came vnto her Grace from the Quéens Maiesty and burdened her with Wiats conspiracie which she vtterlie denied affirming that she was altogether guiltlesse therein They being not contented with this charged her Grace with businesse made by Sir Peter Carew and the rest of the Gentlemen of the West countrey which she also vtterly denying cleared her innocencie therin In conclusion after long debating of matters they declared vnto her that was the Quéenes will and pleasure that she should go vnto the Tower while the matter were furder tried and examined Whereat she being agast said That she trusted the Quéens Maiesty would be more gratious Lady vnto her and that her Highnesse would not otherwise conceiue of her but that she was a true woman declaring furthermore to the Lords that she was innocent in all those matters wherewith they had burdened her and desired them therefore to be a furder meane to the Quéene her Sister that she being a true woman in thought worde and déede towardes her Maiestie might not be committed to so notorious dolefull a place protesting that she would request no mercie at her hand if she should be prooued to haue consented vnto any such kinde of matter as they had laide vnto her charge And therefore in fine desired their Lordshippes to thinke of her what she was and that she might not so extremelie be dealt withall for her trueth Wherevnto the Lordes aunswered againe that there was no remedie for that the Quéenes Maiestie was fullie determined that she should goe vnto the Tower wherwith the Lordes departed with their cappes hanging ouer their eyes But not long after within the space of an howre or more came fowre of the foresaide Lords of the Councell which were y e Lord Treasurer the Bishop of Winchester the Lord Steward the Earle of Sussex with the Garde who warding the next Chamber to her secluded all her Gentlemen and Yeomen Ladies and Gentlewomen sauing that for one Gentlemen Usher thrée Gentlewomen and two Groomes of her Chamber were appointed thrée other men of the Quéenes and thrée waiting Women to giue attendance vpon her that none should haue accesse to her Grace At which time there was an hundred of Northen Soldiours in white coates watching and warding about the Gardens all that night a great fire being made in the middest of the Hall and two certaine Lordes watching there also with their band and company Upon Saturday following two Lords of the Counsaile the one was the Earle of Sussex the other shalbe namelesse came and certified her Grace that foorthwith she must goe vnto the Tower the Barge being prepared for her and the tide now ready which tarieth for no body In heauie moode her Grace requested the Lordes that she might tarie one other tide trusting that the next would be better and more comfortable but one of the Lordes replied that neither tide nor time was to be delaied And when her Grace requested him that she might be suffered to write to the Quéenes Maiestie he answered that he durst not permitte that adding that in his iudgement it would rather hurt then profite her Grace in so dooing But the other Lord more courteous and fauourable who was the Earle of Sussex knéeling downe tolde her Grace that she should haue libertie to write and as he was a true man he would deliuer it to the Quéenes Highnesse and bring an aunswere of the same whatsoeuer came thereof Wherevpon she wrote albeit she could in no case be suffered to speake with the Quéene to her great discomfort being no offender against the Quéenes Maiestie And thus the time and tide passed away for that season they priuilie appointing al things ready that she should go the next tide which fell about midnight but for feare she should be taken by the waie they durst not So they staied tyll the next day being Palme Sunday when about nine of the clocke these two returned againe declaring that it was time for her Grace to depart She aunswering if there be no remedy I must be content willing the Lords to goe on before Being come foorth into the garden she did cast vp her eies toward the windowe thinking to haue séene the Quéene which she could not Whereat she saide She meruailed much what the Nobilitie of the Realme meant which in that sort would suffer her to be ledde into captiuitie the Lord knewe whether for she did not In the meane time commaundement was giuen in all London that euery one should kéepe the Church and carie their Palmes while in the meane season she might be conueied without all recourse of people into the Tower After all this she tooke her Barge with the foresaide Lordes