179.] which
is about two thousand pounds sterling; which then her Excellency did
deliver to me, saying she thought herself much honoured, and much
contented, that her Majesty had employed her in a business in which
she took so much delight.
I desired her Excellency to lay me at the feet of her Majesty, and to
tell her Majesty that I esteemed the honour according as I ought, of
whose bounty and graces I and mine had abundantly received ever since
our coming into this kingdom. That the ribbon, wherewith the jewel was
tied, coming from her Majesty, was a favour of which I should have
bragged all the days of my life, though I could never have deserved
it; much more did I esteem so rich a jewel her Majesty was pleased to
send me; but, above all, her Majesty's gracious acceptance of my
service, and her Majesty's promise of her grace and favour to me, in
which I desired I might live, giving her Excellency many thanks for
the kindness on her part therein, believing that her Excellency had,
upon all occasions, made my best actions seem double, and winked at my
imperfections, but that which I did certainly know, and desired her
Excellency to believe, was, that I was her Excellency's most humble
servant.
On Tuesday the 24th of March, the Marquesa de Liche visited me, who
had not made a visit before in seven years. On Thursday the 26th, I
returned the visit to her Excellency the Marquesa, who entertained me
with a very fine banquet, and gave to my youngest girl, Betty, a
little basket of silver plate, very richly wrought.
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