A Compendious NARRATION OF THE Most Examplar LIFE OF THE Right Honourable and Most Virtuous Lady Mary, Late Countess of Shrewsbury.  
Faithfully Collected out of the Writings of a most Learned and Worthy Person who attended her many Years:  
By a Gentleman, who by reason of his long acquaintance and much conversation with her can testify the truth of all that is here related.  
Printed in the Year, 1677.   


Her Birth and younger years.  
IT was in the year of our Lord 1599 on the 4th of October, that this our Island, and particularly the City of Westminster, was honoured by the birth of this Lady truly Noble by all Titles. It was in the house of her great Uncle by the half-bloud Sr. Thomas Parry Chancellor of the Duchy, that she first began her course of mortality, which she so holily passed over; and it fell out to be in a room which had been formerly a Chapel dedicated to God in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary his Mother, and on the Feast of the glorious Patriarch St. Francis; a proper time and place for the birth of a person so much addicted to pass her time in the house of God, and so true an Imitatresse of the virtues of that great Queen of Heaven, and that humble Saint. And as this happy creature (whose life I am now exposing to public view) was far from giving trouble to others throughout the whole course of her life, so also did she give none to my Lady her mother in her very birth, who though she had suffered hard labours of all the rest of her children, and of some of them dangerous; yet in bringing her into the world, seemed as it were exempt by particular dispensation from that common curse laid by God upon the whole sex: Her descent was very Noble on all sides; her father was Sir Francis Fortescu of Salden Knight of the Honourable Order of the Bath, a Gentleman of a very ancient knightly Family, he being an heir of Sr. John Fortescu of the Privy Council to Queen Elizabeth and King James, and descended lineally through a race of noble Ancestors (many of whom had served their Princes in eminent charges both Military and Civil, and were allied by their marriages to several of the Nobility;) in the 15th generation from Sr. Richard Fortescu Knight, who came into England with the Norman conquest. Her Mother the Lady Grace Fortescu, as eminent for her virtue as her birth, was of the most illustrious Family of the Manors, Earls of Rutland and Lord Roos, she being grandchild to Thomas Niece unto Henry, and Aunt to John, all Earls of that place.  
To this advantage of blood God had added that of so amiable, and sweet a disposition, and of so solid and lively wit and judgement, that she was grateful to all persons, and very capable of any knowledge, which her sex is wont to possess: this she made appear, in her perfect and easy learning even of those ornamental qualities, which took up the least of her thoughts, and in which (according to the fashion of other Ladies of condition in those times) she was in her younger years brought up; Though after her being married (out of her great modesty, and almost continual application of herself to employments of a higher strain) she never, but in just and unavoidable occasions spent any time in things of that nature.  
But it is not my business here to play the Herald, and to blazon her extraction, or to dwell upon those inferior transitory advantages of flesh and blood; my aim is to paint out the ornaments of her mind, and to show how near she was allied by her virtues to those Princes of heaven, the constant attendants on the Throne of God. Of those great virtues, which were so eminently practised by her in her riper age, she gave many auspicious prognostics even from her infancy, her love thereof and inclination to all actions of piety growing up in her with her years, and even preventing them. No child could be more exactly dutiful to her parents, in compliance with whom she applied herself with that zealous diligence and success to the gaining of a perfect knowledge and understanding of all the mysteries and articles of her faith and duties of a Christian, as also of the grounds of all the Ceremonies used in the Holy Church, that she was capable in her very childhood of declaring and explaining them to others, and even then gave so great a testimony of so unusual a maturity of judgement both in her comportment, and all her actions, that she was thought fit, and actually had leave of judicious and learned Ghostly Fathers to receive the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, before she was yet arrived to ten years of age. And finally, she grew to that degree of Christian perfection even before she could write young woman, that she had an ardent desire to give over the world, as soon in a manner as she was entered into it, and dedicate herself to God by embracing a religious life for love of him. But her parents neither giving way rashly to those desires of hers, nor daring expressly to oppose them, in regard of their great piety, caused the case to be consulted with Learned Religious men! And upon the casting up of all circumstances, wherein her delicacy of constitution, and continyency in point of health had a great part, they advised her to satisfy herself with leading a virtuous life in the way of a secular calling: whereupon she knowing that obedience (in some cases) is better than sacrifice, and weighing this truth in her wise heart, that no body (since he is a party) is fit to be a Judge in his own ways, applied herself to walk as perfectly as she could in that state, to which her parents, both spiritual and temporal, advised her: And in consequence to these counsels and advise, she was bestowed by her friends in Marriage at the age of 16. upon that Noble Person John Tallbot then Esquire, and afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury, Nephew and heir to that most Saintlike and Learned Lord, George Earl of Shrewsbury, who resolving to live wholly to God even in the world (as to all men's admiration he did) disposed his Nephew in Marriage to this Lady, and settled his whole Estate upon them and theirs. And in that condition she lived most happily and holily (as will hereafter appear) above nineteen years.   

The manner how she daily and constantly spent her whole time after she was married.  
