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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	city_n	great_a	village_n	1,731	5	9.2720	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53048	Natures picture drawn by fancies pencil to the life being several feigned stories, comical, tragical, tragi-comical, poetical, romanicical, philosophical, historical, and moral : some in verse, some in prose, some mixt, and some by dialogues / written by ... the Duchess of Newcastle.	Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.	1671 (1671)	Wing N856; ESTC R11999	321,583	731

infuse a Saving-grace By his Tongue 's Rhet'rick for to preach SEVERAL Feigned Stories IN PROSE The Second BOOK The strict Associate THERE was a Gentleman came to a Lady with a Message from his Lord which was to tell her His Lord would come to visit her Sir said she Is your Lord a Poet No Lady said he Then he hath no Divine Soul said she Is he a Philosopher No Madam said he Then said she he hath no Rational Soul Is he an Historian Neither said he Then said she he hath no Learned Soul Is he an ancient Man No Lady said he Then he hath no Experienced Soul said she Is he an Orator No Lady said he Then he hath no Eloquent Soul said she And if he hath neither Poetical Wit Philosophical Wisdom Studious Learning Experienced Knowledg nor Eloquent Language he cannot be conversable and if he be not conversable his Visit can neither be profitable nor pleasant but troublesome and tedious therefore I do entreat your Lord that he will spare his pains and mine in giving me a Visit. But said the Man though my Lord is neither a Poet a Philosopher an Historian an Orator nor Aged yet he is a Young Beautiful Man which is more acceptable to a fair Lady Sir said she Youth and Beauty appears worse in Men than Age and Deformity in Women wherefore if it were in my power I would make a Law That all young men should be kept to their Studies so long as their Effeminate Beauty doth last and old Women should be put into Cloysters when their Youth and Beauty is past but I must confess That the custom of the World is otherwise for old Women and young Men appear most to publik view in the World when young VVomen and aged Men often retire from it The Judgment THERE were two Gentlemen that had travelled both into England and France and meeting another Gentleman he asked one of them Which he liked best England or France Who said He liked both well where they were alike worthy and disliked them both in things that were not worthy of praise Then he said to the second Gentleman And which like you best VVhich do you mean answer'd he the Countreys or Kingdoms VVhy what difference is there betwixt saying a Countrey and a Kingdom was reply'd to him Great difference said he for to say a Countrey is but such a circumference of Earth and to say a Kingdom is to say such a Countrey manured inhabited or rather populated with Men that dwell in Cities Towns and Villages that are governed by Laws either Natural or Artificial Well which Kingdom do you like best then Truly said he I cannot give a good judgment unless I had travelled through every part in both Kingdoms and had taken strict surveys of their Forts Havens Woods Plains Hills Dales Meadows Pastures Arrable also of their Architectures as Cities Towns Villages Palaces Churches Theaters of their Laws Customs and Ceremonies of their Commodities Trafficks and Transportations of their Climates and Situations and of the several Humours of the several People in each Kingdom which will not only require a solid Judgment and a clear Understanding but a long Life to judg of it all But said the other judg of as much as you have seen To judg of Parts answered he is not to judg of the Whole but to judg of as much as I have seen I will compare them or similize the Parts of those two Kingdoms to two Ladies whose Faces I have only seen their Bodies and Constitutions being unknown the one that a larger and fairer Forehead than the other and a more Sanguine Complexion the other hath better Eyes Eye-brows and Mouth So France is a broader and plainer Countrey and the Climate is more clear and somewhat hotter than England and England hath better Sea-Ports Heavens and Navigable Rivers than France hath also the one hath a more haughty Look than the other and the other a more pleasing and modest Countenance So France appears more Majestical and England more Amiable The Vulgar Fights A Young Gentleman of a good Natural Wit had a desire to travel but first he would visit every Province in his own Countrey before he went into Forreign Kingdoms preferring the knowledg of his own Native Soil before those wherein he was neither born nor meant to dwell So he went to the Chief Metropolitan City where he did intend to stay some time that he might inform himself best of the several Trades Trafficks Imposts Laws Customs Offices and the like When he was come to it he sent his Man to seek him out some Lodgings in some private House because