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JOHN EVELYN'S LIFE OF 
 MRS. GODOLPHIN. 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 MRS. GODOLPHIN 
 
 BY JOHN EVELYN 
 
 OF WOOTTON ESQ. 
 
 Now first published and 
 Edited by Samuel Lord Bishop of Oxford 
 
 Chancellor of the Most Noble 
 Order of the Garter 
 
 NEW- YORK: 
 
 D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA I 
 
 GEO. S. APPLETON, 148 CHESNUT-ST. 
 
 MDCCCXLVII. 
 
I THB LIBRARY 
 #F CONGRESS 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
To His Grace 
 
 EDWARD, 
 
 Lord Archbishop of York, Lord High Almoner, 
 &c. 
 
 My Lord Archbishop, 
 
 Your Grace will, I trust, allow me to inscribe the 
 following pages to you. 
 
 Your unmerited kindness, shown to me on many 
 other occasions, intrusted them to me for publication ; 
 and I well know that whilst your Grace has felt that the 
 light of such an example as they exhibit aught not to 
 be concealed, you rejoice to know that you have lived to 
 see a British Court which in purity of morals and 
 domestic virtue affords the most blessed contrast to those 
 evil days through which Margaret Godolphin was ena- 
 bled to live in the brightness of a godly purity, and to 
 die in peace. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 Your Grace's obliged and 
 affectionate 
 
 S. Oxon: 
 
 Cuddesdon Palace, 
 Feb. 1847. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The following Memoir was drawn up by the ac- 
 complished John Evelyn, of Wootton, and intended by 
 him for publication; but it never received his final 
 corrections. In a manuscript paper of memoranda 
 left at Wootton in Mr. Evelyn's hand- writing, its title 
 occurs in a list of " Things I would write out faire and 
 reform if I had the leisure." In his family, the MS. 
 has remained until the present time, having passed into 
 the hands of Mr. Evelyn's great-great-grandson,* His 
 Grace the Honourable Edward Venables-Vernon Har- 
 court, Lord Archbishop of York, by whom it has been 
 intrusted for publication to the care of the present Editor. 
 The MS. which is written with extraordinary care and 
 neatness, and apparently in Mr. Evelyn's own hand- 
 
 * See Table V. p. 151. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 writing, has been printed almost as it stands. The 
 original spelling, which is not uniform throughout the 
 volume, has been preserved wherever its strangeness 
 did not throw some obscurity over the meaning of the 
 passage. A few words which here and there were 
 needful to complete the sense have been conjecturally 
 inserted, but always in brackets. 
 
 The text is illustrated by two genealogical tables, a 
 short sketch of the life of Sir George Blagge, and a 
 valuable body of illustrative notes, which the Editor 
 owes to the accurate and well-furnished pen of John 
 Holmes, Esq. of the British Museum, who has kindly 
 contributed them to this volume. 
 
 From the genealogical table it will be seen, that 
 Mrs. Godolphin sprang from an ancient and honourable 
 house, and that her blood still flows in the veins of 
 some of the most illustrious of the nobility of England. 
 Her husband, who rose to the highest honours of the 
 state, was early left a widower, and, surviving his wife 
 thirty-four years, never remarried. He transmitted to 
 Francis, their only child, the earldom of Godolphin. 
 This Francis, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, married Hen- 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 rietta Churchill, eldest daughter and co-heir of John 
 Duke of Marlborough, to whom in her own right passed 
 the dukedom of Marlborough. By the death without 
 issue of William Godolphin, first, Viscount Rialton, and 
 afterwards, Marquis of Blandford, — their only son who 
 attained to manhood, — the honours of the house of 
 Marlborough passed to the family of Spencer from the 
 descendants of Margaret Godolphin. By the marriage 
 of Mary the heiress of the 2nd Lord Godolphin to 
 Thomas the 4th Duke of Leeds, her name and blood 
 passed into the succession of that illustrious house. 
 
 But it was not for gentle descent or noble alliance 
 that Margaret Godolphin was the most remarkable or 
 best deserves remembrance. Rather did she add dis- 
 tinction to an ancient line, and transmit to all her pos- 
 terity that memory of her virtues and inheritance of 
 good deeds without which titles and hereditary rank 
 are but splendid contradictions and conspicuous blem- 
 ishes. 
 
 Her lot was cast in the darkest age of England's 
 morals ; she lived in a court where flourished in their 
 rankest luxuriance all the vice and littleness, which the 
 
Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 envy of detractors without, has ever loved to impute — 
 and at times, thank God, with such utter falsehood — 
 to courts in general. 
 
 In the reign of Charles the Second, that revulsion 
 of feeling which affects nations just as it does indi- 
 viduals had plunged into dissipation all ranks on their 
 escape from the narrow austerities and gloomy sourness 
 of puritanism. The court, as was natural, shared to the 
 full in these new excesses of an unrestrained indulgence ; 
 whilst many other influences led to its wider corrup- 
 tion. The foreign habits contracted in their banish- 
 ment by the returning courtiers were ill suited to the 
 natural gravity of English manners, and introduced at 
 once a wide-spread licentiousness. The personal char- 
 acter, moreover, of the King helped on the general cor- 
 ruption. Gay, popular, and witty, with a temper 
 nothing could cross, and an affability nothing could 
 repress, he was thoroughly sensual, selfish, and de- 
 praved — vice in him was made so attractive by the wit 
 and gaiety with which it was tricked out, that its ut- 
 most grossness seemed for the time rather to win than 
 to repulse beholders. Around the King clustered a 
 band of congenial spirits, a galaxy of corruption, who 
 
INTRODUCTION* Xlll 
 
 spread the pollution upon every side. The names of 
 Buckingham and Rochester, of Etheridge, Lyttelton, 
 and Sedley, still maintain a bad pre-eminence in the 
 annals of English vice. As far as the common eye 
 could reach there was little to resist the evil. The 
 Duke of York, the next heir to the throne, a cold- 
 hearted libertine, shared the vices of the King, without 
 the poor gloss of his social attractions. It was the day 
 of England's deepest degradation, when in private life 
 morality was a reproach, truth departed, and religion a 
 jest ; when in affairs of state French gold and foreign 
 influence had corrupted and subdued the throned mon- 
 arch, and England's King was daily losing what had 
 been gained by the Protector of the Commonwealth. 
 
 It was a day of heartless merriment, upon which 
 fell suddenly a night of blackness, which swallowed up 
 its crew of godless revellers. A picture more deeply 
 tragical than that thus simply sketched by Mr. Evelyn 
 at the end, of Charles himself, can scarcely be con- 
 ceived. " I can never forget the inexpressible luxury 
 and prophaneness, gaming and all dissoluteness, and as it 
 were total forgetfulness of God (it being Sunday even- 
 ing) which this day se'nnight I was witness of, the 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 King sitting and toying with his concubines, Ports- 
 mouth, Cleaveland, and Mazarine, &c. a French boy- 
 singing love songs in that glorious gallery, whilst about 
 20 of the great courtiers and other dissolute persons 
 were at Basset round a large table, a bank of at least 
 2000 in gold before them, upon which two gentlemen 
 who were with me made reflexions with astonishment. 
 Six days after was all in the dust." 
 
 Evelyn's Diary, Feb. 1684-5. 
 
 In the midst of such a general reign of wickedness, 
 it is most refreshing to the wearied spirit to find by 
 closer search some living witnesses for truth and holi- 
 ness — some who, through God's Grace, passed at His 
 call their vexed days amongst the orgies of that crew, 
 as untainted by its evils, as is the clear sunbeam by the 
 corruption of a loathsome atmosphere. Such an one 
 was Margaret Godolphin, whom neither the license of 
 those evil days, nor the scandal and detraction with 
 which they abounded, ever touched in spirit or in 
 reputation.- Verily she walked in the flames of " the 
 fiery furnace and felt no hurt, neither did the smell of 
 fire pass upon her." 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 • In what strength she lived this life the following 
 pages will declare. They will show that ever by her 
 side, conversing with her spirit through its living faith, 
 there was a fourth form like unto the Son of God. 
 And one thing for our instruction and encouragement 
 may here be specially noted : that in that day of reproach 
 she was a true daughter of the Church of England. 
 Puritanism did not contract her soul into moroseness ; 
 nor did she go to Rome to learn the habits of devotion. 
 In the training of our own Church she found enough of 
 God's teaching to instruct her soul ; in its lessons she 
 found a rule of holy self-denying obedience ; in its 
 prayers a practice of devotion ; in its body a fellow- 
 ship with saints ; in its ordinances a true communion 
 with her God and Saviour ; which were able to main- 
 tain in simple, unaffected purity her faith at court, in 
 dutiful, active love her married life ; which sufficed to 
 crown her hours of bitter anguish and untimely death 
 with a joyful resignation and assured waiting for her 
 crown. 
 
 Such is the sketch presented in these pages to the 
 reader. May he in a better day learn in secret, for 
 
XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 himself, those lessons of heavenly wisdom which 
 adorned the life and glorified the death of Margaret 
 Godolphin. 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS- GODOLPHIN. 
 
 Vn Dieu vn Amy. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 I am not vnmindfull of what your Ladyship lately 
 suggested to me concerning that blessed Saint now in 
 heaven. Doe you beleive I need be incited to preserve 
 the memory of one whose Image is soe deeply printed 
 in my heart ? Butt you would have a more perma- 
 nent Record of her perfections, and soe would I ; not 
 onely for the veneration wee beare her precious Ashes, 
 butt for the good of those who, emulous of her vertues, 
 would pursue the Instance of it, in this, or perhapps 
 any age before it. 'Tis certaine the materialls I have 
 by me would furnish one who were Master of a Stile 
 becomeing soe admirable a Subject ; and wish'd I have, 
 a thousand tymes, the person in the world who knew 
 her best, and most she loved, would give vs the picture 
 his pencill could best delineat : if such an Artist as 
 he is decline the vndertakeing, for fear that even with 
 all his skill he should not reach the originall, how farr 
 short am I like to fall, who cannot pretend to the 
 meanest of his Talents. But as indignation (they say) 
 sometymes creats a poem where there is no naturall 
 
 2 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 disposition in the composer ; soe a mighty obligation, a 
 holy freindshipp, and your Ladyshipp's comands, irre- 
 sistibly prevaile with me rather to hazard the censure 
 of my Imperfections, then to disobey you, or suffer 
 those precious memoryes to be lost which deserve con- 
 secration to Eternity : 'tis then the least and last ser- 
 vice I can express to a dyeing friend for whom I 
 should not have refused even to dye my selfe. Butt, 
 Madam, you will not expect I should be soe exactly 
 particular in the minuter circumstances of her birth 
 and what past in her Infancy and more tender years, 
 because, [though] I have sometimes told her pleasantly 
 I would write her life, when God knowes I little 
 thought of surviveing her whome often I have wished 
 might be att the closeing of myne owne Eyes, I had 
 not the honor of being acquainted with her till the 
 last seaven years of her life ; I say the little expecta- 
 tion I had of erecting to her a monument of this nature, 
 made me not soe Industrious to Informe myselfe of 
 what was past as I should have beene, for I am per- 
 swaded that from the begining something of exterord- 
 nary remarkeable was all along conspicuous in her ; 
 nor was it possible that my admiration of her vertues, 
 when I came to know her, should not have prompted 
 me to enquire concerneing many particulars of her life 
 before I knew her ; something I learned casually con- 
 versing with her, diverse things from the papers comu- 
 nicated to me since her decease, and from what your . 
 Ladyshipp has Informed me ; from whome I might 
 derive ample matter to furnish vpon this subject ; butt, 
 as I said, it would become a steadier hand and the 
 penn of an Angells wing to describe the life of a Saint, 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 3 
 
 who is now amongst those Illustrious orders: butt, 
 Madam, 'tis your peremptorye Comand, I should sett 
 downe what I know, and how diffident soever I ought 
 to be of acquitting my selfe as I should, yett since 'tis 
 hardly possible to say any thing soe indifferently, butt 
 must raise an Emulation in those that read or hear of 
 it to Imitate her vertues, [I enter] vpon the adventure. 
 
 "Where this excellent creature was borne, I have 
 learned from you ; when, from herselfe ; namely, as I 
 remember, on the Second of August, in the year 1652 ; 
 a month and a year never to be forgotten by me with- 
 out a mixture of different passions, for then had I born 
 that child whose early hopes you have often heard me 
 deplore the loss of, nor doe I yett remember him with- 
 out emotion. 
 
 'Tis not to informe your Ladyshipp of a thing you 
 doe not know, butt for methods sake, that I speake 
 something of the family of this Lady, which was very 
 honorable : her father was Collonell Thomas Blagge, 
 a Gent, of an ancient Suffolke family, and a person 
 of soe exterordnary witt and signal Loyalty, as not 
 only made him esteemed by that blessed Martyr Charles 
 the First, being made Groome of his Bedd Chamber, 
 butt to be intrusted with one of his principall Garrisons, 
 namely that of Wallingford, dureing the late rebellion. 
 How worthyly he acquitted himselefe of that charge 
 in that unhappy warr, is upon another monumental 
 Record. Hee lived to see his Majestye who now raignes 
 restored to his Kingdomes and to dye in his favour. 
 Mrs. Blagge, his Lady, (Mother to our Saint) was a 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 woman soe eminent in all the vertues and perfections 
 of her sex, that it were hard to say whether were 
 superior her Beauty, Witt, or Piety ; for, as I have heard 
 from those who intimately knew her, she was in all 
 these very like her daughter, and then I am sure there 
 could nothing be added to render her a most admirable 
 person. The iniquitye of the tymes had acquainted 
 her with sorrow enough to have distracted her, being 
 left butt in difficult circumstances, yett she lived to 
 discharge all her husband's engagements that were 
 very considerable, and to provide an honourable com- 
 petency for noe less then 3 young daughters, whereof 
 this was the youngest. 
 
 Itt was by this excellent mother that this rare child 
 was as early instituted in the fear of God as she could 
 speake : and as her exterordnary discernment soone 
 advanced to a great and early sense of Religion, soe 
 she brought her to be confirmed by the now Lord 
 Bishopp of Ely, Doctor Gunning, who itt appeares was 
 soe surprized att those early Graces he discovered in 
 her, that he thought fitt she should be admitted to the 
 holy Sacrament when she was hardly Eleaven years 
 of Age : from that moment forwards, young and 
 sprightfull as she was, she was observed to live with 
 great circumspection, prescribeing to herselfe a constant 
 method of devotion, and certaine dayes of abstinence, 
 that she might the better vacate to holy dutyes and 
 gaine that mastery over her appetite, which, with all 
 other passions, she had strangely subdued to rriy often 
 admiration. Butt I should have told your Ladyshipp, 
 though I remember not on what occasion, she went 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 
 
 with the old Dutchess of Richmond into France, who 
 consign'd her to the care of the late Countess of Guil- 
 ford, Groome of the Stoole to the late Queens Mother, 
 with whome she continued till her Majestye came into 
 England : And this minds me of what I have heard, 
 that being frequently tempted by that Bygott proseli- 
 tesse to go to Masse, and be a papist, our young Saint 
 would not only not be perswaded to it, but asserted her 
 better faith with such readiness and constancy, (as 
 according to the argument of that keen Religion) 
 caused her to be rudely treated and menaced by the 
 Countess ; soe as she was become a Confessor and 
 almost a Martyr before she was 7 years old. This 
 passage I have from her selfe and she would relate it 
 with pretty circumstances ; but long staid she not in 
 France ; when being returned to her mother, she lived 
 with her sometyme in London, till the raigneing pesti- 
 lence of Sixty-five breakeing out, every body retireing 
 into the Country, she accompanyed her into SmTolke 
 amongst her fathers Relations there, and past the Re- 
 cess with soe much order and satisfaction, that with 
 exterordnary regrett she was taken notice of to quitt it ; 
 when being demanded by the then Dutchess of Yorke 
 for a Maid of Honour, her Mother was prevailed with 
 to place her little Daughter att Court. This was 
 indeed a surprizeing change of Aire, and a perilous 
 Climate, for one soe very young as she, and scarcely 
 yett attained to the twelvth year of her age : butt by 
 how much more the danger soe much greater the vir- 
 tue and discretion which not only preserved her steady 
 in that giddy Station, but soe improv'd, that the exam- 
 ple of this little Saint influenced not onely her honour- 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 able companions, butt some who were advanc'd in 
 yeares before her, and of the most illustrious quality. 
 What ! shall I say, she like a young Apostless began 
 to plant Religion in that barren Soyie ? Arethusa 
 pass'd thro' all those turbulent waters without soe 
 much as the least staine or tincture in her Christall, 
 with her Piety grew vp her Witt, which was soe 
 sparkling, accompany ed with a Judgment and Elo- 
 quence soe exterordnary, a Beauty and Ay re soe 
 charmeing and lovely, in a word, an Address soe vni- 
 versally takeing, that after few years, the Court never 
 saw or had seen such a Constellation of perfections 
 amongst all their splendid Circles. Nor did this, nor 
 the admiration it created, the Elogies she every day 
 received, and application of the greatest persons, at all 
 elate her ; she was still the same, allwayes in perfect 
 good humour, allwayes humble, allwayes Religious to 
 exactness. Itt rendred her not a whitt moross, tho' 
 sometymes more serious, casting still about how she 
 might continue the houres of publique and private 
 devotion and other exercises of piety, to comply with 
 her duty and attendance on her Royall Mistress with- 
 out singularity or Reproach. 
 
 Thus pass'd she her tyme in that Court till the Dutch- 
 ess dyed, dureing whose Sickness, accompanyed (as it 
 was) with many vncomfortable, circumstances, she 
 waited and attended with an exterordnary sedulity, and 
 as she has sometymes told me, when few of the rest 
 were able to endure the fatigue : and therefore here, be- 
 fore I proceed, I cannot but take notice of those holy 
 and exterordnary reflections she made upon this occa- 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 
 
 sion, as I find them amongst other loose papers vn- 
 der her owne faire hand, when compareing her dear 
 Mother's sickness and other freinds departure with that 
 of the Dutchess, thus she writes. 
 
 " Mrs. N. dead, was an example of patience vnder 
 a burthen that was well nigh vnsupportable ; often she 
 received the blessed Sacrament, often she prayed and 
 was very much resign 'd, not surprized nor in confusion, 
 but perceiveing her sight decay, calling vpon God after 
 many holy and pious discourses and exhortations, she 
 calmely bidd her freinds farewell. 
 
 " A poore woman dead, worne to skyn and bones 
 with a consumption, she made noe Complaints, but 
 trusted in God, and that what ^«. thought fitt was best, 
 and to him resigu'd her soule. A poore creature that 
 had been a great sinner, died in misserable paines, in 
 exceeding terror ; God was gracious to her, she was 
 patient, very devout, she was released in prayer. My 
 mother dead, at first surprized, and very vnwilling; 
 she was afterwards resign'd, received often, prayed 
 much, had holy things read to her, delighted in hea- 
 venly discourse, desired to be dissolv'd and be with 
 Christ, ended her life chearfully, and without paine, 
 left her family in order and was much lamented. 
 
 " The D — dead, a princess, honoured in power, 
 had much witt, much mony, much esteeme ; she was 
 full of vnspeakable tortur, and died (poore creature) in 
 doubt of her Religion, without the Sacrament, or divine 
 by her, like a poore wretch ; none remembred her after 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 one weeke, none sorry for her ; she was tost and flung 
 about, and every one did what they would with that 
 stately carcase. What is this world, what its great- 
 ness, what to be esteemed, or thought a witt? Wee 
 shall all be stript without sence or remembrance. But 
 God, if wee serve him in our health, will give vs pa- 
 tience in our Sickness." 
 
 I repeate the instance as sett downe in her diarye, 
 to shew how early she made these usefull and pious 
 Recollections, for she must needs be then very young, 
 and att an age att least when very few of her sex, and 
 in her circumstances, much concerne themselves with 
 these mortify eing reflections. Butt, as I have often 
 heard her say, she loved to be att funeralls, and in the 
 house of mourning, soe being of the most compassion- 
 ate nature in the world, she was a constant visiter of 
 the sick and of people in distress. But, to proceed ; 
 she had not been above two yeares att Court before her 
 virtue, beauty, and witt made her be looked vpon as a 
 little miracle ; aud indeed there were some addresses 
 made her of the greatest persons, not from the attract 
 tion of affected Charmes, for she was ever, att that 
 sprightfull and free age, severely carefull how she 
 might give the least countenance to that liberty which 
 the Gallants there doe vsually assume of talking with 
 less reserve ; nor did this ecclipse her pretty humour, 
 which was chearfull and easy amongst those she 
 thought worthy her conversation. Itt is not to be de- 
 scribed (for it was tho' naturall, in her inimitable) with 
 what Grace, ready and solid vnderstanding, she would 
 discourse. Nothing that she conceived could be better 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 
 
 expressed, and when she was sometymes provok'd to 
 Railly, there was nothing in the world so pleasant, and 
 inoffensively diverting, (shall I say) or instructive ; for 
 she ever mingl'd her freest entertainments with some- 
 thing which tended to serious, and did it in such a 
 manner, as allwayes left some impressions exterordnary 
 even vpon those who came perhapps with inclinations 
 to pervert the most harmeless conversations ; soe as it 
 was impossible for any to introduce a syllable which 
 did not comply with the strictest rules of decency. 
 
 But I shall not be soe well able to describe what I 
 should say upon this occasion, as by giveing your La- 
 dyshipp the measures which she prescrib'd herselfe for 
 the government of her Actions, when she was of duty 
 to attend vpon her Majestye in publique, and when it 
 was not only impossible, but vnbecomeing to entertaine 
 those who composed the Royall Circle, and were per- 
 sons of the most illustrious qualitye, without censure 
 and rudeness. Behold then, Madam, what I find writ- 
 ten in her owne hands againe, and that might be a 
 coppy for all that succeed her in that honourable Sta- 
 tion to transcribe and imitate it ; for she kept not onely 
 a most acourate account of all her actions, butt did like- 
 wise register her serious purposes and resolutions, the 
 better to confirme and fix them, soe as they were not 
 hasty fitts of zeale and sudden transports, butsollemne 
 and deliberate ; and this I rather chuse to doe alsoe in 
 her owne very words and method, innocent, naturall, 
 and vn affected. 
 
10 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " My life, by God's Grace, without which I can doe 
 nothing. 
 11 I must, till Lent, rise att halfe an houre after eight 
 a clock ; whilst putting on morning cioathes, say the 
 prayer for Death and the Te Deum : then presently to 
 my prayers, and soe either dress my selfe or goe to 
 Church prayers. In dressing, I must consider how lit- 
 tle it signifyes to the saveing of my soule, and how 
 foolish 'tis to be angry about a thing so unneces- 
 sary. Consider what our Saviour suffered. — O Lord, 
 assist me. 
 
 u When I goe into the withdrawing roome, lett me 
 consider what my calling is : to entertaine the Ladys, 
 not to talke foolishly to Men, more especially the King ; 
 lett me consider, if a Traytor be hatefull, she that be- 
 trayes the soule of one is much worse ; — the danger, 
 the sin of it. Then without pretending to witt, how 
 quiet and pleasant a thing it is to be silent, or if I doe 
 speake, that it be to the Glory of God. — Lord, as- 
 sist me. 
 
 " Att Church lett me mind in what place I am ; 
 what about to ask, even the salvation of my soule ; to 
 whome I speak, — to the God that made me, redeemed 
 and sanctifyed me. and can yett cutt me off when he 
 pleases. — O Lord, assist me. 
 
 " When I goe to my Lady Falmouth s, I ought to 
 take paines with her about her Religion, or else I am 
 not her friend ; to shew example by calmness in dis- 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 11 
 
 pute, in never speaking ill of anybody to her, butt ex- 
 cuseing them rather. 
 
 " Goe to the dueene allwayes att nine, and then 
 read that place concerning the drawing roome, and 
 lett my man waite for me to bring me word before pub- 
 lique prayers begin. If I find she dynes late, come 
 downe, pray and read, namely, that concerning pray- 
 er; and think why I read, to benefitt my soule, pass 
 my tyme well, and improve my understanding. — O 
 Lord, assist me. 
 
 " Be sure still to read that for the drawing roome in 
 the privy chamber, or presence, or other place before 
 prayers, and soe againe into the drawing room for an 
 hour or soe ; and then slipp to my chamber and divert 
 myself in reading some pretty booke, because the 
 dueene does not require my waiteing ; after this to 
 supper, which must not be much if I have dyned well ; 
 and att neither meale to eate above two dishes, be- 
 cause temperance is best both for soule and body ; then 
 goe upp to the dueen, haveing before read, and well 
 thought of what you have written. Amen. 
 
 " Sett not up above halfe an hour after eleaven att 
 most ; and as you undress, repeate that prayer againe ; 
 butt before, consider that you are perhapps goeing to 
 sleepe your last ; being in bedd repeate your hymne 
 softly, ere you turne to sleepe. 
 
 " If I awake in the night lett me say that (for which 
 she had collected many excellent passages, as I find 
 among her papers,) psalm. Lord, assist me. 
 
12 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " In the morning, wakeing, use a short devotion 
 and then as soone as ever you awake, rise imediately 
 to praise him. The Lord assist me." 
 
 In another place of the same Diarye, about which 
 tyme I suppose there was some play to be acted by the 
 maids of honour. — " Now as to pleasure, they are speak- 
 ing of playes and laughing att devout people : well, I 
 will laugh att myselfe for my impertinencyes, that by 
 degrees I may come to wonder why any body does 
 like me ; and divert the discourse ; and talke of God 
 and morality e : avoid those people when I come into 
 the drawing roome, especially among great persons to 
 divert them ; because noe miliary allmost can be in- 
 nocent : goe not to the Dutchess of Monmouth above 
 once a week, except when wee dress to rehearse, and 
 then carry a booke along with me to read when I don't 
 act, and soe come away before supper. 
 
 " Talke little when you are there ; if they speak of 
 any body I can't commend, hold my peace, what jest 
 soever they make ; be sure never to talk to the King ; 
 when they speak filthyly, tho' I be laugh'd att, looke 
 grave, remembring that of Micha, there will a tyme 
 come when the Lord will bind up his Jewells. Never 
 meddle with others business, nor hardly ask a ques- 
 iion ; talk not slightly of religion. If you speake any 
 thing they like, say 'tis borrowed, and be humble when 
 commended. Before I speake, Lord, assist me ; when 
 I pray, Lord, heare me ; when I am praised, God, hum- 
 ble me ; may the clock, the candle, every thing I see, 
 Lord cleanse my hands, lett my feete 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 13 
 
 tread thy pathes. Is any body laughed att, say it may 
 be my case ; is any in trouble, say, ' Lord, in justice I 
 deserve it ; butt thou art all mercy ; make me thank- 
 full.' On Festivall evens I resolve to dyne att home, 
 and to repeat all the psalmes I know by heart," (of 
 which she had almost the whole psalter,) " reserveing 
 my reading or part of my prayers till night ; and supp 
 with bread and beere only. 
 
 " On Frydayes and Wednesdaies I'le eat nothing 
 till after evening prayer ; and soe come downe as soon 
 as ever the Q,ueene has dyned, without goeing to visitt, 
 till my owne prayers are finished. 
 
 " The same will I observe the day before I receive ; 
 use to pray on those dayes by daylight ; and early on 
 Sundayes, and think of no diversion till after evening 
 prayer ; to dyne abroad as little as possible, but per- 
 forme my constant duty to God and the Q,ueene. As- 
 sist me, O Lord ; Amen. 
 
 "Sing Psalmes now and then out of Sundayes. 
 Endeavour tobegg with teares what you aske, and O 
 lett them be, O Lord, my onely pleasure. There are 3 
 Sundayes to come from this Saturday night ; pray one 
 day earnestly to God for love, and against takeing his 
 name in vaine, pray against intemperance and sen- 
 suality ; and the other day for meekeness, and against 
 envy ; another for fear and alliance, and against de- 
 traction. 
 
 " I have vowed, if it be possible, not to sett upp 
 past ten o'clock ; therefore, before you engage in com- 
 
14 THE LIFE OF 
 
 pany, goe downe and read this, and be as much alone 
 as you can ; and when you are abroad talke to men 
 as little as may be : carry your prayer booke in your 
 pockettj or any thing that may decently keepe you from 
 converseing with men." 
 
 Behold what this blessed saint had promiscuously 
 sett downe in her diary att severall tymes, as resolu- 
 tions made upon severall occasions, all of them tending 
 to the institution of her life in a course of exterordnary 
 and early piety, for she was now very young, and I, 
 therefore, give them your Ladyshipp in her ownc 
 method, without method or studied connexion : nor 
 are these the first I have seene of hers in this nature. 
 She did upon several occurrences record her purposes, 
 and what she soe resolved she punctually perform'd. 
 Butt with what exterordnary caution she govern'd 
 herself att Court ; how holy, innocent, instructive, and 
 useful, her intire conversation was ; how much she 
 improved in virtue, and made devotion the pleasure as 
 well as imployment of her tyme, I need not tell your 
 Ladyshipp : nor used she to trick and dress herselfe 
 upp, tho' in soe splendid and vaine a theater, to the 
 purposes of vanity, or to be fine and ador'd : she was 
 extreamly shy of talking among the gallants and 
 young men, to pass away the tediousness of attend- 
 ance ; nor made she impertinent visitts ; for she had 
 fill'd vp the whole day, and destin'd almost every mi- 
 nute of it to exercise. When, therefore, I have sum'd 
 vp all, and consider'd well how much of it all I have 
 seene, and how with it all she preserved the lively and 
 elegant conversation which rendered her soe infinitely 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 15 
 
 agreeable to all that knew her, I cannot butt redouble 
 my admiration and especially how often and sensible 
 she has discoursed with me concerning the wonderful 
 satisfaction she took in the dutyes of Religion. 
 
 Butt here, before I proceed any further, the method 
 of tyme, and other circumstances require me to say 
 something how I came to be first acquainted with this 
 excellent creature, and by what tyes of sacred friend- 
 shipp I find my selfe soe highly obliged to celebrate 
 her memory ; and this I shall doe the rather because 
 the Lord has soe great a part in itt, that without in- 
 gratitude, I may not pass it over ; nor is it without 
 fresh delight that I still call to mind those innocent 
 dayes, and the sweet conversation which fifteene yeares 
 since wee enjoyed, that our familyes being neare to one 
 another, gave us the happy ness to be knowne to the 
 most obligeing neighbour in the world ; from soe long 
 a date it is that my wife computes her first haveing had 
 the blessing of beginning an acquaintance with Mrs. 
 Blagge, whome your mother and sister sometimes 
 kindly brought with them to our poore villa : butt few 
 of those civilityes of casuall or respectfull visitts had 
 passed, before my wife had discovered such exterord- 
 nary charmes, markes of virtue and discretion in her 
 conversation, that she would often reprove the diffi- 
 dence I was wont to express, when they would some- 
 tymes discourse of Piety and Religion, eminent among 
 the Court Ladyes ; and upon which subject your Lady- 
 shipp would frequently joine with my wife in conflict 
 against me, to the reproach of my Moroseness, and In- 
 fidelity, especially of a thing soe airy and soe gay as 
 
16 THE LIFE OF 
 
 some represented this miracle to me. And in this Error 
 I had certainly persisted, notwithstanding I had some- 
 tymes taken notice of her, both att my house and att 
 Church, to be a very agreeable Lady ; but that she 
 or any body else in her Court circumstances, was 
 principl'd with such a solid Virtue, and did cultivate it 
 to that degree, I was brought to believe with soe much 
 difficulty, that it was almost Seaven yeares before your 
 Ladyshipp could convince me. You had, indeed, a 
 Sister there, whose perfections would no longer suffer 
 me to continue alltogeather in this false perswasion ; 
 butt to believe there were many Saints in that Country 
 I was not much inclined ; nor likely had chang'd that 
 opinion, if an Imployment had not of necessity some- 
 tymes obliged me to come from my Recess, when I as 
 little affected to be knowne and to multiply acquaint- 
 ance of that sex as another man. I minded my 
 Bookes and my Garden, and the Circle was bigg 
 enough for me. I aspVd to no offices, noe titles, noe 
 favours att Court, and really was hardly knowne to 
 those next neighbours of mine, whome I had lived all- 
 most twenty years by : butt the Country where this 
 Lady lived I had much more aversion to, for the rea- 
 sons you may guess, and which made her quitt it as 
 soone as she could. 'Twas, I say, about a year that 
 she had sometymes beene att my house, when your 
 Ladyshipp 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 
 some airy thing, that had more Witt than Discretion ; 
 till upon your Ladyshipp and my Wifes more severely 
 reproaching me for being scarcely civill to a Companion 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 1 
 
 of your excellent Sisters, for whome I had much es- 
 teeme, (though but little acquainted,) 1 found my selfe 
 oblig'd, in good manners, to waite upon her when I 
 came to Whitehall. I speake of the Lady, your Sister, 
 then Maid of Honour : for 1 would object, that there 
 was a Witt with her whome I feared, and that I was 
 the most unfitt person in the world for the entertain- 
 ments of the Anti Chamber, and the little Spiritts that 
 dwell in Fairy Land. You assured me she was hum- 
 ble and Religious, and extreamly serious, and that [if] 
 I would believe you, I should not be displeased with 
 the adventure ; for tho' she had abundance of Witt, 
 and rallied shrewdly, yett she was civil and discreete, 
 and exterordnary obligeing. Vpon this, I made your 
 Sister a visitt, and surprized Mrs. Blagge, who it seems 
 that day was dressed for Audience and Ceremony, 
 vpon which I would have withdrawne, butt her Cham- 
 ber fellow staid me, and I was not vn willing to hear 
 her talke : but I since came to understand, it was a 
 clay of solemn devotion with her, and she excused her 
 selfe, said little, and look'd very humble, which I 
 liked, and soe for this tyme, tooke my leave. 
 
