she took very ill I should suspect she was directed in, as truly I thought she was, the fancy was so pretty.  I have a letter about the buck, as usual, from St. Giles’s [the seat of the Earl of Shaftesbury, in Dorsetshire]; but when you come up I suppose it will be time enough to give order.  Coming so lately from St. Giles’s, I am not solicitous for news for you, especially as Sir Harry Capel is to see your lordship to-morrow.  The greatest discourse we have is (next to Bedloe’s affidavit) Tongue’s accusing of Lord Essex, Lord Shaftesbury, and Lord Wharton, for the contrivers of the plot, and setting his father and Oates to act their parts.  This was told me by a black-coat who made me a visit yesterday, but I hear it by nobody else.  My sister and Lady Inchiquin are coming, so that I must leave a better diversion for a worse, but my thoughts often return where all my delight is.  I am, yours entirely, R RUSSELL.”

In a letter sent to Oxford in March, 1681, she says:  “The report of our nursery, I humbly praise God, is very good.  Master [her son] improves really, I think, every day.  Sure he is a goodly child; the more I see of others, the better he appears; I hope God will give him life and virtue.  Misses and their mamma walked yesterday after dinner to see their cousin Alington.  Miss Kate wished she might see the new-born son, so I gratified her little person.  Unless I see cause to add a note, this is all this time,

“From yours only entirely, R. RUSSELL.”

The postscript of this letter conveys a curious idea of the suspicion and insecurity of the times:  “Look to your pockets.  A printed paper says you will have fine papers put into them, and then witnesses to swear.”

A later letter, October 20,1681, written on Saturday night, begins:  “The hopes I have, my dearest life, that this will be the concluding epistle, for this time, makes me undertake it with more cheerfulness than my others.”  And it thus closes:  “I pray God direct all your consultations; and, my dearest dear, you guess my mind.  A word to the wise.  I never longed more earnestly to be with you, for whom I have a thousand kind and grateful thoughts.  You know of whom I learned this expression.  If I could have found one more fit to speak the passion of my soul, I should send it you with joy; but I submit with great content to imitate, but shall never attain to any equality, except that of sincerity; and I will ever be, by God’s grace, what I ought and profess,

“Thy faithful, affectionate, and obedient wife,

“R.  RUSSELL.

“I seal not this till Sunday morning, that you might know all is well then.  Miss sends me word that she is so, and hopes to see papa quickly; so does one more.”

V.