Inns are both troublesome and more chargeable His Man had not gone far but he saw a Bill over a Trades-man's Door to let Passengers know there were Lodgings to be Lett. The Mistress sitting at the Door he asked her if he might see the Lodgings that were to be Lett She answered No she would first see them that were to take them Who is it that would take them said she My Master said he Hath he a Wife said she Why ask you that said he Because said she I will not Lett my Lodgings to any Man that brings a Wife for Women to Women are troublesome Guests whenas Men are very acceptable and I thank the Gods said she I am not so poor as I care for the Profit but for Company and Conversation for to have no other Company but my Husband is very dull and melancholy The man said My Master hath no Wife Is he a young man said she Yes said he Is he a handsome man said she Yes said he Then said she my Lodging is at his service At what Rate are they said the Man She said Your Master and I shall not fall out about the Price So he returned to his Master and told him He had found not only Lodgings but as he thought a fair Bed-fellow for him for the Mistress would make no Bargain but with himself So thither he went where he found all things accommodated for his use and his Landlady who was a handsome Woman and her Husband a plain Man bid him very welcome then taking their leave left him to himself after which the good man seldom troubled him but the Wife was so officious as he seldom mist of her Company and so wondrous kind as might be making him Whitewine-Caudles for his Break-fast and giving him very oftern Collations besides if he stay'd out she would send her Husband to bed and wait for his coming home for which Kindness he would return her Courtly Civilities He went often abroad to view the City and to see the course of the People and the several passages that happen in such places and one day as he went through a large Street a Coach-man and Carman man fell out for out for the right side of the way the Carman said he was loaded and therefore would not give way the Coach-man said It was not fit for a

from Violence and Scandal in a Wandring-life or a Travelling-condition IN the Kingdom of Riches after a long and sleepy Peace over-grown with Plenty and Ease Luxury broke out into Factious Sores and Feverish Ambition into a Plaguy Rebellion killing numbers with the Sword of Unjust Warr which made many flye from that Pestilent Destruction into other Countreys and those that stayed sent their Daughters and Wives from the Fury of the Inhuman Multitude chusing to venture their Lives with the hazzards of Travels rather than their Honours and Chastities by staying at home amongst rough and rude Soldiers But in ten years Warrs the Ignorant-Vulgar being often in the Schools of Experience whipt with Misery had learnt the Lesson of Obedience and Peace that laid all that time in a Swound was revived to life and Love the Vital Spirits thereof being restored to their orderly Motions and Zeal the Fire of the Publick Heart flaming a-new did concoct the undigested Multitudes to a pure good Government and all those that Fear or Care had banished were invited and called home by their natural Affections to their Countrey A Lady amongst the rest enricht by Nature with Virtue Wit and Beauty in her returning-voyage felt the spight of Fortune being cast by a storm from the place she steered to upon the Kingdom of Sensuality a Place and People strange unto her No sooner was she landed but Treachery beset her and those she entrusted left her Her years being but few had not gathered Experience enough to give her the best direction Thus knowing not how to dispose of her self wanting means for support and calling her young and tender Thoughts to counsel at last they did agree She should seek a service And going to the chief City which was not far from the Haven-Town with a Skipper whom she had entreated to go along with her he left her in a poor and mean house to Chance Time and Fortune where her Hostess seeing her handsome was tempted by her Poverty and Covetousness to consider her own Profit more than her Guest's Safety selling her to a Bawd which used to traffick to the Land of Youth for the Riches of Beauty This old Bawd having commerce with most Nations could speak many Languages and this Lady 's amongst the rest and what with her Languages and her flattering Words she inticed this young Lady to live with her and this old Bawd her supposed vertuous Mistress used her kindly fed her daintily clothed her finely insomuch as she began to think she was become the Darling of Fortune but yet she keeps her closely from the view of any until her best Customers came to the Town who were at that time in the Countrey In the mean time her Mistress began to read her Lectures of Nature telling her She should use her Beauty while she had it and not to waste her Youth idly but to make the best profit of both to purchase Pleasure and Delight besides said she