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LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 


II. 


Engraved,  ~byJG.Sloda.rt. 


LIFE     OF 


THE   LADY 

ARABELLA    STUART. 


IN  TWO  PARTS:  CONTAINING  A  BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR, 

AND  A  COLLECTION  OF  HER  LETTERS,   WITH   NOTES  AND 

DOCUMENTS   FROM   ORIGINAL  SOURCES,  RELATING 

TO  HER  HISTORY. 


f  Tf BRADLEY. 


IN  TWO    VOLUMES. 
VOL.   II. 


LONDON:  / 

RICHARD    BENTLEY    AND    SON, 

in  ©rtinarg  to  |&er  ilHajestg  tfje  ©turn. 


(A  II  rights  reserved?) 


3 II 
•  I 

51st 


CONTENTS   OF  VOL.   II. 


PART   L— MEMOIR. 

(Continued.) 

CHAPTER    XII. 

HALCYON   DAYS. 

1611. 

PAGE 

The  Bishop  of  Durham  fetches  Arabella  from  Lambeth — 
They  stay  a  few  days  at  Highgate — Thence  move  to 
Barnet — Arabella  is,  or  feigns  to  be,  very  ill — The  royal 
physician  sent  to  her — She  is  obliged  to  move  to  East 
Barnet — She  petitions  theKing  and  Council  fora  respite 
to  recover  her  health — A  month  is  granted — She  thanks 
the  King  for  these  halcyon  days — In  charge  of  Sir  James 
Croft — Who  pleads  for  further  delay — The  King  ob- 
durate that  she  must  go  to  the  North — But  grants  an 
extra  month  on  account  of  an  eloquent  petition  she 
sends  him — Lady  Shrewsbury  is  plotting  an  escape — 
And  raising  money  for  it — Crompton,  Arabella's  steward, 
is  her  trusty  instrument — Seymour's  friend  Rodney  helps 
in  their  preparations,  also  Arabella's  woman  Mrs. 
Bradshaw  ..  ..  ..  ..  1-29 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XIII. 
THE  ESCAPE  AND  CAPTURE. 

1611. 

PAGE 

Arabella  and  Markham  escape  from  East  Barnet — She  is 
disguised  as  a  man — They  meet  Crompton  with 
horses — Ride  to  Blackwall— Where  they  take  boat — 
After  many  delays  go  on  board  a  French  vessel — 
Seymour  also  tricks  his  servant  and  escapes — Joins 
Rodney — Too  late  to  overtake  Arabella — They  charter 
a  collier  to  take  them  to  Calais — Francis  Seymour 
betrays  them — The  consternation  at  court — Even 
Prince  Henry  deserts  Arabella — Lord  Hertford  also 
in  disgrace — Admiral  Monson  takes  active  measures — 
Arabella  and  her  friends  are  captured — She  is  taken  to 
the  Tower — Seymour  safely  reaches  Calais — All  the 
rest  of  the  conspirators  imprisoned — And  examined — 
Arabella  behaves  with  dignity — Lady  Shrewsbury  with- 
out reason — Both  incarcerated  in  the  Tower — Seymour 
remains  abroad  till  after  his  wife's  death — His  conduct 
discussed — His  second  marriage — And  succession  to  his 
grandfather's  title  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  30-52 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

DESPAIR  AND   DEATH. 


No  more  hope  for  Arabella  —  Arrangements  and  memorials 
about  her  servants  and  money  —  Her  letter  to  Lord 
Fenton  —  To  the  Queen  —  Trial  of  Lady  Shrewsbury  — 
Bacon's  speech  —  She  is  fined  and  condemned  to  prison 
—  Arabella  is  reported  mad  —  The  question  discussed  — 


CONTENTS.  VI 1 

PAGE 

Marriage  of  Princess  Elizabeth — Arabella  still  keeps  her 
love  for  dress  and  jewels — Raleigh  buys  some  of  her 
jewels — The  Governor  of  the  Tower  is  dismissed—- 
Lord Grey  and  Arabella — The  Prince  Palatine  makes 
a  vain  petition  to  James — Arabella's  last  petition — 
Crompton  is  released  —  His  attempt  to  rescue  his 
mistress  discovered — He  is  again  imprisoned — Arabella 
takes  to  her  bed — Never  rises  again — She  dies  by  her 
own  neglect  of  her  health — -Lady  Shrewsbury's  grief — 
A  rumour  of  poison — A  post-mortem  is  held — The  body 
embalmed  and  buried  in  the  Abbey — A  secret  funeral 
— Goodman  discusses  Arabella's  case — An  unfounded 
story — Lady  Shrewsbury  at  last  released — The  Earl's 
death — An  indictment  of  James  ..  ..  53~8i 


PART  II.— LIST  OF  LETTERS  AND  DOCU- 
MENTS RELATING  TO  LADY  ARABELLA 
STUART. 

GENEALOGY    OF    ARABELLA    STUART    AND    WILLIAM 
SEYMOUR  ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         -.85 

A. 

LIST  OF  PORTRAITS  AND  MINIATURES       ..         ..        86-92 

B. 
THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3     ••         ••         ••         ••        92-J75 

No.  I.  Starkey's  Confession,  pp.  92-97.  No.  2.  Arabella's 
Directions  to  Dodderidge,  p.  98.  No.  3.  Arabella  to  the 
Queen,  p.  99.  No.  4.  Same  to  the  same,  pp.  100-103. 
No.  5.  Arabella  to  her  Grandmother,  Feb.  2,  1603,  pp.  103- 
113.  No.  6.  To  Stanhope  and  Cecil,  Feb.  6,  pp.  113-118. 
No.  7.  To  Edward  Talbot,  Feb.  16,  p.  119.  No.  8.  The 


viii  CONTENTS. 

Dowager  Countess  of  Shrewsbury  to  Cecil,  Feb.  21,  p.  120. 
No.  9.  Stanhope  and  Cecil  to  the  Countess,  Feb.  21,  p. 
122.  No.  10.  Arabella's  Examination,  March  2,  pp.  124- 
130.  No.  n.  Her  Declaration,  March  2,  pp.  131-135. 
No.  12.  The  Dowager  Countess  to  Stanhope  and  Cecil, 
March  3,  pp.  135-137.  No.  13.  Arabella  to  Brounker, 
March  4,  pp.  137-143.  No.  14.  To  the  same,  p.  144.  No. 
15.  To  the  same,  March  6,  p.  145.  No.  16.  To  the  same, 
March  7,  p.  146.  No.  17.  To  the  same,  March  9,  pp.  14?- 
169.  No.  18.  Cecil  and  Stanhope  to  the  Dowager  Coun- 
tess, March  14,  pp.  170-172.  No.  19.  Examination  of  the 
Vicar  of  Hucknall,  March  18,  p.  172;  of  John  and  Matthew 
Stark,  p.  173;  of  Henry  Dove,  p.  175. 


C. 

No.  I.  Letters  from  Arabella  to  Lord  Cecil,  from  Sheen  : — 
June  14,  1603,  p.  176  ;  June  22,  p.  177  ;  June  23,  p.  178  ; 
June  26,  p.  179  ;  June  30,  p.  179. 

No.  2.  Letters  from  Arabella  to  her  Uncle  Gilbert,  and  her 
Aunt  Mary  Talbot,  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Shrewsbury : — 

DATES.  PAGE 

(a)  Aug.  14,  1603.  To  the  Earl,  from  Farnham  ..          ..  180 

(b)  Aug.  23,  1603.  To  the  Countess,  from  Basing          ..  181 

(c)  Sept.  16,  1603.  To  the  same,  from  Oxford     ..          ..  182 

(d)  Oct.  6,  1603.  To  the  same,  from  Winchester          ..  183 

(e)  Oct.  27,  1603.  To  the  Earl,  from  Fulston     ..          ..  184 
(/)  Nov.  6,  1603.  To  the  Countess,  from  Fulston         ..  185 
(g)  Nov.  4,  1603.  To  the  same,  from  Fulston    ..          ..  185 
(h)  Nov.  28,  1603.  To  the  Earl,  from  Fulston     ..          ..  186 
(/i)  Nov.  28,  1603.  To  the  Countess,  from  Fulston         ..  186 
(0  Dec.  8,  1603.  To  the  Earl,  from  Fulston     ..          ..  187 
(z)  Dec.  8,  1603.  To  the  Countess,  from  Fulston         ..  191 
(/)  Dec.  18,  1603.  To  the  Earl,  from  Hampton  Court  ..  193 
(£)  Dec.  22,  1603.  To  the  Countess,  from  Ham  pton'Court  196 
(/)  Undated.  To  the  same,  from  Hampton  Court..  197 


CONTENTS.  IX 


D. 

ARABELLA'S  LETTERS  (continued], 

DATES.  PAGE 

(a)  Jan.  2,  1604.        To  the  Earl,  from  Hampton  Court  ..  198 

(£)  Jan.  10,  1604.     To  the  same,  from  Hampton  Court ..  199 

(c)  Jan.  II,  1604.      To  the  same,  from  Hamuton     ourt  ..  200 

(d)  Feb.  3,  1604.      To  the  same,  from  Hampton  Court  ..  201 

(e)  Dated  1604.         To  the  same,  from  Whitehall             . .  203 
Oct.  3,  1604.       To  the  Countess,  from  Whitehall     . .  206 

(/)  Oct.  18,  1604.     To  the  Earl,  from  Whitehall             ..  206 

(§•)  Dec.  24,  1604.    To  the  same,  from  Whitehall            ..  207 

(A)  Oct.  18,  1605.    To  Prince  Henry         208 

E. 

1606.                    Arabella  to  Sir  Andrew  Sinclair         ..  209 

Aug.  26,  1606.   Sinclair  to  Arabella,  from  Copenhagen  2IO 

1606.                    Arabella  to  Sinclair      ..          ..          ..  212 

1606.                    Arabella  to  the  Queen  of  Denmark    ..  213 
Oct.  24,  1606.    A    Latin     letter    from    Arabella    to 

Sinclair           ..          ..          ..          ..  214 

F. 
LETTERS  ABOUT  CUTTING,  ARABELLA'S  LUTE-PLAYER. 

(a)  March  9,  1607.    Queen     Anne     to     Arabella,     from 

Whitehall 215 

(b)  March,  1607.       Prince  Henry  to  Arabella       ..          ..  215 

(c)  March  15, 1607.  Arabella      to     Queen     Anne,     from 

Sheffield         216 

(d)  March  1 5, 1607.  Arabella     to     Prince     Henry,     from 

Sheffield         217 

(e)  1607.  Latin     letter  from    Arabella  to    the 

King  of  Denmark    ..          ..          ..  218 

(/)                               Translation  of  above    ..          ..          ..  220 


CONTENTS. 


G. 


LETTERS  FROM  ARABELLA. 

NO.                DATES.  PAGE 

1.  May  2,  1606.       To  the  Earl  of  Salisbury        ..          ..  221 

2.  Dec.  2,  1607.       To   the   Earl   of  Shrewsbury,   from 

Whitehall 222 

To  the  Countess,  from  Hardwick    . .  223 

To  Charles  Gosling    . .          . .          . .  224 

To  the  Earl  of  Salisbury       ..          ..  225 

To  the  same,  from  Puddle  Wharfe  . .  225 

To  the  same   ..          ..          ..           ..  226 


3.  Undated. 

4.  March  28,  1609 

5.  Aug.,  1609. 

6.  Dec.  17,  1609. 

7.  Dec.,  1609. 

8.  1609. 


Arabella's  Progress  in  the  North    227-237 


H. 

1.  Feb.  20,  1609.    W.    Seymour    to   the  Lords  of   the 

Privy  Council          ..          ..          ..  237 

2.  1610.  Arabella  to  the  Lords  of  the  Council  240 

3.  July  9,  1610.       Warrant  to  Sir  Thomas  Parry  ..  241 

4.  July  16,  1610.     Arabella  to  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury, 

from  Lambeth          . .          . .          . .  242 

5.  July  19,  1610.     Same  to  the  same,  from  Lambeth    ..  243 

6.  Aug.,  1610.         Her  petition   to  the   Lords  for   her 

servants        ..          ..          ..          ..  243 

7.  July,  1610.          Her  petition  to  the  Lords  to  intercede 

for  her  with  the  King         . .          . .  244 

8.  1610.  Draft  of  another  petition        ..          ..  245 

9.  Oct.,  1610.          Arabella  to  the  Queen  ..          ..  246 

10.   Undated.  Same  to  the  King        ..          ..          ..  248 

n.  Undated.  Same  to  the  same         ..          ..          ..  249 

12.  Undated.  Same  to  Lady  Drummond      ..          ..  250 

13.  Undated.  Lady  Drummond  to  Arabella  ..  251 

14.  Undated.  Arabella  to  Lady  Drummond  ..  252 

15.  Undated.  Same  to  the  same        ..          ..          ..  253 

1 6.  1611.  Arabella  to  the  Lords  Chief  Justices..  254 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


NO.  DATES. 

17.  March  13,  1611. 

18.  March  15,  1611. 

19.  March  15,  1611. 

20.  March  7,  1611. 

21.  March,  1611. 

22.  Undated. 

23.  Undated. 

24.  Undated. 

25.  Undated. 

26.  Undated,    prob- 

ably 1611-12. 


James  to  the  Bishop  of  Durham  ..  255 

Warrant  to  Sir  Thomas  Parry  ..  257 
Warrant  to  Sir  William  Bond  at 

Highgate  ..          ..          ..          ..  258 

Mrs.  Collingwood  to  Arabella  at 

Lambeth    ..          ..          ..          ..  259 

Lady  Chandos  to  Dr.  Moundford 

at  Barnet  . .          . .          . .          . .  260 

Arabella  to  the  Earl  of  Salisbury  ..  261 

Arabella  to . .  . .  . .  262 

Arabella  to  one  of  her  cousins  . .  263 

Arabella  to  Viscount  Fenton  . .  263 

Arabella  to  the  Queen        . .          . .  266 


I. 

1.  June  4,  1611.          Proclamation    for    the     arrest     of 

Seymour  and  Arabella    . .          . .  267 

2.  June  4,  5,  1611.     Persons  committed  by  the  Lords  ..  268 

3.  June  30,  1611.        Warrant  to  the  Lords  of  the  Council  270 

4.  Sept.  21,  1611.       Warrant  to  the  Privy  Council  about 

Arabella's  jewels,  etc.      ..          ..  270 

5.  June  27,  1611.        Minute  to  Sir  William  Bowyer      ..  271 

6.  1611.  A  note  of  such  jewels  as  are  missing  271 


J- 

1.  Note  of  a  book,  "  Salve  Deus,"  dedicated  to  Arabella 

(and   other   ladies)   in    1611,   containing  verses  in 
praise  of  her  virtue  and  learning 

2.  Epitaph  on  Arabella  by  Bishop  Corbet 

3.  Order  for  the  Embalmment  of  Arabella's  Body 

4.  Ballad  :  "  The  True  Lover's  Knot  Untied  "  .. 


272 
274 
274 

274 


xil  CONTENTS. 

ADDENDA. 
A. 

PAGE 

Extracts  from  Sir  John  Harington's  Tract  on  the  Succes- 
sion to  the  Crown — Arabella's  claims  set  aside — 
Essex,  Cecil,  and  Shrewsbury  wrongly  suspected  of 
favouring  them — An  account  of  Arabella  herself  . .  279 

B. 
William  Seymour's  Confession,  1611  ..          ..          ..     281 

C. 

News  from  Court  in  1611       ..          ..          ..          ..          ..     282 

Notes  on  Sir  Griffin  Markham         ..          ..          ..          ..     283 

D. 

Extracts  from  manuscript  notes  made  by  Canon  Jackson 

at  Longleat  of  various  matters  connected  with  Arabella    283 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

MINIATURE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART 

From   a  contemporary   miniature   (originally   in   the 
Harmond  Collection)  now  in  possession  of  Mrs.  Hogge 

Frontispiece 
SEAL  USED  BY  ARABELLA:  A  WOLF  RAMPANT 

Opposite  title-page 
FACSIMILE  OF  ARABELLA'S  HANDWRITING    . .  . .     263 


PART    I. 

MEMOIR. 

(Continued.') 

CHAPTER  XII. 

HALCYON     DAYS. 

1611. 

ON  March  15,  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,* 
the  Bishop  of  Durham  received  the  prisoner 
into  his  change  at  Lambeth  Ferry,  and  they 
started  on  their  dismal  journey  northwards. 
Since  only  four  days  had  been  given  for  the 
preparations  and  packing  necessary,  all  the 
arrangements  had  not  been  completed,  and  the 
Council  had  been  obliged  to  take  a  night's 
lodging  at  Highgate,  in  the  house  of  one  Sir 

*  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixii.  p.  30,  MS. 
VOL.    II.  19 


2  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

William  Bond,*  for  the  party.  Thither  the 
Bishop  of  Durham  and  Dr.  Moundford,f  Ara- 
bella's private  physician,  conveyed  their  protest- 
ing charge,  but  on  the  way  she  turned  very 
faint,  and  the  doctor  was  obliged  to  administer 
cordials  to  keep  up  her  strength.  All  Arabella's 
courage  seems  to  have  failed  when  she  found 
herself  actually  starting  for  her  northern  prison. 
It  was  in  vain  that  the  bishop  exhorted  her 
to  patience,  and  related  the  lives  of  saints  and 
martyrs  less  fortunate  than  herself.  She  was 
taken  out  of  her  litter  at  Highgate  more  dead 
than  alive,  bathed  in  a  cold  sweat ;  and  worn 
out  by  the  agitations  of  the  day,  it  was  not  till 
midnight  that  she  fell  asleep,  and  her  keepers 
left  her,  hoping,  no  doubt,  to  find  her  more  re- 
signed by  the  morning.  But  the  next  day,  to  the 
bishop's  horror,  the  prisoner  protested  that  she 
was  physically  incapable  of  proceeding  another 
step  on  her  journey,  and,  in  spite  of  the  good 
man's  gentle  words  and  persuasions,  his  praises 


*  See  warrant,  Part  II.  H,  No.  19,  p.  258. 
t  A  certain  Dr.   Moundford  attended  Essex  in   prison  just 
before  his  execution,  and  was  on  the  scaffold  with  him. 


i6ii.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  3 

of  "the  sweet  day  and  air,  and  the  duty  of  her 
journey,"  she  clung  firmly  to  her  resolution.  Dr. 
Moundford  was  seriously  alarmed  by  her  weak- 
ness, and  both  he  and  the  prelate  despatched 
letters*  to  the  Council,  describing  the  lady's 
condition,  and  asking  for  further  instructions.  A 
few  days'  delay  was  accordingly  granted,  but  on 
March  21,  in  spite  of  Arabella's  "extreme  reluc- 
tance to  proceed,"  she  was  moved  on  to  Barnet. 
She  seems  to  have  been  taken  thither  not 
only  against  her  will,  but  by  main  force,  being 
probably  carried,  protesting  and  weeping,  to  her 
litter,  since  the  bishop  writes  that  he  was  obliged 
to  have  "  recourse  to  the  means  proscribed, 
which  were  employed  with  all  decency  and 
respect."  Even  on  that  short  journey  of  six 
miles  she  was  very  ill,  and  only  kept  alive  by 
her  good  doctor's  f  care. 

Shrewsbury  writes  %  the  next  day,  March  22, 

*  See  the  bishop's  letter,  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom., 
vol.  Ixii.  p.  39,  MS. 

t  See  also  a  letter  of  sympathy  for  Arabella  addressed  by 
one  Lady  Chandos  to  the  doctor,  on  Good  Friday,  while  they 
were  at  Barnet  (Part  II.  H,  No.  21,  p.  260). 

%  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  114.  Copies  of  this  and  the 
following  letter  are  in  the  Sloane  MSS.,  4161,  fols.  55,  56. 


4  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

to  thank  Moundford  for  his  attention  to  his 
niece,  and  also  for  the  good  counsel  he  had 
given  her,  "  both  to  patience  and  to  encourage- 
ment in  her  journey,"  which  had  been  re- 
ported to  him,  as  also  how  "  very  hardly  the 
few  miles  you  travelled  yesterday  were  over- 
come." "  For  my  part  I  can  do  her  very  small 
service  more  than  by  my  prayers,"  he  adds,  with 
truth  ;  for  the  king's  only  reply  to  his  pleadings 
on  Arabella's  behalf  had  been  that  "it  was 
enough  to  make  any  sound  man  sick  to  be 
carried  in  a  bed  in  that  manner  she  is,  much 
more  for  her  whose  impatient  and  unquiet  spirits 
heapeth  upon  herself  far  greater  indisposition 
of  body." 

By  the  earl's  request,  Moundford  wrote  an 
account  of  Arabella's  state  to  his  wife,  her  aunt 
Mary,  of  whom  we  shall  hear  more  in  connection 
with  her  niece  later  on. 

James,  who  had  all  along  suspected  the  lady's 
illness  to  be  feigned,  and  was  obstinate  as  usual 
in  his  preconceived  opinion,  refused  to  be  con- 
vinced of  the  reality  of  her  unfitness  to  proceed 
further  until  he  had  sent  (March  26)  the  princes' 


i6n.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  5 

physician,  Dr.  Hammond,  to  Barnet,  to  report 
on  the  case.  His  disgust  must  have  been  great 
when  Dr.  Hammond  confirmed  tl|e  previous 
accounts  of  Arabella's  condition. 

Lord  Shrewsbury  writes  to  Moundford  (March 
29)  *  that  he  was  present  "  yesterday  morning 
when  Dr.  Hammond  made  report  to  the  Lords 
in  what  state  he  found  my  Lady  Arbella,  being 
this  in  substance,  that  she  is  assuredly  very  weak, 
her  pulse  dull  and  melancholy  for  the  most  part, 
yet  sometimes  uncertain  ;  .  .  .  her  countenance 
very  pale  and  wan  ;  nevertheless,  she  was  free  (he 
said)  from  any  fever  or  any  other  actual  sick- 
ness, but  of  his  conscience  he  protested  that  she 
was  in  no  case  to  travel  until  God  restored  her 
to  some  better  strength,  both  of  body  and  mind. 
.  .  .  He  attendeth  on  the  princes  (as  always  he 
doth)  to  Royston  on  Monday  next,  and  then 
he  is  himself  to  relate  the  same  to  his  Majesty, 
as  he  did  to  us  ;  for  at  that  time  his  Majesty 
was  so  extremely  pestered  with  despatches  upon 
his  going  away,  as  there  could  be  no  full  report 
made  unto  him  of  any  particulars,  only  he  was 

*  Harl.MSS.,7003,  fol.  116;  andin  SloaneMSS.,4i6i,fol.  56. 


6  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

told  of  her  weakness.  All  her  ladyship's  friends 
in  general  are  glad  of  the  bishop's  departing, 
and  her  stay  for  a  time  where  she  is  to  be,  verily 
hoping  that  she  will  likewise  receive  great 
comfort  therein ;  and  how  far  soever  her  own 
melancholy  thoughts  (which  have  gotten  the 
upper  hand  of  her)  have  prevailed  to  lay  nothing 
but  despair  before  her  eyes,  yet  the  greatest, 
nearest,  and  wisest  about  his  Majesty  that  do 
speak  with  me,  do  persuade  themselves  her 
imprisonment  (wheresoever  it  be)  and  his 
Majesty's  disfavour  to  her  is  not  like  to  con- 
tinue long ;  and  therein  I  am  bound  to  believe 
them,  or  else  I  must  conceive  they  have  neither 
honour  nor  conscience,  for  such  is  their  protes- 
tations to  me.  God  grant  her  ladyship  may  be 
of  the  same  mind  ;  as  then  I  should  not  much 
doubt  of  her  speedy  recovery,  which  heartily 
praying  for,  I  will  here  take  my  hearty  leave. 
"  Your  very  assured,  loving  friend, 

"GiLB.  SHREWSBURY." 

The   earl's  letter    is  in  reply    to  one  *  from 

*  Sloane  MSS.,  4121,  fol.  57. 


i6ii.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  7 

Moundford  he  had  received  the  day  before 
(March  28),  'in  which  an  account  of  the  inter- 
view between  his  niece  and  the  court  physician 
is  given. 

Dr.  Hammond  "had  access  to  her,"  Mound- 
ford  writes,  "before  he  spake  with  the  lord 
bishop  or  did  confer  with  me.  She  entertained 
him  in  respect  of  the  persons  from  whom  he  said 
he  was  sent " — the  king  and  Privy  Council — 
"  most  respectfully ;  and  in  regard  that  he  was 
not  a  stranger  unto  her,  kindly.  He  felt  her 
pulse,  and  entered  into  some  discourse  of  her 
weakness  and  infirmities." 

The  great  man  stayed  three  days  (March  26 
to  28),  feeling  the  lady's  pulse  and  prescribing 
treatment  at  intervals,  hoping,  perhaps,  to  be 
able  to  take  back  a  report  that  would  please 
the  king. 

"I  am  sure  that  by  neither  of  these,"  Moundford 
shrewdly  adds,  "  he  can  warrant  either  amend- 
ment of  her  grief  or  continuance  of  life  if  some 
contentment  of  mind  be  not  joined  with  physic, 
which  I,  with  all  due  respect,  will  cause  to  be 
administered  when  time  and  opportunity  of 


LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

place  shall  be  afforded  us.  In  the  mean  time, 
I  am  forced  to  instil  in  cordials,  though  with 
some  fear"  of  the  consequences  in  the  lady's 
weak,  excitable  state,  preferring  to  cherish  "  her 
to  live,  rather  than  by  expecting  [waiting]  all 
circumstances  incident  to  the  perfect  recovery 
of  such  an  imperfect  body,  do  nothing." 

Poor  Dr.  Moundford  was  in  an  awkward 
plight,  since,  in  spite  of  his  patient's  unfitness 
to  travel,  and  the  advice  of  the  royal  physician, 
he  was  obliged,  by  cordials  and  nursing,  to 
prepare  her  for  another  short  journey  from 
Barnet  to  East  Barnet 

This  third  removal  was  not,  however,  con- 
sidered as  a  further  stage  on  the  northward 
journey  ;  for  James,  in  consequence  of  Dr.  Ham- 
mond's report  of  the  lady's  extreme  weakness, 
and  also  through  the  representations  of  her 
friends  and  the  Lords  of  the  Council,  to  whom 
she  had  addressed  an  eloquent  petition  (which 
her  faithful  servant  Smith  carried)  soon  after 
her  journey  from  Highgate  to  Barnet,  had 
granted  a  month's  respite  in  which  to  recover 
her  strength,  dating  from  Lady  Day  (March  25). 


i6n.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  9 

The  petition,*  as  well  as  the  letter  f  of  thanks 
Arabella  wrote  to  the  king,  probably  after  she 
reached  East  Barnet,  are  given  entire,  since  no 
extracts  can  do  justice  to  her  own  pathetic 
account  of  her  misery,  and  the  relief  which  the 
promised  month  brought  to  her  spirits.  Un- 
fortunately, the  petition  is  endorsed  in  the  State 
Papers  with  an  impossible  date  (March  14), 
which  would  have  been  before  she  took  her  "  dis- 
comfortable  journey,"  or  left  Lambeth,  and  the 
letter  to  the  king  is  undated ;  but  they  are  placed 
here,  rather  than  later  on,  from  the  evidence 
contained  in  the  State  Papers  \  that  the  month 
was  granted  before,  not  after,  she  left  Barnet. 

"  May  it  please  your  Lordships  : 

"I  protest  I  am  in  so  weak  case  as 
I  verily  think  it  would  be  the  cause  of  my  death 
to  be  removed  any  whither  at  this  time,  though 
it  were  to  a  place  to  my  liking.  My  late  dis- 

*  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  58.  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom., 
vol.  Ixii.  p.  37. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  89. 

t  See  Croft's  letter  to  Privy  Council,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol. 
xiii.  p.  38,  MS. 


IO  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

comfortable  journey,  which  I  have  not  yet  re- 
covered, had  almost  ended  my  days,  and  I  have 
never  since  gone  out  of  a  few  little  and  hot 
rooms,  and  am  in  many  ways  unfit  to  take  the 
air.  I  trust  your  Lordships  will  not  look  I 
should  be  so  un-Christian  as  to  be  the  cause  of 
my  own  death,  and  I  leave  it  to  your  Lord- 
ships' wisdom  to  consider  what  the  world  would 
conceive  if  I  should  be  violently  enforced  to 
do  it.  Therefore  I  beseech  your  Lordships  to 
be  humble  suitors  in  my  behalf,  that  I  may 
have  some  time  given  me  to  recover  my 
strength,  which  I  should  the  sooner  do  if  I 
were  not  continually  molested.  And  I  will 
hope  and  pray  that  God  will  incline  his 
Majesty's  heart  every  way  to  more  compassion 
towards  me,  who  rest 

"Very  humbly  at  your  Lordships'  command, 

"  A.  S." 

LADY  ARBELLA  to  the  KING  (Draft). 
"  May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty  : 
"  Graciously  to  accept  my  most  humble 
thanks  for  these  halcyon  days  it  hath  pleased 


i6nj  HALCYON  DAYS.  II 

your  Majesty  to  grant  me.  And  since  it  hath 
pleased  your  Majesty  to  give  this  testimony 
of  willingness  to  have  me  live  awhile,  in  all 
humility  I  beg  the  restitution  of  those  com- 
forts without  which  every  hour  of  my  life  is 
discomfortable  to  me,  the  principal  whereof  is 
your  Majesty's  favour,  which  none  that  breathes 
can  more  highly  esteem  than  I,  who,  whilst  I 
live,  will  not  cease  to  pray  to  the  Almighty  for 
your  Majesty's  prosperity,  and  rest 

"Your  Majesty's  most  humble  and  faithful, 
almost  ruined  subject  and  servant, 

"ARBELLA  S." 

In  this  letter  we  see  her,  as  physical  strength 
comes  back,  venturing  once  more,  though  in 
veiled  language,  to  remind  the  king  of  the  real 
cause  of  her  misery. 

Some  time  had  been  spent  in' finding  a  suit- 
able house  for  the  reception  of  the  prisoner  and 
her  company ;  but,  by  the  end  of  March,  one 
belonging  to  a  Mr.  Thomas  Conyers  had  been 
taken  at  East  Barnet,  at  a  rent  of  twenty 
shillings  a  week.  Although  Arabella  had  had 


12  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

a  severe  attack  in  the  head,  the  first  ominous 
symptom  of  danger  to  her  brain  from  excess  of 
grief,  and  was  very  weak  in  consequence,  she 
was  conveyed  to  East  Barnet  on  April  i,  and 
was  extremely  ill  on  the  journey. 

The  Bishop  of  Durham  having  seen  her  safe 
arrival  at  Mr.  Conyers's  house,  immediately  de- 
parted for  the  north,  leaving  her  in  the  charge  of 
Sir  James  Croft,*  and  his  cousin,  Sergeant  Minors. 
On  his  way  northwards  he  had  an  audience  with 
the  king  at  Royston,  on  April  2  or  3,  and  wrote  \ 
full  particulars  to  Croft  and  Moundford. 

"  I  was  no  sooner  come  into  the  court,"  he 
says,  "  but  I  was  presently  brought  to  his 
Majesty,  who  asked  me  of  the  Lady  Arbella, 
and  where  I  left  her.  I  told  his  Majesty  of  her 
estate  in  her  three  removes ;  of  the  grief  which 
she  conceived  of  his  Majesty's  indignation  ;  of 
her  hearty  and  zealous  prayers  for  him  and  his  ; 
of  her  willingness,  if  it  might  so  please  him, 
even  to  sweep  his  chamber.  Whereunto  it 

*  Arabella  must  have  been  previously  acquainted  with  Croft, 
since  on  her  progress  in  1609  his  footman  accompanied  her  from 
Toddington  to  Northampton  (see  Part  II.,  p.  229). 

t  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixii.  p.  30,  MS. 


i6n.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  13 

pleased  his  Majesty  to  call  the  prince,  who  was 
then  in  the  same  room.  I  do  not  see  but  that 
his  Majesty  is  well  pleased  with  the  time  she 
hath  to  recover  strength,  and  that  he  hath  an 
especial  care  that  she  should  be  used  and 
respected  as  a  noble  lady  of  her  birth  and 
nearness  to  him ;  and  time  may  work  that 
which  in  this  shortness  cannot  be  effected.  I 
pray  you  present  my  duty  and  service  unto 
her,  to  pray  her  to  remember  what  I  oftentimes 
out  of  a  true  heart  (as  yourselves  in  my  hearing 
have  done)  have  said  unto  her.  So  shall  she 
best  please  God  by  her  obedience,  satisfy  his 
Majesty,  comfort  her  own  conscience,  enable 
her  good  friends  to  speak  for  her,  and  stop  the 
mouths  (if  any  there  be)  who  envy  her  restitu- 
tion into  his  Majesty's  favour.  My  poor  opinion 
is  that,  if  she  wrong  not  herself,  God  in  time 
will  move  his  Majesty's  heart  to  have  com- 
passion upon  her." 

Thus  far  we  have  followed  the  bishop's  own 
words,  and,  indeed,  the  worthy  man  only  re- 
peated the  sermons  on  the  duty  of  passive 
obedience  he  had  once  at  least  (see  p.  2),  and 


14  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

doubtless  often  enough,  forced  into  Arabella's 
unwilling  ears.  All  those  round  about  her, 
except,  probably,  her  immediate  attendants, 
who  afterwards  helped  her  to  escape,  preached 
the  same  doctrine ;  but  it  was  in  vain  they 
spoke  to  her  of  time  and  patience,  when  already 
nine  months  had  passed,  and  brought  her  no 
nearer  to  her  husband,  rather  taken  her  further 
away.  Indeed,  the  bishop  *  spoilt  the  whole 
point  of  his  argument  by  winding  it  up  with 
a  reminder  (he  wrote  from  Cambridge  on  April 
17)  that  the  month  of  respite  was  nearly  over  ; 
and  a  prayer  that  the  noble  lady  and  he  might 
meet  in  the  north,  adding  that  a  rumour  had 
reached  him  that,  unless  he  "  made  better 
speed,"  the  lady  and  her  company  would  be 
in  the  north  before  him. 

Indeed,  as  the  month  drew  to  its  close,  Arabella 
still  appeared  very  weak  and  ill,  and  on  April 
17  Croft  writes,t  begging  for  further  instruc- 

*  The  bishop  was  so  upset  by  his  short  experience  as  Arabella's 
keeper,  that  he  had  afterwards  to  go  to  Bath  to  recruit  his  health. 
State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixviii.  p.  27,  MS. 

t  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixiii.  p.  38,  MS.  (see 
p.  9  in  text). 


i6n.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  15 

tions,  and  suggesting  that,  although  the  month 
had  begun  on  March  25,  her  ladyship  had  been 
at  East  Barnet  barely  eighteen  days  on  account 
of  the  delay  there  had  been  in  finding  her  a 
house.  As  to  her  actual  condition,  he  says  that 
the  rest  and  the  "  physic  "  have  done  her  good, 
"that  she  is  somewhat  better  and  lightsomer 
than  heretofore,  but  that  not  otherwise  than 
that  she  hath  not  walked  as  yet  the  length  of 
her  bedchamber,  to  my  knowledge ;  neither  do 
I  find  her  at  any  time  otherwise  than  in  her 
naked  bed,  or  in  her  clothes  upon  her  bed. 
Concerning  her  ladyship's  mind,  it  is  so  much 
dejected,  as  she  apprehendeth  nothing  but  fear 
and  danger  in  their  ugliest  forms,  conceiting 
always  the  worst,  and  much  worse  than  any 
way  can  happen  unto  her,  of  danger.  As  for 
her  going  this  journey,  or  that  his  Majesty 
should  dispose  of  her  at  his  pleasure,  she  doth 
not  gainsay,  but  the  horrors  of  her  utter  ruin 
and  end  which  hourly  present  themselves  to 
her  phantasy,  occasioned  (as  she  discovereth 
herself  unto  me)  by  the  remoteness  of  the  place 
whereunto  she  must  go,  driveth  her  to  utter 


1 6  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

despair  to  return,  or  to  be  able  to  live  out  one 
only  year  ;  where  otherwise,  if  she  were  left,  as 
her  ladyship  saith,  in  some  convenient  place, 
not  so  clean  out  of  the  world  as  she  termeth 
Durham  to  be,  she  would  gather  to  herself 
some  weak  hopes  of  more  gentle  fortune  in 
time  to  come.  These  and  the  like  are  the  best 
and  pleasingest  discourses  that  any  time  I  can 
have  with  her  ladyship,  whereunto  whatsoever 
I  can  reply  to  the  contrary  giveth  her  no 
manner  of  satisfaction  at  all." 

Croft  was  most  desirous  to  spare  his  charge 
any  unnecessary  suffering,  and  about  ten  days 
after  writing  this,  he  despatched  Sergeant 
Minors,  his  kinsman,  to  the  Council,  to  intercede 
for  fresh  delays,  since  the  lady  still  appeared 
too  weak  to  travel.  Meanwhile,  probably 
through  his  representations  in  the  above  letter, 
she  had  been  allowed  to  overstay  the  original 
time  allotted  for  her  residence  at  East  Barnet. 

On  April  28  Minors  writes  *  to  Croft,  that 
he  had  been  called  before  the  Lords  the  night 
before.  "I  told,"  he  says,  "my  lady's  weak 

*  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  118. 


i6n.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  I/ 

estate,  and  afterwards  they  told  me  the  king's 
absolute  resolution,  which  is  directly  for  Dur- 
ham, for  which  she  must  prepare,  although  the 
journeys  be  never  so  little,  to  go  on  Monday 
next,  which  was  the  longest  day  I  could  get. 
I  pray  you  let  her  know  that  some  of  the 
greatest  of  them  did  in  solemn  oaths  protest 
that  they  find,  by  his  Majesty's  resolution,  that 
there  shall  be  no  long  abode  for  her  there,  but 
his  Majesty  intended  her  good  in  short  time 
after,  but  that  his  Majesty  kept  that  in  his 
breast  till  he  saw  conformity  ;  but  if  his  Majesty 
be  king,  he  says,  he  will  not  alter  this  resolu- 
tion. Therefore  I  pray  you  use  your  best 
means  to  prepare  her  ladyship  for  the  journey 
at  that  day  ;  for  there  is  no  doubt  it  will  follow 
for  her^ionour's  good,  etc." 

Sir  James  Croft  again  found  his  arguments 
of  no  avail.  Perhaps  Arabella  herself,  after 
her  years  at  court,  had  too  shrewd  a  knowledge 
of  the  king's  character  to  believe  the  vague 
promises  he  held  out ;  his  interpretation  of  what 
was  best  for  her  good  would  most  assuredly 
differ  from  hers,  and  if  the  price  of  her  pardon 

VOL.  II.  20 


1 8  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1611. 

was  to  be  her  renunciation  of  her  husband,  she 
must  have  felt  that  that  pardon  would  be  too 
dearly  bought.  In  any  case,  to  Durham  she 
determined  she  would  not  go,  and,  whether  by 
feigning  to  be  worse  than  she  really  was,  or  by 
prayers  and  tears,  she  so  wrought  upon  the 
kind  knight,  her  guardian,  that  he  and  Dr. 
Moundford  now  appeared  together  before  the 
king  and  Privy  Council,  in  order  to  report  her 
continued  weakness. 

All  this  took  time,  and  it  was  therefore  nearly 
a  fortnight  before  James,  "in  the  hearing  of 
the  prince,  and  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's 
Council,  did  yield  that  one  other  month  should 
be  employed  in  her  perfect  cure,  which  new 
month  began  the  nth  of  this  present  May. 
During  our  attendance  on  his  Majesty  he  used 
not  one  unkind  or  wrathful  word  of  her,  but 
mildly  taxed  her  obstinacy,  the  conceit  whereof 
I  find  did  spring  from  such  accidents  as  befell 
upon  our  first  removes,  reported  unto  him  very 
untruly,  with  terms  of  violence  offered  by  my 
lady  to  such  as  were  used  in  that  service.  His 
Majesty's  resolution  was  that  to  Durham  she 


l6ii.]  HALCYON  DAYS,  ig 

should  come,  if  he  were  king.  We  answered 
that  we  made  no  doubt  of  her  obedience.  Then 
he  said, '  Obedience  is  that  required ;  which,  being 
performed,  I  will  do  more  for  her  than  she 
expecteth.' "  The  above  is  from  a  letter  *  of  Dr. 
Moundford's  to  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  who  was 
anxiously  awaiting  their  arrival  in  the  north. 

It  seems  that  Arabella,  hearing  of  the  king's 
words,  determined  to  make  one  more  effort  to 
gain  time,  and  also  to  defend  herself  from  his 
accusation. 

• 

"  The  premier  reason,"  says  Moundford, 
"which  moved  his  Majesty  to  the  grant  of  this 
second  month  was  her  submission  in  a  letter 
to  his  Highness,  with  all  due  acknowledg- 
ments of  her  recovery  from  the  grave  by  time 
most  graciously  granted  her  by  him.  This 
letter  was  penned  by  her  in  the  best  terms  (as 
she  can  do  right  well),  and  accompanied  with 
matter  best  befitting  his  Highness  and  her.  It 
was  often  read  without  offence,  nay,  I  may 
truly  say  even  commended,  by  himself,  with  the 
applause  of  the  prince  and  Council." 

*  Birch,  Sloane  MSS.,  4161,  fol.  61. 


2O  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1611. 

Arabella  herself  well  understood  how  impor- 
tant this  petition  of  hers  might  be,  and  she 
evidently  spent  much  time  and  labour  in  com- 
posing it.  Whole  paragraphs  are  crossed  over 
and  over  again  ;  there  are  several  copies  of  the 
letter,  some  only  half  written,  some  finished,  but 
all  blotched  and  erased  till  they  are  almost 
illegible,  except  one  fair  copy  written  by  a 
secretary.  The  following  is  the  entire  letter  *  : — 

"  May  it  please  your  excellent  Majesty : 

"Though  it  hath  pleased  God  to  lay 
so  many  crosses  upon  me  as  I  account  myself 
the  most  miserable  creature  living,  yet  none  is 
so  grievous  to  me  as  the  loss  of  your  Majesty's 
favour,  which  appeareth,  not  so  much  to  my  un- 
speakable grief  in  any  other  effect  of  it  (though 
the  least  of  many  it  hath  already  brought  forth 
is  sufficient  for  my  utter  ruin),  as  in  that  your 
Majesty  giveth  credence  (as  I  hear)  to  those 
sinister  reports  which  impute  that  to  my  obsti- 
nacy which  proceedeth  merely  out  of  necessity ; 
not  willing  that  I  might  be  thought  guilty  of 
*  Harl.  MSS.,  1003,  fols.  79,  80,  83. 


I6nj  HALCYON  DAYS.  21 

hastening  my  own  death  by  any  voluntary 
action  of  mine,  having  first  endeavoured,  by  all 
good  means,  to  make  my  extreme  weakness 
known  to  your  Majesty  [by  my  Lord  Fenton,* 
and  by  the  Lords  of  your  Majesty's  most  honour- 
able Privy  Council  by  writing,  and  many  other 
ways  before  my  remove.  But  my  misfortune 
being  such  as  not  only  any  protestation  of  mine 
own,  but  the  reiterated  testimony  of  such  grave 
persons  as  advertised  the  like,  seemed  of  less 
weight  than  the  traducements  of  some  whisperers]. 
But  nothing  availing  me,  certainly  I  had  sud- 
denly perished  if  your  Majesty  had  not  speedily 
had  compassion  of  me  in  granting  me  this  time 
of  stay  for  my  recovery  ;  to  which,  if  it  may 
please  your  Majesty  of  your  gracious  goodness 
to  add  three  weeks  more,  Mr.  Dr.  Moundford 
hopes  I  may  recover  so  much  strength  as  may 
enable  me  to  travel.  And  I  shall  ever  be 
willing,  whilst  I  breathe,  to  yield  your  Majesty 
most  humble  and  dutiful  obedience  as  to  my 

*  The  only  extant  letter  to  Lord  Fenton  has  been  placed 
later,  but  as  it  is  undated,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  determine 
accurately  whether  it  was  written  from  Barnet  or  the  Tower. 


22  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

sovereign,  for  whose  felicity  for  ever  in  all 
things  I  cease  not  to  pray,  and  in  all  fortunes 
rest 

"Your  Majesty's  most  humble  and  faithful 
subject  and  servant, 

"A.  S." 

Following  this  copy  in  the  Sloane  MSS.*  is 
a  short  paper,  written  in  another  hand,  and 
signed  "  J.,"  wherein,  in  words  probably  taken 
down  from  Arabella's  lips,  she  promises,  as  a 
proof  of  her  obedience,  "  to  undergo  the  journey 
after  this  time  expired  without  any  resistance 
or  refusal,  to  do  such  things  as  are  fit  for  me 
to  do  to  make  my  journey  the  less  painful  or 
perilous ;  being  now  assured  that  your  Majesty 
hath  no  purpose  to  make  my  correction  my  ruin 
in  any  sort,  as  I  will  hope  confidently  when  I 
have  herein  satisfied  the  duty."  This  promise 
seems,  however,  to  have  been  given  on  the 
assurance  that  the  king  merely  required  a 
formal  promise  of  obedience  to  save  his  honour, 
according  to  words  added  in  the  margin,  in 
*  Vol.  4161,  fols.  32,  33. 


i6ii.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  2$ 

which  Arabella  says  that  "  this  "  (i.e.  the  words 
in  italics)  "without  the  journey  is  enough  if  the 
king  desire  but  his  honour  saved,  as  though 
I  [illegible]  resistance  [illegible],  and  so  the 
journey  made  perilous  by  myself,  whereby  I 
must  confess  I  bely  myself  extremely  in  this." 

It  is  worth  noting,  from  the  scanty  but  im- 
portant evidence  remaining,  that  as  yet  Prince 
Henry  had  not  broken  with  his  cousin,  and  still 
interested  himself  on  her  behalf.  The  evidence 
for  this  statement  rests  on  the  fact  that  James 
had  sent  for  his  son  to  hear  the  bishop's  report 
of  Arabella's  condition  at  Royston,  and  that  his 
name  is  twice  mentioned  in  Moundford's  letter, 
given  above,  as  hearing — by  which  his  approval 
may  be  taken  for  granted — in  Council  the  king's 
resolution  to  grant  a  further  respite  to  the 
prisoner,  and  also  listening  with  applause  to  the 
reading  of  her  eloquent  petition.  Besides  that, 
amongst  the  accounts  *  of  Arabella's  expenses 
during  her  imprisonment,  a  sum  of  £$  is 
mentioned  as  owing  to  "  Matthias  Melward,  one 

*  See  Miss  Cooper's  "Life  of  Arabella  Stuart,"  vol.  ii.  pp. 
158-167. 


24  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1611. 

of  the  prince's  chaplains,  for  his  pains  in  attend- 
ing the  Lady  Arbella  Seymour,  to  preach  and 
read  prayers  during  her  abode  at  East  Barnet ; " 
and  Henry  would  not  have  sent  one  of  his 
private  chaplains  had  he  not  taken  some  interest 
in  his  old  friend's  spiritual  wants.  But  little 
did  either  king  or  prince  guess  what  plots  were 
to  be  hatched  during  this  additional  month,  and 
if  it  be  true,  as  James's  apologists  have  asserted, 
that  he  really  intended  to  extend  mercy,  after 
he  had  tortured  his  cousin  to  his  heart's  con- 
tent, most  fatal  to  her  own  interests  was  the 
next  step  the  despairing  captive  took. 

Although  Lady  Shrewsbury  had  at  first  taken 
little  apparent  interest  in  her  niece's  fate,  she 
was  now  working  secretly  and  energetically  for 
her  deliverance,  not  without  ambitious  hopes  of 
making  an  important  position  for  herself  among 
the  Roman  Catholics  by  thus  playing  into  their 
hands.  She  plotted  Arabella's  escape  to  the 
Continent,  where,  though  the  burning  interest 
such  a  coup  would  have  excited  in  Elizabeth's 
time  was  no  longer  to  be  looked  for,  yet  the 
Catholic  powers  would  no  doubt  hail  one 


I6il.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  2$ 

whose  presence  among  them  could  be  used 
as  a  continual  weapon  against  the  King  of 
England. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  James  very  much  over- 
rated the  dangers  of  his  cousin's  marriage  and 
escape,  and  eight  years'  peaceable  occupation 
of  the  English  throne  might  have  taught  him 
better.  Lady  Shrewsbury  determined  not  to 
tell  any  one  of  her  plan  till  the  "  bird  had  been 
freed  from  its  cage,"  and  Arabella  herself  after- 
wards swore  that  "no  foreign  prince  or  state" 
had  knowledge  of  it — everything  was  to  depend 
on  her  reception  abroad. 

Later  on,  when  these  schemes  had  been  dis- 
covered and  defeated,  the  Earl  of  Northampton, 
in  a  letter*  to  the  king  (June  9,  1611),  affirmed 
that  the  countess  had  been  "  the  only  worker 
and  contriver  of  the  lady's  bedlam  opposition 
against  your  Majesty's  directions,"  and  her  purse 
the  chief  instrument  of  her  escape.  Out  of  the 
^2800  which  Arabella  now  scraped  together,  her 
aunt  sent  her  at  least  £1400,  £850  of  which 
was  ostensibly  to  purchase  some  needlework  of 
*  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixiv.  p.  23,  MS. 


26  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1611. 

Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  which  was  in  Arabella's 
possession,  and  which,  Northampton  remarks, 
was  not  worth  the  eighth  part  of  the  money ; 
the  rest  to  pay  her  debts  before  she  left  for 
Durham. 

Though  Northampton  wrote  after  the  dis- 
covery of  the  plot,  the  details  were  still  shrouded 
in  mystery,  the  knowledge  of  it  having  been 
confined  to  them  "that  will  rather  die  than 
discover  one  another;"  and  to  this  day  we  do 
not  know  how  Lady  Shrewsbury  contrived  to 
elude  the  surveillance  of  Arabella's  keepers,  nor 
are  any  letters  of  hers  or  of  her  niece's  extant 
which  might  throw  light  upon  their  secret 
arrangements  during  that  last  month  of  captivity 
at  East  Barnet. 

All  except  needful  preparations  appear  to 
have  been  left  till  it  was  seen  how  the  escaped 
captives  would  be  received  by  foreign  powers. 
Before  proceeding  to  extremities,  Lady  Shrews- 
bury made  an  appeal,  upon  her  niece's  behalf, 
to  Lord  Rochester,'  the  reigning  favourite  at 
that  time,  but  he  refused  even  to  address  the 
king  on  the  subject.  Arabella  afterwards  con- 


i6n.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  2/ 

fessed  that  this  "  uncomfortable  answer  "  from 
Lord  Rochester  "  moved  her  to  think  all  labour 
lost  in  those  ends  which  she  affected  for  the 
satisfaction  of  her  mind  ; "  i.e.  she  then  gave  up 
all  hope  of  obtaining  the  king's  pardon,  and 
resolved  to  resort  to  extremities.  Crompton, 
"  that  trusty  rogue,"  was  the  medium  through 
whom  Lady  Shrewsbury  communicated  with 
the  prisoner.  Later  on  he  declared  that  "the 
only  part "  of  his  employment  was  no  more  than 
"the  preparation  of  means,  and  the  receipt  of 
monies,  which  in  appearance  were  the  pieces 
of  such  employments,"  but  in  reality  were  to 
be  used  for  his  lady's  wants.  He  took  her 
also  the  man's  disguise  in  which  we  shall 
shortly  see  her  appear.  Seymour,  meanwhile, 
was  helped  by  his  bosom  friend  Rodney, 
and,  by  what  means  we  do  not  know,  but  in 
some  secret  way,  Seymour  and  his  wife  were 
kept  precisely  informed  of  each  other's  arrange- 
ments. 

The  month  of  rest  at  East  Barnet  was  to  end 
on  June  8,  and  on  Sunday,  June  2,  Rodney 
went  to  a  house  "  by  St.  Mary  Overy's,  a  part 


28  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.}  [1611. 

of  the  Lord  Montagne's  house,"  *  and  engaged 
some  rooms,  on  the  pretext  that  he  was  ill,  and 
wanted  rest.  Thither  the  same  night  he  sent 
his  man  and  a  French  clockmaker  with  "  four 
.cloak-bags,  a  cabinet,  and  a  fardel  lapped  in 
a  white  sheet,  to  be  laid  in  his  chamber ; "  and 
the  landlady  particularly  noticed  the  extra- 
ordinary weight  of  these  goods,  and  suspected 
they  contained  articles  of  value.  Early  the 
next  morning  (June  3)  Rodney's  servant  added 
"a  buckram  bag  full  of  stuff"  to  the  rest  of  the 
things;  and  about  n  a.m.  a  flaxen-haired 
gentleman  with  no  beard  (later  on  we  shall 
find  him  wearing  a  beard)  came  to  inquire  if 
Rodney  had  taken  lodgings  there.  The  land- 
lady first  denied  that  he  had  been  there,  but 
the  stranger,  without  attending  to  her  denial, 
told  her  that  the  rooms  had  been  engaged  for 
a  lady  of  fashion,  "by  whom  Mr.  Rodney  might 
receive  much  good."  He  then  went  away,  but 
soon  returned  with  a  gentlewoman  (an  attendant 
of  Arabella's,  probably  the  Mrs.  Bradshaw  who 

*  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  126;  copy  in  Sloane  MSS.,  4161, 
fol.  72.     John,  Lord  Harington,  to  the  Earl  of  Salisbury. 


l6ii.]  HALCYON  DAYS.  29 

had  witnessed  her  marriage,  and  who  was  found 
with  her  on  board  the  French  ship),  "tall  of 
person,  not  richly  apparelled,  and  very  pale ; 
having  a  wart  ...  on  her  face  upon  the  cheek, 
under  the  eye."  The  two  stayed  in  the  house 
till  two  o'clock,  superintending  a  waterman,  who 
conveyed  the  goods  to  St.  Tooley's  Stairs ;  then 
they  went  away  themselves,  the  gentleman  first 
reconnoitring  in  the  street,  to  see  if  any  one  was 
about.  The  landlady,  whose  curiosity  was 
thoroughly  aroused  by  these  strange  proceedings, 
sent  her  maid  after  them,  and  thus  ascertained 
that  they  took  a  boat  at  Pickle  Herring,  over 
against  the  Tower. 


30  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1611. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE   ESCAPE   AND   CAPTURE. 

1611. 

ALL  the  preparations  for  the  prisoners'  escape 
were  now  completed,  and,  as  her  last  month  of 
respite  drew  to  an  end,  Arabella  lulled  her 
keepers  and  attendants  "  into  security  by  a  fair 
show  of  conformity  and  willingness  to  go  on 
her  journey  towards  Durham." 

The  date  of  her  departure  to  the  north  was 
fixed  for  June  5,  but  while  the  king  imagined 
that  he  had  at  last  compelled  his  cousin  to  obey 
his  will,  she  had  secretly  completed  her  arrange- 
ments for  defying  it,  and  on  Monday,  June  3, 
between  three  and  four  in  the  afternoon,  she 
quietly  walked  out  of  Mr.  Conyers's  house, 
dressed  in  man's  clothes,  and  accompanied  by 
Markham,  one  of  her  attendants. 


i6n.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  31 

The  explanation  of  the  extreme  ease  with 
which  the  prisoner  effected  her  escape  in  broad 
daylight  may  be  found  in  the  confession  of 
Arabella's  female  attendant,  a  "  minister's  wife," 
who  connived  at  the  lady's  departure,  believing 
with  great  simplicity  her  assurance  that  she 
would  return  early  the  next  morning.  Arabella 
had  worked  on  the  tender-hearted  woman's  feelings 
by  begging  her  to  let  her  go  and  have  a  farewell 
interview  with  her  husband  before  her  departure 
for  the  north,  and  the  maid  had  even  helped 
her  mistress  to  disguise  herself  by  "  drawing 
a  pair  of  great  French-fashioned  hose  over  her 
petticoats,  putting  on  a  man's  doublet,  and  man- 
like peruke,  with  long  locks,  over  her  hair ;  a 
black  hat,  a  black  cloak,  russet " — or,  according 
to  another  account,  white — "  boots  with  red  tops, 
and  a  rapier  by  her  side."  * 

After  a  walk  of  a  mile  and  a  half,  Arabella 
and  Markham  reached  a  "  sorry  inn,"  where  her 
faithful  steward  Crompton  waited  with  saddle- 
horses.  The  poor  lady,  who  had  hardly  been 
out  of  her  room  for  weeks,  and  was  worn  out 
*  Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  280,  etc. 


32  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1611, 

with  anxiety  and  illness,  here  turned  "  very  sick 
and  faint,  so  as  the  ostler  that  held  their  stirrups 
said,  '  That  gentleman  would  hardly  hold  out 
to  London ; '  yet,  being  set  on  a  good  gelding, 
astride  in  unwonted  fashion,  the  stirring  of  the 
horse  brought  blood  enough  into  her  face,  and 
so  she  rode  on  towards  Blackwall."  * 

Here  Sir  John  More's  account  differs  from 
the  watermen,  who  were  afterwards  examined. 
More  says  that  two  men  and  two  women  were 
waiting  for  them  when  they  arrived  at  Black- 
wall,  at  six  o'clock,  and  that  they  started  imme- 
diately. According  to  one  of  the  watermen.f 
they  tarried  at  the  Blackwall  tavern  an  hour 
and  a  half  for  their  company,  who  came  in 
scattered  one  after  the  other ;  but,  as  the  at- 
tendants who  had  charge  of  the  luggage  were 
already  there,  having  left  the  Tower  as  early 
as  two  o'clock,  it  is  more  probable  that  they 
delayed  in  the  hopes  of  Seymour  joining  them. 
They  finally  started  in  two  boats,  one  a  good 

*  See  above,  Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  280,  etc. 
t  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixiv.  p.  5,  MS.     Waad 
to  Salisbury. 


i6n.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  33 

pair  of  oars,  the  other  carrying  the  luggage 
brought  from  Rodney's  lodgings.  In  one  boat 
were  three  men  ;  into  the  other,  after  they  had 
put  off  from  shore  * — probably  because  the  pair- 
oar  was  overweighted — they  shipped  Arabella 
and  her  waiting-woman,  Mrs.  Bradshaw.  One 
other  man  and  a  maid  remained,  according 
to  More,  at  the  tavern ;  and  certainly  Ara- 
bella had  only  one  woman  and  three  men 
with  her  when  they  went  aboard  the  ship  at 
Lee.  The  men  who  accompanied  her  were 
Markham,  Crompton,  and  Edward  Reeves. 
Arabella  sat,  close  covered,  with  a  hood  or  veil 
over  her  face,  in  a  long  black  cloak.  The  party 
loitered  down  the  river,  still  in  the  hopes  that 
Seymour  would  overtake  them.  Woolwich  was 
their  first  stage;  then  they  went  on  to  Gravesend, 
where,  as  it  was  now  dark,  and  the  distance  to 
Lee,  where  they  expected  to  find  the  French 
bark  they  had  chartered  waiting,  was  long,  the 
boatmen  refused  to  row  any  further.  However, 
for  a  double  fare  they  at  last  consented  to  con- 
tinue, and,  after  a  further  delay  at  Tilbury, 

*  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixiv.  p.  5,  MS. 
VOL.  II.  21 


34  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

where  the  rowers  insisted  on  going  ashore  to 
refresh  themselves,  they  reached  Lee  at  early 
dawn. 

But  they  had  not  yet  reached  their  goal — the 
French  ship  lay  eight  miles  beyond  Lee.  At 
first  the  fugitives  could  not  see  it,  and  imagining 
that  the  captain  had  played  them  false,  they 
hailed  the  first  vessel  they  came  to.  This  proved 
to  be  a  brig  *  bound  for  Berwick,  and  Crompton 
vainly  besought  John  Bright,  the  master,  with 
offers  of  a  large  bribe  to  alter  his  course,  and 
take  them  to  Calais.  Bright  refused  to  oblige 
them,  but  he  was  able  to  point  out  a  ship,  riding 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  beyond,  which  proved 
to  be  the  French  vessel  they  were  in  search  of. 

The  English  captain's  suspicions  had  been 
roused  by  their  importunity,  and  perhaps  by 
the  muffled-up  person  with  a  "  marvellous  fair 
white  hand"  showing  beneath  her  cloak  when 
she  pulled  off  her  glove.  He  therefore  care- 
fully took  note  of  the  whole  party,  and  watched 
them  as  they  went  on  board  the  bark  ahead, 

*  See  Bright's  Examination,  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom., 
vol.  Ixiv.  p.  30,  MS. 


i6n.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  35 

which  had  meanwhile  displayed  the  promised 
signal,  a  flag.  He  took  Mrs.  Bradshaw,  who 
"was  barefaced,  in  a  black  riding  safeguard,  with 
a  black  hat,  having  nothing  on  her  head  but  a 
black  hat  and  her  hair,"  for  "Moll  Cutpurse." 
"  One  of  the  men,"  he  said,  "  was  about  forty, 
with  a  long  flaxen  beard,  something  corpulent," 
and  in  spite  of  the  beard,  which  may  well  have 
been  a  false  one,  this  seems  to  answer  to  our 
flaxen-haired  friend  Edward  Reeves,  to  whom 
the  care  of  the  luggage  from  the  tavern  had 
been  entrusted.  In  the  younger  man,  with  a 
little  black  beard,  who  was  the  most  eager  for 
him  to  take  them  to  Calais,  and  "proffered 
large  sums  of  money  for  the  passage,"  we  cannot 
fail  to  identify  the  zealous  Crompton. 

It  was  now  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
every  minute  was  precious  ;  yet  Arabella  still 
lingered,  waiting  for  her  husband,  who,  for  some 
inexplicable  reason,  had  reached  Blackwall  after 
she  had  left.  At  last,  "through  the  importunity 
of  her  followers,"  and  too  late,  as  it  proved,  to 
secure  her  own  safety,  she  was  obliged  to  yield, 
and  allow  the  French  captain  to  put  off  to  sea ; 


36  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

but  two  hours  were  wasted  on  account  of  the 
tide. 

In  the  mean  time,  Seymour  had  successfully 
completed  his  preparations  for  his  escape,  and 
giving  the  same  reason  for  his  absence  with 
which  his  wife  had  tricked  poor  simple  Mrs. 
Adams,  he  persuaded  his  servant  to  assist  him 
to  dress.  The  valet,  seriously  believing,  or 
pretending  to  believe,  that  his  master  would 
return  in  a  few  hours,  agreed  to  tell  any  one 
who  inquired  for  Mr.  Seymour  during  his 
absence  that  he  had  "newly  betaken  himself 
to  rest,  being  troubled  with  the  tooth-ache,"  and 
must  not  be  disturbed.* 

It  is  evident  that  some  mistake  had  arisen 
about  the  hour  of  meeting,  since  by  the  time, 
eight  o'clock  at  night,  that  Seymour  left  his 
prison,  Arabella  was  already  some  miles  on  her 
way  down  the  Thames,  and  he  did  not  reach 
Blackwall  for  more  than  an  hour  after  she  had 
started.f 

*  More's  Letter  continued,  vol.  iii.  p.  280,  etc. 
t  William  Waad  to  Salisbury,  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom., 
vol.  Ixiv.  p.  5,  MS. 


i6n.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  37 

The  other  arrangements  went  off  without  a 
hitch.  Seymour,  disguised  with  "  a  peruke  and 
beard  of  black  hair,  and  in  a  tawny  suit " — the 
whole  furnished  by  Rodney — slipped  out  of  the 
great  west  gate  of  the  Tower  in  the  wake  of  a 
cart  piled  with  faggots,  and,  passing  along  the 
wharf  under  the  very  nose  of  the  warders  at  the 
south  entrance,  reached  the  iron  gate,  where 
Rodney  was  waiting  with  a  boat,  without  having 
been  challenged.  At  Lee,  of  course,  they  were 
too  late  for  the  French  ship,  and  so,  after  search- 
ing in  vain  for  that  vessel,  they  finally  induced 
a  Newcastle  collier,*  for  the  sum  of  £40,  to  take 
them  to  Calais,  expecting  there  to  meet  the  rest 
of  the  party. 

Before  leaving  Rodney  had  written  to  Francis 
Seymour,  with  whom  he  lodged,  and  who  was, 
as  we  have  seen  before,  on  affectionate  terms 
with  William  and  his  wife.  His  letter  was  to 
be  delivered  on  Tuesday  morning  at  8  a.m.,  by 
which  time  Rodney  had  calculated  that  the 
fugitives  would  be  safe  from  all  pursuit.  Thanks, 
however,  to  Seymour's  dilatoriness — his  indolent 

*  Letter  of  Sparrow  and  Cage,  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  132. 


38  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

character  is  noticed  by  his  biographers — and 
Arabella's  love  for  him,  this  letter  proved  the 
ruin  of  the  poor  wife's  hopes. 

Rodney  did  not  explain  his  sudden  desertion 
of  his  fellow-lodger,  excusing  his  apparent  want 
of  confidence  in  him  by  his  fears  of  the  old 
earl ;  but  Francis  took  alarm  at  the  ambiguous 
tone  of  the  letter.  More  careful  of  his  own 
reputation  than  mindful  of  the  claims  of  kin- 
ship, he  went  straight  off  to  the  Tower,  and,  dis- 
regarding the  servant's  expostulations,  pushed 
into  his  brother's  empty  bedchamber.  Then  he 
and  the  Governor  of  the  Tower,  Sir  William 
Waad,  lost  no  time  in  communicating  the 
escape  to  the  king  and  Salisbury,  who  were  at 
Greenwich.* 

Francis  was,  after  an  examination  before  the 
Privy  Council,  confined  to  his  lodgings  upon 
suspicion,  although,  as  he  truly  asserts,  he  was 
as  innocent  of  "their  practises  as  is  the  child 
that  was  but  yesterday  born."  \ 

*  For  details,  see  letter  from  F.  S.  to  the  Earl  of  Hertford, 
Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  122. 

t  Letter  from  F.  S.  to  his  grandmother,  State  Papers,  James  I., 
Dom.,  vol.  Ixiv.  p.  8,  MS. 


i6ii.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  39 

The  king  and  his  Lords  worked  themselves 
up  into  a  state  of  almost  ludicrous  terror  at  the 
news.  True,  should  the  couple  escape  abroad, 
the  foreign  Catholic  Powers  might  use  their 
claims  as  an  excuse  for  interfering  in  English 
affairs  ;  but,  as  one  of  Winwood's  correspond- 
ents— who,  as  a  contemporary,  might  have  been 
expected  to  join  the  general  panic — sensibly 
remarks*  "the  danger  was  not  like  to  have  been 
very  great,  in  regard  that  their  pretensions  are 
so  many  degrees  removed  "  (by  the  direct  claims 
of  James's  own  sons),  "and  they  ungraceful^ 
both  in  their  persons  and  their  houses  ;  so  as  a 
hot  alarm  taken  at  the  matter  will  make  them 
more  illustrious  in  the  world's  eye  than  now 
they  are,  or,  being  let  alone,  ever  would  have 
been." 

