Est mihi supp●icij causa fuisse piam.  
Many daughters have done well but thou surpass est them all.  
I S. Invent.    

ENGLAND'S ELIZABETH HER LIFE AND TROUBLES, During Her Minority, from the Cradle to the CROWN. Historically laid open and interwoven with such eminent Passages of STATE, as happened under the Reign of HENRY the Eight, EDWARD the sixth, Q. MARY; all of them aptly introducing to the present Relation. By THO: HEYWOO●  
LONDON, Printed by JOHN BEALE, for PHILIP WATERHOUSE; and are to be sold at his Shop at St. Paul's head, near London-stone. 1631.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE the Lord HENRY Earl of Dover, Viscount ROCHFORT, L. Hunsdon, etc.  
Right Honourable,  
WHen I had finished this short Tractate, (which may be rather styled a superficial remembrance than an essential expression of the of the passages of Queen Elizabeth's Life in her minority:) I could not apprehend unto whom the Patronage thereof might more justly belong, then to your Honour, whose noble Grandfather, Henry Lord Hunsdon, after Lord Chamberlain to her Majesty (her near and dear Kinsman:) was the most constant Friend and faithful Assistant in all her troubles and dangers, who not only employed his whole industry, and made use of his best Friends: but liberally expended his means, & hazarded his own person as an Interposer betwixt her safety, and the malice of her potent adversaries, which makes me something to wonder, that so great and remarkable a zeal expressed in a time of such inevitable danger, when all Her friends were held the Queen her Sister's enemies; and her enemies, the Queen's friends; when nothing but Examinations, sentences of Imprisonment, and terrors of Death were thundered against her; that her (I say) whom neither promises of favour could dissuade from her Love, nor threatenings of death, deter from her Service, should not be so much as once remembered by the Collectors of Her History: Be this therefore (Right Honourable) a lasting Testimony of his unchanged affection to her and her Innocence from the beginning, as likewise, a long-lived Monument▪ of her Royal gratitude towards him, extended even unto his end, ●nd to his noble Issue after him: what great confidence she had in his loyalty appeared, at the Camp of Tilbury in the year 1588. where he solely commanded the Guard for her Majesty's own Person, which consisted of Lances, Light-Horse, and Foot, to the number of 34050▪ It hath pleased your Lordship to censure favourably of some of my weak Labours not long since presented before you, which the rather encouraged me, to make a free tender of this small piece of service. In which if my boldness should beget the least distaste from you, I must fly for refuge, to that of the Poet Claudian. 
— Leones,  
Quae str avisse valent, ea mox prostrata relinquunt.   
Thus wishing to you and to all your Noble Family, not only the long fruition of the blessings of this life present; but the eternal possession of the joys future, I remain your Lordships,  
In all observances; THO: HEYWOOD.   

TO THE GENEROUS READER.  
WEre I able to write this little Historical Tractate with the Pen of Tacitus, the Ink of Curtius, and set down every line and letter by Epictetus his Candle; yet can I see no possibility to avoid the Critics of this age, who with their frivolous cavils and unnecessary exceptions, ambush the commendable labours of others, when they themselves will not or dare not either through idleness or ignorance, adventure the expense of one serious hour in any laborious work intended for the benefit of either Church or Commonweal; and such Polupragmatists this age is full of; — Sed meliora spero,  
I doubt not but that they will spare this Argument for the worth thereof, and though their carping may correct my Poem, yet they will have a reverend respect of the Person here drawn out, whose neverdying fame even in this our age is so sacred amongst all good men, that it is scarce remembered, at the least uttered without a devout thanksgiving.  
The prosperous and successful Reign of this Royal Queen and Virgin hath been largely delivered in the Latin Tongue whereby all foreign Nations have been made partakers of her admirable virtues and religious Government; but for that part of her Life, during her tender and sappy Age, all our domestic remembrancers have been sparing to speak.  
As they have showed you a Queen, I expose to your view a Princess; they in her majesty, I in her Minority; they the passages of her incomparable Life from the Sceptre to the Sepulchre, as she was a Sovereign; I the process of her time from the Cradle to the Crown, as she was a sad and sorrowful Subject; in the discovery whereof, I have not fallen so pat as to make the relation of her Minority the whole scope of my intentions; but have for the better enlightening thereof, made use of all such eminent occurrences of State, as may aptly introduce thereunto, as for those passages in the Characterizing of King Edward the sixth, and the Lady jane Grace, and others; — Vix ea nostra voco,  
I have borrowed them from my good friend Mr. H. H. Stationer, who hath not only conversed with the titles of Books, but hath looked into them, and from thence drawn out that industrious Collection, Entitled Herologia Anglicana. Not to hold thee any longer in that to which all this but introduceth. If the Book please thee, I am satisfied, and shall rest still,  
Thine; N. R.   

HEN. 8.  
Anno 1501.  
ENGLAND'S ELIZABETH.  
Her LIFE, and TROUBLES.  
T●e better to illustrate this history, needful it is that we speak something of the Mother, before we proceed to the Daughter.  
A match was concluded betwixt Prince Arthur the eldest Son and Heir apparent to Henry the 7th. King of England, and the Infant Katherine daughtter to the King of Spain, she landed at Plymouth Anno 1501. and was married to Prince Arthur; 
Prince Arthur marrieth Infant Katherine of Spain.  in April next following he expired at Ludlow, in that Castle, which hath been an ancient Seat belonging to the Princes of Wales. (Death having thus made a Divorce betwixt these two Princes) The two mighty and Potent Kings (by their grave and politic governments known to be as eminent in wisdom as greatness) for the more assured continuance of league and amity betwixt them, treated of a second match betwixt Henry the second son (but then the Sole Heir and hope of England) & the late Dowager, Princess of Spain. The contract by a dispensation solicited, & after granted by the pope then reigning was accordingly performed; 
Prince Henry marrieth his Brother's wife.  The marriage countenanced by their known wisdoms on the one side, and authorized by his Ecclesiastical jurisdiction on the other side, was held not only tolerable but irrevocable.  
Notwithstanding, the Father dying, and the Sovereign Son inaugurated by the name of Henry the eight, for many years together enjoining a peaceable & quiet reign, whether distasting his Queen, by reason that by this time she was grown somewhat in years, or that he had cast an affectionate eye upon a more choice beauty, 
The ●●tiues persuading a Divorce.  or that through scruple of Conscience (which for his honour's sake is most received) I am not able to censure. But sure it is, that he began deeply to consider with himself, that notwithstanding the usurped liberty of the Pope (whose Prerogatives till then was never thought disputable) that his marriage was not only unlawful, but incestuous: some are of opinion that he was hereunto moved by the Nobility; others, that he was instigated by the Clergy, but if we may give credit to his own Protestation in open Court, the first originals of this touch in Conscience, was, because the Bishop of Bayon being sent Ambassador from the French King to debate a Marriage betwixt the Duke of Orleans his second son, and the Lady Mary, the sole surviving Issue of him and his Queen Katherine, but as the match was upon the point to be concluded, the Bishop began to demur and desired respite, till he were fully resolved whether the Lady Mary (by reason of the King's Marriage with his brother's wife) were legitimate or not. The cause is doubtful, but the effect I am sure is unquestionable.  
Although the King received from this Spanish Lady a Prince called Edward, 
Prince He●ry borne.  borne at Richmond on Newyeeres' day in the second year of his reign, for whose Nativity great Triumphs were kept at Westminster, yet breathed his last upon Saint Mathews day following. Besides he had by her a second issue, the Lady Mary beforenamed, so that neither sterility and barrenness could be aspersed upon her, nor any known disobedience or disloyalty objected against her, but that (as the King himself often protested) she was a wife no way refractory, but in all things corresponding to his desires and pleasures: These things notwithstanding, the pretended divorce 
The Divouorce disputed of.  was to the King's great cost and charge, so effectually negotiated, that after they had lived together by the space of 22 years and upwards in unquestioned Matrimony, it was made the public Argument in Schools, debated by the Italian, French, Germane, and our own modern Doctors, both Ecclesiastical and Civil, by an unanimous consent determined, and for the better confirmation thereof, by th● Seales of diverse Academies signed, that the Marriage betwixt the King and Queen (never till now called his Sister, or Brother's wife) was a mere nullity, absolutely unlawful, and that his sacred Majesty had liberty and licence (howsoever the Pope sought by all means to antipose their opinions) warrantable from them, after a legal divorce sued out from the Court, to make choice of any other lady to his wife where he himself best liked.  
Cardinal Campeius 
Cardinal Campeius sent from Rome.  was sent from his Holiness and Cardinal Wolsey was joined with him in commission, to determine of this difficult point: the King and Queen were convened in open Court, then held in Black Friars; the Resolution of the weighty Argument then in hand, was so abstruse, that it puzzled all; though many seemed confident, yet not a few of the best Orthodoxal divines then staggered in their opinions, in so much that the Legate departed the land before he would give up a definitive sentence in the cause, the reason was because he desired further Order and Instruction from his Holiness.  
In the Interim the good Princess, greatly beloved, was much pitied, and the King much honoured was greatly feared. (For now most men's thoughts were in their hearts, a time better to think then speak) but before the Divorce was publicly denounced, the Lady Anne Bullein 
The Lady Anne Bullein daughter to the Earl of Wil●shi●re & Ormond created marchioness of Pembroke.  on the first of S●pt. An. 1532. was at Windsor created Marchiones of Pembroke, and one thousand pound per annum conferred upon her by the King, which news no sooner arrived to the dejected Princess ear, but she began to consider with herself, the fickleness and instability of greatness; and seeing that Sun to set in a cloud on her, which was beginning to rise serenely on another, who was now majestically ascending those steps, by which she was miserably descending, expressed a woman's wondrous modesty, and without speaking any distasteful or irreverent word against the King, said: Great men enterprizing great things, ought neither by the Laws of God, nor man to employ their power, as their own mind willeth; but as justice and Reason teacheth: but fearing lest in speaking so little she had spoken too much, shut up the rest, of what she thought to utter in a modest and welbeseeming silence.  
Upon the 25. of january An. 1533. the King was married in his Closet at Whitehall, to the marchioness of Pembroke, the Lady, Anne Bullein; 
Henry the eight married to the Lady Anne Bullein.  but very privately, few were present at the ceremonies, then celebrated by Dr. Rowland Lee, not long after consecrated Bishop of Chester.  
In this concealed Solemnity, one Mistress Anne Savage, much trusted ●y them both, bore up the Queen's train, this Lady was within few months after espoused to the Lord Berkely.  
In Easter Eve being the 12 of April, the Queen being known to the King to be young with child, went to the Chapel openly as a Queen, and was proclaimed publicly the same day Queen of England & upon Whitsunday following crowned at Westminster, 
Queen Anne crowned.  with all the ●ompe, state and magnificence thereto belonging. Queen Katherine who for many years had been their Sovereign Lady, is now quite forgotten, and Queen Anne being to the people scarcely known, is solely honoured: The rising Sun is only adored their joyful acclamations▪ readier for the coronation of the one, than their unjust exclamations to forward the deposing of th● other.  
Upon the 7th of Sep●tember, being Sunday, be●twixt the hours of 3● and 4● in the Afternoon Queen Anne was deli●uered of a fair daughter at Greenwich, 
The birth of the Lady Elizabeth.  who 〈◊〉 the great unspeakable ioy● both of Prince and people, 
Not kept a fortnight or a month in state, as it is now usual with ordinary people.  was christened on th● third day following be●ing Wednesday; the May●● of London and his brothers, 
Lady Elizabeth borne on the Eve of the virgin's Nativity, and died on the Eve of the Virgin's Annunciation 1603 Even that she is now in heaven with all these blessed virgins that had oil in their lamps.  with more than for●y other of the gravest Citizens', being commanded ●o attend upon the solemnities. It was performed ●n the Friar's Church in Greenwich, the Font was of silver, placed in the middle of the church with ●n ascent of three steps ●igh; the old Duchess of Norfolk bore the Babe wrapped in a Mantle of purple velvet. The Consponsors or witnesses, were, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, 
Lady Elizabeth's godfather are godmothers.  the Duchess of Norfolk, and ●he marchioness of Dorset, both widows.  
Not long after the birth of the Lady Elizabeth, a general oath of allegiance passed thorough the kingdom▪ to bind all such as by their● years were capable thereof, 
An oath taken to the successors of Q. Anne.  to maintain and uphold the successive heirs descending from the bodies of the King & Queen Anne, lawfully begotten i● the true and legal possession of the Throne, Crown▪ Sword and Sceptre, with all the royalties and impe●riall honours thereunto be●longing.  
The conjectural of the● administration of thi● oath, together with the suddenness of the Queene● coronation, 
The Reason of Qu. Anne's so sudden coronation.  was to stre●● then the match, and mak● the legitimation of her i●●sue (which by the King● former match was amongst many yet made questionable) of more vastidity: for (as one observeth, Anna coronatur, quod ●ulli nisi regni haeredibus con●ingere solet: Qu. Anne was ●herefore crowned, because it is an honour so●y conferred upon such whose issue are capable of succession, whereby it is pro●able that the King's purpose was to annihilate and extinguish the Title of his ●aughter Mary, and to ●aue the Crown and dignity Royal, to the sole ●eires of Q. Anne: For this ●use were the two young ●adies brought up apart, ●hich may be a reason why ●ey were after so different in their dispositions▪ and so opposite in thei● Religions: 
The different dispositions of Elizabeth and Mary.  both of them▪ though not sucking th● milk, yet as well imita●ting the minds as following the steps of their mo●thers; Queen Katharin● living and dying a con●stant Roman Catholic Queen Anne, both in he● life and death, resolute 〈◊〉 the defence of the Refor●med Religion, which (〈◊〉 the most probable conie●ctures have left to us vp●on file) was by the instiga●tion of some Romists the● powerful with the King's who was not then fully se●●led in those tenants whic● he after made his maxim● the prologue to her fall an● ●●ues Catastrophe which 〈◊〉 long after happened.  
