N° 653. Friday, March Quis talia fando 4. Myrmidonum, Dolopumve, aut duri miles Ulyffis, Quamquam animus meminisse horret luctuque refugit, Incipiam. SIR, F Virg. Drury-Lane, Feb. 28. 1714. OR the Benefit of thofe that are under your Direction, I crave leave to erect for their Imitation, the Characters of two of the moft Godlike Women, that the prefent Age has given Existence to; and thefe Ornaments to the Pofterity of Adam, happen'd not to be Moderns only, but of the very Country that gave us our first Breath, which is an Honour that other Nations in After-ages may difpute with this, with the Fervour which attended the An⚫cients in their Difputations upon the Birth of Homer, if the Story fhould be transmitted to them. YOU are to know, that a Nobleman, of one of the beft Families in this Kingdom, was bleft in Marriage with a Lady, who by the Benevolence of a kind Providence, was the Repository of all the Qualities of Body ⚫ and Mind, that are defireable by one that would find Friendship and Felicity in a Wife; but it so happened that, in respect to her Affection and good Manners were wanting in his Lordship; but she by an happy Education, being Mistress of her Duty towards God, never, not under the fevereft Usage, flackned that Obe• dience which she had religiously contracted to pay to 6 •her Lord. IN Procefs of Time, a Separation was fuggefted to his Lordship, who took a speedy Occafion of fignifying it to his Lady; who at the first hearing ceafed to to be Mistress of her felf; but a little Recollection reftored her the Life again, which this Severity had taken from her; and after fome Tears had leffen'd the Weight that was upon her Spirits, the threw her self at the Feet of her Lord, and faid, I deferve a Difcipline from • Heaven, and it may be the Will of God, that I should undergo this Punishment; but it does not appear to me, ⚫ that I have deferved it at the Hand of your Lordship; • but fince I cannot doubt of its being your Defire, to which it has been the Care of my Life to pay an exact Conformity, to this, the most unwelcome Reproof that ever did attend me, my Compliance is ready, and in refpe&t to Time, your Lordship fhall be obey'd. ་ SEPARATION fucceeded,and my Lord allowed ⚫ her in proportion to her Quality, for a Time; but at length he fhorten'd that, commanded her to retire from her Acquaintance, and to renounce her Quality, that it might not be known in her new Neighbourhood, who fhe was: The poor Lady, who had read many hard Leffons in the School of Obedience, refigned without complaint, to the will of her Tyrant; but my Lord by clipping her Allowance in a gradual Way, depriv'd her of the Convenience of a Servant, and in a fhort Time a Report of her being Dead circulated through ⚫ the Town. 'WHEN common Fame had kill'd her, my Lord ' mourn'd in Form, and with Decency; but affured her at the fame time by the Hand that convey'd her Quarterage, that he would totally reftrain, even that, if • ever the offered to rise against this Report: Obedience ' fhe very well understood, and observed, so that no Que'ftion was made of her Death. 'IN fome time after, a Gentleman gave my Lord an Invitation to a Supper: An Accident led him through the Kitchen, where he faw a Lafs, that immediately ftruck his Fancy His Paffions rofe and brought him 'back to her, and a Salute was attempted; which the refifted with fo much Modefty and Good manners, as gained upon him to a Degree that kindled a Defire of making her his Wife, and he immediately propos'd it to her to which the faid, My Lord, the vaft Difproportion that is between me and your Lordship, with the VOL. IX. E • Stain < Stain that must accrue to you, renders it almost impoffible for me to believe it your Intention; and I truft that the Goodness of GOD will skreen me from the Sin and the Difgrace of an immodest Action. The good Senfe, the Simplicity and Candour of the Woman ftrengthen'd his Propenfity, and he ardently reply'd, that he in• rended nothing worse to her than Marriage, which, if fbe confented, fhould be confummated within the Week. THE Ceremony pafs'd in afew Days, and her Deport*ment, grac'd with Piety and profound Humility, attrac⚫ted the Efteem even of those that knew her not; and the • Report of the former Lady's being dead never met with • Contradiction; fo that this was every where received ⚫ for the real Lady, and was vifited and respected by all the Ladies of Quality. AFTER this Marriage, my Lord totally neglect ⚫ed his former Lady; who for a Time had no Food but ◄ what came from a Credit that was given her by a generous and compaffionate Tradesman. THE Neglect of my Lord continued, the Debt • fwell'd to the Sum of ten Pounds, and my Lord's Care being wanting in the Payment of it, the good Lady went to the Creditor, and faid, Sir, I am largely indebted to you, and my next Care is how to difcharge my Obligation; mine is not a common Cafe, and under a full Affurance of Secrecy on your Part, it is that I tell you, that I am the Wife of a Nobleman, who cohabits with another • Woman, and, by Neglect, has reduced me to the laft Ex tremity of Want; but my greateft Concern is for you, and your Advice is requir'd in the Cafe. MADAM, faid he, permit me to arrest you, and Juffer your felf to be ill ufed by the Officers under the Window of your Lord; but affure your felf, that it fhould be my Choice to lofe my Debt, rather than you should have ill Treatment; and this should not be my Advice, bad I not a View in it to a greater Good to your Ladyship. 