ROBERT MARKHAM, born at his father's seat of Sireton, in the year 1536, succeeded his grandfather Sir John in the family estates, and like him was a "valiant consumer of his paternal inheritance." He appears to have been in high esteem with Queen Elizabeth, and in constant attendance upon her. What his office was about the court does not appear, but he seems to have had a shrewd insight into all the intrigues of the time, and yet to have borne himself with great discretion. In a letter to his cousin Sir John Harrington, date 1598, we find a graphic description of the state of parties in the court, combined with much judicious and friendly advice, peculiarly adapted to those dangerous times. It runs as follows- "Notwithstanding the perilous state of our times, I shall not fail to give you such intelligence as may tende to your use and benefite. We have gotten goode accounte of some matters, and as I shall finde some safe conduct for bearinge them to you, it may from time to time happen that I sende you tydinges of our courtly concerns. Since your departure from hence you have been spoken of, and with no ill will, both by the nobles and the quene herselfe. Your booke* is almost forgiven, but not for its want of wit and satyre. Those whom you feared most are now bozominge themselves in the quene's grace; and though her highnesse signified displeasure in outwarde sorte, yet did she like the marrow of your booke. Your greate enemie Sir James did once mention the Starr Chamber, but your goode esteeme in better mindes outdid his endeavours, and all is silent again. The quene is minded to take you to her favour, but she swearethe that she believes you will make epigrams on her and all her courte; she hath been heard to saye, 'That merry poet my godson must not come to Greenwich, tille he hathe growne sober, and leaveth the ladies' sports and frolics." She did conceive much disquiet on being tolde you had aimed a schafte at Leicester; I wish you knew the author of that ill deed, I would not be in his best jerkin for a thousand marks. You yet stand well in her highnesse love, and I heare you are to go to Ireland with the Lieutenant Essex; if so, mark my counsel in this matter: I doubt not your valour nor your labour, but that damnable uncovered honestie will marr your fortunes. * A severe satire on persons in high station, called "Metamorphoses of Ajax," by Sir J. Harrington. "Observe the man who commandethe, and yet is commanded himselfe; he goethe not forthe to serve the queen's realm, but to humour his owne revenge. Be heedful of your bearings, speake not your mind to all you meet. I tell you I have grounds for my caution; Essex hath enemies; he hath friends too; now there are two or three of Mountjoy's kindred sente oute in your armie; they are to reporte all your conduct to us at home. As you love yourselfe, the quene, and me, discover not these matters: if I did not love you they had never been tolde; high concerns deserve high attention; you are to take account of all that passes in your expedition, and kepe journal thereof, unknowne to anie in the companie. This will be expected of you. I have reasons to give for this order; if the Lord Deputy performs in the field what he hath promised in the council all will be well: but, though the quene has granted forgiveness for his late demeanour in her presence, we know not what to thinke hereof. She hathe in all outwarde semblance placed confidence in the man who so lately sought other treatment at her hands. We do sometyme thinke one way, and sometyme another. What betydeth the Lord Deputy is known to him only who knowethe all; but when a man hath so many shewinge friends, and so many unshewinge enemies, who learneth his end here below? I say, do you not meddle in any sorte, nor give your jestinge too freely among them you know not; obey the lord Deputy in all things, but give not your opinion; it may be hearde in England. Tho' you obey, yet seem not advise in anye one pointe; your obeysance may be, and must be, construed well; but your councell may be ill thought of. You have now a secret from one that wishes you all welfare and honour. I know there are overlookers set on you all. So God direct your discretion. Sir William Knolles is not well pleased. The quene is not well pleased. The Lord Deputy may be pleased nowe, but i sore feare what may happen hereafter. The heart of man lieth close hid oftime; men do not carry it in their hand, nor should they do so that wish to thrive in these times and places; I say this that your owne honestie may not shewe itself too muche, and turn to your own ill favour. Stifle your understandinge as much as may be, minde your bookes, and make your