and withall write your advise how I may best deale to recover the same again; you being well acquainted how Blagrave had it at Mr. Newdigat's hands, and how in my minority tyme to my use he bought it with money which he borrowed of my Tenants before he sold it to Mr. Blagrave.* P.S. [About Mr. Daniel's offer.] It is but talk yet: wherefore before we draw to further resolution think what I may best spare as you know his land (although barren) lieth so commodiously for me. I have heard the Duke my Father had great liking of it: if it weare so, I think you know the cause why he refused it: whether for not agreeing upon like valew (for neyther he nor I have, I take it, any land so bad) or through his untimely death that leaft many things unperformed.” 1575. 2 April. From Wulphall. 20. Means to put Blagrave "aliàs Acteon," into Chancery. "For Daniel be sure we will deal as hardly as he shall, but if nothing els fall out he will be content to bargain for his house which is very noisom to my forest old trees." No. XV. Tottenham Lodge: The Household there in A.D. 1582. Letter from R. Smyth, the Chaplain, to the Earl of Hertford. See page 157. [In December, 1581, works were going on at Tottenham Lodge, under Thomas Langford, an agent. The letters mention the construction of "The High Walk," "The Low Pond walk," the stables, orchard, conduit-house. In 1582-3, the Earl of Hertford was living at Tottenham Lodge, as appears from the next paper.] "Totnam Lodge. A Note of the names of the Ordinarie of Household there, viijth Januarie, 1582—3, viz. :— Mr. Robert Smyth Robert Tutt George Ludloe Michaell Siddenham Thomas Langford Gilbert Prynne Henry Rookes John Hidden Jack Lewes Thomas Mondaye Smyth, keeper of the Parke Thomas Gaskyn, slaughter-man Thomas Davis Bartholomew • Some confusion arose after the Protector's death about the Prebend or Parsonage of Great Bedwyn, all of which had belonged to him, Part of it had subsequently been granted to the Dean and Canons of Windsor, and part exchanged with the Crown. It was then found out that there was some part that had neither been given to the Dean and Canons nor exchanged. This part was granted to Mr. Newdigate, who sold it to Blagrave, from whom the Earl of Hertford after (as it seems) some trouble, ultimately purchased it. Thomas Warren, ostringer[i.e. Falconer] Jack, the Falconer's boy Gilbert, the beer-brewer Barnaby, the baker Cusse, the boy of the bakehouse Hugh, boy of the Warderobe Edmonds, Robert Tutt's man Southerne, Mr. Smith's boy." Mr. Robert Smith, at the head of the above list, was tutor to the young Lord Beauchamp and his brother Thomas, and probably chaplain. Of his style of composition, the following specimen remains : R. Smyth to Edward E. of Hertford. 30 Jan. "Bi this bearer (my singuler good Lord) I have sent two such as I could call to mynd, the one longer, the other shorter, more wold I have sent but that omnium rerum est satietas,' I feare theise be to much. The names of suche bokes are herein enclosed, as apperteine to such purpose. The argument of the first titled boke is; the Poete meaning to extoll the praise of Isotta dawghter to the prince of Ariminium and married to the Duke of Forence [sic] he feineth Jupiter to have been ravished wyth her excellent beuty. His first epistle conteyneth Jupiter's wowing. The second Isotta her modest and matronlyke refusall. The third Jupiter's reply wherein 'precibusq minas regaliter addit.' But as appeareth by the others folowing, 'Nil prece, nil pretio, nil valet ille minis.' For she told hyr husband who writeth to Mars to defend him from Jupiter's wrath. And Mars to Phoebus to take his parte. Jupiter wrytes it to Saturne, and Saturne to Luna to steal her away by night. Mercury calleth a counsel of the gods wherein yt ys determined that Pallas and Venus should be sent with this embassage; that Sigismunde should enjoye Isolta peaceably as long as she ys mortall and after Jupiter to have her when she is immortall. The peace being thus concluded Luna and Juno gratulate the Erth for joy of the peace concluded. What story was ment that I told whether of Cephalus or Procris or Hippomanes and Attalanta or Linceus and Hipermnestra, I know not. If I misse the title of the boke of Questions, theise are some of theime. A lady loving two at a banquett she toke from one a garland and put yt on her heade: to the other she gave a garland which before she had upon her head. The question ys, whether (of the two) she loved better. Another, whether yt be better for a woman to marry a wyse man, a stronge man, or a riche man. Another, whether the lover is more passioned in presence or in absence. Thus, with "Jucundum est amare si cures ne quid insit amari," I take my leave.-Wolphall, 30 January. Yor, L. most bounden and humble R. SMYTH." No. XVI. Mr. Robert Tutt's letter to the Earl of Hertford, describing Queen Elizabeth's kindness to the Earl's two sons. See page 157. [The second person in the household list, Mr. Robert Tutt, had also charge of the two young gentlemen, and attended them when on a visit to Queen Elizabeth, at Hanworth, Middlesex, from which house Mr. Tutt thus writes to the Earl at Totnam Lodge."] 