“And what did you do?”

“I struggled away from him and snatched this dagger from my breast, telling him that if he took but one step toward me I would plunge it in my heart; and he said I was a fool.”

“God keep you always a fool,” said I, prayerfully.  “How long has this been going on?”

“A month or two; but I have always been able to run away from him.  He has been growing more importunate of late, so I bought a dagger that very day, and had it not one hour too soon.”  With this she drew out a gleaming little weapon that flashed in the rays of the candle.

This was trouble in earnest for me, and I showed it very plainly.  Then Jane timidly put her hand in mine, for the first time in her life, and murmured: 

“We will be married, Edwin, if you wish, before we return from France.”  She was glad to fly to me to save herself from Henry, and I was glad even to be the lesser of two evils.

As to whether my two friends met or not that day at Bridewell I cannot say; but I think they did.  They had in some way come to an understanding that lightened both their hearts before Mary left for France, and this had been their only possible opportunity.  Jane and I were always taken into their confidence on other occasions, but as to this meeting, if any there was, we have never been told a word.  My belief is that the meeting was contrived by Wolsey upon a solemn promise from Brandon and Mary never to reveal it, and if so, they have sacredly kept their word.

On the 13th of August, 1514, Mary Tudor, with her golden hair falling over her shoulders, was married at Greenwich to Louis de Valois; de Longueville acting as his French majesty’s proxy.  Poor, fair Proserpina!...

  Note.—­Maidens only were married with their hair down.  It was “the
  sacred token of maidenhood.”—­Editor.

CHAPTER XX

Down into France

So it came to pass that Mary was married unto Louis and went down into
France.

[Again the editor takes the liberty of substituting Hall’s quaint account of Mary’s journey to France.]

Then when all things were redy for the conueyaunce of this noble Ladye, the kyng her brother in the moneth of Auguste, and the xV daye, with the quene his wife and his sayde sister and al the court came to Douer and there taryed, for the wynde was troblous and the wether fowle, in so muche that shippe of the kynges called the Libeck of IXC. tonne was dryuen a shore before Sangate and there brase & of VI C. men scantely escaped iiiC and yet the most part of them were hurt with the wrecke.  When the wether was fayre, then al her wardrobe, stable, and riches was shipped, and such as were appoyncted to geue their attendaunce on her as the duke of Norfolke, the Marques of Dorset, the Bysshop of Durham, the Earle of Surrey, the lorde Delawar, sir Thomas Bulleyn and many other knights, Squyers, getlemen & ladies,