2 THE good Lady confented: The Officers feiz'd her: And as they were leading her over Lincoln's InnFields, against my Lord's Lodgings in Holborn Row; the Poor Lady refused to go any further, upon which the Officers in their merciless Way, began to drag her, tore " tore her Clothes, pull'd her Hair about her Shoulders : The People gather'd, a great Noife enfuing, the Reputed Lady heard it, and ran immediately to a Window of the Dining Room, out of which the faw this Affli&ed Object: She ordered her Woman down Stairs, to inquire into the Meaning of that Disorder; who return'd with this Answer, That it was a poor Gentlewoman under an Arreft for ten Pounds, and the Officers were leading her to Prifon. Oftop them, faid the Lady, I'll pay the Debt; bid one of the Officers come up. When the Officer came, Why are you fo cruel, faid he, to • that poor Gentlewoman? She is our Prifoner, faid he, and becaufe the Debt is not paid, the Plaintiff has ordered her to the Marfhalfea; he refuses to go, and we are obliged to ufe Violence, for it is our Duty to carry over. Here is your Debt and Charges, faid the Lady, and let your Prifoner come to me. 6 ber WHEN the Officers were discharg'd, she turned to the Diftreffed Lady, and faid, Madam, you have the • Look and Manners of a Gentlewoman, which aggra• vates my Concern for your deplorable Condition. Pray tell me who you are, and how I may convey to you fuch Relief as you need in time to come. Madam, faid the poor Lady, your Charity will be very welcome to me, but • I fhould be glad if your Ladyfbip would decline the Knowledge of my Perfon. No, Madam, faid fhe, I must know who you are, for I would relieve you according to your Quality. Madam, said the poor Lady, it seems a very hard Fate that a Perfon of your Virtue and Liberality, fhould undergo the Affliction, that I am afraid will be given you, by the Account which you require. Why, • Madam, faid the Reputed Lady, should it give any other Concern, than that which is a Debt from me to every Object? Madam, faid the poor Lady, it too nearly concerns your felf. Nay then, faid the other, I de• mand it as my Right. If you will know, faid the good • Lady, I am to tell you that I am the Lady C • and have a Right in your Lord before you, which I am perfuaded you are ignorant of; and if my Lord bad continued to me but the bare Conveniences of Life, bis • Character should not have been darken'd by my Complaints; for I know that any Refentment on my Part, *would E 2 n; ⚫ would not prevent the Sin in my Lord, and on your • Part there is no Guilt contracted, for the Report of my Death is your Juftification in all that is paft; and the Will of my Lord being the Rule of that Part of my Action, which relates to him, I was determined to a Compliance till abfolute Neceffity should force my Intention. every Mo • MADAM, laid the Reputed Lady, I will know • the Truth of this Matter before I fleep; and do affure you, that if it shall appear to me, as you say, I shall not only • renounce the Bed of my Lord but do the best Offices I can Lord towards your Reconciliation. I expect my ⚫ment, and it may not be well for you, to be here at his coming in; but please to let me know where you are, that the good Offices I intend you, may not be loft; and it is my Request, you would accept of this Purse, for you find immediate Subfiftence in it. THE poor Lady withdrew, and my Lord came home in a very little Time, who finding the Reputed Lady in great Affliction, asked the Meaning of that Dif order? My Lord, faid fhe, a fad Accident has brought a Thing to my Knowledge, upon which I am to ask you a Question, and must conjure you to answer to it, as you • will answer it at the Great Tribunal. Is your firft Lady Living? After fome Pause, faid he, What have you ⚫ heard of her, Madam? My Lord, faid fhe, it is not an • Hour fince I paid a Debt to rescue her from the Sheriffs Officers, who had torn her Clothes, and used the greateft Rudeness, because he refused to go to Prifon; and from her own Mouth I extorted an Acknowledgment of her Quality and prefent Condition; but it came from her with a Regret that feem'd to regard the Quiet and • Credit of your Lordship. So that from this Day Imuft forbear your Bed; but shall never be wanting in the beft Services I can contribute, and shall have no Enjoyment till you cohabit with your Lady in comfort. SHE renounced his Bed, and prevail'd with him to receive his Lady; and by her good Offices, their Peace was preserved till the Death of my Lady. After which my Lord propos'd Marriage to her again; and the then became his lawful Wife. • MY Lord fettled 400 l. a Year upon her, which was the most his Eftate could then bear; out of which, in Honour |