The character of a trulie vertuous and pious woman as it hath been acted by Mistris Margaret Dungan (vvife to Doctor Arnold Boate) in the constant course of her whole life, which she finished at Paris, 17 Aprilis 1651.

Author: Boate, Arnold, 1600?-1653?1651

THE CHARACTER OF A TRVLIE VERTVOVS AND PIOVS VVOMAN, AS IT HATH BEEN ACTED BY MISTRIS MARGARET DVNGAN, (VVIFE TO DOCTOR ARNOLD BOATE,) In the constant course of her Whole life, Which she finished at Paris 17. Aprilis 1651.

PARIS, Printed by STE. MAVCROY for the Authour, 1651.

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TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD THOMAS SINSERF, Lord Bishop Gallovvay.

MAy it please your Lordship,

Having perpetually before my eyes the aymable and commendable qualities of my most lovelie and most beloved consort, of vvhom it pleased God latelie to deprive me in the prime [Page] of her age (to my unspeakable grief, and irreparable discomfort) and having found some consolation in reducing in vvriting part of vvhat my memorie did suggest unto me of her, for to serve me insteed of a pourtrait, upon vvhich I might often passe my vieuvv, thereby in some sort to mitigate the excesse of my tormenting sadnes, much better than others in the like case use to doe vvith lesse livelie and more corporeall [Page] representations: I thought good, vvhat I had so set dovvn at first vvith no other intention, than to remaine vvith myselfe, and to serve onelie for mine ovvn use and consolation, to publish the same unto the vvorld; partlie for to acquit vvhat is due to her vertues, deserving a farre statelier monument; and principallie for the advantage and edification of others; hoping that her example may serve [Page] as a povverfull motif, vvhereby many vvilbe stirred up to the practise of true vertue and pietie, in the same manner as these lines (free from all amplifications and rhetoricall ornaments, and consisting of a bare and plaine narration vvithout all artifice) vvill hold forth to have been done by her. And as all those, vvho have knovvn her, can beare me vvitnesse, that I have said nothing her, but the naKed [Page] truth; so in particular your Lordship, vvho having lodged vvith us under the same roof, and come to the same board vvith us, for the space of vvell neere three yeares, have seen in her conversation all those qualities verified, vvhich here I relate of her: vvhich hath incouraged me, to dedicate these lines unto your Lordship, thereby to put them past all contradiction vvith such, as have not at all been acquainted [Page] vvith her, and vvho upon my bare record might cōceive, that my pen had not been so much guided by unbiassed truth, as by an over-favourable and pre-occupated affection.

And forasmuch as some passages of this treatise vvill receive some light by the knovvledge of the accident that hath taken her avvay, and of the manner that it made an end of her; it vvill be good to give a compendious relation of the same, before I come to the maine matter. [Page] Having been married to me at Dublin on christmas day in the yeare of our Lord 1642. and brought me three children (the youngest vvhere-of, beeing a girle, borne here in Paris on the 13. of September 1646. is onelie alive) she miscarried last yeare on the 27. of April, vvithout anie evident cause▪ and having conceived again about the 12. [...] 14. of August, she vventon happilie till the first of March, vvithout anie other acommoditie, than that she vvas excessive big, more than [Page] vvith anie former child she had been, verie un-able to vvalke or stirre, and subject to frequent faintings; for vvhich last accident having been let blood in the arme on the 19. of November, she vvas some vveeks the better for it. For the rest, she had her health vvonderfull vvell and a farre better appetite, than she had had vvith anie of her former children; the vvhich did so fill her veines, as it caused the aforesaid excessive bignes▪ and nature beeing overburdened vvith [Page] blood, discharged itselfe on the first of March in the evening, of a suddain, and vvithout anie the least preceding commotion of mind or bodie, of part of it, in that impetuous manner, as in the space of lesse than halfe an houre she lost more than tvvo [...]ound▪ and hauing continued to loose some more blood for the space of an houre longer, and begun to bleed afresh the next morning, she had nine ounces of blood dravv [...]e from her out of her right arme; vvhich presentlie [Page] stayed her bleeding. But she had another fit the 13. of March, though nothing so copious as the first; and [...] third on the 22. of the same month, much more moderate yet, and such vvas also the fourth, vvhich came on the first of April. The tenth of April she had a fifth shed much vvhat of the same quantitie as the second: and the 12. of April at night of sixth, a verie greate one, the blood for a greate vvhile running from her iust like a spiggot. The 15. of the same [Page] month, beeing saturday, she had a seaventh fit, farre more furious than any of the former, so as in lesse than halfe an houres time she lost 10. or 12. pound of blood; continuing also to bleed some vvhat for tvvo or three houres after; by the end vvhere-off the bleeding vvas stanched, she hauing been let blood in the arme, and manie good remedies given her invvardlie, and applied outvvardlie, by me and the midvvife, vvith the joint advice of Doctor Sarrasin, an ancient and famous [Page] practioner. Yet she had another little shed the same day about tenne of the clock at night, a second about the same houre the next morning, beeing sunday; and a third at one the clock in the afternoon▪ and from that time the blood having stayed on her till the next day, monday the 17. of April, at seaven a clock at night, then again, notvvhitstanding a greate manie of most excellent remedies, both outvvard and invvard, that had been administred to her eversince saturday [Page] at noon, (during vvhich time also she had not stirred out of her bed, and been plied vvith such exquisite nourishments, as are fitting and usuall in the like cases) the blood burst dovvn in as greate an abundance as ever: vvhereby her veines, so much emptied alreadie, hauing been utterlie exhausted, it so abated her strength, as casting her from one fainting fit into another, vvithout anie thorough throvvs, for to bring-on labour, but onelie some vveak beginnings of it [Page] (to the contrary of vvhat the midvvife vvith us had hoped and expected) she never came to herselfe again but gave up her ghoste some three houres after the beginning of this last fit, and about tenne of the clock at night having kept her sences till vvithin a quarter of an houre afore she died, and her speech till vvithin lesse than halfe an houre. And this last halfe houre she vvas vvonderfull calme and quiet, vvhere-as for the space of somevvhat more than halfe an houre [Page] before she had grievouslie tossed; her heart beeing loath to yeeld to the approches of death, because not at all abated by anie sicknes. For after every one of those sheds, that she had had from the beginning, even after that late and grievous one on saturday, and after the subsequent ones on sunday; she did still recover herselfe again vvithin a fevv houres, and vvould be very heartie, eating her meate vvith as good an appetite and digestion, as if she had ailed nothing. [Page] And having got a greate deale of good sleep the last night of her life, that betvvixt sunday and monday, she vvas so cheerfull and light some, not onelie in the morning, but all the day aster, as if she had had no harme at all▪ and vvhere-as she had companie most part of the afternoon, she talked and vvas merry vvith them in the same manner, as any vvell bodie might have done. Insomuch as Doctour Sarrasin, vvho vvent not from her till a little before seaven [Page] of the clock at night (hauing been upvvards of an houre vvith her) vvent avvay full of most comfortable hopes, and assured me at parting, that there vvas nothing at all to be feared for her. For although she had not felt the child stirre at all since saturday at noon, vve made the lesse matter of that, because that it having lyen still aster severall of the former fits in the same manner for the space of 24. houres, and longer, it vvas still come to itselfe again: so as there vvas cause [Page] to hope for as much at the time. As for vvhat she said and did in those last houres of her life, and hovv she concluded it in relation to God and her soule, that vvill find a place in some part of the follovving Discourse; the vvhich let us begin novv.

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I.

SHe feared God most trulie, and vvith a most upright heart, indeavouring in all her actions, thoroughout the vvhole course of her life, to observe his holie commandements, and to abstaine from all euill: insomuch as she vvould not have cōmitted anie thing vvillinglie, that she vvas convinced to be contrary to his holy vvill, expressed [Page 2] in sacred Vvrit, for an earthlie advantage vvhat so-ever; the preserving of a good conscience in a things, beeing the chief of her cares. And [...] she vvas vvonderfull religious, so she vvas verie devout, never missing of performing her morning and evening prayers, of reading every day some portion of the holie Scripture, of dulie observing the Lords day, of assisting at Gods publick vvorship on the same, [Page 3] (vvithout ever absenting herselfe from it for anie small hinderances) and of receiving frequentlie the holie communion; before vvhich she ever prepared herselfe the evening before verie reverentlie vvith fitting prayers and meditations, and vvith the like closed up that sacred action, at her comming home from the same▪ and in that exercise, as in other parts of her devotion, she helped herselfe much vvith [Page 4] the formes set dovvn in the Practice of Pietie vvhere-off she vvas a great lover▪ and she did l [...] kevvise greatlie affect a [...] other books of devotion of meditations, and [...] morall instructions, provided that they vvere vvritten feelinglie, s [...] lidlie, and gravelie, for those that vvere either dull, flat, and livelesse or stuffed vvith vvord rather than vvith matt [...] and puffed up vvith emptie rhetorick, she did [Page 5] not at all care for, as on all other subjects, so principallie on this.

Having been bred a Protestant by her father, and by her mother (a meere saint of a vvoman) she vvas verie firme in that profession, and verie averse from all the errours of the contrary: for the confuting vvhereoff, and for the asserting of the truth, she vvould uphold a dispute so handsomelie, and produce such solid and pertinent [Page 6] arguments, as vvas not a little to be admired in her sexe and age and having been severall times tampered vvithall since her comming to Paris, by Priests and Friars, especially of the Irish nation (vvho, because of her belongins to that countrie by her father, pretended to be particularlie obliged, to have a care of converting her to their beleefe) she ever sent them avvay hopelesse of effecting anie [Page 7] thing upon her; so closing their mouths, upon vvhat point so ever they attaqued her, as she left them destitute of all solid replies▪ and this she did vvith so much calmenes, as she never entered into the least heate in any of those disputes.