 I concluded by this she might not be that pert Lady 
 I had fancy ed ; and she afterwards spake curteously to 
 me, casually meeting her in the house, and that she 
 hoped she had not frighted me from her apartment. I 
 came once or twice after this with my wife to visitt 
 your Sister ; when this Lady keepeing her Chamber 
 caused me one day to dyne with her, which I tooke 
 kindly, because 'twas without affectation and with no 
 danger of surfeiting. Butt her conversation was a treat, 
 
18 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and I began to admire her temperance, and tooke espe- 
 ciall notice, that however wide or indifferent the subject 
 of our discourse was amongst the rest, she would all- 
 wayes divert it to some Religious conclusion ; and soe 
 temper and season her Replyes, as shew'd a gratious 
 heart, and that she had a mind wholly taken vp with 
 heavenly thoughts. 
 
 After this introduction she conjur'd me not to baulk 
 her holy Cell, and I was not a little pleased to be soe 
 solemnly diverted and find my selfe mistaken, that soe 
 young, soe elegant, soe charming a Witt and Beauty 
 should preserve soe much Virtue in a place where it 
 neither naturally grew nor much was cultivated ; for 
 with all these perfections, Yivacitye and Apprehention 
 beyond what I could expect, she seemed vnconcerned 
 and steady, could endure to be serious, and gently re- 
 prove my Morossness, and was greatly devout, which 
 putt me out of all feare of her Railary, and made me 
 vpon her with exterordnary respect. Thus every visitt 
 abated of my prejudice : her discourses were not tri- 
 fleing and effeminate, butt full of Virtue and materiall, 
 and of a most tender regard to Religion. Butt itt was 
 after your Ladyshipps Mother was gone into Lincoln- 
 sheir, and had carryed away her companion, that she 
 told me, " now Mrs. Howard is gone, she beleived she 
 should have little of my Company; butt if I were not 
 weary of her, and would be soe charitable, she should 
 take it kindly that I came often to her." This was a 
 Compliment you know I needed not, for by this tyme I 
 was so well assured of her Inclinacion to Goodness, that 
 she could not imagine me capable of neglecting a per- 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 19 
 
 son from whose conversation I never return'd butt with 
 advantage. I soone perceived what touched me to the 
 heart, and that was her soule ; and how her Inclina- 
 cions pointed to God ; that her discourses, designes, 
 and actions tended allwayes thither : and other obser- 
 vations which I made to my exterordnary wonder and 
 admiracion. This Creature (would I say to my selfe) 
 loves God ; 'tis a thousand pittyes butt she should per- 
 sist ; what a new thing is this, I think Paulina and 
 Eastochius are come from Bethlehem to Whitehall ; 
 and from this moment I began to looke vpon her as sa- 
 cred, and to bless God for the graces which shoone in 
 her. I dayly prayed for her as she had enjoined me, 
 and she began to open some of her holy thoughts to 
 me ; and I saw a flagrant devotion, and that she had 
 totally resigned herselfe to God ; and with these Incen- 
 tiues, who, that had any sence of Religion, could for- 
 beare to vallue her exceedingly ? 
 
 Itt was not long after this, that being one day to 
 visitt her, she seem'd to me more thoughtfull than ordi- 
 nary. I asked her, what made her looke soe solemnly. 
 She told me, she bad never a freind in the world. Noe, 
 said I, that's impossible ; I beleive no body has more ; 
 for all that know you must love you, and those that 
 love you are continually your freinds. Butt I, who 
 well knew where her heart att that tyme was, asked 
 her what she esteemed a certaine Gentleman beyond 
 the Seas. Alas, says she, he is very ill, and that makes 
 me very much concerned ; butt I doe not speake 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 
 
20 THE LIFE OF 
 
 more then I can express, a faithfull freind, whome I 
 might trust with all that I have, and God knows, that 
 is butt little ; for him whome you meane does not care 
 to meddle with my concerns, nor would I give him the 
 trouble. This, to my remembrance, were her very ex- 
 pressions to me. Madam, said I, doe you speake this 
 to me, as if I were capable of serving you in any thing 
 considerable ? I beleive you the person in the world 
 (replyed she) who would make such a freind as I wish 
 for, if I hadd meritt enough to deserve it. Madam, said 
 I, consider well what you say, and what you doe, for it 
 is such a trust, and soe great an obligation that you lay 
 upon me, as I ought to embrace with all imaginable 
 respect, and acknowledgment for the greatest honour 
 you could doe me ; Madam, to be called your freind 
 were the most desirable in the word, and. I am sure I 
 should endeavour to acquitt me of the duty with great 
 chearfullness and fidelity. Pray leave your compli- 
 menting, (said she smileing) and be my freind then, 
 and looke upon me henceforth as your Child. To this 
 purpose was her obligeing reply ; and there standing 
 pen and ink vpon the table, in which I had been draw- 
 ing something upon a paper like an Alter, she writt 
 these words : Be this the Symboll of Inviolable Freind- 
 ship, — Mary Blagge, 16th October, 1672, and vnder- 
 
 neath, For my brother E ; and soe delivered it to 
 
 me with a smile. Well, said I, Madam, this is an high 
 obligation, and you have allready paid me for the great- 
 est service that I can ever pretend to doe you ; butt yett 
 doe you know what you have done? Yes, sayes she, 
 very well ; butt pray what doe you meane ? Why, 
 said I, the title that has consecrated this Alter is the 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 
 
 21 
 
 Marriage of Souls, and the Golden thread that tyes the 
 hearts of all the world ; I tell you, Madam, Freindshipp 
 is beyond all relations of flesh and blood, because it is 
 less materiall ; there is nature in that of parents and 
 kindred, butt [that of] Freindshipp is of course and 
 without election, for which the Conjugall State it selfe 
 is not alwayes the most happy : and, therefore, those 
 who have had best experience chuse their freind out of 
 all these circumstances, and have found him more last- 
 ing, and more efTectuall. By this Symboll you give me 
 title to all that you can with Honour and Religion part 
 with in this world ; and it is a topic I could adorne with 
 glorious examples of what I speak ; and the noblest 
 things have been said vpon it ; and the Laws and 
 Measures of Freindshipp are the nicest and the most 
 obligeing ; — but you know them all. Well, replyed 
 she, smileing, be it soe, — pray what am I to doe ? 
 Nay, said I, I'll tell you first what you are to suffer. 
 
 The priviledges I claime (in virtue of that charac- 
 ter) are that I may visitt you without being thought 
 importunate ; that I may now and then write to you to 
 cultivate my Stile ; discourse with you to improve my 
 Vnderstanding ; read to you to receive your Reflec- 
 tions ; and that you freely command me vpon all occa- 
 sions without any reserve whatsoever : you are to write 
 to me when I am absent ; mention me in all your pray- 
 ers to God, to admonish me of all my failings, to visitt 
 me in sickness, to take care of me when I am in dis- 
 tress, and never to forsake me, change or lessen your 
 particular esteeme, till I prove vnconstant or perfidious, 
 and no mans freind : in a word, there is in Freindshipp 
 
22 THE LIFE OF 
 
 something of all relations, and something above them 
 all. These, Madam, are the Laws, and they are recip- 
 rocal 1 and eternal 1, &c. 
 
 Thus, for a tyme, 'twixt jest and earnest, the con- 
 versation putt her into the most agreeable humor in the 
 world. Well, said she, I will consider of what you 
 say ; butt pray remember you be my freind, and when 
 next you come, I will tell you what I have for you to 
 doe in good earnest ; and a little after writt me this 
 Letter. 
 
 " My Freind, 
 "I have considered and minded well what was 
 said, and what I writt, and will not recall it. I vnder- 
 stood something of the office of freindshipp before I knew 
 you, butt after what you have said and offered, I beleive 
 I shall need little Instruction. Gratitude, join'd with 
 the greatest esteeme I had before of you, will require all 
 that you mention on my part : you are then, my first 
 freind, the first that ever I had, and ever shall you be 
 soe. This is trueth vpon the word of a Christian ; and 
 I beleive I shall not lay downe my resolution of con- 
 tinueing yours butt with my life. I thankfully accept 
 all your Councell, and will endeavour to follow it ; butt 
 birds themselves have all way es the good nature to teach 
 their young ones, and soe must you ; looke vpon me 
 then as your child as well as freind, and love me as 
 your child, and, if you will, call me soe. What Mea- 
 sures you are to observe I meddle not with ; for a 
 freind may doe what he pleases ; they who give mo- 
 ny, give all ; 'tis a saying of your owne as to Charity, 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 23 
 
 they that are freinds 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 vso to you, vnless 
 to serve you as an Act of humility, which must be all 
 the reason you will ever have to require it ; what shall 
 I say then more ? till death reckon me your freind ; you 
 see how I think I am with you ; and now, after all this, 
 I may grow old or forgettfull, and Melancholy or Stu- 
 pid, and in that Case, will no more answer for my selfe 
 then for a Stranger ; butt, whilst I am my selfe and a 
 Christian, I will be yours." 
 
 Itt would be an vnpardonable ostentation in me, 
 and a great temptation to over vallue my selfe, and the 
 poore services she was pleased to accept of, should I 
 here repeate what she has left me vnder her own hand 
 vpon this subject, in the most pious and endearing ex- 
 pressions that could possibly fall from the most sincere 
 and obligeing Creature in the world : butt to lett them 
 pass, — 'tis certaine, that from this moment, I no more 
 look'd vpon her as Mrs. Blagge, butt as my child in- 
 deed, and did, to the vttmost of my poore abilitye, 
 advice and serve her in all her secular and no few 
 spirituall affaires and concerns, with a diligence and 
 fidelity becomeing the trust and confidence she reposed 
 in me, as an honour to be envyed by the best of men : 
 her friendshipp after this was soe transcendently sin- 
 cere, noble, and Religious, as taught me all its demean- 
 sions, beyond any thing I ever read of its highest Ideas ; 
 and she herselfe was heard to say, what she once 
 thought to be a name onely and nothing else, she found 
 a reall existance ; and that freindshipp was for mutuall 
 
24 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Improvement, and to fortifye every virtue ; and, indeed, 
 she was able to direct, and Counceil, and encourage, 
 and Comfort. Nay, and has often told me with be- 
 comeing passion, That she with Joy could dye fbr a 
 friend ; vrgeing that sentence of St. Pauls, nor are the 
 measures hard ; I am sure willingly would I have done 
 it for her : O sweete, O how desireable ! And, indeed, 
 these holy transports made the Christians communicate 
 all they had ; the apostles speake of some 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 those saints of 
 one mind and of one heart ; 'tis this has Crown'd a 
 hundred thousand martyrs, and shewed vs that the 
 most consumate friendshipps are the products of Re- 
 ligion and the love of God. There are Inumerable 
 expressions of this nature to be found in her letters to 
 me, which are Charming, and indeed, soe tender and 
 personall, that, tho' one (who) knew my demeritts as 
 well as I my selfe doe, would suspect their sincerity ; 
 yett I knew to be from her heart, which was full of 
 most generous resentments. In a word, I may say, as 
 David did of Jonathan, her friendshipp to me was 
 passing the love of women ; nor verily, was it without 
 an intire sympathy e on my part ; and there was provi- 
 dence in itt, as well as inclination for the exceeding 
 and most eminent piety and goodness that ever conse- 
 crated a worthy friendshipp, shone soe bright in this 
 blessed saint 3 as intitled her to all the services, respect, 
 and veneration I was capable of giveing her. 
 
 Never am I to forgett this Golden expression of hers 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. Q5 
 
 to me. I would have (sayes she) nothing that passes 
 betweene vs have any Resemblance of friendshipp that 
 doe not. last. Butt, Madam, whither has this Indearing 
 topic transported me. 
 
 After this solemn engagement then, she soone ac- 
 quainted me with many of her concerns ; made me 
 the depositarie of her pious thoughts and resolutions, 
 and putt her whole fortune intirely into my hands ; 
 which, indeed, lay in some danger for want of that 
 assistance, which she might have had from an able 
 person, tho' from none more faithfull and more Indus- 
 trious to Improve it to the best of my capacity ; I was 
 only griev'd, when att any tyme she thought it a trouble 
 to me ; butt she would say : I am your Child, and 
 whither should I goe butt to you ; never will I doe any 
 thing without you whilst I live : more difference and 
 humility could she not have paid to a father; more 
 confidence in a friend ; and this temper'd with that 
 sweetness and exterordnary piety, that I am not able 
 to support the consideration of the loss of such a friend- 
 shipp without vnspeakable griefe. 
 
 S el dome or rarely came I to waite on her, (if she 
 were not in company) but I found her in her little 
 oratorie, and some tymes all in feares, for never was 
 Creature more devout and tender ; and a thousand 
 Cases and questions would she propound to me, for 
 which I would still referr her to that Reverend and 
 learn'd divine, with whome she did constantly corres- 
 pond vpon all occasions of spiritual! advice ; soe care- 
 full and curious was this saint in the concernments of 
 
 3 
 
26 THE LIFE OF 
 
 her soule ; butt she would often tell me, he was too 
 gentle, and, therefore, required of me to deale Impar- 
 tially; [that] 1 was her friend, and that a friend was 
 Ghostly father, and every thing to her ; indeed I would 
 often reprove her tiresome methods and thought to plant 
 the consideracion of the memory and love of God in 
 her thoughts ; and to cure her of the sad and frieght- 
 full apprehensions she sometymes seemed to have, that 
 God was a severe exacter ; that she had never done 
 enough, and served an austere Master, not to be pleased 
 without abundance of labour and formes without end ; 
 and for this she would frequently give me thanks, that 
 I had lett her see and tast more of the love of God and 
 delices of Religion, than ever she had before. And 
 veryly this holy and Religious temper of hers, was 
 enough to winn the esteeme of all that had any sence 
 of goodness. Nor was her tyme wholly spent in the 
 contemplative part of piety ; she was always doeing 
 some good offices for one or other, gave frequent and 
 considerable reliefe to poore and indigent people, and 
 not seldome made me her almoner, and the hand to 
 convey it where she could not well her selfe ; but of 
 this and the many visitts she in her owne person made 
 (delicate as she was) to refresh and comfort the sick 
 and miserable, even amongst the most wretchedly 
 poore, nott without great inconveniency to her health. 
 I shall give account hereafter : butt hitherto was she 
 advanc'd, being yett hardly enterd her Nineteenth 
 yeare, an age that few in her circumstances soe soone 
 sett out att, and [would] that I begun as early and as 
 early finish'd, 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 27 
 
 Wee will now then looke vpon her as att White- 
 hall, whither she came from St. James to waite vpon 
 her Majestye, after the death of the Dutchess, when 
 she was not above sixteene. I had not then indeed 
 the honour to know her ; hutt I have heard from others, 
 that her beauty and her witt was so exterordnary im- 
 proved, as there had nothing been seene more surprize- 
 ing, and full of charmes ; every body was in love with, 
 and some allmost dyeing for her, whilst with all the 
 Modesty and Circumspection imaginable, she strove to 
 Eclipse the luster which she gave ; and would often 
 check the vivacity which was naturall, and perfectly 
 became her, for feare of giveing occasion to those who 
 lay in waite to deceive. Butt it was not possible here 
 to make the least approach, butt such as was full of 
 Honour ; and the distance she observed, and Caution 
 and Judgment she was mistress of, protected her from 
 all impertinent addresses, till she had made a Choice, 
 without Reproach, and worthy her Esteeme, namely, 
 of that excellent Person, who was afterwards her Hus- 
 band, after a passion of no less than Nine long yeares, 
 that they both had been the most intire and faithfull 
 lovers in the world. This was a space indeed of suf- 
 ficient probation, nor will I presume to dive into the 
 circumstances which made them be soe long resolveing, 
 she being then it seems butt very young, and both of a 
 temper soe extreamly discreete. Butt as to the first 
 Impressions, I will relate to your Ladyshipp what 1 
 have learn'd from her selfe, when sometymes she was 
 pleased to trust me with diverse passages of her Life. 
 For it was not possible I could hear of soe long an 
 Amour, soe honorable a love and constant passion, and 
 
28 THE LIFE OF 
 
 which I easily perceived concerned her, as lookeing 
 vpon herselfe vnsettled, and one who had long since 
 resolved nott to make the Court her rest, butt I must be 
 touched with some Care for her. I would now and 
 then kindly chide her, why she suffer'd those languish- 
 ments, when I knew not on whome to lay the blame* 
 For tho' she would industriously conceale her disquiett, 
 and divert it vnder the notion of the Spleene, she could 
 not but acknowledge to me where the dart was fix'd ; 
 nor was any thing more ingenious then what she now 
 writt me vpon this Subject, by which your Ladyshipp 
 will perceive, as with what peculiar confidence she was 
 pleased to honour me, soe, with what early prudence 
 and great pietye she manag'd the passion, which, of 
 all other, young people are comonly the most precipi- 
 tate in and unadvis'd. 
 
 11 1 came," sayes she, " soe young, as I tell you, into 
 the world (that is, about 14 yeares of Age,) where no 
 sooner was I entred, butt various opinions were deliv- 
 ered of me and the person whome (you know,) was more 
 favourable then the rest were to me, and did, after 
 some tyme, declare it to me. The first thing which 
 tempts young weomen is vanity, and I made that my 
 great designe. Butt Love soone taught me another 
 Lesson, and I found the trouble of being tyed to the 
 hearing of any save him ; which made made me 
 resolve that either he or none should have the posses- 
 sion of your Friend. Being thus soone sencible of 
 Love my selfe, I was easily perswaded to keepe my 
 selfe from giving him any cause of Jealousye, and in 
 soe long a tyme never has there been the least. 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 29 
 
 C( This, vnder God's providence, has been the 
 means of presenting me from many of those misfor- 
 tunes young Creatures meet with in the world, and in 
 a Court espetially. Att first wee thought of nothing 
 but liveing alwayes togeather, and that wee should be 
 happy. Butt att last he was sent abroad by his Ma- 
 jestye, and fell sick, which gave me great trouble ; and 
 I allow'd more tyme for Prayer and the performance of 
 holy dutyes than before I had ever done, and I thank 
 God, found infinite pleasure in it, farr beyond any 
 other, and I thought less of foolish things that vsed to 
 take vp my tyme. Being thus changed my selfe, and 
 likeing it soe well, I earnestly begg'd of God that he 
 would impart the same satisfaction to him I loved ; 
 'tis done, (my friend) 'tis done, and from my soulel am 
 thankfull ; and tho' I beleive he loves me passionately, 
 yett I am not where I was : my place is fiil'd vpp with 
 HIM who is all in all. I find in him none of that tor- 
 menting passion to which I need sacrefice my selfe ; 
 butt still were wee dissengag'd from the world, wee 
 should marry vnder such restraints as were fitt. and by 
 the agreeableness of our humour, make each other 
 happy. Butt att present there are obstructions : he 
 must be perpetually engaged in buissness, and follow 
 the Court, and live all waves in the world, and soe 
 have less tyme for the service of God, which is a sens- 
 cible affliction to him ; wherefore, wee are not deter- 
 mined to precipitate that matter, butt to expect a while, 
 and see how things will goe ; haveing a great mind to 
 be togeather, which cannot with decency be done with- 
 out marrying, nor, to either of our satisfactions, without 
 being free from the world. In short, serving of God is 
 
30 THE LIFE OF 
 
 our end, and if wee cannott do that quietly togeather 
 wee will asunder. You know our Saviour saves, that 
 all could not receive that doctrine, but to those who 
 could, he gave noe contradiction ; and if wee can butt 
 pass our younger yeares, 'tis not likely wee should be 
 concern'd for marrying when old. If wee could marry 
 now, I don't see butt those inconveniencys may happen 
 by sickness, or absence, or death. In a word, if we 
 marry, it will be to serve God and to encourage one 
 another dayly ; if wee doe not, 'tis for that end too ; 
 and wee know God will direct those who sincerely 
 desire his love above all other Considerations ; now 
 should wee both resolve to continue as we are, be 
 assur'd, I should be as little Idle as if I were a wife. I 
 should attend to prayer and all other Christian dutyes, 
 and make these my pleasures, seeing I chuse not the 
 condition out of restraint and singularity, but to serve 
 God the better." 
 
 This being in answer to something I had written 
 to her vpon a serious debate, in which I had opposed 
 a melancholy Resolution, she would now and then 
 entertaine me with, of absolutely renouncing the 
 thoughts of Marriage and wholly retireing in the world, 
 I give you [it] in her owne Style and holy thoughts, as 
 an Instance of that early piety and prudentiall weigh- 
 ing of things and circumstances, which accompanied 
 all her actions ; nor could I have presented your Lady- 
 shipp with a more Illustrious part of her history nor 
 more instructive. 
 
 In good earnest, this purpose of wholly vacateing to 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 31 
 
 Religion, was att this tyme soe imprinted in her, that 
 whether she marryed or remained single, resolv'd she 
 was to depart the Court. She had frequently told me, 
 that Seaven yeares was enough and too much, to trifle 
 any longer there : and, accordingly, one day that I 
 least dream't of it, she came expressly to my lodgeing 
 and accquainted me with her Intention to goe [and] 
 live att Berkley House, and that if she did alter her 
 condition by Marriage, it should be when she was 
 perfectly free, and had essayed how her detachment 
 from Royall servitude would comport with her before 
 she determin'd concerning another change. I happen'd 
 to be with her in the Queens withdrawing roome, 
 when a day or two after, finding her oppertunity, and 
 that there was less company, she begg'd leave of their 
 Majestyes to retire ; never shall I forgett the humble 
 and becomeing address she made, nor the Joy that 
 discover'd its selfe in this Angells countenance, above 
 any thing I had ever observed of transport in her, 
 when she had obtained her suite ; for, I must tell you, 
 Madam, she had made some attempts before without 
 success, which gave her much anxietie. Their Majes- 
 tyes were both vnwilling to part with such a Jewell ; 
 and I confess, from that tyme, I look'd vpon White 
 Hall with pitty, not to say Contempt. What will 
 become said I, of Corinthus, the Citty of Luxury, 
 when the graces have abandon'd it, whose piety and 
 example is soe highly necessary? Astrsea soe left the 
 Lower world. And for my part, I never sett my foote 
 in it afterwards, butt as ent'ring into a solitude, and 
 was ready to cry out with the wife of Phi'neas, that its 
 glory was departed. She tooke, I assure you, her 
 
32 THE LIFE OF 
 
 leave of their Majestyes with soe much modesty and 
 good a Grace, that tho' they look't as if they would 
 have a little reproach't her for makeing so much hast, 
 they could not find in their hearts to say an vnkind 
 word to her ; butt there was for all that I am cei taine 
 something att the heart like griefe ; and I leave you, 
 Madam, to imagine how the rest of the Court mourn'd 
 this Recess, and how dim the tapers burnt as she pass'd 
 the anti-chamber. ' Is Mrs. Blagge goeing,' says a 
 faire creature ; ' why stay I here any longer V others, 
 ' that the Court had never such a Starr in all its hemi- 
 spheere ; and veryly, I had not observed soe vniversall 
 a damp vpon the spiritts of every one that knew her. 
 Itt was, I remember, on a Sunday night, after most of 
 the company were departed, that I waited on her 
 downe to her Chamber, where she was noe sooner en- 
 ter'd, butt falling on her knees, she blessed God as for 
 a Signall deliverance ; she was come out of Egypt, and 
 now in the way to the Land of Promise. You will 
 easyly figure to your selfe how buissy the young Saint 
 was the next morning in makeing vpp her little car- 
 riage to quitt her prison : and when you have fancied 
 the Conflagration of a certaine Citty the Scripture 
 speaks of, imagine this Lady trussing vpp her little 
 fardle, like the two daughters whom the angell hastned 
 and conducted ; but the similitude goes no further, for 
 this holy Virgin went to Zoar, they to the cave of Folly 
 and Intemperance ; there was no danger of her looke- 
 ing back and becomeing a Statue for sorrow of what 
 she left behind. All her household stuffe besides a 
 Bible and a bundle of Prayer bookes, was packed vpp 
 in a very little Compass, for she lived soe farr from su- 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 33 
 
 perfluitye, that she carryed all that was vallueable in 
 her person ; and tho' she had a Courtly wardrobe, she 
 affected it not, because every thing became her that she 
 putt on, and she became every thing was putt vpon her. 
 
 She tooke her leave of the mother of the Maids as 
 became her ; butt she could not weepe till your Lady- 
 shipps sister, whome she was still to leave in Captivitye 
 fell on her neck, and then there fell mutuall tears, that 
 trickled down her Cheeks like the dew of Flowers, and 
 made a lovely griefe ; to her and to your Ladyshipp 
 she left her pretty Oratorye, soe often consecrated with 
 her prayers and devotions, as to the only successors 
 of her Virtues and Piety ; and as I am perswaded 
 that the Court was every day less sensible of its losse 
 whilst you both continued in it, because you trode in 
 this Religious Ladys Stepps, soe the piety it any where 
 still retaines is accountable to your rare examples ; of 
 such Importance is one Religious Person to a whole 
 Society, and sometymes to a Nation. 
 
 Butt to returne to her remove from Court. 1 am the 
 more particular as haveing had the honour to waite on 
 her to Berkley House ; I tell your Ladyshipp. I never 
 beheld her more orient than she appeared att this tyme, 
 and the moment she sett foote in the Coach her eyes 
 sparkled with Joy, and a marvelous lustre ; the Roses 
 of her Cheeks were soe fresh, and her countenance soe 
 gay, as if with the rest of her perfections (had she not 
 left your two Sisters there) she had carded all the 
 Beautyes as well as all the Virtue of the Court away 
 with her too. Butt ah, had you seen with what effu- 
 
 3* 
 
34 THE LIFE OF 
 
 sion and open armes she entred Berkley House, and 
 sprung into the Caresses of my Lady, in what a trice 
 after she was ledd vp into her apartmentt she had putt 
 all her Equipage in order, rang'd her Library, and dis- 
 posed of her Compendious Inventory, you would have 
 said there was nothing prettyer then that buissy mo- 
 ment. And now when she had consecrated her new 
 Oratorye with a devout Aspiration and the Incense of 
 an humble Soule, for the blessings of this sweete Retire- 
 ment, she satt down and admired her sweete felicitye. 
 For, as I told your Ladyshipp, 'twas not altogeather 
 that she might be disengaged from Court that she de- 
 signed to quitt itt ; butt that she might vacate more to 
 stricter duty. She believed that att Berkley House she 
 should be more att her owne disposall ; that she should 
 have noe body to observe butt God ; be mistress of her 
 houres, and governe her affaires suitable to her devout 
 Inclinations : and when she seriously requir'd my 
 opinion of it, I could not disapprove it. Itt brought to 
 mind how in the declension of the Empire, and when 
 the sinns and vices of a licentious and abandoned age 
 had allarm'd the Roman world with a barbarous and 
 vniversall warr, like what was now vpon the scene of 
 Europe, that Paula and her daughter Eustochiura, (two 
 rich and beautifull Ladys) quitted the splendor of a 
 pompous Court for the Recesses of Bethlehem and the 
 Solitudes of Judea. and to prostrate themselves att the 
 manger of a divine babe, and then att the foote of Cal- 
 varye, where this holy Mother and beautious Daughter 
 spent the rest of their days in the recollection of their 
 lives and the service of Jesus : me-thought nothing 
 more ever resembled this Act of those Devotas than the 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 35 
 
 heroick resolution of our Saint ; in this yett superior to 
 theirs, as hers was spontaneous, theirs by the importu- 
 nityes of St. Hierome ; abandoning the Royall Circle, 
 where she made vp the constellacions, for a Circle of 
 reall Starrs, and to stand before the throne of the Lamb ; 
 she deserts the glittering Balls, and goes no more to the 
 Theater, that she may sing in the quire of Seraphins, 
 and contemplate the celestiall vision ; she cares not for 
 the Sumptuous Entertainments, the Musick, Masking, 
 and perfumes, to mortify her sences, and enjoy intel- 
 lectual pleasures ; she neglects the gay and studious 
 Dress, the Raillery and reputation of a Witt, which 
 made her the life of Conversation and the pretty miracle 
 of Court, that she may adorne her bright Soule, and 
 converse with Angells ; she chuses rather to suffer 
 diminution, and the censure of men as precise and sin- 
 gular ; to be a reall Maid of Honour, then to have the 
 name, and live in the scene of Temptation and the 
 pleasures of Sinn for a season : in a word, I fancied 
 her call'd, as was Abraham out of Vr of the Chaldees 
 and from the Idolls of Haran. 
 
 Butt as nothing on this side heaven is permanent 
 long, she had not been in this Irnaginarye and indeed 
 sweete retirement, and where tho' one of the most mag- 
 nificent pallaces of the Towne, she had her apartment 
 remote from the buissy part of the house, and was rarely 
 fitted for her purposes of devotion ; I say, it was not 
 long, when partly from the necessity of Complyance 
 with the Lady of the family, thecontinuall and impor- 
 tune visitts of the great persons which vs'd to frequent 
 that place, obligeing her to tedious Cerimony and con- 
 
36 THE LIFE OF 
 
 versation that often interrupted her Course, and partly 
 (from) other circumstances, which for the present 
 seemed less favourable to their Intentions of marriage 
 soe soone, and the disquiett it putt her to, she not only 
 deliberated in good earnest, butt resum'd her former In- 
 clination with more resolution than ever, of removeing 
 farther from these Impediments and all togeather aban- 
 doning the world. I have really been touch'd in the 
 deepest sence to see the Conflicts this devout Creature 
 vnderwent, betweene her love and her devotion ; or 
 shall I call them both her love ; for soe they were : a 
 thousand times has she told me she would abide as she 
 was, and then her pitty for him who could not live in 
 her absence, divided her afresh, and peirc'd her to the 
 soule ; and when she was in the deepest of this Con- 
 cerne for him, nothing I have ever read in the Epistles 
 of Seneca, had that excellent Stoick been indeed a 
 Christian, appear'd more divinely philosophicall than 
 the Topics she would vse to divert his passion, and 
 reason him into an indifference for her, when (of all 
 things in the world.) it was not indifferent to her that 
 he should have lov'd her less. Butt she had really that 
 absolute Empire over her owne affections, and such po- 
 tent Inclinations to make God and Religion the buissness 
 of her life, that as I said, she was many times vpon the 
 Brink of Resolveing to abandon all the world : she be- 
 leived that I who knew love to be stronger than death, 
 would never approve of this resolution; and, therefore, 
 she pretended att first, only to make a visitt to her sister 
 the Lady Yarbrough, in Yorksheir, for a month or two 
 dureing the summer ; butt after that she could not con- 
 ceale from me a further designe of goeing from thence 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 37 
 
 to Hereford, to live by herselfe voder the direction of 
 the Reverend Deane of that Cathedrall, who had long 
 been her spirituall father. This was the Zoare she 
 often languished after, vseing that of Righteous Lott, 
 " Is it not a little one, and my sonle shall live." " Yes, 
 my friend," says she, " in perfect liberty without formes ; 
 frugally, without Contempt ; conveniently, without 
 pomp ; att distance from the Bustle of the world, where 
 I shall forgett and be forgotten, be arbitress of my tyme, 
 and serve God regularly ; chuse my Conversation, and 
 when I alter my Condition, doe it with your advice ; 
 which I am snre will never be to alter a purpose soe 
 reasonable, and soe fit for one in my Circumstances." 
 Thus would this blessed Creature discourse it with me, 
 whilst in the meane tyme she was ballanceing in her- 
 selfe when it came to a Resolution. " The Lord help 
 me, dear freind," sayes she to me, in another Letter, " I 
 know not what to determine ; sometymes I think one 
 thing, sometymes another ; one day I fancy noe life 
 soe pure as the vnmarryed, another day I think it less 
 exemplarye, and that the marryed life has more oppor- 
 tunity of exerciseing Charity ; and then againe, that 
 'tis full of solicitude and worldlyness, soe as what I 
 shall doe, I know not. He can live without a wife wil- 
 lingly, but without me he is vnwilling to live, soe as if 
 I doe not marry he is not in danger of sinn ; but if I 
 or he or both should repent, O Lord and Governor of 
 my life, leave me not to my selfe,to the Counsellof my 
 whole heart, butt send me wisdome from thy throne to 
 direct, assist, and lead me soberly in my doeings. . Thou 
 hast imparted to us reason for our guide ; butt O rule 
 thou that reason, for without thou Conduct it I shall be 
 
38 THE LIFE OF 
 
 in perpetual 1 hazard. Lord, J renounce all Judgment, 
 all knowledge, and discretion of my owne ; I desire 
 not to be a Child of this world, wise in their Genera- 
 tion, butt to be a Foole that I may indeed be wise. I 
 am in a straight and know not what to chuse, deter- 
 mine thou for me, O blessed Lord. Remember that for 
 near these one and twenty yeares I have been thy care, 
 and I bless the for it. Thou hast frequently and won- 
 derfully preserv'd me, both in spirituall and temporali 
 dangers, and over and above has done Innumerable 
 good things for me ; O leave me not now in this diffi- 
 culty, butt once more be thou my Councellor, and 
 whilst I live will I be thy faithful], thankfull, servant. 
 Say, Amen with me, dear freind." 
 