On May day, A no 1536. ●as a great justing held at greenwich, 
The preparation to Queen Anne's fall.  in the which ●●e chief challenger was ●●e Lord Rochfort, brother 〈◊〉 the Queen, and the de●●ndants were one Henry ●orrice of the King's Bed●amber, with others, they ●ānaged their arms with ●eat dexterity, and every ●urse which they ran, ●me off with the loud ap●●●ause of the people, insomuch that the King at first ●●ght seemed in outward ●ewe to be wondrously ●lighted: but about the ●iddle of the triumph, ●e a storm in the midst ●a quiet Sea, the King arose suddenly from h●● seat, and attended with 〈◊〉 persons only, took Barg●● and was rowed to Westmi●●● leaving no small amaz●●ment behind him, every one wondering and co●●iecturing as their affect●●ons led them, what mig●● be the occasion thereo● All things were with 〈◊〉 night hushed up and in quimet; 
The Qu. Brothers, with other sent to the Tower.  no appearance of discontent either in King 〈◊〉 Courtier perceived, b● no sooner did the day pe●●● out, but the King's disco●●tent appeared with it. Geo●● Bulloyne, Lod Rochfort 〈◊〉 Queen's brother, and He●●ry Norrice, the defendant were saluted with a co● breakfast next their hea●● 〈◊〉 their beds, & both conveyed to the Tower; the ●ewes being brought to ●he Queen, struck as cold ●o her heart, and having ●ast over dinner with dif●ontent, because the King, 〈◊〉 his custom was, had ●ent none of his waiters to ●id Much good do it her, 〈◊〉 the Table, but perceiving her servants about ●er, some with their eyes glazed in tears, but all with looks dejected on the earth, it bred strange conceptions in her, yet being confident in her own inno●●ency, bred in her rather amazement than fear.  
The same day entered in●o her chamber; Sr Thomas ●udley, L. Chancellor, the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Cromwell, Secretary, and ● d●●●●●ce after them, Si● William Kinsman, Constable of the Tower, at their first apppearance, her apprehension was, that they were sent from the King to comfort her about the imprisonment of her brother; but observing them to look more austerely upon her, then usually they were accustomed, she be●gan to mistrust their message, but casting her eye beyond them, and espying the Constable of the Tower to accompany them in their unwelcome visit, she grew then confident, that her death was now approaching, and that these were the Heralds to prepare it, so expressing more modesty than Majesty, 
Queen Anne commanded to the tower.  ●oth in her behaviour, and ●ountenance, she prepared ●er self to attend their message, which the Chancellor delivered unto her in ●ew words, telling her, ●hat it was his Majesty's command, that she must infantly be conveyed from ●hence to the Tower, there ●o remain, during his ●ighnes pleasure, to which ●he answered, that her innocence's and patience had ●●med her against all adversities what soever, and 〈◊〉 such were his Majesty's command and pleasure, ●hey both should with all humility be obeyed: so without change of habit, or any thing necessary fo● her remooue, she put her● self into their safe custody, and by them was conveyed into her Barge.  
Just upon the stroke o●fiue, 
Qu. Anne entereth ●he●owuer  she entered the Tower● the Lords with the Luie●tenant, brought her to he● Chamber, to whom, a● their departure, she spok● these few words following (falling upon her knees. I beseech God Almighty to 〈◊〉 my assistance and help, only so far forth as I am n●●guiltie of any just crime, that may be laid against me: the● turning to the Lords, I in●treat you, to beseech the King in my ●ehalfe, that it wil● please him to be a good Lor● unto me, which word● were no sooner uttered, but they departed.  
The fifteenth of the same month, the Lords of the Council met at the Tower; the Queen was called to● to the Bar, and arraigned before the Duke of Norfolk, 
Qu. Anne arraigned.  who sat as Lord high Steward, the Lord Chancellor on the right hand, and the Duke of Suffolk on the left hand, with diverse others Marquesses, Earls, and Barons; the Earl of Surrey, son to the Duke of Norfolk, sat directly before his father, a degree ●ower, as Earl▪ Marshal of England, the Queen sitting in a chair, diverse accusations, especially touching inconstancy, were objected against her, to all which she answered punctually with such gravity and discretion, that it appeared to her Auditory she could not be found guilty of any aspersion whatsoever: But when in their favourable censures they were ready (not without great applause) to acquit her; 
Q. Anne quit in the opinion of the Lords, but found guilty by the Iury.  The jury brought in a contrary verdict, by which she was convicted, condemned, and had her judgement to be burned, or else her head to be cut off at the King's pleasure; The Sentence being denounced, the Court arose, and she wa● conveyed back again to her Chamber, the La● Bullein her Aunt, and the Lady Kinsman, wife to the Constable of the Tower, only attending her.  
Two days after were brought unto the Tower-Hill George Lord Rochfort, Henry Norris, Mark Smeton, 
The Queen's Brother with others beheaded.  Medlin Brierton, Francis Weston, all of them of the King's Privy Chamber, who severally suffered and had their heads stricken off, no other account of their sufferings being given out abroad, but that they deservedly died for matters concerning the convicted Queen.  
Two days after the Queen was brought to the green within the Tower, and there mounted on a Scaffold where were present most part of the Nobility, 
Queen Anne's death.  〈◊〉 Lord Mayor of London with certain Aldermen and many other Spectators, her last words were these, 
Her Speech at her death.  My honourable Lords, and the rest here assembled, I beseech you all to bear witness with me that I humbly submit myself to undergo the penalty to which the Law hath sentenced me; as touching my offences, I am sparing to speak, they are best known to God, and I neither blame nor accuse any man, but commit them wholly to him, beseeching God that knows the● secrets of all hearts to have mercy on my Soul; next I beseech the Lord jesus to bless and save my Sovereign & Master the King, the noblest and mercifullest Prince that lives; whom I wish long to reign over you. He hath made me marchioness of Pembroke, vouchsafed me to lodge in his own bosom, higher on earth he could not raise me, and hath done therefore well to lift me up to those blessed Innocents' in Heaven. Which having uttered with a smiling and cheerful countenance, as no way frighted with the Terror of Death, She gently submitted herself to her fate, and kneeling down on both her knees, with this short ejaculation in her mouth, Lord jesus Christ, into thy hands I commend my Soul, with the close of the last syllable the Hangman of Calais at one blow struck off her head.  
Phoenix jana iacet, nato Phoenicia, dolendum,  
Saecula Phoenices nulla tulisse duos.  
The King loath to show himself too sad a widower for so good a wife, the very next ensuing day was married to the Lady jane Seymor, daughter to Sir john Seymor Knight, Sister to Edward Seymor Earl of Hertford, and Duke of Somerset.  
Queen Anne was no sooner frowned on by the King, but she was abandoned by her late friends and servants, the young Lady her Daughter lost a Mother before she could do any more but smile upon her; She died the Phoenix of her Sex, but left a daughter behind who proved the Phoenix of her time, the true Daughter of so rare a Mother Phoenix. Queen jane is now the sole object of all the People's joy, but within little more than the Revolution of one year all their hopes are crossed, death niped the bud but preserved the blossom for a while after.  
On the 12. day of October in the year 1537. 
The Birth of P●i●ce Edward●  the Queen was delivered both of a Son & her own life together at Hampton Court about two of the clock in the afternoon. It is said, that news being brought to the King in the time of her travel, that her throws were very violent, insomuch that her life was in great peril by reason of the extremities of her hard labour, nay that the issue was driven to so straight an exigent, that either the mother or the infant must nccessarily perish; humbly desiring his Highness in so great extremity; his answer was that the Mother then should die, for certain he was that he could have more wives, but uncertain whether to ●aue more children; hereupon preparation was made to save both, if possible, 
The death of Qu. jane in Childbed.  but her body was ripped up to give way to her Child in the conclusion, and two days after her delivery her Soul expired.  
The Queen died much pitied, and the young Prince called Edward was the eighteenth of the same month created Prince of Wales, 
Young Edward Prince of Wales, &c  Duke of Cornwall and Chester.  
The Father was so joyful of his Son that he seemed to cast a neglect upon his two daughters, yet of them both, the Lady Elizabeth was in most favour and grace, for when Mary was separated from the Court, and not so much as suffered to come within a certain distance there of limited, the Lady Elizabeth was then admitted to keep the young Prince company in his infancy, who in the time of his minority was committed to the tuition of Doctor Cox, 
Dr. Cox and Sr. john Cheek Tutors to P. Edward and L. Elizabeth.  and Sir john Cheek, as they were guardians and Schoolmasters to the Prince, so were they the daily Instructors of the sweet young Lady, She was 3. years elder than her Brother, and therefore able in her pretty language to teach and direct him (even from the first of his speech and understanding) in the principles of Religion and other Documents; the Archbishop Cranmer her Godfather was ever chary and tender over her, as one that at the Font had taken charge upon him to see her educated in all virtue & piety. Cordial & entire grew the affection betwixt this brother and Sister, insomuch that he no sooner began to know her, but he seemed to acknowledge her, and she being of more maturity as deeply loved him. Both coming out of one loins, their affection was no less than if they had issued likewise from one womb, they were indeed one way equally fortunate and unfortunate, having one Father, and either of them deprived of a Mother, and even in their several deaths there was a kind of correspondency, the one died by the sword, the other in Childbed, both of them violent and enforced deaths.  
So pregnant and ingenious were either, that they desired to look upon books as soon as the day began to break, their horae matutinae were so welcome, that they seemed to prevent the nights sleeping for the entertainment of the morrows schooling, beside, such were the hopeful inclinations of this Princely youth and pious Virgin, 
The Industry of the Prince and L. Eliz.  that their first hours were spent in Prayers & other Religious exercises, as either reading some History or other in the Old Testament, or else attending the exposition of some Text or other in the New; the rest of the sore-noone (Breakfast-time excepted) they were doctrinated and instructed either in language, or some of the liberal Sciences, one moral learning or other collected out of such Authors as did best conduce to the Instruction of Princes; And when he was called out to any youthful exercise becoming a Child of his age (for study without action breeds dulness) she in her private Chamber betook herself to her Lute or viol, and (wearied with that) to practise her needle; This was the circular course of their employment, God was the Centre of all their actions, Ab Ioue Principium, they began with God, and he went along still with them, insomuch that in a short time they were as well entered into language, as Arts, most of the frequent tongues of Christendom they now made theirs, Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch were no strangers, no foreign Idioms, but now made familiar with their native English, 
— Merito ut puer unicus orbis  
jure vocaretur Phoenix: virgo al●era Pallas.   
These concurrences met in such a concordancy that the Scholars (though Princes) for their good instructions were in a kind of duty obliged to their Tutors; and their Tutors (for their willingness, and Industry) as much graced and honoured by their Scholars. Alexander the great confessed himself more obliged to Aristotle his Schoolmaster for his learning, then to his Father King Philip for his life, by the one he became a Man, by the other an understanding Man. This Princely couple cannot be taxed of ●ngratitude; if all the malice in the world were ●nfused into one eye, it shall never be able to detract either of them: how forward was the one during his time to promote Doctor Cox his Tutor, 
The Prince & La. Elizabeth not ingrateful to their Tutors.  and the life that Marian persecution being drawn to the last breath, the other recalled him from beyond the Seas, whither he was fled, restored him to many Church dignities and graced him so far as that by her appointment he made a learned Sermon that day when she went to her first Parliament.  
These tender young Plants being past their sappy age, and now beginning to flourish, the old stock begins to wither, the King feeling himself dangerously sick, many infirmities growing more and more upon him, called his Council about him, made his last will and Testament, part of which, so much as concerns this present Discourse, shall be delivered as it hath been extracted out of the original Copy, still reserved in the Treasury of the Exchequer, Dated the Thirtieth day of December 1546. Item, I give and bequeath unto our two Daughters, Mary and Eli●abeth●, if they shall be mar●●ed to any outward Potentate's, 
The last Wil● and Testament of K. Henry the eighth.  the Sum of tenn●●housand pounds a peecee, ●nd that to be paid them by ●he consent of our Council, 〈◊〉 Money, Plate, jewels and Householdstuff, if we be●●ow them not in our life ●ime, or a larger, Sum ●t the discretion of our Ex●cutors, or the most part of ●hem; And both of them upon our blessing to be ordered aswell in marriage, as ●ll other lawful things, by ●he advice of our fore said Council, and in case they will▪ not, that then those Sums are to be diminished at our Counsels pleasure: Further, our will is, that from the first hour of our death, until such time as they can provide either of them, or both of an honourable Marriage, they shall have either of them, or both of them, three Thousand pounds ultra Reprisas to live upon. I have known many a Noble Man's Daughter left as great a Legacy, nay a larger Dower, who never had any claim or alliance to a Crown; but so it pleased the King at that time.  
Upon the nineteenth day of january following the King lying upon his deathbed, 
K. Henry dyeth.  even when he was ready to give an account to God for the abundance of blood already spilt, when he knew himself was no longer able to live, he ●imprisoned the Duke of Norfolk the Father, signed a warrant for the execution of the Earl of Surrey, the Son, within nine days after he himself expired and on the eighteenth of February following, 
K. Henry buried at Windsor.  was with great State and magnificence interred at Windsor.  
On the same day wherein the Father deceased was the Son inaugurated King of England by the name of E●ward the ●●xth being of the age of 9 years, 
Edward the 6. crowned.  on the nineteenth of February following he road with his Uncle the Lord Protector, Duke of Somerset, through the City of London, and the next day ensuing was anointed King at West-minster by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who● that day administered the holy Eucharist together with sundry other Ceremonies appropriated for such Solemnities.  
Great is the person o● a King, reigning heerens upon earth amongst men▪ he is a lively Emblem of the high and glorious Majesty of God in heaven. The King was no ●ooner crowned, but the Lady Elizabeth gave ●ay to his State, 
L. Elizabeth's observance to the King her brother.  there ●as now a discontinuance of that frequent ●nd private familiarity ●suall betwixt them, formerly she loved him ●s a Brother, now she honour's him as her Sovereign; Honour and Royalty make difference betwixt the Son and ●he Father, the degrees ●f State distinguish betwixt brother and Sister, ●hey which lived socia●ly in all familiarity together, now do not so ●uch as talk but at a distance. The death of ●he Father which raised him to the Crown, removed her from the Court, set him in the Throne, sent her down into the Country, 
L. Elizabeth goeth into the country.  i● which retirement being nobly attended as wel● by diverse voluntary Ladies and Gentlewomen as her own train an● household Servants, sh● led there, though a mor● solitary yet a much more contented life, as having now more leisure hour to contemplate and ruminate on those Rudiments and Exercise● wherein she had for merly been conversant. Diligence is the breeds and productor of Arts▪ but practice and exercis● doth nourish and cherish them, She in her great discretion made gainful use of t●is Solitude, as is apparent by ●he future.  
