_A Widow that was wealthy resolv’d to marry none but such an one which
should enlarge her Estate, under that Pretence she was cunningly
out-witted by one dropping a Letter; she is married to one not worth a
groat, instead of a Joynter he gives her a Copy of Verses. He
afterwards grows jealous, the sad effects of Jealousie, and a strange
Story thereupon._
I having finished my discourse, it was well approved of, but said
Mistress _Dorothy_ often-times the one party being covetous, and
marrying only out of hopes of a good estate, is out-witted and deceived
by the other, and since, said she, we are entred upon the discourse of
marriage, I will give you an account of one who was over-reached in that
manner.
There lived a woman of my acquaintance who having been once married, and
her Husband dead, was resolved to have an other, but withal, she was
resolved that she would have such an one that should enlarge her Estate,
which although it was considerable enough, yet she intended now to have
such a Husband as should bring an Estate equal to, if not exceeding her
own. Her former marriage had been when she was very young, and then it
was for love, and that Love being dead, she intended to bury all fond
love with him, because she had bin so easily courted, and won by her
first Husband, several others put in to be her second; but, as she said,
having tryed the effects of love, and finding that it had been likely to
have made her miserable, she purpos’d to have no more of that, but
intended now to have such a man as she did not hate; one accomplish’d,
and likely enough to do a womans business, but all this would not do
unless he were rich; and being thus resolv’d, she turned off all Suiters
that came to her, that she did not know were thus accomplished.
At length came a Gentleman that was a very likely man to the outward
appearance, and he professed he had a hundred pounds _per annum_, and it
may be more: Those friends that introduced him into her acquaintance,
told her that he was a plain upright honest man, and that what ever he
said or should say of himself she might believe, and withal that they
knew that his Estate was worth three hundred pounds _per annum_, he
having spoken so modestly of himself as a hundred pounds _per annum_ and
his and her friends telling her of three hundred _per annum_; she knew
not what to think of it, or which to believe, sometimes she was of the
opinion that he might have the three hundred pounds _per annum_ her
friends talked of, and only out of modesty, and to try her temper, spake
but of one hundred pounds himself, because he intended after marriage to
be the better esteem’d by her, because things proved better than she
expected; and at other times she did not know but that he might be an
Imposter, and it may be had little or nothing, and that all this was but
a Trick to catch and over-reach her, wherefore she was resolv’d to
proceed with all caution.
He being desirous to put an end to his courtship and finish all by
matrimony, asked her when the day should be wherein they should be
joyned? she told him that she was not in haste, and that it was fit
before marriage, to make some provision and settlement of Estate, as
that afterwards there might not be any cause to repent, and therefore if
he would say, what part of his Estate he would settle and ensure on her,
and conclude that, the marriage might soon be concluded on.
To this he presently answered, that his Estate was a hundred pounds _per
annum_, and somewhat more, now he would put her to her choice, whether
she would have the hundred pound _per annum_ settled on her, or leave
the business to his own free will and appointment, telling her that he
questioned not but she would deserve well of him, and that then it would
be to her advantage, not to have any certain Settlement.
To this proposition she knew not what to answer, but being covetous told
him that she would for two or three days consider of it; he was content,
and so they parted. The next day he took occasion to visit her again,
and pulling somewhat hastily out of his pocket, he dropt a Letter which
he did not miss, but going out of the Room left the letter behind him.
This Lady seeing it fall, took it up, and seeing that by the
Superscription it was directed to him, and being very desirous to know
somewhat of his affairs, she was resolv’d to keep and peruse it:
wherefore he soon after leaving the house, and she being retired, and
having opened the Letter found these Lines:
Sir,
A_fter due Respects to you, these are to acquaint you that although we
have had the misfortune of your long absence, yet your affairs have
hitherto fallen out fortunate enough, and are likely still to continue
so, for of the last half years Rent due to you, I have gathered in two
hundred pounds, which you know is the whole within a small matter, and
there is three hundred pounds more fallen upon you by an accident which
you may receive at your first arrival: for_ S. L. _your old Tenant in
your Copyhold and his Wife are both dead, and their Son hath offered two
hundred pounds for a new Lease, renewed in his and his brothers Names,
besides an addition of twenty pounds_ per annum _Rent more than
formerly, and a hundred pounds more is offered by Goodman_ L. _to put in
his Sons Life into his Lease, so that I am much importuned to dispatch
them, If you please to perform these two Leases (as in my opinion you
may) they are so desirous of their Bargains that they will pay down the
money to me, and take my promise that you will at your return seal to
them, so that if you please to accept it I will send up the whole sum,
five hundred pounds together, it being more safe and profitable for you
to dispose it at_ London _than here._
_And now having done with your business, I beseech you pardon me, if I
desire to know whether, and how you proceed in your Love Sute, for the
Widow_ R. _who you had some affection for her, is desirous that you
would renew your Suit, and she is in some better capacity as to her
Estate than formerly, for an Unkle lately dead, hath left her five
hundred pounds: but Sir, I knowing that you do not esteem money equal to
affection must be silent, and leave all to your own discretion; Thus
desiring your Worships Pardon for this boldness, I rest_