Mistress those Seeds of Rebellion and Revolt from her Duty long since implanted there And the Story she had newly heard of the state of their Amour made her absolutely resolve to make use of the occasion for sharing with her Maid in the Pleasure she had to see John Le Brun. You may easily believe the Lady design'd not to engage in the Conquest of her Chamber-Maids Gallant but was very willing Diana should have the Honour of it allowing her Mistress a share in the use of it to satisfie Nature and no more And Nature is commonly content with the Use not troubling her self about the Property We have all our Infirmities and those of this Temper are the more pardonable in that it is almost impossible to master them and this passionate Lady was not disposed to offer any Violence to her Inclinations She thought of her Pleasure and the Joy that attends it not troubling her self with scruples and doubts and had formed in her Mind a thousand Designes to obtain her Desires John was lookt upon in the Castle as Diana 's Servant which gave the Lady a fair occasion to laugh to speak to walk with him when she pleased without any suspition if Diana were in Company But the old Gentleman whether searing the Amours of these two Lovers would set his Wife alonging or that he was jealous of all the World as of her began to dislike the great Familiarity and Freedom John used in his House He went to the Curate and told him It was pitty a young Man as his Nephew who had so good Parts to make him useful in the Church should lose his time as he did And that being lookt upon as worthy to succeed him in his Benefice and be one day the Pastor of his Flock should think of nothing but making of Love That this proceeding did not edifye at all That he must begin betimes to implant in him a Contempt of the World and an Affection for Retyredness In a word that Prayer and Study ought to be the principal Business of the Nephew of so honest a Gentleman as he was That he told him this as a Friend and hoped his Advice would be well taken This Sermon being ended the Curate gave his Worship humble Thanks for the Favour he did him and his Nephew and when time served both should acknowledge it But he knew well enough where his Worship was pinched He had not kept his Jealousie so close but the Curate knew the Disease he was troubled with and might very well judge That his Nephew Young and Handsom as he ' was could not spend his time so constantly in the Castle without giveing him some Umbrage However he forgot not to give his Nephew a Lecture when he came home at Night and to forbid him on pain of his Displeasure to go any more to the Castle for Reasons not to be made known at present but received from so good a hand there was no cause to sear he that gave them could be mistaken John knew not what this meant but meeting Diana on the Morrow having watched above an Hour for an opportunity to speak to him she told him the News that clear'd all doubts acquainting him That her Master had charged her Mistress and her to see him no more nor take him along with them to walk his Uncle having made it is Request searing his Nephews hankering after Women might hinder him in his Vocation and as for him he was resolv'd it should not be said he was spoyl'd in his House John Le Brun was not a little astonisht so see himself deprived in a moment not only of the sight and Conversation of his Mistress but of the lovely Company of his Lady who had already discovered some good Inclinations which cultivated with Care promised him more Good than could be expected from the Love of a Chamber-maid The Vanity of his Nature and the good Opinion he had of himself made him apt to flatter himself on any occasion and as to this Lady he had certainly reason enough for it For the kindness she exprest for his Person accompanyed with that obliging Behaviour she seasoned it withall gave him ground enough to hope for some Favour But then when he thought himself the happiest of Men or at least in a fair way to be so he received the sad News which blasted his Pretensions and made all his Hopes vanish You might have expected to find him Irrecoverably swallowed up by Despair and he had certainly been so had not the simple Diana bid him not trouble himself for the matter and told him Her Mistress and she had thought of a way to see him if not by Day as formerly it should be at Night That she had for that purpose been that Morning betimes with one of her Friends a Lock-Smith and carried him in Wax the print of the two Keyes to the Back-gate of the Castle and that before Night she would give him an account of them if he would but take the pains to be at that Place about Nine in the Evening The Spirits of our afflicted Gallant were not a little raised by the hopes she gave him and you may believe he