Nature hath made nothing in vain but to some useful End and nothing meerly for its self but for a common Benefit and general Good as you see by the Earth Water Air and Fire Sun Moon Starrs Light Heat Cold and the like So is Beauty with Strength and Appetites either to delight her Creatures that are in being or to procure more by Procreation for Nature only lives by Survivers and that cannot be without Communication and Society Wherefore it is a sin against Nature to be reserved and coy and take heed said she of offending Nature for she is a great and powerful Goddess transforming all things out of one shape into another and those that serve her faithfully and according as she commands she puts them in an easie and delightful Form but those that displease her she makes them to be a trouble and torment to themselves wherefore serve Nature for she is the only and true Goddess and not those that men call upon as Jupiter Juno and a hundred more that living-men vainly offer unto being only Men and Women which were Deified for Invention and Heroick Actions for unto these dead though not forgotten Gods and Goddesses as they are called through a Superstitious Fear and an Idolatrous Love to Ceremony and an Ignorant Zeal to Antiquity Men fruitlesly pray But Nature is the only true Goddess and no other wherefore follow her Directions and you shall never do amiss for we that are old said she are Nature's Priests and being long acquainted with her Laws and Customs do teach Youth the best ways to serve her in The young Lady being of a quick apprehension began to suspect some Design and Treachery against her and though her Doubts begot great Fears yet her confidence of the Gods protection of Virtue gave her Courage and dissembling her discovery as well as she could for the present gave her thanks for her Counsel But when she was gone considering in what a dangerous condition she stood and that the Gods would not hear her if she lazily called for help and watch'd for Miracles neglecting Natural Means whereupon she thought the best way was secretly to convey her self out of that place and trust her self again to Chance by reason there could not be more danger than where she was But those thoughts being quickly cut off because she could find no possibility of an escape being strictly kept by the care of the old Bawd for fear she should give away that by enticement which she meant to sell at a high rate Wherefore she was forced to content her self and to satisfie her Fears with hopes of finding some means to be delivered from those dangers praying to the Gods for their assistance to guard her from cruel Invaders of Chastity But after two or three days a Subject Prince of that Countrey which was a grand Monopolizer of young Virgins came to the Town which was the Metropolitan City of that Countrey where as soon as he came he sent for his chief Officer the old Bawd to know of her how his Customers encreased who told him she had a rich Prize which she had seized on and kept only for his use telling him She was the rarest Piece of Nature's Works only faith she she wants mature confidence but Time and heat of Affection would ripen her to the height of Boldness So home she went to prepare for his coming adorning her House with costly Furniture setting up a rich Bed as an Altar to Venus burning pleasant and sweet Perfumes as Incense to her Deity before the Sacrifice of Chastity Youth and Beauty and instead of Garlands dress'd her with costly and rich Jewels But the fair Aspect of her Beauty her lovely Features exact Proportion graceful Behaviour with a sweet and modest Countenance was more adorned thus by Nature's dress than those of Art But these Preparations turned Miseriae for so she was called from Doubts to a perfect belief of what she feared before and not knowing how to avoid the Shipwrack she grew

you give Innocency no protection nor let Chastity live undefiled Cruel Fates to spin my Thread of Life to make me up a Web of Misery Accurst Fortune that brake not that Thread with an untimely Death And you unjust Powers to torment poor Virtue making it a sin to free it self for bad I leave to dye I would not live in shame for to dwell bere committing Acts dishonourable although I am forced yet shall I seem a Party guilty and though no outward Accusers yet my Conscience will condemn me But O you Gods of Light Since you regard me not nor will not hear me You Powers of Darkness hearken unto me and wrap me up in your dark Mantles of perpetual Night that no Eye may see me and cast me into black Oblivion where no remembrance is The old Man her Father who was come from the Water-side where he had been for the directing and ordering the building of a new Ship came to her in the midst of her Complaints and asked her What she lacked or If she were sick I would I were said she then might I hope Death would reprieve me But I am worse for I am miserable having Torment like to those of Hell within my Mind My Thoughts are Vultures