"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 noble youth--
condemned him, because he had spoken respectfully of Thomas More;
because he said this great and noble man did right to die, rather
than be false to his convictions. Ah, nowadays, it requires such a
trifle to condemn a man to death! a couple of thoughtless words are
sufficient! And this miserable, lick-spittle Parliament, in its
dastardliness and worthlessness, always condemns and sentences,
because it knows that the king is always thirsty for blood, and
always wants the fires of the stake to keep him warm. So they had
condemned my son likewise, and they would have executed him, but for
you. But you, whom God has sent as an angel of reconciliation on
this regal throne reeking with blood; you who daily risk your life
and your crown to save the life of some one of those unfortunates
whom fanaticism and thirst for blood have sentenced, and to procure
their pardon, you have save my son also."
"How! that young man who was to be burned yesterday, was your son?"
"Yes, he was my son."
"And you did not tell the king so? and you did not intercede for
him?"
"Had I done so, he would have been irretrievably lost! For you well
know the king is so proud of his impartiality and his virtue! Oh,
had he known that Thomas is my son he would have condemned him to
death, to show the people that Henry the Eighth everywhere strikes
the guilty and punishes the sinner, whatever name he may bear, and
whoever may intercede for him.
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