She continued his disconsolate widow about six years, bemoaning
herself, and complaining, that she had lost the delight of her eyes;
but more that she had lost the spiritual guide for her poor soul; and
would often say, "O that I had, like holy Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
treasured up all his sayings in my heart! But since I have not been
able to do that, I will labour to live like him, that where he now is
I may be also." And she would often say,--as the Prophet David for his
son Absalom,--"O that I had died for him!" Thus she continued mourning
till time and conversation had so moderated her sorrows, that she
became the happy wife of Sir Robert Cook, of Highnam, in the County
of Gloucester, Knight. And though he put a high value on the excellent
accomplishments of her mind and body, and was so like Mr. Herbert, as
not to govern like a master, but as an affectionate husband; yet
she would even to him often take occasion to mention the name of Mr.
George Herbert, and say, that name must live in her memory till she
put off mortality. By Sir Robert she had only one child, a daughter,
whose parts and plentiful estate make her happy in this world, and her
well using of them gives a fair testimony that she will be so in that
which is to come.
Mrs. Herbert was the wife of Sir Robert eight years, and lived his
widow about fifteen; all which time she took a pleasure in mentioning
and commending the excellencies of Mr. George Herbert. She died in the
year 1663, and lies buried at Highnam: Mr. Herbert in his own
Church, under the altar, and covered with a gravestone without any
inscription.
[Sidenote: Lost relics]
This Lady Cook had preserved many of Mr. Herbert's private writings,
which she intended to make public; but they and Highnam House were
burnt together by the late rebels, and so lost to posterity.
I.W.
[Footnote 1: A fortress first erected by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of
Shrewsbury, under William I., to secure his conquests in Wales, though
it was twice partly destroyed by the Welsh. It stands near the Severn,
on a gentle ascent, having a fair prospect over the plain beneath. The
order of Parliament for its destruction was made June 11th, 1649.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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