eating on my Carrion-Infamy or like the restless Stone that cannot get up to the Hill of Peace but rolleth back with fear and sad remembrance Then she told him what she was which he did never know before and what had pass'd since the first of her Misfortunes to that present and how he had ignorantly discovered her Which when he heard he cursed his Tongue for telling how and where he found her Father said she What is past cannot be recalled wherefore I must strive to help my self in what 's to come and since I have been dutiful and you so loving and kind as to save me from the Jaws of Death help me now to protect my Honour convey me hence let me not live here to please his Appetite but cast me to some unknown place where like an Anchoret I may live from all the World and never more to see the face of Man for in that Name all Horror strikes my Senses and makes my Soul like to some furious thing so much affrighted it hath been Her Father said Heaven give you quiet and me aid to help your Designs But you must said he dissemble to compass them wherefore rise and put on a smooth and pleasant face and let your Discourse be so compliant that you may have a free liberty for if a Doubt should cross his Thoughts you may chance to be restrained and kept by force which will break that assistance I may give you Whilst they were thus discoursing the Prince came to them who had not patience to be long from her for her Absence was his Hell and her Presence his Heaven flattering the old Man My Father said he for so I may call you now let me entreat you I may be your Son and she your Daughter since she you thought a Boy is proved a Girl and since Fortune hath brought us so happily to meet let us not despise her Favours but make the best use of them to our advantage Then telling the old Man how that Island might be made a Paradice and in what felicity they might live there if their peevish Humours did not overthrow their Pleasures The old Man seemed to approve of all the Prince said whereupon the Prince took him to be his dear Friend and secret Councellor for the old Man did not omit to give him Counsel concerning the setling and advancing of his new and small Monarchy because he thought in doing so he might the better work out his own Design by taking away those suspitions that otherwise he thought might be had of him Then the Prince bid the old Man to have a care and to order his Maritime Affairs in over-seeing his Ships and Boats built for said he our chief Maintenance will be from the Sea the whilst I will perswade these Men I have here to make this place the Staple and Port of their Prizes and Dwelling Then taking Travelia along with him the old Man and he parted for that time and going to the rest of the Company he perswaded so well with his Rhetorick that they resolved to stay and build them Houses there to live and also Ware-houses to lay their Prizes in and from thence to traffick with them into safe and free places Whereupon every one put himself in order thereunto some cut down Wood others digg'd up Stones some carried Burthens and some builded Thus like Bees some gathered the Honey and Wax whilst others made and wrought the Combs The mean time the old Man made himself busie at the Coast side about Ships and Boats as being the chief Master employed in that Work But oft-times he would go out a fishing in a Fisher-boat all alone bringing several Draughts of Fish and when he thought he should be least mistrusted conveyed Victuals therein and then gave Travelia notice to steal to the Water-side who watching her opportunity when the Prince was busie in surveying and in drawing the Platforms of the City he would have built stole away and as soon as she came her old Father went as if he meant to go a fishing carrying his Nets and the like with him to the Boat his supposed Son busie in helping him and so both being put out to Sea and not gone very far were taken by the Sympathetical Merchants who trafficking into the Kingdom of Amity sold them there to other Merchants who carrying them to the chief City the Queen of that Countrey who was an Absolute Princess in the Rule and Government thereof seeing Travelia who was brought to her as a Rarity took such a liking to him that she received him into her Family as also to attend near her Person wherein he behaved himself so well that he became her Favourite and the old Man was treated very well for his Son's sake In the mean time the Prince was in a sad condition for the loss of his Mistress who searched about all the Island for her but could hear nothing of her until he sent to the Sea-side for the old Man to enquire for her and had answer back That the old Man and the Youth went out a fishing but were not as yet returned Which he no sooner heard but guesled a-right that they were fled away Whereupon he grew so enraged that he lost all Patience swearing tearing stamping as if he had been distracted But when his Fury was abated his Melancholy encreased walking solitary accompanied only with his sad Thoughts casting about which way to leave that hated place for all places seemed so to him where his Mistress was not yet he knew not very well what to do because he had perswaded the rest of the Company to abide there and make it their home and in order thereunto he knew they had taken great pains besides