 Behold Madam, the Letter, or rather the ejaculation 
 which an heart intirely possess'd with Religious Senti- 
 ments, made her dictate on this occasion ; nor should I 
 have produc'd these particulars (con-credited to me in 
 spetiall Confidence) butt to lett you see, with how holy 
 a designe and consideracion she proceeded ; and how 
 Infinitely different from the method of makeing love 
 and receiveing addresses now a dayes. Veryly, when I 
 reflect vpon her youth, beauty, witt, the temptations 
 and conflicts she sustain'd, to comply with the affection 
 she had for her two Rivall loves (for soe I againe call 
 them) I am halfe astonish'd, butt you shall hear how 
 passionately she describes it, and thus goes on. 
 
 " Much afflicted and in great agony was your poor 
 friend this day, to think of the love of the holy Jesus, 
 and yett be soe little able to make him any returne. 
 For with what favour have I protested against all af- 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 39 
 
 fection to the things of this world ; resign'd them all 
 without exception ; when the first moment I am tryed, 
 I shrink away, and am passionately fond of the Crea- 
 ture, and forgetfull of the Creator. This, when I con- 
 sider'd, I fell on my knees, and with many teares, 
 begg'd of God to assist me with his Grace, and banish 
 from me all Concerne butt that of heavenly things, and 
 wholly to possess my heart himselfe ; and either releive 
 me in this Conflict, now soe long sustain'd, or continue 
 to me Strength to resist it, still fearing if the combate 
 cease not in tyme, I should repine for being putt vpon 
 soe hard a dutye. Butt then againe, when I call to 
 mind the Grace of Selfe denyall, the honour of suffer- 
 ing for my Saviour, the Reward propos'd for those that 
 conquer, the delight I shall conceive in seeing and en- 
 joying him ; the happyness of the life above ; I that am 
 thus feeble, thus fearfull, call, (out of exercise of his 
 Grace,) yea, for tribulation, for persecution, for contra- 
 dictions to my own desires, and for every thing agree- 
 able to the Spiritt and displeasing to the flesh. Thus, 
 with St. Paul, when I am weake then am I strong ; 
 when I am in sorrow then am I rejoiceing ; one whome 
 I love is here, butt I am gott to other Company, and 
 well have I been regaPd, for God has been very gratious 
 to me ; most bitterly have I wept to think how much 
 of my heart he has, how little my blessed Saviour, who 
 has loved and suffered for me soe much more ; happy, 
 ah happy, are you my friend, that are past that mighty 
 love to the Creature. Butt I make this my humble 
 confession to God and you, bewayleing my loveing any 
 thing butt himself; imploreing him to translate my af- 
 fections, and place them on him alone. Thus to you 
 
40 THE LIFE OF 
 
 doe I display my griefe, I can leave him whome here I 
 love, to goe to my Jesus for ever ; butt I Confess 'tis 
 hard for me to leave him now soe often as I doe, and 
 this breaks my heart, that after soe many solemn pro- 
 fessions to God, what I would doe for him, I should 
 with such reluctancy part from this person, to pray, and 
 to read, and to goe to holy dutyes. 
 
 " Now, dear friend, should I marry, and refuse to 
 goe to my Lord, part vnwillingly, or refuse him, what 
 would become of me ? No, No, I will remaine my Sa- 
 viours ; he shall be my love, my husband, my all ; I 
 will keepe my Virgin, present it vnto Christ, and not 
 putt myselfe into the temptation of loveing any thing in 
 Competition with my God." 
 
 Thus farr this devout and tender Creature : nor this 
 the last wherein she has conjurd me to advise what 
 she should resolve on, when often her heart as I said, 
 has been divided betweene her lovers, as was St. Pauls 
 in another case, even wishing to be dissolved, that she 
 might be with Christ, and freed from all this solicitude, 
 as she has frequently express'd it to me. And now 
 what was I to returne ? truely I was myselfe also some- 
 tymes divided in my thoughts. She had perpetuall 
 Inclinations to retire from all the world, espetially ap- 
 prehending that by any secular circumstances, she 
 might possibly remaine in a doubtful condition, and the 
 resolution was once soe strongly fix'd, that with noe 
 small difficulty I opposed it. Being soe fully perswa- 
 ded as I was, that they would be exceeding blessings 
 to one another, rare examples of the conjugall state, 
 and that nothing could hinder the pursuite of an holy 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 41 
 
 life and the love of God, soe much as this pendulous 
 and vncertaine condition, whilst marriage she would 
 find compose her devout spiritt, and improve it, I told 
 her, she was not free, as I conceiv'd, to resolve soe pe- 
 remptorylye ; that it was to doe violence to one whome 
 she acknowledg'd could not live without her ; nay, 
 that if to comply with her, he putt constraint vpon him- 
 selfe, she should not doe well, since his Action in this 
 Case ought to be as free as her owne ; and that she 
 should doe a much nobler and [more] self denying 
 thing, to preferr the satisfaction of soe worthy a Crea- 
 ture before her owne. I consented to all her Eiogies 
 of the Virgin State, butt that there were no less due to 
 the Conjugall ; and that if there were some temptations 
 in it, her meritts would be the greater, and the exercise 
 of her virtue ; Circled indeed it was with some tollera- 
 ble thorns, butt rewarded with illustrious Coronetts for 
 the good it produc'd ; that as to the oppert unity es of 
 serveing God, an active life was preferrable to the Con- 
 templative : and that I should not doubt to see as many 
 Crown'd in heaven who had been marryed, as of Vir- 
 gins : since from Marriage all the Virgins in the world 
 had their orriginall, and all the Saints that ever were 
 or ever shall be ; that it was the Seminary of the 
 Church and care of Angells ; and that [though] our 
 beloved [Lord] were borne of a Virgin, she was yett 
 vaiPd vnder the Cover of Marriage ; and soe when St. 
 Paul exalted the Celibate above it, for the advantages 
 he enumerates, itt was nott to derogate from Marriage, 
 butt because of the present distress and the Impediments 
 of a family to an Itinerant and Persecuted Apostle, and 
 those who in that Conjuncture had noe certaine aboade. 
 
42 THE LIFE OF 
 
 That as to the perfection and puritye of the State, 'twas 
 one thing to be marryed to a Man, and another to a 
 Husband ; to the first indeed, most of the world were 
 joined, to the second, none butt the Religious. That 
 as 'twas Instituted in Paradise, and dignifyed by our 
 blessed Saviours presence ; compared to the most inti- 
 mate Indearements of Christ to his Church, 'twas often 
 blessed with exterordnary prosperity even in this 
 world. That the fidelity, society, mutuall affection, 
 and instance of religious Marriages, the regularity of 
 their Charitye, and hospitality of their familyes, was 
 Emulous of the highest pretences of the Virgin and 
 more solitary Condition. Doe you (would I say) es- 
 teeme it noe honour to have given Saints to the Church, 
 and usefull members to the State in which you live ; 
 and that you can be hospitable to strangers, institute 
 your Children, give instruction to your servants, exam- 
 ple to the neighbours, and be the parent of a thousand 
 other blessings. I remembered her of what someiymes 
 she would say, that if she marryed and had noe Child- 
 ren, she should be displeased ; and if she had, she 
 might have either too many, or too wicked and vnto- 
 ward ; this, I told her, was to distrust Gods providence, 
 and she did not well to make those reflections ; when 
 in all events there was exercise of faith, and patience, 
 Industry, and other graces ; and that she would not be 
 happy vnless shee was alone, not considering that the 
 few may be as well fooles, as vitious, — which is worse ; 
 and that one of the many may recompence all her care 
 for the rest ; that if she who bare her had been of that 
 mind, there would have been one less Saint to Glorifye 
 God ; that I should have wanted an excellent friend, 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 43 
 
 and soe would many others, who now bless'd God for 
 the Charityes she did them. Vpon all these Topycs I 
 challeng'd her humility, her faith, and her love. I laid 
 before her how much more affected, morose, covetous, 
 obnoxious to temptation and reproach an old Maid 
 would be, who was knowne to have engaged her af- 
 fection allready, than one who had never entertain'd 
 an address. Then the trouble and sorrow of bringing 
 forth and expenee of a family, would att another tyme 
 affreight her ; little woemen, I told her, had little paine ; 
 and that Queens had endured as much with patience 
 and chearfullness ; that as to great fortunes and sup- 
 port, opulent couples were not exempted from Cares, 
 and that tho' I was assured God had great blessings of 
 that kind also in reserve ; yett sowre provisions and 
 less Ambition, were as happy in the mutuall affection 
 of each other, where there was a Competency for the 
 present, and soe faire a prospect for the future : in a 
 word, that there was some thing soe patriarchall (not 
 to say despotic) and Royall in a well govern'd family, 
 and worthy marriages, that I could not butt give it pre- 
 heminence to all she had objected. These were the 
 conflicts wee had on this subject ; and the difncultyes 
 she suggested, where, I plainly told her, Itt was by no 
 means agreeable to her piety, nor to the Equitye of the 
 thing, that any less consideration than a fore sight of 
 inevitable mine, should suspend her resolutions of give- 
 ing her selfe to a deserving person whose approaches 
 had been soe honourable, and whome she confess'd she 
 lov'd above all the world. There is certainly nothing 
 more calamitous, then where love (as they call it) drives 
 the bargaine, and passion blinds the Man ; butt soe the 
 
44 THE LIFE OF 
 
 young things precipitate, and the Giddy are entangled, 
 and when the fancy cooles, repentance succeeds, and it 
 ends in aversion and anxietye. But these Calentures 
 concern'd not this excellent Couple, and such a Conju- 
 gation of likely circumstances. I would tell her itt 
 was not enough to be happy alone, when she might 
 make another soe ; or ought she to resolve not to alter 
 her Condition till she was out of reach of accidents, 
 that it became a cruell and ill natur'd Laban to exact a 
 double apprentyshipp for a Rachell ; that it was Saul 
 that putt David to adventure for a wife ; that the He- 
 roick tymes were now antiquated, and people proceed- 
 ed by gentler and more compendious methods ; and 
 the decencyes of her sex, and custome of the nation, 
 and the honour of the condition, and the want of Mon- 
 astery es and pyous Recesses obliged her to marry. 
 Marry then in Gods name, said I, since my advice you 
 aske : itt is finally what I think you ought to resolve 
 on ; tho' if I studdied my owne satisfaction, I should 
 rather promote this aversion, and seeke to fortifye your 
 suspicion ; for as I profess it the greatest Contentment 
 of my life that you have vowed me your friendshipp 
 soe solemnly, and that you will be constant, whilst I 
 incite you to marry, I endanger and putt it to the haz- 
 ard ; for perhaps your husband may be jealous, tho' 
 without cause ; or he may have particular dislike to 
 me, or may not be noble, free, and ingenious, or may 
 make you vnhappy otherwise, which would be the 
 greatest affliction could happen to me ; whereas, con- 
 tinuing as you are, mistress of your selfe and your con- 
 versation, your virtue and my yeares, and the con- 
 science of my duty, and both our discretions, will pre- 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 45 
 
 serve our friendshipp honorable, pious, and vsefull. In 
 sum, I said nothing vpon Marriage, butt what I could 
 vnravell to the advantage of virginitye, — the ease of a 
 single life, the opportunityes of doeing more good, of 
 serveing God better, of prolonging life — by example and 
 precept from Scripture, from Fathers, from Legends and 
 historyes, and present her such a lovely picture of that 
 state, which approaches next the nature of Angells, 
 (who neither marry nor are given in marriage) as 
 would have brought her to more than a suspence, or 
 requireing farther advice : she would have needed no 
 farther argument to render her more vnkind to Hymen, 
 and to the repose of one who she knew I pittyed ; and, 
 therefore, I ever perswaded her against the Recess she 
 soe often was threatning, as a thing singular and of 
 little advantage. I applauded her recourse to assiduous 
 and humble prayer ; that God would direct her for the 
 best, and that after all I had said and written to her, 
 she would make that her Oracle ; being confident that 
 God, who had hitherto taken such signall care of her, 
 would not suffer her to miscarry in this Concerne. 
 For I could not endure to see her alhvayes in a doubtfull 
 and vncertaine condition ; because it could be profitable 
 for neither, for when she had seriously consulted her 
 friends, she had done all that was required ; and since 
 it could not but be their vniversall suffrage, she was to 
 accquiess, I therefore advised her, that in case she still 
 resolv'd to live as she was, it should be butt for a tyme, 
 without Imposeing on her selfe, and soe from tyme to 
 tyme, as Circumstances might be, butt till then mind 
 her health ; for she began to looke pale and leane, and 
 had been too negligent of her selfe, which I reproved 
 
46 THE LIFE OF 
 
 her for. Butt this did not alltogeather the effect, — she 
 rejoines, and writes to me from Twicknam thus: — 
 
 " 26th July. 
 " Your advice I like, and all you say on both sub- 
 jects ; yett am still where I was, wishing to live alone, 
 as a thing most suiteable to my humour, and the nearest 
 way to heaven ; nor can you blame one soe weake as 
 I am, to chuse that path which will soonest bring me to 
 my Journeys end. However, I shall observe your 
 Rules, and soe farr your counsell, as not to determine 
 any thing rashly, till he give me free leave to doe it. 
 In the meane tyme, if you approve of it, that the world 
 may not think by my growing leane as you say, I leave 
 it with regrett, for the tyme I stay here I intend to take 
 care of my health, and drink the Cows milk in the 
 Morning, and because I am not to sleep imediately 
 vpon it, my Maid shall read to me some divine Subject ; 
 then rise and finish my private dutyes, then pray with 
 my Servants, and be dressed by Eleaven, and soe have 
 tyme before prayers to read a Chapter with other dutyes ; 
 note and collect something out of what I read. Att six 
 in the Evening I will repeate my Course againe, and 
 after that learn such things by heart as I gladly would 
 retaine ; after Supper pray with my people and by my 
 selfe, my Maid reading to me whilst I am vndressing, 
 and then lay me downe in peace. This is the method 
 I intend for ordnary dayes, nott Frydayes, when you 
 know I am to fast, and spend it intirely with God ; or 
 Sundayes, [when] I will rise early and Imploy it with 
 as much devotion as I can ; — this is, I say, the course T 
 purpose here, if you approve of it ; for the rest, eat my 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 47 
 
 meate heartyly, and comply with the conversation of 
 the Family ; tho' I all this tyme wish extreamly that J 
 were setled, where I needed vse none of these Imper- 
 tinencyes, the observances and ceremonyes of visitts, 
 formal 1 meals, &c. to the expence of my tyme ; butt 
 wholly attend on God, night and day. Nor should I 
 dare yett to indulge my selfe this liberty, did I att all 
 please my selfe in it as formerly I had done : or that I 
 intend to continue it above 3 months att furthest, 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 shall be free, and then none will con- 
 sider my lookes, nor shall I be concern'd if they doe, att 
 the distance 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, for I thank God 
 I have made good resolutions." 
 
 This being the substance of her letter in reply to 
 one of myne, your Ladyshipp may perceive, as, how 
 devoutly this blessed Virgin, (for soe must I call her,) 
 spent her tyme in that delicious place, and amongst 
 such a Confluence of Visittants, &c, soe how her heart 
 was bent vpon her Northern Recess, to which I was soe 
 averse ; and I was confident she would not long have 
 enjoy'd herselfe in it ; nor could the distance of Here- 
 fordsheir have worne him out of her thoughts, which 
 that of France and Spaine could not doe. The trueth 
 is, I did heartily pitty that worthy Gentleman, and saw 
 noe reason in the world why they should not both be 
 happy in each other, and my friend composed, without 
 takeing any exterordnary or singular course ; tho' on 
 
48 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the other hand, when I considered thro' what difficul- 
 ty es and reluctances, this tender creature, now in the 
 flower of her beauty, witt, and reputation att court, 
 would sacrifice all to God, I could hardly abstaine from 
 crying out, O magnanimous Virgin, I applaud your de- 
 signe, I approve, I admire your choice ; I magnifye your 
 example ; itt is great, 'tis illustrious, because it is the bet- 
 ter part, and formed vpon just consideration : you have 
 weighed itt long, and enquired of God : I allow, I allow, 
 and envye your purpose ; O sweet repose of a devout 
 soule, the flames of Celestial love, the fruition of Jesus, 
 theantepasts of Heaven, what shall I call, what shall I 
 name it; Consumate felicitye who has none to feare, none 
 to serve, none to love butt God ; but whilst you are made 
 free why leave you me behind, intangl'd in the world, 
 whilst you are in the light, I [am] in darkness and a 
 chaos ; for when you are gone what is the Court or 
 Country to your friend. I shall see you no more in the 
 Circle, nor Joine voices with you in the Quire, nor visitt 
 your holy cell ; with you our Joyes are departed, re- 
 ceive me then from this hatefull abode ; and begg of 
 God, that the circumstances of my life being composed, 
 I, who Emulate, may Imitate your example, and de- 
 vote the remainder of my few dayes to eternity ; or at 
 least while I am to converse here below, (for you are 
 gone from the Earth) may I live in the contemplation 
 of your virtues, and be a part of your Intercessions. 
 Goe then, my holy freind, when you please, and be 
 happy. 
 
 Madam, you may possibly imagine this a Roman- 
 tick folly, or the transport of some lover ; butt I assure 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 49 
 
 you, they were the dictates of my mind and heart, 
 whilst I was Councelling her to stay and to marry ; for, 
 tho' I thought this more expedient, I could not but pro- 
 nounce that the more perfect and exterordnary well. 
 Thus she continued att Twicknam, as it were, in pro- 
 bation, for the most part retired, and sometymes in con- 
 versation. He often came to visitt her, and that broke 
 her heart if he abstain'd from comeing. She was still 
 vneasy ; soe after some weeks, she returnes to London, 
 with fall resolution of beginning her Journey, and the 
 very day was prefixt ; butt when it approach'd, indeed 
 it was not possible to pacifye my Lady Berkley ; who 
 being to lose the most sweet and agreeable companion 
 in the world, imploy'd all that friendshipp, love, and 
 passion could inspire for the changeing her resolution, 
 and the Convulsion was so sensible to them both, that 
 she was forced to give way to her Importunityes, and 
 deliberate on it some longer tyme. Nor was itt allto- 
 geather in the consideration of my Lady alone, that she 
 suffer'd herselfe to be prevailed on, there were others 
 whome (when it came to the Test) she was vn willing 
 to leave for soe long a tyme, and soe great a distance, 
 and among them, I should be strangely vngratefull, not 
 to acknowledge the share I had in her thoughts and 
 excellent nature, when I shall accquaint you of the 
 Resolution she had to take a little house att Greenwich ; 
 and I had commission from her to find out a place 
 whither she might retire to, without goeing as it were 
 out of the world, into the North ; not being able as she 
 affirmed, to comply any longer with the receiveing and 
 paying Impertinent visitts, and other avocations and 
 circumstances, which took vpp all her tyme att London, 
 
 4 
 
50 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tho' with a Lady who soe much esteem'd her. I con- 
 fess, I was not forward to promote this designe, not 
 only because I thought [it] inconvenient for a Lady soe 
 young, and who was allready disposed to a more than 
 ordnary reservedness, to cherish the humour ; butt that it 
 would appeare like something over singular in her and 
 prejudiciall to her health. I proposed therefore, her ac- 
 cepting the best accomodation I could give her, and she 
 had certainly spent some considerable ty me with my wife, 
 and retired to the little Cell, where your Ladyshipp has 
 sometymes found her ; but my Lady Berkley could not 
 suffer this Ecclipse, or endure that she should goe from 
 her with any patience. Itt was on this that she writes 
 me thus at large what conflicts she had endur'd ; and 
 att the close : — " My best friend as to my being in your 
 family, itt was allmost, and ah ! that it had not been 
 allmost, butt alltogeather ; for whatever you think, it 
 is hard for me to describe how sorry I am to be thus 
 farr from so deare a friend ; and you don't know that I 
 have given over severall other proposals of settling my 
 selfe, when that thought comes into my head, that I 
 shall be a great way from you, vnless I continue where 
 I am att least for some months, till God is pleased to 
 dispose of me one way or other." 
 
 Butt whilst she was in this vncertainty and suspence 
 where she should fix, and that the winter began to ap- 
 proach, there was a play to be acted att Court before 
 their Majestyes, wherein none were to be Actors butt 
 persons of the most Illustrious quality ; the Lady Mary, 
 since Princess of Orange, the Dutchess of Monmouth, 
 and all the shineing beautyes ; and itt was not possible 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 51 
 
 to leave her out, who had vpon the like solemnity for- 
 merly, and when she was Maid of Honour, acquitted 
 her selfe with soe vniversall applause and admiration ; 
 and veryly, never was any thing more charmeing and 
 more a divertisement, than to hear her at any tyme 
 recite, or read a Dramatick poem. She had not only a 
 most happy memory, butt exquisite Judgment, and 
 could add those motions to her voice, as gave what she 
 pronounced, the greatest sweetness and grace Imagin- 
 able. This, though she would heretofore and butt 
 rarely have done for diversion, and amongst freinds, 
 the most innocentt in the world, she had now intirely 
 taken leave of, and butt in Complyance with some great 
 Ladyes (whome she could not decently refuse) did she 
 willingly see a play att the Theater ; and therefore, to 
 be now herselfe an Actoress (tho' among such an As- 
 sembly of noble Persons) was to putt a Mortification 
 on her, that cost her not only great reluctancy, butt 
 many teares. Butt there was no refuseing ; the King 
 and Duke had laid their Commands vpon her, to beare 
 a part with the Lady Mary, and others of Illustrious 
 name. I came often to her when she was reciteing, 
 and am wittness with what extreame regrett, and how 
 vnwelcome to her this honour was. Butt she had att 
 this moment alsoe another affaire in hand, which more 
 Imported her, and the difficulty in compassing that 
 which solely by his Majestes favour was to be obtain'd, 
 dispos'd her the more reasonably to comply. She had 
 ever since her Recess from Court, liv'd in expectation 
 of the present which of course their Majestyes vsed to 
 make to the Maids of Honour, who haveing waited a 
 competent time vpon the Glueene, doe either marry or 
 
52 THE LIFE OF 
 
 withdraw from Court with their Royall permission; 
 and now had she newly solicited the Duke to bespeake 
 my Lord Treasurer about it, who gave her kind words, 
 butt told her he must have the Kings particular direc- 
 tion in it, butt in the meane while, was not forward to 
 put his Majestye in mind of it ; and there was nothing 
 to which she had a greater aversion then the Impor- 
 tuneing great persons in her owne behalfe, for Civility 
 which did not flow naturally from those in whose 
 power it lay to oblige her. " I perceive," sayes she, in 
 a letter to me, written 22d September, on this occasion, 
 " that my buissness makes noe advance, and that where 
 I least expected difficulty I find the greatest. The 
 King sayes nothing to my Lord Treasurer, nor my 
 Lord to him ; soe that for ought I perceive, 'tis likely 
 to depend thus a long tyme : well, Gods will be done, 
 as in Heaven, soe on Earth ; in the meane tyme I am 
 extreamly heavy, for I would be free from that place, 
 and have nothing to doe in itt att all ; butt it will not 
 be, for the play goes on mighty ly, which I 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 some that envy me the honour (as 
 they esteeme it) of acting in this play, and pass mali- 
 tious Jests vpon me. 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 soe well knew, looked on this occasion as one of 
 her greatest afflictions, and would have devolved the 
 share she had in this Court Magnificence on any other 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 53 
 
 Lady with a thousand acknowledgments, had their 
 Majestyes butt excused her ; butt there was no retreat- 
 ing ; she had her part assigned her, which, as itt was 
 the most illustrious, soe never was there any perform'd 
 with more grace, and becomeing the solemnity. She 
 had on her that day near twenty thousand pounds value 
 of Jewells, which were more sett off with her native 
 beauty and luster then any they contributed of their 
 owne to hers ; in a word, she seemed to me a Saint in 
 Glory, abstracting her from the Stage. For I must tell 
 you, that amidst all this pomp and serious impertinence, 
 whilst the rest were acting, and that her part was some- 
 tymes to goe off, as the scenes required, into the tireing 
 roome, where severall Ladyes her companions were 
 railing with the Gallants trifleingly enough till they 
 were called to reenter, she vnder pretence of conning 
 her next part, was retired into a Corner, reading a 
 booke of devotion, without att all concerning herselfe 
 or mingling with the young Company ; as if she had 
 no farther part to act, who was the principall person of 
 the Comedy ; nor this with the least discernable affec- 
 tation, butt to divert and take off her thoughts from the 
 present vanity, which from her soule she abhorred. I 
 mention the passage as a singular work of her reall 
 piety, and to shew how she continually applyed her 
 mind on all occasions, and how little transported with 
 those splendid follyes and gay entertainments which 
 vsually take vp soe much of the pretious tyme which is 
 given vs to worke out our Salvation. I need not en- 
 large vpon the argument of the Poem, which you may 
 .be sure, however defective in other particulars, was 
 exactly modest, and suiteable to the Persons, who were 
 
54 THE LIFE OF 
 
 all of the first rank and most illustrious of the Court : 
 nor need I recount to your Ladyshipp with what a 
 surprizeing and admirable aire she trode the Stage, and 
 performed her Part, because she could doe nothing of 
 this sort, or any thing else she undertooke, indifferently, 
 butt in the highest perfection. Butt whilst the whole 
 Theater were extolling her, she was then in her owne 
 Eyes, not only the humblest, butt the most diffident of 
 herself, and least affecting praise. 
 
 Thus ended the Play, butt soe did not her affliction, 
 for a disaster happened which extreamly concem'd her, 
 and that was the loss of a Diamond of considerable val- 
 lue, which had been lent her by the Countess of Suffolke ; 
 the Stage was immediately swept, and dilligent search 
 made to find it, butt without success, soe as probably 
 it had been taken from her, as she was oft inviron'd 
 with that infinite Crowd which tis impossible to avoid 
 vpon such occasion. Butt the loss was soone repair'd, 
 for his Royall Highness vnderstanding the trouble she 
 was in, generousely sent her where withall to make my 
 Lady Suffolke a present of soe good a Jewell. For the 
 rest of that dayes triumph, I have a particular account 
 still by me of the rich Apparell she had on her, amount- 
 ing, besides the Pearles and Pretious Stones, to above 
 three hundred pounds, butt of all which she immedi- 
 ately disposed her selfe, soe soone as ever she could gett 
 clear of the Stage. Without complimenting any Crea- 
 ture, or trifling with the rest who staid the collation 
 and refreshment that was prepar'd, away she slipps 
 like a Spiritt to Berkley House, and to her little Ora-, 
 torye ; whither I waited on her, and left her on her 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 55 
 
 knees, thanking God that she was delivered from this 
 vanity, and with her Saviour againe, never, sayes she, 
 will I come within this temptation more whilst I breath. 
 
 And thus Mrs. Blagge took her leave of the pomp 
 and glory of the world, and with fresh resolutions that 
 if other circumstances did not intervene, namely, such 
 as might soe alter her condition as decently to counte- 
 nance her longer stay in these Parts, she would yett be- 
 take herselfe to her design'd retreat. She was not satis- 
 fyed that those who could not butt take notice what Per- 
 son it was she preferr'd before all the world, should 
 speak of her withdrawing from Court, and liveing now 
 soe long near it without proceeding any further, tho* 
 divers could not be driven from the opinion that she 
 was allready marryed. Itt is certaine that excellent 
 Man could never think of parting with her, nor she 
 herselfe from soe many Friends besides, as infinitely 
 vallued her ; butt vnless he could alsoe decently have 
 taken himselfe from Court, which was the thing they 
 both projected and desired, that they might wholy quit 
 all dependancys which interrupted their living to- 
 geather, butt which for many prudent considerations 
 had been inconvenient for him as yett, she was not 
 easily perswaded to linger here and be vpon vncertain- 
 tyes, who had all along in her Eye the modelling of 
 her life, so as not to be obliged to those complyances 
 she was of necessity to vndergoe in a Station soe near 
 to the Court, unless Mr. G. should fix on firme Im- 
 ployment as might not only countenance her stay and 
 marrying, butt render other circumstances easy like- 
 wise : tho', as I said, there was nothing which they 
 
56 THE LIFE OF 
 
 both did breathe after more then to have settled some- 
 where remote in the Country, from all Intanglements 
 of the World. Thus farr she had pleased herselfe to 
 acquaint me with her most intimate concerns. I doe 
 not affirme that to obviate some objections of hers he 
 meditated the purchase of that honorable Office which 
 he afterwards succeeded in, butt the Master of the 
 Robes, now Earle of Rochester, discovering his inten- 
 tion about this tyme to part with that place, might, in 
 my opinion, be an inducement with them to marry, 
 and rather trust God with the event of things, then give 
 the World occasion, after soe long expectation, to think 
 she made a retreat out of rashness or discontent : where- 
 fore vpon the 16th of May, which was Assention Day, 
 they both marryed togeather in the Temple Church, 
 by the Reverend Doctor Lake, one of his Royall High- 
 nesse Chaplaines, my Lady Berkley and a Servant of 
 the Brides onely being present, and I think nobody 
 else, both the blessed Paire receiveing the holy Sacra- 
 ment, and consecrateing the Solemnity with a double 
 Mistery. 
 
 Her not acquainting me with this particular of a 
 good while after, occasioned a friendly quarrell between 
 vs, that she who had intrusted me for many years with 
 all her concerns, nay her greatest Inclinations, and 
 vpon occasion not only named me for the particular 
 Friend that should be wittness of her Marriage, butt 
 give her to her Husband, should now with such In- 
 dustry conceale it from me. And now He tell your 
 Ladyshipp how I could not butt discover it, for noe 
 sooner was the Knott tyed, butt she one day desired I 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 57 
 
 would lett her pervse all the Letters I had of hers, and 
 which she knew I too religiously reserv'd, not that she 
 could be conscious of haveing ever written that to me 
 which might not have past the severest Eye, butt be- 
 cause there being in many of them professions of the 
 sinceritye and holy friendshipp that an excellent Soule 
 (and such as hers was) could express, they might by 
 any accident possibly fall into hands that prophane 
 every thing, and most, [the] innocent and virtuous ; I 
 failed not to transmitt them to her, nor she to returne 
 them, as indeed finding nothing in them which should 
 cause her to deprive me of a Treasure she knew I soe 
 infinitely vallued ; nor could I beleive that tho' she had 
 given [herself] to so worthy a Person she design'd by 
 sending for her Letters to break with me, as Ladys vse 
 to doe with vnfortunate Rivalls : for she thus accom- 
 panyes her Pacquett : 
 
 My Friend, This being Tuesday, a Day which long 
 since you know has belonged to a Friend of myne, I 
 have putt togeather all the Letters, Papers, and other 
 Fragments, excepting Meditations, which I think you 
 have Coppyes of, and among which are some Prayers 
 of mine, and all your Bookes ; only that you last sent 
 me, and I am now reading, of the Intercourse betweene 
 Christ and the Soule, I desire to retaine, because now 
 and then I am much pleased and softned with some 
 passages of it ; and now I have this day prayed your 
 prayers, thought your thoughts, wish'd, I dare say, 
 your wishes, which were that I might every Day sett 
 looser and looser to the things of this World, discern- 
 ing, as every day I doe, the folly and vanity of it : how 
 
 4* 
 
58 THE LIFE OF 
 
 short all its Pleasures, how trifling all its Recreations, 
 how false most of its Friendshipps, how transitory 
 every thing in it, and on the contrary, how sweete the 
 Service of God, how delightfull the meditateing on his 
 Word, how pleasant the Conversation of the Faithfull, 
 and above all, how charmeing Prayer, how glorious 
 our Hopes, how gratious our God is to all his Children, 
 how gentle his Corrections, and how frequently by the 
 first Invitations of his Spiritt, he calls vs from our low 
 Designes to those great and noble ones of serveing him, 
 and attaineing eternall happiness ; these have been this 
 Dayes Thoughts and Imployment ; for my Lady 
 Hamilton being here, and some Freinds att Cards, I 
 have had the whole Day to myselfe. Rejoyce with 
 me my Friend and be exceeding glad, for soe it be- 
 comes vs whenever wee have oppertunity of serveing 
 him. 
 
