The Diary of Isabella, wife of Sir Roger Twysden Baronet, of Royden Hall, East Peckham, 1645-1651

ISABELLA TWYSDEN. On the back of the frame is written—Isabella, wife of Sir Roger Twysden of Roydon Hall, Kent, Baronet, daughter of Nicholas Saunder of Ewell. Married 27 Jany. 1634/5. Died 11 March 1656/7. Lined and cleaned 1859, Thomas Edwd. Twisden. ( 113 ) THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, WIFE OF SIR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET, OF ROYDEN HALL, EAST PECKHAM, 1645-1651 BY THE REV. F. W. BENNITT, M.A. INTRODUCTION. THIS Diary of Lady Twysden's is in the British Museum, Additional Manuscripts numbered 34169 ; it was sold at Sotheby's to the Museum in 1892. Isabella was the thhd and youngest daughter of Sir Nicholas Saunder of Nonsuch, near EweU in Surrey. Born in 1605, she married in 1635 and died in 1657. Sir Roger was thirty-seven at the time of his marriage. Sir Roger's mother liked to be attended by a young lady in waiting, and IsabeUa Saunder was performing this function in 1633, possibly because her father had ruined himself over the New River. IsabeUa inherited the heraldic achievements of the Saunder family, as her only brother died unmarried, but was heir to nothing else. Sir Nicholas had been a partner with Sir Hugh Myddleton when in 1607-13 he carried out the New River Scheme for providing London with water. Straitness of circumstances seems to have made Lady Isabella very careful over household management and keeping accounts. Sir Roger was arrested in April 1642 and imprisoned by the Parhament for his share in supporting the Petition of Kent, which asked that all things should be done according to law. His estates were sequestrated and Lady IsabeUa was granted a fifth part of the incomings for her maintenance at Roydon HaU. His Journal is printed in the first four volumes of Archceologia Cantiana. In Additional MSS. 34161 there is a letter written by Sir Roger, dated May 1642. 114 THE DIARY OE ISABELLA, " My dear hart, I mquire by you of what state the derre are, and wonder much they are so backward they thriving most in such weather. I thank thee for thy sugar cakes my good hart which wiU be very useful to me. I cannot enough commend my brother Thomas usage of me so full of love and care as is imaginable, fareweU again and again, my own dear hart whom I never knew what it was to be parted from tyl now." In the East Peckham Register there is an entry : " 1639 Dame IsabeUa Twisden not hauing hir health and being a sickly woman, albeit this time of Lent abstinence fro flesh is to be used yet for my part I hold it tolerable for hir to eate flesh : Ita testat. Francis WorraU Vic : " The Vicar was among the many clergy ejected under the Long Parhament in 1644. A local grumble was that the parishioners complained that sermons were too infrequent. On the Monument to Sir Roger in East Peckham Church, erected by his son in 1689 there is the foUowing inscription to his wife :— Uxorem duxit IsabeUam Nicolai Sanderi Equitis Aurati in Comitatu Surriae Filiam Natu Minimam : Feminam Selectissimis et Sanctissimis moribus preaditam, Quae ut Marito diu oppresso et incarerato consuleret, magnos turn Labores turn Incommoda, rara patientia prudentiaque subiit. Et tandem sicut pie vixit, maxima pietate etiam xi die mensis Martii Anno Dni ad computationem Anghcanam 1656/7 aetatis vero suae 52, vitam finivit, atque hie juxta Maritum sepulta jacet. On the tombstone itself the inscription is IsabeUa Twysden, Quae obiit XI die, condita XVIII die, mensis Martii. Hie expectat resurrectionem. MDCLVI. On the VII stone, in the pavement of the Twysden chapel, there are the matrices of an inscription and three shields. Lady Twysden died in Sir Roger's httle house at Westminster, and was carried to East Peckham for burial. Theh issue was three sons and three daughters, the eldest being twenty-one when she died. WIFE OF SLR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 115 When the Diary begins in January 1645, the Civil War was at its height; in June of that year the battle of Naseby was fought. This battle destroyed the King's army in the field, and within another twelve months the garrisons in castle and town were subdued. The city of Oxford capitulated on June 24th, 1646; The Diary is that of a lady living in troubled times, her husband imprisoned, the estate despoiled ; leading men in the State brought to execution. The first entry is that Sir John Hotham and his son were executed on Tower HiU. Sir John Hotham was a cousin of Sir Hugh Cholmley the husband of Sir Roger's sister. A later entry is " cap : Brown BushiU was beheaded on Tower HiU by the parle for adhering to the King." Brown BushiU was a sea captain, his mother being Dorothy Cholmley. Even after the Restoration under Charles I I there was a famhy tragedy, Sir Thomas Twisden, Sir Roger's brother, was one of the judges who sentenced Sir Harry Vane to death, his own cousin and near neighbour. They were anxious times of house searchings and imprisonments, and none knew what might come next. On the tombstone of Sir Hugh Cholmley's wife, Elizabeth Twysden, are the words " she was very beautifuU, of great injenuity a discerning judg* in great dangers had a courage above her sex of a most noble nature compassionate to aU in distresse ". Sir Hugh Cholmley mentioned frequently in the Diary is caUed " my bro. cho." The times must have been particularly trying to Sir Roger Twysden, a moderate who had to watch extremists go to war, a supporter of law who had to watch Parhament obtain its power by the use of the sword. There was also in religious affairs unsettlement. Sir Roger was a supporter of the Reformation and wrote at length in the " HistoricaU Vindication " and in letters to his neighbour Thomas WhetenhaU at Peckham Place. To Thomas WhetenhaU he wrote against " The papaU supreamacy" and " Transubstantion." But equaUy he was against the Presbyterianism of Parhament and theh abohtion of episcopacy in the " Root and Branch Bill ". In a letter printed in Arch. Cant., Vol. IV, he writes after the death of his wife : " Never man had a better wife, never chQdren abetter mother. 