Then chiding her gently for not making her self known unto her said that she had caused her many unquiet rests But Travelia begged her pardon telling her it was the cause of her misfortunes that concealed her and not out of any evil design she had to deceive her Then desired her assistance and help to secure her Whilst they were thus talking the King and the Prince came to see the sick Person to whom the Queen with a smiling-countenance said She was courting her hard-hearted Lover The King answered That he hoped she would take pity on him by what she had felt her self The Queen told him She was likelier to love him now than if she had never been a Lover before for said she there is something pleasing in Lovers Thoughts be their Fortunes never so adverse and I believe said she the Prince will say as much Madam said he It is a pleasing-pain as being mix'd with Hopes and Fears but if our Hopes do cease all Pleasure is gone and nothing doth remain but Pains of Hell Then said the Queen your Mistress should be in a sad condition if she loved you as you seem to love her you being a Married-Man No said the Prince I am now a Widower but I doubt said he that doth not advantage me in my Mistress's affection But when Travelia heard he was a Widower her Heart did beat like a Feverish Pulse being moved with several Passions fearing it was not so hoping it was so joying if it were so grieving that she ought not to wish it so But the Queen asked the Prince How that he came to know of it Whereupon he told her She said I have promised your Mistress to protect her against your outragious Assaults but since your Suit is just and your Treaty civil I will yeeld her to you upon that condition you carry her not out of my Kingdom for since I cannot marry her and so make her my Husband I will keep her if I can and so make her my Friend With that Travelia rises up in her Bed and bowed her self with a pleased countenance giving the Queen thanks The Prince said You have given me as much as the Gods could give which is Felicity Madam said the King You have given me nothing The Queen with Blushes answered That if her Council would agree she would give him her self The King for joy kneeled down and kiss'd her Hand Now said he I am like to the Gods they can but have their wish Thus passing that day in pleasing-discourses the next day they caused their Councils to meet where they concluded the Marriage of the King and Queen and that the Queen should live with their King in the Kingdom of Amours and that her first Son should be Heir to the Crown and her second should be Heir to the Kingdom of Amity but in case there were no Sons or but one then Daughters should inherit In the mean time the Prince and his Princess that was to be should be Vice-Roy or rather that she should rule who was so beloved of the People as if she had not only been a Native born but as if she had been born from the Royal Stock But they thought it fit she should make her self known unto the Army by word of mouth that she was a Woman otherwise they might think she was made away by a violent Death and that the report of being a Woman was only a trick to deceive them and from thence arise such a Mutiny as might bring a ruin to both Kingdoms When all was agreed they prepared for the Marriages In the mean time Travelia goeth to the Army attended by the Prince where the King and Queen came soon after that the Soldiers might see they were there as Witnesses of what she told them And being all in a Circle round about her she being upon a place raised for that purpose thus spake Noble Friends and Valiant Soldiers I Am come here at this present to declare I am a Woman although I am habited like a Man and perchance you may think it immodesty but they that will judg charitably will enquire the Reason before they give their Censure for Upright Judges never give Sentence before they examine Wherefore I believe you will not condemn me because Necessity did enforce me to conceal my Sex to protect my Honour for as the love of Soul and Body is inseparable so should the love of Chastity and the Feminine Sex and who can love and not share in danger And since no danger ought to be avoided nor Life considered in respect of their Honours and to guard that safe from Enemies no Habit is to be denied for it is not the outward Garment that can corrupt the honest Mind for Modesty may clothe the Soul of a naked Body and a Sword becomes a Woman when it is used against the Enemies of her Honour for though her strength be weak yet she ought to shew her good will and to dye in the defence of Honour is to live with Noble Fame and therefore neither Camp