One of the most painful features of the troubles of the Elizabethan recusants, or adherents to the unreformed faith, who were numerous in this county, was the deliberate way in which family feuds were promoted, and the bribe of inheriting forfeited estates held out to conforming relations who would give information as to recusancy.[38] [38] See Cox’s _Three Centuries of Derbyshire Annals_, i. 251–276. Among the Talbot papers at the College of Arms is a letter from Francis Leeke to the Earl of Shrewsbury, dated February 2nd, 1587, wherein he states:— “I was this day at Tupton where I found the Lady Constance Foljamb. I did impart to the Lady Foljambe my comitione to comitte her to the chardge of my cousin Foljamb. Her answer was that she was by age, and the sikeness of the stone, not abell to travell either on horseback or on foot, and so desired me to let your Lordshipp understand: whereuppon she yet remeenethe at Tupton till your Lordshippe’s pleasure be further knowne.” The Earl answers that her commitment is necessary, and on February 16th of the same year, receives a letter from Godfrey Foljambe stating that he had apprehended “the Lady Constance Foljambe, my grandmother, and now have her in my custodie, whom, by God’s help, I shall safely keep.” The zeal of the conforming grandson was not altogether disinterested, for when he set her at liberty, twenty months later, by order of the Council, he retained for his own benefit “her living, goods, and chattels.” On September 22nd, 1589, the Lady Constance wrote to the Earl thanking him for her release. From another source comes an interesting evidence of the endeavours of the aged lady, within a few days of her release, to conform sufficiently so as to escape renewed custody at the hands of her grasping grandson. In the common place book of Roger Columbell, of Darley Hall, occurs this note: “Mem. Godfrey Foljambe of More Hall, myself, my brother Blunt were at Tupton in the Lady Constance Foljambe’s house, the 28th September, 1589, when all the morning prayers, saving the ij. lessons omitted for want of a byble & the collect for the daye, for want of skyll to find it out, was distinctley read with the Latinne also by Nicholas Harding; her man-servant, & Elianor Harrington, hir waytinge woman beinge present, who reverently and obediently behaved themselves during all the service tyme, as we aforenamed with Edward Bradshawe, John Browne, and John Hawson, are to witness whensoever we shall be called by other or otherwyse as by a byll under our hand according to my sade cousen Foljambe of More Hall appeareth.”