Written while Leicester and the English troops awaited the arrival of the Spanish Armada. Leicester reports "all thing[es] as well as quyett & as forwardly bent to y[ou]r s[er]vyce as any soldyers or subiect[es] in [th]e world ca[n] be," adding "I may not forgett vppon my knees to yeld to yo[u]r mōōst swete ma[ies]ty." He mentions the arrival of Lord Ormond and Mr. Stanhope who have come to review the troops. In two instances, Leicester adds eyebrows over the o's is "moost" and he draws eyes before his signature at the end as a reference to the Queen's nickname for him, her "Eyes."
Note
Bifolium. Sealed with Dudley's personal coat of arms (a bear and ragged staff badge within the garter) over lime-green embroidery floss ties. Addressed: To [th]e Q[ueens] most exce[llen]te Ma[ies]ty. Dated: from Tylbury this Saturday. Signed: "by yo[u]r most faythfull & most obedient [eyes symbol] R. Leycester." Contemporary endorsement: Lecester. Tilburie. Letter is undated; date based on internal evidence and research of Simon Adams.
Publications about material
Infinite variety : exploring the Folger Shakespeare Library / edited by Esther Ferington. Seattle : Distributed by University of Washington Press, c2002, p. 68-69. "The pen's excellencie" : treasures from the manuscript collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library / compiled and edited by Heather Wolfe. Seattle : Distributed by University of Washington Press, 2002, p.
Provenance
Formerly Folger MS Add 1006. The Hulton Papers (Sotheby's (London), December 14, 1992, lot 1).
Source of acquisition
Gift of Dorothy Rouse-Bottom, 1998.
Exhibited
Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2000. Decade of Collecting (catalog entry 12) Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2022. "The Pen's Excellencie" Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2003. Elizabeth I (catalog p. 73) Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2004-2005. Letterwriting in Renaissance England (catalog entry 41)