 And now, Madam, by this, which accompanied the 
 redition of her Letters, your Ladyshipp may conclude 
 what Courtshipp there vsed to pass betweene vs ; how- 
 ever, her solicitude thus for them on a suddaine might 
 well give me vmbrage, and I was resolved to live vnder 
 an affected Ignorance, assured by knowing, and as af- 
 terwards I learn'd, that this niceness could never pro- 
 ceed from herselfe, but from some other prevalent obli- 
 gation ; and I ever esteemed it an Impertinence to be 
 over curious when I found there was designe of con- 
 cealement, and should have much wondred att it of her 
 to me, butt that I was soe perfectly accquainted with 
 her Virtues ; whereof one, and that none of the least 
 care in her sex, was that whenever she was vnder a 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 59 
 
 promise of Sacrifice, nothing in the World could vnlock 
 her Bosome, or slack her resolution. A Secrett was 
 indeed a Secrett when comitted to her : and yett againe, 
 when I called to mind the reiterated Promisses she had 
 made me never to alter her condition without adviseing 
 with me, I was somtymes in suspence of my Conjec- 
 tures, and would often reproach myselfe for the Sugges- 
 tion. Nor did this a little confirme me that she was 
 not marryed, that my Lady Berkley now vpon her goe- 
 ing with her Husband, design'd Ambassoder Exteror- 
 dinarye to the Court of France, and Plenepotentiarye 
 at the famous Treaty of Nymeghen, she solemnly con- 
 sulted me about her accompanying her Ladyshipp to 
 Paris, and staying there with her some competent tyme, 
 to see how God would dispose of things. I must ac- 
 knowledg I was not soe averse from this proposali of 
 hers, ashopeing it might divert her melancholy designe 
 and hankfering] after Herefordsheir, and since my son, 
 then butt a Youth, had importun'd me to lett him travell, 
 I was the easier inclin'd to gratify e him, vpon the as- 
 sureance I had of the great care she would have of him, 
 since he was not only to accompany her in the way, 
 butt be in the same House with her, and in all things 
 injoin'd to follow her directions. Nor ever could he 
 have had soe blessed an opportunitye of improveing 
 himselfe ; this little selfe interest obtain'd on me I con- 
 fess, att that tyme, butt such as I would most willingly 
 have sacrificed, could I have prevail'd with her to stay 
 without pursueing her Notherne Journey, where [the] 
 abandoning herselfe to Solitude, must soone have ruin'd 
 her health and made her vnhappy. 
 
60 THE LIFE OF 
 
 This excursion then concluded on, and lyeing intire- 
 ]y vpon me for her Provisions and Supplyes abroad, her 
 mind seem'd to be much att ease, butt it was some 
 Months that this resolution was taken ere they sett 
 forth, and all this tyme, I am perswaded, she and her 
 Husband liv'd with the same reserves that the Angells 
 doe in Heaven, not thinking fltt to cohabitt till they de- 
 clar'd their Marriage, which for reasons best knowne to 
 themselv's they did not doe till she came back from 
 France againe. In this interim, and towards the latter 
 end of June, she did me the honour to pass a fortnight 
 att my little Villa, and brought me a Letter of Attorney to 
 transact all her concerns dureing her absence, as looke- 
 ing now every Day when my Lord Berkley would be 
 dispatched and enter on his Journey, when behold vpon 
 the 27th a Fitt of an Appoplexy seizing on him as he 
 was sitting at the Councell Table at White Hall, and 
 continueing on him all that night, without the least ap- 
 pearance of releasing him from its mortall effects, or if 
 that might be possible, of ever restoreing him to toilera- 
 ble sence and vigour, banish'd all thoughts of Embas- 
 syes, and consequently of our goeing into France. 
 But God was more gratious to him, for the Phisitians 
 had beyond all expectations, and even amidst dispair, 
 brought him not only out of this fatall Paroxysme, butt 
 after some tyme to soe much strength (tho' in most 
 men's opinions not perfectly restored to his memorye 
 and abilityes) as nothing would divert him from his 
 intended progress. On the 10th of November his Ex- 
 cellency sett forth with his Traine, my son and 1 ac- 
 companying them the first Day to Sittinborne ; for in 
 regard of his Lordshipps indisposition they made butt 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 61 
 
 easy Journeys. Canterbury was our next nights re- 
 pose ; when in the Morning after wee had been att 
 Prayers in the Cathedrall, Mrs. Godolphin and I walk- 
 ing alone togeather, she declared to me what exceeding 
 regrett she was in to leave her Friends. Not without 
 many teares I expostulated with her, why she would 
 goe then, I am engaged, sayes she, to my Lady Berkley, 
 who tells me I breake her Heart if I forsake her, and 
 you see in what condition her Lord is, and poore 
 Woman, what would become of her if he should dye, 
 and she have never a Friend by her ? nor would I have 
 People think I retire out of any other respect. B utt Mr. 
 E. if ever I returne againe, and doe not marry, I will 
 still retire, and end my Dayes among you, and you are 
 like to have the share of the trouble ; for she had often 
 said she would divide her Life among her Friends, and 
 did me the honour to putt me into the Rank of one of 
 the first. 
 
 This, Madam, was the only tyme that in her Life 
 she ever prevaricated with me, and cover'd it with that 
 address ; and was, I am most assured, in deepest sorrow, 
 as all my former suspicions of her being marryed van- 
 ish't. Doe you not think, sayes she, that it afflicts me 
 to the Soule to part with you, and from one who I am 
 sure you believe I love intirely, and leave in my Condi- 
 tion ? This, vttered with a fflood of sorrow, I was not 
 able to sustain without reciprocall kindness and tender- 
 dess. Butt the tyme now call'd us to break off this 
 Conversation, the saddest that in my Life I ever saw 
 [her] in ; she had left her Heart att another Place, and 
 with one that therefore did not accompany her, because 
 
62 THE LIFE OF 
 
 he was of a tender nature, and durst not trust his Pas- 
 sion, whilst their Designe was to conceal their relation. 
 Wee arrived this evening att Dover, where, after supper, 
 calling me into her Chamber, she sign'd and delivered 
 me her Will, before her Maid, wherein she had me her 
 Administrator : for it seems her Husband had impow- 
 er'd her to dispose of what she pleas'd, and as she 
 pleased, as afterwards she told me ; this done, she de- 
 sir'd I would pray with her, and soe I left her, as full 
 of Sorrow as she could hold. 
 
 Early the next Morning I waited on her againe, and 
 againe, and fell into the same resentments ; and that 
 now she was soe near the tyme when she must be sep- 
 arated from them she lov'd, I know not how, said 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 strange 
 proceedings, 'tis spirituall, 'tis high, 'tis mysterious and 
 singular ; but find it a name if you can, for I confess 1 
 vnderstand it not ; doe you preserve serenity of mind, 
 and yett continue languishing? Nothing is in nature 
 soe repugnant as Love and absence, where nothing for- 
 bidds the object to be present. O heroick Soules, if you 
 think to be att ease, I shall be glad ; butt greatly 
 oblig'd to learne the Secrett, and be taught to beare this 
 Divulsion with as little pain, since I know of noe In- 
 gagement you have to goe from your Friends and those 
 whom you profess to love. Goe back, goe back then, 
 and be happy both, for this Course will weare you both 
 out, if really you love him. For goodness sake doe not 
 break my Heart (sayes she), you see I am engaged ; and 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 63 
 
 then she wept and wore such a cloud of Sorrow all that 
 Morning, that she could hardly speak a word when I 
 lead her downe to the Company.'now prepareing to goe 
 on board. Itt was vpon the 13th of November that 
 vpon the Beach wee tooke solemn leave, and I should 
 discover too much of my weakness to express the trou- 
 ble I was in, to see her overwhelm'd with grief that 
 she could not speake one word ; butt thus she was 
 carried into the Yatch, when being a little launched in- 
 to the Sea, the Fort from the Castle gave his Excellencye 
 1 7 Guns, and was answered with five, according to the 
 Forme. 
 
 I recount this passage to your Ladyshipp more 
 minuitely, as being the most passionate and most mys- 
 terious ; nor will I therefore make any reflections on it 
 then what I am perswaded your Ladyshipp must doe, 
 and then conclude them with admiration how two 
 Persons that lov'd each other soe intirely, could support 
 a Divorce soe long ; or what might be the Cause, if any 
 other there were, butt a singular and extreme niceness 
 not to come together, which they might be suspected to 
 doe, however to appearance they lived reserv'd, till 
 they publickly avow'd their Marriage, which you may 
 remember they forbare till they had made their Familyes 
 and Equipage complete. 
 
 On the 5th of December, she writt me word of their 
 safe arrivall att Paris, and how they had dispos'd of 
 themselves ; together with an Account of my Lord Am- 
 bassadors magnificent Entry and Audience att the 
 French Court, with other pompious Circumstances, 
 
64 THE LIFE OF 
 
 which yett soe little concern'd this admirable Creature, 
 that she would only be noe Spectator of it, butt not soe 
 much as once appeared att Court all the tyme of her 
 being att the Ambassadors House. And tho' the Re- 
 port of such a Beauty and Witt had soe forerun her ar- 
 rivall, by some who had known her in the Circle att 
 Court, that the French King was desireous to see her in 
 that att Saint Germans ; yett she soe order'd matters as 
 to avoid all occasions of goeing thither, and came back 
 to England without giveing that great Monarch the 
 satisfaction of one Glaunce, or her selfe of the Splendor 
 or Vanity of his Court ; which is soe singular a Note in 
 her sex, and of one naturally soe curious and observeing, 
 that I cannot pass it over without a just remarke, es- 
 pecially being a Lady soe infinitely compleasant, and 
 of a nature soe obligeing, Mistress alsoe of the French 
 Tongue to such perfection, as rendered her capable of 
 entertaining Persons of the highest quality, nor was this 
 reservdness out of humour or singularity. She now 
 considers her selfe a marryed Woman, and tho' she 
 went over to accompany my Lady, there was no ne- 
 cessity for her to appeare att Court, where the virtues of 
 strangers did not allways protect the Sex from Incon- 
 veniencyes ; and she was resolv'd to give no occasion 
 to be talk'd of or admir'd. All the Tyme she could re- 
 deeme from those Civilityes she owed my Lady, and 
 which now begun to be very tedious to one whose 
 Heart was in another Country, she spent in Devotion, 
 reading excellent Bookes, and converseing with some 
 few of her Accquaintance, butt without gratifyeing her 
 curiosity by goeing out to see the many rarityes which 
 the famous Citty she was in invites all strangers to, vn- 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 65 
 
 less it were that of her goeing one afternoone to a 
 Cloyster of Nuns ; whose manner of liveing did not 
 displease her, whilst nothing of their Superstition could 
 endanger one soe well principled in her Religion. I 
 will give your Ladyshipp a transcript of the first 
 Letter sent me after her arrival att Paris, to comfirme it. 
 
 " My Friend, I promised you an Account of our 
 Journey hither ; there was nothing in it of exterordnary, 
 no ill accident, nothing like Pintos Travells. Since I 
 came to Paris, I have hardly been out of doores to visit 
 any body, butt there has been a Preist to visitt me ; 
 butt without Yanity I think I said as much for my 
 Opinion as he did for his. I am now reading Moun- 
 sieur Clauds Defence de la Reformation, and like it 
 most exceedingly ; soe as you need have noe fear of me 
 on that side. God knows, the more one sees of their 
 Church, the more one finds to dislike in itt ; I did not 
 imagine the tenth part of the Superstition I find in it, 
 yett still could approve of their Orders. Their Nun- 
 neryes seem to be holy Institutions, if they are abused 
 'tis not their fault : what is not perverted ? Marriage 
 itt selfe is become a snare, and People seem to dispose 
 of their Children young, lest the remedy increase the 
 dissease : butt when I have commended that baile of 
 theirs, I have said for them, I think, all that reasonably 
 can be said. One thing I must tell you, Friend, Peo- 
 ple can have the Spleens here in Paris, lett them say 
 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 wise." 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 I present yon, Madam, with this Fragment of a 
 Letter, to shew yonr Ladyshipp how she spent her 
 Tyme, when she could redeeme it from Complyances 
 with the Company, and the Decencyes of such Visitts as 
 were not to be resisted where Persons of Q,ualitye came 
 to see her ; butt of which she grew soe weary att last 
 — and for another reason you may conjecture, — as with- 
 in a Month or two of her arrival 1, this excellent Crea- 
 ture was quite sick of France. 
 
 " I am weary," says she, in another Letter to me of 
 the 4th of February, " of my Life, I have here no tyme 
 for my Soule. Cards wee play att four Houres every 
 Day ; whoever comes to visitt, I must be by to inter- 
 prett ; where ever a certaine Lady goes (if my Lady 
 H. be not att hand), I must trudge ; soe that poore I 
 can scarce say my Prayers, and seldome or never read. 
 Dear Friend, pray heartyly, that if it be Gods will, I 
 may be restor'd to my owne People, and to my God ; 
 for tho' he be every where I cannott call vpon him as 
 I was wont att home : therefore for God's sake pray 
 that I may speedily and once again worshipp him in 
 his Congregation, and enjoy the assistance of his Grace, 
 the presence of my best Friends, whom as my Life I 
 love. I could content my selfe with any thing, I think, 
 were I once at home. Butt I must doe nothing rashly ; 
 I hope yett in God through your Prayers, and my owne 
 firme Resolutions, to gett home assoone as ever I can, 
 being quite wearyed with dedicateing my selfe perpet- 
 ually to other People. 'Tis almost one a Clock ere I 
 can gett to Bedd, soe that in the Morning I am not able 
 to rise before Eight, and passing then an Hour in Prayer 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 67 
 
 and Psalmes, and an Houre and a halfe in reading, 
 sometymes one Booke, sometymes another, by the tyme 
 I am dress'd Publique Prayers begin ; then follows Din- 
 ner, then Talk till 3, then goe to Publick Prayers, then 
 prate againe, God knows till Six a Clock, and then with 
 much difficulty gett away to pray, for my selfe, for you, 
 and some other, then am I call'd to Cards till Bed tyme. 
 O pittye, pittye me, dear Friend !" 
 
 I shall need repeate noe more of her sad laments ; 
 diverse have I by me, and yet it was still more for this 
 interruption of her assiduous course and devotion than 
 for any other consideration. She lookes vpon it as an 
 Exile from the House of God, which like holy David, 
 was to her intolerable. Even amongst the circum- 
 stances of splendor, ease, and worldly diversion, she had 
 been made beleive she should be as much Mistress of 
 her retirements att Paris as she was wont to be att 
 Berkley House : tho' neither there was she att the Lib- 
 erty she breath'd after, Devotion, and Solitude, and Lea- 
 sure for the improvement of her Mind. Butt this 
 Affliction did not last, for vpon my Lord Ambassadors 
 prepareing to goe to Nimoghen, and a reall pretence of 
 an Affaire that concern'd her, namely, the disposeing of 
 a considerable summe of mony intrusted with me, she 
 decently tooke the oppertunitye of Mr. Bernard Green- 
 vile returneing out of Italy, (whither he had been sent 
 with a Publique Character to the great Duke of Tus- 
 cany) and passing through Paris, of being conducted 
 by that honorable and worthy Gentleman, without 
 those difficultyes she might otherwise have met with ; 
 nor doubt I butt my Lady Berkley, who was privy to 
 
68 THE LIFE OF 
 
 her being marryed, and had now another Lady with 
 her, less scrupulous and more diverting, was the easier 
 wrought on to part with one she could suffer to be sup- 
 planted by another, after such professions of the most 
 superlative Friendship and Indearments in the World, 
 and which, I am certaine, contributed not a little to 
 what afflicted this tender and good natured Creature. 
 
 Mrs. Godolphin (for soe now I call her) haveing thus 
 taken leave of Paris, arrived att Dover the 3d of Aprill, 
 in which interim I had by her direction order'd her 
 Accomodations to be remov'd from Berkley House to 
 Doctor Warnetts in Covent Garden, whose wife was 
 her near relation. Soe on the Sixth of Aprill she gave 
 me notice of her being come to London, where the 
 next Day I waited on her, to the no small Joy, you may 
 be sure, of all her Friends, as well as of my selfe. I 
 will not repeate to your Ladyshipp what had allready 
 pass'd betweene vs in friendly expostulations, for the 
 vnkindness of her soe long concealing from me the cir- 
 cumstance of her Marriage, because she had express'd 
 her Sorrow with such an asseveration as in my whole 
 Life before I never heard her vtter, soe as I could not 
 but forgive her heartyly. Nor did this suffice, for she 
 often acknowledg'd her fault, and beg'd of me that I 
 would not diminish ought of my good Opinion of her, 
 to the least wounding the intire Freindshipp which 
 was betweene vs ; protesting she had been soe afflicted 
 in her selfe for it, that were it to doe againe, noe con- 
 sideration or complyance in the World should have 
 prevailed on her to break her Promise, as some had 
 done to her regrett. In good earnest I was sorry to see 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 69 
 
 her troubled for it, considering the Empire of a pas- 
 sionate Love, the singular and silent way of the Lover, 
 whose gravity e and temper you know soe well, and 
 with whome I had nothing of that intimacy and in- 
 dear'd Friendshipp, which might intitle me to the Con- 
 fidence he has since not thought me vnworthy of. I 
 therefore mention this passage, because she was a Per- 
 son of soe exact and nice a Conscience, that for all the 
 "World she would not have violated her Promise ; nor 
 did I ever find it in the least save this, which, when 
 all is done, was of noe great importance. Save that I 
 tooke it a little to heart she should soe industriously con- 
 ceale a thing from one to whome she had all along 
 comunicated her most intimate thoughts ; and when 
 that affection of hers was placed, which she would of- 
 ten acknowledge was not possible for her to moderate 
 as she desir'd, or bring to the least indifference, after all 
 her innocent stratagems and endeavours, and even 
 sometymes resolutions, to quitt all the World, and think 
 of him only in her Prayers. 
 
 This scene being thus over, to my great satisfac- 
 tion, and, as vpon all occasions I advised, when those 
 melancholy thoughts and fancyes vs'd to interrupt her 
 quiett, wee will looke vpon this Lady now, as a setled 
 Woman, and in the Armes of that excellent Person the 
 most worthy to possess her. Itt was on the 13th of 
 Aprill that she did me the honour of a visitt att my 
 house, expressing infinite acknowledgments to Al- 
 mighty God for his goodness to her, after a most sol- 
 emn manner, and that once againe she was come 
 among her friends, beging of me, that I would continue 
 
70 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to assist her with those little services she was pleased 
 to accept. And now haveing thought fitt to make 
 their marriage noe longer a secrett, — for she had not 
 yett, I think, revealed it to her sister, nor did his Ma- 
 jestye or Court, know any thing of it, till she was in 
 Equipage to appeare as became her — she obtained of 
 the Q,ueen a considerable augmentation of a Lease she 
 had of certaine Lands in Spalding, about which she was 
 pleased to make vse of my assistance, for the settlement 
 of it. This was in May, and by the next month she 
 had furnish'd and formed her pretty family att Berkley 
 house, whether on the 27th of June, she removed out 
 of Covent Garden, and began to receive the visitts and 
 vsuall Congratulations vpon Marriages, soe vniversally 
 approved of. 
 
 Dureing this, I had the good fortune to secure a 
 considerable summe due to her, which lay in some 
 danger. V. in September began to build and accom- 
 modate that pretty habitation for her in Scotland yard, 
 which she contrived and adorn'd with soe much Inge- 
 nuity and decency ; and where your Ladyshipp and 
 all who knew and lov'd that excellent creature, have 
 been soe chearfull, soe happy, and so vnhappy, that I 
 never can pass or think vpon the place butt a thou- 
 sand sad thoughts affect me. 
 
 t twas dureing the fitting of that Lodging, that she 
 came downe to vs att Sayes Court againe, and blessed 
 the little apartment you know, with her presence, from 
 the 28th of September, to the 19th of October, her hus- 
 band then being att Newmarkett with his Majesty; 
 
MRS. G0D0LPH1N. 71 
 
 nor can your Ladyshipp forgett how sweetly she liv'd 
 in their retirement all this winter, till hearing of my Lord 
 Berkleys returne from his Embassy, she thought fitt to 
 remove to her own Lodgings, now finished att White- 
 hall for alltogeather j» which accordingly she did on the 
 last of March, settling with that pretty and discreete 
 oeconomye soe naturall to her ; and never was there 
 such an household of faith, never Lady more worthy 
 of the blessings she was entering into, who was soe 
 thankfull to God for them. 
 
 " Lord," (says she, in a Letter to me) " when I this 
 day considered my happyness, in haveing soe perfect 
 health of body, chearfullness of mind, noe disturbance 
 from without, nor griefe within, my tyme my owne, 
 my house quiett sweete and pretty, all manner of Con- 
 veniencys for serving God, in publick and private, how 
 happy in my Friends, Husband, 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 
 these mercyes, and how did I think myselfe obliged to 
 goe to the foote of my Redeemer, and acknowledge my 
 owne vnworthiness of his favour : butt then what 
 words was I to make vse of ; truely att first of none att 
 all, but a devout silence did speak for me ; but after 
 that I power'd out my prayers, and was in an amaze- 
 ment that there should be such a sin as ingratitude, in 
 the world, and that any should neglect this great duty ; 
 butt why doe I say all this to you my friend ? truely 
 that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth 
 speaketh, and I am still soe full of it, that I cannot for- 
 beare expressing my thoughts to you." 
 
72 THE LIFE OP 
 
 And that this was not a transient rapture, vpon the 
 sence of her present Enjoyment, butt a permanent and 
 devout affection ; vpon the 16th day of October follow- 
 ing, which day she constantly vsed to give me an ac- 
 count of her concerns the year past, I find this passage 
 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 safety, and honourably prospered me 
 in my temporall affaires ; above my expectation con- 
 tinued my health, and my friends ; deliver'd me from 
 the torments of suspence ; given me a husband that 
 above all men living I vallue ; in a word, I have little 
 to wish butt a Child, and to contribute something to my 
 friends happyness, which I most impatiently desire; 
 and then I must think before I can remember, what I 
 would have more then I enjoy in this world, butt the 
 continuance of a thankfull heart to my God." 
 
 This, Madam, was the vse and the gratefull returne 
 she made of the short blessings she enjoyed. Nor need 
 I accquaint your Ladyshipp, with what care she in- 
 structed her servants, how sedulously she kept her 
 family to Religious dutyes, how decently she received 
 her friends, how profitably she imployed every mo- 
 ment of tyme. Nothing in this world had she more to 
 wish, butt what God soone after gave her, that she might 
 be Mother of a Child ; which she soe passionately de- 
 sir'd after two yeares that she yett had none, as in the 
 intervall she tooke home to her, a poore orphan girle, 
 whome she tended, instructed and cherished, with the 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 73 
 
 tenderness of a naturall mother. For I have beheld 
 when she dress'd and undress'd it, and laid it to sleep 
 with all the circumstances of a carefnll Mother and 
 nurse ; till it pleased God to give her certaine hopes of 
 the blessing she thought onely wanting to consumate 
 her happyness. Nor did (as your Ladyshipp well 
 knows) any Inconveniency of that burthen, at all 
 slacken her devout course, but improve it rather ■ 
 when to other considerable Charityes a little before she 
 was brought to bedd, she sent me £.70 to distribute ; 
 by which were releived many indigent people and 
 poore house keepers ; and this was her owne entirely, 
 for her excellent husband had the year before settled 
 on her, not onely the product, but absolute disposall of 
 the portion which she brought, to above £.4000, for the 
 irreversible continuance thereof, they were pleased to 
 intrust me to manage the Stock, soe as now haveing 
 still wherewithall to inlarge her Charitye, without pre- 
 judice ; there was indeed nothing wanting which she 
 desired more in the world, as often she would repeate 
 it to me, butt the life of that Dear Man, for soe she 
 called her husband, for whome she had now and then 
 much apprehension, subject as he was to fevors that 
 had formerly endangered him, not in the least forebode- 
 ing her owne departure, and leaveing him behind her ; 
 tho' vpon a dreame of myne I once related to her some 
 yeares before, she affirmed with much earnestness that 
 she should certainely dye before me : which tho' I 
 tooke little notice of then, and believed nothing less, I 
 cannot but since reflect vpon ; especially when I call 
 to mind, the order she gave the painter, that in the 
 picture she some years since bestowed vpon me, she 
 
 5 
 
74 THE LIFE OF 
 
 would be drawne in a lugubrous posture, sitting vpon 
 a Tomb stone adorned with a Sepulcher Vrne ; nor 
 was this att all my fancy, butt her express desire. 
 Butt to lay noe more stress on this, how frequently 
 have I heard her say, she lov'd to be in the house of 
 Mourning. Nor does your Ladyshipp forgett how a 
 few dayes before her Reckoning was out, my Lady 
 Viscountess Mordant giveing her a visitt, and finding 
 her eyes swollen with teares, she tol4 her she had 
 being doeing a sad, yett to her a pleasing thing, and 
 that was the writeing something to her husband which 
 she requested he would doe for her, if she should dye 
 of that Child ; and then added the great Comfort and 
 satisfaction it was to her, that she had putt her little 
 concerns in order, and otherwise made preparations 
 against all surprizes, and was perfectly resign'd. 
 This discourse for the present drew mutuall Tears, 
 but abated nothing of her wonted chearfullness : when 
 on the fifteenth of May, which was the Anniversary of 
 her marriage, she with your Ladyshipp and sister Gr. 
 honour'd my poore house with a visitt, (the last she ever 
 gave me, and therefore not to be forgotten) the perfect 
 good humour she then was in renders the memory of 
 it sad, as well as that she was in the July after, when 
 wee all went with her to Mr. Ashmoles att Lambath 
 who diverted her with many curiosity es : butt after 
 this, growing bigger, she rarely stirr'd abroad, save to 
 the Chappell. Itt was yett againe on the fourth of 
 August, that my Lady Mordant and my wife (by as- 
 signation betweene them) went to dyne with her att 
 her pretty appartment, they found her well, but some- 
 thing more then vsually solemne ; she had it seemes 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 75 
 
 been reading and sorting of papers and Letters, and 
 how, sayes she, is it possible to think of ones friends 
 wee are to leave behind, without concernment ; with 
 discourse to this purpose. This more then ordinary- 
 Impulse, that she should not outlive the happiness she 
 had soe long wished for, made the Conversation less 
 gay and chearfnll then otherwise it was wont to be, 
 and it seemes to me, she had some apprehensions ex- 
 terordinary, which were not discern'd by any of her 
 friends ; when often wishing that she might, if soe it 
 pleas'd God, bring her husband one Child, and leave 
 him that pledge of her intire affection. She seemed to 
 thirst after nothing more than to be with God ; and 
 veryly what estimate she tooke of these poore satisfac- 
 tions here, when I have sometymes reflected on the 
 circumstances of her youth and chearfull temper, with 
 the prospect of as much worldly happyness as she 
 could desire, I have extreamly wonder'd att her con- 
 tempt of it, finding likewise that it did not proceed 
 from any peevish discontent or singularitye of humour, 
 butt from a philosophicall, wise and pious considera- 
 tion of the vicissitude and instabilitye of all earthly 
 fruitions, and an ardent longing after that glorious 
 state, where (said she) I shall be perfectly att repose, 
 and sin no more. And that these were almost her con- 
 tinuall thoughts and aspirations, see how she enter- 
 taines me, in a postcript about the very tyme. 
 
 "Lett vs pray, that Gods Kingdome of Grace being 
 received into our hearts, his Kingdome of Glory may 
 succeed, and soe wee ever be with the Lord ; which 
 indeed I long for, more then all the satisfactions of this 
 
76 THE LIFE OF 
 
 world ; really Friend there's nothing in it to be chosen 
 for itselfe. Is not eating to satisfye the paine of hunger, 
 sleepe to ease our wearyness, and other divertisements 
 to take off the mind from being too intent on things 
 that it cannot allwayes support without great inconve- 
 niency to its facultyes ? Retirement againe is to dis- 
 charge it of that burthen, and the staines it has con- 
 tracted by being in conversation, and impertinent Com- 
 pany ; soe 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 innrmityes ; 
 I acknowledge that God has imparted to me many 
 great blessings, which if our nature were not sadly de- 
 prav'd, wee might exceedingly rejoyce in, butt wee 
 make soe ill vse of most of them, that wee turne those 
 things to mischeifes, which are given to vs for our good 
 &c." In this style she goes on, and could a Seneca, or 
 an Antoninus, or indeed the wisest and holyest person 
 have vttered [aught] more divine and piously serious : 
 nor did she say this only, butt she practis'd it : for with 
 what devout and solemne preparations pass'd the rest 
 of this fatali month ! Haveing received the blessed 
 sacrament butt two dayes before she was brought to 
 bedd, soe preventing all possible surprizes, and waiteing 
 now with her wonted alacritye and resignation the ap- 
 proach of the conflict she was to enter vpon, she on 
 the second of September, began first to be sensible of 
 some alteration in her temper, and dureing that night 
 it was concluded it might be her labour, and soe it was. 
 With what exceeding patience, devotion, and courage 
 she sustain'd it, your Lady shipp, who was all the tyme 
 assisting, with both those excellent sisters, can best tell. 
 
MRS. G0D0LPH1N. 77 
 
 Itt was then on Tuesday the third of that vnfortu- 
 nate Month, when comeing about 11 a clock in the 
 forenoone as my custome was, to visitt her and ask of 
 her health, that I found she was in Travell ; and you 
 may easyly imagine how extreamly I was concern'd, 
 not to stirr from the house till I had some assureance 
 that all succeeded well. And indeed to all appearance 
 soe it did. For it pleas'd God that within an hour, 
 your Ladyshipp brought me the joyfull tydeings of a 
 Man Child born into the world, and a very little after 
 admitted me to see and bless that lovely Babe by the 
 Mothers side ; when the very first word she spake to 
 me was, I hope you have given thanks to God for his 
 infinite mercy to me ; O with what satisfaction, with 
 what joy and over rapture did I hear her pronounce it, 
 with what satisfaction and pleasure did I see the Mother 
 safe, and her desire accomplished, without any accident 
 that could give the least vmbrage or suspicion of ap- 
 proaching danger, soe as me thought of nothing more 
 than rejoyceing and praiseing God, augureing a thou- 
 sand benedictions. 
 
 In this faire and hopefull condition she continued 
 all that day, when her husband, now att Windsor with 
 the Court, being sent for to come to double and corn- 
 pleat the Joy, upon the Thursday following, his little 
 Son was made a Christian, [his name Francis] in pre- 
 sence of both the parents ; his Vnkle Sir William Go- 
 dolphyn, Mr. Harvey, Treasurer to her Majestye, and 
 Lady Berkley being susceptors; the Chaplaines who 
 constantly vsed to say prayers in the family performe- 
 ing the office. 
 
78 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Seeing this dear Lady soe well layd, the Child bap- 
 tized, and every thing in a hopefull way, my wife, who 
 was now to visitt her, and I, return'd home, as full of 
 joy and satisfaction as wee could be, for the best and 
 most estimable friend wee had in the world ; butt ah, 
 how were wee both surprized, 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 style. 
 
 " My poore wife is fallen very ill of a fTevor, with 
 lightness in her head. You know who sayes the 
 prayer of the faithfull shall save the sick ; I humbly 
 begg your charitable prayers, for this poore creature 
 and your distracted servant. London : Saturday, 9 a 
 clock." 
 
