By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 



263 



5. September 18th, 1574, Oatlands. The Same to the Same. 

 The Queen much pleased with a Great Jewel given to her by 

 Sir John Thynne. 



[This and the letter next after it illustrate Strype's statement (Life 

 p. 130) that Queen Elizabeth about this time (1574) became very 

 irresolute and would not be spoken to on matters of business : 

 answering sometimes " So/ 3 and sometimes " No ; " forbidding 

 even Dudley and Hatton to move suits to her. " And if they 

 were forbidden, then/ 3 said Sir Thomas, " had we need within a 

 while to have a horse or an ass to carry bills after us, increasing 

 daily and never despatched.""] 



" S r You may be assured I have not forgotten you but as sone as I could get 

 convenyent tyine I moved Mr highnes in your mater / Who gave me very good 

 words of you, estemyng miche your good chere and specially the great Jewel you 

 gave hir, saieng, that for goeng but V miles she had such a gift of you as never 

 an Earle in England had given hir the like. # / I shewed your good affection & 

 good will which you have borne to hir ma tie at all tymes / as well in adversite as 

 prosperite. Which hir highnes did affirme, Now for your sute. Furst she 

 axed if you wuld not be content that she should be your neighbor as well as 

 another ? I [said] that yt lay in the myds of your lands, & for you, you had all 

 redy the lease but you requyred to leave your son in quietnes, who, who so ever 

 should either purchase it or have it in lease, might if he were froward work mich 

 troble unto. In th'end she said, in hir progres she wold be trobled with no 

 sewtes. When she came to Hampton Courte or a standing house I might move 

 it agayn. This answer I shewed streight to my L. of Hertford & to my L. Henry 

 I knowe not whether they have certified it to you or no. / Fare ye well. From 

 Otelande the of Sept. 1574 



" youre old f reend 



" To the right worshipfull « T. Smith." 



my verie loving frend 

 Sir John Thynne Knight " 



Docketed : " S r . Thomas Smyth xviii th Sept. 1574." 



Sir Thomas had not marked the day of the month in the letter itself. 



• Queen Elizabeth made a " Progress " into the West of England in August, 1574. She was at 

 Bath, 22nd August, being Sunday. On Monday, 23rd, to Lacock Abbey until the 28th. Thence to 

 Stoke (Earl-Stoke). Thence, on the 31st, to Heytesbury, from which house she probably went the 

 " V miles " to Longleat for which she was so handsomely rewarded. Besides the "good cheer," 

 she received from Sir John Thynne " A Jewell called a Phenix, set with one great emeralde, fifty 

 other dyamonds and Rubies, with an appendant Peril at the same which my Master gave to Her 

 Majesty being at Longleat 2d. Sept. 1574 ; bought of Henrie Pope of London for £140." 



(Old Account Booh at Longleat.) 