promised faithfully not to fail the Agssination The poor Girle was in earnest and thought her self extreamly obliged to her Mistress who all this while laboured nothing more than to do her the worst Office one Woman can do another in Love which is to rob her of her Lover But it was her Folly not to see that the Concernment her Mistress exprest for Johns misfortune was too great to be free from Suspition She had not made such hast to find the means to let him into her House by Night but that she was Particularly and Personally concern'd And it was apparent enough that running an equal Risque in all Dangers with Diana she did in Justice expect to share in her Pleasures The Lock-Smith made ready the Keys the same day and was payd so nobly as to oblige him to keep their Counsel John was at the place of Rendezvouz at the Hour Diana had appointed him who was as punctual as he and told him All was well and that she just came from trying the Keyes and that at Eleven a Clock when the Old Gentleman was a bed He had no more to do but come to the Back-gate which she would then open for him This Gate opened to a back Stair to the Ladies Apartment where the Gallant might attend without any danger At Eleven a Clock he stood Centinel as appointed and was introduced John who perhaps was a little cloy'd with the easie Possession of Diana when he found her Mistress lookt so kindly upon him yet ravished with the opportunity found the Fire within him kindled so strongly at his being so near her in the Dark with her Slippers under her Arms that he could not stay till he came into the Chamber to let her know how much he loved her but put off his Shoes to
for them in the Castle But whether it were that the Lady reserved her own Quarter to be free from search or imploy'd them at distance no notice was taken of the back-gate being the Place of Rendezvouz Diana at length appeared before her Master and though much out of Humour forgot not her Duty in making fast the Gate This done she went up to her Ladies Chamber where she lay Here was Acted the Scene that discovered the whole Plot. The Lady Laught and wondered Diana was so sad And both being laid What said the Lady you are troubled I warrant you that your Lover is gone without seeing you Fool thou shalt see him to Morrow Would you have had him stay till they had search'd my Chamber Ah Madam answered Diana I would to God they had found him here And why replyed the Lady much surprized at the Answer Why said Diana You know well enough and that he came not hither for my sake The subtle Lady fell a Laughing and Embracing Diana told her She now saw she loved John in good Earnest since she was jealous of him and upon her account whom of all the World she had least cause to fear but she would pardon her unjust Suspition Diana unwilling to be altogether fool'd replyed That her Suspitions were too well grounded And seeing her Lady continue Laughing at her What Madam said she with that Ardor and Vehemence Truth usually inspires into those who maintain it have not I seen you with John in such and such Postures Did not you tell him this did not you tell him that Which the Lady hearing How now Insolence said she are you a Spy on my Actions May not I do what I please in my Chamber for you Who in the middle of the Garden and pausing at that Word she afterwards proceeded Witness the Cherry-Tree Diana grew paler and more confounded than ever But knowing they were but equally match'd one to one she recovered her Courage and with as much heat as her Lady gave her story for story and reproach'd her with all the Gallantries of her Life past which she had the goodness to relate to her The Lady not able to endure it without a transport of Rage beyond what is allow'd to Persons of Quality of her Sex was not content to make use of her Hands finding Diana as good at that Sport as her self but ran for a stick which she had in the Chamber Diana perceiving it thought it time to with-draw into a place of Safety and finding no other than the Bed as she was going under it she sees a Mans Leg and then another and by degrees the rest of the Body drest after the old Fashion What a fright was she in Her Mistress running after her stumbled on the Feet of the Spirit and fell to the Ground Thus was the Anger of these Female Combatants appeased on the suddain and they look'd one on the other to inquire who the Man should be and how he came thither Have you ever seen two Enemies joyn Forces at the Appearance of a Third stronger than both Just so did these Rivals agree in a Corner of the Chamber where they durst scarce breath taking the sight of this Object for an Effect of Divine Justice and believing it could be nothing else but an Evil Spirit sent from the other World to put them in mind of their Sins At last this Spirit spoke