III.

Examined whether I did give him a small ring of gold BOOK upon this condition, that he should never give it away. To my knowledge I never gave him no such ring, but I am assured upon no such condition.

Examined whether the shirt, band, and sleeves were of my own work. They were not of my work; but, as I remember, Clifton's wife of Lambeth wrought them.

And as for the bracelet of silkwork, I never gave him none; and if he have any of mine, he took it from me.

As for any ruby, I never gave him none to set in ring, nor for other purpose. As for the French fenel, Deram did not give it me, but he said there was a little woman in London with a crooked back, who was very cunning in making all manner of flowers. And I desired him to cause her to make a French fenel for me, and I would pay him again when I had money. And when I was first come into court, I paid him as well for that, as for diverse other things, to the value of five or six pound. And truth it is, that I durst not wear the said French fenel, until I had desired my lady Breerton to say that she gave it me.

As for a small ring with a stone, I never lost none of his, nor he never gave me none.

As for velvet and satten for billyments, a cap of velvet with a feather, a quilted capp of sarcenet and money, he did not give me, but at my desire he laid out money for them to be paid again. For all which things I paid him, when I came into the court. And yet he bought not for me the quilted cap, but only the sarcenet to make it of. And I delivered the same to a little fellow in my lady's house, as I remember, his name was Rose, an embroiderer, to make it what work he thought best, and not appointing him to make it with Freer's knots, as he can testify, if he be a true man. Neverthelesse, when it was made, Deram said, What wife here be Freer's knots for Fraunce.

As for the indenture and obligation of an hundred pound, he left them in my custody, saying, that if he never came again, he gave them clearly unto me. And when I asked

PART him whether he went, he said he would not tell me untill his return.

III.

Examined whether I called him husband, and he me wife. I do answer, that there was communication in the house that we two should marry together; and some of his enemies had envy thereat, wherefore, he desired me to give him leave to call me wife, and that I would call him husband. And I said I was content. And so after that, commonly he called me wife, and many times I called him husband. And he used many times to kiss me, and so he did to many other commonly in the house. And, I suppose, that this be true, that at one time when he kissed me very often, some said that were present, they trowed that he would never have kissed me enough. Whereto he answered, Who should lett him to kiss his own wife? Then said one of them, I trowe this matter will come to passe as the common saying is. What is that? quoth he. Marry, said the other, That Mr. Deram shall have Mrs. Katherine Howard. By St. John, said Deram, you may guesse twice, and guesse worse. But that I should wink upon him, and say secretly, What and this should come to my lady's ear? I suppose verily there was no such thing.

As for carnall knowledge, I confess as I did before, that diverse times he hath lyen with me, sometime in his doublet and hose, and two or thre times naked: but not so naked that he had nothing upon him, for he had alwayes at the least his doublet, and as I do think, his hose also, but I mean naked when his hose were putt down. And diverse times he would bring wine, strawberryes, apples, and other things to make good chear, after my lady was gone to bed. But that he made any special banquet, that by appointment between him and me, he should tarry after the keyes were delivered to my lady, that is utterly untrue. Nor I never did steale the keyes my self, nor desired any person to steal them, to that intent and purpose to lett in Deram, but for many other causes the doores have been opened, sometime over night, and sometime early in the morning, as well at

III.

the request of me, as of other. And sometime Deram hath BOOK come in early in the morning, and ordered him very lewdly, but never at my request, nor consent.

And that Wilks and Baskervile should say, what shifts should we make, if my lady should come in suddenly. And I should answer, that he should go into the little gallery. I never said that if my lady came he should go into the gallery, but he hath said so himself, and so he hath done indeed.

As for the communication of my going to the court, I remember that he said to me, that if I were gone, he would not tarry long in the house. And I said again, that he might do as he list. And further communication of that matter, I remember not. But that I should say, it grieved me as much as it did him, or that he should never live to say thou hast swerved, or that the teares should trickle down by my cheeks, none of them be true. For all that knew me, and kept my company, knew how glad and desirous I was to come to the court.

