6 TUEVALLYAN. 



lunied to her companion, and said, ** Tell me, Richard, what that 

 missive can contain to affect you so strongly, and to cause your brow 

 so to display alternate shade and sunshine ? " 



" Why should I reveal to thee, dear Margaret, the secrets of 

 monarchs ? " retunied the earl ; " suffice it that this letter calls me to 

 the capital on the king's service ; but my absence will be brief." 



" Again ! " said the lady, rising and advancing towards him ; " again 

 to London, said you ? Surely you have been torn from me enough 

 already : seek not, dear Richard, to embroil yourself in the many 

 plots and schemes which so characterise and disgrace these troublous 

 times ! " 



" Fear not," replied the earl ; " no danger is near ; 1 go on 

 no wai'like mission. Here," continued he, handing her the letter, 

 " this will explain all : thou art too fearful, Margaret, for the daughter 

 of a Percy ! " 



The lady took the letter in her trembling fingers, and read as 

 follows : — 



" To our trusty and well-beloved Richard, Earl of Trevallyan, and 

 Member of our Privy Council, Henry, by the grace of God, King of 

 these realms, sendeth greeting. 



" It was not well of thee, Trevallyan, to leave our royal presence 

 with such lack of respect as thou shewedst when we last gave audience 

 to thee ; nevertheless, though reverence is especially due to us as the 

 Lord's anointed and defender of the faith, we grant thee forgiveness* 

 and the remembrance of thy contumely shall fade from our mind. 

 The counsel thou didst give in the matter of the monasteries and reli- 

 gious houses has found favour in our sight ; and that we may further 

 advise with thee, let us see thee in three days after thou receivest this 

 letter. And let me tell thee to beware of Norfolk, for he is thine 

 enemy. — Henry R. 



" From our royal house of Whitehall, this tenth day of April, A.D. 

 fifteen hundred and thirty-eight." 



When the lady had concluded her perusal of this epistle, she further 

 inquired of her husband the import of the several parts of it; for not 

 being accustomed to know his secret plans and puq)oses, she was much 

 in the dark about the real meaning of the king. Her husband, con- 

 trary to his wont, gave her an explanation, the substance of which we 

 shall here submit to the reader.— In 1536, Henry the Eighth 



