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.

Ah, even your supplication would not have softened him, for the high-priest of the English Church could never have pardoned this young man for not being the legitimate son of his father, for not having the right to bear his name, because his mother was the spouse of another man whom Thomas must call father." "Poor Heywood! Yes, now I understand.

The king would, indeed, never have forgiven this; and had he known it, your son would have inevitably been condemned to the stake." "You saved him, queen! Do you not believe now that I shall be forever thankful to you ?" "I do believe it," said the queen, with a pleasant smile, as she extended her hand for him to kiss.

"I believe you, and I accept your service." "And you will need it, queen, for a tempest is gathering over your head, and soon the lightning will flash and the thunders roll." "Oh, I fear not! I have strong nerves!" said Catharine, smiling.

"When a storm comes, it is but a refreshing of nature, and I have always seen that after a storm the sun shines again." "You are a brave soul!" swirl John Heywood, sadly.
"That is, I am conscious of no guilt!" "But your enemies will invent a crime to charge you with.