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

CX.

MADAM,

I Am Glad to hear the Lady U. S. and her Husband live so Happily, as only to Them∣selves, and Love so well One Another, as sel∣dome to be Sunder'd by Each others Absence, and I am Glad that She and He are so Wise as not to be perswaded from a Loving and Agreea∣ble Course of Life. But I perceive by your Let∣ter, that their Neighbours and Acquaintance Indeavour by their Little and Petty Flouts, Jeeres, and the like, to Disunite them, saying, the Husband was Gentleman-Usher to his Wife, and it was out of Fashion for a Husband to go abroad with his Wife, and her Husband had greater Wealth than Birth, and was a Plain man and no Gallant, and that a man of Humble Birth and Plain Breeding was Despised and Scorned amongst Men of Title, and she had Lost the Place of her Birth by Marriage; But I will An∣swer in her Behalf, as being my Friend, that as she had better keep to an Old Fashion, which is

Becoming, Easie and Commodious, than follow a New, Vain and Mis-becoming Fashion, so 'tis more Seemly, Gracefull and Becoming, for a Wife to have her Husband alwayes with her, to be a Witness of her Honest Actions, than to give a Suspicion both to her Husband and the World, as if she desired to be Absent from him and out of his Sight, that she might take more Liberty to be Wanton; for none can Imagine, a Wife will Abuse her Husband before his Face, as in his Sight, unless her Husband were Mad, or Drunk, or an Idiot, as a Natural Fool, and she not only a Whore, but an Impudent Whore; and for his Wealth being Greater than his Birth, it shews, her Parents and Friends were Wise to Marry her to Plenty, for with Poverty lives for the most part Discontent, and it shews, she was Dutifull and Obedient to Accept of her Parents Choice rather than her Own; and shews her self to be Wise, preferring Honesty before Vanity, a Plain-Behaviored man before a Fantastical Fl••tterer; and as for Birth, what Title he wants by Fortune, Favour and Time, Nature hath given him the Title of Merit, which is far beyond the Titles that Kings and Time give, for Outward Titles are far Inferiour to Inward Worth and Merit; and as for Place, Virtue and Merit take the First and Best Place in Fame's Palace, though not at Gossipping-Meetings, Vain Shews, and Expensive & Luxu∣rious Feastings; and for that they say, no Re∣spect will be given to her Husband by or from

men of Title, Place and Authority, Solomon sayes, that the Husband of a Uirtuous and Chast VVife sits in the Gates amongst the Elders with Honour, so that his Merit and her Virtue and Chastity will not onely keep him from Scorn, but give him Honour, Esteem and Respect, were he as Poor of VVealth, as Low in Birth; but having VVealth, had he neither Inward Worth nor Outward Title, he would be Respected, for all Bow down and Adore the Golden Calf or Image, and as Naturally Mankind loves Gold and such like Wealth, so Naturally they Love Mischief, wherefore it is out of Envy, that the Lady U. S s. Neighbours and Acquaintance Dispraise or Undervalue her Husband, and his Birth and Breeding, and Laugh at their United Associating, and not out of Love, for true Love Commends true Worth, and Honest Unity: But as Women Envy Women for Beauty, Bravery, Courtships and Place, So Men Envy Men for Power, Authority, Honour and Offi∣ces. Wherefore leaving the Generality to Envy and Spite, and the Lady U. S. and her Husband to Love and Happiness, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.