and putting off an old Gray Hat he had upon his Head Madam said he you must pardon your poor Curate unhappily exposed to the Hazard both of Life and Reputation the Loss of both could not have been prevented if by good Fortune he had not found your Chamber-door open where he came to hide himself when you were gone forth The two Females hearing the Voyce and Name of their good Friend the Curate recovered a little Courage but durst not yet adventure going nigh him because Spirits are apt to Lye And they had reason to fear this same had a mind to abuse them it being not propable that Mr. Curate should be in their Chamber that time of Night and in such an Equipage But finding him at length a very peaceable Spirit they ventured to go nigh him and knew him It was so surprizing and so pleasant a sight to see him in a great Gray Wastcoat and a Hat drest like a Sow-Gelder that they could not forbear Laughing 'T is indeed a Laughing Business said he some-what angry for the small Compassion they had for him but you have your share as well as I in the Adventure 'T is true I bear the Blowes But unless you would have me discover all do your Endeavour to help me out from hence that I may go Home Mr. Curate answered the Lady what is written is written You have been Young as we are and you know you should do so to others as you would they should do to you We have every one his part in what hath hapned this Evening I have too much to my share said the Curate and I feel it I am sure Therefore said the Lady let us keep one anothers Counsel Diana shall go open you the Gate But let us know first what Misfortune brought you hither where you have so little Business 'T is true Madam answered the Curate I might very well have let alone the Business I had here but the too great Affection I have for that Rogue my Nephew hath brought me to the fine Condition you see me in For three or four Nights last past I observed he went out of his Lodging at an unseasonable Hour and returned very late The Care I have alwayes had of his Education and the Charitable Remonstrance I lately had from my Lord your Husband made me think my self obliged to follow him this Night to see where he went I saw him enter the Castle at the Back-Gate and intended to wait his Return to ask him What he had been doing But growing impatient at his stay so long I took the Pains to get up hither by the same Gate And now I cannot but think it was by the Instigation of the Devil For as I came groaping along the Rooms I met Diana who put me into a bodily Fear and mistook me for my Nephew Presently after came in my Lord your Husband who frightned me to the purpose For not knowing whether to flye I threw my self like a simple Sott under his Pike with which he thought to kill me At last Madam to conclude in a word said the Curate Smiling when he saw them Laugh I came I saw but the Mischief is I was over-come and soundly beaten The Curate had a pretty Faculty at Railing which gave the Lady occasion to shew him some Kindness and pray'd him He would not ill use his Nephew As to that Madam answered he I know what I have to do I am willing for your sake to forget what is past but must intreat you to take order for the future that no Mischief come of it
find some other Warmth for his Feet The Lady who expected them growing impatient at their stay would needs go see what stopt their coming She went to the Stair-head without Shooes or Light and hearing nothing of them had a mind to go down to the Gate The two Lovers were careful not to make a Noise being not well assured it was she or else to conceal from her the Trade they then drove They scarce breathed so that the Lady whom the spirit of Curiosity pusht on to her Ruin in going down Stairs unfortunately made a false Step and tumbled over them down several Steps And how little soever she was beholding to Love for the Accident she was certainly much obliged to Fortune in that she escaped so well from so dangerous a Fall You may imagine what a peck of Troubles John and Diana were now in The Noyse her Mistress made in her Fall was enough to raise all the House but that it was in a Lodging a part from those of the Servants much more might it have awaked the good Man where the greatest Danger lay but he had the good Quality to sleep very soundly and by good Luck heard nothing at all The first thing John did was to get to the Gate for fear of misfortune and almost at the bottom of the Stairs he found the Unfortunate Lady which had he had a Candle would doubtless have been a very rare sight Diana came to help her up the Staires which she had so nimbly gone down She had happily saved her Face which gave her some Comfort but for the rest there was not a part of her Body but was sensible of her Fall The Gallant judging they had business enough for