The two noble and fair ladies have
accused the duke, my father; and they have done so in a very
dignified and solemn manner. I wish to accuse my brother, Henry
Howard; but you must exercise forbearance, if my words sound less
solemn and elevated. They have told you, sire, that the Duke of
Norfolk is a traitor and a criminal who denominates the Pope of
Rome, and not you, my exalted king, the head of the Church. Now, the
Earl of Surrey is neither a traitor nor a papist; and he has neither
devised criminal plots against the throne of England, nor has he
denied the supremacy of the king. No, sire, the Earl of Surrey is no
traitor and no papist!"
The duchess paused, and looked with a malicious and droll smile into
the astonished faces of those present.
A dark frown gathered on the king's brow, and his eyes, which just
before had looked so cheerful, were now fixed with an angry
expression on the young duchess.
"Why, then, my lady, have you made your appearance here?" asked he.
"Why have you come here, if you have nothing further to say than
what I already know--that the Earl of Surrey is a very loyal
subject, and a man without any ambition, who neither courts the
favor of my people nor thinks of laying his traitorous hands on my
crown?"
The young duchess shook her head with a smile. "I know not whether
he does all that," said she. "I have indeed heard that he said, with
bitter scorn, that you, my king, wanted to be the protector of
religion, yet you yourself were entirely without religion and
without belief.
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