On March 3rd, 1610, the one time Lord Mayor of London Sir John Spencer died, leaving behind a vast fortune to be inherited not by his daughter, Elizabeth, whom he had often treated terribly, but to her husband, Lord William Compton—an amount so large, in fact, that Compton was said to have “lost his way” for some time. It was in 1618, when Compton’s health was restored, that Elizabeth wrote him the following letter and listed the many ways in which was to spend some of her late father’s money.
Olivia Colman joined us to read this letter at Letters Live at the Union Chapel in 2019.
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Olivia is a national treasure, I love her personality and her acting is peerless. Shockingly sharp sense of humour too.
❤
It says from a wife to a husband, so was this after they were already married or was this her letter in response to his proposal, her being up front in the expectation of what she wants in order to become his wife?
Out of context it's funny.
In context it's her fckin money, and her loser husband was wasting it.
ive stuck this in an inflation calculator and 25000 in 1609 is £5,132,199.97 – either i dont know how rich people talk or this is an inside joke between them
The only filmstar/celebrity I saw out in the streets during the hight of covid feeding the homeless. Respect.
Brilliant
Sounds as if the letter were penned by the good Wyfe Bucket.
Does anyone know what happened to Elizabeth?
Hilariously read!
Reading the background of where the money came from, & comments about the husband, it sounds like she was endeavouring to protect her family fortune & the future for her children, albeit at a level beyond any of our comprehension!
Both ladies, writer and reader, are equipped with skills well beyond what is normal, methinks. Olivia is marvellous and real; love her wit.
ALSO
Luvvies know which side their bread is buttered.
This is hysterical. Olivia says it like no one can. The Good Dame should've just made a fracking list.
If i should ever divorce from my husband i will be writing my fair claims like this 😂
Here I thought Women of today delusional! Especially in America!
It says that she's reading a letter from the 17th century, wasn't like 1 pound able to buy dinner for a week, an entire wardrobe, several maids!?
Clearly I’m being sarcastic! But this lady what is the meaning so much money in the 1600s
Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong….
Women ! !
Bitch better have my money.
Good GRAVY that woman is entitled! I guess entitlement is nothing new after all?
She will make incredible Professor McGonagall if she did in the new HP series.
Wow they must have been the super rich
I have now declared that I will never get another reasonable thing done in the foreseeable future and I blame it all on Olivia Colman and her reading of this letter.