most fit for her purpose. At which times she would not fayle to vse all occasions to moue him, according to her maner, zealously to proceede in the reformation of the Church. MarginaliaThe kyng beginneth to mislyke of the Queene.The sharpnes of the disease had sharpned the Kinges accustomed pacience, so that he began to shew some tokēs of misliking: and cōtrary vnto his maner, vpon a day, breaking of that matter, he tooke occasion to enter into other talke, which somewhat amazed the Quene. To whom notwithstanding in her presence, he gaue neyther euyll woord nor countenance, but knit vp all arguments with gentle wordes and louing coūtenaunce: and after other pleasaunt talke, she for that time tooke her leaue of his Maiestie. Who after his maner, bidding her farewell sweete hart (for that was his vsuall terme to the Queene) licenced her to depart.

MarginaliaThe B. of Winchester taketh hys occasiō to worke hys mischiefe.At this visitation chaunced the bishop of Wynchester aforenamed to be present, as also at the Queenes taking her leaue (who very well had printed in his memory the kinges sodaine interrupting of the Queene in her tale, and falling into other matter) and thought that if the yron were beaten whylest it was hoate, and that the kinges humour were holpen, suche misliking might follow towardes the Queene, as might both ouerthrow her and all her endeuours: and onely awayted some occasion to renew into the kinges memorye, the former mysliked argument. His expectation in that behalfe did nothing fayle him. For the king at that time shewed him selfe no lesse prompt and readye to receaue any information, then the Bishop was maliciously bent to styrre vp the kings indignation agaynst her. The king immediatly vpō her departure frō hym, vsed these or lyke wordes: A good hearyng (quoth hee) it is when womē become such Clerkes, & a thing much to my comfort, to come in myne old dayes to be taught by my wife.

MarginaliaThe B. of Winchesters poysoned wordes to the kyng.The Byshop hearyng this, seemed to mislyke that the Queene shoulde so much forgette her selfe, as to take vpō her to stand in any argument with his maiestie, whom he to his face extold for his rare vertues, and specially for his learned iudgement in matters of Religion, aboue, not onely Princes of that and other ages, but also aboue Doctours professed in Diuinitie, and sayd that it was an vnseemely thyng for any of hys Maiesties subiectes to reason and argue with hym so malapertly, and greuous to him for his part and other of his Maiesties Counsellours and seruaunts, to heare the same: and that they all by proufe knew his wisedome to be such, that it was not nedefull for any to put him in mynde of any such matters: inferryng moreouer how daungerous and perillous a matter it is and euer hath bene for a Prince, to suffer such insolent woordes at his subiectes handes: who as they take boldnes to contrary their soueraigne in wordes, so want they no will but onely power and strength to ouerthwarte them in dedes.

MarginaliaWinchesters accusation agaynst the Queene.Besides this, that the Religion by the Queene so stiffely mainteyned, did not onely disallow and dissolue the policie & politicke gouernment of Princes, but also taught the people that all things ought to be in cōmon, so that what colour so euer they pretended, their opinions were in dede so odious, and for the Princes estate so perillous, that (sauyng the reuerence they bare vnto her for his Maiesties sake) they durst bee bold to affirme that the greatest subiect in this land, speakyng those wordes that she did speake, and defendyng those argumentes that she dyd defend, had with indifferent iustice, by law deserued death. Howbeit for his part hee woulde nor durst not, without good warrant from hys Maiestie, speake hys knowledge in the Queenes case, although very apparaunt reasons made for him, and such as his dutifull affection towardes his Maiestie, and the zeale and preseruation of hys estate, would scarcely geue him leaue to conceale, though the vttering thereof might through her, and her faction, be the vtter destruction of him, and of such as in deede did chiefly tender the Princes safety, without his Maiestie would take vpon him to be their protector, and as it were, their Buckler. Which if he would do (as in respect of his own safetye he ought not to refuse) hee with others of hys faythful Counsaylours, could within short time disclose suche treasons, cloked wyth thys cloke of heresye, that hys Maiestie should easelye perceaue how perillous a matter it is to cherishe a Serpent within his owne bosome. Howbeit he would not for his part willingly deale in the matter, both for reuerent respect aforesayd, and also for feare lest the faction was growen already too great, there, with the Princes safety, to discouer þ^e same. And therwithall with heauye countenaunce, and whisperyng together with them of that sect there present, he held his peace.

MarginaliaWinchester abuseth the kyng with his flattering.These and such other kindes of Winchesters flatteryng phrases, meruelously whetted þ^e kyng, both to anger and displeasure towardes the Queene, and also to be gelous and mistrustfull of hys owne estate. For the assuraunce wherof, Princes vse not to bee scrupulous to do any thyng. Thus then Winchester with hys flatteryng wordes, seeking to frame the kinges disposition after hys owne pleasure, so farre crept into the kyng at that tyme, and with doubtfull feares he with other hys fellowes so filled the kinges mistrustfull mynde, that before they departed the place, the kyng (to see belyke what they would do) had geuē commaundement, with warrant to certaine of them made for that purpose, to consult together about the drawyng of certaine Articles agaynst the Queene, wherin her lyfe might be touched: which the kyng by their persuasions pretended to be fully resolued not to spare, hauing any rigour or colour of lawe to countenaunce the matter. With this Commission they departed for that tyme from the kyng, resolued to put their pernicious practise to as mischieuous an execution.

MarginaliaHow Winchester and hys fellowes deuise agaynst the Gospellers.Duryng this tyme of deliberation about this matter, they failed not to vse all kindes of policies, and mischieuous practises, aswell to suborne accusers, as otherwise to betray her, in sekyng to vnderstand what bookes, by law forbydden, she had in her closet. And the better to bryng their purpose to passe, bycause they would not vpon the sodeine, but by meanes deale with her, they thought it best, at þ^e first to begyn with some of those Ladyes whō they knew to bee great with her, and of her bloud. The chiefest wherof, as most of estimation and priuye to all her doynges, were these: MarginaliaLady Harbert.the Ladye Harbert, afterward Countesse of Pembroke and sister to the Queene, and chiefe of her priuye chamber: MarginaliaLady Lane.the Ladye Lane, beyng of her priuye chamber, and also her cosine germane: MarginaliaLadye Tyrwitte.the Lady Tyrwitte of her priuye chamber, and for her vertuous disposition, in very great fauour and credite with her.

It was deuised that these three aboue named shoulde first of all haue bene accused and brought to aunswere vnto the vj. Articles: and vpō their apprehension in the Court, their closet & coffers should haue ben searched, that somewhat might haue bene founde whereby the Queene might bee charged. Which being founde, the Queene her selfe presently should haue bene taken, and likewise caryed by Barge by night vnto the Tower. MarginaliaWinchesters plateforme.This plateforme thus deuised, but yet in the ende comming to no effect, the kyng by those aforesayd, was forthwith made priuy vnto the deuice by Wynchester, & Wrysley, & his consent therunto demaunded. Who, (belike to proue the Byshops malice, how far it would presume) lyke a wise politicke Prince, was contented (dissemblyngly) to geue hys consent, and to allowe of euery circumstaunce (knowing notwithstanding in the end what he would doe). And thus the day, the tyme, and the place of these apprehensions aforesayd was appoynted: which deuise yet after was chaunged.

The kyng at that tyme laye at White Hall, and vsed very seldome, beyng not well at ease, to styrre out of his chamber, or priuy gallerye: and few of hys