All these surmises are wrong. Dryden married Lady Elizabeth Howard, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Berkshire, in 1665, when Purcell was seven years old. Of course, after the marriage the wife ceased to be Lady Elizabeth _Howard_: moreover, her husband's (Dryden) means would scarcely have permitted the serious cost of Purcell's memorial tablet. This was in reality erected by the wife of Sir Robert Howard, the dramatist, who had been associated with Purcell in theatrical composition, and the lady had been a pupil of Purcell; the probability is, therefore, that Sir Robert wrote the inscription. Purcell made his will on the day of his death; it is important, and reads as follows:-- "In the name of God, Amen. I, Henry Purcell, of the Citty of Westminster, gent., being dangerously ill as to the constitution of my body, but in good and perfect mind and memory (thanks be to God), doe by these presents publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. And I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my loveing Wife, Frances Purcell, all my Estate both reall and personall of what nature and kind soever, to her and to her assigns for ever. And I doe hereby constitute and appoint my said loveing Wife my sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, revokeing all former Will or Wills. Witnesse my hand and seale this twentieth first day of November, Annoq. Dni., One thousand six hundred ninety-five, and in the seventh yeare of the Raigne of King William the Third, &c. "H. PURCELL. "Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Henry Purcell in the presence of Wm. Ecles, John Capelin. "B. PETERS." Purcell's widow was thus left sole executrix, and she with her children--Frances, aged 7, Edward, aged 6, and Mary Peters, aged 2 years--continued to reside for a time at the house in Great Dean's Yard, from whence, in 1696, Mrs. Purcell issued _A Choice Collection of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet, composed by the late Mr. Henry Purcell, Organist of his Majesties Chappel Royal, and of St. Peter's, Westminster_. Of this popular little work three editions were speedily exhausted. In 1697 Mrs. Purcell published a collection of _Ten Sonatas in four parts, composed by the late Mr. Henry Purcell_, and also _A Collection of Ayres, compos'd for the Theatre, and upon other occasions, by the late Mr. Henry Purcell_; and in 1698 a further publication of the first volume of _Orpheus Britannicus: A Collection of all the Choicest Songs for one, two, and three voices, compos'd by Mr. Henry Purcell; together with such Symphonies for Violins or Flutes as were by him design'd for any of them: and a thorough-bass to each song; figur'd for the Organ, Harpsichord, or Theorbolute. All which are placed in their several Keys according to the order of the Gamut._