two loaves of bread, a little bottle
of wine, a candlestick, a pound of candles, two saucers, two spoons, a
black pudding, a pair of gloves, a dozen points, two red herrings, four
white herrings, six sprats and two eggs"--a quaint and lavish symbol of
his charity when alive.

So enormous was the fortune he left, that it is said Lord Compton, on
hearing its amount (L800,000) "became distracted, and so continued for a
considerable length of time, either through the vehement apprehension of
joy for such a plentiful succession, or of carefulness how to take up
and dispense of it."

That my Lady Compton, who a few years after her father's death blossomed
into a Countess, proved a devoted and dutiful wife to her lord there is
no reason to doubt; but that she had an adequate idea of her own
importance and a determination to have her share of her father's
money-bags is shown by the following letter, which is sufficiently
remarkable to bear quotation in full.

"My sweet life,--Now that I have declared to you my mind
for the settling of your estate, I suppose that it were
best for me to bethink what allowance were best for me;
for, considering what care I have ever had of your
estate, and how respectfully I dealt with those which
both by the laws of God, nature, and civil policy, wit,
religion, government, and honesty, you, my dear, are
bound to, I pray and beseech you to grant to me, your
most kind and loving wife, the sum of one thousand pounds
per an., quarterly to be paid.

"Also, I would, besides that allowance for my apparel,
have six hundred pounds added yearly for the performance
of charitable works; these I would not neither be
accountable for. Also, I will have three horses for my
own saddle, that none shall dare to lend or borrow; none
lend but I, none borrow but you. Also, I would have two
gentlewomen, lest one should be sick; also, believe that
it would be an indecent thing for a gentlewoman to stand
mumping alone, when God has blest their Lord and Lady
with a great estate. Also, when I ride hunting or
hawking, or travel from one house to another, I will have
them attending, so for each of those said women I must
have a horse. Also, I will have six or eight gentlemen,
and will have two coaches; one lined with velvet to
myself, with four very fair horses; and a coach for my
women li