Description:The Sutherland Papers include a number of letters written to Sir Richard Leveson by his wife Katherine Duddeley. The letters were evidently written during their courtship and after their marriage. The letters tell us about the rituals of courtship and the practical considerations behind a marriage during the early seventeenth century.
Katherine’s letters are written romantically. They often begin by thanking Sir Richard for his remembrances. In one letter she begins ‘your favours are far beyond my expression as might well strike me dumb as wanting words sufficiently to demonstrate my thankfullnes.’
Her attachment to Sir Richard is evident where she states ‘your love showed to me (both by your curtesess, being preasant and now absent kind remembrance) hath indeared my afection to you in a lardger maner than I can now relate.’