The Washington herald., 1916-05-13
YOUR WEDDING DAY
May 13-Mary Tudor and Charles
Brandon.
By MARY MARSHALL.

, How can any one look upon the thir-
teenth day of the month as inauspicious
to happy marriage? Sufficient proof of
the absurdity OF this superstition is the
account of the marriage of Mary Tudor
and Charles Brandon. whose love story
furnishes one OF the most delightful bits
of romance to be found in all the annals
of English and French royalty. 1t is a
story that proves that true love may
flourish in the midst of court intrigues
and capriciousness.
It is no great recommendation to say
that Mary Tudor was the sister of the
many-wived Henry VIII, and still less to
say that in many ways she resembled this
uxorious brother. Still historians tell us
that she was in many ways much like
him. She possessed the same fair, beau
tiful complexion. the same auburn hair,
the same love OF gaiety, the same vivacity
and the same magnetism.
Even before Mary was betrothed to
marry the decrepit old King Louis XII,
of France, a widower OF but a few
months, she had seen and loved Charles
Brandon. In her girlish heart she had
even pictured to herself the happiness
that would come in being his wife. Then
came the proposed marriage to the
French King, a matter OF much moment
politically to the kingdom and to her
brother, King Henry VIII OF course
Mary had to consent but she showed her
truly Tudor independence when she ex-
acted a solemn promise from her brother
that on condition that she marry the
man of his choice then. her second hus-
band should be OF her own choosing.
Mary was exceedingly beautiful. She
was vivacious, light-hearted, immensely
fond of dancing and merry making. When
at the age of 10 she was welcomed into
France as Queen she was immensely ad-
mired What a paradise to behold" ex-
claimed the Frenchmen. How amazingly
vivacious for an English womanr'
The old French king did his best to
keep his yeung and beautiful wife from
finding her time hang heavy on her
hands. He surrounded her with gaiety
and spent fabulous sums on jewels and
rich furnishings. But he was worn out
and feeble and within a year he died,
and Mary left the throne that she had
occupied but a few months.
The girl queen had watched faithfully
beside the bed of the dying king and
when she was informed that he had died
she tainted. So in spite of the love
that she had kept fresh in her heart
for Charles Brandon she was not heart
less or unfeeling for the old king. But,
after the first shock of 1t, what relief
there was!
VINO was TIE ldNOTlIe OIL hlnB
Henry, had not forgotten for a minute
the little princess who had left England
to be a queen. and he lost no time in
| securing a diplomatic mission to France
There he was received by the young
queen, clad in the pure white mourning
of the queens of France, and, still wear
ing that white mourning. Mary was
secretly married to Brandon. No one
but few servants in her household were
present at the ceremony. and the great
est secrecy was maintained until Mary
and Brandon returned to England.
At first King Henry was angry and
| then, reminded of his promise, he re-
Tented, so that when Mary and Brandon
agreed to pay a large sum Of money, he
actually consented to bless their union.
So 1t was that just four hundred and
one years ago today Mary Tudor, still
scarcely more than girl, was married
to the man she loved. This ceremony
took place in Greenwich. England, before
the assembled court of Henry VIII, just
six weeks after the secret ceremony in
France.
Copyright. lsls)