The next daie two of hir yeomen, who had gone long to schoole before, and were learned, had two abcies prouided and deliuered them, so that vpon the abcies they should helpe the priest. One of the said yeomen, holding the abcie in his hand, pretending ignorance at Kyrie eleison, set the priest, making as though he could answer that no further. It would make a pitifull and a strange storie, here by the waie to touch and recite what examinations and rackings of poore men there were, to find out that knife which should cut hir throte: what gaping among my lords of the cleargie, to see the daie wherein they might wash their goodlie white rochets in hir innocent bloud, but especiallie the bishop of Winchester Ste|phan Gardiner, then lord chancellor, ruler of the rost, who then within fiue daies after came vnto hir, with diuerse others of the councell, and examined hir of the talke that was at Ashridge,The bishop of Winchester [...] to ladie Elisabeth. betwixt hir and sir Iames Acroft, touching hir remouing from thence to Dunnington castle, requiring hir to declare what she meant thereby.

At the first, she being so suddenlie asked, did not well remember anie such house: but within a while, well aduising hir selfe, she said; In déed (quoth she) I doo now remember that I haue such a place,Ladie Elisa|beth examined [...] the bishop [...] Winchester. but I ne|uer laie in it in all my life. And as for anie that hath mooued me therevnto, I doo not remember. Then to inforce the matter, they brought foorth sir Iames A|croft. The bishop of Winchester demanded of hir what she said to that man? She answered, that she had little to saie to him, or to the rest that were then pri|soners in the tower. But my lords (quoth she) you doo examine euerie meane prisoner of me, wherein me thinks you doo me great iniurie. If they haue doone euill and offended the quéenes maiestie, let them an|swer to it accordinglie. I beséech you my lords, ioine not me in this sort with anie of these offendors. And as concerning my going vnto Dunnington castle, I doo remember that maister Hobbie and mine offi|cers and you sir Iames Acroft, had such talke: but what is that to the purpose, my lords, but that I may go to mine owne houses at all times?

The lord of Arundell knéeling downe, said: Your grace saith true,The friendlie [...] of the [...] of Arun| [...]ll to the ladie Elisabeth. & certeinlie we are verie sorie that we haue so troubled you about so vaine matters. She then said: My lords, you doo sift me verie narrowlie, but well I am assured, you shall not doo more to me than God hath appointed, and so God forgiue you all. At their departure, sir Iames Acroft knéeled down, declaring that he was sorie to see the daie in which he should be brought as a witnesse against hir grace. But I assure your grace (said he) I haue beene mar|uellouslie tossed and examined touching your high|nesse,Sir Iames Acroft exami| [...] touching [...] ladie Elisabeth. which the lord knoweth is verie strange to me. For I take God to record before all your honors, I doo not know anie thing of that crime that you haue laid to my charge, and will thervpon take my death, if I should be driuen to so strict a triall.