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

L.

MADAM,

I Cannot wonder that Mrs. F. G. is so desirous of a Husband, for I observe, that all Unmar∣ried VVomen, both Maids and VVidows, are the like, insomuch that there are more Custom∣ers that go to Hymen's Markets, which are Churches, Playes, Balls, Masks, Marriages, &c. than there are Husbands to be Sold, and all Pri∣ces are bidden there, as Beauty, Birth, Breeding, Wit and Virtue, though Virtue is a Coin whereof is not much; but Husbands are so scarce, especially Good ones, as they are at such great Rates, that an indifferent Price will not Purchase any one, wherefore those that will Buy them, must be so Rich as to be able to be∣stow an extraordinary Price of Beauty, Birth, Breeding, Wit or Virtue, and yet much ado to Purchase any one, nay, some cannot be had without all those joyn'd into One; But Venus's

Markets, which are also Publick Meetings, (for all Markets are Publick) are so well stor'd of all sorts and degrees of Titles, Professions, Ages, and the like, as they are as Cheap as stinking Makrel, and all Coins are current there, but Virtue, wherefore that is never offer'd; 'tis true, the Markets of Hymen and Venus are in one and the same City or Place, yet Hymen and Venus Sell apart, like as several Grasiers bring their Beasts to one Market or Fair; I call them several Markets, to make a Distinction of which belongs to Hymen, and which to Venus; but for better Distinction's sake, I will put them into Shops apart, or into as many Pews in one Church, or Compare them to several Scenes in one Mask, several Acts in one Play, for as ma∣ny Stalls or Shops there are in one Market, and several Magistrates in one City, so many Shops hath Hymen and Venus in one Market; but the Cheapest that are to be sold out of Hymen's Shops, are young Novices; and although there is much scarcity in Hymen's Shops, yet the Price of Gold or such Riches, if they be offer'd, buyes any man that is there to be sold, which are Batchelours and Widdowers, for there's no Married man in Hymen's Shops, unless un∣known that they were bought before, and once Discover'd, they are Punish'd, for Married men can neither be Bought nor Sold by Hymen or his Customers, until they be Widowers; but in Venus Shops there be as many, if not more, Mar∣ried men than Batchelours or Widowers; but

both in Hymen's and Venus's Shops there are of all sorts, Better and Worse, as Mean Persons and others of Quality, Handsom and not Hand∣som, Old and Young, and of middle Years; And as for Women, few are Sold in Shops, for they are the Buyers, and Married Women are the best Customers Venus hath; & though Married Women go to the Publick Market, which are Publick Meetings, as Fine as they can be Drest, and to the Publick View, out of pretence to meet there, and speak with such of their Friends that are Hymen's Customers, as also to help those Friends to Choose and Bargain for a Hus∣band, or to keep them Company, yet when they go to Venus's Shops they go Covered with their Veils, or rather Follies, for fear they should be known of their Husbands that lye there to be sold, for though they go Uncovered to Hymen's Shops, as with their Friends, to Assist them, yet to Venus's Shops they go alone. Thus Married and Unmarried take some occasion to be at the Market, and thus there is more Trade, Traf∣fick and Commerce, in this Market than in any other; But such Persons as will live Single and Chast, never come there, unless some few; and this sort of Persons for the most part live in Diana's Court, which are Cloisters or Monaste∣ries; also some few Married Wives that live Retired, do not Frequent this Market, but if they do, they never come into any of the Shops, but stand in the midst of the Market-place, that it may be known they Buy nothing

there; But Madam, I will leave this Discourse, for though I am one of Hymen's Subjects, be∣ing a Married Wife, yet I am none of Venus's Customers, but,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.