*~ 
 
 •>^ V 
 
 'i>^' * filial ^ ^ * ^1 
 

JOHN EVELYN'S LIFE OF 
 MRS. GODOLPHIN 
 
ci/l/Uj JodoC/iLWL 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 MRS. GODOLPHIN 
 
 BY JOHN EVELYN 
 
 OF WOOTTON ESQ;, 
 
 r 
 
 Now firji publijhed and 
 
 Edited by Samuel Lord Bifhop of Oxford 
 
 Chancellor of the Moft Noble 
 
 Order of the Garter 
 
 *&r 
 
 Disci 2ip 
 
 fSfa 
 
 LONDON 
 
 WILLIAM PICKERING 
 
 1847 
 
nu 
 
 
 
To His Grace 
 
 EDWARD, 
 
 Lord Archbifhop of York, Lord High 
 Almoner, &c. 
 
 My Lord Archbishop, 
 
 sy^OUR Grace willy I trujl, allow 
 me to infcribe the following 
 pages to you. 
 
 Tour unmerited kindnefs, Jhown 
 to me on many other occajions, en- 
 trujled them to me for publication ; 
 and I well know that whiljl your 
 Grace has felt that the light offuch 
 an example as they exhibit ought not 
 to be concealed, you rejoice to know 
 
 that 
 
 € r 
 
vi 
 
 Dedication. 
 
 
 that you have lived to fee a Britijh 
 
 ■: 
 
 Court which in purity of morals and 
 
 
 domejlic virtue affords the mojl hleffed 
 
 
 contraft to thofe evil days through 
 
 
 which Margaret Godolphin was en- 
 
 
 abled to live in the hrightnefs of a 
 
 
 godly purity, and to die in peace. 
 
 
 I have the honour to he y 
 
 
 Tour Grace's obliged and 
 
 
 affectionate 
 
 
 S. Oxon : 
 
 
 Cuddefdon Palace, 
 
 1 
 
 Feb. 1847. 
 
Introduction 
 
 HE following Memoir 
 was drawn up by the ac- 
 complifhed John Evelyn, 
 of Wootton, and intended by him 
 for publication ; but it never re- 
 ceived his final corrections. In a 
 manufcript paper of memoranda 
 left at Wootton in Mr. Evelyn's 
 hand-writing, its title occurs in a 
 lift of " Things I would write out 
 faire and reform if I had the lei- 
 fure." In his family, the MS. has 
 remained until the prefent time, 
 having paffed into the hands of Mr. 
 
 Evelyn's 
 
viii 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 
 Evelyn's great - great - grandfon,* 
 His Grace the Honourable Edward 
 Venables-Vernon Harcourt, Lord 
 Archbifhop of York, by whom it 
 has been entrufted for publication 
 to the care of the prefent Editor. 
 The MS. which is written with 
 extraordinary care and neatnefs, 
 and apparently in Mr. Evelyn's 
 own hand-writing, has been print- 
 ed almoft as it ftands. The ori- 
 ginal fpelling, which is not uni- 
 form throughout the volume, has 
 been preferved wherever its 
 ftrangenefs did not throw fome 
 obfcurity over the meaning of the 
 paflage. A few words which here 
 and there were needful to com- 
 plete the fenfe have been conjec- 
 turally inferted, but always in 
 brackets. 
 
 * See Table V. p. 265. 
 
 The 
 
IntroduEiion, 
 
 The text is illuftrated by two 
 genealogical tables, a fhort fketch 
 of the life of Sir George Blagge, 
 and a valuable body of illustrative 
 notes, which the Editor owes to 
 the accurate and well-furnifhed 
 pen of John Holmes, Efq. of the 
 Britifh Mufeum, who has kindly 
 contributed them to this volume. 
 
 From the genealogical table it 
 will be feen, that Mrs. Godolphin 
 fprang from an ancient and ho- 
 nourable houfe, and that her blood 
 ftill flows in the veins of fome of 
 the moft illuftrious of the nobility 
 of England. Her hufband, who 
 rofe to the higheft honours of the 
 Hate, was early left a widower, 
 and, furviving his wife thirty-four 
 years, never remarried. He tranf- 
 mitted to Francis, their only child, 
 the earldom of Godolphin. This 
 
 Francis, 
 
Introduction* 
 
 Francis, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, 
 married Henrietta Churchill, eldefT: 
 daughter and co-heir of John 
 Duke of Marlborough, to whom 
 in her own right pafled the duke- 
 dom of Marlborough. By the 
 death without iffue of William 
 Godolphin, firft, Vifcount Rialton, 
 and afterwards, Marquis of Bland- 
 ford, — their only fon who attained 
 to manhood, — the honours of the 
 houfe of Marlborough panned to 
 the family of Spencer from the 
 defcendants of Margaret Godol- 
 phin. By the marriage of Mary 
 the heirefs of the 2nd Lord Go- 
 dolphin to Thomas the 4th Duke 
 of Leeds, her name and blood 
 paffed into the fucceffion of that 
 illuftrious houfe. 
 
 But it was not for gentle de- 
 fcent or noble alliance that Mar- 
 garet 
 
Introdu&ion. 
 
 garet Godolphin was the moft re- 
 markable or beft deferves remem- 
 brance. Rather did fhe add dis- 
 tinction to an ancient line, and 
 tranfmit to all her pofterity that 
 memory of her virtues and inhe- 
 ritance of good deeds without 
 which titles and hereditary rank 
 are but fplendid contradictions and 
 confpicuous blemifhes. 
 
 Her lot was caft in the darkeft 
 age of England's morals ; fhe 
 lived in a court where flourifhed 
 in their rankeft luxuriance all the 
 vice and littlenefs, which the envy 
 of detractors without, has ever 
 loved to impute — and at times, 
 thank God, with fuch utter falfe- 
 hood — to courts in general. 
 
 In the reign of Charles the Se- 
 cond, that revulfion of feeling 
 which affects nations juft as it 
 
 does 
 
 XI 
 
xii IntroduElion. 
 
 does individuals had plunged into 
 diffipation all ranks on their efcape 
 from the narrow aufterities and i 
 gloomy fournefs of puritanifm. |i 
 The court, as was natural, fhared 
 to the full in thefe new excefles of 
 an unreftrained indulgence ; whilft 
 many other influences led to its 
 wider corruption. The foreign 
 habits contracted in their banifh- 
 ment by the returning courtiers 
 were ill fuited to the natural gra- 
 vity of Englifh manners, and in- 
 troduced at once a wide-fpread 
 licentioufnefs. The perfonal cha- 
 racter, moreover of the King help- 
 ed on the general corruption. Gay, 
 popular, and witty, with a tem- 
 per nothing could crofs, and an 
 affability nothing could reprefs, he 
 was thoroughly fenfual, felfifh, 
 and depraved — vice in him was 
 
 made 
 
IntroduElion. 
 
 made fo attractive by the wit and 
 gaiety with which it was tricked 
 out, that its utmoft groflhefs feem- 
 ed for the time rather to win than 
 to repulfe beholders. Around the 
 King chartered a band of congenial 
 fpirits, a galaxy of corruption, who 
 fpread the pollution upon every 
 fide. The names of Buckingham 
 and Rochefter, of Etheridge, Lyt- 
 telton, and Sedley, ftill maintain a 
 bad preeminence in the annals of 
 Englifh vice. As far as the common 
 eye could reach there was little to 
 refift the evil. The Duke of York, 
 the next heir to the throne, a cold- 
 hearted libertine, fhared the vices 
 of the King, without the poor 
 glofs of his focial attractions. It 
 was the day of England's deepeft 
 degradation, when in private life 
 morality was a reproach, truth de- 
 parted 
 
 Xlll 
 
XIV 
 
 IntroduElion* 
 
 parted, and religion a jeft ; when [ 
 in affairs of ftate French gold and 
 foreign influence had corrupted 
 and fubdued the throned monarch, 
 and England's King was daily 
 lofing what had been gained by 
 the Protector of the Common- 
 wealth. 
 
 It was a day of heartlefs merri- 
 ment, upon which fell fuddenly a 
 night of blacknefs, which fwal- 
 lowed up its crew of godlefs revel- 
 lers. A picture more deeply tra- 
 gical than that thus Amply fketch- 
 ed by Mr. Evelyn at the end, of 
 Charles himfelf, can fcarcely be 
 conceived. " I can never forget 
 the inexpreflible luxury and pro- 
 phanenefs, gaming and all difTo- 
 lutenefs, and as it were total for- 
 getfulnefs of God (it being Sunday 
 evening) which this day fe'nnight 
 
 I was 
 
Introduction* 
 
 I was witnefs of, the King fitting 
 and toying with his concubines, 
 Portfmouth, Cleaveland, and Ma- 
 zarine, &c. a French boy Ting- 
 ing love fongs in that glorious 
 gallery, whilft about 20 of the 
 great courtiers and other diffolute 
 perfons were at Baffet round a 
 large table, a bank of at leaft 2000 
 in gold before them, upon which 
 two gentlemen who were with 
 me made reflexions with aftonifh- 
 ment. Six days after was all in 
 the duft." 
 
 Evelyns Diary, Feb. 1684-5. 
 
 In the midft of fuch a general 
 reign of wickednefs, it is moft re- 
 frefhing to the wearied fpirit to 
 find by clofer fearch fome living 
 witnerTes for truth and holinefs — 
 
 fome 
 
 XV 
 
xvx 
 
 Introduction , 
 
 fome who, through God's Grace, 
 parTed at His call their vexed days 
 amongft the orgies of that crew, 
 as untainted by its evils, as is the 
 clear funbeam by the corruption 
 of a loathfome atmoiphere. Such 
 an one was Margaret Godolphin, 
 whom neither the licenfe of thofe 
 evil days, nor the fcandal and de- 
 traction with which they abound- 
 ed, ever touched in fpirit or in re- 
 putation. Verily fhe walked in 
 the flames of " the fiery furnace 
 and felt no hurt, neither did the 
 fmell of fire pafs upon her." 
 
 In what ftrength fhe lived this 
 life the following pages will de- 
 clare. They will fhew that ever 
 by her fide, converging with her 
 fpirit through its living faith, there 
 was a fourth form like unto the 
 Son of God. And one thing for 
 
 our 
 
IntroduBion. 
 
 our inflruction and encouragement 
 may here be fpecially noted : that 
 in that day of reproach fhe was a 
 true daughter of the Church of 
 England. Puritanifm did not con- 
 tract her foul into morofenefs ; nor 
 did fhe go to Rome to learn the 
 habits of devotion. In the train- 
 ing of our own Church fhe found 
 enough of God's teaching to in- 
 ftruct her foul ; in its leffons fhe 
 found a rule of holy felf-denying 
 obedience ; in its prayers a practice 
 of devotion ; in its body a fellow- 
 ship with faints ; in its ordinances 
 a true communion with her God 
 and Saviour ; which were able to 
 maintain in fimple, unaffected pu- 
 rity her faith at court, in dutiful, 
 active love her married life ; which 
 fufficed to crown her hours of bitter 
 anguifh and untimely death with a 
 
 joyful 
 
 XVll 
 
XV111 
 
 Introdu&ion. 
 
 joyful refignation and affured wait- 
 ing for her crown. 
 
 Such is the fketch prefented in 
 thefe pages to the reader. May 
 he in a better day learn in fecret, 
 for himfelf, thofe leffons of hea- 
 venly wifdom which adorned the 
 life and glorified the death of Mar- 
 garet Godolphin. 
 
The Life of Mrs. 
 Godolphin. 
 
 Vn Dieu "^>^ vn Amy. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 AM not vnmindfull of what 
 your Ladyfhip lately fug- 
 geiled to me concerning that 
 blefTed Saint now in heaven. Doe you 
 beleive I need be incited to preferve 
 the memory of one whofe Image is 
 foe deeply printed in my heart ? Butt 
 you would have a more permanent 
 Record of her perfections, and foe 
 would I ; not onely for the veneration 
 wee beare her precious Ames, butt for 
 
 the 
 
 mm 
 
The Life of 
 
 the good of thofe who, emulous of her 
 vertues, would purfue the Inftance of 
 it, in this, or perhapps any age before 
 it. 'Tis certaine the materialls I have 
 by me would furnifh one who were 
 Mafter of a Stile becomeing foe admi- 
 rable a Subject ; and wifh'd I have, a 
 thoufand tymes, the perfon in the world 
 who knew her bed, and moil me loved, 
 would give vs the picture his pencill 
 could beft delineat : if fuch an Artift as 
 he is decline the vndertakeing, for fear 
 that even with all his fkill he mould not 
 reach the orriginall, how farr fhort am 
 I like to fall, who cannot pretend to 
 the meaneft of his Talents. But as in- 
 dignation (they fay) fometymes creats 
 a poem where there is no naturall dif- 
 pofition in the compofer ; foe a mighty 
 obligation, a holy freindfhipp, and your 
 Ladyfhipp's comands, irrefiftibly pre- 
 vaile with me rather to hazard the cen- 
 fure of my Imperfections, then to dif- 
 obey you, or fuffer thofe precious me- 
 mory es 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 moryes to be loft which deferve con- 
 fecration to Eternity : 'tis then the leaft 
 and laft fervice I can exprefs to a dye- 
 ing freind for whome I fhould not have 
 refufed even to dye my felfe. Butt, 
 Madam, you will not expect I mould 
 be foe exactly particular in the minuter 
 circumftances of her birth and what paft 
 in her Infancy and more tender years, 
 becaufe, [though] I have fometimes told 
 her pleafantly I would write her life, 
 when God knowes I little thought of 
 furviveing her whome often I have 
 wifhed might be att the clofeingof myne 
 owne Eyes, I had not the honor of being 
 acquainted with her till the laft feaven 
 years of her life ; I fay the little expec- 
 tation I had of erecting to her a monu- 
 ment of this nature, made me not foe 
 Induftrious to Informe myfelfe of what 
 was paft as I fhould have beene, for I 
 am perfwaded that from the begining 
 fomething of exterordnary remarkeable 
 was all along confpicuous in her ; nor 
 
 was 
 
4 
 
 The Life of 
 
 was it poffible that my admiration of 
 her vertues, when I came to know her, 
 mould not have prompted me to en- 
 quire concerneing many particulars of 
 her life before I knew her ; fomething 
 I learned cafually converfing with her, 
 diverfe things from the papers comu- 
 nicated to me iince her deceafe, and 
 from what your Ladyfhipp has In- 
 formed me ; from whome I might de- 
 rive ample matter to furnifh vpon this 
 fubjedt ; butt, as I faid, it would be- 
 come a Headier hand, and the penn of 
 an Angells wing to defcribe the life of 
 a Saint, who is now amongft thofe II- 
 luftrious orders : butt, Madam, 'tis your 
 peremptorye Comand, I mould fett 
 downe what I know, and how diffident 
 foever I ought to be of acquitting my 
 felfe as I mould, yett fince 'tis hardly 
 poffible to fay any thing foe indiffe- 
 rently, butt muft raife an Emulation in 
 thofe that read or hear of it to Imitate her 
 vertues, [I enter] vpon the adventure. 
 
 Where 
 
 ! 
 
 • 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 Where this excellent Creature was 
 borne, I have learned from you ; when, 
 from her felfe; namely, as I remember, 
 on the Second of Auguft, in the year 
 1652 ; a month and a year never to be 
 forgotten by me without a mixture of 
 different paffions, for then had I born 
 that Child whofe early hopes you have 
 often heard me deplore the lois of, nor 
 doe I yett remember him without emo- 
 tion. 
 
 'Tis not to informe your Ladyfhipp 
 of a thing you doe not know, butt for 
 methods fake that I fpeake fomething of 
 the family of this Lady, which was very 
 honorable ; her father was Collonell Tho- 
 mas Blagge, a Gent, of an ancient Suf- 
 folke family, and a perfon of foe exter- 
 ordnary witt and fignall Loyalty, as not 
 only made him efteemed by that bleffed 
 Martyr Charles the Firft, being made 
 Groome of his Bedd Chamber, butt to 
 
 be 
 
The Life of 
 
 be intruded with one of his principall 
 Garrifons, namely that of Wallingford, 
 dureing the late rebellion. How wor- 
 thyly he acquitted himfelefe of that 
 charge in that vnhappy warr is vpon 
 another monumentall Record. Hee 
 lived to fee his Majeftye who now 
 raignes reftored to his Kingdomes and 
 to dye in his favour. Mrs. Blagge his 
 Lady (Mother to our Saint) was a wo- 
 man foe eminent in all the vertues and 
 perfections of her fex, that it were hard 
 to fay whether were fuperior her Beau- 
 ty, Witt, or Piety ; for, as I have heard f 
 from thofe who intimately knew her, 
 me was in all thefe very like her daugh- 
 ter, and then I am fure there could no- 
 thing be added to render her a moft 
 admirable per fon. The iniquityeof the ! [ 
 tymes had accquainted her with forrow ' 
 enough to have diffracted her, being 
 left butt in difficult circumftances, yett 
 me lived to difcharge all her hufbands 
 engagements that were very confider- 
 
 able 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 able, and to provide an honourable 
 competency for noe lefs then 3 young 
 daughters, whereof this was the young- 
 eft. 
 
 Itt was by this excellent mother that 
 this rare child was as early inftituted in 
 the fear of God as fhe could fpeake : 
 and as her exterordnary difcernment 
 foone advanced to a great and early 
 fence of Religion, foe fhe brought her 
 to be confirmed by the now Lord Bi- 
 fhopp of Ely, Doctor Gunning, who 
 itt appeares was foe furprized att thofe 
 early Graces he difcovered in her, that 
 he thought fitt fhe mould be admitted 
 to the holy Sacrament when fhe was 
 hardly Eleaven years of Age : from that 
 moment forwards, young and fpright- 
 full as fhe was, fhe was obferved to live 
 with great circumfpe&ion, prefcribeing 
 to herfelfe a conftant method of devo- 
 tion, and certaine dayes of abftinence, 
 that fhe might the better vacate to holy 
 
 dutyes 
 
 7 
 
The Life of 
 
 dutyes and gaine that maftery over her 
 appetite, which, with all other paffions, 
 me had ftrangely fubdued to my often 
 admiration. Butt I mould have told 
 your Ladyfhipp, though I remember 
 not on what occafion, me went with 
 the old Dutchefs of Richmond into 
 France^ who confign'd her to the care 
 of the late Countefs of Guilford, Groome 
 of theStoole to the late Queens Mother, 
 with whome me continued till her Ma- 
 jeftye came into England: And this 
 minds me of what I have heard, that 
 being frequently tempted by that By- 
 gott profelitefTe to goe to MafTe and 
 be a papift, our young Saint would not 
 only not be perfwaded to it, but avert- 
 ed her better faith with fuch readinefs 
 and conftancy, (as according to the ar- 
 gument of that keen Religion) caufed 
 her to be rudely treated and menaced 
 by the Countefs ; foe as me was be- 
 come a ConfefTor and almoft a Martyr . 
 before me was 7 years old. This paf- 
 
 fage 
 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 fage I have from her felfe and fhe would 
 relate it with pretty circumftances : but 
 long ftaid fhe not in France ; when 
 being returned to her mother, me lived 
 with her fometyme in London, till the 
 raigneingpeflilence of Sixty-five breake- 
 ing out, every body retireing into the 
 Country, fhe accompanyed her into 
 Suffolke amongft her fathers Relations 
 there, and pafl the Recefs with foe 
 much order and fatisfaclion, that with 
 exterordnary regrett fhe was taken no- 
 tice of to quitt it; when being demand- 
 ed by the then Dutchefs of Yorke for 
 a Maid of Honour, her Mother was 
 prevailed with to place her little Daugh- 
 ter att Court. This was indeed a fur- 
 prizeing change of Aire, and a perilous 
 Climate, for one foe very young as fhe, 
 and fcarcely yett attained to the twelvth 
 year of her age : butt by how much 
 more the danger foe much greater the 
 virtue and difcretion which not only 
 preferved her fleady in that giddy Sta- 
 tion, 
 
IO 
 
 The Life of 
 
 tion, but foe improv'd, that the exam- 
 ple of this little Saint influenced not 
 onely her honourable companions, butt 
 fome who were advanc'd in yeares be- 
 fore her, and of the moft illuftrious 
 quality. What ! mall I fay, me like a 
 young Apoftlefs began to plant Reli- 
 gion in that barren Soyle ? Arethufa 
 pafPd thro' all thofe turbulent waters 
 without foe much as the leaft ftaine or 
 tincture in her Chriflall, with her Piety 
 grew vp her Witt, which was foe fpark- 
 ling, accompanyed with a Judgment 
 and Eloquence foe exterordnary, a 
 Beauty and Ay re foe charmeing and 
 lovely, in a word, an Addrefs foe vniver- 
 fally takeing, that after few years, the 
 Court never faw or had {ttn fuch a 
 Conftellation of perfections amongft all 
 their fplendid Circles. Nor did this, 
 nor the admiration it created, the Elo- 
 gies fhe every day received, and appli- 
 cation of the greater!: perfons, at all elate 
 her ; fhe was ftill the fame, allwayes in 
 
 perfect 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 perfect good humour, allwayes humble, 
 allwayes Religious to exactnefs. Itt 
 rendred her not a whitt morofs, tho' 
 fometymes more ferious, cafting ftill 
 | about how me might continue the 
 houres of publique and private devo- 
 tion and other exercifes of piety, to 
 comply with her duty and attendance 
 on her Royall Miftrefs without Angu- 
 larity or Reproach. 
 
 Thus pafPd me her tyme in that 
 Court till the Dutchefs dyed, dureing 
 whofe Sicknefs, accompanyed (as it 
 was) with many vncomfortable circum- 
 ftances, fhe waited and attended with 
 an exterordnary fedulity, and as fhe has 
 fometymes told me, when few of the 
 reft were able to endure the fatigue : 
 and therefore here, before I proceed, I 
 cannot but take notice of thofe holy 
 and exterordnary reflections fhe made 
 vpon this occafion, as I find them 
 amongft other loofe papers vnder her 
 
 owne 
 
 1 1 
 
i2 The Life of 
 
 owne faire hand, when compareing her - 
 dear Mothers ficknefs and other freinds r 
 departure with that of the Dutchefs, 
 thus me writes. 
 
 cc Mrs. N. dead, was an example of |j 
 patience vnder a burthen that was well 
 nigh vnfupportable ; often fhe received 
 the blefTed Sacrament, often me prayed 
 and was very much refign'd, not fur- \ 
 prized nor in confufion, but perceive- 
 ing her right decay, calling vpon God 
 after many holy and pious difcourfes 
 and exhortations, fhe calmely bidd her 
 freinds farewell. 
 
 f c A poore woman dead, worne to 
 fkyn and bones with a confumption, fhe 
 made noe Complaints, but trufted in \ 
 God, and that what he thought fitt was 
 beft, and to him refign'd her foule. A 
 poore creature that had been a great jj 
 flnner, died in mifTerable paines, in ex- 
 ceeding terror; God was gracious to i 
 
 her, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 her, fhe was patient, very devout, fhe was 
 releafed in prayer. My mother dead, 
 at firft furprized, and very unwilling ; 
 me was afterwards refign'd, received 
 often, prayed much, had holy things 
 read to her, delighted in heavenly dif- 
 courfe, defired to be diflblv'd and be 
 with Chrift, ended her life chearfully, 
 and without paine, left her family in 
 order and was much lamented. 
 
 "The D - - dead, a princefs ho- 
 noured in power, had much witt, much 
 mony, much efteeme ; me was full of 
 vnfpeakable tortur, and died (poore 
 creature) in doubt of her Religion, 
 without the Sacrament, or divine by 
 her, like a poore wretch ; none remem- 
 bred her after one weeke, none forry 
 for her ; fhe was toft and flung about, 
 and every one did what they would 
 with that ftately carcafe. What is this 
 world, what is greatnefs, what to be ef- 
 teemed, or thought a witt? Wee fhall 
 
 all 
 
 13 
 
i4 The Life of 
 
 all be ftript without fence or remem-it 
 brance. But God, if wee ferve him in [1 
 our health, will give vs patience in our it 
 Sicknefs." 
 
 I repeate the inflance as fett downe 
 in her diary e, to mew how early {he; 
 made thefe vfefull and pious Recollec- 
 tions, for me mufT. needs be then very >; 
 young, and att an age att leaf! wheni; 
 very few of her fex, and in her circum4 
 fiances, much concerne themfelves with 
 thefe mortifyeing reflections. Butt, as^ 
 I have often heard her fay, me loved I 
 to be att funeralls, and in the houfe oO 
 mourning, foe being of the moft com-i 
 paffionate nature in the world, me was 
 a conftant vifiter of the nek and of peo- 
 ple in diftrefs. But, to proceed; me had i i 
 not been above two yeares att Court! 
 before her virtue, beauty, and witt' 
 made her be looked vpon as a littlef 
 miracle ; and indeed there were fome ' 
 addreffes made her of the greater! per- 
 
 fons 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 fons, not from the attraction of affected 
 Charmes, for me was ever, att that 
 fprightfull and free age, feverely care- 
 full how me might give the leaft coun- 
 tenance to that liberty which the Gal- 
 lants there doe vfually affume of talk- 
 ing with lefs referve ; nor did this ec- 
 clipfe her pretty humour, which was 
 chearfull and eafy amongft thofe me 
 thought worthy her converfation. Itt is 
 not to be difcribed (for it was tho' natu- 
 rall, in her zmmitable) with what Grace, 
 ready and folid vnderftanding, me would 
 difcourfe. Nothing that me conceived 
 could be better expreffed, and when me 
 was fometymes provok'd to Railly, 
 there was nothing in the world foe 
 pleafant, and inoffenfively diverting, 
 (mall I fay) or inftructive ; for me ever 
 mingl'd her freer! entertainments with 
 fomething which tended to ferious, and 
 did it in fuch a manner, as allwayes left 
 fome impreffions exterordnary even 
 vpon thofe who came perhapps with in- 
 clinations 
 
 l 5 
 
i6 
 
 The Life of 
 
 clinations to pervert the moft harmelefs ) 
 converfations ; foe as it was impoffible 
 for any to introduce a fyllable which 
 did not comply with the ftri&eft rules 
 of decency. 
 
 But I mail not be foe well able tot 
 defcribe what I mould fay vpon this^ 
 occasion, as by giveing your Ladymipp' 
 the meafures which me prefcrib'd her- 
 felfe for the government of her Actions, 1 
 when me was of duty to attend vpon 
 her Majeftye in publique, and when it 
 was not only imporlible, but vnbecome- 
 ing to entertaine thofe who compofedi 
 the Royall Circle, and were perfons o{ 
 the moft illuftrious qualitye, withoutji 
 cenfure and rudenefs. Behold then^: 
 Madam, what I find written in hat 
 owne hands againe, and that might be 
 a coppy for all that fucceed her in that*! 
 honourable Station to tranfcribe and) 
 imitate it ; for me kept not onely f. 
 moft accurate account of all her ac- 
 tions. 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 tions, butt did likewife regifter her 
 ferious purpofes and refolutions, the 
 better to confirme and fix them, foe 
 as they were not hafiy fitts of zeale and 
 fudden tranfports, but follemne and de- 
 liberate ; and this I rather chufe to doe 
 alfoe in her owne very words and me- 
 thod, innocent, naturall, and unarTect- 
 Jed. 
 
 cc My life, by God's Grace, without 
 which I can doe nothing, 
 
 " I muft, till Lent, rife att halfe an 
 houre after eight a clock ; whilft put- 
 ting on morning cloathes, fay the pray- 
 er for Death and the Te Deum : then 
 \ prefently to my prayers, and foe either 
 drefs my felfe or goe to Church prayers. 
 In drerTing, I muft confider how little 
 it iignifyes to the faveing of my foule, 
 and how foolifh 'tis to be angry about 
 a thing fo vnneceffary. Confider what 
 pur Saviour fuffered. — O Lord, affift 
 me. 
 
 cc When 
 
 *7 
 
The Life of 
 
 cc When I goe into the withdrawing 
 roome, lett me conrlder what my call- 
 ing is : to entertaine the Ladys, not to I 1 
 talke foolifhly to Men, more efpecially ' 
 the King ; lett me confider, if a Tray- 
 tor be hatefull, me that betrayes the 
 foule of one is much worfe ; — the danger, 
 the fin of it. Then without pretend- 
 ing to witt, how quiet and pleafant a 
 thing it is to be filent, or if I doe fpeake, 
 that it be to the Glory of God. — Lord, ' 
 affift me. 
 
 cc Att Church lett me mind in what 
 place I am ; what about to afk, even 
 the falvation of my foule ; to whome I i 
 fpeak, — to the God that made me, re- , 
 deemed and fanctifyed me, and can yett (1 
 cutt me off when he pleafes. — O Lord, |" 
 affift me. 
 
 cc When I goe to my Lady Fal- 
 mouths, I ought to take paines with her \ 
 
 about 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 about her Religion, or elfe I am not her 
 freind; to mew example by calmnefs in 
 difpute, in never fpeaking ill of anybody 
 to her, butt excufeing them rather. 
 
 " Goe to the Queene all way es att 
 nine, and then read that place concern- 
 ing the drawing roome, and lett my 
 man waite for me to bring me word 
 before publique prayers begin. If I 
 find me dynes late, come downe, pray 
 and read, namely, that concerning pray- 
 er ; and think why I read, to benefitt 
 my foule, pafs my tyme well, and im- 
 prove my vnderftanding. — O Lord, af- 
 fift me. 
 
 " Be fure ftill to read that for the 
 drawing roome in the privy chamber, 
 or prefence, or other place before pray- 
 ers, and foe againe into the drawing 
 room for an hour or foe ; and then Hipp 
 to my chamber and divert myfelfe in 
 reading fome pretty booke, becaufe the 
 
 Queen 
 
 J 9 
 
20 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Queen does not require my waiteing ; 
 after this to fupper, which muft not be 
 much if I have dyned well ; and att 
 neither meale to eate above two dimes, 
 becaufe temperance is beft both for' 1 
 foule and body ; then goe vpp to the \ 
 Queen, haveing before read, and well f 
 thought of what you have written. ■ 
 Amen. 
 
 [ 
 
 "Sett not vp above halfe an hour? 
 after eleaven att moft ; and as you vn- 
 drefs, repeate that prayer againe ; buttf 
 before, confider that you are perhapps 
 goeing to fleepe your laft; being inbedd 
 repeate your hymne foftly, ere you 
 turne to fleepe. 
 
 cc If I awake in the night lett me fay 1 
 that (for which fhe had collected many 
 excellent parTages, as I find among her; 
 papers,) pfalm. Lord, affift me. 
 
 In the morning, wakeing, vfe a fhort 
 
 devotion, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 devotion, and then as foone as ever you 
 awake, rife imediately to praife him. 
 The Lord affift me." 
 
 In another place of the fame Diarye, 
 ! about which tyme I fuppofe there was 
 jfome play to be acted by the maids of 
 ! honour. — cc Now as to pleafure, they are 
 fpeaking of playes and laughing att de- 
 vout people ; well, I will laugh att my- 
 felfe for my impertinencyes, that by de- 
 crees I may come to wonder why any 
 body does like me ; and divert the dif- 
 courfe; and talke of God and moralitye : 
 avoid thofe people when I come into 
 the drawing roome, efpecially among 
 great perfons to divert them ; becaufe 
 noe raillary allmoft can be innocent : 
 goe not to the Dutchefs of Monmouth 
 above once a weeke, except when wee 
 drefs to rehearfe, and then carry a booke 
 along with me to read when I don't 
 ad, and foe come away before fupper. 
 
 " Talke 
 
 21 
 
22 
 
 The Life of 
 
 <c Talke little when you are there ; 
 if they fpeak of any body I can't com- 
 mend, hold my peace, what jeft foever 
 they make ; be fure never to talk to' 
 the King; when they fpeak filthyly,! 
 tho' I be laugh'd att, looke grave, re- 
 membring that of Micha, there will a 
 tyme come when the Lord will bind vp 
 his Jewells. Never meddle with othersp 
 buifnefs, nor hardly afk a queftion ; talk, 
 not {lightly of religion. If you fpeakq, 
 any thing they like, fay 'tis borrowed, 
 and be humble when commended. Be-, 
 fore I fpeake, Lord, aflift me ; when I, 
 pray, Lord, heare me ; when I am; 
 praifed, God, humble me ; may thi, 
 clock, the candle, every thing I fee, in-j 
 ftrucl: me ; Lord cleanfe my hands, letfc 
 my feete tread thy pathes. Is any body, 
 laughed att, fay it may be my cafe ; is 
 any in trouble, fay, c Lord, in juftice Ij; 
 deferve it; butt thou art all mercy; 
 make me thankfull.' OnFeftivall evens 
 I refflve to dyne att home, and to re- 
 peat 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 peat all the pfalmes I know by heart," 
 ||of which me had almoft the whole pfal- 
 1 ter,) cc referveing my reading or part of 
 ( my prayers till night; and fupp with 
 ! bread and beere only, 
 
 cc On Frydayes and Wednefdaies 
 Pie eat nothing till after evening prayer ; 
 and foe come downe as foone as ever 
 the Queene has dyned, without goeing 
 to vifitt, till my owne prayers are finifh- 
 ed. 
 
 "The fame will I obferve the day 
 before I receive ; vfe to pray on thofe 
 dayes by daylight ; and early on Sun- 
 dayes, and think of no diverfion till after 
 bvening prayer; to dyne abroad as 
 little as poffible, but performe my con- 
 J ftant duty to God and the Queene. 
 Aflift me, O Lord ; Amen. 
 
 fc Sing Pfalmes now and then out of 
 jSundayes. Endeavour to begg with 
 
 teares 
 
 23 
 
24 
 
 The Life of 
 
 teares what you afke, and O lett them |{ 
 be, O Lord, my onely pleafure. There f 
 are 3 Sundayes to come from this Sa- 
 turday night; pray one day earneftly'tj 
 to God for love, and againft takeing his f 
 name in vaine, pray againft intempe-n 
 ranee and fenfuality ; and the other day " 
 for meekenefs, and againft envy ; another 
 for fear and alliance, and againft de-J 
 traction. 
 
 j 
 
 cc I have vowed, if it be poflible, not, 
 to fett vpp paft ten a clock ; therefore, h 
 before you engage in company, goe 
 downe and read this, and be as much) 
 alone as you can ; and when you arel 
 abroad talke to men as little as may be I 
 carry your prayer booke in your pock-! 
 ett, or any thing that may decently' 
 keepe you from converfeing with men/ 
 
 Behold what this blefTed faint hac 
 promifcuoufly fett downe in her diary 
 att feverall tymes, as refolutions made 
 
 vpon 
 
Mrs. Godolphiru 25 
 
 vpon feverall occafions, all of them 
 tending to the inftitution of her life in 
 a courfe of exterordnary and early piety, 
 for fhe was now very young, and I, 
 therefore, give them your Ladyfhipp 
 in her owne method, without method 
 or ftudied connexion : nor are thefe the 
 fir ft I have feene of hers in this nature. 
 She did vpon feverall occurrences re- 
 cord her purpofes, and what me foe re- 
 folved fhe punctually perform'd. Butt 
 
 jwith what exterordnary caution fhe 
 govern'd herfelf att Court ; how holy, 
 innocent, inftructive, and vfefull, her 
 intire converfation was ; how much fhe 
 improved in virtue, and made devotion 
 the pleafure as well as imployment of 
 her tyme, I need not tell your Lady- 
 fhipp : nor vfed fhe to trick and drefs 
 herfelfe vpp, tho' in foe fplendid and 
 vaine a theater, to the purpofes of vanity, 
 
 j or to be fine and ador'd : fhe was ex- 
 treamly fhy of talking among the gal- 
 lants and young men, to pafs away the 
 
 tedioufnefs 
 
26 
 
 The Life of 
 
 
 tedioufnefs of attendance ; nor made 
 me impertinent vifitts ; for me had fill'd j 
 vp the whole day, and deftin'd almoft j 
 every minute of it to exercife. When, 
 therefore, I have fum'd vp all, and con- 
 fider'd well how much of it all I have 
 feene, and how with it all me pre- \ 
 ferved the lively and elegant converfa- 
 tion which rendered her foe infinitely 
 agreeable to all that knew her, I can- 
 not butt redouble my admiration and 
 efpecially how often and fenfible me 
 has difcourfed with me concerning the 
 wonderfull fatisfa&ion fhe tooke in the 
 dutyes of Religion. 
 
 Butt here, before I proceed any fur- 
 ther, the method of tyme, and other y 
 circumftances require me to fay fbme-ij 
 thing how I came to be firft: acquainted 
 with this excellent creature, and by 
 what tyes of facred freindfhipp I find 
 my felfe foe highly obliged to celebrate 
 her memory ; and this I mail doe th 
 
 rather 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 rather becaufe the Lord has foe great 
 a part in itt, that without ingratitude, 
 I may not pafs it over ; nor is it with- 
 out frefh delight that I frill call to mind 
 thofe innocent dayes, and the fweet 
 converfation which fifteene yeares iince 
 wee enjoyed, that our family es being 
 neare to one another, gave vs the 
 happynefs to be knowne to the moft 
 obligeing neighbour in the world ; from 
 foe long a date it is that my wife com- 
 putes her firft haveing had the blerling 
 of begining an acquaintance with Mrs. 
 Blagge, whome your mother and lifter 
 fometimes kindly brought with them 
 to our poore villa : butt few of thofe 
 civilityes of cafuall or refpectfull viiitts 
 had paffed, before my wife had difco- 
 veredfuch exterordnary charmes, markes 
 of virtue and difcretion in her conver- 
 fation, that me would often reprove the 
 diffidence I was wont to exprefs, when 
 they would fometymesdifcourfe of Piety 
 and Religion, eminent among the Court 
 
 Ladyes, 
 
 2 7 
 
28 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Ladyes; and vpon which fubject your 
 Ladyfhipp would frequently joine with 
 my wife in conflict againft me, to the 
 reproach of my Morofenefs, and Infide- 
 delity, efpecially of a thing foe airy [ 
 and foe gay as fome reprefented this 
 miracle to me. And in this Error I had 
 certainly perfifted, notwithstanding I * 
 had fometymes taken notice of her, ji 
 both att my houfe and att Church, to J. 
 be a very agreeable Lady ; butt that 
 fhe or any body elfe in her Court cir- ) 
 cumftances, was principPd with fuch 
 a folid Virtue, and did cultivate it to i; 
 that degree, I was brought to beleive I 
 with foe much difficulty, that it was al- ! 
 mod: Seaven yeares before your Lady- 
 fhipp could convince me. You had, 
 indeed, a Sifter there, whofe perfec- 
 tions would no longer fufTer me to con- 
 tinue alltogeather in this falfe perfwa- 
 fion ; butt to beleive there were many 
 Saints in that Country I was not much 
 inclined; nor likely had chang'd that 
 
 opinion 
 
Mrs. Godolphin 
 
 opinion, if an Imployment had not of 
 neceflity fometymes obliged me to come 
 from my Recefs, when I as little af- 
 fected to be knowne and to multiply ac- 
 quaintance of that fex as another man. 
 I minded my Bookes and my Garden, 
 and the Circle was bigg enough for 
 me. I afpir'd to no offices, noe titles, 
 no favours att Court, and really was 
 hardly knowne to thofe next neigh- 
 bours of mine, whome I had lived all- 
 moft twenty years by : butt the Coun- 
 try where this Lady lived I had much 
 more averfion to, for the reafons you 
 may guefs, and which made her quitt 
 it affoone as me could. 'Twas, I fay, 
 about a year that me had fometymes 
 beene att my houfe, when your Lady- 
 fhipp came to hector me out of my 
 contracted humour, but I continually 
 return'd to it ; and when, by Chance, 
 you att any tyme nam'd her, I fancied 
 her fome airy thing, that had more 
 Witt than Difcretion; till vpon your 
 
 Ladyfhipp 
 
 29 
 
3° 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Ladyfhipp and my Wifes more fe- 
 verely reproaching me for being fcarcely 
 civill to a Companion of your excel- \ 
 lent Sifters, for whome I had much ef- 
 teeme, (though butt little acquainted) 
 I found my felfe oblig'd, in good man-i 1 
 ners, to waite vpon her when I came 
 to Whitehall. I fpeake of the Lady, f 
 your Sifter, then Maid of Honour ; for 
 I would object, that there was a Witt 
 with her whome I feared, and that Ii 
 was the moft unfitt perfon in the world 
 for the entertainments of the Antij- 
 Chamber, and the little Spiritts that 
 dwell in Fairy Land. You affured me 1 
 fhe was humble and Religious, and ex-J ] 
 treamly ferious, and that [if] I would be-f 
 leive you, I fhould not be difpleafed with' 1 
 the adventure ; for tho' fhe had abun- 1 
 dance of Witt, and rallied fhrewdly, 
 yett fhe was civill and difcreete, and- 
 exterordnary obligeing. Vpon this, I 
 made your Sifter a vifltt, and furprized I 
 Mrs. Blagge, who it feems that day 
 
 was 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 was drefPd for Audience and Cere- 
 mony, vpon which I would have with- 
 drawne, butt her Chamber fellow ftaid 
 jme, and I was not vnwilling to hear 
 her talke ; butt I fince came to under- 
 I ftand, it was a day of folemn devotion 
 I with her, and me excufed her felfe, faid 
 little, and look'd very humble, which 
 I liked, and foe for this tyme, tooke 
 my leave. 
 
