G O S S I P F R O M A M U N I M ENT ROOM

BEING PASSAG ES IN THE LIVES

OF ANNE AND M ARY FYTTON

1 574 TO 1 6 1 8

TRANSCRIBED AND EDITED BY LADY NEWDIGATE- NEWDEGATE

L O N D O N : D A V I D N U T T I N T HE S T R A ND M DCCCXCVI I ’ ANTY NE HANSON 69 P rinted by BA LL , At t he Bana nt y ne P ress T 0 M Y H U S B A ND

- LT. GE NE RA L

W W I A - EW G Sm ED ARD NE D G TE N DE ATE, K.G. B .

O F A R B U R Y

AND

GR EAT-GR EAT-ORE AT-GR EAT-GR E AT- GRA NDSON

OF A NNE F Y TTON

L A D Y NE W D I G A TE

I N TR O D U C TI O N

HE following passages in the lives of Anne and M ary Fy t t on have been chiefly gleaned from old letters and

' papers in the Muniment Room at

Arbury . The task of putting them together in the form of a narrative was undertaken in the first instance for the

of of who benefit the descendants the elder sister, have n hitherto k own little about her . It has since been suggested that so genuine and authentic a record of that distant period may have a Wider interest than for family only .

of of one- The history Anne is necessity a sided tale , vn being I ntr oduction being drawn from the large correspondence she kept up with both men and women friends after her marriage ,

a and though she c refully preserved their letters, her own one or t wo not t o , with exceptions , are at hand make the narrative as complete as could be desired .

t t on on not t o Mary Fy , the other hand , is unknown

history, and some interest has been aroused in her of

’ t o her late years by Mr . Tyler s clever attempt identify

’ with the Dark Lady e of Shakspeare s

one On point there is ample evidence. Both sisters se em to have been unusually gifted with physical and

s t o mental charm , and have been admired and loved by

s of per ons note in the era in which they lived . In order t o make this account more complete and

not interesting , the letters will be given in their bald

simplicity , but with explanatory connecting links and with short biographical and historical facts concerning

the writers . The letters will follow each other as far as possible in their proper sequence, but where there are no dates it is only from internal evidence that they can be placed in their 3upposed order The ’ ’ See e r Sh aks eare s Sonn Nu r an e Dav S . Tyl s p ts . id tt, t d I ntr oduction

of The spelling is preserved as written , though the s mo t varied character, even the proper names in signa

’ tures and addresses differi ng as the writer s phonetic sense dictates . It is unavoidable that occasional references and observations in these letters remain unexplained . As mentioned above , the clue which might be given by the

of other side of the correspondence is absent . In spite

t o e this drawback , we shall hope give a fairly cons cutive

- history of some twenty two years in the lives of our.

t heroines , inventing no hing and withholding neither

of one or two of good nor evil , though the frankness the writers is somewhat startling t o modern ideas .

C O N T E N T S

CHAPTE R I

° Cour t {9 Country

’ — Anna s Ma r r i age Letter of Ar a bella St ewa r t ’ Ma ry mom ; Ma id cf Honour Si r Willi a m Knolly r — ’ t — Let t er J Anne f D a ugh er B or n Sir F{l ike Gr e

’ ’ l/e r t er y w Lot .

CHA P TE R II

’ ° M a ry s Dow nfa ll {9 D i sgr a c e

’ Sir W Knol r Let t erJ— Tr ouoler at Cour t — Mar . b j — — in Ditgr a t e Di t miu a l fr om oar P ort Si r W ’ Knoll r Lot tery y .

CHAPTER III

Tb e L aw son Letter s

’ — ’ ’ Si r Ri t ba r d Lenn on s Lt tt en Szr Fa lke Gr aville r — Lot t er y Dea d (f Qa t ar: Eli z a oetb Si r 7 0672

’ ’ N wdi ate Kni bt ed— Sz r R Levaron r ; e g g . Letter

Hi: D a t a a nd M 11 . Con tent:

CHAPTER IV

' Widow b ooa

’ — — Ma ry : Ma nner (J Li e Her Ma r r iage Si r Fa lke ’ — — ’ Gr evil/e : Let terr Hi : B ea to Ma ry : Wi dozob ood — ’ D ea tb of Si r Newdiga te Anne : P etiti on: for

’ W d:bz o b ar Son toe a r p f .

CHAPTER V

F r i end:b ip

Lett er: f r om Fra nt i: B ea umont t o Anne

CHAPTER VI

Conr tsb ip

— ’ C orya Sa under: and n; Sa it Fr a nri : B ea umont : ’ — —Ma r ; Let ter : Fi na 1 Dinni u a l of Coty n Sa underJ y d Ma r r i a e Seeon g .

CHAPTER VII

T‘ b e Va lley of Death — Lett er : fr om La dy Gr ey Anne? Ca r e: f or

-a - — Cbildr en Her B eeli ni ng Hea ltb Her Dea tb

C H A P T E R I

9 Cour t $3 Country

NNE and Mary Phyton , Fitton or Fy t t on were the daughters of Sir F t t on Edward y Knight , of Gaws i n r a nd worth Cheshi e , of Alice, daughter and c o- heiress of Sir John of n Holcroft , Holcroft in La cashire . F tt ons of The y evidently thought much themselves , and of with reason . They were ancient lineage , had filled

of o for posts hon ur in the State , and had been knighted more than one past generation . in 1 Anne , the elder daughter, was born October 5 74 , a nd her only sister Mary some three and a half years : a d later . They had two brothers the elder , Edw r , who afterwards a baronet ; and the younger, Richard , 1 died 9 Cour t $ Country Life

1 6 1 0 . a died unmarried in Sir Edward, the first b ronet , who had a daughter, Penelope , married Sir Charles o of Gerard . Their son , created L rd Gerard Brandon ,

M ac c lesfield and Earl of , succeeded to the Gawsworth ’ estates on the failure of issue to Penelope Fy tt on s brother, the second and last baronet . F t t on of Anne y , in accordance with the practice the for age, had a husband chosen her by her parents of when she was still a child . At twelve years age she was married in London to John Newdegate “ Newdi at e of or g f aged sixteen , the eldest son f o r . John Newdegate , Arbury in Wa wickshire The of ul was a mother the youthf bridegroom M rtha Cave , c o- n of Chic hel daughter and heiress of Antho y Cave , y , 1 a Bucks . She died in 5 75 , a few years fter the birth

of her son . Arbury seems to have been securely settled on young

John Newdegate . His father married twice after his ’ ac c umu first wife s death , had several more sons , and lated debts to such an extent that he ended his days a e of in the Fleet Prison , dying there at the g fifty . was who 1 8 6 Nevertheless , he it bought Arbury in 5 n from Sir Edmund Anderso , Chief Justice of the ’ Common Pleas in Queen Elizabeth s reign . The pre sent

Th e name h as een e i n var ou w a Th e re en fa b sp lt i s ys . p s t mily e w an e c e n t h e ow ner of Ar ur w h o o e sp ll it ith i , x pti g b y, is blig d wi t o S e w a n e by ll p ll it ith . 2 Cour t Countr y Lfi e

sent house had been built a few year s previously by on old E rdb urie Sir Edmund the ruins of the Priory . John Newdegate h ad to give up his old family manor of Harefield for , in Middlesex , in part payment Arbury , of n retaining only the messuage and farm Bracke bury , with the chapel of that name forming the south aisle

— - in Harefield Church the burial place of his family for soon ar t e many generations . Sir Edmund Anderson p d with Har efield to Sir Thomas Egerton (afterwards n t o n Baro Ellesmere) , Lord Keeper Quee Elizabeth , who of married as his second wife Alice , widow n Harefield Ferdi ando , Earl of Derby . The manor of bought back from the heirs of this Lady Derby ’ Ne e ate s by John wd g grandson some ninety years later .

. s and son n Sir Thoma Egerton his , Sir John Egerto a r (afterw rds Ea l of Bridgewater) , married , one the widowed Countess of Derby and the other her second in daughter, Lady Frances Stanley , who is mentioned on l e of the letters that fo low . After the cer emony of marriage between Anne Fy t t on and 1 8 F t t on young John Newdigate in 5 7 , Sir Edward y ’ n seems to have undertaken the young couple s expe ses . ’ Many years later An ne refer s to her father s havi ng “ two kept her husband , herself, a mayde and men for nine years after her marriage of freewill and without ” ever haveing paye allowed . ’ She appears to have been living at home in her father s n n u n r d house at Gawsworth or in Lo do d ri g this pe io , 1 whilst 9 Cour t 89 Count ry Life whilst her boy- husband was probably continuing his

education elsewhere . In a letter from John Newdegate (the spendthrift) to

Wor shi full ff tt on n the Right pp Sir Edward y K ight , 1 8 8 and n r dated November 5 , e tirely on money matte s , “ he adds as a postscript , Good let me see my ”

u . da ghter , how I longe to see her n Anne was at this time just fourtee years old . The earliest portrait of the two sisters at Arbury must n one have bee taken four years later . It is a double ,

- three quarter length , and painted on a panel . Their respective ages of eighteen and fifteen are recorded on the picture . Anne , the elder , has dark hair and eyes and u arched eyebrows . She has a gentle , serio s expression , and al is depicted full face , the shape of an ov contour, u whilst her feat res are small and regular . She is dressed in hoop and ruff in accordance with the costume of the ’

. y period Mar s girlish figure is less matured , her com

n n plexio fairer and her face narrower with a longer ose . H er lively grey eyes have the alert bright look of her n l age , indicati g , perhaps , already the Wit and bril iancy

which were among her prominent charms . It must have been whilst Anne was still an inmate of her old home that she became acquainted with the ill

own n fated Arabella Stuart , or , as she spells her ame , “ h ” Ar ella Stewart . The two girls were nearly of an

n of age , Anne bei g one year the older the two . She r r e fr o r has p ese ved the following lett r m her f iend , it 4 bei ng

9 Cou r t 89 Country L y e

is To my honorable fayre M Ir Ann Newdigate thoise Ar be r at y . ' Longeinge so much as I doe to heare of y 0 good ‘ agreement w h the Cont r y e life I have persuaded my Comfor teless Eyes to watch t yll my ha nd might

discover my desire to be satisfied therein . Wright ‘ w h every occasion soe shall you hence ordinarily

rec e ve salut ac ons . y Noe Newes heare worthy you , all at this end of the towne are become melanc holic que ” re ns for the want of y o p se . I love you and ever ou or t o will , and soe I betake y to y rest , beinge about o n take my w e .

Strann M unda e 1 6 . this present y , December 5 9 rs Y o

H E N CA RY E .

We cannot make out for certain who the writer of this * u letter was . It co ld not have been Henry Carey , Lord u of Hunsdon , the first co sin Queen Elizabeth , for he died in July of that same year ; but it was probably of are of some member this family , as there letters the ’ H unsd on s same period from Lord daughter Margaret ,

Lady Hoby , with whom Anne Newdigate seems to have been on intimate terms . We must now leave Anne t o accommodate herself to the

w i Henr ar Th ere as a S r y C y w h o w as mad e M aster of th e J ew els ’ o n une 2 1 1 60 on ame I ac c e on . J , 3, J s . s ssi 6 9 Cour t 393 Country Life

the Cont ry e life whilst we launch Mary on her as of H was career Maid onour to Queen Elizabeth . It o I F t t on a ab ut 5 95 that Mary y , being seventeen ye rs old , began her Court life . F tt on Sir Edward y , in his natural anxiety for his young ’ far new daughter s wel e in her and trying position , made interest on her behalf with a personage of importance at who was now of the Court , Comptroller the Household , on and later Treasurer .

was of own This an old friend his , Sir William son of Knollys , Sir Francis Knollys, and first cousin ’ t o on once removed the Queen her mother s side , through the Careys . h of old At t is time he was upwards fifty years , and had c o- been some time married to Dorothy , sister and heiress of a nd of John , Lord Braye , and widow Edmund

s . Brydge , Lord Chandos She had been left her ’ husband s sole executrix and possessor of much wealth for her life . In his will Lord Chandos grants her this f li e interest, as his most faithful and loving wife , for ”

h v . her obedience , truth , and fait ful lo e towards him Though Dorothy was a valuable prize as regards her wealth , she must have been considerably older than her

u second h sband , and we have reason to believe he chafed at the chain that prevented his marriage with a younger and fairer spouse . ’ a Sir Willi m s brother, Henry Knollys, had married of a the only daughter and heiress Sir Ambrose C ve, a 7 first 9 Cour t 89 Country Lfi e

’ first cousin of John Newdigate s mother, Martha Cave . Sir Ambrose was the courtly knight who picked up ’ n Queen Elizabeth s garter at a Court Ball , but whe he ” ff u “ o ered it to the Maiden Q een she would none of it , whereupon he bound it on his left arm and swore to a it we r as long as he lived . We have mentioned this Cave connection with both the

Knollys and Newdigates to show that Sir William , old of F t t on who was an friend Sir Edward y , had another claim to something more than mere acquaintance ’ u n u u with his da ghter An e , thro gh her husband s co sin ' t t on ship with his brother Henry s wife . Mary Fy being j ust out of childhood may probably have been a new acquaintance . The earliest letter we find from Sir William Knollys is addressed

To ver e lov n S1r my y y g frend Edward Fy t t on Knight . ’ [How it came into Anne s possession we cannot say . ]

r S Edward I am sorye your disease shold so t r ob le t de r ves off c om an e you , as y p y me your p y whilst you rema ne in y London , but I will by no means that you ‘ tr ob le ourselff W h s nc e ou y going abroad , but y y orn e c arfful must undertake so great a j y , be to make ourselff ou y strong until y goe . I wish I wear at lib ert y e to ac c ompany e you to Arb er y 8: so to D * rayton . I will

’ His ro er Henr no c oun r ac e b th y K llys t y pl . 8 9 Cour t 393 Country L y e

I will no ffay le to ffu lffill y ou desy re in playing the Good Shepperd Sc will to my power d effe nd the innocent lamb f rom the wolvy she c r uelt y e 8c fox- like sub t elt e of off w° h y the tame bests thys place , when ’ they seme t o take bread at a man s hand will byte b effore the r S renlike they bark , all y songs be y , and the r a ffasshion ffr om y kisses after Jud s , but such ‘ b eas e l v l w h t s de y er me and my freuds . I wil my ‘ adv se ffa re w h u councill y y our y daughter, my tr e ‘ affection love b y r and w h my sword deffend hy r y ff inoc enc t b r u need be , hir y will deserve y and y vert e will chaleng y t at my hands and I will be as c arffull r off b y r weldoing as y ff I wear hy r true ffat he . ourselff onl e Toching y I will saye y this , that your love to me y s not u nrequited 8: that whensoever eny occasion shall be offered wherin I maye stand you in

stead I will never ffay le to use my u ttermost power . ‘ In the meane ty me w h my best salutations to your selff and my La : wishing y ou both health 8: hap pines I r emay ne ever Your assured lovy ng ffr end

W. KNOLLYS .

Thus Mary Fy t t on was launched on her Court life “ ” under powerful protection , but the innocent lamb soon turned out to be an arrant coquette , and Sir William’s professions of fatherly affection rapidly grew

9 warmer , Cour t Country Lfi e

warmer , and blossomed into ardent love , which he o confides in a series of letters to her sister Anne . S me times he veils his sentiments in the language of parable but more often they are expressed in the frankest no terms , apparently with compunctions in regard to the existing Lady Knollys .

lr M s t o Newdigate (he writes) , your kynd letter your s st er f nd deere y I have seene , wherein I y that though near l e o ned off you be y j y by the law nature , yeat are ° you more surly e united in the bond of love w h ‘ exceedeth all bands and bringeth w h y t in the end a bless n t n n y g where y y s t ruly e c o t y ued . Your thanks suff c ient ffor I accept as a recompence y my lynes , but your excuse of not presuming t o write agay ne I nothy ng allow seming t herb y to make my white ff off ff sta an argument your sloth y I maye so saye , b ut to you 8: yours I d esy r e ney t her t o be head nor ffoot e but in that equall proportion where frendshipp s c ont new 8c 8: s y like to y surest longest , what y s Wherffore deere to you y d eerest to me . once agay ne I will b yd y ou the base hoping y ou will not ll a es en a w y kepe the gole in syl c e . Some reasons my thinks might breede a better sy mpat hy e b etwene

ffor ma ne hav n us , I y gy we both y g to much Doe n d vers our s yeat wa t , though in y respects sumer y turned

f o a t ur Th e embl em o his p st C o t . 1 0 9 Cour t $ Coun t ry Life turned to wynter, the one by the ayry element , the earthl other by the y e .

ffa r ist filowers off a The y our g rdens be blasted , yours in the budd by some unholsome easterly w leaffe ffrost ynd, myne in the by the hoare and the dyfferenc e y s that b y c ause the wynd maye change your hopes maye r evyv e 85 by reason off the c ont y nuall ffr ost s my looky ng ffor ffr ut e off s unles eny my garden y in vayne , the old tree be cut down 81 a new graff off a good kynd planted . But I leave to parable and in playne englische wishe ou ffor y what you most d esy re . As me my hopes 8c ffor t une ffr ownin r t being desperate ever g, wea e y not that by the sonneshy ne off some pleasy ng thoughts I wear somwhat relyv ed I shold dye both in s onl e ffoode hope 8: hart . Yeat hope y the y I lyve

° 85 s u on w h by patience y my pillow to rest pp , both I wishe you to make your companions as r emedy es ff Yf n aga y nst all deseases o the my nd . I have be ne w° h ff to long blame the matter leadeth me along , y to ‘ bold w h y ou let my d esy r e to provoke you to a l t er all 8c ff em ut e y quarrell be my excuse , y to open p

t s t me t roblin y t to my trust . But y y y to leave g for eat n m se lff Wherffore y ou eny longer 8: g t y g y . wishing you all health 85 hapines both off b ody e and my nd I desy re to be es t emed in the number off

ffr ends o h ffor the a r your best , b t love I be re to you e father 9 Cour t $ Country Lfi e

father 8: all hys 8c ffor your owh e worthy nesse th remay ny ng ever this 2 0 off Maye Your assured ffrend

W . KNOLLYS .

’ It seems diffi cult to find any excuse for this writer s open avowal of impatience at the impediments that obstructed th e desired end to his cour tship of the f attractive maid o honour . Neither is it easy to under of stand how Anne , the excellent Anne whom nothing ul but good is known , co d by her sympathy permit ’ these frank avowals of Sir William s love for her sister . He even seemed so sur e of her approval and c o-opera tion as to ask for her prayers on his behalf in a sub of sequent letter . Here we find the disadvantage a - n one sided corresponde ce . There may have been extenuating circumstances of which we know nothing . Otherwise we can only be thankful we no longer live “ b ut in the age of good Queen Bess , in the more outwardly decorous days of our Sovereign Lady Queen V ictoria .

The letters which follow are given verbatim , for were they t o be curtailed or any sentences omitted their historical interest and value would be injured . They have been considered of suffi cient importance to have been preserved for nearly 300 years in the

Muniment Room at Arbury, though never yet made known even to the immediate members of the family . 1 2 It

9 Cou r t 89 Coun try L y e

‘ dis a re 8c des res w h p y my y starved expectation , but n willin l e wear my e joying assured , I could g y endure purgat ory e ffor a season to purchase my heaven at

the last . But the short warning , the distemper ature off my head by reason off the t oothake 8: ‘ your sy st ers going to bed w hout b y dding me god night will joyne in one t o be a means that ’ ffor this ty me I will only e t rob le y ou W h these ffew

skr ib led in ha nes lynes hast , and wishing you all ppy del ver e off s st er in a good y y your burden , and your y ust iff ab le the same case j y , I leave you to Gods good rot ec t on s st er s p y , myself to your dearest y true love 8: b y r to a constant resolution to love hy m only e ‘ who cannot but ever love hy r best 85 thus w h my best salutations I will ever remay ne Your most assured ffrend I would fayne saye brother

W . KNOLLYS .

n In the ext letter he becomes still more outspoken .

s st er c an n ot c heeose Honorable y , (I but call you so b y c ause I d esy re nothing more than to have y t so) Your ffay re written letter 85 more ffay rly e endited I have re c eaved 85 read mor e then onc e or t wy se seeky ng Ch to ffy nd there w so much you endevour to put me ’ off Yt s r r i n hope . y t ue that wynte s cold y s the ° mur therer off all good ffr ut s in w h c ly mat I dwell and doe accompt y t as a purgat ory e allotted to me ffor my manye 9 Cou r t 59 Country L y e

' ff c ornit t ed a a nst manye o ences g y the Highest , the rather b y c ause I am more observant 8c devoted unto

° u h m selff r w h del vered his creat re then to y , f om to be y sy nc e there y s no meanes but the devout prayers 8a orasy nes off my good ffrend s let me ent reat e your ‘ ffay re selffe t o perce the heavens w h your earnest and best prayers to the effecter 8c worker of all th i ngs for

d el ver e 86 ha e my y y , that once I maye be so ppy as to ffeele the pleasy ng c omffor t off a delightfful sumer ° w h I doubt not will y eald me the deserved frute off my constant desy r es w ° h as y eat no sooner budd by the heat off the morni ng sonne but they are blasted unt mel e ffr ost off by an y y , so as in the midst my omffor t s n d es a re best c I see nothi g but dark p y . I

‘ could c omplay ne off ffort une w h ledd me b ly ndly e i nto this barren desert where I am r eady e to starve ffor want of my d esy r ed ffoode 85 off my selff that would suffer my reason to be betrayed by my will l nd i n ffollowy ng so b y a guide . But to all my ° a l e u w h s wounds I will pp y yo r plaster y patience , a

r c onffesse hav n in ve tue I must needs , but y g a sort au ff r Cont new h r ffor c e b c se t s . o c ed . lost y y y y y , I ear nestl e e nt reat e u ffor y you , yo r prayer my dely ver e and r n f or ob ta nin y , you best mea s my y g that ° ‘ t he w h not m selff hav n allread w hout I am y , y g y gy ven my best part to one whose I am more then e B ut I sc ilenc e myne own . must crye least I speak c o m th n se c ret t onl e r selff to loude , y y g this y to you , to 9 Cou r t @ Country L y e

to whom as I wishe all happy nes and your owne ’ des re l r ema ne hart s y , so wil I ever y Your most affec t ionat brother KN OWL . E S E u W S then I wo ld .

