Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 1.

Enter the Lord Fatherly, and the Lord Singularity his Son.

LOrd Singularity.

Pray, Sir, do not force me to marry a childe, before you know whether she will prove vertuous, or discreet; when for the want of that knowledge, you may indanger the honour of your Line and Posterity, with Cuckoldry and Bastardry.

Lord Fatherly.

Son, you must leave that to fortune.

Lord Singularity.

A wise man, Sir, is to be the maker or spoiler of his own fortune.

Lord Fatherly.

Let me tell you Son, the wisest man that is, or ever was, may be deceived in the choosing a wife, for a woman is more obscure than nature her self, therefore you must trust to chance, for marriage is a Lottery, if you get a prize, you may live quietly and happily.

Lord Singularity.

But if I light of a blank, as a hundred to one, nay a thou∣sand to one but I shall, which is on a Fool or a Whore, her Follies or Adul∣teries, instead of a praise, will found out my disgrace.

Lord Fatherly.

Come, Come, she is Rich, she is Rich.

Lord Singularity.

Why Sir, guilded I ••o••ns are most visible.

Lord Fatherly.

'Tis better, Son, to have a rich whore than a poor whore, but I hope Heaven hath made her Chast, and her Father being an honourable, honest, and wise man, will breed her vertuously, and I make no question but you will be happy with her.

Lord Singularity.

But Sir, pray consider the inequality of our ages, she be∣ing but a Child, and I at mans Estate; by that time she is ready for the mar∣riage bed: I shall be ready for the grave, and youths sharp appetites, will ne∣ver rellish Age, wherefore she will seek to please her pallat else where.

Lord Fatherly.

Let me tell you, Son, should you marry a woman that were as many years older, than she is younger than you; it were a greater hazard, for first old women are more intemperate than young: and being older than the husband, they are apt to be jealouse, and being jealouse, they grow maliti∣ous, and malice seeks revenge, and revenge disgrace, therefore she would Cuckold you meerly to disgrace you.

Lord Singularity.

On the other side, those Women that are marryed young, Cuckholds there Husbands fames dishonouring them by their ignorant follyes, and Childish indiscretions, as much as with Adultery. And I should assoon choose to be a Cuckhold, as to be thought to be one: For my honour will suffer as much by the one as the other, if not more.

Lord Fatherly.

Heaven blesse the, Sonne, from jealousy, for thou art horrible afraid of being a Cuckold.

Lord Singularity.

Can you blame me, Sir, since to be a Cuckhold is to be des∣pised, scorned, laught, and pointed at, as a Monster worse than nature ever made, and all the Honour that my birth gave me and my education indued me,

my vertue gained me, my industry got me; fortune bestowed on me, and fame inthron'd me for: may not only be lost by my wifes Adultery, but as I said by her indiscretion, which makes me wonder, how any man that hath a No∣ble Soul, dares marry since all his honour lyes or lives in the light heels of his wife, which every little passion is apt to kick away, wherefore good Sir, let me live a single life.

Lord Fatherly.

How Son, would you have me consent to extinguish the light of my Name, and to pull out the root of my posterity.

Lord Singularity.

Why Sir, it were better to lye in dark oblivion, than to have a false light to devulge your disgrace; and you had better pull out the root, than to have a branch of dishonour ingrafted therein:

Lord Fatherly.

All these Arguments against Marriage is because you would injoy your Mistresses with freedom; fearing you should be disturbed by a wife.

Lord Singularity.

That needs not, for I observe, married Men takes as much liberty, if not more than Batchellors; for Batchellors are affraid they should challenge a promise of Marriage, and married Men are out of that danger.

Lord Father.

Then that is the reason that Batchellors Court Married wives, and Married Men Courts Maides; but howsoever Son, if all Men should be of your mind, there would be no Marring nor giving in Marriage; but all must be in Common.

Lord Singularity.

That were best Sir, for then there could be no Adultery committed, or Cuckolds made.

Lord Fatherly.

For shame take courage, and be not a fraid of a Woman.

Lord Singularity.

By Heaven Sir, I would sooner yield up my life to death, thau venture my honour to a womans management.

Lord Father.

Well Son, I shall not force you with threates or com∣mands to marry against your will and good likeing; but I hope Heaven will turn your mind towards marriage, and sent thee a loving, vertuous and discreet wife.