Dec 1602. In Christmas I used to go much to the Court and sometimes did I lie at my Aunt Warwick's (age 54)¹ chamber on a pallet, to whom I was much bound for her continual love and care of me, in so much as if Queen Elizabeth had lived she intended to prefer me to be of the Privy Chamber for at that time there was as much hope and expectation of me as of any other young lady whatsoever. A little after the Queen removed to Richmond she began to grow sickly, my Lady used to go thither and carry me with her in the coach and using to wait in the Coffee Chamber and many times came home very late. About the 21st or 22nd of March my Aunt of Warwick (age 54) sent my Mother (age 42) word about 9 o'clock at night (she living then at Clerkenwell,) that she should remove to Austin Friars her house, for fear of some commotions, the God in his Mercy did deliver us from it.

Note 1. Her mother’s sister [Anne Russell Countess Warwick (age 54) were], married to Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick.

Mar 1603. About this time my Aunt of Bath¹ and her lord (age 45) came to London and brought with them my Lord Fitzwarren (age 12) and my cousin Frances Bouchier (age 16), whom I met at Bagshot, where I lay all night with my cousin, and Mrs Mary Carey², which was the first beginning of the greatness between us.

Note 1. Her mother’s sister.

Note 2. Unclear as to who "Mary Carey" is. Probably Mary Carey who married John "Jack for the King" Arundell (age 27).

Mar 1603. About five miles from London there met them my Mother (age 42), my Lord of Bedford (age 30)¹ and his Lady (age 23), my uncle Russell (age 45), and much other company, so that we were in number about three hundred, which did all accompany them to Bath House where they continued most of that summer, whither I went daily and visited them, and grew daily more inward with my cousin Frances (age 16) and Mrs Carey. About this time my Aunt Warwick went to meet the Queen (age 28), having Mrs Bridges (age 25) with her and my Aunt Vavisor (age 43). My Mother and I should have gone with them, but that her horse (which she borrowed of Mrs Elmes,) and old Mr Hickley were not ready, yet I went the same night and overtook my aunt at Tittinhanger, Lady Blount’s house, where my Mother came to me the next day about noon, my aunt being gone before. Then my Mother and I went on our journey to overtake her, and killed three horses that day with extremity of heat, and came to Wrest, my Lord of Kent’s, where we found the doors shut and none in the house but one servant, who only had the keys of the hall, so that we were forced to lie in the hall all night, till towards morning, at which time came a man and let us into the higher rooms where we slept three or four hours. This morning we hasted away betimes and came that night to Rockingham Castle [Map], where we overtook my Aunt Warwick, and her company, where we continued a day or two with old Sir Edward Watson (age 54) and his Lady (age 57), then we went to Lady Needham’s (age 43) who once served my Aunt of Warwick, and from thence to a sister of hers whose name I have forgotten.

Note 1. Edward, 3rd Earl (age 30), and his Lady, Lucy (age 23), daughter of Lord Harrington (age 63).

Mar 1603. Thither came my Lady of Bedford (age 23) who was so great a woman with the Queen (age 28) as everybody much respected her, she having attended the Queen (age 28) out of Scotland. The next day we went to M! Griffin of Dingley’s which was the first time I ever saw the Queen (age 28) and Prince Henry (age 9), when she kissed us all and used us kindly; thither came also my Lady of Suffolk (age 39), my young Lady Derby (age 27) and Lady Walsingham (age 36), which three ladies were the great favourites of Sir Robert Cecil (age 39). That night we went along with the Queen’s train, there being an infinite number of coaches and, as I take it, my aunt and my Mother and I lay at Sir Richard Knightley’s [Map] where Lady Elizabeth Knightley (age 23) made exceeding much of us.

25 Jun 1603. The same night my Mother (age 42) and I and my Aunt Vavisor (age 43) rid on horseback through country, and went to a gentleman’s house where the Lady Elizabeth (age 6)¹ her Grace lay, which was the first I ever saw her, my Lady Kildare and the Lady Harrington (age 49) being her governesses. The same night we returned to Sir Richard Knightley’s [Map].

Note 1. Princess Elizabeth (age 6), eldest daughter of lords and ladies and other people that the county could scarce lodge them. From there the Court removed and were banqueted with great royalty by my father at Grafton [Map] where the King and Queen (age 28) were entertained with speeches and delicate presents at which time my Lord and the Alexanders did run a course at the field where he hurt Henry Alexander very dangerously. Where the Court lay this night I am uncertain. At this time of the King’s being at Grafton, my Mother was there, but not held as mistress of the house, by reason of the difference between my Lord and her, which was grown to a great height. The night after, my Aunt of Warwick, my Mother and I (as I take it,) lay at D™ Challoner’s, where my Aunt of Bath and my Uncle Russell met us, which house my grandfather of Bedford used to lie much at, being at Amersham. James I (age 37) and Anne of Denmark (age 28), born 1596. [ED.]

26 Jun 1603. The next day we went along with the Queen (age 28) to Althorpe [Map]¹ Lord Spencer’s (age 33) house, where my Mother saw my cousin Henry Clifford (age 12)², my uncle’s (age 44) son, which was the first time we ever saw him.

Note 1. Here Ben Jonson’s Masque of the Fairies was performed. ED.

The Queen (age 28) and Prince came to Althorpe the 25th of June, on Saturday; my mother, Aunt Warwick and I not till the next day, which Sunday was kept with great solemnity, there being an infinite number of lords and ladies. There we saw the Queen’s (age 28) favour to Lady Hatton (age 22) and Lady Cecil, for she shewed no favour to the elderly ladies, but to Lady Rich and such like company.

Note 2. Afterwards 5th and last Earl of Cumberland.

