Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-25

"Caskoden, I have never detected you in lie in all the years I have known you. You are not very large in body, but your honor is great enough to stock Goliath. believe you are telling the truth. I will go at once to liberate Brandon, and that little hussy, my sister, shall go to France and en- joy life as best she can with her old beauty, King Louis. I know of no greater punishment to inflict upon her. This determines me. She shall coax me out of 1t no longer. Sir Thomas Brandon, hnve my horses ready, and will go to the lord mayor, then to my lord bishop of Lincoln and arrange to close this French treaty at once. Let everybody know. that the Princess Mary will within the month be queen of France" This was said to the courtiers and was all over London be- fore night.
 I followed closely in the wake of the king, though uninvited, for had de- termfned to trust to no one, not even his majesty, until Brandon should be free. Henry had said he would go first to the lord mayor and then to Wolsey, but after we crossed the bridge he passed down Lower Thames street and turned up Fish street hill into Grace Church street on toward Bishopsgate. He said he would stop at Mistress Cornwallis' and have a pudding and then on to Wolsey, who at that time lodged in a house near the; wall beyond Bishousgate.
 I well knew if the king once reached Wolsey's 1t would be wine and quoits asad other. games, interspersed now and then with a little clustering taIk on statecraft, for the rest of the day. Then the good bishop would have in a few pretty London women, and a dance would follow, with wine and cards and dice, and Henry would spend the night at Wolsey's and Brandon lie an- other night in the mire of his Newgate dungeon.
 I resolved to raise heaven and earth, and the other place, too, if necessary, before this should happen. So rode boldly Up to the king and with uncov- cred head addressed him: "Your maj esty gave me your royal word that you would go to the lord mayor first, and this is the road to my lord bishop of Lincoln. Tn all the years have known your majesty, both as gallant prince and puissant king, this is the first re- quest ever proffered, and now I only ask of you to save your own noble honor and do your duty as man and king"
 These were bold words, but did not care one little farthing whether they pleased him or not. The king stared at me and said:
 "Caskoden, you are perfect hound at my heels. But you are right. I had forgotten my errand. You disturbed my dinner, and my stomach called loudly for one of Mistress Cornwallis buildings, but you are right to stick to me. What friend you are in case of need! Would had one like you"
 Your majesty has< two of whom I know-one riding humbly by your roy al side and the other lying in the worst dungeon in Christendom."
 With this the king wheeled about and started west toward Guildhall.
 To the lord mayor we accordingly went without further delay. He was only too glad to liberate Brandon when he heard my story, which the king had ordered me to repeat The only hesi- tancy was from doubt of it's truth.
 The lord mayor was kind enough to say that he felt little doubt of my word, but that friendship would often drive man to any extremity, even falsehood, to save friend.
 Then offered to go into custody my self and pay the penalty, death, for helping convicted felon to escape if I told not the truth, to be confirmed or denied by the princess and her first lady in waiting. knew Jane and was willing to risk her truthfulness with out doubt-it was so pronounced as to be troublesome at times-and as to Mary-well, I had not doubt of her either If she would but stop to think out the right, she was sure to do it.
 My offer was satisfactory, for what more can man do than pledge his life for his friend2 We have Scripture for that, or something like it.
 The lord mayor did not require my proffered pledge, but readily consented that the king should write an order for Brandon's pardon and release. This was done at once, and we-that is, I, together with the sheriff's sergeant and his four yeomen, hastened to Newgate, while Henry went over to Wolsey's to settle Mary's fate.
 Brandon was brought up, with chains and manacles at his ankles and wrists. When he entered the room and saw me, he exclaimed: "Ah, Caskoden, is that you? I thought they had brought me up to hang me, and was glad for the change. But I suppose you would not come to help at that, even if you. have left me here to rot, God only knows how long; have forgotten"
 I could not restrain the tears at sight of him.
 "Your words are more than just" I said, and, being anxious that he should know at once that my fault had not been so great as it looked, continued hurriedly: '@rhe king sent me to France upon an hours notice the day after your arrest know only too well l should not have gone without seeing