_Mistress_ Dorothy _having finished this last Story, relates how a woman
by her own confession, at her Husbands death discovered the common
inconstancy of the Sex, and her disloyalty to her Husband, by being
provided before hand._
This (continued Mistress _Dorothy_) was the Letter that our Lover sent
to his Mistress, whose chast thoughts engag’d her in a great anger
against him, but whether it were real or feign’d you may judge by the
sequel, for it was not long er’e he was admitted into her favour, and
then having the liberty of converse, and being resolv’d to prosecute his
intentions, he so backed his Letters with arguments, that caused her to
give a mute compliance, and silence, being the best token of consent, he
by that gathered that she did yield, wherefore he again engaging the
Chamber-maid in his Designs, and acquainting her that her Mistress had
yielded to him in every particular but enjoyment, neither did she refuse
him that, he desired her to stand his Friend so far, as to be
instrumental in giving him the opportunity to come to her Bed side when
she lay alone, as it was usual with her to do; The Chamber-maid
believing that she should not anger her Mistress, and oblige her Friend,
and being willing to further and not hinder any sport, was not long e’re
she gave our Lover his desir’d satisfaction; for she bringing him to the
Chamber when her Mistress was in Bed, there left him. He who was not
ignorant how to deal with a Lady soon over-rul’d her, and she seeing it
was to no purpose to resist, with a kind of willing unwillingness
permitted him to come to Bed to her; what they did you may judge by the
event, for in convenient time she discovered her self to be with Child,
she frequently lying with her husband also; and being with Child her
Husband was an overjoy’d man, and did hope, that as he concluded himself
able to get a Child, so he might in time be restored to his former
health: Our Lovers though they often met, yet they used all wariness and
circumspection, and our Gallant to take off the opinion of his still
courting his old Mistress, began a Courtship with a new one, or at least
pretended so to do, and thus the time was spent till such time as her
time came to be delivered of a Child, which proving to be a brave lusty
Boy, gave great joy to all parties, especially to the supposed Father,
who was much joyed that he had so hopeful an Heir to enjoy his Estate,
and his Wife being again strong, and having layn in her full time, he
again accompanied her; but in short time after he piqu’d off, and as he
had deceived his wife in his life time, so now in his death he cheated
the very worms, for they expecting a full body, found nothing but a meer
Skelleton to feed on, you may be sure our Lover was joyful enough at the
so long wished for, and now happy News of the death of his Rival,
neither was his wife much discontented, although by her outward
deportment she made the world believe that she was a most disconsolate
widow, and she was so reserv’d that for some time she kept her Chamber,
and much longer kept within doors, not visiting any body, nor permitting
any body to visit her but her Parents, and those who were nearest
related to her Husband. However she and her intended Husband held a
Correspondency, but it was but with Letters, which were interchanged by
her Chamber-maids assistance; In time all these mourning Solemnities
were over, and she appear’d abroad again as resplendent as the Sun, and
the fame of her plentiful Estate, great vertue, and charming beauty,
drew to her many Adorers, whose business was Sirreverence, Love; she who
was resolv’d what Instrument she would play on, and what Pipe should
make her musick for the future, gave them all the hearing, but was
absolute in her answers.
Her Parents seeing she had so many Suiters, desired her to make choice
of one of them, and again engage her self in a matrimonial Life, she
replyed, that in time she might again be perswaded to do so, but when
ever she gave her consent to alter her condition, she intended to be
more curious than she had been, and to have more freedom in her choice;
They replyed, that indeed they had in a manner impos’d the former Match
upon her, which had been fortunate enough, but however, when she had a
mind to alter her condition, she should have all possible freedom in her
Choice. She being thus left to her own dispose, in short time permitted
her old Sweet-heart to make one in the number of her Suiters, what he
wanted of Means to carry on his business the more splendidly withal, she
supplied him, so that for Gallantry and good Mien, he outdid all her
other Suiters, and being confident of Success in his undertaking, he
baffl’d them all, who were a Company of whining obsequious Lovers, so
that at his appearance in full lustre, they like stars at the day and
Suns approach, shrink back, and disapear’d; leaving him to Rule, and
Reign Soveraign in that heart where he already had full possession, and
now she being absolutely at her own dispose, she told the world that she
thought she was obliged to reward his great constancy, by permitting him
to be what he had so long desired to be, her Husband: and therefore he
was married to her; and now both their joyes, were compleated, and they
both thought themselves fully recompenced, for their many troubles and
so long stay, especially when they considered how much better their
condition was now than it would have been had they been married at such
time as they both at first desired; for although he concluded that his
Predecessor had possest her, yet it had cost him dear, for his Estate
was all given in Exchange, and now lawfully invested and settled on a
Child, who although he and all the world believed to be his lawful Heir,
yet they knew the contrary, and our Lover was Father of a Son and Heir
the first day of his marriage, and which was the greatest Paradox, such
a Child as he did conclude was of his own begetting; and now she did not
(I suppose) repent of the counsel he had given her, and which they
together had put in practice, to the great satisfaction of them both;
These Considerations (said Mistress _Dorothy_) I think were very
considerable, and conduced much to their satisfaction, and now, said
she, I think you can expect no more relations of this nature, for in
this condition I left our two Lovers, and here I shall put an end to all
that I know of his Adventures.
