History of Two Queens (Volume 4); I. Catharine of Aragon. II. Anne Boleyn

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 Excerpt: ... her Spanish physician, aware that she was near the end. 2. Bedyngfeld, listening at her door for news, heard nothing to alarm him for her state of health. Things kept their usual course. The invalid lay in her own room; Blanche and Isabel passed in and out; the doctor came and the confessor stayed. They spoke in Spanish to each other and in English to the chamberlain. Such matters had been going on for months. There seemed no need for Chapuys to ride down until the question of Mary going or not going with him was decided by the King. But Lady Willoughby pressed for her permission with a warmer zeal. Her license had not come, and Cromwell hinted that a verbal message was enough. She feared duplicity. 'Witiiout I have a letter of his grace or else of you, to show the officers of my mistress's house, my license shall stand to no effect.' Cromwell put her off once more: and Lady Willoughby, unable to procure a written passport, acted on the secretary's hint. 3. New Year's morning found her in the saddle at the Barbican. The ride was long, the air inclement, the track a waste. Unused to riding, she was thrown to the ground and badly bruised.. Still she pressed on. Some persons on the road dissuaded her from going forward; telling her the good old Queen was dead; but neither icy winds, nor smarting wounds, nor fatal news, sufficed to turn her back. Long after dark, a noise of hoofs was heard before the Castle gates. Bedyngfeld went down to see the new arrival, but the Spanish lady was unknown to him by sight. She gave her name and told her errand. He required to see her warrant for admission. Fearing to say she had no papers, Lady Willoughby pointed to her hurts, her freezing limbs, her chattering teeth, and begged him, for love of Jesus and for Christian charit...