Diary, October 1667 | Page 9

our College of Magdalene the posts new painted, and
understand that the Vice- Chancellor' is there this year. And so away
for Huntingdon mightily pleased all along the road to remember old
stories; and come to Brampton at about noon, and there find my father
and sister and brother all well and here laid up our things, and up and
down to see the garden with my father, and the house, and do altogether
find it very pretty; especially the little parlour and the summerhouses in
the garden, only the wall do want greens upon it, and the house is too
low-roofed; but that is only because of my coming from a house with
higher ceilings. But altogether is very pretty; and I bless God that I am
like to have such a pretty place to retire to: and I did walk with my
father without doors, and do find a very convenient way of laying out
money there in building, which will make a very good seat, and the
place deserves it, I think, very well. By and by to dinner, and after
dinner I walked up to Hinchingbroke, where my Lady expected me;
and there spent all the afternoon with her: the same most excellent,
good, discreet lady that ever she was; and, among other things, is
mightily pleased with the lady that is like to be her son Hinchingbroke's
wife, which I am mightily glad of. By and by my wife comes with
Willet, my wife in her velvett vest, which is mighty fine, and becomes
her exceedingly. I am pleased with my Lady Paulina and Anne, who
both are grown very proper ladies, and handsome enough. But a
thousand questions my Lady asked me, till she could think of no more
almost, but walked up and down the house, with me. But I do find, by
her, that they are reduced to great straits for money, having been forced

to sell her plate, 8 or L900 worth; and she is now going to sell a suit of
her best hangings, of which I could almost wish to buy a piece or two,
if the pieces will be broke. But the house is most excellently furnished,
and brave rooms and good pictures, so that it do please me infinitely
beyond Audley End. Here we staid till night walking and talking and
drinking, and with mighty satisfaction my Lady with me alone most of
the day talking of my Lord's bad condition to be kept in Spayne without
money and at a great expense, which (as we will save the family) we
must labour to remove. Night being come, we took leave with all
possible kindness, and so home, and there Mr. Shepley staid with us
and sapped, and full of good country discourse, and when supper done
took his leave, and we all to bed, only I a little troubled that my father
tells me that he is troubled that my wife shows my sister no
countenance, and, him but very little, but is as a stranger in the house;
and I do observe she do carry herself very high; but I perceive there
was some great falling out when she was here last, but the reason I have
no mind to enquire after, for vexing myself, being desirous to pass my
time with as much mirth as I can while I am abroad. So all to bed. My
wife and I in the high bed in our chamber, and Willet in the trundle bed,
which she desired to lie in, by us.

10th. Waked in the morning with great pain of the collique, by cold
taken yesterday, I believe, with going up and down in my shirt, but
with rubbing my belly, keeping of it warm, I did at last come to some
ease, and rose, and up to walk up and down the garden with my father,
to talk of all our concernments: about a husband for my sister, whereof
there is at present no appearance; but we must endeavour to find her
one now, for she grows old and ugly: then for my brother; and resolve
he shall stay here this winter, and then I will either send him to
Cambridge for a year, till I get him some church promotion, or send
him to sea as a chaplain, where he may study, and earn his living. Then
walked round about our Greene, to see whether, in case I cannot buy
out my uncle Thomas and his son's right in this house, that I can buy
another place. as good thereabouts to build on, and I do not see that I
can. But this, with new building, may be made an excellent pretty thing,
and I resolve to look after it as soon as