Thus said I, have I finished my discourse, and as it much resembles your Story, so I believe your Lady was of the same mind as my woman, although she had so much discretion as to conceal it from all the world; but, continued I, your story is very pleasant, it being such an expedient to get an Heir, and thereby get an Estate, as I have not heard of, and indeed the young Gentleman did deserve to have somewhat considerable for the use of his Lady; for I conclude her his ever since he had took the pains to court her and gain her affections, and promise of marriage, and although his Estate was not equal to hers, yet together their Estates would have been so considerable as might have afforded them a sufficient maintenance; but now it fell out better, she not being much damag’d, he much improv’d by travel, and their Estate now being a very plentiful one. Indeed I wonder why friends should hinder marriages when both parties are agreed, only for the deserts of a little money, when as let them do what they can if either party match otherwise, their lives are commonly miserable, and although Matches are upon that account sometimes obstructed, yet commonly in the end they take effect.

CHAP. VI.

A Widow that was wealthy resolv’d to marry none but such an one which should enlarge her Estate, under that Pretence she was cunningly out-witted by one dropping a Letter; she is married to one not worth a groat, instead of a Joynter he gives her a Copy of Verses. He afterwards grows jealous, the sad effects of Jealousie, and a strange Story thereupon.

I having finished my discourse, it was well approved of, but said Mistress Dorothy often-times the one party being covetous, and marrying only out of hopes of a good estate, is out-witted and deceived by the other, and since, said she, we are entred upon the discourse of marriage, I will give you an account of one who was over-reached in that manner.

There lived a woman of my acquaintance who having been once married, and her Husband dead, was resolved to have an other, but withal, she was resolved that she would have such an one that should enlarge her Estate, which although it was considerable enough, yet she intended now to have such a Husband as should bring an Estate equal to, if not exceeding her own. Her former marriage had been when she was very young, and then it was for love, and that Love being dead, she intended to bury all fond love with him, because she had bin so easily courted, and won by her first Husband, several others put in to be her second; but, as she said, having tryed the effects of love, and finding that it had been likely to have made her miserable, she purpos’d to have no more of that, but intended now to have such a man as she did not hate; one accomplish’d, and likely enough to do a womans business, but all this would not do unless he were rich; and being thus resolv’d, she turned off all Suiters that came to her, that she did not know were thus accomplished.

At length came a Gentleman that was a very likely man to the outward appearance, and he professed he had a hundred pounds per annum, and it may be more: Those friends that introduced him into her acquaintance, told her that he was a plain upright honest man, and that what ever he said or should say of himself she might believe, and withal that they knew that his Estate was worth three hundred pounds per annum, he having spoken so modestly of himself as a hundred pounds per annum and his and her friends telling her of three hundred per annum; she knew not what to think of it, or which to believe, sometimes she was of the opinion that he might have the three hundred pounds per annum her friends talked of, and only out of modesty, and to try her temper, spake but of one hundred pounds himself, because he intended after marriage to be the better esteem’d by her, because things proved better than she expected; and at other times she did not know but that he might be an Imposter, and it may be had little or nothing, and that all this was but a Trick to catch and over-reach her, wherefore she was resolv’d to proceed with all caution.

He being desirous to put an end to his courtship and finish all by matrimony, asked her when the day should be wherein they should be joyned? she told him that she was not in haste, and that it was fit before marriage, to make some provision and settlement of Estate, as that afterwards there might not be any cause to repent, and therefore if he would say, what part of his Estate he would settle and ensure on her, and conclude that, the marriage might soon be concluded on.

To this he presently answered, that his Estate was a hundred pounds per annum, and somewhat more, now he would put her to her choice, whether she would have the hundred pound per annum settled on her, or leave the business to his own free will and appointment, telling her that he questioned not but she would deserve well of him, and that then it would be to her advantage, not to have any certain Settlement.

To this proposition she knew not what to answer, but being covetous told him that she would for two or three days consider of it; he was content, and so they parted. The next day he took occasion to visit her again, and pulling somewhat hastily out of his pocket, he dropt a Letter which he did not miss, but going out of the Room left the letter behind him. This Lady seeing it fall, took it up, and seeing that by the Superscription it was directed to him, and being very desirous to know somewhat of his affairs, she was resolv’d to keep and peruse it: wherefore he soon after leaving the house, and she being retired, and having opened the Letter found these Lines:

Sir,