Bess of Hardwick's Letters | The complete correspondence, 1550-1608

Letter ID: 131 (URL: http://www.bessofhardwick.org/letter.jsp?letter=131)

From: Bess of Hardwick (Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire )

To: Sir Robert Cecil

Date: 6 February 1602/3

Summary: Bess (dowager countess of Shrewsbury) writes to Sir Robert Cecil to let him know that her granddaughter, Arbella Stuart, is prepared to 'make the party's name she favoreth known', as an enclosed letter from Arbella makes clear. Arbella trusts Sir Henry Brounker, who has spoken with her in the past, and asks that he be sent from the court to receive her statement in person.

Letter Details

Hands: Scribe C | unknown scribe | Scribe B | Bess of Hardwick | (Click to highlight on the letter; click again to remove)

To the Right honorable S.^r
Robert Cecill knight, principall
Secretarie to hir Ma.^tie/

6. February: 1602

Old Countess of
Shrewsbury

[Letter Text: Notes]

It maye please you good M.^r Secretarie./ Arbell is nowe in minde as she
sayth to make the parties name she favoreth knowne to hir Ma:^tie by any yt
shall please hir highnes to send hither, as maye appeare by hir owne letter
to you hereinclosed./ ffor that S^r Henry Brounckar hath ben ymployed before
in theise matters, hir humble suit is that he maye be sent agayne./ he is a
verie discreete gentleman, she sayth she woulde more willingly impart hir ~
minde to him that doth alredie vnderstand some part of theise matters, then
to an other./ I wishe she had ben better advised, then to have entred into
any of theise courses w^thout hir Ma.^ties good allowaunce and appoyntment./
The Almightie forever prosper hir sacred Ma:^tie And so wishing you all
honnor and happines I will take my leave./ ffrom hardwick this vj^t. ~
of ffebruarie 1602./

your uery assured louing frend

EShrouesbury
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