Being settled in the Country to add unto her Revenue, she had many gifts and visits ●ent her from the King, who was very careful ●oth of her honour and ●ealth, she lived under ●he charge of a noble ●nd virtuous Lady, who ●as styled her Governess: scarce was she yet ●ull fourteen years of ●ge, when one of her Uncles, then in great office and place about the King, brought unto her 〈◊〉 Princely Suitor, 
A Princely Husband offered to the L. Elizabeth.  as great in means as comeauy in Person. A stranger richly habited and nobly attended, (whose name my Author gives not●) he after much importunity both from himself and friends, yet at last crossed in his purpose by modest repulses, and cold answers, 
L. Elizabeth will not by any means marry.  and finding her immutable disposition solely addicted to a single life, as not enduring the name of a husband, settled in his mind (though not satisfied in her denial) retired into his Country; for though it may be said of women in general, that they are spare in their answers, and pe●●remptory in their demands & purposes, tha● their affections are still in ●e extremes, either so passionate as by no counsel to be redressed, or so counterfeit, to be by no man believed, and again, ●f they are beautiful they are to be won with praises, if coy with prayers, if ●roud with gifts, & if covetous with promises; yet ●his sweet L. though her beau●y were attractive, yet by ●o flattery could be removed from her settled re●olution, and being concious neither of Pride, coyness, or covetousness, ●ould not be easily drawn within the compass of any subtle temptation. This ●●rst unwelcome motion ●f Marriage, was a 〈◊〉 why she lived afterwards more solitary and retired; If at any time the King her Brother upon any weighty or important occasion had sent to enjoy her company at Court, she made no longer Residence, then to know his highness' pleasure and to make humble tender of her duty and allegiance. That done, with all convenient returned back into the Country, where she spent the entire season of her Brother's Reign.  
The King had 3 Uncles left him by the Mother's side, 
The Kings 3. Uncles.  Edward, Thomas and Henry Seymour▪ Edward was Lord Pro-Protector, and Thomas high Admiral of England; These two Brothers being knit and joined together in amity, were like a Bunch of Arrows not easily broke asunder, but once dispersed, distracted betwixt themselves, they made but way for their Adversaries how to assail them with little disadvantage.  
The two great Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolk, 
Northumberland and Suffolk work a d●uision betwixt the two B●rothers.  Dudley and Grace murmuring that his Majesty's two Uncles should bear such great sway in the Kingdom (by which their glory seemed to be eclipsed and darkened) sought all means how to oppose this great united strength of Fraternal love, but finding that there was no other way le●t to cast this yoke from off their necks (which their Ambition held to be intolerable) but only by making a disjunction of that brotherly love which had so long continued, and doubting how to work it by their Servants, took a nearer course to effect it, by their wives, and so to draw their ruins out of their own bosoms; and most successively to their own purposes thus it happened: Sir Thomas Seymour Admiral & the younger Brother, married the Queen Dowager (whose hap it was of all the rest to survive her husband) she contested with her Sister in Law for precedence and pri●ority of place, both were privately encouraged, both swelled alike with spleen, neither would give way to other, the one claimed it as she had been once Queen, the other challenged it as she was the present wife of the Protector, the two Dukes were as suell to ●his fire new kindled be●●●wixt the women, Dud●ey incenseth the one pri●tely, Grace encourageth the other secretly; The wives set their husbands at odds by taking their parts, the Gordian knot of brotherly love is thereupon dissolved. Northumberland and Suffolk take hold of this advantageous occasion, insomuch that within a short time after, the Admiral was questioned for Treason, by consent of his brother condemned in Parliament, 
The. L. Admiral beheaded.  and his head struck off at the Tower-hill March 20. 1549, his Brother the Protector with his own hand signing the warrant for his death. The one being thus removed, there was now less difficulty to supplant the other: in the same month of Febr. in which his brother lost his head, 
The Protector questioned.  was the Protector committed to the Tower by the Lords of the Council, many Articles especially touching the government of the State were commenced against him, but the year after, upon his submission to the Lords, and intercession made for him by the King, 
The Protector quit of treason.  he was released, this proved but a Lightning before death; his great and potent Adversaries still prosecute their malice against him, insomuch that not long after, calling him to a second account, when he had acquit himself of all such Articles of Treason as could be inferred against him, 
The Protector found guilty of Felony, & beheaded.  he was in a trial at Guildhall convicted of Felony, and on the 22. of january was beheaded on the Tower-Hill.  
These two next Kinsmen to the King, the props and stays on which the safety of his minority leaned, the hinges on which the whole State turned, being thus cut off, it was a common fear and general presage through the whole Kingdom that the two Uncles being dead, the Nephew would not survive long after, and so accordingly it happened; for now all such Gentlemen and Officers as the Protector had preferred for the King's attendance, were suddenly removed, and all such as were the Favourites of the two Dukes, only suffered to come near his person.  
In the Interim was the Match concluded betwixt the Lord Guildford Dudley, 
A Match betwixt Northumberlands Son and Suffo●k● Daughter.  Son to the Duke of Northumberland & the Lady jane Grace daughter to the Duke of Suffolk: 
The King dyet●.  Not long after the King fell sick and died the 6. of july in the 7th year of his Princely government, and o● the tenth of the same month was proclaimed Queen the Lady jane; 
La. jane proclaimed Qu.  It is to this day a question both how he died and where he was buried, yet others say he lies buried at Westminster, he was a Prince of that hope, that it would seem improper thus to leave his honour in the dust uncharacterized.  
He was studious for the propagation of the Gospel, the refining and establishing of true Religion, the foundation whereof his Father had projected; Images he caused to be demolished and as Idolatrous, to be taken out of all Churches within his Domininions; the learned men of his time he encouraged and commanded them to open and expound the Scriptures, caused the Lords Supper to be administered in both kinds vn●o his people: In the third year of his Reign, by Parliamental Decree he abolished the Mass, commanded the Liturgy to be made, and our Common prayer and Service to be read in the English tongue: he was acute in wit, 
A true Character of K. Edward the 6.  grave in censure, mature in judgement, all which concurring in such tender years, were beyond admiration; In the liberal Arts so frequent, that he appeared rather innate and borne with them, then either acquired by teaching or study; All the Port-Townes and Havens in England, Scotland and France he had ad● unguem, not the least punctilio of any State affairs passed beyond his observation, nor did he commit such observations to memory, but had a chest every year for the reservation of such Acts as past the council board, himself keeping the key; he would appoint certain hours to sit with the Master of Requests, only to dispatch the cause of the Poor, he was the Inchoation and Instauration of a glorious Church and Commonweal; he was perfect in the Latin, Greek, Italian, French and Spanish tongues, and (as Cardanus reports) was well seen in Logic, and the Principles of natural Philosophy, no stranger to Music singing at first sight; in Melancthon's common-places he was c●●uersant, and all Cicero's works, with a great part of Titus Livius; two of Isocrates Orations he translated out of the Original into Latin; he was facetious and witty, as may appear in the fourth year of his reign, & thirteenth of his age, being at Greenwich on S. George's day, coming from the Sermon with all the Nobility in State correspondent for: the day, said, My Lords, I pray you what Saint is S. George, that w●e so much honour him here this day? The Lord Treasurer made answer, 
He that shal●but peruse the History of S George now written by M. Heylin, may soon go beyond the L. Treasurer's answer to the King.  If it please your Majesty, I did never in any History read of S. George, but only in Legenda aurea, where it is thus set down, that S. George out with his sword & ran the Dragon through with his spear; The King having something vented himself with laughing, replied, I pray you my Lord, and what did he with his sword the while? That I cannot tell your Majesty, said he. To conclude, he was so well qualified, that he was not only the forwardest Prince of all his Ancestors, but the sole Phoenix of his time. Dic mihi musa virum, show me such another. As he began and continued hopefully, so he ended Religiously, being fallen sick of a Pleurisy, some say consumption of the lungs, hau●ng made his peace with God and the world, he lifted up his eyes and hands to heaven, prayed to himself, thinking none to have heard him, after this manner.  
Lord deliver me out of this miserable life, 
The King's Prayer at his death.  and take me among thy chosen: howbeit, not my will, but thy will be done: Lord, I commit my Spirit to thee. O Lord, thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee: yet for thy chosen's sake send me life and health, that I may truly serve thee. Oh my Lord God, bless thy people, and save thine inheritance; Oh Lord God save thy chosen people of England, defend this Land from Papistry, and maintain thy true Religion, that I and thy People may praise thy holy name, for thy Son jesus Christ's sake: to which he added; Oh, I faint, have mercy on me O Lord, and receive my Spirit. With which ejaculation his life ended, not without suspicion of poison delivered him in a Nosegay: but the devilish Treason not being enquired after, never came to light.  
The Lady Mary being at the time of the King's death at Hunsdon in Hertfordshire, 
L. Marry vexed at the Proclamation of Q. jane.  was much perplexed with the news of the Proclamation of the Lady jane, as Queen of England; but more especially understanding that it was done by the consent of the whole Nobility; hereupon the Suffolk men assemble themselves about her, 
Suffolk men aid the Lady Mary.  not liking such shuffling in State, proffered their free and voluntary service towards the attaining of her lawful inheritance: this being bruited at Court, the great Duke of Northumberland having a large Commission granted, 
Northumberland opposeth the L. Mary.  and sig●ed with the great Seal of England, by the virtue thereof raised an Army with purpose to suppress and surprise the Lady Mary: the design was no sooner advanced and on foot, but the Lords in general, repenting them of so great an injury done to the King's Sister, and the immediate Inheritrix, sent a Countermand after him, the Nobility forsook him, the Commons abandoned him, so that being come to Cambridge, he with his Sons and some few servants were left alone, where notwithstanding he and his associates proclaimed the Lady Mary Queen of England in the Marketplace, yet for all this he was arrested of high treason in the King's College; 
Lady Marry proclaimed Queen.  from thence brought to the Tower, and on a Scaffold on the Hill the 12. day of August lost his head; This was the end of the great Duke of Northumberland: Now those, two great opposing Dukes, Somerset and Northumb▪ whose unlimited Ambitions England & the government thereof could not satiate, one piece of ground contains them: They lie quietly together in one small bed of earth before the Altar in St. Peter's Church in the Tower, betwixt two Queens, wives of K. Henry the 8th. Queen Anne and Queen Katherine, all four beheaded. All their greatness and magnificence is covered over with these two narrow words, Hic iacet. Northumberland o●erthrew Somerset and ●aised himself upon his Ruins, Marry who was friend to neither, but indifferent to both, easily dispensed with the cut●ing off Northumberland, thinking herself to stand more firm by his fall and ruin.  
The Lady Elizabeth residing at her Manor in ●he Country, 
L. Elizabeth lamenteth her Brother's death.  much lamented the death of her Brother, being strangely perplexed in her mind as not knowing by any probable conjecture what these strange passages of State might come to: but considering that amongst these tempestuous storms, her Sister Mary's and her own were now at an Adventure in one bottom, she resolutely first aided her Sister with 500 men, herself the foremost, Prima ibi ante omnes, than the storm being over, she attended her Majesty in her Barge to the Tower, 
The L. Eliz. in policy graced by the Queen.  where was released the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Courtney, and Dr. Gardiner; soon after diverse Bishops suspended in the days of her Brother Edward, 
Protestant Bishops put off, Popish restored.  were restored: viz. Dr. Gardiner to Winchester, and john Poynet put out, Dr. Bonner to London, and Nicholas Ridley confined ', ●ohn Day to Chichester, ●nd john Scory excluded, Dr. Tonstall to Duresme, Dr. Heath to Worcester, ●ohn Hooper excluded, ●nd committed to the Fleet, Dr. Vesey to Exe●er; and Couerdale●ashier'd ●ashier'd; The miserable face of a wretched Kingdom began now ●o appear. They that ●●oul● dissemble their Religion, took no great are how things went; ●ut such whose consciences were joined to ●uth, perceiving that ●e Lamps of the Sanctu●y began to shine dim, ●eing those bright Ta●ers pulled out of their ●ckets and extingui●shed, concluded that coals were now kindled which would prove the destruction of many a good Christian, which accordingly happened.  
From the Tower of London the Queen road through the City towards her Palace at West-minster; The Lady Elizabeth to whom all this while she showed a pleasant and gracious outside, rode in a Chariot next after her drawn with six Horses trapped in cloth of silver, the Chariot being covered with the same, wherein sat only to accompany her, the Lady Anne of Cleve.  
The fifth day of October she was crowned at West-minster by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, 
Q Mary crowned.  (Dr. Thomas Cranmer being at that time in the Tower) The Lady Elizabeth was most Princely attended at her Sister's Coronation; five days after began the Parliament, wherein besides the supplantation of the reformed Religion, 
Guildford Dudley and L. jane convicted of treason.  Guildford Dudley and the Lady jane his wife lately proclaimed Queen, were both arraigned and convicted of treason. As for the Lady Ia●e, how unwilling she was to take the imperial dignity upon her, doth appear by this letter following sent to her Father a little before her death.  
FAther, although it hath pleased God to hasten my death by you, by whom my life should rather have been lengthened, yet can I so patiently take it, that I yield God more hearty thanks for shortening my woeful days, than if all the world had been given into my possessions with life lengthened at my own will: And albeit I am very well assured of your impatient dolours, redoubled many ways, both ●●bewa●ling our own woe, ●nd especially (as I am informed) my woeful estate: yet my dear father (if I may without offence rejoice in my own mishaps) herein I may account myself blessed, that washing my hands with the innocence of my fact, my guiltless blood may cry before the Lord, mercy to the innocent: And yet though I must needs acknowledge that being constrained, and (as you know) well enough continually assayed; yet in taking upon me, I seemed to consent, and therein grievously offended the Queen and h●r Laws: yet do I assuredly trust that this my offence towards God is so much the less, in that being in so Royal estate as I was, my enforced honour never mingled with mine innocent heart: And thus good father, I have opened unto you the state wherein I presently stand, my death at hand, althought to you perhaps it may seem woeful, yet to me there is nothing that can be more welcome than from this vale of misery to aspire to that heavenly thr●ne of all joy and pleasure, with Christ my Saviour, in whose steadfast faith (if it may be lawful for the daughter so to write to the father) the Lord that hath hitherto strengthened you, so continue to keep you, that at the last we may meet in heaven with the Father, Son, and holy Ghost. I am  Your obedient Daughter till death. JANE DUDLEY. 
She was no way conscious of those illegal proceedings practised against the Queen by her own and her husband's father; 
The Q. pitieth the Lady jane.  much grief there was for the Lady jane, the Queen herself took the sadness of her estate into consideration, gave her leave to walk in the Queen's Garden, not debarring her of any pleasant prospect belonging to the Tower, and had not her father after first offence remitted, ran headlong into a second, it is generally conceived she would have pardoned her life; his mis-councelled rashness hastened the deaths of these 2 Innocents', Guildford and jane: 
No Protestant thought fit to live.  The Statists of that time, especially such as were addicted to the Romish faction, held it not policy to suffer any that were addicted to the contrary faction to live, especially if they could entrap them, being fallen into any lapse of the law; therefore upon the twelfth of February 1554. being the first day of the week, Guildford Dudley was brought to the Scaffold on the Tower-Hill, where having with great penitence reconciled himself to God, with a settled & and unmoved constancy patiently subjected himself to the stroke of death: The head with the body still bleeding, were both laid together in a Cart; and brought into the Chapel within the Tower, even in the sight of this sad and sorrowful Lady, the object striking more terror, than the sight of that fatal Axe, by which herself was presently to suffer death; being instantly led to the Green within the Tower, where being mounted on a Scaffold with a cheerful and undaunted countenance she spoke as followeth.  
