Page:The Queens of England.djvu/341

ANNE BOLEYN. 301 point of his lance. It was not until the following day that Anne learned that Lord Rochford, Norris, and two other gentlemen had been arrested and sent to the Tower ; but dis- tressing as was the arrest of her brother, how was her inflic- tion increased, when, after dinner, her uncle the Duke of Norfolk, in whom she knew she had an enemy, with Sir Thomas Audley and some others, entered the room, followed by the governor of the Tower, and revealed to her that she was instantly to depart to that place ! The duke gave the order so rudely, as to indicate that it afforded him more satisfaction than pain. "I am ready to obey the king's pleasure," said Anne, with calmness, though her pallid face announced the effort it cost her to appear tranquil. She waited not to change her dress, but immediately resigned herself to the custody of those who had arrested her, and entered the barge. Her stern and cruel uncle -then informed her that denial of her guilt was in vain, as her paramours had confessed it ; but she earnestly and passionately declared her innocence, and demanded to see the king. The Duke of Norfolk contemptously refused credence to her protestations, and his companions, with one exception, followed his example, no longer treating her with respect ; a proof that they well knew she was prejudged. Having reached the Tower, she was confieded to the custody of Kingston, its governor — a man remarkable for his cruelty, and who, having witnessed the disrespectful conduct of the Duke of Norfolk and the other members of the council to his prisoner, was not disposed to treat her better. She inquired whether she was to be shut up in a dungeon. "No, madam," replied he, "but in the same chamber you lodged in before your coronation." What bitter memories did these words evoke ! and how did her present misery become aggravated by the recollection of her past splendor and happiness when she was last a cherished guest in the place now converted to her prison ! Well has Dante said — "Nessun maggior dolore, Che ricordarsi del tempo felice, Nella miseria," and deeply did the unhappy queen now experience this wretchedness. "Oh! where is my sweet brother?" inquired Anne, as a flood of tears streamed down her pale cheeks;