It  is  sad  to  see,  by  the  end  of  this  same  letter, 

*  Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  281. 

1  The  word  "ungraceful,"  which  has  misled  some  writers 
into  an  unflattering  account  of  Arabella's  looks,  certainly  has 
not  the  literal  significance,  but  probably  means  "out  of  favour," 
i.e.  objectionable  to  the  king.  This  sense  would  fit  both 
persons  and  houses,  since  the  individuals  themselves  and  the 
families  to  which  they  belonged  were  not  in  high  favour  at  court. 
— Explanation  by  Canon  Jackson. 


40  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [i6n. 

that  Prince  Henry  had  now  quite  deserted  his 
unfortunate  friend,  and  joined  with  the  rest  of 
the  world  against  her,  one  of  the  rare  occasions 
on  which  he  sided  with  his  father.  "  It " — the 
escape — "is  said  to  fill  his  Majesty  with  fearful 
imaginations,  and  with  him  the  prince,  who 
cannot  be  removed  from  any  settled  opinion." 

It  is  impossible  to  express  the  wild  and 
unreasoning  consternation  that  reigned  at  court 
on  that  eventful  day,  June  4.  Lord  Nottingham, 
the  lord  high  admiral,  took,  however,  a  more 
common-sense  view  of  the  matter.  He  is  sorry 
they  have  escaped,  as  it  will  trouble  his  Majesty, 
but  "  England  will  find  no  loss  by  their  absence. 
.  .  .  The  best  that  I  do  think,  as  it  falleth  out, 
is  that  it  do  not  appear  to  the  world  that  there 
is  here  any  account  made  of  them.  The  wind 
is  bad,  and  they  cannot  have  gone  far " 
(June  4). 

This    was    very   sensible    advice,    but    even 

Salisbury,  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  could  not 

have   appeased   the   king's  terror.     Despatches 

were  sent  to  Calais  to  arrest  the  fugitives;  letters 

*  State  Papers,  James  IM  Dom^  vol.  Ixiv.  p.  4,  MS. 


i6iij  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  4! 

were  immediately  written  to  the  King  and 
Queen  Regent  of  France,  and  the  Archdukes, 
requesting  them  not  to  protect  the  offenders, 
but  to  send  them  back  without  delay.  The 
king's  messengers  were  galloping  from  Lord 
Nottingham  and  his  admiral  (Sir  William 
Monson)  to  Salisbury  and  back,  with  "  Haste, 
haste  !  post  haste  !  haste  for  your  life !  your 
life !  "  upon  their  despatches.  In  this  passionate 
hurry  there  was  a  proclamation,*  "first  conceived 
in  very  bitter  terms,  but  by  my  lord  treasurer's 
(Salisbury's)  moderation,  seasoned  at  the  print " 
(Winwood,  see  above). 

The  wildest  rumours  were  afloat — one  that 
old  Lord  Hertford  had  died  of  the  shock ;  f 
while,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  old  man  had  been 
sent  for  \  to  court,  and  was  in  abject  terror  lest 
he  should  be  accused  of  having  abetted  his 
grandson's  evasion.  The  dutiful  Francis  had 
written  §  at  once  to  inform  him  of  the  news,  and 
his  grandfather  immediately  posted  back  his 

*  Part  II.  I,  No.  I,  p.  267. 

t  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixiv.  p.  6,  MS.      Letter 
of  Lord  Fenton. 

$  Ibid.,  p.  7,  MS.  §  Page  38,  note. 


42  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1611. 

letter  to  Salisbury,  with  an  enclosure  of  his  own 
protesting  his  innocence  of  all  knowledge  of  the 
plot.  The  infirm  old  man's  hands  trembled  so 
much,  either  with  terror  on  his  own  account  or 
from  the  agitating  memories  William's  escapade 
called  up,  that,  while  reading  Francis's  letter  by 
the  light  of  his  "  size  " — a  wax  taper — he  set  fire 
to  part  of  it,  and  adds  a  postscript  of  excuse 
for  his  negligence  to  his  own  letter  to  the  lord 
treasurer.  The  ill-omened  epistle  which  brought 
the  news  of  the  young  couple's  rash  attempt 
is  still  to  be  seen  among  the  Harleian  MSS. 
(7003,  fol.  124),  but  the  bit  which  was  actually 
burnt  away  only  contained  the  one  word 
"  Tower." 

Meantime  Admiral  Monson,  by  the  directions 
of  the  lord  admiral  and  the  lord  treasurer,  was 
taking  active  measures.  What  with  contrary 
winds  and  tides,  he  felt  sure  they  would  not 
reach  Calais  that  night  (June  4),  and  a  light 
pinnace,  called  the  Adventure,  which  with  other 
boats  he  had  sent,  after  judicious  inquiries 
among  the  fishermen,  in  pursuit,  soon  returned  in 
triumph,  with  Arabella  and  her  party  on  board. 


i6u.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  43 

The  captain  writes  *  to  the  lord  high  admiral 
that  "under  the  South  Sundhead  we  saw  a 
small  sail,  which  we  chased,  and  proving  little 
wind,  we  sent  our  boat  with  shot  and  pikes,  and 
half  channel  over  our  boat  did  overtake  them, 
and  making  some  few  shot,  they  yielded,  where 
we  found  divers  passengers,  among  the  rest  my 
Lady  Arbella,  her  three  men,  and  one  gentle- 
woman. We  cannot  yet  find  Mr.  Seymour 
here.  My  lady  saith  that  she  saw  him  not,  but 
hopeth  that  he  is  got  over." 

Monson  writes,  f  enclosing  the  above  letter,  to 
Salisbury,  to  request  "his  Majesty's  directions 
how  to  dispose  of  my  lady,  for  that  I  am  un- 
willing she  should  go  ashore  until  I  have  further 
authority  ;  but  in  the  mean  time,  she  shall  not 
want  anything  the  shore  can  afford,  or  any 
other  honourable  usage." 

More  also  describes  \  the  capture  :  "  This 
pinnace,"  he  says,  "  spying  the  aforesaid  bark, 
which  lay  lingering  for  Mr.  Seymour,  made  to 

*  Letter  of  Griffin  Cocket,  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.   128,  for 
these  and  above  details. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  130. 
\  Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  281. 


44  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

her,  which  endured  thirteen  shots  of  the  pinnace 
before  she  would  strike.  In  this  bark  is  the 
lady  taken,  with  her  followers,  and  brought  back 
towards  the  Tower,  not  so  sorry  for  her  own 
restraint  as  she  should  be  glad  if  Mr.  S.  might 
escape,  whose  welfare  she  protesteth  to  affect 
more  than  her  own." 

We  see  here  and  in  the  captain's  letter  another 
proof,  if  one  were  wanted,  of  Arabella's  tender, 
unselfish  love  for  her  husband.  He  at  the  very 
time  of  her  capture  had  reached  Ostend,  and 
gone  at  once  on  to  Bruges,  sending  "a  mes- 
senger along  the  coasts  to  hearken  after  the 
arrival  of  his  lady." 

But  he  was  not  destined  to  meet  his  wife 
again.  She  was  by  James's  command  brought 
back,  a  strictly  guarded  prisoner,  to  the  Tower, 
and  entered  that  dreary  prison,  never  to  taste 
of  liberty  again,  never  to  see,  probably  never  to 
hear  more  from,  her  husband. 

One  or  two  ballads,  amongst  them  a  quaint 
one  called  "  The  True  Lover's  Knot  Untied,"  * 
written  in  James  I.'s  reign  after  the  old  Earl 
*  See  Part  II.  J,  No.  4,  p.  275. 


i6ii.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  45 

of  Hertford's  death,  have  attempted  to  describe 
the  tragedy  of  Arabella's  situation  ;  but  neither 
prose  nor  poetry  can  express  the  utter  despair 
this  final  separation  from  her  adored  husband 
caused  her. 

James  is  said  to  have  been  utterly  without 
the  quality  of  mercy,  and  Arabella's  fate  seems 
fully  to  bear  out  this  accusation.  Not  only  the 
chief  offender,  but  also  her  aunt,  Lady  Shrews- 
bury, her  lenient  keeper,  Sir  James  Croft,  her 
physician,  Dr.  Moundford,  her  attendants,  and 
all  *  who  were  suspected  of  having  had  a  hand 
in  the  conspiracy,  were  committed  to  the  Tower. 
Her  uncle,  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  was  put 
under  strict  guard  at  his  own  house ;  and  the 
old  Earl  of  Hertford  was  summoned  peremptorily 
to  court,  in  spite  of  his  protestations.  An 
examination  was  held  before  the  Lords  of  the 
Council  of  all  concerned  in  the  escape,  and 
the  details  we  have  already  given  came  to  light, 
although  no  more  was  ever  learnt  of  the  actual 
workings  of  the  conspiracy. 

Arabella  "answered  the  Lords  at  her  exami- 
*  See  lists  of  prisoners  in  Part  II.  I,  No.  2,  pp.  268,  269. 


46  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

nation  with  great  discretion,  but  the  other 
[Lady  Shrewsbury]  is  said  to  be  utterly  with- 
out reason,  crying  out  that  all  is  but  tricks 
and  giggs ;  that  she  will  answer  nothing  in 
private,  and  if  she  have  offended  the  law,  she 
will  answer  it  in  public.  She  is  said  to  have 
amassed  a  great  sum  of  money  to  some  ill 
use ;  twenty  thousand  pounds  are  known  to 
be  in  her  cash,  and  that  she  made  provision 
for  more  bills  of  exchange  to  her  niece's  use 
than  she  had  knowledge  of;  and  though  the 
Lady  Arbella  hath  not  as  yet  been  found 
inclinable  to  popery,  her  aunt  made  account 
belike  that,  being  beyond  the  seas  in  the  hands 
of  Jesuits  and  priests,  either  the  stroke  of  their 
arguments  or  the  pinch  of  poverty  might  force 
her  to  the  other  side."  * 

What  we  read  here  may  well  bear  out  the 
supposition  that  Seymour's  unflattering  remarks 
about  "  my  lady "  (see  vol.  i.  p.  267)  referred  to 
Mary's  machinations,  which,  indeed,  undertaken 
partly  from  ambitious  motives,  worked  more 
harm  than  good  to  her  niece.  All  that  is  told 

*  Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  281. 


i6ii.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND    CAPTURE.  47 

of  her  elsewhere  shows  that  she  was  a  clever 
woman  of  a  bold  and  unscrupulous  character, 
very  different  to  her  gentle  sister  Elizabeth, 
Arabella's  mother. 

But  she  was  destined  to  pay  dearly  for  her 
fault  by  years  of  dreary  expiation  in  prison. 
Although  it  was  found  impossible  to  make  the 
prisoners'  offence  high  treason,  yet  it  was 
enough  for  the  obsequious  Lords  that  the  king 
wished  his  troublesome  cousin  and  her  still 
more  dangerous  aunt  safely  disposed  of;  and 
so,  after  a  mock-trial,  the  two  were  remanded 
to  the  Tower  for  an  indefinite  period.  The 
rest  of  those  actually  implicated  in  the  plot 
were  also  sentenced  to  various  terms  of  imprison- 
ment. 

Among  the  State  Papers  is  a  letter  *  from 
poor  Sir  James  Croft,  soliciting  his  enlarge- 
ment, being,  as  he  indeed  was,  wholly  innocent 
of  the  lady's  escape,  and  he  dwells  pathetically 
upon  his  thirty-six  years'  faithful  service  to  the 
king.  There  is  no  doubt  that  his  prayer  was 
granted,  and  that  he  was  soon  set  at  liberty. 

*  Calendar  of  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.  (l6n-i8),p.  43. 


48  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

Meanwhile  Seymour  tarried  in  Holland,  and 
induced  the  Archdukes  *  to  send  an  ambassador 
over  to  intercede  with  the  king  in  his  favour, 
"  begging  his  Majesty  to  pardon  so  small  a 
fault  as  a  clandestine  marriage,  and  to  suffer 
him  and  his  wife  to  live  together." 

But  James  proved  obdurate ;  the  "  small 
fault "  was  to  him  a  mountain  of  iniquity,  and 
the  only  reply  Seymour  received  was  a  message  f 
from  Salisbury,  telling  him  that  he  would  never 
find  favour  with  the  king  "while  he  liveth 
under  any  of  the  territories  of  Spain,  Rome, 
or  of  the  Archdukes." 

Moved  by  this  warning,  Seymour  shortly 
afterwards  went  on  to  Paris  (September  3,  1611), 
where  he  remained  in  exile  until  his  wife's  death, 
without,  as  far  as  we  know,  making  any  further 
efforts  either  to  communicate  with  or  help  her. 

It  should  not,  however,  be  too  hastily  con- 
cluded that  Seymour's  inaction  meant  indiffer- 
ence. On  the  contrary,  we  know,  from  con- 

*  The  Archdukes  Albert  and   Isabella,   so    called   because 
Albert  governed  the  Netherlands  in  right  of  his  wife. 

t  June  20,  Salisbury  to  Trumbull.    Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  282. 


i6n.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  49 

temporary  authority,  that  the  young  man  chafed 
much  during  his  enforced  exile,  and  was  ready 
to  join  in  seditious  talk — though  he  never  got 
so  far  as  an  actual  plot — with  other  malcontents 
abroad. 

A  letter*  dated  May  26,  1613,  which  has 
been  discovered  by  Mr.  Inderwick,  in  his 
researches  on  this  very  subject,  from  an  un- 
named person  in  Paris,  gives  an  interesting 
account  of  Arabella's  banished  husband.  Un- 
fortunately, the  letter  was  burnt  in  the  fire 
among  the  Cotton.  MSS.  some  years  ago, 
and  only  the  middle  is  legible.  In  it  we  find 
that  Seymour  is  much  vexed  that  the  king 
had  not  bestowed  any  grace  upon  him,  nor 
allowed  his  lady  and  he  to  come  together  again, 
so  that  she  has  become  distracted  in  mind, 
whereby  h&  hears  she  cannot  live  long,  and  he 
has  therefore  determined  to  take  some  other 
course.  This  was,  however,  an  empty  threat,  as 
without  powerful  friends  or  influence  at  court 
Seymour  could  do  nothing,  and  he  was  therefore 
obliged  to  let  his  lady  languish  in  the  Tower. 

*  Cotton.  MSS.,  Cal.  E.  xi.  306. 
VOL.   II.  22 


50  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

Satisfied  that  he  had  Arabella  safely  in  his 
clutches,  James  troubled  himself  little  with  her 
husband,  and  the  Earl  of  Hertford  was  the 
only  person  who  agitated  himself  about  the 
young  man  during  his  exile.  The  grandfather's 
letters  to  William  are  almost  comical  in  their 
intense  anxiety.  At  one  time,  hearing  a  rumour 
that  his  grandson  was  about  to  become  a  papist, 
he  despatches  his  chaplain,  and  a  former  tutor 
of  William's,  one  Felling,  to  keep  him  in  the 
right  way.  At  another  he  agitates  about  the 
young  man's  constant  companionship  with 
Rodney,  whom  Hertford  seems  always  to  have 
disliked  and  distrusted.  Seymour,  having  com- 
plained that  it  was  impossible  to  live  on  his 
allowance  (see  letter  quoted  above  in  the 
Cotton.  MSS.)i  Hertford  writes  (October,  1613) 
in  querulous  tones  to  ask  whether  ,£400  a  year 
from  an  aged  grandfather,  whose  estate  was 
crippled  by  debts,  was  not  an  "  exceeding  great 
allowance."  * 

*  See,  for  above  extracts,  Longleat  Papers,  given  by  Canon 
Jackson,  in  Wilts.  Archaeological  Magazine,  vol.  xv.  pp.  159-202  ; 
also  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixvi.  pp.  21,  27;  and 
vol.  Ixvii.  p.  3. 


i6n.]  THE  ESCAPE  AND   CAPTURE.  51 

The  young  man  was  not  yet  satisfied,  for  in 
September,  1615,  he  writes  *  a  complaining  letter 
to  Francis,  asking  the  old  earl  again  to  release 
him  from  his  debts.  In  future,  he  says,  he  "  must 
cut  his  coat  according  to  his  cloth."  On  the  back 
of  this  letter  is  a  note  endorsed,  "September  28," 
and  probably  in  Francis's  hand,  "The  Lady 
Arbella  died  Tuesday  night,  being  the  25th  of 
September,  1615." 

A  few  months  after  his  wife's  death,  Seymour, 
following  the  advice  his  grandfather  had  con- 
stantly urged  upon  him,  wrote  a  letter  of 
penitence  for  his  transgressions  to  James,  and 
now  all  danger  was  over,  he  was  permitted  to 
return  to  England  (February,  1616). 

His  father  had  died  in  July,  1612  ;  his  elder 
brother,  whose  name  had  once  been  coupled 
with  Arabella's,  in  1618,  when  William  became 
Lord  Beauchamp,  and  three  years  later  he 
succeeded  his  grandfather  as  Earl  of  Hertford 
(1621).  His  later  history  does  not  belong  to 
our  present  scope.  Enough  to  say  that  he 
played  a  great  part  on  the  Royalist  side  through- 

*  Unpublished  MSS.,  furnished  by  Canon  Jackson. 


52  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

out  Charles  I.'s  reign,  and  was  rewarded  at  the 
Restoration  by  a  special  Act  of  Parliament,  which 
at  last  righted  the  wrongs  of  Katharine  Grey, 
by  recognizing  her  grandson  as  her  legitimate 
descendant,  and  restoring  to  him  the  title  and 
estates  of  his  great-grandfather,  the  Protector 
Somerset. 

In  1617  he  had  married  a  second  wife,  a 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Essex,  and  by  the 
name,  "Arbella,"  of  his  eldest  daughter  (who 
died  unmarried),  we  see  that  he  wished  to  keep 
up  the  memory  of  his  unfortunate  first  wife,  and 
that,  in  spite  of  years  of  separation  and  silence, 
he  had  not  altogether  forgotten  her. 


(    53    ) 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

DESPAIR  AND   DEATH. 


WE  must  return  to  the  history  of  Arabella,  and 
gather  up  the  scanty  records  of  her  last  years. 
Black  despair  overwhelmed  the  wretched  captive 
as  the  Tower  gates  closed  irrevocably  upon  her 
hopes  of  happiness.  At  first  she  writes  heart- 
rending letters*  to  her  friends  at  court,  humbling 
herself  to  the  very  dust.  Her  appeals  were  dis- 
regarded. James  had  too  successfully  impressed 
his  principle  of  absolute  obedience  upon  his 
servile  courtiers,  but  the  whirlwind  he  had  sown 
was  to  be  reaped  by  his  darling,  his  "  Baby 
Charles,"  years  after  both  the  obstacles  to  his 
present  peace,  Prince  Henry  and  Arabella,  had 
been  laid  in  their  graves. 

*  See  three  undated  letters,  Part  II.  H,  Nos.  22,  23,  24, 
pp.  261-263. 


54  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1611. 

The  Earl  of  Shrewsbury  had  the  will,  but  not 
the  power,  to  help  his  favourite  niece.  He  was 
watched  as  closely  as  if  he  had  been  a  prisoner 
himself,  and  his  wife,  who  had  shown  only  too 
well  her  ability  to  be  of  use  to  the  unfortunate 
prisoner,  was  now  in  the  same  plight  herself. 

A  "  Memorial  concerning  the  Lady  Arbella  "  * 
was  sent  in  to  the  Council,  desiring  that  her 
servants,  especially  one  Peter,  who  had  attended 
her  husband,  "an  ancient  servant  of  hers," 
Fretwell,  an  embroiderer,  and  Smith,  the  same 
who  had  once  carried  her  letters  to  Seymour 
from  Lambeth,  might  be  allowed  to  attend  her 
in  the  Tower.  "  For  a  woman  she  desireth  Lady 
Chaworth.f  Her  desire  is  that  Mr.  Yelverton":}: 
— the  Yelverton  whose  name  is  associated  with 
hers  in  her  licence  for  appointing  persons  to 
keep  taverns  and  sell  spirits  in  Ireland — "  may 
receive  her  money  and  jewels.  There  must  of 
necessity  be  linen  bought  both  for  her  wearing, 

*  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  72. 

t  Probably  wife  of  the  young  Chaworth  who  was  her  messenger 
in  1603. 

\  She  evidently  owed  Yelverton  a  debt,  which  was  paid  by 
some  money  found  on  her  person.  Part  II.  I,  No.  4,  p.  270. 


i6ii.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  55 

for  sheets,  and  table  linen,  whereof  there  is  not 
any  amongst  her  stuff.  She  hath  thirty-two 
servants,  for  which  some  order  would  be  taken." 
This  memorial  is  undated,  but  it  must  have 
been  sent  in  during  the  first  days  of  her  im- 
prisonment ;  for  Sir  William  Waad,  the  Governor 
of  the  Tower,  writes  to  Salisbury  on  June  1 1, 
to  say  that  Lady  Arabella  awaits  his  directions, 
and  wishes  for  the  Lady  Chaworth  to  be  with 
her.*  By  the  letter  to  Lord  Fenton,  it  seems 
that  Arabella's  request  to  have  her  servants 
about  her  was  not  granted. 

Some  of  the  money  found  upon  her  person 
was  confiscated  to  pay  the  expenses  of  her 
capture. f  A  parcel  of  gold,  amounting  to  £388, 
besides  jewels,  was  given  over  into  the  hands  of 
Sir  William  Bowyer,  one  of  the  tellers  in  his 
Majesty's  receipts,  by  a  warrant  \  from  the 
Lords  of  the  Council. 

He  was  bidden  first  to  take  them  to  the  Tower, 
and  ask  the  lady  if  the  whole  belonged  to  her, 

*  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixiv.  p.  26,  MS. 
t  Part  II.  I,  No.  3,  p.  270. 
t  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  138. 


56  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.      [1611-12. 

and  whatever  belonged  to  her  servants  was  to 
be  returned  to  them.  The  rest,  after  some  of 
the  jewels  had  been  sold  to  pay  her  debts,*  was 
to  remain  in  Bowyer's  custody,  and  no  part  of 
it  was  henceforth  to  be  delivered  to  Arabella 
without  a  warrant  from  the  Chancellor  of  the 
Exchequer. 

From  the  time  of  her  capture,  and  as  the 
dreary  months  went  on  in  the  Tower,  Arabella 
lost  all  her  bright  spirits,  and  relapsed  into  an 
hysterical  state,  not  unlike  the  phase  she  passed 
through  during  her  trouble  of  1603.  This  time, 
however,  there  was  no  hope  to  bear  her  up,  and 
gradually  the  clouds  of  melancholy  settled  upon 
her  mind,  and  the  report  went  abroad  that  she 
was  mad.  We  shall  come  to  the  question  of 
her  madness  later  on  ;  but  as  yet  her  sanity  was 
unquestioned,  .and  one  of  her  undated  letters 
should  be  read  at  this  period,  as,  if  it  is  from 
the  Tower,f  it  cannot  have  been  written  many 
months  after  her  second  arrest.  She  would 

*  Part  II.  I,  No.  4,  p.  270. 

t  The  fact  that  she  refers  to  her  rejected  petition  to  have  her 
servants  with  her  seems  to  fix  it  as  from  the  Tower ;  hitherto 
she  had  had  Smith  and  Mrs.  Bradshaw,  besides  others. 


i6n-i2.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  57 

not  have  been  so  full  of  the  rejection  of  her 
prayer  to  have  her  own  servants  about  her, 
and  the  weakness  to  which  she  refers  was  no 
doubt  a  return  of  her  illness  at  East  Barnet, 
caused  by  the  agitation  and  excitement  of  her 
attempted  escape. 

The  letter*  referred  to,  which  is  addressed 
to  Lord  Fenton,  and  given  entire  in  Part 
II.,  contains  a  graphic  account  of  her  state. 
Some  passages  in  it  are  especially  tragic, 
marking  her  fears  that,  under  this  terrible 
trial,  her  already  weak  body,  and  perhaps  her 
mind  too,  must  give  way.  "  I  shall  be  sus- 
pected and  restrained,"  she  says,  "till  help 
comes  too  late ; "  and  again,  "  If  you  re- 
member, I  dare  die  so  I  be  not  guilty  of  my 
own  death." 

This  letter  is  one  of  the  few  written  after  her 
second  arrest  and  final  incarceration,  and  to 
which  a  probable  date  can  be  affixed.  As  a  rule, 
the  petitions  and  letters  contain  no  dates,  and 
no  internal  evidence  to  fix  the  date. 

Amongst  these  undated  documents  there  is  a 

*  Part  II.  H,  No.  25,  pp.  263-266. 


58  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1612. 

moving  letter*  to  the  queen,  who  is  implored 
"  to  consider  how  long  I  have  lived  a  spectacle 
of  his  Majesty's  displeasure,  to  my  unspeakable 
grief,"  which  may  well  have  been  written  from 
the  Tower  this  year,  before  all  communication 
between  the  prisoner  and  the  outer  world 
ceased.  With  it  she  enclosed  a  petition  "to  the 
King,  against  this  time  "  f  (Christmas,  no  doubt, 
by  the  context),  "when  the  rather,  I  am  sure, 
his  Majesty  forgiveth  greater  offences  as  freely 
as  he  desires  to  be  forgiven  by  Him,  whose 
sacrament  he  is  to  receive."  The  petition  may 
have  been  one  of  those  we  have  placed  earlier, 
but  it  is  again  impossible  to  fix  upon  any  one 
as  written  at  this  time. 

On  June  30,  1612,  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury 
was  had  up  for  trial  before  the  Council  and 
judges  at  the  lord  chancellor's,  to  answer  to  the 
charges  made  against  her  of  having  known  of 
and  abetted  Arabella's  escape,  directly  proved 
by  Crompton,  and  not  denied  by  her  niece. 

*  Part  II.  H,  No.  26,  p.  266. 

t  Mr.  Inderwick  also  dates  this  Christmas,  1611,  but  Lady 
Theresa  Lewis  places  it  as  late  as  the  Princess  Elizabeth's 
marriage. 


1612.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  59 

It  was  even  admitted  that  Arabella  had  per- 
sonally "had  no  evil  intent  against  the  king, 
who  had  always  a  great  and  special  care  of 
her,  and  was  very  bountiful  unto  her  until 
her  marriage  with  the  said  Seymour,  who  was 
the  pomum  vetitztm "  (the  forbidden  fruit  to 
which  James  had  referred,  see  vol.  i.  p.  261). 
"  Yet  when  she  fled,  and  when  she  should  be  en- 
vironed with  evil  spirits,  cum  perversis  perverti 
possit" — i.e.  "Evil  communications  corrupt  good 
manners  " — "  and  when  she  shall  be  in  another 
sphere,  she  will  not  move  within  the  same  orb."  * 

Arabella  had  answered  the  questions  at  her 
first  examination  with  so  much  propriety  that 
she  was  not  had  up  again  ;  but  Lady  Shrews- 
bury was  now  indicted  for  "  high  and  great  con- 
tempt," since  she  had  refused  to  reply  to  any 
of  the  accusations,  and  had  altogether  behaved 
very  indecorously  in  the  first  outbreak  of  her 
rage  at  the  failure  of  her  plan.  The  following 
had  been,  and  still  were,  her  reasons  for  not 
replying  :  "  i.  Because  she  had  made  a  rash 
vow  that  she  would  not  declare  anything  in 

*  State  Trials,  Cobbett ;  see  Sir  F.  Bacon's  speech,  p.  60. 


60  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1612. 

particular  touching  the  said  points,  and  it  was 
better  to  obey  God  than  man.  2.  She  stood 
upon  her  privilege  of  nobility  to  answer  only 
before  her  peers." 

The  solicitor-general,  Sir  Francis  Bacon,*  who 
presided  at  the  trial,  addressed  her  in  a  lengthy 
speech.  He  dwelt  first  upon  Arabella's  ex- 
tremely ill-advised  course  in  "transacting  the 
most  weighty  and  binding  part  and  action  of  her 
life,  which  is  her  marriage,  without  acquainting 
his  Majesty,  which  had  been  a  neglect  even  to 
a  mean  parent ;  but  being  to  our  sovereign,  and 
standing  so  near  his  Majesty  as  she  doth,  and 
she  then  choosing  such  a  condition  as  it  pleased 
her  to  choose,  all  parties  laid  together,  how 
dangerous  it  was  my  lady  might  have  read  it 
in  the  fortune  of  that  house  whereunto  she  is 
matched  ;  for  it  was  not  unlike  the  case  of 
Mr.  Seymour's  grandmother.  The  king  never- 
theless so  remembered  he  was  a  king,  as  he 
forgot  not  he  was  a  kinsman,  and  placed  her 


*  Mr.  Spedding  says  that  there  is  little  doubt  that  this  speech 
is  by  Bacon  (see  his  "Life  of  Bacon,"  vol.  iv.  p.  297;  also 
"Cabala,"  p.  369). 


i6i2.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  6l 

only  sub  libera  custodia.  But  now  did  my  lady 
accumulate  and  heap  up  the  offence  with  a 
far  greater  than  the  former,  by  seeking  to 
withdraw  herself  out  of  the  king's  power  into 
foreign  parts.  That  this  flight  or  escape  into 
foreign  parts  might  have  been  seed  of  trouble 
to  this  state,  is  a  matter  whereof  the  conceit 
of  a  vulgar  person  is  not  incapable.  For 
although  my  lady  should  have  put  on  a  mind 
to  continue  her  loyalty,  as  nature  and  duty 
did  bind  her,  yet,  when  she  was  in  another 
sphere,  she  must  have  moved  in  the  motion  of 
that  orb,  and  not  of  the  planet  itself,  and  God 
forbid  the  king's  felicity  should  be  so  little  as 
he  should  not  have  envy  and  enviers  enough  in 
foreign  parts." 

Bacon  continued  for  a  while  in  the  same 
courtier-like  strain,  and  it  was  this  very  year 
(1612)  that  he  succeeded  in  gaining  James's 
good  graces,  after  Salisbury's  death  rising 
rapidly  into  favour  and  receiving  promotion. 

He  now  addressed  himself  directly  to  the 
haughty  countess :  "  This  fact  of  conspiring 
in  the  flight  of  this  lady  may  bear  a  hard  and 


62  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1612. 

gentler  construction — if  upon  overmuch  affection 
to  your  kinswoman,  gentler ;  if  upon  practice 
or  other  end,  harder.  .  .  .  Nay,  you  must 
learn  duty  of  the  Lady  Arbella  herself,  a  lady 
of  the  blood,  of  a  higher  rank  than  yourself, 
who  declining,  and  that  by  request  neither,  to 
declare  of  your  fact,  yieldeth  ingenuously  to 
be  examined  of  her  own." 

The  result  of  the  trial  was  that  Lady  Shrews- 
bury was  condemned  by  the  Star  Chamber  to 
pay  a  fine  of  £20,000,  and  to  be  confined  during 
his  Majesty's  pleasure.  It  is  extremely  doubt- 
ful that  her  impoverished  husband,  who  was, 
like  the  rest  of  his  family,  loaded  with  debts, 
could  raise  such  a  large  sum  ;  and  the  anxiety 
consequent  on  his  money  difficulties  and  the 
imprisonment  of  his  wife  and  niece  quite  broke 
down  his  health.  During  the  latter  part  of 
this  year  Lady  Shrewsbury's  imprisonment  had 
been  gradually  relaxed  ;  she  was  allowed  the 
"liberty  of  the  Tower,"  and  went  home  to 
nurse  poor  Gilbert  through  an  illness. 

But  her  restless  mind  was  not  one  to  bear 
imprisonment  without  seeking  an  escape,  and 


1613.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  63 

early  in  1613  she  fell  into  mysterious  disgrace. 
Chamberlayne  (see  below)  repeats  a  vague 
rumour  that  her  niece  was  the  cause  of  her 
aunt's  fresh  misfortunes,  but  there  is  no  other 
evidence  to  connect  Arabella  with  the  matter, 
and  we  only  know  that  the  countess  was  had 
up  twice  before  the  Lords  that  year,  each  time 
refusing  to  answer  questions. 

Chamberlayne  writes  *  to  Winwood  on  Janu- 
ary 29,  1613,  that  Lady  Shrewsbury  "is  now  of 
late  restrained  and  kept  more  close  upon  some-  * 
what  discovered  against  her  (as  they  say)  by 
her  niece,  the  Lady  Arbella."  And  he  says  f 
on  March  10,  "The  Lady  Arbella  hath  been 
dangerously  sick  of  convulsions,  and  is  now  said 
to  be  distracted,  which,  if  it  be  so,  comes  well 
to  pass  for  somebody  [the  countess],  whom  they 
say  she  hath  nearly  touched." 

The  question  of  Arabella's  madness  is  now 
before  us,  but  Chamberlayne's  on  dits  are 
very  unsatisfactory,  and  certainly  do  not  furnish 
sufficient  evidence  to  justify  the  usual  descrip- 
tion of  the  lady  as  a  hopeless  lunatic.  Lady 

*  Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  429.  f  Ibid.,  p.  442. 


64  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1613. 

Theresa  Lewis  has  discussed  the  matter  with 
much  judgment  in  her  "Clarendon  Gallery" 
(vol.  ii.),  and  from  a  careful  sifting  of  the 
scanty  evidence  and  the  few  passages  referring 
to  the  subject  in  contemporary  letters,  we  prefer 
to  believe,  with  her,  that  the  fits  of  madness 
were  only  temporary  alienations,  and  that 
between  them  Arabella  was  as  sane  as  a  person 
distracted  by  grief  and  imprisonment  can  be. 
For  ourselves,  we  believe  also  that  these  fits  of 
so-called  madness  resembled  the  hysterical  at- 
tacks to  which  she  had  been  subject  before,  and 
were  brought  on  by  any  extra  worry,  as  in 
1603,  when  her  letters  are  often  those  of  a 
person  who  is  worked  up  into  a  state  of  great 
nervous  irritability.  By  our  arrangement  of  the 
undated  letters,  as  well  as  by  passages  from  con- 
temporary ones,  it  is  certain  that  her  attacks 
always  followed  some  disappointment. 

Early  in  February  we  hear  for  the  last  time 
of  the  poor  lady's  dresses.  Even  in  her  cap- 
tivity she  seems  to  have  kept  her  extravagant 
tastes.  On  the  occasion  of  Princess  Eliza- 
beth's marriage  to  the  Prince  Palatine,  Arabella 


1613.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  65 

showed  her  desire  to  take  part  in  the  bridal 
festivities  by  "  buying  four  new  gowns,  whereof 
one  cost  ,£1500."*  One  of  these  dresses  was 
probably  the  "riche  gowne  embroidered  with 
pearles,"  mentioned  by  the  Lieutenant  of  the 
Tower  as  amongst  the  prisoner's  apparel  at  her 
death.  The  pearls  for  this  costume  were  valued 
at  £400 ;  but  the  bill  had  never  been  paid,  so 
the  dress  was  laid  aside  in  order  to  return  the 
jewels  to  the  seller.  Sir  William  Bowyer  had 
no  doubt  refused  to  allow  the  spendthrift  lady 
as  much  for  her  clothes  as  she  liked  to  spend, 
and  so  she  ran,  as  usual,  into  debt. 

She  must  still  have  had  a  fair  number  of  jewels 
of  her  own,  since  four  months  after  her  death  a 
warrant  from  the  Privy  Council,  which  ordered 
those  of  her  fellow-prisoners  who  possessed  any 
of  her  goods  to  give  them  up  to  the  Crown, 
names  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,f  whose  love  for 
precious  stones  was  renowned,  as  the  possessor 
of  some  of  Arabella's  jewels.  He  had  been 

*  Calendar  of  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.  (1611-18),  p. 
170,  MS. 
t  Edwardes,  "Life  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,"  vol.  i.  p.  558. 

VOL.    II.  23 


66  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1613, 

imprisoned  in  the  Tower  since  1612,  and  pro- 
bably purchased  the  things  on  the  lady's 
death. 

In  May  of  this  very  year  1613,  the  Lieutenant 
of  the  Tower,  Sir  William  Waad,  who  was  a 
very  grasping  man,  and  had  seized  upon  Sey- 
mour's goods  after  his  escape,*  was  dismissed  f 
from  his  post  on  the  charge  of  having  embezzled 
some  of  the  Lady  Arabella's  jewels,  and  also 
because  he  was  thought  to  have  been  too  severe 
against  his  unfortunate  charge. 

Before  we  give  the  last  petition,  let  us  notice 
another  reason  why  Arabella  should  have  been 
reduced  to  a  worse  state  than  ever  of  grief  and 
despondency. 

Just  before  he  left  England,  Elizabeth's  young 
bridegroom  made  a  suit  to  the  king  for  the 
enlargement  of  Lord  Grey,  who  was  still  in 
the  Tower ;  perhaps  intending  to  indirectly  aid 
the  other  prisoners,  and  especially  Arabella,  to 
whom  in  her  childhood  at  least,  Miss  Strickland 


*  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixvii.  p.  94,  MS. 
t  Ibid.,  vol.  Ixxii.  p.   129;  and  Somer's  "Tracts,"  vol.  ii. 
p.  283. 


1613.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  6/ 

tells  us,  the  princess  had  been  attached.  The 
attempt  to  rescue  Grey  failed,  as  we  see  below ; 
but  it  is  evident  that  there  was  some  connection 
between  the  affair  and  both  Arabella  and  her 
aunt — what,  we  cannot  tell. 

James's  answer  to  his  son-in-law  was  a 
characteristic  one.*  "The  king  told  him  he 
marvelled  how  he  should  become  suitor  for  a 
man  whom  he  neither  knew  nor  ever  saw.  He 
answered  that  he  was  recommended  to  him  by 
his  uncles,  the  Duke  of  Bouillon,  the  Prince 
Maurice  (one  of  Arabella's  former  suitors),  and 
the  Count  Henry,  who  had  better  knowledge  of 
him.  Then  the  king  said,  '  Son,  when  I  come 
into  Germany,  I  will  promise  you  not  to 
importune  you  for  any  of  your  prisoners.' 
Since  that  time  the  Lord  Grey  hath  been 
restrained  and  kept  more  strait,  for  having  had 
conference  with  one  of  Lady  Arbella's  women, 
who,  being  strictly  examined,  was  fain  to 
confess  that  it  was  only  matter  of  love  and 
dalliance.  The  Lady  Arbella  is  likewise  re- 

*  Winwood,  vol.  iii.  p.  454.     State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom., 
vol.  Ixxii.  p.  120  (April  29,  1613). 


68  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1613. 

strained  of  late,  though  they  say  her  brain 
continues  still  crackt,  and  the  Countess  of 
Shrewsbury  more  close  than  at  any  time  before, 
and  not  without  cause,  as  the  voice  goes." 

The  last  specimen,*  as  far  as  we  can  tell,  from 
Arabella's  hand  is  now  before  us.  It  is  torn  in 
half,  blotted  with  her  tears,  and  the  wildness 
and  misery  of  her  tone  show  too  clearly  the 
condition  to  which  confinement  and  separation 
from  all  she  loved  best  had  reduced  that  once 
bright  and  courted  lady. 

"  In  all  humility,  in  most  humble  wise,  the 
most  wretched  and  unfortunate  creature  that 
ever  lived  prostrates  itself  at  the  feet  of  the 
most  merciful "  (the  irony  of  this  must  have 
made  even  James  blush)  "  king  that  ever  was, 
desiring  nothing  but  mercy  and  favour,  not 
being  more  afflicted  for  anything  than  for  the 
loss  of  that  which  hath  been  this  long  time  the 
only  comfort  it  had  in  the  world,  and  which,  if  it 
were  to  do  again,  I  would  not  adventure  the  loss 
of  any  for  any  other  worldly  comfort.  Mercy  it 
is  I  desire,  and  that  for  God's  sake.  Let  either 

*  Harl.  MSS.,  7003,  fol.  146. 


1613.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  69 

Freakeor "  Here  the  paper  is  torn.  Thus 

at  last  Arabella's  spirit  was  quite  broken,  and 
she  even,  for  the  first  time,  seems  to  regret  her 
rash  marriage. 

The  ever- faithful  Crompton  was  now  (1613) 
at  liberty,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  free  he  began 
to  plan  the  rescue  of  his  mistress.  Little  is 
known  of  the  plot  beyond  a  mention  of  it  in 
one  or  two  contemporary  letters,  and  the  history 
of  the  attempt  must  be  left  among  the  many 
obscure  passages  in  Arabella's  life. 

As  early  as  November  20,  1613,  the  authori- 
ties had  received  warning  of  the  conspiracy,  for 
on  that  day  Northampton  *  writes  -f  to  Somerset, 
that  the  place  intended  for  the  escape  was  to 
be  under  Mr.  Ruthven's  study,  but  that  the 
whole  affair  had  been  organized  with  so  much 
mystery  and  art  that  nothing  more  was  discover- 
able. He  begs  Somerset  to  take  no  one  but  the 
king  into  his  confidence  till  the  plot  had  been 
sounded  to  the  bottom.  The  return  of  the 
"  prisoner "  had  been  commanded,  and  Lord 

*  The  Lord  Privy  Seal. 

t  State  Papers,  James  L,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixxv.  p.  27,  MS. 


70  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1614. 

Shrewsbury,  though  about  to  petition  for  longer 
leave,  had,  "  upon  better  advertisement,"  resolved 
to  send  her  back  the  next  day.  A  petition  was 
afterwards  to  be  made  for  more  liberty  for  her. 
On  November  23  *  the  Lieutenant  was  sent  to 
fetch  her  back.  The  "  prisoner  "  was  doubtless 
the  countess,  whose  complicity  in  the  plot  was 
probably  suspected. 

It  was  not  till  the  following  year  that  we 
hear  anything  more  of  the  matter,  and  then 
only  the  mere  fact,  written  on  July  7  from 
Chamberlayne  f  to  Carleton,  that  a  certain  "  Dr. 
Palmer,  a  divine,  and  Crompton,  a  gentleman 
usher,  were  committed  to  the  Tower  last  week 
for  some  business  about  the  Lady  Arbella,  who, 
they  say,  is  far  out  of  frame  this  midsummer 
moon."  Again,  in  another  contemporary  letter,^ 
written  in  August  of  the  same  year,  Reeves, 
Seymour's  old  servant,  is  mentioned  as  having 
been  concerned  with  the  other  two  in  "some 
new  complot  for  her  escape  and  delivery." 

*  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixxv.  p.  23,  MS.    North- 
ampton to  Sir  Thomas  Lake, 
t  Ihid.,  vol.  Ixxvii.  p.  58. 
J  Miss  Cooper's  "  Life  of  Arabella  Stuart,"  vol.  ii.  p.  241. 


1614.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  71 

Thus  once  more,  and  for  the  last  time,  we  see 
the  working  of  the  powerful  charm  which  Ara- 
bella had  always  exercised  over  so  many  of 
those  who  were  brought  into  personal  contact 
with  her,  even  now,  when  age,  misfortune, 
and  her  so-called  madness  must  have  quite 
destroyed  her  good  looks.  Long  ago  it  was 
suspected  that  a  chaplain  committed  suicide  on 
her  account  (see  vol.  i.  p.  102)  ;  now  her  two 
former  dependents,  who  had  been  with  her  in 
the  worst  of  her  troubles,  and  an  unknown  divine, 
risked  their  lives  to  do  her  service. 

About  this  time,  and  probably  from  the  effects 
of  the  disappointment,  Arabella  took  to  her  bed, 
never  to  leave  it  again,  refusing  all  remedies,  and 
not  allowing  the  doctors  even  to  feel  her  pulse, 
till  she  became  bedridden  and  ill  only  from  her 
neglect  of  her  health.  There  seems,  indeed,  to 
have  been  more  method  in  her  madness  than 
later  writers  have  imagined.  Now  she  had  played 
her  last  card,  she  determined  to  die,  and  without 
actually  committing  suicide  she  accomplished 
her  desire.  Vainly  had  "some  person  of  gravity 
and  learning  "  been  sent  (September,  1614)  by 


72  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.  [1615. 

the  Privy  Council — hearing  that  "  the  Lady 
Arbella,  prisoner  in  the  Tower,  is  of  late  fallen 
into  some  indisposition  of  body  and  mind  " — 
to  give  her  "  that  comfort  as  is  expedient  for  a 
Christian  in  cases  of  weakness  and  infirmity." 
Vainly  must  the  poor  man  have  tried  to  carry 
out  the  directions  of  the  Council,  that  he  was 
"  to  give  her  such  spiritual  comfort  and  advice 
as "  the  Governor  of  the  Tower  should  think 
expedient,  and  to  visit  her  from  time  to  time. 
It  was  too  late  to  offer  comfort ;  Arabella  pre- 
ferred to  die,  and,  after  a  year  of  -great  bodily 
suffering,  chiefly  caused  by  her  own  obstinate 
refusal  to  get  well,  that  "  ill-fated  and  perse- 
cuted lady"  passed  away,  September  25,  1615, 
at  the  age  of  forty  years. 

It  is  interesting  to  see,  by  a  letter  from 
Arabella's  aunt  Mary,  that>  in  spite  of  their 
separation,  and  a  captivity  due  partly  to  her 
own  ambition,  partly  to  over-zeal  on  her  niece's 
behalf,  for  which  she  might  have  borne  malice 
against  her  fellow-prisoner,  the  countess  still 
cherished  her  early  affection  for  her  poor 
relative. 


1615.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  73 

On  December  8,  1615,  she  writes  to  the 
Countess  of  Cumberland,  thanking  her  for  her 
sympathy  with  her  hard  fortune  in  the  heavy 
loss  of  the  Lady  Arabella.  She  hopes  she 
"  died  a  saint " — an  expression  which  would  not 
bear  out  the  usual  idea  of  Arabella's  death-bed 
as  that  of  a  raving  lunatic.  Her  danger  was 
not  known  to  her  aunt  till  she  was,  in  the 
opinion  of  all  about  her,  to  have  died  that  night, 
but  this  was  two  days  before  her  death,  and 
the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury  says  she  was  made 
to  believe  the  next  morning  that  her  niece  was 
much  better,  when  in  reality  she  must  have  been 
sinking  fast.  With  much  feeling  Mary  Talbot 
adds  that  her  heart  is  so  full  of  her  loss  that 
she  can  think  of  nothing  else.* 

Thomas  Overbury  had  lately  been  murdered, 
and  a  cry  of  "  Poison  !  "  was  raised  when  the 
news  of  Arabella's  death  reached  the  court,  by 
the  very  friends  who  had  allowed  her  to  languish 
four  years  in  her  gloomy  prison. 

The  day  after  her  death,  Sir  Ralph  Winwood, 

*  Report  of  Hist.  MSS.  Commission  II.  Append,  vii.  p. 
83.  From  the  MSS.  of  Lord  Hothfield. 


74  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1615. 

Secretary  of  State,  directed  *  the  President  of 
the  College  of  Physicians,  and  five  members  of 
the  college,  to  go  and  see  Arabella's  corpse  ; 
"  according  to  former  custom  upon  like  occasions, 
when  prisoners  of  great  quality  die  in  that  place, 
her  body  should  be  viewed  by  persons  of  skill 
and  trust,  and  thereupon  certificate  be  made  of 
what  disease  she  died,  as  their  judgment  might 
appear." 

The  president  was  then  required  to  appoint 
three  physicians  to  meet  Arabella's  private 
doctor,  Dr.  Moundford,  at  8  a.m.  on  September 
28,f  and  hold  a  post-mortem.  This  was  done, 
and  the  doctors  reported  that  the  cause  of  her 
death  was  a  chronic  and  long  sickness,  increased 
by  her  own  negligence  and  refusal  of  remedies, 
accelerated  by  lying  in  bed,  and  an  "extreme 
leanness." 

The  body  was  embalmed.^  and  carried  at  dead 


*  Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  8th  Report,  and  Appendix 
Part  I.  p.  2283. 

t  Evidently  a  mistake  for  September  27. 

J  By  a  certain  Dr.  Primrose,  one  of  the  king's  surgeons, 
who  received  £6  135.  $d.  for  the  charges  of  the  same  (Part  II. 
J,  No.  3,  p.  274). 


1615.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  75 

of  night  to  Westminster  Abbey,  where,  without 
any  ceremony  save  the  hurried  reading  of  the 
Burial  Service,  it  was  laid  (September  27,  1615) 
to  rest  near  the  tomb  of  Arabella's  Scotch 
grandmother,  and  in  the  vault  of  Mary  Queen 
of  Scots  (south  aisle,  Chapel  of  Henry  VII.). 
The  Abbey  registers  tell  us  that  the  coffin  was 
placed  near  that  of  her  faithless  friend  and 
cousin,  Henry,  Prince  of  Wales,  who  had  died 
in  1612,  also  amidst  suspicions,  which  seem  to 
have  been  equally  unfounded,  that  his  death  had 
been  hastened  by  poison,  by  his  father's  secret 
orders.  Strangely  enough,  two  of  William 
Seymour's  daughters  by  his  second  wife  also 
lie  in  the  Abbey. 

In  1711  Crull,  the  author  of  a  guide*  to  the 
Abbey,  says  he  saw  Arabella's  coffin,  "  much 
shattered  and  broken,  so  that  her  skull  and  body 
may  be  seen,"  lying  under  the  leaden  coffin  that 
contains  Mary  Stuart's  remains.  This  is  a  mis- 
take, the  coffin  being  really,  where  it  would 
naturally  have  been  placed,  upon  Mary's. 

It  is  evident  that  the  funeral  was  purposely 
*  Edit.  1722,  vol.  i.  p.  128. 


76  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART.      [1615-16. 

conducted  with  secrecy,  lest  any  inconvenient 
comments  might  be  made  on  James's  harsh 
treatment  of  his  cousin.  Charles  the  Fair,  quoted 
by  Camden,  puts  the  affair  in  a  nutshell": 
"  Those  who  die  in  the  king's  prison,"  he  says, 
"  are  not  buried  with  pomp,  lest  it  should  be  said 
that  they  had  been  unjustly  thrown  into  prison." 
Bishop  Goodman,  in  his  "  History  of  his  Own 
Times,"*  treats  Arabella's  case  in  a  very  courtier- 
like  way,  defending  the  king  much  as  Bacon 
had  done,  and  entirely  ignoring  that  the  worst 
part  of  his  conduct  was  the  despair  and  misery 
which  he  inflicted  on  the  poor  lady  by  her 
forcible  separation  from  her  husband,  and  by 
his  want  of  honour  in  breaking  his  plighted 
word.  "  What  punishment  did  he  [the  king] 
inflict  ? "  exclaims  the  bishop,  in  righteous 
indignation.  "  Surely  a  little  imprisonment,  no 
strict  restraint,  but  with  great  freedom  and 
liberty  [he  refers  to  the  first  imprisonment]; 
and  hereunto  you  may  add  the  king's  great 
favour  unto  her  before  her  marriage :  a  large 
allowance ;  she  lived  in  the  greatest  respect 

*  Vol.  i.  p.  209. 


1616.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  77 

and  esteem  at  court ;  the  king  preferred  her 
followers ;  her  chaplain,  Dr.  Gates,  was  made 
Canon  of  Windsor  upon  her  recommendations, 
with  many  other  such  like  favours.  Being  in 
this  libera  custodis,  which  the  king  thought  was 
fit  for  his  honour,  lest  he  should  be  slighted  by 
others,  she  brake  prison,  and  certainly  it  was 
her  own  voluntary  act,  without  any  trick  of 
state ;  she  fled  towards  France,  and  it  was  a 
thousand  to  one  but  she  had  escaped,  for  it  was 
only  the  turning  of  the  wind  which  hindered  it. 
Here,  then,  was  a  great  offence  against  the  law, 
and,  be  the  crime  what  it  will,  yet  the  breaking 
of  prison  is  punishable.  If  the  king  should 
hereupon  intend  to  send  her  a  prisoner  to 
Scotland  [Durham],  yet  this  was  only  an  intent, 
nothing  was  acted ;  or  if  it  had  been  put  in 
execution,  all  the  world  knows  the  king  was 
mutable,  and  soon  pacified.  But  she  dying 
before,  the  King  would  have  her  buried  among 
her  royal  ancestors.  It  is  true  that  to  have  a 
great  funeral  for  one  dying  out  of  the  king's 
favour  would  have  reflected  upon  the  king's 
honour,  and  therefore  it  was  omitted." 


78  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART.  [1616. 

With  all  his  anxiety  to  whitewash  his  royal 
patron,  the  bishop  does  not  make  out  a  very 
good  case,  and  he  also  confuses  the  details  of 
Arabella's  captivity.  All  he  can  do  is  to  dwell 
on  the  supposition  that  James's  intentions  were 
more  merciful  than  his  deeds;  but  unfortunately, 
each  man  is  judged  according  to  his  acts,  and 
whatever  excuses*  may  be  made  for  the  king 
after  the  unfortunate  pair's  attempt  to  escape, 
he  had  none  before. 

His  fears,  however,  were  not  quite  set  at  rest 
by  his  cousin's  death.  A  rumour  was  now 
afloat  that  Arabella  had  borne  a  child  to 
Seymour  during  her  imprisonment  at  Barnet ; 
but  her  faithful  servant,  Mrs.  Bradshaw,  who 
had  been  with  her  mistress  before  and  ever 
since  her  marriage,  and  nursed  her  to  the  last, 
proved  conclusively  that  the  rumour  had  no 
foundation  (January,  1516). 

James  was  not  yet  quite  satisfied ;  for  Lady 
Shrewsbury  was  examined  on  the  same  subject, 

*  Mr.  Spedding  discusses  the  question  in  his  life  of  Bacon, 
and  decides  it  in  James's  favour.  He  considers  the  possibility 
of  there  being  children  born  to  Seymour  and  Arabella  as  a  real 
danger  to  the  throne. 


1616.]  DESPAIR   AND  DEATH.  79 

and  as  late  as  June  26,  1618,*  she  was  called 
up  before  the  Star  Chamber  for  "contempt  of 
court,"  in  not  answering  at  her  former  exami- 
nations the  inquiries  about  Lady  Arabella's 
"  pretended  child."  She  pleaded  a  vow  as  her 
excuse  for  not  replying,  but  declared  her  dis- 
belief of  the  child  ;  and  that  is  all  we  ever  hear 
of  the  subject.  No  doubt  it  was  a  trumped-up 
story. 

Meantime,  in  1616,  Lady  Shrewsbury  had 
been  released  from  the  Tower,  and  Sir  R. 
Winwood  boasts  that  he  was  the  chief  means 
of  her  delivery  at  the  last.  Mr.  Craik  (see 
"  Romance  of  the  Peerage,"  vol.  ii.  p.  385)  quotes 
a  curious  statement,  made  by  Robert  Johnstone, 
the  author  of  a  Latin  history  of  English  affairs 
between  the  years  1573  and  1628  (published  in 
1655),  in  which f  "he  says  that  it  was  Lady 
Shrewsbury  who,  in  revenge  for  the  keen  part 
that  the  Earls  of  Suffolk  and  Northampton 
(both  Howards)  had  taken  against  her  in  the 
business  of  her  niece  at  the  Council  Boards  (in 

*  State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  xciv.  p.  126,  MS. 
t  Pages  470  and  506. 


80  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  [1616. 

Scuatti),  first  set  on  foot  the  inquiry  into  the 
murder  of  Overbury  by  the  Countess  of  Somer- 
set (also  a  Howard),  which  in  the  result  shook 
to  its  foundation  and  almost  threw  to  the 
ground  the  house  of  Howard." 

One  more  of  the  actors  in  the  drama  of 
Arabella's  history'  was  destined  to  follow  her 
out  of  life  while  her  memory  was  still  green. 
Her  uncle  Gilbert  had  been  gradually  suc- 
cumbing to  the  agitations  he  had  gone  through 
during  the  imprisonment  of  his  wife  and  niece, 
and  Mary  Talbot  was  only  released  from  the 
Tower  in  time  to  be  present  at  his  deathbed 
(he  died  May  16,  1616). 

We  have  now  pieced  together  all  the  facts 
we  can  gather  up  concerning  that  persecuted 
lady,  Arabella  Stuart,  who,  destined  by  her 
birth  to  play  a  leading  part  in  the  history  of 
England,  and  singled  out  more  than  once  as 
worthy  to  be  a  queen,  either  of  her  own  or  of 
a  foreign  country,  was  yet  doomed  to  die  an 
obscure  and  lingering  death,  in  striking  contrast 
to  the  brilliant  promise  of  her  early  years. 

But  since,  though  we  have  been  able  to  throw 


I6i6.]  DESPAIR  AND  DEATH.  8 1 

fresh  light  upon  some  passages  in  her  history, 
much  is  yet  wrapped  in  mystery,  to  'be  un- 
ravelled, perhaps,  some  future  day  by  letters 
now  hidden  away  in  private  collections,  we 
have  here  confined  ourselves  strictly  to  the 
authentic  facts  furnished  by  State  Papers, 
original  manuscripts,  and  the  researches  of 
others  in  the  same  field.  Now,  without  any 
additional  conjecture  or  comment,  let  us  leave  a 
pure  life  and  tragic  fate,  to  stand  for  ever  at 
the  judgment-bar  of  history,  as  a  silent  witness 
against  James  Stuart  and  his  servile  ministers. 


VOL.  ii.  24 


PART  II. 

LETTERS  AND  DOCUMENTS  RELATING 
TO  LADY  ARABELLA  STUART. 


J, 

b  . 

.2  5" 

YMOUR. 

m.  Charles  Brandoi 
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William  Franc 
Seymour,  Seymoi 
1588,  d.  1660, 
Arabella  Stuart  ; 
afterwards 
rl  of  Hertford 
uke  of  Somerset. 

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86  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

A. 

PORTRAITS. 

1.  In  1866  Exhibition,  No.  42,  at  South  Kensing- 
ton.    In  1888-9  Stuart  Exhibition,  London,  No.  65. 
"  Small  half-length  figure  of  a  child  dressed  in  white, 
and  holding  a   doll  attired  in  full  costume  of  the 
period,  including  stiff  red  coat  and  full-quilted  petti- 
coat." *    The  hair  is  fair,  the  eyes  large  and  blue,  gold 
chain  and  locket  round  the  neck.     Engraved  in  Miss 
Costello's  "  Eminent  Englishwomen."     Owner,   Mar- 
quess of  Hartington. 

2.  In   1857   Manchester  Exhibition,  No.  37.      In 
1888-9   Stuart    Exhibition,    No.   47.      Whole-length, 
life-size.    She  is  standing  near  a  table,  on  which  the 
right  hand  rests ;  a  fan  hangs  from  the  waist.     Dress 
of  white  brocade,  puffed  sleeves,  studded  with  dark 
jewels,  and  having   embroidered  sleeves  of  a  dark 
colour;    her    light-brown    hair,    frizzed    in    front,    is 
allowed   to  fall,  maiden   fashion,  on   her   shoulders. 
Pearl  necklace   and   other  ornaments.    A  little  dog 
is  at   her   feet.      On   a   cartel   is  written,    "Arbella 
Stuarta  Comtissa  Leoiniae.     ^Etatis  13  et  \.     Anno 
Dm  1589."     Pointed  out  to  Granger  by  H.  Walpole, 
Owner,  Marquess  of  Hartington. 

3.  In    Manchester    Exhibition,    1887,   and   Stuart 
Exhibition,     1888-9,    No.    58.       Similar    to    above. 
Below  the  cartel  is  written,  "  Granddaughter  of  Sir 

*  The  Catalogue  of  the  Stuart  Exhibition  has  been  used  for 
the  description  of  this  and  Nos.  2  and  3. 


LIST  OF  PORTRAITS.  8/ 

William  and  Elizabeth  Hardwicke,  by  Elizabeth  their 
second  daughter,  and  her  husband  Charles  Stuart,  Earl 
of  Lenox."  In  the  original  carved  frame  above  it 
is  the  Cavendish  crest,  below  the  badge  of  the  Garter. 
By  F.  Zucchero.  Engraved  in  Lodge's  "  Illustrations," 
etc.  Owner,  Duke  of  Portland. 

4.  In   Exhibition  of  1866.      Whole-length  figure. 
Owner,  Duke  of  Northumberland. 

5.  Large  half-length,  taken  much  later  than  any  of 
above.    Face  plain,  hair  dragged  stiffly  back.    A  thick 
rope  of  pearls,  similar  to  one  worn  as  a  necklace  in 
the  prints  of  Arabella  (see  later)  and  in  some  of 
the  portraits  of  her  grandmother  and  aunt,  the  Coun- 
tesses of  Shrewsbury,  so  no  doubt  a  family  ornament, 
hangs   across   one   shoulder   to  the  waist.     By  Van 
Somers.     Owner,  Marquess  of  Bath. 

MINIATURES  BY  THE  OLIVERS. 

(The  numbers  with  "  S.  K."  refer  to  the  Catalogue 
of  the  Exhibitions  of  1865-6  at  South  Kensington.) 

1.  S.  K.,  No.  486.    Grey-blue  eyes  and  brown  hair. 
A  black  dress  studded  with  jewels,  a  fan,  cambric 
ruff  edged  with  deep  lace.    A  jet  necklace.     Owner, 
the  Hon.  William  Ashley. 

2.  S.  K.,  No.  1580.    Grey-blue  eyes,  with  drooping 
lids,  like  those  in  the  Countess  of  Lenox's  miniature 
(see  next  page) ;   fair  reddish  hair,  dressed  high  in 
short  curls.     Black  dress,  covered  with  emeralds  and 
sapphires,  yellow  brocaded  pattern.    Pearl  necklace, 
with  a  long  jewel  of  emeralds   and   sapphires,   ter- 
minating in  a  pear-shaped  pearl,  attached  to  it  j  ear- 


88  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

rings  of  a  dark  stone.  In  Stuart  Exhibition  for 
1 888-9.  By  I.  Oliver.  Owner,  the  Earl  of  Wharncliffe. 
3  and  4.  S.  K.,  No.  2169.  Two  exactly  alike 
(another  similar  to  these  was  exhibited  by  the  Duke 
of  Hamilton,  at  the  Archaeological  Institute  in  1860) ; 
one  of  these,  which  was  engraved  in  Miss  Cooper's 
"  Life  of  Arabella  Stuart,"  was  bought  from  Straw- 
berry Hill.  Both  in  Exhibition  of  1889,  Burlington 
fine  Arts  Club.  Grey-blue  eyes ;  long  fair  curling  hair. 
The  dress  open,  as  in  most  of  these  miniatures,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  for  young  unmarried  ladies ; 
small  ruff,  no  necklace,  black  silk  watch-guard  round 
the  neck ;  hands  shown  only  in  one  of  the  miniatures. 
Bracelets  of  pearl  and  emerald,  a  pearl  earring  in  one 
ear,  a  black  anchor  in  the  other.  By  I.  Oliver. 
Owner,  G.  Wingfield  Digby. 

5.  Another,  with  open  neck  and  brocaded  dress, 
an    ermine-lined    mantle    over    one    shoulder;    the 
costume,   even   to   the   different  earrings,  similar  to 
that  in  Nos.  3  and  4.      The  face  is  full,  with  fresh 
colour ;  the  eyes  dark  grey ;  the  hair  fair,  long,  and 
curling.    Exhibited  at  the  Burlington  Fine  Arts  Club, 
1889.     Owner,  the  Baroness  Burdett-Coutts. 

6.  Very  similar  to  Nos.  3  and  4.    Blue  eyes  ;  rippled 
fair  hair  turned  back,  and  flowing  over  her  shoulders. 
White  satin  brocaded  dress,  a  lace  tucker  in  front, 
and  small  fan  ruff  at  the  back.     A  black  silk  watch- 
guard  the  only  necklace,  as  in  above ;  the  earrings 
black  anchors,  studded  with  gold.     The  owner,  in 
1866,  was  Lord  Aveland. 

7.  Long  light-brown  hair,  grey-blue   eyes,  mouth 


LIST  OF  PORTRAITS.  89 

pursed  up,  resembling  that  of  the  Countess  of  Lenox 
in  the  Duke  of  Portland's  miniature  (No.  222,  Stuart 
Exhibition).  Pearl  necklace  and  ornaments.  In  Stuart 
Exhibition,  1888-9,  No.  717.  I.  Oliver.  Owner, 
Stewart  Dawson,  Esq. 

8.  Grey-blue    eyes,   long    frizzed    mouse-coloured 
hair.     Oval  shape,  with  blue  background.     In  Stuart 
Exhibition,  case  900,  No.   12.      I.  Oliver.     Owner, 
Earl  of  Buccleugh. 

9.  Similar  to  No.  2,  probably  also  by  I.   Oliver. 
The  dress  only  is  different — white  instead  of  black, 
and  the  ornaments  diamonds  and  rubies  instead  of 
pearls.     Owner  in  1866,  Dudley  Coutts  Marjoribanks, 
Esq. 

10.  Different  to  any  others  by  the  Olivers.     Fair 
hair,  done  up  high  and  ornamented  with  jewels,  age 
about  17  or   18,  face  round  and  smiling,  grey-blue 
eyes ;  she  wears  a  large  ruff.     Burlington  Fine  Arts 
Exhibition,  1889.     I.  Oliver.     Owner,  Major-General 
Sotheby. 

11.  Eyes  dark-blue  or  grey;  long  mouse-coloured 
frizzed  hair.     This  was  taken  to  France  by  James  II. , 
and  placed  in  the  cabinet  of  Louis  XV.,  but  sent 
back  to  England  under  the  Directory.     Exhibited  in 
Stuart  Exhibition,  No.  230.     P.  Oliver.     Owner,  the 
Dowager  Lady  Orde. 

12.  Similar  to   above,   but  brown   eyes.      Stuart 
Exhibition,  No.  284.     Owner,  Henry  H.  Gibbs,  Esq. 

13.  Very  dark-brown  eyes,  long  light-brown  curling 
hair,  round  face,  no  colour.      Dress  resembles  that 
in  Nos.  3,  4,  and  5.     Burlington  Fine  Arts  Club, 


90  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

1889.     P.  Oliver.     Shaftesbury  and  Addington  Col- 
lections. 

14.  Another  by  P.  Oliver  was  exhibited  at  South 
Kensington,  No.  2564,  then  in  the  possession  of  Lady 
Sophia  Desbceux. 

MINIATURES  BY  N.  HILLIARD. 

Brown  eyes,  light-brown  hair,  drawn  up  high  in  a 
tower,  and  finished  off  with  stiff  little  curls,  crowned 
with  a  small  coronet,  very  much  like  the  portraits  of 
Queen  Elizabeth.  She  wears  a  white  dress  made  in 
plaits  and  trimmed  with  gold  chains,  also  a  large  ruff. 
This  is  probably  the  one  painted  to  send  to  the  Duke 
of  Parma.  Exhibited  at  South  Kensington,  No.  651. 
From  Strawberry  Hill,  whence  it  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  late  Hollingworth  Magniac,  Esq. 

Another,  very  faded.  Brown  eyes,  long  curling  light- 
brown  hair.  The  Burlington  Fine  Arts  Club,  1889. 
Owner,  the  Earl  of  Carlisle. 

Another,  No.  1009  in  South  Kensington  Exhibi- 
tion, then  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Maskell. 

MINIATURES  BY  J.  HOSKINS. 

