TALBOT585

1874
April 27.

Caro Kinsmanno! ¹

I greatly enjoy a little Floral or historical gossip with you. In this instance it is the latter & you must please to explain how & why Sir William Sharington ² followed the example of his Betters? & like King Charles ³ “walked and talked after his head was cut off” – I happened to light upon the Journal of King Edward 6^{th 4} “writ withe hys owne hande” – and under the date 1548, is the following entry –

“The Lord Sudley Admiral of England was condemned to death & died in March ensuing. Sir William Sharington was also condemned for making false coin, which he himself confessed.⁵ Divers also were put in the Tower.” ⁶

“1549 April. Commission to Sir John Davies & Sir Will^m Sharington to receive the first Payment and deliver the Quittance” – apparently from the K. of France.

Please enlighten my ignorance & say whether the false coining took place in his own room at Lacock! – and all about it –

Your sister Caroline ⁷ is too bad. I sent her some curious letters last February written by Miss Fox to your Mother ⁸ – temp. ⁹ Bonaparte & Elba ¹⁰ and she has never even taken the trouble to acknowledge them. I was too very ill at the time but w^d not like the said letters being wasted & lost – & certainly am disappointed to find she does not value them. –

I wish I could shew you the M.S. Journal kept by my Aunt Mary Frampton ¹¹ – with notes & additions by myself – it is very amusing & interesting. –

We have splendid weather, only it is rather too hot so suddenly – before one has discarded winter habits & garments. I never saw the Oaks burst so quickly – Uncle W^{ms 12} loveliest of dwarf Turquoise blue Iris is in full blow – 6 weeks earlier than last year. It is my favorite Flower & we have a collection of first rate Irises. Constance ¹³ being still at Bath it is useless to send her my love: especially as we have been corresponding lately.

Y^r aff Cousin
H. G Mundy