WHen once this Lady was settled in the state of Marriage, she did so order and frame the course of her life; that living here upon earth, her conversation might be truly said to be in heaven: Of this not only all her days, but even hours and moments were convincing testimonies. As soon as she risen in the morning, which was Winter and Summer at an early hour, before she thought of her dress (the first and chief business of worldly Ladies) or spent any the least time in that or any employment or discourse whatsoever, whereunto the duty of her calling did not precisely oblige her, she prostrated herself on her knees, and in that devout posture passed a full half hour with profound silence of the tongue, but with vehement affection of the heart, in offering to God that grateful Incense of devout prayer, accompanied with acts of an ardent love of his divine Majesty, of a most sensible gratitude for all benefits, and an entire resignation of herself, and all her concerns unto his disposal, and likewise with a most hearty and zealous oblation of all her actions, thoughts, and words to his honour and Glory; and for the Petitioning part of her devotion, it aimed not at temporal blessings, but only at the obtaining of his grace to avoid sin; and rather than to incur the guilt of any that was mortal, she most constantly and earnestly supplicated him to be deprived of all worldly advantages, and pleasures whatsoever, and even of what is most dear to all mankind, life itself; which with all sincerity of heart she professed herself much readier to lose, than his grace and favour, whereof sin was only capable to dispossess her.  
After this time of recollection, and a short space spent in her dress, wherein she never studied in the least degree either pomp or vanity, but kept herself within the compass of a modest decency, she repaired to her Oratory, only used for divine service, and there passed the far greatest part of the remaining time till dinner (which was usually about Noon) in prayer and such other exercises of piety as suited with that place. The Afternoon was no less piously spent then the morning, for rarely did she employ herself less than six hours during those two seasons in those holy actions in that place just , which was dedicated to God's service. Her going abroad to take the air, (which sometimes she used to do, out of her accustomed hours of devotion, which were regular and constant, in order to her own and children's health) never interrupted these her pious employments; for even all that time, as far as a civil compliance with others (which she never violated) would allow of, was totally spent in them. Neither was her time of working, wherein she employed herself most, (except in her devotions) any distraction to her continued exercises of piety, since that employment was usually ever accompanied with the reading of some spiritual book in order to her daily advancement in virtue.  
But neither prayer nor any other employment occasioned her omission of that great duty which lay upon her in looking after the government of the Family which my Lord by reason of her great prudence committed wholly to her care. For she frequently visited all the Offices of the house, both to see good orders kept, and to inquire what was wanting in any kind: In her timely supplying whereof, as she was most Conscientiously wary in avoiding all wasteful expenses, so was she truly generous and noble, in not suffering the meanest of the servants to want any thing, that was usually allowed to any one who served in a most plentiful house; And I am sure I may say by experience and knowledge, that this charge of hers was managed with so singular a conduct, that during her life, my Lords constant hospitality and plentiful way of house-keeping, as also the number and quality of his attendants, corresponded to the full to the greatness of his quality; And all this within the compass of his Estate and Fortune, and according to the rules of a most orderly Christianlike discipline. And of this generous hospitality the poor were constantly in great numbers (I may say multitudes) most ample partakers.  
Her time after supper before her going to rest was as religiously spent as the rest of the day; For she always was employed about an hour after her retirement to her chamber (which was ever at an orderly hour) in the examination of her conscience, and such devotions, and other acts of piety as she had used at her first uprising, and so closed the day in the same religious manner as she had begun it; And this time of recollection passed so sweetly with her, that she would hardly be brought to believe that it lasted above a quarter of an hour, but when it was performed, she made it her business, by avoiding all unnecessary distracting discourses, to keep her heart fixed all night upon him, with whom she had been then so devoutly parlying.  
And she was so indefatigably constant in these her daily devotions, that when she was hindered, (either by journeys, visiting, or receiving the visits of Friends, or any other just occasion,) from performing them at her accustomed orderly seasons, she would rather deny herself time to take that corporal sustenance, and rob those hours from her rest, which her tender constitution required, then ever willingly be guilty of any least omission of any part of them. Even her childbeds and times of greatest weakness were never any bars or lets to her continual devout employments in such manner as her condition would permit. She began the first pains of her labour, with a most humble and penitent confession of her sins, and as soon as possible, after her delivery, she caused the Hymn of those eminent Saints and Doctors St. Ambrose and St. Augustine called te Deum to be said by her, she answering alternatively every other verse; to the end that to Almighty God might be rendered most humble thanks for her safety, and that his mercy might be implored to take that child into his particular care from whom she had received that blessing, esteemed one of the greatest of a Matrimonial state. And that she might not be totally debarred from partaking personally of all the Church's devotions during her lying in, she caused the Litany to be said every evening in her chamber, and spent much of the day in glorifying God, partly by vocal, and partly by jaculatory prayers and aspirations, and all those holy exercises that were consistent with her strength and ability. And though she could not at that time till she were Churched be present at the divine service (a devotion never omitted by her at other times) nor receive the most Blessed Sacrament, yet did she not fail daily, even during the time of her being confined to her bed, to spend that whole time when that service was celebrated (which she took care to have signified to her) in prayer, with the same preparation, devotion, and application of her thoughts to those high Mysteries there commemorated, as if she had been actually present at it, and endeavouring to do it at least in a spiritual manner by disposing herself thereunto in the same way, as if she had been really to receive the effect of her longing, according to her constant custom at all times, when she went not to this holy Communion; whereunto she rarely or never omitted (the months of her childbed only excepted) to have recourse twice at least, if not thrice every week; And her soul did so truly relish the deliciousness of this divine Banquet, that she would even have daily feasted herself therewith, had not her great humility induced her to comply with those guides of hers in spiritual matters, who judged it not fit for those of a secular calling, since even Religious Persons of that sex, and of the other, Priests only excepted, are very rarely allowed that privilege. Neither did she ever approach this Sacrament without an extraordinary devotion, having first, according to St. Paul's advice, proved herself by a most strict examen of her conscience, and also a most penitent and humble confession, as the abundance of tears, usually shed by her, when she frequented that Sacrament, might sufficiently testify, and which often issued from her eyes in plenty when she discoursed of her own imperfections; and she did even like and there David water her bed with tears when her (I may truly say) too tender conscience accused her of an thing that seemed to her to carry th● appearance of a sin, though it really were not such. And though all th● chiefest part of her days were (as hat● been sufficiently testified) spent i● prayer and other pious and devout employments, yet were those of Communion passed over altogether (in 〈◊〉 manner) in such exercises; she usualy then (as much as possible) totally retiring and withdrawing her se●● from all worldly business and conversation. And her posture in her prayers was for the most part so much upon her knees, that at her death, the● were found as hard as any board, o● (like to what was said of St. James th● Apostle) to have more resemblance with the skin of a Camel, than wit● that of a Lady tenderly brought up, a● she was, and had a most pure skin and delicate constitution.   