She vvas altogether addicted to the constitution of the church of England, both for the governmēt, and for the formes practised in the same; beeing verie much in love vvith [Page 8] the common prayer, and greatlie admiring many particulars of it, as of the rest of the Liturgie, especiallie the manner of administring the Lords supper, and of burying the dead▪ yet she vvas verie farre from being of their opinion, vvho looK o [...] the French Protestants as beeing of a different Religion; not thinking a fevv differences, in circumstantiall matters of government and ceremonies, a sufficient ground [Page 9] of making so great a distance betvvixt tvvo churches so unanimous in all essentials▪ and this made her verie vvilling to goe to Charenton, and to find much comfort and satisfaction, not onelie in assisting at their sermons and prayers, but in receiving the Lords supper vvith them; as she hath done verie osten.

She could in no vvise indure anie expressions, that had anie thing of prophanenes in them, [Page 10] though othervvise a greate lover of vvittie and merrie sayings: but [...] the contrary she singularlie relished all discourses of goodnes and pietie, and vvould often fa [...] on them herselfe, vvhen that good occasions vvere offered, and vvhen she thought the companie vvould be delighted or edified by it: beeing verie farre from affectation in this, as in all other matters, and from desiring to appeare religious, [Page 11] rather than to bee so. She greatlie hated all singularities in Religion, either in matters of opinion, or of practice; beeing a greate lover of conformitie. She had perfectlie those tvvo qualities of David, of loving the godlie, and of hating the vvicked: and as she greatlie abhorred all levvd and profane persons, so she did no sooner perceive true goodnes and pietie in anie bodie, but she presentlie [Page 12] conceived a greate friendship and affection tovvards them.

And the feare of God bore so absolute a svvay in her soule, as it vvas the chief ground of a [...] her other vertues and good qualities, for su [...] of them, as she vvas naturallie inclined unto, other by the frame of her mind, or the temperature of her bodie, or both (vvhich vvere many, and of the chiefest) in then she vvas greatlie consumed [Page 13] and strengthened by this consideration, that they vvere pleasing to God Almightie, and commanded by him; oftentimes making that reflection▪ and as for the others, vvhere-unto her nature vvas not so much disposed of it selfe, or from vvhich it had some aversion, (as humilitie, long-suffering, contemt of the splendour and advantages of this vvorld) she did in them so strive vvith herselfe, out of a [Page 14] meere desire or making herselfe acceptable [...] God, and of performing his blessed command [...] ments; as she did not onelie novv and then by vvay of a temporary violence upon herselfe performe some actions [...] those vertues, contrary to her ovvne inclination onelie because she knew them to be required [...] God; but by her con [...] nuall studie and practi [...] laboured to maKe the habituall to her, and [...] [Page 15] a greate measure attained there-unto.

II.

She vvas most exactlie iust, so as she vvould not have done anie bodie the least vvrong in the vvorld, though it had been to benefit herselfe never so much by it; and vvould rather have exposed herselfe to anie incommoditie, than be vvanting in giuing every bodie their due to the [Page 16] full. vvhich also make her verie punctuall paying all kind of del [...] as soon as ever they vv [...] ovving, and called for never using nor en [...] ring to make anie bo [...] call tvvice for vvhat v [...] to be payed to them; a [...] so farre from takin [...] pleasure in keeping [...] her hands monies that vvere due, as she v [...] rather displeased vv [...] them, vvho vvere s [...] in comming to dem [...] them. And as she vvas [Page 17] severe an observer of this vertue tovvards others, so she vvas verie remisse in exacting it from others to herselfe; beeing of a vvonderfull yeelding nature, and rather chusing at anie time to goe from her right, than by standing too preciselie upon it, dravv-on anie obloquie or strife upon herselfe. It vvas from the dictates of Iustice, that she greatlie condemned all insurrections vvhatsoever, as beeing persvvaded, [Page 18] that absolute obedience is due to the legitimate supreame Povvers and all forcible resistence against them forbidden, though they acq [...] themselves never so ill [...] the trust committed [...] them by God and me [...] and commit never [...] manie and so greate e [...] rours against equitie and reason, and against the fundamentall lavves [...] their countries. In vvhich persvvasion, mainly grounded on conscie [...] ce, [Page 19] she did also greatlie strengthen herselfe by a prudentiall consideration (frequentlie insisted upon by her in her discourses) of the great evils, that manie times come to passe by reason of the like stirres; vvhereby the people, gulled by the cunning of a fevv factious and ambitious leaders (zealouslie pretending the publick interest, but reallie making that altogether subservient to the accomplishing [Page 20] of their ov [...] unvvarrantable desi [...] and desseins) doe co [...] monlie, insteed of m [...] ding their conditio [...] fight themselves int [...] much more grievous [...] verie, than that vvhi [...] before they suffered [...] apprehended. It vv [...] from Iustice also, th [...] she vvas vvonderfull r [...] pective to all decay persons, beeing verie [...] refull to deferre as mu [...] unto them, and to [...] them vvith all the sa [...] [Page 21] civilities, in their present lovv condition, that vvere given or due unto them in the dayes of their best fortune▪ and this she observed not onelie tovvards others of that kind, vvith vvhom she had not anie particular commerce, but even unto them, vvho in some sort depended on her, and vvho often tasted of the fruites of her bountie: she thinKing it verie hard and unreasonable, that vvhat vvas trulie due to [Page 22] a bodie for some in [...] rent qualitie, should [...] denied them because [...] their misfortune; gri [...] vous enough to [...] borne, vvithout a [...] such aggravation.

III.

As she detested all i [...] justice to all kind of pe [...] sons, so especiallie th [...] vvhich vvas exercise against infirme ones vvanting meanes an friends for to helpe an [Page 23] right themselves; of vvhose condition she vvas vvonderfull sensible, and vvonderfull prone to comfort and releeve them to the best of her povver; as likevvise all other persons distressed vvith anie calamities, unto vvhom she vvas exceedinglie tenderhearted and compassionate. This made her verie charitable and openhanded to all such, as farre as her ovvn abilities vvould any vvayes give her leave: the [Page 24] inlarging vvhere-off sl [...] desired for nothing el [...] so much, as that there [...] she might be inabled [...] doe the more good unt [...] the needie; vvhereas els [...] setting that consider [...] tion apart, she h [...] brought herselfe to an a [...] solute contentednes vvi [...] that mediocrity of fo [...] tune, vvhich the Lo [...] vvas pleased to affo [...] us. And as her com [...] passionate nature ma [...] her to have a verie de [...] fellovv-feeling of oth [...] [Page 25] folkes vvant and povertie, and to be verie free in imparting her ovvne unto them, vvherevvithall to releeve their necessities; so she had a verie livelie sence of all their other sufferings, and consequentlie did exceedinglie detest all kind of crueltie. For her hearte vvas so vvonderfull tender, as her compassion extended itselfe not onelie unto all christians, and unto all mankind, euen unto such vvho by their [Page 26] ovvn misdoings h [...] brought upon thems [...] ves the evill they suffer (except onelie thos [...] vvho beeing guiltie some verie hainous [...] mes, vvere unto her [...] objects of meere horro [...] she obdurating her h [...] against them out of me [...] strength of iudgeme [...] but it reached also to [...] verie dumb and unr [...] sonable creatures: u [...] vvhom she could [...] onelie not find in [...] heart to doe anie [...] [Page 27] least harme, or indure others to doe it; but if casuallie anie hurt vvas befalne them, it vvould verie much trouble her, and she vvould not omit anie indeavours for to helpe them out of their paines. and I have severall times observed vvith vvonderment, hovv her mind vvould be disquieted, if but a bird, or anie other domestick creature, had anie harme come to them, and hovv tenderlie diligent she vvould [Page 28] be in seeking to ease [...] to releeve them.

IV.

As her charitie [...] verie greate in the af [...] said particulars, so it [...] no lesse in maKing [...] best of other fol [...] actions▪ and insteed [...] beeing the first in de [...] ting them, or putt [...]g an evill construct [...]n upon them; she vvo [...]d ever taKe their part, v [...]o vvere so dealt vvith [...] [Page 29] beeing so farre from taking anie delight in backbiting, and in detracting from others (a vice so common novv adayes amongst all kind of persons, as in most companies, especiallie of vvomen, it is the principall subject of peoples discourses) as she vvould ever resist them that did so: and that not onelie in the behalfe of persons, to vvhom she had anie relation, or obligation, but even to meere strangers, [Page 30] yea and to persons vvho had dealt unKindli [...] vvith her, or anie vvay [...] offended her; and to suc [...] also many times, vvh [...] by their ovvne depor [...] ments had given th [...] vvorld iust cause of su [...] pecting the vvorst [...] them. It is true, that a [...] such deportments vve [...] condemned by her vvi [...] much severitie; her ch [...] ritie being no vvay [...] blind, nor at all ove [...] clouding her iudgeme [...] and her inbred hatred [Page 31] vice and all vicious actiōs. But she could not give her assent to those consequences, vvhich usuallie are dravvne from them, except the matter vvere vvonderfull evident▪ neither did a common report, or generall rumour, svvay her beleefe much in this particular: she persvvading herselfe, and that not vvithout good ground, that many have suffered injustlie in their reputation, vvithout being [Page 32] reallie guiltie of the crimes or follies, vvhe [...] vvith common fame h [...] branded them. And [...] this her charitie vv [...] common to all sorts [...] persons, so she did i [...] peculiar manner app [...] it to them of the supr [...] me degrees: in vvh [...] neverthelesse, as in [...] others, she did verie mu [...] condemne not onelie [...] such carriage, as had a [...] thing of indiscretion [...] of loosnes in it, a [...] thereby gave some p [...] bable [Page 33] grounds of suspecting and speaking the vvorst of them; but even those actions, vvhich beeing in themselves innocent, and of an indifferent nature, vvere knovvne to themselves to be looked-on vvith scandall, and to the continuance vvhere-off no necessitie at all obliged them: vvhich to have been the case, some yeares since, of som [...] persons of greatest eminencie, in this and other [Page 34] neighbouring countri [...] is obvious to every ma [...] knovvledge, vvho is n [...] a meere stranger to [...] passages of the times.

