groom (for so they are still called) with verses upon their happy marriage. I cannot better represent their first arrival at Belvoir, than by the Woborne song that Lord Bedford lik'd so well; for at the gate were four-andtwenty fidlers all in a row; four-and-twenty trumpeters, with their tan tara ra ra's; four-and-twenty ladys, and as many parsons; and in great order they went in procession to the great apartment, where the usual ceremony of saluting and wishing of joy past, but still not without something represented in the song, as very much tittle-tattle, and fiddle-fiddle. After this the time past away till supper in visiting all the apartments of the house, and in seeing the preparations for the sack posset, which was the most extraordinary thing I did ever see, and much greater than it was represented to be. After After supper, which was exceeding magnificent, the whole company went in procession to the great hall; the bride and bridegroom first, and all the rest in order, two and two; there it was the scene opened, and the great cistern appeared, and the healths began; first in spoons, some time after in silver cups; and though the healths were many, and great variety of names given to them, it was observed after one hour's hot service, the posset did not sink above one inch, which made my Lady Rutland call in all the family, and then upon their knees the bride and bridegroom's health, with prosperity and happiness, was drunk in tankards brim full of sack-posset. This lasted till past 12 o'clock, &c. MADAM, Your most humble and faithful servant, 1693. LETTER CXLI. J. FORBES. ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON TO LADY RUSSELL. MADAM, Lambeth House, Aug. 26, 1693. THO' nobody rejoices more than myself in the happiness of your Ladyship and your children, yet in the hurry in which you must needs have been, I could not think it fit for to give you the disturbance so much as of a letter, which otherwise had both in friendship and good manners, been due upon this great occasion. But now that busy time is, in a good measure, over, I cannot forbear, after so many as I am sure have been before me, to congratulate with your Ladyship this happy match of your daughter; for so I heartily pray it may prove, and have great reason to believe it will, because I cannot but look upon it as part of the comfort and reward of your patience and submission to the will of God, under that sorest and most heavy affliction that could have befallen you; and when God sends and intends a blessing, it shall have no sorrow or evil with it. I intreat my Lord Ross and his Lady to accept of of my humble service, and my hearty wishes of great and lasting happiness. My poor wife is at present very ill, which goes very near me; and having said this, I know we shall have your prayers. I intreat you to give my humble service to my Lord of Bedford, and my Lord Cavendish and his Lady. I could, upon several accounts, be melancholy, but I will not upon so joyful an occasion. I pray God to preserve and bless your Ladyship, and all the good family at Woburn, and to make us all concern'd to prepare ourselves with the greatest care for a better life. I am, with all true respect and esteem, MADAM, Your Ladyship's most faithful And most humble servant, JO. CANT. LETTER CXLII. LADY RUSSELL TO DR. FITZWILLIAM. YOU will be so just to me, good Doctor, as never to mistrust my silence; if I did not believe so, I should be in some pain now, having two letters from you by me, that if I am not very unworthy will make me take a pleasure to say something in return of so much good will; and 'tis then an ill mark not to have writ in so long a time, being I know none but what are self-lovers enough enough to do what pleases them. Yet so has been my case, I would have been glad to have conversed with you, good Doctor, but could not, as my present circumstances are. Heretofore, whatever engagements I had a days, the nights were free to me; but my ill eyes can now not serve me at all, when once a candle is lighted; so that since Lord Rutland came hither, I have been mistress of no time; if I had, I should not have liv'd in a continual noise and hurry as I have done. I did excuse my going to Belvoir with all the company, but followed them before I had acquitted myself of all my formal congratulations; for if I do more than a very little at a time, I find my eyes ake, and that I am sure is naught, and a little sight is too precious a good to be neglected. I thank you, Sir, for all your thoughts on the subject which fill'd mine this last year, but I can't attempt to say any thing in return; it would be too long a discourse for me this way. I hope I have done my duty well to my daughters, and that they shall enjoy a lasting happiness; but above all, my prayer is, that the end of their faith may be the salvation of their souls; that they may be endued with such graces here, as may fit them for the glories of the state hereafter. If your retirement pleases you, indeed, and that you do not deceive yourself, I have nothing to say against it, if your health does not abate, which certainly will, if your mind does not agree perfectly fectly with what your will has chosen: let that be a timely monitor to you. Man is a sociable creature, and you by disposition are made for it, and by the accidents of your life ever used to it, so that it is very new to you to be very solitary long together; and while you have a competency, Doctor, deny not yourself the innocent, nay the profitable comforts of life. I apprehend but one inconveniency, if you do a little less sequester yourself, and that I hope you are of a more temperate spirit than to draw on yourself; but you are best judge. I exceed my bounds exceedingly, for I take little paper to night, no more than one side, not to turn over, for if I do, this is the issue. Farewell, good Doctor, for this time. I am constantly, you friend to serve you, R. RUSSELL. LETTER CXLIII. ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON TO LADY RUSSELL. Lambeth House, Oct. 13, 1693. I HAVE forborne, Madam, hitherto, even to acknowledge the receipt of your Ladyship's letter, and your kind concernment for mine and my wife's health, because I saw how unmerciful you were to your eyes in your last letter to me; so that I should certainly have repented the provocation |