10 June, 1582. My humble dutie unto your honour remembered. It may please the same to be advertised that Her Grace remayneth still troubled with the cough which with her age maketh her feble and weak. Her Grace will not desire your Lp retorne, but yet I know, willing enough to see your L. here; neyther request a Buck, but will take more [in] thankfull part one Buck voluntarily sent, especially at thys tyme of the yere, than a leash hereafter. And although your LP dothe conceyve, that it is no meat for Her Grace, being as she is, yet to have it in her house and to pleasure her neighbours and friends with venison at this tyme of the yere, it is no small pleasure. Those pinates whereof your L. maketh mention, Her Grace receyveth to ripen the flewme. Touching my Lord Beauchamp and Mr. Thomas, they continue for their dispositions after one sort. They have read my fellow Smith's last letters in Latin, to Her Grace; and afterwards put the same into English to Her Grace, as your Lp willed. With my L. Beauchamp Her Grace had speciall speeches, to what effect I know not, but without all doubt for his great good if he have a prepared mynde to follow grayve and sound counsels. Her Grace made him fetch his booke, entituled, 'Regula Vitæ,' & out of the same to read the Chapters 'De veritate et mendaciis.' Your L. shall do well in wonted manner to acknowledge her Grace's great care of them and their well doing. Now if your L. hath any meaning that Her Grace shall visit Totnam this summer, then is it necessarie your honour acquaint my fellow Ludloe with your L. determination therin: that all necessaries may be thought upon and provyded in tyme." No. XVII. Frances Howard, the Earl's second wife, to him. Queen Elizabeth's fall from her horse. See page 158. "Sweet Lorde, I thanke God moste humbly for your good helth and well doinge, and I moste hartely desier hym to continue and increyse the same, and I thanke you for so sone sendeng to me for I was a lettell mallencolly for fere that you had not your helth, and I was sending my man Lennerd to you but you prevented me by your foutman who met me as I was comynge home waytynge on the Quene abrode; but a lyttell before we were all grettly afraed for that her Majestes horse in stombleng, feall withall, and she withall felle, but as she says, she lepped of frome hym, but her foutman stode her in grate sted but thankes be to God she had no kynde of harme and presently after she wallked ⚫Pinates: probably the same as "pinnonades" (Halliwell's Archaic. Dict.) "a confection made chiefly of almonds and pines whence the name." a-fote halfe a myell. You may thynk what a fereful sight it was: her Majeste wolde have riden on that horse agayne, but he wold not suffer her to come on hys backe. She is very well, thankes be to God, and is determined to goe a Prograce in to Sussex, but whan she will begin it is not knowen. There is no more speache of her goynge to Wansted, and therefore you nede not stay the longer from hence but whan she will goe she sayth it shall be to Nonsuche, and there you shall have a loggynge for so my Lord Lomley hymself told me and assured me for he is now att the Courte & there is no tyme apoynted when she will remove but you shall be sure of a loggynge at Nonsuche. . . Your moste faythefull lovying and obedente wife during lyfe FRANCES H. [Endorsed] Recd. by Robert Footman, Monday 11th June 1582." No. XVIII. Message from William Seymour (afterwards Marquis of Hertford) to Lady Arabella Stuart, suggesting the prudence of breaking off their proposed marriage. (From the original rough draft.) See page 159. "I am com from Mr. William Seymour wth a message to your La: wch was delevered unto me in ye presence of this gent" yo' servant and therefore yo' La: may he assured I will neither add nor diminish, but will truly relate unto you what he hath dyrected me to do, wch is thus: he hath seriously considered of the proceedings betwene yo' La: and hymselfe, and doth well perceive, if he should go on therein, it would not onely prove exceeding prejudiciall to yo contentment, but extreame dangerous to hym, first in regard of the inequality of degrees betwene yo' La: and hym, next, the King's Matie's pleasure and comandment to the contrary, wch neyther yo' La: or hymselfe did ever intend to neglect: he doth therefore humbly desier yo' La:, since the proceeding that is past doth not tye him nor yo' La: to any necessytie but that you may freely commit each other to your best fortunes, that you would be pleased to desist from your intended resolution concerning hym, who likewyse resolveth not to trouble you any more in this kind, not doubting but yor La: may have one more fitter for your degree (he having alredy presumed too hygh) and hymselfe a meaner match with more securyty." No. XIX. Letter from Sir William Monson to the Earl of Salisbury about the capture of Lady Arabella Stuart.1 See page 160. "Right Ho: St Edward Souche and St William Button aryved hear betwixt 7 and 8 a cloke in the morning; and according to your Lo: derecktiones we ar readie to performe every pertyckuler: and for the more convenientcy & spead we doe imbarke in the french barke wherein they where taken, & goeth with her to the 1Found among the Duchess of Portland's collections at Longleat. North Foreland where we shall have choyce of keatches to put my Ladie and her servants in. And the barke with the passengers to ply up as convenient as they maye. And least the wind doe overblowe & hange westerly, as yt is licke to doe bothe, I have wryten to the officers of the Navye to hasten downe with all spead—the Light horseman to meet us at the east end of the Swale; and so to rowe derecktly up to London: but least yo' Lo shuld not knowe the meaning of the Swale, yt is the eastermost part of Shepy whear we shall rowe betwixt the yland and the mayne: and so with the remembrance of my servis I humbly take my leave. Yo' Lo: in all servis to be comanded. WILL: MONSON. There is no newes yett of the Charells: nor any other perty cullers touching Mr. Seamor." [On the reverse, above and below the seal, in three different hands.] Memorandum of Lady Arabella's clandestine marriage on the fly leaf of Mr. Hugh Crompton's account book, found at Longleat. See page 161. |