LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT. 15 



** The legend of my predecessor's marriage 

 surely cannot come from an oracle either in the 

 House, or without it. If his pretended wife 

 died before he came to Lambeth, why should 

 he bring her thither to bury her, without own- 

 ing his marriage ? or how should he bury her 

 there (as such) without public notice ? I have 

 been told long since, that when he was fellow 

 of All-Soul's College there was love between 

 him and Mrs. Astley, sister to the then warden; 

 and that some said it went so far as contract, 

 or promise of marriage ; but it went no further: 

 of which, they say, she also complained. This 

 is, I think, the ground (if there be any) of the 

 story : and I care not for affording it so good 

 an one, it being told me in secret. 



" The letter you sent me inclosed is not 

 from a man (as you will see) but from a woman. 

 She was a child of about two years old when I 

 removed after the fire from St. Paul's to her 

 father's house. When I left that place I saw 

 her not of many years : but in King James's 

 time she came to me, and desired me to get 

 some employment for her husband, who, she 

 said, is a good clerk, <Scc. I told her I had no 

 such in view, and that I must know her hus- 

 band better, before I could recommend him : 

 but I never saw him nor any testimonial of him. 

 For her present request, you know I have al- 