Brown  eyes,  long  rippling  fair  hair.  Dress  yellow- 
and-white  plaid,  stripes  set  with  jewels  and  a  lace 
tucker  falling  in  front.  S.  K.,  1481.  Owner,  Lord 
FitzHardinge. 

S.  K.,  2063.     Owner,  Earl  of  Shaftesbury. 


LIST  OF  PORTRAITS.  91 

ANONYMOUS. 

S.  K.,  1759.  Long  fair  hair ;  black-and-gold  dress, 
pearl  necklace  and  ornaments.  Owner,  R.  G.  Clarke, 
Esq. 

S.  K.,  1700.     Owner,  Duke  of  Marlborough. 

Stuart  Exhibition,  No.  283.  Fair  hair  done  up  and 
hidden  by  the  hat,  and  dark-brown  or  grey  eyes. 
Large  black  hat;  a  dog  at  her  feet.  Aged  about 
seventeen  or  eighteen.  Owner,  Mrs.  Hogge.  (See 
Frontispiece,  vol.  i.) 

The  above  list  does  not  pretend  to  be  a  complete 
one,  as  so  numerous  are  the  miniatures  of  Arabella, 
and  so  scattered  in  private  collections,  it  is  impossible 
to  say  exactly  how  many  exist.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  none  of  these  miniatures  represent  her  after  she 
was  out  of  her  teens,  far  the  greater  number  having 
been  painted  between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  sixteen, 
when  she  was  in  favour  with  Elizabeth,  and  constant 
marriage  projects  were  being  made  on  her  behalf. 

In  the  copy  of  Pennant's  "  London  "  (Part  ix.  Nos. 
182  and  183),  in  the  Print-Room  at  the  British 
Museum,  are  two  prints  of  Arabella.  One  has  the 
date  1619,  and  an  inscription  to  "the  most  noble  and 
learned  lady."  Beneath  the  other,  which  is  evidently 
a  later  copy,  a  facsimile  of  her  autograph  from  a  Mr. 
John  Thane's  collection  has  been  placed.  "Sweet 
brother  [Francis  Seymour,  in  all  probability],  every 
one  forsakes  me  but  those  that  cannot  helpe  me,  your 
most  unfortunate  sister,  Arbella  Seymaure."  (This 


92  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

is  given  by  Mr.  Inderwick,  in  "Side-Lights  on  the 
Stuarts.")  In  both  these  prints  Arabella  wears  the 
ropes  of  pearls  which  are  seen  in  Van  Somer's 
picture,  but  were  it  not  for  this  family  ornament  it 
would  be  reasonable  to  doubt  the  genuineness  of 
the  inscriptions,  as  the  features  are  almost  precisely 
similar  to  those  in  the  picture  of  Anne  of  Denmark 
in  the  Stuart  Exhibition,  and  also  the  date,  1619,  was, 
of  course,  four  years  after  Arabella's  death.  This 
vexed  question  must,  however,  be  left  to  experts ;  it 
is  enough  here  to  point  out  the  great  difference 
between  these  prints  and  the  authentic  portraits  of 
Arabella. 


B. 

THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3. 

No.  i. 
Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  175. 

(Indorsed,  "  The  Confession  *  of  the  Preacher 
Starkey,  that  hanged  himself.") 

Before  Feb.  2,  1603. 

From  whom  those  false  rumours,  which  were  spread 
the  last  year,  of  the  right  honourable  lady,  the  Lady 
Arbella,  did  proceed,  I  could  not  imagine  \andcan\  pro- 

*  This  document  and  those  that  follow  have  never  before 
been  published  in  extenso.  Words  are  often  interpolated  to 
make  the  sense  clearer,  but  always  between  brackets,  and 
in  italics.  The  spelling  has  been  modernized  throughout  the 
letters. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  93 

test  but  ill  now.  Which  arose  (as  I  suppose)  by  reason 
of  a  book  with  an  unfit  print  upon  the  cover,  which 
unadvisedly  was  given  Lady  Arbella  by  me,  for  which 
gross  error  committed  by  me,  though  unwittingly,  to 
the  impairing  of  her  ladyship's  fame  and  good  name, 
I  am  so  inwardly  vexed  that  if  I  had  a  thousand  lives 
I  would  willingly  spend  them  all  to  redeem  the  least 
part  of  her  reputation.  Such  is  her  virtuous  disposi- 
tion, and  so  excellent  are  those  ornaments  with  which 
her  honour's  mind  is  adorned,  as  that  they  may  be 
the  rather  admired  than  imitated.  Most  unfortunate, 
then,  was  I  in  committing  such  a  fault,  although  I 
protest  upon  my  salvation  I  never  intended  any  such 
matter  as  from  this  might  unjustly  be  gathered ;  the 
meanest  reason  I  do  think  could  only  imagine  that. 

This  is  the  cause  that  her  honour  in  just  reading  hath 
been  made  an  instrument,  and  [my  enemies]  gone  about 
underhand  to  make  the  world  believe  that  I  was  very 
desirous  and  forward  to  gain  her  removal  from  her  lady 
grandmother ;  whereas  the  truth  is  that  she,  seeming 
to  be,  but  not  being  indeed  discontent,  told  me 
about  Easter  last  that  she  thought  of  all  the  means 
she  could  to  get  from  home,  by  reason  she  was  hardly 
used  (as  she  said)  in  despiteful  and  disgraceful 
words,  being  bold,  and  her  most  plagued  withal, 
which  she  could  not  endure;  and  this  seemed  not 
feigned,  for  oftentimes,  being  at  her  book,  she  would 
break  forth  into  tears.  Whereupon  I  promised  that, 
if  it  would  please  her  to  use  my  service,  I  would  deliver 
her  letters  or  messages  while  I  stayed  in  town,  and 
told  her  that  I  was  resolved  not  to  stay  in  the  coun- 


94  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

try  any  longer,  and  acquainted  her  ladyship  with  the 
cause,  for  that  I  was  weary  of  the  servitude  and  hom- 
age wherein  I  have  lived  more  than  ten  years,  having 
taught  one  of  Mr.  William  Cavendish's  sons  six  or 
seven  years  without  any  consideration  for  my  gains, 
and  being  then  enjoined  to  teach  another  his  A  B  C  ; 
and,  besides,  my  living,  which  was  given  me,  being 
indirectly  detained  from  me  by  Mr.  Cavendish,  who 
had  kept  the  same  in  his  hands  seven  or  eight  years, 
whereas  his  faithful  promise  to  me  was  that  I  should 
be  restored  to  it  in  very  short  time.  Whereas  also 
the  world  may  intend  [understand]  some  great  matter 
of  the  geogra  couleur  de  roi,  and  of  the  silver 
escutcheon  sent  for  a  New  Year's  gift,  the  former  was 
expressed  by  her  own  mouth,  not  set  down  in  her 
note,  but  under  the  name  of  some  slight  colour,  and 
the  silver  escutcheon  was  also  expressly  named  in  her 
letter.  There  was  nothing  \J)romised\  me  besides,  nor 
anything  else  sent  down  by  me  (a  few  books  only 
excepted),  but  I  had  a  note  under  her  hand  for  the 
same,  which  my  lady  said  were  either  for  herself  or 
to  give  away,  all  which  may  show  my  innocency. 

\In  the  margin  is  written — 

My  lady's  promise  emboldened  me  to  gain  her  further- 
ance for  my  preferment,  who  also  told  me  that  if  she 
were  appointed  to  another  place,  she  would  entertain 
me  as  her  chaplain ;  what  may  be  inferred  I  know  not, 
but  God  knoweth  my  simplicity  \innocency\.~\ 

Some  also  have  been  suspicious  for  the  letters  of 
my  name,  because  I  appointing  the  stationer  long  time 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  95 

to  set  upon  a  Bible  those  three  letters  J.  A.  S.  that 
two  first  letters  *  \illegibk\  from  John,  so  mistook  the 
those  for  the  three  letters  apart ;  whereas  (God  is  my 
witness)  I  intended  nothing  but  my  name.  The  pre- 
tended journey  of  Mr.  Holford  to  Newark  was  to 
make  men  think  that  some  of  her  ladyship's  friends 
should  aid  her  in  making  an  escape ;  whereas  I  am 
persuaded  there  was  no  such  matter,  and  if  there  had 
\been\,  her  ladyship  knoweth  well  that  I  supported  her 
rather  to  endure  her  grief  and  discontent  patiently, 
than  by  an  inconvenient  course  to  prejudice  \injure\ 
herself. 

For  my  own  part,  I  was  busied  about  the  recovery 
of  my  parsonage,  as  some  civilians  can  testify  who 
informed  me  that  a  pardon  was  obtainable,  having 
incurred  the  danger  of  the  law,f  which  [the  pardori\  also 
I  laboured  for,  only  to  keep  my  living.  My  friends  and 
kinsfolk  I  protest  are  blameless  and  without  fault, 
being  unacquainted  with  this  matter.  Henry  Travier 
now  of  late  told  me  that  there  was  a  book  of  tithes 
published  by  authority,  that  so  by  making  inquiry  for 
that  I  might  be  entrapped  and  brought  into  farther 
danger.  The  speed  with  which  all  these  matters  do 
arise  is  evident,  and  though  I  am  able  truly  to  clear  my- 
self, being  altogether  innocent  of  any  [design]  intended 
by  me,  yet  by  reason  of  some  probable  coincidence, 

*  These  were  the  initials  of  Starkey's  two  first  names,  but  the 
two  last,  being  also  Arabella's,  were  separated  by  the  gossips, 
and  interpreted  as  John  Arabella  Starkey  or  Stuart. 

f  It  does  not  appear  how  Starkey  had  "incurred  the  danger 
of  the  law." 


96  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

which  by  my  enemies  will  be  aggravated  against  me, 
I  may  easily  be  overthrown  and  suffer  the  greatest 
infamy,  reproach,  and  shame  that  may  be  wherein 
such  an  \indignity\  will  be  greater  than  many  deaths. 

He  continues  in  the  same  strain,  asks  pardon  of 
God,  and  of — 

That  honourable  lady  for  so  great  an  indignity  un- 
wittingly offered  to  her,  and  likewise  of  all  her  friends ; 
of  my  dear  mother,  whose  grief  for  this  affair  I  fear 
will  be  her  end,  and  generally  of  all  the  world  for 
this  enormity  which  I  shall  commit. 

Bowing,  therefore,  the  knee  of  my  body  with  all 
sorrow  and  compunction,  I  do  pour  forth  my  soul  unto 
Thee,  O  Lord,  beseeching  Thee  to  supply  my  soul  with 
the  oil  of  Thy  grace,  that  I  may  be  truly  penitent  for 
such  faults  as  I  have  committed  or  duties  that  I  have 
omitted. 

He  ends  with  a  prayer  to  God  to  have  mercy 
upon  him,  and  to  receive  his  "weary  soul  unto  the 
ark  of  Thy  holy  tabernacles,  that  so  I  may  receive 
the  joys  which  are  there  unspeakable."  He  writes  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Confession,  "  This  I  thought  good 
to  testify  to  the  world  to  the  disregard  of  mine  own 
innocency." 

Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  No.  178. 

Some  further  notes  in  Starkey's  handwriting,  but 
unsigned  and  undated — 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  97 

At  my  coming  away  the  Lady  Arbella  told  me 
she  thought  her  grandmother  would  stay  my  book, 
and  therefore  advised  me,  if  I  had  anything  of  worth, 
to  lock  it  up,  and  she  would  be  as  careful  of  it  as  if 
it  had  been  her  own.  .  .  .  Besides,  the  Lady  Arbella 
will  not  deny  but  that  she  said  her  lady  grandmother 
and  her  uncle  were  glad  when  they  could  confess  her ; 
that  her  grandmother  threatened  to  take  away  her 
money  and  her  jewels,  but  she  had  prevented  her  by 
sending  them  away  into  Yorkshire,  and  .  .  .  sent  the 
key  of  her  coffer  by  me  to  search  for  a  pearl  of  £20 
which  she  doubted  she  had  lost,  but  this  was  only  a 
device ;  and  lastly  she  told  me  she  had  good  friends, 
and  more  than  all  the  world  know  of,  but  I  forbear 
to  set  down  greater  matters  which  she  in  her  con- 
science doth  know  are  true,  being  sorry  that  such 
a  one  should  be  made  an  instrument  of  the  bad 
practices  of  others,  whose  device  was  to  turn  me  out 
of  my  living  and  to  deprive  me  of  my  life,  the  Lord 
forgive  them  all.  God  grant  the  Queen's  Majesty's 
most  gracious  and  happy  reign  long  to  continue  over 
this  realm. 

At  the  bottom — 

My  lady  of  her  own  motion  returned  to  me  ^£220, 
but  wanted  £i  in  the  payment,  and  since  that  time, 
by  her  appointment,  I  have  disbursed  ^79  2s.  2d.,  as 
appeareth  by  a  bill  for  which  she  is  yet  indebted ;  but 
now  they  have  taken  from  me,  first  liberty,  then  my 
living,  my  life,  and  my  good,  I  trust  you  will  be 
satisfied. 

VOL.  ii.  25 


98  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

No.  2. 
Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  107. 

Fragment  of  Arabella's  directions  to  John  Dodde- 
ridge. 

Undated. 

If  they  come  to  me  themselves,  they  shall  be  shut 
out  at  the  gates ;  if  locked  up,  my  grandmother  will 
be  the  first  shall  advertise  and  complain  to  the 
queen.  If  dismissed,  they  must  fully  prove  them- 
selves to  be  no  sycophants  to  me.  For  the  first,  let 
them  make  some  offer  to  sell  land,  and  Mr.  Hancock 
and  Mr.  Proctor  are  good  patterns  to  follow,  so  that 
they  shall  have  whom  they  will  to  tarry  in  the  house, 
and  be  welcome  for  a  longer  time  than  shall  need.  I 
desire  this  may  be  some  ancient  grave  man ;  the 
younger  may  come  as  his  son  or  nephew,  and  tarry 
or  go  away  as  we  shall  then  think  good.  For  the 
second,  I  protest  your  witness,  either  by  word  or 
writing,  shall  fully  satisfy  me.  But  it  will  be  counted 
discretion  in  you,  and  confirm  their  good  opinion  of 
me,  if  you  require  them  to  bring  all  the  testimonies 
they  can,  as  some  picture  or  handwriting  of  the  Lady 
Jane  Grey,  whose  hand  I  know,  and  she  sent  her 
sister  a  book  at  her  death,  which  were  the  very  best 
they  could  bring,  or  of  the  Lady  Katharine,  or  Queen 
Jane  Seymour,  or  any  of  that  family,  which  we  know 
they,  and  none  but  they,  have.  And  let  some  of  the 
company  be  of  my  uncle  Henry's  acquaintance,  who 
yet  must  not  come  to  the  house  because  of  my  aunt 
Grace  and  his  servants,  but  shall  meet  him  at  some 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  99 

other  place.  Their  care  is  no  more  but  to  come 
speedily  and  secretly  to  Mansfield,  or  some  place 
near  and  after  you,  and  such  intelligence  as  you 
have  in  the  house  will  provide  for  the  rest.  You 
know  none  can  better  advise  than  John  Good,*  whom 
I  pray  you  acquaint  with  no  more,  but  that  it  greatly 
concerns  me,  and  he  will,  without  any  inquisitiveness, 
do  his  best,  and  perchance  take  them  for  northern 
rather  than  western  men,  and  that  were  their  best 
way  both  to  him  or  anybody  else.  No  mention  of 
the  E.  of  Hertford  in  any  case,  nor  of  that  county ; 
if  they  can,  Cornish  and  Devonshire  men,  and 
generally  out  of  all  parts  of  England,  referred  to  Sir 
John  Biron's,  therefore  let  them  be  wary,  the  short- 
ness of  time  will  help  to  keep  counsel. 

(Indorsed,  "  This  is  the  note  which  my  Lady 
Arbella  writ  and  gave  me  for  my  instruction  to  deal 
in  this  business,  in  witness  whereof  I  have  put  to  my 
hand. — JOHN  DODDERIDGE.") 


No.  3. 
To  THE  QUEEN'S  MOST  EXCELLENT  MAJESTY. 

Holograph.     Ibid.,  v.  135,  p.  146. 
May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty : 

Sir  Henry  Brounker  hath  charged  me  with 
many  things  in  your  Majesty's  [name],  the  most  whereof 
I  acknowledge  to  be  true,  and  am  heartily  sorry  that 

*  Dodderidge  took  the  name  of  John  Good,  probably  in  order 
to  confuse  the  authorities. 


IOO  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

I  have  given  your  Majesty  the  least  cause  of  offence. 
The  particulars  and  the  manner  of  handling  I  have, 
to  avoid  your  Majesty's  trouble,  delivered  to  Sir  H. 
Brounker.  I  humbly  prostrate  myself  at  your  Majesty's 
feet,  craving  pardon  for  what  is  past,  and  of  your 
princely  clemency  to  signify  your  Majesty's  most 
gracious  remission  to  me  by  your  Highness's  letter  to 
my  lady  my  grandmother,  whose  discomfort  I  shall 
be  till  then.  The  Almighty  increase  and  for  ever 
continue  your  Majesty's  divine  virtues  and  prosperity, 
wherewith  you  blessed,  bless  us  all. 

Your  Majesty's  most  humble  and  dutiful  handmaid, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 
Undated. 


No.  4. 

LADY  ARBELLA  TO  THE  QUEEN. 
144.     Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  135. 

I  yield  your  Majesty  most  humble  and  dutiful 
thanks  for  your  Highness's  most  gracious  interpretation 
of  this  accident,  most  humbly  craving  the  continuance 
of  your  Majesty's  good  opinion,  which  ever  hath  been 
my  greatest  comfort.  And  after  this  royal  and 
singular  testimony,  \ihat\  it  pleaseth  your  Majesty, 
notwithstanding  all  presumptions  of  the  contrary,  to 
esteem  me  not  unworthy  of  your  princely  care  and 
love,  \whicJi\  I  shall  never  hereafter  doubt  of,  and  con- 
sequently not  willingly  yield  to  grief  as  I  have  done 
heretofore,  and  that  very  lately  to  almost  my  utter 
overthrow  both  of  body  and  mind.  But  I  see  the 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  IOI 

Lord's  miraculous  goodness  shine  in  your  Majesty,  His 
best  resembling  image,  and  admire  to  see  any  so  near 
imitate  His  infinite  goodness,  love,  and  wisdom  to  all 
His  creatures,  and  make  that  the  happy  cause  of  my 
never-ending  felicity,  which,  if  your  Majesty  had 
censured  according  to  the  appearance,  might  have 
made  me  the  most  unhappy  of  all  living,  by  con- 
tinuing my  exile  out  of  your  Majesty's  presence, 
which  hath  been  the  only  motive  both  of  this  and 
many  other  occurrences,  which,  as  hitherto  they  have 
lien  rather  by  me  untold,  than  unknown  to  your 
Majesty,  so  I  have  with  all  sincerity  signified  unto 
your  Majesty,  by  this  worthy  gentleman,  your  Majesty's 
most  welcome  messenger.  And  protest  I  have  not 
reverted  at  all  from  the  plain  and  direct  truth,  neither 
in  one  respect  or  other,  as  I  shall  answer  it  to  the 
Almighty,  when  the  thoughts  of  all  hearts  shall  be 
revealed.  And  upon  my  allegiance  to  your  Majesty, 
whose  displeasure  and  not  any  punishment  whatsoever 
is  the  only  thing  I  fear,  and  the  fear  of  God  makes 
me  most  secure  and  confident  that  I  shall  not  only 
avoid  that,  but  for  ever  win  or  rather  confirm  that 
most  evident  and  native  affection  which  your  Majesty 
hath  even  from  my  cradle  showed  unto  me,  above 
all  other  of  your  Highness's  most  royal  lineage.  I 
have  not  dealt  rashly  in  so  important  a  matter,  but, 
taking  the  advice  of  all  the  friends  I  have  how  I 
might  attain  your  Majesty's  presence,  and  trying  all 
the  means  I  could  possibly  make  or  they  devise  and 
none  succeeding,  I  resolved  to  crave  my  grandmother's 
leave  to  present  my  service  [and]  myself  unto  your 


102  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

Majesty,  and  if  I  could  not  obtain  that  (for  even  that 
small  and  ordinary  liberty  I  despaired  to  obtain  of 
her,  otherwise  my  most  kind  and  natural  parent),  I 
determined  that  should  be  the  first  and,  I  protest, 
last  disobedience  that  I  would  willingly  offend  her 
with.  For  though  I  have  done  very  many  things 
without  her  knowledge,  yet  I  call  the  Judge  of  all 
hearts  to  witness  they  have  been  such  as  (if  she  had 
not  been  stricter  than  any  child,  how  good,  discreet, 
and  dutiful  soever,  would  willingly  obey)  she  should 
have  had  more  reason  to  wink  at  than  to  punish  so 
severely  as  she  hath  done.  And  as  I  have  forborne 
till  now  to  impart  this  much  unto  your  most  excellent 
Majesty,  lest  it  might  diminish  your  Majesty's  good 
opinion  of  me,  and  increase  her  severity ;  so  I  have 
all  the  other  ways  I  could  devise,  not  by  way  of 
complaint,  but  moan,  disclosed  my  most  distressed 
state  to  your  Majesty,  of  whom  only  I  have  expected, 
and  with  silent  and  stolen  tears  implored  relief.  And 
have  utterly  neglected  or  rejected  all  other  means, 
how  well  liked  of  others  soever,  and  whatsoever  I 
have  pretended  so  may  my  soul  find  favour  with 
the  Almighty,  and  myself  with  your  Majesty,  as 
this  hath  been  the  principal  end  of  all  my  desires, 
without  which  I  can  think  no  state  happy,  and  with 
which  all  adversity  will  seem  small  in  comparison. 
And  if  it  please  your  Majesty  to  examine  the  whole 
course  of  my  life,  your  Majesty  shall  find  God's  grace 
hath  so  mightily  wrought  in  me,  poor  silly  infant  and 
wretch,  that  howsoever  others  have  taken  wiser  ways, 
I  have  had  as  great  care  and  have  with  more,  and  in 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  1 03 

truth  mere,  innocence  preserved  your  Majesty's  most 
royal  lineage  from  any  blot,  as  any  \pne\  whosoever. 
And  as  I  should  have  adjudged  myself  unworthy  of 
life  if  I  had  degenerated  from  the  most  renowned 
stock,  whereof  it  is  my  greatest  honour  to  be  a 
branch,  so,  for  truth  and  not  ostentation's  sake,  I 
protest  I  have  endeavoured  to  contribute  my  mite  to 
the  treasure  of  honour  long  heaped  up  by  the  most 
worthy,  and  without  comparison  of  all  Europe  most 
worthy  princes,  whose  great  measure  of  worthiness, 
renown,  and  felicity  your  Majesty  without  comparison 
exceeds.  And  that  you  long  and  ever  may  do  so  is 
and  at  all  times  hath  been  my  daily  and  fervent 
prayer  to  the  Almighty,  and  ever  shall  be  to  my  life's 
end. 

[Unsigned.] 

No.  5. 

Enclosed  by  the  old  countess  in  a  letter  to  the 
queen,  February  2,  1603. 

Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  139. 

(Indorsed,  "  The  Lady  Arbella's  first  letter  sent  by 
her  grandmother.") 

To  THE  DOWAGER  COUNTESS  OF  SHREWSBURY. 

Undated. 

I  acknowledge  myself  most  bound  to  her  Majesty 
for  her  gracious  pardon  of  my  offence,  which  appeareth 
more  disgraceful  in  her  Majesty's  eyes,  your  ladyship's, 
and  those  two  grave  and  honourable  councillors  by 


104  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

whose  letter  it  pleaseth  her  Majesty  to  reprove  my 
offence,  than  it  yet  doth  in  the  opinion  of  many  others 
upon  whose  opinion  I  have  laid  the  foundation  of  all 
the  rest  of  my  life.  Pardon  me,  therefore,  I  beseech 
your  ladyship,  if,  without  those  ceremonies  which,  either 
through  ignorance  or  anxiety  of  a  mind  yet  distracted 
between  fear  and  hope  \I have  omitted\,  I  set  down  the 
true  reasons  of  this  my  proceeding.  To  employ  any, 
much  more  such  base  and  unworthy  persons  in  such 
a  matter,  had  been  a  blot  to  my  reputation  never  to  be 
washed  away  without  floods  of  repentant  tears,  if  my 
intent  had  not  been  to  have  it  known  to  her  Majesty 
that  such  a  matter  was  propounded  seriously,  and  by 
some  desired,  by  others  not  misliked,  but  utterly  neg- 
lected or  rejected  by  myself  from  the  first  hour  I 
heard  of  it  till  the  last,  and  not  more  now  than  at 
first,  for  all  my  Lord  of  Hertford's  discourteous  dealing 
with  me,  who  hath  deserved  better  at  his  hands.  And 
therefore,  restraining  my  friends  I  respected,  I  sent 
such  as  I  thought  likeliest  to  displease  his  lordship, 
though  I  instructed  them  not  to  give  his  lordship 
instant  cause  of  offence,  and  advertised  no  more  than 
I  was  desirous  they  should  divulge — so  it  were  without 
my  consent,  for  in  truth  I  cannot  find  in  my  heart  to 
disclose  the  counsel  of  any  stranger  or  enemy,  that 
either  by  their  consent  or  chanceably  cometh  to  my 
knowledge,  if  it  may  be,  or  I  do  but  doubt  it  may  be, 
prejudicial  to  them.  And  I  thank  God  it  fell  out 
better  than  I  and  my  dearest  and  best-trusted,  what- 
soever he  be,  could  have  devised  or  imagined,  though 
we  have  beat  our  brains  about  it  these  three  years. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  1 05 

The  ridiculous  and  contemptuous  style,  I  beseech 
you  excuse  with  the  reasons,  which  this  gentleman  who 
taught  me  alleged,  before  he  could  persuade  me  to 
play  the  fool  in  good  earnest.  It  was  convenient  her 
Majesty  should  see  and  believe  what  busybodies,  un- 
true rumour,  unjust  practices,  colourable  and  cunning 
devices  are  in  remote  parts,  against  those  *  whom  the 
world  understood  to  be  in  a  sort  exiled  her  Majesty's 
presence  undeservedly,  though  themselves  be  never  so 
wary  or  unwilling  any  should  so  much  as  speak  of 
them.  And  as  herein  your  ladyship's  wisdom  and 
fidelity  hath  been  at  least  comparable  with  my  Lord  of 
Hertford's,  so  I  have  many  good  witnesses,  and  more 
than  for  their  own  sakes  I  would  I  had  had,  that  I 
have  been  as  precise  and  circumspect  in  avoiding  all 
occasions  either  of  alluring  or  encouraging  any  to 
reveal  their  affection,  how  great  soever,  how  respect- 
fully soever,  how  well  soever  loved  or  liked  by  myself. 
And  whosoever  hath  made  trial  what  would  either 
persuade  the  most  virtuous  lady,  or  the  greatest  lady, 
for  by  their  commandment  I  must  needs  tell  your 
ladyship  they  will  needs  say  and  swear  I  am  the  one 
of  their  knowledge,  and  they  could  wish  me  in  the 
highest  degree  of  her  Majesty's  favour,  and  put  me  in 
hope,  if  ever  I  may  attain  her  Majesty's  presence,  I 
shall  receive  the  like  gracious  countenance  for  all  this 
that  I  have  ever  done.  They,  I  say,  who  have  made 
most  trial  what  promises,  oaths,  vows,  threatenings, 
unkindness,  kindness,  fair  means  and  foul,  neglect  of 
others,  withdrawing  of  comfort,  counsel,  hope,  or 
*  Referring  to  herself. 


IO6  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

redress  of  anything  in  the  world  could  constrain  or 
entice  one  of  my  sex,  years,  and  hitherto  unhappy 
fortune,  can  bear  me  witness  that  1  am  too  stout 
\J)roud~\  to  request  a  favour  till  I  be  sure  I  may  com- 
mand it.  And  they  would  take  it  \the  queeris  for- 
giveness of  Arabella^  as  a  favour  done  to  them  and 
not  to  me — of  whom  they  crave  not  so  much  as 
thanks,  I  assure  your  ladyship,  nor  anything  in  the 
world  but  love — in  such  honourable  and  Christian  sort 
as  I  were  to  be  condemned  by  your  ladyship  specially, 
if  for  your  ladyship's  comfort  and  my  own  advance- 
ment I  should  still  have  rejected,  or,  like  a  deaf  asp, 
stopped  my  ears  against  his*  voice,  who  never  requested 
anything  but  was  more  for  my  good  and  honour  than 
his  own.  All  the  injuries  he  could  he  hath  done  me, 
and  his  credit  being,  as  he  right  well  deserves,  great 
with  her  Majesty,  and  his  friends,  marry  I  impute  even 
all  my  wrongs  to  him,  and  freely  forgive  them  all  who 
have  been  his  (unwitting,  I  am  sure)  perchance  un- 
willing instruments,  and  if  they  had  known  by  whom 
[unwitting],  to  what  end  they  were  employed,  as  I 
think  very  few  did  if  any — for  secrecy  is  one  of  his 
virtues,  and  he  hath  as  many  as  I  believe  any  subject 
or  foreign  prince  in  Europe,  or  more.  As  the  only 
request  that  ever  I  made  to  him  (many  other  things 
I  have  in  rude  and  uncivil  manner  bid  him  do,  and 
he  can  take  nothing  ill  at  my  hand  but  one,  as  he 
protesteth,  and  I  am  sure  as  one  can  be  of  any  mortal 
creature  that  knoweth  the  nature  of  an  oath,  and 

*  See  Arabella's  examination  (p.  124),  in  which  she  says  she 
refers  to  the  King  of  Scots. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  IO/ 

esteemeth  it  the  pawn  of  his  soul)  [was]  that  he  would 
procure  my  remove  from  out  of  your  ladyship's 
custody ;  not  that  I  would  not  think  myself  most  happy 
to  spend  all  my  life  under  your  ladyship's  government, 
but  that  I  cannot  rule  love  and  ambition  in  others,  as 
I  thank  God  I  can  do  both  very  well  in  myself,  and 
in  truth  am  not  infected  at  all  with  the  latter,  nor  so 
apt  to  believe  and  suddenly  to  rejoice  in  so  important 
a  matter,  as  I  was  content  it  should  seem  to  my  Lord 
of  Hertford  of  purpose  and  not  of  error  I  protest. 

As  I  may  compare  the  love  of  this  worthy  gentleman 
(which  I  have  already  unreservedly  accepted  and  con- 
firmed and  will  never  deny,  nor  repent,  whatsoever 
befall)  to  gold  which  hath  been  so  often  purified  that 
I  cannot  find  one  fault  to  me,  jealousy  only  excepted, 
so  I  have  dealt  unkindly,  shrewedly,  proudly  with 
him,  and  if  any  living  have  cause  to  think  me  proud 
or  "shrowd"  \_shrewisti\,  it  is  he,  whom  I  have  loved 
too  well  (ever  since  I  could  love)  to  hide  any  word, 
thought,  or  deed  of  mine  from  him,  unless  it  were  to 
awe  him  a  little  when  I  thought  his  love  converted 
into  hate — for  I  did  him  the  wrong  to  think  so  a  great 
while — and  to  make  him  weary  of  his  jealousy  by 
letting  him  see  it  was  the  only  way  to  make  me  fall 
out  with  him  and  anger  him  in  the  highest  degree  I 
could  imagine.  With  my  Lord  of  Hertford  I  have 
dealt  so  precisely  that  it  hath  neither  been  in  his 
power  to  do  me  more  hurt  than  reveal  all  he  knew  by 
me,  nor  should  have  cause  or  colour  to  take  anything 
so  kindly,  and  keep  my  counsel.  When  I  writ  I  wept, 
and  I  marvel  it  was  not  perceived,  for  I  could  neither 


IO8  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

forbear  weeping  at  meal-times,  nor  in  truth  day  or 
night  till  I  had  performed  my  promise,  and  set  down 
in  good  and  orderly  sort  some  of  the  several  devices 
and  shifts  which  more  than  one  had  devised  or  prac- 
tised without  either  my  knowledge,  till  it  was  past,  or 
allowance  either  for  what  was  past  or  to  come.  And 
this  party,  who  trusts  me  with  more  than  I  would  have 
him,  even  the  secretest  thoughts  of  his  heart,  hath 
not  nor  ever  had  so  much  as  a  promise  that  I  would 
keep  his  counsel.  He  taught  me  by  the  example  of 
Samuel  that  one  might  plead  one  errand  and  deliver 
another  with  a  safe  conscience.  By  the  example  of 
Samson  that  one  might  and  (if  they  be  not  too 
foolish  to  live  in  this  world)  must  speak  riddles  to 
their  friends,  and  try  the  truth  of  offered  love  and  un- 
suspected friends  in  some  matter  wherein,  if  they  dealt 
unfavourably,  it  shall  but  make  their  ridiculous  malice 
appear  to  their  own  discredit  and  no  manner  of  hurt 
to  others.  He  assured  me  her  Majesty's  offence 
would  be  converted  into  laughter,  when  her  Majesty 
should  see  the  honest  cunning  of  the  contriver,  to 
such  an  end  as  will  be  highly  to  her  Majesty's  liking, 
and  to  your  ladyship's  and  my  good  many  ways.  He 
told  me  he  would  have  me  enter  into  some  great 
action  to  win  myself  reputation,  try  her  Majesty's  love 
to  me,  though  neither  of  us  doubted  of  it,  try  what 
my  friends  would  do  for  me,  and  how  I  could  employ 
my  friends  and  servants,  and  make  strangers  to  me 
effect  my  desires  without  being  beholden  to  them. 
And,  building  my  hopes  upon  the  rock,  let  the  winds 
and  billows  and  tempests  show  that  though  my  build- 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3. 

ing  be  low,  yet  it  is  not  builded  upon  sand,  for  then  I 
had  been  ruined,  but  like  the  wise  architect  who  first 
draweth  his  plan,  and  after  maketh  an  estimate  of  the 
charges,  giving  some  allowance  more  than  he  thinks, 
and  then,  finding  himself  able  to  go  through  cheer- 
fully, setteth  his  workmen  to  their  several  works,  so 
we  first  did  deliberately  consult,  and  after  speedily 
execute  that  which  we  knew  for  a  short  time  would 
be  offensive  to  her  Majesty,  your  ladyship,  the  Earl 
of  Hertford,  and  divers  others,  and  work  an  effect 
which  I  am  most  assured  will  be  most  acceptable  to 
her  Majesty,  and  it  is  even  the  best  service  that  ever 
lady  did  her  sovereign  and  mistress. 

I  am  more  desirous  her  Majesty  should  understand 
every  part  and  parcel  of  the  devise,  every  actor,  every 
action,  every  word  and  syllable  of  that  her  Majesty 
hath,  under  my  hand  or  John  Good's  \alias  Dodderidge], 
than  your  ladyship  is,  because  I  know  more  than  your 
ladyship  doth  or  shall  (because  it  is  most  for  your 
ladyship's  honour  and  good  it  should  be  so)  till  her 
Majesty  be  acquainted  and  fully  satisfied  that  I  have 
done  nothing  foolishly,  rashly,  falsely,  or  unworthy 
of  myself.  Therefore  I  humbly  thank  her  Majesty 
for  that  liberty  it  pleaseth  her  Highness  to  allow  me, 
by  the  which  I  may  confer  with  my  friends,  without 
which  I  could  not  discover  the  truth  so  soon  and  so 
well  to  her  Majesty  as  I  trust  to  do,  if  it  please  her 
Majesty  to  allow  me  the  space  of  one  month  to  clear 
myself  in,  and  liberty  to  send  to  any  Privy  Councillor, 
I  will  be  accountable  to  her  Majesty,  but  not  to  your 
ladyship,  for  all  that  ever  I  did  in  my  life,  or  ever  will 


I IO  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

do.  And  I  will  reveal  some  secrets  of  love  concerning 
myself,  and  some  others  which  will  be  delightful  to 
her  Majesty  to  understand.  I  will  send  some  to  com- 
plain of  themselves.  I  will  inform  her  Majesty  of 
some  matters  whereof  her  Majesty  hath  yet  no  manner 
of  suspicion.  I  will  offend  none  but  my  uncle  of 
Shrewsbury,*  my  aunt,  and  my  uncle  Charles,  and  them 
it  will  anger  as  much  as  ever  they  angered  me,  and 
make  myself  as  merry  at  them  as  the  last  Lent  they 
did  at  their  own  pleasant  device,  for  so  I  take  it,  of 
the  gentleman  with  the  revenges.  And  if  they  will,  as 
they  might  in  duty,  reconcile  themselves  to  your  lady- 
ship, your  ladyship  shall  command  me  to  forget  all 
injuries  they  have  done  me,  one  only  excepted,  and 
that  is  the  wrongs  they  have  done  this  most  worthy 
gentleman,  for  whom  I  have  already  forsaken  parents, 
kin,  and  all  the  world,  her  Majesty  only  excepted. 
For  I  vow,  as  I  shall  be  saved,  he  tells  me  plainly  he 
will  not  offend  her  Majesty  for  my  sake,  and  will 
rather  forsake  me  for  ever  than  incur  her  Majesty's 
displeasure  ;  though  the  time  be  never  so  short.  And 
therefore,  though  I  have  kept  his  counsel  these  many 
years,  and  will  do  whilst  I  live,  if  it  may  be  the  least 
hurtful  to  him  and  any  of  his  (for  I  never  acquainted 
any  of  mine  one  or  other,  I  take  God  to  witness),  so 
I  think  it  long  till  I  may  let  her  Majesty  know  his 

*  This  is  evidently  to  mislead  her  grandmother  with  the  idea 
that  she  had  quarrelled  with  the  three  relatives  named,  who 
were  on  bad  terms  with  the  countess.  Arabella  had  just  before 
this  written  to  ask  her  aunt  Mary  to  come  to  her,  and  in  1604 
speaks  of  the  earl's  kindness  to  her  in  her  trouble  (see  p.  201). 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  Ill 

name,  who  so  far  exceedeth  all  the  examples  of  her 
Highness's  best-favoured  [courtiers]  that  he  dare  not 
see  nor  but  by  stealth  send  to  her  he  loves  as  well  as 
ever  they  did  any.     And  if  it  please  her  Majesty  so 
to  accept  of  him,  I  shall  think  myself  most  happy 
if  her  Majesty  will  grace  him  with  her  favour,  and 
win  his  heart  from  me,  if  that  be  possible ;  and  I  will 
daily  pray  for  her  Majesty  and  him,  that  he  may  daily 
deserve  her  Majesty's  favour  more  and  more,  as  I 
know  he  will  endeavour,  and  if  it  please  her  Majesty 
to  give  me  but  liberty  to  send  to  him  and  hear  from 
him  (which  in  truth  I  must  do,  though  it  offend  your 
ladyship,  and  can  do,  whosoever  oversee  us),  I  will 
show  your  ladyship  every  letter  of  his  I  shall  hereafter 
receive,  and  be  content  your  ladyship  shall  reveal  all 
that  to  your  ladyship's  knowledge  passeth  betwixt  us, 
'not  only  to  her  Majesty,  but  to  all  the  world.     For  I 
am  so  far  from  being  ashamed  of  my  choice,  that  even 
for  my  own  honour's  sake  I  could  find  in  my  heart  to 
reveal  him,  but  that  in  truth  I  dare  not  without  his 
consent,  and  he  dare  not  till  he  have  his  pardon  for 
himself  and   his   friends   signified   unto   me   by   her 
Majesty's  letter,  which  after  I  am  to  send  to  him  and 
hear  from  him  again,  and  then  he  shall  either  himself, 
by  what  means  it  pleaseth  him,  acquaint  her  Majesty 
with  his  fearful  presumption ;  or  I  will  tell  your  ladyship, 
upon  condition  it  may  please  your  ladyship  .to  join 
with  me  in  begging  her  Majesty's  gracious  pardon  to 
certain  offenders,  whose  penance  shall  be  to  make 
confession  first  to  her  Majesty,  and  after  to  your  lady- 
ship, how  gladly  they  would  have  offended  your  lady- 


112  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

ship,  and  how  far  they  have  offended  her  Majesty  for 
my  sake. 

And  if  they  receive  the  sentence  of  death  out 
of  her  Majesty's  mouth,  I  dare  answer  for  them 
they  shall  die  content ;  but  I  trust  her  Highness  will 
with  a  smile  deride  their  follies,  and  at  one  of  their 
hands  accept  a  poor  present  I  am  in  hand  with  for 
her  Majesty,  \and~\  give  another  leave  to  deliver  a 
letter  or  message  to  her  sacred  Majesty  from  me,  her 
then  fully  absolved  handmaid,  and  give  us  all  leave  to 
impart  our  joy  of  her  Majesty's  pardon  to  us  all  one 
to  another,  and  devise  the  best  manner  how  to  repre- 
sent to  her  Majesty  the  joy  we  conceive  thereof.  And 
make  ourselves  merry  with  making  ourselves  perfect 
in  our  parts,  which  for  want  of  conference  we  have 
partly  forgotten,  and  partly  understand  not,  and  her 
Majesty  more  merry  if  it  please  her  Highness  but  to 
keep  our  counsel ;  and  I  will  instruct  them  and  send 
them  to  her  Majesty  one  after  another,  and  none 
living  shall  understand  my  drift  but  her  Majesty,  the 
noble  gentleman  whose  name  I  conceal,  and  whom  it 
pleaseth  them  two  to  acquaint  without  limitation. 

One  only  suit  will  I  make  to  her  Majesty,  wherein  I 
humbly  crave  your  ladyship  to  assist,  and  further  me, 
that  is,  that  it  may  please  her  Majesty  to  suspend  her 
Highness's  judgment  of  me  till  her  Majesty  see  the 
end,  which  cannot  be  so  soon  as  I  could  wish  for ;  I 
think  every  minute  long,  but  \ii\  shall  be  hastened  as 
much  as  may  be,  I  assure  your  ladyship  on  my  faith  ; 
and  surcease  her  displeasure  to  myself  and  all  those 
with  whom,  for  my  sake  I  doubt  not,  her  Highness  is 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  113 

offended  ;  and  suffer  none  of  them  whose  names  her 
Majesty  hath  under  my  hand  to  come  or  send  to  me 
unless  I  send  for  them,  and  whosoever  come  to  me  at 
my  request,  or  are  sent  for,  either  I  will  acquaint  your 
ladyship,  or  send  them  up  first,  or  cause  them  to 
advertise  some  Privy  Councillor,  what  they  do  at  my 
request  and- to  what  end. 

I  trust  I  have  fully  satisfied  your  ladyship  that  I  am 
neither  so  disobedient  nor  inconsiderate  as  your  lady- 
ship might  think  me,  and  because  I  report  many 
things  which  to  your  ladyship  seem  impossible,  your 
ladyship  next  under  her  Majesty  shall  censure  all  my 
proceedings,  when  your  ladyship  by  her  Majesty's 
gracious  letter  or  messenger  unfoldeth  these  dark 
speeches,  which,  let  others  do  as  it  please  them,  I  will 
never  reveal  but  to  her  Majesty ;  neither  will  I  pre- 
sume to  present  my  unworthy  service  to  her  Majesty 
till  it  shall  please  her  Highness  to  commend  it,  for 
some  reasons  which  I  will  with  all  speed  advertise  her 
Majesty,  whom  the  Lord  bless  and  prosper  for  ever 
every  way. 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

No.  6. 

Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  147. 
(Indorsed,  "To  the   Right    Honourable   Sir   John 
Stanhope,  Knight,  Vice-Chamberlain,  and  Sir  Robert 
Cecil,  Knight,  Principal  Secretary  to  her  Majesty.") 

Feb.  6,  1603. 

May   it   please  you,    forasmuch   as    my   lady    my 
VOL.  ii.  26 


1 14  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

grandmother  doth  interpret  the  letter  which,  by  her 
most  excellent  Majesty's  commandment,  her  ladyship 
received  from  your  honours  concerning  her  Majesty's 
gracious  acceptance  of  her  ladyship's  faithful  dis- 
charging the  trust  reposed  in  her  by  her  Highness ; 
together  with  her  Majesty's  pardon  of  my  offence, 
and  interpretation  of  the  original  grounds  thereof,  and 
direction  for  my  treatment  hereafter,  in  other  sense 
than  I,  to  whom  it  was  her  Majesty's  pleasure  it 
should  be  imparted,  do  understand  it.  And,  during 
that  variety  of  opinions,  her  ladyship  may  suppose 
herself  charged  to  look  to  me  with  more  strictness 
than  I  assure  myself  it  is  her  Majesty's  pleasure  I 
should  be,  as  heretofore  I  have  found,  and  with  most 
dutiful  thanks  acknowledge.  And  on  the  other  side, 
I,  supposing  the  limits  prescribed  me  larger  than 
perhaps  they  are,  may  unwillingly  transgress  her 
Majesty's  commandment,  when  I  mer.n  nothing  less. 
It  may  please  your  honours,  for  avoiding  all  errors, 
both  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left,  to  expound 
your  own  meanings  in  these  points  which  now  come 
in  question,  or  any  other  which  hereafter  may. 
Whether  it  be  her  Majesty's  pleasure  I  shall  have 
free  choice  of  my  own  servants,  to  take,  keep,  and  put 
away  whom  I  think  good,  either  telling  or  not  telling 
the  reason?  And  whether  I  may  send  for  whom  I 
think  good,  or  talk  with  any  that  shall  voluntarily  or 
upon  business  come  to  me,  in  private  if  they  or  I  shall 
so  desire,  without  yielding  account  to  any  but  her 
Majesty,  if  her  Highness  require  it  ?  And  whether  it 
be  not  her  Majesty's  pleasure  I  should  as  well  have 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  115 

the  company  of  some  young  lady  or  gentleman  for  my 
recreation,  and  scholars?     Music,  hunting,  hawking, 
variety  of  any  lawful  disport,  I  can  procure  or  my 
friends  will  afford  me,  as  well  as  the  attendance  of 
grave  overseers,  for  which  I  think  myself  most  bound 
to  her  Majesty,  for  it  is  the  best  way  to  avoid  all 
jealousies.     Whether  if  the  running  on  of  years  be 
not  discerned  in  me  only,  yet  it  be  not  her  Highness's 
pleasure  to  allow  me  that  liberty  (being  the  6th  of  this 
February  twenty-seven  years  old),  which  many  infants 
have  to  choose  their  own  guardians,  as  I  desire  to  do 
my  place  of  abode  ?     Finally,  whether  it  pleaseth  her 
Majesty  I  should  be  bound  within  straiter  bonds  than 
the  duties  of  a  most  dutiful  subject,  and  servant,  to  a 
most  gracious  sovereign  and  mistress,  of  an  obedient 
child,  \pr\  faithful  friend,  according  to  the  laws  of  God 
and  man  in  the  strictest  sort,  without  claiming  at  all 
to  infringe  or  abuse  Christian  liberty  ?   And  then,  if  it 
please  her  Majesty  to  impose  an  extraordinary  yoke 
of  bondage  upon  me,  I  protest  it  will  be  more  grievous 
to  me  because  her  Majesty  imposeth  it,  than  that  I  am 
not  very  well  able,  and  enured  to  endure  the  heaviest 
crosses  wherewith  God  maketh  His  \chosen\  known.  But 
my  humble  suit  is,  it  may  please  her  Majesty,  for  God's 
sake,  to  let  me  know  the  true  causes  whereof;  because 
the  misjudging  of  them  may  be  very  prejudicial  to  my- 
self and  others.    And  to  set  down  the  time — how  long 
— and  without  ambiguity  to  prescribe  me  the  rules, 
whereby  it  pleaseth  her  Majesty  to  try  my  obedience. 
And  forasmuch  as  by  my  lady  my  grandmother's 
commandment  I  did  set  down  some  things  which  it 


Il6  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART, 

seemed  good  to  her  ladyship  to  send  to  your  honours, 
before  I  could  either  point  or  correct  any  eror 
therein,  great  or  little;  in  such  slight  sort  as  may 
only  be  a  witness  how  merry  secure  innocence  can 
be,  even  in  the  presence  of  a  reverenced  and  yet 
unappeased  parent;  and  rather  give  an  inkling  that 
there  is  yet  some  farther  matter  for  which,  if  I  durst 
or  could  tell  how,  I  would  humbly  crave  her  Majesty's 
pardon,  and  her  ladyship's,  and  the  intercession  of 
some  for  their  worth  gracious  in  her  Majesty's  eyes, 
than  give  only  certain  light  of  truth  given.  I  humbly 
crave  of  your  honours,  to  whose  hands,  by  God's 
direction,  the  first  fruits  of  my  scribbled  follies  were 
presented,  that  you  will  vouchsafe  to  excuse,  the 
errors  of  youth  altogether.  And  to  the  end  her 
Majesty  may,  with  that  speed  that  I  desire,  be  fully 
satisfied  that  this  action  had  no  corrupt  beginning 
(which  it  is  no  small  grief  to  me  her  Majesty  should 
believe  of  any  action  of  mine),  it  may  please  her 
Highness  to  hasten  the  conclusion  by  sending  down 
some  faithful  servant  of  her  Majesty's  to  see  whether 
it  will  prove  so  fond  \_foolisfi\  as  your  honours  write, 
or  so  ridiculous  as  by  my  trifling  manner  of  handling 
it  yet  seems ;  or  so  serious,  and  many  ways  acceptable 
to  her  Majesty  as  I  dare  (with  the  adventure  of  my 
life  if  it  otherwise  prove),  assure  her  Majesty  it  will 
be.  And  as  at  the  first  I  presented  an  humble  suit 
to  her  Majesty's  faithful  servant,  Sir  H.  Brounker, 
which  her  Highness,  most  gracious  forediviner  of  the 
thoughts  of  my  heart,  before  I  craved  it  had  granted  ; 
even  at  that  time  when  her  Majesty  had  reason  to 


THE  MYS7ERY  OF  1602-3.  ri7 

think  I  full  little  deserved  that  or  any  other  favour. 
So  I  humbly  reiterate  the  same  suit  to  your  honours, 
that  few  may  be  acquainted  with  this  matter  till  it 
be  fully  determined  and  judged  by  her  Majesty,  who 
yet  may  rather  doubt  a  relapse,  or  greater  faultiness, 
than  hope  of  my  innocence  heretofore,  or  better 
government  hereafter. 

Therefore  my  most  humble  suit  to  her  Majesty  is 
(and  I  humbly  crave  your  honours'  effectual  media- 
tion therein)  that  it  may  please  her  Majesty  once  more 
to  send  down  that  worthy  gentleman,  Sir  H.  Brounker, 
who,  partly  (and  but  partly)  understanding  the  matter 
already,  will  sooner  conceive  and  consequently  advertise 
the  rest ;  and  will  with  fidelity  deliver  the  names  of  the 
beloved  parties,  which,  especially  my  dearest,  I  dare  not 
trust  paper  withal,  nor  any  living  but  whom  it  shall 
please  her  Majesty  to  choose.  And  bind  him — with  all 
the  strictest  commandments  that  may  be,  whereof  any 
one  were  sufficient  but  that  it  concerns  my  soul,  and 
almost  all  for  whose  sake  I  love  my  life  more  than  for 
my  own,  and  if  the  least  hair  of  any  one  of  their  heads 
should  perish,  or  her  Majesty's  displeasure  continue 
for  my  sake,  it  would  ever  after  be  more  discomfort- 
able  to  me,  than  if  I  endured  a  great  adversity  for 
theirs — to  deliver  only  to  her  Majesty  whatsoever  I 
shall  deliver  to  him,  without  either  omitting  any  part 
thereof,  how  displeasant  soever  to  himself  or  any 
friend  of  his,  or  ever  revealing  it  to  any  without  my 
consent.  And  if  I  might  receive  her  Majesty's  pro- 
mise, under  two  lines  of  her  Highness's  own  hand,  that 
it  would  please  her  Majesty  to  keep  my  counsel,  I 


Il8  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

should,  with  greater  alacrity,  deliver  my  mind  in  what 
sort  it  should  please  her  Majesty  to  command ;  and 
think  myself  happier  of  those  two  lines  than  of  a 
patent  of  greater  value  than  ever  prince  granted  under 
the  Great  Seal  of  England ;  and  with  as  great  confi- 
dence venture  all  I  have  to  adventure,  as  others  would 
do  a  small  matter  all  manner  of  warranties.  How 
much  I  shall  think  myself  bound  to  them  by  whom 
I  shall  obtain  this  high  favour  or  treasure — I  know 
not  what  title  worthy  enough  to  give  it — I  hope  your 
honours  see  by  the  inestimable  rate  wherewith  I  would 
buy  it  or  beg  it,  and  therefore  I  humbly  beseech  you 
make  me  for  ever  bound  to  you  by  becoming  humble 
and  importunate  suitors  to  her  Majesty  in  my  behalf 
to  grant  me  this,  the  greatest  suit  I  ever  made  or  will 
make  to  her  Majesty.  And  it  obtained,  vouchsafe, 
I  beseech  you,  with  all  speed  to  satisfy  my  expecta- 
tion, who  cannot  but  assuredly  hope  of  good  success, 
considering  so  just  a  suit  is  craved  of  so  gracious 
a  queen,  by  so  worthy  intercessors  as  your  honours, 
to  so  good  an  end  as  her  Majesty's  service.  And 
I  beseech  you  let  Sir  H.  Brounker  be  the  happy  and 
swift  messenger.  The  Almighty  protect  and  direct 
your  honours  and  all  your  counsels  and  actions,  and 
continue  to  prosper  them  as  He  doth,  to  His  own 
glory,  her  Majesty's  honour  and  safety,  and  conse- 
quently of  the  whole  Commonwealth.  Vouchsafe  to 
remember  her  Majesty  sometime  I  beseech  you  of 

Her  Majesty's  most  humble  and  dutiful  handmaid, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

From  Hardwick,  the  6th  of  February. 
(Indorsed,  "  The  Lady  Arbella  to  Mr.  Cecil  and  me.") 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  1 19 


No.  7. 

From  original  Holograph.     Ashmolean  MSS.,  v.  1729,  f.  82 ; 
copy  in  Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  170. 

(Indorsed,  "  Lady  Arbella  to  Mr.  Edward  Talbot") 

Feb.  16,  1603. 

NOBLE  GENTLEMAN, — I  am  as  unjustly  accused  of 
contriving  a  comedy  as  you  (on  my  conscience)  a 
tragedy;  councillors  are  acquainted  with  both  our 
bad  hands,  but,  whilst  we  may  wash  our  hands  in 
innocency,  let  the  grand  accuser  and  all  his  ministers 
do  their  worst,  God  will  be  on  our  side,  and  reveal 
the  truth  to  our  most  gracious  sovereign,  maugre  all 
wicked  and  indirect  practices  wherewith  some  seek  to 
misinform  her  Majesty.  But  I  thank  the  Almighty, 
it  pleaseth  her  Highness  to  deal  most  graciously  with 
me,  and  by  her  Majesty's  commandment  [7]  have 
liberty  to  choose  my  friends  by  whom  I  may  better 
inform  her  Majesty  of  some  matters  nearly  concerning 
myself  and  divers  of  the  very  best  friends  you  and  I 
have.  Therefore  I  request  you  most  earnestly  to 
deliver  a  message  from  me  to  her  most  sacred 
Majesty,  which  shall  be  greatly  to  her  Majesty's  con- 
tentment, your  honour's  behoof  [behalf],  and  is  of  great 
importance.  It  requireth  great  haste,  and  I  have 
advertised  a  most  honourable  Privy  Councillor  that  I 
have  sent  for  you  to  employ  you  in  her  Majesty's 
service,  so  that  you  may  not  excuse  yourself,  or  lose 
time  in  your  own  respect,  whom  it  concerns  more 
ways  than  this.  And  of  your  own  honourable  dis- 


120  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

position  I  doubt  not  but  you  would  bestow  a  journey 
hither,  and  so  to  the  court  for  my  sake. 

Your  father's  love,  and  your  faithful  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

I  pray  you  in  kindest  manner  commend  me  to  my 
Lady  Ogle  *  and  sweet  Mrs.  Talbot,  whom  I  am  very 
desirous  to  see ;  and  entreat  her  to  hasten  you  hither, 
for  the  sooner  you  leave  the  better  for  us  all. 


No.  8. 

Cecil   Papers,   v.   135,   f.    147.      Secretary's  hand  (autograph 
signature). 

(Indorsed,  "  The  Dowager  Countess  of  Shrewsbury, 
to  the  Right  Honourable  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  Knight, 
Principal  Secretary  to  her  Majesty.") 

Feb.  21,  1602-3. 

SIR, — I  must  beseech  you  to  bear  with  my  often 
troubling  you.  Since  my  late  letter  to  you,  Arbell 
hath  been  very  sick  with  extreme  pain  of  her  side, 
which  she  never  had  before,  so  as  I  was  in  great  fear 
of  her.  She  hath  had  a  doctor  of  physic  with  her 
for  a  fortnight  together,  and  enforced  to  take  much 
physic  this  unseasonable  time,  but  finds  little  ease. 
I  see  her  mind  is  the  cause  of  all.  She  saith  that  if 
she  might  speak  with  Sir  Henry  Brounker  or  some 
other  sent  from  her  Majesty,  she  should  be  well;  for 
that  she  hath  a  great  desire  to  satisfy  her  Majesty  in 

*  Wife  of  Charles  Cavendish. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  121 

all  matters,  whose  gracious  favour  and  good  opinion 
she  desireth  above  all  earthly  things.  Good  Mr. 
Secretary,  my  most  earnest  suit  is  that  it  will  please 
you  to  be  a  mean  to  her  sacred  Majesty  for  the 
speedy  sending  down  of  Sir  Henry  Brounker,  or  some 
other,  to  whom  Arbell  is  desirous  to  declare  sundry 
things  which  she  saith  she  will  utter  to  none  but  one 
sent  from  her  Majesty.  The  Almighty  ever  prosper 
her  Majesty  with  the  continuance  of  his  great  blessing. 
And  so,  desiring  you,  good  Mr.  Secretary,  to  hold  me 
excused  for  importuning  you  in  this  sort,  I  will  take 
my  leave,  praying  God  to  grant  you  all  honour  and 
happiness. 

From  Hardwick,  this  2ist  of  February,  1602-3. 
Your  most  assured,  loving  friend, 

E.  SHREWSBURY. 

P.S. — Arbell  is  so  wilfully  bent  that  she  hath  made 
a  vow  not  to  eat  or  drink  in  this  house  at  Hardwick, 
or  where  I  am,  till  she  may  hear  from  her  Majesty, 
so  that  for  preservation  of  her  life  I  am  enforced  to 
suffer  her  to  go  to  a  house  of  mine,  called  Oldcotes, 
two  miles  from  here.  I  am  wearied  of  my  life,  and 
therefore  humbly  beseech  her  Majesty  to  have  com- 
passion on  me.  And  I  earnestly  pray  you  to  send 
Sir  Henry  Brounker  hither. 


122  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

No.  9. 

Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  151.     Secretary's  hand. 
(Indorsed,    "To     the    Countess    of     Shrewsbury, 
Dowager.      From    Mr.  Vice-Chamberlain  *   and   my 
master  [Cecil}.     By  Sir  H.  Brounker.") 

Feb.  21,  1603. 

MADAME, — Her  Majesty  being  pleased  to  send 
down  this  gentleman,  Sir  Henry  Brounker,  to  whom 
she  hath  committed  the  trust  and  carriage  of  this 
business,  which  groweth  from  the  last  declaration 
which  the  Lady  Arbella  sent  you,  seconded  with  a 
letter  of  her  own  to  us,  bearing  date  the  6th  of 
February  (all  which  her  Majesty  hath  seen  and  read), 
there  remaineth  little  more  for  us  to  say  than  this 
which  followeth.  First  her  Majesty  reiterateth  her 
gracious  acceptation  of  your  sincere  and  careful 
dealing,  wishing  still  that  your  usage  of  the  lady  may 
be  accompanied  with  those  circumstances  which  were 
expressed  in  our  late  joint  letter  unto  you.  For, 
although  it  appears  by  her  last  letters  that  some  vain 
rumours  do  possess  her  mind,  who,  being  young,  is 
easily  misled  with  false  and  flattering  tongues,  yet 
her  Majesty  would  have  you  only  to  use  her  accord- 
ing to  our  last  letter,  except  when  you  shall  discover 
that  her  actions  tend  to  any  dishonourable  practices, 
lest  the  world  should  think  she  were  to  be  used  as 
a  prisoner.  Considering  that  your  ladyship  keepeth 
a  house  so  full  of  discreet  servants,  both  men  and 
women,  and  having  also  Mr.  .William  Cavendish,  who, 
*  Stanhope. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  123 

being  her  uncle  and  a  wise  gentleman,  cannot  but 
be  an  excellent  companion  for  her,  as  well  as  an 
observer  when  any  matter  more  than  ordinary  is 
travelling  in  her  mind  or  put  in  practice.  To  whom 
as  well  as  to  your  ladyship  her  Majesty  hath  com- 
manded us  to  deliver  thus  much ;  that — seeing  by  the 
young  lady's  letters  it  is  almost  impossible  to  make 
judgment  whom  or  what  she  meaneth  (so  many  con- 
trarieties appearing),  and  therefore  that  it  will  be  hard 
to  resolve  precisely  what  should  be  done,  except  we 
were  upon  the  place — her  Majesty  requireth  you  and 
Mr.  W.  Cavendish  both  to  give  credit  to  this  gentle- 
man, Sir  H.  Brounker,  and — when  he  shall  have 
spoken  with  the  young  lady  and  find  cause  to  advise  of 
a  course  to  be  taken  until  her  Majesty  be  advertised — 
that  in  such  case,  that  she,  or  any  other  whom  it  may 
appertain,  be  conformable  to  his  advice,  being  that 
which  we  have  given  him  authority  to  signify,  as  he 
shall  find  fit  for  her  Majesty's  honour  in  such  a  case. 
And  thus  having  delivered  you  as  much  as  the  present 
time  requireth,  we  recommend  your  ladyship  to  God's 
protection. 

From  the  court  at  Richmond,  the  2ist  of  February, 
1602-3. 

Your  ladyship's  very  loving  friends, 

[Unsigned.] 


124  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

No.  10. 

Cecil  Papers,  ibid.,  f.  155  ;  copy  of  same  slightly  different,  156. 

The  Examination  of  the  Lady  Arbella,  the  2nd   of 

March,  1602-3. 

Being  demanded  why  she  was  distracted  between 
fear  and  hope;  she  answered  that  she  feared  her 
Majesty's  displeasure,  by  reason  of  the  letters  she 
received  from  her ;  and  by  her  innocency  she  hoped 
to  recover  her  Highness's  favour. 

Being  examined  by  whom  the  practice  with  the 
Earl  of  Hertford  was  propounded,  desired,  and  well 
liked  of;  her  ladyship  said  it  was  propounded  by 
Mr.  Owen,  and  (to  her  understanding)  desired  and 
well  liked  of  by  my  Lord  of  Hertford. 

Being  demanded  why  she  restrained  her  friends 
and  employed  such  as  were  likeliest  to  offend  the 
Earl  of  Hertford;  she  said  because  she  desired  to 
bring  it  to  light,  and  would  not  use  those,  that  (being 
of  credit)  might  have  bound  her  by  their  act. 

Being  demanded  who  persuaded  her  to  play  the 
fool  in  earnest ;  she  said  that  that  was  but  a  poetical 
fiction. 

Being  demanded  what  these  untrue  rumours,  unjust 
practices,  and  colourable  devices  were,  and  what  is 
meant  by  the  remote  parts  mentioned  ;  she  answered 
that  the  rumours,  etc.,  concerned  the  report  of  my 
Lord  of  Hertford's  people  in  the  country,  and  that 
she  accounted  the  remote  parts  to  be  those  which  are 
far  from  the  court. 

Being  demanded  who  the  gentleman  was  that  had 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  12$ 

tried  her  by  all  means,  and  knew  she  was  too  stout  to 
request  a  favour  since  she  might  command  it;  she 
said  that  she  meant  by  that  the  King  of  Scots :  the 
word  "command  "  was  an  error  of  the  pen  for  "  haste  "  * 
\these  words  added  in  Arabella's  own  hand~\. 

Being  demanded  who  it  was  against  whose  love  she 
had  long  stopped  her  ears,  though  he  never  requested 
anything,  but  was  more  for  her  good  and  honour  than 
his  own ;  she  said  that  it  was  the  King  of  Scots,  whose 
messenger,  Thomas  Nelson  [the  name  inserted  in 
Arabella's  hand\  had  been  shut  out  of  the  gates,  and 
yet  was  returned  again  in  this  time  (when  all  the 
world  had  forsaken  her)  with  a  very  kind  message, 
and  token  to  be  delivered  by  Nelson  from  Roger 
Aston,  but  yet  not  sent  for.  This  Nelson  dwelleth  at 
Elsor  Hall,  upon  my  Lady  Arbella's  land,  and  served 
some  time  the  King  of  Scots  last  dead. 

Being  demanded  what  the  gentleman  was  that  was 
so  worthily  favoured  by  her  Majesty,  and  had  done 
her  so  much  wrong,  and  wherein ;  she  answered  that 
it  was  the  King  of  Scots,  whom  her  Majesty  favoured 
so  much  as  for  fear  of  offending  him  she  might  not  be 
allowed  the  liberty  of  the  law  to  sue,  nor  to  send  into 
Scotland  to  claim  an  earldom,  or  the  recompense  for 
them  [//]. 

Being  demanded  who  it  was,  that  was  so  famous 
for  his  secrecy,  and  had  more  virtues  than  any  subject 
or  foreign  prince  ;  she  plainly  answered  that  it  was 
the  King  of  Scots. 

Being  demanded  who  it  was  that  had  done  many 
*  Perhaps  "  have"  is  meant. 


126  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

things  at  her  commandment,  and  promised  to  procure 
her  remove  from  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury's  custody  ; 
she  answered  that  Nelson  promised,  in  the  King  of 
Scots'  name,  to  endeavour  her  remove  by  her  Majesty's 
favour. 

Being  demanded  who  they  were  that  were  so  unruly 
in  their  love  and  ambition  ;  \no  answer  given  ;  Ara- 
bella probably  refused  from  prudential  motives,  since  she 
evidently  referred  to  some  about  the  queen,  to  answer 
this  question]. 

Being  demanded  what  this  gentleman  was  with 
whom  she  hath  dealt  so  unkindly,  shrewdly,  and 
proudly,  whom  she  hath  tried  as  gold  in  the  fire, 
and  hath  already  accepted  him,  and  confirmed  it,  and 
will  neither  repent  nor  deny  him,  whatsoever  befall 
her ;  she  answered  that  it  was  the  King  of  Scots, 
with  whom,  I  appeal  to  Nelson,  whether  I  have  dealt 
proudly  or  no. 

Being  demanded  who  it  was  she  had  loved  so  well 
ever  since  she  could  love,  as  she  could  never  hide  any 
thought  from  him,  unless  it  were  to  awe  him  a  little, 
and  to  make  him  weary  of  his  jealousy ;  she  said  the 
King  of  Scots. 

