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

Scene 24.

Enter two or three Gentlemen, Monsieur Comerade, Monsieur Compagnion, and Monsieur la Gravity.

Monsieur Comerade.

For Heavens sake let us go and address our selves to the two Rich Widows.

Monsieur Compagnion.

For my part I will address my self to none but the young Widow, the Lady Iantil, and to her let us go without delay.

Monsieur la Gravity.

It will be uncivil to go so soon after their Husbands Death, for their Husbands are not yet laid in their Graves.

Monsieur Compagnion.

If they were we should come too late, for I knew a man which was a great friend of mine, who was resolved to settle himself in a married course of life, and so he went a wooing to a Widow, for a Widow he was resolved to marry, and he went a wooing to one whose Husband was but just cold in his grave, but she told him she was promised before, so he wooed another whilst she followed her Husbands Corps, but she told him he came too late, whereat he thought with the third not to be a second in his Sute, and so expressed his desires in her Husbands sickness, she told him she was very sorry that she had past her word before to another, for if she had not, she would have ma le him her choice, whereat he curst his impru∣dence, and wooed the fourth on her wedding day, who gave him a promise after her Husband was dead to marry him, and withall she told him, that if she had been married before, it had been ten to one but he had spoke too late, for said she, when we are Maids we are kept from the free conversation of men, by our Parents or Guardians, but on our wedding day we are made free and set at liberty, and like as young Heirs on the day of one and twenty we make promises like bonds for two or three lives: wherefore I fear we shall miss of our hopes, for these two Widows will be promised before we address our Sute.

Monsieur la Gravity.

No no, for I am confident all do not so, for some

love to have the freedoms of their wills, for every promise is a bondage to those that make a Conscience to keep their promise, besides, it is not only variety that pleaseth women, but new Changes, for stale Acquaintance is as unpleasant as want of change, and the only hopes I have to the end of my Sute, is, that I am a Stranger and unknown, for women fancy men beyond what they are when unknown, and prize them less than their merits de∣serve, when they are acquainted.

Monsieur Comerade.

Well, we will not stay, but we will do our indea∣vour to get admittance.

Exeunt.