64 Amye Robsart. 
life of the Court. I have met with letters of that period, from 
ladies of the highest rank, expressing their great weariness with its 
state and formalities, begging their husbands to come back for 
economy’s sake as soon as they could: at any rate not to drag them 
up to London. But whilst Amye was so staying at Mr. Hyde’s, 
she was only under his roof as a visitor and friend : she was perfectly 
at liberty to go to London or wherever else she liked. She used 
(as I will show you) that liberty, and she had suitable means pro- 
vided for her so doing by her husband. 
I have here two folio account books, kept, one by Mr. William 
Chaucy, Lord Robert’s secretary or steward, beginning 20th Dec. 
1558, the first year of Elizabeth’s reign: and a year-and-a-half only 
before Amye’s death; the other by Mr. Richard Ellys, of about the 
same time. Mr. Chaucy begins by a statement of monies received 
into his hands, the first item of which is £300 from Mr. Anthony 
Forster, Lord Robert’s Treasurer. Then follow, per contra, all the 
payments made. I have gone through this account book, and have 
extracted everything I could see that refers to Amye, Lady Dudley. 
(See Appendix, III.) Examine the items and multiply their amounts 
by six or seven (at the very least), to express present value—and you 
be will able to say whether they convey to your mind any symptoms 
of restraint or neglect. 
The other account book (Richard Ellys’s) refers to 1560, the 
last year of her life, but I have not met in it with any other items 
than a few which refer to the expense of her funeral. There is 
however a mercer’s bill (six months before her death) :— 
£8. d. 
1560. March. Delyvered a velvet hatt imbroidered for my ical 36 8 
Pair of velvet shoes for my Ladye .. Ac «1a 00 
In the account books the dates of month and day are not always 
given, so that I cannot distinguish exactly which of them refer to 
her whilst she was lodging with the Hyde family, at Denchworth, 
and which to her later residence at Cumnor. But it is evident that 
she was wader no restraint, for we find her journeying about, to 
Lincolnshire, London, Suffolk, Christchurch in Hampshire and 
Camberwell, twelve horses being at her command. 
