Olivia Colman reads a hilarious seventeenth century letter from a wife to her husband

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.

[annieseaside]

This Very Famous letter needs context. The young Lady fell in LOVE with the not just penniless… but £28, 000 in DEBT William Compton. Upon getting ahold of control of her money he squandered £72, 000 Gambling in the 1st 2 Months. Average wage in 1600 was under £25 a YEAR. 83% had income under £50 a year, Only the rich had more than £100 a year. She had £800, 000!!!

So while this sounds like a lot, what do you suppose costs are for multi-Millionaires and Billionaires today? Can you imagine Kim Kardashian or Megan Markle with only 20 Dresses, 2 Cars, Staff for 3 houses, Security, Travel costs? She also asks him to stay out of debt, to be charitable and not to lend out their wealth either. I applaud her stating her case and reasoning and her willingness to overlook his large flaws, asking only to be kept in the style to which she had been born and accustomed. The entire cost of her requests was a drop in the bucket and far less than he already gambled away.

[IntrepidFraidyCat]

Also, I will have more letters such as this from Letters Live!

[Nevets]

Olivia Colman could read me the US tax code and I would be completely enthralled. She's amazing.

[brianjustbrian]

She has an amazing ability to make the word "also" hilarious.

[englishrose]

At first I thought, "What a demanding woman." But then I read that her father left his vast fortune to--her husband. So, I'm quite in agreement with her having full access to the money that was truly her inheritance. Whether I agree with how it was spent, or not--it was her money.

[gennafer]

This wife should have been a lawyer. That was well laid out and thorough.

[vinuthomas]

Honestly, it doesn't seem unreasonable. Especially since her husband got all that and more from her father! I applaud her setting expectations in this way.

[acecat]

It’s the little flairs that really sell the performance- the cutesy “none lend but I, none borrow but you, ” the disgust at washmaids, the little grin when she talks about gentlemen ushers, and the broad vagueness of “purchase lands!” The attention to these moments elevate the letter even more than its contents on their own.

[scelesteregina]

Considering how marriage was a business transaction, it is great that she covered all bases, good job on her part

[WillHerndon]

Olivia is supremely talented and every time she does a reading for Letters Live she brings the house down. She seems like such a kind, genuine person too. She's the kind of person you just root for automatically. So happy for all the success she's found doing what she loves. Also, this letter is very funny.

[theoutspokenhumanist]

I love how she acts the letter, not just reads it. Fabulous!

[madMARTYNmarsh]

Olivia is a national treasure, I love her personality and her acting is peerless. Shockingly sharp sense of humour too.

[joannapebbleworthy]

Imagine to have written such a letter that people laugh their hearts out centuries later.

[garymcdonald]

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!

[LilliePHarris]

Her little asides and faces (especially about being her "gentleman usher" in her coach) are just sublime. Can never watch this too many times!

[sarahyates]

I never get tired of listening to this, the letter in itself is funny, but Olivia Colman reading it and it becomes hilarious and a real treasure.

[pinarozge]

Seeing that the money was left from her father, she was entitled to want all of this and perhaps more. Good on her! ALSO, I love Olivia Coleman :)

[judeangione]

It all makes more sense if you read the intro - the money came from her father and she had been blocked from it for 8 years. She may also have been pressed to provide a detailed account of what she needed money for. And oh yes, if he was angling to be an Earl, she had to prove that she was worthy of running the various homes worthy of an Earl.

[gerardacronin]

The injustice of historical inheritance laws makes my blood boil. This lady was just advocating for what she should have had in the first place.

[tors]

Olivia Colman is the only person who could read this. Absolute perfection!