Your search for "Letters between women" returned 46 letters.
Elizabeth Smyth writes to Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), thanking her for accepting 'of part of my little one' (Bess stood as godmother to Smyth's daughter), and for a gift, 'a bowl with a cover'.
Gilbert Talbot writes to his father, George (sixth earl of Shrewsbury) and his stepmother and mother-in-law, Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), reporting that Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, 'has written unto your lordship such news as is stirring, for my self I know none, but such as are common'. Nonetheless, he writes at length on news from the court: the visit of Johann Casimir and gifts given to him; about the queen's 'good usage of Monseiur Simier [Jean de Simier] and all his company'; 'of queen mother her coming into England'; an unresolved matter between the earl of Rutland and Master Markham; and various other news. The letter is also signed by Gilbert's wife, Mary (née Cavendish; Bess's daughter).
Bess (countess of Shrewsbury) writes to her daughter Mary Talbot (née Cavendish), mentioning recent visitors, and asking Mary to send news that she and her husband, Gilbert Talbot, are well, 'else I shall not sleep quietly'. She reports that her grand-daughters Arbella (Stuart) and Mary (also Talbot) are both well.
Bess (countess of Shrewsbury) writes to her daughter, Mary Talbot (née Cavendish), with news that 'my sister Snow is dispatched from the court and gone into the country'; and that her own bodily pains (which she thinks are made worse by 'moist weather') are somewhat better now.
This letter consists of copies of two extracts taken from two letters written to Bess (countess of Shrewsbury). The first extract is from a letter by Charles Cavendish to his mother, Bess, in which he asks that Mary Queen of Scots write a letter on his behalf to acknowledge she knew an unspecified person ('him') 'in the duke's time'. The second extract (which is described as a 'secret letter') is by Mary Queen of Scots and is written to Bess in response to Charles's letter. The Scots Queen begins by saying she is glad to hear of 'my little niece' (Arbella Stuart) and by emphasising how much she would like to help Bess's son Charles, before going on to refuse Charles's request to write the letter he has asked for. The Scots Queen explains that for her to admit an 'acquaintance with the old man which I never had' would do more harm than good in this 'time full of jelousy and suspition' and risks putting both Charles and Bess 'in hazard by my lettres'.
Gilbert Talbot writes a long letter to his stepmother and mother-in-law, Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), relating various news, mostly to do with conversations between himself, his father (Bess's husband), George (sixth earl of Shrewsbury), and the earl of Rutland at Worksop. Rutland has invited Gilbert to come to see him in Newark, but Gilbert wonders whether Bess thinks the queen would approve, 'considering what speeches she used to me of him'. The letter is also signed by Gilbert's wife, Mary (née Cavendish; Bess's daughter).
Elizabeth Wingfield writes to her half-sister, Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), that she has consulted with Lady Frances Cobham (lady of the bedchamber to Elizabeth I), who does not advise 'giving money' (presumably as a gift to the queen). Bess's grand-daughter, Arbella Stuart, is well and a tailor has been sent for to make her a new green velvet gown. Lady Cheke has 'had long talk with her Majesty lately of my Lord's [i.e. Bess's husband, George's] hard dealing and the queen gave many good words what she would do for your honour'.
A twelve-year-old Arbella Stuart sends her grandmother, Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), strands of her hair and a pot of jelly, along with news of her health and that of another of Bess's grand-daughters, Mary (Talbot), who has had 'three little fits of an ague' but is now well.
Gilbert and Mary Talbot write to Mary's mother, Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), thanking her for lending them her litter, which they return after a safe arrival at Dunstable. They report 'such news as on the queen's highways we have met': about the queen's appearance in parliament, appointments in parliament, and prisoners in the Tower of London. A postscript by Mary mentions a Mistress Markham whom they left at Beskewood.
Grace Cavendish (née Talbot) writes to her stepmother and mother-in-law, Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), to thank her for forwarding a letter which Henry Cavendish, Grace's husband and Bess's son, wrote during his travels to Constantinople.
Gilbert and Mary Talbot write to Mary's mother, Bess (countess of Shrewsbury), reporting that 'our business' at court is delayed daily. Gilbert writes how Robert Devereux, the earl of Essex, planned on renewing his suit regarding Tutbury, but is willing to 'surcease his suit for himself and to further me therein all that he could'. Further, Gilbert includes a detailed report about the murder of Henry III in France, and the rumour that the murderer is a Dominican friar. In a postscript, Mary writes that nothing has been 'performed for your ladyship's case', but the queen has 'asked me very carefully for my lady Arbella [Stuart, Bess's grand-daughter]'.
Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) writes to her daughter, Mary, countess of Shrewsbury, asking her to move her husband, Gilbert (seventh earl of Shrewsbury), to bring the murderer of Bess's 'cousin Leake' to 'due judgement'. Bess also warns to be wary of dealings with one Sir John Berrone, as the latter is thought to 'befriend' the man who committed the murder.
Susan Wingfield writes to Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) informing her that her search for a clerk for Bess has yet been unsuccessful; but recommends the bearer of the letter as a porter. Apologises for employing a scribe for writing the letter, but 'my finger continues so evil as that I am not able to hold a pen'.
Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) writes to Lady Kitson regarding covenants drawn up to do with 'assurances of land' upon the marriage (in 1582) of her son, Charles Cavendish, and his now deceased wife, Margaret (Lady Kitson's daughter). Bess requests Lady Kitson 'to look up the said obligation and articles and to deliver them to this bearer' as there is now need of them.
Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) writes to the earl and countess of Shrewsbury (her stepson and son-in-law, Gilbert, and her daughter, Mary), enquiring after their and the children's health and telling them of her own; advising them to come into the country where the air is better than in London. Also, she is assured that Master Winter has no right to 'the ground [he] pretendeth title to'.
Lady Dorothy Stafford reports that she has presented Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) and her grand-daughter, Arbella Stuart's new year's gifts to the queen. The queen has said she will 'be careful' of (i.e. act favourably for) Arbella and has sent her a token, albeit not as 'good as her Ladyship deserveth'. Lady Stafford asks Bess to keep the contents of the letter secret.
Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) writes to Elizabeth I concerning her granddaughter, Arbella Stuart's troublesome conduct. Bess asks that Arbella 'may be placed elsewhere, to learn to be more considerate', either employed as an attendant to the queen or given to someone in marriage.
Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) writes to Elizabeth I concerning her increasingly strained relationship with her grand-daughter, Arbella Stuart, 'for the bad persuasions of some have so estranged her mind and natural affection from me that she holds me the greatest enemy she has'. Bess considers a marriage the best option to deal with Arbella, writing that 'I should have little care how meanly soever she were bestowed, so as it were not offensive to your Highness'.
Arbella Stuart writes to her grandmother, Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury), what seems to be an apologetic letter (but also with the queen as a reader in mind) to 'set down the true reasons of this my proceeding' - namely to do with offences related to dealings for a match between her and the earl of Hertford's grandson. Dismissing the latter's 'discourteous dealing with me', Arbella invents a fictional lover, 'a noble gentleman whose name I conceal'. This (ID 141) is the sent letter written in Arbella's own hand; ID 142 is a contemporary copy made by one of Sir Robert Cecil's scribes.
A copy of letter ID 141. Sir Robert Cecil's copy of Arbella Stuart's letter to her grandmother, Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury), regarding clandestine dealings to do with a match between her and the young Edward Seymour, Lord Hertford; and a fictional lover.