MarginaliaAn. 1558.and some an other.

MarginaliaWicked counsell by the L. Paget geuen agaynst Lady Elizabeth.A Lord (who shalbe here nameles) beyng there, at last sayd, that the kyng shoulde neuer haue any quiet common wealth in England, vnlesse her head were striken from the shoulders. Wherunto the Spanyards aunswered, saying: God forbid that their king and master should haue that mynde to consent to such a mischiefe.MarginaliaSpanyardes more fauourable to Lady Elizabeth then some Englishe men. Thys was the curteous aunswere of the Spanyardes to the English men, speaking after that sort agaynst their owne countrey. From that day the Spanyardes neuer left of their good perswasions to the king, that the like honour he should neuer obtayne, as he should in deliuering the Lady Elizabethes grace out of prison: whereby at length she was happely released from the same. Here is a playne and euident example of the good clemency and nature of the King and hys Counsellers towards her grace (praysed be God therefore) who moued their hartes therein. Then hereupon she was sent for shortly after to come to Hampton Court.

But before her remouyng away from Woodstocke, we will a litle stay to declare in what daungers her life was in duryng this time she there remained: MarginaliaLady Elizab. in daunger of fire.first through fire, which began to kindle betwen the bordes and seeling vnder the chamber where she lay, whether by a sparke of fire, gotten into a crany, or whether of purpose by some that ment her no good, the Lord doth know. Neuerthelesse a worshipfull knight of Oxfordshyre, which was there ioyned the same tyme with Syr Henry Benifield in keeping that Lady (who then tooke vp the bordes and quenched the fire) verely supposed it to be done of purpose.

MarginaliaLady Elizab. in daunger of killing.Furthermore it is thought, and also affirmed (if it be true) of one Paule Peny a keeper of Woodstocke, a notorious ruffin & a butcherly wretch, that he was appointed to kill the said Lady Elizabeth: who both saw the man, being often in her sight, & also knew therof.

MarginaliaAn other conspiracie of murder agaynst Lady Elizabeth.An other tyme, one of the priuy chamber, a great mā about the Queene, and a chief darlyng of Steuen Gardiner, named M. Iames Basset, came to Blādenbridge a myle from Woodstoke, with xx. or xxx. priuy coates, and sent for Syr Henry Benifield to come and speake with him. But, as God would, which disposeth all thinges after the purpose of his owne will, so it happened, that a litle before, the sayd Syr Henry Benifield was sent for by post to the Counsell, leauyng straite word behind hym with his brother, that no man, what so euer he were, though commyng with a Bill of the Queenes hand, or any other warrant, should haue accesse to her before his returne agayn. By reason wherof so it fell out, that M. Benifieldes brother commyng to him at the Bridge, would suffer him in no case to approche in, who otherwise (as is supposed) was appointed violently to murder the innocent Lady.

MarginaliaLady Elizab. preserued by the Lordes prouidence from execution in the Tower.In the life of Steuen Gardiner we declared before pag. 1952. how that the Lady Elizabeth beyng in the Tower, a writte came downe subscribed with certeine handes of the Counsell for her execution. Which if it were certain, as it is reported, Winchester (no doubt) was deuiser of that mischieuous drift: and doubtles the same Achitophell had brought his impious purpose that day to passe, had not the fatherly prouidence of almighty God (who is alwayes stronger then the deuill) stirred vp M. Bridges Lieutenant the same time of the Tower, to come in hast to the Queene, to giue certificat therof, and to know further her consent touching her sisters death. Wherupon it followed, that all that deuise was disapointed, and Winchesters deuilish platte forme, MarginaliaWinchesters platte forme ouerthrowen. MarginaliaWherof read before pag. 1952. col. 1.which he sayd he had cast, through the Lordes great goodnes, came to no effect.

