Lot 203
ELIZABETH STUART, QUEEN OF BOHEMIA (1596-1662), DAUGHTER OF KING JAMES VI AND I
AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("ELIZABETH") TO ELIZABETH, WIFE OF HER SECRETARY
Rare Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: 19 June 2019 at 12:00 BST
Description
Sir Albertus Morton, a letter of great affection, concerning death and the choice of a man ("... I did receave your letter and glade you are so well recovered of your sickness, for I woulde [not] have your wish of dying come to you, I love you too well to be willing to loose you... and for the answere you give me concerning Ned Harwood, it is a verie good one, you coulde not have made a better, for though he be a verie honest man, yett I doe not think him good enough for you/what I writt was at his request as you saw by the letter I sent you, and now there is an end of it, the king lying by when I write this commends his love to you, and so doe I to your mood Mother..."), subscribing herself her "true constant frend", one page, 4to, autograph address leaf, tow armorial seals in red wax with the remains of yellow silk ties, close-folded for delivery, guard, printed identification slip, the Hague, 1/11 November, no year [before 1625]
Footnote
Note: A fine Letter by "The Queen of Hearts" to Lady Morton.
Elizabeth Morton's husband, Albertus, was the half-nephew of Sir Henry Wotton, who as well as writing the memorable lines "On his Mistress, the Queen of Bohemia ("You meaner beauties of the night"), celebrated Lady Morton in a poem nearly as famous, "Upon the Death of Sir Albert Morton's Wife": "He first deceased; she for a little tried/To live without him, liked it not, and died". In writing this letter, the Queen uses Lady Morton's maiden name (Apsley): in the salutation she has first written "Deare Apsley" before changing this into "Deare Morton"; and subscribes herself "I am ever deare Apsley". It was, one assumes, written soon after the change of name that came with marriage.