’ in n I 8 . An e s first child , a daughter , was born 5 9 The “ godparents or gossipps chosen for the baby were ’ tt on Lady Fy the grandmother , Anne s greatest friend and n Elizabeth Lady Grey , Sir William K ollys . Immediately after this happy event Sir Edward Fy t t on writes as follows

Good Nan , God in heaven bless thee and my * c ont new l fe daughter , and y thy health and y as my

r n dearest f ie d and thereby comfort , next thy poore mother whose love and kind nes to me and her

c h ldren ffere y I will shorten her dayes , but shee shall never waunt that c omfort e that I canne afford e

r er o n h . God blesse y lytle one and gra t thee as muc he comfor t I b esec he him as ever mother had of

r n r child , but I ame so y that yo self will needs u se

er . r h . Thus longeing soare to see thee faa e I well this xvii of May 598 . Thy t reuest friend D E ffY T N O .

ran - a u er and od - au er C ommon t erm for g d d ght g d ght . 1 6 9 Cour t @ Country Lfi e

A nd again in an other letter dated 3rd of July I 5 98

Nan Newdigate , I ame to think my selfe muche

b eholdin e ou ffat her n g to y as a can be to a daughter . r Yo mother will needs se nd ffrelan and I send

° ‘ nob od y e but my owne har t w h ever shalb e w h you b od e some where so ever my y is . I will se thee so n yt some ] n as I ca ne and is as I canne , and until the

remeane n I will love thee , and ever mour thine the

my owh e . D E ffvTo N .

of This latter date may have been that the Christening , for Lady Fy t t on writes on the same day

let le My good Nan , I pray God bless you and my

ht er exc eedin l e d oug . I longe to hear g y how you befoer boeth d o . I had sent this but that I hoped u n sume other wo ld have se t that do not . I ’ 11 have sent you a nourse s reward e x to by you a ht er w ll r ovi c ert le for my d oug . I y p d sume what ar when she is b eeg to remember mee by . I longe to t hin es ab owt e r heer how all g you new Charge goeth , for I parswaed myself that my sonne Newdygat wy ll ‘ n not go backe w h hys worde . I pray God se d you ‘ And well to doe w h it . we can do you any good an lett us know it and it shalb e d on . If you heer y

t h n e of ou y g your sister I pray y let know, for I ou and nevar harde ffr om herr sy nc e . God blese y B yours 9 Cou r t 89 Country Lfi e

us a yours and send all meri to meet t . G wsworth

this third of July . Your lovy ng

ffY TTO N . mother A .

' Corfi ende k ndl ho sb n e mee y y to your w a d . To my good d ought er M r s r Anne Newdygat at E b ery .

Anne seems to have been a special favourite with her

- F tt on great uncle Francis y , who had married the widowed Countess of Northumberland . In a letter from him in this same year he says

owne earnest e Myne good neece, my poore love unto y ou maket he me d esy r os t o see y ou 8:

" r s owne o e pecially in yo House , and y kynde acceptance of my meany nge is soche as it b y ndet he ° me more to y ou for the same for w h I can but reste And t hankefull 8: so kepe it in my breste . as my

’r d esy re to knowe of y o ab idinge at home or not this t winter was only e y I ment to come to see y ou if possibly I might but if I possibly maye I will see you this Christmas if not it shalb e moche

agay nst my good will . ’ Your Father s house in Lo ndon this xi of November

1 5 98 . Your owne uncle 81 affec tionat frend to all my powere F Y TO N FRANCYS . I pr aye 9 Cour t $ Country Lfi e

lr I praye to be remembered to my cose n y o Husband and t o my younge mistress when she can understand

my langwaige . lrs To myne espe cial] good neece M Newdigate at hir Arb er W c ksh r house at y in ar wy y e .

a I 8 It will be observed that , even so early as this ye r 5 9 , Lady Fy t t on had cause for anxiety about her daughter i Mary , who seems to have been more confident al with h r e sister than with her own mother . Sir William Knollys accepts the post of Gossipp to ’ Anne s little daughter in the next letter , and at the same time tender s advice on a subject that is not usually considered one of the duties of god- parents

How d esyr ous I am in person t o p fforme the offy c e off a godfather myne owne hart knoweth 8: you ‘ shold ff a owne have seene y I we r w hin myne power , but such y s my bondage to this place as I have ney ther lib ert y e to please my se lff nor sat isffye my ‘ ffrend s amonst w h good expectation , I must accompt you in the fform ost rank as well ffor your owne wort hy nes as ffor being so nerly e u nited both in ‘ nature 85 love to those w h I honor much 8: who

m all bes s maye more co and me than the world y d . But my thoughts off that par t y e I will leave to be discovered not by this base means off penne 8a paper off lawffull but by my selff . Accept I praye you my CXCU SC 9 Cour t 89 Country Lfi e

ffor selff assur n excuse not coming my , y g you that I will be ever ready e to pffor me eny frendly e d eut y e to you ; I have entreated my brother Blunt to supply e my place in m aky ng your lytle one a Christian soule 8: gyv e y t what name y t shall please Ima ne you . gy what name I love best and that doe I n ‘ reffer c ho se selff ff ominate but the y to your , and y I ha e ffat her odffat her might be as ppy to be a as a g , I l n m selff exc eed n wou d thi k y y g rich , but that will never be u ntill one of your owh e tribe be a pat tye shold n player . I like nothi g that you playe the

r ff ffe c onffesse t nu se y you wear my wy . I must y

ar uet h t b reedeth t rob le t o g great love , but y much y ourselff 8: y t would more greave you y ff suc ky ng your owh e milke y t should misc ary e children being c asualt es But subject to manye y . you maye tell me I am more curious in this poynt then I neede but I speak y t in ffrendly e c ounc ell not meaning ey t her to c ont r ar y e your owh e will or dy sswade you ffr om your resolution y ff by a reasonable perswasion your

selff r think not good to alter your pou pos . Thus ‘ w hout ffar th er complements wisshing you a happy e ’ mother off manye c hy ldren 8: your owne hart s desy re

r o r o n r n of e c e no Her Sir e B u u a L . Ch ist ph l t, thi d h sb d tti K llys fi r u an w as a er Dever eu ar of e and h er ec on st h sb d W lt x, E l Ess x, s d w as o er Du e ar of Le c e er R b t dl y, E l i st . 2 0

9 Cour t 897 Count ry L y e

your selff 8: my b lessy ng to your lytle one I remay ne ever Your very e assured ffrend

W . KN OLLYS .

n A ne Newdigate had other correspondents at this time , o ne of them bei ng Sir Fulke Greville (or Fowlke Grevyle n of u as he sig ed his own name) , father the Sir F lke Greville who afterwards became Lord Brooke . They were both u men ofwhose friendship she might bej stly proud . Cam of l den says the e der Sir Fulke, he was a person no less esteemed for the sweetness of his temper than the dignity

a ent leman affab ilit e ofhis station . He was g full of y , which in no got the love of the Whole countrie . For his time i ” man did bear a greater sway in the c ount e of Warwicke . ’ In addition to Sir Fulke s other merits he possessed n the useful one of always dating his letters , but his ha d u difii c ult n writing is nusually to decipher , partly owi g old to age and partly to the gout , which often attacked n f his ha d and arm . Occasionally he had to make use o an amanuensis , though always signing for himself. n u and A ne seems to have been m ch attached to him , had ” given him the title of her master , presumably from n the love and admiratio she felt towards him . The 1 first letter we find from him is written in 5 99, when

- he must have been about seventy two years old . Deere esteemed best beloved servant All ye words e ° i n y world cannot suffy c y ntly expresse y Joy 8c comfort ‘ 9 Cour t @ Country Lfi e

° comfort I take in b eary ing y t y tle 8: name off your " M affec t t ed Many men are diversely , some take pryde off fayre bowses some off t heare welth some off fayre wy ffs 8: others off t hear e c hyldrene I only

° glory yt I have a servant w h c ont ey nes all ver t ews 8c

° y same draws t o her y ° trew love 8: affe c ktion off all good my nds 8c myne in good faythe sweet e servant in such sort that thoughe I have ye honor to be called your M r you have ye powre to comand me 8: any t hin e 85 yt yt shalb e g I have, in so redye to obey I t t most glad when y ou shalb e pleased to use y y awc k t orit : r weer in l y My se vant farewell , be nott y we l thinc ky nge of him whose thoughts ar still be nt to do

' s st er rev le k ndl c orfi ends you honor . My y G y y y her 8: ff n to you , y shee do ott love to speake whatt shee

° thinc ks nott (w h I n ever yett knew her do) then shee x ee n l loveth you more then e c dy g y . Wee prattle off ou w she c n many tymes y I y your ares glow ott , I desy re to be in all frendly sort remembered to ° M r Nudi at e fel c t ff g , whose y y y I shall envy y lesse , y he wy ll accompany you once a year to this howse . ‘ w h r My brother salutes you even holl ha t , I commend o l ff 8c a my body s le y lands goods into your h nds , God prosper you 8: yours so shall nott I fayle to do well . th From Beac hampsc ourt this 2 0 off August 1 5 99 t by him y loves 8c honors you ' 3 Your M off your own favor 8c c urt esy e ff WL K E GR EV Y L E O . The 9 Cour t 89 Country L y e

The next letter, a year later, is written from Coventry , r eight miles from A bury, and is inscribed

To my servant best beloved 8c deerest esteemed rs M N i ate i e ud e v . never t o be changed An . g g thes My good servant I dare nott lett passe such a ‘ t messenger w hout my lynes , lest y may be imputed w° h c arelessnes or to me I hate above all things, forget fulnes off so fay t hfull a servant 8: so good a t frend . I am nott yett so well y I dare adventure to

: feele w ll ryde so farr Butt when I myself able , I y vy sy t e you God wyllinge 8: in ye meene t y me 8: ever ou 8c ou after love y be redy to do y pleasure . To

° y Lor d I leave y ou 8: him hartely pray t o geive y ou l all things agreab e t o your noble hart . ent re 2 8 off A reill 1 From Cov this p 600 . Your M" 8: ever assured frend w‘hout dissimulation ff OWL K E GR EV Y LE .

There are portraits of Anne and Mary at Arbury which must have been taken about this date . The elder ff sister , attired in hoop , farthingale , ru and distended

r sleeves , has the gentle , serious expression of her earlie portrait . She has the same dark hair and eyes, arched n on eyebrows and pale complexio . By her side a table ’ stands her little daughter encircled by the mother s arm . Mary Fy tt on is in full Court dress with high open

uff ff . now r , large hoop and pu ed sleeves She must 2 4 have

9 Cour t 89 Country Life have been at the height of her favour with her royal e mistress . The unformed girl has d veloped into a

- - o high bred looking lady with hands me grey eyes , fair complexion , and rather a long thin nose . The portrait - — of is only three quarter length , but gives the impression a tall slight figure . The expression has changed under the schooling of a Court life to one of a lmost studied a one demureness , le ding to suspect a vein of subtlety beneath ; or is it because we know her history that we discern so much l ’ Amongst all Anne s numerous correspondents we only 13 find one letter from her sister Mary . This written of in a scrawling hand , and contains nothing interest, but we gi ve it because it shows the affectionate terms existing between the ( WO SlStCl‘ S

ri s . M T s s r . o my dearest y te An . Newdigate Since distance bares me from so gret hapenes as I can a ou d o 13 w c seldom he r from y which when I so el ome, as I est eme nothing more wort hie and for your love o not e ueled ful mesuer which I d ut of shal be q in , but lest my lines t o t edius wear and time that limetes all t hinges -bares me of wordes which eles could never t o ses tel howe dear you ar , and with what sele I w desire your retourne , than can ish nothing then ’ your harte s desir and wil ever c ont inou Your afec t ionet

H Y TTO N MARY P . C H A P T E R I I

9 Dow nfa ll $ D isg r a ce

E have now reached a period when st 1rr1ng events took place at Eliza ’ beth s Court in connection with one f i s o our h ero ne . Sir William Knollys at this time had other troubles to distract him in ff addition to his hapless love a air . He writes his next hurried letter when much disturbed by the disgrace of hi s t of nephew, the valian but reckless Earl Essex

Gosse a n ffor Fayre pp , I must crave p rdo my so long sc ilenc e not gr owne by a negligent fforgeatfullnes off so ffr end fforc ed good a , but by a distraction I have had

His mo er w as Le c e a u er of Sir ranc no . th tti , d ght F is K llys 2 6

’ Ma ry s D ow nfa ll Disg r a ce

one f nephew Essex . He was later o the four members t o of the Privy Council sent parley with him , when

Essex , intoxicated by wild ambition , had assembled a crowd of his dependants with every sign of hostile intention at Essex House in the Strand . The other

- three were the Lord Keeper Egerton , the Earl of

of . Worcester , and Popham , Lord Chief Justice England After some parleying they retired with Essex into the house , when their graceless host bolted the door upon n off t o them in the in er apartments , whilst he went see what support he might hope for from the City of

London . Thus were these four of the Privy Council of of confined and left in custody a rabble , in peril their ” er inand o lives . In the end they were released by Sir F d s Gorge , and Essex expiated his succession of treasonable f attempts with his li e . In the next letter Mary Fy t t on appears still to be encouraging her elderly lover with hopes that she would be willing t o wait for him unti l he was free t o marry her .

osse soda ne de t ure Fayre g pp , your uncles y p and my coming by chance c ommg to London when he was ready e to take hys j or ny e y s cause you mu st looke

' ffor c o le iment s t me onl e no p at this y , y you shall know that true affection y s as well expressed in ffew 85 selff wisdome words as in manye , I assure my your ha doth not measure love by lynes . So as vy ng sal uted ’ Ma ry s D ow nfa ll Disg r a ce

‘ saluted you w h my best c omendac ions 8c assured you that I will be ever ready e to pfforme toward you all the good offy c es off a true ffrend : the best news I can se nd you y s that y our sy st er y s in good health 85 ‘ n u 2 or u goi g to the Co rt w hin 3 dayes , tho gh I ‘ think she could be better pleased to be w h hy r best

s st e u on n H r r s y r pp some co ditions . y g eatest feare y

roe t h e 85 that while the grasse g the hors maye starve, she thinketh a byrd in the bushe y s worth 2 in the 8: hand . But both she and I must have patience that

will bring peace at the last . Thus in some hast ‘ w h u t o selff k ndest my best sal tations your , and my y b lessy ng to my d arght er I wishe you your harts d esy re 8: will remay ne ever Your ffay t hffull ffrend and gossepp

W . KNOLLYS . This is the last letter in which the writer and Mary n f seem to have been o the best o terms . A cloud i ntervenes which will be explai ned in due course

y ffew Honorable gossep (writes Sir William) , our lynes but ver y e py t hy e and signifii c ant wear very e welc om to me 8: I think I shallb e fforc ed in as b reiff maner to retorne y ou myne by reasons off this bearers hast y e ‘ dep t ure but w h them a very e thankffull 8c brother ff Yt lyke acceptance o your kynd remembrance . was

' agay nst my will I saw you not this sorner I had pour posed y t but bei ng rest ray ned off my lib er t y e by 2 9 nec essary e ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll $ Disg r a ce

nec essar ye state oc c asy ons I was desposed off other

Y t s a roc h h n way es . y true that wynters pp y dered my j orny e t o Arb ery e and so unhappy e I am as I ff nd ffa ne t o ffeede u on never y somer , but being y pp the dead stork I lyve in doubt ever to enioy e the e ffr ut e off sw ete my sommers harvest . My ground

‘ ° y s covered w h the bramble 8: the bryer w h untill t 8: s no off y be grubbed cut upp ther y hope good . Yt maye be y ou c ontry e wy t t s maye gyve c ounc ell in

Adv se ext remit e such a case . y me I praye you in this y , ff b r n t ffr ut ffull and y I maye once y g y to a soyle , I doubt not but you shallb e p t aker off my longed ffor 8: husb andry e . This bearer hasteth awaye I will ff nd t me t o ou for y some other y to send y , so as this t yme wisshing y ou your harts desy r e I remay ne ever Your most assured ffr end

W . KN OLL vs . And again

Fayre Gossepp havy ng so convenient a messenger though my warning be but short I maye not suffer

‘ ° b y m to passe by y ou w hout some salutations w h in r egard off the humer I am put into though they can be but melanc oly e yeat to one t o whom I have benne so much b eholdy nge as y our ffay re self I will ever be iust M thinkes t s t t hankffull 8: . y y y py y e that 2 b ody es 8: one my nd so fii rmly e united as your sy st ers 8: shold u so off yours not end re much distance place, but ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll @ Disg r a ce

° but that y ou are both bound the one by hy r Ma servy c e the other by a c omandy ng hu sband 8: yeat I that am at the next dore doe think my selff now ffarther ffr om the place I most desy re then in the b e nnin off orn e s variet e off gy g my j y . Such y the y this world 8: the unc ert ay nty e off this t y me I must lyve in ffr ost 8: snow sub iec t t o blasts 8: all y ll wynds 8: shall I ffeare never be so h appy e as to ffa re fii ower off m possesse the y the su ers garden . I hope y ou dwell u nder a better c ly mat e where the sonne somt y mes c omffort et h though the soyle be b su iec t to ffoggs 8: mists . Make a vertu off nec essy ty e 8: sy nc e your lott ffell not to dwell in the land of promes where all things wear gy ven that wear

d es red owne c ot entment out off r y , work your you owne wor thines 8: be ever happier then your unffor t unat e gossepp who will ever be ready e to doe you respec t y b le servy c e r emay ning ever Yo ur affectionate ffrend and gossepp

W . KNOLLYS .

’ Anne s “ unfortu nate gossepp seems to have been when at Court not only figuratively b ut literally next of door to the abode of the maids honour . ’ Sir Nicholas L E st range relates the followi ng anec ” dote “ The Lord K nollys (as he became at James ’ “ ’ n I . s coronatio ) in Queen Elizabeth s time had its

n of Lad es lodgi g at Court , where some the y and 3 1 M ayde s ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll $ Disg r a ce

’ M ay des of Honour us d t o friske and hey about in the

ext reame dis uiet e n next room , to his q a ights though he often warned them of it at last he getts one t o bolt their own backe doore when they were all in one night st ri s off t o at their revells , pp ( ) his shirt , and so with a of on payre spectacles his nose and Aretine in his hand , comes marching in at a post erne doore of his owne n of chamber, readi g very gravely , full upon the faces Now them . let the reader judge what a sadd spectacle ’ a nd pitiful fright these poor creatures endur d for he ’ fac d them and often t raverst the roome in this posture ” above an hour . The next events in the Court life of Mary Fy tt on are ’ o n chiefly taken from Mr . Thomas Tyler s work ’ "e S haks ear e s we p Sonnets , to whom are much indebted for his researches into the history of this Maid of Honour in order to make good his theory that she was e the Dark Lady of the Sonnets . It may be as well t o state at once we think this theory cannot be proved . From the portraits at Arbury , Mary was in no respect the brunette described by Shakspear e as follows

’ M m re e e ar e no n e t h e sun y ist ss y s thi g lik , C oral is mor e red th an h er lips r ed I f now b e w e w h e n h er re a are d un s hit , y th b sts I f a r b e w r e ac w r e row on h er e a h i s i s, bl k i s g h d ; I h ave

Dav Nu 2 0 S ran 1 8 0 . id tt, 7 t d, 9 32 ’ Ma ry s D ow nfa ll Disg r a ce

’ I ave ee n r o e d am ask d red an d w e h s s s hit , B u no uc ro e s I in h r c e t s h s s ee e h e ks . and again

’ ere fore m m re e e ar e rave n ac Th y ist ss y s bl k , Her e e so u e and e mour ner eem y s s it d, th y s s uc w h o not orn fa r no ea u ac At s h , b i , b ty l k , a n w a fa e e st eme Sl anderi ng Cre ti o ith ls e .

on was not -c om Mary , the contrary , fair, dun ” lexioned was not p , her hair brown , black wires , and

- her eyes were grey , not raven black . Nor have we any hint in the letters that she had any

a Shaks eare person l acquaintance with p . n 1 600 Certai ly , in the year , William Kempe , the Clown ’ “ Shaks eare s n d aies in p Compa y, dedicated his Nine wonder t o M ist ris Anne Fitton Mayde of Honour to ” u most sacred Mayde Royal Q eene Elizabeth . The nn n e and name A e is plainly a mis om r for Mary , shows ’ how slight was Kempe s knowledge of the Mayde of n Ho our , though doubtless he selected her as his of patroness not only on account her natural gifts, but in order to ingratiate himself with one so high in h favour with Queen Elizabet . The book gives an accou nt of a journey which Kempe — had performed morris dancing from London to Norwich . In his dedication Kempe says

To shew my duet y t o your honourable selfe . whose fauours (among other b ount ifull fr iends) make me o (dispight ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll @ Disg r a ce

(dispight this sad world) judge my her t Corke and

heeles f t hinkes my eathers , so that me I could fly to Rome (at least hop to Rome as the olde P rouverb is)

on a . with a Morter my he d But in a word, your poore ser uant offers the truth of his progresse and profit t o your honourable View receive it I b eseac he n for you , such as it is , rude and plai e I know your

d lookes a pure ju gment . as soone to see beauty in l Blac kamoore or , heare smooth speach from a Stam

fi nd e n merer, as to any thi g but blunt mirth in a

daunc er a Morrice , especi lly such a one as Will Kemp , that hath spent his life in mad Jigges and merry

jestes . T f o quote further rom Mr . Tyler

It was in June of this same year ( 1 600) that there was a t r a remarkable festivity Blackf iars . William Herbert was present as was also a lady with whom

we shall be still further c oncerned in the sequel . The occasion of this festivity was the marriage of Lord Herbert (son of the Earl of Worcester) with a

rs of M . lady the Court , Anne Russell The Queen herself was there and having come to Blackfr iars by

water , she was carried from the water side in a lectica s borne by six knights . The bride wa conducted to church by the nobleman with whom we are now mor e

Th H o f t h e Sonne ? e W . . ts 34

’ 3 Ma ry s Dow nfa ll $ Disg r a ce

maskers choose 8 ladies more t o d awnc e the measures . M rs Fitton went t o the Queen 8: woed her to d awnc e ; her Majestic asked what she was ; Affec ” ff Affec tion , she said A ection said the Queen , s c a nc e tion i false . Yet her Majesti rose and d w d of n soe did my Lady Marques [ Wi chester] .