116 THE DIARY OE ISABELLA, Serving God after the auntient manner of the English Church as it was reformed by Queen Eliz. and King James." Sir Roger had no hand in the ejection of the Vicar of East Peckham, the petition to the Committee of the House of Commons is endorsed with the signature of Sir Edward Dering, the member for Maidstone. There is an inscription on a window in the church in seventeenth century writing : " Here stoode the wicked image of S. Mychael a waying of soules by the lawe of Quene Elizabeth according to God's holy word is taken awaye." The wicked image was presumably removed by the successor of the ejected vicar, and its removal would hardly meet the approval of Sir Roger. The church is dedicated to St. Michael, and the image was apparently a figure in stained glass. The phrase " according to God's holy word " was a favourite one with the Parliamentarians in 1643 when adopting the Scotch Covenant. Parhament made promises of a thorough Reformation " according to the Word of God ". In the dates recorded in the Diary the years are reckoned from Easter to Easter. Mr. C. H. Dudley Ward very kindly gave me permission to make use of his Family of Twysden and Twisden, when compiling this paper. I have also made use of various MSS. in the British Museum, the Dictionary of National Biography, and S. R. Gardiner's History of the Great Civil War. THE DIARY. 1645-1651. The first of Janua W Jo : hothum was beheaded on tower hhT. The 2 of Janu Sr Jo : hothum (father to W hothum) was beheaded on tower hill.1 1 On a monument in East Peckham church to Sir Hugh Cholmley and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Sir William Twysden, there is the inscription : " Also deposited the body of Sir William Cholmley, baronet, their son and heir, who marryed first Katherine, daughter of Sir John Hotham of Scorburgh, in the County of Yorke, Knt and bart." Parliament put Hull under the command of Sir John Hotham. While negotiating to join the Royalists he was taken. His son was charged by Cromwell with desertion in battle. WIFE OF SLR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 117 The 10 of Janu : my lo : of canterbury was beheaded on tower hiU and was buried at barking church. the meeting over uxbridg about professions was the 30 of Janu: mr white the churc man about ministeres, died the 27 of Ja : and was buried the 30. in the tempeU church.1 the 8 febri, I came to peckham great with chUd, and ride all the waye a hors back, and I thank god had no hurt.2 the 6 of march 1644 between one and 2 in the morning I was brought a bed of a boye, the 7 he was chrissened and named charles, the gossops were my bro : Tho : and Fra : Twysden and my la : astlye,3 Jamme stode for hir. he was borne at peckham being thursday. the 11 of march there was the terriblest wind, that had ben knowne sence ever the like, it did a great dele of hirt. the 3 of aprih a litteB before 3 in the morning my sister Twysden was brought a bed of a ghie at maling, it was chrissened the 5 and named Ann, without gossops,4 being thursday 1644/5. the 13 apriU there begane a rising in Kent about mersam and thereabouts, but it was presently laid being but a few. the 24 nurs Jane went to London. the 21 Sr miUs Lissys tropes came in to Kent to Senack for there paye the trane bands was rased agane to goe against them, they were sent back with promises of there paye. the first of aprUl nurs Jane had 12a for a month nursing of charls the month was not up thT 2 dayes after. 1 Mr. John White was chairman of the Committee of the House of Commons to remove scandalous ministers, which was appointed in 1640. A charge of popery or of loyalty to the king was sufficient to secure ejection. 2 She rode on a pillion behind George Stone the manservant, and after Charles's birth she never regained her former strength. In the East Peckham Register Charles's Baptism is dated March 7th. 8 Sir Jacob Astley, a royalist, led the main body of the foot at Naseby. 1 Gossops. The Oxford Dictionary says " sponsor at baptism, O.E. godsibb, person related to one in God." Evelyns' Diary has " I christened Sir Hugh Rilie's child in our chapel, the parents being so poor that they had provided no gossips." 1 1 8 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, the 14 of June Sr Tho : farfax had a great victory at nasby where he took 12 peces of ornance 4000 foote sholders, and the Sc. letters. (In the handwriting of Sir Roger) : the 27 M1 Not in ye morning shewed me to M1 King to whom consigned me a prisoner then to him. the 28 June there was brought in to Lambeth hous from the atilhrer yard 680 pore prisoners, part of those which were taken at nasby. my part in Stockenbury wood for my 5th part, July 2 1645 was 74 cord and 6 feet and 2 load of turners timber and 2200 bavines. (In the handwriting of Sir Roger): Mdm. when Sedry went I owed hym for 2 weekes as he sayd chamber rent woh had beene 12s a weeke and was to be payd to Sedry of this he was to have half, vide 12s woh Mr Not payd. he payd him and a 4th part of ye fee (he asked four marke for ye fer) but I would pay but after 2 so I payed hhn ye mony wch hee sayd he had payd Sedry for me vide 12 shillings for ye mony he sayd he payd M* Sedry for me and ten shiUings for fer or Entrance mony and this I payd in ye presence of my wife and ye gyrl 7 July. the 15 July 1645 the earle of Summerset died. My nan went with my Serv* whitfield into the contry to blechinly July 17. the 24 of July my sister yelverton went to peckham. the 24 July 1645 I had a letter from my sis war telling me my bro. napers death about 6 week before and harry naper like to dye.1 the 12 august nan came home from my ser whit: the 13 august Sr goirge bunklye left this world for a better at 3 o'clock in the morning 1645 and was buried that night in that church at Lambeth. nan went the 14 to Mr harrys in Surry, august. the 14 august Sr christofer yelverton went to peckham. 