August 4,

her Departure: Let me think more of meeting againe than of the present payne of Parting. Tuesday. Some lines of Ben Jonson I do remember are sweetely written to this effecte, they were given me by a young Friend at parting, who I beleeve was lesse indifferent towardes me, than I to him:

That Love's a bitter sweet I ne'er conceive
Till the sower Minute comes of taking leave,
And then I taste it: But as Men drinke up
In hast the bottom of a medicin'd Cup,
And take some sirrup after, soe do I

To put all relish from my Memorie

Of parting, drowne it in the hope to meet

Shortly againe; and make our Absence sweet.

Beloved Mother, the losse of her presence maketh my home

lonely but I have Work to doe, and ill should I show :

for her if it remaine neglected.

my Love

Rose before six: sought the Blessing of the Lord upon my daily Path; read the 51 chap. Isaiah, and 2d St Baby well: John Armstrong requested to

August 17, Luke.
Monday.

see me concerning the Harvest-supper.

My Lord

still absent putteth me to much Trouble: the Harvest is nearly got in, only the Home-field remaines to be carted: Armstrong will take care enough as to the Supper; but the People will be disappointed unlesse I can prevail on William Wil loughby to take his Brother's Place; hee stands high in favour with our Neighbours, and the same with our owne People; and if he could bring with him his young Kinsfolk, wee should not faile of Merriment.

Walked down to the Keeper's Lodge: Old Bridget suffers from the rhewmatickes; bid her send to the Hall for a Plaister

and some Flannel: did my endeavours to persuade her that the same would bee of greater service than the Charm given her by Dame Stitchley; though as she would not consent to leave it off, doubtlesse it will gaine all the credit, should Bridget's aches and paynes seem to amend. As I returned saw Horsemen coming up the Avenue, made such haste as I could: Tydings of my deare Lord; but hee knows not when he can sett his face Home-wards; desireth mee to write by these Messengers: they did stay only to rest their Horses. He speaks much in his Letter of a Painter named Vandyck, who stands in great Favour at Court. The King, the Princes, and the Princesse Mary have sat to him: The Ladies crowd to his Painting-room desirous to see themselves perpetuated by his gracefull Pencil.

The Steward from Stixwood-manor hath arrived: my Lord is much wanted to visit his Estates in Lincolnshire ; August 27, and Mr. Legh has businesse of various sorts to settle Thursday. before Michaelmass-day; but by none is he so greatly desired as by his faithfull and loving Wife. My Inexperience makes the present Charge burthensome, and I ever fear doing wrong, or omitting that which should bee attended to.

Baby grows finely, and sheweth already a masterfull Spirit ; he provides Work for my Needle, now the time is come that he should bee short-coated.

Arose this Morning rejoycing in the hope that before the day closed my dearest Lord would be safely returned : August 29, the Day seemed long, but I had at last the comSaturday. fort of seeing him who is possessor of my Heart's truest Affection arrive in health. He thougnt little Billy much improved: how happy were we in our quiet Home. surely the Lines have fallen to me in pleasant Places.

The heavy Raine of late hath made much sicknesse to abound. Through mercy our Family are preserved in Health; and Baby has cut a tooth, Tuesday. discovered this morning by the spoon knocking against it.

Nov. 24,

One Thomas Parr is dead at a wonderfull greate age, being, it is said 150 yeares old. The Earle of Arundell had him brought to Whitehall, and the change did shortly affect his Health: no marvel, poore old Man, he would have beene better pleased, methinks, to have beene lett alone.

1635-6.

THE Hollanders have sent an Embassy and a noble Present on the occasion of the Queene having another Daughter: there are rare pieces of China and Paintings, one by Tytian.

January.

There is talk of a By-poste from Wickham, to join the North Poste, which is expected to run night and day betweene Edinburgh and London, to go thither and come back againe in six days: Men and Horses will scarce be found to doe this.

Young Mr. Gage is put into the Bastille. The Earle of Leycester hath kindly written to his Mother; Feb. 23, he being Ambassador at this time she did apply to Tuesday. him for help in this troublous Affaire.

June 6,

Baby walked a few steppes alone, and did seem Monday. greatly pleased thereat, as were his Parents.

These Lines repeated by one at supper-time, who hath met with divers Mischances in his life:

The Fortunate have whole Yeares,

And those they chose:

But the Unfortunate have only Dayes,

And those they lose.

At Dinner near twenty People; some remain till next week: young Harry Vane, the Lord Brooke and others, My Husband brought me a Muff, and a Fan of

Sept. 2. Friday

Ostrich-feathers, and Sir Philip Sydneys Arcadia; the latter most suited to my taste: it is said the King doth hold this Worke in high esteeme.

In looking back upon the last few dayes, I have to confesse in deep Humiliation of Spirit, that I have beene led Sept. 6, away by a foolish vanitie, to take too much PleaTuesday. sure in the Admiration of others, unworthy the Dignity of a Wife or a Mother: truly it is sayd, the Heart is deceitfull above all things, and desperately wicked. For such share of Comeliness as the Creator's Hand hath bestowed upon me, I would not that I should find therein food for Pride, or Selfe-satisfaction, beyond that it had found Favour in my Lord's Eyes, he who hath taken me to his Heart's true and pure Affection. I am his in all true Loyalty of Affection, and he doubteth not my Heart's Purity; but methought a shade of Regret pass'd over his noble Countenance, as he beheld the Wife whom hee delighted to love and to honour, so carried away by trifling and vanitie. And lett me not, in this Selfexamination and searching of my inmost Heart, seek to hide from myselfe that when he bade me good night at the Doore of my Closet, instead of lingering at my side, as is his wont, a feeling of Resentment arose, and as I enter'd and closed the Doore, thoughts of Self-justification presented themselves but Conscience prevailed, and placed my Conduct in its true light: Selfe-reproach is hard to beare; not long since, and I did think no Trial as regards others soe great as to meet with Injustice, but to be the cause of grieving another's Affection, and to feel lower'd in the Esteeme of one who hath beene ever readye to think more highly of me than I deserve; this is grievous to mee, and maketh me seeme hateful in my owne eyes. I humbled myselfe before the Lord, and pray'd that I might be. come more watchfull, and strive daily to follow the Example of Him who was meeke and lowly of Hearte.