News from Jamaica in a letter from Port Royal written by the Germane princess to her fellow collegiates and friends in New-Gate.

The Germane Princess her Letter from Port-Royal in Jamaica to her friends in Newgate.

My Friends and Acquaintance,

I Cannot (notwithstanding the Grandeur of our Birth and State) but have you frequent in our thoughts: and that I may not omit any opportunity to ex∣press my great respects to you, and your Misterious function, I have laid hold on this occasion to ac∣quaint you with my welfare since my leaving England, and should be glad to hear from you of your decrease of your Monthly Bill of Mortality; but now I think on't I may sooner expect to see you here, or in some other Plantation, then to receive a line from you, if a Line— or so prevent it not.

Give me leave to tell you, that my sentence of Death was not more horrid and affrighting, than the sense and ap∣prehension of my sudden and unavoidable Exile was grievous to me, and for a while insupportable, at length to make that present affliction the lighter, I considered

how many before me had suffered the like banishment with an undaunted courage, patience, and matchless gal∣lantry of Spirit.

Had I like witty wanton Ovid been ignorant of the cause of my exiling, I should have complain'd much more than I do, and should have consumed that time, (which I now spend in Jollity) in swelling the books of my Tristia to a greater bulk than his whole works. I had this con∣sideration to comfort me beside (and be ruled by me in this undeniable truth) that it is much better to loose a li∣berty (too dangerous to keep) and run the risk and ha∣zard of a long Voyage, than sail up Holborn and be cast away at Tiburn.

I speak not to one, but all, it is a general concern, from the lowest to the highest Class of your Famous University, (vulgarly called the Whit or Naskin) not one but ought to be timely instructed herein, as well Bulkers, Pads, Gilters, Files, Lifters, or others, by what other Names and Titles they are distinguished.

Expect not your Rogueries should be more winkt at, than those of your Predecessors: for know, as ye are those Pesti∣lential Diseases which poison and infect the air in which you breath, and afflict the body of that Common-wealth which gave ye breath, so the wise Physitians thereof (the Judges) will take such care to free it continually from such maladies.

Some of you may be compared to superfluous Wens, which must be utterly cut off, some to Carbunckles, which must be burnt out with Cauterizing Buttons; and others to redundant humours, which must be purg'd away into a∣nother climate, of which number I am one.

It is now high time for me to relate somewhat of my Voyage to Jamaica, and what hath happened to me since

my arrival: I could not in reason expect much civility from the Commander or Seamen of the Ship, (especially as then stood my condition) yet contrary to all expectati∣on I was treated like my self, I mean a Princess. VVhen I saw my self slighted as the spurious brat of a Stocking-Mender, I applyed my self to the old refuge of my never Failing Wit, and tuneable tongue, by vvhich means I ob∣tain'd a commodious Cabbin, and vvhereas my Food be∣fore was so Salt I could have sooner fil'd my belly on the bruish of Egg-shells, or the skins of Flints than thereon; I had now every other day Fresh provision.

Immediately after my Landing, I was received more like a victor, then a victim; so far from being a slave to others, that I was continually encompassed with a crowd∣ing number of such, who strove who should pay me rhe greatest tribute of Love and Service. The Earth (the Center of all heavy bodyes) did not more strongly at∣tract a Weighty Stone, thrown up into the Air, than the bare naming me drew all sorts of people from all parts of the Island, especially the looser sort of persons.

At first I wondred there to see so many of my acquain∣tance, but when I considered the cause of my own coming thither, my admiration ceased.

At present I am troubled with nothing but how I may answer the expectation of such of our old acquaintance who daily treat me profusely; for such hath their success been in some late dangerous exploits that it hath blown their excesses to that height of expence, that they have almost delug'd this place in liquor.

Whilst I was with you I was never half so much afraid of being hang'd for any thing I should commit, as now to be drovvn'd in their overflovving cups: judge vvhether I am not much beholding to them, since they svvear no Ex∣ecutioner

shall have any thing to do with me; for they intend (themselves to kil me with kindness: hence you may conclude my bill of Fare is not scanted vvith an over frugal hand, neither are my pleasures stinted, I am Lorded o're by none, my Will unconfin'd to any; as my delights are various, so is my food, my habit vvould not disparage my Lord vvere he here to obstruct my Happiness; and novv vvhilst I think of it, if any of you should meet him in your walks (I think he need not fear you will pick his pocket) present my service to his Lordship, and acquaint his Honour, I live more like my Lady now then ever I did, and am like to continue so. But knowing how overjoy'd he will be to hear how splendidly I live, pray do not too hastily tell him these good tidings, but by degrees, pre∣paring him for the reception, least the suddain joy should transport him, and so his Honours health in danger of be∣ing prejudiced thereby. And when you have so done, in all humility tell his Lordship I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his hands and he may—

I have not time to inlarge my self further, neither do I think it requis•••••• ••o tire your patienee at first; but if my Bully-Ruffins on the one side surfet me not to death; and you on the other make not too much hast to be hang'd, ex∣pect to hear of me again: in the mean time remember me to Pimps, Pads, Priggs, Bilkers, Bauds, Bulkers, Brushers, Broil∣ers, and Brokers,; not forgetting Filers, Gilters, and Night-walkers; advising you and them with speed to mend your man∣ners, as you shall answer it at your peril hanging like a Dog in a halter: I subscribe my self

Your quondam Friend in Exile. M. C.