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 University of California • Berkeley 
 
 r3 
 
 JOHN HENRY NASH LIBRARY 
 
 <^ SAN FRANCISCO ^ 
 
 PRESENTED TO THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 ROBERT GORDON SPROUL, PRESIDENT. 
 
 Mr.andMrs.MILTON S.RAY 
 CECILY, VIRGINIA AND ROSALYN .R\Y 
 
 AND THE 
 
 RAY OIL BURNERODMPANY 
 
 SAlSr FRANCISCO 
 NEV/VORK 
 
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 Ji 1 -■ v^^^s^^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 f^'M-f' 
 
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So much of the Z)/^i?rof 
 
 LADY WILLOUGHBY 
 
 as relates to her Domejiic Hiftory^ 
 
 & to the Eventful Period of the 
 
 Reign of Charles 
 
 the Firft. 
 
 Imprinted for Longman, Brown, Green, & Long- 
 mans, Paternojler Row^ over againft War- 
 wick Lane^ in the City of 
 London. 1844. 
 

 
 To THE Reader. 
 
 
 The ftyle of Printing and general 
 
 
 appearance of this Volume have been 
 
 
 adopted, as will be inferred from the 
 
 
 Date on the Title-page, merely to 
 
 
 be in accordance with the 
 
 
 Character of the 
 
 
 Work. 
 
 
 r 
 
 
Some Paflages from the Diary 
 of Lady JVilloughby. 
 
 1635- 
 
 Rofe at my ufual houre, fix of the 
 clock, for the firft time fince the 
 Birth of my Httle Sonne ; opened 
 the Cafement, and look'd forth 
 upon the Park; a drove of Deer pafl"d bye, 
 leaving the traces of their Footfteps in the dewy 
 Grafs. The Birds fang, and the Air was fweet 
 with the Scent of the Wood-binde and the frefh 
 Birch Leaves. Took down rx^ Bible; found the 
 Mark at the 103d Pfalm; read the fame, and 
 return'd Thanks to Almighty God that he had 
 brought me fafely through my late Peril and 
 
 B Extremity, 
 
 1635- 
 
 May 12, 
 
 Tuefday. 
 
From the Diary of 
 
 1635. Extremity, and in his great Bountie had given 
 me a deare Uttle One. Pray'd him to affift me 
 by his Divine Grace in the right Performance 
 of my new and facred Duties : truly I am a 
 young Mother, and need Help. Sent a Mef- 
 fage to my Lord^ that if it fo pleafed him, I 
 would take Breakfaft with him in the Blue Par- 
 lour. At Noon walked out on the South Ter- 
 race ; the two Greyhounds came leaping towards 
 me : divers houfehold Affaires in the courfe of 
 the Day; enough wearied when Night came. 
 
 May 19, 
 
 Tuefday. 
 
 Had a difturbed Night, and rofe late, not 
 down till after feven : Thoughts wandering at 
 Prayers. Th^Chaplain detained us after Service 
 to know our Pleafure concerning the Chriften- 
 ing ; my Lord doth wifh nothing omitted that 
 fhouldfeem proper to ffgnify his Refped to that 
 religious Ordinance which admits his Child into 
 the outward and viUble Church of Chriji^ and 
 give Honour to his firfte born Sonne. During 
 Breakfaft we gave the Subjed: much Confidera- 
 
 tion. 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 tion. My Hujhand doth not defire him to be 
 named after himfelf,but rather after \m Father ; 
 his Brother William therefore bearing his name 
 will ftand Godfather. All being at laft brought 
 to a fatisfactory conclufion : he went forth with 
 the Chaplain and gave his orders according 
 therewith, I doing the fame in my fmaller ca- 
 pacity : he for whom was all this care lying 
 unconfcioufly in his Nurfe's arms. 
 
 1635- 
 
 Meffenger from Wimbledon. My deare and 
 honoured Mi9//6^r writes that £he doth at prefent 
 intend fetting forth on Monday : gave orders 
 for the Eaji Chamber to be prepared. The day 
 being fine walked down to the Dairy ; told 
 Cicely to make Cheefe as often as will fuit, the 
 whey being much approved by my Mother. 
 The brindled Cow calved yefterday : Calf to be 
 reared, as Cicely tells me the mother is the beft 
 milker we have. Daify grows and promifes to 
 be a fine Cow : praifed Cicely for the cleane and 
 orderly ftate of all under her care ; fhe is a good 
 
 clever 
 
From the Diary of 
 
 1635- clever Lass. As I returned to the houfe mett 
 my Lord^ who had come to feeke me ; two 
 Strangers with him: thought as he drew near 
 how comely was his countenance : he advanced 
 a pace or two before the others, took my hand, 
 and preffed it to his Lips as he turned and in- 
 troduced me to Sir Arthur Hazelrigge and the 
 Lord Brooke: methought the latter very pleaf- 
 ing, of gracefuU carriage, and free from any 
 courtly foppery and extravagance in his apparel. 
 They prefently renew'd their converfation ref- 
 pecting New England. Lord Brooke and Lord 
 Say and Sele have fent over Mr. George Fen- 
 wicke to purchafe land and commence building: 
 there is talk of Mr. John Hampden joining 
 them. Lord Brooke difcourfed at length on the 
 admirable qualities and excellent attainements 
 of the late Lord, his coufin, who did come by a 
 cruell death, being murdered by his fervant 
 through a jealoufy he entertained that his paft 
 fervices were negleded. Some Members of my 
 Lords Family knew him well, and did fee 
 
 much 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 much of him when Sir Fulke Greville : he was 
 greatly efteemed by many, but known chiefly 
 as the Friend and Lover of Sir Philip Sydney^ 
 whofe early Death was mourned by all England; 
 and whofe like may not againe be look'd upon. 
 He left directions their friendfhip fhould be re- 
 corded on his Tomb, as may be feene in War- 
 wick Church: Fulke Greville Servant to ^ueen 
 Elizabeth Counfellor to King James and Friend 
 to Sir Philip Sydney. 
 
 1635- 
 
 Mofl unhappy in mind this day ; temper forely 
 tried, and feelings of refentment at what did 
 appeare unkind conduct in another, were too 
 viflbly exprefl^ed in manner and countenance, 
 though I did refrain from words. 
 
 May 25, 
 Monday. 
 
 Slept laft night in very Wearinefle of Weep- 
 ing; and awaken'd this morning with a feeling 
 of Hopeleflhefle; and ill at eafe myfelfe, me- 
 thought every Thing around feemed melan- 
 cholly; Truth and AfFedion doubted. Short- 
 comings 
 
 May 26, 
 Tuefday. 
 
From the Diary of 
 
 1635- comings hardly judged of; this is an unlook'd 
 for triall. The Sun fhon brightly through the 
 open Window, but it feemed not to fliine for 
 me : I took my Bible to read therein my ufuall 
 Portion; and kneel'd down to pray, but could 
 only weep: thoughts of my Mother s tender 
 love arofe, and the Truft on either fide that had 
 been unbroken between us. Remembering an 
 outward Compofure muft be attained unto, be- 
 fore I could go down to breakfaft, wafhed my 
 eyes, and let the frefh aire blow upon my face ; 
 felt I was a poore diflembler, having had here- 
 tofore but little trouble of heart to conceal : mett 
 my Hujband in the Corridor with Lord Brooke^ 
 and well nigh loft my Selfe-command when he 
 gave a kindly preflure of my Hand as he led me 
 down ftairs. This Evening how diiFerent does 
 all appeare; and though this and fome other 
 late Experiences occafion me to perceave that 
 Life is not fo calm a Sea as it once did feeme in 
 my ignorance of humane Nature ; flight Breezes 
 may ruffle it, and unfeene Rocks may give a 
 
 Shock 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 Shock to the Httle Shipp: haply the Mariner 
 will learn to fteer his courfe,and not feare Ship- 
 wreck from every accident. 
 
 1635- 
 
 My deare Mother arrived at Noon; fhe was 
 fatigued, and retired to her Chamber, firft com- 
 ing with me to the Nurfery to fee her Grand/on; 
 he was awake, and fmiling; fhe took him in 
 her arms and look'd fondly on him. It is a 
 fweet Child, my Daughter : may the LorcDi^y^ 
 you both in his fafe Keeping now and evermore. 
 My Mother s Bleffing from her own Lips, how 
 precious. She much commends my nurfing 
 him; and would not for my own fake I fhould 
 lofe fo greate fatisfadion. I attended her to her 
 Room, where Mabel w^% in waiting : deare kind 
 old Mabel^ I was well pleafed to fee her, and 
 kiff'd her as I was wont when a Girl; and fo 
 did fpoile amoftrefpedlfull curtefietomy Lady- 
 fhip. Deare Mother look'd round the Room 
 pleafed therewith; and with fuch fmall Com- 
 forts as I had been enabled to provide, which 
 
 fhe 
 
 June 4, 
 Thurfday. 
 
8 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1635. fhe hath at home. This Day hath been one of 
 muchHappineffe: Returned heart-felt Thanks 
 to God for his loving Kindneffe and tender 
 Mercy; read the 25th Pfalm: my Cup doth 
 indeed run over. 
 
 The Houfe full of Company iince the Chrift- 
 ening; and I have felt too weary at Night to 
 do more than coUecSl my Thoughts for Devo- 
 tion. To-day many have left; ^ndmj Hujband 
 doth purpofe to begin his Journey to-morrow. 
 My Mother with me, he leaveth Home with 
 more eafe of Mind. 
 
 June 19, 
 
 Friday. 
 
 My deare Lord fet forth at a little paft iix. 
 with only one Serving-man, who had a led 
 Horfe and one to carry the baggage. After 
 they had rode fome way, they ftopp'd, and my 
 Lord difmounted, and taking a fhort cut thro' 
 the Park, came up to the Window where I had 
 remain'd to watch his Departure : he bade me 
 call the Steward^ gave him fome diredlions; 
 
 then 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 then telling me to keep up a good heart, took 
 another tender Leave, and followed by Arm- 
 Jirong^ returned to the fpot where were the 
 Horfes; and he mounting the led Horfe, they 
 were foon out of fight. Old Br it ton feemed to 
 underftand he was not to follow his Mafter, and 
 came and reared himfelf up to the Window, 
 refting his Fore-paws on the ftone : I patted his 
 broad Head, and queftioned not that he felt as 
 I did, that his beft Friend was gone : tooke a few 
 turns with him on the Terrace; the Mift cleared 
 ofFthe diftant Woods and Fields, and I plainly 
 difcern'd the Towers of Framlingham Cajile^ 
 and could heare the pleafant found of the 
 Scythe cutting through the thick Grafs in the 
 fields neareft, and the Cuckoo, as fiie fled flowly 
 from hedge to hedge. 
 
 Have been greatly fatigued the paft Day or 
 two : it is a ferious Charge to be left head over 
 fo large a Houfehold, but it availeth not to be 
 over carefuU. John Armjlrong knoweth his 
 
 c Lord's 
 
 1635- 
 
 June 27, 
 Saturday. 
 
lo From the Diary of 
 
 1635. Lord's Pleafure in moft things, and is honeft 
 and faithful! : and the Chaplain will keep fome 
 overlight ; and his Counfel in Difficulties, fhould 
 fuch arife, may be depended on, though he 
 hath not Johns Experience in the Family and 
 its Requirements. My Room laft night look'd 
 lonely; and Baby fleeping fomewhat uneafily, 
 I fent for Nurfe^ who ftay'd till we were com- 
 fortably afleep. I think to have a Truckle Bed 
 made up for her; the Room is fpacious. Read 
 to-night in St, John^ chapter 5, and the 93d 
 Pfalm. 
 
 July 5, Feare at times that my Mind is too much 
 
 '''' ''•^' bufied with the cares of this World; find I 
 fhorten the time which I had appointed to Re- 
 tirement and Self-examination, yet is this latter 
 Exercife much needed : outwardly I may ap- 
 pear ftriving to perform my daily Duties well 
 and circumfpeftly, but others know not the fe- 
 cret Faults of the Heart ; the indolence, the 
 imperfect Soul-lefs performances of Religious 
 
 Duties : 
 
Lady Willoughby< 
 
 Duties: the obtruding of Selfifli motives into 
 what may feeme ads of Kindneffe or Charity. 
 Often doth the verfe of the 51 ft Pfalm come 
 to my remembrance, Againjl Thee^ Thee only 
 have I Jinned^ and done this evil in Thy Jight. 
 And now that lam a Mother it behoveth me ftill 
 more to maintaine the Worke of inward Self- 
 difcipHne. Even at my little Child's tender age, 
 he is fenfibly afFefted by the Feelings apparent 
 in the Faces of thofe around him: yefterday it 
 happened as I nurfed him, that being vexed by 
 fome trifling matters that were not done as I 
 had defired, the difturbed Expreffion of my 
 Countenance fo diftrefled him that he uttered 
 a complaining Cry; made happy by a fmile and 
 the moreferene afped: that affedion called forth, 
 he neftled his little Face again in my Bofom, 
 and did foon fall afleep. It doth feeme a trifling 
 thing to note, but it teacheth the Necefllty of 
 Watchfullnefl^e; and if this Duty is efpecially 
 called for in our Condu6t towards the Young, 
 or indeed towards all, is it not more fo when we 
 
 confider 
 
 II 
 
 i635' 
 
12 
 
 i635- 
 
 July 7> 
 
 Tuefday. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 confider there is One who feeth the Heart, and 
 whofe eye will not behold iniquity. 
 
 Quiet Day, fitting the greater part thereof 
 at my Embroidery; my Mother befide me 
 knitting. We had much pleafant Converfe : 
 fhe encouraged me to perfevere in the diligent 
 performance of daily Duties whatfoever they 
 may be ; a good Wife, fhe fayd, fhould make 
 it her chief defire to keep a well-order'd Fam- 
 ily. My want of Experience, fhe kindly added, 
 makes fome things irkfome and perplexing, 
 which will ceafe to be the cafe after a while, 
 when lefs time will fufHce for their perform- 
 ance, and more opportunity afforded for reft 
 of Body and Mind. She bade me not be caft 
 down, or be difcouraged by fome mifchances ; 
 and fo comforted me. In the evening we 
 paced for fome time up and down the Terrace. 
 The Moon arofe above the old Oak Tree : 
 my Mother feemed greatly to enjoy the Scene. 
 I repeated aloud the 19 th and part of the gad 
 
 Pfalmes; 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 13 
 
 Pfalmes; and we entered the houfe: £he looked 
 chill, and I haftened to warm her fome fpiced 
 Wine, which I took with a manchet of Bread 
 for her Supper. As I gave Baby his laft Meal 
 for the night, my Heart was lifted up in Gra- 
 titude for the Mercy extended to me: he 
 looked beautifuU, & put his foft Hand to my 
 Face careflingly, his eyes full of Contentment 
 and Affedion looking into mine : May it ever 
 be prefent with me, that this fmall delicate 
 Frame is the earthly Tabernacle of a Soul to be 
 trained for Immortality. 
 
 i635' 
 
 Bufy in the Still-room this forenoon : put the 
 dried Rofe-leaves in paper bags. Alice was 
 picking the Rofemary, and I fat down to help 
 her. She fays the under Houfe-maid complains 
 of ill treatment, particulars not worth writing 
 of; her pretty Face gains too much of the good- 
 will of the Men and the ill-will of the women : 
 mentioned the Matter to the Chaplain^ who 
 faith he will add a few Words of fuitable ex- 
 hortation 
 
 Wednefday. 
 
14 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1635. hortation at the conclufion oi Evening Service. 
 Bade Alice take heed there fliould be a good 
 ftore of Chamomile-flowers and Poppy-heads, 
 and of Mint water; our poore Neighbours look 
 to us for fuch : gave her my Mother s recipe for 
 Hungary Water and the Conferve of Hips. 
 
 John took the Yarn to the Weaver's, and 
 brought back Flax, Spices, and Sugar. The 
 Stage Waggon had not arrived when he left 
 Ipfwich^ and there was no package from Lon- 
 don. My Lord was to fend Hangings for the 
 large Drawing Room; but it matters not. 
 
 July 18, 
 Saturday. 
 
 A Day of many fmall Vexations, no fooner 
 one mended than another appeareth : wearied 
 Body and Mind, and yet I would humbly truft 
 my Spirit was more quiet under the fame than 
 fometimes hath beene the cafe : no Letter or 
 Meffage from my Hufband. 
 
 Tried to colled my thoughts for Reading 
 and Devotion, once ftrongly tempted to omit 
 both, under the plea of Wearinefle and Unfit- 
 
 neffe. 
 
Lady Willoughby . 1 5 
 
 nefle, but refifted: read the loth chapter oiSt. 1635. 
 Liuke^ Martha^ Martha^ &c.: acknowledged 
 and bewailed my WeaknefTe. The fight of 
 the young Face in the Cradle fent me to bed 
 gratefull and happy. 
 
 The laft day of my Mother s Sojourn : to- Auguft 3, 
 morrow fhe fetts forth into Rutlandjhire; and ''''^''■^* 
 there will remaine fome Weeks before fhe returns 
 to Wimbledon. Lord Noel hath engaged to 
 meet her at Huntingdon. May I be fenfible of 
 the greate Comfort and Happineffe in that I 
 have been favoured to have my deare Mother 
 fo long with me : many fweet feafons of quiet 
 Meditation, and affeftionate Intercourfe have 
 been vouchfafed: Words expreflive of her owne 
 humble and ftedfaft Faith, of Thankefgiving 
 and Praife, fell from her Lippes; and precious 
 Counfell and kind Incouragement to me : to- 
 night as I knelt before her, my Infant in my 
 Arms, jQie laid her Hand upon my Head, and 
 ftroking it fondly faid: Deare Child, may that 
 
 little 
 
i6 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1635. little one be a Crown of rejoycing to thee as 
 thou art to me; lead him early to God^ my 
 Daughter; to the GodvAio has given him unto 
 thee. Deare Mother! 
 
 Auguft 4 
 
 Tuefday. 
 
 Early in the fore-noon my honoured and 
 deare Mother took her Departure: Let me 
 think more of meeting againe than of the pre- 
 fent payne of Parting. Some lines oiBen Jonfon 
 I do remember are fwetely written to thiseffedle, 
 they were given me by a young Friend at part- 
 ing, who I beleeve was lefs indifferent towardes 
 me, than I to him: 
 
 That Loves a bitter fweet I neer conceive 
 Till thefower Minute comes of taking leave ^ 
 And then I tajie it: But as Men drinke up 
 In hajl the bottom of a medicind Cup^ 
 And takefomefirrup after ^ foe do I 
 To put all relifh from my Memorie 
 Of partings drowne it in the hope to meet 
 Shortly againe; and make our Abfence fweet . 
 
 Beloved 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 Beloved Mother^ the lofs of her prefence 
 maketh my home lonely : but I have Work to 
 doe, and ill fhould I fhow my Love for her, if it 
 remaine neglefted. 
 
 Rofe before fix: fought the Bleffing of the 
 Lord upon my daily Path; read the 51 chap. 
 Ifaiah^ and 2d. St. Luke. Baby well: John 
 Armjirong requefted to fee me concerning the 
 Harveft-fupper. My Lord ftill abfent putteth 
 me to much Trouble: the Harveft is nearly got 
 in, only the Home-field remaines to be carted: 
 Armjirong will take care enough as to the 
 Supper; but the People will be difappointed 
 unlefs I can prevail on William Willoughby to 
 take his Brother's Place; hee ftands high in fa- 
 vour with our Neighbours, and the fame with 
 our owne People; and if he could bring with 
 him his young Kinsfolk, wee fliould not faile of 
 Merriment. 
 
 Walked down to the Keeper's Lodge : Old 
 Bridget fuffers from the rhewmatickes; bid her 
 
 D fend 
 
 17 
 
 1635- 
 
 Aug. 17, 
 Monday. 
 
i635- 
 
 Aug. 27, 
 Thurfday. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 fend to xh^Hall for aPlaifter andfome Flannel : 
 did my endeavours to perfuade her that the fame 
 would bee of greater fervice than the Charm 
 given her by Dame Stitchley; though as fhe 
 would not confent to leave it off, doubtlefs it 
 will gaine all the credit, fhould Bridget's aches 
 and paynes feem to amend. As I returned faw 
 Horfemen coming up the Avenue^ made fuch 
 hafte as I could: Ty dings of my deare Z/<?r^; 
 but hee knows not when he can fett his face 
 Home-wards; defireth mee to write by thefe 
 Meffengers: they did ftay only to reft their 
 Horfes. He fpeaks much in his Letter of a 
 Painter named Vandyck^ who ftands in great 
 Favour at Court. The King^ the Princes^ and 
 the Princess Mary have fat to him: The Ladies 
 crowd to his Painting-room defirous to fee 
 themfelves perpetuated by his gracefuU Pen- 
 cil. 
 
 The Steward from Stixwood-midin.or hath 
 arrived: my Lord is much wanted to vifit his 
 
 Eftates 
 
Lady Willoughby, 19 
 
 Eftates in Lincolnjhire; and Mr. Legh has bufi- 1635. 
 nefs of various forts to fettle h^iov^Michaelmafs- 
 day: but by none is he fo greatly defired as by 
 his faithfuU and loving Wife. My Inexperience 
 makes the prefent Charge burthenfome, and I 
 ever fear doing wrong, or omitting that which 
 fhould bee attended to. 
 
 Baby grows finely, and fheweth already a 
 mafterfuU Spirit; he provides Work for my 
 Needle, now the time is come that he fhould 
 bee fhort-coated. 
 
 Arofe this Morning rejoycing in the hope Aug. 29 
 that before the day clofed my deareft Lord ''^'''^ ''^' 
 would be fafely returned: the Day feemed long, 
 but I had at laft the Comfort of feeing him 
 who is poffeffor of my Heart's trueft Aifedion 
 arrive in health. He thought little Billy much 
 improved: how happy were we in our quiet 
 Home : furely the lines have fallen to me in 
 pleafant Places. 
 
 The 
 
20 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1635- 
 
 Nov. 24, 
 Tuefday. 
 
 The heavy Raine of late hath made much 
 fickneffe to abound. Through mercy our Fa- 
 mily are preferved in Health; and Baby has cut 
 a Tooth, difcovered this morning by the fpoon 
 knocking againft it. 
 
 One Thomas Parr is dead at a wonderfull 
 greate age, being, it is said 150 yeares old. The 
 Earle of Arundell had him brought to White- 
 hall^ and the change did fhortly affeft his 
 Health : no marvel, poore old Man, he would 
 have beene better pleafed, methinks, to have 
 beene lett alone. 
 
 1636. The 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 21 
 
 1636. 
 
 He Hollanders have fent an Em- 
 
 baffy and a noble Prefent on the 
 
 occafiori of the ^ueene having a 
 
 third Daughter: there are rare 
 
 pieces of China and Paintings, one by Tytian. 
 
 There is talk of a By-pofte from Wickham^ 
 to join the North Pofte, which is expected to 
 run night and day betweene Edinburgh and 
 London^ to go thither and come back againe in 
 fix days : Men and Horfes will fcarce be found 
 to doe this. 
 
 1636. 
 
 January. 
 
 Young Mr. Gage is put into the Bajlille. 
 The Earle of Leycejler hath kindly written to 
 
 his 
 
 Feb. 23, 
 
 Tuefday. 
 
