king's large, brilliant eyes glanced around the whole assembly, with
a quick, penetrating look. "And you, my Lord Bishop Gardiner," asked he,
in a cold, sarcastic tone, "will you also ask for mercy, like all these
weak-hearted souls here?"

"The Lord our God is a jealous God," said Gardiner, solemnly, "and it
is written that God will punish the sinner unto the third and fourth
generation."

"And what is written shall stand true!" exclaimed the king, in a voice
of thunder. "No mercy for evil-doers, no pity for criminals. The axe
must fall upon the head of the guilty, the flames shall consume the
bodies of criminals."

"Sire, think of your high vocation!" exclaimed Anne Askew, in a tone of
enthusiasm. "Reflect what a glorious name you have assumed to yourself
in this land. You call yourself the head of the Church, and you want to
rule and govern upon earth in God's stead. Exercise mercy, then, for you
entitle yourself king by the grace of God."

"No, I do not call myself king by God's grace; I call myself king by
God's wrath!" exclaimed Henry, as he raised his arm menacingly. "It is
my duty to send sinners to God; may He have mercy on them there above,
if He will! I am the punishing judge, and I judge mercilessly, according
to the law, without compassion. Let those whom I have condemned appeal
to God, and may He have mercy upon them. I cannot do it, nor will I.
Kings are here to punish, and they are like to God, not in His love, but
in His avenging wrath."

"Woe, then, woe to you and to all of us!" exclaimed Anne Askew. "Woe to
you, King Henry, if what you now say is the truth! Then are they right,
those men who are bound to yonder stakes, when they brand you with the
name of tyrant; then is the Bishop of Rome right when he upbraids you
as an apostate and degenerate son, and hurls his anathemas against you!
Then you know not God, who is love and mercy; then you are no disciple
of the Saviour, who has said, 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse
you.' Woe to you, King Henry, if matters are really so bad with you;
if--"

"Silence, unhappy woman, silence!" exclaimed Catharine; and as she
vehemently pushed away the furious girl she grasped the king's hand, and
pressed it to her lips. "Sire," whispered she, with intense earnestness,
"Sire, you told me just now that you loved me. Prove it by pardoning
this maiden, and having consideration for her impassioned excitement.
Prove it by allowing me to lead Anne Askew to h