A relation of ten years in Europe, Asia, Affrique, and America all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personages, from place to place, and continued to this present year / by Richard Fleckno.

V. To Mr. Edward Lewis at the Spa, from Bruxelles, Anno 43. (Book 5)

Of Conve••sation with Ladies. (Book 5)

Noble Sir,

YOurs from the Spa I received by the last, for your Newes I thank you, that of the Prince of Gaure was welcom to Mada∣moiselle d' Arschot, and more to Madam Bar∣••amont, who both command me to present their best respects and remembrances unto you. But now touching our Quarell.

You wonder I am always amongst the La∣dies, and I wonder, you and all men are not so; for amongst them, one learns nothing but Vertue, high honour and Noblenesse, whilst a∣mongst Men (such is the corruption of the Times) one learns nothing but Libertinage, Vice and Deboisherie; Mistake me not yet I mean not all Women, but only such you left me with, and Madamois••lle de Beauvais, whom I look not upon as Woman, but Vertu's self; of whom you remember I said upon another oc∣casion, that

She was so wrapt up from our mortal s••nce, In all that's Exc••llent, as one by one Unfolding her out every Excellence, You never should unto bare Woman come.

Nor mean I all Men neither, but only your young Gallants of the Time, who have little

of the Court, lesse of the School, and all of the Bourdel in them; who, whilst they learn only to manage the Sword, lea••e the Ladys in pos∣session of their Books at home: and at best, talk of nothing but Rampards and Parapats, Mosquetad••, Estramacons, and Canonads: so as you have nothing but the noise of Drums and Trumpet in your head, whilst they are pre∣sent, and the ringing of it in your ears a month after they are gone. I know too there are bad Women in the world, such who have put off Woman, and put on Impudence; but I thank God I know them not, nor ever mean to do: So are there many learned and pious men; but still me thinks they are but Men, and have their Imperfections. If they be learn'd, they are most commonly too positive and Magisterial, and so opiniatre, as none's opinion must be heard, but th••irs. 'Tis a Tyranny to con∣verse with them, and Conversation, you know, should be a Republique, where every ones dis∣course and opinions should be Free: So your Pious men have somewhat in them (common∣ly) of t••e supercilius, rather deterring than inviting to their conversation; They would have all Grave like themselves, without di∣stinction of Age nor persons; every thing is Vanity with them, every thing Levity: which quality till they sweeten, they are too Austere for me. Now for your Ladies, without noise and quarel you converse with them, there is no contention with them, but in court••sie;

they gentlely give you their opinions, and let you retain your own; they pursue not con∣tention, but Truth, and have no Author to maintain beyond it; their Vertue is charming, and Honour without boast; and finally, 'tis pleasure, not pain, to converse with them. I grant you, they have their Imperfections too, but they are noble ones, and their Birth, their Education, and the modesty of their Sex, makes them nothing, in comparison with those of men; For example, an Oath, an Obs••ene word with them is horror and blasphemie, that is but sport and gallantry with Men. But what doe I talk of Imperfections, having so newly men∣tioned Mad. de B. with whom Imperfections the same day are not to be nam'd, and of whom I must make more hast to speak, whilst she is effable, she advancing so fast towards perfecti∣on, as she will be ineffable e'r long, and here I must end, since having but named her, I have no more to say, but to admire, and abruptly to tell you that I am,

Sir,

Your, &c.