1 Lady Isabella's eldest sister Frances married Edward Warham, of Osmington in Dorset, and the second sister, Elizabeth, married into the Dorsetshire family of Napier or Napper. WIFE OF SLR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 119 the 21 august 1645 major palet about 8 o'clock at night departed this life a right honest good man he was, and was buried the 22 in the church at Lambeth. the 9 Sep M1 Strod, on of the five members, a parlement man, died.1 the 11 of Sep 1645 princ rupert dehvered up bristoU on treaty to Sr Tho : farfax for the parlement. the 18 Sep : my bro : and sister yelverton2 came from peckham agane to London. the 12 Sep : sary StUes went away. the 26 neU duck came up to Lambeth to be my maid, the 12 octo, was the first day I had the thhd day ague. the 7 Nov the 20a begane to the woman for the 24 nov : my sister warham went from London to goe home to dorset there she came to London on mUmas day before. the 6 desem : the man had for the woman 20d 2 weeks being then due. the 10 desem : my lord and lady of Kirry went away from Lambeth. the 14 desem my nan came home from Mr harry. 1647 the 30 June 1647 nurs phhps and I raconed for all hir laings out and wages to that day, and then we made acct I then owing hir ten pound. this is aU paied, the 19 of nov : 1674 I paied nurs phhps ten pound. [The following entries to the end of the year are written in an almanack " Mercurius Caelicus : sive Almanack et Prognosticon."] the first of febru : my sister Twysden and aU hir compiny came to London to dweU and took a nous in barbecan. the 15 febru : the buchers in Smithfield burnt downe the 1 On January 4th, 1642, Charles I went to the House of Commons to arrest the " Five Members ", Pym, Hampden, Hazlerigg, Holies and Strode ; they had received warning, and gone to the safe shelter of the City. After this Civil War was certain, and men began to choose their side. 8 Sir Roger's sister, Anne, married Sir Christopher Yelverton, the son of Sir Henry, the eminent judge. 1 2 0 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, exsise hous, a great tumult there was and some mony was lost in it. the 3 march 1647 we sent wiU 20L this makes up his some for the yeare which ends the end of maye, we have sent him the last yeare with this 20£ now 130£ but the 30£ was for expences which was spent this yeare before. the 6 apriU 1647 we had of the coUector for sequestration of Kent, for part of my 5th part, which was due the last yeare to me, and paied to Tho Steven for me, and from him I had it, by my brother Frances Twysden the 6 of apriU the some of 40£ the 60£ I had before. the 7 apriU I went to nounsuch to see my father and sister and bro : Warham and stade there teU the 12 and then I came back to our lodgin in S* Anns Strete westmester. the 15 the independence petition1 was burnt by the hand of the hangman in the paUes yard at westmes : and at the old exchange by the parle command 1647. the 27 maye we sent wiU 50£ my bro : Fra : sent it by the marchant, 1647. 1647 the first of June my sister chomlye went from London to goe in to france. the 2 June a Jack daye flue thorow the hous of comands the members setting in it. the 4 June the army took the king out of the parle power in to theres, he being at homby. the 7 the reformados2 soldier came to the hous of commons one for their areares, giveing them very hie and Ul language and threatening them and saying they would hang a paddock at the dore to keep them in tiU they had sattisfied them, they cept them in 5 or 6 howers. the 12 of June 1647 nan went to grenewech. the 18 June 1647 I came to peckham I came to gravesend by water, and wrid home, nan and Jamme came with me. 1 Cromwell's army had been composed mainly of Independents, the New Model army that had been victorious in the field. In 1647 Parliament dismissed all Independent officers from the army, it was religious persecution of the very men who had made Parliament supreme in the State by their military services. 2 The Reformadoes were soldiers disbanded without pay when the New Model army was formed in 1645. In August 1647, they began to talk of plundering the City. WIFE OF SIR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 121 the first or 2 of July 1647 my sis : Ann waler laye at tunbridg, next day when she was gon Sr wiU waler hir husband went thorow that towne, aU went tis sed for franco 2 horses went with him heavy loaded tho littell to come to, and she carried a heavy box in hir coach, this I was tould, they went not for france but went back to London.1 my cosen henage finch his wife was brought a bed of a sonn the 2 of July 1647 about halfe an hower 8 o'clock in the morning at hir fathers at Lambeth, and chrissened him danieU. the 16 July 1647 my sister Twysden came to peckham with Sir Roger and ginne to staye a while. the 26 July the prentises came in a multitued to westmer: to the hous of comons they setting then, and keept them in and forst them by threts to revoke and make orders against those they had made before after that the 2 Spekers went a waye to the army and carried the great seale, they being then the keepers of it the earle of manchester and Mr LentaU. the first of august my bro Fra: Twysden came to peckham from france, who went with my sis : chomly. the 5 of august my husband came to peckham where he had not ben in 5 yeare before having ben a prisoner most of that time by the parle : the 6 august 1647 Sa Tho farfax went with his army thorow London and tooke possession of the tower. the 14 august troopers came and biUetted at peckham and in many parts there abouts 2 with gorge Stone at our hous. the 21 of august 1647 the K. came to hamton corte. the 17 Sep 1647 my sister Twysden was brought a bed of a girle at a quar: past 5 a clock in the morning being friday. it was chrissened that afternone, and named margaret, it was borne at peckham, it was chrissened with out gossops, the nue waye, nov 9 mat jigirs went awaye. 