Calendar of state papers, Domestic series,
of the reign of Elizabeth 1598-1601
Vol. CCLXXV.
1600 June 2. - Haynes Hill
Mary* Windebank to her husband Thos. Windebank.
Let me remind you of the good agreement that has been between us since Mr. Read and his wife have been absent, and what slander and disquiet there always is when they come ; as I have had many trials and found them most hard and unnatural, I entreat of you as your wife, to give me leave to go to some friend at their coming to you, which will be presently on your coming from Court, for the wrongs that I have received by them can never be forgotten. I seek not to withdraw your fatherly kindness from them, and what grief it is to me to part from you, God only knows, but I force myself to it for quietness' sake ; I hope, at their departure from you, we shall come together with as great love as ever. Your daughter Mildred is to be married to Mr. Read's son, and then old Mr. Read and all the kin will come to your house, and you know old Read wrote me a most railing slanderous letter for his son. If he comes to my house therefore, grant my reasonable request. Use your children as your children, and me as your loving wife, for if I should be at your house at the marriage, it will breed great strife between us.
I am very sickly. Your wheat in the garner is exceeding musty, and makes the bi^ad taste ; I would wish you to sell some of it ; it is but 6d. in a bushel lost, and when you come home, you will not eat the bread that is made thereof. Your children and servants are all well, I am sorry you sent all your horses to the parks to run, for I hoped at your return we should have sometimes rode abroad, to see our friends and take the air. I never was on horseback since my coming into the country, and now I must be forced to keep my chamber, and cannot go to church, for our church is a mile and a half from our house. Has my cere-cloth done you any good ?
P.S.—If you will not yield to this reasonable request, it shall be the last breach between us, for my patience has been so much tried that I can endure it no longer. Endorsed by Windebank as sent by Sharp, when he brought up the horses to run at grass in the park at Eltham.*Frances