GOod People, 
The La. jane her speech at her death.  I am come hither to dye, and by a Law I am condemned to the same; my offence against the Queen was only in consent to the device of others, which now is deemed treason; yet it was never of my seeking, but by counsel of those, who should seem to have further understanding o● things than I, which knew little of the Law, and much less of titles to the Crown, but touching the procurement thereof by me, or on my behalf, I do wash my hands in Innocency thereof, before God & the face of you all; this day: And therewithal she moved her hands, wherein she had a Book and then proceeded thus, I pray you all good Christian People bear me witness that I die a true Christian Woman, and that I look to be saved by no other means then by the mercy of God in the blood of his only Son jesus Christ; I confess that when I did know the word of God, I neglecIed it, and loved myself & the world, and therefore this plague and punishment is justly and worthily happened upon me for my sins, yet I thank God of his goodness that he hath given me a time and respite to repent, and now good people whilst I am alive, I pray you assist me with your Prayers.  
As soon as she had thus spoken, she humbly kneeled down and rehearsed the one and fiftieth Psalm in English, than she raised herself upon her feet, and delivered her Book to Mr. Bridges, who was then Liefienant of the Tower; beginning to untie her gown to prepare herself for death, the Executioner offered to help her▪ but she turning herself to the two Gentlewomen that then attended her, was by them disrobed both of her gown and other attires▪ Then the Headsman kneeled down to ask her forgiveness, to whom she replied, The Lord for give thee, and I do, and I entreat thee to dispatch me as soon as thou canst; then kneeling again, she locked suddenly back and said, will you take it before I lie down? he answered, No, Madam; then she tied her handkerchief before her eyes, and being blindfold, she felt about for the Block, and said twice, Where is it? then laying her neck upon it, she stretched forth her body, and said, Lord jesus into thy hands I commend my spirit, 
Lady janes' death.  the Axe met with the last word, and she expired. Never was a Ladies fall more deplored, and herein it was remarkable: judge Morgan, 
A memorable note of judge Morgan.  who gave the sentence of her death presently fell mad, and in all his distracted fits cried out continually, take away the Lady jane, take away the Lady jane from me, and in that extreme distemperature of passion, ended his life Some report that the Lady jane was young with Child at the time of her departure, 
Lady jane thought to be with child at her death.  but though her Romish opposites were many, and the times bloody, Christian Charity may persuade us that they would not use such inhumanity against so great a person: She was indeed a Royal Lady, 
A true Character of the L. jane.  endued with more virtues, then are frequently found in her Sex; in Religion and Piety praecellent, her devout Prayer to God, & Oration to the People, demonstrated no less at the time of her Execution, she was but 16. years of age, of enforced honours so unambitious, that she never attired herself in Regal Ornaments, but constrainedly and with tears; whilst she was Prisoner in the Tower these subsequent verses were found written on the wall with a Pin.  
Non aliena putes, homines quae obtingere possint,  
Sors hodierna mihi, cras erit illa tibi.  
Think nothing strange that doth on man incline,  
This day my lot is drawn, Tomorrow thine.  
And thus.  

Deo iwante, nil nocet livor malus.  
Et non iwante, nil iwat labor gravis,  
Post ten●bras spero lucem.   

God on our side, vain is all strifes intention,  
And God opposed, bootless is all prevention.  
After night, my hope is light.   
There be extant of her works in the English tongue, a learned Epistle to M. Harding, Chaplain to the Duke of Suffolk her Father, formerly a stout Champion in K. Edward's days, but now a Renegado from the Faith.  
A Colloquy with one Fecknam a Priest, 
The L. janes' Works.  two nights before her death, about Faith and the Sacraments.  
An Epistle to her Sister written in the end of the New Testament in Greek, sent the night before she died.  
As for the Duke of Suffolk her Father, I can parallel his betraying to none so properly as to the Duke of Buckingham in the Reign of Richard the Third; as the one had a Banister, 
Suffolk betrayed by his Servant.  the other had an Underwood, a man raised by him only to a competent estate, unto whose trust and guard he committed his Person, was by him conveyed into a hollow tree, morning and evening relieved with sustenance by him, every time of his appearance renewed his confidence unto him, and engaged himself with millions of oaths for the performance of his truth and fidelity, yet easily corrupted with some small quantity of gold, and many large promises, judas-like betrayed his Master, discovered him, and delivered him up to the Earl of Huntingdon, under whose conduct he was with a strong guard conveyed through London, to the Tower, arraigned and convicted of Treason in the great Hall at Westminster, and upon the 12. of the month of Feb. wherein the Daughter expired, was the Father beheaded on the Tower-Hill, 
The Duke of Suffolk beheaded.  Tower-Hill,  
Northumberland and ●is Son Guildford, Suffolk with his Daughter ●ane being thus cut off, ●aries nunc proximus ardet, 〈◊〉 was generally feared ●hat the Lady Elizabeth's●rne ●rne would be next: ●he Queen was no sooner Crowned, but she slighted her, and removed her into the Country; 
The beginning of Qu. Elizabeth's Troubles.  the good Lady was in the mean time much troubled to see how Bethel lay in the dust unregarded, and Babel only exalted, true Religion dejected, and Superstition advanced, but more especially understanding, that herself 〈…〉 the sword was turned into their own bosoms▪ she passed the storm and at last arrived safely to the joy of all true hearted Christians.  
This Birth of Ours, is but an entrance into this Life, where in the sight of Heaven we must endure for a trial of our valour, the furious shocks of many fierce encounters; he that sojourns in the Camp of this life, must not hope for Holidays, his travalie can have no rest, his labour can have no end; no Country but can yield a Pharaoh to destroy him, no Clime but can afford a Herod to pursue him; The allusion needs no further illustration; The Troubles of the Lady Elizabeth will make a perfect Comment; She swam to the Crown through a Sea of Sorrow, and having obtained it, how dangerously was her life insidiated by Popish Assassins? there wanted not a jesuitical Mariana to persuade treason, nor a bloody Raviliacke to perform it: then the Pope menaced her with his Bulls abroad; now the Bishop of Winchester the Pope's Agent endeavours to supplant he● with Warrants at home now she lives captivated to an incensed Sister's indignation, hurried from one place to another from post to pillar. Quocunque aspicio nihil ●nisi pontus & a●r. The Sea of her Sorrow is so broad and spacious, I can see no shore, descry no land at all.  
She was greatly stomached by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, 
Gardiner a bitter enemy to the L. Eliza●eth.  and other Romists as well of the Laity as the Clergy, who studied by all means possible, not only to supplant her from the Queen's love, but to deprive her of her life, the first being the way to the second; for the better effecting whereof with the more speed and safety, Fortune seemed thus to smile upon their enterprise (Sir Thomas Wiat's insurrection & suppression both happening within some few weeks, but being over, and many having suffered for the same) others were likewise had in suspicion by the Clergy, especially those whom they termed of the new Religion, here the train is laid ●or the Lady, the net is spread, they think now all sure, but the Phoenix they aimed at, was delivered from the hands of the fowler.  
This which at the first was in the Queen but mere suspicion, by Bishop Gardiner's aggravation grew after into her high indignation, insomuch that a strict Commission was sent down to Ashridge, 
The Lady Elizabeth sent for out of the Country.  where she than sojourned to have her with all speed remove from thence, and brought up to London, there to answer all such criminal Articles as could be objected against her.  
The Charge was committed to Sir john Wil●iams Lord of Tame, 
Lo. of Tame, Sir Edward Hastings, Sir Thomas Cornewallis sent for the La. Eliza●eth.  Edward Hastings, and Sir Thomas Cornewallis, all ●hree Co●nce●lors of ●ate, and for the better accomplishment of the service, a guard of two undred and fifty horse ●●en were attendant on ●em.  
The Princess was at the same time dangerously sick and even almost to death, 
L. Eliz. very sick.  the day was quite spent, and the evening come on, news being brought unto her by her servants (much affrighted) that so grea● a strength had begirt he● house, and in such a time when her innocence could not so much as dream of any thing dangerous that might be suggeste● against her, it bred in he howsoever no small a mazement; but ere she could well recollect he self, a great rapping wa● heard at the Gate; she sending to demand th● cause thereof, in stead● returning an answer, th● Lords stepped into the House, without demanding so much as leave of the Porter, and coming into the hall where ●hey met Mistress Ashley a Gentlewoman that attended her, they willed ●her to inform her Lady ●hat they had a message 〈◊〉 deliver her from the Queen: the Gentlewoman went up & told her ●hat they had said, who ●ent them word back by ●er again, that it being then an unseasonable ●ime of the night, she in ●er bed and dangerously ●●cke, to entreat them, 〈◊〉 not in courtesy, yet ●or modesty's sake to de●●r the delivery of their Message till morning, but they without further reply, as she was returning to the Princess' Chamber, followed her up the stairs, 
Uncivil intrusion.  and pressed in after her, presenting themselves at her bedside, at which sight she was suddenly moved, & told them that she was not well pleased with their uncivil intrusion; they by her low and fain● speech, perceiving he● debility and weakness of body, desired her gra●●ces pardon (The Lord o● Tame speaking in excu●● of all the rest) and tol● her they were sorry 〈◊〉 find such infirmity vpo● her, especially, since was the Queen's express pleasure that the seventh of that present month she must appear before her Majesty at her Court near Westminster; to whom she answered, that the Queen had not a Subject in the whole Kingdom more ready or willing to tender their service and loyalty to her Highness, 
La. Elizabeth's loyalty.  than herself; yet ho●ed with all, in regard of her present disability, they who were eye witnesses of her weak estate, might in their own charity & goodness dispense wit● their extremity of haste, but the haste was such and the extremity so great, that their Commission was to bring her either alive or dead. A sore Commission it is, said she, hereupon they consulted with her Physicians, charging them on their allegiance to resolve them, whether she might be removed thence without imminent peril o● her life; upon conference together they returned answer, that she might undergo that journey without death, th● not without great danger, her infirmity being hazardfull, but not mortal: their opinions thus delivered, they told her Grace that she must of necessity prepare her self for the morrow's journey, and withal, that the Queen, out of her great favour and care, had sent her own Litt●r; at which words she raised herself upon her pillow, thanking the Queen for such grace & favour extended towards her, telling them that she would contend with death to tender her life before her Majesty, and with that small strength she had, be ready for them in the morning, entreating them to take such slender provision as her house a● such time could afford, & afterwards to repose themselves in such Lodgings as were provided for them, and so gave them the good-night; they took their leave with great respect, and reverence to her person, and after they had set a strong watch upon the House, first, went to supper, and after that to ●ed.  
Early the next morning, by the Rising of the Sun, she was mounted into her Litter, and set onwards towards London, 
L. Eliz●beth removeth towards London.  the people as they passed the way, wondering at so great a guard, especially set upon one they 〈◊〉 dear affected, fearing the more, the less they knew, and because they saw her conducted as a Prisoner, 
The People's love to the L. Elizabeth.  generally commiserated her case; some smothering their griefs in silence, and shaking the head, some expressing it in tears, others in loud acclamations, that the Lord God Almighty would safeguard and protect her from all her enemies, in this manner she passed onward on her way to Red-burne, where she was guarded that night, her sickness and infirmity had been guard enough, being able to ride but 3. miles the next day, tarrying that night in Sr. Ralph Rowlets house at St. Alban's; from thence she passed to South-Mymms, resting her weary body at Mr. Dods house there, and so the next day to Hie●gate, where being very weak in body and much dejected in mind, she stayed that night, and the next day following; thus was she brought to the Court, 
L. Elizabeth kept close at Court.  and for full fourteen days after remained in a private Chamber altogether solitary and comfortless, not so much as suffered to see, much less to speak with any friend, only the L. Chamberlain, and Sr. john Gage who atended at the door of her Lodging; she had no comforter but her innocence, no companion but her Book; she was armed with Patience to undergo the heat of the day, to endure all opposition.  
— Quo fata trahunt, retrahuntque sequemur,  
Quicquid erit, superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est.  
None can be brought to so wretched a Condition, but they may have hope of better fortune; she knew that the clouds being over; the day would become clear, the Sun but once appearing, those thick mists would be soon expelled, thus she remained a sorrowful and dejected Prisoner in the hands of spleenful and potent adversaries, brought into so strait an exigent, either to forsake her faith, or else to fall under the merciless cruelty of such as sought her innocent life.  
Upon the Friday before Palme-Sunday the Bish. of Winchester with nine more of the Council 
La. Elizabeth brought before the Counceil.  convented her; being come before them and offering to kneel, the Earl of Sussex would by no means suffer her, but commanded a Chair to be brought in for her to fit on: Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, and then Lord Chancellor, taking upon him to be the mouth of the rest, began very sharply to reprove her▪ (as if she had been already convicted) for having a hand in Wiat's Rebellion, to whom she mildly answered 
La. Elizabeth answereth all objections.  with a modest protestation, that she never had the least knowledge of his practice and proceedings; for proof whereof, said she, when Wyatt at his death was by some malicious enemies of mine demanded whether I was any way knowing, or accessary to his insurrection, even at the parting of life and body, having prepared his soul for heaven, when no dissimulation can be so much as suspected, even than he pronounced me guiltless; besides the like question being demanded of Nicholas Throckmorton and james Crofts at their Arraignment, I was likewise cleared by them, and being acquitted of all others (my Lords) would you have me to accuse myself, after this she was questioned about a stirring in the West, raised by Sr. Peter Carew, but answered to every particular so distinctly, that they could not take hold of the least circumstance, whereby they might any way strengthen their accusation; which Gardiner perceiving, told her that it would be her safest course to submit herself to the Queen, and to crave pardon of her gracious Majesty: whereunto she answered, that submission confessed a crime and pardon belonged to a delinquent, either of which being proved by her, she would then and not till then make use of his Grace's council; Gardiner told her she should hear more anon, retiring with the re●t of the Lords to know the Queen's further pleasure; they being gone, she left alone, 
The La. Eliz. left alone at the Councel-board.  without either servant to attend her, or friend to cheer her, began to think with herself, that beauty was but a flower soon faded, health a blessing soon altered, favour a Sunshine often clouded, riches and glory no better than broken pillars, but innocency and truth unmoved Columns; In the midst of these conceptions Gardiner and the rest entered the Chamber & told her that it was her Majesty's pleasure she must instantly be conveyed to the Tower, 
La. Elizabeth commanded to the Tower.  that her household was dissolved, and all her servants discharged, except her Gentleman. Usher, three Gentlewomen, and two Grooms, and that for her guard two hundred Northern white Coats were appointed that night to watch about her lodging, and early in the morning to see her safely delivered into the custody of the Lieutenant of the Tower, 
La. Elizabeth afraid of the Tower.  the very name of Tower, struck a deep horror into her, insomuch that the cheerful blood forsaking her fresh cheeks, left nothing but ashy paleness in her visage, she spoke these words. 
