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Several persons were burned to death about this time for professing the reformed doctrine, among whom was the young, beautiful and learned Anne Askew. She was a lady of honorable birth, who became a convert to the new faith, and was for that reason violently driven from her home by her cruel husband. Resuming her maiden name, she worked hard for her religion, and was aided by the first ladies at court. When it was discovered that she had sent books to the queen, she was singled out as a victim by those who hoped by means of torture to wring some confession from her by which Katharine might be charged with heresy or treason. But they were mistaken, for the heroic Anne Askew died at the stake like a true martyr, "with an angelic expression on her smiling countenance." Sir George Blagge was arrested also, but he happened to be one of the king's prime favorites, and was sometimes called by the endearing nickname of "pig." As soon as Henry heard of this arrest he sent for Wriothesley and rated him well, commanding him to draw up a pardon on the spot. On his release Blagge flew to thank his preserver, who on seeing him cried out, "Ah! my pig, are you here safe again!"
"Yes, sire," was the reply, "and if your majesty had not been better than your bishops your pig had been roasted ere this time."
The next attack was on the queen herself, whom Wriothesley and Gardiner had resolved to strike with a fatal blow. They told the king that her sister, Lady Herbert, not only read the books that he had prohibited, but also gave them to Katharine to read. Now it happened that the royal couple often conversed on theological subjects in their hours of domestic privacy, and Henry enjoyed his wife's ready wit and eloquence. She courted these subjects, because, knowing that he was suffering from an incurable malady, she felt it her duty to turn his mind heavenward.One day in the presence of Gardiner she went a little too far in opposing her lord's views, and as he was suffering with his leg he felt rather more irritable than usual. He therefore snappishly put a stop to the discussion; after making a few pleasant remarks Katharine left the room. "A good hearing it is," said Henry sharply, "when women become such clerks; and much to my comfort to come, in mine old age, to be taught by my wife!" Gardiner took advantage of the king's wounded vanity to insinuate things against his wife that he would not have dared to say a few days before. He flattered him on his knowledge of theology, and declared that his majesty excelled the princes of that age and every other, as well as all the professed doctors of divinity, so much that it was absurd for anybody to think of arguing with him as the queen had just done. He added that it was painful for any of his counsellors to hear it, because those who were so bold in words would not hesitate to commit any act of disobedience. In fact he so poisoned the king's mind as to gain from him a warrant to consult with others of his party about drawing up articles against the queen that might bring her head to the block. But they decided to begin with the ladies of the court whom she esteemed most, and to search their trunks and closets for something to charge Katharine with, and after they had found it to arrest her in the middle of the night and take her in a barge to the Tower.
All this time the queen suspected nothing, but continued her nursing of her husband and her religious discussions with him as before. One day an attendant of Katharine's picked up a paper in the gallery of Whitehall that Wriothesley had dropped. It contained a list of charges against the queen with an order for her arrest, and bore Henry's signature. The terrified woman had an attack of hysterics as soon as she became acquainted with the contents of thepaper; as her apartment was next to the king's he heard her shrieks and cries, and sent to inquire what was the matter. Her doctor informed the messenger that the queen was seriously ill, and that the cause seemed to be distress of mind. No doubt Henry realized how much he should miss her gentle nursing if she should die, so he determined to pay her a visit. Accordingly he was wheeled into her room in a chair, and was really alarmed when he saw how ill she looked. After a few minutes she assured him that his visit had greatly revived her, and at the same time expressed her regret at having seen so little of him for a few days, and her fears that she had unintentionally given him some cause for offence. Henry replied kindly and affectionately. Then she was so humble and loving in her manner that a reaction took place in the humor of her imperious lord, and he told the physician of the plot against the patient's life.
The next evening Katharine felt well enough to return the king's visit. She entered his room, attended by her sister, Lady Herbert, and the king's young niece, Lady Jane Grey, who carried the candles before her majesty. Henry welcomed her courteously, but in course of time tried to draw her into a religious argument as usual. She avoided the snare by observing, "that she was but a woman, with all the imperfections natural to the weakness of her sex, therefore in all matters of doubt and difficulty she must refer herself to his majesty's better judgment; for," she continued, "God hath appointed you supreme head of us all, and of you, next unto God, will I ever learn."
"Not so, by St. Mary!" cried the king, "ye are become a doctor, Kate, to instruct us, and not to be instructed of us, as oftentime we have seen."
"Indeed," replied she, "if your majesty have so conceivedmy meaning has been mistaken, for I have always held it preposterous for a woman to instruct her lord; and if I have ever presumed to differ with your highness on religion it was partly to gain information for my own comfort regarding certain nice points on which I stood in doubt, and sometimes because I perceived that in talking you were better able to pass away the pain and weariness of your present infirmity, which encouraged me to this boldness, in the hope of profiting by your majesty's learned discourse."
There was no limit to the flattery that this egotist could stand. With a complacent smile he replied, "And is it so, sweetheart? Then we are perfect friends." He then kissed her, and gave her leave to depart.
On the day appointed for her arrest the king felt better, and sent for her to take the air with him in the garden. She came attended by three ladies. Presently Wriothesley with forty armed men entered the garden with the intention of carrying the queen off to the Tower. But he had not been informed of the change in the king's mind. To his great surprise Henry received him with a burst of indignation, calling him beast, fool, and knave, and bidding him get out of his sight. Katharine tried to calm him, and begged forgiveness for her foe.
"Ah! poor soul," said the king, "thou little knowest, Kate, how evil he deserveth this grace at thy hands. On my word, sweetheart, he hath been to thee a very knave!"
Now if Katharine had not been a woman of forbearance and real virtue she would immediately have turned on her enemies when she had the king in her power, but instead of that she induced him to overlook Wriothesley's offence, but he never forgave Gardiner the blunder he had made, and not only struck his name from his council-book but forbade him his presence. Henry is said to have been very kindand affectionate to Katharine during his latter days, yet it was well-known that he was preparing another charge of heresy against her when death overtook him, and that she survived him only by special good luck.
A.D. 1547.Henry VIII. expired January 28, 1547, at the royal palace of Westminster, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.
When his will was opened Katharine was surprised and indignant to find that she was not appointed regent of the realm, with the care of the young King Edward VI., as she deserved to be.
The king's body lay in state for several days, and was then buried with great pomp in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
A few months after his death Katharine returned to her former lover, Sir Thomas Seymour, to whom she was married in the month of May, 1547. Her royal stepchildren were much pleased at this match, and continued their affection for Katharine throughout her life.
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