I seeing that Mistress _Dorothy_ had done, and finding that she had
fully finished her discourse, told her that I wish’d all true Lovers, no
worse a conclusion of their amours than these two had; but, continued I
it was well that they managed their affairs so privately, that neither
her Parents nor Friends had any suspition of him, for if they had, it
might have fallen out worse with them, and this our recital puts me in
mind of a small story that I have heard, which in regard it somewhat
resembles yours I shall presently relate to you, and thus it was:
A young-woman had (by the over-ruling and perswasions of friends)
permitted her self to be married to an old man, who lived some years
with her, but she was soon weary of his Company, and being free in her
converse and carriage, gave opportunity to several young men to court
her, her Husband saw it, but without any possibility of redressing the
same, for he being old and feeble, and she young, obstinate, and wilful,
did rule the Roast her self, and so disturb’d and vex’d him, that it
shortned his days. When he was on his Death-Bed, and believed he should
die, he like a good Christian was resolv’d to be in Charity with all the
world, but his wife had so cross’d and affronted him, that she who of
all the world he should be most in charity with, was most out of his
books, and he was resolv’d to put her out of his Will too as much as he
could, she believing that he would die indeed, and that it might be to
her prejudice if he should die in the minde he was then in, was resolved
if possible to put him into a better mind, and therefore she attended,
pleased, and humored him, in every thing that it was possible to do; he
seeing so great a change in her carriage, changed his mind also, and
being now very weak, and just at deaths door, made his Will, and in good
and orderly manner named her his loving Wife, and making her full and
sole Executrix of that his last Will and Testament, gave her all he had,
and now having seal’d his Will and given it into her custody, he would
also give her his blessing, and told he was in full and absolute Charity
with her and all the world, only he desired one request of her, which he
praid her to grant him, and not be angry at the proposition he should
make her; she promis’d him attention and obedience, and thereupon he
thus began:
Although you have of late given me some Testimonies of your love and
obedience, and thereby won me to a good opinion of you, yet know, till
that of late I had an ill opinion of you, and that not without cause,
especially to the outward appearance, and indeed I must needs tell you,
I was troubled with that disease which the world calls jealousie, but
your late good carriage hath cur’d me of that distemper, and now I am
dying, I give you free leave to marry, and conjure you so to do with all
decent conveniency; but above all things, I only beg you not to be
married to _F. K._ who of all your Company-keepers I had most suspition
of, and therefore have most cause to hate.
This is that which I desire of you, and which I hope you will as you
have promis’d me obey me, in: The good woman seeing that her Husband had
finished his discourse, thus replied;
Truly Husband you may, and I hope will rest satisfied that I will obey
you, when I shall tell you that I must not, will not, nor cannot be
married to the man you name; for I’le assure you I am so far from doing
so, that I am already determined to have another, and indeed, to
satisfie you farther, I’le assure you the Contract for marriage is
already drawn and passed between us, and nothing is wanting to finish it
but your death, and the Ceremony of the Church. The poor old man hearing
her give this answer, was so troubled at the thought of it, that being
almost dead already, this quite kill’d him, whereby she had the means to
put her Design in Execution.
Thus said I, have I finished my discourse, and as it much resembles your
Story, so I believe your Lady was of the same mind as my woman, although
she had so much discretion as to conceal it from all the world; but,
continued I, your story is very pleasant, it being such an expedient to
get an Heir, and thereby get an Estate, as I have not heard of, and
indeed the young Gentleman did deserve to have somewhat considerable for
the use of his Lady; for I conclude her his ever since he had took the
pains to court her and gain her affections, and promise of marriage, and
although his Estate was not equal to hers, yet together their Estates
would have been so considerable as might have afforded them a sufficient
maintenance; but now it fell out better, she not being much damag’d, he
much improv’d by travel, and their Estate now being a very plentiful
one. Indeed I wonder why friends should hinder marriages when both
parties are agreed, only for the deserts of a little money, when as let
them do what they can if either party match otherwise, their lives are
commonly miserable, and although Matches are upon that account sometimes
obstructed, yet commonly in the end they take effect.