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

XLII.

MADAM,

I Am sorry Sir F.O. hath Undervalued himself so much below is Birth and VVealth, as to Marry his Kitchin-maid, but it was a sign he had an Hungry Appetite, or that he lived a Solitary Life, Seeing no better Company, or Conversed not with VVomen of Quality; or else he hath been too Privately Kind, and was loth to have it Publickly Known; or he hath tried her Virtue, and so Married her for Chastity, though many VVomen will Deny some, and Grant to others; or else he Married her for Beauty, or VVit, or both, although the Inferiour or meaner sort of People, especially VVomen, are oftener own∣ers of Beauty than Wit, and if they have some Wit, it is onely Sharp Replies, which are a kind of a Scolding; and I have heard that the VVay or Manner of Courtship amongst the Inferiour sort of People in E. is Scolding, they Scold themselves into Matrimony, or at least, make Love in a rough, rude Style; But perchance Sir F. O. Married his Kitchin-maid in hopes she

would make a Nimble and Obedient Wife, which he might fear one of Equal Birth would not be; Indeed he hath chosen one out of the humblest Offices, or Houshold Imployments, for the Kitchin for the most part is the lowest Room in a House; Yet I write not this as belie∣ving he may not be Happy in his Choice, for 'tis likely the Match may be more Happy than Honourable, and if he thinks it no Disgrace, or cares not for Disgrace, all is well, for it onely concerns himself, as having no Parents living to Grieve or Anger, nor no former Children to Suffer by. But though her Office and Birth were both Dripping or Basting, yet his Dignity and Wealth hath made her a gay Lady; and so leaving him to his dish of Brewess, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.