The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-22

/ trothed. The Lady Jane Grey at nrxs
refused 10 accept crown to which
she knew che was not entitled. but
was at last persuaded by the entreaties
of her fatber-in-law and her husba nd
TO accept IL. She was queen but nine
days when her adherents were over.
powered, and the Princess Mary. after
ward called Bloody Mary. became SOY.
ereign. The Duke of Northumberland
Lord Guilford Dudley and Lady Jane
Grey were imprisoned In the Tower of
London and later suffered death on
Tower hill.
News came to Mary Edmonson OF
the collapse OF the scheme her lover
had supported and that he was a pris
oner in the Tower Of London. Mary
was a ward in chancery to a man OF
the law named Roger Bradford. Tt
Bradford she went and impIored him
10 go with her to London and defend
her lover when he should be tried for
learned that woodville had been ont
of Lord Guilford Dudleys lieutenants
In the conspiracy he told Mary that
any defense was useless The queer
was very bitter against the conspira
tors and was resolved to punish al
who were concerned in the plot.
But" added Bradford, II will tr,
and think up a plan by which Rober
woodville may escape death. Come ts
me on the morrow, and II my knowl
edge of the law serves me / will tel
you"
When Mary went TO him the ner
day he told her that the only way b.
could get her lover out Of the Towel
was to accuse him Of having commit
sed q crime against the church. The
government might consider a sacriiegs
Of more importance than high treason.
II he could bring Woodville to his
home to be tried for an offense against
religion he would have an advantage.
But II be were acquitted the sovereign
would claim him to be tried as a
traitor.
What l propose" added the lawyer
In conclusion, SIS to bring him hero IL
possible, try him for sacrilege and con-
Wet him."
Convict himT exclaimed Mary.
Yes. He must be convicted"
"And the punishment
HE will be hanged"
Mary could see no advantage in be
ing hanged over dying at the block
but Bradford, who knew more law
than most OF hiss craft, told her that
there was a royal edict on the records
which might help him to save her low
er's life. 1t was a hundred years old
belonging to period when matters OF
! Justice were very crude. With more
civilized methods of court procedure !,
had become obsolete, but had nevei
| been repealed.
A church near by where Robert
! Woodviile lived had been robbed and
the communion service taken. Roger
! Bradford had got wind of the thief
and after forming his plan to get pos
session OF the body Of Robert Wood
vile he sent for the man who had con.
fessed the sacrilege and asked for a
piece of the silver communion service
Having received II he gave 1t to Mary
Edmonson and told her TO place II In
/ Woodville's house. This she did, and
/ the next day search was made OF
the house and the plate found there.
I Bradford went TO London and de
manded the body OF Robert Woodvillt
/ that he might be placed on trial for the
stealing Of the church plate. The lieu
! tenant of the Tower refused TO give uI
woodvtife, since he was TO be tried
for high treason. Bradford insisted
that his demand be referred to the
queen. Mary declined to consider q
/ crime against herself In preference te
| one against the church. She ordered
that Woodville be sent to his native
I county to be tried for sacrilege, bu1
! that he be returned in case he wa:
/ not convicted, to be tried for high trea
son.
The queens order must be obeyed t,
the letter. and bringing Woodvill,
from the Tower would be Of no avail
unless he were convicted. As soon al
| he arrived he was brought into court
and the person who had found tn,
plate In the accused mans home hav
ing sworn to the fact, Woodville wal
convicted and sentenced to be hanged
| No defense was made; none woult
have secured the prisoners acquittal
and 1t did not accord with Bradford.
plan that the trial should result in ar
| acquittal.
An officer of the queens househoIt
had been sent with the prisoner from
London to bring him back in case b,
should not be found guilty, This mar
insisted that Woodville be hanged i'm
mediately, since he had orders not t,
leave while the prisoner lived. Blu
Roger Bradford succeeded In getting I
stay while the condemned mans be
trothed went to London to petition
the queen for q pardon. The ONCE
yielded. though he assured the lawye
that there was no hope Of a pardon.
Bradford, accompanied by Mary Ed
monson, at once set or for London
and on their arrival the former wen
to the Tower and demanded to be per
nnitted to inspect the statutes deposite,
| thar~ A an uftorrav h> wr~s mt o.