Tho arrival of Armcbaut, the French admiral—him who had bravclv, but unsuccessfully, attacked the English fient, and made several most unwelcome descents on the coast of Sussex, just previously — as ambassador extraordinary, to negotiate a peace between England and France, caused to gleam forth again, and for the last time, a faint scintillation of the radiant magnificence which once marked the court of Henry the Eighth as the most brilliant and gorgeous of its own and previous times. Prince Edward, although but nine years old, rode forth in the procession to meet and welcome Annebaut, and conduct tbe embassy to Hampton Court, where every preparation had been made for their reception, and where, for ten days, they were entertained with gorgeous magnificence by the King and Queen ; Henry, to enable Katherine to appear on the occasion with a befitting splendour and dignity, having previously presented her with valuable jewels and plate, and caused her apartments to be filled up with new and superb furniture and hangings; gifts which, after the King's death, led to a tiresome litigation, as will be presently detailed. Katherine's ascendancy over the mind of the King and his promising heir, and the powerful encouragement she gave to the Reformation, so alarmed the Catholic party, that C-ardinor, AVriothesley, and Rich, watched, with the zest of hungry wolves, for an opportunity to compass her ruin ; but so cxemplary was her conduct, that in nothing, save her religious opinions, could they find even a pretext of complaint against her. In these she differed essentially from the Catholics, and with laudable zeal she opposed the arbitrary purpose of her royal lord : to erect a supreme dogma of his own upon the ruins of the papacy, and to send to the stake or scaffold all who dared to oppose the rules of faith pronounced by him as orthodox. In his last speech to parliament, he complained in strong terms against the religious dissensions which pervaded the realm. "It was partly the fault of the clergy," he observed, "who were so so busy in their new sumpsimus ; that, instead of preaching the word of God, they were employed at railing at eaeh other ; and partly the fault of the laity, whose delight it was to censure the proceedings of their bishops, priests, and preachers. If you know," he continued, "that any preach perverse doctrines, come and declare it to some of our council, or to us, to wrhom is committed, by God, the authority to reform and order such causes and behaviours; and be not judges yourselves of your own fantastical opinions and vain expositions ; and, although you be permitted to read tho holy scriptures, and to have the word of God in your mother tongue, you must understand it is licensed you so to do, only to inform your conscience, and your children and families, and not to dispute and to make scripture a railing and taunting-stock against priests and preachers, as many light persons do. I am very sorry to know and hear how irreverently that precious jewel, the Word of God, is disputed, rhymed, sung, and jingled, in every ale-house and tavern, contrary to the true meaning and doctrine of the same ; and yet I am as much sorry that the readers of the same follow it, in doing so faintly and coldly. Eor of this I am sure, charity was never so faint amongst you ; and virtuous and godly living was never less used, nor God himself, amongst Christians, never less honoured nor served. Therefore, as I said before, be in charity with one another, like brother and brother ; and love, dread, and serve God : to which I, your supreme head and sovereign, exhort and require vou." This speech, which alarmed the Reformers and displeased the Catholics, was followed by a rigorous persecution of all who dared to entertain an opinion at variance with tbe six articles, particularly in the point of real presence. The dominant Catholics, more as a matter of party than of conscience, be it observed, took advantage of tbe present juncture, to accuse Anne Askew of dogmatizing on that delicate article. This young, beautiful, highly-gifted, stiff in their old mumpsimus, and others I and nobly-born lady, had, from her op