Like her predecessor she was beheaded for adultery on February 13, 1542.

On July 12, 1543, Bluebeard concluded his matrimonial adventures by taking Catharine Parr, a lady who, like Sieyes after the Terror, must have congratulated herself on her rare ability in surviving.
[Sidenote: Catholic reaction] As a Catholic reaction marked the last eight years of Henry's reign, it may perhaps be well to say a few words about the state of opinion in England at that time.

The belief that the whole people took their religion with sheepish meekness from their king is too simple and too dishonorable to the national character to be believed.

That they _appeared_ to do this is really a proof that parties were nearly divided.

Just as in modern times great issues are often decided in general elections by narrow majorities, so in the sixteenth century public opinion veered now this way, now that, in part guided by the government, in part affecting it even when the channels by which it did so are not obvious.