Ann Abbott to Ann, Lady Rokeby

227 Ann Abbott to Ann, Lady Rokeby, [before February 1531]   (No. 4, p.
       183)

Maddam,^a after my most louely I recomend me to your ladyship,
evermore desiring to wit of your good well fare, which is my dayly
prayer to Jesus, to inquete to your harts most comfort. Maddam, I doe
wryte to you, praying not your ladyship to be wroth with my husband
for the money that he receiued of my mistress your daughter,^b that he
send not to you by this bearrer. It was my consent, for in good faith,
Madam, in a maner we weare either to haue lost our farme, for Mr
Trey is so trobled in the law that he may not for beare his rent no
whyle.

     Madam, I had my husband take [p. 184] your money, and I said I
trust your ladyship wold not be discontent for your money for a season,
the which shall be befor Lamas, by the grace of God. For in good
fayth, Madam, we must haue else sold iij of our key, the which had
beine a great hindrance to us. For in good faith we buy that we spend
in our howse, and I am faine to eate browne bread and drinke small
[. . .]^c alle my selfe, and liues as hardly, as God knowes, and must do
for this yeare. I trust to God it shall be ammended the next yeare; for
I thanke God we had not a better cropp toward this good whyle.

     And God reward your ladyship; we had liued most hardly if ?at
your ladyship had not bene. And I pray you, Madam, let not my
mistress your daughter wit of it, for then she will nether trust my
husband nor me. God reward hir, which I am much bownd vnto. I
can doe nothing for your ladyship and hir, but for to pray for your
prosperity. I pray you Madam, let not my husband know of this letter,
and send me word trewly with this bearrer in a little bill of your owne
hand ij or iij words, that he know not of your mind. No more, but
Jesus kepe your ladyship in good health.

By your power beadwoman     Ann Abott^d

     ^a Marginal note: 4 letter. To the Lady Rooksby by Ann Abbot.

     ^b Marginal note: Money lent by L[ady] Rokesbys daughter to Abbot.

     ^c ale deleted.

     ^d Marginal note: Copied the 3 of June 1626.

                                                    LETTER VIII.

                   To my good Lady Dame Anne Rokesby, be this delivered.

    Maddam, after my most louely I recomend me to your lady-
ship, evermore desiring to wit of your good wellfare, which is my
dayly prayer to Jesus to inquete to your harts most comfort.
Maddam, I doe wryte to you praying not your ladyship to be
wroth with my husband for the money that he received of my Mrs
your daughter, that he send not to you by this bearrer. It was
my consent; for in good faith, madam, in a maner we weare eether
to have lost our farme, for Mr Trey is so trobled in the law, that
he may not forbeare his rent no whyle. Madam, I bad my hus-
band take your money, and I said, I trust your Ladyship will not
be discontent for your money for a season; the which shall be
befor Lamas, by the grace of God. For in good fayth, madam,
we must have else sold iij of our key, the which had bene a great
hindrance to us. For in good faith we buy that we spend in our
house, and I am faine to eate browne bread and drink small alle
myselfe, and lives as hardly, as God knowes, and must do for this
yeare. I trust to God it shall be ammended the next yeare for, I
thank God, we had not a better cropp toward this good whyle.
And God reward your Lady ship; we had lived most hardly, if
that your Ladyship had not bene. And I pray you, madam, let
not my M^rs. your daughter wit of it, for then she will never trust
my husband, nor me. God reward hir, which I am much bownd
unto. I can doe nothing for your Ladyship and hir, but for to
pray for your prosperete. I pray you madam, let not my hus-
band know of this letter, and send me word trewly with this
bearer in a little bill of your owne hand, ij or iij words, that he
know not of your mind. No more, but Jesus kepe your Lady-
ship in good health.

                                                    By your power beadwoman,
                                                                                       ANN ABOTT.