remained that Percy might oblige the King. When parting from his love, Percy had told Wolsey and written to Melton, that he held a promise' from Anne 'which none could loose but God.' Cromwell knew of the words spoken to Wolsey, and had a copy of the letter written to Melton. Percy might be forced to choose between his own opposing words. Since he was sworn in the royal chapel, Anne had been arrested and condemned. No word of his could harm her now. In freeing Henry from his queen, Percy might also free himself from his countess. This temptation No nup

to regain his freedom would be great. tial yoke had ever been more galling than his own; yet he had only to declare that what he said to Wolsey and wrote to Melton was true, in order to dissolve his wretched union with his wife. Sir

Raynold Carnaby, a kinsman of the Percies, was sent to him; yet nothing could be drawn from the great Border chief in prejudice of Anne. 'This shall be to signify unto you,' he wrote, 'that I perceive by Sir Raynold Carnaby that there is supposed a pre-contract between the Queen and me; whereupon I was not only heretofore examined upon my oath before the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, but also received the blessed Sacrament upon the same before the Duke of Norfolk, and other the King's highness' council learned in the spiritual law; assuring you, Mr. Secretary, by the said oath, and blessed body which afore I received, and hereafter intend to receive, that the same may be to my damnation, if ever there were any contract or promise of marriage between her and me.'

5. Foiled at Newington Green, Cromwell turned his eyes towards Kilkenny Castle. Butler was living. If anything in the nature of a pledge were proved to have passed between the Queen and Lord Butler, Cranmer might be made to sign a sentence of divorce. Some paper, it was likely, had been drawn by Wolsey's orders, and was now in Cromwell's hands. How far that contract bound the lady was for canonists, not for statesmen, to declare. The King knew all about it, but until he wanted a divorce from Anne that question was not raised. If either Anne or James confessed to having given a pledge, the point desired by Henry, and the members of his family would be gained. But James was at

Kilkenny Castle, and the matter could not wait for his reply, for only twenty days remained before the Houses met. The Queen must be assailed. Cranmer, loving the Queen for the love she bore to God and his Gospel,' was anxious to preserve her life. In any effort to preserve her life, the King might reckon on his utmost zeal. He paddled to the Tower. Cranmer probably put the matter to her as a father might have put it to his child. She was about to die. An axe would soon divorce her from the King. If any word had passed between her and another man, in her old maiden days, that word might be enough to save her. Had that saving word been spoken?

6. After seeing her in private, the Archbishop called his court, inviting both the King and Queen to answer, either in their persons or by means of their attorneys. Henry appointed Sampson to appear for him; Anne appointed Barbour and Wotton to appear for her. Audley, Sussex, Oxford, and Cromwell, pushed across the Thames, in order to appear as witnesses. A crowd of lawyers, canonists, and priests attended. Cranmer received the parties in his full pontifical robes, and led them to a dark and grave-like chapel in the crypt. There he held his court. Taking his seat, with his assessors on his right and left, he opened the proceedings. Sampson asked for sentence; Barbour and Wotton asked for sentence. Cranmer then addressed the court. For certain just and lawful causes, only lately brought

to light, and after full inquiry, with the help of learned counsel, he declared that the marriage formerly made between the King and Lady Anne was null and void.

7. This sentence of divorce, as he foresaw, completely changed the aspect of affairs. No longer Queen, Anne was now Lady Anne Boleyn, Marchioness of Pembroke. She was not the King's wife, and it was held that she had never been his wife. The legal consequences were that the late trial was void, the condemnation quashed. She had been tried as Queen when she was not a Queen. She had been sentenced for alleged offences against the King, as being her husband, when the King, as now declared, had never been her husband. If the marriage was of no effect, Anne, not being Henry's wife, had been unable to commit a conjugal offence against him. If the sentence of divorce were right, the trial for adultery was wrong; and any verdict given in consequence was void in law. Cranmer had every reason to suppose his judgment would be followed by an order for Lady Anne's release. Twelve hours after his sentence was pronounced, that order reached the Tower-an order for her execution on the following day!

CHAPTER IX.

AGONY.

1536.

1. KNEELING before a crucifix, Anne spent her last few hours on earth. The agony was sharp, and mocked with hope, for in her darkest hour, she had been led to think her 'contract' with another man had saved her from a cruel pang. She seemed to sicken and grow faint; for she was weak with all a woman's weakness, even as she was strong with all a woman's strength. Two lives depended, more or less, on hers; that of a good old man who would be sure, in spite of his brave heart, to follow in her wake; and that of a young child, too small as yet to understand her grief. For these dear objects of her love, she would have held no sacrifice too great. In speaking to her ladies, she had mentioned Antwerp as the town to which she might retire. Antwerp was the city of her soul, a refuge of reformers, a stronghold of the printing-press, a magazine of English Bibles. She would seek that haven on the Scheldt. But when the news came in that, whether she were guilty or not, whether she