登陆注册
19485000000118

第118章 JANE SEYMOUR(13)

"But how as compared with the late--that is, the present queen, for, poor soul! she has yet some hours to live," rejoined Shoreditch."How, as compared with her?""Why, I think Jane Seymour the more lovely, Undoubtedly," replied Henry."But I may be prejudiced.""Not in the least, friend," said Cutbeard."You but partake of your royal master's humour.Jane Seymour is beautiful, no doubt, and so was Anne Boleyn.Marry! we shall see many fair queens on the throne.The royal Henry has good taste and good management.He sets his subjects a rare example, and shows them how to get rid of troublesome wives.We shall all divorce or hang our spouses when we get tired of them.Ialmost wish I was married myself, that I might try the experiment-ha! ha !""Well, here's the king's health!" cried Shoreditch, "and wishing him as many wives as he may desire.What say you, friend?" he added, turning to Henry."Will you not drink that toast?"I"That will I," replied Henry; "but I fancy the king will be content for the present with Mistress Jane Seymour.""For the present, no doubt," said Hector Cutbeard; "but the time will come--and ere long--when Jane will be as irksome to him as Anne is now.""Ah, God's death, knave! darest thou say so?" cried Henry furiously.

"Why, I have said nothing treasonable, I hope? "rejoined Cutbeard, turning pale; "I only wish the king to be happy in his own way.And as he seems to delight in change of wives, I pray that he may have it to his heart's content.""A fair explanation," replied Henry, laughing.

"Let me give a health, my masters!" cried a tall archer, whom no one had hitherto noticed, rising in one corner of the room."It is--The headsman of Calais, and may he do his work featly tomorrow!""Hal ha! ha! a good toast! "cried Hector Cutbeard.

"Seize him who has proposed it!" cried the king, rising; "it is Herne the Hunter!""I laugh at your threats here as elsewhere, Harry," cried Herne."We shall meet tomorrow."And flinging the horn cup in the face of the man nearest him, he sprang through an open window at the back, and disappeared.

Both Cutbeard and Shoreditch were much alarmed lest the freedom of their expressions should be taken in umbrage by the king; but he calmed their fears by bestowing a good humoured buffet on the cheek of the latter of them, and quitting the hostel, returned to the castle by the same way he had left it.

On the following morning, about ten o'clock, he rode into the great park, attended by a numerous train.His demeanour was moody and stern, and a general gloom pervaded the company.Keeping on the western side of the park, the party crossed Cranbourne chase; but though they encountered several fine herds of deer, the king gave no orders to uncouple the hounds.

At last they arrived at that part of the park where Sandpit Gate is now situated, and pursuing a path bordered by noble trees, a fine buck was suddenly unharboured, upon which Henry gave orders to the huntsmen and others to follow him, adding that he.himself should proceed to Snow Hill, where they would find him an hour hence.

All understood why the king wished to be alone, and for what purpose he was about to repair to the eminence in question, and therefore, without a word, the whole company started off in the chase.

Meanwhile, the king rode slowly through the woods, often pausing to listen to the distant sounds of the hunters, and noticing the shadows on the greensward as they grew shorter, and proclaimed the approach of noon.At length he arrived at Snow Hill, and stationed himself beneath the trees on its summit.

From this point a magnificent view of the castle, towering over its pomp of woods, now covered with foliage of the most vivid green, was commanded.The morning was bright and beautiful, the sky cloudless, and a gentle rain had fallen over night, which had tempered the air and freshened the leaves and the greensward.The birds were singing blithely in the trees, and at the foot of the hill crouched a herd of deer.

All was genial and delightful, breathing of tenderness and peace, calculated to soften the most obdurate heart.

The scene was not without its effect upon Henry; but a fierce tumult raged within his breast.He fixed his eyes on the Round Tower, which was distinctly visible, and from which he expected the signal, and then tried to peer into the far horizon.But he could discern nothing.A cloud passed over the sun, and cast a momentary gloom over the smiling landscape.At the same time Henry's fancy was so powerfully excited, that he fancied he could behold the terrible tragedy enacting at the.

Tower.

