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.

The next daie after, the lord Shandois came againe vnto hir grace, declaring vnto hir that he had sued vnto the councell for further libertie. Some of them consented therevnto, diuerse other dissented, for that there were so manie prisoners in the tower. But in conclusion they did all agrée, that hir grace might walke into those lodgings, so that he & the lord cham|berleine, and three of the quéenes gentlewomen did accompanie hir, the windowes being shut, and shée not suffered to looke out at anie of them: wherewith she contented hirselfe, and gaue him thanks for his good will in that behalfe. Afterwards there was li|bertie granted to hir grace to walke in a little gar|den,Libertie gran+ted to ladie Elisabeth to walke in a little garden. the doores and gates being shut vp, which not|withstanding was as much discomfort vnto hir, as the walke in the garden was pleasant and accepta|ble. At which times of hir walking there, the priso|ners on that side strictlie were commanded not to speake or looke out at the windows into the garden, till hir grace were gone out againe, hauing in consi|deration thereof, their keepers waiting vpon them for that time. Thus hir grace with this small libertie contented hir selfe in God, to whome be praise there|fore.

During this time, there vsed a little boie, a mans child in the tower to resort vnto their chambers, and manie times to bring hir grace flowers, which like|wise hee did to the other prisoners that were there. Wherevpon naughtie and suspicious heads thinking to make and wring out some matter thereof,Suspicious heads. called on a time the child vnto them, promising him figs and apples, and asked of him when he had béene with the earle of Deuonshire, not ignorant of the childs woon|ted frequenting vnto him? The boy answered that he would go by and by thither. Further they deman|ded of him,A yoong child examined for bringing flowers to the ladie Elisabeth. when he was with the ladie Elisabeths grace? He answered: Euerie daie. Furthermore they examined him, what the lord of Deuonshire sent by him to hir grace? The child said: I will go know what he will giue to carie to hir. Such was the dis|cretion of the child, being yet but foure years of age. This same is a craftie boy, quoth the lord chamber|leine, how saie you my lord Shandois? I praie you my lord (quoth the boy) giue me the figs you promised me. No marie (quoth he) thou shalt be whipped if thou come anie more to the ladie Elisabeth, or the lord Courtneie. The boy answered: I will bring my la|die and mistresse more flowers. Whervpon the childs father was commanded to permit the boy no more to come vp into their chambers.