 I concluded by this me might not be 
 that pert Lady I had fancyed ; and me 
 afterwards fpake curteoufly to me, 
 cafually meeting her in the houfe, and 
 that me hoped me had not frighted me 
 from her apartment. I came once or 
 twice after this with my wife to vifitt 
 your Sifter ; when this Lady keepeing 
 her Chamber caufed me one day to 
 dyne with her, which I tooke kindly, 
 jbecaufe 'twas without affectation and 
 } with no danger of furfeiting. Butt her 
 ijconverfation was a treat, and I began 
 
 to 
 
 3 1 
 
 .!- 
 
3 2 
 
 The Life of 
 
 to admire her temperance, and tooke 
 efpeciall notice, that however wide orj: 
 indifferent the fubject of our difcourfe 
 was amongft the reft, fhe would all way es 
 divert it to fome Religious conclufion ; \ 
 and foe temper and feafon her Replyes, \ 
 as fhew'd a gratious heart, and that fhe 
 had a mind wholly taken vp with hea- ji 
 venly thoughts. 
 
 After this introduction fhe conjur'dj!' 
 me not to baulk her holy Cell, and I 
 was not a little pleafed to be foe fo- 
 lemnly diverted and find my felfe mif-;: 
 taken, that foe young, foe elegant, fbe< 
 charming a Witt and Beauty mould c 
 preferve foe much Virtue in a place *c 
 where it neither naturally grew nor: 
 much was cultivated ; for with all thefe' 
 perfections, Vivacitye and Apprehen-< 
 tion beyond what I could expect, fhe, 
 feemed vnconcerned and fteady, could 
 endure to be ferious, and gently reprove: 
 my Moroffnefs, and was greatly de- 
 vout, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 I vouty which putt me out of all feare of 
 jher Railary, and made me looke vpon 
 her with exterordnary refpect. Thus 
 i every vifitt abated of my prejudice: her 
 sjdifcourfes were not trifleing and effe- 
 Iminate, butt full of Virtue and mate- 
 jriall, and of a moft tender regard to 
 Religion. Butt itt was after your Lady- 
 fhipps Mother was gone into Lincoln- 
 fheir, and had carryed away her com- 
 panion, that me told me, " now Mrs. 
 Howard is gone, me beleived me mould 
 have little of my Company ; butt if I 
 were not weary of her, and would be 
 foe charitable, me mould take it kindly 
 that I came often to her." This was a 
 Compliment you know I needed not, 
 for by this tyme I was foe well affured 
 5 of her Inclinacion to Goodnefs, that me 
 could not imagine me capable of neg- 
 lecting a perfon from whofe converfa- 
 tion I never return'd butt with advan- 
 tage. I foone perceived what touched 
 me to the heart, and that was her foule ; 
 
 and 
 
 33 
 
34 
 
 The Life of 
 
 and how her Inclinacions pointed to 
 God ; that her difcourfes, defignes, and 
 actions tended allwayes thither : and 
 other obfervations which I made to my 
 exterordnary wonder and admiracion. i 
 This Creature (would I fay to my 
 felfe) loves God; 'tis a thoufand pittyes a 
 butt me mould perfift ; what a new thing f 
 is this, I think Paulina and Euftoch- 
 ius are come from Bethlehem to White- 
 hall ; and from this moment I began to fi 
 looke vpon her as facred, and to blefs 
 God for the graces which fhoone in her. f 
 I dayly prayed for her as me had en- 
 joined me, and fhe began to open fome 
 of her holy thoughts to me ; and I faw f 
 a flagrant devotion, and that fhe hadj 
 totally refigned herfelfe to God ; and j' 
 with thefe Incentiues, who. that had' 
 any fence of Religion, could forbeare" 
 to vallue her exceedingly ? 
 
 Itt was not long after this, that being ; 
 one day to vifitt her, fhe feem'd to me 
 
 more 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 35 
 
 more thoughtfull than ordinary. I afked 
 ! her, what made her looke foe folemnly. 
 | She told me, me had never a freind in 
 1 the world. Noe, faid I, thats impof- 
 fible ; I beleive no body has more ; for 
 I all that know you muft love you, and 
 ' thofe that love you are continually your 
 freinds. Butt I, who well knew where 
 her heart att that tyme was, afked her 
 what me efteemed a certaine Gentle- 
 man beyond the Seas. Alas, fays me, 
 he is very ill, and that makes me very 
 much concerned ; butt I doe not fpeake 
 to you of him, whome God will I hope 
 be gratious to, but I would have a 
 Freind. In that name is a great deale 
 more then I can exprefs, a faithfull 
 freind, whome I might truft with all 
 that I have, and God knows, that is 
 butt little ; for him whome you meane 
 does not care to meddle with my con- 
 cerns, nor would I give him the trou- 
 ble. This, to my remembrance, were 
 her very expreffions to me. Madam, 
 
 faid 
 
36 
 
 The Life of 
 
 faid I, doe you fpeake this to me, as if 
 I were capable of ferving you in any 
 thing confiderable ? I beleive you the 
 perfon in the world (replyed me) who 
 would make fuch a freind as I wifh for, 
 if I had meritt enough to deferve it. 
 Madam, faid I, confider well what you 
 fay, and what you doe, for it is fuch a f 
 truft, and foe great an obligation that i 
 you lay vpon me, as I ought to em- jn 
 brace with all imaginable refpect, and jjj 
 acknowledgment for the greateft ho- 
 nour you could doe me ; Madam, to be 
 called your freind were the moft defin- 
 able in the world, and I am fure I p 
 mould endeavour to acquitt me of the 
 duty with great chearfullnefs and fide- |$ 
 lity. Pray leave your complimenting, |i 
 (faid fhe fmileing) and be my freind ; 
 then, and looke vpon me henceforth as \ 
 your Child. To this purpofe was her 
 obligeing reply ; and there {landing 
 pen and ink vpon the table, in which 
 had been drawing fomething vpon a pa 
 
 per 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 jper like an Alter, me writt thefe words : 
 IBe this the Symboll of Inviolable 
 Freindihip, — Mary Blagge, 16th Oc- 
 tober, 1672, and vnderneath, For my 
 
 brother E ; and foe delivered it 
 
 to me with a fmile. Well, faid I, Ma- 
 
 |dam, this is an high obligation, and you 
 
 have allready paid me for the greateft 
 
 fervice that I can ever pretend to doe 
 
 you; butt yett doe you know what 
 
 you have done ? Yes, fayes fhe, very 
 
 jwell ; butt pray what doe you meane ? 
 
 jWhy, faid I, the title that has confe- 
 
 rated this Alter is the Marriage of 
 
 ouls, and the Golden thread that tyes 
 
 he hearts of all the world ; I tell you, 
 
 adam, Freindfhipp is beyond all re- 
 
 ations of flefh and blood, becaufe it is 
 
 efs materiall ; there is nature in that of 
 
 arents and kindred, butt [that of] 
 
 Freindfhipp is of courfe and without 
 
 de&ion, for which the Conjugall State it 
 
 "elfe is not alwayes the moil happy ; 
 
 md, therefore, thofe who have had beft 
 
 experience 
 
 37 
 
3§ 
 
 The Life of 
 
 experience chufe their freind out of all 
 thefe circumftances, and have found; 
 him more lairing, and more effectuall. 
 By this Symboll you give me title to 
 all that you can with Honour and Re-: 
 ligion part with in this world ; and it 
 is a topic I could adorne with glorious 
 examples of what I fpeak ; and the no- 
 bleft things have been faid vpon it;i 
 and the Laws and Meafures of Freind- 
 fhipp are the nicer! and the moft ob- 
 ligeing ; — but you know them all. Well, 
 reply ed fhe, fmileing, be it foe, — pray!' 
 what am I to doe ? Nay, faid I, I'll 
 tell you firft what you are to furTer. 
 
 The priviledges I claime (in virtue n 
 of that character) are that I may vifit^ 
 you without being thought importu-t 
 nate ; that I may now and then write 
 to you to cultivate my Stile ; difcourfe 
 with you to improve my Vnderftand- 
 ing ; read to you to receive your Re- 
 flections ; and that you freely commanc 
 
 mc 
 
 i 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 39 
 
 me vpon all occafions without any re- 
 ferve whatfoever : you are to write to 
 me when I am abfent ; mention me in 
 jail your prayers to God, to admonifh 
 me of all my failings, to vifitt me in 
 ficknefs, to take care of me when I am 
 in diilrefs, and never to forfake me, 
 hange or lefTen your particular efteeme, 
 ill I prove vnconftant or perfidious, 
 nd noe mans freind : in a word, there 
 as in Freindfhipp fomething of all rela- 
 tions, and fomething above them all. 
 Thefe, Madam, are the Laws, and they 
 ire reciprocall and eternall, &c. 
 
 Thus, for a tyme, 'twixt jeft and 
 ;arneft, the converfation putt her into 
 :he moft agreeable humor in the world. 
 Well, faid fhe, I will confider of what 
 3rou fay ; butt pray remember you be 
 ny freind, and when next you come, 
 |! will tell you what I have for you to 
 toe in good earneft ; and a little after 
 :jvritt me this Letter. 
 
 "My 
 
4o 
 
 The Life of 
 
 cc My Freindy \ 
 
 cc I have confidered and minded well \ 
 what was faid, and what I writt, andf 
 will not recall it. I vnderftood fome-i; 
 thing of the office of freindfhipp before 
 I knew you, butt after what you have 
 faid and offered, I beleive I mall neec 
 little Inftruction. Gratitude, join'd witfc 
 the greateft efteeme I had before of you, 
 will require all that you mention on my 
 part : you are then, my firft freind, the 
 firft that ever I had, and ever mail you 
 be foe. This is trueth vpon the word 
 of a Chriftian ; and I beleive I mall not 
 lay downe my refolution of continueing 
 yours butt with my life. I thankfully 
 accept all your Councell, and will en^ 
 
 deavour to follow it ; butt birds them- 
 felves have allwayes the good naturc- 
 to teach their young ones, and foe mul 
 you ; looke vpon me then as your chile 
 as well as friend, and love me as yoi 
 child, and, if you will, call me foe 
 
 Wha 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 What Meafures you are to obferve I 
 meddle not with ; for a friend may doe 
 what he pleafes ; they who give mony, 
 give all : 'tis a faying of your owne as 
 to Charity, they that are friends are 
 all things, — lett that be myne. Butt 
 ; ;as for the returnes for the good offices 
 I receive, I beleive my advice can be of 
 little vfe to you, vnlefs to ferve you as 
 an Act of humility, which muft be all 
 jthe reafon you will ever have to require 
 it; what mall I fay then more? till death 
 reckon me your freind ; you fee how I 
 think I am with you ; and now, after 
 all this, I may grow old or forgettfull, 
 and Melancholy or Stupid, and in that 
 Cafe, will no more anfwer for my felfe 
 then for a Stranger ; butt, whilft I am 
 ;( my felfe and a Chriftian, I will be 
 yours 
 
 I 
 
 Itt would be an vnpardonable orien- 
 tation in me, and a great temptation to 
 :jover vallue my felfe, and the poore 
 
 fervices 
 
 41 
 
42 
 
 The Life of 
 
 fervices fhe was pleafed to accept of, jn 
 fhould I here repeate what fhe has left! 
 me vnder her owne hand vpon thisj 
 fubjecl:, in the moft pious and endear- 1; 
 ing expreflions that could poffibly fall; 
 from the moft fincere and obligeingi 
 Creature in the world : butt to lett them > 
 pafs, — 'tis certaine, that from this mo- i? 
 ment, I no more look'd vpon her asj, 
 Mrs. Blagge, butt as my child indeed, 
 and did, to the vttmoft of my poore! 
 ability e, advice and ferve her in all J 
 her fecular and no few fpirituall affaires tl 
 and concerns, with a diligence and fi-j 
 delity becomeing the truft and confi-i ( 
 dence fhe repofed in me, as an honour; 
 to be envyed by the beft of men : her >: 
 friendfhipp after this to me was foejj 
 tranfcendently fincere, noble, and Reli-i^ 
 gious, as taught me all its demeanfions, 5 
 beyond any thing I ever read of its| ( 
 higheft Ideas; and fhe herfelfe was 
 heard to fay, what fhe once thought tot 
 be a name onely and nothing elfe, fhe < 
 
 found 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 found a reall exiftance ; and that friend- 
 fhipp was for mutuall Improvement, 
 and to fortifye every virtue; and, in- 
 i deed, me was able to direct, and Coun- 
 I cell, and encourage, and Comfort. Nay, 
 jand has often told me with becomeing 
 i passion, That fhe with Joy could dye 
 for a friend ; vrgeing that fentence of 
 St. Pauls, nor are the meafures hard ; 
 I am fure willingly would I have done 
 it for her: O fweete, O how defin- 
 able ! And, indeed, thefe holy tranfports 
 made the Chriftians comunicate all they 
 had ; the apoftles fpeake of fome who 
 would have pluck'd out their very eyes 
 and laid downe their necks for him, 
 and called nothing their owne which 
 others wanted. 'Tis this which made 
 thofe faints of one mind and of one 
 heart ; 'tis this has Crown'd a hundred 
 thoufand martyrs, and mewed vs that 
 the moil confumate friendfhipps are the 
 c products of Religion and the love of 
 I God. There are Inumerable expref- 
 
 fions 
 
 43 
 
44 
 
 The Life of 
 
 fions of this nature to be found in her; 
 letters to me, which are Charming, and!; 
 indeed, foe tender and perfonall, that,j: 
 tho' one (who) knew my demeritts asj 
 well as I my felfe doe, would fufpecl their 
 fincerity ; yett I knew to be from her J 
 heart, which was full of moft generous t 
 refentments. In a word, I may fay, as; 
 David did of Jonathan, her friendmipp - 
 to me was parling the love of women I 
 nor verily, was it without an intireii 
 flmpathye on my part ; and there was : 
 providence in itt, as well as inclination 
 for the exceeding and moft eminent 
 piety and goodnefs that ever confe-t 
 crated a worthy freindfhipp, fhone foe|i| 
 bright in this blefTed faint, as intitled|: 
 her to all the fervices, refpect, and ve-i 
 neration I was capable of giveing her. \ 
 
 Never am I to forgett this Golden 
 expreflion of hers to me. I would 
 have (fayes me) nothing that paffes be-' 
 tweene vs have any Refemblance of' 
 
 friendmipp 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 jfriendfhipp that doe not laft. Butt, 
 Madam, whither has this Indearing to- 
 pic tranfported me. 
 
 After this folemn engagement then, 
 jfhe foone accquainted me with many of 
 her concerns ; made me the depofitarie 
 of her pious thoughts and refolutions, 
 and putt her whole fortune intirely 
 into my hands ; which, indeed, lay in 
 fome danger for want of that arTift- 
 (jance, which me might have had from 
 an able perfon, tho' from none more 
 faithfull and more Induftrious to Im- 
 prove it to the beft of my capacity ; I 
 was only greiv'd, when att any tyme 
 me thought it a trouble to me ; butt 
 me would fay : I am your Child, and 
 whither mould I goe butt to you ; never 
 will I doe any thing without you whilft 
 I live : more difference and humility 
 [could me not have paid to a father; 
 more confidence in a friend ; and this 
 l|temper'd with that fweetnefs and ex- 
 
 terordnary 
 
 45 
 
4 6 
 
 The Life of 
 
 terordnary piety, that I am not able to 
 fupport the confideration of the lofs of 
 fuch a friendfhipp without vnfpeakable 1 
 griefe. 
 
 i 
 
 Seldome or rarely came I to waite on 
 her, (if me were not in company) buf 
 I found her in her little oratorie, and^ 
 fome tymes all in feares, for never was- 
 Creature more devout and tender ; and 
 athoufandCafes and queftions would me 
 propound to me, for which I would ftill 
 referr her to that Reverend and learn'd 
 divine, with whome me did conftantly- 
 correfpondvpon all occafionsof fpiritualf 
 advice ; foe carefull and curious was 1 
 this faint in the concernments of her- 
 foule ; butt fhe would often tell mej 1 ; 
 he was too gentle, and, therefore, re-' 
 quired of me to deale Impartially ; [thatj 
 I was her friend, and that a friend was^ 
 Ghoftly father, and every thing to her \ 
 indeed I would often reprove her tire- 
 fome methods and thought to plant 
 
 the 
 
j 
 
 Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 47 
 
 ihe confideracion of the memory and 
 ]}ove of God in her thoughts ; and to 
 iure her of the fad and frieghtfull ap- 
 prehenfions fhe fometymes feemed to 
 Slave, that God was a fevere exacler; 
 that fhe had never done enough, and 
 jferved an auftere Matter, not to be 
 jbleafed without abundance of labour 
 ; ind formes without end ; and for this 
 (he would frequently give me thanks, 
 jthat I had lett her fee and taft more of 
 (the love of God and delices of Religion, 
 |then ever fhe had before. And veryly 
 .this holy and Religious temper of hers, 
 |was enough to winn the efteeme of all 
 j that had any fence of goodnefs. Nor 
 ^as her tyme wholly fpent in the con- 
 templative part of piety ; fhe was all- 
 wayes doeing fome good offices for one 
 pr other, gave frequent and confider- 
 gible releife to poore and indigent peo- 
 ple, and not feldome made me her al- 
 Jmoner, and the hand to convey it where 
 fhe could not well her felfe ; butt of 
 
 this 
 
 
 
 
48 
 
 The Life of 
 
 this and the many vifitts fhe in her 
 owne perfon made (delicate as me was^ 
 to refrefh and comfort the fick and mi- 
 ferable, even amongft the moft wretch- 
 edly poore, nott without great incon-, 
 veniency to her health, I mail give,; 
 account hereafter : butt hitherto was r 
 fhe advanc'd, being yett hardly enter'd 
 her Nineteenth yeare, an age that few in 
 her circumstances foe foone fett out att, 
 and [would] that I begun as early and as; 
 early fmifh'd. 
 
 Wee will now then looke vpon her 
 as att Whitehall, whither me came, 
 from St. James to waite vpon her Ma-, 
 jeftye, after the death of the Dutchefs, 
 when fhe was not above fixteene. I, 
 had not then indeed the honour tq t 
 know her; butt I have heard from 
 others, that her beauty and her witt 
 was foe exterordinary improved, as thei 
 had nothing been feene more furprizc 
 ing, and full of charmes ; every body 
 
 was 
 
 ■ 
 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 49 
 
 (was in love with, and fome allmoft dye- 
 ing for her, whilft with all the Modefty 
 ^nd Circumfpection imaginable, me 
 (drove to Eclipfe the lufter which me 
 tave ; and would often check the vivacity 
 '|which was naturall, and perfectly be- 
 came her, for feare of giveing occasion 
 !o thofe who lay in waite to deceive. 
 Sutt it was not poffible here to make the 
 eaft approach, butt fuch as was full of 
 (Honour ; and the diftance me obferv'd, 
 bid Caution and Judgment me was 
 tniftrefs of, protected her from all im- 
 pertinent addreffes, till me had made a 
 Choice, without Reproach, and worthy 
 ler Efteeme, namely, of that excellent 
 [Perfon, who was afterwards her Huf- 
 3and, after a paffion of no lefs than 
 c N"ine long yeares, that they both had 
 been the moft intire and faithfull lovers 
 in the world. This was a fpace indeed 
 bf fufficient probation, nor will I pre- 
 sume to dive into the circumflances 
 i 
 
 which made them be foe long refolve- 
 
 in g> 
 
5° 
 
 The Life of 
 
 ing, me being then it feems butt very 
 young, and both of a temper foe ex- 
 treamly difcreete. Butt as to the firfl? 
 Impreffions, I will relate to your Lady- 
 mipp what I have learn'd from he^ 
 felfe, when fometymes fhe was pleafec 
 to truft me with diverfe paffages of hei> 
 Life. For it was not poffible I coulcf 
 hear of foe long an Amour, foe honor j 
 able a love and conftant paffion, ancf 
 which I eafily perceived concerned her) 
 as lookeing vpon herfelfe vnfettled; 
 and one who had long fince refolvecf 
 nott to make the Court her reft, but 
 I muft be touched with fome Care fo: 
 her. I would now and then kindb- 
 chide her, why fhe fufTer'd thofe lani^ 
 guifhments when I knew not on whomf 
 to lay the blame. For tho' me wouIcj 
 induftrioufly conceale her difquiett, anc 
 divert it vnder the notion of the Spleene 
 me could not but acknowledge to m 
 where the dart was fix'd ; nor was an^' 
 thing more ingenious then what fh 
 
 
 no\ 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 £ow writt me vpon this Subject, by 
 rhich your Ladymipp will perceive, as 
 (with what peculiar confidence me was 
 jpleafed to honour me, foe, with what 
 -(early prudence and great pietye me ma- 
 Jnag'd the paffion, which, of all other, 
 (young people are comonly the moil pre- 
 cipitate in and vnadvif'd. 
 
 " I came," fayes ihe, c< foe young, as 
 I tell you, into the world (that is, about 
 14 yeares of Age,) where no fooner was 
 I entred, butt various opinions were 
 delivered of me and the perfon whome 
 (you know,) was more favourable then 
 the reft were to me, and did, after fome 
 tyme, declare it to me. The firfr. thing 
 which tempts young weomen is vanity, 
 ;and I made that my great defigne. 
 Butt Love foone taught me another 
 LefTon, and I found the trouble of 
 being tyed to the hearing of any fave 
 him ; which made me refolve that either 
 he or none mould have the pofTerTion 
 
 of 
 
52 The Life of 
 
 of your Friend. Being thus foone fen-i 
 cible of Love my felfe, I was eafily 
 perfwaded to keepe my felfe from give^ 
 ing him any caufe of Jealoufye, and in 
 foe long a tyme never has there beeri) 
 the leaft. 
 
 fC This, vnder God's providence, has 
 been the means of preferveing me fronr 
 many of thofe mifsfortunes young Crea- 
 tures meet with in the world, and in i 
 Court efpetially. Att firft wee thought 
 of nothing but liveing allwayes to^ 
 geather, and that wee fhould be happy k 
 Butt att laft he was fent abroad by hi^ 
 Majeftye, and fell fick, which gave msi 
 great trouble ; and I allow'd more tymi 
 for Prayer and the performance of holy j 
 dutyes than before I had ever done!- 
 and I thank God, found infinite plea! 
 fure in it, farr beyond any other, and ] 
 thought lefs of foolifh things that vfect 
 to take vpmy tyme. Being thus changec 
 my felfe, and likeing it foe well, I earnr 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 eftly begg'd of God that he would im- 
 part the fame fatisfaction to him I 
 -loved ; 'tis done, (my friend) 'tis done, 
 i|and from my foule I am thankfull; 
 knd tho' I beleive he loves me paffion- 
 jately, yett I am not where I was : my 
 (place is fill'd vpp with HIM who is all 
 2|in all. I find in him none of that tor- 
 menting paffion to which I need facre- 
 fice my felfe ; butt ftill were wee difT- 
 engag'd from the world, wee mould 
 ijmarry vnder fuch restraints as were fitt, 
 and by the agreeablenefs of our hu- 
 mour, make each other happy. Butt 
 att prefent there are obstructions : he 
 •muft be perpetually engaged in buifTnefs, 
 and follow the Court, and live allwayes 
 in the world, and foe have lefs tyme 
 tfor the fervice of God, which is a fenf- 
 cible affliction to him ; wherefore, wee 
 are not determined to precipitate that 
 matter, butt to expect a while, and fee 
 how things will goe ; haveing a great 
 mind to be togeather, which cannot 
 
 with 
 
 53 
 
54 
 
 The Life of 
 
 with decency be done without marry- 
 ing, nor, to either of our fatisfactions, 
 without being free from the world. 
 In fhort, ferving of God is our end, 
 and if wee cannott do that quietly to-' 
 geather wee will afunder. You know 
 our Saviour fayes, that all could not 
 receive that doctrine, but to thofe who> 
 could, he gave noe contradiction ; andi'i 
 if wee can butt pafs our younger yeares,;>; 
 'tis not likely wee mould be concern^ 
 for marrying when old. If wee could 
 marry now, I don't fee butt thofe in- 
 conveniencys may happen by iicknefs, 
 or abfence, or death. In a word, ifl 
 we marry, it will be to ferve God and: 
 to encourage one another dayly ; if 
 wee doe not, 'tis for that end too ; and 
 wee know God will direct thofe whdi 
 fincerely de/ire his love above all other! 
 Confiderations ; now mould wee both 
 refolve to continue as we are, be ai 
 fur'd, I mould be as little Idle as if ]' 
 were a wife. I mould attend to prayer 
 
 ai 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 and all other Chriftian dutyes, and 
 make thefe my pleafures, feeing I chufe 
 not the condition out of reftraint and 
 Angularity, but to ferve God the bet- 
 ter." 
 
 i This being in anfwer to fomething I 
 
 (jhad written to her vpon a ferious de- 
 bate, in which I had oppofed a melan- 
 choly Refolution, fhe would now and 
 then entertaine me with, of abfolutely 
 
 j renouncing the thoughts of Marriage 
 and wholly retireing in the world, I 
 give you [it] in her owne Style and holy 
 thoughts, as an Inftance of that early 
 piety and prudentiall weighing of things 
 and circumftances, which accompanied 
 all her actions ; nor could I have pre- 
 fented your Ladyfhipp with a more II- 
 
 f luftrious part of her hiftory nor more 
 inftruclive. 
 
 In good earneft, this purpofe of 
 wholly vacateing to Religion, was att 
 
 this 
 
 55 
 
56 
 
 The Life of 
 
 this tyme foe imprinted in her, thatp 
 whether me marryed or remain'd fingle, 
 refolv'd me was to depart the Court 
 She had frequently told me, that Seaven 
 yeares was enough and too much, to 1 ; 
 trifle any longer there : and, according- 
 ly, one day that I leafl: dream't of it, 
 fhe came exprefsly to my lodgeing and : 
 accquainted me with her Intention to' 
 goe [and] live att Berkley Houfe, and 
 that if me did alter her condition byj> 
 Marriage, it mould be when me was; 
 perfectly free, and had eflayed how hei| 
 detachment from Roy all fervitude wouldi 
 comport with her before me deter-; 
 min'd concerning another change. I 
 happen'd to be with her in the Queens^ 
 withdrawing roome, when a day or twdi 
 after, finding her oppertunity, and thatf 
 there was lefs company, fhe begg'd- 
 leave of their Majeftyes to retire ; never 
 mall I forgett the humble and become- 
 ing addrefs me made, nor the Joy that : 
 difcover'd its felfe in this Angells coun 
 
 tenance 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 ijtenance, above any thing I had ever 
 jobferved of tranfport in her, when me 
 |iad obtained her fuite ; for, I muft tell 
 ryou, Madam, me had made fome at- 
 tempts before without fuccefs, which 
 gave her much anxietie. Their Majef- 
 ityes were both vnwilling to part with 
 [;mch a Jewell ; and I confefs, from that 
 tyme, I look'd vpon White Hall with 
 pitty, not to fay Contempt. What will 
 become faid I, of Corinthus, the Citty 
 :!of Luxury, when the graces have aban- 
 don'd it, whofe piety and example is 
 foe highly necefTary ? Aftrsea foe left 
 the Lower world. And for my part, I 
 never fett my foote in it afterwards, 
 butt as entering into a folitude, and 
 3 was ready to cry out with the wife of 
 Phineas, that its glory was departed. 
 She tooke, I affure you, her leave of 
 their Majeftyes with foe much mo- 
 defty and good a Grace, that tho' they 
 look't as if they would have a little re- 
 proach' t her for makeing foe much haft, 
 
 they 
 
 57 
 
58 The Life of 
 
 they could not find in their hearts toi [ 
 
 fay an vnkind word to her ; butt there f 
 
 was for all that I am certaine fome-) 
 
 thing att the heart like griefe ; and % 
 
 leave you, Madam, to imagine how the ^ 
 
 reft of the Court mourn'd this Recefs, 1 ! 
 
 and how dim the tapers burnt as fhe ; 
 
 pafPd the an ti- chamber. c Is Mrs.^ 
 
 Blagge goeing/ fayes a faire creature I 
 
 c why flay I here any longer ? * others,? 
 
 c that the Court had never fuch a StarrP 
 
 in all its hemifpheere ; ' and veryly, i! 1 
 
 had not obferved foe vniverfall a damp' 
 
 vpon the fpiritts of every one that knew 
 
 her. Itt was, I remember, on a Sun- C 
 
 day night, after moft of the company;! 
 
 were departed, that I waited on heif 
 
 downe to her Chamber, where fhe wasj ! 
 
 noe fooner enter'd, butt falling on her 
 
 knees, fhe bleffed God as for a Signall' 
 
 deliverance; fhe was come out of Egypt, 
 
 and now in the way to the Land or] 
 
 Promife. You will eafyly figure to 
 
 your felfe how buifTy the young Saint 
 
 was 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 S! was the next morning in makeing vpp 
 Jher little carriage to quitt her jprifon : 
 and when you have fancied the Con- 
 flagration of a certaine Citty the Scrip- 
 ture fpeaks of, imagine this Lady trurT- 
 ing vpp her little fardle, like the two 
 daughters whom the angell haftned and 
 jconducted ; butt the fimilitude goes no 
 further, for this holy Virgin went to 
 Zoar, they to the cave of Folly and 
 Intemperance ; there was no danger of 
 her lookeing back and becomeing a 
 Statue for forrow of what fhe left be- 
 hind. All her houfehold ftuffe beiides 
 a Bible and a bundle of Prayer bookes, 
 was packed vpp in a very little Com- 
 pafs, for me lived foe farr from fuper- 
 fluitye, that fhe carry ed all that was 
 i-vallueable in her perfon ; and tho' me 
 I had a Courtly wardrobe, me affected it 
 not, becaufe every thing became her 
 i that fhe putt on, and me became every 
 thing was putt vpon her. 
 
 She 
 
 59 
 
6o 
 
 The Life of 
 
 She tooke her leave of the mother of 
 the Maids as became her ; butt me 
 could not weepe till your Ladyfhippsj 
 fitter, whome ihe was ftill to leave in' 
 Captivitye fell on her neck, and then 
 there fell mutuall tears, that trickled; 
 downe her Cheeks like the dew of r 
 Flowers, and made a lovely griefe : to? 
 her and to your Ladyfhipp me left her 
 pretty Oratorye, foe often confecrated; 
 with her prayers and devotions, as tof 
 the only fucceffors of her Virtues and| 
 Piety ; and as I am perfwaded that the? 
 Court was every day lefs fenfible of its 
 lofTe whilft you both continued in 'M 
 becaufe you trode in this Religious 1 ^ 
 Ladys Stepps, foe the piety it any where 
 ftill retaines is accountable to your 1 
 rare examples; of fuch Importance is !t 
 one Religious Perfon to a whole Socie- 
 ty, and fometymes to a Nation. 
 
 Butt to returne to her remove from' 
 Court. I am the more particular as 
 
 haveing 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 61 
 
 iaveing had the honour to waite on her 
 ;to Berkley Houfe; I tell your Lady- 
 «|hipp, I never beheld her more orient 
 then fhe appeared att this tyme, and 
 the moment fhe fett foote in the 
 Coach her eyes fparkled with Joy, and 
 fe marvelous lufture ; the Rofes of her 
 Cheeks were foe frefh, and her coun- 
 tenance foe gay, as if with the reft of 
 per perfections (had fhe not left your 
 [jtwo Sifters there) fhe had caryed all 
 Ijthe Beautyes as well as all the Virtue 
 of the Court away with her too. Butt 
 ah, had you feen with what effuflon 
 and open armes fhe entred Berkley 
 : Houfe, and fprung into the CareiTes of 
 ;my Lady, in what a trice after fhe was 
 ledd vp into her apartmentt fhe had 
 putt all her Equipage in order, rang'd 
 her Library, and difpofed of her Com- 
 pendious Inventory, you would have 
 faid there was nothing pretty er then 
 that buiffy moment. And now when 
 fhe had confecrated her new Oratorye 
 
 with 
 
62 
 
 The Life of 
 
 with a devout Afpiration and the In- 
 cenfe of an humble Soule, for the blef- 
 iings of this fweete Retirement, fhe 
 fatt downe and admired her fweet fel$|< 
 citye. For, as I told your Ladyfhipp, 
 'twas not altogeather that fhe might be 
 diffengaged from Court that fhe de- 
 figned to quitt itt ; butt that me might j 
 vacate more to ftricter duty. She be 
 lieved that att Berkley Houfe fhe fhouldj 
 be more att her owne diflpofall ; thatj 
 fhe mould have noe body to obferve 
 butt God ; be miftrefs of her houres^ 
 and governe her affaires fuitable to her, 
 devout Inclinations : and when fhe fe-< 
 rioufly requir'd my opinion of it, \ 
 could not difTaprove it. Itt brought to 
 mind how in the declenfion of the Ern^i 
 pire, and when the finns and vices of ?ti 
 licentious and abandon'd age had al-> 
 larm'd the Roman world with a bar-,; 
 barous and vniverfall warr, like what 
 was now vpon the fcene of Europe, 
 that Paula and her daughter Euftoch- 
 
 ium, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 63 
 
 urn, (two rich and beautifull Ladys) 
 pitted the fplendor of a pompous 
 ^ourt for the RecefTes of Bethelem and 
 he Solitudes of Judea, and to proftrate 
 themfelves att the manger of a divine 
 iabe, and then att the foote of Calva- 
 jye, where this holy Mother and beau- 
 ous Daughter fpent the reft of their 
 ayes in the recollection of their lives 
 d the fervice of Jefus : me-thought no- 
 thing more ever refembled this Act of 
 jthofeDevotas than the heroick refolution 
 of our Saint ; in this yett fuperior to 
 'theirs, as hers was fpontaneous, theirs 
 by the importunityes of St. Hierome ; 
 abandoning theRoyall Circle, where me 
 -made vp the conftellacions, for a Circle 
 of reall Starrs, and to ftand before the 
 throne of the Lamb ; me deferts the 
 glittering Balls and goes no more to the 
 Theater, that me may ring in the quire 
 of Seraphins, and contemplate the ce- 
 leftiall virion ; me cares not for the 
 Sumptuous Entertainments, the Mu- 
 
 fick, 
 
64 
 
 The Life of 
 
 : 
 
 fick, Mafking, and perfumes, to morti-J 
 fye her fences, and enjoy intellectual)' 
 pleafures ; fhe neglects the gay and {fan 
 dious Drefs, the Raillery and reputa- 
 tion of a Witt, which made her the life|i 
 of Converfation and the pretty miracle,; 
 of Court, that me may adorne hei/ 
 bright Soule, and converfe with An^ 
 gells ; fhe chufes rather to fuffer dimi- 
 nution, and the cenfure of men as per-: 
 cife and lingular ; to be a reall Maid o\\ 
 Honour, then to have the name, and 
 live in the fcene of Temptation ancj| 
 the pleafures of Sinn for a feafon : in i 
 word, I fancied her call'd, as was Abra-: 
 ham out of Vr of the Chaldees ancr 
 from the Idolls of Haran. 
 
