They say their Majestyes' Parting at _Abingdon_ was very sorrowfulle and tender. The _Lord_ send them better Times! The Queen is to my Mind a most charming Lady, and well worthy of his Majesty's Affection; yet it seems to me amisse, that thro' her Influence, last Summer, the Opportunitie of Pacification was lost. But she was elated, and naturallie enoughe, at her personall Successes from the Time of her landing. To me, there seems nothing soe good as Peace. I know, indeede, Mr. _Milton_ holds that there may be such Things as a holy War and a cursed Peace.
_Father_, having a Hoarseness, hath deputed me, of late, to read the Morning and Evening Prayers. How beautifulle is our Liturgie! I grudge at the Puritans for having abolished it; and though I felt not its comprehensive Fullessse [Transcriber's note: Fullnesse?] before I married, nor indeed till now, yet I wearied to Death in _London_ at the puritanicall Ordinances and Conscience-meetings and extempore Prayers, wherein it was soe oft the Speaker's Care to show Men how godly he was. Nay, I think Mr. _Milton_ altogether wrong in the View he takes of praying to _God_ in other Men's Words; for doth he not doe soe, everie Time he followeth the Sense of another Man's extempore Prayer, wherein he is more at his Mercy and Caprice than when he hath a printed Form set down, wherein he sees what is coming?
Walking in the Home-close this Morning, it occurred to me that Mr. _Milton_ intended bringing me to _Forest Hill_ about this Time; and that if I had abided patientlie with him through the Winter, we might now have beene both here happily together; untroubled by that Sting which now poisons everie Enjoyment of mine, and perhaps of his. _Lord_, be merciful to _me a Sinner_.
Just after writing the above, I was in the Garden, gathering a few Coronation Flowers and Sops-in-Wine, and thinking they were of deeper crimson at_ Sheepscote_, and wondering what _Rose_ was just then about, and whether had I beene born in her Place, I shoulde have beene as goode and happy as she,--when _Harry_ came up, looking somewhat grave. I sayd, "What is the Matter?" He gave Answer, "_Rose_ hath lost her Child." Oh!----that we should live but a two Hours' Journey apart, and that she coulde lose a Child three Months olde _whom I had never seene_?