In the next January William Herbert became Earl of on of on Pembroke the death his father . The goings at the Court at this time seem t o have been notorious

lrs One M Martin who dwelt at the Chopinge Knife t near Ludgate tould me y she hath seene preists mary t me gentlewomen at the Courte, in that y when that M rs F tt on fauour of y was in great , and one her ’ t of and d urin e Majestie s maids honour , g the time y the Earle of Pembrooke fauord her she would put off her head tire and tucke upp her clothes and take a large white c loake and marche as though she had bene a man t o meet e the said Earle out of the * Courte . It must have been about this time that Sir William ’ K nollys writes to Anne in evident distress about Mary s conduct

Honorable gossepp so much have I benne ever b eh oldy ng

“ P r S a e a e ol i e C al. S a P a r Dom . . v v e e t t p s , Add . xxx f . t t p s . o 1 8 0—1 6 2 w n ame erro o D m . . . 1 1 er e t h e ne u Add , 5 5, p 4 , h is sly “ ” ven as L on gi ytt . 36 ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll @ Disg r a ce

b eholdy ng to y ou in your true respe c t yb le good opinion off me as I shold greatly e blame my self 8: be thought unwort hy e y ff I shold suffer your letters ret ur ne hav n to unanswered , not y g other means to maniffest how much I accompt my selff e nd eb t ed to

ffor r k nd nesses es ec iall e you you many y , p y in your well wisshing to me in a matter w°h most e mported ° w h n u me , I think will be cleane exti guished tho gh I leave nothing on my part to be donne ffor the nt nuainc e ff s nc e c o y thero . But y I know this discourse s ou u will nothing plea e y , let me ass re you that no ffrend y ou have shallbe more r ead y e to doe all the off c es of ffr end selff wisshin good y a true then my , g the pat tye I spoke off b effor e so worthy e 8: ffay r e a s nc e wisshes my nd as my gossepp hath . But y can not pr evay le I will hope the best 8: praye that God rec teff e ff en t hin will y y y g be amisse , accompting my ‘ selff the unffort unat e man aly ke to ffy nd that w h I had layed upp in my hart t o be my c omffort shold i mff rt wh e l become my greatest d sc o o . But y doe ‘ tr ob le ou w h y these things , let me lyve in your good 8: t 8: wisshin opinion I will ever deserve y , thus g y ou all contentment 8: your harts d esy r e I will ever re m ay ne Your ffay t hffull ffrend

W . KNOLL vs .

3 Mary Fy t t on seems to have bee n launched on a mad 37 career ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll $ Disg r a ce

n r of career that could only e d in disgrace . In a lette January 2 6t h of this year ( 1 60 1 ) from Sir John n Sta hope to Sir G . Carew we find this paragraph Of the persecution [which] is like to befall ‘ the poor ’ ’ in of t t on s ff maid s chamber Court , and Fy a lictions , s t o and la tly her commitment my Lady Hawkyns , of ' t hereb of the discouragement y the rest , though it be of of u now out your element to think , yet I do bt not but that some friend doth more . particularly * ou advertise y .

on rn of Next month , February 5 , the postscript a “ letter written from the Court by Sir Robert Cecil to

Sir George Carew , it is recorded

u We have no news but that , there is a misfort ne

l s tt on . befa len Mistre s Fy , for she is proved with of child , and the Earl Pembroke being examined n co fesseth a fact but utterly r enounc et h all marriage . I fear they will both dwell in the Tower awhile , for

the Queene hath vowed t o send them thit her . T

Then we come to a letter (in the “ Record Offi c e) ’ from

' Tobie Matthew to Dudle y Carle ton on M arch 2 5 which c ontains the following pas sage

The Earle of Pembroke is committed to the Fleet v r d his cause is deli e e of a boy who is dead . 1

“ M — 60 1 al S a e P a er arew SS 1 60 1 1 . C . . . t t p s , C 3, p 3 “ ” al 6 1 I . . 2 0 . I C . S a e Pa er Dom . 1 0 1 bid p t t p s , 38 ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll @ Disg r a ce

’ Thus Mary Fy tt on s short but brilliant career at Court came to an untimely end in dire disgrace . The Maid of Honour especially favoured by the Queen and adored by the Comptroller of the Household only

' seems to have escaped imprisonment in the Tower by commitment to my Lady Hawkyns for her c onfi ne ment . It is not surprising that her parents were greatly dis t u u tressed at his shamef l catastrophe , tho gh they still apparently hoped Pembroke could be induced to marry their daughter . Sir Edward Fy tt on writes t o Anne from London soon afterwards

sorr e l Sweet Nan , I ame very y that you are not we l osse e and so is your good G p also [Sir Wm . h Knollys w o hath him c omended to y ou hart yly e . ou ffr om i n I pray y lett heer you as I doe , I ame ’ some hope of your Sister s enlargement shortly, but

what wilb e the end with the Erle I cannot tell . So

Ir d el verid o sone as [I] canne you shall heere, I have y y " letter to my Lady Der b y e and so praying y ou y f this b er er cannot ot her way se doe that you help to

' hyre him a horse to Ly c hefii ld to my owst at the ‘h George : and so w my very harty c omend ac y ons I t h bid you farrewell this xxij of Aprill 1 60 1 Y ’r loving father 8: friende D E ff Y TT N O .

- S on w fe of Sir o n er on t h e Lor ee er . ec d i J h Eg t , d K p 39 " 9 Ma ry : D ow nfa ll $ Disg r a ce

Good Nan mak sure that this b erer have a horse to L c heffild f n h ssh y y ot to C e y re .

Her mother adds a few lines on the same sheet My owen good Nan this letter must sarve for us

h . boet bee waer how you take phesec k . let mee e an heer how you doo . Whan w heer y good newes u a y o sh ll heer form mee . God blese you and yours Your lovy ng c arfull mother

ffY TO N . A .

E tt n There is a letter from Sir dward Fy o to Sir R . ’ Cecil in Lord Salisbury s collection on this matter . It 1 6 1 60 1 u is dated May , , and shows that some press re had been exercised to induce Lord Pembroke to consent ff to a marriage , but without e ect

nothin e b ut

I can saye g of the Erle , my daughter is confident in her chance before God and wist hethe my ff Lo . and she might but meet before in di erent

for h me senes . But my self I expect no good from y kin t hat in all this t y me hat he not shewed any d nes . I cou nt my daughter as good a gentlewoman as my Lo is though the dignity of honour (be gr eater only e

s w° h b e iled ffeare lo in him) bathe g her I , except my * ver uoes honesty bee the greater t .

This letter is written from Stanner, where Sir Edward was obliged to stop on his road to Cheshire, his daughter being ’ ’ ”

s Sonne e d 1 8 0 . 0 . er Sh a ks e are . Tyl s p ts, 9 , p 9 4 0 ’ 9 Ma ry s Dow nfa ll $ Disg r a ce

i t oo u being w th him and weak to t ravel farther. Th s he had obtained her enlargement from “ my La n Hawkyns keepi g and was carrying her homewards , a but app rently in secrecy . Francis Fyt t on writes to his great- niece Anne Newdigate eight days later on the 2 at h of May 1 60 1

r Myne owne sweete niece I t hanke y ou moche for y o of 1 of e laste the 4. this instante (lately by me rec ived) so l kew se and y y for many other before , because I honor

you and love you as any the d eareste fr inds you have . I suppose your father by his stolne j orne into Chesshy (r e) (unknowne t o me) b athe a c quient ed you

‘ Ir w h so met hinge c onc er ny nge y o Sy st ers estate . ‘ Howe true I knowe not for I fy nd halt inge w h me in

the r u all y courses for her . God gra te be for the 8: nothin e beste , but for ought I knowe can see I see g better nor cause of better hope then before 8: I wisshe ° all things for her good so well a s y ou d e sy r e w h is all d oo t en I can , and so good neece fare well thousand ffr om lod i e ty mes . my g ng the signe of the Black ’ Boye a Chandler s house neat e the weste end of the

Savoye in the Strand this 2 4 th of Maye 1 60 1 . Your lovinge uncle and assured poore fr ind fR A N C Y s

t y r o N .

I praye y ou remember me very ki ndly to your good u b husband and d oo longe to see y o oathe . ’ ’ Ma ry s Dow nf a ll y t D isg t a ce The next letter from Sir William Knollys must have been written after Mary had left the Court and gone to her faithful sister Anne . In spite of all that had occurred the infatuated man seems still a victim t o her charms

Gosse sweete 8: was Fayre pp , pleasant the blossom off f 8: c ordiall my love , so com ortable to my hart d as I had therin place all my delight, I must confesse the harvest was overlong expected yeat had I left nothing und onne in manury ng the same but that y t might have brought fforth both holsom 8: pleasy ng ff e off hav n r ut . But the man synne [Pembroke y g in the night sowed tares emongst the good corne both the true husbandman was beguiled and the good u nha e gro nd abused . How much more u ppy am I ‘ who though w h all the care 8: ind ust ry e I can use t o b r fformer ood nes e s t bring this soyle to y g , y at y y

m ossib le ffor reva le 8: God y p me to p y , knows I r e us would ff e no penance to redeme what y s lost . I write not this t o greve b y r whom I have so much selff ffor no loved nor your good , ther can be greater pu nishment to me then to be a cause off ey t her your ‘ sa n d es to whom I wish so well w hout comparison . I know your sy st er y s to apt t o be melanc oly e 8: you c an e h r r i ee l e appr hend y g e ffs more d p y then I wish . not ne h r e ther off . t e But you are alone , y can y you be ‘ so often rememb red w h sad thoughts as I am dfor that

° w h I can not remedy e 8: yeat can never: cease t o greve at

’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll @ . D isg r a ce

but in both I wish you as much joye 8: c omffort as

r selff des re M Newdi your can y . I praye you tell gate that b y r Mat“ underst a ndy ng off the match

lr b e twene M Pagett and my ney c e doth so well like t heroff as she doth not only e c omend hym but all those w° h wrought a d e ly veranc e off my Ney c e ffrom b r n 8: yt n wr t e y bo dage , wear to lo g to y how ex c e in l e l off ed g y she a loweth the match . But he shall not need to speak to much heroff untill my Nephew s e e t Pagett hath benne here 8: y d spos d to publish y . ‘ s st er w h or Whether your y be you no I know not, b ut yff she be add somt hy ng to your love off hy r ffor my sake who would d esy re nothing more off God then that she wear as capable off my love as I have ever t 8: off t onl e meant y , what will become y God y

t suff c e ff r s knoweth . Let y y that my y t love shall ever

b r self h r bynd me to love y , your and all that love y , 8: thus praying God t o send you health 8: happines I remay ne ever Your t ruly e affectionate gossepp

W . KNOLLYS . ff ou Burne my letters y y please .

’ We now come t o Sir William Knollys last letter and of give it here, although the date is in advance the l not t o we . period , which must return later It cou d 1 60 as have been written until after July 3, it is “ addressed To my very lovy ng ffrend 8: gossepp my 44 La ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll $ Disg r a ce

La : Newdigate ; and John Newdigate was not knighted until the above da te .

r 8: wort h e Gosse Eath er Fay e y pp , your being the messenger I maye not but aunswer both your lynes ‘ ‘ w h s m le n 8: k ndnes w h thys y p pen e , your y whatso s ff des rous ever a true hone t hart maye a ord , y still to cherish all the branches oE that root e i nto the w° h my E i n raff unchangeable love was so y rmly e g ed . What t selE 8: d d y was your the world y know , but what t s oul e s e n oE y y my hart y y s sible , yeat maye I rs b oldl e eart hl e r s M oE y saye no y c eature y my Love , ‘ nor s as w h y like to be , not willing to trust a woman ‘ that w h was so treuly e gyv en 8: so undeserv edly e reiec t ed E nd t n not unles t . Where to y y I k ow , y be ey t her hydden in my selE or layed upp by some who suEer y t to rust in some out roome oE t hey r carles not st aE in thoughts . But wear I tyed to a white court 8: had libert y e I would like a knight adventurer never rest untill I Eound better entert ay nment Eor so S ritt u or good a guest . But what py g ids my penne ,

why ther d oe I wander . You may guesse at my she s Ear Er om ou meaning , y not y that maye dis sipher thys rydle 8: I maye b oldly e saye that d d c hewse h r Marye y not the better part, yeat lett y I praye you know that no man c a n wish hy r mor e ° happi nes 8: conte ntment then I doe w h I will be d e maniEest u on oEered n 8: rea y to pp eny occasio , though ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nfa ll $ 1 Disg r a ce

though hy r c orirendac ons t o me in your last letter wear very e ordy nary e yeat let me be remembered t o you both in the best manner I can as one who can not seperat t hys thoughts Et om the remembrance oE

former bands . t m e b ut wishi n ou 8: No more at thys y , . g y my god sonne health 8: happines I r emay ne ever Your a thEull Erend 8: gossepp KNO L L v s W . , Excuse me I praye you Eor not wr it y ng to your unky nd sy st er whose so long sc ile nc e maketh me n Eor ot t en 8: b et selE hav n thi k she hath g me , I y g few deserved more than a f lynes , but I am pleased

sy nc e she will have it so .

of In spite this last touching appeal , Mary does not seem to have been inclined t o respond t o her old ’ aEec t ion fr iend s protestations of . n n 1 60 Co sequently , whe in 5 Dorothy Lady Knollys was died , and Lord Knollys (as he created at the n f coronatio o James I . ) became released from the ties r so was t t on he had bo ne impatiently , it not Mary Fy n who succeeded to the vaca t place . ’ n n d h n Two mo ths after Lady K ollys ecease , her usba d a u married Lady Elizabeth How rd , da ghter of Thomas Sq lk n and her Earl of , she bei g nineteen bridegroom - ne sixty o .

’

P ro a nne ec on son c ar or n i n 1 602 . b bly A s s d , Ri h d, b 4 6 ’ 9 Ma ry s D ow nf a ll $ Disg r a ce

We may here briefly relate the r emainder of Sir Wil ’ ’ “ liam s history as extracted from B ur ke s Exti nct a nd ” 2 nd n Dormant Peerages of Great Britain , Editio , 1 84 0 In 1 6 1 4 Lord Knollys was appointed Master of the r and r n n Wa ds , within a sho t time i stalled K ight of 1 6 1 6 V u the Garter . In he was created isco nt in n n a . Walli gford , and advanced by Ki g Ch rles I 2 6 t o r e 1 6 the Ea ldom of Banbury . He di d in

n - 1 6 32 at the adva ced age of eighty eight . The subseq uent history of this peerage is one of t he in most curious the whole record of peerage claims . U of a pon the decease the Earl of B nbury , the inquisi u n tion found that he died without iss e , but leavi g a

r widow , Elizabeth , his last wife . His honours we e n and t o then deemed exti ct , his estates passed his u collateral heirs , excepting s ch as he had devised to his V who u . widow, remarried Lord a x In a few years this lady produced two sons , born during her marriage with Lord Banbury , her first husband . They had at l V first been cal ed aux, but now she set them up as the n of so s the Earl of Banbury , and gave to the eldest

the title of that earldom . n n Litigation on this poi t e sued , with varying results n u 1 8 1 for some generatio s, ntil 3, when the claim to the Earldom of Banbury by the then representative of the family was fi nally rejected .

' Thus Dorothy K n ollys was avenged . 4 7 C H A P TE R I I I

Tb e L ev eson L etter s

E here take up the thread of Anne ’ f t o Newdigate s li e , which seems have been chiefly spent at Arbury amid f her increasing amily . In 1 600 her eldest son was born and

d - n of name John , the christian ame f f r the heads o the family o many generations . A second son 1 6 02 was n arrived in and christe ed Richard , probably Leveson of after his godfather , Sir Richard Trentham of and Lilleshall , who was an admiral in the reign

Queen Elizabeth . t o tt ons Sir Richard was related Anne through the Fy . of t t o n His grandmother , who was a sister Francis Fy , ’ - n n Leveson . A e s great uncle , married Sir Richard Their 4 8 son The L ev es on Letter s son of our , Sir Walter , was the father Sir Richard , who e 1 6 a nd app ars to have been born about 5 9, therefore nn was only five years older than his cousin A e . L eveson n Richard e tered the navy at an early age , and quickly distinguished himself in the various actions of ’ of n the latter part Queen Elizabeth s reig . His pro

was . 1 6 on motion rapid In 5 9 he was knighted , and ’ t n n James I . s accession o the thro e he was appoi ted

of n or V - d ra lieutenant of the Admiralty E gland , ice A mi l f f r o England o life . In the following year he was made Marshal in the embassage for the conclusion of an peace between England d Spain . When under twenty years of age he was married to of Margaret , daughter Lord Howard , afterwards Earl

of Efli n ham . g The marriage turned out unfortunately , ’ un Margaret s fate being a l atic asylum . There is a full -length portrait of Sir Richard in the

- r drawing oom at Arbury . He is in a black dress suit — with knee breeches, carries a sword suspended from his n on In side , and is sta ding by a table which is a globe . n n and perso he is tall and thin , with the complexio eyes

that accord with his red beard and moustache . ’ one f n r n n He was o A ne Newdigate s co respo de ts , whose u r r and n letters she has caref lly p ese ved , evide tly these u cousins were much attached to each other . His us al of mode addressing her is as Sweet w , though at the same t ime he is on the be st of terms with her of husband , John Newdigate, whom he speaks as 4 9 D Jake The Da wson Letter s

“ “ Jake or Jak . It seems to have been in accord ance with the fantastic fashion of the time t o adopt terms of relationship between close friends which did n t n o exist i reality . Anne has kept letters from women who friends address her as Deare Sister or Swete Sister, and were it not that we know she had only one real — — we sister Mary, the maid of honour should imagine she had been one of a large number of Fy t t on daughters . Among those who wr ote to her in these terms are

Elizabeth (Nevill) Lady Grey , Mildred (Cooke) Lady

Maxey, and Elizabeth (Beaumont) Lady Ashburnham . ’ Sir Richard Leveson s letters are as frank and hearty as ’ r a sailor s should be . He never wande s into the language of nor parable , like Sir William Knollys , wastes pens and

r t oo pape in elaborate compliments , as was much the n habit of the time . He seems to have bee generous to u oEer in a fa lt , always sending Anne presents and g her f the use of his purse . His letters have the advantage o n of being dated, with only two exceptio s , the earliest which must have been written before Sir John was knighted , being addressed

lrs To my Lovinge Cosin M Anne Newdigate at

r A bury , these with speed Deare partner I can wry t e y ou no Nuse fr om this place becau se all Oc c ur r ant s are According to the

Time (semi mortua) . They have resolved since my

mi n e out a a ne c o g up to send me g y , Though the pr inc ipall

Tb e L e veson Letter :

t h ‘ f . Corfi end The 4 o feb I am gone . my service to r fi s “E y o sister and tell M Waspsnest y t she b est owe [the n E rest is tor o ] .

l Sir Fu ke Greville writes to Anne about the same date , also complaini ng of the ties of her nursery and tendering

of advice on the subject her maternal duties , which seem to have exercised the minds of mor e than one of her n correspondents . But with Anne devotion to her childre was n her most promi ent characteristic, and she never abandoned any of the rights of a mother towards her f in ants , as is her proud boast hereafter .

To his much honored best beloved and deerest

rs M at Nu e . esteemed servant An . dyg

My fondlei beloved servan t such as y ou left me styll t hou he 8: unc er tein st ll I am , g lame in my lyms yett y assured 8: constant in my love 8: frendship t o y ou sor owy nge in nothinge moore for y ou butt yt you wyll sty ll c ont y new a nurse 8: by yt meanes hold backe fr om such as much love 8: desy re your com pany Y t t wy ll b esydes make age grow upon y ou 8: I wy she y ou alwey s greene 8: flor y shinge as you wer ou e ri when y were in your prym . My pylg mage groweth to an end being over almost to a full poynt oE ye y eares yt ky nge Davyd appoy nt s for ye y eares oE

’ Sir c ar n c name for e M ar New a e Ri h d s i k littl y dig t . 5 2 Tb e L ev es on Lett e r s

‘ oE w h w she u a man is threescore and ten . I y yo r ‘ y ear es may be d ub led w h such happy nes 8: co ntent t ‘ ment oE ly Ee y you may be joyfully heare w h you r

frend s 8: l Ee ever last n e 8: after have y y g , in this o l u g d y h mor I leave you to his blessed keepy nge . t h From your c hardge att my Lodge this 4 March Your ever lovy nge trew assured frend 8: M '

EOW L K E GR EV Y L E .

n This letter, from the date , was writte shortly before the of n death Queen Elizabeth , which event , as we k ow , on 2 th of 1 6 0 took place the 4 March 3, and caused r much excitement in the count y . Sir Fulke Greville took a decisive step when the tidi ngs reached Warwick . l U n Camden te ls us , pon the news of the death of Quee

e i Elizab th , he being at Warw ck at the great assize ca me down from the be nch and with some of his friends proclaimed King James which the judges of the circuit ” refused to doe . n An e Newdigate , in her anxiety for news at this critical

’ n n period , sends a messe ger to Lo don to her cousin Sir Le veson t o Richard , who writes her in answer

The bearer herof c om 1nge to my Chamber befor I was need es somt hin e t up would have me to wright g , here for y ou are more beholden t o his importunity than to The L a vas an Letter s

t o my disposition which at this Instant is ether very

or ex c ee in l slepy d ge su len . for I am the worst Intelligencer in the world , I never of learne walke out my way to newes , but what I k n know you shall have . The y ge is now at Newcastle u on wa o d o not pp his y towards L ndon , but we expect

” his Arr y vall befor the funerall of on late Queue which is appoy nt ed t o be uppon Thursday in lEst er we looke weeke, and about twenty dayes After do for Co nc ll . u e the Coronation The standeth as it did , but some Addition is resolved which is yet kept see c ret Sou thampton is at lyb ert y and promy set h much t o * Ir himself : M onioy e I hope shalb e sent for and y o ’ Sister s m ist res uppon Sonday last did looke passinge merely [merrily The Queenes old M ay des (or ’ rather) the old Queene s M aydes (I hope) shalb e ‘ entert a ned nomb er Nevill y by the newe , in which r ’ by my consent shall weare the Admirall s fl agge and fla st aEe his g also . f Cit t e or now t o . Thus much the Court, the y Our

L or M on o e w as r a e a f n 0 d tj y c e t d E rl o Devo shi re z l st J uly 1 6 3.