thrée of the Quéenes Gentlewomen and thrée of her owne her Gentleman Usher and two of her Groomes lying and houering vpon the water a certaine space for that they could not shoot the Bridge the Barge men being verie vnwilling to shoot the same so soone as they did because of the daunger thereof for the sterne of the Barge strooke vpon the ground the fall was so bigge and the water was so shallowe that the Barge being vnder the bridge there staied againe a while At landing she first staied denied to land at those staires where all traitours and offendors customablie vse to land neither well could she vnlesse she would goe ouer her shooes The Lordes were gone out of the Barge before and asked why she came not One of the Lordes went back againe to her and brought word she would not come Then saide one of the Lordes which shalbe namelesse that she should not chuse and because it rained he offered to her his cloake which she putting it backe with her hand with a good dashe refused So she comming out hauing one foot vpon the staire saide Héere landeth as true a Subiect being prisoner as euer landed at these staires and before thée O God I speake it hauing no other fréends but thée alone To whome the same Lord aunswered againe that if it were so it was the better for her At her landing there was a great multitude of their seruaunts and Warders standing in their order What néeded all this saide she It is the vse saide some so to be when any prisoner came thither And if it be for my cause saide she I beséech you that they may be dismissed Whereat the poore men knéeled downe and with one voice desired GOD to preserue her Grace but the next day they were therefore released of their olde coates After this passing a little furder she sate downe vpon a colde stone and there rested her selfe To whom the Lieuetenant then being said Madame you were best to come out of the raine for you sit vnholsomely She then replying aunswered againe Better sitting héere then in a wurse place for God knoweth I know not whether you will bring me With that her gentleman Usher wept she demaunding of him
found with the Almightie who when all helpe of man and hope of recouerie was past stretched out his mightie protection and preserued her Highnes and placed her in this Princelie seate of rest and quietnesse wherin now she sitteth and long may she sit the Lord of his glorious mercie graunt we beséech him In which storie if I should set foorth at large and at full all the particulers and circumstaunces therevnto belonging and as iust occasion of the historie requireth besides the importunate length of the storie discoursed peraduenture it might mooue offence to some being yet aliue and trueth might gette me hatred Yet notwithstanding I intend by the grace of Christe therein to vse such breuitie and moderation as both may be to the glorie of God the discharge of the storie the profite of the Reader and hurt to none suppressing the names of some whome héere although I could receite yet I thought not to be more cruell in hurting their name then the Quéene hath béene mercifull in pardoning their liues Therefore now to enter into the discourse of this tragicall matter first héere is to be noted that Quéene Marie when she was first Quéen before she was crowned would goe no whether but would haue her by the hand and send for her to dinner and supper but after she was crowned she neuer dined nor supped with her but kept her aloofe from her c. After this it happened immediatly vpon the rising of Sir Thomas Wiat that the Ladie Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney were charged with false suspition of Sir Thomas Wiats rising Wherevpon Quéene Marie whether for that surmise or for what other cause I knowe not being offended with the Ladie Elizabeth her Sister at that time lying in her house at Ashridge the next daye after the rising of Wiat sent to her thrée of her Counsaylours to wit Sir Richard Southwell Sir Edward Hastings then Maister of the Horse and Sir Thomas Cornewalles with their retinue and troupe of Horsemen to the number of two hundred and fiftie Who at their suddaine and vnprouided comming found her at the same time sore sicke in her bedde and verie weake féeble of body Whether when they came ascending vp to her Graces priuie Chamber they willed one of her Ladies whome they met to declare vnto her Grace that there were certaine come from the Court which had a message from the Quéene Her Grace hauing knowledge thereof was right glad of their comming howbeit being then verie sicke and the night farre spent