 Butt as nothing on this fide heaver 
 is permanent long, me had not been ir 
 this Imaginarye and indeed fweete re- 
 tirement, and where tho' one of th<> 
 moft magnificent pallaces of the Towne 
 fhe had her apartment remote from the 
 
 buifsj 
 
 i 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 buiffy part of the houfe, and was rarely 
 (fitted for her purpofes of devotion ; I 
 fay, it was not long, when partly from 
 the necerTity of Comply ance with the 
 Lady of the family, the continuall and 
 jimportune vifitts of the great perfons 
 ij which vf'd to frequent that place, ob- 
 ligeing her to tedious Cerimony and 
 converfation that often interrupted her 
 Courfe, and partly (from) other Circum- 
 ftances, which for the prefentfeemed lefs 
 favourable to their Intentions of mar- 
 riage foe foone, and the difquiett it putt 
 her to, me not only deliberated in good 
 earner!:, butt refum'd her former Inclina- 
 tion with more refolution than ever, of 
 removeing farther from thefe Impedi- 
 ments and all togeather abandoning the 
 world. I have really been touch'd in the 
 deepeft fence to fee the Conflicts this de- 
 vout Creature vnderwent, betweene her 
 love and her devotion ; or mail I call 
 rthem both her love ; for foe they were : 
 fp. thoufand tymes has me told me me 
 
 would 
 
 65 
 
 K 
 
66 
 
 The Life of 
 
 would abide as me was, and then her pitty 
 for, him who could not live in her abfence, I 
 divided her afrefh, and peirc'd her to the 
 foule ; and when me was in the deeper! [ 
 of this Concerne for him, nothing I 
 have ever read in the Epiftles of Seneca, 
 had that excellent Stoick been indeed a 
 Christian, appear'd more divinely phi- 
 lofophicall then the Topics fhe would 
 vfe to divert his paffion, and reafon 
 him into an indifference for her, when 
 (of all things in the world,) it was not 
 indifferent to her that he mould have 
 lov'd her lefs. Butt me had really that 
 abfolute Empire over her owne affec- 
 tions, and fuch potent Inclinations to> 
 make God and Religion the buirTnefs 1 ; 
 of her life, that as I faid, me wasi 
 many times vpon the Brink of Refolve-' ; 
 ing to abandon all the world : me be-, 
 leived that I who knew love to be 
 ftronger then death, would never aw 
 prove of this refolution ; and, there- 
 fore, me pretended att flrft, only to 
 
 make 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 make a vifttt to her fitter the Lady 
 Yarbrough in Yorkfheir, for a month 
 or two dureing the fummer ; butt after 
 that, me could not conceale from me a 
 further defigne of goeing from thence 
 to Hereford, to live by herfelf vnder 
 the direction of the Reverend Deane of 
 that Cathedrall, who had long been her 
 fpirituall father. This was the Zoare 
 fhe often languished after, vfeing that 
 Jj of Righteous Lott, C( Is it not a little 
 \ one, and my foule mail live." cc Yes, my 
 friend," fays me, "in perfect libertye 
 ' without formes ; frugally, without Con- 
 tempt ; conveniently, without pomp ; 
 att diftance from the Buttle of the world, 
 where I fliall forgett and be forgotten, 
 be arbitrefs of my tyme, and ferve God 
 regularly ; chufe my Converfation, and 
 when I alter my Condition, doe it with 
 your advice ; which I am fure will never 
 be to alter a purpofe foe reafonable, and 
 foe fitt for one in my Circumftances." 
 Thus would this blefled Creature dif- 
 
 courfe 
 
 67 
 
68 
 
 The Life of 
 
 jj 
 
 courfe it with me, whilft in the meanen 
 tyme, fhe was ballanceing in herfelfe 
 when it came to a Refolution. <c The 
 Lord help me, dear freind," fayesli 
 me to me, in another Letter, " I know- 
 not what to determine ; fbmetymes I 
 think one thing, fbmetymes another;? 
 one day I fancy noe life foe pure as the,; 
 vnmarryed, another day I think it lefs 1 ' 
 exemplarye, and that the marryed life 
 has more oppertunity of exercifeing 
 Charity ; and then againe, that 'tis full' 
 of folicitude and worldly nefs, foe as 
 what I fhall doe, I know not. He! 
 can live without a wife willingly, butti 
 without me he is vnwilling to live,: 
 foe as if I doe not marry he is not m\ 
 danger of finn ; butt if I or he or both i 
 mould repent, O Lord and Governor of 1 
 my life, leave me not to my felfe, to the 
 Counfell of my whole heart, butt fend 
 me wifdome from thy throne to direct, 
 afTift, and lead me foberly in my doeings. 
 Thou haft: imparted to us reafon for 
 
 our 
 
Mrs. Godolphiru 69 
 
 spur guide ; butt O rule thou that rea- 
 son, for without thou Conduct it I fhall 
 jbe in perpetuall hazard. Lord, I re- 
 nounce all Judgment, all knowledge, and 
 difcretion of my owne ; I defire not to 
 Ibe a Child of this world, wife in their 
 feneration, butt to be a Foole that I 
 wiay indeed be wife. I am in a ftraight 
 iand know not what to chufe, determine 
 ithou for me, O blefTed Lord. Remem- 
 cjber that for near thefe one and twenty 
 yeares I have been thy care, and I blefs 
 »the for it. Thou haft frequently and 
 3 wonderfully preferv'd me, both in fpi- 
 trituall and temporall dangers, and over 
 and above has done Innumerable good 
 1 things for me ; O leave me not now in 
 ithis difficulty, butt once more be thou 
 my Councellor, and whilft I live will I 
 be thy faithfull, thankfull, fervant. Say, 
 y^men with me, dear freind." 
 
 Behold, Madam, the Letter, or ra- 
 ther the ejaculation which an heart in- 
 
 tirely 
 
7° 
 
 The Life of 
 
 tirely poflefPd with Religious Senti- T 
 ments, made her dictate on this occa-i 
 fion ; nor mould I have produc'd thefe 
 particulars (con-credited to me in fpe^ 
 tiall Confidence) butt to lett you feej] 
 with how holy a defigne and confidera-; 
 cion fhe proceeded ; and how Infinitely 
 different from the method of makeing: 
 love and receiveing addrefTes now | 
 dayes. Veryly, when I reflect vpon hetf 
 youth, beauty, witt, the temptation^ 
 and conflicts fhe fuftain'd, to comply 
 with the affection fhe had for her twcj 
 Rivall loves (for foe I againe call 
 them) I am halfe aftonifiVd, butt yoi^ 
 fhall hear how paffionately fhe defcribes' 
 it, and thus goes on. 
 
 cc Much afflicted and in great agony, 
 was your poor friend this day, to think 
 of the love of the holy Jefus, and yet; 
 be foe little able to make him any re- 
 turne. For with what favour have 1 
 protefted againft all affection to the. 
 
 thing: 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 71 
 
 kings of tkis world ; refign'd tkem all 
 Ivitkout exception ; wken tke firft mo- 
 ment I am tryed, I fkrink away, and 
 
 im paffionately fond of tke Creature, 
 :j|id forgetfull of tke Creator. Tkis, 
 
 vken I confider'd, I fell on my knees^ 
 (jind witk many teares, begg'd of God 
 ip aflift me witk kis Grace, and banifk 
 
 rom me all Concerne butt tkat of kea- 
 
 r enly tkings, and wkolly to pofTefs my 
 ijieart kimfelfe ; and eitker releive me in 
 jkis Conflict, now foe long fuftain'd, or 
 'Continue to me Strengtk to reiift it, ftill 
 
 earing if tke combate ceafe not in tyme, 
 mould repine for being putt vpon foe 
 
 lard a dutye. Butt tken againe, wken 
 call to mind tke Grace of Selfe deny- 
 
 11, tke konour of fuffering for my Sa- 
 viour, tke Reward propof 'd for tkofe 
 
 kat conquer, tke deligkt I mall con- 
 
 eive in feeing and enjoying kim ; tke 
 iiappynefs of tke life above ; I tkat am 
 
 kus feeble, tkus fearfull, call, (out of 
 
 scercife of kis Grace,) yea, for tribula- 
 tion, 
 
7 2 
 
 The Life of 
 
 tion, for perfecution, for contradictions 
 to my owne defires, and for every 
 thing agreeable to the Spiritt and dif- 
 pleafing to the flefh. Thus, with St. 
 Paul, when I am weake then am ■ 
 ftrong ; when I am in forrow then ami 
 I rejoiceing ; one whome I love is here; 
 butt I am gott to other Company, anc 
 well have I been regal'd, for God has 8 
 been very gratious to me ; moft bitterM 
 have I wept to think how much of my| 
 heart he has, how little my blefTed Sa- 
 viour, who has loved and fuffered for mi 
 foe much more ; happy, ah happy, ar& 
 you my friend, that are pafl that might) 
 love to the Creature. Butt I make thii 
 my humble confeflion to God and you; 
 bewayleing my loveing any thing but 
 himfelf; imploreing him to tranflat* 
 my affections, and place them on hm]\ 
 alone. Thus to you doe I difplay m| ; 
 griefe, I can leave him whome hen 
 I love, to goe to my Jefus for ever 
 butt I Confefs, 'tis hard for me to leavd 
 
 hin 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 73 
 
 <jhim now foe often as I doe, and this 
 breaks my heart, that after foe many 
 Tolemn proferTions to God, what I would 
 :doe for him, I mould with fuch relucV 
 lancy part from this perfon, to pray, 
 fand to read, and to goe to holy du- 
 Jtyes. 
 [ 
 
 cc Now, dear freind, mould I marry, 
 and refufe to goe to my Lord, part 
 fvnwillingly, or refufe him, what would 
 become of me ? No, No, I will re- 
 ilmaine my Saviours ; he mail be my 
 'love, my hufband, my all ; I will keepe 
 jtny Virgin, prefent it vnto Chrift, and 
 not putt myfelfe into the temptation 
 iDf loveing any thing in Competition 
 with my God." 
 
 f Thus farr this devout and tender 
 'Creature : nor this the laft wherein me 
 
 ^as conjur'd me to advife what fhe 
 lould refolve on, when often her heart 
 as I faid, has been divided betweene 
 
 her 
 
74 
 
 The Life of 
 
 her lovers, as was St. Pauls in another; 1 : 
 cafe, even wifhing to be diflblv'd, that! 
 ihe might be with Chrift, and freed!; 
 from all this folicitude, as me has fre-i 
 quently exprefT'd it to me. And nowi 
 what was I to returne ? truely I was! 
 myfelfe alfoe fometymes divided in my* 
 thoughts. She had perpetuall Inclina^: 
 tions to retire from all the world, efpe-J 
 tially apprehending that by any feculaflj 
 circumftances, me might poffibly rdt 
 maine in a doubtful condition, and th§ 
 refolution was once foe ftrongly fix'dii; 
 that with noe fmall dificulty I oppofec 
 it. Being foe fully perfwaded as I wasp 
 that they would be exceeding bleffings!' 
 to one another, rare examples of th^j 
 conjugall ftate, and that nothing could! 
 hinder the purfuite of an holy life ana 
 the love of God, foe much as thl ( " 
 pendulous and vncertaine condition;' 
 whilft marriage fhe would find compofc 
 her devout fpiritt, and improve it, J 
 told her, me was not free, as I con-i 
 
 ceiv'd 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 ceiv'd, to refolve foe peremptory lye ; 
 pat it was to doe violence to one 
 whome fhe acknowledg'd could not live 
 without her; nay, that if to comply 
 with her, he putt constraint vpon him- 
 felfe, fhe mould not doe well, fince his 
 Action in this Cafe ought to be as free 
 as her owne ; and that fhe mould doe a 
 much nobler and [more] felf denying 
 thing, to preferr the fatisfaclion of foe 
 worthy a Creature before her owne. I 
 confented to all her Elogies of the Virgin 
 State, butt that there were no lefs due 
 to the Conjugall ; and that if there were 
 fome temptations in it, her meritts would 
 be the greater, and the exercife of her 
 virtue ; Circled indeed it was with fome 
 tollerable thornes, butt rewarded with 
 illuftrious Coronetts for the good it 
 produc'd; that as to the oppertunityes of 
 ferveing God, an active life was prefer- 
 rable to the Contemplative ; and that I 
 fhould not doubt to fee as many Crown'd 
 in heaven who had been marryed, as of 
 
 Virgins : 
 
7 6 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Virgins : fince from Marriage all then 
 Virgins in the world had their orriginall,, 
 and all the Saints that ever were or ever!) 
 fhall be ; that it was the Seminary of 
 the Church and care of Angells ; and< 
 that [though] our beloved [Lord] werej: 
 borne of a Virgin, me was yett vail'l 
 vnder the Cover of Marriage ; and foe: 
 when St. Paul exalted the Celibate above: 
 it, for the advantages he enumerates,!: 
 itt was nott to derogate from Marriage^ 
 butt becaufe of the prefent diftrefs andi 
 the Impediments of a family to an] 
 Itinerant and Perfecuted Apoftle, and 
 thofe who in that Conjuncture had noe^ 
 certaine aboade. That as to the per-!p 
 fe&ion and puritye of the State, 'twas: 
 one thing to be marryed to a Man's 
 and another to a Hufband; to the fid! 
 indeed, moft of the world were joined, 
 to the fecond, none butt the Religious,/) 
 That as 'twas Inflituted in Paradife, 
 and dignify ed by our bleffed Saviours- 
 prefencej compared to the moft inti- 
 mate 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 sjnate Indearements of Chrift to his 
 jChurchj 'twas often blefTed with exter- 
 prdinary profperity even in this world. 
 That the fidelity, fociety, mutuall afFec- 
 ijtion, and inftance of religious Mar- 
 riages, the regularity of their Charitye, 
 l|and hofpitality of their familyes, was 
 Emulous of the higher!: pretences of 
 the Virgin and more folitary Condition. 
 Doe you (would I fay) efleeme it noe 
 ■jhonour to have given Saints to the 
 jChurch, and vfefull members to the 
 State in which you live ; and that you 
 can be hofpitable to ftrangers, inftitute 
 your Children, give inftruction to your 
 fervants, example to the neighbours, 
 and be the parent of a thoufand other 
 bleffings. I remembered her of what 
 Ifometymes fhe would fay, that if fhe 
 marryed and had noe Children, fhe 
 mould be difpleafed ; and if me had, 
 fhe might have either too many, or too 
 wicked and vntoward ; this, I told her, 
 was to diftrufl Gods providence, and 
 
 fhe 
 
 77 
 
7 8 
 
 The Life of 
 
 fhe did not well to make thofe reflec- 
 tions ; when in all events there was ex+ 
 cercife of faith, and patience, Induftry/ 
 and other graces ; and that fhe wouIgd 
 not be happy vnlefs fhee was alone, not; 
 confidering that the few may be as weli 
 fooles, as vitious, — which is worfe ; and 
 that one of the many may recompencet 
 all her care for the reft ; that if flu 
 who bare her had been of that mind;, 
 there would have been one lefs Sain; 
 to Glorifye God ; that I mould havf; 
 wanted an excellent friend, and fo( 
 would many others, who now blefPc; 
 God for the Charityes me did therm; 
 Vpon all thefe Topycs I challeng'd he^ 
 humility, her faith, and her love, jj 
 laid before her how much more affected^ 
 morofe, covetous, obnoxious to tempt; 
 ation and reproach an old Maid woulc 
 be, who was knowne to have engagee 
 her affection allready, than one wh< 
 had never entertain'd an addrefs. The 
 the trouble and forrow of bringin: 
 
 fort 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 79 
 
 (forth and expence of a family, would 
 ktt another tyme affreight her; little 
 weomen, I told her, had little paine ; 
 :ind that Queens had endured as much 
 (with patience and chearfullnefs ; that 
 as to great fortunes and fupport, opu- 
 lent couples were not exempted from 
 Cares, and that tho' I was affured God 
 had great bleffings of that kind alfoe 
 in referve ; yett fowre provifions and 
 lefs Ambition, were as happy in the 
 jmutuall affection of each other, where 
 there was a Competency for the pre- 
 fent, and foe faire a profpect for the 
 future : in a word, that there was 
 :fome thing foe patriarchall (not to fay 
 defpotic) and Royall in a well govern'd 
 ; family, and worthy marriages, that I 
 l could not butt give it preheminence to 
 iall me had objected. Thefe were the 
 i conflicts wee had on this fubject ; and 
 the difficulty es fhe fuggefted, where, I 
 'plainly told her, Itt was by no means 
 ! agreeable to her piety, nor to the Equi- 
 
 tye 
 
8o 
 
 The Life of 
 
 tye of the thing, that any lefs conside- 
 ration than a fore fight of inevitable ^ 
 mine, fhould fufpend her refolutions of- 
 giveing her felfe to a deferveing perfonf 
 whofe approaches had been foe honour- 
 able, and whome fhe confefPd fhe lov'd* 
 above all the world. There is certainly: 
 nothing more calamitous, then where 
 love (as they call it) drives the bar- 
 gaine, and paffion blinds the Man ; butt* 
 foe the young things precipitate, and') 
 the Giddy are entangled, and when the£ 
 fancy cooles, repentance fucceeds, and' 
 it ends in averfion and anxiety e. Butt 
 thefe Calentures concern'd not this 1 
 excellent Couple, and fuch a Conjuga- 
 tion of likely circumftances. I would!; 
 tell her itt was not enough to be happyj r ; 
 alone, when fhe might make another;! 
 foe ; or ought fhe to refolve not to alter 
 her Condition till fhe was out of reach 
 of accidents, that it became a cruel! ^ 
 and ill natur'd Laban to exa6l a double 
 apprentyfhipp for a Rachell; that it 
 
 was 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 81 
 
 was Saul that putt David to adventure 
 ^for a wife ; that the Heroick tymes 
 were now antiquated, and people pro- 
 ceeded by gentler and more compen- 
 dious methods ; and the decencyes of 
 iher fex, and cuftome of the nation, and 
 pie honour of the condition, and the 
 jwant of Monafteryes andpyous RecefTes 
 lobliged her to marry. Marry then in 
 |Gods name, faid I, fince my advice you 
 £fke : itt is finally what I think you 
 :jought to refolve on ; tho' if I ftuddied 
 |my owne fatisfaction, I mould rather 
 romote this aversion, and feeke to for- 
 iifye your fufpicion ; for as I profefs it 
 e greateft Contentment of my life 
 hat you have vowed me your friend- 
 ipp foe folemnly, and that you will 
 e conftant, whilft I incite you to marry, 
 endanger and putt it to the hazard ; 
 l 7 or perhapps your huiband may be 
 ealous, tho* without caufe ; or he 
 nay have particular diflike to me, or 
 nay not be noble, free, and ingenious, 
 
 jj or 
 
 I 
 
 M 
 
82 The Life of 
 
 or may make you vnhappy otherwife,! 
 which would be the greateft affliction 
 could happen to me ; whereas, contin^ 
 uing as you are, mifstrefs of your felfe> 
 and your converfation, your virtue andj 
 my yeares, and the confcience of my[ 
 duty, and both our difcretions, will pre- f 
 ferve our friendfhipp honorable, pious/ 
 and vfefull. In fum, I faid nothing 
 vpon Marriage, butt what I could vn^ 
 ravell to the advantage of virginitye, — k 
 the eafe of a iingle life, the opportune 
 tyes of doeing more good, of ferveing 
 God better, of prolonging life — by est 
 ample and precept from Scripture, fron^ 
 Fathers, from Legends, and hiftoryes 1 
 and prefent her fuch a lovely pictur* ; 
 of that ftate, which approaches nex 
 the nature of Angells, (who neither 
 marry nor are given in marriage) a ! 
 would have brought her to more thai ; 
 a fufpence, or requireing farther advice } 
 me would have needed no farther ar 
 gument to render her more vnkind t 
 
 Hymer 
 
i 
 
 Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 Hymen, and to the repofe of one who 
 jfhe knew I pittyed; and, therefore, I 
 ever perfwaded her againfl the Recefs 
 Jfhe foe often was threatning, as a thing 
 jfingular and of little advantage. I 
 Japplauded her recourfe to afliduous and 
 Jhumble prayer ; that God would direc~b 
 her for the beft, and that after all I had 
 faid and written to her, fhe would make 
 that her Oracle ; being confident that 
 .jGod, who had hitherto taken fuch fig- 
 nail care of her, would not fufFer her 
 to mifcarry in this Concerne. For I 
 I could not endure to fee her allwayes in a 
 ^doubtfull and vncertaine condition ; be- 
 caufe it could be profitable for neither, 
 for when fhe had ferioufly confulted 
 her friends, fhe had done all that was 
 required ; and fince it could not but 
 be their vniverfall fufFrage, fhe was to 
 accquiefs, I therefore advifed her, that 
 in cafe fhe ftill refolv'd to live as fhe 
 was, it fhould be butt for a tyme, 
 without Impofeing on her felfe, and foe 
 
 from 
 
 83 
 
84 The Life of 
 
 ; 
 
 from tyme to tyme, as Circumstances? 
 
 might be, butt till then mind her 
 
 health ; for me began to looke pale and 
 
 leane, and had been too negligent or: 
 
 her felfe, which I reprov'd her for.i 
 
 Butt this did not alltogeather the ef-ili 
 
 feet, — fhe rejoines, and writes to met 
 
 from Twicknam thus : — 
 
 « 0.6th July. 
 cc Your advice I like, and all you fay; 
 on both Subjects ; yett am ftill where If 
 was, wiihing to live alone, as a thing 
 moft fuiteable to my humour, and the 
 neareft way to heaven; nor can you 
 blame one foe weake as I am, to chufe, 
 that path which will fooneft bring md. 
 to my Journeys end. However, I mall 
 obferve your Rules, and foe farr your 
 counfell, as not to determine any thing? 
 rafhly, till he give me free leave to doel 
 it. In the meane tyme, if you approve; 
 of it, that the world may not think- 
 by my growing leane as you fay, J 
 
 leave 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 85 
 
 leave it with regrett, for the tyme 
 I ftay here, I intend to take care of 
 my health, and drink the Cows milk 
 tjn the Morning, and becaufe I am not 
 fleep imediately vpon it, my Maid 
 thall read to me fome divine Subject ; 
 then rife and finifh my private dutyes, 
 hen pray with my Servants, and be 
 Irefled by Eleaven, and foe have tyme 
 )efore prayers to read a Chapter with 
 frther dutyes ; note and collect fome- 
 thing out of what I read. Att fix in 
 :he Evening I will repeate my Courfe 
 igaine, and after that learn fuch things 
 m heart as I gladly would retaine ; 
 ifter Supper pray with my people and 
 oy my felfe, my Maid reading to me 
 livhilft I am vndreffing, and then lay 
 ine downe in peace. This is the me- 
 :hod I intend for ordnary dayes, nott 
 Frydayes, when you know I am to fart, 
 md fpend it intirely with God ; or Sun- 
 layes, [when] I will rife early and Im- 
 ploy it with as much devotion as I can ; 
 
 — this 
 
86 
 
 The Life of 
 
 — this is, I fay, the courfe I purpofe here, 
 if you approve of it ; for the reft, eat 
 my meate heartyly, and comply with 
 the converfation of the Family ; tho' I 
 all this tyme wifh extreamly that I were 
 fetled, where I needed vfe none of thefe 
 Impertinencyes, the obfervances and 
 ceremonyes of vifitts, formall meals, 
 &c. to the expence of my tyme ; butt 
 wholly attend on God, night and day. 
 Nor mould I dare yett to indulge my 
 felfe this liberty, did I att all pleafe 
 my felfe in it as formerly I had done ; 
 or that I intend to continue it above m 
 months att furtheft, if I change not my 
 Condition, which is to marry (as you 
 would have me) and become worldly. 
 Soe as by the end of Summer, I fhall be 
 free, and then none will confider my 
 lookes, nor mail I be concern'd if they 
 doe, att the diftance of my retreate. 
 Pray lett me know what you think of 
 all this. I was this day very devout, 
 but nott tender, and I hope it was as 
 
 well, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 well, for I thank God I have made 
 good refolutions." 
 
 This being the fubftance of her let- 
 ter in reply to one of myne, your Lady- 
 fhipp may perceive, as, how devoutly 
 this blefled Virgin, (for foe muft I call 
 her,) fpent her tyme in that delicious 
 place, and amongft fuch a Confluence 
 of Viflttants, &c, foe how her heart 
 I was bent vpon her Northern Recefs, to 
 | which I was foe averfe ; and I was con- 
 I fident me would not long have enjoy'd 
 herfelfe in it ; nor could the diftance of 
 Herefordfheir have worne him out of 
 her thoughts, which that of France and 
 Spaine could not doe. The trueth is, I 
 did heartyly pitty that worthy Gentle- 
 man, and faw noe reafon in the world 
 why they mould not both be happy in 
 each other, and my friend compofed, 
 without takeing any exterordnary or 
 lingular courfe ; tho' on the other hand, 
 when I considered thro' what difficul- 
 
 tyes 
 
 s? 
 
88 
 
 The Life of 
 
 tyes and relu&ances, this tender crea- 
 ture, now in the flower of her beauty, 
 witt, and reputation att court, would 
 facrifice all to God, I could hardly ab- 
 ftaine from crying out, O magnanimous 
 Virgin, I applaud your defigne, I ap- 
 prove, I admire your choice ; I mag- 
 nifye your example ; itt is great, 'tis 
 illuftrious, becaufe it is the better part, 
 and form'd vpon juft confideration ; 
 you have weighed itt long, and enquired 
 of God : I allow, I allow, and even en- » 
 vye your purpofe ; O fweet repofe of a 
 devout foule, the flames of Celeftiall 
 love, the fruition of Jefus, the ante- 
 pafts of Heaven, what mall I call, what 
 mail I name it ; Confumate felicitye 
 who has none to feare, none to ferve, 
 none to love butt God ; butt whilft you 
 are made free why leave you me be- 
 hind, intangl'd in the world, whilft you 
 are in the light, I [am] in darknefs and a 
 chaos ; for when you are gone what is 
 the Court or Country to your friend. 
 
 I mail 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 I mall fee you no more in the Circle, 
 nor Joine voices with you in the Quire, 
 •nor vifitt your holy cell ; with you our 
 Joyes are departed, receive me then 
 from this hatefull abode ; and begg 
 of God, that the circumftances of my 
 life being compofed, I, who Emulate, 
 may Imitate your example, and devote 
 the remainder of my few dayes to eter- 
 nity ; or at leaft while I am to converfe 
 here below, (for you are gone from 
 the Earth) may I live in the contem- 
 plation of your virtues, and be a part 
 of your IntercefTions. Goe then, my 
 holy freind, when you pleafe, and be 
 happy. 
 
 Madam, you may poflibly imagine 
 this a Romantick folly, or the tranf- 
 port of fome lover ; butt I arlure you, 
 they were the dictates of my mind and 
 heart, whilft I was Councelling her to 
 ftay and to marry ; for, tho' I thought 
 this more expedient, I could not but 
 
 pronounce 
 
 8 9 
 
9° 
 
 The Life of 
 
 pronounce that the more perfect and 
 exterordnary well. Thus me continued 
 att Twicknam, as it were, in proba- 
 tion, for the moft part retired, and 
 fometymes in converfation. He often 
 came to vifitt her, and that broke her 
 heart if he abftain'd from comeing. She 
 was frill vneafy ; foe after fome weeks, 
 fhe returnes to London, with full re- 
 folution of beginning her Journey, and 
 the very day was prefixt ; butt when 
 it approach'd, indeed it was not poffible 
 to pacify e my Lady Berkley ; who 
 being to lofe the moft fweet and agree- 
 able companion in the world, imploy'd 
 all that friendfhipp, love, and paffion [ 
 could infpire for the changeing her re- 
 folution, and the Convulsion was foe j 
 fenfible to them both, that fhe was J 
 forced to give way to her Importuni- i 
 tyes, and deliberate on it fome longer ;, 
 tyme. Nor was itt alltogeather in the ; 
 consideration of my Lady alone, that 
 flie fuffer'd herfelfe to be prevailed on, j, 
 
 there 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 there were others whome (when it came 
 to the Teft) fhe was vnwilling to leave 
 for foe long a tyme, and foe great a 
 diftance, and among them, I mould be 
 ftrangely vngratefull, not to acknow- 
 ledge the mare I had in her thoughts 
 and excellent nature, when I mall acc- 
 quaint you of the Refolution me had 
 to take a little houfe att Greenwich ; 
 and I had commiffion from her to find 
 out a place whither me might retire 
 to, without quite goeing as it were out 
 of the world, into the North ; not 
 being able as me affirmed, to comply 
 any longer with the receiveing and 
 paying Impertinent vifitts, and other 
 avocations and circumftances, which 
 tooke vpp all her tyme att London, tho' 
 with a Lady who foe much efteem'd 
 her. I confefs, I was not forward to 
 promote this defigne, not only becaufe I 
 thought [it] inconvenient for a Lady foe 
 young, and who was allready difpofed 
 to a more than ordnary refervednefs, to 
 
 cherifh 
 
 91 
 
92 The Life of 
 
 cherifh the humour ; butt that it would 
 appeare like fomething over fingular in t 
 her and prejudiciall to her health. I 
 propofed therefore, her accepting the c 
 beft accomodation I could give her, 
 and fhe had certainly fpent fome confi- 
 derable tyme with my wife, and retir'd 
 to the little Cell, where your Ladyfhipp I 
 has fometymes found her; butt my \ 
 Lady Berkley, could not fuffer this 
 Ecclipfe, or endure that me mould goe ii 
 from her with any patience. Itt was |( 
 on this that me writes me thus at large [ 
 what conflicts me had endur'd ; and att 
 the clofe : — " My beft friend as to 
 my being in your family, itt was all- I 
 moft, and ah ! that it had not been all- 
 moft, butt alltogeather ; for whatever i 
 you think, it is hard for me to defcribe 
 how forry I am to be thus farr from i 
 foe deare a friend ; and you don't know i 
 that I have given over feverall other pro- J 
 pofalls of fettling my felfe, when that ; 
 thought comes into my head, that I 
 
 mall 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 fhall be a great way from you, vnlefs I 
 continue where I am att leaft for fome 
 months, till God is pleafed to difpofe 
 of me one way or other." 
 
 Butt whilft fhe was in this vncer- 
 tainty and fufpence where fhe mould 
 fix, and that the winter began to ap- 
 proach, there was a play to be acted 
 att Court before their Majeflyes, where- 
 in none were to be Actors butt perfons 
 of the moft Illustrious quality; the 
 Lady Mary, fince Princefs of Orange, 
 the Dutchefs of Monmouth, and all 
 the fhineing beautyes ; and itt was not 
 poffible to leave her out, who had vpon 
 the like folemnity formerly, and when 
 fhe was Maid of Honour, accquitted 
 her felfe with foe vniverfall applaufe 
 and admiration ; and veryly, never was 
 any thing more charmeing and more a 
 divertifement, than to hear her att any 
 tyme recite, or read a Dramatick poem. 
 j She had not only a moft happy memory, 
 ! butt 
 
 ! 
 
 \- , — 
 
 93 
 
94 
 
 The Life of 
 
 butt exquiflte Judgment, and could 
 add thofe motions to her voice, as gave 
 what me pronounced, the greateft fweet- 
 nefs and grace Imaginable. This, tho' 
 fhe would heretofore and butt rarely ? 
 have done for diversion, and amongft \ 
 freinds, the moft innocentt in the world, : 
 me had now intirely taken leave of, l 
 and butt in Complyance with fome \ 
 great Ladyes (whome fhe could not de- [ 
 cently refufe) did fhe willingly fee a '■ 
 play att the Theater ; and therefore, to ! 
 be now herfelfe an Actorefs (tho' among fj 
 fuch an AfTembly of noble Perfons) [' 
 was to putt a Mortification on her, 
 that coft her not only great reluctancy, 
 butt many teares. Butt there was noe \ 
 refufeing ; the King and Duke had laid f 
 their Commands vpon her, to beare a 
 part with the Lady Mary, and others 3 
 of Illuftrious name. I came often to f 
 her when fhe was reciteing, and am 
 wittnefs with what extreame regrett, 
 and how vnwelcome to her this honour 
 
 was. 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 95 
 
 was. Butt me had att this moment 
 alfoe another affaire in hand, which 
 more Imported her, and the difficulty 
 in compaffing that which folely by his 
 Majeftes favour was to be obtain'd, dif- 
 pof'd her the more reafonably to com- 
 ply. She had ever fince her Recefs from 
 Court, liv'd in expectation of the pre- 
 fent which of courfe their Majeftyes 
 vfed to make to the Maids of Honour, 
 who haveing waited a competent tyme 
 vpon the Queene, doe either marry or 
 withdraw from Court with their Royall 
 permiffion ; and now had fhe newly 
 folicited the Duke to befpeake my 
 Lord Treafurer about it, who gave her 
 kind words, butt told her he muft have 
 the Kings particular direction in it, butt 
 in the meane while, was not forward to 
 putt his Majeftye in mind of it ; and 
 there was nothing to which me had a 
 greater averfion then the Importuneing 
 great perfons in her owne behalfe, for 
 j Civility which did not flow naturally 
 
 from 
 
9 6 
 
 The Life of 
 
 from thofe in whofe power it lay to ! 
 oblige her. " I perceive/' fayes me, \ 
 in a letter to me, written 2 2d Septem- 
 ber, on this occafion, £C that my buiff- ' 
 nefs makes noe advance, and that where j, 
 I leaft expected difficulty I find the 
 greater!:. The King fayes nothing to 
 my Lord Treafurer, nor my Lord to 
 him ; foe that for ought I perceive, 'tis 
 likely to depend thus a long tyme : 
 well, Gods- will be done, as in Heaven, 
 foe on Earth ; in the meane tyme I ami 
 extreamly heavy, for I would be freet. 
 from that place, and have nothing to? 
 doe in itt att all ; butt it will not be,( 
 for the play goes on mightyly, which 1 
 hoped would never have proceeded! 
 farther. Dear friend, I begg your!) 
 prayers this cloudy Weather, that God 
 would endow me with patience and, 
 Resignation. Would you beleive itt,? 
 there are fome that envy me the honour, 
 (as they efteeme it) of acting in this; 
 play, and pafs malitious Jefts vpon me. 
 
 Now 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 97 
 
 Now you know I am to turne the other 
 Cheeke, nor take I notice of itt.. 
 
 See the humility of this excellent 
 Creature, who you foe well knew, 
 looked on this occafion as one of her 
 greateft afflictions, and would have de- 
 volved the mare me had in this Court 
 Magnificence on any other Lady with 
 a thoufand acknowledgments, had their 
 Majeftyes butt excufed her ;- butt there 
 was no retreating ; me had her part 
 afligned her, which, as itt was the moft 
 illuftrious, foe never was there any per- 
 form'd with more grace, and becomeing 
 the folemnity. She had on her that 
 day near twenty thoufand pounds value 
 of Jewells, which were more fett off 
 with her native beauty and lufter then 
 any they contributed of their owne to 
 hers ; in a word, me feemed to me a 
 Saint in Glory, abltracting her from the 
 \ Stage. For I mufl tell you, that amidft 
 all this pomp and ferious impertinence, 
 
 whilft 
 
9 8 
 
 The Life of 
 
 whilft the reft were acting, and that her 
 part was fometymes to goe off, as the 
 fcenes required, into the tireing roome, 
 where feverall Ladyes her companions 
 were railing with the Gallants trifleingly 
 enough till they were called to reenter, 
 me, vnder pretence of conning her next 
 part, was retired into a Corner, reading 
 a booke of devotion, without att all 
 concerning herfelfe or mingling with 
 the young Company ; as if fhe had no 
 farther part to act, who was the princi- 
 pall perfon of the Comedy ; nor this 
 with the leaft difcernable affectation, 
 butt to divert and take off her thoughts 
 from the prefent vanity, which from 
 her foule fhe abhorred. I mention the 
 paffage as a fingular work of her reall 
 piety, and to mew how fhe continually 
 applyed her mind on all occafions, and 
 how little tranfported with thofe fplen- 
 did follyes and gay entertainments 
 which vfually take vp foe much of the 
 pretious tyme which is given vs to 
 
 worke 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 worke out our Salvation. I need not 
 enlarge vpon the argument of the 
 Poem, which you may be fure, how- 
 ever defective in other particulars, was 
 exactly modeft, and fuiteable to the 
 Perfons, who were all of the firft rank 
 and moft illuftrious of the Court : nor 
 need I recount to your Ladyfhipp with 
 what a furprizeing and admirable aire 
 fhe trode the Stage, and performed her 
 Part, becaufe me could doe nothing of 
 this fort, or any thing elfe fhe vnder- 
 tooke, indifferently, butt in the higheft 
 perfection. Butt whilft the whole 
 Theater were extolling her, fhe was 
 then in her owne Eyes, not only the 
 humbleft, butt the moft diffident of 
 herfelf, and leaft affecting praife. 
 
 Thus ended the Play, butt foe did 
 not her affliction, for a diffafter hap- 
 pened which extreamly concern'd her, 
 and that was the lofs of a Diamond of 
 conflderable vallue, which had been 
 
 lent 
 
 99 
 
100 
 
 The Life of 
 
 lent her by the Countefs of SufFolke ; \ 
 the Stage was imediately fwept, and I 
 dilligent fearch made to find it, butt 
 without fuccefs, foe as probably it had 
 been taken from her, as fhe was oft in- 
 viron'd with that infinite Crowd which 
 tis impoflible to avoid vpon fuch occa- 
 fion. Butt the lofs was foone repair'd, 
 for his Royall Highnefs vnderftanding 
 the trouble fhe was in, generoufely fent 
 her wherewithall to make my Lady 
 SufFolke a prefent of foe good a Jewell. 
 For the reft of that dayes triumph, I 
 have a particular account ftill by me 
 of the rich Apparell fhe had on her, 
 amounting, befides the Pearles and 
 Pretious Stones, to above three hun- 
 dred pounds, butt of all which fhe im- 
 mediately difpofed her felfe, foe foone 
 as ever fhe could gett clear of the 
 Stage. Without complimenting any 
 Creature, or trifling with the reft who 
 ftaid the collation and refrefhment that 
 was prepar'd, away fhe flipps like a 
 
 Spiritt 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 Spiritt to Berkley Houfe, and to her 
 little Oratorye ; whither I waited on 
 her, and left her on her knees, thank- 
 ing God that fhe was delivered from 
 this vanity, and with her Saviour againe, 
 never, fays fhe, will I come within this 
 temptation more whilft I breath. 
 
 And thus Mrs. Blagge tooke her 
 leave of the pomp and glory of the 
 world, and with frefh refolutions that 
 if other circumftances did not intervene, 
 namely, fuch as might foe alter her 
 condition as decently to countenance 
 her longer flay in thefe Parts, fhe 
 would yett betake herfelfe to her de- 
 fign'd retreat. She was not fatisfyed 
 that thofe who could not butt take no- 
 tice what Perfon it was fhe preferr'd 
 before all the world, fhould fpeak of 
 her withdrawing from Court, and live- 
 ing now foe long near it without pro- 
 ceeding any further, tho* divers could 
 j not be driven from the opinion that fhe 
 
 was 
 
 f 
 
 IOI 
 
102 
 
 The Life of 
 
 was allready marryed. Itt is certaine 
 that excellent Man could never think 
 of parting with her, nor fhe herfelfe 
 from foe many Friends befides, as in- 
 finitely vallued her; butt vnlefs he 
 could alfoe decently have taken him- 
 felfe from Court, which was the thing 
 they both projected and defired, that 
 they might wholy quit all dependancys 
 which interrupted their liveing to- 
 geather, butt which for many prudent 
 confederations had been inconvenient 
 for him as yett, me was not eafily per- 
 fwaded to linger here and be vpon vn- \ 
 certain tyes, who had all along in heri 
 Eye the modelling of her life, foe as 
 not to be obliged to thofe comply-') 
 ances me was of neceffity to vndergoei' 
 in a Station foe near to the Court, vn-i 
 lefs Mr. G. mould fix on firme Im- 
 ployment as might not only counte- 
 nance her ftay and marrying, butt ren- 
 der other circumftances eafy likewife 
 tho', as I faid, there was nothing which;: 
 
 they 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 they both did breathe after more then 
 to have fettled fomewhere remote in 
 the Country, from all Intanglements of 
 the World. Thus farr me had pleafed 
 herfelfe to accquaint me with her moft 
 intimate concerns. I doe not affirme 
 that to obviate fome objections of hers 
 he meditated on the purchafe of that 
 honorable Office which he afterwards 
 fucceeded in, butt the Matter of the 
 Robes, now Earle of Rochefter, dif- 
 covering his intention about this tyme 
 to part with that place, might, in my 
 opinion, be an inducement with them 
 to marry, and rather truft God with the 
 event of things, then give the World 
 occafion, after foe long expectation, to 
 think me made a retreat out of rafhnefs 
 or difcontent: wherefore vpon the 16th 
 of May, which was AfTention Day, 
 they both marryed tegeather in the 
 Temple Church, by the Reverend 
 Doctor Lake, one of his Royall High- 
 nerTe Chaplaines, my Lady Berkley 
 
 and 
 
 103 
 
104 
 
 The Life of 
 
 and a Servant of the Brides onely being |j 
 prefent, and I think nobody elfe, both 
 the blefTed Paire receiveing the holy 
 Sacrament, and confecrateing the So- 
 lemnity with a double Miftery. 
 