1 Sir William Waller obtained a passport from the Speaker, and escaped to France, August 16th. He had commanded Parliamentarian forces against the Royalists, and had been called " William the Conqueror ". 122 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, the 11 nov 1647 in the evening the K. went awaye unknown to any, from hamton cort, he went to the he of Wite. the 16 mary hearn came to serve me. the 19 nov. my husband went to London he went by gravsend, so by water, and he came home agane the 27 he came a foote from farningame thether my bro Tho lent him horses. mrs Dendy a rehgeus good woman and my very good frind left this life for a better the 30 of nov : 1647. the 29 Desem : there was some came to hunt in the park, there was 5 of them, one was taken being weU beaten could not run awaye. [Then we have various entries relating to the supply of wheat and barley meal, cheese, butter, lard and bacon sent from Peckham for Sir Roger's use at Lambeth.] the 2 of July 1647 aU the botteUs for here that belongs to peckham and are at London and peckham, of aU those we bought and was before in the hous, is now, but 8 dozen and 4 or 5 od ones. [The foUowing are written in Pond's Almanack for the yeare of our Lord Christ 1648.] the 5 of Janu about 7 a clock in the evening, there was a hght in the north as light as if day had broke aU the rest of the side being very darke, this many sawe, amongst which myself was one. the 15 Ja the trained bands of peckham and here a bouts returned home from canterbury, who went the 2 of Ja to appese a tumult, which begane about keeping of chrismas day, which the maior misliked, before the trained bands came a waye some parts of the towne waUs was puld down, so was the gats and burnt and they brought 27 or 28 prisoners to Leeds casteU, the towne was aU quiet before the bands came to it. the 22 Janu : we came to London from peck to Mr Austins hous our ould lodgin in S* Anns Strete, wesmester. the 15 of Janu 1647/8 some of Sr Tho : farfax soulders came to bhlit at whit haU and more came the 17 to them to the number in aU of 1500 or there abouts. and hors soulders quartered at the mewes. WIFE OF SLR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 123 I was tould this day the first of febru : for sertane, of a great fight which latly hapened in the bishoprick of Duram, betwene the Jackdawes and the rooks, they gathered them selves together, in too bodys like 2 great armyes, and fought tiU a bundance were slane, the dawes at first had the better but after the rooks beat them out of the field, and quit a waye, the dawes came from the north to the plase where they meet, this was dun the 11 of Janu : before, as is sed. the 17 febru 1647/8 we sent wiU 30£ my bro. Fra: exchanged it to him for us. John stone died the 15 of febru 1647/8 and was buried the 15 in peckham, where he long lived and was a very honest man, and weU beloved of aU his nebors. the 24 febru 1647/8 I had a letter from MM winsor from geneva, winch tould us of Richard Reeds death there and that he hved and died very honist and rehgeusly he had served us and then my la Byondy. I had a letter from M1 ward the 22 of march. the 30 of march 1648 my bro Fra : Twys : exchanged by the marchant for wih into france £20 to paris. the 5 apriU being wensday Sr ed : dering and Mra mary harry were maried together by mrhaU in litteU s* bartolmews he being the minister of it, by the book of common prayer, 1648. the 9 apriU being sunday in the afternoune the prentises begane a rising which held aU night teU the next morning when soulders of the army come from white haU and the muse that were there billitted and broke open the gats and so got in to london and sone alaid the matter, they being nether armed nor provided, which the soulders were, some were kild and wonded one both sids, the beginning was in more feilds the lo mah sending a coy with hamsetters to herder the boyes plaing at bat which they aU wayes used to do the coy shot and kild a boye of 6 or 7 yeare old this was the cause of aU the rest, 1648. the 17 apriU 1648 I had a letter from mr ward it was dated the 22 of apriU nue stile they being nuely come to Rouen from Tours staing only a week at paris by the waye 12 124 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, wiU [Sir Roger's eldest son] I thank Christ came saufe and weU thether and all the rest. the 21 of aprUl 1648 the duke of york went a waye from S* Jameses about 9 o'clock at night, none going from thence with him, nor knowing of it, nor missing of him in 2 owers after, then there was much sending aU wayes about for him, but could not be heard where he was, nor whether he went, nor who went with him. the 8 maye or there abouts it was knowne the duke of yorke was in hoUand. 1648 maye 41 the essex men brought a petition to the parle : with 2 or 3000 that came with it and 20000 hands to it as was sed for disbanding the army, a persinaU treaty etc. they went a waye not sattesfied with there answere. the 16 Maye 1648 the surry men brought a petition to the parle : 5 or 6000 came with it as is sed, the genteU men all riding with only sords and the contry men walking with sticks in there hands only, the petition was to have the K. and that they might be goverened by the lawes, etc. waiting there for an answere about 6 a clock at night, the soulders faU on them, shot some, cut and slasht a great many, some were kild presently other died of the wonds afterwards. the 11 maye my bro Fra. Twys. retorned 20£ by the marchant to wih at rouen. the 29 maye the lo. farfax went with his army which was above 5000 in to Kent, against the Kentesh men who were gathered together intending to come the 30 maye to black heath to send a petition to the parle : the comitias hendering there meetings about it with armed men caused them to put them selves in a defensive waye. part of those 5000 were those that were at white hale and the mewes. 