Page:The Queens of England.djvu/433

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MARY THE FIRST.
389

the tide offered. Elizabeth entreated most earnestly to be permitted to remain until the next tide, and requested to be allowed to write to the queen. One of the council roughly re- jected her petition, but the other, the Earl of Sussex, not only accorded it, but promised to deliver it into the queen's hand. The time employed in writing and entreating had seen the tide pass, and it no longer served to shoot the bridge with a barge The queen was very angry at the delay, and Elizabeth's desire for it probably confirmed the suspicion entertained that she wished to gam time to have a rescue attempted. The next day, Palm Sunday, she was taken from the palace, and passing through the garden to enteer the barge, she was observed to cast her eyes towards the windows, hoping to see some pitying face; but beholding none, she sighed deeply and said, "I marvel what the nobility mean, to suffer me, a princess, to be led wu captivity, the Lord knows whether, for myself do not." When the barge approached the bridge, the tide not being full in, the fall of the water at the bridge was so great that the bargemen feared to attempt to pass and proposed to wait until the stream became more level. But this proposal was rejected and the barge being impelled on, was placed in such danger that its stern struck against the ground, and having with diffculty neared the next stairs, its occupants could not be landed without stepping into the water, a dangerous trial for a sick woman. Ascending the stairs, Elizabeth solemnly said "I speak before Thee, O God, having none other friend but fhee only; here landeth as true a subject, being prisoner, as ever landed at these stairs." Having entered the gate, a great num- ber of men, wardens and others, presented .themselves to guard her, and as she passed many knelt down and prayed God to preserve her. For this demonstration of sympathy they were rebuked and put from their ordinary next day. Lodged in prison, the first act of Elizabeth was one of piety ; she took out her prayer-book, and assembling her attendants around her addressed the Almighty with deep fervor. But even the con- solation of having the rites of her own religion celebrated was denied her ; for she was now commanded to hear mass in her prison, and two yeomen were appointed to make the responses to the priest. Not satisfied with the former examination of Elizabeth m the palace, Gardiner came to the Tower with others of the council to re-examine her. She was questioned as to a conversation alleged to have passed between her and