 Her not acquainting me with this 
 particular of a good while after, occa- 
 fioned a friendly quarrell betweene vs, 
 that fhe who had intrufted me for many 
 years with all her concerns, nay her 
 greater! Inclinations, and vpon occafion 
 not only named me for the particular 
 Friend that mould be wittnefs of her jj 
 Marriage, butt give her to her Huf- 
 band, mould now with fuch Induftry 
 conceale it from me. And now Tie 
 tell your Ladyfhipp how I could not 
 butt difcover it, for noe fooner was the ' 
 Knott tyed, butt me one day deiired I 
 would lett her pervfe all the Letters I 
 had of hers, and which me knew I tooj 
 religioufly referv'd, not that me could* 
 be confcious of haveing ever written 
 
 that 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 that to me which might not have paft 
 the fevereft Eye, butt becaufe there 
 being in many of them profeffions of 
 the finceritye and holy friendfhipp that 
 an excellent Soule (and fuch as hers 
 was) could exprefs, they might by any 
 accident poffibly fall into hands that 
 prophane every thing, and moil, [the] 
 innocent and virtuous ; I failed not to 
 tranfmitt them to her, nor me to re- 
 turne them, as indeed finding nothing 
 in them which mould caufe her to de- 
 prive me of a Treafure me knew I foe in- 
 finitely vallued ; nor could I beleive that 
 tho' fhe had given [herfelf ] to foe worthy 
 a Perfon me defign'd by fending for her 
 Letters to break with me, as Ladys vfe 
 to doe with vnfortunate Rivalls : for 
 thus me accompanyes her Pacquett : 
 
 My Friend, This being Tuefday, a 
 Day which long fince you know has 
 belonged to a Friend of myne, I have 
 putt togeather all the Letters, Papers, 
 
 and 
 
 i°5 
 
io6 
 
 The Life of 
 
 and other Fragments, excepting Medi- 
 tations, which I think you have Coppyes 
 of, and among which are fome Prayers 
 of mine, and all your Bookes ; only 
 that you laft fent me, and I am now 
 reading, of the Intercourfe betweene 
 Chrift and the Soule, I defire to 
 retaine, becaufe now and then I am 
 much pleafed and foftned with fome 
 paflages of it ; and now I have this day fi 
 prayed your prayers, thought your \ 
 thoughts, wifh'd, I dare fay, your J 
 wifhes, which were that I might every |j 
 Day fett loofer and loofer to the things \ 
 of this World, difcerning, as every Day 
 I doe, the folly and vanity of it : how 
 fhort all its Pleafures, how trifling all 
 its Recreations, how falfe moft. of its |s 
 Freindfhipps, how tranfitory every \ 
 thing in it, and on the contrary, how { 
 fweete the Service of God, how de- 
 lightfull the meditateing on his Word : 
 how pleafant the Converfation of the* 
 Faithfull, and above all, how charme- 
 
 ing 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 ing Prayer, how glorious our Hopes, 
 how gratious our God is to all his Chil- 
 dren, how gentle his Corrections, and 
 how frequently by the firft Invitations 
 of his Spiritt, he calls vs from our low 
 Defignes to thofe great and noble ones 
 of ferveing him, and attaineing eternall 
 happinefs ; thefe have been this Dayes 
 Thoughts and Imployment; for my 
 Lady Hamilton being here, and fome 
 Freinds att Cards, I have had the whole 
 Day to myfelfe. Rejoyce with me my 
 Friend and be exceeding glad, for foe 
 it becomes vs whenever wee have op- 
 pertunity of ferveing him. 
 
 And now, Madam, by this, which 
 accompanied the redition of her Letters, 
 your Ladyfhipp may conclude what 
 Court fhipp there vfed to pafs betweene 
 vs; however, her folicitude thus for 
 them on a fuddaine might well give me 
 vmbrage, and I was refolved to live 
 vnder an affected Ignorance, affured by 
 
 knowing, 
 
 107 
 
io8 
 
 The Life of 
 
 knowing, and as afterwards I learn'd, 
 that this nicenefs could never proceed 
 from herfelfe, but from fome other pre- 
 valent obligation ; and I ever efteemed 
 it an Impertinence to be over curious, 
 when I found there was defigne of 
 concealement, and mould have much 
 wondred att it of her to me, butt that 
 I was foe perfectly accquainted with 
 her Virtues ; whereof one, and that 
 none of the leaft care in her fex, was 
 that whenever me was vnder a promife 
 of Sacrifice, nothing in the World 
 could vnlock her Bofome, or flack her I 
 refolution. A Secrett was indeed a 
 Secrett when comitted to her : and yett 
 againe, when I called to mind the re- 
 iterated PromifTes me had made me 
 never to alter her condition without ad- 
 vifeing with me, I was fomtymes in c 
 fufpence of my Conjectures, and would !l 
 often reproach myfelfe for the Sugges- 
 tion. Nor did this a little confirme 
 me that me was not marryed, that my i; 
 
 Lady 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 Lady Berkley now vpon her goeing 
 with her Hufband, defign'd AmbafTo- 
 der Exterordinarye to the Court of 
 France, and Plenepotentiarye att the 
 famous Treaty of Nymeghen, me fo- 
 lemnly confulted me about her accom- 
 panying her Ladyfhipp to Paris, and 
 flaying there with her fome competent 
 tyme, to fee how God would difpofe of 
 things. I muft acknowledg I was not 
 foe averfe from this propofall of hers, 
 as hopeing it might divert her melan- 
 choly defigne and hank[ering] after 
 Herefordfheir, and fince my fon, then 
 butt a Youth, had importun'd me to 
 lett him travell, I was the eafier inclin'd 
 to gratifye him, vpon the afTureance I 
 had of the great care ihe would have 
 of him, fince he was not onely to accom- 
 pany her in the way, butt be in the fame 
 Houfe with her, and in all things in- 
 join'd to follow her dirreclions. Nor 
 ever could he have had foe bleffed an 
 opportunitye of improveing himfelfe ; 
 
 this 
 
 109 
 
no 
 
 The Life of 
 
 this little felfe intereft obtain'd on me 
 I confefs, att that tyme, butt fuch as I 'I 
 would moft willingly have facrificed, 
 could I have prevail'd with her to flay 
 without purfueing her Notherne Jour- 
 ney, where [the] abandoning herfelfe to 
 Solitude, muft foone have ruin'd her 
 health and made her vnhappy. 
 
 This excurfion then concluded on, 
 and lyeing intirely vpon me for her ji 
 Provisions and Supplyes abroad, her 
 mind feem'd to be much att eafe, butt i 
 it was fome Months that this refolution ii 
 was taken ere they fett forth, and all 
 this tyme, I am perfwaded, (he and her 
 Hufband liv'd with the fame referves 
 that the Angells doe in Heaven, not |i 
 thinking fitt to cohabitt till they de- 
 clar'd their Marriage, which for reafons ' 
 beft knowne to themfelv's they did f 
 not doe till me came back from France 
 againe. In this interim, and towards 
 the latter end of June, me did me the i ; 
 
 honour 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 honour to pafs a fortnight att my little 
 Villa, and brought me a Letter of At- 
 torney to tranfact all her concerns du- 
 reing her abfence, as lookeing now 
 every Day when my Lord Berkley 
 would be difpatched and enter on his 
 Journey, when behold vpon the 27 th 
 a Fitt of an Appoplexy feizing on him 
 as he was fitting att the Councell Table 
 att White Hall, and continueing on 
 him all that night, without the leaft 
 appearance of releafing him from its 
 mortall effects, or if that might be pof- 
 fible, of ever reftoreing him to tollerable 
 fence and vigour, banifh'd all thoughts 
 of EmbarTyes, and confequently of our 
 goeing into France. But God was 
 more gratious to him, for the Phifitians 
 had beyond all expectations, and even 
 amidft difpaire, brought him not only 
 out of this fatall Paroxyfme, butt after 
 fome tyme to foe much ftrength (tho' 
 in mod: men's opinions not perfectly 
 I reftored to his memorye and abilityes) 
 
 as 
 
 II I 
 
112 
 
 The Life of 
 
 as nothing would divert him from his 
 intended progrefs. On the ioth of J 
 November his Excellency fett forth \ 
 with his Traine, my fon and I accom- 
 panying them the firft Day to Sittin- 
 borne ; for in regard of his Lordmipps 
 indifpofition they made butt eafy Jour- 
 neys. Canterbury was our next nights 
 repofe ; when in the Morning after wee 
 had been att Prayers in the Cathedrall, 
 Mrs. Godolphin and I walking alone 
 togeather, me declared to me what ex- 
 ceeding regrett me was in to leave her 
 Friends. Not without many teares I 
 expoftulated with her, why fhe would 
 goe then, I am engaged, fayes fhe, to 
 my Lady Berkley, who tells me I 
 breake her Heart if I forfake her, and 
 you fee in what condition her Lord is, 
 and poore Woman, what would become 
 of her if he mould dye, and me havet 
 never a Friend by her? nor would I 
 have People think I retire out of any 
 other refpect. Butt Mr. E. if ever b 
 
 returne 
 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 returne againe, and doe not marry, I 
 will ftill retire, and end my Dayes 
 among you, and you are like to have 
 the fhare of the trouble : for me had 
 often faid me would divide her Life 
 among her Freinds, and did me the 
 honour to putt me into the Rank of 
 one of the firft. 
 
 This, Madam, was the only tyme 
 that in her Life fhe ever prevaricated 
 with me, and cover'd it with that ad- 
 drefs ; and was, I am moft affured, in 
 deeper!: forrow, as all my former fufpi- 
 cions of her being marryed vanifh't. 
 Doe you not think, fayes me, that it 
 afflicls me to the Soule to part with 
 you, and from one who I am fure you 
 beleive I love intirely, and leave in my 
 Condition ? This, vttered with a fflood 
 of forrow, I was not able to fuftaine 
 without reciprocall kindnefs and ten- 
 dernefs. Butt the tyme now call'd us 
 I to break off this Converfation, the fad- 
 deft 
 
 i J 3 
 
ii4 
 
 The Life of 
 
 deft that in my Life I ever faw [her] in ; 
 fhe had left her Heart att another Place, 
 and with one that therefore did not ac- 
 company her, becaufe he was of a ten- 
 der nature, and durft not truft his Paf- 
 fion, whilft their Defigne was to con- 
 ceale their relation. Wee arrived this 
 evening att Dover, where, after Supper, 
 calling me into her Chamber, me fign'd 
 and delivered me her Will, before her 
 Maid, wherein fhe had me her Ad- 
 miniftrator ; for it feemes her Hufband 
 had impower'd her to difpofe of what 
 me pleaf'd, and as me pleafed, as after- 
 wards fhe told me : this done, me de- 
 fir'd I would pray with her, and foe I f 
 left her, as full of Sorrow as fhe could j- 
 hold. 
 
 Early the next Morning I waited on 
 her againe, and againe, and fell into the 
 fame refentments ; and that now fhe 
 was foe near the tyme when fhe muft \ 
 be feparated from them me lov'd, I 
 
 know 
 
 1 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 "5 
 
 know not how, faid I, you part from 
 your Lover, butt never may you feele 
 what it is to part from a Friend. I 
 beleive there is one that you really love, 
 and that 'tis mutuall, how is it then 
 you thus goe from him, and he from 
 you ? this is ftrange proceedings, 'tis 
 fpirituall, 'tis high, 'tis myfterious and 
 fingular ; but find it a name if you can, 
 for I confefs I vnderftand it not : doe 
 you preferve ferenity of mind, and yett 
 continue languifhing ? Nothing is in 
 nature foe repugnant as Love and ab- 
 fence, where nothing forbidds the object 
 to be prefent. O heroick Soules, if 
 you think to be att eafe, I mail be 
 glad ; butt greatly oblig'd to learne the 
 Secrett, and be taught to beare this 
 Divulfion with as little paine, fince I 
 know of noe Ingagement you have to 
 goe from your Friends and thofe whome 
 you profefs to love. Goe back, goe 
 back then, and be happy both, for this 
 Courfe will weare you both out, if 
 
 really 
 
n6 
 
 The Life of 
 
 really you love him. For goodnefs 
 fake doe not break my Heart (fays 
 me), you fee I am engaged ; and then 
 me wept and wore fuch a cloud of Sor- { 
 row all that Morning, that me could 
 hardly fpeake a word when I lead her 
 downe to the Company, now prepar- 
 ing to goe on board. Itt was vpon 
 the 13 of November that vpon the 
 Beach wee tooke folemn leave, and I 
 mould difcover too much of my weak- 
 nefs to exprefs the trouble I was in, to 
 fee her overwhelm'd with grief that me 
 could not fpeake one word ; butt thus 
 me was carried into the Yatch, when 
 being a little launched into the Sea, the 
 Fort from the Caftle gave his Excel- 
 lencye 1 7 Guns, and was anfwered with 
 five, according to the Forme. 
 
 I recount this paflage to your Lady- 
 fhipp more minuitely, as being the \ 
 moft parlionate and moft myfterious ; 
 nor will I therefore make any reflec-f 
 
 tions 
 
Mrs. Godolphin 
 
 tions on it then what I am perfwaded 
 your Ladyfhipp muft doe, and then 
 conclude them with admiration how 
 two Perfons that lov'd each other foe 
 intirely, could fupport a Divorce foe 
 long; or what might be the Caufe, if 
 any other there were, butt a fingular 
 and extreame nicenefs not to come to- 
 geather, which they might be fufpected 
 to doe, however to appearance they 
 lived referv'd, till they publickly avow'd 
 their Marriage, which you may remem- 
 ber they forbare till they had made 
 their Familyes and Equipage com- 
 pleate. 
 
 On the 5 th of December, fhe writt 
 me word of their fafe arrivall att Paris, 
 and how they had difpoPd of them- 
 felvs ; togeather with an Account of 
 my Lord AmbafTadors magnificent En- 
 try and Audience att the French Court, 
 with other pompious Circumftances, 
 which yett foe little concern'd this ad- 
 mirable 
 
 117 
 
n8 
 
 The Life of 
 
 mirable Creature, that me would onely 
 be noe Spectator of it, butt not foe 
 much as once appeared att Court all 
 the tyme of her being att the Ambaf- 
 fadors Houfe. And tho' the Report 
 of fuch a Beauty and Witt had foe 
 forerun her arivall, by fome who had 
 known her in the Circle att Court, that 
 the French King was defireous to fee 
 her in that att Saint Germans ; yett me 
 foe order'd matters as to avoid all oc- 
 casions of goeing thither, and came 
 back to England without giveing that 
 great Monarch the fatisfaction of one 
 Glaunce, or her felfe of the Splendor 
 or Vanity of his Court ; which is foe 
 Singular a Note in her fex, and of one 
 naturally foe curious and obferveing, 
 that I cannot pafs it over without a 
 juft remarke, efpecially being a Lady 
 foe infinitely compleafant, and of a na- 
 ture foe obligeing, Miftrefs alfoe of the 
 French Tongue to fuch perfection, as 
 rendered her capable of entertaining 
 
 Perfons 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 119 
 
 Perfons of the higher! qualitye, nor was 
 this refervdnefs out of humour or An- 
 gularity. She now confiders her felfe 
 a marryed Woman, and tho' me went 
 over to accompany my Lady, there was 
 no neceffity for her to appeare att Court, 
 where the virtues of ftrangers did not 
 allwayes protect the Sex from Incon- 
 veniencyes ; and me was refolv'd to 
 give no occafion to be talk'd of or ad- 
 mir'd. All the Tyme fhe could re- 
 deeme from thofe Civilityes fhe owed 
 my Lady, and which now begun to be 
 very tedious to one whofe Heart was 
 in another Country, fhe fpent in Devo- 
 tion, reading excellent Bookes, and 
 converfeing with fome few of her Ac- 
 quaintance, butt without gratifyeing 
 her curioflty by goeing out to fee the 
 many rarity es which the famous Citty 
 fhe was in invites all ftrangers to, vn- 
 lefs it were that of her goeing one 
 afternoone to a Cloyfter of Nuns ; 
 whofe manner of liveing did not dif- 
 
 pleafe 
 
i2o The Life of 
 
 pleafe her, whilft nothing of their Su- 
 perftition could endanger one foe well 
 principled in her Religion. I will give 
 your Ladyfhipp a tranfcript of the firfr. 
 Letter fent me after her arrivall att 
 Paris, to confirme it. 
 
 cc My Friend, I promifed you an Ac- 
 count of our Journey hither ; there was 
 nothing in it of exterordnary, no ill acci- 
 dent, nothing like Pintos Travells. Since 
 I came to Paris, I have hardly been out 
 of doores to vifit any body, butt there 
 has been a Preift to vifitt me ; butt 
 without Vanity I think I faid as muchi 
 for my Opinion as he did for his. 1\ 
 am now reading Mounfieur Clauds 
 Defence de la Reformation, and like it; 
 moft exceedingly ; foe as you need 
 have noe fear of me on that fide. God 
 knows, the more one fees of theirj 
 Church, the more one finds to diflikel 
 in itt ; I did not imagine the tenth 
 part of the Superflition I find in it, yett] 
 
 ftill 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 ftill could approve of their Orders. 
 Their Nunneryes feem to be holy In- 
 ftitutions, if they are abufed 'tis not 
 their fault : what is not perverted ? 
 Marriage itt felfe is become a mare,* 
 and People feem to difpofe of their 
 Children young, left the remedy in- 
 creafe the difTeafe : butt when I have 
 commended that baile of theirs, I have 
 faid for them, I think, all that reafon- 
 ably can be faid. One thing I muft 
 tell you, Friend, People can have the 
 Spleens here in Paris, lett them fay 
 what they will of the Aire ; butt if 
 Arithmetick will cure itt, I am goeing 
 with my Charge, your Son, to be a 
 very hard Student, and wee intend to 
 be very wife." 
 
 I prefent you, Madam, with this 
 Fragment of a Letter, to mew your 
 Ladyfhipp how me fpent her Tyme, 
 when me could redeeme it from Com- 
 plyances with the Company, and the 
 
 Decencyes 
 
 R 
 
 121 
 
122 The Life of 
 
 Decencyes of fuch Vifitts as were not 
 to be refifted where Perfons of Quali- 
 ty e came to fee her; butt of which fhe 
 grew foe weary att laft — and for another 
 reafon you may conjecture, — as within 
 a Month or two of her arrivall, this 
 excellent Creature was quite fick of 
 France. 
 
 " I am weary," fays me, in another 
 Letter to me of the 4th of February, $ 
 cc of my Life, I have here no tyme for 
 my Soule. Cards wee play att four j 
 Houres every Day ; whoever comes to ] 
 vifitt, I muft be by to interprett ; where } 
 ever a certaine Lady goes (if my Lady 
 H. be not att hand), I muft trudge ; 
 foe that poore I can fcarce fay my \ 
 Prayers, and feldome or never read. 
 Dear Friend, pray heartyly, that if it { 
 be Gods will, I may be reftor'd to my i 
 owne People, and to my God ; for ( 
 tho' he be every where I cannott call jj 
 vpon him as I was wont att home : { 
 
 therefore 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 therefore for God's fake pray that I may 
 fpeedily and once againe worfhipp him 
 in his Congregation, and enjoy the af- 
 firmance of his Grace, the prefence of 
 my beft Freinds, whom as my Life I 
 love. I could content my felfe with 
 any thing, I think, were I once att 
 home. Butt I muft doe nothing rafhly ; 
 I hope yett in God through your 
 Prayers, and my owne firme Refolu- 
 tions, to gett home afToone as ever I 
 can, being quite wearyed with dedi- 
 cating my felfe perpetually to other 
 People. 'Tis almoft one a Clock ere 
 I can gett to Bedd, foe that in the 
 Morning I am not able to rife before 
 Eight, and pafling then an Hour in 
 Prayer and Pfalmes, and an Houre 
 and a halfe in reading, fometymes one 
 Booke, fometymes another, by the 
 tyme I am drefPd Publique Prayers 
 begin ; then follows Dinner, then Talk 
 till 3, then goe to Publick Prayers, 
 I then prate againe, God knows till Six 
 
 a Clock, 
 
 123 
 
124 
 
 The Life of 
 
 a Clock, and then with much difficulty 
 gett away to pray, for my felf, for 
 you, and fome other, then am I call'd 
 to Cards till Bed tyme. O pittye, pit- 
 tye me, dear Friend!" 
 
 I mail need repeate noe more of her 
 fad laments ; diverfe have I by me, and 
 yet it was ftill more for this interrup- 
 tion of her affiduous courfe and devo- 
 tion than for any other confederation. 
 She lookes vpon it as an Exile from 
 the Houfe of God, which like holy 
 David, was to her intolerable. Even 
 amongft the circumftances of fplendor, 
 eafe, and worldly diverfion, fhe had 
 been made beleive me mould be as 
 much Miflrefs of her retirements att 
 Paris as fhe was wont to be att Berkley 
 Houfe : tho' neither there was fhe att 
 the Liberty fhe breath'd after, Devo- 
 tion, and Solitude, and Leafure for the 
 improvement of her Mind. Butt this 
 Affliction did not laft, for vpon my 
 
 Lord 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 Lord AmbafTadors prepareing to goe 
 to Nimoghen, and a reall pretence of 
 an Affaire that concern'd her, namely, 
 the difpofeing of a confiderable fumme 
 of mony intrufted with me, me decently 
 tooke the oppertunitye of Mr. Bernard 
 Greenvile returneing out of Italy, (whi- 
 ther he had been fent with a Publique 
 Character to the great Duke of Tuf- 
 cany) and paffing through Paris, of being 
 conducted by that honorable and worthy 
 Gentleman, without thofe difficultyes 
 fhe might otherwife have mett with : 
 nor doubt I butt my Lady Berkley, who 
 was privy to her being marryed, and 
 had now another Lady with her, lefs 
 fcrupulous and more diverting, was the 
 eafier wrought on to part with one fhe 
 could fuffer to be fupplanted by another, 
 after fuch profeffions of the mofl fuper- 
 lative Friendfhipp and Indearments in 
 the World, and which, I am certaine, 
 contributed not a little to what afflicted 
 this tender and good natured Creature. 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 125 
 
26 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Mrs. Godolphin (for foe now I call 
 her) haveing thus taken leave of Paris, f 
 arrived att Dover the 3d of Aprill, in J 
 which interim I had by her direction I 
 order'd her Accomodations to be re- 
 mov'd from Berkley Houfe to Doctor I 
 Warnetts in Co vent Garden, whofe r 
 wife was her near relation. Soe on the f 
 Sixth of Aprill me gave me notice of \ 
 her being come to London, where the \ 
 next Day I waited on her, to the no ■>■ 
 fmall Joy, you may be fure, of all her \ 
 Friends, as well as of my felfe. I will 'J 
 not repeate to your Ladymipp what t 
 had allready paff'd betweene vs in \ 
 freindly expostulations, for the vnkind- 
 nefs of her foe long concealing from \ 
 me the circumftance of her Marriage, 1 
 becaufe me had exprefPd her Sorrow 1 
 with fuch an afTeveration as in my p 
 whole Life before I never heard her ; 
 vtter, foe as I could not butt forgive 
 her heartyly. Nor did this fuffice, for 
 
 ftie 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 fhe often acknowledg'd her fault, and 
 beg'd of me that I would not diminifh 
 ought of my good Opinion of her, to 
 the lead wounding the intire Freind- 
 fhipp which was betweene vs ; protefl- 
 ing me had been foe afflicted in her 
 felfe for it, that were it to doe againe, 
 noe consideration or complyance in the 
 World mould have prevailed on her to 
 break her Promife, as fome had done 
 to her regrett. In good earneft I was 
 forry to fee her troubled for it, con- 
 sidering the Empire of a paffionate 
 Love, the Singular and filent way of 
 the Lover, whofe gravitye and tem- 
 per you know foe well, and with whome 
 I had nothing of that intimacy and in- 
 dear'd Friendfhipp, which might intitle 
 me to the Confidence he has fince 
 not thought me vnworthy of. I there- 
 fore mention this pafTage, becaufe fhe 
 was a Perfon of foe exact and nice 
 a Confcience, that for all the World 
 fhe would not have violated her Pro- 
 mife; 
 
 127 
 
128 
 
 The Life of 
 
 mife ; nor did I ever find it in the leaft 
 fave this, which, when all is done, was 
 of noe great importance. Save that I 
 tooke it a little to heart me mould foe 
 induftrioufly conceale a thing from one 
 to whome me had all along comuni- 
 cated her moft intimate thoughts ; and 
 when that affection of hers was placed, 
 which me would often acknowledge was 
 not poffible for her to moderate as me 
 defir'd, or bring to the leaft indifference, 
 after all her innocent ftratagems and 
 endeavours, and even fometymes refo- 
 lutions, to quitt all the World, and 
 think of him only in her Prayers. 
 
 This fcene being thus over, to my \ 
 great fatisfaclion, and, as vpon all oc 
 cafions I advifed, when thofe melan- 
 choly thoughts and fancyes vf'd to in- 
 terrupt her quiett, wee will looke vpon 
 this Lady now, as a fetled Woman, and : 
 in the Armes of that excellent Perfon t 
 the moft worthy to pofTefs her. Itt 
 
 was 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 was on the 13 th of Aprill that fhe did 
 me the honour of a vifitt att my houfe, 
 exprefling infinite acknowledgments to 
 Almighty God for his goodnefs to her, 
 after a moil folemn manner, and that 
 once againe fhe was come among her 
 friends, beging of me, that I would 
 continue to affift her with thofe little fer- 
 vices fhe was pleafed to accept. And 
 now haveing thought fitt to make their 
 marriage noe longer a fecrett, — for me 
 had not yett, I think, revealed it to her 
 fitter, nor did his Majeftye or Court, 
 know any thing of it, till fhe was in 
 Equipage to appeare as became her — 
 fhe obtained of the Queen a confider- 
 able augmentation of a Leafe fhe had 
 of certaine Lands in Spalding, about 
 which fhe was pleafed to make vfe of 
 my affiftance, for the fettlement of it. 
 This was in May, and by the next month 
 fhe had furnifh'd and formed her pretty 
 family att Berkley houfe, whether on 
 I the 27 th of June, fhe removed out of 
 
 Covent 
 
 129 
 
T 3° 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Covent Garden, and began to receive 
 the vifitts and vfuall Congratulations 
 vpon Marriages, foe vniverfally ap- 
 proved of. 
 
 Dureing this, I had the good fortune 
 to fecure a confiderable fumme due to 
 her, which lay in fome danger. V. in 
 September began to build and accomo- 
 date that pretty habitation for her in 
 Scotland yard, which me contrived and 
 adorn'd with foe much Ingenuity and 
 decency ; and where your Ladyfhipp and 
 all who knew and lov'd that excellent 
 creature, have been foe chearfull, foe 
 happy, and foe vnhappy, that I never 
 can pafs or think vpon the place butt 
 a thoufand fad thoughts affect me. 
 
 Itt was dureing the fitting of that - 
 Lodging, that me came downe to vs 
 att Sayes Court againe, and bleffed the l 
 little appartment you know, with her ' 
 prefence, from the 28th of September, f 
 
 to 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 to the 1 9th of October, her hufband 
 then being att Newmarkett with his 
 Majefty ; nor can your Ladyfhipp for- 
 gett how fweetly me liv'd in their re- 
 tirement all this winter, till hearing of 
 my Lord Berkleys returne from his 
 EmbafTey, fhe thought fitt to remove 
 to her owne Lodgings, now finifhed att 
 Whitehall for alltogeather ; which ac- 
 cordingly me did on the laft of March, 
 fettling with that pretty and difcreete 
 oeconomye foe naturall to her ; and 
 never was there fuch an houfehold of 
 faith, never Lady more worthy of the 
 bleffings fhe was entering into, who 
 was foe thankfull to God for them. 
 
 Cf Lord," (fays me, in a Letter to me) 
 cc when I this day confidered my happy- 
 nefs, in haveing foe perfect health of 
 body, chearfullnefs of mind, noedifturb- 
 ance from without, nor griefe within, 
 my tyme my owne, my houfe quiett 
 fweete and pretty, all manner of Con- 
 
 veniencys 
 
 131 
 
132 
 
 The Life of 
 
 veniencys for ferveing God, in publick 
 and private, how happy in my Friends, 
 Hufband, Relations, Servants, Creditt, 
 and none to waite or attend on, but my 
 dear and beloved God, from whome I 
 receive all this, what a melting joy run 
 through me att the thoughts of all thefe 
 mercy es, and how did I think myfelfe 
 obliged to goe to the foote of my Re- 
 deemer, and acknowledge my owne 
 vnworthinefs of his favour : butt then 
 what words was I to make vfe of; true- 
 ly att firfr, of none att all, but a devout 
 filence did fpeake for me ; but after that 
 I power'd out my prayers, and was in 
 an amazement that there mould be fuch ; 
 a fin as ingratitude, in the world, and \ 
 that any mould neglect this great duty; \ 
 butt why doe I fay all this to you my f 
 friend ? truely that out of the abund- 
 ance of the heart, the mouth fpeaketh, 
 and I am ftill foe full of it, that I can- 
 not forbeare exprefiing my thoughts to 
 you." 
 
 And 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 And that this was not a tranfient 
 rapture, vpon the fence of her prefent 
 Enjoyment, butt a permanent and de- 
 vout affection ; vpon the 16 th day of 
 October following, which day fhe con- 
 ftantly vfed to give me an account of 
 her concernes the year paft, I find this 
 paffage in a Letter. 
 
 " God Allmighty has been Infinitely 
 gratious to me this year, for he has 
 brought me back into my owne native 
 Country in fafety, and honourably prof- 
 pered me in my temporall affaires ; 
 above my expectation continued my 
 health, and my friends ; deliver'd me 
 from the torments of fufpence ; given 
 me a hufband that above all men living 
 I vallue ; in a word, I have little to 
 wifh butt a Child, and to contribute 
 fomething to my friends happynefs, 
 which I moft impatiently defire ; and 
 I then I muft think before I can remem- 
 ber, 
 
 133 
 
134 The Life of 
 
 ber, what I would have more then I \ 
 enjoy in this world, butt the continu- f 
 ance of a thankfull heart to my God." f 
 
 I 
 This, Madam, was the vfe and the r 
 gratefull returne me made of the fhort f 
 bleflings me enjoyed. Nor need I ace- ? 
 quaint your Ladyfhipp, with what care 5 
 fhe inftructed her fervants, how fedu- f 
 loufly me kept her family to Religious l 
 dutyes, how decently me received her 3 
 friends, how profitably fhe imployed I'' 
 every moment of tyme. Nothing in this [ 
 world had me more to wifh, butt what ic 
 God foone after gave her, that fhef 
 might be Mother of a Child ; which i ( 
 me foe paffionately defir'd after two f 
 yeares that me yett had none, as in I 1 
 the intervall me tooke home to her, a !; 
 poore orphan girle, whome fhe tend- 1 
 ed, inftrucled and cherifhed, with the ir 
 tendernefs of a naturall mother. For I * 
 have beheld when fhe drefPd and vn- ; 
 drefPd it, and laid it to fleep with all ' r 
 
 the 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 the circumftances of a carefull Mother 
 and nurfe ; till it pleafed God to give 
 her certaine hopes of the bleffing fhe 
 thought onely wanting to confumate 
 her happynefs. Nor did (as your Lady- 
 fhipp well knows) any Inconveniency 
 of that burthen, att all flacken her de- 
 vout courfe, but improve it rather ; 
 when to other confiderable Charity es a 
 little before fhe was brought to bedd, fhe 
 fent me £.70 to diftribute ; by which 
 were releived many indigent people and 
 poore houfe keepers ; and this was her 
 owne entirely, for her excellent hufband 
 had the year before fetled on her, not 
 onely the product, but abfolute difpofall 
 of the portion which fhe brought, to 
 above £.4000, for the irreverfible con- 
 tinuance thereof, they were pleafed to 
 intruft me to manage the Stock, foe as 
 now haveing ftill wherewithall to in- 
 large her Charity e, without prejudice; 
 there was indeed nothing wanting which 
 ihe deflred more in the world, as often 
 
 fhe 
 
 J 35 
 
136 
 
 The Life of 
 
 me would repeate it to me, butt the life 
 of that Dear Man, for foe me called her 
 hufband, for whome me had now and 
 then much apprehenfion, fubject as he 
 was to fevors that had formerly en- 
 dangered him, not in the leaft fore- 
 bodeing of her owne departure, and 
 leaveing him behind her ; tho' vpon a 
 dreame of myne I once related to her j 
 fome yeares before, me affirmed with I 
 much earneflnefs that me mould cer- I 
 tainely dye before me : which tho' I j 
 tooke little notice of then, and beleived J 
 nothing lefs, I cannot butt fince reflect | 
 vpon ; efpecially when I call to mind, 
 the order me gave the painter, that in 
 the picture me fome years fince be- 
 ftowed vpon me, me would be drawne 
 in a lugubrous pofture, fitting vpon a 
 Tomb ftone adorned with a Sepulcher 
 Vrne ; nor was this att all my fancy, butt 
 her exprefs defire. Butt to lay noe more 
 ftrefs on this, how frequently have I 
 heard her fay, me loved to be in the 
 
 houfe 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 houfe of Mourning. Nor does your 
 Ladyfhipp forgett how a few dayes be- 
 fore her Reckoning was out, my Lady 
 Vifcountefs Mordant giveing her avifitt, 
 and finding her Eyes fwollen with teares, 
 (he told her fhe had being doeing a fad, 
 yett to her a pleating thing, and that 
 was the writeing fomething to her huf- 
 band which me requested he would 
 doe for her, if me mould dye of that 
 Child ; and then added the great Com- 
 fort and fatisfaction it was to her, that 
 me had putt her little concerns in or- 
 der, and otherwife made preparations 
 againft all furprizes, and was perfectly 
 refign'd. This difcourfe for the prefent 
 drew mutuall Tears, butt abated no- 
 thing of her wonted chearfullnefs : when 
 on the fifteenth of May, which was the 
 Anniverfary of her marriage, fhe with 
 your Ladyfhipp and fifler Gr. honour'd 
 my poore houfe with a vifitt, (the laft 
 fhe ever gave me, and therefore not to 
 be forgotten) the perfect good humour 
 
 fhe 
 
 *37 
 
138 The Life of 
 
 fhe then was in renders the memory 
 of it fact, as well as that me was in the 
 July after, when wee all went with her 
 to Mr. Afhmoles att Lambath who di- 
 verted her with many curiofityes : butt 
 after this, growing bigger me rarely 
 ftirr'd abroad, fave to the Chappell. Itt 
 was yett againe on the fourth of Auguft, 
 that my Lady Mordant and my wife 
 (by affignation betweene them) went to 
 dyne with her att her pretty appartment, 
 they found her well, butt fomething 
 more then vfually folemne ; fhe had it 
 feemes been reading and forting of pa- 
 pers and Letters, and how, fay es me, is it 
 poffible to think of ones friends wee are 
 to leave behind, without concernment ; 
 with difcourfe to this purpofe. This 
 more then ordinary Impulfe, that me 
 mould not outlive the happinefs fhe had 
 foe long wifhed for, made the Conver- 
 fation lefs gay and chearfull then other- 
 wife it was wont to be, and it feemes to 
 me, fhe had fome apprehenfions exter- 
 
 ordinary, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 ordinary, which were not difcern'd by 
 any of her friends ; when often wifhing 
 that fhe might, if foe it pleaf'd God, 
 bring her hufband one Child, and leave 
 him that pledge of her intire affection. 
 She feemed to thirft after nothing more 
 than to be with God ; and veryly what 
 eftimate me tooke of thefe poore fatis- 
 factions here, when I have fometymes 
 reflected on the circumftances of her 
 youth and chearful temper, with the 
 profpect of as much worldly happynefs 
 as me could defire, I have extreamly 
 wonder'd att her contempt of it, finding 
 Hkewife that it did not proceed from 
 any peevifh difcontent or Angularity e of 
 humour, butt from aphilofophicall, wife 
 and pious consideration of the viciffitude 
 and inftabilitye of all earthly fruitions, 
 and an ardent longing after that glori- 
 ous ftate, where (faid me) I mall be 
 perfectly att repofe, and fin no more. 
 And that thefe were allmort her contin- 
 uall thoughts and afpirations, fee how 
 
 fhe 
 
 139 
 
140 
 
 The Life of 
 
 fhe entertaines me, in a poftcript about 
 the very tyme. 
 
 f c Lett vs pray, that Gods Kingdome 
 of Grace being received into our hearts, 
 his Kingdome of Glory may fucceed, 
 and foe wee ever be with the Lord; 
 which indeed I long for, more then all 
 the fatisfactions of this world ; really 
 Friend there's nothing in it to be chofen 
 for itfelfe. Is not eating to fatisfye the 
 paine of hunger, fleepe to eafe our 
 wearynefs, and other divertifements to 
 take off the mind from being too intent 
 on things that it cannot allwayes fupport 
 without great inconveniency to its facul- 
 tyes ? Retirement againe is to difcharge 
 it of that burthen, and the ftaines it has 
 contracted by being in converfation, and 
 impertinent Company - 9 foe that vpon 
 the matter, our intire life is in my 
 opinion, an inquiry after remedyes, 
 which doe often if not allways exchange 
 rather than cure our infirmityes ; I ac- 
 knowledge 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 knowledge that God has imparted to me 
 many great bleffings, which if our na- 
 ture were not fadly deprav'd, wee might 
 exceedingly rejoyce in, butt wee make 
 foe ill vfe of moft of them, that wee 
 turne thofe things to mifcheifes, which 
 are given to vs for our good &c." In this 
 ftyle me goes on, and could a Seneca, 
 or an Antoninus, or indeed the wifeft 
 and holyeft perfon have vttered [aught] 
 more divine and pioufly ferious : nor 
 did me fay this only, butt me practif'd 
 it : for with what devout and folemne 
 preparations pafPd the reft of this fatall 
 month ! Haveing received the blefTed 
 facrament butt two dayes before fhe 
 was brought to bedd, foe preventing 
 all poflible furprizes, and waiteing now 
 with her wonted alacritye and resigna- 
 tion the approach of the conflict fhe 
 was to enter vpon, fhe on the fecond of 
 September, began firft to be fenfible of 
 fome alteration in her temper, and dure- 
 ing that night it was concluded it might 
 
 be 
 
 141 
 
142 
 
 The Life of 
 
 be her labour, and foe it was. With 
 what exceeding patience, devotion, and 
 courage fhe fuftain'd it, your Lady- 
 fhipp, who was all the tyme aflifting, 
 with both thofe excellent fitters, can beft 
 tell. 
 