Being  demanded  what  the  noble  gentleman  was 
that  taught  her  to  prevent  one  errand  and  to  deliver 
another  with  a  safe  confidence  ^coincidence"  in  the 
copy\  to  speak  riddles  to  her  friends,  and  to  try  the 
truth  of  offered  love  ;  she  said  that  she  learned  those 
lessons  out  of  the  Bible,  by  the  King  of  Scotland's 
example,  who  proveth  all  things  by  Scripture. 

Being  demanded  who  assured  her  that  her  Majesty's 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3. 

offence  would  be  turned  into  laughter,  when  she 
should  see  the  honest  coming  of  the  contriver  to  such 
an  end  as  will  please  her  Majesty,  and  her  grand- 
mother, and  be  for  her  good  many  ways;  she  answered 
that  she  must  confess  that  it  was  one  of  her  sole 
conceits. 

Being  demanded  who  persuaded  her  to  enter  into 
some  great  action  to  win  reputation  to  herself,  to  try 
her  Majesty's  love,  to  try  her  friends,  and  prove  how 
she  could  make  strangers  effect  her  desires,  and  not 
be  beholden  to  them ;  she  said  it  was  the  desire  of 
some  in  this  country  to  see  some  of  our  own  family 
(by  a  quite  contrary  example)  recover  the  reputation 
which  others  had  lost  by  not  defending  the  weere- 
men  [?]  whom  themselves  set  on. 

Being  demanded  what  it  was  that  the  noble  gentle- 
man and  she  did  first  deliberately  consult,  and  after 
speedily  secrete,  which  they  knew  would  for  a  short 
time  offend  her  Majesty,  the  old  lady,  and  the  Earl  of 
Hertford,  but  in  the  end  will  be  a  most  acceptable 
service  to  her  Majesty,  and  the  best  that  ever  lady 
did  to  her  sovereign  and  mistress ;  she  said  that  this 
great  matter  was  John  Good's  *  despatch,  which,  though 
recalled  afterwards  by  myself,  took  effect,  which  I 
trust  in  the  end  will  be  acceptable  to-he,r  Majesty. 

Being  demanded  what  it  is  which  she  so  much 
desireth  that  her  Majesty  be  persuaded  was  not  done 
foolishly,  rashly,  falsely,  or  unworthy  herself;  \  she  said 
it  was  this  practice  of  the  Earl  of  Hertford,  for  which 
she  perceiveth  that  her  Majesty  condemneth  her. 

*  Dodderidge.  f  See  pp.  109,  no. 


128  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Being  demanded  what  her  meaning  is  by  requiring 
a  month's  space  to  clear  herself  in ;  she  answered  she 
desired  that  time  to  inform  herself  better  of  that 
practice,  to  the  end  her  Majesty  may  be  better  per- 
suaded of  her. 

Being  demanded  what  those  secrets  of  love  are 
which  she  promiseth  to  reveal  of  herself  and  others, 
whom  she  will  send  to  complain  of  themselves,  and 
what  the  things  are  whereof  she  will  inform  her 
Majesty,  having  already  no  \copy  has  "  some"]  suspicion 
of  them ;  she  answered  that  she  cannot  perform  this 
promise  till  her  friends  have  free  access  unto  her 
again,  which  as  yet  they  dare  not  take. 

Being  demanded  wherein  she  can  offend  my  Lord 
of  Shrewsbury,*  my  lady,  and  her  uncle  Charles ;  she 
said  she  could  do  that  by  discovering  their  dishonour- 
able dealings  towards  herself  many  ways. 

Being  demanded  what  the  injuries  were  which  were 
offered  to  this  worthy  gentleman  by  the  Earl  of 
Shrewsbury,  my  lady,  and  Sir  Charles,  and  what  the 
gentleman  was ;  she  said  that  the  party  was  the  King 
of  Scots,  and  the  wrongs  are  the  contemptuous  words 
and  scorns  which  they  often  do  utter  against  him  for 
whom  she  hath  forsaken  all  the  world,  her  Majesty 
only  excepted. 

Being  demanded  who  the  gentleman  is  that  would 
forsake  her  rather  than  offend  her  Majesty  never  so 
little ;  she  constantly  affirmeth  that  it  is  the  King  of 
Scots. 

*  See  p.  no,  note.  The  Earl  of  Shrewsbury  was  not  likely 
to  have  perilled  his  credit  with  James  (see  p.  201). 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  129 

Being  demanded  whose  counsel  she  hath  kept  these 
many  years,  and  will  do  whilst  she  live,  if  the  disclos- 
ing thereof  will  be  hurtful  to  him  or  his,  and  what  he 
is  whose  name  she  longeth  to  discover  to  her  Majesty, 
and  who  dareth  not  see  her  nor  send  but  by  stealth ; 
she  saith  that  it  is  the  King  of  Scots. 

Being  demanded  who  it  is  that  she  desireth  her 
Majesty  to  grace,  and  to  win  his  heart  from  her ;  she 
saith  that  it  is  the  King  of  Scots. 

Being  demanded  who  it  is  that  she  desireth  liberty 
to  send  to,  and  then  she  will  be  content  that  her 
grandmother  shall  see  all  his  letters,  and  reveal  them 
to  all  the  world  ;  she  saith  it  is  the  King  of  Scots. 

Being  demanded  who  that  gentleman  is  by  whose 
love  she  is  so  much  honoured  as  she  cannot  be 
ashamed  of  her  choice,  nor  would  stick  to  reveal  him 
if  she  durst  without  his  consent;  she  saith  it  is  the 
King  of  Scots. 

Being  demanded  whether  the  King  of  Scots  dare 
not  give  his  consent  till  he  have  pardon  for  himself 
and  his  friends  ;  she  answered  she  thinks  not. 

Being  demanded  who  those  friends  are  who  would 
be  content  to  die  for  her  Majesty's  sake,  after  they 
have  made  confession  to  her  Majesty  how  far  they 
have  offended  her ;  she  saith  that  many  are  signified 
by  one,  meaning  only  her  uncle  Henry,  who,  she  is 
persuaded,  being  commanded,  would  think  his  life 
best  bestowed  in  her  Majesty's  service. 

Being  demanded  whether  she  thought  that  her 
Highness  would  smile  at  these  follies,  and  accept  a 
present  from  her,  standing  in  no  better  terms  with 

VOL.  ii.  27 


130  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

her ;  she  saith  that  she  shall  never  think  herself  fully 
pardoned,  till  it  please  her  Majesty  to  accept  a  present 
from  her. 

Being  demanded  what  those  parts  are,  and  who  be 
the  players  that  must  impart  their  mutual  joys,  and 
make  themselves  merry  with  making  themselves  per- 
fect in  their  parts,  partly  forgotten  for  lack  of  con- 
ference, and  partly  not  understood ;  she  answered 
that  those  are  the  innocents  who  have  been  abused  in 
this  practice  by  the  Earl  of  Hertford,  as  she  is. 

Being  demanded  whom  she  will  send  to  her 
Majesty,  one  after  another,  without  acquainting  any 
creature  living  but  her  Majesty,  the  noble  gentleman, 
and  whom  it  pleaseth  them  two  to  acquaint ;  she 
answereth  that  she  cannot  determine  that  till  she 
speak  with  her  friends. 

Being  demanded  who  that  noble  gentleman  is ;  she 
said  the  King  of  Scots. 

Being  demanded  what  those  dark  speeches  are 
which  her  Majesty  by  her  letter  or  messenger  must 
unfold  before  she  will  reveal  them ;  she  answereth  all 
this  above  written. 

(Signed  in  her  own  hand)    ARBELLA  STUART. 

The  above  is  taken  from  the  transcript  made  in 
Sir  H.  Brounker's  hand  of  Arabella's  examination 
(No.  155),  the  answers  evidently  put  down  from 
her  mouth,  and  one  or  two  slight  corrections  or 
additions  made  by  herself.  Indorsed,  "3rd  March. 
Sir  H.  Brounker  being  sent  to  learn  the  particulars 
of  the  enquiry,  the  which  is  marked  A  [Arabella  ?], 
brought  this  from  her." 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  131 

No.  ii. 

No.  142.    Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  135. 

March  2,  1603. 

I  take  Almighty  God  to  witness,  I  am  free  from 
promise,  contract,  marriage,  or  intention  to  marry, 
and  so  mean  to  be  whilst  I  live,  and  nothing  whatso- 
ever shall  make  me  alter  my  long-settled  determina- 
tion, but  the  continuance  of  these  disgraces  and 
miseries,  and  the  peril  of  the  King  of  Scots  his  life, 
and  if  her  Majesty  continue  her  hard  opinion  of  me, 
and  I  continue  in  my  lady  my  grandmother's  hands,, 
then,  whatsoever  befall,  I  have  determined  of  a  course 
which,  if  it  please  her  Majesty  to  like  of,  will  be  for 
her  Majesty's  honour,  and  best  to  my  liking.  But 
yet  so  far  from  my  liking  is  it  to  marry  at  all,  that  I 
take  God  to  witness  I  should  think  myself  a  great 
deal  happier  of  the  sentence  of  death,  than  of  her 
Majesty's  choice,  or  allowance  of  my  choice,  suppose 
I  might  (as  I  am  far  unworthy  and  am  not  so  un- 
wise as  to  think)  have  my  choice  of  all  Europe,  and 
loved  and  liked  them  better  than  ever  I  did  or  shall- 
do  any.  The  reasons  whereof  I  have  delivered  to 
Sir  Henry  Brounker.  And  take  it  upon  my  soul  I  do 
not  dissemble  at  all  herein,  but  speak  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart,  as  I  shall  answer  it  to  God  and  her 
Majesty. 

I  presumed  to  draw  Sir  Henry  Brounker  hither  to 
an  allegory,  which  I  have  moralized  to  him,  and  how- 
soever it  please  her  Majesty  to  interpret  it,  I  protest 
I  thought  the  matters  I  have  declared  worthy  her 


132  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

Majesty's  knowledge,  and  durst  not  reveal  them  in 
plainer  sort  to  any  but  her  Majesty,  or  one  whom  it 
should  please  her  Majesty  so  strictly  to  command. 
It  may  be  my  scrupulous  fear  made  the  matters  seem 
greater  to  me  than  to  the  wiser,  and  therefore  I  may  be 
thought  presumptuous  in  that  earnest  begging  so  great 
a  favour,  but,  I  protest,  I  yet  take  them  to  be  so  im- 
portant, that  I  shall  think  myself  happier,  if  it  please 
her  Majesty  tc  pardon,  and  pass  them  over  in  silence, 
than  of  anything  whatsoever  happened  or  could 
happen  to  me ;  and  my  life  shall  be  discomfortable 
to  me  whilst  it  lasteth,  if  either  it  be  revealed  to  any 
but  the  unnamed  party,  till  I  see  how  it  will  please 
her  Majesty  to  deal  with  me.  And  if  it  please  her 
Majesty  to  consider  that  I  am  debarred  her  presence, 
nor  suffered  to  confer  with  my  friends,  nor  advertise 
her  Majesty,  without  acquainting  my  lady  my  grand- 
mother, which  I  neither  have  \done\  nor  dare  do  ;  and 
that  I  have  reason  to  doubt  all  my  actions  shall  receive 
the  hardest  interpretation,  especially  if  I  do  not  with 
speed  and  sincerity  deliver  them  to  her  Majesty,  sure 
of  whose  most  gracious  goodness,  I  with  most  dutiful 
thanks  acknowledge  all  the  favour  I  receive  in  this  or 
any  other  matter.  And  that  this  is  a  matter  which 
heretofore  would  have  been  offensive  to  her  Majesty, 
and  even  the  greatest  and  only  matter  wherein,  for 
all  the  space  of  my  life,  I  have  offended  her  Majesty 
voluntarily,  and  that,  being  in  my  opinion  forsaken  of 
all  the  world,  I  have  resolutely  and  with  a  settled 
determination  grounded  all  my  weak  hopes  and  com- 
fort upon  this,  I  confess,  doubtful  foundation,  but  the 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  133 

best  I  had  left,  now  her  Majesty's  favour,  which — might 
wishes  and  endeavours  have  prevailed — should  have 
been  my  only  rock  and  defence,  was  won  and  with- 
held from  me.  Which  {foundatiori\  shaken,  despair 
may  drive  me  for  mere  fear  to  misliked  courses,  and 
that  I  am  resolved  to  end  my  life  in  tears  and  solitari- 
ness, or  else  to  possess  her  Majesty's  gracious  opinion 
of  my  innocence  and  upright  dealing  as  I  have  de- 
served, or  else  to  do  worse  in  my  own  opinion.  And 
that  experience  had  taught  me  there  was  no  other 
way  to  draw  down  a  messenger  of  such  worth  from 
her  Majesty,  but  by  incurring  some  suspicion,  and 
having  no  ground  whereon  to  work  but  this,  and  this 
being  love.*  And,  being  bound  in  duty  and  conscience 
to  make  all  the  means  I  could  to  defend  myself  from 
perishing,  for,  if  her  Majesty's  favour  be  withdrawn,  I 
contemn  death,  torment,  or  whatsoever  can  be  in- 
flicted upon  the  most  grievous  offender,  I  adventured, 
and — oh  !  if  her  Majesty  do  not  more  graciously  con- 
ceive of  it — have  incurred  her  Highness's  indignation. 
But  yet  less  grievous  shall  it  be  to  me  now  than  at 
any  time  of  my  life  heretofore  it  hath  been,  because  I 
could  never  accuse  myself  before  of  giving  her  Majesty 
the  least  colour  of  just  offence,  and  I  protest  my  con- 
science doth  not  accuse  me  of  any  fault  herein,  but 
a  small,  honest,  necessary,  and  consequently  most 
pardonable,  presumption,  for  which  I  doubt  not  but 
to  obtain  pardon,  in  regard  of  the  satisfaction  and 

*  This  remark,  and  her  offers  on  the  next  page,  bear  out  our 
supposition  that  Arabella  was  misleading  the  authorities  when 
she  pretends  to  have  a  love-affair. 


134  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

expiation  I  offer  to  make  therefore,  which  I  know  will 
be  acceptable  to  her  Majesty,  and  were  sufficient 
penance  for  the  greatest  offence,  as  I  take  [//]  is  the 
smallest  that  ever  was  made.  First,  I  will  never 
trouble  her  Majesty  with  any  suit  hereafter,  but  forget 
my  long-desired  land,  and  confine  myself  to  close 
prison,  or  as  little  liberty  as  it  shall  please  her  Majesty, 
in  the  severest  rules  of  wisdom  and  policy,  to  allot 
me ;  and  think  it  the  highest  favour  I  can  possibly 
obtain,  for  I  perceive  daily  more  and  more,  to  my  in- 
creasing grief,  I  am  and  ever  hereafter  shall  be  more 
unfortunate  than  I  lately  thought  I  could  possibly  have 
been.  Secondly,  I  will  make  a  vow,  if  it  shall  please 
her  Highness  to  command,  upon  condition  I  may 
reobtain  her  Majesty's  favour,  and  have  my  dear  and 
due  liberty,  I  will  never  marry  whilst  I  live,  nor  enter- 
tain thought,  nor  conceal  any  such  or  other  matter 
whatsoever  from  her  Majesty,  which  I  shall  think 
worthy  for  her  Majesty  to  incline  her  princely  ear 
unto.  And  if  this  be  not  sufficient  reason  to  prove 
my  dealing  faultless,  or  at  least  pardonable,  or  this  be 
not  amends  sufficient,  I  must  confess  myself  void  of 
sense,  and  careless  of  anything  in  this  world  can 
happen  to  me,  for  my  cause  cannot  be  made  worse 
any  manner  of  way.  In  her  Majesty's  hand  it  is  to 
mend  it,  and  make  me  think  myself  as  happy  as  I  can 
be  (and  will  never  be  absolutely  I  perceive,  such 
treacherous  dealing  have  I  found  in  this  matter)  and 
in  God's  \time\  to  end  my  sorrows  with  death,  which 
only  can  make  me  absolutely  and  eternally  happy. 
(Indorsed,  "Arbella's  declaration,  2nd  March;" 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  135 

and  in  Arabella's  own  hand,  "  This  she  [her  grand- 
mother] also  gave  him " — probably  Sir  H.  Brounker. 
The  letter  is  very  much  blotted,  as  if  tears  had  fallen 
as  the  lady  wrote  it.) 


No.   12. 

Cecil  Papers,  v.  92,  f.  i. 
THE  DOWAGER  COUNTESS  OF  SHREWSBURY  to  SIR  J. 

STANHOPE  (VICE-CHAMBERLAIN)  AND  SIR  R.  CECIL. 

March  3,  1603. 

May  it  please  you,  Sir  H.  Brounker  will  make 
relation  of  all  that  hath  passed  here,  which  may  ease 
you  of  reading  and  keep  me  from  writing  of  a  long 
discourse,  of  that  which  to  my  infinite  grief  I  find. 
It  is  not  unknown  to  you  what  earnest  and  impor- 
tunate suit  my  unfortunate  Arbell  hath  made  for  Sir 
H.  Brounker's  coming  down.  I  was  in  hope  she 
would  have  discovered  somewhat  worth  his  travel, 
but  now  she  will  neither  name  the  party  to  whom 
she  hath  showed  to  be  so  affectionate,  nor  declare  to 
Sir  H.  Brounker  any  matter  of  moment,  spending  the 
time  in  idle  and  impertinent  discourses.  And  though 
Sir  H.  Brounker  hath  left  nothing  undone  that  might 
bring  her  to  conformity,  he  could  not  in  any  sort 
prevail  with  her,  though  she  put  him  in  hope  from 
time  to  time  that  she  would  name  the  party. 

If  it  had  lain  as  well  in  my  power  to  have  made 
all  things  plain  as  I  had  a  desire  to  further  Sir  H. 
Brounker's  service,  it  would  have  been  less  trouble 
to  him,  and  he  should  not  have  departed  with  such 


136  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

uncertainties.  This  is  the  fruit  of  them  that  have 
laboured  to  withdraw  her  natural  affection  from  me, 
and  to  persuade  her  to  all  these  vanities.  They 
little  respected  her  undoing  so  they  might  overthrow 
me  with  grief.  Soon  after  Sir  H.  Brounker's  departure 
hence,  I  look  she  will  fall  into  some  such  extremity 
of  making  wilful  vows  [i.e.  refusing  to  eat  or  drink 
or  to  see  her  grandmother  till  she  was  removed  from 
Hardwick\  as  she  did  lately.  She  said  before  Sir 
H.  Brounker  that  if  she  had  not  been  suffered  then 
to  remove  hence,  she  would  have  performed  her  vow, 
and  the  like  I  daily  doubt  she  may  do  upon  any  toy 
she  will  take  discontentment  at.  And  therefore  I 
most  earnestly  beseech  you  both  to  be  a  mean  to 
her  gracious  Majesty  for  her  speedy  remove ;  it  may 
be  the  change  of  place  will  work  some  alteration  in 
her.  Sir  H.  Brounker  can  testify  how  careful  I  am 
to  keep  her  quiet  till  I  may  understand  further  her 
Majesty's  pleasure.  She  most  vainly  hath  prefixed 
a  day  to  Sir  H.  Brounker  for  her  remove.  Both  he 
and  myself  advised  her  not  to  stand  on  days  or  times. 
She  is  so  wilfully  bent,  and  there  is  so  little  reason 
in  most  of  her  doings,  that  I  cannot  tell  what  to  make 
of  it.  A  few  more  weeks  as  I  have  suffered  of  late 
will  make  an  end  of  me.  Notwithstanding,  if  it  might 
be  for  her  Majesty's  service,  I  could  be  content  to 
spend  my  life ;  but  I  have  had  over-great  trial,  now 
that  she  is  brought  to  this  extremity,,  that  her  remaining 
here  is  like  to  breed  over-great  inconveniences  which 
will  not  lie  in  my  power  to  prevent. 

I  beseech  the  Almighty  for  ever  to   prosper  her 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  J37 

Highness,  and  to  send  you  all  honour  and  happiness 
and  myself  quietness  in  my  old  days. 

From  Hardwick,  this  3rd  of  March,  1602-3. 

No.   13. 
ARABELLA  TO  BROUNKER. 

Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  159  ;  and  copy,  f.  160. 

(Indorsed,  "March  4,  1602-3.  This  was  sent 
after  Sir  H.  Brounkerhad  come,"  in  the  copy  No.  160. 
Neither  the  letter  nor  the  copy  to  Lambeth  is  signed.) 

SIR  HENRY, — I  cannot  but  wonder  at  your  light 
belief  when  great  ones  tell  you  incredible  tales,  and 
incredulity  when  you  have  the  word  and  oath  of  a 
Puritan  for  a  certain  truth.  If  your  commission  be 
not  to  examine  such  great  ones  as  I  presume  to  accuse 
in  matters  of  truth,  alas  !  what  a  dwarf  am  I  thought 
at  court !  If  your  commission  stretch  not  beyond  the 
Albian  Cliffs  and  the  Cheviot  Hills,  I  would  I  were 
with  that  most  noble  gentleman  whom  I  constantly 
affirm  (but  will  not  swear)  to  be  the  King  of  Scots, 
and  then  we  should  agree  in  our  tales,  and  make  true 
English,  whereas  now  I  think  even  you  are  doubtful 
what  will  become  of  us.  Truly  I  can  tell,  and  I  will 
tell  you  truly,  even  as  I  told  you,  even  as  I  would 
have  it.  For  if  I  do  not,  or  rather  have  not  since  I 
saw  you,  broken  some  of  your  good  friends  of  their 
will,  I  am  greatly  deceived.  For  whereas  if  the  noble 
gentleman  you  would  needs  suspect  had  been  trans- 
ported by  some  Archimedes  *  to  Newstead,  as  miracu- 
*  See  Plutarch's  "Lives." 


138  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

lously,  especially  to  himself,  as  certain  Romans  (these 
Romans  were  full  of  unsuspicious  magnanimity)  were 
hoised  [hoisted]  over  the  walls  of  the  besieged  Syra- 
cuse, and  drawn  by  one  poor  scholar  (who  lightly  are 
not  the  wisest  nor  strongest  faction)  through  the 
town ;  which  feat  I  think,  unless  you1  will  believe  for 
the  author,  my  disgraced  friend  Plutarch's  sake,  you 
are  like  never  to  see  executed  by  any  architect, 
mathematician,  or  engineer  living — I  will  not  swear, 
but  I  tell  you  as  I  think.  Now,  suppose  he  should 
land  at  Bludworth  Haven,  and  come  attended  with 
five  hundred,  as  I  think  that  is  the  smallest  number 
he  is  answerable  for,  and  that  dare  answer  for  his 
good  behaviour  even  at  this  present  time,  I  will  not, 
no,  I  will  be  sworn  (if  you  minister  the  oath)  I  will 
not,  if  I  can  choose,  see  him,  nor  speak  to  him  I 
vow  (for  I  can  rule  my  tongue,  howsoever  I  be  over- 
ruled otherwise)  till  he  have  been  at  court,  and  upon 
his  oath  and  allegiance — and,  but  that  you  courtiers 
are  wonderfully  hard-hearted  and  slow  of  belief,  his 
word  might  be  sufficient  in  a  greater  matter — 
[declared]  that  he  never  had  such  a  thought  as  you — 
God  forgive  you — would  impute  unto  him,  so  highly 
to  offend  her  Majesty  for  an  imaginary  device  of 
them  who  would  shroud  their  own  practice  under  his 
honoured  name.  This  is  but  the  device,  I  say,  of 
some  great  ones  who  would  make  you  believe  miracles 
(for  if  you  do  not  they  are  half  undone),  or  else  of  my 
little,  little  love,  that  you  knew  not  how  to  understand, 
though  1  think  you  meditated  on  my  last  words  all 
night  till  you  called  me  to  a  rehearsal  in  the  morning, 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  J39 

and  I  thought  \if\  scarce  worth  the  little,  little  labour 
of  reiterating  to  your  ears,  stopped  with  the  enchant- 
ments of  deluders  in  such  a  crooked  dump  (for  there 
is  altum  silentium  betwixt  us)  that  I  would  not  be 
entreated  and  could  not  be  constrained  to  speak  one 
word  more  than  was  very  necessary  till  this  morning. 
And  now,  because  I  am  accountable  for  idle  words, 
which  is  much,  and  idle  conceits,  which  is  more,  and 
cannot  entreat  you  to  stay  so  long  as  to  satisfy  your 
own  eyes  and  ears  with  the  visible  truth  which  is 
most  unkindly  done  of  you,  I  pray  you  understand 
that  after  my  cousin  M.  and  I  had  spent  a  little 
breath  in  evaporating  certain  court  smoke,  which, 
converted  into  sighs,  made  some  eyes  besides  ours 
run  a-water,  we  walked  in  the  great  chamber,  for  fear 
of  wearing  the  mats  in  the  gallery  (reserved  for  you 
courtiers),  as  sullenly  as  if  our  hearts  had  been  too 
great  \_fulf]  to  give  one  another  a  good  word,  and  so 
to  dinner.  After  dinner  I  went  in  reverent  sort  to 
crave  my  lady  my  grandmother's  blessing.  Which 
done,  her  ladyship  proved  me  a  true  prophet,  and  you 
either  a  deceived  or  deceiving  courtier ;  for  after  I 
had,  with  the  armour  of  patience,  borne  of  (sic)  a 
volley  of  most  bitter  and  injurious  words,  at  last, 
wounded  to  the  heart  with  false  epithets,  and  an 
unlooked-for  word,  only  defending  myself  with  a 
negative  (which  was  all  the  words  I  said,  but  not 
that  I  could  have  said  in  my  defence),  I  made  a 
retreat  to  my  chamber,  which  I  hoped  by  your 
charter  *  should  have  been  a  sanctuary,  you  came 

*  Brounker  had   no   doubt  given   Elizabeth's   message   that 
Arabella  should  be  left  free. 


I4O  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

with  authority,  as  you  said,  and  I  saw  it  under  two 
hands  \CeciFs  and  Stanhopes  signatures  that  might 
have  made  any  but  me  believe  your  word  should  have 
gone  as  current  as  the  word  of  a  prince,  or  the  Great 
Seal  of  England — by  which  I  might  have  recovered 
a  little  land  which  a  most  noble  great-great  uncle  * 
of  mine  gave  his  niece  when  he  bestowed  her  of  \on\ 
a  noble  exiled  gentleman — but  I  knew  by  what  was 
past  what  would  be,  and  provided  thereafter.  I 
stand  greatly  upon  my  reputation,  and  therefore, 
resolutely  leaving  my  weary  standing,  went  away  (but 
did  not  run  away,  nor  ever  meant  it,  I  assure  you) 
a  good  sober  pace,  and  though  my  ears  were  battered 
on  one  side  with  a  contemned,  and  in  truth  con- 
temptible storm  of  threatenings,  with  which  my  lady 
my  grandmother  thought  to  have  won  my  resolved 
heart  (as  my  little  love  hath  done),  and  on  the  other 
[side]  summoned  to  a  parley  with  my  uncle  William, 
I,  rather  doubting  to  come  to  the  loss  by  being  under- 
mined (for  the  West  and  Derbyshire  and  Wales  are 
full  of  rich  mines,  and  consequently  passing  cunning 
miners,  else  why  should  courtiers  take  the  pains  to 
oversee  them  ?  and  the  office  of  the  Stannaries  f  is  both 
honourable  and  profitable)  than  that,  deaf  asp  as  I  am, 
I  feared  to  be  won  to  my  loss  to  a  dishonourable 
composition,  for  I  stand  upon  points  of  honour,  went 

*  Henry  VI IT.  to  Margaret  Douglas. 

t  Stannaries — Tin  mines.  The  Stannaries  of  Cornwall  and 
Devon  are  incorporated  in  the  royal  Duchy  of  Cornwall,  and 
are  under  one  Duchy  officer,  called  the  Lord  Warden  of  the 
Stannaries,  with  a  Vice-Warden  for  each  county. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  141 

my  way  without  so  much  as  looking  behind  me  (for 
fear  of  Eurydice's  relapse).  And,  vowing  I  would 
never  answer  to  those  names  by  which  I  was  called 
and  recalled  and  cried  out  upon  (for  if  I  should  my 
love  might  be  ashamed  of  me,  as  now  he  may  well 
be  of  himself),  I  took  my  way  down  with  a  heavy 
heart,  and,  being  followed  by  them,  it  might  better 
have  become  us  both  I  should  have  followed,  I  was 
fain  to  set  a  good  face  on  bad  fortune,  and  there  we 
had  another  skirmish,  where  you  and  I  sat  scribbling 
till  twelve  of  the  clock  at  night.  But  I,  finding  myself 
scarce  able  to  stand  on  my  feet,  what  for  my  side  and 
what  for  my  head,  yet  with  a  commanding  voice,  called 
a  troop  of  such  viragoes,*  as  Virgil's  Camilla  [</*#], 
that  stood  at  the  receipt  in  the  next  chamber,  and,  never 
entreating  them  to  give  or  take  blows  for  my  sake, 
was  content  to  send  you  the  first  news  of  this  conflict 
But  though  he  were  my  own  man  I  sent  for,  yet  he 
being  not  so  forward  as  certain  voluntaries  you  know 
to  go  on  my  errand,  I  set  me  down  in  patience  and 
fell  a-scribbling,  my  lady  my  grandmother  and  my 
uncle  little  knew'what  or  to  whom,  though  they  looked 
on,  till,  having  written  what  I  thought  good,  whilst 
they  talked  what  they  thought  good,  I  was  not  only 
content  to  let  them  know  it  was  to  you,  but  to  read 
it  to  them;  and  immediately  leaving  the  disadvan- 
tageous chamber,  where  nobody  could  hear  me  or 
durst  come  at  me,  I  went  down  a  little  lower,  not 
pressed  down  with  one  abject  thought  of  yielding,  but 
because  I  thought  there  to  have  found  some  of  my 
*  Her  waiting-women. 


142  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

regiment.  And  so  I  did,  for  there  was  Key  talking 
with  a  gentlewoman  (what  they  said  I  never  examined), 
and  there  I  made  a  stand,  bethinking  myself  whom 
to  send,  because  they  receive  such  rude  entertainment 
that  it  were  enough  to  make  me  destitute  of  mes- 
sengers, if  it  stood  upon  the  loss  of  my  life  to  send 
to  my  love.  But,  raising  my  spirits  with  the  assured 
fair  words  of  certain  hopeful  young  men,  who  do  just 
as  I  did  therein  without  other  reason  or  warrant  than 
my  pleasure  and  service,  I  went  up  to  the  great 
chamber,  and  there  I  found  a  troop  of,  for  my  sake, 
malcontents,  taking  the  advantage  of  the  fire  to  warm 
them  by,  till  the  sun  shining  on  our  world  with  hotter 
and  further  distant  beams  make  it  needless ;  and 
amongst  them  one  that  I  little  thought  had  been 
there  :  who  was  that,  Sir  Henry  ?  My  sudden  appari- 
tion coming  alone  through  the  hall,  and  coming  in 
at  that  door  where  they  least  looked  I  should,  made 
a  sudden  alteration  and  wonderment  amongst  them, 
for  they  that  stood  shrunk  back  as  if  they  had  been 
afraid  of  me,  and  certain  auxiliaries  (which  I  both  left 
and  found  walking  round  with  their  shrinking  fellows), 
and  with  a  general  putting  off  of  hats,  to  the  end  I 
should  not  doubt  they  would  stop  their  ears  against 
me,  perchance  expected  I  should  have  yielded  them 
a  reason  of  my  going  out  at  one  door  and  coming  in 
at  another.  But  I  without  ceremony,  directing  my 
speech  to  the  unnamed  young  man,*  who  stood  with 
his  hat  in  his  hand  and  my  glove  in  his  hat,  said,  as 
this  bearer  can  witness,  and  so  for  brevity's  sake 
*  Probably  Chaworth  (see  later). 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  143 

leaving  that  to  this  bearer's  report,  my  undaunted 
and  most  trusty  servant.  What  happened  after  were 
tedious  to  write,  for  you  care  not  what  becomes  of  me, 
nor  I  neither  greatly ;  for  I  am  resolved,  and  knowing 
my  own  invincible  power  of  uncorruptible  assistance 
(even  the  best  of  Heaven,  lest  you  should  think  I  have 
changed  my  mind  since  I  told  you  there  was  no  trust 
in  man),  stand  upon  my  guard,  and,  setting  my  heart 
at  rest  and  a  watch  before  my  lips,  have  fortified  my 
weak  body  as  well  as  I  can ;  and  getting  all  the 
munition  of  comfort  and  patience  that  the  country 
will  afford  me  or  my  little  circuit  is  capable  of,  resolve 
rather  to  endure  a  ten  years'  siege,  and  even  lose  my 
Hector,  than  you  shall  get  my  love  into  your  danger 
that  deal  thus  with  me.  Are  you  not  ashamed  to  see 
your  word  thus  broken  before  you  be  at  your  lodging  ? 
Truly  by  your  letter  methinks  not,  for  it  seems  you 
are  no  sooner  gone  hence  but  you  forget  and  mistake 
all  you  hear  or  see  concerning  me.  But  the  noble 
George,  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  presuming  on  his  god- 
son's word  to  him  that  he  would  not  suffer  his  word 
to  be  broken,  though  he  had  no  commission  to 
promise  a  rebel  pardon,  yet,  as  you  did,  assured  a 
sometime  noble  gentleman  and,  till  he  was  a  traitor, 
friend  of  his,  to  put  h'is  life  in  his  hands,  and  he  did 
so,  and  as  it  proved  with  him  so  may  it  prove  with 
my  love ;  for  he  is  at  your  discretion,  and  not  mine, 
if  he  "have  deserved  it  as  I  trow  riot,  but  I  will  not 
swear  for  him,  but  for  myself  I  will 

Here  the  letter  breaks  off,  with  no  signature,  ending, 
or  date. 


144  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

No.  14. 

Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  ibid.,  f.  164. 
(Indorsed,   "March  4,   1602-3.      Lady  Arbella  to 

Sir  Henry  Brounker.") 

March  4,  1603. 

SIR  HENRY, — This  gentleman,  Mr.  Chaworth  can 
witness  my  many,  great,  and  increased  wrongs  which, 
if  you  will  not  believe,  I  cannot  help ;  if  you  do,  and 
help  not  to  redress  to  your  power,  I  think  you  do  not 
discharge  the  charge  imposed  on  you  by  her  Majesty 
to  see  my  treatment  according  to  my  condition  and 
desert,  nor  the  trust  I  have  reposed  in  your  sincerity 
and  fair  promises.  Unregarded  menaces  I  assure 
you  shall  neither  daunt  me,  nor  the  worst  that  any 
mortal  creature  can  do  unto  another  shall  not  extort 
a  thought  out  of  my  mouth.  Fairer  means  might 
have  laden  you  home  with  that  treasure  you  came 
for  without  a  quittance ;  but  now  I  have  no  more  to 
say  to  you,  but  I  will  say  no  more,  think,  say,  or  do 
what  you  list. 

Hardwick,  this  Friday. 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

P.S. — I  deal  better  with  you  than  you  with  me,  for 
I  do  not  torture  you  with  expectation,  nor  promise 
better  than  I  will  perform.  Damnata  jam  luce  ferore. 

Outside  is  written,  "This  was  sent  after  Sir  Henry 
Brounker  came."  Addressed  to  "Sir  H.  Brounker, 
Lambeth  Marsh." 


THE  MISTER*    OF  1602-3.  145 

No.  15. 

Same  to  the  same,  also  Lambeth  Marsh. 
Holograph.     Ibid.,  f.  165. 

March  6,  1603. 

SIR  HENRY, — This  day  of  rest  doth  not  privilege 
my  travelling  mind  from  employing  my  restless  pen 
in  performing  part  of  my  promise  in  sending  up 
certain  innocents  to  play  their  parts  like  Adam's 
regenerate  children.  If  it  please  you  to  examine  this 
long  since  offered  and  newly  entertained  servant  of 
mine,  what  matters  of  profit  and  love  his  young  years 
have  been  crossed  in,  and  he  make  as  good  a  rehearsal 
as  he  did  loverlike  and  gentlemanlike  partly  deliver, 
partly  forget,  and  partly  excuse  his  first  employment 
hither,  it  will  neither  be  impertinent  nor  unpleasant 
for  you  to  hear.  His  errand  to  you  is  no  more  at  this 
time  but  to  know  if  you  will  admit  him  for  an  actor ; 
his  part  is  in  penning,  and  if  it  please  you  to  let  me 
know  anything  concerning  myself,  it  shall  be  welcome 
whatsoever  \it  is]  coming  from  you.  You  shall  shortly 
have  a  resident  within  few  miles  of  you,  by  whom  you 
may  satisfy  your  inquisitiveness  and  still  new  springing 
cavils.*  In  the  mean  time,  Almighty  God  be  with 
you,  most  worthy  knight 

Hardwick,  this  Sunday. 

Your  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

*  Frivolous  objections,  sophisms. 
VOL.  II.  28 


146  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

No.  1 6. 

Same  to  the  same,  at  Lambeth  Marsh. 
Holograph.     Ibid.,  f.  166. 

March  7,  1603. 

SIR  HENRY, — I  sent  my  page  this  afternoon  into 
my  quondam  study  chamber,  which  he  might  not  be 
suffered  to  enter,  much  less  I  to  receive  the  comfort 
and  good  counsel  of  my  dead  counsellors  and  com- 
forters. If  you  think  to  make  me  weary  of  my  life 
and  to  conclude  it  according  to  Mr.  Starkey's  tragical 
example,  you  are  deceived ;  if  you  mean  to  shorten 
the  time  for  your  friends'  sake,  you  are  deceived  in 
that  too,  for  such  means  prevail  not  with  me.  If  you 
think  it  her  Majesty's  pleasure  her  commandment 
should  either  be  unjustly  pretended  or  covertly  and 
cunningly  infringed,  I  hope  it  is  not  her  Majesty's 
meaning  nor  your  delusive  dealing,  and  sure  I  am 
it  is  neither  for  her  Majesty's  honour  nor  your  credit 
I  should  be  thus  dealt  withal.  Your  will  be  done. 
I  recommend  my  innocent  cause  and  wrongfully 
wronged  and  wronging  friend  to  your  consideration 
and  God's  holy  protection,  to  whom  only  be  ascribed 
all  honour,  praise,  and  glory  for  now  and  for  ever, 
Amen.  For  all  men  are  liars.  There  is  no  trust  in 
man,  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils.  And  the  day 
will  come  when  they  that  judge  shall  be  judged,  and 
He  that  now  keepeth  their  counsel  and  seemeth  to 
wink  at  iniquity,  and  suffer  it  to  prosper  like  the 
green  bay  tree,  will  root  out  deep-rooted  pride  and 
malice,  and  make  his  righteousness  shine  like  the 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  147 

noonday.  I  was  half  a  Puritan  before,  and  Mr. 
Holford,  who  is  one  whatsoever  I  be,  hath  shortened 
your  letter,  and  will  shorten  the  time  more  than  you 
all,  as  he  hath  already  driven  me  [from]  my  lady  my 
grandmother's  presence  with  laughter,  which,  upon 
just  cause,  you  owe  me  good  witness  I  cannot  forbear. 
Farewell,  good  knight. 

Your  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

Monday. 

No.  17. 
LADY  ARBELLA  TO  SIR  HENRY  BROUNKER. 

Holograph      Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  130. 

Probably  March  9,  1603. 

SIR, — As  \when\  you  were  a  private  person  I  found 
all  humanity  and  courtesy  from  you,  and  whilst  I  live 
will  thankfully  acknowledge  it,  and  with  all  humility 
and  duty  yield  her  Majesty  more  due  thanks  for  first 
choosing  and  after,  upon  my  humble  suit,  re-employ- 
ing you,  than  for  any  or  all  the  favours  I  have 
received  from  her  Majesty  since  my  birth  to  this 
day,  and  if  they  were  all  set  together  it  far  exceedeth 
them  all. 

But  your  commission  was,  as  it  seemed,  so  strangely 
strait  that  it  was  not  possible  her  Majesty's  expecta- 
tions should  be  better  satisfied,  which,  as  I  know  it 
proceeded  not  of  her  Majesty's  gracious  disposition, 
so  was  it  not  altogether  'long  of  me  but  others  I 
dealt  as  I  did,  and  you  perceived  some  truths  which 


148  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

I  confessed  not,  as  you  promised  some  favours  I 
found  not.  When  it  shall  please  her  Majesty  to 
afford  me  those  ordinary  rights  which  other  subjects 
cannot  be  debarred  of  justly,  I  shall  endeavour  to 
receive  them  as  thankfully  now  as  if  they  had  been 
in  due  time  offered ;  though  the  best  part  of  my  time 
be  past,  wherein  (my  heart  being  not  so  seasoned 
with  sorrow  as  it  is)  comfort  should  have  been  wel- 
come, and  better  bestowed  because  my  heart  was  not 
then  overworn  with  just  unkindness  [resentment]  and 
sorrow,  hath  been  capable  of  joy,  and  thankfully  glad 
of  every  small  kindness  or  favour.  They  are  dead 
whom  I  loved;  they  have  forsaken  me  in  whom  I 
trusted;  I  am  dangerous  to  my  guiltless  friends;  in 
all  respects,  if  it  were  not  because  they  are  my  friends, 
as  worthy  her  Highness's  favourable  countenance,  as 
their  unjustly,  to  my  disgrace  and  their  hurt,  favoured 
enemies.  So  that  I  must  conclude,  as  a  private  person, 
I  would  trust  you  as  soon  as  any  gentleman  I  know, 
upon  so  small  acquaintance ;  but  while  her  Majesty 
referreth  the  managing  of  every  matter  to  those  two 
councillors,*  her  Majesty  shall  be  abused.  For  I  am 
able  to  prove  her  Majesty  is  highly  abused  in  this 
matter,  and  I  dare  say  no  more  than  I  have,  and  will 
rather  lose  my  life  than  utter  one  word  more  than 
I  have  done.  Nay,  I  will  rather  dishonour  myself  so 
much  [as]  to  deny  what  I  have  affirmed,  than  commit 
my  cause  to  their  partial  examination  and  relation. 

You  delivered  me  at  your  first  coming  a  most  gracious 
message,  wherein    I   apparently  discerned   the   long 
*  Sir  William  Cecil  and  Sir  John  Stanhope. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  149 

diswonted  beams  of  her  Majesty's  gracious  inclination 
to  me.  I  sincerely  delivered  the  truth,  and  was 
rewarded  with  a  most  hard  censure,  and  frustration 
of  my  most  earnest  and  reasonable  suits  that  I  might 
attend  on  her  Majesty,  or  be  from  my  grandmother 
at  least.  But  my  wooden  yoke  was  made  of  iron,  and 
I  can  bear  it  as  long  as  I  think  good  to  convince 
them  that  impose  it  of  hardness  of  heart ;  and  shake 
it  off  when  I  think  good  to  take  my  Christian  liberty, 
which  either  shall  be  apparently  [openly]  denied  me, 
and  the  whole  world  [fold~\  upon  what  cause  or  colour 
or  how  justly  given  or  taken,  and  by  whom  ;  or  must 
be  prevented  by  a  reflux  of  her  Majesty's  favour  to  me 
in  greater  measure  than  I  have  hitherto  found.  Which 
[favour]  I  do  not  doubt  of,  if  it  would  please  her 
Majesty  to  take  that  course  which  her  royal  inclination 
would  take  to  those  of  her  own  blood,  if  it  were  not, 
to  my  great  astonishment,  diverted  from  them  to 
these  two  councillors'  kindred.  They  favour  their 
kindred  against  her  Majesty's ;  her  Majesty  defendeth 
not  her  innocent,  unstained  blood  against  their  malice. 
Doth  her  Majesty  favour  the  Lady  Katharine's  hus- 
band *  more  than  the  Earl  of  Essex's  friend?  Are 
the  Stanhopes  and  Cecils  able  to  hinder  or  diminish 
the  good  reputation  of  a  Stuart,  her  Majesty  being 
judge?  Have  I  stained  her  Majesty's  blood  by  un- 
worthy or  doubtful  marriage  ?  Have  I  claimed  my 
land  these  eleven  years,  though  I  had  her  Majesty's 
promise  I  should  have  it?  And  hath  my  Lord  of 
Hertford  regarded  her  Majesty's  express  command- 
*  The  Earl  of  Hertford. 


150  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

ment,  and  threatened  and  felt  indignation  so  much  ? 
Have  I  forbore  so  long  to  send  to  the  King  of  Scots 
to  expostulate  his  unkindness,  and  declare  my  mind 
to  him  in  many  matters,  and  have  no  more  thanks  for 
my  labour?  Doth  it  please  her  Majesty  to  command 
me  by  her  letter,  in  Mr.  Secretary's  hand,  to  my 
grandmother,  to  be  suddenly  examined  for  avoiding 
excuses,  and  will  it  not  please  her,  by  a  letter  of  her 
own  hand,  to  command  that  which  her  Majesty 
cannot  command  as  my  sovereign,  but  as  my  most 
honoured,  loved,  and  trusted  kinswoman  ?  Shall  I 
many  weeks  expect  what  I  most  earnestly  begged  and 
longed  for ;  and  must  I  reveal  the  secrets  of  my  heart, 
importing  my  soul,  my  life,  all  I  hold  dear  in  this 
world,  in  a  shorter  time  than  at  your  now  first  coming 
I  told  you  I  could,  when  it  seems  her  Majesty  careth 
not  for  knowing  anything  concerning  me  but  to  break 
my  just  desires  ?  Shall  Mr.  Holford  be  sent  for  by 
commission,  and  I  not  \have\  commission  to  send  for 
whom  I  will,  and  I  not  protest  I  have  hard  measure  ? 
Who  can  grant  out  the  commission  which  can  even 
in  good  nature,  good  manners,  or  equity  require  such 
a  confession  ?  Have  I  concealed  this  matter  thus 
long  from  friends,  servants,  kinsfolk — all  the  world — 
to  reveal  it  now  ? 

John  Good  *  was  so  extremely,  cunningly,  and 
partially  handled,  and  I  so  injuriously  entreated,  that 
they,  who  have  either  occasioned,  executed,  furthered, 
or  suffered  such  rigour  to  light  on  me  and  so  long  to 
continue,  may  thank  themselves  if  they  have  lost  all 
*  Dodderidge. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  I5I 

the  interest  of  voluntary  obedience  they  had  in  me. 
Do  you  think,  I  say,  that  I  will  reveal  that  to  my 
servants  or  friends  now,  which  shall  be  prejudicial  for 
them  to  be  suspected  to  guess  at,  much  more  to  know, 
much  more  to  conceal  ?  I  can  assure  you  all  that 
are  of  my  counsel  are  out  of  all  possibility  of  danger, 
and  out  of  your  reach.  Neither  doth  her  Majesty's 
commandment  prevail  so  far,  though  her  fame  and 
entreaty  be  everywhere  glorious  and  powerful.  A.nd 
for  myself,  I  will  rather  spit  my  tongue  in  my  ex- 
aminer or  torturer's  face,  than  it  shall  be  said,  to  the 
dishonour  of  her  Majesty's  abused  authority  and  blood, 
an  extorted  truth  came  out  of  my  lips.  It  would  have 
been  an  eternal  honour  to  her  Majesty  that  she,  whom 
neither  the  Privy  Signet  nor  the  Great  Seal  of  Eng- 
land had  availed  in  great  matters  and  ordinary  courses, 
durst  trust  the  two  first  lines  of  her  sovereign's  hand 
(after  such  a  retrograde  course  as  hath  been  held 
against  me  these  many  years)  with  that  infinitely  dear 
adventure.  If  her  Majesty  hath  regarded  my  con- 
tentment, or  most  bitter  tears  of  discontent  heretofore, 
I  may  hope  her  Highness  may  do  so  hereafter.  And 
so  her  Highness  hath,  when  a  noble  and  unentreated 
mediator,*  who  now  holdeth  his  peace,  hath  delivered 
his  opinion  of  my  treatment.  But  I  am  grown  a 
woman,  and  therefore,  by  her  Majesty's  own  saying, 
am  not  allowed  the  liberty  of  granting  lawful  favours 
to  princely  suitors.  How,  then,  dare  subjects  justify 

*  She  probably  refers  to  Lord  Burghley,  who  did  his  best  for 
her  rights  as  regarded  her  Scotch  heritage,  and  was  also  very 
kind  to  her  as  a  child. 


I$2  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

their  most  justifiable  affection?  It  is  a  sufficient 
reason  for  a  counsellor  or  judge,  in  excuse  of  staying 
and  crossing  the  due  course  of  law  in  suits  of  great 
importance,  that  the  wronged  gentleman  is  my  dearest 
friend,  and  I  take  God  to  record  I  have  deserved  a 
great  deal  more  friendship  of  him  than  I  find.  How 
dare  others  visit  me  in  my  distress,  when  the  Earl  of 
Essex,  then  in  highest  favour,  durst  scarcely  steal  a  salu- 
tation in  the  privy  chamber,  where,  howsoever  it  pleased 
her  Majesty  I  should  be  disgraced  in  the  presence 
at  Greenwich,  and  discouraged  in  the  lobby  at  White- 
hall, it  pleased  her  Majesty  to  give  me  leave  to  gaze 
on  her,  and  by  trial  pronounce  me  an  eaglet  of  her 
own  kind,  worthy  even  yet  (but  for  my  ^obliterated^ 
to  carry  her  thunderbolt,  and  prostrate  myself  at  her 
feet  (the  Earl  of  Essex's  fatal,  ill-sought,  unobtained 
desire)  as  any  Hebe,  whose  disgraces  may  be  blushingly 
concealed  but  not  unseen,  or  Ganymede,  though  he 
may  minister  nectar  in  more  acceptable  manner? 
But  whither  do  my  thoughts  transport  me  now?  Let 
me  live  like  an  owl  in  the  wilderness,  since  my 
Pallas  will  not  protect  me  with  her  shield. 

You  saw  what  a  despair  the  greatness  of  my  enemies 
and  the  hard  measure  I  have  received  (and  my  fortune 
is  not  yet  bettered)  drove  innocent,  discreet,  learned, 
and  godly  Mr.  Starkey  into  :  will  you  be  guilty  of  more 
blood  ?  You  saw  what  misconceits  you  bred  in  him 
after  twelve  years'  experience  of  me  in  such  sort  that 
he  did  not  believe  my  true  grief,  whereof  he  was  an 
eye-witness,  and  suspected  me  of  a  monstrous  fault, 
which  by  his  own  testimony  he  had  no  reason  for, 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  153 

but  what  somebody  told  him  some  untruth  of  me. 
And  shall  I  not  think  the  examined  and  wrong  in- 
censed nobility  *  will  not  impute  their  wrongs  to  me, 
who  am  so  unjustly  under  two  councillors'  hands,  by 
her  Majesty's  silent  assent,  instituted  the  author  of 
this  action?  For  the  passion  of  God  let  me  come 
to  my  trial  in  this  my  prison  instantly,  and  I  doubt 
not  but  my  messenger  pathetically  declared  my  woeful 
plight,  which  others,  without  entreaty  or  commission, 
offered  and  will  redress,  and  yet  they  know  but  a 
small  part  of  what  you  know,  and  yet  enough  for  me, 
I  thank  God,  and  no  more  than  a  hundred  more  do, 
who  are  like  to  corrupt  (if  that  be  corruption)  some 
that  yet  were  never  corrupted,  to  some  of  my  idle 
conceits.  Therefore  lay  the  axe  to  the  root  of  the 
tree  in  time,  and  let  me  lose  my  head,  which  for  less 
cause  and  upon  no  ground  but  my  friends'  faults,  her 
Majesty  hath  threatened  to  take,  as  I  told  you,  whilst 
nobody  will  hinder  it,  and  \which  penalty\  I  shall  joy- 
fully and  thankfully  receive  as  God  receive  my  soul. 
And  [/]  long  to  hear  you  have  made  that  most  earnest 
and  humble  suit  of  mine,  but  it  must  be  in  your  own 
name,  for  else  it  will  not  be  granted  ;  and  if  my  Lord 
of  Hertford  will  lend  his  helping  hand,  and  the  two 
councillors  (for  his  sake,  or  what  other  private  or  public 
respect  soever  makes  them  deal  thus  sinisterly  with 
me,  who  would  presume  to  have  and  take  the  upper 
hand  of  the  best  of  them,  but  for  her  Majesty's  known 
pleasure  of  derogating  from  my  due  many  ways),  \wisti\ 
to  write  their  bloody  pleasure  in  her  Majesty's  name, 
*  The  Earl  of  Hertford. 


154  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

my  messenger  shall  diligently  attend,  or  I  doubt  not 
but  they  may  find  enough  ready  enough  to  go  of  their 
errand,  specially  to  such  an  end.  Her  Majesty  I  know 
would  be  highly  offended  to  have  such  a  matter  effected 
without  her  Highness's  liking;  but  what  will  not  or 
cannot  one  of  them  do,  and  gild  over  with  some 
colourable  rule  of  policy,  or  of  love  and  duty  in  far 
more  respectful  sort  than  it  is  performed  by  them, 
who  cannot  keep  their  own  counsel,  how  would  they 
mine  if  they  knew  it  ?  I  know  her  Majesty  would  be 
highly  offended  at  them,  and  conceive  a  more  gracious 
opinion  of  me,  when  I  have  declared  and  compared 
some  of  their  dealing  and  some  of  mine,  which  I  will 
prepare  to  send  to  you  by  Mr.  Chaworth,  when  he  is 
able  to  fetch  them ;  and  what  dealing  I  am  like  to 
receive  from  you  I  shall  judge  by  that  he  bring  me 
from  you,  whatsoever  it  be.  Let  it  not  be  ambiguous, 
and  it  shall  be  unfeignedly  welcome  coming  from  you, 
fully  as  much  as  it  deserves.  You  will  needs  deceive 
yourself  contrary  to  your  own  knowledge  :  why  do  you 
think  I  will  not  grant  that  in  your  absence  which  you 
could  not  obtain  whilst  you  were  here?  Admit  I  had 
been  in  love,  and  would  have  declared  his  name,  I 
assure  you  on  my  faith  I  would  have  delivered  it  you 
in  writing,  and  by  my  good  will  have  seen  you  no 
more  after  till  I  had  been  out  of  fear  of  blushing, 
which,  though  I  did  not,  as  I  think,  while  you  were 
here,  I  should  have  done,  or  at  least  did,  within  few 
days  after  you  were  gone.  But  here  was  some  cause, 
though  very  little,  but  it  was  true,  and  no  supposition 
or  false  accusation,  which  wrought  that,  with  me, 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  155 

unusual  effect ;  which  I  am  lother  to  be  accused  of, 
though  it  be  but  a  very  fallible  conjecture  even  with 
me,  than  by  the  false  tongues  of  as  many  as  list  to 
conspire  with  my  enemies  in  uttering,  soothing,* 
[or]  augmenting  their  authorized  lies. 

And  therefore,  whatsoever  another  would  do,  I  know 
and  assure  you  I  would  rather  write  than  speak  my 
mind  in  a  love-matter,  especially  of  my  own ;  but  I 
say  this  to  convince  your  obstinate  and  I  think  in- 
vincible incredulity,  who  judge  of  love,  charity,  words, 
oaths,  modesty,  truth,  vows,  obedience,  patience, 
silence,  according  to  certain  prodigious  examples  and 
erroneous  rules  which  the  prince  of  darkness  sets 
more  usually  and  authentically  before  your  eyes, 
which  I  doubt  not  but  grieve  your  generous  heart 
to  see,  and  perchance  then  your  crime  of  silence  is 
now  and  then  punished  with  a  blush,  though  you  be 
not  guilty  of  the  offence.  But  do  not  deceive  your- 
self so  much  to  think  I  either  have  or  will  confess 
my  pure  and  innocent  self  guilty  of  love  till  you 
deserve  that  extraordinary  trust  (which  they  who  for 
the  saving  of  their  soul  submit  themselves  to  auricular 
confession,  have  all  the  assurance  one  mortal  man 
can  give  or  another  possibly  require)  many  ways, 
whereby  I  may  both  try  your  love  to  me,  and  your 
credit  with  her  Majesty,  and  my  credit  with  you ;  for 
why  should  I  speak,  unless  you  will  believe  ?  How 
shall  I  believe  any  good  till  I  see  it  ?  Nay,  you  are 
beholden  to  me,  if  your  credit  and  persuasions  and 
reasons  will  in  seven  years  make  me  forget  these 

*  The  word  means  here  corroborating,  "sooth "  =  truth. 


156  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

injuries,  and  believe  any  word,  writing,  or  assurance 
her  Majesty  can  make,  so  confidently  as  you,  who 
never  saw  them  without  effect,  would  have  persuaded 
me  to  do,  who  could  have  showed  you  visible  signs, 
and  reasons  of  my  just  incredulity  and  hardness  of 
heart ;  who  might  be  condemned  by  all  the  world  for 
a  credulous  fool,  which  were  far  worse,  if  I  should 
yield  \to\  a  power  which  hath  already  spent  itself 
against  my  unyielding  heart,  which  will  rather  burst 
than  utter  one  thought  by  constraint  of  any,  and  the 
greater  the  threatenings  and  the  more  violently  it  is 
assaulted  the  greater  will  the  victory  be. 

I  have  conquered  my  affection;  I  have  cast  away 
my  hopes ;  I  have  forsaken  all  comfort ;  I  have  sub- 
mitted my  body  and  fortune  to  more  subjection  than 
could  be  commanded.  I  have  disposed  of  my  liberty. 
I  have  cut  off  all  means  of  your  attaining  what  you 
seek,  till  you  seek  it  of  me  by  such  means  as  I 
tell  you.  What  harm  can  all  the  world  do  me  now? 
Even  as  much  as  it  would  do  me  good  to  follow  your 
counsel — that  is,  none.  My  servants  shall  be  taken 
from  me,  then  shall  I  be  no  more  troubled  with  their 
troublesome  importunity  and  inquisitiveness.  I  shall 
but  hear  of  my  friends'  trouble,  as  Mr.  Holford's, 
and  by  comparison  of  my  own  think  it  nothing.  But 
you  will  say  I  occasion  it ;  but  my  conscience  will  not 
accuse  me,  nor  they  in  the  end  will  not  think  so,  but 
we  shall  agree  that  it  is  they  who  abuse  her  Majesty 
and  wrong  me,  whose  malice  extends  so  far  every  way 
as  their  base-bred  suspicions  can  reach  for  packing 
every  idle  word  to  every  foolish  imagination,  and 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  157 

gathering  every  unlikely  possible  conceit  to  a  deal  of 
trash  of  their  own  invention,  and  lining  it  with  secret 
whisperings,  and  shaping  it  as  best  pleaseth  their  fancy, 
who  have  made  you  present  her  Majesty  with  a  mis- 
shapen, discoloured  piece  of  stuff,  fitting  none,  nor  fit 
for  her  Majesty  to  look  upon,  which,  if  either  I  might 
be  suffered,  or  not  hindered,  I  will  not  say  helped — 
but  why  should  I  not  be  helped,  I  pray  you,  in  such 
a  piece  of  work? — should  have  been  presented  to  her 
Majesty  in  a  form  well  beseeming  her  Majesty ;  whereas 
now  it  is  so  tossed  up  and  down  that  it  hath  almost 
lost  the  gloss,  and  even  by  the  best  slubbered  (sic)  up 
in  such  haste,  that  many  wrong  stitches  of  unkind- 
ness  must  be  picked  out,  which  need  not  have  been 
so  bestowed ;  and  many  wrong-placed  conceits  ripped 
out,  whereof  some  may  be  cast  away,  but  most  being 
right  placed  will  do  very  well.  The  more  you  think 
to  make,  the  more  you  mar ;  when  all  is  done  I  must 
take  it  [in~\  hand,  and  shape  my  own  coat  according 
to  my  cloth,  but  it  shall  not  be  after  your  opinion  of 
this  world,  God  willing,  but  fit  for  me,  and  every  way 
becoming  of  that  virtue  in  me,  whether  it  be  a  native 
property  of  that  blood  I  come  of,  or  an  infective  virtue 
of  the  Earl  of  Essex ;  who  could  go  neither  friend  nor 
foe  knew  whither,  till  he  arrived  amongst  his  unwit- 
ting enemies,  from  whom  he  ever  returned  with  honour, 
and  was  received  home  with  joy.  Till — all  ungrateful 
not  to  be  bound  more  strictly  by  a  letter  of  her 
Majesty's  hand  than  all  the  bonds  and  command- 
ments of  any  or  all  other  mortal  creatures — he  stole 
from  his  charge  as  if  he  had  longed  for  the  most 


158  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

gracious  welcome  he  received,  and  was  punished  for 
his  unmannerly  (but  I  think  in  any  lover's  opinion 
pardonable)  presumption  of  kissing  that  breast  in  his 
offensively  wet  riding-clothes,  with  making  those  mild, 
kind  words  of  reprehension  the  last  that  ever  his  ear 
received  out  of  his  dear  mistress's  mouth.  Of  whose 
favour  (not  in  respect  she  was  his  sovereign,  as  I  pro- 
test he  ever  said  to  me)  how  greedy  he  was  even  in 
the  Earl  of  Leicester's  time  (before  he  so  fully  possessed 
it  by  many  degrees,  as  after,  to  her  Majesty's  eternal 
honour,  he  did),  I,  and  I  doubt  not  many  more  better 
believed  at  court,  are  good \vitnesses.  And  how  over- 
violently  hasty  (after  two  years'  silent  meditation)  to 
recover  it  he  was  this  fatal  day,  Ash  Wednesday  *  and  the 
new  dropping  tears  of  some,  might  make  you  remem- 
ber, if  it  were  possible  you  could  forget.  Quis  talia 
fando  temperet  a  lacrimis  ?  Myrmidomina  Dolopumue 
aut  duri  miles  Ulisses  ? 

And  were  not  I  unthankfully  forgetful,  if  I  should 
not  remember  my  noble  friend,  who  graced  me,  by 
her  Majesty's  commandment  disgraced  orphan,  un- 
found  ward,  unproved  prisoner,  undeserved  exile,  in  his 
greatest  and  happy  \est\  fortunes,  to  the  adventure  of 
eclipsing  part  of  her  Majesty's  favours  from  him,  which 
were  so  dear,  so  welcome  to  him?  Shall  not  I, 
I  say,  now  I  have  lost  all  I  can  lose  or  almost  care  to 
lose,  now  I  am  constrained  to  renew  these  melancholy 
thoughts  by  the  smarting  feeling  of  my  great  loss ;  who 
may  well  say  I  never  had  nor  never  shall  have  the  like 
friend,  nor  the  like  time  to  this  to  need  a  friend  in  court, 
*  The  anniversary  of  Essex's  execution. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  159 

spend  thus  much  or  rather  thus  little  time,  ink,  and 
labour,  without  incurring  the  opinion  of  writing  much 
to  little  purpose?  I  do  it  not  to  be  requited  with 
your  applause,  for  then  I  might  utter  more  welcome 
matter  in  two  words,  nor  that  my  troubled  wits  cannot 
discern  how  unlocked  for,  how  subject  to  interpreta- 
tion, how  offensive  almost  every  word  will  be  even  to 
you.  But  for  some  reasons  which  I  will  tell  you, 
lest  you  return  to  that  opinion  I  took  so  very  unkindly 
at  your  hands — that  the  more  I  writ  to  the  less 
purpose  it  was. 

First,  as  I  voluntarily  confine  myself  to  tears, 
silence,  and  solitariness,  and  submit  and  desirously 
expect  some  yet  more  apparent  token  of  her 
Majesty's  causelessly  conceived  displeasure  towards 
me,  so  I  determined  to  spend  this  day  in  sending  you 
the  ill-favoured  picture  of  my  grief,  who  went  away 
so  desirous  to  see  the  picture  of  that  most  noble 
gentleman,  the  King  of  Scots.  Who[w] — because 
you  know  not  the  power  of  Divine  and  Christian 
love  at  court  so  generally  well  as,  for  her  Majesty's 
honour  and  of  the  place,  I  would  you  did — cannot 
believe  one  can  come  so  near  God's  precept,  who 
commandeth  us  to  love  our  neighbour  like  our- 
self,  as  to  love  an  unkind  but  otherwise  worthy 
kinsman,  so  well  as  nobody  else  (it  seems  to  your 
knowledge)  doth  any  but  their  paramours,  which,  if 
you  can  make  him  \_James\  believe,  will  be  an  excellent 
requital  for  his  unprincely  and  unchristian  giving  ear 
to  the  slanderous  and  unlikely  surmise  of  the  Earl 
of  Essex  and  me.  But  he  hath  studied  too  much 


160  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

divinity  to  think  either  the  word  misapplied,  or 
the  matter  impossible  to  be  most  true,  and  lawfully 
allowable  of  any  married  man,  which  made  you  so 
captious  and  inquisitive,  because  you  are  more  con- 
versant in  court  and  in  the  Arcadian  phrase,  which 
need  no  comment  to  you,  than  in  the  Church,  or  our 
Church's  translation  of  the  Testament,  which  com- 
mandeth  holy  love  and  holy  kisses.  I  am  in  good 
hope  you  will  take  exceptions  to  St.  Paul's  words, 
now  you  have  them  under  my  hand,  and  then  I  have 
made  you  partly  amends  for  the  labour  you  have 
bestowed  in  reading  so  long  and  peevishly  tedious 
a  letter. 