1 Evelyn's Diary, May 4th, 1648. " Came up the Essex petitioners for an agreement betwixt his Majesty and the rebels. The 16th the Surrey men addressed the Parliament for the same ; of which some of them were slain and murdered by Cromwell's guards, in the New Palace Yard. 30th May. There was a rising now in Kent, my lord of Norwich being at the head of them. Their first rendezvous was in Broome-field, next my house at Sayes Court, whence they went to Maidstone, and so to Colchester, where was that memorable siege." WIFE OF SLR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 125 the first of June 1648 there was a fight at Maidstone, the lo farfax soulders, against the Kentish men and he took the towne, many of both sids were kild, the towne was much plundered. after this they aU left rochester the contry men went home the lo goring with 2000 or 3000 came to black heath and crost over at grenewich in to essex, who were up, in a defencible waye, he went over the 4 of June. the lo farfax went in to essex after them, the first fight was at colchester, it was a great fight the lo goring went thether and made it strong, and there joyned with him Sr Charles Lucus who was geniraU and my lo capeU, in that fight they lost but few men as is sed the hous of commons sent a messinger to take the lo capels sonn out of his hous in essex, from his mother, and carrid him to the lo farfax in to the army to be kept prisoner, which was so down the 29 or 30 of June 1648, be cause his father was in colchester against them, his sonn being but a young youth his mother was brought a bed of a sonn the night before with the grefe of it. the 4 July 1648 the duck of buckingame and his bro the lo Fra: and the earle of holand, who was generalissimo, and many others went aU out of London on tusday night being the 4 of July 1648. divers went out before 2 or 3 dayes, and many went to them, so that the next day at rigat in Surry they were 3000 as was sed and aU hors, and still increased, as was sed, the earle of petirbury was one, the lo Soules, the lo neuburge, and others, this desine was carried so close and privet, that it was not knowne teU they were aU gon, but divers went after them to joyne with them. the 7 July there was a litteU scirmis between hamton cort and kingstowne where my lo Frances was Idld. the 9 he was brought to london and beried at wesmester, a very fine genteU man he was, 1648.1 the 10or 11 of July 1648 my lo of holond was taken at S* Neots in bedfortshere, and carried to warwack oasteU. the 13 July 1648 my la of norwidge left this life. oftheVZ^Wa^imV^ 6PiS°de' ~ "• *• GatdinerS SiSt0ry 126 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, the 20 July my sister Twysden went to peckham the 31 hir chidren went down to hir. the 16 august 1648 we sent 20£ to wiU by mr gifford who then was going in to france, and then we sent for wiU to come over. the 17 august 1648 Le g. cromiU defeated the Scots forces under duck hambleton in lankeshere, nere preson, the Scotts were 21000 and cromeU was not above 8500, and they took 9 or 10000 prisoners, as was sed. the 28 august 1648 colchester was delivered up to the lo farfax on mersy to him about 2 or 3 owers after he got to death Sr charles Lucus, the generaU, and Sr gorge Lile the governor of the towne, they were shot to death they had a comision to keep the towne from the K. power, the 28 august 1648 we sent will 20£ mr Trotter retorned it for us, and lent it us, and then a gane I sent to have him home. the 11 of Sep : we paied mr Trotter the 20£ he sent to wiU : Jamme and nurs carried it to him, 1648. the 8 Sep 1648 wih: and mr ward came to peckham, from Rouen in france, they set out from thence a wensday and had so fine a passage, that god be prased, they came to peckham the friday after, they had been out of ingland 5 yeare and 4 months. the 23 Sep : I came to peckham from london. the 29 Sep: my husband came to peckham, from london. mr ward went in to dorsetshere the 2 Oct: roger was put in to breches the 15 Octo : 1648 being somewhat above 6 yeare old, he was very littell of groweth.1 the 16 Oct: 1648 my husband went to london from peckham. 1 In the Quennells' History of Bvery Day Things part I I , p. 89, there is a charming letter of this date giving an account of the breeching of a little boy Frank, of six years old. " You cannot beloeve the great concern © that was in the whole family here, last Wednesday, it being the day that the taylor was to helpe to dress little Frank in his breeches. Never had any bride that was to be drest upon her wedding night more hands about her, some the legs and some the arms, the taylor butt'ning, and others putting on the sword, and so many lookers on . . . They are very fitt, everything, and he looks taller and prettyer than in his coats " (petticoats). He would be put into coat and waistcoat at the same time, and have probably a muff. WIFE OF SLR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 127 the 22 Oct: 1648 my sister Twysden was brought a bed of a boye at peckham of a sunday morning about a quarter to an ower past 4 a clock, it was christened the same after none, and named Frances, without gossops, this being hir 8 chhd, and god be blessed a live. the 25 Octo. 1648 Sr Antiny welden died, and was buried the 27. the 10 nov : I bought wiU a nag it cost 3£10s it was the first hors he ever had, it was bought of goodman Somers. the 10 nov. we had of Stone