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

CVIII.

MADAM,

YOu were pleased to tell me in your last Let∣ter, that the Lady I. L. is so Jealous of her Husband, as the Humour of Jealousie drives her sometimes into a Passionate Fury, or Furious Passion, insomuch as not only to Exclame and Rail on those Ladies he doth Visit, but on her Husband, which is neither Seemly, nor Decent, for Wives should Submit to their Husbands Follies, and VVink at their Crimes, if they cannot Reform them, neither is the way of Reformation by Railing and Exclamations, but by Gentle Perswasions, Meek Submissions, and Subtil Insinuations; but say these will not Re∣form them; therefore shall a VVife Double her Injuries, as first, to be Injured by her Hus∣bands Inconstancy, and then by her Own Grief, Rage, and Fury? This were to make his Crimes her Tormentors, which would neither let the Mind, Thoughts, or Body, live in Rest or Peace; and why should a VVife Grieve for her Husbands Inconstancy, since she receives no Dishonour from it? nay, if it be for the Loss of her Husbands Affection, she is but a Simple VVoman that will Trouble her self for him that Loves her not, or for him that Pre∣fers another VVoman in his Affection be∣fore

her; neither ought she to Wrong her self by doing Indiscreet, Dishonest, or Disho∣nourable Actions, to Revenge her VVrongs, but rather to Strive and Endeavour to make her self appear more Virtuous; but for the most part Women are more Jealous through Envy to their own Sex, than Love to their Husbands, for every VVoman would be the Chief for VVit, Beauty, and such like Attractives, and for my part, I wonder Men should desire Varie∣ty, since all VVomen are alike, for a Man can have but a VVoman; as for Beauty, it is onely to Look on, and VVit to Listen to, but not A∣morously to Enjoy; But if all VVives were as some, Husbands might freely take their Liber∣ties, and their VVives would never Frown for it; and for the most part Careless VVives have the Chastest Husbands, I mean Careless, as Free from Jealousie. But leaving the Lady I. L. to Time, Custom, and Discretion, to Abate her Jealousie, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.