Queen Anne Boleyn

Patrick and Beth brushed their own hair. They straightened their clothes. Patrick did everything he could think of to get ready to talk to the royal couple.

Amelia watched them. She smirked the whole time.

“Let’s practice saying our request in the mirror,” he said to Beth. “I want to make sure my smile looks good.”

Just then the tower clock chimed.

“You don’t have time to practice,” Amelia said. “The royal couple will be in the great hall to listen to music. This will be the only time you can talk to them. Go now!”

Beth took Patrick’s hand. “Let’s pray first.”

“You’d better,” Amelia added. “It could be your last time.”

Patrick squeezed Beth’s hand and bowed his head. He didn’t let Amelia’s words scare him. “Dear God,” he prayed, “please give us courage to talk to King Henry and Queen Anne. You are the true King of this world. We ask that You would be honored. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”

Amelia was standing by the wooden door. She opened it so they could pass.

Beth hurried out the door. Patrick followed.

“Remember to bow. And bow a lot,” Amelia said. She came into the hall and shut the door behind her.

“You’re coming too?” Beth asked.

“Of course,” Amelia said. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Patrick froze. His stomach flipped. He didn’t trust Amelia. He knew she could ruin everything.

“Chop-chop,” Amelia said. “There’s no going back now.” She put her hand on his back and gave a little prod. “Get going. John Whittaker sent you for such a time as this.”

Beth hurried down the main corridor. She left Amelia and Patrick behind. She passed beautiful tapestries and paintings. Her feet glided across the polished tile.

She arrived at the entrance to the great hall alone. The guard outside the wide, arched doors was Ross. He held a halberd in his right hand. A long sword hung from his belt. His small ears turned red when he saw Beth.

“You turned me in for having a New Testament,” Beth said.

“I had need of better judgment,” Ross said. “I did not foresee that Yeoman White would flee because of those books.”

“Why did you do it?” she asked. “Don’t you think people should be able to read God’s words?”

His ears turned a deeper shade of red. He patted a spot on his uniform. “The good yeoman did offer one to me. I shall treasure it till I draw my last breath.”

Amelia and Patrick caught up to her. Patrick seemed confident. Amelia had a sly look on her face. But Beth didn’t want to know why.

“Please let us in,” Beth said to Ross.

“The musicians have not arrived,” Ross said. “You shall listen out here where you will not disturb the King and Queen.”

“But we need to speak to them,” she said. “Open the door!”

“’Twould be the death of us all,” Ross said. “Pray do not ask this of me.”

Amelia interrupted. “Oh, stop kidding around. I’m Lady Amelia. Surely the king will want to see me.”

Amelia put her hand on the door.

Ross’s expression froze. He let the halberd tilt in her direction.

Amelia stepped back.

Ross said, “It is not the King who forbids your ladyship’s presence. It is the Queen. And I vowed to do her bidding. Nay, you shall not enter. Only those of her choosing will pass.”

“What if we have the blessing of the Boleyn family?” Beth asked. “Is that good enough?”

“Verily. What have you for proof?” Ross asked.

Beth elbowed Patrick. “Show him the shield,” she whispered.

Patrick reached into his pocket. He pulled out the little Boleyn shield.

Ross took it and inspected it. He handed it back to Patrick and gave a bow.

“You may enter,” Ross said. “May God preserve your souls.”

Beth gulped. Ross’s words sounded like something from a funeral.

Patrick took a deep breath and entered the great hall. He felt better when he saw only one guard in the room. And he had only a dagger.

King Henry seemed to have had a big dinner. He was asleep in a large chair.

Patrick studied him. The word dazzle came to his mind. The king’s jacket bulged with jewels and glittered with gold.

Queen Anne stood next to him. Her gown and headdress were stunning and decorated with gold. She looked prettier than an angel.

But she scowled when Amelia entered.

“Guard, pray remove these people from my presence.” The queen gave the order calmly.

“Wait!” Patrick said. “I mean, pray tarry, Your Majesty.”

At this point, Amelia walked to the window. Perhaps she wanted to be out of the queen’s sight. But Patrick could tell she was listening carefully.

He went to the queen and handed her the shield.

Anne broke into a smile, and she seemed even more beautiful. “Verily, this belongs to someone I admire greatly,” she said. “Tell me, what errand are you upon? Give me news of him.”

Patrick looked to Beth. She nodded.

Patrick bowed. He cleared his throat and bowed again. Then he said, “Your Royal Highness, the person who gave me the shield has a favor to ask. The scholar William Tyndale is now in jail in Belgium. Can you aid him and seek his release from jail?”

“Tyndale!”

It was the king. He was now fully awake. Patrick felt Beth hide behind him.

“Tyndale?” The king looked at Anne. “Is not he the fellow who says that people must obey the King? I like him.”

“Yes, my lord,” Anne said. “The very scholar. You much admired his writing when I showed you his book The Obedience of a Christian Man.”

The king looked at Patrick. “You say this William Tyndale is in prison?”

“Aye,” Patrick said. He hoped that was something a real English person would say and not just a pirate. “He will be burned at the stake unless he has help.”

“I have so few true friends,” the king said to Anne. “Talk to Sir Thomas More, my best advisor. He makes good things happen. Perhaps he can attend to Tyndale’s release.”

Anne turned pale. “My lord, you executed Sir More but two weeks ago.”

Henry scratched his head. “Yes,” he said, “I remember now. He didn’t like my divorce.”

Amelia suddenly turned around and left the window. “If I may speak, Your Highness.”

Henry saw Amelia. He seemed to come alive. He sat up straighter in the chair and wiped away some crumbs from his beard.

“With haste,” the king said. “Tell us!”

Amelia bowed and then said, “William Tyndale is one of the most popular Britons of all time. You will earn praise if you secure his release.”

“Popular?” the king said. “You mean he is beloved by the people? More than I am?”

Amelia smiled. “Yes! He is more beloved than you, according to a poll I read!”

Patrick’s hope died with her words.

The king stood and shouted, “Never! Never then will I help him escape. I am the King, and I deserve all the devotion of the people.”

Queen Anne looked as if she would faint. “Pray do not let William die! He is a leader in the Reformation!”

She leaned against the wall. Beth rushed to her. She put an arm around the queen to keep her from falling.

Then King Henry VIII saw Beth. His eyes narrowed.

“Guard!” he shouted. “Arrest this lass! Off with her head!”

The guard left the wall. He pulled out a knife.

Ross rushed inside. His halberd was raised.

Suddenly the rumble of the Imagination Station filled the room.

The Model T appeared.

Beth hugged the queen. “Have courage,” Beth said. “God will not forget you, even if King Henry will.”

Then Beth rushed to the car and got inside. Patrick climbed in beside her.

Patrick almost hit the horn on the control panel. But first he looked at Amelia.

She was waving the old remote from the previous England adventure. Her smile told him she had fixed it. She could leave whenever she wanted to.

Patrick slammed his palm on the red button.

Suddenly everything went black.