Elizabeth Delaval (née Livingston; later Hatcher) (1649–1717) is a subtle curator of her own texts, sewing together memory and meditation to loosely structure a narrated life. Possibly written for an audience (if only herself), the text can be read for its alert use of mode and genre, its information on families and marriage, its hints of spying and political agency, and its politically saturated account of events from the Restoration to the French court of James II. Did Delaval end her life with more questions than answers on what it meant to love, regret and be politically committed? Further research seems likely to deepen understanding of Delaval as a political actor, but may also reveal more about her writing and drafting practices.