MARGARET GODOLPHIN, Sydney Godolphin was unable, in his misery on his bereavement, to superintend the funeral of his wife ; on Evelyn, therefore, devolved the sad duty. Having closed the eyes, and dropped a tear on the cheek of his dear departed friend, " lovely even in death," Evelyn caused her body to be em- balmed in lead, and a plate of brass soldered thereon, with an inscription recording her worth and virtues. The news of her death created a great and melancholy interest ; the King and all the Court expressed their sorrow, and many a heart among the poor must have deeply deplored the loss of so kind, so generous, and so sympathising a benefactress. She had requested to be buried in Cornwall, with her beloved husband's relations, and on the spot where she expected his ashes were to be laid one day, and on the 17th of September, she was carried to Godolphin, in Cornwall, where she was interred with all the pomp that love and grief could suggest to do honour to her remains. About thirty of her relatives and friends accompanied the melancholy charge ; but her unhappy husband was so over- whelmed by his intense anguish that he was unable to go with them. She left a letter addressed to her husband-her " Dear Man," as she was in the habit of playfully calling him, -in which, in the most pathetic and endearing terms, she besought his kindness and consideration towards those whom she 42
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=