A HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX 



at Hampton Court. She was brought under strong escort from Woodstock, 

 and on her way stayed for a night at the George Inn at Colnbrook, 

 on the borders of Middlesex and Buckinghamshire. 811 There she was 

 met by sixty gentlemen and yeomen from her own retinue at Somerset 

 House, ' much to all their comforts,' for they had not seen her for several 

 months.* 18 They were not to receive much comfort from their meeting, 

 for Sir Henry Benefield, who had the custody of Elizabeth, would not 

 allow them to approach near enough to speak to her, but com- 

 manded them in the queen's name immediately to leave the town, ' to 

 both their own and her grace's no little heaviness.' tl3 Hardly reassured 

 by this incident, Elizabeth reached Hampton Court the next night, and 

 found herself installed in ' the prince's lodgings,' with the doors locked 

 and guarded. She was left for several days to wonder what fate was in 

 store for her, occasionally visited by Bishop Gardiner, who vainly tried to 

 extort from her some confession of conspiracy against the queen. 81 * Her 

 suspense was ended one night when at ten o'clock she received a summons 

 to the queen's presence. Imagining herself to be in great danger, and 

 requesting the prayers of her attendant ' for she could not tell if she 

 should ever see her again ' she followed Sir Henry Benefield through the 

 garden and up the stairs which led to the queen's lodgings. 816 But her 

 fears proved groundless. The expectation of an heir to the throne made 

 the queen look upon her sister as a far less dangerous rival than hitherto, 

 and Philip of Spain was anxious to please the English people, and that 

 the popular princess should join the royal festivities at Christmastide. A 

 reconciliation took place between the sisters, 916 and throughout the 

 brilliant scenes of the following days Elizabeth was recognized as the 

 second royal personage in the realm. 817 



Elizabeth was always a familiar and popular figure in Middlesex. 

 She had spent the greater part of her youth at Chelsea 818 and at Enfield, 81 ' 

 and during Mary's reign she was allowed to hunt in Enfield Chase. 880 On 

 her accession in November, 1558, huge multitudes crowded to welcome 

 her at Highgate, and to witness the procession of bishops kneel by 

 the wayside to offer their allegiance ; which was graciously accepted 

 except in the case of Bishop Bonner, to whom Elizabeth refused her 

 hand. 881 



During the early part of her reign Elizabeth often returned to 

 Elsing Hall at Enfield, 888 and in 1578 she honoured Sir Thomas Gresham, 

 at Osterley, with a visit, when he entertained her with great mag- 

 nificence. 888 Hampton Court was one of her favourite residences, and she 

 kept Christmas there in 1572 and 1593. 



111 Holinshed, Chron. iii, 1158. "' Nichols, Progress of Queen ERz. i, 12. 



11 Holinshed, Chrm. iii, 1158. '" Ibid 

 "Ibid. 1158-9. 



" It was at this interview that Philip is supposed to have been hidden behind the tapestry ; Strick- 

 land, Lives of the Queens ofEngl. vi, 117. ibid. 1 18. 



18 With Catherine Howard. Strype, Amah, 1,236. 



Nichols, Progresses of Queen ERz. i, 17, 102. Holinshed, Chron. iii, 1784. 



Strype, Annals, i, 270 ; Burghley Papers, ii, 763. 

 * Nichols, Progresses of Queen Eliz. ii, 279. 



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