Memoirs 197 



neither were they dwarfish, or of a giant-hke stature, 

 but every ways proportionable ; Ukewise well featured, 

 cleer complexions, brown haires, 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 in the throat, 

 or speaking through the nose, or hoarsly, 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 tuneable 

 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 beautie 

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

 time making suddener ruin in their faces than in hers ; 

 likewise my mother was a good mistriss to her ser- 

 vants, taking care of her servants in their sickness, 

 not sparing any cost she was able to bestow for their 

 recovery: neither did she exact more from them in 

 their health then what they with ease or rather Hke 

 pastime could do: she would freely pardon a fault, 

 and forget an injury, yet sometimes she would be 

 angry; but never with her children, the sight of them 

 would pacify her, neither would she be angry with 

 others, but when she had cause, as with negligent or 

 knavish servants, that would lavishly or unnecessarily 

 waste, or subtily and thievishly steal, and though she 

 would often complain that her family was too great 

 for her weak management, and often prest my brother 

 to take it upon him, yet I observe she took a pleasure, 

 and some little pride, in the governing thereof: she 

 was very skilful in leases, and setting of lands, and 

 court-keeping, ordering of stewards, and the like 