Her lively Faith and great Charity.  
AMongst her other daily devotions she never omitted to offer particular thanks to God for that great and singular benefit of her having been bred up in the Catholic Faith, which she knew to be the foundation of justice and sanctity, and without which she knew it was impossible to please God, and that it was only to be obtained by his gift; And therefore her soul was always full of gratitude for that great blessing, and she was frequent in giving devout testimonies of it. And so zealous was she in the professiof this only true faith, that when she heard of any that suffered death, imprisonment, loss of temporals, or any other vexation for that cause, she following the counsel of St. Peter, would glorify God in them, and with a pious affection and emulation lament her own cause, for that she had nev● yet been thought worthy to suffer an● thing for confessing Christ befo●● men, who hath so graciously prom● said to confess such before his Father 〈◊〉 heaven.  
Neither was this lively faith of he● unaccompanied with a truly ferve● Charity which as it is the Queen 〈◊〉 all virtues, and so necessary th● without it no other could be grate● in the sight of God, and Faith it se● were dead, so was it the study of th● Noble Lady to excel therein.  
And though her great desire of d● dicating herself to the service of A● mighty God in the course of a relig●ous life, and (that not being though fit for her by her parents and di●● ctours) her endeavours to turn a cellar life into a monastical, by her continual spending her time in exerci●● of piety, and so many hours daily prayer, as hath been already relate● be most convincing and undenia● testimonies of her most ardent love his divine Majesty which is the prime ●nd chief branch of this greatest (if we may believe St. Paul) of the Theological virtues; yet for a farther evidence how straight that pure soul of ●ers was linked to him with that golden chain of charity, she never stained that white Stole of Innocence, which she received in Baptism by the committing of any one mortal sin, ei●her in thought, word, or deed, throughout the whole course of her ●ife; and by consequence never lost ●is grace and favour during all that ●ime; And though all those who were acquainted with her will find no difficulty to believe this as a most real ●ruth, (so very faint-like were her action's and conversation) yet is it so credibly attested by one who had the ●ost reason of any to know the inward state of her soul, (as having had ●he guiding thereof for many years, ●nd having during that time been made more than once partaker of all ●he passages of her life wherein her conscience was concerned) that it cannot be brought in doubt by any reasonable person whatsoever. And her aversion was so great from offending God, that though a most tenderhearted mother, she would frequently of for up her children to his divine Majesty, humbly and earnestly supplicaring him rather to take them out of the world, than ever to permit them to slain their souls with any morta● sin; so much did she prefer his honour before the inclinations of flesh and blood, and the fulfilling of hi● holy Law above all the contents and comforts, which worldly people s● much dote upon. Nor did her ardent love of God appear only in her avoiding of mortal sin, and her solicitude that others should do the same, bu● also in her vehement desire of rendering herself eminent in the practice of all manner of virtues, merely t● please him; and the vehemency 〈◊〉 these desires would transport her to 〈◊〉 frequent lamenting of her own negligence and tepidity, and expressing ●er sense thereof to to her spiritual director, whose assistance, and advice she would crave in order to a to●al refraining from offending God, e●●en by any the least imperfection, and ●ow at length she might attain to ●hat height of virtue that might enable her to be, and continue wholly ●is.  