2 2 From the Diary of 
 
 1636. his Mother; he being Ambaffador at this time 
 fhe did apply to him for help in this troublous 
 Affaire. 
 
 June 6, Baby walked a few fteppes alone, and did 
 
 feem greatly pleafed thereat, as were his Parents . 
 Thefe Lines repeated by one at fupper-time, 
 who hath met with divers Mifchances in his 
 life: 
 
 The Fortunate have whole Yeares^ 
 
 And thofe they chofe : 
 But the Unfortunate have onely Dayes^ 
 And thofe they lofe. 
 
 Friday, 
 
 Sept. I, At Dinner near twenty People; fome remain 
 
 till next week; young Harry Vane^ the Lord 
 Brooke^ and others. My Hufband brought me 
 a Muff, and a Fan of Oftrichfeathers, and Sir 
 Philip Sydney s Arcadia; the latter moft fuited 
 to my tafte; it is faid the King dothe hold this 
 Worke in high efteeme. 
 
 In 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 In looking back upon the laft few dayes, I 
 have to confefs in deep HumiHation of Spirit, 
 that I have beene led away by a foolish vanitie, 
 to take too much Pleafure in the Admiration 
 of others, unworthy the Dignity of a Wife or a 
 Mother: truly it is fayd the Heart is deceit full 
 above all things^ and defperately wicked. For 
 fuch fhare of Comelineffe as the Creator sYL^Xid 
 hath beftowed upon me, I would not that I 
 fhould find therein food for Pride, or Selfe-fatif- 
 fadion, beyond that it had found Favour in 
 my Lord's Eyes, he who hath taken me to his 
 Heart's true and pure AfFedion. I am his in all 
 true Loyalty of Affection, and he doubteth not 
 my Heart's Purity; but me thought a fhade of 
 Regret paff 'd over his noble Countenance, as 
 he beheld the Wife whom hee delighted to love 
 and to honour, fo carried away by trifling and 
 vanitie. And lett me not, in this Self-examina- 
 tion and fearching of my inmoft Heart, feek to 
 hide from myfelfe that when he bade me good 
 night at the Doore of my Clofet, inflead of lin- 
 gering 
 
 23 
 
 1636. 
 
 Sept. 6, 
 Tuefday. 
 
24 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1636. goring at my fide, as is his wont, a feeling of 
 Refentment arofe, and as I enter'd and clofed 
 the Doore, thoughts of Self-juftification pre- 
 fented themfelves: but Confcience prevailed, 
 and placed my Condud in its true light: Selfe- 
 reproach is hard to beare; not long fince, and I 
 did think no Trial as regards others foe great as 
 to meet with Injuftice, but to be the caufe of 
 grieving another's AfFedion, and to feel lower'd 
 intheEfteemeof onewho hath bene ever readye 
 to think more highly of me than I deferve; this 
 is grievous to mee, and maketh me feeme hate- 
 ful inmy owne eyes. I humbled myfelfe before 
 the iL^r<^, and pray'd that I might become more 
 watchfuU, and ftrive daily to follow the Ex- 
 ample of Him who was meeke and lowly of 
 Hearte. 
 
 Beloved Hujband^ thy generous Love will 
 forgive thy poore humbled Wife, who does in 
 truth love thee, and reverence thy goodnefie. 
 
 Sept. 8, 
 Thurjday. 
 
 Let me not permit the Circumftances of the 
 
 laft 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 laft few days to pafs from my Remembrance 
 untill the Fault committed, and the Sorrow 
 arifing therefrom, have duly impreff 'd my Mind : 
 I ft. In the clearer infight into this weake point 
 of my Charafter, may I henceforth take more 
 heed to my Ways : and 2ndly, with the Percep- 
 tion of how flight are the beginnings of Evill, 
 as my deare Mother faith, if the Defire of Praife 
 take poffeffion of the Hearte, it becometh in- 
 fatiable, and doth eat away the root of all noble 
 and generous Feeling; and even in lefle degree 
 gives a feverifh reftleflheffe, that leaves not the 
 Mind and affedions free to fpring up in ftrength 
 and beauty, feeking onely the Happineffe of 
 others. My deare Hufband's Gentleneffe hath 
 greatly endeared him to mee: may it bemycon- 
 ftant Endeavour,by all dutifull A£Fe6tion, to ren- 
 der myfelfe more worthy his Efteeme and Love. 
 
 After having paff'd a week in Lincolnjhire 
 wee are return'd Home. When at Lincoln my 
 Lord tooke me to the Cathedral^ and fhow'd 
 
 E mee 
 
 25 
 
 1636. 
 
 Sept. 17, 
 Saturday, 
 
26 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1636. mee the Tomb of his late Father, who died in 
 that Citie in the yeare 161 7. After him our 
 little Sonne is named William: Nurfe {2cj%Baby 
 has not beene well for fome days paft^fhe thinks 
 he is about his teeth. 
 
 Sept. 21, 
 Wednejday. 
 
 Baby ill, reftlefs and feverifh, fent off a Mef- 
 fenger to Ipfwich for the Phiiitian there. 
 
 My poore Child worfe; he takes fcarce any 
 nourifhment, and fuffers greate paine; he looks 
 up fo piteoufly as if for help from thofe around 
 him. The Chaplaine mention'd him by name 
 at Prayers: this ftartled me: feeing others be- 
 leave him fo ill, my feares encreafe. 
 
 No better to-day: I dare not think : Strength 
 and Spirit needed to the utmoft; for he likes 
 no one fo well to nurfe him, and hath ever a 
 fweet Smile when I come againe after a fhort 
 abfence. OhG(?(^,fpare him to me: give mee not 
 this bitter cup. 
 
 Weeks 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 27 
 
 Weeks have pafT'd and I am childlefs: yett 
 doe I feeme as one not awaken'd from a fright- 
 full dream. My Child, my Child. 
 
 The Fever hath left me weak: I dare not 
 looke back, and there is nothing now left me 
 to looke forward to. O Mother^ my Heart is 
 well nigh broken; how is it that I live? fhall I 
 ever be able to fay, It is the Lord^ lett him doe 
 what feeme th unto him good. I thought to 
 write downe fome particulars of the Patience 
 and Sweetneffe, the Smile of Recognition when 
 the parch'd Lipps could not fpeake, but I can- 
 not: he is out of payne, and I thank G(?(^for that. 
 
 Sat this morning for long with the Bible be- 
 fore me, thoughts too diftracfted to read; at laft 
 turn'd to the Hiftory of the Shunamite wormxiy 
 Alas ! no Prophet was here to give me back my 
 Sonne^ and, alas ! neither could I fay unto the 
 Lord^ It is well^ when he tooke from me his 
 
 precious 
 
 1636. 
 
 Oct. 23, 
 
 Sunday. 
 
 Oct. 25, 
 
 Tuejday, 
 
28 
 
 1636. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 precious Gift. Beare with me, O mercifull 
 Father: thou knoweft the anguifh of my Heart, 
 and thou alone canft enable me to fay Thy will^ 
 not mine^ be done. 
 
 My deare Mother writes to comfort me, but 
 a forrow is now mine, in which even fhe cannot 
 give Comfort: She urgeth me to take care of 
 my health for the fake of others : but what is 
 Life to me now? Yet will I try to beare in 
 minde her Injunctions, though with a heavy 
 Heart, and with more than indifference to the 
 Profpeft before me. I turn away from the 
 thought of looking upon another Infant's face; 
 all love for a Child is in the Grave : yet not in 
 the Grave; it liveth in Heaven, my precious 
 Child^ with thy bleffed Spirit: let me not fpeak 
 in bitterneffe of a triall fent me by the Almighty 
 Hand. 
 
 Oct. 26, 
 
 Wedne/day, 
 
 Oft times I feeme to have no power of giving 
 my Mind to Prayer or Meditation, but walke 
 about the houfe, or fitt downe with a booke or 
 
 Needlework 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 29 
 
 Needlework before me allmoft without con- 
 fcioufneffe and well-nigh without life. What 
 doe all paft Trialls & Vexations appeare, now 
 a burthen of Sorrow is layd upon me, I am 
 unable to beare ? I had known Grief and Difap- 
 pointment, and already in my ftiort experience 
 of life had the knowledge beene learnt that this 
 State of Exiftence is onely a Preparation for 
 Happineffe hereafter, not HappineiTe itfelfe: 
 But a precious Gift came from Heaven, my 
 beautifull Child fmil'd on me; I held it to my 
 Heart, and did think it was my owne : What 
 greate evill have I done in thy fight, O God^ 
 that thou haft thus ftricken me? 
 
 1636. 
 
 At prayers my Lord was fenfibly afFeded by 
 hearing the words Suffer little Children to come 
 unto me^ and forbid them not: for of such is the 
 Kingdome of Heaven: the beholding him thus 
 over-come by ftrong emotion led me toconfider 
 my owne Conduct, and I do feare me, I have 
 beene very felfifh in the Indulgence of my own 
 
 Sorrow, 
 
 Oct. 27, 
 Thurfday. 
 
30 
 
 1636. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 Oct. 29, 
 
 Saturday. 
 
 Sorrow, too regardlefs of him who equally with 
 me hath loft the deare Sonne of his Love, and 
 who doth ever ftrive to ftrengthen and fupport 
 me, and would fain lead me to take an Intereft 
 in our family Concerns, and in the Wellfare of 
 our Neighbours, albeit Grief lieth heavy on his 
 Heart. I felt another Reproof in his Looke 
 of tenderneffe and commiferation, as at our 
 mid-day meal I fent away the plate the food 
 untafted : I roufed myfelfe to exertion, and was 
 repay'd the effort when his Eye refted on me 
 approvingly. The Servants left the room, he 
 took my Arm within his, and we walked to 
 & fro in fweet and folemn Silence : my Heart, 
 which had been ftrangely fhut up, melted 
 within me, when he uttered a few gentle 
 Words; and I felt there was yet fomething left 
 to live for: Surely to him was due the poore 
 remaining Powers of my Mind and Affedions. 
 
 Arofe this morning with mind more compofed 
 than for fome time paft. Cicely s Mother ill, and 
 
 I went 
 
Lady Willoughby. 31 
 
 I went down to fee her : She is a bright Example 1636. 
 of Patience, her Trialls and Sufferings have 
 beene manifold, bodily pain the leaft, has loft 
 three Children in infancy and one daughter 
 grown up : and yet, can it be, has known ftill 
 deeper forrow. 
 
 Return'd through the Park: never faw the 
 Cheftnuts and Beeches more beautiful in their 
 autumn tints, the fallen Leaves crufhed plea- 
 fantly beneath my Feet, the Sun was fetting 
 before I was aware, and the Aire grew fuddenly 
 chill. Taking the neareft way, I entered the 
 houfe by a fide door, and there beneath the old 
 Mulberry faw the little Cart and Whip as they 
 had beene left by my poore Child the laft day 
 he was out, when he looked fo tired, and I 
 carried him in. I ftooped and took up the Whip, 
 and hiding it beneath my cloke, went ftraight 
 up ftairs: no Hand had touched it fince his; 
 the teares I wept over it did me good : it feemed 
 my innocent right to weep over this Token of 
 my lojl one. 
 
 Health 
 
3 2 From the Diary of 
 
 Monday. 
 
 1636. 
 
 Nov. 14, Health and ftrength mend: make a point of 
 
 walking in the Long Gallery whenfoever the 
 weather admits not of my going out: while fo 
 employed repeat Pfalms and other Portions of 
 Holy TFrit^ therein finding profitable Subjedls of 
 Meditation and peaceful Thoughts : Often has 
 been brought to my Mind the Text I was brought 
 low^ and he helped me: now is my deare Mother s 
 Care repaid, in the Help I find it to have by me 
 fuch recolledlion of the Leflbns fhe taught. 
 
 Nov. 15, My early Habits in the morning have been 
 
 fadly interrupted: frequent reftleffe nights, often 
 fleepleffe for hours together, and awakening 
 languid and ill at eafe ; often in the long nights 
 my Fancy is difquieted in looking forward to 
 again becoming a Mother, and that ere long, 
 leaft haply the Infant nourifhed beneath a 
 heart fo faddened by Grief, fhould, if permitted 
 to enter on exiftence, be deprived of that Joy- 
 fullneffe of nature which is the Birth-right of 
 
 the 
 
Lady Willoughby . 3 3 
 
 the young Spirit; but whatever may be in the 1636. 
 Ordering of my Heavenly Father^ let me fub- 
 mit: too often have I rebelled againft his juft 
 Appointments. In the v^ords of the Pfalmiji 
 let me pray, Enter not into judgement with thy 
 Servant^ Lord^ my Spirit is overwhelmed 
 within me^ my Heart within me is defolate: hide 
 not thy Face from me: in thee do I truji. 
 
 1637. Once 
 
34 
 
 ^637- 
 
 January 12, 
 Thurfday, 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1637. 
 
 Nee more with a grateful! Heart, 
 doe I record the Mercy of our 
 Heavenly Father^ in that he hath 
 permitted his unworthy Servant 
 to Hve to behold the face of another Little One, 
 Yet now muft I rejoyce with trembling over a 
 Being fo fraile : the fulneffe and brightneffe of 
 joy of a young Mother can never againe be my 
 Experience, fince that joy has bene the Source 
 of a Suffering and Agony never to be forgotten. 
 Death follow'd into the Habitation wherein 
 Life had juft tooke up its abode. Not in fhort 
 fpace of time can the Heart recover fuch Dif- 
 penfations, and in the Excellency of no after 
 
 joys 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 joys can it ever forget the ftroke that firft def- 
 troyed its fweeteft Hopes: Death once feene at 
 our hearth leaveth a Shaddow which abideth 
 there for ever. During the long period of Sick- 
 neffe that has beene my portion, I have en- 
 deavour'd through the Divine Gr^s^^:^, profitably 
 to employ the folitary Houres, and doe now fee 
 much Mercy in the return to Health being 
 graduall. The needfull Quiett led me to feek 
 a fpirituall Communion, whereby I humbly 
 hope I am the better fitted for the Performance 
 of the feveral Duties of Life, trufting not in my 
 owne Strength, that truly would be a broken 
 reed. Lord! thy rod and thy Jiaff they comfort 
 me: yea, even the rod, though it hath fmitten 
 me to the earth. 
 
 The Chrijlening is to be next weeke: the 
 name, after fome difficulty in deciding thereon, 
 fixed to be Diana. But few of our Relations are 
 afked this time to be prefent; to both of us the 
 ceremony will give rife to melanchoUy thought. 
 
 Overheard 
 
 35 
 
 1637- 
 
 January 13^ 
 Friday. 
 
36 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1637. Overheard Nurfe telling one of the Women 
 that at the former Chrijlening the Infant cried 
 not : there is a Country Saying, that a Child 
 which crieth not when fprinkled in Baptifm 
 will not live. 
 
 May Day. Wc Walked down to the Village at an early 
 
 houre, juft in time to fee the Proceffion of the 
 May-pole, which was adorned with Ribbons 
 and Garlands: Lads and Laffes were at their 
 merry Games, the Queene, in her holie-day 
 Finery and Crowne of floures, looking happier 
 than the Wearer of a real Crown, I ween: 
 groups of Old People looking on: for a while 
 there was a lack of Young Men and Maidens : 
 but a number fhortly appeared as Robin Hood^ 
 Maid Marien^ &^c. Methought fome of the 
 Elder Folks look'd grave, and at one fide of 
 the Green a ftern looking Man, dress'd in aloofe 
 Coat, and a high crown'd hat, with the hair cut 
 clofe, had coUefted a good many round him, 
 and was holding forth in a loud harfh tone. 
 
 My 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 My Hujbandl^it me, and went towards them: 
 after liftening a few minutes to the Difcourfe, 
 he made as though he would fpeak; but mett 
 with difcourteous reception, and return'd with 
 a fmile on his face, faying. The Speaker look'd 
 on his long curl'd Locks, and lace Ruffs with 
 too great Abhorrence to think him worthy his 
 Notice, and onely went on with the more Bit- 
 terneffe to fet forth the diabolical Wickedneffe 
 of the Dance and the Vanity of all fuch Amufe- 
 ments. I fate mee down by old Bridget^ who 
 had hobbled down in fpite of her reumaticke 
 paynes: poore Smythe too had crept out, wan 
 and feeble from ague. After a while, the fport 
 feeming to flag, my Lord offer'd to head a 
 party at Prifon-bars^ and was cordially greeted, 
 and William Willoughby coming up with a* 
 Sonne of Sir Robert Crane and one or two 
 more young Men, the game was fett on with 
 great fpiritt. Ale and Viduals came down from 
 the Hall and other Quarters, and I left the 
 Greene. There was no Want of Merriment the 
 
 reft 
 
 1^37^ 
 
38 
 
 i637- 
 
 June I, 
 Thurfday. 
 
 June 2ji 
 Tuefday. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 reft of the day : and the Preacher and his Party 
 remained not long to interfere with the ufuall 
 Proceedings. 
 
 The deare Child thrives apace : againe and 
 againe I looke at her in the Cradle & fay, Lord^ 
 fpare this one unto me, I have thought myfelfe 
 resigned to my Lofs; howbeit, a Weight is 
 on my Spiritt that no Effort or Time has yet 
 fhaken off: will it be ever thus ? Young as I am, 
 is Hope fo blighted that it will never more 
 unfold its faire Bloffom? Let me not indulge 
 thefe Meditations: but be willing to take up my 
 Crofse dayly, and follow after Chrijl, He hath 
 promifed to make the Burthen light to fuch as 
 
 come 
 
 toh 
 
 im. 
 
 Hope that I have latterly made fome Pro- 
 greffe in the fubduing Selfe, fo far as attaining 
 unto a greater Defire to give up my own will to 
 that of others, and conform to their pleafure; 
 more efpecially his who hath rightfull Claim 
 
 to 
 
Lady Willoughby. 39 
 
 to my dutifull Obedience and Companionfliip 1637. 
 in thofe matters that intereft him: herein onely 
 can true Satisfaftion be found in wedded Life : 
 may I every day more and more feeke to find 
 Satisfaction andPleafure in thofe Things where- 
 in he is concerned. At noon to-day we walk'd 
 down to the Sheep-Shearing: the poor Sheep 
 ftruggle at the firft againft their fate, but how 
 quietly do they fubmit in the end: the Lambs 
 did keep up a continued Bleating; it is a mar- 
 veil how they find out their owne Mothers, 
 who come back to them fo changed. One large 
 Ram butted with fuch force againft one of the 
 younger Lads that he pufh'd him into the 
 Water: much laughter thereat, and many a 
 pailing Joke we heard on his overthrow. On 
 our way home two curley-headed Children 
 prefented us with Pofies of Gilliflowers and 
 Cowflip tufts, of which they had their aprons 
 full: bade them go up to the Hall with them: 
 we gave them a Silver Groat, which they look'd 
 at with fome perplexity, but curtfied & thank'd 
 
 us 
 
40 
 
 i637' 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 us with truftfull Countenances: the yoimgeft 
 one, ftrong made and adive, look'd not much 
 older than our fweet Child might have now 
 bene, had he lived. 
 
 July 19, 
 Wednefday. 
 
 July 24, 
 Monday, 
 
 Late in the day Mr. Gage rode up : he tells 
 us Mr. John Hampden hath refufed the late 
 Demand for Ship-money : Difcontent en- 
 creating everywhere. The proceedings of the 
 Starr e Chamber againft Prynne and others have 
 roufed the whole country, even many who be- 
 fore tooke not part with the Malcontents doe 
 now exprefTe their Abhorrence of this Tyranny. 
 My Hujhand will go to London ftraightway . 
 
 With a heavy heart faw my deare Lord de- 
 part this forenoon: Armjlrong accompanying 
 him as farr as Ipfwich: Struggled againft def- 
 ponding Thoughts, and pafT'd fome time in the 
 Nurfery^Xo give myfelfe Occupation of Mind as 
 well as Hands. After a Walk on the Terrace^ 
 went to Alices Room: £he hath long beene 
 
 ailing : 
 
Lady Willoughby. 41 
 
 ailing: fate fome while with her, to cheer her, 1637. 
 as I knew fhe would take to hearte this voyage 
 to London^ which Place, in her eyes, doth 
 abound with all manner of Wickednefle and 
 Danger. 
 
 To-night John Armjlrong returned, bearing July 25, 
 me a kind Farewell from his Mafter. He fayth '''^'^''^' 
 Hampden s Refufal is greatly talked about: 
 likewife it is rumour'd the Lord Say hath re- 
 fufed the Demand for Ship-money with equal 
 pertinatioufneffe. Armjlrong ftopp'd as he 
 paff 'd through Wickham at the Blackfmith's, 
 the Head-quarters of News and Country Gof- 
 fip : he there met with a Pack-man, who fays 
 there be terrible Tumults in the North: at 
 Edenburgh the Bijhop well nigh killed. Stones 
 and other Mifliles thrown at him in the Pulpit, 
 fo foon as he commenced reading the Prayer 
 Bookey as ordered in Council: on leaving the 
 Church he was caft down and nearly trod to 
 death. Some fay the King is like to go to Eden- 
 
 G burgh 
 
42 
 
 1637. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 burgh to fettle thefe matters in perfon with the 
 Prejbytery. 
 
 Aug. 3, 
 Thurjday, 
 
 Tidings of my Lord: he keeps well in 
 health : he faith Judgement vn Hampden s caufe 
 is deferred till next Term: two of the Judges 
 are on his fide. 
 
 Baby well : have fome Thoughts of weaning 
 her, my own ftrength failing: but put it oft' 
 day after day, it is hard to difmiffe her from the 
 food and warmth which have been hers by right 
 fo long, and break this firft Bond of Compa- 
 nionfhip and mutual Dependence. 
 
 1639. Since 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 43 
 
 1639. 
 
 Ince Judgement hath beene given 
 against Hampden^ my deare 
 Hujband hath had divers Con- 
 ferences with the Lords Say and 
 Brooke^ refpefting their leaving the Coun- 
 try. One Mr. Oliver Cromwell they speak of, 
 as much ftirr'd by the unhappy ftate of Af- 
 faires, and they have found him to be a man 
 of fhrewd Judgement, and poflefling greate 
 Energy and Determination. 
 
 The King at Torke: and has required the 
 NobiUty and Officers to take an Oath that they 
 do abhorr all Rebellions, and efpecially fuch 
 as do arife out of Religion. The Lords Say 
 
 and 
 
 1639. 
 
 Date wanting. 
 
44 From the Diary of 
 
 1639. and Brooke refufing to take the fame, have 
 been difmiff'd to their homes. The King pro- 
 ceedeth to Berwick^ there to meet the Scotch 
 Deputies. 
 
 Much Difcontent that the King calleth no 
 Parliament. 
 
 1640. My 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 1640. 
 
 Y firft thoughts are due to thee, 
 O Heavenly Father^ who haft 
 mercifully permitted the paft 
 Yeare to clofe and the prefent to 
 open upon us, a thankfuU and happy Family: 
 Gracioufly accept my imperfedl Thankfgiving, 
 and the Adoration of a Heart which I with 
 unfeigned humility anew dedicate to thee. 
 By the Aide of thy Holy Spirit lead me every 
 day I live to love thee more worthily and ferve 
 thee more acceptably. May I truly repent of 
 my manifold Tranfgreffions, my pride, my re- 
 bellious Spirit which hath too often ftruggled 
 againft the juft Appointments of thy Provi- 
 dence : 
 
 45 
 
 1640. 
 