the sequestrator 25.15.11648 my bro : Fra : sent christofer my bro Tho : man to fech it. the 11 nov : my husband came from london to peckham. the 25 nov: mr ward came hether to peck: from dorsetshere, he maried a widow there, the first of nov : the 4 desem: my husband went to london from peckham, and he came back the 7. desem. the 2 desem 1648, my lo farfax and 5000 or more of his army came in to london, the parle : sending them word not to come, they quartered at whithall and there a bouts, as weU parle : mens houses as others. the 6 desem 1648 they took 40 parle : men as they were going in to the hous, and caried prisoners, at night to an alle hous by, caUed heU, being kept aU day in the quenes cort. the 14 desem: mary hearne came from london to peckham. the K. after the treaty was ended was seised on, by the army, and carried him to hurst casteU, prisoner, I think it is in hamshere. the nuse of it came to the parle : the 4 of desem : 1648. the 23 of desem : the army, by there power, brought the K from hurst casteU to winsor, 1648 col: Tomlinson had the charge of him.1 1 Jane, Col. Thomlinson's sister, was one of Lady Anne Twysden's ladies in waiting, and she married Sir Thomas Twisden of Bradbourne, Sir Roger Twysden's brother. At the time of the execution Charles I Sav5> *° Co1- Thomunson a gold tooth pick and a ribbon, these were kept m t l ML£w l s d e i 1 fcwnily till they were sold to the Duke of Portland in 1904. The Family of Twysden and Twisden. Their History and Archives. From cm original by Sir John Bamshill Twisden, Bt. Completed by C H. Dudley Ward, D.S.O. Murray, 1939, 18s. net. Pp. 142-3, and 128 THE DLARY OF ISABELLA, the 17 desem : 1648 old goody dene died, and left this life for a better. the 29 desem a colonel or a maior of the K. was shot to death in pales church yard, by the parle armye. [During 1648 the Diary records various crocks of butter, cheeses and many bushels of wheat and barley meal sent to London for Sir Roger's use.] march 10 was the first time that my husband ever heard of that saing that of Mra m, h, being married to w: h, huberd biU from the 14 nov 1648 to the 22 of febru. 1648/9 payed him the 5 of march 1648/9 aU which was 2.6.0. paid huberd biUs which were from the 2 of march to the 23 of august 1649 payed him then aU we owed 5.15.0. payed huberd biU which was from 28 august 1649 to nov : 2 which came to 2.0.0 payed him aU we owed him. the 2 of march 1648/9 I reconed with nurs phhps of aU reconings and wages, that we owed hir, and should do at our Lady day after, so aU reconings and wages then due at our Lady day 1649 is reconed, and aU made even then, which comes to 10 pound, so we owe hir just ten pound at our Lady day 1649. at milmas 1649 I reconed agane with nurs philpe, and then I owed hir just 12£. payed to nurs philps of this 12£ 20a the 9 of Janu 1649/50 which she gave to my cosen Jesty for setting Mr hand, and aU other wages payed. mon I payed to nurs phhps 5.0.0 of this 11.0.0 above writin payed the 12 of mar 1649/50 she had it to bye shepe, so now I owe hir but 6.0.0 and aU else now payed. my good father left this world and went to god the 9 of febru: 1648/9 betwene 6 and 7 a clock at night, being tusday, he was Ul 3 or 4 dayes, and as he used to do, in cold wether many times laye a bed, and then rising and setting up a whhe, he undressing to go to bed agane, he fainted a waye, and came agane, and then fainted agane, and came no more tho aU was dun that could be. he died at his hous in nounsuch park and was beried at eweU with his auncestors and by his wife, by torch fights, there was 6 by him at the WIFE OF SIR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 129 time of his death, he wanted no helpe, his son was one, my bro. Henry Saunder, my sister and bro. warham who Uved with him was then on bisnes gone in to dorset shere, and I to my grefe was in Kent so could not know of his Ulnes, to be with him, he was 87. [The foUowing entries are written in an Almanack: " Uranoscopia or an Almanack and Prognostication, for 1649, composed by John Booker."] the 2 Janu 1649 my la morton left this life to be a blessed saint in heaven, she died of the smaUpox at London. the 3 Janu. 1649. we received of Tho. Stephens from the sequest: as part of my fifth part 50£. the 25 Janu my la dering was brought a bed of a ghie at mrs harris, at Lambeth. the 5 Janu: 1648 we payed my brother Fra: 20£ which we had before borrowed of him to send to wiU: in to france. the 11 Janu : 1648 we gave my bro Fra : 20£ to send to my bro John in to france, to paye that we owed there, and that was aU we owed. the 9 Janu 1648/9 the lord tooke my deare father from this hfe, to hve blessed with him, he died between 6 and 7 at night being agged. the 12 Janu. 1648 my bro and sister Twysden went to London from peckham, having been here 25 weeks. the 18 Janu. 1648 wiU went wdth doc : ward, from peckham to London, and so to dorsetshere, the 22, and was at the doc : hous the 26 in piddle towne. the 19 Janu : 1648/9 the army brought the K. from winsor to S' James, a prisoner as he was before, he was brought to Tryall at westmester by Act of the hous of commons, the 20. 22. 