The Copie of my lettre to
my wief the xxiijth of
October 1585
They offences & faltes that you haue committed against me which noe good
wief would doe, wher admonitions sufficient to all
men to be advised in their mariage, & though you desire to be
chardged particulerlie to thende you maie knowe your faltes
I nede not to expresse them they are manifest to the worlde
and yf I would hidd theim your behaviour and conditions hath
laid theim open. ther can not be anie wief more forgetfull
of her dutie & lese carfull to please her husbande than you
haue bene, nor anie more bounden nor haue receiued greater
benefittes by her husbande then you. the particuleres I will
not expresse but doe leave them to the time till that god
will send you his grace to mak you confesse them in that I loued
you & did manie good thinges for you and was loth that the world
should see your behavioure it maie be Iudged thus I woulde
still so haue continued if you had not sought all meanes
both at home & abroade to offend me ther nedes not manie
wordes, I haue sene throwlie into your devises & desires
your vnsatiable gredie appetite did bewraye you. your owne
living at my handes could not content you, nor yet a great
part of mine, which for my quietnes I could haue bene contented
to haue gaven you but this was short of the mark you shott at
& yet do. your faire wordes are mo bete for me, they haue
they showe & trust they haue had though the appeare
butifull yet they are mixed with a hidden poison. but assure
yourselfe I will avoide so near as I can my owne harme. I am &
wilbe pleased with hir Majestes ordre (though it semed harde)
for you best knowe that your living was never ment to
your children during my lief, but seing it fals out so, you
must be likewise contented with that for your mantenance
& pament of your debtes that her Majestie hath assigned
which is a great portion & none of your callinge hath the
like. You chardg me with an vntruthe that I doe enter into
your livinge meaninge your childrens to it semethe. I content
my self with her Majestes order & intendeth to holde th vCli
lande by yeare during our lives. you wer euer in miserie
but yet sufficientlie furnished to buy landes for your
children. Marie youu nowe wante the helpe & so shall do
that you had to paie for it I in force not your children
to sell land but yat your wilfulnes & their pride be
such as cannot be mainteyned what without salle of your
lande. I do not reioyse in it nor assuredlie I am not
sore for it /./ /
I mervell to see your earnestnes, as you pretend by your lettres
to be with me. you can not forget ther was bookes drawen by our
counsell and about the agrement I did met your children
before the Lord Chancellour & the Lord of leiceter and all
your griefes were their recited, aswell the release of
my sutes commensed against your Children & sheruntes for
my goodes & sclanderous Rumors spred by them of me
in divers partes of this realme, for whom noe good wif
would once opon her mouth. as for our cohabitacion with
having all your living at my disposition during the
same and divers other thinges as by the bookes appereth
to which I answered them as I will answere you, that
if ever I thinke good to tak you againe (for you went awaie
voluntarilie not turned awaie by me as you saie, (and
when I sent for you, you said I should send twise for you,
or you would come,) I will haue both together with out any
exceptid either of significacion of your part or of mine,
But herof you make noe recitall in your lettres that
you are contented that I shall haue the disposition of
your lyvinge. but assure your self the one without
theother I will neuer haue. they Malicious mindes that
your children doe beare to me I cannot awaie withall
it can not be but you must favoure your children, therfor
howe dangerous it wher of me to be compassear about with
you & theim when after me you shall leape into my seate,
the most ignorant maie Iudge and here I ende protesting
before the Almightie god that I doe not this for anie
malice to you or anie partie, but that in my ould age,
I do fear my securitie & quietnes & would not haue it
troubled during my lief./ Sheffeld this xxiijth of october
1585
