Book 1

Bishop Halls 'Observations' in his booke of Meditations And vowes.

These things be comelie & pleasant to see, And worthy of honnor from the beholders; A Young Saint. An Old martyr; A Religious Souldier. A Conscionable States-Man; A Great man courteous; A learned man humble. A Silent woman; A Childe understanding the eye of his Parent. A merrey compannion with out vanitie; A friend not changed with honnour; A Sicke Man Cheerefull: And a departing Soule with Comfort and Assurance.

A Praier.

O most great and gracious God, who art Lord of Heaven & Earth; looke downe from the Throne of thy majestie And be mercifull to me, thy poore & unworthy Creature. Lord, lead me by thy Power through the Red Sea of this World, into the Land of Promisse. Pardon, I humblie beseech thee, my Sin which standeth as a Cloude betweene thy Most gracious goodnesse and my most extreame Misserie. for our Lord Jesus. Christ, his sake.

Amen.

The dedication. Ile dedicate my Soule unto my God. My Childhood, non-Age, youth is by his Rod To be directed. his Staffe to uphold, My Age, & riper yeares; till it has tould, The gracious goodnesse of our blessed God. What he has don for me, who by his Word, Raised my droopeing Spiritts often times, Pardoned my Sinnes, delivering me from crimes. And by his Blood Shed purchas't Heaven. For humblest Soules. his Grace has given. The guift is free, nor can wee mirritt. OughtAught of our selves for to Inheritt, But what by the fall is made our owne, The wages of Sinn's, Damnation. Then oh, my Soule, doe not decline, This Heavenly Pilgrimage devine. Rise up, my heart, to Heaven above, And let thy Lord, now prove thy love. Spring up a maine & lett his holy Spirritt, Give thee a Crowne of Glorie to Inherritt. 4 Then flie a loft on wings of faith, And doe what thy Redeemer saith. Oh, follow him, stay not behind, For to be drove by every wind. Of triffeling, foolish, Childeish toyes To interrupt thy Sollid lasting Joyes, Which are ever liveing. never Ending: There are pleasures worth Commending. Come on, my Soule, hoist up thy highest sails And creepe not still on, like wearie Snailes. Power out thy soule by praier to God on high, Lay thou fast hold on him untill thou die. Then guide mee, Lord, give my Soule, directions. Subdue my passions, curbe my stout Affections, Nip thou the bud, before the bloome begins: Lord, ever keepe me from Presumptuous Sins. And make me ever chuse what you Seest best, Lord, lead me by thy hand into thy Rest.

Amen.

Alice Wandesforde, the fifth childe of Christopher Wandesforde, Esquire, late Lord Deputy of Ireland. Was borne at Kirklington in the County of Yorke the thirteenth day of February, beeing on a munday, a bout two of the clock in the afternoone in the yeare 1626. Baptized the next day. The wittnesses were Mr Lassells, Minister of Kirklington. Mrs Anne Norton. & Mrs Best.

Proverbes.

The feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdome and to depart from evill is understanding. Remember now thy Creator, in the daies of thy youth, While the Evill daies come not, nor the yeares draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have noe pleasure in them. And thou Solomon, my Sonne, know thou the God of thy Fathers, & serve him with a perfect heart, & with a willing minde: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, & understandeth all the imaginations of the thou- -ghts: if you seeke him, hee will be found of thee, but if thou forsake him, hee will cast thee off for ever. A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heavinesse of his Mother. Pro. 20: 22.(Proverbs 10:1). Children, obey your Parents in the Lord: for this is right. Favour is deceiptfull, & beauty is vaine, but A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

As a jewell of Gold is in a swines snout, so is a faire woman with out discression.

Keepe thy tongue from lieing, & thy lips from speakeing guile.

Feare God, & keepe his commandements, for this is the whole duty of man.

Be thou faithfull unto death, And I will give Thee the Crowne of Life.

A Preface to the booke.

For as much as it is the dutie of every true Christian to remember, & take notice of Allmighty God, our, Heavenly Fathers, gracious Acts, of Providences, over them, & mercifull dealings with them, even from the wombe, untill the Grave burie them in silence, As allso to keepe perticuler remembrances of his favours, both Spirituall, & temporall, together, with his remarkable deliverances of theire Soules & Bodies, with a true and unfeined gratitude to his Glorious Majestie for them all. I, therefore, his Creature, & unworthy handmaide. who have not tasted (only) of the dropping of his dew; but has bin showred plentifully upon, my head, with the continued Streames of goodness, Doe most humbly desire to furnish my heart with the deepe thoughts & apprehensions, & sincere meditations of and thankefullnesse, For his free Grace, love, mercys & inconceavable goodness to me, his poore Creature. Even from them first beginning.

And, with a most Cordiall, & sincere heart thankefully, doe returne him the Glory of all. First,

For my Birth & baptizme in the name of the most holy Trinitye: and my strict Education in that true faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, by my deare & Pieous Parents, through whoes caire, & precepts I had the principles 8 A preservation in the Meassells. Of grace, & Religion instill'd into me with my milke. Therefore. shall I begin with the first mention of my deliverances, that presents it selfe under the notion of my first knowledge & remembrance; which are most worthy of perpetuall memmorie.

And which I hope shall not end with this life, but spring up in my soule, to an Eternity of Haleluias, of praise & thankesgiveings to the Blessed Trinitie forever.

Amen. Amen.

(Remember to putt the Relation of my delivrance from Death by a fall cutting my forehead at 3 yers old, 1629.)

‡ A Preservation in the Measles The first deliverance of that kinde was in the yeare 1630. When I was left at Richmond under the caire, & deare, love of my beloved, Aunt Norton. uppon my father & mothers goeing to London. It pleased God to bring me into a very dangerous weaknesse, & sicknesse, uppon an accident of a Surfitt, by eating some beefe which was not well boiled: , this causeing an extreame vomitting, whoes vi- -olence drove me into great feaver, & that into the meassells, & both, brought me so low & weake that my Aunt. & Sarah Tomlinson (our maide) allmost dispaired of my Life.

But it pleased the Lord, my God, in great mercy, to heare the hearty praiers & requests, of my Aunt for me. 9 From the Smale Pox. That I was spaired from death at that time, and by his blessing, uppon the use of good meanes, was recovered of my health perfectly againe.

Oh, that I may have my life given me for a blessing. and that I may live to the Glory of his holy name, whoe hath saved me from death.

And that I may grow in Grace, & in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord. beeing a comfort to my deare Parents & relations. And that I may dedicate my Childe hood, youth. middle. & old Age, (if he shall spaire me so long) to his service & praise, yea, even to my lives end. & that for my Saviours sake alone. the Alpha & Omega. Amen. (I was about 5 yeares old. then:

A preservation in the Smale Pox, 1631.

Beeing removed to London by my Fathers order with my brother, Christopher. I fell into the smale-pox have- -ing taken them of him. both of us was sent into Kent, where we lodged at one Mr Baxters. beeing kindly usd with much caire in that house. &, by the blessing of God, I recovered very soone, nor was I very ill at that time.

I, therefore, will praise the Lord our God, for my preservation that did not suffer that dissease to rage, or indanger my life, but raised me soone againe, O, set forth his goodnesse forever. Amen.

London, 1631. The first dawning of Gods Spirit in my heart.

After this, it pleased God to come into my Soule, by some beames of his mercy, in putting good thoug- -hts into my mind, to consider, his Great & miraculus Power, in the Creation of the Heavens, the Earth, & all the Hosts of them. I was moved to this meditation upon the reading of the dailie Psalmes for the months: happening that day to be Psal. 147: v. 4thPsalm 14:4:

He counteth the starres & calleth them all by theire Names. From whence there came into my heart a forceable consideration, of the Incomprehencable Power, & infinite Majestie of Allmighty God, who by his Wisdome made all things, in Heaven & Earth. beeing above all his Creatures in the world.

knoweing what is in man, & searching, all theire waies. Seeing my heart & thoughts, & knew allso that I was but a childe both in Age & understanding. And not able to doe any thing that was good. which strooke me into a deepe feare, & great awe of his Glorious Majestie. least I should offend him, at any time, by sin. against him or my Parents. & he would punish all Sinness; were they never so manny, as the Starres, yet he was as well able to keepe an account, & punish for them as to tell the Starres & give them names.

(This, with other, the like meditations of his omnipotencey. 11 And Greatness.) And that he, out of his love, made man. did so move my heart, that it caused in me a Sincere love to him, for his goodnesse, to me, his poore Creature. whom my Creator had made to serve him heere. & to take us up to Heaven when we die And Crowne us with Glory. Giveing him my hearty thankes for his great & perticuler love & favour to me, a little Childe, in giveing understanding & Reason to know there is A God that ruleth in Heaven & Earth & doeth what ever he will, and to reward them that Serves him truly with Joy in Heaven that should never end. Amen.

A deliverance from a fire in London, 1631.

There was a great fire in the next House to ours in St martens Lane in Lond.London, which burned a part of our house, beeing neare to have burnt it downe, but through the caire of our Servants it was prevented. this was don at night, when my father & mother was att Court. but wee were preserved that time of fright at my Lady Levestones house, beeing caried by Sara, our maide. This fire seemed to me as if the day of judgement was come, causeing much feare & trembling. yet we were all delivered from perishing, though my father had much losse. But blessed be the Lord, my God, who gave us not over to perish by this fire, but preservd our Persons from Evill at that time.

My Mothers goeing into Ireland, 1632.

It pleased God to give my deare Mother, my two younger brothers & my selfe, a safe passage into Ireland, about the yeare. 1632. (My Father beeing there a yeare before, & my Eldest brother, George.) In which place, I injoyed great happienesse and Comfort dureing my hon.redhonoured fathers life, haveing the fortunate oppertunity in that time, — & affter, when I staied there, — of the best education that Kingdome could afford. haveing the advantage of Societie in the sweete & chaste company of the Earle of Straffords Daughters (The most virtuous Lady Anne. & The Lady Arbella Wentworth). Learning those qualities with them which my father ordered. Namlie,

The french Language. (to write, & speake the same); Singing. Dancing. Plaieng on the Lute, & Theorboe. learning such other accomplishments, of Working Silkes. gummeworke. &et cetera; Sweetemeats & other sutable huswifery. As, (by my mothers vertuous provission, & caire, she brought me up in what was fitt for her qualitie, & my fathers Childe.

But, above all things, I accounted it my Cheifest happinesse where in I was trained in those Pieous, holy & Religious instructions. Examples, admo- -nitions. 13 331633, 341634, 351635. Teachings. Reproofes, & Godly Education, tending to the wellfaire, & Etternall happinesse, & salvation of my poore Soule. Which I receaved from both my Hon.rdhonoured Father & Mother. with the Examples of theire Chast and sober, wise & Prudent Conversations in all things of this World. for which things, and infinit -ly more opportunitys of Good to my well beeing then I can expresse. I Render my uttmost Capacity. &, Therefore, doe I most humbly, & heartily acknowledg my bounden duty of thankes & praise to the great God of Heaven, & Earth, from whence comes every good & perfect guift, who is the Author, & finisher of our faith, that he has put such good things into my Hon.redhonoured Parents hearts to bring us up in the feare of the Lord. Next, I humbly acknowledge, my faithful thankes & gratitude to my deare & Hon.redhonoured Parents for theire love, caire, affection & sedulity over me from my birth till this present, & for theire good performances towards my education in all things. Begging of God to give me the grace of the meanes, (as well as the meanes of his grace, afforded me. that so I may walke in all holie & strict obedience, in thy Lawes, & theire precepts, according to all thes goodnesses of God, & theires, performing my cordiall duty to them in all godlynesse & honnesty, obeying my Parents in the Lord to the end of my Life. Amen.

14 361636, 371637, 381638. A deliverance from a fire & other remarkables.

While we were in Dublin, there was a fire in our House. but, by the providence of God, it was soone discovered. & soe quenched with out much harme don. Blessed be the name of our good God.

About the time I was 12 yeares old, in the yeare 1638. I was readeing of the great wisdome of our Saviour. in the Gospell of St Luke, 2d chapt. 49 v.second chapter, 49th verse, where he was disputing with the Docters with so much power that he put them to silence.

In the reading of which passage, I, beeing that daye 12 yeres old. I fell into a serious & deepe meditation, of the thoughts of Christs Majestie, devinity & wisdome, who was able to confound the learned Doctors & confute theire wisdom, — who were Aged, — he, beeing so young himselfe. but then 12 years of Age.

And then I considered my owne folly, & Childish, Ignorance that I could not scarse understand, meane and low things, with out a great deale of teacheing & instruction, & allthough I daily read the word of God, yet was of a weake capacity to know the way to Salvation. And, therefore, in my heart begged of my deare Saviour to give me knowledge, wisedome & understanding to guide me all my daies. Amen.

1639. A deliverance from Ship-Rack in A Passage into Ireland with my Mother, brother, & 2 Nephewes. Thomas & Christopher Danby. in the yeare 1639.

Having come over into England, when my Mother came for her cure of the dissease of the Stone to the Bat-hes & Bristoll water, St Vincents well; (uppon which Rock, hanging over it, is got your Bristow Diamonds.), in her returne backe into Ireland, she carried my Sister Danbies 2 Elldest sons. for theire better education, When we came to Nesston. at the Sea side, we staied for a winde a weeke; And in that time there was a great Storme on the Sea in soe much as there was 5 Ships cast away upon the Shore before our Eyes. so nigh were some of them, that, the maine mast, did allmost touch the window of that house, where we laid. yet, the night proveing calme and winde faire, We tooke Ship for Ireland (in one of the Kings Ships new built. Upon the 22th22nd of August. 1639. with in one houers Saile. A most Tirrible Storme & tempest arose. Soe fiercely. that we were drove on lee all night, & with in lesse then 10 houers we were 12 miles beyond Dublin. lieing at Hull, and Anchor all day. And, but for a fisher botte sent from Mr Hubert to assist the Kings Ship in distresse, 16 Wee had undoubtedly perished, beeing drove by the force of Tempest backe in to the crosse Seas. (& 10 houers were at Anchor, beaten on the Sandes, before that fisher man could come neare to helpe us). at the last, about 8 a clocke at night, we got Safe To harbour through the infinitt mercys of our great, & Powerfull Lord God, we landed safely at the shore of the Skirries. where the same Hubert, with all his familie, & freinds, mett us with great Joy, entertaining my mother & All hers, with abundante affection, & kindenesse. Which he did uppon the account of obligation, to shew his gratitude for an Emminent peice of Justice don him from my father. whoe had decided a grand controversie in Law suites, which was depending 20 yeares, almost to his utter Ruine. his adversary being so potent. that he could not gett his cause heard till that time; when — through the uprightnesse of the Judge, & honnesty of the man — his cause rightly de- termined. & he preserved.

This providence was the more remarkable. that God soe ordered our ship to this shore, where my Mother found all manner of releife for us all, which we wanted. And, on the next day, Came My father from Dublin in the company of many noble freinds in Coatches. 17 To carrie us home to Dublin where my deare Mother was receaved with all Joy & gladnesse. liveing in much peace & happinesse till the death of my Hon.redhonoured Father. When, about a yeare affter his death. she was forced to flie into England, uppon the Rebellion which brake out in Ireland.

But I must not forgett a second preservation of my owne Selfe from drowneing. out of that Ship, at that time, when a cable from the bote that came to carrie us to land, (& beeing tied to our Ship. by it's force, had like to have pulld me out of the Ship in to the Sea. Which it had don, but that by Gods providence, a Shipman — comming at that minuite from under the Decke — pulled me backe, & saved me from falling into that Tempestious Sea, when I was halfe over borde. This great & wonderfull mercy, & my Single deliverance, must not be forgotten but had in a perpetuall remembrance of me forever &, therefore, will I humblie sett forth the mercys of the Lord to me.

A thankesgiveing for our deliverances. affter our dangerous passage by Sea: August the 23rd, 1639. into Ireland. Psallme 107. 1st v.first verse 18

O, give thanks unto the Lord, for hee is gracious: & his mercys endureth for ever. Let them give than -ks, whom the Lord hath redeemed, & delivered from the Stormes, & mighty tempests. he has delivred us from this distresse, when the deepe had opened her mouth to swallow us up. then was the hand of the Lord mighty to deliver, & preserve us from drowning, Oh, that we would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse, & speake good of his name, & declaire the wonders that he hath don to us Children. We called on him in our disstresse, & he heard from Heaven, his habitation, for he brought us out of the shadow of death. & brake our bands of feares a sunder. Our soule abhorred all manner of meate, & we weare even hard at deaths dore, they that goe downe to the Sea in Ships, these men see the works of of the Lord & his wonders in the deepe, for at his word the Stormy winde arriseth. which lifteth the wave. I was carried up to Heaven, & downe againe to the deepe, my Soule melted within me, for verie trouble. soe, when I cried unto the Lord in my distresse, he deliv -ered us out of our trouble. he made the Stormy wind to cease. so that the waves thereof were still. Then weare our hearts glad with in us. because he brought us safe 19 To a resting place, & to a haven where we would faine be, & likewise sent us an unexpected releife amongst strangers, making them helpefull in that danger. Allso, the Lord his name, be glorified for his gracious favour to me in preserving me from drow--ning, when the cable had pulld me allmost into the Sea, then did, his mercy bring me helpe, when I might have perished alone. O deare God, write this de--liverance with the other uppon the Table of my heart, that I may never forgett what thou, Lord, hast don for my Soule. And oh, that, I & all that was in the Ship might praise the God of Heaven, for his great & unsearchable goodness, & declaire the wonders that he has don for us in perticuler. I, and they, may exalt him that rideth on the Heavens, & praise his Excelent greatnesse in the congregate-on of the people, & magnifie him in the seate of the Elders, Which made the stormes to cease: & for the glory of his majestie, the God of Jacob, preserved my deare Mothmother from perishing in the gulfe, with her Children, & Grand Children, and spaired us from this distruction.

The Lord, most high, grant us thy grace, that we might live to thy Glory, & magnifie thy name to all gene--rations. he, bringing us with Joy to my deare father from the bottom of the waves where millions had perished in ~~from~~ those depths. Lord, I beseech thee, lett me, 20 Be wise & ponder these things, & severall other Providences in these miraculous Delivernces, to my selfe, & relations. that the Righteous may know , & consider the goodnesse of the Lord, & his loving kindnesse, & rejoyce in him for ever.

Therefore, to the Lord, most great, & gracious, be all Glory, thankesgiveing, dominnion, & praise, in heaven & Earth, the Sea & all places of the world for ever more. Amen. & Amen.

My L.dLord Straford tooke Ship for England w:th my Lord Raby, his son, on good friday, the yeare. 1640. gave my father the Sword then.

Observations uppon severall accidents happening in Ireland uppon the Earle of Strafford, &cet cetera. in the yeares. 1640, 41. And on his fatall murder: (may: 12, 1641).

After my mothers returne from the Bathes, &, Bristoll, where she found much good as to the cure of the stone.

The Earle of Strafford was sent for by the King in to England. uppon the complaints of some factious Spirritts, weary of a lawfull, & Peaceable govern--ment both in England, Scotland & Ireland, whoes Spiritts, & ambitions could not indure a subjection to theire most Pieous & good King, nor his Lieutenant —which ruled them in Ireland with a wise & prudentiall government, to the preservation of His Majesties Crowne. 21 And dignities. The Settlement of the Church, & State uppon the right foundations of truth, & peace. Which these People had noe such intentions, as was too apparent, in the following Rebellions both in England & Ireland. The Irish beeing heard to say. That theire Religeion would not prosper as long as Straffords head stood on his shouldiers. which saying strongly proved that this noble Earle was noe Patteron of the Romish Church, allthough falsely accused so, by his Seditious Enemies; & his owne inncocency was cleared uppon the Scaffold in his speeche made then. But all the discontented parties too well agreed in this one point, to strike the roote, of the foundations; the King being aimed at, to succeed in this tradegietragedy, As God knowes to sadly followed;

The Earle of Strafforde — haveing farre different designes then those Secret plotters of Rapine, & Ruine. — could not longer be endured, because he stood in the way to hinder, & prevent by his wise Councell. Soe that, till he was removed, they could not prevaille either in Ireland, or England to compasse theire ends. Nor could there be found, a better expedient for theire purpose then to make a cloake of Religion, that under such a Populer, specious, pretence, Theire horrible practices might not be found out.

The Irish, thirsting, affter the blood, & lives of the English, pretended oppression. to be made subject to the Lawes of England. & the other of that nation (who could not be subject to our Church Government, & orde ers, but affected a loose libertaineissme to their owne pernicious waies, joyned with the Irish in theire complaints against this wise & noble Person; —whom indeed they were not worthy of— under whoes jurisdiction, that Kingdome had in- -joyed 7 yeares of peace & Plenty. All his endeavours ever tending for theire good, the True Establishment of His King, & Religion; The Hon.or, peace & wellfaire of the English Nation; And the due ordering of that Barbarous People & theire Civilizeng them to our good Lawes & government. but this was against all theire intrests of Rebellions, & close-couched Treacheris which lay hatched under soe specious, Pretensions that he would subvert the Church & State.

Theires was for the Establishment of Heresies, Popery & destruction, of Church & state, to advance

Horrible Paricides & murders. breaking forth first in Ireland to the destruction of millions of the Poore protestants Christians who suffered martyredom for theire God, & his Religion.

And in England many 1000 suffered by the sword, both with theire King, & for him, & the truth of Religion there Established. & for the Lawes.

But, to returne to my Lord Lieutenant, while the Pretences of Religion, so filled the eares of the Parliament of England then sitting in the yeare 401640, and false suggestions of oppressions against this Noble Earle. he was called before them to give an answer to such Articles as his Enimies of all factions had unjustly laid to his charge.

The whole transaction, of this bussinesse, was prose- -cuted, with soe much malice, & Rigour of his Enimies side. And so much, wisdome, prudence, & galantrie on the Earles. that all the world (save his Enimies thirsting his blood,) did admire his incomparable Wisdome & Abilities, in his cleare, & brave defence, he made for himself, (notwithstanding they gave fresh charges each day, which he had never heard of, nor had he any time Spaired, to give in his answer, but was sett upon with new blood hounds, as theire fancies pleased,

Neither was he allowed, the benifitt of his wittnessces only, theire was that in his trial don, which was never heard of before, for want of full eveidence against him, (which was sc'rud to the hight too,) an invention forged of Accumulative Treason, and a Perticuler Act made in that Parliament to confirme the same till they had gott his life.

And then annother, following Act, affter his death, to ab- -brogate & disannull the other for ever, that it might never be in force against any other. Person. The world may by this judge the truth & Legallity of these proceedings, against this brave Person. But the truth is, he had soe much of wrong and injustice don, in all the prosecution, as noe man, but of infinitt abilities, (which God had wonderfully given him, could have withstood those Mastives , & blood hounds, in the quicke retorts, & vindication of his innocent Actions, returning theire malice on theire owne fallse suggestions.

Soe that, least these Articles, & other artifices in the house should not prevaile with the King, (whoe did cleare him in his owne judgement. there was the invention of abundance, of Lies, & callumnies cast about. & instilld into the eares, & hearts of the 25 vulger, meaner Peopple. such as had ignorance & pride to be theire leaders. which, beeing tould a fallse hood, — that the Lord Leuetenant did councill the King to Subvert the Lawes, & bring in Popery, — gathered, together in infinitt numbers of Prenticies of London & head strong Seperates, & Schismaticks.

The great numbers meeting at the Parliament House, daily clamoured & cried out, against my Lord, & the King, did soe increase, that the Tumults had nighto have pulled his Sacred Majestie in Pieces, as he removed from White Hall to the Parliament, still crying out for Justice against Strafford.

Soe that, to sattisfie theire Cruell Malice, & to give them all content, theire was no other expendient would doe, but this innocent Earles Life to be taken from him.

This the most Pieous King could very hardly be drawne to, being pressed to signe the bill (he still declaring his innocency, in his conscience, he was not worthy of death). But the King, being constrained for the Saveguard of his owne Life. Passed that fatall Bill. with 2 others that day. which proved as destructive to him & the Church, & Kingdome, as this of Straffords: , That of excluding the Bishops out of the House of Parliament. And the other, of Trieniall Parliaments, 26 Which were preludiums of this most Excelent Kings owne distruction; when the Commons had got the Reines of Power, by this in to theire owne hand & the better capacitated, to fight against theire Lawfull Soveraine; Albeit they pulled upon them -selves & the Kingdome a fatall Ruine with in a few yeares affter, but Principally against our Sacred Majestie which was the Marke with the Crowne which they Aymed att.

But this galant Earle, soe much desiring the Peace & happinesse of his Majestie, & Kingdomes, did acquitt the King constrained. & chearfully submitted to that sentance, with so much Serenity & tranquility, of thoughts as is immaginable. Only did justifie his innocency to the death. as maybe seene in his papers, & last speech. he forgave his Adversaries, & wished, as he was the first that had laid downe his life in this way, for the preservation of the King & church. so that he might be the last inno -cent bloodshed. but he much feared it.

He put up praiers for the King, & the whole Kingdome as it may be seene in his triall. written by an Eye & eare wittnesse: And uppon the 12th of May. 1641, he suffered martiredome. beeing beheaded on 27 Tower hill. The fall of this brave man, was an infinitt Losse, to the Church of God; his King, and the three Kingdomes. Who, through his wise counsell. (the same) had bin fortunate to the preservation of Peace, & truth, for severall yeares; but, now, the Scottish faction began to breake out againe, that had Apeared in the yeare 391639. And our Sins, contracted in so long a peace: was Ripe for Judgements. Gods Sword was drawne, out a- -gainst us to fight his quarrell, till by our punishments he humbled the pride of our hearts.

When the Just & wise men faile, & are taken away, the Cittye will be left in darkenesse. & distruction.

A Relation conserning my Hon.redHonoured father. the Lord Deputy Wandesforde, & of his Death. December 3rd, 1640.

Uppon my Lord Lieutennants of Irlands goeing for England. the King was graciously pleased to send his Commission, under the great Seale of England, to my Father. to succeed my Lord of Strafford. in that weighty Place of Deputie-Ship. In which he actted with so much Pietie, Loyallty, Candor, & Justice. that his memmory is Blessed to many Generations.

In his time, there were many causes determined & decided, of great concernment betweene parties which had depended. some 10. 20. 30. yeares. & the cause of the widdowes, & oppressed, strangers & the fatherlesse, was rightly adjudged & deter- -mined,

Which through the imbesility of the Parties. the Power of the adversaries. or corruption of the under-Officers , had bin till then neglected. but to the comfort of the injured was rightly settled. & allso to the sattisfa -ction of the other parties. who, being convinced by the paines, & Christian, advices, & wise, Just mannagerey of his government. they confessed the equity of his determinations, to be Just, Legall & right.

Yea, such was the sweete affability, & prudence of his carriage, in generall. that none which went from England gained soe much uppon affections of that Nation. & all whome he lived amongst.

His Life was given for a Publicke good, to that Kingdome, as well, as to be a bllissing in his owne Familie. Who was exceeding happie in such a Father & Head. His deare & beloved wife, most blessed in such a comfort, support, & Husband, as the world could not paralell. in all chaste. pieous. deare 29 love and, conjugall affection. with temperance, meekenesse, & sobriety. They both injoying many yeares of happinesse together in that holy band of a Loyall wedlocke. even to the admiration of all. for theire godly & Righteous conversation.

All his children infinitly happy, & blessed, in such a Father & guide, in theire youths. his Relations, freinds & Tennants, were all blessed in him, doeing them what good he could. Lett his raire & Excelent Booke of advice to his sonne, George, Speake his great Endowments. his Pietie, knowlidge in Parts, Divinity, & Religion. his Wisdome & paternall caire & prudence, tender & deare love to his whole Family & generation.

A grand Patron of the Church, & incourager of all ingenious Schollers of what Age or degree soever. An in couragement. & exemplear of Learning. Sobriety, Temporance; chastety; holinesse, patience; humility, Charity; Justice & clemency was thys Heroicke Soule replenished with all.

Rich in good workes. lovely & desirable in his life, a deare & loving Brother to his brothers & Sisters. takeing caire for theire advantage in Education, & preferrment as branches from the same stocke with himselfe. he had A wise & prudentiall love, towards all his Children 30 For theire Pieous & religious Education, with faire & noble provissions for them in his Last Will & testament.

His life was spent in great Sedulity & watch -fullnesse, to discharge, a good conscience towards all, towards God, & man. A true Labourer in Gods Vineyard, in which he plaied the good husbandman, And God att last gave him his wages, even the Crowne of Glory for ever.

And guiding his waies with discrestion of God gave him a foresight of those changes was comming uppon Church & State. And offt in my hearing would he say to my deare Mother, in his health , that, whoe soe should live to see it; should see great changes, & Evills, both uppon the Church & State. Such was the Sinnes & Pride of those dais that there hung a cloud over this Kingdomes. he praied God to divert the same. and Establish the same uppon those Excelent foundations on which it was built.

Acc.tAccount of the Lord Deputy Death It pleased God to vissite my deare father, with a feaver, at the latter end of November. which kept him about a weeke or 10, daies in the house. but, finding him selfe some what better. went to Church, beeing 31 Attended home by the Earle of Ormond, the Lord Dillon. Sir George Ratclife & many other persons of quality. (as the usuall custome was to waite on the Deputy to dinner).

When he came into the dining roome, & perceived himselfe not well, craved leave of the company to rest himselfe a little in his bedchamber, intending to have satt att dinner with them. but still he grew worse. & sent word he found himselfe, soe ill that hee went to bed, & desired the pardon of that noble company And, affter dinner, the company parted. calling to minde the Sermon, my father tould my mother. That he had that day heard the best Sermon, that ever he had heard in all his life, & blessed God for it, saing it was, as if it should be the last. he knew not what it might prove.

But if he lived. he would reward that minister plentifully, & he should not want the best preferment he could helpe him to.

The feaver, still increasing, seized on him stronggly , but he, full of patience, & Christian magnanimity, was prepared for the Lords dealing with him in his Providence, either for life, or Death.

About tuesday, the 29th of no.November 1640, he called for his Will; commanding my Co.cousin wandesforde, one of his Executors to the said will. to read it (it being Signed, Sealed

And finished a good while before). he had it then all read over to him in the presence of divers Persons of qualitie. (as my Lord Bishop of Derrey, an Executor, the Earle of Ormond; the Lord Dillon, & severall others) Before, whome he Ratified & confirmed the same, declairing it publickly to be his last Will & Testament.

Commanding his Executor to see it fullfiled, & per - formed, to my mother, & all his Children. & that all his Just debtes, whether by bill, or bond, & justly proved, should be paid; againe, charged them to be cairefull of his wife, & children. About wednesday, my mother desired the Phisicians to give her a true state of his condittion, whom she perceaved grew weaker. but they would not deale truly, nor acknowledge his desperate case. Albeit they found by his blood that it was corrupted, & most fatall signes.

That night Pigeons cutt, was laid to his soles of the feete, when my father saw it, he smiled, & said, 'are you come to the last remidie. but I shall prevent your Skill'. for all along this sickness, he expected his change, although he would not acquaint my mother for increaseing her greife. All the time of his Sicknesse, till the last period. 33 Hee had the perfect use of Reason, & cleare understanding as, in all his life, which was an infinitt mercy afforded him. most quicke & acqute in all facculties, as in perfect health.

The entertainement in his sicknesse was full of devine medittations, Ejaculations, & praires, with praises to his God. & preparations for death.

he gave many instructions to his son, George, to be diligent in the service of God, obedient to his comm-andent; obedeint, & dutifull, to his deare mother. who had bin a faithfull, tender, loving wife to him & his Children, he commanded him to love; Hon.or, obey her in all things, all his daies, due to her for her wisdome & vertue. & doeing this, God would blesse him the beter; charged him to suffer his will to be performed, which was just & equall, there being right don to him & all persons else. ending with many good advices to feare & love that dreadfull Lord God. & he would blesse him. & provide for him as he had don to him-selfe. When he laid slumbring, still would he be, as if discourseing in judicature, that he would doe uprightly to all in his power. if the poore mans cause be right, he should not suffer for his poverty. nor the Rich, gaine for beeing soe. if his cause were bad. neither could he respect the persons of the Rich or poore. but doe up- -rightly according to the Lawes of God, & man.

Many such like expressions I have heard him my selfe, then would he call on me, to his bed side, & stediely lookeing on me, would sighe & say. 'Ah, poore childe, what must thou see & thine Eyes beholde'. And, praing for me, turned away with a great grone.

Which expressions stucke soe deepe. that I never for -gate them, but has sadly experienied those miseries which he prophetically foresaw.

The Bishop of Derrey being called on thursday at night, who tould him he perceaved he grew weaker in bodie, that he would doe well, to declaire in publicke his faith, & hope in God. not that he qu- -estioned the same, (he, beeing fully sattisfied. but that it was usuall in those cases; for the comfort & instruction of the companie.

Immeadiately, my deare Father raised up him selfe with all his force. And stedfastly fixe- ed his Eyes to Heaven. then made (before many Persons of qualitie, (with my mother.) A most Heavenly, & Pathetically confession of his faith, hope, & confidence in God. And that his heart did fully relie uppon the all-saveing mirritts of Jesus Christ, his Redeemer. in him alone, hoped for pardon &, remission of all his Sinnes, & for Salvation through his blood, which was shed for him.

And that, in him, hee hoped for Eternall Glorie, of his owne free Grace, & mercy. he desired the Lord to for -give All his Sinnes, as he freely forgave all the world. And declaring that he died in the faith which was proffessed in the Church of England at that time, beeing most pure, & holie, & agreeing with Christs Institution. Praing to God long to contineue it flourishing.

Many other praires for himselfe & his wife & Children. desireing to be accepted of the Lord in Mercy, according to the Sinscerity of his heart. Affter devout praires for him by the Bishop & the solomne pronounciation of absolution, in order to the Churc -his command. This deare & sweete Saint freely yealded up his precious Soule to God, with these words, 'into thy hands, oh Lord, I commend my Soule. Lord Jesus, receive my Spirritt. Amen'.

With which he fell asleepe. Which blessed end of his life, beeing a happie close of his holie Life, has (I hope) receavd a full reward of Joy in the Kingdome of Heaven & strooke a most deepe impression upon all that knew him. I pray the Lord contineue his memory fresh in my heart to imitate his virtues, graces & Pietie. he departed this life on Thursday the 3rd of December 1640, at his owne house in Dammaske Streete in Dublin, beeing in Ireland.

His bodie, beeing imbowelled, was afterwards Imballmed, & all the noble parts was very Sound & perfect, saveing the heart which was decaied of one side. It was thought tis proceeded from much study & bussinesse, which his weighty & great imployments called him to.

Great watchfullnesse & paines in the faithfull discharge in his Offices.

He was the Maister of the Rowles in Ireland 7 yeares. One of his Majesty privey councell. A Judge in the Kings Bench. once Lord cheife Justice of that Nation. And Lastly, he died the Lord Deputy of that Kingdome of Ireland.

beeing the only Man in that place (as was observd) which died untouched, or peaceably in theire beds. He was found faithfull & soe beloved of his Prince & countrey. A most generally lamented Person in that Kingdome who had found the swete nesse of his Government in much meekenesse & clemency. He was allso the Last Deputy for many yeares, beeing the last in King Charles the firsts time, the warres following affter his death. The next Lawfull governer theire was the Earle of Ormond in King Charles the 2ds time of Restora -tion. into England.

The Corpes of my Hon.redhonoured Father was carried from the Castle of Dublin in a Stately manner. according to his Dignitie & Place, beeing interred in the cheife Church. Christs Church, under a faire Marble. before the Deputies Seate of Estate on the 10th day of December 1640.

The Bishop of Derrey Preach't his funerall Sermon. And I am sure amongst the multitude of People there was not many drie Eyes: Such was the love that God had given to this worthy Person. that the Irish did sett up theire Lamentable: hone (as they call it, for him in the Church. which was never knowne before for any Englishman don.

His funeralls charges, did amount to above 1300l, dieing in that capacitie of a Deputy. which soe in- -creased the Debts upon his Estate. as proved very heavy. in the times of trouble succeeding: the King did give order that this should have bin dischargd out of his Treasury. As allso that my brother Georges wardship was given him by his gracious Majestie, both in regard of my fathers faithfull service in that place & his dieing Deputie. But the Parliament seising uppon the Kings Treasury & power. these charges fell Sad uppon all my Fathers Estate, & his Children. beeing charged for the wardship by the Parliament with the Summe of 2500l which never came to the King.

This was the beginning of troubles in our Familie, affter which followed the breaking out of the Rebellion of Ireland, beeing about 9 months affter my father died, in October 23rd, 1641.

Meditations & Praier uppon the Death of my Hon.redHonoured Father, the Lord Deputie Wandesforde.

Isaiah: 57 v. 1st 2d1-2 The righteous perisheth, & no man laieth it to heart; & the mercifull men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evill to come.

He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in theire beds, each one walkeing in his uprightnesse.

Death is the common lott of all mankinde, since that fatall fall of Addam. & soe none can be exempted, can be free from that sting of Sin, which comes into this world. A Land of troubles. & a place for teares, & sorrowes, yea, A Chaos of confussion. Job: saith, Man that is borne of a woman hath but a short time heere. It is Appointed for all men once to die, &cet cetera. Againe, death passes upon all men. Soe then, 'tis not in anys Power to be immortall heere, be they never so Great, & Eminent, full of Honore, Wisdome, Riches. graces, and indowments.

All must leave these things behind them, & pay that ~~common debt~~ common Debt of death, they owe to God, and Nature. Seeme it never so harsh to our

Affections; or crosse to the desires of our Relattions, & frinds, this change must be, not only patiently submitted to, but entertained with delight, & Joy, by every true Christian As a gate, or Portall, to lett out our Soules into Paradice Where we may fully injoy God, our cheifest happinesse: And bllessed, are such, which are in a preparednesse fitt to entertaine this messenger of God (Death). by a Holie, Pieous, & Religieous, conversation amongst men.

That this death may be appassage leading them to Etternall Life; out of a misserable, wrettched world. But, yet the Scripture takes notice of a great Evill that befalls the world, when the Righteous perish from of the Earth & noe man laieth it to heart.

Allbeit by Gods determination, all men must die, yet, are the daies of the Righteous prolonged for a blessing to them selves, and others where they live. And Good Kings & governours, with men in eminent Places, & virtues, when they are cut of from the land of the liveing. prove an ar- -gument of the grand displeasure of God towards those Kingdomes & places for Sinns not repented of.

When he shall see cause to Rob those people of theire Jewells. & bindes up theire soules in the bundles of life, from scorching fires of miseries & infilicity. then lett the wicked bewaire, whoe laies not theire death to heart, nor amends there lives, least such warning pieces be sent to tell them that they are left alone to suffer puni- -shments in the Earth.

Thus, was it— in the time of this Prophett, Isaiah— when God had a controvercy with his people of IraellIsrael. denou -ncing & threatning his Judgements against them by this, & others of his profetts. yet would they not heare nor returne.

Then did he move theme by his sweetest mercies, those was in vaine. how long shall I call, & yea will not answer. and all the day long. I have streatched out my hand to a gainesaing people. these will not move. And now, he sends his last warning Pieces that they might take notice. he was bringing an great Evills uppon them, for the hardnesse of theire hearts, this was the Signe.

The Righteous perishith. yea, they perish from of this Earth. But what doe they lose, that loseth a Righteous man. A holie man, from theire place, whose, Soules, &, bodies, has bin kept from impietie & polutions, of this world, the flesh, & the deivill, which are true Israelites indeed. Powring out daily theire pettions & praiers to God for the Kingdome, place, & Families. &, with Moses, stood before the People to turne away his wrathfull displeasure against them. with strong cries & teares to God to spaire his People from distruction.

Great are the benifitts which are injoyed in the Life, & Examples, Praiers, & supplications, Govrnment, & instructions, of a holy, Righteous King. Father. 41 Master, or Ruler, over any Kingdom, Place, or Familie, & then the losse is more eminent, and generall to that societye, The death of the least of Gods servants are heavy afflictions, But when the tall Ceadars falls. greater is the blow to the shrubs, under whoes branches, was theire shelter. The head being off, how can the other members subsist; too frequently followes confusion.

yet, the Prophet tells us from God, noe man laies it to heart, to consider, Why doth God this, nor are sensible of this signe of wrath. that they may repent: of theire Sinnes, which has provaked his anger against them. God saith more. the Mercifull men are taken away too. As if this gift of mercy were of more use to them, as to there good, then any other virtue.

A great losse in deed & to be perticularly lamented by us; when Mercy perisheith from of the Earth. (As from God, to man,) those people are miserable.

Take away that Glorious Attribute of mercy from God. — (by which the world was made, preserved, & upholden, from us.) — there remaines Justice, & Severity. With an Almig- ty power to fall upon us men, to the distruction of soule & bodie, Who can endure the Justice of the Lord when his wrath doth arrise? yea, but a twinkling of an Eye. who is able to stand before him. so, when mercyfull men is taken from amongst us. many times Tyrany. oppression & injustice followes. yea, when a father; the Glory of the wood is cut downe, 42 What remaines amongst men, when an unmercifull man is ruler over them; but expectations to be devourd , & torne assunder through Avarice. Pride. factions. selfe intrest, & what not. even all confusion. in such a Kingdome; place or familie.

And, with out an infinitt mercy to prevent, will pro- ceed to utter desstruction, yet, the feares of this will not Rouse this secure People, out of the Lethergie of Sin. When, these righteous perish. yet will they not con -sider, when it is don to warne them, of theire owne ruine that mercifull men goe. nor will awaken, to looke about & inquire, by the word, of the cause of Gods dealing to take them away. (That it is from the evill to come And soe, by that meanes, be converted, that he should heale them).

As it was with the stuborne Jewes. so it is our owne case, God knowes, in these Kingdomes. our sinns were ripe for to be cut downe by the sickle of Gods Judgements by our Ennimies. & for them, to fall on this Kingdome. Whoes bloody desiress had soe farre besotted there hearts that were uppon a speedy excution of theire designes. All whose secrett intentions God saw. (&, that my Fathers Soule was greived for the iniquities of the times) delivired him from the following miseries. by a quiet, peaceable & sweete departure in the Lord.

According to his word, he was taken away: But from what, or why, doth God cut short the life of his servant? .not in anger, surely; against them. Athought tis said in this text, 'the Righteous perisheth'.

noe, he perisheth from the pleasures of the world & the delights there of (for the present injoyments of this life, that he might translate him to a better Place, & more durable Riches. And not only soe; but theire departure was, to be freed Even from the Evills to come.

Well might this be applied to our very case, in my deare fathers deliverance. For his eyes did not see those great & Tirrible Evills, which we did that sirvived him, Even bitter ones, that fell uppon the whole English, & Irish Nations. Such as was never heard of the like. (such horrid Treasons, Tretcheries. Bloodsheds. burnings. fammins. desolattions. & distructions).

Which fell so heavily uppon our Holy, good & Pieous King, whom the world was not worthy of. And that Excelent, pure & Glorious Church then Established. (for soundness in faith & doctrine non could parrellel since the Apostles time). And surely these things was foreseene severall yeares before, by him, he laid out his endevors to prevent the falling of them uppon us. by his frequent admonishments, & reproofs for theire vanities. With his Zealous praiers & deepe humiliation. of his person And daily intercessions at the throne of Grace for these three Kingdomes.

But, our sinns crieing soe loud in Generall, for vengeance, that the Lord would not spaire those which Offended with soe high a hand. against the sweete mercys and forebearance of our gracious God. Yet, not withstanding, all those calamities & dis- tractions of those times, I must ever acknowledge & sett forth, the loveing kindenesse, mercys & goodness of the Lord of Hosts to us in our delivernces in all these troubles. he makeing places of refuge for my fathers wife & children.

Soe that not a haire of our heads perished in the generall destructions either by the Irish, or English Rebellions. In Ireland were we miraculosly Preserved in Dublin, for severall weeks affter the Rebellion was broken out in the countrey. And though in much frights by Alarums from the Enimies, yet were we delivered from those evills, till — by a safe passage into England with All my mothers Familie & goods with her at Dublin, — we gott quit of Ireland & got to the Beere house at Nestton.

Thus, was there a Sanctuary from those Perills for this righteous mans familie when 1000 was swallowed up in the common calamities of that Kingdome, by the Irish Papists. And soe Alsoe, 45 Thus did the Lord deliver my deare father. in this way. the best of all, most certainely it was, for there the weary be att rest, & the wicked cease from trou bling. He died, & was gathered to his Fathers in a quiet & peaceable time. As he lived in Peace, soe he departed in Peace, & to Peace, giveing him rest in his Sleepe, the sweete sleepe of death to him, though sad, to us, hee left behind him.

It followes in the 2dsecond v.verse: He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in theire beds, each one walking in his uprightnesse.

When the Righteous man leaves this turbulent world, whither, shall he goe, or what place, has God prepaired for him. loe, the Spiritt of God tells us, by his prophett, heere the place. He shall enter into peace. they shall rest in theire beds.

And in this change, of my father was fullfilled this prophecie; which had bin confirmed by our dear Saviours, blessings to the Peacemakers; The poore in Spiritt: for theires is the kingdome of Heaven. to the meeke: To the mercifull. for they shall obtaine mercy; To the pure in heart: for they shall see God. the peace makers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Severall of these graces; — if not all of them — This deare servant of God was emminent for. in whoes blessings, I trust, he injoys his shaire. being called by God to worke in his vineyard. young, he fitted him for his place heere, that hee might obteine a crowne in Heaven. hereafter.

Many receaved a blessing in his peaceable And meeke. humble frame of heart. beeing a great meanes & instrument of reconsiliation, in his time, to Publ -icke, & private families, which were pertakers of the beniffits receaved thereby.

Therefore, I hope in that God of peace, whoes servant he was, that he now allso rests, himselfe. in his Death, He shall enter into peace: They shall rest in theire Beds. Theire Grave shall be a bed of hon.or, to him, it is so. blessed with a good fame, & name, which is like the Savour of sweete, & Precious Oyntment, as Solomon the wise saith, he, serving the Lord heere a few daies, is blessed with this preicious oder forever. the name of the Just shall live forever.

Each one, walking in his uprightnesse. — the mercifull, the Just. the upright. the holy. the Righteous. man. — All have theire abundante blessings (MattMatthew 5).

And these fell uppon the head of this good Josiah, Whom the Lord had such caire of to deliver him from those Evills following his Death. In that his Eyes did not behold the Evills, which he brought upon this Land. In all these things, we have cause to bllesse our gracious, & heavenly father, in fulfilling his word to him, that is in this Text.

Makeing him happie in his name, & memory, to Pos- -terity, liveing happilie heere, & dieing in the Peace of God, & with all the world. Peace at home. & abroad. in his owne conscience, & Soule, abundance, of tranquility, haveing walked uprightly all his daies. And now this Diligent labourour. of God was, at last, called by his Lord, & has receaved, of him his hire.

Even the wages of Etternall Glory— with his Lord & God to behold that faire beauty, & see him face to face. & live with him forever. Now Mortall. has put on immortallity. to followe the Lambe where ever hee goes, Receiving, that blessed doome of him, in Matt.Matthew 25:34: Come, yee Blessed of my Fathers & thou hast bin faith -full over a few things. Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord.

Thus, have we seene that God is able, & frequently doth make it apeare. that the Death of the Righteous Servants of God are exceding great blessings, & a happinesse to themselves. when he gathereth them 48 Sooner from the wicked. preserving them safe in the Grave from all violencies & outrages, both of sin, & sufferings. & giveing into theire bosomes Ana 100 times more the reward of his grace, with Glory Everlasting. Peradventure, on the contrary, When, as theire deaths may prove a currse to the world, to be left of such Mosesses & Samuells (which pleaded to god for them) & whoes Deaths are too oftten fore runners of fatall Judgements, to all hard harted, & incorigable sinners.

The Lord God, of mercy. grant to us all of his Familie, that this grand blow, in takeing our Head from us, may be a warning, to feare & serve this great God, of our fathers. returning from those evill wayes, & sinns, which has offended him, least we perish by iniquity. learne by our Fathers example to imitate his virtues. beeing in peace & unity amongst our selves. that soe, liveing in truth & peace, we may at Last injoy the God of Peace. Amen.

A Praier uppon my fathers Death.

Oh thou, most great & Dreadfull Lord God. mighty in Power, & wisdome. which seest & knowest all things in heaven & Earth, & canst looke us into distruction; yet A most gracious & Tender loveing father of

loveing Mercys to them that loves thy Majestie through thy deare Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. I, thy poore servant, sinfull dust & Ashes, doe beseech thee, to make me truly & sincerely humbled, & repentant for those Sinns & frailties, disobedience, to thy Commandments & holy Lawes, & childish follies of what nature soe ever that has offended thy pure Eyes. & caused thy Majesty to be displeased, & to take my deare father from my head. In whoes wellfaire & life, my good & happiness in this life did consist. And very much conduced too my Etternall consernes, & good of my poore ignorant Soule. By whoes Providence. caire & wisdome, I have bin upheld, succoured & maintained under thee ever since I was borne. Injoyeing many blessings & opportunitis of learning, to know & serve thee, beeing taught by him, & my deare Mother what things are necessary for my Salvation. he, beeing a grand instrument of good to all us, his children. O Lord, forgive all our follies & Sins against thy Selfe & him. pardon all our iniquities for the Lord Jesus Christ, his sake. Sanctifie our hearts. & amend our lives by thy grace & Spiritt. And sanctifie this great losse & Affliction to me, & us all. learning us, by thy corrections to know thy power, & serve thee with feare & love.

That thou maist returne with a blessing in the keeping safe my deare mother. & that our Sins Might not provoke thee 50 To take her away from us allso. And so make our selves miserable. Let us reforme of our vanities, becomeing new Creatures, Obeing thy righteous Lawes who art the God of our father. that we may be in Covenant still with thee.

Thou maist be our Father. Captaine, defender & guide. Suport. direction & preservation to my Mother & us. according to thy good promiss: A father to the fatherlesse & a Husband to the Widdowes, we may rest safely under the shaddow of thy wings, forever to be defended, & delivered from Sin & dangers. both Spirituall & temporall. Give unto me, thy hand-maide. thy holy Spiritt to dwell in my heart for ever. to Rule my passions, governe my affections. furnishing my ♥ with all graces. gifts. & virtues requissitt to this high calling of a Christian. That I may immitate the good example thou hast sett before me — of my Father — to walke before thee in Righteousnesse and holinesse all my daies. that thou, O Lord, mi- -ghtest have the Glory of all thy mercys & goodness showed to us in this infinitt blessing of my Father. Lett us be converted from dead works. that the temptation of the Deivill. the world & the flesh. may never prevaile over any of us. to sin against thee. & disobey

my mother, or be stuborne to the Lawes of our Father. And, allthough thou hast pleased to deprive us of his Life, the guide of our waies. & head of us all.

Yet, O Lord, I pray thee leave us not to our selves. to Swerve from thy precepts. & Righteous Lawes thou hast sett before us, either in thy word; or the Councells of our deare Parents.

And since it has pleased thee. to take my father away. for reasons knowne to thy owne wisdome. Lett a double portion of thy Spirritt. be shoured downe up -pon the Head of my deare. Mother. Lord, give her health of bodie & Soule. strengthen her faith, & patience. Comfort her in all her sorrowes & sufferings.

Preserve her from all Evills & dangers. be thou her Husband & guide in all her waies. And she, trusting in thee with all her ♥, may never beforsaken. but bless'd with a generall Suply of thy graces requisitt in all her weighty consernes. & bussinesse of this world.

that she may be preserved from the malice & Power of all knowne & secret Enimies. lett neither she nor us, O Lord, want any thing with out the which we cannot serve thee in which conditions thou hast called us unto. for thou alone canst blesse a little, & cause the widowes oyle not to faile, & we shall be blessed. giveing us safe resting places, in the distractions that is comming upon us in these lands. that we may sing praises to thy holy name.

Fullfilling thy will heere upon Earth, a few daies, which thou hast appointed for us. to live. that, at the last, wee may live with thee for ever.

And Lastly, O Lord, most holy & gracious, I yeald thee all humble & hearty thanks and praise. for all those favours & mercys. graces & gifts. with the Blessings of this Life. & those spirituall. together with the happie opportunities thou gavest to my deare father. to serve thee in his generations. by A happie successe in all his weighty Callings.

The good Providence. & prudence by which he added more improvements to his Estate then his Progenators for his Justice, uprightnesse. mercifullnesse, Charity to his Relations & straingers. in generall.

for the favour & good will thou gavest him in his owne & a strange countrey. And for all the good wher ever thou inabled him to doe, either for our Soules or Bodies. These blessings, I humbly acknowledge, did alone proceed from thy devine goodnesse from whence comes every good & perfect guift.

Therefore, O Lord, I beseech, accept my gratitude, & praise for all. And as thy mercy has bin soe plentifully bestowed to this family. adde this one thing more to us. That all thy dispensations may be sanctified to us In giveing us grace to live accordingly. & may be a holy people. as the redeemed of the Lord.

Not being stuborne & rebellious. By dishonouring thy Majestie. But as lights shining to a perverse people amongst whom we live. even to the salvation of our Precious Soules in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Lord, I pray thee also, endue me, with Patience & humility. to sustaine this thy hand of punishment to me by the departure of my father, and, like a Christian, learne, betimes to follow my Saviour, even when thou shallt call for all those comforts. I have, if that shall seeme good for me in thy Eyes. Season my youth with true principalls of Pietie. & holinesse. That whether Prosperitie, or adversity. Afflictions, or crosses. Povertie, or a compotency, thou shalt please to give me to injoy in this life. I may soe devote my selfe to thy service. That I may learne to see thee in all things. & injoy all things in thee. not seeking my happiness in this world. may take up my Crosse daily to follow my sweete Saviour. dedicating my youth. in all obedience, & filliall duty to thy comands. And my virtuous Mothers. Beeing a comfort. & stay in her weakenesse. & Att her dispose in the Lord in all things.

That thus, spending my daies, according to thy word, when I come at my end, I may rejoyce in thy salvation And live eternally in thy Presence, & Glorifying the Blessed & glorrious Trinity with delight, & joy for ever. And these most humble Pettions I crave for the Lord Jesus Christs sake, my deare Saviour.

Amen. Amen.

A Prayer to be said before wee Receive. Made by my father. before he went into. Ireland, 1628.

O Eternall. Omnipotent, & most Mercifull Father, thou that openest, & no man shutteth, & shuttest and no man openeth, lett the Wordes of our mouthes & the Meditations of our hearts. be acceptable in thy sight this time and for ever more.

O Lord God, by whome wee were created at the first, by whome wee now live, move & have our being, Looke not upon us as wee were placed at the first, by thy divine Power, in the State of Per- -fection, adorned with those Heavenlie qualities of knowledge & freedome of Will, whereby wee had some remsemblance of thee, our Great Creator. Neither as wee lye in the loynes of our fristfirst Parents whoe, by eating that sower grape, hath sett an Edge upon our teeth. Much Lesse as wee are defiled with our owne Pollutions. & uncleannes. But behold us, we beseech thee, in that State which thy divine Pro- -vidence, through the Redemption of thy Sonne & our Savioure, Christ Jesus, hath prepared for our Resto- -ration, unto that happiness from whence we are fallen that so, wee — whoe were altogether dead of our selves — , may, by him, be recovered unto that Everlasting Re- -surection, which thou (that wishest the Perfection & continu ance of what thou hast made). hast prepared for us before the begining of the world, If wee feare thee & keepe. 55 Thy Commandements.) Now, seeing, O Lord, such miserie hath accrued unto us, by the Act of the first Adam, Wee humblie desire that wee may take hould of the Covenant of thy free grace, which the second. Adam hath prepared for us; And that wee may evermore Magnifie thy great & unspeakable Mercys in sending thine only Sonne to become Man for us, whoe (being with out Sinne) suffered for sin, that wee (whoe were nothing but Sinn) might be made Rich by the imputation of his all sufficient Righteousnes. But, deare Father, such are our infirmi- -ties, that wee have bin so farre from Acknowledging thy infinitte goodness towards us in sending thy only Sonne to redeeme us, when we were utterly lost, so farr from beeing thankefull to him, for his unexpressable love towards us. that was content to suffer death, (even the scornefull death of the Crosse for our Sakes;) so farr from the Perticipation of his virtues, or the imitation of his holi- -ness and Examples; That those lawes, which —either by the instinct of nature (a guide even unto unreasonable Creatures) or by divine precept thou hast charactered in our hearts, —wee have, as much as lay in our power, raised out, by adding actuall unto originall sinns; so that those Wounds of his, which our teares should have clensed, our Sinns have inlarged; those stripes of his, which our Penitency should have healed, our iniquities have reiterated; And those scoffings, railings & unjust calumniations of his adversaries, have bin augmented, by our neglect of those duties & offices of Pietie, which wee — by his example & precept — should have performed to others, in so much that we have Crucified thee againe, our Heavenly Saviour, by our impenitent & unproffitable lives.

Wherefore, though at all times wee ought to ac- knowledge our Sinns before God, (thee, whoe being a Righteous Lord, lovest righteousness, & whoes coun- tenance will behold the thing that is Just, — yett, att this time, wee desire thy Especiall assistance, in confessing our selves before the Throne of thy Grace (& Justice) uprightly & necessarilie, where by thy grace wee desire to participate of the the Bodie & blood of our most deare & Mercifull Saviour, because other wise wee - shall be guiltie of our owne damnation.