 O how was I struck through, as with a dart. I am 
 not able to tell your Ladyshipp with how sad and ap- 
 prehensive thoughts my wife and I hastned imediately 
 to Whitehall ; where wee found her in all the circum- 
 stances of danger ; and tho' distinctly knowing those 
 who came to visitt and were about her, yett had the 
 distemper allready soe farr prevailed on her spiritts, that 
 it was a sad and mournfull thing to find how her fancy 
 and vsuall temper was disorder'd. To all this, the 
 season happen'd to prove excessively hott, which ex- 
 ceedingly contributed to her suffering. There had 
 been, when I came, butt one physitian sent for ; butt 
 my wife, suspecting (with others) that this violent sur- 
 prize could not likely proceed from either the intem- 
 perance of the weather or impaire of one, soe well laid 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 79 
 
 as to all appearance as she was, butt possibly from ac- 
 cident, itt was thought advisable to call an experienc'd 
 person in cases of this nature. Butt itt was soe very- 
 long ere the doctor could be found, and soe late ere he 
 came, that through the frequency and violence of her 
 fitts, which were now delirious, her spiritts were soe 
 farr wasted, that tho' he were of the same opinion, and 
 that something was omitted, yett would he by no in- 
 treaty be perswaded to apply any thing but in conjunc- 
 tion with other phisityans. Doctor Lowther being 
 call'd away some houres before, and besides it being 
 now farr in the night, itt was with exterordinary difi- 
 culty that I gott my antient dear and religious friend, 
 Doctor Needham, since with God, and then but valetu- 
 dinarye himselfe, to come. Others who were sent for, 
 wearyed as they pretended with toyle, would not be pre- 
 vailed with to rise, except Doctor Short ; soe as till now, 
 there had been little attempted ; nor any thing even by 
 these with any assureance, so farr she was spent, and 
 her condition not admitting of proper remedyes for 
 what they feared, gave slender hopes of success. The 
 Deliriums increase, and allbeit with some promise and 
 intermissions, to appearance, yett were they only such 
 as proceeded from languor and tiredness ; soe that tho' 
 she still retained her memory of the persons about her, 
 what she said was altogeather inconsistent, and grow- 
 ing more impetuous and deplorable, gave presage of 
 uttmost danger. This only was highly remarkeable, 
 that in all this disorder of fancy and allmost distraction, 
 she vttered not one syllable or expression that might in 
 the least offend God, or any creature about her ; a thing 
 which dureing these alienations of mind does seldome 
 
80 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 happen ; butt which shewed how blessed a thing it was 
 to live holylye and carefully, as this Innocent did ; 
 persons that are delirious vsually vttering extra vigan- 
 cyes that discover their worst inclinations. Butt she 
 was now in a manner spent, and no't could physitians 
 doe, when neither the cupping nor the pidgeons, those 
 last of remedies, wrought any effect. Other things had 
 been perhapps convenient ; butt there was noe strength 
 to bear inward remedyes, when even the most gentle 
 had been fatall ; and there now appearing a kind of 
 Erisypulus on her back, neck, and armes, the malig- 
 nancy grew desperate, — and this excellent Creature 
 passes a fiery Triall, exercised in all the circumstances 
 of paine and weary ness. Wee beheld her now lan- 
 guishing vnder the last conflicts till the morning of the 
 next day. There had been, your Ladyshipp knows, a 
 consultation the night before, and a resolution of at- 
 tempting searching att a venture, if she lived till day, 
 and the rather that the physitians might not seeme to 
 doe nothing in a desperate case, than expecting any 
 good effect without a miracle. Butt when the morning 
 came, finding her still more debilitated, and the parox- 
 ysmes impetuous and allmost vncessant, all hopes 
 being given over, vpon the importunitye and recomen- 
 dation of that excellent and pious lady, the Viscountess 
 Mordant, they permitted one Doctor Ffaber to make 
 try all of a Cordiall, celebrated by her Ladyshipp for 
 the great matter it had performed, and indeed it seem'd 
 att first to compose her, and somewhat allay the vio- 
 lence of her fitts. Butt the moments were short, and 
 her conflict is repeated with the vsuali violence ; till 
 she who was wont to raise her selfe vp as oft as they 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 81 
 
 came, now sinkes downe as no more able to sustaine 
 them : her spiritts faint : till no more pulse perceivable, 
 — for your Ladyshipp and I held her all this while by 
 the hands, — with the most ardent prayers and offices of 
 the holy Man, who continually attended, he earnestly, 
 and wee all devoutly recomend, and she quietly renders 
 vp her happy soule to her blessed Redeemer, in whose 
 bosome she is now deliver'd from all earthly miseryes, 
 and assumed into those blissfull Mansions prepared for 
 his Saints, and such as like her excellent in virtue. 
 
 Thus ended this incomparable Lady : our never to 
 be sufficiently lamented losse : leaveing not only a dis- 
 consolate husband, whose vnexpressible griefe and 
 deep affliction would hardly suffer him to be a spec- 
 tator of her languishments, drown'd in tears and pros- 
 trate att the mercy seate, butt all her Relations, and 
 who had the honour to know her in as much reall and 
 pungent sorrow as Christians and tender hearts were 
 capable to express, and as was highly due for soe sen- 
 cible and vniversall a^loss, and soe infinitely deplor'd. 
 
 This fatall houre was (your Ladyshipp knows) 
 about one o'clock, att noone on the Munday, Septem- 
 ber the nineth, 1678, in the 25 year and prime of 
 her age. O vnparalell'd loss ! O griefe indicible ! By 
 me never to be forgotten — never to be overcome ! Nor 
 pass I the sad anniversary and lugubruous period, 
 without the most sencible emotions, sorrow that draws 
 tears from my very heart whilst I am reciteing it. 
 
 Butt thus she pass'd to a better World, when only 
 
82 THE LIFE OF 
 
 worthy of her, when as if presageing what was att 
 hand, she that very day seavenight (as I noted) fur- 
 nish'd herselfe with the heavenly Viaticum, after an 
 extordinary preparation, preventing the possible dissad- 
 vantages of what might surprize her spiritts and dis- 
 order her recollection with a most pious and heavenly 
 address. Nor was this taken notice of onely by those 
 who were witnesses of it some dayes before she was 
 brought to bedd, but signally appeared in that paper 
 which she had left in the hands of her indear'd Sister 
 in law Mistress Boscawen, to deliver her Husband, in 
 case of mortall accident, which soe soone as it was 
 possible to compose his and the vniversall grief to any 
 temper, was performed. 
 
 "My deare, not knowing how God Allmighty may 
 deale with me, I think it my best course to settle my 
 affaires, soe as that, in case I be to leave this world, 
 noe earthly thing may take vp my thoughts. In the 
 first place, my dear, beleive me, that of all earthly 
 things you were and are the most dear to me ; and I 
 am convinced that nobody ever had a better or halfe 
 soe good a husband. I begg your pardon for all my 
 Imperfections, which I am sencible were many ; but 
 such as I could help, I did endeavour to subdue, that 
 they might not trouble you : for those defects which I 
 could not rectifye in myselfe, as want of judgement in 
 the management of my family and household affaires, 
 which I owne myselfe to be very defective in, I hope 
 your good nature will excuse, and not remember to my 
 disadvantage when I am gone. I ask your pardon for 
 the vanitye of my humour, and for being often [more] 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 83 
 
 melancholy and splenetick than I had cause to be. I 
 was allwayes ashamed of myselfe when I was soe. and 
 sorry for it, and I hope it will come into the number of 
 those faults which I could not help. Now (my dear) 
 God be with thee ; pray God bless you, and keepe you 
 his faithfull Servant for ever. In him be all thy joy 
 and delight, satisfaction and comfort, and doe not grieve 
 too much for me, since I hope I shall be happy, being 
 very much resign'd to God's will, and leaveing this 
 World with, I hope, in Christ Jesus, a good Conscience. 
 Now, my dear, if you please, permitt me to ask leave 
 to bestow a legacy or two amongst my friends and 
 servants. In the first place, if it might be, I could 
 wish, when the Child I goe with grows of a fitt bigg- 
 ness, itt might be either with my sister Boscawen, or 
 my sister 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 desire you would give B 
 
 [her woman] one hundred pounds (the vse of which 
 being six pounds a year, she may live att her Ffather's 
 house vpon, if she will, for I fear she will scarce gett 
 any one to bear with her want of good service, as I 
 have done). For my Maid, if she doe not marry, I 
 hope she will be kept to looke after my Child, when it 
 comes from Nurse. In the meane tyme, you will give 
 her board wages. For my two footemen, I hope you 
 will gett them places as soone as you can, etc. How- 
 ever, if you be not disposed to keepe them, you will 
 give them att parting ten pounds a piece. I desire you 
 will give my Sisters my share of the Queen's Lease, 
 fifty pounds a year ; itt is betweene them two, my vn- 
 marryed ones I meane ; and to my Cozen Sarah an 
 
84 THE LIFE OF 
 
 hundred pounds in mony. To my Lady Silvius my 
 great diamond ring, &c. 
 
 " Now, my dear, I have done, if you please to lay 
 out about an hundred pounds more in rings for your 
 five Sisters, to remember me by. I know nothing more 
 I have to desire of you, but that you will sometymes 
 think of me with kindness, butt never with too much 
 griefe. For my Funerall, I desire there may be noe 
 cost bestowed vpon it att all ; butt if I might, I would 
 begg that my body might lye where I have had such a 
 mind to goe myselfe, att Godolphyn, among your 
 freinds. I beleive, if I were carried by Sea, the ex- 
 pence would not be very great ; but I don't insist vpon 
 that place, if you think it not reasonable ; lay me where 
 you please. 
 
 " Pray, my deare, be kind to that poore Child I leave 
 behind, for my sake, who lov'd you soe well ; butt I 
 need not bidd you, I know you will be soe. If you 
 should think fitt to marry againe, I humbly begg that 
 little fortune I brought, may be first settled vpon my 
 Child, and that as long as any of your Sisters live, you 
 will lett it (if they permitt) live with them, for it may 
 be, tho' you will love itt, my successor will not be soe 
 fond of it, as they I am sure will be. 
 
 " Now, my deare Child, farewell; the peace of God, 
 which passeth all vnderstanding, keepe your heart and 
 mind in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son 
 Jesus Christ our Lord ; and the blessing of God All- 
 mighty, the Father, the Sonn, and the Holy Gost, be 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 85 
 
 with thee, and remaine with thee, ever and ever. 
 
 Amen." 
 
 Then follows what she had intrusted me withall. 
 
 This indearing Instance of a truely loyall and ad- 
 mirable Wife were capable of the most noble reflections, 
 soe religious, so tender, soe discreete, and every way 
 becomeing. That she accuses herselfe of, being some- 
 tymes more solemne than vsualiy young Ladyes are, 
 and which she calls the Spleen, I can by noe meanes 
 admitt a fault : and if her other imperfections, of which 
 she beggs pardon, were butt such as her want of oecono- 
 mique prudence in the management of her family, I dare 
 pronounce her the most consummate of all the perfec- 
 tions that can adorne or recomend her sex. 
 
 I say nothing of that wonderfull affection to her 
 Husband, that made her soe desireous to mingle her 
 dirt with his in a dormitorye 300 miles from the rest of 
 all her Relations, and where to my knowledge she 
 would more contentedly have pass'd all her dayes with 
 him then amidst the splendor of the greatest Court, and 
 where he might be the Horizon, all that she could or 
 cared to see. 
 
 The education of her dear Child is next : Observe 
 with what care for the better Part, with what excellent 
 choice for the person to whome she recomended it. 
 Nor does she extend her kindness only to her Relations, 
 butt the meanest of her Servants. As for the Poore, she 
 had not onely sent those good workes before her, which 
 
86 THE LIFE OF 
 
 she now enjoyes the treasure and reward of in Heaven, 
 butt tooke order they might be continued after her, and 
 she being dead yett speakes. 
 
 I might haply have taken it vnkindly, if she had 
 named so much as a brother, and left me out ; butt the 
 Legatyes she bequeathed, or rather desired her Hus- 
 band to gratifye her in, were only to her Sisters and 
 your Ladyshipp, except what she bestows among her 
 Domestick ; to one of which she gave noe less than 
 an hundred pounds, and to herowne Sisters the vallue 
 of a thousand ; lastly, to me the honour (att the foote 
 of this Paper) of being mentioned the depositarye of 
 her Trust as I was the distributer of her Bounty. Butt 
 which was more obligeing, the solemn profession to her 
 Husband, a little before her Sickness, that she knew of 
 nothing more she had to finish or wish for in this 
 World, but that she might doe me some signall kind- 
 ness. I confess she had often both said and written 
 soe to me, butt that she should think of it as a Con- 
 cerne doubly indeares her memory. This (sayes that 
 excellent Creature) she has left me to doe, and Madam, 
 he has done it, in allowing me the honour of his friend- 
 shipp, and accepting my little services ; for the rest, I 
 have her Picture in the house, and the Idea of her vir- 
 tues in my heart, besides a thousand expressions of a 
 religious and noble Friendshipp, vnder her owne fair 
 hand, which I preserve and value above all she could 
 else bequeath me. 
 
 There was another small Pacquett seal'd vp, which 
 she desired by the superscription might be burnt, and 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 87 
 
 not open'd, as accordingly it was perform'd, and, as I 
 conceive, contained the Cypher onely by which she 
 vsually corresponded with her ghostly Father, the 
 Deane of Hereford ; or some particulars, which she 
 would not trust her memory with, in case she had lived, 
 for as I accquainted your Ladyshipp, she kept a Cata- 
 logue of mercyes, deliverances, successes, resolutions, 
 and other assistances, for the disscussion of her Con- 
 science with the most accurate niceness. Butt I enter 
 not into this secrett. 
 
 Thus began, lived, and ended this incomparable 
 Christian, Virgin, Wife, and Friend, for an emulous ex- 
 ample of perfection in all those capacityes. Butt after 
 all I have said, impossible will it be to conceive what 
 she was, without endeavouring to imitate and attaine 
 those excellencyes and early virtues which made her 
 what she was : to shew you that — , something I have 
 here attempted according to my poore ability ; butt he 
 were a rare Artist indeed could reach the orriginall, and 
 give those last and liveing touches which should make 
 it breathe. But, Madam, this is not to be expressed by 
 lights and shadows which is alltogeather illustrious, 
 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 finishing, — I should, according to the 
 vsuall method, conclude it with her Character, if that 
 accomplished peice were not reserved for a greater 
 Master, and one that could describe her mind. All I 
 can pretend to, will hardly reach the out strokes, and 
 
88 THE LIFE OF 
 
 when I shall have done my best, be butt an imperfect 
 coppy. 
 
 Add this paper (Electra) to the fardle of my other 
 Impertinencyes ; butt take heed to the stepps and pro- 
 gress you make, for if I live, I will write your life, att 
 least from the first approaches of our friendshipp, till I 
 carry it into other Mansions. But because your great 
 humility shall not suffer by the admirable things I 
 must say of you, nor the brightness of the Subject be 
 ecclipsed by the defects of the Instrument, it shall be 
 vnder supposed names, but in veritable instances ; for 
 either wee want such examples for good writers to ex- 
 ercise their style and talents on, or good writers to 
 transmitt them to posteritye. 
 
 I know not really how she could doe the age wee 
 live in more Justice, nor leave that to come a nobler 
 monument of Gratitude for the Improvements your 
 Conversation has taught it ; whilst Electra knows this, 
 she will need noe Socrates or Zeno to stand before her ; 
 she reveres herselfe, and can doe nothing below her 
 dignitye. I protest to you, the thought that she is all- 
 wayes present, and contemplation of her vertues, is 
 more to me than a thousand dead philosophers. But 
 wee have a better monitor, and it were an imbecility 
 infinitely beneath us, to need the veneration of men, 
 when God, — all Eare and Eye, omniscient and omni- 
 present, — observes both our words and actions. Lett 
 us both, therefore, soe speak with God as if men heard 
 us, and soe converse with men as if God saw us. 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 89 
 
 Behold, Madam, what I once subscribed at the 
 foote of a Letter to this blessed Creature ; and often she 
 would smile at what I used to repeate upon this sub- 
 ject, and as often did I disbeleive my selfe. Far, very- 
 far was it from my imagination, farther, infinitely farther 
 from my desires, to survive (for) this office, who had it 
 constantly in my wishes, that she might close my 
 eyes ; butt soe it has pleased God, that I should verifye 
 my prophecy, and on your Ladyshipp's command, ab- 
 solve my promise together. I have written her Life, and 
 should nowpresent your Ladyshipp with her Picture : 
 here are Colours, but where is (as I said) the Master ? 
 She sat indeed some considerable tyme to me, and 
 her conversation had been enough to inspire an Artist ; 
 but I assure you, there are some peculiar Graces, which 
 the most skillful doe not arrive to in their most ela- 
 borate and finished peeces. And she was full of those, 
 and such as I never yet did see in any of her sex but in 
 her alone, and am certaine never shall, vnless it be in 
 those few peeces she drew her selfe, whereof your Lady- 
 shipp is a breathing and illustrious one, whilst you 
 tread the pathes of her piety and virtues ; this, Madam, 
 I pretend to know, and to shew you from whome I take 
 my measures. 
 
 The Picture. 
 
 Lett me first then recall to your Ladyshipps remem- 
 brance how she usually passed the day, for an instance 
 allmost inimitable in the station where she was, the 
 Court. I will begin with Sunday the first of the weeke. 
 
90 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Were it never soe darke, wett, or uncomfortable 
 weather, dureing the severity of winter, she would 
 rarely omit being att the Chappell att 7 a'clock pray- 
 ers, and if a Comunion day, how late soever her attend- 
 ance were on the Queen, and her owne exterordinary 
 preparation kept her up, she would be dressed and att 
 her private Devotions some hours before the publick 
 office began. This brings to remembrance what I could 
 not then but smile att, that finding one day a long 
 pack thread passing through the key hole of her cham- 
 ber doore, and reaching to her bed's head, opposite to 
 that of your sisters, if I be not mistaken, and inquireing 
 what it signifyed, I att last vnderstood, itt had been to 
 awaken her early in the morning, the Centinell, whose 
 station was of course near the entrance, being desired to 
 pull it very hard att such an hour, whilst the other ex- 
 tream was tyed fast about her wrist, fearing her maid 
 might over sleep her selfe, or call her later then she had 
 appointed. 
 
 But besides the monthly Comunions, she rarely 
 missed a Sunday throughout the whole Year, wherein 
 she did not receive the holy Sacrament, if she were in 
 towne and tollerable health ; and I well know she had 
 those who gave her constant advertisement where it 
 was celebrated vpon some more solemn festivals, be- 
 sides not seldome on the weeke days assisting at one 
 poore creatures or other ; and when sometymes, being 
 in the Country, or on a Journey, she had not these op- 
 pertunityes, she made use of a devout meditation upon 
 that sacred Mistery, by way of mentall Comunion, soe 
 as she was in a continual! state of preparation ; and O 
 
MRS. G0D0LPH1N. 91 
 
 with what unspeakable care and nicenessdid she use 
 to dress and trim her soul against this Heavenly Ban- 
 quett, with what flagrant devotion at the Alter. I doe 
 assure your Ladyshipp, I have seen her receive the 
 holy symbolls, with such an humble and melting joy in 
 her countenance, as seem'd to be something of trans- 
 port, not to say angelic — something I cannot describe : 
 and she has her selfe confessed to me to have felt in 
 her soule such influxes of heavenly Joy as have all- 
 most carryed her into another world ; I doe not call 
 them Rapts and Elapses, because she would not have 
 endured to be esteemed above other humble Christians ; 
 butt that she was sometymes visitted with exterordina- 
 ry favours I have many reasons to believe : see what 
 upon another occasion she writes to me. 
 
 " O, my friend, how happy was I on Sunday last. 
 By reason of this foolish play," (of which I have all- 
 ready given your Ladyshipp an account,) " most im- 
 perfect were my preparations, and yett I doe not remem- 
 ber that God was ever more gratious to me but once 
 afore ; and indeed that tyme I had soe great a sence of 
 my owneunworthyness and the wonderfull condescen- 
 tion and love of God, that I had like to have fallen flat 
 on my face ; butt that except this was the most refresh- 
 ing. O Jesus, (said I,) how happy are wee, how bless- 
 ed, that have the Lord for our God. And you, blessed 
 Angells, who are present att these assemblyes, admire- 
 ing the heavenly bounty, I tell you 1 was even dissolv- 
 ed with love to God. And yett, after all this, what 
 wretched things we are : I was drowsy att Church, 
 wandering in my thoughts, and forgettfull of these 
 
92 THE LIFE OF 
 
 favours that very day ; and great cause I had to lament 
 my sinnsof even that day. Thus I acknowledged to 
 you Gods love to my poore soule, and my foule ingrati- 
 tude to him ; that you may pray for the continuance of 
 the one, and I trust the other will in tyme grow less." 
 See this humble soule. But I subjoyne one more. 
 
 " I bless God," (says she,) " I grow dayly less fond 
 of the world, more thankfull to God, less solicitous for 
 outward things, and more thirsty for the blessed Sacra- 
 ment, not as I was wont, nor because I hold it my duty, 
 but out of an ardent desire to commemorate my Sa- 
 viour's death, and to be againe entertained with the 
 wonderfull pleasure that I feele there, and noe where 
 else. All worldly joyes, all splendid ornaments, titles 
 and honour, would I bring to the feete of my crucifyed 
 Saviour." 
 
 Nor did this blessed Saint hear the word of God 
 with less reverence ; imploying that day almost intire- 
 ly in pious meditations, and never failing to recollect 
 what she had heard, with that diligence, that there was 
 not a Sermon but what she had abstracted, writeing 
 downe the principall heads of the whole discourse, soe 
 soone as she came from Church (if she had leasure), 
 or, to be sure, in the evening ere she slept ; and this 
 course she never omitted, nor to repeat what she ob- 
 served of most instructive : and her memory was soe 
 happy, as nothing materiall escaped her. This, to my 
 astonishment, I can testifye. 
 
 How would this Lady rejoyce att the approach of 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 93 
 
 the Lord's day. She has often told me, she felt anoth- 
 er soule in her, and that there was nothing more afflicted 
 her, than those impertinent visitts on Sunday Evenings, 
 which she avoided with all imaginable industry ; whilst 
 yett seldome did she pass one without goeing to visitt, 
 pray by, or instruct some poore religious Creature or 
 other, tho' it were to the remotest part of the Towne, 
 and sometymes, if the season were inviteing, walke 
 into the fields or Gardens to contemplate the workes of 
 God. In a word, she was allwayes so solemnly chear- 
 full upon that day, and soe devout, that without looke- 
 ing into the Kalender, one might have read it in her 
 countenance. Thus was the Sunday taken up in 
 prayers, hearing, receiveing, meditateing on the word 
 and workes of God, acts of Charity, and other holy 
 exercises, without the least formalitye or confusion, be- 
 cause she had cast all her arTairs into such a method, 
 as rendered it delightful! as well as holy. 
 
 Vpon festivall dayes, she never omitted the offices 
 of the Church ; takeing those opportunityes of visitt- 
 ing poore sick people, relieveing and comforting them ; 
 and then would lengthen her evening retirements with 
 proper meditations on the Mystery, or comemoration ; 
 for which she had of her owne collection, apposite en- 
 tertainments : butt then upon indicted fast dayes, besides 
 what she weekly sett apart her selfe, and (especially 
 before the Monthly Comunions) how exterordinary 
 were her recesses and devotions one very Friday, when 
 she rarely stirr'd out of her little Oratorye butt to pub- 
 lique prayers, and then would end the evenings in vis- 
 itts of charity ; and did for severall years observe the 
 
94 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Lent with strictness, both as to her reflections and de- 
 votion, till finding it much impaire her health and deli- 
 cate constitution, something of those severe mortifica- 
 tions, she was perswaded to abate ; onely the holy 
 weeke her exercises was extended to all the parts of 
 duty, and more solemn preparation, spent in an unin- 
 terrupted course of penitentiall and exterordnary devo- 
 tion, yett without superstitious usages, or the least 
 morossness. 
 
 Vpon such Anniversaryes, she would be early att 
 the Chappell, and sometymes I have knowne her shutt 
 vp in the Church after the publick offices have been 
 ended, without returneing to her Chamber att all, to 
 prevent impertinent visitts and avocations, and that she 
 might spend the day in continuall devotion. With 
 these austerityes passed she the dayes of abstinence ; 
 nay, though it fell vpon a festivall, and when others 
 thought themselv's att liberty. This recalls to me an 
 answer which she once returned me, kindly reproveing 
 her for a severity on a certaine holy day. 
 
 "As to fasting on a festivall," (sayes she,) "I had 
 not done it, butt that 1 had for it the opinion of a learned 
 and reverend Bishopp, who told me it was not a fasting 
 day of our owne makeing ; wee might, when a fast and 
 a feast of the Church meete, feast att Church and fast 
 att home ; which I did, and it was a good day with 
 me : I could be content never to dyne soe long as I live, 
 soe as I might spend every day like that." 
 
 By this your Ladyshipp may see how well advised 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 95 
 
 she was in all she did, and what exterordnary gust and 
 satisfaction she received in her devout intercourses. 
 
 Butt the truth is, not onely did she fast on dayes of 
 Indiction, and such as the Church enjoynes : every 
 meale was a day of abstinence with her, for as she 
 seldome eate of above one or two dishes, where there 
 were great plenty, soe very rarely would she have any 
 sauces, and commonly chose the dryest and leanest 
 morsells ; and frequently have I knowne her deny her 
 appetite things which I am certaine she lov'd, soe as I 
 have made it now and then a little quarrel], for treating 
 her selfe no better, considering her tender fabrick, early 
 riseing, tedious and late watchings, laborious devotions, 
 and not seldome even to fainting in her retirements. 
 Butt she would tell me smileingly, that she was as 
 strong as a lyon ; and though I manifestly perceived 
 the contrary, both by her countenance and other cir- 
 cumstances, that these austerityes did her injury, she 
 would disguise it with an industry soe naturall, and 
 putt such life and chearfullness into her lookes and 
 mine, as has made me call to mind what wee read of 
 Daniell and his companions, (Dan. i,) who after their 
 asscetick foode, looked fairer and in better point then 
 all the rest who eat of the Royall portion. " I can be 
 fatt," (she would tell me,) " in three dayes when I will." 
 
 I forgott to remember your Ladyshipp, of her im- 
 ploying most part of Lent in workeing for poore people ; 
 cutting out and makeing waistcoates and other ne- 
 cessary coverings, which she constantly distributed 
 amongst them, like another Dorcas, spending much of 
 
96 THE LIFE OF 
 
 her tyme, and no little of her money, in relieving, vis- 
 itting, and enquireing of them ont. And whilst she 
 was thus busy with her needle, she would commonly 
 have one or other read by her, through which means, 
 and a happy memory, she had allmost the whole Scrip- 
 tures by heart, and was soe versed in Doctor Ham- 
 mond's Annotations and other practicall bookes, Con- 
 troversyes, and Cases, as might have stocked some who 
 pass for noe small Divines ; not to mention sundry 
 divine penitentiall and other Hymns, breathing of a 
 Spiritt of holyness, and such as shew'd the tenderness 
 of her heart, and wonderfull love to God. 
 
 Thus spent she the Sunday, feasts, or fasts ; nor 
 were the exterordnary weeke dayes other than Sun- 
 dayes with her when none came to interrupt her course, 
 which in some particulars was constant and uninter- 
 mitted. For the Sun had not yett drawne the Curtaines 
 of his purple bed, whose riseing she oft prevented, and 
 even sometymes the Morning watch, when this holy 
 Virgin, wakeing, after a short Ejaculation to the Fa- 
 ther of lights for the refreshment she had received, thus 
 excites herselfe, — 
 
 " Up and be doeing, sleepe no more ; 
 Hark ! who is knocking att the doore ? 
 Arise, my fair e o?ie, come away ; 
 For thee I waite : arise, and pray. 
 Shake off thy Sleepe ; behold, His I! 
 Canst thou love that, when I am by ? 
 Vaine thoughts, presume not to come near, 
 YouH find no entertainments here ; 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 97 
 
 My Love has sworne — her vows are past — 
 That I shall be her first and last. 
 Rise then, my dearest, come and see 
 What pleasureas are reserved for thee. 
 I come, dear Lord. Behold I rise. 
 Thee, I beyond all pleasures prize." 
 
 Doe not imagine I am pursueing a romance, or in 
 a rapture myselfe, whilst I call her up with this angel- 
 ick Hymne, since I can assure your Ladyshipp 'tis 
 butt what I find under her owne hand, and amongst 
 those devout transports and composures of hers, which 
 I am certaine were her owne : and when she was in 
 health she would be call'd whilst it was yett darke, to 
 seeke her Lord, like those holy women that went 
 early to the Sepulcher. 
 
 Noe sooner was she descended from her bed, but 
 she fell on her knees in profound adoration ; and all 
 the time of her dressing, — which for the most part she 
 finish'd of her selfe without other help, — her mayd was 
 reading some part of Scripture to her, and when her 
 assistance was necessary, she would take the booke 
 herselfe, and read to her maid; thus continually im- 
 ploy'd she her meditations, till she was fully dress'd ; 
 which she would be in a very little tyme, even to all 
 the agreeable circumstances becomeing her, because 
 indeed she became every thing, and this early riseing 
 and little indulgence to her ease, made her looke like a 
 flower, lovely, and fresh, and full of health : being in 
 this posture, she withdrew to private devotion in her 
 closett, till her servant advertised her it was tyme to 
 
 6 
 
98 THE LIFE OF 
 
 goe to the Chappell, where she was ever with the first 
 of the devout sex, were it never soe wett, cold, and 
 darke, even before day breake, in midst of winter. 
 
 Returned from Chappell, she wonld shtitt her selfe 
 upp in her little Oratorye againe, where, till the 
 Q,ueene reqnir'd her attendance, (for now I describe 
 her as she was att Court,) she was either imployed in 
 reading some holy booke, or getting some Chapter or 
 Psalmes by heart, such as she had collected abundance 
 of the most edifyeing ; neither omitted she to pray con- 
 stantly with her small family, which she tooke great 
 care to instruct upon all occasions. Nor did her fore- 
 noone devotion determine here; she not seldome 
 might be found in the Chappell at ten a'Clock in the 
 longer office. Nay, and I have sometymes mett her 
 above in his Majesty es little oratorye before dinner, if 
 conveniently she could slipp away from the mixt Com- 
 pany of the withdrawing Roome, whilst the Giueene 
 satt out ; and this she did, not out of singularity or 
 superstitious devotion, or that she thought herselfe 
 obliged to it, butt (as she has told me) to avoid occa- 
 sions of idle and impertinent discourse, which was all- 
 most unavoidable in the Ante-Chambers. 
 
 Soe soone as her Majestye had dyned, (if it were 
 her duty and turne to wayte,) and that she had alsoe 
 taken her repast, if she owed no formal 1 visitts, or 
 were not interrupted by others, she usually spent the 
 afternoone in workeing with her needle, which was 
 comonly (butt espetially, as I noted, in Lent tyme 7 ) 
 makeing Coates and Garments for poore people, and 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 99 
 
 sometymes for great and rich, for there was nothing but 
 [what] her delicate fingers could doe, and she had an 
 Invention and fancey soe elegant and pretty, that when 
 there was any thing exterordinary to be done in suite- 
 ing Ornaments and adjusting Ladyes' matters att 
 Court, tho' she affected none of this her selfe, happy 
 was the most illustrious of the Circle, [who] could have 
 her to dress and sett them out. 
 
 She was sometymes engaged to pass the after dy li- 
 ner att Cards, especially when she came to Berkley 
 House, (where was great resort,) more to comply with 
 others, than that she tooke the least delight in it ; and 
 tho' being comonly extreamly fortunate, and very skill- 
 full, she comonly rose a winner, and allwayes reserved 
 her winnings for the poore, itt was yett amongst the 
 greatest afflictions of her life, when, to comply with 
 some persons of Quality e, she satt any thing long att 
 itt. How many sad complaints has she made to me of 
 this particular : I tell you she looked on it as a Calamity 
 and subjection insupportable. But neither did this nor 
 any other consideration detaine her from being present 
 att publick prayers att 3 or 4 a'clock, for she would 
 then break off, and happ'ly take that opportunity^ of 
 makeing some visitt, if she had any to pay. 
 
