Windsor Castle
Page 33
VIII.
Showing the Vacillations of the King between Wolsey and Anne Boleyn.
Before returning to the state apartments, Henry took a turn on theramparts on the north side of the castle, between the Curfew Towerand the Winchester Tower, and lingered for a short time on the bastioncommanding that part of the acclivity where the approach, called theHundred Steps, is now contrived. Here he cautioned the sentinels to bedoubly vigilant throughout the night, and having gazed for a moment atthe placid stream flowing at the foot of the castle, and tinged with thelast rays of the setting sun, he proceeded to the royal lodgings, andentered the banquet chamber, where supper was already served.
Wolsey sat on his right hand, but he did not vouchsafe him a singleword, addressing the whole of his discourse to the Duke of Suffolk, whowas placed on his left. As soon as the repast was over, he retired tohis closet. But the cardinal would not be so repulsed, and sent one ofhis gentlemen to crave a moment's audience of the king, which with somereluctance was accorded.
"Well, cardinal," cried Henry, as Wolsey presented himself, and theusher withdrew. "You are playing a deep game with me, as you think; buttake heed, for I see through it." "I pray you dismiss these suspicionsfrom your mind, my liege," said Wolsey. "No servant was ever morefaithful to his master than I have been to you."
"No servant ever took better care of himself," cried the king fiercely."Not alone have you wronged me to enrich yourself, but you are everintriguing with my enemies. I have nourished in my breast a viper; but Iwill cast you off--will crush you as I would the noxious reptile."
And he stamped upon the floor, as if he could have trampled the cardinalbeneath his foot.
"Beseech you calm yourself, my liege," replied Wolsey, in the soft anddeprecatory tone which he had seldom known to fail with the king. "Ihave never thought of my own aggrandisement, but as it was likely toadvance your power. For the countless benefits I have received at yourhands, my soul overflows with gratitude. You have raised me from themeanest condition to the highest. You have made me your confidant, youradviser, your treasurer, and with no improper boldness I say it, yourfriend. But I defy the enemies who have poisoned your ears against me,to prove that I have ever abused the trust placed in me. The sole faultthat can be imputed to me is, that I have meddled more with temporalmatters than with spiritual, and it is a crime for which I must answerbefore Heaven. But I have so acted because I felt that I might therebybest serve your highness. If I have aspired to the papal throne--whichyou well know I have--it has been that I might be yet a more powerfulfriend to your majesty, and render you what you are entitled to be, thefirst prince in Christendom."
"Tut, tut!" exclaimed the king, who was, nevertheless, moved by theartful appeal.
"The gifts I have received from foreign princes," pursued Wolsey, seeingthe effect he had produced, "the wealth I have amassed, have all beenwith a view of benefiting your majesty." "Humph!" exclaimed the king.
"To prove that I speak the truth, sire," continued the wily cardinal,"the palace at Hampton Court, which I have just completed--"
"And at a cost more lavish than I myself should have expended on it,"interrupted the king angrily.
"If I had destined it for myself, I should not have spent a tithe ofwhat I have done," rejoined Wolsey. "Your highness's unjust accusationsforce me to declare my intentions somewhat prematurely. Deign," hecried, throwing at the king's feet, "deign to accept that palace and allwithin it. You were pleased, during your late residence there, to expressyour approval of it. And I trust it will find equal favour in your eyes,now that it is your own."
"By holy Mary, a royal gift!" cried Henry. "Rise, You are not thegrasping, selfish person you have been represented."
"Declare as much to my enemies, sire, and I shall be more content. Youwill find the palace better worth acceptance than at first sight mightappear."
"How so?" cried the king.
"Your highness will be pleased to take this key," said the cardinal; "itis the key of the cellar."
"You have some choice wine there," cried Henry significantly; "given youby some religious house, or sent you by some foreign potentate, ha!"
"It is wine that a king might prize," replied the cardinal. "Yourmajesty will find a hundred hogsheads in that cellar, and each hogsheadfilled with gold."
"You amaze me!" cried the king, feigning astonishment. "And all this youfreely give me?"