1stComCommandment. 1st Wee doe, therefore, O Lord: confesse, the wee have con- -verted that acknowledging thee for our true & onlie God (as thou commandest by fearing thy Name, lov-ing thee above all Creatures both in heaven & Earth. humbling our selves before thee. beeing patient to endure what thou sendest, & hopefull onlie in thee) Into an ignorance of thy divine will, a carnall securitie & contempt of thee, a halting & counter- -fitt love of thee, as well as an inordiate love of our selves & others, an hipocriticall trust in thee. an outward & counterfitt humilitie; an impatiencey & murmuring against thee, lastly, into a finall desperation or presumption.

2ndCom.Commandment 2d Neither, O Lord, have wee Attributed that hon.or and Glory to thy devine Majestie which became us, but in- stead of Images & Idolls — which thou hast forbidden — wee have given that honor & Preheheminency to our Wills, lust, our owne desires, our owne imaginations, which have made our Selves liable to thy reproch and indignation. in so much that wee cannot expect but that thy justice should be intended. 57 Against us and our generations affter us for ever.

3rd ComCommandment. 3 But soe guilty have wee bin, O Lord, of takeing thy holie Name in our mouths in vaine. That wee have not onlie neglected that Duty of Honouring & reverenceing thy Glorious Name, by invocation, praier & thanksgiveing, the acknow -ledgment & publication of thy praises; the glorifieing of thy holie Name uppon all occassions. but by railings, bannings, cursings, blasphemies. malledictions and imprecations, wee have profaned thy Great Name, by foreswearing, false sweareing, light & common swearing, foolish calling thee to wittnesse, rash vowes, wiles, deceipt, lies, & such like untruths, vainely dishonoured thy great & glorious Name:

4th ComCommandment. 4 And whereas, like a mercifull father, thou hast provided six daies for our necessaries & reserved but one for thy Sabboth, — wherein thou hast injoyned us a frequent use of thy worship. as well in publicke congregations, as by our selves, an attentive hearing thy worde, & workes, & meditating upon both, a frequent use of thy SaramentsSacraments; A Charitable disposition, to thy poore members whome thou hast left heere amonge us. In visiting the Sicke & comforting the afflicted, & releiveing the poore; — wee have contrarilie absented our selves from thy sevice & worship; contemned thy ministrie & Sacraments. neglected the hearing & reading of thy Scriptures, &, instead of praiers. deeds of Pietie, mercy, & charitie, wee have intermedled with prophan & ordenary affaires of those daies.

5thComCommandment. 5 But, allas, deare father of Mercies, wee are not onlie guilty of offending thee, our Heavenly father, but have broken those bonds & obligations which common civilitie and humanitie hath appointed betwixt us & our. 58 Neighbours: for wee be commanded to provide for our inferiours by imbraceing them with a fatherlie affection, by providing for theire maintenance and Education, by instructing them in the feare & nurture of thee, our heavenly father, by giveing them all good examples, in our religious & honnest carriage & behaviour; by chastising them for theire offences. And to hon.or our superiours in heart, worde & deed & gesture; to yeild all obedience unto them, to imitate theire virtues, to expresse our thankfulnes to them in word & deede, & to winke att theire imperfections & infirmities: Contrairy to those duties, we have wanted of that Naturall affection where with wee ought to abound; wee have neglected our duties by contempt, our scorne, to much indulgence and rigour, by lightnesse & immodestie, & too much boasting. Neither can wee excuse our selves. O Lord, Com. 6th from hatred, anger, evill will, desire of revenge, wai- wardness, peevishnesse, inhumanity, wrathfull looks and such like misbehaviours against our neighbours, Whereas thou hast commanded us unfeined love, one towards annother, benevolence, compassion, meekenesse, long suffering, affibilitie, & all kinde of courteous behaviour.

7thComCommandment. 7th Wee cannot but likewise acknowledge our lustfull con cupiscence, — in heart, word & deed, — in repeating love - songs, filthy talking, all manner of uncleanness, as well with our selves as others: Whereas, on the other side, thou hast enjoyned us all chastiety, modestie in our actions, wordes, gesture, attyre. behaviour, and conver- -sations; Moderation at all time, in meat, drinke, 59 Sleepe, & all such like necessaries. And thou hast Com. 8. forbidden us all inward grudgings & longing affter Wealth by avarice, or coveting other mens riches: all fraud, deceipt, tricks. in bargaining & selling: All usurie, idleness, niggardise & Profusion of thy good Creaturs, yet have we incurred the breach of all theise, thy Heavenly directions, by not dealing uprightly with our neighbour in buieing & selling, by not caring to save him from damage; by not doing the workes of our calling, by not useing liberality or frugalitie in all our actions.

9th and 10th Commandment Com. 9, 10 And wee must Lastly confesse, O Lord, against our Selves that thou haste enjoyned us all plaine meaning and speaking, all taciturnitie, grave speech, a moderate use of the tongue, the bearing of a good oppinnion of our Neigh- -bours, & judging, all things done by him to the best:

But contrarilie, wee have delighted our selves to much in lyeing, false testimonie, pratling, scurrilitie, defa- -ming, & backbiting, sinister suspittion, and wrongfull judging our Neighbours. And now, O Lord, by this looking glasse of thy divine Law, wee see our selves so strangelly deformed, — nay, soe much defaced, with byles & ulcers, & wounds, — how can wee conteine our selves from sorrowe & repentance, till wee have washed away theise sins and obliquities of ours in the fountaine and comfortable streame of his Blood that died for us, wherein being once dipped, though wee were before as deepe as scarlet, wee shall become as white as snowe:

Butt alass, we are not able to cast our selves into this poole. such is our lameness & Imbecilitie; Without the helpe of thy Spirritt to worke in us such a sorrow and contrition that may alter and change these flinty 60 Hearts of ours, and make them hearts of flesh, or, rather, from flesh convert them into Spirritt.

Wee, therefore, O Lord, confesse our sinns, and are Sorrie for theise our misdoings; nay, wee are Sorie, O Lord, that wee can be no more Sorrie. Accept wee desire thee, O Father, the will for the deede, & conforme our wills unto the deeds: Furnish us, O Lord, with the sorrowe of attrition & contrition, which may work in us a repentance never to be repented of: Namel lie, (as St Paull teacheth us), a carefullnes, which may worke upon our understanding, upon our indigna- -tion for our sinns past, upon our feare, in regard of sinns to come, upon our desire to good things; upon our emulation to good Persons to immitate them, upon our revenge, & punishment of our selves for our sinns: for if wee would judge our selves, wee should not be judged of thee, O Lord.

O send us, therefore, strength, wee humblie beseech thee, O lord, to punish our Spirituall sinns of Pride, contem -pt of God, wrath, desire of revenge, lusting affter vanities, with a calling to remembrance (with sorrow & bitternesse) our lives past, with the thinkeing upon the judgements of hell & death, by studieing to be pa- -tient to put up wrongs; to be ready to forgive sinns by setting our desires on good & heavenly things.

And give us grace, wee beseech thee, O Father, to pu- -nish our carnall sinns of uncleannesse, gluttony, ease, sleepe & the like, with chastising our bodies with abstinesse, fasting, watching, meditations. Prayer, & devotion.

Helpe us, wee allso humblie beseech thee, deare feather, to punish our worldlie sinns, of covetousness, Ambition, Pride, thirsting after the outward comodities & advan- -tages of this World, By making restitution of what wee have gott contrariely to thy lawe: by beeing compassionate & bountifull to our fellow members; Then, shall wee, by thy goodnesse, not only be freed from the imputation & present guilt where with, our fore past lives have now defiled us, but bestow our future course of lives, in walking the waies of Godlines; goeing from grace to grace, from good worke to good Worke, till wee attaine to that measure of perfection, which thou hast apointed to us, during the time of our Earthly Pilgrimage heere.

And lastly, Most gracious, & Mercifull Father. Wee are humble sutors unto thy heavenly majestie: that wee may be assisted, with thy devine & gratious Spiritt. in the dutifull ordering our selves, before, during the time. and affter the receaving of this blessed Banquett; That before, with all the forces & facculties of our fraile Mindes, we may Extoll thy goodnesse & wisdome in sending thy onlie Sonne to Redeeme us, that, at that time, we may magnifie his obedience to thee, & love to us for shedding out his precious Blood for us that were thine & his Enimies: And after, being clensed with that Blessed Lavacre, be cairefull to keepe our selves unde- -filed that so, now, wee may by his grace be clensed: heere after, by his favour preserved, &, at the last, by his love be presented spottlesse & unblamable, before thy 62 Throne of thy Justice, whoe hath dearly bought & redeemed us, Even thy Sonne, Christ Jesus, the Righteous. In whose name & words, wee present these, our humble requests, unto thy divine Majesty and whatsoever shall be now or heere after necessary for us in Soules or bodies. Saing, as he hath taught us. Our Father, &cet cetera.

My Mothers Preservation from the Irish Rebellion, OctbOctober. 23, 1641. A Thankesgiveing for our great deliveration:

Many, & great was the sorrowes & sufferings of my deare & hon.ordhonoured Mother, with her whole Familie, uppon the sad change, by the death of my Honredhonoured Father.- And she contineued in her house in Dublin. Mainta -ining the great household in the same condittion as it was. At her owne charges, for the honor of the same, to her owne disadvantage many waies.

for she by that meanes tarried in Ireland, dischar -ging those Servants & paieng many debts, which should have bin don by the Executor, longer then she could well doe; (in regard that, her Joynture beeing in England, she wanted suplies). thus, she contineued till about the october affter, when — on the 23d day in the yeare 1641 — that horrid Rebellion & massacre of the poore English Protestants began to breake out in the countery. which was by the all-seeing Providence of God prevented in the Citie of Dublin where we weare.

In the vacancy of a wise & prudent Governour. — af ter my Fathers death & my Lord of Straffords imprisonmt by the Parliament in England. — That nation was under the authority of Justices. the Lord Parsons. & Lord Burlacey. These 2 old gentlemen, havein lived in Ireland many Peaceable yeares, could not be made sencable that the Irish had an ill designe against the English &, therefore, did not take notice of theire frequent, numerous meeting in a strange insulting manner. but, when they were in formed by some judicious men, neglected the searching in to that bussinesse. till (through theire remissenesse) the faction had gott deepe roote, & headed there designes to a full maturity.

Which undoubtedly had overwhelmed the whole bodie of the English there (as well in Dublin. as the Countery. had there not bin a most miraculous discovery of the Plot made in Dublin, by which, as the meanes our gracious God appointed, we weare delivered from Perishing in those flames intended for us.

The Lord Mackmaughhan & Mackguire, two of the Ring Leaders of this wickedness. was desined to Sease upon the Castle of Dublin, which at that time was Richly stored with All Amunition, Armes, ordenances. & other Artillery (for the defence of the Castle & Kingdomes. by the Lord Lieueten Strafford, well knowing that the Irish must be rideride with a curb. But this place of the English strength; was then cairlessly at that time deserted; none being sett to gaurd the bridge & & gates. but 4 weake, old men that could make noe resistance. That night beeing (satterday), before Mackguire should have taken possession of the Castle. (he beeing desined the governor thereof, by the Rebbells. & should have seised on it on the 64 Sunday morning. Mackmaughan, willing to save a kinsman of his owne name — that lived then as a servant with Sir John Clottworthy, an English man, — writt his cosen a letter to Dublin to meete him in great haste about a bussinese of great consernment.

his cosen imeadiately tooke horrse & ride into the Country but, finding him gone to Dublin, followed, & discovrd where he and Magguire was sett drinking, in a blind Alehouse, at which dore they had sett men to guard it. Now, this had bin converted a Protestant about a yeare before & married to an English woman. but they knew not that he was turnd. he observed along time, by there waies & impious expressions that they used to wards the English. soe much as he feared some bad designe in hand &, therefore, was the more diligent in following them, to discovery.

When they were mett, they fell to drinke much, — they causing him take more that he might be drunke. — but he desired them to tell him what they sent to him for. Mackmaughan clapt him on the backe & tould him that there was the galantest designe which was Ploted &, to take effect shortly, against the English Doggs, that could be: to cut there throats, & to morrow, by 6 a clocke in the morning, said he, 'my Lord Mackguire will be master of Dublin Castle. & they would Batter downe the Towne over the Heriticke Dogs eares & not spaire one of them.

After which speach his cosen, the Protestant, started, & cried out, 'what shall I doe for my wife.

They said: hang her. for she was but an Eglish dogge. he might gett better of his owne country. soe, he conside -ring himself to be in theire hand, whoe would murder him, if he resisted, complied for the time, till he found an opportunity to gett away. which they began to suspect & gave warning to the gaurd to kill him if he went out; soe, they dranke on, till the Protestant was forced to requir leave to goe into the next roome, for they durst not trust him farther. And he, withdrawing thither. broake down the window, & leaped out of an upper roome. & over a wall before he could make an Escape to acquaint the Lord Justices. But this man had allso the River to Swim att that time of night, which was 12 a clocke, before he came to the first Justice which was Sir Will.mWilliam Persons.

Beeing come to the Gate, he was forced to threaten hard before he was admitted. & then he tould him. 'My Lord, I am sent to you by the Providence of God. to save your Life & all the English. I am bound in consience to deliver my owne soule in there preservation from the Irish whoe intends to destroy them all', & tould him all the foregoeing sircumstances, telling him with all that he must not looke on him as an idle, drunken fellow. but as one which had all -most lost his owne life to preserve his. & that if he did not take caire to prevent this mischeife all the innocent blood of the English would be required att his hand.

With many such like expressions. affter which, there was search made for the two Rebells. but non was found till the same man, which discovered the Plott, found them himselfe, hid in the top of that house with in a Trap dore. soe, they were taken & secured, & we all — poore sheepe destinated to destruction — was thus wonderfully preserved & delivered in Dublin.

Whereas the Rebellion began that Sunday in the Country with sword, fire, & murdering all before them, not spairing infant of daies nor old Age. all was made havocke of & so contineued till they had notice that it was discovered in Dublin & were prevented by our forces which defended the Cittie.

Yett cannot it be immagined. but we had our shair in Dublin. when we were forced upon the Alarume to leave our house. & fly into the Castle that night. with all my mothers Familie & what goods she could. from thence, we were forced into the Citie. continueing for 14 daies & nights in great feares, frights & hidi ous distractions & disturbances from the Alarums & out cries given in Dublin, each night by the Rebells. and with these frights, fastings & paines (about sacking the goods, & wanting sleepe, times of eating, or refresh -ment, wrought so much upon my young bodie, that I fell into a desperate flux. called the Irish disseas, beeing nigh unto death, while I staied in Dublin, as allso in the ship comeing for England.

But my deare mothers caire was exceeding great for my 2 brothers, Christopher & John. with Tom Danby & kitt (my sisters two elldest sons. & my selfe. In providing a Ship to transport us all, together with her good Plate, & houshold stuffe in Dublin. which, she affterwards delivered to my uncle, will.mWilliam Wandesford, affter she came to weschester. But it pleased God to give us all a safe & quiett passage out of Ireland 67 in to England. landing att the Beerehouse neare Neston. where we ttarried severall weeks by reason of my distemper, (brought out of Ireland, when we fled from the Rebells).

This, I say, brought me exceeding weake, so that I had a Doctor from Chester for my cure. Affter which, with the great caire & love of my deare mother. God was pleased att that time to restore my life, & strengthen my great weaknesse, inabling me to goe to Chester in a Coach.

Thus did the great God of heaven, & Earth preserve us most miraculously in all our dangers & extreamities, bringing us safe, all to our owne native Countrey.

Blessed be the most high God, Possessor of Heaven & Earth, which preserved our lives from all manner of distruction.

A thankesgiveing for preservation from the Rebellion in Ireland, OctbOctober 23, 1641.

O Lord, great, wonderfull & holie. which sitteth in the heavens, in the glory of thy majestie, farre above all things in heaven & Earth; And that beholdest us, the poore sonns of men, with the eyes of mercy & pitty when wee are in distress & calamities, delivering us from Ruine & murders.

What shall I say, or can I expresse, how wee are bound unto unto thy gracious Majestie for thy Providence that watches over us for good, whoe saw & discovered these wicked, bloody practices of our implacable Enimies that secretly laid traps to destroy our Soules. O, how should our gratitud exceed all others, who has bin delivred by a most strainge providence & preserved safe, sleeping & wakeing.

When as thousand soules, more innocent then our selves, perished. & was swallowed up sudainly in the pitt of horrid murder & fury prepared allso for us in Dublin. Oh my God, what shall I say, which am astonished at the miracle which none but thine Almighty all seeing powes, & hand, could have prevented. thou, O Lord, hadst a caire of me even from my birth, & youth up. And hast preserved me from great &, infinitt dangers but this exceeds all other: thy boundlesse goodnesse to my selfe. My mother, & brothers (with her two grand- chilldren; from the utter destruction of all her Posterity. O, what shall I render to the Lord our God for this, his great deliverance of all our Soules. That did not give us up to destruction amongst the many 1000dsthousands that perished. to be murdered, stript, slaine, burned, drowned, or into any one of theire damnable practtices against my innocent Soule. O Lord, what am I, or my fathers family, that thou shouldest take caire of us.

But even for thine owne name sake, & tender mercy, whoe gave us our lives for a Prey, in a strainge Place and delivered not up our lives to the sword, famine, Pestilence, & Rebellions. I will magnifie the name of the Lord most high; while I have my beeing, will I praise thy holynesse for ever. which saved me from perishing in the sea. and gave us a speedy & safe passage out of Ireland, free from stormes, & tempests. Raising me up from death, that I was nigh unto, even of that flux: he it was that brought me helps, & blessed the meanes which was given me to cure that infirmity.

Yea, the Lord hath done great things for me already, whereof I do rejoyce. & my Soule is filled with gladnesse, O Lord, I beseech thee, Give me grace to make a good use of these deliverances, & mercies, afforded. to tie me fast by the bands of faith, & obedience, to thy holie Lawes. in this my youth, that thou spairest. that so I may be a blessing to my Mother & relations. And since thou hast freed me from these bloody minded men. So, o Lord, deliver my soule from my Spirituall Ennemies, from the violencys of Satans temptations, & secret devices, deluding my soule with snaires of Sin & evill, nor that I should be overcome by any Sin or polution, of the world. to offend thy gracious Majestie, which has don soe much for my soule. but that I may love thee with delight & joy. following the vertuous Exam- ple & dictates of my deare father, & mother, praising thee with all my might, & laing out my endeavours for thee heere, that, at the last, I may live with thee for ever in heaven, to glorifie the Lord to all eternity. And this I humbly crave for Jesus Christs sake, our only saviour.

Amen. Amen.

Uppon my Mothers comming to Weschester from Ireland & of my haveing the Smale Pox. in Feb.February (20th, 1642.

After our comming to Weschester from the Beerehouse neare Neston, when wee fled out of the Irish Rebellion. It pleased God to move the gentry of the Cittie to be exceeding courteous & civill to my deare Mother & my selfe. assisting her with what necessaries she wanted in a strange place, & such pittie & favour we found. that she wanted nothing in that Place which our Neighbours procured not for us. in which number was Dr Manwaring & his wife. Sir Thomas Smith & his Lady 70 And Familie. all beeing very deare freinds to us. My Lord Cholmely & his Lady, with many other persons of qualitie. (severall of which would have furnished her with monnyes. but she wass unwilling to trouble any. still expecting returnes out of yorkeshire).

July 17th 1643 But the warres falling out hott att that time, beeing wee were beleagured in Chester by Sir will.mWilliam Brewertons forces for the Parliament, & there happened a strainge accident which raised that Seige, July. 19th, 1643. As I was informed; there was 3 granadoes shott in to the towne but through providence hurt noe bodie. The first, beeing shott into the Sconce of our Souldiers. with in 2 men of the Captaine, Manwaring. but haveing an Oxes hide ready, clapt it there on. & it smot- -hering away in shells did not spread. but went out. The 2d light, short of the Cittie, in a ditch, with in a Pasture amongst a company of women milking but was quenched with out doeing them harme at all. Praised be the Lord our God. The Last fell amongst theire owne horrse, short of the towne. slaing many of them, & by that meanes the Seige was Raised. thus was we freed from great evills to befall that towne, while wee staid theire. that sucseeded affter we came into yorkeshire. which still the Lords hand was Streached out for our Preservation: in each place we came to it was a sanctuary to us, blessed be the Lord most hight for all his goodnesse towards us:

But I had, in this time of the seige, a grand deliverance standing in a Tirritt in my mothers house. haveing 71 bin at praier, in the first morning we weare besett in the towne &, not hearing of it before. As I looked out at a window towards St Maries Church. A Cannon Bullett flew soe nigh the place where I stood that the window sudain -ly shutt with such a force, the whole Tirritt shooke. And it pleased God, I escaped, with out more harme, save that the wafte tooke my breath from me for the present. & caused a great feare & trembling. not knowing from whence It came. I blesse, and praise the Lord, our God, for this my perticuler preservation at that time.

Allso, my Brother, John Wandesforde, was preserved from death in the smale Pox. he, haveing taken them of one of my cosen waill.mWilliam wandesfords sonns liveing then at Chester. Great was my mothers feare for him, & caire & paines she tooke about him. and at last, hee, through mercy, was recovered. (Although he was very much dis- figured, haveing bin a very beautifull child. & of a sweete complextion). In the time of his sicknesse, I was forbiden to come to him least I should gett the smale Pox & indanger my owne life. & so observed my mothers command in that.

But my love for him could not containe it selfe, from sending in letters to him, by a way found out of my foolish invention, — tieing them about a little dogs neck — which, beeing taken into his bed, brought the infection of that dissease uppon my selfe, As allso the sight of him affter his recovery. beeing strooke with feare, seeing him so sadly used, & all over very read. I immeadiatly fell very ill, & from that time grew worse.

Till I grew so dangerously ill, & inwardly sicke; that I was in much perill of my life, by theire not comeing well out. but kept att my heart. not withstanding all the meanes of Phisicians, or others, that my deare Mother cost & caire she used for me. yet I was well nigh death. But blessed be the most gracious God, & Lord of mercy, , which pleased to heare our pettions for my life, & to spair me in much mercy. & caused them to come well forth, & so by degrees the malignity of that Dessase abated when there was many in that place died of it.

There was in our house a little boy, that my father had taken for charitie. This Frank Kelly, falling sicke on good friday (& I on the next day) was most sadly used in great extreamity, of paine, & sickenesse, & miserabley sore. & could now swalow. his sight was eaten out, & his mouth very sore, notwithstanding all the great caire, & industrie of my deare mother, 2 wattchers & the same helpes of a Drdoctor & meadicens we both had,

And great was my mothers love & charitie for him: so that, my deare mother, she did sit up many nights with this poore boy, & drest his sores, with all offices as diligently as if he had bin her owne childe, notwithstanding his loathsome dissease. All the time of this boys sickenesse, he was so full of sweete expressions & Hea venly minded, with much acts of Religion. that it was a great comfort to my mother, & all about him. with a bundance of patience, & gratitude to God, & my mother for all they had don for him.

Every one being astonished, to heare his wonderfull, hope, Repentance, for his Sinns, against God, in the time of his igno- -rance, before he was converted from Popery, & since, his severall confessions with sorow, & bitternesse of heart, for them & praing, them to intreat God for him. Then would he, beyond expressions, stedfastly declaire his faith, hope & beleife in the mercys of God, through his redeemer, Jesus Christ, alone, for salvation of him, & commending his soule to God in much praiers & meditations, (both aloud & offten in his slumbring) to theire great admiration: that the goodnesse of God should condesend, to make himselfe knowne to a poor childe, in uttering forth infinittly more then allmost any could expresse. And was an abundant sattisfaction to my deare mother, to see an improvement of grace, & religion, in his heart, since he was brought into her house; it beeing not two yeares, at which time he was a Papist affter his owne poore Parentes religieon. but, affter he came into my father house in Ireland, & brought into England, by my mother. he was through all good instructions, & teatchings, (as to Read, & his cattechisme, &cet cetera. it pleased God to open the eyes of his Soule, & he became a true convert, & a patterne of much goodnesse, & vertue, that I never saw the like in many yeares, above his, (beeing about 9 yeares old). This poore boy, alalong his sicknesse, still praied for me when he heard I was in danger of death, desired with teares that God would be pleased to spaire my life & to blesse me that I might live to doe much good to others. as to him, & that he might rather be taken away & I spaired. & he lived till I was well againe. (& would have gon to seen him. but he by noe means 74 would suffer me, least his extreamity should doe me harme, but (I, standing where I could heare his viocvoice & he mine. he blessed God heartily, & rejoyced to hear I was delivered, & hoped God had heard his Praier & that 'you', said hee, 'might live to the glory of God'.

And it did please our gracious father to releive him out of his missery by Death, about 14 daies affter. this good childe, whom he had fitted for himselfe, died uttering many gracious speeches, out of the scripture, & abundance of patthaticall praiers, & Pettitions to God: for himselfe, my mother & us all, with hearty thanks offten to God, who had taken him out of that wicked way (as he calld it, wherein he undoubtedly had bin damnd, bringing him to beleive aright in God, for his salvation. with many hopefull & religious expressions, more then could be expected from such a Childe. he freely & will- -ingly gave up his soule into the hands of his Redeemer with, 'come, Lord Jesus, & receave my soule', & so died.

I had great reason to take especiall notice of the great goodnesse of God to us, in giveing us opportunity to bring this poore Soule out of the darknesse & ignorance of his sinfull education in which he was. & it was the good providence of God, so to order it, thus the accident was. As my father was upon the greene, one day, bowling, seeing a poore, naked boy in Rags, yet pritty & nimble, was very officious in gathering up his bowles. He tooke notice of him with intentions of charity towards the boy.

Askeing him severall questions. & hearing his witty answers, seeing him an Irish orphan, had compassion on him. and tould him if he would be willing to forsake all his old waies that he was bred up in his Papist freinds. he would bring him up in the true feare of God. And he would take caire of him & provide for him that he should never want all his daies.

At which the boy was very glad, & said he thanked his Lordship, & that he would be willing to learne what he should put to him. & would pray for him all his daies. so, from that he tooke him home, clothing & nourishing him till hee died, & then my mother contineued the same in her house, where he receaved such instruction, &c. as that, I hope the Lord had glory thereby, & that poore soule now reapes the beneifitt of of such charity.

Receaving the 1 sacrament A Thankesgiveing affter my recovery from the smale Pox in Weschester: 1642.

Blessed be the great & gracious God, & father of mercys, the Lord most high, which had compassion uppon me, a poore fraile wretch, & spaired my life, from this distruction in this sad sicknesse, or to have such a lamentable disfiguration, & be loathsome to my selfe or others, as this poore childe was. thou, o lord, full of compassion, did with hold thy heavy hand from falling uppon me in such a measure, (though I was justly brought into great dan -ger & much extreamity, to lett me see thy displeasure for sin. & thy power to take off thine hand when thou pleased. Lord, thou hast spaired me when there was noe hopes left, then didst thou turne again & restore my Life.

And spaired me as a man spaired his only sonne. O Lord, lett it be in mercy that thou hast preserved me in these wonderfull manners of all thy late & former de -liverances. Make me, I beseech thee, a vessell fitted for thy service heere, that these signall deliverances that thou hast shewed to me in this Citty, & Ireland, from thy Enimies, who would have devoured us up soone & swallowed us quicke. from those imminent dangers in the time of the seige, makeing me escape from that Cannon bullett. giveing me a kind affection among -st these strangers. & those deare expressions of love of my deare Mother, in all my weakenesse, & sickness, with all the meanes was used for my preservation.

Thou, O Lord, hast don it, and to the glory of thy name I returne my humble thankes & praise, where as I, & my brother escaped, when this little boy in our house was taken, & 100dshundreds in this towne died thereof.

O deare God, since I have daily my life given me, a new, make me joyfull in thy salvation, wherein thy great mercys are made more manifest. then to many in the world. O, let my soule be precious in thy sight who hast delivered me with great Miracles. Sanctifie me from my youth, & all to thy service. that I may be free from the follies thereof, & dedicate all the facculties of my soule to thy service. Thou which hast brought me from the wombe to live to see the 15th yeare of my life run.

Alsoe, I praise thy name principaly for thy great favours in thy beginnings, in makeing thy selfe knowne to me in the Receaveing thy most holy, & blessed Sacrament, which 78 Is the first time I had the happinesse to doe, in this Cittie. O Lord, I beseech thee, forgive my Sins & unworthinesse, my Childish-nesse, & ignorance, & unpreparednesse. being unfitt to draw nere to so holie, a great God as thou art. And with all, accept my true & faithfull endevours to come to thy holy Super, wherein thou offerest to be receaved by faith & grace spiritually into my Soule. Grant that I may receave & applie all thy mirritts to heale my wounded soule. and pardon my Sinns, as verily as I have bin made pertaker of these outward ordinances. And I beseech thee, blesse thy handmaide, & receave and accept this thankesgiveing & praise from my ♥ as thou didst from thy servant, David, which loved thee from his youth. as I have desired to sett God allwaies before me that I may not offend. Lord, give me underst tanding & I shall live before thee & praise the Lord for all his benifits afforded to me for soule & bodie. all which I humbly begge in the name & for the sake of my dearest saviour his sake, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Righteous. to whom, with the holy spirritt, be all glory & power, might, dominion, thankesgiveing & praise for evermore. Amen.

A discourse of passages, & delivernces of my mother & us 3 Children affter her removall from Chester, to Snape & till we came to Kirklington. 1643, 434

Aug.August 28, 1643. From Weschester, my deare mother removed with her 3 yonger Children. Alice. Christofer. & John wandesforde. (She having sent her 2 grand sonns home from Chester before the seige). with these, & severall servants & tennants, though with much difficulty — by reason of the interchange of the Kings Armies, & the Parliament — she was brought into the Towne of warrington, towards coming in to Yorkeshire, she, finding more favour by reason of the Captains Civility. & by a passe from Collonel Shittleworth then usuall.

Seeing nothing but a weake company for her Person. & haveing lost all in Ireland, (only 2 Trunks of wearing linning. they gave her leave to passe. &, about 10 a clock at night, we came weary into the towne of warrington. After a while, we were entertained, with (Alarums as was pretended) from the Kings party in Chester. this was but to awaken theire diligency the more. but there was noe cause; for that poore Towne had worke enough to defend it selfe from its Enimies.

From warrington, we went to Wiggen the next day, beeing a Towne Zealous for theire King, & Church. wee found it sorely demolished, & all the windowes broaken, many, sad complaints, of the poore inhabitants (beeing at our first comeing was scarred least we should have bin of the Parlament party). Theire cries weare the greater in respect they weare inforced, to see the burning of 500d of theire owne Bibles. publickly at the Crosse by the Soldiers, which they plundered, under pretence of beeing Popery, in theire Service books. and reviling them with the names of Papists Dogs. But this Towne had bin preserved from such fallse doctrine, or herisie, & would have died for the true Proffession of the Prottestant religion.

The memory of Dr Fleetewood was so famous at that time with them, (which was a most Pieous, Godlie Minister liveing about 30 yeares since with them) & by his life & doctrine had sett such good order amongst them that they still retained the true Religion he taught. They, heearing that my mother was his neece, flocked abundantly to see her, 80 usuing all the civilities, & kindnesses imaginable, to her for his sake. & notwithstanding that theire Bibles & books were burnd. never neglected the praiers at 6 a clocke in the morning & 4 in the affternoone.

The next day, we passed from thence towards yorkeshire with many praiers from this People. And when we came to the borders of Lancashire, at a place called downham, we were not permitted to passe. but, with harsh language, & Abuces by a Parliament Corporall, & his gang. they would not beleive our passe. but tooke us downe, swearing & threatning, we should be striped. so, my deare mother & all of us was forced to come into a pittifull house for shelter, & lie there all night, with heavy hearts, least we should have bin used barborously, as they contineued in threatning against my fathers, widdow & children.

but, loe, our gracious Lord God, — who sees all wrongs & indignities offred, to his servants. in his due time rights them, — did bring us safe out of all our feares & dangers, blessed be his holy name for ever. & turned shame upon those cruell men that did abuse us. That night 2 of them- selves, with my mothers servant. went to Coll.Colonel Shittleworth (10 miles off. who, upon the sight of his owne passe. did de- -claire his grand displeasure for theire rudenesses to my Mother, & Child: causing his nephew, Captaine John Ash- ton, to punish those vilaines & convey her safe as farre as his quarters laid, wishing her a good jorney. Thus did the Lord of hostes deliver us all & makeing our Enimies our freinds. O, praised be the Lord God of our Salvation, delivering us from bonds, imprisonments & plundering. feares & frights.

Page of Book One, showing author's marginal comments.

Courtesy of the British Library Board. British Library, Add. MS 88897/1, 81.

O, that we might live to his praise & glory, of his name.

Sept.berSeptember 2d, 1643. My mother was minded to goe to Snape, where my Sister DanlyDanby was. & beeing invited by her, she went

Sirfett Lobster at Richmond

Sept.September 15th, 1643.

thither to live, till she could better dispose of her selfe, & us in those troublesome times. For it beeing in the heate of the warres, she could not live at Hipswell, her Joynture, which was molested, some times with the Parliaments & then the Kings forces amongst them. (to uncle Nortons). Soe that for a whole yeare, we lived, with great comfort and safety with my sweete Sister Danby att Snape. where she to snape from RichRichmond. OctbOctober. 11., 431643. was delivered of a galant Son even in the midest of troub -les. God gave her comfort. & my brother would have him called Charles. because of his ingagement for the Kings service. Bro.Brother Jack to B. ScoBedale School, No.November 16. 164343. Now, while we lived at Snape, my brot -her, Christopher W.Wandesford, was exceedingly tormented with the fitts of the spleene. haveing taken them uppon the death of my Father, with greife in the Church at his funerall. seiseing then upon him, they contineued sore, notwith standing all good meanes used, laboured & endevours of my mother. & us all, with all meanes, meadicens & ad- -vices of Phisicians for him. I am wittnesse, & many more, that not any thing was wanting. which might conduce to his Nov.November 22 to Scoole 23 43. recovery. At the last, she, sending him to Dr Batthurst at Yorke. where, by Gods blessing, he was perfectly cured of this distempers. This was indeed a great deliverance of him from this distemper wherein many that has seene him has begged of the Lord to take him out of those torment. And, at length, through great mercy he was delivered.

It was advised that my Mother should goe from Snape & live att yorke. for the better Education of my 2 brothers, Christopher & John. As for my Eldest brother, George, beeing then in France, was happie under the Tuittion of one Mr George Anderson, a scotch man. but a most sober, wise, discreet Person. A great scholer, & excelent qualified man, and of grand abilities. A Zealous devine for the Church of England. ana, indeed, a most Excelent good Christian for his life & conversation.

Under the conduct of this good man, was my deare brother, George, happiely placed for his Education, in all good, & commen -dable qualities, in France, during the heate of the warre, in part, (Allthough he was compelld to returne into England for lacke of supplies when his Rents was seised on by the Parliament, Through which he indured a great deale of hardship). But to return to my Mother, whoe prepared for Yorke, with her Children & goods intending to live there. But it pleased God, we was prevented from goeing further, then a place in the halfe way. when we were mett with a friend. Mr Danby of Cave, who gave expresse notice to my mother. that as she loved her life. not to goe to Yorke. For the Parliament forces had mett with the Kings, & they were all betrayed. & so was forced to retreat, & that towne would be beseiged, and soe, this councell came seasonably, & happiely, to hinder our greater troubles & sorowes uppon that Townes surprisall. Praised be the Lord, our God, which did prevent those evills, & preserved us in our way. when we were nigh to danger, & knew it not. for this poore Gentleman, Mr Danby, was soone affter, Killed on the moore for the King, when the Kings forces was allmost all de -stroyed & cutt downe by the Scotts & the Parliament Army.

Affter this, my mother, & family returned, & came to Kirklington, where she staied at Mr PaggettsDaggett's (the Minister, beeing most kindly entertained & receaved till the hall was made fitt to dwell in. in that time, affter she came thither in the yeare 1643. was the battle of Hessome & the takeing of yorke. & she was much con- -serned for my brother, Christofer wandesforde, being then at Yorke for cure & att Scoole.

Butt it pleased God in providence soe to order it, un -expectedly, my brother George. was newly come over out of france, beeing at My Uncle Osbornes at Keveton &, wanting suplies in the warres time, was forced to come toward his Estate, about Richmond. att that time when the Armies was in Battailie, & was surrunded in his passage to Yorke. but when he perceaved that the day was lost from the King. he rid to fettch my brother Kitt from thence. where, as he happiely mett him riding out of the towne to see the fight. he tooke him up behind him & brought him safe to Kirklington, that night, butt was pursued by a party of horrse, (of Scotts. &, at a 11 or 12 a clocke att night, we receaved both my brothers home safely, out of those great dangers of beeing Murdered. blessed be God, our Saviour & high deffence, to the poore, de- -solate widow, & her Children, in these horrid distractions & feares, of ours, & the Churches Enimies, thus, did we receave them home againe, with great Joy. But my poore brother, George Wandesford, durst not stay at Kirklington, the next day, by reason that a party of horrse was dispatched to seise on him, suposeing him a commander, in Armes for the King. But 84 he was forced to fly for his life. & secure himselfe where he could, the Lord still preserving him from his unjust Enimis (being an innocent Person. & never ingaged in either party, & who was but newly returnd in to his country. & this was his first salutattion & wellcome into it).

A deliverance from a Surfett of Lobster. att Richmond, 1643.

Affer this, when the scotts had helped to overthrow the Kings Army at Yorke, for which designe they were called in to England, &, to destroy the Regall Power, of his Majestie. waiting upon the Parliaments Motions, to fullfill the intent of the Scottish Covenant, in Rooting out the Prelaticall Party, & the Establish -ment of theire Scottish Presbittery in the Ruine of the King & Epicopacy. these scottch Rebells quartered them selves All over, the Countery, Especially, in and, about Richmond. forcing all People to take the Covenant, how contrary soe- -ver it was to theire duty of Aleagence, or consience. & those who would not; weare forced to flie, or was impri- -soned, & Ruined, soe that my poore brother, George, was upon this account compelld to live obscured, from all People, (in- regard that he would not be compelld to this treason, nor was willing to be imprisoned, by them).

Sept.September 15. About the yeare 1643 (September 15). We went to see my Aunt Norton at Richmond, & to live a while with her till Hipswell was fitted, & there itt Pleased God to preserve me from death which I was nigh, unto by Eating a little peice of Lobster that day. I had taken Phisick, for it turned on my first sleepe, when I wakned, into an exceeding terrible vomitting & purging. & so followed with such violence that they could not make me any helpe, nor could I have soe much 85 Respitt or ease till I could take any thing, & this contineued, all that night, & the next day, till night; butt by the gracious blessing of God, upon some respitt & things given by Mr Mahum. with my deare mothers cair, I escaped that desperate fitt, & by degrees was cured, only it brought me very weake & faint.

Praised be, the God of all mercys for this, his mercifull providence, in delivering my Soule from the gates of death, even adding this favour to the number of the rest & giveing me great & fresh occassions to lift up my voyce in gratitute to the Lord of our salvation. O, give thanks unto the Lord most high which is great, wonderfull, & holy, the Lord increase my faith in thy name & thankefullnesse to thy goodnesse. for these daly deliverances & new lives given to me. Blesse the Lord, O my Soule. with all thy powers, of Soule & bodie, all that is within thee, blesse his holy Name, & magnifie him for ever, which has delivered alsoe me, & all my mothers house out of the violency of our Enimies which hates us with out a cause, Lord, blesse us & all thy servants that professe the truth of thy Religion, & suffers for a good caus, that they may be delivered at the last. & thy church & King may be preserved to praise, & addore thy name, & that I may be bettered by all these trialls & troubles that thou see fitt to chaistise me with all in my youth, to bring me near to thy Majestie in faith, & godlinesse, all my daies, for my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

In the yeare 1644, no.berNovember 29.

After I was recruted in strength, my mother went to Live at Hipswell, her Joyntyre with my B.brother, George, my selfe & George Lightfoot & Dafeny Cassell. & my D. G. W.dear George Wandesford, his man. And there she was troubled with the Scotts one while & the Parliament forces annother while 86 Tormented, us gitting all our provissions of meate and drink, lett us want all nesscessaries, yet there dominiereing & in sulting voluptuousnesse must be suplied, & my mother was charged — for 18 or 20 months together — with 25l a month in monnys to the Soldiers, besides the quarting of a troope of Scotts on free quarter, which was trible the valeue of her Estate. & at that time, she borrowed monnyes to maintaine all her 4 children (my brot.brothers, ChristoChristopher. & John, were at Beedale scoole from nov.November the 16, 1643. many years, which she paid afterwards) Albeit we had a perticuler maintenance to have bin paid out of Kirklington, & for the heires part out of Hud- -swell. Yett, even in these times most sad and lamentabl, did the Lord most high preserve us from ruine, utterly & made us have a Place of safety under his wings of Protection. all those Evill times of feares and distractions. Blessed & praised be the god of our Salvation. Amen.

The death of my Sister Danby: (September 30th, 1645) att her house at Thorpe.

About this yeare, my deare, & only Sister, the Lady Danby, drew neare her time for delivery of her 16thsixteenth Child (Ten whereof had bin baptised. the other 6. were still borne, when she was above halfe gon with them; she, have -ing miscarried of them, all uppon frights by fire in her Chamber, falls, & such like accidents happening). All her Children were Sons. — saveing my two neeces, Katherine & Alice Danby, — & most sweete, beautifull, & comely were they all. The troubles, & distractions of those sad times did much afflict & greive her, who was of a Tender & sweete disposition, wanting the company of her husband, Sir Thomas, to manage his Estate. & other consernes.

But he, beeing ingaged in his Kings service was not permitted to leave it, nor come to Thorpe, but seldome till she fell sicke. these things, added, to the horrid rudn -esse of the soldiers, & scotts, quartered then amongst them, which — vexseing, & troubling her much with frights, caused her to fall into Travill. sooner then she expected; nor could she gett her old midwife. beeing then in Rich -mond which was then shutt up, (for the Plague was exceed- ing great there. soe that all the inhabitants that could gett out fled, saveing, those had the sicknesse in theire hou -ses).

At this time did my deare Mother & whole family receave grand preservation from the devine Providence in delivering us from the Arrow that flieth by day, when — as 100dshundreds died so neare us, & thousands, fell at noone day, nay all that towne was allmost depopulated. — how did our good & great Lord preserve all us at Hipswell , soe that noe infection seised upon any one that belonged us. (allthough the malice of the beggers was great to have don harme by raggs, notwithstanding all her Charitable Releife daily, with much meate, & monny). Blessed be the great & ever mercifull father, who did not deliver us up to this heavy judgment, of the Lord but did reb -buke the destroying Angell. & at last stayed this Plague in Richmond.

But to returne to my poore sister, whoes extreamitie called her freinds to her assistance. she had bin very ill, long time before her delivery, & much altered in the heate 88 of her bodie, beeing feaverish. Affter exceeding sore Travill, she was delivered of a goodly son, about SeptSeptember 3d, by one dame sworre. this boy was named francis. after another of that name, a sweete childe, that died that sommer of the smale Pox.

This childe came double into the world, with such extreamity that she was exceedingly tormented with paines. so that she was deprived of the benefitt of sleepe for 14 daies; except a few frightfull slumbers, neither could she eate any thing for her nourishment as usuall.

Yett, still did she spend her time in discourse of goodnesse, Excelently Pieous, godly & Religious. instructing her Children, & servants. & prepairing her soule for her deare Redeemer. (as it was her saing, She should not be long from him). That weeke, when I was left with her affter my Lady Armitage, & my Aunt Norton was gon. though she could not gett rest. yet all her discourse was very good & profi-- table to the hearers, whoe might learne Piety, chastiety, holinesse, patience, humilitie, & all, how to entertaine the pleasure of God with contentednesse. makeing soe excelent a confession of faith & other Christian virtues, & graces that Mr Siddall. exceedingly admired her Partes & Pietie, giveing her ~~the~~ as high a carracter as could be.

She did intreat Sir Thomas, her husband, to send for Mr Farrer, & to joyne with her in the receaving the holy Sacramentt, but he would not give leave. which was to my knowledge a great greife & trouble to her thoughts. That night, she powred out her soule in Praier with such comprehensive & good expressions that could be. for her owne soule, for pardon & remission of her sinns, for grace & sanctification from the spiritt. faith & assurance, &cet cetera. then for her husband, Children, Mother and all her other relations. & my selfe.

For the Restoration of the King, the Church, & the Kingdoms peace, with such patheticall, & Jelous Expressions that all did glorifie God, for things he had don for her. Affter which, she did in a manner Prophesie, that God would humble the Kingdome by Afflictions for there sin & security. but affter that, when we were humbled and reformed, whosoever should live to see it (for she should not) should injoy, happie daies for Church & state. thus, she contineued, & with praiers for our Enimies, &cet cetera, for they stood in need of our praires, for the forgiveness of all theire Evills.

She called her children, exhorted them abundantly to feare God, serve him, & love one annother, be obedient to theire father. with admonishing them, & her familie; she was kinde, & dearely affectionate to her husband, to whom, under God, she left the caire of her 7 young children.

Some times, she did expresse abundant joy in God, & would sweetely, with a melodious voice, sing aloud his praise & Glory, in Anthems, & Psallmes proper for her condi- -tion, with many sweete verces praising him for all things , Nor was she in the least conserned to part with her husband or Children, nor any thing in this world, haveing her hope & desires fixed upon God. Leaveing her Children freely to the Providence of her God, who had releived her soule out of all her distresse. who had promised to be a father to the fatherlesse. All her words weere full of sweetnesse & Affection. giveing me manny hearty thankes for all my paines, & caire I tooke with her. & watching a whole weeke together. if she lived, she would requite my love 90 with an abundantabundance of affectionate expressions, to this pur- pose. My greife & sorrow was soe great for her that I had brought my selfe into a very weake condittion. in so much as my mother came to Thorpe (with Dafeny Lightfoote, a cairefull servant, to helpe with my Sister. And sent mee home, who was allmost spent in that time.

Att which time, I tooke my last leave of my dearest & only sister, never could gett to see her for my owne Illnesse affterwards. But she, waiting her Lords time to be called, was fitting her soule, & ♥ for him. As the dissease increased of the feaver — notwithstanding what could be don for her in that condittion, — it did to her, as many others in such extreamity, deprive (her (for want of sleepe & food which she could not take by reason of a sore throat) of part of the use of understanding for a little while, when its fury lasted. But Dafeny was alwaies with her. who she had a great love for, and as she grew weaker, affter a months time of her delivery, holding her head on her breast, said to her in a faint weake voyce. 'I am goeing to God, my God, now'. Then said Dafeny, 'nay, Maddam, I hope God will please to spaire your life, to live amonggst your sweete Children, & bring them up'. 'how can that be', an- -swred my sister, 'for I find my ♥ & vittalls all decaid & gon. (noe:) I desire to be desolved, & to be with Christ, which is best of all. I have made my peace with God'. And imme- -adiately she said, with as strong a voyce as she could. 'Lord Jesus, receive my Spirritt', then, giveing a little breathing sigh, deliverred up her soule in to the hands of her Saviour. sweetely falling asleepe in the Lord.

And thus ended that sweete Saint her weary pilgrimage, haveing her life interwoven with many caires &. 91 Afflictions, although she was married to a good Estate, yet did she injoy not much comfort, And I know she receaved her change with much sattisfaction, beeing she hoped to be freed (as she said) from a wicked world, & all the Evills therein. Thus, departed that good soule, haveing bin young called to walke in the waies of God, & had made his service her contineuall practise. The Lord sanctifie this sad losse of this virtuous Sister of ours to the whole Familie. & that, as she lived the waies of Godlinesse from her youth, soe she may be a godly Example to all her Children.

She was a most obedient Childe to her Parents; loving & loiall, affectionate, & observant to her husband; a tender, & prudent Mother to her children (bringing them up in the severities of Christian duties, yet enough indulgent over them with a Christian moderation). A wise, & discreet mistresse towards her servants, whoe loved, & hon.redhonoured her in theire obedience.

truly affectionate to all her relations in generall & courteously affable to all Neighbours, & freinds. And, indeed, a great losse to all amongst whom she- lived, doeing much good, & imployeing her time in helpeing the diseased, & doeing many cures. following the Example of my mother in all those things.

She lived, affter the birth of this Child. about a month, dieing on the 30th of Sept.September 1645. And was buried that night, att Sir Thomas Danbys owne Towne (in Massam Church in the night) by reason of the Parliament. Soldiers & Scots who would not let a Sermon be Preached. Butt there was great lamentation made for her Death.

The death of my Cosen, John Norton. 1646.

My Cozen, John Norton, died of a consumption, long in A languishing condittion, but at length it pleased God to take him to himselfe in the yeare 1646.

He was a sweete, good natured youth, he died at St. Nicolas.

The Death of Sir Edward Osborne. 1646.

My uncle. Sir Edward Osborne, who was my mothers ~~owne~~ half brother; was a very good, wise & prudent, man under whoes tuition my father left the hope of his house, my brother, George, as — being joynt gardian with my Mother — he had soe fraternall a love for & parentall caire over my Deare mother, & us all; that we weare most happie in him. & during his life, this — our Familie — was kept in much peace & tranquilitie, (he, seeing that each party had its right & dues. with a caire for the due observance of my fathers will, of which he was an Executor).

Butt affter his death, we (that is to say) my Mother, & her Children) was much opprest, & injured, through the bad Managerie of all that Estate, & that was all seised on by my Uncle Wand.Wandesford for the Debts, which he was much wronged of too, by one he made a Leace of it for 7 yeares, takeing many 100d pounds more then his due, (& before he gott it againe, he put him to a suite). but in this time, all the Children was Maintained, by my deare Mother, from her Joynture.

My deare Uncle Osborne, beeing att Keeveton with his ladie. And desiring to eate some mellons att the time of yeare, sent for severall from his gardens at Thorpe, & Keeveton. And finding some excelent good. did eate a little freely. but that fruit was too cold for him & strooke him into a vomiting & Purging so violently that it could not be staied, till his

strength was past recovery. soe that, in a few daies time, he was deprived of his life. to the great & exceeding losse to All his owne Family, & ours, as allso of his Majesties & countery. he beeing a most Excelent good Christian, true & orthodox, to the Church of England, a faithfull, Loyall subject to the King. & of a sweete & affable disposition to all: in whoes death I suffered the losse of a Father, & my Mother, a husband. but he was very happie in a holy, good life, ana high Esteeme in his Countrey. & of a great fame for vertue; & much lamented in his death.

Makeing a sweete & comfortable conclusion, of his life with an abundance of Pieious & Religious Expressions. He died about the month of July: in the yeare 1646. att Keeveton in the farthest part of Yorkeshire.

My Cozen, Edmund Norton, Eldest son to my Uncle Norton, was married to Mr Dudlys Daughter & heire of Chopwell, in the Bishoprick of Durham (Mrs Jane Dudly, an excelent fine & good gentlewoman). Feb.February 10th, 1647. att Chopwell.

My Cosen, Edmund Norton, died of a Plurisie att Yorke the 30th of November: 1648. A gentleman of a sweete, good disposittion to all, obedient & dutifull to his parents & true freind in time of adversity. a religious young man, A faithfull subject to his Majestie, for whom he suffred much. he lived an honnest, good, sober life, doeing good to all, died Religiously, & is, I hope, now very happie in peace & rest, loving a peaceable temper. & was beloved of all that knew him & An unmeasurable losse to his Parents.

94 Uppon the beheading of King Charels the Martyr, JanJanuary 30th, 1648

Our blessed King Charles the first. whoes memmory shall live to Etternity, was cruelly Murthered, by the hands of Blasphemous Rebells — his owne subjects — att White hall. London the 30th of Janueary: 1648.

Lett all true Christians mourne for the fall of this Stately Ceadar, whoe, was the cheife suportt of the Church of God. A holie, Pieous, Prince, whoe fought gods battailes a- -gainst his Enimes. beeing a nursing father, a good Josiah, to his 3 Kingdomes. whoe for the defence of the true Catholique Religion. of Jesus Christ, his Lord. And for the defence of the Noble Lawes of this Kingdome of England. the Protestant faith & the Privileges of the Parlament & Subject. Ruling them in peace & happinesse many years. he laid doune his life. beeing sacrificed by the iniquitties of his subjects; Their sinns pulled downe his Ruine on him & our selves. lett his admirable booke speake his Etternall Glory & praise, the best of Kings (as meere man) that ever this Earth had. never defiling him selfe with sin or blood. of a tender, compasionate, sweete disposition. Incomparabley Chaste; & free from the least tincture of vice or Profainenesse. Oh, how may we take up justly those bitter lamentations of Jerimie. The Annoynted of the Lord, the Joy of our hearts, the light of our Eyes, is taken in theire pitts. the Crowne is fallen from our Heads. Woe unto us that we have sinned, lett every soule gird it selfe with saccloth, & lament the displeasure of God which has smitten our head & wounded the defence of this our English Church, our Solomon. Hezekiah in him, our staffe & stay, is gon. o, repent, & humble your selves, you Daughters of Jerusalem, for him that clothed you in Scarlett 95 Is taken from you. what will you doe in this your day, day of Calamitty. o, that my head were waters & mine Eyes a fountaine of teares, that I might weepe for the slaine of the daughter of my People, nay, that our Eyes might gush out with teares for this holy saint, & martire, of the Lord. O Lord God, most great, and Excelent, in thy beeing & Atributes. what shall become of me — a vilde, unprofi table creature — when thy displeasure has thus risen again st the Head of thy Church heere. for my sake, & treatcherys against thy goodnesse & mercy, has thy hand bin strea- ched out, to deliver thyne onoynted in to the hands of cruell men. O Lord, I am ashamed, & blush before thee who have provoked thy wrath against us. but, o deare Lord, lay not this sin of murdering to my Charge, or having a hand in compliance, with such as rose up against him. for thou knowest that I have abhorred all such practices against thy devine majestie, or thy vice Girent, on Earth. but, O Lord, deliver me from blood guiltinesse that it may never be laid to my charge nor my posterity. nor what else thou knowest me to have committed against thy holy laws & precepts. (for many are my frailties, ignorances, neglect of my dutis, to God & man. which might thus have disple -ased thy goodnesse. and give me a holy heart & repentant, with all the graces that thou didst indow our Sacred Majesty with all, fitt for me. And be pleased to pardon the whole King -doms of this bloody Crime that we may not Perish in theire sins that are guilty of this innocent Blood. O Lord heare, O Lord spaire, & doe for thy sonnes sake, & smite us not 96 in thy Anger (as thou mightest doe in severitty, for this horrible, great & unheard of wickednesse. but have Pittie & compassion, for thy mercy sake & destroy not the Innocent with the guilty. o, heare, Our deare Kings petti- ons, for our forgivenesse, that he made, for his Enimies, lett not theire iniquities be theires & our Ruine.

Give them a most sad, & deepe repentance, & humiliation. for this bloody fact, — all whoe has had theire hand therein, either Explicittly, or implicittly. & affter a sharpe and salutary repentance, give them pardon, & remission of this horrid sin. And further, O Lord, our God. still preserve thy Church in this our Israell. And bring to us in peace & safety our Lord & soveraine, King charles, his son. to Rule Peacably, & religeously over us. with the Establishment of thy true Religion in this Land.

And to this end, doe thou most wonderfully turne the hearts of all People to doe the same, that we may be, in thy due time, freed from all these most sad plagues, & judgments, that are all ready on us, &. what we may feare further for our impenitency, & hardnesse of heart.

O Lord, give us truth, & Peace, against that these herisies — that are now Established as it were by a law, — may be extirpa- -ted, the hon.or of the Lord Jesus advansed, our King re- stored, & all thy Servants injoy there inheritances as thou hast given. And with all give us humble & penitent hearts for all the abominations of this Land. & for this great wickednesse. Lett us lay our mouths in the dirt, bewal- -ing all the malicious designes, & treasons against our Lawfull King. Learning thereby more humility. & to be contented in the subjection thou requirest. Sanctifie thy Dealings to me, thy servant, & make us better for the Lord Jesus Christs sake.

That thou maist receave the hon.or & Glory by our true convertion, — when we see the Evill of our doeings. may be againe Established by thy Powerfull mercys. That all the world may see the Glory of the Lord & give thankes unto thy holy name. o holy, blessed & glorious Trinity to whome be all thankes, Praise, hon.or and dominion for Ever & ever. Amen. Amen.

My Cosen, Julian Norton, died at Richmond greene at her fathers, the 9th of Aprill. 1649.

Uppon the Death of my brother, George Wandesforde. March 31, 1651, & of his Sequestration. & other troubles, affter his returne into England.

The fatall blow given to my Fathers Familie, by the death of our excelent brother, was very great, but the effects thereof fell out most heavy upon my selfe, in the sad losse of soe deare & loving brother. nay, I may say, a father to us all.

He was a Gentleman excedingly qualified, with suttable indowments both naturall & acquired. giveing him- selfe over in the qualifications for the service of his God, his Church. his King & countery, and such as rendred him much beloved. & lamented, at home & abroad. for the great losse & sad conclusion of soe brave a Person. Yet injoyed he, in his time, affter my fathers death, not much comfort, for since his returereturn out of France, in the Publicke calamities of Church & State. he was driven to many straits & hardships.

Beeing sequesterd through a false oath of his adversarys suggestion, & his Estate, with all the other apoynted for widdow, Children & Creaditors, of my father seised on for the Parlia -ment uppon that account. This don under the pretence of Godlinesse & Religion, because he did not joyne in such Practices of Rebellion against The Church of God. & our Lawfull King, whom God had commanded to be obeid. nor could any adheare to Such designes, whoes hearts was sencable of those duties of faith & Alleigeance, with out the danger of Etternall damnation. and the curse of God upon them, whoe seperated from the knowne Lawes & commands of God Almighty, and the Lawes of the Land wherein weare happiely placed. our peace & Safetie.

