The Miracle at St. Bruno's

"Perhaps men sometimes tire of brilliance and fancy a little peace.”

That made Kate laugh. "His Grace the King? Never! Well, he would have quickly tired of her had she lived, so, poor soul, perhaps it was as well she died. When I saw the new Queen at Shooters Hill whither we had ridden out with the King's party to greet her, I was mightily astonished. I had insisted on Remus's taking me, although he had feared I should not ride at that stage of my pregnancy. But I insisted and there she was. Damask, the pity of it. So plain! That dreadful skin and her clothes!

If they had tried to make her look ugly they could not have succeeded better. She had some twelve or so ladies with her-all as ugly as she was. They are fat, these Flemings, and have no style. How different from the French. Anne Boleyn was Frenchified, was she not? Do you remember the way she held her head? And the King. He looked magnificent... although I will whisper to you that he no longer has that golden look he once had. His face is red and he is fat and his eyes have grown smaller and his mouth tighter … and when he frowns he is quite terrifying.

But on this day he was in a coat somewhat like a dress - purple velvet, embroidered with gold thread and trimmed with gold lace. The sleeves were lined with cloth of gold and the coat was held together by buttons which were diamonds, rubies and pearls.

His bonnet was a glitter. And his new Queen! She was in a gown of raised cloth of gold and on her head was a caul and over that a bonnet. How hideous are the Dutch fashions! To see them meet was most revealing. The people cheered and the King could not give vent to his real feeling, but those near him knew that the thunder was rumbling and those responsible for bringing Anne of Cleves to England trembled then and have been trembling ever since.”

"Surely that was Cromwell.”

"Cromwell, yes, and there are many who hate that man and will doubtless be pleased to see befall him that which has been the fate of many others.”

"He is too powerful a man to suffer because the King does not like the look of a woman.”

"Powerful men have fallen before. And they say that the King never loved Cromwell.

He has accorded him scarce any dignity nor respect. 'Twas different with the Cardinal - yet look what became of him.”

"It is dangerous to serve princes.”

"You are not the first to have mentioned the fact," said Kate with a wry smile. "Do you know that after he had seen her for the first time the King was so incensed that he cried out: 'Whom shall men trust? I promise you that I see no such thing in her as hath been shown to me by her pictures or report. I love her not.' “

"Could he expect to love her on such a short meeting?" "He meant he had no desire for her. And so long had he been without a wife that this was ominous. To tell the truth I believe he already had his eye on Katharine Howard and if this were so this would doubtless make Anne of Cleves seem even more repulsive than she might otherwise have been thought. Remus said that the King summoned Cromwell and demanded to be told how he could be released from the 'great Flanders mare.' Poor Cromwell, he is at his wits' end. But should we say 'Poor Cromwell? Secretly I think not. Perhaps we are smiling a little because he is now himself in that danger in which he has placed so many. When we think of those days when his men came to St. Bruno's....”

"He was but doing the King's bidding.”

"Oh, a little more than that. He was the enemy of the monks. But for that man perhaps now Bruno would be living at the Abbey and you and I would be stealing through the secret door to have word with him. But that is all gone. It is as though it never was. And now it is Cromwell's turn to face the wrath of his sovereign.”

"I pity any who must face that.”

"Have you forgotten? Do you remember the monk who hung on the gibbet... how limp was his body! It made me shudder to look at him. And Brother Ambrose....”

"Please don't talk of it, Kate. I'd rather forget.”

"There's the difference in us. I'd rather remember now and say 'There, Cromwell, it is your turn now.' “

"But has it come to that? He has a great title bestowed on him, has he not?”

"Oh, yes, my Lord of Essex and Lord Chamberlain of England. Remus tells me that the King has bestowed thirty manors on him. Well, I suppose he deserved some to fall to him when one considered how many he has diverted to the King. But that was in April. It is now June. The summer skies are darkening for Master Cromwell and it is all due to this marriage.”

"How knowledgeable you are.”

"These are matters which are discussed at Court and sometimes here when people come from Court.”

"And you find it dull?”

"Not such talk. Not such people. It is the country squires who bore me. Moreover I would wish to be at Court and not merely to listen to what goes on there when good fortune sends us a visitor.”