crimson silk, which was trimmed in a style showy and motley enough, with
puffs and bows of all colors, and which, just on account of its motley
appearance, contrasted strangely enough with the man's white hair, and
earnest and sombre face.

"Ah, the king's fool," said Catharine, with a merry laugh. "Well, John,
what is it that brings you here? Do you bring me a message from the
king, or have you made a bold hit, and wish me to take you again under
my protection?"

"No, queen," said John Heywood, seriously, "I have made no bold hit,
nor do I bring a message from the king. I bring nothing but myself. Ah,
queen, I see you want to laugh, but I pray you forget for a moment that
John Heywood is the king's fool, and that it does not become him to wear
a serious face and indulge sad thoughts like other men."

"Oh, I know that you are not merely the king's fool, but a poet also,"
said Catharine, with a gracious smile.

"Yes," said he, "I am a poet, and therefore it is altogether proper for
me to wear this fool's cap, for poets are all fools, and it were better
for them to be hung on the nearest tree instead of being permitted to
run about in their crazy enthusiasm, and babble things on account
of which people of sense despise and ridicule them. I am a poet, and
therefore, queen, I have put on this fool's dress, which places me under
the king's protection, and allows me to say to him all sorts of things
which nobody else has the courage to speak out. But to-day, queen, I
come to you neither as a fool nor as a poet, but I come to you because I
wish to cling to your knees and kiss your feet. I come because I wish
to tell you that you have made John Heywood forever your slave. He will
from this time forth lie like a dog before your threshold and guard you
from every enemy and every evil which may press upon you. Night and day
he will be ready for your service, and know neither repose nor rest, if
it is necessary to fulfil your command or your wish."

As he thus spoke, with trembling voice and eyes dimmed with tears, he
knelt down and bowed his head at Catharine's feet.

"But what have I done to inspire you with such a feeling of
thankfulness?" asked Catharine with astonishment. "How have I deserved
that you, the powerful and universally dreaded favorite of the king,
should dedicate yourself to my service?"

"What have you done?" said he. "My lady, you have saved my son from the
stake! They had condemned him--that handsome nob