where I was able without difficulty
to gain access to Overton. He told me that he had been seen by some of
Bonner's spies when he entered London, that he had been followed from
place to place, and that the most convenient opportunity of seizing him
had occurred when he was speaking to Aveline. His friend, Roger Upton,
had been seized at the same time, and very speedily condemned to death,
a fate to which Bishop Bonner had also doomed his young niece.

The next day Master Gresham summoned me to attend him to Hatfield, where
he was about to pay his respects to her Majesty. We arrived there early
in the day, when my patron was at once admitted to an audience. He was
very cordially received by Queen Elizabeth, who promised to attend to
his interests. He did not fail also to give her Majesty wise counsel.
Among other things, she promised him that, when he was abroad on her
business, she would not only keep one ear shut to hear him on his
return, but also that should he do her even as much service as he had
done to King Edward and to Queen Mary, she would give him as much land
as they both had done. These two promises greatly inspirited my patron.
Before he took his departure, the Queen desired him to proceed
forthwith to Antwerp, where there was business of importance for him to
perform. As the journey was a hurried one, and he would not be long
absent, he did not on this occasion take me with him.

In the meantime Aveline had recovered from the effects of her cruel
imprisonment, and the great terror of her life into which she had been
put. Through the intervention of Master Gresham, Overton and his
friends were liberated, he liberally offering them an asylum in his
house until they could obtain employment.

Great was the happy change which the nation experienced. It was soon
known that Queen Elizabeth was no friend to the Romish customs.
Directly she came to the throne, she refused to attend mass. This was
on Christmas Day. The Queen had gone to the chapel as usual, and there
she sat while the Gospel was read; but as soon as it was concluded,
having seen a Bishop preparing himself by putting on his robes in the
old form, she and her nobles left the chapel and retired to her privy
chamber. Two days after this, a proclamation was issued, forbidding the
elevation of the host. It was also ordered that the Gospels and
Epistles, the Creed, and Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the
Litany should be used in En