According to that of the wiseman. 'My son, feare thou God & the king, & medle not with them that are given to change: for who knowes the ruine of them both'. Yet, not withstand -ing this threatning; Evill was soe Established by a law That there was noe man of Estate which did not lift up his hand against the Lords Annoynted, that could be freed Eitther from plundering, sequestration & imprisonment, Robed, or murdered, by secrett, or open hostilitie. if any gave information against them. As for my brothers crime, it was for disposseing of the Parsonage of kirkling ton in his owne right, as heire, & of my Mother (as a Gaurd -ian to him yet under Age beeing but 19 yeares old, unto Mr Siddall, A very Pieous, godly Minister. but not of the Priesbyterian faction. This liveing, beeing of too good a valew for a Royalast, was looked upon by one Mr Nesbitt of the other oppinion, & so the more confiding Person. which could not be invested in to it, tell my brother, &cet cetera, was made a delinquent.

Affter which it was conceaved, upon such a crime as Loyallty, to his God & Prince; this Privilege of the dis posing of (this) with the injoyment of his owne Estate, was sufficiently forfited. (upon the poynt, thus much was confesst by Mr Nessbitt to my uncle will.mWilliam wandesf -ord, affter my brothers death, beeing the cause why he was sequestired.)

In this condittion was my deare brother, amongst many others most faithfull in this Realme. And therefore, they might soone make a fault where there was none, & poore Naboth must suffer that an occassion might be found to take his possession. Albeit he saw too evidently that the Kings forces & Power declined. yet could not his Loyall heart be gained to joyne with the Actors in this Rellellionrebellion, allth- -ough there wanted not solicitations. but his heart- could not with out abhorrency looke on such practicies , more abominable then that of Ireland. because masked with a faire shew of true Religeon, & Pietie, to fight aga- -inst the most Christian King that ever this Nation had. under whose government we might have still contineued, happie. if our owne sins, ripe for judgement, had not prev- -ented Gods mercys. And stirried up the Philistines with the discontented Scismatticks, instruments for our Punishment in theire Rebellion. It mutmust not be denied, that my dear brothers affectionse & conscience, carried him in judgment to serve his King, the Church & State, by way of Armes. yet, as things then fell out, such was his prudence. for the presservation of his Family, according to his gracious.

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Majesties command to his freinds. That he saw all was lost, & that they should sitt in quiett, & preserve them selves for the good of himselfe; or sonne; affterwards. So that he saw it was in vaine to strive against that impetuous streame to involve himselfe in utter Ruine, willfully, when noe good could possibly be don by his service to the King, otherwaise then by our Praiers & teares for him. this was the reason made him decline the ingageing into that warre.

Butt his Enimies vigilancy of all opportunitys to gaine his Estate, & this Living afforesaid, had spies upon his ac- tions wherein they might take an advantage against him & had there designes furthered uppon this accident.

I formerly shewed how my brother was disposed of, for tra- -vill in to france, for his improvement in Education. At his returne in to England, & in his passage betwixt my Uncle Osbornes house (Keeveton) to his owne Estate & my mother to Kirklington. he — beeing ignorant of the Armies ingagment that day on Hessome Moore. was to passe that way towards Yorke home. but most unhappiely it fell out contrary to his expectation, & before he could retreat anyway found a necessity to secure himselfe from the stragling company. & soe, by providence, light into the company of my cosen Edmund nortons Troope that day. till he gott towards Yorke for the securing my second brother there at schoole. Affter which Escape, he came to Kirklintn. But this was the opportunity his Enimies sought. &, with out any questioning in to the true state of this bussinesse, sett seve -rall (as Mr Luke wastell by name, whose family had bin raised by my father) to examine too poore men which had bin 101 upon the moors that day. who weare carried to Yorke on purpose to sweare they saw him fight. but the wittnesses would not take oath they saw him fight; beeing more just not to perjure themselves; then theire masters, they would give in evidence, only, that they saw him on the Moore. soe, when the Kittes could not prevaile with them for a more full oath to theire purpose. they were dis- -missed with out any reward save much anger & repr -oaches for theire charges in that Jorney.

This dealing much incensed the poore men, who said affterwardes they were trapan'd into that bussinesse, & would not for the world have gon up. if they could have foreseene the deisgne to have prejudiced my brother. Neverthellesse, this formalitty of the projectors was suff- -icient ground to proceed against him as a delinquent against the Parliament (though according to theire owne rules he was not liable, beeing under Age); yet where such selfe intrestts as by Nesbitts solicitation, it was legall & all the right in the world that his good service should be gratified; And thus it was performed; immeadiatly, there was his Estate all seised upon. he proclamed a Traitor to the Parlament, with my mother, my 2 younger brothers, my selfe, (all of us 3 beeing young. for I was but 15 yeares old. & the Eldest of ~~the~~ them). this was don in the Church of kirklington by Mr Nesbitt in a triumphing manner, & there upon my brothers Person should have bin seised upon. but he was secure through a disguis.

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Mr Siddall, allso upon this account, was sequestred. because he would not relinquish his title to Nessbitt. he haveing injoyed that Living from my Mother & brothers donation since the death of Mr Daggett.

Such Practices cannot subsist with Primitive Pietie, or the Purity of our true Religion. what ever pretext is with our new Reformadoes.

In this confusion & streights, wherein my Fathers Family was fairely desgined for Ruine, through the desperate malice of our unjust adversary, whoe did worry the Lion for his Skin. There happened a propossittion of Marriage, made betweene my uncle, will.mWilliam wandesforde, who was then en- -devouring to gett of my brothers sequestration, with my Cosen, Richard Darley, for to be had betwixt A nephew of my Cosens & my selfe. which motion of Mr Darleys was, att that time, relished by my Uncle Will.mWilliam & thought to be the only expedient to secure my Fathers Estate & accepted by him through whoes scolicitation at first, (though he de- -serted it affterwards). that affter some time, it came to such a progresse. As uppon that account, My Cosen, Rich.Richard Darly was instrumentall, in putting my brother George uppon the traversing his deliquency, & in the End cleared his Estate from the Ruine of Sequestration.

As to my owne perticuler — beeing willing to be advisable by my freinds in the choyce of a husband, deeming theire judgments above my owne. was persuaded that this proposall might tend to the good of the whole Family, & was inclined upon these grand motives & inducements, to accept of this Motion, for Mr Thornton.

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Contrary to my owne inclination to marriage, as allso to that Judgement which was oppositt to my owne in his Relations, which Probably might bring me to severall inconveniances: Neverthelesse, for so generall a beniffitt to my family, & hopes of finding a Sober, religious Person, I waved all other opportunities of greater advantages in Estate, &cet cetera, which was propou -nded by severall Persons of qualittie & of my owne persuasion with my selfe, And presently there was a Treaty of marriage entred into by Mr Thornton & my deare mother, which was depending till a good time affter my brothers death.

But it so pleased God, for our greater affliction, when wee hoped to have injoyed the benifitt of the clearing his Estate from that Tiranny of Sequestration, that we receaved a very grand blow, by the sad, infortunate losse of my dearest Brother. which was the preludium to our many afflictions & troubles in that poore Family. when we lost such a head & Piller, in whoes life consisted much the contineuance, of that noble extraction, & galantry, not leaveing in it his second behind him. The occassion of his death & our misery was this. uppon the dispatch of that bussinesse at London, by My Cosen Darley, of the discharge, of his Estate from Seq.sequestration, My brother George deemed it his part to returne thanks due for such a favour, non more gratfull for a kindness don then himselfe, haveing laid at Mr Harry Darcys, 104 That night, came to Hipswell. to consult my mothers advice about writing to London to Mr RichRichard Darley about that bussinesse. Affter his obeisance & craving her blessing. tould her he was now goeing to Richmond, to my Uncle will.mWilliam where he would write to Mr Darley, desiring to know what she pleased to command him further in it:

My Mother said that her service & thankes must be returned him for all his kindnesse in that bussiness, which she would have don herselfe by writting. but that she was sudainly surprised, at that instant of his comeing up to the Chamber, with much feares for me, (who was, soe violently tormented with a paine in the right side of my necke amongst the sinneus & which caused me to cry out in extreamity, nor could she imagine what was the cause, only she still anoynted it with oyle of Roses). My brother, seeing me in such paine, Asked how it came. of which I could give noe other account, haveing bin as well before as ever, till I was combeing my head toward the right hand, & bending my necke as he came up the staires, & ever since it had held me greiveously. this was the sircumstances of the strainge paine, which held me strongly till about halfe an houer. which was the very time of his drowning.

but to proceed to the circumstances of himselfe. he pittied me much & would have staied with me, but that his uncle will.mWilliam staied for him at Richmond for letters that Post. And affter his walking, 3 or 4 turnes about the chamber in his studieng of his bussinesse, still my thoughts I saw a great deale of change, he looked so seariously & soberly. as if there was some great change neare. but what I knew not. only feared the worst that we should be deprived of him whom I so dealy loved.

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He, in a very reverent manner, kneeled downe and asked blessing at his goeing out againe not long before, which my mother tooke notice of, praieng God Almighty to bless him & said, 'sonn, I gave you my blessing but even now, how cometh it that you take so solomne a leave of me.

he answered. 'for sooth, I cannot have your prayers & bles -sing for me too often'. and so, with her praiers for him in his preservation, & his most humble obeisance, in a dutifull manner he tooke his leave; biding me, 'faire well, deare sister. I hope to find you better at my returne home'. I, likewise, praied him to have a caire of him selfe. &, lookeing affter him, I thought he had the sweetest aspect & countenance, as I ever saw in him, & my ♥ was even full of feares that we should losse him. there was soe great and intire an affection for him on whom we did all much depend. & speaking of this to him, he said I was allwaies full of feares for him but hee did not deserve it. And this was the last parting we had in this world, with a bundance of deare love & affection betwixt us as we ever had in our lives together.

Going affter this downe staires, hee called for his horrse. & although he had 2 men my mother kept for him, yet tooke he neither with him, but bid his foot man, James brodricke, an (Irish man & an excelent runner) to meete him at Richmond. at 11 a clock where he was to mette my uncle willWilliam. soe, my brother went towards the River; And as he rid by our Chapell, where there was a wedding that day. he asked the People, whether the Swaile might be riden. they said that there had bin a flood. but it was fallen for some had crost the water that morning. soe, he, biding the People joy in theire marriage, went very slowly towards the river.

And as we heard affter wards by 2 men which saw him on the 106 Other side, he went downe as cairfully & slowly as foot could fall. Nor was the second flood come so high till he was in the midest of the River, but, when it comes from the Dales, it falles with a mighty, mountaineous force sudainly, As I can my seelfe testifie, whoe (through the mercys of God) was very nigh perishing in that water, once or twice, but was delivered.

for, as I was comeing betwixt St. Nickolas, & our house at Hipswell, if I had bin but 2 yerds of the shore, I had bin lost. by its force. but, by providence, I was not above halfe the horrse length on from ground, and yet the horrse was taken to the midle girths. (albeit, it had bin all the time, I passed through before the flood came downe. but a little above the fettlocke). Thus, wonderously was I preserved from drowning. The Lords holy name, be praised even for ever for my eminent deliverance from perishing in & by these floods of waters.

But to returne, to the sad relation of my brother, which we was informed of, by 2 men which walked beyond the River. they perceaving A gentleman goeing downe to the water, imagining it some from Hipswell, seeing afarre of that the flood came sudainly, & mightely downe. made haste to the Swale; & see only his horrse getting out of the River. where he had bin tumbled in, all over head, & by swiming had gott out & shaked himselfe. They gott hold of his bridle but missed the Person that ridrode on him. perceaved it to be his horse, made a great search for my brother. but could not find the bodie. With great sorrow, & lamentation, they ran to Easby & Richmond raising all the Townes, flocking in exceedingly with lamentable Mornings &, out cries, for him whome they dowted was lost in that unhappy River.

The most lamentable newes came to Hipswell. where our very 107 Hearts weare allmost broken, with this greevous, dismall, heavy blow. & losse of our dearest brother; & for the harty greifes, & sorrowes, I sustained, it well nigh had brought me to have, died with him. And, if God had seene it fitt, that my poore unworthy life might have gon. soe hee might have lived, for the good of his Family.

And but that the hand of our gracious God was seene migh -tily in my mothers preservation. we had bin deprived of her life allso. this great blow aded to her former afflictions, & to have brought her with sorrow to her grave, beeing deprived in such a heavy manner, of the hope of her house. A man of so great accomplishments, & great -nesse that I have heard many lament, & say that few came neare to him. for excelents abillities, Temperament of Bodie, & humours, faculties of minde, ingenious, & of great ingenuity. A most obedient, & faithfull Son to his Parents. which increased there comfort in him.

A deare, & affectionate brother. A faithfull friend. A loveing, Land Lord: To his very Enimies, ever courteous & affable. not disobleiging any by his morrocity or perversenesse. his very Enimies then could not but lament his losse said, he was the greatest losse that Yorkshire had for a brave gentleman. & if thus much came from the mouths of adversarys, noe incomium his frinds can sett upon him can speake his worth & mirritt at whoes hands he had deserved, soe much. & I am sure the Country generally had a great losse of one soe Pieous, under- -standing, & Loyall to his King. soe that, if it might have gained him the world, he would not have taken a fallse oath, or Covenant, to wrong the Church or his soveraine. his death was uppon Munday morning in Easter weeke. 108 March the 31, 1651. was his blacke munday. the strange paine which seised on my necke portended this Sadd losse. Great, & infinitt, was the search by thousands, of People from that time till wednesday following, his bodie not beeing found till on that day, & about the time when he was lost.

And then one of those men which was a wittnesse against him, was the first, which discovered his bodie, it beeing fallen into a poole neare Cattericke Bridge, a bove a mile from the place he was drowned. John Plummer, the mans name.

Affter they had drawne him up, caire was taken of his bodie, which was as sweete & comely, in all parts, as in his life, except one bruise on the nose which was thought to be don when he fell, uppon some great stone, theire being abund- ance in that wathplace: Allbeit he was an Excelent swimer yet was it not the Lords pleasure, that it did him any helpe to be saved thereby. The Corps was laid att Thomsons on Cattericke brigg, that night because it was deemed the bringing him to Hipswell, would, too much have agravated my mothers excessive sorrow, & indangered her life allso. He was carried by coach, to Kirklington in the company of all the Gentry in that part of Yorkeshire. with a greater Lamentation, & sorrow, then was for any, with in the memory of man at his funeralls.

He was buried in Kirklington Church, neare Sir Christoper Wandesforde Tombe, my Great Grandfather, Mr Siddall preaching his funerall sermon, as I take it, and with as much solemnity, as those times & such a sudaine accident could admitt. And this is the true relation of his death, of the fall of this stately Ceadar of our wood, our staffe to my deare fathers Family, whoes death, cannot be spoken of with out teares. I have taken on me, to inlarge more fully. As to the sircumstances of the latter part of his life; & death, as allso of my honredhonoured. 109 Fathers, with the inlargment of severall sircumstances, & passages, belonging to both. because this age of the world, & sad times, is so apt to raise & report fallse things of Persons of quality, & worth. bespattering these dead Ashes according to the malice of Satan. whom- they durst not presume to touch when liveing.

And allthough I am not worthy to undertake this taske according to each mirritts. I could not in my consience be sattisfied with out the commemoration of some of those resplendant virtues in them, which I was a daly wittnesse of. beeing obleiged in point of gratitude, according to my capacity, to relate the truth of these sad afflictions wheerein I had a deepe shaire, & to leave them for the right information to my Posterity of theire finishing this life, according to my knowledge. he was buried upon the first day of Aprill 1651.

Sir Christofer Viwill, who had a great love for my Deare brother, made an Excelent paper of verses upon him in bewaling his losse, which I will insert heere affter.

A Lamentation, & Prayer, uppon the death of my hon.redHonoured brother, George Wandesford, Esquire.

Alas, O Lord, most great, & mighty, wonderfull in thy Powerfull Attributes, & Judgements. what shall I say or, doe unto thy glorious majestie. who hast looked downe uppon us, with a mighty breach. adding great sorrowes to our Publicke calamitys. Thou hast a controvercy with this whole nation, & allso with this poore Familie, by takeing away our brother by an unnatarall death, when he was in hopes to have lived in peace and quiet. yea, then hast thou, oh Lord, deprived us of our head & suffered men to breake in uppon our Estate, & disturbe our 110 quiett injoyment, of this good land thou gavest to us. And now, at last, smitten, the cheife branch of our Family. Ah-las, Lord, our God, we have bin rebellious before thee, & adding sin to iniquities, by our disputes, & disturbances, & now we have lost, a maine Piller, which preservd the peace & quiett of us all. yea, in a suddaine, & sad manner.

Oh, what have we don, in displeasing, this great & dread- full God, walked unworthy, of the mercys of soe gracious A father; whoes dealings towards us, has bin in much mercy & clemency. haveing preserved him & us all from the violencys of our Enimies, & the Churches, in many great & eminent deliverances. Yet hast thou now taken him away, (who was the Joy of our hearts) in these sad times, to our great discomfort. But what are we, O Lord; sinfull dust, & Ashes, in disputing thy pleasure, thy will be don in us, & by, us, & on us in all things.

O Lord, teach us humility, & patience. & grace, to repent of our iniquities, whatever it be which is displeasing. or hath provoaked thy anger, & displeasure, in his death. lett us bewaile it, all our daies; beeing humbled for our miscarriadg -es & nonproficiencys in thy schoole of Afflictions. The murders, warres, blood shed. That especially of the horrible Murder of our gracious King. that wicked doers was lett in upon him, & us for our Crieing sinns.

O Lord, pardon; O Lord, forgive; & doe for thy mercy sake make us not a by word, & scorne, to our Neighbours. in these signall punishments. returne to us again, & lett not sin prevaile, to our distruction, nor thy corrections to deso- -lation; but correct us in thy judgment not in thy anger, lest we should be consumed, & brought to nothing. Put an end, I humbly beseech thee, o Father of Mercys; to our confutions 111 And distractions, Publicke, & private. Sancitifie this heavy chastisement, in our losse. to me, which had a great shaire, in what troubles that followed to us all; & pitty thy humble, repenting, returning Servant, who is smitten, with thy Rod, & desires to receave instructi -on. Lord, comfort my deare mother, in these her sadnesses, & sorrowes, by the losse of soe dutifull a Son. & make us that remaine, to be stayes to her, in her Age. And my fathers freinds, to be comforts, & succours in this world. unite our divissions in this Family, that none may wrong, thy widow, & her Children, depending on thy Providence. lett us all rest on thy mercifull favour for provission, with out invading each others righsrights un -justly. Lett it suffice, o Lord, that this blow is given, & stay thy sword of vengeance, against this nation in generall. lett this, thy punishments, have this effect, to drive out our corruptions, & purge away our Sins. and then heale our soules, & receave us to thy favour: Forgive all our malicious persecutors, & turne theire hearts, that is the cause of our distruction.

As this affliction came by thy holy pleasure, & perm -ission, soe teach me, and us, all patiently to submit to thy dispensation. Blessing thy name, that he fell not by the hands of the Philistines, whoes cruelltys was great. But before his change, (though it was sudaine), didst shew him thy mercys, in considering his wayes, & reconsiling him -selfe to his God, & giveing him the opportunity of thy ho. holy Sacrament, a pledge of our Salvation; with great desi -res to serve thee faithfully, in his generation; with many many other testimonies of thy love, as that of his Estate. And great abilities & understanding in religion. severall good gifts & graces; fitting him to walke uprightly in thy sight. And it may be this providence was better, for 112 him then. to live; to see, & passe through those Evills to come, when there was noe king in Israell, every one did what was right in his owne Eyes. but he was brought to his grave in Peace; And now, o Lord most high. & yet most merci- -full Father. Lett me not Sin against thee by adding reping, murmuring thoughts. for it is the Lord, lett him doe what seemeth him best. I lay my mouth in the dust & say. 'I am not worthy to speake unto thee, nor have my owne life given unto me; in abundance of health & strength; therefore doe yeald thy majestie, most humble thanks & praise. that I am still preserved, in all these times of Ruine. & from peri- -shing in the very same River, at two severall times. And for my mothers deliverances; & all of us from the hand of our Enimies, & the Churches. O, Make not a full end with us which hath bin ingratefull, for these mercys; nor be not angery with us forever. but Blesse my fathers family, & give him a light in this Israell, to praise thy name in his Posterity in the waies of Righteous & hollinesse for ever. And make our soules to be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus'.

I beseech thee, O Lord, humble, us for this affliction. & break -ing the head of our number. that the rest may lay it to heart. & become wiser thereby. Give us not over to fall into the hands of unmercifull & cruell men; that fights against thy Church & Annointed. but deliver us, & thy whole Church, in this King dome from the Rapin, of sacrilegious Persons; as would destroy the Seamless cote of Christ. tearing it in Peices by factions, Devissions, & heritticall oppinnions. from proud, & covetous prettenders, to reformesmation; laid in the foundation of blood & Murder. Lett not theire prosperity Allure: theire oppression inforce, or draw any of us to joyne in theire designes. noe, not soe much, as by consent, or compliance, in theire wickednes.

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Least wee eate of such things as please them; And sin against so great, & Glorious a God, in Robing him of that hon.or ; his only due (& to non other creatures) of those services, ordenances, Sacraments, tithes & offrings all thy owne peculier right. or detaining our Kings, due obedience, to his Power derived from thee; and thy Church, which thou has graciously Established heere. by all which, we Rob thee of thy Praises & Glory thou should have asscribed, for thy goodnesse in these things, by us, & may thereby heape to our selves swift distruction by invading thy right. the Kings, & Churches.

But, on the contrary, as we have hitherto, bin preserved from such iniquities, by thy mercy. soe through thy contineued Grace, we may be delivered from either doeing such; &, if it be thy will, from suffering by & from such practi -cies, as much as thou shalt see fitt in thy gracious prov -idences. That soe we may still, live in this good Land, injoying once againe thy peace, in the Restoration of our Right Lawfull Soveraine. with the restoration of thy Church, & holy good Bishops to feed & governe, & direct this flocke, aright in the waies of thy truth; & salvation of our Soules. That Errours, Schismes, & Rebellion, may be extingushed, & exterp-ated. thy good Lawes, Devine & humaine, Reestablished. And we of these Kingdoms Fixed upon those Axes againe, of truth, & Peace. Righteousnesse & obedience. That we, serving thee in these Nations, in true filliall feare. may againe injoy thy Presence with us. beeing a People saved by the Lords mira- -culous favour & mercy. Giveing thee the honor & praise of all thy dealings with us.

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Make us ~~all~~ a reformed Nation, from all theire Evill ways putting away farre from us the Evill of theire doeings. that we might not be abhorred of thee. but to be a Righteous People, Zealous of Good workes. That thy name may be Glorified in our Conversion, the hon.or of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Advanced, & we saved from destruction; & many nations come in to thy faith, when they Behold, what the goodnesse of God is, to us most vilde People. and give thanks with us to thy Majestie, forever. And now, O Lord, most just. there is noe reason, that thou shouldest heare the prayers of sinners; but, in his name, only, I most humbly on the bended knees of my soule, begge these humble requests. & put up petition for his sake that suffred for sin, & sinned not. O Lord, heare & doe, for thy mercy sake, for we are in deepe distresse. our soules drawe nigh to the Grave. & if thou doest marke what is amisse, who can stand in thy presence. but with thee, there is mercy, for all the ends of the Earth, & thou hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble,

And further, O Lord, my God, leave me not, to my selfe. but comfort thy servant. blessing, directing, & guiding me, in all my life. in all my waies. I trust in thee. And be a Tower of defence to my deare Mother, & her Children; Defending us in this troubleous times from all evills & Dangers for the Lords sake. All these requests. & whatever ellse thou shallt see fitt for us, or my selfe (with pardon for the Errours of these imperfect praiers, & acceptance of the same, & pardon for all my sins & provocations). I begge Even for the Righteous Jesus, our Lord and Saviours Sake, in whose name we have admittance, to the throne of thy grace; he ever making intercession. for us. & therefore, I have presumed to powr out this Sad complaint before thy dreadfull majestie. whoe sees all

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Our wants & infirmities. therefore, in his name & word, I humbly conclude these prayers, as he has taught me in his holy Gospell to call upon thee, Saing:

'Our father which art in Heaven. Amen. Soe be it:

An Eligie upon George Wandesford, Esquire, on his unfortunate Death. by the Hon.bleHonourable Sir Christopher Wyvill, Barronett.

On the deplorable loss of our hon.redHonoured freind & Neighbour, George Wandesford, Esquire (March 31, 511651).

Ere-since the Bishops, Parliament, and King, (A blest Conspiracie) agreed to bring. The faith of Christians, & Baptismall Seal. Free-Denisons into this Common-Weal. To the late, famous, Streame of Swale adhers, Through the long Current of a Thousand Years. A Sacred-Reputation; there, Whole-Bands Of forward-Converts, by the Reverend-hands Anno. 627. Edwino Rege. Of Old-Paulinnus did at once Begin To shake-hands with there God, & of theire Sin: Those Waves did, then, a font, the Banks afford. An acceptable-Temple to the Lord: Oh, What meant the Rash flood, by one act, to Throw A Ruine on its owne fame, and us too, Soe brave a vessell, & soe Richly fraught. That guilltty Channell has to Ship wrack Brought As bank rupts all our Contrie; Noe-Man here, Soe unconserned but must lett fall a Tear; Whilst the sadd-murmur of those Waters Call: On every-Passinger to mourn his fall: His family; noe greifes can tell its fatall Loss; 116 Dum, in admiration, at this dreadfull Crosse. All Joyes in him, they hopp'd to find, Who fraughted full. with Treasurrs (& vertus) of the mind. What though three daies-Submersion did Entomb All that was mortall of him, in the Wombe. Of a Regardless Eliment, Wee know Our great Redeemer, from the Parts-Below, Did, by devine-Power, on the third day Rise. To open a neare-way to Paradise. Cwyvill.

When the determinate will of our God is shewed towards us, it is then, our duties, quietly, to sitt downe & patien tly to Acquiesse our desires to his devine pleasure. Who is the great Creator. & wise disposer of all things & times. least we shew our selves ingrate for those infinitt mercys we injoy, both spirituall (for the good of our Soules, & temporall for our bodies. All which we have long since forfited, & deserved to have bin deprived thereof, & then we should be most miserabley wretched. therefore, 'tis my duty to recolect those favours & mer-cys I have injoyed under the wing of my deare & vertuous mother. when I call to mind her sufferings, & ours for many yeares, what cause have I of deepe consideration of the goodnesse of God towards us all, which has not deprived us of our sole comfort, & stay. by takeing away my deare Mother, in whose life was our suport, with whom we were all preser -ved from death & Ruine. in Ireland; at Kirklington; at Chester, & in all places; ever since my Fathers death; in all these sad times. in the opposition of freinds, the fall of the Church & state. when her Joynture in England, beeing but 300l per Annum at best, fell under 50l a yeare, & when the Scotts devoured all her Patrimony, eating up her owne, &, childrens Provissions, even then did our gracious Lord remember mercy in the midst of Judgement. and caused her house at. 117 Hipswell to be a Zoar, a sanctuary for us all; And out of that little Estate (then, not beeing the 10th part of the whole). she releved my brother George, which had a perticuler Es Estate of his owne, as Heire (though under sequestration) with the some of 500l. And since my father's death, she hath expended uppon her 3 younger Childrens main -tenance, out of her owne at Hipswell, the some of 1500l in our education & maintenance. as she has declared by her owne relation before wittnesses.

None of us ever haveing receaved any thing out of that part of my father's Estate, of Kirklington, for the same as was appoynted by my Fathers, last will & testament. Therefore, will I give glory to our God on high which still has preserved this deare & tender Mother. there by testifieing his miraculous favours to the desolate widdow, & Children, in all times of desersion & troubles. And being mindfull of his Servant, my father, in the blessing powred downe upon his Family. The Lord, our God, make us ever gratfull and thankfull to his gracious, Majestie for Ever. Amen.

My Cosen, mary Yorke, was married to Mr John York at her father's house, my uncle nortons, on the Greene in Richmond. Aprill the 12th,1651.

My brother, Christopher Wandesforde, married Sir John Lowther's Daughter (Mrs Eleanor, the Eldest Daughter, at Sir John's House (Lowther in Westmo- oreland) the 30th of September 1651.

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The Mariage of Alice Wandesforde, December 15, 1651.

After many troubles & afflictions, under which it pleased God to Exercise my mother, & selfe in, since the death of my father, she was desirous to see me comfortably settled in the Estate of Marriage. in which she hoped to recea -ve some sattisfaction; finding Age. & weaknesse, to seize more each yeare. which added a spurre to her desires, for the future well being of her Children according to every one of theire capacities.

As to my selfe; I was exceedingly sattisfied in that happie & free condittion; wherein I injoyed in that time, with delight abundantly in the Service of my god. & the obedience I owed to such an exce -lent Parent. in whoes Injoyment I accounted my daies spent with great content and comfort; the only feares which possessed me, was least I should be deprived of that great blessing I had in her life. nor could I with out much reluc- -tancy draw my thoughts to the change of my single life, knowing to much of the caires of this world sufficiently with out the addittion of such, incident to the married Estate.

As to the fortune left by my father; it was faire, & more then Competent, soe that I needed not feare (by God's blessing) to have bin troublesome to my freinds, but to be rather in a condittion to assist them, if need had required.

Especially more, in regard. that I was confident of what my deare mother could doe for me (living,) & at her death. Soe that to shew my deare affection towards my brother, George. in the time of his straights. for his better helpe in his Estate; beeing sore burthened with Debts, Anuities, &cet cetera — I was willing to transferre, 500l of my English portion to be receaved out of Ireland. which would have eased that of kirklington. But since his death. when my 2d Brother came heire. there was not that cause to contineue

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The same; by reason that both the sequestration was taken of, & the wardship mony of his brother denied to be paid to Sir Edward Osborne's Excecutor, & that he was better by 200l a yeare in his Estate, with many other considerable ar -guments arriseing towards my mother & my selfe; (for there was such unhansome dealings to us, not to say (dishonest), since my brother's marriage. as could neither induce her, or my selfe, to part with our Estates with out security).

But I shall be silent in these things, which afforded us too much troubles. & sorrowes. wishing rather to cover all things of the nature of disputes betwixt such neare relations.

And with all my youngest Brother, John. beeing fallen into a grievous distemper, through griefe, uppon harsh Dealing affter the marriage of my brother Christ.Christopher (who, by ill councell given him; detained, his right of Anuity of 100l per Annum (to his great prejudice). & John was likely theire by to leave both that 100l in England. with his whole fortune (then desend ed upon John, by his brother George his death) of 6000l out of the Irish Estate. to my brother Christopher.

Weighing all these reasons, together; & that I had noe maintenance from Kirklington as I ought to have had, by my father's will, but was willing to foregoe that to my uncle will.mWilliam wandesforde towards the payment of Debts, I had noe reason; from all these considerations to lose the payment of the said 500l out of kirklington.

Yet, I doe beleive from hence proceeded much displeasure that I would not consent to wrong my Selfe of the whole. in soe much that affter the bussinesse of sequestration was cleared, he desisted the acting any thing in my behalfe.

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Neverthelesse, such was my dear mother's affection to the Family, for itts preservation; that she harkned to the pro- posall made for Mr Thornton's Marriage. (Albeit there -in she disobleiged some Persons of very good worth & quality which had solicitted her earnestly in my behalfe, & such as were of large & considerable Estates. of her neighbours about her). And affter the first & second view betwixt us, she closed soe farre with him that she was willing he should proceed in his suite. & that cordially, if I should see cause, to Accept.

For my owne perticuler, I was not hastie to change my free estate, with out much consideration, both as to my present & future; the first inclining me rather to continue soe still; wherein none could be more sattisfied.

The second would contract much more trouble, twisted inseparably with those comforts God gave in that Estate. Yet might I be hopefull to serve God in those duties in- -combant on a, Wife, A mother, a mistresse, & governesse in a Family. And if it pleased God soe to dispose of me in marriage, makeing me a more publicke instrument of good to those severall relations. I thought it rather duty in me to accept my freinds desires for a joynt binefitt, then my own single retired content, soe that Allmighty God might receave the Glory of my change, & I more capacita- ted to serve him in this Generation. in what he thus called me unto.

Therefore, itt highly conserned me to enter into this great -est Change of my life with abundance of feare & caution. not lightly, nor unadvisedly, nor— as, I may take my God to witnesse that knowes the secrett of hearts; I did it not to fullfill the lusts of the flesh. but in chastity, & singlenesse of heart, as marrieing in the Lord.

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And to that end, that I might have a blessing uppon me, in all my undertakeings. I powred out my pettitions before the God of my Life. to direct; strengthen, leade & counsell me what to doe in this conserne, which soe much tended to my future comfort or discomfort.

And to order my waies aright, soe that if he saw in his wisdome that the married estate was the best for me, that he would please to direct me in it. & incline my heart towards it; but, if otherwise it were best for me to be, that I might still contineue in the same. but still referring my will to his. And allso, to order my change, that hee soe would, in mercy, give me such a one, to be my husband as might be an holy, good & pious Christian. und- -erstanding, wise & affectionate. that we might live in his feare & favour. praing him to give unto me sutable graces & qualifications, which should fitt me for that calling. & this, for our Saviours Sake, I humbly begged in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

After which pettions to my God. I was the more inclined to accept of this proposition, of my freinds. finding allso that the Gentleman seemed to be a very godly, sober & discreet Person. free from all manner of vice, & of a good conversation. this was the greatest incouragement to me. when I considered the generall decay of true Religion, in profession & practice. Especially in the Gentry & with men of quality; (too many, being given to a sad course of life, through debauchery. made me more cautious in chusing, & feareing to meete with such as- neither knew God, nor caired for theire soules, to pre -serve themselves in a holy course of life & conversation. Nor could I ever have injoyed comfort in this world to have bin matched with the greatest Estates.

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Or fortunes, had I wanted that first, & principall qua- lification in a husband, which is to be regarded above all the sattisfaction this world can afford.

I cannot deny that his Estate, which was then favourably given into my Mother, was the least in valew which had bin offred, yet did my Mother hope, to finde a hansome compotency with out much charge as was represented to her, only the want of a house which he must builde, his brother & sister beeing provided for by his mother, that would cleare his Estate. which was given in to be 600l per annum.

This was very well; considering the addittion of my Fathers Portion given me by his will, & deeds, (namly, 1500l out of England, at Kirklington; and 1000l to be paid out of his Irish Estate of Edough. which would be an addittion to increase Mr Thorntons Reveneus. Allso, my deare mother was willing to give me what assistance she could out of her love & affection.

This treaty of marriage with Mr Thornton, was very earnestly pursued by himselfe & freinds, & as dis- creetly mannaged by my deare mother, as she could. for she was, in a manner, left alone, by all our relations, Especially. affter my brothers death, in regard that selfe intresst too farre prevaild, for those to hinder my disposall to any Person, by the which they would be deprivd of theire sinister expectations of my fortune.

But, through Gods blessing, this treaty was brought to a period, to the sattisfaction of each party, & with a generall consent, And The Articles of marriage drawne up by Mr Thornton, (for the right settlement of all things concluded uppon betwixt my deare Mother in my beha lfe, & him selfe, weare both just & honest. don by him.

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The Articles of Agreement were according to the President of his Fathers towards his mother. Vidz.videlicet, That All his Estate, should be passed by fine & reco -very to inable him to intaile the same upon his Issue by me, male or femalle.

That his Lordship of Easte Newton, then valewed at the yearely rent of 250l, should be Estated on me for A Joynture. &, affter the deceace of the longer liver of us two, to decend uppon his sons & theire issue successivily. for want of such heirs male, to his heires females by me. &cet cetera. with out impeachment of any manner of waiste.

That Laistrop, valewed at the yearely rent of 160l affter the decease of his mother, married to Mr Gate & then her Joynture. was Settled on Mr Thornton for his life, affter his decease, uppon his heirs male & for default of such issue, to his daughters by me.

As for his Land at Cottingham. Richmond, called Burne Parke, the inheritance Estated as the other of L.Leysthorpe. Affter a longe leace made for the Provission of his younger childrens Portions & Maintenance, paid out of it. The valew wastwas accounted 100l Per Annum.

As for the security of my Portion: he was to Reieave the summe of 1500l out of Kirklington, which he might dispose of for himselfe & his owne use. Beeing secured to me. And for the 1000l payable out of Ireland. he gave bond to my mother to purchase Land of inheritance for me during my Life, & for my Children at my decease.

And with all, my mother was willing to give us our Table with all our Familie for 3 yeares. these were the tearmes betwixt them.

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Affter which agreements, Articles & writtings done, there followed a pretty space, ere his Mother had passed a fine with him, in regard that his Father in Law, would not joyne in the fine. & my Mothers councell did not approve of it to be legall for security with out it. but Mr Thorton did faithfully ingaged to doe the same leagally & passe the fine affter his death.

but, in the intrime, I was left in an incertainty for the security of a Joynture in case of his death before me, & when my Portion was disposed of by him, could have noe benifitt thereby. soe that my Mother could proceed noe further, least any ill consequent might follow, but wholely this bussinesse was Left to my owne choyce, what I would doe in this case. she, beeing loth, as upon her owne account, to under goe such a conserne in which there was such a hazard. wherein she was not to be blamed, butt Mr Thornton was very much troubled uppon this un- just deniall of his Father in Law. by which he was likely to have undon his desires. fell into much sadnesse & discontent, which perhaps might hasten his Sicknesse that he fell into, on his goeing from hipwell.

his Ague began in the way, to his mothers when, finding himselfe not able to goe through. came backe to Hipwell falling exceeding ill into a feaver, But, uppon the advice of Dr wittie. he was lett blood, & had all meanes used for his recovery. but was brought dangerously ill. at the last, it pleased God that he recovered beyond all expectation. And, uppon his recovery, I was willing to relie upon his promise to my Mother, & his infinitt expressions to my selfe. I rested upon Providence in the fullfilling of his desire. in soe much that about the December following proceeded our marriage. this is the true relation of this grand conserne of my life, which I have bin the more teadious in, because I would leave to Posterity the Right understanding of that conserne.

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Alice Wandesforde, the Daughter of Christopher Wandesford, Esquire, late Lord Deputy of Ireland, was married to william Thornton, Esquire, of Easte Nuton. att my Mothers house in Hipswell. by Mr Siddall, December the 15th, 1651.

Mr Siddall made a most Pieous & profitable exhortati -on to us, shewing our duties, & teaching us the feare of the Lord in this our new Estate of life, with many Zealous prayers for us. My deare & hon.redhonoured Mother gave me in marriage, in the Presence of my owne brother, John Wand.Wandesford, my uncle Norton. My uncle Darley (Frances), my cozen Dodsworth of wattlosse. George Lightfoote & dafeny. Robert webster. Martha Richison. Ralfe Janson, Robert Loftus (the Ellder).

A Relation of the Remarkable passages of my Life since my Marriage, begining from the 15th of Decem.December 1651. 1651.

After my Marriage, it was my duty to humble my soule in praier & suplication to the God of all the Earth, who had guided me in all my youth & Virgin Estate to live in his feare & service. & direiting me to chuse a Godly & religious husband with whom I might, through his blessing, spend the rest of my daies. & to this purpose, I powred out my humble pettitions & requists with hearty thanks & praise for all my deliverances (both spirituall & temporall) ever since I was borne to that Present houre; beseeching him, that as he in abundant mercy had heard my unworthy requests in the begining of this treaty. soe he would now Multiply his free grace & loving kind -nesse to me, his vilde creature, giveing both to my Husband and myselfe all those graces & spirituall comforts we stood in need of, in this our Marriage. that we might be marrid to him as verily as to Each other. & that we might behave 126 our selves as becometh the members of Christ to each other in this band of wedlocke, beeing instruments of each others salvat tion, & if it weare the devine pleasure to give us the comfort of Children, they might be heires of the Kingdome of heaven when he should call them; &, in this life, instruments of build ing up his Church, & the raising up of my husbands family. but this temporall blessing, as all others of that nature, with sub- -servency to his wisdome, & good pleasure. that, if he saw it good, we might not want a comfortable beeing in this world nor want any thing with out the which we could not serve him comfortably. all which things I Craved, with what soe ever else he saw fitt to give us, for the Lord Jesus, his sake. Amen.

A deliverance from death that day on which I was married. December 15th, 1651.

That very day on which I was married; haveing bin in healhhealth & strength for many yeares before; I fell sodainly soe ill & sicke, affter 2 a clocke in the afternoone. (that I thought). & all that saw me) did beleive, it would have bin my last night; beeing surprised with a violent paine in my head, & stomacke, causing a great vomitting & sicknesse, at my ♥ which lasted 8 houers, before I had any intermition. but, bllessed be the Lord our God, the father of mercies. which had compassion on me &, by the meanes that was used, I was stre- ngthened wonderfully beyond expectation, beeing pretty well about 10 a clocke att night. My deare husband, with my Mother, was exceeding tender over me which was a great comfort to my Spiritts. What the cause of this fitt was I could not conjecture. save that I might have brought itt uppon me by cold taken the Night before, when I satt up late in preparing for the next day & washing my feete at that time of the yeare, which my mother did beleeive was the cause of that dangerous fitt the next day.

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But, however, it was, or from what cause it proceeded, I received a great mercy in my preservation from God & shall ever acknowledge the same in humble gratitude for his infinitt, loveing kindnesse for ever.

I looked upon this first beginning of my new condition to be a little discouragement. allthough god was able to turne all things for the best, & to my good, that I might not build too much hopes of happiness in things of this world, nor in the comforts of a loving husband whom God had given me. but sett my desires more up on the love of my Lord & God.

Meditations upon my deliverance of my first Childe & of the great sickness followed for 3- quarters of a yeare (August 6th, 1652, lasted till May: 12th, 531653.

About seaven weekes affter I married. itt pleased God to give me the blessing of conseption. the first quarter, I was exceeding sickly in breeding, till I was with quicke childe. Affter which I was very strong & healthy, I blesse God. only much hotter then formerly as is usuall in such cases from a naturall cause. in soe much that my nose bled much when I was about halfe gon by reason of the increase of heate.

Mr Thornton had a desire that I should vissitt his freinds in which I frely joyned. his mother liveing about 50 miles from Hipswell, & all at Newton, And Buttercrambe. In my passage thither I sweat exceedingly, & was much inclining to be feavorish, wanting not 8 weeks of my time. so that Dr wittie said that I should goe neare to fall into a feaver, or some desperate sicknesse, If I did not coole my blood, by takeing some away. & if I had staied but 2 daies longer, I had followed his advice.

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In his returne home from Newton, his owne Estate, I was carried over Hambleton towards Sir will.mWilliam Akoughs house where I passed downe on foote a very high hill, betwixt hud hill & whitsonclife, which is a bove a mile steepe downe. & indeed, so bad, that I could not scarse tread the narrow steps which was exceeding bad for me in that condittion, & sore to in- -dure the way soe strait, & none to leade me but my maide, which could scarse make shift to gett downe her selfe. All our company beeing gon downe before, each step did very much streine me, being soe bigg with childe. nor could I have gott downe if I had not then bin in my full strength & nimble on foote.

But I blesse God, I gott downe safe att last, though much tired & hott & weary, finding my selfe not well, but troubled with paines affer my walke: Mr Thornton would not have brought me that way if he had knowne it soe dangerous. & I was a strainger in that place. but he was advised by some to goe that way before we came downe the hill.

This was the first occassion which brought me a great deale of Misery & killed my sweete infant in my wombe. For I contineu -ued in all paine by fitts upon this jorney. & with in a fortnight fell into a desperate feaver att Hipswell. upon which my old Drdoctor, Mr Mahum, was called. but could doe little towards the cure. because of beeing with childe. I was willing to be ordered by him, but said I found it absolutely necessary to be lett blood if they would save my life. but I was freely willing to resigne my will to Gods, if he saw fitt for me, to spaire my life yet to live with my husband. but still with subservency to my heavenly father.

Nor was I wanting to suplicate my God for direction what to doe, either for life or death. I had very offten & frequent impusions to desire the later before the former, finding noe true Joy in this Life. but I confesse, also, that which moved me to use all meanes for my Recovery in regard of the great Sorrow of my 129 Deare & Aged Mother, & my deare husband, tooke for me, farre exceeding my deserts, made me more willing to save my Life for them, & that I might render praises to my God in the land of the liveing.

But truly, I found my ♥ still did cleave soe much to my Maker, that I never found my selfe more desirous of a change. to be delivered from this wicked world & bodie of sin & death, desiring to be disolved & to be with Christ.

Therefore, indured I all the Rigour, & extreamity of my sicknesse, with such a shaire of Patience, as my God gave me. As for my freinds, they were soe much conserned for me that upon the importunity of my husband, allthough I was brought indeed very weake & desperately ill about, 11th day of my sicknesse. I did lett him send for Dr wittie if it were not too late.

The Drdoctor came Post the next day. when he found me very weake, & durst not, lett me blood that night. but gave me cordialls, &cet cetera, till the next day, & if I gott but one houers rest that night, he would doe it the morning following. that night, the two Drsdoctors had a dispute about the letting me blood. Mr Mahum was against it & Dr wittie for it. but I soone desided that dispute & tould them if they would save my life I must bleed. soe, the next day, I had 6 or 7 ounces taken which was turned very bad by my sicknesse. but I found a change immeadiatly in my sight, which was exceding dime before, & then I see as well as ever clearly. & my strength began a little to returne; these things I relate that I may sett forth the mercy of my ever gracious God, who had blessed the meanes in such manner. who can sufficiently Extoll his Majestie for his boundlesse mercys to me his weake Creatue? For from that time, I was better & hee had hopes of my Life.

The doctor staied with me 7 daies, during my sicknesse, my 130 Poor infant with in me was greatly forced with violent Motions perpetually, till it grew soe weake that it had left stirring, & about the 27th of August, I found myselfe in great paines, as it were the colick. affter which I began to be in travill. And about the next day, att night, I was de- -livered of a goodly daughter; who lived not soe long as that we could gett a minister to baptize it though we presently sent for one.

This, my sweete babe & first Childe, departed this life halfe an houer affter its birth. beeing receaved, I hope, into the Armes of him that gave it. she was buried that night beeing friday the 27th of August. 1652. att Easby Church.

The effects of this feaver remained by severall distempers successively. first, affter the Miscarriage. I fell into a most tirrable shakeing Ague, lasting one quarter of a yeare. by fitts each day (twice in much violency, so that the sweats was great with faintings. beeing thereby weakened till I could not stand or goe.

After the Ague left me upon a medicin of London Treacle, I fell into the Jandies, which used me very hardly one full quarter & a halfe more. (I, finding Dr witties judgment true that it would prove a cronnicall distemper). but, blessed be the Lord, upon great & many meanes used & all remidies. I was at length cured of all distempers & weaknesses which, from its begining, had lasted 3 quarter of a yeare full out.

Thus, I had a sad entertainment & begining of my Change of life: the comforts thereof beeing turned into much dis- comforts & weaknesses. but still I was upheld by an All- mighty Power. therefore, will I praise the Lord my God. Amen.

A praier & thankesgiveing for my deliverance of my first Childe, August 6th, 1652; (cast in this sickns. 17 ooers.

O Lord, most Great, & yet our Gracious, & loving father in our Saviour, Jesus Christ, thy deare son. Tender & 131 Deare as A loving Mother, whoe hadst a love to me in my preservation from death, & distruction. in thy devine wisdome hast thou ordered all things & passages in this my great sicknesse, of my Life not laieing more on me then thou gavest me strength to undergoe. O Lord, this dispensation of Afflictions & great sicknesses is the way & meanes to bring me unto thee, & the fittest for me to in joy. letting me see thereby thy mighty power to cast downe & raise me up againe, even in my desperate cond -ition when all men had given over to expect my Life.

Then did the great Phisician of Soule & bodie raise the one & heale the other; raising me up againe & giveing mee strength, & setting me on my feette affter 6 months sicknes in my bed. I called uppon my God, in mine anguish of spiritt, & heavinesse, I did complaine, & made my suplications unto my God ; the Lord of my Life & Joy. for my desires was to cleave unto him, That I had offended & made my suplications unto my Judge. O Lord, I have offended many waies, but thou art he that canst wash & cleance my defiled, poluted Soule: for whoe is there that liveth & sinnest not. As my desires was alone to cleave on thee, so thou didst send this to me, this sick nesse unto thy servant. And by degrees did remove the same in thy due time. Thou heardest my praiers, accep ted my teares of repentance, my sorrowes; when death had compassed me about. Lord, heale my soule for I have sinned. And now, o thou most holy one of Israell, blessed be thy glorious name, & magnified forever. that thou hast put fresh opportunities of praising thee & serving the Lord in the Land of the Liveing. Stirre up my ♥ & soule in true, & unfeigned thankfullnesse. to thy devine majestie, & never to be unthankefull or ingrate full. or unprofitable. in thy world: 132 or forgettfull of these inexpressable mercys and deliverances in my childe birth, & all my other extreame weakenesses which my soule had never seene before, till now. Lord, lett me be kept by thy grace from any displeasing thought of thee: for thou art good & doest good all -waies, & that this may doe me good, Sanctifie this, thy healing, unto thy handmaide, lett it incourage me to put my whole trust & confidence, in thee alone, & that I may ac -cept of the punishment of my iniquities, & learne by this not to offend. & tho, thou, O Lord, art pleased to give me the lesse comforts, heere on Earth, I shall not much caire. if that I may injoy the more of thy preasence, heere, & the full fruittion of thy selfe in heaven; & that thou willt also make thy selfe known to be a gracious God to me & to all such as relie upon thee by faith. I know allso that it is through thy dispen- -sation that I am brought into the married Estate of Life, & that thou, in wisdome, hast ordered each change and accident about this my sicknesse, as to my danger & care. I besseech thee, therefore, O Lord, my God, leave me not, for I am thine, & freely willing to be at thy disposittion, desiring thee to give me sutable gifts & graces to serve thee in this calling. which, by thy provid- -ence, I am entred into. And as I did not foolishly or lightly put my selfe uppon itt, (with out begging thy direction) in which my desires was unfeinedly to serve thee & trusting & relieing upon thee, my guide. So, deare lord, leve me not, but lett me still find thy goodnesse & clemency, in comforting me in all crosses, afflictions, sicknesses, & calamities, (in soule & bodie); giveing me faith, patience; humility; chastiety; charity; hope, & fortitude. with fixed resolutions to love, serve & follow thee, to my lives end. that soe I may receave the end of my my hope in the salvation of my poore Soule. Lord, As thou has un- -ited our hearts in a holy union in marriage. so contineue me faithfull, loyall; & obedient to my deare husband; liveing 133 According to Christs institution. loveing him with that conjugall love thou requirest. blesse him with a wise & an understanding heart, & loveing Affections to me his Wife. that we, liveing together in thy love & feare as thou hast appointed, may receave a happie crowne of-- glory heereafter, I beseech thee, allso, support me in all my sadnesse & sorrowes, & sicknesses. receive my hum- -ble & hearty thanks & praise for my deliverances & preservations. Make this fire of affliction instrumen -tall to purge the drosse of all my sinns, of Negligencys, ignorances. & willfull transgressions. that I may come out like gold out of the furnish. Then shall I praise the Lord most high for all his benifitts showred downe upon my soule. give us grace allso to lead the rest of our daies in thy service, not swerving from thy Lawes or waies. but love thee & delight in thee. & sanctifie us with thy free spiritt, that we may make good use of all those opportunity thou puttest into my hand to serve thee uprightly even all our Life long, that we may give up our accounts with Joy & not with greife. All which humble requests & pettitions I crave, with pardon for our neglect in duties, & this meane performances that I present, craveing all things thou in wisdome seest fitt for me or my husband in soule & bodie, I most heartily begge in the name, & for the sake of Jesus XtChrist, thy Sonn, to whome with the holy Spirritt. one God in Trinity, be all glory, Power, thanksgiveing and domi nion, now & for ever more. Amen. caling uppon thee in our Lord & saviours Prayer that he taught us saing: 'Our father, et cetera'.

Uppon the Birth of my Second childe, & Daughter, Alice Thornton, borne att Hipswell on the ~~Third~~ 3rd of Janeuery, in the yeare. 1654. 134

It pleased my most gratious God to have compassion on me & to give me strength to conceave againe about a quarter of a yeare after my recovery of that most desperate & dangerous Sickenesse, (wherein I was brought soe weake that my speech was taken from me, not being able to call for any helpe, but even as though I were expiring for many houers together. & affterwa- -rds, not able for many weeks to turne my weary bones in bed nor helpe my selfe in the least). but, loe, be- hold, the goodnesse of God pleased to raise me up, giveing me a new life, & new conception, hopes of reneuing comfort, for that sweete infant he tooke from me before.

And albeit I bred my childe in much illnesse, & sicknes apropriate to persons in such cases. yet the hopes we had of comfort in this Infant by its life did much incou- rage Mr Thornton & my Selfe to trust in the Lord, who had brought me out of all my former extreamities & afflictions, to hope — in him, in whom all things are Possi- -ble — for strength allso to beare this Childe.

Being about a 11 or 12 weeks gone. I perceaved the child to be quicke, rejoycing in the Lords mercy to me. my childe was very lively about 3 weeks. & about that time, I found my selfe very feavourish & hott, causing much sicknesse. at which time there was noe motion in it, which made us feare some further evill befall it or my selfe. Uppon advice, Mr Mahum lett me blood about 4 or 5 ounces.

When, loe, immeadiately thereupon. I found so great a refreshement & cooling, that the childe sprange in my wombe, and from thence forward I had much health & strength all the time of my being with childe, till with in a month of my delivery. when, growing bigge, I was in a wearish condi ttion, till my travill came on me about the 1st of Janeuery. 135 At night, I was in much paine, wakening so out of my first sleepe soe, & contineued very ill in strong labour till Tuesday the 3rd of Janeuary, between the houers of 5 and 6 a clocke in the affter noone.

At which time, I was, with great & excessive torment & Perrill of my Life, delivered through the infinitt & boundlesse mercy & goodnesse of god to me. whoe gave me a sweete & beautifull, comlie daughter which was well nigh choaked with Phleagme & the navill string (which was twice about her necke, & Arms, so that when she was borne she was with out any breat -hing or appearance of life) with the sore labour I had: she staing one full houer in birth at neck & should -ers. O, blessed be the ever liveing Lord God of mercy forever more. Amen.

Alice Thornton, my second childe, was borne at Hipswell, neare Richmond in yorkshire, the 3rd day of Jan.January 1654. Baptised the 5th of the same. wittneses: my Mother, the Lady wandesforde. my uncle, Mr Major Norton, & my cosen Yorke, his daughter. at Hipswell by Mr Michell Siddall, minister then of Caterick.

A praier & thanksgiveing for my deliverance of my Second daughter, Jan.January 3rd, 1654.

O: Most great & dreadfull Lord God. And yet a Tender & loving Father of Mercys in Christ Jesus, thy sonne. how hast thou appeared glorious in thy mercy, fearfull in thy praises, doeing wonders? how hast thou bin pleased to have compassion up -pon me, a poore, weake woman, labouring in hazard of my life in great perill of death. thou hast given me strength to conceave, affter my great sicknesse & then, in mercy, preserved that conception in my wombe

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with my selfe. Allso, from all violencys, hurts. falls & all other dangers, causeing me to come to my full time, notwithstanding that ill fitt I had at the first quarter;

And now, most graciously, hast strengthened miraculous ly thy servant to bring forth this sweete babe. though with much hazard to her selfe & me, yet, o Lord, thine Almighty power did alone worke this great Miracles & wonders in me & my Infant. O Lord, to the hon.or of thy Name be all glory asscribed that hast vouchsafed to heare the desires of my soule, & bitternesse of my dollers & anguish, when I lifted up my crieings with my voice uttered in sad disttresses.

There is none able to doe as thou dost; who hast made heaven & Earth & all things therein, on thee dependest all things, & with thy out streached Arme thou upholdest all things that are. Holy is the Lord most high which has had regard to his weake handmaide. O Lord, my mouth is filled with thy praise. Lett me be ever in thy sight a than- kfull, gratefull creature, And that thou maist receave glory of men & Angells for this mercy to me.

I most humbley beceech thee, o mercifull father, since there is none besides thee who killest & makest alive, lett let our lives be given to me & this infant for a prey. to be a blessinge to our generations. Sanctifie & blesse her from the wombe & she shall be blessed. Lord, lett her be a vessell of glory to thy name & much comfort to her parents.

make her to be filled with wisdome, Chastiety. holinesse & Pietie to the Lord all her daies, who hast had compassion on her, in this her tender Age & birth, spairing her life. And Lord, lett me never be unthankfull for these thy infinitt compassions & mercys, with all thy former favours att all times, in all dangers & disstresses.

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But, O Lord, deliver me in the day of trouble, at the day of death, & judgement, for my Saviours, his sake, cover me all my life long with thy sheild of defence. And, as thou hast given me a new Life, I doe againe acknowledge that I have receaved it of thy owne free grace & bountyfull mercy, prai eng that these our lives may be spaired in love & favour to us & not as the begining of further misserys.

O Lord, strengthen my faith. hope, charity with all other christian graces, & give me a thankefull ♥ all my daies. Receive my childe into the number of thy Saints, as thou hast given her the oppertunity of holy Baptisme. Make her thine in Life and death, from her cradle to her grave, that thou mayest re- ceave the glory of thy name by Me for soe great a mercy afforded, in giveing me a childe borne a live to our comforts. lett us be replenished with wisdome to educate her in thy true faith & feare, & provide for her all things necessary for her soule & bodie.

And all these things, I humblie crave with whatsoever ellse thou knowest fitt for me & mine: I humblie crave in the name & for the sake of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. Saing, as he hath bid me. 'Our Father, et cetera'.

