Ah, ah, it is a hard and fatiguing occupation to be a king, and no day passes without trouble and toil!" "The Lord our God will bless this toil to you!" said Gardiner, solemnly, as he handed the king the pen.
Henry was preparing to write, as Catharine laid her hand on his, and checked him.
"Do not sign them, my husband," said she, in a voice of entreaty.

"Oh, by all that is sacred to you, I conjure you not to let yourself be carried away by your momentary vexation; let not the injured man be mightier in you than the righteous king.

Let the sun set and rise on your wrath; and then, when you are perfectly calm, perfectly composed--then pronounce judgment on these accused.

For consider it well, my husband, these are eight death-warrants that you are here about to sign; and with these few strokes of the pen, you will tear eight human beings from life, from family, and from the world; you will take from the mother, her son; from the wife, her husband; and from the infant children, their father.

Consider it, Henry; it is so weighty a responsibility that God has placed in your hand, and it is presumptuous not to meet it in holy earnestness and undisturbed tranquillity of mind." "Now, by the holy mother!" cried the king, striking vehemently upon the table, "I believe, forsooth, you dare excuse traitors and blasphemers of their king! You have not heard then of what they are accused ?" "I have heard it," said Catharine, more and more warmly; "I have heard, and I say, nevertheless, sign not those death-warrants, my husband.