Part 5

E_ver since that fortunate Minute wherein I first had the happiness to be acquainted with you, my stars I thank them have been very propitious to me; and Dame Fortune (how unconstant soever she hath been to others) hath yet been to me very favourable, so that till within these few days I could boast that no malevolent Planet hath had any malign influence in my ascendant; I thought and hoped I should have lived and died in this opinion; but I now have cause enough to change my mind, for I have lately had such a cross adventure, that I yet know not what to think of it, but if all be right and well with you, I then bid defiance to fortune; Madam, I am very unquiet and much puzzeld, so that I know not how to begin, nor well know what to say to you, but hoping you will pardon this impertinence, and attribute it to my perplexity; I shall thus plainly begin with you, and this it is: Madam, about ten days since when I last was with you, among other Requests I desired a hundred Crowns of you for a present use, till my Vnkle whom I every day expected should come to Town; in regard you never refused me anything, I did not doubt of that, and therefore expected to hear from you accordingly, but just at that time when I expected a Letter from you, I received one from my Vnkle, as I thought, whereby, as that Letter inform’d me, I thought it absolutely necessary to leave_ Paris, _and go to him forty miles, to a Town where he lay sick, I was perswaded to be gone immediately, and indeed over-rul’d by an intimate friend, and one that I have so great a respect for, that I had no reason to suspect, and what he urged being as I thought reasonable: I soon mounted on Horse-back, and departed, I must beg your pardon that I did not acquaint you with this sudden remove, but it was impossible to do it without suspition of my Friend from whom I have hitherto conceal’d our amours, as I have done from all the world besides._

_This Letter which I received, I found was but forged, and written on purpose to cause me to leave the City, but if in my absence I have not received some prejudice in your opinion, I account all the rest of my trouble and vexation as nothing, wherefore I pray Madam, let me know in what condition I am with you, and whether you know any thing, and what you do know of this Adventure, and I shall always remain_

Your constant Friend

S. N.

When I had read this Letter, I found that half my work was done to my hand, for I was resolved to write to this woman, and now having a fit opportunity I writ as followeth.

Madam,

S_ome months ago I had occasion to lay out some money in some Stuff, and my good fortune guiding me to your Shop, I there not only saw, but pitied you, for that I saw you were wedded to one more fit to be your Father than Husband; that pity begot love, and that so violent, that I knew not how to suppress it, I thought it might be possible to be favourably receiv’d by you, but knew not how to make my Addresses to you, lest your honour should be brought in question, I therefore waited all opportunities, and at length found one, the most lucky that could befal; for my friend_ Mounsieur N. _being absent and a Letter of yours coming into my hands, I had a great curiosity to see it, doubting that it was, what indeed I found it to be, a Letter of Love; but when I found that it was from you, and that thereby was a particular appointment for him to come to you; I was mightily pleas’d, and you may judge the great satisfaction I receiv’d. My love towards you being so violent, I was resolv’d to hazard my friendship to him, and rather than fail, be a Traitor; and indeed, what would I not have done, to have had the happiness of enjoying you? Therefore Madam, knowing his absence would be absolutely necessary, it was I that fram’d that Letter which caused his Journey, and thereby I had the happiness in his stead to be well used by you and now Madam, you may unfold the Riddle, but I hope you are so discreet as to conceal the truth of this Adventure, which were it discovered, would be of dangerous consequence, not only to us both, but also to your own Reputation; I judge you will conceal it, and hope you will give me other opportunities of waiting on you, when I shall acquaint you particularly how I came by that Letter and this; Thus hoping that I may enjoy the second place if not the first in your esteem, I rest_

Your most ardently affectionate Friend, _M. G._

This Letter being written, I enclosed it in the other, and gave it my Boy, who ran immediately to the house, where he left his drunken Companion, and opening the door, he made so much noise as awaked him, wherefore my Boy seeing him ready to rise, ran to him, and insensibly convey’d the Letter into his pocket.

The Boy being now pretty sober, remembred the Errant he was sent about, and doubting he should be chid would needs depart about it; my Boy permitted him so to do, and so came home to me.

And thus Mistress _Dorothy_ (said he to me) did I discover the whole intreague of this business to my Mistress, and she soon after sent a Letter to me, and another to my Friend, wherein she manag’d the Concern so tenderly and so handsomely, that she satisfied him and me both, and I having a Summons from her, waited on her three miles out of the Town, where I acquainted her with all that she was ignorant of, and I pressed her so with my affection, that she accepted me, and I think in time I had the first place in her affection: and thus said he, did I live the pleasantest life in the world, all the time that I staid in _Paris_; and now I hope, said he, I have satisfied you with my amours, which hitherto had been very fortunate, and I thank my Stars, _Venus_ hath been ever my Friend, or else I had not had the happiness of your acquaintance, and thus did he fully finish his discourse.