For his sake and for love of him ●he honoured all the saints because they were his faithful servants, and in the ●rst place the Virgin Mary his most ●lessed Mother, because she before all others was the most grateful to him. ●he did not honour them as Gods but ●s attendants upon his throne, and ●ho through the special assistance of ●is grace have attained the beatifical ●ision for all eternity; for if it be ●ot only lawful but laudable, nay e●en of obligation, and therefore plea●ing to God, to honour and reverence ●any here upon earth, who by their sinful lives may have incurred his high displeasure, much more grateful must it be to him who is wonderful in his Saints, to honour the● whom he hath honoured, with ma● king them co heirs with Christ, an● who now are subject no more t● the frailties of humane nature, co● tinually glorifying him in that heavenly Jerusalem whereinto nothing defiled with the least spot can eve● enter. And when she read their live and actions, and saw therein how the had forsaken the world, and trample upon the delights thereof, and dedicated themselves totally to the servi● of his divine Majesty, she would b● as it were inflamed with a desire 〈◊〉 imitating them, and expressing he love to God, in as high and perfect a manner as they did, and wou● grow unsatisfyed with herself for n● having followed the inclinations sh●● had in her tender age of entering in●● a religious state, till she was secure by those, that guided her conscience that her obedience to her parent's i● the choice of her course of life was more acceptable to God, (considering how maturely and piously they had weighed all circumstances) than a compliance with her own desires, though they seemed to sway her to that which carried an appearance of greater perfection. To the end therefore that she might serve him with as much perfection, and in the exactest manner that was consistent with her calling, and to prevent her love to him from proving cool in the least measure, she often and with great favour renewed her good purposes, of all her daily pious exercises and employments, and especially against great and solemn Feasts, when his greatest mercies and benefits were celebrated by the Church; and she would be then particularly solicitous to crave the advice of her spiritual Director, what acts of penance or other devotions she should use, whereby to solemnize those holy times, in the most agreeable manner to his divine Majesty, to the end she might gain increase of his grace, whom she with all constant gratitude owned to be so large-hearted in bestowing his favours upon all such, as begged them devoutly, and prepared themselves worthily to receive them.  
In fine, so great was the love which this most pious Lady bore to her Lord and God, that it put her upon making purposes of fasts, and other austere and laborious acts of virtue, that far exceeded her strength and ability; and so little indulgent was she to herself, out of her desire to perform any thing, though never so hard, that she thought tended to his honour, on whom her love was only bend, that she was willing to look upon all those purposes as obligations in conscience, till she was assured by those who were her guides in spiritual matters, that they were not such; but that she was rather tied from doing any thing that might be prejudicial to her health, wherein the good of many were concerned!  
And though the same love of God prompted her to obey her spiritual Directors for his sake, who for hers and all of us was obedient to the death of the cross, yet had the memory of those sufferings of his, such an influence upon her heart, that she was desirous to imitate him as much as she might, and carry her cross after him according to his divine invitation, as far as her weak strength would permit; and therefore would come as near to the observation of any penitential purposes, as she was in any manner permitted; so that where fasting was denied as to the matter of the quality of her meat, she endeavoured to supply it by moderating the quantity thereof, and the abstaining from all kind of delicacies in her diet; and the like she did in all other purposes that tended to mortification. But in all others not judged (by reason of inconsistency with health and ability) unfit, she was most zealously constant in the performance of them, and particularly in her recourse unto the holy Sacraments, at certain times, when any special favour of God to herself, or this Nation in particular, or the Catholic Church in general, invited her grateful heart to express a resentment of his mercies.   

Her Charity to her Neighbour.  
FRom her most ardent love of Almighty God, and her constant desire of expressing it, proceeded her so eminent practice of that most agreeable virtue to him, (I mean) her so very exemplar Charity to her neighbours, which mounted to so great an height, that she was never satiated with imparting all both spiritual and temporal comforts, that were possibly to be offorded by. And to descend to those particulars, which may convince this truth, she was never seen, or known to refuse an alms, when it was asked, neither was ever the necessity of any person represented to her, to the removal of which she did not contribute with a most cheerful and bountiful hand; And it was a matter of complaint, and grief to her, whensoever any of her domestical servants, as sometimes it happened, concealed the requests of any necessitous persons, although relieved by themselves; and she was so zealously fearful of losing any occasion of feeding and clothing Jesus Christ in his little ones, that to prevent it, she always lodged moneys in the hands of her Porter, and others, for relief of the poor, over and above that plentiful alms which was constantly given at the gates. And besides these accidental expressions of her great charity which were nevertheless very frequent, and as it were daily, she had divers persons, her constant Pensioners, whom she wholly maintained, and though sometimes by reason of her change of dwelling, they were far absent from her person, yet they were never so from her thoughts, for she was as solicitously careful to see them provided for in all kinds, as if she had been expressly obliged to do it under pain of sin, and she descended so far as with the labour of her own hands to make many necessaries for their clothing, the which she also frequently did for many of her poorer servants, over and above their comperent usual allowances: she was so exact an observer of the laws of true Christian charity, that she was never willing to hear those who demanded an alms for God's sake suspected for counterfeits, for she was as tender in preserving their good names, as she was in relieving their necessities, and therefore as much as possible hindered the strict examination of things o● that nature. And although some times some were discovered and proved to be such, yet upon consideration that the true motive of Alms was not to whom, but for whose sake it was given; she would not dismiss them without being made partakers of her charity: for she would urge, that most probably their great want was the true cause why they dissembled lameness, blindness, and such like infirmities, and that therefore to take away such a temptation their necessities were to be relieved. And my Lord her husband was very complying with her in this compassionate relieving of others necessities, and particularly when he was a winner at horseraces or other Divertisements, he most cheerfully, upon her suggestion and request (which she never failed to make him) employed no small part of his win upon these charitable offices.  