Secondly,  being  allowed  no  company  to  my  liking, 
and  finding  this  the  best  excuse  to  avoid  the 
tedious  conversation  I  am  bound  to,  I  think  the  time 
best  spent  in  tiring  you  with  the  idle  conceits  of  my 
travelling  mind,  till  it  make  you  ashamed  to  see  into 
what  a  scribbling  melancholy  (which  is  a  kind  of 
madness,  and  there  are  several  kinds  of  it  *)  you  have 
brought  me,  and  leave  me,  if  you  leave  me  till  I  be 
my  own  woman,  and  then  your  trouble  and  mine  too 
will  cease.  Or  make  you  condemned  of  idleness  and 
discourtesy,  if  you  requite  my  long  letters  with  such 
short  and  courtier-like  peremptory  letters,  as  all  I  have 
received  from  you  have  been.  Whereby  I  perceive 
you  content  yourself  with  the  high,  and  by  you  right 
well  deserved,  style  of  her  Majesty's  faithful  servant, 
and  forget  you  profess  yourself,  both  by  word  and  writ- 

*  This  is  a  good  commentary  on  Arabella's  own  "  madness  " 
later  on. 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  J6l 

ing,  to  be  my  friend ;  and  now  I  have  it  under  your  hand 
that  your  hand  is  the  pawn  of  your  credit,  and  you  would 
have  me  trust  you,  before  I  be  sure  you  will  believe 
what  I  say,  or  have  tried,  or  at  least  found,  your 
friendship  in  some  points,  before  I  may  in  discretion 
trust  you  any  further.  I  pray  you  just  let  me  know 
what  you  have  delivered  of  me,  to  whom,  \and\  how  it  is 
taken  or  mistaken,  with  the  freedom  of  a  friend's  pen, 
who  have  no  cause  to  trust  you  any  more  till  I  see 
you  dare  trust  me  and  my  messengers  with  all  you 
know  in  this  matter,  which  must  needs  be  infinitely 
more  than  it  hath  pleased  you  yet  to  deliver.  But 
hitherto  you  have  dealt  like  a  commissioner,  your  words 
have  been  questions,  and  objections,  and  promises, 
and  threatenings,  but  none  of  your  own,  and  conse- 
quently neither  possible  for  you  to  keep,  nor  me  to 
trust,  how  well  soever  you  wish  me,  or  I  trust  you. 
But  now  I  thank  God  your  commission  is  at  an  end, 
and  let  me  see  what  you  will  or  can  do,  either  to  per- 
suade me  by  good  and  solid  reason  to  alter  my  mind, 
and  commit  my  counsel  to  some  friend's  ear,  or  hand, 
to  deliver  it  to  her  Majesty  ;  or  what  you  can  do  for 
me  by  your  credit  with  her  Majesty,  if  I  should  follow 
your  counsel,  and  put  my  life,  my  soul,  and  all  that  I 
hold  dear  into  your  hands  or  her  Majesty's,  by  your 
persuasion  ?  If  it  would  be,  as  I  know  it  would  be, 
so  much  for  your  satisfaction  and  credit,  to  find  and 
understand  this  concealed  truth,  which,  seek  and 
examine  and  torture  whom  you  list,  you  shall  never 
find  but  in  my  heart,  and  oh  !  that  you  would  seek  it 
there,  where  it  is  as  deeply  printed,  and  in  the  same 
VOL.  n.  29 


1 62  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

characters  of  undeserved,  redressless  unkindness,  as 
Calais  in  Queen  Mary's.  Till  your  greater  and  more 
regarded  employments  give  you  as  much  time  as  I 
shall  require,  without  limitation  (for  then  I  cannot),  or 
wearisomeness  to  you  (for  when  I  am  wearisome  my 
counsel  will  be  burdensome  for  you  to  keep),  to  con- 
vert my  fear,  despair,  grief,  mistrust,  and  other  deep- 
rooted  conceits,  which  long  time  and  woeful  experi- 
ence have  grafted  in  my  heart,  and  I  have  watered  in 
tears  full  oft,  and  now  they  bring  forth  the,  to  me 
bitter,  to  others  misliked,  leaves,  which  hide  the 
desired  fruit  of  your  labour  from  your  knowledge,  till 
time  have  brought  it  to  maturity,  and  then  another 
is  like  to  steal  the  thanks,  but  not  of  her  Majesty, 
which  I  should  have  thought  myself  happy  you  might 
have  received  of  her  Highness,  by  my  means.  But 
I  perceive  you  think  it  not  worth  the  labour,  howsoever 
you  pretend,  for  then  your  own  discretion  would  have 
made  you  believe  that  which  I  think  I,  nor  an  angel 
from  heaven  I  think,  cannot  make  you  believe  that 
is  the  truth,  when  I  speak  it  or  write  it,  else  you  would 
have  bestowed  the  labour  to  come  back  from  Notting- 
ham, upon  the  sudden,  apparently  true,  and  grievous 
accident  happened  to  me,  before  you  were  there. 
But  you  were  in  commission,  and  had  not  the  Chris- 
tian liberty  to  visit  me  in  sorrow,  sickness,  prison,  and 
many  ways  distressed,  for  which  God  will  call  all  the 
world  to  account  one  day,  and  particularly  you,  to 
whom  I  [blot],  and  then  misjudge  me  as  you  list,  the 
panic  is  past  already.  Will  you  not  use  me  as  well  as 
traitors  are  used,  who  am  not  guilty  of  thought,  word, 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  163 

or  deed,  which,  rightly  interpreted,  can  be  the  least 
offensive  to  her  Majesty,  and  can  be  racked  to  no 
greater  than  a  service  of  silence  ? 

Had  the  Earl  of  Essex  the  favour  to  die  unbound 
because  he  was  a  prince,  and  shall  my  hands  be 
bound  from  helping  myself  in  this  distress,  before  I 
confess  some  fault  (like  the  innocent  I  told  you  of) 
which  I  never  committed,  and  renew  my  suit  to  you 
to  convert  these  unwelcome  councillors'  letters  to  a 
commission  to  take  my  head?  But  remember,  if  I 
endure  these  grievous  wounds  without  striving  or 
speaking,  it  is  because  I  have  recommended  myself 
to  the  Lord  of  hosts,  whose  angels  have  lifted  my 
soul  from  my  afflicted  body,  higher  than  they  are  able 
to  reach  that  exceed  her  Majesty's  commission,  and. 
torture  the  condemned  to  exile  with  expectation.  If 
I  have  deserved  the  land  should  spue  me  out,  I  will 
feed  myself  with  the  idle  and  windy  conceits  of  an. 
ostracism,  and  my  unregarded  poor  self  shall  be  all 
the  riches  and  company  I  crave  to  transport.  And 
if  a  prince's  word  (who,  for  aught  I  have  heard,  never 
brake  promise)  be  so  much  to  be  relied  upon  for  so 
small  a  matter  as  you  would  have  persuaded  me  in  a 
greater  \would~\  be  sufficient  assurance,  I  assure  you,  if 
you  come,  and  beg  the  licence  of  my  transportation,  it 
will  requite  your,  as  you  count  it,  lost  labour  and  great 
pains  (which  otherwise  I  think  I  must  die  indebted 
to  you  for,  for  gold  and  silver  have  I  none,  neither 
would  you  generous  and  rarely  faithful  courtiers  takeit*), 

*  Old  Lady  Shrewsbury  had  pressed  a  purse  into  Brounker' 
hand  when  he  left  Hardwick. 


1 64  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

with  profit,  which  from  her  Majesty's  hand  must  needs 
seem  worthy  the  begging  and  taking  and  honour. 
It  may  be  this  hope  may  prove  vain,  so  vain  is  tht 
trust  reposed  in  man ;  and  I  confess  I  have  been 
deceived  by  them  I  have  best  trusted,  and  I  would 
they  had  all  been  foreigners  and  strangers  that  have 
deceived  and  wronged  me.  Then  had  not  I  hoped 
for  land,  liberty,  and  extraordinary  favour  from  her 
Majesty,  nor  looked  my  parent,  kin,  and  pretended 
friends  should  amend  or  comfort  my  bad  fortune,  but 
\lived~\  as  happy  as  any  (by  all  likelihood)  have  lived 
like  myself,  with  such  honourable  and  princely  treat- 
ment as  absolute  and  great  princes  have  thought  her 
Majesty's  kinswoman  worthy  of,  and  as  desirously  as 
princes  desire  anything  (or  seem  to  desire)  what  is  in 
another's  power  to  grant  or  deny,  have  sought  at  her 
Majesty's  hands,  and  perchance  may  receive,  but  not 
from  her  Majesty,  more  than  you  will  believe  possible, 
and  yet  no  more  than  is  in  poor  me  to  grant,  in  one 
word  which  will  make  you  believe  me  ever  after. 
And,  if  you  will  needs  urge  me  to  it,  they  will  be  glad 
of  it,  and  yet  not  be  a  jot  beholden  to  any  that  with 
hard  measure  plead  for  them,  whom  if  they  knew,  they 
would  hinder.  I  speak  unbelieved  truth,  and  ill 
understood,  and  worse-constructed  riddles,  but  it  is  to 
you,  whom  I  am  bold  to  trouble,  and  as,  if  it  please  you 
to  examine  me  as  a  friend,  I  am  content  as  a  friend 
to  answer  you,  upon  such  security  as  friends  require 
and  take  one  of  another  in  matters  of  this  nature. 

If,    [so]   as  one  whose  commission   is  expired  to 
do  me   good,  it  is  less    in  your  power  to  help  me 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  165 

now  than  when  you  went,  or  I  last  writ  to  you,  and  I 
have  daily  (by  Mr.  Holford's  speedy  and  rough  send- 
ing for)  less  and  less  cause  to  look  either  for  favour 
or  justice,  and  consequently  to  trust  or  look  for  any. 
But  I  take  God  to  witness,  for  my  servant  Mr.  George 
Chaworth's  sake,  I  have  done  (but  now  it  is  dashed) 
[more]  than  ever  I  will  do  again,  for  all  the  command- 
ments, and  threatenings,  and  wrongs,  and  torments, 
all  \thai\  the  council,  rackmasters,  and  all  the  ministers 
of  her  Majesty's  indignation  can  pour  upon  me,  or 
at  his  entreaty,  or  all  the  world's,  till  I  be  used  like 
myself,  with  as  great  honour  and  respect  and  kind- 
ness as  is  every  way  due  to  me,  who  am  not  ignorant 
either  of  my  birth  or  descent,  nor  senseless  of  wrong, 
nor  hopeless  of  redress,  which,  as  it  is  my  duty  first  to 
beg  as  I  have  done,  and  after  a  while  to  expect  from 
her  Majesty,  so  it  is  my  duty  to  God  to  procure  by  all 
the  lawful  means  with  speed,  because  my  weak  body 
and  travelling  mind  must  be  disburdened  soon  or  I 
shall  offend  my  God,  and  I  were  better  offend  my 
prince,  and  I  shall  be  guilty  of  my  own  misfortune. 
Whereas  now  others  are  altogether  answerable  to  God 
and  the  world,  and  the  world  will  give  their  verdict 
when  and  where  they  dare,  and  God  His  sentence  on 
my  side  I  doubt  not,  for  such  is  His  promise  and 
written  word,  sealed  with  the  blood  of  His  only  dear 
Son ;  confirmed  by  the  manifold  testimonies  of  com- 
fortably concurring  Scriptures  and  the  examples  of  His 
dear  saints ;  and  yet  He  is  content  our  wavering  faith 
should  receive  the  further  assurance  of  His  sacraments, 
and  requiteth  our  imperfect  obedience  with  thanks 


1 66  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

and  honour  and  an  immortal  crown  of  glory.  To  Him 
be  glory  only  and  for  ever,  amen ;  and  let  the  elders 
and  princes  say  "  amen,"  at  least  to  the  "  Hosanna  !  " 
which  children  and  young  men  so  cheerfully  and 
successfully  begin,  lest  the  stones  of  the  trampled 
streets  condemn  those  that  have  tongues,  and  tread 
upon  them,  of  ill  employing  or,  which  is  worse,  not 
employing  them  to  His  praise.  How  many  vain  words 
are  spoken  !  and  who  dare  speak  for  me  ?  How  many 
wanton  favours  are  earnestly  and  importunately 
begged  !  and  who  dare  humbly,  and  even  once  and 
no  more,  remember  her  Majesty  to  cast  her  gracious 
eye  upon  me,  at  least  with  no  less  favour  than  I 
deserve  ?  How  many  inquisitive  questions  are  asked 
of  me  !  and  how  little  inquisitive  are  my  friends  and 
acquaintance  what  becomes  of  me  !  What  fair  words 
have  I  had  of  courtiers  and  councillors  and  so  they 
are  vanished  into  smoke  !  Who  is  he  amongst  you 
all  dare  be  sworn  in  his  conscience  I  have  wrong? 
and  dare  tell  the  Earl  of  Hertford  he  hath  done  it  ? 

And  the  two  councillors  they  wrong  their  estate  to 
show  such  respect  to  ruined  greatness  and  wisdom 
and  riches  to  let  innocence  be  thus  oppressed,  and 
truth  suppressed.  And  yet  there  yet  \stilt\  are  some 
amongst  you  have  pawned  their  credit  and  their  soul 
too  to  do  more  for  me  upon  a  less  occasion  unintreated 
\and\  at  their  peril.  I  will  pray  Almighty  God  not 
to  take  the  forfeit,  but  I  will  see  them  hanged  as  high 
as  ever  favourite  was  (and  that  was  according  to  his, 
Haman's,  own  ambitious  direction,  meaning  to  have 
bestowed  that  high  and  airy  death  of  \on\  an  innocent, 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  167 

that  spent  his  time  in  giving  attendance  at  the  king's 
gate,  whose  queen  was  his  niece,  but  that  was  more 
than  ever  the  king  knew)  before  I  will  claim  promise, 
though  promise  be  debt  of  the  proudest  of  them.  I 
will  rather  break  a  penal  law,  and  though  her  Highness's 
countenance  be  withdrawn  from  me,  so  that  like 
Hester  \Esther\  I  cannot  hope  of  pardon,  for  her 
Majesty's  golden  sceptre  is  turned  to  a  scourge  upon 
me.  Yet  I  shall  be  as  well  able  to  pay  the  uttermost 
farthing  her  Majesty  shall  impose  upon  me,  as  my 
Lord  of  Hertford.  Neither  will  I  first  fly  and  then 
endure  my  punishment,  but  first  endure  my  punish- 
ment, and  then  I  trust  her  Majesty  will  give  me  leave 
to  leave  all  my  troubles  behind  me,  and  go  into  a 
better  place  than  her  Majesty  hath  provided  for  me, 
these  twenty-seven  years  wherein  I  have  had  ex- 
perience what  it  would  please  her  Majesty,  all  my 
friends,  yea,  all  England,  to  do  for  me,  that  did 
nothing  for  myself,  no>  not  so  much  as  utter  one  word 
which  had  been  better  uttered  for  me  many  a  year 
ago,  and  shall  never  be  spoken  to  English  man  nor 
woman,  whatsoever  it  is.  For  declaring  my  mind  to 
her  Majesty  more  than  I  have  done  I  dare  not ;  my 
words  have  been  already  too  offensively  taken,  and 
too  unjustly  wrested  by  them  that  had  least  cause  so 
to  do.  I  am  deaf  to  commandments,  and  dumb  to 
authority.  I  know  her  Majesty  excelleth  her  sex  and 
all  God's  creatures  in  many  princely  virtues,  whereof 
secresy  is  one,  and  in  her  breast  durst  I  repose  my 
life  and  my  honour,  what  not,  if  I  had  her  favour  and 
promise.  And  her  Majesty  shall  see  some,  resembling 


1 68  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

one  of  my  sex,  years,  and  condition  very  well  to  all 
correspondencies,  and  without  all  incongruities,  as 
plain  without  ambiguities,  as  I  could,  for  her  Majesty's 
honour,  wish  their  words  and  actions  were  ;  for  these 
plaits  and  folds  and  slight  devices  do  but  glitter  in 
the  eye,  and  their  small  value  is  discerned  whosoever 
make  them  worn  for  fashion's  sake.  Whereas  mine 
shall  be  strange  and  new,  and  richly  worth  more  than 
I  am  worth,  or  any  lady  of  a  subject  in  this  land ;  but 
you  shall  not  know  the  device  at  court  lest  you 
prevent  me,  or  the  foreknowledge  take  away  the 
grace  of  the  sudden  and  gorgeous  change  of  my  suit, 
which,  how  little  soever  my  mourning-weed  be 
respected,  will  make  me  envied  who  am  not  pitied. 
But  hard  will  it  be  for  any  of  them  all  to  follow  me, 
it  will  be  so  costly,  and  yet  to  me  so  easy,  that  they 
will  at  least  for  civility  confess  themselves  less  worthy 
of  that  which  their  betters  have  had  much  ado  to 
persuade  me  to  take  in  free  gift,  acknowledging  me 
(in  their  partial  opinion)  worthy  of  more  than  they 
can  give,  which  is  more  than  incredulous  you  can 
believe  should  be  offered,  much  more  so  long  un- 
received  by  poor  me.  And  in  truth  I  thank  God  for 
your  hardness  of  heart  and  wilful  blindness,  for  else 
I  might  relent,  if  you  could  see  to  follow  my  directions, 
who  fain  would  enjoy  meaner  fortunes  at  home ;  but 
God's  will  be  done  :  only  in  His  power  is  it  to  dispose 
of  all  His  creatures,  without  respect  of  persons. 

Now  I  have  spent  this  day  in  portraying  my  melan- 
choly innocence  in  the  undeceiving  black  and  white 
you  see,  after  my  rude  manner  I  must  tell  you  true  I 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  169 

think  it  will  not  yet  be  your  fortune  to  understand  my 
meaning,  for  it  is  not  my  meaning  you  should  j  nor 
to  pleasure  you  to  confess  all  you  guess,  much  less  all 
you  believe,  though  you  believe  not  all  you  should, 
much  less  as  you  should,  of  me,  if  the  pomp  of  this 
world  had  not  bewitched  your  court-dazzled  eyes. 
But  I  have  said  enough  to  make  you  miserable  every 
way,  if  you  will  not  or  cannot  either  go  the  way  I  tell 
you,  or  let  me  without  your  hard,  hardly  removed 
prejudicate  *  misconceits  take  my  good  and  godly 
course,  which  howsoever  it  be  to  her  Majesty,  if  I  be 
not  made  incapable  of  any  comfort,  will  be  highly  to 
my  honour  and  contentment,  and  happy  shall  I  be. 
And  I  doubt  not  but  they  that  now  condole  my  mis- 
fortunes will  fill  your  ears,  when  you  think  all  my 
words  but  brags  and  idle  conceits  impossible  to  take 
effect,  with  congratulation  and  applause  of  my  devoted 
and  admirable  silence.  Almighty  God  be  with  you. 
I  will  not  excuse  my  prolixity,  neither  is  your  wiser 
brevity  so  commended,  now  you  are  yourself,  and  are 
so  many  lines  behind  mine,  who  I  think  must  outgo 
you  all  in  kindness  and  desert,  and  you  may  do  very 
well,  and  yet  not  come  near  me  in  that  point.  God 
forgive  my  excess  and  your  defects  in  love  and  charity. 
From  Hardwick,  this  Ash  Wednesday. 
Your  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 
*  Prejudged. 


170  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


NO.  1 8. 

CECIL  AND  STANHOPE  TO  THE  DOWAGER  COUNTESS 
OF  SHREWSBURY. 

Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  169. 

(Indorsed,  "  Minute  to  my  Lady  Shrewsbury,  by 
Mr.  Holford,  concerning  the  Lady  Arbella.") 

(This  letter  is  corrected  in  another  hand,  often 
destroying  the  sense,  for  which  reason  some  of  the 
crossed-out  passages  have  been  retained;  interpella- 
tions and  comments  are  made  in  almost  illegible 
writing  in  the  margin.) 

March  14,  1603. 

MADAME, — We  are  very  sorry  to  find,  by  the 
strange  style  of  Lady  Arbella's  letters,  that  she  hath 
her  thoughts  no  better  quieted,  especially  considering 
her  Majesty's  own  ready  inclination,  *notwithstanding 
her  first  error  in  dealing  with  my  Lord  of  Hertford,  to 
have  taken  no  other  course  with  her  than  was  ex- 
pressed by  our  first*  [from  *  to  *  scored  underneath, 
as  if  to  draw  special  attention  to  the  queen's  leniency] ; 
and  because  we  would  be  very  glad  even  for  the  sup- 
pression of  vain  reports  that  the  bottom  of  her  heart 
were  known,  seeing  the  bearer  hereof  is  known  to  be  of 
good  religion,  and  seemeth  to  be  *much  interested  in 
her*  [from  *  to  *  crossed  out,  and  something  to  the 
same  purpose  written  in  the  margin\.  We  should  be 
very  glad  that  your  ladyship  should  suffer  him  to  have 
access  unto  her,  if  it  is  thought  fit,  as  often  as  she 
shall  desire  him.  And  next,  whereas  your  ladyship 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  I/ 1 

complains  that  she  is  not  removed  from  you,  we  must 
reply  unto  you  for  the  present  that  her  Majesty  can 
in  no  sort  be  brought  unto  it,  but  rather  wisheth  that* 
[from  *  to  *  in  the  margin],  *seeing  she  groweth  so 
troublesome  both  to  herself  and  to  others,  that  you 
will  deal  as  mildly  with  her  in  words  as  you  can,  how- 
soever she  may  offend  you  in  this  time  of  her  passion^ 
because  that  is  the  [ground']  of  her  quarrel ;  and  that, 
as  much  as  may  be,  her  sending  up  and  down  such 
strange  letters  may  be  forborne  ;  in  the  which  we 
must  tell  you  truly,  and  so  we  pray  you  to  let  Mr. 
William  Cavendish  know  that  her  Majesty  and  my 
lord  do  expect  at  his  hands  that  he  should  interpose 
himself  more  decently  and  [illegible]  toward  the  dis- 
courtesy of  her  meaning  by  these  vain  [letters]  than 
he  doth,  seeing  it  is  her  Majesty's  pleasure.  And  so 
we  do  again  signify  to  you  that  he  do  ease  your  lady- 
ship of  that  continual  care  which  we  see  you  take, 
the  same  being  a  great  trouble  to  yourself  and  more 
proper  for  him,  whose  company  is  more  agreeable 
unto  her.  These  directions  we  have  thought  fit  to 
give  forth,  first,  because  the  dispersing  of  her  letters 
abroad  of  such  strange  subjects  as  she  writes  is  incon- 
venient in  many  respects,  and  in  our  opinion  disgrace- 
ful to  herself,  which  maketh  us  the  rather  wonder  that 
her  uncles  there  are  no  more  sensible  of  it,  nor  do  not 
by  their  letters  or  otherwise  open  themselves  to  us 
either  in  their  designs  and,* —  \Breaks  off  here  in  the 
margin;  and  the  letter  continues,  the  part  from  *  to  * 
having  evidently  been  added  aftenuards,  as,  by  leaving 
out  the  crossed  words,  the  sentence  reads,  "  but  (her 


1/2  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Majesty)  rather  wisheth  that  you  will  *  *,  see  above"'} 
*But  [her  Majesty]  hopeth  that*  you  will  so  [from  * 
to  *  crossed  ouf\  fashion  all  things  as  the  young  lady 
may  not  mislike  her  habitation,  so  as  your  ladyship 
assign  Mr.  William  Cavendish  to  attend  her,  who  is  a 
gentleman  that  can  both  please  her  and  advise  her 
in  due  proportion.  .  .  . 

From  the  Court  at  Richmond. 


No.  19. 

Extracts  from  Examinations  held  by  Sir  Henry 
Brounker,  March  18,  19,  in  reference  to  Henry  Caven- 
dish's attempt  to  carry  off  Arabella. 

Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  171. 

Examination  of  Christopher  Chapman,  Vicar  of 
Hucknall,  Friday,  March  18,  1603. 

Chapman  confessed  that  Mr.  Henry  Cavendish  and 
Mr.  Stapleton  came  to  his  house  on  Thursday  was 
se'nnight  in  the  morning,  about  ten  of  the  clock,  and 
that  they  said  they  were  desirous  to  speak  with  Lady 
Arbella  for  her  good,  and  they  desired  to  have  the 
key  of  the  steeple,  to  see  if  my  Lady  A.  did  come  to 
them.  His  wife  said  to  them,  "  If  you  had  been  here 
on  Saturday  last  you  might  have  seen  her,  for  she  was  at 
the  [Church']."  Whereupon  Mr.  Stapleton  did  rise  out 
of  his  saddle,  and  threw  down  his  hat,  and  said,  "  What 
\thing]  is  this  ?  It  was  'long  of  my  wife  ;  she  sent  me 
word  to  the  contrary  !  "  .  .  .  He  (Chapman)  said  he 
did  hear  that  there  were  eight  horsemen  in  Hucknall, 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3.  173 

and  some  others  in  other  places  hereabouts,  but  how 
many  he  knew  not  but  by  common  report.  .  .  .  He 
saith  that  he  being  at  that  time  at  Mansfield,*  one 
John  Chambers,  an  innkeeper  in  Mansfield,  where 
they  (Cavendish  and  Stapleton)  were  lodged,  meeting 
him,  he  (Chapman)  drew  him  aside,  and  asked  him 
what  he  did  in  Mansfield.  He  (Chambers)  had  "  guests 
at  home."  Chapman  asked  who  they  were.  "  Why," 
said  he,  "  such  as  you  little  hope  for,"  naming  Mr.  H. 
Cavendish  and  Mr.  Stapleton.  Chapman  asked  what 
they  did  there.  "  Nay,"  said  Chambers,  "  no  matter 
what  they  do,  but  there  they  are."  When  Cavendish 
and  Stapleton  left  Chapman's  house  on  the  Thursday 
morning,  they  told  him  Lady  Arbella  would  thank 
him  for  their  good  entertainment. 

Ibid.,  f.  172. 

Examination  of  John  and  Matthew  Stark,  March 
1 8,  1603. 

John  Stark,  servant  to  Mr.  Facton,  dwelling  at 
Hucknall,  within  half  a  mile  of  Hardwick,  saith  that 
on  Thursday  was  se'nnight  in  the  morning,  he  (Stark) 
said  he  saw,  beside  the  aforesaid  company,  five  more 
gentlemen  amongst  the  hollies  in  the  Den  f  called 
Hawthorn  Den,  and  in  another  place  near  there  by 
a  hedgeside  three  horsemen  more,  and  in  the  bushes 
near  a  lane,  ...  a  hundred  horsemen  in  one  company, 
and  three  more  in  another  company.  He  heard  his 

*  Mansfield,  a  town  in  Nottinghamshire,  four  or  five  miles 
from  Hardwick. 

f  "  Den"  here  means  "  dell." 


1/4  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

master's  daughter  ask  Henry  Dove  what  these  men 
were  here  for ;  he  answered,  "  They  came  to  take  my 
Lady  Arbella  away."  "  What !  "  said  she,  "  being  no 
more  company  ?  "  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  there  are  not  far  off 
thirty  or  forty  more."  Stark  further  testified  that  all 
these  companies  were  within  half  a  mile  of  each  other, 
and  he  saw  them.  One  of  them  had  "  a  little  pillion 
behind  his  saddle,  which  he  hid  with  his  cloak,"  and 
another  a  case  of  pistols  at  his  saddle-bow.  Matthew 
testified  that  John  had  told  him  all  the  above  the 
same  day  after  the  company  had  left. 

About  ten  of  the  clock  there  came  to  his  master's 
house  at  Hucknall  Mr.  Henry  Cavendish,  and  Mr.  Sta- 
pleton,  Henry  Dove  [in  margin,  "  servant  to  my  Lady 
Arbella "],  and  a  hundred  serving-men  with  them. 
They  bade  him  walk  their  horses  out  of  the  sight  of 
Hardwick  House,  which  he  did,  afterwards  putting 
them  in  his  master's  stable.  The  gentlemen  went  and 
sat  down  in  Mr.  Chapman's,  the  Rector  of  Hucknall's 
house.  Shortly  after  Mr.  Owen  (Lady  Arbella's  page) 
and  Freak  (her  imbrederer  [=  embroiderer]}  came 
thither  with  a  letter  to  them.  After  they  had  read  that 
letter,  one  of  the  serving-men  went  and  took  a  horse 
out  of  the  stable,  and  rode  to  call  some  more  company 
that  were  in  the  neighbourhood.  After  they  had  talked 
awhile,  Henry  Dove  said  to  Mr.  Facton's  daughter, 
"  She  cannot  come  out  this  day."  One  of  the  serving- 
men  said  to  another,  "  We  cannot  now  come  to  our 
purpose,  but  about  a  fortnight  hence  we  must  come 
again  when  these  blunders  are  past,  but  we  must  not 
come  so  many  so  near  the  house." 


THE  MYSTERY  OF  1602-3. 


Ibid.,  f.  173. 

Examination  of  Henry  Dove,  servant  to  my  Lady 
Arbella,  March  19,  1603. 

Dove  confessed  that  he  had  been  sent  to  fetch 
Cavendish  and  Stapleton  to  come  to  Lady  Arbella, 
and  accompanied  them  to  Hucknall  on  the  Thursday. 
They  thought  she  would  have  come  thither  walking, 
and  hoped  to  meet  her  there.  Arbella  had  sent  word 
to  Mansfield  by  her  page  Owen,  the  day  before,  that 
she  would  meet  them  at  Hucknall  that  day.  Only 
four  came  to  Hucknall  that  day,  and  some  more  hid 
in  the  hollies  in  Hawthorn  Den.  They  bade  their 
horses  to  be  walked  out  of  sight  of  Hardwick,  for  fear 
of  offending  my  lady.  They  asked  for  the  key  of 
the  steeple,  in  order  to  see  if  Arbella  were  coming. 
When  Mr.  Stapleton  *  heard  that  Arbella  had  been 
there  the  Saturday  before,  he  threw  down  his  hat  and 
said,  "  This  is  'long  of  my  wife."  When  Mr.  Stapleton 
went  from  Mansfield,  he  had  meant  to  go  but  a  little 
way  with  his  wife,  and  return  to  Mansfield  or  some 
place  near. 

*  Mr.  Stapleton  apparently  means  that,  had  it  not  been  for 
going  with  his  wife,  he  might  have  come  on  the  Saturday. 


LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


c. 

No.  i. 
(a)  LADY  ARABELLA  TO  LORD  CECIL. 

Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  135,  f.  176  (3). 

June  14,  1603. 

MY  GOOD  LORD, — I  presume  to  trouble  your  lord- 
ship in  renewing  that  request  which,  when  I  last  spake 
with  you,  it  would  not  please  your  lordship  to  grant ; 
or  at  least  to  let  me  know  you  would  make  me 
bound  to  you  in  that  kind ;  that  is,  that  it  will  please 
your  lordship  to  remind  the  king's  Majesty  of  my 
maintenance,  which,  if  it  be  not  a  matter  fit  for  you 
(as  one  which  your  lordship  hath  already  dealt  in), 
my  uncle  of  Shrewsbury  is  greatly  deceived  or  hath 
deceived  me;  but  I  suppose  neither,  and  therefore 
presume  so  much  of  your  honourable  disposition  that 
you  will  endeavour  to  obtain  me  that  which  it  will  be 
for  his  Majesty's  honour  to  grant.  And  therefore 
your  lordship  in  that  respect  (if  there  were  no  other) 
I  doubt  not  will  perform  more  than  it  was  your 
pleasure  to  promise  me,  I  think  because  you  would 
have  the  benefit  greater  coming  unpromised.  And  so 
wishing  your  lordship  increase  of  honour  and  hap- 
piness, I  cease. 

From  Sheen,  the  i4th  of  June. 

Your  lordship's  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


LETTERS  TO   CECIL,  1603.  \TJ 

(b)  Same  to  the  same'. 

Ashmolean  MSS.,  v.  1729,  f.  80. 

June  22,  1603. 

MY  GOOD  LORD, — It  hath  pleased  his  Majesty  to 
alter  his  purpose  concerning  the  pension  whereof  your 
lordship  writ  to  me.  It  may  please  you  to  move  his 
Majesty  that  my  present  want  may  be  supplied  by 
his  Highness  with  some  sum  which  needeth  not  be 
annual  if  it  so  seem  good  to  his  Majesty.  But  I 
would  rather  make  hard  shift  for  the  present  than  be 
too  troublesome  to  his  Highness,  who,  I  doubt  not, 
will  allow  me  maintenance  in  such  liberal  sort  as  shall 
be  for  his  Majesty's  honour,  and  a  testimony  to  the 
world  no  less  of  his  Highness's  princely  bounty  than 
natural  affection  to  me.  Which  good  intention  of  his 
Majesty  I  doubt  not  but  your  lordship  will  further 
as  you  shall  see  occasion,  whereof  your  lordship  shall 
make  me  greatly  bounden  to  you,  as  I  already  acknow- 
ledge myself  to  be.  And  so,  with  humble  thanks  for 
your  honourable  letter,  I  recommend  your  lordship 
to  the  protection  of  the  Almighty,  who  send  you  all 
honour  and  contentment. 

From  Sheen,  the  22nd  of  June,  1603. 

Your  lordship's  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


VOL.  I). 


LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


(c)  Same  to  the  same. 

Ibid.,  f.  81. 

June  23,  1603. 

MY  GOOD  LORD,  —  I  humbly  thank  your  lordship 
that  it  please  you,  amongst  your  great  affairs,  to  re- 
member my  suits  to  his  Majesty.  For  the  alteration 
of  my  pension  I  hope  I  shall  shortly  have  the  means 
to  acquaint  your  lordship  with  it  myself.  If  I  should 
name  two  thousand  pounds  for  my  present  occasions, 
it  would  not  exceed  my  necessity,  but  I  dare  not  pre- 
sume to  crave  any  certain  sum,  but  refer  myself 
wholly  to  his  Majesty's  consideration,  and  assure  myself 
I  shall  find  your  lordship  my  honourable  good  friend, 
both  in  procuring  it  as  soon,  and  making  the  sum  as 
great  as  may  be.  So  with  humble  thanks  to  your 
lordship  for  your  continual  favours,  I  recommend 
your  lordship  to  the  protection  of  the  Almighty. 

From  Sheen,  the  23rd  of  June,  1603. 

Your  lordship's  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

These  two  letters  are  elaborately  written,  with 
flourishes,  and  great  care  taken  in  the  formation  of 
the  letters,  but  apparently  in  Arabella's  own  hand. 


LETTERS  TO   CECIL,  1603.  1/9 

(a)  Same  to  the  same. 
Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  100,  f.  134. 

June  26,  1603. 

MY  GOOD  LORD, — I  humbly  thank  your  lordship 
for  procuring  and  hastening  the  king's  liberality  to- 
wards me.  I  acknowledge  myself  greatly  bound  to 
your  lordship,  and  have  sent  this  bearer  to  attend 
your  pleasure,  whose  important  affairs  I  am  con- 
strained to  interrupt  with  this  necessary  importunity. 

From  Sheen,  the  26th  of  June. 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


(e)  Same  to  the  same. 

Holograph.     Ibid.,  v.  134,  f.  39. 

June  30,  1603. 

MY  GOOD  LORD, —  I  have  received  his  Majesty's 
liberality  by  your  lordship's  means,  for  which  I  ac- 
knowledge myself  greatly  bounden  to  your  lordship 
of  \on\  whose  patience  I  presume  in  reading  these 
needless  lines,  rather  than  I  would  by  omitting  your 
due  thanks  a  short  time,  leave  your  lordship  in  the 
least  suspense  of  my  thankfulness  to  you  whose  good 
opinion  and  favour  I  highly  esteem.  .  .  . 

From  Sheen,  the  3oth  of  June,  1603. 

Your  lordship's  assured  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


180  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


No.  2. 

[The  originals  of  the  following  letters  (pp.  180-207, 
and  222,  223)  are  at  Longleat :  Dr.  Birch's  mistakes 
in  copying  them  are  here  rectified.] 

(a)  LADY  A.  S.  TO  HER  UNCLE  GILBERT,  EARL  OF 
SHREWSBURY. 

Birch.     Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4164,  f.  177. 

Aug.  14,  1603. 

I  humbly  thank  you  for  your  letter  to  my  Lord 
Chamberlain  Sidney  in  my  behalf,  which  I  have  not 
yet  delivered,  and  for  letting  me  understand  your 
course,  which,  though  it  bend  directly  northward,  will 
not  hinder  you  from  thinking  and  looking  to  the 
south,  where  you  leave  me  to  take  my  fortune  in  an 
unknown  climate,  without  either  art  or  instruction  but 
what  I  have  from  you,  whose  skilful  directions  I  will 
observe  as  far  forth  as  they  are  Puritanlike.  And 
though  I  be  very  frail,  I  must  confess,  yet  I  trust  you 
shall  see  in  me  the  good  effects  of  your  prayer,  and 
your  great  glory  for  reforming  my  untowardly  resolu- 
tions and  mirth  (for  great  shall  the  melancholy  be 
that  shall  appear  in  my  letters  to  you),  which  as  the 
best  preservative  of  health  I  recommend  to  you,  to 
whom  I  wish  long  life,  honour,  and  all  happiness. 

From  Farnham,  the  i4th  of  August,  1603. 
Your  disciple, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

To  my  very  good  uncle,  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury. 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURY,   1603.       l8l 
(£)  To  THE  COUNTESS 

Ibid.,  f.  177. 

Aug.  23,  1603. 

MADAME, — I  have  written  to  my  uncle  how  the 
world  goes  with  me.  I  beseech  you  get  him  to  write 
to  my  Lord  Cecil  on  my  behalf,  and  to  take  notice 
of  his  and  my  Lord  H.  Howard's  crossing  the  king's 
intention  for  my  allowance  of  diet.  I  think  that 
makes  others  deny  me  that  the  king  granted,  and 
makes  even  himself  think  anything  enough,  when  so 
wise  counsellers  think  it  too  much.  You  know  his 
inclination  to  be  kind  to  all  his  kin,  and  liberal  to 
all  he  loves,  and  you  know  his  protestations  of  extra- 
ordinary affection  to  me.  Therefore  I  am  sure  it  is 
evil  counsel  that  withholds  him  so  long  from  doing 
for  me  in  as  liberal  sort  or  more  as  he  hath  done 
for  any.  The  queen  was  very  desirous  to  have 
accompanied  the  king.  When  she  speaks  of  you, 
she  speaks  very  kindly  and  honourably  of  you.  Our 
great  and  gracious  ladies  leave  no  gesture  nor  fault 
of  the  late  queen  unremembered,  as  they  say  who 
are  partakers  of  their  talk,  as,  I  thank  God,  I  am  not. 
Mr.  Elphinstone  *  is  my  very  good  friend,  and  your 
much  devoted.  I  pray  you  let  me  hear  of  my  faults 
from  you,  when  you  will  have  me  mend  them ;  for 
I  am  sure  you  shall  hear  of  them  there,  and  I  neither 

*  Mr.  Inderwick  says  a  Mr.  Elphinstone  wrote  to  Queen  Anne 
in  1609,  complaining  of  being  ruined  in  her  service,  and  praying 
for  relief.  Arabella  spells  it  "  Elfingston." 


1 82  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUAR7. 

those  faults  which  are  thought  so  here,  nor  those 
qualities  good  that  are  most  gracious  here.  Now  you 
are  a  bystander  you  may  judge  and  direct  better  than 
ever. 

I  humbly  take  my  leave,  praying  the  Almighty  to 
send  you  all  happiness. 

From  Basing,  the  23rd  of  August  (1603). 
Your  ladyship's  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

I  beseech  you  commend  me  to  my  uncle  Charles 
and  my  aunt,  and  all  my  cousins  with  you.  Sir  Wm. 
Stuart  remembereth  his  service  to  you  and  my  uncle. 

(c)   To  the  same. 

Ibid.,  f.  178. 

Sept.  16,  1603. 

MADAME, — If  you  receive  the  letters  I  write,  I  am 
sure  you  will  see  I  fail  not  to  write  often  how  the 
world  goeth  here,  both  in  particular  with  me  and 
otherwise  as  far  as  my  intelligence  stretcheth.  Where- 
fore I  rather  interpret  your  postscript  to  be  a  caveat 
to  me  to  write  no  more  than  \how\  I  do,  and  my  desire 
to  understand  of  your  health,  that  is  no  more  than  is 
necessary;  than  a  new  commandment  to  do  that, 
which  I  already  do.  But  lest  in  pleasing  you  I  offend 
my  uncle,  I  have  adventured  to  write  to  him  one 
superfluous  letter  more,  and  that  I  may  include  no 
serious  matter  in  his,  I  send  you  all  I  have  of  that 
kind,  which  is  that  the  king  hath  under  his  hand 
granted  me  the  aforesaid  mess  of  meat,  and  ^800 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1603.       183 

per  annum;  and  my  Lord  Cecil  will  despatch  it,  I 
trust,  with  all  speed,  for  so  his  lordship  promiseth. 

Your  long-expected  messenger,  by  whom  I  should 
have  understood  your  mind,  is  not  yet  come,  and  the 
queen  is  going  hence  to-morrow;  but  the  change  of 
place  will  not  cease  my  expectation,  till  I  understand 
from  you  you  have  changed  your  mind  in  that  matter ; 
which,  if  you  do,  I  shall  hope  it  is  with  a  mind  to 
come  up  shortly  and  let  me  know  it  yourself,  accord- 
ing to  a  bruit  we  have  here  which  I  would  fain  believe. 

You  shall  not  fail  to  receive  weekly  letters,  God 
willing,  unless  lack  of  health,  or  means,  or  some  very 
great  occasion  hinder  me. 

Mr.  Elphinstone,  who,  you  may  see,  is  with  me  late 
as  well  as  early,  remembers  his  service  to  you.     And 
so  I  humbly  take  my  leave,  praying  the  Almighty  to 
send  you  all  honour,  happiness,  contentment,  etc. 
Your  ladyship's  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

Oxford,  September  16,  1603. 

(d)   To  the  same. 

Ibid.,  f.  179. 

Oct.  6,  1603. 

MADAME, — According  to  your  commandment,  I 
send  your  ladyship  a  few  scribbled  lines,  though  I  be 
now  going  in  great  haste  to  give  my  attendance  with 
some  company  that  is  come  to  fetch  me.  I  am  as 
diligently  expected  and  as  soon  missed  as  they  that 
perform  the  most  acceptable  service.  And  because  I 
must  return  at  an  appointed  time  to  go  to  my  book 


184  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

I  must  make  the  more  haste  thither.     So  praying  for 
your  happiness,  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 
From  Winchester,  the  6th  of  October,  1603. 
Your  ladyship's  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

(e)  To  THE  EARL. 

Ibid.,  f.  179. 

Oct.  27,  1603. 

I  humbly  thank  your  lordship  for  the  (as  to  me  it 
seemed,  I  assure  you)  short  letter  of  two  sheets  of 
paper  which  I  received  from  you  by  this  bearer,  Mrs. 
Nelson.  The  letters  to  my  Lord  Cecil  and  Sir 
Thomas  Edmonds  were  delivered,  though  not  so 
soon  as  I  wished,  they  being  both  absent  from  hence, 
so  that  Sir  Thomas's  was  delivered  to  the  door-keeper 
of  the  Council  Chamber,  and  Sir  Thomas  not  coming 
hither  so  soon  as  was  expected,  Mr.  Hercy  thought 
good  to  fetch  it  from  him  (the  door-keeper)  •  and  how 
he  hath  since  disposed  of  it  I  know  not,  nor  doubt 
not  but  he  hath  done  with  it  as  you  would  have  him, 
for  he  seems  to  me  very  well  instructed  in  your  mind. 
My  Lord  Cecil  had  his  as  soon  as  he  came. 

My  bad  eyes  crave  truce  till  they  may  without  their 
manifest  danger  write  a  letter  of  a  larger  volume. 
And  so  praying  for  your  lordship's  honour  and 
happiness  in  the  highest  degree  that  ever  subject 
possessed,  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Fulston,  the  2;th  of  October,  1603. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1603.       185 

(f)  To  THE  COUNTESS. 

Ibid.,  f.  180. 

Nov.  6,  1603. 

MADAME, — Because  I  received  a  letter  from  you 
by  this  gentlewoman,  I  dare  not,  for  incurring  her 
opinion  of  my  relapse  into  some  unkindness  toward 
you,  but  send  you  a  few  lines.  I  will  keep  a  note  of 
the  dates  of  my  letters. 

That  letter  of  yours  which  I  received  since  from 
Mr.  Hercy  I  have  answered  by  him. 

My  eyes  are  extremely  swollen,  and  yet  I  have  not 
spared  them  when  I  have  had  occasion  to  employ 
them  for  your  sake.  Therefore  now  they  may  boldly 
crave  a  cessation  for  this  time,  only  performing  their 
office  whilst  I  subscribe  myself  such  as  I  am  and  ever 
will  continue,  that  is, 

Your  ladyship's  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

(g)   To  the  same. 

Ibid.,  f.  1 80. 

Nov.  4,  1603. 

MADAME, — I  humbly  thank  you  for  your  good 
advice  against  New  Year's-tide.  I  think  there  will  be 
no  remedy  but  I  must  provide  myself  from  London, 
though  I  be  very  loth  to  do  so.  I  understand  by  Sir 
Wm.  Stuart  how  much  I  am  bound  to  you  and  my 
uncle. 

I  will  bethink  myself  against  your  long-expected 
trusty  messenger  come,  whatsoever  he  be;  and  that 


1 86  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

expectation  shall  keep  me  from  troubling  you  with  so 
full  and  tedious  a  discourse  as  I  could  find  in  my 
heart  to  disburden  my  mind  withal  to  you. 

I  humbly  thank  you  for  my  servant,  G.  Chaworth.* 
And  so  praying  for  your  happiness  I  humbly  cease. 
From  Fulston,  the  4th  of  November,  1603. 
Your  ladyship's  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

(h)  Two  letters  to  the  earl  and  countess  on  the 
same  day,  the  28th  of  November,  from  Fulston. 

Ibid.,  f.  181. 
To  THE  EARL. 

I  must  only  return  your  lordship  humble  thanks 
for  the  letter  I  have  received  from  you,  and  reserve 
the  answer  till  I  trust  a  few  days  will  make  me  able 
to  write  without  extreme  pain  of  my  head.  Mr. 
Cooke  can  tell  your  lordship  all  the  news  that  is  here. 
And  so  praying  for  your  lordship's  happiness,  I 
humbly  take  my  leave. 

Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

To  THE  COUNTESS. 

MADAME, — I  humbly  thank  you  for  your  letters, 
pill,  and  hartshorn.  I  have  taken,  continued,  and 
increased  an  extreme  cold.  I  mean  to  sweat  to- 

*  See  vol.  i.  p.  135  for  Chaworth,  who  was  Arabella's 
messenger  to  Brounker. 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1603.      187 

day  for  it  Mr.  Cooke  can  tell  you  how  the  world 
goes  here.  And  so,  praying  for  your  happiness,  I 
humbly  take  my  leave. 

Your  ladyship's  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


(/)  Two  letters  on  the  same  day,  December  8,  1603, 
from  Fulston,  to  the  earl  and  countess. 

To  THE  EARL. 

Add.  MSS.,  v.  22,  563,  f.  43 ;  and  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4164, 
f.  181,  182. 

It  may  please  your  lordship  to  pardon  me,  if  writing 
now  in  haste,  with  a  mind  distracted  with  the  several 
cares  of  a  householder,  and  those  that  this  remove  * 
and  New  Year's-tide  add  thereto,  I  omit  sometimes 
that  which  were  perchance  more  material  to  write 
than  that  I  write,  and  forget  many  things  which, 
according  to  the  manner  of  us  that  have  only  after- 
wits,  come  not  to  mind  till  your  letters  be  gone, 
and  then  are  too  ancient  news  to  be  sent  by  the  next. 

I  received  your  lordship's  letter  safe  by  Mrs.  Nelson, 
and  that  your  in  my  aunt's  letter  was  plural,  so  that 
I  meant  I  had  received  your  lordship's  and  hers,  how 
ill  soever  I  expressed  it ;  I  will  amend  my  obscurity, 
God  willing.  Your  lordship  taxeth  my  obscurity  in 
the  comment  upon  a  part  of  some  letter  of  mine  you 
desired  to  have  explained.  But,  whatsoever  you  took 
for  the  explanation  of  it,  I  am  sure  I  sent  you  none, 

*  To  apartments  in  Whitehall. 


1 88  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

for  I  knew  not  what  it  was  you  desired  to  have 
expounded. 

I  pray  you  take  not  that/w  concesso  in  general,  which 
is  only  proper  to  some  monsters  of  our  sex.  I  can- 
not deny  so  apparent  a  truth  as  that  wickedness  pre- 
vaileth  with  some  of  our  sex,  because  I  daily  see 
some,  even  of  the  fairest  amongst  us,  misled,  and 
willingly  and  wittingly  ensnared,  by  the  prince  of 
darkness.  But  yet  ours  \our  sex]  shall  still  be  the 
purer  and  more  innocent  kind.  There  went  ten 
thousand  virgins  to  heaven  in  one  day.  Look  but 
in  the  almanac,  and  you  shall  find  that  glorious  day. 
And  if  you  think  there  are  some,  but  not  many,  of  us 
that  may  prove  saints,  I  hope  you  are  deceived.  But 
not  many  rich,  not  many  noble,  shall  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  So  that  riches  and  nobility  are 
hindrances  from  heaven,  as  well  as  our  nature's  in- 
firmity. You  would  think  me  very  full  of  divinity,  or 
desirous  to  shew  that  little  I  have,  in  both  which 
you  should  do  me  wrong,  if  you  knew  what  business 
I  have  at  court,  and  yet  preach  to  you.  Pardon  me, 
it  is  not  my  function.  Now  a  little  more  to  the 
purpose. 

I  have  delivered  your  two  patents,  signed  and 
sealed,  to  Mr.  Hercy.  If  it  be  not  an  inexcusable 
presumption  in  me  to  tell  you  my  mind  unasked,  as 
if  I  would  advise  you  what  to  do,  pardon  me  if  I  tell 
you  I  think  your  thanks  will  come  very  unseasonably  so 
near  New  Year's-tide,  especially  those  with  which  you 
send  any  gratuity.  Therefore  consider  if  it  were  not 
better  to  give  your  New  Year's  gift  first  to  the  queen, 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1603.      189 

and  your  thanks  after,  and  keep  Mr.  Fowler's  till  after 
that  good  time.  New  Year's-tide  will  come  every 
year,  and  be  a  yearly  tribute  to  them  you  begin  with. 
You  may  impute  the  slowness  of  your  thankfulness  to 
Mr.  Hercy,  or  me  that  acquainted  you  no  sooner 
with  your  own  matter. 

The  Spanish  ambassador  invited  Mdme.  de  Beau- 
mont (the  French  ambassador's  lady)  to  dinner,  re- 
questing her  to  bring  some  English  ladies  with  her. 
She  brought  my  Lady  Bedford,*  Lady  Rich,|  Lady 
Susan,  \  and  Lady  Dorothy  with  her,  and  great  cheer 
they  had.  A  fortnight  after  he  invited  the  Duke  [of 
Lenox~\,  the  Earl  of  Mar,  and  divers  of  that  nation, 
requesting  them  to  bring  the  Scottish  ladies,  for  he 
was  desirous  to  see  some  natural  beauties.  My  Lady 
Anne  Hay  and  my  cousin  Drummond  [Lady  Jane\ 
went,  and,  after  the  sumptuous  dinner,  were  presented 
first  with  a  pair  of  Spanish  gloves  apiece,  and  after 
my  cousin  Drummond  had  a  diamond  ring  of  the  value 
of  two  hundred  crowns  given  her,  and  my  Lady  Anne 
a  gold  chain  of  Spanish  work  near  that  value.  My 
Lady  Carey  went  with  them,  and  had  gloves  there, 
and  after  a  gold  chain  of  little  links  twice  about  her 
neck  sent  her. 

Yesterday  the  Spanish  ambassador,  the  Florentine, 
and  Mdme.  de  Beaumont  took  their  leave  of  the 

*  Lucy,  Countess  of  Bedford,  daughter  of  John,  Lord 
Harington. 

I  Penelope,  wife  of  Robert,  Lord  Rich,  afterwards  Earl  of 
Warwick,  and  sister  to  Robert,  Earl  of  Essex. 

J  Vere,  who  married  Mr.  Philip  Herbert,  afterwards  Earl  of 
Pembroke. 


IQO  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

queen  till  she  come  to  Hampton  Court.  There  is  an 
ambassador  come  from  Polonia,  and  fain  would  he  be 
gone  again,  because  of  the  freezing  of  their  seas,  but 
he  hath  not  yet  had  audience.  The  Venetians  lately 
sent  two  ambassadors  with  letters  both  to  the  king 
and  queen.  One  of  them  is  returned  with  a  very 
honourable  despatch;  but  he,  staying  but  few  days, 
and  the  queen  not  being  well,  he  saw  her  not.  The 
other  stays  here  still. 

It  is  said  the  Turk  hath  sent  a  Chahu  to  the  king. 
It  is  said  the  pope  will  send  a  knight  to  the  King  in 
embassage  [she  spells  it  "  imbassage  "  and  "  imbassa- 
dour"\  The  Duke  of  Savoy's  embassage  is  daily 
expected. 

But  out  of  this  confusion  of  embassages  will  you 
know  how  we  spend  our  time  on  the  queen's  side  ? 
Whilst  I  was  at  Winchester,  there  were  certain  child- 
plays  remembered  by  the  fair  ladies,  viz.  "  I  pray,  my 
lord,  give  me  a  course  in  your  park  ; "  "  Rise,  pig,  and 
go;"  "One  penny,  follow  me,"  etc.  And  when  I 
came  to  court,  they  were  as  highly  in  request  as  ever 
cracking  of  nuts  was.  So  I  was  by  the  mistress  of 
the  revels,  not  only  compelled  to  play  at  I  knew 
not  what  (for  till  that  day  I  never  heard  of  a  play 
called  "Fier"),  but  even  persuaded  by  the  princely 
example  I  saw  to  play  the  child  again.  This  exercise 
is  most  used  from  ten  of  the  clock  at  night  till  two  or 
three  in  the  morning,  but  that  day  I  made  one  it 
began  at  twilight  and  ended  at  supper-time.  There 
was  an  interlude,  but  not  so  ridiculous  (as  ridiculous 
as  it  was)  as  my  letter,  which  here  I  conclude,  with 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURY,  1603.      191 

many  prayers  to  the  Almighty  for  your  happiness,  and 
so  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Fulston,  the  8th  of  December,  1603. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

To  THE  COUNTESS. 

Ibid.,  f.  183;  Add.  MSS.,  v.  22,  563,  f.  45. 

Dec.  8,  1603. 

MADAME, — I  humbly  thank  you  for  your  kindness 
expressed  many  ways,  and  lately  in  the  letter  received 
from  you  by  my  cousin  Lacy's  man.  How  defective 
soever  my  memory  be  in  other  ways,  assure  yourself  I 
cannot  forget  even  small  matters  concerning  that  great 
party,  much  less  such  great  ones  as,  I  thank  God,  I 
was  \noi\  acquainted  withal.  Therefore,  when  any  great 
matter  comes  in  question,  rest  secure,  I  beseech  you, 
that  I  am  not  interested  in  it  as  an  actor,  howsoever 
the  vanity  of  wicked  men's  vain  designs  have  made 
my  name  pass  through  a  gross,  and  a  subtle  lawyer's  * 
lips  of  late,  to  the  exercise  and  increase  of  my  patience, 
and  not  their  credit.  I  trust  I  have  not  lost  so  much 
of  your  good  opinion  as  your  pleasant  postscript  would 
make  one  that  were  suspicious  of  their  assured  friends 
(as  I  never  was)  believe.  For  if  I  should  not  prefer 
the  reading  of  your  kind  and  most  welcome  letters 
before  all  court  delights  (admit  I  delighted  as  much 
in  them  as  others  do),  it  were  a  sign  of  extreme  folly ; 

*  Referring  to  the  rumours  about  her  part  in  the  Main  Plot, 
and  Coke's  speech  at  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  trial  (see  vol.  i.  pp. 
176-182). 


IQ2  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

and  liking  court  sports  no  better  than  I  do,  and  than 
I  think  you  think  I  do,  I  know  you  cannot  think  me 
so  transformed  as  to  esteem  anything  less  than  them. 
As  your  love  and  judgment  together  makes  me  hope 
you  know  I  can  like  nor  love  nothing  better  than  the 
love  and  kindness  of  so  honourable  friends  as  you  and 
my  uncle.  Wherefore  I  beseech  you  let  me  hear 
often  [that  I  may  be  sure  of]  your  love  by  the  length 
and  number  of  your  letters.  My  own  follies,  [and~\ 
ignorances  will  minister  you  sufficient  matter  for  as 
many  and  as  long  letters  as  you  please,  which,  I 
beseech  you,  may  be  as  many  and  as  copious  as  may 
be  without  your  trouble. 

I  have  satisfied  the  honourable  gentlewoman  with- 
out raising  any  expectation  in  her  to  receive  letters 
from  you,  which  is  a  favour  I  desire  only  may  be 
reserved  still  \always\  for  myself,  my  good  Lord  Cecil, 
and  your  best  esteemed  friends.  I  asked  her  advice  for 
a  New  Year's  gift  for  the  queen,  both  for  myself,  who 
am  altogether  unprovided,  and  a  great  lady,  a  friend 
of  mine,  that  was  in  my  case  for  that  matter  ;  and  her 
answer  was,  the  queen  regarded  not  the  value,  but  the 
device.  The  gentlewoman  neither  liked  gown  nor 
petticoat  so  well  as  some  little  bunch  of  rubies  to 
hang  in  her  ear,  or  some  such  daft  toy.  I  mean  to 
give  her  Majesty  two  pair  of  silk  stockings  lined  with 
plush,  and  two  pair  of  g'loves  lined,  if  London  afford 
me  not  some  daft  toy  I  like  better,  whereof  I  cannot 
bethink  me.  If  I  knew  the  value  you  would  bestow, 
I  think  it  were  no  hard  matter  to  get  her  or  Mrs. 
Hartshide  \to\  understand  the  queen's  mind  without 


LETTERS  TO    THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1603.       193 

knowing  who  asked  it.  The  time  is  short,  and  there- 
fore you  had  need  lose  none  of  it.  I  am  making  the 
king  a  purse,  and  for  all  the  world  else  I  am  unpro- 
vided. This  time  will  manifest  my  poverty  more 
than  all  the  rest  of  the  year.  But  why  should  I  be 
ashamed  of  it  when  it  is  others'  fault,  and  not  mine  ? 
My  quarter's  allowance  will  not  defray  this  one  charge, 
I  believe. 

Sir  William  Stuart  continueth  his  charitable  desire, 
but  he  cannot  persuade  me  to  lose  my  labour,  how 
little  soever  he  esteem  his  own  to  so  good  an  end,, 
which  I  wish  but  think  not  feasible,  at  least  by  me. 

Thus  praying  for  the  increase  of  your  happiness 
every  way,  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Fulston,  the  8th  of  December,  1603. 
Your  ladyship's  most  affectionate  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

(/)    To  THE  EARL. 
Add.  MSS.,  v.  22,  563,  f.  47. 

That  night  the  queen  came  hither,  which  was  on 
Friday,  the  i6th  of  December,  I  received  your  lord- 
ship's packet  to  me  by  one  of  my  Lord  Cecil's  men. 
Mr.  Hercy's  letter  I  keep  till  I  see  him,  which  will 
be  very  shortly,  as  he  lately  told  me.  I  humbly  thank 
you  for  your  thanks  to  my  Lord  Cecil  for  me.  I  am 
a  witness,  not  only  of  the  rare  gift  of  speech  which 
God  hath  given  him,  but  of  his  excellent  judgment  in 
choosing  most  plausible  and  honourable  themes,  as 
the  defending  a  wronged  lady,  the  clearing  of  an 

VOL.  ii.  31 


194  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

innocent  knight,  etc.  I  humbly  thank  you  for  your 
letter  to  my  Lord  Bishop  of  Winchester,  which,  if  it 
be  written  (as  I  doubt  not  but  it  is)  in  that  sort  as 
may  avail  the  recommended,  is  worth  ten  favours 
of  greater  value  that  you  had  been  willing  to  grant ; 
but  if,  as  being  written  invita  Minerva^  they  be  unto 
him  like  Uriah's  sealed  letter.  Alas !  what  have  I 
done? 

Well,  I  suspect  you  not,  therefore  now  you  may 
deceive  me ;  and  you  deceive  me  (who  am  better 
persuaded  of  your  judgment)  if  you  do  not  perceive 
I  cast  that  doubt  only  to  make  you  merry  with  look- 
ing into  the  infiniteness  of  suspicion,  if  one  will  nourish 
it ;  not  that  I  have  the  least  doubt  of  your  honourable 
dealing  with  any,  and  especially  myself. 

The  invitation  is  very  cold  if  the  Christmas  guests 
you  write  of  accept  it  not,  for  they  knew  their  wel- 
come and  entertainment  in  a  worse  place,  and  yet 
were  so  bold  to  invite  themselves  thither.  I  humbly 
thank  you  that  for  my  sake  they  shall  be  the  welcomer 
to  you,  who,  in  regard  of  their  nearness  of  blood  to 
yourself  and  my  aunt,  must  needs  be  so  very  welcome 
that  (if  you  had  not  written  it)  I  should  not  have 
thought  they  could  have  been  more  welcome  to  you 
in  any  respect  than  that. 

Your  venison  shall  be  right  welcome  to  Hampton 
Court,  and  merrily  eaten. 

I  dare  not  write  unto  you  how  I  do,  for  if  I  should 
say  well,  I  were  greatly  to  blame ;  if  ill,  I  trust  you 
would  not  believe  me,  I  am  so  merry.  It  is  enough 
to  change  Heraclitus  into  Democritus  to  live  in  this 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURY'S,  1603.       195 

most  ridiculous  world,  and  enough  to  change  Demo- 
critus  into  Heraclitus  to  live  in  this  most  wicked 
world.  If  you  will  not  allow  reading  of  riddles  for  a 
Christmas  sport,  I  know  not  whether  you  will  take 
this  philosophical  folly  of  mine  in  good  part  this  good 
time. 

I  writ  to  your  lordship,  by  a  messenger  of  Mr. 
Hercy's,  an  answer  of  yours  I  received  by  my  cousin 
Lacy's  man,  of  such  news  as  then  were  news,  as  I  think 
in  the  North,  and  now  have  I  none  to  send  but  that 
the  king  will  be  here  to-morrow.  The  Polonian 
ambassador  shall  have  audience  on  Thursday  next. 
The  queen  intendeth  to  make  a  mask  this  Christmas, 
to  which  end  my  Lady  of  Suffolk  and  my  Lady 
Walsingham  have  warrants  to  take  of  the  late  queen's 
best  apparel  out  of  the  Tower  at  their  discretion. 

Certain  noblemen  (whom  I  may  not  yet  name  to 
you,  because  some  of  them  hath  made  me  of  their 
counsel)  intend  another ;  certain  gentlemen  of  good 
sort  another.  It  is  said  there  shall  be  thirty  plays. 

The  king  will  feast  all  the  ambassadors  this  Christ- 
mas. Sir  John  Hollis  *  yesterday  convoyed  some  new- 
come  ambassador  to  Richmond,  and  it  was  said  (but 
uncertainly)  to  be  a  Muscovian. 

I  have  reserved  the  best  news  for  the  last,  and  that 
is  the  king's  pardon  of  life  to  the  not-executed  traitors. 
I  dare  not  begin  to  tell  of  the  royal  and  wise  manner 
of  the  king's  proceeding  therein,  lest  I  should  find  no 
end  of  extolling  him  for  it,  till  I  had  written  out  a 

*  Created  Earl  of  Clare  in  1624;  a  favourite  of  Henry, 
Prince  of  Wales. 


1 96  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

pair  of  bad  eyes  ;  and  therefore  praying  for  your  lord- 
ship's happiness,  I  humbly  and  abruptly  take  my 
leave. 

From  Hampton  Court,  the  i8th  of  December, 
1603. 

Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

(k)  To  THE  COUNTESS. 
Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4164,  f.  185. 

Dec.  22,  1603. 

MADAME, — 1  received  your  ladyship's  letter  by 
your  old  servant  David  three  days  ago,  and  his  desire 
being  I  should  speak  to  some  of  the  Council  in  his 
behalf,  and  he,  knowing  he  had  brought  a  letter  of 
recommendation  to  me,  lest  he  should  think  me  dis- 
obedient to  you,  who  willed  me  to  do  what  I  could 
for  him,  I  offered  to  speak  to  the  Duke  of  Lenox  in 
his  behalf,  who  is  the  only  Councillor,  now  my  uncle 
is  away,  that  I  will  move  in  any  such  suit.  But  I  told 
him  it  would  be  to  so  little  purpose,  that,  though  at 
that  present  he  seemed  to  desire  his  furtherance, 
I  have  not  seen  him  since,  and  so,  upon  better  con- 
sideration, I  think  he  takes  the  right  way,  and  will 
spare  that  needless  labour  of  mine  to  speak  to  one 
for  him  that  can  do  him  little  good.  But  whether 
I  shall  see  David  any  more  before  his  return  to  you 
or  not,  I  know  not ;  and  therefore,  Mr.  Hercy  having 
left  this  packet  of  his  with  me  to  be  sent  by  the  first 
messenger  I  could  hear  of,  I  have  rather  made  bold 


LETTERS  TO   THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1603.       197 

with  this  bearer,  as  he  can  tell  you,  than  either  stay  it 
(for  Mr.  Hercy  saith  it  requireth  haste)  or  rely  on  the 
uncertainty  of  your  servant. 

The  Polonian  ambassador  had  audience  to-day. 
Other  news  there  is  none  that  I  know,  and  therefore 
I  beseech  you  make  my  excuse  to  my  uncle  that  I 
write  not  to  him  in  this  busy  time  and  scarcity  of 
occurrence.  And  so  praying  the  Almighty  to  send 
you  both  all  happiness,  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Hampton  Court,  the  22nd  of  December 
(1603). 

Your  ladyship's  most  affectionate  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

P.S. — Mr.  Hercy  sent  a  packet  by  post  wherein 
I  writ  to  my  uncle  and  you,  in  answer  of  those  I  re- 
ceived from  you  by  my  cousin  Lacy's  man.  I  beseech 
you  let  me  know  if  you  received  them  safe.  If  I  had 
thought  they  should  have  been  sent  by  post,  I  should 
have  written  more  reservedly. 

(/)   To  THE  COUNTESS. 

Ibid.,  f.  195. 

MADAME, — This  everlasting  hunting,  the  tooth-ache, 
and  the  continual  means  by  my  Lord  Cecil  to  send 
to  you,  makes  me  only  write  these  few  lines  to  show 
I  am  not  unmindful  of  your  commandments,  and 
reserve  the  rest  I  have  to  write,  both  to  you  and  my 
uncle,  some  few  hours  longer,  till  my  pain  assuage, 
and  I  have  given  my  never-intermitted  attendance  on 
the  queen,  who  daily  extendeth  her  favours  more  and 


198  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

more  towards  me.  The  Almighty  send  you  and  my 
uncle  all  prosperity,  and  keep  me  still,  I  beseech  you, 
in  your  good  opinion,  who  will  ever  remain, 

Your  ladyship's  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

Undated. 

D. 

w 

To  THE  EARL  OF  SHREWSBURY. 
Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4164,  f.  186. 

This  bearer  coming  to  me  in  such  haste,  as  he  can 
tell  your  lordship,  I  only  observe  your  commandment 
in  scribbling  never  so  little,  never  so  ill,  and  reserve 
all  I  have  to  write  of  to  your  lordship — that  is,  some 
Hardwick  news,  and  such  vanities  as  this  place  and 
holy  time  afford  me  till  Emery's  return,  by  whom 
I  have  received  a  large  essay  of  your  lordship's  good 
cheer  at  Sheffield.  I  humbly  thank  you  and  my  aunt 
for  it.  One  Mr.  Tunsted  expecteth  letters  from  your 
lordship,  and  came  once  himself,  and  said  he  would 
send  to  my  chamber  often,  in  adventure  you  should 
send  them  to  me.  And  thus  praying  to  the  Almighty 
to  send  your  lordship  so  much  increase  of  honour 
and  happiness  that  you  may  confess  yourself  to  be 
the  king's  happiest  subject,  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Hampton  Court,  the  2nd  of  January,  1604. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

I  beseech  you  obtain  my  pardon  of  my  aunt  for  not 
writing  to  her  at  this  time. 


