"
"Frankly then," replied the duke, "your highness's proceedings are
regarded as harsh and unjustifiable. The general opinion is, that you
only desire to remove Anne to make way for Mistress Jane Seymour."
"Ha! they talk thus, do they?" cried the king. "I will silence their saucy
prating ere long. Tell all who venture to speak to you on the subject
that I have long suspected the queen of a secret liking for Norris, but
that I determined to conceal my suspicions till I found I had good
warrant for them. That occurred, as you know, some weeks ago.
However, I awaited a pretext for proceeding against them,and it was
furnished by their own imprudence to-day. Convinced that something
would occur, I had made my preparations; nor was I deceived. You may
add, also, that not until my marriage is invalidated, Anne's offspring
illegitimatised, and herself beheaded, shall I consider the foul blot upon
my name removed."
"Has your majesty any further commands? "said Suffolk. "I saw Norris
in his prison before I rode forth to you."
"Let him be taken to the Tower, under a strong escort, at once," said
Henry. "Lord Rochford, I suppose, has already been removed there?"
"He has," replied the duke.
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