 She had her houres also for reading historye and 
 diversions of that nature ; but allwayes such as were 
 choice, profittable, and instructive, and she had de- 
 voured an incredible deale of that solid knowledge, and 
 could accompt of it to admiration ; soe as I have even 
 beene astonished to find such an heape of excellent 
 
100 THE LIFE OF 
 
 things and materiall observations collected and written 
 with her owne hand, many of which (since her being 
 with God) came to myne, for besides a world of ad- 
 mirable prayers and pieces of flagrant devotion, medi- 
 tations, and discourses on various subjects, (which she 
 compos'd) there was hardly a booke she read that she 
 had not common placed, as it were, or taken some re- 
 markable note of ; add this to the Diary of her owne 
 life, actions, resolutions, and other circumstances, of 
 which I shall give some specimen. She had con- 
 tracted the intire historye of the Scriptures, and the 
 most illustrious examples, sentences, and precepts, di- 
 gested under apposite and proper heads ; and collected 
 togeather the result of every Article of the Apostles' 
 Creed, out of Bishopp Pearson's excellent Treatise. I 
 have allready spoken of her Sermon Notes ; butt to 
 give a just Account of her Letters, they are soe many 
 and in so excellent naturall and easy a style, that as 
 for their number, one would beleive she did nothing 
 else butt write, soe for their weight and ingenuity, that 
 she ought to doe nothing else ; and so easily did her 
 Invention flow, that I have seene 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 obliging, and allwayes about 
 doeing some kind office or Religions Correspondence. 
 Nor less was she indefatigable in reading ; seldome 
 stirring abroad without some good booke about her, 
 that if by any accident she were to attend or be alone, 
 she might lose no tyme ; and indeed the tone of her 
 voice (when she read to others) was soe suited to all 
 the passions and figures either of reading or discourse, 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 101 
 
 that there was nothing more charmeing then to heare 
 her recite with such a Spiritt and Judgment as the pe- 
 riods fell. 'Tis hardly to be imagined, the talent she 
 peculiarly had in repeating a comicall part or acting it, 
 when in a chearfull humour and amongst some par- 
 ticular friends, she would sometymes divert them ; 
 and I have heard her pronounce a Sermon in French 
 which she had heard preached by a fryar in Paris 
 vpon the profession of a Nun, att which she was pre- 
 sent, that really surprized me. Those who had ob- 
 serv'd the fantastick motion of those Zealotts in the 
 pulpitt would have seen in this Lady's action, inven- 
 tion, and preachment, the prettiest and most innocent 
 Mimick in the World, and have reahy beleived it had 
 been the Enthusiast himselfe, hutt for his frock and 
 face, that had inspired her: certainely she was the 
 most harmeless and diverting Creature in nature. 
 Butt as her witt was infinite, and in Conversation far 
 superior to any of her sex, soe to curb it, had she such 
 perpetuall apprehensions of God's omnipresence, that 
 she industriously suppressed it. I could tell your La- 
 dyshipp of some artificial helps she used, to keep her 
 allwayes in mind of it : thus she would pin up some 
 papers, as it were negligently, in places where she 
 most frequently used to be, with some Character in it, 
 or halfe word, that signifyed to her some particular 
 duty or Caution ; and though I never came to know 
 this from her selfe, yett hy some observations which I 
 made, I am confident of what I say. Butt this she did 
 to curb and restraine (I said) her sprightfull witt in 
 perfect humility, and out of feare and tenderness lest 
 she misht offend ; tho' never was Creature more dis- 
 
102 THE LIFE OF 
 
 creetly reserv'd, or that better vnderstood when and 
 what it was fitt to speak and entertaine her friends. 
 
 To preserve her selfe then in this humble temper, 
 and assist her more minute Confessions, she kept (as I 
 have hinted) an account of her actions and resolutions, 
 as since her decease I find. In this it was she sett 
 downe her Infirmityes she laboured vnder, what de- 
 liverances she had from danger, what favour received, 
 what Methods she resolved to take for the imployment 
 of her tyme, and obligations laid vpon her selfe to per- 
 forme what she soe resolved, which doubtless was a 
 Course to keep her close to duty, as well as the fre- 
 quent Counsells of her Ghostly father upon all difficul- 
 tyes by the constant Intercourse of Letters, soe as she 
 [was] seldome in suspence. what she ought to doe 
 upon any difficulty which might concerne her : and 
 this infinitely contributed to the Chearfullness of her 
 Spiritts and interior peace ; she was really soe afraid 
 that others should think too well of her, that she has 
 sometymes bitterly accused herselfe, and was wont to 
 send me an anniversary account of her faileings and 
 Infirmityes, in which God knows there were very few, 
 with a gratefnll remembrance to God of her Improve- 
 ments, which I knew to be much greater than she 
 would acknowledge, desireing both advice and prayers 
 for her. 
 
 As the Morning, soe in the Evening, itt was even in 
 some exterordinary and indispensable buisness which 
 att any tyme hindered her from the Church office, which 
 if she missed att three a'clock, she would be sure to 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 103 
 
 find att six, whether she were abroad or att home ; and 
 after that as constantly retired some competent tyme 
 before Supper for recollection, Reading and private de- 
 votion ; and would sometymes walk abroad to con- 
 template the workes of God, for which she was furnish 
 with proper meditations, which she could extend out 
 of her owne stock, as I can witness, to my singular 
 edification and no small admiration ; there was really 
 nothing she cast her Eye upon, butt instead of imperti- 
 nent wandring she would derive some holy use from. 
 
 " I wish you here betymes," (one day writeing to 
 me,) u that wee may walk together. I fancy I could 
 talk of God for ever ; and, indeed, what else can wee 
 speake of butt our God, of whome wee never can say 
 enough : ; ' for Tuesday being vsually the day I visitted 
 her of course, whether wee walked into the Gardens, 
 the fields, or within doores, the most agreeable conver- 
 sation to her, was the contemplation of the workes of 
 God ; [or] the contriveing how to bring about some 
 charitable office ; and as she was strangely happy in 
 composing differences, soe was she of soe lucky address 
 and universally beloved, that what she undertooke she 
 seldome failed of accomplishing. Generous as she was, 
 and soe obligeing to her freinds, there hardly passed a 
 day in which she had not done some signall kindness : 
 nor disdained she the meanest Circumstances, soe she 
 might doe good ; not to omitt how resolute she was in 
 other dutyes. Nor in all these pious Labours, [was 
 she] the least troublesome, scrupulous, singular, or 
 morose, butt [of] the most easy and chearful conversa- 
 tion in the world. 
 
104 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Thus passed she the Evenings till Supper j which she 
 for the most part refused her selfe, spending that tyme in 
 her oratory j and if she did come downe, eating spar- 
 ingly, retired againe soe soone as decently she could dis- 
 engage her selfe to pray with her little family, and fin- 
 ish the rest of her private course before she went to re- 
 pose. This your Ladyshipp knows and could speake 
 to much better then my selfe, whilst you were fellow vir- 
 gins and companions in holy dutyes ; and thus lived 
 she to God and to her selfe. Let us now take a view 
 how she conversed with others, Domesticks and 
 Friends, after she was a Wife, and had a family to 
 governe. 
 
 It is usually said of marryed people, n such a one 
 has altered her condition," indeed, soe had shee. Butt 
 in noe sort her Course. Itt could not be said of this 
 paire, that those who are marryed cared for the things 
 of this world how they might please one another, for 
 never was there Lady pleased soe well as when she 
 was careing for the things of the Lord, and this she 
 did (if any ever did) without distraction, knowing that 
 she could never please her husband better then when 
 she was pleasing God ; soe as she was, (I may truly 
 say,) the same [as] a wife and a virgin. And such a 
 Marriage it was, I am perswaded St. Paul himselfe 
 would have preferred above the celibate he soe highly 
 comended, butt for which he had noe command, butt 
 spoke on supposition. 
 
 She was none of those who would have excused 
 her comeing to the divine and royall feasts because she 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 105 
 
 had manyed an husband; slacking in nothing of her 
 former zeale and labours of love, without the least im- 
 peachment to her domestick Charge. Soe dextrously 
 she knew to reconcile both those dutyes, that I beleive 
 there never was family more an household of faith, 
 never persons linked togeather in a more honourable, 
 happy, and easy bond ; for as she was an excellent 
 Christian, she was a noe less unparalleld wife ; I need 
 not therefore describe this vertue to your Ladyshipp, or 
 call that complaisance which was the height of a most 
 vertuous affection ; and reciprocall ; for never were 
 two persons soe framed for one another's dispositions, 
 never lived paire in more peace and harmony ; and 
 yett, tho' this conversation was the most noble and be- 
 comeing in the world, without troublesome fondness, 
 yett she could not conceale the affliction she suffered 
 when he was absent, as when he had been sometymes 
 sent abroad by his Majestye, upon diverse publick con- 
 cerns of State, nor the Joy that so spread it selfe in her 
 countenance, and agreeable humour, when he was pre- 
 sent. In a word, she was conversation as well as Com- 
 panion for a wise and excellent person, soe as if ever 
 two were created for each other, and marriages, as 
 they say, made in heaven, this happy paire were of the 
 number. O irreparable loss, never to be repaired on 
 this side that blessed place. 
 
 For the prudent management of her domestick af- 
 fairs, she was not to learne what ever might become the 
 gravest or [most] experienced Matron as well as Mis- 
 tress. She had soone made choice of such servants, 
 and putt all things in such order, as nothing was more 
 
 6* 
 
106 THE LIFE OF 
 
 easy, methodicall, and quiett ; without singularity or 
 affectation ; nothing more decent and honourable. She 
 provided them bookes to read, prayers to use by them- 
 selves, and constantly instructed them herselfe in the 
 principles of Religion ; tooke care for their due receive- 
 ing of the holy Sacrament, and was in a word the best 
 mistress in the world : wittness her bountifull remem- 
 brance of them att her death, of which I have allready 
 spoken. 
 
 She tooke exact Accompt of her dayly expenses, 
 which every Saturday she used to summe up, and never 
 went on score ; soe just and provident she was ; make- 
 ing that a delight which others looke on as a Burthen, 
 — namely, the care of her family, which she would goe 
 through with an hardiness and masculine virtue, soe 
 farr was she from being nice and delicate, that it infi- 
 nitely became her. IN one knew better then she to buy 
 and to chuse what was fitt, tempering a discreet frn- 
 galitye with a generous hand and a large heart ; and 
 if in any thing profuse itt was in her Charitye. 
 
 And that I have shewed your Ladyshipp how she 
 lived to God and to herselfe, T have now to add how 
 she conversed with her Neighbours, whom she loved 
 as herselfe. 
 
 Your Ladyshipp is of too generous a Soule to forgett 
 that particular affection she bore you to the last, the 
 esteeme she had of your excellent sister and Relations : 
 and methinks I still see the concerne she shewed, when 
 you were preparing to goe into Holland about this tvme. 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 107 
 
 because her solicitude for your. prosperity was accompa- 
 nyed with a tender friendshipp ; which I find you 
 would keepe in memory by the Instances you make to 
 one, whome you justly think have noe less gratefull dis- 
 position to celebrate her vertues. 
 
 Indeed never was any Creature more obligeing to 
 her friends and Relations ; to whose Civilityes, that 
 she might be just, she not only kept a Catalogue of 
 those she had a more particular esteeme of, butt would 
 studdy all imaginable wayes to be serviceable to them. 
 Wee both are wittnesses of the paines she would un- 
 dergoe to proselyte vaine or indifferent Christians, and 
 with what an admirable address she did it ; without 
 the least diminition of her selfe, or mean complyance 
 to gaine friendshipp with esteeme ; tho' she was scru- 
 pulously carefull not to multiply accquaintances, con- 
 sidering the precious moments that are lost in imperti- 
 nent and formal visitts, and therefore reduceing [them] 
 to a select and choice number. Nothing in the world 
 did more afflict her then the trifling Conversation *of 
 some whome of Decency she was obliged to bear with, 
 whilst there was not a visitt which she returned to such, 
 butt with a secrett designe, how she might either reclaime 
 those who were less reserved and circumspect, or con- 
 firme and incourage those that were more. Never 
 should you hear her speake to the disadvantage of an 
 absent person ; butt if others did, she would be either 
 silent and say nothing, unless where she could excuse 
 them, or divert the discourse. In every thing else she 
 had a wonderfull complacency of nature ; which was 
 infinitely improved by Religion, and a kind of univer- 
 
108 THE LIFE OF 
 
 sail Charitye, soe as to acomodate her selfe to all inno- 
 cent humours. She would sing, and play, and act, 
 and recite, and discourse prettyly and innocently a 
 thousand harmeless and ingenious purposes to recreat 
 old and melancholy persons, and divert the younger. 
 She had kindness and good nature to silt by the sick 
 and peevish, read and pray by them with insuperable 
 patience and chearfullness, and comply even with little 
 Children ; she played att any the most difficult games 
 suiteable to their Conversation, and that skillfully : nor 
 was there any resisting her agreeable way and governing 
 spiritt ; soe that (as I noted) the greatest Duchesses 
 and Ladyes of the Court sought her friendshipp and 
 assistance vpon any occasion of solemn pomp, Masque, 
 Ball, or exterordinary appearance, because of a certaine 
 peculiar fancy and address she had in suiteing, dress- 
 ing, and continueing things of Ornament, with univer- 
 sall approbation, whilst in all these Complyances, she 
 was watchful 1 of opportunityes to instill something of 
 vertue and Religion, as well by her discourse as ex- 
 ample, and in such a manner, as not only avoided the 
 Censure of Impertinence and singularity, butt which 
 more endeared her to them. What shall I say? she 
 had all the pretty arts and innocent stratagems imagin- 
 able, of mingling serious things on all occasions, sea- 
 soning even her diversions with something of Religion ; 
 which, as she would manage it, putt to rebuke all their 
 stocks of rayllery, soe as nothing was more agreeable 
 then her Company where ever she came. Indeed 
 there was nothing proofe against the abundance of her 
 witt and piety : she made vertue and holyness a chear- 
 full thing, lovely as her selfe ; and even in the Court, 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 109 
 
 how many of the greatest there, were made to looke 
 upon Religion as a serious thing, yett consistent with 
 their post. Butt this I need not recount to your Lady- 
 shipp, there are yett some (and more I wish there were) 
 who owe the tincture to this Lady, and will, I hope, 
 retaine it ; soe as, if ever it were an holy Court, 'twas 
 when this Saint was the life of it. 'Twere easy to 
 shew whome, by her Councell and address, she had 
 rescued some from fatall precipices in that giddy Sta- 
 tion ; others, whome she has instructed, that were Ig- 
 norant or careless ; some, that she gained to a severe 
 Course, who were listning to folly and mine : in a 
 word, it was the pleasure of her life and the buissness 
 of the day, to cast about how she might improve it to 
 those advantages. O, were the Courts of Princes 
 adorn'd and furnish'd with such a Circle wee should 
 call it Heaven on Earth, and converse with Angells. 
 Butt, to justifye this and all that I have affirmed con- 
 cerning the piety of her thoughts, the passion she had 
 to improve others, the richness of her Invention, natu- 
 rall Eloquence, and beauty of her Style, I have no 
 more to doe then to mind your Ladyshipp of a Letter, 
 written by this Saint, when she was now gone from 
 Court, of which I am well assured you are best ac- 
 quainted, and can yett perhapps produce the orriginall ; 
 for my part I never read it butt I looke vpon it as in- 
 spired with an appostolick spiritt. 
 
 " Deare Children, since you are both soe lowly in 
 your owne Eyes, as to make use of me in a thing 
 which either of you would have done better, butt that 
 you distrust your selfes, — namely the paraphrases 
 
110 THE LIFE OF 
 
 vpon the prayer lately sent you, I thought my selfe 
 obliged deepely to consider it againe, and having done 
 soe, cannott satisfy my selfe, unless I sett downe with 
 Pen and Ink what my opinion is of it. As to your 
 dressing, I can't beleive the Doctor meant there should 
 be any neglect of that beauty God has given you, soe 
 it be done with this Caution, first that you designe to 
 captivate none for any satisfaction you take in the 
 number of Lovers or in the Noise of a larger traine of 
 Admirers than other young women have, butt purely 
 for an honest designe of disingageing your selves as 
 soone as you can from the place you are in, in an 
 honorable way ; and when ever you see any young 
 Man, whome in your hearts you cannot beleive will 
 prove that person I speak of, or any marryed Man, 
 whome you know cannot, with such a one St. Paul 
 sayes, you ought not to converse in the least ; I meane, 
 if possible to be avoided, and in this age, you know, 
 women are not soe wonderfully solicited that have the 
 vertue and modesty of you two. That good service 
 the Ladys of other principles have done you, that men 
 sooner find their Error, and without much difficulty 
 suspected conversations may be avoided. 
 
 " Indeed, it would be a most dreadful sight att the 
 last day, to see any man condemned upon your ac- 
 counts ; and yett such a thing may be, and yett you 
 honest : for if you willingly consent men should looke 
 upon you and follow you, you are accessary to that 
 sinn in St. Mathew, l Who ever lookes on a woman to 
 lust after her, hath committed Adultery with her all- 
 ready in his heart.' Soe that my opinion is, that man- 
 
MRS. G0D0LPHIN. Ill 
 
 kind, if they make any particular applications, tho' 
 they don't make love, be, as much as you can, avoided. 
 As to your Conversation, there is nothing forbidden butt 
 what is either prophane, or unjust, or indevout; I 
 meane, the encourageing of any of that in others, by 
 seemeing well pleased with it. 'Tis true, wee should 
 not preach in the withdrawing Roome, butt wee must, 
 by our lookes, shew 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 these are found, there, as much as 
 ever wee can, to avoid them. As to what wee say our 
 selves, the same Rules are to be observed ; and wee 
 must take care that wee talke not to be the wittiest in 
 the Company ; to accquire praise to ourselves above 
 our Neighbours. Wee may divert people, and be in- 
 nocently merry ; but then wee must not designe praise 
 to our selves, nor please our selves (if wee have it) in 
 the thoughts of it, butt in some short and silent prayer, 
 desire God to keepe us low in our owne Eyes, as 
 'Lord, make me poore in spiritt, that I may inheritt 
 the kingdome of Heaven,' or by calling to mind that 
 saying of St. Paul, ' What hast thou which thou didst 
 not receive, and if thou hast received it, why dost thou 
 boast?' In short, wee must talke, to divert others, not 
 to gaine applause to our selves, and if there be any 
 that are able and willing to doe it, lett us not be im- 
 patient to preferr them before us. Butt this is butt 
 sometymes to be done ; 'tis not a fault if you should 
 not allwayes be soe willing to keep silence whilst others 
 speake. 
 
112 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " As to your retirement after you come in, 'tis only 
 to examine the day, and if you have been faulty, in all 
 humility to acknowledge it to Allmighty God, and what 
 ever the fault has been, to read some portion of Scrip- 
 ture which concerns it, if you can find any ; if not, to 
 read some Chapter in St. John's Gospell, especially the 
 15, or 16, or 17th, &c. that doe most divinely sett forth 
 the Love of God to us. The reason why I urge this, 
 is, that your sorrow for sin may proceed from the sence 
 you have of God's great meicy and love to us ; and 
 that Consideration will melt your hearts, and keepe 
 you close, and make you desire to draw near him ; but 
 Hell terrifyes, and damnation amazes, and I am never 
 the better for those reflections. 
 
 11 And after this is pass'd, you both being Good, and 
 friends as well as Sisters, will doe well to contrive to- 
 geather how you may defeate the Divell, and make 
 Solomon's words true, that ; two are belter than one.' 
 After this, in God's name, I know no harme, — if your 
 devotions of the day and task that you assigne your- 
 selves are over, — butt that you may be as chearfull as 
 your Innocence can make you, which in both is very 
 
 ' : As to one particular in the dress, I think I have 
 not spoken concerneing the expensive part. Butt that 
 
 only concerns , and Mrs. , whose purses are 
 
 small, that they take care, upon noe account whatsoever, 
 they exceed what their pension is, for noe duty to the 
 Q,ueene, in makeing a shew behind her, can excuse one 
 from Justice to our Neighbour, before that God in whose 
 
MRS. G0D0LPH1N. I 13 
 
 presence wee walke, and [who] will avenge the Cause 
 of the wronged. Butt I am sencible not only this last, 
 butt all I have said, has been not onely (as to my part) 
 silly, butt as to you-rs, superfluous, only Love and 
 Goodwill I dare say will plead my excuse before two 
 soe 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. 
 
 " That you two, who have soe gloriously and soe 
 resolutely sett your selves to serve God in your younger 
 dayes, may continue to be still what you are, examples 
 of vertue and modesty in a Court, dutifull to your 
 Misstress, obedient and loveing to your Mother, affec- 
 tionate to each other, and charitable to all the world. 
 Besides, may you be wise virgins, haveing Oyle in. 
 your Lamps ready prepar'd to meete the Bridegroome. 
 May you be burning and shineing lights in the midst 
 of a crooked and perverse Generation, and as the Minis- 
 ter said this day, ' May you, as Samuel, and David, 
 Josiah, Timothy, and St. John, be wholly dedicated to 
 Gods Service, as was the first ; zealous for his Glory, 
 as was the second ; constantly seeking the God of your 
 fathers, as was the third ; well instructed in Scrip- 
 tures, as was the fourth ; and at last may you (as St. 
 John was) be admitted into the Bosome of our Dear 
 Jesus, where you will have your short youth turned 
 into Eternity, your earthly treasure to an heavenly, 
 and your worldly greatness and power exchang'd for a 
 Crowne of Glory.' Amen with all my heart." 
 
114 THE LIFE OF 
 
 And now, O blessed Saint, how dost thou shine 
 above ! What a Circle of Starrs diadems thy Temples ! 
 what a Jubilation amongst the Angells at thy access 
 into the Glorious Hierarchy ! Verily, Madam, I have 
 had thoughts above the world, when I sometymes con- 
 sidered the life of this excellent Creature, her rare ex- 
 amples, happy success, and the fruites which have been 
 planted and cultivated by her holy Industrye and la- 
 bour of Love, were it by her beauty, by her witt, her 
 Conversation, her prayers and devotions, her zeal and 
 pious Insinuations, her example or peculiar addresse ; 
 being wily, she caught them by Craft, and as I said, 
 I would sometymes call her the fisheress of her sex. 
 What shall I add ? She was fortunate in all she sett 
 her hand to, because she laid out all these perfections 
 in the service of God, the winning of soules ; and great, 
 great is her reward. 
 
 Nor did this confine her only to the Court, amongst 
 the Great. 1 have allready told how diligently she 
 would inquire out the poore and miserable, even [in] 
 Hospitalls, humble Cells and Cottages, whither I have 
 sometymes accompanied her, as farr as the very skirts 
 and obscure places of the Towne, among whom she 
 not only [gave] liberall almes, but physitians and phy- 
 sick she would send to some, yea, and administer Re- 
 medy es heiselfe, and the meanest offices. She would 
 sit and read, instruct and pray, whole afternoones, and 
 tooke care for their spirituall releif by procureing a 
 Minister of Religion to prepare them for the holy Sa- 
 crament, for which purpose she not only carryed and 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 115 
 
 gave them bookes of Salvation and Devotion, but had 
 herselfe collected diverse Psalmes and Chapters proper 
 to be read and used vpon such occasions. How many- 
 naked poore Creatures she covered ! I have by me one 
 List of no fewer then twenty three, whome she cladd 
 at one tyme; and your Ladyshipp may remember, 
 and I have allready noted, for whome she wrought 
 with her owne hands. 
 
 To assist her then in the disposeing of these and 
 inumerable other Charityes, there was a poore religious 
 Widdow, whome your Ladyshipp knew she had a 
 more particular Confidence in. How she found her 
 out, I never informed my selfe, but well remember a 
 passage of something exterordinary that happened 
 to her concerning a Voice Avhich she solemnly affirmed 
 had spoken to her, being once att prayers in the Church 
 and in great distress. I shall say nothing as to that, 
 but that it was this pious and humble Creature, whose 
 diligence she vsed, to informe her of sick and miserable 
 people, who accompanyed her to their Habitations, and 
 brought them Cloathes, Mony and Medicines, and 
 whereof they spent whole dayes in devotion togeather. 
 By her it was she distributed weekly pensions, looked 
 after orphan Children, put them to schoole, visitted the 
 prisons, out of which (amongst diverse others,) she had 
 redeemed a dissolute son of hers, that, cost a very con- 
 siderable summe, as she had paid the debts, and in- 
 deed wholly maintained the Mother to her dyeing day, 
 though being taken with a dead palsy, and in a man- 
 ner bed ridden, a year or two before. She survived her 
 Benefactress, but not her bounty : thus when she went 
 
116 THE LIFE OF 
 
 into Ffrance, she ordered me to continue many other 
 pensions which she gave, and I could give you an 
 account of what house rent she paid for indigent hous- 
 keepers, what Apprentices she put forth, and your 
 Ladyshipp remembers, and I have allready touched, 
 the little Child she kept allwayes with her, and cher- 
 ished to the last. Soe sedulous was she in these acts 
 of Charity, that from the tyme I could calculate, she 
 had begun and persisted in this Course from a Child 
 her selfe : and for the last 7 Years of her life, I can 
 speake of my owne knowledge, that her liberality was 
 soe disproportion^ to her Revenue, that I have some- 
 tymes called it profusion, at which she would smile, 
 and bid me take no care. What she herselfe distribut- 
 ed more privately I know not, but sure I am it was a 
 great deale more then ever she would discover, takeing 
 all the Cautions imaginable, that nothing she did of 
 this nature should be knowne, no not to her left hand 
 what her right hand did, and therefore often would she 
 herselfe walk out alone and on foote, and fasting, and 
 in midst of winter, (when it was hardly fitt to send a 
 servant out,) to minister to some poore creatures she 
 had found out, and perhaps whome no body knew of 
 besides, soe far had her love to God and piety to others 
 overcome nature and the delicate tenderness of her sex 
 and constitution. 
 
 See then what I find in her Diarye, among the Re- 
 solutions (as I said) she was wont to set downe in her 
 owne hand. It seemes she had lost at Cards (a diver- 
 sion which she affected not, but to comply with others, 
 
MRS. G0D0LPH1N. 117 
 
 when sometymes she could not avoid it). Behold, Ma- 
 dam, with what remorse, with what discretion. 
 
 "June the 2d. 
 
 " 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 1 will not doe it, — what, loose mony 
 att Cards, yett not give the poore? ; Tis robbing God, 
 misspending tyme, and missimploying my Talent : 
 three great Sinns. Three pounds would have kept 
 three people from starveing a month : well, I will not 
 play." 
 
 Here is a blessed Creature. 'Tis in this pretious 
 Manuscript that I find an account of the particular 
 mercyes she had received from God, amongst which 
 that he had given soe religious a Mother, such good 
 breeding, early receiveing the blessed sacrament, the 
 prayers of holy people for her, and assistance of a 
 spirittuall Guide, which (sayes she) I am confident 
 was the reward of my receiveing at the Charter house. 
 I take notice of it here, because 'tis there she blessed 
 God that she had been serviceable, both to poore and 
 Rich, in that he had been pleased to make her his In- 
 strument, and soe goes on to thank him for the many 
 personall dangers and accidents she had escaped, all 
 which she particularizes. But to returne to her Chari- 
 tyes, (than which I know no greater marke of a con- 
 summate Christian,) I may not omit that other branch 
 of it, her visitting and releaseing of prisoners, of which 
 I think I can produce a list of above thirty restrained 
 for debts in severall prisons, which she paid and com- 
 
118 THE LIFE OF 
 
 pounded for at once. Nor were these (as I said) sud- 
 den fitts of devotion, but her continued practice, and 
 such as tooke up a considerable portion of her life ; 
 and such infinite satisfaction tooke she in this blessed 
 Imployment, as that often have I knowne her pri- 
 vately slipp away and breake from the gay and pub- 
 lique Company, the greatest entertainments, and great- 
 est persons too of the Court, to make a stepp to some 
 miserable poore sick Creature, whilst those she quitted 
 have wondered why she went from the conversation ; 
 and more they would, had they seen how the sceene 
 was chang'd from a Kingly palace to some meane cot- 
 tage, from the Company of princes to poore necessitous 
 wretches, when by and by she would returne as chear- 
 full and in good humour, as if she had been about 
 some worldly concerne, and excuse her absence in the 
 most innocent manner imaginable. Never must I for- 
 gett the infinite pleasure she tooke in doeing Charityes. 
 'Twas one day that I was with her, when seeing a 
 poore Creatnre in the streets, " Now," sayes she to me, 
 " how will I make that miserable wretch rejoyce." 
 Upon which she sent him ten tymes more than 1 am 
 confident he ever could expect. This she spake, not 
 as boasting, but soe as one might perceive her very 
 soule lifted up in secret Joy, to consider how the mis- 
 erable man would be made happy with the surprize. 
 Soe as summing all these Instances together, I might 
 well compare this Lady to those excellent persons 
 whose praise is in the Gospell, and whose names (St. 
 Paull assures us, Acts x. 2,) are written in the booke 
 of life, being like Cornelius and Dorcas, full of good 
 works and Almes Deeds which she did ; as Priscilla, 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 119 
 
 she instructed many more perfectly in the wayes of 
 God ; as Mary, she bestowed much labour ; nor doe I 
 ever think of her but I call to mind the Phebes, and 
 Triphosas, Julia and Olympia, Claudia and to whome 
 the Appostle would certainly have added Margarita, 
 (this pearle of ours,) had she been then in the world, 
 who were servants of the Churches, succourers of the 
 Saints, helpers in Christ Jesus, and who were even 
 ready to lay downe their lives for the Gospell. Soe 
 flagrant was her zeale, soe pure her Charitye, soe ve- 
 hement and sincere her love to God, as often to quitt 
 the Ease and pleasures of life, and dismiss the Diver- 
 sions of a Court, to possess those Divine and supernal! 
 pleasures of doeing good, and the blessing of him that 
 was ready to perish came upon her who caused the 
 widows heart to sing for Joy, for she was eyes to the 
 blind, and feet to the Lame, in all things, shewing her- 
 selfe a patterne of good workes. In a word, her life 
 did soe shine before Men, that those who saw her good 
 workes could not butt be stirred up to glorifye God ; yet 
 by grace we are saved through faith, and not of our 
 selves, it is the gift of God, not of workes, lest any 
 man should boast, for we are his workmanship, created 
 in Christ Jesus unto good workes, which God hath be- 
 fore ordained that we should walke in them. 
 
 And now after all this, I need noe more produce 
 her Diarye, haveing given your Ladyshipp so minute 
 an Account of her life and actions, 1 shall onely add, 
 that to the particulars of the Mercyes she received, 
 Resolutions made, and Graces which she desired, she 
 composed many excellent Prayers, Praises, and Devo^ 
 
120 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tions, pertinent to the occasion, and to which I might 
 subjoine the wonderfull Condescension, already noted, 
 in constantly giveing me once a year a little history of 
 her life, and what had happened of most concerne in 
 her particular, what faileings, and Improvements she 
 was sencible of, with an Tngenuitye exterordnary, and 
 breathing a pious friendshipp, desireing my direction 
 and my prayers, which a thousand tymes I needed 
 more than she, who had, (as your t Ladyshipp well 
 knows, and is already noted) a Ghostly father, with 
 whome frequently corresponding, she constantly re- 
 ceived proper Ministeryes and advice in matters cog- 
 nizable to that sacred Character. To him it was she 
 often revealed her Conscience, as from a Child she 
 before had done to a devout and learned prelate of our 
 Church, by the exterordnary Care of his [her?] pious 
 and excellent Mother, as herself has told me, lookeing 
 on it as the greatest blessing she had ever left her. 
 
 And thus, Madam, I have, according to the best of 
 my poore ability, complyed with your Ladyshipp's 
 comands, and given you the Life of this Incomparable 
 Lady : which though I may not have performed to the 
 height and merit of the subject, I have yet me-thinks 
 paid an obligation to the memory of one you loved, 
 and that honoured me with friendship never to be for- 
 gotten, since it let me into a Conversation of soe great 
 advantage. In a word, to justifye what I present your 
 Ladyshipp, and summ up all. I have been oft par- 
 taker of her sadness and brighter dayes, wittness of 
 her devoutest Recollections, accurate and exterordinary 
 preparations, ardent Zeale, and unwearyed Devotions, 
 
MRS. G0D0LPH1N. 121 
 
 chearfull and even profusive Charityes and labours of 
 Love, for her secular concerns was only in order to 
 SpiritualL 
 
 In sumrae. 
 
 Never was there a more unspotted virgin, a more 
 loyall wife, a more sincere friend, a more consummate 
 Christian ; add to this, a florid youth, an exquisite and 
 naturall beauty, and gracefullness the most becomeing. 
 Nor was she to be disguised : there was nothing more 
 quick and peircing than her apprehension, nothing 
 more faithfull than her memory, more solid and mature 
 than her Judgment, insomuch as I have heard her 
 husband affirme to me (whose discernment all that 
 have the honour to know him will allow to be exter- 
 ordinary) that even in the greatest dirncultyes and oc- 
 casions, he has both asked and preferred her advice 
 with continuall success, and with those solid parts she 
 had all the advantages of a most sparkling witt, a 
 naturall Eloquence, a gentle and agreeable tone of 
 voice, and a charmeing accent when she spake, whilst 
 the Charmes of her countenance were made up of the 
 greatest Innocence, modesty, and goodness Imaginable, 
 agreeable to the Composure of her thoughts, and the 
 union of a thousand perfections : add to all this, she 
 was Just, Invincible, secrett, ingeniously sinceere, 
 faithfull in her promises, and to a Miracle, temperate, 
 and mistress of her passions and resolutions, and soe 
 well had she imployed her spann of tyme, that as oft 
 as I consider how much she knew, and writt, and did, 
 I am plainly astonished, and blush even for my selfe. 
 
 7 
 
122 THE LIFE OF 
 
 O how delightfull entertaining was this Lady, how 
 grave her discourse, how unlike the conversation of 
 her sex, when she was the most facetious, it would 
 allwayes end in a chearfull composedness the most be- 
 comeing in the world, for she was the tenderest Crea- 
 ture living of taking advantage of anothers Imperfec- 
 tions ; nothing could be more humble and full of 
 Compassion, nothing more disposed to all offices of 
 kindness. In a word, what perfections were scatered 
 amongst others of her sex, seem'd here to be united, 
 and she went every day improveing, shineing brighter, 
 and ascending still in vertue. 
 
