It was this: the duke
went at once to the king, and, in a tone of injured innocence, told
him of the charge made by Brandon with Mary's evident approval, and
demanded redress for the slander. Thus it seemed that the strength of
our position was about to be turned against us. Brandon was at once
summoned and promptly appeared before the king, only too anxious to
confront the duke. As to the confinement of Brandon and his secret
trial, the king did not care to hear; that was a matter of no
consequence to him; the important question was, did Buckingham attack
the princess?
Brandon told the whole straight story, exactly as it was, which
Buckingham as promptly denied, and offered to prove by his almoner
that he was at his devotions on the night and at the hour of the
attack. So here was a conflict of evidence which called for new
witnesses, and Henry asked Brandon if the girls had seen and
recognized the duke. To this question, of course, he was compelled to
answer no, and the whole accusation, after all, rested upon Brandon's
word, against which, on the other hand, was the evidence of the Duke
of Buckingham and his convenient almoner.
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