the West Indies
with a man that had ten times as much; so it being hinted to the planter
that my lord had agreed to the proposals, they promised to meet the next
morning to settle the affair.

In the evening, my lord, with Thomas in his company, hinted the above
discourse to me. I was frightened almost out of my wits to think what a
large sum of money had been laid out for my son, but kept what I thought
to myself. It was agreed that my son was to marry the old planter's
daughter, and a lawyer was sent for, with instructions to draw up all
the writings for the marriage-settlement, &c., and the next morning a
messenger came from the planter with a note to my lord, letting him
know, if it was not inconvenient, he would wait on his lordship to
breakfast. He came soon after with a Dutch merchant of great estate, who
was our neighbour at The Hague, where they settled every point in
question, and the articles were all drawn up and signed by the several
parties the next day before dinner.

There was nothing now remaining but my son's departure to his new
plantation in Virginia. Great despatch was made that he might be ready
to sail in one of his own ships, and take the advantage of an English
convoy, which was almost ready to sail. My lord sent several valuable
presents to my son's lady, as did her father; and as I was at liberty in
this case to do as I would, and knowing my lord had a very great value
for my son, I thought that the richer my presents were, the more he
would esteem me (but there was nothing in it, the enmity he took against
me had taken root in his heart); so I sent her a curious set of china,
the very best I could buy, with a silver tea-kettle and lamp, tea-pot,
sugar-dish, cream-pot, teaspoons, &c., and as my lord had sent a golden
repeater, I added to it a golden equipage, with my lord's picture
hanging to it, finely painted; (This was another thing I did purposely
to please him, but it would not do.) A few days after, he came to take
his leave of me, by my lord's order, and at my parting with him I shed
abundance of tears, to think I was then in an almost strange place, no
child that could then come near me, and under so severe a displeasure of
my lord, that I had very little hopes of ever being friends with him
again.

My life did not mend after my son was gone; all I could do would not
persuade my lord to have any free conversation with me. And at this
juncture it was that the foolish jade Amy, who wa