“Given under our signet at the Castle of Farnham, the 25th day of June, the first year of our reign.”

The gist of this letter was communicated to Elizabeth by Sir Henry in the manner he himself describes:—­

“Yesterday I went to hear Mass in her Grace’s chamber; that being ended, in the time of doing my duty, thinking to have departed from her Grace, she called me, and asked whether I had heard of any answer that was or should be made by the Queen’s Majesty to her late letters.  Upon which occasion, fitly as I took it, I made her Grace answer that I had to declare unto her an answer on the Queen’s Majesty’s behalf, whensoever she should command me.  ‘Let it be even now,’ said her Grace.  ‘If you will,’ I answered, ’because I was fearful to misreport; therefore I have scribbled it as well as I can with mine own hand, and if you will give me leave to fetch it,’ and, being ready to go in to her Grace with it, I received word from her Grace by one of the Queen’s Majesty’s women to stay till her Grace had dined, and then she would hear it.  Within a mean pause after dinner she sent for me, and having Mr. Tomiou in my company, who going with me into the outer chamber, there staying, I went in to her Grace, and required her if it so stood with her pleasure that he might hear the doing of the message.  She granted it, and I called him in, and kneeling by with me, I read unto her Grace my message according to the effect of the Queen’s Majesty’s letter.  After once hearing of it she uttered certain words, bewailing her own chance in that her Grace’s letter, contrary to her expectations, took no better effect, and desired to hear it once again, which I did.  And then her Grace said:  ’I note especially to my great discomfort [which I shall, nevertheless, willingly obey] that the Queen’s Majesty is not pleased that I should molest her Highness with any more of my colourable letters, which, although they be termed colourable, yet not offending the Queen’s Majesty, I must say for myself that it was the plain truth, even as I desire to be saved afore God Almighty, and so let it pass.  Yet, Mr. Bedyngfeld, if you think you may do so much for me, I would have you to receive an answer which I would make unto you touching your message, which I would at the least way, my Lords of the Council might understand, and that ye would conceive it upon my words, and put it in writing, and let me hear it again.  And if it be according to my meaning, so to pass it to my lordships for my better comfort in mine adversity.’  To this I answered her Grace:  ’I pray you, hold me excused that I do not grant your request in the same.’  Then she said:  ’It is like that I shall be offered more than ever any prisoner was in the Tower, for the prisoners be suffered to open their mind to the Lieutenant, and he to declare the same unto the Council, and you refuse to do the like.’  To this I answered her Grace that there was a diversity where the Lieutenant did hear a prisoner declare matters touching his case, and should thereof give notice unto the Council, and where the prisoner should, as it were, command the Lieutenant to do his message to the Council.  Therefore, I desired that her Grace would give me leave with patience not to agree to her desire herein, and so departed from her Grace.