At last it became apparent that the end was rapidly approaching, and then Lady Purbeck was subjected to a most embarrassing annoyance.  Two days before her father’s death she was summoned from his bedside to receive Sir Francis Windebank, the Secretary of State, who had arrived at the house, accompanied by several attendants, bringing in his hand an order from the King and Council to search Sir Edward Coke’s mansion for seditious papers and, if any were found, to arrest him.

Sir Francis, on hearing the critical condition of Sir Edward, assured Lady Purbeck that he would give her father no personal annoyance; but he insisted on searching all the rooms in the house except that in which Coke was lying; and he carried away every manuscript that he could find, including even Sir Edward’s will—­a depredation which subsequently caused his family great inconvenience.  It is believed that Coke was kept in ignorance of this raid upon his house, probably by the care and vigilance of Lady Purbeck.  Thus his last hours were undisturbed, and on the 3rd of September, 1634, in the 83rd year of his age, died one of the most disagreeable men of his times, but the most incorruptible judge in a period of exceptional judicial corruption.

FOOTNOTES: 

[79] The History of the Troubles and Tryal of the most Reverend Father in God, and Blessed Martyr, William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury.  Wrote by Himself, during his Imprisonment in the Tower:  London, R. Chiswell, 1695, p. 146.

[80] Finetti Philoxenis, London, 1636, p. 239.

[81] P. 10.

[82]_Historical Collections_, p. 607 (ed. 1659).

[83] Rushworth’s Collections, p. 616.

[84] Campbell, Vol.  I., p. 334.

[85] Strafford Letters, I., p. 265.

[86] Harleian MS. 390, fol. 534.

CHAPTER XI.

    “The circle smil’d, then whisper’d, and then sneer’d,
    The misses bridled, and the matrons frown’d;
    Some hoped things might not turn out as they fear’d: 
    Some would not deem such women could be found,
    Some ne’er believed one half of what they heard: 
    Some look’d perplex’d, and others look’d profound.”
                                   Don Juan, ix., 78.

Soon after the death of Sir Edward Coke, up to the date of which event his daughter had apparently been taking care of him with great filial piety for two years and living a virtuous life, she came to London.  About this coming to London Archbishop Laud must be allowed to have his say,[87] albeit not altogether a pleasant say:—­