Meditations uppon the birth of my 3d Childe, Eliz.Elizabeth Thornton, borne the 14th of February. 1654.

I recovered not very well, of the extreame weakenesse that followed for a quarter of a yeare affter my childe, in soe much that my milke was taken from me & soe I was hin- -dred from doeing the naturall duty incumbant upon us mothers, which troubled me much; but I must be willing to submitt to all Gods pleasure in every thing.

Aftr some time, my strength returned againe And, through 138 Mercy I conceaved of another childe (haveing somewhat a better time in breeding it and did fully intend by Gods blessing to nurse it my selfe if I had strength;

About a weeke before my full time, I contineued in much paine through the heavinesse of my Childe; haveing the mid- -wife in constant expectation each houer. att which time my deare mother laid sicke in the house of a sad cough. & yong Mr Troutbeck came to give her directions through some freinds advice. & by the blessing of God, she was recov -ered (though not to be with me in my travell). all teusday & that night, with the morning on wednesday, I was in great ex- -treamity till I was delivered. which came to passe on wednesday the 14th of february. (halfe houer affter 11 a clocke in the forenoone) of a very sweete, goodly daughter, & a delicate childe, for which most gracious mercy in my deliverance with my infants, I render most faithfull & infinitt thanks to the great & mighty God of heaven & earth which had compassion on me in my extrea -mity.

After I was delivered & in bed, at 9 a clocke at night. it fell out that my little daughter, naly, —then newly weaned & being asleepe in the cradle— fell into a desperate fitt of the convoltions, as it was suposed to be, her breath stoping & grew blackish in her face. which did sore afright her maide, Jane Flouer, whoe immeadiatly tooke her up &, with Jane Rimer, the midwife, made helpe to recover her life. but all that night she was soe exceeding weake that my Aunt Norton satt with her, & many others, expecting when she would have died.

During this poore childes illnesse, I was allmost at deaths dore my selfe. by a great Ilnes comeing affter I was in bed; soe that my Aunt & freinds did immagine I could not live, nor durst they tell me how weake my sweete Naly was at that time least griefe should have dispatched me hence. but they removed her in the cradle into the Parlour.

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This ill fitt hindered my milke much. but, yet affter -wards, I recruted fast. & within a fortnight had gotten the milke againe into my breasts, & my deare babe, Betty, did sucke every day of me & I was over joyed in that great blessing. But it is usually soe with me that I have my comforts mixed with sadnesse. & many times my in -joyments are woven with crosses. & sorrowes.

For at the fortnights end. I was sitting in a chaire & giving my childe sucke, when immeadiatly one of the maides cried out of the nurrsery that My childe, Naly, was either dead or dieing, which soe affrighted me, beeing but weake, that an Ilnesse cam in force on me as I satt. & there was much to doe to gett me safe in to my bed, & there kept, betwixt hopes & feares for my selfe & childe, 2 daies. or more. but, at the length. through exceeding much mercy & love of my God, he brought us both from those weaknes & I recovered strength in time. and Naly had an eye Tooth which broake flesh that had bin the cause of all that danger to her. (and offten affterwards, when her teeth was cutting the gumes, she was ill againe till she had gott them all).

But this second weaknesse of my owne did soe dis- -courage my deare mother, that she would not lett me give sucke, although I extreamely desired it, & att the months end, I was forced to drie my breasts which grew full & had indangered to bring me ill againe.

And Dafeny Lightfoote gave my betty sucke. till she proved with childe: which, afterwards, was the cause I put her to annother at about 3 quarter of a yeare old; but she did not deale well with my childe, which was a most stately, lovely girle when she tooke her to nurse. nor was I able to goe soe offten then to see her, because it was a mile off Hipswell & I was then with childe, so that I durst not adventure a great walke or to ride when I grew so bigg.

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Elizabeth Thornton, my third Childe, was borne att HipswHipswell the 14th of february. 1655, being on wednesday, halfe houer affter 11 a clocke in the forenoone; she was Baptised the 16th of February by Mr Anthony. wittnesses, my mother, my Aunt Norton, and my brother, Christopher Wandesforde. Mrs Blackburne stood for my mother (beeing sicke then).

A thanksgiveing affter the birth of my 3d childe, Betty

Oh, what shall I render unto the Lord most high for his goodnesse, & loveing, kindnesse, & beniffits, shewed unto me? or how shall I sett forth all his praise, which am not able to reckon up the least of all his noble acts, nor can I count them for the number (farre exceeding the starres for multitude, that he hath shewed to me his weake handmaide. haveing added many yeares to my daies, & many new lives to my years in his late manifold deliverances. I am not able to yeald his majestie suficient thankes for his former mercys. yet now has hee heaped up a multitude of fresh deliverances & preservations to my selfe & children, whom the Lord has given me. I will sing ofthe loving kindnesse, of the Lord; & with his corrections he will mixe his mercy, & sweete smiles of his countenance upon me. Therefore, thou, O Lord most high, art to be praised, & in thy Temple shall every one speake of thy praise. Admirable in wisdome, fearefull in praises & doeing wonders. O Lord, our God, whoes mercy reacheth to the Heavens, as great & many as the moments of Etternity, yet hast thou humbled thy selfe to behold the wreched children of men, & amongst the rest, on me, the vildest person by reason of my Sinns. And hast opened thy hand wide to fill me with blessings from a bove & the daly sweete effects of thy loveing kindenesse. Thou, O Lord, hast heard thy handmade in all the distresses of my soule & anguish of 141 of Spiritt, Adding a new blessing to thy servant causi- -ng me to bring forth my 3d childe. of a comlie bodie & streight limbes & proportion. when my soule was even at deaths dore; thy mercy said, 'returereturn. & gavest me a new life. blessed be thy holy name & mercifull goonessgoodness.

Oh Lord, most glorious Trinity, how can I sett forth thy praise, thy glory, who hast bin to me & mine pitti -full as a father. tender as a mother. cairefull as a guardian. & exceeding mercifull to all those that call uppon thee & feare thy great name as they ought. hast thou only cast me & my childe downe, & not raised us up, noe, for thou upheld me by thy love & restored us againe many times by thy providence &, more perticulerly, in these late extreamities when could remove the same but thou alone.

I pray thee, O my God, to fill my soule with great app- -rehensions & impresses of thy unspeakable goodness, long suffering, full of compassion & mercys that will not alwaies be chiding for ever, nor dealt with us affter our sins; nor rewardeth me according to my wickedness Lordbut has delivered me in my distresse. Lord, grant that my gratitude may be as great as my needs of mercy are. letting thy mercifull, loveing kindnesse endure for ever upon all thy servants & me, thy handmaide, & on my two young children whom thou hast preserved from death, giveing my little Infant life, health, & the happie opportunity of holy Baptisme. I pray thee, deare Lord, make it be consigned by grace to thy service and a member of thy misticall bodie. that she may be preserved for ever. Deare Lord, keepe noe anger in store for my husband. selfe & children, neither chide us not in thy heavy displeasure for then we perish for ever.

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But pardon our Sins, heale our infirmities, clence our Polutions & make us fitt temples for thy spi rrit to dwell in. satisfi- eing our mouths & ♥s with good things. removeing all our sins — with the guilt & punishment due unto us for the same — as farre as the Easte is from the west. heale our infirmities & save our soules from distruction. And give me, I beseech thee, a thankfull ♥. a right understanding in thy Lawes & precepts, wisdome, & discression to governe my wayes aright. with A health -full frame of bodie that both soule & bodie may be servicable to thee. for these are mercys thou art pleased in.

And, because I cannot praise thee according to thy excelent -cy, take my soule in thy due time into the Land of Everlasting Praises. that I may spend a whole Etternity in singing Halelui has to thy thy name, to whome is due all hon.or, power. domi- -nion & glory of men & Angels. for ever. Grant this for Jesus Christ his Sake, our deare Lord & Saviour. Amen.

Amen.

My mother Gates, who was my husbands mother; died att Oswoldkirke of a flux of blood by seige. as it was suposed to have a veine broaken inwardly, which by fitts troubled her many yeares, (haveing broaken it by a vomit of Antemony to strong for her stomacke). she departed the 10th of May 1655. & was buried at Stongrave in her housbands Alley, (my father Thornton, whom she had out lived 17 yeares, haveing all so bin married to him 17 yers, & was buried on the 11th of May. 1655.

My Husbands Father in Law, Mr Geffery Gates, died. att Hull the 18th of May. 1655 &, was buried at Hull the ~~same~~ next day: (May 19th, 1655).

My brother, Richeard Thornton, died in Dublin. in Ireland of the Flux, the 3rd of July 1656. & was buried in St Patricks Church the 4th of July. 1656. This gentleman beeing twin with 144 My deare husband was the likest to him in all respects, both to Person & condittions, a most sweet, affable, curteous nature, allwayes ready to serve his freind. & very well disposed towards Religion.

Meditation uppon the birth of my 4th childe, Katherin Thornton, June 12th, 1656. borne att hipswell.

After I was with quicke childe of my fourth childe, I had pretty good health, considering my condition, till I was with in a month of my time. & then I grew very heavy, bigge, & weary. full of paine; & the labour each day was on me. I found the childe more weighty & not so nimble as naly & betty. so that she caused me to indure more in a long paine before then the rest, & I was one whole weeke in travill very strong: in somuch that I indured more in that time & in the extreamity, then of my other, & my feares was much greater then formerly & I had greater ex- -pectancy of my desolution. my deare mother allsoe did feare me very much & she was pleased to assist me in powring out our requests to God, for which she did in this Prayer following:

A prayer before the delivery of my daughter, Alice Thornton, June the 12th 1656. by Alice Wandesford

O Lord most high, the holy one whoe inhabitest Etternity, & yet, in mercy, art pleased to looke downe uppon the Children of men, ordering & disposing all things according to thy good will & pleasure. Wee, thy humble servants, are prostrate before thy Throne of Grace uppon the bended knees of our Soules & Bodies to acknowledge our unworthynesse to appeare in thy Preasence, much lesse to offer any prayers or suppli- cations unto thy Sacred Majestie, for, besids that 145 Orriginall Sinne wherein we were conceived & borne, we have committed many Actuall Transgressions against All thy holy Lawes & Commandements, so that — if thou shouldest enter into Judgement with us, we could expect noething but death & Damnation; But forever blessed be thy Majestie, who hath not left us in this wretched condittion, But hast in thy boundlesse mercy provided a Gracious Remidy in sending thy bllessed Sonne, Christ Jesus, in to the world for the redemtion of mankinde, (those whom they callest to the knowledge & true faith in Jesus Christ). O Lord, in the name & Mediation of this our most Mercyfull Redeemer, wee humbly beseech thee to blott out our Transgressions. and be reconsiled unto us, that our sinns may not hinder our Prayers from assending up to thy Throne of grace, or theire to receive a happie Answer, not only in our owne behalfe, but for & in the be- halfe of this thy distressed handmaide in travill of Childe -birth; in which Estate, and punishment for sinne, she doth freely freely & chearfully Submitt, to thy wise dispensations, humbly beseeching thee to possess her soule with Christian Patience in her greatest Extreamity. Strengthen her faith against the assaults of Sattan. cherish her hope in the second Adam, Christ Jesus, that — according to thy gracious promise — he will breake his head, by subdueing his power to tempt her to dispaire of thy mercys for her deliverances. lay to her heart, deare Lord, those promises thou hast declared in holy Scriptures to penitent sin- -ners in theire afflictions, And the gracious Performance thou hast vouchsafed to thy poor handemaide in sundry such Necessityes in the birth of her children. Oh, wee be- seech thee, proportion her (patience) & paines, according to that measure of strength it shall please thee to indue her with, Oh Lord, lay noe more uppon her then thou wilt inable her to beare. with fortitude & patience. 146 Sutable to her sufferings: Send to thy poore Afflicted Servant a safe deliverance, of a comly fruit of her wombe, of what Sex seemeth best to thy devine- wisdome, Onely, we beseech thee, grant that it may be an Elect Vessell to Salvation that may live to be receaved in to thy Church Millitant by holy Baptisme. And soe long affter as thou hast appointed, for the praise of thy great name & a comfort of its Parents, further, wee are humble sutors to thy Majestie, to direct and assist thy servant, the midwife, that she may faithfully discharge her office to the mother and the child, with prudent wisdome and tenderness. blesse her with health & strength to finish this great worke as thou hast don heeretofore, for many more, for which great mercy both she, — & wee heere present — doe praise thy holy name, & doe likewise pray unto thee, O Lord, to blesse our labours in the behalfe of this our sicke Sister, by directing us all to those actions as may be most proper for her assistance. But, O Lord, wee confesse our selves to be very great sinners in thought, word & deed, we doe unfeynedly bewale our Iniquities: the rememembrances of them is grievous, the burthen of them is intolerable. O Lambe of God, have Mercy up -pon us, & wash them away with thy most precious blood; heere & accept these our penitent praiers for our Soules, & this, thy Languishing Servant, in perill of death in Childebirth, Oh most Mercifull God; Lay not hir Sinns to her charge, but, according to the multitude of thy tender mercys, doe away her offences, and accept her teares of repentance & cryes in Agony of Spiritt for a safe & speedy deliverance. And Lastly, O Lord most gracious, I humbly submitt my selfe to thy most blessed will & pleasure, either for Life or death as it most Propor- tionable to thy glory & Eternall good for soule & 147 Bodie; humblie beggeing. & beseech thy majestie that, if my desolution be att hand; thou wouldest be fully Reconsiled unto me in Christ Jesus, my Redeemer, & receave my Soule into thine Everlasting Kingdome theire to praise thee to All Etternity. All which we hum bly crave of thee the blessed Trinity, (Father, Sonne and Spiritt, three Persons and one true and ever Living God) To whom be all praise. Honnour, and Glory asscribed in that most Sacred prayer. Christ himselfe hath taught us, Saing. 'Our Father which art in Heaven'.

Amen.

After which humble pettitions, it Pleased our gracious Father to grant our requests in a great measure: for my paines of travill increased, and, although I endured hard Labour, I was delivered the next day.

Katherine Thornton, my fourth childe, was borne at Hips--well, neare Richmond in Yorkeshire: the 12th of June, 1656. being on thursday, about halfe an houer after 4 a clocke in the afternoone, and was baptized the 14th of June. by Mr Siddall. wittnesses, my mother, my neece, Katherine Danby, & Mr Thornton.

A Thankesgiveing affter the delivery of my, Daughter, Alice Thornton, of her fourth child. June 12th, 1656. Baptized the 14th

O most holy, Just and Mercifull Lord God, who hast Created all things in Heaven and earth for thy Glory, Preserved them by thy Power, and hast appoynted man kind to increase and multiply for the Propagation of thy Church Millitant and increase of thy Church Triumphant;

Wee (thy poore sinfull Creatures, Dust and Ashes) doe reno -wnce all worthinesse in ourselves to approach before thy infinitt Majestie, & therefore doe most humbly present our praiers, praises, and thanksgiveings unto thee in the name, mediation & Intercession of thy dearely 148 Beloved Sonne, Christ Jesus, in whom thou hast decla red thy selfe to be well pleased, and to accept the Cordiall devotions of thy faithfull servants; In his blessed name, we we returne to render unto thy Sacred Majestie our bounden duty of praise and Thanksgiving for thy wonderfull, powerfull, and mercifull preservati -on & deliverance of thy distressed handmaid & servant from the paines & Perrills of childebirth, And hath vou- -chsafed to give her a comelie childe, perfectly formed. safe from harme; wee humblie beseeching thee, O Lord, to contineue thy love and favour to this, thy weake servant, in restoring her to her former health and strength (if it be thy blessed will) that she may live to praise and glorifie thy great name, for this and the like preservati on of her, To bring up this infant and the rest of her Children in the true faith & feare of God, That her wombe may be a Nurrsery for thy Kingdome, strengthen her faith in this weaknesse, that the Devill may not have power to tempt her beyond her strength derived from thee, neither her owne frailties prevaile in any insuing distempers, sub- ject to those in her condittion, but, in mercy, dispose her to quiet rest, and give a blessing in the moderate use of thy good creatures for her foode & Refreshment, with an unfeyned thankfull heart for all thy mercys, a contented minde with thy most wise dispensations, however it shall please thee to dispose of her selfe, her Infant, or any other pledges of thy love, further, wee contineue our prayers for this infant, that as thou, O Lord, hast brought it by thy power, and in mercy forth of the mothers wombe to behold the light of this world, Soe we beseech thee to give it thy seale in holy Baptism, Sacrament of Baptisme, Thy holy spiritts Illumination to sanctifie that Laver for its Regeneration, from Orriginall sinn to actuall Righteousnesse, as it shall live to years of capacitie.

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Blesse it with Good meanes for it's foode, growth, and attendance & health. That it may escape the dangers of necligence and other accidents insident to Infancy. Lastly, O Lord, we praise & glorifie thy holy Name that thou hast blessed the Laboures of thy servant the midwif, & the assistance of the rest heere present. that it pleased thy gracious goodnesse to afford thy handmaid convenient helpe, strength, comfort of freinds, neighbours & other refres hments to revive her fainting spiritts. And now, O Lord, that we have powred out our soules before thy majestie, wee had need to crave pardon, for our imperfect praiers, & praises That it would please thee to forgive our sinns committed through weaknesse and Ignorance; And that it would please thy gracious goodnesse to heare, receive, and accept what soever we have faithfully & humbly asked for thy weake Servant, her infant, and our selves in the all sufficient mediation of our most Mercifull Redeemer, Christ Jesus, the Sonne of thy love, concluding these our imperfect praiers in that most sacred praier which Christ hath taught us to present unto thee to thy Glory, & for our comfort. Saying. 'Our: Father', &et cetera.

Elizabeth Thorntons death; the 5th of September 1656.

It pleased God to take from me, my deare childe, betty, which had bin long in the riketts & consumption (gotten at first by an Ague, & much gone in the Ricketts, which I concsedconceived was caused by ill milke at 2 nurses, And notwithstand- -ing all the meanes I used & had her, with Naly, at St Mun gnos well. for it, she grew weaker & att the last, in a most desperate Cough that destroyed her lunges, she died. Elisabeth Thornton, my 3d Childe, died the 5th of september 1656. betwixt the houers of 5. & 6. in the morning. her Age was one yeare, 6. months & 21 daies. was buried the same day at Catterick by Mr Siddall.

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A Praier After the death of my 3d childe, Betty. Thornton

O Lord most high, whoes is the right of Creation & Governour of all the Earth. I beseech thy gracious Maj estie to pardon our great & crieing sinns, who hath Provoaked thee to deprive us of this sweete Childe, thy Blessing to us. let thy favour over looke our offences & pardon wherein we have don amisse in all accidents & occurrances of our lives, before, & since we knew each other, forgive my impatiency, or murmuring at thy heavy hand. who yet in Judgement hast remembred mercy & hast not pressed us to destruction. Lord, looke not upon us as in our selves, for then noe liveing can stand in thy preasence. but apeare poluted, defiled, & by depraved nature, Abominable in thy sight. but looke on us in thy deare Son, Jesus Christ, our redeemer. and pardon all our sinfull compliances towards each other since our married Estate if there have bin any such as has displeased thee, O Lord, for thou art a God of purity & holinesse, therefore, clence all our hearts, & sanctifie this sad crosse for our good & thy glory. to which I humbly submit & freely, seeing thy goodnesse in delivering this, my swet childe, from all its Miseries in this world. of Infancy, Childhood, & folly. And blesse thy devine Majestie, who hast taken her a way, before her soule was poluted with actuall sins. hopeing in my deare Saviour (who recea -ved, such when they brought them unto him on Earth) , that her Soule is acceptable in thy sight, whom thou hast taken soe early into thy Kingdom. O Lord, give us grace to live the remaining part of our lives in all holinesse before thee, & be willing to resigne our Soules as this little child, into thy mercyfull hands. be pleased to blesse my other 151 Two Children with thy graces & favours, long life & health, with all opportunitys to doe thee service, heere, beeing freed from the bondage of sin, by thy sufferings. haveing grace in theire hearts. Blesse allso thy servant, my husband, & my selfe with all mercys, graces, (spirituall, & temporall, fitt us by thy Rod & suport us by thy staffe for thy heavenly Kingdome, that we may, in the meane time, possesess our vessells in holinesse; & Righteousnesse all the daies of our lives, and All for Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Sake. Amen.

Uppon my great fall I had, beeing with childe of my 5th, September 14th, 1657, at Hipswell.

I fell with childe affter my deare bettys death, haveinge my health very well, affter quicke childe & soe continued till I gott a great fall over the threshold in the hall, att Hips- well, (beeing then great with childe of my fifth, wanting but Ten weeks before my time. on the 14th of september 1657, which fall cast me into an ill fitt of a feaver, and the Jaundies followed, & a bout 3 weeks was very weake, & in great danger of death, & miscarriage. with the contineuall paines & excessive motions of the childe in me, which was turned wrong in my wombe, by the fall, & might easily be disearned, nor could it be able to turne the head aright, all though it kept continuall bending its backe & bodie for it. soe that Dr. witty was sent for, & used all his skill in my preservation; and, by the blesing of God upon the meanes. I was delivered from Death, and marvelously restored to strength att 6 weeks end; I was lett blood by the Drdoctor, with other remidies, which made me goe to my full time. O, what shall I render to the Lord most high which had compassion on his weake handmaide. Lord, I am not worthy to live, much lesse to receave all these miraculous mercys from thy goodnesse, for which I adore thy name for ever. Amen.

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Meditations on the deliverance, of my first Sonne and fifth Childe. At Hipswell, the 10th of December 1657.

It pleased God, in much mercy, to restore me to strength to goe to my full time, my Labour begining 3 daies. but, upon the Wednesday, the ninth of December, I fell into exceeding sharpe travill, in great extreamity, so that the midwife did beleive I should be delivered soone. but, loe, it fell out contrary. for the childe staied in the birth & came crosse with his feete first. & in this conditi -on contineued till thursday morning betweene 2 & 3 a clocke, at which time, I was upon the Racke, in bearing my childe with such exquisitt torment as if each lime weare divided from other, for the space of two houers. when, att length, beeing speechlesse, & breathlesse. I was by the infinitt providence of God in great mercy delivered. but I, having had such sore travell in danger of my life soe long, and the childe comeing into the world with his feete first, caused the childe to be allmost strangled in the birth. only liveing about halfe an houer, so died. before we could gett a minister to baptize him although he was sent for.

I was delivered of my first sonne & fifth childe on the 10th of December 1657: he was buried in Catericke Church the same day by Mr Siddall. this sweete, goodly son was turned wrong by the fall I gott in SeptSeptember before, nor had the midwife skill to turne him right, which was the cause of the losse of his Life And the hazard of my owne.

The weakenesse of my bodie was exceeding great of long contineuance that it put me into the beginnig of a consum- ption, non expecting for many daies together that I should recover, and when I did recrute a little, then a new trouble seised on me by the losse of blood, in the bleeding of the Hemerobshaemorrhoids every day for halfe a yeare together.

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Nor did I recover the Lamenesse of my left knee. for one whole quarter of a yeare, in which I could not touch the ground with it: this I got in my labour, for want of that knee to be assisted. But, Alas, all these miseries was nothing, to what I have deserved from the Just hand. of God. considering the great failings of my duties is required both as to God & man,

And though I am not given over to any sinnfull, in ormusenormous crimes which 1000dsthousands are subject, to, yet am I not pure in the sight of God. for there is noe man that liveth & sinneth not. what cause, therefore, have I to cry out. 'Oh, the hight, the depth, the breadth, the length, of the Love of God', which had great compassion upon the weake handmaid of the Lord which was destinated to distruction, and did shew me mercy in the Land of the Liveing. The Lord, most high, make me truly remember his goodnesse & that I may never forgett this above all his mighty & streached out hand of deliverances to me his vilde creature. That I may extoll & praise the Lord with all my soule, & never let goe my hope from the God of my Salvation. but live the remainder of my life he gives me to his hon.or & Glory and that, at the last, I may praise him Etternally in the heavens. Blesse the Lord, O my soule & forget not all his benifitts.

A praier upon my preservation affter the birth of my first sonn. & his death.

O Eternall God, who endurest for ever, and thy remem- -brance throughout all generations, have pitty upon me. according to the infinitt treasures of thy loveing kindnesse heare the voyce of our groaning, for thy indignation and thy wrath lieth hard upon me. & my sins have put an edge upon thy sword, and a thorne into my wounded consiences. O Lord, I acknowledge thy justice in the afflictions which thou hast sent in my torments & the death of my infant. & thou mightest have spaired its life & taken mine. but thou in punishment remembrd mercy, letting me still live to tell of thy 154 Inexpressable goodnesse & mercy to a poore, destitute wreache, whom thou hast made of nothing to shew the miraculous power of thy Majestie & clemency. Lord God of heaven, let not all thy mercys be in vaine but worke that end for which they are sent, for I am a weake worme & sinfull dust and Ashes, not able to thinke a good thought, how can I pray unto soe great a God as I ought. O give, I beseech, thy servnt the spiritt of praires & suplication that I may pray a right, beleive a right, & profitt a right under all thy dispensations & forgive thy handmaide if, at any time, I have too ear- -nestly desired a son. & make me now to rejoyce of thy salvation, that thou, o Lord, hast saved my owne life, give ing hopes of a longer contineuance to worke out my sal vation with feare & trimbling. for thou are a great and Tirrible God, who may stand before thee. O, build up the Ruines of my Soule, repaire the breaches of my comforts with my deare husband. and our hopes of salvation, and let thy glories now appeare, for that shines brightest in the beames of thy mercy, and when thou turnest unto the praier of poore, wretched destitutes, it becomes an eter -nall monument & a record of thy hon.or, & all generations which shall be borne, shall be borne shall praise thee. Looke downe, O Lord; from thy Sanctuary, heare the mournings of us; send me health & Life so long as it may be a blessinge, & doe not shorten maymy daies in wrath, , but give me grace so to spend all my time in the works of repentance & holinesse, that, when my yeares faile & change come, I may be translated to the new heavens, which shall never perish & wax old, there to contineue and stand fast in thy sight for ever. And further, receav my hearty & humble. thankes & adoration & praise for my great deliverances from these dangers of many death, & praise the holy Trinity. through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Amen.

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My Cure of Bleeding at Scarbrough, August. 1659.

It was the good pleasure of God to contineue me most wonderfully, though in much weakenesse, affter that excessive losse of Blood & spiritts, in Childe bed, — with the contineuance of lamenesse above 20 weekes affter, and the losse of blood & strength by the bleeding of the Hemorides, which followed every day by seige — and was caused by my last travell & torment in Childebirth. which brought me soe low & weake that I fainted allmost every day uppon such occasions.

And it was the opinion of Dr wittie that I was deeply gon in a Consumption, and, if that contineued longer, I should be barren. All which beeing considered by my deare husband & mother. they were resolved from the Drsdoctors' oppinion that I should goe to Scarbrough spaw for the cure of the said distemper, & accordingly, I went with Mr Thornton, staing about a month there, in which time I did by the blessing of God recover my strength. affter the stay of the former infirmity, of bleeding: it, leaving me with in 2 daies, totally & was cleared from those faintings this carried along with it, returning to Oswoldkirdke by my Sister Denton homewards.

After this great cure which the spaw wrought on me, for which I most humbly returne my hearty & faithfull acknowledg-ment of his mercy, we returned home to Hipswell, where we found my Deare Mother some what recovered of a very ~~deepe~~ Ill fitt of the stone (in which she had bin in great danger about 2 daies before. and had sent for me home, her servant meeting me at my sister Crathornes, in my way to Hipswell; I was very Joyfull to find her any thing recruted from her extreamity. blessed be the Lord most high, which had compassion on my deare Mother in raiseing her from death, & easing her from those violent fitts of paine & torment, giveing her to me. & spairing my life allso from that languishing sicknesse caused by my Child -birth, & might have caused my Death.

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About this August, after our returne from Scarbrough, it pleased God to give me much strength & health, soe that I conceaved with Childe; which affter Mr Thornton perceived, he, with my mother, greatly rejoyced; hope- -ing that I might at length be blessed with a son. For 4 monthes together, I injoyed a great deale of comfort & health, beeing much stronger & lively when I was with my Sons then Daughters, haveing great cause to admire the goodnesse of God, which, even contrary unto hope, caused me to recover of that Sad distemper, wherewith I was afflicted, and giveing me hopes to bring forth a Son to be a Comfort to my deare husband & us all.

A thanksgiveing affter affter my recovery.

My song shall be alwaies of the loveing kindnesse of the Lord: with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth from one generation to another, O Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works: & thy truth in the congregation of the saints. And now thou, O Lord, who dost wonders, casting me downe in sicknesse & weaknesse, & raising me up again in thy good time: thou hast thereby declared thy power to all People. Lett the observation of thy abundant mercys, & loving kindnesses lately shewed to me, both in my deliverance from Death & weaknese as allso in my strength to con -ceave, make very deepe impression in my heart & memories, that when I am in heavinesse, I may remem -ber the yeares of thy right hand, calling to mind thy wonders of old thou hast don unto me, that, all though thou sometimes withdrawest the brightnesse of thy countenance from me, and shuttest up thy loving kindnesse in a short displeasure in some sicknesse or 157 Affliction: yet I may now with a thankfull heart, full of ardent Zeale & Gratitude, give thee thy hon.or due unto thy Name in these excelent mercys, walkeing in thy commandments like thy redeemed ones to whom is shewed such wonders of thy power & mercys.

And that the experiences of these, thy old mercys, which never failes, may sustaine my infirmities, & the expectation of thy loving kindnesse, may cure all my impatience. till in thy due time, the sence of thy favours may actually relieve all our distresses, and thy right hand lead me like a sheepe into the folds of eternall rest and security through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

1659.

About this time, wee weare all in a great confussion in this Kingdome, none knowing how the Government of this Land would fall, Some desireing the contineuance of Oliver Cromwells race to stand, others desired the returne of the Long Parliaments Power, which had Acted the death of the Blessed King, & to Establish theire Arbetrary power againe, others intended — through the weaknesse of Richeard, Son to Oliver, & then Ruled as Protecter, — to advance the intrest of Lambert, in Publike Authority; which was a man highly for independancy; & soe would have utterly Destroyed both Church; & State; in lopping of all whoe had Affection, or Dependancy on either, Rooting out the very face of a Clargie man, or Gentleman. or the Civiler sort of the Commonalty: In this distraction, each man looked uppon the other straingly, none knoweing whom to trust or how to be secured from the Raige, Rapine & destruction from the Soldiery in whose sole Power was both the Civill & Ecclesiasticke sword; since the yeare 1648. And we had all suffered soe deepely under those oppressions, that even the contrary party to the King did heartily wish an allteration, from those pressures.

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In Somuch that most Sober, wise People of this Nation began to have a good oppinion of the Antient Govern- ment of this Realme, under which they had lived soe many Peaceable yeares, when they had smarted for theire ficklenesse in changeing it, made them Experien ce which was the best, & most desirable, for it's happie pro- -ductions, of Peace & truth.

Thus, did it Please the devine. wisdome, soe to order it in great & miraculous mercy, that, when we had felt the Evills of our Sad devissions, & our growing higher tow -ards utter destruction in theire contineuance in them, , he thereby taught the Nation wisdome, & did incline theire hearts to returne to theire old Station, under the Notion of a free Parliament.

As all the world stood amaised, att our unheard of follis & confusions, when the best frame of Government was Puled downe & destroyed, soe was theire great combi- -nations against us of all sides by our Enimies to have rooted out our name & Nation.

And this, by all People of severall Perswasions & Relig ions, would have bin glad of soe Rich a Prise.

But he whoe is the keeper of Israell. that neither Slumbers nor sleepeth, watched over us for good, & was a Tower of defence against all our secrett & malitious Enim ies, & out of our owne miseries made a way for to Escape, even when they little thought of such a thing. yet, till that time was come, great & heavy was our feares & budens, graaneing under that tirany both Church & state, haveing our deare Soveraine, King Charles the 2d, bannished, & not injoyeing those rights, nor indeed any thing from his 3 Kingdomes. which was unjustly de- tained by usurpation, which caused us daily to poure out our 159 complaints to God, with uncessant cries & teares for his Church & Annoynted to be restored againe, which might be the meanes of Reestablishment of the Gospell of Peace amongt us and the true Religion in these, once flourishing Kingdoms.

A Praier to God for the Church. & restoration of the King. november, 1659.

O Lord, our God, the great & mighty Jehova, which hath thy eyes open, to see the oppression & heare the cries of all thy servants in all the ends of the Earth. Lett not, I humblie be- seech thy devine Majestie, our misery seeme smale unto thee, which we suffer in this place & nations, by reason of our Sins, which have bin soe great & crieing that they have tired out thy long suffering & patience, & we are abominable in thy holy sight, in whoes presence the Angells cover theire faces. And yet, o Lord. whither should we vild creatures goe to be cleansed, or purged: but unto thee: the fountaine of an in- exhaustable goodnesse & Puritty. We have sinned & don amisse, O Lord, & what shall we say unto thee, oh thou, preserver of men; Oh, take away our wickednesse & thou shallt finde none; Lord, thy mercys hast upheld us these many yeares of calamities even beyond miraculous, there fore, lett our suplicattions come before thee, the Judge of all, And make not a full end of thy Church in this nations, whoes miseries has bin too long by reason of our sins. Butt, lett it apeare that in judgement thou willt remember mercy & spaire us from utter destruction from the hands of thine & our bloody enimies. O, deliver not the soule of thy turtle dove unto the multitude of her Enimies: and forgett not the Congregattion of the poore for ever, which hast noe dependancy upon man, nor dust & Ashes, butt in thee alone. the Great & tirrible Lord God. King of heaven & Earth.

Arise, O God, maintaine thine owne cause: remember how the foolish man blaspheameth thee daily, forgett not the voyce of thine Enimies; the presumption of them that hate thee, increaseth ever more and more.

But thou, O Lord, Blessed Jesus, who with thy Precious blood hast purchased to thy selfe, and redeemed A.

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Church, that it should be subject unto thy devine Laws & precepts, serving thee in holinesse & righteousnesse, beeing delivered from Sin & wickednesse, & from the feares of all theire adversaries spirittuall & temporall.

Forgett not the congregation of thy poore, faithfull ones in this Kingdom forever, which serves thee constantly as they are able with there uttmost capacity & sincerity. maintaine thine owne cause, & deliver us from the Mul- titude of her Enimies; Preserve; & restore with thy right hand all thy servants, thy ministers of this Church, which may dispence thy holy word & Sacraments, & are now in a manner quite abolished. Restore, we beseech thee, our dread Soveraine, to his Kingdomes, which thou hast given him to succeed his holy father to doe thee service in Church & State, ruling them prudently with all his Power in truth & Peace. And lett a Cherubins flaming sword, as in Paradise, stand sentinell; and keepe from the- invasions of sacrilegious persons and the polutions of all impure Church Robbers, all thy dwelling places; that thou maiest for ever dwell amongst us, defend ing the poore, bringing helpe to all thy People; and par- -ticular blessings and assistances to the tribe of thine owne inheritance, which thou hast sanctified to thy worship and service. through Jesus Christ, our only Lord & Saviour & redemer. Amen.

A Relation conserning my deare & hon.redHonoured Mother, the Lady Wandesforde & of her Death, December 10th, 1659.

My deare mother, was Sole daughter to Sir Hewet Osborne, & Lady Joyce his wife, which Lady Joyce was Eldest Daughter to Sir Miles Fleetewood of London in the Reigne of Queene Elizabeth. of happie Memorie. She was borne at Sir John Paytons house. Jan.January 5, 1592, att Islellome- in Cambridgeshire, — My Grandfather

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And Grandmother liveing then att my Aunts house at Islelome, — beeing the Eldest Childe of my Grandfathers. & in- tended by him to have inherited his Estate; (haveing soe Intailed it uppon her att his first goeing beyond sea. in Callis Voyage). After some yeares, he returned into England, And it pleased God to give them A gallant Son & heire, which affterwards proved a most Excelent, wise & Good man, Sir Edward Osborne of Keveton, Barronett. A faithfull, prudent man, Zealous for God, the King & the Church, of great abilitties to serve his King & countery Beeing advanced to be Lord President of yorke, & lived & died in much honour & fame.

To returne to my mother, whoe was bred up in her youth & infancy with much caire & sircumspection by the Eye of my Grandmother, a discreete & wise woman. giveing her all the advantages of breeding & good education. that the court, & those times could afford, which was indeed excelent for gravity, modestie, & pietie, & other sutable quali- ties for her degree, (As writing, Singing, Danceing. Harpscialls, Lute &. what was requisit to make her an accomplished Lady, As she did aprove her selfe in all her time).

At the Age of 21 yeares, she was married by the consent of her Mother, (beeing then her selfe married to Sir Petter Frechvile, haveing lived seaven yeares a widdow since my Grandfathers death; The Portion which my Father receaved was very faire in those daies, beeing two thou- -sand Pounds paid the next day of theire Marriage. Nor was she awanting to make a fare greatter improvement of my Fathers Estate. through her wise & prudentiall government of his Family, & by her caire was a meanes to give opportunity of increasing his Patrimony. as my deare father is pleased to leave upon Record in his owne booke for her Etternall hon.our, soe that it might be said of her, many Daughters have don well, but thou exceedest them all.

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It pleased God to Inrich my Father & mother with the (Cheife end, for which marriage was ordeined) the blessing of Children. My Mother bringing forth to him seaven. hopefull, enough to live, & to be comforts to theire Pare -nts; fower Sons, & three daughters.

The Eldest beeing Katherine; the second, Christopher, whoe died att 6 yeares old, was a wise & beautifull childe, endoued with Pietie & parts, whoes loss was very deepely resented by his Parents.

The Third, was George, whom I have had occassion to mention in this booke.

The fourth was Joyce, a sweete & comlie Childe, died about 4 yeares old.

The fifth my selfe. Alice Thornton.

The Sixth, my brother Christopher Wandesforde, now heire to My father affter my Brother George his death.

The seaventh & Last childe was John, borne att London before she went for Ireland, A sweete, beauti full & pregnant childe; & young man, an Excelent scholer & of Pietie & parts beyond his yeares.

My Father, beeing called over into Ireland to serve the King in the Roles office in that Kingdom, (by reason of my mothers late weakenesse affter her delivery of my brother John) went into Ireland, one yeare before my mother & her Family.

After which, she had a safe passage thither, liveing in much comfort & hapienesse all my fathers life, doeing much good to all People, in each spheare wherein she actted, laing out her selfe to the best for her husband, whome she highly hon.redhonoured; her Child, freinds. & servants found theire, as in England, a perpetuall effluance of all graces & vertues flowing from soe full a spring. which god had indowed her 163 Noble soule with all, lived in great peace, tranquilitty, & Charity, full of meekenesse, humility, Chastiety, Modestie, sobriety & gravity; yea, was she indowed with great wisdom in the constant course of her life, of a sweete & pleasant com- -posure of spiritt, not sullanly sad; nor vainely light but of an Excelent Temper in soule & Bodie, neither of them wanting those due ornaments, which might make her lovely in the Eyes of God & man, And indeed, Exact -ly studious to advance the intrest of her duties, in Pietie & Religion, in her selfe and all her Children, whoes caire was very sedulous for theire soules happinesse, as well as the imbellishments of theire Persons; desiring to yeald her accounts to God in Righteousnesse & truth. according to the sincerity of her soule in his service.

Thus, weare wee happie. & Blessed; that wee are Childeren & offspring of such a holy & sanctified a Couple; whom God Almighty had filled with such a measure of his Spiritt makeing them great ornaments of Religion.

After my deare fathers decease, she lived his Widdow till her death; which was the space of 19 yeares & 7 daies; dieing in that same month of December & in old Age. But she was not one of those that lived in pleasure, or spent her daies in vanitie; for what time could be spair red from workes of necessitie, & duty, to her Children, & family, All the rest was given to the service of her God, either as workes of Pietie. & devotion; in private & Public, or Charitie towards her breathren, whom she saw did stand in need, & necessity. Especially haveing a due regard, & compassion uppon those Cllargy, which, through the Rigour of those times of oppression, were banished from theire own homes; wanting all manner of releife, with theire families very offten, & frequently found the bowelss of a good sam- -aritaine in hers; she, opening her Armes, to receave Christ in his poore members, Accounting it a great happinesse 164 That he vouchsafed her the hon.rhonour to be instrumentall for the Releife & suport of such as were Precious in his sight.

I have formely made a discourse of her travills & severall accidents that befell her Person & Family affter my fathers death; till she came to live att her Joyntur att Hipswell; & allso what troubles & trialls, losses, & crosses; she underwent allmost all the time she lived there, (As well as from the unnaturall actions, & unkinde -nesse of freinds, which had repining thoughts that she should injoy her Joynture. as from the Publicke Enimies & disturbances from the Publicke Calamities of Church & State).

All which she endured with a noble; & invincible spiritt, beeing fortified by her Religion, & the testimony of a good consience, That she Laid out her selfe for Gods service & Glory; & the good of my Fathers whole Family, & the generall benifitt of Christians among st whom she lived; yea, even in those sad times of lossing all, many 100dshundreds were Releived, & suplied at her doore.

For her exceeding kindnesses don, for the helpe of the Heire, yonger, Children, & debtors of my Fathers. lett her owne narration, delivered from her in writting before wittnesses, declare. what, & how she expended upon that account; (she, beeing in a manner compelld to leave such a testimony from some unworthy Prejuedies which said she did not much from her Estate for them.)

But it was requisitt, for such an act of kindnesse, which she did, spending all she receaved, upon us, that it should not be forgotten. by that family. whoe reciaved soe grand a blessing in her life & preservation, with out the which it is too probable, that we might have bin made marchandise off.

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Should I forgett her unparalelld, wisdome, goodnesse, tendernesse, love, & Parentall affection, by which she govere- -ned all her gracious actions towards us, in our mainte- -nance, & Education. I should be worse then an Infidell, who had forsaken the faith & bin ingratefull to that God which made them, & the very Oxe & Asse which knowes his owners Cribb, would rise up in judgement against me.

Therefore, doe I desire — in point of gratitude to God, my Father, & that gracious mother whom he gave me; — to men -tion those great mercys we receaved from her in generall, And in perticuler for those exceeding goodness & favours where in she extended her bounty towards me.

Whoe was pleased to provide an habitation for me affter her decease, & disposed me in marriage. Affter which, I, with my husband & Children, did live with her 8 yeares affter my marriage, bringing forth 4 of my Children in her house And had all manner of Charges, expences, & houshold affaires, in sicknesses, births, Christnings, & burialls, of & concerning, our selves & Children; with the diett, &cet cetera. of nurses, men servants &, maides, & our freinds entertain -ments, all things don of her owne cost & charges all her daies while she lived. which could not be of less valew to us cleearley then 1600l.

And noe smale addittion of helpe to my husbands Estate was her disposall of her Reall Estate in Land, which she had Purchased for 550l, settling it uppon my selfe, & my Childeren.

Allso, her exceeding affection extended it selfe in her settling all her Personall Estate by Deeds of guift, & her last will & Testament, saving her Debts, & Legacies, & funeralls in feofees in trust, for the use of my selfe, H.husband & Childeren. All which I confesse farre exceeding my mirritt, but not her intire affection, for my constant beeing with her in her sorrowes & solitudes.

And albeit she had, in our minorrities, disbursed uppon us out of her owne Joynture; which should have bin don out of Kirklington the some of 2000l.

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The some of 2000l besides, above 500l to my brother George, the Heire, with the payment of 300l Debt of that Estate and the losse of all my fathers Personall Estate given her by will, as allso; her losse of her Annuity of 300l per Annum out of Ireland, to the valew due unto her at her death 19 yers A widdow the summe of 300 per Annum- which never receaved any part thereof. yett, notwithstanding all the aforesaid goodnes of hers to that Estate; there wanted not some whoe putt hard thoughts into the Heires minde, that she dealt hard by because she did not give all her widdowes Patrimony to him, (when as all her former helpes did redound to his benifitt, & with all they knew our Estate was more burthened att that time; which might require such helpes from her, because we weare contented, for the Ease of Kirklington, to receave my Portion from thence yearely & not in an Intire Summe;

Besides this, she fitted my youngest Brother, John W.Wandesford, with the opportunity of good Schooles, (as Beedall. Chester, Richmond, with all other provissions, of maintenance & Bookes & all necessarys; for Cambridge, leaveing him under the Tuittion of Dr widdrington in Christs Colledge, maintaining him there all the time, which, by reason of a sore feavour that seized on him there, he cost her after the Rate of above 100l per Annum.

All which time his Anuity Lay dormant in the Estate of my father, which I supose was some advantage to the Heire. In fine, great & many were the good & Charitable Acts this most deare & Excelent mother of ours did to us all: she soe wisely & justly disposeing her Estate Amongst us: that none had the least cause to complaine But blesse God for her wise dispensation.

Beeing truly thankfull for the safe protection caire & preservation we injoyed under her wing.

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In all our Sad times of calamitie which our Eyes beheld, She, restraining & moderating her owne expences, most frugaly; & good huswifery, that she neither lived in a penu -rious, but a noble, hansome, manner; to whom both our Freinds & her owne was freely entertained, & welcomed. Her Poore Tennants was more happie in her, then many of her bordering neighboures, whoe, although exceeding poore att her first comming; yet by Gods Blessing upon her discreet ordering her affaires in her Estate that the Tennants grew Rich affter little time in those distracti-ons, And since have infinittly bewailed her losse whose person Liveing they had soe great an hon.or for.

It was very observable, that she out lived those sad troubles upon the Kingdom in part, though not till the restoration of our happie King Charles the 2d, whose come ing was daily prayed for & heartily wished. And the last Soldiers which quartered att Hipswell, Proved to be such as turned to Generall Monke, from Lambert &, with in a short time, the mighty Power & providence of God, turned the minds & hearts of the People as a mighty River towards it's owne Channell. After her disease, which she had put up soe many Praiers to God for And would have bin a Joyfull day for her to have lived to seene.

But I hope God had prepaired a great reward in Heaven for her for all her Toyle & Sorrowes she indured in this Bochim & vaile of teares, & affter 3 weeks sicknesse, gave her the full fruittion of her long desired happinesse.

The relattion of her sicknesse heere followes.

It pleased God to vissitt my Deare & hon.redhonoured mother, The Lady Wandesford, with her last Sickenesse. uppon friday the 17th of november 1659, beginning then with an exceeding great Cough; which tormented her Bodie with stitches, in her breast, & troubled her with short. 168 breathing; These stitches contineued about 14. daies together hindering her from almost any sleepe or rest, in so much that it was wonderfull how she could subsist. But uppon the use of bagges with fried oats, butter & camomiell chopt layed to her sides, the stitches removed, & the cough abated, as to the extreamity thereof.

But then she was seized with a more dangerous Suim- -ttome of a hard lumpe contracted in her stomacke that laid on her heart; with great paine, & riseing up to her throat. allmost stopeing her breath, when she either swallowed any thing or laied to sleepe. Which lumpe was conceived to be contracted of winde & phleagme in the stomacke for lacke of voydance.

She had allso an Exceeding sore throate & Mouth, soe that she was deprived of the benifitt of eate- -ing or swallowing, allmost any kind of food, save a little drope of beere, beeing the most she tooke inw- -ardly for 4 or 5 daies, & that but with a seringe. her Tongue & mouth, at first, was blacke. then it turned white, so that with the paines my deare mother tooke in washing & cleanseing, the skinn came of & was red till the blood came, (this contineuing, till, in the end, her mouth grew white all over).

In this most sad condittion of weakenesse was my deare mother, allmost quite with out food, Rest ease, or sleepe for about a weeke. In which time, as allso in all the rest of her sickenesse, she expressed extraordinary patience. still saing, it was the Lord that sent it to her, & none else could take it from her, &, if he pleased to see it fitt, he could ease her or give her patience to indure his hand.

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Often would she say; that the way to Heaven was by the gates of hell, And that the Lion of the Tribe of Juda would deliver her. likewise, would she frequently breake out & say, with the sweete Psalmist of Israell, in the mid- st of her inexpressable paines & torments. Why art thou soe full of heavinesse, oh my Soule, & why art thou so disquietted within me: I will still hope in my God, & putt my trust in the God of my salvation, who is the helpe of my countenance and my God,

She frequently repeated the 71st Psalme, which she said was pend for old age. Surely, she was a great exam- -ple & paterne of Pietie, faith, patience, of fortitud & Resolution to with stand all the fiery darts of Satan which he, in her weakenesse, cast to affright, & hinder her Journey to Heaven. but he, in whom she putt her whole confidence. & served from her youth up. did not now leave her in extreamity, but soe assisted her in soule & spiritt that it was. an heavenly sight to the beholders even to her last Period, & not withstanding all her torments, still she put forth her selfe — for the Glory of God, & the good of her family & beholders — In good instructions, severe reproofes for all sins in generall, with a contineuall prayeing to god & praising him in Psalmes sutable for her condittion, speakeing to God in his owne phraise & word, saeing that we could not speake to him from our selves, in such an accapt- -able a manner as by that which was dictated by his owne most holy Spiritt. She offten desired her freinds to pray with her, & for her, & tould them that she desired that they would not pray for her contineuance in this life for she was weary of it & desired to obteine a better & to be fitted for it; And that these should be the heads on which they should Pettition God for her. Videlz.Videlicet:

That the Lord would be pleased to grant her true 170 And unfeined repentance for her Sinns, which he had mercifully pleased to begin in her allready, & to per- -fect the same.

To give her pardon, remission; & forgivenesses for them, through Jesus Christ, her Deare Saviour. To grant her, true faith in him to beleive all his Promises in the Gospell. & layeng hold on him for salvation, with the sanctification of his holy Spiritt, And att last, to Gloryfie her in heaven in his good time. which pettitions, said she, 'whoesoever shall mak for me; the Lord heare and grant the same'.

This sweete Saint of God, had alwaies a great and unfained love for all Gods faithfull Ministers, and offten desired theire praiers, giveing great attention to them; haveing much comfort in her Soule after that ordenance. Her desires was earnest to receave the holy Sacrament, which she did with great comfort on Thursday (was sevenight before her departure. from Mr Petter Samewaies. allthough it was with great difficultie of swallowing; (she never tasting dry bread affter, for that excessive weakenesse).

Her desires was to Mr Kirton, he would preach her funerall sermon, The text to be out of the 14th of the Revelations: verce the 13th: 'Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord: for they rest from there laboures', &cet cetera.

This blessed Soule had the guift from her God to contineue till her last breath, her perfect memo- -ry, understanding. & great wisdome & Piety, ever preparing her soule for God & recommending her selfe in devout ejaculations, crieing out with St Paull. I desire to be desolved & to be with Christ; And all that friday night before she departed, haveing this sweete saing in her mouth, 'Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. she makeing Dafeny to pray with her, that praier of Dr 171 Smith made in his Booke for a Person at the point to die, & tooke great notice of each Pettition praing with Zeale & ardency.

It was very observable in all her sickenesse, as in- deed she was not wanting of her gratitude to God for his exceeding testimonys of his love & mercy to her in all her preservations. & deliverances of her & her Children, which she very offten repeated, severally innumerated, in her best health, Soe was it now, in her grand weaknesse & torment, even till her death. still the subject of her discourse, calling to minde the wonderfull & infinitt goodnesse of God to her even from her childehood, setting forth his favours to her Soule: & spirituall mercys innumer- -able which she perticulerly mentioned; And then she mentioned all her manifold preservations, & deliverances of her person from death, & destruction, makeing such an excelent cattalogue of all; that it was a great consolation to the hearers, & proved by these things, as a great argument of the suport of her droo- -ping spiritts now at the houer of death; beeing a strong barre of defence against her spirituall advarsaries —

That God had appeared Gloriously for her that was his servant, who had delivered her from time to time when ever she called on him: her Lord never forsaking her; but brought her to the gates of death in a happie old Age & to the sight of heaven; where she faine would be. And in him she alone trusted, through the mirritts of Christ, he would still deliver her from hell, & Sin, & Satan, & Preserve her to his Kingomekingdom, theire to Live with him for ever, where she might spend the whole Etternity of Praise & thanks giveing & Haleiuias of glory to the Blessed Trinity. Till which time, she was thirsting, & longing, & desirous to be desolved & to be with Christ Jesus, her Redeemer.

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For noe thing of this world, nor in it, could hinder her fixednesse for Heaven, nor indeed, did the concer -ness of this Life come into her thoughts, saveing to Leave her Pieous & Christian, instructions, & holy adminitio -ns amongst us, her Children & Servants, & to learne by her how to live well & die happiely, Joyfully, & comfort ably imbraceing &, offten calling for death; to lett her in to the injoyment of her Lord.

She had made severall times in her sicknesse, uppon occa -sion of ministers vissitting her: many very excelent confessions of her faith, & proffession of those Christian foundations uppon which our faith was built, & of her true Zeale to the service of God in his wholy ordenances of our most Pieous & Christian Church of England, wishing us, & chargeing, as we would Escape the danger of Damnation. not to dishonour that great God whom we served by reouncincingrenouncing that faith & Profession which was taught us by the holy Cleargy & Bushopps of England. never to listen to the insinuations of any factious, new doctrines what ever. but serve God truly and sincerely therein. & he would accept of our Soules, & we should be happie; if not in this world; yet hoped in a better: And that she did beleeive, that — if we humbled our selves for the abominable sins of this nation & pray to god faithfully, & serve him sincerely in ♥ — God would returne in mercy. & restore his decaied Church in England; & his servants son (Blessed King Charles the first Posterity) to Rule in this Nation,

Praing heartily, we might be delivered from Popery, which these devissions & schismes might tend to. if not prevented by the all wise providence of Almighty God. As to her owne perticuler: she blessed God for making knowne to her the truth & preserving her therein. declaring that she made it her constant endevour to walke there in all her daies, haveing her direction & guidance from God.

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And now she found the comfort of his service & the hopes of the rewards of his grace, which he gave her through out the course of her Life, & fellt the sweetenesse of influences upon her Soule; for which she most humbly rendered all the Powers & faculties of her heart. in thanks & praise to his name & Mercy for ever.

She Powred out her fervent, admirable Praiers to her God, for all her Children & relations, begging for each perti- -culer Childe those graces. & gifts they wanted; And for- givenesse to all who had any way, wronged; or injured her in all her life (nameing some, — who had more nearely, & highly wronged & greived her, — with the bowells of compassion for the good of theire soules. that they may repent & be forgiven & receaved to mercy in his Kingdome where all ♥s are united in the holy band of Charity).

As to my owne Private consernes, she Pettitioned God that I might Might finde comfort in my husbands Family, & be rewarded with the same blessing that God had bin graciously pleased to give me, in my Children, (as she was pleased to say I had bin to her); And that I might be strengthned by his grace to indure those afflictions with patience, which I must find in this world affter her death. & that I might have hope in Gods mercys, that he would lay noe more on me then he would inable me to undergoe, & that they were signes of his love to me. & that I must not greive too much for her Losse, since the Lord had contineued her soe long to me. for he could make up her losse in a greater comfort by giveing me a Son which I wanted; & that I was then with Childe of one; wished me contineue as I had begun; & then we should receave each other with Joy in Heaven; which she was confident of through the merritts of Jesus Christ, acording to his speech to St John. 'Be thou faithfull & I will give thee a crowne of Life. with abundance of other heavenly, Rich expressions, that I am not able to write downe.

She tould me she had fully finished her will & settled her Estate according as she, 174 Desired; & she hoped with a good Consience settling all she had in such a manner as would breed noe trouble. & that she hoped her son, Christopher, would be sattisffied with it because she had not bin a wanting in the discharge of a good Consience towards him ever since he was borne (by takeing paines with him, & caire of him in his Minority, and disbursing the greater part of her widdowes Estate upon him, or for his brother John, or the other Part of Kirklington, whereby he had the benifitt of her maintain ing the Children). And that now he would lett me injoy with my husband & Children what she had don for us. considering my husbands Estate needed it, & he was heire of a great, Large Estate of his Fathers, & by her Death that Joynture came in cleare to him. All which Estate would amount to yearely to him in England & Ireland three thousand Pounds. which she praied God to blesse to him & his Posterity. that they might injoy it in righteousness soe long as the moone & sun indureth.

And now, she said, 'I have don my worke & finished my course, which the Lord had given me to doe, hence forth, I hope is laid up for me a Crowne of Glory, which the Lord shall give me. & not only to me but for all those that love the Lord Jesus. & his appearing.

About thursday night, she sent for her Children to take her last faire well in this life, when Mr Thornton & my selfe came, with our 2 Children, Alice & Kattherine, she desiring my husband to pray with & for her, as he had don severall times, in which she was much pleased & sattisfi -ed, ever Joyning most devoutly, reverently, praing with her heart & soule in each pettition, finding great Joy & refreshment upon such occasions.

After which praier she imbraced us all severally in her Armes & kissed us; powring out many prayers. & blessings for us all. like good old Jacob, — when he gave his last 175 Blessing to his Childeren, — she begged of God Almighty for us all; Affter which, I tooke the sadest last leave of my Deare & hon.redhonoured mother, as ever childe did; to part with so great & Excelent a Parent & infinit Comfort.

And yet, the great greife I had was increased by Reason of her exceeding Torment which she indured; which made me more willingly submitt to part with her, who I saw indured much paines & extreamity, not desi- -ring she should long indure that which it was the pleasure of God for the Excercise of her Patience to lay on her. Allso, when she see me weepe much, for this affliction of hers, did indeed conserne me nearely.