which was at ten of the clock she requested them by the messenger that they would resort thither in the morning To this they aunswered and by the same messenger sent word againe that they must néedes sée her would so doo in what case so euer she were Wherat the Lady being agast went to shew her Grace their wordes but they hastilie following her came rushing as soone as she into her Graces chamber vnbidden At whose so sudden comming into her chamber her Grace being not a litle amazed saide vnto them Is the haste such that it might not haue pleased you to come to morrowe in the morning They made answer that they were right sorie to sée her in that case And I quoth she am not glad to sée you héere at this time of the night Whervnto they answered that they came from the Quéene to doo their message duety which was to this effect that the Quéenes pleasure was that she should be at London the seuenth day of that present month Wherevnto she saide Certes no creature more glad then I to come to her Maiestie being right sorie that I am not in case at this time to waite on her as you your selues doo sée and can well testifie In déed we sée it true quoth they that you doo say for which we are verie sorie Albeit we let you vnderstand that our Commission is such and so strayneth vs that we must néedes bring you with vs either quicke or dead Whereat she being amazed sorrowfullie saide that their Commission was verie sore but yet notwithstanding she hoped it to be otherwise not so straite Yes verelie said they Whervpon they called for two Phisitions Doctor Owen and Doctor Wendie and demaūded of them whether she might be remooued from thence with life or no. Whose aunswer and iudgement was that there was no impediment to their iudgement to the contrarie but that she might trauaile without daunger of life In conclusion they willed her to prepare against the morning at nine of the clocke to goe with them declaring that they had brought with them the Quéenes Litter for her After much talke the messengers declaring how there was no prolonging of times and daies so departed to their Chamber being entertained and chéered as appertained to their worshippes On the next morrowe at the time prescribed they had her foorth as she was verie faint and féeble and in such case that she was ready to swound thrée or foure times betwéene them What should I speake héere that cannot well be expressed What an heauie house there was to behold the vnreuerent and dolefull dealing of these men but especially the carefull feare and captiuity of their innocent Ladie and Mistresse Now to procéede in her iourney from Ashridge all sicke in a Litter she came to Redborne where she was garded all night From thence to S. Albones to Sir Ralphe Rowlets house where she taried that night both féeble in body and comfortles in minde From that place they passed to Maister Doddes house at Mymmes where also they remained that night and so from thence she came to Highgate where she being verie sicke taried that night and the next day During which time of her abode there came many Pursuiuants Messengers from the Court but for what purpose I cannot tell From that place she was conueied to the Court where by the way came to méete her many Gentlemen to accompany her Highnesse which were verie sorie to sée her in that case but especiallie a great multitude of people there were standing by the way who then flocking about her Litter lamented and bewailed greatlie her estate Now when she came to the Court her Grace was there straite waies shut vp and kept as close prisoner a fortnight which was till Palme Sundaie séeing neither King nor Quéene nor Lord nor fréend all that time but onelie then the Lord Chamberlaine Sir Iohn Gage the Uicechamberlaine who were attendaunt vnto the doores About which time Sir William Sentlowe was called before the Councel to whose charge was laide that he knew of Wiats rebellion Which he stoutlie denied protesting that he was a true man both to God and his Prince defying all Traitours and Rebelles but being straitly examined he was in conclusion committed to the Tower The Friday before Palme Sunday the Bishoppe of Winchester with ninetéene other of the Councel who shall be héere namelesse
