ons to it were really
more political than religious; the Schmalkaldic
League was a feeble reed to lean upon, although its
feebleness was not exposed until 1546-47.]

[Footnote 1068: _L. and P._, XIV., i., 103; _cf._
Bouterwek, _Anna von Cleve_; Merriman, _Cromwell_,
chap. xiii.; and articles on the members of the
Cleves family in the _Allgemeine Deutsche
Biographie_.]

[Footnote 1069: _L. and P._, XIV., ii., 285, 286.]

Anne of Cleves had already been described to Henry by his ambassador,
Dr. Wotton, and Holbein had been sent to paint her portrait (now in
the Louvre), which Wotton pronounced "a very lively image".[1070] She
had an oval face, long nose, chestnut eyes, a light complexion, and
very pale lips. She was thirty-four years old, and in France was
reported to be ugly; but Cromwell told the King that "every one
praised her beauty, both of face and body, and one said she excelled
the Duchess of Milan as the golden sun did the silver moon".[1071]
Wotton's account of her accomplishments was pitched in a minor key.
Her gentleness was universally commended, but she spent her time
chiefly in needlework. She knew no language but her own; she could
neither sing nor play upon any instrument, accomplishments which were
then considered by Germans to be unbecoming in a lady.[1072] On the
12th of December, 1539, she arrived at Calais; but boisterous weather
and bad tides delayed her there till the 27th. She landed at Deal (p. 385)
and rode to Canterbury. On the 30th she proceeded to Sittingbourne,
and thence, on the 31st, to Rochester, where the King met her in
disguise.[1073] If he was disappointed with her appearance, he
concealed the fact from the public eye. Nothing marred her public
reception at Greenwich on the 3rd, or was suffered to hinder the
wedding, which was solemnised three days later.[1074] Henry "lovingly
embraced and kissed" his bride in public, and allowed no hint to reach
the ears of any one but his most intimate counsellors of the fact that
he had been led willingly or unwillingly into the most humiliating
situation of his reign.

[Footnote 1070: _Ibid._, XIV., ii., 33. Holbein did
not paint a flattering portrait any more than
Wotton told a flattering tale; if Henry was