La. Eliazbeth her Speech to the Council.  Allasse, my Lords, how comes it that I have so incensed my Sister, and Sovereign? if it be held to be either Criminal or Capital to be Daughter to King Henry, Sister to King Edward of Sacred memory, or to be the next in blood to the Queen, I may then perhaps incur as well the severity of censure, as the rigour of Sentence; but otherwise, I here protest, before heaven and you, I never either in act or thought have as yet trespassed against her Majesty, whose pleasure if it be so, that I must be confined, and my liberty restrained, my humble suit is unto you, to be Petitioners on my behalf unto her Majesty, that I may be sent unto some other place less notorious, that being a Prison for Traitors and Malefactors in the highest degree. The Earl of Sussex presently replied, 
The Earl of Sussex a fast fri●nd to the L. Eliz.  that her request was both just & reasonable, desiring the rest of the Lords to join with him on her behalf, whereupon the Bishop of Winchester cut him off, and told him that it was the Queen's absolute command, and her pleasure was unalterable, when after a little pause; well said she, Flebile principium melior fortuna sequatur.  
Injury is but the trial of our patience, troubles are only instructions to teach us wisdom, by the one falsehood from faith may be perceived, by the other true friends from Traitors may be easily discerned. Guttacavat lapidem— hard things may be mollified, crooked things straightened, a Rock will in time relent, and Troy, though it stands out long, it yield at last, whilst there is a Sun to set, I will not despair of a good issue, Non omni●m dierum Sol occidit▪ shall be still my Com●orter▪ ●nd with ●hese words they all left her.  
That night being spent in pious devotion, the next day following two Lords brought word that she must instantly to the Tower, & that the Barge was ready at the stairs to convey her thither; for saith one of them, (whose name I purposely omit) The tide will ●●ry for no body, 
La. Elizabeth commanded to the Tower.  upon which she humbly besought them that she might only have the freedom of one tide more, and that they would solicit the Queen ●or so small a favour, whereunto he very churlishly replied, that it was a thing by no possible means to be granted▪ then she desire● that she might write unto the Queen, which he would not admit: but the Earl of Sussex, bein● the other that was sent from the Queen, kneeled unto her, 
Earl of Sussex continues a fast friend to the L. Eliz.  kissed her hand, and said, that upon his own peril she should not only have the liberty to write, but as he was a true man unto God & his Prince, he would deliver her Letter to the Queens own hands, and bring an Answer of the same, whatsoever came thereof.  
Whilst she was writing, 
La. Elizabeth writeth to the Queen.  (for a small piece of paper could not make sufficient report of her Sorrows, being so great in quantity, so extraordinary in quality) the tide was spent, than they whispered together to take advantage of the next, but that course was held to be inconvenient, in regard that it fell out just about midnight, the difficulty alleged, was lest that being in the dark, she might perhaps be rescued, therefore the next day being Palme-Sunday, they repaired unto her Lodging again, and desired her to prepare herself, for that was the latest hour of her liberty; & she must to the Barge presently, whereunto she answered, The Lords will be done, since it is her Highness' pleasure, I am therewith very well contented; passing through the Garden and the guard to take water, she looked back to every window, and seeing none whose looks might seem to compassionate her afflictions, 
La. Elizabeth's speech at her departure out of the Court.  said thus, I wonder whither the Nobility intends to lead me, being a Princess, and of the Royal blood of England: Alas, why being an harmless innocent woman, am I thus hurried to captivity? the Lord of Heaven knows whither, for I myself do not. Great haste was made to see her safe in the Barge, and much care to have her pass by London unseen, which was the occasion that both she and they were engaged to remarkable danger, the Tide being young, 
La. Elizabeth's danger in shooting London-Bridge.  the Bargemen feared to shoot the Bridge but being forced to it against their wills, the stern struck against one of the Arches, and wanting water, grated against the Channel, with great hazard to be overwhelmed; but God in his mercy preserved her to a fairer fortune. 
L. Eliz. landed at the Traitor's stairs.  She was landed at the Tower-stayres, the same intended for Traitors; loath she was to have gone ashore there, laying open her innocent and loyal behaviour both towards the Queen and present State: but being cut short by the churlish reply of one who was her convoy; she went ashore, and stepped short into the water, uttering these words. 
La Elizabeth●●peec● ●peec● at her and 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Tower.  I speak it before thee, O God; having no friend but thee in whom to put my confidence, here landeth as true a subject, being Prisoner, as ever landed at these stairs, since julius Caesar laid the first foundation of this structure. Well if it prove so (said one of the Lords) it will be the better for you; as she passed along, the warders then attending, bade God bless her Grace; for which some were rebuked in words, others by a mulct in the purse.  
She was then delivered to the charge of the Constable of the Tower, 
La. Elizabeth delivered up to the Constable of the Tower.  who received her as his Prisoner, and told her, that he would show her to her Lodgings; but she being faint, began to complain: the good Earl of Sussex, seeing her colour began to fail, & she ready to sink under his arms, 
The inhumanity of the Constable towards the L. Elizabeth.  called for a Chair; but the Constable would not suffer it to be brought; ●en she sat down upon a fair stone, at which time there fell a great shower of rain, the Heavens themselves did seem to weep at such inhuman usage; Sussex offered to cast his Cloak about her, 
The Earl of Sussex love to the L. Eliz.  but she by no means would admit it: Then the Lieutenant, 
The Lieutenants courtesy to the La. Eliz.  M. Bridges entreated her to withdraw herself from the violence of the storm into some shelter, to whom she answered, I had better to sit here then in a ●orser place, for God knoweth, not I, whither you intent to lead me. At which words, looking upon he● Gentleman-usher, and seeing his eyes full o● tears, she told him he did not well to discon●o●● late her with his sorrow who had so much grief● of her own, that she● doubted whether she● had strength enough 〈◊〉 support it.  
Being locked and bolted in her Lodgings with some of her servants, 
La. Elizabeth locked up close in the Tower.  she was much daunted and perplexed; but called to her Gentlewoman for her book, desiring God not to suffer her to lay her foundation upon the sands, but upon the Rock, whereby all blasts of blustering weather might not prevail against her, whereunto she added, 
The La. Eliz. speech being locked in her Chamber.  The skill of a Pilot is unknown but in a tempest, the valour of a Captain is unseen but in a battle, and the worth of a Christian is unknown, but in trial and temptation: this earthly Globe, O Lord, is but a Theatre on which thou hast placed us, to get some proof from hence of our sufficiency, death will assail us, the world will entice us, the flesh will seek to betray us, and the Devil ready to devour us; but all this and much more shall never deject my spirits; for thou, O King of Kings, art my Spectator, and thy Son Christ, my Saviour jesus, hath already undergone these trials for my encouragement; I will therefore come boldly to the throne of Grace, there it is, I am sure, that I shall find comfort in this time of need, though an Host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident, Thou Lord art my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? thou Lord art the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? In this Interim the Lords took advice about a more strict watch and ward to be set upon her, 
The Lords take advice about a watch to keep the L. Eliz. safe.  all agreeing that it should be exactly performed; but the good Earl of Sussex was very passionate to hear all this, and said, My Lords, my Lords, let us take heed, and do no more than our Commission will well bear, consider that ●he was the King our Ma●ters Daughter, and therefore let us use such dealing, 〈◊〉 may hereafter prove answerable: the other Lord agreed to his words, saying, it was well spoke of him, and so for that time departed.  
Two days after, Gardiner making use of the Queen's name and authority, 
Mass said & ●ung in the La. Elizabeth's Chamber.  caused Mass to be enforcedly said and sung before her, which seemed to be the greatest trial she had till that time endured, but necessity having no law, she was forced to give way to it, and not unadvisedly; that spirit is prodigious, which rather than shake hands with inconveniency would cast itself into the jaws of danger, she with 〈◊〉 settled countenance swallowed down upon extremity, the bitter potion of indignity, she would rather bow then break; rather strike sail, then perish in the storm; the greatness of her mind gave place to the weakness of her means, because she could not harbour where she would, she anchored where she might with best security.  
Philip of Spain being interressed in this Story as one whom God used for an instrument to preserve the Lady Elizabeth: All those that interposed his coming into the Kingdom being cut off, namely, the Duke of Suffolk, Sir Thomas W●at, with all his confederacy, and the much suspected Lady Elizabeth being under safe custody, in the Tower, I hope it will not be impertinent to impart somewhat of his landing, Marriage and Coronation.  
On the twentieth day of july, 
Phi●▪ of Spain landeth.  Anno 1554. he arrived at Southampton, and was there honourably met and received by the Queen's Counsel, and the greatest part of the Nobility: at his first setting foot on Land, the Gar●er was presented to him, and fastened about his Leg; before he would enter into any house, 
The devotion of K. Phil.  he went first to the Church of Holy-Rood, there to give thanks for his prosperous and successful Voyage: having spent about half an hour in devotion, he mounted on a goodly jennet, richly Caparisoned, sent to him that morning from the Queen, and rod back again to his Lodging, near adjoining to the Water-gate.  
The Monday following, he left Southampton, and being most honourably attended by the Nobility and Gentry of England, he road toward Winchester; but by reason of much rain that fell that day, the journey seemed less pleasant.  
The next day, 
Philip cometh to Winchester.  betwixt six and seven in the Evening, he was there received▪ magnificently, and road to Church before he saw his Lodgings; loud Music sounded at his alighting; The Bishop of that Sea, with four others, met him at the Church-door, with Priests, Singingmen, and Choristers, attired in rich Copes, with three fair Crosses borne before them. At his first entrance into the Church, he kneeled down to pray; which done, he arose and went under a Canopye from the West door up to the Choir, perceiving the Sacrament, he put off his hat to do it reverence, then entered into a goodly traverse hung with rich Arras & there kneeled again, till the Chancellor began Te Deum, and all the Choir seconded, that done, he was brought thence by Torchlight, going on foot to his Lodgings, where the Queens guard attended on him; all the way as he passed along he turned himself to the people on both sides, with a pleasant countenance.  
After Supper certain of the Council brought him to the Queen by a private way, 
Phil. brought into the presence privately.  she received him both graciously and lovingly, they had conference together about half an hour in the Spanish tongue, which ended, he took his leave and was conducted back to his Lodging.  
Upon Tuesday following about three in the afternoon, he came from his Lodging on foot, accompanied by the Lord Steward, the Earls of Derby and Pembroke, with other Lords and Gentlemen▪ as well strangers as English: he was all in black Cloth, he showed himself freely and openly to all men; 
The courteous behaviour of Philip to the people.  at his entrance into the Court, loud Music played; the Queen met him in the great Hall, 
Q. mary's entertainment ●o Philip.  and kissed him in the presence of all the people, and taking him by the right hand, they went up together into the great Chamber of Presence, and talked together about a quarter of an hour, he then took his leave of her Majesty, ●ent to the Cathedral to hear Evensong, from thence was conveyed to his Lodgings with torchlight.  
On St. james, day being the Tutelary Saint of Spain, july 25. the King and Queen came from their Lodgings towards the Church, all on foot, richly attired in gowns of Cloth of gold, set with Stones and jemms, he with his Guard, and she with hers, each of them having a sword borne before them, that of hers by the Earl of Derby, the other of his by the Earl of Pembroke; being come into the Church, he went to one Altar, and she to another, both hanged with Curtains of Cloth of gold, which being after drawn it was thought, that they were there shriven; then they resumed their places, and being met, courteously saluted each other, he being at that time bareheaded. Six Bishops went to the place prepared for the Ceremony; 
The Marriage solemnised between Philip and Q. Mary.  the King was on the left hand, and she on the right. Winchester celebrated the Nuptials first in Latin, then in English, the marriage Ring was a plain hoop Ring of gold without any Stone: the Ceremonies being consummate, they both went hand in hand together, coming to the Altar, they both kneeled a while with each of them a lighted Taper in their hand. After the Mass was ended, the King of Heralds openly in the Church proclaimed their Majesty's King and Queen, with their Styles and Titles, as followeth.  
PHilip and Mary, 
Philip and Q. Marry proclaimed King & Qu. of England, etc.  by the Grace of God, King and Queen of England, France, Naples, jerusalem, and Ireland, De●fendors of the Faith, King and Queen of Spain, Sicilia, Leon, and Arragon, Arch-duke's of Austria, Dukes of Milan, Burgundy, and Brabant, Countees of Hasborough, Flanders and ●irroll: Lords of the Lands of Sardinia, Maiorca, Minorca, of the Firme-land, and the great Ocean Sea, Palatines of Henault, and the holy Empire, Lords of Freezeland and Ireland, Governors of all Asia and Africa.  
The Trumpets ceasing, 
Philip and Q Marry dine together at one Tab●e.  the King and Queen ●ame forth, hand in hand royally attended, and dined together openly in the Hall at one Table.  
