him only in his unsociable moods hears with surprise that 'Mr. Gee has fallen the way of all flesh, and is married again.' Sir Ralph writes to the bride's father March, from London after a Sunday wedding: 'I cannot but expresse some part of my joy to you, as well as them, for the happy conclusion of that greate worke.'

1653

When they return to Brussels, in June, Sir Ralph goes with them to Rochester; Edward Spencer writes: 'The pleasantnesse of the waies and the weather, and the good humour of our coachman and his horses, brought us last night safe to Dover; . . . my mother would have forced you not only hither, but to have tasted a sillibub, in a new sillibub pot at Bruxelles.' Cousin Gee writes from Dunkirk, 'YesJune 16, terday about 10 of the clocke we arrived at Mardike,

1653

from whence wee were conveied in the Governor's Coach to this place, and as soone as we had a little filled the vacuum the sea had made, went to bedd, where we supped and slept till just now [4 in the morning], I rise to write this letter.' They had been fired upon by an English ship, and had pursued a Hamburger,' and arrived at last much worn out. 'The greate joy wee found here, for the declaring the King of Hungary King of the Romans, and the expense of powder thereby occationed had beene worth our notice, had we not had more considerable businesse in providing for our owne repose. Wee are all, both men and much your servants.'

women,

Mr. Robert Spencer welcomes home 'my dearest,' my son and daughter and 'my sonne Gee.' He tells

Sir Ralph that he will never be able to answer before a jury of Ladies; for if Burbon were blamed for throwing away his shield, what will become of you for forsaking your charge, your Pallace here, and Spa journey, &c.?' The Gees seem to have settled in the Pallace,' and Mr. Spencer handed over to his sonin-law the care of providing an English service at Brussels. Mr. Gee found it no easy task, and thus pours out his troubles to Sir Ralph: 'Wee have now gott a Confessor, to morrow hee beginning to preach and wee to censure, wee shall not bee above 2 or 3 gathered together and I beleeve wee shall be in as many factions. Some or one I heare thinks preaching once a fortnight enough for those who have thus long rubbed out without it, another that since wee have soe long wanted wee can never have enough, and soe wee must have the precious word held out to us twice a Sunday and every time a new prayer both before and after sermon; this is there language soe you may beleeve some body shortly will have cause to regreat his readinesse to serve.' The minister has been installed, and he writes again: Wee once a weeke pray and Preach, as yett without Disturbance, but i beleeve our Reigne will not be long, for by your absence wee are to seeke how to proportion our Minister's allowance since my La: G: [Gorges] will not be drawne beyond his first offer and there are noe other contributors but our ffamily. The Preacher is for ought I heare of Life unblameable, and seriously preaches exceeding well,

but he must thinke of returning if any more of his congregation forsake this place.'

Mrs. Gee is devoted to her parents, and unable to leave them, owing to 'The good gentleman's indisposition, and the good lady's resolve to take the Spa waters in her velvet bed, rather then leave him without any other company then a troublesome gout and melancholy considerations of the inconveniency of her absence.' Sir Ralph makes particular inquiries after the bride's health, and her husband writes: 'My wife is much your servant, but when I told her of your question, she looked nine waies at once, and gave you noe answer.' He then writes affectionately about her and their happy hopes. God blesse the Babby that is coming,' replied Sir Ralph.

Mr. Spencer concludes his letter with a little joke, common to all Sir Ralph's friends during the next forty years I guesse you are looking out for a Cornelia to governe your house, and keepe you warme next winter, so that you will need none of my woodpile, jambon, nor tongue.' Old Aunt Ursula, Sir Francis Verney's widow, is busy in the same direction. 'She is much your humble servant, and is providing you with a wife; a virgine about 30 yeares old, £1000 p. ann in possession, £1000 p. ann: more in reversion, all in England; and £1000 per ann: more in Ireland. But she is a papist. I hope you will not be such a take notice of it in a letter to

clowne, as not to

her.' But, adds Dr. Denton drily, this will be

'a motive as stronge as a Loadstone to bringe you home.'

'Teach me to answer to my Catechize,' writes Cousin Gee. 'Quest Is not your freind Sir Ralph Verney married?

'Answ: Wherere I goe I am posed and must bee soe till you informe me, nor till then will I wish you joy.'

The object of so much solicitude replies: 'As yet I can answere your Worshipp's Question and saifly say: Your servant R. V. is not married, nor for ought hee knowes, (notwithstanding your good example) one jott nearer it, then when you left him. Neverthelesse hee cannot justly complaine of any Woeman's unkindnesse, since none did ever yet deny him.' For the best of all reasons, as Mrs. Gee reminded him, for he had never asked another woman to fill Mary's place in his heart and home.

CHAPTER III.

CONCERNING CHILDREN AND THEIR BREEDING.

1650-1654.

'Is the framing of young minds so mean a point of cunning?' MULCASTER, 1581.

BEFORE Sir Ralph gets back to Claydon and plunges into his home business a word must be said of the children of the family, about whom he was now specially concerned his own two boys, Mun and Jack, their cousins Peg and Moll Eure, and his god-daughter Nancy Denton, Doctor's girl,' whom both these judicious men combined to pet and spoil.

6

Sir Ralph was devoted to girls: his love for his own little daughter had been so great he had often thought right to dissemble' lest his boys should regard her as his favourite; he ceased not to mourn her loss, but he extended this fatherly love to his numerous nieces, 'she-cousins,' and god-daughters. He was never too busy to answer the childish letters they wrote him in large text hand; and when the children grew up into maidens, he was still the kind adviser and wise confidant to whom they poured out the more complicated troubles of youth, and appealed if the older members of the family were to be coaxed