Why," said the Cardinal, "thinkest thou that the King and I know not what we have to do in as weighty a matter as this?" "Forsooth, my lord," said Percy, who had little strength of mind, "I will submit myself to the King and your Grace in this matter, my conscience being discharged of a weighty burden thereof." But though he thus yielded, his best affections were crushed, and he burst into tears. "Well, then," said Wolsey, "I will send for your father out of the north, and in the mean season I charge thee that thou resort no more unto her company, as thou wilt abide the King's indignation." Wolsey accordingly sent for the Earl of Northumberland, who having repaired to his house, had a long discourse with him, and afterwards sent for his son into the gallery, where he sat on the bench used by the serving-men, while the mortified youth stood before him unbonnetted, to hear a long re proachful lecture in the presence of the proud Cardinal's servants, who were called on to mark what was said, and not to fail in reminding the young Lord of his faults: and then the father desiring him to go his ways to his Lord and Master (Wolsey), and serve him diligently, went away, and an end was soon put to the engagement of Percy and Anne Boleyn. Lord Percy had very little decision of character, a needful qualification for men, although generally connected with want of amiableness in woman. He was frightened into an agreement to give up Anne, and to marry the lady to whom he had been, without his consent, contracted in childhood. But this circumstance made Anne Boleyn the implacable enemy of Cardinal Wolsey: and Percy neither forgot the wrong he had suffered from him, nor the attachment he had felt to her. Percy was obliged to complete the mar riage immediately which his father had made for him, with the Earl of Shrewsbury's daughter; though, had it been delayed a little, he would have been freed by his father's death. Little ceremony, and probably as little time, was used in patching up these unhappy nuptials. As might be expected, they were most unfortunate. Henry, the unthrifty Earl of Northumberland, died at Hackney, in the prime of life, about ten years after he had consented to this marriage. Of this term but a very small portion was spent in the company of his lady. He lived long enough, however, to witness not only the destruction of his own happiness, but the sad termination of Anne Boleyn's life..... "His widow sequestered herself from the world at Wormhill, on the banks of the Derbyshire Wye, amidst some of the sublimest scenery of the Peak."* *Note to Cavendish's Life of Wolsey. CHAPTER IV. Prepare her ears, to hear a lover's tale, SHAKSPEARE. NNE was deeply grieved at the loss of her lover, as well as at losing the agreeable prospect Northumberland. of being one day Countess of Not being aware of the King's sentiments towards her, she attributed her misfortunes entirely to Cardinal Wolsey, whose pride, arrogance, and power had then E reached an unexampled height. However, to her further mortification, and perhaps surprise, she received orders to retire from court, and withdraw from the Queen's service to her father's abode. To quit the circle of which she was the admiration and the envy, and retire with a wounded and disappointed heart to the solitude of Hever Castle, must have been very bitter to a girl who was now probably unable to find happiness in the repose of domestic life. Happy is the woman whose desires, hopes, and affections never roam beyond it, except to extend themselves to heaven! To all the finer and better feelings of female nature nothing can be more destructive than a thirst for general admiration, which increases by being gratified; and when that gratification is withdrawn, preys, like a feverish and fretting disease, upon the once light, but now disappointed and weary heart. We can easily picture to ourselves the |