CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

CIII.

MADAM,

SInce it is your Pleasure we should Write to each other, as if we were Personally Cover∣sing, as Discoursing of what we Think, Say, or Act, and of the several Imployments of our Time, I must tell you, I was Invited to be a Gossip, to Name the Lady B. Rs. Child, of which she Lyes in, and at the Christening there were many Ladies and Gentlewomen, and be∣ing most Married Women, as is Usual at such Gossiping Meetings, their Discourse was most of Labours and Child-beds, Children and Nurses, and Houshold Servants, and of Preserving, and such like Discourses as Married Women and Mistresses of Families usually have; at last they fell into a Discourse of Husbands, Com∣plaining of Ill Husbands, and so from Husbands in General, to their own Particular Husbands, where one Lady said, that her Husband was the Simplest man that ever Nature made; ano∣ther Lady said, her Husband was become a Beg∣gar with Gaming; another, that her Husband was the greatest Whoremaster in the City, and Corrupted all her Maids, for if they came Maids into her service, they went away none; another Lady said, her Husband got Children, and then Grumbled at the Charge of Keeping,

and Bringing them up; another said, that her Husband had so many Faults, as it was an end∣less work to Relate them, for his Faults did Surpass all Account; at last, when they had Railed a Long time, I, to Express the Nature of our Sex, (which is, that we cannot Refrain our Tongues from Speaking, although it be on such Themes as we Understand not, or of such Sub∣jects or Causes as we have nothing to do with, and which do not Concern us) did most Foo∣lishly Speak to the Ladies, saying, I wonder'd to hear them Rail at their Husbands, and Pub∣lickly Dispraise them, for if they had Faults, it was the Wives Duty to Wink at them, at least not to Divulge them, and if their Husbands would Speak of them, and Tell their Faults, it was likely they would Equal their Husbands Faults, if not Surpass them; but the Ladies be∣ing before Heated with VVine, and then at my VVords, with Anger fell into such a Fury with me, as they fell upon me, not with Blows, but with VVords, and their Tongues as their Swords, did endeavour to VVound me; where∣fore I perceiving my own Folly of Unnecessary Speaking, and being Sorry for the Indiscretion, became as Silent as if I had been Dead, onely I did Move to shew I was Alive, for I took a Si∣lent Leave, as with a Curtsie, and came away; and it hath so Frighted me, as I shall not hasti∣ly go to a Gossiping-meeting again, like as those that become Cowards at the Roaring Noise of Cannons, so I, at the Scolding Voices of VVo∣men;

but well may One Woman be Afraid of Many Women, whenas One Man will be Afraid of another Man; and so leaving you to Rejoyce, as I know you will, at my safe Delive∣rance or Escape, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.