Dearest My Lord.
please to read this missive not with haste
but in serious thought.
Come Sire, and view such unholy state
to which thou hast brought me
at being with child and of hearing lately
of thy touring intent mine heart
starteth in great alarm, as I indisposed
must know for sure that thou be
not going away.
Fie upon that scheme mine Liege for
thou hast in me fathered a babe.
Thou shouldest stay, and embrace mine
own confinement to disgrace,
whereby the infant will bear no name
and wouldst thou abandon me to this fate
prithee have pity on offspring shame.
Pray marry me do, thou canst not afford
to blacken my name by
seeing the truth and fleeing abroad
and thus relinquish thy parenthood destiny.
I belong only to thee so do not ill-use me.
Thou sought thy way, now takest thou mine
for without thy support I must surely decline.
Thus thou ought to realize I live in frightful
dread unless on thee I rely.
This heart beateth only for thine say I.
Thou hast undone me so prithee consider
direst consequence, face thy conscience
and beside me do stay.
I remain heavy with anticipation lest thy reply
dashes all trust and quill thee therefore
to think my Lord on resolving such trouble
as of utmost importance.
Sent in the month of September 1709.
From Mary Elizabeth, distraughtly thine.