That was an anxious time for Thomas's family. Now they felt fresh relief. Nothing could be proved against him in this affair of the nun of Canterbury and once more, after an examination, Thomas returned to his family.
It was small wonder that they would sometimes catch a look of alarm in one another's eyes, that sometimes one of them would appear to be alert, listening, then that fearful disquiet would settle on the house again.
THE KING was fretful.
His marriage was not all that he had believed it would be. He had a child—but a daughter. He was fond of young Elizabeth, but she was not a son; and it was sons he wished his Anne to give to him.
Moreover, Anne the wife was less attractive than Anne the mistress had been.
The King was beginning to feel great need to justify his behavior. He wanted all the world—and certainly all his own countrymen—to see him as the righteous man who had rid himself of an ageing wife and married an attractive one, not for his own carnal desires, but for the good of the country.
He was very angry with Thomas More, who, while he had done nothing against the King which the law could condemn, yet refused to express his approval of the King's actions. When the list of those who had been guiltily involved in the case of the nun of Canterbury was brought before Henry, he refused to allow Thomas's name to be removed.
But he could do no more about that matter at the moment.
He would pace up and down his apartments with some of his intimates about him.
“It grieves me,” he cried. “It grieves me mightily. I have honored that man. What was he before I took him up? A miserable lawyer. I made him great. And what is his answer? What does he offer me? Base ingratitude! A word from him, and there could be peace among these monks. Even Fisher himself could doubtless be persuaded by his old friend. Yet… Thomas More will not accept me as Head of the Church! By God's Body, this is treason! He holds that the Pope is still Head of the Church! That's treason, is it not? Was there ever a servant to his sovereign more treacherous, more villainous, or subject to his prince so traitorous as he? What have I given him? Riches. Power. Favor. And what does he give me? Disobedience! I ask nothing but that he does what others of my servants have done. He has but to acknowledge my supremacy in the Church. Audley … Cromwell… Norfolk, my friends … was ever King so plagued?”
He was asking them to rid him of this man.
The little eyes were hot and angry, but the mouth was prim. All over the continent of Europe, Sir Thomas More was respected. The King's conscience must not be offended.
“Bring this man to obedience.” That was what the little eyes pleaded with those about him. “No matter how … no matter how you do it.”
NORFOLK TOOK barge to Chelsea.
Margaret, on the alert as she ever was, saw the Duke coming, and ran down to meet him.
“My lord … fresh news?”
“Nay, nay. 'Tis naught. Where is your father? I would speak with him at once.”
“I'll take you to him.”
Thomas had seen the Duke's arrival and had come down to greet him.
“It is rarely that we have had this honor of late,” he said.
“I would speak with you alone,” said the Duke; and Margaret left them together.
“Well, my lord?” asked Thomas.
“Master More, you are a foolish man.”
“Have you come from the Court to tell me that?”
“I have. I have come straight from the King.”
“And how did you leave him?”
“Angry against you.”
“I regret that. I regret it deeply.”
“Tut, tut, what is the use of such words? You could turn his anger into friendship if you wished it.”
“How so?”
“Tut, I say again; and tut, tut, tut. You know full well. You have but to agree to the succession of the heirs of Anne Boleyn and the Act of Supremacy. And, Master More, when you should be called upon to sign these Acts, you must cast aside your folly and do so.”
“I would accept the former, because it is the law of this land that the King and the Council may fix the succession. Even though that would mean setting aside a lawful heir for the sake of a bastard, the King and Council can, in law, do it. But I would never take the Oath of Supremacy.”
Norfolk tut-tutted impatiently. “I come as a friend, Master More. I come from the Court to warn you. The King will not brook your disobedience. He seeks to entrap you.”
“Several charges have been brought against me, but I have answered them all.”
“By the Mass, Master More, it is perilous striving with princes. Therefore I would wish you somewhat to incline to the King's pleasure, for, by God's Body, Master More, Indignatio principis mors est”
“Indeed, indeed,” said Thomas with a smile. “The indignation of this Prince is turned against Thomas More.”
“I intend no pun,” said Norfolk impatiently. “I ask you to remember it, that is all.”
“Is that all, my lord?” said Thomas. “Then I thank you for coming here this day, and I must say this: In good faith, the difference between your Grace and me is but this: that I shall die today and you tomorrow.”
The Duke was so exasperated that he took his leave at once and strode angrily down to the barge without coming into the house.
This annoyed Alice, for she had seen his arrival and hastened to change her dress and put on her most becoming coif; and lo and behold, when she went down to receive her noble guest, it was but to see his abrupt departure.
GLOOM HUNG over the house.
Mercy had called, anxious and pale.
“How go matters, Meg?” she asked.
“Mercy, come out to the gardens where we can be alone. I cannot talk to you here, lest Mother overhears.”
In the quiet of the gardens, Margaret said: “He has gone before another committee.”
“Oh, God in Heaven, what is it this time?”
“I know not.”
“His name is still on the Parliaments list of those guilty with Elizabeth Barton.”
“Oh, Mercy, that's the pity of it. He has confuted them with his arguments, but it matters not. They still accuse him. Why do they do this, Mercy? I know … and so do you. They are determined to accuse him. He is innocent… innocent… but they will not have it so.”
“They cannot prove him guilty, Margaret. He will always triumph.”
“You seek to comfort us, Mercy. Often I think of the happy times … when we were cutting the hay, or walking in the gardens, sitting together… singing, sewing … reading what we had written. Oh, Mercy, how far away those days seem now, for we can never sit in ease or comfort. Always we must listen… always be on the alert. A barge comes. Will it stop at our stairs? we ask ourselves. There is a sound of a horse on the road. Is it a messenger from the King … from the new Councillor, Cromwell?”
“Meg, you distress yourself.”
But Margaret went on: “He used to say when he was particularly happy: ‘I shall remember this moment when I die. I shall remember it and say that my life was worthwhile…’” Margaret broke down and covered her face with her hands.
Mercy said nothing; she clasped her hands together and felt she would die of the deep distress within her.
She thought: We are realists, I and Margaret. We cannot shut our eyes to the facts as the others can. Bess, Cecily, Jack, they love him … but differently. They love him as a father, and I believe that to Meg and me he is a saint as well as a beloved father.
“I remember,” said Margaret suddenly, “how Ailie came to us and showed us the fashions. Do you remember? The long sleeves? It was that woman … the Queen. That woman …! And but for her, Mercy, he would be with us now… perhaps he would be reading to us … perhaps he would be laughing … chiding us for some folly in his merry way. And now, Mercy, he is standing before a Commission, and we do not know of what he is accused; and we do not know when he will come home… if he will come home.”