First Earl of Shaftesbury : born 1621, died, 1683. 27 



March 3. Went to Oxsted in Surrey to wait on my wife's mother 



3 April. Went to Marlborough on my way to Pirton for my rents. 



6th. Came to the Devizes in my way home, having called at Malmesbury 



to return my money to London. May 2. Mr. Plott and I went to 



Poole to buy sack, and returned at night. 1 was made by the States a 



commissioner in their Act of contribution for the Counties of Wilts and Dorset. 



"July 4. I came to Salisbury. 10th. My wife, just as she was 



sitting down to supper, fell suddenly into an apopletical convulsion fit. She 

 recovered that fit after some time, and spake, and kissed me, and complained 

 only of her head ; but fell again in a quarter of an hour, and then never 

 came to speak again, but continued in fits and slumbers until next day. At 

 noon she died. She was with child the fourth time, and within six weeks of 

 her time. She was a lovely beautiful fair woman, a religious devout Christian, 

 of admirable wit and wisdom, beyond any I ever knew, yet the most sweet 

 affectionate and observant wife in the world. Chaste, without a suspicion of 

 the most envious, to the highest assurance of her husband ; of a most noble 

 and bountiful mind, yet very provident in the least things, exceeding all in 

 anything she undertook, housewifery, preserving, works with the needle, 

 cookery ; so that her wit and judgment were expressed in all things, free 

 from any pride or forwardness. She was in discourse and counsel far beyond 

 any woman.* 



"August 16. I was sworn a Justice of peace for the Counties of Wilts 

 and Dorset by Mr. Swanton. This was the first time I acted since the king's 

 death. 



"October 2. Went to Marlborough. 3rd. Sat at Sessions in the 



morning where were present ten Justices, myself, Mr. Swanton, Mr. Littleton, 

 Mr. Joy, Mr. Sadler, Mr. Hippesley, Colonel Ayres of Hurst, Lieut. -Col Read, 

 Captain Martin, Mr. Shute. In the afternoon 1 went to Pirton. 



" 1650. 17 January. To Salisbury to the Sessions and oyer and terminer. 

 Present Mr. Bond, High Sheriff [and thirteen others]. We all this day 

 subscribed the Engagement. 



" 11 March. To Salisbury Assize, Judge Nicholas Chief Justice. 19th. 



Laid the first stone of my house at St. Giles. 



" 15 April. I was married to Lady Frances Cecil, and removed my lodging 



to Mr. Blake's by Exeter House. 2 July. My wife and I and my sister 



came from London to Bagshot on our way westward. 2rd. Came to 



Basingstoke. 4th. To St. Giles, Wimborne." [The diary ends with this 



month.] 



In Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper's report to the Parliament of Ms 



[* This excellent lady was Margaret, daughter of Thomas, Lord Coventry, 

 Keeper of the- Great Seal. She left no surviving issue. Cooper, in his second 

 marriage, as in his first, sought the alliance of Royalist houses. The second 

 marriage, which took place in 1650, with Lady Frances Cecil, daughter of 

 David, third Earl of Exeter, was also of short duration, but was not without 

 issue. Two sons were born, the second of whom inherited his father's titles 

 and possessions. In 1656 Cooper married a third wife, but he had no move 

 children.] 



