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Life of the Duchess of Newcastle 



the ruin of time, for she had a well-favoured loveliness in her 

 face, a pleasing sweetness in her countenance, and a well- 

 tempered complexion, as neither too red nor too pale, 

 even to her dying hour, although in years. And by her dying, 

 one might think death was enamoured with her, for he em- 

 braced her in a sleep, and so gently, as if he were afraid to hurt 

 her. Also she was an affectionate mother, breeding her chil- 

 dren with a most industrious care, and tender love ; and 

 having eight children, three sons and five daughters, there 

 was not any one crooked, or any ways deformed, neither were 

 they dwarfish, or of a giant-like stature, but every ways pro- 

 portionable ; likewise well-featured, clear complexions, brown 

 hairs (but some lighter than others), sound teeth, sweet 

 breaths, plain speeches, tunable voices (I mean not so much 

 to sing as in speaking, as not stuttering, nor wharling 1 in the 

 throat, or speaking through the nose, or hoarsely, unless they 

 had a cold, or squeakingly, which impediments many have) : 

 neither were their voices of too low a strain, or too high, 

 but their notes and words were tunable and timely. 

 I hope this truth will not offend my readers, and lest they 

 should think I am a partial register, I dare not commend my 

 sisters, as to say they were handsome ; although many would 

 say they were very handsome. But this I dare say, their 

 beauty, if any they had, was not so lasting as my mother's, 



blow, both her sorrows and her journey had there found an end.' After this the house 

 was thoroughly plundered, deeds and papers destroyed, garden defaced, deer killed, 

 and cattle driven away. This was largely caused by a rumour that 200 armed men 

 were discovered in a vault at Sir John Lucas's, had killed nine men already, and were 

 issuing forth to destroy the town. ' And to show that their rage will know no bounds 

 and that nothing is so sacred and venerable which they dare not to violate, they break 

 into St. Giles's Church, open the vault where his (Sir John's) ancestors were buried, and 

 with pistols, swords, and halberts transfix the coffins of the dead.' Sir John was sent 

 a prisoner to London, committed to the Gatehouse, and after a short time released on 

 giving bail to appear on summons. His eight horses and his arms were employed for 

 the service of the Parliament. Parliament also published two Declarations, the one a 

 general prohibition to soldiers and others to break into and search the houses of persons 

 suspected of disaffection and popery (August 27), the other entitled ;4 Declaration con- 

 cerning Abuses lately done by several Persons in the County of Essex. — Husband's Exact 

 Collection, pp. 590, 592, 605. In this latter Declaration it is stated that the people, on 

 the order of the parliamentary commissioners, withdrew themselves peaceably, ' and 

 as they were required, did make restitution of plate, money, and many other goods '. 

 However, the Parliament's Commssioners did not come down till Thursday, and the 

 riot took place on Monday, and the worst feature of these outrages was the amount of 

 wanton destruction. 



l Wharling — I can find no other use of the word. Halli well explains 'wharling' 

 to mean ' an inability in anyone to pronounce the letter R ' (Dictionary of Archaic and 

 Provincial Words). Shakespeare uses a somewhat similar word in King Lear, IV, vi 

 182-4 : 



" We came crying hither ; 

 Thou knowest, the first time that we smell the air, 

 We wawl and cry." 