V.

Her charitie vvas lik [...] vvise singular in fo [...] giving all manner [...] vvrongs and offence [...] though never so gross [...] or so malicious; and th [...] not onelie upon indeavours of reconciliation but before anie satisfaction [Page 35] given. And so farre she vvas from harbouring anie spleene, or anie thoughts of revenge, tovvards them that had done her anie iniurie; as she did not onelie pardon them from all her soule, and heartilie prayed God to doe the same; but vvas verie vvilling and readie, to doe them anie good offices, not onelie in that nature, of vvhich vvee have spoKen in the foregoing article, but on [Page 36] all other occasions, tha [...] presented themselves unto her. And her charit [...] vvas so compleate in th [...] particular, and accomp [...] nied vvith so much gen [...] rositie, as nothing cou [...] have rejoiced her mor [...] than to have it in h [...] povver, to doe so [...] greate courtesie un [...] them, vvho had des [...] ved the the quite contrary [...] her; and she vvould [...] sure to doe it, if the o [...] portunitie offered itself

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VI.

She vvas vvonderfull liberall of her nature, vvhich qualitie as it vvell helped-on her charitie, in beeing communicative of releefe to the poore, so it made her come-off verie handsomelie, according to her ovvne condition, vvith all other matters of expence; loving much rather not to doe at all such things, as might convenientlie be [Page 38] omitted, than not to doe them compleatlie. yet vvas she verie farre from beeing a prodigall: and as her ovvne inclination did altogether exemt her from niggardlynes, and from all things that might in anie vvise savour that vvay, so her judgement gave a svveet mixture of frugalitie to her liberalitie, making her exactlie vvarie of spending anie thing on vanitie, or pleasures: as on the other side she [Page 39] vvould alvvayes much [...]ther have chosen to in [...]mmodeate herselfe, than [...]ot to fulfill the utmost, [...]f vvhat decencie, yea [...]nd generositie too, did [...]quire. And as in the [...]atter of apparell, fur [...]iture, and attendaunce, [...]e could have been con [...]ent to goe to the most expensive magnificence, [...]hat anie vvayes might [...]ute vvith her qualitie; [...] grace and vvisdome [...]ade her over-rule vvhat [...]ver there vvas too much [Page 40] of this in her naturall inclination, and acquiesce vvith a full contentment of mind in a comelie mediocritie; yea and to rest satisfied vvith lesse too, vvhen that either the publick calamities, or some of our ovvn private emergencies, did so require it. And in this, as in other particulars, her mind vvas of that svveet and happie temper, as she ever kept her desires vvithin those limits, that reason and [Page 41] goodnes did prescribe [...]nto her; and vvhen she [...]ad attained to vvhat [...]vith their approbation [...]he had propounded unto [...]erselfe, she rested there, [...]vith an absolute conten [...]ednes; no vvayes like [...]nto most persons, vvho [...] [...]lilating their lon [...] [...] to vvhat is remote, [...] little or no taste in vvhat they doe injoy for the present, though formerlie the utmost of their vvishes, aspiring still after nevv inlargements.

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VII.

She loved all kind of summerfruit exceedinglie, as most young folkes, especiallie of that sexe, use to doe: and she could never frame herselfe to an absolute and constant forbearance of it, although her he [...]rs did seeme so to requi [...]e it, and that the plentyfull use of the same did from time to time subject her to severall little accidents [Page 43] and infirmities. But for all other things, never man or vvoman lesse loved their bellies, than she did; she taKing-up most contentedlie at anie time vvith most ordinarie food, so it vvere but good and vvholsome; and neither longing for more exquisite dishes, vvhen she had them not; nor taking anie singular delight in them, vvhen that at anie time for my saKe, or for the reception of some friend, she had [Page 44] provided anie; or that abroad, either at a friends house, or in the countrie upon a iournie of pleasure, she met vvith anie▪ and she vvould let the vvhole yeare passe, vvithout so much as once cooking anie thing for herselfe, or hauing anie particular dish prepared for her. And yet she vvas not so indifferent, nor her mouth so out of tast, but that she did perfectlie vvell relish the finer and delicater meates [Page 45] [...]bove the more common ones, and in her ovvne inclinations like severall kinds of food before many others▪ but to buy that little pleasure, vvhich she took in them, at the expence of anie great cost or trouble, that she could never find in her heart to doe. As for vvine, or anie strong drinks vvhatso ever, she never knevv vvhat it vvas to love them: and vvhen she took anie (as she did vvonderfull seldome, and [Page 46] in verie small quantities) it vvas meerlie in the nature of a medecin. And as to confitures, and all kind of svveet-meates, she cared not at all for them, nor could indure anie more than to taste of them, and scarce that neither, even vvhen they cost her nothing.

VIII.

Her chastitie vvas altogether extraordinarie; and as vvith a singular [Page 47] care she ever kept her reputation most absolutelie unspotted, never having committed anie action, that might have afforded anie the least ground or colour of obloquie to the most malicious slaunderers: so she never knevv, vvhat it vvas to have anie the least inclination or temptation of sinning that vvay. And indeed, besides the prevalencie of grace and goodnes in her, the verie temper of her [Page 48] bodie made het so absolute a stranger to all sinfull lusts, as she never knevv vvhat it vvas to take anie the least pleasure in our verie conjugall imbraces, or in all that time, that vvee vvere married together (beeing upvvards of eight yeares) so much as once to yeeld unto the performance of the same, vvithout some reluctancie, nor othervvise than in maKing some effort upon herselfe for the paying of a [Page 49] bounden dutie. And this her naturall coldnes as it made her verie apt to judge the best of other vvomen, vvhose publick misbehaviour did not openlie speake them guiltie, and to misbeleeve all or most part of vvhat vvas said of their contrary disposition (as not able to conceive that easily in others, so much the contrary vvhere-off she found in herselfe) so it gave her cause oftentimes to say, vvhen [Page 50] in our private discourses vvee vvould freelie speak our minds one to another, that chastitie vvas no vertue at all in her, and that she did not deserve anie commendations for possessing it; no more than a man, vvho naturallie careth not for vvine, doth merit ani [...] prayses for beeing no drunkard. And as she vvas chast in this high degree, so she vvas no lesse modest and shame fast; vvhich qualitie, a [...] [Page 51] vvell as the dictates of grace, made her that she [...]ould not indure anie vvanton and lascivious expressions, not onelie not foule and broad ones, but even such as but darklie or glauncinglie tended that vvay: at the vvhich, if it vvere her fortune to be in companie vvhere anie such thing vvas spoken, she vvould blush as much, and be as much displeased, as could be expected of a little maiden of the [Page 52] best nature and education. And indeed at the very first aspect one might readily read this qualitie in her face, her ordinary countenance holding forth a most svveet and a most perfect modestie.

IX.

But the aforesaid coldnes of her temper did no vvayes hinder her of beeing most fervent in her affectiō tovvards me [Page 53] nor of bearing me so sin [...]ere and so intire a love, as I beleeve to be equalled but by fevv vvives: and sure I am, it can be exceeded by none. This made her to desire to have verie much of my cōpanie, never beeing better pleased, than vvhen she had me neere her; to be vvonderfull sollicitous in procuring me all manner of contentment, and preventing all causes of displeasure; to comply vvith my inclinations, and [Page 54] applaud my resolutions, except she savv or apprehended some great cause to the contrary (vvhich then verie svveetlie and prudentlie she vvould lay open to me) and indeavour to the utmost of her povver to further and effect them; and to be so vvonderfull tender of me, that if anie the least thing ailed me, and if but my finger aked, she vvas all out of order, and could not quiet her selfe, till she knevv [...] [Page 55] vvas better vvith me. And not onelie at other times it vvas so vvith her, but even vvhen she vvas nothing vvell herselfe, and vvhen she vvas troubled vvith anie paine or accident vvhat-ever; the feeling vvhere-off could not in the least vvise hinder that her tendernes over me: vvhich made me verie vvarie at all times hovv I did complaine before her of anie slight matter; for feare of disquieting her more [Page 56] than the matter vvas vvorth. And in that sicknes, vvherevvith it pleased God to visit me in the beginning of the yeare 1646. (the onelie that I had, since vvee vvere married together) and vvhich, by reason of a relapse, Kept m [...] betvvixt tvvo ana thro [...] vveeks in my bed, sh [...] vvas so assiduous abou [...] me, tooke so much paines vvith me, (although she vvas then som [...] months gone vvith chil [...] [Page 57] and needed not to have done anie thing herselfe, vvee having more servants than one about us) and did so lay my case to heart, as none but a most excellent vvife vvould have done the same. And vvithall she used so much discretion and circumspection, that as oft as her grief, out of the apprehension of my danger, came to that height, that she could no longer keep it in, but that she must needs [Page 58] vent it in teares and sobs (vvhich befell her verie often) she vvould be sure to retire to a corner, vvhere I should neither see nor heare her, for feare of aggravating my indisposition by her grieving.

