what is a little strange, as she became further developed in age and character, she became modest, maidenly, and really virtuous in her life. She came to court, and Henry soon loved her. She was possessed of considerable beauty, and was exquisitely graceful in her manners. She was small and slender, and Henry loved her for a time more passionately than he had ever before loved a woman. They were married, and the king caressed her, flattered her, and made great demonstrations of his affection for her. Upon her bracelet was the device: "Non aultre volonté que le sienne"-" No other will than his." But amid the intoxicating splendors and pleasures of her position, poor Katharine felt that a sword was suspended only by a hair over her neck. During the first few months of her wedded life, rumors of her old imprudence began to creep through the purlieus of the court. She must have been in an agony of torment all the while, and still forced to appear happy. At last Katharine sealed her fate, by appointing her old paramour, Derham, private secretary to herself. That she did it to seal his lips in reference to the early portion of her life, as a matter of policy, hoping thereby to save her reputation for honor-to save

her life indeed, we entertain no doubt. She shortly after had a long private interview with her cousin, Thomas Culpepper, to whom at one time, before the king saw her, it was thought she would be married, and made him a present at his departure. The king, meanwhile, was so fond of Katharine that he omitted nothing which could give her pleasure. On the 31st day of October, a paper containing an account of Katharine's early misdemeanor, was put into the king's hands by Cranmer. Mary Lassells had revealed the dreadful truth--had most wickedly betrayed her old friend and mistress. Henry was surprised, and treated the whole matter at first as if it were not founded in truth. But he sent for Lassells, the brother of Mary, to whom she had related the sad story, and he was firm in his statement in reference to the unfortunate queen. Derham was arrested, and confessed that he had. been engaged to Katharine, that they had lived together as man and wife, but also most solemnly declared that not the slightest familiarity had taken place between them, since her marriage with the king. When Henry heard the confession of Derham, he burst into tears. He loved Katharine as devotedly as it was possible for so

gross a being to love anybody. The queen went into convulsions. She was placed under arrest, and Henry retired to Oatlands, during her examination. There was no difficulty in proving a precontract, which would have been sufficient cause for a divorce, but not sufficient to warrant the execution of the queen. Therefore the council determined on a charge of adultery with her cousin, Thomas Culpepper. Both Derham and Culpepper were arraigned for high treason, and condemned to death. They made no confessions which implicated the queen since her marriage, though they were put to the torture. Parliament passed an act of attainder against the queen, and several others, among which was the Lady Rochford. Katharine was, however, by this time, for she had lain in prison several months, weary of life. She was penitent, and now looked forward. to the future—to another sphere of existence, for comfort. She freely confessed that before her marriage, when she was a young and thoughtless girl, she had been guilty with Derham, but that she had been a true wife and faithful to the king. When her confessor told her to prepare for death, she replied: "As to the act, my reverend lord, for which I stand condemned, God and his holy

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angels I take to witness upon my soul's salvation, that I die guiltless, never having so abused my sovereign's bed. What other sins and follies of youth I have committed, I will not excuse; but I am assured that for them God hath brought this punishment upon me, and will, in his mercy, remit them, for which, I pray you, pray with me unto his Son and my Saviour Christ." She refused to admit that she was engaged to Derham-there was therefore no way for severing the marriage-tie between the king and herself, except by her death. She was allowed only two days to prepare for execution, after the bill of attainder had become a law; but she did not wish longer time. Upon the scaffold she was meek, yet courageous, and perished in a right queenly manner. In the opinion of many at that time, she was innocent of the main charge against her, and consequently she received much sympathy. But the age was corrupt, and the people so accustomed to blood, that they were amused by such tragedies.

CHAPTER IV.

KATHARINE PARR.-SIR THOMAS SEYMOUR.-KATHARINE MARRIES HENRY VIII.-LADY JANE GREY.-KATHARINE'S NARROW ESCAPE. -DEATH OF THE KING.-EDWAVRD I.-SOMERSET.-ADMIRAL SEYMOUR MARRIES KATHARINE PARR.-PROJECT OF MARRYING LADY JANE GREY TO THE KING.-CONDUCT OF ELIZABETH.-DEATH OF KATHARINE PARR.-LADY JANE GREY HER CHIEF MOURNER.

KATHARINE PARR, the last wife of Henry VIII., was a woman of excellent understanding and true piety, and the first Protestant queen of England. Her history is so intimately connected with that of Lady Jane Grey, that she will figure somewhat prominently in our pages. She directed the studies of Lady Jane, and was ever to her a kind friend and adviser. She also directed the studies of Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth, and from her those illustrious personages derived their love for learning.

Katharine Parr was the daughter of Sir Thos. Parr, and was married at an early age to Lord Borough, a widower with several adult children.

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