MarginaliaAnno 1558.The Friday before Palme sonday, the B. of Winchester, with xix. other of the Counsaile (who shall bee here nameless) came vnto her grace from the Queenes Maiestie, and MarginaliaLady Elizabeth charged with Syr Thomas Wyats conspiracye.burdened her with Wiates conspiracie: which she vtterly denied, affirmyng that she was altogether giltlesse therin. They beyng not contented with this, MarginaliaLady Elizabeth charged with the busines of Peter Carew.charged her grace with busines made by sir Peter Carew, and the rest of the Gentlemen of the West country: which also she vtterly denying, cleared her innocencie therein.

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MarginaliaLady Elizabeth threatned to goe to the Tower.In conclusion, after long debating of matters, they declared vnto her, that it was the Queenes will & pleasure that she should go vnto the tower, while the matter were further tried and examined.

MarginaliaLady Elizabeth purgeth her selfe to the Lordes.Whereat shee beyng agaste, said, that shee trusted the Queenes Maiestie would bee more gracious Lady vnto her, and that her highnesse would not otherwise conceyue of her, but that she was a true woman: declaring furthermore to the Lordes, that she was innocent in all those maters wherein they had burdened her, & desired them therefore to be a further meane to the Queen her sister, that she beyng a true woman in thought, word, and deed towards her Maiesty, might not be committed to so notorious and dolefull a place, protesting that she would request no mercy at her hand, if she should bee prooued to haue consented vnto any suche kynde of matter as they layed vnto her charge: and therfore in fine desired their Lordshippes to thinke of her what she was, and that she might not so extremely be delt withall for her truth.

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Wherunto the Lords answered againe, that there was no remedy, for that the Queenes Maiestie was fully determined that she should go vnto the Tower. Wherewith the Lords departed, with their caps hangyng ouer theyr eyes. But not long after, within the space of an houre or little more, came foure of the foresaid Lordes of the counsaile, which were the Lord Treasurer, the B. of Winchester, the lord Steward, the Erle of Sussex, with the gard, who wardyng the nexte chamber to her, MarginaliaLady Elizabethes seruauntes remoued from her.secluded all her Gentlemen and Yeomen, Ladies and Gentlewomen, sauyng that for one Gentleman Vsher, three Gentlewomē, and two Groomes of her Chamber, MarginaliaThe Queenes men, and wayting women attendant vpon Lady Elizabeth.were appoynted in their roomes three other men of the Queenes, & three waiting women to geue attendance vpon her, þ^t none shoulde haue accesse to her grace.

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At which tyme there were an hundreth of Northren souldiours in white cotes, watching and warding about the gardens all that night, a great fire beyng made in the midst of the hall, and two certaine Lordes watching there also with their band and company.

Vpon Saterday followyng,  

two Lordes of the counsaile (the one was the Erle of Sussex, the other shall bee namelesse)   came and certified her grace, that forthwith she must go vnto the tower, the barge beyng prepared for her, and the tide now redy, which tarieth for no body. In heauy moode her grace requested the Lords that she might tary another tide, trusting that the next would be better and more comfortable. But one of the Lords replied, that neither tide nor tyme was to be delayed.

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MarginaliaThe hard dealing of a certayne Lord with the Lady Elizabeth.And when her grace requested him that she myght bee suffred to write to the Queenes Maiestie, he aunswered, that he durst not permitte that, addyng that in his iudgemente it woulde rather hurte, then profite her grace in so doyng.

MarginaliaThe Earle of Sussex gentle to the Lady Elizabeth. Lady Elizabeth writeth to the Queene but it would not serue.But the other Lorde, more curteous and fauourable, (who was the Erle 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 highnesse, and bring an answer of the same, what soeuer came thereof. Wherupon she wrote, albeit she could in no case be suffered to speake with the Queene to her great discomfort, beyng no offender against the Queenes Maiestie.

