Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-06-06

and after forming his plan 10 ct pos-
sesstou Of ths body Of Robert Wood
ville b sent for the man who had con-
fsssed tho sacfflege and asked for q
piece Of the silver communion sefvica
Having received II he gave Il to Mary
Edmonson and told her to place II In
Woodvtlls's house. This abe dN, and
the next day q search was made Of
the house and the plate found there :,
Bradford went to London and d.
manded the body Of Robert Woodvlle
that he might be placed on trial for ths
stealing Of the church plate. The hsu-
tenant Of the Tower refused 10 give up
Woodville, since be was to be Hisd
for high treason. Bradford insisted
that his demand be referred to the
queen. Mary declined to consider q
crime against herself In preference TO
one against the church. She ordered
that Woodville be sent to his native
county to be tried for sacrilege. but
that he be returned In case he was
not convicted. to be tried for high trea-
son.
The queens order must be obayed TO
the letter. and bringing Woodvnle
from the Tower would be Of no avail
unless he were convicted. As soon az
he arrived he was brought into court,
and the person who had found the
plate In the accused mans home hay
ing sworn to the fact, Woodville was
convicted and sentenced to be hanged.
No defense was made; none would
have secured the prisoners acquittal,
and It did not accord with Bradford's
plan that the trial should result In an
Dacquittal.
An officer Of the queens household
had been sent with the prisoner from
London to bring him back In case he
should not be found guilty. This man
insisted that Woodville be hanged i'm
mediately, since he had orders not to
leave while the prisoner lived. But
Roger Bradford succeeded In getting a
stay while the condemned mans be-
trothed went to London to petition
the queen for q pardon. The officer
yielded. though he assured the lawyer
that there was no hope Of a pardon.
Bradford, accompanied by Mary 3D.
monson. at once set OF for London.
and on their arrival the former went
10 the Tower and demanded to be per
mitted to inspect the statutes deposited
there. A. an attorney he was not 10
be denied this privilege, and, going 10
the rooms where the rolls Of parch-
ment bearing edicts Of England's SOW
essisns were kept hs found one which
be copied.
The next morning he asked foc an
audience Of the queen. basing his NJ
quest on the fact that II hin client Rob
ert Woodvflle were hanged the execu-
tion would be illegal This excited at
once an interest In the queen, and she
granted the audience, giving perm1s-
ston also for Mary Edmonson to be
present
A soon as the two were IN tie
queens presence Bradford said:
May It please your majesty, this sAri,
Mary Edmonson, claims for her hus-
band Robert Woodvf1le, sentenced to
bs hanged for sacrfege"
II It pleases the wench," replied the
queen, TO marry a man who II 10 de
she has our royal permission.
II hold IN my hand" re5oined Brad
ford, "a copy Of an edict Of bis mates
y King Edward ~. decreeing that Il
any man sentenced 10 death within his
royal domain and a woman shah ciaim
him In marriage be shall 90 free"
'Have you seen the record Of thas
edictr
r have. your majesty"
And It has never bean repealedr
IT has not, your majesty"
'Then will repeal It"
This may be your majesty's right o.
Il may be only the right Of the pafiia.
msnt In either case It cannot be made
sx post facto."
"Do you alone possess q knowisdse
Of this edictT
20 far % I know, your matee0.
The queen thought Might not 9th
srs who consptred against me avail
themselves Of this method Of escaping
puhishmeatr
Il wf1l isue a pardon IN this cass,"
abe said presently. But II We hear OF
this edict Of my ancestor and preds-
eessor before we are ready to tahe
steps for its repeal you VIII incur ow
royal displeasure."
When Mary Edmonson returned 10
her home she bore pardon for Asf
lover.
Mary chose to be married on the
came greensward from which her b.
trothed had gone to support the cause
Of Lady Jane Grey. When they bad
been pronounced man and wife she
said to her husband:
'This Is Q better place for our wed
ding than palace. The Lady Jane
was welded in a palace"