As for the communication after his coming out of Ireland, is untrue. But as far as I remember, he then asked me, if I should be married to Mr. Culpepper, for so he said he heard reported. Then I made answer, What should you trouble me therewith, for you know I will not have you; and if you heard such report, you heard more than I do know.

Number 73.

Katherine Howard.

A letter of sir W. Paget's, of his treating with the admiral

of France. An original.

Office.

PLEASE it your most excellent majestie to be advertised Paperthat the 16th of this present, I received letters from my lordes, and others of your majesties privey counsail, conteyning such several conferences as your majestie, and certain of your said counsail, have had with the French ambassader there sithens my last dispeche. And yesterday having the furst opertunitie to speke with the admiral, I said unto

III.

PART him, that albeit it was likelyhode that the king, his master's ambassader then in England, did from time to time advertise them of the processe of the matier now in treatie; yet your majestie reputing him to be a man of honor and singular vertue, and such a one, as with right judgment doth consyder the hole state of his master's causes, with the circumstances; and therefore conceiving no little affection towards him, had commanded me to signifie unto him, to the intent he might knowe certainly the plainnes of every thing, what communication had now last been had with their ambassodor there. For the which, rising from his seate, and making a gret and humble reverence; after that he had given thanks unto your majestie, and with two or three great othes declared his affection towards you; I entred the accomplishment of your majesties commandment. And when I had declared unto him from point to point at length, and word by word (for it was a lesson meet to be learned without book) as is conteyned in the said letter, aswel the communicacion had with your counsail at the furst congresse, and such kingly and philosophicall conference as your majestie had with him your self; as also the seven points uttered by your majesties counsail at their last assemblies; and finally, the epiloge of all together pronounced of your said counsail as of themselfs; which he herd all together, not without twenty sighes, and casting up his eyes, for I marked him when he was not ware of it; accrossing himself, and gyving a gret sigh, he saide, As for the amytie which ought to be between our masters, how much I have travailed, and do travaile for the confirmation of it, God is my judge; and almost all the world knoweth that I am an English-French man, and that next after my master, I esteem the king your master's finger, more than I do any prince's body in all the world, and would be glad to give all the goods I have in the world, that this matter went through between them; for I perceive by my master that he will not lyve alone, and yet I am sure he will seek no new friendship, nor accept none offred, until the king your master have refused this. As touching this matter, I knowe

;

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they be two princes of such honour, and of wise conduct in BOOK all their things; that though this marriage had never been spoken of, they would have continued friends according to their treaties, and this overture was never opened, neither for confirmation, nor for encrease of amitie between them for greater cannot be, but marriage and commiction of blood with blood, doth unite and knit generation to generation, and posteritie; the benefit whereof how great it will be; how many inconveniencies may therby be avoided by processe of time; the wisest man may soner think then be able to express. But, alas, said he, what is two hundred thousand crowns to give in marriage with so great a king's daughter to monsieur Dorleans. Four hundred, five hundred thousand is nothing to him; monsieur Dorleans is a prince of great courage; monsieur Dorleans doth aspire to great things, and such is his fortune, or els I am wonderfully deceyved. It will grieve my master much when he shall here of this basse offer, as we have not herd yet from our ambassador; I marvail therof not a little; nay to tell you plainly, as one friend shuld tell another, there is farre gretter offers, if we would herken unto them, we might have in redy money with the daughter of Portugall, foure hundred thousand ducates, with the increase that hath grown of it sithens her father's departure, which will amount to asmuch and more. At the furst breaking of this matter, it was said the man must desyre the woman; now that we have desired her, you will give nothing with her, for what is two hundred thousand crowns, and herewithall giving a great sigh, stayed. And I because I perceived his tale, such as was meet to be answered, said unto him, Monsieur l'admiral I have no more to say unto you on my master's behalf, then I have said unto you allready. But for be cause you have made a long discourse as it were sumewhat replying to that that I have reaported; if it shall like you to give me leave to say myn own fantasye, as a man that would this thing shuld take effect, if it may be equally done, I woll saye it. Yes, quoth he, with all my hart: why shuld not we talke together friendly, as two that be servants