Marginalia1558.Whereat she beyng agast, sayd that shee trusted the Queenes Maiestie would bee more gracious Lady vnto her, and that her highnesse would not otherwise conceiue of her, but that she was a true woman: MarginaliaLady Elizabeth purgeth her selfe to the Lordes.declaryng furthermore to the Lordes, that she was innocent in all those matters wherein they had burdened her, and desired them therfore to be a further meane to the Queene her sister, that she beyng a true woman in thought, word, and deede towardes her Maiestie, might not be committed to so notorious and doulefull a place, protestyng that she would request no mercy at her hand, if she should be proued to haue consented vnto any such kynde of matter as they layde vnto her charge: and therefore in fine desired their Lordshyppes to thinke of her what she was, and that she might not so extremely be delt withall for her truth.

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Whereunto the Lordes aunswered agayne, that there was no remedy, for that the Queenes Maiestie was fully determined that she should go vnto the Tower. Wherewith the Lordes departed with their cappes hangyng ouer their eyes. But not long after, within the space of an houre or little more, came foure of the foresayd Lordes of the Counsayle, whiche were the Lord Treasurer, the Byshoppe of Winchester, the Lorde Stuarde, the Earle of Sussex, with the Garde, who wardyng the next Chamber to her, MarginaliaLady Elizabethes seruauntes remoued from her.secluded all her Gentlemen and Yeomen, Ladyes and Gentlewomen, sauyng that for one Gentleman Vsher, three Gentlewomen, and two Groomes of her Chamber, were appointed in their roomes iij. other mē of the Queenes and three wayting women, to geue attendaunce vppon her, MarginaliaThe Queenes men, and wayting women attendant vpon Lady Elizabeth.that none should haue accesse to her Grace.

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At whiche tyme there were an hundreth of Northren souldiours in white coates, watchyng and wardyng about the Gardens all that night, a great fire beyng made in the middest of the hall, and two certaine Lordes watchyng there also with their band and company.

Vpon Saterday followyng, two Lordes of the Counsell (the one was the Earle of Sussex, the other shall be namelesse)  

came and certified her grace that forthwith she must go vnto the Tower, the Barge beyng prepared for her, and the tyde now ready, whiche taryeth for no body. In heauy mode her grace requested the Lordes that she might tary an other tyde, trustyng that the next would be better and more cōfortable. MarginaliaThe hard dealing of a certayne Lord with the Lady Elizabeth.But one of the Lordes replyed, that neither tyde nor tyme was to be delayed.

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And when her grace requested him that she might be suffered to write to the Queenes Maiestie, he aunswered, that he durst not permit that, addyng that in his iudgement it would rather hurt then profite her grace in so doyng.

MarginaliaThe Earle of Sussex gentle to the Lady Elizabeth.But the other Lorde, more curteous and fauorable (whom was the Earle of Sussex) kneelyng downe, told her grace, that she should haue libertie to write, and as he was a true man he would deliuer it to the Queenes hyghnesse, and bryng an aunswere of the same, what soeuer came therof. MarginaliaLady Elizabeth writeth to the queene but it would not serue.Wherupon she wrote: albeit she could in no case be suffered to speake with the Queene, to her great discomfort, beyng no offender agaynst the Queenes Maiestie.

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And thus the tyde and tyme passed away for that season, they priuily appointyng all thyngs ready that she should go the next tyde, which fell about midnight: but for feare she should be taken by the way, they durst not. So they stayed till the next day, beyng Palme Sonday, when about. ix. of the clocke these ij. returned agayne, declaryng that it was tyme for her grace to depart: she aūsweryng, if there be no remedy, I must be contēted, willing þ^e Lords to go on before. Being come forth into the gardē, she did cast vp her eyes toward the window, thinkyng to haue sene þ^e Queene, which she could not. Whereat she sayd, she marueiled much what the nobilitie of the Realme ment, which in that sorte would suffer her to be led into captiuitie: the Lord knew whether, for she did not. In the meane tyme commaundement was geuen in all Lōdon that euery one should keepe the Church and cary their Palmes, while in the meane season she might be conueyed without all recourse of people into the Tower.

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MarginaliaLady Elizabeth sent to the Tower.After all this, she tooke her Barge with the two foresayd Lordes, iij. of the Queenes Gentlewomen, and three of her owne, her Gentleman Vsher, & two of her Groomes, lying and houeryng vpon the water a certaine space, for þ^t they could not shoote þ^e Bridge, þ^e Barge men beyng very vnwillyng to shoote the same so soone as they did, because of the daunger therof: for the sterne of the Boate stroke vpon the grounde: the fall was so bygge, & the water was so shallow, that þ^e boate beyng vnder the bridge there stayed agayne a while. At  

landyng, she first stayed and denyed to land at those stayres where all traytours & offendours customably vsed to land, neither wel could she, vnlesse she should go ouer her shoe. The Lordes were gone out of the Boate before, and asked why she came not. One of the Lordes wēt backe agayne to her, and brought word she would not come.

