think he may live comfortably among these people, which would be a satisfaction to me before I die.

Dear sir, I beg your prayers, and those of your family, that I may not be daunted or appalled by the powers of hell; that I may have dying graces, and be found in a dying posture ; and, with tears, I entreat, that when you are praying for fatherless and motherless infants, you would then remember my two pretty babes.

Sir, pardon the rude style of this paper, and if my head be discomposed, you cannot wonder at me; however, be pleased to believe that I am, dear sir, your most obliged, most affectionate, and grateful servant, WILLIAM MOMPESSON,

THE REV. WILLIAM MOMPESSON TO JOHN BEILBY, ESQ.

DEAR SIR,

Egham, Nov. 20, 1666. I SUPPOSE this letter will seem no less than a miracle, proving that my habitation is inter vivos. -Being unwilling to affright you with a paper from my own hands, I have gotten a friend to transcribe these lines.

I know you are sensible of my lone condition, of my loss of the kindest wife in the world, whose life was truly inimitable, and her end most comfortable. She was in an excellent posture of preparation when death gave the summons, which filled me with assurances that she is now invested with a crown of righteousness.

By too sad experience I find the maxim veri

fied, Bonum magis carendo quam fruendo cernitur. Had I been thankful as my condition did deserve of me, I might yet have had my dearest in my bosom. But now, farewell all happy days! and God grant that I may repent of my great ingratitude!

The condition of this place hath been so dreadful, that I persuade myself it exceeded all history and example. I may truly say, our town was become a Golgotha, the place of skulls; and, had there not been a small remnant of us left, we had been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah. My ears never heard such doleful lamentations,-my nose never smelt such noisome smells, eyes never beheld such ghastly spectacles. Here have been seventy-six families visited within my parish, out of which died two hundred and fiftynine persons.

and my

Blessed be God, our fears are now over, none having died of the infection since the eleventh of October, nor is there any one under present suspicion, and all the pesthouses have been several weeks empty.

I intend, if it please God, to spend most of this week in seeing all woollen clothes fumed and purified, as well for the satisfaction as the safety of the country. Here hath been such burying of goods, as the like surely was never known; and, indeed, I think in this we have been too precise. For my own part, I have hardly left apparel to shelter my body from the cold, and have wasted more than need, for example's sake merely.

As to myself, I never was in better health than during the whole time of this dreadful visita

VOL. V.

tion; neither can I think that I had any certain symptom of the disease. My man servant had the distemper. Upon the tumour appearing, I gave him several chymical antidotes, which had a very kind operation; and, with the blessing of God, they kept the venom from the heart, and after the tumour broke he was very well. My maid hath continued in health, which was a great mercy; for, had she quailed, I should have been ill set to have washed and got provisions for myself.

I know I have had your prayers, and question not but I have fared the better for them; and conclude that the prayers of good people have rescued me from the jaws of death. Certainly I had been in the dust, if omnipotency had not been conquered by holy violence.

I have largely tasted the goodness of my Creator; since, blessed be God, the grim looks of Death did never yet affright me. I always had a firm faith that my dear babes would do well, which made me willing to leave this unkind and froward world. Yet I hope I shall esteem it a mercy that my desires of being, like my dear wife, translated to a better place, were frustrated. God grant that I may wait with patience for my change, and make a right use of his punishments and of his mercies; for, if the first have been severe, so have the last been sweet and comfortable! I perceive, by a letter from Mrs. Newby, that you have much and most kindly concerned yourself for my welfare. Indeed, I made no question of possessing your true affection. Be assured, that, in the midst of my great troubles, you were often in my thoughts.

Be pleased, sir, to accept the grateful presentment of my kindest respects, imparting the same to your good wife, and to all my dear relations.

A line from your hand would be welcome to, dearest sir, your sorrowful and truly affectionate nephew,

WILLIAM MOMPESSON.

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER TO HIS WIFE.

MY MOST NEGLECTED WIFE,

TILL you are a much respected widow, I find you will scarce be a contented woman; and to say no more than the plain truth, I do endeavour so fairly to do you that last good service, that none but the most impatient would refuse to rest satisfied.

What evil enemy to my repose does inspire my Lady Warr to visit you once a year, and leave you bewitched for eleven months after? I thank my God that I have the torment of the stone upon me (which are no small pains), rather than my unspeakable one of being an eyewitness to your uneasiness. Do but propose to me any reasonable thing upon earth I can do to set you at quiet; but it is like a mad woman to lie roaring out of pain, and never confess in what part it is. These three years have I heard you continually complaining, nor has it ever been in my

* These letters are from the pen of that Earl of Rochester who is equally known for his wit and his licentiousness. They are not dated, but the last but one, which refers to the death of the duchess of Orleans, must have been written in 1670.

power to obtain the knowledge of any considerable cause. I am confident I shall not have the affliction three years hence; but that repose I must owe to a surer friend than you. When that time comes, you will grow wiser, though I fear not much happier.

I kiss my dear wife a thousand times, as far as imagination and wish will give me leave. Think upon me as long as it is pleasant and convenient to you to do so, and afterwards forget me; for though I would fain make you the author and foundation of my happiness, I could not be the cause of your constraint and disturbance, for I love not myself soe much as I doe you, neither do I value my own satisfaction as I doe yours. Farewell.

ROCHESTER.

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER TO HIS WIFE.

DEARE WIFE,

I HAVE noe news for you but that London grows very tiresome, and I long to see you, but things are now reduced to that extremity on all sides, that a man dares not turne his back for feare of being hanged, an ill accident to be avoyded by all prudent persons, and therefore by your humble servant,

ROCHESTER.

Wood and firing, which were the subject matter of your last, I tooke order for before, and make noe question but you are served in that before this, Mr. Cary seldom fayling in any thing he undertakes.