Penshurst, my wife being present with my daughters Strangford, and Lacy Pelham, Algernon and Robin Sydney, etc.; but I was in London.”  From this we may imagine the Earl did not greatly approve the match.  The ubiquitous Evelyn was there, too, to see “ye marriage of my old fellow collegian Mr. Robt.  Smith;” and the place being full of company, he probably enjoyed himself vastly.  Lady Sunderland was the Sacharissa of Waller the poet.

SIR,—­I am so great a lover of my bed myself that I can easily apprehend the trouble of rising at four o’clock these cold mornings.  In earnest, I’m troubled that you should be put to it, and have chid the carrier for coming out so soon; he swears to me he never comes out of town before eleven o’clock, and that my Lady Paynter’s footman (as he calls him) brings her letters two hours sooner than he needs to do.  I told him he was gone one day before the letter came; he vows he was not, and that your old friend Collins never brought letters of my Lady Paynter’s in his life; and, to speak truth, Collins did not bring me that letter.  I had it from this Harrold two hours before Collins came.  Yet it is possible all that he says may not be so, for I have known better men than he lie; therefore if Collins be more for your ease or conveniency, make use of him hereafter.  I know not whether my letter were kind or not, but I’ll swear yours was not, and am sure mine was meant to be so.  It is not kind in you to desire an increase of my friendship; that is to doubt it is not as great already as it can be, than which you cannot do me a greater injury.  ’Tis my misfortune indeed that it lies not in my power to give you better testimony on’t than words, otherwise I should soon convince you that ’tis the best quality I have, and that where I own a friendship, I mean so perfect a one, as time can neither lessen nor increase.  If I said nothing of my coming to town, ’twas because I had nothing to say that I thought you would like to hear.  For I do not know that ever I desired anything earnestly in my life, but ’twas denied me, and I am many times afraid to wish a thing merely lest my Fortune should take that occasion to use me ill.  She cannot see, and therefore I may venture to write that I intend to be in London if it be possible on Friday or Saturday come sennight.  Be sure you do not read it aloud, lest she hear it, and prevent me, or drive you away before I come.  It is so like my luck, too, that you should be going I know not whither again; but trust me, I have looked for it ever since I heard you were come home.  You will laugh, sure, when I shall tell you that hearing that my Lord Lisle was to go ambassador into Sweden, I remember’d your father’s acquaintance in that family with an apprehension that he might be in the humour of sending you with him.  But for God’s sake whither is it that you go?  I would not willingly be at such a loss again as I was after your Yorkshire journey.  If it prove as long a one, I shall not forget you; but in earnest I shall be so possessed with a strong splenetic fancy that I shall never see you more in this world, as all the waters in England will not cure.  Well, this is a sad story; we’ll have no more on’t.