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1585

Earl of Shrewsbury to the Contess 1585 20 October 1585. October 23. 194 385 XX X They offences & faltes that yo^u haue committed against me whi^ch noe good wief would would doe, wher admonitions sufficient to all men to be advised in their mariage, & though you desire to be chardged particulerlie to thende yo^u 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 yo^u haue bene, nor anie more bounden nor haue receiued greate^r benefittes by her husbande then yo^u. the particuleres I will not expresse but doe leave them to the time till that god will send yo^u his grace to mak yo^u confesse them in that I loued yo^u & did manie good thinges for yo^u and was loth that the world should see your behavioure it maie be Iudged thus I woulde still so haue continued if yo^u 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 yo^u. your owne living at my handes could not content yo^u, nor yet a great part of mine, whi^ch for my quietnes I could haue bene contented to haue gaven yo^u but this was short of the mark yo^u shott at & yet do. your faire wordes are mo bete for me, they haue they showe & trust they haue none had though the appeare butifull yet they are mixed wi^th a hidden poison. but assure you^rselfe I will avoide so near as I can my owne harme. I am & wilbe pleased wi^th hir Majes^tes 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, yo^u must be likewise contented wi^th that for your mantenance & pament of your debtes that her Majes^tie hath assigned whi^ch is a great portion & none of your callinge hath the like. You chardg me wi^th an vntruthe that I doe enter into your livinge meaninge your childrens to it semethe. I content my self wi^th her Majes^tes order & intendeth to holde th

vC^li

lande by yeare during our lives. you wer euer in miserie but yet sufficientlie furnished to buy landes for your children. Marie you^u nowe wantes the helpe & so shall do that yo^u had to paie for it I in force not you^r children to sell land but ya^t you^r wilfulnes & their pride be such as cannot be mainteyned what wi^thout salle of your lande. I do not reioyse in it nor assuredlie I am not sore for it /./ / I merve^ll to see your earnestnes, as yo^u pretend by your lettres to be wi^th me. yo^u can not forget ther was bookes drawen by our counsell and about the agrement I did met you^r children before the Lord Chancellour & the Lord of leiceter and all your griefes were their recited, aswell the release of my sutes commensed against you^r 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 wi^th having all your living at my disposition during the same and divers other thinges as by the bookes appereth th to whi^ch I answered them as I will answere yo^u, that if ever I thinke good to tak yo^u againe (for you went awaie voluntarilie not turned awaie by me as yo^u saie, (and when I sent for yo^u, yo^u said I should send twise for yo^u, or yo^u would come,) I will haue both together wi^th out any exceptid either of significacioⁿ of your part or of mine, But herof yo^u make noe recita^ll in your lettres lettres that yo^u are contented that I shall haue the dispositioⁿ of your lyvinge. but assure your self the one wi^thout theother I will neuer haue. they Malicious mindes that your children doe beare to me I cannot awaie wi^thall it can not be but yo^u must favoure yo^ur children, therfor howe dangerous it wher of me to be compassear about wi^th yo^u & theim when after me yo^u 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 yo^u 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 xxiij^th of october

1585

195 387 Initial version