LETTERS   TO    THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1604.       199 


To  the  same. 
Ibid.,  f.  186;  and  see  Add.  MSS.,  v.  22,  563,  p.  50. 

Jan.  10,  1604. 

This  bearer  having  leave  for  a  short  time  to  visit 
the  north,  and  not  giving  me  time  sufficient  to  write  the 
description  of  the  three  masques,  besides  two  plays 
played  before  the  prince,  since  my  last  advertisement 
of  these  serious  affairs,  I  must  beseech  your  lordship 
to  pardon  the  shortness  of  my  letter,  proceeding  — 
partly  of  the  short  warning  I  had  of  his  going  down, 
partly  of  the  shortness  of  my  wit,  who  at  this  instant 
remember  no  news  but  is  either  too  great  to  be  con- 
tained in  my  weak  paper,  or  vulgar,  or  such  as  without 
detriment  but  of  your  lordship's  expectation  may  tarry 
the  next  messenger.  I  have  here  enclosed  sent  your 
lordship  the  Bishop  *  of  Winchester's  letter  in  answer 
of  yours.  I  beseech  you  let  me  know  what  you  writ, 
and  what  he  answers  concerning  the  party  in  whose 
favour  I  craved  your  letter,  that  I  may  let  the  good 
Warden  know  as  soon  as  may  be.  My  Lady  of  Wor- 
cester f  commendeth  her  as  kindly  to  your  lordship, 
and  not  to  my  aunt,  as  you  did  yourself  to  her  in  her 
ladyship's  letter,  and  is  as  desirous  to  raise  jealousy 
betwixt  you  two  as  you  are  like  to  do  betwixt  them. 
Thus  praying  to  the  Almighty,  etc. 

From  Hampton  Court,  the  xoth  of  January,  1604. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

*  Dr.  Thomas  Bilson. 

t  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Edward,  Earl  of  Worcester,  and  daughter 
of  Francis,  Earl  of  Huntingdon. 


200  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

I  had  almost  tried  whether  your  lordship  would 
have  performed  a  good  office  betwixt  two  friends  un- 
desired  ;  for  I  had  forgotten  to  beseech  you  to  excuse 
me  to  my  aunt  for  not  writing  to  her  at  this  time. 

I  think  I  am  asked  every  day  of  this  New  Year, 
seven  times  a  day  at  least,  when  you  come  up,  and  I 
have  nothing  to  say,  but  /  cannot  tell,  which  it  is  not 
their  pleasure  to  believe,  and  therefore  if  you  will  not 
resolve  them  nor  me  of  the  truth,  yet  teach  me  what 
to  answer  them. 


To  the  same. 
Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4164,  f.  187. 

fan.  II,  1604. 

My  Lord  Cecil  sent  me  a  fair  pair  of  bracelets  this 
morning,  in  requital  of  a  trifle  I  presented  him  at  New 
Year's-tide,  which  it  pleased  him  to  take  as  I  meant 
it.  I  find  him  my  very  honourable  friend  both  in 
word  and  deed.  I  pray  you  give  him  such  thanks  for 
me  as  he  many  ways  deserves,  and  especially  for  this 
extraordinary  and  unexpected  favour,  whereby  I  per- 
ceive his  lordship  reckoneth  me  in  the  number  of  his 
friends,  for  whom  only  such  great  persons  as  he  reserve 
such  favours. 

Thus  praying  for  your  lordship's  happiness,  I  humbly 
take  my  leave. 

From  Hampton  Court,  the  nth  of  January,  1604. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLLA  STUART.* 

*  Following  this  letter  is  a  short  note,  dated  Jan.  21,  from 
Arabella  to  her  aunt,  also  from  Hampton  Court. 


LETTERS  TO    THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1604.      2OI 

(d) 
To  the  same. 

Ibid.,  f.  188,  189. 

Feb.  3,  1604. 

Having  sent  away  this  bearer  with  a  letter  to  my 
aunt,  and  not  your  lordship,  with  an  intention  to  write 
to  you  at  length  by  Mr.  Cooke,  I  found  so  good  hope 
of  my  grandmother's  good  inclination  to  a  good  and 
reasonable  reconciliation  betwixt  herself  and  her 
divided  family,  that  I  could  not  forbear  to  impart  to 
your  lordship  with  all  speed.  Therefore  I  beseech 
you  put  on  such  a  Christian  and  honourable  mind  as 
best  becometh  you  to  bear  to  a  lady  so  near  to  you 
and  yours  as  my  grandmother  is.  And  think  you 
cannot  devise  to  do  me  a  greater  honour  and  content- 
ment than  to  let  me  be  the  only  mediator,  moderator, 
and  peacemaker  betwixt  you  and  her.  You  know 
I  have  cause  only  to  be  partial  on  your  side,  so  many 
kindnesses  and  favours  have  I  received  from  you,  and 
so  many  unkindnesses  and  disgraces  have  I  received 
from  the  other  party.  Yet  will  I  not  be  restrained 
from  chiding  you  (as  great  a  lord  as  you  are)  if  I  find 
you  either  not  willing  to  harken  to  this  good  motion, 
or  to  proceed  in  it  as  I  shall  think  reasonable.  Con- 
sider what  power  you  will  give  me  over  you  in  this,  and 
take  as  great  over  me  as  you  give  me  over  you  in  this  in 
all  matters  but  one,*  and  in  that  your  authority  and 
persuasion  shall  as  far  exceed  theirs  as  your  kindness  f 

*  Her  marriage. 

t  See  pp.  no,  128.     This  remark  shows  that  Arabella  was 
deceiving  her  grandmother  about  her  uncle's  unkindness  to  her. 


202  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

to  me  did  in  my  trouble.  If  you  think  I  have  either 
discretion  or  good  nature,  you  may  be  sure  you  may 
refer  much  to  me.  If  I  be  not  sufficient  for  this  treaty, 
never  think  me  such  as  can  add  strength  or  honour  to 
your  family.  But  Mr.  Cooke  persuades  me  you  think 
otherwise  than  so  abjectly  of  me.  And  so  praying  the 
Almighty  you  may  \take\  such  a  course  both  in  this  and 
all  your  other  honourable  designs  as  may,with  your  most 
honour  and  contentment,  bring  you  to  those  good  ends 
you  wish,  whatsoever  they  be,  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Hampton  Court,  the  3rd  of  February,  1604. 

[Unsigned.] 

P.S. — I  beseech  you  bring  my  uncle  Henry  *  and 
my  aunt  Grace  up  with  you  to  London.  They  shall 
not  long  be  troublesome  to  you,  God  willing;  but 
because  I  know  my  uncle  hath  some  very  great  occa- 
sion to  \be\  about  London  for  a  little  while,  and  is  not 
well  able  to  bear  his  own  charges,  nor  I  for  him,  as  I 
would  very  willingly  if  I  were  able,  to  so  good  an 
end  as  I  know  he  comes  to  now.  And  therefore  I 
beseech  you  take  that  pains  and  trouble  of  bringing 
them  up,  and  keeping  them  awhile  with  you  for  my 
sake  and  our  families'  good.  I  have  here  enclosed 
sent  you  a  letter  to  him,  which,  if  you  grant  him  this 
favour  I  require  of  you,  I  beseech  you  send  him  ;  if 
you  will  not,  return  it  to  me,  and  let  him  not  be  so 
much  discomforted  to  see  I  am  not  able  to  obtain 
so  much  of  you  for  him.  In  truth,  I  am  ashamed  to 

*  Her  old  friend,  Henry  Cavendish,  eldest  son  of  the  old 
Countess  of  Shrewsbury,  and  his  wife  Grace  (Talbot),  daughter 
of  the  old  earl. 


LETTERS   TO    THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1604.      203 

trouble  you  with  so  many  rude  and  (but  for  my  sake, 
as  you  say)  unwelcome  requests  ;  but  if  you  be  weary 
of  me,  you  may  soon  *  be  despatched  of  me  for  ever 
(as  I  am  told)  in  more  honourable  sort  than  you  may 
deny  this  my  very  earnest  request. 

w 

To  the  same. 
Ibid.,  f.  188-191. 

Dated  only  1604,  probably  early  in  March. 
I  humbly  thank  your  lordship  for  sparing  me  never 
so  few  words  in  the  time  of  your  taking  physic,  which 
I  would  not  should  have  been  more  for  doing  you 
harm  in  holding  down  your  head  at  such  a  time ;  but 
when  you  are  well  I  hope  to  receive  some  Hardwick 
news,  which,  unless  your  lordship  be  a  great  deal 
briefer  than  that  plentiful  argument  requireth,  will  cost 
you  a  long  letter.  My  aunt  findeth  fault  with  my 
brevity,  as  I  think  by  your  lordship's  commandment ; 
for  I  know  she  in  her  wisdom  respecteth  ceremony  so 
little  that  she  would  not  care  in  time  of  health  for 
hearing  from  me  every  week  that  I  am  well  and 
nothing  else.  And  I  know  her  likewise  too  wise  to 
make  that  the  cause  of  her  offence,  suppose  in  policy 
she  should  think  good  to  seem  or  to  be  offended  with 
me,  whom  perchance  you  now  think  good  to  shake  off 
as  weary  of  the  alliance.  But  I  conclude  your  lord- 
ship hath  a  quarrel  to  me,  and  maketh  my  aunt  take 

*  She  appears   to   refer   to   one  of  the   numerous  marriage 
projects. 


2O4  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

it  upon  her,  and  that  is  (for  other  can  you  justly  have 
none)  that  you  have  never  a  letter  of  mine  since  your 
going  down,  to  make  you  merry  at  your  few  spare  hours, 
which,  if  it  be  so,  your  lordship  may  command  me  in 
plain  terms  and  deserve  it  by  doing  the  like,  and  I 
shall  as  willingly  play  the  fool  for  your  recreation  as 
ever.  I  assure  myself,  my  Lord  Cecil,  my  Lord  Pem- 
broke, your  honourable  new  ally,  and  divers  of  your 
old  acquaintance,  write  your  lordship  all  the  news  of 
\Courf\  *  that  is  stirring,  so  that  I  will  only  impart 
\some\  *  trifles  to  your  lordship  at  this  time  as  concern 
myself. 

After  I  had  once  carved,  the  queen  never  dined 
out  of  her  bed-chamber,  nor  was  attended  by  any  but 
her  chamberers  till  my  Lady  of  Bedford's  return.  I 
doubted  my  unhandsome  carving  had  been  the  cause 
thereof,  but  her  Majesty  took  my  endeavour  in  good 
part,  and  with  better  words  than  that  beginning 
deserved  put  me  out  of  that  error.  At  length  (for 
now  I  am  called  to  the  sermon  I  must  hasten  to  an 
end)  it  fell  out  that  the  importunity  of  certain  great 
ladies  in  that  or  some  other  suit  of  the  like  kind 
had  done  me  this  disgrace ;  and  whom  should  I  hear 
named  for  one  but  my  aunt  of  Shrewsbury,  who,  they 
say,  at  the  same  time  stood  to  be  the  queen's  cup- 
bearer. If  I  could  have  been  persuaded  to  believe, 
or  seem  to  believe  that  whereof  I  knew  the  contrary,  I 
might  have  been  threatened  down  to  my  face  that  I  was 
of  her  counsel  therein,  that  I  deeply  dissembled  with 
my  friends  when  I  protested  the  contrary ;  for  I  was 
heard  to  confer  with  her,  they  say,  to  that  purpose. 
*  Here  gaps  are  left  in  the  Sloane  MSS. 


LETTERS  TO  THE  SHREWSBURYS,  1604.        2O5 

But  these  people  do  little  know  how  circumspect  my 
aunt  and  your  lordship  are  with  me.  I  humbly  thank 
you  for  the  example. 

I  hear  the  marriage  betwixt  my  Lord  of  Pembroke 
and  my  cousin  *  is  broken,  whereat  some  time  I  laugh, 
otherwhiles  am  angry ;  sometimes  answer  soberly  as 
though  I  thought  it  possible,  according  as  it  is  spoken 
in  simple  earnest,  scorn,  policy,  or  howsoever  at  the 
least  as  I  conceive  it  spoken.  And  your  lordship's 
secrecy  is  the  cause  of  this  variety  (whereby  some  con- 
jecture I  know  something),  because  I  have  no  certain 
direction  what  to  say  in  that  case.  I  was  asked 
within  these  three  days  whether  your  lordship  would 
be  here  within  ten  days  ;  unto  which  (to  me)  strange 
question  I  made  so  strange  an  answer  as  I  am  sure 
either  your  lordship  or  I  are  counted  great  dissem- 
blers. I  am  none ;  quit  yourself  as  you  may.  But  I 
would  be  very  glad  you  were  here,  that  I  need  not 
chide  you  by  letter,  as  I  must  needs  do  if  I  be  chidden 
either  for  the  shortness,  rareness,  or  preciseness  of  my 
letters,  which  by  your  former  rules  I  might  think  a 
fault,  by  your  late  example  a  wisdom.  I  pray  you 
reconcile  your  deeds  and  words  together,  and  I  shall 
follow  that  course  herein  which  your  lordship  best 
allows  of.  In  the  mean  time,  I  have  applied  myself  to 
your  lordship's  former  liking  and  the  plainness  of  my 
own  disposition.  And  so,  praying  for  your  lordship's 
health,  honour,  and  happiness,  I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Whitehall. 

Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 
*  Mary  Talbot.     The  marriage  took  place  this  year. 


206  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Another  letter  on  October  3,  1604,  from  Lady 
Arabella  to  her  aunt,  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury, 
contains  only  thanks  for  game. 


To  THE  EARL. 

Ibid.,  f.  191,  192. 

Oct.  1  8,  1604. 

I  humbly  thank  your  lordship  and  my  aunt  for  the 
six  very  good  red  deer  pies  I  have  received  from  your 
lordship  by  Mr.  Hercy.  My  aunt's  thanks,  which  I 
received  for  my  plain  dealing  with  Mr.  Booth,  and 
the  few  lines  I  received  last  from  you  and  my  aunt 
by  Mr.  Hercy,  have  relation  to  certain  conditions  and 
promises  as  well  on  your  lordship's  part  as  mine,  and 
therefore  your  lordship's  confidence  of  my  conditional 
promise  resteth  not  in  me  only.  I  assure  myself  you 
are  so  honourable,  and  I  so  dear  unto  you,  that  you 
will  respect  as  well  what  is  convenient  for  me  as  what 
you  earnestly  desire,  especially  my  estate  being  so 
uncertain  and  subject  to  injury  as  it  is.  Your  lord- 
ship shall  find  me  constantly  persevere  in  a  desire  to 
do  that  which  may  be  acceptable  to  you  and  my  aunt, 
not  altogether  neglecting  myself.  And  so  I  humbly 
take  my  leave,  praying  for  your  happiness. 

From  Whitehall,  the  i8th  of  October,  1604. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


LE  TTERS  TO  THE  SHRE  WSB  UR  YS,  1 604.       2O/ 

tt 

To  the  same. 

Ibid.,  f.  192. 

Dec.  24,  1604. 

I  have  sent  sooner  than  I  had  time  to  write  to  your 
lordship  of  anything  here,  and  yet  not  so  soon  but  I 
am  sure  I  am  already  condemned  by  your  lordship 
and  my  aunt,  either  for  slothful,  or  proud,  or  both, 
because  I  writ  not  by  the  very  first  \who\  went  down 
after  I  received  your  letters.  So  have  I  fully  satisfied 
neither  your  lordship  nor  myself,  and  yet  performed 
a  due  respect  to  a  very  honourable  friend,  whose 
honour  and  happiness  I  shall  ever  rejoice  at,  and 
think  my  own  misfortunes  the  less  if  I  may  see  my 
wishes  for  your  lordship's  and  my  aunt's  permanent, 
happy,  and  great  fortune  take  effect.  And  so  I 
humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Whitehall,  the  24th  of  December,  1604. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

Though  I  have  written  your  lordship  no  news,  I 
have  sent  you  here  enclosed  very  good  store  from 
Mr.  Secretary  Fowler.  My  old  good  spy,  Mr.  James 
Mourray,  desireth  his  service  may  be  remembered  to 
your  lordship  and  my  aunt;  but  if  I  should  write 
every  tenth  word  of  his,  wherein  he  wisheth  you  more 
good  than  is  to  be  expressed  at  court  on  a  Christmas 
Eve,  you  would  rather  think  this  scribbled  paper  a 
short  text  with  a  long  comment  underwritten,  than  a 
letter  with  a  postscript. 


208  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 


LADY  ARBELLA  TO  PRINCE  HENRY. 
Holograph.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  6986,  f.  71. 

London,  Oct.  18,  1605. 

SIR,  —  My  intention  to  attend  your  Highness  to- 
morrow, God  willing,  cannot  stay  me  from  acknow- 
ledging, by  these  few  lines,  how  infinitely  I  am  bound 
to  your  Highness  for  that  your  gracious  disposition 
towards  me,  which  faileth  not  to  show  itself  upon 
every  occasion,  whether  accidental  or  begged  by  me, 
as  this  late  high  favour  and  grace  it  hath  pleased  your 
Highness  to  do  my  kinsman  at  my  humble  suit. 
I  trust  to-morrow  to  let  your  Highness  understand 
such  motives  of  that  my  presumption  as  shall  make 
it  excusable.  For  your  Highness  shall  perceive  I  both 
understand  with  what  extraordinary  respects  suits  are 
to  be  presented  to  your  Highness,  and  withal  that 
your  goodness  doth  so  temper  your  greatness  as  it 
encourageth  both  me  and  many  others  to  hope  that 
we  may  taste  the  fruits  of  the  one  by  means  of  the 
other.  The  Almighty  make  your  Highness  every  way 
such  as  I,  Mr.  Newton,  and  Sir  David  Murray  (the 
only  intercessors  I  have  used  in  my  suit,  or  will  in 
any  I  shall  present  to  your  Highness)  wish  you,  and 
then  shall  you  be  even  such  as  you  are;  and  your 
growth  in  virtue  and  grace  with  God  and  men  shall 
be  the  only  alteration  we  will  pray  for.  And  so  in  all 
humility  I  cease. 

Your  Highness's  most  humble  and  dutiful 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


LETTERS  FROM  AND  TO  SIR  A.  SINCLAIR.     209 

E. 

LADY  ARBELLA  STUART  TO  SIR  ANDREW  SINCLAIR. 
Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  45. 

SIR, — You  having  not  only  performed  the  kindness 
I  required  of  you,  in  delivering  my  letters  to  their 
Majesties,  but  returned  me  so  great  and  unexpected  a 
favour  as  his  Majesty's  letters,  have  doubly  bound  me 
to  you,  and  I  yield  you  therefore  many  great  thanks, 
beseeching  you  to  continue  in  preferring  their  Majes- 
ties' favour  to  me,  for  which  good  office  I  most  desire 
to  become  obliged  to  you,  so  worthy  and  reverent  a 
person.  It  may  please  you  now  with  most  humble 
thanks  to  present  this  letter  to  his  Majesty,  for  whose 
prosperity  none  doth  more  daily  and  devoutly  pray 
than  I,  and  this  \worti\  to  the  queen's  Majesty,  which 
is  so  very  a  trifle  as  I  was  ashamed  to  accompany  it 
with  a  letter  to  her  Majesty,  and  if  a  piece  of  work  of 
my  own,  which  I  was  preparing,  had  been  ready,  I 
had  prevented  his  Majesty's  gracious  and  your  kind 
letter  in  sending  to  you,  but  I  was  desirous  not  to 
omit  her  Majesty  in  the  acknowledgment  of  my  duty 
to  her  royal  husband,  and  therefore  loth  to  stay  the 
finishing  of  a  greater,  have  sent  this  little  piece  of 
work,  in  accepting  whereof  her  Majesty's  favour  will 
be  the  greater. 

Thus  am  I  bold  to  trouble  you  even  to  these 
womanish  toys,  whose  serious  mind  must  have  some 
relaxation,  and  this  may  be  one  to  vouchsafe  to 

VOL.  ii.  32 


210  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

descend  to  these  petty  offices  for  one  that  will  ever 
wish  your  happiness  increase  and  continuance  of 
honour. 

SIR  ANDREW  SINCLAIR  TO  LADY  ARBELLA  STUART. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  46,   copy.     Draft  for  this  slightly 
different,  unfinished,  f.  47. 

Aug.  26,  1606. 

My  humble  duty  being  remembered,  most  worthy 
lady,  it  hath  pleased  both  their  Majesties  to  com- 
mand me  to  write  their  Majesties'  most  gracious  re- 
commendations to  your  ladyship,  and  to  thank  your 
ladyship  for  the  honest  faith  it  hath  pleased  your 
ladyship  to  bestow  on  both  their  Majesties.  The 
queen,  in  especial,  esteems  much  of  that  present  your 
ladyship  hath  sent  her  Majesty,  and  says  that  her 
Majesty  will  wear  it  for  your  ladyship's  sake.  The 
king  has  commanded  me  to  assure  your  ladyship 
that  there  is  no  honour,  advancement,  nor  pleasure 
that  his  Majesty  can  do  your  ladyship  but  he  shall 
do  it,  faithfully  and  willingly,  as  one  of  the  best 
friends  your  ladyship  has  in  the  world.  Surely  I 
must  confess  with  verity  I  never  heard  no  prince 
speak  more  worthily  of  a  princess  than  his  Majesty 
does  of  your  ladyship's  good  qualities  and  rare 
virtues,  while  I  say  no  more,  but  I  shall  be  a  faithful 
instrument  to  entertain  that  holy  friendship  between 
his  Majesty  and  your  ladyship.  As  touching  my 
Lady  Nottingham,  the  king  is  now  very  well  content 
with  her  ladyship,  because  her  letter  was  written  of 
a  little  coleric  passion  founded  on  a  feckless  report ; 


LETTERS  FROM  AND  TO  SIR  A.  SINCLAIR.     2 1  I 

for  his  Majesty  did  never  think  that  her  ladyship  had 
offended  him,  but  only  those  that  were  the  reporters 
of  such  foolish  words  to  her.  For  so  had  been  that  he 
did  speak  some  merry  words  in  jesting,  it  was  not  the 
duty  of  men  of  honour  (for  her  ladyship  makes  men- 
tion in  her  letters)  to  have  reported  again  to  her  such 
things  of  no  effect.  And,  as  for  my  part,  madam, 
I  protest  before  the  living  God  I  showed  not  the 
king  her  letter  by  malice,  but  by  duty  towards  my 
gracious  master ;  for  if  I  had  not  shown  him  the 
letter  I  had  been  in  danger  of  a  perpetual  disgrace. 
So  I  pray  your  ladyship,  that  if  any  speak  to  my 
disadvantage  in  this  matter  in  discharging  my  obliged 
devotion  to  my  master,  that  your  ladyship  will  answer 
for  me,  as  for  one  that  has  always  dedicated  himself 
to  do  your  ladyship  all  the  honour  and  service  that 
lies  in  my  power,  as  I  confess  myself  to  be  perpetually 
obliged  to  your  ladyship.  So  in  my  inviolable,  honest 
devotion  I  take  my  leave,  and  commit  your  ladyship 
to  the  Lord's  eternal  protection. 

From  court  at  Kioffenhafen  *  the  26th  of  August, 
1606. 

Your  ladyship's  obliged  friend 

to  do  you  tried  service, 

ANDREW  SINCLAIR. 

*  Copenhagen. 


212  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

LADY  ARBELLA  STUART  TO  SIR  ANDREW  SINCLAIR.* 
Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  48. 

MY  HONOURABLE  GOOD  FRIEND, — I  yield  both  their 
Majesties  most  humble  thanks  for  their  gracious 
favours,  and  have  presumed  to  do  so  by  letters  to 
themselves,  which  I  must  account  one  of  their  special 
graces,  that  it  pleaseth  them  to  license  me  to  do  so ; 
for  by  the  patronage  of  so  worthy  a  prince,  so  in- 
terested in  them  of  whom  my  fortune  depends,  and  so 
graciously  affected  to  me,  I  cannot  doubt  but  at  last 
to  come  to  some  such  story  as  shall  give  me  perpetual 
cause  to  pray  for  his  Majesty,  whose  gracious  favour, 
so  many  ways  expressed,  is  of  itself  an  especial  com- 
fort and  honpur  to  me.  And  for  you,  my  honourable 
friend,  by  whose  good  means  I  enjoy  this  happiness, 
I  can  but  acknowledge  myself  your  debtor  till  God 
make  me  able  better  to  express  my  thankfulness,  as 
I  doubt  not,  by  God's  grace,  but  I  shall  be  made  by 
your  good  endeavours,  and  the  mediation  of  your  most 
gracious  Majesty,  whose  good  favour  of  itself  is  so 
highly  and  duly  esteemed  by  me  that  I  hold  myself  so 
thoroughly  appaied  *  \rewarded\  therewith  as  I  should 
desire  no  more  but  the  preservation  of  it  but  that 
I  perceive,  by  your  letters,  virtue  is  of  itself  delighted 
to  do  good,  and  the  neglect  of  offered  bounty  would 
deprive  them  of  the  honour  and  contentment  they 
receive  in  well-doing.  Therefore,  when  the  first 

*  There  is  another  letter  (f.  42)  from  Arabella  to  Sinclair,  in 
which  she  says  no  prince  could  have  left  a  more  honourable 
memory  behind  him  than  the  Danish  king  has  done  in  London. 


LETTER  TO  THE  QUEEN  OF  DENMARK.      2  1 3 

opportunity  is  offered  that  I  may  request  your  pains 
to  come  hither,  accompanied  with  his  Majesty's 
gracious  letters,  upon  any  good  and  hopeful  occasion 
of  mine,  I  will  rely  so  much  on  your  friendship  that 
you  will  do  so,  and  till  the  season  serve  I  will  con- 
sult with  my  friends  of  some  suits  that  I  have  pro- 
pounded to  me,  whereof  one  hath  a  very  good  appear- 
ance. But  his  Majesty's  favour  is  so  precious  to  me, 
and  I  am  so  loth  to  trouble  you  without  almost  assur- 
ance to  make  you  amends  by  partaking  the  fruit  of 
your  pains  and  friendliness,  that  I  will  rather  lose  time 
than  not  be  in  very  assured  hope  to  prevail  by  those 
means,  when  I  employ  them.  And  so  requesting  you 
to  present  these  enclosed  to  their  Majesties,  and  to 
maintain  me  in  their  favour,  I  take  my  leave. 

Enclosed  in  above. 

LADY  ARBELLA  STUART  TO  ANNE  CATHARINE, 

QUEEN  OF  DENMARK. 
Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  'f.  49. 

I  yield  your  Majesty  most  humble  thanks  for  your 
gracious  acceptation  of  that  trifle,  which,  with  blush- 
ing at  the  unworthiness  thereof,  I  ventured  to  present 
unto  your  Majesty,  only  out  of  the  confidence  of  the 
sympathy  of  your  gracious  disposition,  with  that  I  found 
in  the  most  puissant  and  noble  king  your  husband. 
Wherein,  as  I  find  myself  nothing  deceived,  having 
received  so  extraordinary  a  favour  from  you,  so  I  am 
encouraged  hereafter  to  continue  the  like  signification 
of  my  dutiful  respect  and  affection  to  your  Majesty, 


214  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

in  hope  it  will  please  you  by  wearing  my  handiwork, 
to  continue  me  in  your  gracious  favour  and  remem- 
brance. And  so  praying  for  your  happiness. 

A  Latin  letter  from  Arabella  to  Sir  Andrew  Sinclair. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  52. 

ILLUSTRISSIME  DOMINE, — Humillimas  ac  debitas 
gratias  Augustissimo  Regi  ac  Reginse  propter  im- 
mensam  eorum  erga  me  benignitatem  per  has  literas 
referendas  curavi,  quas  si  in  regias  utriusque  manus 
tua  Excellentia  dare  voluerit  verbisque  suis  me  devo- 
tissimam  et  observantissimam  utriusque  Majestatis 
profitebitur,  pergratum  et  peramicum  mihi  officium  et 
te  plane  dignum  fecerit,  dum  ea  comprobaveris  quae 
in  ore  omnium  de  te  feruntur,  te  summum  scilicet 
divinum  honorum  (nostrae  autem  gentis  praecipue) 
apud  regem  fautorem  esse.  Cseterum  humanitas  tua 
erga  me  singularis  qui  me  tarn  honorifica  salutatione 
apud  classem  condecorasti,  quod  lubentius  et  confi- 
dentius  hoc  abs  te  peterem  in  causa  fuit.  Deus  Opt. 
Max.,  Excellentiam  tuam  incolumem  servet. 

Hamptoniae,  24  Oct.,  1606. 

Tuae  Excellentiae  quae  bene  precatur, 

A.  S. 

(Indorsed,  "  Illustrissimo  Domino  Christiano  Prin. 
Domino  de  Borebium,  regni  Daniae  Cancellario.") 


LETTERS  ABOUT  CUTTING.  21$ 

F. 
(<) 

QUEEN  ANNE  TO  THE  LADY  ARBELLA  STUART. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  6986,  f.  74. 

March  9,  1607. 

Anne  R. 

WELL-BELOVED  COUSIN,  —  We  greet  you  heartily 
well.  Udo  *  Gal,  our  dear  brother's  the  King  of 
Denmark's  gentleman  servant,  hath  insisted  with  us 
for  the  licensing  your  servant,  Thomas  Cutting,  to 
depart  from  you,  but  not  without  your  permission,  to 
our  brother's  service;  and  therefore  we  write  these 
few  lines  unto  you,  being  assured  you  will  make  no 
difficulty  to  satisfy  our  pleasure  and  our  dear  brother's 
desires,  and  so  giving  you  the  assurance  of  our  con- 
stant favours,  with  our  wishes  for  the  continuance  or 
convalescence  of  your  health.  Expecting  your  return, 
we  commit  you  to  the  protection  of  God. 

From  Whitehall,  gth  March,  1607. 


HENRY,  PRINCE  OF  WALES,  TO  LADY  ARBELLA  STUART. 

Holograph.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  6986,  f.  76. 

March,  1607. 

MADAME,  —  The  queen's  Majesty  hath  commanded 
me  to  signify  to  your  ladyship  that  she  would  have 
Cutting,  your  ladyship's  servant,  to  send  to  the  King 
*  Guido. 


2l6  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

of  Denmark,  because  he  desired  the  queen  that  she 
would  send  him  one  that  could  play  upon  the  lute. 
I  pray  your  ladyship  to  send  him  back  with  an  answer 
as  soon  as  your  ladyship  can. 

I  desire  you  to  commend  me  to  my  Lord  and  my 
Lady  Shrewsbury ;  and  also  not  to  think  me  anything 
the  worse  scrivener  that  I  write  so  ill,  but  to  suspend 
your  judgment  till  you  come  hither,  when  you  shall 
find  me  as  I  was  ever, 

Your  ladyship's  most  loving  cousin  and  assured  friend, 

HENRY. 

(Indorsed,  "  A  Madame  Arbelle,  ma  cousine.") 


THE  LADY  ARBELLA  STUART  TO  QUEEN  ANNE. 

Holograph.     Harl.  MSS.,  6896,  f.  78  ;  rough  draft  in  v.  7003, 

f.  37- 

Sheffield,  March  15,  1607. 

May  it  please  your  most  royal  Majesty  : 

I  have  received  your  Majesty's  most  gracious 
and  favourable  token  which  you  have  been  pleased  to 
send  me  as  an  assurance  both  of  your  Majesty's  pardon, 
and  of  my  remaining  in  your  gracious  good  opinion, 
the  which  how  great  contentment  it  hath  brought  unto 
me  I  find  no  words  to  express. 

And  therefore  most  humbly  addressing  myself  to 
the  answer  of  your  Majesty's  pleasure,  signified  in 
your  letter  touching  my  licensing  my  servant  Cutting 
to  depart  from  me  for  the  service  of  his  Majesty  of 
Denmark,  I  shall  beseech  of  his  Majesty  to  conceive, 


LETTER   TO   THE  PRINCE  OF   WALES.     2 1/ 

that  although  I  know  well  how  far  more  easy  it  is  for 
so  great  a  prince  to  command  the  best  musicians  in 
the  world  than  for  me  to  recover  one  not  inferior  to 
this,  yet  do  I  most  willingly  embrace  this  occasion 
whereby  I  may  in  effect  give  some  demonstration  of 
my  unfeigned  disposition  to  apply  myself  ever  unto 
all  your  royal  pleasures.  And  therefore  most  willingly 
referring  my  said  servant  to  your  Majesty's  good 
pleasure,  and  most  humbly  beseeching  that  myself 
may  still  remain  in  your  gracious  and  princely  favour 
and  protection,  I  will  in  all  humility  kiss  your  Majesty's 
royal  hand.  And  ever  beseech  Almighty  God  to  grant 
unto  your  Majesty  all  honourable  happiness  that  may 
be  imagined,  etc. 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


WALES. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  38. 

Sheffield,  March  15,  1607. 
May  it  please  your  Highness  : 

I  have  received  your  Highness's  letter, 
wherein  I  am  let  to  understand  that  her  royal  Majesty- 
is  pleased  to  command  Cutting,  my  servant,  for  the 
King  of  Denmark,  concerning  the  which  your  High- 
ness requested  my  answer  to  her  Majesty,  the  which 
I  have  accordingly  returned  by  this  bearer,  referring 
him  to  her  Majesty's  good  pleasure  and  disposition. 
And  although  I  may  have  seen  cause  to  be  sorry  to 


2 1 8  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

have  lost  the  contentment  of  a  good  lute,  yet  must 
I  confess  that  I  am  right  glad  to  have  found  any 
occasion  whereby  to  express  to  her  Majesty  and  your 
Highness  the  humble  respect  which  I  owe  you,  and 
the  readiness  of  my  disposition  to  be  conformed  to 
your  good  pleasures,  wherein  I  have  placed  a  great 
part  of  the  satisfaction  which  my  heart  can  receive. 

I  have,  according  to  your  Highness's  direction, 
signified  unto  my  uncle  and  aunt  of  Shrewsbury 
your  Highness's  gracious  vouchsafing  to  remember 
them,  who  with  all  duty  present  their  most  humble 
thanks,  and  say  they  will  ever  pray  for  your  High- 
ness's  most  happy  prosperity.  And  yet  my  uncle 
saith  he  carrieth  the  same  spleen  in  his  heart  towards 
your  Highness  that  he  hath  ever  done.  And  so 
praying  the  Almighty  for  your  Highness's  felicity, 
I  humbly  cease. 

From  Sheffield,  the  i5th  of  March,  1607. 

Your  Highness's  most  humble  and  dutiful 
ARBELLA  STUART. 


0 

LADY  ARBELLA  STUART  TO  THE  KING  OF  DENMARK. 

Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  37.* 

1607. 

AUGUSTISSIME  AC   POTENTISSIME   REX, — Pauci  dies 

prseterlapsi  sunt,  postquam  superiores  meas  ad  Augus- 

*  There  is  a  rough  draft  of  another  Latin  letter  to  the  King 
from  Theobalds,  dated  July,  1607. 


LETTER   TO   THE  KING   OF  DENMARK.      2\g 

tissimam  Majestatem  vestram  dederam,  cum  celsissimas 
ac  serenissimse  Reginge  nostrae  allatse  ad  me  littersa 
sunt,  ex  quibus  intellexi,  cupere  Majestatem  vestram 
ut  famulus  meus  Thomas  Getting,  qui  has  nunc  (nisi 
Deus  non  vult)  perfert,  ad  earn  mitteretur,  ut  ejus 
opera  inter  pulsandse  cytherse  peritos  vestri  uti  posset. 
Ac  profecto  quanquam  et  is  mihi  gratus  inter  paucos 
illius  artis  peritos  existat,  et  non  nesciam,  in  fortuna 
Regia,  ad  quam  potissimum  omnia  exquisitissima 
studia,  vota,  ingenia,  et  opera  turn  in  hac  turn  in 
cseteris  artibus  expeditissime  diriguntur,  facilius  esse, 
eorum  qui  maxime  in  quavis  arte  excellunt,  numerum 
adhibere,  quam  modum,  tamen  cum  nihil  ipsa  dili- 
gentius  investigaverim,  aut  ambitiosius,  quam  earn 
occasionem  quse  mihi  experimendi  officii  mei  atque 
animi  in  obsequium  vestrae  Majestatis  addictissimi 
facultatem  suppeditaret,  hanc  demum,  quantulam- 
cunque  opportune  se  offerentem,  libentissime  arripui, 
et  quern,  exquisitissimis  magistris  traditum,  et  in  meam 
gratiam  in  hac  arte  instructum,  haud  cum  levi,  turn 
artis,  turn  morum  ingenuitate,  commendative  accessi, 
hunc  eundem  haud  levius  (modo  id  cum  vestrse 
Majestatis  venia  fiat)  commendatum  vestrse  Majestati 
mitto,  missura  (si  aeque  possem)  Orpheum  aut  Apol- 
linem. 

Precor  summum  Deum  ut  ad  animi  sententiam,  non 
in  choro  tantum  et  aula,  sed  in  vita  etiam  et  regno, 
omnia  Majestati  vestrse  consonent  ac  conspirent, 
[Dat.  die  1607.] 


220  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


(Translation  of  above.) 

MOST  AUGUST  AND  POTENT  KING,  —  But  few  days 
had  passed  after  I  had  despatched  my  last  letter  to 
your  most  august  Majesty,  when  I  received  a  letter 
from  our  most  high  and  serene  Queen,  from  which  I 
learned  that  your  Majesty  desired  my  servant,  Thomas 
Getting  —  who  now  (God  willing)  will  convey  this 
letter  to  you  —  to  be  sent  to  you,  that  you  might  employ 
him  among  your  harp-players. 

There  are,  indeed,  few  professors  of  this  art  who 
please  me  as  he  does  ;  and  I  am  not  ignorant  that,  in 
the  service  of  a  King  (to  which  most  of  all,  with  the 
least  hindrance,  are  directed  all  the  best  cares  and 
wishes,  the  choicest  intelligence,  and  effort,  as  well  in 
this  as  in  other  arts),  the  difficulty  is  not  to  obtain  a 
crowd  of  those  who  most  excel  in  any  art,  but  to  limit 
their  number. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  this,  since  I  have  sought 
nothing  with  more  diligence  or  eagerness  than  an 
occasion  of  expressing  my  zeal  and  devotion  to  your 
Majesty,  I  have  most  joyfully  seized  this,  slight  as  it 
is,  which  at  last  opportunely  offers  itself.  This  man 
has  been  sent  to  the  best  masters,  and  trained  in  this 
art  to  my  pleasure,  and  came  to  me  with  no  slight 
recommendation  for  the  excellence  as  well  of  his 
character  as  of  his  art.  Him  I  commend  no  less 
(with  your  Majesty's  permission),  and  send  to  your 
Majesty,  to  whom  I  would  send,  were  it  as  possible, 
Orpheus  or  Apollo.  ' 


LETTER    TO  SALISBURY.  221 

I  pray  the  most  high  God  that  all  things,  not  only 
among  your  musicians  and  in  the  court,  but  also  in 
your  life  and  kingdom,  may  be  in  harmony  with  your 
Majesty's  desires. 


G. 

No.   i. 
LADY  ARBELLA  TO  THE  EARL  OF  SALISBURY. 

Holograph.     Cecil  Papers,  v.  134,  f.  94. 

May  2,  1606. 

MY  GOOD  LORD, — I  lately  moved  his  Majesty  to 
grant  to  me  such  fees  as  may  arise  out  of  his  seal, 
which  the  bishops  are  by  the  law  to  use  as  I  am 
informed.  I  am  enforced  to  make  some  suit  for  my 
better  support  and  maintenance,  as  heretofore  I  have 
found  you,  my  good  lord,  so  I  must  earnestly  entreat 
your  lordship  to  further  this  "my  suit,  and  therein  I 
shall  rest  much  bound  to  you.  Sir  Walter  Cope  hath 
been  requested  to  recommend  this  my  suit  to  your 
lordship,  for  that  I  thought  his  mediation  would  be 
less  troublesome  to  you  than  if  I  solicited  your  lord- 
ship myself,  or  by  some  other  my  friends.  I  pray 
God  grant  your  lordship  long  and  happy  life. 
Your  lordship's  much  bound 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


222  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

No.  2. 
To  THE  EARL  OF  SHREWSBURY. 

Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4164,  f.  193. 

Dec.  2,  1607. 

GOOD  UNCLE, — I  writ  to  you  within  these  forty- 
eight  hours  by  Mr.  Stanley,  and  am  very  glad  of  the 
occasion  of  so  good  a  messenger  and  so  honourable 
and  kind  a  letter  as  I  received  from  your  lordship  by 
Mr.  Parker  to  scribble  unto  you  again,  and  that  a 
great  deal  the  rather  because  this  short  time  and  calm 
climate  affording  none,  you  have  given  me  the  best 
theme  to  write  of,  which  is  thanks  for  your  not 
checking  my  importunity  in  begging  venison,  but 
endeavouring  to  satisfy  it  in  better  sort  than  I  pre- 
sumed of,  for  the  worst  hind  of  many,  I  am  sure, 
in  any  of  your  grounds  should  be  very  welcome 
hither ;  and  then  if  it  be  possible  to  have  so  good  a 
one  as  your  lordship  wishes,  you  know  what  a  delicate 
it  will  be  to  them  that  shall  have  it,  and  how  welcome 
such  a  testimony  of  your  love  and  favour  shall  be  to 
me.  And  beseeching  your  lordship  to  remember  me 
humbly  to  my  aunt  for  honour  and  happiness,  as  for 
your  lordship  I  will  pray,  I  take  leave. 

From  Whitehall,  the  2nd  of  December,  1607. 
Your  lordship's  niece, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 


LETTERS  TO  THE  SHREWSBURYS,  ETC.,  1607.   223 

No.  3. 
To  THE  COUNTESS. 

Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4164,  f.  194. 

Undated ;  probably  March,  1608. 

MADAME, — I  humbly  thank  you  for  your  letters.  I 
deferred  to  write  to  you  till  I  had  taken  my  leave 
here,  and  then  I  intended  to  have  sent  one  to  your 
ladyship  and  my  uncle,  to  deliver  my  humble  thanks 
for  so  many  kindnesses  and  favours  as  I  have  re- 
ceived at  this  time  of  my  being  here  from  you  both, 
and  to  take  a  more  mannerly  farewell  than  I  could  at 
our  parting ;  but  your  ladyship  hath  prevented  my 
intention  in  sending  this  bearer,  by  whom,  in  these 
few  lines,  I  will  perform  that  duty  (not  compliment) 
of  acknowledging  myself  much  bound  to  you  for  every 
particular  kindness  and  bounty  of  yours  at  this  time, 
which  reviveth  the  memory  of  many  more  former ; 
and  to  assure  you  that  none  of  my  cousins,  your 
daughters,  shall  be  more  ready  to  do  you  service  than 
I.  The  money  your  ladyship  sends  my  Lady  Pem- 
broke *  shall  be  safely  and  soon  delivered  her.  And 
praying  for  your  ladyship's  happiness,  honour,  and 
comfort  in  as  great  measure  as  yourself  can  wish, 
I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

From  Hardwick,  this  Monday. 

Your  ladyship's  most  affectionate  niece  to  command, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

*  Mary  Talbot,  the  countess's  daughter. 


224  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

I  pray  your  ladyship  commend  me  to  my  uncle 
Charles,*  my  aunt,  and  my  two  pretty  cousins.  I 
think  I  shall  many  times  wish  myself  set  by  my  cousin 
Charles  at  meals. 


No.  4. 
LADY  ARBELLA  TO  CHARLES  GOSLING. 

Catalogue  of  Stowe  MSS.,  British  Museum  ;   also  printed  in 
Report  of  Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  8th  Report. 

CHARLES  GOSLING, — Upon  the  good  conceit  I  have 
of  you  for  a  just,  well-meaning  man  and  well  wishing 
to  me,  I  have  thought  fit  to  write  you  this  letter, 
desiring  you  to  call  to  remembrance  all  you  can,  and 
take  your  son's  help  wherein  he  knoweth,  or  both  or 
either  of  you  think  you  can  learn  out  anything  of  the 
contract  betwixt  my  cousin  William  Candish  [Caven- 
dish, the  eldest  son  of  Charles]  and  Mrs.  Margett 
Chaterton.  That  write  to  me  so  soon  as  you  can, 
and  if  you  can  believe  I  have  power  to  do  you  or 
your  son  good,  expect  my  remembrance  of  what  you 
do  herein.  And  so  I  commit  you  to  God. 

From  the  court  at  Whitehall,  this  28th  of  March, 

1609. 

Your  loving  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. f 

*  Sir  Charles  Cavendish,  the  old  countess's  third  son  by  Sir 
William  Cavendish,  married  Catherine,  Lady  Ogle,  and  had 
three  sons  by  her.  The  eldest  died  in  infancy.  Arabella  refers 
to  the  two  younger,  William  and  Charles. 

t  Signature  and  postscript  only  in  Arabella's  hand. 


LETTERS  TO  SALISBURY.  22$ 

Remember  the  old  buck  of  Sherland,  and  the 
roasted  tench  I  and  other  good  company  eat  so 
sauorly  (sic)  at  your  house,  and  if  thou  be  still  a  good 
fellow  and  an  honest  man,  show  it  now,  or  be  hanged. 


No.  5. 
To  THE  EARL  OF  SALISBURY. 

Holograph.     State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  v.  xlvii.  f.  108,  MS. 

August,  1609. 

MY  HONOURABLE  GOOD  LORD, — I  yield  to  you 
humble  thanks  for  the  honourable  care  it  hath  pleased 
you  to  have  of  me,  both  in  the  election  and  effecting 
of  this  suit,  which  shall  ever  bind  me  to  humble 
thankfulness  towards  your  lordship,  for  whose  long 
life,  honour,  and  happiness  I  pray  to  the  Almighty, 
and  rest, 

Your  lordship's  much  bounden  and  assured  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

No.  6. 
To  the  same, 

Holograph.     State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  v.  1.  f.  69,  MS. 

Dec.  17,  1609. 

MY  HONOURABLE  GOOD  LORD, — I  having  been  a 
long  suitor,  as  your  lordship  knows,  whose  honourable 
favour,  I  humbly  thank  you,  I  have  found  from  time 
to  time,  I  am  now  advised  by  some  friends  of  mine, 
of  good  judgment  and  experience,  to  procure  the  Great 
Seal  of  England  to  my  book.  Both  because  it  will  be 
VOL  ii.  33 


226  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

a  furtherance  to  a  speedier  despatch  of  this  suit  in 
Ireland,  and  that  this  business  must  be  done  and 
executed  by  deputation,  which  cannot  be  done  with- 
out the  Great  Seal  were  first  obtained,  with  which  also 
the  book  may  receive  alteration  and  a  check  there. 
Therefore  I  humbly  beseech  your  lordship  that,  by 
your  favour,  on  which  only  I  rely,  I  may  obtain  the 
Great  Seal  of  England  to  the  book  herewith  presented 
to  your  lordship.  For  whose  honour  and  happiness 
I  pray,  and  so  humbly  take  leave. 
From  Puddle  VVharfe,  the  iyth  of  December,  1609. 
Your  lordship's  much  bounden  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

No.  7. 
To  the  same. 

Holograph.     State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  v.  1.  f.  69,  MS. 

Dec.,  1609. 

Where  your  lordship  willed  me  to  set  down  a  note 
of  those  three  things  wherein  I  lately  moved  you, 
they  are  these :  The  first,  that  I  am  willing  to  return 
back  his  Majesty's  gracious  grant  to  me  of  the  wines 
in  Ireland,  so  as  your  lordship  will  take  order  for  the 
paying  of  my  debts  when  I  shall  upon  my  honour 
inform  you  truly  what  they  are.  The  next,  that  his 
Majesty  will  be  graciously  pleased  to  augment  my 
allowance  in  such  sort  as  I  may  be  able  to  live  in 
such  honour  and  countenance  hereafter  as  may  stand 
with  his  Majesty's  honour  and  my  own  comfort.  And 
lastly,  that  where  his  Majesty  doth  now  allow  me 


ARABELLAS  PROGRESS,   1609.  22? 

a  diet,  that  he  will  be  pleased,  instead  thereof,  to  let 
me  have  one  thousand  pounds  yearly.  Some  other 
things  I  will  presume  to  entreat  your  lordship's  like 
favour  in  that  they  may  stand  me  in  stead ;  but,  for 
that  they  are  such  as  I  trust  your  lordship  will  think 
his  Majesty  will  easily  grant,  I  will  now  forbear  to  set 
them  down. 

Your  lordship's  poor  friend, 

ARBELLA  STUART. 

No.  8. 
LADY  ARABELLA'S  PROGRESS.* 

From  "  Longleat  Papers,"  No.  5,  by  the  Rev.   Canon  J.    E, 
Jackson,  F.S.A. 

Extracts   from    Mr.    Hugh    Crompton's   Book    of 
Accounts. 

An  accompt  of  all  soche  monies  have  bin  reed,  by  me  for 
my  Ladyes  use  sins  the  22th  of  August. 

1609 —  £    s.     d. 
Sept.   28.    From  my  Lo.    Shrousbury,  which  was 

given  my  La.  at  Wingfield  ...         ...         ...     100  oo  oo 

Oct.  24.  Oute  of  th'excheqr  for  one  qrter  due  at 

Michalms,  1609       ...         ...         ...         ...         ...     400  oo  oo 

Dec.  29.  Oute  of  th'excheqr  for  a  qrter  due  at 

Christmas  followinge          ...         ...         ...         ...     400  oo  oo 

1610 — 

March  26.  Oute  of  th'excheqr  for  another  qrter  due 

at  La.  Day  followinge  ...  ...  ...  ...  400  oo  oo 

June  7.  Received  from  Andrew  Clayton,  wch  he 
retorned  to  London,  paid  heer  by  one  Mr.  Allen, 
a  vinegar-maker  ...  ...  080  oo  oo 

*  The  original  spelling  has  here  been  preserved,  in  order  to 
show  the  manner  in  which  Crompton  spelt  and  kept  his  accounts. 


228  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

1609—  £    s.     d. 

June  26.  Moreover,  received  oute  of  th'excheqr 

for  one  qrter  due  at  Mydsomer  paste  ...  ...  400  oo  oo 

July  6.  Received  from  Sr  Thomas  Reresby  in 
London  for  one  whole  year's  rent  Issuinge  out 
of  Denaby*  due  the  vith  June  paste  ...  ...  060  oo  oo 

July  20.  Received  from  Sr  Persivall  Willughby 
for  one  year's  rent  charge  Issuinge  oute  of  Wil- 
lughby upon  Woules,  due  the  xxth  of  July  paste  200  oo  oo 

Sept.  29.  Received  also  from  Andrew  Clayton,  woh 
was  retorned  to  London,  and  paid  ther  by  Mr. 
Allen  aforemencioned  120  oo  oo 


^2160  oo  oo 

Hereafter  insueth  th'  accompt  of  all  soche  monies  I  have 
layed  forth  for  my  Ladies  occasions  sins  the  22th  of  August, 
1609. 

From  Whitehall. 
1609 — 

Tuesday,  Aug.  22.  Imprimis  given  this  daye  at  the  garden  gate 
at  Whitehall  to  the  poore  as  my  Ladie  tooke  hir  coache  to 
come  into  country,  3^.  $d, 

St.  Albans. 

She  supped  and  slept,  Soper,  £2  8s.  6d. ;  breakfast,  £2  1 1  s.  lod. ; 
horse  mete  for  20  horses,  £2  2s. .  6d.  ;  hostelers,  2s.  od.  ; 
musitions,  los.  ;  poore  at  the  gates,  ids.  ;  ringers,  los.  ; 
chamblens,  5.?. ;  my  La.  Arrondale's  t  coatchm.,  £\  or.  od.  ; 
a  trompeter,  2s.  6d. ;  the  poore  on  the  way  back  to  St. 
Albans  and  Toddington,  4?.  I  id. 

Toddington,  near  Dunstable,  co.  Beds. 
[This  house  had  belonged  to  Lord  Cheney,  who  died  in  1587. 
His  estate  devolved  to  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Thomas,  Lord 

*  Denaby  was  a  manor  near  Thribergh  (between  Rotherham 
and  Doncaster,  co.  York)  which  belonged  to  the  Reresby 
family  (Hunter's  "  South  Yorkshire,"  vol.  ii.  p.  41). 

t  Lady  Arundel  (see  Part  I.  vol.  i.  p.  221). 


ARABELLA'S  PROGRESS,   1609.  22Q 

Wentworth,  of  Nettlestead,  and  was  inherited  by  her  relatives. 
In  1608  Toddington  had  been  visited  by  King  James  (Lysons's 
"  Bedfordshire,"  p.  143).] 

At  Toddington. 

Friday,  Aug.  25,  1609.  Given  among  the  officers  in  my  Ladie 
Cheynee's  howse.  Imprimis  :  to  the  clarke  of  the  Kytchen, 
£l  os.  od.  ;  2  cooks,  £i  os.  od.  ;  2  boyes  in  the  Kytchen, 
55-.  ;  2  in  the  scullery,  5-r.  ;  the  butler,  los. ;  his  boy,  2s.  6d.  ; 
the  pantler,  los. ;  yeoman  of  the  wine-cellar,  los.  ;  porter, 
IOJ. ;  groomes  of  the  great  chamber,  £l  os.  od.  ;  groomes 
man  of  the  chamber,  5^-.  ;  landry  woman,  IDJ.  ;  the  baker, 
lew. ;  to  a  woman  wayted  on  the  chamber,  los.  ;  groom  of  the 
stable,  lor. 

Northampton. 

Sat.  26th.  At  Northampton.  To  Sir  James  Croft's  *  footman 
that  came  with  my  Ladie  from  Toddington  to  Northampton, 

IOJ. 

Given  to  the  boy  at  Northampton  that  made  ye  speeche 
before  the  Kinge,  IDJ. 

Prestwould  (ayth  August). 

[Near  Loughborough,  co.  Leicester,  then  the  seat  of  Sir  William 
Skipwith.] 

Monday,  28.  Pd  Sr  Wm.'s  coachman  for  bringing  my  Ladie  to 
Nottingham,  £i  os.  od. 

Mansfield. 

For  ale  and  cakes  at  the  alehouse  beyond  Nottingham,  a^.  od. 

To  my  La.  Bowes'  cochman  for  coming  to  meet  my  La. 
at  Mansfield,  £i  os.  od. 

For  my  Lady  Bowes'coachhorses'  meat  at  Mansfield  attend- 
ing my  La.  coming  there,  is.  ;  the  schoolmaster  at  M. 
presenting  certain  verses  to  my  La.,  6s.  od. 

*  See   p.  12. 


230  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Glapwell. 
Mending  the  spring  tree  of  the  coach  at  Glapwell,  6d. 

3J  yards  of  Crimson  baize  for  a  petticoat  for  my  La.,  at 
3-r.  4<f.  a  yard,  I  is.  8d. 

Walton  Hall,  Chesterfield. 

[Belonged  at  this  time  to  the  Foljambes,  but  sold  by  Sir 
Francis  F.  (created  baronet  in  1622)  in  1633.  It  was  occupied 
in  1609  by  Lady  Bowes — Isabel,  daughter  of  Sir  Christopher 
Wray,  Kt.,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  England,  who  married,  first, 
Godfrey  Foljambe  ;  secondly,  Sir  William  Bowes,  of  Barnard 
Castle,  Yorks  ;  and  thirdly,  1617,  Lord  Darcy.  Walton  is  now 
a  farmhouse,  but  must  have  been  much  larger  in  Arabella's  time, 
as  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  and  her  retinue  were  lodged  there  one 
night  (see  Hunter's  "  South  Yorkshire,"  vol.  ii.  p.  59).] 

Thurs.,  Aug.  31,  1609.  To  the  officers  sent  from  the  Maior  and 
Brethren  of  Chesterfield  with  a  present  to  my  La.  to  Walton, 
£l  os.  od. 

Paid  for  hay  for  the  ould  coach  mare  3  days  at  Chesterfield, 
staying  there  to  be  dressed  of  a  foote  she  was  pricked,  is.  6d. 

Four  shoes  for  "  Bay  Briton,"*  do.  the  spotted  nag,  do.  for 
"  Bay  Fenton,"  do.  the  sumpter  horse,  is.  each. 

Delivered  to  the  Lady  Bowes'  steward  to  be  distributed  in 
the  house  at  my  La.  coming  thence,  £6  iy.  a,d. 

To  my  Lord  of  Rutland's  musitions,  £,\  os.  od. 

To  Sheffield. 

Sat.,  Sept.  2.  To  the  poore  of  Chesterfield  as  my  La.  passed 
through  to  Sheffield,  £2  os.  od. 

Sir  Peter  Fretchvile  his  keeper  for  a  stag  killed  in  Staly  f 
Park,  sent  to  my  La.  at  Sheffield,  £i  los.  od. 

To  Mr.  Tuke  for  a  sermon  he  made  at  Sheffield  by  my 
Ladies  comand,  £2  os.  od. 

To  Sir  Charles  Cavendish's  musition,  £i  os.  od. 

*  No  doubt  one  of  these  is  the  bay  gelding  Arabella  gave  her 
uncle  Gilbert  after  her  disgrace  (see  p.  242). 
t  Stavley  Park,  four  miles  east  of  Chesterfield. 


ARABELLAS  PROGRESS,    1609.  231 

Given  among  some  poore  wymen,  my  Lady  hunting  a  stag 
in  Hansworth  *  Park,  is. 

To  a  poore  woman  bringing  my  Lady  a  dish  of  wardens 
[warden  pears]  from  Sheffield,  2s. 

To  another  bringing  plums,  los. 
Sept.  8.     To  my  La.  Pembroke's  t  bow  bearer  £i  or.  cut. 

Bawtry. 

Sept.  9.  Among  certen  poore  at  Beautrye  that  daie  my  Ladie 
dranke  at  Mr.  Richardson's,  going  into  Lincolnshire,  4^. 

Stockwith. 

[Here  she  reached  the  river  Trent  and  the  county  of  Lincoln.] 
To  3  men  that  mended  the  ways  for  the  coach  short  of  Stock- 
with half  a  mile,  2s.  6d. 

Melwood  Park. 

[South  of  Epworth,  in  the  district  known  as  the  Isle  of  Axholme, 
which  in  1609  was  a  large  tract  of  level  and  nearly  black  soil, 
undrained,  but  containing  fine  hunting-ground  in  the  shape  of 
woods  and  islands  of  dryer  ground.  The  owners  of  the  park 
under  James  I.  were  the  Stanhopes  of  Grimston,  Yorks.  (Hunter's 
"  South  Yorkshire,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  147,  153),  but  Mr.  John  Caven- 
dish had,  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.,  received  the  grant  at 
Melwood  of  a  Carthusian  monastery,  and  made  it  into  a  "  goodly 
manor-house."  Arabella's  host  seems  to  have  been  one  Sir 
George  St.  Paul.] 

Sept.  9.  For  a  boat  to  pass  the  stuff  [baggage]  in  the  coach 
from  Beautry  to  Melwood  by  water  in  the  night,  3.5-.  6d. 

Given  a  man  of  Mr.  Northes  came  to  guide  the  gentlewymen 
and  horses  that  night  to  Melwood,  2s.  6d. 

For  a  coach  horse  bought  of  Sir  Gervase  Clifton,  £20. 

*  A  house  built  by  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury  on  the  edge  of 
Sheffield  Park. 

t  Mary  Talbot,  daughter  of  Gilbert  and  wife  of  the  Earl  of 
Pembroke  (see  Part  I.  vol.  i.  p.  132,  etc.)- 


232  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Gave  Needham  my  Lo.  Shrewsbury's  man  for  a  packet  of 
letters  he  brought  from  Welbecke  *  to  Melwood,  $s. 

Given  a  keeper  brought  my  La.  a  stagg  from  Sr  Edward 
Swifte  t  to  Melwood,  £i  QJ.  od. 

THE  RETURN  JOURNEY. 

Sept.  13.  To  watermen  that  rowed  my  La.  in  a  boat  from 
Melwood  to  Stockwith,  £l  os.  od. 

To  those  that  mended  the  highway  betwixt  Melwood  and 
Stockwith,  I3J. 

To  the  poore  att  Melwood  as  my  La.  came  away,  1 y.  4</. 

Amongst  other  poore  by  my  La.  comand  betwixt  Melwood 
and  Worksoppe,  2s.  2d. 

Worksop,  Notts. 

[Worksop  Priory  granted  at  the  dissolution  to  Francis,  son  of 
George,  fourth  Earl  of  Shrewsbury.] 

Sept.  14.  Given  a  mayde  brought  my  La.  a  present  from  Sir 
Bryan  Lassells  t  to  Worsoppe,  los. 

For  certen  spices  bought  by  my  La.  comand  at  Worksoppe, 
4J.  get. 

Among  the  servants  that  wayted  at  Worksoppe  that  nighte 
my  La.  lay  there,  £$  os.  od. 

Aston. 

[A  few  miles  east  of  Sheffield,  then  the  seat  of  John,  Lord 
Darcy,  who  died  1635.  The  house  was  burnt  down  in  the  last 
century.] 

Sept.  16.  At  my  Lord  Darsey's.  The  servants,  £6  i6s.  6d.  ; 
poore  at  gate,  6s,  6et. 

Given  to  a  footman  of  the  Lord  Darsey's  came  to  guide  part 
of  the  way  that  day  to  Chatsworth,  los.  Ck/. 

*  Belonging  to  Arabella's  uncle  Charles  Cavendish, 
t  Sir  E.  Swift  and  Sir  Bryan  Lascelles  had  been  both  knighted 
~by  James  I.  at  felvoir,  1603. 


ARABELLA'S  PROGRESS,    1609.  233 

To  two  guides  more  that  same  day  on  the  moors  to  Chats- 
worth,  6s. 

To  a  farier  for  bludding  and  drenching  Freake's  nagg  sicke 
of  the  staggars,  %s. 

For  mending  the  sompter  saddle  and  long  rein  to  lead 
him,  2s. 

For  the  sompters  and  6  men  attending  the  same  from  Walton 
to  Buxtone  lying  shorte  one  night.  Their  charges  spent  of 
themselves  and  their  horses  came  to  gs.  6d. 

Chatsworth. 

At  Chatsworth,  Sonday,  Sept.  17,  1609.  Given  to  the  clerk 
of  the  kytchen,  lew.  ;  to  3  cookes,  £i  lew.  od.  ;  2  kytchen 
boys,  5-r.  ;  the  butler,  IQJ.  ;  the  usher  of  the  hall,  los. ;  Mr. 
Dove,  lor.  ;  the  porter,  IQJ.  ;  the  musitions,  los.  ;  2  groomes 
of  the  greate  chamber,  £i  os.  od.  ;  to  one  that  attended  my 
La.  chamber,  los.  ;  3  poore  folks  on  the  way,  is. 

Biixton. 

For  a  man  of  Mr.  Cavendish's  came  to  guide  us  to  Buxton,  5J-. 

For  Mr.  Henry  Cavendish's  4  coach  horses  at  Buxton  from 
Sonday  till  tuesday  the  19th.  Two  nights  at  6d.  a  horse  a 
nighte,  4^. 

For  5  strikes  and  a  pecke  of  pease  and  oats  for  them  at 
2s.  Sd.  a  strike,  14$-. 

For  the  coachman  and  his  man's  dyett  for  4  meales  at  6d.  a 
peece  a  meal,  4?. 

Sept.  19.  The  coachman  in  reward  for  coming  from  Chatsworth 
to  Buxton,  IOJ. 

Paid  for  ale  sent  for  by  my  La.  comand  from  Tidswell  to 
Buxton,  3.5. 

Paid  for  the  men's  dyetts  ther  that  came  before  with  the 
sompters  a  day  to  Buxton,  5-r.  6d. 

Gave  him  that  kept  the  well  there,  £l  os.  od. 
Sept.  20.     To  his  man,  6s.  ;  to  2  wymen  attended  my  La.  at 
the  well,  ^i  os.  od. 

Given  among  the  poore  at  Buxton  on  our  coming  away, 
13-r.  4d. 


234  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

At  Sheffield. 

Paid  2  guides  sent  by  my  Lo.  of  Shrewsbury  to  conduct  my  La. 
on  the  moors  from  Buxton  to  Sheffield,  I2s. 

To  the  ringers  at  Sheffield  on  passing  through,  5-r. 

To  my  Lo.  of  Pembroke's  coachman  for  bringing  my  La. 
part  of  the  way  from  Buxton  to  Sheffield,  her  owne  coatche 
breaking  on  the  way,  icw. 

Paid  for  a  roape  the  same  time  to  bind  the  coatche,  lod. 

Paid  for  ale  when  my  La.  stayed  to  drinke  on  the  way  be- 
twixt Buxton  and  Sheffield,  is.  id. 

Given  to  certen  laborers  mended  the  wayes  that  day  on  the 
mores,  5.?. 

Sept.  23.  Sente  Sr  Geo.  S*  Poll  *  by  his  manne  Alexander  Hay- 
ward  for  a  coatche  horse  he  sent  my  La.  to  Sheffield,  £20 ;  and 
to  the  same  manne  for  his  paines  in  bringinge  the  horse,  £l. 

Pd  for  mending  the  coatche  at  Sheffield,  los. 

Alsoe  for  the  harnes,  2s.  6d. 

Given  in  reward  to  a  man  of  Mrs.  Digbie's  brought  my  La. 
certen  preserves  to  Sheffield,  2s.  6d. 

Sept.  25.  Given  thelgardiner  at  Sheffield  for  certen  nosegaies 
he  gave  my  La.  there,  $s. 

And  to  a  woman  wayted  on  the  gentlewymen's  chamber 
there,  $s. 

To  a  piper  there,  5-r. 

To  a  poore  woman  gave  my  La.  a  petition  in  her  coatche 
the  day  she  came  thence  to  Roughford  [Rufford],  los.  od. 

Alsoe  to  a  man  brought  and  deld  my  La.  a  pair  of  small 
sheeres  the  same  time  in  her  coatche,  $s. 

Rufford.^ 

[Two  miles  south  of  Ollerton,  co.  Notts  This  abbey  had 
been  granted  to  George,  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  and  passed  by  his 
marriage  with  Mary  Talbot  to  Sir  George  Savile.] 

*  Sir  George  St.  Paul  and  Henry  Yelverton  (see  her  visit  to 
the  Yelvertons,  p.  236)  joined  Arabella  in  her  successful  petition 
for  the  sale  of  wines  and  usquebaugh  in  Ireland,  granted  March 
31,  1610  (Part  I.  vol.  i.  p.  236). 

t  Here  Arabella's  parents  were  married. 


ARABELLA'S  PROGRESS,    1609.  235 

Sept.  25.  Given  among  certen  poore  at  Edelstowe  [Edwin- 
stowe]  as  my  La.  came  with  my  La.  of  Shrewsbury  to  Rough- 
ford,  5^. 

Sept.  26.  Given  amongst  Mrs.  Markham's  *  servants  at  Rough- 
ford  the  night  my  La.  lay  there,  ^5  os.  od, 

Sept.  28.  Given  a  man  of  Sir  Richard  Harpur's  f  brought  my 
La.  a  letter  and  certen  wrytings  in  a  box  to  Wingfield,  icxr.  od. 

