Cranmer, now become archbishop of Canterbury, annulled soon after the king's marriage with Catherine, (a step which ought to have preceded his second nuptials) and ratified that of Anne, who was publickly crowned queen, on Easter eve, 1533, with all the pomp and dignity suited to such a ceremony. To complete the satisfaction of Henry, on the conclusion of this troublesome business, the queen was safely delivered of a daughter, who received the name of Elizabeth, and afterwards swayed the British sceptre.
The reformation seemed fast gaining ground in the kingdom, though the king was still its declared enemy; when its promoters, Cranmer, Latimer, and others, met with a severe mortification, which seemed to blast all their hopes, in the untimely fate of their patroness Anne Boleyn.
This lady now began to experience the decay of the king's affections, and the capriciousness of his temper. That heart which she had withdrawn from another, revolted against herself. Henry's passion, which subsisted in full force, during the six years that the prosecution for the divorce lasted, and seemed only to increase under difficulties, had scarcely attained possession of its object, than he sunk into languor, succeeded by disgust. His love was suddenly transferred to a new mistress; but, as he could not marry Jane Seymour without getting rid of his once beloved Anne, she became the bar to his felicity.
That obstacle, however, was soon removed. The heart is not more ingenious in suggesting apologies for its deviations, than courtiers for gratifying the inclinations of their prince. The queen's enemies, immediately sensible of the alienation of the king's affections, accomplished her ruin by flattering his new passion. They