of Tame aunswered it shall not néede Well saide he néede or néede not they shall so doo mistrusting belike the company which God knoweth was without cause The next daie her Grace tooke her iourney from thence to Woodstocke where she was inclosed as before in the Tower of London the Soldiours garding and warding both within and without the walles euery day to the number of thrée score and in the night without the walles fortie during the time of her imprisonment there At length she had gardens appointed for her to walke in which was verie comfortable to her Grace but alwaies when she did recreate her selfe therein the doores were fast locked vp and in as straite manner as they were in the Tower being at least fiue or six lockes betwéene her lodging and her walkes Sir Henrie himself kéeping the keies and trusting no man therewith Wherevpon she called him her Gaoler and he knéeling downe desired her Grace not to call him so for he was appointed there to be one of her Officers From such Officers quoth she good Lord deliuer me And now by the way as digressing or rather refreshing the Reader if it be lawfull in so serious a storie to recite a matter incident and yet not impertinent to the same occasion héere mooueth or rather enforceth me to touch bréeflie what happened in the same place and time by a merie conceited man being then about her Grace Who noting the straite and straunge kéeping of his Lady Mistresse by the said Sir Henrie Benifield with so many locks doores with such watch and warde about her as was strange and wunderful espied a Goate in the warde where her Grace was and whether to refreshe her oppressed minde or to notifie her straite handling by Sir Henrie either els both he tooke it vppon his necke and followed her Grace therewith as she was going into her lodging Which when she sawe she asked him what he would doo with it willing to let it alone Unto whome the same partie aunswered No by saint Marie if it like your Grace will I not for I cannot tell whether he be one of the Quéenes fréendes or no I will carrie him to Sir Henrie Benifield God willing to knowe what he is So leauing her Grace he went with the Goate on his necke and carried it to Sir Henrie Benifield who when he sawe him comming with it asked him halfe angerlie what he had there Unto whome the partie aunswered saying Sir quoth he I cannot tell what he is I praie you examine him for I found him in the place where my Ladies Grace was walking what talke they haue had I cannot tell for I vnderstand him not but he should séeme to me to be some straunger and I thinke verilie a Welch man for he hath a white fréese coate on his backe And for so much as I being the Quéenes subiect and perceiuing the straite charge committed to you of her kéeping that no straunger should haue accesse vnto her without sufficient licence I haue héere found a stranger what he is I cannot tell in place where her Grace was walking and therfore for the necessarie discharge of my duety I thought it good to bring the saide straunger to you to examine as you sée cause and so he let him downe At which wordes Sir Henrie séemed much displeased and saide Well well you will neuer leaue this géere I sée and so they departed Now to returne to the matter from whence we haue digressed after her Grace had béene there a time she made sute to the Councell that she might be suffered to write to the Quéene which at last was permitted So that Sir Henrie brought her pen inke and paper and standing by her while she wrote which he straitlie obserued alwayes she being wearie he would carrie away her Letters and bring them againe when she called for them In the finishing therof he would haue béen messenger to the Quéene of the same whose request her Grace denied saying One of her owne men should carrie them and that she would neither trust him nor none of his therein Then he aunswering againe saide None of them durst be so bolde he trowed to carie her Letters being in that case Yes quoth she I am assured I haue none so dishonest that would denie my request in that behalfe but will be as willing to serue me now as before Well saide he my Commission is to the contrarie and I may not so suffer it Her Grace replying againe saide You charge me verie often with your Commission I praye God you may iustlie aunswere the cruell dealing you vse towardes me Then he knéeling downe desired her Grace to thinke and consider how he was a seruaunt and put in trust by the Quéene to serue her Maiestie protesting that if the case were hers he would as willinglie serue her Grace as nowe he did the Quéenes highnesse For the which his aunswer her Grace thanked him desiring of God that she might neuer haue néede of such seruauntes as he was declaring further to him that his dooinges towards her were not good nor aunswerable but more then all the fréends he had would stand by To whome Sir Henrie replied and saide That there