my treasury to support your dignity."

"Your majesty is too generous," replied Anne, bending the knee, and
kissing his hand.

"Not a whit, sweetheart--not a whit," replied Henry, tenderly raising her;
"this is but a slight mark of my goodwill. Sir Thomas Boleyn," he added
to her father, "henceforth your style and title will be that of Viscount
Rochford, and your patent will be made out at the same time as that of
your daughter, the Marchioness of Pembroke. I also elect you a knight-
companion of the most honourable Order of the Garter, and your
investiture and installation will take place to-day."

Having received the thanks and homage of the newly-created noble,
Henry descended from the canopy, and passed into an inner room with
the Lady Anne, where a collation was prepared for them. Their slight
meal over, Anne took up her lute, and playing a lively prelude, sang two
or three French songs with so much skill and grace, that Henry, who
was passionately fond of music, was quite enraptured. Two delightful
hours having passed by, almost imperceptibly, an usher approached
the king, and whispering a few words to him, he reluctantly withdrew,
and Anne retired with her ladies to an inner apartment.

On reaching his closet, the king's attendants proceeded to array him in
a surcoat of crimson velvet, powdered with garters embroidered in silk
and gold, with the motto--boni soft qui mal y pense--wrought within
them. Over the surcoat was thrown a mantle of blue velvet with a
magnificent train, lined with white damask, and having on the left
shoulder a large garter, wrought in pearls and Venice twists, containing
the motto, and encircling the arms of Saint George--argent, a cross