a place. But I neuer laye in it in all my lyfe. And as for any that hath moued me therunto I do not remember. Then to enforce the matter they brought forth sir Iames Acroft. The bishop of Winchester demaunded of her what she sayd to that man. She answered that shee had litle to saye to him, or to the rest that were then prisoners in the Tower. But my Lords, quod she, you do examine euery meane prisoner of me, wherin me thinkes you do me great iniury. If they haue done euill, and offended the Quenes Maiesty, let them answer to it accordingly. I besech you, my lords, ioyne not me in this sorte with any of these offenders. And as concerning my going vnto Dunnington Castel, I do remember that mayster Hobby and mine officers, and you, syr Iames Acrofte had such talke: but what is that to the purpose, my Lordes, but that I may go to my owne houses at al times? The Lord of Arundel kneling downe, said: your grace sayth true and certainly we are very sory that wee haue so troubled you about so vaine matters. She then sayd: my Lordes, you do sifte me very narowly. MarginaliaLady Elizabeth sifted very narowly.But well I am assured, you shall not do more to me then God hath appointed. And so God forgeue you all. At theyre departing, Sir Iames Croft kneeled downe, declaring that he was sory to see the daye in which hee should be broughte as a witnes against her grace. But I assure your grace, said he, MarginaliaSir Iames Acroft examined touchyng the lady ElizabethI haue bene maruelously tossed and examined, touching your highnes, which the Lord knoweth is straunge to mee. For I take God to record before al your honours, I do not knowe anye thing of that cryme that you haue layd to my charge, and wyll ther vpon take my death if I should be driuen to so straight a triall.

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That daye or there aboutes, diuers of her own officers, who had made prouision for her diet, brought the same to the vtter gate of the Tower, the common rascall souldiers MarginaliaThese wer not the officers of the tower, but suche as went in whyte and grene. receiuing it, which was no small greefe vnto the gentlemen, the bringers therof. Wherfore they required to speake with the Lord Chamberlain, being then Constable of the Tower. Who, comming before his presence, declared vnto his Lordship that they were much afraid to bring her graces diet, and to deliuer it vnto such common and desperate persons as they were which dyd receiue it, beseching his honor to consider her grace, and to geue such order, that her viands might at al tymes be brought in by them which were appointed therunto. MarginaliaLady Elizabethes seruāts restrained for bringing her dyet to the tower.Yea syrs, sayd he? who appointed you this office? They answered, her graces Coūsel. Counsel (quoth he)? there is none of thē which hath to do, either in that case, or any thing els with in this place: and I assure you, for that shee is a prisoner, she shal be serued with the Lieutenauntes men as other the prisoners are.

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Wherat the gentlemen sayd, that they trusted for more fauour at hys handes, considering her personage, saying that they mistrusted not not, but that the queene and her coūsel would bee better to her grace then so, and herewith shewed them selues to be offended at the vngrateful wordes of the Lord Chamberlaine, towards their Lady and mistres. At this hee sware by God, strikinge hym selfe vpon the brest, that if they did either froune or shrug at him, he would set them where they should see neither sonne nor mone. Thus taking their leaue, they desired God to bring hym into a better mind toward her grace, and departed from him.

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Vpon thoccasion wherof her graces officers made great sute vnto the Quenes Counsell, that some might bee appoynted to brynge her diet vnto her, and that it might no more be delyuered in to the cōmon souldiours of the tower, which beyng reasonably considered, was by them graunted, & therupon wer appointed one of her gentlemen, her clerk of the kitchin, and her two purueyers to bryng in her prouision once a day. Al which was done, the Warders euer waiting vpon the bringers thereof. The Lord Chamberlayne himselfe beinge alwayes with them, circumspectly and narrowly watched and searched what they broughte, 

and gaue hede that they should haue no talke with any of her graces waitinge seruauntes, and so warded them bothe in and oute. At the sayd sute of her officers were sent by the commaundement of the Counsell to wayte vpon her grace, two yeomen of her chamber, one of her Robes, two of her Pantry and Ewry, one of her buttry, an other of her seller, two of her kitchin, and one of her Larder, al which continued with her the tyme of her trouble. Here the Constable being at the first not very well pleased with the comminge in of suche a companye againste his wyll, woulde haue had his men styl to haue serued with her graces men: which her seruaunts at no hand would suffer, desiring his lordship to be contēted, for that order was taken that no straunger shoulde come w^tin their offices. At which answer being sore displeased, he brake out into these threatnyng wordes: wel sayd he, I wyl handle you wel ynough. Then went he into the kytchyn, and there would nedes haue his meate rosted with her graces meate, & sayd that his cooke should come thether and dresse it. To that her graces Cooke answered: my Lord, I wyl neuer suffer any straunger to come about her diet, but her own sworne men, so long as I lyue. He sayde they should. But the Cooke sayde his lordship should pardon him for that matter. Thus did he trouble her poore seruauntes very stoutly, though after ward he wer otherwise aduised, and they more courteously vsed at his hands.

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