She Said, 'deare Childe; why will you not be willing to part with me to God; has he not lent me, to be a comfort to you long enough; O, part with me freely, as I desire to injoy my Saviour, in heaven; doe not be unwilling that I should be delivered from this miserable world, give me willingwillingly, & frely to him that lent me thus long, & be contented in every thing. You never have bin disobe -dient to me in all your Life. I pray thee obey me in this that you submitt chearefully to the wise & good determin- ation of our good God. And fill your heart with spirituall comfort instead of this: in me, he takes to himselfe. And soe, the blessing of God Almighty be uppon the head of you & yours for Ever. Amen'.

Certainly, the words of a dieing freind prevailes much. & I doe believe the Lord had put words of perswasion in to her mouth, which prevailed more then all the world with me to moderate my excessive sorow; & build me up in hopes; as she said, of our meeting againe. never to part; which soe hapened, for I was, affter this, even desirous, that if it were the detirminate pleasure of God to take her from my head, that I might patiently submitt, when he should free that swet Soule from all those burthens of pressures & extreamitys.

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It pleased God she contineued till Satterday; About noone, she spoke to my uncle Norton, &, recomending My selfe & all her Children to his caire with much good praiers for him & his, she then tooke her leave of him. About 4 a clocke my Aunt Norton came to see her, when she saluted her gladly, biding her, 'well -come, deare Sister, what comfort is it to me to see my deare & hon.redhonoured husbands Sister with her at that time, there ever haveing bin a strict league of affection & freindship betwixt them, she was then come to see her mak her last end; & Sceane of her life, whome she had known neare 40 yeares. & soe tooke her solomne fairewell. of her. I forgott to declare that, about wednesday before. she called for her Last will. (it being made a yeare before that) And made it be read all over before her; confirming, and Ratifieing the same, & publickly declared the same to be her last will & Testament before my husband & my selfe & Many other wittnesses, makeing the same to be indorsed on the backe of her Will, &cet cetera.

To returne to her last actions in this Life, About 6 a clocke att night, this sweete Saint of God began to be speachlesse; haveing still all that time imployed that Toung in nothing but praiers, Prayses & Pettitions to God. with most heavenly Spirituall & pathaticall recomendations of her selfe to the Lord, ever saing, 'Come, Lord Jesus, make haste & receave my Soule' & at the last, immeadiatly before her speach failed, 'Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commend my Spiritt'.

And when it failed, still lifting up to heaven her Eyes & hands to God. And Dafeny perceaved she drew her breath short & goeing to depart, praied her That She would give them that was with her a some signes that she found the comfort of Gods Spiritt in her Soule; with a taste of the Joyes of Heaven;

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Which she immeadiatly did — to all theire great Comforts — for she lifted up both her Eyes & hands stedfastly to heaven three times, distinctly, one affter another. And closing her Eyeshands her selfe, then laid downe her head & her Eyes: this holy saint, & Matrone of true Pietie sweetely fell a sleepe in the Lord. between the hours of 8 & 9. a clocke at night, upon Satterday the 10th of December: 1659. beeing the day of her Coronation, I hope, in heaven, with her Father, Receiving that wellcome of 'Come the blessed of my Father, receave the Kingdom he has Prepared for you'.

'For I was an hungery & yea fed me, naked & yea clothed me, Sicke & imprisoned & yea ministred unto mee. In as much as yea did it unto these, yea did it unto me'.

And I hope she is now Entred into the Joy of her Lord:

My Brother, Christopher wandesforde, was then att London, where he was writt to informe him, both of her Sicknesse & death. Her funerall was solomnized with as much hansomenesse as those times would afford & considering the condittion wee weare in (the souliers haveing bin quartered amongst us. Though not according to her worth & quality.

She was intterred uppon Tuesday the 13th of December following, In the Cheife Place in her owne quire att Cattericke Church (She, haveing Repaired the same all that sommer at her owne Charges to the valew of above twenty Pounds).

Her Corpes was carried out of her house by the Lord D'arcy. his son, Coll.Colonel D'arcy. Sir Christoph.Christopher Vivill, Baronet. & divers other Persons. & kindred of quality.

Then, from Hipswell greene. her Tennants. tooke her; & soe carrieing her to the Towne of Catterick. where the ministers — whoe was appointed by her owne nomination — Carried her into the Church; &, affter Sermon, laid her in her Gavegrave.

The ministers names were these. Mr Petter Sammois; Mr Kirton, Mr Ferrers; Mr Edrington, Mr Bindows, Mr Robinson, Mr Smith, Mr Brockell. and Mr Parke. Infinitt numbers of Poore were served by dolle at the doore (above 1,500 besides in the Church of Cattericke).

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This blessed mother of mine was thus gathered in to her Grave; haveing lived many Peaceable yeares together with my Father, brought him a compotent number of Children, being the suport of his house and Family, Preserving it & the branches under her caire & Prudence, liveing his Chaste wife; (& widdow for above 19 yeares.

her whole Age where in she lived, was Threescore & seaven yeares, and 11 months, & ode daies, soe that she died in a good old Age; full of good works & vertue & hon.or to all of her Famalie & Countery. To the Lords most Infinitt Majestie be all Glory & praise for his great goodnesse & mercy extended to me, & us all; through this deare Parent of ours, He make us to possesse those graces & virtues which hee Bestowed upon her; that we may be the better capable to doe him true & faithfull service to our lives End.

Amen.

Severall Prayers made by my Mother, proper for the time of the holy sacrament. as Ejaculations.

Before receaving of the bread.

O most gracious God. which hath Sacrificed thine only begotten sonne to appease thy just wrath for my sinnes, & to ransome my Soule from hell; Sealle unto me, by this blessed Sacrament, thy promise & covenant made in Christ, that thou wilt receave me, a penitent Sinner & true beleever, into thy Grace & mercy, & that for the death & Passion of my Deare Saviour; my Sinnes (past, & present, may be remitted & forgiven, as verily, as I shall now be pertaker of this blessed Sacrament. Amen.

Before Receaving of the wine. affter consecration 179

O Sweete Saviour, from whom I have receaved the Inestimable benifitt of my Redemption, grant that I may receave the Spirituall Graces Signified by these outward Simbolls and pledges of thy love. And that, as my bodie is fed and strengthned by Corporall foode; soe my Soule may (from the hunger -starving of sinne), bee strengthened by thy blessed bodie, & washed by thy precious blood from all her sinnes. Amen.

After both bread & wine.

Grant, O, Mercyfull Redeemer, as thou hast vouch- -safed me to sitt att thy Table, and be partaker of thy Pretious Bodie & Blood, soe my sinfull soule may be washed from all her Sinnes in that blessed Lavacre, and buried in thy grave never to rise up in Judgement against mee: Forgive, O Lord, the want of the preparation of my heart to come to soe heavenly a Banquett, in which are all the treasures of mercy dis- -played, accept the poore and true endeavours of my heart to the reverent receaving of thy holy Communion , and grant that, being now made partaker thereof, it may be effectuall to confirme faith, & renue all thy heavenly Graces in me, with the assurance of my salvati on, beeing guided and established by the sanctifica -tion of thy holy Spiritt to walke in newnesse of Life by a holy, Pious, & charitable conversation before thee all the daies of my Life.

Amen. &. Amen.

My delivery of my Son, William, my 6th childe; & of his death. Aprill the 17th, 1660 att St Nickolas, my Aunt Nortons house. affter deare mothers death. he died, Aprill 28th, burid 1659 at Easby, 29th. neare my Lady Whartons grave at Easby. 180

After my deare Mothers deceace; I remained at Hipswell, by reason of my weaknesse. & trouble uppon her death. haveing gotten a very dangerous Cough with watching with my deare Mother, for whom I could never enough shew my infinitt duty & affect tion to such an Excelent Parent.

Allso, it was in a great frost, soe that I could not well be removed with Safty of my life till the march following; Att which time, I was carried to St nickolas, there rem -aining till I was delivered & well againe.

And it was the good pleasure of God to contineue me in the Land of the Liveing. And to bring forth my 6th Child at St Nickolas.

I was delivered of a very goodly son, affter hard labour & hazardus; yet, through great mercy, I had my Life spaired & was blessed with a happie childe about 3 or 4 a clocke in the morning, upon Tusday the 17th of Aprill. 1660. borne & baptized that day.

That day allso was my Childe baptized by Mr Kirtton of Richmond, called William affter his father. his sureties were: my Cosen, John yorke: my Cosen, william Norton. and my Cozen, James Darcy Lady of Richmond (died Aprill 28th, 1660) buried 29th at

Thus was I blessed with the life & comfort of my deare childs baptimsebaptism, with its injoyment of that holy seale of Regeneration; & my pretty babe was in good health, suckeing his poore mother, to whom my good God had had given the blessing of the breasts as well as the wombe of that childe, to whome it was noe little Sattis faction. while I injoyed his Life (burid at Easby).

But it soe pleased God, to shorten this Joy. least I should be too much transported, that I was vissited with another triall; for, on the friday senitt affter: he began to be very Angery & froward.

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Affter his dressing in the morning: soe that I perceaved him not to be well; uppon which, I gave him Gascoyne Pouder And, haveing had 3 houers sleepe, his face when he a- waked was full of Red, round spotts like the Smale Pox (beeing of the compasse of an halpeny; & all whealed white over). These contineuing in his face till night. but then, wheather through cold uppon his dressing then, or what else was the cause; the Lord knoweth. the spotts struck in, and grew very sicke all night. and, about 9 a clocke on satterday morning. he sweetely departed this life, to the great discomfort of his weake Mother; whoes only comfort, is that the Lord, I hope, has Receaved him to that place of rest in Heaven, where litle Children, beholds the face of theire heavenly Father, to his God, & my God; whom I humbly crave to pardon all things in me which he ses amisse, & cleance away my sinns by the blood of my dearest Saviour. & Redeemer.

And that my soule may be bettered; by all these chastise -ments he pleaseth to lay upon me, his vilde worme. & unprofitable servant, under all his dispensations. That hath laid heavy upon me for these many yeares, Where by he has corrected me; but not given me over to death & destruction. for which, I humbly magnifie his Glorious Name for ever. And I most heartily beseech him to san- -ctifie these fatherly rebukes, & make them profitable to my poore Soule to bring me in the possession of Patience nearer to him selfe by a strict communion to see him with Joy above all this Earthy Comforts or injoyments. That soe, I may be better prepared for acting to his Glory heere & heere after; Even for Christ Jesus, his sonnes sake. Amen.

My Son, will.mWilliam Thornton, was buried at Easby in the Same grave with his Eldest Sister which died before baptism by Mr Kirton. he, beeing scarce fourteen daies old. his father beeing much troubled at his losse whome the Child was Exceding like in Person & allso his Eldest Sister.

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Tax not thy God, thy owne defaults did urge. This too fould punishment, the Mille, the the Scourge. Thy Sinns the authour of thy selfe tormenting; Thou grindest for sinning, Scourdged for not repenting. I doe not begge this Slender inch to while. The time away, or falsely to beguile my selfe with Joys. Heere's nothing worth a Smile. What's Earth, or in it. That longer then a minuite. can lend a free delight, that can indure. Oh, who would droyle, or delve in such a Soyle. Where gaine's uncertaine, & the paine is sure.

A thanksgiveing for the restoration of King Charles the second. of his Coronation, May. 29th, 1660.

Affter the Lord had taken my Childe from me. I had some weaknesse upon my bodie by reason of the returne of my Milke, but, in much mercy, I was restored to a pretty degree of strength. & staing att St Nickolas till I was perfectly recovered.

In this time, we had that grand blesing to the whole Nation given to us in the restoration of our Dread Sover aine Lord, King Charles. when we, each moment, feared Ruine & destruction. beeing in that conserne, soe wisely & prudently ordered through the Providence of God that — notwithstanding, the opposittion of the Soldiery & other great factions; — yet was he brought in, to his owne Kingdome; City of London, & Parliament in great Peace & exceding much Joy from all parts of the Kingdome, withoute the power of one dogge that durst open his mouth, or the losse of one drope of blood shed in the whole Kingdme.

A maine instrument of our deliverance, was Generall Monke, whose faithfull heart God stirred up to be instrumentall for this blessed change, desiring to Joyne with the Consent of the best in the Nation, whoe Pettioned him for a free Parliament. 183 All the way, as he came out of Scotland from following the factious Army of Lambert through each County, was hee Alarum'd with there cries, & pettitions; hoeping there by that this might be the best way to Establish Peace in Church & State, & restablish the King in his Throne in hon.or & Safety.

Thus, by the infinitt goodnesse of God, this was effected acc- -ordingly, for, imeadiately affter That Parliament was caled & sett; They votted with great alacrity, his majesties returne in hon.or & safety to his Kingdome, affter 12 yeares banishment or there about; And now the ♥s & tounges of all faithfull, Loyall People in these Kingdomes was even full of Joy. & admiration: not knowing how to shew forth there exceeding content & sattisfaction, with gratitude to the great & Etternall God of Gods & King of Kings, whoe had dilivrddelivered our Soules, & Bodies from those thraldomes. Restoring his true & faithfull Doctrine; & his vicejerent upon Earth to us. Which requires our uttmost possibility of thankes. & praise to our great Lord whome we serve. Oh, that our hearts might never forgett what he hath don for us in restoring our King. our Preists, our Prophetts to this our Land of our nativity. but adore the Glorious name of Jehova for ever. Amen.

A Praier. & Thanksgiveing for deliverance from destruction of the Kingdom: 1660.

O Eternall God; King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. thou that hast bin pleased in the fathomlesse, depth & boundless goodnesse of thy mercy to restore our gracious King & lawfull soveraine, next unto thy majestie, to rule over us. And hast thereby made a way for us to Escape our owne destruction, which our sins & crieing inormitys & bloodshed committed heere might justly pull upon us. even the innocet that hast bin slaine in our streets crieing for vengeance upon us miserable sinners; & the puting out the light of thy true Gospell, thy word & sacraments; doth flie to heaven for just -ice against such sacrilegious wretches, what shall we say or can we sufficiently lament these horrid actions. If thou,

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Lord shouldest have bin extreame, nay, if thou hads not over looked these abominations. for thy holy Sons Sake.

We had bin endlessly misserable to all Etternity; & this, which Nation had bin an Accelldama, & spectable of thy Justice to all the world. But, as thy long suffering & patience hast still pleased to be a God full of compassion & clemenency, in spaireing this many yeares & restoring our Lord again & thy Church: the way to our salvation, beeing made kno -wne to us thereby. We most humbly, begge & beseech thy gracious majestie, to lett our pettitions be acceptable in the son of thy Love, which interseades for thy repenting servants.

That our sins & abominations; (of what nature soever, may be clenced & washed away, never to offend thy pure Eyes, & give us humble & repentant hearts & soules, for what is yet in us amisse; that thou, Lord, may have the glory of our Conve -rsion & deliverance, from sin & hell; & that we may be truely, & unfainedly thankefull to thy Devine Goodnes goodnesse; For thy Miraculous Preservation, & delive- rances of our Lord, King Charles, from all his Malicious Enimies & the Churches: with thy favour in giveing him his Fathers Kingdome: thus quietly & peaceably; with out the sheding of any blood amongst. Lord God, most mighty, lett the wonders heerein makes us amaised at thy Power, thy mercy, thy glorious Attributes of favo -ur, where with thou upholdest the Sons of men. who —in the midest of our sins, confussions, & blasphemies, thou brought ~~let~~est us out of that darknesse; setting us againe in thy light of the Gospell & truth. Oh Lord. make us by these signall Miracles of thy Love, & free grace, as allso by thy corrections, to walke for the time to come; with holy & upright ♥s, accor- ding to these infinitt Treasures of thy Power & mercy. that we may not be an ungratefull People: But that both King & Preist, Prophett, & People may give thee thy due Praise & Glory in our lives & Conversations, We beseech thee, as thou hast set a Crowne of Gold upon thy servant, the King, his head.

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And given him Power & Command to Rule this, thy People, with justice & Pietie, soe doe thou heare the requests of his lips, grant him the desire of his heart. in thy true faith & prevent both his desires & requests, with the blessings of thy goodnesse: & grace: give him great hon.or & reverence in the sight of his People, whom thou hast restored to each other,

And of all the Nations round about: lett all his Enimies feell thine hand, & put them to flight that rise up against him or thy Church; that — when thou hast given him the blessings of A long life & Prosperous Reigne, blessing him with gracious Posterity to succed him in this Throne & Rule for thee. — he may att the Last be crowned with Everlasting felicity, & Reigne with thee in thy Etternall Kingdome;

And that both we, & our King, may know thee, the God of our Fa- ther. serving thee with a perfect ♥, & willing mind, whoe hast saved us from distruction of all our Enimies at home & abroad, putting a hooke in theire nostrills. Even soe, oh Father, for soe it seemed good in thine Eyes, deliver us still by thy Power & watch over us by thy Providence to defend this Church & State from sinning against thee, by Treasons, backsliding & Rebellions. That we may live att unity & concord amongst our selves, haveing the Lord of Hostes for our Captaine & defence And fighting under his banner, may overcome all the Spirituall wickednesses in high Places, and att Last, overcomeing in thy strength. may be crowned with victory & Glory.

Therefore, to thee, the Lord Most high, doe I humblie prostrate my soule, & bodie with its uttmost capacities, & all my facul- ties of mind & ♥ for that thou hast vouchsafed me the meanest, vildest creature, unworthy to live; yett, hast thou pleased to heare the pettitions of my Soule, & hast aga -ine Reestablished thy truth & holy word, & sacraments freely for thy servants to injoy thee therein. with Joy & delight, & hast restored thy servant, our deare King, to be a Patron & defender of thy Church & its members, lett us all be so, allso, of that misticall bodie of our Lord Christ. united in faith & love:

And hast given me that happinesse which thou hast denied to 1000 186 In this Kingdome to Live to see these things come to passe with my Eyes, which had gon through soe many changes & allteration. att last, doe I behold that which is our Joy & comfort & the answering graciously of all thy Churches distressed Praies & teares. To the God of our Salvattion doe I, in perticuler And in generall, with all this Church Millitant, Render & asscribe: All Possible thanks, Glory, Addoration. Praise, Power & Dominion, both in heaven & Earth. of men, & Angells, To the ever blessed Trenity. for these his infinit & inexpressable mercy to me & this Kingdomes for ever and for Ever. Amen. Amen.

Uppon my Husband, & Families Removall from St Nickolas, to Oswold Church. neare Newton. June 10, 1660.

After my strength was againe Recruted through Gods mercy for travill; We removed: with my Husband & those Children, the Lord had blessed me with (Alice, my Second, & then Eldest, & Katherine, my 4th Childe; and came to Osw-- oldkirke, liveing a fortnight at my Sister Dentons house till our owne in that Towne was ready.

Then we gott to it — with all my Deare Mothers household stuffe, which was brought thither, — where we lived two yeares Affter I had taken leave of my owne countrey, & deare freinds & Relations; parting with them with a sad heart Amongst whom I had lived many comfortable yeares.

But God was pleased to goe a long with me in a strange Place makeing me to find many sweete influences of his favour (both in sicknesse & in health, and giveing me comfort of my Husbands freinds, instead of my owne. & to finde a great deale of favour amongst strangers where I lived, soe that in all Places, & at all times, & upon all occassions, I have daily fresh cause, & occassions to admire the infinit goodnesse of that God whome I serve, desiring to speake well of his name, whoe has pitty upon his weake servant.

Heere I lived for 2 yeares till our owne house at Easte- Newton could be finished, which we had bin in building. 187 severall yeares before my deare mothers death. which, if we could have finished, before, She would gladly have lived with us heere, but it was not begun time enough for that;

In this time, while we were att Oswoldkirke. My brother Denton Preached there. & did that with much gravity & Piety, beeing indeed a very excelent, good. & wise man, from whom all our Family had receaved many assistances & helpes from by way of advice; & cheifely my Husband, whoe depended much on his councell affter our comeing thither.

But he, haveing some scruples, did not conforme to the now Established Government of the Church; soe that he did leave that Church affter a while. & retired to live with us att Newton. I confesse his nonconformity did much trouble me & I endeavoured with my smale mite to discourse that bussinese. but I supose he had bin otherwise ordeined then Episcopall, soe that it was fruitlesse to perswade,) otherwaies, it might have bin better for us all. though he was ever of a quiett & peaceable temper; free from faction, or disturbances of the state: And indeed, I injoyed much comfort in his ministery And great Assistance, as toward the building of our house at Newton; (Mr Thornton not giveing himselfe to take pleasure or trouble in any thing of that nature: beeing much addicted to a Melancolicke humour; which had seised on him by fitts for severall yeares before he was 20 yeares old).

Neverthelesse; affter the use of great meanes. (which God directed Me in by Dr wittie, &c.et cetera, as Leaches & gentle course of Phisick, Spring & fall as there was occassion. ever since we weare Married; those weare much abated. & he offtener was in a more chearefull frame of spiritt then formerly. as both he & his freinds. has offten times acknowledged. to my great comfort: whose uttmost endeavours. & caire, was ever to study his good & sattisfaction. in whose life & wellfaire my owne did much subsistt. yett, affter his house was don & we in it, he tooke much content in itt. when he was well.

In this time while I lived there, about Shrove Sunday 611661, I was in the Church when it was a frost & snow, sitting in the minisminister's Pews. I fellt my selfe exceeding Cold. &, by fitts, contineud till the tusday following. very ill:

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My greatt Sicknesse att oswoldkirke, february 13th, 1661

I began a dangerous Sicknesse, which brought me very nigh to Death; att oswoldkirke (affter my deare mothers death. which was caused by that Cold I gott. & Aguish Temper on the Sunday in the Church; causing a very violent vomitting, comeing greatly upon Shrove Tuesday. feb.February 13, 1661, being that day my birth day.

And soe, contineueing perpetually in paine & vomitting till I was not able to receave any kinde of Sustenance. beeing then fallen into an Intermitting feavour. Soe that, at 5 daies end, I was compelld to send for Dr wittie.

He saw cause to let me blood, giveing me many Cordialls to strengthen the stomacke; but noething would stay with me. Till I dranke a draught of cold water, which more refreshed my Thirsty Soule; then all what Art could give:

That night, beeing the 17th of febFebruary. I did veriely believe, ~~sho~~ should be my last in this Life; I beeing brought into an Exceeding weakenesse & feeblenesse of Bodie & spiritt. But most of all into a seeming Spirituall dessertion from God: which was not to be long indured. with out sinking under the Pressures of the devine displeasure. Which I apprehe- -nded, in this my weakenesse. my Etternall State to be in a Lost condittion, by reason of my Sinnes; And Satans Accusing me falsely from my sorrowes, & temporall sufferings, Casting multitude of doubtings into my heart. As that: Surely, I did not belong to God. And I was not his Servant because he followed me with such crosses, Afflicktions, sicknes & troubles in this world; which seemed to be Curses; rather then such trialls, as he used to lay upon those that were his Children.

And that I had neglected, al those offers, & tenders of mercy in his word & Sacraments, which he, from time to time, had given me from my youth up. in the examples, instructions & admoniti ons from my deare Parents, & from his, ministers; All his great deliverances. & checks, & calls of his spiritt. with his spirittuall & temporall preservations of me innumerable. (yet, said Satan) All these had not wrought a through conver -sion, & change of heart in me. to walke according to the motions of Gods spiritt with that strictnes I ought to have don. & that, though 189 I had bin kept from the falling into any innormous sinns, yet for the least ommittion of duties; or smale offencees a- gainst God or man Etternall damnation was due; And that now it was too late to (repent) or hope, because I had neglec- lected, or driven it soe long that my Life was att an end.

For ought I know this was my last Sommones. And that, all though God was able to have mercy upon me: yett I had soe offten failed my promises, & fallen into sinns & forgettf -ulnesse of God; That he now would not have mercy on me at the last houer; As satan would haue perswaded me. These, with many arguments against my poore Soule: did the old Serpent seeke to destroy my hopes of mercy. & my owne weaknesse & malancholy forming against my selfe (joyning with Satan; in feares because of my unworthinesse or ingratitude;

Loe, in this most sad & heavy condittion was I in; not haveing any soule living that I could open my greifes & thou- -ghts to, nor receave any comfort, for my dejected heavy spiritt; for that time, Mr Thornton; was himselfe in a sad condittion, & very malencoly, full of trouble of spiritt, nor would I acquaint him least I should be an agravation of his trouble. And Alass, what could I say in this exigent? When the God of Mercy: by his corrections seveare, had seemed to forsake me. & with draw his presence; The Deivill Accusing: — as he is tearmed the accuser of the brethren, — my concience could not excuse me from too many failings.

My sicknesse & weakenesse threatning my desolation each Minuitt; and I had none to give me Spirittuall comfort And my Soule was sad even to the death; yet, in this exigent, whither could I flye for releife; but to that Great God which made heaven & Earth: I desired to cast my selfe soley at his feete, of mercy; yea, before the Throne of the most gracious God in whome I live, & move, & have my beeing, saieing with ~~Eat~~ EasterEsther if I perish, I perish. heere I am, Lord: though thou shouldest kill me, yet will I trust in thee, for healing, pardoning, strengthning grace & mercy. Immeadiately upon these thoughts, It pleased him in a wonderous manner to be -gin to give me some comfort from sinkeing in my hopes, & to stay my selfe on him, when I was allmost past hopes by reason of my weaknesse. this I obteined out of that 190 Blessed Portion of Scripture. which our deare Saviour spake in St Matt.Matthew, the 11th chap.chapter, & 28, 29, 30 verces; which, like the Lightning breakeing in to a darke place; thus it pearced into the secrett darkenesse of my sorrowfull heart & dejected Soule; bringing refreshment & some hopes of releife & comfort beeing increased in the consideration of those heavenly mercys conteined in that scripture. Lookeing upon this as his sweete & effectuall call to my soule, wherein he then bid me, come unto him, & alone seeke of him that had strength, power, & mercy to releive all poore, sinfull, dejected soules, which laboured & weare heavy Laden, with sins the saddest burden then to be borne: 'Come unto me all yea that labour, & are heavy Laden, and I will give you rest'.

Behold, the handmaid of the Lord: I laboured under, & was heavy Laden with the burden of my sinns. under the burden of Satans bondage; & slavery of feares. the one bringing me to wards dispare, the other of torment, perswadeing that time was past for any helpe from God, that the Divill might wreake his antient malice against soules, on me, in my sicknesse & weakenesse then, beeing the fittist opportunity to prevaile: when he shaks there faith: Butt, Loe, in this my distresse; the Lion of the Tribe of Juda put to flight for me, as he had don for him- selfe, when he tempted him to question his sonship; The Prince of darkenesse: with this word of his, 'Come unto me. shew ing thereby that he was a lier. & that it was not to late for me to repent & beleive; nor him to accept of my soule, & soe, by this, he vanquished his strongest strategem by which he surpriseth the poore, doubting Christian, when at the Lowest Ebbe this he trieth; if by any meanes he can make him doubt or question the rich goodnesse that is Etternally in God as his very beeing, & soe comitt the great sin against his mercy, from whence flowes mans Salvation. & then, he is lost forever.

But at this time, when I was weakest, Christ Jesus, the Righ teous came into my heart, with healing under his wings, makeing it apeare that Satan was a lier, & that he never refuseth any who come unto him; according to that place of: those that come unto me I will in noe wise cast of. He calls, he invites, he perswades siners to come unto him. he it was that give me 191 This word; & sett it home by his Spiritt; to stay my droopeing heart; even ready to faint & perish for want of spirituall food. Behold, I was weary with the burden of Sinne. & he Said, 'come: I was faint. & heavy Laden, he said 'come: Lord, I come, but to whom must I come for reliefe? come unto me, all yea that are weary & heavy laden. & I will give you Rest. O Lord, if thou art pleased to call all that labour, & are weary: with there sinns; & temptations of Satan. I see noe reason why I should not come with my sad nesse & burdens, for thou hast promised to give me rest.

Alas, o Lord God, I need it & want it, I allmost sinke und -er thy heavy hand of displeasure: I cry unto thee, out of the whales belly of dispaire: if thou helpe not. O God, the father of heaven have mercy upon me; O Christ, the Redeemer of the world, have mercy uppon me. O holy, blessed & glorious Spiritt, have pitty on me: O Most glorious Trinity, 3 Persons & one God, helpe thy poore, distressed, weake hand maid. Plunged in the depth of sinne & misery. for the least, with out repentance, & thy mercy, is in it's owne nature damnable And non but thy owne Almighty power is able to helpe, deliver & save me from the Jawes of this Lion; whoe goes about seekeing to devour & make a prey of my soule. And as thy wisdome & free grace, o blessed Trinity. did sett thy selfe on worke by & through mercy to the sons of men, & by All mighty Power to find out a way for mans Redemption: and of thy free grace, thou, o my deare Saviour, suffered the wrath of thy Father on the Crosse to purchase our salvation. So now art thou pleased to vanquish my grand Enimy by the power of thy word to me. I beleive, (Lord, help my unbeleife) that thou art as mercifull to me as others, & willt not exclude me except I exclude my selfe, & as thou hast pleased to give me plenty of Calls & comforts, who in my sad hower was a God of compassion, soe thou hast given me grace to come unto thee. I come, O Lord, to thee & hang on thy mercy, with all the Powers & faculties of my heart & soule; for the pardoning my sin & to strengthen my faith Though weake in bodie. yet, with an unfeigned hope of thy goodnesse & sweetest Clemency. that it will not be in vaine this, thy word, came unto me, this is from thy goodnesse, when I was in sorrow, to lett me see that the time was not past, when thou calls to come unto thee.

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Thou most sweetely, like a loveing father, shewing me the way to life ever lasting at that present when in my heart was in doubting. then to call unto me, thus; is a mercy trancending my capacity, & with all to tell me that whom thou lovest, those thou chastenest every son whom thou receavedst. &, therefore, I may not question thy precious love, though never so sadly afflicted. I come, o Lord, my God: and willingly take up thy sweete yoake & desire to follow thee, my light, my Path, my way. O, learne me to be patient, meeke, & lowly in heart, to submit to thy dispensations: for thy burden is light. but my sinns are heavy: yea, thy waies is wisdome & pleasantnesse in perfect freedome. Lett me, now thou hast set my feete att liberty, make thee for ever my Patterne. my comfort, my Joy, my life & direction, soe shall I find rest to my soule.

Rest. O: how sweete is that word to my Languishing soule. O, lett me find rest from sining, from offending thee any more. It is too much that I have spent soe many of my yeares in doeing soe little for thee. Lett me now worke for thee, while thou hast putt an opportunity of life into my hand, love thee & delight in thee. & feare nothing but thee; spending the re- -mainder of my daies to the Glory of thy name. Not sining by an unprofitable life. nor give Satan any advantage to tempte my soule to dispaire: by remissenesse in dutys. and this, I humbly begge, with the returne of my health, & strength, if thou seest it fitt for Jesus Christ, his sake, the great Shepeard & Bishop of my Soule. in whose name, I further say as he has taught me, 'Our father'. Amen.

Affter this inestimable & wonderfull mercy, in my grac-- --ious Gods giveing me sattisfaction in my doubts, & in putt ing to flight that old serpent, the Devill, from doeing more har --me to my soule then scaireing me into the firmer & deeper -rooted Assurance, that the God, whom I feared, & served in what measure I could, was of so infinitt a goodnesse. I was bound to beleive his word: That, at what time soever a sinner re- penteth him of his sinns from the bottom of his ♥, he will put away all his wickednesse out of my remembrance saith the Lord. & accept him to mercy.

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Which I hope he, at that time, gave me a great experience of And was pleased to suffer my soule to receave comfort & lifted the light of his Countenance upon me: makeing mee to injoy a great shaire of Peace of Concience & Joy in his salvation; with the refreshings of my spiritt in the testimony of his love: in soe much that all feares of dieing were taken away: & then I was more willing to depart when he cald then to live in this vale of sin, & misery, if the Lord should see it fitt.

But Loe, I asked spirituall: & the Lord gave me great addittion of temporall mercys, filling my mouth & soule with abundant gladnesse & praise, when I looked for nothing but death & destruction. shewing that the mercys of the Etternall God are not to be measured by the weake apprehensions of men but admired & adored, in all his wisdome, goodnesse & free Grace to poor, wanting mortalls.

For he, appointing, meanes, blessed the same to me. soe that by degrees I was strengthened in bodie, & in a great part recov- -ered health; though not perfectly, for a quarter of a yeare beeing brought so exceeding weake in my sickenesse.

But, with in a quarter affter: I found my selfe with quicke Childe which was a miracle to know or believe. And a blessing beyond hope or expectation. affter so dangerous & desperate a sickenesse. wherein the Dr wittie did believe, it was impossible I should retaine Conseption; affter those violencys & ex- treamitys of vomiting, &cet cetera. which loosened the wombe extreamly. but for ever blessed be the most high & Powerfull, & gracious goodnesse of our God: which rebuked the feaver; giveing meanes to helpe the weaknesse of nature: & restoring strength abundantly to a perfect recovery. The Lord inlarge my heart in all gratitude & thankefullnesse to walke uprightly before his Presence all my daies. Amen.

Uppon our comeing to live att newton affter the house was built in the yeare 1662, June the 10th

At the last, affter 6 yeares worke at the dwelling house of Mr Thornton Easte newton. haveing builded it from the 194 Ground: It pleased God to give us all leave, with our family & two daughters, to come to live at it, beeing soe finished, as to dwell therein about the midest of June 1662. I, beeing then great with Childe, walked from oswold kirke with our company. haveing a great deale of strength & health given to me from God. Blessed bee his holy name. Also, he gave us a comfortable settlement at our owne house, which I gott ready furnished with what my deare mother gave me in 5 daies time. And all the ground stocked with her Cattell.

After which, with in a little of our commeing to house: Mr Thornton was called to London by nettletons bussinesse, goeing purposely to prevent the breakeing up an Excecu -tion against him from that Nettleton against his Estate for a debt of my fathers, which Mr Thornton had bin ad- vised by some to secure out of his owne Estate: & to in- gage for it, soe, till he could receave the monnyis from Ireland out of my Fathers Estate there, which was by his Leace for 41 yeares apoynted to pay all Debts, Legacys & Portions in feoffee in trusts hands, & he had bin advised formerly to take upon him the mannegment of it from my Uncle, Mr Norton, by way of Assignment. & to pay those things chargeable thereupon; but, albeit there was a good Estate, (which was 1000l per Annum. there, from whence these debts should arrise; yet it was altogether against my deare mothers, or my owne judgement or advice, that he should take uppon him soe great a trouble as that must be: both in regard that neither his Purse nor person was suting such an enterprise. beeing in annother nation (soe a hazard to his Person; & likewise not suited in other respects to with stand the disputes, which she foresee would arrise from some that were conserned for themselves. Nor was there the least necessity for him to ingage in it for gaining my 1000l there, by reason both that & all other rights & dues which could be challenged by my mother & my selfe, were sufficiently secured to us by my deare fathers Last Will & Deeds. & non could prejudice us therein. what ever sinister pre- tensions were made by others whos advice he unhapily 195 followed: (as it affter wards appeared). And besides, my English Portion was suficiently & undoubtedly safe & se cured to him; of 1500l by the will & Leace from my uncle, Will.William Wandesforde, out of Kirklington. & by Articles 3 partite before my marriage betwixt My uncle Wand.Wandesford, my Brother Christopher, & my selfe securing both the 1500l & the 1000l out of Ireland in its due order to be paid.

But it soe hapned that he was advised — with out our knowledge or consent as aforesaid — to ingage to Nettleton, (as well as to the bussinesse of the Assignement) for a Debt of 1000l Payable out of his owne Estate by statute. because nettleton would not accept of security out of Ireland; nor stay till Mr Th.Thornton receaved it thence; but he prosecuted Mr Th.Thornton with soe much violency & fearcenesse; that he compelld him to borrow monnys to sattisfie his clamour: & he had payd him 900l & above: nor would he be sattisfied: because the bond was for a 1000l & not beeing taken in by Mr Th.Thornton, he sued for the whole & for charges. And most unjustly & deceiptfully, watch an oportunity when Mr Thornton was at London to have dispatched it. he gott an Execution broake up: and by his owne man, with 4 other Balifs, came early in a morning; to Seaze upon all our goods, monnys, Plate, &cet cetera, till he were all Sattisfied: att first, very stiffely demanded 800l then to be payde But, att last, by my Brother Dentons endevours (he knewing the debtt was paid) prevailled to give them 200l which they would have, or Plate, &cet cetera, to that valewe.

This accident, was very afflicting to me, in regard that I hoped Mr Thorntons beeing there would have prevented it; & being bigg with Childe, the greife I had with the fright & the Rudenesse of those men, had nigh gon to make me misscarrie, what for the injustice & unhansomenesse of that conserne which came soe sud- -ainly on me in that bussinesse. yet, the Providence of God had soe ordered, that there was 100l of Mr Thorntons newly (the weeke be- fore) come in: and with 57l of my owne, (part of what my Mother gave me: that sattisfied them at present. or else, it might have proved fare worse with me then; in that condittion. which if I had wanted, peradventure, they might have taken my bed from under myselfe & Children, & those quick goods my mother gave for our Releife.

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I pray God forgive all those, by whoes evill councell my deare husband was brought into those snaires: when he intended most good to all parties in the acceptation of the Assignement; And the very Troubles, vexsations & affli -ctions it carried along in the whole course of Transactions offten times brought us into streits: & great danger of my Life. proveing one sad ingredient to my other sorrowes:

And indeed; I did feare some hard measure; to fall unawares to Mr Thornton. & partly tould him my conject ure. offering to pay Nettleton off with those monyes my Mother gave me before he went to London; but he, good man, did not beleive nor could imagine that he might find such treachery in those Lawyers he imployed.

yett did my suspittion prove a meanes in part to arme me with patience to over come that trouble when it came. Thus, have I upon every occasion; & act of my Life, fresh cause to speake good of the Lord, my god: who, though he pleaseth to suffer me to have afflictions of severall sorts; yet with the affliction he maketh a way to escape, and does not permitt more to come on me. then he gives me strength & assistance to goe through.

Therefore, will I give thankes unto his glorious Name & speake of his praise, in the Land of the Living. whoe hath not yett given me over to death & bonds. And I beseech his mercy: that, for what ever trouble I endure heere from men through oppression, or injure; he will indowe me with a double Portion of his Grace; heere to serve him with a free ♥ & patient spiritt: & giveing a compotency of these outward injoyments for our selves & childeren in this life; if it be his pleasure not to be burdensome to others. And, in the end, to be our Portion & our inheritance for Evers. Amen.

Of the grand mercy I had in the first Sacrament at Easte Newton affter we built the house, August 1662.

Since the sad & dismall times of distraction, in Church & State. the People in most of the northerne Countys was much deprived of the benifitt of those holy ordinances of the 197 Word & Sacraments: but especially of the Latter. which, with the use of our Lords Praier: was wholey laid aside, as under the notion of Reliques of Idolatrie & Popish supperstition; Soe that, lesset wee should offend God by serveing him in his own way & command; (supperstitiously,) & pray to him in his owne words; there was found out an other manner of worship; by presenting to his Majestie praiers contineu- ally out of our owne braine composed; (& that with out Premedi -tation too often; and the Lords Praier was by too many despised as drie & insiped; by others neglected out of a compliance with the times: Alsoe; the holy sacrament: which was the Testimoniall of the highest Act of our Saviours love to us, lost men; was had in contempt as uselesse to the Church of Christ through some mens high flowne puritie & gifts: imagining themselves above those ordinances. who was comd allready into the state of Perfection.

In what a condittion, then, may it be thought the true Church of God was heere in, in England, and the members thereof. when we weare cutt of from the comfort: & Joy we receaved, in & by the holy & reverent use of these transendant ordinances. given & apoynted. as his last will & Testament; to us, & all his who should ~~have~~ be pertakers of the benifitt of salvation through his bloodshed: And the breach of his loveing command, doe this in remembrance of me; when in & by the use thereof, it was ~~ye presence~~ the comfort , & confirmation, of all that holy martyers, & Saints of God which suffered persecution for the testimony of the Gospell of Christ:

Noe wonder, then, if we were brought into such plagues & confussion in this Land, whoes Pride was soe great; & devoti -on so dead: but we, who thirsted affter these waters of life, did still, all these times; (affter my deare mother came to Hips- well, as well as at weschester) injoyed this blessing; through the mercy of God: even all the time of my mothers life to my exceiding great sattisfaction & comfort; but, affter her death & my comeing from St Nickolas, into my owne house at Easte newton, which was above two whole yeares; I had not had any opportunity of receaving:

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For there was not then any minister at Stongrave which did adminster the Sacrament: nor had don there for many yeares: soe that I was holy destitute of an opportunity to performe that comfortable, refreshing duty which my Soule longed for: & greived much for the want thereof: (And with al beeing in such a languishing condittion as I formerly mentioned: with out any spirituall helpe from men:

Affter which, draweing neare with in a month of my delivery, it behooved me to looke with a more narrow search into my Soule & examine how my thoughts & desires were inclined to accept of death; whose time of life heere: very probably might be short. this was my 7th childe which the Lord had given me to conseave. (I had more strong apprehentions of my change, in regard it was both my husbands mothers num- ber & my owne; This did more lively perswade, that, as de -ath waited at all times: yet more reason for us to expect It at these strange & miraculous times of Childe bearing, especially, as they have bin to me — more then many others — motives of examination of my Estate & condittion spi- -rituall, (of the growth, or decay of Christian graces which God had wrought in me; by reason of my severall trialls & sorr owes came on me: in the whole course of my Life: & whether I had returned due thankes to God for the same & removall of his hand of afflictions in my deliverances).

Upon which, I found that for the want of these holy ordinances, & that by sad experience. that these troubles of the world; ~~had~~ had interrupted; or diverted my free communion & close walking with God; as he had required of us not to be taken of from his service & precepts for any worldly injoyment whatever, nor crosses should be my hinderance: but alas, such was my weakenesse that I had broken those solmne vowes of Baptismall; & Sacramentall too frequently: through negligence: Ignorance, willfull sinns & worldly imployments. soe that I had impulses upon my heart. & great desires to re- new this grand strengthning. & quickning, & confirming ordinance of our deare saviour: desiring in all true & un fained Repentance: faith, hope & Charity: to be made 199 A pertaker: of this comforting & confirming; holy Sacrament which our Lord Jesus Christ left us as his dearest pledge of his love & free grace: who laid downe his Life for sinners, (that sinned not): who became poore; that we might be made Rich. through his grace & righteousnesse. Makeing a new covenant. But I could not obteine this happinesse in regard that the mini- -sters had not given it on this side during the warres: nor was it againe established heere since the comming in of the King; neither, indeed, had wee any minister settled at Stongrave, our Parish Church, which was a great greife to me that had never bin soe long deprived of all these Publicke ordenances; nor was I in a condittion to travell any whither: soe that I called to mind that good man, Dr Samwaies; who had given the Sacrament last to my blessed mother, desireing his company at Newton for that necessity: Who, accordingly came, with Mr Browne; & divers others; with whome & my deare husband, we did receave the pledge, I hope, of our Salvation. in that Supper of the Lord.

Through which meanes, I was much comforted; helped, inlive- -ned, & quickned; from that blacke vaile of unbeleife: which cloud ed my hopes of Etternall Salvation. This most Excelent & spirituall mercy, was not the least; but greatest I apprehen ded to receave from God; farre surpassing all temporalls. as Eternity does this finite beeings of ours; Oh, that my heart would breake in peices; at the Joyfull remembrance of his re- -neweing grace, favour & mercy wherein God was pleased to be come my reconsiled God in & through my deare Redeemers bloodshed upon the Crosse. And that my soule might for Ever sing unto him Aleluiahs of praise in heaven; with Angells & Arch-Angells; & all the Host of heaven. I, heere, prostrate my Soule before the Throne of grace: which hath shewed me — his poore, weake handmaide — such hopes, such mercys, sperituall, & opportunitys of makeing my Calling & Ellection sure. And he will, for his free grace sake, fulfill in me the full perfection of Glory with him. to be hold the holy Trinity, with Joy & admiration. & doe his will perfectly; which is imposible on earth, for my weake, humaine frailties & imperfections; O Lord, free me from this bodie of corruption: that I might serve thee in holinesse, all my daies; Amen.

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Mr Colvills Settlement of Mr Thorntons Estate: ~~1661~~ 1662.

Affter I had received this great mercy from God; & sattisfaction to my poore, droopeing Soule in the Perticipati-on of the Lords Supper, as I mentioned; (haveing endevourd to doe it in the best manner & measure of faith. repentance & Charity prepared my selfe to meete my Saviour therein laing downe my spirituall wants before him. & craveing his Graces to be fullfilled in me; I found a Rich supply according to the power of his word that thos that ever came un to him he would in noe wise casst off.

soe that through these testimonys (most Precious) I was the better assisted to prepaire; & be in redinesse when my God should call for me out of this Miserable world. And that with a great deale of contentednesse; & free Resig- nation of my will to his devine pleasure.

And, in the second place, I counted it my duty to desire the consionable settlement of our temporall Estate, for our Children; & Family, according to Gods command to good Esikiah to sett his house in order.

This consernment of my Childeren, for theire future Provission; both in respect of what was given me by the goodnesse of my Deare Mother to dispose of att my death. amongst my Childeren. As allso to be a meanes to have a firme Settlement of Mr Thorntons Estate according to his Articles of Marriage drawne betwixt my mother & him -selfe before marriage; (which yet had not bin done soe clearely in the first Deeds, but soe in favour of Mr T.Thornton that it would not only breed scruples; but were directly contrary to the said Articles, leaveing Power for him to dissinherit my Children). This was neither knowne to nor mistrusted by my dere mot.mother nor to my selfe; but, in my late sickenesse; when a freind did looke on the said writings found them soe: & made it appeare to Mr Thornton: which indeed he was then willing to correct but it was defferred till this time.

And now, beeing more sencible of what Evill might succed if this bussinesse were not firmly don: & that I had none of my 201 owne Relations neare: Also, beeing in a great strait what to doe & doe right to all Parties: fearing the drawing on of my time before this was finished. & then it might fall out in the worst for the disadvantage of my Poore Children: have ing then but two Daughters liveing; Allso, I found that the severall ingagements for Debts of others, had taken away for theire sattisfaction, with other Charges in building the house, All my English Portion of 1500l; that Estate of Burne Parke of one hundred pound; per Annum, settled before marriage on my yonger Children for maintenance & Portions: it was sould for this Debts; And allso, with the disbursment of the somme of 300l I laid out for the house, since my mothers death to assist him with out of my owne mony for my Children. I had bin further instrumentall to his assistance, in giveing Leave that my 1000l to be receaved out of Ireland (which was settled on me & my Children by bond before marriage: shoud goe to the sattisfaction of his brothers & sisters Portions, which was not yett discharged: & Debts; soe that, haveing thus disposed of all my owne Portion from my selfe & Children; together with theire Estate for theire Provissions. I thought my selfe obleiged in Consience to desire Mr Thornton should settle the remainder of his Reall Estate upon his Heire: (if God should give him one by me; & for the subsistance of his younger Children, in leiue of my fortune: (which was from my father: 2500l from my mother; in Land; Monies; Plate: goods to the valew of one thousand Pounds, besides the advantage of 8 yeares table: with our selves: Child & servants stood in 200l per Annum).

upon the serious consideration of these things: I was in much deliberation whoe I should gett to doe this charita -ble office for us: And upon my Adressess to the Lord, my God, for direction & other pertinent Petitions, my Cosen Covill first presented my thoughts: who, by Mr Thornton & my selfe, was sent for to Newton; where he made such A settlement of his Estate: as was necessary, & sattisfactory to my husband & my selfe: with prudence & Equity. as wee both did approve of & with Mr Thorntons full consent & desire therein.

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Albeit there wanted not somme, whoe, guided, by selfe intresst, repinied at any thing which tended to the support of Mr Thornton & his Children: Especially by me because I was not of theire faction as I was tould. Although I may, & doe, apeale to themselves; whether I have not laid out my selfe & fortune to secure all Peoples Just rights from us if it were never so prejudiciall to my owne intrest. And soe may hope for a blesing according to my good conscience & in- tegerity; who haveing given to my husbands & freinds use; & for his debts, which I could noe way be capable of in contracting from my owne Children, that which should be for there provission; soe that, had I not indevoured some sattisfaction; for those whom God had given me; I had beene unworthy to have borne the name of a mother; leaveing them in such an un- settled Estate & sad condittion; yea, even altogether un- provided for in this world: shewing my selfe one of St Paulls Infidells: He that provideth not for them of his owne house hath denied the faith & is worse then an Infidell;

soe, then let not others uncharitable displeasure: blame what was don in this kind; since my deare husband was pleased to shew his love & affection to his faithfull wife & Children; (in answer to the (Noble fortune, as he called it, that he had with me; whoes trouble only, was that his burdens was soe great that he was compelld to lessen his Estate in- part to free the rest; Nor could he leave more for his yon- ger childrens Maintenance, & Education, & Portions, then Laistrop; which was about 100l per. Annum. And this did not sattisifie those peoples, humours, as I was tould by my deare husband; because it was not Charged with debts first to precead my Childrens Provission. Albeit we had by mutuall consent sett over A debt from SrSir Christopher wand.Wandesford, out of Ireland for 7. yeares of 200l per Annum: which was by agreement to sattesfie for my 1000l Portion: & the Debt which my husband had paid to nettelton. Also, the 1000l which was Left of the saile of 203 Burne Parke was laid outt in a Rent Charge out of Mr Laurance Sayers Land of 80l per Annum. This was deput ed for the Debts: All which did amount to the somme of 3000l nor did the Debts of Mr Thornton amount to that somme by 600l. Neverthelesse, by the sequell of all, it did appeare; that This just & honnest action of ours did exasperate such- with out a cause: whoe had desires that Laistrop (soe well as the Rest of all his Personall Estate) should goe for security Colaterall to the rest: And by that meanes, nothing should be left at certaine for my poore yonger Children.

The case seemed very hard to me: And made me indevor the more earnestly to prosecute this settlement; which yet I obteined, with a grand dificulty by reason of these obsta -cles; but, at last, prevailed to have it don without the said contingency; nor did I intend to Alter the same with out great cause. which I hoped in God would not be; because there was soe great a somme left for his debts, & was made be- lieve it could not be cutt of the Intaile with out my consent (but it proved affterward the contrary, to my great greife & allmost my utter Ruine; & my Childrens).

There was left only Newton, which was my Joynture, settled soe on my heire. that it could not be cut off with out my consent in passing a fine: nor was the Rents ever more cleare then seaven score paid a yeare. of it.

And now, I hartely thanke my gracious God, who gave me opportunity to gett this don; for the sattisfaction of my consience & the releife of my Children; blessed be his name that did not take me out of this Life before: least by some meanes they might have bin disapointed. and I leave both my husband & Children, all in the wise & gracious disposittion of the Great God, humbly craveing his blessing upon them all for Christs sake. Amen.

Upon my deliverance, of my sonne, Robert Thornton, my 7th Childe: borne at Easte Newton: (the first childe that was borne in the new house: Sept.September 19th, 1662) 204

Almighty God; The wise disposer of all good things both in Heaven & Earth. Who seest what & how much of the comforts of this mortall Life is conveniently fitt for us to injoy in this Earth; hath at length had pittie on my afflictions & gave me such a mercy & deare in- joyment to my selfe & husband; (affter all his & mine severall troubles & losses of Sonnes: As I could not hope for or Expect:

Makeing me a Joyfull Mother of a sweete Son. borne at full time; affter 5 great trialls, & hazards of miscarige -s when I was with him; the one of sicknesse; a 2d through greife att a strange accident that hapned me of a fright: which caused a marke of blood upon his heart. of most pure couler: & severall shapes. contineuing till hee was about a yeare old: And seene by many persons at severall times;

The 3d, the Trouble of Nettletons Balifs: & the fourth, that before the Settlement was made of his Estate, on my Children; The fifth, was a great danger I escaped of him; by a fall, I gott downe the staires to preserve Celia Danby from hurt when she Tumbled downe the whole staires before me: The least of which mercys & deliverances were subject of a hearty praise & thanksgiveing to the Lord of Lords.

But it still pleased the most high God to adde this blessing, when I was delivered: affter a great danger. & Pirill of my life in travill, of my Son, Robert Thornton; upon Friday the 19th of september 1662. he was borne at Easte Newton: betwixt the houres of 8 & 9. a clocke att night haveing bin since the night before in strong labour of him till that time:

But as though this grand mercy should not passe alone. with out its severer Monitor; to my unbridled Passion of Joy, And that I might be causioned not to sett my affection too much on things below; (be they never soe necessary, or desirable, It pleased the great God, to lay on me, his weake handmaid, an exceeding great weaknesse. begining a little affter my Childe was borne. by a most violent; & tirrible flux of Blood.

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With such excessive Floods all that night; that it was Tirible To behold to those about mee. bringing me into a most desperat condittion; with out hopes of life. Spiritts, Soule & strength seemed all gon from me:

My deare husband & Children & freinds had taken theire last faire-well: In this deplorable Condittion layd I in for severall houers together; not being able to utter one word. all the meanes could be was don in that fright, but did not prevaile. After 5 hours Torment, It pleased my gracious Lord to have compassion on his langu- -ishing creature. & brought to my remembrance a pouder which I used formerly to others, & with his blessing had good successe in the like kinde. and hardly could I gett the name of it to my Lady yorke for my feblenesse: but, affter she had given me some of it

— Through the mercy of my Saviour. Who healeth. & helped all that came unto him. — by it helped me. soe that the flux stayed by degres Till Dr wittie was come. when, affter the use of other meanes, I was delivered, & spaired at that time. from that Death soe nigh: but brought soe exceeding weake. that the Effects lasted till Candlemas upon my body by fitts; (yet did I recover my milke againe).

But oh, O Lord, most high & loveing father, wherefore are thy Miraculous favours & mercys extended thus, to such a vild worme as my selfe, whoe am not able to recount the unmesurable goodnesse, not tell what thou didst for my soule. Doubtlesse to sett forth thine almighty Power, Glory. & Infinitt Perfection That canst raise from death, & bring to the grave in a moment.

A Thanksgiveing affter my deliverance of my son, Robert

Oh Just, great & Almighty Lord God. I humbly prostrat my Soule & bodie. lie trembling at the remembrance of my sins & unworthynesse, which hath caused thee to afflict me soe sorely in thy anger: beggeing pardon for all mine offences & grace to live to thy glory: I allso fall low at the footstoole of thy grace & mercy, giveing thy devine majestie All Possible thankes. Dominion. Glory. Power & praise. & what ever can be asscribed by the Tongue & ♥ of men & Angells, or given to thy most Glorious goodnesse: thou, King of Kings & Lord of Lords. The only giver, & preserver of my. 206 Soule & Bodie. whoe hast preserved. the one from all Spirituall. the other, from temporall & Etternall Death. Lett not, Glorious Trinity, this death, (joyned with the others I have lately beine preserved from) be forgotten. But sealed on my ♥ with Indeluable Carracters on my Soule & Spiritt. How can I suficiently sett forth thy noble Praise. which cannot expresse the mercys, nor goodnesse I have Receaved. O Lord, lett thy Holy Spiritt inspire my heart, & inliven my dull Soule to utter forth thy Hon.or, holinesse, goodnes, loveing kindnesse of the Lord to me his poore, unworthy ser -vant & to the Sons of men. and that forever.

Doe not forgett, O my Sad Soule, what the Lord hath don for thee, times with out number. Delivering me at my first con- ception, both from the Lions, & graves mouth, when the Pitt was open for me, ready to swallow me up when Satan missed his purpose, then was I againe Prese -ved from, annother of his stratagemes, to have devoured me & my Infant: from unjust Anger that was stirred up against us, which he intended for our destruction. Then, from our unjust adversaries to destroy our Estates; And now, in giveing my selfe & Infant preservation from this temporall deaths in my wonderfull deliverance of Childe birth: And, Lastly, this dreadfull flux & in- firmity. whereof very few doth escape with there Lives. O Lord, I beseech thee, except of my hearty Pourings out in Praier & praise. & let me live to magnifie thy Name for all these transsendant mercys, day & night. & Let this be arguments of thy love & favour to me & my deare Son, whom thou hast given me, for Jesus Christ, the righteous, his sake; For the Lord God had great Pittie upon my distress & gave me affter this a compotency of health & strength to be able to give my Childe Sucke. which by his blessing I did till Robin was above 2 yeares old (he contineuing very healthfull & strong: Soe that my Sorrowes much abated.

Thus, may I sing a new song unto the Lord. a song of thank sgiveing & praises to God on high. with hanna in 1 Sam.Samuel 32:1-10, 207 Who had Compassion upon the vildest of his Creatures. yet, hath he heard my sorrowes & granted my requests. which I made before him; with my mouth will I ever sett forth his Maraculous Praise; & tell of his marvelous greatnesse. from day to day; for who can doe as thou doest; there is Noe God in Heaven & Earth but thee alone, Most great & holy. Lett this stand as a Piller of Gratitude, which I errect for all the deliverances & mercys. I & my Children have had both in Soule & bodie. The Liveing shall praise thee in Heaven & Earth for ever: Amen.

My Son, Robert, was baptized on Satterday the 20th of September: 1662, by Mr Luckock att our House in Easte Newton in my owne Chamber, where the Lord gave me opportunity to see his admittance into the Church Millittan. by holy Sacrament of Baptisme; when I hope the Lord did enter into Covenant with him to be his God: & he to be his faithfull servant to his lives end: The Lord give him allso the Grace of this meanes as well as the meanes by which he gives his Grace unto us. Amen. his Godfathers & Godmothers were Mr Thornton; for my my nephew Best. Dr wittie. My Lady Cholmely.