27 Jun 1603. From thence the 27th being Monday, the Queen (age 28) went to Hatton where the King (age 37) met her, where there were an infinite number of lords and ladies and other people that the county could scarce lodge them. From there the Court removed and were banqueted with great royalty by my father at Grafton where the King and Queen (age 28) were entertained with speeches and delicate presents at which time my Lord and the Alexanders [Robert Zinzan aka Alexander and Henry Zinzan aka Alexander] did run a course at the field where he hurt Henry Alexander very dangerously. Where the Court lay this night I am uncertain. At this time of the King’s being at Grafton, my Mother (age 42) was there, but not held as mistress of the house, by reason of the difference between my Lord and her, which was grown to a great height. The night after, my Aunt of Warwick, my Mother (age 42) and I (as I take it,) lay at Dr Challoner’s, where my Aunt of Bath and my Uncle Russell met us, which house my grandfather of Bedford used to lie much at, being at Amersham.

28 Jun 1603. The next day, the Queen (age 28) went to a gentleman’s house, whose name I cannot remember, where there met her many great ladies to kiss her hand, as the Marchioness of Winchester, my Lady of Northumberland (age 39), my Lady Southampton (age 31), etc.

Around 30 Jun 1603. From thence the Court removed to Windsor, where the feast of St. George was solemnised though it should have been done before. There I stood with my Lady Elizabeth’s (age 6) Grace in the shrine of the great hall at Windsor, to see the King and all the knights set at dinner. Thither came the Archduke’s Ambassador, who was received by the King and Queen (age 28) in the great hall, where there was such an infinite company of lords and ladies and so great a Court, as I think I shall never see the like again.

Jul 1603. From Windsor the Court removed to Hampton Court, where my Mother and I lay at Hampton Court, in one of the round towers, round about which were tents where they died two or three in a day of the plague. There I fell extremely sick of a fever, so as my Mother (age 42) was in some doubt it might turn to the plague, but within two or three days I grew reasonably well, and was sent away to [Norbury Park, Surrey] my cousin Stiddolph’s, for Mrs Taylor was newly put away from me, her husband dying of the plague shortly after. A little time before this my Mother and I, my Aunt of Bath, and my cousin Frances (age 16), went to North Hall, my Mother being extreme angry with me for riding before with Mr Mene, [sic] where my Mother in her anger commanded that I should lie in a chamber alone, which I could not endure, but my cousin Frances (age 16) got the key of my chamber and lay with me which was the first time I loved her so well.

Jul 1603. The next day Mr Menerill as he went abroad fell down suddenly and died, so as most thought it was the plague which was then very rife ; it put us all in great fear and amazement, for my aunt had then a suit to follow in court and my Mother (age 42) to attend the King about the business between my Father (age 44) and her. My Aunt of Warwick sent us medicines from a house near Hampton Court, where she then lay with Sir Moyle Finch (age 53) and his Lady (age 46). Now was the Master of Orkney (age 37) and the Lord Tilliburne (age 29) much in love with Mrs Carey and came there to see us with George Murray in their company, who was of the King’s bedchamber.

Before 25 Jul 1603Within nine or ten days we were allowed to come to the Court again, which was before I went to my cousin Stiddolph’s.

Aug 1603. After the coronation¹ the Court returned to Hampton Court, where my Mother fetched me from Norbury, and so we lay at a little house near Hampton Court about a fortnight, and my Aunt of Bath lay in Huggin’s Lodgings, where my cousin Frances (age 16) and I and Mary Carey did use to walk much about the house and garden when the King and Queen (age 28) were gone.

Note 1. My Coz. Frances Bouchier (age 16) stood to see the Coronation though she had not robes and went not among the company.

Aug 1603. About this time my cousin Ann Vavisor¹ was married to Sir Richard Warburton. From Hampton Court my Mother went to Lancilwell, Sir Francis Palmer’s house, with my Aunt of Bath, myself, and all our company, where we continued as long as the Court lay at Basingstoke, and I went often to the Queen (age 28) and my Lady Arabella [Stuart] (age 28). Now was my Lady Rich grown great with the Queen (age 28), in so much as my Lady of Bedford was something out with her, and when she came to Hampton Court was entertained, but even indifferently, and yet continued to be of the bedchamber. One day the Queen (age 28) went from Basingstoke and dined at Sir Henry Wallop’s (age 34), where my Lady, my aunt and I had lain two or three nights before and did help to entertain her. As we rode from my Lady Wallop’s (age 20) to Lancilwell, riding late by reason of our stay at Basingstoke, we saw a strange comet in the night like a canopy in the air, which was a thing observed all over England.

Note. It isn't clear who this Anne Vavasour is. She shouldn't be confused with Anne Vavasour (age 43).

Around 02 Nov 1603. Some week or fortnight after my aunt was gone (which was about Michaelmas,) my Lady went from Barton to Green’s Norton and lay one night at my cousin Thomas Sellinger’s, where we saw old Mr Hickln, where he and his daughter proffered Wiliam Poud to serve my Lady to this place, where we came about ten o’clock at night, and I was so weary as I could not tell whether I should eat or sleep first.

Around 03 Nov 1603. The next day we went to North Hall where we found my Aunt of Warwick something ill and melancholy. She herself had not been there passing a month, but lay at Sir Moyle Finch’s in Kent by reason of the great plague which was then much about North Hall. Not long after Michaelmas my Uncle and Aunt Russell, their son, my Lady of Bedford, my Mother and I gave all allowance to Mr Chambers, my aunt’s steward, in which sort the house was kept. During our being there I used to wear my hair coloured velvet every day and learned to sing and play on the bass viol of Jack Fenkins, my aunt’s boy.