And now, said Mistress _Dorothy_, I have related all that I think is convenient and necessary about my Gentleman Soldier, and therefore I shall conclude that Story; No, said I, I have some questions to ask you, which I desire to be satisfied in, and which I believe will engage you in a little further discourse: That which I am first to desire of you is, that since you have entertained us so largely, and indeed pleasantly, with the adventures of the Gentleman Soldier, that you would tell us what became of him, and what more you know of him? for, continued I, I am perswaded that all you can say of him is so considerable, that it is worth our hearing, and your recital. Truly, replyed Mistress _Dorothy_, I have indeed somewhat more to say of him, which may be as pleasant as the rest, but his Stories being only things by the by, and which do not at all concern you, and me very little, I thought what hath been said already is enough, but if you will needs hear me proceed further, I will not refuse you the satisfaction you desire.

I have already, told you of his two _French_ Adventures, neither did he tell me of any thing more that befel him in _France_ which was considerable; but he having quitted that Countrey, and being come to _England_, it was not long e’re I came acquainted with him, and our acquaintance proceeding to a familiarity, he not only related to me all those adventures I have already recited, but he also told me the condition and state of his affairs at present: He told me that he left _England_ upon a discontent, for he having been in love with a young Gentlewoman, one of his own age and Quality, and that so long and effectually, that he had won her to consent to marriage, provided her Parents did so: but when they came acquainted with his pretentions, they absolutely refus’d it, for no other reason, but that his estate did not equal hers, for she was the only Child of her Parents, who were very rich, and he although he was equal to her in birth, yet in Estate he came far short, as being a younger Brother, and having but a small allowance or patrimony, nor indeed was there much probability of any increase or addition to his Estate: This was the Consideration why he was refused, and therefore having again tryed his Ladies mind, who although she loved him well, yet was resolved in her marriage to be wholly guided by her Friends, and finding himself frustrated in his hopes, and expectations, he therefore became melancholly and discontent, so that to throw off that indisposition which this had caused, he resolved for Travel, and thereupon to _France_ he went, where as I have told you, _Venus_ made him some amends for the dissatisfaction he had had in _England_, but in time he being weary of that place, and returning home, he found his Mistress married to another, who had been more fit for a winding-sheet than so young and fair a Bride, for although he who had married her was not very old, yet he was in a deep Consumption, and thereby wholly incapacitated to please a Lady. That which made her Friends impose this Choice upon her, was his great wealth: In this condition he found her at his return, and considering the Condition she was in, he had some hopes one day of enjoying her, either as a Wife or Mistress; to this end he made some Addresses to her, but they being taken notice of by her Parents, but more especially by her Husband, she was forced to command him to forbear any more visits; with much unwillingness he did obey her, but it was but for a while, for he getting acquainted with her Chamber-maid, who was flexible enough, or easie to be made so by Gifts or Presents he bestowed on her at present, and large promises of what he would do for the future, so that in short time he won her to be at his dispose, and to betray her Masters secrets. Whereupon, when her Master was absent, she presently gave him notice of it, and perswaded her Mistress to walk abroad to such places where he was sure to meet her. She like a Woman of much vertue and constancy, for a large time held out, and would not so much as entertain any conversation with him, but in the end by his humble and amorous Letters and fervent Protestations of a vertuous love, promising her that he designed nothing against her virtue, and since he could not enjoy her Love, that he might have the first place in her esteem; she at length consented to treat with him, and now he being admitted to treat, by degrees insinuated his old love and great misfortune, he let her know his great constancy, which as it had, so it should continue with him till death, these discourses and other arguments which he us’d, were as the Bellows to blow up a flame out of the very ashes where it had long lain, so that as she could not deny but that she had formerly loved him, and that most tenderly, so she could have done so still, had she not been married, but being married, she told him she must banish all thoughts of former love: but as he had now brought her to confess a former love, so he left not off there, but by degrees perswaded her to a new friendship, not a new one, but a renewing of the old; and as friendship had been the first step to their former love, so it was now, and she in a short time confessed that as she had, so she still did love him: in fine he brought her to this pass, that she confessed she lov’d him as well as ever, and were she free to choose a Husband, she would chuse him before all the World; he having gain’d thus much upon her, by degrees proceeded further, and he promising to remain always unmarry’d, in expectation of that time, that she might be free to marry; she promised him that if ever that time came, that she would certainly marry him before all the persons in the world. At this point they continued for some moneths, and her Husbands Consumptive-distemper encreasing, there was great hopes that in short time it would send him to the other world, where he was wished to be with all earnestness. As their converse continued, so their love encreased, and he became impatient of delays, and was so bold as to desire of her the only thing she had refus’d him, but very angry she was when he first made the proposition; wherefore he was forced to forbear any further discourse of that nature, but her Husbands lingring Distemper continuing, our Lover was out of all patience, and therefore he was once again resolved to propound that to her, without the enjoyment of which, he could not be happy nor quiet, wherefore being resolv’d what to do, he was now to think how to do it, and believing that if he should begin any discourse upon a subject which she hitherto had wholly dislik’d, he should be interrupted and not heard out, and it may be she would proceed into some violent language against him, wherefore he was resolv’d to communicate his thoughts to her in writing, and there he intended to be very plain with her, whereupon he writ, and sent her this Letter.