Where moreouer is to be noted, that during the prisonment of this Lady and Princesse, one M. Edmund Tremayne was on the Racke, and M. Smithwike, and diuers other in the Tower were examined, and diuers offers made to thē to accuse the giltles La-

dy, beyng in her captiuitie. Howbeit all that notwithstandyng, no matter could be proued by all examinations, as she the same tyme lying at Woodstocke had certeine intelligēce by the meanes of one Iohn Gayer: who vnder a colorable pretense of a letter to Mistres Cleue from her father, was let in, and so gaue them secretly to vnderstand of all this matter. Wherupon the Lady Elizabeth at her departyng out frō Woodstocke wrote these Verses with her Diamond in a glasse wyndow.

MarginaliaVerses written by Lady Elizabeth in þ^e glasse window.Much suspected by me:
Nothyng proued can be.

Quoth Elizabeth prisoner.

And thus much touchyng the troubles of Lady Elizabeth at Woodstocke. Wherunto this is more to be added, that duryng the same tyme, the Lord of Tame had labored to the Queene, and became suretie for her, to haue her from Woodstocke to his house, and had obteined graunt therof. Whereupon preparation was made accordyngly, and all thinges ready in expectation of her commyng. MarginaliaLady Elizabeth not suffered to come to the Lord of Tames house.But through the procurement either of M. Benifield, or by the doyng of Winchester her mortall enemie, letters came ouer night to the contrary: wherby her iourney was stopped. Thus this worthy Lady oppressed with continuall sorrowe, could not be permitted to haue recourse to any frendes she had, but still in the handes of her enemyes was left desolate & vtterly destitute of all that might refresh a doulefull hart, fraught full of terrour & thraldome. Wherupon no maruell, if she hearyng vpon a tyme out of her Garden atWoodstocke a certeine milkemayde singing pleasauntly, MarginaliaLady Elizabeth wisheth her selfe to be a milkemaide.wished her self to be a milkemayde as she was, saying that her case was better and lyfe more meryer then was hers, in that state as she was.

MarginaliaLady Elizabeth remoued frō Woodstocke to Hampton Court.Now after these thynges thus declared, to proceede further there where we left before, Syr Henry Benifield & his souldiours, with the Lord of Tame, and Sir Rafe Chamberlayne garding, & wayting vpon her, the first night frō Woodstocke she came to Ricotte. In which iourney such a mightie winde did blow, that her seruaūts were faine to hold downe her clothes about her: In so much þ^t her hoode was twise or thrise blowen frō her head. Wherupō she desirous to returne to a certeine Gentlemans house there nere, could not be suffered by Syr Hēry Benifield so to do, but was cōstrained vnder an hedge to trimme her head aswel as she could.

After this, the next night they iorneyed to M. Dormers, and so to Colbroke, where she lay all that night at the George: and by the way commyng to Colbroke, certeine of her graces Gentlemen & Yeomen met her, to the nūber of three score,much to all their comfortes, which had not seene her grace of long season before: notwithstanding they were cōmaunded in þ^e Queenes name immediatly to depart þ^e towne, to both their and her graces no litle heauines, who could not be suffered once to speake with them. So, that night all her men were taken from her, sauyng her Gentleman Vsher, three Gentlewomen, two Gromes, and one of her Wardrobe, the souldiours watchyng and wardyng round about the house, and she close shut vp within her prison.

The next day followyng, her grace entred Hamptōcourt on the backeside, into the Princes lodgyng, the doores being shut to her, & she garded with souldiours, as before, lay there a fortnight at the least, or euer any had recourse vnto her. At length came the MarginaliaL. Williā Haward gentle and fauourable to Lady Elizabeth.Lord Williā Haward, who maruelous honorably vsed her grace. Wherat she tooke much comfort, & requested him to be a meane that she might speake with some of the Counsell. To whom (not lōg after) came þ^e Byshop of Winchester, þ^e Lord of Arundell, the Lord of Shrewsbury, & Secretary Peter, who with great humilitie humbled them selues to her grace. She agayne likewise saluting