Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-06-05
CHAPTER x.
JUSTICE. O KING!


10 How l hated myself be-
cause / had not faced the
kings displeasure and had not refused
to 20 until Brandon was safely out of
his trouble. 1t was hard for me to be-
lieve that I had left such a matter to
two foolish girls, one Of them as
changeable as the wind and the other
completely. under her control. l could
but think of the difference between
myself and Brandon, and well knew,
had been in his place, he would have
liberated me or stormed the very walls
of London single handed and alone.
Next to myself I condemned those
wretched girls for leaving Brandon to
perish-Brandon, to whom they both
owed so much. Their selfishness turn
ed me against all womankind
did not daily this time. I trusted
to no Lady Jane or Lady Mary. de-
termined to go to the king at once and
tell him all. I did not care II the
wretched Mary and Jane both had to
marry the French king or the devil
himself. did not care If they and all
the host of their perfidious sisterhood
went to the neither side Of the universe,
there to remain forever. would re-
trieve my fault in so far as it was re-
trievable and save Brandon. who was
worth them all put together. I would
tell Mary and Jane what thought Of
them, and that should end matters be-
tween US. felt as did toward them
not only because of their treatment of
Brandon, but because they had made
me guilty of grievous fault, for which
l should never so long as l lived for
give myself. l determined to go to the
king, and go did within five minutes
of the time heard that Brandon was
yet in prison.
l found the king sitting alone at pub
lie dinner and, Of course, was denied
speech with him. was in no humor
to be baked, so thrust aside the
guards and, much to everybody's
fright, for I was wild with grief, rage
and despair and showed it in every fea-
ture, rushed to the king and fell upon
my knees at his feet.
Justice, o kingw l cried, and all the
courtiers heard. Justice, o king, for
the worst used man and the bravest,
truest soul that ever lived and suf-
feredr' Here the tears began to
stream down my face and my voice
choked in my throat. "Charles Bran
don, your majesty's one time friend,
lies in a loathsome, rayless dungeon,
condemned to death, as your majesty
may know, for the killing Of two men
In Billingsgate ward. l will tell you
all. l should be thrust out from the
society of decent men for not having
told you before l left for France, but
l trusted it to another who has proved |
false. l will tell you all. Your sister, |
the Lady Mary, and Lady Jane Boiling |
broke were returning alone after dark |
from a visit to the soothsayer Grouche, |
of whom your majesty has heard. l
had been notified of the Lady .Mary's
intended visit to him, although she had
enjoined absolute secrecy upon my in
formant. 1 could not go, being detain-
ed upon your majesty's service-it was
the night of the ball to the ambassa
dors-and l asked Brandon to follow
them, which he did without the knowl-
edge Of the princess
upon returning the ladies were at
tackled by four ruffians and would have
met with worse than death had not the
bravest heart and the best sword in
England defended them VIGOROUSLY
against such fearful odds. He left
them at Bridewell without hurt or in
jury, though covered with wounds him
hanged, drawn and quartered, but l
know not your majesty's heart If he
be not at once reprieved and richly re-
warded. Think, my king! He saved
the royal honor of your sister, who Is
so dear to you and has suffered so ter
ribly for his loyalty and bravery. The
day left so hurriedly for France the
Lady Mary promised she would tell
you all and liberate this man who had
so nobly saved her, but she is a woman
and was born to betray."
The king laughed little at my We
hemence.
"What is this you are telling me, Sir
huWlu! hhON VI uCdtH
sentence, but much as l regret it l
interfere with the justice of our
good people of London for the murder ,
Of two knights in their streets. If I
Brandon committed such a crime, and
I understand he does not deny it, ,
cannot help him, however much I I
should like to do so. But this nonsense
-. 1. Av%vrn
1t must be trumped up out of your 1
owe in order to save your friend. Have 1
4 care. good master, how you say such
4 thing. If it were true, would not I
Brandon have told it at his trialT' I
ut is as true as that God lives, my ]
King! If the Lady Mary and Lady d,
lane do not bear me out in every word t
have said LOT my life nav fha forfeit ,