And can with foul abuse, such beauties blot:
Let him deprived of sweet but unfelt joys.
(Exiled for aye from those high treasures, which
He knows not) grow in only folly rich!
In the Lambeth Palace Library, there is an autographic letter from the Earl of DEVONSHIRE to King JAMES shortly after the Gunpowder Plot; and therefore in November 1605. Allowing it to be an ex parte statement; it is nevertheless the story of STELLA'S married life, as the Earl of DEVONSHIRE had it from her own lips. CHARLES BLOUNT, Earl of DEVONSHIRE. Narration to JAMES I. of the injuries offered to STELLA by her first husband.
A Lady [PENELOPE DEVEREUX] of great birth and virtue, being in the power of her friends; was by them married against her will unto one [ROBERT, Lord RICH], against whom she did protest at the very solemnity, and ever after; between whom from the first day there ensued continual discord: although the same fear that forced her to marry, constrained her to live with him. Instead of a Comforter, he did strive in all things to torment her; and by fear and fraud did practise to deceive her of her dowry.
And though he forbare to offer her any open wrong, restrained with the awe of her brother's [ROBERT, Earl of ESSEX] powerfulness: yet as he had not in long time before in the chiefest duty of a husband used her as his wife: so presently [immediately] after his death, [25th of February, 1601] he did put her to a stipend; and utterly abandoned her without pretence of any cause, but his own desire to live without her.
And after he had not for the space of twelve years enjoyed her; he did [in 1604 or 1605] by persuasions and threatenings move her to consent unto a divorce: and to confess a fault with a nameless stranger; without the which, such a divorce as he desired could not, by the laws in practice, proceed.
Whereupon to give a form to that separation which was long before in substance made; she was content to subscribe