" 1 M rs . Nev w as a o n e M a of Honour i n 1 60 1 an d eem ill pp i t d id , s s t o ave ee n a oun a of a v o Sh e w as not h b y g l dy li ely disp siti on . r ea o n e t h e new ue en Th e anc en c oa - of—ar m of t h e pp i t d by q . i t t s Ne v c on a ne a a e a nd w as ome m e c a e Nevi ills t i d g ll y, s ti s ll d ll A m r a t o n u from t h e o er c oa - of- arm Nev or ( d i l), disti g ish it th t s ill Fi tz M aldr ed of a a o u e t h e fam ma ( R by), ls s d by ily . This y ’ ’ e a n Sir c ar o e a ou t h r a fla a a aff xpl i Ri h d s j k b t e Admi l s g nd fl gst . 54 The L e veson Letter s

merc hant es on vo c e roc la me Our with y p y peace , then shall I and many other honest fellowes be layed up in wardro e the pp . London st reet es shall be hanged with

t of th e Clo h Gould when kinge cometh , The Stones Cu ndit ts Renissh covered with Arras , the runne alred u on wyne y , And my Lord Mayor pp his Ass Ranketh his brethren in steed of a stand of py kes to rec eave th e Kinge . Ether come up now and se this r or o whillest ou for bravery close y eyes y lyve , I hope ou a a ne y shall never se it g y , And let Jaks colpitts ’ [Jack s coalpits] pay for all . Thus (deare partner)

r havinge opened my packe it resteth in y o power to Cho se make y of the ware , You have it as I paye for it and y f my st uE prove good sweet partner let me ’r o c ust ome have y . t h l London the 1 2 of Ap 1 60 3 ' Yos in all assured nes

RICHARD L EV ES O N . Comend or f t o l tt e ll me to y sister y she be there , y was snest odsonne p , Jacke and my g , it may be I will see you shortly .

’ The reference in this letter t o your Sister s mist ris is difli c ult to explai n unless it refers t o the so- called mother of the maids of honou r at the time Mary was at Court . From the context one might have thought it referred to ’ Lord M ontj oy e s wife ; but at that time he was not law fully married to Penelope , sister of the Earl of Essex and 5 5 Wife Toe L ev eson L etter s

. a n 8 t h wife of Lord Rich Ch rles Blou t , Baron Montjoye a of and afterw rds Earl Devonshire , had distinguished one himself in the defeat of the Spanish Armada . The blot on his career was his connection with Lady Rich (the of Stella Sir Philip Sidney) , by whom he had several children and whom he married after her divorce in 1 60 5 . In a letter from Francis Fy t t on to his great- niece Anne we find there was some discussion as to whether she and her husband should come to London at this interesting t o moment . We cannot say if Anne were able free herself from the bondage of her pretty n ursery for the u occasion , but her h sband was knighted at Whitehall in l 6 1 0 . Ju y of this year , 3 ’ In a postscript of Francis Fy t t on s letter he says “ i o' I praye to be remembered very k ndly to my neece , y ” Sister ; and on the next page he adds one or two items of gossip he had heard respecting the Queen 5 one Boold t hou he movements from Mr . as g the ° Queene bathe had lately some my shapp (w h is not t o be spoken) and doubted could not keepe the ty me ” a oint ed for c om n e u was p her y g . Conseq ently it “ u ncertain when - would be the t y m e of c oronac on if ” fa t e the c be treue . He also mentions a probability of the next e terme being “ put oE or at leaste not at of london by reason of the greate concourse people , the ” s c knes beate season of the y eare and feare of the y . Anne supplements this news with some of her own h n f w ich she has written o the back o the same letter . 5 6 M ' The L e ves on Letter s

” M Greville (she writes) haet h lost the sec r et ory ship of

: . Wales , it is given to a Scotsman my lo Anderson The queene is not delivered t houghe the report was was yt in so , onely shee discontented they Scotland will not lett the young prince come with her : it is ’ t hou hte t o t a e g be the lo of Merle s devise for his s y .

The K . was much tr ob led at it 8: haet h sent the u d ke into Scotland about the prince . The daye of 10 crownation holdeth certaine . It is sayed from my

of ove nt r e hunt boeth the K . 8: Q . come to C y to * ’

. 8: c er t in l S e nc r s o . a e e . e corme Sir J H y to Sir R p ,T d ‘ w d aint r e is within 5 miles of y , for so he tolde ” haeth M Salter and doeth make provision , he pro mised that I shall knowe the daye -certaine of her c mein o g thither .

of Before leaving this period of the accession James I . to the throne we will quote a letter from Edward

who one n Reed , seems to have been of the ge tlemen ’ t o attached Sir Fulke Greville s retinue , and who writes for him t o Anne to give her the latest news of the i t me .

om e e near oven r a re e nc e w c La Harr n on C b Abb y, C t y, sid hi h dy i gt h ad r ou m arr a e t o Sir Harr n on Pr n c e z a e b ght by i g J oh n i gt . i ss Eli b th w as s en t by t h e Queen t o C ombe Abbey w hen she w en t h ersel f t o Althorp on 2 5 t h J une 1 6 0 3. ‘l Sir R ober t Spenc er w as c re a t ed B ar on Spe nc er of Wor ml eighton a l st u 1 6 0 Th e ( ue en and P r nc e Henr v e or J ly 3. L i y isit d Alth p 2 t h une 1 6 0 5 J 3. 5 7 The L ev eson Letter s

“ time . The letter is inscribed to my much honored ” lad e lad e 1 y the y Newdigate , and as it is dated the 4th — of March must have been written in 1 6 03 4 . It runs as follows

M addam

” S Foulke uppo his ret urne from Warwicke is much t rub led a nd with the gout in his hand elbow, how it or will increase decrease I know not , but wish the

best his health . The oc c urenses above you have (I assure myself) hard for sollem of, if not , there are great preparations the f na i fi nishinge the c erremonise o the c orro t one . As s it for the feast , the tate thinks fit , should be spared ’

u nnessesar e ex enc e . so great and y p , beinge needles of Fower Earls are to be created , three them are * Chaunsler lord . Treasur er these , my lord , my , Tmy lord Cicile ; 1 the fowert h I have not heard named ; Dewks

Sir oma er on Lor ee er w as c rea e B ar on e mere Th s Eg t , d K p , t d Ell s 2 1 st u 1 60 and a o n e L or anc e or r ee a a e r J ly 3, pp i t d d Ch ll th d ys l t ; h e w as c r ea e V c oun Br ac e t h Novem e r 1 6 1 6 and t h e t d is t kl y 7 b , E arldom w hi c h is s aid t o h ave b een promis e d t o him w as c onferred son h M a 6 u on 2 t 1 1 . p his , 7 y 7

‘ 1 Sir om a Sac v e Lor B uc ur w as r e a o n e Lor Th s k ill , d kh st, pp i t d d rea urer for fe 1 t h r 1 6 0 and c re a e ar of Dor e T s li 7 Ap il 3, t d E l s t 1 t h M ar c 1 60 — 3 h 3 4 . 1 Sir R ob er t C ec il w as c r ea t ed B aron C ec il of Ess end on 1 3th M a 1 60 V c oun r a n orne 2 0th u u 1 60 and ar of y 3, is t C b A g st 4, E l Sa ur th M a 1 60 lisb y 4 y 5 . 5 8

The L ev es on Letter s

I have now not hinge else t o say but do entreat you as you love me to comand any t hinge that is myne r But about Lillesell as freely as y ou do at Arb e y . because I have not hinge but wyld Chat t ell i n a par ke I may make y ou large promy sse and of them make

” no d ay nt y e but send to y o Cosin Willia M ey or at all

” times that will obeye yo warrant . I intend God willinge to come down so soone as I have despatched on littel peece of a Buy sines which I

” d o b ou and o owerly attend , and then y y sister must f t shortly a ter prepare o visite my lodge . In the mean and ever I will rest fay t hfully y os E V E S O RICHARD L N .

Before Sir Richard writes again Anne seems t o have had cause t o reproach him for negligence in his w u correspondence ith her . The terms h sband and of t o w he makes use read strangely modern ears , more especially when cordial greetings are sent t o the ” our real husband and children .

Sweet w it is my fashion I must confess and my f t o fault , y it be a faulte be less curious with thos I h love t an with others whom I less respect . If then my love and observance to y ou hath not bin so often tendered by Letters as my harte could a rde Let my promy se for Amendment and my ope n confession of The L‘en eson Letter s

’ of finde n for h oEenc e my fault pardo t . On parte ” ” of y o last letter sheweth some distrust in y ou of y o husb andes u for love, which I sho ld be very sorry if I did not knowe that wher perfect love is se t led there of necessity some sparkes of feare and j elousie must e n r may e . Bu t y f ever I be so unfort unat as t o geve iust cause n therof, which shall never be without just precede t motiv es It shall not be d on by signes 8: figures but in that fashion that doth best b esem e an open honest

r f end .

Till that Time come , which I hope shall never come , be assured (sweet wyff) that I am and wilb e

” Y o fay t hfull frende and lovy nge cosi n

RICHARD L EV ESON .

” ” I have sent yo Chayne though I have seen yo o wn f f handwr y t inge agay nst it But no more o that y ar ne t t s n y ou love me I have sent also some g , whe ” y ou se the size y f y ou will send order to me how yo stones shalbe sett I will do my best though I am

badd at it an d take it for a favour . This of ‘ May 1 604 ” Comend me to my fellow Joh n and all ou children .

On the 2 oth o f October 1 604 he writes

Sweet w yo” salutations sent unto me by S” Walter Le veson ' The Defves on Letter s

Le veson are as welcome I assure y ou as they can be to any m an Ly vinge and I t hanke you very hartely for ” n yo kinde remembrance . In these i fected Times I know that y ou will wante many t hinges which the Cont rey will not y eald And t her for good Nan lay any t hinge uppon m e that this place and my power c an a rde and use no other bod y but my self. In the mean and ever I will pray for yo” health and good deliverance and so rest

r Yo lovinge Cos i n t o his last hower

RICHARD L EV ES O N .

on 2 nd Nov 1 60 Again the . 4

Sweet Nan I have sente you by this bearer an odd

” RuEe of a New fashion when yo Sister lefte it for y ou and wythall a poore Remnant e of my own which I found in the Corner of a Tr unk e and d o now n in n e treat you to accepte good parte . I lo ge to ” heare of yo safte delivery , which God in heaven r a unt e ou And n or g y . whe soever my love service may stand you in any steed as I do now beare the Title

’r of y o husband so let me carry thus much credit with ” you that I wilbe more at yo Devotion than the best h usb and es n es of are ge erally to the best reputed w . And

P ro a c ou n Si r a er Leveson o f mor e w om h e b bly his si W lt Ash s , h ’ m en on in w . Sir c ar fa e r Si r a er e i n ti s his ill Ri h d s th , W lt , di d

1 60 2 .

6 2 The L ev es on b etter :

And so sweet Nan with my eveninges and m orninges prayer I c omit you t o the hand es of the Almighty

” Y o fay t hfull lovinge Cosin till death L E V S RICHARD E O N .

’ In u this month of November , Anne s second da ghter a nd fourth child was born a nd named Lettice . Two months la ter Sir Richard corresponds with her on a matter of some delicacy concerning the expected arrival o f n e a royal i fant , for which a nurse would be r quired of rank combined with other essential qualifications . Anne Newdigate ’ s claims for this post seem to have been warmly urged by her friends .

Sweet w in this shot te space of my Arrivall in t hese par tes I understand not so much t owc hinge

” yo Aa res as I desire to know and t her for y ou must not looke for such satisfaction from me now as I o hope to send y u by my next .

” But fallinge aboard some of yo fr endes neer Chancery Lane I have now brought them t o be of on” syde a a ns l albeit they were strongly g y t us . (They do on y n r at take it to be my project and o other p y v humor . ) And we are all res olved to runne on Cou rse (vizt to sound the pleasure of the great one how this great God send him us sh alb e disposed) that thereby yo

frendes s ed el e n may p y resolve for you , eth r to e ter t ay ne the pr oiec t or to have the honor of r efusinge ” it in the mee ne Time yo own apt nes and sufli c ie nc y 6 3 sha lb e The L ev eson Letter s

shalbe so infused to the Q : as I dare assure y ou no ” other will leape over y o heade I mett yesterday with on of the K phisit ions my familiar frend and t hinkinge t o extract somethinge

r l f om him , by way of discourse at last he tou d me that ther wer e divers Gentlewomens na mes put in to a Bill for this imploy ment and that the K : phisitions were to examine and geve ther opinions of ther apt nes k for that Charge as by t astinge of ther M yl e etc . This is pr obable but rather than my w shalbe drawen in by this kinde of election Ile walke on foote Arb er to y to kepe her at home . To be shor t e I will use all my best faculties in hand linge of the b uy sines wherein Ile either Joyne reputa

n w t h f r tio y hope of pre erment o Ile do not hinge . But alredy I can assure y ou that y ou have had very good offi ces d on for you which shalb e continued wy th my best helpe and so sweet Nan farwell

th ” ” This 1 7 Y os y os of : 1 6 0 L EV ES O N Jan 4 [5] RICHARD . ” For want of paper I will wr y t e not hinge of M ou b in oo l b erall of Marwood but y have t y my purse . Good Nan send my unc kle b usines letter away with

speed .

There se ems to have be en a letter before this next one which was not sent

Sweet w I wrote on Letter unto y ou 4 dayes sithence which The L ev es on Letter s which hath stayed with me for want of a messenger Since which Time Ned M ay nwari nge hath end evored to enforme him self and as I t hinke hath wry t t en u u n n n id nto you the s bsta ce of his I tellige ce . I d ever beleve that the old Lady had some pry vat endes : albeit I will still pursue my end vizt that you may

” ether have it to some house 01 yo ow n with a n absolute power or ells sitt still and have the honour

ef s th erfor I of r u inge it . This messenger is in hast say no more but desire to heare from you sped ely so in hast I rest Yos” L EV E S O N RICHARD . th This 5 of fe 1 6 04 [5] Comend me I pray you and excuse me to my fellow n John that I wr y t e not u to him .

The project falls through , and Sir Richard writes again 1 60 on the 2 I st of Feb . 4 Sweet w si nce the wr y t inge of my last it is secretly tould me that a person of good qua llety fr om whos Allian c e I have somt imes taken dependenc y desireth the keepinge of the Child when it is borne t (a nd is like to have it y she seeks) a nd for the avoydinge of all Compe t enc y e it is plotted that a woman of some ordi nary respect shalb e the Nurse u albeit ther be many s tors . Thu s much hath bin pry vatly delivered u nto me and by some c as uall discour se I have found it to be

13 probable . The -L ev es on Letter s

r not n b ut ou p obable . I dare ame the persons y may

c oniec t ur e “ whom they are . It resteth then for you wy sely and sped ely to resolve uppon knowledge wher of

” n halb e l And m s love yo directio s s fol owed . so with y and harty wel wy shinge to all at Ar b er y I rest

” Att y o disposition L EV E S O N RICHARD . ssest f The Q . is po with so good an opinion o ” y o worth and sufli c ient y as wy t hin these 4 dayes she i f tooke oc c at on t o speake o y ou .

’ And now we come t o Sir Richard s last letter on this ’ we fi nd old subject , in which that Anne s friend and gossip had also been interesti ng himself on her behalf

Sweet w I c an say no mor e unto you than I wrote unto you in my last which I hope is come unto

” d yo bandes only my L K nowles hath promy sed to wy rit e unto y ou who disc erninge the c ariage of

” t hinges d esist et h now from ou former cour se but Ee continueth still to y ou p assinge well a c t ed . It may

” t herfor please y ou in yo next t o me to bestow a fewe lynes uppon him Ac knowledginge some t hankes unto

S ” his Lo p and dec lar inge yo my nd to be as free from ent ert ay ninge unworthy conditions as you were apte at first to noury she a ny hope that mought bri nge

” prob ab illit y ofAdvancement to yo house and posterity which you are able to expresse in better wordes and I will

The L e ves on Letter s

‘ t o health whom I send that purpose , and w hall to intr eat you to acquaint mee what you heare of the ’ n of ” L eveson s ma er S Richard death , and what

or report opinion there is of his wealth , and how hee hath disposed of his estate : and in whom the trust n thereof is specially left . This I desire to k ow for the love and honor I bare him whilst he lived And ‘ because therein your aEec t ion concurred w h myne I must now respect and honor you so mu ch the more ‘ her f w h veri e w o I pray y ou rest assured . So my

” h art ie c omend at ions to your self S John Newdigate and t o poore Penelope I rest Your assured loving frend

Ev Y L L L x E GR EV . Good M addam lett mee know what hee hath done

for his sister Penelope .

’ of Leveson s We have a copy Sir Richard will , dated 1 60 now March 5 , made from the register at Somerset

House , from which the following extracts are taken

In the name of the Almight ie and et er nall God Le veson Lillieshall Amen . I Richard of in the

c ount e of 10 k ni ht e n fec t e and y Sa p , g , bei g of p health mem ory e thanks be to God and nowe r edie addressed to a iourney beyond the Seas in the service of my

n and c ount r e unc er t aint ie ki ge y , calling to minde the of all earthly things a nd that we bould and e nioy e our selves together with all our t emporall blessings b ut The L ev es on Lette r s

b ut as t enaunt s at will t o our good God that gave c onsideri n e u them , and g the tro bles that many tymes doe insue by the indisposition of me ns estate I have t her uppon in the t y me of health resolved to settle such thi ngs as I possesse

He then recites how he had bought up certain in ’ on own and r cumbrances his his fathe s estate , and these he now dedicates for the purpose of carryi ng out the objects of a lease made between himself and Sir Edward F Tir sc h tt on ri e . y , Sir Robert Harley , and John In was this lease , which dated two days before his will , provision was made for r aising for such

. : purposes as he now appoints , viz Debts to be paid ; A:1 00 a year to Edmund M anwaringe or John Tirr isc he as long as the foresaid lease continues

Which saide some of one hundred pound es yearly during the c ontinuaunc e of the foresaid e lease shalb e y mploy ed by them to such uses and purposes and such p son and p sonnes as I shall appoi nt unto u them by some private instr ctions from my selfe . Item I doe give ly mitt and appointe one thousand pounds p eell of the for esaid e some u nto my wel i l rne beloved sister Penelope Leveson a s Ho b o . Item I doe give and appointe one thousa nd pounds to be paide unto Hughe B urnell in trust to the use and b e hooEe of such 195 011 and psonnes as the saide Hughe Burnell standeth bou nd t o pay the same u nto by due The L ewes on s L et t er s

due ob ligac on b ear inge date this present m ounthe of Marche which saide some of t woe thousand pound es t o my saide sy st er and to the saide Hughe Burnell

I desier may be paid with all convenient speede .

Then follow various legacies o f £ 1 00 to g300 to n 8:c a d 8: c . friends , relatives , servants, . The residue of his estate he leaves

To such p son or p sonnes to whom I have conveyed my lands next e and y mediat ely after my decease by one paire of Indentures hearing date the three and twentieth of this instant Marche And of this my last Will and Testament I doe ord aine and ” ” constitute make S Robert Harley , S John Leveson n Tirrisc he , Joh and Samuel Bowdler my In n executors . wit ess whereof I have hereu nto ”h subscribed my name and putte my scelle the xxv daye of March in the third y ear e of the reaigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God kinge of England France and Ireland and of Scot ”h land the xx xviij

R L EV E S O N RICHA D .

