Letters. 1220To her dearest son Henry (age 12), by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, earl of Anjou, Isabella (age 32), by the same grace queen of England, lady of Ireland, duchess of Normandy and Aquitaine, countess of Anjou and Angoulême, sends health and her maternal benediction.

We hereby signify to you that when the Earls of March and Eu departed this life, the lord Hugh de Lusignan (age 37) remained alone and without heirs in Poitou, and his friends would not permit that our daughter should be united to him in marriage, because her age is so tender, but counselled him to take a wife from whom he might speedily hope for an heir; and it was proposed that he should take a wife in France, which if he had done, all your land in Poitou and Gascony would be lost. We, therefore, seeing the great peril that might accrue if that marriage should take place, when our counsellors could give us no advice, ourselves married the said Hugh earl of March (age 37); and God knows that we did this rather for your benefit than our own. Wherefore we entreat you, as our dear son, that this thing may be pleasing to you, seeing it conduces greatly to the profit of you and yours; and we earnestly pray you that you will restore to him his lawful right, that is Niort, the castles of Exeter [Map] and Rockingham [Map], and 3500 marks, which your father, our former husband, bequeathed to us; and so, if it please you, deal with him, who is so powerful, that he may not remain against you, since he can serve you well - for he is wdl-disposed to serve you faithfully with all his power; and we are certain and undertake that he shall serve you well if you will restore to him his rights, and, therefore, we advise that you take opportune counsel on these matters; and, when it shall please you, you may send for our daughter, your sister, by a trusty messenger and your letters patent, and we will send her to you.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1603. 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).

St Leonard's Church, Rockingham [Map]. The South (Watson) Chapel of St Leonard's Church, Rockingham, Northamptonshire which contains many monuments and memorials to the Watson family of Rockingham Castle who have owned and lived there since the 15th century..