Wmfield.% 

[Eleven  miles  from  Chesterfield  on  the  road  to  Derby,  one  of 
the  Shrewsbury  family  seats.] 

Sept.  28.  To  the  kytchen  amongst  the  cooks,  ^3  6j.  Sd. ;  the 
wardrobe,  £i  os.  od.  ;  the  pantler  and  butler,  £i  or.  od. ; 
2  ushers  in  the  hall,  £i  os.  od. ;  the  yeomen  of  the  celler,  lod.  ; 
2  groomes  of  the  grete  chamber,  ^"i  DJ.  od.  ;  2  wayted  on  my 
La.  chamber,  £i  os.  od. ;  the  porter,  los. ;  grooms  of  the 
stable,  £i  os.  od. 

Through  Derby. 

Given  among  the  poore  of  the  towne  of  Derby  as  my  La. 
passed  that  way,  ^5  os.  od. 

To  Tayler  a  caryer  met  my  La.  in  Derby,  and  her  letters 
from  London,  2s.  od. 

Given  a  poore  woman  on  the  waye  betweene  Derby  and 
Quarne,  oj.  6d. 

Quarndon  House,  near  Loughborough. 

[At  that  time  and  still  the  seat  of  the  Farnham  family.  A 
Mr.  F.  of  that  day  was  an  old  gentleman-pensioner  of  Queen 
Elizabeth.] 

*  George  Markham,  Esquire,  father  of  Sir  Thomas  Markham, 
an  officer  in  the  Civil  Wars,  lived  at  an  old  hall,  still  standing 
at  Ollerton,  two  miles  north  of  Rufford. 

t  One  of  the  Justices  of  Common  Pleas. 

J  Part  I.  vol.  i.  p.  67. 


236  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Sept.  29.     Att  Mr.  Farnham's. 

Among  his  servaunts  the  night  my  La.  laye  there,  ^5  os.  od. 
Paid  for  ale  my  La.  dranke  in  going  to  Harborow,  is.  od. 
Paid  for  my  La.  and  her  companies  one  night  at  Harborow, 
£$  os.  od. 

Market  Harborough. 

Sept.  30.     Horsmet  ther  for  26  horses  one  night,  £2  gs.  "jd. 

For  my  Lord  of  Shrowsburyes  lighter  [litter]  men  and  their 
horses  staying  by  my  La.  coinand  2  nights  and  I  day  at 
Wellingbrow,  igs.  6d. 

Easton  Manduit. 

[Near  Wellingborough,  the  seat  at  that  time  of  Sir  Christopher 
Yelverton,  Kt.,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench, 
who  died  1611.] 
Oct.  2,  1609.     Att  Mr.  Justice  Yelverton's. 

Given  to  a  man  of  his  to  guide  my  La.  to  my  Lord  of  Kent's  * 
(at  Wrest  Park),  £o  6j.  od. 

Among  certen  poore  at  Mr.  Conquest's  Lodge  f  the  day  my 
La.  dyned  there,  £o  2s.  od. 

Wrest  Park,  near  Sitsoe,  Beds. 

Oct.  4.  Paid  the  lytter  men's  charge  lying  2  nights  at  the  towne 
at  Wrest,  as  may  appeare  by  their  bill,  13^.  2d. 

The  lytter  men  in  reward  for  their  paines  in  coming  along 
with  my  La.  from  Wingtield  to  Wrest,  ,£3  os.  od. 

To  the  coatchman  had  his  legg  broke,  £2  os.  od. 

Toddington. 

Oct.  9.  Given  a  footman  brought  worde  to  my  La.  to  St. 
Alban's  that  my  La.  Arrondale  was  brought  bedde  of  a  son, 
£o  los.  od. 

*  Part  I.  vol.  i.  p.  154. 

t  Houghton  Park,  alias  Dame  Ellensbury  Park,  near  Ampthill, 
co.  Bedford,  occupied  by  Sir  Edmund  Conquest. 


ARABELLA'S  PROGRESS,    1609.  237 


St.  Albaris. 

Oct.  9.     Soper  and  dyner  at  St.  Alban's,  £8  15^.  6d. 

Hors  met  for  xxtie  of  my  La.  and  x.  of  Sir  Henry  Grays, 
£,2  gs.  4<f. 

[The  whole  expenses  of  the  progress  were  ^323  i8s.  od., 
besides  a  few  bills  that  followed,  and  interest  of  money 
borrowed  for  the  journey  on  the  security  of  jewels.] 

A  careful  study  of  the  above  paper  supplies  several  fresh 
details  to  the  student  of  Arabella's  life  and  character.  Her 
kindness  to  the  poor,  her  love  of  music,  her  generosity  and 
thoughtfulness  for  her  dependents,  as  is  shown  by  the  constant 
entries  of  rewards  and  tips  ;  while  her  popularity  in  her  own 
county  is  attested  by  the  way  in  which  she  was  everywhere 
received — at  Sheffield  by  the  ringing  of  bells,  elsewhere  by  gifts 
of  flowers  and  fruit.  At  the  same  time,  it  is  easy  to  imagine  how 
small  her  resources  were  compared  to  the  claims  upon  them, 
when  one  reads  of  the  incessant  demands  for  gratuities  and  the 
system  of  tipping  the  whole  household  at  every  place  where  she 
rested. 


H. 

No.  i. 
Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  59. 

Feb.  20,  1609-10. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  my  most  singular  good 
Lords,  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's  most  Honourable 
Privy  Council. 

May  it  please  your  good  Lordships  : 

Since  it  is  your  pleasure,  which  to  me  shall 
always  stand  for  law,  that  I  should  truly  relate  under 


238  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

my  hand  those  passages  which  have  been  between  the 
noble  Lady  Arbella  and  myself,  I  do  here,  in  these 
rugged  lines,  truly  present  the  same  to  your  Lordships' 
favourable  censure,  that  thereby  his  most  excellent 
Majesty  may,  by  your  Lordships,  be  fully  satisfied  of 
my  duty  and  faithful  allegiance  (which  shall  ever  be  a 
spur  to  me  to  expose  my  life  and  all  my  fortunes  to  the 
extremest  dangers  for  his  Highness's  service),  \_and~\ 
that  I  will  never  attempt  anything  which  I  shall  have 
certain  foreknowledge  will  be  displeasing  unto  him. 

I  do  therefore  humbly  confess  that  when  I  con- 
ceived that  noble  lady  might,  with  his  Majesty's  good 
favour,  and  no  just  offence,  make  her  choice  of  any 
subject  within  this  kingdom,  which  conceit  was  be- 
gotten in  me  upon  a  general  report,  after  her  ladyship 
last  being  called  before  your  Lordships,  that  it  might 
be  ;  myself  being  a  younger  brother,  and  sensible  of 
mine  own  good,  unknown  to  the  world,  of  mean  estate, 
not  born  to  challenge  anything  by  my  birthright,  and 
therefore  my  fortunes  to  be  raised  by  mine  own 
endeavours,  and  she  a  lady  of  great  honour  and  virtue, 
and,  as  I  thought,  of  great  means,  I  did  plainly  and 
honestly  endeavour  lawfully  to  gain  her  in  marriage, 
which  is  God's  ordinance  common  to  all,  assuming 
myself,  if  I  could  effect  the  same  with  his  Majesty's 
most  gracious  favour  and  liking  (without  which  I 
resolved  never  to  proceed),  that  thence  would  grow 
the  first  beginning  of  all  my  happiness  ;  and  therefore 
I  boldly  intruded  myself  into  her  ladyship's  chamber 
in  the  court  on  Candlemas  Day  *  last,  at  what  time  I 
*  February  2,  the  Feast  of  the  Purification, 


LETTER   TO    THE  PRIVY  COUNCIL.         239 

imparted  my  desire  unto  her ;  which  was  entertained, 
but  with  this  caution  on  either  part,  that  both  of  us 
resolved  not  to  proceed  to  any  final  conclusion  without 
his  Majesty's  most  gracious  favour  and  liking  first 
obtained ;  and  this  was  our  first  meeting.  After  that 
we  had  a  second  meeting  at  Mr.  Buggs  his  house,  in 
Fleet  Street ;  and  then  a  third  at  Mr.  Baynton's ;  at 
both  which  we  had  the  like  conference  and  resolution 
as  before.  And  the  next  day  save  one  after  the  last 
meeting,  I  was  convented  before  your  Lordships, 
when  I  did  then  deliver  as  much  as  now  I  have 
written ;  both  then  and  now  protesting  before  God, 
upon  my  duty  and  allegiance  to  his  most  excellent 
Majesty,  and  as  I  desire  to  be  retained  in  your  Lord- 
ships' good  opinions,  there  is  neither  promise  of 
marriage,  contract,  or  any  other  engagement  whatsoever 
between  her  ladyship  and  myself,  nor  ever  was  any 
marriage  by  me  or  her  intended,  unless  his  Majesty's 
gracious  favour  and  approbation  might  have  been  first 
gained  therein,  which  we  resolved  to  obtain  before  we 
would  proceed  to  any  final  conclusion.  Whereof  I 
humbly  beseech  your  Lordships  to  inform  his  Majesty 
that  by  your  good  means,  joined  to  the  clearness  of 
an  unspotted  conscience  and  a  loyal  heart  to  his 
Highness,  I  may  be  acquitted  in  his  just  judgment 
from  all  opinion  of  any  disposition  in  me  to  attempt 
anything  distasteful  or  displeasing  to  his  Majesty,  as 
one  well  knowing  that  the  just  wrath  and  disfavour 
of  my  sovereign  will  be  my  confuison,  whereas  his 
gracious  favour  and  goodness  towards  me  may  be  the 
advancement  of  my  poor  fortunes.  And  thus,  my 


240  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Lords,  according  to  your  commands  I  have  made  a 
true  relation  of  what  was  required,  humbly  referring 
the  favourable  construction  thereof  to  your  Lordships, 
having,  for  the  further  hastening  of  the  truth,  and  ever 
to  bind  me  thereunto,  hereafter  subscribed  my  name 
the  2oth  of  February,  1609  [10]. 

WILLIAM  SEYMOURE. 


No.  2. 
Draft.     Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  39. 

(Indorsed^  "  Lady  Arbella  Stuart  to  the  Lords  of 
the  Council.") 

Early,  before  her  marriage. 

May  it  please  your  Lordships  to  give  me  leave  to 
be  an  humble  suitor  to  you  that,  whereas  upon  his 
Majesty's  pleasure  I  was  restrained  of  my  liberty,  and 
that  I  have  presumed  to  prefer  my  most  humble 
petition  to  his  Majesty  to  be  restored  unto  his 
gracious  good  favour  again,  which  is  my  greatest 
comfort  on  earth,  your  Lordships  will  be  pleased  to 
prefer  my  said  petition  to  his  most  gracious  Majesty's 
hands.  And  if  your  Lordships  will  also  vouchsafe 
your  favourable  intercession  of  my  offence,  and  be 
a  means  to  his  Majesty  on  my  behalf,  I  shall  be 
infinitely  bound  to  pray  for  your  honour  and  pros- 
perity, and  remain  humbly, 

At  your  Lordships'  commandments. 
[Unsigned.] 


WARRANT  TO  SIR   THOMAS  PARRY.       241 

No.  3. 
WARRANT  TO  SIR  THOMAS  PARRY  [at  Lambeth]. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  in  ;  also  copy  in  Sloane  MSS., 
v.  4161,  f.  28. 

After  our  very  hearty  commendations.  Whereas  it  is 
thought  fit  that  the  Lady  Arbella  should  be  restrained 
of  her  liberty,  and  choice  is  made  of  you  to  receive 
her  and  lodge  her  in  your  house ; — These  are  therefore 
to  give  you  notice  thereof,  and  to  require  you  to 
provide  convenient  lodging  for  her  to  remain  under 
your  charge  and  custody,  with  one  or  two  of  her 
women  to  attend  her,  without  access  of  any  other 
person  unto  her  until  his  Majesty's  pleasure  be  further 
known.  And  this  shall  be  unto  you  a  sufficient 
warrant 

From  the  court  at  Whitehall,  this  gth  of  July,  1610. 
Your  very  loving  friends, 

R.  CANT.  J.  SUFFOLKE. 

T.  ELLESMERE.     R.  SALISBURY. 
NOTTINGHAM.      E.  WORCESTER. 
(Indorsed^  "  To  our  very  loving  friend,  Sir  Thomas 
Parry,   Knt.,  Chancellor  of  his  Majesty's  Duchy  of 
Lancaster.") 


VOL.  ii.  34 


242  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

No.  4- 
Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  71. 

(Indorsed,     "  My    lady's    letter    to    my   Lord    of 

Shrewsbury.") 

July,  1610. 

If  it  please  your  lordship,  there  are  divers  of  my 
servants  with  whom  I  thought  never  to  have  parted 
whilst  I  lived,  and  none  that  I  am  willing  to  part  with. 
But  since  I  am  taken  from  them,  and  know  not  how 
to  maintain  either  myself  or  them,  being  utterly 
ignorant  how  it  will  please  his  Majesty  to  deal  with 
me,  I  were  better  to  put  them  away  now  than  towards 
winter.  Your  lordship  knows  the  greatness  of  my 
debts,  and  my  unableness  to  do  for  them  either  now  or 
at  Michaelmas.  I  beseech  your  lordship  let  me  know 
what  hope  you  can  give  me  of  his  Majesty's  favour, 
without  which  I  and  all  mine  must  live  in  great  dis- 
comfort, and  make  me  so  much  bound  to  you,  as  both 
yourself  and  by  means  of  any  that  you  take  to  be 
my  friends  or  pity  me,  to  labour  the  reobtaining  of  his 
Majesty's  favour  to  me.  So  humbly  thanking  your 
lordship  for  the  care  it  pleaseth  you  to  have  of  me  and 
mine,  and  for  your  honourable  offer,  I  humbly  cease. 

From  Lambeth,  the  i6th  of  July,  1610. 

The  poor  prisoner,  your  niece, 

ARBELLA  SEYMAURE. 

P.S. — The  bay  gelding  and  the  rest  are  at  your 
lordship's  commandment. 


ARABELLA'S  REQUEST.  243 

No.  5. 

ARBELLA'S  REQUEST  TO  THE  EARL  OF  SHREWSBURY 
WITH  RESPECT  TO  HER  SERVANTS. 

Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  74. 

July,  1 6 10. 

I  acknowledge  myself  much  bound  to  your  lordship 
for  your  care  in  disposing  of  my  servants,  but  I  cannot 
guess  what  to  do  with  any  of  them  till  I  know  how 
his  Majesty  is  inclined  towards  me.  Therefore  I 
again  very  humbly  and  earnestly  beseech  your  lordship 
to  move  his  Majesty  on  his  return  to  be  gracious  unto 
me.  That  according  to  his  Majesty's  answer  and 
disposition  towards  me,  I  may  take  order  for  my 
servants  or  anything  else  concerning  me.  So  with 
humble  thanks  I  take  leave. 

From  Lambeth,  the  igth  of  July. 

P.S. — I  pray  your  lordship  remember  me  humbly 
to  my  aunt 

No.  6. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  92  ;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  40. 
(Indorsed,   "  The  Lady  Arbella  her  petition  to  the 
Lords  for  the  removal  of  her  servants  to  some  better 
air.") 

August,  1610. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's 
most  Honourable  Privy  Council. 
Right  Honourable  and  my  very  good  Lords  : 

I  am  constrained  to  trouble  you  rather  than 
be  guilty  of  the  danger  of  life  wherein  Hugh  Crompton 


244  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

and  Edward  Reeves,  two  of  my  servants,  lately  com- 
mitted to  the  Marshalsea  for  my  cause,  remain.  I  am 
informed  divers  near  that  prison,  and  in  it,  are  lately 
dead,  and  divers  others  sick  of  contagious  and  deadly 
diseases.  Wherefore  I  humbly  beseech  your  honours 
to  commiserate  their  distress,  and  consider  that  they 
are  servants,  and  accountable  for  divers  debts  and 
reckonings,  which,  if  they  should  die,  would  be  a 
great  prejudice  to  me  and  others.  And  therefore  I 
humbly  beseech  you  to  move  unto  his  Majesty  my 
most  humble  suit,  and  theirs,  that  it  will  please  his 
Majesty  they  may  be  removed  to  some  other  healthful 
air. 

ARBELLA  SEYMAURE. 
Millbrook,  August  10,  1610. 

No.  7. 
State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  v.  Ivi.,  p.  56. 

[July,  1610.] 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's 

most  Honourable  Privy  Council. 

Right  Honourable  and  my  very  good  Lords : 

I  humbly  beseech  you  give  me  leave  to 
become  an  humble  suitor  to  you  to  let  his  Majesty 
understand  my  hearty  sorrow  for  his  Majesty's  dis- 
pleasure. And  that  it  will  please  your  Honours  to 
become  intercessors  to  his  Majesty  for  me,  whose 
error  I  assuredly  hope  his  Majesty  of  his  own  gracious 
disposition  will,  by  your  good  means,  rather  pardon 
than  any  further  expiate  with  imprisonment  or  other 


PETITION  TO   THE  PRIVY  COUNCIL.      245 

affliction.  Which  and  more,  if  it  were  to  do  his 
Majesty  service  or  honour,  I  should  endure  with 
alacrity  ;  but  this  is  very  grievous,  especially  as  a  sign 
of  his  Majesty's  displeasure,  on  whose  favour  all  my 
worldly  joy  as  well  as  fortune  dependeth.  Which  if 
I  may  reobtain,  all  the  course  of  my  life  hereafter 
shall  testify  my  dutiful  and  humble  thankfulness. 

ARBELLA  SEYMAURE. 

(Indorsed,  "  Lady  Arbella  to  the  Lords,  that  it  will 
please  them  to  be  a  means  to  his  Majesty  for  her.") 


No.  8. 

DRAFT  *  OF  A  PETITION  FROM  LADY  ARBELLA  SEY- 
MAURE  TO   THE   LORDS   OF   THE   COUNCIL. 

Drafts.    Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  90,  91  ;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161, 
£38- 

I  humbly  beseech  your  Lordships,  now  that  by  ex- 
amination of  all  parties  the  error  for  which  we  suffer 
his  Majesty's  displeasure  must  needs  appear  neither 
greater  nor  less  than  it  is,  to  give  me  leave  to  become 
an  humble  suitor  to  your  Lordships  with  the  relation 
thereof  to  testify  unto  his  Majesty  my  hearty  sorrow 
for  his  Majesty's  displeasure.  Restraint  from  liberty, 
comfort  and  counsel  of  friends,  and  all  the  effects  of 
imprisonment,  are  in  themselves  very  grievous  and 

*  There  is  a  note  in  one  copy :  ' '  Petition  to  the  Council 
before  I  writ  one  to  the  King."  It  is  possible  that  these  were 
only  drafts  of  the  one  in  the  State  Papers  (see  p.  244). 


246  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

inflicted  as  due  punishments  for  greater  offences  than 
mine.  But  that  which  makes  them  most  heavy  to  me 
is  that  they  proceed  from  his  Majesty's  displeasure, 
whose  favour  was  not  only  my  stay  and  hope,  but 
greatest  joy.  If  our  punishment  were  to  do  his 
Majesty  service  or  honour,  I  should  endure  imprison- 
ment and  my  affliction  with  patience  and  alacrity ; 
but  being  inflicted  as  a  sign  of  his  Majesty's  dis- 
pleasure, it  is  very  grievous  for  us,  whose  error  we 
hope  his  Majesty,  in  his  own  gracious  disposition, 
will  rather  pardon  than  any  further  expiate  with 
affliction.  And  by  God's  grace  the  whole  course  of 
our  life  hereafter  shall  testify  our  dutiful  and  humble 
thankfulness. 


No.  9. 

LADY  ARBELLA  TO  THE  QUEEN,  WITH  THE  PETITION 
TO  THE  KING'S  MAJESTY  ENCLOSED. 

State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  v.  Ivii.  p.  118,  MS. 

October,  1610. 
May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty  : 

I  presume  to  send  herewith  a  copy  of  my 
humbly  petition  to  the  King's  Majesty,  whereby  your 
Majesty  may  perceive  (with  less  trouble  than  any  other 
relation  of  mine,  as  much  (in  effect)  as  I  can  say  of  the 
condition  of  my  present  estate  and  hard  fortune.  Now, 
to  whom  may  I  so  fitly  address  myself  with  confidence 
of  help  and  mediation  as  to  your  royal  person  (the 
mirror  of  our  sex),  and  being  for  me,  your  Majesty's 


ARABELLAS  PETITIONS   TO    THE  KING.      247 

humble  and  devoted  servant,  and  in  a  cause  of  this 
nature  so  full  of  pity  and  commiseration,  I  will  wholly 
rely  upon  your  princely  goodness,  whom  I  humbly 
beseech  to  vouchsafe  to  enter  into  a  gracious  considera- 
tion of  the  true  estate  of  my  case  and  fortune,  and  then 
I  nothing  doubt  but  that  in  the  true  nobleness  of  your 
royal  mind  your  Majesty  will  be  pleased  to  mediate 
for  me  in  such  sort  as  in  your  most  princely  wisdom 
and  favour  the  same  shall  be  moved.  And  I  shall 
always  pray  for  the  everlasting  honour  and  felicity  of 
your  Majesty  with  all  your  royal  issue  in  all  things, 
and  will  remain  for  ever 

Your  Majesty's  most  humble  and  dutiful 
subject  and  servant, 

ARBELLA  SEYMAURE. 

On  the  back  of  this  letter  to  the  queen  are  three 
curious  remarks,*  probably  in  Arabella's  hand — 

The  loss  of  thy  late  sister  hath  honoured  thee  with 
the  service  of  my  fair  flower. 

J'ai  perdu  ta  successeur  mais  non  pas  tu. 

La  perte  de  ta  sceur  fte  portait  1'honneur  d'etre 
serviteur  de  ma  belle  fleur  [repeated  three  times 
from  f]. 

*  First  discovered  by  Mr.  Inderwick  ;  afterwards  copied  and 
corrected  by  author  from  the  State  Papers,  with  modernized 
spelling. 


248  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

No.  10. 

PETITION  TO  THE  KING  [PROBABLY  ENCLOSED  IN 
THE  QUEEN'S  OF  OCTOBER,  1610]. 

Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  87. 
May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty  : 

The  unfortunate  estate  whereunto  I  am  fallen 
by  being  deprived  of  your  Majesty's  presence  (the 
greatest  comfort  to  me  on  earth),  together  with  the 
opinion  is  conceived  of  your  Majesty's  displeasure 
towards  me,  hath  brought  as  great  affliction  to  my 
mind  as  can  be  imagined.  Nevertheless,  touching  the 
offence  for  which  I  am  now  punished,  I  most  humbly 
beseech  your  Majesty  (in  your  most  princely  wisdom 
and  judgment)  to  consider  in  what  a  miserable  state 
I  had  been  if  I  had  taken  any  other  course  than  I 
did,  for  my  own  conscience  witnessing  before  God  that 
I  was  then  the  wife  of  him  that  now  I  am,  I  could  never 
have  matched  with  any  other  man,  but  to  have  lived  all 
the  days  of  my  life  as  an  harlot,  which  your  Majesty 
would  have  abhorred  in  any,  especially  in  one  who 
hath  the  honour  (how  otherwise  unfortunate  soever)  to 
have  any  drop  of  your  Majesty's  blood  in  them.  But 
I  will  trouble  your  Majesty  no  longer,  but  in  all  humility 
attending  your  Majesty's  good  pleasure  for  that  liberty 
(the  want  whereof  depriveth  me  of  all  health  and  all 
other  worldly  comfort),  I  will  never  forget  to  pray  for 
your  Majesty's  most  happy  prosperity  for  ever  in  all 
things,  and  so  remain 

Your  Majesty's  most  humble  and  faithful 

subject  and  servant. 


ARABELLA'S  PETITIONS  TO  THE  KING.    249 


No.  ii. 

ONE  OF  ARABELLA'S  PETITIONS  TO  THE  KING, 
PROBABLY  FROM  LAMBETH. 

Draft  in  Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  85  ;  and  copied  clearly  by  Dr. 
Birch,  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  35. 

Undated. 

May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty 

To  regard  with  the  eyes  of  your  royal  and 
gracious  heart  the  unfortunate  estate  of  me,  your 
Majesty's  handmaid,  who,  knowing  your  Majesty's 
gracious  favour  to  her  to  be  the  greatest  honour,  com- 
fort, and  felicity  that  this  world  can  afford,  doth  now 
feel  any  part  of  the  contrary  to  be  the  most  grievous 
affliction  to  her  that  can  be  imagined.  Whereinsoever 
your  Majesty  will  say  I  have  offended  I  will  not  con- 
test, but  in  all  humility  prostrate  myself  at  your  Ma- 
jesty's feet;  only  I  do  most  humbly  on  my  knees 
beseech  your  Majesty  to  believe  that  that  thought 
never  yet  entered  into  my  heart  to  do  anything  that 
might  justly  deserve  any  part  of  your  indignation.  But 
if  the  necessity  of  my  state  and  fortune,  together  with 
my  weakness,  have  caused  me  to  do  somewhat  not 
pleasing  to  your  Majesty,  most  gracious  Sovereign,  let 
it  be  all  covered  with  the  shadow  of  your  royal  be- 
nignity, and  pardoned  in  that  heroical  mind  of  yours, 
which  is  never  closed  to  those  who  carry  a  most  loyal 
heart  to  your  sovereignty,  a  most  sincere  and  dutiful 
affection  to  your  person,  and  that  prayeth  for  the  most 
happy  prosperity  of  your  Majesty,  our  most  gracious 


250  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

queen,  and  your  Royal  issue  in  all  things  for  ever, 
amongst  which  number  Almighty  God,  who  knoweth 
the  secrets  of  all  hearts,  knoweth  me  to  be  one  who 
am  also. 

Your  Majesty's  most  humble,  faithful 

subject  and  servant. 

No.  12. 
LADY  ARBELLA  SEYMOUR  TO  [LADY  DRUMMOND]. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  61;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  47. 

Probably  from  Lambeth. 

GOOD  COUSIN, — I  pray  you  do  me  the  kindness 
to  present  this  letter  of  mine  in  all  humility  to  her 
Majesty,  and  with  all  my  most  humble  and  dutiful 
thanks  for  the  gracious  commiseration  it  pleaseth  her 
Majesty  to  have  of  me  as  I  hear  to  my  great  comfort. 
I  presume  to  make  suit  to  her  Majesty,  because,  if  it 
please  her  Majesty  to  intercede  for  me,  I  cannot  but 
hope  to  be  restored  to  her  Majesty's  service  and  his 
Majesty's  favour,  whose  just  and  gracious  disposition, 
I  verily  think,  would  have  been  moved  to  compassion 
ere  this  by  the  consideration  both  of  the  cause,  in 
itself  honest  and  lamentable,  and  of  the  honour  I  have 
to  be  so  near  his  Majesty  and  his  in  blood,  but  that  it 
is  God's  will  her  Majesty  should  have  a  hand  in  so 
honourable  and  charitable  a  work  as  to  reobtain  his 
Majesty's  favour  to  one  that  esteemeth  it  her  greatest 
worldly  comfort.  So,  wishing  you  all  honour  and 
happiness,  I  take  leave,  and  remain 

Your  very  loving  cousin, 

A.  S. 


LETTERS  TO  AND  FROM  LADY  DRUMMOND.    25  I 

No.  13. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  64;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  48. 
(Indorsed,  "The  Lady  Drummond's  letter  to  my  lady.") 

MADAME, — I  received  your  ladyship's  letter,  and  with 
it  another  paper  which  has  just  the  same  words  that 
was  in  the  letter,  but  your  ladyship  did  not  command 
me  to  do  anything  with  it,  so  as  I  cannot  imagine  to 
what  use  you  sent  it,  always  I  shall  keep  it  till  I  know 
your  ladyship's  pleasure.  Yesterday  being  Sunday,  I 
could  have  little  time  to  speak  with  her  Majesty,  but 
this  day  her  Majesty  hath  seen  your  ladyship's  letter. 
Her  Majesty  says  that  when  she  gave  your  ladyship's 
petition  and  letter  to  his  Majesty,  he  did  take  it  well 
enough,  but  gave  no  answer  than  that  "  Ye  had  eaten 
of  the  forbidden  tree."  This  was  all  her  Majesty  com- 
manded me  to  say  to  your  ladyship  in  this  purpose, 
but  withal  did  remember  her  kindly  to  your  ladyship, 
and  sent  you  this  little  token  in  notice  of  the  continua- 
tion of  her  Majesty's  favours  to  your  ladyship.  Now, 
where  your  ladyship  desires  me  to  deal  openly  and 
freely  with  you,  I  protest  I  can  say  nothing  on  know- 
ledge, for  I  never  spake  to  any  of  that  purpose  but 
to  the  queen ;  but  the  wisdom  of  this  state,  with  the 
example  how  some  of  your  quality  in  the  like  cause 
has  been  used,  makes  me  fear  that  ye  shall  not  find 
so  easy  end  to  your  troubles  as  ye  expect  or  I  wish. 
This  is  all  I  can  say,  and  I  should  think  myself  happy 
if  my  notions  could  give  better  testimony  of  my  truly 
being  your  ladyship's 

Affectionate  friend  to  do  you  service, 

JANE  DRUMMOND. 


252  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


No.  14 

Draft.    Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  66  ;  copy  68  ;  and  Sloane  MSS., 
v.  4161,  f.  49. 

{Indorsed,  "  To  my  honourable  good  cousin,  Mrs. 
Drummond.") 

GOOD  COUSIN, — I  pray  you  present  her  Majesty 
my  most  humble  thanks  for  the  token  of  the  con- 
tinuance of  her  Majesty's  favour  towards  me  that  I 
received  in  your  letter,  which  hath  so  cheered  me  as 
I  hope  I  shall  be  the  better  able  to  pass  over  my 
sorrow  till  it  please  God  to  move  his  Majesty's  heart 
to  compassion  of  me,  whilst  I  may  thereby  assure 
myself  I  remain  in  her  Majesty's  favour,  though  all 
other  worldly  comforts  be  withdrawn  from  me  ;  and 
will  not  cease  to  pray  to  the  Almighty  to  reward  her 
Majesty  for  her  gracious  regard  of  me  in  this  distress 
with  all  happiness  to  her  royal  self  and  hers.  I  pray 
you  likewise  present  her  Majesty  this  piece  of  my 
work,  which  I  humbly  beseech  her  Majesty  to  accept 
in  remembrance  of  the  poor  prisoner,  her  Majesty's 
most  humble  servant,  that  wrought  them,  in  hope 
those  royal  hands  will  vouchsafe  to  wear  them,  which 
till  I  have  the  honour  to  kiss,  I  shall  live  in  a  great 
deal  of  sorrow.  I  must  also  render  you  my  kindest 
thanks  for  your  so  friendly  and  freely  imparting  your 
opinion  of  my  suit.  But  whereas  my  good  friends  may 
doubt  my  said  suit  will  be  more  long  and  difficult  ^to 
obtain  than  they  wish  by  reason  of  the  wisdom  of  this 
state  in  dealing  with  others  of  my  quality  in  the  like 
cause,  I  say  that  I  never  heard  nor  read  of  anybody's 


LETTERS  TO  AND  FROM  LADY  DRUMMOND.    253 

case  that  might  be  truly  and  justly  compared  to  this 
of  mine,  which,  being  truly  considered,  will  be  found 
so  far  differing  as  there  can  be  no  true  resemblance 
made  thereof  to  any  others  ;  and  so  I  am  assured  that 
both  their  Majesties  (when  it  shall  please  them  duly 
to  examine  it  in  their  princely  wisdoms)  will  easily 
discern.  And  I  do  earnestly  entreat  you  to  move  her 
Majesty  to  vouchsafe  the  continuance  of  her  so  gracious 
a  beginning  on  my  behalf,  and  to  persuade  his  Majesty 
to  weigh  my  cause  aright,  and  then  I  shall  not  doubt 
but  speedily  to  receive  that  royal  grace  and  favour 
that  my  own  soul  witnesseth  I  have  ever  deserved  at 
his  hands,  and  will  ever  endeavour  to  deserve  of  him 
and  his  whilst  I  have  breath.  And  so,  with  many 
thanks  to  yourself  for  your  kind  offices,  I  take  leave, 
and  rest 

Your  very  loving  cousin, 

ARBELLA  SEYMAURE. 


No.  15. 

To  THE  LADY  DRUMMOND  [fragment]. 
Harl.  MSS.,  v.  70x23,  f.  70  (Draft  unsigned  and  corrected). 

GOOD  COUSIN, — I  think  myself  as  much  beholden 
to  you  as  if  my  man  had  brought  me  assurance  of 
his  Majesty's  favours  by  her  Majesty's  means,  because 
I  find  your  kindness  in  remembering  me  and  prevent- 
ing suspicions.  But  I  cannot  rest  satisfied  till  I  may 
know  what  disaster  of  mine  hindreth  his  Majesty's 


254  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

goodness  towards  me,  having  such  a  mediatrix  to 
plead  so  just  and  honest  a  cause  as  mine.  Therefore 
I  pray  you  with  all  earnestness  let  me  know  freely 
what  hath  been  done  concerning  me.  So,  wishing 
you  all  honour  and  happiness,  I  take  leave. 

Yours. 

(Indorsed,   "  Two  letters  by  Smith  now  ; "  one,  no 
doubt,  is  that  to  her  husband,  in  the  text.) 


No.  1 6. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  152 ;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  46. 

Probably  March,  1611. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  of 
England  and  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common 
Pleas. 

MY  LORDS, — Whereas  I  have  been  long  restrained 
from  my  liberty,  which  is  as  much  to  be  regarded  as 
my  life,  and  am  appointed,  as  I  understand,  to  be 
removed  far  from  these  courts  of  justice  where  I 
ought  to  be  examined,  tried,  and  then  condemned  or 
cleared,  to  remote  parts,  whose  courts  I  hold  unfitted 
for  the  trial  of  my  offence  :  this  is  to  beseech  your 
Lordships  to  inquire  by  an  Habeas  Corpus  or  other  usual 
form  of  law  what  is  my  fault ;  and  if,  upon  examina- 
tion by  your  Lordships,  I  shall  thereof  be  justly  con- 
victed, let  me  endure  such  punishment  by  your  Lord- 
ships' sentence  as  is  due  to  such  an  offender.  And 
if  your  Lordships  may  not  or  will  not  of  yourselves 
grant  unto  me  the  ordinary  relief  of  a  distressed  sub- 


KING  JAMES  TO  BISHOP  OF  DURHAM,  1611.     255 

ject,  then  I  beseech  you  become  humble  intercessors 
to  his  Majesty  that  I  may  receive  such  benefit  of 
justice  as  both  his  Majesty  by  his  oath,  those  of  his 
blood  not  excepted,  hath  promised,  and  the  laws  of 
this  realm  afford  to  all  others.  And  though,  unfor- 
tunate woman  (that  I  am),  I  should  obtain  neither,  yet 
I  beseech  your  Lordships  retain  me  in  your  good 
opinion,  and  judge  charitably  till  I  be  proved  to  have 
committed  any  offence,  either  against  God  or  his 
Majesty,  deserving  so  long  restraint  or  separation  from 
my  lawful  husband.  So,  praying  for  your  Lordships, 
I  rest 

Your  afflicted  poor  suppliant, 

A.  S. 

No.  17.* 

A  ROYAL  WARRANT  TO  THE  BISHOP  OF  DURHAM, 
COMMITTING  THE  LADY  ARBELLA  SEYMAURE  TO 
HIS  CUSTODY. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  94,  96,  97 ;  SloaneMSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  51. 

Royston,  March  13,  1610-11. 
James  R. 

RIGHT  REVEREND  FATHER  IN  GOD,  AND  TRUSTY 
AND  WELL-BELOVED, — We  greet  you  well.  Whereas 
our  cousin  the  Lady  Arbella  hath  highly  offended  us 
in  seeking  to  marry  herself  without  our  knowledge  (to 
whom  she  had  the  honour  to  be  near  in  blood),  and 
in  proceeding  afterwards  to  a  full  conclusion  of  a 
marriage  with  the  selfsame  person  whom  (for  many 

*  Printed  in  Halli well's  "  Letters  of  the  Kings  of  England." 


256  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA  STUART. 

just  causes)  we  had  expressly  forbidden  her  to  marry ; 
after  he  had  in  our  presence,  and  before  our  Council, 
forsworn  all  interest  as  concerning  her,  either  past  or 
present,  with  solemn  protestations  upon  his  allegiance, 
in  her  hearing,  never  to  renew  any  such  motion  again. 
Forasmuch  as  it  is  more  necessary  for  us  to  make 
some  such  demonstration  now  of  the  just  sense  and 
feeling  we  have,  after  so  great  an  indignity  offered 
unto  us,  as  may  make  others  know  by  her  example 
that  no  respect  of  personal  affection  can  make  us 
neglect  those  considerations  wherein  both  the  honour 
and  order  of  the  state  is  interested.  We  have  there- 
fore thought  good,  out  of  trust  in  your  fidelity  and 
discretion,  to  remit  to  your  care  and  custody  the  person 
of  our  said  cousin,  requiring  and  authorizing  you 
hereby  to  carry  her  down  in  your  company  to  any 
house  of  yours  as  unto  you  shall  seem  best  and  most 
convenient,  there  to  remain  in  such  sort  as  shall  be 
set  down  to  you  by  directions  from  the  Council,  or 
any  six  of  them,  to  whom  we  have  both  declared  our 
pleasure  for  the  manner  of  her  restraint,  and  have 
also  given  in  charge,  upon  conference  with  you,  to  take 
order  for  all  things  necessary  either  for  her  health  or 
otherwise.  This  being,  as  you  see,  the  difference 
between  us  and  her — that  whereas  she  hath  abounded 
towards  us  in  disobedience  and  ingratitude,  we  are  (on 
the  contrary)  still  apt  to  temper  the  severity  of  our 
justice  with  grace  and  favour  towards  her,  as  may  well 
appear  by  the  course  we  have  taken  to  commit  her 
only  to  your  custody,  in  whose  house  she  may  be  so 
well  assured  to  receive  all  good  usage,  and  see  more 


WARRANT  TO  PARRY,    1611.  257 

fruit  and  exercise  of  religion  and  virtue  than  in  many 
other  places.  For  all  which  this  shall  be  your  sufficient 
warrant. 

From  Royston,  this  i3th  of  March,  1610-11. 

No.  1 8. 

WARRANT  TO  SIR  THOMAS  PARRY,  CHANCELLOR  OF 
THE  DUCHY  OF  LANCASTER,  FROM  THE  LORDS  OF 
THE  COUNCIL,  ORDERING  HIM  TO  DELIVER  ARBELLA 
TO  THE  BISHOP  OF  DURHAM. 

State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixi.  p.  30;  Harl.  MSS., 
v.  7003,  f.  98. 

March  15,  1610-11. 

After  our  very  hearty  commendations. 

Whereas  it  hath  pleased  his  Majesty  by  letters 
under  his  royal  signature  to  give  order  to  the  right 
reverend  father  in  God,  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  to 
receive  into  his  charge  the  person  of  the  Lady  Arbella 
Seymaure,  to  be  carried  down  and  conveyed  from 
hence  in  his  company  to  such  house  of  his  as  shall 
seem  best  and  most  convenient,  there  to  remain  in 
such  sort  and  according  to  such  directions  as  are 
contained  in  the  said  letters.  Forasmuch  as  she  was 
committed  to  your  charge  by  his  Majesty's  command- 
ment, and  that  it  is  meet  the  like  order  be  taken  for 
your  discharge ; 

These  are  therefore  to  will  and  require  you,  accord- 
ing to  his  Majesty's  good  pleasure  in  that  behalf,  to 
deliver  the  person  of  the  said  lady  unto  our  very  good 
lord,  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  to  be  by  him  conveyed 
as  aforesaid,  which  we  require  you  to  perform  this 

VOL.  ii.  35 


258  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

present  Friday.    For  which  this  shall  be  sufficient  war- 
rant.    And  we  bid  you  heartily  farewell. 

From  Whitehall,  the  isth  of  March,  1610-11. 
Your  very  loving  friends, 

T.  ELLESMERE.     H.  NORTHAMPTON. 
R.  SALISBURY.       GILB.  SHREWSBURY. 
T.  SUFFOLK.         W.  KNOWLES. 
E.  WORCESTER.     LENOX. 
E.  WOOTTON.        JUL.  OESAR. 

No.  19. 

WARRANT  TO  SIR  WILLIAM  BOND. 
Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  102  ;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  53. 

March  15,  1611. 

Forasmuch  as  there  is  some  occasion  to  make  pro- 
vision for  one  night's  lodging  for  the  Lady  Arbella,  in 
respect  that  she  cannot  conveniently  recover  Barnet, 
some  things  being  wanting  for  her  journey  this  after- 
noon, contrary  to  our  expectations,  we  have  thought 
good  to  entreat  you  not  to  refuse  such  a  courtesy  as 
the  lending  of  a  couple  of  chambers  for  her  lady- 
ship ;  because  we  doubt  the  inns  there  are  full  of 
inconveniences.  By  doing  whereof  you  shall  give  us 
cause  to  report  well  of  you  to  his  Majesty.  And  so 
we  commit  you  to  God. 

At  Whitehall,  the  i5th  of  March,  1610. 
Your  loving  friends, 

R.  SALISBURY.       H.  NORTHAMPTON. 

NOTTINGHAM.       T.  SUFFOLKE. 

E.  WORCESTER.     GILB.  SHREWSBURY. 

JUL.  CAESAR. 

To  our  loving  friend,  Sir  William  Bond,  Knt.,  or, 
in  his  absence,  to  the  Lady  his  wife  at  High  Gate. 


MRS.COLLINGWOO&S LETTER  TO  ARABELLA.  259 


No.  20. 

State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  v.  Ixii.  f.  88,  MS. 

March  7,  1611. 

To   the  most  noble  and  renowned  lady,  the  Lady 
Arbella,  her  grace,  humbly  this  d.d. 

MOST    HONOURABLE     AND     BELOVED      LADY, — That 

which  to  the  most  seems  great  presumption  for  me 
(though  thus  dejected)  to  attempt  this  kind  of  enter- 
prise unto  so  high  a  personage,  the  more  noble  and 
illustrious  that  you  are  (most  honourable  lady),  I  pre- 
sume you  will  the  less  take  notice  of  my  fault,  as  only 
looking  ^  to  the  things  wherein  your  virtues  may  be 
exercised,  which  is  the  truest  note  of  that  same  dis- 
position, all  disposed  to  virtue  holding  all  things  else 
impertinent  or  not  imagining  that  they  have  any 
being.  And  surely  fame  hath  not  been  sparing  to 
make  known  your  honour's  worthiness,  comprising 
both  the  virtues  of  this  nature,  as  it  doth  most 
worthily  contain  the  virtues  of  the  highest  qualities. 
Whereby  resting  confident  that  as  charity  is  not 
usually  separated  from  the  rest,  so  I  do  assure  myself 
it  cannot  be  the  least  of  them  your  honour  is  endowed 
with.  Which  jointly  lead  me  now  to  offer  up  my 
humble  suit  unto  your  honour,  an  occasion  for  your 
piety  and  pity  to  be  seen,  the  one  in  pardoning  my 
boldness,  the  other  in  relieving  my  necessity.  Unto 
both  whereof  your  honour  may  the  rather  be  induced, 
being  that  as  want  hath  privilege  to  seek  succour 
everywhere,  so  it  carrieth  reason  to  be  more  lamented 


260  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

when  it  is  occasioned  by  adversities,  which  fareth 
now  with  me  whose  fortune  hath  been  such  an 
enemy  unto  my  birth  as  hath  brought  my  state  to 
be  unequal  to  my  calling,  and  keeps  me  from  my 
lawful  husband  and  all  rights  by  him,  which  are  of 
extraordinary  value ;  wherein,  being  loth  to  be  offen- 
sive to  your  honour  by  a  tedious  discourse,  I  humbly 
leave  it  to  your  wisdom,  which  is  able  to  consider 
well  of  such  distress.  And  both  I  and  my  poor 
children  will  daily  pray  for  your  honour's  wished 
happiness. 

Your  honour's  most  humble  suppliant  at  command, 

ALICE  COLLINGWOOD. 


No.  21. 
LADY  CHANDOS  TO  DR.  MOUNDFORD. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  109;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  68. 

Good  Friday,  1611. 

DOCTOR  MOUNDFORD, — I  desire  the  widow's  prayer, 
with  my  humble  service,  may  by  you  be  presented  to 
the  Lady  Arbella,  who  I  hope  God  will  so  fortify  her 
mind,  as  she  will  take  this  cross  with  such  patience 
as  may  be  to  His  pleasing,  who,  as  this  day  signifies, 
took  upon  Him  a  good  deal  more  for  us ;  and  when 
He  seeth  time  He  will  send  comfort  to  the  afflicted. 
I  pray  you  if  you  want  for  the  honourable  lady  what 
is  in  this  house,  you  will  send  for  it ;  for  most  willingly 
the  master  and  mistress  of  the  house  would  have  her 
ladyship  command  it.  If  the  drink  do  like  my  lady, 


SOME   UNDATED  LETTERS.  26  1 

spare  not  to  send.      The   knight   and   my  daughter 
remember  their  kind  commendations  unto  yourself. 
So  I  commit  you  to  God,  and  rest  as 
Your  friend, 

FRANCIS  CHANDOS. 

(Indorsed,  "  To  my  friend,  Mr.  Dr.  Moundford,  at 
Barnet.") 

Three   undated   letters    written    during   Arabella's 
imprisonment. 

No.  22. 


LADY  ARBELLA  SEYMAURE  TO  LORD  -  [ 
LORD  SALISBURY]. 

Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  104,  107;  Sloane  MSS., 
v.  4161,  f.  54. 

MY  LORD,  —  The  nobleness  of  your  nature  and  the 
good  opinion  it  hath  pleased  your  lordship  to  hold 
of  me  heretofore  emboldeneth  me  to  beseech  your 
lordship  to  enter  into  consideration  of  my  distress, 
and  to  be  touched  with  the  misery  I  am  in  for  want 
of  his  Majesty's  favour,  whose  clemency  and  mercy 
is  such  that,  if  it  would  please  ye  to  make  my  grief 
known,  and  how  nearly  it  toucheth  my  heart  that  it 
hath  been  my  hard  fortune  to  offend  his  Majesty,  I 
cannot  doubt  but  it  would  gain  me  both  mitigation 
of  the  hard  doom  and  mercy  in  some  measure  to 
yield  comfort  to  my  soul,  overwhelmed  with  the 
extremity  of  grief  which  hath  almost  brought  me  to 
the  brink  of  the  grave.  I  beseech  your  lordship  deal 
so  with  me  as  my  prayer  may  gain  you  God's  reward, 


262  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

for  His  sake,  though  it  be  but  a  cup  of  cold  water. 
I  mean  any  small  hope  of  intercession  of  his  Majesty's 
displeasure  shall  be  most  thankfully  received  by  me. 
And  I  doubt  not  but,  if  it  please  your  lordship  to  try 
your  excellent  gift  *  of  speech,  his  Majesty  will  lend 
a  gracious  ear  to  your  lordship,  and  I  shall  rest  ever 
bound  to  pray  for  your  lordship's  happiness,  who 
now  myself  rest  the  most  unfortunate  and  afflicted 
creature  living. 

A.  S. 

No.  23. 
LADY  ARBELLA  SEYMAURE  TO  . 


Cotton  MSS.,  Vesp.  F.  3,  f.  35.! 

(This  letter  is  indorsed,  "  Arbella  Seymaure  to , 

soliciting  the  person  she  writes  to  to  use  his  interest 
with  Lord  Northampton  to  intercede  for  her  with  the 
King  after  her  marriage  with  the  Earl  of  Hertford." 

The  indorsement  is  evidently  added  later,  as  it 
calls  Seymour  the  "  Earl  of  Hertford.") 

SIR, — Though  you  be  almost  a  stranger  to  me,  but 
only  by  sight,  yet  the  good  opinion  I  generally  hear 
to  be  held  of  your  worth,  together  with  the  great 
interest  you  have  in  my  Lord  of  Northampton's 
favour,  makes  me  thus  far  presume  of  your  willing- 
ness to  do  a  poor  afflicted  gentlewoman  a  good  office 
(if  in  no  other  respect,  yet  because  I  am  a  Christian) 
as  to  further  me  with  your  best  endeavours  to  his 

*  One  draft  has  "gifts  of  persuasion. " 

t  Another  copy  of  this  is  indorsed,  "  to  Cromwell." 


f'Mff*"'1' 


Vol  ii.J 


/  . 

* 


IN  AUTOGRAPH    OP  ARABELLA  STUART. 


London.- Richard  BenHey  &.  Son,  1889. 


SOME   UNDATED  LETTERS.  263 

lordship,  that  it  will  please  him  to  help  me  out  of  this 
great  distress  and  misery,  and  regain  me  his  Majesty's 
favour,  which  is  my  chiefest  desire.  Wherein  his 
lordship  may  do  a  deed  acceptable  to  God  and 
honourable  to  himself,  and  I  shall  be  infinitely  bound 
to  his  lordship  and  beholden  to  you,  who  now,  till 
I  receive  some  comfort  from  his  Majesty,  rest  the 
most  sorrowful  creature  living. 

ARBELLA  SEYMAURE. 

No.  24. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  149;  and  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161,  f.  65. 
MY  LORD, — My  extremity  constraining  me  to 
labour  to  all  my  friends  to  become  suitors  to  his 
Majesty  for  his  pardon  of  my  fault,  and  my  weakness 
not  permitting  me  to  write  particularly,  I  have  made 
choice  of  your  lordship,  humbly  beseeching  you  to 
move  as  many  as  have  any  compassion  of  my  affliction 
to  join  in  humble  mediation  to  his  Majesty  to  forgive 
me,  the  most  penitent  and  sorrowful  creature  that 
breathes. 

Your  distressed  cousin, 
A.  S. 

No.  25. 

LADY  ARBELLA  SEYMOUR  TO  [VISCOUNT  FENTON]. 

Draft.     Harl.  MSS.,  v.  70x53,  f.  153;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161, 
f.63. 

MY  LORD, — The  long  acquaintance  betwixt  us,  and 
the  good  experience  of  your  honourable  dealing  here- 
tofore, maketh  me  not  only  hope  but  be  most  assured, 


264  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

that  if  you  knew  my  most  discomfortable  and  dis- 
tressed estate,  you  would  acquaint  his  Majesty  withal 
and  consequently  procure  my  relief  and  redress  as 
you  have  done  other  times.  I  have  been  sick  even 
to  the  death,  from  which  it  hath  pleased  God  miracu- 
lously to  deliver  me  for  this  present  danger,  but  find 
myself  so  weak  *  by  reason  I  have  wanted  those  ordi- 
nary helps  whereby  most  others  in  my  case,  be  they 
never  so  poor  or  unfortunate  soever,  are  preserved  alive 
at  least  for  charity ;  that  unless  I  may  be  suffered  to  have 
those  about  me  that  I  may  trust,  this  sentence  my 
lord  treasurer  pronounced  after  his  Majesty's  refusing 
that  trifle  of  my  work,  by  your  persuasion,  as  I  take  it, 
will  prove  the  certain  and  apparent  cause  of  my  death. 
Whereof  I  then  thought  good  to  advertise  you  that 
you  both  may  the  better  be  prepared  in  case  you,  or 
either  of  you,  have  possessed  the  king  with  such 
opinions  of  me,  as  thereupon  I  shall  be  suspected 
and  restrained  till  help  come  too  late,  and  be  assured 
that  neither  physician  nor  other  but  whom  I  think 
good  shall  come  about  me  whilst  I  live  till  I  have  his 
Majesty's  favour,  without  which  I  desire  not  to  live. 
And  if  you  remember  of  old  I  dare  to  die  so  I  be  not 
guilty  of  my  own  death,  and  oppress  others  with  my 
ruin  too,  if  there  be  no  other  way,  as  God  forbid, 
to  whom  I  commit  you,  and  rest  assuredly  as  here- 
tofore, if  you  be  the  same  to  me, 

Your  lordship's  faithful  friend, 

A.  S. 

*  The  words  from  "  so  weak  "  to  the  end  are  crossed  out  on 
f.  153,  the  rest  of  the  letter  on  f.  154  being,  perhaps,  intended  to 
replace  it. 


SOME    UNDATED  LETTERS.  26$ 

I  can  neither  get  clothes,  nor  posset  ale,  for 
example,  nor  anything  but  ordinary  diet,  nor  com- 
plement fit  for  a  sick  body  in  my  case  when  I  call 
for  it,  not  so  much  as  a  glister,  saving  your  reverence. 

The  above  (f.  153)  is  the  corrected  draft  of  a  letter 
to  Viscount  Fenton,  in  which  the  words  from  "so 
weak  "  to  the  end  are  crossed  out,  and  the  following, 
given  as  a  fragment  only  in  the  Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003, 
f.  154,  added,  the  lady  doubtless  again  changing  her 
mind,  making  the  fair  copy  as  given  above : — 

That  unless  it  please  his  Majesty  to  show  me 
mercy,  and  that  I  may  receive  from  your  lordship 
at  least  some  hope  of  regaining  his  Majesty's  favour 
again,  it  will  not  be  possible  for  me  to  undergo  the 
great  burden  of  his  princely  displeasure.  Good  my 
lord,  consider,  the  fault  cannot  be  uncommitted, 
neither  can  any  more  be  required  of  any  earthly 
creature  but  confession  and  most  humble  submission, 
which,  if  it  should  please  your  lordship  to  present  to 
his  Majesty,  I  cannot  doubt  but  his  Majesty  would 
be  pleased  to  mitigate  his  displeasure,  and  let  me 
receive  comfort.  *I  wish  your  lordship  would  in  a 
few  lines  understand  my  misery,  for  my  weakness  is 
such  that  writing  is  very  painful  to  me,  and  cannot 
be  pleasant  to  any  to  read.*  From  your  hand,  my 
lord,  I  received  the  first  favour,  which  favour,  if  I 
may  obtain  from  your  lordship's  hand  in  my  greatest 
necessity,  I  shall  ever  acknowledge  myself  bound  to 

*  From  *  to  *  crossed  out  in  the  fragment,  f.  154. 


266  LIFE  OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

you  for  it,  and  the  rest  of  my  life  shall  show  how 
highly  I  esteem  his  Majesty's  favour.  The  Almighty 
send  to  your  lordship  health,  and  make  you  His  good 
means  to  help  me  out  of  this  great  grief. 

Your  lordship's  most  distressed  friend. 

No.  26. 
LADY  ARBELLA  SEYMOUR  TO  THE  QUEEN. 

Draft.     HarL  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  78;  Sloane  MSS.,  v.  4161, 
f.  32. 

Probably  Christmas,  1611. 

May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty  to  con- 
sider how  long  I  have  lived  a  spectacle  of  his  Majesty's 
displeasure,  to  my  unspeakable  grief,  and,  out  of  that 
gracious  disposition  which  moveth  your  royal  mind  to 
compassion  of  the  distress,  may  it  please  your  Majesty 
to  move  his  Majesty  in  my  behalf.  I  have  presumed 
to  present  your  Majesty  herewith  the  copy  of  my 
humble  petition  to  his  Majesty  against  this  time,  when 
the  rather  I  am  sure  his  Majesty  forgiveth  greater 
offences  as  freely  as  he  desires  to  be  forgiven  by 
Him  whose  sacrament  he  is  to  receive,  though  your 
Majesty's  intercession  at  any  time,  I  know,  were  suffi- 
cient. Thus  hath  my  long  experience  of  your  Majesty's 
gracious  favour  to  me  and  all  good  causes  encouraged 
me  to  presume  to  address  myself  unto  your  Majesty, 
and  increased  the  obligation  of  my  duty  in  praying 
continually  unto  the  Almighty  for  your  Majesty's 
felicity  in  all  things.  And  in  all  humility  I  remain 

Your  Majesty's. 


ARREST  OF  ARABELLA  AND  FRIENDS,  1611.     26/ 
I. 

No.  i. 

PROCLAMATION  FOR  THE  ARREST  OF  LADY  ARBELLA 
AND  WILLIAM  SEYMORE. 

Rymer's  "Fcedera,"  vol.  xvi.  p.  710. 

June  4,  1611. 

Whereas  we  are  given  to  understand  that  the  Lady 
Arbella  and  William  Seymour,  second  son  to  the  Lord 
Beauchamp,  being  for  divers  great  and  heinous 
offences  committed,  the  one  to  our  Tower  of  London, 
and  the  other  to  a  special  guard,  have  found  the 
means,  by  the  wicked  practices  of  divers  lewd  persons, 
as,  namely,  Markham,  Crompton,  Rodney,  and  others, 
to  break  prison,  and  make  escape  on  Monday,  the 
third  day  of  June,  with  an  intent  to  transport  them- 
selves into  foreign  parts. 

We  do  hereby  straitly  charge  and  command  all 
persons  whatsoever,  upon  .their  allegiance  and  duty, 
not  only  to  forbear  to  receive,  harbour,  or  assist 
them  in  their  passage  any  way,  as  they  will  answer  it 
at  their  perils  ;  but,  upon  the  like  charge  and  pain,  to 
use  the  best  means  they  can  for  their  apprehension 
and  keeping  them  in  safe  custody,  which  we  will  take 
as  an  acceptable  service. 

Given  at  Greenwich,  the  fourth  day  of  June. 

per  ipsum  REGEM. 


268  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


No.  2. 

PERSONS  COMMITTED  BY  THE  LORDS  ON  THE  4TH 
AND  5TH  OF  JUNE,  1611,  UPON  OCCASION  OF  THE 
LADY  ARBELLA  AND  MR.  SEYMOUR'S  ESCAPE. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  140. 

The  Countess  of  Shrewsbury,  committed  to  the 
Tower. 

Sir  Jas.  Croft,  committed  to  the  Fleet. 

Dr.  Moundford,  close  prisoner  at  the  Gatehouse. 

Adams,  the  minister's  wife,  to  the  Gatehouse. 
To  be  examined-*- 

Bates  to  the  Bailiff  of  Westminster. 

Pigott,  sent  to  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  to  be  forth- 
coming. 
Newgate — 

John   Baisley,   waterman,    committed    to    Davy 

Roden,  a  messenger. 
To  some  other  place  in  the  Tower — 

Batten,  Mr.  Seymour's  barber,  committed  to  the 

dungeon  in  the  Tower,  by  Mr.  Lieutenant. 
Released — 

Saladin,  a  Frenchman,  committed  to  the  porter's 
lodge,  in  the  Tower. 

Mr.  Seymour's  butler,  committed  to  the  Tower. 

Corve,  the  French  Skipper,  to  Newgate. 

The  Skipper  of  Ipswich,  to  the  Gatehouse. 

Note  below — Smith  to  be  examined. 


ARREST  OF  ARABELLA  AND  FRIENDS,  1611.     269 


In  the 
Tower. 


ANOTHER  LATER  LIST  AFTER  ARABELLA'S  CAPTURE. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  143. 
(rndorsed,  "  Persons  committed  by  the  Lords.") 

The  La.  Arbella. 

The  Ctess.  Shrewsbury.  \ 

Fleet- 
Hugh  Crompton,  gent. 
Marsh. — 

William  Markham,  gent. 
Gateh.— 

Edward  Reeves. 

Mrs.  Bradshawe. 
Bonds — 

Batten,  Mr.  Seymour's  barber. 

Mr.  Seymour's  butler. 
Removed — 

Sir  James  Croft,  in  the  Fleet. 

Dr.  Moundford. 
Bonds- 
Adams  the  minister's  wife.  In  the 

Surson,  the  skipper,  of  Ipswich,   f    Gatehouse. 
Loses  his  place — 

Edward  Kirton,  gent 

Tassin  Corve,  the  French  skipper. 
To  be  sent  to  ye  ambassador. 

John  Baisley,  waterman. 
To  be  delivered — 

Bates,  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury's  man,  with  the 
Bailiff  of  Westminster. 


)         I" 

(    Newgate. 


2/0  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

No.  3. 

WARRANT  TO  THE  LORDS  OF  THE  COUNCIL. 

Sfete  Papers,  James  L,  Dom.,vol.  Ixiv.  p.  67,  Docquet-Book, 

June  30,  1611. 

That  they  cause  all  such  sums  of  money  as  are  to 
be  defrayed  by  his  Majesty  for  the  charges  of  appre- 
hension of  the  Lady  Arbella  and  her  company,  and 
her  bringing  up,  to  be  paid  out  of  such  gold  as  hath 
been  found  upon  her  or  in  her  company,  or  which 
hereafter  shall  be  found  to  have  been  upon  her  or  in 
her  company  at  the  time  of  her  escape. 

No.  4. 

State  Papers,  James  I.,  Dom.,  vol.  Ixvi.  p.  23,  Docquet-Book, 
Sept.  21,  1611. 

A  letter  to  the  Lords  and  others  of  his  Majesty's 
Privy  Council,  requiring  them  to  give  order  to  Sir  Wil- 
liam Bowyer,  Knight,  and  Henry  Yelverton,*  Esquire, 
to  cause  certain  jewels  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the 
said  Sir  Wm.  Bowyer,  and  found  upon  the  Lady  Arbella 
and  her  company  at  her  intended  departure  out  of 
this  realm,  to  be  valued  and  sold  at  the  cost  price, 
and  the  money  thereby  made  to  be  paid  to  such  of 
her  creditors  as  she  shall  nominate.  And  for  such 
money  as  was  found  with  her  and  remaining  with 
the  said  Bowyer,  his  Majesty's  pleasure  is  at  his  suit, 
the  same  be  delivered  to  the  said  Yelverton  to  dis- 
charge a  debt  of  hers  for  which  he  is  bound. 
*  Vol.  ii.  pp.  234,  236. 


SALE  OF  ARABELLA'S  JEWELS,  ETC.,  1611.    271 

No.  5. 

SUMMARY  OF  MINUTE  TO  SIR  WM.  BOWYER  FROM 
THE  COUNCIL, 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  138. 

A  certain  parcel  of  gold,  ^868,  and  jewels,  had 
been  seized  upon  the  Lady  Arbella's  person.  It  was 
to  be  inventoried  and  laid  up  until  the  king's  pleasure 
was  further  known.  The  care  of  it  to  be  entrusted  to 
Bowyer,  to  the  use  of  the  aforesaid  Lady  Arbella,  and 
such  others  as  to  whom  they  shall  appear  to  belong. 
He  is  to  take  them  to  the  Tower,  and  there,  in  the  com- 
pany and  presence  of  the  lieutenant,  "  show  the  said 
gold  and  jewels  to  the  Lady  Arbella,  and  to  inform 
yourself  from  her  ladyship  to  whom  all  the  said  gold 
and  jewels  belong  ;  which,  if  she  inform  you  they  are 
hers,  you  are  to  detain  them  to  her  use,  issuing  and 
delivering  no  part  thereof  upon  any  warrant  from  her 
ladyship  until  you  first  acquaint  the  chancellor  of  the 
exchequer ;  and  if  the  Lady  Arbella  says  some  is  not 
hers,  but  belongs  to  her  servants  and  other  persons, 
we  do  require  you  to  deliver  them  unto  these  persons, 
taking  from  them  a  sufficient  acquitance  for  your 
discharge." 

From  Whitehall,  27th  June,  1611. 

No.  6. 

Harl.  MSS.,  v.  7003,  f.  141. 

A  note  of  such  jewels  as  my  Lady  Arbella  affirmeth  to 
be  wanting,  and  desireth  they  may  be  inquired  after. 
Item — A  poignard  diamond  ring. 


2/2  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

Item — A  flower  de  luce  set  with  diamonds,  which 
she  thinketh  is  in  a  little  box  of  wood,  and  left  amongst 
her  jewels. 

Item — In  the  same  box  was  a  ring  wherein  was  set 
a  little  sea-water  green  stone  called  an  emeryn  [aqua 
marine  or  emerald]. 

Item — A  little  jewel  like  a  horn,  with  a  great  yellow 
stone  called  a  jacynth,  with  opals  and  rubies.  This 
was  also  amongst  her  jewels. 

Item — A  jewel  like  a  star,  set  with  opals. 

Item — A  piece  of  a  chain  of  gold,  set  with  rubies 
and  pearls. 

Item — Some  four  pearls  set  upon  a  cord,  with  eight 
other  less  pearls. 

Item — A  watch  left  in  Mistress  Bradshaw's  trunk 
at  Barnet. 

Item — A  little  chest  with  wares  (or  waters). 


J- 

No.  i. 

In  the  South  Kensington  Museum  is  a  curious  little 
book  called  "Salve  Deus,"  dated  1611,  and  written 
by  Mistress  Emilia  Lanyer,  wife  to  Captain  Alfonzo 
Lanyer,  one  of  the  king's  household.  The  book,  which 
consists  of  four  parts,  is  entitled :  "  i.  The  Passion 
of  Christ.  2.  Eve's  Apologie  in  Defence  of  Women. 
3.  The  Teares  of  the  Daughters  of  Jerusalem.  4.  The 
Salutation  of  the  V.  Marie,  with  divers  other  things 
not  unfit  to  be  read."  The  interest  of  it  to  readers  of 
this  volume  is  its  connection  with  Arabella,  being  not 


VERSES  WRITTEN  TO  ARABELLA.        273 

only  dedicated  to  "The  Queen,  Lady  Elizabeth,  to 
all  vertuous  Ladies  in  generall,  to  the  Lady  Arbella" 
but  also  containing  verses  in  her  honour.  Curiously 
enough,  the  copy  in  the  South  Kensington  Museum, 
which  belonged  to  Prince  Henry,  has  nine  leaves  of 
the  dedication  wanting — probably  those  in  which 
Arabella  is  referred  to ;  and  the  verses  in  her  honour 
had  evidently  been  cut  out,  as  the  pages  on  which 
they  now  stand  in  this  particular  copy  have  been  sup- 
plied from  another  volume.  The  year  of  its  publica- 
tion, 1611,  saw  Arabella's  disgrace,  and  no  doubt 
Prince  Henry's  copy  was  carefully  doctored  before 
it  was  presented  to  him.  The  authoress  must  have 
composed  it  in  1610  or  before,  during  Arabella's 
favour  at  court,  since  she  dares  to  rank  her  with  the 
queen  and  princess  in  her  dedication.  The  verses  are 
worth  quoting,  merely  for  their  flattering  references  to 
Arabella's  reputation  as  a  great  and  learned  lady,  and 
the  authoress's  personal  acquaintance  with  her  virtue. 