This will was proved on the a 8 th August 1 6 0 5 by Sir Tirrisc he and Robert Harley , and by John Samuel

on 6t h - Bowdler the of December 1 60 5 .

eem t o ave e e n Sir c ar L eveson son of Sir o n This s s h b Ri h d , J h Leveson of Ha n or o Si r o n m e f li g, p ssibly J h hi s l . 7 0 C H A P -T E R I V

’ Wi d ow hooa

T now behoves us to ascertain from the meagre i nformation at hand how Mary Fy t t on had been c onduc ting herself since her downfall and dis

grace . As far as the evidence of the letters goes she seems to have given no special anxiety to her i n n and fam ly or her frie ds duri g this period , to judge by ’ the frequent salutations sent to her by Anne s corre s ond ent s u p , she must have been often at Arb ry with her sister . 1 6 0 Good old Sir Fulke Greville , in a letter dated May 3, ” mendations s t sends his c o to your good y s er . Sir Richard Leveson mentions her more than o nce in his 7 I letters Widow hoocl

letters in the last chapter as likely to be at Arbury . F t t on Sir Edward y , writing to his daughter Anne at a date we know by the superscriptio n must be later than 1 60 July 3, says

” Good Nan God blesse you and y o sy st er as my h l Ee ow e y , peruse this inclosure and then send itt

” ” Yo Gosse 8: yo mother I pray you . best pp P honorable frend [Lord Knollys ] c omendet he me to ” tell y ou he wy shet he y ou bothe as much hartes c ase as to hy m e selfe 8: every day say ethe he shall not be

well untill he see you bothe . This letter is addressed

To the Right Worshipfull the Lady Newdigat t att E r b ur her house at y nere Coventry. I pray you hand this at the bull in Coventry to th be sent w speed e . Having noted down these facts in favour of Mary tt on Fy , it is necessary to record that she is credited by ” Ormerod , author of the History of Cheshire , with having had two illegitimate children by Sir Richard

Leveson , Kt . “ ’ L . s n al . . The authority for this sca d is Sir P MSS ,

u . Sir P . L . being undo btedly Sir Peter Leycester But Ormerod

Th e He ar e a e or P a n w as t h e F t t on c re and muc u e ts s sy y st, h s d by h s an ornam en or e v t e family a t d i c e . 7 2 ’ Widow h ood Ormerod is not accurate in his facts concerning Mary ’ r Fy t t on s later histo y . He gives her Captain Lougher as

P olewhele her first husband and William as her second , when the reverse order should have been recor ded . ’ M r . Tyler tells us in his Shakespeare s Sonnets that

Lord de Tabley , on the other hand , asserts that his

ancestor , Sir Peter Leycester , in his MSS . , gives the ’ two n in n order of Mary s husba ds their proper seque ce , ’ and that he further describe s Mary s two children by Leveson In Sir Richard as daughters . any case this blot ’ ir upon S Richard s memory rests only on the MSS . of n Sir Peter Leycester . Whatever Mary Fy t t o may have n u been capable of, this particular sca dal seems to be q ite

n e u . unsubsta tiated , and , it is to be hop d , is ntrue It should be borne in mi nd that Sir Richard Leveson in u U in 0 died A gust 1 6 0 5 . p to a late date 1 6 3 there ’ are constant allusions to Mary Fy t t on as her sister s u guest at Arb ry , and there is not a hint of any cause for on un sub se anxiety or distress her acco t , as is the case 6 quently to 1 0 5 . It har dly seems possible that so fr ank and genuine a man as Sir Richard Leveson apparently was could have been capable of writing the letters q uoted in the last

n r chapter to his cousi Anne Newdigate , add essing her “ as Sweet Wy E whilst carrying on an intrigue with n u her only sister . Nor is it likely that An e wo ld have preserved these letters as valued reli c s under such

circumstances . 73 Widow hoocl

Again , the letter from Sir Fulke Greville (the younger) , ’ friend would Sir Philip Sidney s , hardly have been couched in the terms in which he writes to Anne for information ’ respecting Sir Richard Leveson s death if there had been any truth in the record of so prolonged an intrigu e . ’ In Sir Richard s will , given in the last chapter , there is

. n of F t t on of no me tion Mary y by name , still less any n provisio for her or her problematical children , unless she was to be the recipient of the £ 1 00 a year t o be u disposed of by private instr ctions . was It is to be hoped that Sir Peter Leycester mistaken , ’ though it must be acknowledged that Mary s after conduct may have given r ise to humiliating scandals

r concerning her , whethe true or not . It seems probable that as long as Sir Edward Fy t t on was lived Mary was outwardly decorous . He evidently u at ’ warmly attached to both his da ghters , and Anne ,

u aEec t ion any rate , f lly returned his . However, Sir 1 6 0 6 few Edward died early in , a months after Sir

r L eveson and l t wo Richa d , it wi l be seen from letters , written by Lady Fyt t on later that same year and early in 1 6 0 7, that her daughter Mary was again in deep disgrace . Before quoting these letters there is one more to be o given from go d old Sir Fulke Greville , written by an n l amanue sis a short time before his death , which took p ace in 1 6 06 . Anne Newdigate seems to have had anxieties of her own at this time in regard to her husband’s we t o health , as gather she was kept at home nurse him . 74 E ven

' Widow hooa

u of Sir F lke died shortly after the date this letter , aged eighty. Lady Fy t t on (herself now a widow) alludes to his death

in the letter we next give . It is addressed to my best and dearest daughter the Ladie Newdygat at E rb urie

My owen swe t t e Nan I pray God to blese you and all u ” yo rs . I am sori for the deth of good S Fowk Gr evill your good Er y nd and my nd e ; your loss is c an a Er nd was gret as be of y hee a veri ould man , it was l ved u u marvell hee y so long , not do bt but yo r housb and and you shall Ey nd his sone a veri honorable gentleman and won that wilb ee glade of Er n i boeth your y shep s . Your brother doeth enter into phesic k tomorrow Eor the payne in his

” nose God send it well M Neithsmy t h doeth dout b m a er r s s k e C es ma God . but uer y y , if please I ta e

no joye t oheer o f your sister nor of that boy . If it hade plesed God whan I did bear her that shee and I hade bihe heried it hade saved mee Erom a great sor ow r Ee Erom delle of and g y , and her sham and u Chessh re s ch shame as never hade y woman , worse W f now . r y tt o than ever no mor to mee her. Th anke m r it t i w ll y p Jacke for his token . I y wer it Eor his sack and sende b y m another a er it bee Comend let tle n . lo ge mee to Mall , Deck and prete l k ndl al . Letti . God blesse them Lett mee bee y y a P ra h t o r ememb red to your housb and . y g God send us ' ’ Wz clow hooa

t o w ll r ema n us all well meet I end , and y ever y to u n y o A ky de mother . E A . YTON . I would wy sshe y ou to send to your sister this c n in losed to see . I have left them u sealed you may

t sc ell Nan faell reed hem and them . Good not. It

standeth much .

snEered Poor mother , what must she not have to write as above about her erri ng daughter Stern as she is in ’ r in the first part , her mother s hea t relents the post e a script , whilst Anne , as ever , s ems tender and ch ritable ’ towards this sister s frailty . Notice should be taken of the boy referred to in this ’ I n letter in connection with Mary s disgrace . the l P olwhele following year she married a certain Wi liam , about whom there seem to have been diEer ent opinions

i . n in the fam ly She is k own to have had a son by him , and possibly this was the boy born before her marr iage .

son in 1 6 0 This was living September 9, the date of ’ P olwhele s l and was r n William wil , a daughter bo sub

n n u n seque tly , who appears to have eve t ally married Joh

of G in h r . Gatacre , atacre S ropshi e n n Mr . C . G . O . Bridgema , of the Cha cery Bar , in his exhaustive and valuable resear ches when compiling a Ar u r r n catalogue of the b ry po t aits , has ascertai ed that a Captain P olwhele ser ved with Sir Richard Leveson i n x

n f in 1 60 Sir n o e o his expeditions 3, Richard comma ding 77 the ’ Wid ow hooo

t he Re ulse P l h e on: W el p and Captain o w el the Ly h pe. It n of P ert on in is also worthy of note that the ma or ,

Sta rd shire r P olwhele and , the place whe e his wife of not resided , was the property Sir Richard . May a n n not co fusio have arisen from these facts , and was

“ P olwhele i - L eveson the one n fault rather than Sir R . ’ Lady Fy tt on s next letter gives her opinion of her new son -in- and 1 6 0 law , must have been written in 7 , soon of after the date the marriage .

My owen swett Nan I pray God to blese y ou and all

” wr t yours . I y to you the last week that M Moer ’ was a meen Eor the dely ver ie of your housb and e s letter to my Lo : Chau nsler who gave it t o his Se c ret er i and c ommandid hym that Chamberlen

u n c . sho ld a swer it , wy h I did not well lyke Your Wensd a brother came hether upon y to see mee , and

n Er da was to goe upo y y backe . I showed him your

” and b m n letter , caused y to go to S Joh Edgerton , hopy ng hie would have doun hy m Eavar in this or a n haeth wr t t en y other. What deck [Dick y I know not was ” , but this hee tould mee his answer , that S John Newdygat wer beste to c om and answere it u afer me hymselfe . It should seem s me other had it

- n ot k ndnes hie would do your brother that y , as to se nd for the informac ion gy ven agay nst your housb and that

’ nne ec on ro er c ar F t t on . A s s d b th , Ri h d y 7 8 m ht rall n a a nst that hie yg see it , but fell into y g g y y ou Eor spe c ky ng agay nst the mareg of your sister to — P owlwhy ell it was oute of your umar and that hie

wort hee h er Er anc is was was . My ladi saed she the

v les r c onc leud y woman unde the sone . To they did use deck so unky nly as hie haet h no grat har t

b ourn n t r nmas y g o go the sy nc e Cressy . I hade the ky nd est messages from them that could bee and that u P oullwh ll they wo ld com see mee . But y is a veri kave [knave and ta keth the disgrace of his w a nd all her Er y ndes to make the wordt [world t hy nk hym worthey of her and that she dessar ved no

b e tt ar If wr t t k nowe I . is longe to y all I , would

w she housb and y your to com hether. Gyve it owt I Eor h m h m E have sent y . Lett y not dowt but to ynde Er nd es Chamb arl n lo n as good y as y . I shall have gy g for h m u ra n y . Hie shall faer as I doo . Th s p y g

n Erom h and God to defe d us ower e ymes blese us ,

r ema n n r r reved I end , y y g eve You poure , kynde , g A E mother . YTON . Pray your h ousb and t hy nke no unky nd nes I did not wr t b m y to y .

If there had not been some previous scandal between a F tt on a nd P olwhele M ry y , why should her mother thus

La ranc e S a n e a u er of e r n an o ar o f De r dy F s t l y, d ght F di d , E l by ,

nd w fe o f Sir o n er on af erw ar ar o f B r e w a er . a i J h Eg t , t ds E l idg t 7 9 ' ’ Wz clow hooa thus rail against the marriage We infer that Anne t oo

-in - disapproved of her new brother law . Probably it not t t on was an alliance worthy of a Fy , but under the circum stances one would imagine it ought t o have been welcomed , though in silence . n tt on Be that as it may , whe once Mary Fy became Mary P olwhele her family seem to have accepted the * - n tt on n situation , her great uncle , Fra cis Fy , even goi g t o u so far as approve of her h sband as a nephew . He on 1 6 06— n writes Feb. 4 , 7, to Sir Joh

ou c Good Sir John Newdigate, y are veri moche b ehoulding to my cosen P olwhele for his diligent care a nd frindley diligens in lab oringe aboute your cause ’ c ont e ned in Chaunsler s t o ou y the Lord letter y .

And 1 1 60 8 in his will , dated March 3 , , he makes a “ special bequest of his usu al r idinge sword to his

” nephewe M William P ollwheele whoe married with ” n M ist res n a nd u my eice Marie Fitto , also beq eathed to ” 8: c 8c c r 8: him the best horse, . . , as a rememb ance token of my love to him and to my said cozen his now ”

8:c . wife , I n in t o this same will , addition some plate he bequeaths n u to An e Newdigate , he makes the following beq est Also I further will and bequeath to her my said neice the Lady Newdegate my bed being a bed of Ch w now Downe , standeth in mY bed chamber at London n Se e Appe dix . 8 0 Widow hood

”h London w a c annopie of yellow velvet t 8: c urt ay nes of yellow double Taffi t ie 8: a yellow silk q uilt e t o

' e n n u 8: sarrie the same bed b lo ging , bei ge s ch the as my selfe did usually use aboute my bed when I did 8: r now of ” lye lodge thei , beinge in the house M ’ Thoms Shippe s Chandler neat e t o the Savoye in the

Strand .

o s Probably this bedstead still exists at Arbury , and p sibl Taffit ie u n 3 be d of y the yellow c rtai s also . The

Downe we trust has long been destroyed . We quoted above a letter fr om Lady Fy t t on t o her u n in on da ghter An e , which she hoped that Sir Fulke ’ Greville s death “ his sone wilb ee glade of boeth your ” ’ Er nshe is l n y p . This was evident y the case , for An e s M ainwar in e cousin , Philip g , writing to her from the u 1 60 - 8 Court in Febr ary 7 , says

” ” Y o worthy fr ind S Eulke Gr ivell is e c sid ing well ° whome I ame ver y much bou nd unto w h I d oe impute ’ ” “ La ishi s to be for yo d p sake . If it please yo Madam when you next ritt to him to imploy me for the f delivery o it I shall take it as a favor .

No wonder Philip M ainwar inge valued this privilege so Sir r highly . The life of Fulke Greville (afterwa ds Lord n n Br ooke) is a roma ce in itself. Camde says of him he did so entirely devote himself to the study of real Virtue 8: Honour that the nobleness of his mind far f ” exceeded that o his birth . 8 I F Widowhoocl

a Lord Brooke never married , though , as Anthony Wood “ of tells us , he lived and died a constant courtier the ” Ladies . After his dea th under tragical circumstances in 1 6 2 8 (he having been mortally wounded by a servant who e r was consider d himself agg ieved) , his body embalmed and laid in the tomb he had had prepared in his life It time . is a handsome structure in black and white

of - marble , occupying the whole an eight feet square t o building , said by Dugdale have been originally intended for a chapter - house adjoining the Lady Chapel ’ of . . St Mary s , Warwick Here , under a high marble of canopy , rest the remains Lord Brooke , whilst round the four sides of the flat tomb may be read the insc rip tion composed by himself

U K E F L E GR V I LI. Servant t o Queene Elizabeth Conc ellor t o Ki ng James and frend to Sir Philip Sidney a Troph eum Peccati .

now t t on We must return to Mary Fy , whom we left

f t o of P olwhele sa ely consigned the keeping William . 1 6 1 0 This marriage only lasted until , when she was left one son one r a widow with and daughte . ’ We are indebted to Mr . Bridgeman s researches for the ’ of P olwheele s discovery William will , dated Septem 6 1 1 0 n 2 1 6 1 0 . ber 9, 9, and proved Ju e 3, 8 2 He

' ' Wid ow hoocl

' In t hose day s these wardships appear to have been much sought after by persons even in the higher ra nks of

owrn m life , g to the emoluments they carried with the . Anne therefore had no time to lose if she would keep ’ the control of her boys training and property in her own hands . We fi nd a draft copy of this petition of h a s t o the

r of n Maste the Wards , evide tly composed by herself.

' It is labelled in the handwriting of her second son as follows

’ M t o Salusb ur o f y mother s letter my Lord y , Master ’ the War ds for my brother s Wardship when my father

was sicke .

We give the petition in full Right hob l Pardon this unmannerly presumption of a most uh fortunate woeman though not unknowne and owt e of ”h ” S p memory w yo Lo yet as manie my near y st fr indes ' ” d h lat e fat her E E t t on wt as my , S y my brother others

t oo t ediouse t o sunder nominate , having received y

” ”: Lo p n favors from yo (there meret no e , myne much

” ’ lesse yet being assured of yo owh e noble hart s disposition and wor t hie compassion of all I am thereby i nc or raged (in this heavie ext remitie being fr e n l altogether d es ) to present my owh e weaknes in

” u o n n u all h mble petition to y oble ce s re . May it please ' ' Wz a ow hooa

” please yo honor that these sc raling womanish lynes ” v may bringe to yo ewe this my humble su te . It hath pleased God to Visit my husband S” John Newdigate ‘h w s ic knes so that the phy sit ions stand in d oub te of his recovery or to fall into a deepe melancholy that y ou would bee pleased to bestow the wardship of my

’ o n of p re boye upon me , the unfortu ate mother 5 yonge children all nur ssed upon my owne brests and nowe in burthen w”h the sixt in this uncomfortable ” t me best e . for o d y Ou estate is smale , when my father ’ me in mariage all my husband s lands in Warwick eh shire were assured mee in Joy nt ure w was not above ’ 2 0 a of in 0 a y e re . The rest his Lands lye Middle “ h sex c aled Brakenb ury w are ray t ed to the uttermost ’ ’ 2 2 0 eare owt e 0 and are nowe sett for a y , of which 4 a y ear e is estated to my second sonne the rest longe since c onv ay ed towards payment of debts and ’ u t : da ghters por ions , having 3 which cometh to a d ‘ ver y great some for so smale an estate w being and c h ld eren r separated , I all my pore y were utte ly re c eave on favorse ” ruinated . Hoping to the w ted yo

' honorable clemency hath ever given t estimonie of

' widd owes n And I shall r eadie to and infa ts , be to y ea ld such gratuities e y t her to my cosen phillip ” M anwarin e r d l g , or to some other as yo Lo ship sha l apoy nt : and I and myne bou nde whilst wee breath

” to -solicite the Almight ie for yo increase of honor ’ ’ ” Ceasin t o t o yo owne noble hart s content . g hinder YO' ” b im lo ed yo etter p y times , doe humbly take my leave 8: remain ’ ” Y o Lordship s well wishing orat our

A . N .

t wo 2 8 There are parchments, both dated May ,

1 6 t exrstm n r 10, s ill g in the Mu iment Room at A bury , ’ granti ng Anne s petition as regards the wardship of

s n mI norIt . her o and of his lands during his y Before , f o Ai m however , this satis actory result was btained , e seems to have had misgivings as t o the success of her petition . We also gather it had been surmised that so comely and attractive a widow would be likely to u of marry again , and the mere s ggestion such a possi ’ b ilit y seems to have rou sed Anne s keen indignation . We find another paper in her own beautiful hand ou t o writing , setting forth her d bts and fears , but w was hom it addressed we cannot tell . In the meanwhile we should state poor Sir John New di at e ha died was g d , which doubtless a happy release , if , a n “ c c the only , lternative was his falli g into a de p ” melancholy . Anne ’s quaint paper runs as follows

' ‘ What I have by my Lo : graunt eing ~ me the war d shipp if t he ' marriage takeing from me the t hird es ’ o f my j oyn t ure bei ng fond to the Kinge s use ; 8: onely e one third parte of Br akenb ury e also fond to t he o t o Leasies so Kinge the ther two parts the , that

l n 8: I will most wi lingly , but to loose this i terest r ight he so Nob ly e and freely e gave me : I never will whiles Lo : t I breath . But to satisfy my if he be posse c ted (by villany e of M allic e to me) of: my b r ut ishenesse to those deare Children that I have borne of my owh e b ody e and nur ssed of my owne brests (they e never suc ke other milke) thearfore I had neede to geve good example t o them least they take of the mother , I will enter into b on nds 8: toll of the wor thy est frends 8: n earest kind smen I have shall j oine t h w shoulde me , that if it please God to call me , or that I shoulde be soe accursed a woeman to m arr y e a aine r 8: c omodit es g , that the wholl inte est y boeth ’ of the warde s marriage 8: the lease of the land fr om the kinge shall goe fully e 8: wholly e first to ’ n husb and e s the payeme t of my debts , his 3 Ch daughters portions 8: other legac y es w amount ’ b ut 1 00 m 8: n to ore , a reaso able portion to be pr ovided for this child I now goe with a l that the

. father haet h not left a penny e : . these t hinges dis

charged what sever the remainder is . to my boye

Jacke , being the warde . So that if I marye I will have estate in not hinge but my owh e j oy nt ure

' l fe d ureing . my y : and if I lyve maister of my selfe

”is m ethi n es M owne g I deserve to , be of my children l he e r n m elfe whi est t y be child e . This y s 8: friends wil -b e bound to performe to any of wor t he my Lo shall ’ lVi a ow hookl shall nominate ; but I sc orne to be engaged to any fell w base o e . If a stranger’ had gott his wardship this had bin freel e y gone , and then the ward when he had comen to full age should e have had al this to have light

Ch ’ ’ u on w al 000 00 8: pp him , summe in is 3 3 this childe I goe with not provided for . Where I havy ng it am resolved to keepe them al and of my owne pore estate (else wil it never be raised out of ninsc ore pound a y eare unlesse he matche for t unatel e s 8: y above his lineage de erves) , that I have from the kinge to goe year ly to these for named uses ; which I t hinke shewes a ill nature in

aEec t ionat e me , and little love to my children with a private purpose of my owne c omodit y e to defraude o nl e r my children , for whose sakes y God spa eth me

rd in this world . For though the wa e be my oldest 8: havein one n sonne dearest Childe , g but son e

al 8: more , yett the rest are of the same breede , I t hinke there is a conscience t hey e shoulde have what

Ch w h their father left them ; were they not my ow e ,

exe c ut rixe u u I being left‘ his I sho ld to the ttermost

f i hfull e of my powers see a t y performed . Ch I shall marr my marriage by this meanes w it see mes r n n some repo t I much gape after . But si ce so ma ye deuils goe i n shapes of men that my iudgeme nt can not knowe the one for the other ; God deliver me for ever being tyed to anye of them " For if I

loo ke ' Wid owhodél

looke or u for an honest man a tr e frend , I must

one R Em er ores saye as of the oman p did , I must goe t o for for t he e al d 8: the graves them , y are dea b r u y ed .

