Whereunto this is more to be added, that during the same time the Lord [Williams] of Thame had laboured for the Queen, and became surety for her, to have her from Woodstock to his house, and had obtained grant thereof. But (through the procurement either of Master Bedingfield, or by the doing of [the Bishop of] Winchester, her mortal enemy), letters came over night, to the contrary: whereby her journey was stopped.
Thus, this worthy Lady, oppressed with continual sorrow, could not be permitted to have recourse to any friends she had; but still in the hands of her enemies, was left desolate, and utterly destitute of all that might refresh a doleful heart, fraught full of terror and thraldom. Whereupon no marvel, if she hearing, upon a time, out of her garden at Woodstock, a certain milkmaid singing pleasantly, wished herself to be a milkmaid, as she was: saying that "Her case was better, and life more merry than hers, in that state she was.">[
Sir Henry Bedingfield and his soldiers, with the Lord [Williams] of Thame, and Sir Ralph Chamberlain guarding and waiting upon her, the first night [July 1555] from Woodstock, she came to Rycot.
The next night to Master Dormer's; and so to Colebrook, where she lay all that night at the George. By the way, coming to the said Colebrook, certain of her gentlemen and yeomen, to the number of three score met Her Grace, much to all their comforts: which had not seen Her Grace of long season before, neither could: but were commanded, in the Queen's name, "immediately to depart the town," to Her Grace's no little heaviness and theirs, who could not be suffered once to speak with from them. So that night all her men were taken her, saving her Gentleman Usher, three gentlewomen, two Grooms, and one of her Wardrobe; the Soldiers watching and warding round-about the house, and she shut up close within her prison.
The next day Her Grace entered Hampton Court on the back side, unto the Prince's Lodgings. The doors being shut to her; and she, guarded with soldiers as before, lay there a fortnight at the least, ere ever any had recourse unto her.
At length, came the Lord William Howard, who marvellously honourably used Her Grace: whereat she took much comfort, and requested him to be a means that she might speak with some of the Council.
To whom, not long after came the Bishop of Winchester, the Lord of Arundel, the Lord of Shrewsbury, and Secretary Petre; who, with great humility, humbled themselves to Her Grace.