ect hound at my heels. But you are right; I
had forgotten my errand. You disturbed my dinner, and my stomach
called loudly for one of Mistress Cornwallis's puddings; but you are
right to stick to me. What a friend you are in case of need. Would I
had one like you."

"Your majesty has two of whom I know; one riding humbly by your royal
side, and the other lying in the worst dungeon in Christendom."

With this the king wheeled about and started west toward Guildhall.

Oh, how I hated Henry for that cold-blooded, selfish forgetfulness
worse than crime; and how I hoped the Blessed Virgin would forget him
in time to come, and leave his soul an extra thousand years in purging
flames, just to show him how it goes to be forgotten--in hell.

To the lord mayor we accordingly went without further delay. He was
only too glad to liberate Brandon when he heard my story, which the
king had ordered me to repeat. The only hesitancy was from a doubt of
its truth.

The lord mayor was kind enough to say that he felt little doubt of my
word, but that friendship would often drive a man to any extremity,
even falsehood, to save a friend.

Then I offered to go into custody myself and pay the penalty, death,
for helping a convicted felon to escape, if I told not the truth, to
be confirmed or denied by the princess and her first lady in waiting.
I knew Jane and was willing to risk her truthfulness without a
doubt--it was so pronounced as to be troublesome at times--and as to
Mary--well, I had no doubt of her, either. If she would but stop to
think out the right she was sure to do it.

I have often wondered how much of the general fund of evil in this
world comes from thoughtlessness. Cultivate thought and you make
virtue--I believe. But this is no time to philosophize.

My offer was satisfactory, for what more can a man do than pledge his
life for his friend? We have scripture for that, or something like it.

The lord mayor did not require my proffered pledge, but readily
consented that the king should write an order for Brandon's pardon and
release. This was done at once, and we, that is, I, together with a
sheriff's sergeant and his four yeomen, hastened to Newgate, while
Henry went over to Wolsey's to settle Mary's fate.

Brandon was brought up with chains and manacles at his ankles and
wrists. When he entered the room and saw me, he exclaimed: "Ah!
Caskoden, is that you? I thought they had brought me up to hang me,
and was glad f