'Tis therefore, above all things, very needfull for the increasing of love, that a woman wink at many of her husbands actions; especially if he keep no correspondence with Tiplers, that will be alwaies in the Alehouses; and there too will be serv'd and waited upon, forsooth, to a hairs breadth; nay, and as we perceive, if the Wife brings in the Anchovis upon the Table, without watring them a little, as oftimes happens there, then the house is full of Hell and damnation. For these smaller sort of Gentlemen, are they who sow strife and sedition between man and wife, and continually talk of new Taverns and Alehouses, clean Pots, and the best Wine; they alwaies know where there is an Oxhead newly broach'd: and the first word they speak, as soon as they come together, is, Well Sir, where were you yesternight, that we saw you not at our ordinary meeting place? Ho, saies the t'other, 'twas at the Blew Boar, where I drunk the delicatest Wine that ever my lips tasted. You never tasted the like on't. If I should live a thousand year, the tast would never be out of my thoughts. Nay, if the Gods do yet drink Nectar, it is certainly prest out of those Grapes. Words cannot possibly Decipher or express the tast, though Tully himself, the father of eloquence, having drunk of it, would make the Oration. What do you think then, if you and I went thither immediately and drunk one pint of it standing? I am sure, Sir, that you will, as well as I, admire it above all others. Done it is, and away they go: But it is not long before you see those roses blossoming in their hands, of whose smell, tast, and colour a neat draught is taken, and an excellent exposition of the qualities. Yet the t'other Gentleman commends it to the highest; though he is assured that he tasted a Glass in Master Empty Vessels Cellar that was far delicater, and that he would far esteem beyond this. Nevertheless he acknowledges this to be very good. But the pint being out, the first word is, Hangt, What goes upon one leg? Draws t'other pint of the same Wine. And then they begin to find that the longer they drink, the better it tasts; which is an undeniable sign that it is pure good Wine. And this pint being out again; presently saies the t'other, All good things consist in three: so that we must have the t'other pint. Where upon the second saith, As soon as this is out, we will go with the relish of it in our mouths to Master Clean Pints, to tast his and this against each other. I am contented, so said so done; and thus by the oftentimes tasting and retasting, they grow so mighty loving, that it is impossible for them to depart from one another, because they every foot say, they cannot part with an empty Pot, and this love in a few hours grows on so hot, that the love of the Wife is totally squencht; not only drawing men mightily out of their business, but keeping them late out from their families; and making them like incarnate Divels against their Wives. From whence proceeds, that when they come either whole or half drunk home, there is nothing well to their minds, but they will find one thing or another to controul, bawl or chide with.
To these also may be adjoined those who generally resort to the Miter, Kings Arms, and Plume of Feathers, or some other places where they commonly make their bargains for buying and selling of Goods and Merchandizes; from whence they seldom come before they have spent a large reckoning, and lost more then three of their five sences; thinking themselves no less rich then they are wise; and ly then very subtlely upon the catch to overreach another in a good and advantagious bargain; by which means they themselves are somtimes catcht by the nose with a mouldly old sort of unknown commodity, that they may walk home with, by weeping cross; and next morning there they stand and look as if they had suckt their Dam through a hurdle, and know not which way to turn themselves with their Merchandize they have made; in this manner, bringing their Wives and Children (if they let them know it) into excessive inconveniences; and for all this want for nothing of grumbling and mumbling.
Some sorts of men, Are Tyrants when, Their thirsty Souls are fill'd:
They scold sore hot Like Peep in th' Pot And never can be still'd.
They talk and prate At such a rate, And think of nought but evil;
They fight and brawl, And Wives do mawl, Though all run for the Divel.
But at their draugh, They quaff and laugh Amongst their fellow creatures.
They swear and tear And never fear Old Nick in his worst features.
Who would but say Then, by the way That Woman is distressed,
Who must indure An Epicure With whom she'll ne'r be blessed.
In this last many Fathers commit great errors, who, when they are hot-headed with multiplicity of Wine, take little regard of the bad examples they shew unto their Children and Families. Nay some there are that will in their sobrest sence go with their sons, as if they were their companions, into a Tavern without making any sort of difference; and also, when there is a necessity or occasion for it, know but very slenderly how to demonstrate their paternal prudence and respect; but in this manner let loose the bridle of government over their children.
Thus I knew an understanding Father do, who with some other Gentlemen, and his son, being upon a journy together, to take care of some important affairs; but seeing that at every Inn where they came, that his fellow-travellers were resolute blades, and that he must pay as deep to his son as himself; exhorted his son to take his full share of all things, and especially of the Wine; every foot whispering him in the ear, Peter, drink, and then after a little while, again, Peter, drink; And as he recommended this so earnestly to his son, he himself very diligently lost no time to get his share; which continued so long that going out of the chamber for their necessities, they both fell into a channel, where clasping each other in the arms, the son said, Father! are we not now like brothers?
By this we may observe, what the Father of a Family, by his examples, may do. But you, O well-match'd Woman, have no need to fear this sort of president in your husband, because he is a perfect hater of excessive drinking, and an enemy to such company that alwaies frequent Taverns and Ale-houses; and if he doth go once among good acquaintance, and take a glass more then ordinary, which is but seldom, there's nothing that he doth less then maunder and mumble; but he's all for kissing, hugging and dallying; hating pot-company to the highest, or those that make it their business, or spend their times in the Summer with going a Fishing, and in the Winter go a Birding; upon which sort of Gentlemen this old rime was made:
Who in the Winter Bird, and Summers go a Fishing,
Have no bad meat in Tub, that is not worth the dishing.
But your husband on the contrary, takes especial care of his affairs; and for the pleasure and ease of his wife, goes himself to market, there buies a good joint of meat or a Fowl, and gets it made ready, and sits down and eats it with his beloved: Then when he and you have very relishingly satisfied your appetites, and drunk two or three glas of wine into the bargain, he invites you very quietly to walk up stairs into your chamber to say a day-lesson. Well who could wish for greater Pleasure then this!
O good Woman, how happy are you, if, as well as your husband you can keep your self in these joys and delights. What state or condition is there in this World that may be compared to such a loving, friendly and well accomplished match! For without jesting, it happens hardly once in a thousand times that a match falls out so well. And although it did, yet it is not free from a thousand crosses and dissatisfactions, which are done unto you either by children, wicked friends, or somtimes bad neighbours: and are oftentimes so many, that if they were all drawn up in one Picture; we should, in good truth, see more grief and horror in it, then is demonstrated in the very Picture of Hell it self. But one pound of the hony of sweet love, can easily balance a hundred weight of that terrible and bitter Wormwood.
But where is there one among all the whole number of tender young Gentlewomen, who being incountred by an airy exquisite Lover, that doth not start back with a thousand troublesom cogitations; and beleeves, that he, who thus earnestly affects her, is at the least possessed with one of these terribly evil natures? Nay, perhaps with some what else, as a cross-grain'd pate, a grumbling gizzard, not wel in his sences, jealous thoughts, or the actions of a Cotquean are his companions; and that is more then all these, keeps hid a certain imbecility in his defective nature; which is no waies to be discovered till the nuptial rites be absolutely celebrated.