nor Court nor City nor Countrey nor Danger nor Habit nor any worldly Felicity must separate the love of Chastity and our Sex for as Love is the sweetest so it is the strongest of all Passions and true Love proceeds from Virtue not from Vice wherefore it is to be followed by Life and to be maintained till Death And if I have served my Queen honestly condemn not my Modesty Then she bowed her Head down low first to the King and Queen then to the Army Whereupon the Army gave a shout and cryed out Heaven bless you of what Sex soever you be After she had spoke this Speech she went into her Tent and drest her self in her Woman's Robes and came out again and standing in the same place thus spake Noble Friends THUS with my Masculine Clothes I have laid by my Masculine Spirit yet not so but I shall take it up again if it be to serve the Queen and Kingdom to whom I owe my Life for many Obligations First To my Queen who bought me as a Slave yet used me as a Friend and loved me with that Affection as if Nature had linked us in one Line for which Heaven reward her with Glory and Renown Besides her Love did bestow upon me great Honour made me Protector of her Kingdom in her absence and you her Subjects out of Loyalty obeyed all my Commands although I am young and unexperienced And 't is not only what your Loyalty enforces but I have found your Affections of Love to be such as it shewed they came freely from your Souts expressing it self in grieving for my Sickness taking care for my Health joying in my Company mourning for my Absence glorying in my Fame in so much as you would lessen your own to give it me What shall I do to shew my Gratitude Alas my Life is too poor a Sacrifice Had I the Mansion of the Gods I would resign it for your

Rest lying upon the cold and hard Ground killing those that never did me harm and offering my self to be killed by those that never did me good and this I do to get an honourable Fame whenas ten thousand to one I am cast into the Grave of Oblivion amongst the common Soldiers for alas Fame hath not many Puny-Clarks to record every several Action done by every particular person in a great and numerous Army Besides all the Honour of a Victory redounds to the General and the Losses reflect upon the Common-Soldier and Under-Commanders besides Fortune gives the Triumph and not Merit And what have I gained by all my Travels and Experience Nay what have I not lost Have I not spent a great Sum of Money endangered my Life both by Sea and Land wasted my Youth wearied my Limbs exhausted my Spirits with tedious Journeys my Senses almost choaked with Dust or drowned with Wet lying in Lowsie Inns eating stinking Meat and suffered all the Inconveniences that go along with Travellers and when they return to their own Countrey they are no wiser than when they went out but oft-times become more compleat and absolute Fools bringing vain Fashions fantastical Garbs lying Reports Infectious Diseases rotten Bodies Atheistical Opinions feared Consciences and spotted Souls Well said he I will now return to my Native Soil leaving the flattering and dissembling Courts the deboist Cities the Cruel Warrs and never take up Arms more but when my King and Country calls me to it nor will I travel more but when my King and Countrey sends me forth But I will lead a Countrey-life study Husbandry follow my Plows sell my Cattel and Corn my Butter and Cheese at Markets and Fayres kiss the Countrey Wenches and carry my Neighbour's Wife to a Tavern when Market is done live thriftily and grow rich Then taking his leave of the General he returned to his own Countrey where after he had visited his Friends who were joyed to see him and did welcome him home he put himself into one of his Farm-houses stocking his Grounds taking Men-servants and Maid-servants to follow his Business and he himself clothed in a Frieze Jerkin and a pair of Frieze Breeches a Frieze pair of Mittins and a Frieze Mountier-Cap to keep out sharp-cold in Winter-mornings when the Breath freezes between the Teeth would over-see and direct and was industrious to call up his Servants before day-light and the last a-bed when their VVork was done for in the Summer-time he would be up with the Lark to mow down his Hay to reap down his Harvest and to see his Carts loaded riding from Cart to Cart and at Noon would sit down on his Sheafs of Corn or Hay-cocks eating Bread and Cheese and young Onions with his Regiment of Work-men tossing the black-Leather Bottle drinking the Healths of the Countrey-Lasses and Good-wives that dwelt thereabout and after his Harvest was brought into his Barns and his Sheep-shearing-time done make merry as the custom of the Countrey was with good Cheer although Countrey-fare with Goose-Pyes Pudding-Pyes Furmity Custards Apples and March-Beer dancing to the Horn-Pipe with the lusty Lasses and merry Good-wives who were drest in all their Bravery in their Stammel Petticoats and their gray Cloath-Wastcoats or white wrought Wastcoats with