23 and 27, and then he was sentansed to have his head taken of, which the 30 being tusday was dun, on a scaffold at whitehaU nere the bankeating hous. betwene 1 and 2 a clock in the afternone, when he was on the scaffold a fhte of wild ducks came and flew awaye, a drack first staying downe and touching his biU on the block 130 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, as many sed that was there by at the time, and sawe the soulders strick and shute at them, but hit none. the 25 of febru 1648/9 we begane to keep hous our selves, for our children and our selves when we are at peckham. the 22 of febru: we bought a furnis to stand in the kichin of coper it cost 3£ 8s 6a the iornes to set it cost 22s. the 27 febru 1648/9 old John wilkins died being 92 years old. the 9 of march 1648/9 was put to death duck hambleton, a Skoch nobeU man, the earle of holand a brave cortier and my lo capeU a gaUant man. these 3 lost there heads in the new palace yard at wesmester, on a scaffold.1 we came to London from peck: to Mr Austins hous, the 13 march. the 21 march 1648/9 my bro John Twysden came to London to us, out of france, my sis. cho. and hir 2 daughter came over together with him. the 22 march we left W Austins hous in S* Anns Strete, and came to mr masters hous in the denes yard 1648/9. the 2 apriU 1649 Jack warham went to dorsetshere to doc : wards to scoule where our boy wiU : is, god bless them both. the 11 aprill we went to peck 1649 and came back the 17 to mr masters in the denes yard. the 24 aprhl 1649 my husband sawe my lo of Pembrock go in to sat in the hous of commons, being a member of it, he had get there a week before, he was chose Knight of the shere for barkshere. 1 Lord Goring, created Earl of Norwich by Charles I after the Civil War had begun, was also among the Royalist prisoners on trial, but he was freed by the casting Vote of the speaker. James Hamilton had been adviser to Charles I in Scottish affairs. In 1648 he entered England with an army, and was defeated by Cromwell at Preston. Lord Holland was one of those peers who occupied a middle position in pohtics, disapproving the character of the Stuarts and the politics of Cromwell. In August 1643, he went to Gloucester and offered Charles his services in the field. WIFE OF S B ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 131 the 25 apriU 1649 col poyer1 was shot to death in common garden against bedford waUe, he was condemned by a conseU of warr, by the parle : army he had ben on[e] of there col: the 19 maye 1649 my husbands bisnes was heard in the hous of comons and there refered to gouldsmiths haU, and set to paye a tenth. the 28 maye 1649 my cosen henages wife in the morning was brought a bed of a sonn. the 28 maye 1649 Sr nathaniel finch was buried, the 31 maye 1649 my husband was fined at gouldsmiths hah 1500£ and halfe of it to be payed with in 14 dayes and then his seques : to be taken of, the tother with in 6 weekes, must be payed, his sufferings from the first to this last has ben a great hardship, being for nothing but in tending to a petition to themselves. • the 30 maye 1649 the lo maior and aldermen proclaimed in divers places in London against kingship and lo : hous. the 22 of June I went to nonsuch to my sis warhams. the 4 July 1649 I came to London from nonsuch, my husband and bro Jo : came 3 dayes before to fech me up, I went to take the aire being sick, and came back prety weU I thank god. the 18 July 1649 we came to peck : from London, the 12 Sep : 1649 my bro and sister warham came hether to peckham and betty. the 13 oct: 1649 we bought 2 colts of wm dene for 10£ they were but one yeare and a halfe old a pese. the 17 oct: 1649 Ro : ffanoU and aU his compiny, wife and chndren came from Shiborne to live at a farme of ours, Tho baker went out of it that day fortnight before to a nother hous of ours. the 16 oct: 1649 my husband went to chart and came back to peck : the 26. while he was there Tho. Stevens received of the sequestrators 19.11.0 part of my 5 part. 1 Col. Poyer was tried by court-martial with two others, all three were sentenced to death as officers unfaithful to their trust, they were, however, permitted to draw lots for their lives. The lot fell on Poyer, who was shot in Covent Garden. 132 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, the 2 of nov: 1649 my bro and sister warham and betty their daughter went from hence, from peck: home to nonsuch. the 13 nov : 1649 my sister Twysden was brought a bed of a girle about 2 a clock in the morning at hir hous in barbecan in London it was chrissened the same day in the after none and named Elizabeth without gossops, mr callimy crissened it. the 21 nov: I heard my la Bunkly died a fortnight before. the 9 desem. 1649 nan arnoU was a bed of a girle about 7 or 8 a clock at night, and named it Jane. the 9 desem. 1649. nurs harinton came to peckham. [During 1649 the diary records the supply of large quantities of butter in crocks and meal sent to London.] M1 Johanes Hird a right good religeus genteU man he left this life the 15 mar: 1650/1 at 9 a clock at night at peckham, he was in his 73 yeare of his age, a strong, able man, he feU sick on the 7 day and died on the 15 but not of a fever, a quarter of a yeare before he had a faU, which he not heeding of it, nor taking any thing for it, tho himself had great skill, we think was a great cause of his death, for he spet bloud aU his sickness, tho not before, he had lived in this famhy 32 he was a garman by bearth, he never would let his writ name be knowne he was buried the 18 mar : in the church yard, nere the chanseU waU, as himself before time desired, he gave aU he had to a maide, on[e] Mary Mills, whom he had long ben in love with.1 [The Diary for 1651 is written in " Hemeroscopeion, a Meteorological Diary and Prognostication for the yeere of Christ 1651 " by Captain George Wharton. He was later a baronet and a rival and opponent of the famous astrologer Wilham Lilly.] 1 John Hird, learned in divinity and medicine, acted as major-domo in the households of Sir William and Sir Roger. He compiled a life of Christ by piecing together extracts from the four Gospels. Under the name of Master Johannes he became a friend, a counsellor and a physician to the family. Dr. John Twysden, brother of Sir Roger, studied chemistry with him. John was incorporated M.D. in 1651 and Fellow of the College of Physicians in 1664. (Tiuysden Families, p. 254.) WIFE OF SD3, ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 133 the 18 Janu: my sister Twys and my nece Ann cho : came hether and very kindly stayed teh the 24. the 23 Janu : my bro cho. went to London, the 4 febru my bro J o : went from hence to Eton, my bro : cho: came from London the 18 but was at maling teU the 22 of febru: then came to peck: the 18 of febru. I went to maling to my sis: Twys: and stayed there tell the 22. the 24 febru 1651 mr ward mra wards sonn, at yaling died, my bro : cho : the 6 of mar : went to London, a came a gane the 8 of mar : the 15 of mar : 1651 mr Johannes left this life, and now is a blessed soule in heaven, tooke at the begining. the 25. 