rdshire.

We had prayers in the little chapel, in the afternoon; but they all
wished for the good clerk again, with great encomiums upon you, my dear
father; and the company staid supper also, and departed exceeding well
satisfied, and with abundance of wishes for the continuance of our
mutual happiness; and my master desired Mr. Peters to answer for him to
the ringers at the town, if they should hear of it; till our return into
this country; and that then he would be bountiful to them, because he
would not publicly declare it till he had first done so in Bedfordshire.

Monday, the fifth day.

I have had very little of my dear friend's company this day; for he
only staid breakfast with me, and rode out to see a sick gentleman about
eighteen miles off, who begged (by a man and horse on purpose) to speak
with him, believing he should not recover, and upon part of whose estate
my master has a mortgage. He said, My dearest, I shall be very uneasy,
if I am obliged to tarry all night from you; but, lest you should be
alarmed, if I don't come home by ten, don't expect me: For poor Mr.
Carlton and I have pretty large concerns together; and if he should be
very ill, and would be comforted by my presence, (as I know he loves me,
and his family will be more in my power, if he dies, than I wish for,)
charity will not let me refuse.

It is now ten o'clock at night, and I fear he will not return. I fear,
for the sake of his poor sick friend, who, I doubt, is worse. Though I
know not the gentleman, I am sorry for his own sake, for his family's
sake, and for my dear master's sake, who, by his kind expressions, I
find, loves him: And, methinks, I should be sorry any grief should touch
his generous heart; though yet there is no living in this world, without
too many occasions for concern, even in the most prosperous state. And
it is fit it should be so; or else, poor wretches, as we are! we should
look no farther, but be like sensual travellers on a journey homeward,
who, meeting with good entertainment at some inn on the way, put up
their rest there, and never think of pursuing their journey to their
proper home.--This, I remember, was often a reflection of my good
lady's, to whom I owe it.

Eleven o'clock.

Mrs. Jewkes has been with me, and asked if I will have her for a
bed-fellow, in want of a better? I thanked her; but I said, I would see
how it was to be by myself one night.

I might have mentioned, that I made Mrs. Jew