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

CXCI.

MADAM,

IF you were here in this City, now all the ground of the Streets is covered with Snow, you would see the Young men and their Mi∣stresses ride in Sleds by Torch-light, the Wo∣men and the Men dress'd Antickly, as also their Horses that Draw their Sleds, and then every Sled having a Fair Lady, at least to her Lovers thinking, sitting at one end of the Sled, dress'd with Feathers and Rich Clothes, and her Court∣ing Servant like a Coachman, or rather a Carter, Bravely Accoustred, driving the Horses with a Whip, which draw the Sled upon the Snow with a Galloping pace, whilst Footmen run with Torches to light them; but many of these Lo∣vers, not using to drive Horses so often as Court Mistresses, for want of Skill overturn the Sled, and so tumble down their Mistresses in the Snow, whereupon they being in a Frighted Hast, take them up from that Cold Bed, and

then the Mistress appears like a Pale Ghost, or Dead Body in a Winding sheet, being all Co∣vered with white Snow, and the Sled, when the Mistress is Seated again, instead of a Tri∣umphant Chair, seems like a Virgins Funeral Herse, carried, and Buried by Torch-light, and her Feathers seem like a Silver Crown, that U∣sually is laid thereon, also the Sled is Drawn then in a Slow, Funeral Pace, for fear of a se∣cond Fall. By this Custom and Practice you may know, we have here Recreations for eve∣ry Season of the Year, and as the Old Saying is, that Pride in Winter is never Cold, so it may here be said, that Love in Winter is never Cold; indeed, I have heard say, that Love is Hot, and to my Apprehension it must be a very Hot A∣morous Love that is not Cold this VVeather. But leaving the Hot Lovers in the Cold Snow, I rest, by the Fire-side,

Madam,

Your very faithful Friend and Servant.