The Holinshed Texts (1587, Volume 6, p. 1158)

When she had spoken, Stephan Gardiner the bi|shop of Winchester kneeled downe [...] requested that she would submit hir selfe to the quéenes grace,

Ladie Elisa|beth requested by Winchester to submit hir selfe to the quéenes mer|cie.

Ladie Elisa|beth standeth to be tried by the law.

and in so dooing he had no doubt but that hir maiestie would be good vnto hir. She making answer that ra|ther than she would so doo, she would lie in prison all the daies of hir life, adding that she craued no mer|cie at hir maiesties hand, but rather desired the law, if euer she did offend hir maiestie in thought, word, or déed. And besides this, in yéelding (quoth she) I should speake against my selfe, and confesse my selfe to be an offendor, which neuer was towards hir ma|iestie: by occasion whereof the king and the quéene might euer hereafter conceiue of me an ill opinion: and therefore I saie my lords, it were better for me to lie in prison for the truth, than to be abroad and su|spected of my prince. And so they departed, promising to declare hir message to the quéene.

On the next daie the bishop of Winchester came againe vnto hir grace, and knéeling downe,

Talke againe betweene Winchester & ladie Elisa|beth.

Ladie Elisa|beth denied to confesse anie fault doone to the quéene.

decla|red that the quéene maruelled that she would so stout|lie vse hir selfe, not confessing to haue offended: so that it should séeme the quéenes maiestie wrongful|lie to haue imprisoned hir grace. Naie (quoth the la|die Elisabeth) it pleaseth hir to punish me as she thin|keth good. Well quoth Gardiner, hir maiestie willeth me to tell you, that you must tell an other tale yer that you be set libertie. Hir grace answered, that she had as léefe be in prison with honestie and truth, as to be abroad suspected of hir maiestie: and this that I haue said, I will (said she) stand vnto, for I will ne|uer béelie my selfe. Winchester againe knéeled down and said: Then your grace hath the vantage of me and other the lords for your long and wrong impri|sonment. What vantage I haue (quoth she) you know, taking God to record I seeke no vantage at your hands for your so dealing with me, but God forgiue you and me also. With that the rest kneeled, desiring hir grace that all might be forgotten, and so departed, she being fast locked vp againe. A seauen nights after, the quéene sent for hir grace at ten of the clocke in the night to speake with hir:Ladie Elisa|beth sent for to the quéene. Ladie Elisa|beth brought to the quéenes bedchamber. for she had not séene hir in two yeares before. Yet for all that she was amazed at the sudden sending for, thinking it had béene woorse than afterwards it prooued, and desired hir gentlemen and gentlewomen to praie for hir, for that she could not tell whether euer she should sée them againe or no.

At which time sir Henrie Benefield with mistresse Clarencius comming in, hir grace was brought in|to the garden vnto a staires foot that went into the EEBO page image 1159 queenes lodging, hir graces gentlewomen waiting vpon hir, hir gentleman vsher and hir groomes go|ing before with torches, where hir gentlemen and gentlewomen being commanded to staie all sauing one woman, mistresse Clarencius conducted hir to the queenes bedchamber where hir maiestie was. At the sight of whome hir grace knéeled downe, and de|sired God to preserue hir maiestie, not mistrusting but that she should trie hir selfe as true a subiect to|wards hir maiestie, as euer did anie, and desired hir maiestie euen so to iudge of hir: and said that she should not find hir to the contrarie, whatsoeuer re|port otherwise had gone of hir.Talke be|twéene the quéene and ladie Elisa|beth. To whome the quéene answered: You will not confesse your offense, but stand stoutlie to your truth: I praie God it maie so fall out. If it dooth not, quoth the ladie Elisabeth, I request neither fauour nor pardon at your maiesties hands. Well said the quéene, you stiflie still perseuere in your truth. Belike you will not confesse but that you haue béene wrongfullie punished. I must not saie so (if it please your maiestie) to you.