 Itt was then on Tuefday the third 
 of that vnfortunate Month, when come- 
 ing about 1 1 a clock in the forenoone 
 as my cuftome was, to vifitt her and 
 afk of her health, that I found me was 
 in Travell ; and you may eafyly imagine 
 how extreamly I was concern'd, not to 
 flirr from the houfe till I had fome af- 
 fureance that all fucceeded well. And 
 indeed to all appearance foe it did. For 
 it pleaf'd God that within an hour, your 
 Ladyfhipp brought me the joyfull ty- 
 deings of a Man Child born into the 
 world, and a very little after admitted 
 me to fee and blefs that lovely Babe by 
 the Mothers fide ; when the very firft 
 word fhe fpake to me was, I hope you 
 
 have 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 have given thanks to God for his infi- 
 nite mercy to me ; O with what fatif- 
 faction, with what joy and over rapture 
 did I hear her pronounce it, with what 
 fatisfaction and pleafure, did I fee the 
 Mother fafe, and her defire accomplifh- 
 ed, without any accident that could 
 give the leaft vmbrage or fufpicion of 
 approaching danger, foe as me thought 
 of nothing more then rejoyceing and 
 praifeing God, augureing a thoufand 
 benedictions. 
 
 I In this faire and hopefull condition 
 me continued all that day, when her 
 hufband, now att Windfor with the 
 Court, being fent for to come to double 
 and compleat the Joy, upon the Thurf- 
 day following, his little Son was made 
 a Chriftian, [his name Francis] in pre- 
 fence of both the parents ; his Vnkle 
 Sir William Godolphyn, Mr. Harvey, 
 Treafurer to her Majeftye, and Lady 
 Berkley being fufceptors ; the Chaplaines 
 
 who 
 
 *43 
 
144 
 
 The Life of 
 
 who conftantly vfed to fay prayers in 
 the family, performeing the office. 
 
 Seeing this dear Lady foe well layd, 
 the Child Baptized, and every thing in 
 a hopefull way, my wife, who was now 
 to vifitt her, and I, return'd home, as 
 full of joy and fatisfaction as wee could 
 be, for the beft and moil eftimable 
 friend wee had in the world ; butt ah, 
 how were wee both furprized, when on 
 the Sunday following there was a Letter 
 delivered me in the Church, about the ! 
 latter end of the Morning Sermon, in : 
 this dolefull ftyle. 
 
 cc My poore wife is fallen very ill of a i 
 fFevor, with lightnefs in her head. You ; 
 know who fayes the prayer of the faith- 
 full mall fave the fick ; I humbly begg 
 your charitable prayers, for this poore 
 creature and your diffracted fervant. 
 London : Saturday, 9 a clock." 
 
 Ohow 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 H5 
 
 O how was 1 {truck through, as with 
 a dart. I am not able to tell your 
 Ladyfhipp with how fad and apprehen- 
 five thoughts my wife and I haftned 
 imediately to Whitehall ; where wee 
 found her in all the circumftances of 
 danger; and tho' diftinctly knowing 
 thofe who came to vifitt and were about 
 her, yett had the diftemper allready foe 
 farr prevailed on her fpiritts, that it 
 was a fad and mournfull thing to find 
 how her fancy and vfuall temper was 
 diforder'd. To all this, the feafon hap- 
 pen'd to prove exceffively hott, which 
 exceedingly contributed to her furTer- 
 ing. There had been, when I came, 
 butt one phyfitian {&nt for ; butt my 
 wife, fufpecting (with others) that this 
 violent furprize could not likely pro- 
 ceed from either the intemperance of 
 the weather or impaire of one, foe well 
 laid as to all appearance as fhe was, 
 butt poflibly from accident, itt was 
 thought advifable to call an experi- 
 ence 
 
146 
 
 The Life of 
 
 enc'd perfon in cafes of this nature. 
 Butt itt was fo very long ere the doctor 
 could be found, and foe late ere he 
 came, that through the frequency and 
 violence of her fitts, which were now 
 delirious, her fpiritts were foe farr 
 wafted, that tho' he were of the fame 
 opinion, and that fomething was omit- 
 ted, yett would he by no intreaty be 
 perfwaded to apply any thing butt in 
 conjunction with other phifityans. Doc- 
 tor Lowther being calPd away fome 
 houres before, and befides it being now 
 farr in the night, itt was with exteror- 
 dinary dificulty that I gott my antient 
 dear and religious friend, Doctor Need- 
 ham, fince with God, and then but 
 valetudinarye himfelfe, to come. Others 
 who were fent for, weary ed as they pre- 
 tended with toyle, would not be pre- 
 vailed with to rife, except Doctor Short; 
 foe as till now, there had been little at- 
 tempted ; nor any thing even by thefe 
 with any arTureance, foe farr me was 
 
 fpent 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 fpent, and her condition not admitting 
 of proper remedyes for what they 
 feared, gave flender hopes of fuccefs. 
 The Deliriums increafe, and allbeit 
 with fome promife and intermiffions, to 
 appearance, yett were they only fuch 
 as proceeded from languor and tired- 
 nefs ; foe that tho' me ftill retained her 
 memory of the perfons about her, what 
 me faid was altogeather inconfiftent, 
 and growing more impetuous and de- 
 plorable, gave prefage of uttmoft dan- 
 ger. This only was highly remarkeable, 
 that in all this diforder of fancy and 
 allmoft: diftraclion, fhe vttered not one 
 fyllable or expremon that might in the 
 leaft offend God, or any creature about 
 her ; a thing which dureing thefe alien- 
 ations of mind does feldome happen ; 
 butt which mewed how bleffed a thing 
 it was to live holy lye and carefully, as 
 this Innocent did ; perfons that are de- 
 lirious vfually vttering extravigancyes 
 that difcover their worft inclinations. 
 
 Butt 
 
 ^7 
 
148 The Life of 
 
 Butt fhe was now in a manner fpent, 
 and no't could phyfitians doe, when I 
 neither the cupping nor the pidgeons, \ 
 thofe laft of remedyes, wrought any \ 
 effect. Other things had been per- \ 
 happs convenient ; butt there was noe \ 
 ftrength to bear inward remedyes, when t 
 even the moft gentle had been fatall ; » 
 and there now appearing a kind of { 
 Erifypulus on her back, neck, andarmes, J 
 the malignancy grew defperate, — and | 
 this excellent Creature paffes a fiery j 
 Triall, exercifed in all the circumftances \ 
 of paine and weary nefs. Wee beheld 
 her now languifhing vnder the laft con- 
 flicts till the morning of the next day. 
 There had been, your Ladyfhipp 
 knows, a confultation the night before, 
 and a refolution of attempting fearch- 
 ing att a venture, if fhe lived till day, 
 and the rather that the phyfitians might 
 not feeme to doe nothing in a defperate 
 cafe, than expecting any good effect 
 without a miracle. Butt when the morn- 
 ing 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 ing came, finding her frill more debili- 
 tated, and the paroxyfmes impetuous 
 and allmoft. vnceffant, all hopes being 
 given over, vpon the importunitye and 
 recomendation of that excellent and 
 pious lady, the Vifcountefs Mordant, 
 they permitted one Doctor Ffaber to 
 make tryall of a Cordiall, celebrated by 
 her Ladyfhipp for the great matter it 
 had performed, and indeed it feem'd 
 att firft to compofe her, and fomewhat 
 allay the violence of her fitts. Butt the 
 moments were fhort, and her conflict is 
 repeated, with the vfuall violence ; till 
 fhe who was wont to raife her felfe vp 
 as oft as they came, now flnkes downe 
 as no more able to fuflaine them ; her 
 fpiritts faint: till no more pulfe per- 
 ceiveable, — for your Ladyfhipp and I 
 held her all this while by the hands, — 
 with the moft ardent prayers and offices 
 of the holy Man, who continually at- 
 tended, he earneflly, and wee all de- 
 voutly recomend, and fhe quietly ren- 
 ders 
 
 149 
 
150 The Life of 
 
 ders vp her happy foule to her blerTed 
 Redeemer, in whofe bofome me is now 
 deliver'd from all earthly mirTeryes, and \ 
 afTumed into thofe blifsfull Manfionsl 
 prepared for his Saints, and fuch as like 
 her excellent in virtue. i 
 
 Thus ended this incomparable Lady : 
 our never to be fufficiently lamented; 
 loffe : leaveing not onely a difconfolate ; 
 Hufband, whofe vnexprefTible griefei 
 and deep affliction would hardly fufFer 
 him to be fpectator of her languifh- 
 merits, drown'd in tears and proftrate 
 att the mercy feate, butt all her Re- ; 
 lations, and who had the honour to j 
 know her in as much reall and pun- 
 gent forrow as Chriftians and tender 
 hearts were capable to exprefs, and as 
 was highly due for foe fencible and vni- i 
 verfall a lofs, and foe infinitely de- 1 
 plor'd. 
 
 This fatall houre was (your Lady- 
 
 fhipp 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 151 
 
 fhipp knows) about one o'clock, att 
 noone on the Munday, September the 
 nineth, 1678, in the 25 year and prime 
 of her age. O vnparalelPd lofs ! O 
 griefe indicible ! By me never to be 
 forgotten — never to be overcome ! Nor 
 pafs I the fad anniverfary and lugu- 
 bruous period, without the moft fenci- 
 ble emotions, forrow that draws tears 
 from my very heart whilft I am recite- 
 ing it. 
 
 Butt thus me pafPd to a better 
 World, when only worthy of her, when 
 as if prefageing what was att hand, fhe 
 that very day feavenight (as I noted) 
 furnifh'd herfelfe with the heavenly 
 Viaticum, after an extordinary prepara- 
 tion, preventing the poftible disadvan- 
 tages of what might furprize her fpi- 
 ritts and diforder her recollection with 
 a moft pious and heavenly addrefs. Nor 
 was this taken notice of onely by thofe 
 who were wittnefTes of it fome dayes 
 
 before 
 
152 
 
 The Life of 
 
 before fhe was brought to bedd, but i 
 fignally appeared in that paper which i 
 fhe had left in the hands of her in- { 
 dear'd Sifter in law Miftrefs Bofcawen, \ 
 to deliver her Hufband, in cafe of mor- \ 
 tall accident, which foe foone as it was \ 
 poftible to compofe his and the vni- r 
 verfall grief to any temper, was per- 
 form'd. 
 
 cc My deare, not knowing how God 
 Allmighty may deale with me, I think 
 it my beft courfe to fettle my affaires, ; 
 foe as that, in cafe I be to leave this 
 world, noe earthly thing may take vp j 
 my thoughts. In the fir ft place, my j 
 dear, beleive me, that of all earthly 
 things you were and are the moft dear ; 
 to me ; and I am convinced that no- 
 body ever had a better or halfe foe good | 
 a hufband. I begg your pardon for all 
 my Imperfections, which I am fencible 
 were many ; but fuch as I could help, 
 I did endeavour to fubdue, that they 
 
 might 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 might not trouble you : for thofe defects 
 which I could not rectifye in myfelfe, 
 as want of judgement in the manage- 
 ment of my family and houfehold af- 
 faires, which I owne myfelfe to be very 
 defective in, I hope your good nature 
 will excufe, and not remember to my dif- 
 ad vantage when I am gone. I afk your 
 pardon for the vanitye of my humour, 
 and for being often [more] melancholy 
 and fplenetick than I had caufe to be. 
 I was allwayes afham'd of myfelfe when 
 I was foe, and forry for it, and I hope 
 it will come into the number of thofe 
 faults which I could not help. Now (my 
 dear) God be with thee ; pray God blefs 
 you, and keepe you his faithfull Servant 
 for ever. In him be all thy joy and 
 delight, fatisfaclion and comfort, and 
 doe not grieve too much for me, fince 
 I hope I mail be happy, being very 
 much refign'd to God's will, and leave- 
 ing this World with, I hope, in Chrift 
 Jefus, a good Confcience. Now, my 
 
 dear. 
 
 153 
 
* 54 
 
 The Life of 
 
 dear, if you pleafe, permitt me to afk 
 leave to beftow a legacy or two amongft 
 my friends and fervants. In the firft 
 place, if it might be, I could wifh, 
 when the Child I goe with grows of a 
 fitt bignefs, itt might be either with my 
 lifter Bofcawen, or my lifter Penn, for 
 I know they will be carefull of its better 
 Part, which is the cheife thing I am 
 concern'd about. In the next place, I 
 defire you would give B [her wo- 
 man] one hundred pounds (the vfe of 
 which being fix pounds a year, fhe may 
 live att her Ffather's houfe vpon, if fhe 
 will, for I fear fhe will fcarce gett any 
 body to bear with her want of good 
 fervice, as I have done). For my 
 Maid, if fhe doe not marry, I hope fhe 
 will be kept to looke after my Child, 
 when it comes from Nurfe. In the 
 meane tyme, you will give her board 
 wages. For my two footemen, I hope 
 you will gett them places as foone as 
 you can, etc. However, if you be not 
 
 difpofed 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 difpofed to keepe them, you will give 
 them att parting ten pounds a piece. 
 I defire you will give my Sifters my 
 mare of the Queen's Leafe, fifty pounds 
 a year ; itt is betweene them two, my 
 vnmarryed ones I meane ; and to my 
 Cozen Sarah an hundred pounds in 
 mony. To my Lady Silvius my great 
 diamond ring, &c. 
 
 cc Now, my dear, I have done, if 
 you pleafe to lay out about an hundred 
 pounds more in rings for your five 
 Sifters, to remember me by. I know 
 nothing more I have to defire of you, 
 but that you will fometymes think of 
 me with kindnefs, butt never with too 
 much griefe. For my Funerall, I de- 
 fire there may be noe coft beftowed 
 vpon it att all ; butt if I might, I would 
 begg that my body might lye where I 
 have had fuch a mind to goe myfelfe, 
 att Godolphyn, among your freinds. I 
 beleive, if I were carried by Sea, the 
 
 expence 
 
 1 S5 
 
i56 
 
 The Life of 
 
 expence would not be very great ; but 
 I don't infift: vpon that place, if you 
 think it not reafonable ; lay me where 
 you pleafe. 
 
 <c Pray, my deare, be kind to that 
 poore Child I leave behind, for my 
 fake, who lov'd you foe well ; butt I 
 need not bidd you, I know you will be 
 foe. If you mould think fitt to marry 
 againe, I humbly begg that little for- 
 tune I brought, may be firffc fettled 
 vpon my Child, and that as long as 
 any of your Sifters live, you will lett it 
 (if they permitt) live with them, for it 
 may be, tho' you will love itt, my fuc- 
 cefTor will not be foe fond of it, as they 
 I am fure will be. 
 
 cc Now, my deare Child, farewell ; 
 the peace of God, which parTeth all 
 vnderftanding, keepe your heart and 
 mind in the knowledge and love of 
 God and of his Son Jefus Chrift our 
 
 Lord ; 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 157 
 
 Lord ; and the bleffing of God All- 
 mighty, the Father, the Sonn, and the 
 Holy Goft, be with thee, and remaine 
 with thee, ever and ever. Amen." 
 
 Then follows what fhe had intrufted 
 me withall. 
 
 This indearing Inftance of a truely 
 loyall and admirable Wife were capa- 
 ble of the moll: noble reflections, foe 
 religious, foe tender, foe difcreete, and 
 every way becomeing. That fhe accufes 
 herfelfe of, being fometymes more fo- 
 lemne then vfually young Ladyes are, 
 and which fhe calls the Spleen, I can 
 by noe meanes admitt a fault : and if 
 her other imperfections, of which fhe 
 beggs pardon, were but fuch as her 
 want of oeconomique prudence in the 
 management of her family, I dare pro- 
 nounce her the molt confummate of all 
 the perfections that can adorne or re- 
 comend her fex. 
 
 I fay 
 
i S 8 
 
 The Life of 
 
 I fay nothing of that wonderfull af- 
 faction to her Hufband, that made her 
 foe defireous to mingle her dirt with his 
 in a dormitorye 300 miles from the reft 
 of all her Relations, and where to my 
 knowledge fhe would more contentedly 
 have pafPd all her dayes with him then 
 amidft the fplendor of the greateft 
 Court, and where he might be the |: 
 Horizon, all that flie could or cared to ] 
 fee. 
 
 The education of her dear Child is 
 next : Obferve with what care for the \ 
 better Part, with what excellent choice 
 for the perfon to whome fhe recomended \ 
 it. Nor does me extend her kindnefs ' 
 only to her Relations, butt the meaneft ' 
 of her Servants. As for the Poore, me 
 had not onely fent thofe good workes 
 before her, which fhe now enjoy es the - 
 treafure and reward of in Heaven, butt : 
 tooke order they might be continued 
 
 after 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 after her, and fhe being dead yett 
 fpeakes. 
 
 I might haply have taken it vnkind- 
 ly, if me had named foe much as a bro- 
 ther, and left me out; butt the Legatyes 
 fhe bequeathed, or rather defired her 
 Hufband to gratifye her in, were only 
 to her Sifters and your Ladyfhipp, ex- 
 cept what fhe beftows among her Do- 
 meftick ; to one of which fhe gave noe 
 lefs then an hundred pounds, and to 
 her owne Sifters the vallue of a thou- 
 fand ; laftly, to me the honour (att the 
 foote of this Paper) of being mentioned 
 the depofitarye of her Truft as I was 
 the diftributer of her Bounty. Butt 
 which was more obligeing, the folemne 
 profeftion to her Hufband, a little be- 
 fore her Sicknefs, that fhe knew of no- 
 thing more fhe had to finifh or wifh 
 for in this World, butt that fhe might 
 doe me fome fignall kindnefs. I confefs 
 fhe had often both faid and written foe 
 
 to 
 
 59 
 
i6o 
 
 The Life of 
 
 to me, butt that me mould think of it 
 as a Concerne doubly indeares her me- 
 mory. This (fayes that excellent Crea- 
 ture) fhe has left me to doe, and Ma- 
 dam, he has done it, in allowing me 
 the honour of his freindfhipp, and ac- 
 cepting my little fervices ; for the reft, 
 I have her Picture in the houfe, and the 
 Idea of her virtues in my heart, befides 
 a thoufand exprerlions of a religious 
 and noble Friendihipp, vnder her owne 
 fair hand, which I preferve and value 
 above all me could elfe bequeath me. 
 
 There was another fmall Pacquett 
 feal'd vp, which fhe defired by the fu- 
 perfcription might be burnt, and not 
 open'd, as accordingly it was perform'd, 
 and, as I conceive, contained the Cy- 
 pher onely by which fhe vfually corre- 
 fponded with her ghoflly Father, the 
 Deane of Hereford ; or fome particu- 
 lars, which fhe would not truft her 
 memory with, in cafe fhe had lived, for 
 
 as 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 as I accquainted your Ladyfhipp, me 
 kept a Catalogue of mercyes, deliver- 
 ances, fucceffes, refolutions, and other 
 afliftances, for the dirTcuflion of her 
 Confcience with the moft accurate nice- 
 nefs. Butt I enter not into this Se- 
 crett. 
 
 Thus began, lived, and ended this 
 incomparable Chriftian, Virgin, Wife, 
 and Freind, for an emulous example of 
 perfection in all thofe capacityes. Butt 
 after all I have faid, impoflible will it 
 be to conceive what fhe was, without 
 endeavouring to imitate and attaine 
 thofe excellencyes and early virtues 
 which made her what fhe was : to mew 
 you that — , fomething I have here at- 
 tempted according to my poore ability; 
 butt he were a rare Artift indeed [who] 
 could reach the orriginall, and give thofe 
 laft and liveing touches which mould 
 make it breathe. But, Madam, that is 
 not to be expreffed by lights and fha- 
 
 dows 
 
 161 
 
l62 
 
 The Life of 
 
 dows which is alltogeather illuftrious, 
 and has nothing in it darke. 
 
 Here, then, Madam, after I have 
 recounted to you her Life, — butt which 
 reaches the profill onely, and wants a 
 world of finifhing, — I mould, according 
 to the ufuall method, conclude it with 
 her Character, if that accomplimed 
 peice were not referved for a greater 
 Matter, and one that could defcribe her 
 mind. All I can pretend to, will 
 hardly reach the out ftrokes, and when 
 I mall have done my beft, be butt an 
 imperfect copy. 
 
 Add this paper (Electra) to the far- 
 die of my other Impertinencyes ; butt 
 take heed to the ftepps and progrefs 
 you make ; for if I live, I will write 
 your life, att leaft from the firft. ap- 
 proaches of our friendfhipp, till I carry it 
 into other Manfions. But becaufe your 
 great humility mail not fuffer by the 
 
 admirable 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 admirable things I muft fay of you, nor 
 the brightnefs of the Subject be eclipfed 
 by the defects of the Inftrument, it mall 
 be under fuppofed names, but in veri- 
 table inftances; for either wee want fuch 
 examples for good writers to exercife 
 their flyle and talents on, or good 
 writers to tranfmitt them to pofteritye. 
 
 I know not really how me could doe 
 the age wee live in more Juftice, nor 
 leave that to come a nobler monument 
 of Gratitude for the Improvements your 
 Converfation has taught it : whilft Elec- 
 tra knows this, fhe will need noe Socrates 
 or Zeno to ftand before her ; fhe re- 
 veres herfelfe, and can doe nothing be- 
 low her dignitye. I proteft to you, the 
 thought that fhe is alwayes prefent, 
 and the contemplation of her vertues, is 
 more to me than a thoufand dead phi- 
 lofophers. But wee have a better mo- 
 nitor, and it were an imbecility infi- 
 nitely beneath us, to need the veneration 
 
 of 
 
 163 
 
164 
 
 The Life of 
 
 of men, when God, — all Eare and Eye, 
 omnifcient and omniprefent, — obferves 
 both our words and actions. Lett us 
 therefore, both, foe fpeak with God as 
 if men heard us, and fo converfe with 
 men as if God faw us. 
 
 Behold, Madam, what I once fub- 
 fcribed at the foote of a Letter to this 
 blefTed Creature ; and often me would 
 fmile at what I ufed to repeate upon 
 this fubject, and as often did I difbe- 
 leive my felfe. Far, very far was it from 
 my imagination, farther, infinitely far- 
 ther from my deiires, to furvive (for) 
 this office ; who had it conftantly in 
 my wifhes, that me might clofe my 
 eyes ; butt foe it has pleafed God, that 
 I mould verifye my prophecy, and on 
 your Ladyfhipp's comand, abfolve my 
 promife together. I have written her 
 Life, and mould now prefent your 
 Ladyfhip with her Picture : here are 
 Colours, but where is (as I faid) the 
 
 Mafter? 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 Matter? She fat indeed fome confi- 
 derable tyme to me, and her converfa- 
 tion had been enough to infpire an 
 Artift ; but I afrure you, there are fome 
 peculiar Graces, which the moft fkill- 
 full doe not arrive to in their moft ela- 
 borate and finifhed pieces. And me 
 was full of thofe, and fuch as I never 
 yet did fee in any of her fex but in 
 her alone ; and am certaine never mail, 
 unlefs it be in thofe few pieces me drew 
 her felfe, whereof your Ladyfhipp is a 
 breathing and illuftrious one, whilft you 
 tread the pathes of her piety and vir- 
 tues : this, Madam, I pretend to know, 
 and to mew you from whome I take 
 my meafures. 
 
 The Picture. 
 
 Lett me iirft then recall to your 
 Ladyfhipps remembrance how me 
 ufually parTed the day, for an inftance 
 allmoft inimitable in the ftation where 
 
 me 
 
 165 
 
i66 
 
 The Life of 
 
 fhe was, the Court. I will begin with |t 
 Sunday the firfl of the weeke. I 
 
 Were it never foe dark, wett, or J 
 uncomfortable weather, dureing the fe- ii 
 verity of winter, fhe would rarely omit 
 being att the Chappell att 7 a'clock < 
 prayers, and if a Comunion day, how } 
 late foever her attendance were on the 1 
 Queen, and her owne exterordinary ti 
 preparation kept her up, fhe would be $ 
 drefled and att her private Devotions i 
 fome houres before the publick office f 
 began. This brings to remembrance r 
 what I could not then but fmile att, jl 
 that finding one day a long pack thread \ 
 pafTing through the key hole of her J 
 chamber doore, and reaching to her \ 
 bed's head, (oppofite to that of your I 
 fifters, if I be not miftaken,) and in- j 
 quireing what it fingnifyed, I att laft 
 underflood, itt had been to awaken her : 
 early in the morning, the Centinell, 
 whofe ftation was of courfe near the en- 
 trance, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 ! trance, being defired to pull it very hard 
 att fuch an hour, whilft the other extream 
 was tyed fafl about her wrift, fearing 
 her maid might over fleep her felfe, or 
 call her later then me had appointed. 
 
 But befides the monthly Comunions, 
 fhe rarely miffed a Sunday throughout 
 the whole Year, wherein fhe did not re- 
 ceive the holy Sacrament, if fhe were 
 in towne and tollerable health ; and I 
 well know fhe had thofe who gave her 
 conflant advertifement where it was ce- 
 lebrated upon fome more folemn fefti- 
 vals, befides not feldome on the weeke 
 days affifting at one poore creature's or 
 other ; and when fometymes, being in 
 the Country, or on a Journey, fhe had 
 not thefe oppertunityes, fhe made ufe 
 of a devout meditation upon that facred 
 Miftery, by way of mentall Communion, 
 foe as fhe was in a continuall flate of 
 preparation : and O, with what unfpeak- 
 able care and nicenefs did fhe ufe to 
 drefs and trim her foul againft this 
 
 Heavenly 
 
 167 
 
i68 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Heavenly Banquett; with what flagrant 
 devotion at the Altar. I doe affaire 
 your Ladyfhipp, I have feen her receive 
 the holy fymbolls, with fuch an humble 
 and melting joy in her countenance, as j 
 feem'd to be fomething of tranfport, [ 
 not to fay angelic — fomething I cannot 
 defcribe : and fne has her felfe confeffed 
 to me to have felt in her foule fuch in- | 
 fluxes of heavenly Joy as have allmoft, 
 carryed her into another world ; I doe 
 not call them Rapts and Illapfes, be- 
 caufe fhe would not have endured to be 
 efteemed above other humble Chriftians; 
 butt that fhe was fometymes vifittedi 
 with exterordinary favours I have 
 many reafons to believe : fee what upon 
 another occaflon fhe writes to me. 
 
 cc O, my friend, how happy was I 
 on Sunday laft. By reafon of this foolifh 
 play," (of which I have allready given 
 your Ladyfhipp an account,) cc moil: 
 imperfect were my preparations, and 
 
 yett 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 yett I do not remember that God was 
 ever more gracious to me but once 
 afore ; and indeed that tyme I had foe 
 great a fence of my owne unworthynefs 
 and the wonderfull condefcencion and 
 love of God, that I had like to have 
 fallen flat on my face; butt that excepted 
 this was the moft refreshing. O Jefu, 
 (faid I,) how happy are wee, how 
 bleffed, that have the Lord for our 
 God. And you, blerTed Angells, who 
 are prefent att thefe affemblyes, ad- 
 mireing the heavenly bounty, I tell you 
 I was even diflblved with love to God. 
 And yett, after all this, what wretched 
 things wee are : I was drowfy att 
 Church, wandering in my thoughts, and 
 forgettfull of thefe favours that very 
 day ; and great caufe I had to lament my 
 finns of even that day. Thus I ac- 
 knowledge to you Gods love to my 
 poore foule, and my foule ingratitude 
 to him ; that you may pray for the con- 
 tinuance of the one, and I truft the other 
 
 will 
 
 169 
 
170 
 
 The Life of 
 
 will in tyme grow lefs." See this hum- 
 ble foule. But I fubjoyne one more. 
 
 " I blefs God," (fays me,) f f I grow 
 dayly lefs fond of the world, more 
 thankfull to God, lefs folicitous for 
 outward things, and more thirfly after 
 the bleffed Sacrament, not as I was 
 wont, nor becaufe I hold it my duty, 
 but out of an ardent defire to comme- 
 morate my Saviour's death, and to be 
 againe entertained with the wonderfull 
 pleafure that I feele there, and noe 
 where elfe. All worldly joy es, all fplen- ; 
 did ornaments, titles and honour, would j 
 I bring to the feete of my crucifyed l 
 Saviour." 
 
 Nor did this bleffed Saint hear the i 
 word of God with lefs reverence : im- f 
 ploying that day allmoft intirely in t 
 pious meditations, and never failing to 
 recollect what me had heard, with that 
 diligence, that there was not a Sermon } 
 
 but 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 but what flie had abstracted, writeing 
 downe the principall heads of the whole 
 difcourfe, foe foone as fhe came from 
 Church (if me had leifure), or, to be 
 fure, in the evening ere fhe flept ; and 
 this courfe fhe never omitted, nor to 
 repeat what fhe obferved of moil in- 
 ftrudlive : and her memory was foe 
 happy, as nothing material! efcaped her. 
 This, to my aftonifhment, I can tef- 
 tifye. 
 
 How would this Lady rejoyce att the 
 approach of the Lord's day. She has 
 often told me, fhe felt another foule in 
 her, and that there was nothing more 
 afflicted her, than thofe impertinent 
 vifitts on Sunday Evenings, which fhe 
 avoided with all imaginable induftry ; 
 whilft yett feldome did fhe pafs one 
 without goeing to vifitt, pray by, or 
 inftrucl: fome poore religious Creature 
 or other, tho' it were to the remoter! 
 part of the Towne, and fometymes, if 
 
 the 
 
 171 
 
172 
 
 The Life of 
 
 the feafon were inviteing, walke into 
 the fields or Gardens to contemplate 
 the workes of God. In a word, fhe 
 was allwayes foe folemnly chearfull up- 
 on that day, and foe devout, that with- 
 out lookeing into the Kalender, one 
 might have read it in her countenance. 
 Thus was the Sunday taken up in 
 prayers, hearing, receiveing, meditate- j 
 ing on the word and workes of God, i 
 acts of Charity, and other holy exercifes, 1 
 without the leaft formalitye or con- t 
 fufion, becaufe fhe had caft all her af- 
 fairs into fuch a method, as rendered it 
 delightfull as well as holy. 
 
 Vpon feftivall dayes, fhe never \ 
 omitted the offices of the Church ; take- ; 
 ing thofe opportunityes of vifitting \ 
 poore fick people, relieveing and com- 
 forting them ; and then would lengthen 
 her evening retirements with proper \ 
 meditations on the Myftery, or come- 
 moration; for which fhe had of her owne 
 
 collection, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 collection, appofite entertainments : butt 
 then upon indicted faft dayes, befides 
 what fhe weekly fett apart her felfe, 
 and (efpecially before the Monthly Co- 
 munions) how exterordinary were her 
 receffes and devotions on every Friday, 
 when me rarely flirr'd out of her little 
 Oratorye butt to publique prayers, and 
 then would end the evenings in vifitts 
 of charity ; and did for feverall years 
 obferve the Lent with ftrictnefs, both 
 as to her reflections and devotion, till 
 finding it much impaire her health and 
 delicate conftitution, fomething of thofe 
 fevere mortifications fhe was per- 
 fwaded to abate ; only the holy weeke 
 her excercifes was extended to all the 
 parts of duty, and more folemn prepa- 
 ration, fpent in an uninterrupted courfe 
 of penitentiall and exterordnary devo- 
 tion, yett without fuperftitious ufages, 
 or the leaft moroflhefs. 
 
 Vpon fuch Anniverfaryes, fhe would 
 
 be 
 
 l 73 
 
*74 
 
 The Life of 
 
 be early att the Chappell ; and fome- 
 tymes I have knowne her mutt up in 
 the Church after the publick offices 
 have been ended, without returneing 
 to her Chamber att all, to prevent im- 
 pertinent vifttts and avocations, and 
 that fhe might fpend the day in conti- 
 nuall devotion. With thefe aufterityes 
 pafTed me the dayes of abftinence ; nay, \ 
 though it fell upon a feftivall, and ! 
 when others thought themfelves att li- 
 berty. This recalls to me an anfwer 
 which me once return'd me, kindly re- 
 proveing her for a feverity on a cer- 
 taine holy day. 
 
 cf As to falling on a feftivall," (fayes [ 
 fhe,) cc I had not done it, butt that I : 
 had for it the opinion of a learned and 
 reverend Bifhopp, who told me it was ;r 
 not a fafting day of our owne make- 
 ing; wee might, when a faft and a* 
 feaft of the Church meete, feaft att 
 Church and faft att home ; which I did, 
 
 and 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. ij$ 
 
 and it was a good day with me. I 
 could be content never to dyne foe long 
 as I live, foe as I might fpend every day 
 like that." 
 
 By this your Ladyfhipp may fee how 
 well advifed me was in all me did, and 
 what exterordnary guft and fatisfaclion 
 me received in her devout intercourfes. 
 
 Butt the truth is, not onely did me 
 faft on dayes of Indication, and fuch as 
 the Church enjoynes : every meale was 
 a day of abftinence with her, for as me 
 feldome eate of above one or two dimes, 
 where there were great plenty, foe very 
 rarely would me have any fauces, and 
 comonly chofe the dryeft and leaned 
 morfells ; and frequently have I knowne 
 her deny her appetite things which I 
 am certaine me lov'd, foe as I have 
 made it now and then a little quarrell, 
 for treating her felfe no better, confider- 
 ing her tender fabrick, early rifeing, 
 
 tedious 
 
176 The Life of 
 
 tedious and late watchings, laborious' 
 devotions, and not feldome even toi 
 fainting in her retirements. Butt me| 
 would tell me fmileingly, that me was 
 as ftrong as a lion ; and though I ma- 
 nifeftly perceived the contrary, both by I 
 her countenance and other circum- 
 fiances, that thefe aufterityes did her; 
 injury, me would difguife it with ans 
 induftry foe naturall, and putt fuch life n 
 and chearfullnefs into her lookes and I 
 mine, as has made me call to mind what 
 wee read of Daniell and his companions, 
 (Dan. 1,) who after their afcetick? 
 foode, looked fairer and in better point j 
 then all the reft who eat of the Royalb 
 portion. fc I can be fatt," (me would S 
 tell me,) cc in three dayes when I will." 1 
 
 } 
 I forgott to remember your Lady-; 
 fhipp, of her imploying moft part of 
 Lent in workeing for poore people, 
 cutting out and makeing waiftcoates 
 and other neceflary coverings, which 
 
 fhe 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 me conftantiy distributed amongft them, 
 like another Dorcas, fpending much of 
 her tyme, and no little of her money, in 
 relieving, vifitting, and enquireing of 
 them out. And whilfl me was thus 
 bufy with her needle, me would com- 
 monly have one or other read by her, 
 through which means, and a happy me- 
 mory, me had allmoft the whole Scrip- 
 tures by heart, and was foe verfed in 
 Doctor Hammond's Annotations and 
 other practicall bookes, Controverfyes, 
 and Cafes, as might have flocked fome 
 who pafs for noe fmall Divines ; not to 
 mention fundry divine penitentiall and 
 other Hymns, breathing of a Spiritt of 
 holynefs, and fuch as mew'd the tender- 
 nefs of her heart, and wonderfull love 
 to God. 
 
 Thus fpent (he the Sunday, feafts, 
 or fafts ; nor were the exterordnary 
 weeke dayes other than Sunday es with 
 her when none came to interrupt her 
 
 courfe, 
 
 A A 
 
 177 
 
i 7 8 
 
 The Life of 
 
 courfe, which in fome particulars was 
 conftant and unintermitted. For the 
 Sun had not yett drawne the Curtaines 
 of his purple bed, whofe rifeing fhe oft 
 prevented, and even fometymes the 
 Morning watch, when this holy Virgin, 
 wakeing, after a fhort Ejaculation to i 
 the Father of lights for the refrefhment 
 ihe had received, thus excites herfelfe, — 
 
 t 
 
 cc Up and be doeing, Jleepe no more ; 
 Hark ! who is knocking att the doore ? \ 
 Arife, my faire one, come away ; 
 For thee I waite : arife, and pray. I 
 Shake off thy Sleepe ; behold r , 'tis I! 
 Canft thou love that, when I am by ? i 
 Vaine thoughts , prefume not to come \ 
 
 near, 
 Tou'l find no entertainements here ; jj 
 My Love has Jworne — her vows are i 
 
 paft— 
 That I /hall be her fir ft and loft. 
 Rife then, my dear eft, come and fee 
 What pleafureas are referv'dfor thee. 
 
 I come 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 / come> dear Lord. Behold I rife. 
 Thee> I beyond all pleasures prize." 
 
 Doe not imagine I am purfueing a 
 romance, or in a rapture myfelfe, whilft 
 I call her up with this angelick Hymne, 
 fince I can arTure your Ladyfhipp 'tis 
 butt what I find under her owne hand, 
 and amongft thofe devout tranfports 
 and compofures of hers, which I am 
 certaine were her owne : and when 
 ihe was in health, me would be calPd 
 whilft it was yett darke, to feeke her 
 Lord, like thofe holy women that went 
 early to the Sepulcher. 
 
 Noe fooner was me defcended from 
 her bed, butt fhe fell on her knees in 
 profound adoration ; and all the tyme of 
 her dreffing, — which for the moft part 
 ihe finim'd of her felfe without other 
 help, — her mayd was reading fome part 
 of Scripture to her, and when her aftift- 
 ance was neceffary, me would take the 
 
 booke 
 
 179 
 
180 The Life of 
 
 booke herfelfe, and read to her maid ; 
 thus continually imploy'd fhe her me- 
 ditations, till me was fully drefPd; 
 which me would be in a very little 
 tyme, even to all the agreeable circum- 
 ftances becomeing her, becaufe indeed 
 fhe became every thing, and this early 
 rifeing and little indulgence to her eafe, 
 made her looke like a flower, lovely, 
 and frefh, and full of health : being in 
 this pofture, fhe withdrew to private 
 devotion in her clofett, till her fervant 
 advertifed her it was tyme to goe to 
 the Chappell, where fhe was ever with 
 the firft of the devout fex, were it never 
 foe wett, cold, and darke, even before 1 
 day breake, in midft of winter. 
 
 Return'd from Chappell, me would 
 mutt her felfe upp in her little Oratory e 
 againe, where, till the Queene requir'd 
 her attendance, (for I now defcribe her 
 as fhe was att Court,) fhe was either 
 imployed in reading fome holy booke, 
 
 or 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 or getting fome Chapter or Pfalmes by 
 heart, fuch as me had collected abun- 
 dance of the moft edifyeing ; neither 
 omitted fhe to pray constantly with her 
 fmall family, which me tooke great 
 care to inflrucl upon all occasions. Nor 
 did her forenoone devotion determine 
 here : fhe not feldome might be found 
 in the Chappell att ten a'Clock in the 
 longer office. Nay, and I have fome- 
 tymes mett her above in his Majeftyes 
 little oratorye before dinner, if conve- 
 niently fhe could flipp away from the 
 mixt Company of the withdrawing 
 Roome, whilft the Queene fatt out; 
 and this fhe did, not out of fingularity 
 or fuperftitious devotion, or that fhe 
 thought herfelfe obliged to it, butt (as 
 fhe has told me) to avoid occafions of 
 idle and impertinent difcourfe, which 
 was allmoft unavoidable in the Ante- 
 Chambers. 
 
