Craftsby being now grown Old, the heat of whose youthful blood being by Age now near upon extinguisht, minded her profit only; and that her Niece Mistress Wheedle might not too violently prosecute her pleasurable inclinations, she stopt them in their career by a watchful Eye and Poli∣tick Instructions.The Subtle Bawd was glad to see her towring Spirit to soar above her mean and low born for∣tune, to the supplying of which defect, she dayly plum'd her head with Ingenious conceits, which in time might be wrought into such deceits as she aim'd at, and so it prov'd for dazled with these false appearances, they both forsook Vertue, the difficult yet the only direct road to Glory, pur∣suing their satisfactions in the crooked and by∣paths of Subtlety and Circumventing all which come with in the verge of their power so to effect their purpose.It matters not to tell you where they were born, neither do I think them half so wise as they should be, who relating the life of a Malefactor contend about the place of his or her Nativity; some placing it here, others, there, the truest writer in the Moon, although the opinion savors some∣what of Lunacy; let it suffice that my two fe∣male Whipper Snappers, were born in Terra In∣cognita and travelled to London for profit, cariosity and pleasure.It will be requisite I begin with the life of Mistriss Craftsby, as an introduction to that of Mistress Wheedle, since the former had but just began to act her part on Loves Theater, when the other (her Niece) was then as a meer Novice in such Affairs, being but a blossom in the Cyprian Gar∣den.0
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