Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/87

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INTRODUCTION.
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God to reward you with temporal and eternal blessings.

"For my own part, I have been so acquainted with disappointment that I have almost learned to be unconcerned at any, though they are very grievous if occasioned by our friends. This is not at all of that nature, but, on the contrary, I find all the reason to be satisfied with your friendly proceedings in it.

"I have not yet directly told my mother of its being off, because she had so taken her measures upon the belief of the certainty of it. By degrees I preach to her of the uncertainty of all things in this world, and that I would have her believe that something may happen to cross her satisfaction if she depends upon it, and in a day or two I will tell her."

"Mrs. Jane Fox" had a fortunate escape; Lord Spencer turned out what Evelyn had anticipated, and probably much worse. Speaking of him in 1688, and contrasting his character with that of his younger brother, Mr. Charles Spencer,[1] whom

  1. The eldest son dying without issue, this Charles Spencer succeeded to the title and estate, and married for his second wife one of the daughters and coheirs of John Duke of Marlborough. His son, by her, succeeded to that title.