was no remedie but his dooinges must be aunswered and so they should trusting to make good account thereof The cause which mooued her Grace so to saye was for that he would not permitte her Letters to be carried foure or fiue daies after the writing therof But in fine he was content to send for her gentleman from the Towne of Woodstocke demaunding of him whether he durst enterprise the carriage of her Graces Letters to the Quéene or no and he aunswered yea Sir that I dare and wil with all my hart Wherevpon Sir Henrie halfe against his stomacke tooke them vnto him Then about the eight day of Iune came downe Doctour Owen and Doctour Wendie sent by the Quéene to her Grace for that she was sicklie who ministring to her and letting her blood tarried there and attended on her Grace fiue or sixe dayes Then she being well amended they returned againe to the Court making their good report to the Quéene and the Councell of her Graces behauiour and humblenesse towardes the Quéenes Highnesse Which her Maiestie hearing tooke verie thankefullie but the Bishoppes therat repined looked blacke in the mouth and tolde the Quéene they meruailed that she submitted not her selfe to her Maiesties mercie considering that she had offended her Highnesse About this time her Grace was requested by a secrete fréend to submit her self to the Quéenes Maiestie which would be very well taken and to her Grace great quiet and commodity vnto whom she aunswered That she would neuer submitte her selfe to them whome she neuer offended For quoth she if I haue offended and am guiltie I then craue no mercie but the lawe which I am certaine quoth she I should haue had ere this
executed 1551. A Millers sonne fayning himselfe to be King Edward executed 1556. Foure Rebelles executed at Saint Edmundsburie 1557. The blessed protection of almighty God in preseruing the Lady Elizabeth in her manifold daungers and troubles The troubles of Lady Elizabeth in Queene Maries tyme. The historie of Lady Elizabeth Sir Richard Southwell Sir Edward Hastinges and Sir Thomas Cornwalles sent to fetch vp Lady Elizabeth The vnmannerlinesse of the Knights A straite Commission from the Queen to bring the Lady Elizabeth either quick or dead The gentlenesse of Queene Marie to send her horse Lytter to bring her Sister to trouble Lady Elizabeth taketh her iourney toward the Queene Lady Elizabeth brought vp to London Sir William Sentlowe cōmitted to the Tower Lady Elizabeth charged with Sir Thomas Wiats conspiracie Lady Elizabeth charged with the busines of Sir Peter Carew Lady Elizabeth threatned to goe to the Tower Lady Elizabeth purgeth her selfe to the Lordes Lady Elizabeths seruaunts remooued from her The Queenes men and women attendaunt vppon the Lady Elizabeth The hard dealing of a certaine Lord with the Lady Elizabeth The Earle of Sussex gentle to the Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth writeth to the Queene but it would not serue Lady Elizabeth sent to the Tower The wordes of Lady Elizabeth entring the Tower The christian prayer of Lady Elizabeth The Lord of Sussex speaketh for Lady Elizabeth The Bishop of Winchester enimie to Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth examined by the Bishop of Winchester The freendlie speech of the Earle of Arundel to Lady Elizabeth Sir Iames Acroft examined touching the Lady Elizabeth These were not the Officers of the Tower but such as went in white greene Lady Elizabeths seruaunts restrained from bringing her diet to the Tower Displeasure betweene the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lady Elizabeths men Lady Elizabeths wayting men in the Tower Variaunce betweene the Lord Chamberlaine Lady Elizabeths seruaunts Lady Elizabeth denied the lybertie of the Tower Lybertie graunted to Lady Elizabeth to walke in a garden Suspicious heads A young childe examined for bringing flowers to Lady Elizabeth The Constable of the Tower discharged of his Office and Sir Henrie Benifield with his cōpany placed about the Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth both in great feare and doubt of her lyfe Lady Elizabeth in doubt of Sir Henry Benifield Lady Elizabeths prayer Lady Elizabeth remooueth from the Tower to Woodstocke Lady Elizabeth secluded from her seruaunts Lady Elizabeth in dispayre of her selfe Lady Elizabeths Vsher talketh with the Lord of Tame The gentle heart of the Lord of Tame to Lady Elizabeth Tanquam ouis Like a sheepe to to the slaughter Lady Elizabeth honourablie receiued and beloued of the people The gentle entertainement of Lady Elizabeth at the Lord