Streatley,
Berks.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
All complete letters herein quoted have been put into modern spelling. These, with the exception of one or two fragments and when the source is not otherwise indicated, have been selected from the transcripts in Lodge’s Illustrations of British History, from the originals amongst the Talbot, Howard, and Cecil MSS.
The Author gratefully acknowledges the special permission of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire to include in this work reproductions of many of the fine pictures at Hardwick Hall, as well as a number of views of that noble building.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| I. | The Red-haired Girl | [1] |
| II. | The Mistress Builder | [11] |
| III. | “A Great Gentleman” | [34] |
| IV. | Hubbub | [52] |
| V. | Make-believe | [62] |
| VI. | Plot and Counterplot | [75] |
| VII. | Family Letters | [99] |
| VIII. | A Certain Journey | [119] |
| IX. | Love and the Woodman | [133] |
| X. | Aftermath | [145] |
| XI. | Various Occurrences | [161] |
| XII. | My Lord Leicester’s Cure | [175] |
| XIII. | The Divided Way | [193] |
| XIV. | “Bruits” | [211] |
| XV. | Ruth and Joyusitie | [223] |
| XVI. | Volte Face | [236] |
| XVII. | The Coil Thickens | [251] |
| XVIII. | “Face to Face” | [266] |
| XIX. | Hammer and Tongs | [279] |
| XX. | Fading Glories | [308] |
| XXI. | Heir and Dowager | [324] |
| XXII. | Arabella Dances into Court | [337] |
| XXIII. | My Lady’s Mansions | [349] |
| Index | [365] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury (Photogravure) | [Frontispiece] |
| To face page | |
|---|---|
| Hardwick Old Hall | [2] |
| Sir William Cavendish | [4] |
| Hardwick Old Hall: the Giants’ Chamber | [6] |
| Sir William St. Loe | [16] |
| George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury | [38] |
| Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury | [38] |
| Mary Queen of Scots | [64] |
| Mary Queen of Scots’ Apartments and Dungeons at Tutbury, from the North-west | [66] |
| Wingfield | [70] |
| Mary Queen of Scots’ Bower, Chatsworth | [72] |
| William Cecil, Lord Burghley | [80] |
| Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk | [86] |
| The Manor House, Sheffield | [90] |
| Gilbert Talbot, Seventh Earl of Shrewsbury | [100] |
| Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox | [120] |
| Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester | [178] |
| Queen Elizabeth | [182] |
| Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury | [198] |
| George Talbot, Sixth Earl of Shrewsbury | [202] |
| Mary Cavendish, Countess of Shrewsbury | [252] |
| Hardwick Hall, showing Entrance Gateway | [258] |
| Statue of Mary Queen of Scots | [310] |
| Queen Elizabeth (by Zucchero) | [316] |
| Arabella Stuart as a Child | [330] |
| Arabella Stuart | [332] |
| Hardwick Hall: the Picture Gallery from the North | [336] |
| Welbeck Abbey | [340] |
| Hardwick Hall: the Dining-room | [342] |
| James the Fifth | [344] |
| Tomb of Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury | [346] |
| The Entrance Hall, Hardwick Hall | [348] |
| Bolsover Castle | [352] |
| Hardwick Hall: the Picture Gallery | [354] |
| Mary Queen of Scots (by P. Oudry) | [356] |
| Mary Queen of Scots’ Bed, Hardwick Hall | [358] |
| Hardwick Hall: the Presence-chamber | [360] |
| Hardwick Hall from the West Garden | [362] |
BESS OF HARDWICK