the second, the lady Sarah, to the lord Digby, of Ireland;
the third, the lady Laetitia, to the eldest son of the lord Goring, who died earle of Norwich;
the fourth, the lady Joan, to the earle of Kildare, not only primier earle of Ireland, but the ancientest house in Christendome of that degree, the present earle being the six and twentieth, or the seaven and twentieth, of lineal descent: and, as I have heard, it was that great antiquary King Charles the First his observation, that the three ancientest families of Europe for nobility, were the Veres in England, earls of Oxford, and the Fitz-Geralds in Ireland, earls of Kildare, and Momorancy in France: 'tis observable[469]that the present earle of Kildare is a mixture of blood of Fitz-Geralds and Veres;
the fifth, the lady Katharine, who was married to the lord viscount Ranelaugh[XXVI.], and mother to the present generous earle of Ranelaugh, of which family I could have added an eminent remark, I meet with in Fuller's "Worthies;" this lady's character is so signalized by her known merit among all persons of honour, that as I need not, so I dare not, attempt beyond this one word—she was our lady's Friend-Sister;
[XXVI.] <Arthur> Jones.
the sixth, the lady Dorothy Loftus;
the seaventh, (the number of perfection) which shutt-up and crown'd this noble train (for the eighth, the lady Margaret, died unmaried), was our excellent lady Mary, married to Charles, earle of Warwick; of whom, if I should use the language of my text, I should neither despair their pardon, nor fear the reproach of rudeness—Many daughters, all his daughters, did virtuously but thou—Prov. xxxi. 29, 30, 31.
----But shee[XXVII.] needed neither borrowed shades, nor reflexive lights, to set her off, being personally great in all naturall endowments and accomplishments of soul and body, wisdome, beautie, favour, and virtue;
[XXVII.] Mary, countess of Warwick.
great by her tongue, for never woman used one better, speaking so gracefully, promptly, discreetly, pertinently, holily, that I have often admired the edifying words that proceeded from her mouth;