Only one person had influence with him. John Heywood was the friend
of the queen. For the moment, then, it appeared as if the "heretical
party," of which the queen was regarded as the head, was the most
powerful at court.
It was therefore very natural for the popish party to cherish an
ardent hatred against the queen; very natural for them to be
contriving new plots and machinations to ruin her and hurl her from
the throne.
But Catharine knew very well the danger that threatened her, and she
was on her guard. She watched her every look, her every word; and
Gardiner and Douglas could not examine the queen's manner of life
each day and hour more suspiciously than she herself did.
She saw the sword that hung daily over her head; and, thanks to her
prudence and presence of mind, thanks to the ever-thoughtful
watchfulness and cunning of her friend Heywood! she had still known
how to avoid the falling of that sword.
Since that fatal ride in the wood of Epping Forest, she had not
again spoken to Thomas Seymour alone; for Catharine very well knew
that everywhere, whithersoever she turned her steps, some spying eye
might follow her, some listener's ear might be concealed, which
might hear her words, however softly whispered, and repeat them
where they might be interpreted into a sentence of death against
her.
She had, therefore, renounced the pleasure of speaking to her lover
otherwise than before witnesses, and of seeing him otherwise than in
the presence of her whole court.
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