MarginaliaAn. 1558.that to the purpose, my Lordes, but that I may go to my owne houses at all tymes?

MarginaliaThe frendly speach of the Earle of Arundell to the Lady Elizabeth.The Lord of Arundell kneelyng downe, sayd: your Grace sayth true, and certainely we are very sory that we haue so troubled you about so vayne matters. She then sayd: my Lordes, you do sift me very narrowly. But well I am assured, you shall do no more to me then GOD hath appointed: and so God forgeue you all.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaSyr Iames Acroft examined touching the Lady Elizabeth.At their departure, Syr Iames Acroft kneeled down, declaryng that hee was sory to see the day in whiche hee should be brought as a witnes agaynst her Grace. But I assure your grace (sayd he) I haue bene maruelously tossed and examined, touchyng your hyghnesse, which the Lord knoweth is very straunge to me. For I take God to recorde before all your honours, I do not know any thyng of that crime that you haue layd to my charge, and will thereupon take my death if I should be driuen to so straite a triall.

[Back to Top]

That day or thereaboutes, diuers of her owne officers, who had made prouision for her dyet, brought the same to the vtter gate of the Tower, MarginaliaThese were not the officers of the Tower, but such as went in white and Greene.the common rascall souldiours receiuyng it: whiche was no small grief vnto the Gentlemen, the bryngers therof. Wherfore they required to speake with the Lord Chamberlaine, beyng then Constable of the Tower. Who, commyng before his presence, declared vnto his Lordshyp that they were much afrayde to bryng her graces dyet, and to deliuer it vnto such commō and desperate persons as they were whiche did receaue it, beseechyng his honour to consider her grace, and to geue such order, that her viandes might at all tymes be brought in by them whiche were appointed thereunto. Yea Syrs, sayd he? who appointed you this office? They aunswered: her Graces Counsaile. Counsaile quoth he? MarginaliaLady Elizabethes seruantes restrayned for bringing her diet to the Tower.There is none of them whiche hath to doe, either in that case or any thyng elles within this place: and I assure you, for that she is a prisoner, she shall be serued with the Lieutenauntes men as other the prisoners are. Whereat the Gentlemen sayd that they trusted for more fauour at his handes, consideryng 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 Lord Chamberlayne and Lady Elizabethes men.and therewith shewed them selues to bee offended at the vngratefull woordes of the Lord Chamberlayne towardes their Lady and Mistres.

[Back to Top]

At this he sware by God, strikyng him selfe vppon the brest, that if they did either froune or shrug at him, he would set them where they should see neither Sunne nor Moone. Thus takyng their leaue, they desired God to bryng him into a better mynde toward her grace, and departed from him.

Vpon the occasion whereof, her graces Officers made great sute vnto the Queenes Counsaile, that some might be appointed to bryng her dyet vnto her. and that it might no more be deliuered into the common Souldiours of the Tower. Which beyng reasonably considered, 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 bryngers therof.

[Back to Top]

The Lorde Chamberlayne him selfe beyng alwayes with 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 waytingmen in the Tower.At the sayd sute of her Officers were sent by the commaundement of the Counsaile, to wayte vppon her grace, two Yeomen of her Chamber, one of her Robes, two of her Pantry & Ewry, one of her Buttry, an other of her Seller, two of her Kitchin, & one of her Larder, all whiche continued with her the tyme of her trouble.

[Back to Top]

Here the Constable, beyng at the first not very well pleased with the commyng in of such a company agaynst his will, would haue had his men still to haue serued with her Graces men. Whiche her seruauntes at no hand would suffer, desiryng his Lordshyp to be contented, for that order was taken, that no straunger should come within their Offices. MarginaliaVariance betwene the Lord Chamberlaine and Lady Elizabethes seruantes.At whiche aunswere beyng sore displeased, he brake out into these threatenyng woordes: well (sayd he) I will handle you well inough. Then went he into the kitchin, and there would needes haue his meate rosted with her Graces meate, and sayd that his Cooke should come thether and dresse it. To that her Graces Cooke aunswered: my Lord, I will neuer suffer any straunger to come about her dyet, but her owne sworne men, so long as I lyue. He sayd they should. But the Cooke sayd, his Lordshyp should pardon him for that matter. Thus did hee trouble her poore seruauntes very stoutly: though afterward he were otherwise aduised, and they more curteously vsed at his handes. And good cause why. For he had good cheare, & fared of the best, and her Grace payed well for it. Wherfore he vsed him selfe afterward more reuerently toward her Grace.

