Thus Mary was married to the man to save whose life she had four months before married the French king.

She and Queen Claude had forgotten nothing, and all arrangements were completed for the flight.  A messenger had been dispatched two hours before with an order from Queen Claude that a ship should be waiting at Dieppe, ready to sail immediately upon our arrival.

After the ceremony Claude quickly bound up Mary’s hair, and the queens departed from the chapel in their coach.  We soon followed, meeting them again at St. Denis gate, where we found the best of horses and four sturdy men awaiting us.  The messenger to Dieppe who had preceded us would arrange for relays, and as Mary, according to her wont when she had another to rely upon, had taken the opportunity to become thoroughly frightened, no time was lost.  We made these forty leagues in less than twenty-four hours from the time of starting; having paused only for a short rest at a little town near Rouen, which city we carefully passed around.

We had little fear of being overtaken at the rate we were riding, but Mary said she supposed the wind would die down for a month immediately upon our arrival at Dieppe.  Fortunately no one pursued us, thanks to Queen Claude, who had spread the report that Mary was ill, and fortunately, also, much to Mary’s surprise and delight, when we arrived at Dieppe, as fair a wind as a sailor’s heart could wish was blowing right up the channel.  It was a part of the system of relays—­horses, ship, and wind.

“When the very wind blows for our special use, we may surely dismiss fear,” said Mary, laughing and clapping her hands, but nearly ready for tears, notwithstanding.

The ship was a fine new one, well fitted to breast any sea, and learning this, we at once agreed that upon landing in England, Mary and I should go to London and win over the king if possible.  We felt some confidence in being able to do this, as we counted upon Wolsey’s help, but in case of failure we still had our plans.  Brandon was to take the ship to a certain island off the Suffolk coast and there await us the period of a year if need be, as Mary might, in case of Henry’s obstinacy, be detained; then re-victual and re-man the ship and out through the North Sea for their former haven, New Spain.

In case of Henry’s consent, how they were to live in a style fit for a princess, Brandon did not know, unless Henry should open his heart and provide for them—­a doubtful contingency upon which they did not base much hope.  At a pinch, they might go down into Suffolk and live next to Jane and me on Brandon’s estates.  To this Mary readily agreed, and said it was what she wanted above all else.

There was one thing now in favor of the king’s acquiescence:  during the last three months Brandon had become very necessary to his amusement, and amusement was his greatest need and aim in life.

Mary and I went to London to see the king, having landed at Southampton for the purpose of throwing off the scent any one who might seek the ship.  The king was delighted to see his sister, and kissed her over and over again.