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

XXXVI.

MADAM,

YOu were pleased in your last Letter to ex∣press, how Mr. P. C. is persecuted by an∣other man's Whore, which is not usual, for though many men are Persecuted by their own Whores, both in Body, Mind, Course of Life, and Estate, Diseasing the One, Vexing the O∣ther, Opposing the Third, and Spending the Fourth, yet not usually by any other man's, but their own, at least believing them to be onely theirs; but I believe Mr. P. C. will not easily clear himself from her, for Courtesans are often assisted by the Powerful, insomuch as in any Law-sute or petitioning Request, they shall be heard, and their Sute granted, although against all Law or Right; Such Power and Fa∣vour hath Concupiscence, as to corrupt Magi∣strates, bribe Judges, fee Lawyers, flatter Cour∣tiers, and the truth is, intice, allure, and per∣swade most of Mankind; but although there be in all Ages and Nations, Courtesans, and Men

liable to be Tempted, yet men have not been fre∣quently tempted, perswaded, or allured to Mar∣ry Courtesans, unless in this Age, wherein Courtesans are so Prevalent and Fortunate, as they do not onely get themselves Husbands, when Beauty and Lovers begin to leave them, but marry more Richly and Honourably for Dignities, than Honest, Chaste Widows, or Pure and Innocent Virgins, which is apt to make Honest and Chast Women to doubt, their Honesty and Chastity is not blest with such good Fortune as Dishonesty is, insomuch as those that are not Honest, merely, and for no o∣ther end, than for Honestie's sake, may be Cor∣rupted through hopes of good Fortune; but where Virtue takes a thorow Possession, it never leaves the Habitation; yet many that have been Base, Wicked, and of Beastly Lives, may be Reformed, so as to become very Honest, Wor∣thy, and Pure, and such Reclamed Persons ought to be Esteem'd and Respected, for I am not of Mrs. F. Rs. Humour, who Hates a Re∣formado. But some Men are of that Humour, as they Hate Honest, Chast Women, not onely out of a Despair of their Enjoyments, but that they love the Company and Conversation of Wanton and Free VVomen, insomuch that a Courtesan shall have a greater and stronger Power to Cause and Perswade Men to do Acti∣ons not onely to the Ruin of their Estates and Families, but to the Ruin of their Honours and Reputation, nay, to make them Unnatural, Ex∣travagant

or Base, than an Honest Chast VVife hath to Perswade her Husband to keep his E∣state, Honour, or Honesty; for many a Wor∣thy and Honourable Person hath Degenerated from his Birth and Breeding, from his Natural Courage and Generosity, from his Loyalty and Duty, from his Natural Affection and Sacred Vows, from his Honour and Reputation, through the Perswasion of VVhores; nay, ma∣ny Men love a Whore so much more than an Honest and Chast VVoman, as many make better Husbands, and are more Fond and Kind∣er to their Wives if they be Libertines, than if they were Honest and True to their Marri∣age-Bed; But leaving such men to their own Heads, and their VVives to their Neighbours Beds, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.