I, therefore, ask mercy, sire, mercy for Anne Askew!" "And I," said the queen, as she again approached the king, "I add my prayers to hers, sire.

To-day is the feast of love, my festival, sire! To-day, then, let love and mercy prevail." She looked at the king with so charming a smile, her eyes had an expression so radiant and happy, that the king could not withstand her.
He was, therefore, in the depths of his heart, ready to let the royal clemency prevail for this time; but he wanted a pretext for this, some way of bringing it about.

He had solemnly vowed to pardon no heretic, and he might not break his word merely because the queen prayed for mercy.
"Well, then," said he, after a pause, "I will comply with your request.
I will pardon Anne Askew, provided she will retract, and solemnly abjure all that she has said.

Are you satisfied with that, Catharine ?" "I am satisfied," said she, sadly.
"And you, Lady Jane Douglas, and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey ?" "We are satisfied." All eyes were now turned again upon Anne Askew, who, although every one was occupied by her concerns, had been entirely overlooked and left unnoticed.
Nor had she taken any more notice of the company than they of her.

She had scarcely observed what was going on about her.