Then I coaxed him into taking me to New Spain, and would listen
to no excuse and hear no reason. Now lives there another man who would
have taken so much coaxing?"
"No! by heaven! your majesty," said Wolsey, who really had a kindly
feeling for Brandon and would gladly save his life, if, by so doing,
he would not interfere with any of his own plans and interests.
Wolsey's heart was naturally kind when it cost him nothing, and much
has been related of him, which, to say the least, tells a great deal
more than the truth. Ingratitude always recoils upon the ingrate, and
Henry's loss was greater than Wolsey's when Wolsey fell.
Henry really liked, or, rather, admired, Brandon, as had often been
shown, but his nature was incapable of real affection. The highest
point he ever reached was admiration, often quite extravagant for a
time, but usually short-lived, as naked admiration is apt to be. If he
had affection for any one it was for Mary. He could not but see the
justice of his sister's position, but he had no intention of allowing
justice, in the sense of right, to interfere with justice in the sense
of the king's will.
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