The Littlecote Tradition. 241 



The, nearly coteinporary, Deposition of Mrs. Barnes (printed 

 vi., 392) confirmed Aubrey's tradition in the most remarkable 

 way, but it lacked exact dates and names. An original letter 

 written at the very time by Sir Henry Knyvett of Charlton to Sir 

 John Thynne has just now been discovered by myself among the 

 Marquis of Bath's Papers at Longleat, which leaves verv little to be 

 desired. Supplying, as it does, no less than three most important 

 particulars, viz., the year, the name of the female whose child was 

 believed to have been destroyed, and the name of the gentleman 

 aecused, this letter will now go very far to establish, almost 

 beyond the possibility of doubt, that the Littlecote Tbadition 

 in its main and material point, is founded on Fact. 



SIR HENRY KNYVETT TO SIR JOHN THYNNE. 



S^ S Z'*uTT\ J0U m r'' aVe S ° mu0h faT0r of J™' as to procure your 

 at wfnt n B °^ am i , moSte effeCtUall y t0 elamia his si ster tochinge her usage 

 att Will-. DorrePs, the berth of her children, howe many they were ami 

 what becam of them. She shall have no cawse off feare trulie to confes the 

 ll r ^ defend , fr ° m aU peliU W - «« the case M owte 

 and tb.ea.re falleth owte such other heyghnous matter against him, as will toch 

 him to the quick From Charlton this ij>" of January 1578. 



(Address) « To the right worshipful and my very " l0 ™ 8 



lovmge friend S' John Thynne Knyght H Knyvett " 



Geve this." 



The rest of the letter, which is very short, refers to another 

 matter wholly foreign to the subject. 



J. E. JACKSON. 



bul an e officM " ™ ^ * ^ *** t0 "P* n0t * — « OT d — tic servant, 



z2 



