The Romance of the Peerage; Or, Curiosities of Family History (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1848 Excerpt: ... which, added to a number of other things cast in by such as affect neither your Lordship nor the cause, did not a little increase the heat of her Majesty's offence against you." In all this there may possibly have been something of the woman as well as of the queen; her Majesty, at any rate, was evidently determined that, if she was not to have Leicester to herself, no other woman, or women, should have more of his society than what could not well be kept from them. His wife, nevertheless, had acquired a great ascendancy over him. This abundantly appears from his last Will and Testament, which is in all respects a highly curious document, and throws the richest illustration both upon the character and the circumstances of the man. It is of considerable length, but a pretty full abstract of it is indispensable. It is dated at Middleburg, in Zealand, on different days in July, August, and September, 1587, or about a year before the Earl's death; and the original, which is preserved in the Register of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, is all in his own handwriting. He sets out in a high strain of pious profession. "First," he says, "I take it to be the part of every true Christian to make a true testimony of his faith at all times, and especially in such a case and such a time as this is." And then he goes on, in a very flowing style, to declare his belief in all the common doctrines, especially confessing that, above all else that God has done for mankind, "is the gift of his blessed Son, Jesus Christ, to Leicester Correspondence, 144. be the Eedeemer and Saviour of his people that be faithful;" "by whose only merits and passion," he adds, "I verily believe and am most assured of the forgiveness of all my sins, be they never so great or infinite, and that...