 Soe foone as her Majeftye had dyned, 
 
 (if 
 
 181 
 
l82 
 
 The Life of 
 
 (if it were her duty and turne to wayte,) 
 and that fhe had alfoe taken her repaft, 
 if fhe owed no formall vilitts, or were 
 not interrupted by others, fhe ufually 
 fpent the afternoone in workeing with 
 her needle, which was comonly (butt 
 efpetially, as I noted, in Lent tyme,) 
 makeing Coates and Garments for 
 poore people, and fometymes for great 
 and rich, for there was nothing but 
 [what] her delicate ringers could doe, f 
 and fhe had an Invention and fancy foe 
 elegant and pretty, that when there was 
 any thing exterordinary to be done in k 
 fuiteing Ornaments and adjufting La- 
 dyes' matters att Court, tho' fhe affected 
 none of this her felfe, happy was themofti' 
 illuftrious of the Circle, [who] could 1 
 have her to drefs and fett them out. 
 
 She was fometymes engaged to pafs 
 the after dynner att Cards, efpecially- 
 when fhe came to Berkley Houfe, 1 
 (where was great refort,) more to com- 
 ply 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 ply with others, than that fhe tooke the 
 leaft delight in it ; and tho' being co- 
 monly extreamly fortunate, and very 
 fkillfull, fhe comonly rofe a winner, and 
 allwayes referved her winnings for the 
 poore, itt was yett amongft the greater!: 
 afflictions of her life, when, to comply 
 with fome perfons of Qualitye, fhe fatt 
 any thing long att itt. How many fad 
 complaints has fhe made to me of this 
 particular : I tell you fhe looked on it 
 as a Calamity and fubjection infupport- 
 able. Butt neither did this nor any 
 other confideration detaine her from 
 being prefent att publick prayers att 3 
 or 4 a'clock, for fhe would then break 
 off, and happ'ly take that opportunitye 
 of makeing fome vifitt, if fhe had any to 
 pay. 
 
 She had her houres alfoe for reading 
 
 hiflorye and diverfions of that nature ; 
 
 j butt allwayes fuch as were choice, pro- 
 
 I fittable, and inflruclive, and fhe had de- 
 
 voured 
 
 183 
 
184 The Life of 
 
 voured an incredible deale of that folid 
 knowledge, and could accompt of it to 
 admiration ; foe as I have even beene 
 aftonimed to find fuch an heape of ex- 
 cellent things and materiall obfervations 
 collected and written with her owne 
 hand, many of which (flnce her being 
 with God) came to myne, for befides a 
 world of admirable prayers and pieces 
 of flagrant devotion, meditations, and 
 difcourfes on various fubjects, (which 
 fhe compof'd) there was hardly a booke 
 fhe read that me had not common 
 placed, as it were, or taken fome re- 
 markable note of; add this to the Diary 
 of her owne life, actions, refolutions, anc 
 other circumstances, of which I mall giv 
 fome fpecimen. She had contracted the 
 intire hiftorye of the Scriptures, anc 
 the mort illustrious examples, fentences, 
 and precepts, digefted under appoiite 
 and proper heads ; and collected to- 
 geather the refult of every Article of the 
 Apoftles' Creed, out of Bifhopp Pear- 
 
 fon's 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 fon's excellent Treatife. I have all- 
 ready fpoken of her Sermon Notes ; 
 butt to give a juft Account of her Let- 
 ters, they are foe many and in fo excellent 
 naturall and eafy a ftyle, that as for their 
 number, one would beleive fhe did no- 
 thing elfe butt write, foe for their weight 
 and ingenuity, that fhe ought to doe 
 nothing elfe ; and foe eafyly did her 
 Invention flow, that I have feene her 
 write a very long letter without once 
 takeing off her penn (butt to dipp it), 
 and that with exterordnary Judgment ; 
 they were cogent, pathetick, and oblige- 
 ing, and allwayes about doeing fome 
 kind office, or Religious Correfpond- 
 ence. Nor lefs was fhe indefatigable 
 in reading ; feldome flirring abroad 
 without fome good booke about her, 
 that if by any accident fhe were to at- 
 tend or be alone, fhe might lofe no 
 tyme ; and indeed the tone of her voice 
 (when fhe read to others) was foe fuited 
 to all the pamons and figures either of 
 
 reading 
 
 B B 
 
 185 
 
i86 
 
 The Life of 
 
 reading or difcourfe, that there was no- 
 thing more charmeing then to heare her 
 recite with fuch a Spiritt and Judg- 
 ment as the periods fell. 'Tis hardly 
 to be imagined, the talent fhe peculiarly 
 had in repeating a comicall part or act- 
 ing it, when in a chearfull humour and 
 amongft fome particular friends, fhe 
 would fometymes divert them ; and I 
 have heard her pronounce a Sermon 
 in French which fhe had heard preached 
 by a fryar in Paris vpon the profefTion 
 of a Nun, att which fhe was prefent, 
 that really furprized me. Thofe who 
 have obferv'd the fantaftick motion of 
 thofe Zealotts in the pulpitt would have 
 feen in this Lady's action, invention, and 
 preachment, the prettieft and moft in- 
 nocent Mimick in the World, and have 
 really beleived it had been the Enthuflaft 
 himfelfe, butt for his frock and face, that 
 had infpired her : certainely fhe was 
 the moft harmelefs and diverting Crea- 
 ture in nature. Butt as her witt was 
 
 infinite 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 infinite, and in Converfation far fuperior 
 to any of her fex, foe to curb it, had 
 fhe fuch perpetuall apprehenfions of 
 God's omniprefence, that fhe induftri- 
 oufly fuppreffed it. I could tell your 
 Ladyfhipp of fome artificiall helps fhe 
 ufed, to keep her all way es in mind of 
 it: thus fhe would pin up fome pa- 
 pers, as it were negligently, in places 
 where fhe moft frequently ufed to be, 
 with fome Character in it, or halfe word, 
 that fignifyed to her fome particular 
 duty or Caution; and though I never 
 came to know this from her felfe, yett 
 by fome obfervations which I made, I 
 am confident of what I fay. Butt this 
 fhe did to curb and reftraine as (I faid) 
 her fprightfull witt in perfect humility, 
 and out of feare and tendernefs left 
 fhe might offend ; tho' never was Crea- 
 ture more difcreetely referv'd, or that 
 better vnderftood when and what it 
 was fitt to fpeake and entertaine her 
 friends. 
 
 To 
 
 187 
 
i88 
 
 The Life of 
 
 To preferve her felfe then in this 
 humble temper, and affift her more 
 minute ConfefTions, me kept (as I have 
 hinted) an account of her actions and 
 refolutions, as fince her deceafe I find. 
 In this it was fhe fett downe her Infir- 
 mityes fhe laboured vnder, what deli- 
 verances fhe had from danger, what 
 favour received, what Methods fhe re- 
 folved to take for the imployment of 
 her tyme, and obligations laid vpon 
 her felfe to performe what fhe foe re- 
 folved, which doubtlefs was a Courfe to 
 keep her clofe to duty, as well as the 
 frequent Counfells of her Ghoftly father 
 upon all difficultyes by the conftant 
 Intercourfe of Letters, foe as fhe [was] 
 feldome in fufpence, what fhe ought to 
 doe upon any difficulty which might 
 concerne her : and this infinitely con- 
 tributed to the Chearfullnefs of her 
 Spiritts and interior peace ; fhe was 
 really foe afraid that others fhould think 
 
 too 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 too well of her, that fhe has fometymes 
 bitterly accufed herfelfe, and was wont 
 to fend me an anniverfary account of 
 her faileings and Infirmityes, in which 
 God knows there were very few, with 
 a gratefull remembrance to God of her 
 Improvements, which I knew to be 
 much greater then me would acknow- 
 ledge, defireing both advice and prayers 
 for her. 
 
 As in the Morning, foe in the Even- 
 ing, itt was even fome exterordinary 
 and indifpenfable buiffnefs which att 
 any tyme hindered her from the Church 
 office, which if fhe miffed att three a' 
 clock, fhe would be fure to find att fix, 
 whether fhe were abroad or att home ; 
 and after that as conftantly retired fome 
 competent tyme before Supper for re- 
 collection, Reading and private devo- 
 tion ; and would fometymes walk abroad 
 to contemplate the workes of God, for 
 which fhe was furnifh with proper me- 
 ditations, 
 
 189 
 
190 The Life of 
 
 ditations, which fhe could extend out 
 of her owne flock, as I can witnefs, to ji 
 my fingular edification and no fmall ji 
 admiration : there was really nothing r 
 fhe cafl her Eye upon, butt inftead of to 
 impertinent wandring fhe would derive ? 
 fome holy ufe from. \ 
 
 cc I wifh you here betymes," (one 
 day writeing to me,) cc that wee may [ 
 walk together. I fancy I could talk 
 of God for ever ; and, indeed, what I 
 elfe can wee fpeake of butt our God, 
 of whome wee never can fay enough :" 
 for Tuefday being ufually the day I 
 vifitted her of courfe, whether wee k 
 walked into the Gardens, the fields, or jf 
 within doores, the moft agreeable con- 1 
 verfation to her, was the contemplation ; 
 of the workesof God; [or] the contrive- fci 
 ing how to bring about fome charitable St 
 office ; and as fhe was flrangely happy 
 in compofing differences, foe was fhe x 
 of foe lucky addrefs and univerfally be- 
 loved, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 loved, that what fhe undertooke fhe 
 feldome failed of accomplishing. Gene- 
 rous as fhe was, and foe obligeing to 
 her freinds, there hardly paffed a day in 
 which ihe had not done fome fignall 
 kindnefs : nor difdained fhe the mean- 
 eft Circumftances, foe me might doe 
 good ; not to omitt how refolute fhe 
 was in other dutyes. Nor in all thefe 
 pious Labours, [was fhe] the leaft trou- 
 blefome, fcrupulous, fingular, or morofe, 
 butt [of] the moft eafy and chearfull 
 converfation in the world. 
 
 Thus paffed fhe the Evenings, till 
 Supper ; which fhe for the moft part re- 
 fufed her felfe, fpending that tyme in her 
 oratory ; and if fhe did come downe, 
 eating fpareingly, retired againe foe 
 foone as decently fhe could difengage 
 her felfe to pray with her little family, 
 and finifh the reft of her private courfe 
 before fhe went to repofe. This your 
 Ladyfhipp knows and could fpeake to 
 
 much 
 
 i 9 i 
 
192 The Life of 
 
 much better then my felfe, whilft yo 
 were fellow virgins and companions ir 
 holy dutyes ; and thus lived me to Go 
 and to her felfe. Let us now take 
 view how me converfed with others 
 Domeflicks and Friends, after me was 1 
 Wife, and had a family to governe. 
 
 It is ufually faid of marryed people 
 cc fuch a one has altered her condition/' ij 
 indeed, foe had ihee. But in noe fort 
 her Courfe. Itt could not be faid of 
 this paire, that thofe who are marryed 
 cared for the things of this world how \ 
 they might pleafe one another, for never 
 was there Lady pleafed foe well as when \ 
 fhe was careing for the things of the 
 Lord, and this me did (if any ever did) 
 without diffraction, knowing that fhe t 
 could never pleafe her hufband better 
 then when me was pleafing God ; foe 
 as fhe was, (I may truely fay,) the fame 
 [as] a wife and a virgin. And fuch ft 
 Marriage it was, I am perfwaded St. 
 
 Paul 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 Paul himfelfe would have preferred 
 above the celibate he foe highly co- 
 mended, butt for which he had noe 
 command, but fpoke on fuppofition. 
 
 She was none of thofe who would 
 have excufed her comeing to the divine 
 and royall feafts becaufe me had mar- 
 ry ed an hufband ; flacking in nothing 
 of her former zeale and labours of love, 
 without the leaft impeachment to her 
 domeftick Charge. Soe dextroufly fhe 
 knew to reconcile both thofe dutyes, 
 that I beleive there never was family 
 more an houfehold of faith, never per- 
 fons linked togeather in a more honour- 
 able, happy, and eafy bond : for as fhe 
 was an excellent Chriftian, fhe was a 
 noe lefs unparalleld wife ; I need not 
 therefore defcribe this vertue to your 
 Ladyfhipp, or call that complaifance 
 which was the height of a moft vertuous 
 affedtion ; and reciprocall ; for never were 
 two perfons foe framed for one ano- 
 ther's 
 
 c c 
 
 J 93 
 
i 9 4 
 
 The Life of 
 
 ther's difpofitions, never lived paire in 
 more peace and harmony ; and yett, 
 tho' this converfation was the moft 
 noble and becomeing in the world, 
 without troublefome fondnefs, yet me 
 could not conceale the affliction me 
 fuffered when he was abfent, as when 
 he had been fometymes fent abroad by 
 his Majeftye, upon diverfe publick 
 concerns of State, nor the Joy that fo 
 fpread it felfe in her countenance, and 
 agreeable humour, when he was pre- 
 fent. In a word, me was converfation 
 as well as Companion for a wife and 
 excellent perfon, foe as if ever two were 
 created for each other, and marriages, 
 as they fay, made in heaven, this hap- 
 py paire were of the number. O irre- 
 parable lofs, never to be repaired on 
 this fide that bleffed place. 
 
 For the prudent management of her 
 domeftick affaires, me was not to learne 
 what ever might become the graveft 
 
 or 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 or [moft] experienced Matron as well as 
 Miftrefs. She had foone made choice of 
 fuch fervants, and putt all things in fuch 
 order, as nothing was more eafy, me- 
 thodicall, and quiett; without Angu- 
 larity or affectation ; nothing more de- 
 cent and honourable. She provided 
 them bookes to read, prayers to ufe by 
 themfelves, and conftantly inftructed 
 them herfelfe in the principles of Reli- 
 gion; tooke care for their due receive- 
 ing of the holy Sacrament, and was in 
 a word the beft miftrefs in the world : 
 wittnefs her bountifull remembrance of 
 them att her death, of which I have 
 allready fpoken. 
 
 She tooke exact Accompt of her 
 dayly expenfes, which every Saturday 
 me ufed to fumme up, and never went 
 on fcore; foe juft and provident me was ; 
 makeing that a delight which others 
 looke on as a Burthen, — namely, the 
 care of her family, which me would 
 
 goe 
 
 195 
 
196 
 
 The Life of 
 
 goe through with an hardinefs and maf- 
 culine virtue, foe farr was fhe from be- 
 ing nice and delicate, and it infinitely 
 became her. None knew better then 
 fhe to buy and to chufe what was fitt ; 
 tempering a difcreet frugalitye, with a 
 generous hand and a large heart ; and 
 if in any thing profufe itt was in her 
 Charitye. 
 
 And thus I have mewed your Lady- 
 fhipp how fhe lived to God and to 
 herfelfe ; I have now to add how fhe 
 converfed with her Neighbours, whom 
 me loved as herfelfe. 
 
 Your Ladyfhipp is of too generous a 
 Soule to forgett that particular affection 
 fhe bore you to the laft, the efteeme 
 flie had of your excellent fifter and Re- 
 lations : and methinks I flill fee the con- 
 cerne fhe mewed, when you were pre- 
 paring to goe into Holland about this 
 tyme, becaufe her folicitude for your 
 
 profperity 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 profperity was accompanyed with a 
 tender friendfhipp ; which I find you 
 would keepe in memory by the In- 
 ftances you make to one, whome you 
 juftly think have noe lefs gratefull dif- 
 pofition to celebrate her vertues. 
 
 Indeed never was any Creature more 
 obligeing to her friends and Relations ; 
 to whofe Civilityes, that fhe might be 
 juft, fhe not only kept a Catalogue of 
 thofe fhe had a more particular efteeme 
 of, butt would ftudy all imaginable 
 wayes to be ferviceable to them. Wee 
 both are wittneffes of the paines fhe 
 would undergoe to profelyte vaine or 
 indifferent Chriftians, and with what an 
 admirable addrefs fhe did it; without 
 the leaft diminution of her felfe, or 
 mean complyance to gaine friendfhipp 
 with efteeme ; tho' fhe was fcrupuloufly 
 carefull not to multiply acquaintances, 
 j confidering the precious moments that 
 | are loft in impertinent and formal vi- 
 
 fitts, 
 
 197 
 
198 The Life of 
 
 fitts, and therefore reduceing [them] to ' 
 a felecl: and choice number. Nothing in 
 the world did more afflict her than the } i 
 trifling Converfation of fome whome of 5 
 Decency me was obliged to bear with, 
 whilft there was not a vifitt which me 
 returned to fuch, butt with a fecrett de- 
 figne, how fhe might either reclaime 
 thofe who were lefs referved and circum- 
 fpect, or confirme and incourage thofe 
 that were more. Never mould you 
 hear her fpeake to the difadvantage of 
 an abfent perfon ; butt if others did, j 
 fhe would be either filent and fay no 
 thing, unlefs where fhe could excufe J 
 them, or endeavour to divert the dif- I 
 courfe. In every thing elfe fhe had 
 a wonderfull complacency of nature ; 
 which was infinitely improved by Re- f 
 ligion, and a kind of univerfall Charity e, 
 foe as to accomodate her felfe to all in- 
 nocent humours. She would fing, and 
 play, and ad, and recite, and difcourfe 
 prettyly and innocently a thoufand 
 
 harmelefs 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 199 
 
 harmelefs and ingenious purpofes to re- 
 creat old and melancholy perfons, and 
 divert the younger. She had kindnefs 
 and good nature to fitt by the fick and 
 peevifh, read and pray by them with 
 infuperable patience and chearfullnefs, 
 and comply even with little Children ; 
 fhe played att any the moft difficult 
 games fuiteable to their Converfation, 
 and that fkillfully : nor was there any 
 refitting her agreeable way and govern- 
 ing fpiritt; foe that (as I noted) the 
 greater!: DuchefTes and Ladyes of the 
 Court fought her friendmipp and affift- 
 ance vpon any occafion of folemn pomp, 
 Mafque, Ball, or exterordinary appear- 
 ance, becaufe of a certaine peculiar 
 fancy and addrefs fhe had in fuiteing, 
 dreffing, and continueing things of Or- 
 nament, with univerfall approbation, 
 whilft in all thefe Complyances, fhe 
 was watchfull of opportunityes to in- 
 ftill fomething of vertue and Religion, 
 as well by her difcourfe as example, 
 
 and 
 
200 
 
 The Life of 
 
 and in fuch a manner, as not only- 
 avoided the Cenfure of Impertinence } 
 and Angularity, butt which more en- 1 
 deared her to them. What mall I fay ? 
 fhe had all the pretty arts and innocent 
 ftratagems imaginable, of mingling fe- 
 rious things on all occafions, feafon- 
 ing even her diverfions with fomething 
 of Religion ; which, as fhe would ma- I 
 nage it, putt to rebuke all their flocks 
 of rayllery, foe as nothing was more 
 agreeable than her Company where I 
 ever fhe came. Indeed there was no- ! 
 thing proofe againft the abundance of : 
 her witt and piety : fhe made vertue 
 and holynefs a chearfull thing, lovely 
 as her felfe ; and even in the Court, 
 how many of the greatest there, were 
 made to looke upon Religion as a fe- 
 rious thing, yett confiftent with their 
 poft. Butt this I need not recount to 
 your Ladyfhipp, there are yett fome 
 (and more I wifh there were) who owe 
 their tincture to this Lady, and will, I 
 
 hope, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 hope, retaine it ; foe as, if ever it were 
 an holy Court, 'twas when this Saint 
 was the life of it. 'Twere eafy to fhew 
 whome, by her Councell and addrefs, 
 fhe had refcued ; fome from fatall preci- 
 pices in that giddy Station ; others, 
 whome fhe has inflructed, that were 
 Ignorant or carelefs ; fome, that fhe 
 gained to a fevere Courfe, who were 
 liftning to folly and mine : in a word, 
 it was the pleafure of her life and the 
 buifTnefs of the day, to caft about how 
 fhe might improve it to thofe advan- 
 tages. O, were the Courts of Princes 
 adorn'd and furnifh'd with fuch a Circle 
 wee mould call it Heaven on Earth, 
 and converfe with Angells. Butt, to 
 juftifye this and all that I have affirmed 
 concerning the piety of her thoughts, 
 the paffion fhe had to improve others, 
 the richnefs of her Invention, naturall 
 Eloquence, and beauty of her Style, I 
 have no more to doe then to mind your 
 Ladyfhipp of a Letter, written by this 
 
 Saint, 
 
 D D 
 
 201 
 
202 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Saint, when me was now gone from 
 Court, of which I am well afTured you 
 are beft accquainted, and can yett per- 
 happs produce the orriginall; for my 
 part I never read it butt I looke upon 
 it as infpired with an apoftolick fpiritt. 
 
 cc Deare Children, fince you are both 
 foe lowly in your owne Eyes, as to 
 make ufe of me in a thing which either 
 of you would have done better, butt 
 that you diftruft your felfes, — namely, 
 the paraphrafes vpon the prayer lately 
 fent you, I thought my felfe obliged 
 deepely to confider it againe, and have- 
 ing done foe, cannott fatisfy my lefs, 
 unlefs I fett downe with Pen and Ink 
 what my opinion is of it. As to your 
 drefTmg, I can't beleive the Doctor 
 meant there mould be any neglect of 
 that beauty God has given you, foe it 
 be done with this Caution, firft, that 
 you defigne to captivate none for any 
 fatisfaclion you take in the number of 
 
 Lovers 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 Lovers or in the Noife of a larger 
 traine of Admirers than other young 
 women have, butt purely for an honeft 
 defigne of difingageing your felves as 
 foone as you can from the place you 
 are in, in an honorable way ; and when 
 ever you fee any young Man, whome 
 in your hearts you cannot beleive will 
 prove that perfon I fpeak of, or any 
 marryed Man, whome you know can- 
 not, with fuch a one St. Paul fayes, 
 you ought not to converfe in the leaft ; 
 I meane, if [it is] poffible to be avoided, 
 and in this age, you know, women are 
 not foe wonderfully folicited that have 
 the vertue and modefty of you two. 
 That good fervice the Ladys of other 
 principles have done you, that men 
 fooner find their Error, and without 
 much difficulty fufpected converfations 
 may be avoided. 
 
 " Indeed, it would be a moil dread- 
 full fight att the laft day, to fee any 
 
 man 
 
 203 
 
204 
 
 The Life of 
 
 man condemned upon your accounts ; 
 and yett fuch a thing may be, and yett 
 you honeft ; for if you willingly confent 
 men mould looke upon you and follow 
 you, you are acceffary to that finn in St. 
 Mathew, c Who ever lookes on a wo- 
 man to luft after her, hath committed 
 Adultery with her allready in his heart/ 
 Soe that my opinion is, that mankind, if 
 they make any particular applications, 
 tho* they don't make love, be, as much 
 as you can, avoided. As to your Con- 
 verfation, there is nothing forbidden 
 butt what is either prophane, or unjuft, 
 or indevout ; I meane, the encourage- 
 ing of any of that in others, by feeme- 
 ing well pleafed with it. 'Tis true, wee 
 mould not preach in the withdrawing 
 Roome, butt wee muft, by our lookes, 
 mew that wee fear God, and that wee 
 dare not hear any thing to his prejudice, 
 nor any thing filthy, or that tends to 
 the prejudice of our Neighbour ; and 
 where any of thefe are found, there, as 
 
 much 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 much as ever wee can, to avoid them. 
 As to what wee fay our felves, the fame 
 Rules are to be obferved ; and wee muft 
 take care that wee talke not to be the 
 wittieft in the Company ; to accquire 
 praife to ourfelves above our Neigh- 
 bours. Wee may divert people, and 
 be innocently merry ; but then wee 
 muft not defigne praife to our felves, 
 nor pleafe our felves (if wee have it) in 
 the thoughts of it, butt in fome fhort 
 and filent prayer, defire God to keepe 
 us low in our owne Eyes, as c Lord, 
 make me poore in fpiritt, that I may 
 inheritt the kingdome of Heaven,' or by 
 calling to mind that faying of St. Paul, 
 ( What haft thou which thou didft not 
 receive, and if thou haft received it, 
 why doft thou boaft ?' In fhort, wee 
 muft talke, to divert others, not to gaine 
 applaufe to our felves ; and if there be 
 any that are able and willing to doe it, 
 lett us not be impatient to preferr them 
 before us. Butt this is butt fometymes 
 
 to 
 
 205 
 
2o6 The Life of 
 
 to be done ; 'tis not a fault if you 
 fhould not allwayes be foe willing to 
 keep filence whilft others fpeake. 
 
 cc As to your retirement after you 
 come in, 'tis only to examine the day, 
 and if you have been faulty, in all hu- 
 mility to acknowledge it to Allmighty 
 God, and what ever the fault has been, 
 to read fome portion of Scripture which 
 concerns it, if you can find any ; if not, 
 to read fome Chapter in St. John's Gof- 
 pell, efpecially the 15, or 16, or 17th, 
 &c. that doe moil divinely fett forth 
 the Love of God to us. The reafon 
 why I urge this, is, that your forrow for 
 fin may proceed from the fence you 
 have of God's great mercy and love to 
 us ; and that Consideration will melt 
 your hearts, and keepe you clofe, and 
 make you defire to draw near him ; 
 but Hell terrifyes, and damnation 
 amazes, and I am never the better for 
 thofe reflections. 
 
 " And 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 cc And after this is pafPd,you both be- 
 ing Good, and friends as well as Sifters, 
 will doe well to contrive togeather how 
 you may defeate the Divell, and make 
 Solomon's words true, that c two are bet- 
 ter then one/ After this, in God's name, 
 I know no harme, — if your devotions of 
 the day and tafk that you affigne your 
 felves are over, — butt that you may be 
 as chearfull as your Innocence can make 
 you, which in both is very great. 
 
 <f As to one particular in the drefs, I 
 think I have not fpoken concerneing 
 the expenfive part. Butt that only con- 
 cerns , and Mrs. , whofe 
 
 purfes are fmall, that they take care, 
 upon noe account whatfoever, they ex- 
 ceed what their pennon is ; for noe 
 duty to the Queene, in makeing a ftiew 
 behind her, can excufe one from Juftice 
 to our Neighbour, before that God in 
 whofe prefence wee walke, and [who] 
 
 will 
 
 207 
 
2o8 The Life of 
 
 will avenge the Caufe of the wronged. 
 Butt I am fenfible not only this laft, 
 butt all I have faid, has been not onely 
 (as to my part) filly, butt as to yours, 
 fuperfluous, only Love and Goodwill 
 I dare fay will plead my excufe before 
 two foe good young Creatures for a 
 greater fault than this, and therefore 
 not doubting but I am forgiven, I will 
 [end] with a prayer drawne from the 
 Sermon wee heard this morning. 
 
 cc That you two, who have foe glo- 
 rioufly and foe refolutely fett your felves 
 to ferve God in your younger dayes, 
 may continue to be ftill what you are, 
 examples of vertue and modefty in a 
 Court, dutifull to your Mifftrefs, obe- 
 dient and loveing to your Mother, affec- 
 tionate to each other, and charitable to 
 all the world. Befides, may you be 
 wife virgins, haveing Oyle in your 
 Lamps ready prepar'd to meete the ; 
 Bridegroome. May you be burning 
 
 and 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 and fhineing lights in the midft of a 
 crooked and perverfe Generation, and 
 as the Minifter faid this day, c May you, 
 as Samuel, and David, Jofiah, Timo- 
 thy, and St. John, be wholly dedicated 
 to Gods Service, as was the firft ; zeal- 
 ous for his Glory, as was the fecond ; 
 eonftantly feeking the God of your fa- 
 thers, as was the third ; well inftructed 
 in Scriptures, as was the fourth ; and 
 at laft may you (as St. John was) be 
 admitted into the Bofome of our Dear 
 Jefus, where you will have your fhort 
 youth turned into Eternity, your 
 earthly treafure to an heavenly, and 
 your worldly greatnefs and power ex- 
 chang'd for a Crowne of Glory . ' Amen 
 with all my heart." 
 
 And now, O blefTed Saint, how doft 
 thou mine above ! What a Circle of 
 Starrs diadems thy Temples ! what a 
 Jubilation amongft the Angells at thy 
 accefs into the Glorious Hierarchy ! 
 
 Verily, 
 
 209 
 
 E E 
 
2IO 
 
 The Life of 
 
 Verily, Madam, I have had thoughts 
 above the world, when I fometymes 
 confidered the life of this excellent 
 Creature, her rare examples, happy 
 fuccefs, and the fruites which have been 
 planted and cultivated by her holy In- 
 duftrye and labour of Love, were it by 
 her beauty, by her witt, her Converfa- 
 tion, her prayers and devotions, her 
 zeal and pious Infinuations, her exam- 
 ple or peculiar addrelTe ; being wily, 
 me caught them by Craft, and as I faid, 
 I would fometymes call her the fifherefs 
 of her fex. What mail I add ? She 
 was fortunate in all me fett her hand to, 
 becaufe me laid out all thefe perfections 
 in the fervice of God, the winning of 
 foules ; and great, great is her reward. 
 
 Nor did this confine her only to the 
 Court, amongft the Great. I have allrea- 
 dy told how diligently fhe would inquire 
 out the poore and miferable, even [in] 
 Hofpitalls, humble Cells and Cottages, 
 
 whither 
 
Mrs. Godolphin 
 
 whither I have fometymes accompanied 
 her, as farr as the very fkirts and ob- 
 fcure places of the Towne, among whom 
 fhe not only [gave] liberall almes, but 
 phyfitians and phyfick fhe would fend 
 to fome, yea, and adminifter Remedyes 
 herfelfe, and the meaneft offices. She 
 would fit and read, inftruct and pray, 
 whole afternoones, and tooke care for 
 their fpirituall releif by procureing a 
 Minifter of Religion to prepare them 
 for the holy Sacrament, for which pur- 
 pofe fhe not only carryed and gave them 
 bookes of Salvation and Devotion, but 
 had herfelfe collected diverfe Pfalmes 
 and Chapters proper to be read and 
 ufed vpon fuch occafions. How many 
 naked poore Creatures fhe covered ! I 
 have by me one Lift of no fewer then 
 twenty three, whome fhe cladd at one 
 tyme ; and your Ladyfhipp may re- 
 member, and I have allready noted, for 
 whome fhe wrought with her owne 
 hands. 
 
 To 
 
 211 
 
212 
 
 The Life of 
 
 To aflift her then in the difpofeing 
 of thefe and inumerable other Chari- 
 tyes, there was a poore religious Wid- 
 dow, whome your Ladyfhipp knew me 
 had a more particular Confidence in. 
 How me found her out, I never in- 
 formed my felfe, but well remember a 
 pafTage of fomething exterordinary that 
 happened to her concerning a Voice 
 which fhe folemnly affirmed had fpoken 
 to her, being once att prayers in the 
 Church and in great diftrefs. I fhall 
 fay nothing as to that, but that it was 
 this pious and humble Creature, whofe 
 diligence fhe vfed, to informe her of fick 
 and miferable people, who accompa- 
 nyed her to their Habitations, and 
 brought them Cloathes, Mony and Me- 
 dicines, and whereof they fpent whole 
 dayes in devotion togeather. By her 
 it was fhe diflributed weekly penfions, 
 looked after orphan Children, put them 
 to fchoole, vifitted the prifons, out of 
 
 which 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 which (amongft diverfe others,) fhe had 
 redeemed a diffolute fon of hers, that 
 coft a very confiderable fumme, as me 
 had paid the debts, and indeed wholly 
 maintained the Mother to her dyeing 
 day, tho' being taken with a dead palfy, 
 and in a manner bed ridden, a year or 
 two before. She furvived her Bene- 
 factrefs, but not her bounty : thus 
 when me went into Ffrance, me ordered 
 me to continue many other penfions 
 which me gave, and I could give you 
 an account of what houfe rent fhe paid 
 for indigent houfkeepers, what Appren- 
 tices fhe put forth, and your Lady- 
 fhipp remembers, and I have allready 
 touched, the little Child fhe kept all- 
 wayes with her, and cherifhed to the 
 laft. Soe fedulous was fhe in thefe acls 
 of Charity, that from the tyme I could 
 calculate, fhe had begun and perfifted 
 in this Courfe from a Child her felfe : 
 and for the laft 7 Years of her life, I 
 can fpeake of my owne knowledge, 
 
 that 
 
 213 
 
2i4 The Life of 
 
 that her liberality was foe difpropor- 
 tion'd to her Revenue, that I have 
 fometymes called it profufion, at which 
 fhe would fmile, and bid me take no 
 care. What me herfelfe diftributed 
 more privately I know not, but fure I 
 am it was a great deale more then ever 
 me would difcover, takeing all the Cau- 
 tions imaginable, that nothing fhe did 
 of this nature mould be knowne, no not 
 to her left hand what her right hand 
 did, and therefore often would me her- 
 felfe walk out alone and on foote, and 
 failing, and in midft of winter, (when 
 it was hardly fitt to fend a fervant out,) 
 to minifter to fome poore creatures fhe 
 had found out, and perhaps whome no 
 body knew of befides, foe far had her 
 love to God and piety to others over- 
 come nature and the delicate tendernefs 
 of her fex and conflitution. 
 
 See then what I find in her Diarye, 
 among the Refolutions (as I faid) fhe 
 
 was 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 215 
 
 was wont to fet downe in her owne 
 hand. It feemes fhe had loft at Cards 
 (a diversion which fhe affected not, but 
 to comply with others, when fometymes 
 fhe could not avoid it). Behold, Ma- 
 dam, with what remorfe, with what 
 discretion. 
 
 cc June the 2d. 
 
 cc I will never play this halfe year 
 butt att 3 penny omber, and then with 
 one att halves. I will not ; I doe not 
 vow, but I will not doe it, — what, 
 loofe mony att Cards, yett not give the 
 poore ? 'Tis robbing God, mifTpending 
 tyme, and miftimploying my Talent : 
 three great Sinns. Three pounds 
 would have kept three people from 
 ftarveing a month : well, I will not 
 play." 
 
 Here is a bleffed Creature. 'Tis in 
 this pretious Manufcript that I find 
 an account of the particular mercyes 
 
 me 
 
2l6 
 
 The Life of 
 
 lhe had received from God, amongft 
 which that he had given foe religious a 
 Mother, fuch good breeding, early re- 
 ceiveing the blefTed facrament, the 
 prayers of holy people for her, and 
 afliftance of a fpirittuall Guide, which 
 (fayes me) I am confident was the re- 
 ward of my receiveing at the Charter 
 houfe. I take notice of it here, becaufe 
 'tis there fhe blefTed God that me had 
 been ferviceable, both to poore and 
 Rich, in that he had been pleafed to 
 make her his Inftrument, and foe goes 
 on to thank him for the many perfonall 
 dangers and accidents fhe had efcaped, 
 all which fhe particularizes. But to 
 returne to her Charityes, (than which 
 I know no greater marke of a confum- 
 mate Chriftian,) I may not omit that 
 other branch of it, her vifitting and re- 
 leafeing of prifoners, of which I think 
 I can produce a lift of above thirty re- 
 ftrained for debts in feverall prifons, 
 which fhe paid and compounded for at 
 
 once. 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 once. Nor were thefe as (I faid) fud- 
 den fitts of devotion, but her continued 
 practice, and fuch as tooke up a con- 
 fiderable portion of her life ; and fuch 
 infinite fatisfaclion tooke fhe in this 
 blefled Imployment, as that often have 
 I knowne her privately flipp away and 
 breake from the gay and publique Com- 
 pany, the greatefl entertainments, and 
 greatefl perfons too of the Court, to 
 make a flepp to fome miferable poore 
 fick Creature, whilfl thofe me quitted 
 have wondered why fhe went from the 
 converfation ; and more they would, had 
 they feen how the fceene was chang'd 
 from a Kingly palace to fome meane 
 cottage, from the Company of princes 
 to poore neceflitous wretches, when by 
 and by fhe would returne as chearfull 
 and in good humour, as if fhe had been 
 about fome worldly concerne, and ex- 
 cufe her abfence in the mofl innocent 
 manner imaginable. Never mufl I for- 
 gett the infinite pleafure fhe tooke in 
 
 doeing 
 
 217 
 
 F F 
 
2l8 
 
 The Life of 
 
 doeing Charityes. 'Twas one day that 
 I was with her, when feeing a poore 
 Creature in the ftreets, cc Now," fayes 
 fhe to me, cc how will I make that 
 miferable wretch rejoyce." Upon 
 which fhe fent him ten tymes more than 
 I am confident he ever could expect. 
 This fhe fpake, not as boafting, but 
 foe as one might perceive her very foule 
 lifted up in fecret Joy, to confider 
 how the miferable man would be made 
 happy with the furprize. Soe as fum- 
 ming all thefe Inftances together, I 
 might well compare this Lady to thofe 
 excellent perfons whofe praife is in the 
 Gofpell, and whofe names (St. Paull 
 affures us, Acts x. 2,) are written in 
 the booke of life, being like Cornelius 
 and Dorcas, full of good works and 
 Almes Deeds which fhe did; as Prifcilla, 
 fhe inftructed many more perfectly in 
 the wayes of God ; as Mary, fhe be- 
 llowed much labour; nor doe I ever 
 think of her but I call to mind the 
 
 Phebes, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 Phebes, and Triphofas, Julia and Olym- 
 pia, Claudia and to whome the Appoftle 
 would certainly have added Margarita, 
 (this pearle of ours,) had me been then 
 in the world, who were fervants of the 
 Churches, fuccourers of the Saints, 
 helpers in Chrift Jefus, and who were 
 even ready to lay downe their lives for 
 the Gofpell. Soe flagrant was her zeale, 
 foe pure her Charitye, foe vehement 
 and flncere her love to God, as often to 
 quitt the Eafe and pleafures of life, and 
 difmifs the Diverfions of a Court, to 
 pofTefs thofe Divine and fupernall plea- 
 fures of doeing good, and the bleffing of 
 him that was ready to perim came upon 
 her who caufed the widows heart to 
 ling for Joy, for fhe was Eyes to the 
 blind, and feet to the Lame, in all 
 things, mewing herfelfe a patterne of 
 good workes. In a word, her life did 
 foe mine before Men, that thofe who 
 faw her good workes could not butt be 
 ftirred up to glorifye God ; yet by 
 
 grace 
 
 219 
 
220 
 
 The Life of 
 
 grace we are faved through faith, and 
 not of our felves, it is the gift of God, 
 not of workes, left any man mould 
 boaft, for we are his workmanfhip, 
 created in Chrift Jefus unto good 
 workes, which God hath before or- 
 dained that we mould walke in them. 
 
