At this he sware by God, striking himselfe vpon the breast, that if they did either frowne or shrug at him, he would set them where they should neither see sunne nor moone. Thus taking their leaue, they desi|red God to bring him in a better mind towards hir grace, and so departed from him. Upon the occasion whereof, hir graces officers made great sute vnto the quéenes councell, that some might be appointed to bring hir diet to hir, & that it might no more be deli|uered in to the common soldiers of the tower. Which being reasonablie considered, was by them granted. Wherevpon were appointed one of hir gentlemen, hir clearke of hir kitchin, and hir two purueiors to bring in hir prouision once a day; all which was done the warders euer waiting vpon the bringers there|of. The lord chamberleine himselfe being alwaies with them, circumspectlie and narrowlie watched, and searched what they brought: and gaue héed that they should haue no talke with anie of hir graces waiting seruants, and so warded them both in and out. At the said sute of hir officers were sent by the commandement of the councell, to wait vpon hir grace, two yeomen of hir chamber, one of hir robes, two of hir pantrie and ewrie, one of hir buttrie,Ladie Elisa|beths wai|tingmen in the tower. ano|ther of hir cellar, two of hir kitchin, and one of hir larder, all which continued with hir the time of hir trouble.

Here the conestable, being at the first not verie well pleased with the comming in of such a compa|nie against his will, would haue had his men still to haue serued with hir graces men. Which hir seruants at no hand would suffer,Uariance betweene the lord chamber|leine & ladie Elisabeths seruants. desiring his lordship to be contented: for that order was taken, that no stran|ger should come within their offices. At which an|swer being sore displeased, he brake out into these threatning words: Well (said he) I will handle you well inough. Then went he into the kitchin, and there would néeds haue his meat rosted with hir gra|ces meat, & said that his cooke should come thither and dresse it. To that hir graces cooke answered; My lord, I will neuer suffer anie stranger to come about hir diet, but hir owne sworne men, so long as I liue. He said they shuld. But the cooke said, his lordship should pardon him for that matter. Thus did he trouble hir poore seruants verie stoutlie: though afterwards he were otherwise aduised, and they more courteouslie vsed at his hands. And good cause why, for he had good cheare, and fared of the best; and hir grace paied well for it. Wherefore he vsed himselfe afterwards more reuerentlie toward hir grace.

After this sort, hauing lien a whole moneth there in close prison, and being verie euill at ease therwith|all, she sent for the lord chamberleine, and the lord EEBO page image 1155 Shandois, to come and speake with hir. Who com|ming, she requested them that she might haue liber|tie to walke in some place, for that she felt hirselfe not well.Ladie Elisa|beth denied the libertie of the tower. To the which they answered, that they were right sorie that they could not satisfie hir graces re|quest, for that they had commandement to the con|trarie, which they durst not in anie wise breake. Fur|thermore, she desired of them, if that could not bee granted, that she might walke but into the queenes lodging. No nor yet that (they answered) could by anie meanes be obteined without a further sute to the quéene and hir councell. Well (said she) my lords, if the matter be so hard that they must be sued vnto for so small a thing, and that friendship be so strict, God comfort me: and so they departed, she remai|ning in hir old dungeon still, without anie kind of comfort but onelie God.