 January i, 
 Wednefday. 
 
46 From the Diary of 
 
 1640. dence : do thou, O God^ renew a right Spiritt 
 within me. Lord, thou haft made mee to be a 
 Mother, O yet fpare the fweet Children thou 
 haft given unto me : and may I never lofe fight 
 of the Duty which is entrufted to me; but fo 
 train them that they may be all gathered into 
 thy Fold, at the greate Day of Account. May 
 thy Blefling reft upon them, upon my Hujhand^ 
 and on all deare unto us. And to thy fatherly 
 Care, thy Wifdom, and thy Love may we truft 
 all that concerns us, in unfliaken Faith, and in 
 the blefled Hope of eternal Life, through J ejus 
 Chriji our Lord and Saviour. 
 
 Went to th^Nurferie: little Fannjy yetafleep. 
 Took Di by the hand, and went down to 
 Prayers : fhe was very quiet and well-behaved, 
 and as fhe knelt down betweene her Father and 
 me, my Mind was brought into a ftate of much 
 Sweetneffe and Repofe as the gracious Invi- 
 tation of the blefled Saviour to bring our little 
 Children unto him, was brought to my re- 
 membrance. 
 
 Methought 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 47 
 
 Methought the Chaplain s Difcourfe fa- 
 vour'd fomewhat of pharifaical gloom and auf- 
 terity, and we were therefore in no little per- 
 plexity when Armjirong came into the Hall 
 after breakfaft, to fay the Domeftics petition'd 
 for a Dance and Chrijlmajfe Games to-night 
 according to old Ufage. We gave our confent. 
 The Chaplain expreffed his DifTatisfaftion, 
 neverthelefs the Evening paft merrily: a goodly 
 AiTembly were gather 'd together of our Neigh- 
 bours, and to fhow our Good-will we look'd 
 on for a while, and my Lord led oiF the firfte 
 Dance with the Bailiff's Daughter: the young 
 Men of our Party followed his Example, and 
 chofe out the prettieft looking Damfels, my 
 favourite Cicely being one of them; and they 
 went down a long Country Dance, well 
 pleafed therewith. Old blind John and his Son 
 play'd the viol and pipe : Games followed, bob- 
 apple and the like : and Alice had taken good 
 care for the Supper. Sounds of Laughing and 
 Singing reach'd us long after we left them. 
 
 Newes 
 
 1640. 
 
48 From the Diary of 
 
 1640. 
 
 May 7, Newes hath reached us that the King has 
 
 «^/«->'- diffolved the Parliament though fo lately 
 mett, he being offended by the Commons paff- 
 ing a Refolution that the Difcuflion and Re- 
 dreffe of Grievances fhould precede the Vote 
 of Supply. They complained that the inter- 
 ference of the Lords was a Violation of their 
 Priviledges. An eloquent Speech by Waller: 
 fuch a Houfe fuited not the King. 
 
 May 9, My Hujhand writes me word that Mr. BeU 
 
 ''^'''^ ^'^* lajis and Sir yohn Hotham are fent to the 
 Tower^ onely Offence alleged, their Speeches. 
 The Houfe of the Lord Brooke searched for Pa- 
 pers, his Study and Cabinets broken open. A 
 Convocation of Clergy hath bene held, the Ca- 
 nons iffued by them, fuch as to throw the whole 
 Nation into a ferment. Writs of Ship-money in 
 greater number than ever, and Bullion feized, 
 the property of Merchants, and kept by them 
 in the Tower for Safety. 
 
 No 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 49 
 
 No News for fome days. The Chapter of 
 the Morning greatly impreff 'd my Mind with 
 the Goodneffe of God towards his feeble and 
 ignorant Children: the Holy Scriptures do 
 abound with Words of Confolation and En- 
 couragement to the poore and lowly, the 
 hewers of wood and drawers of water : the meek 
 will he guide in judgement. Learning and great 
 Ability, bleffed be God^ are not needed to the 
 right Underftanding of the Good Ty dings of 
 the GofpeL 
 
 The poore blind Widow pondering in her 
 Heart the Words of Jefus^ her Memory ftored 
 with the Readings of her younger days, her 
 Spirit rich in Love and Faith, findeth the true 
 Bread of Life, and is perhaps more capable of 
 receiving the Enlightening of the Holy Spirit 
 in the Study of Divine Truth, than the Learned 
 who truft in their own reafon and fcholaftick 
 attainements. Alfo in looking for what is God's 
 Will concerning them, I oft think the poore 
 
 H fimple 
 
 1640. 
 
 May 25, 
 Monday. 
 
50 
 
 1640. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 fimpl^ minded People have a wife Judgement 
 given to them in the Bufineffe of Life. A Vifit 
 to old Betty s Cottage feldom faileth to give 
 me fuch Senfe of her truely virtuous and pious 
 Life, as to make me look upon this paterne of 
 Goodneffe with fincere defire to follow the 
 fame. She hath loft Hufband and Children, 
 fave one Son onely who left her years agoe: 
 fhe knoweth not if he be yet living: and fhe 
 hath been totally blind more than fifteen yeares. 
 Truely hath Patience here her perfed work. 
 
 May 27, 
 Wednefday, 
 
 The Mayor and Sheriff eoiLondon have beene 
 brought before the Starr e Chamber for Slack- 
 neffe in Levying the Ship-mony. 
 
 June 17, 
 Wednefday. 
 
 Both Children ill the paft week: through 
 Mercy recovering. Little Fanny but juft faved : 
 my onely Experience in a child's illneffe having 
 beene fo unhappy, I found it hard to keep my 
 feares in fubjedion; yet was it very needfuU. 
 What fhall I render unto the Lord for all his 
 benefits? Have 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 51 
 
 Have much comfort in the ferious and feeling 
 way in which little Di fays her Prayers : fhe is 
 too young to underftand much, but the Habit is 
 important, and wee know not at how earlye an 
 age the Holy Spirit communeth with the tender 
 Heart of the young. And a Child's Mind ftops 
 not at Difficulties as ours does : when told that 
 G(?^heareth Prayer from his Throne in Heaven, 
 the belief is entire, and fhe queftioneth not. I 
 verily believe the Dodrine, that we fhould walk 
 by Faith and not by Sight, is eafier to a young 
 Child than to us, whofe AfFeftions have become 
 engrafted on earthly Objects, and the firfl: Sim- 
 plicity of Faith obfcured. And furely we fhould 
 confiider it a facred Truft given to us, to dired 
 this inborn Truft and ready Belief of the little 
 Child to Him who implanted it. 
 
 1640. 
 
 Nurfery profpers: Di vaftly ftronger, and 
 hungry as Nurfe can delire. Fanny s Cheeks 
 too are fomewhat more plump and rofy. 
 
 June 27, 
 Saturday. 
 
 The 
 
52 
 
 1640. 
 
 Sept. I, 
 Tuefday, 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 The Birth of this my third Baby now living, 
 occasion of renewed Thankfgiving and Praife : 
 though I doubt if duly thankful, yet my deare 
 Hujhand had hoped another Sonne would have 
 beene given him; and this proving otherwife, 
 hath brought fome Difappointment. He would 
 have counted it a greate Happineffe to have 
 feene an Heir to his Title and Eftates: but 
 he fayeth not much on the fubjeft, and me- 
 thought kiffed his new-borne Daughter with a 
 gladfome Smile upon his Countenance. I had 
 the wifli fhe fhould be named Theodojia^ after 
 my deare and honour'd Mother: but my Lord 
 did fo greatly defire that fhe fhould be called 
 Elizabeth^ after mee,! confented thereto, wifh- 
 ing to confult his Pleafure in this, as in all things 
 elfe in which it can be confulted by any giving 
 up on my parte : though I the more regret that it 
 muft be fo, feeing that my Uncle Noel has not 
 given the Name of Theodojia to either of his 
 Daughters. 
 
 Find 
 
Zy^^ Willoughby. 53 
 
 Saturday. 
 
 Find my felfe unable to attend much to houfe- 1 640. 
 hold Affaires, and leave them to Alice s faith- Sept. 26, 
 full overfight. 
 
 Lord Say writes that a Petition has beene 
 prefented to the King by twelve Peers^ praying 
 him to call a Parliament; fo likewife have the 
 Citizens of London. 
 
 Meffenger arrived from the Mayor oilpfwich: oct. 20, 
 Writts are iffued for the 3rd oi November. It is '''•^'^''^' 
 hoped Mr. Oliver Cromwell w))\ be return'd for 
 Cambridge. My deare Hujhand hath again de- 
 parted : he doth hope to return for a few Days 
 at Chrijlmajfe. 
 
 The King hath opened Parliament in per- Nov. 9, 
 fon: they fay he look'd pale and dejedled. The ''''^''^' 
 Commons did make Choice in hafte oi Lent hall 
 a Barrifter for Speaker ^mi\.^?idi of one Gardiner ^ 
 he being the Kings Choice. They have paff'd 
 a Refolution that Prynne^Burton^ and Dr. Bajl- 
 wick fhould be fent for forthwith by Warrant 
 
 of 
 
54 
 
 1640. 
 
 Dec. 2, 
 
 Wednefday. 
 
 Dec. 15, 
 
 Tuefday, 
 
 Dec. 24, 
 
 Thurfday. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 of the Houfe. The Table is loaded with Pe- 
 titions, prefented by hundreds crying out No 
 BiJ}jops: No Star re Chamber. 
 
 On the 28 th the three Puritans^ as they are 
 called, liberated from their diftant Dungeons, 
 came up to London^ and were mett by 5000 
 Perfons. 
 
 Heard to-day that the Earle oi Strafford W2i^ 
 committed to the Tower. It is fayd he urgently 
 declined appearing in the Houfe^ but the King 
 infifted, making him folemn AfTurances of 
 Safety: but he no fooner enter'd the Houfe 
 than he was put under Arreft. 
 
 The determined Meafures of the Commons 
 fill all People with Amazement. The Arch- 
 biJbopoWanter bury IS accufed of HighTreafon, 
 and committed to the Tower: and a Refolution 
 has been paff'd, that for Bijhops or other Cler- 
 gymen to be in the Commiffion of the Peace, or 
 
 to 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 to have any Judicial Powers in the Starve 
 Chamber^ or in any Civil Courts, is a hindrance 
 to their Spiritual Fundions, &c. This feemeth 
 true enough: greate need have all Parties to 
 pray to be preferved from Exceffe, or being 
 carried away by the heate of Party Spirit and 
 perfonal Refentment. The Cruelty and Severity 
 exercifed by Archbifhop Laud in Scotland^ and 
 the Earl's Tyranny and WickednefTe in Ireland 
 have raifed them enemies, who wilh nothing 
 fo much as their Death. 
 
 1 64 1. After 
 
 55 
 
 1640. 
 
56 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1641, 
 
 1641. 
 
 Fter Prayers this morning my 
 Lord beckoned to the Servants 
 to remaine: He commended 
 them for the faithfull perform- 
 ance of their Duties, and exprefled his Confi- 
 dence in their fteady Attachment and Services, 
 efpecially in his abfence, which was Uke to be 
 protraded: They bowed and curtfied; and 
 Armjlrong^ as Spokefman for the reft, fayd. 
 You may depend upon us all, my Lord: our 
 Hearts and our Hands are my Lady's, G(?<^blefs 
 her. 
 
 I knew not till to-day that my HuJbancTs 
 Return would be more uncertaine than hath 
 
 often 
 
Lady Willoughby. 57 
 
 often beene the cafe: it dependeth much upon 1641 
 the Termination of Lord Strafford's Tryal: 
 moft are of the minde he will be found guilty; 
 & that nothing can then fave him, unleffe the 
 King prove that he can be true to his promife, 
 when the Life of one whom he hath ever pro- 
 feff'd to hold in great Efteeme and Affedion, 
 is at ftake : but no man trufts the King, The 
 better ground of hope for Strafford^ is the lenient 
 Temper of the good Earl of Bedford^ and his 
 Influence with the Houfe. 
 
 In the forenoon accompanied my Hujhand 
 at the Settlement of Accounts with Armjlrong: 
 and aflifted in Copying the different Items into 
 the Booke wherein my Lord hath entered for 
 fome yeares paft the Items of Perfonal and 
 Family Charges; keeping another for the Ac- 
 counts of Income, Rents, &c. chiefly from his 
 Lincolnjhire Property : this Manor bringing in 
 but little. 
 
 This was new Worke to mee; but I did my 
 befl:, it feeming deflrable I fliould, fo farre as 
 
 I my 
 
58 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1641. 
 
 January i 
 
 Monday i 
 
 my poore Ability ferveth, render myfelfe com- 
 petent to fettle Accompts with ArmJirongOY^rj 
 weeke, as is the Pradice of my Lordwhtn he is 
 at Home : and likewife he wifheth mee to be 
 acquainted with our Refources. He had won- 
 derfull Patience with my Ignorance, and did 
 kindly commend my un{killfull Performance, 
 not fuffering me to be difcouraged, though I 
 proved more Hindrance than Help. I had had 
 fo many Feares both of doing wrong and in- 
 curring his Difpleafure, that in my Satisfaction 
 I kiffed the deare Hand that did with fo much 
 eafe correal my Errors, gratefuU to the kind 
 Heart by which it was guided. 
 
 Sir John Hotham arrived from Hull on his 
 way to London: and purpofing to proceed to- 
 morrow, my deare hord will accompany him. 
 Sir John feemeth well difpofed. Thought my 
 Hujband g^YC much Heed to his Converfation, 
 as he remarked that with twelve Men, Arms, 
 and Provifion, he could hold out this Houfe 
 
 againft 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 59 
 
 againft a confiderable Force, and went into the 
 Detail of the Arrangements he would make, if 
 it fo chanced it was attacked by an Enemy. 
 
 Thefe are fearefull times, let mee be encreaf- 
 ingly vigilant; and whatfoever happeneth, be 
 faithfull to the Duties of my prefent Station, 
 Wife and Mother; and a large Houfehold, the 
 Charge whereof is much left to mee: fufficient 
 Care for one of but little Experience, and with 
 Health not fo good as might be wifhed. 
 
 1641 
 
 Read in Ifatah chapter 26, thefe Words of 
 Comfort : Thou keepeji him in perfeB Peace whofe 
 Mind is Jlayed upon Thee^ becaufe he trujleth in 
 Thee: May I attaine unto this truft, need have I 
 of better Strength than my own at this Time 
 when my deareft Life may be in circumftances 
 of Danger; at a Time like this, who is fafe? the 
 King ever playing falfe with the Commons^ and 
 difregarding their Privileges, & the Houfe now 
 fitting in Judgement on his favoured Servant: 
 yet whatfoever Danger may threaten, I would 
 
 not 
 
 January 12^ 
 
 Tiiefday. 
 
6o 
 
 1641. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 March i, 
 Monday. 
 
 not that my Hujhand fhould defert his Pofte; 
 rather let mee rejoyce that he ftandeth up in his 
 place to defend the People's Rights. My two 
 Coufins from Rutlandjhire will beare me com- 
 pany during fome Portion of his Abfence. What 
 Mercy that our little Ones are well, and that I 
 am not left in a childlejGTe Home. 
 
 Turning back the leaves of this Diary ^ I fee 
 many Interruptions, in fome Places for Months 
 together, no Notice or Note of any fort. The 
 Period of my deare Mother s laft Sickneffe is un- 
 recorded : but fo deeply engraven on my Me- 
 mory are the Events of that mournful! Time, 
 that I believe I may without danger of Error 
 therein, commit to Paper fome few Particulars. 
 It may be a Satisfadion hereafter, that thefe 
 fhould not be trufted wholly to Recolledion, 
 which may then fail me. 
 
 I remember as clearly as if 'twas no longer 
 ago than yefterday, the Day whereon my Mother 
 arrived, which did afterwards prove to be the laft 
 
 time 
 
Lady Willoughby . 6 1 
 
 time it was ever my Happineffe to welcome her 1641 
 under our Roof. The Afternoon was calm and 
 beautifully and the Sunne low in the Weft caufed 
 the Shadows to fall at length acroffe the Graffe, 
 the Floneyfuckle over the Doorway was covered 
 with its pale lufcious Flowers, which hung 
 down untill fome of the trailing Branches loft 
 themfelves in the old Sweet-brier Bufh, and 
 the White Rofe, my Mother s favourite Tree, 
 was arrayed in its faire Bloflbms. As we ftood 
 looking at thefe, fhe did prefently arrive. Me- 
 thought fhe ftepped feebly from her Coach; 
 and when I gave her fuch aid as I could, fhe 
 fayd with a mournfull yet fweet fmile, I need a 
 ftronger Arme now than thine, my Daughter: 
 one equally kind, I do fully believe, fhe added as 
 fhe leaned on vsxjHuJhancTs, Saddeft Thoughts 
 took hold of me, yet did I ufemy beftendeavour 
 to conceal the Feare that ftruck fuddenly on 
 my Heart, that her Tarryance here would not 
 be for long. She looked better when feated in 
 her accuftomed Chaire: and her pale Cheek 
 
 had 
 
62 From the Diary of 
 
 1641. had a delicate colour, which gave me a Hope 
 that her Weakneffe was not fo great as at firft 
 did appeare, and that the Difficulty in Walking 
 might be from her having fate fo long in the 
 Coach, caufing a degree of Stiffiieffe. Before 
 retiring to her Chamber, fhe had converfed 
 with much of her ufuall Chearfulneffe : wee 
 accompanied her up the ftaires one on each fide 
 of her : when taking leave for the night, fhe faid 
 to my Hujband^ I feare me I fhall be a Burthen 
 to you. Lord Willoughby^ but not for long : but 
 I meant not your kind Heart would fo confider 
 me. I thank you; thank you both: may God 
 blefle you. 
 
 For the fpace of two or three weekes my 
 Mother s State did fo alternate day by day, the 
 one day feeming to regaine the Strength loft 
 the previous one, that I perceived not any 
 great Change in her Appearance, fave that her 
 Breathing was fomewhat hurried by any exer- 
 tion more than common. I read to her daily, 
 morning and evening, Portions of the Scrip- 
 tures^ 
 
Lady Willoughby. 63 
 
 tures^ her favourite Paffages often repeated: of 1641 
 fuch I might make particular Mention, of the 
 Pfalmes and the Gofpells. She did frequently 
 remark thereon with much earneftneffe and 
 fweetneffe. She was able moft days to walk out 
 a little: and fometimes, fhe, being unwilling 
 to difappoint my Defires, would confent to be 
 borne on a Chaire by two of the Men, never 
 failing to thank them with much Kindneffe of 
 manner, and exprefling her concerne at giving 
 this Trouble. One fore-noon I did pre vaile with 
 her to let them carry her a conliderable dif- 
 tancefrom theHoufe, to a fheltered funny Spot, 
 whereunto we did oft refort formerly to hear 
 the Wood-pigeons which frequented the Firre 
 Trees hereaboutr We feated ourfelves, and did 
 paffe an houre or two very pleafantly : fhe re- 
 marked how mercifully it was ordered, that 
 thefe Pleafures fhould remaine to the laft Days 
 of Life; that when the Infirmities of Age make 
 the Company of others burthenfome to us, and 
 ourfelves a burthen to them, the quiet Contem- 
 plation 
 
64 
 
 164I' 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 plation of the Workes of God aiFords a fimple 
 Pleafure which needeth not aught elfe than a 
 contented Minde to enjoy: theSinging of Birds, 
 even a fingle Flower, or a pretty Spot Uke this, 
 with its bank of Primrofes and the Brooke run- 
 ning in there below, and this warm Sun-fhine, 
 how pleafant are they. They take back the 
 Thoughts to our Youth, which Age doth love 
 to look back upon. She then related to me 
 many Paffages of her early Life, wherein was 
 obfervable the fame Love of natural Beauty that 
 doth now minifter in fo large a meafure to her 
 Enjoyment. 
 
 The fweet Seafon of Spring was delightful! 
 to her beyond any other Time of the Yeare: yet 
 in all did fhe recognize the bountifull Hand of 
 the Creator: and moft aptly drew from all his 
 Workes thofe Divine Teachings made manifeft 
 to the pious and lowly Minde unto whom Day 
 unto Day uttereth Speech^ and Night unto Night 
 peweth Knowledge. In the Quietneffe of Con- 
 templation, the ftill fmall Voice of God findeth 
 
 a Place 
 
Lady Willoughby. 65 
 
 a Place in the Heart: flie had liftened thereunto 1641, 
 in the days of her Youth, and in Age flie reapeth 
 her Reward: the Yeares draw not nigh unto 
 her when fhe will fay I have no pleafure in them. 
 Such were my thoughts, as I beheld her placid 
 Enjoyment, and heard her commend the deli- 
 cate Beauty of a Flower fhe held in her Hand, 
 remarking that fhe look'd upon this Portion of 
 Creation as in a particular manner worthy of 
 our facred regard, the Flowers of the Field 
 being fandlified by our Lord teaching from 
 them Leffons of Faithfulnefle in the Wifdom 
 and Love of our Heavenly Father, She afked 
 me if I would repeate the 90th and gift 
 Pfalmes^ which I did for the moft part; fhe re- 
 peated after me the words, Tet is their Strength 
 Labour and Sorrow, Three fcore and ten 
 Yeares I have not feene : and this lengthened 
 Span of Life may not be ordained for me, yet 
 in the latter Days of my Pilgrimage thus farre 
 toward the Grave, the Lord hath layd upon me 
 no Burthen which his Love hath not made light 
 
 K and 
 
66 From the Diary of 
 
 1641. and eafy to be borne: Sight and Hearing 
 remaine, and the Ufe of my Limbs fo farre as 
 an old woman needeth. Surely Goodneffe and 
 Mercy have followed me all the Days of my 
 Life, and will, I doubt not, to the clofe : and my 
 evening Sun will, I humbly hope, be permitted 
 to fet in brightneffe. She took a Rofe-bud 
 which I had gathered, and fayd. This Bud will 
 never open; but fome there are which will un- 
 fold in Heaven. She look'd earneftly in my 
 Face: I perceived her meaning. My precious 
 Child^ mine that is in Heaven, I fayd ,and could 
 not refraine from Teares. Calm thyfelfe, my 
 Daughter: I fhall foone meet him, if 1 am 
 found worthy to be where his pure Spirit is : let 
 me feel as a Link between thy Soul and his. 
 Oh that I may one day meet there all my deare 
 Children : many have been my Bereavements, 
 but Mercy, tender Mercy was in all my Af- 
 flidlions. We arofe, and fhe was able to walk 
 a goodpartof the Way towards the Houfe,untill 
 the Servants mett us. Henceforth my Mother left 
 
 the 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 the Houfe but feldom, and foone fliowed her- 
 felf incapable ofthis much exertion: herftrength 
 diminifhed daily, and fhe became fcarce able to 
 quit her chamber. 
 