On the eighteenth of August they came to Suffolk place in Southwark, there they dined, after dinner road over the Bridge, and so through London to W●st-minster; 
Philip and Q. Mary pass through London in State.  great Triumphs met them by the way, with the presentation of diverse Pageants & Shows, having reference to thei● Persons, and the great joy conce●ued of their Royal Marriage.  
here is one Sister in her Majesty, the other i● misery; the one upon her Throne, the other i● the Tower; every day expecting some newe● or other of her death● it would make a pittiful● and strange Story, to relate what examinations and rackings of poor men there was to find but out that knife which might cut her throat: Gardiner, 
Gardiner examineth the L. Eliz. in the Tower.  with diverse others of the Council came to have a second examination of her, demanding what conference she had with Sr. james Acrofts, being then a Prisoner in the Tower, and brought into her presence on set purpose to confront her, alleging that the speech which they had privately, was about her removal from Abridge to Dunnington Castle At the first she was somewhat amazed, not remembering that she had any such House; but having recollected herself, I do remember, 
La. Elizabeth's answer to the objections of Gardiner.  my honourable Lords, that I have such a House: but me thinks you do me great injury, thus to press, examine, and produce every petty mean Prisoner against me; if they have been Delinquents and don● ill, let them at their own peril answer it, but neither number me nor join me with such malefactors and offenders: as touching my Remove to Dunnington, my officers, and you Sir ja. Crofts being then present, can well testify whether any rash or unbeseeming word did at that time pass my lips, which might not have well become a faithful and loyal Subject; but what is all this to the purpose (my Lords) might I not without offence go to my House at all times when I best pleased? At which words the E. of Arundel kneeling down, 
Ar●●dels kind reply to the L. Eliz.  said, Your Grace saith truth, and for mine own part I am much grieved that you should be thus troubled, about mat●ers of no greater moment; ●ell my good Lords (said ●he) you sift me very narrowly, but you can do no ●ore unto me, than God in ●is divine providence hath appointed, and to him one●● will I direct my prayers 〈◊〉 forgive you all. Sr. james Crofts kneeled unto her, being heartily sorry that ever he should see that day to be a witness against her, taking God to witness that he never knew any thing by her, worthy of the least suspicion; yet notwithstanding there appeared no● the least probability o● any fault, nothing bu● mere suspicions & sug●gestions could be obie●cted; she was still kep● close Prisoner, 
The severity of the Constable of the ●ower to the L. Elizabeth.  the Constable of the Tower the● L. Chamberlain, woul● not suffer her own ser●uants to carry up h● yet, but put it into th●●ands of rude and vn●mannerly Soldiers, which she complaining to her Gentleman-usher to have that abuse better ordered; the Lieutenant not only denied to see it remedied, but threatened him with imprisonment, if he again did but urge such a motion; neither would he suffer her own Cooks to dress her diet, but mingled his own servants with hers; violent he was in the persecution of her innocence, his malice was sharp and keen against her, insomuch that she was ready to sink under the heavy & insupportable burden of his cruelty, but that God who still protected her, raised up an instrument to take off the edge of his so violent oppression. 
Lo. Shandois moveth the Lords of the Council on the behalf of the L. Eliz.  The Lord Shandoys, than one of her Keepers, moved the Lords of the Council on her behalf, and by his only intercession she had the freedom of the Queen's Lodgings, 
La. Elizabeth suffered to have a Casement open in her Chamber.  and liberty to open her Casement to take in the Air, which before that time could by no means be possibly granted.  
In the interim a Warrant came down under Seal for her execution; 
A Warrant for the Lady Elizabeth's death.  Gardiner was the o●nely Daedalus and inventor o● the engine; 
Mr. Bridges made a happy instrument to preserve the L. Elizabeth.  but Master Bridges had the honour of her delivery; for he no sooner received the Warrant, but mistrusting▪ false play, presently made haste to the Queen, she was no sooner informed, but renounced the least knowledge thereof, called Gardiner and others, whom she suspected, before her, blamed them for their inhuman usage of her, and took advice for her better security; and thus was Achitophel's bloody device prevented.  
Soon after on the fifth of May the Constable of the Tower was discharged, and one Sir Henry Benningfield succeeded in his place, a man altogether unknown to her Grace, 
The Constable of the Tower discharged, Sir Henry Benningfield put in trust with the La. Elizabeth.  and therefore the more to be feared. The suddenness of the change did at that time somewhat daunt her; but the same power which removed the one out of his Lieutenantship, at the very same time released her out of her close and strict imprisonment in the Tower, and from thence conveyed her to Woodstock, 
La. Elizabeth removed to Woostock●.  under the conduct and charge of Sr. Henry Benningfield, with whom was joined in Commission Sr. john Williams, the Lord of Tame, and a hundred Northern Blue-coats to attend them; these presenting themselves before her, she instantly apprehended them to be her new guardians; but at the sight of Sir Henry, 
La. Elizabeth afraid of Sir Henry Benningfield.  whom she had never till that time seen; she suddenly started back, and called to one of the Lords, privately demanding of him, whether the Scaffold were yet standing whereon the innocent Lady jane had not long before suffered? he resolved her, that upon his honour it was quite taken down, and tha● no memorial thereof was now remaining: then she beckoned another Nobleman unto her, & asked of him what Sr. Henry was? if he knew him? or if a private murder were committed to his charge, whether he had not the conscience to perform it? answer was made that, he was a man, whom the Queen respected, and the Chancellor much favoured, and that she should without doubt find him a man better qualified than she supposed, both of a stricter Conscience, and more Christianlike condition. It is well (said she) if it prove so. She seemed herein something satisfied, and the rather, because from the mild aspect of the Lord of Tame, she expected some comfort, she perceived compassion in his eye, to defend her from the countenance of the other, which prefigured unto her nothing but oppression.  
The nineteenth of May she removed from the Tower towards Woodstock, being that night appointed to lie at Richmond, whither they were no sooner come, and she entered into her Lodgings; 
〈◊〉. ●liazbeth feareth to be murdered at Richmond.  but the Soldiers▪ were placed about her, and all her servants billeted in by & outhouses, which she perceiving called her Gentleman Usher fearfully unto her, bade him and all the rest of here's to pray for her, for she doubted that night to be there murdered, and that she had no hope to survive that morning; wherewith he being struck to the heart, said, 
La. Elizabeth receives comfort from her Gentleman Vsher.  God forbid that any such wickedness should be intended against your grace, if it were so, that God who hath thus favourably supported you hitherto, will defend you still, he is God omnipotent, God all-sufficient, God that hath relieved, God that can help, God that never will forsake all such as put their trust in him; be of good courage, let not your Grace be dejected, though sorrow be here in the evening, yet joy will be in the morning; she thanked him for his comfortable advice, and added; Be merciful unto me, 
La. Elizabeth's meditations.  O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee, yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast: hereupon he departed with tears in his eyes, leaving her to God, and herself; but could not rest, till he had acquainted the Lord of Tame with all such fears as her Grace had conceived; coming down into the Hall, he found Sr. Henry Benningfield and the Lord of Tame walking together, and having singled out the L. of Tame, told him, that the cause of his coming was to be resolved, whether there were any secret plot intended against her Grace that night or no, and if there were, that he and his fellows might know it, for they should account themselves happy to lose their lives in her rescue: The Lord of Tame nobly replied, 
The noble resolution of the Lord of Tame.  that all such fears were needless, for if any such thing were attempted, he and all his followers would spend their bloods in her defence: so praise be to God they passed that night in safety, though with no little grief of heart.  
The next morning the Country people understanding which way she was to take her journey, 
The Country's love to the L. Eliz. in her passage to Woodstock.  had assembled themselves in diverse places, some praying for her preservation and liberty, others presented her with Nosegays and such expression of their loves as the Country afforded, the inhabitants of neighbour Villages commanded the Bells to be rung, so that what with the loud acclamations of People, and the sound of Bells, the very Air did Echo with the preservation of Elizabeth, which being perceived by Sr. Henry Benning-field, he called them Rebels and Traitors beating them back with his Truncheon; as for the Ringers he made their pates ring noon, before they were released out of the stocks; the Princess entreated him in their behalf, and desired that he would desist from the rigour used to the people. I cannot by any means suffer (saith he) their clamorous outcries, they grate my ears with their babble, besides it is not tolerable, by virtue of my Commission; and at every word he spoke he still had up his Commission, which the Princess taking notice of, told him that he was no better than her Gaoler; 
La. Elizabeth calls Sir Hen: Benningfield her Ga●ler.  the very name of Goaler moved his patience; but but knowing not how to mend himself, he humbly entreated her Grace not to use that name, it being a name of dishonour, a scandal to his Gentry. It is no matter (said she) Sir Henry, me thinks, that name and your nature agree well together; let me not hear of that word Commission, as oft as you but nominate your Commission, so oft will ●cal● you Gaoler.  
As she passed along towards Windsor, diverse of her servants seeing her pass so sadly by the way, being such as had been formerly discharged at the dissolution of her Household, requested her Grace, that she would vouchsafe to resolve them whither she was carried, to whom she sent back an answer in these two narrow words, 
Tanquam ovis, As a sheep to the slaughter.  Tanquam Ouis.  
She lodged that night at the Dean of Windsor's house, & passed the next day to M. Dormers' house; by the way, there was great concourse of People to see her Grace; the next night she came to the Lord of 〈◊〉 his house, 
L. Elizabeth lodgeth at the Lord of Tames house.  where she was most nobly entertained by all the Gentry of the Country, coming to congratulate her safety, to condole her misery, whereat S. Henry Benningfield was highly displeased, and told them, that they could not tell what they did, and were not able to answer the least part of their actions, informing them that she was the Queen's Prisoner, and no otherwise, advising them withal, to take heed what they did, and beware of afterclappes: whereunto the Lord of Tame made answer, that he was well advised of his doings, being joined in Commission as well as he, and that he would warrant both her Grace's mirth and entertainment in his house: Sir Henry being thus opposed, went up into a Chamber, 
The saucy rude behaviour of Sir Hen. Benning.  where was prepared a Chair, two Cushions, and a rich Carpet for her Grace to sit in; but he impatient to see such Princely furniture for her entertainment, rather than he should not be taken notice of, like Softratus that set the Temple of Diana on fire only to get him a name, he presumptuously sat in the Chair, and called one Berwick his man to pull off his Boots; which being known over the house, he was well de●ided for his uncivil behaviour; that night she passed as a welcome guest to the Lord of Tame; but Sir Henry being formerly ●alled what with the Royal entertainment of her Grace, and partly by the jeering speeches lately put upon him; he would not suffer her to sleep under the sole custody of the L. of Tame, being in mistrust of his own shadow, and therefore set a strong watch upon the house.  
The next day they came to Woodstock, where she was no sooner entered, 
L. Eliz. locked and boked up in Woodstock●  but locked and bolted up as formerly in the Tower, here her fears grew greater, and her liberty less, her Lodgings the meanest and coursest about the house, night and day guarded with rude and uncivil Soldiers, besides the Keeper of the house was reputed a notorious Ruffian, 
The Keeper of Woodstock attempted to kill the La. Elizabeth.  of an evil conditioned life, one that waited his opportunity to deprive her of hers, and being encouraged by some great ones then at Court, made diverse attempts, but by the immediate hand of God was still prevented; and for S. Henry Benningfield, he was still the same, omitting not the least occasion to set his Commission on the Tenter-hooks of severity, in this only she espied some small glimpse of comfort, that by the means of a worthy Knight of Oxford-shire, joined in Commission with Sir Henry, 
La. Elizabeth's liberty to walk in the Gardens.  she had at last the liberty of the Gardens to walk in, but S. Henry locked and unlocked the doors himself, not daring to trust any with the keys, whereupon she said unto him; Why; are not you now my Gaoler? I beseech your Grace (said he) do but forbear that word: I am not your Gaoler, but an Officer appointed by her Majesty to keep you safe. God bless her Majesty (said she) and from such officers good Lord deliver me. Being in the Garden, she was always employed in Devotion, 
La. Elizabeth's medita●ious as she walked in the Garden.  taken up with one meditation or other, not the least pile of grass she trod on but afforded instruction, humus aut humirepens, grass or grasshopper she acknowledged herself; then ca●sting her eyes upon those goodly Parks, furnished with tall and stately Oaks, whose erected tops and large-spreading branches over-looked the underwoods and lesser Plants, not so much as admitting any Sunbeam to reflect upon their Boughs, but such faint chequer-spotted light as shined through the sufferance of their leaves▪ nor allowing the Rain of Heaven to fall upon them, only such as from superfluity and abundance dropped from their branches, to these straight and extending trees, she compared the Nobility; to the Arbusculae or smaller Plants, the Commons; but to the Tamarix, the briar and bush, the poorest & meanest of the People; then conferring the estate of the Honourable with the condition of the humble, the tempests that shake the mighty and blow over the mean, as being situate in the less eminent place, that it is the longest Robe which contracts the greatest soil, they that walk on the tops of Pinnacles are only in the danger, whilst those which are upon the ground march more securely.  
Many were the Troubles of this good Lady, her dangers more, she had very near been burned in her bed one night had there not been prevention; she was in medio ignis, in the midst o● a fire kindled, as it is re●ported, on set purpose t● have consumed her; bu● being espied by a wor●thy Knight in Oxfordshire to flame through the boards of her Chamber, 
La. Elizabeth almost burned in her bed.  was presently extinguished; she was in medio ignis, in the midst of that fiery trial; the whole Kingdom was then inflamed with Bonfires of God's Saints, there was Fire in the Centre, Fire all about the Circunference, Fire at home, Fire abroad, Fire in her private Chamber, Fire all over the whole Kingdom; what a dangerous exigent must she needs come to, whose life was thus assaulted?  

Tu quibus ista legas, incertum est lector, ocellis,  
Ipse equidem siccis scribere non potui.   

Reader, with what eye canst thou this peruse,  
Since writing them, I wept, and could not choose.   
God, whose breath is as a flaming fire, blasted all her fiery Adversaries, suspended the violent rage of all this Fire, and snatched her as a brand out of the midst thereof, not so much as a hair of her head being singed: Being thus delivered out of the hands of her enemies, she persevered in the service of God all the days of her life; and for the present having well weighed the danger lately escaped, she said, 
La. Elizabeth thankful to God for her delivery out of the fire.  Quid tibi retribuam Domine? What shall I render unto the Lord for all these blessngs so favourably from time to time bestowed upon me? then retiring into her private Chamber, she thus began to pray.  
O Gracious Lord God, 
La. Elizabeth's prayer in the midst of her sorrow.  I humbly prostrate myself upon the bended knees of my Heart before thee, entreating thee (for thy Son's sake) to be now and ever merciful unto me; I am thy work, the work of thine own hands, even of those hands which were nailed to the Cross for my sins; look upon the wounds of thy hands, and despise not the work of thy hands; thou hast written me down in thy Book of preservation, with thine own hand, Oh read thine own hand writing, and save me, spare me that speak unto thee; pardon me that pray unto thee; the Griefs I endure, enforce me to speak, the calamities I suffer impells me to complain; if my hopes were in this Life only, then were I of all people most miserable; it must needs be so, that there is a●nother Life, for here they live many times the longest lives who are not worthy to ●iue at all: here the Israelites make the Bricks, and the Egyptians dwell in the houses; David is in want, and Nabal abounds; Zion is Bab●lons, Captive; hast thou nothing in store for joseph, but the Stocks? for Esay, but a Saw? will not Elias adorn the Chariot better than the juniper-tree? will not john Baptists head become a Crown as well as a Platter? Surely there is great Retribution for the just, there is fruit for the Righteous; thou hast Palms for their hands Coronets for their heads, white Robes for their Bodies; thou wilt wipe all tears from their eyes, and show them thy goodness in the land of the living. Oh good and desirable is the shadow of thy wings (Lord jesus) there is the safe Sanctuary to fly unto, the comfortable refreshing of all sin and sorrow; whatsoever Cups of affliction this Life propines unto me, is nothing to those bitter draughts thou hast already drunk unto me; help me, O thou my strength, by which I shall be raised, come thou my light, by which I shall be illuminated appear thou glory, to which I shall be exalted, hasten thou life through which I shall be hereafter glorified. Amen, Amen.  