"Freely and fully, sire," replied Wolsey. "Nay, I have saved it for you.Men think I have cared for myself, whereas I have cared only for yourmajesty. Oh! my dear liege, by the devotion I have just approved to you,and which I would also approve, if needful, with my life, I beseech youto consider well before you raise Anne Boleyn to the throne. In givingyou this counsel, I know I hazard the favour I have just regained. Buteven at that hazard, I must offer it. Your infatuation blinds you tothe terrible consequences of the step. The union is odious to all yoursubjects, but most of all to those not tainted with the new heresies andopinions. It will never be forgiven by the Emperor Charles the Fifth,who will seek to avenge the indignity offered to his illustriousrelative; while Francis will gladly make it a pretext for breaking histruce with you. Add to this the displeasure of the Apostolic See, and itmust be apparent that, powerful as you are, your position will be one ofinfinite peril."
"Thus far advanced, I cannot honourably abandon the divorce," saidHenry.
"Nor do I advise its abandonment, sire," replied Wolsey; "but do not letit be a means of injuring you with all men. Do not let a mal-allianceplace your very throne in jeopardy; as, with your own subjects and allforeign powers against you, must necessarily be the case."
"You speak warmly, cardinal," said Henry.
"My zeal prompts me to do so," replied Wolsey. "Anne Boleyn is in norespect worthy of the honour you propose her."
"And whom do you think more worthy?" demanded Henry.
"Those whom I have already recommended to your majesty, the Duchessd'Alencon, or the Princess Renee," replied Wolsey; "by a union witheither of whom you would secure the cordial co-operation of Francis,and the interests of the see of Rome, which, in the event of a war withSpain, you may need."
"No, Wolsey," replied Henry, taking a hasty turn across the chamber; "noconsiderations of interests or security shall induce me to give up Anne.I love her too well for that. Let the lion Charles roar, the fox Francissnarl, and the hydra-headed Clement launch forth his flames, I willremain firm to my purpose. I will not play the hypocrite with you,whatever I may do with others. I cast off Catherine that I may wed Anne,because I cannot otherwise obtain her. And shall I now, when Ihave dared so much, and when the prize is within my grasp, abandonit?--Never! Threats, expostulations, entreaties are alike unavailing."
"I grieve to hear it, my liege," replied Wolsey, heaving a deep sigh."It is an ill-omened union, and will bring woe to you, woe to yourrealm, and woe to the Catholic Church."
"And woe to you also, false cardinal," cried Anne Boleyn, throwing asidethe arras, and stepping forward. "I have overheard what has passed;and from my heart of hearts I thank you, Henry, for the love you havedisplayed for me. But I here solemnly vow never to give my hand to youtill Wolsey is dismissed from your counsels."
"Anne!" exclaimed the king.
"My own enmity I could forego," pursued Anne vehemently, "but I cannotforgive him his duplicity and perfidy towards you. He has just profferedyou his splendid palace of Hampton, and his treasures; and wherefore?--Iwill tell you: because he feared they would be wrested from him. Hisjester had acquainted him with the discovery just made of the secrethoard, and he was therefore compelled to have recourse to this desperatemove. But I was apprized of his intentions by Will Sommers, and havecome in time to foil him."
"By my faith, I believe you are right, sweetheart," said the king.
"Go, tell your allies, Francis and Clement, that the king's love for meoutweighs his fear of them," cried Anne, laughing spitefully. "As foryou, I regard you as nothing."
"Vain w
oman, your pride will be abased," rejoined Wolsey bitterly.
"Vain man, you are already abased," replied Anne. "A few weeks ago Iwould have made terms with you. Now I am your mortal enemy, and willnever rest till I have procured your downfall."
"The king will have an amiable consort, truly," sneered Wolsey.
"He will have one who can love him and hate his foes," replied Anne;"and not one who would side with them and thee, as would be the casewith the Duchess d'Alencon or the Princess Renee. Henry, you know thesole terms on which you can procure my hand."
The king nodded a playful affirmative.
"Then dismiss him at once, disgrace him," said Anne.
"Nay, nay," replied Henry, "the divorce is not yet passed. You areangered now, and will view matters more coolly to-morrow."
"I shall never change my resolution," she replied.
"If my dismissal and disgrace can save my sovereign, I pray him tosacrifice me without hesitation," said Wolsey; "but while I have libertyof speech with him, and aught of power remaining, I will use it to hisadvantage. I pray your majesty suffer me to retire."
And receiving a sign of acquiescence from the king, he withdrew, amidthe triumphant laughter of Anne.