 I should here add something concerning the obse- 
 quies and funerall of this blessed Saint, on which occa- 
 sion is not to be omitted, the earnest request she soe 
 provisionally made, that she might be interred in the 
 Dormitorye of her husband's family and Relations, tho' 
 it were not much less then three hundred miles distance 
 from the place where she was borne and bred, that soe 
 her ashes might hereafter be mingl'd with his whome so 
 intirely she loved ; and which, after her Corps had been 
 embalm'd and wrapt in Lead, was (as your Ladyshipp 
 knows) as religiously perform'd, decently and with 
 much honour, but without pomp or ostentation, on the 
 16th day of September, 1678, in the Church of Bre- 
 ague, in the parish of Godolphin, in Cornwall, of which 
 that family have been Lords and of illustrious name 
 both before and since the Conquest ; and where, being 
 alive, she had often in my hearing expressed such a 
 longing desire to have passed the rest of her dayes, that, 
 being remote from the noise of Cittyes. Courts, and the 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. J 23 
 
 subjecting Impertinences attending them, she might in- 
 tirely vacate [to] the service of God : not but wherever 
 she lived she did it as much as ever any blessed Crea- 
 ture did, but because she fancyed she should doe it 
 better there, which was impossible. 
 
 Here then let us leave our Saint at rest, but our 
 selves at none, till by following her example wee arrive 
 at that blessed repose whether she is gone before. 
 
 For thou (deare Soule) to Heavens fledd, 
 Hast all the vertues with thee, thither ledd, 
 
 Wee here see thee no more. 
 Thou to that bright and glorious place 
 Art runn, hast won the Race : 
 
 A Crowne of Rayes, 
 
 And never fadeing Bayes, 
 Such as on Heaverts Parnassus grows, 
 
 Deck thyne Angelick Brows ; 
 A Robe of Righteousness about thee cast. 
 Bathed in Celestiall Bliss, thou there dost tast 
 
 Pleasures att God's right hand, 
 
 Pleasures that ever last, 
 And greater then wee here can vnder stand, 
 Butt are for such as serve him best reserved in store. 
 
 2. 
 
 How long, Lord, ah ! how long 
 
 Wate wee below ! 
 Our soden feete stick in the Clay, 
 Wee thro'' the bodye's Dungeon see no day. 
 
 Sorrows on sorrows throng, 
 
124 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Friendshipps (the souls of life) and frends depart 
 To other ivorlds, and new Relations know. 
 Ah ! thou who art 
 The starry orbs above 
 Essentiall love, 
 Reach forth thy gratious hand, 
 And send me wings for flight, 
 Sett me vpon that holy Land, 
 O bring me to the happy shoare 
 
 Where no dark night 
 Obscure the day, where all is light ; 
 A Citty there not made with hands, 
 Within the blissfull Region stands, 
 Where wee in every streete 
 Our dearest friends againe shall meete, 
 And friendshipps more refined and siveete, 
 And never loose them, more. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 Finis. 
 
MRS. GODOLPHIN. 125 
 
 EPITAPH. 
 
 In Margaritam Epitaphium. 
 
 Here lyes a pearle none such the ocean yields 
 In all the Treasures of his liquid fields : 
 Butt such as that wise Merchant wisely sought 
 Who the bright Gemm with all his substance bought. 
 Such to Jerusalem above translates 
 Our God, fadorne the Entrance of her gates. 
 The Spouse with such Embrodery does come 
 To meete her Nuptialls the Celestiall Groome. 
 
 On the copper plate sothered on the Coffinn, 
 
NOTES. 
 
 Page 1. 
 
 LAD Y S YL VI US. Anne, daughter of William Howard, 
 fourth son of Thomas, first Earl of Berkshire, and wife of Sir 
 Gabriel Sylvius. See Table IV. 
 
 P. 3. " An ancient Suffolke family." See Table I. and 
 note attached to it. 
 
 P. 3. " Mrs. Blagge." See the same table. 
 
 P. 4. " Bishop of Ely:'' Dr. Peter Gunning, Bishop of Chi- 
 chester in 1669, Bishop of Ely in 1674, who " can do nothing 
 but what is well."— Diary, Feb. 23, 1673. 
 
 P. 5. " Old Duchess of Richmond." Mary Villiers, sister 
 of George, second Duke of Buckingham, and widow of James 
 Stuart,. third Duke of Richmond. See Table III. 
 
 P. 5. " late Countess of Guilford." Elizabeth Fielding, 
 cousin of the Duke of Buckingham and of the Duchess of 
 Richmond. See Table III. 
 
 P. 5. " Groom of the Stoole," (Custos Stolse.) The Coun- 
 tess of Guilford was succeeded, as ;; groom of the stole" to 
 Henrietta Maria, by Lady Arlington (Isabella de Nassau, who 
 afterwards married Henry Fitzroy, first Duke of Grafton). At 
 a later period, in 1704, the Duchess of Marlborough was ap- 
 pointed " Groom of the Stole" to Q,ueen Anne, but the title of 
 her office was changed to " Mistress of the Robes." Elizabeth, 
 the heiress of the great house of Percy and wife of Charles, (the 
 proud) Duke of Somerset, was made " Groom of the Stole" in 
 1710. Since the accession of the House of Hanover, the title 
 of ml Groom of the Stole." has been given, I believe, exclusively, 
 to the principal noble attendant on the person of the King, and 
 
128 NOTES. 
 
 now, of the Prince Consort. In p. 56 Lord Rochester is called 
 Master of the Robes, and Godolphin himself was appointed to 
 that office in July, 1767. In some French memoirs, the title 
 has been spelled " Grumstul," and a singular perversion of its 
 meaning may be seen in the Memoirs of the Comte deBrienne. 
 
 P. 5. " the late Queen's mother." An error for Queen-mo- 
 ther : viz. Henrietta Maria, who died Aug. 10, 1669. 
 
 P. 5. " the then Duchess of York." Anne Hyde, daughter 
 of the Lord Chancellor Clarendon, and first wife of James, 
 Duke of York, afterwards James II. 
 
 P. 6. " till the Duchess died." March 31, 1671. 
 
 P. 10. " My Lady Falmouth." Elizabeth (or Mary ?) Ba- 
 got, daughter of Hervey Bagot, who had been one of the maids 
 of honour to the Duchess of York, and who was at this time the 
 widow of Charles Berkeley, first Viscount Fitzhardinge and 
 Earl of Falmouth, killed in the sea-fight with the Dutch, June 
 3, 1665. Pepys calls her, in 1666, " a pretty woman ; she was 
 now in her second or third mourning, and pretty pleasant in her 
 looks." In July 1667, he says that she was about to marry 
 young Jermyn : she however married, for her second husband, 
 Charles Sackville, Earl (afterwards created Duke) of Dorset. 
 See Table II. 
 
 P. 12. " Some play to be acted by the maids of honour." 
 See an account of what took place on Dec. 15, 1674. 
 
 P. 12. " Duchess of Monmouth." The Lady Anne Scot, 
 daughter and sole heir of Francis, Earl of Buccleuch, wife 
 of James, Duke of Monmouth, who was beheaded July 15 3 
 1685. 
 
 P. 12. " That ofMicha," rather Malachi iii. 17. 
 
 P. 15. " Our family es being neare to one another." The 
 family seat of the Evelyns was at Wotton, in Surrey, where 
 Evelyn often visited, although he did not reside there till May 
 1694. Ashted, near Epsom, belonged to Sir Robert Howard, 
 uncle to Lady Sylvius : Deepden, now Mr. Hope's, belonged 
 to Mr. Charles Howard, ancestor of the present Duke of Nor- 
 folk: and Albury, now Mr. Drummond's, was the residence of 
 Henry Howard, afterwards Duke of Norfolk. All these places 
 are at short distances from each other. 
 
NOTES. 129 
 
 P. 15. u Your mother and sister." Mrs. William Howard, 
 [Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Dundas] and Dorothy Howard, 
 afterwards Mrs. Graham. See Table IV. 
 
 P. 17. " Your sister, then maid of honour." See the last 
 note. 
 
 P. 19. " Paulina and Eustochius." See p. 34, and all the 
 accounts of St. Jerome. 
 
 P. 27. " Ait Whitehall, whither she came from St. James," 
 to the Queen's service, after the death of the Duchess of York, 
 in 1671. 
 
 P. 28. " Mr. Godolphin sent abroad." In 1668 he accom- 
 panied his brother Sir William on a mission to Spain. 
 
 P. 31. " At Berkley house." The splendid mansion built by- 
 Sir John Berkeley of Bruton, created Lord Berkeley of Strat- 
 ton, at Hay Hill Farm, in the parish of St. James. The names 
 and titles are still preserved in John Street, Berkeley Square 
 and Street, Bruton Street, Stratton Street, Hay Street, Hill 
 Street and also Hay-hill, Farm Street, and Charles Street, 
 after Lord Berkeley's brother, Charles, Earl of Falmouth. 
 Part of the gardens are still preserved in those attached to 
 Devonshire House and Lansdowne (originally Bute) House. 
 Some idea of their extent may be formed from this enumera- 
 tion. A description of Berkeley House is given by Evelyn in 
 his Diary, Sept. 25, 1672 : no view of it is known to exist. 
 Pennant, whose error is copied by many others, strangely attri- 
 butes the building of this house to the family of the Earls of 
 Berkeley : of course the scandalous anecdote introduced by him 
 is equally out of place with his more sober narrative that Chris- 
 tian, Countess of Devonshire, lived " in the antient house — on 
 the site of Berkeley House, where she received Waller and 
 Denham, and where she died in 1674," (Jan. 16, 1674-5.) 
 Now John, Lord Berkeley of Stratton, the builder of Berkeley 
 House, did not die till the year 1678, and, after his death, his 
 widow continued to reside there ; for in 1684, Evelyn was con- 
 sulted by Lady Berkeley of Stratton as to the propriety of 
 building two streets in Berkeley Gardens, " reserving the house 
 and as much of the gardens as the breadth of the house," ap- 
 
 7* 
 
130 NOTES. 
 
 parently Berkeley Street and Stratton Street. After the death 
 of Lady Berkeley, the mansion was inhabited by the Princess 
 (afterwards Q,ueen) Anne until Jan. 1695. 
 
 The old town house of the Earls of Devonshire was not in 
 Piccadilly, but in Bishopsgate, where Devonshire Square now 
 stands; William, the second earl, died there in 1628. His 
 widow, Christian, the loyal and exemplary Countess of Devon- 
 shire, did not reside in London, she lived and died a Roehamp- 
 ton in Surrey, in the house which had been inhabited by Wes- 
 ton, Earl of Portland, and now belongs to Mr. Robert Gosling 
 the banker. It was at Roehampton, not in Piccadilly, that she 
 received Waller and Denham. Her son William, the third 
 earl, died in the same house in Nov. 1684. His son William, 
 the fourth Earl (afterwards created Duke) of Devonshire, 
 having, at first, no town house, rented and lived in Montague 
 House (the British Museum in Great Russell Street), which 
 w&s burned down during his occupation of it in Jan. 1686. 
 After the accession of William III. " the Duke of Devonshire 
 took it into his head, that could he have the Duchess of Ports- 
 mouth's lodgings (at Whitehall) where there was a fine room 
 for balls, it would give him a very magnificent air." (Duchess 
 of Marlborough's Defence of her Conduct, p. 29.) It is pro- 
 bable that the Duke purchased Berkeley House after 1695, 
 and changed its name to Devonshire House, since Bishop 
 Kennet says he died Aug. 18, 1707, in " Devonshire House, 
 Piccadilly." The present Devonshire House, standing cer- 
 tainly on the site of Berkeley House, was not built by him, but 
 by his grandson, the third duke, some time after the year 1730. 
 To this house and to its builder applies the epigram composed 
 by Horace (afterwards Lord Walpole of Wolterton), brother 
 of Sir Robert Walpole, who, calling one day at Devonshire 
 House, which was just finished, and not finding the Duke at 
 home, left this epigram upon the table, 
 
 " Ut dominus, domus est ; non extra fulta columnis 
 Marmoreis splendet ; quod tenet, intus habet." 
 
 Sir John Denham, whose name being associated with that of 
 the Countess of Devonshire perhaps misled Pennant, had a 
 
NOTES. 131 
 
 house and gardens in Piccadilly, where Burlington House now 
 stands, adjoining to which stood Lord Clarendon's famous man- 
 sion, afterwards the Duke of Albemarle's, the site of the pre- 
 sent Albemarle Street, Dover Street, and Bond Street. The 
 three mansions thus named, viz. Sir John Denham's, Albemarle 
 House, and Berkeley House, occupied nearly the whole of the 
 north of Piccadilly: the ground to the west of Berkeley House 
 was divided into six fields, known as " Penniless Bank," u Little 
 Brook-field," " Stone Bridge-field," " Great Brook-field," " Mr. 
 Audley's land," and " Shoulder of Mutton field." To the north, 
 Berkeley Gardens were bounded by the land " where graze 
 the cows" of Alexander Davies, of Ebury, in Pimlico, whose 
 daughter and heir, Mary, married Sir Thomas Grosvenor in 
 1676, and whose name is preserved in " Davies Street." 
 
 George, Lord Berkeley, of Berkeley, afterwards Earl of 
 Berkeley, lived at another Berkeley House, in the parish of St. 
 John's, Clerkenwell, on the site of the present Berkeley Street, 
 which leads from St. John's Lane to Red Lion Street. His 
 family had lived there for several generations, his father died 
 there Aug. 1658, his third son James was baptized there, 1 
 June, 1663, and from the same house he writes on Feb. 23, 
 1678, to Pepys, who on the previous day acknowledges a letter 
 from his lordship " at St. John's." (Correspondence, vol. v. pp. 
 42-45.) In Clerkenwell also, in 1681, Lord Berkeley received 
 a deputation (headed by Tillotson, then Dean of Canterbury) 
 from Sion College, to which he had presented the library col- 
 lected by Sir Robert Coke, son of Lord Chief Justice C^ke. 
 From the Coke family Lord Berkeley inherited Durdans, near 
 Epsom, mentioned as his residence both by Evelyn and Pepys. 
 Clerkenwell has long since ceased to be a fashionable neigh- 
 bourhood, but in the seventeenth century it possessed the man- 
 sions of the Earls of Aylesbury, Berkeley, and Northampton, 
 the Duke of Newcastle, the Challoner family, &e. : Bishop 
 Burnet and many others attached to the court also resided 
 there. The streets are many of them named after their former 
 owners or inhabitants. The Marquis of Northampton still re- 
 tains vast property in Clerkenwell and Islington, 
 
132 NOTES. 
 
 P. 33. " The mother of the maids." The Lady Sanderson, 
 wife of Sir William Sanderson. 
 
 P. 33. " Your Uoo sistei^s." Apparently an error for " you 
 two sisters." See Table IV. 
 
 P. 34. " My Lady." Lady Berkeley (see Table II.) was 
 Christiana, daughter of Sir Andrew Riccard, Knight; and 
 widow of Henry Rich, Lord Kensington, only son of Robert 
 Rich, second Earl of Holland and fifth Earl of Warwick, by 
 Elizabeth Ingram, his first wife. Sir Andrew Riccard was 
 one of London's richest merchant-princes : he was President of 
 the East India Company, and in that capacity figures in the 
 great case of monopolies, Skinner v. E. I. Company. A marble 
 statue, erected to his honour by the Turkey Company, of which 
 he was president for eighteen years, still exists on his monu- 
 ment in the Church of St. Olave, Hart Street. He was knighted 
 July 10, 1668, and died Sept. 6, 1672, aged 68. 
 
 P. 36. " Her sister, the Lady Yarborough." See Table I. 
 It may suffice here to state that this lady, [Henrietta Maria 
 Blagge] whose conduct was not free from blame, has been 
 mistaken by some editors of Grammont and by Horace Wal- 
 pole for the subject of this memoir. 
 
 P. 37. " The Dean of Hereford." George Benson. 
 
 P. 46. " From Twicknam." " Twickenham Park, Lord 
 Berkeley's country seat," Diary, March 23, 1676. It was lately 
 the property of Mr. Francis Gosling, the banker. 
 
 P. 50. " Play at Court before their Majesties." " Saw a 
 comedie at night at Court, acted by the ladies only, amongst 
 them Lady Mary and Ann, His Royal Highness' two daugh- 
 ters, 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 " Calisto or the 
 Chaste Nymph," by John Crowne. It was printed in 1675, 
 and a copy is preserved in the library of the British Museum. 
 After the title-page is a list of the performers, all of whom 
 however did not bear, at the time of acting the play, the titles 
 which the printed list gives to them. The list is as follows : 
 
 Calisto, a chaste and favourite nymph of Diana, beloved by 
 
NOTES. 133 
 
 Jupiter. " Her Highness the Lady Mary," a daughter of the 
 Duke of York, and afterwards Queen of England. 
 
 Nyphe, a chaste young nymph, friend to Calisto. " Her 
 Highness the Lady Anne," a daughter of the Duke of York, 
 and afterwards Queen of England. 
 
 Jupiter, in love with Calisto. " The Lady Henrietta Went- 
 worth," rather Henrietta, Baroness Wentworth, which dignity 
 descended to her on the death, in 1665, of her father, Thomas 
 Wentworth, last Earl of Cleveland. She is well known from 
 her disgraceful connexion at a later period with the Duke of 
 Monmouth, whom she did not long survive, dying on April 
 23, 1686. 
 
 Juno. " The Countess of Sussex." Lady Anne Fitzroy, 
 daughter of Charles II. by the Duchess of Cleveland and wife 
 of Thomas, Lord Dacre and Earl of Sussex. 
 
 Psecas, an envious nymph, enemy to Calisto, beloved by 
 Mercury. " The Lady Mary Mordant," daughter and heir of 
 Henry, second Earl of Peterborough : she married in 1677, 
 Henry, seventh Duke of Norfolk, from whom she was divorced 
 in April, 1700. She afterwards married Sir John Germaine, to 
 whom she left a great part of the Peterborough estates. 
 
 Diana, goddess of Chastity. " Mrs. Blagge, late maid of 
 honour to the Queen." Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 Mercury, in love with Psecas. " Mrs. Jennings, maid of 
 honour to the Duchess." Sarah Jennings, afterwards married 
 to John Churchill, the great Duke of Marlborough. 
 
 The " Nymphs attending on Diana, who also danced in the 
 Prologue, and in several Entries in the Play," were 
 
 ' ; The Countess of Darby." Dorothea Helena, daughter of 
 John Poliander de Kirkhoven, by Catharine, Countess of Ches- 
 terfield, daughter of Thomas, second Lord Wotton. The 
 Countess was widow of Charles Stanley, eighth Earl of Derby, 
 who had died Dec. 21, 1672. 
 
 • : The Countess of Pembroke." Henriette de Querouaille 
 (sister to the Duchess of Portsmouth), wife of Philip Herbert, 
 seventh Earl of Pembroke. Bishop Kennett spells the name 
 CareweU. 
 
134 NOTES. 
 
 " The Lady Katharine Herbert." Sister-in-law to the pre- 
 ceding, being daughter of the fifth Earl of Pembroke, by 
 Katharine, daughter of Sir William Villiers of Brookesby. 
 
 " Mrs. Fitz-Gerald." Probably Katharine (daughter of 
 John Fitz Gerald of Dromana), who married in 1677, Edward 
 Villiers, eldest son of George, fourth Viscount Grandison. 
 
 "Mrs. Frazier, maid of honour to the Queen." 
 
 The " men that danced " were 
 
 " His Grace the Duke of Monmouth." 
 
 " The Viscount Dunblaine." Edward Osborne, Lord Lati- 
 mer, one of the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Charles II., 
 eldest son of Thomas, Earl of Danby (afterwards created Mar- 
 quis of Carmarthen and Duke of Leeds). After the representa- 
 tion, but before the publication of the piece, the Earl of Danby 
 was created Viscount Dunblaine in Scotland, which dignity 
 was assumed as a title of courtesy by his son, Lord Latimer. 
 By Table I. it will be seen that the present Duke of Leeds is 
 the lineal representative of Mrs. Godolphin. 
 
 " The Lord Daincourt." Robert Leake, eldest son of Nico- 
 las, second Earl of Scarsdale, whom he afterwards succeeded 
 in that title. 
 
 " Mrs. Moon." 
 
 "Mr. Harpe." 
 
 " Mr. Lane." 
 Neither in this list, nor amongst the names given in the Diary, 
 is the name of the Duchess of Monmouth, whom Evelyn here 
 mentions as one of "the shineing beautyes " who performed. 
 It is probable that Evelyn's Diary written at the time, corrobo- 
 rated as it is by the published list, is the more correct on this 
 point. The Duchess of Monmouth too had some years before 
 met with a severe accident whilst dancing, which caused an 
 incurable lameness. See Pepys' Diary, Sept. 20, 1668. 
 
 P. 54. " The Countess of Suffolk:'' " Was at the repetition 
 of the pastoral, on which occasion Mrs. Blagg had about her 
 neere 20,000/. worth of Jewells, of which she lost one, worth 
 about SO/., borrow'd of the Countess of Suffolk. The press was 
 so greate, that 'tis a wonder she lost no more. The Duke 
 
NOTES. 135 
 
 made it good." Diary, Dec. 22, 1674. The Countess of Suf- 
 folk was Barbara, daughter of Sir Edward Villiers, (see Table 
 III.) widow of Sir Richard Wentworth, and second wife of 
 James Howard, third Earl of Suffolk. She died in 1681. 
 
 P. 56. " The master of the Robes, now Earle of Rochester." 
 Laurence Hyde (second son of the Chancellor Clarendon) 
 created Earl of Rochester at the end of 1682, a fact which 
 proves that Evelyn did not write this life until some years after 
 Mrs. Godolphin's death. 
 
 P. 56. " Dr. Lake." John Lake, afterwards Bishop of 
 Chichester. 
 
 P. 58. " My lady Hamilton." " A sprightly young lady, 
 much in the good graces of the [Berkeley] family, wife of that 
 valiant and worthy gentleman George Hamilton, not long after 
 slain in the wars. She had been a maid of honour to the 
 Duchess and now turned Papist." Diary, 12 Nov. 1675. This 
 was Frances Jennings (elder sister of Sarah, Duchess of Marl- 
 borough) widow of Sir George Hamilton, grandson of James, 
 first Earl of Abercorn, and brother of Count Anthony Hamilton, 
 author of the Memoires de Grammont. Lady Hamilton after- 
 wards married Richard Talbot, created Duke of Tyrconnel. 
 and is well known as the Duchess of Tyrconnel. After this it 
 is curious to read in Pennant's words, " Above stairs (at the 
 New Exchange in the Strand) sat, in the character of a mille- 
 ner, the reduced Duchess of Tyrconnel, wife to Richard Tal- 
 bot, lord deputy of Ireland under James II. a bigoted papist, 
 and fit instrument of the designs of the infatuated prince, who 
 had created him Earl before his abdication, and after that 
 Duke of Tyrconnel. A female, suspected to have been his 
 duchess, after his death, supported herself for a few days (till 
 she was known and otherwise provided for) by the little trade 
 of this place : having delicacy enough not to wish to be detected, 
 she sat in a white mask, and a white dress, and was known by 
 the name of the white widoiv." This'story, if true, forms a sin- 
 gular contrast to that which Pepys relates of her in his Diary, 
 21 Feb. 1664-5, :c What mad freaks the mayds of honor at 
 court have ! That Mrs. Jenings, one of the Dutchesse's maids, 
 
136 NOTES. 
 
 the other day dressed herself like an orange wench, and went 
 up and down and cried oranges ; till falling down, or by some 
 accident, her fine shoes were discerned, and she put to a great 
 deal of shame." The Duchess of Tyrconnei died in Dublin 
 7 March, 1730 ; her husband died Aug. 14, 1691. 
 
 P. 59. " Ambassador to the Court of France." John, Lord 
 Berkeley, of Stratton, (see Table II.) left England on this 
 Embassy 14 Nov. 1675. Evelyn in his Diary for Oct. and 
 Nov. in 1675, gives many particulars. If we were to trust to 
 the editor of Evelyn's Diary and to the noble editor of Pepys', 
 the Lord and Lady Berkeley, so often named as Mrs. Godol- 
 phin's warm friends, were George Lord Berkeley, afterwards 
 created Earl of Berkeley, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter and 
 co-heir of John Massingbeard, esq. of Lincolnshire, and in the 
 absence of all connexion between them and the families of 
 Blagge and Godolphin there would be great difficulty in show- 
 ing any probable cause for the friendship, not to call it patron- 
 age, which Mrs. Godolphin and her husband received. The 
 editors of Evelyn and Pepys have unfortunately fallen into the 
 error, which I have pointed out as having been committed be- 
 fore them by Pennant, of confounding the two Lords Berkeley, 
 if not the two " Berkeley-houses." 
 
 Lord Berkeley of Stratton, originally known as Si rJohn 
 Berkeley, and in the service of Charles I. at the same time with 
 Colonel Blagge, Mrs. Godolphin's father, was concerned with 
 John Ashburnham and* Colonel Legge in the flight of Charles 
 I. from Hampton Court to the Isle of Wight, a vexed point of 
 history, on which Lord Clarendon's misstatements have been 
 well corrected by the late Earl of Ashburnham. During the 
 exile of the royal family he became the favourite of James, Duke 
 of York, whose favour he never lost ; although he was repre- 
 sented to Charles as the secret agent of the Court of France, 
 and as the known enemy of the Chancellor Clarendon and his 
 party. The Chancellor's enmity Berkeley shared alike with 
 Ashburnham and Legge, the first however obtained his peer- 
 age in 1658, as the price of James' return to his brother Charles ; 
 the others, although high in favour with Charles II. were en- 
 
NOTES. 137 
 
 nobled in the persons of their descendants. Clarendon makes 
 the enmity between himself and Berkeley to arise from his op- 
 position to Berkeley's claim to the mastership of the Court of 
 Wards : James II. in his Memoirs, from Clarendon's advice to 
 Lady Morton to reject Berkeley's proposals of marriage. Lady 
 Morton, one of the brightest ornaments of " the beautiful race 
 of Villiers," was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Villiers, 
 niece of the Duke of Buckingham, and widow of Robert Dou- 
 glas, 8th Earl of Morton, who died in 1649. Whilst Lady Dal- 
 keith, and during the stay of Charles the First's family at 
 Exeter, she had had the charge of the Princess Henrietta, 
 afterwards Duchess of Orleans, and to her Fuller inscribes his 
 " Good Thoughts in Bad Times." Her noble rescue of her 
 royal ward, whom she carried on her back to Dover, in the 
 disguise of a beggar and her child, is well known. Lady Mor- 
 ton died in 1654. Besides enjoying the personal favour of the 
 Duke of York, Berkeley was a near kinsman of the influential 
 Harry Jermyn, Earl of St. Albans, who, as we see by the table 
 of the Blagge family, was also a relative of Mrs. Godolphin: 
 the close connexion of the Berkeley and Godolphin families 
 fully accounts for the long and intimate friendship which existed 
 between them. 
 
 After the Restoration Berkeley's rise was rapid, and his 
 employments numerous. In 1660 he was appointed a commis- 
 sioner of the Admiralty, in June 1662 a privy counsellor for 
 Ireland, and soon afterwards Lord President of Connaught. 
 In 1664 he was made a master of the ordnance, and in 1665 a 
 commissioner of Tangier. All these offices he held at the same 
 time, and so early as 1663, Pepys says that Lord Berkeley 
 boasted of having gained £50,000 in the navy alone. This 
 sum appears so great that I suspect some error in the trans- 
 cription of Pepys' Diary. If it be true, there can be no wonder 
 that, in 1665, we read of Berkeley's beginning a house at St. 
 James', next to the Lord Chancellor's, nor at Evelyn's mention- 
 ing, in 1672, that it had cost £30,000. He had also more indi- 
 rect ways of obtaining money through his influence with the 
 Duke of York, as Pepys mentions in 1668. In April 1670 Lord 
 
138 NOTES. 
 
 Berkeley was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, where he 
 remained till August 1672. In October 1674, he was named 
 to the embassy to France, in which he was accompanied by 
 Mrs. Godolphin and by Evelyn's son. Prom this embassy he 
 returned in June 1677, and in the following year he died. 
 
 As Evelyn and Pepys' Diaries may be consulted, I add 
 the following corrected index to the places where Lord Berke- 
 ley of Stratton is meant, (8vo. editions). Evelyn ii. 255. 260. 
 373-375. 398. 413. 417. 421. 425. hi. 90. 117. 177. 338. Pepys 
 i. 115. 121. 122. 163. 282.; ii. 21. 101. 132. 141. 173. 224. 238. 
 249. 250. 256. 346. 423. ; hi. 167. 183. 228. 236. 386. 395. ; iv. 
 62. 174. 181. The other places relate to George, Lord Berke- 
 ley, 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. SO. ; vol. iii. 87. 230. 291.; vol. v. 42-45. 
 
 P. 65. " Nothing like Pinto's Travels." The name of 
 Fernam Mendez Pinto will ever remain associated with false- 
 hood and exaggeration. He lived in the 16th century, but his 
 travels were not translated into English until 1663, whence 
 probably Mrs. Godolphin's acquaintance with them. Con- 
 greve's well known lines, almost become proverbial, (and 
 which it is impossible to quote without remembering their 
 witty application by the present Bishop of Llandaff,) 
 
 " Fernam Mendez Pinto was but a type of thee, 
 Thou liar of the first magnitude !" 
 
 Love for Love, Act ii. Sc. 5. 
 
 were not written until after Mrs. Godolphin's death. Claude's 
 Defence de la Reformation, written in reply to the Jansenist 
 Nicole, was first published in 1673, so that at the time of Mrs. 
 Godolphin's visit to Paris, the book must have had the addi- 
 tional charm of novelty. 
 
 P. 65. u That baile of theirs." Perhaps for bale, sorrow, 
 or destruction. 
 
 P. 65. " My charge your son." "I settled affaires, my sonn 
 being to go into France, with my Lord Berkeley, designed 
 ambassador extraordinary for France, and plenipotentiary for 
 the general peace of Nimeguen." Diary, 15 Oct. 1675. This 
 
NOTES. 139 
 
 son was John Evelyn, great-grandfather of the present Arch- 
 bishop of York. At this time he was about nineteen years of 
 age. 
 
 P. 66. " My Lady H." Lady Hamilton, see p. 58. 
 
 P. 67. " Mr. Bernard Greenvile," of Abs-Court at Walton 
 on Thames in Surrey, " an old house in a pretty parke." 
 Diary, 17 Sept. 3673. In August 1672, Bernard Grenville had 
 been sent on a mission to Savoy, and it was probably on his 
 return from this mission that he escorted Mrs. Godolphin to 
 England. He was the second son of Sir Beville Grenville, 
 killed at Lansdowne fight, whose eldest son, Sir John Gren- 
 ville, the bearer of Charles II. 's messages to the Lords and 
 Commons, was created Viscount Lansdowne and Earl of Bath. 
 After the death, without issue, of William, grandson of the first 
 Earl of Bath ; George, second son of Bernard Grenville, was 
 created Lord Lansdowne in 1711. He is well known from his 
 poetical talents. 
 
 P. 6S. " Dr. WarnelVs in Covent Garden, whose wife was 
 her near relation." Of this relationship I find no trace. 
 
 P. 70. " Lease she had of certaine lands in Spalding" 
 See Diary of 9 Nov. 1676. " Finished the lease of Spalding 
 for Mr. Godolphin." 
 
 P. 70. " Her pretty habitation in Scotland Yard." " To 
 London, to take order about building an house, or rather an 
 apartment which had all the conveniences of an house, for my 
 deare friend Mr. Godolphin and lady, which I undertook to 
 contrive and survey, and employ workmen, till it should be 
 quite finished, it being just over against his majesties wood 
 yard by the Thames side, leading to Scotland Yard." Diary, 
 12 Sept. 1676. 
 
 P. 73. " The picture she some years since bestowed upon 
 me." See preface to this volume. 
 
 P. 74. " My lady Viscountess Mordant." Elizabeth Carey, 
 daughter and sole heir of Thomas, second son of Robert, Earl 
 of Monmouth, wife of John, Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon, eldest 
 son of John, Earl of Peterborough. 
 
 P. 74. " Your ladyship and sister Gr"(aham). Dorothy 
 
140 NOTES. 
 
 Howard, wife of Cobnel James Graham of Levens. See 
 Table IV. 
 
 P. 74. " Mr. AshmoWsatt LambathP This visit was on the 
 23rd of July, and on the same day, "Mr. Godolphin was made 
 master of the robes to the King." On the 25th July, Evelyn adds, 
 " there was sent to me £70 from whom I knew not, to be by 
 me distributed among the poore people : I afterwards found it 
 was from that deare friend (Mrs. Godolphin) who had fre- 
 quently given me large sums to bestow on charities." It is 
 scarcely necessary to say that the museum called " Mr. Ash- 
 mole's att Lambath" is now the Ashmolean at Oxford. Of the 
 MSS. which Evelyn mentions in his Diary, a catalogue has 
 recently been printed by the University. 
 