black Woolstead and green Aprons and the Men with Cloath Breeches and Leather Doublets with Pewter Buttons These and the like Recreations the Countrey-people hath mix'd with their hard Labours When their Stomacks were full and their Legs weary with dancing or rather with running and leaping for their Dances have no nice and difficult Measures to tread they disperse every one to their several Houses which are thatch'd and only Holes cut for Windows unless it be the rich Farmers and they most commonly have a chief Room which is glazed yet the poorer sort are seldom without Bacon Cheese and Butter to entertain a Friend at any time Then giving thanks to the Gentleman for their good Cheer and he shaking them every one by the hand they took their leaves and the next day every one followed their own Labours as they used to do nor did the Gentleman omit any pains care and industry in his Affairs but plyed the Markets selling his Corn Straw Hay Cattle Cheese Butter Honey c. And after he had followed this way of Husbandry two or three years casting up his Accounts he found that he was rather behind than before-hand in his Estate and that his Husbandry did not amount so high as the Rents he had from his Tenants when he did let them Alas said he Have I taken all this pains rising early following my business hard all day making my self a Slave to the Muck of the Earth to become poorer than I was It 's hard when those that take my Lands pay me great Rents and not only live themselves and their Families thereon but grow rich into the bargain and I cannot make so much as my Rent when I take as much pains and am as industrious as they are Then being in a cholerick Humour as they are most commonly that thrive not and vexing at the Servants round his House for their carelesness and idleness in a melancholy humour he would walk out into his Fields and going once by a Neighbour's Cottage where only lived an old Man and his old Wife he saw her standing at the door fanning some Corn in a little Basket By your leave Good-wife said he You are fanning your Gleanings God bless you my good Master said she and all that belongs to you Truly said she I am sifting a little Corn from the Husks to boil for my good Man's Supper and mine who will come home weary and hungry from his day's labour We are old Master said she and Labour goeth hard with us now but in our younger days it was like a Recreation when our Bodies were young and strong and our Spirits lively but now our Bodies being weak and our Spirits faint it is a toil and an affliction to us but we must work whilst we live for we have nothing but our Labours to feed us and clothe us God help us said she Well said he I will be charitable and see if that will make me thrive and told her he would allow her a Weekly-stipend Why the blessing of God said she rain down plentifully on your Life and Eternal Joys in Heaven after you are dead But I wonder said he you could not get so much by your Labour in your younger days to serve to maintain you when you were old O Master said she some have too little to thrive on and some have too much but those that have nothing but from hand to mouth can never lay up because they eat up what they get and there can be no store without some savings They that have more than they can manage themselves are destroyed by those that help them for many mouths eat them up and many hands work them out besides they are ever

life of Man and I shall have in recompence only the honourable Name of Justice of Peace in Quorum which is nothing but a sound and no real and substantial thing neither would I have the trouble for all the Poultry in the Countrey wherefore I will have nothing to do in Court City or Countrey but obey the Laws though not to execute them as a subordinate Magistrate I will submit to Authority but not sit in Authority At last with these Contemplations and Discourses to himself he arrived to his own House so after Supper with musing thoughts he went to Bed The next day he sent to an intimate Friend to come to dine with him and after dinner he told him his intent of discharging himself of the trouble and loss of Husbandry withall he told him a design he had to marry and desired him to seek him out a good Wife relating what manner of Woman he would have her to be His Friend said I will do my best to search out such a one as may sympathize with your Humour But I do wonder said he you should think of Marriage now for you should have wedded a Wife when you were in the prime and strength of your Age about the years of four or five and twenty and not stay until you are eight or nine and forty when weakness and sickness is ready to seize on you He answered and said That young Men wanting the Experience of time chose by Fancy and not with judgment besides they knew not how to prize Chastity nor honour the Virtues of their Wives having no experience of the Falshood and Inconstancy which dwells in that Sex or rather that was created with Women as being