(In January 1536 the deeply-injured Katharine died; to be followed ere many months had passed by her supplanter. Ostensibly, Henry had married Anne Boleyn, because a male heir was needed to secure the succession; but she had borne him only a daughter and a still-born son. Henry was disappointed in her. Moreover, his passion had for some time been cooling: nor was her character--even on the most favourable reading--calculated to retain affections that had begun to wane. She was frivolous and undignified; her arrogance and her assumption had left her few friends.

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