The God of all consolations & Comfort. Preserve his Life & health: with happie opportunities of Religeous & holy. Educa- tion. that he may be an instrument of great Glory to God, Comfort to his Parents & relations. And for the building up in Righteousnesse & hollinesse. his Fathers Family to Posterity for many generations. And at the end of his life, he may receave the comfort of a sanctified Old Age. with a Crowne of Glory to praise his Reddemer & mine for ever for our beings; Finding what the goodnesse of God had beine to me in giveing me the requests of my heart; — & beeing these mercys receaved by & from a gracious father. who hath at length bestowed on me, his servant, this hopes of contineuing our memories. by a sweete son of my vowes. beeing obteined from God as Samuell was by the fervent prayers & teares of a poore wreatched mothr —

To thee, o Lord, I humbly dedicate my son of my wombe. O, Lett him be Established before thee for ever in thine everlasting Covenant: Amen. looke 'meditations on 1. Sam.Samuel 1t: 10, 11, 12 13v. in my booke on Purpose. made on that occasion.

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Mr Thorntons Preservation from drowning: Oct.October 1664

After Robin was 2 yeares old. Mr Thornton went to London about wittness for Sir Christopher wandesfords suite with Mr Robinson conserning the bounders. in this jorney, when he was returning home, he escaped drow ning at the waters neare newarke. when the floods was soe high that they had nigh have carried him downe with the streame. but the Lord was pleased to deliver him from that death. his holy name be glorified & praised for ever. who brought us safely to meete againe with Joy to injoy each other still in peace & temporall comforts joyned with spirituall mercys. Oh, that we might make a right use of these temporalls. that we finally lose not the hopes of Etternall mercys. through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Upon the birth of my 8th Childe, Joyce Thornton, Sept.September 23rd, 1665, att Newton:

It pleased God to give me a new hopes of Comfort. of beareing Mr Thornton annother childe. Although these are accompanied with thorny Caires & troubles: & more to me then others. (but, yet, I was contineued in much health & strength, affter I had given suck to Robin) allalong, Tille I was with childe, & till about a fortnight before my delivery. when my Travell began uppon me. And then the Panges of Childe beareing, often remembring me of that sad Estate I was to passe. & dangerous Pirills my Soule was to find, even by the gates of Death; Soe that, I, being terrified with my last extreamity, could have little hopes to be preserved; in this, as to my owne strength; if my strength were not in the Almighty.

However, I tribled my diligence & caire in preparation, haveing with comfort reciaved the blessed Sacrament as a pledge of my Redemption; which we had the opportunity of doeing in our family, with Mr Thornton & his servants, Receaving it from Mr Comber: Minister of the Parish at Stongrave.

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After this great mercy; in the reneuing of our vowes & Covenants with God: I was fully sattisfied in that condittion — whether for Life; or Death: — haveing committed my Soule in keepeing to a faithfull meadiator: & Redeemer: hopeing for me to live, is Christ. & to die was gaine: when I should exchange, sorrow, for Joy: & death for Life. & immortallity. I was the most conserned for my poore Children. whoe might, peradventure, want some helpes from theire weake mother (& haveing noe Relation; or freind of my owne; that might take caire of them) if theire father should see cause to marry a- gaine, according, as I had bin tould: that it would be Nesseary for him for his health: I was indeed the more scolicitous for my 3 young Chidren; casting in my mind what freind of my owne to desire to in trust with theire Education, if he did soe. For my Son: The hope of my house: I humblie committed him into the Propectionprotection of Almighty God. as allso his two sisters, And for his Education, into the caire of my deare & honredhonoured Uncle, My Lord frechvile: my Daughter, Alice, to: my deare Aunt Norton: and my Daughter, Katherine: to my deare neece Best: with strict charge to bring them up in the nurture & feare of the Lord: & the true Proffession of the Prottestant Religion: (as it was my faithfull endevours soe to doe, while I was with them: That I might give a good account of theire soules unto my Saviour: They had allso a very good begining of know- ledge through the due examination: & catechising of Mr comber, each Sabbath day: as well in the Church, as at home.

Next, in order, was It my duty to take caire for the right Settlement: & devission of the goods & Personall Estate of my Deare Mother, according to her will & Testament, which she left me power to doe by Deed amongst my Children.

Haveing left theire Maintenance & Portions settled (as by the Deede made formerly. in as good a condittion as could be for the many incumbrances & Debts upon Mr Thorntons Estate; Soe that it only remained for me to depositt the safe custody of All the Deeds: Intails: & writings About our whole Estate for our Children into a Safe hand: which in case of my Mortality should be delivered to my Lord frechvile affter my death.

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This was seriously considered. & agrreed uppon — by and with the approbation, & command of my deare husband — That they should be delivered in keeping to Mr Comber whoe, as a freind to all, should preserve them: & give them to my Lord frechville.

Haveing Intrusted all the Cheife Consernes & Evidences for my deare Children with in a little Red Lether Truncke, Locked. I delivered the same to him according to our agrement (Laing a great charge & injunction: with my earnest desire) that he would keepe that Truncke safe. and, if it pleased God to take me; then to deliver the same with his owne hand to my Lord: (as I had charged the same to George Light foote & his wife Dafeny with it: in my sicknesse of my son I bore at St Nickolas; affter my mothers death: for in it was contained all Childrens Provission & sub- sistance: & if any thing should happen to that Trunke they might be Ruined:

It pleased my gracious Lord God to give me space: & time to doe all these things as well as I could; affter which, I fell into travell (beeing one day & night in Travill. of My Eight Childe, & then, it pleased the Lord to make me happie in a goodly, strong Childe, a daughter, affter an exceeding sharpe & perillous time. beeing in the same con- dittion of weaknesse affter I came into bed & of my son, Robert, which I escaped very narrowly the blow of Death.

But, by the providence of God, I was prepared with a remidy which prevented the extreamity, & with in 14 daies, I began to be in a hopefull condittion of recovery. Blessed be the great & gracious Father of mercys. he, allso, giveing me strength & the blessing of the breasts to give sucke, with much comfort in my Infant, with my deare husband & Children, who then had increased my number to 4 sweete Children. O Lord, I beseech thee, accept the humble addresses of my Soule, bodie & spiritt. for these infinitt mercys. give me a thankfull ♥ to rejoyce in thy Salvation. & in that thou 211 Alone didst raise me up from this death. & my deare Childe. not suffering our sins to prevaile; but had pitty on thy servant, my husband, & my selfe giveing us this add- -ition to our number. on Earth: The Lord make her to be a vessell of Glory to all Etternity. And I humbly addore thy thy gracious Clemency & mercy. magnifie thy name. Amen.

Joyce Thornton, my 8th Childe, was borne at Newton. upon Satterday about 4 a clocke in the after noone. on the 23rd of September: 1665. Baptized on the 28th day at Newton. I, haveing the sattisfaction of seeing her entred in to the Role of Christians. & a member of the Millitant Church of Christ.

Her Godfathers. my Lord Frechvile by Proxie. my Cosen Legard. Maddam Grahme. & my Cozen Cholmley. It pleased the Almighty, in much mercy, to give me great comfort in the nursing of this sweete Childe. inabling me with pretty strength to goe through this duty. therefore, doe I praise the god of Heaven for ever. who had preserved my Life. and given me this great temporall blessing. For all good comes from him alone. Lord, sanctifie this mercy to us all.

A Relation of Mr Thorntons dangerous fitt of the Palsie at Stearsby, no.November 16th, 1665.

But peradventure I might be too much lifted up by this mercy. &, therefore, it seemed good to the devine providence to lay a very sad affliction uppon Mr Thornton & my selfe. in a most dangerous sicknesse seized upon him, as he was returning from Yorke, in his way home. commeing soe neare as the moore nigh steeresby: No.November 16th, 1665.

At which time, he through could & the distemper of the Palsie, ~~was~~ violently prevaileing more upon him in his Jorney as he rid, soe that he scarse could be gott to My Sister Cholmeleys house. for 3 daies that greivous distemper of the Palsey. Convoltions & feavour was soe high upon him. that (not withstanding all Possibles remidies could be used by Dr wittie, he was not able to assist himselfe, nor capable to receive others helpe at some times. & shewed to all his freinds there present that he was more like to die. then hopes of recovery.

Which sudaine & most dismall newes of My deare husbands. 212 Lamentable condittion. beeing made knowne to me, when I expected him each houer to have receaved him home with health & comfort. Did soe surprize my spiritts. that I was brought into a violent passion of greife & sorrow: with fitts of sounding, which I never knew before.

And prevailed soe exceedingly, that I immeadiatly went sick to Bed. beeing soe weake. upon that occassion. that all gave me for dead. soe that it was an impossibility to carry me alive to see my deare husband. although I could not be pacified with out it. till, I fell soe weake my selfe I could not speake.

Thus, was I deprived of seeing, or doeing, my faithfull duty to my beloved husband. through the Lords hand upon my selfe in such extreamity. nor had they hopes of the spai- ring either of our Lives in all appearance. Only our hopes was in the miraculous fountaine, of inexhaustable mercys of the Almighty Lord God. whoe turneth man to distruc- tion, & saith turne againe from the Grave, yee Children of Men. Nor had I any comfort, or freind. that could assist me in my Sorrowes at that time, (nor who to leave my fower young Children too: in that excigent of both our sad calamities. but only to the gracious father of Mercies And beggeing my husbands Relations to have pittie on my deare Children; then like to be left young Orphans to the world of troubles.

yett, blessed be the Lord, who did not give us over to Death but, when we were nigh it, behold the goodnesse of God, was intreated for us to restore both our lives. And lett me ever returne him the Glory of his power, & mercy in the returne of our Praiers. be asscribed to his Majestie. who immediatly gave us hopes of Recovery. upon calling upon his name. For that very night, about that houer, when we weare at prair for him, my deare husband. wakened as out of sleepe when Drdoctor expected his departure. And at 3 a clocke at N.night called for a toste & butter. not haveing eaten ought of 4 daies: & changed soe fast in a way of recovery. that it was admirable to all.

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A Prayer after Mr Thorntons Recovery: No.November 28th, 1665.

O, what shall I say, or doe to sett forth the infinitt mercys & transcendant loveing kindnesse of the Lord our God, who still in the midest of Judgement remembers mercys, & shewes his compassion upon us, poore Creatures. O Lord God. thou King of Glory & Power. just are thy corrections & Judge- ments, whether Spirittuall or Temporall. Thou hast chasti -ised us very sore. & all thy stormes are gon over our heads, but surely we have offended & don amisse; either in negli- -gence or remissenesse, or forgettfullnesse of our duties, to thee or our nighbour. forgetting our deliverances & mercys bestowed or to give thee the hon.or of all thy workes & goodnesse to us ever since we have bin in the married Estate. I beseech thee, heare my cries & accept my groanes & Teares. Pardon our sins & accept us to mercy & favour againe. That we may Joyntly & severaly serve thee unfeinedly. Sanctifie, I besech thy majestie, this most sad afflictions upon us both. & give us grace that to make a good use of this, thy hand of sicknesse, that it may be for our good, & profitt of our soules. that we may say, it is good for us, that we have bin afflicted. grant that we may receave instruction. & thy loveing corrections may make us humble & thankefull. And heere, from the bottome of my unfained heart, I lift up my voyce to addore, praise & Magnifie, thy great & Glorious name. Thou, O Lord, art holy, Just, wise, omnipotent. Almighty. and Infinitly full of Compassions towards us thy fraile Servants. we sin. & thou chastiseth us into obedience, if thy mercy will not move. thy Rod must correct. O, Lett us not Lose the benifitt of this corection. but doe us the best good, of through reformation. & lett us not forgett, or slight these grand deliverances of my husband & my selfe. and, as thou hast given us new lives. give us allso new ♥s to serve thee. O Lord, accept this sacrifice of Praise & thanks even to thee, o holy Trinity, be all Posible Glory. & hon.or, Power & might asscribed for our preservations for ever & for ever. Amen. Amen.

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Uppon my deare Joyce, her death, Jan.January 27, 1665.

It was the pleasure of our God to vissitt my deare Childe, Joyce Thornton, with a great sickenesse, falling exceding ill on sunday the 20th of Jan.January 1665, begining, as we thought, with a Cold which strucke in many Red spotts all over her bodie & face; affter which she mourned & cried exceedingly, beeing tormented with her sickenesse, we used all meanes that could be don to soe young a childe by the advice of Dr wittie. yett noe thing did prevaile, it beeing the pleasure of God to take her out of this miserable world.

She contineued with some intermittions of slumbers, & in much strength did resist the sicknesse. till the thursday af ter. when it was past hopes of recovery. and about one & 2 a clocke in the affternoone, on Friday the 27th, Jan. 65January 1665. The Lord was pleased to free her from all paines, by takeing her to his mercy. when she sweetely fell a sleepe, with out any paine or extreamity to the Appearance of all.

She was buried at Stonegrave by Mr Comber the next day, who preached a funerall sermon.

I dare not, I will not, repine at this chastisment of the Lord, though it may seeme never soe troublesome to part with my suckeing childe of my wombe. but say good is the will of the Lord: in as much as he hath spaired my deare husbands life which I soe earnestly begged of him. spairing my owne, allso (who is the vildest of his Creatures. & has given me still the lives of my husband & my 3 Children, for which I will praise the Lord, our God, & begge of him patience to sustaine the losse of my sweete Infant.

And instead, thereof, hath showred downe upon me infinit measurs of sprittuall mercys & incomes of his grace soe many that my ♥ & tongue cannot expresse them, with out that which I had bin miserable. therefore, to the glory of his Name, I ascribe the hon.or of my Creation out of nothing, makeing me Capable of salvation beyond the Essence of Angells. those glorious spirits, The inestimable mercy of giveing Redemption to the world. 215 by thy Blessed son. my Saviour. And thou, O holy Spiritt, the God of all consolations, & comforts against the firey Darts of satan the grand Enimy of Man. Great Lord, as thou hast taught me by afflictions not to sett my affections on things below, so make me soe wise to seeke a habitation in Heaven & not of this Earth or any thing in it. Oh, give me soe sanctified an use of this affliction that I may spend non of the smale inch of time unprofitably which thou givest me in this miserable Life, wherein I take noe free delight & Joy. but, by all meanes, make it my bussinesse to glorifie thy name & the gaining thy favour. with faith to beleive in thy mercys, And that thou hast a love for my soule, even in these sad dispen- -sations. And thou, Lord, the life of my life, prepare me for this change & dissolution, that I may receave the Kingdome of Heaven as a little Childe. of thy alone miritts & free grace. That then I may see that God face to face, which I doe now beleive & put my trust & confidence in, beeing for ever freed from the feares of sin & sorrow. And this, for his sake, that suffered for sin & sinned not, the holy one of God. O, let me not in the intrime be unmindfull of his hand by these corrections. but we may be delivered from the Jawes of Etternall death. Amen.

Uppon my Daughter Alice preservation in a sirfitt, June 13, 1665.

It pleased God to deliver my Daughter, Alice, from a sirfitt which brought her into a violent & dangerous illnesse, which came upon her in her sleepe as she laid in bed with me, when I wakend sudainly in a fright with the noyse she made; being almost choaked, & her breath stopt with undigested Turbutt eaten the night before, but, with the helpe I made her, & takeing severall cordialls. she vomitted what did offend her stomack.

Blessed be the most gracious God of mercys for ever, that raised this childe of mine up from death very offten, even from a yong infant. therefore, I humbly dedicate her to the Lord to walke before him in Righteousnesse for ever. In her sound. she after ward tould me, she was even over Joyed & ravished with the glorious sights she then saw, as if heaven opened to receave her & she was angery to be disturbed from that hapinesse.

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Of my dangerous sickenesse: August 8 16th, 1666.

After the drinking of Scarbrough waters, Mr Thornton sent for me to Yorke about bussinesse with my Lord Frechvile in which jorney I thought I receaved some harme (beeing lately conceived before as Dr wittie apprehended). so, this, together with a greife that befell me at my returne home, about a Settle ment last made by Colvill for my Childrens maintenance & Portions; which had bin undon ~~before~~ with out my consent & knowledge (when Mr Thornton was sicke at Steersby, for the Chargeing of Mr Raines & Mr Portington Debt of 1400l by mortgage upon Laistrop. in soe doeing, there was not one penny could be secured for my two Poore Daughters (either maintenance or Portion, till after the payment of that Debt. & there was but 100l per annum for all: And also, that my brother Christopher Rent Charge out of Ireland was secu- -red to them allso: for 7 yeares, 200l a yeare.

which condition I could not, but lament; nor had I got a sight of this new disposittion of that Estate. which I doe beleive Mr Thornton was partly necessitated to doe, in regard, that they would not be sattisfied with the security alone out of Ireland.

After this hapened. I fell into a very sad & desperate con dittion upon satterday the 16th of August: 1666, beeing then about 8 weeks gon. the violency thereof contineued a long time affter Dr wittie was with me. And for 3 daies, he did not expect my life. soe that he was compelld to use all his Art for my preservation. But it pleased God, upon the use of his meadicens, that extreamity a little abated, he, leaveing me in a hopefull way of Recovery, only said I must not expect to be restored till about the latter end of octber.

All which time, I was in continuall faintings upon the reneuall of that extreamity. Soe that my losse of Spiritts & strength, &cet cetera, was so great that it was expected I should have fallen into a deepe consumption. And I contineued exceeding feeble & weake till the Candlemas following. The cheife remidie which I found for restoreing strength. was a meadicine made of Muskedine, which I was directed to by my noble &. 217 Worthy freind, madam Grahme, upon which I grew to gather strength by degrees, to passe through that tirrible vissitation & languishing condition all that winter.

I humblie Acknowledge my boundant duty & gratitude for deliverance, & preservation from this death allso; to the Almighty Power & infinitt mercy of the Lord, my God, who looked upon the disstresse of his weake handmaide. & brought me through the Jawes of death. Adoreing & mag -niefieing his dreadfull majestie; whoe did not cast away my sorrowfull soule in its callamitys. whereof I have tasted a large shaire of in this life, I besech thy goodnesse to make knowne thy selfe to me in these great & heavy afflictions that soe — my ♥ beeing fixed upon thy devine beautys. I may not desire any thing in this life, comparitively to the Love of my deare Saviour. who hadst pittie on me when the helpes of this world did faile: then thou, o Lord, didst putt thy words into my ♥ & directed me, that I should come unto thee by faith, as the woman in the Gospell did whom thou curd (Matt.Matthew 9: 21). v. Accordingly, I came unto thy throne of Grace, desireing to lay hold on thee by faith, who in thy Providenc caused that Scripture to be read that day in my eares, as a part of that dais Lessons; when I was in my greatest distresse in a bed of weaknesse: At that time was thy holy word like oyle in my bones to cure my infirmitie: And gave me hope to beleive that thy compassion is towards the Children of men to pull them out of the Jawes of Satan & death: Lord, thou did see me in my sorrowes, & spake comfortably to my soule. v. 22 Daughter be of good Cheare; thy faith hath made thee whole (verse 22).

And from that very day, I did recover: O Lord, my God. how can I sufficiently sett forth the glory of thy name & praise, whoe hast compassion upon my condittion, & gavest me this spirituall balsome to heale my soule & bodie. besides thee, there is none ellse that can doe as thou dost; I beseech thee, give me a thankefull & holy ♥ to entertaine thee & all thy dispen -sations towards me. & that this miracoulous mercy with all I have receaved from thy goodnesse may tie & unite my soule fast to thee, that neither Life nor Death. sicknese nor adversity. 218 can be able to disunite me from the love of thee, o my deare Redeemer, who hast don such great things for my Soule. lett me live the Life of faith a few daies heere that I may magn ifie thy name for ever. O, holy bellesedblessed & Glorious Trinity, To whom all Power, might, majestie, thanksgiveing & praise be offred by all creatures in Heaven & Earth.

Amen. Amen:

In my 'booke of medittations', there is a discourse upon this deliverance upon those words in St Matt.Matthew 9: v. 21, -22. Luke. the 17: v. 15. -16.

After these weaknesses seized soe extreamly upon my Person with such violency & danger to my life, I could not be insensable of my daily decay & dieing condittion: which these frequent incussions of my health might too sudainely bring to it's period. Death, in it selfe, beeing desirable to those whoes affec -tions had cause to be weaned from the comforts & vanities of this Life. wishing to be freed from this worlds troubles. & to be receaved into the Armes of Everlasting rest.

yett, as a Christian wife, & Mother, was there a duty incu- -mbent upon me to discharge; with faithfullnesse & Godlines towards. my deare husband & Children; according to each Capacity; soe that I was obleiged to be a comfort to the one. & a suport to the other while I was contineued in this world.

Which duties, I made it my studie to observe, & though I could not be in such a state of perfection; doeing all I was commanded from God. yett, through his mercy strengthening me. I may affirme that I made it my endeavour to performe to my uttmost capacity with a good consience towards all.

And for as much, as the future wellbeing of my Children did then represent it selfe to my thoughts; & it had pleased God in mercy to spaire me till that time. liveing to see my selfe blessed with 3 hopefull Children. For whose soules I was the most conserned in thire Education in the true faith of Jesus Christ. —

I was the more induced uppon this account to accept of a proposittion formerly made; & begun in the yeare 1665. By Mr Comber to my deare husband. that he would except of him selfe for my daughter, Alice Thornton, in marriage. 219 Whoe, though her yeares were but young, beeing 14th then, yet such was his great affection towards her; that he was desirous to attend for her 7 yeares. if he might by his leave obteine her att last: (haveing, discerted all other opportunitys for her sake & the favours he had from him). And, allso, that what ever her fortune was. It should be wholey for her to use & hers. with all: he did not dispaire, but that God, whoe had Preservd him, hitherto, would provide a hansome compotency; & to mak a better provission for My daughter. by adding to her owne. This propossittion was answered by a faire respect of Mr Th.Thornton's side, & he was incouraged to proseed.

Nor could I be sattisfied in a bussinesse of this nature. on which might depend the well beeing of our Familie. with out A serious & deepe consideration of all our Affairs, & the condittion that our Estate was in; which, beeing well knowne to my Good Brother denton, more then to any in the world. I consulted, and advised, with him allalang in this transaction.

Whose prudence & discression, was a great suport to Mr Th.Thornton & my selfe in all our bussinesse & Actions. he, also haveing had knowledge & acquaintance of this Gentleman for severall yers, might the better judge of his life & conversation, together with his qualifications for the great & high calling of the Ministery.

Which, in it selfe considered, carries allong with it. the most noble Title that man is capable of in this world, & wherein the highest, Acts of Pietie & Religion is vested. beeing hon.ordhonoured by God himselfe in the old & new Testament. Above all other Dignitys, & haveing the greatest opportunity of drawing neare to the Throne of Grace from whence proseeds every good & perfect gift. shewing to us mortals the way to Everlasting Life.

After the consideration of all these motives as Principally to be regarded. I was in the next place; confirmed in our resolves to proceed in this buisnesse for my Daughter, whom I hoped to be placed neare us & her freinds at stongrave, beeing our owne Church; where I might have better advantage for my sonne, Robert, & his sisters instruction.

Allso, I perceaved by this last unsettling of that Estate from my Daughters & yonger Children. they were brought into an Incertainty for there Provission. which might fall too heavily out for them. & be the worse for them after my Deceace.

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Soe that, uppon consideration of the whole bussinesse; I have mentioned. It was conseaved, convenient to entertaine this motion & to close with such a happie oppertunity which by the Providence of God was directed. And by reason of her youth, we resolved to keepe it secrett till a fitter time when this intended bussinesse should be consumated. There being still an affectionate corrospondancy of these Persons by Chaste & religious conversations in our Family. Neither was I out of hopes that Sir Christopher Wandesforde might duely pay his 2000l out of Ireland, which was to redeeme that Estate & pay Mr Thorntons Ingagments.

But, in the meane time. I might more probably die in some of these sicknesses & my deare husband. who was often fall ing into his Pallsie. when affter our decease, my Children would be left in an uncertaine condittion for Assistance.

Behold the goodnesse of God, which taketh caire for mine, even out of strangers. makeing me see his mercy in his Provi -dences many fold to me & mine. Praise the Lord, o my Soule, and forgett not all his benifitts. Amen.

About the 2nd of September: 1666, began the great fire in London, which in 4 daies time consumed 13,200 houses, 89 Churches. &et cetera: with out the miraculous Providence of God, it had devoured that whole Citty.

My daughter Katherine Thorntons preservation in the smale Pox. the 29th of sept.September 1666.

Uppon the 29th of sept.September, when I was yett very weake: be- -gan my daughter Katte, with a violent & extreame pain in the backe & head; with such scrikes & torments that shee was deprived of Reason. (wanting sleepe. nor could she eate any thing for 3 daies. she contineued, to my great afflic -tion, not knoweing what this distemper would be.

At last, the Smale Pox appeared. breaking out abundantly all over. but, in her unguidablenesse, stroke in againe, soe that my Brother Portington, used many Cordialls to save 221 her life. affter which they appeared & then we had more hopes. but was in great danger of losseing her sight.

She was all over her face in one Scurfe, they running into each other. But, loe, by the goodnesse of God, for which I humbly blesse & praise his holy name, she passed the dan -ger of Death, begining to heale. her extreamity beeing soe great, crieing night & day, that I was forced to be re- -moved (though very weake) as before into the Scarlett Chamber for want of rest. Blessed be our gracious God, through his infinitt mercy directing to good helpes & prospering the meanes, she was Preserved & healed againe. (Hanna Ableson & Mary Cotes was her keepers.) About november, she went abroad in the house. only losst by this sicknesse her faire haire on her head & that beautifull complection God had given. The Lord suply her Soule with the comelinesse of his grace & spirit in her ♥, Makeing her lovely in his sight. And Praised be the Lord my God which was intreated for my childes life. The Lord give me a thankfull ♥ & that she may live to his Glory, for Christs sake, Amen.

The death of my Brother, John Wandesford: De.December 2nd, 1666.

It pleased God to vissitt my deare Brother, John Wand.Wandesford, Att London. with his last sickenesse, beeing an Ague: joined with violent fitts of the stone. haveing had severall of them the last halfe yeare; his sicknesse contineued soe strongly that he was very weake in bodie. though I blesse God perfect in mind & spiritt. I am the better able to shew the same from the relation of his owne servant, & the People where he lived Testifieing this truth to Mr Comber. who was then at London & intreated by me to vissitt my deare brother in his affliction. at the newes of hearing of me, he did much rejoyce & faine would have seene his deare & beloved sister. but, when he understood I was in Yorkeshire. he praied them to remember his deare love to me. & thanke me for sending to see him. with abundance of Testimonys of his affection & love to me & mine, praing for us. then did he more Zealously prepaire for his change & departure out of this miserable world. (God have -ing givn him a taste of heaven & happinesse. 222 haveing bin long since weary of it, & banished from the comforts of its injoyments). For severall yeares, since my brother Georges Death, he had laid under the most sad & afflicting hand of God by reason of the want of the use of his understanding, which came to him by a deepe Malancolie seising upon his spiritt (Partly for the losse of of my said Brother. & the greife he tooke upon ill usage in the detaining of his Annuity). he, beeing of a sweete, noble nature, it wrought the more to his Prejudice.

But, I doe believe that what things of this nature, (to any of the Prejudice, of our family, did not proceed from the Heires owne inclination. beeing naturally of a good & sweete dispossittion, but from the Councell of such by whome he had bin acted since his Marriage. (who had advised my bro.brother, George, to destroy the Intailes & Settlments of his father by which he might be free to settle his Estate wholely upon his Daughter to the Ruine of all his Family). but my bro.brother, G.George W.Wandesford, abhorred such treachery, nor ever harkned to such designes. nor could my bro.brother, Christ.Christopher, und -erstand the depth of such insinuations. not beeing experi enced in the transactions of bussinesse, of this nature.

(However it was.) this poore Brother was the greatest suff- -erer. both in bodie, & minde, haveing bin offten recruted & fully restored, was againe brought downe, through troubles And want, he sustained. nor was it in my power to helpe or releive him otherwise then by my Praiers & Teares for him. (our owne sufferings beeing soe great).

Yet did the God of mercys give him many intervalls in which times he was religeously disposed. & constant in duties. with a consience to spend his daies holely & uprightly; & in great penitance for any thing that might offend his God.

About halfe a yeare before his death, he was more strict in his severe dutys of Pietie, saing that he should not live long soe that he prepared for his desolation each daie.

The morning before he departed. (though he was very weake in bodie). he would kneele in bed. & most devoutly, & seriously, 223 Praied to his God & heartily recomended his Soule to his Creator. and soe laied him selfe quietly downe: he drew his breath shorter each minuitt &, at last, sweetely fell a sleepe in the Lord. thus was the conclusion of that deare, & sweete brother. soe much afflicted & under soe long a weakenesse. his condition was much to be lamented. & it was, indeed, a contineuall greife, & daily corrosive to my selfe, whose nearenesse in affection & consanguinity had a sufficient simpathy in his sufferings.

He was a very great losse to our Family, by his trouble & visittation; whose parts. Pietie, Learning. & quicke witt was not infeariour to any that was remaining of it. beeing of a most sweete, affable, & injenious nature. nimble & ready in his acqute answers in disputes. as well at Skoole as Cambridge. At both places, he carried him selfe soe obleigingly that all Persons of his acquaintance loved & admired in his sigaci tie, comeing nearest to his bro.brother George, &cet cetera, for witt & Parts. my deare mother had given him the best education she could, sending him to Cambrige about 15 yeares old: under the Tuittion of Dr widdrington, where he made great im- provement of his time in the sciences, & learning. & was soe Studious. even at nights. & when his hours should have bin for recreation: that his Tutor was forced to forbid that sever- rity; his Sabaths were spent allwais (as much as he could) very strict, in acts of Religion & Pietie, Truly from his childhoode & youth studieng to serve & feare God. In fine, he was soe hopefully good & pregnant, that my mot.mother had much comfort — & all his relations joy — in him. beeing full of expectations that this early plant might flourish to the hon.or & happiness of the whole family. But it soe hapned. to our great greife; that this malancoly seising on him first at Cambrige in a great sicknesse. then, he was by an infinitt caire & cost of my mother, he was perfectly well againe. but, upon the former accidents mentioned, he fell very ill. & yet all her caire was contineud over him; even at London, where he had bin inticed to goe from her, contrary to her mind. 224 And suffered great hardships and injuries for the want of somes caire over him. & negligence to performe that duty. till my deare mother committed him under the Tuittion of Dr Batthurst. which he did faithfully perfo rme all his life towards him. (when he wanted nothing for his comfort & helpe that either hee ~~could~~ or my mot.mother could doe for him). She, every yeare, giveing that Drdoctor a gratituity of 10l for his paines & caire over my brother soe long as the Drdoctor lived. Allthough even then he wan ted to discharge the mans house (where he laid. out of his owne dues & Annuity. but I am sorrey there was cause to speake thus much on this subject, shall there fore returne to speake of conserning his Buriall.

He departed this life upon the second day of December: 1666 and buried in the Parish Church of Hodgeden. with as hansome a solemnity as could be in that time. Mr Comber preached a Funerall Sermon. Text. Eclle.Ecclesiastes. there beeing abundance of People on that occassion, he was buried the 3rd of December. Mr Tirrill & his wife & servant, all expressing very great sorrow & lamentation for him, whoe had lived soe innocently; & carried him selfe soe hansomely & well, that had gained there affections & pitty towards his Person very much in that Place. God makeing him to finde favour in his distresse a mongst straingers. And now, the Lord God of Mercys has, I hope, freed him from all misery. want, & oppression. his most sad afflictions for severall yeares had prepared his soule for his Saviour. who had kept him in all his health & sicknesse from any grosse sinns, nor was he inclined thereto in the least. but given him selfe to God in his youth & childhood; (he was never heard to sweare an oath;) before he went to Cambridge, I heard him make the most fine exposittion extempory upon those words of Davids advice to Solomon. And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father: &cet cetera (the other 3 verces. that I never heard the like from soe young a Person. laying downe our duty to God. & service of him.

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I hope he now injoys those hapinesse this world is not capab of. whoe sett himselfe to seeke God soe early & so with an up right ♥. &, however that the greatest of Temporall afflictins lay heavy on him. yet God sanctified all to him. & gave him his Perfect use of his reason & understandunderstanding that halfe yeare before (wherein he soe excersized himselfe as was a great comfort to his freinds & relations. & testified that he gave a returne to some of our faithfull, prayers for him).

Therefore, in all things, it now remaines, that I most hartily returne my humble & faithfull thankes. Glory & Praise: that heard the groanes of his banished, delivering him by a quiet & sweete sleepe of death from all calamitys of this wicked world & presed him for him selfe, who wanted those mercys which 1000l doeth injoy. And the Lords name be blessed for ever that preserved his Precious Soule to his Kingdome through Jesus Christ. I besech him, sanctifie this, thy hand, upon my brother to me that thereby. I may be drawen nearer to thy Majestie in love & gratitude. who hast not given me over in to the will or Power of spirittuall Enimies. or suffered me to lie in this condittion wherein he was vissitted. Lord, make me to admire thy goodnesse & clemency towards me (thy poore handmaid) who had deserved thy heavy hand. but thou are pleased with testimonys of favour when thy mercy is provoked that we may further glorifie thy name & sett forth thy honnour even to all generations.

Make me, O Lord: to esteeme it thy free act of Grace to me that I have never bin visited in the least with this kind of affliction: for thou alone has preserved me there from. which might have befalen me as to many of thy deare servants in this world by there other troubles of this life. O Lord, except my humble, thankefull heart, & I beseech thee, if it be thy will, for Christs sake never suffer me to fall into this most sad Estate whereby I may be deprived of the opportunitys of doeing thee service or good to my soule. but give me still the perfect use of Reason & understanding that I may live all my daies to the glory of thy majestie, & the proffitt of my brethren. & the Etternall good of my owne soule, for the Lords sake. Amen.

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About this Christmas, 1666, my Cozen, william Norton, was inhumainly murdered at London, neare Grays Inn.

My Son Roberts haveing the smale Pox. Jan.January 5, 1667, and of his recovery perfectly againe.

The 5th of Jan.January, my deare Robin Thornton began his sicknes of the smale Pox, beeing very ill & weake for 2 daies. the 7th, 8th, and 9th, he was in great danger of death. they not come -ing well out till the 10th (on which day he lost his sight by them being very great ones & full).

About the 14th, his feavor & dissease was at hight. & on the 15th, he altered for the better. soe that a change was discerned; the 17th, he began to see againe. the 18th, had his sight clearly recovered. affter which he recovered very fast. for which I most humbly blesse God. with all my soule. & magnifie his mercys to me in the deliverance of this my deare & sweet Childe, in not quenching our cole in this Family. O, Praise the Lord, o my soule, & forgett not all his benifitts. this his favour to thee for ever. Amen. The 24th, Robin first gott up. & was perfectly well. groweing strong & was not soe much disfigured As his sister, Kate. But he never recovered his sweete, beautifull favour & pure couler in his cheeks. but his face grew longish. his haire did not fall of. he wanted 9 months of beeing 5 yeares old & some dais. (Hanna Ableson & margery millbanke kept him in his sicknesse.)

It Pleased God, affter my sonne, Robert, was well. to vissitt my daughter, Alice Thornton. which began ~~in her~~ ~~sleepe~~ with annother dangerous fitt in her sleepe. which much ~~awakned~~ frighted me. she beeing almost choaked by the Phlegme. makeing her exceding sicke. (before she vomitt up some ill digested meate) &, with extreamity, she was blacke in her face. but by the mercys of our Gracious God, affter she vomitted. she did recover. though it kept her weake. I will praise the Lord, our God, of our salvation for this great deliverance of my Childe. Amen.

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My daughter, Alice Thornton, her Smale Pox, Jan.January 25, 671667.

About the 25th of January, Naly tooke Phisicke to prevent the Smale Pox. when she fell to be very ill pained in her head & backe on the 26th. she, beeing very ill & sicke; in an Aguish temper, the 27th & 28th, till the smale Pox appeared. beeing for 2 daies in a cold sweate, with out heate, & in very great da- -nger of Death. the 29th she was in great hazard, yet lay very patiently & did not talke Idle as usuall in such dis eases. though there was little hopes of her recovery. (They beeing stroke in through her could sweats; yet was all remidies used to her for warmth by Hanna. & c.et cetera, Cordialls by brother Portington. But, on the 29th, it pleased the great & gracious God, he did begin to give us better hopes. the smale Pox then comeing out & apeare. she was in a warmer temper. not soe sicke as formerly. & we by the mercys of God, hoped for a recovery: At the 31st day, she fell blind, intermitting till the 5th of february, beeing exceedingly choaked in her throat. & could not swallow, allmost any thing with out a Pipe for the smale Pox & streit throat. nor did she gett any sleepe till the 3rd of february; After which, she gott a little &, the 4th, her Eyes began to unclose. the 5th, saw perfectly. & they blackned. & her throat mended. & the feaver abated: the 8th day of febFebruary, she began to be pretty well. though extreamely full & sore. About the 18th, Naly rose out of bed & recruted in strength by degrees. The haire came of & that favour cleane taken from her.

But, oh, that our hearts weare inlarged in thankfullnesse to the great Lord, our God, for the preservation of this my Eldest Childe, whoes speciall deliverance must not be for- -gotten to give glory to the great God of Israell which had pitty uppon my selfe, husband. & 3 Children. by restoring theire lives when they weare all soe nightnigh many deaths. O Lord, accept, I beseech, my gratefull & humble ♥ which had com- passion upon thy Servants & our Child. Lett us all live to be instruments to thy Glory & hon.or, heere & heere affter: Amen.

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671667.

My brother Dentons Son, John, fell into great extreamity upon the takeing of Phisicke on the 25th of Jan.January, which did not worke kindly. & soe contineued 3 daies deprived of sleepe or foode. falling into a feaver. with violent paine. all which deprived him of his understanding beeing in a dangerous condittion. but it pleased God, at last getting some sleepe about 4 a clocke in the morning, he knew every one. when the Pox apeared, the feaver abated & he recovered very fast, haveing but a few. blessed be God for his deliverance.

The 8th of Aprill: 1667, Nally had a Pearle on her Eye affter the smale Pox. which indangered the losse of her Sight. But by waters. & a meadicien to the wrests of her Arms, which sweete Mrs Bucke did advise, she recovered that danger (beeing well againe about the 30 Aprill. 1667). I humbly blesse the Lord for the least, & greatest testimonys of his daily favours to me & mine. O, that these might sett forth his praises for ever more. Amen.

In the yeare 1659, when I was att St Nickolas. affter the death of my deare mother, Kate Thornton was preserved from choakeing with a pin which gott crosse her throat. which, by the blessing of God, I gott out by my finger; when she was nigh death: as allso, through his Providence. I preserved her maide, Anne Robinson, from the like death by a peice of a goose ~~wing~~ pinnion which was crosse soe long: that her breath was stopt. & almost dead. (att Oswoldkirke. 1661).

About the yeare when Kate was 10 yeares old, plaing with her cosens in Newton Barne & swing crosse by a Rope, she gott soe high a fall by his swinging her from him. (J.John DDenton) that she was taken up dead. beeing blacke & with out breath for a long time. at which sudaine blow, I was much afrighted for my Childe, rubing & useuing all means for her recovery, and it was halfe an houer before any signes of Life apeared. But it pleased God in mercy. at last she did breath: 229 Againe & by degrees came to her selfe at an houers space after warming, &cet cetera, in bed (but knew nothing of the fall a long time. it had don her much harme in her head with great paines: But I most humbly praise & addore the Name of God most high. which graciously remembred mercy in the midst of Judgement: nor didst thou cutt of my Childe life sudainly in her folly & childishnesse. but recovered her againe by mercy. O, lett this, her Life, be given her for good. & that she may be Pardoned. & made an instrument of thy Glory. & praise to magnifie thee for thy spaireing her life & understanding. give her, & us all, grace never to for gett these wonderfull mercys to our soules & bodies. Amen:

It was the permition of God, for the affliction of us all, in the losse of soe brave a Gentleman. to lett a dismall stroake fall heavy upon the Person of my Nephew, Thomas Danby. beeing the hope of his Familie. & just at that time when he had ingaged to cleare of all Debts, Portions, &cet cetera, in the due performance of his Fathers will. when all things would have bin don to all Persons sattisfactions. But Allasse, this poore Gentlemean was sudainely surprised, & murdered. with out any pro- vocation or malice begun on his side. comitted with the most Barbarous sircumstances imaginable; by one Beridge (a stranger to him. but a Camrade to Ogle & Jenny, which was then with Tom.Thomas Danby: but did not assist). The pretence was about Ogles sword, that Tom had redeemd from Pawne & unluc- -kily had on that day. which Berridge upbraiding him, for, picked a quarrell. but, it is too probable that they had a spleene against his life because non assisted. but wittnesses of this bloody Tragedie. The murderer fled. they were catchd. but, by the too remisenesse of the Jury, Escaped punishment (notwithstanding the displeasure of the Judge). but Jenny, that summer, went home & was convicted in Consience: never apeared affter. but died very penitent. he died in London, neare Grayse Inne, August the first; in the yeare 1667.

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The birth of my Sonne, Christopher, my 9th Childe, no.November 11, 1667, & of his Death. Dec.December 1st, 1667.

Of my 9th Childe; it was the pleasure of God to give me a weake & sickely time in breeding from the February till the 10th of may following. I not haveing fully recruted my last Sept.September's weakenesse; &, if it had bin good in the Eyes of my God. I should much rather (because of that) not to have bin in this condittion: but it is not a Christians part. to chuse any thing of this nature. but what shall be the will of our heavenly father, be it never soe contrary to our owne desires. Therefore, did I desire to submit in this dispensation. & depend uppon his providence for the preservation of my Life, who had delivered me in all my extreamities. & Afflictions.

I had not my health, till about the 10th of May. when I perceaved my selfe with quicke Childe. affterwards, during the time of beeing with Childe. till within a month of my de -livery, very well as of any other. (walkeing a mile to the Church each Sabath day). I humbly blesse the God of my Life & strength. that restored soe much health & strength againe to his handmaide. Giveing me great comfort in my deare & beloved husband. who all this summer & spring was soe well & strong as he never had bin since his first ill fitt at Steersby. (The Lord giveing a blessing to those meanes appointed by Dr wittie for his preservation. which order we observed; till towards Sept.September following.) But when I grew soe bigge & ill neare my delivery, about Micklemas, he intermitted those rules of di- rections: wanting my assistance about his Person to in my Illnes. he relapsed severall times. And had the Drdoctor sent for to him very offten. by which helpes, through Gods Blessing, was restored to me againe. Praised be our good. & gracious Lord God for Ever. Amen.

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The birth of my 9 childe was very Perillous to me, & I hardly escaped with my life. falling into pangs of Labour about the 4th of no.November, beeing ill. contineuing that weeke. And on Munday the 11th of November 1667. I fell in travell, beeing delivered betwixt the houers of 10 & 11 a clocke at night. I was to my owne apprehension, & others, never nearer Death. by the midwives inforcement of the Childe, soe violently, which caused a grand dislocation of the backe & reines by the inexpressable torments I indured: But, in the midest of my distresses & anguish of Soule & boyiebody, The great and Powerfull Lord God pittied my soule & had compassion on me at that time, most Miraculously & wonderfully preser -ving me from death when I was stept into the grave even these 10 times, nay millions of times. may I give give thanks. unto the Lord. whoe turned my sorrowes into Joy. that noe death has had the upper hand of me still.

O my soule, love thou the Lord & Praise him & magnifie him for ever. delight in him all thy life. he is thy Joy, thy Life. salvation & refuge. I called unto him in my distresse, & he heard & delivered me out of the Pitt of distruction & death. preserving me from feares & torments. Thou art, O Lord, the guide of my youth. the succorrour in my sorrowes. thou caires for me, because thy mercy is in- finitt & uncearchable. & I have depended on thee ever since I was borne. and put my trust in thee alone. O, Most hight. lett me still have thee for my God the inin the sweete influences of thy Power & mercy by which the sonnes of men are upheld & delivered. that we might magnifie thy glory & praise for ever. Thou hast given me a goodly, strong & sweete son, to mittigate those sorrowes. & addeing the blessings of the breasts, to that of the wombe. O, Praise the Lord with me for ever. Amen.

It pleased the Lord to give annother mercy that night; for my daughter, Alice, with feare & greife for me, fell so sicke in my Labour that she was in much danger of death, but blessed be the Lord which preserved her then & recovered her from that illnesse. the next day. no. 12, 67November 12, 1667.

Christopher Thornton, my 9th Childe, was borne at newton on munday the 11th no. 67November 1667. Baptized the 12th at newton. 232 His God fathers & God mother were my Brobrother Denton, my brother Portington. & Mrs Anne Danby.

Affter this comfort of my Childe, I recovered something of my weakeness, better: recovering my breasts & milke. & giveing sucke, when he thrived very well & grew strong. beeing a lovely babe.

But, least I should too much sett my heart in the sattisfaction of any blessing under heaven. it seemed good to the most infinitt, wise God, to take him from me, giveing me some apprehensions there of before any did see it as a change in him. And therefore, with a full re- signation to his providence, I endeavoured to submit patiently & willingly to part with my sweete Childe to our deare & loveing Father. who ses what was better for me then I could. begging that his will might be ~~min~~ mine either in life or death. when he was about 14 daies old, my pretty babe broake into red spots. like the smale Pox. And through Cold, gotten by thin- -ner clothing then either my owne experience or Practice did accustome to all my Children. (they following the precept of M.Mrs D.Danby; (it presently) though, then, unknown to me; upon this accident. with the extreame cold wether, fell into great loosenesse. & notwithstanding all the meanes I could use. it contineued 4 daies. have- ing indured it patiently. then fell into some little strugling. and, at length, it pleased his Saviour & mine (after the 5th sicke night & day) to deliver him out of this miserable world. he sweetely fell asleepe on sunday, at night. beeing then the 1st of December 1667, who was at that time 3 weeks old, on the next day, the 2nd, when he was Buried at Stongrave by Mr Comber, who preached a funerall sermon. Dec.December 2nd, 1667.

After my deare Childes death. I fell into a great & long contineued weakenesse, by the swelleing of my milke. he, haveing sucket last (in his paine) of the left breast, had hurt the niple, causeing it to gangareene. &et cetera, 233 Extreame pained with torment of it, made me fall into a feavour. which — together with excessive paines in my head & Teeth uppon much greife from the unhansome. Proud carriage of those I tooke to be a comfort in my distresse — proved the greatest corisive in my sicke & weake con- dittion. I, beeing then the lesse able to suport my spiritts under such afflictions. soe that such strainge, uncharit able dealing kept me from gathering strength. I not beeing able to stand nor goe. for 4four months: till febFebruary following (wittnessed by those servants that attended me then. & was compelld to be carried to, & from my bed in a Chair.

Even at that time did those which had a secrett hatred against me — (though I neither knew it, nor its cause then for I never in my whole life, by word or act, had the least pre- -judice or don her any injury, to make it: as I must apeale to the Lord for truth:) yet, then, she undermined my peace & quiet, & scornfully presenting my reall weak nesse & sad condittion, to some in secrett (saing that I ailed nothing, & I was as well as she. & made my selfe a talke to my neighbours). All which she carried with much subtilty for the dishonour of my poore, despised Person (sufficiently afflicted with out this addittion). yet were these but the begining of sorrowes to me upon that account; endeavouring to bare all with abundance of Patience. which my God did please to give me: in part hopeing with all that, when I mett with Tom.Thomas Danbys wife. I should prevaile for her restoration to her children; which she did object daily to me that she had bin kept from, because her sister was angery she came, as before, to be with me, while I layd lame. But I still tould her, if I had suspected her sisters displea- sure for that, I would never have, putt that to hazard for the world. nor did she in the least give me notice thereof. but my nephewe Kitts wife did make this an objection. & I beelive owed me noe good will for it. though she reserved more for an affter game (secrett) to my Ruine.

Butt thou, o Lord, seest & knoweth my integretty for this womans good. & the love I bore her ever since I knew 234 her. & therefore, I desire this to pardon what occa sion of evill has befallen me. from her, & receave my humble & faithfull thanks for thy inexpressable mercy & goodnesse to me thy poore Creature, All glory be given to thy name, & for ever magnified be the Lord, most high, which bringeth me downe to the gates of death. & has raised me beyond all hope or expectation. times with out number. even now; O Lord, hast thou had pittie on my soule and lett me out live 6 of my Children. but graciously taken them from this sinfull life. Lord, blese to thy poore handmaid all these heavy afflictions. that are incident to this weary Pilgrimage. & lett me not depend on dust & Ashes for comfort or sattisfaction. be thou, my freind & guide, my staffe & stay. still to suport my owne & husband & Childrens soules. lett me prepaire daily & long for those lasting Joyes that never shall have End. which thou, in thy good time, will please for Christ his sake to bring me to: that I may sing for ever the song of thy redeemed: Glory be to God on high. Peace & good will towards us men. I will magnifie thee, o blessed Trinity, fore ever.

Amen. Amen.

After the recovery of my health & strength againe, I had returned an other affliction; which was not at that time soe heavy (when I was sicke my selfe, I blesse God) but, like 2 bukettes in a well it pleased God to deal with us. when the one was downe the other was up. soe, I beeing recruted, had my worke in the assistance of my deare Hus band. whoes offten & frequent relapses in to his Pallsie fell on him to my abundant greife. soe that, from no. 67November 1667 till August 681668, Dr wittie was allmost each month fetched to him. when he relapsed. or the degrees begining on him. which most sad condittion made me never inoyed my selfe. with feares of losseing him, my cheifest Comfort & suport. & for his Sufferings. although the Lord did please to give him intermitions. & allso. we could not perceave that he was in any extreamity. but slumbring all the time of his illnesse, till affter glisters he was brought 235 to himselfe againe (they being the speediest reamidie at present). then, affterward, all other reamidies was applied by Dr nilly direction. And he was well againe. even to Peoples admiration; which was soe ill of a sudaine & better againe. &, according to the earlinesse of begining with reamidies, They wrought. & the fitts longer or shorter in contineuance; Soe that we saw, too aparantly, that my deare husbands dis- -temper might be a meanes to shorten his daies at last. And we weare much conserned to gett all the settlements don & perfected. least we should be deprived of him.

And to that end, my Brother Denton, with Mr Comber & my selfe, was exceedingly imployed att all times, almost when he was in a condittion for bussinesse. Hastening the Draughts of writtings, & settlements, with Councell how to give all Persons sattisfaction in there Just Debts. And not till the 28th day of may, 1668 was our settlement Perfected (from the time of my Co.cousin Covills beeing destroyed. for either Portions or mainte nance. which went most sadly with me. but now, by the great Paines & industery of my Brother Denton. & Mr Comber, who we did for my Childrens good imploy , as a freind to them in Generall, (as well as in his Perticuler respestrespect for my Daughter Alice. had much caire for them. allso, It was most true that I lived remote from my owne Relations: That day wherein my deare husband signed His Deed for my Childrens Provision out of of Laistrop, he did signe my bro.brother Dentons 3 Rent Charge for his part of Portion, by my sister of 250l out of the other part of Laistrop. which ought in consience to be payd. I humbly blesse our gracious Father which gave me leave to git this don for provission of my yonger Children, & that the Estate was in a better frame then it had bin of late, by the payment of 1000l in Debts of his Rent Charg of Mr sayer. which he had but newly sould (& payd of with it, this yeare, many great ingadgements secured out of the land at Laistrop. by which it was made clearer.

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A bout the 20th day of may: on that night, my deare hus -band had a dreame which he tould to my Brother Denton, Mr Comber & my selfe, in the morning. severally. which did very much trouble me to heare. That he should live but 47 daies longer: Nor was he ever apt to take notice of such things, but rather condemne me for relating severall ominus dreames that I had before the Death of my Father, my Uncle, Osborne, my Sister Danby, my brother George, (before whoes death, halfe a yeare, I dreamt soe fully conserning it, the manner & all sircumstances about it. that he refrained that River after I tould him my dreame. till that time which was the last & beeing compell by his bussinesse to doe itt.

Allso, before my mothers death, & severall of my Ch- -ildrens: Soe that now he himselfe was more apt to make use of this as a warning to him. beeing offten heard to say he should not live very long. & with much diligence endeavred to prepare his soule for God. In which time, I, whoe had my comforts soe intirely bou nd up in him, could not with patience allmost to think of this change. If possibly it might be the good pleasur of the Lord to spaire him to us.

we repaired, (upon the next illnesse), to Dr wittie (he not beeing willing for any others advice. to confided what course could be taken for his preservation. soe that, upon a serious consideration of his distemper, then inclining to malancolicke, he advised him for the Spaw, where he had bin other yeares with good successe. Upon which, Mr Thornton was very desirous to goe, beleiveing it would helpe him, And The Drdoctor firmly ingaged to be as cairfull of him as his owne Life. soe, upon the 5th of June: 1667, we sett forward in a Coach with him to Malton. with my 3 Children, I thinkeing to have gon to scarbrough with him, but it soe pleased God that I fell exceeding ill that I could not goe. but was forced to returne home to newton: & left him under the caire of my Brother Portington & sister,

Page of Book One, showing boxed section title.

Courtesy of the British Library Board. British Library, Add. MS 88897/1, 237.

237 And in the company of Dr wittie. the 8th of June following, he went by a hired coach to scarbrough. And about a month affter he returned home on horrse backe. (it beeing his owne desire:

All which time, we had a deare & comfortable corrospondancy betweene us, by our mutuall And frequent letters. I, heareing of him, or from him, 3 times in a weeke & ofter, each one bring -ing me the good newes of his haveing cast off his malancoly. It cannot be immagined, what my Joy was in his returne to finde him soe prettily recruted by a chearefull temper of spiritt. but I quickly saw: that his weaknesse had left much dreggs of his distemper. yett had I great cause of thankefullnesse to the Lord which gave me hopes of him. & that, if he could have bin prevented of cold, he would remaine well.

|On Mrs Anne Danbys goeing to Hooly. Ap. 20 67April 20, 1667.

Uppon the complaint of Mrs Danby to Mrs Batte, (then a Servant to the young Countesse of sussex; and accounts by her to be the dearest freind she had in the world) of her hard usuage by Madam Danby; & severall discontents framed by her servant in my house, adding to her for- -mer disgust towards me in her beeing cast out, as she said, for my sake. these, with other secrett unjust reasons of her owne. bey these 2 persons was a mutuall compliance in there designes, & Mrs Danbys underming me in secrett brought Mrs Batte late at night to my house at newton (under pretence of providing butter for Mrs Danby at the service att hooly to waite on that mad Countesse of Sussex). Mrs Batt tould me. she came to fech her cosen danby a away. & that she would have her from me. I, upon this first salutation, beeing surpreised with her discourse (as well as her sudaine vissitt. (which yet Mrs Danby knew of.) tould her againe that I had bin desirous to see her & of her acquaintance upon my neece her account. but that she should now come to fettch her from me, whoes wellfaire I much wished. & loved her company, with out giveing me any notice. I could not tell what to say of it. & that what my poore house could afford towards my neece, her content, & what I could doe 238 For her should not be a wanting. noe more then what I had formerly don to my weake capacity. And I could not willingly part with her. hopeing that her sister (upon my soliciting) would settle her againe.

my discourse more to this Purpose. but the other said she would have her away from me. Then, I returned that I would leave it to my neece her selfe to dettermine, as she pleased. Upon the sunday morning. they haveing lien together that night. & prepaired for a march to Hooly; But they were prevailed to stay that day, beeing every way unfitt to breake the sabbath. upon soe slight an occassion.

Upon discourse with Mrs Batte, she said that she admired why all Mrs Danbys freinds, that non of them could in dure her of her husbands side, but I, that looket at her or shewd any respect. I said that I could not soe well know the reason, save that she brought noe fortune & was a charge to that family, as I had heard them say, & that Sir Tho.Thomas Danby could not be reconsiled because of kitts marriage to her against his knowledge or consent. Then, Mrs Batte said, it was true that she had seene a letter in Virginia that came to Mrs Danby from Sir Tho.Thomas out of England, in answer to one from Mrs D.Danby to him. that was extreamly sharpe. where he tould her that she had inveagled his son to marry her with out his consent & theire marriage was not Lawfull. And for her (that had not a groate Portion affter such an act: to be soe Proud & high as to require him to furnish her with silke stockings. sattin & cloth, a silver mantles & other things answerable to that State. was more presumption then any could imagine. (his son beeing a yonger brother, & soe had nothing but from his goodnesse). Sir Tho.Thomas D.Danby expressing much more to her in that letter to this purpose. & was soe incensed that he would ~~never~~ seldom see her in all his Life, but shunned her at all times, sending for his son into England with out her; I said, I had not heard of such letters. but that Sir Tho.Thomas was much displeasd at me & my mother for speaking for her to him. & said that we knew her not soe well as he did. & that they might curs 239 time of her entrance into his Family, for the mischeife she had wrought in it: & that match could not prosper which was begun in such an unlawfull manner. it had bin the grand discontent of his life. & more to the like purpose severall times, soe, my mother, nor my selfe, affter many endeavors, could never prevale for her. yet did I allwaies commise -rate her condittion, whoes Person was soe qualified & seemed to be religious. & carried soe faire in her demener, haveing abundance of charity for her condition. haveing helped her with advice & assistance in all things to my poure, beleiving that she had bin wronged. according to her owne complaint. When our discource was ended. they came from Church, & went to dinner. Affter, it was consulted on & thought fitt to send to Mr farrer, at Malton, for his advice whether Mrs Danby might goe to Hooly as a vissitt. who returnd by word, that he conseavd she might goe ~~and~~ thither, allthough he knew that place was in opposition to Madam Danby & would displease her if she staid any time. but for a while she might goe, as he thought, with out prejudice. this she conseavd was allowance. but he spoke very prudently to both partys. .Then, Mrs Danby was pleased (as it were) to consult, as she said (at least in pretence) with me of her goeing thither. which I could not tell how to dettermine becaus, at that time, her sister Danby was comeing into the Country & I was to use my indeavours for her, having then very good hopes. as allso, soe had Mr Farrer, who said he did beleive he could prevaile for 60l a yeare if she would except it. And with all, I did not know what to advise which might sattisfie her. but left it to her how to dispose herselfe. for I tould her that, as well as I could entertaine her in my house, she should want for nothing. I would use my uttmost with her sister to give a sufficient Provission for her & her Children But doubted that her Jorney to Houly might doe harme. but because I could not doe her what good I would, beeing soe loe in our Estate, I could not hinder from her better ad vantage. She said, indeed, it was much below her to goe to service (as Mrs Batt did counsell her) & she thankt God.

