Because it had not happened so his
love had died.
Catharine felt this, and she died of it. But not suddenly, not at
once, did death release her from her sorrows and racking tortures.
Six months she had to suffer and struggle with them. After six
months she died.
Strange rumors were spread at her death; and John Heywood never
passed by Earl Seymour without gazing at him with an angry look, and
saying: "You have murdered the beautiful queen! Deny it, if you
can!"
Thomas Seymour laughed, and did not consider it worth his while to
defend himself against the accusations of the fool. He laughed,
notwithstanding he had not yet put off the mourning he wore for
Catharine.
In these mourning garments he ventured to approach the Princess
Elizabeth, to swear to her his ardent love, and sue for her hand.
But Elizabeth repelled him with coldness and haughty contempt; and,
like the fool, the princess also said: "You have murdered Catharine!
I cannot be the wife of a murderer!"
And God's justice punished the murderer of the innocent and noble
Catharine; and scarcely three months after the death of his wife,
the high admiral had to ascend the scaffold, and was executed as a
traitor.
By Catharine's wish, her books and papers were given to her true
friend John Heywood, and he undertook with the greatest care an
examination of the same. He found among her papers many leaves
written by herself, many verses and poems, which breathed forth the
sorrowfulness of her spirit.
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