and good cause why. For he had good chere, and fared of the best, and her grace payed well for it. Wherefore he vsed him selfe afterward more reuerently toward her grace.

After this sort, hauing lyen a whole moneth there in close prison, and beinge very euyll at ease therewithall, she sent for the lord Chāberlayne, & the Lord Shandoies to come & speake with her. MarginaliaLady Elisabeth denyed the libertye of the Tower.Who comming, she requested them that she mighte haue liberty to walke in some place, for that shee felte her selfe not well. To the which they answered, that they were right sory that they coulde not satisfy her graces request, for that they had commaundement to the cōtrary, which they durste not in any wyse breake. Furthermore, she desyred of them, if that could not be graūted, that she might walk but into the Queenes lodginge. No nor that they answered, could by any meanes be obteyned, without a further sute to the Quene and her Counsell. Well sayde she, my Lordes, if the matter be so hard, that they must be sued vnto for so small a thing, and that frendshippe be so straight, God comfort me, and so they departed, she remaining in her old dungeon stil, with out any kind of comfort, but onely God.

The next daye after, the Lorde Shandoyes came agayne vnto her grace, declaringe vnto her, that he had sued vnto the Counsel for farther librety. Some of them consented therunto, diuers other dissented, for that there were so many prisoners in the tower. But in conclusion, they did all agree, that her grace mighte walke into those lodginges, so that he and the Lord Chamberlaine, and three of the Quenes gentlewomen did accompany her, and the windowes were shut, and she not suffered to looke out at any of them, wherewith she contented her selfe, and gaue him thankes for his good will in that behalfe. Afterwardes there was liberty graunted to her grace to walke in a litle garden, the dores and gates being shut vp, MarginaliaLibertye graunted to walke in a litle garden which not with standing was asmuch discomfort vnto her, as the walke in the garden was plesaunt and acceptable. At which times of her walkinge there, the prysoners on that syde straightlye were commaunded not to speake, or looke out at the windowes into the gardē, till her grace were gone oute agayne, hauing in consideration therof their kepers waitinge vpō them for that time. Thus her grace with this small liberty contented her selfe in God, to whom be prayse therfore. During this time there vsed a litle boye, a mannes childe in the tower, to resort to their chābers, & manytimes to bringe her grace floures, which likewise he did to the other prisoners þ^t wer ther: wher vpon naughty and MarginaliaSuspicious headessuspicious heads thinkinge to make and wring out some matter thereof, called on a tyme the chylde vnto them, promising him figges and apples, and asking of him

when he had beene with the Earle of Deuonshire, not ignorant of the childes wounted frequenting vnto him. The boye answered, that he wold go by and by thether. Further they demaunded of him, when he was with the Lady Elizabeths grace. He aunswered, euery day. Furthermore they examined him what þ^e lord Deuonshire sēt by him to her grace. The child sayd, I wyl go know what he will geue to cary to her. Such was the discretion of the child, being yet but. iii. yeares of age. This same is a crafty boy, quod the Lorde Chamberlayne. How saye you my Lorde Shandoyes? I praye you my Lord, quod the boy, geue me the figges you promised me. No mary (quod he,) thou shalt be whipped if thou come any more to the Lady Elizabeth, or the Lord Courtney. The boye answered, I wil bring my Lady (my maistres) more floures. Whereupon the childes father was commaunded to permit the boye no more to come vp into their chambers. And the next daye, as her grace was walkinge in the garden, the childe peping in at a hole in the doore, cried vnto her, saying: misteris, I can bringe you no more floures: whereat she smiled, but said nothinge, vnderstandinge thereby what they had done. Wherfore afterwardes the L. Chamberlain rebuked highly his father, commaunding him to put him oute of the house. Alas poore infant, quod the father. It is a crafty knaue, quod the Lord Chāberlayn. Let me see him here no more. MarginaliaThe constable of the Tower discharged of hys office.The fyfte daye of Maye, the Constable was discharged of hys office of the tower, one sir Henry Benifield beyng placed in hys roome, MarginaliaSir Henry Benifielde placed about the Ladye Elizabeth. a man vnknowen to her grace, and therefore the more feared, which so sodain mutation was vnto her no lyttle amase. Hee brought with him an hundreth souldiours in blew coates, wherewith she was marueylously discomforted, & demaunded of suche as were about her, whether the Lady Ianes Scaffold were taken away or no, fearinge by reason of their comming, least shee shoulde haue played her parte. To whom aunswere was made, that the scaffolde was taken away, and that her grace neded not to dout of any such tiranny. For God would not suffer any suche treason against her person. Wherewith being contented, but not alltogether satisfied, she asked what syr H. Benifield was, & whether he was of that conscience or no, that if her murdering were secretlye committed to his charge, hee would see the execution thereof. She was answered, that they were ignorant what maner of man he was. How beit they perswaded her that God would not suffer such wickednes to procede. Well, quod she, God graunt it be so. For thou, O God, art the withdrawer & mollifier of all such tirannous harts, and actes: & I beseche thee to here me thy creature, whiche am thy seruant, and at thy commaundement,