Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 01 Jan 1616. Upon New Year’s day¹ I kept my chamber all day, my Lady Rich and my Sister Sackville supping with me but my Lord and all the company at Dorset House went to see the Masque at the Court.

Note 1. Jan. 1616. The 1st day Sir George Villiers (age 23) was made Master of the Horse and my Lord of Worcester (age 66) Privy Seal.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 17 Feb 1616. Upon the 17th my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (age 53), my Lord William Howard (age 52)¹, my Lord Rous (age 25), my Coz. Russell (age 23), my Brother Sackville (age 25) and a great company of men of [erased in MS.] were all in the Gallery at Dorset House where the Archbishop (age 53) took me aside and talked with me privately one hour and half and persuaded me both by Divine and human means to set my hand to their arguments. But my answer to his Lordship was that I would do nothing till my Lady and I had conferred together. Much persuasion was used by him and all the company, sometimes terrifying me and sometimes flattering me, but at length it was concluded that I should have leave to go to my Mother (age 55) and send an answer by the 22nd of March next, whether I will agree to the business or not, and to this prayer my Lord of Canterbury (age 53) and the rest of the Lords have set their hands.

Note 1. Her husband's uncle.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 10 Apr 1616. Upon the 10th we went from Ware to Tottenham where my Lord's (age 27) coach with his men and horses met me and came to London to the lesser Dorset House.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 03 May 1616. Upon the 3rd came Baskett¹ down from London and brought me a letter from my Lord (age 27) by which I might see it was his pleasure that the Child should go the next day to London, which at the first was somewhat grievous to me, but when I considered that it would both make my Lord (age 27) more angry with me and be worse for the Child, I resolved to let her go, after I had sent for Mr Legg and talked with him about that and other matters and wept bitterly.²

Note 1. Mr. Peter Baskett, Gentleman of the Horse.

Note 2. My Lady Margaret lay in the Great Dorset House. For now my Lord (age 27) and his whole company was removed from the Lesser Dorset House where I lay when I was first married.

About this time died my Lord of Shrewsbury (age 63) at his House in Broad Street.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 01 Jul 1616. Upon the 1st Lord Hobart came to Dorset House where I acknowledged a fine to him of a great part of my thirds in my Lord's (age 27) land but my Lord (age 27) gave me his faithful word and promise that in Michaelmas 'Term next he would make me a jointure of the full thirds of his living. About 1 o’clock I set forward on my journey. My Lord (age 27) brought me down to the coach side where we had a loving and kind parting¹.

Note 1. About this time Acton (Note: Acton Curvett, chief footman) my Lord’s Footman, lost his race to my Lord Salisbury and my Lord (age 27) lost 200 twenty shilling pieces by betting on his side.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 18 Dec 1616Upon the 18th I alighted at Islington where my Lord (age 27) who came in my Lady Witby Pole’s coach which he borrowed, my Lady Effingham the widow, my Sister Beauchamp, and a great many more came to meet me so that we were in all 10 or 11 coaches and so I came to Dorset House where the Child met me in the Gallery. The house was well dressed up against I came.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1617. 14 Mar 1617. The 14th I made an end of my Irish stitch cushion. This afternoon Basket came from London and told me that my Lord (age 27) and my Uncle were agreed and the writings sealed.

The King set forward this day on his journey to Scotland, the Queen and Prince going with him to Thibalds¹.

Note 1. The 14th being Friday my Uncle Cumberland and my Coz. Clifford came to Dorset House where my Lord (age 27) and they signed and sealed the writings and made a final conclusion of my business and did what they could to cut me off from my right, but I referred my cause to GOD.

Upon this Friday or Saturday died my Lord Chancellor Egerton (age 77), Lady Derby's (age 67) husband.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1617. 07 May 1617. The 7th my Lord Keeper rode from Dorset House to Westminster in great pomp and state, most of the Lords going with him, amongst which my Lord (age 28) was one.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1617. 16 Jul 1617. The 16th Lady Wootton came here on horseback, she and my Lord (age 28) having lain that night at Sir Percival Hart’s, and so hunted a deer as far as Otford; she stay’d not above an hour in regard she saw I was so resolutely bent not to part with Westmoreland.

Note 1. At Lullingstone Castle.

Note 2. About this time Lord Keeper and all his Company left Dorset House. [Q: House.]

Diary of Anne Clifford 1617. 25 Dec 1617. The 25th Christmas Day Mr [blank in MS.] preached in the Chapel and my Lord (age 28) and I dined below, there being great housekeeping all this Xmas at Dorset House.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1619. 26 Oct 1619. The 26th I kept James Wray a day or two who told me of many old matters and the certain day of the death of my Brother Robert¹.

Note 1. Son of George Earl of Cumberland, died in his childhood.

The 28th the Palsgrave was crowned King of Bohemia at Prague and the 25th the Lady Elizabeth was crowned Queen.

About the end of this month my Sister Beauchamp came from Glenham altogether and came to live with my Sister Sackville at the end of Dorset House which end my Brother Sackville and my Lord (age 30) did lately repair and make fine.