Among the rest that sought reliefe And for their faith in daunger stood, 20 Lady Elizabeth was chiefe, King Henries daughter of royall blood; Which in the Tower prisoner did lie, Looking each day when she should die. The Dutchesse of Suffolke, seeing this, 25 Whose life likewise the tyrant sought, Who in the hope of heavenly blisse Within God's word her comfort wrought,[L28] For feare of death was faine to flie, And leave her house most secretly. 30 That for the love of Christ alone, Her lands and goods she left behind, Seeking still for that pretious stone, The worde of trueth, so rare to find: She with her nurse, her husband, and child, 35 In poor array their sights beguild. Thus through London they passed along, Each one did passe a severall streete; Thus all unknowne, escaping wrong, At Billings-gate they all did meete: 40 Like people poore, in Gravesend barge, They simply went with all their charge. And all along from Gravesend towne With easie journeyes on foote they went; Unto the sea-coast they came downe, 45 To passe the seas was their intent; And God provided so that day, That they tooke shippe and sayld away. And with a prosperous gale of wind In Flanders safe they did arive; 50 This was to their great ease of minde, Which from their hearts much woe did drive; And so with thanks to God on hie, They tooke their way to Germanie. Thus as they traveld, thus disguisde, 55 Upon the high way sodainely By cruell theeves they were surprisde, Assaulting their small companie; And all their treasure and their store They tooke away, and beate them sore. 60 The nurse in middest of their fight Laid downe the child upon the ground; She ran away out of their sight, And never after that was found: Then did the Dutchesse make great mone 65 With her good husband all alone. The theeves had there their horses kilde, And all their money quite had tooke; The pretty babie, almost spild, Was by their nurse likewise forsooke, 70 And they farre from their friends did stand, All succourlesse in a strange land. The skies likewise began to scowle; It hayld and raind in pittious sort; The way was long and wonderous foule; 75 Then may I now full well report Their griefe and sorrow was not small, When this unhappy chaunce did fall.