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best fortunes, that you wd be pleased to desist from your intended resolution concerning hym, who lykewyse resolveth not to trouble you any more in this kind, not doubting but yor Ladyship may have one more fitter for your degree (he having alredy presumed too hygh) and hymselfe a meaner match with more securyty.' Whether this letter of instructions was written before the examination of Seymour and Arabella in February 1610 is not certain, as it is undated. Anyhow Arabella evidently followed Seymour's lead, given in the written statement to the Lords, disclaiming contract of marriage without the royal consent, and as a result both were discharged with a reprimand, and Arabella received in her old position at court.

But Arabella could not let him go. He was a man after her own heart, 'grave and serious . . . loving his book above all other exercises . . . and of studious habits,' finding greatest wisdom among his 'dead counsellors.' Probably she made advances to him on the old terms, when the king was quieted, and probably it was then that he sent the abovequoted message by his servant. It was very natural that Seymour should fear the consequences. He had the example of his grandfather before him, and moreover, feared to disobey that grandfather who, taught by the experience of his own early folly, was sternly opposed to such a match. But his conscience bound him to his promise to the Lady Arabella since she was unwilling to break the contract they had made. Maybe it was his conscience only, maybe it was both his conscience and his love. Arabella believed it was the latter, and defended him at a later date, when he was censured before her for his public revocation of their betrothal, saying, 'He did no more in this case than Abraham and Isaac had done who disclaimed their wives for a time.'

However, for three months Arabella remained in favour at court, while she was secretly plotting for the consummation of her marriage with Seymour. About Whitsuntide 1610,

meeting a friend, Edward Rodney, at Lambeth, Seymour took him into his secret confidence, and told him he found himself bound in conscience by reason of a former pledging of his faith to the Lady Arabella and that he had therefore resolved to marry her, fearing no other let nor obstacle than his grandfather.' It was not until the middle of June that the marriage arrangements were ready. On the 21st day of that month Seymour fetched his friend Rodney as witness to the marriage, and Rodney agreed to go, nothing doubting of the king's consent.' The two went by boat to Greenwich at midnight, and sat in the Lady Arabella's chamber until between three and four in the morning, when the marriage was solemnised. Four of Arabella's servants were present as witnesses, Mr. Biron and Mrs. Bradshaw, Edward Kirton and Edward Reeves, besides her gentleman usher and her faithful steward, Hugh Crompton. One Blagew, sonne to the Deane of Rochester,' was the minister who married them. Such is the account given both by William Seymour in his confession, and by Hugh Crompton in his account-book for those years, found by Canon Jackson at Longleat.1 Crompton finishes his brief but expressive notes on the event :—

'The 8 of July Mr Sey (sic.)

Was comyted to Tower

The 9 of the same month

My La. to Sr Thos. Parryes.'

The warrant to Sir Thomas Parry ordered him to restrain Arabella in close confinement in his house at Lambeth. The confinement soon became easy by the indulgence of her gaoler, and, by means of a certain servant called Smyth, Arabella was able to carry on a secret correspondence with her husband, who on the plea of decaying health had successfully petitioned the Privy Council to allow him the liberty of the Tower. Unfortunately only one of these

1 Wilts Arch. Mag., xv. 203.

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LADY ARABELLA (STUART) SEYMOUR. From an engraving in the British Museum. (John Whittakers sculpt.)

letters, one written by Arabella, still exists. If only some of Seymour's letters had also been preserved it might enable posterity to form a truer idea of his attitude towards his royal wife. Arabella's own letter gives a touching picture of her love and unselfish courage. 'I am exceeding sorry to hear you have not binne well,' she begins, '. . . . if it be a cold I will impute it to some sympathy betwixt us, having myself gotten a so swollen cheeke at the same time with a colde.' Nothing terrified her but the fear of her own failing health, and that she might only live to have enjoyed so great a blessing,' as himself so little a while. 'No separation,' she writes, "but that deprives me of the comfort of you, for whearsoever you be in what state soever you are it sufficeth me you are mine.' 'I assure you,' she continues later, nothing the State can do with me can trouble me so much as this neues of your being ill doth, and you see when I am troubled I trouble you too with tedious kindnesse, for, so I think you will account so long a letter, yourself not having written to me this good while so much as how you do, but, sweet Sir, I speak this not to trouble you with writing, but when you please.'

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Meanwhile, Arabella was addressing petition after petition to the king and queen, begging for her own and her husband's release. She bids James consider that she could have taken no other course, seeing that after the betrothal of February she was then the wife of him that now I am,' and that she could never have matched with any other man, but to have lived all the days of my life as an harlot.' In every case the petitions seem to have been delivered through the mediumship of the queen, who told Lady Drummond that the only answer his Majesty had given was that Arabella had eaten of the forbidden tree.' The queen herself preserved her friendship for Arabella as far as she dared, and sent messages and tokens to her 1 Harl. MS. 7003, fol. 150.

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