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Letter to Lord BURLEIGH, proposing Lady PENELOPE DEVEREUX as a fit match for the new Lord RICH.

[''Lands, 31. fol. 105.'']

May it please your Lordship,

Hearing that GOD hath taken to His mercy my Lord RICH, who hath left as his heir a proper gentleman and one in years very fit for my lady PENELOPE DEVEREUX, if with the favour and liking of Her Majesty the matter might be brought to pass; and because I know your Lordship's good affection to their father gone, and also your favour to his children: I am bold to pray your furtherance now in this matter, which may, I think, by your good means be brought to such pass as I desire.

Her Majesty was pleased the last year to give me leave, at times convenient, to put Her Highness in mind of these young ladies [i.e. PENELOPE and DOROTHY DEVEREUX]: and therefore I am by this occasion of my Lord's death the bolder to move your Lordship in this matter. I have also written to Master Secretary WALSINGHAM herein. And so hoping of your Lordship's favour, I do commit you to the tuition of the Almighty.

At Newcastle, the 10th of March 1580 [i.e. 1581].

Your Lordship's most assured

H. HUNTINGDON.

To the Right Honourable my very good Lord, the Lord Treasurer.

It is clear that if Queen ELIZABETH in 1580 gave Lord HUNTINGDON leave to put her in mind of these two young ladies; that they were not at that time, or when this letter was written, at Court: but probably, as their youth befitted, in the retirement of their home at Chartley.

But that PENELOPE at any rate came up to Court at once, is proved by her presence at the ANJOU fétes in London. STOW'S account of these feastings is as follows:—