 She defired one day to fpeak with my Huf- 
 band^ and communicated to him her convidion 
 that there remained to her but a fhort Time to 
 live, and requefted him to prepare me for her 
 immediate departure to Wimbledon^ talking of 
 fetting forth the next Day : but it was too late, 
 fhe was too weake to bear moving: fhe tooke to 
 her bed, and I thenceforth left her not, fave 
 when wanted in the Nurferie. 
 
 One Night, it was the Sabbath^ fhe called us 
 both to her Bed-fide, exprefTed her HappinefTe 
 in beholding us fo united in the bonds of Af- 
 fedion and Friendfhip : in a mofl touching 
 manner addrefTed my Hujhand^ commended 
 me as her chief earthly Treafure to his con- 
 tinued tender Care and Love, and then, the 
 Teares running down her Face, thanked him 
 for the KindnefTe and GentlenefTe he had al- 
 
 wayes 
 
 67 
 
 1641. 
 
68 
 
 164: 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 wayes fliewn to her beloved Daughter: £he 
 prefled our two Hands together, rayfd herfelfe 
 up, and in a low tremulous Tone, flowly ut- 
 ter'd as nearly as I can remember them, thefe 
 Words : 
 
 Allmighty Father, behold thefe my Children : 
 blejfe them in each other and in their Children: 
 keepe them in the Path of Right eoufnejje: proteEi 
 them in Danger^ comfort them in AffliEiion^ and 
 when they come to pajfe through the Valley of the 
 Shadow of Death ^let their fpirit faint not ^neither 
 he afraid: but let them lay hold on the Promifes 
 of Eternal Life^ through Faith in Chrift Jefus 
 our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 
 
 She funk back exhaufted, and revived not 
 againe to hold much Intercourfe with us. Her 
 Countenance, though at times marked by Suf- 
 fering, was Calm and PeacefuU: her Eyes 
 moftly clofed as in Sleep : the Silvery Hair parted 
 on her Forehead: fhe lay throughout the re- 
 mainder of the day without taking notice of 
 any thing : twice or thrice fhe afk'd for Water 
 
 to 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 to drink, and fmil'd aifedlionately upon all 
 around. 
 
 Late in the evening flie fayd. Is Mabel here : 
 her faithfull Servant approach'd near the Bed. 
 She had taken leave the day before of fuch of 
 our Domeftics as fhe knew perfonally, and 
 now gave Meflages of Remembrance to thofe 
 at Wimbledon^ not forgetting one or two poore 
 aged Woemen to whom fhe had beene a good 
 Friend in their old age of Poverty. Againe 
 fhe became much exhaufted, and we thought 
 the faint Breathing muft foon ceafe : but fhe fo 
 remained fome houres. About five of the clock 
 in the morning fhe opened her eyes : the early 
 Sunne fhon in at the Cafement, which was at 
 the fartheft fide from the Bed: fhe appeared 
 confcious of the Day-light, and we could partly 
 diftinguifh the Words, Heaven^ no Sun^ the 
 Glory of GoA^ the light thereof. She look'd on 
 all that were neare unto her, and we thought 
 file fayd, Deare Children . I ftoop'd to kifl^e her : 
 with a laft Effort fhe returned my Embrace; 
 
 and 
 
 69 
 
 1641. 
 
70 
 
 1641. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 and as I gently layd her Head on the Pillow, 
 her pure Spirit left its earthly Manfion. 
 
 In the StillnefTe of this awful Moment, my 
 Mind was impreff'd with the Belief that her 
 paffing Spirit look'd on her weeping Family with 
 a Love fet free from all earthly Feare in the per- 
 fect Fruition of Faith, which was become her 
 bleffed Experience^, knowing that our Sorrow 
 would be but for a Moment compared to the 
 eternal Weight of Glory. Deareft Mother^ may 
 thy precious Example be ever prefent with me. 
 I felt it a fore Triall, the Houfe being at this 
 time full of Company, yet believe it might be 
 good for me that there were fo many to be cared 
 for. My Sifter Dorothyw2iS> truly kind: Albinia 
 was prevented coming: My Lord NoelwiSiS a 
 true Mourner, a more than common AiFeftion 
 united him in Bonds of Intimacy with his late 
 Sifter, and he fought every Opportunity of 
 Converfe with me, and pafl^'d much Time of 
 every Day alone in her favourite Walks: his 
 Daughter Eleanor had accompanied him out of 
 
 Leicejierjhire: 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 Leicejierjhire: before he left us, my deare Uncle 
 had gained the Love and Efteeme of all, 
 
 I may here write an Infcription to the Me- 
 mory of the late MiftrefTe Hampden^ which my 
 Lord did copy from her Tomb in the Church 
 at Great Hampden^ when he was laft at that 
 Place, the fame appearing to me particularly 
 fuited to the Subjeft of the laft pages of this 
 Diary ^ wherein my Pen would faile, were I to 
 attempt to defcribe her Excellence, or my own 
 great Loffe. 
 
 To the eternal Memory of the truely Ver- 
 tuous and Pius Elizabeth Hampden^ Wife of 
 John Hampden^ the tender Mother of an 
 happy Offspring in 9 hopefull Children: In 
 her Pilgrimage the Stale and Comfort of her 
 Neighbours, the Love and Glory of a well- 
 ordered Family, the Delight and Happineffe 
 of tender Parents, but a Crowne of Bleflings 
 to a Hufband: In a Wife, to all an eternal 
 Paterne of Goodneffe, and Caufe of Joye 
 
 whilft 
 
 71 
 1641. 
 
7 2 From the Diary of 
 
 1641. whilft {he was: In her diffolution a Loffe 
 
 unvaluable to each, yet herfelfe bleft, and 
 they recompenfed, in her Tranflation from a 
 Tabernacle of Claye and fellowfhipp with 
 Mortalls to a celeftiall Manfion and Com- 
 munion with Z)^//)^, The 20th Day o^AuguJi 
 1634. y^^y^;^ iJ^/^/^^^^/^j her forrowfull Huf- 
 bandjinperpetuall Teftimonyof his conjugal 
 Love, hath dedicated this Monument. 
 
 My Mother in a fpecial manner did walke by 
 Faith. In all Trouble fhe could fay. It is good 
 for me to be afflided, it is the Lord^ let him do 
 whatfeemethto him good: and in time of Prof- 
 perity and Gladneffe fhe forgot not the Giver 
 of all Mercies, the Song of Thankfgiving and 
 Prayfe was in her Heart and on her Lippes : 
 Scruplous in the exad; Performance of all her 
 Duties, fhe regarded none as too infignificant 
 to be done well : to the Poore fhe was a kind 
 and bountifull Friend j and as Hampden fayth 
 of his Wife, fhe was a Paterne of GoodnefTe, 
 
 and 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 and Caufe of Joy to all who knew her: and the 
 Lord permitted his aged Servant to depart in 
 Peace. Bleffed be his Name! 
 
 This Morning arofe fomewhat earlier than 
 ufuall, and felt the Benefit of fo doing through- 
 out the day: Mind compofed and ftrength- 
 ened. At five of the clock my Coufins Anne 
 and Margaret arrived: feem warm-hearted 
 young Women, Anne grown into more Come- 
 lineffe than fhe appeared likely to do, two 
 yeares fince; Margaret lovely as a bright 
 Morning in May, the calme Truthfulnefle of 
 her Countenance brings to mind Spenfers 
 Verfes to the Memorie of his beloved Friend, 
 
 Afweet attraBive kind of Grace^ 
 A full AJfurance given by Lookes^ 
 Continuall Comfort in a Face 
 The Lineaments of Gofpell Bookes : 
 
 the two laft Lines efcape my Memory. We fate 
 
 L round 
 
 73 
 
 1641, 
 
 March 4, 
 Thurfday. 
 
74 
 
 164I. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 round the Fire for the moft part of the Even- 
 ing: family News and country Goflip: and^/^^^ 
 eager to relate fundry Tales oi Robin Hood^ and 
 marvellous Stories of Witch-craft and Fairie- 
 lore, drav^ing down upon herfelfe the grave 
 Rebuke of the Chaplaine^ to which £he gave 
 little heed. When retired to my Clofet, could 
 not forbeare contrafting my prefent State with 
 /that of thefe light-hearted Maidens : I have not 
 feene many more Yeares than thefe have, and 
 yet fuch Gaiety of Spirit is mine no more, the 
 Hand of Care prefTeth heavily on the young 
 Heart, which enters upon the troubled and care- 
 full Path of domeftic Life, and upon the Duties 
 which appertaine unto the MiftrefTe of a Houfe- 
 hold, before it hath had time to enure itfelfe to 
 Hardfhips and Difappointments, or hath had 
 Experience of its owne Weakneffe or its owne 
 Power : yet I would not repine; a deeper Well- 
 fpring of Joy hath beene open'd to me, though 
 its Waters are mingled with Drops of Bitter- 
 neffe. Some one fayth, our beft Bleffings are 
 
 bought 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 bought with Paine, as our higheft Virtue through 
 Sin and Sorrow: this may feeme a Myftery; but 
 my Thoughts are not your Thoughts^ nor my Ways 
 your Ways^ faith the Lord. Raife up and 
 ftrengthen within me, O mercifull Father that 
 Faith in thy perfed: Wifdom and Love as fhall 
 enable me to truft in thee to direft my Ways 
 and lead me to obey thy Will as a little child: 
 bleffe and protedl my deare Hujhand^ and keep 
 him in the Way of Truth and Liberty: keep 
 in Health and Safety, O LordyVaj precious little 
 Ones, and uphold me in the Fulfillment of the 
 feveral Duties committed to my Charge. 
 
 The Nurferie a Scene of much Merriment 
 this Morning. Anne at high Play with Di and 
 Fanny^ and Margaret with the Baby^ who 
 clapp'd her Hands and fcreamed with Delight. 
 My Coufins are both good-tempered, lively 
 Creatures, and I am vaftly fond of them already, 
 and they no leffe fo of me and the Children. I 
 tooke them over theHoufe,and left them in the 
 
 Long 
 
 75 
 
 1 64 1 
 
 March 24, 
 Wednefday. 
 
76 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1641. Long Gallery. They followed me after a while, 
 bringing their Needlework, and I tooke my 
 Embroidery, which has got on but flowly of 
 late : their lively Talk made the Day paffe plea- 
 fantly. After Dinner we walked down to the 
 Village^ calling at blind Betty s as we returned. 
 
 March 25, 
 Thurfday. 
 
 Lady Day, In the Steward's Room two or 
 three Houres, paying out Wages and fo forth, 
 and looking over Armjlrongs Bookes. The laft 
 yeare's Wool was fold, the greater part thereof, 
 to the Baize-maker at Colchejler^ at 24 Shillings 
 the Tod, a better Price than hath been payd 
 of late. 
 
 The Great Hall with its blazing Fire and 
 the Women bufy at their Spinning, ever and 
 anon finging to the hum of the Wheels, was a 
 Sight pleafant to look upon. Nancy did defire 
 fhe might have a Wheel taken to the Parlour^ 
 much preferring making of Thread to ufing 
 the fame. Margaret is a notable Needle- 
 woman: her Sifter brought a bright Blufh to 
 
 her 
 
Lady Willoughby. 77 
 
 her Cheeke by fome Query refped:ing a parti- i64i. 
 cular Piece of Needle-work in hand; and 
 added, on perceiving the Effect flie had pro- 
 duced, flie had heard aS^^ Erafmus de la Foun- 
 tain much commend the delicate Paterne: 
 whereat poore Margaret attempted to look up 
 unconcern'd, but was obliged to fmile at her 
 Sifter's Pleafantry. I was difcreet, and led the 
 Converfation back to the Spinning. 
 
 The Days pafle fmoothly, yet Time feemeth 
 very long fince my deare Lord departed on his 
 Journey. We heare no News. Armjlrong will 
 perchance gain fome Ty dings at Colchejler: 
 and I muft await his Return with fuch Patience 
 I can. 
 
 Since my little Fanny s long Sicknefle I have 
 continued the Habit of remaining by her at 
 night, fometime after fhe is in Bed: thefe are 
 Seafons peculiarly fweet and foothing; there 
 feemeth fomething holy in the Aire of the 
 dimly lighted Chamber^ wherein is no Sound 
 
 heard 
 
7 8 From the Diary of 
 
 1641. heard but the foft breathing of the fleeping In- 
 fant. I feel at fuch time as if brought nearer to 
 the Divine Prefence^ and with every Care and 
 and bufy Thought gathered into Silence, almoft 
 feeme as though admitted to the Company of 
 the Angels who keepe their appointed Watch 
 around the little Child: one defire only filling 
 my Soul that my Children may grow up to walk 
 in the Way of the Righteous : at fuch Moments 
 too how clearly is perceiv'd and acknow- 
 ledg'd the Claim of the Creator over the young 
 Creature he hath formed: He hath breathed 
 into it the Breath of Life, and made it a living 
 Soule,and hath given it to a Mother's Keeping: 
 fhe boweth herfelfe before him, and receiveth 
 from his hand this Pearle of great price^ when 
 the Lord maketh up his Jewels to be required of 
 her againe. Sandifie, O Lord^ I befeech thee, 
 thefe Houres of Stillneffe and Meditation to my 
 Soule's eternal Good, and to the Fulfillment of 
 thy holy Purpofe towards us. 
 
 Sitting 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 79 
 
 Sitting with my two little Maidens in the 
 Nurferie to-daj^Bairy afleep in the Cradle, and 
 the Time drawing nigh for them to go to Bed, 
 the way opened of faying a few Words to them 
 on the fubjeft of Prayer, and methought it 
 ftrengthened my owne Faith as I brought to 
 their Remembrance that yefus Chrijl himfelfe 
 pray'd, and had told us to do fo, and had taught 
 us in what manner we fhouldpray, alfo giving us 
 Affurance that God would alwayes heare our 
 Supplications, if offered in Humility and Faith: 
 Herein fhould we find abiding Comfort and 
 occ'afion of ThankfuUneffe : Diana I thought, 
 from the Expreflion of her Countenance, un- 
 derftood what was fayd. Fanny look'd and 
 fmiled and made fome childifh Remark, but 
 poffibly tooke in fome notion of what was 
 meant. It is a teaching Leffon, the loving Sorte 
 of Truft with which our Children liften : how 
 carefull fhould we be that Nothing deftroy 
 this Confidence. 
 
 When I came downe ftaires, met yohn in 
 
 the 
 
 1641. 
 
 March 30, 
 Tuefday. 
 
8o From the Diary of 
 
 1641. Hall: he brought me a Letter, and had heard 
 divers Reports. He had the good hap to fall in 
 with Meffengers on their road to the North, and 
 accompanied them a mile or two on their Way 
 to gaine what Intelligence he could. When the 
 Earle oi Straff or dv72L% brought from the Tower ^ 
 he was guarded by 200 of the Train-band on 
 his way to JVeJlmtnJler Hall. Every day of the 
 paft weeke he was brought thus to and fro to the 
 Triall. The King and ^ueene and the Princepro- 
 ceeded to Wejlminjler about g of the clock : they 
 fat in their private Clofet, one being enclofed 
 on each fide of the Throne with Boards and 
 hung with Arras, in order that the King might 
 be prefent without taking Parte, untill fuch 
 time as he fhould chofe : nevertheleffe he fhortly 
 brake downe with his own Hand the Trellis, 
 and fo fate in the eyes of all. When the Earle 
 enter'd, the Axe was not carried before him, the 
 King having fo commanded. The Reading of 
 the Impeachment with Strafford's Reply oc- 
 cupied the firft Day. There was much Eating 
 
 and 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 8i 
 
 and Drinking during the Day, unfeemely Con- 
 dud in the Kings prefence, and ill becoming 
 the Solemnity of the Occafion: the Sittings did 
 oft laft till 2 or 3 of the clock at night. Mr. 
 Pym made a long Speech on the 2nd day. 
 What feemeth ftrange, in the Galleries were all 
 the chief Ladies of the Court, with Pen and Ink 
 and Papers, taking note of what paff'd. It is 
 fayd, though he was proved guilty of great 
 Wickedneffe and Tyrannic, yet no one Deed 
 taken fingly did come within the verge of Trea- 
 fon. The Earle did himfelfe fay aloud, there 
 was nothing that could be Treafon, and if one 
 thoufand Mifdemeanours make not a Felony, 
 how fhould 28 make it a Treafon. So foone as 
 the Triall is concluded, we fhall furely hear 
 thereof. 
 
 1641. 
 
 No Letter or Meffenger yet arrived. It is 
 well for me that nurferie Cares and Employ- 
 ments cannot be negleded, and I am thus com- 
 pelled to exertion, though painefuU Thoughts 
 
 M occupy 
 
 April 19, 
 Monday. 
 
82 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1 64 1. occupy my Mind. It is an awfull thing for Man 
 to take the Life of Man, and difficult to recon- 
 cile to the Precepts of Mercy and Forgiveneffe, 
 given by our Saviour^ more efpecially doth it 
 grieve me to fee the Spirit of Perfecution fo 
 ftrong in the Minifter of Religion. The Chap- 
 lain and I agree not in thefe Matters, and he 
 hath ever readie in his Mouth Texts from Holy 
 Scriptures to juftify Bloodfhed : the Law of old 
 time vi^as an Eye for an Eye, but not fuch is the 
 Law of Chrijl. I do oft wifh for my Hufband's 
 Prefence in his owne Family : the difcontented 
 and fanatic Tone of Exhortation adopted of late 
 worketh no Good : for my poore Part I fee no 
 doing oi God's Service in neglecting their Duty, 
 which fome both Men and Women in the 
 Houfehold fcruple not. This wrefting of the 
 old Bible expreffions to fuit different Opinions, 
 methinks, is like to be dangerous, and maketh 
 a Snare to the Weake. 
 
 April 24, 
 Saturday. 
 
 The Bill hath paff'd the Commons Houfe^ by 
 
 a very 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 a very great Majority, and is fent up to the 
 Lords. Mobs of violent Men were gathered 
 round the Parliament, crying for Strafford's 
 Blood. The Lords made Complaint they were 
 threatened: and Dr. Burgefs^ a popular Prea- 
 cher, was put forth to addreffe the Crowd, who 
 thereupon difperfed themfelves. The King is 
 accufed of endeavouring to influence the Houfe 
 of Lords ^ and trufts much in the Earle oi Bed- 
 ford^ who it is fayd hath fecretly undertooke 
 that the Earle of Strafford's Life fhould not be 
 forfeited. 
 
 A Report hath arifen that the King hath 
 projeded the Earle's efcape from the Tower. 
 
 So great is the Excitement that the Noife of 
 a Board breaking in the Houfe did fo greatly 
 terrific the Members that fome ran out: others 
 thought it was another Gun-powder Plot. 
 
 No further News from London. Thoughts 
 fo diftraded that to fet downe fome Particu- 
 lars 
 
 83 
 
 1641. 
 
 May 7, 
 Friday. 
 
 May 8, 
 Saturday. 
 
84 From the Diary of 
 
 1641- lars of public Events as they reach us is all that 
 I am well able. Children at this time well in 
 Health, a great Mercy: let me not be unmind- 
 full of this and other manifold Bleflings; but, as 
 the Apojlle fayth, by Prayer and Supplication^ 
 with Thankfgivingy be my Requejls made known 
 unto God. 
 
 May 13, The Bill has paff'd: the Majority 21 to 19: 
 
 my Hujhand fayth many left the Houfe. The 
 Earle of Bedford^ having ficken'd of the Small- 
 pox laft weeke, died on the 9th : he is a great 
 LofTe to all Parties, being a juft and good 
 Man; he hath alwayes oppofed the perfecuting 
 Laws againft the Non-conformift Minifters, 
 and beene the Enemy of all arbitrary Power, 
 and had occupied himfelfe till his Death in the 
 endeavour to reconcile his Party to fomething 
 lefs than capital Punifhment in the Earle 's cafe : 
 and 'tis thought the King had confidently trufted 
 in his Influence obtaining this End. The Royal 
 Aflent has beene given by Commifllon. When 
 
 the 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 the Earle oi Strafford W2i^ inform'd thereof, he 
 layd his Hand on his Breaft, and fayd. Put not 
 yourTruJl in Princes: poore Man, he hath good 
 Reafon to fay fo. The Prince of Wales came to 
 the Houfe with a Letter from the King^ a poore 
 EiFort to fave the Earle^ and to fatisiie his Con- 
 fcience. 
 
 85 
 
 1641, 
 
 The Execution tooke place on ^^<^;^£/2/^ the 
 1 2 th : the crowds of People prefentwere orderly, 
 and gave way to no expreffion of Triumph; but 
 at night it is reported they teftified their Satif- 
 faftion by lighting Bonfires, &c. My deare Life 
 doth hope to get away in a few Days : how great 
 will be the Joy to fee him enter his own Doore 
 againe. He fayth the ^eene Mother hath pe- 
 tition'd the Houfe of Commons for a Guard: fhe 
 being fearfull of Crowds and Tumults : 'twas 
 referred to Committee. The Houfe moved that 
 the Lords fhould join in a Petition to His Ma- 
 jefty that fhe depart this Kingdome. 
 
 Have 
 
 May 15, 
 
 Saturday. 
 
86 
 
 164I' 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 Have retired to my Clofet at an early Houre, 
 that I may paffe fome time in the Exercife of 
 Self-examination, efpecially fuited to the Day, 
 the fame being that on which I was born. Firft, 
 let me return Thanks to Almighty God that I 
 was bleffed with a Pious and Tender Mother: 
 2ndly5 That I have been favoured with goode 
 Health : and thirdly, that in Wedded Life my 
 Partner is one worthy of my deareft AfFedion 
 & high Efteeme, and who hath ever treated with 
 Gentleneffe and Condefcention my Faults and 
 many Deficiencies. Like unto the loving them 
 who love us is the Thankfulneffe of the Heart 
 for thofe Mercies and Orderings of Providence 
 pleafant to our natural Feelings: how have I 
 borne the Trialls and Difappointments which 
 I have beene given mee to beare ? When the Lord 
 tooke from me my precious Firft-born, it was 
 as it were the Dividing afunder of Soul and 
 Spirit, and of the Joints and Marrow : and I 
 would not be comforted. Yet I doubt not that 
 through this Tribulation I have in fome mea- 
 
 fure 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 fure beene brought to a more humbling Senfe 
 of my thoughtleffe and iinful State, and to the 
 Convidion that only through Divine Grace 
 could my difobedient and rebellious Spirit be 
 brought into entire Submiflion and the patient 
 taking up the CroJJe felt to be a daily Duty, 
 Great and oft have beene my Backflidings; yet 
 bleffed be God^ I hope that Faith faileth not, 
 but doth ftrengthen and become more and 
 more an abiding Principle of Adion. Much of 
 Indolence and Selfifhneffe I have daily to 
 ftruggle with: yet fometimes the comforting 
 Hope is granted, that in thefe refpefts there is 
 Improvement. Though no longer have I a 
 deare Mother^ yet is her Memory fo connedied 
 with my Children that in my own capacity as a 
 Mother I feeme with her in many Scenes of her 
 paft Life. Perhaps flie doth now behold mee 
 ftepping along through this Vale of Teares, oft 
 ftumbling, but an unfeene Arm fupporting mee 
 from utterly falling, and peacefull Refting- 
 places and refrefhing waters vouchfafed: and 
 
 when 
 
88 
 
 1641- 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 when I draw nigh unto the End of my Pilgrim- 
 age, where lieth the Shadow of Death, may I 
 ftill feare no Evill, but know that the Lord is 
 with mee. Have read the 5ifl:&io3d Pfalmes^ 
 and the 5 th, 6th and 7th Chapters of St. 
 Mathew^ and with renewed Thankfgiving after 
 looking on the fleeping Little Ones, I will now 
 retire to my folitary Chamber, 
 
 June 2, 
 V/edmfday. 
 
