Lucy, Sir Thomas

Sir Thomas Lucy wrote to Lord Robert Dudley :

Right honorable and my singular good lorde pleaseth it youar honor to be advertised that according youar lordships request and my one promise I have sent you my servaunt Burnell whom I fear will not be hable to doo yor lordshipp such sarvice as I could wish nor as his hart woold sarve, for that by occasion of longe sickness his strength is greatly decayed, and thereby his shuting much hindered. Your lordshipp must take hede in making off yor matches that Burnell be not overmarked for that at this instante he is hable to shute no farr ground (which iff youar lordshipp forsee I doo not mistrust but he will be able to shute with the best). Thus as one off the best off youar lordship's friends in power or habilitie to doo youar lordshipp any sarvice or pleasure (although as willing as the greatist in hart and good will as youar lordshipp shall well understand when occasion shall sarve) I commend you unto almightie God who send you long life in the feare off God with increace of honor according to your lordship's one desier from Charlecot the viiith off April! at your lordship's commandemant during life.

THOMAS LUCY.

(Addressed) To the Right Honorable and his singuler good Lord my L. Robert Dudleye, Mr. of the Quenes horse, &c.*

There is no date to the letter. Dudley was appointed Master of the Horse 1558, and he became Earl of Leicester 1563. It must have been between these dates.

Stopes, C.C,: Shakespeare's Warwickshire contemporaries, Shakespeare Head Press, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1907