X.

And as to me, so t [...] her children, her affectio [...] vvas vvonderfull great [...] and tender, vvhich mad [...] her take her principal [...] delight in them, vvhile [...] [Page 59] she injoyed them, and heavilie to mourne after them, vvhen the Lord took them from us; as he did the second, beeing a boy, on the 15. of May 1649. beeing then seaven months old: and the eldest, vvhich vvas a girle, on the second of October 1647. she then beeing come to the age of three yeares compleatlie▪ and the losse of this child did not onelie afflict her extreamlie for the present, (as that of the boy did [Page 60] too) but for a greate vvhile, and many months after: during all vvhich time she shed abundance of teares for her. Indeed the girle vvas a most lovelie one, beeing of most exquisite features, and of a most pure complexion: and therebesides (vvhich vvas much more to be valued, and accordinglie valued by the mother) there appeared in her, as much as could appeare in that tender age, not onelie a vvonderfull [Page 61] good vvit, but all the signes of a svveet disposition of mind, and of a good and vertuous nature; vvhereby she had got the love of all that knevv her: so as it vvas no vvonder, if the Mothers heart vvas extreamlie set upon her. And the Lord having given a good share of the same advantages, both of bodie and of mind, to our last girle too; the mothers affection, ever guided as much by iudgement as [Page 62] by instinct, vvas not onelie as excessive to her, as it had been to the other, but she took yet greater joy and contentment in her, than she had done in the former: Because that the indovvments of the mind, the chief object of the Mothers affection, shevved forth themselves more manifestlie and fullie in her than they had done i [...] our eldest girle, forasmuch as she vvas com [...] to some greater ripen [...] [Page 63] of age, than the other had lived unto; beeing foure yeares and a halfe old, vvhen the Mother dyed. And my Love finding every day more and more, that besides the svveetnes of her nature, free from all vicious and perverse inclinations (some or other vvhere-off doe appeare in most children) a greate flexibilitie tovvards all good instructions, and an extraordinary avvfulnes of all corrections, so as a vvord [Page 64] and a threate vvould do [...] more vvith her, tha [...] blovves vvith others; sh [...] vvas also verie capable and vvithall not oneli [...] vvilling, but greatlie desirous of learning, an [...] consequentlie most su [...] ceptible of all good education: she took so grea [...] a felicitie in her, that s [...] she had but the chil [...] neere her, she nev [...] found the misse of ani [...] other companie; vvhic [...] othervvise, her natu [...] beeing verie sociable [Page 65] she loved vvonderfull vvell. And as before, so much more during the time that she altogether Kept her chamber (as she did for the space of seaven vveeks, ever since that first accident on the first of March) she spent the greatest part of her time vvith her; partlie in teaching her to pray, and making her repeate often the Lords prayer, and severall other good prayers, as likevvise the Creed, and the Commandements; [Page 66] partlie [...] catechising her about th [...] principall points of christian Religion, making her every day repea [...] vvhat she had learned b [...] fore, vvith some ne [...] additions still from tim [...] time; partlie in teachin [...] her the beginnings [...] reading, vvhich she di [...] vvith so much succes, [...] in a fevv vveeks the chi [...] had perfectlie learned [...] her letters, and the sp [...] ling of all single syllabl [...] vvith good progre [...] [Page 67] tovvards the spelling of the more compounded ones, and of some vvhole vvords; and lastlie in ansvvering the childs questions (most of vvhich vvere vvonderfull prettie and vvittie) and in taKing all occasions, both by them, and othervvise too, of begetting and confirming in her the knovvledge and love of vertue, pietie, and civilitie. And finding all the paines, vvhich she took vvith the child, [Page 68] vvonderfull effectuall [...] that did so inflame h [...] affection tovvards h [...] more and more, an [...] adde so much to th [...] greate pleasure and ha [...] pynes, vvhich she shape [...] unto herselfe in havin [...] her neere her, as s [...] vvould needs dresse th [...] child every morning he [...] selfe, and spend an hou [...] or tvvo about it, inste [...] of letting one of h [...] maids doe it, as they us [...] to doe, vvhen the chi [...] vvas younger yet: a [...] [Page 69] she vvould never have lost her out of her sight, if she vvould have looked onelie to her ovvn contentment. But her judgement overruling her inclination in this, as in other particulars, she vvould every day for a greate vvhile deprive herselfe of her, not onelie vvhen she had companie, but even at other times too; for feare of making the child mopish, and to give her time to recreate herselfe vvith play, [Page 70] the moderate use vvhereoff she knevv to be absolutelie necessary for children. But although her love and her indulgence tovvards her children vvas thus excessive, yet it vvas no vvayes [...] fond one, but tempered vvith so much severitie as she vvould never vvin [...] at anie of their faults nor let them goe unco [...] rected, vvhen-ever the [...] had done some thin [...] amisse; as no children [...] though of never so goo [...] [Page 71] a nature, are alvvayes exempt from committing some childish fault, or other.

XI.

Her love and affection, vvhich vvas thus fervent to her husband and children, vvas nothing remisse to her other relations, especiallie to her parents and tvvo btothers, but as intire and as greate, as could be expected of a person of [Page 72] so much grace and goodnes. This made he [...] lay verie much to hear [...] the death of her eldest brother, VVilliam Dungan, vvho hauing had the command, for th [...] space of a yeare and [...] halfe, of a companie [...] tvvo hundred fire-loc [...] in the kings service, i [...] the late vvarres of England, and shevved mu [...] gallantrie and coura [...] on all occasions, vv [...] one of the princip [...] actours in the taking [...] [Page 73] Leicester, a fevv dayes before the battle of Nazeby; vvhere having led on the souldiours the third time to the assault, after that they had been tvvice beaten-off, he vvas at his verie entring into the tovvn shot thorough the bodie vvith a musket-bullet, of vvhich he died vvithin a fevv houres after; beeing verie much lamented by all them that knevv him, especiallie by his Generall, Prince Rupert, vvho [Page 74] in a particular manne [...] affected him for his valour, diligence, and sobrietie. This losse, of [...] brother in the flovver o [...] his youth (for he vva [...] not above 23. yeares old vvhen he dyed) vvhom she had ever loved mos [...] tenderlie, and vvhom s [...] esteemed highlie for h [...] brave qualities; havin [...] been redoubled vvit [...] the losse of her mothe [...] one of the best mothe [...] that ever vvas; vvh [...] had taken her sons dea [...] [Page 75] so much to heart, as it put her into a consomtion, vvhereof she died vvithin a fevv months after: she vvas readie to be overvvhelmed vvith grief, if the confort, vvhich she took in me and her child, had not sustained her, till other and sublimer considerations, of submitting to Gods vvill, and taking all patienlie at his hands, could take place in her distressed mind. But as it had afflicted her verie much, [Page 76] that the desolate estate of Ireland, and the exigence of my affaires, had necessitated me to bring her avvay from Dublin in the beginning of the yeare 1644. and thereby to separate her at a greate distance, as from the rest of her friends and kindred (vvho all vvere exceeding sorrie to part vvith her) so from her deare Parents, vvhere-unto neverthelesse she submitted vvillinglie, and vvithout repining, as knovving [Page 77] that my resolution to be [...]ounded on unansvvere [...]le reasons: so she did [...]cessivelie long, after [...]e death of her brother [...]d mother, more yet [...]an ever before, to re [...]rne into Ireland, for [...] be a comfort to her [...]ood father in that sad [...]nelynesse, vvhere-unto [...]hat grievous double [...]osse had reduced him. [...]or she loved him as much, as ever child loved a father, not onelie [...]ut of a naturall instinct, [Page 78] as he vvas her father, but upon the consideration, that he had ever been a most loving and most indulgent father to her; and that as he had put her into the vvorld, so he had had a singular care, together vvith the mother (a vvoman of a most sanctified mind and conversation) to bring her up in the feare of God, and in the true Religion: and vvithall had never spared anie paines or costs on her, for to [Page 79] [...]ve her the verie best [...]eeding, that the coun [...]e could afford, and to [...]ave her thoroughlie in [...]ructed in all those qua [...]ties, that are anie vvayes [...]quisite for the making- [...]p of a most compleate [...]entlevvoman, viz per [...]ect skill in all kind of [...]eedlevvork, the french [...]anguage, dauncing, mu [...]ick; the lute, and other [...]nstruments. And her desire, of returning to her father on the said [...]rounds, beeing so full [Page 80] of pietie and reason, I vvould long since have accomplished it, if the publicK condition of Ireland, and the conveniency of mine ovvne affaires, vvould in anie vvise have given vvay to it. VVhich she perfectlie vvell knovving, and that it vvas not vvant of good vvill, that hindered me from giving her satisfaction in this particular; she strove to content herselfe the best she could, and to console her [Page 81] [...]nging vvith these ho [...]es, that the same lets, [...]vhich hindered us for [...]he present from retur [...]ing to Dublin, vvould [...]ot last alvvayes; but that [...]he times mending, she vvould yet goe back to [...]reland, and there be a stay and comfort to her good father all the remainder of his dayes. But it hath pleased God to dispose othervvise of it, and in her to deprive him, as vvell as me, of the chiefest ioy that vvee [Page 82] had in this vvorld.

XII.

