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

Scene 19.

Enter the Lady Ward, and Nurse Careful.

Lady Ward.

I wonder my Lord Courtship, he being counted a wise man; should make me his Baud, if he intends to make me his Wife, and by my troth Nurse, I am too young for that grave Office.

Nurse Careful.

How ignorantly you speak Child? it is a sign you have been bred obscurely, and know little of the world; or rather it proves your Mother dyed before you could speak, or go, otherwise you would be better experien∣ced in these businesses.

Lady Ward.

My Mother, Nurse, Heaven rest her soul, she would never have made me a Baud.

Nurse Careful.

No, why then she would not do as most Mothers do now a dayes; for in this age Mothers bring up their daughters to carry Letters, and to receive messages, or at lest to watch at the door left their Fathers should come unawares, and when they come to make some excuse, and then the Mother laughs, and sayes her daughter is a notable witty Girle.

La. Ward.

What, for telling a lye?

Nurse Careful.

Yes, when it is told so, as to appeare like a truth.

Lady Ward.

But it is a double fault, as to deceive the Father, and be a Baud to the Mother.

Nurse Careful.

Why, the Mother will execute the same Office for the daugh∣ter when she is marryed, and her self grown into years; for from the age of seven or eight years old, to the time they are maryed, the Daughter is a Baud to the Mother; and from the time of their marriage, to the time of their Mothers death, the Mother is a Baud to the Daughter; but if the Mother be indifferently young, and hath a young tooth in her head, as the old saying is, they Baud for each other.

Lady Ward.

But why doth not the Mother Baud for her Daughter, before she is marryed.

Nurse Care.

O there is reason for that, for that may spoil her fortune, by hindering her marriage: for marriage is a Veile to cover the wanton face of adultery, the like Veil is Baud-mothers, and Baud-daughters; for who would suspect any lewdnesse, when the Mother and the Daughter is toge∣ther?

La. Ward.

And are not Sons Pimps for their Fathers, as Daughters are for their Mothers?

Nurse Careful.

No saith, Boys have facility, or ingenuity as Girles have; besides, they are kept most commonly so strictly to their Bookes, when Girles have nothing else to do; but when they have cast away their Books, and come to be marryed men, then they may chance to Pimp for their Wives.

Lady Ward.

O fie Nurse, surely a man will never play the Pimp to Cuckold himself.

Nurse Care.

O yes, if they be poor, or covetous, or ambitious; and then if they have a handsome woman to their wife, they will set her as a bait to catch their designs in the trap of Adultery; or patient, quiet, simple, fearful

men will, if they have a Spritely wise, they will play the Pimp, either for fear, or quiet; for such men to such wives, will do any thing to please them, although it be to Cuckold themselves.

La. Ward.

But surely Nurse no Gentleman will do so.

Nurse Gare.

I know not who you call Gentleman, but those that bear up high and look big, and vant loud, and walk proud, and carry the out-side of a Gentleman, will do so.

La. Ward.

Certainly Nurse they are but Bastard Gentry, or else they are degenerated.

Nurse Careful.

An incipid Branch may spring from a sound Root, ma∣ny a withered and rotten Plum may hang on a good Tree.

La. Ward.

And do Wives play the Bauds for their Husbands, as the Hus∣bands play the Pimps for their Wives?

Nurse Care.

Most often; for they will make Gossiping meetings, on purpose for their Husbands to Court other women; for they know when their Hus∣bands minds are fill'd with amorous love, they will not muse upon their acti∣ons, nor examine their wayes; besides, when as the Husband would take his liberty without disturbance, he will wink at the liberty his wife takes, and so will be procures for each other, and the Ladys acquaintance are Confi∣dents.

La. Ward.

Confidents, what is that, Nurse?

Nurse Careful.

Why it is thus, two Ladies make friendship, or at least call Friends, and if any man desires to be a Courtly Servant to one of them, he addresses himself to the other, and expresses what Passions and Affections he hath for her friend, and so makes his complaints and affections known to her; whereupon she recommends his addresses and service to her Friend; thus doing a friendly Office by carrying and declaring his professions, and re∣turning her Friends civil answers, appointing places for each others love-meetings, the other will do as much for her.

La. Ward.

Why this is a Baud.

Nurse Care.

O peace Child, for if any body heard you say so, they would laugh at you for a Fool, but 'tis a sign you never was a Courtier, for I knew a young Lady that went to Court to be a Maid of Honour; and there were two young Ladies that were Confidents to each other, and a great Prince made love to one of them, but adddrest himself to the other, as being her Friend; this young Maid askt why he did so, it was answered, she was the Princes Mistresse Confident; and just as you ask me, what said she, is a confi∣dent a Baud; whereupon the whole Court laught at her, and for that only question condemned her to be a very Fool, nay, a meer Changling.

La. Ward.

VVell Nurse, say what you will, Confident is but a Courtly name for a Baud.

Ex.