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Of Hospitality
I Have observed those that keep great Hospitalitie, are not onely well beloved of their neighbours, that are often made welcome, and by those that make it a meeting place; but the Master or Mistris of the house shal be amorously affected, and earnestly solicited, by the turning of the eyes and the like, al∣though they be very old, in the times of Hospitalitie; for old men shall have, or may have more Mistresses, and old women, more lovers, and seeming admirers, then the youngest and beautifullest without those intertainments, so much kindnesse, and good nature, good cheer begets, yet it will last no longer then the meat sticks in their teeth; for while the meat, mirth and wine is working, and the fume ascending, they are so full of thanksgiving, as they overflow with high praises, professions, and declarations, protestations and free offers, in which they promise more then they can perform, and perform lesse then they could promise; for where the head and the stomack is empty of the receiver, and the purse of the entertainer, if he have occasion to make use of any of them, they would do as the parable of the marriage in the scripture, one said, that he had married a wife, and the other had sold a yoke of oxen, and the third had bought a farm so that all would have excuses, and excuses in that kinde are the messengers of a denial, neither do they think a denial sufficient; for if they wil not praise their friends, they will turn their enemies, for so ill natured is man∣kind that what they cannot make more use of, they will strive to destroy.