“Yesterday morning again, about x of the clock, in the time of her walk, she called me to her in the little garden, and said:  ’I remember yesterday ye refused utterly to write on my behalf unto my Lords of the Council, and therefore, if you continue in that mind still, I shall be in worse case than the worst prisoner In Newgate, for they be never gainsaid in the time of their imprisonment by one friend or other to have their cause opened or sued for, and this is and shall be such a conclusion unto me, that I must needs continue this life without all hope worldly, wholly resting to the truth of my cause, and that before God to be opened, arming myself against whatsoever shall happen, to remain the Queen’s true subject as I have done during my life.  It waxeth wet, and therefore I will depart to my lodging again;’ and so she did.  Thus much concerning her Grace, I thought it my duty to give your lordships advertisement of, to be considered as it shall please your honours, clearly omitting any part of the message, and such which my lady’s Grace would have had me to have taken upon me, and shall do so, unless I have the Queen’s Majesty’s warrant for the same.”

This report had the desired effect, and the Council gave Sir Henry leave “to write those things that she shall desire you, and to signify the same to us of her Majesty’s Council, sending your letters touching that matter enclosed in some paper directed to her Highness, so as she may herself have the first sight thereof.”

Mary’s next letter was personal to Sir Henry himself:—­

“Trusty and right well-beloved, we greet you well.  And where we understand that by occasion of certain our instructions lately given unto you, ye do continually make your personal abode within that our house at Woodstock, without removing from thence at any time, which thing might, peradventure in continuance, be both some danger to your health, and be occasion also that ye shall not be so well able to understand the state of the country thereabouts, as otherwise ye might; we let you wit that in consideration thereof; we are pleased ye may at any time, when yourself shall think convenient, make your repair from out of our said house, leaving one of your brethren to look to your charge, and see to the good governance of that house in your absence, so as, nevertheless, ye return back again yourself at night, for the better looking to your said charge.  And for your better ease and recreation, we are, in like manner pleased that ye and your brethren may, at your liberties, hawk for your pastime at the partridge, or hunt the hare within that our manor of Woodstock, or any of our grounds adjoining to the same, from time to time, when ye shall think most convenient; and that also ye may, if ye shall so think good, cause your wife to be sent for, and to remain there with you as long as yourself shall think meet.

“Given under our signet at our Castle of Farnham, ye 7th of July, ye second year of our reign.”