' '  Great  learned  Ladie,  whom  I  long  have  knowne, 

And  yet  not  knowne  so  much  as  I  desired  ; 
Rare  Phoenix,  whose  fair  feathers  are  your  owne, 
With  which  you  flie,  and  are  so  much  admired  ; 
True  woman,  whom  true  Fame  hath  so  attired 
In  glittering  raiment,  shining  much  more  bright 
Than  silver  starres  in  the  most  frosty  night ; 

"  Come,  like  the  morning  sunne  new  out  of  bed, 

And  cast  your  eyes  upon  this  little  Booke  ; 
Although  you  be  so  well  accompanied 

With  Pallas  and  the  Muses,  spare  one  looke 
Upon  this  humbled  king,  who  all  forsooke, 
That  in  his  dying  arms  he  might  embrace 
Your  beauteous  soul,  and  fill  it  with  his  grace." 
VOL.  II.  36 


274  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 


NO.   2. 

The  following  epitaph  on  Arabella  was  written  by 
Richard  Corbet,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  1615,  and  may 
be  found  amongst  his  poems  : — 

"  How  do  I  thank  thee,  Death,  and  bless  thy  power, 
That  I  have  passed  the  guard,  and  'scaped  the  Tower  ! 
And  now  my  pardon  is  my  epitaph, 
And  a  small  coffin  my  poor  carcase  hath  ; 
For  at  thy  charge  both  soul  and  body  were 
Enlarg'd  at  last,  secur'd  from  hope  and  fear. 
That  amongst  Saints,  this  amongst  Kings  is  laid, 
And  what  my  birth  did  claim  my  death  hath  paid." 

No.  3. 

THE  ORDER  FOR  THE  EMBALMMENT  OF  ARABELLA'S 
BODY. 

Devon's  "  Pell  Records,"  p.  179,  London  :    1836. 

By  order,  dated  i2th  of  October,  1615.  To 
Duncan  Primrose,  one  of  his  Majesty's  Surgeons,  the 
sum  of  £6  13*.  4//.,  for  charges  disbursed  about  the 
embalming  of  the  body  of  the  late  Lady  Arbella, 
appearing  by  his  bill  of  particulars,  subscribed  and 
allowed  by  us. 

By  writ,  dated  25th  of  July,  1616. 

No.  4- 

The  following  curious  ballad  (printed  both  by  Miss 
Cooper  and  Lady  Theresa  Lewis)  was  published  in 
the  reign  of  James  I.,  and  is  interesting,  as  giving  the 
popular  view  of  Arabella's  case  : — 


BALLAD:  THE  TRUE  LOVERS  KNOT  UNTIED.  2?$ 

11  THE  TRUE  LOVER'S  KNOT  UNTIED  : 
Being  the  right  path  whereby  to  advise  Princely  Vir- 
gins how  to  behave  themselves  by  the  example  of  the 
renowned  Princess,  the  Lady  Arbella,  and  the  second 
son  [grandson]  of  the  Lord  Seymour,  late  Earl  of 
Hertford.  To  the  tune  of  '  Frogs  Galliard,'  etc. 

"  As  I  to  Ireland  did  pass, 

I  saw  a  ship  at  anchor  lay  ; 
Another  ship  likewise  there  was, 

Which  from  fair  England  took  her  way. 

"This  ship  that  sailed  from  fair  England 

Unknown  unto  our  gracious  king, 
The  Lord  Chief  Justice  did  command 
That  they  to  England  should  her  bring. 

"  I  then  drew  near,  and  saw  more  plain 

Lady  Arbella  in  distress ; 
She  wrung  her  hands  and  wept  amain, 
Bewailing  of  her  heaviness. 

"When  near  fair  London  Tower  she  came, 

Whereat  her  landing-place  should  be, 
The  King  and  Queen,  with  all  their  train, 
Did  meet  this  lady  gallantly. 

"  '  How  now,  Arbella  ?  '  said  our  King, 

Unto  this  lady  straight  did  say  ; 
'  Who  hath  first  tied  ye  to  this  thing, 
That  you  from  England  took  your  way  ? ' 

"  '  None  but  myself,  my  gracious  Liege. 

These  ten  long  years  I've  been  in  love 
With  the  Lord  Seymour's  second  son, 
[The  Earl  of  Hartford,  so  we  prove].* 

*  Brackets  are  placed  here,  as  this  probably  is  a  remark  of 
the  ballad-writer,  William  Seymour  no  doubt  having  become 
Earl  of  Hertford  at  the  time  the  poem  was  written. 


2/6  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA   STUART. 

"  '  Though  he  be  not  the  mightiest  man 

Of  goods  and  livings  in  the  land, 
Yet  I  have  lands  us  to  maintain  : 

So  much  your  grace  doth  understand. 

"  '  My  lands  and  livings,  so  well  known 

Unto  your  books  of  Majesty, 
Amount  to  twelve  score  pound  a  week, 
Besides  what  I  do  give,'  quoth  she. 

'"In  gallant  Darbyshire,  likewise, 

I  nine  score  beadsmen  maintain  there, 
With  hats  and  gowns  and  house-rent  free, 
And  every  man  five  marks  a  year. 

"  '  I  never  raised  rent,'  said  she, 

'  Nor  yet  oppressed  the  tenant  poor  ; 
I  never  took  no  bribes  for  fines  ; 
For  why  ?  I  had  enough  before. 

"  '  Whom  of  your  nobles  will  do  so 

For  to  maintain  the  commonalty, 
Such  multitudes  would  never  grow, 
Nor  be  such  store  of  poverty. 

'"I  would  I  had  a  milkmaid  been, 

Or  born  of  some  more  low  degree  ; 
Then  I  might  have  loved  where  I  like, 
And  no  man  could  have  hinder'd  me. 

'"Or  would  I  were  some  yeoman's  child, 

For  to  receive  my  portion  now 
According  unto  my  degree, 

As  other  virgins  whom  I  know. 

' ' '  The  highest  branch  that  soars  aloft 

Needs  must  beshade  the  myrtle  tree ; 
Needs  must  the  shadow  of  them  both 
Shadow  the  third  in  his  degree. 


BALLAD:  THE  TRUE  LOVERS  KNOT  UNTIED.  2/7 

"  '  But  when  the  tree  is  cut  and  gone, 

And  from  the  ground  is  borne  away  ; 
The  lowest  tree  that  there  doth  stand, 
In  time  may  grow  as  high  as  they. 

"  '  Once  when  I  thought  to  have  been  queen, 

But  yet  that  still  I  do  deny  ; 
I  knew  your  grace  had  right  to  the  crown 
Before  Elizabeth  did  die. 

"  '  You  of  the  eldest  sister  came  ; 

I  of  the  second  in  degree  ; 
The  Earl  of  Hartford  of  the  third— 
A  man  of  royal  blood  was  he. 

"  '  And  so  good  night,  my  Sovereign  Liege  ; 

Since  in  the  Tower  I  must  lie, 

I  hope  your  Grace  will  condescend 

That  I  may  have  my  liberty.' 

"  'Lady  Arbella,'  said  our  King, 

'  I  to  your  freedom  would  consent 
If  you  would  turn  and  go  to  church, 
There  to  receive  the  Sacrament. 

"  'And  so  good  night,  Arbella  fair,' 
The  King  replied  to  her  again  ; 
'  I  will  take  counsel  of  my  nobility, 
That  you  your  freedom  may  obtain.' 

"  '  Once  more  to  prison  must  I  go  ! ' 

Lady  Arbella  then  did  say  ; 
'  To  leave  ray  love  breeds  all  ray  woe, 
The  which  will  bring  my  life's  decay. 

*• '  Love  is  a  knot  none  can  unknit ; 

Fancy  a  liking  of  the  heart. 
Him  whom  I  love  I  cannot  forget, 

Though  from  his  presence  I  must  part. 


2/8  LIFE   OF  ARABELLA    STUART. 

"  '  The  meanest  people  enjoy  their  mates, 

But  I  was  born  unhappily  ; 
For,  being  crost  by  cruel  fates, 
I  want  both  love  and  liberty. 

"  '  But  Death,  I  hope,  will  end  the  strife  ; 

Farewell,  farewell,  my  love  ! '  quoth  she  ; 
'  Once  I  had  thought  to  have  been  thy  wife, 
But  now  am  forced  to  part  with  thee. ' 

"  At  this  sad  meeting  she  had  cause 

In  heart  and  mind  to  grieve  full  sore  ; 
After  that  time  Arbella  fair 

Did  never  see  young  Seymour  more." 

A  careful  perusal  of  these  doggrel  verses  may  serve 
to  illustrate  the  incorrectness  of  popular  rumour.  Old 
Lord  Hertford  died  in  16-21;  James,  in  1625.  As 
when  the  ballad  was  written  James  was  alive,  and 
Lord  Hertford  lately  dead,  not  many  years  had  passed 
since  Arabella's  disappearance  from  the  world;  yet 
at  every  turn  the  poem  is  incorrect.  It  is  enough 
to  call  attention  to  the  remark  put  in  James's  mouth, 
that,  if  she  would  take  the  Sacrament  in  the  English 
Church,  she  would  be  pardoned — as  if  her  crime  con- 
sisted in  having  been  a  Roman  Catholic,  though  no 
doubt  she  was  too  much  of  a  Puritan  in  religion  to 
suit  the  King's  taste.  Besides  this,  there  is  a  later 
ballad  first  printed  in  Evans'  "  Collection  of  Ballads," 
supposed  by  Disraeli  to  be  by  Mickle ;  also  a  poem 
by  Mrs.  Hemans. 


ADDENDA. 


THE  following  notes  were  not  brought  under  the 
author's  notice  till  the  book  was  in  the  press,  and 
therefore  are  added  at  the  end  of  Part  II.  instead  of 
in  their  proper  sequence. 


ARABELLA'S  CLAIMS  TO  THE  CROWN,  AND  CHARAC- 
TER,   DISCUSSED  BY  A   CONTEMPORARY. 

In  Sir  John  Harington's*  "  Tract  on  the  Succession 
to  the  Crown"  (said  to  be  written  about  1602,  but, 
from  internal  evidence,  parts  at  least  must  have,  been 
earlier),  after  a  discussion  on  Dolman's  book — Father 
Parson's  famous  tract — Harington  refers  to  Arabella's 
claims,  but  sets  them  aside  in  favour  of  James.  He 
gives  some  further  details  about  Arabella. 

"  My  Lady  Arbella  also  now  began  to  be  spoken  of 
and  much  commended,  as  she  is  well  worthy  for  many 
noble  parts,  and  the  Earl  of  Essex,  in  some  glancing 
speeches,  gave  occasion  to  have  both  himself  and  her 

*  Published  by  the  Roxburghe  Club,  1880  (see  pp.  40-45). 


280  ADDENDA. 

honourable  friends  to  be  suspected  of  that  which  I 
suppose  was  no  part  of  their  meaning,"  i.e.  to  join  in 
the  Spanish  Plots  to  marry  Arabella  to  a  Catholic, 
and  support  her  title  to  the  crown.  Since  that  "all 
is  suddenly  turned  French  .  .  .  some  wise  and  honest 
men  fear  there  is  some  strange  matter  in  working.  .  .  . 
Besides,  some  ambiguous  words  are  reported  that  the 
French  king  should  use,  namely,  that  'a  Bastard  of 
Normandy  was  fatal  to  England,'"  but  even  if  the 
queen  listen  to  these  French  suggestions  out  of  policy, 
"yet  in  my  soul  I  do  not  think  that  ever  she  will 
agree  that  a  goodly  young  lady,  aged  about  twenty- 
four  years,  should  be  so  disparaged  as  to  be  matched 
with  a  Bastard  of  France  under  fourteen,  and  made  a 
new  Helena  to  burn  our  Troy  dormant,  and  run  away 
by  the  light.  And  if  some  great  counsellors  [Lords 
Salisbury  and  Shrewsbury]  do  make  some  shews,  and 
cast  out  some  words  afore  fools  in  favour  of  Arbella's 
title  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  [for  policy\  and  to 
follow  the  queen's  present  humour,  yet  must  they  not 
be  so  hardly  or  rashly  censured  as  they  are  by  some 
men  of  shallow  insight,  but  rather  praised,  or  at  least 
pardoned,  if,  for  some  necessary  policy  of  State,  they 
labour,  like  to  our  oars  on  the  Thames,  to  row  one 
way  and  look  another.  It  is  not  likely  that  Dolman 
knew  the  purpose  of  my  Lord  of  Shrewsbury,  or  of 
the  countess  and  her  brothers,  or  of  my  lord's  good 
friends.  It  is  less  likely  that  ever  they  would  say 
words  that  might  be  captious  in  this  time,  and  odious 
in  the  next.  It  is  least  likely  that  when  it  comes  to 
trial  they  will  hazard  so  great  estates,  so  contented 


ADDENDA.  28 1 

lives,  so  gentlemenly  pleasures,  so  sweet  duties,  to 
advance  their  niece  against  law,  reason,  probability, 
yea,  possibility.  I  have  known  them  all,  and  resorted 
to  them  these  sixteen  years  and  more." 

All  had  agreed  in  extolling  Arabella  :  "  sometime  of 
her  virtuous  disposition,  sometime  of  her  choice 
education,  her  rare  skill  in  languages,  her  good  judg- 
ment and  sight  in  music,  and  a  mind  to  all  these  free 
from  pride,  vanity,  and  affectation,  and  the  greatest 
sobriety  in  her  fashion  of  apparel  and  behaviour  as 
may  be,  of  all  of  which  I  have  been  myself  an  eye- 
witness, having  seen  her  several  times  at  Hardwick, 
at  Chelsea,  where  she  made  me  read  the  tale  of 
Drusilla  in  Orlando  unto  her,  and  censured  it  with  a 
gravity  beyond  her  years.  And  first  of  all  at  Wing- 
field,  when,  being  thirteen  years  old,  she  did  read 
French  out  of  Italian,  and  English  out  of  both,  much 
better  than  I  could,  or  than  I  expected." 

On  December  21,  1608,  Harington  writes  to  a 
friend  a  fact  which  would,  if  true,  account  for  the 
absence  of  any  news  about  Arabella,  after  her  own 
letter  of  November,  during  the  winter  of  1608.  "I 
hear  now  that  my  Lady  Arbella  is  fallen  sick  of  the 
small-pox,  and  that  my  Lady  Skinner  attendeth  her, 
and  taketh  great  pains  with  her."  (From  manuscript 
note  of  Canon  Jackson's.) 

B. 

Vol.  i.  p.  252.  Confession*  of  William  Seymour, 
signed  in  his  own  handwriting. 

*  Discovered  by  Miss  Cooper. 


282  ADDENDA. 

THE  EXAMINATION  OF  WILLYAM  SEMAR  (sic),  ESQ., 
BEFORE  THE  LORDS  OF  HIS  MAJESTY'S  PRIVY 
COUNCIL,  THE  STH  OF  JULY,  1610. 

Tanner  MSS.,  v.  75,  f.  353,  Bodl.  Library.     Printed  by  Canon 
Jackson  in  the  Wilts.  Archaeological  Magazine,  vol.  xv.  p.  203. 

He  confesseth  that  upon  Friday  was  fortnight  he  was 
married  unto  the  Lady  Arbella  at  Greenwich,  in  the 
chamber  of  the  said  Lady  Arbella  there.  That  there 
was  present  one  Blagew,  son  to  the  Dean  of  Rochester, 
who  was  the  minister  that  married  them  ;  there  were 
also  present  one  Edward  Rodne ;  Crompton,  gent, 
usher  to  the  Lady  Arbella;  Edward  Kyrton,  and 
Edward  Reve  \Reeves\ ;  Mrs.  Biron,  and  Mrs.  Brad- 
shawe,  two  servants  to  the  Lady  Arbella.  The 
marriage  was  on  the  Friday  morning  beforesaid, 
between  four  and  five  of  the  clock,  but  without  any 
license,  as  he  confesseth. 

He  saith  he  came  to  Greenwich  on  the  Thursday 
at  night,  about  twelve  of  the  clock,  accompanied  with 
the  said  Rodne  and  Kyrton,  and  did  sit  up  in  the 
Lady  Arbella  her  chamber  all  the  night  until  they 
were  married. 

"WILLIAM  SEYMAURE." 

C. 

Among  the  family  archives  at  Bolton  Castle  is  a  Mr. 
John  Taylor's  account  of  the  consternation  at  court 
in  June,  1611,  about  Arabella's  escape.  The  first  idea 
(before  her  escape)  seems  to  have  been  to  have  com- 
mitted her  to  the  care  of  Taylor's  master,  the  Earl 


ADDENDA.  283 

of  Cumberland,  at  Londesborough  ;  "a  man  of  less 
vigilance  could  not  have  been  chosen."  Taylor  writes 
to  Lord  Clifford  at  Paris,  June  12,  1611  : — "I  forbear 
to  write  much  of  my  Lady  Arbella  and  Mr.  Seymour's 
escape,  and  her  apprehension  and  imprisonment  in 
the  Tower,  because  my  Lord  Cumberland  hath  advice 
thereof.  And  so  of  my  Lady  Shrewsbury's  imprison- 
ment for  the  same  matter.  We  may  thank  God  and 
friends  that  she  was  not  sent  to  Londesbro'  at  first." 
(Copied  by  Canon  Jackson  from  Whitaker's  "  History 
of  Craven,"  p.  282.) 

Vol.  i.  p.  176.  The  Sir  Griffin  Markham,  who  was 
concerned  in  the  Bye  Plot,  was  eldest  son  of  Thomas, 
called  Black  Markham,  of  Kirby  Bellers.  He  was  no 
doubt  acquainted  with  Arabella,  as  he  lived  principally 
at  Ollerton  Hall,  near  Rufford,  where,  on  her  progress 
of  1609,  she  stayed  a  night  with  his  brother  George. 
Sir  Griffin  was  banished  after  the  Bye  Plot,  but  is 
supposed  to  have  paid  many  visits  to  England  in  dis- 
guise, and  even  said  to  have  assisted  in  Arabella's 
escape  ("  History  of  the  Markham  Family,"  by  the  late 
Canon  Markham).  This  cannot  be  a  fact,  as .  the 
Markham  who  fled  with  Arabella  was  a  certain  William 
Markham,  "gentleman"  (vol.  ii.  pp.  30,  269).  It  is 
possible,  however,  that  he  was  William  Markham  of 
Oakley,  a  younger  brother  of  Thomas,  and  uncle  of 
Sir  Griffin. 

D. 

The  following  notes  are  taken  from  a  manuscript 
collection  made  by  the  Rev.  Canon  J.  E.  Jackson  at 


284  ADDENDA. 

Longleat,  which  the  author  was  allowed  to  see  by  his 
kind  permission. 

Correct  copies  are  there  given  of  the  original  letters 
amongst  the  Talbot  MSS.  at  Longleat  relating  to 
Arabella's  affairs. 

A  few  of  these  are  from  copies,  made  in  the  last 
century  by  a  Dr.  Nathaniel  Johnston,  of  Talbot  MSS., 
of  which  some  of  the  originals  have  since  disappeared, 
or  cannot  be  traced.  Dr.  Johnston  prefaces  his 
collection  of  Arabella's  letters  (the  originals  of  most 
of  which  are  at  Longleat)  by  a  short  account  of  her 
life.  He  well  describes  these  letters  to  her  uncle  and 
aunt  of  Shrewsbury,  as  "  a  very  well  enamelled  Picture 
of  herself,  drawn  by  her  own  pen,  wherein  equal  com- 
mendation is  to  be  given  to  the  easiness  of  her  Stile, 
and  the  Quickness  of  her  Invention  and  Phancy  much 
outdoing  the  Ladies  of  that  Age."  He  had  also  seen 
a  Hebrew  Bible  of  hers  with  an  embroidered  cover, 
which  she  used  at  church. 

Dr.  Birch  took  his  copies  (in  the  Sloane  MSS.,  v. 
4164)  from  Dr.  Johnston's  MSS.  and  the  originals  at 
Longleat,  in  July,  1754,  and  made  many  slips  and 
mistakes,  which  have  been  rectified  in  this  volume 
from  the  correct  copies  lent  by  Canon  Jackson. 

The  author  has  dated  a  letter  from  Arabella  to  her 
aunt  Lady  Shrewsbury,  1608  (see  vol.  i.  p.  226,  and 
vol.  ii.  p.  223),  which  Canon  Jackson  places  in  1605 
(also  conjecturally),  when  Arabella  was  at  Hardwick 
on  a  visit  to  her  grandmother  (see  vol.  i.  p.  212). 

Arabella's  letters  at  Longleat  are  usually  sealed 
with  the  Lenox  coat  of  arms,  somewhat  imperfectly 


ADDENDA.  285 

given,  and  half  of  a  motto,  or  a  wolf  rampant  (see 
opposite  title-pages,  vols.  i.  and  ii.). 

Amongst  Dr.  Johnston's  copies  of  missing  Talbot 
papers  is  an  undated  letter  (incorrectly  printed  by 
Miss  Cooper,  vol.  ii.  p.  14),  in  which  Earl  Gilbert 
requests  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  Notts,  to  put 
one  Sherston  in  the  stocks  at  Mansfield,  for  uttering 
"  lewd  and  slanderous  "  speeches  against  Arabella. 

Vol.  i.  p.  201.  Canon  Jackson  believes  that  Cook's 
letter  refers  to  the  purchase,  from  Sir  George  Hume, 
of  the  manor  of  Hartington,  co.  Derby,  which  had 
been  promised  to  the  old  Earl  George  of  Shrewsbury, 
in  compensation  for  the  charge  of  Mary  Queen  of 
Scots,  but  never  granted  him.  Hume  finally  consented 
to  sell  it  to  his  son,  Earl  Gilbert,  but  at  the  high  price 
of  ;£i2oo.  Referring  to  Arabella's  part  as  a  peace- 
maker, and  her  visit  to  Hardwick  in  1605  (March  13, 
1604-5),  Sir  Francis  Leek  writes  to  Earl  Gilbert,  "  I 
did  never  hear  that  the  Lady  Arbella's  coming  into 
this  country  was  by  your  lordship's  means,  neither  do 
I  yet  hear  any  cause  of  her  coming  down,  but  to  see 
my  old  lady,  her  right  honourable  grandmother.  But 
to  deliver  my  own  opinion,  I  did  in  my  heart  rejoice 
at  her  coming,  and  trusted  the  same  would  have  re- 
dounded to  the  appearing,  or  at  least  entrance  to 
qualify  such  controversies  and  suits  as  yet  depend 
unended  betwixt  your  lordship  and  my  old  lady " 
(Talbot  MSS.,  vol.  i.  part  2,  p.  127). 

A  letter  of  March  31,  1604,  from  Earl  Gilbert's 
son-in-law,  the  Earl  of  Kent,  Arabella's  host  at  Wrest 
House,  speaks  of  her  good  affection  for  him  as  shown 


286  ADDENDA. 

in  her  support  of  his  suit  for  the  estate  of  Ruthin. 
"  For  the  which,  as  for  many  her  other  most  honour- 
able favours,  I  am  and  ever  will  be  most  thankful 
unto  her  for  the  same." 

Vol.  i.  p.  213.  The  Earl  of  Worcester  writes  to 
Earl  Gilbert,  April  27,  1605  (1604  in  the  manuscript 
is  an  impossible  date),  that  the  king  intended  to  create 
some  new  peers  at  "  this  pretty  young  lady,"  Princess 
Mary's  christening,  and  had  given  Arabella  a  patent 
with  a  blank  for  the  name,  at  her  request,  "to  be 
created  either  then,  or  hereafter  to  be  named  and 
created  at  her  pleasure  "  (Talbot  MSS.,  vol.  iv.  p.  151). 
This  she  used  for  her  uncle  William. 

Vol.  L  p.  226.  On  February  17,  1608,  Salisbury 
writes  to  Earl  Gilbert  that  "  my  Lady  Arbella  is  gone 
towards  you,'  and  on  March  7  that  he  is  sorry  for  her 
indisposition  (Talbot  MSS.,- vol.  iv.  pp.  191,  192). 

Vol.  i.  p.  260.  Lady  Jane  Drummond;  see  an  ac- 
count of  her  and  a  facsimile  of  "  Arbella  Seymaure's  " 
signature  in  Hone's  "  Every-Day  Book,"  vol.  ii.  p.  237. 

Vol.  i.  p.  252.  In  Crompton's  account-book,  dis- 
covered at  Longleat  by  Canon  Jackson,  are  many 
valuable  notes  relating  to  Arabella's  movements  and 
expenditure.  The  most  important  are  those  from 
November,  1613,  after  Crompton's  release  from  prison, 
to  May  30,  1614.  By  these  notes  we  see  that  Arabella 
continued  to  receive  her  allowance  of  ;£8oo  and  her 
rents.  So  far  also  was  she  from  being  a  raving  lunatic, 
that  she  directs  her  expenditure  even  from  the  Tower. 
Crompton  constantly  sends  money  to  her,  "on  a 
warrant  from  my  lady,"  and  she  continued  to  purchase 


ADDENDA.  28? 

jewels,  clothes,  and  furniture.  In  December,  1613, 
she  redeems  "ten  great  pearls"  which  had  been 
pawned,  and  purchased  some  plate  and  a  diamond 
ring.  An  entry  of  £20  to  a  Dr.  Palmer  evidently  is 
connected  with  her  attempted  escape  in  1613  (vol.  ii. 
p.  69).  Besides  her  own  expenditure,  Oompton 
enters  various  sums  of  money  sent  to  William  Seymour 
abroad,  showing  that  Arabella  desired  to  help  her 
absent  husband  in  his  money  difficulties.  For  her 
own  diet  in  the  Tower,  ^£142  6s.  id.  for  twelve 
weeks,  from  April  to  June,  1614,  is  entered  in  the 
account-book.  Canon  Jackson  also  discovered, 
amongst  the  Talbot  MSS.  at  Longleat,  an  original 
discharge  of  accounts  given  by  Seymour  and  Arabella 
to  Crompton,  and  signed  by  their  names — the  only 
extant  paper  in  which  the  husband's  and  wife's  signa- 
tures appear  together.  Rodney  and  Kirton  are  the 
witnesses;  Arabella  uses  one  of  the  Lenox  seals  (a 
wolf  rampant),  which  is  to  be  found  on  other  letters 
at  Longleat  The  date  given  is  March  21,  1610; 
this,  however,  must  be  1611,  since  in  March,  1610, 
the  marriage  had  not  taken  place.  On  March  21, 
1611,  Arabella  was  moved  from  Highgate  to  Barnet. 
Seymour  was  in  the  Tower,  but  apparently  they 
met  clandestinely  that  day,  aided  by  Rodney  and 
Kirton,  to  sign  and  seal  this  document.  The  dis- 
charge of  "all  accounts,  reckonings,  receipts,  and 
demands  whatsoever  whereby  he  may  be  charged  by 
us  or  either  of  us  from  the  beginning  of  the  world 
until  the  day  of  the  date  of  this  present "  is  no  doubt 
in  preparation  for  their  escape  across  the  seas,  to 


288  ADDENDA. 

protect  Crompton  from  any  liability  for  Arabella's 
debts.  Arabella's  extreme  reluctance  to  leave  High- 
gate  may  have  been  caused  by  Seymour's  hidden 
presence. 

Vol.  ii.  p.  86.  List  of  portraits.  Canon  Jackson 
mentions  two  other  portraits  of  Arabella — one  a  head 
at  Longleat;  the  other  a  three-quarter  length,  full  face, 
in  a  white,  jewelled,  and  embroidered  dress.  The 
latter  was  sold  at  Christie's  in  1884  for  ^94  io.y.  It 
had  formerly  hung  in  the  church  of  Queen  Camel, 
Somerset,  and  was  long  said  to  represent  Queen 
Elizabeth.  In  1827  a  miniature  of  Arabella,  "in  the 
dress  and  dishevelled  hair  she  wore  when  confined 
in  the  Tower,"  was  one  of  ten  Stuart  miniatures  sold 
at  Christie's,  and  bought  by  the  Rev.  M.  Butt  for 

^47- 

Vol.  ii.  p.  261.  Canon  Jackson  fixes  the  recipient 
of  this  undated  letter  as  Robert  Cecil,  Earl  of  Salis- 
bury (he  died  in  1612;  the  period  when  the  letter 
was  written  was  probably  1611),  as  in  a  previous  note 
to  her  uncle  Arabella  had  referred  to  Cecil's  "  rare 
gift  of  speech"  (p.  193). 

In  1677,  John  Owen  dedicated  the  fourth  book  of 
his  epigrams  to  "  the  most  noble  and  most  learned 
heroine,  the  Lady  Arbella  Stuart."  Three  of  these 
epigrams — the  first,  second,  and  last — are  written  to 
her.  They  are  in  Latin,  but  Canon  Jackson  gives 
translations  by  Thomas  Harvey ;  in  one  is  a  play 
upon  her  name  (see  vol.  i.  p.  254),  Ara-bella — a  Fair 
Altar. 


INDEX     OF     NAMES. 


Adams,  Mrs.,  ii.  31,  36,  268,1269 
Allen,  Cardinal,  i.  88 

,  Mr.,  ii.  227 

Angus,  Earl  of,  Archibald  Douglas, 

i.  16,  87  ;  ii.  85 
Anhalt,  the  Prince,  i.  211 
Anne  Boleyn,  i.  4,  16  ;  ii.  85 

of  Denmark,  Queen  of  James 

I.,   i.    II,   58,  59,  90,  166,   167, 
173,  174,  185,  186,  187,  189,  192, 
195,  197,  206,  219,  224,  252,  253, 
259,  261  ;    ii.  92,   181,  188,  190, 
192,  193,  195,  201,  218,  220,  250, 
251,  252,  253,  273  ;  letters  from, 
ii.  215  ;  letters  to,  ii.  216,246,266 

Catherine,    Queen    of    Den- 
mark, i.  217;  ii.  209,  210;  letter 
to,  213 

Archduke,    the,    i.   178,   179,  185  ; 

ii.  41,  48 

Aremberg,  the  Count,  i.  185 
Arran,  Earl  of,  i.  82 
Arundel,    Countess     of,     Aletheia 

(Talbot),  i.  222,  223  ;  ii.  228,  236 
,  Earl  of,  Thomas  Howard,  i. 

221 
VOL.    II. 


Asheton,  Sir  Richard,  i.  202,  205 
Aston  (place),  ii.  232 
Aston,  Roger,  ii.  125 


i 


12,    229 


Bacon,    Francis,   Lord, 

note  ;  ii.  59,  60,  61 
Baisley,  John,  ii.  268 
Barlow,  Mr.,  i.  24 
Barnet,  ii.  3,  8,  272,  287 
,  East,  ii.  8,  9,  10,  n,  12,  16, 

24,  26,  27,  56 
Basing(stoke),  i.  169,  187 
Bates,  ii.  268,  269 
Batten  (barber),  ii.  268,  269 
Bawtry,  ii.  231 
Baynton,  Mr.,  i.  245  ;  ii.  239 
Beauchamp,   Lord.     See  Seymour, 

Edward 

Beaulieu,  letter  from,  i.  239 
Beaumont,  De,  letters  from,  i.  125, 

I55>  !56,  I58.  !59 

,  Madame  de,  i.  191  ;  ii.  189 

Bedford,  Countess  of,  Lucy  Haring- 

ton,  i.  203,  213  ;  ii.  189,  204 
Bertie,  Mr.,  i.  25 

37 


2pO 


INDEX  OF   NAMES. 


Berwick,  i.  167  ;  ii.  34 
Birch,  Dr.,  i.  221 ;  ii.  284 
Biron,  Mrs.,  i.  251  ;  ii.  282 

— ,  Sir  John,  ii.  99 
Blackfriars,  i.  230,  231 
Blackwall,  ii.  32,  35,  36 
Blagew,  a  minister,  i.  252  ;  ii.  282 
Bond,  Sir  William,  ii.  2,  258 
Bothwell,  i.  70 
Bouillon,  Duke  of,  ii.  67 
Bowes,  Lady,  ii.  229,  230 
Bowyer,  Sir  William,  ii.  55,  56,  65, 

270,  271 

Bradshaw,  i.  119 
,  Mrs.,  i.  119,  251  ;  ii.  28,  33, 

35»  43,  56  note,  78,  269,  272,  282 
Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  Charles, 

i.  25  ;  ii.  85 

,  Frances,  i.  5  ;  ii.  85 

Bright,  John,  ii.  34 

Brignola,  Duke  of,  i.  87 

Broad  Street,  i.  232,  234 

Brooke,  George,  Lord,  i.  176,  178, 

179,  181 
Brounker,  Sir  Henry,  i.   no,   112, 

113-115,  117,  119,  127,  129,  130- 

»35» 138,  139.  J46, 147, I51,  153- 
156,  158;  ii.  99,  116,  117,  118, 
120-123,  130,  131,  135,  136,  172; 
Arabella's  letters  to,  ii.  137-169 

Browne,  Dr.,  i.  72 

Bruges,  ii.  44 

Bulkeley,  Sir  Richard,  i.  115 

Bullinger,  i.  22 

Buggs,  Mr.,  i.  245  ;  ii.  239 

Burghley,  Lord.  See  Cecil,  Wil- 
liam 

Buxton,  ii.  233,  234 

Bye  Plot,  i.  176,  177  ;  ii.  283 


Caithness,  Earl  of,  Robert,  i.  45 
Calais,  ii.  34,  35,  37,  40,  42,  162 
Camden  (historian),  i.  39,  40  ;  ii. 

76 

Carey,  Lady,  i.  191  ;  ii.  189 
Carleton,  Dudley,  i.  161,  177,  179, 

253 ;  "•  70 

Cavendish,  Elizabeth,  Countess  of 
Lenox,  i.  25,  26,  27,  32,  33,  34, 
35.  37,  44,  45  ;  »•  47,  85  ;  letter 
from,  i.  43  ;  death,  i.  47~53 

,  Charles,   i.  34,  54,  62,   124, 

2OI,  202,  203,   222,    227;    »•    IIO» 

128,  182,  230,  232  ;    letter  from, 

i.  62 

,  family  of,  i.  24,  55,  60,  71,  72 

,  Grace   (Talbot),   i.  200 ;    ii. 

202 
,  Henry,  i.  60,  104,  107,  128, 

134,  150-153,  l8o,  200,  201,  227, 

228  ;  ii.  98,  129,   172-175,  202, 

233 

,  John,  ii.  231 

,   Sir    William,   i.  24;    ii.  86, 


224  note 

,  William  (Lord),  i.  49,  62,  84, 

104,  107,  112,  129,  134,  150,  151, 
154,  212,  213,  214,  215,  225,  226 
227,  228 ;  ii.  94,  122,  123,  140 
171,  172 

,  William  and  Charles,  sons  o 

Charles,  ii.  224 

Cecil,  William,  Lord  Burghley, 
20,  21,  38,  63,  66,69,  70,  71,  82 
141 ;  ii.  151  ;  letters  to,  i.  29,  30 
32,  43,  47,  49,  5°,  51,  67  ;  death 
i.  91 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


291 


Cecil,  Sir  Robert,  i.  91,  no,  123, 

157,  158,  159,  163,  164,  165,  169, 

171,  174,  177,  179,  198,  206,  216  ; 

ii.   150,  181,  183,  184,  192,  193, 

197,  200,  204 
,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  i.  229  note  ; 

ii.  38,  40,  41,  48,  241,  258,  280, 

288 ;  death,  ii.  61  ;  letters  from, 

i.  120,  129,  149 ;  ii.  122,  170,  286 ; 

letters  to,  i.  126,  212,  223,  225, 

226,  236  ;  ii.  42,  43,  55,  113,  120, 

176,  179,  221,  225,  226,  261 
Chamberlayne's  letters,  i.  223,  229, 

238  ;  ii.  63,  70 
Chambers,  John,  ii.  173 
Chandos,  Lady,   letter  from,  ii.    3 

note,  260 
Chapman,     Rev.     Christopher,    ii. 

172-174 
Charles,  Prince,  ii.  53 

the  Fair,  ii.  76 

Chateauneuf,  Monsieur  de,  i.  165 

,  Madame  de,  i.  64 

Chaterton,  Margett,  ii.  224 
Chatsworth,  i.  24,  26,  33,  47,  61, 

225,  227  note ;  ii.  232,  233 
Chaworth,  George,  i.  135,  136;  ii. 

54  note,  142,  144,  145,  154,  165, 

1 86 

,  Lady,  ii.  54,  55 

Chelsea,  i.  44  ;  ii.  281 

Cheney,   Lord   and   Lady,  ii.   228, 

229 

Chesterfield,  ii.  230 
Christian  IV.,   King  of  Denmark, 

i.    188,  216,  217,   218,   220  ;    ii. 

209-217  ;  letter  to,  ii.  218^221 
Christopher  (priest),  i.  176 
Clarke  (priest),  i.  176 


Clayton,  Andrew,  ii.  227 
Clifford,  Anne,  i.  189 
Clifton,  Sir  Gervase,  ii.  231 
Cobham,   Lord,  i.    176,    178,    180, 

181,  182,  186 

Cocket,  Griffin  (Captain),  ii.  43 
Coke,  Sir  Edward,  i.  182  ;  ii.  191  ; 

letter  to,  i.    87 
Collingwood,  Alice,  letter  from,  i. 

274  ;  ii.   259 

,  Francis,  i.  274 

Conquest,  Sir  Edmund,  ii.  236 
Constance  of  Castile,  i.  85  note,  87 

note 

Conyers,  Thomas,  ii.  n,  30 
Cook(e)  (steward),  i.  201  ;   ii.  186, 

187,    2OI,    202 ;    letter  from,    i. 

202,  205,  285 
Cooper,  Miss  ("  Life  of  Arabella  "), 

preface,  p.  viii. ;  ii.  285  ;  also  notes 

to  pages  i.  23,  33,  70,  93  ;  ii.  281 
Cope,  Sir  Walter,  i.  216  ;  ii.  221 
Copley  (conspirator),  i.  176 
Corve,  Tassin,  ii.  268,  269 
Cotting.     See  Cutting 
Craik,  Mr.,  ii.  79 
Croft,  Sir  James,  ii.  12,  16,  17,  18, 

45,    47,    229,    268,    269  ;    letter 

from,  ii.  14 
Crompton,   Hugh,  preface,  p.  viii. ; 

i.  230,  252,  254,  255  ;  ii.  27,  31, 

33.  34,  35,  43,  58,  69,  7°,  227, 

243,  269,  282,  286-288 
Crouchback,  Edmund,  i.  87 
Crull's  "Guide,"  ii.  75 
Cumberland,  Countess  of,  ii.  73 

,  Earl  of,  ii.  283 

Cutting  (lute-player),  i.   218,  219, 

220;  ii.  215,  216,  217,  219,  220 


292 


INDEX   Of  NAMES. 


Daniel,  Samuel  (poet),  i.  252 
Darcy,  John,  Lord,  ii.  230,  232 
Darnley,   Henry,   Lord,  i.    17,    18, 

19,  22,  32,  40,  41  ;  ii.  85 
David  (servant),  ii.  196 
Denaby,  ii.  228 
Denbigh,  Baron  of,  i.  56-58 
Derby,  ii.  235 

— ,  Earl  of,  i.  69,  216 
Dodderidge,  John  (Good),   i.    103, 

no,  113,    114;  ii.   98,   99,    109, 

127,  150 
Douglas,  Archibald.     See  Angus 

,  Margaret.     See  Lenox 

Dove,  Henry,  ii.  174,  175,  233 
Drummond,  Lady  Jane,  i.  191,264; 

ii.    189;  letter  from,  i.   260;  ii. 

251  ;   letters  to,  i.   261  ;  ii.  250, 

252,  253 

Dunfermline,  Lord,  i.  249 
Durham,    William  James,    Bishop 

of,  i.  271  ;  ii.  I,  2,  3,  12,  13,  14, 

19,  23,  257  ;  warrant  to,  ii.  255 
Durham  (place),  ii.   16,  17,   18,  26, 

30,  77 


E 


Easton  Manduit,  ii.  236 
Edmondes,  Sir  Thomas,  i.  239 ;  ii. 

184 

Edward  III.,  King,  i.  75 
Edward  VI.,  i.  5 
Edwinstowe,  ii.  235 
Egerton,  Mr.,  i.  69 
Elizabeth,    Queen,   i.  4,  5,  6,   18, 


19,  20,  24,  26,  27,  29,  31,  42, 
45,  48,  50-58,  63,  64,  65,  68,  73, 
75,  79,  81,  88-93,  96,  99,  "2, 

115,  121,  124,  126,  127,  129, 
138-142,  144,  145,  148,  149,  155, 
156,  158,  159,  173,  187,  189, 

229,  280;  death,  i.  160,  161  ;  ii. 

103    to    172  passim,    181,   195  ; 

letters  to,  i.  119,  120;  ii.  99,  loo 
Elizabeth,    Princess,    i.    166,    167, 

168,  186,  223,253;  ii.  64,66,  273 
Elphinstone,  Mr.,  i.  217  note;   ii. 

181,  183 
Emery,  ii.  198 
Essex,   Earl   of,  Robert  Devereux, 

i-  5S>  85.  93.  !39,  141-14?,  177, 
191  ;  ii.  149,  152,  157,  159,  163, 
189  note,  179 
,  Earl  of,  ii.  52 


Facton,  Mr.,  ii.  173 

Farnese,  Alexander,  Duke  of 
Parma,  i.  59,  74,  86,  87 

,  Cardinal,  i.  75,  86 

,  Rainutio,  Duke  of  Parma,  i. 

74,  77,  86,  87 

Farnham  family,  ii.  235,  236 

Farnham  (place),  i.  168  ;  ii.  180 

Fenton,  Viscount,  ii.  21  ;  letter 
from,  ii.  41  note  ;  letter  to,  ii. 
55.  57,  263-266 

Fines,  i.  66 

Foljambe,  Sir  Francis,  and  God- 
frey, ii.  230 

Fowler,  Thomas,  i.  34,  41,  69,  70, 


INDEX   OF  NAMES. 


293 


Fowler,  William,  i.  13,  70,  71,  174, 
176,  183,  196,  209,  232  ;  ii.  189, 
207  ;  letters  from,  i.  175,  210 

France,  King  of,  ii.  41.  See  Henry 
IV. 

,  Queen-Regent  of,  ii.  41 

Freak  (servant),  ii.  174 

Fretchville,  Sir  Peter,  ii.  230 

Fretwell  (servant),  ii.  54 

Fulston  (Foulston),  i.  182,  190 ;  ii. 
184,  186,  187,  193 

G 

Garnet  (Jesuit),  i.  215 

Glapwell,  ii.  230 

Good.     See  Dodderidge 

Goodman,  Bishop,  ii.  76,  77 

Gowrie,  Earl  of,  i.  91 

Gravesend,  ii.  33 

Greenwich,  i.  215,    230,    251  ;    ii. 

38,  152,  267,  282 
Greville,  Sir  Fulke,  i.  158 
Grey,  Lord,  of  Wilton,  i.  176,  181  ; 

ii.  66,  67 

— ,  Henry,  Marquess  of  Dorset, 

i.  5 ;  "•  85 
,  Henry,  Earl  of  Kent,  i.  1 54 ; 

ii.  236,  237,  285 

,  Lady  Jane,  i.  5,  107;  ii.  85,  98 

,  Katharine,  i.  1-6, 99, 107, 139, 

155,  265  ;  ii.  52,  60,  85,  98,  149 
,  Mary,  ii.  85 

H 

Hacker,  i.  118,  119 
Hackney,  i.  23,  34,  35,  39 
Hamilton,  Claud,  Lord,  i.  38 
II. 


Hammond,  Dr.,  ii.  5,  7,  8 
Hampton  Court,  i.    197,   199 ;    ii. 

196  to  203  passim,  214 
Hancock,  ii.  98 
Hans  worth,  ii.  231 
Hardwick,    Bess    of,    Countess    of 
Shrewsbury,  i.  3,  12,  13,  24-28, 
32,  44,  45,  48,  55-57,  60,  61,  71, 
72  ;  letters  from,  i.  49-54  ;  letters 
to,  i.  66,  67  ;  Countess-Dowager, 
i.  103-139, 149, 150-156,  199, 201, 
2O2,  204,  213,  214,  222,  226, 267  ; 
ii.  97,   98,    100,    101,    114-116 
126,  131,  132,  139-141,  147,  15°, 
163,   201,    284,   285  ;    death,   i. 
224;  letters  from,  i.  82;  ii.  120, 
135  ;  letters  to,  ii.  103,  122,  170 

Hall,  i:  83,  107,  no,  112,  117, 

119,  128,  131,  150,  152,  154,  156, 
159,  161,  214,  222,  226  ;  ii.  118- 
121, 136, 137,  144,  145,  169,  173- 
175,  198,  223,  281,  284 
Harington  of  Exton,  John,  Lord 
and  Lady,  i.  168 

,  John,  Lord,  ii.  28  note 

,  Sir  John,  ii.  279-281 

Harpur,  Sir  Richard,  ii.  235 
Harrison  (priest),  i.  83 
Hartington,  Manor  of,  ii.  285 
Hartshide,  Mrs.,  i.  197 
Harvey,  Thomas,  ii.  288 
Hay,  Lady  Anne,  i.  191  ;  ii.  189 
Henry  III.  of  England,  i.  87  note 
Henry  III.  of  Castile,  i.  85  note 
Henry  IV.  of  France,  i.  89  ;  ii.  280 
Henry  VII.  of  England,  i.  2 ;  ii.  85 
Henry  VIII.  of  England,  i.  4,  6, 

16,  54,  55  5  »•  85>  HO,  231 
Henry,  Count,  ii.  167 

37—3 


294 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Henry,  Prince  of  Wales,  i.  167,  168, 
197,  219,  221,  252 ;  ii.  5,  13,  18, 
19,  23,  24,  40,  53,  199  ;  death, 
ii.  75  ;  letter  from,  ii.  215 ; 
letters  to,  ii.  208,  217 

Herbert,  William.     See  Pembroke 

,  Philip,  ii.  189 

Hercy  (solicitor),  i.  196  ;  ii.  184, 
185,  188,  193,  195,  196,  197,  206 

Hertford,  Earl  of.     See  Seymour 

Highgate,  ii.  I,  2,  8,  54,  258,  287 

Hilliard,  Nicholas  (painter),  i.  77  ; 
ii.  90 

Hogge,  Mrs.,  preface,  p.  ix. ;  i.  9; 
ii.  91 

Holford,  Mr.,  i.  137,  149;  ii.  147, 
150,  156,  165 

Hollis,  Sir  John,  ii.  195 

Holstein,  Duke  of,  i.  186,  210,  214 

,  Duchess  of,  i.  187 

Hoskins  (painter),  ii.  90 

Howard,  family  of,  i.  177  ;  ii.  80. 
See  also  Northampton  and  Somer- 
set 

,  Thomas,  Lord,  i.  16,  40 

,  Thomas.     See  Arundel 

,  Sir  Henry,  letter  to,  i.  193 

,  Henry,  Lord,  i.  169;  ii.  181 

Hucknall,  i.  152;  ii.  172-175 

Huntingdon,  i.  30 

,  Earl  of,  i.  34 ;  ii.  199  note 

Hume,  Sir  George,  i.  202 ;  ii.  285 


Inderwick,    Mr.,    preface,   p.    ix.  ; 

i.  65  ;  ii.  49,  58  note,  247  note 
Infanta  of  Spain,  i.  185 
Islington,  i.  20,  23. 


J 


Jackson,  Canon,  preface,  p.  viii.  ;  i. 
233  note,  246,  252  ;  ii.  39  note,  283 

James  IV.  of  Scotland,  ii.  85 

James  V.  of  Scotland,  i.  5,  22 ;  ii. 
85,  125 

James  VI.  of  Scotland,  I.  of  Eng- 
land, i.  7,  36-39,  45,  46,  58,  65, 
69,  70,  81,  88,  89,  90,  93,  125, 

130,  132,  137, 141,  146, 157,  159- 
161,  163,  165,  169,  171,  172,  177, 
178,  181,  185,  192,  193,  201-205, 
211-216,  228,  238,  239,  241-249, 
256,  259,  261,  263,  264,  270-273  ; 
ii.  4-9,  12,  13,  17-19,  23-26,  30, 
38-40,  43-45,  48-51,  53,  60,  61, 
67,  69,  76-78,  85,  125,  126,  128- 

131,  137,  159,  I76-I79.  181, 182, 
I9°>  *93>  !95.  221,  226,  232  note, 
238-247,  250-255,  257,  258,  261- 
267,   270,   271,  274-278 ;  letters 
from,    i.    80,   94,   271 ;   ii.  255  ; 
letters  to,  i.    236,  256,   257;  ii. 
10,  20,  58,  68,  248,  249,  279 

Jewels,  Arabella's,  i.  14,  41,  70,  231 

note ;  ii.  65,  271 

John  I.  of  Portugal,  75,85  note,%-j  note 
John  of  Gaunt,  i.  75,  85,  87  note 
Johnston,  Dr.  Nathaniel,  ii.  284 
Johnstone,  Robert,  ii.  79 
Jones,  Inigo,  i.  253 
Jonson,  Ben,  i.  223,  230 

K 

Katharine,  Queen,  i.  4 ;  ii.  85 

,  Countess  of  Suffolk,  i.  25 

Key,  ii.  142 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


295 


Keyes,  Henry,  ii.  85 

Kildare,  Lady,  i.  167,  186 

Kinloss,  Lord.  i.  227 

Kirton  (solicitor),  i.  104,  114-116 

,  Edward,  preface,  p.  viii.  ;  ii. 

269,  282,  287 
Knevet,  Lady,  i.  19 
Knollys,  Lettice,  i.  56,  58 
Knyvet,  Lord,  i.  238 
Kynnersley,  Nicholas,  i.  67 


Lacy,  ii.  191,  197 
Lake,  Sir  Thomas,  ii.  76 
Lambeth,   i.    135,    250,    253,   256, 

258,  265,  266,  270;  ii.  i,  9,  144- 

146,  241,  242,  249 
Lanyer,  Alfonzo  and  Emilia,  ii.  272 
Lascelles,  Sir  Bryan,  ii.  232 
Lea,  Sir  Henry,  i.  185 
Lee,  ii.  33,  34,  37 
Leek,  Sir  Francis,  ii.  285 
Leicester,  Earl  of,  Robert  Dudley,  i. 

29>  44,  56-58,  61,    144;  ii.  158; 

letters  to,  i.  26,  27,  29,  30,  44,  47 
Lenox,   earldom  and  lands,  i.  36- 

39.  42,  43,  53,  68,  133,  140 ;  ii. 

125,  149,  151  note 

,  Earls  of.     See  Stuart 

,  Elizabeth,  Countess  of.     See 

Cavendish 
,  Margaret,  Countess  of,  i.  5> 

8,  15-21,  23-35 ;  "•  75,  85,  87, 

88,  140;  death,  i.  39-41,  59,  70; 

letters  from,  i.  20,  30,  35,  37 
Lewis,  Theresa,  Lady,  i.  269  note ; 

ii.  58,  64,  272 
Longleat,  i.  252;  ii.  284-288 


Main  Plot,  i.  176 ;  ii.  191  note 
Malliet  (reformer),  i.  22,  23,  33 
Mansfield,  i.  153;  ii.  99,  173,  175, 

229,  285 
Mar,  Earl  of,  Regent  of  Scotland, 

i-  36,  37 

,  Earl  of,  i.  167  ;  ii.  189 

Market  Harborough,  ii.  236 
Markham,  George,  ii.  235,  283 
,  Sir  Griffin,    i.   176,    181  ;  ii. 

283 

,  Sir  Thomas,  ii.  235 

,  Thomas,  Black,  ii.  283 

,  William,  ii.   30,  31,   33,  43, 

269,  283 

Marot,  Clement  (poet),  i.  269 
Marshalsea,    i.    254,   255 ;  ii.   244, 

267,  269 
Mary,  Queen  of  England,  i.  4 ;  ii. 

85,  162 
,  of  Scotland,    i.    II,    17,    19, 

24,  26,  31,  36,  38-42,  47,  64,  70- 

72;    ii.    26,    75-85,    163,   230, 

285  ;  letter  to,  i.  35  ;  letter  from, 

i-  56 

,  Princess,  i.  213,  214,  215 

Matthias,  Duke,  i.  91 
Maurice,  Prince,  i.  210;  ii.  67 
Mauvissiere,  letter  to,  i.  56 
Melville  (Minister),  i.  254 
Melward,  Matthias,  ii.  23 
Melwood  Park,  ii.  231 
Mildmay,  Sir  Walter,  i.  8,  59 
Minors,  Sergeant,  ii.  12-16 
Monson,  Sir  William,  ii.  41-43 
Montague,  Lord,  ii.  28 
Moody,  i.  78 


296 


INDEX   OF  NAMES. 


More,  Sir  John,  letter  from,  ii.  32, 

33.  36,  43 

Morley  (secretary),  i.  78,  84 
Morton,  Lord-Regent  of  Scotland, 

i-  37,  38 
Moundford,  Dr.,  ii.  2,  3,  8,  12,  18, 

19-21,  45,  74;  letters  from,  i.  4, 

7  ;  letter  to,  ii.  260 
Mountjoy,  Lord,  i.  158 
M(o)urray,  James,  ii.  207 
Murray,  Sir  David,  ii.  208 

N 

Needham  (servant),  ii.  232 
Nelson,  Thomas,  ii.  125,  126 

— ,  Mrs.,  ii.  184,  187 
Newton,  Mr.,  ii.  208 
Nevers,  Duke  of,  i.  96 
North,  Thomas,  i.  85,  90 

,  Mr.,  ii.  231 

Northampton,  ii.  229 

,  Countess  of,  i.  165  ;  ii.  79 

,  Earl  of,  ii.  25,  26,  69 

Northumberland,  Countess  of,  i.  214 

,  eighth  Earl  of,  letter  to,  i.  56 

,  ninth  Earl  of,  i.  79 

Nottingham,  ii.  229 

— ,  Countess  of,  i.  159 
,  Countess     of.      See     Stuart, 

Margaret 
,  Earl  of,  i.  12,  180,  186,  218 ; 

ii.  40,  41,  42 

o     •• 

Gates,  Dr.,  ii.  77 

Ogle,  Katharine,  Lady,  ii.  120 

Oldcotes,  i.  129,  131  ;  ii.  121 


Oliver,  Isaac  and  Peter  (painters), 

i.  IO;  ii.  87-90 
Ollerton,  ii.  235  note ;  ii.  283 
Ormond,  Earl  of,  i.  216 
Ostend,  ii.  44 

Overbury,  Sir  Thomas,  ii.  73,  80 
Owen  (page),  i.  136;  ii.  146,  175 

,  Mr.,  ii.  124 

,  John,  ii.  288 

Oxford,  i.   171,    185,  187,  243;  ii. 

183 


Paget,  Lord,  letter  to,  i.  56 

,  Charles,  i.  88 

Palatine,  The  Prince,  ii.  64,  66 
Palmer,  Dr.,  ii.  70,  287 
Paris,  ii.  48,  49 
Parma,  Duke  of.     See  Farnese 
-  Match,  i.  59,  77,  86,  157 
Parry,    Sir    Thomas,    i.    253,    265, 

271  ;  warrants  to,  ii.  241,  257 
Parsons,   Father,  i.   85  ;  letters  to, 

i.  95  ;  ii.  279 
Felling,  ii.  50 
Pembroke,  Countess  of.     See  Mary 

Talbot 

— ,  Earl  of,  William  Herbert,  i. 

206,  211  ;  ii.  204,  205,  231  note. 
Pensions  to  Arabella,  i.  45,  49,  51, 

54,  165,  166,  172  ;  ii.  176-178 
Peter  (servant),  ii.  54 
Pigott,  ii.  268 

Poland,  King  of,  i.  210,  21 1 
Pope,  the,  i.  74,  75,  77,  86 
Popham,  Chief  Justice,  i.  69 
Prestwould,  ii.  229 
Proctor,  Mr.,  ii.  98 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


297 


Quarndon  House,  ii.  235 


R 


Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  i.  63,  176,  177, 

179,   180,    181  ;    ii.  65 ;    life  of, 

i.  100 
Reeves,  Edward,  i.    251,   254;   ii. 

33,  35,  43,  7°,  269,  282 
Reresby,  Sir  Thomas,  ii.  228 
Rich,  Penelope,  Lady,  i.   191  ;    ii. 

189 

Richardson,  Mr.,  ii.  231 
Rivers,  Father  Anthony,  letters  from, 

i-  95-97,  99,  *57 
Rochester,  Lord,  ii.  26,  27 
Rodney,  Edward,  i.  248,  250,  251 ; 

ii.  27,  28,  33,  37,   38,  50,   267, 

282,  287 
Rowlston,  i.  77 

Royston,  i.  193,  194;  ii.  5,  12,  23 
Rufford,  i.  25,  26 ;  ii.  234,  283 
Ruthven,  Lord,  i.  37 

,  Mr.,  ii.  69 

Rutland,  Earl  of,  ii.  230 


Sackville,  Sir  Richard  and  Lady, 
i.  18 

St.  Albans,  ii.  228,  237 

St.  Paul,  Sir  George,  ii.  231,  234 

Saintloe,  Mistress,  i.  3.  See  Hard- 
wick,  Bess  of, 

Saladin,  ii.  268 


Salisbury,  Earl  of.  See  Cecil,  William 

Savile,  Sir  George,  ii.  234 

Savoy,  Duke  of,  i.  178,  192  ;  ii.  190 

Settrington,  i.  18,  19 

Seymour,  Arbella,  Lady,  daughter 
of  William,  preface,  p.  viii. ;  ii.  52 

,   Edward,  Earl   of  Hertford, 

i-  2,  3,  98,  99,  103-105,  108,  109, 
114,  123-126,  139,  148,  156,  161, 
242,  250,  251,  264 ;  ii.  41,  42,  45, 
5°,  51,  85,  99,  104,  105,  107,  109, 
124,  127,  130,  149,  166,  167,  170 
• — ,  Edward,  Lord  Beauchamp,  i. 
99,  104,  1 60,  240,  242,  249  ;  ii. 
51,  85 

,  Edward,  i.  99,  104,  115,  157, 

242;  ii.  51,  85 

,  Francis,  ii.  37,  38,  41,  51,  85 

,  Queen  Jane,  i.  107  ;  ii.  85,  98 

,  Jane,  Lady,  i.  3,  4 

— ,  William,  preface,  p.  viii.  ;  i. 
3,  7,  98,  99,  240-254,  259,  265- 
267,  273 ;  ii.  27,  32-38,  42-52,  54, 
60,  66,  75,  78,  85,  248,  267,  268, 
287;  marriage,  i.  251;  confes- 
sions, ii.  237,  281 ;  letter  to,  i.  268 

Sheen,  i.   18,  165,  167 ;  Arabella's 
letters  from,  ii.  176-178 

Sheffield,  i.  26,  47,  197,  211,  219, 
226,  231  ;  ii.  216,  217,  230,  234 

Sherland,  Bridget,  i.  119 

Sherston,  Nicholas,  ii.  285 

Shrewsbury,  Earls  of.     See  Talbot 

,  Elizabeth,  Countess  of.     See 

Ha.rdwick 

,  Mary,  Countess  of.  See  Talbot 

Sidney,  Lord  Chamberlain,  ii.  180 

Sinclair,   Sir  Andrew,  i.  217,  218; 
letters  to  and  from,  ii.  209-214 


298 


INDEX    OF  NAMES. 


Skinner,  Lady,  ii.  281 
Skipwith,  Sir  William,  ii.  229 
Smallwood,  manor  of,  i.  53,  68,  69, 

216 
Smith  (servant),  i.  265,  266 ;  ii.  8, 

54,  56  note,  268 
Somerset,  Countess  of,  ii.  80 

,  Earl  of,  ii.  69 

,  Protector,  i.  3  ;  ii.  52 

Spain,   King  of,  i.  59,  85,  88,  90, 

157,  178,  179 

Spedding,  Mr.,  ii.  60  note,  78  note 
Stafford,  Lady  Dorothy,  i.  91,  92  ; 

letter  from,  i.  93 

,  Sir  Edward,  i.  78 

Stanhope  family,  i.    78,    123,   139; 

ii.  149,  231 

— ,  Sir  John  (Vice-Chamberlain), 

i.    78   note,    123 ;    ii.    103,    166, 

etc.;  letters  to,   i.  126;   ii.   113, 

122,   135  ;   letters  from,    i.    120, 

129,  149;  ii.  170 
Stanley,  Sir  William,  i.  75,  76 

,  Mr.,  ii.  222 

Stapleton,  Mr.,  i.  150-153  ;  ii.  172- 

175 
Stark,  John  and  Matthew,  ii.  173, 

174 
Starkey,  John,  i.  13,  100-105,  125, 

'43, 155  J  »•  71, 155;  confession, 

ii.  92-99 

Stavley  Park,  ii.  230 
Stillington,  Dr.,  i.  76 
Stockwith,  ii.  231,  232 
Strickland,  Miss,  i.  166 
Strype,  i.  54 

Stuart,  Arabella.     See  Contents 
,   Charles,    Earl  of  Lenox,    i. 

3,  17-25,  27,  33,  34,  37-41,  45, 


88  ;  ii.  85  ;  marriage,  28  ;  death, 

36 
Stuart,     Esme,     Lord     d'Aubigny, 

Duke  of  Lenox,  i.    46,  81,  214; 

ii.  189,  196 
,  Lady  Margaret,  Countess  of 

Nottingham,    i.    186   note,    218 ; 

ii.  210 

— ,  Matthew,  Earl  of  Lenox,  i.  I, 

17-20,  36,  42,  45;  ii.  85 

or  Stewart,    Sir  William,  i. 


169,  170,  201,  202,  209;  ii.  182, 

185,  193 
Succession  to  the  Crown,  i.  75,  76, 

85,  86,  88,  93,  99,  159;  ii.  279 
Suffolk,  Duke  of.      See   Brandon, 

Charles 

— ,  Earl  of,  ii.  79 

— ,  house  of,  i.  171 

— ,  Katharine,  Countess-Dowager, 

i.  25 

,  Countess  of,  ii.  195 

Sully,  De  Rosny,  Due  de,  i.  89,  185 
Swift,  Sir  Edward,  ii.  232 
Symple,  i.  76,  77 


Talbot,  Edward,  i,  128,  134;  letter 
to,  ii.  119 

,  family  of,  i.  60,  71,  72,  etc. 

— ,  Francis,  ii.  232 

,  George,  fourth  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury, i.  24-29,  32,  53,  60-62,  72, 
73  ;  ii.  143,  234,  285  ;  death,  i. 
71  ;  letters  from,  i.  29,  32,  47,  48 
— ,  Gilbert,  fifth  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury, i.  13,  34,  54  note,  55,  60, 


INDEX   OF  NAMES. 


61,  67,  7i-73»  78,  124,  i54»  157, 
158,  165,  168,  197,  199-201,  204, 
205,  209,  211-213,  222,  224-226, 
231,  236,  254-256  ;  ii.  45,  54,  62, 
70,  no,  128,  176,  227,  234,  280, 
285,  286  ;  death,  ii.  80  ;  letters 
from,  i.  68  note,  etc.  ;  ii.  3,  5  ; 
letters  to,  i.  170,  184,  1 88,  190, 
195,  197,  199,  201,  206,  212,  232, 
234,  256  ;  ii.  180-207,  222  (see 
contents  of  vol.  ii.  pp.  vi.-viii. ; 
see  also  letters  to  the  Countess, 
ii.  181-197,  223) 
Talbot,  Grace,  i.  200 ;  ii.  202 
,  Mary,  Countess  of  Shrews- 
bury, i.  13,  34,  60,  61,  67,  72,  73, 

78,  92,  95,   118,  119,  124,  165, 

168,  170,  175,  200,  207,  209,  212, 
222,  225,  267  ;  ii.  24-27,  45-47, 
58-63,   68,   70-73,    78-80,    no, 
128,  268,  269,  280,  283,  284  (see 
also  Arabella's  letters  to  the  Earl, 
ii.    180-207,  222)  ;    letters  to,  i. 

169,  171,  182,  196,  226;  ii.   181- 
197,  223  (see  contents  of  vol.  ii. 
pp.  vi.-viii.) 

,  Mary,  Countess  of  Pembroke, 

i.  132  ;  ii.  139,  205,  223 
Taylor,  John,  ii.  282 
Taxis,  Spanish  Ambassador,  i.  190, 

191,  224  ;  ii.  189 
Tempest,  Robert,  i.  77 
Tilbury  Fort,  ii.  33 
Toddington,  ii.  229 
Tower,  i.  2,  16-18,  33,40,  181,  205, 

253,  256  ;  ii.  29,  32,  37,  38,  42, 

44,  45.  47,  49,  53,  55,  5^,  66,  70, 

79,  268,  269 
Trumbull,  i.  239 ;  ii.  48  note 


Tudor,  Margaret,  i.  2,  5,  9,  15,  16 

87  ;  ii.  85 

,  Mary,  i.  2,  5  ;  ii.  85 

,  or  Tydder,  Owen,  i.  104-108, 

114,  115,  116 
Tuke,  Mr.,  ii.  230 
Tunsted,  Mr.,  ii.  198 
Tyrone,  i.  159,  160 


U 


Udall,  i.  39  note 


Vaughan,  Charles,  i.  19 
Vere,  Lady  Susan,  ii.  189 


W 

Waad,  Sir  William,  ii.  38,  55,  66 
Walsingham,  Sir  Francis,  letter  to, 
i.  48,  49,  50,  53,  59 ;  letter  from, 

i.  58 

,  Lady,  ii.  195 

Walton  Hall,  ii.  230 
Watson  (priest),  i.  176 
Welbeck,  ii.  232 
Wellingborough,  ii.  236 
Wentworth,  Thomas,  Lord,  ii.  229 
Westminster  Abbey,  i.  40,  215 ;  ii. 

75 
Whitehall,  i.  163,  205,  230  ;  ii.  187 

note,  203-207,  215,  222-228 
Wilkes,  Sir  Thomas,  i.  88 
Willoughby,  Sir  Percival,  ii.  228 


300 


INDEX   OF  NAMES. 


Winchester,  i.  178,   181,  183,   184, 

189,  192  ;  ii.  183 
,  Thomas  Bilson,  Bishop  of,  ii. 

194,  199 

Windsor,  i.  166,  167 
Win(g)field,  i.  67  ;  ii.  235,  281 
Winwood,  Sir  Ralph,  i.  253  ;  ii.  39, 

4i,  63,  73 

Wolton,  Lord,  i.  58,  187 
Woodstock,  i.  158,  184,  187 
Woolwich,  ii.  33 
Worcester,  Earl  of,  letters  from,  i. 

194,  209  ;  ii.  286 


Worcester,  Lady,  ii.  199 
Worksop,  ii.  232 
Wray,  Sir  Christopher,  ii.  230 
Wrest  House,  i.  154,   161,   164  ;  ii. 
236,  285 


Yelverton,  Sir  Christopher,  ii.  236 

,  Henry,  ii.  54,  234  note,  270 

Young  James  (Jesuit),  i.  75,  76 


PRINTED   BY   WILLIAM    CLOWES   AND   SONS,    LIMITED, 
LONDON    AND    BECCLES. 


D.  &  Co. 


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DA 

391 
.1 

S9S6 
v.2 


Smith,   Emily  Tennyson 
(Bradley) 

Life,  of  the  Lady  Arabella 
Stuart 


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