Queen Elizabeth I is arrested

On March 18th, 1554, Lady Elizabeth, who would later become Queen Elizabeth I, was taken by barge from Whitehall Palace along the River Thames to the Tower of London and imprisoned there.

She had been implicated in Wyatt's Rebellion, a plot to overthrow Queen Mary I and place Elizabeth on the throne instead.

The previous day, two of Queen Mary I's councillors went to Elizabeth's home to arrest her.

However, Elizabeth managed to delay her arrest by writing a letter known as the Tide Letter.

Unfortunately, this only bought her an extra day, as the queen was determined to have her arrested and interrogated.

According to John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Elizabeth was escorted to the Tower by the two councillors, along with a group of servants and warders.

As she arrived at the Tower, she expressed her surprise that the nobility would allow her to be led into captivity.

After landing, she refused to come ashore at the customary stairs for traitors and offenders, and instead chose another location.

She then sat on a cold stone, where the lieutenant advised her to come out of the rain.

Elizabeth replied that sitting there was better than being in a worse place, as she did not know where they were taking her.

She also questioned her gentleman-usher for weeping, as she believed her truthfulness would protect her.

Finally, Elizabeth entered the prison and the doors were locked and bolted behind her.

It should be noted that some details in Foxe's account are inaccurate.

Other sources indicate that Elizabeth was taken to Tower Wharf, not through Traitors' Gate as described in the tract.

Additionally, Elizabeth was not imprisoned in a dungeon or the Bell Tower, but rather in the royal palace within the Tower of London.

This palace had been renovated by her father, King Henry VIII, for her mother Anne Boleyn's coronation.

While Elizabeth had servants attending to her, she was still a prisoner accused of treason against the crown.

On Good Friday, March 23rd, 1554, Elizabeth was interrogated by Queen Mary I's council.

They hoped to extract a confession from her, but she remained steadfast.

Rebel leader Thomas Wyatt the Younger had already proclaimed Elizabeth's innocence at his execution on April 11th, as there was no evidence against her.

Mary's council debated over what to do with Elizabeth, as executing her could have sparked further trouble.

With no evidence of her involvement in the rebellion, Elizabeth was granted more freedom within the Tower.

She was allowed to walk in the palace's privy garden and great gallery.

Elizabeth's release seemed uncertain when troops were raised at the Tower on May 4th, but fortunately, Queen Mary decided to release her into house arrest.

On May 19th, 1554, the anniversary of her mother's execution, Elizabeth was released from the Tower.

It is worth noting that while Elizabeth's time in the Tower was not as harsh as some accounts suggest, she still experienced fear and uncertainty during her imprisonment.

Her release brought her relief and hope for the future.