xxiv The Duchess of Newcastle 



since this gave him the chance of writing her Epitaph — 

 one that Addison admired : 



HERE LYES THE LOYALL DUKE OF NEWCASTLE AND 

 HIS DUTCHES HIS SECOND WIFE, BY WHOME HE HAD NOI 

 ISSUE: HER NAME WAS MARGARETT LUCAS, YOUNGEST 

 SISTER TO THE LORD LUCAS OF COLCHESTER, A NOBLE 

 FAMILIE: FOR ALL THE BROTHERS WERE VALIANT, AND 

 ALL THE SISTERS VIRTUOUS. THIS DUTCHES WAS A WISE, 

 WITTIE AND LEARNED LADY, WHICH HER MANY BOOKS 

 DOE WELL TESTIFIE: SHE WAS A MOST VIRTUOUS AND A 

 LOVING AND CAREFUL WIFE AND WAS WITH HER LORD 

 ALL THE TIME OF HIS BANISHMENT AND MISERIES: AND 

 WHEN HE CAME HOME NEVER PARTED FROM HIM IN HIS 

 SOLITARY RETIREMENT. 



Diepenbeke's uncounted portraits of the Duke on 

 horseback, and his and other pictures of the Duchess in 

 theatrical or other dress, make it evident that they 

 were, in spite of a disparity of thirty years or more, a 

 comely and well-matched pair. Margaret Newcastle 

 died on the seventh of January, 1673-4, and was buried 

 in Westminster Abbey; we should need the hand of 

 Pepys to describe the funeral. As for the Duke, he 

 died 25 Dec, 1676, and followed her to the Abbey, 

 where he lies in St. Michael's Chapel. We might steal 

 two lines from those he wrote for his wife's play. Bell 

 in Campo, to close the scene: 



Oh, Death hath shaked me kindly by the hand. 

 To bid me welcome to the silent grave." 



E. R. 