 There hath of late beene public Events of 
 fuch ftrongIntereft,that fmall domeftic Affaires 
 have feemed of too little Import, compared 
 therewith, to fet ought downe, and my Pen too 
 is idly difpofed. My time is moftly thus ordered : 
 after that I have looked into ordinary houfehold 
 Bufineffe, I teach Diana her Reading and 
 Spelling; fhe is an apt Scholar, and is becoming 
 a notable little Sempftreffe : her Temper is quick, 
 and her Behaviour fometimes overbearing to 
 her Sijier; but fhe hath warme Affedions, and 
 foon repents of Unkindneffe or Anger: Fanny is 
 more gentle and docile, but with this too readily 
 
 m 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 in Teares : they are both vaftly fond of Baby^ and 
 Fanny gives it ofttimes fuch a Hug with her 
 chubby Arm as makes it cry, and then flie cries 
 too. Fan learns fome little. In the Afternoone 
 walke out, calling on fome of my poore Neigh- 
 bours, and adminiftering to the Ailing fuch 
 Remedies as I can beftow. 
 
 It is like to be a good Hay-harveft: the 
 Women all called forth to give Helpe therein. 
 Itooke Charge of the Nurferie: Di^ind Fan in 
 the Field, moft part of the Day. Old Bridget 
 died laft Night; and Smythe now keepes to his 
 Bed. 
 
 The Report hath reached us that the i^ueene 
 Mother hath embarked: a good Riddance to 
 the Countrey. It is fayd the ^eene wifhed to 
 accompany her; and under plea of Ill-health 
 made Requeft to this effed to the Houfe of 
 Commons^ which was refufed : at the fame time 
 the Houfe expreffed a Willingneffe to further 
 
 N her 
 
 89 
 
 1641. 
 
 June 24, 
 Thurfday, 
 
 July 17. 
 
 Saturday. 
 
90 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1 64 1 . her Satisfadtion in all things fo farre as may ftand 
 with the Public Good. Methinks the King 
 muft be difcompofed by this Oppolition to the 
 ^eenes Wifhes, which bodeth further Trouble 
 and Vexation to him. 
 
 Aug. 12, 
 Thurfday. 
 
 Sept. 15, 
 Wednejday. 
 
 Parliament fate on Sunday. In the Commons 
 there was much Preaching and Praying. The 
 Z/^r^^j'fatinexpeftation of fome important Bufi- 
 neffe, but none being brought before them, arofe 
 fomewhat ruffled that they fhould be defired by 
 the Lower Houfe to meet on this day, no fuffi- 
 cient reafon appearing, and herein they did feel 
 themfelves treated with but fmall refped. 
 
 The King is ftill in Scotland^ but is likely to 
 go to Ireland: Rebellion and dreadfull Maffacres 
 in that unhappy Countrey. 
 
 Dec. 14, 
 
 Tuefday, 
 
 The Bifhops accufed of High Treafon. 
 
 1642. The 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 1642. 
 
 He Commons have petitioned for a 
 Guard. Newes that Lord Khn- 
 bolton^ Mr. Hollis^ Sir Arthur 
 Hazelrigge^ Mr. Pym^ Mr. John 
 Hampden^ and another, have been accufed of 
 High Treafon by the Attorney General. Whilft 
 the Lords were deUberating, Word was brought 
 that Officers were feaHng up the Doores, Trunks, 
 &c. of the accufed Members. The Commons 
 ordered their Sergeant at Armes to breake 
 them open : of a fudden there came a Meffage 
 from the King to the Speaker requiring him to 
 deliver up the 5 Members. The Houfe repHed 
 they would take the Matter into Coniideration. 
 
 The 
 
 9^ 
 
 ib\'i. 
 
 January 8, 
 Saturday. 
 
92 
 
 1642. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 The next day after Dinner, and when they had 
 fcarcely taken their Seats, Newes was brought 
 them that the King was coming with Hundreds 
 of arm'd Men and Officers; they fearing Vio- 
 lence and Strife in the Houfe, order'd the 
 accufed Members to leave the Houfe: which 
 they did juft in time. My Lord fayth the 
 King knock'd haftily on the Doore, and came 
 in with the Prince Palatine^ leaving the arm'd 
 Men at the Doore. The whole Houfe flood up 
 uncovered: the King walked ftraightway to 
 the Speaker s Chaire, & feated himfelfe therein. 
 Then he caft fearching lookes around, and not 
 feeing thofe he fought, fpoke in a fevere Tone, 
 afking were any of thofe Perfons there, ending 
 with thefe Words, or fome fimilar, / do expeB^ 
 as foon as they come to the Houfe^ you will fend 
 them to me-^ otherwife Imufl take my owneCourfe 
 to find themy and arofe and went out, amidft 
 Murmuring and cries of Privilege. This open 
 Defiance of King and Parliament has created 
 a vaft ftir : and many^marvel at the bold bearing 
 
 of 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 of the Houfe. The next Day the King went into 
 the City oi London^ when the Common Councill 
 were affembled at the Guildhall-^ but made not 
 much Impreflion: neverthelefle he got a good 
 Dinner at the Houfe of one of the Sheriffes, 
 
 For fome days no Tidings have reached us : 
 all that-we have heard of late is of the Militia 
 Bill^ which is calling forth ftrong Feelings on 
 both Sides. The i^ueene and Princejfe are at 
 length gone into Holland: it is fayd fhe hath 
 taken, befide her Plate, the Crown Jewells. 
 The King returned not to Whitehall^ but is at 
 Theobalds^ the Prince of Wales with him. 
 
 This Forenoon my little Daughter Fanny 
 fhowed fo wilfull and froward a Spirit, refuiing 
 to do that fhe was told, that I was forced to 
 corred her with fome feverity : fhe hath of late 
 fallen away from the ready Obedience where- 
 with fhe did formerly attend to my Bidding, 
 and I do much reproach myfelfe in that I have 
 
 been 
 
 93 
 
 1642. 
 
 Feb. 28,. 
 Monday. 
 
 March 17, 
 Thurfday, 
 
94 From the Diary of 
 
 1642. been negledfull of my Duty towards her, and 
 the others; thus occafioning Trouble to them, 
 and Grief and Difappointment to myfelfe. 
 Sorely tryed by divers Anxieties I have too much 
 look'd to my deare Little Ones for prefent Joy 
 and Comfort : and haply in my forlorne State, 
 with an encreafed Tenderneffe have beene led 
 to overlooke the Beginnings of unruly and dif- 
 obedient Condud, which ought to have met 
 with Corredion. 
 
 As I flood and look'd on the little Face fo 
 lately diflurbed by angry Feelings now quietly 
 afleepe, I deeply bewailed the Eifeds of my Sel- 
 fiflmefTe. Lord^ I have beene an unfaithfuU 
 Steward, and negleded the Talents committed 
 to me : call me not to account. Oh Righteous 
 Father: take not away from mee this precious 
 Truft: but whileft I acknowledge and deplore 
 my UnworthinefTe, flrengthen, I befeech thee, 
 my weakeMinde, and helpe mee to traine them 
 up in Obedience, which fhall prepare them for 
 a yet higher. Thou knowefl the Burthen of 
 
 thefe 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 95 
 
 thefe fearefuU and troublous Times is heavy to 
 be borne : yet would I ftrive and pray for a more 
 patient and faithfuU Spirit. 
 
 Attended to family Bufineffe and Duties with 
 renewed Diligence: and I truft humbled, by 
 the paft Experience of Slackneffe in performing 
 the fame. I weary for my deare Hujband's pre- 
 fence and Support. 
 
 Intelligence that the Lieutenants oi Counties 
 are forthwith to organize Militias: the Farmers 
 and Labouring Men will be put to great In- 
 convenience and LojTe. 
 
 Late in the Afternoone my Zy^r<^ arrived, tra- 
 vaile-foiled, having ridden fo farre out of his 
 way to the North: he with fome others are ap- 
 pointed to prefent to the Kingy now at Torke^ a 
 Declaration from Parliament. He had but a 
 few Houres to ftay : fo much to be fayd in fhort 
 Time, we fcarce knew where to begin : he in- 
 clined to difmiffe for a while all Public Affaires. 
 
 I caufed 
 
 1642. 
 
 March 18, 
 Friday. 
 
 March 21 
 Monday. 
 
g6 From the Diary of 
 
 1642. I caufed a good fire to be made in our favourite 
 Parlour. ^r/;^r^;^^ relieved hi^ Majier of parts 
 of his Riding-drelTe, & tooke Orders refpefting 
 frefli Horfes, baggage, &c. the while I haften'd 
 up to the Nurferie & brought downe the three 
 Girls. Fan tooke her old Place on her Father's 
 Knee, Di on a Stool at his Feet, & I nurfed and 
 coaxed 5^^K into not being alarmed at a Stranger, 
 fo little has fhe feene of him, that at firfl: fhe did 
 refufe to leave my Arms for his : very great v^as 
 our Satisfaction and Delight : he look'dvi^earied, 
 and well he might, but fayd the fight of fo many 
 deare Faces was the onely Happineffe he had 
 had fince he laft faw us, and did more to reft 
 him than could aught elfe : the Dogs too fliared 
 his Notice: and the G6/7(^r^;^ prattled fo that 
 we could hardly get in a word to each other. 
 One by one they were fent ofi' to Bed, and we 
 had a fhort fpace of Quiet to ourfelves. Before 
 we are like to meete againe, he doth expeft, as 
 doe all Men, that Blood will have beene fhed : 
 both Parties are now fcambling for Armes: and 
 
 nothing 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 97 
 
 nothing can fave this unhappy Kingdome from 
 a Warre. Wee are much out of the way : but in 
 difturbed Times, worthlefTe and evil-difpofed 
 Perfons are readie for any Violence, and under 
 Pretext of being engaged for one Side or the 
 other, Hkely to pkmder the undefended: and 
 Armjirong has orders to fee that before dark, 
 the Houfe be fhut, and all the Men within; who 
 are to be armed: the n^^ Militia ASi will make 
 this needfuU. My Lord will have with him al- 
 wayes one or more truft-worthy Serving-men, 
 whom he can fend with Letters or Meffages, 
 and heare from us in returne : and herein wee 
 muft both take fuch Comfort as wee can. He is 
 now under the Orders o{ Parliament^ and for 
 fome time is pretty certaine to be in the Norths 
 the King having eftablifhed a fort of Court at 
 Torkq. The Take-leave time came at laft. And 
 now^ deare Hearty he fayd to his trembling 
 Jf^ife^ with much adoe I kept a tolerable 
 Compofure, have no Mifgivings of thyselfe: I 
 have ever found thee of quick Wit in Difficulties^ 
 
 o and 
 
 1642. 
 
98 From the Diary of 
 
 1 642 . and manifejling a quiet Courage and Rndurance^ 
 at which I have marvelled', and ifneedjhouldbe^ 
 I will find Meanes for your better ProteBion. 
 Well was it now that the Horfes were readie, 
 and he look'd not around, after his parting 
 Embrace, to fee mee drown'd in Teares. He fet 
 forth well armed. Two Men the fame, and 
 another with a led Horfe and Baggage. 
 
 Went to my lonely Roome at Night: the 
 Cafement fhook with the Winde, and prefently 
 the Raine came downe heavily: for a time I 
 was overpowr'd with the Grief of loiing him, 
 and thinking of him riding all night in Weather 
 fo tempeftuous, the while I fat by a brightly 
 burning Fire, in a comfortable warm Roome. 
 Yet would I gladly fhare his Hardfhippes, and 
 be at his Side through all. Roufed myfelf at 
 laft, and prepared for Reft, praying for Strength 
 that my felfifh Love may never bee a Hinder- 
 ance to my beloved Hujband in the way of his 
 Duty, but rather that I may give all the Aide that 
 a poore weake Creature may, to one fo farre 
 
 above 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 99 
 
 above her in all true NoblenefTe. As I beheld 
 the little Face fleeping befidemee, thought what 
 fhould betide if wee were driven from our 
 Home: how fhould wee find Shelter for this 
 tender Flower, and the other deare ones. 
 
 1642, 
 
 The Chaplaine^ when we met this Morning, 
 with much Refped did offer his Services: he 
 fideth with the Parliament^ and I fancy could 
 play the part of Soldier well, other ways than 
 in fpirituall Warfare. 
 
 March 22; 
 Tuefday. 
 
 Had the great Comfort of a Letter dated 
 Nottinghame: my Hujhand reach'd that Place 
 foone after Sir Anthony Erely Scthc Lord Dun- 
 garvon^ whom he was to meete there : and they 
 prefently departed for Torke. My Hujhand 
 telleth me that Mr. John Hutchinfon boldly 
 oppofed the Taking-away the Pouder from the 
 Cajlle by the SherifFe for the Kings Use : the 
 which was well nigh accomplifhed. It did fo 
 happen that Mr. Hutchinfon chancing to call on 
 
 the 
 
 March 31, 
 Thurfday. 
 
lOO 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 642. 
 
 April 5, 
 
 Tuefday. 
 
 the Mayor ^ was there told that Lord Newark & 
 the SherifFe were up flairs feeing the Pouder 
 weighed out. A good number of People were 
 gathered together, and told Mr. Hutchtnfon^ 
 if he would ftand by them, they would not 
 let it be taken away : and fome were minded 
 to go up and toffe the Sheriffe out of the Win- 
 dowes. Thereupon Mr. Hutchinfon went up, 
 and made manfuU Remonftrance with the fayd 
 SherifFe, and they did prefently put up their 
 Papers, and left the Townes-hall. M.jLord had 
 fome knowledge oiMx. Hut chinf on ^^nd is right 
 glad to find him a fledfaft Friend, on the fide 
 of Liberty and Juftice. 
 
 It is no eafie Matter to follow my ufuall 
 Employments, and I make fome excufe con- 
 tinually to myfelfe for looking towards the 
 Gate, though no Newes is like to arrive yet 
 awhile. The afternoone was fine, and I walked 
 with the Children to Framlingham^ and went 
 over great part of the Cajlle^ met there Doftor 
 
 Sampfon^ 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 Sampfon^ who gave me at conjGiderable length 
 the Hiftory thereof. He was in much Con- 
 cerne for his Friend Mr. Lovekin^ the Redor of 
 Ufford^ who hath beene plundered of every 
 thing fave one Silver-fpoone which he did hide 
 in his Sleeve. The Oak-trees hereabout are of 
 great fize. The Children were mightily pleafed 
 with the Cajlle: and were it not that their 
 Hunger made the thought of Supper well pleaf- 
 ing to them, I fhould not eafily have got them 
 away. 
 
 This morning was mild and bright: the 
 Woods clothed in the foft Greene of early 
 Spring: & the whole Scene fo quiet and beau- 
 tifull, 'twas fad to reflect how many happy 
 country Places were defaced by the Trampling 
 of Soldiers, & Women and Children fitting in 
 Terror of Warre at their very Doores. I walk'd 
 down to blind Betty s Cottage : the Doore flood 
 partly open : and as I entered £he was feated by 
 the fmall Fire, her Drefle cleane though homely 
 
 and 
 
 lOI 
 
 1642. 
 
 April 19, 
 Tuefday, 
 
I o 2 From the Diary of 
 
 1642. and worne, and her poore fightleffe Face wear- 
 ing its accuftomed Looke of Contentment: her 
 Lips moved, and flie raifed up her withered 
 Hand at times, as if in SuppHcation. She knew 
 my Step, & arofe to meet mee with her wonted 
 Salutation of Refped and Wellcome: her firft 
 Enquiry was to know if I had heard Ty dings of 
 the Lord Willoughby: & then of the Children^ 
 every particular of their Health. And now 
 fhall I reade to you Betty? I afked: with many 
 Thankes fhe expreff'd the Pleafure it would 
 give. Tlit Chaplaine had not call'd to fee her 
 thefe three Dales : and a Chapter, as fhe fayd, 
 would be more to her than Meate or Drinke. 
 I read a portion of Ifaiah^ and afterward the 
 15th Chapter of Corinthians: her Remarks 
 thereon, though fimple, reminded mee in their 
 Piety and Zeale of my deare Mother. She then 
 begged for the laft of Revelations^ wherein fhe 
 doth alway find peculiar Edification and De- 
 light. This poore lone Widow is a living Ser- 
 mon to mee in her Faith under all her Troubles, 
 
 which 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 103 
 
 which have beene manifold: but they have led 
 her to the true Source of Peace and Confolation. 
 
 1642. 
 
 Before I left my Chamber this morning, was 
 told a Meffenger had arrived from Aldhorough^ 
 having come there by Sea from Hull defiring 
 Speech of mee, faying he was from Torke: I did 
 lofe no time in feeing him. He fayd Lord 
 Willoughby had not Time or Meanes to 
 write, but fent mee his Ring as a Token that 
 he who bare it was to be trufted in his Relation 
 of Affaires as they then were. On the 2 2nd the 
 King fent the Duke of Torke and the Prince 
 Palatine with the Earle of Newport to Hull^ 
 without any armed Force, my Lord with 
 them, as if to fee the Town : the Day follow- 
 ing they were to dine with the Mayor : but a 
 little before noone Sir yohn Hotham was in- 
 formed the King intended to dine with him 
 that day, and was within 3 or 4 miles of Hull^ 
 with 300 Horfe and more. He haftened to 
 confult the Aldermen and fome others on the 
 
 Parliament 
 
 April 30, 
 Saturday, 
 
I04 
 
 1642 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 Parliament fide: and they fent a Meffenger 
 befeeching his Majejly not to come, as the 
 Governor could not admit him. But the King 
 advanced : the Bridge was drawn up, and the 
 Gates fliut, and the Soldiers flood to their 
 Arms. The King rode up to the Gate, and 
 commanded Sir yohn to open the Gates: he 
 anfwered that he was entrufted with the Se- 
 curing theTowne, and would do his Duty : but 
 if the King pleafed, he might enter with 1 2 
 Men : this the King refufed. At one of the 
 clock the Duke of Yorke and others with him 
 were allowed to go out. The King ftayd there 
 till afternoone, when he gave Sir John Hotham 
 an Houre to confider what he would doe, and 
 retired : then he came backe to the Gate & re- 
 ceived the fame Anfwer as before. Thereat he 
 caufed the Herald to proclaime Sir John Hotham 
 a Traitour : and in great Anger andDifTapoint- 
 ment the King went away, and lodged at 
 Beverley. My Hujhand will remaine at Hull^ 
 being appointed with 3 other Commiflioners 
 
 to 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 to aft with Sir yohn Hot ham. The Parliament 
 have voted Thanks to the Governour, and fent 
 an Order for the Ordnance and mofte of the 
 Armes to be fent to London. For a fhort time 
 my deare Hujband is employed on a Service of 
 feeming little Danger, but this cannot be for 
 long. The MefTenger flayed only for needfull 
 Refrefhment, proceeding to London: delired 
 yohn Armjlrong to reward him with liberal 
 hand, and alfo requefl him to fend us the Per- 
 feSi Diurnall^ or fuch Paper as he can procure, 
 when he reaches London. 
 
 Th.QKing^ having gotPoffeflion of the Great 
 Scale, hath iffued Proclamations commanding 
 the People in no way to aide the Parliament: 
 the Parliam.ent doing the fame to forbid their 
 aiding the King : what can the poore People do ? 
 
 There is Rumour that the King hath col- 
 lefted a confiderable Force, and is gone to be- 
 fiege Hull. 
 
 P The 
 
 105 
 
 1642. 
 
 June 28, 
 
 Tuefday, 
 
io6 
 
 1642. 
 
 Friday. 
 
 July 16, 
 Saturday. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 The Parliament have iffued an Order for 
 the bringing in Money, Plate, Horfes, &c. and 
 have named the Earle of EJfex Commander of 
 the Army : many Gentlemen of the Houfe of 
 Commons have entered the Service, Lord Grey^ 
 Hollis^ Sir William Waller^ and our good 
 friend the excellent Mr. Hampden. 
 
 The Paper fays the Lord Willoughby is made 
 Lord-Lieutenant of LincolnJIjire ; and Mr. 
 Oliver Cromwell^ the Member for Cambridge^ 
 is a Colonel : and v^ill raife Forces and Money 
 in that County and Norfolk and Suffolk. 
 
 Some' part of Suffolk has fhown itfelfe in Fa- 
 vour of the King. Would that vnj Lord wcr^ at 
 Home : yet his Eftates lying chiefly in Lincoln- 
 Jhir e^his, Prefence there is doubtleflfe important. 
 
 Not only have the Wealthier Sort brought 
 in their Money, Silver Goblets, and fuch like, 
 but poore Women of their fmall meanes, even 
 to their Silver Bodkins and Thimbles. 
 
 The 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 The Royal Standard fet up in Nottinghame: 
 we heare that the King himfelfe rode up to the 
 Top of the Hill with the Standard Bearer: the 
 evening was jftormy, and the next morning 
 the Standard was found blown downe; & fome 
 fay it fo happened a fecond time, and many of 
 the Roy alift Party much caft downe by an Event 
 fo ominous. Poore ^/W^, my Heart pitieth him, 
 as who can help? happy they who are not fet 
 in the high Places. 
 
 The King hath marched towards London: 
 the Parliament^ having notice thereof, ordered 
 the Train-bands to be in readineffe, and that 
 the City fhould be fortified with Ports and 
 Chaines : and they fay vaft numbers of People, 
 even Women and Children, came to the Worke, 
 digging and carrying the Earth to make the 
 new Fortifications. 
 
 Whilft that my Lordw2i^ raifing and putting 
 into order t\iQ,LincolnJhire Militia, the King be- 
 ing informed thereof wrote to him defiring him 
 
 to 
 
 107 
 1642. 
 
 Aug. 29, 
 Monday, 
 
 September. 
 
1642. 
 
 Oct. 28, 
 Friday, 
 
 to defift : whereupon he returned Anfwer, that 
 it was not in his power to do that which his 
 Majejly required of him, without Breach of 
 that Truft which he had undertaken to the 
 Parliament^ and to which he was encouraged 
 by the Opinion of his Majejly s great Officers 
 eminent in the Knowledge of the Lawes, 
 wherein he was not learned. 
 
 The Lord Brooke is adively at worke in 
 Warwkkjhire. 
 
 Tidings of an Encounter betweene the two 
 Armies: the iirft Report that our Side were 
 defeated: then came others that the Kings 
 Forces were beaten with great Lofle. Certaine 
 it was that a Battle had beene fought : and late 
 in the evening I saw from my Bedroom Win- 
 dow a Man riding up, his Horfe ftumbling from 
 Fatigue, and prefently was told itW2i^ Shephard. 
 As onely from great Neceffitie would my Huf- 
 band fend from him this trufty Man, I feared 
 fome ill Newes : and when Shephard faid his 
 
 Lord 
 
Lady Willoughby. 109 
 
 1642. 
 
