Elizabeth: June 1577

252. Walsingham to Shrewsbury. [June 25.] C.P., vol. X.

Incloses a letter jointly to himself and his wife from the Queen of England. Whereas his lordship in his letter of the 16th instant writes that hereafter he minds to have his warrant for his charges— diets to be monthly offered—he does not think that way so good for the despatch of the same, knowing right well her majesty's disposition to be such that willingly she would not be often troubled with the signature of bills, and therefore wishes him to continue the custom heretofore used, that is, every sixth month to get his warrant, for the speedy despatch whereof from time to time, as also for the half year past, he will do his best endeavour.

¾ p. Draft. Indorsed: "25 June, 1577. To the E. of Shrewsburie."

253. Elizabeth to the Earl And Countess of Shrewsbury. [June.] C.P., vol. X.

Being given to understand from the Earl of Leicester how honourably he was lately received and used by the Countess, at Chatsworth, and how his diet is discharged by them at Buxton, she would do him great wrong, holding him in that place, if she should not let them know in how thankful sort she accepts the same at their hands, which she does not acknowledge to be done to him, but to herself, and therefore means to take the debt upon her and to acknowledge them both as creditors, provided they can be content to accept her as debtor: wherein is the danger, unless they cut off some part of his large allowance of diet, lest otherwise the debt thereby may grow to be so great that she shall not be able to discharge the same, and so become bankrupt. Thinks it well for the saving of her credit to prescribe to them a proportion of diet, which she means in no case they shall exceed! That is, to allow him by the day two ounces of flesh, referring the quality to themselves, and for his dinner the twentieth part of a part of a pint of wine to comfort his stomach, and as much of St. Anne's sacred water as he listeth; on festival days, as is fit for a man of his quality, she can be content that they enlarge his diet by allowing him for his dinner the shoulder of a wren, and for his supper a leg of the same, besides his ordinary ounces. The like proportion she means them to allow to her brother of Warwick, saving that she thinks it meet, in respect that his body is more replete than his brother's, that the wren's leg be abated, for that light suppers agree best with roulets of physic. Means that they shall inviolably observe this order, and so may they right well assure themselves of a most thankful debtor to so well-deserving creditors.

1½ pp. Indorsed: "June, 1577. M[inute] of her majesty's letter to the Erle and Countesse of Shrewsbury, of thanks for the good usage of my L. of Leicester."