“About that time,” romances Foxe, “it was spread abroad that her Grace should be carried from thence by this new jolly Captain and his soldiers; but whither it could not be learned, which was unto her a great grief, especially for that such a company was appointed to her guard, requesting rather to continue there still, than to be led thence with such a sort of rascals.  At last plain answer was made by the Lord Chandos, that there was no remedy but from thence she must needs depart to the manor of Woodstock.”

He goes on to say that on 19th May she was removed from the Tower, “where Sir Henry Benifield [being appointed her jailor] did receive her with a company of rake-hells to guard her, besides the Lord Derby’s band, wafting in the country about for moonshine in the water.  Unto whom at length came my Lord of Thame, joined in commission with the said Sir Henry for the safeguarding of her to prison, and they together conveyed her Grace to Woodstock, as hereafter followeth.  The first day they conducted her to Richmond, where she continued all night, being restrained of her own men which were laid in out-chambers, and Sir Henry Benifield’s soldiers appointed in their rooms to give attendance on her person.  Whereat she being marvellously dismayed, thinking verily some secret mischief to be a-working towards her, called her gentleman-usher, and desired him with the rest of his company to pray for her.  ‘For this night,’ quoth she, ‘I think to die.’  Wherewith, he being stricken to the heart, said, ’God forbid that any such wickedness should be pretended against your Grace.’  So comforting her as well as he could, at last he burst out into tears, and went from her down into the court, where were talking the Lord Thame and Sir Henry Benifield.”

We may now dismiss Foxe and his egregious insinuations of foul play, together with his monstrous inventions of boorishness on the part of Elizabeth’s custodian.  In spite of his calumnies, it remains perfectly clear that Elizabeth had every reason to be thankful that her “jailor” was faithful to his trust, and that firmness and caution, rather than weak indulgence, characterised all his conduct towards her.  As for his alleged want of courtesy towards her, there is not a shadow of evidence to support it; he frequently knelt to address her, and even in speaking or writing of her, maintained the same deferential mode of expression as that which he used in her presence.

Each incident of the journey from the Tower to Woodstock is detailed in Sir Henry’s report to the Privy Council.  Elizabeth apparently seized every opportunity of making his difficult task yet more difficult; but wayward and imperious as her temper often was, nothing in his demeanour towards her ever approached to disrespect or even impatience.  Even she herself brought no other complaint against her custodian than that of “scrupulousness” in the discharge of his duty, a charge which is in itself a magnificent vindication, for the Elizabeth of history was not one to forgive a man who had failed in the smallest degree to pay her the homage due to her rank.  Moreover, in regard to Sir Henry’s soldiers, no single instance is recorded on either side of misbehaviour or want of decorum on their part.