In Shrewsbury's case, he was the jailer of Mary, Queen of Scots and likely felt responsible to handle all aspects of her imprisonment personally. For this reason we are given a brief account in the following letter of the security under which she is being held.
Shrewsbury's son, Gilbert Talbot, proved particularly adept at handling his family's affairs and keeping his father apprized through highly informative letters. His information was as much about Court politics as anything, and this, too, was vitally important for his father to know. To know the most up to date news on the Queen, the Earl of Leicester, of Oxford, the Great Lord Treasurer and dozens more provided vital color and context ̶ perhaps even prurient interest.
Being young, Gilbert likely found the atmosphere and his father's trust exhilarating. It was also perfect training toward the time when he would next be earl
We have covered another agent, Rowland Whyte, elsewhere in Virtual Grub Street [link]. Whyte served Sir Robert Sidney who was generally out of country as the governor of Flushing in the Lowlands. Dudley Carleton, secretary to Sir Edward Norreys, at Ostend, in Flanders, received his gossip from John Chamberlain. Carleton could not afford to pay for such agents at that early point in his career. Chamberlain was, then, a vitally important friend who got his information as much from meeting contacts in the aisles of St. Paul's cathedral [link], the popular gathering place of all ranks of Londoners.
GILBERT TALBOT TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY.
My most humble duty remembered, right honour able my singular good Lord and father; because of the convenience of the bearer hereof, I have thought good to advertise your Lordship of the estate of some here at the Court, as near as I have learned by my daily experience.
My Lord Treasurer, even after the old manner, dealeth with matters of the state only, and beareth himself very uprightly. My Lord Leicester is very much with her Majesty, and she shews the same great good affection to him that she was wont; of late he has endeavoured to please her more than heretofore. There are two sisters now in the Court that are very far in love with him, as they have been long; my Lady Sheffield and Frances Howard;
they (of like striving who shall love him better) are at great wars together, and the Queen thinketh not well of them, and not the better of him; by this means there are spies over him. My Lord of Sussex goes with the tide, and helps to back others ; but his own credit is sober, considering his estate : he is very diligent in his office, and takes great pains. My Lord of Oxford1 is lately grown into great credit; for the Queen's Majesty delighteth more in his personage, and his dancing, and valiantness, than any other. I think Sussex doth back him all that he can; if it were not for his fickle head, he would pass any of them shortly. My Lady Burghley unwisely has declared herself, as it were, jealous2, which is come to the Queen's ear; whereat she has been not a little offended with her, but now she is reconciled again. At all these love matters my Lord Treasurer winketh, and will not meddle any way. Hatton3 is sick still: it is thought he will very hardly recover his disease, for it is doubted it is in his kidneys: the Queen goeth almost every day to see how he doth. Now are there devices (chiefly by Leicester, as I suppose, and not without Burghley's knowledge) how to make Mr. Edward Dyer4 as great as ever was Hatton; for now, in this time of Hatton's sickness, the time is convenient. It is brought thus to pass: Dyer lately was sick of a consumption, in great danger; and, as your Lordship knows, he has been in displeasure these two years, it was made the Queen believe that his sickness came because of the continuance of her displeasure towards him, so that unless she would forgive him, he was like not to recover; and hereupon her Majesty has forgiven him, and sent unto him a very comfortable message; now he is recovered again, and this is the beginning of this device. These things I learn of such young fellows as myself.
Two days since, Doctor Wilson told me he heard say that your Lordship, with your charge, was removed to Sheffield Lodge, and asked me whether it was so or not: I answered I heard so also; that you were gone thither of force till the castle could be cleansed. And, further, he willed to know whether your Lordship did so by the consent of the council, or not: I said I knew not that, but I was certain your Lordship did it upon good ground. I earnestly desired him, of all friendship, to tell me whether he had heard any thing to the contrary; which he sware he never did, but asked because, he said, once that Lady should have been conveyed from that house. Then I told him what great heed and care you had to her safe keeping; especially being there that good numbers of men, continually armed, watched her day and night, and both under her windows, over her chamber, and of every side her; so that, unless she could transform herself to a flea or a mouse, it was impossible that she should escape.
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I end, this 11th of May, 1573.
Your Lordship's most humble and obedient son,
Gilbert Talbot.
1Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.
2Lady Burghley was jealous because the Queen allowed Edward de Vere, th Earl of Oxford, to attend at Court without the Countess of Oxford, her daughter. For more on the subject, see my Shakespeare in 1573: Apprenticeship and Scandal (2021). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096GSQV14/ and my Edward De Vere was Shake-speare: at long last, the proof (2013, 2017). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H0L2758/
3Elizabeth's Vice-Chamberlain at the time. He is reputed to have become a favorite because he danced so well.
4Edward Dyer eventually became Chancellor of the Order of the Garter.
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