s for the pastimes of my sisters when they were in the country, it was
to read, work, walk and discourse with each other. For though two of my
three brothers were married, my brother, the Lord Lucas, to a virtuous and
beautiful lady, daughter to Sir Christopher Neville, son to the Lord Abergaveny;
and my brother, Sir Thomas Lucas, to a virtuous lady of an ancient family,
one Sir John Byron's daughter; likewise three of my four sisters, one married
Sir Peter Killigrew, the other Sir William Walter, the third Sir Edmund
Pye, the fourth as yet unmarried; yet most of them lived with my Mother,
especially when she was at her country house: living most commonly at London
half the year, which is the metropolitan city of England.
But when they were at London they were dispersed into several houses of
their own: yet for the most part they met every day, feasting each other
like Job's children. But this unnatural war came like a whirlwind which
fell'd down their houses; where some in the wars were crushed to death -
as my youngest brother Sir Charles Lucas and my brother Sir Thomas Lucas.
And though my brother Sir Thomas Lucas died not immediately of his wounds,
yet a wound he received on his head in Ireland shortened his life.
Bookmark: OBELISK Marking Spot where Lord Lucas Died
But to rehearse their recreations. Their custom was in winter-time to go
sometimes to plays or to ride in their coaches about the streets to se the
concourse and recourse of people. And in the spring-time to visit the Spring-garden,
Hyde Park and the like places. And sometimes they would have music and sup
in barges upon the water. These harmless recreations they would pass their
time away with. For I observed they did seldom make visits, nor never went
abroad with strangers in their company, but only themselves in a flock together,
agreeing so well that there seemed but one mind amongst them.
And not only my own brothers and sisters agreed so but my brothers and sisters
in law; and their children, although but young, had the like agreeable natures
and affectionate dispositions. For to my best remembrance I do not know
that ever they did fall out or had any angry or unkind disputes. Likewise
I did observe that my sisters were so far from mingling themselves with
any other company, that they had no familiar conversation or intimate acquaintance
with the families to which each other were linked by marriage, the family
of the one being as great strangers to the rest of my brothers and sisters
as the family of the other.