Notes and Queries/Series 1/Volume 1/Number 1/New Facts About Lady Arabella Stuart

by Peter Cunningham and Robert Cecil

New Facts about Lady Arabella Stuart

The following extracts, from "The Declaration of the Accompte of Nicholas Pay, gentleman, appoynted by warraunte of the righte honorable the lordes of he kinges ma^tePrivie Councell, to receave and yssue sondrye somes of money for the provycon of dyett and other chardges of the ladye Arabella Seymour, whoe by his highnes comaundemente and pleasure shoulde haue bene remoued into the countye Palatyne of Duresme, under the chardge of the Reverende Father in God Will'm lorde Bishpp of Duresme; but after was stayed and appointed to remayne at Eastbarnett duringe his highnes good pleasure," are new to the history of this unfortunate lady. The account includes all sums of money "receaved and yssued from the xiiij^th daye of Marche 1610, untill the vij^th daye of June 1611," and the account itself (as preserved in the Audit Office) "was taken and declared before the right honorable Roberte Earle of Salisbury, Lord Highe Threas of Englande and S^r Julius Cæsar, Knighte, Chancellor and Under Threas of Th'exchequer the xij^thof Ffebruary 1611" [1611/12]. The extracts throw some fresh light on her movements on her road from London to Durham. At East Barnet, it is well known, she eluded the vigilance of her keepers, and threw the king and council into the utmost consternation.

Peter Cunningham.

Allowed for money payde for Dyett, lodginge and other necessarie chardges and expenses of the said ladye Arbella Seymour and suche p'sons as were appointed to attende her in her journey into the Countie Palatyne of Duresme: as hereafter followeth.

At Highgate for sixe days begonne the xv^th daye of Marche 1610 and ended the xxj^st of the same month,on w^th day her ladyshipp removed to Barnet

xviij^li.v^s .iij^d .

At Barnett for xj^th dayes begonne the xxj^st of Marche 1610 and ended the first of Aprill 1611, beinge that daye removed to Estbarnett - - - lxxj^li.v^s.viij^d.

Chardges of the Stable for the xvij^en dayes abovemenconed - xxxviij^li.x^s.ix^d.

Lodginge of some of the retinewe of the lady Arbella and the said lorde Bishopp, and for other necessaries duringe the xvij^en dayes aforesaid - - xij^li.xix^s.

Ryding and postinge chardges—viz. for posthorses from Lambeth to Highgate and from thence to Barnett. To Mr. Beeston and others for their chardges three severall tyines to Barnett from London and from Highgate. To the servauntes of the lord bishp of Duresme sente at severall tymes to the lordes of the Councell and for other businesses concerninge this service; and to Sir James Crofte, Knight, for the chardges of himselfe, his men, and horses attendinge at London in this service-ix^li. xviij^s. vj^d.

Rewardes to sondrye p'rsons, viz. to messengers sent from the Courte during the staye of the Lorde Bishopp at Highgate and Barnett. To diuerse p'rsons who tooke paynes at Highgate and Barnett. Geven in the Inne for glasses broken, and in rewardes to the meaner servauntes at Barnett, xxx^s. &c. In all the some of xij^li. ix^s. vj^d.

Also allowed to the sayde Accomptaunte for money by his owne handes yssued and payde in this service from the time of her ladishipps removinge from the Inne in Barnett to the house of Thomas Conyers Esquir in Estbarnett, as hereafter is menconed:

Expences of dyett for the lady Arbella her servauntes and others appointed to attende her at Estbarnett by the space of lxviij dayes begonne the first of Aprill 1611, and ended the vij^th of June following at cix^s. iij^d. p'r diem--ccclxxj^li. xj^s. v^d.

Chardges of the Stable, viz.—for three lytter horses, one sumpter horse, and fyve coche horses for xxvj dayes at ij^s the horse by daye and night. For the Stable at Eastbarnett for lxviij dayes begonne the firste of Aprill 1611 and ended the vij^th of June followinge: and for hyer of a coche of Thomas Webster employed in this service by the space of xxiij dyes at xx^s. per diem-lxxvij^li. vj^s. ix^d.

Boardwages of Cochemen, Lyttermen and Sumpter-man and their men at viij^s. and iij^s. iij^d. and iij^s. each per diem-l^li. x^s.

Enterteynement to sondrye p'rsons appointed to attende the said lady Arbella Seymour. To Nicholas Pay this accomptaunte xxxv^li x^s. To William Lewen for his attendaunce in the office of caterer of poultrye at iij^s. per diem for himselfe and his horse. To Richarde Mathewe for his attendance in the butterye and pantrye at iij^s. per diem for himselfe and his horse. To Thomas Mylles for his attendaunce in the larder and kitchen at iij^s. per diem for himselfe and his horse-lxvj^li. ^ijs.

To rydinge and posting-chardges, viz. of Henry Mynors at severall tymes from Barnett to Whitehall and backe againe for dyreccons in this service from the lordes of the privie Councell xxxv^s. and for post-horses to carye the ladye Arbella Seymour her servauntes from Barnett to London xvij^s. For the hier of horses at severall tymes for S^r James Crofte betweene Barnett and London in attendinge the lordes of the Councell in this service xl^s.-iiij^li. xij^s.

For caryadges for removing the ladie Arbella and her companie from Lambeth to Highgate and from thence to Barnet, &c.lxxviij^li. xv^s.

In rewardes to sondrye p'rsons, viz. to the servauntes in Mr. Conyers house and laborers to make clean the house, &c. iij^li. xv^s.

To Mathias Melwarde one of the Princes chaplaynes for his paynes in attending the ladye Arbella Seymour to preache and reade prayers duringe her aboade at Est- barnett-----v^li

Houserent paid to Thomas Conyers Equier, for the rent of his house in Estbarnett for the lady Arbella Seymour and her companie for x^en weekes at xx^s. the week-x^li.

Payde out of the Receipte of the Exchequier to thandes of the ladye Arbella Seymour for her owne furnishinge in her journey into the Bishoprycke of Durham-cc^li.

Money payde to Thomas Moundeforde, Doctor of Physicke and an Apothecarye appointed by order of the lordes of the privie Councell to geve their attendaunce uppon the saide lady Arbella: viz. for the enterteynement of the saide Doctor Moundeforde for cl^tie dayes begonne the viij^th of Ffebruarie 1610 and ended the vij^th of Julie following 1611 at xxx^s. per diem ccxxv^li

Ffor the enterteynement of his Apothecarye for ninety dayes at xiij^s. iiij^d. per diem lx^li.

Ffor twoe cabbanetts furnished w^th thinges necessary and used in the tyme of the saide ladye Arbella for syckenes --xij^li.

For chardges of horsehier and other expences of the saide Doctor Moundeford iij^li.

Payde to Sir James Crofte, Knighte, appovnted by order from the lordes of the privie Councell to geve his attendaunce uppon the saide lady Arbella Seymour for his enterteynement at xxx^s. per diem clj^li. x^s.

Some Tottall of the Allowances and paymentes --M,ciijviij^li. viij^s. x^d.

"R. Salisbury.
"Jul. Cæsar."