Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/354

238 What news soever is sent you out of Southampton Square, I will venture a wager is not true of the public; for our private affairs there, I have had a hard task. My sister does suspect that there are some there who have no mind Lucy should be so well married as to Mr. Pierpoint, and I am confident she is in the right, and not to lie, and to keep her from thinking me of her opinion, needs a great wariness, which I have had. Between you and I there is dissembling amongst them. Good Sir John is none of them—but I believe no block can be laid to hinder the marriage. The gentleman proceeds so fairly. He has given his particulars; £200 a year in land, and £5000 more in money, both certain after his aunt's death, who is threescore years old, and has a quarten ague; by whom I believe more will come. To be her heir is something, but if I were 40 years younger than I am, I would not care to be yours.

My brother Felham requires other particulars than he has yet; he thinks that he has given them too generally, which Mr. Pierpoint has sent to his bailiff for. An estate in that family will never be found less than they say. One finds fault that he does not talk, that is better than what they say sometimes; another finds fault with his person,