[Back to Top]

After this sort, hauyng lyen a whole moneth there in close prison, and beyng very euill at ease there withall, shee 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 Elizabeth denyed the libertie of the Tower.To the which they aunswered, that they were right sory that they coulde 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 graunted, that she might walke but into the Queenes lodgyng. No nor yet that (they aunswered) could by any meanes be obteyned without a further sute to the Queene and her Coūsell. Well, sayd 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 remaynyng in her olde dungeon still, without anye kynde of comfort but onely God.

[Back to Top]

The next day after, the Lord Shandoyes came agayne vnto her grace, declaring vnto her that he had sued vnto the Counsell for farther liberty. Some of them consented therunto, diuerse other dissented, for that there were so many prisoners in þ^e Tower. But in conclusion, they did al agree, that her grace might walke into those lodgynges, so that he and the Lord Chamberlayne, and three of the Queenes Gentlewomen dyd accompany her, the Windowes beyng shut, & shee not suffered to looke out at anye of thē: wherewith she contented her selfe, and gaue hym thankes for hys good will in that behalfe.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaLibertie graunted to Lady Elizabeth to walke in a litle garden.Afterwardes there was libertie graunted to her grace to walke in a little garden, the doores and gates beyng shut vp: which notwithstandyng was as much 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 agayne, hauyng in consideration thereof theyr keepers waityng vpon thē for that tyme. Thus her grace with this small libertie contented her selfe in God, to whome bee prayse therfore.

[Back to Top]

Duryng thys tyme, there vsed a litle boy, a mans childe in the Tower, to resort to theyr chambers, and many times to bryng her grace floures, which likewise hee dyd to the other prisoners that were there. Wherupon naughty & suspicious headesMarginaliaSuspicious heades. thinkyng to make and wryng out some matter therof, called on a tyme the childe vnto them, promising hym figges and apples, and askyng of hym when he hadde bene with the Earle of Deuonshyre, not ignorant of the childes wounted frequentyng vnto hym. The boy aunswered, that he would go by and by thether. MarginaliaA young childe examined for bringing flowers to the Lady Elizabeth.Further they demaunded of hym, whē he was with the Lady Elizabethes grace. He aunswered: euery day. Furthermore they examined hym, what the Lord of Deuonshyre sent by hym to her grace. The childe sayd, I will go know what he will geue to cary to her. Such was the discretion of the childe, beyng yet but foure yeares of age. This same is a crafty boy, quoth the Lord Chamberlayne. Howe say you my Lorde 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 Lorde Courtny. The boy aunswered: I will bryng my Lady my mistres, more floures. Whereupon the childes father was commaunded to permit the boy no more to come vp into their chambers.

[Back to Top]

The next day, as her grace was walkyng in the garden, the childe peepyng in at a hole in the doore, cryed vnto her, saying: mistres, I can bryng you no more flowers. Whereat she smiled, but sayd nothyng, vnderstandyng therby what they had done. Wherefore afterwardes the Chamberlaine rebuked highly his father, commaundyng hym to put hym out of the house. Alas poore infant, quoth the father. It is a crafty knaue, quoth the Lorde Chamberlaine: let me see hym here no more.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe Constable of the Tower discharged of his office.The fift day of May, the Constable was discharged of hys office of the Tower, MarginaliaSyr Henry Benifield with his company, placed about the Lady Elizabeth.and one Syr Henry Benifield placed in his rowme, a man vnknowne to her grace, & therefore the more feared: which so sodayne mutation was vnto her no little amase. Hee brought with hym an hundreth souldiours in blew coates, wherwith she was merueilously discomforted, and demaunded of such as were about her, whether the Lady Ianes Scaffold were taken away or noMarginaliaLady Elizabeth in great feare and doubt of lyfe. fearyng by reason of their commyng, lest shee shoulde haue played her part. To whom aunswere was made, that the Scaffold was taken away, and that her grace needed not to doubt of anye such tyranny: for God woulde not suffer any such treason agaynst her Person. Wherwith beyng contented, but not altogether satisifed, shee asked what Syr Henry Benefield was, & whether he was of þ^t conscience or no,

[Back to Top]