 P. 77. " Mr. Harvey, treasurer to her MajestyeP John 
 Hervey, eldest son of Sir William Hervey of Ickworth ; he 
 was a great favourite with Charles II. a leading man in Par- 
 liament, and a patron of letters: he died 18 Jan. 1679. 
 
 P. 79. " Dr. Needham." Diary, Nov. 4, 1679. " Went to 
 the funerall of my pious, dear and ancient learned friend, Dr. 
 Jasper Needham, who was buried at St. Bride's Church. He 
 was a true and holy Christian, and one who loved me with 
 greate affection." 
 
 P. 79. " Dr. Short." Dr. Peregrine Short, " reputed a pa- 
 pist, but who was in truth, a very honest good Christian," and 
 by whose advice Charles II. had first taken the Jesuits back. 
 Diary, 20 Nov. 1694. 
 
 P. 82. " Mrs. Boscawen" her sister in law, see Tables I. 
 
 and V. 
 
TABLE I. 
 PEDIGREE OF BLAGGE AND GODOLPHIN. 
 
 Cecily, 
 
 John Brooke, Lord Cobham, by Mar- 
 garet, dau. of Edward Neville, Lord 
 Abergavenny. She married also John 
 Barret, and, thirdly, Sir Richard Wal- 
 den, Knt. She died 35 Hen. VIII. 
 
 ife) dau. of Sir=RoBERT Blagge, or Blague, or— Katherine, (first 
 
 Blage, of Broke Montague, co, 
 Somerset, and Cleyndon, in Da- 
 rent, co. Kent. Baron of the 
 Exchequer, 27 June, 1511, d. 13 
 Sept. 1522. 
 
 Anne, (first'- 
 wife) dau. of 
 Sir George 
 Hevening- 
 
 ham. 
 
 : Sir Ambrose = Dorothy, (second wife 
 Jermyn, of dau. of William Badbye, 
 Rushbrook, widow of Richard Good- 
 co. Suffolk, riche. In 1563, she had a 
 d. 1577. lease from Eliz. of the ma- 
 
 nor of Stanmore, co. Mid- 
 dlesex, d. April, 1594. 
 
 )=Sir Gi 
 
 wife,) dau. and h. of 
 
 Thos. Brune, or 
 Browne ofHorseman's 
 Place, in Dartford, co. 
 Kent. 
 
 EORGE BARNABY JOHN 
 
 Blagge, Blagge, who Blag- 
 Knt. b. 1512, in 33 Hen. VIII. GE.ob. 
 d. 1551. See sold Horse- s. p. 
 
 note A. man's Place, 
 
 ob. s. p. 
 
 Sir Robert = Judith 
 Jermyn, of I Blagge, 
 Rushbrook, d. Oct. 
 d. 19 April, 1614. 
 1614. 
 
 Henry Blagge, of Hornings-. 
 berth, co. Suffolk, who sold 
 Clevndon, 24 Eliz. d. April, 
 1596. 
 
 Hesther 
 
 Jermyn, 
 
 m. 8 Oct. 
 
 1571. 
 
 Charles Le : 
 Grise, of 
 Brockdish. 
 
 "Hesther 
 
 Blagge, 
 
 m.25 
 
 Nov. 
 
 1566. 
 
 Susan, who mar- 
 ried Sir William 
 Hervey, ancestor 
 of the Marquess 
 of Bristol. 
 
 Sir Thomas 
 Jermyn, of 
 Rushbrooke, 
 living 1622. 
 
 Marga- = 
 
 ret 
 Clarke. 
 
 FiveC 
 
 Ambrose Blagge, —Martha Barber, Doro- 
 
 of Horningsherth, 
 d. 1662. 
 
 lildren. 
 
 of Bury, first wife, thy 
 m. 31 Mar. 1608, Blag- 
 d. Aug. 1624. ge. 
 
 Thomas Jer- 
 myn, whose 
 son, Thomas, 
 succeeded as 
 second Lord 
 Jermyn, but 
 died s. p. in 
 1703. 
 
 Henry Jer- 
 myn, created 
 Lord Jermyn 
 in .1684, with 
 limitation to 
 his brother, 
 created Earl 
 of St. Al- 
 bans 1660. 
 Died s. p. 
 1683. 
 
 Tl 
 
 Colonel Thomas Blagge,=Mary North, George Martha, 
 
 of Horningsherth, Groom of 
 the Bedchamber to Charles I. 
 andGovernor of Wallingford, 
 which surrendered to Fairfax 
 in 1646. After the restora- 
 tion he was colonel of a regi- 
 ment and Governor of Yar- 
 mouth and Landguard Fort, 
 d. 14 Nov. 1660, buried at 
 Westminster, where a monu- 
 ment to him formerly existed. 
 
 dau. of Sir Ro- 
 ger North, of 
 
 Mildenhall, 
 by Elizabeth, 
 
 dau. of Sir 
 John Gilbert, 
 of Great Fin- 
 
 borow, co. 
 Suffolk. 
 
 Blagge. 
 
 Harry 
 Blagge. 
 
 Judith. 
 Anne. 
 
 Katha- 
 rine. 
 
 Sir Tho-— Henrietta Dorothy MARGA- 
 mas Yar- Maria Blagge. RET 
 burgh of Blagge Mary BLAGGE, 
 Snaith, (for whom Blagge. b. 2 Aug. 
 Sheriff of see Gram- 1652, Maid 
 
 Yorksh. mont's Me- of Honor 
 
 1676, set. moirs.) to Queen Catharine, 
 
 37. m. 16 May, 1675, d. 
 
 9 Sept. 1678, buried 
 at Breage, co. Corn- 
 wall, 16 Sept. 1678. 
 
 r~ 
 
 : Sidney Godolphin, 3rd Henry==Mary Jane 
 son of Sir Francis Go- Godol- dau. 
 dolphin, K. B. A Lord phin, of 
 of the Treasury in 1679, Pro- Col. 
 and first Lord in 1684. vost of Sid- 
 Created Lord Godol- Eton, ney 
 phin , of Rialton, in Sept. and Go- 
 1684. Lord High Trea- Dean dol- 
 surer in 1704, K. G. ere- of St. phin. 
 ated Viscount Rialton, Paul's, 
 and Earl of Godolphin, d. Jan. 
 29 Dec. 1706. Died 1712. 1733. 
 
 Go- 
 dol- 
 phin, 
 
 m. 
 Edw. 
 
 wen. 
 
 See 
 
 Tab. 
 
 V 
 
NOTES. 
 
 143 
 
 Ten children, of whom two were 
 maids of honor. The youngest of 
 these (Alice), was maid of honor 
 to Queen Anne, dving at Windsor 
 in 1786, set. 97. The other (Hen- 
 rietta Maria) married Sir Marma- 
 duke Wyvill, hart, of Constable 
 Burton, co. Yorkshire. 
 
 Francis Godolphin, 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. 
 
 Henrietta Church- 
 ill, eldest dau. and 
 co-heir of John, Duke 
 of Marlborough. Du- 
 chess of Marlborough 
 in her own right. 
 Died 24 Oct. 1733, 
 set. 53. 
 
 Francis 
 Godol- 
 phin, 2nd 
 Lord Go- 
 dolphin of 
 Helstone. 
 Ob. s. p. 
 1785. 
 
 Thomas = 
 
 =Henri- 
 
 Henry 
 
 Pelham 
 
 ETTA 
 
 Godol- 
 
 Holles, 
 
 Godol- 
 
 phin, 
 
 Duke of 
 
 phin, 
 
 died 
 
 Newcas- 
 
 m. 2 
 
 young. 
 
 tle, K.G. 
 
 April, 
 1717, d. 
 
 
 | 2. 
 Thomas Os-=Mary Go- 
 
 borne, 4th 
 
 Duke of 
 
 Leeds, b. 6 
 
 Nov. 1713. 
 
 K. G. d. 23 
 
 Mar. 1789. 
 
 DOLPHIN, 
 
 m.26 
 
 June, 
 
 1740, d. 3 
 
 Aug. 1764, 
 
 art. 41. 
 
 William Godol-= 
 phin, called Vis- 
 count Rialton, af- 
 terwards Marquis 
 of Blandford, ob. 
 s. p. 24 Aug. 1731, 
 whereby the Marl- 
 borough titles and 
 estates passed to 
 Spencer, Earl of 
 Sunderland. 
 
 : 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. andd. 
 1779, s. p. Buried 
 at Mortlake. 
 
 Thomas Os- Amelia D'Arcy, (first wife) only— Francis Godolphin 
 
 borne, Mar- dau. and h. of Robert, last Earl 
 quis of Car- of Holderness, and Baroness Con- 
 marthen, b. yers, remarried in 1779, John By- 
 1747, d. 1761. ron, esq. (father of Lord Byron) 
 and died in 178] . 
 
 Osborne, 5th Duke 
 
 of Leeds, born 29 Jan. 
 
 175 J, died 31 Jan. 
 
 1799. 
 
 Catharine Anguish, 
 (second wife) m. 1788, 
 Mistress of the Robes 
 to Oueen Adelaide, d. 
 1837. 
 
 George Wil- : 
 liam Frede- 
 ric Osborne, 
 6th Duke of 
 Leeds, Baron 
 
 Conyers, b. 
 
 1775, m. 1797, 
 
 d. 1838. 
 
 Charlotte Francis Go- 
 Towns- dolphin Os- 
 
 hend, dau, 
 
 of George, 
 
 1st Marquis 
 
 Towns- 
 
 hend. 
 
 borne, b. 
 
 1777. m. 1800. 
 Created in 
 1832, Lord 
 Godolphin 
 
 of Farnham 
 
 Royal. 
 
 Elizabeth Tho- : 
 Chap.lotte mas 
 Eden, dau. Pel- 
 of William, ham, 
 1st Lord Earl 
 Auckland. of 
 Chi- 
 ches- 
 ter. 
 
 Mary Hen- Sidney Catha 
 rietta Ju- Godol- rine 
 liana os- phin 
 Os- 
 
 borne, b 
 
 1776, m. 
 
 1801. 
 
 Anne 
 
 Mary 
 
 borne, Osborne 
 
 b. 16 b. 1798, 
 
 m.in 1819 
 
 Cap. John. 
 
 Whyte 
 
 Melville. 
 
 Dec. 
 1789. 
 
 Francis=LouisaGeorge = =. . . . William=Caroline Sydney = Emi- D'Arcy Char 
 
 Godol- Catha- Os- Stew- b. 1804, 
 
 phin rine borne, art. m. first 
 
 D'Arcy Caton. b. 1802, Emma 
 
 Os- m.1824. Smith. 
 
 borne, 7th Duke in 1832. 
 
 of Leeds, b. ]79S, m. 1834; 
 
 m. 1828. 
 
 Montagu, Godol 
 (sec. wife) phin 
 
 dau. of Os- 
 Lord borne, | coe 
 
 Rokeby, b. 1800, I Gren 
 
 ly, Godol- lotte 
 d. of phin Osborne 
 Pas- Osborne b. 1805, 
 b. 1814. m. Sir T. 
 H. L. 
 
 in holy 
 orders. 
 
 FELL. 
 
 Brinckman, 
 Bart. d. 1838. 
 
144 NOTES. 
 
 Note A. 
 
 Sir George Blagge deserves 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.' 
 At a comparatively early age he was introduced at the Court of Henry 
 VIII. 2 and in the absence 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, 1543, when the 
 Imperialists under the immediate eye of Charles V. aided by the English 
 under the command of Sir John Wallop, formed the siege of Landreci, 3 
 which Francis I. hastened to relieve in person, Surrey with other young 
 nobles, joined the English forces, and was accompanied in his expedi- 
 tion by G. Blagge. Both incurred personal danger, and Sir John Wal- 
 lop mentions in a letter to the King a narrow escape of Blagge* in these 
 terms. " Yesterday, Blagge, who arrived here with my Lord of Surrey, 
 went with Mr. Carew to see the said trench, and escaped very hardly 
 from a piece of ordnance that was shot towards him." 
 
 A proof of the high estimation in which Blagge was held by Surrey, 
 is afforded by the following beautiful lines, prefixed to his version of the 
 Ixxiii. Psalm. 5 
 
 " The sudden stonns that heave me to and fro, 
 
 Had well near pierced Faith, my guiding sail. 
 For I that on the noble voyage go 
 
 To succour truth, and falsehood to assail, 
 Constrained am to bear my sails full low : 
 
 And never could attain some pleasant gale. 
 For unto such the prosperous winds do blow 
 
 As men from port to port to seek avail. 
 
 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. IviL 
 
 5) Surrey and Wyat, vol i. p. 80. 
 
NOTES. 145 
 
 This bred despair; whereof such doubts did grow 
 That I gan faint, and all my courage fail. 
 
 But now, my Blage, mine error well I see; 
 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 escaped as hardly from the fires in 
 Smithfield as from the French cannon at Landreci. In 1546, when 
 Wriothesley and Gardiner commenced their persecutions on the statute 
 of the Six Articles, he was taken up as a " favorer of the Gospel," 6 
 and was only saved by Henry's personal interposition. Fox's narrative 
 is this : 7 
 
 " Here would also something be said of Sir George Blage, one of the 
 King's Privy Chamber, who, being falsely accused by Sir Hugh Caver- 
 ley, knt. and Master Littleton, was sent for by Wriothesley, Lord Chan- 
 cellor, the Sunday before Anne Askew suffered, and the next day was 
 carried to Newgate, and from thence to Guildhall, where he was con- 
 demned the same day, and appointed to be burned the Wednesday 
 following. The words which his accusers laid unto him were these : 
 ' What if a mouse should eat the bread 1 then, by my consent, they 
 should hang up the mouse :' whereas, indeed these words he never 
 spake, as to his life's end he protested. But the truth (as he said) was 
 this, that they, craftily to undermine him, walking with him in Paul's 
 Church, after a sermon of Dr. Crome, asked if he were at the sermon. 
 He said * Yea.' * I heard say,'*saith Master Littleton, « that he said in his 
 sermon, that the mass profiteth neither for the quick nor for the dead.' 
 ' No,' saith Master Blage, ' Wherefore then 1 Belike for a gentleman, 
 when he rideth a hunting, to keep his horse from stumbling.' And so 
 they departing, immediately after he was apprehended (as is shewed) 
 and condemned to be burned. When this was heard among them of 
 the Privy Chamber, the King, hearing them whispering together (which 
 he could never abide) commanded them to tell him the matter. 
 Whereupon the matter being opened, and suit made to the King, espe- 
 cially by the good Earl of Bedford, then Lord Privy Seal, the King, 
 being sore offended with their doings, that they would come so near 
 
 6) Strype's Memorials, vol. i. pt. i. p. 598. 
 
 7) Fox's Acts and Monuments, 1135 (ed. 1546). 
 
 8 
 
146 NOTES. 
 
 him, and even into his Privy Chamber, without his knowledge, sent for 
 Wriothesley, commanding eftsoons to draw out his pardon himself, 
 and so was set at liberty : who, coming after to the King's presence, 
 * Ah ! my pig ' (saith the King to him, for so he was wont to call him). 
 ' Yea/ said he, ' if your Majesty had not been better to me than your 
 bishops were, your pig had been roasted ere this time.' " 
 
 Fox is in error 8 when he speaks of Blagge as one of the Gentlemen 
 of the Privy Chamber, a post which he never held, and also in calling 
 him at that time Sir George Blagge. Fox antedates Biagge's knight- 
 hood, an honour which was conferred on him in 1547, by the Protector 
 Duke of Somerset, whom, whilst Earl of Hertford, Blagge accompanied 
 in the Expedition to Scotland. 9 Blagge was knighted after the fight at 
 Mussleborough, 10 and in the same year he and Sir Thomas Holcroft 
 were made Commissioners of the Musters. 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 Somerset, himself destined to 
 fall under the same axe. Some of the depositions of the witnesses against 
 the Lord Admiral have long since appeared ; 155 those of the Marquis 
 of Dorset, the Lord Russell, (Privy Seal) Sir George Blagge, and Lord 
 Clynton, have only recently been brought to light. 13 Biagge's evidence 
 tends to prove the criminal projects of the Lord Admiral. 
 
 In 1550 died Lord Wriothesley, at whose hands whilst Lord Chan- 
 cellor, Blagge had incurred such imminent peril. His narrow escape 
 may account for, although it cannot excuse the severity of the only 
 remains of Biagge's writings ; which are lines on the death of Wriothe- 
 sley. Dr. Nott, by whom they were first printed, 14 and in whose work 
 they may be found, says that he gives them " from the Harington MS. 
 more from the circumstance of their having been written by one of 
 Surrey's friends than from any merit they possess." 
 
 8) Strype's Annals, vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 419. 
 
 9) Surrey and Wyat, vol. ii. p. lxxxiii. 
 
 10) Holinshed, vol. iii. p. 888. 
 
 11) Holinshed, vol. iii. p. 868. 
 
 12) In Haynes' State Papers from the Burghley Collections, belonging to the Marquis 
 of Salisbury, at Hatfield. 
 
 13) From the State Paper Office, by Mr. Fraser Tytler in hi* " England during the 
 reigns of Edw. VI. and Mary," vol. i. pp. 146, etc. 
 
 14) Surrey and Wyat, vol. i. p. xcvi. 
 
NOTES. 147 
 
 On the 17th June in the following year, 1551, 15 Sir George Blagge 
 died at Stanmore in Middlesex, of which his wife Dorothy afterwards 
 obtained a lease from Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 Sir Thomas Wyat was wont to say that he cherished three friends 
 in particular — " Poynings for the generosity of his disposition, Blagge 
 for his wit, and Mason for his learning." 16 In a letter from Lever to 
 Ascham 17 it is said, in allusion to his loss, that England was " punished, 
 as to courtship, by Gentle Blage." iS 
 
 15) Gage's History of Suffolk. 
 
 16) Surrey and Wyat, vol. ii. p. Ixxxiii. 
 
 17) Strype's Cheke, p. 89. 
 
 18) By a statement in Nott's Surrey and Wyat, vol. ii. p. lxv. it would seem that 
 Blagge did not die until after his friend Wyat's execution in 1553, as he was appointed to 
 offices previously held by Wyat, viz. " Keeper of the King's Messuage at Maidstone," 
 and " High Steward of Maidstone." 
 
TABLE II. 
 
 SHEWING THE CONNEXION BETWEEN SIDNEY 
 
 GODOLPHIN AND THE FAMILY OF LORD 
 
 BERKELEY OF STRATTON. 
 
 Sir William Go- 
 dolphin. 
 
 Thomasin Sidney. 
 
 Sir Maurice = Elizabeth, dau. of Sir 
 Berkeley. Henry Killigrew. 
 
 Fran- 
 cis 
 Go- 
 dol- 
 phin. 
 
 : Doro- 
 thy, 
 dau. of 
 Charles 
 Berke- 
 ley, of 
 Garling- 
 ton. 
 
 Pene-=Sir Charles Sir John Berkeley, of= 
 lope 
 Go- 
 dol- 
 phin. 
 
 jerkeley, 
 succeeded 
 his son as 
 2nd Vis- 
 count 
 Fitzhar- 
 dinge. d. 
 
 Bruton, the friend of 
 James, Duke of York, 
 James II. created Lord 
 Berkeley, of Stratton,29 
 May,1658,LordDeputyof 
 Ireland 16 , Ambassa- 
 dor to France, 1675, 
 (see p. 59,) died 1678. 
 
 ^Christian, dau. of Sir An- 
 drew Riccard (President 
 of the East India Com- 
 pany) widow of Henry, 
 Lord Kensington, son of 
 Henry, Earl of Holland. 
 The LADY BERKE- 
 LEY so often mentioned. 
 
 Sir 
 
 Sid- 
 
 Mau- Charles= 
 
 = Eliza- 
 
 John 
 
 Wil- 
 
 ney 
 
 rice Berke- 
 
 beth, 
 
 Ber- 
 
 liam 
 
 Go- 
 
 Ber- ley, 
 
 dau. 
 
 ke- 
 
 Go- 
 
 dol- 
 
 ke- created 
 
 of 
 
 ley, 
 
 dol- 
 
 phin, 
 
 ley, Lord 
 
 Her- 
 
 4th 
 
 phin. 
 
 who 
 
 3rd Berke- 
 
 vey 
 
 Vis- 
 
 
 mar- 
 
 Vis- ley of 
 
 Bagot, 
 
 count 
 
 
 ried 
 
 ' count Rath- 
 
 The 
 
 Fitz- 
 
 
 Mar- 
 
 Fitz- downe, 
 
 LADY 
 
 har- 
 
 
 garet 
 
 har- and Vis- 
 
 FAL- 
 
 dinge. 
 
 
 Blagge dinge. count 
 
 MOUTH. 
 
 
 
 the 
 
 d. Fitzhar- 
 
 See p. 
 
 
 
 subject 
 
 1690. dinge, 
 
 10. 
 
 
 
 of this 
 
 with re- 
 
 She married se- 
 
 
 me- 
 
 mainder 
 
 condly Charles 
 
 
 moir. 
 
 to his fa- 
 
 Sackville 
 
 , Earl 
 
 
 
 ther, af- 
 
 of Dorset. 
 
 
 
 terwards created 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lord Bottcourt, 
 
 
 
 
 
 and Earl of 
 
 
 
 
 
 Falmouth. Killed 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 June, 1665. 
 
 
 
 = Bar- Charles, John 
 bara, 
 dau. of 
 
 Sir 
 Edw. 
 Vil- 
 liers, 
 sister 
 of the 
 
 1st 
 Earl of 
 Jer- 
 sey, d. 
 1708. 
 
 2nd 
 Lord 
 Berke- 
 ley of 
 Strat- 
 ton, d. 
 
 3rd 
 Lord 
 Berke- 
 ley of 
 Strat- 
 ton, d. 
 
 Wil- 
 liam, 
 4th 
 Lord 
 Berke- 
 ley of 
 Strat- 
 ton, d. 
 1741. 
 
 Fran- 
 ces, 
 dau. of 
 Sir 
 John 
 Tem- 
 ple, of 
 East 
 Sheen. 
 
 John, 5th Lord Berke- 
 ley, d. unm. 1773. He 
 left his chief estates to 
 Earl Berkeley. 
 
TABLE III. 
 
 TO SHEW THE PATRONAGE EXTENDED TO MRS. 
 GODOLPHIN BY THE DUKE OF BUCK- 
 INGHAM'S FAMILY. 
 
 Audrey Sanders, dau. of William = SiR George Villiers,=Mary Beaumont, created Coun- 
 
 
 
 Sanders. 
 
 T 
 
 
 
 tess of Buckingham, 
 
 1675. 
 
 1 
 
 Sir 
 
 1 
 Sir Ed - = 
 
 r 
 
 =Barbara St. George = 
 
 - Lady 
 
 WlLLIAM — 
 
 MaryVilliers.wIio 
 
 William ward Vil- 
 
 John, niece Villiers, 
 
 Catha- Fielding, 
 
 erected a 
 
 splendid 
 
 Vil- 
 
 LIERS, d. 
 
 of the 1st 1st Duke of 
 
 rine 1st Earl of 
 
 monument at Ports- 
 
 LIERS 
 
 7 Sept. 
 
 Viscount Bucking- 
 
 Man- 
 
 Denbigh. 
 
 mouth to 
 
 her bro- 
 
 
 1626. 
 
 Grandison. ham. 
 
 ners. 
 
 
 ther's memory. 
 
 WlL- = 
 
 =Mary, James=I 
 
 Jarbara George Mary 
 
 1 
 Mary 
 
 1 
 
 Anne 
 
 Lewis = 
 
 = Eliza- 
 
 LIAM 
 
 dau. of How- 
 
 Vil- Vil- Vil- 
 
 Field- 
 
 Field- 
 
 Boyle 
 
 beth 
 
 VlL- 
 
 Paul, ARD, 
 
 liers, LIERS, LIERS, m 
 
 . ing, m. 
 
 ing, first 
 
 Vis- 
 
 Field<- 
 
 LERS, 
 
 Vis- 3rd i 
 
 widow of 2nd James, 
 
 James 
 
 wife of 
 
 count 
 
 ING, 
 
 2nd 
 
 count Earl of 
 
 Philip, Duke of 4th Duk< 
 
 i Duke of 
 
 Baptist 
 Noel, 
 
 Kenel- 
 
 created 
 
 Vis- 
 
 Bay- Suf- 
 
 son of Bucking- of Len- 
 
 Hamil- 
 
 mea- 
 
 COUN- 
 
 count 
 
 ning. folk. 
 
 Philip, ham, who nox.anc 
 
 ton, be- 
 
 3rd Vis- 
 
 ky. 
 
 TESS of 
 
 Gran- 
 
 
 discount was ac- 3rd Duk 
 
 e headed 
 
 count 
 
 2nd 
 
 GUIL- 
 
 dison. 
 
 
 Wen- compa- of Rich 
 
 - in 1649, 
 
 Camp- 
 
 son of 
 
 FORD 
 
 
 
 man, d. nied in mond, 
 
 by whom 
 she had 
 
 den. She 
 
 Rich- 
 
 for life, 
 
 
 
 13 Dec. his escape called ii 
 
 died 24 
 
 ard, 
 
 14 July, 
 
 
 1 
 
 581. The after the p. 5, ( TI 
 
 le Anne, 
 
 March, 
 
 Earl of 
 
 1660: 
 
 
 
 COUN- battle of OLD 
 
 Duchess 
 
 1636. 
 
 Cork. 
 
 under 
 
 * 
 
 
 rESSof Worces- DUCH- 
 
 of Ham- 
 
 
 
 whose 
 
 
 
 SUF- ter in ESS Op 
 
 ilton, in 
 
 
 care Mrs. Qodol- 
 
 
 
 FOLK, 1651, by RICH- 
 
 her own 
 
 
 phin was placed 
 
 
 
 see p. Colonel MOND, 
 
 right. 
 
 
 by the Duchess 
 
 
 
 54. Blagge. who 
 
 
 
 of Richmond, 
 
 
 
 placed 
 
 
 
 see p. 5. 
 
 Barbai 
 
 :a Villiers, wife 
 
 Df Mrs. Oodolphir 
 
 un- 
 
 
 
 
 Roger 
 
 Palmer, Earl 
 
 of der the care of 
 
 tile 
 
 
 
 
 Castlem 
 
 aine, and ere at 
 
 id Countess of Q 
 
 uil- 
 
 
 
 
 Duel 
 
 less o 
 
 "Cleveland. 
 
 ford. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE IV. 
 
 SHEWING THE DESCENT AND CONNEXIONS OP 
 LADY SYLVIUS. 
 
 Thomas Howard, first Earl of Berkshire, 2nd — Elizabeth Cecil, dau. and co-heir of William 
 son of Thomas, Earl of Suffolk, d. 1669. Earl of Exeter. 
 
 Charles 
 Howard, 
 2nd Earl 
 of Berk- 
 sh. d. 
 1679. 
 
 Anne - 
 
 1 
 
 = Cra- = 
 
 Ogle, 
 
 VEN 
 
 (first 
 
 Ho- 
 
 wife,) 
 
 ward. 
 
 maid of 
 
 
 lonor to 
 
 
 dueen 
 
 
 Catha- 
 
 
 rine. 
 
 
 Thomas 
 
 Hen- 
 
 Wil- = 
 
 =Elizabeth, 
 
 Edward Sir Robert Ho- 
 
 EIoward, 
 
 ry 
 
 LIAM 
 
 dau. of Lord 
 
 Howard. 
 
 waRd, Auditor of 
 
 3rd Earl 
 
 How- 
 
 How- 
 
 Dundas, the 
 
 
 the Exchequer, 
 
 of Berk- 
 
 ard, 
 
 ard. 
 
 mother of 
 
 
 &c. the well- 
 
 sh. d. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 Lady Syl- 
 
 
 known author, 
 
 1706. 
 
 1663. 
 
 
 vius. See p. 
 
 
 lived at Ashted, 
 
 
 
 
 15. 
 
 
 near Epsom. 
 
 Mary 
 Bowes, 
 (second 
 wife,) 
 dau. of 
 George, 
 B.of 
 Elford. 
 
 Col. : 
 James 
 Graham, 
 of Le- 
 vens, 
 Privy 
 Purse to 
 James, 
 D. of 
 York. 
 
 Dorothy 
 
 Howard, 
 maid of 
 honour. 
 
 The sister 
 of Lady 
 Sylvius. 
 See pp. 
 
 15 17,33, 
 74. 
 
 Sir Gabriel 
 
 Sylvius, 
 
 Hoffmaester 
 
 to the Prince 
 of Orange : 
 Envoy to 
 
 Brunswick in 
 
 Feb. 1679-80, 
 and Envoy 
 
 Extr. to 
 Denmark in 
 June, 1685. 
 
 Anne Howard, Henry Bowes-pCatherine Graham. 
 ©b. innupt. Howard, 4th I 
 
 Earl of Berk- 
 shire. 
 
 Philip 
 Howard. 
 
 James 
 Howard. 
 
 Algernon 
 Howard. 
 
 Anne Howard, maid of 
 honour to Oueen Catha- 
 rine, m. 13 Nov. 1677, at 
 Henry VII. 's Chapel, by 
 the Dean of Westminster, 
 Dr. John Dolben, then Bi- 
 shop of Rochester, after- 
 wards Archbishop of York. 
 See an account of her mar- 
 riage in .Evelyn, ii. 436. 
 The LADY SYLVIUS to 
 whom this work is dedica- 
 ted. 
 
TABLE V. 
 
 SHEWING THE CONNEXION BETWEEN THE 
 
 FAMILIES OF GODOLPHIN, EVELYN, 
 
 AND HARCOURT. 
 
 Sir Francis=j= Dorothy, dan. of JOHN EVE- 
 Godolphin, I Sir Charles Berke- LYN, d.1705, 
 K. B. ley, of Yarlington. set. 85. 
 
 Mary, dau. Sir Philip 
 
 of Sir Ri- Harcourt, 
 
 chard d. 1688. 
 Browne. 
 
 Anne, dau. of Sir 
 William Waller, 
 of Osterley Park, 
 d. 1614. 
 
 Sidney Godol-=MARGA 
 PHiN, Earl of 
 
 Godolphin, 
 K. G. d. 1712. 
 
 Edward = Jane John Eve-==Martha Simon, Vis- — Rebecca 
 RET Bosca- Godol- lyn, ob. in Spen- count Har- dau. of 
 
 BLAGGE, wen, d. phin, v. p. 1698. cer, d. court, Lord Thomas 
 d. 1678. 1665. d. 1730. 1726. High Chan- Clark. 
 
 cellor, d. 
 1727. 
 
 Francis Go-=Henrietta Hugh —Charlotte God- Anne —Sir John Eliza 
 
 dolphin, 
 
 2nd Earl of 
 
 Godolphin, 
 
 d. 1766. 
 
 Churchill, Bosca- 
 
 Duchess of wen, Vis. 
 
 Marlbo- count Fal- 
 
 rough, d. mouth, d. 
 
 1733. 1734. 
 
 frey, (niece of Bosca- 
 the Duke of wen, 
 Marlborough,) d. 1751. 
 maid of honour to 
 Q,ueen Anne, d. 
 1754. 
 
 Evelyn, 
 
 Bart. d. 
 
 1763. 
 
 BETH 
 
 Eve- 
 lyn, d. 
 1760. 
 
 William 
 Godol- 
 phin, 
 Marquis 
 of Bland- 
 ford, d. 
 1731. 
 
 Hon. 
 Simon 
 Har- 
 
 COURT, 
 
 d. 1720, 
 in v. p. 
 
 Thomas =Mary Mary =Sir John Simon,-t-Rebecca George Ven- 
 
 OSBORNE, 
 
 4th Duke 
 of Leeds, 
 d. 1789. 
 
 Go Bosca- 
 
 DOL- WEN,d. 
 
 phin, 1749. 
 died 
 1764. 
 
 [Evelyn, 1st Earl 
 Bart. d. Har- 
 1767. court, d. 
 1777. 
 
 Le Bass, 
 d. 1765. 
 
 ables Ver- 
 non, Lord 
 Vernon, d. 
 1780. 
 
 Martha 
 Har- 
 
 COURT, 
 
 d. 1794. 
 
 i r 
 
 Francis G. Sir Frederic William George Simon =Elizabeth, Edward =fANNE Le 
 
 Osborne, Evelyn, mar- Harcourt, Harcourt, 2nd 
 5th Duke ried Mary 3rd Earl Earl Harcourt. 
 of Leeds, Turton, d. s. Harcourt, ob. s. p. 1809. 
 p. 1812. ob. s. p. 
 
 See Table I. 
 
 dau. of Geo. Venables 
 Lord Ver- Vernon 
 non, m. Harcourt 
 1765. Abp. of 
 
 York. 
 
 VESON Go- 
 
 WER.dau.of 
 
 Granville, 
 
 Marquis of 
 
 Stafford. 
 
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