Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth. Lucy Aikin

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1

Lord Herbert of Chirbury.

2

This is a word which I am utterly unable to explain; but it is thus printed in Strype's "Memorials," whence the letter is copied.

3

See Herbert's Henry VIII.

4

See Chron. of Ireland in Holinshed, pass. Collins's Peerage, by sir E. Brydges, article Viscount Leinster.

Catherine was so unguarded in her own conduct, that the lord-admiral professed himself jealous of the servant who carried up coals to her apartment.

5

See Lloyd's Worthies, article Pole.

6

See Fuller's Worthies in Surry.

7

Herbert.

8

Many years after, the earl of Kildare solemnly assured the author of the "Chronicles of Ireland" in Holinshed, that lord Leonard Grey had no concern whatever in his escape.

9

One extraordinary, and indeed unaccountable, circumstance in the life of the earl of Surry may here be noticed:—that while his father urged him to connect himself in marriage with one lady, while the king was jealous of his designs upon a second, and while he himself, as may be collected from his poem "To a lady who refused to dance with him," made proposals of marriage to a third, he had a wife living. To this lady, who was a sister of the earl of Oxford, he was united at the age of fifteen, she had borne him five children; and it is pretty plain that they were never divorced, for we find her, several years after his death, still bearing the title of countess of Surry, and the guardian of his orphans. Had the example of Henry instructed his courtiers to find pretexts for the dissolution of the matrimonial tie whenever interest or inclination might prompt, and did our courts of law lend themselves to this abuse? A preacher of Edward the sixth's time brings such an accusation against the morals of the age, but I find no particular examples of it in the histories of noble families.

10

It seems that on one occasion the queen held the hands of the princess while the lord-admiral amused himself with cutting her gown to shreds; and that, on another, she introduced him into the chamber of Elizabeth before she had left her bed, when a violent romping scene took place, which was afterwards repeated without the presence of the queen.

11

For the original documents relative to this affair see Burleigh Papers by Haynes, passim.

12

This was the second duke of the name of Brandon, who died young of the sweating sickness.

13

This lady is commemorated at greater length in another place, and therefore a clause is here omitted.

14

Strype.

15

Burleigh Papers by Haynes.

16

Hayward's Life of Edward VI.

17

To keep hall, was to keep "open household with frank resort to court."

18

Hayward's Life of Edward VI.

19

See Warton's History of English Poetry, vol. iii. p. 213 et seq.

20

See Carte's History of England.

21

See Burleigh Papers by Haynes.

22

It is plain that Wyat is here accused of having taken arms for Jane Grey; but most wrongfully, if Carte's account of him is to be credited, which there seems no reason to disbelieve.

23

Fox's narrative in Holinshed.

24

Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials.

25

Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials.

26

Strype's Memorials.

27

Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials.

28

History of English Poetry, vol. iii.

29

See Nichols's "Progresses," vol. i. p. 19.

30

The hint of "some honorable marriage" in the above letter, has been supposed to refer to the duke of Savoy; but if the date inscribed upon the copy which is found among the Harleian MSS. be correct (April 26th 1558), this could not well be; since the queen, early in the preceding year, had declined to interfere further in his behalf.

31

Bohun's "Character of Queen Elizabeth."

32

Naunton's "Fragmenta Regalia."

33

It is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes.

34

I have chosen God for my helper.

35

"Fragmenta Regalia."

36

"Nugæ Antiquæ."

37

"Worthies" in Herts.