 Lord was well, I could fcarcely ftand, fo great 
 was the Reliefe from that which I was afraid of 
 hearing. A Battle had beene fought at a Village 
 called ^^;^/^;^: Lord £^;^ with his Army in the 
 Village, the Kings halted at EdgehilL EJfex 
 advanced into the Plaine, and he ordered the 
 Artillery to fire on that Part where the King 
 was reported to be: & a terrible Fight began. 
 The Royal Standard was taken : Prince Rupert 
 entered Keynton^ pillaging and committing 
 great Cruelty: men fayd it would have gone 
 hard with Ejjex if he had not thus loft time. 
 My Lord joined them with his Regiment, 
 Hampden s^ and another, next morning, and 
 found they had laine on the Field all night, 
 without Covering or Provifions. He told Shep- 
 hard to tell mee he could not be in better Com- 
 pany, Colonel Hampden and he being much 
 together. Some wifhed to purfue the King^ 
 who is gone towards Banbury: others advifed 
 Reft for the Soldiers. I afked S hep hard how 
 my Z/(?r^ looked, and he fayth pafting well, not 
 
 fo 
 
I lO 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1642. 
 
 Nov. 10, 
 
 Friday. 
 
 fo wearie, to his thinking, as when in London: 
 he is to remaine one or two Dayes; and take 
 back Linen, &c. After the iirft hurry of Feel- 
 ing had fomewhat fublided, I endeavoured to 
 compofe my Minde to a due Senfe of Thank- 
 fulneffe that I am yet fpared Tidings of his 
 being wounded or even worfe: how many 
 Wives and Mothers at this time are weeping 
 over the Dead, or watching the Wounded and 
 Dying: and we know not whofe Turne will be 
 next. 
 
 Dr. A?^;;^^;^ walked OY^vivovaFramlingham^ 
 and ftayd Dinner: he hath heard that a fudden 
 Attack had beene made by the King on Brent- 
 ford. Lord EJfex was in the Houfe^ which had 
 juft received a gracious Anfwer from the King^ 
 and afking if Hoftilities were to be fufpended : 
 Whilfl: he fpoke, he heard the Sound of Cannon : 
 he haftily left the Houfe, and gallopped acroffe 
 the Park in the dire<9:ion of the Sound; and he 
 found that Prince Rupert ^who was followed by 
 
 the 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 Ill 
 
 the King and the whole Army, had taken ad- 1642. 
 vantage of a thick Fog, and had attacked J5r^;^/- 
 ford^ where was Col. Ho I lis' s Regiment, who 
 fought fo well, the Regiments oi Hampden and 
 Lord Brooke had Time to come up : and when 
 EJfex came up with a confiderable Force, he 
 found the Royalijls had retired, and were fta- 
 tioned quietly on the weftern fide oi Brentford. 
 The Parliament is in great Indignation, and 
 have voted they will never treat with the King 
 againe. 
 
 EJfex 2it the head of more than 20,000 Men, 
 it is fayd, was urged by Hampden^ Hollis^ and 
 others to purfue the King^ who had retreated : 
 but forwhatreafonwas not known, he remained 
 ftill. Cart-loads of Provifions, Wine, and Ale, 
 &c. were fent out oi London to the Army. 
 
 Some fay Fairfax has been defeated by the 
 Earle oi Newcajile. 
 
 1643. Newes 
 
112 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1643- 
 
 March 20, 
 Monday. 
 
 1643. 
 
 Ewes from London: the Parlia- 
 ment have enter'd into a Negoti- 
 ation with the King^ to forme a 
 Treaty of Peace, in order where- 
 unto Commiflioners have beene appointed, and 
 are now at Oxford^ where it is fayd the King 
 treats them with Civility. He refufes to have 
 the Lord Say and Sele one of the Commiflioners, 
 becaufe he had proclaimed him a Traitour : and 
 another was chofen in his place. Abroad there 
 feemeth only Gloom & Apprehenflon : let mee 
 hope that within our Home there is a brighter 
 Profped: : Children well, and mending of their 
 little Faults; and when I looke backe on the 
 
 Yeare 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 Yeare juft paft, I fee Caufe for Encouragement 
 refpeding them. And herein is any effort at 
 Self-difcipline well rewarded: the more cir- 
 cumfpedly I endeavour to walke in the ftrait 
 & narrow Way, bearing cheerfully the Croffes, 
 and performing with diligence the Duties ap- 
 pointed mee, not onely is my owne Progreffe 
 in the Chrijiian Path made evident in the 
 Peace which at times I am favoured to expe- 
 rience : but in the encreafed Care and Watch- 
 fulneffe over the Tempers and Condudl of thefe 
 deare Children^ I am Witneffe of their Growth 
 in Virtue and Happineffe. Before this Yeare 
 cometh to a clofe, haply Peace may be in our 
 borders^ and the People pall dwell in a peaceable 
 Habitation^ and in quiet rejling-places. 
 
 113 
 
 1643. 
 
 People fay there was a Rifing for the King 
 at Lowejloffe^ and that Colonel Cromwell^ 
 with 1000 Horfe, came upon them unawares, 
 and gained the Towne with fmall difficulty: 
 many Prifoners taken. Hitherto this fide of the 
 
 CL Country, 
 
 Thurfday, 
 
114 From the Diary of 
 
 1643. Country, being moftly for the Parliament^ has 
 beene quiet: but now, I feare mee, we fhall 
 fhare in the general Difturbance. 
 
 It is confidently fayd Colonel CromwelDizxh 
 gone to Norwich: Thankfull to heare the fame, 
 I had trembled to think of him within fo few 
 miles of us. 
 
 March, All hope of prefent Peace is at an end. The 
 
 '"^ ''^' Commiflioners are recalled from Oxford^ with- 
 out coming to any Settlement of thefe unhappy 
 Differences. There is Newes that Lord Brooke 
 hath beene fhot: I would faine hope this may 
 not be the fad. The Lord Says Houfe at 
 Broughton has beene taken by Prince Rupert: 
 and the King has march'd forward to London 
 with a great Army, he has burnt down the fine 
 Houfe oi Sir Baptiji Noel 2it Campden to prevent 
 the Parliament making it a Garrifon. 
 
 Armjlrong heard at Woodbridge^ when he 
 went to the Faire on Wednefday, that Colonel 
 
 Cromwell 
 
Lady Willoughby . 115 
 
 Cromwell and my Lord have joined the Army 1643. 
 at Loughborough^ and are expeded to make an 
 Attack on Newark. They fay Cromwell's Sol- 
 diers are the beft ordered of any, fave Hamp- 
 den sGr^^n-codX^s. The Lord Brookes Death is 
 much lamented. A party of Soldiers had taken 
 poffeflion of the Cathedral at Litchfield^ and 
 fired at the Houfe where he then was, and the 
 bullet ftruck his Head, and he died inftantly. 
 He hath left 5 Children ; poore young Man, 
 he hath foone fallen: it is a fatisfacftion to 
 believe Lady Catherine and her Family will 
 meet with Helpe and Protedion from the Earle 
 oi Bedford^ as he is on the fame fide. 
 
 Thanks be unto God^ I have to-day a few May 20, 
 Lines written by my deareft Life in much hafte. '^«^«'"^^^- 
 A flight hurt of his left Arme being all the injury 
 he hath fuftained in the late Fight near Grant- 
 ham. Burleigh Houfe hath beene taken by 
 Cromwell. Heard with feelings of forrow of 
 the Deceafe of my honoured Uncle^ the Lord 
 
 Noel, 
 
ii6 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1643. Noel^ at a great age. We have not met of late, 
 but I have never ceafed to love and refpe£t him, 
 and have at times received Tokens of his Re- 
 membrance, valuable to mee for my deare 
 Mother s fake, who did entertaine for him a 
 particular AfFedion. 
 
 Wedne/day. Thc Dtumall fayth Sir John Meldrun was 
 
 well nigh beaten at the Siege of Newark^ the 
 Garrifon fallying forth forced him to retreate, 
 but the Lord JVilloughby came gallantly up 
 with his Regiment, and beate them backe into 
 the Towne, taking divers Prifoners and a piece 
 of Ordnance. Deare Hujband^ how conflifting 
 are my Feelings, one moment rejoicing in his 
 Succeffe and proud of his Ability and Bravery; 
 and then trembling for his Safety, and ftricken 
 in Confcience that I could heare of Strife and 
 Death, with aught but Horrour and Com- 
 pailion. 
 
 Thurfday. Furthcr Particulars of the Siege of Gain/bo- 
 
 rough 
 
Lady Willoughby . 117 
 
 rough have reach'd us: Colonel Cromwell had 1643. 
 retired to Lincoln to recruit his Forces, and my 
 Lord was in Gainjhorough^ where he made a 
 brave Defence, and repulfed fundry AfTaults. 
 The Earle's Force confifted of 6000 Men: 
 upon their proceeding to fet fire to the Towne, 
 my Lord^ to fave fo terrible a Diftreffe and 
 Ruine, founded a Parley, and furrender'd upon 
 quarter after eight days : but the Enemy broke 
 the Articles and difarm'd his Soldiers, and 
 others that had beene fent from Nottinghame. 
 He hath now gone to Lincoln. He is confidered 
 to have done good Service, though theTowne is 
 loft, having made fome hundred Prifoners at 
 firft Taking of the Place, fome of them Men of 
 Rank, among them the Earle oi Kingjlon^ who 
 with others being fent in a clofe boat to Hull: 
 a party oi Cavaliers feeing them pafTe by, called 
 to them to ftop the Boat, which they refufing 
 to do, they fired, and fo the Earle and his Man 
 were flaine by their owne Friends. When I 
 fhall have private Intelligence I know not, or 
 
 how 
 
i643« 
 
 July I, 
 Saturday. 
 
 how I beare up under this terrible uncertainty, 
 I know not: forely am I perplex'd when I pray 
 unto the God of Peace and Love to give Suc- 
 ceffe to our Armies : can his Blefling reft upon 
 the Field of Strife and Death ? Merciful Father^ 
 looke with Pity on thy poore mifguided Crea- 
 tures, and over-rule all this Evill and Suifering 
 to a wife and rightful iffue; and if it be poflible, 
 reftore the Hufband and Father to his helpleffe 
 Family: and helpe mee, oh God^ to fupport 
 whatever try all thou mayft think fit to fend mee: 
 and in my owne DiftrefTe may I the more feeke 
 to aide and comfort thofe who are yet more af- 
 flided than has yet beene my lot in this time of 
 Peril. 
 
 In the Paper mention is made of a Con- 
 fpiracy. In which Mr. Waller is concern'd : he 
 is fined, and hath gain'dPermiflion to go abroad. 
 Two Men have beene hang'd. 
 
 To-day my Pen muft record the faddeft 
 
 event 
 
JLady Willoughby . 119 
 
 event that next to private lolle could have hap- 1643. 
 pen'd : Hampden^ to whom all Men did looke 
 up as a Patterne of Virtue and a moft true Pa- 
 triot, has fallen : he was feverely wounded in an 
 encounter with Prince Rupert's Troops, who 
 made a fudden Attack by night. Hampden s 
 adtive and courageous Temper could not wait 
 the flow fteps of EJJex^ and he rode up to fup- 
 port his Friends. It had been confidently fayd 
 by many that EJfex would be removed from the 
 Command, and Hampden fucceed him, and his 
 Friends ftrove to keepe him back from this 
 Skirmifli. He wias wounded in the fhoulder by 
 two balls, and rode off the F.ield in the direction 
 of his Father-in-lawes Habitation at Pyrton^ 
 but could not go that way, by reafon of the 
 Enemy's Cavalry, and was taken into the Houfe 
 of one Browne: here he linger 'd fome days in 
 fevere Torments, notwithftanding which he 
 writ divers Letters,and died on the 24th of June, 
 a few houres after taking the Sacrament^ offer- 
 ing up fervent Prayers for his Country. We are 
 
 tempted 
 
I20 
 
 1643. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 Wednefday. 
 
 tempted to exclaim, Why might not one fo ex- 
 cellent be delivered from the t err our by night ^and 
 the arrow thatjiieth by day? Allmoft it feemeth 
 as a judgement from Heaven upon our Caufe. 
 We heare of fome ferious Difafters to our Army : 
 Brijlol is delivered up to Prince Rupert ^ & elfe- 
 where the J^/;^^V Troops have beene fuccefsfull. 
 Sir Harry Vane is in the North. 
 
 Heard at Framlingham that Hampden was 
 interred in the Parifh Church of Hampden^ his 
 Regiment followed him to the Grave finging 
 the 90th Pfalme: after feeing their Friend layd 
 in the Grave, they returned finging the 43 d, 
 to expreffe their Truft in God^ and looking to 
 Him to deliver them and their Country from 
 Injuftice and Oppreflion. Thus do they truly 
 honour the Memory of their beloved Leader in 
 banding together to go on with his Worker 
 never was there fuch Confternation and Sorrow 
 at one Man's Death, as when the Tidings 
 thereof did reach London^ in the Parliament^ 
 
 and 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 and the People throughout the Land, as if their 
 whole Army had been defeated: his private 
 Loffe is unfpeakable. 
 
 As day fucceedeth day I can only ftrive to 
 wait with fome degree of Compofure for the 
 next Reports: one of our Neighbours came up 
 to the Hall to tell mee he had met with fome 
 wounded Soldiers a few Miles htjondiW^ickham^ 
 who told him Sir Thomas Fairfax & Mr. Crom- 
 well and my Lord have join'd Forces, and are 
 defigned for the North. Hull is befieged by the 
 Earle oiNewcaJlle: it is fayd he had fecret Cor- 
 refpondence with the Hothams^ which was 
 timely difcover'd; and Sir John Hot ham & his 
 Sonne are fent to the Tower ^ and the Charge 
 of the Towne given to Sir Matthew Bointon^ 
 the Brother-in-law of Sir John. 
 
 The Towne of Nottinghame has beene fett 
 on fire, but not more than two or three Houfes 
 deftroy'd; and the fame attempted againe at 
 
 R divers 
 
 121 
 
 1643. 
 
 Sept. 21, 
 Thurfday, 
 
 Sept. 25, 
 Monday, 
 
122 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1643- divers times, fire having beene difcovered layd 
 to barnes and other buildings; it is fayd that 
 Women did go in companies at night, to prevent 
 the burning, which doth feeme ftrange. Mif- 
 trtSo, Lucy Hutchinfonhi^xh not only dreffed the 
 Wounds of many of their owne Soldiers, but 
 alfo of Prifoners brought into the Caftle Dun- 
 geon. I have afore- time heard her much com- 
 mended as a kind Lady of great Capacity and 
 Learning; and Colonel Hutchinfon^ who ever 
 fince he was made Governour has had to con- 
 tend with perfonal Jealoufies and Oppofition, 
 my Lord faith is one of the braveft and moft 
 honourable Men on our Side. 
 
 Sept. 26. 
 Tuefday, 
 
 Tidings of a Battle at Newberry. The Lord 
 Faulkland killed: he hath foone followed his 
 once beloved Friend Hampden to the Grave, & 
 doubtleffe to a world where all Differences will 
 ceafe. He was a Gentleman of great parts, and 
 did love to entertaine at his Houfe,near Oxford^ 
 Men of learning and ability : he was courteous 
 
 and 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 and juft to all, and did endeavour all he could 
 to promote Peace betweene the King and his 
 People. Alfo in this Battle the young Earle of 
 Sunder land h.'Sith. loft his Life. 
 
 For a few dayes my deare Lord hath ftay'd 
 with us : and I have fome hope, now that the 
 fevere Seafon hath fet in, that he may per- 
 chance get time to fee his Family, and fettle 
 his Affaires : he hath now departed for London. 
 He faith the Lord Faulkland had of late beene 
 a changed Man: his gentle Spiritt and quick 
 Feelings fo diftreffed, that he could not fleepe, 
 and would oft fit long in lilence, at times ut- 
 tering with deep Sighs the words Peace^ Peace^ 
 and would fay to his Friends, the very Agony of 
 the Warre^ and the Sight of the Calamities and 
 Defolation the Kingdome did and mufl endure^ 
 would fhortly hreake his Heart. He was con- 
 fider'd to have fought his Death, having no 
 call to enter into the Fight, he being Secretary 
 of State: he replied to one who did urge this 
 
 on 
 
 123 
 
 1643. 
 
 Dec. 15, 
 
 Friday. 
 
124 From the Diary of 
 
 1643. on him, that he was wearie of the Times, and 
 forefaw much Mifery to his Countrey, and did 
 beleeve he fhould be out of it ere night: and 
 did call for a cleane Shirt, that his Friends 
 might find his Body cleanly arrayed. If in more 
 of Men's Minds was this Abhorrence of Warre 
 and Strife, how happy would it be for mankind : 
 but others fay, yes : men muft firft adl juftly, 
 then would they meete with Mercy. This the 
 King hath never done by his People, and now 
 he muft fuffer : what is a Crowne if the head 
 that wears it is difhonoured? 
 
 My deare Hujband well in Body, but ill at 
 eafe in Mind. 
 
 Poore Mr. Pym is deceafed after a life of 
 Toyle and Suffering. 
 
 1644. The 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 125 
 
 1644. 
 
 He Seafon of Chrijlmajfe hath 
 paff'd gloomily. At a time when 
 Families are divided by civill 
 Differences and many gathered 
 round a darkened and defolate Hearth, there is 
 not much difpofition to Mirthful neffe. The 
 newe Yeare hath arifen upon a diftreffed Land : 
 the Dayes and the Weekes thereof are yet in the 
 Hand of the Almightie: and who fhall live or 
 who fhall die we know not. Apart from the 
 publick Diftradions and Unhappineffe, pre- 
 cious Bleffmgs and abundant Mercies fill our 
 Houfe with rejoicing and thankfgiving: not 
 onely Life but Limbs fpared to him who had 
 
 to 
 
 1644. 
 
 January i, 
 Monday, 
 
126 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1643. to go forth into Battle and danger, and Nur- 
 ferie profpering. Methought as yefterday I fate 
 by a bright Fire-fide, my three Httle Daughters 
 playing round mee, & the deare Father^ though 
 abfent, in health and prefent fafetie, few were 
 fo bleft, fuddenly their Play ceafed, & Di and 
 Fanny were no where to be feene, Befs on my 
 Knee : when hidden in the deep Bay Window, 
 they fung to my eare very fweetly the Carols 
 they had learned from the Neighbours Chil- 
 dren : they ftaid up to Supper, and kept up a 
 fine Prattle. 
 
 January 27, 
 Saturday. 
 
 Walked downe to Wing fields: the poore 
 Mother is in a pitiable ftate, her Son's lingering 
 Death has worne her away, & fhe doth long to 
 lay her head befide him in the Grave. Strove to 
 comfort her, but beleeve flie took more in fee- 
 ing mee fhare her Sorrow than in any Words I 
 could fay. Went on to fee the Soldier who had 
 his arme broken, befide other injuries; he was 
 greatly better, and able to walke a little: he 
 
 fate 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 fate cleaning his Carbine and Sword, and the 
 Teares ran downe his Wife's pale Cheeke as he 
 talked of againe joining the Army, fo foone as 
 he could beare the Fatigue : poore Creatures. 
 The King hath fummoned a Parliament at Ox- 
 ford: it is reported many have left the one fit- 
 ting at Wejlminjier, 
 
 The King has beene forced to leave Oxford^ 
 and is gone to Worcejier. The Earle of Man- 
 chejler and his General Cromwell are in the 
 North. This Oliver Cromwell rifeth more and 
 more into note. 
 
 As v^e fate dov^ne to dine to-day fomeHorfe- 
 men v^ere feene to approach, and Sir Harry 
 Vane came into the Hall : he was on his way to 
 Fair lawn: and in much kindneffe rode fo farre 
 out of his way to bring mee good Tidings of 
 him neareft to my Heart, and of the growing 
 SucceiGTe of the People's Friends : He is hurrying 
 on to rejoyne the Army at Torke^ where are the 
 
 Earle 
 
 127 
 
 J 644. 
 
 May 31, 
 Friday. 
 
12 8 From the Diary of 
 
 1644. Earle, General Fairfax^ & Colonel Cromwell; 
 a large body of Scotch Troopes under their 
 old Commander Lejlie have joined them. So 
 foone as he was gone, retired to my Clofet 
 difturbed in Minde and Confcience : in Con- 
 fcience, that I had beene ledde away by Sir 
 Harry s vehement and powerfull Minde to 
 catch fomething of the fame Spirit whilft lif- 
 tening to particulars of this terrible Warfare, 
 wherein feemeth to mee now a want of wo- 
 manly TendernefTe and Pity, and forely dif- 
 tradled is my poore Minde by confliding 
 feelings of Wife and Mother: our Duties fepa- 
 rate us in thefe fearefuU Times : hitherto I 
 have remained calmly at my poft, but how can 
 I longer abide fo farre from one expofed to fuf- 
 fering and death, who is dearer than my owne 
 Life : yet have I beene fupported through times 
 of like Anxiety in a good degree of Quietneffe 
 & Patience : let mee pray for renewed Strength 
 and Faith. 
 
 The 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 The ^ueene hath given birth to a Daughter 
 at Exeter^ on the i6th. 
 
 The Chaplaine returned Thankes at morning 
 Prayers for the Vidory gained by our Army: 
 he hath received Intelligence, it feemeth, by a 
 fure hand, that a great Battle hath beene fought 
 at a place called Marjlon Moor^ a few miles 
 from Torke. 
 
 Some further Particulars have reached us: 
 Viinc^ Rupert has bene wholly defeated, a vafte 
 number of Prifoners taken, as alfo Armes of 
 divers forts, Pouder-barrels, the Colours and 
 Standards, and more than 20 Pieces of Ord- 
 nance. The loffe on our part fmall: alas, alas, 
 all are Englijhmen^ and Children of one com- 
 mon Father. 
 
 I have no Letter, but a Meflage by word of 
 mouth, that fets my Heart at reft: Thanks be 
 unto God. 
 
 s The 
 
 129 
 
 1644. 
 
 June 18, 
 Tuefday. 
 
 July 6, 
 Saturday. 
 
 July 8, 
 Monday, 
 
I30 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1644. 
 
 July 9' 
 
 Tuefday, 
 
 Nov. 18, 
 Monday, 
 
 The Earle of Newcajile hath left the King- 
 dome, and fo it is reported hath Sir Marmaduke 
 Langdale and others. Our Army has taken 
 poiSeflion of Torke. 
 
 The Archbifhop of Canterbury hath againe 
 beene brought before the barre of the Houfe. 
 
 Nov. 19, 
 Tuefday. 
 
 Great Feare and Amazement in theCountrey 
 round at the fight of three Sunnes in the firma- 
 ment, and a Rainebow with the Bend towards 
 the Earth: and this happening on the Kings 
 Birth-day, many did thinke it portended Evill 
 to him, and it was remembered that a remark- 
 able Starre was feene to fliine at noone-day, the 
 Day whereon the Prince of Wales was borne : 
 fome wept and trembled, and divers both men 
 and women did kneele downe in the roads & 
 fields. That which did moft afFedt my Minde 
 was beholding the Bow, that had beene fet in 
 the Clowde as a Token of the everlafting Cove- 
 nant, now appearing as it were overthrown. I 
 
 had 
 
Lady Willoughby . 131 
 
 had withdrawne to my Clofet, when Alice did ^M. 
 fend to fpeake with mee in the Still-room : She 
 had beene out to looke at the wondrous Sight, 
 and was greatly perturbed : I did remaine with 
 her till £he was fomewhat comforted. 
 
