Marginalia1558.same to the vtter gate of the Tower, MarginaliaThese were not the officers of þ^e Tower, but such as went in White and Greene.the common rascall souldiours receiuing it: which was no small griefe vnto the Gentlemen, the bringers thereof. Wherefore they required to speake with the Lord Chamberlaine, beyng then Constable of the Tower. MarginaliaLady Elizabethes seruauntes restrayned for bringing her diet to the Tower.Who, comming before hys presence, declared vnto hys Lordship that they were much afrayd to bring her graces diet, and to deliuer it vnto such common and desperate persons as they were which did receaue it, beseching hys honour to consider her grace, and to geue such order, that her viands myght at all times be brought in by them which were appointed therunto. Yea syrs, sayd he? who appointed you thys office? They aunswered: her graces Counsaile. Counsaile quoth hee? There is none of them which hath to do, eyther in that case or any thyng els within thys place: and I assure you, for that she is a prisoner, she shall be serued wyth the Lieutenauntes men as other the prisoners are. Whereat the gentlemen sayd, that they trusted for more fauour at hys handes, considering her personage, saying that they mistrusted not, but that the Queene and her Counsaile would be better to her grace then so, MarginaliaDispleasure betwene the L. Chamberlaine & Lady Elizabethes men.and therewith shewed themselues to be offended at the vngratefull wordes of the Lord Chamberlayne towardes their Lady and mistres. At thys he sware by God, strikyng hym selfe vpon the brest, that if they did either froune or shrug at him, he would set them where they should see neyther sunne nor moone. Thus taking their leaue, they desired God to bring him into a better mynde toward her grace, and departed from hym.

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Vpon the occasiō whereof, her graces officers made great sute vnto the Queenes Counsaile, that some myght be appointed to bring her dyet vnto her, and that it myght no more be deliuered into the common souldiours of the Tower. Which being reasonably cōsidered, was by them graunted, and thereupon were appointed one of her gentlemen, her clerke of the kitchin, and her two perueyers to bryng in her prouision once a day. All which was done, the Warders euer wayting vpon the bringers thereof. The Lord Chamberlayne him selfe beyng alwayes wyth them, circumspectly and narrowly watched and searched what they brought,  

and gaue heede that they should haue no talke with any of her graces wayting seruauntes, and so warded them both in and out. MarginaliaLady Elizabethes wayting men in the Tower.At the sayd sute of her officers were sent by the commaundement of the Coūsaile, to wayte vpon her grace, two yeomē of her chamber, one of her Robes, two of her pantry and ewry, one of her buttry, an other of her seller, two of her kitchin, and one of her larder, all which continued wyth her the tyme of her trouble.

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Here the Constable, beyng at the first not very well pleased with the cōming in of such a company against hys wyll, would haue had hys men still to haue serued wyth her graces men. Which her seruauntes at no hand would suffer, desiring hys Lordship to be contented, for that order was taken, that no straunger should come wythin their offices. MarginaliaVariance betwene the Lord Chamberlaine and Lady Elizabethes seruantes.At which aunswere beyng sore displeased, he brake out into these threatning wordes: well (sayd he) I wyll handle you well inough. Then went he into the kitchin, & there would needes haue hys meate rosted with her graces meate, and said that hys Cooke should come thether and dresse it. To that her graces Cooke aunswered: my Lord, I will neuer suffer any straūger to come about her dyet, but her own sworne mē, so long as I liue. He sayd they should. But þ^e Cooke said: his Lordship should pardon hym for that matter. Thus did he trouble her poore seruauntes very stoutly, though afterward he were otherwise aduised, and they more courteously vsed at hys handes. And good cause why. For he had good cheare, and fared of the best, and her grace payed well for it. Wherefore he vsed hymselfe afterward more reuerently toward her grace.

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After this sort, hauyng lyen a whole moneth there

in close prison, and beyng very euill at ease there withall, she sent for the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord Shandoyes to come and speake with her. Who commyng, she requested them that she might haue liberty to walke in some place, for that she felt her selfe not well. MarginaliaLady Elizab. denyed the libertie of the Tower.To the which they aunswered, that they were right sory that they could not satisife her graces request, for that they had commaundement to the contrary, which they durst not in any wise breake. Furthermore, she desired of them, if that could not be graūted, that she might walke but into þ^e Queenes lodgyng. No nor yet that (they aunswered) could by any meanes be obteined without a further sute to the Queene and her Counsell. Well, said she, my Lordes, if the matter be so hard, that they must be sued vnto for so small a thyng, and that frendshyp be so strait, God comfort me, and so they departed, she remainyng in her old dungeon still, without any kind of comfort but onely God.

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The next day after, the Lord Shandoyes came agayne vnto her grace, declaryng vnto her that he had sued vnto the Counsell for farther liberty. Some of them consented thereunto, diuers other dissented, for that there were so many prisoners in the Tower. But in conclusion, they did all agree, that her grace might walke into those lodgynges, so that he and the Lord Chamberlaine, and three of the Queenes Gentlewomen did accompany her, the windowes being shut, and she not suffered to looke out at any of them: wherewith she contented her selfe, and gaue him thankes for his good will in that behalfe. MarginaliaLibertie graūted to Lady Elizabeth to walke in a litle garden.Afterwardes there was libertie graunted to her grace to walke in a litle garden, the doores and gates being shut vp: which notwithstandyng was asmuch discomfort vnto her, as the walke in the garden was pleasaunt and acceptable. At which tymes of her walkyng there, the prisoners on that side straitly were commaunded not to speake, or looke out at the windowes into the garden, till her grace were gone out ageyne, hauyng in consideration therof their keepers waityng vpon them for that time. Thus her grace with this small libertie contented her selfe in God, to whom be prayse therfore.

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Duryng this time, there vsed a litle boy, a mās childe in the Tower, to resort to their chambers, and many tymes to bryng her grace floures, which likewise he did to the other prisoners that were there. Wherupon naughty and suspicious headesMarginaliaSuspicious heades. thinkyng to make and wryng out some matter therof, called on a tyme the child vnto them, promising him figges and apples, and asking of him when he had bene with the Earle of Deuonshyre, not ignoraūt of the childes wounted frequētyng vnto him. MarginaliaA young childe examined for bringing flowers to the Lady Elizabeth.The boy aunswered, that he would goe by and by thether. Further they demaunded of hym, whē he was with the Lady Elizabethes grace. He answered: euery day. Furthermore they examined him what the Lord of Deuonshire sent by him to her grace. The child sayd, I will go know what he will geue to cary to her. Such was the discretion of the child, beyng yet but foure yeares of age. This same is a crafty boy, quoth the Lord Chamberlaine. How say you my Lord Shandoyes? I pray you my Lord (quoth the boy) geue me the figges you promised me. No Mary (quoth he) thou shalt be whipped if thou come any more to the Lady Elizabeth, or the Lord Courtney. The boy aunswered: I will bryng my Lady my mistres, more floures. Wherupon the childes father was commaunded to permit the boy no more to come vp into theyr chambers.

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The next day, as her grace was walking in the garden, the childe peeping in at a hole in the doore, cried vnto her, saying: mistres, I can bring you no more flowers. Wherat she smiled, but sayd nothing, vnderstādyng therby what they had done. Wherfore afterwardes the Lord Chamberlaine rebuked highly his father, commaundyng him to put him out of the house.

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