Now to returne to the matter from whence we haue digressed. After hir grace had bene there a time she made sute to the councell that she might be suffe|red to write to the queene, which at last was permit|ted. So that sir Henrie Benefield brought hir pen, inke, and paper; and standing by hir while she wrote (which he strictlie obserued) alwaies she being wea|rie, he would carie awaie hir letters, and bring them againe when she called for them. In the finishing therof, he would haue béene messenger to the quéene of the same. Whose request hir grace denied, saieng one of hir owne men should carie them, and that she would neither trust him nor none of his therein. Then he answering againe said; None of them durst be so bold (he trowed) to carie hir letters, being in that case. Yes (quoth she) I am assured I haue none so dishonest that would denie my request in that be|halfe, but will be as willing to serue me now as be|fore. Well (said he) my commission is to the con|trarie,The cruell dealing of sir Henrie Bene|field to the ladie Eliza|beth reproo|ued. and I maie not so suffer it. Hir grace repli|eng againe said; You charge me verie often with your commission, I praie God you maie iustlie an|swer the cruell dealing you vse towards me.

Then he knéeling downe, desired hir grace to thinke and consider how he was a seruant, and put in trust there by the quéene to serue hir maiestie, pro|testing that if the case were hirs, he would as wil|linglie serue hir grace, as now he did the quéenes highnesse. For the which his answer hir grace than|ked him, desiring God that she might neuer haue need of such seruants as he was; declaring further to him, that his dooings towards hir were not good nor answerable, but more than all the friends he had would stand by. To whom sir Henrie replied & said; that there was no remedie but his dooings must be answered,The letters of the ladie Elizabeth sent to the quéene. and so they should, trusting to make good account thereof. The cause which mooued hir grace so to saie, was for that he would not permit hir letters to be caried foure or fiue daies after the writing thereof. But in fine he was content to send for hir gentleman from the towne of Woodstocke, demanding of him whether he durst enterprise the ca|riage of hir graces letters to the quéene or no. And he answered; Yea sir, that I dare, and will with all my hart. Wherevpon sir Henrie halfe against his stomach tooke them vnto him.Doctor Owen and doctor Wendie quéen Maries phy|sicians sent to the ladie Elizabeth. Then about the eight of Iune came downe doctor Owen & doctor Wen|die, sent by the quéene to hir grace, for that she was sicklie; who ministring to hir, and letting hir bloud, tarried there and attended on hir grace fiue or six daies. Then she being well amended, they returned againe to the court, making their good report to the quéene and the councell of hir graces behauior and humblenesse towards the quéenes highnesse. Which hir maiestie hearing,The popish prelats repi|ned against the ladie Elizabeth. tooke verie thankfullie: but the bishops thereat repined, looked blacke in the mouth, and told the quéene, they maruelled that she submit|ted not hir selfe to hir maiesties mercie, considering that she had offended hir highnesse.

About this time hir grace was requested by a se|cret friend, to submit hir selfe to the quéenes maie|stie,Ladie Eliza|beth requested to submit hir selfe to the quéene. which would be verie well taken, and to hir great quiet and commoditie. Unto whome she an|swered, that she would neuer submit hir selfe to them whome she neuer offended. For (quoth shée) if I haue offended and am guiltie, I then craue no mercie, but the law, which I am certeine (quoth she) I should haue had yer this, if it could be prooued by me. For I know my selfe (I thanke God) to be out of the danger thereof, wishing that I were as cleare out of the perill of mine enimies, & then I am assured I should not so be locked and bolted vp within wals and doores as I am. God giue them a better mind when it pleaseth him. About this time was there a great consulting among the bishops and gentlemen touching a marriage for hir grace,Counsell of the papists to marrie the ladie Eliza|beth to a Spaniard. which some of the Spaniards wished to be with some stranger, that she might go out of the realme with hir portion; some saieng one thing, and some another.