favoured with the friendship of Anne, whom they served with zeal and attachment. The jealousy of the king, which had no particular facts for its foundation, seized on the slightest circumstances: it was the jealousy of pride rather than of love, that, subject to no alternations of suspicion and remorse, is stern, severe, and unrelenting.

A passion for a new object had vanquished, in the heart of a capricious despot, the small remains of tenderness for Anne, who was supplanted in the affections of her husband by Jane, daughter of sir John Seymour, a young lady of singular beauty and merit. Henry, whose gallantries always sought a legal gratification, was little scrupulous in the sacrifices which they exacted from him, while he plunged himself into crimes of an infinitely deeper dye than those he appeared so anxious to avoid. By the desire of raising to his bed and throne the new object of his fancy, he was induced to lend an eager ear to every suggestion, however lightly founded, that tended to criminate the unhappy Anne.

His jealousy, over which he secretly brooded, first manifested itself at a tournament at Greenwich, where the queen having let fall her handkerchief, he construed this accident into a signal of gallantry, and retiring instantly from

the place, sent orders to confine her to her chamber. Norris, Brereton, Weston, and Smeton, were, together with the viscount Rocheford, immediately arrested and thrown into prison. Anne, astonished at this violence and injustice, on an occasion so slight and inadequate, was willing to persuade herself that the king meant merely to try her; but, convinced at length that he was but too much in earnest, she reflected seriously on his inflexible temper, and prepared herself for what

was to ensue.

She was the next day sent to the Tower, and, on her way thither, informed of what she had till then been unconscious, the crimes and misdemeanors alleged against her. Unaffectedly astonished at the atrocity of the accusation, she made earnest protestations of her innocence, and, as she entered the prison, fell on her knees, and called God to witness how guiltless she was of the offences so lightly imputed to her charge. Thrown, by surprise and confusion, into an hysterical malady, she frankly confessed, in the intervals of the disorder, some levities and indis cretions which her vivacity had incited her to commit, and of which the simplicity of the confession afforded a proof of her innocence. She owned, that she had once rallied Norris on his de

laying to marry, by telling him that he probably waited till she should become a widow. She had also, she said, reproved Weston for his attentions to a kinswoman of hers, and his indifference towards his wife: when he had told her, in reply, that she had mistaken the object of his affections, and intimated, that it was herself to whom he was devoted. But this temerity had not, she declared, been suffered to pass without a severe reproof. She also affirmed, that Smeton had been only twice in her chamber, both times to play on her harpsichord: yet, she acknowledged, that he had once had the presumption to tell her, 'that a look sufficed him.' The king, predetermined to find her guilty, considered these confessions, not as proofs of her simplicity and candour, but as presumptive evidence of her guilt.

The sweetness and beneficence of Anne's temper had, during her prosperity, made her numberless friends; but, in her falling fortunes, no one afforded her either assistance or support; no one even attempted to interpose between her and the fury of the king; she, whose appearance had dressed every face in smiles, was now abandoned, unpitied and alone, to her adverse destiny. Her uncle, the duke of Norfolk, with whom the connections of party were stronger than those of

-blood, appeared among her most implacable enemies. The catholics trusted, that by her death the king's quarrel with Rome would be accommodated; that he would resume his natural bent, and return to the bosom of the church. Cranmer only, of all the adherents of Anne, still retained for her his friendship; and, by every means within his power, sought to soften the animosity of the king. Anne addressed to her husband a letter from the Tower, of tender expostulation and complaint, full of protestations of her innocence; of which the following is a literal copy:

" SIR,

"Your grace's displeasure and my imprison ment are things so strange unto me, as what to write or what to excuse I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you send unto me (willing me to confess a truth, and so obtain your favour) by such an one whom you know to be mine ancient professed enemy, I no sooner received this message by him than I rightly conceived your mean, ing; and if, as you say, confessing a truth indeed may procure my safety, I shall with all willingness and duty perform your command.

"But let not your grace ever imagine that

your poor wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a fault where not so much as. a thought thereof preceded. And, to speak a truth, never prince had wife more loyal in all duty, and in all true affection, than you have ever found in Anne Boleyn: With which name and place I could willingly have contented myself, if God and your grace's pleasure had been so pleased. Neither did I at any time so far forget myself in my exaltation or received queenship, but that I always looked for such an alteration as I now find; for the ground of my preferment being on no surer foundation than your grace's fancy, the least alteration I knew was fit and sufficient to draw that fancy to some other object. You have chosen me from a low estate to be your queen and companion, far beyond my desert or desire. If then you found me worthy of such honour, good your grace let not any light fancy, or bad counsel of mine enemies, withdraw your princely favour from me; neither let that stain, that unworthy stain, of a disloyal heart towards your good grace, ever cast so foul a blot on your most dutiful wife, and the infant princess your daughter. Try me, good king, but let me have a lawful trial, and let not my sworn enemies sit as my accusers and judges; yea let me receive an open trial, for my