 And now after all this, I need noe 
 more produce her Diarye, haveing given 
 your Ladymipp fo minute an Account 
 of her life and actions, I mall onely add, 
 that to the particulars of the Mercy es fhe 
 received, Refolutions made, and Graces 
 which me defired, fhe compofed many 
 excellent Prayers, Praifes, and Devo- 
 tions, pertinent to the occafion, and to 
 which I might fubjoine the wonderfull 
 Condefcenfion, already noted, in con- 
 ftantly giveing me once a year a little 
 hiftory of her life, and what had hap- 
 pened of moft concerne in her parti- 
 cular, what faileings, and Improve- 
 ments fhe was fencible of, with an In- 
 
 genuitye 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 genuitye exterordnary, and breathing 
 a pious friendfhipp, defireing my di- 
 rection and my prayers, which a thou- 
 fand tymes I needed more than me, 
 who had, (as your Ladyfhipp well 
 knows, and is already noted) a Ghoftly 
 father, with whome frequently corre- 
 fponding, me conftantly received proper 
 Minifteryes and advice in matters cog- 
 nizable to that facred Character. To 
 him it was me often revealed her Con- 
 fcience, as from a Child me before had 
 done to a devout and learned prelate of 
 our Church by the exterordnary Care 
 of his [her ?] pious and excellent Mo- 
 ther, as herfelf has told me, lookeing 
 on it as the greateft bleffing me had 
 ever left her. 
 
 And thus, Madam, I have, accord- 
 ing to the befl of my poore ability, 
 complyed with your Ladyfhipp's co- 
 mands, and given you the Life of this 
 Incomparable Lady : which though I 
 
 may 
 
 221 
 
222 
 
 The Life of 
 
 may not have performed to the height 
 and merit of the fubjecT:, I have yet 
 me-thinks paid an obligation to the 
 memory of one you loved, and that 
 honoured me with friendfhip never to 
 be forgotten, iince it let me into a 
 Converfation of foe great advantage. 
 In a word, to juflifye what I prefent 
 your Ladymipp, and fumm up all. 
 I have been oft partaker of her fad- 
 nefs and brighter dayes, wittnefs of 
 her devouteft Recollections, accurate 
 and exterordinary preparations, ardent 
 Zeale, and unwearyed Devotions, 
 chearfull and even profufive Charityes 
 and labours of Love, for her fecular 
 concerns was only in order to Spirit- 
 tuall. 
 
 In fumme. 
 
 Never was there a more unfpotted vir- 
 gin, a more loyall wife, a more fincere 
 friend, a more confummate Chriftian ; 
 
 add 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 add to this, a florid youth, an exqui- 
 fite and naturall beauty, and gracefull- 
 nefs the moft becomeing. Nor was fhe 
 to be difguifed : there was nothing 
 more quick and peircing than her ap- 
 prehenfion, nothing more faithfull than 
 her memory, more folid and mature 
 than her Judgment, infomuch as I 
 have heard her hufband affirme to me 
 (whofe difcernment all that have the 
 honour to know, him will allow to be 
 exterordinary) that even in the greateft 
 difficultyesand occafions, he has both 
 afked and preferred her advice with 
 continuall fuccefs, and with thefe folid 
 parts fhe had all the advantages of a 
 moft fparkling witt, a naturall Elo- 
 quence, a gentle and agreeable tone of 
 voice, and a charmeing accent when 
 fhe fpake, whilft the Charmes of her 
 countenance were made up of the great- 
 eft Innocence, modefty, and goodnefs 
 Imaginable, agreeable to the Compo- 
 fure of her thoughts, and the union of 
 
 a thou- 
 
 223 
 
224 
 
 The Life of 
 
 a thoufand perfections : add to all this, 
 fhe was Juft, Invincible, fecrett, ingeni- 
 oufly finceere, faithfull in her promifes, 
 and to a Miracle, temperate, and mif- 
 trefs of her pafTions and refolutions, and 
 foe well had fhe imployed her fpann of 
 tyme, that as oft as I confider how 
 much fhe knew, and writt, and did, I 
 am plainly aftonifhed, and blufh even 
 for my felfe. O how delightfull en- 
 tertaining was this Lady, how grave 
 her difcourfe, how unlike the Conver- 
 fation of her fex, when fhe was the mofl 
 facetious, it would allwayes end in a 
 chearfull compofednefs the moft be- 
 comeing in the world, for fhe was the 
 tendererl: Creature living of taking 
 advantage of anothers Imperfections ; 
 nothing could be more humble and full 
 of Companion, nothing more difpofed 
 to all offices of kindnefs. In a word, 
 what perfections were fcatered amongft 
 others of her fex, feem'd here to be 
 united, and fhe went every day im- 
 
 proveing, 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 proveing, ihineing brighter and amend- 
 ing ftill in vertue. 
 
 I fhould here add fomething con- 
 cerning the obfequies and funerall of 
 this blefTed Saint, on which occafion is 
 not to be omitted, the earned requefl 
 me foe provisionally made, that fhe 
 might be interred in the Dormitorye 
 of her hufband's family and Relations, 
 tho' it were not much lefs then three 
 hundred miles diftance from the place 
 where fhe was borne and bred, that 
 foe her afhes might hereafter be min- 
 gPd with his whome foe intirely fhe 
 loved ; and which, after her Corps had 
 been embalm'd and wrapt in Lead, was 
 (as your Ladyfhipp knows) as religi- 
 oufly perform'd, decently and with 
 much honour, but without pomp or 
 oftentation, on the 16 th day of Sep- 
 tember, 1678, in the Church of Bre- 
 ague, in the parifh of Godolphin, in 
 Cornwall, of which that family have 
 
 been 
 
 G G 
 
 225 
 
226 
 
 The Life of 
 
 been Lords and of illuftrious name both 
 before and fince the Conqueft ; and 
 where, being alive, fhe had often in my 
 hearing exprerTed fuch a longing defire 
 to have paffed the reft of her dayes, 
 that, being remote from the noife of 
 Cittyes, Courts, and the fubjecting Im- 
 pertinences attending them, fhe might 
 intirely vacate [to] the fervice of God : not 
 but that wherever me lived fhe did it as 
 much as ever any bleffed Creature did, 
 but becaufe fhe fan eyed fhe fhould doe 
 it better there, which was impoflible. 
 
 Here then let us leave our Saint at 
 reft, but our felves at none, till by fol- 
 lowing her example wee arrive at that 
 blefTed repofe whether fhe is gone be- 
 fore. 
 
 For thou (deare Souk) to Heavens fledd. 
 Haft all the vertues with thee, thither 
 Wee here fee thee no more, [ledd, 
 Thou to that bright and glorious place 
 
 Art 
 
Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 Art runn, haft won the Race : 
 A Crowne of Rayes, 
 And never fadeing Bayes, 
 Such as on Heaven's Parnaffus grows, 
 
 Deck thyne Angelick Brows ; 
 A Robe of Righteoufnefs about thee caft. 
 Bathed in Celeftiall Blifs, thou there doft 
 toft 
 Pleafures att God's right hand, 
 Pleafures that ever loft, 
 And greater then, wee here can vnder- 
 
 ftand, 
 Butt are for fuch as ferve him beft re- 
 ferv 9 d in ft ore. 
 
 2. 
 
 How long, Lord, ah ! how long 
 
 Wate wee below ! 
 Our foden feete ftick in the Clay, 
 Wee thro 9 the bo dye's Dungeon fee no day. 
 
 Sorrows on for rows throng, 
 Friendfhipps {the fouls of life) and 
 
 frends depart 
 To other worlds, and new Relations know. 
 
 Ah! 
 
 227 
 
228 
 
 The Life of 
 
 
 Ah ! thou who art 
 
 
 The ftarry orbs above 
 
 
 EJfentiall love y 
 
 
 Reach forth thy gratious hand. 
 
 
 And fend me wings for flighty 
 
 
 Sett me vpon that holy Land, 
 
 
 bring me to the happy fhoare 
 
 
 Where no dark night 
 
 
 Obfcure the day, where all is light ; 
 
 
 A Citty there not made with hands 
 
 
 Within the blifsfull Region ft an ds> 
 
 
 Where wee in every ftreete 
 
 
 Our dear eft friends againe fhall meete, 
 
 
 And friendfhipps more refirfd andfweete 3 
 
 
 And never loofe them more. 
 
 
 Amen. 
 
 
 Finis. 
 
 
 Epitaph. 
 
Mrs. Godolphin, 
 
 Epitaph. 
 
 In Margaritam Epitaphium. 
 
 Here lyes a pearle none fuch the ocean 
 
 yields 
 In all the Treafures of his liquid fields ; 
 Butt fuch as that wife Merchant wifely 
 
 fought 
 Who the bright Gemm with all hisfub- 
 
 ftance bought. 
 Such to Jerufalem above tranflates 
 Our God, fadorne the Entrance of her 
 
 gates. 
 'The Spoufe with fuch Embrodery does 
 
 come 
 To meete her Nuptialls the Celeftiall 
 
 Groome, 
 
 On the copper plate fbthered 
 on the Coffinn. 
 
 229 
 
Notes- 
 
 page I. 
 
 ADT STLVIUS. Anne, daughter 
 
 of William Howard, fourth fon of 
 
 Thomas, firft Earl of Berkfhire, and 
 
 wife of Sir Gabriel Sylvius. See 
 
 Table IV. 
 
 P. 5. " An ancient Stiff olke family" See 
 Table I. and the note attached to it. 
 
 P. 6. " Mrs. Blagge." See the fame table. 
 P. 7. " Bijhop of Ely. 99 Dr. Peter Gun- 
 ning, Bifhop of Chichefter in 1669, Bifhop of 
 Ely in 1 674, who " can do nothing but what is 
 well." — Diary, Feb. 23, 1673. 
 
 P. 8. " Old Ducbefs of Richmond:' Mary 
 Villiers, lifter of George, fecond Duke of Buck- 
 ingham, and widow of James Stuart, third Duke 
 of Richmond. See Table III. 
 
 P. 8. "late Countefs of Guilford:' Eliza- 
 beth Fielding, coufm of the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham 
 
2 3 
 
 Notes, 
 
 ham and of the Duchefs of Richmond. See 
 Table III. 
 
 P. 8. " Groom of the Stoo/e," (Cuftos Stoke.) 
 The Countefs of Guilford was fucceeded, as 
 "groom of the ftole" to Henrietta Maria, by 
 Lady Arlington (Ifabella de NafTau, who after- 
 wards married Henry Fitzroy, firft Duke of Graf- 
 ton). At a later period, in 1704, the Duchefs of 
 Marlborough was appointed " Groom of the 
 Stole" to Queen Anne, but the title of her office 
 was changed to " Miftrefs of the Robes." Eliza- 
 beth, the heirefs of the great houfe of Percy and 
 wife of Charles, (the proud) Duke of Somerfet, 
 was made " Groom of the Stole " in 1 7 1 o. Since 
 the acceffion of the Houfe of Hanover, the title 
 of " Groom of the Stole," has been given, I be- 
 lieve, exclufively, to the principal noble attendant 
 on the perfon of the King, and now, of the Prince 
 Confort. In p. 103 Lord Rochefter is called 
 Mailer of the Robes, and Godolphin himfelf was 
 appointed to that office in July 1678. In fome 
 French memoirs the title has been fpelled "Grum- 
 ftul," and a lingular perverfion of its meaning may 
 be feen in the Memoirs of the Comte de Brienne. 
 
 P. 8. " the late Queen's mother" An error 
 for Queen-mother : viz. Henrietta Maria, who 
 died Aug. 10. 1669. 
 
 P. 9. "the then Duchefs of York." Anne 
 Hyde, daughter of the Lord Chancellor Claren- 
 don, 
 
Notes, 
 
 don, and firfl wife of James, Duke of York, after- 
 wards James II. 
 
 P. 1 1 . " //'// the Ducbefs died" March 3 1, 
 1 671. 
 
 P. 12. " My Lady Falmouth:' Elizabeth 
 (or Mary?) Bagot, daughter of Hervey Bagot, 
 who had been one of the maids of honour to the 
 Duchefs of York, and who was at this time the 
 widow of Charles Berkeley, firft Vifcount Fitz- 
 hardinge and Earl of Falmouth, killed in the fea- 
 fight with the Dutch, June 3, 1665. Pepys calls 
 her, in 1666, " a pretty woman; fhe was now 
 in her fecond or third mourning, and pretty plea- 
 fant in her looks." In July 1667, he fays that 
 fhe was about to marry young Jermyn : fhe how- 
 ever married, for her fecond hufband, Charles 
 Sackville, Earl (afterwards created Duke) of Dor- 
 fet. See Table II. 
 
 P. 21. " Some play to be acled by the maids 
 of honour" See an account of what took place 
 on Dec. 15, 1674. 
 
 P. 21. s( Ducbefs of Monmouth " The Lady 
 Anne Scot, daughter and fole heir of Francis, 
 Earl of Buccleuch, wife of James, Duke of Mon- 
 mouth, who was beheaded July 15, 1685. 
 
 P. 22. " That of Micba," rather Malachi 
 iii. 17. 
 
 P. 27. " Our family es being neare to one an- 
 other" The family feat of the Evelyns was at 
 
 Wotton, 
 
 2 33 
 
 H H 
 
234 
 
 Notes. 
 
 Wotton, in Surrey, where Evelyn often vifited, 
 although he did not refide there till May 1694. 
 Afhted, near Epfom, belonged to Sir Robert 
 Howard, uncle to Lady Sylvius : Deepden, now 
 Mr. Hope's, belonged to Mr. Charles Howard, 
 anceftor of the prefent Duke of Norfolk : and 
 Albury, now Mr. Drummond's, was the refidence 
 of Henry Howard, afterwards Duke of Norfolk. 
 All thefe places are at fhort diftances from each 
 other. 
 
 P. 27. " Your mother and Jifler" Mrs. Wil- 
 liam Howard, [Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Dun- 
 das] and Dorothy Howard, afterwards Mrs. 
 Graham. See Table IV. 
 
 P. 30. " Your fifter y then maid of honour" 
 See the laft note. 
 
 P. 34. " Paulina and Euftochius" See p. 
 62, and all the accounts of St. Jerome. 
 
 P. 48. " Att Whitehall, whither fie came 
 from St. fames" to the Queen's fervice, after the 
 death of the Duchefs of York in 1671. 
 
 P. 52. "Mr. G dolphin fent abroad" In 
 1668 he accompanied his brother Sir William on 
 a mimon to Spain. 
 
 P. 56. " At Berkley houfe." The fplendid 
 manfion built by Sir John Berkeley of Bruton, 
 created Lord Berkeley of Stratton, at Hay Hill 
 Farm, in the parifh of St. James. The names 
 and titles are ftill preferved in fohn Street, Berke- 
 ley 
 
Notes. 
 
 ley Square and Street, Bruton Street, Stratton 
 Street, Hay Street, Hill Street and alfo Hay- 
 bill, Farm Street, and Charles Street, after Lord 
 Berkeley's brother, Charles, Earl of Falmouth. 
 Part of the gardens are frill preferved in thofe at- 
 tached to Devonfliire Houfe and Lanfdowne (ori- 
 ginally Bute) Houfe. Some idea of their extent 
 may be formed from this enumeration. A de- 
 fcription of Berkeley Houfe is given by Evelyn 
 in his Diary, Sept. 25, 1672 : no view of it is 
 known to exift. Pennant, whofe error is copied 
 by many others, ftrangely attributes the building 
 of this houfe to the family of the Earls of Berke- 
 ley : of courfe the fcandalous anecdote introduced 
 by him is equally out of place with his more 
 fober narrative that Chriftian, Countefs of Devon- 
 fhire, lived " in the antient houfe — on the fite of 
 Berkeley Houfe, where fhe received Waller and 
 Denham, and where fhe died in 1674," (Jan. 16, 
 1674-5). Now John, Lord Berkeley of Stratton, 
 the builder of Berkeley Houfe, did not die till the 
 year 1678, and, after his death, his widow con- 
 tinued to refide there; for in 1684, Evelyn was 
 confulted by Lady Berkeley of Stratton as to the 
 propriety of building two ftreets in Berkeley Gar- 
 dens, " referving the houfe and as much of the 
 gardens as the breadth of the houfe," apparently 
 Berkeley Street and Stratton Street. After the 
 death of Lady Berkeley, the manfion was inha- 
 bited 
 
 2 35 
 
236 
 
 Notes. 
 
 bited by the Princefs (afterwards Queen) Anne 
 until Jan. 1695. 
 
 The old town houfe of the Earls of Devon- 
 fhire was not in Piccadilly, but in Bifhopfgate, 
 where Devonfhire Square now Hands; William, 
 the fecond earl, died there in 1628. His widow, 
 Chriftian, the loyal and exemplary Countefs of 
 Devonfhire, did not refide in London, fhe lived 
 and died at Roehampton in Surrey, in the houfe 
 which had been inhabited by Wefton, Earl of 
 Portland, and now belongs to Mr. Robert Gof- 
 ling the banker. It was at Roehampton, not in 
 Piccadilly, that fhe received Waller and Denham. 
 Her fon William, the third earl, died in the fame 
 houfe in Nov. 1684. His fon William, the 
 fourth Earl (afterwards created Duke) of De- 
 vonfhire, having, at firft, no town houfe, rented 
 and lived in Montague Houfe (the Britifh Mu- 
 feum in Great Ruffell Street), which was burned 
 down during his occupation of it in Jan. 1686. 
 After the acceffion of William III. " the Duke of 
 Devonfhire took it into his head, that could he 
 have the Duchefs of Portfmouth's lodgings (at 
 Whitehall) where there was a fine room for 
 balls, it would give him a very magnificent air." 
 (Duchefs of Marlborough's Defence of her Con- 
 dud, p. 29.) It is probable that the Duke pur- 
 chafed Berkeley Houfe after 1695, and changed 
 its name to Devonfhire Houfe, fmce Bifhop Ken- 
 net 
 
Notes. 
 
 net fays he died Aug. 18, 1707, in te Devonfhire 
 Houfe, Piccadilly." The prefent Devonfhire 
 Houfe, flanding certainly on the fite of Berkeley 
 Houfe, was not built by him, but by his grandfon, 
 the third duke, fome time after the year 1730. To 
 this houfe and to its builder applies the epigram 
 compofed by Horace (afterwards Lord Walpole 
 of Wolterton), brother of Sir Robert Walpole, 
 who, calling one day at Devonfhire Houfe, which 
 was juft finifhed, and not finding the Duke at 
 home, left this epigram upon the table, 
 
 " Ut dominus, domus eft ; non extra fulta columnis 
 Marmoreis fplendet j quod tenet, intus habet." 
 
 Sir John Denham, whofe name being affociated 
 with that of the Countefs of Devonfhire perhaps 
 mifled Pennant, had a houfe and gardens in Pic- 
 cadilly, where Burlington Houfe now Hands, ad- 
 joining to which Hood Lord Clarendon's famous 
 manfion, afterwards the Duke of Albemarle's, the 
 fite of the prefent Albemarle Street, Dover Street, 
 and Bond Street. The three manfions thus named, 
 viz. Sir John Denham's, Albemarle Houfe, and 
 Berkeley Houfe, occupied nearly the whole of the 
 north of Piccadilly : the ground to the weft of 
 Berkeley Houfe was divided into fix fields, known 
 as " Pennilefs Bank," " Little Brook-field," 
 " Stone Bridge- field," " Great Brook- field," 
 " Mr. Audley's land," and " Shoulder of Mut- 
 ton Field." To the north, Berkeley Gardens 
 
 237 
 
2 3 8 
 
 Notes. 
 
 were bounded by the land "where graze the 
 cows" of Alexander Davies, of Ebury, in Pim- 
 lico, whofe daughter and heir, Mary, married Sir 
 Thomas Grofvenor in 1676, and whofe name is 
 preferved in " Davies Street." 
 
 George, Lord Berkeley, of Berkeley, afterwards 
 Earl of Berkeley, lived at another Berkeley Houfe, 
 in the pariih of St. John's, Clerkenwell, on the 
 lite of the prefent Berkeley Street, which leads 
 from St. John's Lane to Red Lion Street. His 
 family had lived there for feveral generations, his 
 father died there Aug. 1658, his third fon James 
 was baptized there, 1 June 1663, and from the 
 fame houfe he writes on Feb. 23, 1678, to Pepys, 
 who on the previous day acknowledges a letter 
 from his lordfhip " at St. John's'" (Correfpond- 
 ence,vol. v. pp. 42 — 45). In Clerkenwell alfo, in 
 1 68 1 , Lord Berkeley received a deputation (headed 
 by Tillotfon, then Dean of Canterbury) from Sion 
 College, to which he had prefented the library 
 collected by Sir Robert Coke, fon of Lord Chief 
 Juftice Coke. From the Coke family Lord Berke- 
 ley inherited Durdans, near Epfom, mentioned as 
 his refidence both by Evelyn and Pepys. Clerk- 
 enwell has long fince ceafed to be a fafhionable 
 neighbourhood, but in the feventeenth century it 
 pofTefTed the manfions of the Earls of Aylefbury, 
 Berkeley, and Northampton, the Duke of New- 
 caftle, the Challoner family, &c. : Bifhop Burnet 
 
 and 
 
Notes. 
 
 239 
 
 and many others attached to the court alio refided 
 there. The ftreets are many of them named after 
 their former owners or inhabitants. The Mar- 
 quis of Northampton ftill retains vaft property in 
 Clerkenwell and Illington. 
 
 P. 60. " The mother of the maids" Lady 
 Sanderfon, wife of Sir William Sanderfon. 
 
 P. 61. « My Lady." Lady Berkeley (fee 
 Table II.) was Chriftiana, daughter of Sir Andrew 
 Riccard, Knight; and widow of Henry Rich, 
 Lord Keniington, only fon of Robert Rich, fecond 
 Earl of Holland and fifth Earl of Warwick, by 
 Elizabeth Ingram, his firft wife. Sir Andrew 
 Riccard was one of London's richeft merchant- 
 princes : he was Prefident of the Eaft India Com- 
 pany, and in that capacity figures in the great cafe 
 of monopolies, Skinner v. E.I. Company. A 
 marble ftatue, erected to his honour by the Tur- 
 key Company, of which he was prefident for 
 eighteen years, ftill exifts on his monument in the 
 Church of St. Olave, Hart Street. He was 
 knighted July 10, 1668, and died Sept. 6, 1672, 
 aged 68. 
 
 P. 61. " Your two fifters" Apparently an 
 error for " you two fillers." See Table IV. 
 
 P. 67. " Her fifter, the Lady Tarborough." 
 See Table I. It may fumce here to ftate that 
 this lady, [Henrietta Maria Blagge] whofe conducT; 
 was not free from blame, has been miitaken by 
 
 fome 
 
240 
 
 Notes. 
 
 fome editors of Grammont and by Horace Wal- 
 pole for the fubjeft of this memoir. 
 
 P. 67. "The Dean of Hereford:' George 
 Benfon. 
 
 P. 84. "From Twicknam." "Twicken- 
 ham Park, Lord Berkeley's country feat," Diary, 
 March 23, 1676. It was lately the property of 
 Mr. Francis Gofling, the banker. 
 
 P. 93. " Play at Court before their Majef- 
 ties" " Saw a comedie at night at Court, ailed 
 by the ladies only, amongft them Lady Mary and 
 Ann, his Royal Highnefs' two daughters, and my 
 dear friend Mrs. Blagg, who having the principal 
 part, performed it to admiration. They were all 
 covered with jewels," Diary, Dec. 15, 1674. 
 The play was " Califto or the Chafte Nymph," 
 by John Crowne. It was printed in 1675, and 
 a copy is preferved in the library of the Britifh 
 Mufeum. After the title-page is a lift of the per- 
 formers, all of whom however did not bear, at 
 the time of afting the play, the titles which the 
 printed lift gives to them. The lift is as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Califto, a chafte and favourite nymph of Diana, 
 beloved by Jupiter. " Her Highnefs the Lady 
 Mary," a daughter of the Duke of York, and 
 afterwards Queen of England. 
 
 Nyphe, a chafte young nymph, friend to Ca- 
 lifto. " Her Highnefs the Lady Anne," a daugh- 
 ter 
 
Notes. 
 
 ter of the Duke of York, and afterwards Queen 
 of England. 
 
 Jupiter, in love with Califto. "The Lady 
 Henrietta Wentworth," rather Henrietta, Baron- 
 efs Wentworth, which dignity defcended to her 
 on the death, in 1665, of her father, Thomas 
 Wentworth, laft Earl of Cleveland. She is well 
 known from her difgraceful connexion at a later 
 period with the Duke of Monmouth, whom fhe 
 did not long furvive, dying on April 23, 1686. 
 
 Juno. « The Countefs of SufTex." Lady Anne 
 Fitzroy, daughter of Charles II. by the Duchefs 
 of Cleveland and wife of Thomas, Lord Dacre and 
 Earl of SufTex. 
 
 Pfecas, an envious nymph, enemy to Califto, 
 beloved by Mercury. " The Lady Mary Mor- 
 dant," daughter and heir of Henry, fecond Earl 
 of Peterborough : me married in 1677, Henry, 
 feventh Duke of Norfolk, from whom fhe was 
 divorced in April 1700. She afterwards married 
 Sir John Germaine, to whom fhe left a great part 
 of the Peterborough eftates. 
 
 Diana, goddefs of Chaftity. "Mrs. Blagge, 
 late maid of honour to the Queen." Mrs. Go- 
 dolphin. 
 
 Mercury, in love with Pfecas. " Mrs. Jen- 
 nings, maid of honour to the Duchefs." Sarah 
 Jennings, afterwards married to John Churchill, 
 the great Duke of Marlborough. 
 
 The 
 
 24I 
 
242 
 
 Notes. 
 
 The " Nymphs attending on Diana, who alfo 
 danced in the Prologue, and in feveral Entries in 
 the Play," were 
 
 " The Countefs of Darby." Dorothea Helena, 
 daughter of John Poliander de Kirkhoven, by 
 Catharine, Countefs of Chefterfield, daughter of 
 Thomas, fecond Lord Wotton. The Countefs 
 was widow of Charles Stanley, eighth Earl of 
 Derby, who had died Dec. 21, 1672. 
 
 " The Countefs of Pembroke." Henriette de 
 Querouaille (filler to the Duchefs of Portfmouth), 
 wife of Philip Herbert, feventh Earl of Pembroke. 
 Bifhop Kennett fpells the name Carewell. 
 
 "The Lady Katharine Herbert." Sifter-in- 
 law to the preceding, being daughter of Philip, 
 fifth Earl of Pembroke, by Katharine, daughter 
 of Sir William Villiers of Brooke/by. 
 
 " Mrs. Fitz-Gerald." Probably Katharine 
 (daughter of John Fitz Gerald of Dromana), who 
 married in 1677, Edward Villiers, eldefr. fon of 
 George, fourth Vifcount Grandifon. 
 
 " Mrs. Frazier, maid of honour to the Queen." 
 
 The " men that danced" were 
 
 " His Grace the Duke of Monmouth." 
 
 "The Vifcount Dunblaine." Edward Of- 
 borne, Lord Latimer, one of the Gentlemen of 
 the Bedchamber to Charles II.,eldeft fon of Tho- 
 mas, Earl of Danby (afterwards created Marquis 
 of Carmarthen and Duke of Leeds). After the 
 
 reprefentation, 
 
Notes. 
 
 reprefentation, but before the publication of the 
 piece, the Earl of Danby was created Vifcount 
 Dunblaine in Scotland, which dignity was af- 
 fumed as a title of courte fy by his fon, Lord Lati- 
 mer. By Table I. it will be feen that the prefent 
 Duke of Leeds is the lineal reprefentative of Mrs. 
 Godolphin. 
 
 " The Lord Daincourt." Robert Leake, eld- 
 eft fon of Nicolas, fecond Earl of Scarfdale, whom 
 he afterwards fucceeded in that title. 
 
 " Mrs. Moon." 
 
 " Mr. Harpe." 
 
 " Mr. Lane." 
 Neither in this lift, nor amongft the names given in 
 the Diary, is the name of the Duchefs of Mon- 
 mouth, whom Evelyn here mentions as one of 
 " the fhineing beautyes" who performed. It is pro- 
 bable that Evelyn's Diary written at the time, cor- 
 roborated as it is by the publifhed lift, is the more 
 correct on this point. The Duchefs of Mon- 
 mouth too had fome years before met with a fe- 
 vere accident whilft dancing, which caufed an in- 
 curable lamenefs. See Pepys'Diary, Sept. 20, 1668. 
 
 P. 100. " The Countefs of Suffolk." " Was 
 at the repetition of the paftoral, on which occa- 
 fion Mrs. Blagg had about her neere 20,000/. 
 worth of Jewells, of which fhe loft one, worth 
 about 80/., borrow'd of the Countefs of Suffolk. 
 The prefs was fo greate, that 'tis a wonder fhe loft 
 
 243 
 
244 
 
 Notes. 
 
 no more. The Duke made it good." Diary, Dec. 
 22, 1674. The Countefs of Suffolk was Barbara, 
 daughter of Sir Edward Villiers, (fee Table III.) 
 widow of Sir Richard Wentworth, and fecond 
 wife of James Howard, third Earl of Suffolk. She 
 died in 1681. 
 
 P. 1 03 . " The mafier of the Robes* now Earle 
 of ' Roche ft er." Laurence Hyde (fecond fon of 
 the Chancellor Clarendon) created Earl of Ro- 
 chefter at the end of 1682, a fact which proves 
 that Evelyn did not write this life until fome 
 years after Mrs. Godolphin's death. 
 
 P. 103. " Dr. Lake" John Lake, after- 
 wards Bifhop of Chichefter. 
 
 P. 107. «« My lady Hamilton." " A fprightly 
 young lady, much in the good graces of the 
 [Berkeley] family, wife of that valiant and worthy 
 gentleman George Hamilton, not long after flain 
 in the wars. She had been a maid of honour to 
 the Duchefs and now turned Papift." Diary, 12 
 Nov. 1675. This was Frances Jennings (elder 
 filler of Sarah, Duchefs of Marlborough) widow 
 of Sir George Hamilton, grandfon of James, firft 
 Earl of Abercorn, and brother of Count Anthony 
 Hamilton, author of the Memoires de Grammont. 
 Lady Hamilton afterwards married Richard Tal- 
 bot, created Duke of Tyrconnel, and is well known 
 as the Duchefs of Tyrconnel. After this it is 
 curious to read in Pennant's words, " Above Hairs 
 
 (at 
 
Notes. 
 
 (at the New Exchange in the Strand) fat, in the 
 character of a millener, the reduced Duchefs of 
 Tyrconnel, wife to Richard Talbot, lord deputy 
 of Ireland under James II. a bigoted papift, and 
 fit inftrument of the defigns of the infatuated 
 prince, who had created him Earl before his ab- 
 dication, and after that, Duke of Tyrconnel. A 
 female, fufpe&ed to have been his duchefs, after 
 his death, fupported herfelf for a few days (till 
 fhe was known and otherwife provided for) by 
 the little trade of this place : having delicacy 
 enough not to wifh to be detected, fhe fat in a white 
 mafk, and a white drefs, and was known by the 
 name of the white widow" This ftory, if true, 
 forms a fingular contrail to that which Pepys re- 
 lates of her in his Diary, 21 Feb. 1664-5, " What 
 mad freaks the mayds of honor at court have ! 
 that Mrs. Jenings, one of the DutchefTe's maids, 
 the other day dreffed herfelf like an orange wench, 
 and went up and down and cried oranges ; till 
 falling down, or by fome accident, her fine fhoes 
 were difcerned, and fhe put to a great deal of 
 fhame." The Duchefs of Tyrconnel died in 
 Dublin 7 March, 1730; her hufband died Aug. 
 14, 1 69 1. 
 
 P. 109. " Ambajfador to the Court of France" 
 John, Lord Berkeley, of Stratton, (fee Table II.) 
 left England on this EmbafTy 14 Nov. 1675. 
 Evelyn in his Diary for Oct. and Nov. in 1675, 
 
 245 
 
246 
 
 Notes. 
 
 gives many particulars. If we were to trull to 
 the editor of Evelyn's Diary and to the noble 
 editor of Pepys', the Lord and Lady Berkeley, fo 
 often named as Mrs. Godolphin's warm friends, 
 were George Lord Berkeley, afterwards created 
 Earl of Berkeley, and his wife Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter and co-heir of John Maffingbeard, efq. of Lin- 
 colnfhire, and in the abfence of all connexion 
 between them and the families of Blagge and Go- 
 dolphin there would be great difficulty in mowing 
 any probable caufe for the friendship, not to call 
 it patronage, which Mrs. Godolphin and her huf- 
 band received. The editors of Evelyn and Pepys 
 have unfortunately fallen into the error, which I 
 have pointed out as having been committed before 
 them by Pennant, of confounding the two Lords 
 Berkeley, if not the two " Berkeley-houfes." 
 
 Lord Berkeley of Stratton originally known 
 as Sir John Berkeley, and in the fervice of Charles 
 I. at the fame time with Colonel Blagge, Mrs. 
 Godolphin's father, was concerned with John 
 Afhburnham and Colonel Legge in the flight of 
 Charles I. from Hampton Court to the Ifle of 
 Wight, a vexed point of hiflory, on which Lord 
 Clarendon's misftatements have been well cor- 
 rected by the late Earl of Afhburnham. During 
 the exile of the royal family he became the 
 favourite of James, Duke of York, whofe fa- 
 vour he never loft ; although he was reprefented 
 
 to 
 
Notes. 247 
 
 to Charles as the fecret agent of the Court of 
 France, and as the known enemy of the Chan- 
 cellor Clarendon and his party. The Chancellor's 
 enmity Berkeley fhared alike with Afhburnham 
 and Legge, the firft however obtained his peerage 
 in 1658, as the price of James' return to his bro- 
 ther Charles ; the others, although high in favour 
 with Charles II. were ennobled in the perfons of 
 their defcendants. Clarendon makes the enmity 
 between himfelf and Berkeley to arife from his 
 oppoiition to Berkeley's claim to the mafterfhip of 
 the Court of Wards : James II. in his Memoirs, 
 from Clarendon's advice to Lady Morton to reject 
 Berkeley's propofals of marriage. Lady Morton, 
 one of the brighteft ornaments of " the beautiful 
 race of Villiers," was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir 
 Edward Villiers, niece of the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham, and widow of Robert Douglas, 8 th Earl of 
 Morton, who died in 1649. Whilft Lady Dal- 
 keith, and during the Hay of Charles the Firft's 
 family at Exeter, fhe had had the charge of the 
 Princefs Henrietta, afterwards Duchefs of Or- 
 leans, and to her Fuller infcribes his " Good 
 Thoughts in Bad Times." Her noble refcue of 
 her royal ward, whom fhe carried on her back to 
 Dover, in the difguife of a beggar and her child, 
 is well known. Lady Morton died in 1654. 
 Befides enjoying the perfonal favour of the Duke 
 of York, Berkeley was a near kinfman of the in- 
 fluential 
 
248 
 
 Notes. 
 
 fluential Harry Jermyn, Earl of St. Alban's, who, 
 as we fee by the table of the Blagge family, was 
 alfo a relative of Mrs. Godolphin : the clofe con- 
 nexion of the Berkeley and Godolphin families 
 fully accounts for the long and intimate friendfhip 
 which exifted between them. 
 
 After the Reftoration Berkeley's rife was rapid, 
 and his employments numerous. In 1 660 he was 
 appointed a commiffioner of the Admiralty, in 
 June 1662 a privy counfellor for Ireland, and 
 foon afterwards Lord Prefident of Connaught. 
 In 1664 he was made a mafter of the ordnance, 
 and in 1665 a commiffioner of Tangier. Allthefe 
 offices he held at the fame time, and fo early as 
 1663, Pepys fays that Lord Berkeley boafted of 
 having gained £50,000 in the navy alone. This 
 fum appears fo great that I fufpecl: fome error in 
 the tranfcription of Pepys* Diary. If it be true, 
 there can be no wonder that, in 1665, we read of 
 Berkeley's beginning a houfe at St. James', next 
 to the Lord Chancellor's, nor at Evelyn's men- 
 tioning, in 1672, that it had coft £30,000. He 
 had alfo more indirect ways of obtaining money 
 through his influence with the Duke of York, as 
 Pepys mentions in 1668. In April 1670 Lord 
 Berkeley was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ire- 
 land, where he remained till Auguft 1672. In 
 October 1674, he was named to the embafly to 
 France, in which he was accompanied by Mrs. 
 
 Godolphin 
 
Notes. 
 
 Godolphin and by Evelyn's Ton. From this em- 
 baffy he returned in June 1677, and in the fol- 
 lowing year he died. 
 
 As Evelyn and Pepys' Diaries may be con- 
 fulted, I add the following corrected index to the 
 places where Lord Berkeley of Stratton is meant, 
 (8vo. editions). Evelyn ii. 255. 260. 373-375. 
 398.413.417. 421.425. iii.90. 117. I77-338. 
 Pepys i. 115. 121. 122. 163. 282. ; ii. 21. 10 1. 
 132. 141. 173. 224. 238. 249, 250. 256. 346. 
 423.; iii. 167. 183. 228. 236. 386. 395.; iv. 
 62. 1 74. 181. The other places relate to George, 
 Lord Berkeley, of Berkeley, afterwards Earl of 
 Berkeley, viz. Evelyn, vol. ii. 136. 140. 147. 
 198.214.385.; vol. iii. 67. Pepys, vol. i. 39. 
 95. 305.; vol. ii. 80.; vol. iii. 87. 230. 291. 
 vol. v. 42-45. 
 
 P. 120. "Nothing like Pinto's Travels." 
 The name of Fernam Mendez Pinto will ever 
 remain affociated with falfehood and exaggeration. 
 He lived in the 16th century, but his travels 
 were not tranflated into Englifh until 1663, 
 whence probably Mrs. Godolphin's acquaintance 
 with them. Congreve's well known lines, almoft 
 become proverbial, (and which it is impoffible to 
 quote without remembering their witty applica- 
 tion by theprefent Bifhop of Llandaff,) 
 
 " Fernam Mendez Pinto was but a type of thee, 
 Thou liar of the firfb magnitude ! " 
 
 Love for Love, Adl ii. Sc. 5. 
 
 were 
 K K 
 
 249 
 
2 5° 
 
 Notes. 
 
 were not written until after Mrs. Godolphin's 
 death. Claude's Defence de la Reformation, 
 written in reply to the Janfenift Nicole, was firft 
 publifhed in 1673, fo that at the time of Mrs. 
 Godolphin's vifit to Paris, the book muft have 
 had the additional charm of novelty. 
 
 P. 121. " That baile of theirs." Perhaps 
 for bale, forrow, or deftruftion. 
 
 P. 121. " My charge your Jon." "\ fet- 
 tled affaires, my fonn being to go into France, 
 with my Lord Berkeley, defigned ambafTador ex- 
 traordinary for France, and plenipotentiary for the 
 general peace of Nimeguen." Diary, 15 Oft. 
 1675. This fon was John Evelyn, great-grand- 
 father of the prefent Archbiihop of York. At 
 this time he was about nineteen years of age. 
 