 Letter from Zy(?W(9/^: Mv.Cromwel/h^ithLmade 
 a ftrong Speech in the Houfe^ and a Mr. Zouch 
 Tate hath moved the bringing in of an Ordi- 
 nance to exclude all Members of Parliament^ 
 whether of the Houfe of Lords or Commons^ 
 from Commanders & Officers in the Army; he 
 was feconded by Sir Harry Vane^ & the Motion 
 carried. A Petition from the Citizens o{ Lon- 
 don hath beene prefented, thanking the Houfe 
 for their Care over the Commonwealth. Op- 
 pofition by Whitelock and others, who fpoke 
 againft the Motion as a perilous and uncalled 
 for novelty. 
 
 The Bill which they call the Self-denying 
 Ordinance has paft: In my Ignorance I know 
 
 not 
 
132 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1644. not what is like to be the Eifed of this new Ad : 
 they fay the Removal of EJfex is chiefly aimed 
 at. 
 
 Dec. II, 
 
 Wednejday. 
 
 DiflTenflons arife in our owne Party: frefh 
 Difcuflion on the Self-denying Ordinance Bill, 
 which has at length paflTed the Commons; but 
 when fent up to the Lords was rejeded. The 
 Commons have named Sir Thomas Fairfax as 
 General in chief in place of the Earle,and other 
 Alterations in the Army have beene made, and 
 partly agreed to by the Lords. 
 
 1645. A 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 133 
 
 1645. 
 
 Letter from my deare Lord: he 
 writes with melancholy Heart, 
 no Effort could fave his former 
 Friend, poore Sir yohn Hotham 
 has beene put to death : his Son was executed 
 the day before. Sir John had few Friends, he 
 had a cold harfli manner: the Lords had paft a 
 Vote for his Reprieve, which being known, he 
 did fully expect; one to the laft moment: but 
 the Commons would not give way, the Execu- 
 tion proceeded. 
 
 1645. 
 
 January 6, 
 Monday. 
 
 The Chaplaine is returned: another of thefe 
 dreadfull Executions: Laud W2is beheaded on 
 
 the 
 
 January 14. 
 Tuefday. 
 
134 From the Diary of 
 
 1645. the I oth, poore old Man, he hath fufFered even 
 in this world a large meafure of retribution for 
 his paft Cruelties : at the end of his Speech, 
 when upon the Scaffold, he faid he forgave all 
 the World, all and every of his bitter Enemies; 
 that no man could be more willing to fend him 
 out of the World than he was to go out. Some 
 over-zealous Prejbyterian did preffe him with 
 Queftions : he replied the Knowledge of Jefus 
 Chrijl was alone the meanes of Salvation. To 
 the Headfman he gave fome Money, and faid. 
 Do thine office in Mercy. As he knelt downe, he 
 turned pale, thereby proving it falfe what fome 
 were whifpering about, that he had painted his 
 face, that he might not lookeafraid. Itisthought 
 that he was brought to Death chiefly by meanes 
 of the Scots Party, in their vehement and un- 
 chriflian Revenge for the Part he had taken to 
 force upon them the Liturgy^ and to remove 
 him out of their way. 
 
 The Scots Commiflioners have obtained the 
 fetting aflde of the abhorred Z/Z/^rg-jK; butP^r- 
 
 liament 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 liament refufes to give them any legiflative or 
 judiciall Authority: fo the Chaplaine doth in- 
 forme mee. 
 
 Sir Harry Vane is appointed one of the Par- 
 liament's Commiffioners to meete thofe of the 
 King at a town called Uxbridge. What Mercy 
 would it be, if a peacefuU Settlement could now 
 be entered into, of the Countreys Grievances & 
 the Kings Claims : and this would feeme not 
 unpoflible, if the Kings Word could be de- 
 pended upon. It is thought he might be brought 
 to yeeld fome Points but for the Influence of 
 the ^ueene^ which is never for good. She it was 
 who added the Poftfcript to the Kings Letter 
 on Strafford* s bufinefTe, That if he muft die^ it 
 were charity to reprieve him till Saturday. 
 
 This being my Dianas Birth-day, I did my 
 endeavour to contrive for her fome Amufement 
 more than ordinary : tooke her firfh to my Clofet, 
 and after halfe an houre fpent there in, I hope, 
 a profitable manner, we joined the other Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 135 
 
 1645. 
 
 January 30, 
 
 Wednefday. 
 
136 From the Diary of 
 
 1645. dren. She is now eight yeares of age, mends of 
 her little Faults, and hath gained a greater de- 
 gree of command over her Temper: fhe is 
 TruthfuU, and fhoweth a tender Confcience, 
 active and induftrious, and withall can enjoy a 
 Game of Play right well. She bids fair to be 
 comely in Countenance and of gracefuU Car- 
 riage: a Satisfaction to mee, as doubtleffe it 
 will be to herfelfe. I profeffe not to be indif- 
 ferent on this Point for my Daughters, as fome 
 are or pretend to be : neither do I think beauty 
 any peculiar Snare to the poffeflbr of it, but 
 rather contrariwife, unleffe the Minde be neg- 
 lefted, or is by nature vaine and felfifh beyond 
 the ordinary degree in which thefe Defeats are 
 fhared by moft: and even then fuch Paflions 
 are no worfe than in the ill-favoured, though 
 mayhap more confpicuous by the contraft. 
 The three Girls and fome young Companions 
 made very merry. 
 
 Feb. 26, My deare Lord arrived moft unexpectedly 
 
 Tuefday 
 
 he 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 he faith there is no hope of Peace. After three 
 weekes Negotiations the Parliament^ have re- 
 called their Commiflioners. He looketh worne, 
 and would faine leave all thefe Diftradlions, & 
 doth fometimes talke of going out to Barba- 
 does: Jealoufies and Bickerings increafe; and 
 he with fome others, fickened with Warre and 
 Intrigue, are readie to make allmoft any Terms 
 with the King. Would that our good and ex- 
 cellent Friend Hampden had beene fpared: 
 trufted by all, and wife as brave, we fhould 
 have had a head to our Party, jfit to gouerne, 
 and one whom all would follow. Sir Harry 
 Vane in clofe Intimacy with Cromwell: he and 
 Fairfax keep up the Energy and determined 
 Spirit of the Parliamentary Partie. How fmall 
 a matter it feemeth would fet all right. 
 
 During the time my deare Hufband could 
 remaine, found not time for writing. 
 
 A long time hath elapfed fince I held the 
 penne : the illneffe of my three Girls hath oc- 
 
 T cupied 
 
 ^Z7 
 
 1645. 
 
 April 9, 
 Wednefday. 
 
138 From the Diary of 
 
 1645. cupied mee night and day. Fanny began with 
 the Meafles, and had a dangerous time of it, 
 through the Fever which ranne high, and 
 Symptomes of Inflammation of the Lunges: 
 and for many nights I did never undrefle : Di 
 followed, but thro' Mercy had the Complaint 
 lightly: and deare Befs^ tho' fadly troubled 
 by the Irritation, had but little Cough. This 
 Seafon of Care and bodily Fatigue, and at one 
 time of Alarm, hath not beene without its Ufe 
 and Comfort: Troubles that arife in the natu- 
 rall Courfe of Providence.^ and are adapted to 
 our Nature and Situation, bring with them 
 fomewhat of Peace, and oft of ThankfulnefTe. 
 We receive Paine and SicknefTe as from the 
 Hand of God^ and looke to him to helpe us un- 
 der them: and my Minde having thus beene 
 called off" from the Contemplation of the dif- 
 treflefuU State of this poore unhappy Countrey, 
 is renewed in Strength. Many fweet little Say- 
 ings of the Children at different times of their 
 SicknefTe have given mee great Encouragement 
 
 refpecfting 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 refpeding them : can there be ought fo precious 
 to a Mother as a fure Hope that the Spirit of her 
 Child hath tafted of the Fountaine of living 
 Waters? May the Lord helpe mee to cherifh 
 thefe faire Bloffoms of Piety and Goodneffe: 
 and grant that they may bring forth, fome 
 thirty, fome fixty fold. And, oh God^ thou who 
 haft made mee, unworthy as I am, to be the In- 
 ftrument of thy good Providence towards thefe 
 little ones J make mee daily more fenfible of my 
 owne Sinfullnefle, my owne Weakenefle and 
 affift mee in the Worke thou haft given mee 
 to do. According unto the Multitude of thy ten-' 
 der Mercies blot out my Tranfgrejftons: wajh mee 
 thoroughly from mine Iniquity^ and cleanfe mee 
 from my finne. Create in mee a cleane Hearty 
 God, and renew a right Spirit within mee. Thou 
 hafi crowned mee with Loving-kindnejfe a7id ten- 
 der mercies: blefs the Lord^ my SouL 
 
 The day fo milde the Children went out, & 
 did greatly enjoy the frefh aire, and rambling 
 
 about 
 
 139 
 
 1645. 
 
 June 21, 
 Saturday. 
 
140 From the Diary of 
 
 1645. about the Fields: feated on the Bank by the 
 Pond, they wove Caps and Bafkets of Rufhes. 
 Fanny s dainty Hands and llim Fingers looking 
 barely jftrong enough for the worke : whilft we 
 were all at worke, we faw Dr. Sampfon coming 
 acrolTe the Field: whereupon I left them, to 
 hear what newes he might bring. At their 
 tender age, I like not their hearing of Fighting 
 and Crueltie more than can be helped. I have 
 heard little of publick Affaires fince the Battle 
 at Nafeby^ whereat our Army was vidorious, & 
 Colonel Cromweirs part much noifed abroad. 
 Dr. Sampfon fays thei^T/^^^VCaufe hath fuffered 
 more by the Letters found in his Cabinet, the 
 fame being now made publick, than by his De- 
 feate: many of his Friends greatly grieved there- 
 by : his Double-dealing and Arrogance herein 
 proved, during his Treaty with the Parliament 
 at Ux bridge^ as like wife in the Irijh Affaire. 
 He has now left Ragland Cajlle^ it is fuppofed 
 making towards the North. Prince Rupert de- 
 livering up the City of Brijlol in foure Dayes, 
 
 after 
 
after that he had boafted he could keepe it foure 
 Months, hath greatly incenfed the King againft 
 him. Whilfl at Rag land the King did give into 
 Hunting and other Sports, and this the while 
 his people were fuffering, and many giving up 
 their Property and Time in his Caufe, his very 
 Crowne too in peril. 
 
 Reading in the Arcadia the Prayer of Pa- 
 mela: fo well pleafed therewith that I know 
 not that I can fpend my Time more profitably 
 this morning than in copying the fame, that I 
 may have it nigh at hand. 
 
 O all-feeing Light, and eternal Life of all 
 things: to whom nothing is either fo great 
 that it may refift, or fo fmall that it is con- 
 temned : looke upon my Mifery with thine 
 Eye of Mercy, and let thine infinite Power 
 vouchfafe to limit out fome portion of De- 
 liverance unto mee, as to thee fhall feeme 
 moft convenient. Let not Injury, O Lordy 
 triumph over mee, and let my Faults by thy 
 
 Fland 
 
 1645. 
 
 June 25, 
 
 Wednefday, 
 
142 
 
 1645. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 Hand be correcSied, and make not mine un- 
 juft Enemy the Minifter of thy Juftice. But 
 yet, my God^ if in thy Wifdom this bee the 
 apteft Chaftifement for my inexcufable Folly, 
 if this low Bondage bee fitteft for my over- 
 high Defires, if the Pride of my not enough 
 humble Heart bee thus to bee broken, O 
 Lord^ I yield unto thy will and joyfully em- 
 brace what Sorrow thou wilt have mee fuffer. 
 Onely thus much let me crave of thee (let my 
 craving, O Lord^ bee accepted of thee, fince 
 even that proceeds from thee), let mee crave 
 even by the nobleft Title, which in my great- 
 eft Afflidion I may give myfelfe, that I am 
 thy Creature, and by thy Goodnefte (which 
 is thyfelfe) that thou wilt fuiFer fome beame 
 of thy Majeftie fo to fhine into my Minde 
 that it may ftill depend confidently on thee. 
 Let Calamitie bee the exercife, but not the 
 overthrow of my Virtue : let this Power pre- 
 vail, but prevail not to their deftrudion : let 
 my Greatnefle be their Prey : let mxy pain bee 
 
 the 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 the Sweetneffe of their Revenge : let them, if 
 fo it feemeth good unto thee, vex me with 
 more and more Punifhment. But, O Lord^ 
 let never their Wickedneffe have fuch a 
 Hand, but that I may carry a pure Minde in 
 a pure Body. 
 
 My Lord telleth mee he met wixh Colonel 
 Hammond^ vAio was at the taking of Bajing- 
 houfe^ and made Prifoner there : he and another 
 Officer were taken, before the Houfe was at- 
 tacked, by a Party ftealing out therefrom on a 
 foggy night. Lieutenant General Cromwell 
 wrote a Letter acquainting the Governour that 
 if any violence were offered thefe Men, the beft 
 in the Houfe fhould not expe£l Quarter. The 
 Counteffe of Winchejlers Gentlewoman and 
 Waiting- woman were killed by a cannon fhot. 
 Sir Marmaduke Rawdon declared to the Mar- 
 queffe who propofed to furrender, he would 
 not, fo long as a dog, or a cat or rat did re~ 
 maine : yet it would feeme there was not much 
 
 Danger 
 
 143 
 
 1645. 
 
 Oct. 20, 
 
 Monday. 
 
144 From the Diary of 
 
 1645. Danger of fuch Extremity, there being found 
 in the Caftle vaft ftore of Wheat, and 300 
 Flitches of Bacon, and forty thoufand pounds 
 weight of Cheefe, belides Beef. They took off 
 the Lead from the Turrets, to ufe for Bullets : 
 and the Marchioneffe with her Ladies did helpe 
 to caft them. There were within the Caftle 
 600 common Soldiers, moft whereof Papifts, 
 and fought defperately. Inigo J ones ^ the great 
 Builder, is one of the Prifoners. Colonel Ham- 
 mond fayth, the Marqueffe, on fome Quarrel 
 with Sir Marmaduke^ he being of the Englijh 
 Church, and the Marqueffe a Roman Catholick, 
 became fufpicious of him being the Governour, 
 and had him removed: and fhortly thereafter 
 the Houfe was taken, the Storme not lafting 
 more than an houre. The Silver plate. Cabi- 
 nets, Jewells, and other Treafure did afford 
 rich Plunder: the Houfe is burned down to 
 the Ground; 
 
 Greatly furprifed to read in the PerfeB Di- 
 
 urnall^ 
 
Lady Willoughby. 145 
 
 urnall^ that the Houfe has moved that the Lord ^645. 
 Willoughby be made an Earle, and the fame of 
 other Lords, and that the Earles oi EJfex^ Pem- 
 broke^ &c. be made Dukes : in all likelihood the 
 matter will end here. They whofe Titles are 
 of long Defcent, methinks, would not confider 
 newe ranke, given under the circumftances, as 
 any addition to their Dignitie. We heare an 
 EngliJJj Barony is to bee conferr'd on Lieu- 
 tenant General Cromwelly with an Eftate of 
 2500 Pound yearly. 
 
 A Neighbour of the blind Widow came up at 
 Noone to fay the poore infirme Creature did 
 appeare neare her laft Houre: went ftraight- 
 way to her Cottage, fhe was ftill fenfible, & did 
 expreffe great Satisfadlion at my coming : fate 
 fome time by her Bed-fide, fhe fpoke of her 
 Sonne, whom fhe yet believes living, and ftrong 
 were her Supplications that Divine Mercy 
 might be extended to him, that he might turne 
 from theEvill of his Wayes, even at the Eleventh 
 
 u Houre : 
 
146 From the Diary of 
 
 1645. Houre: My poore prodigal Sonne, thus fhe 
 fpake, hath he in that diftant Land, away from 
 his poore old Mother, call'd to Minde her 
 Words, her Prayers, and return'd to his Hea- 
 venly Father, faying, I have finned in thy fight ^ 
 and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne. 
 If the LiOrd in his Mercy would give mee this 
 hope, then would his unworthy Servant depart 
 in peace. She feemed comforted : and repeated 
 at intervals. With God all things are pofftble. I 
 left her, in her awful PaiTage from Life unto 
 Death, a paffage to her deprived of Terror, for 
 her Faith forfooke her not, but rather burned 
 brighter and brighter, even to the End : fhe did 
 not live through the night. Her Gaine is my 
 Loffe : though poore and meane, I have failed 
 not to find in her Company Edification and 
 ofttimes Comfort. 
 
 The King hath fled by night from Newark 
 to Oxford: the two Houfes have againe refolved 
 to fubmit to him certaine Propofitions. 
 
 My 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 147 
 
 My Lord hath heard that the young Earle 
 of Carlijle hath eftablifh'd his Claime to the 
 Barbadoes Property, and is incb'n'd to enter 
 into Negotiation concerning the fame. Prefent 
 Perill in fighting |or ftrife, or Perill of the deepe 
 waters and peftilence, whichfoever way I turne 
 Trouble on every fide. 
 
 The Houfe have fent Propofitions to the 
 King^ who is at Newcajlle under a fort of 
 Guardfhip of the Scots. 
 
 An Order hath pafl^'d that the Summe of 
 3300 pounds be paid to the Lord Willoughby^ 
 which I am fure the fayd Lord much needeth. 
 
 Latham Houfe in Lancajhire is taken: the 
 \^2Aj Derby having defended it two yeares : the 
 Earle in the Ijle of Man by the Kings command. 
 For 9 Months together the befieged Party held 
 Communication with their Friends by meanes 
 of a Dog, in this way: they tied a Letter round 
 
 his 
 
 1645. 
 
 May 2 1 , 
 Wednejday , 
 
 Dec. 9, 
 
 Tuefday, 
 
148 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 ^^45- his Throat, and he went to where he did ufe to 
 Hve, 3 miles off: here he was kept, and when 
 any Papers were to be fent, his Miftreffe tyed 
 them in like manner, and having kept him 
 awhile a hunger'd, open'd the door and beat 
 him out, when he fet off and returned to his 
 Mafter, who was in Latham Houfe, He was at 
 laft fhot by a Souldier, but got to the Mote-fide 
 near the Gate, and there died. The Houfe is 
 burnt: the rich lilk Hangings of the Beds were 
 torn to pieces, and made into Safhes. This hif- 
 tory of the Dog was related to mee by one there 
 prefent. 
 
 Dec. i8j 
 
 Thurfday 
 
 Great Difagreement in the Houfe: the Scott s 
 take the Side of the Prefby terians . There feem- 
 eth no Mafter-minde to give a fteady Diredion 
 to the Power they have gained. General Crom- 
 well &c Fairfax are away from London^ deeming 
 it moft prudent, as they hold out, to bring the 
 reft of the Kingdome into fubjedion to the Par- 
 liament ^ho^iorc they belGiege th^King at Oxford. 
 
 People 
 
People remark that other Generals fliut them- 
 felves up in Winter-quarters, but this Cromwell 
 fets at Defiance the Cold of Winter, Stormes & 
 Darkneffe. 
 
 1645. 
 
 1646. 
 
 Laft weeke Fairfax and Cromwell reached 
 Newberry a place within a fhort diftance from 
 Oxford^ and where the Lord Faulkland was 
 killed, whereupon the King fled from that City 
 in difguife : fome fay he hath fubmitted to have 
 his Beard cut: furely brought to this extremity 
 he would yeeld to his Parliament^ and keepe to 
 his Engagements. He hath made a Treaty with 
 the Scots^ through his Agent MontreuiL I do 
 heartily wifh they may convey him in fafety to 
 Scotland^ and thence beyond Seas, there to 
 abide for a time, till the heate of Men's Spirits 
 againft him pafle away, and haply then Affaires 
 might be fettled for hisreturneto hisKingdome. 
 
 The 
 
 1646. 
 
 April. 
 
150 From the Diary of 
 
 1646. The Prince of VTales is fayd to have efcaped. 
 My deare Hujband is wearie of the Confufion, 
 and apprehendeth an Army may in the ende be 
 more tyrannical and a worfeEnemie to contend 
 with than a King. 
 
 July. It is fayd the poore defeated Kingjiits like a 
 
 hunted Partridge from oneGarrifon to another; 
 the laftReportwas of his hting^itNewark. The 
 Princes Rupert and Maurice have demanded 
 Paffeports of Parliament to go beyond feas. 
 The Commons readily complyed, v^ith Thank- 
 fulneffeto get rid of one who hath fhed fo much 
 Englijh Blood, Prince Rupert hath latterly 
 fhewne great Difrefped & contemptuous Man- 
 ner to the King. 
 
 Auguft. Newes hath arrived that Fairfax has taken 
 
 Ragland Cajlle in Wales. The old Marqueffe 
 held out bravely more than ten dayes, but at 
 length furrender'd : as many as eight hundred 
 People and Souldiers march'd forth the Caftle, 
 
 which 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 15^ 
 
 which I have heard fay is a noble Building. 
 
 1646. 
 
 The Marqueffe was accompanied by his Sonne 
 
 
 Lord Charles^ the CountefTe of Glamorgan^ & 
 
 
 Lady yones. How great a change for this ven- 
 
 
 erable Nobleman, who but a fhort time Unce 
 
 
 did entertaine with princely Magnificence and 
 
 
 Loyal tie his Sovereign : and now both King & 
 
 V 
 
 Subject are Wanderers. Befide lofinghisCaftle, 
 
 
 he is like enough to lofe large fummes of Money 
 
 
 which he hath lent the King: high and low. 
 
 
 Mifery is over all the Land. 
 
 
 The Earle o^ EJfex died on the 14th. 
 
 Sept. 16. 
 
 1647. The 
 
 • 
 
^52 
 
 Ml' 
 
 Feb. 8, 
 
 Monday. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1647. 
 
 He Scots having received the 
 Summe of 200,000 pound, have 
 march'd out of TV^'z^;^^/^, leaving 
 the King to the Commiflioners 
 of Parliament^ the Earles of Pembroke & Den- 
 bigh^ and the Lord Montague^ and the Com- 
 miflioners of the Houfe of Commons. It tooke 
 36 Carts to carry the bags of Money to Torke^ 
 and fome fay it did take nine or ten dayes to 
 count the fame. 
 
 Feb. 19, 
 
 Friday, 
 
 The poore King^ a Prifoner in his owne 
 Kingdome, is now eftabUfhed at Holmby Houfe ^ 
 and hath expreflfed his Satisfadion vv^ith his 
 
 Treatment 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 Treatment there & Accommodation, with one 
 Exception, that he hath no Chaplaine, the which 
 he petitioneth for, but it is not thought fafe or 
 expedient, and they who have taken the order- 
 ing of this BufinefTe have fent him Chaplaines 
 of their owne Perfuafion, but the King will not 
 liften to them, neither will he permitt them to 
 fay Grace at his Table : Men fay he beareth his 
 Misfortunes, which truly are many, with Dig- 
 nity and Chearfullneffe. 
 