that Night to apply Remedies for the Bruises without further use of him with-drew softly and went his way Home He had Newes at his Rising that the Lady was better and that she was not so ill but she desired to see him again that Night He came the same Hour to the Gate which being opened he resolved not to lose time with Diana on these unfortunate Staires for fear of another ill Accident but went strait where the Lady expected him She had told her Husband a fair story of her Mis-adventure and made that advantage of it that she obtain'd leave to lye alone for three or four Nights in a Chamber near his The good Man could not have imagin'd that his Wife in the Condition she was in could think of Love But this Passion takes away the sense of any other Affliction John Le Brun was Conducted to the Chamber where he found the fair Lady dressed in her Bed like a Goddess Some of the Servants were yet up and Diana was ordered to hold them in talk till they went to their Chambers for fear they should come and hearken Unless you will believe the Mistress found out this sleeveless Errand for Diana that she the while might have the Liberty to speak a Word in Private to the Curate's Nephew Well John said she with a Smile as soon as the Chamber-maid was gone you see what we do for you We expose our selves to be talked of We give our selves trouble for you We almost kill our selves for you and you perhaps haeve not the least Sense of it You should do me wrong Madam answered the Crafty Nephew to accuse me of that I was grievously troubled at the unhappy Accident befell you last Night It is impossible any Man could be more concerned than I was I swear t' you I could not sleep a Wink all Night and this Morning as soon as 't was day I burn'd with Impatience to hear Newes of you Say what you please Replyed she I will not believe you you are a Dissembler and this is not the first day I knew you such But let that pass Do you know said she letting fall her Voyce as if she would have told him a Secret that I have had a great Quarrel for the Love of you For the Love of me Madam said he much amazed at her Discourse Yes Replyed she for the Love of you My Husband hath been told that you were in Love with me And further that you were not hated I said John with very great Humility I Madam should I the Nephew of your Curate lift up my Eyes and fix them on the Wife of his Lord Ah Madam if there were cause I could easily justifie my self I know too well the Respect I owe you Madam Respect Replyed she is nothing in this Case Poor Shepheards have been in Love with Queens and Queens with Shepheards You are Young Handsom and Witty 't is too well known I am not satisfied with a Husband I was forted to Marry against my will And the constant Resort you have for some time had to our Family was more than enough to raise a Jealousie in the Parties concerned you came upon design But Madam Reply'd the Gallant charm'd with this obliging Newes 't is very well known I came for Love of Diana Diana said she Alas poor innocent Soul 'T is easie to judge a Youth such as you if at Liberty to make his Court where he pleas'd would sooner address himself to me than to her I thank Heaven added she blushing a little you see I want not what may render me amiable and what is such a Girle good for but to serve for a Colour when I am in place John had by this time an eager desire to draw some advantage from this pleasant Discourse Till now he stood in the Chamber like a dutiful Vassal in Presence of his Lords Wife his Hat under his Arme and at three or four Paces distance from the Bed But the kind Lady was pleased to make him draw nearer and sit upon the Bed that as she said she might not be obliged to speak so loud for fear of awaking the good Man The Door was shut and no cause of Fear on his side but rather on Diana's who might chance to be frighted at so much Familiarity between John and her Mistress who notwithstanding never troubled her self for it knowing Diana could not return very quickly John having taken his place at the Beds-Feet after twice or thrice bidding and absolute Commands reiterated for doing so And who think you said she hath done you this ill Office with my Husband Alas Madam answered he how should I know There is no want of wicked People in the World and I have enough in the Village that envy my Happiness It would surprize you said she to be told it is my Chamber-maid Who Diana answered John astonisht to hear it Ah Madam it cannot be I know her too well to believe her capable of such Treachery Make not so much hast Replyed the Lady to take her part You have not perhaps more reason to defend her than I. Consider if ever I had cause to suspect her She was alwayes my Confident I trusted her with all my Secrets And though I knew you frequented my House for