have cost North dear. The historian tells the story on the
authority of one of North's attendants:

"Once, early in the morning, there came from the King to
Charterhouse, then the mansion of Sir Edward North, a
messenger, known to be a friend of his, to command his
immediate repair to the court, which message was delivered with
some harshness. This was so terrible in the suddenness and
other circumstances, as he observed his master to tremble at
the delivery of it, who yet, finding it dangerous to use the
least delay hasted thither, and was admitted speedily into the
King's presence with this his servant attendant on him. The
King was then walking, and continued doing so with great
earnestness, and every now and then cast an angry look upon
him, which was received with a still and sober carriage: at
last the King broke out into these words: 'We are informed that
you have cheated us of certain lands in Middlesex'; whereunto,
having received none other than a plain and humble negation,
after some little time he replied, 'How was it then? Did we
give these lands to you?' Whereunto Sir Edward answered, 'Yes,
Sire, your majesty was pleased to do so.' Whereupon, having
paused a little while, the King put on a milder countenance,
and calling him to a cupboard conferred privately with him a
long time. Whereby, said this servant, I saw the King could not
spare my master's service as yet."

The angry monarch was appeased, and North retained the lands. North lost
influence with the Protector and declared subsequently for the Princess
Mary, who, on her accession to the throne, created him Lord North.

Elizabeth, two days after her accession, rode from Hatfield and stayed
at the Charterhouse with this Lord North "many days," and again in 1561
stayed there for four days, as is recorded in Burleigh's diary:

"The Queen supped at my house in Strand (the Savoy) before it
was finished, and she came by the fields from Christ Church.
Great cheer was made until midnight, when she rode back to the
Charterhouse, where she lay that night."

In 1564 North died, leaving Charterhouse to his son, Roger, Lord North.
He, some months later, sold the main part of the buildings to the Duke
of Norfolk for L2,500, but retained the house which his father had built
about twenty years before, together with some two or three