Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/The Countess Dowager of Sunderland to Mr. Sidney, March 12
THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF SUNDERLAND TO MR. SIDNEY.
I am very glad when I have a letter from you; but I do not expect you, that have a great deal to do, and I that have nothing, should write as many letters to me as I do to you. I will let Mr. Pierpoint know your willingness to favour him; he was gone out of town yesterday before I had your letter. He and his mistress, Montague and his wife, went down to Holland with Sir John. Next week they are to be married. To-morrow Tom Pelham goes, but not his wife, because she is with child. Her father was unwilling she should go, and they dare do nothing but what he likes. Our sister will have enough upon her hands with her new body, and he so bashful a man that needs encouragement. I never saw any body more than he is. She is pleased with them all now, and so is every one with this marriage, I think, that is kind to her. Mr. Montague, I am confident, is not; but I do not now suspect any body else. When I did, it was from them I had my reasons. Her father might have married her worse and cheaper.
This day my Lord Sunderland is gone to Althorpe, and Mr. Smith has left the mirth of Holland, where he was invited, to go with him. Mr. Godolphin goes to Newmarket, and receives all my son's packets; if there is any occasion for his being there, Godolphin is to send for him—if not, he does not go. His Majesty and his city of London are upon very good terms. When he supped this week at the Mayor's, the people showed as much of affection and duty as the expressions at such a time could be. The Lady Mayoress sat next to the King, all over scarlet and ermine, and half over diamonds. The Aldermen drank the King's health over and over upon their knees, and wished all hanged and damned that would not serve him with their lives and fortunes. They attended him to Whitehall at two o'clock in the morning; they would not trust him with his guards, who were all drunk, but brought some of their own, and they all went merry out of the King's cellar. The next day they came in a full body to give both the King and Duke thanks for the honour they had done them. The Mayor is now as well affected as any body, and was as ill.
Mr. Saville does show what is very probable, that he has no business, by his writing so many witty letters that nobody could do if any thing else were in his head. Some persons who the King is displeased with have made addresses to the Duke, to whom he has made an answer, that they must first deserve to be well with the King, and they should not fail of being so with him.
My Lord Ogle does prove the saddest creature of all kinds that could have been found fit to be named for my Lady Percy, as ugly as any thing young can be. The ladies of Northumberland House are going to Petworth, and he to his father to have good counsel. Just now Tom Pelham has been with me, and hindered my writing; but 'tis no matter, for I have little to say. He is very factious; but they are more quiet there than they have been. He confesses that he was one of them that thought the King supped at the Lord Mayor's against his will, and that it was done to make him lose his credit; but he is of another mind now by the manner of it there, and what he has done since. I draw very little consequence from the tions of the people.[1] Our brother Algernon is very ill of a cough; he eats nothing but water-gruel. I do not see him, but I have sent to him twice. I thank God my old heart is whole, but I am mightily troubled with pain in my limbs when I offer to stir.
Poor Mrs. Harvey is going to Kew with her brother-in-law. My Lady Harvey and Mr. Montague are very busy and officious to serve her. I am not apt to think they do any thing out of good-nature or generosity. To you I am very truly affected.
- ↑ With good reason, for these were the days of strange and sudden changes. Before the Duke of York went to Scotland, he was abused in all the playhouses: on his return, he was received with general joy, with bonfires, and peals of cannon. The most striking case, perhaps, was that which happened afterwards: when Lord Shaftesbury was sent to the Tower, he was hooted on his way; when the bill of indictment against him was thrown out, the court rung with acclamations.