As she esteemed it her greatest happines, that God had done her the grace to call her to the knovvledge of his saving truth, and to the assured hopes of everlasting blisse, by making her a christian, of the Reformed Religion, and that reallie and sincerely, not in outvvard profession onely; for vvhich [Page 83] she gave dailie most heartie thanks unto his Divine Majestie: so she accounted it one of her greatest temporall blessings, to be of a good extraction. And that indeed vvas as good, as anie could be under the degree of nobilitie: the Dungans (of vvhich house her father, Thomas Dungan, Iustice of the Court of Common Pleas at Dublin, is a younger brother) beeing of the auncientest and [Page 84] best gentrie of Ireland, and allied not onelie vvith most of the prime gentrie of the Pale, as the Talbots, the Rocheforts, the Ashpooles, the VVogans, etc. but even vvith severall Noble houses. And as for her maternall line, that vvas no vvayes inferiour to the other: the Palmers of Nottinghamshire (of vvhich her mother, Grace Palmer, vvas borne) although but a younger braunch of the Palmers [Page 85] [...]f Lemingthon, in the [...]ountie of Glocester, having alvvayes subsisted verie honourablie, and been reckoned among the best houses of that countrie. And she set so high a value upon this qualitie, that if it had been possible for her to forgoe vvhat nature and her birth had given her, she vvould not have accepted of the vvealth and splendour of a Princesse, on condition of not beeing borne a [Page 86] gentlevvoman. Yet for all this no bodie did or could more, than she, despise a gentleman or gentlevvoman, vvhose qualities and actiōs vvere not correspondent to their extraction▪ and not onelie vice and vvickednes made her loose all esteeme in their behalfe (as to the contrarie she greatlie valued even the meanest persons, in vvhom she perceived true goodnes and vertue) but also ill-bred carriage, [Page 87] and all incivilitie and [...]udenes: using to say oftentimes, that in vaine they stood upon their gentrie, though descended of never so good houses, vvhose behaviour and manners vvere grosse and plebejan; and beeing herselfe not onelie verie civill, after the exactest and compleatest manner, but vvonderfull gentill in all her actions, by nature as vvell as by education, and so vvithout all affectation▪ and she [Page 88] vvould come-off vvōderfull hand-somelie vvith all Kind of complements, having naturallie a greate veine and copiousnes that vvay, both in vvriting of letters, and in discoursing; and yet beeing verie judicious in not making use of them but verie seasonablie, and as vvas most fitting and requisite according to the diversitie of the severall occasions.

VVithall she vvas a greate hater of all proud and [Page 89] haughtie deportments: [...]eing herselfe so cour [...]ous and affable, not [...]nelie to her equals, but [...]lso to her inferiours, [...]hose of the verie meanest [...]rt not excepted, that [...]ad anie occasion to [...]ome at her, as she vvon [...]heir hearts extreamlie. vvherefore also not onelie her friends, but also all those mechanick and ministeriall persons, vvho either used to come constantlie to the house, and to be imployed by her, [Page 90] or had at anie time had anie dealing at all vvith her, vvere extreamlie grieved at her decease; there beeing verie fevv of that vvhole number, vvho did not vvitnesse their sorrovv for it vvith abundance of teares. And yet her carriage tovvards this Kind of people vvas ever verie free from all meanenes, she behaving herselfe vvith an exact mediocritie betvvixt scornefull contemt and an over- [...]opular [Page 91] familiaritie.

XIII.

Beeing of a verie so [...]iable nature, she loved good companie verie much, and to spend some houres at convenient times in making or receiving visits. And as she vvas fit for all kind of discourses, and could not onelie be content, but took greate delight in entering and dvvelling on serious matters, vvhether [Page 92] of state-affaires and the passages of the times, or of things belonging to Moralitie or Divinitie, vvhen that the grauitie of the companie, or other good occasions made them necessary or seasonable; she acquitting herselfe verie vviselie and solidlie of them, to the greate satisfaction of them that she discoursed vvithall: so naturallie she vvas verie much taken vvith all kind of vvittie conversation, having [Page 93] herselfe a verie readie vvit, and a verie quick apprehension; by reason vvhere-off also she vvas ever verie apt to learne▪ and as she attained verie soon, beeing yet a child, to all those things, that she vvas instructed in, even to admiration; so since our comming to Paris she perfected herselfe in the french tongue in much lesse time, than vvhat is usuall unto most others. And for the same reason she bore [Page 94] also a greate love to all other productions of vvit, especiallie to good verses and poemes, and to elegant vvell contrived Romants, or fained histories, such as Sidneys Arcadia, Astrea, Ariana, the Illustrious Bashavv, and above all those tvvo late ones of Mons ^r de Calleprenette, so much admired universallie, Cassandra and Cleopatra; on the reading of vvhich choice Romants she did vvith much contentment [Page 95] bestovv some part of her time novv and then: beeing vvonderfullie pleased, as vvith the beautie of their language and conceptions, so vvith the characters off all kind of heroicall vertues, vvhich therein are held forth most livelie in the persons of both sexes. But as greate a lover as she vvas of vvit, and of all the productions of it; the least mixture of prophanenes, obscenenes, or lasciviousnes, did so [Page 96] sovvre them unto her, as she did not onelie loose all pleasure in them, vvhen so tainted, but she did perfectlie loath and detest them.

XIV.

She vvas also vvonderfull discreet in her conversation, and ever used a singular care and circumspection in not giving anie offence to anie bodie; avoiding not onelie all kind of taunts [Page 97] reproaches, and bitter iests and scoffes (the vvhich she also verie much condemned in others, vvho used them before her) but all contention and contradiction, even vvhere the argument maintained vvas no vvayes to her mind; except the matter vvas of that importaunce, as she thought herselfe bound to expresse her disliKe or contrary judgement abour it; vvhich so itselfe she [Page 98] vvould doe vvith much vvarynes and mildnes. And although that in them, vvith vvhom she conversed, she could in no vvise avvay vvith vanitie and bragging, nor vvith lying or unlikelie tales, those tvvo faults beeing point blanck contrary to her ovvn disposition and practise; as not neither vvith stupiditie and dulnes, a defect so extreamlie remote from her nature: yet out of meere strength of [Page 99] judgement (vvherevvith God had indovved her in a greate measure, although for the most part vvit and judgement doe not use to goe together) she had brought herselfe to so absolute a habit of patientlie induring those and other impertinēcies, as she vvould not in the least manner expresse her dislike there-off unto them, that she found guiltie of the same, nor in anie vvise take notice there-off, by her vvords [Page 100] or actions. And as in these, so in all other particulars, she studied to render herselfe altogether complaisant, or complying, unto them, vvith vvhom she did converse, though manie times greatlie against her ovvne liking: never breaking the rule, vvhich here-in she had prescribed unto herselfe, but vvhere by decencie, honour, o [...] conscience, she found herselfe indispenseabli [...] obliged to the contrary

[Page 101]

XV.

She that vvas thus circumspect in giving no offence by her vvords and conversation, may easilie be conceived to have been verie farre from beeing offensive in her actions. And so she vvas indeed, having a perpetuall vvatch over herselfe, not to doe anie thing, vvhere at anie bodie might justlie be offended: but to the contrary [Page 102] omitting no occasions of doing every bodie all the good offices, that anie vvayes lay in her povver, and taKing a singular pleasure in obliging others. And this she did vvith so much generositie, that vvhere-as she never lost the memorie of anie good turnes, that had been done her by others, but vvould us [...] all possible meanes for t [...] requite them, and on all occasions expresse he [...] sence and thankfull [Page 103] acknovvledgement of the same; so on the contrary she never thought much of the good she had done to others, and could not indure to speake of it, or to have it spoKe off, anie kind of vvay, much lesse by vvay of upbraiding; even not in case of unthankfulnes, and vvhere the parties obliged vvere altogether unmindfull of the benefits received, or furthermore so farre forgate themselves, as to [Page 104] requite good vvith evill.

Neither could anie such provocation at anie time prevaile vvith her, for to discover other folkes secrets, not onelie such as had been confided to her by the parties themselves; but even those that othervvise and accidentallie vvere come to her knovvledge. And as she vvas thus exact and conscientious in the concealing of secrets; so never anie bodie gave less [...] vvay to that curiositie [Page 105] so ordinarie in the vvorld, of inquiring into the condition and affaires of other people: beeing so farre from seeking to pry into them, as she vvould not give anie the least incouragement unto such, vvho upon occasion, and of their ovvn accord, did happen at anie time to make anie such thing knovvne unto her.

XVI.

VVhat I have said of [Page 106] her greate complying in conversation, even to the induring patientlie of the faults, defects, and impertinencies of others, is the more to be admired, because that naturallie, and by the temper of her bodie, she vvas much inclined to be cholerick, and to be vexed at anie thing, great or small, that vvas not to her mind. But never anie bodie of that constitution did more earnestli [...] and more effectuallie [Page 107] strive to overcome it: vvhereby as she had made a greate progres tovvards the acquiring of a contrary habit, insomuch as manie times she vvould put-up not onelie small matters, but even greate and sensible offences, vvithout beeing much mooved at them, and verie ordinarilie, for to avoid all occasion of putting herselfe into anie heate, dissemble the faults and misdoings of her servants, and of others, if [Page 108] she vvas not absolutelie necessitated to take notice of them: so at the vvorst, and even vvhen that the suddainnes of some un-expected provocation or indignitie vvrought on her naturall disposition, and stirred her up to anger; the vvorst effects of it vvere no other, than some sharp expressions. For she never knevv vvhat it vvas to use injuries, or opprobrious language, much lesse anie further effects [Page 109] of choller, no not to her ovvn servants, though never so much mooved. And as her anger vvas thus gentle, so it vvas vvonderfull short, passing avvay in a moment; especiallie if those, vvith vvhom she vvas offended, did not by their obstinacie and offensive replies minister anie nevv fevvell to it. And no sooner vvas she come to herselfe, but she vvould be the first in condemning, herselfe, if she found that [Page 110] she had at all overshot herselfe, and spoke anie thing more harshlie or tartlie, than she thought she ought to have done.

