And who could conjecture whether in time to come, when Henry closed his eyes, the exultant love of the people might not call to the throne the Duke of Norfolk, or his noble son, the Earl of Surrey, instead of the rightful heir--instead of the little boy Edward, Henry's only son?
When the king thought of that, he had a feeling as though a stream of fire were whirling up to his brain; and he convulsively clenched his hands, and screamed and roared that he would take vengeance--vengeance on those hated Howards, who wanted to snatch the crown from his son.
Edward, the little boy of tender age--he alone was the divinely consecrated, legitimate heir to the king's crown.

It had cost his father so great a sacrifice to give his people this son and successor! In order to do it, he had sacrificed Jane Seymour, his own beloved wife; he had let the mother be put to death, in order to preserve the son, the heir of his crown.
And the people did not once thank the king for this sacrifice that Jane Seymour's husband had made for them.

The people received with shouts the Duke of Norfolk, the father of that adulterous queen whom Henry loved so much that her infidelity had struck him like the stab of a poisoned dagger.
These were the thoughts that occupied the king on his bed of pain, and upon which he dwelt with all the wilfulness and moodiness of a sick man.
"We shall have to sacrifice these Howards to him!" said Earl Douglas to Gardiner, as they had just again listened to a burst of rage from their royal master.

"If we would at last succeed in ruining the queen, we must first destroy the Howards." The pious bishop looked at him inquiringly, and in astonishment.
Earl Douglas smiled.

"Your highness is too exalted and noble to be always able to comprehend the things of this world.