as you at the same time won to you the heretical party, to which
Anne Askew belongs. Oh, it was indeed, Jane, a stroke of policy that
you made. For the Howard family is the most powerful and greatest at
court, and Henry, Earl of Surrey, is one of its noblest
representatives. Therefore we have now already a powerful party at
court, which has in view only the high and holy aim of securing a
victory for the holy Church, and which quietly and silently works
only for this--to again reconcile the king to the pope. Henry
Howard,Earl of Surrey, like bis father, the Duke of Norfolk, is a
good Catholic, as his niece Catharine Howard was; only she, besides
God and the Church, was a little too fond of the images of God--
fine-looking men. It was this that gave the victory to the other
party, and forced the Catholic to succumb to the heretical party at
court. Yes, for the moment, Cranmer with Catharine has got the
better of us, but soon Gardiner with Jane Douglas will overcome the
heretics, and send them to the scaffold. That is our plan, and, God
permitting, we will carry it out."

"But it will be a difficult undertaking," said Lady Jane, with a
sigh. "The queen is a pure, transparent soul; she has a shrewd head
and a clear glance. She is, moreover, guileless in her thoughts, and
recoils with true maidenly timidity from every sin."

"We must cure her of this timidity, and that is your task, Jane. You
must despoil her of these strict notions about virtue. With
flattering voice you must ensnare her heart, and entice it to sin."

"Oh, that is an infernal plot!" said Lady Jane, turning pale. "That,
my father, would be a crime, for that would be not only destroying
her earthly happiness, but also imperilling her soul. I must entice