Madam,

I_t is now some years since I first began to affect you, and that affection in time became so violent, that I was forc’d to discover it to you, you did not at all dislike it at first, for in little time found a tender esteem from you, which by my constancy, and perseverance was so encreas’d, that I perceiv’d you did also love me, neither were you asham’d to own the affection you had for me, but made me protestations of a love that should be lasting, and there was nothing wanting, as we thought to make us both happy, but the consent of your Parents: but that not being gained, I preferr’d your interest and quiet before my own, and not being able to live near you, and not see and love you, which by the inhumanity of your friends I was forbidden to do, I entred into a voluntary banishment, and leaving all the enjoyments and pleasures of my own Countrey, went into another, hoping in time that fortune who had been so cross to me might be more favourable, but although I staid some time in Forreign parts, and at my return heard of my misfortune, and indeed your as unfortunate marriage, yet time had not banished you out of my thoughts, I still had you perfectly in remembrance, and found that my love to you was so far from being extinguished, that it was then ready to burst out into a new flame. The obstacle of your being married and thereby of the impossibility of my attaining my ends, did not hinder me from endeavouring it, and I did so constantly persevere in my endeavours, that I brought you not only to a mute compliance, but by degrees I brought you to acknowlege that you still loved me, and that if you were ever free to chuse, I should be the happy man whom you would have for a Husband, the constancy of my affection hath wrought this miracle, but I cannot perswade you to proceed further, and this at present is the state of the matter between us. Now Madam, having done all this, I am perswaded you may yield to what I further desire of you: I know the strictness of your Virtue absolutely forbids you any thoughts, but I pray let me be plain with you, and pardon these expressions which I shall use to you, although you may judge them immodest: Madam, you have promised to make me your Husband when it is in your power, and I believe it is in your thoughts that one day you may do it, for he who is your present Husband, appears to me and all the world to be half dead already; He being in this condition, why will you not permit me to reap the fruits of a long affection? but anticipating that happy time that I hope must and will come: and Madam, besides these Reasons, I believe and hope it will be for your profit, for I understand the Condition of your marriage runs thus, that if he dies without Issue by you, then his Estate returns to his next Heir, and thereby you will be never the better for your marriage, and all this time you have spent with him, is time ill spent and lost; but if you will permit me, I hope to prevent the losing of the Estate, for I question not but there is so great a harmony in our affections, that a Child will proceed from us, and when you lose your Husband, you will not lose your Estate. This Madam, is good policy, and although in the strictness of your virtue you may not entertain any such thoughts, yet I am confident you may live to repent the not doing it, Therefore hoping that these reasons will be sufficient to over-rule you and that I offer this as much for your content as my own, I ever rest_,

Your constant Lover, _M. G._

CHAP. V.

_Mistress_ Dorothy _having finished this last Story, relates how a woman by her own confession, at her Husbands death discovered the common inconstancy of the Sex, and her disloyalty to her Husband, by being provided before hand._