Neither was her charity only expressed in relieving the pecuniary wants of the poor, but also in an extraordinary diligence to contribute to the cure and ease of the sick; To promote which pious work, she provided herself yearly, at fit seasons, of all those medicinal things, which are usually applied to the relief of corporal infirmities; and she was no less careful in providing, then liberal in bestowing them, whensoever necessity required: and so great was her charitable compassion of sick persons, tha● she not only afforded them bountiful remedies for their diseases, but eve● charged those servants about her ow● person not to fail of giving them a●● necessary attendance; and to encourage them in so good an action by example, she did frequently visit th● meanest of her own domestics, an● others; even when the loathsomness● of the disease, and rooms where the● lodged, were capable to divert thos● who were indulgent, in pleasing thei● senses, from coming near them; a●● did both minister remedies and other assistances with her own hands, an● spend much time in praying by the● bedsides, and endeavouring to giv● them all spiritual comforts that sh● was capable of affording them.  
Neither was her compassionate sense of the sufferance of prisoners les● ●hen that which she shown to have of the wants and infirmities of others, for she was highly charitable in the relief of all those (although mere strangers) whom she ●eard to endure that great calamity of restraint of liberty.  
All her promises made even in her ●oung and tender age that tended to ●he relieving of others necessities, or ●night be conducing to their advantages either spiritual, or corporal, ●hough not made with that deliberation that might oblige her (under ●in) to performance, were as religiously observed as vows, and even so exactly (if not scrupulously) that ●he was hardly ever satisfied to have sufficiently complied with those no●way-obliging promises, without the judgement, and authority of her spiritual Director; and she would frequently regret her own too dull imitation of that famous patriarch of Alexandria, John surnamed th● Almes-giver for his great liberality in acts of charity.  
If then Alms be of so great force and virtue, as to cleanse and purifying the soul, which not Christian ca● doubt of that gives credit to hol● Scripture, where it is said, Give Alme● and all things be clean unto you, Luk● 11.41. and as water quencheth fire● so doth Alms extinguish sin; and 〈◊〉 the merciful shall find mercy, Ma● 5.7. and he that giveth but one dr●● of water for the love of God shall n● lose his reward: Mar. 40. 10.4● How pure must her soul be, who bowels were so full of compassion● and whose hands were ever open 〈◊〉 the poor; and what accumulated rewards shall she receive from t●● bounty of God, who was so mero●ful, and bountiful to his poor, 〈◊〉 cheerfully clothing, feeding, and v●siting them, or rather him in the● For it may be truly said foe this Lady, what Job declared of himself, that she denied not to the poor what they desired, nor made the widow's eyes expect, nor did she eat her bread a●one, but made the poor partakers with ●her. This therefore being so great a ●ruth, and so known by all that knew her, there will remain no wonder, if when she was taken out of this world, and translated to a better, there to enjoy the reward of ●hose great virtues, which the mercy of God had plentifully infused in●o her happy soul. The poor people ●n all places where she had lived, but especially in Worcestershire, where ●y reason of her longer abode, she ●ad met with more occasions of exercising her Charity, did general●y lament their loss with all possible expressions of sorrow, as conceiving themselves by her death deprived of a most indulgent Mother; which part she truly acted to the life amongst all, whose necessities obliged them to have recourse to her assistance.  
But her charity was not only exercised in relieving the corporal distresses of others, but flew an higher pitch, and made itself appear in a most ardent zeal of assisting the spiriall wants and remedying the maladies of the soul: Her ever constant, and (as it may be truly called) inflamed desire of reclaiming all persons from sin, whom she knew it concerned, and procuring them all those helps from others, which her sex rendered her incapable to afford them in her own person, were undeniable arguments how extraordinary he● zeal was of gaining souls to God.  
Of this truth many of her actions of this kind might be particularised, were it not too unnecessarily to swell this Relation with endeavouring to make that appear, whereof all that knew her were sufficiently convinced: Howsoever, it it will not be impertinent to touch briefly upon one of these her Acts of charity, in regard Almighty God did give such a signal evidence, how grateful it was in his divine eyes, by a most wonderful, if not miraculous preservation of her from a strange and dangerous accident which followed immediately after the performance of this good work. For having been to visit a Noble Gentleman her near Kinsman, whom she knew to have failed contrary to his judgement, by humane frailty, and to have led a life too conformable to such a failing, and having (which was the sole end of her visit) with earnest pious admonitions, and fervent prayers poured forth to God by his bedside (to which his infirm condition had confined him) proved successful in her endeavours, and wrought so good an effect, that he became a most perfect penitent, by reconciling himself to God, and so made a most happy end; having (I say) done this most charitable work, in her Return to her own House, in a certain steep descent, near an high unfenced bridge of stone, her coach-horses grew so unruly, that one of them kicked down the coachman from off his box, and ran violently to the bridge, and running in their full carrier over it, the coach fell suddenly into the River; and so high was the bridge, that it turned twice round in the falling, and at length lighted directly upon the wheels in the River, and in such a part of it as was shallow, though very near the deepest part, which was capable to have overwhelmed it, had it been many yards higher than it was. In the fall the foremost horses broke their tackling, and escaped the precipitation, but of the two wheel-horses, both of which, fell with the coach, the one, (and he who did the main mischief by kicking down the coachman) broke his neck and was killed, the other fell with the coach without the least hurt. All those who knew this place, and particularly those who attended her, and were eye-witnesses of the accident, and saw how free from all harm their Lady and her Wayting-Gentlewoman (which was all the company she then had with her in the coach) remained after it, would not call this so total a preservation by any other Name, then that of a Miraculous deliverance; and certainly it can admit of no other interpretation, but of a malicious attempt of the Devil against her, for having got a soul out of his power (of which he had been too long possessed) and a most particular tract of the divine Providence, in rendering his malice ineffectual. For God was only in her thoughts when she was falling (as she confessed to one who had power to ask her) she being then actually employed in making acts of love to his divine Majesty to render thanks to whom for his so highly merciful a preservation from this so great disaster, was the first thing she did after her return home, before she spoke to any one whomsoever; she repairing immediately to her Oratory to this most Christianlike Exercise, and there reciting with great Devotion that pious Hymn (called Te Deum) composed by those great Saints and Doctors of the Church St. Ambrose, and St. Augustine, and used by all the faithful in solemn Thanksgivings to God for his blessings and manifold mercies: these her high acts of charity so universally extended, render it needless to relate how incessant the care was that she took in the instruction of her children in all the mysteries and duties of Christian Religion, which she would personally perform herself, as soon as they came to those years that rendered them capable thereof. Even as soon as they began to make any show of speaking, she was solicitous, that before any other word, they might learn to pronounce the holy, and divine name of Jesus, to which all knees bow, whether in Heaven or Earth, or elsewhere, and that their prayers might be the first discourses that they might use, that so they might begin in the first place to speak to God, to whom the first and chief honour is due; and in their Nurse's arms, when they were at any time brought home, her first caress was, to sign them with the sign of the Cross, and immediately to carry them to her Oratory, to offer them to his divine Majesty and beg blessings for them. And as their age increased, she did not fail to encourage them, no less by word then example, to the exercise of all virtues, and particularly to a liberal, and compassionate relief of the poor, which Christ doth so expressly own as done to himself. Neither was she wanting to act the part of a Mother in this kind towards the meanest of her servants, to whose being catechised, and taught all Christian duties, she with constant zeal contributed even personally, when need required, and of whose exact performance of all those Obligations to which either the laws of God or of his spouse the holy Catholic Church, tie her children; she was so piously solicitous, that they wanted neither frequent admonitions to encourage them to good, nor such reprehensions as were requisite to alter them from all evil. And all things relating to the discharge of their domestical employments were by her most Christianlike providence so ordered, as that they might not prove any hindrance to their attending to the service of God, or rendering him all due honour, by being present at divine service, and all other holy exercises, at times appointed, by that authority which he hath left here on earth, assisted by his holy spirit, to guide and govern the spiritual kingdom of humane souls.  
Seeing therefore it hath been made appear so evidently, how high and even supererrogatory a charity she shown both in relieving the corporal necessities, and also in contributing so efficatiously to the spiritual advantages of others, It cannot certainly enter easily into the suspicion of any rational person, but that she was equally careful not to do any one the least imaginable Injury; I am sure it would be injurious to her for any person to harbour such a doubt in his breast. For how sensibly tender her conscience was in all that concerned the reputation of others, there are as many witnesses as persons, that knew her, who all with one mouth, avow that she was never heard to speak any the least word, that might tend to the diminution of the credit of any one whatsoever, nor ever to use any deriding expression or reproach even in the reprehension of the meanest of her servants; But on the contrary side, her tongue was ever ready (how wary soever she was in avoiding much discourse) to defend the reputation, and excuse the faults of others against those many who are too apt both to misrepresent, and misconstrue the actions of their neighbours, and too uncharitably to rip up the memory of their failings; And all her reprehensions even for the greatest faults were according to Christ's counsel, privately given, for the concealment of their imperfections, and were seasoned with so much sweetness, that her anger was not only innocent but virtuous; And in composing all differences (which sometimes happen in such numerous Families as hers) between her servants, she was a very Angel of peace, and was exactly careful, that even those of the best quality that attended her, might do right to the very meanest without all partiality.   

Her Other Virtues.  
WHen good principles are laid, the consequences are generally ever clear: so that it seems a kind of demonstration, that so lively a faith, and so exemplar a Charity as her soul was adorned with, must necessarily be accompanied with all other virtues; so fervent a lover of God could not but take delight in the practice of all that which is agreeable in his sight. Howsoever I will endeavour briefly to show how eminent she was in all kinds: And to begin with that rarely to be found perfection in the feminine sex of this latter age (modesty); she excelled therein in so high a degree, that her conversation and comportment, might seem commendable ever in a veiled votary, much more in one of a secular calling; nothing ever appeared in her habit or dress, that might not merit a praise from the most scrupulous observer of the rules of that virtue: And so careful was she that none under her charge might offend therein, that she permitted not her children to read any books, without an assurance from her spiritual guides, that there was nothing in them contradictory to faith, or destructive to modesty, much less did she allow them either to haunt any company, or use any divertisement that might in the least degree endanger the violation of that so much praised virtue by all pious persons, and particularly commended by St. Peter the holy Apostle in these words, that the chaste conversation of Christian Ladies was to be in fear, and their trimming not to be outward, as consisting in the curling of their hair, 1 Pet. 3.4. adorning themselves with curious and costly clothes, but in the inwardness of heart, which is hidden, and the incorruptibility of a quick and modest spirit, which indeed is highly rich in the sight of God.  
Neither was her humility less celebrated by all that knew then her Modesty; For she not only made appear this high virtue, truly high because so eminently practised by the highest of all Creatures, the Mother of God, in avoiding as much as possibly her condition would permit, all things either of ostentation or pomp, whether it were in apparel, or any other real vanity, and in treating all persons of what rank soever with all imaginable sweetness and affability, though without any indiscreet diminution of that dignity in which God had placed her, and which no Lady knew better how to comply with then herself, but in that quintessence of this divine virtue, humbleness of heart, which still moved her to undervalue herself, and to express to her ghostly Director, so much affliction of mind, for her want of worth to merit those many blessings God had bestowed on her, both spiritual and temporal, upon account (as she would frequently urge even with abundance of tears) of her many sins and imperfections, insomuch that he was forced for her comfort to use many persuasive discourses and reasons, (which her life and practise rendered abundantly convincing) that she looked upon her few imperfections with magnifying glasses (for no great sins ever stained her pure soul) and not through Optics, which made a true discovery of them.  
But as this true humility of hers would not permit her to take any notice of her own virtues, but kept her heart still fixed on the consideration of her own unworthiness: (And so great did her own (small) faults appear in her own sight, that the very reflection on any the least imperfection filled her eyes with tears, and her heart with sorrow) so on the other side, no body was an higher magnifyer and esteemer of the virtues of others; and principally when they shined in persons of High degree, and would often bewail herself for not imitating such patterns, and particularly she honoured, and frequently celebrated in her Discourse that remarkable example of great Ladies for piety, who truly trampled upon the pride and vanity of this world, the Countess of Arundel (of the Lord D'Acres Family by birth;) betwixt whom, and herself there had passed many Testimonies of mutual kindness. And also that most excellent Lord, the immediate Predecessor and Uncle of her Husband; George Earl of Shrewsbury, of whose great perfections she was many years an eye-witness: upon whose death she forthwith repaired to her ghostly Father, not with a heart filled with joy, according to the usual strain of worldly Ladies, for the honour that was thereby descended to her, but full of a deep sense of her own unworthiness to succeed so Saintlike a person in so eminent a degree, and therefore earnestly begged the assistance of his prayers, that she might not soil that honour by her sins, but in some small measure (at least) imitate so good a precedent.  
Neither was she less eminent in that high virtue preferable before sacrifice (Obedience,) in imitation of our Blessed Saviour and divine Master, who for us was made obedient to the death of the cross, and who (though above all laws) was for our sakes content to subject himself to humane Ordinations. And she did not only practise this virtue in so high a manner (as hath been already related) in never having been guilty of any mortal breach of his holy Commandments, but also by a most exact submission to all the Pastors and Prelates of his holy Catholic Church, to whom he hath committed the cure of souls, and those particularly, to whom by virtue of that authority she had committed the regulation of her own conscience, and spiritual concerns, with whom she frequently consulted about those matters, and never failed in a strict observance of their advices and directions.  
And as to the duty of her own calling, and most punctual compliance with the obedience due from a wife to a husband, I may affirm, without being contradicted by any one that knew her (and her own constant family exceeded 60. persons) that the fault would lie at the men's door if all marriages were not happy, if all wifes did but imitate her example: For as she was most prudent in offering in an humble manner such advises upon just occasion, as she judged conducing to my Lord her husband's advantage, so did she ever with all cheerfulness submit to his determination. And if he were at any time indisposed in health, she not only expressed the tenderness of a most affectionate wife, in her sense of his infirmity, and her solicitous providing of all remedies for his recovery, but ever performed all the duties of a servant in his attendance; All which he hath with much gratitude frequently acknowledged, affirming, that during the speace of above nineteen years wherein she lived his wife, she never gave him the least cause of disgust; but that he received much constant content from her agreeable and complasant conversation; and much benefit from her frequent, prudent, and pious counsels; and most of all from her exemplar practices: And I am sure no person whatsoever, whether domestic, or other, whether of the same Religion or a different, had any difficulty to believe him; For so high was the esteem of her virtues amongst all, that every one's mouth was full of her praises; And one Noble person (though of a different Religion) who made a condoling Visit to my Lord after her death, speaking in the general language, used by all, when she was the Theme of the discourse, said to him, that he had no just cause to grieve for one who lived like a Saint upon earth, and now shined like an Angel in heaven.   

Her last sickness and Death.  
AS her whole life was spent totally (in a manner) in successive acts of piety, and devotion, so did it please Almighty God in recompense of her virtue, to grant her a most happy, and Christianlike conclusion of it. Her very last employments, before she was consigned to her dying Chamber and bed, was a whole night (to wit, that of Christmas) spent, according to her custom, in acts of devotion, she then joining like a dutiful child with her holy Mother the Catholic Church, in celebrating the birth of the Saviour of the world, and having then with her wont pious preparation received the holy Eucharist.  
Immediately after so many hours spent in such exercises, going to retire to her rest, she found herself seized with a most unusual coldness, and with so violent an heart sickness, that she concluded it to be mortal; yet nevertheless as she had all her life shown herself in a most exemplar manner a truly loving wife, so would she now give dying Testimonies of it; For neither would she quit my Lord's chamber and Bed (which she conceived herself about to quit for good and all) nor yet give him any disturbance in it, but with all patience suppressed the complaint of her sickness in silence, not permitting any the least noise to be made, by speech or otherwise, or her bed to be warmed, or any act of indulgence to be used to herself, that might tend to the disquieting of him, whom some indisposition had caused to retire sooner; but lay quietly, full of pains, and as full of acts of confirmity to the divine will, till he awaked; then imparting to him the dangerous condition wherein she conceived herself, and with that tenderness that became so truly indulgent, and affectionate a parent, recommending her children to his favour and care, she desired in compliance with that obligation which lay upon her, to make use of those means which God hath appointed for the preservation of health, that Physicians might be sent for, which my Lord being struck to the heart with that sad Good morrow she had given him, did not fail to do with all diligence, as knowing too well how much it concerned him to preserve so great a treasure.  
And though she had by my Lords care the constant attendance of two or three of the ablest Doctors then in Oxford (London being at too great a distance) and that they at the beginning seemed hopeful of her recovery, and failed not in the application of all those Remedies their Art could suggest; yet it pleased God to render their endeavours ineffectual; for the violence of her sickness increased so fast upon her, that according to her own opinion, who by his Divine permission had taken a righter measure of her own Infirmity than they had, it proved the means of freeing her within a few days, of all the cares that attend a transitory life.  
Her pains were extreme, seizing her in the most sensible part (the prime seat of life) her heart, and her patience was equal; for she was never heard to complain of, or lament her condition; but whensoever she was asked concerning it, her only answer was, as it pleased God; upon whom her heart was wholly fixed: and in continual applications of herself to him, and in fervent prayers to implore his mercy and grace, the whole time of her sickness was spent.  
On the last day whereof, being the feast of the Holy Innocents', she received Extreme Unction with admirable devotion, being so present to herself, as to answer exactly to the Lytanies, and to reach out her own hands to be anointed.  
The next day being the feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury, that famous Martyr and Champion of the Church, (a day that was ever wont to be spent by her in a manner totally in devotion) about six of the Clock in the morning, just precisely at the conclusion of those devout prayers (called the Recommendation of the soul) used by the Catholic Church in the last Agonies of her children, did this great Servant of God end this mortal life, giving up her soul to him, whom she ever loved, served, and obeyed with her whole heart, as hath been (I suppose) sufficiently evidenced by many most remarkable and undeniable testimonies.  
And I think I may without difficulty gain credit, when I shall tell you, how universal a consort of Lamentation there was in all that Family, at the approach of her death, when every one was considering how great a loss they were to undergo; not any but sensibly shared in this affliction, seeing no children could have a more tender or careful Mother, no servants a more Indulgent or charitable Mistress, nor no Husband a more affectionate, and obedient Wife.  
After her Death it appeared evidently to those who had the ordering of her body for burial, that she had not only made a righter judgement of her danger, than her Physicians, but also of the quality of her Infirmity, which shown itself by the great evacuation of blood at her mouth, to have been an Imposthume; she having several times, some years before, intimated that she conceived, that there was one gathering about, or near her heart, where she felt her greatest torment.  
She lived 36 years, 2 months, and 26 days, and her Corpse were with all convenient decency carried to Albrington in Shropshire, a Town belonging to the now Earls of Shrewsbury, and the usual place of Sepulture of that branch of that family, unto which that Earldom hath been descended these four last generations, and there it was interred in a Church dedicated to God in honour of St. Thomas of Canterbury, upon whose Feast she died, and laid in the selfsame Vault with that of the late most Learned and holy George Earl of Shrewsbury, formerly mentioned, whose virtues she did so effectually imitate.  
She left behind her 4 Sons and 3 Daughters (having buried 2 Sons during her life) to wit, the Lord George Tallbot, who died in his youthful age, and inherited the heroical spirit of his great Name, but left no issue behind him; Francis the second Son, Earl after his Father, a Gentleman generally esteemed by all worthy persons, and as much lamented by all such; who hath left issue, Charles the present hopeful Earl, and one other Son, and a Daughter the picture both in her face and humour of her Father: Edward the third Son killed in the late Civil Wars in the service of his King at the Battle of York; and Gilbert the fourth and youngest Son still living.  
Her 3 Daughters were the Lady Frances, the Lady Katherine, and the Lady Mary, all were most praiseworthy for their excellent dispositions and virtuous comportments; the two first died in their young age without issue; the Lady Mary is still living, and hath issue one Son by her first husband (the grandchild by the Father's side of Thomas Lord Arundel of Wardour, and Count Imperial, and by the Mothers of the Lord Viscount Montacute) and both Sons and Daughters by her second husband the brother and heir apparent of James Lord Studly and Earl of Castle-haven.  
God's holy Name be blessed for having given her the Grace to lead so holy a life, and make so happy an end, and may we by his grace and favour through the mercies of Christ profit by the example of her virtues.   
FINIS.