Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-03-27
CHATTER VI.
A RARE RIDE TO WINDSOR.

ETSsS1 ceive quicker reward for in
EsZy venting an amusement or a
gaudy costume for the king than by
winning him a battle. Later in life the
highroad to his favor was in Kidding
him of his wife and helping him to
new one, a dangerous way, though, as
Wolsey found, to his sorrow, when he
sank his glory in poor Anne Boleyn.
Brandon took the hint and managed
to let it be known to his play loving
king that he knew the latest French
games. The French Due de Tongue !
vile had for some time been an honor /
ed prisoner at the English court, held
as a hostage from Louis NIL, but De
Longueville was a blockhead who
could not keep his little black eyes off
our fair ladies', who hated him, long
enough to tell the deuce of spades from
the ace of hearts. SO Brandon was
taken from his duties, such as they
were, and placed at the card table.
This was fortunate at first for, being
the best player, the king always chose
him as his partner. and, as in every
other game, the king always won. If
he lost, there would soon be no game,
and the man who won from him too
frequently was in danger at any mo-
ment of being rated guilty of the very
highest sort of treason. | think many
mans fall under Henry VIII. was
owing to the fact that he did not al
ways allow the king to win in some
trivial matter of game or jOust. Under
these conditions everybody was anx-
ious to be the kings partner. 1t is true
he frequently forgot to divide his win
nings, but his partner had this advan-
tage at least-there was no danger of
losing. That being the case, Brandons
seat opposite the king was very likely
to excite envy, and the time soon came,
Henry having learned the play, when
Brandon had to face some one else, and
the seat was too costly for a man with
out Il treasury. 1t took but a few days
to put Brandon hors de combat finan-
cially, and ne would have been in
bad plight had not Wolsey come to his
relief. After that he played and paid
the king in his own coin.
This great game of honor and ruff
occupied Henry's mind day and night
during a fortnight. He Toasted upon
it to safety, as he did with everything
else, never having learned not to cloy
his appetite by overlooking. SO we
saw little of Brandon while the kings
fever lasted, and Mary said she wished
she had remained silent about the
cards. You see, she could enjoy this
new plaything as well as her brother,
but the king. of course, must be salts
fed first. They both had enough even
tually, Henry in one way, Mary in an
other.
One day the fancy struck the king
that he would rebuild a certain chapel
at Windsor, so he took a number of the
court. including Mary, Jane, Brandon
and myself, and went with us up to
London. where we lodged over night at
BrideWell House The next morning
as bright and beautiful a June day as
ever gladdened the heart of a rose-we
took horse for Windsor a delightful
seven league ride over fair road.
Mary and Jane Travelled side by side,
with an occasional companion or two,
as the road permitted. | was angry
with Jane, as you know, so did not go
near the girls, and Brandon, without
any apparent intention one way or the
other, allowed events to adjust them
selves and rode with Cavendish and
me.
We We're perhaps forty yards behind
the girls, and | noticed after time
that the Lady Mary kept looking back
ward in our direction, as if fearing rain
: l,A I
Jane, too, would fear the rain, but you
would have sworn her neck was stiff,
so straight ahead did she keep her face
We had ridden perhaps three leagues
when the princess stopped her horse
and turned in her saddle. l heard her
voice, but did not understand what she
said.
In Il moment some one called out
"Mastcr Brandon is wanted" SO that
gentleman rode forward, and l fol-
lowed him. When we came up with
the girls, Mary said, Il fear my girth
is loose.
Brandon at once dismountcd to tight
en- it. and the others of our immediate
party began TO cluster around.
Brandon tried the girth.
My lady, it is as tight as the horse
can we'll bear" he said.
1T is loose, | say" insisted the prin-
cess, with little irritation THE sad
die feels like it. Try the other Then,
turning impatiently to the persons
gathered around: docs it require all
of you, standing there like gaping
pumpkins, to tighten my girth? Ride
on. We can manage this without so
much help" Upon this broad hint ev-
erybody rode ahead while l held the
horse for Brandon. who went on with
his search for the looA girth. While
he was looking for it Mary leaned over
her horses neck and asked: "Were you
and Cavendish settling all the philo-
sophcal points now in dispute that
l. I'M In tiIAac