106 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



pretext or another, to accuse her of treason, 

 her existence being a perpetual menace to the 

 supremacy of their religion in England. Elizabeth's 

 behaviour, and the ties of relationship between her 

 and the Queen, undoubtedly saved her life at this 

 critical time. After a trying and anxious time of 

 imprisonment in the Tower, Elizabeth was removed 

 to Woodstock a State prisoner, guarded by soldiers 

 night and day. 



Elizabeth never again stayed at Ashridge, the 

 remembrance of the unhappy days she had spent 

 there perhaps rendering the place distasteful to 

 her, but she left behind her the proverbial shoes 

 in this instance "two sumptuous" pairs that 

 future generations should recognise the tiny 

 dimensions of her Royal foot. 



On Elizabeth's succession to the throne, the 

 lands of Ashridge continually changed hands. 

 The Queen first granted the house and part 

 of the estate to William George, one of her 

 gentlemen pensioners, the papers recording this 

 gift being still in existence. 



In the seventeenth year of her reign she gave 

 the whole estate with the house to John Dudley 

 and John Ayscough, who sold it within fourteen 

 days to Lord Cheyne, who, according to Norden, 

 kept it, for he writes, " This place (Ashridge) is 

 lately beautified by the Lord Cheyne." 



Randolph Crewe bought Ashridge in 1602 



