see all safe; and the chambermaids I will have go before the grooms, that the chambers may be ready, sweet, and clean. "Also, for that it is undecent to crowd up myself with my gentleman-usher in my coach, I will have him to have a convenient horse, to attend me either in city or country. And I must have two footmen. And my desire is, that you defray all the charges for me. "And for myself, besides my yearly allowance, I would have twenty gowns of apparel, six of them excellent good ones, eight of them for the country, and six other of them very excellent good ones. "Also I would have to put in my purse, £2,000 and £200; and so you to pay my debts. "Also I would have £6,000 to buy me jewels, and £4,000 to buy me a pearl chain. "Now, seeing I have been and am so reasonable unto you, I pray you to find my children apparel and their schooling, and all my servants, men and women, their wages. "And I will have all my houses furnished, and all my lodging-chambers to be suited with all such furniture as is fit; as beds, stools, chairs, suitable cushions, carpets, silver warming-pans, cupboards of plate, fair hangings, and such like. So for my drawing-chamber in all houses, I will have them delicately furnished, both with hangings, couch, canopy, glass, carpet, chairs, cushions, and all things thereunto belonging. "Also my desire is, that you would pay your debts, build Ashby House, and purchase lands; and lend no money, as you love God, to the lord chamberlain,' which would have all, perhaps your life, from you. Remember his son, my Lord Walden,' what entertainment he gave me when you were at the Tilt-yard. If you were dead, he said he would be a husband, a father, a brother; and said he would marry me. I protest I grieve to see the poor man have so little wit and honesty to use his friend so vilely. Also he fed me with untruths concerning the Charter House; but that to the least he wished me much harm; you know him, God keep you and me from him, and any such as he is. "So now that I have declared to you what I would have, and what that is that I would not have, I pray, when you be an earl, to allow me £1,000 more than now desired, and double attendance. "Your loving wife, "ELIZA COMPTON." The next tenant of Crosby Place was the celebrated Mary, Countess of Pembroke, wife of Henry, second Earl of Pembroke, and mother of Earl Wil 'Thomas Howard, first Earl of Suffolk, the corrupt and rapacious minister of James the First. He died in Suffolk House, now Northumberland House, in the Strand, 28th of May, 1626. Theophilus, who succeeded his father as second Earl of Suf folk, died 3d of June, 1640. liam and Earl Philip. She was the beloved sister of Sir Philip Sidney, and accordingly the probability that he was frequently her guest at Crosby Place lends an additional interest to the spot. The tastes and habits of the brother and sister were congenial. There existed in each the same high sense of honour, the same refinement of mind, the same amiable interest in the sufferings and wants of others. Sir Philip dedicated his "Arcadia" to his sister, the being who best loved the author, and who was the most competent to appreciate his genius. By Doctor Donne it was said of her that "she could converse well on all subjects, from predestination to sleave-silk." Ben Jonson wrote his famous epitaph on her death, and Spenser eulogises her as "The gentlest shepherdess that lived that day; Lady Pembroke lived to a very advanced age, her later years having been unfortunately embittered by the cowardice and misconduct of her second son, Philip, the "memorable simpleton " of Horace Walpole. When, toward the close of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Duc de Biron arrived in London with his magnificent ambassadorial train, consisting of nearly four hundred noblemen and gentlemen, it was at Crosby Place that he was lodged. |