Page:The Queens of England.djvu/324

 284 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. and good intentions. Percy had not sufficient moral courage to resist the tyranny so unjustly exercised over him. That Percy, however fondly attached to Anne Boleyn, yielded implicit obedience to his stern father's commands, is proved by his marriage with the Lady Mary Talbot, the daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury, in 1523. which confirms the belief that Anne Boleyn returned to England in the previous year. Anne's was not a nature to forgive or forget injuries speed- ily. Unsuspicious of the real motive of her separation from the object of her affections, she believed it originated wholly in the malice and love of interference of the cardinal, and by the ex- tent of her displeasure against him may be judged the warmth and sincerity of her love for Percy, and the bitterness of her disappointment for his loss. But time, the best soother of re- gret, in due season softened, if it did not eradicate hers, and Henry, who probably found a longer absence from her insup- portable, surprised the family at Hever by a visit, without, how- ever, beholding her for whom it was undertaken, for Anne, either through wounded pride or maidenly reserve, confined her- self to her chamber, nor left it until he had departed ; nor did her father wish her to see Henry, otherwise he would ha,ve com- manded her presence. This conduct on the part of father and daughter indicated a desire to avoid, rather than to encourage, the royal visitor, and probably piqued him more to pursue his object than a kind welcome might have done, it being a peculiar characteristic in the self-willed and obstinate to be incited into persistence by opposition. At all events, this avoidance of Henry by Anne proves that she held out no lures to attract him, and is honorable to her father. Some time elapsed before the king again presumed to visit Hever. The first visit had taught him that the conquest he medi- tated could hot be as easily achieved as he had expected, and he set to work to conciliate both father and daughter, by showering favors on the first, hitherto held back, though well merited by the services of Sir Thomas Boleyn, until his newly-formed pas- sion for his fair daughter inspired him with the desire of culti- vating the good will of the family for his own selfish and dis- honorable aims. Sir Thomas Boleyn was created Viscount Rochford, and appointed treasurer of the royal household, and Sir William Carey, the husband of Mary Boleyn, the elder sis- ter of Anne, was made gentleman of the privy chamber. Some months elapsed before Anne Boleyn was recalled to