of Tames house Sir Henrie Benifield grudged at the gentle entertainement of Lady Elizabeth The rude and vngentle behauiour of Sir Henrie Benifield Lady Elizabeth commeth to Woodstocke The strait watch kept at Woodstocke A merie storie concerning the straite keeping of the Lady Elizabeth The straitnesse of Sir Henrie Benifield merily noted Lady Elizabeth with much adoo suffered to write to the Queene The cruell dealing of Sir Henrie Benifield to the Lady Elizabeth reproued The Letters of Lady Elizabeth carried to the Queene Doctor Owen Doctor Wendie Queene Maries Phisitions sent to Lady Elizabeth The popish Prelates repined against the Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth requested to submit her selfe to the Queene Councell of the Papists to marie the Lady Elizabeth to a Spaniard Wicked councell giuen against Lady Elizabeth Spaniardes more fauourable to Lady Elizabeth then some English men Lady Elizabeth in daunger of fyre Lady Elizabeth in daunger of kylling An other conspiracie of murder against Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth preserued by the Lordes prouidence from execution in the Tower Winchesters platforme ouerthrowne Verses written by Lady Elizabeth in the glasse windowe Lady Elizabeth not suffered to come to the Lord of Tames house Lady Elizabeth wisheth her selfe to be a Milke maide The Lord William Haward gentle and fauourable to Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth requested by Winchester to submit her selfe to the Queenes mercie Lady Elizabeth standeth to be tryed by the lawe Talke againe betweene Winchester and Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth denieth to confesse any fault doone to the Queene Lady Elizabeth sent for to the Queene Lady Elizabeth brought to the Queenes bed Chamber Talke betweene the Queene and Lady Elizabeth Small comfort at the Queens hand toward her Sister King Phillip thought to be a freend to Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth by Gods prouidence set at lybertie Sir Henrie Benifield discharged Mistresse Ashley sent to the Fleet. Three gentlewomen of Lady Elizabeths sent to the Tower Note the wonderfull working of the Lordes prouidence in sauing of Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth delyuered by the death of Stephen Gardiner How the Lord heere beganne to worke for Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth proclaymed Queene the same day that Queene Marie died The Lord make England thankefull to him for his great benefites Consideration of the hardnesse of the time then and the cruell dealing against Lady Elizabeth Consideration of the wonderfull patience of Lady Elizabeth Consideration of the present helpe of God at all times to Lady Elizabeth Rebelles executed at Durham 1570. Rebelles executed at Yorke Rebelles executed at Berwicke The Nortons executed Conspiracie in Norfolke Iohn Felton executed in Paules Churchyard in London 1571. Doctour Storie executed at Tyborne 1572. Kenelme Barney Edward Mather and Henry Rolfe executed for treason The Duke of Norfolke condemned for high treason and beheaded on the Tower hyll The Earle of Northumberland beheaded at Yorke for high treason Iohn Hall and Oswald Wilkinson executed 1573. Thomas Woodhouse executed 1574. Cuthbert Mayne executed 1577. Iohn Nelson executed Thomas Sherwood executed 1578. William Lacie Kirkman executed at Yorke Euerard Haunse executed Edmund Campion Ralphe Sherwin and Alexander Briant executed 1581. Thomas Foord Iohn Shert and Robert Iohnson executed Luke Kirbie William Filbie Thomas Cottā and Lauraunce Richardson 1582. Iohn Slade and Iohn Body executed Edward Arden executed in Smithfield 1583. William Carter executed Haddock Fenne Hemerfoord Nutter and Mūden executed Frances Throckmorton executed 1584. God sharply scourgeth al traitours who practise any euyll against their Prince England hath beene greatly endaungered by traiterous practises The cause of an euyll cut off the effect can take no place No greater enimies to the safetie of England then Papists The common speech of Traytours at theyr death It is the duety of euerie good subiect to haue a speciall care of the safety of his Prince The first conclusion of such as hold al the Popes doctrine to be true The second conclusion of such as expect theyr Golden day The third conclusion of such as would ouerthrow theys Countrey for theyr Idolatrous Religion The fourth conclusion of such as can not be wun to loue her Maiestie The fift conclusion of the property of papistry The sixt conclusion of such Papistes as