 My deare Hufband hath much Turmoile in 
 the Houfe. The Earle of Warwick doth aime 
 to get the three Earles, Bedford^ Hollande^ and 
 Clare admitted: the which others would if 
 pojGible prevent, and they talke of getting the 
 Commons to bring in an impeachment of the 
 Lord o{ Hollande^ on fome Affaire which my 
 Hufband calleth the Forreft-bufinefTe, of which 
 I know not : befide this he went over to the other 
 Party, notwithftanding that he had taken the 
 Oath. 
 
 X' The 
 
 153 
 
 1647- 
 
 March 10, 
 Friday » 
 
154 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1647. 
 
 May 12, 
 
 Wednejday, 
 
 The hord LiJJe hath beene removed from the 
 Government of Ireland: and likewife his Bro- 
 ther Algernon Sydney from Dublin^ the latter 
 on the Motion of old Sir Henry Vane. This 
 fudden removal of his Sonnes will no doubt be 
 difpleafing to the Earle oi Leicejler^ though he 
 keepeth himfelfe in much privacy at Penjhurjl^ 
 and meddleth not in publick Bufineffe : 
 
 June 10, 
 Thur/day. 
 
 On Saturday the 5 th the Commons fate long, 
 and becaufeof the greatneffe of their Bufineffes 
 they refolved to fit even the next day (Sunday). 
 They did defire the Peers to do fo likev^ife, which 
 they, expe<9:ing fome great Matter, agreed to 
 do. Mr. Algernon Sidney did tell my Hujhand 
 that when the Commons met, Mr. Marjhall 
 their famous Minifter did pray for & with them, 
 and that when he ended his Prayer, the Com- 
 mons defyred him to make a repetition of his 
 Sermon which he had preach'dthatdayat^^- 
 minjler. The fame being over, the Commons 
 
 rofe 
 
rofe without doing any thing, & without fend- 
 ing fo much as a word to the Lords. 
 
 Much Difcontent rifing up : t}\tPrefbyterian 
 Party have proclaim'd the eftablifhment of their 
 Form of Worfhip to the exclufion of every other. 
 My Lordhtcou\ct\i more and more difTatisfied 
 with the Spirit of Bigotry which has of late 
 gathered fuch Strength, and the Self-exaltation, 
 as exclufive as that of Popery, which they do 
 condemn in others. This is moft contrary to my 
 dt^x^ Hujband' s naturall difpofition and former 
 Principles. It is propofed to reduce the Army, 
 and fome Troops have been difbanded. 
 
 The Army is greatly incenfed, and hath broke 
 up its Quarters at Nottinghame^ and march'd. 
 People fay, upon London. Alas, muft more 
 blood be fhed ? What will become of this un- 
 happy Countrey : no King, no Rulers, and a 
 large vidorious Army fet in oppofition to the 
 now feeble power of a mifguided and fanatic 
 
 Houfe 
 
 1647, 
 
 June 24, 
 Thur/day. 
 
 June 25, 
 Friday. 
 
156 
 
 i647- 
 
 June 28, 
 
 Monday. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 Houfe of Commons. And woe is me, the Huf- 
 band whom I love and honour, fo mixed up 
 with them that he muft abide by their ads, and 
 fhare in them. 
 
 The Earle oi Northumberland)i?i\S\ had per- 
 miffion to take the Kings Children to fee their 
 Father : coming to Caverjham^ a great number of 
 People flocked thither to fee them, and ftrewed 
 the Way with greene branches and herbes. 
 Poore Children, their pitifull Condition moveth 
 many hearts : & no marvell, many will in fecret 
 rejoice that this drop of comfort is permitted to 
 the unhappy King. 
 
 The monthly Faft : met with the Remark fol- 
 lowing, which feemeth much to the purpofe : 
 Let thy religious Faji be a voluntary Abjlinence^ 
 not fo much from Flefh as flefhly Thoughts. He 
 fafs truly that abfiains fadly^ grieves really^ 
 gives cheer efully^ and forgives charitably. 
 
 Alice becometh daily more infirme, and is 
 but little able to take any overflight : think to 
 
 place 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 place my own Waiting- woman more in charge, 
 after £he hath given fome Inftrudions to Pa- 
 tience^ who is clever at her needle, and will fuit 
 me well-enough. 
 
 As I came up from the Dairie met the Chil- 
 dren full of Sorrow that a poore Partridge had 
 beene killed by a Scythe^ whilft fitting on her 
 Neft: the Egges are put under a Hen, and the 
 Men think they will be hatch'd in a few dayes. 
 
 Voted in the Houfe that the Army fhould not 
 come within 40 Miles oi London. 
 
 The Army, they fay, hath made St. Albans 
 their Head-quarters, and have fent up to accufe 
 Hollisy Stapleton^ Maynard^ and others. 
 
 Great Tumults in London. The Speakers of 
 \yoX^Houfes and great part of the Members have 
 put themfelves under the Protedion of the Ar- 
 my. Sorely perplex'd, and know not what is 
 the meaning of thefe difturbances, or what may 
 befall TCijHufhand: the Children, too young for 
 care, fo bufied with their young Partridges, are 
 as happy as May-queenes. One 
 
 157 
 
 1647. 
 
 Augufl 3, 
 Tuefday, 
 
158 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1647. 
 
 Aug. 12, 
 Thurfday. 
 
 One Day cometh, and then another, and yet 
 no Tidings : this is hard to endure, ignorant what 
 may betide us in thefe evill Times. 
 
 Aug. 14, 
 Saturday, 
 
 Late to-night my deareft Life rode haftily 
 up : he was fafe for the prefent moment, & my 
 firft Feeling was of unmix'd ThankfuUnefle to 
 Him who permitted us to meete once more. 
 After he had refted awhile, he entered into 
 fome Relation of the late Events in the Houfe. 
 He and many others have believed that the 
 Power of the Army endangered the libertie of 
 the Countrey, and the Common Council of 
 London^ united with them, and met, and fent a 
 Letter to the Generall declaring their wifh for 
 Peace, and entreating that the Army might not 
 advance, nor intermeddle with the Rights and 
 Privileges of the City. The Train-bands were 
 ordered out. Some Members met in either 
 Houfe^ but the Speakers came not: and to my 
 Lord's Amazement he was chofen Speaker, 
 
 pro 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 pro tempore^ and Mr. Pelham of the Commons. 
 They proceeded to appoint a Committee of 
 Safety: and the City iffued a Proclamation to 
 the eifed: that they defired a happy and fpeedy 
 Peace, by the Settlement of true Religion, and 
 the re-eftablifhing his Majejiy in his juft Rights 
 and Authority. But the Proceedings of the Houfe 
 were marked by uncertainty and trepidation, 
 and the day following, Fairfax came up to 
 Wejlminjler attended by Cromwell and regi- 
 ments of Horfe and Foot. The Generall on 
 horfe- back with his Life-guard, then the Speak- 
 ers and Members of the Lords and Commons in 
 coaches, and another regiment of Horfe brought 
 up the rear. The Officers and Gentlemen, and 
 every Soldier had a branch of lawrel in his hat. 
 The Generall received the Thankes of both 
 Houfes^zxiA was made Lieutenant of the Tower : 
 and thus the Army afferted its Supremacy. 
 
 For a time the confideration of our private 
 Affaires was fe t afide ,in the momentous concerns 
 of this diftraded Kingdome. Who will arife 
 
 with 
 
 159 
 
 1647. 
 
1 6o From the Diary of 
 
 1647- with a ftrong minde and pure Heart, to bring 
 thefe ftrugglesforFreedome, andthefe conflid- 
 ing Opinions to a happy iffue ? There is one my 
 Hujband fayes who lackes not the will to become 
 Leader, or peradventure the power: but none 
 have penetrated his heart, or know if he may 
 be trufted. I did once behold this Cromwell^ 
 who maketh fo many quail before him, but me- 
 thought his Looke was hard and fubtle, and I 
 liked him not. And the King^ deare Hujband^ 
 I afked, is he fafe, will he depart the Countrey ? 
 No Man knoweth, he reply'd: he will not be 
 permitted to leave the Countrey, if Guards and 
 ftrong Caftles can prevent. He is fafe, fo far as 
 concerns his Life : he may be deprived of Power 
 or even of his Crowne, but on no Plea can they 
 take his Life : and yet who fhall fay where they 
 will flop? I would lay downe my Life to know 
 him to be fafe : we have fought and ftriven, and 
 have fet a Stone rolling that haply will crufh all 
 that come in its way. Laws, Parliament^ or even 
 the Z'/;^^himfelfe. MyiJ^^W leant downe his 
 
 Head 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 i6i 
 
 Head on the table, & hid his Face on his arme, 
 and fo remained overwhelmed by the profpeft 
 of Mifery before us. I ventured not to fpeake: 
 it is an awfull thing to behold the Spirit of a 
 ftrong Man fhaken, and to hear Sobbes burft 
 forth from his over burthened Heart. At length 
 fuch violent Shivering feized him that I fum- 
 moned Armjlrong. We endeavoured to per- 
 fuade him to drinke a little Wine, he tooke fome, 
 but begged for Water, his Mouth was foparch'd : 
 after fome time he went to bed, anddefired that 
 Armjlrong might fit up by him during the firft 
 part of the night : his owne Man, having had 
 poore reft of late, he feared to affright mee by 
 his uneafie fleepe. I layd mee downe in the 
 Nurferie, rifing oft to fee if he flept: toward 3 
 of the clock he was more quiet: and at 4 I fent 
 Armjirong to bed, and tooke his place by my 
 poore Hujband. I look'd on his altered Counte- 
 nance, funk and pale, the faire Brow wrinkled, 
 and his long black Haire now gray and difor- 
 der'd : a flight quivering of his Lippes and un- 
 
 Y equall 
 
 1647. 
 
l62 
 
 1647. 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 equall Breathing betoken'd ftill uneafy reft : my 
 Eyes grew blinded with Teares, and I bent 
 downe and hid my Face on the Pillow befide 
 his. And here to my furprife found I had dropt 
 afleepe : he feeming likely to remaine quiet, I 
 arofe foftly and ftepp'd into my Clofet, & there, 
 alone, endeavoured to compofe my Thoughts : 
 had he not been preferv'd in many Battles and 
 dangers, and fliould I now give up Faith in the 
 good Providence of G^^,beleeving heartily that 
 we are fafer in his Hands than if we could take 
 the ordering of our Fate into our owne ? I would 
 faine have my deare Life depart hence with 
 fpeed, but untill he knoweth what Courfe the 
 Parliament will hold towards him, and thofe 
 with whom he hath aded, he is unwilling to 
 leave the Kingdome : he hath Enemys in the 
 Houfe of Commons^ but likewife good Friends, 
 and he doubteth not receiving timely Notice of 
 any meafure to his Hurt. It would ill befeem 
 his Wife to counfel flight, nor would I, how 
 great foevermy Feares,if he could doe ought for 
 
 his 
 
Lady Willoughby . 163 
 
 his King or Countrey by remaining: but this 1647. 
 Subjugation of the Parliament by the Armie, 
 will bring the Countrey under the fierce and 
 uncertaine Rule of the Souldiers & their Com- 
 manders, and there is no Party to withftand 
 them. I ftrive to put from mee the dreadfull 
 Vifion of the Scaffold and the Block, which hath 
 often vifited mee in the night-watches when 
 fuch danger exifted not, but now may well fill 
 my Soule with Terrour. I will befeech him to 
 paffe over to Holland ^\\.^ fayeth the worft will be 
 Imprifonment in the Tower: but how many 
 are led therefrom onely to their Death. 
 
 Word brought by a fure Hand that it is or- Sept. n, 
 der'd by the Houfe of Peeres^ that the Lords ''^"'^ ''"^' 
 impeach'd by the Commons be brought up to 
 anfwer to the Impeachment. Friends of my 
 Hujhand advife him to keepe out of the way 
 untill the prefent Heate and ftorme be a little 
 paft over: this Counfell but ill receiv'd by him, 
 and he is bent upon appearing. 
 
 The 
 
164 From the Diary of 
 
 1647- 
 
 Nov. 13, The King hath efcaped from Hampton 
 
 Saturday. (Jq^^^^ . ^^ Rcport Is, that he having retired to 
 be private, as hath been his cuftome a fhort 
 fpace before evening Prayers, and ftaying fome- 
 what longer than ufuall, it was taken notice of, 
 and not yet coming forth, fuddenly there 
 were Feares of the caufe hereof, which were 
 encreaf'd by the crying of a Dog within, he had 
 latterly kept conftantly with him a favourite 
 Greyhound, often faying he did prefer them to 
 Spaniels, upon Search being made, it was found 
 the King had departed by a back Doore which 
 ledde to the Garden. I do heartily hope he may 
 get away: methinks he will then ftand in a 
 more honourable pofition to make Termes with 
 his Parliament than when fhut up as aPrifoner: 
 and the People finding themfelves without a 
 King, perchance may wifh for him back. It is 
 currently believ'd that fome Officers of the Ar- 
 mie did fecretly communicate with the Kingy 
 and had Inftruftions from Generall Cromwell 
 
 himfelfe 
 
Lady Willoughby . 165 
 
 himfelfe and others, that if he would ajGTent to 1647. 
 their Propofals, which were lower than thofe 
 of the Parliament^ the Armie would fettle him 
 againe on the Throne : and it is thought he was 
 hereupon inclined in his owne Judgement to 
 enter into a Treaty with them, but was difwaded 
 by the Bifhops. Some are as hotly againft Crom- 
 well as againft the King: nay fome goe fo farre 
 as to fay he was in danger of being fent to the 
 Tower, had he not left Z/^Wc?;^ before they were 
 prepared. 
 
 This being a day whereon the Parliament Nov. 24, 
 fate not, the Lord Gray and Henry Willoughby^ 
 a young Kinfman of my Hufband's, tooke mee 
 to fee fome Tapeftrie Hangings in the Houfe 
 of Peeres. A Portrait of Sir Ambrofe Willoughby 
 is work'd therein, who was Uncle to the late 
 Lord, and Grandfather to Henry. They did 
 perfuade mee to be carried in a Sedan-chaire : 
 I was well pleafedto get out againe, being much 
 difcomfitted by the jolting. After fome exami- 
 nation 
 
1 66 From the Diary of 
 
 1647. nation we difcovered the Portraite, on the bor- 
 der under the Armes of the Lord High Admi- 
 ral : it is of oval fhape, a Gorget of plate armour 
 over his Doublet, and a picked Beard and 
 Muftachoe, like to thofe now worne. He was 
 in Command of a Ship againft the Armada. I 
 was faine to afke whereabout vaj dic?irt Hujhand 
 had heretofore fate, but when the Thought 
 arofe, that the next time he would enter that 
 Houfe it would be as a prifoner to be tried by 
 Men, many of whom were his bitter Enemies, I 
 could fcarce raife my Voice: the Lord Gray 
 fufpeding wherefore I look'd around fo wift- 
 fully, did kindly point out the Place. 
 
 Nov. 30, To-day my Hujband occupied himfelfe for 
 
 '''^''•^* my fatisfadion in drawing up a Letter to the 
 Houfe oiLiOrds^ fomething to this effed: beg- 
 ging their Lordfhips would be pleafed to order 
 his Enlargement, feeing that he had beene com- 
 mitted without any particular Charge againft 
 him : that he had received counfell of his Friends 
 
 that 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 that he is not fit for publick Employment^ and 
 was therefore refolv'd on Privacy : that he had 
 allwayes beene faithful! to xht Parliament: and 
 defired their Lordfhips to make an honourable 
 Conftruftion of his Wifh for Retirement. After 
 all our Toyle, I much feare he will not at pre- 
 fent fend his Remonftrance; whenfoever fett 
 free he would without delay imbarke for Hol- 
 land. He can no longer a6t with the Parlia- 
 ment^ fince they will make no Termes whatfo- 
 ever with the King^ and he is jealous that the 
 Monarchy is in danger of being wholly loft, and 
 all Rank deftroyed. 
 
 Wente downe in a coach to the Parliament- 
 houfe, and fate therein the while Henry Wil- 
 loughby did try to learne fome Newes. After 
 waiting more than an houre, the Lord A?)^ came 
 out and informed mee aMeffage had beene fent 
 to them by the Commons that morning praying 
 for further Time to be allowed for bringing up 
 the Impeachment of the feven Lords, which was 
 
 granted 
 
 167 
 
 1647. 
 
 Dec. 2, 
 
 Thurfday. 
 
1 6 8 From the Diary of 
 
 1647. granted. Hereupon I went backe to the Tower 
 to tell my Hujband of this further Delay : and 
 it was agreed betweene us that it were well I 
 fhould returne to Par ham forthwith: and as 
 Miftreffe Gage did purpofe to fett forth early 
 in the forenoone to morrow, and would goe by 
 Hengrave^ and had oiFered to carry mee with 
 her in her coach, it feemed too favourable an 
 opportunitie to be miff'd, although it would 
 make my Departure fudden. Left the Tower 
 before 8, the Snow lying thick upon the Street, 
 and with forrowfull Heart made Preparation 
 for fetting forth home- wards. My deare Huf- 
 band maketh light of his iituation, and ftrives 
 to cheere mee, and perfuade mee to take Hope 
 in the Exertions now making by a few faithfuU 
 Friends of Influence in xh^Houfe^ who promife 
 they will doe him what Service they can to 
 pacific his Adverfaries, who are the more fharply 
 bent againft him. The chearfull and compofed 
 Demeanour he did maintaine ferved for a time 
 to lighten my Forebodings, and the moment of 
 
 Parting 
 
Lady Willoughby. 169 
 
 Parting came on a fudden, and I followed the Mi- 
 Guard downe the Staires and under the Arch- 
 way as in a Dreame: the Doore clofed after 
 mee : had I in truth left him, my deareft Life, 
 in that dark Prifon-houfe there alone to await 
 his Sentence ? I knowe not how I reach'd my 
 Lodging, fome kind Friend put mee into a 
 coach and fupported mee to my chamber. 
 
 Nature would have her way for a time, but 
 the Lord fuiFered mee not to be wholly caft 
 downe, and in fpreading my Sorrows before 
 Him, and committing my beloved Hujband to 
 His Keeping, who hath the power to fave even 
 to the uttermoft, I was ftrengthened, and did 
 endeavour to fubmit with patience to the pre- 
 fent Triall, though it is indeed heavy and griev- 
 ous to be borne. The night was cold, and my 
 condition forlorne and comfortleffe, but I laid 
 me downe on the bed in as much quietneffe of 
 fpirit as I well could, feeling that reft was needed 
 to encounter the morrow's Journey from this 
 weary Citie to returne to my poore Children. 
 
 z Refledtion 
 
1 70 From the Diary of 
 
 1647. Reflection on the Encouragement given by- 
 divers kind and powerfull Friends was very 
 helpfull, and I flept. The time of our De- 
 parture the next day was appoynted at an early 
 houre. 
 
 1648. No 
 
Lady Willoughby. 
 
 1648. 
 
 O Ty dings from London. Newes 
 of great Diforder and Tumult in 
 Canterbury. The Mayor endea- 
 vouring the execution of the Or- 
 dinance forabolifliing Holy-days, he was much 
 abufed by the People on Chrijlmajfe-day^ they 
 beat him on the head, and dragg'd him up and 
 downe. The like Violence hath beene pradifed 
 at other Places, but none hereabout. Some fewe 
 People came into the Parke, and collected 
 around the old Thorn, which hath many times 
 put forth a fewe Bloffoms on Chrijimajfe-eve^ 
 and whiche they looke upon as a Miracle, but 
 no perfon did moleft them. 
 
 The 
 
 1648. 
 
 Jan. 3, 
 Monday. 
 
172 
 
 From the Diary of 
 
 1648. The Children were abroad fo foone as the 
 
 Sunne rofe, and brought in Ivy and branches of 
 Holly, which they put about the Hall & their 
 Nurferie^ as their pleafure is. They fet up a 
 great Shout when there was feene a fine piece 
 of Miffeltoe at the top of a Hamper containing 
 Apples, timely fent by their Uncle from Gloucef- 
 terjhire. I could not beare to fadden their 
 Pleafure by the trouble of my owne Heart, and 
 they did fpend a right merrie Chrijlmajfe. Their 
 Uncle William and his Family flaying with us. 
 
 Jan. II, 
 Tuefday. 
 
 It is well for mee the Children give mee full 
 Occupation: they take well to their learning, & 
 the Chaplaine faith Fanny maketh goode pro- 
 greffe in the Latine; but I find her fomewhat 
 averfe to Needle worke, wherein her Sifter Diana 
 is more expert, as alfo in fome other Matters 
 which in my judgement are like to be of more 
 Service than a knowledge of Latine : though 
 where Nature hath given a Capacitie for fuch. 
 ftudies, methinks wefhould err in not providing 
 
 Meanes 
 
Lady Willoughby, 
 
 Meanes of improving the fame: and I doe 
 already fee in Fanny an encreafe of SteadinefTe 
 at her tafkes,and exadneffe in the Performance 
 of them. No letter yet from London^ keepeth 
 mee in much uneafineffe. 
 
 Letter from Sir Harry Vane: the charge 
 againft my Hujband paff'd the Houfe on the 
 27th, and was ordered to be fent up to the 
 Lords. 
 
 Armjirong returned yefternight from Aid- 
 borough: no Veffell, it is fayd, will fail to Hol- 
 land from that Place or Yarmouth for fome 
 time. 
 
 My deare Life, Thanks be unto God^ is fafe 
 in Holland: he hath feene the Prince o^ Wales. 
 
 Deare Heart, 
 
 After a toylfome Paflage we landed at 
 Dunkirk: methought the Voyage did too 
 
 nearly 
 
 ^1Z 
 
 1648. 
 
 Jan. 29, 
 Saturday. 
 
 Feb. 20, 
 Monday » 
 
 March 30, 
 Thurfday, 
 
 A portion of the 
 letter apparent- 
 ly alluded to 
 by Lady Wil- 
 loughby. 
 
 Editor. 
 
174 Diary of Lady Willoughby. 
 
 1648. nearly pidure my troubled and uncertaine 
 
 Life. I am well in Health : the Packet came 
 fafe to hand, and I was right glad of the 
 Paftie and Wheaten-loaf, after having fpent 
 the night on deck, the Vidtuals on board 
 being ill to eat. The Doublet worked by my 
 fweete Wife did greatly add to my Comfort, 
 as did divers other Matters lovingly remem- 
 bered by her for my ufe. Heretofore, though 
 often feparated, yet was I in the fame Coun- 
 trie that did containe my little Ones and her 
 who is my Soule's Joy and Confolation, the 
 trueft Friend and Counfellor that ever Man 
 had: now each wave carry 'd me onward to a 
 ftrange Land, and never did Abfence appear 
 fo unfupportable. Kifle our deare Children 
 for me. Bid Armjirong be carefull to omit 
 nought that I left in his Charge; he would 
 doe well to fee Wingfield concerning the 
 gray Horfe, which fhould be cared for : my 
 Brother can ride Berwick. 
 
Printed by Charles Whittingham, at the 
 Chiswick Press. 
 
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