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If she would take that course of life, she could doe better for her selfe, but she would goe over to see the place becaus it was out of mattie Batts love, extoling her frindship to the skies & much undervaleuing all my endevours & faithfullnesse, yet, did she expect this as a reserve if she liked not Hooly. The next morning prepared with great Joy to goe. &, when she was at breakfast, exprest much indignation, that she was turnd out (as she termd it) for my sake from Beedall. I could answer noe otherwise then to shew my sorrow for it. & that if she had informd me of that before that her sister was angery, she should not have comd.

Att her goeing that morning, she was highly displeased (as (I was informed) that she spoke it to. That Mr Comber, or my brother Denton, who she had much deluded with faire shew, did not waite upon her to Hooly. And was only conduc- -ted by my cheife servant. & 3 of the Earles men, with Mrs Batt & her maide.

This was only a pretence, though Pride enough: for when I sent men & horrses, to bringe her home — above 60 miles hence on purpose. — she was not pleased. because Mr Combber came not. but sent them backe empty, save with a Letter to my brother Denton to invite him (under pretence) but rea ly the other, who she then prosecuted, with eager designe, for to drawe him in for a husband for Mrs Batte. and in whose incomium, she had spent soe much time & paines to represent him with the best of Retorick to her; which at the first view, was sufficiently forward to show her good op- pinion of that man. Mr Thornton was highly displeased that she had bin soe incivill to returne his servant Empty, & that allso he was made soe wellcome there, that he diffred not from a beast in his drunkenesse at that house. soe that he would not lett me send noe more for her.

In this time. I was soe farre from giveing her any abuse or remembring these injures. that, Madam Danby comeing to see me on may: day: I soe much soclicited for her that she did faithfully ingage to me that for my sake, & not her owne, which had personally disobleigd her at Beedall. 241 before she came to Newton. yet, she would doe what she could, & that she would give her 60l per Annum. & giue her 10l or 5l when she came to see her at a time, & give her all her goods again, & if she could doe more, she would as she was able, &cet cetera. and did Protest & vowe that she did not take it ill that her Sister came to me, but wished her to come. And that it was but her Plott to object that to me, to insinuate with me, & to Make me keepe her. for she knew not that she was with me when she dischargd her house. but that her owne unsufferable prid, which would never be humbled, & her Railing blacke mouthed wench that came to farnly and abused her there, these all did cause her to cast her out. and much to this purpose.

And that she was goeing to looke into her Estate, beeing the first time affter her husbands death. & as she found she could doe for her she would, though she did it out of her owne Estate. for my cause to bring them together. although they wanted for nothing now. Upon these tearmes passed Madam Danby & my selfe, concluding that I was to waite on her att Mallton at her returne when she would sattisfie me better & doe for her.

Haveing receaved this hansome and free account from Madam Danby, I deferred not to give ketts wife the relation of it by letter to Hooly, purposly sending one before our last men went for her. And her returne for this kindenesse, I have related.

But affter wards, my brother Denton (goeing to see his freinds neare Leeds, brought her backe againe to Newton. where I did receave her with Joy as was my custome out of my unfeined love to her person. Nor could I be perswaded of her unworthy -nesse to me. she soe finely acting her part & soe secrettly. only I observed abundance of hight, & majestie in her deportment, with a kinde of scorne, at her returne, rather more then usuall towards me. & did see that then I was made use of as upon necessity, not affection, as was formerly much pretended.

My endeavours was much slighted & daintily overseene. & she highly insenced that she had not bin waited upon by Mr Comber, which she looked upon it, as if he slighted her favour & rejected her freind. by not accepting that motion.

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Which unpardonable offence could not be passed with out great indignation. yet, soe secrett & subtile was this acted , that it could not be diserned till affter the malice broke out publickely against me & my Childe. Alice Thornton.

Lett this practice of hers be examined: whether she carried her selfe to me, either as a Christian; a freind; or a well wisher, who bublickly made me beleive, — nay, recommended — this match to me as (in her owne Judgment & choyse) we woulde be exceeding happie in it; for she did find Mr Comber to be a man of as great Piety & Parts, incomparable. as she never knew in all her life, & that she had solicited for him. advising both parties. (that is to say Mr Comber & my Daughter) to this buiseniess, above 3 yeares agone. she knew allso theire affec- tions. & the Progresse of all that conserne. & with a full gaile of consent, she went along with it as well, with my brother Denton as our selves. All; Which proves it an undoubted act of displeasure conseaved against me, and an act of revenge, thus, seeking to withdraw this mans intentions from the long intended match & that realy she had excelent, good oppinions of this gentleman to draw him to her bosome freind. whom she soe loved, & would preffer. And I know not how it can be distinguished from a treatch erous and unworthy part in a freind. thus to deale with me, affter soe long & serious debate of his intended marriage with my daughter, with her owne counsell, advice & aprobation. And soe fallsely to undermine the same for her owne partiall & secrett designes: first, to have offred her selfe to bring a match about with mrs Katherine Farrer, (which she tould him would be of great advantage to him, & then, when that failed & he would not close with her — against his full intentions & our Resolutions already long since agreed uppon.

But this did not sattisfie her, till she had made a new triall & assault upon his loialty, by the last expedittion.

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Related of Mrs Batt. in all which time, since her last comeing to Newton, ever endeavouring to with draw by insinuations & exclent plausability Mr Combers affections from my daughter, affter her evill designes was hatched against us at Newton. Thiese are full proofe of her great admiration of this man with 100 more triks: Telling him that she had soe great an honour for him. that he deservd a better fortune & wife then she was. for there was like to be nothing worthy of his Parts & deservings. & that he would be undon, & never live comfortable life, & she wished him soe well that she could desire him the best wife in the world. ever admiring his perfections & insinuated soe much, that she gott his sermon notes or heads, & then write them over & calld them her owne. (soe did she with him about his Coates of Heraldrie of the Nobilittie of England.

Ever seeking opportunities when to use Artifices to her owne purpose of insinuation; which can be testified for truth. to ingraciate into his affection, non indevouring to admire his person, & all expressions imaginable. then her selfe.

At the same time, though at secrett opportunitis. she would come to my daughter, Alice. telling her that she wished her soe well, and loved her for her good nature & vertue, that she would have her marry the best husband in the world & that she deservd it; & that, if those things were true that Mr Comber was Charged with, he was not worthy to live, & God forbid she shoud have him. with abundance of such insinuations to this purpos. Naly tould her, she thanked her for her love, but she was boud not to beleive evill of any. unlesse she should see it, &. that she had never knowne any unhansomenesse from him in all her life, it was true she had an affection for him, for she see noe other cause. for she had receaved much good from him for her soule. & she would have don well to have shewed her dislike before. & to that purpose. thanking her for propounding one of her owne relations to her. for she was not worthy of such a person of hon.or. And that she hoped to God 244 he would direct her in her choyce, when she did mary, that she might lead a comfortable life in the feare of God though not soe high in the world, &cet cetera. And she could never beleive any such ill of Mr Comber, as those said which tould her, for she knew his conversation to the contrary.

Upon which discourse. Mrs Danby did noe more insist upon any more to her. but grew to hate her more. notwith- standing all my daughters observance, & attendance on her. Aterafter her returne from hoouly; & Madam Danbys to Malton. I endeavoured with Mr Th.Thornton to gett her comp- any thither. that I might have reconsiled her & her sister. but she could not be prevailed with upon noe tearmes, nor soe much as to write to her in a civill way. But said, severall times, she had as leve see the Deivill as her.

Soe that I went only with my brother Denton. thither, and had amost teadious & ill jorney, beeing ~~soe~~ sicke as well when I came there, as backe againe. as I had like to have died. Upon my adresse to Madam Danby, I found her very Civill to me but soe highly insenced against Kitts wife as I did admire. And, at first, would not scarse heare me speake for her att all: saing that since she saw me last, she had bin informd of her Perfidious Railing & dishonour in all things, makeing her guilty as much as her lieing toung & godly Railing could doe, of the horiblest sins of the world. & she would doe nothing because of her wicked malis.

And that, for all what I did for her, she was unworthy of it because she had Railed on me too. for a requitall. But, I said, I could not beleive any such thing of her who had soe much religion. &cet cetera. And I thought her wronged. Begging that she would not beleive any thing any thing against her from Evill instruments that sowed discord betwixt them. And at the last, with much adoe, endevrd to prevaild that she would, for my sake, give them a sufficient provission. & settle 80l per Annum on her & her Children. she said that, if she would except 60l a yeare. which was all that she could doe. they should 245 have it don, & that she would gett Kit a place in a troope & give them theire furniture & fitt him with accoutrements of all things for it. And, if she see them endeavour to live, she would give her 10l or 5l at a time for incouragment when she came to see her. but I, haveing noe committion to accept of 60l per Annum. from my neece Danby but a charge to the Contrary, could not promise for her. only presed for 80l, leaveing her to consider of it because 60l would not pay theire debts. And I would acquaint Mrs Danby with her proposalls. and would give her an account.

To that end I did, at my returne to Newton, give her as favourable an account of my embassie as I could. consealing all speeches which should give her the least cause of trouble.

But Mrs Danby was not inclinable to accept of her sisters offers. but stood upon her high horrse. She would either have 80l a yeare settled upon her and her Debts promised to be paid, or she would never inslave her selfe againe to live as she had don with her Children. she could tell how to live otherwise, if she might not live hansomly with them.

After a daies time or two. It was thought fitt I should write to Madam Danby againe to second my solicitation for her: And a letter was contrived by consent. wherein I writ with as much humble submission as a Pettioner for another could dicttate; only some clauses was put in from Mrs Danbys owne mouth, (wherein she said she could not subsist under 80l a yeare; & if it weare till 7 years. & there debts paid). Madam Danby returnd me a most sharpe & bitter Answer: that since I was soe positive for kitts wife, & that she would not except of her free offers by me. which she was not obleiged to otherwise then by her good will. she would never give her any thing att all. & that she had made her brags she had better freinds then her husbands. & could provide for her selfe, she might. & that she would take caire of her hus- band & the Children she had, to bring them up. & provide 246 For them; and him. but would never have any thing to doe for her. with severall such like expressions. soe much was she disobleiged for her high demands. And upon this account did she cast her off. nor would have nothing to doe with her further. And was soe much displeased at me that I, then, quite lost her favour. Neither could I see any requittall in the other; but a slighting for my faith fullnesse & goodwill. Yett still, I shall not faile of my duty of Charity to pray for those in necessity. & forgive nesse that hates me with out a cause.

Uppon my Sad condittion, & Sickenesse that beffell me by the Slanders Raised against me: July 20th, 1668.

Notwithstanding all my true & earnest endevours to shew my great comiseration, & Charity, affection & love I had towards this Gentlewoman. which not only was shewed to her as my bosome freind. in whose freindship I rejoyced & thought my selfe happie in beeing instrum- entall to doe any thing servisable to her in faithfullnesse & affection as well in testimonys of gratitude for what kindenese I reciaved in my former sicknesses, & 2 Child. ; as also of her low Estate; beeing comd into my Sisters family, There was nothing awanting in my familie, or my selfe which she might not freely command. (wittnesed by all People that knew my actions & would speake nothing but truth. nor any thing displeased her. but I tooke it don to my self. yet, had I never, till now; cause to bewaile my sad fortune in her disaffection, nor felt the sad consequents of the falling of from that League of amity & freindship which was of a long time (even affter 6 yeares acquaintance, contracted with her. I may now see my folly. when tis too late, to bewaile my Misery; not to foresee That, Possibly, to be true; which I could not beleive. Those which serves there freinds for theire Private Ends, may have them turne. 247 to be theire bitterest adversaries; And repine at there happienesse, when themselves are miserable, or infortunate. Some of this Gentle. w.gentlewoman's sinester indeavours has bin declard by mee, with there profe being very evident. Endeavring to have gotten subsistance more to her sattisfaction under theire Roofes, when she should have brought that match to perfection. beeing that which was conjectured, by her eager designes. haveing wholey cast of those former freindships, which she pretended for me. I need not examine the injustice, or wrong don in this action. but should have waived any thing, (as I did of this nature. had it rested there; & not proseeded to such high indignities against my person, & the Familie from whence I desended. Persons of hon.or, vertue & worth, whose Ashes long since was Buried in the unspotted bed of hon.or, And therefore could be nothing else but of the old Serpents production to defile the bodies (when dead) of those he had noe part in, when liveing. That through the scandalls of theire sides to forge speares to pearce there liveing Posterity; & not of that Spiritt which commands; Thou shalt not Raise a false report. nor speake Evill of noe man, much less to joyne with the wicked & scorners against there owne knowledge, & experience, of them that feares God, least they bring on them selves that punishment spoke of in Psallme the 1st v. the 4th, 5, 6, Pro.Proverbs 24: 8th: He that deviseth to doe Evill, shall be called a mischievous person: 28 v. Be not a wittnesse against thy neighbour with out cause: & deceive not with thy lips. Too sadly have I experienced this, Pro. 25: 18, 19. Confidence in an unfaithfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, & a Sd foot out of joynt. A man that beareth fallse wittnesse against his Neighbour, is a maule, & a sword, & a sharpe Arrow.

Yet, such has bin my hard, miserable fortune to meete with all in this time of my life, when the other heavy afflications & trialls from God lay upon my selfe, deare husband & Children. I must taste of this bitter Pill too as one ingreadient of the Mixture of my Saviours cup. which I will endeavour to. 248 Entertaine with humility & Patience that I may put on the Lord Jesus Christ & him Crucified. And I know that tribu- -lation worketh faith, & faith, patience, &cet cetera. Although I am a shairer with Job. yett will I not part with my inte- -grity while I die. Indeed, I hope by these afflictions to be the more benifitted, in the true excersises of those Graces he bestowed in mercy, & by the falshoods & cruelty of men be the stronger fixed upon God alone. learning the Councell of the wise man in EclletEcclesiasticus. 27th v. 1, 2d, 3, where he describes the propertie of a fallse freind. saing Every freind saith, I am his freind also: but there is a freind only in name. 2 v. Is it not a greife unto death when a companion & freind is turned an Enimie. v 3. O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the Earth with deceipt:

4 There is a companion; which rejoyceth in the prosperity of a freind: but in the time of trouble will be against him. Beware of a counseller, & know before what he needeth. for he will counsell for himselfe. lest he cast lot against thee And say unto thee, thy way is good: & afterwards he stand on the other side, to see what will befall thee. Had the profession of Religion in these Parties, bin reall, they could not have dealt thus treatcherously, both as to the heareing. & consealing my wrongs, ( in her owne bosom). , & not only soe, but made it her bussinesse of examina tion, amongst the servants of the house, how to scrue out any sircumstanciall passages, (weare they never soe harmlesse & innocent in themselves) that the instruments of the Devill wicked -ly perverted not to theire owne advantage. & corupt hearts charged with mallice & hipocrisie; whoe being Evill themselves; & reproved by me for theire imodest cari- age; had set theire inventions on worke, how to abuse my innocency in others oppinions, when theire owne con- siences Could not but beare wittnese against themselves of my chaste & virtuous behavour in my life & conversation 249 amongst them. Nor can it be imaginable; that one whose heart God had framed soe tender, even as I may say & I hope (with out boasting) (like Josiahs); sanctified from his youth, accustomed with the feare of the Lord; & trained up in the Schoole of a Crucified saviour; with abundance of Afflictions & trialls. beeing fearefull of the least sin, either in, Children, or servants, or indeed any that might indanger the soule of all People under my Caire or Roofe. That I say, such a heart should be abandoned by God, or prone of it selfe to doe any thing unseemly, the Lawes of Morallitie or divinitie is very strange. Nay, I must with all hu- militie accknowledge the Gift & Grace from God. and with an unfeined gratitude to his majestie; whoe hath made me even from my Youth to abhorre; not only the acts of these natures. but all inclinations: tendances, or Complian ces; which might defile the bodie; or Polute that Precious Soule Reedemed at soe deare a Rate, as by the blood of the Etternall Son of God. who hath commanded us. be yea holie, as I am Holie: Possessing our vessells in holinesse & Righteousness for ever. And must declare that it has bin my dailie studie & indeavours to aime at that perfection which is commanded us. be yea perfect, as my heavenly Father is perfect: not that I dare to imagine tis possible to attaine that full perfecti on in this life, soe weake & fraile; yet, I follow affter, if that I may possiblie obteine that for which I am aprehended of Christ Jesus: All though. I daily cast my selfe downe at the foote stoole (in the true sence of my owne unworthinesse;) of Christ Jesus, acknowledging with St Paull, though I know nothing by my selfe yet am I not thereby Justified. And when I have don all I can: I am but an unprofittable servant.

Neither would I have presumed to have spoke soe much up pon this subject, weare I not compelld to sett forth Gods Glory in my preservation & innocency: in the vindication of my Life from all malicious imputations cast upon me. And I know that St Paull; when he was dispised, spoke more of himselfe then otherwise he would have don; And I hope to leave these lines as a justification of my innocency & integrety: 250 For the instruction of my deare Children; For whose saks, I may say these sufferings has in part befallen me. By my great caire & sedulity: how to Establish for theire future subsistance. Education, in the true faith: & Preser- -vation from Ruine: (which feares too much lead me to dout since all our Estate was settled for Debts, &cet cetera).

Nor was Mrs Danby ignorant of the causes of all my sorr- owes. I haveing imparted to her the knowledge of our Conserns. Had her Charity bin as much towards the Preservation of my hon.or, untucht in it's Roote & branches, as mine was to Releive her selfe under my Roofe by all imaginable kindnessees & respects. And to have declared what she had heard, to my selfe, whose Eares was ever ready to hear her discourse) instead of telling her stories, (or Rather) forgeries) of her Maide & others to my brother Denton. I had not bin soe irreparably abused: but have found out a way to have righted my selfe long before I came to the knowledge of being wronged.

But, yet even this perticuler passage of revealing those lies to my Brother. wee had too much cause to thinke them to have bin don out of Polocie against me; & insinuation to him. It did, by the mercy of God, prove a greater Argument, of my wrong and abuses; to him, who had bin a dailie wittnese of my carriage for many yeares together. & thos many things, which I was charged with (as crimes) he himselfe had bin made known to, in every respect; & justified such actions against my accusers: he beeing extreamly greived for my suffer ings. & a faithfull freind in my adversittie.

Haveing bin privie to all transactions of our private con- -serns & writings; which was not fitt to publish to strangers or servants: & yet the nature of envy is such to make that evill which they cannot understand. And surely these People envied me, either a beeing in this world: or the grace of God in my actions; who maliciously invented Prod- igeous lies. & fomented them under the pretext of an hon.or for my person;

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Neither could I be informed of such slanders against me till by Mrs Danbys maides taking an occassion to fall out with me about the dressing the Chamber, when it was very foule: she, beeing in that womans place (which they pretended had first raised those lies; And desiring to have bin in my owne maides place; sought an occassion to undermine her of that place; or else to give me warning to provide for one in hers: haveing a desire to be att liberty; (which I was not un willing to in regard of my selfe: but because I kept her with me till my Nece Danby was resettled in her owne house, & then she was to goe with her. & to have don Mrs Danby a kindnesse in it: But, on the contrary; it proved an infortu -nate act. by reason of theire disgusts both of the mistresse & servant against my selfe & familie. yett, it was the occa- -sion that brought these misteries of forgeries to my knowledge: The maide telling me that she could tell me whoe had abused & wronged me in my Familie; but not unlesse she went a- way for makeing a mischeife, as she called it.

Upon which words, I tould her; that I should have bin beholden to her if she knew I was wronged, & to lett me know by whom. but she said, noe, not unlesse she went a way. I said, it was very hard if I could not be informed of the injury was don with out she went away: & I would be determined by her mistresse. Soe, finding her mistresse in the same humour — having agreed to gether that I should not be righted by them unlesse she went a way. — it troubled me much to see such dealing. as also that I was abused, as was pretended by others; when as she, which was my freind, ~~should~~ had; consealed the matter, to make her owne advantage against me. Nor should I have bin tould any thing to have righted my selfe att all. if her maids quaraling unjustly had not produced this effect.

What was the cause of these proseedings. God knowes; for I had not given either of them just occasion, whom I had treated like sisters in my house, but it was disernable. that some sinister end was at the botome, & not out of Love to the truth or me that things was thus ordered.

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When I perceavd my selfe thus usued: rather then I could indure to lie under wrongs, and of what nature I knew not; nor how to come to understand them. I tould them that Barbara might doe as she pleased. if she did not like my service, she was free to please her selfe. though I could bin glad she would stay while her mistris staied. Upon this she was resolved to goe away. but I earnestly desired her mistres would give her leave to tell me. how I was ab used, & by whom. that I might not still contineue soe. & I should have bin obleiged to her if she would have tould me of it her selfe upon the account of freindship.

But Mrs Danby carried soe infinitly high & strangly, because her maide was to goe from her that I gott nothing but scornes upon my intreaties, which much amazed me: Although she gave me possitive warning to provide, telling me she would not stay any longer. To what hight then was these persons comed: whoe did not sticke to affirme I turnd her off. & not she me. which I have wittnesse of. but to lay it on me. Munday, the 20th of July, was the day apointed, upon my intreaty, to be informed by them of my wrongs: which indeed had neare, have bin my last in this life, falling out of my perfect health, into a very dangerous sicknesse, on the occassion of sudaine & violent greife & terror, which I was seized upon, in Mrs Danbys Chamber att Newton beeing most straingly surprised at Barbaras accusation, before my face, of my servant Hanna Ableson for telling her severall stories from another servant, (very great lies & fallshoods against my selfe. of such a nature as I did abhorre. & much unbecoming any to heare & not to have acquainted me with at first, that I might have brought that person to condigne punisment (as Mr Thornton would have don, if it had bin from her it was laid on: but it was doubted to be of new invention to have outed this maide of my favour: who, when she heard those horrid things. did utterly deny them all & cleared her selfe on oath; that she never knew nor heard any thing from me 253 in all her life; but what was good, chaste & vertuous. & that she might as well take away her life by fallse wittnesse as wrong both me & her; but Barbara carried her spleene on soe unhansomly, with such loud clamors against me & her, unchristianly agravating, accusing. & laughing in scorne against my Person, & the Hon.or of my Family.

Namly, in these words, like the (old accuser of the breathren) that I was naught, my mother, my sister, & all I came on, & this soe imprudently before her mistresse. That I busst out into an excessive, lamentable sorrow. & weeping, with such exceeding violence. not beeing able to containe, nor answer, much, saveing that I could rather 1000 times have lost my life then to be robed of those inestimable Jewells as the hon.or of my deare & blesed Parents, & freinds: And that I hoped God would judge my cause & theres. against all these slanders of the Deivills inventions. & it like to have cost my Life then: had I not had comfort in God, and the testimony of my owne Consience to beare me wittnesse, of mine & theire innocencys: And I was soe highly conserned to hear those holy persons graves defiled by unjust calumnies, which had they bin nipt in the bud there might have bin redemptn ~~but~~ from the first raisers, but now they had don me the most highest act of malice to conseale thes lies which they laid upon one Mary Breaks, which was gon to Richmond: & they requited me thus, by there abominable abusing my Charity in releiveing her under my Roofe. Making themselves instruments in my persecution under pretence of the accu- sing my maide, Hanna. which yet was indeavred to be drawen into the plotts against me. But, these hiest agravations of miseries, don by my owne bosome freind, is more treacherous & ingratefull then I can expresse. & had almost broke my heart to be thus dealt with by her that knew my Inocency (which shewes she had a minde to revenge some Peake against us to heare her husbands family thus abused, & satt as a Judge to condemne but not rightly to determine).

The noyse of this womans Railing against me, my Daughter Alice & maide. did cause my deare husband come to 254 her dore; & would have broke it open. & have kiked them both downe which had soe basely injured and abused my selfe & family. but I begged & intreated him that he would not doe it, for my nece had noe place of beeing: but he was resolved to have her out that had carried soe ingratfully towards me. which had bin a mother to her at all times; Nay, she carried soe highly base. that, affter I was come out of her Chamber, (almost halfe dead with sorrow at those lies & the impudence of her slander ous woman, who was sett upon my selfe, my daughter & maide that she would not beare wittnese as fallse as others against me: That they both laughed & Jered, & rejoyced together that they had revenged themselves on me, & when Naly tould Barbara, it was not a businesse to laugh at; basely said againe. what caired she, it deserved nought but laughing at: with other oprobrious, Skoffing languages; which caused abundance of greife in my poore, innocent Childe; who was persecuted by these People as well as the Mother.

And all this was don because they failed of there unjust designes; that nought else would sattisfie but a revenge that might remaine to all Posteritie to blaspheame the honour & good fame of those, which (they both did avouch even in theire madnesse, they could not charge us with any thing. Upon my charging of Mrs Danby, at that time, & her maide to shew what she had seene or knowne of me of that nature, they solomnly cleared us them selves never to have seene or heard any thing them selves: but laid those lies on others: It was then more sin & shame for them to wrong me in that, & either to beleive, or keepe it in theire breasts; contrary to theire owne knowledge: & now to be excecu -tioners, affter 7 or 8-months consealment, of others' deaths.

And under (a pretence (which was hardly gained tto) instead of healing those wounds of others; they rejoyced to have such a poisoned Arrow to wound my afflicted, despised Soule with, which Mrs Danby knew soe innocent & tender in that (it was worse then death): And then to rejoyce att my deplor-able 255 Condittion. which I was brought into thereby, in there abominable behaviour against me; which yet deservd the curtosie of a christia; nay, of poore Prisoner; not to be accused; condemned, & ex- cecuted before a just & legall hearing. And that by such who could not Charge me with the guilt of such accusations. If Heaven dealt noe better with the most righteoust upon the Earth; there would be non saved at that great day: but we know that Judge determines just Judgement. with out Partialitie, with out hipocricie; envy, or malice. all which are the Badges of the father of lies, (Who) if we heire set our selves to fight under Christs banner, bidding him defiance, not be subject to his temptations & wickednesse. will surly Raise a mist, to interrut our Peace; & hinder our Progresse to heaven. which, if he prevaile in, he has don his worke & we are ruined: but, if the old serpent cannot prevaile. yet there shall not be lefft one stone unturnd to make us mise rable. Neverthelesse, though, my Enimies desires, was, & theire secretts intents might endeavour to that End:

yet, he that is the Keeper of Israell, & neither slumbers, nor sleepes. which saw the inward motions & thoughts of my heart, knew my life free from, & innocent of any such evills; but on the contrary what sorrowes of ♥ I sustaind many wayes for the good & releife of my husband & Children,

The establishment of his word & gospell; with other honnest, vertuous & laudable deisgnes, begged of him to be full- filled in his due time. that I might end my bones in peace, having taken caire for those I ought in duty; He did, I say, please to lett me find favour in my deare husbands sight, who knew my designes. & all other Good Peoples. soe that I hope God will preserve his servants from that sin of false accusing, judgeing, or beleiving any of these things against me. But I was wonderfully Cleared from all such wrongs by all my servants in my family.

For it was my desire that my brother Denton would. call them before him; examining each of them perticulerly, what they could say of my actions at any time. charging them to speake the truth; Uppon which action; they did every one of them, declaire upon theire oaths that they never 256 In all there lives saw, nor heard any thing from me but what tended to the good of there soules: & that if they should say any bad of me; they should dishonour God, & wrong me And pull a currse on themselves (knowing nothing of me but Civill & honest: & that they were not worthy to live that spoke otherwise of me. saing more to this purpose: And they were all greived to see me in that lamentable condition for those lies against me; And did desire that I would not beleive any ill of them; for they had never said such things; nor ever would while they lived, nor had they ever seene any uncivill action or word from Mr Comber in there lives. but blessed God for his ministry. After which examination, it was observd that Mrs Danbys intentions was not to have my innocency cleared soe- much as to have her Maides words justified In her accu- sation. but my gracious God dealt more mercifully with me in proveing me of all the servants; which dusrtdurst not avouch soe abominable falshoods:

But let all be rightly determined : whether it was not of pure revenge, after the march to Hooly, & her lossing her expectations of this man: That should harbour soe damnable a Plott against our innocent lives in this way. to be even with him & me: (whom because he could not be with drawen from my daughter in marriage. & which she knew was then in agitation as well as my brother Denton: Thus to requite us both. & with one sling to kill two birds: By that to make the world be-leive what a bad Person I was to marry my Childe to such an one if it had bin true. And yet surely, for all her side blowes in the fomenting of those lies purposly to mischeive me: yet she confest she had heard them long before she went to Hooly. Then could she not possibly beleive them: because she had such strong indeavours to have this Gentleman married to her sheife & Excellent freinds: whom she strongly wooed him for. which was an undeniable argument that both our injurys & wrongs weare grounded upon some other grounds then truth. And will, I hope, at last produce a better effect 257 in her, even of repentance, for all my grand indignitys don against me upon all accounts. All though that can be little sattisfaction as to the reparation of my honor & good Name (thus injuriously blasted by her & other instruments) As allso the dishonour don to God, in the abusing ~~his~~ of his minister, Whoes Person she has soe justified & admired; ever s since she knew him: And recomended him but lately before for her Cosen as a most vertuous Person.

And full well she knew my caire for the disposall of my Childe to such, when I did offten tell her that I would marrie my Children to theire graves before I would doe it to any man & was given to vicious humors. & chose this man in confidence of beeing free from such. And now I am to take notice of the grand mercys of my God that would not lett me perish through the evill imagination of those that rose up against me, but affter an unmeasurable Portion of sorow & greife (haveing kept my bed 14 daies, weak & feeble through the exceeding paines of the mother & spleene & other sicknesses thereon: yet at length he raised me up againe, giveing me a great Comfort in my deare Aunt Nortons company. whoe, hearing of my sad misfortune & weaknesse, came to put a stop to my troubles. The Lord God, seeing my intentions Cordially good: would not suffer me to fall. but gave me releife in his providence: & by the satt- isfaction receaved in my good freinds had an opportunity to give a full account of my innocency. yet, they did not question. nor beleive any of those slanders. but, when they perceaved how I had bin used, was very much troubled for my sufferings, indevouring to comfort my spiritt soe disconsolate. I will, therefore, humbly acknowledge the goodnesse & assistance of God in my suports, of my good freinds; when I was. in deepe distresse. through the mischevi- esness of a false Tounge; many innocent has lost theire lives & I am sure this had well nightwell-nigh taken myne. taken with all its sircumstances. lieing under the scourge of secrett malice with out the least provokation or desert: then, to have my freind to turne an unjust enimiey: through whoes treacherous compliance I was the deeplier wounded. (when She knew all my Life; & that my endeovrs was for the 258 Establishment of this poore family in truth & holinesse) & that even then; when all was hatched against me. with what sorrow & affliction I lived in (upon the greifes for my dere husbands weaknesse. & the troubles of his Estate. God knows, but I leave her to the just, Judge & comitt my cause to his holy determination before whose Tribunall we must all apeare. And whoes dread I sett before my Eyes from my youth: & whose mercy has never left me, never since I was borne, but he has kept me from the strivings of the ungodlie: I may say, as hana did, Talke no more soe ex ceeding proudly, lett not Arrogancy proceed out of your mouth. for the Lord is a God of knowledge; and by him actions are weighed.

Well might this good woman say soe; which was wronged in the opinion of Eli and accused to be drunke. but she said, noe, my Lord. thinke not thy servant a daugher of beliall: I am a woman of sorrowfull spiritt.

And even thus was I, a poore, helplesse creature. haveing great burdens & temporall afflictions on me, wrongfully abused for the discharge of my duty, (as a faithfull wife; a m'ther & mistresse in my house; as this hanna which praie'd for a Son. And as the Lord did free this woman from the suspition of that sin: soe I hope he will doe for me. which has never don noe more either possitively, or intentionally, to deserve these slanders. my soule beeing imployed & desires more for the things of another life then this. & how to meete my dearest Saviour with a pure & holy heart;

Such was my deare Aunts caire & charitable affection towards me. seeing me in such a deplorable a condittion of weaknesse & greife for these infinit wrongs & slanders; that she see I did not take any comfort in my life. & that I could not sleepe but still the frights & terrour seised upon me, as if those 2 persons, which soe abused me, were standing ready to teare my Eyes &, as I fancied in my dreams, would have killd me; soe grand an apprehension, I had of those words & actions I have related: That my deare husband & my Aunt thought there was almost noe way ~~left~~ Left to take. 259 how to preserve my life; which was brought into a second hazard by Mrs Danbys Repettions of her Maids slanders to my Aunt Norton: indevouring by that to cleare her owne unworthinesse to -wards me & base abuess of Mr Comber. causing my maide, hana, to be arrained before my Aunt & herselfe to avouch the old lies & new ones freshly invented: But hana was still soe farr from acknowledging them. That she did attest the falshood of them all with great ingidnityindignity, & tould her she did endevour to make her guilty of those lies & abominable slanders that she vowed before the Lord she was innocent of. That she might make her guilty of her mistresses murder & damne her owne soule. & that she would vindicate me to her death, beeing the best & chastestest woman in the world: & could not prevaile with all her threats against her. When my Aunt perceaved her malice, she tould her that she did not deserve what I had don for her in all things which she had heard from her selfe: And although she, her selfe, did wittnesse me to be wronged. it was a signe she would faine have some occassion against me were it never soe unjust.

And affter wards: upon her telling her that my husband desired she should prepaire her selfe to goe from hence. & that I would procure her a coach if she pleasd to goe any whither amongst her freinds: Upon which, she said, I promised to keepe. her, & she would not goe out of this house. But my Aunt tould her, if I did soe. the more unworthy wretch was she that had soe abused me, & to this purpose, (the innocentest & faithfull freind she had.) At length, my good Aunt soe ordered the bussinesse that she named a day for her goeing; & there was a coach procured from Madam Grahme: my noble freind; which carried her to Yorke with 2 servants to waite on her. beeing on friday the 11th of sept. 68September 1668.

At her departure, I gave her to suplie her necessities 3l more to the former 5l sent to her: she haveing had out of my Purse that yeare about 20l in all, with charges about her Jorneys, & all suplies of Linnin & other necessarys.

I was exceding weake in bed when she went. nor did I hope to recover either health or strength againe had it not bin out of the infinitt Riches & goodnesse of my gracious God; which wrought miracles on me, his faithfull, innocent handmaide. 260 In giveing me the praises & teares, comforts & assistances of my deare husband & Aunt, with my good brother Denton & all other of my faithfull freinds. who could not be but convincd of those horible wickednesse in these passages related. & all endevoured my restoration againe: that my Life might be spaired to give Glory to the God of my salvation.

One passage more must not be forgotten, which my brother DentDenton And Aunt was wittnesse of: that Mrs Danby, beleiving (as she said, me & Mr Comber to be wronged: did solmnely sweare to them that she would never open her mouth against us of any thing while she breathed: & since she went away has endevoured to be reconsiled to me againe that she might injoy the same privileges as before.

But surely neither Gods Law, nor mans. can obleige me to entertaine those parties; which has soe highly sinned a- gainst both. for those wounds are incurable which she gave & will not leave me to my Grave. Lett noe good Christian taxe my Charity. the Sins were of such a nature against my hon.or & Families; that it would confirme those lies which has bin Against me. And a great dishonour of God & christian Relig -ion: &, therefore, not of that private conserne, (with in the verge of my private Charity. as of a petty, perticuler injury.

Nor would I, for the world, Patronise any thing of this nature who has soe cleare a consience towards God & man. nor open the mouths of the wicked justly; against the Person of those of whom I know noe evill.

In this I will not faile, that my Praiers may be heard for her true & unfeigned Repentance: that God may pardon those great & high indignities against, him selfe, the truth & us, together with all others contributaries, in this Tragiedie, Least they perish in there iniquities.

P Uppon my lamentable abuses of fallse slanders raised against me. July 20th, 1668.

O: Lord God, who hearest the Prayers of them that call upon thee in theire calamities and distresses, have mercy upon me thy weake & afflicted hanmaid & servant. 261 overwhelmed with the stormes of ungodly & wicked doers, whoes tongues are like rasiers; sharpe as a two edged sword. Deliver my Soule, O Lord, from lying lips: and from deceit full tongues which have not God all waies before theire Eyes. Loe, O Lord, they have laine in waite for my Soule. soe mall- iciously were they sett against me. And fallse wittnesse did rise up: they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

With the flatterers were bussie mockers: which gnashed upon me with there teeth. They gaped on me with there mouths: & scorne was in there hearts. Lord, how long wilt thou looke upon this? O, deliver my Soule from the Calamities which they bring on me: (& my darling) from the instruments of the Lion and Dragon. Awake, & stand up to judge my cause & stand on my side which am opressed for thy sake. avenge thou my Cause, my God & my Lord. Make them be asshamed for all those injuri -ous practices & fallse accusations against thy innocent servant: that the Proud doe me noe wrong. Judge me, O Lord, my God, according to thy mercy & Righteousnesse. & according to the cleannesse of my heart in thy eyesight. O, lett not there mischeivous imaginations prosper against me, least they be to proud. let them not triumph against my soule. for thou only searchest & triest the thoughts. neither let them triumph over me; for I am thy servant & humble creature, redeemed by thy Precious blood. I beeseech thee, O Lord, lett not theire lieing slanders prevaille to make me miserable, either to blemish my Person, family or Posterity. For thou knowest that against these People have I don noe wrong, that is risen up against me, but allwaies ready to releive there necessitys & wants. And, loe, now they take my contrary part. lett not there imaginations prosper because I put my trust in thee. Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: & fight thou against them that fight against me & persecute me: say unto my soule, I am thy salvation, Yea, O Lord, our God, who art the sheild of the oppressed & wronged. the buckler of all that trust in thee. de liver us from all the assaults & intendments of our secrett, malicius Enimes against us, who, with out cause, make pitts for our souls. lett the Angell of the Lord scatter all mischeivous immaginations; least they triumph over us & say, we have devoured them.

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Strive thou with them that strive with us, and fight against them that fight against us. Preserve us still our inno- cency, that we sin not against thee, nor doe injustice to them, & restore me to thy peace againe. which these People has seeked to disturbe: even the preservation of that mercy which thou didst give me, (that fame of precious oyntment before thee, all my daies, if it be thy blessed pleasure too give me that comfort. but, if otherwise it seeme good to thy wisdome. yet lett me still remaine thine in all afflictions & trialls, retaining a pure mined in ana Chaste bodie that I may tread the steps of my dearest saviour. & daily take up his Crosse & follow him. Thou hast never failed me, o my God, even when I was in deepe distresse & anguish of soule & Spirit.

All which I take as grand suports of my heart & incoura- gments to serve the Lord with all my ♥ who hath never failed nor forsaken his weake handmaide, destitute & despised. I know, O Lord, thou both canst, & dost me good by this heavy & sad affliction, as well as by the rest of thy chastisments. Teach me, O Lord, heereby not to rest upon the Arme of flesh, & pardon my too much relieing upon this worldly freindship when I should have had thee my only counseller.

Let me be the better by thy Rod, in the scourge of wicked Toungs who, although they may seeke occasion to slay me & Roote out the remembrance of me from the Earth. yet let them not prevaille. for though they currse, yet blesse thou. & behold the anguish of my soule: for out of the deepes have I called, Lord, save me, I perish if thou hearest not. But still will I hold me fast by God, my saviour, for my guide & direction, suport & deliverance. puting my trust in thee, O Lord, my strength. O, stablish & settle my ♥ in thy faith, feare & love, that neither life nor death may seperate me from the Love of God.

And blessed be thy holy name that hast still preserved my deare husbands love & affection intire to me all my life. And I desire humbly to acknowledge thy infinit goodnesse to me that did soe. for it was not in the power of these wicked (Toungs (though indevoured to doe it) to shake or remove those Christian, faithfull, & conjugall bonds of intire and. 263 dearest affections betwixt us. Thou, O Lord, having given us thy grace, uniting our ♥s in that holy band of marriage wherein we lived. both of us hateing the very mention off all such vilde abominations as this world was too full of. but blessed be thythee mercy & grace of our good God, whom we serve day & night, for makeing us live in this holy band of above this 16 yeares. haveing this to comfort of our ♥s, that we are his undefiled servants, faithfull to each other. desiring to follow Christ in the Regeneration. & receive the Crowne of a sanctified wedlocke with him in Glory.

Lord, blesse my deare husband, who thou hast given me. with a long & comfortable life. with the hapie opportunity of his Childrens religious Education. &, if it be thy pleasure, to see there disposall in marriage to the intrest of true Religion. That they may be thine in life and death. And now, behold, I have taken upon me to speake unto the dreadfull God of heavn & Earth. Lord, make my soule for ever thankfull to the most high God which hath had regard to his poore, weake, humble servant. what am I that thou should have given me such testimonys of thy favour to suport my soule in all calaminities, & that thou hast given me part of the bitter cupe of my saviour to drinke. Lord, uphold me in it: lett it not crush me to destruction, but to mendment of any iregularitys of my fraile life.

And I will give thee the Glory of thy works of mercys & favours for ever. I most humbly begge, on the account of my Christs Intercession, that I may have the grace of perserverence, & truly thankfull ♥ to walk worthy of these inestimable mercys, & glorifie thee in the midest of all my trialls & sufferings. makeing a way for me to Escape. I will magnifie thee, Lord most high, & Praise his holy name. besech thee that I may at last be delivered from the scourge of evill Toungs. & that, by a holy & Pieious life, I may shew my gratidute to thy majestie & ever rejoyce in thy salvation. And I beseech thee so to order to the circumstances & opportunitys of my life. that I may live in the society of holy People. quiet & Peacable. in righteousnes & truth for Jesus Christs, his sake. to whom, with the father & holy spiritt, be all Glory. Power, dominion & praise for ever more.

Amen.

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My son, Robert Thornton, preserved, July: 25, 1668.

It pleased God to give my sweete Robin Thornton a very great deliverance uppon the 25th of July. In his play, with his Sister, Kate, & cosen, willy Denton, standing in the wind- -ow in the Hay laith at Newton, which is above 4 yeards from the Earth. he fell downe in to the laine. neare a great stone which, if he had light on, might have killed him (falling soe high. soe that the danger was very great). & his deliverance also, & ought to be haad in remembrance with gratitude and hearty thanks to the God of Heaven, which sent his Angell to preserve my poore Childe from death, or any harme, save a lumpe on his face.

The Glorious name of Jehovah, be praised & magnified for his Life & the Preservations thereof from all casulties, , dangers, Sicknesses. dislocations. & Evills. And giveing him a compotent shaire of understanding, witt: memory, a loving & affable nature. with severall other good guifts tending to the accomplishment of his Person with naturall in- dowments. but I doe adore the Lords name & mercy which hath begun some dawning hopes of his grace in his heart; Appearing in his beeing affected with good instructions in the knowledge & feare of God. & his desire to be informed of all things conserning God. with notions of feare in hearing his Judgments. with severall pathaticall expressions of god & his wayes. one day, beeing about 4 yeares old, he tould me of his owne acord: That God was a pure, holie, wise, & mercifull Spritt. But the Deivill was a wicked, lieing, malicious Spritt. was it not better to beleive this holy, good God & serve him. then that wicked, Evill Spiritt which would destroy us.; I must, therefore, with humble gratitud take notice with comfort in his mercy, which did not dispiedespise the prayers of his handmaide but given me a gracious answer to my humble suplications, when I wanted a son. for this blessing, I begged of the Lord, as Hanna did Samuell. And has dedicated him to his service even all his daies. further craveing the contineuance of his favour & Grace of his Spritt upon my Sonn. Endowing his ♥ from his Childehoode with all Christian virtues, (faith, knowledge, wisdome. & true under standing. to guide & direct 265 him in his youth to his riper Age to follow him. & walke in his wayes with a perfect heart even to his lives end.

Preserve him from the sinns, & vanities, follies, evill inclinations (either of custome. Examples. or naturall habitts. which might staine or polute his soule in thy sight. And from all temporall Evills soe farre as shall seeme fitt in thy wisdome to give him. And, finaly, I beseech thee, preserve him from Etternall sorow & misery in the world to come. Thus, consigning this, my childe, as a blessing to his Family. comfort to his weake mother, & Relations. & an instrument of the Glory of thee (his Creator, in this Life. serving thee faithfully in this generation in righteousnesse. And, at the last, may Joy- fully praise thee in Heaven. All which I most humblie & heartily begge for the lone sake of our dearest Lord & savior, Jesus Christ, his holie son. Amen & Amen.

A relation of the Last sicknesse, and Death of my deare & hon.redHonoured husband, Will.mWilliam Thornton Esquire, whoe departed this life at Malton, Sept.September 17th, 1668.

While I am in this Vaile of Teares, & shaddow of Death, I must not desire, nor expect more comforts of this Life & temporall mercys; then will preserve me from sinking in sorrow, or despaire under the Crosse. Even that shaire was denied my Saviour, the Captaine of our Salvation. when he fainted under it. & allmost dispaired by the sadder loads of our Sinns. well may I, miserable Creature, take up his Cup & pledge his love with love againe. his Life, heere, had little, or noe mixture, but gall & bitternesse. I have the beames of his sweete influences. injoying some tim the Sun shine of his favours behind the clouds of dispaire & afflictions: fare be it from me to repine at the great & wise disposer, the Lord of Heaven & Earths most infinitly wise disposittion, or to grudge at his dealing with me. for heere I am, Lord, make me thine & doe what thou willt with me, either for life or Death. The Lord best knowes how to propose & intermix Crosses with Comforts. Smiles with frownes. 266 To his Servants heere as shall be the best for them in proportion to theire Etternal Happinesse. And not as they shall thinke Fitt, which are but of yesterday, but himselfe, whoe sees not as man sees. haveing all things in Omnipotent & Omnicient Power. and shall tend most to his owne Glory. & devine gracious pleasure.

Noe Sooner was my strength in part recruted, begin- ing to returne againe Affter my deare Aunt Nortons departure home. & my deare husbands goeing that day to Mallton. (when I was soe weake that I kept my bed a week before & since her goeing away). soe, about the 14th day of september (they goeing a way upon the 11th) I gott up, beginning to rejoyce att my deliverance (from the late weaknesse & ill- -nesse both of the Plague of Slanderous Tounges) & the faintings abated something affter Dafeny Lightfoote came to see me.

But on that day, when first I Arrose out of bed. I had the sad newes of my deare & tenterly loving husbands falling sicke at Mallton brought to me in a letter to my Brother Denton. Which so sudainly surprised my spritt, yett exceeding weake. That I fell to a great trembling with excessive greife. & feares upon me for his life, and safty. soe that I went sicke thereupon to my sorrowfull bed; Immeadiatly Sending for Dr wittie to come to him. each day & night posting thither to let me know how he did.

Nor could I possibly, with out the losse of my life, be carried to see him, albeitt they could not keepe me from him till I was brought soe feeble by reason of an other accident that befell me in my greife. then was the grandest affliction upon my heart that could be. under which I had surely fainted (as it was my desire, rather then to have lost my Joy & comfort; had not the Almighty Power & mer cy of God miraculously upheld my spiritt from sinking.

On wednesday, I sent my Brother Denton & Mr Comber to my deare Joy att Malton. longing all that day to heare from him, still earnestly desiring to have gon my selfe but my freinds would not lett me. for feare of my. 267 Poore & miserable Life, which yett I despisd in comparison of him; soe, with much impatience. great feares, & some hope, I waited till night, when word was brought me from Dr wittie That I should be of good cheare & not cast away my Life, for I should have my deare husband home as well, as ever I had him in my life.

Soe that I endeavoured to comfort up my hopes in God, the Almightie. whose Power was infinitt as his mercy & sweetest Cleamency to us his poore Servants, had bin offten shewed. And powred out my Praiers & Teares abundan- -tly that night. for the preservation of the Life & health of my deare Husband with me. If it weare the good will & plea- -sure of our God. that the deare & sweete union & affectin intire in our lives together: might not be broke. nor we seperated by death. from the injoyment of each other. in him; If this might stand with the gracious pleasure of our gratious God, I made these. the requests of my soule, to him.

That night was spent in somme little Slumbers, but very unquiett & full of feares, trimblings & sad apprehensions. In the morning, my Brother Denton came home & very discreetely prepared me, with good advice & councell, to entertaine the Lords determinate will in all things with Patience & submittion. If the worst should fall upon me according to my feares. But with all, said that God could raise My Dearest Joy up againe were he never so weake, (as I had Experience of. if he see it fitt for us. Although, indeed, my deare heart was then very weake. At which words, my faintings renewed with my exceeding sorrows for the feares of beeing deprived of this, my Sole delight in this world, next under God. The Lord pardon my impatience in this conserne. which had, for the 3 last past yeares, bin weaning him, & my selfe from this world, through great & manifold tribulations.

Thus, betwixt hopes & feares, I remained till the next messen- -ger came. at 4 a clocke on Thursday in the affternoone. at which time I receaved the sad newes (for me) of my most Tirrable Losse that any poore woman could have; in being deprived of my Seewetsweet, & exceeding deare husbands Life.

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Such was the violency of prevailing passion, & affliction upon this change That I was allmost changed with him & ready to goe into the grave. that, as we had lived in holy marriage allmost 17 years, soe I might be his faithfull spouse in life & death. Great was my sorow & extre- -amity which had indured many sharpe Arrowes from the Lord. but this exceeded the rest of all temporall losses. Crosses & sorrowes that ever befell me. Now, beeing under a fresh gaile of stormes & tempests. Bereaved of my head & husband, my guide & suport in this life, left to be ttosed with the waves of sorrows & billowes of sadnesse & discont ent that usually attends the disttressed Estate of a discon- -solate widdow.

Oh, the Lord has broken in upon me like a mightiey water And powred upon me his indignation. great are my Cal- Amities & temporall troubles. my Cup is full. with most sad complaints may I bewaile. beeing bereaft of A most deare & tender. vertuous & loving husband. which tooke part with me all in my sorrowes & sufferings. comforted me me in sadnesses. we walked together. in deare love & union: his love was mine, & I was his, in sicknesse & health. &cet cetera. in his sufferings, I was afflicted: how can it be that I can subsist affter his losse. O, my Eyes run downe with teares night & day for the losse of this my Earthly delight. he, beeing gon to to our Heavenly Father, has left me to lament his losse from me & his poore, fatherlesse Children. Weake in bodie, afflicted in Spiritt. lowe in Estate. losses in my dearest freinds & Relations & Children. with the departure of other comforts as deare as my life it selfe, And now, to consumate my full measure. my dearest Joy, heere, is with drawne.

Oh, that my sorrowes were weighed. & that the Lord would pittie my distresse. I am still thy creature, O Lord, by Creation, Redemption. preservation. sanctification & suportation from the Jawes of hell & the Grave.

Doe not despise thy handiworke. for thou didst make me. I am thine. O, give me understanding. to heare thy heavy 269 Rod & who that sent it. Lett it be thy pleasure. since thou still givest me life. that it may be for a blessing. giveing me understanding to serve thee with a perfect heart & willing minde. to heare the Rod & who hath sent itt. is there any Evill in a Cittie & the Lord has not don it. Is there not an appointd time for man once to die. Oh, that I may daily die to sin & live in righteousnesse with God in Soule & Sirittspirit, loving him with all my soule. I must be still. & know that it is God that ruleth in Heaven & Earth. The Lord is his Name. & his mercy is shewed unto us. yea, even in this, his Vissittation. There fore, will I lay my mouth in the dust with humble submission, Considering that what ever he doeth is good.

Had he not in much mercy drawne my deare Joy to him selfe & fitted him for this dissolution. he remembring the Lord in the daies of his youth, & God, I hope, was found of him. What although I now doe want those good & Pieous prairs, which he put up for me & mine, many yeares injoyed from him the benifitt of. yet I will trust holy upon the sole mediation and intercession of our blessed Christ. who ever livs to make in- tercession for his widdow & Orphans. And yet, such is my frailtie. (if a deepe affection be termed soe) that I can say nothing but puts a fresh remembrance. & brings a new flood of Teares. which I water my Couch with all, & widdowed, disconsolate bed, for my selfe & Children. And yet, my thinke, I heare him say, as our Saviour to the women that wept affter him. 'weepe not for me me (that am now in Joy & blesse) but weepe for your selfe & little ones. I was in the world tormented with paines. Crosses. losses, sicknesse, troubles on every side. But now, I am comforted in the bosome of my Father & thy father which I longed affter: & soe shalt thou in his good time. Is there not, then, no meanes to aswage thy immoderate greife for this sad seperation. O yes. there is hope in the later end'. what although my poore ♥, thou art deprived of his presence, doest thou not beleive in God. that those Shall be blessed that beleive in him, &, by the miritts of his redeemer, he now injoyes the incomprehensable Joyes of the great God of Heaven. where all Teares is wiped off from his eyes. all sorrowes is departed from him. & he is delivered from this Bodie of Death.

Oh, my Soule, let his hapinesse mittigate thy sorrowes in his loss: 270 Considering that what he now injoyes, he would not Exchange. for ten thousande worlds. & thy present losse is his Eternall advantage. as St Paull saith, for me to live is Christ but to die is gaine. O, desire to be made happie with him in the Resurection. when we shall apeare together & be clothed with Immortality, injoying the fruittion of that God head, as David Sayes, in thy preasence is fullness of Joy. & pleasur at thy right hand for ever more.

And I may say with Job. Although wormes consume this bodie: yet with my Eyes shall I see God, & beholding him face to face. which this clayie bodie of dust cannot injoy in this vaile of flesh. till this vilde bodie be changed & made like his, & this mortall put on immortallity.

Oh, that the Lord would now give me faith. & shew himselfe to his weake handmaide & servant, makeing me to beleive what good things is laid up for them that love & feare him. And though great are the troubles of the Righteous heere. yet are they but in order to consigne them to a beter Kingdom, & he will deliver them out of all. Oh, doe not then repine or call in question the mercy & goodnesse of this great, wise. holy & gracious Father, for if thou belongest to him, he will give thee to know his minde. It is the Lord: he must doe what he will.

Although this dispensation is most bitter, as the cutting of thy life. be silent, & doe not sin against him by impatience or resisting his pleasure. has not the heavenly Potter power o- over our Earthly clay, to doe what seemest him best.

What if flesh & blood cannot part soe willingly. Remember, thou must live by faith. & say, unfeinedly, thy will be don. in all things, if ever thou expect salvation heereafter. he was prepared for death. Thou art not, perhaps he has some other worke for thee to doe in this troublesom world. Pray that thou might be assisted to performe his pleasure. and keepe thee in a continuall preparednesse. And that, as we did helpe in this Life to beare one annother burdens. soe may we together Reigne with Christ in Glory, who is the Author & finisher of our faith. Daily panting & breathing affter him. to be 271 Clothed upon with the garment of Righteousnesse & true holinesse. that Death might put on immortality. Spending a few daies heere amongst thy Children in Pietie & holinesse, bringing them up in the feare & nurture of the Lord. That I may deliver up my Charge to the great God of Heaven (of my Childrens Soules he has given me. with Joy & not with greife, according to that saing: I, & the Children thou hast given me, will serve the Lord.

That soe, in the End of my daies, I may receave the end of my hope, even the Salvation of our Soules. Where there shall be noe sighing. noe weeping. for all teares shall be wiped from our Eyes, to follow the Lambe where soever he goes. There, is love with out dissimulation, & hatred. Joy with out dimuinition or sorrow: delight & sattisfaction with out mixture of passion;

The full fruittion of our hopes, with out disapointments. Peace, with out anger, or impatience: Envie & hatred shall not enter there. noe caires, feares, or solicitudes shall interrup our com- forts, our Beatitude: & that which makes the happenesse compleated: these injoyments are Etternall with out feares of losseing or shadow of changing. For in heaven, we must beleive our Savi, they are as the Angells: nay higher, being drawne nearer to God, united to devine nature in the Person of the word, in that Hipostati call Union of our nature in Christ, who tooke upon him: not the nature of Angells: but he tooke on him the seed of Abraham. that he might bee like unto his brethren, that he might bee a mercifull & faithfull high Preist. in things pertaining to God. to make reconsciliation for the sins of the People: (Hebrews 2d v. 16, 17). This Privilidge the sons of men have by the Second Person of the Blessed Trinitty. Even the Etternall Son of God, Blesed for ever. Shall we preferre drosse above Gold. & the fading pleasurse of this pittifull life before Etterity? God for bid. lett us lay aside all hinderances of this life, striving to fight this Battaile of the Lord, beeing armed with his weapons (as St Paull has taught us) against sin, the world & the Devill. for to him that over comes will I give freely to drink of the waters of Life; And we know that if this Earthy: Taber nacle be don away. we have a building, not made with hands 271 Etternall in The Heavens, whoes Buillder & maker, is God. O, then, how shoulld I not groane affter, & long to be cloathed upon. & injoy that felicitie, & happinesse, those Joyes & Glory. which I doe hope & beleive (through our deare Saviour. That now my deare husband is made pertaker of in Heaven.

Prayers; & Pettions upon this Sad Dispensation of the death of my deare & hon.redHonoured husband.