' Good , brave Anne Though her sentences are n involved , her mea ing is clear as day . Whatever of a nd may have been the destination this paper , w or whether it went for ard in these exact words no , a she appe rs to have triumphed in her object . M ainwar in e Her cousin Philip g , who had a post at t o on Court, writes her this subject

o am soer was t o Go d Madam , I y it my ill fortune be n ou frindl ofli c e absent whe I should have done y a y ,

” but y o Letter to my Lo : was soe passionate 8: move inge as y ou did not neede any better meanes

” ob t a nin e d es er for the y g y o y . Yet in my hearinge ” ’ ” (my Lo speakinge of S John s death 8: yo pit t ifull Letter) three or four gr eat persons who I named to ” ” M Why t all moved my Lo : very ernestly for ” n 8: yo good , who a swered he had would respect ” h u Wh t l t o ” y o . When M y al came take leave w me ” he tould me yo Lap had made c hoy se of me in

” ” y o Letter as y o kinsman who (if pleased my Lo y ou desy red should rec eve t he benefit his Lp would appoy nt

’ f w ar A nne s fa ith ul st e d . 90

C H A P T E R V

Fr iendship

’ LL we know of Anne Newdigate s life as a widow only proves that she for lived , as ever, first and foremost n e her childre . W also gather she was of an excellent woman business , and w as admirably aided by her faithful servants William Henshaw and William Whi ll t a . Sir John Newdigate showed his implicit confidence in his wife ’s loyalty and capacity by leaving her the sole of 1 6 1 0 executrix his will . After his death in , when

own was Anne made her will , it mainly a copy of her ’ a o husband s , lthough as years went by she had occasi n t o make later additions to it . 92 In 1 6 1 4 she entered into an agreement on parchment

with a sculptor , by name William White , to erect a ’ monument in alabaster to her husband s memory in Harefield u Ch rch , where it may be seen to this day . . on one Sir John kneels side of a desk clothed in armour , n on Lady Newdigate (also k eeling) the other side , habited in flowi ng black r obes with a coif a nd long n n veil . Below k eel their five children , the two so s in one o fac g way and the three daughters the ther . There is no record in baptismal or burial registers of a sixth child , although Anne makes so much capital out of its expected advent in her petition for the wardship of her eldest son . Probably it was stillborn at the time of her trouble . The i nscription on the monument is in both Latin and

English . We here give the latter version

’ ’ Her e om ew e n oo ow e r Wisd s J ll , K ighth d s Fl C ropt off in pr ime and youthful h ow er e on me e ne fa fu ove R ligi , k ss , ith ll l Whi c h any Har t mi ght i nly m oove ’ ’ Th es e ever liv d i n this Knight s br e st Dea d in his d ea th w ith him doth r e st So th a t t h e m ar bl e s el fe doth w eep To thi n k on th a t w hi c h it d oth k ee p Weep th e n w h o er e this St one doth se e U n e more ar an S one ou b ee l ss h d th t th .

’ We must now return to the early days of Anne s

r her n n r widowhood , and having reco ded i dig ant p otest at the possibility of her being soe accursed a woe man 93 as ’ t o a t o not e what as m rry again , it may be interesting temptations she may have had t o belie her own words . We have a large budget of letters to her from a Francis a entleman r Beaumont , a scholar and g , afte wards Master

- who of the, Charter house , was evidently an ardent admirer of hers and at the same time a warm advocate of f n the suit o another . This other is o ly known to .us c os n n as my y Sau ders . Francis Beaumont was the second son of Nicholas of e of Beaumont , Cole Orton in L icestershire , and n n An e , daughter of William Sau ders , of Welford in

r n r No thampto shire . His younge brother, Sir Thomas ’ n u Beaumont (one of Ki g James s n merous knights) , marr ied an heiress who brought him Stoughton Grange in Leicestershire . Sir Thomas also had a house at

in r f Bedworth Warwickshire inherited f om his ather, and r Francis Beaumont , who was unma ried , seems to have ’ spent much time at one or other of his brother s houses . r n Bedwo th , now a grimy mining tow , is only three and w miles from Arbury , well ithin easy reach for

' r difli c ult in t o pe sonal intercourse . It is these days imagine where a house suitable for people of condition could have been situated? ” Francis

’ ere an old ou e c a e Saun e r Ha w c ver Th is h s still ll d d s ll , hi h is y e t o ave c om e t o Sir om a B e aum on rou mo er lik ly h Th s t th gh his th , and is t h e only ' dw e lli ng a t all prob abl e t o h ave be en his resid enc e or o at B edw th . 94

of b usines my Lo . Southampton : yet not for any t o or or any Lord or Ladie , to all the Lordes Ladies r over asse r in the wo ld , shall the least time p mee whe e in I may acknowledge the last d uti e I owe unto my an r best d most wo thy Ladie . And now I appeale fr om all judgements unto the onelie judgement of my t hrise -hon or ed Ladie so dis

c reet e u t hinke and so wise , whether she wo ld not mee unt hankfull ent ilit ie most , voide of all g , admiration and honestie for her u , if last letter onely (tho gh never had been precedent cause) I should not acknowledge

i lie for r my selfe most infi n t e bound unto hir eve . But now I am occasioned for other haste to play * b ut who m Orlando , not Furioso, di Lasso , so etime , when it is thought that he would ende his songe with c adens c of some grave and veri long note , doeth a sudd aine all or r cut of with a quaver c otchet , his b revit ie better expr essing the pathetic all c onc eit e o f the dit t ie than the longest m usic all coar des he could n h l devise to set dow e . Thus wishing all ea the 8:

a ines h pp to my best Ladie and all hers , I humblie an r take my leave d rest . You s most infinit elie bound and r eadie to be c ommaund ed

o h U M . Bedw rt e the viii ofJuly . FRANCIS BEA ONT If

O r a n o di La o t h e e a n c om o er ne t o Pa e r n a o f l d ss , l di g p s ( xt l st i )

ur He e a t M un c 1 . t h e 1 6th c e n t y . di d i h 594 96 Fr iendship

If Covent ree could ha ve a ur d ed either pomgra nat es

e n r n or L mmo s I had sent them unto my f e d , but n what I could get that I se d , and my prayers for him h n r ow . to God , and my man to bri g me wo de he is I doubt not but he shall speed elie recover since God doeth make him a Patient under so kinde and wise a

Phy sitian .

r u a From anothe letter we q ote a paragraph , bec use it ’ refers to Anne s five childr en under the emblem of a sinkefo for or y (cinquefoil) , an heraldic term the pansy a was F tt on he rtsease , which the y crest

Your faire 8: wor thelie b eloued Sinkefoy I most kindel -e y salute , which being like unto a hartes ase

r hath three leaves of one sorte and tw o of anothe .

r c a I pray God from my ve i he rt , that they may for ever bring ease of hart to that t hrise -worthy Roo t e a that b re them .

n He is writing from Stoughto , and adds

r Ashb ornham 8: My b other , my Sister , my Neece my Neece Beaumont desi r e yt their loue may veric

eEec t uallie be commended u nto y ou .

n r n r In the ext lette , writte from Bedwo th , he makes a request to his “ Most honorable Ladie and worthy ” of d s r mee above all La ie to be hono ed , with endless

for u n t o apologies his boldness , ntil he at le gth comes t he point . 97 Fr iendship

My suitt (good Ma dame) -is that y ou wil please to b est owe of favour e upon mee as an insigne your , the copies of your two letters:unto my Lo : Treasurer

which . y ou read . unto mee in your closet I h ” protest unto y ou Ladis p by that dutiful] love I owe

' y ou (for a better S ainte x wi] ' I not sweare by ) that I wil in such sor t t use them as you never t shall i have cause to repr oove mee and as clearly esteeme them as

of ul . . a most rare juell go d , etc etc

These letters wer e probably those given ' ih the flast

’ of Wa rds ' was chapter , as Lord Salisbury , Master the , also Lord High Treasurer up to the time of his death 6 2 n of in 1 1 . A ne has preserved a copy her discreet answer

noe ou ' wort h of c ondemna Sir , I knowe faulte in y y

n t herfore a ud e ou . h tio , can not j g y Mine ow e imperfections I confess them manye ; th erfore my n worth noe way challengi g such admiration . For c o e of o u not the ppy those letters y desire , I must e t he e deny them y ou . Yett I well knowe y can be of . no use to y ou : 8: the not so doine sending of wilb e no — for althou he them prejudice , g I shewed ” t o wor th e ( was t o them yo y selfe , it the more make him ho nored that made me so much bounde t o him that would e so Nobly accept the pore weake 8: u ndiseret t solicitation of An unfortunate Woeman his

oreab le r hon harte ight censur ed . But how t he y e might

Fr iendship

as my good Ladie doeth honoure and t hankfullie ou t hinke requite hir good Lord for the other . If y that by wringing myne eye on the one syde I make

n d ub b le things that be si gle seeme to be , let mee alone h (good Madame) with that which is myne ow e , for myne imparcial judgement in this matter doeth direct mee with such a streight line as I knowe I can not be

deceived .

In Spite of this letter the writer adds as a postscript

This day I pur pose (God willing) to see my good so t o 8: Ladie , and take my leave , my brother my sister determining the week folowing to goe into

Lest arshire t o , and then give hir the infinite thanks for those honorable courtesies , which never I can nor u deserve requite d ring my life .

” r Bedworth y 2 of Februa ie .

d r In the interview thus foresha owed , F ancis Beaumont t o n of seems have obtained the loa the desired letters , ’ r t o r n o rather have copied them f om A ne s dictation . In returning them he writes as follows

w orthie My best and of all most to be my best Ladie , I was unquiet within my selfe until] such time as I had perfour med your commandment and so have now sent u I f y ou bothe yo r letters here i nclosed . they appeare not of such puritie and b right nes as they wer e when

ou ou u or r y delivered them , y m st blame or pa don the 1 00 r ust ic Fr iendship

rustie t reasurie of my memorie from whense nothing is distiled that looseth not some of the l uster it had u when it was first inf sed . My ground w or ke had bene more sure if I durst have presumed to have b orowed your copies : b ut I had no great minde to intreat them because I found in you so little minde to lend them ; yet as they are there is not (in myne n n w e be . ur o n opinion) a ythi g amiss Yo they ~ and as r h u yours much as you ow e children be yo rs , in this

diEere nt r onely , that your children we e borne of your bodie and these preat ie inanimate creatur es bor ne of your b ray ne yet not still borne but bor ne stil to I utt er lie isc leame r reproove poore mee . d f om any unles alteration in them , in some one or two places, I have added either if or and : which is an addition like ri c kt we ] unto two little pinnes , p into a faire and

a owne n r m de vellet g , the same either alte ing fashion nor substance ; but yet peradventure making some one

or tw o pleat es sit mor e c loselie then they did before . Tha t you so seriouslie and so often repent your sinne in giving me these two jewels (for no lesse doe I estime of them then of pre t ious jewels) God forgive s a n you this tre p ss and I doe , wishi g you would still

load e e n n fi mee with moe of thes sin es , u til I also nde no t in myself some motion of repentance . You can f eind es b e st owe your favoures u pon any the best r you ki nd elie of have that shalbe more accepted then mee ,

a n n fr eind w ho d your most lovi g my neece , being a I 0 1 gr eat Fr iendship

of wil great collector monuments , I knowe , in hir booke of recordes reserve a prime station for my ’

Nudi at e s . thinkes Ladie g letters And now mee , I may c laime some indiEerent good place (a litle before

b eh nde fr endshi e y the doore) in your pp , by meanes of new l laSp of this a iance with us , your being late ” neec es sist erhood e maried into my . Reprove me no more (most worthy Ladie) for making your letters too common for had t hey bene the fairest and finest virgines in the ' world I could not have kept ‘ them

more c hast e lie than I did . The first whereof I nor protest , from mee was neither seene heard of any : creature living the second indeed I have rehearsed , and I will tel you upon what first occasion I was n unknowne t o ou moved . A k ight (not y ) com mended much a great Ladie (preferring hir above all ot hers) for hir fayre wr y ti ng and most excellent

I now I ‘ had i nditing . When should have spoken if

bene silent ? I could . upon this oEer no less than compare my best Ladie with hir, who I knowe in these faire graces by many degrees did farre excel hir P P For what should I have done (good M ad ame) Either I must have bene muet and have layed my u ] foole finger pon my lippes , or like a natural have t went ie for of s ea c he or told [counted] want other p , else

urn am a nd La New Th e agreemen t be tw een Lady Ashb h dy diga t e ” r er t o c a ll eac h o the sist . 1 0 2

f u nes of No pardon I wil crave or the t edio s my letter ,

ex c i o for I must have a pardon qfi , because long tales and long letters belong t o a comforter without limit ation and most convenient it is I now use myne offi ce t o my dearest Ladie to make hir way seeme shorter , y e while shee is travaili ng t hor owe e wild ern s . I pray God send y ou all the happines your owh e heart can

” desire and as much good fortune t o yo worthy eli children as he can wishe that loves them dear e . So

I humblie take my leave , etc . etc .

“ In this letter we find the first mention of Cosy n ” u on or Saunders , whose s it seems to linger for a year more . The only member of the Saunders family who would have been a likely aspirant to the hand of. Anne a t Shankt on this time is Matthew Saunders , of in

was of Leicestershire . He the grandson Francis

Saunders, of Welford in Northamptonshire , and a great ’ nephew of Francis Beaumont s mother . He had of married Margaret Skipwith , daughter Henry Skip Ke thor 1 6 0 with of y p , but was left a widower in 5 with ’

. 1 6 1 five children He was knighted in 7 , and died 1 6 2 in 3 . On the back of the last letter given above Anne has made a rough copy of the answer she sent this corre s o ndent u p , in which a gleam of h mour appears , where ” she alludes to that miscalled barren tongue , if his speech were anything like as lengthy as his letters 1 04 These Fr iendship

These manye t est imony es [she writes] of the con ” t i neweanCe of yo fr endly e respecte of me can not be by me so wor thelessly e esteemed as sile ntly e to rec ea ve nec le c t t hou he them , and A little thanks ( g to pore A requita l] for so rich A c ur t esie) and thereby also heape h u on m se lfe wC u pp y that I hate to be b rthened with all , have ing bin ever prec isely e careful] rather to c herishe A good opi n ion c onc eaved of me then to give just exti n uishe knowein e u easier e cause to g it , g it m ch to k e u gett a frend then to e pe one . The advent re of the loos se of anye su ch in my record registred woulde

be to me most t r ob lesome . How precious the con t r ary e in my harts tho ughts helde I leave to his

seld ome s arein e judgement , whose barren tongue is p g in d isc overeing his much more reverent c onc eat e then

” deserved of yo assured well wishing frend .

A . N .

’ If this is a specimen of Anne s usual style of letters to n n her friends , one can o ly wo der if so involved and stilted a produ ction found a place of honour in Lady ’ “ ” Ashburnham s booke of recordes , she being a great ’ nf collector of “monuments . We co ess we like Anne s compositions better when they come from her heart, and ” movein are both passionate and g. The next letter we give from Francis Beaumont omits both the date and the place whence he wrote Most noble and worthy Ladie I sent yesterday unto 1 0 5 y ou Fr iendship.

you a blanke paper that your good La Sp might c on c eive 't hereb y that I held my selfe so infinitelie bou nd for ood nes as out unto you your most excellent g , that of my little wealt he of wordes I could not by any meanes oEer that d ut ie for ' which most deser vedlie I

in eb e ou f am d t t d unto y during my li e . In which c onc eit e of myne (if I did amisse for dutiful] love is ever full of fearefull care) your owne preatie st oarie * of of Timant es for the Canopy , and myne covering t h aEe c t iones w c urt aines may be my all sufli c ient e ] warrant . Since which tim have read your little

u ] mot we ] ou do btful , and understand what y meant

rec eaved d ec eaved not a . by , but what by I can im gine

U nwar elie am faulne lab eri nth out of I see , I into a d oe not the which if my deare Ladie direct mee , hee whome of hir graciou s favoure she called hir c om was t o forter , never him selfe in so much neede be not comforted , I pray God my best Ladie doe take ] ro my no ill meaning in some evil parte . For I p ” S test unto y o La p if there were but one droppe of b loudde in mee (were the same never so h eare my harte) that would procure any undut ifull thought e against

Timant hes ve a ou 00 D H w a a r C . e s ee a n li d b t 4 . G k p i ter of S c on He ' now n ma s “ i y . is k i nly a t h e p ai nt er of th e Sac r ific e of I en a i n w c am e mnon c onc e a unc on ro a f phig i , hi h Ag ls his t ll bl e gri e c over n e a w man e — Th e en ur c o e a by i g his h d ith his tl . C t y Cy l p di of Name s . 1 0 6

Fr iendship

heated all Lest arshir e (the one of these Gentlemen bei ng an assured frend to the one house the other a neare ky ndsman unto the other) or whether he meane t o use their service touchi ng this great sale everie

‘ where re ort ed — t rut he p , the hereof no man knoweth , and in roving men d oe more often misse than hit the

a re lie yt marke . Yet of this I am ssu d persuaded it can be no matter of dangerous consequence unto them

selves, being bothe as they are of such respective c ar Ia ge .

” ’” Your honorable and worthy fr end S John Gray : whome d a lie et liveth at though envie y barke , v n one I hope , shee shall ever have power to drawe

b lo e r droppe of od f om him . The same day I came Ar b err ie from he was at the Assizes at Lestar , where he was merrie and laught as men doe that are not

dead . Your most honourable and t hrisewort hy sister as b eautie f re tt ie faire as it sel e , more fine and p than of l so sparke vellet and as wittie as Pa las , is , (and I

long wishe shee may be) in veric good health e . Worthy shee is to be loved of that worthy Ladie that

loves hir and shee that loves hir , as worthy to be an t wo loved as y Ladie in the world . Of these sisters I have vowed never t o spe ake without some of their

Sir o n G r e e e son o f Henr Lor G r e of G ro e J h y, ld st y, d y by , di d ma a t is p r i n O c tober 1 0 8 Fr iendship

their excellent and most worthy emb elim e nt s : so I t hink e and wil r t . I doe now , so I eve do hereaf er

” S As occasion serves yo La p shall hea re from me a aine c o or t unit ie g , being veri glad that by this pp , a way is layed open unto mee to doe a d ubb le d ut ie

e . . unto my best and most honor d Ladie , etc etc

c on The beginning of the last paragraph must, from the who e n text , refer to Lady Grey , always address d A ne as in not P olwhele Deare Sister her letters , and to Mary , l as might natura ly be supposed . r n F ancis Beaumont fulfils his promise of writing agai , and dates his letter this time fr om Bosworth (where he was u of a “ c of a g est his niece , L dy Dixie) y xx March

My last letter (most worthy Ladie) e ngaged mee in a d ut ie n ou a aine bond of to write u to y g , if occasion

r were oEered to any such purpose . My brothe is now n r u b ut n thin es retur ed f om the Co rte , so ma y g n n ur n r have happe ed co cerning his jo ey , as may bette serve for halfe a daies talke then to give but pr o porc ionab le matter to the contents of an ordi narie And r r letter, the efo e I holde it best that these

n e not u n occur re c s be to ched u til I see my best Ladie ,

ul b e l n h olieda ies which sho d (God wi li g) in these ,

“ were I sur e that my pse nc e might not become mor e r u n t rob lesome then dese ving to be welcome to you . F or I knowe abo u t this time is your gr ea t preparation to oEer your best a nd hyghest sa c c rific e unto your b 1 09 est Fr iendship

h hest best and yg Lord , Wherein many desire rather privac ie then to be conversant with companie and I

’r S know not whether y o L a p hath invited any frend es whome f unto if my sel e be a stranger , though I be

one t oo one for an but , yet may I be many by such a o nt ment im ort unit ie pp y , having ever hated p and inhum anit ie as the two most extreme enemies unto c i ili ie v t .

” Within fower daies after my last letter S John Gray of was at Stoughton , where he spake much good hir whome I most honour, for what can any man speake but good of good nes it selfe P Madame if y ou had been borne but under some ou so we] fortunate Planet , it might have made y ou beloved as y are , but that had then proceeded but n sa eth from blinde fortune but my e Ephemerides y , n that you were bor e under a most blessed Planet , ri htlie r t o of which makes you g dese ve be loved many , r no and that p oc eedes onely from vertue . Of this

t oo . more at this time , but never much at any time n My brother Thomas Beaumo t is sicke , and I feare k nsman c with some danger, my nearest y is veri

o ne of frendes extreme sicke , my dearest hath the in and now plague his house , I am going to visite n l eth another fre d that y in dying . When so many

neare so and deare unto mee are so ill , I knowe and f feele not . that I my sel e am well Pardon this letter ,

which is a monster, begotten by haste and brought 1 1 0 forthe

C H A P T E R V I

Cou r tship

N the ensuing letters my Cosy n Saunders ’ suit is more openly advocated by his near kinsman

Francis Beaumont , although the latter would seem to have been an ardent admirer of An ne Newdigate himself. He writes from Stoughton on the 1 7th of January (probably about 1 6 1 1 or 1 6 1 2 ) as follows

ac c esse Most noble and worthy Ladie , In my so often and many letters unto your Ladishippe if either hereafter or at this time I commit any crime (for much speac he is seldome without deserte of reproofe) 1 1 2 I wil Cour tship

I wil first of all for them all e nt reat e my good Ladie

t o n n err our es For ear nest lie pardo my e , desiring most t o have my Ladie Nudigat e not onelie my good l n o nelie Ladie as shee is to a l others , but my e best s wil n nor Ladie above all other , I either spare wordes workes nor , suite service , that may procure mee hir o go d opinion . Ever since I last see your Ladishippe I have bene ‘” with my dying P elic ane where I have wrought a miracle in somewhat reviving dead aEe c t iones that lay buried for y eares seven foote within the eart he ’ r under a dead bodie . Here I knowe my good Ladie c an not n well understa d mee before shee see mee , and when I wr y te I love sometime to leave b ehy nde ob sc uritie For mee some . as in entertainment it argueth indiscret ion to set all upon the table at the t o g first course , and not reserve somethin for the second : so in wr y t ing to so wise and excellent a not n Ladie as your selfe, hee that leaveth a ha dle in his former letter to take holde of i n his next talke ay m et h not right (mee t hinkes) as he should at the wi l marke hee shootes at . I set on a little more ,

and yet leave suffi cient for a second and third course . n in n I have co tended with Mr . Haake painti g Ph oenix and was not much i nferior unto him even I n