Thus did she both devoutly and religiously make use of all afflictions imposed upon her, she ever laid her Foundation upon that Primum quaerite, which is the chief Cornerstone both of Divinity and Philosophy; but being overwhelmed with an inundation of Sorrow and Fear, she humbly petitioned the Council that they would admit her to write to the Queen, 
La. El●zabeth desireth to write to the Queen  which at first was prohibited, but afterwards most lovingly permitted; Sir Henry Benningfield brought her Pen, Paper and Ink, and would not so much as depart the Room whilst she had Pen to Paper; and ever when she was weary of writing, he carried her Lette●s away and brought them again at his pleasure; but having finished her Letters, he said, that he would carry them to Court: No (said she) one of my own shall carry them, 
S. Henry Benningfield will not suffer any one but himself to convey the La. Elizabeth's Letter to the Qu.  I will trust neither yourself, nor any that belongs to you therein: whereunto he replied, You are a Prisoner to the Queen, I hope there is none of your Servants dares be so bold as to deliver any Letters of yours to her Majesty, you being in that case. Yes (quoth she) I have none that are so dishonest, but will be as willing to do for me in that behalf, as ever they were, That's true (said he) but my Commission is to the contrary, I can by no means suffer it; her Grace replying again, said, You charge me very often with your Commission, I pray God you may hereafer answer the cruel dealing used towards me: then he kneeling down desired her Grace to conside●● that he was but a Servant put only in trust by her Majesty to keep her safe, protesting that if the Case were hers, he would as willingly observe her Grace, as now he did the Queen's Highness: For his answer she returned him thanks, beseeching God that she might never stand in need of such servants as he was; giving him further to understand that his actions towards her were neither good nor answerable; nay such, as the be●t friends he had could never maintain; I doubt not (said he) but to make good account of my Actions; there is no remedy but that I must answer them, and so I will well enough, I'll warrant you: being angered and vexed with her Grace's speeches, 
Sir He●. Benningfield keepeth L. Eliz. Letters four days after they were dated.  he kept the Letters four days after they were dated; but in conclusion, he was fain to send for her Gentleman-usher from the Town of Woodstock, and asked him whether he durst deliver his Mistress Letters to the Queen; Yes (said he) that I dare and will withal my heart; then Sir Henry half against his stomach delivered them unto him.  
Not long after, 
La. Elizabeth sick.  her Grace fell sick, which the Queen no sooner heard of, 
The Cue▪ sendeth two physicians to the La. Elizabeth.  but she sent D. Owen and D. Windy to visit her: being come to Woodstock, they carefully administered unto her, let her blood, and in six days set her on foot again, and so taking their leave of her Grace, 
The Physicians return a good report of the L. Eliz. to the Qu.  returned to Court and made a large report both to the Queen and Council of her humble behaviour and allegiance towards them. The Queen no sooner heard it, but rejoiced at it; her adversaries looked black in the mouth, not knowing how to mend themselves, but only by ininciting the Queen against her, telling her, that they much wondered that she did not submit herself, having offended her Highness.  
In the Interim, 
divers tamper with the L. Elizabeth to have her to submit herself to the Queen.  her Grace was much solicited by diverse pretended friends, to submit herself to the Qu. informing her that it would be well taken, and be very conducible to her benefit and further enlargement; the words were no sooner uttered, but she most resolutely made answer in this manner, 
La. Elizabeth's answer concerning her submission.  I will never submit to any one whom I never offended in all my life; If I am a delinquent, and have offended, Currat Lex, let the Law take course, I crave no mercy at all, the law is just and will not condemn me; my Keeper that locketh me up day and night; doth continually molest me; if I were but as free from the one, as I am from the other, I should think myself most happy, howsoever God in his good time, will either mollify his heart, or move some other to procure my further enlargement.  
The Counsel board, especially the adverse party were no sooner possessed with the constancy of her resolution, but they sent up for Sir Henry Benning field her Keeper; no way was unattempted, 
Sir Hen● Benningfield sent for to the council-board.  which might make for their ends; great Consultation was held about a Marriage for her, 
Consultation what to do with the La. Elizabeth.  the Spaniards thought it most convenient to be with some Stranger, that she might have her Portion and so depart the Land; some thought that not to be the safest course to send her abroad, but one Lord and Gardiner resolved upon a more speedy one, 
One of the Lords and Gardiner's sudden advice.  the one said that the King would never have any quiet Commonwealth in England till her head were struck off from her shoulders: the other, My Lords, we have but all this while been stripping off the leaves, and now and then lopped a branch; but till such time as we strike at the Root of Heresy (meaning the Lady Elizabeth) nothing to purpose can be effected. God forbid, 
The Spaniards love to the L. Eliazbeth.  replied the Spaniards, that our K. and Mr. should once conceive a thought to consent unto such a mischief; and from that day forward they did not let slip the least opportunity to solicit the King on her behalf, informing him that the like honour he could never obtain, as he should have by delivering her out of Prison, which was not long after effected; Sir Henry Benning-field staying long at Court, made her jealous that his business was not greatly for her good, during his residence there one Basset, a Gentleman and great Favonrite to the Bish. of Winchester, came to Blanden-bridge, a mile distant from Woodstock, 
A great danger escaped.  where met him twenty men well appointed and secretly armed in privy Coats. From thence they came to the house, earnestly desiring to speak with the Princess about serious and important affairs; but by Gods great providence, Sir Henry her Keeper had left so strict a charge behind him, 
A great conspiracy against the L. Elizabeth.  that no living Soul might have access unto her upon what occasion soever, till his return, no not though a messenger were dispatched from the Council, or the queen herself, he should not be admitted: by which extraordinary Providence of God, drawing the means of her safety even from the malice of her adversaries, their bloody enterprise was utterly disappointed: these things with other of the like nature being delivered unto her, her doubts and fears daily more and more increasing; it is constantly reported that hearing the Milkmaids morning & evening singing so sweetly, considering their hearts to be so light and hers so heavy; their freedom, her bondage; their delights abroad, her dangers within, she wished even from her soul, 
La. Elizabeth wisheth herself a Milkmaid.  both for safety of her person, and security of her Conscience, that no Royal blood at at all ran in her veins, but that she had been descended from some mean and humble Parentage.  
Queen Mary was bruited to be with Child, 
Queen Mary bruited to be with Child.  great thanksgiving was made, and prayers for that purpose were appointed to be read in Churches; King Philip was chosen by a decree in Parliament, Protector of the Infant, Male or Female, yet notwithstanding he greatly favoured the Lady Elizabeth, 
K. Philip favoureth the La. Elizabeth.  her adversity made him very jealous of the English Nation, apprehending that if they aimed at the life of a Naturalist, being their Queen and Sovereigns Sister, they would then make it a small scruple of Conscience, to assault him and his Followers, being mere Aliens and strangers; he did therefore hasten her enlargement, which haply was granted within few days after; but before her departure from Woodstock, having private notice that one M. Edmond Tremaine and M. Smithweeke were on the Rack, and strictly urged to have accused her innocence, at her remove from thence she wrote these two Verses with her Diamond in a glass window. 
La. Elizabeth's farewell written in the glass window at Woodstock.   
Much suspected by me,  
Nothing proved can be.  Quoth Elizabeth Prisoner. 
Immediately after order came down to bring her up to Court, 
The La. Eliz. commanded up to Court.  whereupon all things were prepared for the journey. Sir Hen: Benningfield with his soldiers, the Lord of Tame and Sir Henry Chamberlain were her guardians on the way; as she came to Ricot the wind was so high, that her servants had much ado to keep her clothes about her, her hood was blown from her head twice or thrice, whereupon she desired to retire herself to a Gentleman's house near adjoining, to dress up her head, which by the vio●lence of the wind was all unready, the request was reasonable and modest, but S. Henry would not by any means permit it, 
Sir Hen Benningfield. cruelty to the L. Eliz.  insomuch as she was fain alight under a hedge, and there to trim herself as well as she could, that night she lay at Ricot, the next day they journeyed to M. Dormers, and the third to Colebrook, lying at the sign of the George, diverse of her Gentlemen came thither to see her: but by the Queen's command were immediately sent out of the town, to both their and her Graces no small heaviness, being not so much as suffered to speak to each other; the next day following her Grace entered Hampton Court on the Backside, the doors being shut upon her, the Soldiers in their ancient posture of watch and ward, she lay there fourteen days before any man had admittance unto her: many were her fears, her cares doubled, but at length a Son of Consolation appeared, the Lord William Howard came unto her, 
The L. Wil Howard comforteth the La. Eliz.  used her very honourably, condoled with her, and raised her dejected Spirits with comfortable speeches, wherein she conceived much joy, and requested his Favourable encouragement, that she might speak with some of the Council, which he most lovingly effected, for not long after came her fast friend the Bishop of Winchester accompanied with the Lords of Arondell and Shrewsbury, 
Gardiner, Arondell, Shrewsbury, Peter present themselves lovingly to the Lady Elizabeth.  and Secretary Peter, who with great humility humbled themselves to her grace, she was not behind in courtesy, but lovingly resaluted them again, and said: My honourable Lords, I am glad with all my heart to see your faces, 
L. Elizabeth. speech to the Lords  for me thinks I have been kept a great while from you, desolately alone; committed to the hands of a strict keeper, my humble Request is to all your Lordships, that you would be the happy instru●ments of my further enlargement: it is not unknown unto you what I have suf●fered now a long time, I beseech you therefore to take me into your loving Consideration; the Bishop of Winchester kneeling down replied thus: 
Gardiner's answer to the L. Elizabeth  Let me request your grace but to submit yourself to the Queen, and then I doubt not but that you shall presently enjoy an happy issue of your desires. No (said she) rather than I will so do, 
L. Elizabeths●●solute ●●solute answer to Gardiner.  I will lie in prison all the days of my life; if ever I have offended her majesty in thought, word, or deed, than not mercy, but the law is that which I desire, if I yield, I should then speak against myself, confess a fault which was never on my part intended, by occasion whereof the K. & Q may then justly conceive an evil opinion of me; no, no, my Ls. it were much better for me to lie in prison for the truth, then to be at liberty suspected by my Prince; she had no sooner uttered the words, but they all departed, promising to declare her mind to the Qu.  
On the next day the B. of Winch. 
Gardiner with other Lords repair to her lodging the next day.  came unto her again, and kneeling on his knees, declared, that the Qu. wondered that she should so stoutly stand out, not confessing to have offended, so that it should seem, the Q. Majesty had wrongfully imprisoned her; no (said she) I ner'ehad any such thought, it may please her Majesty to punish me, as she thinketh good; well (quoth he) her Majesty willed me to tell you, that you must tell another tale before you are set at Liberty; Alas, (said she) I had rather be here in custody with honesty and truth, then abroad at Liberty suspected by my Prince, and this that I have said, I will stand to; for I will never belie myself; why then (said he) your grace hath the advantage of of me and the rest of the Lords, for your long and wrong imprisonment; what advantage I have (said she) God and your own conscience can best tell, and here before him I speak it, for that dealing which I have had amongst you, I seek no remedy, but pray that God may forgive you all: Amen, Amen, 
La Elizabeth locked up seven days in Court before she spoke with the Qu.  (said he) and so departed seven days & nights she continued locked up in her lodgings, not so much as having seen the Queen, though both under one Roof, yet at last after many Letters written, long Suit, and great friends made, she was admitted to the presence of the Queen, whose face in two years and more she had not seen; 
K. Philips●riendship ●riendship to the L. Elizabeth.  King Philip having before mediated for her, and placed himself unknown to the Queen behind the hang of Arras on purpose to hear the discourse, her grace about ten of the clock at night was sent for into the presence; 
L. Elizabeth cometh before the Qu.  the suddenness of the message did somewhat daunt her, especially being at that time of the night, whereupon she entreated those that were about her, to pray for her, and then with the constancy of her former resolution, she went towards the presence, where being entered, finding her Majesty sitting in her Chair of State, after three congees, she humbly fell down upon her knees, praying for the health, long life and preservation of her Majesty, 
L. Elizabeth protesteth loyalty to the Queen,  protesting her truth, and loyalty towards her person, notwithstanding whatsoever had been maliciously suggested to the contrary; 
●he Queen sharply answereth the L. Elizabeth.  whereunto the Q. very sharply answered; Then you will not confess yourself to be a delinquent I see, but stand peremptorily upon your truth and innocence, I pray God they may so fall out; If not (replied the Princess) I neither require favour nor pardon at your Majesty's hands; Well (said the Queen) than you stand so stiffly upon your faith and loyalty, that you suppose yourself to have been wrongfully punished and imprisoned: I cannot (said she) nor must not say so to you, why then belike (said the Queen) you will report it to others; Not so (replied the good Lady) I have borne and must bear the burden myself, and if I may but enjoy your Majesty's good opinion of me, I shall be the better enabled to bear it still, and I pray God that when I shall cease to be one of your Majesty's truest and loyal subjects, that then I may cease to be at all; The Queen only replied in Spanish, Dios lo sabe, that is, God knoweth it, and so turning aside, left her to be conveyed to her former custody.  
King Philip having privately overheard the Conference, was now fully settled in a good opinion of her loyalty; he well perceived the inveterate malice of her Adversaries, and her extraordinary patience in such a trial, did forthwith take order for her deliverance, she in the interim remained very solitary, not knowing what the event wo●ld be, not one word of comfort could she imagine to have proceeded from her Sister, yet, after long expectation in this deluge of sorrows, a dove appeared with an olive branch in her mouth, within seven days after by the intercession of some eminent friends, she was discharged of her keeper Sir Henry Beningfield, yet so that, Sir Thomas Pope one of her Majesty's privy Council and Master Gage her Gentleman usher were made superintendents over her, the change was howsoever most happy, 
L. Elizabeth committed to her loving friends.  she was now in liber a custodia, under the hands of her loving friends with whom she went down into the Country, and there spent the remainder of her Sister's reign.  
