Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/237

 but thear is Lady Evling Pirpoynt, and Lord Sherwood's sister, and more young ladys, soe I have stole from them to make myself and them much esier, and to giv myself the pleasure of conversing with the Darling of my soul, whoe it is a pleasure to thinck of when absent. I hope Mr. Powel is aryved safe with you. They say thear is a ship lost, that came over with the Duke of Ormon. Its sade the Duke of Molberry was put out of a place worth thrc thoussand a year, and has layde down that in the Army. Thear are aboundenc of storys goe about, but one very commical it is that Dockter Gath went to Lord Darkmuth and told him he was sorry he must goe to law with him for breaking open his hous taking his goods out. Soe my lord askt what he ment ; he said the hous whear the imagis was taken from was his, and the Devell was his. My lord sayde he would return the Devel to him again. The Dr. said he designed to make a great funurel for the Devel and have a sarment preeched. My lord asked what the tex should be ; he said it was, that his desyples came in the night and stoal him away. Perl is groan very fatt but dus al her Tricks and is very Brisk. Lady Went- worth* is to bring her Dogs to vesitt myne — and myne must not be soe ill bred but return the vesitt. Bell went to-day to see Lady Limster and my lord was just then given over by the Dockters. I thinck it is a very unholsom season one day is a great frost next very hott. Thear is hoaps for you yett, the Twelv thoussand pd. lott is not yet drawn. Dear Soul I fear I have tiered you, thearfore I will ad noe more then to asure you I am your moste infenit affectionat Mother.

Millions of thancks to my dear soul for all your cair of me.

Lady Wentworth who writes the letter. She was the second wife of Sir Henry Johnson, daughter and sole heir of John, Baron Lovelace, and in right of her grandmother (sole heir of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Cleveland) Baroness Wentworth in her own right. Toddington, in Bedfordshire, where Lord Strafford was buried, which belonged to the Cleveland branch of the Wentworths, came to Lady Stratford on her stepmother's death.
 * The Lady Wentworth here named must not be confounded with the

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