XVII.

She vvas a greate lover of Peace: and as the desire of preserving it to herselfe, made her extreame vvary of offēding others in the least manner, either by vvord o [...] deed, vvhich might minister anie cause or pretext [Page 111] unto them of falling-out vvith her; and to dissemble anie such offence given to herselfe by others, if the nature of it, or the manner of committing it, dit not make it altogether incapable of beeing dissembled: so she vvas ever verie studious, of preserving it also among others. For to tell tales, vvhereby to make people have an evill opinion one of another, and to set them by the eares together, vvas a [Page 112] thing utterlie unknovvne to her, as to her ovvne practice, and extreamlie detested by her in them that vvere guiltie of it. And if it fell out so, as some times it did, that tvvo persons of her acquaintance, beeing either openlie fallen-out amōg themselves, or bearing some secret grudge on [...] to another, told he [...] things to the prejudic [...] of their adversaries: sh [...] vvould be so farre from giving the parties interested [Page 113] anie full or cleere knovvledge of the things that had been so vvhispered unto her, or making anie direct relation thereoff to them, as she vvould not so much as give them the least hint of anie such matter. And vvhereas her good mother had ever observed, not to suffer her children to come and tell her her stories of the servants, even vvhē that reallie they had done something amisse; least they should get a [Page 114] habit, if countenanced there-in, of tale-telling so my deare Love vvas resolved, and had begun to observe the same rul [...] tovvards our children that vveaning them fro [...] their infancie of that vi [...] so hatefull to her, [...] beeing maKe-bates, an [...] sovvers of discord and d [...] vision; she might forr [...] them to the contrary v [...] tue, consonant to l [...] ovvn constant practi [...] of rather excusing ot [...] folkes actions, and [...] king [Page 115] ever the best of the same, vvhereby to preserve peace and quietnes.

XVIII.

God having indovved her vvith a verie large share of handsomnes, and given her vvith a middlemost stature (somvvhat inclining to the lesse, but vvonderfull neatlie timbred, vvith a most exact shape and proportion of all her limbs) a verie lovelie face, made-up [Page 116] of singular good fe [...] tures, an excellent eye, most fine skinne, and verie pure complexion she vvas verie vvilling a [...] carefull to preserve tho [...] advantages, that God h [...] bestovved on her, bo [...] by some particulars of h [...] diet, and by all oth [...] lavvfull meanes: but ve [...] much detested to ma [...] use of anie thing, t [...] vvas a fard, or in the l [...] manner approached of [...]

And as she could [...] chufe but be conscious [...] [Page 117] herselfe of those advantages, that she possessed in this, and in other particulars, and vvas heartilie glad of them: so she made no other use thereoff, than to thank God for hauing giuen her them; beeing verie farre from taking anie pride or vanitie in them, and from despising others for vvanting them. And vvhere-as verie fevv vvomen are handsome in the eyes of those of their ovvne sexe; it beeing a [Page 118] verie generall infirmiti [...] in it, so to be blinde [...] vvith envious emulatio [...] as either not to see at a [...] those advantages, vvhic [...] others doe possesse in th [...] and other particulars, [...] to see them vvith grea [...] diminution: (as on t [...] contrary verie fevv [...] them are deemed oth [...] than handsome by themselves, though never s [...] farre from it) my Lov [...] vvas so much of a diff [...] rent a disposition, as [...] man could be more f [...] vourable [Page 119] in judging of vvomens handsomnes, and of their other good qualities; nor more vvilling and forvvard to professe as much, and vvith greatest candour to give unto every one, upon all occasions, the commendations they deserved.

XIX.

She vvas vvonderfull neate about herselfe, and about her house, and a [Page 120] greate lover of decencie and comelynes about both, loving fine and fashionable apparell well and handsome furniture likevvise; but neither o [...] them vvith excesse. Fo [...] although she vvould hav [...] taken a verie large sco [...] in them, if she vvoul [...] have meerlie follovv [...] her naturall inclinatio [...] vvhich vvould have ca [...] ried her to the utmo [...] that could have sto [...] vvith her purse and q [...] litie: yet reason and g [...] [Page 121] vvere so prevalent vvith her, as made her verie much abate of those desires, and made her much more moderate in them, than most other persons, even such as are othervvise both good and gracious, vvould have been in the same case. And every day she grevv visiblie to a greater perfection in this particular, and to have her heart lesse and lesse set upon those outvvard ornaments; often expressing [Page 122] her dislike of those, who minds beeing altogether fixed on the ado [...] ning and setting out [...] these tēporarie lodgin [...] and perishable bodie [...] vvhich vvithin a lit [...] vvhile must be relinq [...] shed, and reduced to d [...] and corruption, have [...] thoughts of adorni [...] their soules vvith true v [...] tue and pietie, the one [...] true ornaments of ch [...] tians, that are to last [...] ever, and to be revvar [...] vvith eternall happyn [...], [Page 123] and blessed immortalitie.

XX.

She vvas a greate lover of truth, and by reason there-off did not onelie detest all Kind of lyes, especiallie such as vvere any vvayes malicious, or prejudiciall to others, and tended to the detorting and depraving of their sayings or actions; but vvas vvonderfull exact in keeping her vvord, and in making good her promises, [Page 124] though made [...] ver so cursorilie or sup [...] ficiallie, and that even the smallest matters, vvell as in those of g [...] ter moment. For vvas fullie persvvad [...] that people are as m [...] bound, both in hon [...] and in conscience, to [...] complish a bare and [...] luntary promise, as a [...] formall contract, con [...] med vvith an oath, [...] vvith all other bind [...]g solemnities. And as [...] ever conformed her o [...] [Page 125] practice there-unto, so she laboured to induce all others, in vvhom she had anie interest, to doe the same, and rather to suffer any inconvenience, or losse, than to find-out a pretext of going from their vvord: representing unto them, as unto herselfe, that one ought to promise nothing inconsideratelie, but to thinK vvell of it, before one ingage ones selfe: but having once passed ones vvord, that then there [Page 126] remaineth nothing else but performance, if th [...] matter promised be lavvfull and possible. An [...] as in all other parts of h [...] life, so in this too, s [...] had a singular care [...] vvalking by that gold [...] rule, to deale so vvi [...] others, as she did des [...] to be dealt vvithall h [...] selfe. Love to tru [...] made her also verie i [...] partiall, not onelie in [...] behalfe of strangers, [...] euen of herselfe, and [...]f all her neerest relatio [...] [Page 127] judging of all vvith the same unbiassed equitie and equalitie, both in questions of interest and of concernment, and in those concerning the nature of actions, and of qualificatiōs of the mind and of the bodie.

XXI.

She vvas extreamlie fearefull of her nature, insomuch as she vvould figure unto herselfe and apprehēd dangers, vvhere there vvas none at all; especiallie upon the vvater: [Page 128] and not onelie upo [...] the sea, vvhere all thing [...] at the best appeared veri [...] terrible unto her, bu [...] upon the verie rivers: s [...] as it vvas death to her [...] London, to come into boate, though the vvat [...] vvas never so calme▪ a [...] even here at Paris, in tho [...] boats used upon the Sei [...] (incomparablie bigg [...] and surer, than those [...] the Thames) she thoug [...] herselfe every jot as un [...] fe▪ and though she vvo [...] novv and then be persv [...] ded [Page 129] vvith much adoe, to goe by vvater to Charenton, or to Chaliot, yet her mind vvas at no ease nor quiet, as long as she vvas upon the river, even in the fairest and stillest vveather. Yet grace and reason did so oversvvay this her naturall timourousnes, as notvvhitstanding the greate excesse of it, there vvas nothing so terrible, but she could resolve to undergoe it, either for the maintaining of a good cause, or [Page 130] anie other vvay called t [...] it by God; and nothin [...] so hazardous, but s [...] could be induced to [...] upon good grounds, an [...] at the appearance of an [...] necessitie, or greate co [...] veniencie. This vvas t [...] reason, that she, vvho [...] trembled and quaked [...] the least apprehension [...] death, and at the l [...] shaddovv of anie dang [...] though but an imagi [...] rie one, thorough the [...] cret and suddain mori [...] of her naturall infirm [...] [Page 131] in that particular; could in a setled mind think on death, and that under anie shape, vvith as much quietnes of mind, and undauntednes, as more could not be expected of a most valourous vvarriour, or of a man consummate in courageous vvisdom. And that this vvas not a delusion, hath vvell appeared by the effect, she having looked death in the face, vvithout beeing in the least manner appalled at it, during [Page 132] this last period of he [...] life, and ever since thos [...] greate and frequent losse [...] of blood, vvhich at lengt [...] have carried her avvay gave her just cause t [...] conceive herselfe in da [...] ger of it; as she did to th [...] full, from the beginning [...]

For although that aft [...] every fit, except the ver [...] last of all, she came st [...] verie vvell to hersel [...] again, (as hath been mo [...] at full declared at t [...] entrance of this treati [...] yet ever since the first [...] [Page 133] them her mind gave her, that she vvould not outlive them, but that assuredlie they vvould make an end of her.

