the admiration she excited, soon induced other ladies to imitate her example. But it was not only at the toilette that her taste was confessedly preeminent; unrivalled in every captivating talent, she danced like a nymph, and not only touched the lute and virginal with a masterly hand, but accompanied them with her voice, in a strain of delicious melody. To these brilliant accomplishments she added an exquisite winningness and propriety of manners, not less rare, and even more seducing than beauty," insomuch, as Herbert says, that " when she composed her hands to play and her voice to sing, it was joined with that sweetness of countenance, that three harmonies concurred ; likewise, when she danced, her rare proportions carried themselves into all the graces that helong either to rest or motions ; briefly, it seems the most attractive perfections were eminent in her." The interior of Queen Katherine's court, where, indeed, neither book, song, nor dance, beguiled the labours of tent, stitch, and tapestry, could have afforded but little to delight or amuse one of Anne's sprightly, volatile temperament The regulations of the royal household, however, show, that although within tbe walls of the palace few of the more elegant conveniences and accommodations of modern life were to be found, whilst luxury and wretchedness, elegance and penury, stalked almost hand-in hand, the six maids of honour were, at least, provided with an abundance of the essentials cf liff: ; for their breakfast was allowed a chet loaf^* a manchet, f a chine of beef, and a gallon of ale. The brewer was enjoined not to adulterate the ale with hops or brimstone. Tho ladies dined at mess. " Seven messes of ladies," says Loyd, " dined at the sains table in the great chamber ; a chet loaf and manchet, ale and wine, beef and mutton, were supplied in abundance, with the addition of capons, or hens, pigeons and conies." On fast days was served up salt salmon, salted eels, whitings, gurnet, plaice, and flounders ; fruit was reserved for Lent; butter was always allowed in profusion, and the ladies who were peers' daughters, had stabling allowed for their horses. Great regularity was observed in the order and rotation of meals. The gentlemen and theladies dined in separate apartments at stated hours the year throughout, never departing from this rule but on special occasions. To the King alone belonged the prerogative to dine when he pleased This prerogative was doubtless of importance to the epicure Henry, " who," remarks a learned author, " weB understood a man and a dish, relishing, amongst other dainties, giggots of mutton or venison stopped with cloves, chickens in crituary, larks, sparrows, lamb stewed with chines of mutton, venison pasty, jelly, hippocras and cream of almonds. CIIAPTEE II. Percy falls in love with Anne—Henry's jealousy prevents the match—Percy is banished from the court and married to Mary Talbot—Anne is withdrawn from court to Hever castle—Her indignation—Henry visits her and declares his love— She at first rejects, but afterwards receives his addresses—His love letters. disclose his ΠΕΝ Henry first became enamoured of Anne Boleyn, cannot be stated with certainty, as only the dread of her becoming the wife of another, induced him to The fair maid of honour herself little dreaming of the conquest she had made, and utterly disregarding the desire of her family to unite her to Sir Piers Butler,lent a willing ear to the love pleadings of Lord Henry-Percy, son and heir of the Earl of North * Fine bread purchased or not made in the family. t A small loaf offine home-made bread.