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But before hir remoouing awaie from Wood|stocke,Ladie Eliza|beth in dan|ger of fire. we will a little staie to declare in what dan|gers hir life was during this time she there remai|ned. First thorough fire, which began to kindle be|twéene the boords & séeling vnder the chamber where she laie, whether by a sparke of fire, gotten into a cranie, or whether of purpose by some that meant hir no good, the Lord dooth know. Neuerthelesse a worshipfull knight of Oxfordshire, which was there ioined the same time with sir Henrie Benefield in kéeping that ladie (who then tooke vp the boords and quenched the fire) verelie supposed it to be doone of purpose. Furthermore it is thought,Ladie Elizabeth in danger of killing. and also affir|med (if it be true) of one Paule Penie a keeper of Woodstocke, a notorious ruffian and a butcherlie wretch, that he was appointed to kill the said ladie Elizabeth, who both saw, the man being often in hir sight, and also knew thereof.

Another time one of the priuie chamber,Another conspiracie of murther a|gainst ladie Elizabeth. a great man about the queene, and chiefe darling of Stephan Gardiner, named maister Iames Basset came to Blandenbrige a mile from Woodstocke; with twen|tie or thirtie priuie cotes, and sent for sir Henrie Be|nefield to come and speake with him. But as God would, which disposed all things after the purpose of his owne will; so it happened, that a little before the said sir Henrie Benefield was sent for by post to the councell, leauing strict word behind him with his bro|ther, that no man whatsoeuer he were, though com|ming with a bill of the queenes hand, or anie other warrant, should haue accesse to hir before his re|turne againe. By reason whereof it so fell out, that maister Benefields brother comming to him at the bridge, would suffer him in no case approch in, who otherwise (as is supposed) was appointed violentlie to murther the innocent ladie. In the life of Ste|phan Gardiner we declared before, pag. 1787,Ladie Eliza|beth preserued by the lords prouidence from execu|tion in the tower. how that the ladie Elizabeth, being in the tower, a writ came downe subscribed with certeine hands of the councell for hir execution. Which if it were certeine (as it is reported) Winchester (no dout) was deuiser of that mischéefous drift. And doubtlesse the same EEBO page image 1158 Achitophell had broght his impious purpose that day to passe, had not the fatherlie prouidence of almigh|tie God (who is euer stronger than the diuell) stirred vp master Bridges lieutenant at that time of the to|wer, to come in hast to the quéene, to giue certificat therof, & to know further hir consent touching hir si|sters death.Winchesters platforme [...]uerthrowne: wherof read before pa. 1787 Whervpon it folowed, that all that deuise was disappointed, & Winchesters diuelish platforme which he said he had cast, thorough the Lords great goodnes came to no effect. Where moreouer is to be noted, that during the prisonment of this ladie and princesse, one maister Edmund Tremaine was on the racke, and maister Smithwike, and diuerse o|ther in the tower were examined, and diuerse offers made to them to accuse the giltlesse ladie, being in hir captiuitie. Howbeit all that notwithstanding, no matter could be prooued by all examinations, as she the same time lieng at Woodstocke had certeine intelligence, by the meanes of one Iohn Gaier, who vnder a colorable pretense of a letter vnto mistresse Cleue from hir father, was let in, and so gaue them secretlie to vnderstand of all this matter Where|vpon the ladie Elizabeth at hir departing out from Woodstocke, wrote these verses with hir diamond in a glasse window verie legiblie as here followeth:

Much suspected by me,
Nothing prooued can be:U [...]ses writ|ten vp ladie Elisabeth in the glas [...]e window.
Quoth Elizabeth prisoner.

And thus much touching the troubles of ladie E|lisabeth at Woodstocke. Wherevnto this is more to be added, that during the same time, the lord of Tame had labored to the quéene, and became suretie for hir, to haue hir from Woodstocke to his house, and had obteined grant thereof.Ladie Eli|sabeth not suffered to come to the lord of Tames house. Wherevpon preparati|on was made accordinglie, and all things readie in expectation of hir comming. But through the pro|curement either of maister Benefield, or by the dooing of Winchester hir mortall enimie, letters came ouer night to the contrarie: whereby hir iornie was stopped. Thus this woorthie ladie oppressed with continuall sorrow, could not be permitted to haue re|course to anie friends she had; but still in the hands of hir enimies was left desolate, and vtterlie desti|tute of all that might refresh a dolfull hart, fraught full of terror and thraldome. Wherevpon no mar|uell, if she hearing vpon a time out of hir garden at Woodstocke,Ladie Eli|sabeth wish|eth hir selfe to be a milke|maid. a certeine milkmaid singing pleasant|lie, wished hir selfe to be a milkemaid as she was, saieng that hir case was better, and life more meri|er than was hirs in that state as she was.

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