VVherefore, for to prepare me for her death, vvhich she knevv vvould be most grievous to me (according to the excessive love I bore her) she vvould often talKe of it, not onelie about the time of those fits, and vvhen she vvas nevvlie come out of them, but even at other times, and farre from [Page 134] them. And althoug [...] every foot I vvould fai [...] have hindered her of sp [...] king of it, the thoug [...] of loosing her beeing [...] unsupportable to me, [...] I could not indure th [...] least mention of it; y [...] she vvould still goe o [...] notvvhitstanding all n [...] opposition, and freque [...] interruptions, telling [...] that it vvas good alvvay [...] to think of the vvor [...] and that it vvould be [...] ver the more, for talKi [...] of it. Novv the sum [...] [Page 135] of those her discourses, tending ever to the same purpose, vvas, That she nothing at all apprehended death, but vvas most vvilling to undergoe it, if it pleased God so to dispose of her; finding nothing in it to trouble her, but the thought of the sorrovv, vvhich that separation vvould cause unto me: beseeching me, if so it fell out, to use my vvhole strength for to hinder me from succombing under it, and for to [Page 136] make me beare that aff [...] ction patientlie▪ and [...] make this her couns [...] sink the deeper into [...] mind, she vvould ma [...] use, as of other consid [...] rations, so of that of o [...] girle, vvhose losse vvou [...] be too greate, if vvith [...] mother she should al [...] come to loose her fath [...], and that in a stra [...] countrie, farre from [...] her friends and kindr [...]: vvherefore I ought [...] doe all I could for to p [...] serve me for her▪ and t [...]t [Page 137] vvas all she ever said of her to me on that occasion. For knovving full vvell, that next to herselfe I loved her most perfectlie, as much as a child can be beloved by a father; she knew it superfluous to talke to me, of beeing carefull and tender of her, and of making much of her.

And these same things (of her finding nothing in her death to trouble her, but the grief it vvould cause unto me; vvith the vvonted adjurations, that [Page 138] I vvould strive to moderate it for Gods sake, an [...] for her sake, and to preserve myselfe for our gi [...] le) she repeated to me s [...] verall times in that sho [...] space, that vvas betvvi [...] her last fit, and her en [...] the abundance of tear [...] vvhich her imminent d [...] ger, frequent faintin [...] and greate paines and t [...] sings, drevv from [...], giuing her occasion to [...] nevv that counsell so [...]t unto me, vvhere-off [...]e savv I had so much [...] [Page 139] alreadie, and vvould have much more shortlie after. And she continued to expresse this christian resolution, accōpanied vvith so much tendernes of love tovvards me (of not apprehending death at all in her ovvn regard, but onelie in mine) to the verie last, as long as she vvas able to expresse anie thing, and vvhen that she vvas novv at the verie point of death, and had it even vvithin her, and upon her lips. For a little [Page 140] before she lost her speec [...] after one of her grievo [...] sest and last tossing [...] vvhen the sight and sen [...] of vvhat she indured, a [...] the most evident signes [...] the inevitablenes of [...] losse, had caused me, i [...] transport of sorrovv, [...] throvv myselfe upon [...] bed by her side with ab [...] dance of teares, she [...] in french (the langu [...]e she had onelie sp [...]e all that night, beca [...]se that all the persons in [...]e room understood it, [...]d [Page 141] most of them understood no other) Violà tout le mal, that is, Loe there all the euill: the meaning of vvhich vvords, verie intelligible to me by vvhat so often before she had expressed more at large unto me, vvas, That she vvas sensible or apprehensive of no ill to herselfe in her death, but onelie of the evill and grief it did and vvould cause unto me. And she spoke this thus shortlie, because that speaking begun novv to be somevvhat [Page 142] troublesome a [...] difficult unto her. Neith [...] doe I knovv, that [...] spoke anie thing else a [...] it, but that she gave [...] blessing to her chi [...], vvhom she savv st [...]d most sadlie at the [...]s foot (the poore lamb [...]aking the mothers cal [...] [...]o heart much beyond v [...]at is usuall in so youn [...] [...]n age) and gave and as [...]d, vvith svveetest expre [...]s, accompanied vvith [...]ost svveet and tender l [...]s, an assurance of of a [...] fect [Page 143] forgivenes of anie displeasure, that at anie time might have been caused by the one of us to the other. For after that beeing risen, for to give the midvvife and the nurce-keeper vvay to change her to another place, as she had desired: I found, vvhen that vvas done, and that I came again to her, that she had lost her speech, though not yet her fences. For a messe of broth, vvith some medcinall thing in [Page 144] it, vvhich D ^r Sarrasin and the Midvvife judged proper for her, and desire [...] her to take, hauing bee [...] refused by her; as tire [...] by the greate varietie o [...] cordials and other thing [...] that had been given to h [...] since the beginning of t [...] fit, and finding it no [...] althogether bootlesse, [...] take anie thing vvha [...] soeuer: assoon as I h [...] tendered it unto her, a [...] prayed her to take it f [...] my sake, she took it ve [...] readilie, and took-dov [...] [Page 145] every drop of it. And hauing not long after also lost her sences, she continued in that estate the matter of a quarter of an houre longer: and hauing been verie quiet and calme this last halfe houre of her life (all her paines and pangs having quite left her, and her tossings beeing quite ceased vvith them) she vvent-out like a candle, and gave-up her ghost most quietlie: going herselfe to taKe possession of heavenlie [Page 146] blisse, but leaving me f [...] of most grievous a [...] mortall sorrovv, to [...] as long as my dayes; th [...] beeing nothing on t [...]s earth, that can make [...] unto me that joy [...] comfort, vvhich I h [...]e lost by loosing her [...] rest companie.

XXII.

Her greate resolut [...]n against death, and [...] courageous contemt [...] [...]f all the terrours of it, to [Page 147] the verie last moment; as it vvas altogether contrary to her naturall disposition, so it proceeded vvhollie from divine grounds, and from the gracious assistaunce of Gods blessed spirit, quicKning and strengthening her faith in the mercie of God, thorough the merits of Christs precious blood, and of his bitter death and passion: her heart beeing anchored in an unshaken assurance on those infallible promises [Page 148] of our blessed Saviou [...] That vvho-so-ever beleeve [...] in him, Ioh. 3.14. & 5.4.24. & 6.51. &c. shall not perish, [...] have everlasting life, and [...] come into condemnation, [...] passe from death unto life, [...] live for ever. VVhich [...] faith she expressed f [...] quentlie, as in for [...]r times, so during these [...] last moments; especia [...]e after that the continu [...] ce of her bleeding, [...] ger than it had been [...] in anie former fit, her [...] quent faintings, the [...]rplexitie of the midv [...]e, [Page 149] and of the rest of her friends and people about her, their vvhispering together, and the sending-for of M ^r Drelincourt, one of the french Ministers of Charenton, had made her comprehend cleerlie, that she vvas novv come to the last period of her life. And having expressed greate joy and contentment at the sight of M ^r Drelincovrt, it beeing betvvixt eight and nine of the clock vvhen he came; she [Page 150] presentlie composed he [...] selfe for to heare his e [...] hortation, and to pr [...] vvith him. His exhort [...] tion vvas indeed a mo [...] heavenlie one, the sum [...] of it beeing, that [...] should absolutelie re [...] gne herselfe into t [...]e hands of God, either f [...]r life or for death; that [...]e should cast herselfe in [...]o the armes of Christ Ies [...], and in his name, and [...]r his merits sake, aske [...]f God forgivenes of all [...]r faults and transgressi [...]s, [Page 151] vvith a certain assurance of obtaining it▪ that bee in reconciled to God by the blood and mediation of our Saviour, death vvas not all to be feared by her, because it vvould be no death to her, but a passage from this vale of misery to life and joy everlasting: vvith many other most excellent expressions, fitted to her present condition, and for to make her quit this life vvith alacritie▪ and after that follovved the [Page 152] prayer, tending to th [...] same purposes: durin [...] both vvhich, though the [...] vvere of a greate length and that her pain [...] and unquietnes vve [...] grovving on her befor [...] they vvere begun, she la [...] verie still, giuing grea [...] attention to them, a [...] follovving thē all alo [...] vvith up-lifted hands a [...] eyes, as likevvise vvith h [...] voice upon all the m [...] pregnāt, passages of the [...]. And after that they vv [...] done, she assured me, th [...]t [Page 153] her heart too had fullie gone along vvith them from the beginning to the end, and that she had found a greate deale of singular comfort and cō solatiō in them. VVherefore also vvhen that M ^r. Drelincourt, after he had done, vvithdrevv himselfe into the next roome, for to give vvay to me, to D ^r Sarrasin, to the midvvife and keeper, and to the rest of the vvomen, to come about her, for to give her something, and [Page 154] to afford her other necessary accommodations she thinking, that he ha [...] gone avvay for good an [...] all, sent after him, for [...] pray him not to leave he [...] but to stay vvith her [...] the end, for to renev [...] unto her from time [...] time that spirituall co [...] fort, vvhich he had beg [...] so effectuallie to minist [...] unto her. And he [...] ving sent her vvord, th [...] he had no other intētio [...] came presentlie back in [...] the chamber again: a [...] [Page 155] from that time he never quit her to the last, conforting her from time to time (as the intermissions of her faintings, and of her anguish and tossings, ministred opportunitie) vvith short exhortations, and vvith ejaculatorie prayers; the vvhich vvere still most cordiallie received and follovved by her. And in all those paines and anxieties she never spoke an impatiēt vvord, but that sometimes she exclaimed, Ce jeune coeur [Page 156] ne se veut rendre, that is, This young heart vvill not yeeld. For her heart beeing in its full strength and vigour, as not at all abated by anie sicknes, struggled hard vvith death, caused by meer [...] emptynes, and the loss [...] of blood; vvhich thin [...] also she had apprehended she having told you Lordship but the day b [...] fore, that as she feare not death at all, so th [...] paines, vvhich she exp [...] cted to indure before [...] [Page 157] did somevvhat terrifie her. Yet neither the expectation of them, vvhen yet absent, nor the sence of them, vvhen she novv suffered them, did in the least manner shake her resolutiō and vvillingnes to dye, nor her affiance in the goodnes and mercie of her Saviour, as not neither her tender care of me: but having continued constant in them all, and the Lord hauing done her the grace, to give ner ease, and to free her from those [Page 158] disquieting paines, before he tooke her avvay, she concluded her life vvith a most blessed end, to the great edification, yea and admiration, of all th [...] standers by, even such a [...] vvere of a contrary Religion.

