Description:

British Nobility
[Middlesex, England], July 20, 1616
British Courtier in 1616 Member of Parliament Apologizes to Viscount Who Later Became the 1st Earl of Leicester
ALS
[BRITISH NOBILITY.] Francis Carew, alias Darcy, Autograph Letter Signed, to Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, July 20, 1616, [Middlesex, England]. 1 p., 8.125" x 12.5". General toning and some soiling; several small holes with minimal effect on text; repaired loss on right margin, affecting end of eight lines of text.

In this letter, Francis Carew, alias Darcy, writes to Viscount Lisle regarding Lisle's negotiations with Lady Dorothy Devereux Percy, the Countess of Northumberland (ca. 1564-1619). She was the wife of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland (1564-1632), who was one of the wealthiest peers of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Under King James I, Northumberland was a long-time prisoner in the Tower of London, due to a suspicion that he was involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. There, he made himself comfortable and was attended by twenty servants. He patronized several scholars and discussed scientific ideas and smoked tobacco with Sir Walter Raleigh before the latter's execution in 1618.

The negotiations between the Countess and Viscount Lisle had resulted in the 1615 marriage of her elder daughter Lady Dorothy Percy (1598-1659), and his son Robert Sidney (1595-1677), who ultimately succeeded his father as the 2nd Earl of Leicester. Although Carew, alias Darcy, may have been involved in those discussions, in this letter he seems to be asking Lisle's pardon for some offense related to them.

Complete Transcript
Ryght Honorable
I am very sorry I should bee so unfortunate, to deale in a business betwixte so Honorable personadges, so hopefull of good success, wch should in ye end have so bade a progress; ytt is tolde my Lady of Northumberlande, that yor Lordship should entertayne Conference, & that in great forwardness, in a farr meaner place, & of much less reputation wch is very distastfull unto her, & unkindly taken, for albeytt (as shee sayeth) ytt was nott directly eyther moved, or debated between yor selfes, yet was ytt in such a maner proceeded in as shee did not only reserve her selfe very honorably, but also did assure her self, yor Lo[rdshi]p would have all ye Least Intimated, in some sorte yor resolution too surcease therein; before you woulde have entred Conference wth any other, but all these things in ye providence of ye all disposing Allmyghty eyther for our Comforts, or punishments, I wish that it may bee most for yor Honour & happye Comforts of yor Lordp & yors, & must Conclude wth this, yt having Considerately thought of this business, I Confess I know not, where (for many respects) yor Lop should have matched so happelye, & thus humbly Craving pardon for my boldness, desiring my endeavour may bee Censured according to my desires to doo you Servise will ever rest
Yor Honours to bee Comaunded
Fra: Carew ats Darcy
this 20th of July 1616

[Annotation in left margin:]
This Lady was Dorothy the wife of Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland
Capt or other band? of [?] to King James the Second being convicted of misprison of Treason, vict? for admitting his kinsman Tho Percy (after concern'd in the Gunpowder Plot) a Gentleman Pensioner after concerns? knowing him to be a Recusant and not giving him the oathe &c He was fined 30000£, and to remain a Prisoner in the Tower during Life. To that being in Durance?, the Countess his Wife, was in Treaty with the Earl of Leicester for the marriage of the Lady Dorothy her eldest Dter with Robert his eldest son, and though there was some jealousie of his declining the match yet it afterwards took effect, as I have mentioned in the memoirs of the Family.

[Address Panel:]
To ye Ryght Honorable Vicecount Lysle Lo: Chamberlayne to her Majestye att his house in London

Francis Carew alias Darcy (ca. 1560-1641) was born the youngest of ten sons of Sir Arthur Darcy (d. 1561) and Mary Carew. He received a master's degree from Oxfordshire in 1588. He served as a captain of foot in the Low Countries from 1585-1589, France in 1591, and Ireland in 1599, and as a captain of horse in 1601. In 1601, he was elected a member of parliament from Lymington. He served as Equerry of the Stables from at least 1589 to 1613. Although he was the youngest of ten sons, he inherited the Yorkshire forest and manor of Gisburn and some lands in Lincolnshire. In 1611, he inherited the Surrey manor of Walton-on-the-Hill from his childless uncle, Sir Francis Carew. Thereafter, he styled himself "Carew, alias Darcy" but was disappointed that most of his uncle's Surrey property went to his cousin Sir Nicholas Carew, alias Throckmorton (ca. 1567-1644) and tried to overturn his uncle's will. When he was unsuccessful, he sold the Walton manor to Sir Nicholas Carew. In 1616, Carew alias Darcy offered one of his daughters in marriage in an attempt "to remove all jealousy of me from you." Nicholas Carew responded by marrying the widow of a London Draper instead. Although his finances were in disarray from at least 1610, Carew alias Darcy was returned to Parliament for Middlesex in 1621 and again in 1628. During his terms in Parliament, he was particularly concerned with the perceived threat of Catholicism in England and, as a former soldier, military matters.

Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, 1st Earl of Leicester (1563-1626) was born to Sir Henry Sidney, a statesman, and Mary Sidney née Dudley, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. He was educated at Shrewsbury and Christ Church, Oxford, after which he traveled in continental Europe from 1578 to 1583. In 1585, he was elected member of parliament for Glamorganshire. He served in the war against Spain in the Netherlands in 1585 and completed diplomatic missions in 1588 and 1593. He returned to England on the accession of James I in 1603. The king raised him to the peerage as Baron Sidney of Penshurst and appointed him as chamberlain and surveyor to the queen consort, Anne of Denmark. He was created Viscount Lisle in 1605. In July 1618, he became the Earl of Leicester, a title that had become extinct in 1588 at the death of his uncle Robert Dudley. He married twice and had eleven children with his first wife but none with his second.

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