the Essence of their Natural Dispositions so that Chastity is to be accounted as supernatural and if my Wife had been inclined to Honesty yet the Vanities and Debaucheries of my Fantastical Youth might have misled her Youth and have corrupted her pure Mind and innocent Life by my ill Example Besides If I had married whilst I was young it is likely I should have been weary of my Wife before she had been old and my Children might have been weary of me before I had been old but now I am old enough to govern a young Wife by my sober Example and my solid Instructions and gentle Perswasions and to prize her Chastity so as to trust her without a jealous Spye and to honour her Virtue to love her Person to maintain her Honour to provide for her and her Family to chuse her Delights and to direct her Life Thus I may be happy in my Age by not marrying when I was young Well said his Friend I will travel all the Countrey over to chuse you a fit Wife Pray said he let me give you some certain Rules along with you First I would not have her a meer Countrey-Gentlewoman for she seldom seeing any other Men but her Father's Steward Butler or Carters with their Frieze Jerkins and Leather Breeches if she should come to see a flanting young Gallant bedaub'd with Gold and Silver Lace or say it were Copper she will be so ravish'd in admiration that she will yeeld upon the meanest condition he can make nay a Gentleman-Usher with a pair of Silk Stockins will beset her hard Wherefore let me have one that dwells in the Countrey that hath seen the City that hath seen the Court Plays and Masques but not so well acquainted with them as to know their enticing-Vanities or tempting-Vices Then I would have her such a one whose Parents have bred her rather to a Superfluity than in pinching-Necessity for Necessity teaches Youth to dissemble and shark and when they come to command Plenty they have no stay of their Prodigality and Luxury but just like those that are almost starved for want of Meat and Drink throw so much into the Stomach that many times it causeth a sudden death or else a dangerous sickness But those whose breedings have known no want have no mean nor base desires for plenty opens the door to generosity and raises the mind to high and noble speculations which produceth honourable actions despiseth unnecessary vanities loves magnanimity and hates crouching flattery or base dissembling actions which Plenty seldom knows having no use thereof Another thing you must observe her humour and have a care she be not of a peevish disposition for they are pleased at no time but fall out with every thing even with themselves and not only make their own unhappiness but of all those that live near them they will cross all discourse be it never so rational oppose all actions be they never so just delight in no place to live in be it never so convenient but all their Life is made up with crosses and their mind is insnared with unnecessary troubles Truly said his Friend your Rules by which I am to measure a Wife are so strait as all my industry will never fit you So his Friend left him to court his Contemplations whilst he went to search for a Fruition After a short time he sent him word in a Letter thus SIR I Have found a young Lady who has the Reputation of being Virtuous born from an Ancient Stock and Honoured Race carefully bred and well qualified her Portion is small her Friends are not poor she has enough Beauty to delight a temperate Mind she seems to be of a cheerful Disposition and makes me believe she can love an Ancient Man if says she his Merit equals his years but said she I will be wooed before I am wed Wherefore if you will marry you must visit the Lady and as you do both like you may agree Howsoever I durst not strike up the Bargain before you see her for fear you should dislike my Market being the first Commodity of this kind and of this nature I ever cheapned So good Fortune direct you After he had received this Letter he put himself into a Wooing-Equipage and so compleat he was in Apparel and Attendants that the same Eyes that had seen him when he followed his Husbandry and should view him now would forswear they had ever seen him before Such alterations fine Clothes and many Followers make The young Lady who expects his company makes her self fine to entertain him the whilst her Friends trim up the House direct their Servants how to wait and provide good Cheer to bid him welcome At last a Servant comes running in to give notice the Noble Gentleman was come which as soon as the young Lady heard the report gave her the Palpitation of the Heart which caused a trembling over the whole Body and fear and bashfulness made her Colour to rise and fall but hemming up those Spirits that Fear had depress'd setling her Countenance to the best advantage for her Face she stood with as much resolution as her weak Confidence would give her leave to receive his Addresses whom he no sooner saw but loved liking her by report before