Page:The Queens of England.djvu/409

 MARY THE FIRST. 367 There was no less generosity than courage in Mary's thus recalling Elizabeth to the recollection, and in recommending her to the good will, of Henry, for it was then well known that he entertained strong, though unjust, doubts of her being his child; and so much obloquy has been cast on the fame of Mary, that we would fain, while recording the stern truths alleged against her, not pass over unnoticed any fact that throws a favorable light on her character. During the years that Mary, was living in seclusion with Elizabeth at Hunsdon, she was neither forgotten by the sub- jects of her father, nor left unsought by royal suitors for her hand. James the Fifth formally solicited her for his bride while Anne Boleyn still held all her influence over Henry's heart, and perhaps it was this influence that led to the rejection of the proposal of James, as Anne Boleyn might naturally dread a marriage for her stepdaughter which might subse- quently injure the interests of her own offspring. Be the motives" what they may, the offer of James the Fifth was re- fused, and this chance of escaping from her heavy trials was denied the unhappy Mary. It is doubtful whether any reliance may be placed in the romantic attachment supposed to have existed between Mary and Reginald Pole. Frequent opportuni- ties of meeting must have offered while the Countess of Salis- bury, his mother, was the governess of the princess ; and a man so remarkable, not only for his personal attractions, but for his mental superiority and grace of manners, might very naturally be supposed to make a deep impression on the heart of a young person so devoted to serious studies, and so pre- cluded from seeing other men. That Katharine of Arragon wished such an alliance to take place, more than one historian asserts; but neither in early youth, nor afterwards, have we any proof that Mary entertained for this distinguished man any warmer feeling than the friendship due to the son of her fond and faithful friend, and the courageous opposer of the divorce of her beloved mother. Few men of this time were more esteemed and respected than Reginald Pole. Even the coarse-minded and selfish Henry could not resist the attraction possessed by this noble scion of the proud Piantagenets, and he permitted him, at the commencement, a freedom of speech on the dangerous subject of the divorce, which testified the affection he must have felt for him. Had Reginald yielded his assent to the divorce, in- stead of having opposed it, the tragical fate of his mother and