Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-12-15
WHOLE NO. 1872.

sveAA\204A1 AN0s We
guilty by their peers on slight.and trivial
grounds. which in the ifon days Of Eng
lish monarchy. and in times Of State .neces-
sity,. were proofs Of treason strong as no.
" writ How many too have laid their
heads upon the bloody block for loving
their country 100 well :! The blood Of
England's best. and wissst, and noblest,
has been shed there. Let Us pass on.
In gloomy apartment within these sto-
ried walls. sat Anne Boleyn, prisoner Of
State. and condemned to die. What = re-
verse! She who lately occupied so prom
inent place Of honor and Of power, whose
smile was fortune, and whose word was
law, and at whose shrine was paid the
homage Of the noble and the gay-was
now the tenant Of a prison, and doomed TO
felon's death ! With no chance Of prep
ara.ion for defence. and none to say aught
in her behalf. had she been arraigned and
tried within the strong walls Of the tower;
where the public eye is never allowed to
penetrate, and alterations from justice are
concealed; where the victim meets no,pit-
ying look, and hears no friendly voice in
the trying hour. Her proud spirit rose
above all. Calmly and clearly did she, a
young and inexperienced woman. defend
herself before her hoary judges-men
"Of stern mould AMI moody brow"
and proved her innocence, more by the
power of serene countenance, than BY
the power Of language But her fate was
fixed. The royal affections had changed
their object, and she must be removed to
make way for their qualification. Such
was Henry's policy, and supple tools
enough lie had TO carry j. out. Her own
uncle passed sentence Of death upon her.
She listened to ii unmoved, and raising
her hands and eyes to heaven. exclaimed,
%, Father Of mankind the way. the life.
and the truth, thou knowest whether
have deserved this death; : thus proclaim-
ing her innocence in mild but firm lam
guage, she folded her hands meekly on
her bosom, and was led back to her cell.
rnE EXECUTION
In grim silennce, and leaning on his
sword, the executioner stood upon the
scaffold The mayor and aldermen OF
London, with three Of The kings minis-
ters, were there TO witness the catastrophe.
There stood Anne Boleyn, surrounded by
few of her waiting women. Alas. poor
girl, what fate was thine! She looked
around her and saw those who month
before, would have trembled at her frown,
now meet her glance with stern unpity>
ing eye. She saw too. the implements OF
death beside her, blu. her cheek bianched
not, nor did her voice fal,er. She spoke
mildly of her own fate. and Of the king in
kindness.
If any person NEEDLE with my cause.
said she in conclusion, Il require them
to Judge the best; thus take my leave of
the world and of you, and desire you TO
pray for me-
Her speech awakened sympathy. in eve.
ry uncorrupted heart. around her. and
amongst all those wise heads and bold
spirits, she was perhaps the only person
whose mind was perfectly composed.
She quietly removed her hat and collar.
and taking one wild and hasty look at
earth and air and sky, she clasped her
hands an1 sank upon her knees. A mo-
ment the sword glittered in the sunlight,
the mex. her head rolled upon the sand!
Thus persisted in the prime Of her life,
and the bloom Of her beauty, the once adj
mired and rourled Anne Boleyn; while
the stern. unfeeling monarch, who had
torn her from the arms of a young and ar
dent lover--the companion Of her young
ger days--and raised her from humble
life to queenly honors, was impa;iently
awaiting the announcement, that, that
bright form he had so often caressed in
tenderness, was muailated and lifeless.
Alas! how versatile and uncertain are hu>
man affairs. We live, and smile. and
hope, and grieve, and in moment die!