jestes, but take heed who they light on. My love hath overcome almoste my confidence and truste which my truthe and place demandethe. I have saide too much for one in my occupation, and yet too little for a friend and kinsman, who putteth himselfe in this harde tryal for your advantage. You have difficult matters to encounter beside Tyrone and the rebels; there is little heed to be had to shewe of affection in state business: I finde thys by those I discourse with daily, and those too of the wiser sorte. If my Lord treasurer had lived longer, matters would go on surer. He was our greate pilote, on whom all caste their eyes and soughte their safety. The quene's highness doth often speake of him in tears, and turn asyde when he is discoursed of; nay even forbiddeth any mention to be made of his name in the council. This I learne by some friendes who are in good likinge with Lord Buckhurst. My sister* bearethe this to you, but doth not knowe what it containethe, nor would I disclose to any woman my dealinges in this sorte; for danger goeth abroad, and silence is the safest armour. The deathe of King Philip was good news to our realme. God did seeme to punish his vain glorie both in life and deathe; it is reported he was eaten up of loathsome vermin, and we knowe what troubles he endured aforetime, and yet got little good but in his Portugal businesse. God speede your journies and keepe you safelie to return to us againe. So wishethe and praiethe "Your lovinge kinsman and friende "ROB MARKHAM." * Sanchia, wife of William de Hardwicke. Thoroton describes a very singular contract entered into between Robert Markham and others, which may probably be accounted for on Markham's part from the scarcity he was reduced to by his extravagance. "In the year 1574, a threefold exchange was made between Robert Markham of Cotham, Esquire, who passed his lands in Kelvington, Alverton, and Balington† to Robert Staunton, Esquire, who passed his in Claypole to Anthony Thorold, Esquire, who passed his to Robert Markham. But Robert Staunton had the hardest bargain, for he gave not only six pounds per annum more rent of land to his cousin Thorold, but also forty pounds in money to his cousin Markham. This was, after two or three years' talking of, at length agreed on and affected at Cotham Sep: 18, 1574" † These seem to have been outlying estates, and the exchange was effected for the purpose of making each estate more compact. In the thirteenth of Elizabeth, Sir Robert Markham was knight of the shire for the county of Nottingham, and high sheriff in the same year. In the twenty-fifth year of the same reign he again served the office of high sheriff, and was elected again in the thirty-first of Elizabeth as knight of the shire for the same county. He was in considerable repute with his royal mistress, and was a stout man at arms, earning for himself a place in that distich of the maiden queen in which she celebrated her four Nottinghamshire knights. "Gervase the gentle,* Stanhope the stout, Markham the lion, and Sutton the lout." * Sir Gervase Clifton, of Clifton, called "gentle Sir Gervase." When Sir Robert died I have not discovered, but he was living during a great part of James the First's reign, as we find by a letter from "his goode cousin" Sir John Harrington, wherin he recounts the exploits of Essex against the rebels,dated 1606, thus outliving the disgrace of his kinsman Si r Griffin Markham, which for a time threw a cloud over the family. Sir Robert was married twice, first to Mary, daughter of Sir Francis Leeke, and secondly to Jane, daughter of William Burnell, by whom he had a son named Roger, who died without issue. By his first wife he had five sons, Robert, who succeeded him, Francis, Gervase, John, and Godfrey; and three daughters, the youngest of whom, named Gertrude, was married to Sir Thomas Sadleir of Standen Court in Hertfordshire. He was the son of Sir Ralph Sadleir, Knight Banneret, the eminent statesman and ambassador in the reign of Henry VIII. Sir Thomas and his wife Gertrude entertained James I. In his progress from Scotland A.D. 1603. They had issue one daughter Gertrude, and Ralph, of whom Isaac Walton makes Venator speak. "To-morrow morning we shall meete a pack of otter dogs of noble Mr. Sadlier, upon Amwell Hill, who will be there so early that they intend to prevent the sun rising." There is a monument of Sir Thomas and his lady in Standen church. Of the sons of Sir Robert we will first speak of Francis, who has given us a few interesting memoranda of his own life, which are so well calculated to point out the manner of the education of the cadets of good families in England at that time, that they are well worth reading. ...