Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/The Dowager Lady Sunderland to Mr. Sidney, February 19, 1679
THE DOWAGER LADY SUNDERLAND TO MR. SIDNEY.
February 19th, 1679.
Your kind letter does so delight me, I would fain say something that would be the portrait of my heart, but I am so dull. Though my Lord Halifax has sent for his family, I hope he will
come up himself before every body disperses. He can be without them here, but not very well there, because company comes to him. Nan Savile hath no regret but to be at her cousin's wedding. I think all is agreed upon now. The articles were signed yesterday, and the gentleman had leave to wait upon his mistress. My brother is gone home, and the writings are to be drawn. The marriage must be at Holland.[1] In some respects, I am sorry for it. My sister had a great mind to come, and I should have been glad to have seen her. My brother thought it would be more expense, and not handsome, because of his great relations: I believe he did consider this the more. Mr. Algernon never goes to them, though they have sought him, so that I have wondered at it often. All the women went to see him; the married Pelham and the two sisters, and the men did; but he has used them so abominably, they are ashamed of it, though he did before the treaty of this marriage: they would some of them lay it upon that. I told them if anybody would bring a better, I would change my party. I had no bribe, but I saw some thought this too good. For my part, I think neither of them well married, but this is a good deal better than Montague, though she calls him her pretty dear, and kisses him a thousand times in a day. I tell Lucy she shall not do so, her's will be much such a pretty dear.
Nan Savile is very comical about this business; sometimes they are great friends and very familiar. Mr. Pierpoint has promised her, that if he is so happy as to have Mrs. Pelham, and that she is willing, they shall come to Rufford this summer. This is an article of marriage that has given great satisfaction.
The thing has been done that I did not much approve of, but I said nothing. Mr. Pierpoint readily did consent to it, but I thought it so little a thing for them to ask, which is, that if she dies and leaves no child, the £2000 to be paid at her father's death shall not be paid, or returned again if it be. This was a foresight of Tom Pelham's. For our friends at court, my Lord Sunderland is as well as anybody; how long, God knows! as long as it does, I must tell you nobody has a truer friend at court than you have of him. Hyde and Godolphin, his supporters, are never from him, with her at Little Ombre.[2] The players have been disturbed again by drunken people's jokes. They called my Lord Arran a rogue; and one Fitzpatrick pointed at Mr. Thinne, and called him that petitioning fool, and swore a hundred oaths; he said that he deserved £20,000 a-year, but that fool deserved nothing.
My Lady Scroope writes to me, that Mr. Saville is sometimes a very impertinent minister; he is more than ever with her, in what he writ hitherto. She is in as ill hands as can be for her. They are treacherous creatures. I wish a good speedy end of your embassy, and that you were a simple gentleman in my chamber again. My Lady Lisle has another boy; the two grandfathers and the Duchess of Albermarle did christen it. Our brother made her Grace stay above two hours for him, and she had not many more to stay in town. I am yours, with a very true affection,
D. S.