1651 Steven ArnoU was bound prentis to one comber a chandeler at watringbury for a bout 9 yeare. the 29 of mar : 1651 cap : Brown BusshiU was beheaded on Tower hiU by the parle for adhering to the king. the 4 mar 1651 Sr Har : Hide a marchant was beheaded at the old exchange by the parle: the 18 apriU 1651 my bro Jo. Twys. came hether from eston. the 23 apriU 1651 hugh pricker1 a welch man a servant in this hous about 40 yeare died, and the 25 was beried in the church yard in peckham, an honest man he was and a true, and died a true servant of Christs. the 26 apriU 1651 at 4 a clock in the morning came tropers to our hous at peck : to serch as they sed for armes, and letters, for letters there was none they cared for, yet carried a waye 4 or 5 of my husbands and armes what was, and they carried a waye my husband, and my bro: cho : to leeds casteU prisoners, for no cause, I thank Christ. the 28 of apriU 1651 my bro. Jo : Twys: left us and went to five with my bro. Yel: at eson in Northamptonshire and removed aU Ms things from our hous here at peck : thether, he had Uved with us above 2 yeare. the 2 may 1651 my husband came home agane to peck : from Leeds casteU, set free, bis name was not in the list of them that should be taken. 1 Register, Hugh ap Richards. 1 3 4 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA, the 7 maye I went to bed and stayed aU night it did so raine. the 15 may mary croast came hether to be cock maide. the 16 maye I went to Leeds. the 22 maye I went to Leeds, I went every time to see my bro : cho : the first June my lo : of Kerry came to peckham to see us, and went a waye the 3. the 5 I went to Leeds. the 16 June 1651 my bro : cho: was freed from being a prisoner in Leeds casteU, and came agane to peckham. the 19 June 1651 I went to London so did my bro : cho : my husband stayed at peckham. the 9 July I came from London home to peckham, so did my bro : cho : the 11 sep : my sis : yel: was here the 13 we went to maling the 14 we went to roches[ter]: to see the great ship. the 25 august my sis : cho : hether to peck : to staye, she came to my sis : Twys : from graveend the 23 she came up by sea: from Whitbe, hir maide came next day. the 26 sep : steven came hether to be butler. the 27 sep: my cosen Burastone and my cosen Ann Barnes came hether. the 3 sep : 1651 K.C. and the Scots were beaten and utterly routed at woster, himself fled a waye, he came in to ingland out of Scotland the 6 or 8 of augu : with 12000 or more, duck hambleton died of his wonds.1 the 3 sep : my sis : cho : maide came hether and roger hir man. the 8 sep : my 2 neces cho : came hether from maling and there maide. the 16 sep my bro: cho : and his man roger dickison went to London. the 18 sep : my bro: cho : came home to peck : and my nephew Hugh cho : the 3 oct: my nephew Hugh cho : went to London. 1 Brother of the Duke of Hamilton who had been executed in 1649, following the execution of Charles I. WIFE OF SLR ROGER TWYSDEN, BARONET. 135 the 8 oct: my cos: Burastone and my cosen Ann barnes went to London, from peck : the 11 oct my nece Ann cho: and hir made went to staye with my sis : Twys : the 13 oct my bro : cho : and his man went to London, my bro cho : came home the 25 Oct: the 16 oct: 1651 my lo of Darby was beheaded at lankershere for joyning with the K. when he came in and was defeted at woster. the 3 nov : my hosband went to Ion : 1651 to paye his 5th and 20 part: in to haberdasher's haU. the 21 nov. my sis : cho : hir daughter and made went to maling, to my sis : Twys : the 26 nov : my bro : cho : went to london. the 29 nov : my husband came home from Ion : having payed 400£ in to haberdashers haU, for his 5 and 20 part, tho he componder for aU his estate before. hes farly. came hether to be kook the 19 nov : 1651. the 20 mary croest went a waye. the 23 nov : 1651 my lady of Cleveland died suddenly at Mr sisters my la grayes, at charter house yard, a noble and a verteus lady she was, and is now with god. the 12 desem, 1651. my bro : cho : and sis : and my nephew whT and there compiny came home from maling. the 18 desem my nephew wiU went to london. my bro : cho : has payed me for 6 weeks, which was from the 10 of desem : to the 23 of Janu 1651/2, and then he went to london, and payed the 6£ for us there, so then we were even. my bro: cho : has payed me for a month, wMch was from the 22 of febru : to the 22 of march, 4£. so then we were even, 1651. my bro : cho : has payed me 4£ for a month, wMch was from the 22 of aprUl, 1651. so then we were even, the 26 he was carried a waye a prisoner by tropers to leeds casteU. my bro : cho: has payed me for a month for hhn selfe and his man, 4£ which was from the 16 July to the 25 of august, 1651 and then his wife came to him, he payed me £5, and then we were even. 136 THE DIARY OF ISABELLA. my bro : cho : has payed me 27.10.0 for himselfe and his compiny for 2 months, wMch was from the 25 of august to the 25 of oct: 1651 and then we were even. my bro: cho: has payed me for a month 12.0.0£, wMch is from the 25 of oct: to the 25 of nov : it bemg for him self his wife, my nece betty and 3 servants, so then we were even, 1651. my bro: cho : payed me 308 for 3 weeke for his made mary, wMch was from the 21 nov : to the 12 desem : 1651. then we were even, and then thay aU came home agane, from maling.