erce curse burst from his lips. He
threw the paper on the table, and struck it with his clenched fist. "Are
all the devils let loose, then?" yelled he, in wrath. "Does sedition
blaze so wildly in my land, that we have no longer the power to subdue
it? Here a fanatical heretic on the public street has warned the people
not to read that holy book which I myself, like a well-intentioned and
provident father and guardian, wrote for my people, and gave it them
that they might be edified and exalted thereby. And this book that felon
has shown to the people, and said to them: 'You call that the king's
book; and you are right; for it is a wicked book, a work of hell, and
the devil is the king's sponsor!' Ah, I see well we must again show our
earnest and angry face to this miserable, traitorous rabble, that it
may again have faith in the king. It is a wretched, disgusting, and
contemptible mob--this people! They are obedient and humble only when
they tremble and feel the lash. Only when they are trampled in the dust,
do they acknowledge that we are their master; and when we have racked
them and burnt, they have respect for our excellency. We must, however,
brand royalty on their bodies so that they may be sensible of it as a
reality. And by the eternal God, we will do that! Give me the pen here
that I may sign and ratify these warrants. But dip the pen well, your
highness, for there are eight warrants, and I must write my name eight
times. Ah, ah, it is a hard and fatiguing occupation to be a king, and
no day passes without trouble and toil!"

"The Lord our God will bless this toil to you!" said Gardiner, solemnly,
as he handed the king the pen.

Henry was preparing to write, as Catharine laid her hand on his, and
checked him.

"Do not sign them, my husband," said she, in a voice of entreaty. "Oh,
by all that is sacred to you, I conjure you not to let yourself be
carried away by your momentary vexation; let not the injured man be
mightier in you than the righteous king. Let the sun set and rise
on your wrath; and then, when you are perfectly calm, perfectly
composed--then pronounce judgment on these accused. For consider it
well, my husband, these are eight death-warrants that you are here about
to sign; and with these few strokes of the pen, you will tear eight
human beings from life, from family, and from the world; you will take
from the mother, her son; from the wife, her husband; and from the
infant children, their fathe