"For when have I shown myself so long-suffering and weak in punishing, that people believe me inclined to pardon and deal gently?
Have I not sent to the scaffold even Thomas More and Cromwell, two renowned and in a certain respect noble and high-minded men, because they dared defy my supremacy and oppose the doctrine and ordinance which I commanded them to believe?
Have I not sent to the block two of my queens--two beautiful young women, in whom my heart was well pleased, even when I punished them--because they had provoked my wrath?
Who, after such brilliant examples of our annihilating justice, who dare accuse us of forbearance ?" "But at that time, sire," said Douglas, in his soft, insinuating voice, "but at that time no queen as yet stood at your side who called heretics true believers, and favored traitors with her friendship." The king frowned, and his wrathful look encountered the friendly and submissive countenance of the earl.

"You know I hate these covert attacks," said he.

"If you can tax the queen with any crime, well now, do so.

If you cannot, hold your peace!" "The queen is a noble and virtuous lady," said the earl, "only she sometimes permits herself to be led away by her magnanimous spirit.

Or how, your majesty, can it possibly be with your permission that my lady the queen maintains a correspondence with Anne Askew ?" "What say you?
The queen in correspondence with Anne Askew ?" cried the king in a voice of thunder.