Wilton, Mary Margaret Stanley Egerton; Wilton, Mary Margaret Stanley Egerton [Hrsg.]: The art of needle-work from the earliest ages: including some notices of the ancient historical tapestries (London: Henry Colburn Publishers, 1841)

286 the days of « good queen bess.”
of ladies of rank, where, without performing any
menial offices, they might be supposed to have their
own understood duties in the household, and had in
return the advantage of a liberal education, and
constant association with the best company. Per-
sons of rank and fortune often retained in their
service many young people of both sexes of good
birth, and bestowed on them the fashionable educa-
tion of the time. Indeed their houses were the
best, if not then the only schools of elegant learn-
ing. The following letter, written in 1595, is from a
young lady thus situated :
“To my good mother Mrs. Pake, at Broumfield,
deliver this.
“ Deare Mother,
“ My humble dutye remembred unto my
father and you, &c. I received upon Weddensday
last a letter from my father and you, whereby, I
understand, it is your pleasures that I should certifie
you what times I do take for my lute, and the rest
of my exercises. I doe for the most part playe of
my lute after supper, for then commonlie my lady
heareth me; and in the morninges, after I am
reddie, I play an hower; and my wrightinge and
siferinge, after I have done my lute. For my draw-
inge I take an hower in the afternowne, and my
French at night before supper. My lady hath not
bene well these tooe or three dayes : she telleth me,
when she is well, that she will see if Hilliard will
come and teche me; if she can by any means she
will, &c. &c.—As touchinge my newe corse in ser-
vice, I hope I shall performe my dutye to my lady