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between, I must write, madam, your most humble servant,

ROCHESTER.

I have too much respect for you to come neare you whilst I am in disgrace, but when I am a favourite again, I will waite on you.

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER TO HIS WIFE.

DEAR WIFE,

I RECEIVED the three pictures, and am in a great fright, least they should be like you; by the bigness of the head I should apprehend you far gone in the rickets; by the severity of the countenance somewhat inclined to prayer and prophecy; yet there is an alacrity in the plump cheek that seems to signify sack and sugar, and the sharp-sighted nose has borrowed quickness from the sweet-swelling eye. I never saw a chin smile before, a mouth frown, and a forehead mump; truly the artist has done his part (God keep him humble), and a fine man he is if his excellencies do not puff him up like his pictures. The next impertinence I have to tell you is, that I am coming down to you. I have got horses, but want a coach, when that defect is supplied, you shall quickly have the trouble of your humble servant.

Receive my duty to my lady, and my humble service to my sister, my brother, and all the Betties, not forgetting Madam Jane.

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER TO HIS WIFE.

DEAR WIFE,

I RECOVER SO slowly, and relapse so continually, that I am almost weary of myself; if I had the least strength, I would come to Adderbury, but in the condition I am, Kensington and back is a voyage I can hardly support. I hope you excuse my sending you no money; for, till I am well enough to fetch it myself, they will not give me a farthing; and if I had not pawned my plate, I believe I must have starved in my sickness. Well, God bless you and the children, whatever becomes of, your humble servant,

ROCHESTER.

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER TO HIS WIFE.

MY WIFE, THE difficulties of pleasing your ladyship doe increase soe fast upon me, and are growne so numerous, that, to a man less resolved than myself never to give it over, itt would appear a madness ever to attempt itt more, but through your frailtys myne ought not to multiply; you may, therefore, secure yourself that it will not be easy for you to put me out of my constant resolutions to satisfy you in all I can; I confess there is nothing will so much contribute to my assistance in this as your dealing freely with mee, for since you have thought it a wise thing to trust me less, and have reserves, it has bin out of my power to make the best of my proceed

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ings effectual to what I intended them; at a distance I am likeliest to learn your mind, for you have not a very obliging way of delivering itt by word of mouth; if, therefore, you will let me know the particulars in which I may be usefull to you, I will shew my readiness as to my own part, and if I fail of the success I wish, it shall not be the fault of, your humble servant,

ROCHESTER.

I intend to be at Adderbury some time next week.

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER TO HIS WIFE.

PRAY do not take it ill that I have writ to you so seldom since my coming to town; my being in waiting upon the sad accident of Madame's death (for which the king endures the highest affliction imaginable) would not allow me time or power to write letters. You have heard the thing, but the barbarousness of the manner you may guess at by my relation. Monsieur, since the banishment of the Chevalier de Lorrain (of which he suspected Madame to be the author), has ever behaved himself very ill to her in all things, threatening her upon all occasions, that if she did not get Lorrain recalled, she might expect from him the worst that could befal her. It was not now in her power to perform what he expected: so that she returning to Paris, he immediately carried her away to St. Cloud, where having remained fifteen days in good health, she having been bathing one morning, and finding

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herself very dry, called for some succory water (a cordial julep she usually took upon these occasions), and being then very merry, discoursing with some of the ladies that were with her, she had no swallowed this succory water, but immediately falling into Madame de Chattellon's arms, she cried she was dead, and sending for her confessor, after eight hours infinite torment in her stomach and bowels, she died the most lamented (both in France and England) since dying has been in fashion. But I will not keep you too long upon this doleful relation: it is enough to make most wives in the world very melancholy but I thank you for my cheeses, my sugar of roses, and all my good things. Pray let it not be necessary for me to put you too often in mind of what you ought not to be less forward in doing than in advising. I hope you will give me no occasion to explain myself: for if I am put upon that, you will find me very troublesome. I received no letter from you with one inclosed to your mother, nor do I believe you writ any. Besides, I find by another circumstance, that the returns of letters betwixt London and Adderbury are very tedious. If you write to me, you must direct to Lincoln's Inn Fields, the house next to the Duke's Play House, in Portugal Row; there lives your humble servant,

ROCHESTER.

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER TO HIS SON.

I HOPE, Charles, when you receive this, and know that I have sent this gentleman to be your tutour, you will be very gladde to see I take such care of you, and be very gratefull, which is best shown in being obedient and diligent. You are now grown big enough to be a man, and you can be wise enough; for the way to be truely wise is to serve God, learne your book, and observe the instructions of your parents first, and next your tutour, to whom I have entirely resigned you for this seven yeare, and according as you imploy that time, you are to bee happy or unhappy for ever; but I have so good an opinion of you, that I am glad to thinke you will never deceive me; dear child, learn your book and be obedient, and you shall see what a father I will be to you. You shall want no pleasure while you are good, and that you may be soe are my constant prayers.

ROCHESTER.

THE HON. HENRY SIDNEY TO LADY VAUGHAN.

London, February 2, 1670. Ir my Lady Vaughan had persisted any longer in her silence, I was chosen by her friends at Charing Cross to chide her; and though her writing once to her poor, beggarly, ill-favoured sister (Lady Northumberland) has taken away my commission to rebuke her, it shall not hinder me, having had once orders, to write to her, hoping that my letters may be as welcome as

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