"She is now issuing forth into the green in front of Saint Peter's Chapel,"said Henry to himself."I can see her as distinctly as if I were there.Ah, how.beautiful she looks! and how she moves all hearts to pity! Suffolk, Richmond, Cromwell, and the Lord Mayor are there to meet her.She takes leave of her weeping attendants--she mounts the steps of the scaffold firmly - she looks round, and addresses the spectators.How silent they are, and how clearly and musically her voice sounds! She blesses me.--I hear It!--I feel it here! Now she disrobes herself, and prepares for the fatal axe.It is wielded by the skilful executioner of Calais, and he is now feeling its edge.Now she takes leave of her dames, and bestows a parting gift on each.Again she kneels.and prays.She rises.The fatal moment is at hand.Even now she retains her courage-- she approaches the block, and places her head upon it.The axe is raised--ha!"The exclamation was occasioned by a flash of fire from the battlements of the Round Tower, followed by a volume of smoke, and in another second the deep boom of a gun was heard.

At the very moment that the flash was seen, a wild figure, mounted on a coal-black steed, galloped from out the wood, and dashed towards Henry, whose horse reared and plunged as he passed.

"There spoke the knell of Anne Boleyn!" cried Herne, regarding Henry sternly, and pointing to the Round Tower."The bloody deed is done, and thou art free to wed once more.Away to Wolff Hall, and bring thy new consort to Windsor Castle!"

THUS ENDS THE SIXTH AND LAST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLE OFWINDSOR CASTLE

End

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • EXO之血月当空

    EXO之血月当空

    没有什么好介绍的自己写的自己也看不下去就这样子吧
  • 卿卿蜜恋:首席老公赖上我

    卿卿蜜恋:首席老公赖上我

    一次进错房间的意外,她的户口本上便多了“已婚”两个大字。新婚当夜,她告诉他:我们睡两个房间。这个好办,从第二天起,楼上楼下的两个房间便被打通,他趾高气扬的上了她的床。他们,的确睡了两个房间——小明星遇上腹黑总裁,看我们谁斗得过谁!!——————————————————这是一篇轻松小虐文,文笔幽默风格自成一派。萌妹御姐看过来,故事内容超级精彩!!!
  • 穿越傲娇女配

    穿越傲娇女配

    在穿越如火如荼的今天,她变成了庞飞燕……唐晚之表示压力山大……不过,看戏也是不错滴,哎哎,怎么破案的,此处有蹊跷啊……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 死于青春

    死于青春

    这是一个年仅十九岁的警察的悲壮故事。小说以“我”的回忆,讲述她在七十年代唐山大地震后,被派往清水河劳改农场支援抗震救灾工作,在那里她结训了陆小祥,两小萌发了炽热的初恋。由于社会不幸的不正常,陆小祥的人道主义思想和情感,他的一切作为,都成了他破坏抗震救灾、同情反革命的罪证,他被关押,最终顽强于他的至亲好友的枪弹下。
  • 重生不带这样的!

    重生不带这样的!

    神马?!你说你没遇过魂穿猫?我家有只傲娇的,要不要送给你?免费!记住,当好一枚铲屎官的主要任务,就是铲屎铲屎铲屎!还有,要喂猫罐罐,再有一点,记得帮猫找出死亡真相来。神马?!这些你都不会都不行都不能?哎呦我去!那你还是老实看文就好,乖~听话,哪边凉快哪边去。——情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 寂寞的公因数

    寂寞的公因数

    年轻的因纽特人尤利克离开了终年白雪的部落和他心爱的呐娃拉呐娃,前往陌生的大都市。他在那里三天遇见的人,比在家乡一辈子认识的人还要多,但,却是第一次,他感到前所未有的孤独。他遇到了很多很好的人,这些人不管有没有爱人,都时时刻刻流露出孤独的悲伤。这到底是怎样一个疯人世界,让这么多的人被遗弃在孤独里?
  • 重生之梦逝梦起

    重生之梦逝梦起

    重生?貌似是!做梦?也有可能……前世她主动出击,换来的是无止境的心痛,这世她放弃报复,默默抹平伤口,对方却依然不放过她!前世她厌恶的比赛,这世竟然让她遇到了帅哥!喂!那男人,别跑!
  • 文娱始皇帝

    文娱始皇帝

    嬴政穿越到平行世界,携带地球搜索系统,征战娱乐圈,成为首位娱乐帝皇!
  • 凌云武魂

    凌云武魂

    乡下铁匠卫骑,误入天火遗地,从此开启一段新的神话一手长枪比青霜,腰间弯弓新月样踏破千军复万马,天下何人敢拦君
  • 青颜天下之沉浮篇

    青颜天下之沉浮篇

    李瑜的挚爱守护,伴秦清走过惨淡的年少岁月,流落异世,他们不忘白首之约,却终难逃天各一方;与萧璟的一场偶遇,是她不愿回首的刻骨铭心,深情为牢,权力为笼,她挣扎沉浮,历尽千险百劫。