Catalogue description Letters and papers of, or relating to, Amy Robsart, first wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of...

Letters and papers of, or relating to, Amy Robsart, first wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester [then Lord Robert Dudley], and Lettice Knollys, widow of Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex, second wife of the same:--

1. Bill of William Edney, tailor, "to my Lorde Robarte Dudles wyffe", for gowns, kirtles, petticoats, materials, etc., to the amount of £23-10-8. With a note by Tho Blount, John Duddeley, and Will. Kynyatt, auditors, that a balance of £13-10-8 was still due 25 Feb. 8 Eliz. [1566]. f.3. Printed by Canon J.E. Jackson, Wilts. Archaeol. Magazine, vol.XVII, 1878, p.85.

2. Letter from "Amye Duddley" respecting the making of "a gowne of vellet"; Comnare [Cumnor], 24 Aug. f.7. Printed, ibid. p.66. with a facsimile and copy (ff.8,9), and a facsimile of another letter of the same (Brit.Mus.Harl.MS 4712. f.275), f.19.

3. Letter from Sir Richard Verney to Lord Robert Dudley, regretting his inability to come to him from want of health and wealth, and informing him of the death of a "caste of hawkes"; Warwick, 20 Apr. 1560. f.10.

4. Letter from Robert, Earl of Leicester, to Anthony Foster or Forster on the buying of hangings for the dining-hall at Kenilworth, preparations for the visit of the Lord Keeper, etc.; 16 July, no year. Holograph. f.13. Printed ibid. p.92.

5. Warrant from Anthony Forster to "Mr. Pecok" to deliver to the bearer 1¼ ells of "black bullony sersnet to cut the payne of a hose apon"; 14 Jan. 1566[7]. f.18.

6. Letter from H[enry Hastings, Earl of] Huntingdon, to Lord Robert Dudley, his brother-in-law, sending him "haulfe a doosyn pyes of a stagge which was bredd in the lyttell gardeyn at Ashbey", and in a postscript condoling with him on the death of his wife; Leicester, 17 Sept. [1560]. f.23. Printed, ibid. p.75.

7. Thomas Wagstaff to [Lettice, Countess of Leicester], as "Cowntesse of Essex", asking her to put her Lord in mind to obtain him a prebend at Westminster; 21 May, 1579. f.31.

8. Elizabeth Sutton [? widow of John Sutton, 2nd son of Edward Sutton, Lord Dudley] to [Lettice], Countess of Leicester, praying her to pay the "great charge I was at when you, wyth the young Lord [Robert, Lord Denbigh, son of the Earl, d.1584] and other your honors frynds and company, lay wyth me", which the late Lord had faithfully promised to do; 29 Dec. [1588?] f.33. Endorsed "Mrs. Dudleys demaunde for 393l. 6.8".

9. W[illiam Cecil], Lord Burghley, to the same, ordering her to give up certain evidences relating to the late Earl's lands to the Earl of Warwick his brother; 28 June, 1589. Signed. f.35. With a copy, f.37.

10. L[ettice, Countess of] Leicester, to Lord Burghley, praying for time to answer the statement of debts of the late Earl to the Crown, etc.; 7 Mar., 25 July, [1590]. ff.38, 42.

11. R[obert Devereux, 2nd Earl of] Essex, to his mother, Lettice, Countess of Leicester, (a) sending her a letter to the Lord Chancellor and promising to stand firm in all her causes, etc.: "For Wansteed, though I confesse I do greatly affect it, yet I will not desire it so as your Ladyship shall loose one penny profitt or one hower of pleasure that you may have ther. The Q hath divers tymes within these 4 dayes asked me whether I had it, and I doubt not but to have her there ere May day yf my lease were made"; Grenwich, 27 Mar. 1590. Holograph. f.40;-(b) on disagreements between "your ladyships officers and mine for the drawing of the assurances"; Grenwich, 20 July, [1590]. Holograph. f.41.

12. Sir Christopher Blount [3rd. husband of Lady Leicester] to Lord Burghley, concerning his "boke of debtes", and craving "somme end of my troble"; Leicester House, 20 June, [1592]. f.44.

13. W. Sparke to Lady Leicester, on questions between her and Lady Essex, her daughter-in-law, touching Chartley, Leicester House, etc.; no date [160 ?]. f.46.

14. Assignment by William Smith, of the Inner Temple, to William Burden of £20 forfeit on a bond from Christopher Blount and others; 29 Jan. 29 Eliz. [1587]. f.48b.

15. List of bonds "brought to my Lady by Richarde Williams, 21 Octob. 1588". f.50.

16. Inventory or "Chargg of Lester Howse nowe in use and to remayn for my La[dy's] servies this XXIth of November, 1590", under charge of Michael Peckover. f.52.

17. Acquittance from Margery Garnett to Sir C. Blount and Lady Leicester for £15 for all annuities due out of Itchington, co. Warwick 13 Oct. 1600. f.64.

18. Papers relating to cross-suits in the Star-Chamber between Lady Leicester and John Crompton, Ralph Lyon, and others for "divers great riottes and mysdemeanours"; 23 Aug. 1602 - 10 Oct. 1604. ff.65-79.

19. Articles of agreement between Lady Leicester and Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, her grandson, and Frances his wife, that until the said Earl be of full age Lady Leicester shall hold the manor of Myrevall, cos. Warw. and Leic., with lands in Myrevall, Newhouse, Pynwall, Whittington, etc. paying to the Earl £400 yearly; 5 Sept. 1607. Copy. f.81.

20. Depositions on behalf of Lady Leicester against Sir Thomas Dilke and others for non-payment of rent on a lease of Ryton manor, co. Warw. 7 Apr. 1608. ff.83-156.

21. Papers in an action by Lady Leicester v. William Gopsall as to the title to a messuage, lands, etc., in Wigford, co. Staff., parcel of a lease from the Crown to the said Countess for life, dat. 19 Dec. 1595, with remainder to the 3rd Earl of Essex for life; 1610. ff.157-197.

22. Questions as to claims of [Robert Sydney], Lord Sydney [nephew of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester] on lands held in jointure by Lady Leicester [1603-05]. f.198 b. With counsel's opinion, signed by Thomas Fleming.

23. Bill of Henry Orton v. Lady Leicester and others for his wrongful ejectment from a copyhold in the manor of Stonydelphe, co. Warw, in 1592 on an assignment by Thomas Robinson of his interest in the said manor to Sir Christopher Blount and the said Lady Leicester his wife; with answers of the defendants. No date. ff.200-207.

24. Suit in Chancery of William Castelton v. Arthur Smith and Lady Leicester, to maintain his right to a lease of a messuage, etc. in Milford Lane, St. Clement's Danes; no date. f.208 b.

25. Note of lease from Lady Leicester to James [Hay], Earl of Carlisle, of a part of Essex House, St. Clements' Danes, 16 May, 1627. f.210.

Addenda.

26 T. Downhale to Edward Barker, on his services to the late Earl of Leicester ('I served his L. iii yeers, for I came to him in Oct. before his first going over [sc. to the Netherlands] and never left him alive nor dead untill I performed my last service unto him, helping to laye his noble corps in the earth'), and praying the Countess to pay what is due to him; 4 July, 1589. f. 212.

27 Certificate of Sir Christ. Blount to the Warden of the Fleet that Richard Smarte, committed for "divers slaunderous peticions" against him, had duly submitted and asked forgiveness; Drayton Bassett, 30 Sept. 1595, f. 214.

Folio; ff. 215.