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And thys the tyde and tyme passed away for that season, they priuily appointing all things redy that she shuld 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 two returned agayne, declaring that it was tyme for her grace to depart. She answering, if there be no remedy, I must be contented, willyng the Lordes to go on before. Beyng come forth into the gardē, she did cast her eyes toward the window, thinkyng to haue seene the Queene, which she could not. Whereat she sayd, she meruailed much what the nobilitie of the realme ment, which in that sort would suffer her to bee ledde into captiuitie, the Lord knew whether, for she did not. In the meane tyme commandement was geuen in all London, that euery one should keepe the Church and carye their Palmes, while in the meane season she might be conueied 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, three of the Queenes Gentlewomen, and three of her owne, her Gentleman Vsher, and two of her Groomes, lying and houeryng vpon the water a certaine space, for that they could not shoote the bridge, the Barge men beyng very vnwilling to shoote the same so soone as they bid, because of the danger thereof: for the sterne of the boate, stroke vpon the ground, the fall was so big, and the water was so shallowe, that the boate beyng vnder the bridge, there stayed agayne a while. At  

landing, she first stayed, and denied to land at those staires where all traitors and offenders customably vsed to land, neyther well could she, vnlesse she should go ouer her shoe. The Lords were gone out of the boat before, and asked why she came not. One of the Lordes went back againe to her, & broght word she would not come.

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Then sayd one of the Lords which shall be nameles,  

that she should not chuse: and because it did then raine, he offred to her his cloke, which she (puttyng it backe wyth her hand with a good dash) refused. So she comming out, hauing one foote vppon the staire, saide: MarginaliaThe wordes of Lady Elizabeth entring the Tower.Here landeth as true a subiect beyng prisoner, as euer lāded at these stairs: And before thee O God I speake it, hauyng none other friends but thee alone.

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To whom the same Lord aunswered againe, that if it were so, it was the better for her. At her lāding there was a great multitude of their seruantes & Warders standyng in their order, What needed all this said 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 beseeche you that they may be dismissed, Whereat the poore men kneeled downe, and with one voyce desired GOD to preserue her grace, who the next day were released of their cold coates.

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After this passing a little further, she sate downe vpon a cold stone & there rested her selfe. To whome the Lieuetanant then beyng, said: Madame, you were best to come out of the raine, for you sit vnwholsomly. She then replieng, answered againe: better sitting here then in a worse place: for God knoweth, I know not whether you wyll bring me. With that her Gentleman Vsher wept: she demaunding of hym what he ment so vncomfortably to vse her, sayng she toke him to be her comforter, and not to dismay her, especially for that she knew her truth to be such, that no man should haue cause to weepe for her. But forth she went into the prison.

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The dores were locked and bolted vpon her: whiche did not a little discomfort and dismay her grace. At what time she called to her Gentlewomā for her booke, MarginaliaThe Christian prayer of Lady Elizabeth.desiring God not to suffer her to build her foundation vppon the sandes but vpon the rocke, wherby all blasts of blustering weather shuld haue no power agaynst her. The dores being thus locked, & she close shut vp, the Lordes had great cōference howe to keepe warde and watch, euery man declaring his opinion in that behalfe, agreeing straightly and circumspectly, to keepe her.

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Then one of them, whiche was the Lorde of Sussex swearing, sayd: MarginaliaThe Lord of Sussex speaketh for Lady Elizabeth.my Lordes, let vs take heede, and doe no more then our commission will beare vs, what soeuer shal happē hereafter. And further, let vs consider that she was the king, our Maistres daughter, and therfore let vs vse such dealing, that we may aunswere vnto it hereafter, if it shall so happen, for iust dealing (quoth he) is alwayes answerable: Whereunto the other Lords agreed that it was well sayde of him, and thereupon departed. Being in the Tower,  

within two daies commaundement was that she should haue Masse within her house. One M. Yong was then her Chapleyne: and because there was none of her men so well learned to helpe the priest to say masse, þ^e masse stayed for that day.

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The next day two of her Yeomen, who had gone long to schoole before and 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 his hand, pretending ignoraunce at Kirie eleyson, set the priest, making as though he could aunswere that no farther.

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It would make a pittiful and strange story, here by the way to touche and recite what examinations and rackinges of poore men there were to finde out that knife that should cut her throat: what gaping among my Lords of the clergy, to see the day wherein they might wash their goodly white rochetes in her innocent bloud, MarginaliaThe Bishop of Winchester enemye to Lady Elizabeth.but especially the Bysh. of Winchester Steuen Gardiner,  

then L. Chauncellour, ruler of the rost, who then within fiue days after came vnto her, with diuers other of the counsell, and examined her of the talke that was at Ashridge, betwixt her and sir Iames Acroft, concerning her remouing from thence to Dunnington Castle, requiring her to declare

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