Novv, My lord, let a [...] the vvorld judge vvith yo [...] Lordship, vvhether havin [...] lost such a vvife, so good, gracious, so loving, so lovel [...] so accomplished every vv [...] and that in the verie flovv [Page 159] of her age, vvhen she vvas but five and tvventy yeares old; I can grieve moderately; and vvhether my sorrovv can be justlie cōdemned, though verie excessive and lasting. I knovv the Lord hath done me no vvrong, in taking her from me, vvho vvas his ovvn, and in using that right over her, vvhich he hath over all his creatures, as Souverain Lord and Master, vvhereby it is free for him, to dispose of them at anie time as he pleaseth: and I knovv also, that J have given his divine Majestie [Page 160] cause enough, to send me this crosse, and anie other that I am capable off. But thes [...] considerations as they are of force for to make me take thi [...] crosse at his hands vvithou [...] murmuring (the vvhich trust to have done exactli [...] not having had the least temptation of calling his just [...] into question, for having de [...] thus vvith me) so I find th [...] not sufficient for to hinder [...] of being sensible to the full [...]f the evill, that he hath in [...] cted on me▪ neither doe I [...] leeve, that vvhen he sen [...]h [Page 161] anie grievous calamitie to his servants, he is offended vvith them, for seeing their sorrovv proportionable to the bitternes of vvhat he maketh them suffer. For in this verie particular, vvhich is novv my case, my vvoefull and deplorable case; J find, that vvhen he thought good, in taking from the Prophet Ezechiel, Ezech. 24.15. & seq. the desire of his eyes (as he hath done mine from me) to forbid him, for some mysterious signification, all outvvard expressions of mourning, even the verie shedding of teares: yet [Page 162] he no vvayes forbid him t [...] grieve reallie and invvardlie but rather gave him a command, or at the least an expresse permission, for doing s [...] by the first vvords of the 1 [...] verse, if they be taken in the right sense, as hath been do [...] of S. Hierome, and some other of the best Interpreters. F [...] as for that high degree of her [...] call vertue and vvisdome, not onelie not beeing ve [...] deeplie touched vvith a [...] crosse or affliction, though [...] ver so bitter and cruell, but [...] finding even matter of joy [...] [Page 163] it, and of giving God thanks for it: as I admire it in them that possesse it, so I confesse to be verie farre from it, and to see little ground of hoping ever to attaine to it; especiallie in this particular, vvhich hath lighted upon the tenderest and least armed part of my soule.

And my case is the more to be pittyed, because that having lost in my dearest Consort that vvhich J most loued, and vvhere-in I most joyed in this vvorld, and thereby my life beeing become burdensom and hatefull to me; yet there [Page 164] lyeth upon me a cruell necessitie, not onelie of not abandonning or vvilfullie neglecting i [...] (vvhich I vvould not do hovv-ever, because absolutelie forbidden by him, vvhos [...] holie vvill and commandemēt must be the rule of all o [...] actions) but even of desirin [...] and striving vvith all possib [...] care to uphold and to prolo [...] it, for to preserve myselfe f [...] that deare pledge of our m [...] tuall love, vvhich she hath l [...] me; both because mine ovv [...] affection, agreable to the dict [...] tes of God and Nature, leade [Page 165] me stronglie there-unto; and because that that blesse soule hath in her latter dayes, even to the last moments of her life, made it so often her most serious request to me, and her onelie request: the vvhich not to seek to fulfill to the utmost, as farre as anie vvayes lyeth in my povver (though nothing else obliged me to it) I vvould accoūt a crime of the next nature to sacriledge. So as J must resolve to live many yeares yet, if God so see it fitting, yea and vvish and indeavour to doe so, though all the svveetnes of [Page 166] my life be taken from me, an [...] that I see nothing but thic [...] clouds of dismall draknes befor [...] me; vvhich make death unt [...] me, as to myselfe, infiniteli [...] preferable before life. Fo [...] even the memorie of her vertues, as on the one side it ministreth some kind of contentm [...] and comfort to me, especiall [...] vvhen I consider the blesse revvard there-off, vvhich sh [...] novv reapeth in heavē, vvherin the presence of God she in joyeth the fulnes of joy, all te [...] res beeing vviped-off from h [...] eyes: so on the other side it do [...] [Page 167] mainlie aggravate my sorrovv, because that the greater they vvere, and the rest of her most desireable and lovelie qualities, the greater is my losse, in beeing deprived of her. But be her dearest Jdea matter of comfort to me, or matter of sorrovv, it shall ever and incessantlie be present to my soule, and therein to the end of my dayes take-up that vvhole roome, vvhich a christian, vvithout offence to his Creatour and Saviour, and vvith a due sub-ordination to that love, vvhich is ovving [Page 168] to him in the first place, ca [...] lavvfullie afford to anie thin [...] created; just in the same manner, as she did possesse it duri [...] that time, that J vvas bless [...] vvith that greate happyn [...] of injoying her most amia [...] companie. I should nev [...] have done, My lord, if [...] vvould take that scope [...] dvvelling on this theam [...], vvhich my affection and gr [...]f doth prompt unto me. [...] feare of importuning y [...]r Lordship constraineth m [...] breake off: and so vvith [...]y most heartie thanks for [...]ll [Page 169] those friendlie and pious paines, vvhich ever since this fatall blovv you have taken, and doe still take daylie, in endeavouring to heale this deep and incurable vvound, and to minister all spirituall comfort to me, I reamaine

Your Lordships most obliged and humble, but desolate and disconsolate servant, ARNOLD BOATE.

Paris this 24. of May 1651.

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D. O. M. S. LECTISSIMAE FOE MINAE MARGARITAE DVNGAN: ANIMI PIETATE ET PROBITATE; AMORE AC FIDE IN DEV [...] PVRIORIS RELIGIONIS ZELO, CHARITATE IN PROXIMO [...] PHILOSTORGIA IN MA [...] TVM, LIBEROS, PARENTE [...] MODESTIA, CASTITAT [...] BENIGNITATE, LIBER [...] LITATE, COMITAT [...] EXIMIE ORNATAE: ETIAM IVSTITIAE [...] VERITATIS AMOR [...] PRVDENTIA; GEN [...] ROSITATE; RELIQVIS VIRTVTIB [...], SVPRA SEXVM ET ANN [...], PRAEFVLGENTI: INDOLIS QVOQVE ET [...] GENII FOELICITA [...]; FORMAE PRAESTANT [...]A, ET VENVSTATE, [Page] ORIS-QVE DECORE ET GRATIA; MORVM SINGVLARI SVAVITATE, ET ELEGANTIA; VNICE CONSPICVAE: VXORI TOT NOMINIBVS SIBI CHARISSIMAE: MOESTISSIMVS MARITVS ARNOLDVS BOOTIVS; IN IPSO IVVENTAE FLORE, CVM TANTVM 25. AETATIS ANNVM AGERET, SIBI EREPTAM, 17. APRILIS 1651. IN CONSOLABILITER LVGENS; POSVIT HOC MONVMENTVM AMORIS EXIMII, ET INDIVIDVI, ATQVE AD SVPREMAM DIEM EODEM TENORE DVRATVRI.

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Lectissimam Matronam, & sibi ch
 [...] rissimam, Margaritam Dung
 [...] nam, D. Arnoldi Bootij, sibi etia
 [...] amicissimi, Coniugem, verè fle
 [...] deflebat sibi morte ademtam, eff
 [...] ex tempore carmine, Th. Sinsersi
 [...] Candidae Casae apud Scotos Epis
 [...] pus indignissimus:
VERE Debemus morti nos nostraque, V
 [...]
Ignarus causae, dixerat ille nimis.
Quod saepe expertus, iam sentio, dum mibi cha
 [...]
Dunganam, ab nimiùm mors violenta rapit.
Mors violenta rapit Dunganam in flore iuveni
Prae cunctis alijs quae mihi chara fuit.
Sed mihi solamen, quod Vati non fuit illi, est
Spes, quod per Christum vita redibit ei.
Sic est, peccatum morti nos subjicit omnes:
Christus at ex ipsa morte redemtor erit.
Sic tibi, sic certò fiet, Dungana, beata
In Christo moriens, dum tibi vera fides.
Vera & viva fides; quae vitā expressa per om
 [...]
Morte etiam in media te comitata fuit.
Hanc quoque tu in mentē revoca, charissime 
 [...]
Quae fuit erepta in conjuge viva fides:
Ereptae quae tanta premit, ne 
 [...]eopprimatorbu
 [...]
Moestitia. In viva coniuge, viva fides
Vitam animae in coelo post mortem praestat: ean
 [...]
Corporeae parti reddet & illa suae.

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