 P. 122. "My Lady H." Lady Hamilton, 
 fee p. 107. 
 
 P. 125. "Mr. Bernard Greenvile," of Abf- 
 Court at Walton on Thames in Surrey, fi an old 
 houfe in a pretty parke." Diary, 17 Sept. 1673. 
 In Auguft 1672, Bernard Grenville had been 
 fent on a miffion to Savoy, and it was probably on 
 his return from this miffion that he efcorted Mrs. 
 Godolphin to England. He was the fecond fon 
 of Sir Beville Grenville, killed at Lanfdowne 
 fight, whofe eldeft fon, Sir John Grenville, the 
 bearer of Charles II. 's meffages to the Lords and 
 Commons, was created Vifcount Lanfdowne and 
 
 Earl 
 
Notes. 
 
 Earl of Bath. After the death, without ifTue, of 
 William, grandfon of the firft Earl of Bath ; 
 George, fecond fon of Bernard Grenville, was 
 created Lord Lanfdowne in 1 7 1 1 . He is well 
 known from his poetical talents. 
 
 P. 126. tc Dr. Warnetfs in Covent Garden, 
 wbofe wife was her near relation" Of this re- 
 lationfhip I find no trace. 
 
 P. 129. " Leafe Jbe had of certain e lands in 
 Spalding" See Diary of 9 Nov. 1676. « Fi- 
 nifhed the leafe of Spalding for Mr. Godolphin." 
 
 P. 130. C( Her pretty habitation in Scotland 
 Yard" " To London, to take order about the 
 building of an houfe, or rather an apartment 
 which had all the conveniences of an houfe, for 
 my deare friend Mr. Godolphin and lady, which 
 I undertook to contrive and furvey, and employ 
 workmen, till it mould be quite finifhed, it be- 
 ing juft over againft his majefties wood yard by 
 the Thames fide, leading to Scotland Yard." 
 Diary, 12 Sept. 1676. 
 
 P. 136. " The piclure Jbe fome years fince 
 b eft owed upon me." See preface, and the portrait 
 prefixed to this volume. 
 
 P. 137. "My lady V if count efs Mordant." 
 Elizabeth Carey, daughter and fole heir of Tho- 
 mas, fecond fon of Robert, Earl of Monmouth, 
 wife of John, Vifcount Mordaunt of Avalon, 
 eldeft fon of John, Earl of Peterborough. 
 
 P- 137- 
 
 z 5 l 
 
2 5 2 
 
 Notes. 
 
 P. 137. " Your lady/hip and fifter Gr"{aham). 
 Dorothy Howard, wife of Colonel James Gra- 
 ham of Levens. See Table IV. 
 
 P. 138. "Mr. AJhmoles att Lambath." This 
 viflt was on the 23 rd of July, and on the fame 
 day, " Mr. Godolphin was made matter of the 
 robes to the King." On the 25 July, Evelyn 
 adds, " there was fent to me £70 from whom I 
 knew not, to be by me diftributed among poore 
 people : I afterwards found it was from that 
 deere friend (Mrs. Godolphin) who had fre- 
 quently given me large fums to bellow on cha- 
 rities." It is fcarcely neceifary to fay that the 
 mufeum called " Mr. Afhmole's att Lambath" 
 is now the Ammolean at Oxford. Of the MSS. 
 which Evelyn mentions in his Diary, a catalogue 
 has recently been printed by the Univerlity. 
 
 P. 143. " Mr. Harvye, treafurer.to her Ma- 
 jeftye." John Hervey, eldeft fon of Sir William 
 Hervey of Ickworth ; he was a great favourite 
 with Charles II. a leading man in Parliament, 
 and a patron of letters : he died 18 Jan. 1679. 
 
 P. 146. " Dr. Needham." Diary, Nov. 4, 
 1679. " Went to the funerall of my pious, 
 dear and ancient learned friend, Dr. Jafper Need- 
 ham, who was buried at St. Bride's Church. He 
 was a true and holy Chriftian, and one who 
 loved me with greate affection." 
 
 P. 146. "Dr. Short." Dr. Peregrine Short, 
 
 " reputed 
 
Notes. 
 
 " reputed a papift, but who was in truth, a very 
 honeft good Chriftian," and by whofe advice 
 Charles II. had firft taken the Jefuits back. 
 Diary, 29 Nov. 1694. 
 
 P. 152. " Mrs. Bofcawen^ her filter in law, 
 fee Tables I. and V. 
 
 2 53 
 
 TABLE I. 
 
254 
 
 Notes. 
 
 TABLE I. 
 
 PEDIGREE OF BLAGGE AND GODOLPHIN, 
 
 Arg. 2 bends engrailed, 
 gu. for BLAGGE. 
 
 Cecily, (second wife) dau. : 
 of Sir John Brooke, Lord 
 Cobham, by Margaret, dau. 
 of Edward Neville, Lord 
 Abergavenny. She married 
 also John Barret, and, third- 
 ly, Sir Richard Walden, 
 Knt. She died 35 Hen. VIII. 
 
 Robert Blagge, or— Katherine, (firs, n 
 wife), dau. and hi 
 of Thos. Brune , 
 or Browne of 
 
 Horseman's 
 Place, in Dart 
 ford, co. Kent. 
 
 Blague, or Blage 
 of Broke Montague, 
 co. Somerset, and 
 Cleyndon,in Darent, 
 co. Kent. Baron of 
 the Exchequer, 27 
 June, 1511, d. 13 Sept. 
 1522. 
 
 Anne, {first; 
 wife) dau. of 
 Sir George 
 Hevening- 
 
 liam. 
 
 :Sir Ambrose— Dorothy, (second wife) dau.= 
 Jermyn, of of William Badbye, widow 
 Rushbrook, of Richard Goodriche. In 
 co. Suffolk, 1563, she had a lease from 
 d. 1577. Eliz. of the manor of Stan- 
 
 more, co. Middlesex, d. Apr. 
 1594. 
 
 I 
 : Sir George 
 
 Blagge, 
 Knt. b. 1512, 
 d. 1551. See 
 note A. 
 
 Barnaby 
 Blagge, who 
 in33Hen.VIII. 
 
 sold Horse- 
 man's Place, 
 ob. s. p. 
 
 John 
 Blag 
 
 GE, Ob 
 
 s. p. 
 
 Sir Robert — Judith 
 
 JERMYN, OfTBLAGGE, 
 
 Rushbrook, d. Oct. 
 d. 19 April, 1614. 
 1614. 
 
 Henry Blagge, of Homings— =Hesther 
 
 herth, co. Suffolk, who sold 
 Cleyndon,24 Eliz. d. Apr. 1596. 
 
 Susan, who mar- 
 ried Sir William 
 Hervey, ancestor 
 of the Marquess 
 of Bristol. 
 
 1 
 
 Sir Thomas = 
 Jermyn, of I 
 Rushbrooke, I 
 living 1622. I 
 
 Jermyn, 
 
 m.8 0ct. 
 
 1571. 
 
 Charles Le=Hesthei i 
 Grise, of Blagge j. 
 
 Brockdish. 
 
 m. 25 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Marga-=Ambrose Blagge,— JWartha Barber, Doro 
 
 ret | ofHorningsherth, ~of Bury, first wife, thy 
 
 Clarke. | d. 1662. m. 31 Mar. 1608, Blag 
 
 d. Aug. 1624. ge. 
 
 Five children. 
 
 Thomas Jer- Henry Jer- 
 myn, whose myn, creat- 
 son, Tho- ed Lord Jer- 
 mas, sue- myn in 1684, 
 ceeded as with limita- 
 second Lord tion to his 
 
 Colonel Thomas Blagge, of==MARY North 
 
 Horningsherth, Groom of the 
 Bedchamber to Charles I. and 
 Governor of Wallingford, which 
 surrendered to Fairfax in 1646. 
 After the restoration he was co- 
 Jermyn, but brother, ere- lonel of a regiment and Gov- 
 
 died s. p. 
 1703. 
 
 in ated Earl of ernor of Yarmouth and Land 
 
 St. Albans guard Fort, d. 14 Nov. 1660, bur. 
 
 1660. Died at Westminster, where a monu- 
 
 s. p. 16S3. ment to him formerly existed. 
 
 Sir Tho-— Henrietta 
 
 dau. of Sir Ro- 
 ger North, of 
 
 Mildenhall, 
 by Elizabeth, 
 
 dau. of Sir 
 John Gilbert, 
 of Great Fin- 
 
 borow, co. 
 Suffolk. 
 
 11 
 
 , George 
 
 i " I I 
 III 
 Martha 
 
 ,: 
 
 Harry 
 Blagge. 
 
 Katha- 
 rine. 
 
 mas Yar- 
 
 BURGH Of 
 
 Snaith, 
 Sheriff of 
 
 Yorksh. 
 
 1676, eet. 
 
 37. 
 
 Mari. 
 Blagge 
 (for whom 
 see Gram- 
 mont's-Me- 
 moirs). 
 
 „ I I 
 
 Dorothy 
 
 Blagge. 
 
 Mary 
 Blagge. 
 
 MARGA-= 
 RET 
 BLAGGE, 
 b. 2 Aug. 
 1652, Maid 
 of Honor 
 to Queen Catharine, 
 m. 16 May, 1675, d. 
 9 Sept. 1678, buried 
 at Breage, co. Corn- 
 wall, 16 Sept. 1678. 
 
 : Sidney Godolphin, 3rd 
 son of Sir Francis Go- 
 dolphin, K. B. A Lord 
 of the Treasury in 1679, 
 and First Lord in 1684. 
 Created Lord Godol- 
 phin, of Rialton,\n Sept. 
 1684. Lord High Trea- 
 surer in 1704, K. G. cre- 
 ated Viscount Rialton, 
 and Earl of Godolphin, 
 29 Dec. 1706. Died 1712. 
 
 I I 
 
 Henry— Mary Jan 
 Godol- 
 phin, 
 Pro- 
 vost of 
 Eton, 
 and 
 Dean 
 of St. 
 Paul's, 
 d. Jan. 
 1733. 
 
 dau. 
 
 Go. 
 
 of 
 
 DOL 
 
 Col. 
 
 PH1H 
 
 Sid- 
 
 m. 
 
 ney 
 
 Edwi 
 
 Go- 
 
 Bos- 
 
 dol- 
 
 ca- 
 
 phin 
 
 wer | 
 
 
 Sw 
 
 
 Tal 
 
 
 V. 
 
I I I I ' I " ■' I ' I '■ 1 I I 
 
 UJ I I J i I I I 
 
 en children, of whom two were 
 laids of honor. The youngest of 
 lese (Alice), was maid of honor 
 ) Queen Anne, dying at Windsor 
 1 1786, set. 97. The other (Henri- 
 ! |tta Maria) married Sir M armaduke 
 tfVyvill, bart.of Constable Burton, 
 Yorkshire. 
 
 Notes. 
 
 Francis Godoi,phin, 2nd: 
 Earl of Godolphin, and 
 Viscount Rialton,b.3 Sept. 
 1678, created in 1735, Lord 
 Godolphin of Helstone, 
 with remainder to the is- 
 sue of his uncle Henry. 
 Died 17 Jan. 1766. 
 
 2 55 
 
 : Henrietta Church- Francis 
 ill, eldest dau. and Godol- 
 co-heirol'John,Duke PHiN,2nd 
 of Marlborough. Du- Lord Go- 
 chess of Marlborough dolphin 0/ 
 in her own right. Helstone. 
 Died 24 Oct. 1733, Ob. s. p. 
 set. 53. 1785. 
 
 | 1. | | 2. 
 
 HOMAS =pHENRI- HENRY THOMAS OS— MARY Go- 
 
 Pelham 
 
 HOLLES, 
 
 )uke of 
 
 «Iewcas- 
 
 K.G. 
 
 ETTA 
 
 Godol- 
 phin, 
 
 m. 2 
 April, 
 1717, d. 
 
 s. p. 
 
 GODOL- 
 THIN, 
 
 died 
 young. 
 
 borne, 4th 
 Duke of 
 Leeds, b. 6 
 Nov. 1713. 
 K.G. d. 23 
 Mar. 1789. 
 
 DOLPHIN, 
 
 m. 26 
 
 June, 
 
 1740, d. 3 
 
 Aug. 1764, 
 
 set. 41. 
 
 William Godolphin, = 
 called Viscount Rial- 
 ton, afterwards Mar- 
 quis of Blandford, ob. 
 s. p. 24 Aug. 1731, 
 whereby the Marlbo- 
 rough titles and es- 
 tates passed to Spen- 
 cer, Earl of Sunder- 
 land. 
 
 :MARY CATERINA 
 
 d'Yonghe, d. of 
 Peter d'Yonghe, 
 of Utrecht, m. 15 
 April, 1729; she 
 remarried, 1st 
 June, 1734, Sir 
 William Wynd- 
 ham, Bart, and 
 d.1779, s. p. Bu- 
 ried at Mortlake. 
 
 'HOMAS OS- 
 
 jorne, Mar- 
 uis of Car- 
 larthen, b. 
 
 Amelia D'Arcy, (first wife) only— Francis Godolphin —Catharine Anguish, 
 
 dau. and h. of Robert, last Earl T Oseorne, 5th Duke 
 of HoldernesSj and Baroness Con- of Leeds, born 29 
 i. yers. remarried in 1779, John Jan. 1751, died 31 
 r47,d.l761. Byron, esq. (father of Lord By- I Jan. 1799. 
 ron) and died in 1781. 
 
 (second wife) m. 1788, 
 
 Mistress of the Robes to 
 
 Queen Adelaide, d. 1837. 
 
 r 
 
 EORGE WlL-: 
 ,1AM FREDE- 
 
 ic Osborne, 
 ith Duke of 
 -eeds, Baron 
 Conyers, b. 
 775, m. 1797, 
 d. 1838. 
 
 zCHARLOTTE 
 TOWNS- 
 
 hend, dau. 
 
 of George, 
 
 1st Marquis 
 
 Towns- 
 
 hend. 
 
 I 
 I 
 Francis Go- 
 dolphin Os- 
 borne, b. 
 1777, m.1800. 
 Created in 
 1832, Lord 
 Godolphin 
 of Farnham 
 Royal. 
 
 :elizabeth 
 Charlotte 
 Eden. dau. 
 of William, 
 1st Lord 
 Auckland. 
 
 Tho = 
 mas 
 Pel- 
 ham, 
 Earl 
 of 
 Chi- 
 ches- 
 ter. 
 
 I I I 
 
 : MaryHen- Sidney Catharine 
 
 rietta Ju- Godol- Anne Mary 
 
 liana Os- phin Osborne, b. 
 
 borne, b. Os- 1798, ni. in 
 
 1776, m. borne, 1819, Capt. 
 
 1801. b. 16 John Whyte 
 
 Dec. Melville. 
 
 RANClS^zLOUISA 
 10DOL- CATHA- 
 PHIN RINE 
 
 )'ARCY Caton. 
 Os- 
 
 orne, 7th Duke 
 Leeds, b. 1798, 
 m. 1828. 
 
 I 
 
 GEORGE: 
 
 Os- 
 borne, 
 b. 1802, 
 m. 1824. 
 
 Stew- 
 art. 
 
 I I 
 
 William = Caroline Sydney— Emi- 
 
 b. 1804, 
 m. first 
 Etiima 
 Smith, 
 in 1832. 
 
 Montagu, Godol- 
 
 (sec. wife) phin 
 
 dau. of Os- 
 
 Lord borne, 
 
 Rokeby, b. 1800, 
 
 m. lt-34. in holy 
 
 orders. 
 
 LY, 
 
 d. of 
 Pas- 
 
 COE 
 G REN- 
 FELL. 
 
 D'Arcy 
 Godol- 
 phin 
 Osborne, 
 b. 1814. 
 
 Char- 
 lotte 
 Os- 
 borne, 
 b. 1805, 
 m. Sir 
 T. H. L. Brinck- 
 man,Bart. d.1838. 
 
 Note A. 
 
256 
 
 Notes. 
 
 Note A. 
 
 IR George Blagge deferves more 
 notice than the mere mention of his 
 name in the preceding table. 
 
 He was born in the year 1512, and 
 was educated at Cambridge. 1 At a comparatively 
 early age he was introduced at the Court of Henry 
 VIII. 2 and in the abfence of other criteria we may 
 judge favourably of him from the characters of his 
 two chief companions and friends, the Earl of Surrey 
 and Sir Thomas Wyat. In October, 1 54.3, when the 
 Imperialifts under the immediate eye of Charles V. 
 aided by the Englifh under the command of Sir 
 John Wallop, formed the liege of Landreci, 3 which 
 Francis I. haftened to relieve in perfon, Surrey 
 with other young nobles, joined the Englifh forces, 
 and was accompanied in his expedition by G. Blagge. 
 Both incurred perfonal danger, and Sir John Wal- 
 lop mentions in a letter to the King a narrow efcape 
 of Blagge 4 in thefe terms. " Yefterday, Blagge, 
 who arrived here with my Lord of Surrey, went 
 with Mr. Carew to fee the faid trench, and efcaped 
 very hardly from a piece of ordnance that was mot 
 towards him." 
 
 1 Works of Surrey and Wyat, by Nott, vol. i. p. xcvi. 
 
 2 Strype's Annals (Oxford Ed.), vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 419. 
 
 3 Surrey and Wyat, vol. i. app. xxxix. 
 
 4 lb. vol. i. p. lvii. 
 
 A proof 
 
Notes. 
 
 A proof of the high eftimation in which Blagge 
 was held by Surrey, is afforded by the following 
 beautiful lines, prefixed to his verfion of the lxxiii 
 Pfalm. 5 
 
 " The fudden Jiorms that heave me to and fro, 
 
 Had well near pierced Faith, my guiding fail. 
 For I that on the noble voyage go 
 
 To fuccour truth, and falfe hood to ajfail, 
 Conftrained am to bear my fails full lovj ; 
 
 And never could attain fome pie af ant gale. 
 For unto fuch the profperous winds do blow 
 
 As men from port to port to fee k avail. 
 This bred defpair -, vjhereoffuch doubts did grovo 
 
 That I gan faint, and all my courage fail. 
 But novo, my Blage, mine error nvell I fee ; 
 
 Such goodly light King David giveth me" 
 
 In a court like that of Henry VIII. high favour 
 was near akin to danger and to death, and Blagge 
 efcaped as hardly from the fires in Smithfield as from 
 the French cannon at Landreci. In 154.6, when 
 Wriothefley and Gardiner commenced their perfe- 
 ctions on the ftatute of the Six Articles, he was 
 taken up as a "favorer of the Gofpel," 6 and was 
 only faved by Henry's perfonal interpofition. Fox's 
 narrative is this : 7 
 
 " Here would alfo fomething be faid of Sir George 
 
 5 Surrey and Wyat, vol. i. p. 80. 
 
 6 Strype's Memorials, vol. i. pt. i. p. 598. 
 
 7 Fox's A£h and Monuments, 1135 (ed. 1546). 
 
 L L 
 
 257 
 
2 5 8 
 
 Notes, 
 
 Blage, one of the King's Privy Chamber, who, 
 being falfely accufed by Sir Hugh Caverley, lent, 
 and Mafter Littleton, was fent for by Wriothefley, 
 Lord Chancellor, the Sunday before Anne Afkew 
 fuffered, and the next day was carried to Newgate, 
 and from thence to Guildhall, where he was con- 
 demned the fame day, and appointed to be burned 
 the Wednefday following. The words which his 
 accufers laid unto him were thefe : * What if a moufe 
 mould eat the bread ? then, by my confent, they 
 mould hang up the moufe :' whereas, indeed thefe 
 words he never fpake, as to his life's end he pro- 
 tefted. But the truth (as he faid) was this, that 
 they, craftily to undermine him, walking with him 
 in Paul's Church, after a fermon of Dr. Crome, 
 afked if he were at the fermon. He faid, * Yea,' 
 ' I heard fay,' faith Mafter Littleton, < that he faid 
 in his fermon, that the mafs profiteth neither for the 
 quick nor for the dead.' 1 * No,' faith Mafter Blage, 
 * Wherefore then ? Belike for a gentleman, when 
 he rideth a hunting, to keep his horfe from Hum- 
 bling.' And fo they departing, immediately after 
 he was apprehended (as is mewed) and condemned 
 to be burned. When this was heard among them 
 of the Privy Chamber, the King, hearing them 
 whifpering together (which he could never abide) 
 commanded them to tell him the matter. Where- 
 upon the matter being opened, and fuit made to the 
 King, efpecially by the good Earl of Bedford, then 
 Lord Privy Seal, the King, being fore offended with 
 their doings, that they would come fo near him, and 
 even into his Privy Chamber, without his know- 
 ledge, fent for Wriothefley, commanding eftfoons 
 to draw out his pardon himfelf, and fo was he fet at 
 
 liberty : 
 
Notes. 
 
 liberty : who, coming after to the King's prefence, 
 1 Ah ! my pig' (faith the King to him, for fo he 
 was wont to call him) . ' Yea,' faid he, * if your 
 Majefty had not been better to me than your bifhops 
 were, your pig had been roafted ere this time.' 1 " 
 
 Fox is in error 8 when he fpeaks of Blagge as one 
 of the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, a poft 
 which he never held, and alfo in calling him at that 
 time Sir George Blagge. Fox antedates Blagge's 
 knighthood, an honour which was conferred on him 
 in 1 547, by the Protector Duke of Somerfet, whom, 
 whilft Earl of Hertford, Blagge accompanied in the 
 Expedition to Scotland. 9 Blagge was knighted after 
 the fight at Muflleborough, 10 and in the fame year 
 he and Sir Thomas Holcroft were made Commif- 
 fioners of the Mufters. 11 In 1548-9 occurred that 
 tragedy wherein one Seymour, the Lord Admiral, 
 fell by the warrant of his own brother, the Protector, 
 Duke of Somerfet, himfelf deftined to fall under the 
 fame axe. Some of the depofitions of the witnefles 
 againft the Lord Admiral have long fince appeared $ 12 
 thofe of the Marquis of Dorfet, the Lord RufTell, 
 (Privy Seal) Sir George Blagge, and Lord Clynton, 
 have only recently been brought to light. 13 Blagge's 
 
 evidence 
 
 8 Strype's Annals, vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 419. 
 
 9 Surrey and Wyat, vol. ii. p. lxxxiii. 
 
 10 Holinfhed, vol. iii. p. 888. 
 u Holinfhed, vol. iii. p. 868. 
 
 12 In Haynes' State Papers from the Burghley Collec- 
 tions, belonging to the Marquis of Salifbury, at Hatfield. 
 
 13 From the State Paper Office, by Mr. Frafer Tytler in 
 
 his 
 
 59 
 
260 
 
 Notes. 
 
 evidence tends to prove the criminal projects of the 
 Lord Admiral. 
 
 In 1550 died Lord Wriothefley, at whofe hands 
 whilfr. Lord Chancellor, Blagge had incurred fuch 
 imminent peril. His narrow efcape may account 
 for, although it cannot excufe the feverity of the 
 only remains of Blagge's writings j which are 
 lines on the death of Wriothefley. Dr. Nott, by 
 whom they were firft printed, 14 and in whofe work 
 they may be found, fays that he gives them " from 
 the Harington MS. more from the circumftance of 
 their having been written by one of Surrey's friends 
 than from any merit they pofTefs." 
 
 On the 17th June in the following year, i55i, 15 
 Sir George Blagge died at Stanmore in Middlefex, 
 of which his wife Dorothy afterwards obtained a 
 leafe from Q^ueen Elizabeth. 
 
 Sir Thomas Wyat was wont to fay that he che- 
 rifhed three friends in particular — " Poynings for 
 the generofity of his difpofition, Blagge for his ivit, 
 and Mafon for his learning." 16 In a letter from 
 Lever to Afcham 17 it is faid, in allufion to his lofs, 
 
 his " England during the reigns of Edw. VI. and Mary." 
 vol. i. pp. 146, etc. 
 
 14 Surrey and Wyat, vol. i. p. xcvi. 
 
 15 Gage's Hiftory of Suffolk. 
 
 16 Surrey and Wyat, vol. ii. p. lxxxiii. 
 
 17 Strype's Cheke, p. 89. 
 
 that 
 
Notes, 
 
 that England was 
 Gentle Blager™ 
 
 punifhed, as to courtfhip, by 
 
 18 By a ftatement in Nott's Surrey and Wyat, vol. ii. p. 
 lxv. it would feem that Blagge did not die until after his 
 friend Wyat's execution in 1553, as he was appointed to 
 offices previoufly held by Wyat, viz. " Keeper of the King's 
 MefTuage at Maidftone," and " High Steward of Maid- 
 ftone." 
 
 26l 
 
 M M 
 
262 Notes, 
 
 TABLE II. 
 
 SHEWING THE CONNEXION BETWEEN SIDNEY 
 
 GODOLPHIN AND THE FAMILY OF LORD 
 
 BERKELEY OF STRATTON. 
 
 Sir William Go- = Thomasin Sidney, 
 dolphin. j 
 
 r ' 
 
 I 
 
 Sir Maurice — Elizabeth, dau. of Sir 
 Berkeley. | Henry Killigrew. 
 
 Fran-: 
 
 CIS 
 
 Go- 
 dol- 
 phin. 
 
 Sir 
 Wil- 
 liam 
 
 Go- 
 dol- 
 phin. 
 
 : Doro- 
 thy, 
 dau. of 
 Charles 
 Berke- 
 ley, of 
 Garling- 
 ton. 
 
 I I I 
 
 Pene-^Sir Charles Sir John Berkeley, of— CHRisTiAN,dau.ofSir^ 
 
 Berkeley, Bruton, the friend of 1 -' 
 
 succeeded James, Duke of York, 
 
 his son as James II. created Lord 
 
 2nd Vis- Berkeley, of Stratton, 29 
 
 count May, 1658, Lord Deputy of 
 
 Fitzhar- Ireland, 16 , Ambassador 
 
 dinge. d. to France,1675 (see p. 109), 
 
 1688. died 1678. 
 
 lope 
 Go- 
 dol- 
 phin 
 
 drew Riccard (Preside 
 of the East India C01 
 pany) widow of Hen;/ 
 Lord Kensington, sonjini 
 Henry, Earl of Hollai 
 The LADY BERK 
 LEY so often merit tone. 
 
 Sid- 
 ney 
 Go- 
 dol- 
 phin, 
 who 
 mar- 
 ried 
 Mar- 
 garet 
 hlagge 
 
 the 
 subject 
 of this 
 
 Mau- 
 rice 
 Ber- 
 
 Charles= 
 Berke- 
 ley, 
 created 
 Lord 
 Berke- 
 ley of 
 Rath- 
 downe, 
 and Vis- 
 count 
 Fitzhar- 
 dinge, 
 with re- 
 mainder 
 to his fa- 
 ther, af- 
 terwards created 
 Lord Bottcourt, 
 and Karl of 
 Falmouth. Killed 
 3 June, 1665. 
 
 ley, 
 3rd 
 
 Vis- 
 count 
 
 Fitz- 
 
 har- 
 
 dinge 
 
 d. 
 
 1690. 
 
 —Eliza- John : 
 beth, Ber- 
 dau. 
 of 
 
 Her- 
 
 vey 
 
 Bagot, 
 
 The 
 LADY 
 FAL- 
 MOUTH 
 See p. 
 
 12. 
 She ma: 
 
 condly Charles 
 
 Sackville, Earl 
 
 of Dorset. 
 
 KE- 
 
 dau.of 
 
 LEY, 
 
 Sir 
 
 4th 
 
 Edw. 
 
 Vis- 
 
 Vil- 
 
 count 
 
 liers, 
 
 Fitz- 
 
 sister 
 
 har- 
 
 of the 
 
 dinge. 
 
 1st 
 
 
 Earl of 
 
 
 Jer- 
 
 
 sey, d. 
 
 ried se- 
 
 1708. 
 
 Bar- Charles, John, 
 bara. 2nd 3rd 
 
 Lord 
 Berke- 
 ley of 
 Strat- 
 ton, d. 
 
 Lord 
 Berke- 
 ley of Berke- 
 
 Wil- — Fr: 
 
 LIAM, 
 
 4th 
 Lord 
 
 Strat- 
 ton, d. 
 
 s. p. 
 
 s. p. 
 
 ley of 
 Strat- 
 ton, d. 
 1741. 
 
 dau 
 
 Si 
 Jol 
 Te 
 pie, 
 Ea 
 She 
 
 John, 5th Lord Berk a 
 lev, d. unm. 1773. 
 left his chief estates- 1 
 Earl Berkeley. II D 
 
Notes. 
 
 263 
 
 TABLE III. 
 
 TO SHEW THE PATRONAGE EXTENDED TO MRS. 
 GODOLPHIN BY THE DUKE OF BUCK- 
 INGHAM'S FAMILY. 
 
 udrey Sanders, dau. of William: 
 Sanders. 
 
 =Sir George Villiers, 
 
 : Mary Beaumont, created Coun- 
 tess of Buckingham, 1675. 
 
 (Sir 
 
 if ILLIAM WARD VlL- 
 li VlL- LIERS, d. 
 
 JLIERS. 7 Sept. 
 
 1626. 
 
 ,VlL- : 
 ,IAM 
 
 VlL- 
 JERS, 
 
 2nd 
 
 Vis- 
 ount 
 Jran- 
 
 ison. 
 
 Sir Ed- —.Barbara St. 
 
 John, niece 
 
 of the 1st 
 
 Viscount 
 
 Grand ison. 
 
 : Mary, James 
 dau. of How- 
 Paul, 
 Vis- 
 count 
 Bay- 
 ning. 
 
 ard, 
 3rd 
 Earl of 
 Suf- 
 folk. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 VlL- 
 
 Philip, 
 
 son of 
 
 Philip, 
 
 Viscount 
 
 Wen- 
 man, d. 
 13 Dec. 
 1681. The 
 COUN- 
 TESS of 
 
 SUF- 
 FOLK, 
 see p. 
 
 ARBARA VlLLIERS.wifeof 
 
 Loger Palmer, Earl of 
 astlemaine, and created 
 Duchess of Cleveland. 
 
 George — 
 Villi ers, 
 1st Duke of 
 Bucking- 
 
 Lady 
 Catha- 
 rine 
 Man- 
 ners. 
 
 William : 
 Fielding, 
 first Earl of 
 Denbigh. 
 
 : MARyVlLLIERS,wh« 
 
 erected a splendid 
 monument at Ports- 
 mouth to her bro- 
 ther's memory. 
 
 George 
 Vil- 
 
 LIERS, 
 
 2nd 
 Duke of 
 Bucking- 
 ham, who 
 was ac- 
 compa- 
 nied in 
 his escape 
 after the 
 battle of 
 Worces- 
 ter in 
 1651, by 
 Colonel 
 Blagge. 
 
 I 
 Mary 
 Vil- 
 
 LIERS,m. 
 James, 
 4th Duke 
 of Len- 
 nox, and 
 3rd Duke 
 of Rich- 
 mond, 
 called in 
 V.8,'The 
 
 OLD 
 DUCH- 
 ESS OF 
 RICH- 
 MOND,' 
 
 placed 
 Mrs. Godolphin un- 
 der the care of the 
 Countess of Guild- 
 ford. 
 
 Mary 
 Field- 
 ing, m. 
 James, 
 Duke of 
 Hamil- 
 ton, be- 
 headed 
 in 1649, 
 bywhom 
 she had 
 Anne, 
 Duchess 
 of Ham- 
 ilton, in 
 her own 
 right. 
 
 Anne 
 Field- 
 ing, first 
 wife of 
 Baptist 
 Noel, 
 3rd Vis- 
 count 
 Camp- 
 den. She 
 died 24 
 March, 
 
 Lewis —Eliza- 
 Boyle 
 
 Vis 
 count 
 Kenel- 
 mea- 
 ky, 
 2nd 
 son of 
 Rich- 
 ard, 
 Earl of 
 Cork. 
 
 Field- 
 ing, 
 created 
 COUN- 
 TESS of 
 GUIL- 
 FORD 
 for life, 
 14 July, 
 1660: 
 under 
 whose 
 care Mrs. Godol- 
 phin was placed 
 by the Duchess 
 of Richmond, 
 see p. 8. 
 
264 
 
 Notes, 
 
 TABLE IV. 
 
 SHEWING THE DESCENT AND CONNEXIONS 
 OF LADY SYLVIUS. 
 
 Thomas Howard, first Earl of Berkshire, 2nd== 
 8on of Thomas, Earl of Suffolk, d. 1669. { 
 
 Elizabeth Cecil, dan. and co-heir of Willia: 
 Earl of Exeter. 
 
 j , 
 
 I 1. I 2. 
 
 Charles Thomas 
 
 Howard, Howard, 
 
 2nd Earl 3rd Earl 
 
 of Berk- of Berk- 
 sh. d. sh. d. 
 
 1679. 1706. 
 
 I 3. 
 Hen- 
 ry 
 How- 
 ard, 
 d. 
 
 I 4. 
 Wil- — Elizabeth, 
 dau. of Lord 
 Dundas, the 
 
 mother of 
 
 Lady Sylvius. 
 
 see p. 27. 
 
 liam 
 How- 
 ard. 
 
 Edward 
 Howard. 
 
 Sir Robert Ho- 
 ward, Auditor of 
 the Exchequer, 
 &c. the well- 
 known author, 
 lived at Ashted, 
 near Epsom. 
 
 Philip; 
 
 Howard 
 
 James 
 
 Howard.! 
 
 Algernon 
 Howard, A 
 
 Anne : 
 Ogle, 
 (first 
 wife), 
 maid of 
 honour 
 to Queen 
 Catha- 
 rine. 
 
 I 
 ; Cra- 
 ven 
 Ho- 
 ward. 
 
 Mary 
 
 Col. =— Dorothy 
 
 (second 
 wife), 
 
 dau. of 
 
 George, 
 B. of 
 
 Elford. 
 
 James 
 Graham, 
 of Le- 
 vens, 
 Privy 
 Purse to 
 James, 
 
 Howard, 
 maid of 
 honour. 
 
 The sister 
 of Lady 
 Silvius. 
 See pp. 
 
 D.of , 27,30,61 
 Vnrk. 1 127. 
 
 York. 
 
 Sir Gabribl.- 
 
 Sylvids, 
 
 Hoffmaester 
 
 to the Prince 
 
 of Orange : 
 
 Envoy to 
 
 Brunswick in 
 
 Feb. 1679-80, 
 
 and Envoy 
 
 Extr. to 
 Denmark in 
 June 1685. 
 
 Anne Howard, Henry Bow: 
 ob. innupt. Howard, 4th 
 Earl of Berk 
 shire 
 
 rf 
 
 atherine Graham. 
 
 : Anne Howard, maid o 
 honour to Queen Catha 
 rine, m. 13 Nov. 1677, as 
 Henry VII.'s Chapel, b]< 
 the Dean of Westminster 
 Dr. John Dolben, then Bij 
 shop of Rochester, aftet 1 
 wards Archbp. of York; 
 See an account of her mar 
 riage in Evelyn, ii. 436 
 The LADY SYLVIUS t 
 whom this work is dedicated 
 
Notes, 
 
 265 
 
 TABLE V. 
 
 SHEWING THE CONNEXION BETWEEN THE 
 FAMILIES OF GODOLPHIN, EVELYN, 
 AND HARCOURT. 
 
 [r Francis— Dorothy, dau.of JOHN EVE- — : Mary, dau. Sir Philip— =Anne, dau. of Sir 
 
 ODOLPHIN, 
 
 K.B. 
 
 Sir Charles Berke- LYN, d. 1705, 
 ley, of Yarling- aet. 85. 
 ton. 
 
 iidney Godol— = MARGA 
 Fhin, Earl of T RET 
 i Godolphin, BLAGGE, 
 .jK.G. d. 1712. d. 1678. 
 
 Edward— Jane 
 Bosca- "Godol- 
 
 of Sir Ri- 
 chard 
 Browne. 
 
 Harcourt, 
 d. 1688. 
 
 William Waller, 
 of Osterley Park, 
 A. 1614. 
 
 John Eve— Martha Simon, Vis— Rebecca 
 
 wen, d. 
 1685. 
 
 PHIN, 
 
 d. 1730. 
 
 :.VN,ob.in 
 v. p 
 
 Spen 
 
 CER, d 
 
 1726. 
 
 count Har- 
 court, Lord 
 High Chan- 
 cellor, d. 
 1727. 
 
 dau. of 
 Thomas 
 Clark. 
 
 I 
 
 (PANCIS GO-: 
 DOLPHIN, 
 
 ijnd Earl of 
 odolphin, 
 d. 1766. 
 
 Hugh 
 
 Bosca- 
 
 iHENRIETTA 
 
 Churchill. 
 
 Duchess of wen, Vis- 
 
 Marlbo- count Fal- 
 
 rough, d. mouth, d. 
 
 1733. 1734. 
 
 ! I I I 
 
 :Charlotte God- Anne — Sir John Eliza-, Hon. Si- 
 
 frey, (niece of Bosca- - "" 
 
 the Duke of wen, 
 Marlborough), d. 1751. 
 maid of honor to 
 Queen Anne, d. 
 1754. 
 
 Evelyn, beth 
 Bart. d. Eye- 
 1763. lyn, d. 
 1760. 
 
 MON 
 
 Har- 
 court, 
 d. 1720. 
 in v. p. 
 
 LLIAM 
 »ODOL- 
 PHIN, 
 
 [arquis 
 Bland- 
 
 •>rd, d. 
 1731. 
 
 Thomas^Mary Mary. 
 Osborne, 
 4th Duke 
 of Leeds, 
 
 d. 1789. 
 
 Go- 
 
 Bosca- ~r 
 
 dol- 
 
 WEN, d. 
 
 phin, 
 
 1749. 
 
 died 
 
 
 1764. 
 
 1 
 
 .Sir John 
 
 "Evelyn, 
 
 Bart. d. 
 
 1767. 
 
 I I 
 
 Simon,— Rebecca George Ven-^Martha 
 
 W- 17. .,,1 I r. T> . ,-,. . -n* VJC \T*?n I_I . r. 
 
 1st Earl 
 
 Har- 
 court, d 
 1777. 
 
 Le Bass 
 d. 1765 
 
 ables Ver- 
 non, Lord 
 Vernon, d. 
 1780. 
 
 Har- 
 court, 
 d. 1794. 
 
 RANCIS G. 
 tSBORNE, 
 
 ith Duke 
 If Leeds. 
 
 te Table I. 
 
 Sir Frederic William 
 
 Evelyn, mar- Harcourt, 
 
 ried Mary 3rd Earl 
 
 Turton, d, s. Harcourt, 
 
 p. 1812. ob. s. p. 
 
 George SimoNz^Elizabeth, Edward— anne Leveson 
 Harcourt, 2nd dau. of Geo. Vena- | Gower, dau. 
 Earl Harcourt, Lord Ver- blesVer- of Granville, 
 ob. s. p. 1809. non, m. non Har- Marquis of 
 1765. court, Abp. Stafford, 
 of York. I 
 
 See Preface. 
 
& Jr 
 
 
 PRINTED BY C. WHITTINGHAM, CHISWICK. 
 
 ^y^On/.n