“That Elizabeth had conducted herself with great amiability, may be inferred from the grief with which her servants saw her depart. They naturally anticipated, from the severity of the proceedings, the worst that could befall their youthful mistress. And, in so weak a state was the afflicted princess, that she was obliged to rest four nights, in a journey of twenty-four miles. After the residence of a few days at Hampton Court, she was conducted to the Tower privately, by the earl of Sussex and another lord, three of her own ladies, three of the queen’s, and some of her own officers. “Holinshed has preserved some curious and characteristic traits of her conduct, which I shall relate to you, in nearly his own words. “On reaching the place of her destination, she at first refused to land at the traitors’ gate, which, when one of the uncourteous lords heard, he replied, that ‘she should not choose;’ offering her, at the same time, his cloak, to protect her from the rain; ‘which she, putting it back with her hand, with a good dash, refused.’ “Setting her foot upon the stairs, she said: ‘Here landeth as true a subject, being a prisoner, as ever landed at these stairs; and before thee, O God! do I speak it, having none other friends but thee alone.’ To whom the same lord answered again: ‘That, if it were so, it was the better for her.’ “Observing a multitude of servants and warders standing in order to receive her, she said: ‘What needed all this?’ Being informed that it was customary, on receiving a prisoner: ‘If it be,’ said she, ‘for my cause, I beseech you that they may be dismissed.’ Whereupon, the poor men knelt down, and, with one voice, prayed God to preserve her; for which action they all lost their places the next day. “Passing on a little further, she sat down upon a stone, and there rested herself; upon which the lieutenant, expressing his fears upon her account, and begging her to come in from the rain, she replied: ‘Better sitting here, than in a worse place; for God knoweth, I know not whither you will bring me.’ On seeing her gentleman-usher in tears, she reproved him, telling him, he ought rather to be her comforter, and not to dismay her; especially since she knew her truth to be such, that no man should have cause to weep for her. Then rising, she entered into her prison, the doors being locked and bolted upon her. “This last act of severity seems exceedingly to have distressed the princess; but, calling for her book, she devoutly prayed that she ‘might be suffered to build her house upon the rock, whereby the blasts of the blustering weather should have no power upon her.’