“The King to William, Viscount Mansfield.
“1621, March 10. The Palace of Westminster.—Permitting him on account of his wife’s sickness to be absent from Parliament, but directing him to send up his proxy to some fit person. Signed. Seal of Arms. Countersigned, ‘Windebank’.”
How many a modern legislator would be thankful to be allowed to send a proxy to the House!
“T. Earl of Arundel to Viscount Mansfield at Welbeck.
“1621, June 5. Whitehall.—I am sorry that this accidente of myne had that effecte to my frendes—especially farre of—as to make them, out of theyre care to me, give themselves trouble. For myselfe I thanke God it gave much ease and rest whilst I was in the Tower, and when I came out, it shewed the King’s constancy and favor to his servantes that love him truly, and made me see I had some true frendes.”
To be sent to the Tower was no rare event to a peer in those times. The father of the writer of the above letter had died in it.
“W. Earl of Newcastle to his Wife, the Countess of Newcastle, at Welbeck.
“1629, July 28. Chatsworth.—There is great change in Chatsworth since the death of the Lord. For privacy I could be weary, but I will not, out of respect for my lord.”