M Cos n S aun er as e a n e ere af er . y y d s , xpl i d h t ’ M a not re fe r t o M a ew S aun er r w fe w h o e i n T y this tth d s fi st i , di d 1 60 5 ? 1 1 3 Cour tship

in the sa me lineaments that by his running arte he endevore o d t expresse hir . And what if I should ? say that I t hinke I did somewhat excel] him For he wrought but t o the eye and I to the soule ; he but painted upon a carde and I imprinted upon a harte ; he set fort he but a dead b eaut ie but I b eaut ie therewithall m nde discovered a living , and a y replenished with such vertues as can come under no kilf ll s s u hand t o be d esc ry ved by a pen ill. In this maner I have spoken of my Phoenix unto my P elic ane not . Let (most worthy Ladie) his labour n hereafter become losse, nor his pai es repentance ; which must happen if the end hereafter prove as

hapless as the beginning hitherto hath bene hopeless . f o v ou . Last all , and then for this time I lea e y Absolve (most faire and deare Ladie) this letter from of ou all suspicion imposture , protesting unto y , that neither my tongue herein hath spoken nor my hand wr t t en not hath y any thing , which my harte hath in nuouslie E in ge thought before . And so o er g my service t o be disposed by y ou I rest most readie at your commandment U M FRANCIS BEA ONT . ” Salute I pray y ou in my name y o Sister whome the less I knowe and the more frendlie shee accepteth b h l in e ou d . it , the more am I g unto hir

we t o P olwhele This is the first allusion have Mary , 1 1 4 who

Cou r tship

is but to hang an Angel about the part ies necke f b ut wit h which must not be astened with a ribbon , , ueenes h b n my Q ow e armes , hir fingers ei g crossed

one within another . If wy shing were not the sustenance of fooles and that men of better wit might not fi nde some better fee e on w she n food e d w she a ai e . to , I could y and y g ou fi nd e Discover not my little conception , for if y out this riddle, it may be that I shall have The

Sphinxes punishment . I rather desire not to be under

n es e i s t oode the to be reprehended . My y t rd a es sic k nes stirred up all the humours in my bodie , and in Eec tion honest ie n my soule a and have appoy t ed a duel . Pardon mee now (my best and most excellent Ladie) or or never pardon mee , rather pardon mee now and ever pardon mee for this letter standes in neede of

of wr tt en a pardon course , which being y from a sic klie dreame bodie , is like unto a sicke mannes hanging together like lockes of woole upon a n company of bramble briers . And so wishi g that my best and dearest Ladie may never want such worthy c omfor t e (when shee needes) as shee hath most b ount ifullie and h onor ablie bestowed upon my or neede, better wishing that shee may never be c omfort e grieved , nor never neede any at all , I whome commit hir unto his tuition , to I wil for ever

and ha ie pray for hir most blessed pp estate . Bed f he o . wort . the xxii marche , etc etc 1 1 6 Cour tship

And then as a postscript

S I would your La d p did know how sod enlie and st r an elie was g I cured of my fit the last night , which was in such sorte as my Ladie never heard the like ,

nor any that dwells betwixt this and Antipodes .

has no l The next letter date , but may well have fo lowed the previous one

s n Most honorable and my ever be t Ladie, not anythi g that came into my bandes these many y eares was so ps welcome unto mee, as your good La last letter For having before more u nadv isedlie than wise lie h asz arded so worthy a Ladies favour e upon a mum

chaunce , my diseased soule (after I had perceived myne err oure ) could finde no reast until such time as your

mos t comfortable elec tuarie was received . Many oc c asiones n , I know , might have bene take , which withou t vehement enforcing would of t hemselves have easelie faulne upon a harde construction : and eares then if my Queene had saied , the hares be m : hornes , ho es they must have bene (what soever

' matter t hey had bene made of) and where had I bene n placed , but amongst the number of the unfortu ate b east es of i , that upon condemnation l fe were dis charged ? But I see such is y‘ honorable and courteous dispos i tion of myne excellent Ladie as will not suddenlie 1 1 7 take Cou r tship

t t ruelie hi r take exception against him hat honores , b e oEered though occasion might seeme to , and such

hir most divine sympathising spirite , as can discerne n intention , before almost it come into actio , which of opinion of myne , confirmed by that noble desert ’ ‘” hirs m P alomon s , if the sa e shall drawe mee into er r oure and , I will live dye in beresie , and never ou revoke by recantation . When y see my

Counsailor ou , your onely sister , commend I pray y aEe c tionat e b ut not unto hir myne love , my ] b ec omme quintessential , for that is a confined u rec sant , having disavowed sacrifice unto all living onelie of temples , save unto the living temple the

fairest and dearest deserving Cy nt hia . T So craving pardon and wishing never to commit oEense I rest Yours most humble t o be c ommaunded U FRANCIS BEA M ONT . I have sent unto my pret tie Love my best blacke

’ ” hat c ht neast cocke , in a raven s , and desire yo good La Sp t o for yt speake mee , I may be hir best love until hir blacke cocke crowe and I wil desire it no

longer .

To judge from the message t o Mary P olwhele in this

letter , ’ r n P alamon a nd r c e See D yde s A it .

T no er n ame for D ana o e o f t h e moon . A th i , g dd ss 1 1 8

Cou r tship

y eares b uriall) if you shall suffer some skilfull crowner ha elie to revise the members thereof, there may pp a eare pp a broken leg , a broken arme , or a broken

u ad vaunt a e of necke, tho gh at the first by g haste , it

departed the world quiet lie with a suspec tles sepulture . My t reasurie (good Madame) hath bene unr ooft e this t we nt ie eare n n y , and so lying ope upo winde and now out of weather, whatsoever comes it can not be m ie r u otherwise than either ould o rustie . S ch as it n ou is , yours now it is , and my e once it was y have c ommaunded and I have obeyed and rather would I n n in this , or any other thi g , loose the opinio of owne not eald myne wit , than y Obedience to hir will , whome nfaine lie I honor so u d . c os n c omme nde s My y Saunders his service unto you , and tells me oft that I will loose your good favoure for fault Of wr y t ing but I tell him that I will never a n u we] loose it for y s ch fault , though it may be that u I may loose it for fa lt in writing , my writing many n n wit times wa ti g , but never will to express the d ut ie I dese rv edlie owe to my so worthy and noble a

assuer sweare Ladie . I you and unto you by my ou d earelie and vowed service , that he loves y , hath in ” him all the sympt omes belonging to y languishing

disease . At the same time I was about this letter S” George

c ommin us Belgrave g to to Stoughton to dinner , told t mee , hat my Ladie Gray , your sister , was brought to 1 2 0 bed Cour tship

” of and n bed a yong S John Gray , reported u to mee withall w as h (which strange newes to my brot er , my sister and to my selfe) that since our last coming out

S of Warwickshire your la p hath bene sicke of the u c mezels . Of your good rec over ie I sho ld be veri n glad to heare ; the testimo ie whereof, if it were

owne u confirmed with your most worthy hand , wo ld be unto mee a favour of treble val ue which though Often I have desired to see for more exc ellenc ie therein ou was than y are desirous to heare , yet I never so

desirous as at this present , when it may witness unto was n mee that my best Ladie is as well as shee , whe I u u ] last left hir . I can but pray unto the all Bo ntif l Lord to send much sa fe tie to you and yours ; u nto whose favorable pr otection committing y ou I humblie

and . . take my leave rest , etc etc

Then follow the inevitable postscripts

S L a p mee I must entreat your to pardon , though the number of my lines doe farre exceed the propor c ion l

r n w r te Eor allotted unto them , when I fi st bega to y , before I had sealed up this letter my sister Berkley ’”

' was come to Stoughton , who hearing that I was

wr tin n veri e earnestlie y g u to you , intreated me to m n l n com e d hir ove unto your kinde accepta ce , and to make

d 2 ndl His er a er ne marr e I st n on B ron ; an , , sist C th i i d , , A th y i y He nr B er e y k l ey . I 2 I Cou r tship

” make knowne how glad shee would be of y o b etter

acquaintance . When she comes into Warwickshire , sa et h ou ou she y , shee will visite y and if y come into Le st ar shire ou , shee desires that shee may see y , and

that y ou shalbe a most welcome guest unto hir . ” About ten a c loc ke at the night came in y o sister

Ashb ornham who : Nudi ate , hearing my La g but u of 8: once named , fell into s ch a discourse love

kind enes of kindenes of c our tesie , and love , and of thin es complement , thing and g , as neither I can

nor ] c ont aine expresse this paper we . At the last need es ou shee concluded that I must convey unto y , of with all titles amitie a certaine conjuration , which shee say et h can not be underst oode till y ou two m eet e God together . help men , when such fayre

ladies turne conjurors . I have sent the same unto ou y . * of who My nephew Coleorton , promised mee the

Linc omshire bucke in myne absence is gone into , m ont he or where he meanes to tarrie this , he knowes n not how lo g him selfe . Now am I going t o catche who h him , is wylder t an any bucke in his parke . If I speed (as I hope I shall) I wil then discharge some little parte of the debt I owe unto my best

Ladie ,

Sir oma Beaumon of o e Or on th e ea of t he fam Th s t C l t , h d ily, on th e ea of fa r Sir Henr in 1 60 He w as uc c ee e e . s d d d th his th , y, 7 c r ea e V c oun B ea umon a nd e i n 1 6 2 t d is t t di d 5 . 1 2 2

Cour tship

n e t h er him more u happy then y losse in his estate , or ” n of pai e body can doe , because it being y more

° excellent 8: sensable parte is of so much y greater lexe whilest 8: aEe c tion force to p p him , his desire h (wt being satisfied are ye motives t o bring him contentment) are in him continually tossed b e twee ne ye 8: diS aire honoret h rackets of hope p , who you so far as to ac knowledg y ou worthy Of much greater wth preferment in mariage then him selfe , yet being t‘” c ounc ell w h of his ow e harte , he saith , none can love you more : his worth 8: meritt is better manifested d aylie by him selfe 8: conceived by

” yo witty judgment , then can be expressed by me , though I t hinke as much good o f him as any frend b r be d . not he hath , doth You need think I am y , ” because I speake but sparingly of y you know to be ”h his due ; 8: yet I will not so far he led w kinde r t owar des firme egarde him , as I forget my love to

ou ha ines 8: y , whose greatest pp best content I wish owne b ut ° so as mine , y meanes I am not well able

” to judge of as yo selfe 8: therefore will leave him

” 8: his future for tunes t o y o good respect 8: c omendin ] aEe c tion consideration , g my faithful to ” yo well deserving selfe 8: so r est ” Yo ever lou ing sister

ELI "A : AS H B O R N HA M . To my very worthy and much esteemed sister N d . Ye Lady udegat e d . Cou r tship

’ now i n We g ve Francis Beaumo t s two last letters , n le gthy as they are , because they give us the curious admixtur e of his own ardent admiration for his “ best ” La die with an equally impassioned advocacy of his “ ’ Cos n n y Saunders suit , which seems to have bee finally rejected after a year ’ s courtship

My best Ladie , I received of late a letter from my best beloved c osy n having before wr yt t en unto him with as r ea sonnes l forcible as I cou d , to persuade him to

r endles lab er int h fruitles desist f om his and love , the conclusion whereof since (for ought I did see) n n n could be but repenta ce , the co tinua ce would be

n and r but the redoubli g of greife , to his forme

ff the n Of r a liction additio a t eble weight . His answere was that my too deare love u nto him had pr ocured in mee mor e impatience then he could

For n alow of. so farre was he from repe tance , as that he preferr ed the acquaintance and least favour e o f so n oble and wor thy a La die before the enjoyi ng

r n r of the greatest Ladie in the wo ld . Whe I ead this I could not but bothe laughe and sighe ; laugh to see what a creature love c an make of a wise m an and sighe to see that my best and most honored Ladie had rejected this constan t and more w or t hie man to make hir housb and then (I protest) I knowe n r n r n livi g . Alas poo e lover, alas eglected se va t , 1 2 5 and Cour tship

and woe unto all men that at their first entrance

est eeme into love women as Angels , but being over taken with the wandering of their owne aEec tiones doe fi nde them in the end no better then merciless not Tyrannes . My Ladie , I see , is become like ’ P i malion s g Image, of a marble stone, a faire woman , r but of a fai e woman is turned into a marble stone . doe no no I can more , I can say more , but onely heavie wearie wearie of this , that I am , sad and my

wearie of f wear ie life , my sel e, and Of whatsoever wear ie of heretofore did most delight mee , but most n of a un all in thinki g my de rest , and worthiest , f ortunate Ladie whose wittes are farthest from home , when they should be readiest t o doe hir the best

service . wr tin t o I see by his y g your daughter, and both wr t in t o not ou t y g and sending me , and to y , tha his suite is growen desperate and therefore r emaines no more of my parte but after making confession a nd taking leave to leave to folowe these wan hopes any

longer . f My con ession then (good Madame) is this , that

or d oe never since I first breathed ayre , either did I

r I honor or love any woman above you worthy selfe . in shalb e sun ri But my love are , and ever three d e n ke ] aEe sorted ra c s . The first is my natural c t ion to myn e owh e generation : the second my passion of

love to a woman , which is somewhat higher and 1 2 6 hotter

Cou r tship

All na tur al ] affec ti on soone doth c ess e ‘“ And q uenc h ed is w C upide s grea t er flame B ut faith full fr eind ship doth them b o th suppresse And th em with m ay spring disc ipli ne d oth t ame ro r nall f m Th ugh t h ough t es aspi i ng t o e t er a e . For as t h e soul e doth r ul e t h e ear thly masse And all t h e s ervi c e of t h e b odi e frame So l ove of s oul e doth l ove of b odi e p asse No n rf o r n h meane ra e l ess th a pe ec t g ld su mou t es t e st b ss .

So f now (Madame) my soule I confess is his, so arre ’ one n s folowet h as man e soule may be another s, and after him to c omfor t e his poore distressed and

u : unpitied so le my heart is yours , my dead heart , in sorr owe des aire wrapped up , and buried in p , yet

n oEer t o good e ough to for a present hir, whose harte is become so per seles and senseles as it hath

r lost unde standing . And n ou seei g you have forsaken him , y shall with wh o hollie for r w . him also reject mee , am his eve And first I wil charme myne eies , that hereafter they never see y ou myn e understanding I wil so b ewit c he

and fant omes with strange illusions , as it shall ever

or newlie apprehend you as a spirite a specter , crept out of n n fun a grave , and the with frighti g I will from you as faste as my feet e can bear e mee my ever dyi ng har te I wil cleave in peeces with continual] fretting to see hir an enemie t o hir selfe who unto

mee is so much endeared . And hereafter y ou shall not neede t o r eprove my 1 2 8 pray ses Cou r tship

ra ses ou nor reasonnes p y of y , to enquire the where ra se for ou fore I p y you , when y are commended by

wil n bet weene others I be silent , and byte my to gue my teethe ; and wil for ever hate all the virtues for h your sake , t at have made their cabine in the hard n and se seles rocke of your harte . ou ] a nd And so fare y we for ever my faire , deare ,

r unfortunate Ladie ; not more deare then fai e , but much more unfortunate then either faire or deare and farewel your pret tie and worthy children with all good b lessinges fr om him that blesseth all and fare freindes n n wel my good , your ho est and ki de house holde far ewel Arb e rie my owne hoped heaven upon

eart he farewel , my now tormenting hell , and with thee whatsoever thou shroudest from winde and

- - r wether ; farewell my loath to depa te and my selfe ,

for wee two wil goe seeke strange coastes together . far ewel r t oo n And last of all long lette , not lo g b ic ause thou art my last : and when thou art gone fr om mee shew to my deare Ladie in what schoole a w oard es thou wert brought up by these l st , which

all t hey r former fellowes caried with them . Your good Ldps most infinit elie bound a nd read ie to be c ommaunded for ever U FRANCIS BEA M ONT .

In the postscripts that follow he becomes a little less 1 u u i u 1 2 9 l g br o s , Cou r tship

u u of t o lug brio s , and in the last them again refers his ” ’ “ i e who c ounsa lor . . y , , Anne s sister Mary , in the meanwhile has (apparently) married her second husband , or John Lougher, Captain Lougher , as Sir Peter Leycester calls him

I received this weeke a letter from my Ladie Gray , wherei n shee wry tt unto mee that shee did hope that hir for suite hir sister should have good success ,

because in such matters I was veric fortunate . Thus not onely faire Phillida but P hilidaes faire sister also fl fl f owt e . owt ed o doth mee And since I am all , fare ou we] for ou y all , I am gone from y all for ever . * The last y ear e I sent t o my little Ladie Emelie a black cocke and much blacke fortune folowed this y ear e I send hir a whyte cocke t o see if change of colour wil

change fortu ne . I must entreat you when you see my c ounsaylor t o commend my hart iest love unto hir a nd t o ma r ied tell hir that though shee be a wife , yet I wil take leave t o love hir for ever while I carrie within

c an housb an mee a harte that love . If hir d wil give mee this lib ert ie (which is in myne owne power to take

’ He ro a mean La Ne w a e e e a u er M ar en p b bly s dy dig t s ld st d ght y , th ar Old Th e a u on n o ou t o t h e La a b out thi r t een ye s . ll si is d bt dy ’ ” ’ m e t h e ero ne of t h e n a e i n a uc er an e r E ili , h i K ight s T l Ch s C t ’

ur a e e ove P alamon an d r c e . a uc e r oem h as b y T l s , b l d by A it Ch s p b e en re prod uc ed by Dryden under t h e titl e of Palamon and ” r c e A it . 1 30

Cou r tship

” d one sorye) then I have . After many troubles y have chaunced bothe to my c osy n and mee in prose c ut ion of our this desire , hope was , that God would e nd our mournin es mir t he in the turne g to , unloose our and lad nes sackes , girde us with g , which had and come to pass if this had happened , that our hope of Cy nt hines conjunction had not proved a wry of aspect a sextile . What I could I have d one and all that I have done

proceeded of a most sincere love unto you bothe . Yet I must confess that in my laboures I did not a f little respect my sel e , when I thought , by enter fr end es course with two such excellent and worthy , that Arb er ie should have bene my little heaven upon

ear t he f c , where all my mis ortunes , my melancholi assiones and hea es of f l p , p grei e shou d have found r Tr o lus thei present remedies . But like as y once so sayed , I say

I a nd I c an d oe n o mor e All this did, Sh e r e a nd w e m e r for e c u l is o is e the e .

This is the last time that ever I wil move you in this

or of any matter to like purpose , taking my leave this suite as my c osy n hath d one of Warwickshi re in

his former letter unto mee . Yet never wil I forget that I have Obtained t he frend shippc of a most noble

c os n Ladie , which I ever hope to holde though my y t he n Of r have miste accomplishme t his desi ed love . 1 32 And Cou r tship

And so wishing c ontinuallic to possess t he same by

whatsoever service I can devise , I take my leave and rest Your good Lad” most infi nit c lic bound and r eadie to be c ommaunded U FRANCIS B E A M ON T. My brother my sister my neece with all t he best of this soc ietie salute you in moc kind wordes then a shc c tc of c ont ine paper can a . ou the swordc If it please y , may be sent by this

c s n bearer my o y Saunders boy . The occasion of my c osy n Saunders letter unto mee U whereof I have sent you the Coppie was this . pon M ounday his man coming to Bedwort he with my Ladie Grayes letter I sent him all that night with a letter of myne to his master t o have had him t o have

met y ou at Bedwor the upon Tewsd ay . ou see u But y his love is dying , not as vert ous soules r m ld nc s depa te in y , or as men leave this world after n are a consumption , but with such desperate pa ges as much more to be pitied by many degrees then ] t hinke

the are ar e y . Of mee I knowe they pitied even with ' ’ f ou my soulc s greife : o y ou I knowe not how, y ” in know best for I know nothing y ly eth hid other

hartes .

fe In this sad fashion exit Cosy n Saunders from the li story Of our heroines . We hear no more of him , but if I 33 our Cou r tship our supposition is right , and he was Matthew Saunders , of Shankt on in Leicestershire , about this date he con soled himself by erecting an elaborate monument to t he of memory his first wife , Margaret Skipwith , although

t 1 6 0 or her dea h took place in 5 , seven eight years before his final dismissal as a wooer of Lady Newdigate . Neither has Anne preserved any later letters from n Francis Beaumo t . The latter may still have been a neighbour occasionally , although his brother and host , 1 6 1 2 was r Sir Thomas Beaumont , died in . It five yea s 1 6 1 later , in 7 , that Francis Beaumont was appointed 1 6 2 (fourth) Master of the Charterhouse . He died in 4 , e ffi and is buried in the chapel . On his monum nt an e gy f o him may be seen kneeling at a desk . It may be interesting to students t o know that he it was who 1 t o , in 5 97, addressed his very loving friend ” ” “ S e ht for t he M Thomas p g , a judicious apology supposed levities of Chau cer prefixed t o the 1 5 98 ’ of edition Chaucer s works , and erroneously attributed t o Francis Beaumont t he poet (then only thirteen years

Old) .