The bishop of Winchester and others of his faction looked black in the mouth, 
Gardiner's pur●suit in mischief.  to see all their plots discovered, all their devices frustrate, yet rather than they would give off, they would play at small game; because they could not touch the Lady Elizabeth, they would have a fling at her household, and at those who were nearest unto her person. A warrant was sent down for no less than four of her Gentlewomen at one time (which the Lady no sooner heard of, 
Four Gentlwomen of the L. Elizabeth committed to prison at once.  but said) they will fetch away all in time; but not long after, it so pleased God, that Gar. himself was fetched away to give account for his actions, howsoever his death was the cause why she lived in less fear and more quietness.  
Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester hath had a long and tedious part in the troubles of the Lady Elizabeth, 
Fox. acts and Monuments.  not one Scene of all her Tragical Story but he hath had a share in it, it will not I hope be therefore impertinent to write a line or two of his Exit, wherein I will wade no further than the warrant of sufficient Authority shall direct me: The same day that those two bright shining lamps, Bishop Ridley and Master Latimer were extinguished at Oxford, Gardiner had invited the Duke of Norfolk and others to dinner, but caused the good old Duke to stay for it, till about 3 or 4 a clock in the afternoon, being, as it should seem, not disposed to dine, till he had heard that fire was put to the two good Martyrs: 
A just judgement upon Gardiner.  he would not feed his own body, till theirs were quit consumed, at length came in a servant betwixt 3 and 4 and informed him of the certainty thereof, he no sooner understood it, but came out with great joy to the Duke, and said; Come now lets us go to dinner, the meat was served in, he fell merrily aboard; but before the second mess came in, he fell sick at the table and was immediately removed thence to bed, where he remained full 15. days in such anguish & torments that he could not void, what he had received, either by urine or otherwise, lyin in this extremity, Doctor Day Bishop of Winchester came to visit and comfort him with words of God's promise, and free justification in the blood of Christ jesus; which he no sooner heard, but he answered thus: What my Lord, will you open that gap now, then farewell all together; to me and such other in my case, you may speak it, but open that Casement once to the people, then farewell all together: more he would have spoke, 
Gardiner had inflamed many Martyrs, and hath now his body inflamed.  but his tongue being so swelled with the inflammation of his body he became speechless and soon after died.  
After the death of Gardiner, one or other of the good Lady's Adversaries dropped away, 
divers of the Ladies, Adversary drop away.  insomuch, that by little and little her dangers decreased, fears diminished, and hope of comfort as out of a thick cloud began to appear, she spent the remainder of her Sister's reign in thanksgiving, and praises unto Gods who had thus mercifully preserved her.  
The time of Queen Mari●s reckoning being come, rumours were spread abroad, that she was already delivered of a son, yea and such a one, as it was then suspected, was readily prepared, whereof King Philip being informed, and scorning that by any such Impostory a counterfeit brood should be the heir of all his Kingdoms, would not depart the Chamber all the time of her travel, by which means the Plot took no effect; 
Reports spread abroad that Queen Mary was delivered of a Son, but afterwards proved false.  howsoever the rumour of this young Heir, made the Bells ring merrily in London, & spread itself as far as Antwerp, where it was entertained with great triumphs both on Land and Sea, towards which charge an hundred Pistolets were conferred on the Officers by the Lady Regent; but the news on their side was too good to be true, their joyful acclamations too extreme to continue, their Haleluiahs were instantly turned to Lachrymae, the report proved but poined, and turned the Vane presently into another point; it was after known to all their griefs, that she never had conceived, or ever was likely so to do; some gave out that she was with Child, but miscarried; some, that she had a Timpany; others, that such a thing was rumoured only for policy, but the truth is, King Philip seeing himself frustrate of his expected Issue, and perceiving such shuffling and cutting amongst them, 
K. Philip resolveth for the low-countreis'.  not long after took his leave of the Queen, to visit his Father the Emperor, and take possession of the Low-countrieses; his departure was very grievous unto her, but (as most are of opinion) he did but little affect her.  
King Philip stayed beyond Seas a full year & six months, 
K. Philip's stay, the Papists opportunity.  during his abode there, the Statists of that time lost not the least opportunity to extinguish, if it might be possible, that Cause of God, that heretical faction, as they termed it, how many dear Saint● of God (during the King's absence in the space of 18. months) mounted up with Elias in a fiery Chariot to Heaven? the fire was then at the hottest, the flames were then at the highest, and the Lady Elizabeth, though peaceably seated in the Country with her loving friends, yet was much daunted with the fearful apprehension of such extremities, she feared the more, because she knew that such as were adverse unto her, would, like the Devil, work upon the weakness of her Sister's frailty; they would leap over the hedge where it is the lowest, and that now the absence of King Philip beyond the seas was the only opportunity for the advancement of their intended designs, but King Philip's return into England, not long after, proved the happy resolution of all her fearful apprehensions, her life was a continual warfare, like a ship in the midst of an Irish Sea, where nothing can be expected but troublesome storms and tempestuous waves, and certainly it will appear, that those peillous occurences she met withal in the four years of her Ante-Regnum during the principality of her Sister, will way down the balance, being poised with those several Treasons which threatened her Majesty, being an absoulte Princess; Then her opposites were aliens, 
L. Elizabeth troubles compared with those of her reign.  now natives; It was thou o my friend, &c: then foreign Kings sought to invade her, now a modern Qu. strives to entrap her; they strangers, this a Sister; she lived then at liberty without their jurisdiction, now a prisoner captivated to an incensed Sister's indignation; she was then attended by her Nobility, and grave Counsellors, she hath now not any to converse with, but keepers and Gaolers; but that God wherein she still trusted, first, let her see her desire upon her Adversaries, then in a good old age gathered her to himself, freed her from the opposition of the one, and the decease of Queen Mary her Sister, set a period to the malice of the other.  
Cardinal Poole with the rest of that surviving faction, 
The malice of Cardinal Poole, Bonner, another's.  seeing things thus retrograde to their desires, perceiving the discontents of the Queen, and that but a few sands were left in the glass of her time, they, Nebuchadnezzar-like, heated the oven of their persecutions seven times hotter than before; 
2●● put to death in Qu. Mari●s reign  for having already burned five Bishops, twenty one Doctors, eight Gentlemen, eighty four Artificers, an hundreth Husbandmen, Servants, and labourers, twenty six wives, twenty Widows, nine Virgins, two boys, two Infants, the one whipped to death, though other sprang out of its Mother's womb being at the stake, and was cruelly cast into fire again; Sixty four persecuted, whereof seven whipped to death, 16. died in prison and were buried in Dunghills, many in Captivity abroad, leaving all they had, only for conscience sake.  Quis talia fando, tempreet a lachrimis? 
Yet did not their fury cease here, 
The bones of Martin Bu●er and Paulus Phagius burnt  they filled the cup up to the brim, perceiving the heat of those fires begin to slake and wanting fuel to increase the flames, they consulted to burn the bones of those which had been long since expired, they digged up the bones of Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius long since buried at Saint mary's in Cambridge, and with great Pontifical State first degraded them, then committed them to the secular power, afterward to the fire; and lest the one University should mock the other, they took up the bones of Peter Martyr's wife formerly interred at Oxford, and buried them in a stinking dunghill; nay, in this fury, the bones of K. Henry the eight, and Edward the sixth, hardly scaped free, now they thought all sure, that the heretical faction (as they termed it) were with these bones utterly extinguished, but whilst they thus solace themselves in the supposed victory of God's Saints, even than did the hand-writing appear upon the wall against them, news came over, that Calais in France, a town of great import, was recovered by the French, having belonged to the Crown of England two hundred & eleven years, and herein the loss of Calais was most memorable; It was first won by Edward the third, being the eleventh King from William the Conqueror, and lost again by Mary, being the eleventh from Edward, in 8 days; 
The cause of Queen Mary's death  The Queen took the loss to heart, the people began to murmur, some imputing the loss unto the neglect of the Clergy, who then sat at the helm of state, others whispered that it was a just judgement of God for the abundance of blood already spilt & broiled in the land; In the interim, those of the faction strive to allay the heat of this distemperature both in Prince and People, by extenuation of the loss, saying, that it was a Town of none such consequence, but rather of greater inconvenience than they were aware of, that it was only a refuge for runagate heretics, and consequently, that no true Roman Catholic ought to deplore, but rather rejoice at the damage.  
At Regina gravi iam dudum saucia cura  
Vulnus alit venis.—  
How soever the Queen being struck to the heart, the wound became uncurable, than they called a Parliament, many large proffers were made for the recovery of Calais wherein the clergy did exceed, yet all this would not do, Calais still stuck in the Qu. stomach, she went up and down mourning and sighing all the day long, which being asked her by some, what was the reason thereof; whether K. Philip's departure were the occasion? No said she, The loss of Calais is written in my heart, and there may be read the occasion of my grief, when after death my body shall be opened; her conceptions at length failing, great dearth in the land reigning, much harm done by thunders on shore, and by fire on her Royal Fleet at Sea, home troubles, foreign losses, K. Philip's unkindness, there with others discontentments brought her to a burning fever, of which ●he died at Saint james near Westminster, on the 17th of February being Thursday, 
On a Thursday died King Henry the eight an● 〈◊〉 the sixth, Q●. Marry etc.  An. 1558. and lies buried in a chapel in Saint Peter Westminster, without any monument or remembrance at all.  
Queen Mary was well inclined of herself, 
〈…〉  had not the blind zeal of her Religion, and authority of the clergy overswayed her, the flames of their consuming fire had not mounted so high as heaven, there to solicit for vengeance, it is observed that her reign was the shortest of all Kings since the conquest (Richard the third only excepted) and that more christian blood 
M●n of blood sha●● not live hal●e their days, Psal, 55.  was spilt in her short time, then had been in case of Religion in any King's reign whatsoever, since K. Lucius, the first establisher of Christianity in England, and God grant the like may never be seen again, Amen.  
The Cloud thus set, that wished Sun appeared in our horizon like a fresh spring after a stormy winter: The Parliament then sitting at Westminst. news was brought that the Queen was deceased; the soddainnesse of the news struck the house into amazement.  
Some looked backward to the dead Queen, 
La. Elizabeth proclaimed Queen of England.  others looked forward to the surviving Princess, but at last they pitched upon the proclamation of the L. Elizabeth, which was accordingly performed the same day, in the 24th year, 2. month and 10 day of her age, at what time she removed from Hatfield, to the Charterhouse, from thence she was royally attended to the Tower of London, and the 24 of the same month passed with great state through the City to Westminster.  
On the four & twentieth of November, Queen Elizab. 
Q. Elizabeth passeth thorough London.  set forward from the Tower, to pass thorough the City to Westminster, but considering that after so long restraint she was now exalted from misery to Majesty, from a Prisoner to a Princess, before she would suffer herself to bemounted in her Chariot, she very devoutly lifted up Her Hands and Eyes to Heaven, v●●ering these words.  
O Lord Almighty and everliving God, 
Q. Elizabeth's p●ayer coming out of the Tower.  I give thee most humble and hearty thanks, that thou hast been so merciful unto me, as to spare me to see this joyful & blessed Day; and I acknowledge that thou hast dealt as graciously and wonderfully with me, as thou didst with thy true and faithful Servant, Daniel thy Prophet, whom thou deliuered'st out of the Lion's Den, from the cruelty of the greedy and raging Lions, even so was I overwhelmed, and by thee delivered; to thee therefore only be thanks and honour and praise for evermore. Amen.  
Having made an end of her thanksgiving to God, she put onwards through the City, where diverse magnificent Pageants presented themselves to her view, the throng of people was extraordinary, their acclamations loud as thunder, many were the expressions of love tendered unto her, and by her as gratefully entertained, as they were lovingly presented. To make a particular relation of the several occurrences in that one days entertainment would require above a day's expression. I will only but point at some more remarkable passages, wherein she showed herself extraordinarily affected to her People.  
She would many times cause her Chariot to stand, that the people might have their full sight of her; amongst the several speeches that were addressed unto her from the Pageants, if at any time any word did reflect upon her, a change of countenance was observed in her; but a settled constancy to hear it out; then her love and courtesy in giving the people thanks: In Cornhill a Pageant presented itself, called the Scate of worthy Government, intimating their dutiful allegiance to her, with the general conceived hopes of her Princely Government; the Speech was no sooner delivered, but she immediately answered.  
I have taken notice of your good meaning toward me, and will endeavour to Answer 
Qu. Elizabeth's answer to the Speaker.  your several expectations.  
Passing forward, another Pageant appeared, representing the eight Beatitudes, every one applied to her in particular by the Speaker: the multitude crying out, Amen, Amen. But being come to the little Conduit in Cheap, she perceived an offer of Love, and demanded what it might signify? one told her Grace that there was placed Time; Time! (said she) and Time I praise my God hath brought me hither; but what is that other with the Book? she was resolved that it was Truth the Daughter of Time, presenting the Bible in English, 
Qu. Elizabeth receiveth th● Bible lovingly.  whereunto she answered; I thank the City for this gift above all the rest; it is a Book which I will often and often read over; then she commanded Sir john Perrot, one of the Knights that held up the Canopy, to go and receive the Bible; but being informed that it was to be let down unto her by a silken string she commanded him to stay; in the Interim a Purse of gold was presented by the Recorder in the behalf of the City, which she received with her own hands, and afterward gave attention to a speech delivered, making reply in the conclusion:  
I thank my Lord Mayor, 
Q. Elizabeth's speech to the City.  his brethren the Aldermen, and all of you, and whereas your request is, that I should continue your good Lady and Queen, 
Q. Elizabeth's grandfathers fathers was a Lord Mayor of London.  be you assured that I will be as good unto you as ever Queen was yet unto her people; no will in me is wanting, neither do I hope can there want any power; As for the privileges and Charters of your City, I will in discharge of my oath and affection, see them safely, and exactly maintained, and persuade yourselves that for the safety and quietness of you all, I will not spare, if need be, to spend my blood in your behalf, God bless you all good people.  
As she went along in Fleetstreet at St. Dunstan's Church, the children of Christ's Hospital, 
Q. Elizabeth pleased with the sight of the Children of Christ's Hospital.  sat there with the governors, she took great delight in the object, and calling to mind that it was her brother's foundation, she expressed herself very thankful for the presentation of such a charitable sight, saying; We are Orphans all, let me enjoy your Prayers, and you shall be sure of my assistance.  
As she went through Temple-bar, the Ordinance and Chambers of the Tower went off, the report whereof gave much content: thus passed She along to Westminster, royally attended with the Nobility of the Kingdom, and was there Crowned, to the joy of all truehearted Christians.  Est et quod Regnat causa fuisse piam. 
FINIS.