There is another quarter also into which we must follow the proclamation, and watch the effect of the royal order in a scene where it is well that we should for a few moments rest.  Catherine was still at Ampthill, surrounded by her own attendants, who formed an inner circle, shielding her retirement against impertinent curiosity.  She rarely or never allowed herself to be seen; Lord Mountjoy, with an official retinue, was in attendance in the house; but the occupation was not a pleasant one, and he was as willing to respect the queen’s seclusion as she to remain secluded.  Injunctions arrived however from the court at the end of June, which compelled him to request an interview; a deputation of the privy council had come down to inform the ex-queen of the orders of the government, and to desire that they might be put in force in her own family.  Aware probably of the nature of the communication which was to be made to her, she refused repeatedly to admit them to her presence.  At length, however, she nerved herself for the effort, and on the 3rd of July Mountjoy and the state commissioners were informed that she was ready to receive them.

As they entered her room she was lying on a sofa.  She had a bad cough, and she had hurt her foot with a pin, and was unable to stand or walk.  Her attendants were all present by her own desire; she was glad to see around her some sympathising human faces, to enable her to endure the cold hard eyes of the officials of the council.

She inquired whether the message was to be delivered in writing or by word of mouth.

They replied that they had brought with them instructions which they were to read, and that they were further charged with a message which was to be delivered verbally.  She desired that they would read their written despatch.  It was addressed to the Princess Dowager, and she at once excepted to the name.  She was not Princess Dowager, she said, but queen, and the king’s true wife.  She came to the king a clear maid for any bodily knowledge of Prince Arthur; she had borne him lawful issue and no bastard, and therefore queen she was, and queen she would be while she lived.

The commissioners were prepared for the objection, and continued, without replying, to read.  The paper contained a statement of worn-out unrealities; the old story of the judgment of the universities and the learned men, the sentence of convocation, and of the houses of parliament; and, finally, the fact of substantial importance, that the king, acting as he believed according to the laws of God, had married the Lady Anne Boleyn, who was now his lawful wife, and anointed Queen of England.

Oh yes, she answered when they had done, we know that, and “we know the authority by which it has been done—­more by power than justice.”  The king’s learned men were learned heretics; the honest learning was for her.  As for the seals of the universities there were strange stories about the way in which they had been obtained.  The universities and the parliament had done what the king bade them; and they had gone against their consciences in doing it; but it was of no importance to her—­she was in the hands of the pope, who was God’s vicar, and she acknowledged no other judge.