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Auction: 18038 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 3015

Autographs
James Ley (Earl of Marlborough)
1626 (24 May) order of James Ley, Earl of Marlborough to Sir Robert Pye requesting that Pye pay £500 of an agreed sum of £1,700 for a ring sold by Lady Dudley to Charles I. Charles I had already written out a bill for this payment but it had not yet passed through the Privy Seal. Lady Dudley, apparently in a great rush to leave town, requested that £500 be paid either tonight or tomorrow morning. Written on paper lightly folded in the usual manner. Signed "Your very loving friend, Marlborough".


"Sr. Robert Pye whereas his Majestie hath signed a bill for the payment of 1700 unto the Lady Dudly for a ring bought of her, and disposed of by his Majestie, which bill is not yet passed under the Privye Seale; but the Lady being by agreement between her and my Lord Chamberlaine to have Five hundred pounds presently, and being instantly to leave the towne desires she may have the 500 paid this night or to morrow morning ... "


An interesting document detailing how the King was eager to spend an extraordinary amount of money on a ring. Photo

James Ley (1550-1629), Baron Ley, Earl of Marlborough. Ley was a Member of Parliament for Westbury in 1597, judge on the Carmarthen circuit in 1603. Late in his life, he replaced Cranfield as Lord High Treasurer.


Lady Dudley, probably Alice née Leigh who married Sir Robert Dudley as his second wife c. 1596. Dudley was a notable character, involved in property acquisition and charitable activity, and in 1644 received the title of Duchess Dudley.

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Sold for
£200