Evelyn, in his interesting diary, records the birth of a daughter, Oct. 1, 1665, in these words:—

“This afternoon, whilst at evening prayers, tidings were brought me of the birth of a daughter at Wotton, after six sons, in the same chamber I had first tooke breath in, and at the first day of that month, as I was on the last, forty-five years before.”

This was during the period of the great plague in London, when he had sent down his wife and children to his country place for security, and remained himself in town to attend to the duties of his office.

From time to time the tender and pious father names his Mary in his journal, evidently proud of her accomplishments and the admiration she excites. When she is seventeen, he enters in his memoranda the fact that, on the 7th February, she began to learn music of Signor Bartholomeo, in praise of whose genius he has been very eloquent before; and also “dauncing, of Monr Isaac, reputed the best masters.”

He relates her triumphs in singing with infinite pleasure.

“I was invited to my Lord Arundel, of Wardour, where, after dinner, Mr. Pordage entertained us with his voice, that excellent and stupendous artist, Signor Jo Baptist, playing to it on the harpsichord. My daughter, Mary, being with us, she also sung, to the great satisfaction of both the masters, and a world of people of quality present. She did so also at my Lord Rochester's the evening following, where we had the French boy, so famous for his singing, and, indeed, he had a delicate voice, and had been well taught.”