Page:The Queens of England.djvu/347

ANNE BOLEYN. 307 otherwise toward him, and I shall never confess any other- wise." How unlike the address of a guilty woman, just condemned to a violent death, is this calm and dignified appeal ! The death of his victim was not sufficient to satisfy the hatred of the cruel and tyrannical Henry. She must encounter still sharper agony than a violent death could inflict, by the degredation of her child. He willed his marriage with Anne to be annulled even before death, then advancing with rapid strides, should release him from wedlock, in order that the illegitimacy of the infant Princess Elizabeth should preclude her from disputing the succession with any daughter to which Jane Seymour might give birth. The plea for this step was Anne's having been contracted to the Earl of Northumber- land previously to having wedded with him — a statement wholly untrue, and declared to be so by the Earl himself. On the 17th of May, Lord Rochford and the other accused persons were executed. Anne was made aware of this, but her mind was so wholly engrossed in preparations for her own approaching death, that the loss of a brother so fondly loved was looked on by her as only the departure on a journey of a dear friend, whom she would join a few hours later. Her prayers to God, before whom she was soon to be summoned were fervent and frequent, uninterrupted by the presence of any one dear to her ; no parting adieus shook hr courage or melted her heart. Of her child she thought with all a mother's tenderness, praying for her as a dying mother might ; and she earnestly entreated Lady Kingston to implore the Princess Mary to pardon any occasional slights which she had received from her. Those around her were no less edified than surprised at the resignation and fortitude which she maintained to the last. She approached the block with a calm countenance and a firm step, endeavoring to console her weeping followers, among whom was her early friend, the sister of Sir Thomas Wyatt, to whom she gave, as a parting gift, a small manuscript prayer-book, with a request to wear it ever in her breast as a memorial of undying affection. She besought her other attendants to forgive her if she had ever offended them ; and then, ascending the scaffold, is said to have addressed those around her as follows: "Friends and good Christian people, I am here in your presence to suffer death, whereto I