This (continued Mistress _Dorothy_) was the Letter that our Lover sent to his Mistress, whose chast thoughts engag’d her in a great anger against him, but whether it were real or feign’d you may judge by the sequel, for it was not long er’e he was admitted into her favour, and then having the liberty of converse, and being resolv’d to prosecute his intentions, he so backed his Letters with arguments, that caused her to give a mute compliance, and silence, being the best token of consent, he by that gathered that she did yield, wherefore he again engaging the Chamber-maid in his Designs, and acquainting her that her Mistress had yielded to him in every particular but enjoyment, neither did she refuse him that, he desired her to stand his Friend so far, as to be instrumental in giving him the opportunity to come to her Bed side when she lay alone, as it was usual with her to do; The Chamber-maid believing that she should not anger her Mistress, and oblige her Friend, and being willing to further and not hinder any sport, was not long e’re she gave our Lover his desir’d satisfaction; for she bringing him to the Chamber when her Mistress was in Bed, there left him. He who was not ignorant how to deal with a Lady soon over-rul’d her, and she seeing it was to no purpose to resist, with a kind of willing unwillingness permitted him to come to Bed to her; what they did you may judge by the event, for in convenient time she discovered her self to be with Child, she frequently lying with her husband also; and being with Child her Husband was an overjoy’d man, and did hope, that as he concluded himself able to get a Child, so he might in time be restored to his former health: Our Lovers though they often met, yet they used all wariness and circumspection, and our Gallant to take off the opinion of his still courting his old Mistress, began a Courtship with a new one, or at least pretended so to do, and thus the time was spent till such time as her time came to be delivered of a Child, which proving to be a brave lusty Boy, gave great joy to all parties, especially to the supposed Father, who was much joyed that he had so hopeful an Heir to enjoy his Estate, and his Wife being again strong, and having layn in her full time, he again accompanied her; but in short time after he piqu’d off, and as he had deceived his wife in his life time, so now in his death he cheated the very worms, for they expecting a full body, found nothing but a meer Skelleton to feed on, you may be sure our Lover was joyful enough at the so long wished for, and now happy News of the death of his Rival, neither was his wife much discontented, although by her outward deportment she made the world believe that she was a most disconsolate widow, and she was so reserv’d that for some time she kept her Chamber, and much longer kept within doors, not visiting any body, nor permitting any body to visit her but her Parents, and those who were nearest related to her Husband. However she and her intended Husband held a Correspondency, but it was but with Letters, which were interchanged by her Chamber-maids assistance; In time all these mourning Solemnities were over, and she appear’d abroad again as resplendent as the Sun, and the fame of her plentiful Estate, great vertue, and charming beauty, drew to her many Adorers, whose business was Sirreverence, Love; she who was resolv’d what Instrument she would play on, and what Pipe should make her musick for the future, gave them all the hearing, but was absolute in her answers.

Her Parents seeing she had so many Suiters, desired her to make choice of one of them, and again engage her self in a matrimonial Life, she replyed, that in time she might again be perswaded to do so, but when ever she gave her consent to alter her condition, she intended to be more curious than she had been, and to have more freedom in her choice; They replyed, that indeed they had in a manner impos’d the former Match upon her, which had been fortunate enough, but however, when she had a mind to alter her condition, she should have all possible freedom in her Choice. She being thus left to her own dispose, in short time permitted her old Sweet-heart to make one in the number of her Suiters, what he wanted of Means to carry on his business the more splendidly withal, she supplied him, so that for Gallantry and good Mien, he outdid all her other Suiters, and being confident of Success in his undertaking, he baffl’d them all, who were a Company of whining obsequious Lovers, so that at his appearance in full lustre, they like stars at the day and Suns approach, shrink back, and disapear’d; leaving him to Rule, and Reign Soveraign in that heart where he already had full possession, and now she being absolutely at her own dispose, she told the world that she thought she was obliged to reward his great constancy, by permitting him to be what he had so long desired to be, her Husband: and therefore he was married to her; and now both their joyes, were compleated, and they both thought themselves fully recompenced, for their many troubles and so long stay, especially when they considered how much better their condition was now than it would have been had they been married at such time as they both at first desired; for although he concluded that his Predecessor had possest her, yet it had cost him dear, for his Estate was all given in Exchange, and now lawfully invested and settled on a Child, who although he and all the world believed to be his lawful Heir, yet they knew the contrary, and our Lover was Father of a Son and Heir the first day of his marriage, and which was the greatest Paradox, such a Child as he did conclude was of his own begetting; and now she did not (I suppose) repent of the counsel he had given her, and which they together had put in practice, to the great satisfaction of them both; These Considerations (said Mistress _Dorothy_) I think were very considerable, and conduced much to their satisfaction, and now, said she, I think you can expect no more relations of this nature, for in this condition I left our two Lovers, and here I shall put an end to all that I know of his Adventures.

I seeing that Mistress _Dorothy_ had done, and finding that she had fully finished her discourse, told her that I wish’d all true Lovers, no worse a conclusion of their amours than these two had; but, continued I it was well that they managed their affairs so privately, that neither her Parents nor Friends had any suspition of him, for if they had, it might have fallen out worse with them, and this our recital puts me in mind of a small story that I have heard, which in regard it somewhat resembles yours I shall presently relate to you, and thus it was: