The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

JOHN EVELYN

virtuous relation of hers); she was not fond of that
glittering- scene, now become abominably licentious,
though there was a design of Lady Rochester and Lady
Clarendon to have made her a maid of honor to the
Queen as soon as there was a vacancy. But this she did
not set her heart upon, nor indeed on anything so much
as the service of God, a quiet and regular life, and how
she might improve herself in the most necessary accom-
plishments, and to which she was arrived at so great a
measure.

This is the little history and imperfect character of iny
dear child, whose piety, virtue, and incomparable endow-
ments deserve a monument more durable than brass and
marble. Precious is the memorial of the just. Much I
could enlarge on every period of this hasty account, but
that I ease and discharge my overcoming passion for the
present, so many things worthy an excellent Christian
and dutiful child crowding upon me. Never can I say
enough, oh dear, my dear child, whose memory is so
precious to me!

This dear child was born at Wotton, in the same house
and chamber in which I first drew my breath, my wife
having retired to my brother there in the great sickness
that year upon the first of that month, and the very hour
that I was born, upon the last: viz, October.

i6th March, 1685. She was interred in the southeast
end of the church at Deptford, near her grandmother and
several of my younger children and relations. My desire
was she should have been carried and laid among my own
parents and relations at "Wotton, where I desire to be in-
terred myself, when God shall call me out of this uncer-
tain transitory life, but some circumstances did not permit
it. Our vicar, Dr. Holden, preached her funeral sermon
on Phil. i. 21. <(For to me to live is Christ, and to die
is gain,** upon which he made an apposite discourse, as
those who heard it assured me (for grief suffered me not
to be present), concluding with a modest recital of her
many virtues and signal piety, so as to draw both tears
and admiration from the hearers. I was not altogether
unwilling that something of this sort should be spoken, for
the edification and encouragement of other young people.

Divers noble persons honored her funeral, some in per-
son, others sending their coaches, of which there weresed one summer in it at Windsor with Lady Tuke,