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Then sayd one of the Lordes whiche shall be nameles,  

that she should not choose: And because it dyd then rayne he offered to her his cloke. Which shee (putting it backe w^t her hand with a good dash) refused. So she cōmyng out, hauyng one foote vpon the stayre, sayd: MarginaliaThe wordes of Lady Elizabeth entring the Tower.Here landeth as true a subiect, beyng prisoner, as euer landed at these stayres: And before thee O God I speake it, hauyng none other frendes but thee alone.

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To whome the same Lord aunswered agayne, that if it were so, it was the better for her. At her Landyng there was a great multitude of their seruauntes and warders standyng in their order, What needed all thys, sayd she. It is the vse (sayd some) so to be when any prisoner came thether. And if it be (quoth she) for my cause, I besech you that they may be dismissed. Whereat, the poore men kneeled downe, & with one voyce desired God to preserue her grace: who the next day were released of their cold coates.

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After thys, passyng a little further, she sat downe vppon a cold stone, and there rested her selfe. To whom the Lieutenaunt then beyng, sayd: Madame, you were best to come out of the raine, for you sit vnwholsomly. She then replying, aunswered agayne: better sittyng here then in a worse place: for God knoweth, I knowe not whether you will bryng me. With that her Gentleman Vsher wept: she demaundyng of hym what he ment to vncomfortably to vse her, seyng she tooke hym to be her comforter and not to dismay her, especially for that she knew her truth to be suche, that no man should haue cause to weepe for her. But foorth she went into the prison.

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The doores were locked and bolted vppon her: whiche dyd not a little discomfort and dismay her grace. At what tyme she called to her Gentlewoman for her booke, MarginaliaThe Christian prayer of Lady Elizabeth.desiryng God not to suffer her to build her foundation vpon þ^e sandes, but vppon the rocke, whereby all blasts of blusteryng weather should haue no power agaynst her. The doores beyng thus locked and she close shut vp, the Lords had great conference how to keepe warde and watch, euery mā declaring his opinion in that behalfe, agreeyng straitly and circumspectly, to keepe her.

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MarginaliaThe Lord of Sussex speaketh for Lady Elizabeth.Then one of them, whiche was the Lord of Sussex, swearyng, sayd: my Lords, let vs take heede, and doe no more then our commission will beare vs, what so euer shall happen hereafter. And further, let vs consider that she was the Kyng our Maisters daughter, and therfore let vs vse such dealyng, that we may aunswere vnto it hereafter, if it shall so happen, for iust dealyng (quoth he) is alwayes aunswerable. Whereunto the other Lordes agreed that it was well sayd of hym, and thereupon departed. Beyng in the Tower,  

within ij. dayes commaundement was that shee should haue Masse within her house. One M. Young was then her Chapleyne: and because there was none of her mē so well learned to helpe the Priest to say Masse, the Masse stayed for that day.

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The next day two of her Yeomen, who had gone long to schole before & were learned, had two Abcies prouided and deliuered them, so that vppon the Abcies they should helpe the Priest. One of the sayd Yeomen, holdyng the Abcie in hys hand, pretendyng ignorāce at Kirie eleysō, set þ^e priest, making as though he could answere þ^t no farther.

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It would make a pitifull and straunge story, here by þ^e way to touch and recite what examinations and rackinges of poore men there were to finde out that knife that shoulde cut her throte: what gapyng among my Lords of the Clergy, to see the day wherein they might washe their goodly white rochetes in her innocent bloud: MarginaliaThe B. of Winchester enemie to Lady Elizabeth.but especially the byshop of Winchester Steuen Gardiner,  

then Lorde Chauncellour, ruler of the rost, who then within fewe dayes after came vnto her, with diuers other of the counsell, and examined her of the talke that was at Ashridge, betwixt her & Syr Iames Acroft, concernyng her remouyng from thēce to Dunnyngton Castell, requiryng her to declare what she ment thereby.

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MarginaliaLady Elizabeth examined by the B. of Winchester.At þ^e first, she being so sodainly asked, did not wel remēber any such house: but w^tin a while, well aduising her selfe, she sayd: In deede (quoth she) I do now remember that I haue such a place, but I neuer lay in it in all my life. And as for any that hath moued me therunto, I do not remēber.

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Then to enforce the matter they brought foorth Syr Iames Acroft. The Byshop of Winchester demaunded of her what she sayd to that man. She aunswered that she had little to say to hym, or to the rest that were then prisoners in the Tower. But my Lords (quoth shee) you do examine euery meane prisoner of me, wherein me thinkes you do me great iniury. If they haue done euill, & offended þ^e Queenes Maiesty, let them aunswere to it accordyngly. I besech you my Lordes, ioyne not me in thys sort with any of these offenders. And as cōcerning my going vnto Dūnington Castell, I do remember that maister Hobby and mine officers, and you Syr Iames Acroft, had such talke: but what is

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