O, most great; omnipotent, & everlasting Lord God, which doest what ever thou Pleasest both in Heaven and Earth. that puttest breath in our Nostrills, & saith unto man, returne againe into thy dust againe. What am I — a vilde creature. sinfull dust & Ashes. that I should take upon me to speake unto thee, which am not worthy to live or have my life given me, as at this day. Thou, O Lord, art Sufficiently Glorious in thy Selfe, fearefull in thy Attri butes, &, Essence without any addittion of us mortalls. yett, it is thy devine pleasure to condesend to our weake capacities. & require. our uttmost services & obedience, as well active, as passive. I beechbeseech thy majestie, since I am thine in beeing & existance. to accept the Powrings out of my Soule in praiers & teares. although exceeding un- worthy in their selvs, as of poluted & defiled lips, not da- -ring to presume into thy most Dreadfull Presence; for, if thou, O Lord, should butt marke what is don amisse, Allas, o Lord, who is able to abide it. Therefore, o grand Soveraine of our Soules, enter not into Judgement with thy servant, O Lord, for noe flesh is righteous in thy Sight.

But thou hast apointed thy Son, Jesus Christ, the Righteous, to be a propitiation for our sins in whom thou art well pleased; In whos most holy & prevailing name. & mirritts, I humblie addres these weake. & imperfect requests. beseeching thee, in him, to accept my Person & praiers, purefieing both, by his Precious & all healing Blood. sed upon the Crosse.

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I humblie beseech thy Majestie — as thou hast given me this beeing. in this Earth & contineuing the same thus long. & hast prolonged my Life, notwithstanding all my unworthines & sins. — That thou willt pardon what ever I have offended in thy sight ever since I was borne. pittie my infirmitties, & strengthen my weaknesse, & humaine frailties, heale my Soule & love me freely; make me to understand thy word & know thee to be a God hearing Praier, & willt dwell in the heart of those that are holie & humble, of a contrite heart. & Trembles att thy word. thy, Power, & Attributes. Give me grace to Glorifie thy name & submitt chearfully to this heavy dispensation to thy handmaide. serving thee, not with a slaveish feare. but out of a true obedienciall & filliall duty. Love & affection, knowing that thou dost not afflict willingly. but, even in this seperation, did it (I hope) for the happienesse of my husband, by freeing him from troubles, And that thou willt thereby drawe me nearer to thy thy selfe by setting my affections more on heaven above & not on Earth; I will also give thee the Glory & praise which hast kept me from Presumtious sins, giveing me a tender heart, (I hope) for the least offence against thee, That may indanger a seperation betwixt my Soule & God. O Lord, take me now to thy owne more immeadiate keeping & Tuittion, who hast now taken my head; whom thou gavest to be a comfort & a guide & for whom I blesse thy name, that I injoyed him soe long. And lett me not sin in resisting thy pleasure or disputing thy Providence, who canst doe all things. I pray thee now, O Lord, blesse thy servant in this desolate Condittion, whom thou hast lett to see thy various trialls & afflictions. & hast bestowed soe much paines upon. heere I am: Lord, what willt thou have me to doe. I resigne my will, to thy Glorious pleasure either in life or death. make me be free from this bodie of sin & Death. to serve thee with perfect freedom, of minde, will, & affections that I may be holie in Soule, bodie & spiritt. Though I be sicke, lett me be sound in thee. Teach me thy Lawes, & I shall Live.

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O, Let my widdowed Condittion be a Sanctified Estate. yea, even thou writting upon my heart, Holinesse unto the Lord, That I may be exempleary in my life & conversation to thy glory & praise. My Children may be great instruments of thy praise allso. chosen vessells in this crooked Generation. Although my Afflictions be heavy & burdensome to this weake bodie. yett I acknowledge them Just, as comeing From thee; my strength. my hope. my Joy, & fortresse. who dost with all make away for me to Escape.

Lord, be to thy servant as thou wast unto David. who served thee with a ready mind. Thou art. the guiver. The guift is thy selfe. O, lett thy Sirittspirit dwell in me & mine Richly. lett my latter daies be still a seperate condittion from Evill. (the Evill of sin: & the Evill of punishment) as much as thou sest fit. I beseech thee, preserve me & my Family from dishonorable walkeing. leading us in thy waies. & directing us in our steps. Make me to walke as an Example before them in Grace, Patience, holinesse, humblenes, Chastietie, Pietie, faith & Purity, meekenesse. & Charity. with a suplie of all other Christian vertues & graces. necessary to lead my life, heere & to make me acceptable in thy sight. & follow my deare savi-or in this Pilgrimage; towards that Heavenly Jerusalem where I may forever glorifie thy majestie for all. to all Eternity.

All these humble requests & Pettitions I crave for the only mirritts & bloodsheding of my dearest Saviour, Jesus the Righteous, who interceadeth for poore sinners at the Throne of thy Grace, even for me, & all those that love his appearing. To whom, with the Glorious Father & holy Spiritt. Ever Blessed & Infinittly Glorious Trinitty. be All possible praise. addoration, & thanksgiving of men & Angells. hence forth & for Ever more. Amen. & Amen.

My dear Husband, went to Malton to my Sister Portingtons on friday the 11th of September 1668, being in health much as of late, pretty well of his infirmity. he rid into that faire upon Satterday. to Church on Sunday. 274 Upon Munday, he was not well, and had Pills given him (as he used to have) by my bro.brother Portington, but they did not worke kindly & soe had a glister givin him, beeing the Method ordered by Dr wittie.

On munday, he sent for Mr Sinkler. and tould him. That he knew formerly he had bin in much trouble & sadnesse for his Sinns & walked uncomfortably for the want of the sence of Gods favour, in great feares & doubtings. But now, the Lord was pleased to make himselfe knowne to him to be a reconsiled Father in Christ Jesus. And that he was at peace with him; he, perceaving a great deale of Joy & comfort inwardly in his soule & minde. Blessing the Lord for this, his infinitt mercys. & hoped that he should blesse his name for ever more that he ~~was~~ had bin soe troubled, for now he was reconsiled to him againe. these, with many such like expressions. to the great sattisfaction of Mr Sinkler who staied a good while with him.

Then, towards night, this sweete Saint of God grew worse, & more heavy & drousie, according to that distemper. and they sent to me for the Drdoctor which came to him on wednesday, after dinner. my deare was then very weake in bodie. but, I blesse God, perfect in mind & understanding. Mr Comber goeing to see him. he tooke his leave of him and bid him to Remember him to his deare wife. bid me be patient & contented with Gods hand, & to submitt to his will. which he uttrd as well as he could for his speach beeing taken. After which he had his haire taken of by order, (beeing the last remidie. & this with his owne consent. but Alass, noe remidies, or meadicine nor Art could prevaile. it being the determination of our God to take him to himselfe. And yet, to mixe this bitter Cup of Death with the alay of a quiett frame & temper, free from any torment or signes of paines, lieing as if he were in a sweet sleepe. And by degrees, growing colder at his feete. & soe, dieing upwards, & drawing his breath shorter all the Thursday morning. And towards Eleven a clocke in the fore noone, he Fetcht one litle Sigh and soe sweetely resigned up his spiritt in to the hands of his deare Saviour & Redemer, Jesus Christ.

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He departed on Thursday the 17th of September 1668. betwixt the howers of 11 & 12 att noone. he beeing, on the 2nd day of June (681668), fortey fouer yeares of Age. we, have ing lived a deare & loving couple in holy marriage almost seaventeene yeares.

My deare husbands bodie was brought home to Easte Newton on friday the 18th of september, in company of many of our neighbours, Gentrey, & other freinds those that weare about us, And I did desire that his interment might be deferrd till we could acquaint our remote freinds & relations. But the Drdoctor tould them that he had laid not long sicke & taking of Phisicke would hinder that. Those that were helpers to beare his Corpes were of his kindred & relations.

My Brother, Thomas Thornton, my Brother Denton. My brother Portington. my Cosen, will.mWilliam Ascough. My Cosen, Ralphe Crathorne. my Cosen, John Craithorne. My Cosen Bullocke. My Cosen, Ed.Edward Lassells.

There was a very great Congregation at that time. he beeing, most generally beloved of his Countrey. A man of great Pietie, Peace. Honesty. There was a great lamentation for him, God haveing givn him much love & affection.

But my sorrowes & laments cannot be weighed for him, which parted with the great & sole delight & comfort I esteed of my Life. the Lord grant me some measure of Patience to sustaine that I may not displease the great Governer of heavn & Earth, but desire to submit for the Lord sake with resignation to his will & in hopes of a Joyfull Resurection, at the last day, then to be united in haleluiahs to the God most High. for ever. My dearst heart was interred in his owne Alley at stongrave Church neare his mother & two sweete babes. Christofer & Joyce. buried on friday the 18th of september, betweene 4 & 5. a clocke. by Mr Thomas Comber. who Preached his Funerall Sermon. The Text was in Ecclesiastes 12th v. 1st, Remember now thy Creator in the daies of thy youth: &c.et cetera, applieing it fittly to that: occasion.

Lord, hee loves thee the lesse. that loves any thing with thee, which he loves not for thee. (St Austin).

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The Widdowes Praieer. for her selfe & Childeren.

O Lord, our God, the God of our Salvation, who for our Sakes wert wounded and didest Die, to Redeeme our Soules from Hell; And wast pleased to lie in the Grave, That our Sinnes might be buried by thee. by an Act of Oblivion. but thou alone, of all that ever died, were free amongst the Dead, to shew thy Soveranity & power over all; and of thy owne Power didst arise againe with victory & Triumph over hell & the Grave; O Powerfull, Allmighty, & Omnipotent Jehova, Looke downe from thy Throne of Majestie, & Mercy, with a gracious Eye of favour & compassion. And behold me, the unworthiest of thy Creatures; makeing my ad- dresses at thy Throne of Grace: o holie Trinity, I humblie besech thee, regard the powrings out of a weake, fraile, despised handmaide of thine; (yet whoes heart is truly fixed upon thy devine Beauties.) in desires & longings to be made like thee in holinesse & Righteousnesse for Ever. have mercy upon thy servant, whom thou has made & preserved by thy might hither to. And behold, Lord, loe, thine indignation lieth hard upon me, & thou hast vexced me with all thy Stormes; thy hand presseth me Sore; My Soule is full of troubles & heavinesse by reason of my Sinnes. & my life draweth nigh unto the Grave;

My bodie in distresse; my Soule under sader calamities by the withdrawings of thy Presence. Hide not thou, thy Heavenly face face from me, O Lord; unlesse to make me seeke thee with greater Ardor & Zeale. Oh, pardon thy servants frailties & infirmities in too much sorrow & greiving for the being deprived of my head & husband, & let me acknowledge thy hand with submissivenesse & patience. it is thou, Lord, that art gracious & good to the Children of men. O, restore me to thy favour againe, to comfort me in my Sorrowes & sadnesses, & now I am brought into a forlorne & widdowed condittion. O Lord, I beseech thee give me 277 A double proportion, of thy holy Spirritt, to be my Guide into the way of the truth, and an Illuminations of my heart & stepes in thy waies, & a direction in this my sadest Pilgramage; give me thy word to be a Lanthorne to my paths, & a light unto my waies that I tread not the stept of Death. Neither let me goe down into the darke, nor my life into the place where all things are forgotten. Though thou hast pleased to afflict me ~~soe~~ sore in the losse of my deare husband & the comforts I in joyed in him; yet let me plead thy gracious promise. & be thou the husband to the widdow, & a Father to the Fatherlesse Children; & desolate.

make me thankfull for soe long injoyment, as allso for those eminent gifts & Graces, which thou in mercy had indowed him with; To thee be the Hon.or given, due unto thy Name, &, o Lord, give me the power of thy grace, & strength to immitate his virtues, which was called to thy service in our youths, & from our youths, by thy miraculous Provid ence preserved from those inormities which hundreds comit to theire owne perdittion. O, give me therefore now thy perservering grace to the end of my daies; & that I may take up thy Crosse dailie & follow thee, beeing meeke & lowlie in Spiritt, submissive with a true & Catholique resignation to all thy wise dispensations, seeme they to crosse my perverse will never soe much; give me patience through out, in all the course of my Life, faith, true wisdome, hope & Charitie. Lett me not lacke, any thing, which may add orne my Soule in thy Sight, makeing it lovely in the sight of my Redeemer, who purchased it with his bloodshed: write in my heart a new name, sequestred as much as may be from this world. & all its delights & vanities.

Lord, give me grace to contineue a pure mind in a Chaste bodie, cleansed by thy precious blood. And, if it be thy good pleasure to contineue me yet a while longer, to doe thee service heere, give me my Life for a prey, & keepe me from sins of presumtion, that they never get dominion over me. I had miritted distruction long erre this. 278 but by thy goodnesse & bounty I am yet remaining.

O, let me begge it of thy Majestie, with out offence. that I might be in a more prepared condittion to meete thee, the sweete Bridegroome of my Soule, being found doeing the worke of my Lord. And, in the intrime, let me shew forth the loveing kindenesse of the Lord amongst the Redeemed ones in the land of the Living: for the living, the liveing, he shall Praise thee & confesse thy holinesse, & the mercys of thy holy Name. O, hide not thy face from me any more, but give me sufficient Sustentation & support to inable with fortitude to indure thy fatherly chastisments. That Thou maist have the Glory of all, & my Soule reape the beni- fitt of thy Rod, by amendment of life, in better obedience. I humbly beseech thee, o Lord, my God, to give me allso a healthy temper of bodie, To be the better inabled to doe my duty which thou hast called me unto. As a faithfull, & cairefull mother, & head of this Familie, praing thee to contineue it still, if it be thy pleasure, for many Generations to glorifie thy Name on Earth, & made members of thy Misticall bodie in heaven, of thy Church Triumphant.

Deare Lord, I pray thee, blesgebless my three Children with all blessings in order to Etternity. with Grace, wisdome & under- -standing. be thou theire Portions & inheritance for Ever: for whom thou blessedst, they shall be blessed, O, sanctifie them with thy Spiritt from theire youth, & preserve them by thy Power from vicious humors & corrupt inclination of the Old Adam. but, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither lett them want any thing in this life with out the which they cannot serve thee, nor lett them be Rebellious or disobedient. To theire Spirittuall, Politicke, or naturall Parents. Make them obedient to thy Lawes & Precepts. Devine & morall, And teach thou me, by thy Spiritt, that I may instruct them in those duties thou hast commanded; that soe, I may be assisted to discharge a good consience in all holy precepts. Give them allso, I beseech thee, an obedient Eare and a willing heart, in love and affection, & submitt to Those instructions from thee. That they may be comforts to thy servant in this her disconsolate condittion.

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Grant that each yeare, they may grow up in Grace & the knowledge of our Lord, & that thou maiest be glorified in & by them. I beseech thee, lett none of them be children of Perdittion. but lett theire Soules be precious in theire Sight, for Ever more.

Indowe me, thy handmaide, with sutable qualifications to serve thee in there Godlie & Religeous Educations. And to serve thee, the Searcher of hearts, with Zeale & a constant, Reguler devotion. Restore, & preserve us in the life of Righteousnesse, Sobrietie. & humilitie & Chastiety in our words & Actions. Blessing me & mine with happie opportunities of Religion, all our daies, & doeing thee faithfull service that we are capable of in this Life.

That I may redeeme the time past; & by thy Grace, may grow Rich in good works, alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord; That, when thou shalt demand my Soule to be rendered up into thy hands. My Soule may not be abhorred of thee, Nor suffer thy terrours, but may feele an Etternity of blessings in the Resurrection of the Just. And further my humble request is, o Father. that Thou wilt shed thy Spiritt of grace into the hearts of all my Childeren & my Selfe that we may be firmly uni ted to thee & each other in the bands of faith & Charity.

That it may not be in Satans Power, nor his instruments, to disunite our hearts from thee & each other, but that we may contineue for ever in Truth, unity, & Peace & Concord that the God of Peace, may give us his Peace through his holy Spiritt of Sanctificattion. And all these most humble requests, I beg at the Throne of thy Grace, with Pardon for my erroers in these praiers & imperfect requests, And heartely craveing them at thy most gracious hand; with all things ellse in order to Etternity both for our Soules & bodies. Even for our Lord Jesus Christs his sake, the Righteous. To whom, with the holy Spirritt, The Etternall & Glorious, And Incom- prehensable Father, and for ever Blessed Trinity be ascribed all Hon.or, Glory, Power, might. Majestie,

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Thanksgiveing, Praise, Adoration & Dominion by all Creatures & things in Heaven & Earth. by the Tounges of men & Angells, Arch-Angells. Cherubims & Seraphimes both now & to all Etternity. Humblie concluding these my humble Pettions & weake praires & praises in that Perfect forme of Prair, which the grand Bishop of our Soules taught us in his holy Gospell to pray unto thee in, Saing:

'Our father which art in Heaven: &cet cetera: Amen. Haleluia. Amen.

Our Saviours command.

Love not the World: nor the things of the world. for the fashion of the world passeth away. Sett your affections on heaven above, & not on Earth. for where your Treasure is, there will your heart be allso.

The Just shall live by faith.

Mr Thorntons motto & my owne.

Nisi Christus Nemo: Tout pour le' Eglize: God None but Christ. All for the Church.

Annagrame.

Christ and his Church, in love soe well agr'eed. That hee for her, and She for him, has bl'eed. Thus, imitate thy Saviour, in his fervent love, And then, thy Joyes, my Soule will lasting prove. Oh, groundles deeps, O, love beyond degree. The offended dies, to sett the offender free. But now. The Churches head to heaven is gon; Leaveing her, heere, on Earth, alone. Much like a Widdow in disstresse Washed in Teares, Teares that expresse. her dailie greifes, with sighes, to be deprived. Of her deare Soveraine; the world denied. 281 But what, although thy Lord is gon. To sitt in Glory, placed on his Throne. Has he not left his pledge of love. To thee his Loyall Spouse, his holy Dove. Bequeathed Thee his Sanctifieing Spiritt, For to conduct thy weary steps to inheritt. Those Everlasting Joyes he has prepared. For thee. A Glorious Tabernacles Shaired. Wherein noe Sun needs Shine, for he alone. Is all the Light in that vaste Horrizon. What then, if through a Sea of brinie Teares Thou swime'st, hee'l free thee from all feares. Of Sinking, canst thou but hold him fast, In Armes of faith, thou shallt come safe at last. Nay, weart thou dead, yet shalt thou live A Life much more Superlative. Then heart can thinke, or tongue can tell; Those Glories all, they doth Excell. He strive till Death; but shall my feeble strife Be Crown'd. He Crownecrowns thee with a Crowne of Life.

Against the feares of Death. Since natures workes be good, and Death doth serve As natures worke. why should we feare to die. Since feare is vaine, but when it may preserve. Why should we feare, that which we cannot flie. Feare is more paine than is the paine. it feares. Disarming humaine mindes of Native might; While each conseipt an ugly figure beares, Which weare not Evill, well vieued in reasons light. Our only Eyes, which dimm'd, with Passions be, And scarse discerne the dawne of commeing day. Lett them be clear'd, and now begin to see, Our life is but a stepe in dusty way. Then, lett us hold, the blisse of gracious minde. Since this wee feele. greatt losse we cannot finde.

O Death, I will be thy Death. O Grave, I will be thy Victory. thanks be to God: through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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An inducement to Love Heaven

Leave me, o love, which Reachest but to dust. And thou, my minde, aspire to higher things. Grow rich in grace, which never taketh Rust; What ever fades, but faiding pleasure brings.

Draw in thy beames, and humble all thy might. To that Sweete yoake, where lasting freedomes be. Which breakes the Clouds, and opens forth the light, That doth both shine, and gives us sight to see.

O, take fast hold, lett that light by thy guide, In this smale course, which birth drawes out to death, And thinke how Evill become'th him to slide, Who seeketh heaven & comes of heavenly breath. Then, fairewell world, thy uttermost I See. Eternall love, maintaine thy life in mee.

A faire-well to the World. Fairewell, the gilded follies, pleasing troubles. Fairewell, the hon.redhonoured ragges, the Cristall bubbles! Fame's but a hollow Eccho, Gold, poore clay. Honnour, the darling but of one short day. Beauties cheife Idoll, but a damaske skin; State, but a golden Prision to live in. To vex free minds, imbroidred traines And goodly Pageants, proudly Swelling veines; And blood, alied to Greatnesse, is but lone, Inheritted, not purchast, not our owne. Fame, Riches, Hon.or, Beauty, State, Traines, Birth Are but the faiding Pleasures of the Earth. I would be Rich, but see man, too unkind, Diggs in the Bowels of the Richest Mine. I would be great, but yett the Sun doth still. Levill his beames against the riseing hill. 283 I would be faire, but see the Champion Proud, The worlds faire Eye, oft setting in a Cloud. I would be wise, but that the Fox I see, Suspected guilty, when the Fox is free; I would be Poore, but see the humble grasse Trampled uppon, by each unworthy Asse. Rich, hated; Wise, suspected; scornd, if poore, Great, feared; faire, tempted; high, still envied more. Would the world then adopt me for her Heire. Would Beauties Queene intitle me the faire. Fame speake me hon.nrshonour's minion, & could I. With Indian Angells, & a speaking Eye. Command baire heads; bowed knees, strike Justice Dumb, As well as blind & lame, & give a Tongue. To stones by Epitaphs; be calld great Master, In the last lines of every Poetaster: Could I be more then any man that lives. (Great, Wise, Rich, Faire, All in Superlatives. Yett I, these favours, would more free Resigne Then ever fortune would have had them mine. I count one minute of my holy Leasure Beyond the mirth of all this Earthly Pleasure. Wellcome, Pure thoughts, wellcome my sadest Groves! These are my guests; this is the Joyes I love. The winged People of the Skies shall Sing, Me Anthems by my Sellers gentle Spring. A Praier Booke shall be my lookeing glasse, Wherein I will adorne Sweete Vertues Face. Heere dwells noe heartlesse loves, noe pale fac'd feare, Noe short Joyes, purchast with Etternall teares. Heere, will I sit & sigh my weake youths folly, And learne to affect an holy Mallancholly. And if contentment be a Strainger then. Ile neare looke for itt, butt in Heaven againe. Ah, foolish, faithlesse, fickle world where in. Each mottion is a vice, and every act a Sin. finis.

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My faithfull Soules wish. Oh; had I of his love but Part, That chosen was, by Gods owne heart. That Princely Prophett, David, hee, Whom in the word of truth I see. The King of Heaven soe dearely loved, As mercy beyond measure proved: Then, should I neither Gyant feare, Nor Lyon that my Soule would teare. Nor the Philistines, nor such freinds. As never, were true Christians freinds. Noe passions should my Spiritt vexe, Nor sorrow soe my mind perplex. But I should still all glory give Unto my God, by whom I live. And to the Glory of his Name Through out the world divulge the same. My walke should be but in his waies; My talke but onely in his Praise. My Life, a death, but in his love. My death, a life, for him to prove. My caire to keepe a Consience cleane. My will from vaine thoughts to waine. My paine, and pleasure, travell, ease. My God thus in all things to please. Nor Earth, nor Heaven should me move, But still my Lord should be my love: If I am sicke, he is my health. If I am poore. he is my wealth, If I am weake, he is my strength, If dead, he is my Life att length. If scorne'd, he only is my Grace; If banished, he my Resting place. 285 If wronged, he only is my Right. If sad, he, is my Joy, & Soules delight; In Summe and all, All only hee; Should be all, a bove All, to mee. His hand should wipe away my Teares, His favour free me from all feares, His mercy pardon all my Sinne, His Grace, my life anew begin. His love, my light to Heaven should be; His Glory thus to comfort mee; And as t'is writt, such honour shall. Even unto all his Saints befall. finis.

Uppon Rash Censorers Judge not thatt feild; because ti's Stubble, Nor her that's poore, and full of trouble; Though t'one looke baire, the other thin. Judge not, theire Treasure, lies within.

Page of Book One, showing decorative heading, complex authorial revisions and a marginal dagger symbol.

Courtesy of the British Library Board. British Library, Add. MS 88897/1, 286.

286

A Recollection of Memmorable accidents, & Passages. forgotten to be Entred into my Booke.

this must be placed In the first Place, Page 8th, before the The mesels in 1629 At Kirklington 1629. ‡ Uppon my deliverance from death by a fall. when I was 3 years old. when I cutt a great wound in my forehead of above an Inch long.

My Father, & mother, liveing at Kirklington; where I was borne; & my brother Christopher allso, The same maide servant attended uppon him, and was his dry nursse, (Sara Tomlinson) which kept me. affter I was weaned; beeing like wise both nurrsed by one wett nurrse. tho uppon haveing a fresh milke, (she had a Childe betwixt the nuriseing my brother & my selfe) And, haveing bin very good & cairefull of the first Child, my Parents saw it fitt she should nurrse the 2d Child too. discharging the duty soe well to me. I heard it observed, that I was both a strong & healthfull childe all a long. never haveing had either the Ricketts or any other desease. for which I most humbly & heartily give thankes to the God of my salvation, which still had his gracious Eye, of Providence over me both at my birth, when my deare mother brought me forth in great Perrill of her life (she beeing weake. uppon the birth of all her Children, haveing had seaven in all: 4 Sons & 3 Daughters). Yett the Lord gave me a Sound, healthfull body, streight Limbes & of a resonable understanding: Praised be his glorious name for ever.

Yett has his goodness bin more extended to me in this & all other preservations That I might not forgett his mercys for ever. And that hath manny ways of the extent of of his favours to young Infants in there deliverances from death & destruction in this world, besides that of sicke'n esses & weakness of body. for if his devine Providence did not send his Angells to keepe & gaurd little Children, They could not continue nor be preserved from all evill Actident-ts 287 And casultys, incident to That feble and weake Estate of Infants & Childe hoods:

For, altho there innocency be not capable of offending others. yett that Innocency & harmlessness is not able to defend them from Injurious dealings from evill Persons. neglects, & Brutishness of nurrses & caireles ness of others. not to mention those infinitt hazards of over layeing; & badness of there food & evll milk (Added to the dreadfull malice of Satan, who doth by all meanes Endeavour to destroy man Kinde. setts on worke all his engines against us by more designes then we can see or be capable to understand). There fore, am I for ever bound to blesse the Etternall name of God, who hath sent his gaurdian Angell to watch over me and mine for my good & Preservation. ever since I was borne. The number of his miraculous deliverances are past finding out, yett will I call to mind what I can that he might receav receav the Glory of. All. There was now a most greatt preservation to me, when I was but a little Childe & was following my maide, Sara ~~watts~~ Tomlinson, who cairedcarried my brother, Christopher, in her Armes. & I tooke hold of her Cote. my weake hand (beeing but about 3 yers old) could not goe soe fast affter her, but ~~my feet~~ stumbled against the Thrashhold. & fell uppon the corner stone of the harth (in the Chamber called the Passage chamber which leades to my deare mothers Chamber). At which time, I broke the Scull of my fore head (in the very top. against the said Rowle. soe greivously (about an Inch long) insoe much that the skin of the braine was seene & in great danger of death beeing like to have bleed to death (it beeing soe desperate a wound). But by the Providence of God, & my dere mothers skill & caire of me, she did make a perfect Cure (only a great scarre still remaines & will never be gon. to putt me in fresh mind of my great obleigation to, &, deliverance, of, Allmighty God for my Life).

288

How hath my forgett full soule lett this mercy slip out of mind & not remembred to give the Lord his praises due to his name. But now, o my soule, returne Thy solomne thankes, & praises to this great & gracious God, who hath had mercy and compassion both on thee when thou wast a poore, weake Infant. & brought Thee to these yeares through infinitt more dangers. To the Lord, my God, therefore, doe I poure out my Soule in humble gratitude for this great preservation in the beginng of my daies. beeseeching him to accept of me now, his handmaide. both to serve him & praise him for ever. And with all my might doe I sing praises to his glorious name, who hath had the same Pitty, & compassion both as a tender & deare Parent & Gardian. O, lett thy Providence still goe along with me all my daies. & that thy Angell Gardians may defend me with thy sheild to preserve me from Precipic. or falls. or dislocation incident to this life. who now growes in my later Age even almost a Child, in strength. leave me not nor forsake me. who has non to depend on but thee, the God of mercys. who hath made & uppholden me evr since I was borne. bring me into that state of Innocency of Soule, by a conversion, truly into the state of Grace. That I may freely beare thy trialls & belive thy Promise That, through them, I may at the last be conducted into the land of Etternall Rest. there to sing & praise thy holy, glorious name & holy Trinity for evr & evr.

Amen. & Amen.

A great deliverance from drowning in Ireland by a fall out of the coach as my mother & us Ch.Children was goeing to Killdare. October: 6th, 1636. Riding by the coach

As my deare mother, (my hon.redhonoured Father) my selfe & brrothers, (George, Christopher, & John. was goeing in the Coach to see Kildare after my father bought it, there was a narrow place we were to passe by a River Sid. 289 Joseph Browning, beeing the coach man, a veyvery cairefull man, yett could not avoyavoid that way being none other to take but, for seeing the apparent danger of falling, (by providence, he rather chose to throw the Coach on the right hand towards the dry land Uppon a banke side, which did hurt some of us, Then to fall on the left hand (there beeing a great River close by the Coach, which, if we had gon down on that side, it had bin impossible we could have bin Saved, any of us, but all in the Coach & horse had bin utterly lost & Perished in that deepe River). my father did ride on horrse backe, but by reason of the narrow way could not make any Assistance, nor his men to helpe us in that danger. but was much affrigedaffrighted att that sudaine accident.

But, when he saw the Coach fell from the River, did much rejoyce, & glorified God with us for all Preservations: Glory be the holy name of our great & gratious God for ever. for all our saftys & in giveing us our lives with my deare mother: we was not worthy of this infinitt deliverance nor all thy mercys, o Lord, to us. But praised bybe Thy great name most high. who had pity on me, Thy poore Creature & young Childe.

O Lord, my God, blessed be thy majesty for this great deliverance & saving me from this death. oh, lett me live to Praise thy name for ever, & accept of my Soule & service All my daies for Jesus Christ, his Sake, Amen. Amen.

290

A great deliverance from a 2d fall att SrSir Robert Merideths in Dublin in Ireland, 1637.

My Lady Anne Wentworth. & Lady Arbella, with Cozen Anne Hutton, Mrs Anne Loftus & my selfe, beeing invited to dinner to Sir Robt.Robert merideths to dine, The ladies ussing the costome to swing by the Armes for recreation, & being good to exercize the body of Chilldren in growing, it was ordered by my Lady Straford they should doe it moderatly, & found good in it: soe that they used to swing each other gently to that Purpose. They would make me, beeing a young girle, doe the same with them, & I did soe, & could hold very well by the Armes as they did & had never gott noe hurt by it. I blesse god, but found it did me good. &

Butt att this time, very unfortunately, some of the young Ladies bid one of the Pages (Calld don de Lan.) (a french boy) That he should swing me, being stronger then they & they weary with Play. Butt I cryed out, desiring them not to bid him, but could not gett off soe soone from him & deliver my selfe from danger befor he had camecome to me. He immeadiatly Pushed me soe violently from him, with all his force, as I was swinging by my Armes. That I was not able to hold my hands on the swing. Soe that he throwed me down me downe upon the chamber Bords. I fell downe upon my face, fell to the grownd & light with such a violent force (with all my weight on my Chinn Bone uppward) That both thee chinn & chapp bones was almost brok insunder & putt the bone out of its Place. And did 291 Raise a great Lumpe as bigg as an Egge under my Chinn & throte, which sudainly astonished me and tooke a way my breath in soe much as I was nigh death, they thought I had bin dead: for a good space of time. till, by the great mercy & Power of my gratious God, I came to my selfe again uppon the use of good meanes. The whole house was conserned for my distress & this sad accident, butt much more my deare Lady Anne that her Page should doe soe great a mischefe to me:

At length, it pleased God I came to my Selfe again but a long time ere I knew any body, beeing in great pain and extreamity. (Beeing kept there till night before I could be able to goe home).

But, comming home to my deare mother, she was surprised to see that sad misfortune befallen to me, Tho (blesse God Almighty) she applied such good means as did recrute me after a long time beeing soe bad.

But oh, what great cause have I to cast my selfe downe att thee feete of the great & dreadfull Lord God, who am but dust & Ashes. made by his Power & preserved by his Providence ever since I was borne, & has delevred me this time soe wonderfully from a sudaine & violent death eaven when I was in a childish sport or play. or what ever it was; thou, O Lord, my God, which did deliver me both now & att all times of my life; therefore, will I give all thanks & praise for ever with my Soule and body & speritt for evr. Alltho I was not willing to swing at this time, yet did thou delvrdeliver me: Lord, make me thankfull for ever & that I may never forgett this mercy to glorify thy great name, And that I may still be preserved to live to thy Glory in life & conversation for Jesus Christ, his sake, to whom be praise for Ever more. Amen & Amen.

292

A dreadfull fire in the Castle of Dublin. 1638.

About 3 yeares before my noble Lord of Straford his death, there happned a great and dreadfull fire in the Castell of Dublin, which did goe nigh to have burned it downe & destroyed it to the ground had it not bin Prevented by Providence:

There beeing some up in the other part of the Court (where Sir George Ratclifs lodging was. which saw it it & cryed out for helpe (beeing at the dead time of the night, it was very Terrible to be hold). It began uppon the account of a maide servant setting a dust baskett of charcole Embers — taken out of the Chapell Chamber, & cairlessly sett under the Stairs that went up to the Store house that night — which kindled of it selfe, burned down staires & that Roome calld the Chapell Chambr above the Chapell. (which was most Richly furnished with blacke velvett, imbroidered with flouers of Silke-worke in Ten stich, all fruit Trees and flours, & slips embroidred with gold twist) & It burned the statly Chapell built by my Lord & my Laidies Lodging. with the young Ladies. But, by the great mercys of God, prevented there distruction & was awakned by the flame apeard on the other side of the Court. & great helpe was made with speed to preserve my Lady & the rest which was brought out of bed in blanktsblankets. Blessed be the Great God of Heaven for these delvrincsdeliverances, and all his glorious Providence to the Family & all the Kingdom in them, & to my father & his family. Amen. Amen.

293

Dec.December 10, 1640. My brother, Christopher Wand.Wandesford, beeing in the Church called Christs Church in Dublin, heearing the great & dreadfull cry that the Irish made att my deare fathers Funerall, was soe frighted that he fell into the most greivos fitts of the Splen, which much tormented him for many yeares affter & had like to have taken his life away. butt, blessed be the gracious God, by my deare mothr excelent cairs. cost, & paines he was cured & becam a very strong man. & livd to be the Fathr of that Famfamily of which he was descended & was my beloved brother (liveing to the Age of 61 yeares & died at London, feb.February 23rd, 1686. buried at Kirklington, by his Antien ters).

Of the makeing; & Preservation of my dear & hon.redHonoured Fathers Last will & Testament in Ireland in the Rebellion. & by what Providenc it was found out & our destruction thereby Prevented. Date: OctoOctober 2, 1640.

This, my deare fathers will, was dated octber 2nd, 1640, Proved, & left on the file by Coz.Cousin william wandesford, an Executor. remaned on the file for severall years Till the yeare 1647. when my brother, George wandesfWandesford, went into Ireland to get a true copy of it &, not having mony to discharge it, The sadsaid will was laid by in a Chest by the Clarke who had writ it out, & thesthus was sececdsecured for severall yeare of the warre afftr my brother George died & non knew what became of it.

Uppon which great factefaction & troubles arose for the want of it by Sir John Lowths bad counsell to my brothr, Ch.Christopher wand.Wandesford, who marrid his daughter & would have come into the Estate by the Intaile.

But, allat last, by the Providence of the great God of heven, this said will was discovd & producd in the yeare 1653 which did put an end of all the Troubles: This is fully related in 'my 2d Booke'.

294

A Grate full Remembrance of my beeing preserved from the fury of the warres in the time of the scotts being over the Poore Country in there madnes against us when I was att Hipswell with my deare mothr in 1643, 1644, &et cetera

In this time affter the Bataille of Hessom moore, when the blssed King Charles had by Treachery lost the feild, & his two Generalls, Prince Rupert & Lord of new Castle, exposed all the brave white cots foote that stood, the last man, till they were murthred & destroyed. & that my poore brother, G.George wand.Wandesford, was forced to fly to hide himselfe att Kirklington. & brought my brother, Christop.Christopher, behind him; affter which time, we gott to hipswell & livd as quiettly as we could for the madnes of the SottsScots, who quartred all the County over & insulted over this Poore Country, & English.

my deare mothr was much greivd to be abuedabused by them, in quarting them at her owne house. yett could not Posibly excuse her selfe Totally from their men & horses. Tho she paid duble Pay (& was at 01-61s. 6d. a part, where othrs at 09. only in a month).

She kept of the quarting Captane & commanders & would nevr yeald to have them. Att length there came one Capt.Captain Inness. (which was ovr that troope we had in Towne. & he, comming on a surprise into the house, I could not hide my selfe from them as I used to doe. But comming boldly into my mothrs Chamber, whre I was with her. he began to be much more ernest and violent to have staid in the house, & said he would stay in his quarters. but we soe ordrd the matter that we gott him out, by all the fair means could be, to gottget quit of him, who was soe vild a bloody looked man that I trembld all the time he was 295 In the house. I calling to mind, with dread, that he was soe infint like in Person my Lord macguire (the great Rebell in Ireland) was in a great Constrnatin for feare of him.

Affter which time, this man impudantly toald my Aunt norton that he would give all he was worth if she could procure me to be his wife, & offrd 3 or 4000l & Lord of Adare shuld come to speake for him. She said, it was all in veine: He must not presume to looke that way for I was not to be obtnd. And she was sure he might not have any incoragntencouragement for I was resoldresolved not to mary. & put him of the best she could. but writt me privite word that my Lord of Adare & he would come to speake to me, & my mother about it, & willed me to gett out of his way. It was not to furthr that desire in me, who did perfictly hate him & them all like a Todd in such a kind.

And imeadiatly acquanted my deare mothr, which was supisedsurprised & troubld for she feard they would burne her house, & destroy all: wishd me to goe whithr I would to secure my selfe: & I did soe forth with run into the Toune, & hid my selfe privtly, in great feare & a fright, with a good old woman of her Tennants. whre, I bles God, I continud safely Till the vissitt. was over & at night came home.

we was all joyfull to escape soe. for my d.dear Mmother was forcd to give them the bst treattreatment she could & said. indeed, she did not know where I was. & sent out serve a little to seeke me but I was safe from them.

Affter which time, this villaine Captaine did study to be revenged of my d.dear M.mother & threatnd cruelly what he would doe to her, beceesbecause she hid me (Tho that was not true for I hid my selfe). And about the time that the scotts was to march into Scottland, being too long here on us, whn my mothr paid offtr 25l & 30l a month to them.

296

This Scott, in a bosting manner, sent for his Pay & she sent all she ought to him, which he would not take from her, but demanded duble monny, which she would nor could not do, soe, one sundy moring, he brought the company & Threatned to breake the house & dores. & was most vild, & Crewell in his oaths & sweaing against her & me; And went to drive all her goods in her ground, haveing this delecate Cattell of her owne breed. I went up to the Leader to see whether he did drive them a way, & he looked up &, thought it had bine my d.dear m.mother, Cursed me bitterly & wished the Deale bloew me blind & into the Ayre. & I had bin a thorne in his heele. but he would be a Thorne in my side. & drveddrived the Cattell a way to RichmdRichmond where Generall Lecsley was.

So, my deare mothr was forcd to Take the Pay he was to heve & carrid it to the Generall that laid at my Aunt nortons, & acquanitedacquainted him how that Captane had abused her & wronged her. which, by mercy of God to her, This G.General Leceley did take notice of, & tooke her mony, & bid her not trouble her selfe for he would make him take it or punish him for his Rudness. he said more, did Innis, That if evr any of his Country men came into England. They would burne her & me & all she had. But yett, she servd that God which did deleirdeliver us out of the Irish Rebellion & all the Blood shed in England, till this time, And did now delerdeliver her and my selfe & all we had from him:

This was a great delvrncedeliverance, at last & Joyned with my owne single delivrance from this Beast. (from being destroyed & defloired by him. for which I have reason to praise the great & mighty God of Mercy to me.

297

There was one of his men that I had cured of his hand beeing cutt of it & lame. soe that fillow did me a signall returne of gratitude for it. Thus, It was some times a refreshment to me (affter I had sitt up mauch with my deare, weake mothr in her illnes, or writing, of letters for her. That she did bid me walke out to Cowes with her maide to rest my selfe, soe I used this some times. Butt this Captne man, who I curd, came to me one day. Saing, 'dere Mrsmistress, I pray do not thinke much if I desire you, for God sake, not to goe out with the maides to Cowes'. I said, 'why. he said againe, he was bound to tell me. That his Capitaine did currs & sweare. That he would watch for me, & that very night he had desigd (with a great many of his Camrades) to catch me at Cowes & force me on horsbacke away with thm, & God knowes what End he would make of me. I sadsaid, I hopd God would delirdeliver me frm all such wickedness. and soe, I gave the man many thankes who was Soe Honest to prseve me from there Plots. rewarding him for his pains, & did nevr goe abroad out of the House. againe but fordforced to keepe like a Prisonr while they was here. Blssing the great God of heaenheaven who did not suffer me to fall into the hands of those wickd man nor into the hand of Sir Jerimy Smith son, who could neer prevaile by noe meanes to obtenie me for his wife. & I was thus delvddelivered allso fmfrom such a force by the discovry of Tom Binkes.

Lord, make me truly thankfull for preservation of mee, thy poore handmaid, And make me live to thy Glory. AmAmen.

298

My delivrance from Drowning in the River at midlam when I went to be a wittness to my sister Danbys first Francis, Borne att Midlam Castle in the yeare 1644

At that time, Sir Thomas Danby was forced, with my Sister & Children to be in safty from the Parliament forces (he, beeing for King Charles the first. to Midlam Castle, A garison under my Lord Lofftus. There she was delivrd of her first Son, Francis Danby. (my sister having gott my Lord Lofftus, & my ~~Lady H~~ selfe with ~~annother~~ Co.Colonel Branlen for wittnesse). I was forced to goe over the River neare midlam, calld swaile, which had some stoops sett up for guides & if one had raised the Caucy they had bn erre- -covrably lost. at that time, I was very hearty & strong, & did venture to ride the same, or ellse might have gon backe, & rathr then she should be disapoynted, did venture over, affter my mo.mother's servant who led the way. but it happned, the Rivr proved deeper then we expected it, & I kept up my horrse as well as I could. from standing & soe bore up a long time. But, when we were gon soe farre that I could not turne backe, The River provd past Riding, & the bottom could not be come to by the poore maire (which was an excelent maire of my poore brother G.George wandesfords). Soe, I saw my selfe in such aparnt danger And beged of God to asset me & the poore Beast I rid on, & to be mercifull to me & delivr mee out of that death for J. ChtJesus Christ, his sake. And the poore maire drew up her fore feete & I percved she did swime. I gave her the Reines, & tooke of the short Reines of the breech & gave her the head with all the helpe I could, & clasped my hands about her maine, did freely comit myself to my God. to do what he pleeced with me. And she did, by mercy, beare up her head & swimd out above halfe a quarter of a mile crose that dreadfull Rier &, by gods great mercys, brought me ovr that Rier in Safety. which delever was soe great & dread full that I can nevr forgett to prace the god,

Page of Book One, showing later additions to the main text.

Courtesy of the British Library Board. British Library, Add. MS 88897/1, 299.

299 And my great & graciousgracieous, Lord God, who had pitty on me at this time to spare me from this death & destruction. oh, what shall I render to the great God of heaenheaven who has delivddelivered me from Perishg by this water, & caucd this poore creature to bring me out safe? all glory be to my gracious God of heavn by all the Power of men & Angells for evr. o, lett me live to thy glory & serve thy majety for Eer. Amn.

A remembrance of a great deliverance I had from drowning as I was goeing over the River Swale to St nickolas to my Aunt Nortons. when A flood came downe on me, & Ralph J.anson. in the yeere. 1646.

A very great deliverance of me as I was goeing over the River att midlam, when my Sistr Danby laid in of one of her Sons calld francis & was att midlam Castle, in the yeare 1644.

A great deliverance of me from beeing destroyd with a cannon Bullett att weschester, beeing besseged by Sir will.mWilliam Brewertons Army. they shift into the Town of weschester and as I was at my prayers in the Terit, with the window open, the waft shut the casnt, & I fell don on my knees & took breath from me. but, bledblessed be the Lord, I was delivrd from death. at that time allso to Praise his holy name. For. Ever. 1643.

And was deleerddelivered from that seige allso by miracles of mercy, & brought us Safe into our owne Country, York shere.

A great delivrance from the violence of a Rape from Jerimy Smithson. Sir ~~Ierimys~~ Heughs Son, who had sollicited me in marriage by his fathr & uncle Smithson, who woud hav setled on him 200l a yeare if I would have married him. but I would not, but avoyded his company because he was debauched. And he hired some of his owne company to have stolen me away from cowse. but Tom Binks discovrd it, I bles God.

The Index of this booke Page. Bishopp Halls observations 1 A Prayer, the Dedication 3 The birth of Alice Wandesforde, feb.February 13th, 1626 5 Proverbes, & Preface 7 A preservation in the Measells, 1630. 8 My haveing the Smale Pox in Kent, 1631. 9 Medittations on Psalme: 147: v. 4th (yeare: 311631) 10 A preservation from a fire in London (yeare: 321632) 11 My first Passage into Ireland: 1632 12 Meditations on St Matt:Mathew at 12 yers old, 1638 14 A deliverance from Ship Racke: 1639 15 A thanksgiveing there upon 18 Observations upon accidentes in Ireland: 1640 20 A relation of the Lord Deputy Wandesfords Death 27 Medittations, & Praier there uppon: Dec. 3d 40December 3rd, 1640 38 A Praier made by my father for the Communion. 54 My Mothers preservPreservation. & my owne from the ] Rebellion in Ireland: OctbOctober. 23, 1641. 62 A Thankesgiveing for the same 67 Upon our commeing to WeschestedWeschester from Ireland 68 Upon my haveing the Smale Pox the 2d time at Chester 72 A thanksgiveing upon my Recovery 75 Of my Mothers removall to Snape, & Kirklington. 78 My preservation from death in a sicknesse. 84 The death of my Sister Danby, September 30th, 1645. 86 The death of Sir Edward Osborne. my d.Dear Uncle 92 The death of my Cosen Edward Norton, 1648. 93 Upon the beheading of King Charles the Martyer 94 Upon the death of my d.Dear brother, G.George Wandesforde 97 A Praier; & lamentation on that sad blow, ~~Mach 31~~ 1651 109 The Index of this booke. Page An Ellagie upon his Death by SSir Ch.Christopher Wivell 115 116 Observation of Gods goodnesse in my deare Mothers Preservation & her Child. in the time of the Warres & Distractions The Marriage of my Cosen, Mary Norton 117 The Marriage of my brother, Christopher Wand.Wandesford 117 118 The Marriage of Alice Wand.Wandesford, Dec.December 15, 1651. A Praier on that occassion & uppon my Sickness Severall Remarkable passages Since 1651 126 Medittations upon the Deliverance of my first Childe, & that grand Sicknesse following 128 A prayer & thanksgiveing. 130 On the Birth of Alice Thornton, my 2d Childe, borne, Jan.January 3rd, 1653. 133 A Praier & Thanksgiveing for that mercy 136 On the birth of my 3d Childe, Elizabeth Th.Thornton 137 A Praier & Thanksgiveing. for it 143 The death of my husbands mother 142 The death of my husbands father in Law 142 The death of my husbands brother, Richeard Thornton 143 144 A Prayer of my deare Mothers before my Delivery of my 4th Childe, Katherine Th.Thornton My deliverance A thanksgiveing of my Mothers 147 The Index of this booke. Page The death of my 3d Childe, Eliz.Elizabeth Thornton 149 A Praier upon her death 150 Meditations after my great fall: of my 5th ChChild 151 Upon my deliverance of my first Sonne A Prayer & thanksgiveing for the same 153 My cure of bleeding: August: 1659 155 A thanksgiveing thereon 156 Considerations on the Publike Troubles 157 A Praier for the Church, & restoration of King Charles the Second. no.November 1659. 159 160 A relation conserning my deare & hon.dHonoured Mother, the Lady Wand.Wandesford, and of her death, December 10th, 1659 Three Prayers conserning the holy Communion by my deare Mother 178 My deliverance of my 6th Childe. (my son, William. & of his death. with Praier & meditMeditation 180 verses upon the incertainty of Earthly comfComfort. 182 A thanksgiveing for the restoration of the King 183 A Prayer, with thanksgiveing for our Preservation from destruction, in this Church & State 184 A discourse upon Mr Thorntons removall from St Nickolas to Oswoldkirke 186 188 Uppon my great sicknesse there, & of my Preservation from Spirituall dissertion, With praiers & medittations A Thankesgiveing affter my Recovery 192 The Index of this booke. Page. Uppon our removall to Newton: June 10th, in the yeare 1662. 193 196 Medittations on the Receaveing the first Sacrament delivered in the new house at Easte Newton by Dr Samwaies. August 1662. A returne of thankes for that inestimable Spirittuall Mercy 199 Mr Colvills Settlement of Mr Thorntons Eastate for my Children. 1662. 200 Uppon my deliverance of my Sonne, Robert, my 7th Childe. September 19th, 1662. 203 A praier, & thanksgiveing, for the same 205 Mr Thorntons preservation from drowning, (64) 208 Upon the birth of my 8th Childe, Joyce Thornton, SeptSeptember 23, 1665. 209 211 A Relation of my deare Husbands dan- -gerous fitts at Steersby, (of the Pallsie), no.November 16, 1665. 213. A Prayer, and thankesgiveing affter his recovery: no.November 28, 1665. With my owne preservation from death by the greife on his sicknesse. On my sweeete Joyce, her death. Jan 26 65January 26, 1665. 214 On my daughter, Alice, her deliverance 215 The Index of this booke. Page. Of my dangerous Sicknesse: August 16, 1666. 216 Meditations & praiers there upon 218 Considerations uppon the disposall of my Daughter, Alice Thornton, in Marriage. 1666. 219 The greatt fire in London: Sept.September 2nd, 1666 220 The death of my deare brother, John Wandesforde, December 2nd, 1666. Meditations thereon. 221 My Son Robert Thorntons preservation in the smale Pox: Jan.January 5th, 1667. 226 My daughter Katherine Thorntons preservation in the smale Pox. Sept.September 29, 1666. 220 My daughter, Alice, her deliverance in the Smale pox, JanJanuary 25th, 1667. 227 My nephew John Dentons smale Pox. 228 229 My daughter Alice, had a Pearle in her Eye My daughter, Kate, preservd from choaking Her preservation from death by a fall The Murder of my deare Nephew, Thomas Danby, August the first: 1667. 229 The birth of my 9th Childe: (no.November 11, 1667. & of his death. Decem.December 1st, 1667. 230 My trouble upon severall accidents: (A.DAnne Danby) 232 234 Considerations upon Mr Thorntons Severall relapses. & of the SigingSigning the Childrens Settlements for Portions. &cet cetera. The Index of this booke. Page. Upon Mr Thorntons goeing to Spaw 235 237 A relation of Mrs Anne Danbys goeing to Hooley & severall other Passages conserning her, Ap.April 20, 1667. 246 A relation of my Sad condittion, and the sicknesse that befell me, uppon the lieys & slanders raised on me, July 20th, 1668. Lamentations, & Praiers upon my greivous abuses & wrongs: 1668. 260 My Sonne, Robert, preserved, July 25. 681668. 264 A Relation of my deare & hon.redHonoured Husband last sicknesse at Malton, sept.September 12th, 1668 265 274 A discripsion of severall passages very remarkable about his comforts & and assurance before his decease A relation of my deare Husbands death, the 17th of September: 1668 275 Of his buriall 275 lamentations upon my sad losse 269 Praiers & medittations upon this heavy Dispensation, with others upon me 271 The Widdowes Praier for herselfe and Children 276. The Index of this booke. Pages Our Saviours Command 280 Anagrame uppon Mr Thorntons Motto, and my owne 280 'Verces upon Christ & the Church' 280 'Against the feares of Death' 281 'A fairewell to the World' 282 'My faithfull Soules wish for Gods love' 284 'Verces uppon Rash Censures' 285 Uppon my great delivrance at 3 yers old 286 On my delivrance from drowning in Ireland 288 A great delivrance from death by a 2 fall, IredIreland 290 A great fire in Dublin Castle, before my Lord DepDeputy 292. The Preservation of my D.Dear Fathers will 293 Deliverances at Hessom bataill & in the warres 294 From drowning in midlam River & Swale 298 Uppon the Reconsiling my brothers, GGeorge & ChChristopher 300 'Annagram on George Wandesforde' 301 'Verces uppon the fattall Loss of D. B. G. W.Dear Brother, George Wandesford' 302 Uppon the Reconsiling my 2 brothers, G. WGeorge Wandesford & Christop. W.Christopher Wandesford, before his death

300

Uppon the reconsiling of my two Brothers, George & Christopher Wandesford. March 2129 (on Easter Eve, - before my bro. GBrother George was lost, 1651)

Uppon Easter day, & had a full sattisfaction of there true love & affection to each other & ever Affter to his death: for which I doe bless & praise the God of Heaven for ever

It was no smale greife & trouble to me that the wickedness of my Eldest brothers servant (by idle stories to my deare Brother George against my poore brother Christ.Christopher) had soe fare prevailed with him as to make a very great breach in there freindship, so that the yonger did Apprehend himselfe, much injured & wronged there by to his brother George- by them: & the other. Tho a very wise & under standing Person; had bin highly incensed att some lies which was tould of his brother to him, & by this meanes caused a very great anger against each other; which proceeded to hy & caused them to have such animossity as that they neither could be sattisfied to receave the holy Sacrament:

But, it pleased God to make me the happy instrument to perswade, & intreat each of them to such moderation & Charity, to aske each othr pardon (& God in the first place) for what had bin amiss & to freely forgive one annother, & put awy all former disgusts or displeasure. & to be Cordially reconsiled for his sake, who died for us. & with great comfort, I prevailed with them to recave this holy feast of love to which we were to come, & on the Eastrday. I blese my God, we did recave that holy SacmtSacrament in Zeale & devotion.

Page of Book One, showing the author's monogram and an acrostic poem.

Courtesy of the British Library Board. British Library, Add. MS 88897/1, 301.

301 ATW George Wandesford.

Anagram.

Feareing Gods Word

Coelistiall feare, thy Sacred genious, brings unto the Pallace of the king of Kings.

. Acrosticke.

G race seamed to waite on nature setting forth, E ven in thy native sence, the hight of Worth O h, that thy verteous life does well express; R elegius caire, thy mind did well address. G ods word to feare, as thy blest name may be E ven but a type of what shines cleare in thee. W itt, Judgement, vertues, learning, and the rest. A tending true perfection, chose thy Brest. N ot hopeing for a higher seate, since theire D esert they found transending all Compaire. I mmortall faime, Crowned thy soe noble Parts, S ounding thy praises due to thy deserts. F orceing even envy to confess as much, O r burst with malice, not dareing for to touch. R enowne, soe rightly, placed as to thy Fame; D eath well may adde, but can't impaire the Same.

Excuse my failings, since tis' reall love. Moved my weake pen, so weighty a taske to prove. 302 I must noe more; nor truth could say no lesse: Vertue. & grace, did still thy brest posess. Each muse soe plyed her Ore, in thee, deer Soul, Ambitious, which should most in thee, Controll. Thy Faith, thy hope, thy Greatt Charity In lively Coulers, shined, bright in thee. Alltho thy Cruell Enimyes, with hate: Persue'd thy Life, Religion, & thy EState; Yet Providence preserved them all, intire. And fill'd thy breast with holy fire: From that blest Alter; which on the day before, Thou power'd thy offrings out, him to adore. And reconciled, thy selfe, to God; and Man. Prepared for thy great change before it Came. What, tho thy death was sudaine (to our Eyes). Yet, thou beeing ready (for that Lord) t'was no surpris. Thou, changed Earth, for Heaven, foes for frends; Then, begin thy Joys that Never End: But, who can speake the Sorrowes thatt ~~spread~~ oprest Each Bleeding heart, & Eye, and Breast. at this sad object, struck with horror Dumb, To see thrice galant Wansfords mare. mortum ore Run its Bankes. That Antient River Swale By this sad fortune, did a Currse Intaile. 303 Not only on its' Selfe, which now did fall, But on that noble family, we Call. In him. that Name was blessed by succession Of Brave, Heroicke Persons in Possession. See how it droopes, & falls, & allmost Dead To see this dreadfull Losse of this, it's head. Could all our Sighs, & grones, & teares. Prevaile, to Call thee backe againe; our feare -would bee that non could keepe thee heere. The worst of Enimys did be-waile: The loss of soe much hon.or in him failed. Since hee was dead, the most of worth was gon, The Country did cry out; 'in him, t'was, Oh, Alone: Oh, what meant that Rash flood. by one wave to Throw A ruine on its owne fame. & us too; Soe brave A vessell, & soe Richly Fraught. That guilty River has to Ship-Rack Brought As bank-rupts all over Contry; Noe man here So unconsernd. but must lett fall A Teare; Whilst the sad murmur of those Waters Call. On Every Passenger to mourn his fall. What tho three daies Submertion did intomb All that was mortall of him in the Womb. Of a Regardless Eliment, we know. Our great Redeemer, from the Parts-Below, Did by devine Power, on the third day Rise. To open A nerer way to Paradise. To that blest Place, my Soule desires to Flie: Lord, then, prepare me for it Ere I Dye. Make me to Repent, to watch, and Pray. That soe I may be Ready for that Day. When thou shalt call this Soule from me. With Joyfull hope. Il'e come to thee: Amen.