C H A P T E R V I I

The Va lley of D ea t h

’ NE of Anne Newdigate s c hief friends

w as a d Elizabeth , daughter of Edw r n and f Nevill , Lord Abergave ny , wi e

o f r d Sir John G ey , eldest son of Lor In n u Grey of Groby . Fra cis Bea ’ mont s letters she is fr equently men n n t io ed as a friend and near eighbour i n Leicestershire .

ar e a u Of There . n mber letters from Lady Grey to her “ ” Dc ers t Sister Anne Newdigate in t he M uniment o r ar e o c on R om at A bury, but chiefly ab ut her own c c rns 1 6 1 1 . She became a widow in October , and then seems to have had some trouble with her father ih - of m one law, Lord Grey Groby, about y matters , her n in husband having died i volved debt . 1 35 Anne The Va lley of Dea th Anne proved herself a sympathetic and useful ally in ’ difli c ult ic s t he her friend s , and she has preserved draft of a letter from herself to Lady Graye abou t this period which is so prettily expressed that it is given here as an example of her happier style

My harts a] honoring La : I did forb ear e t o send these wc k misfortune cast into my custody til] so fit t an Opc rt unity gave me cause t o present them on t o you These ar e a] that came t o my hands but only h one deede wC my weake opinion tells m e is as well with helde since as safe in my keepinge as my love ] t he of to your worthy self is assur ed . A actions my por e lives pilgc rmagc s performance (of use to y ou) is t o solicite our merciful r c dimc r to whom I daily oEer my sincere prayers that he would be pleased to power uppon you as many blessed c om forts as in his rich goodness he vouc hsafet h to th b est owe u on his W pp best beloved . the presenta tion of my service to your deare selfe d o humbly

take my leave , And must cease to live before I can cease t o be faithfully yours

A . N . Lady Grey ’s answer is as follows

Deare Sister I have r ec eaved by My worthy frindc

” M Sanders all those t hinges which your love haith so c arfully kc pt c for mee : for t he deede you have 1 36 don

The Va lley of Dea th

y ou for t he nec klc c t and have desired your lines of sub ic t t c onfc s another , for I must you have handled this so c xslc nt ly as I knowe not howe to frame any c halin c an t hin c ou for answer to g y g y say, I am in that state you are in but much more unfortunat and I c oulde infinit ly c omend your resolution y f it were any other that oEered aEec ttion : but when I t e member whom it is and whatt happines his worthy nes promisis I must needs tell y ou that your t o infinit care may take away that happines which my ght give ou God much content both to y and yours . knows y ou are most deere to mee and so are your sweet e c hildr in in my best wishes and y f any thought did tell my hart this match shoulde be the lest [w]rongc

ou or r f to y you s , y it weare for my brother , my hand should e never be so false to my hart as t o solisit y ou by my lines t o tye you to the lest discontent but it is needles for mc c t o pled e for him that can with the life of t r ue aEec tion plede for him selfe and to him I leve it with my dc c r st wishes all may be as happie t o y ou as t o my live which is devoted to be everlast ingly Your aEec t ionat sister

E . GRAYE .

of so a In spite many dvocates for a second marriage , we are glad t o record Anne continued to “ live maister of herself, and remained Anne Newdigate to the end . 1 38 La dy The Va lley of Dea th

r 1 6 1 hus Lady Grey mar ied again in 4 . Her second

a . r . band was Mr Bingley , afterwa ds Sir John Bingley Her eldest son by Sir John Grey was created Earl of 1 6 2 8 Stamford in . ’ 1 6 1 In this year , 4 , Anne s Old friend Sir William

was Knollys , now Lord Knollys , appointed Master of the Wards , and she had occasion to appeal to his jurisdiction in regard to pending suits concerning her ’ u u and son s property . Do btless Anne tho ght ( rightly as it turned out ) that in memory of past times t he new Master of the Wards would give every attention to ” n osse petitio s emanating from his former G pp . ’ Anne s copies of her petitions still exist in two well

are thumbed papers in her own handwriting . They

are quaintly worded , and evidently her own composi tion

b ' Right bon e [she writes] haveing ever b in most ” Losp u n an t hin c bound to yo tho gh never meriti g y g ,

” doc presume of t he c ont inueanc e of yo Losp : favoure ’ me 8: n t he Kin c s now to my Son e being g Ward , ” ” n n knowin c n under y ho ores jurisdictio , g yo oble disposition to all 8: my selfe heretofore liberally in tasting thereof, am thereby encouraged this bold

’ ” manner to be my Soh n s solic it orc to yo Losp : him

self being young , not able to be his own intercessor, Thoughc I hope 8: shalt t hinke myself most happie if in time he may attaine to that perfection to be held 1 39 worthy The Va lley of Dea th

” s worthy to do yo Lo p : any service . It hath pleased

” God since M Newd : death (al noble Lord) that sundry sut c s 8: t rob lc s have befallen me in respe cts of my Sonns estate heare ; being amongst a people

Ch of w t hanke God strange dispositions , I by this

” gentleman M Chamb z [Chamb erly n fl meanes have

whoe near Nei hb ourc well over passed , is my g and most willing to Do me a] frc indly Ofli c c s in my l rightfu causes .

of She then enters into particulars her special grievances , complaining

that it hath enforced me to call them in t o the Court of Wards and to have sut c s (being a Woeman and unfit t for these aEaires) uppon process sent out of th e of Tearmes n Court Wards . 3 si ce [they] have not apc ar c d all to procure mee more t rob le 8: charge

Ch w is ever incident to pore unfortunate Woemc n in my case But since it hath pleased God to

” plac e yo Losp : t o be my Soh ns judge I must confess ”h I shall w much better comfort seek to defend his

right , although it hath ever bin my resolution since it pleased God of his great mercy to b est owe t he

Of u on me wardship my Child pp , what in the power of

Pr o a t h e ow ner o f e C a of a name a nd c onse b bly Astl y stl e th t , ue n a n e ar ne our e a e e n on a m e a n d a q tly ighb , Astl y C stl b i g ly il a f from r ur h l A b y . 1 4 0

The Va lley of Dea th

r full e — no s eac hc and no mo e , neither yet y that p of mariadge ether to your nevew or anny c other in these ’ r u r u partes . She is b o ght up in her fathe s ho se and a

r oes . not p etty gentlewoman as report g I sawe her , but of this I am assured , I might with much more c n t he u n n thc ase have see all mon me ts at Westmi ster , n t he and t he lyo s in tower , jack napes all beares in arishc n P ore n lund c d p garde . Robi was p g in a cadge so deep that he had rather dive into fower and twenty su che cadges as once he was in then run into it a a ne And t hanke hiles g y . yet God I am here but w t ’ run r r I live I ll never mo e there . God bless me f om b usines suche holes . I have a great for Thomas h Beaumond wC I must needes c ffec t c before I can see

Arb er I la c L nc ollc n y . y at his father in lawes at y r t he f om daye till Shrove tuesday , and from that t y me at Coleorton till t he mund ay c after pallmc sond a c willin e a a ne y , and God g , I will be with him g y wensd a e n ht c l e the on y at yg , and there will y most par te Of this somer and so soone (as possibly I c an) I ’ will attend your ladishippc s service (till when) I am

” ” ever c omendy ngc yo lady shippe and al y o pr it t y c ’ c hec ky ngc s to heaven s pr otection ; not omitting my ”h pr it t y megge w her two Sharpe teethe and all the rest in general] : Sente from Aldridge this present ’ r rema ne r Ladishi e s St Geo ge his daye , and y you pp ever whilest he is his owne t o comande B RO ERT PHILLIPS . When The Va lley of Dea th

n forsoot he Whe I am married , then I am at my ’ c s w comandes .

But Anne was not destined to live to see her belo ved r nor d Jack p osperously married , even to be release from u her anxio s wardship . In t he autumn of 1 6 1 7 she wr ites to her faithful r Henshawc n stewa d , William , who was doi g business in n t he for her Londo , addressing letter as follows

” To my good servant M Willi : Henshawe at t he Signc ” t he Cr owne neare r n of S Ma ti s Gate give these . Good Willi

” M Holb it c hc can not pass without two or three c an ou of our al words , he tell y health , well I thank

” b usines n God but my legg . I pray for yo and so e

” see ret ur ne . If M Thomson be at Whitehall goe

” th him 8: M Leust on from me w thanks for a]

r n cur tesies . I p ay you e quire what becomes of Ned n : not suE Lume my old serva t , for I fear Jo will be y n r cient for t he place . At my cousi Geo ge Crookes

ou r r n y may hea e of him , for he se ves my Cousi ’ ” r Holb it c h in Boost red s eldest brothe . M is great W”" ou n r . hast , y may imagi e so by my sc ibbling a l our remembrances to your good selfe do leave you to God being ever ”i s Your Old M assured N O ATE EWDI . A .

6 1 . Arb e r . 2 1 y , Oct 7 , 7 A n 1 4 3 mo th The Va lley of Dea th A month later she writes again

Good WillI Y ou have spent a great time in At c nd anc c 8: never

t he c an not slowc nc ss better , only I but beleive there shewes or c ness the p of their title . I desire peace if it 8: ” 8: may be , so I pray you tell M Reede , commend

” my love to him 8: M Vernc y ; but if it can not be me to Jacke , it shall not be to . I was so ill uppon thursday that I could not write to 8: r you am not much bette at this time , my legg much

b le me alt hou hc t ro in . g , g little paine It is to no pur

” t o t r ob le u U n poss M Mathias abo t it , less he sawe

t he n of d ar e a l e not hin e n man er it , for I pp y g u less I

” n r ] had his presence . M Mou tfo t is very careful , ’ n f butt knowes ott what to make o it . God s holy wil

one be d . Excuse me to a] my fr eind s that at this time I write

not for n . to, I can ill e dure to sitt long Also my

re not eyes a well able to endure to write . Offer red for one r Am now a match of my Daughte s ,

” ” Kiret on I b adc e one M . yo uncl write to you to

” n of r lc ade e quire M Willi W ight , but Jacke must h f ic e 8: r t hin t e wa . o s es y I sent you a note p othe g . ” l t ou . I feare yo purse will scarce ho d If not , I must supply it b ut I t hinke new fruits will not come in neare 8: thin e till very Christmas, I neede not any g sent r that I have for, but a little befo e the time . I 1 4 4 t hinke

The Va lley of Dea th

match for Jack put him i n minde thereof 8: ent reat e my servante Bossonc to do as much . m Excuse me to y cosin Ned Fitton . I was about to

” write t o him 8: M Chamb came 8: stayed as long see Boust red s as he could . By my cousin horses u n l ou ppo thursday I wi write if please God . If y can learne t he time of any of my friends purposs of n here ou ou bei g before y come , I pray y send wordt e . My clock I feare is quite spoiled it gett 2 bowers in 1 2 8: one , will strike but in every hower.

e one n t o He nshawe Ther is more letter writte W . four of days later , in which she takes advantage my cousin ’ Boust rc d s horses goei ng to send t he answers to those u good friends to whom she co ld not write before .

’ The t earmc s end [she writes] I hope will send you to us but if we agree not of peace I pray y ou knowe of t he n t he my Cosin Croke , whether in vacatio y can not u on in put A trick pp us, respect it is under A c olloure for t he SO kinge . Dale gives great words ; n b ut d o doth Antho y Robinson , I respect them as I h k t he . are t an e speakers We all well I humbly God .

f 8: a le I Only my sel e , that the le st matter ; my gg ’ knowe not what to saye of it or do to it but God s

” wilbe d one ou blessed . I pray y lett M Mathias knowe that I have d runke seur b y grass this 6 weekes both m orningc 8: after noone 8: purposs so to do 1 6 4 still . The Va lley of Dea th

still . I have noc more t o t rob le you with al but to

” t he 8: rc b inc c o me nd s deliver lace to yo sister. Jack him unto you 8: bids you tell Willi : Butterton that

the in n was n lampe had 3 holes it . A ti ker fai e to h n fur nish ” me d it he must c him w some Oile for it . We had from Coventric 8: it is so vile that it smells a] t he house over. Farewell good Willi c omend my love t o a] my good friends wi sheing y ou A happie ] jorney 8: good returne do comite you t o God remaineing ever ” ‘5 YO M ” 8: assured " Nov the 2 6 friend

1 6 1 G 7 A . NEWDI ATE . Comend me to S” Walter Lc uc son 8: tell him I hope

” i Arb er ret urne he w ll see y in his . I heare S George Curson went to London this wc c kc if he did I pray y ou tell him that I take it very unki ndly that he wo uld not see me ; I hope he be lc ivc s that I would have bin most glad to have sene him at Ar b ery if he d o not he doth me the more wrong tell his La s Daughter o .

These three letters must have been preserved as amongst n in r the last A ne wrote , for early the following summe In ( t o use her own words) God called her . the prime

- h of of life , being only forty t ree years age , she was n n t he of taken away , leavi g five childre to lament loss a t r r e r mo he at a c itical p riod of thei young lives , the 1 4 7 eldest The Va lley of Dea th eldest being just twenty and the youngest only l eleven years o d . Thus she never lived to see her anxious wardship brought to an end ; the active brain ceased to work and the loving heart t o beat on behalf of the children for whom alone she seemed to live .

In accordance with the directions in her will , she was Har efiel t o taken to d be buried . If she had died at was Gawsworth , her desire to have been laid at rest in of the home her youth . But as she passed away at Arbury her remains now lie beside her husband in the

old - of Har efield family burial place . There they rest within the walls of that quaint and picturesque old

church , which stands in solitary beauty in an oasis of

green meadow land , whilst behind it rises a noble back of ground fine old trees . ’ Anne s effigy on the sculptured monument to her hus band ’s memory erected in her lifetime is not a flattering of representation her , and bears little resemblance to her r of portraits at A bury , which there are four . The latest of these must have been executed about four

- e . u years b fore her death It is a f ll length portrait , where she is depicted standing by a table with a fan in n of her ha d . In spite her large hoop she looks slight in

u wan . Her fig re , and her countenance is pale and gown

' of r ufi is black velvet with a closed at the throat , and the red embroidery of her high- heeled shoes gives the n m h of u o ly uc colo r to her dress . 1 4 8

The Va lley of Dea th

b a e Sr akin e hus nd . m outlive my Jo Newdigate, and he g “h exec ut r ixe leavin e w mee his , g mee in trust his d worlde Chil ren , and all that ever he had in the , I ’s E xec ut o answere hereby charge my , as they before of God at the generall daie Judgement , that whatso ’ ever shalb e lefte unp formed o f his my husband s t ruelie fa t hfullie Will at my death , that it be and y t performed . Item I give o my sonne Jo . Newdigate c ha t ells househould st uffe all t , goods, plate , , stocks of cattell qu ieke or deade that I shall have at the time of

r em a nin my death y g unbequeathed , my Will being t o o first performed , the remainder my sonne J

Lady Newdigate then wills certain portions t o her son daughters and to her second , who inherits some land as well , and continues

And whereas out of my deare love to my eldest for of sonne and the better upbuilding his house , I have hereby wholly given and disposed the profit t of his war dshippe and marriage to those uses the

sooner t o free his landes in Middlesex etc . yet he shall pay each of his sisters Thirt y e pou nds apeec e yearly until they are married or their portions are paid to them And I earnestly e desire and charge William Whit all as he was left in trust by

r his M r my h usband S Jo : Newdigate and nowe by mee t hat my boyes may be brought uppe in good learninge and both they and my daughters to 1 5 0 b e The Va lley of Dea th

be bred uppe m Vi rt eous and god lie ly ffe in our Ca t holic k and Protestant Religion to the under ’ s t andinge of God s holie Will and way es revealed in his greate compassion and mercie unto us by his divine Gospell and in the true faith of Jesus Christ

lr onelie Savio whome our Redeemer and Mediator , I b eseac he in his abundant mercie make them all five of fit t n e his chosen elect . And when my boyes are of y g lear ninge and y eares that they maye goe to the U niver n sities and I nes of Courte . And I charge William With all that my eldest sonne be not married before Sixteene e ares not hee be y oulde at the least , and then nor ever against his owne Will and good likinge by

anie interest challenged over him by my right e .

ownes She then divides her g , petticoats , jewells and b e other valuables amongst her five children . She queath s to Richard the bedstead with the yellow velvet t Ch canopy and t affat a quilt w my uncle Francis Fy t t on

" ‘ m who gave me . To her other , survived her , she left a ring which her father had given her

Item my Will and desire is to have a fewe playne gould Rings made of tenne or twelve shillinges price t h {f ’ w a pansie being my ather s Crest , engraven on the outside and two letters for my name enamelled

t lrl w blacke on either side the pansie and an insc rip ‘h n lat t n followin e : tio w in to be in y , these wordes g Dea th is the hegi fi inge of life ; and to be delivered 1 5 1 u nto The Va lley of Dea th

unto soe manie of my friends as a memorie of my love as I heare nominate

n r Amo gst those she here mentions is her sister , Ma y P olwhele of n , the date this portio of her will being ’ shortly after William P olwhele s death and before the

Lougher marriage . 1 6 1 on The last part was added in 5 , when she goes

b l I nowe make and or daine my ho e kinsman

” E n lefield Kni ht e B ar onet t S Francis g g , William Whit all Henshawe and William my two servants ,

r xe ’s n Eranc is my three E c ut o . I did [ ot] nominate S th till I had spoken w him who hath promised me to take care of my Children In wit nesse that this is my Will and Deede I sette my hande the fl ower and twentieth of October in the ’ eare of 1 6 1 y O Lorde 5 . ANNE NEWDI G ATE .

of We know no more the last days of Anne , Lady

Newdigate . Her mother and her sister may have been for with her at the end , they both survived her by many years . On one side of the elaborate monument erected to her t t on in u father , Sir Edward Fy , Gawsworth Ch rch , is the of tt on seated figure his widow , Lady Fy , her head

' resting on her hand . Behind her appear her two n daughters , A ne and Mary , kneeling , whilst her two sons are in a like attitude in front . 1 5 2

The Va lley of Dea th

— ‘ Chernnoc k for son in law, Robert , and gives directions

Gouls orth . w Co . her burial at (Gawsworth) , Chester Thus she apparently continued to flourish like a green - 1 6 of bay tree until 4 7 , the date her death , when she

- must have been sixty nine years old .

t o F tt on In bidding farewell Mary y , with all the

ffi we di culties that obscure her career , cannot but hope

of and believe that the brilliant maid honour , frail u was though she ndoubtedly , had qualities of heart and soul to enable her to benefit by the love and example of her faithful sister . And as Anne was charitable to

we . her failings to the last , so may also be It may be interesting to j ot down here as briefly as ’ possible the main facts in the after life of Anne s five children .

Her - eldest son , the much loved Jack , married early u u of a u c S sanna , da ghter Arnold L ls , a D t h merchant . in n ho . one son w Lo don They had , died in infancy , ’ and when abou t his mother s age John died himself in 1 6 the year 4 2 . n The property the passed to his only brother Richard , a lawyer of great ability and independent honesty . He ’ is known to history in Cromwell s time for having

Bellasis refused to condemn the Earls of and Dumfries, with Colonel Halsey and other Royalists who were tried before him at the York Assizes for levying war

against the Protector . Judge Newdigate observed that “ u was altho gh by 2 5 Ed . III . it high treason to levy 1 54 war The Va lley of Dea th war of u against the king , he knew no stat te to extend ” n u n this to a Lord Protector . In co seq e ce of this n d independence of actio he was eprived of his place , but later restored to the Bench by the Commonwealth

r w as after the P otectorate abolished . Later on he was u made a baronet by Charles II . He married J lian , of daughter Sir Francis Leigh of Newnham Regis , and a r one n had a l rge family, f om of whom the prese t family n are directly descended , although the male li e with the baronetcy became extinct at the beginning of the present century . ’ n n Of An e Newdigate s daughters , the eldest, Mary , ick Was snest Leveson named p by Sir Richard , married f o . Edmund Bolton Granborough , Co Warwick , but none of her descendants survive , the last of them , — n in 1 6 . a daughter Lettice , having died u married 93 4

r Lettice Bolton was bu ied in Astley Church , where it “ is recorded on her monument that she lived very hansomly upon a n arrow fortune her life was without ” u trouble , and her death witho t pain . ’ nn A e s second daughter , Lettice Newdigate , died th e unmarried at age of twenty .

Anne , the youngest , who was only eleven years old at ’ Sir the time of her mother s death , married Richard K n Skeffi n t on Skeffi n t on t . so g , , second of Sir William g , f ff son o . Bart . , Fisherwick , Co Sta ord , and their , who Clotw or th I st married the daughter of Sir John y ,

V n u u r iscou t Massarene , s cceeded to that peerage nde I S5 the The Va lley of D ea t h the special remainder of the patent on the death of

- in— Skeffi n t on his father law . Lady g died when only - n twenty ine , and an admiring friend (possibly the ” ’ Cousin B oust red of Lady Newdigate s letters) has perpetuated her memory in a monument erected by ’

. r him in St Michael s Chu ch , Coventry . The inscription is as follows

An Elegic all epitaph made upon the death of that of Ske ffi n t on mirror women Ann Newdigate , Lady g , wife of that true moaneing turtle Sir Richar d Skeffi n t on Kt . 8: g , , consecrated to her eternal

memorie by the unfeigned lover of her vertues , Willm . Bulstrode , Knight .

Ve r ue um e b e aut ie c a e ou w i t t h bl , h st , pi s , ’ ’ Hu an on our w ome n lor e sw e et l e n sb d s h , s g y , y k it , And all c om r e fairel e i n one p is d y this , S ad fa e a er e e n r n n t h th h sh i ed w ith this sto e . Ver ue r um for ou a w oon t h e r z e t t i ph , th h st p i B ea i ut e te ac h w omen t o b e c h ast 8: w ise ; M a k e h er your p at t erne of a ver tuous life Wh o ve 8: e a fa re un o e w fe li d di d i sp tt d i . Sh e w as t h e mi rr or of h er age a nd dayes And now t h e u e c f ra r s bj t o t nsc end en t p ay se . ’ 0 w a a h armon e ma n fe w ou b e h t y s li ld , ere w omen all b ut ne at as o as sh W e go d e .

Ob 11t 2 1 mtatis suae 2 D i n 1 6 . Man , 9 anno 37 1 5 6

P P E N D I X

E xt r a c ts r om a list o "l i me Newdi a te? ex enses f f g p , show ing t ha t she w a s evidently a visitor to P olwhele a t P er ton in 1 6 07

Item c hi c kens 1 4 It 6 c hi c kens It c laret t wi ne It a doz e n 8: halfe of pigeons It : for rosmar y e fl owers It : halfe an e lle of lac e for le tti c e It t o M r M at hy as It : b roum es ’ It t o goodwife ga rdener for her hal fe y eare s wages ‘r e nding at 1 60 7 ou La : daye It : 1 2 d uc kli ng s It aq uavita It 5 c ou ple of rab et s W W r It : t o ill : alke r t he Joyne It t ow pans more then t he ould It : Wood en w are for t he dogs h ouse I S9 ‘ d ppend z x

It em a pore man It : a girdle for di c ke It peirc ein g 5 0 pea rls It : makei n g Malls ringe It : a pai re of shooe s for Jac ke virginall wi ers a pa i re o f shoes for myself a pa i re for le tti c e ’ t he shoe maker s m an 1 2 elles o f c loe t h weaving 8: dosse n n ns apki O nursse on her goeinge 1 2 yeard s o f c ob b w e b lawn 6 threed lac eses

At my hei ng a t per ton

t he keeper at B rude park e ’ the k ee pe r s men in t he house a t pert on t o my sis ter for silver c ham let t Doc t er Cherrib oo de

r W a t S a lt er Leueson m endi n g the Coat c h my si ste rs nursse

e t c . et c .

r int d b BALLANTYNE ANSO N 5 Co . P e y , H London E dinb urgh