villains outside
the circle of your house. Now that they be judged and dead, we, your
lords, pray you that you put off from you this most heavy task of judge.
For inasmuch as we live by your life and have health by your health, in
this realm afflicted with many sores that you alone can heal and dangers
that you alone can ward off, so we have it assured and certain that many
too great labours and matters laid upon you imperil us all. In that, as
well for our selfish fears as for the great love, self-forgetting, that
we have of your person, we pray you that--coming now to the trial of
this your wife--you do rest, though well assured we are that greatly and
courageously you would adventure it, upon the love of us your lords.
Appoint, therefore, such a Commission as you shall well approve to make
this most heavy essay and trial.'

So low was his voice that, to hear him, many lords rose from their seats
and came over against the throne. Thus all that company were in the
upper part of the hall, and through the great window at the further end
the sun shone down upon them, having parted the watery clouds. To their
mass of black it gave blots and gouts of purple and blue and scarlet,
coming through the dight panes.

'Lay off this burden of trial and examination upon us that so willingly,
though with sighs and groans, would bear it.'

Suddenly the King stood up and pointed, his jaw fallen open. Katharine
Howard was coming up the floor of the hall. Her hands were folded before
her; her face was rigid and calm; she looked neither to right nor to
left, but only upon the King's face. At the edge of the sunlight she
halted, so that she stood, a black figure in the bluish and stony gloom
of the hall with the high roof a great way above her head. All the lords
began to pull off their bonnets, only Norfolk said that he would not
uncover before a harlot.

The Queen, looking upon Henry's face, said with icy and cold tones--

'I would have you to cease this torturing of witnesses. I will make
confession.'

No man then had a word to say. Norfolk had no word either.

'If you will have me confess to heresy, I will confess to heresy; if to
treason, to treason. If you will have me confess to adultery, God help
me and all of you, I will confess to adultery and all such sins.'

The King cried out--

'No! no!' like a beast that is stabbed to the heart; but with cold eyes
the Queen looked back at him.

'If you will have it adultery befo