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

XXXIX.

MADAM,

I May give the Lady F. L. Joy of her second Marriage, for I hear she is Married again; but I fear it will be applyed to her, what is said of another Lady, who Married first very well for Title and Wealth, her Husband being in Years, but she very Poor, and amongst much Company it was told, she seem'd to be a Crafty, Witty Woman, that she could get such an Hus∣band; no, said one man, it was not the VVit or Craft of the Lady, that got her such a Husband, but the Folly of the Man that Married such a VVife; and after he Died and left her very Rich, she married a Young man that had no Estate, and then they said, that it seem'd her second Hus∣band was a VVise Man, that he could get so Rich

a Wife; no, said the former Man, it was not the Wisdom of the Man, but the Folly of the Woman, that caus'd that Match; so she was even with her first Husband in Folly, for he play'd the Fool to Marry her, and she play'd the Fool to Marry her second Husband. Thus most of the World of mankind is mistaken, for what they Attribute to some men's Wit, is o∣ther men's Folly, but for Marriages, the truth is, that Folly makes more Marriages than Pru∣dence; as for Example, Mr. A. B. hath Mar∣ried a Common Courtesan, if she had been Par∣ticular, it had been more Excusable; but all men are not so foolish, for I hear that Sir W. S. will rather indure the Persecution of his own Cour∣tesan, than Marry her. But leaving the Lady F. L. to her new Husband, and Mr. A. B. to his new Wife, and Sir W. S. to his pursuing Whore, I rest,

Madam,

Your most faithful Friend and Servant.