MARY THE FIRST. 375 something like regret for the sorrows he had caused her, and entreated her to act as a kind mother to her brother. Never did she forget this entreaty, for in after trials, and they were neither "few nor far between," during the Protectorate, never did she for a single moment countenance any of the attempts made to subvert those who ruled in Edward's name, however much she suffered from their acts, and was tormented by their unfounded suspicions. w The will of Henry the Eighth was as inconsistent as his life had been, and bore evidence of the in- sincerity of his fatih in that religion of which his defense gained for him the unmerited title of "Defender of the Faith." He willed that his son should be brought up a Catholic, and be- queathed six hundred pounds a year for masses to be said for the repose of his own soul ! — acts wholly at variance with the professions of his life, since he had abjured the papal faith. Yet this was the man to whom it was supposed we owe the establishment of the Protestant religion ! The only interfer- ence of Mary with the government after the death of her father was an address from her to Somerset containing her urgent prayer for the fulfillment of Henry's will with regard to the education and tenets of her brother. This address produced no other effect than a disingenuous and unsuccessful attempt on his part to disprove the fact of which the will itself left no doubt, namely, that Henry had returned to the creed of his youth. A good understanding seemed to exist between the youthful king and Mary during the first months of his reign. They passed the Christmas together, and he evinced a par- tiality for her society. The troubles which broke out soon after, as well as the difference in their faith, interrupted this good understanding. Somerset accused her servants of coun- tenancing the rebels in Devonshire, and she answered the accusation not only by a prompt and firm denial, but more than hinted that the cause of the troubles originated in the unlawful changes he had effected. The marriage of Katherine Parr with Lord Thomas Sey- mour was very repugnant to the feelings of Mary ; and though it produced no breach of courtesy between them, led to a cere- monious coldness. Mary was the last person likely to over- look or pardon the indecorous haste with which the widowed queen bestowed her hand on him who had sued for it before Henry had distinguished her — and they met no more. It having been arranged by the privy council, on the death
