’Discretion seems absolutely necessary, and accordingly we find that the best Husbands have been most famous for their Wisdom. Homer, who hath drawn a perfect Pattern of a prudent Man, to make it the more compleat, hath celebrated him for the just Returns of Fidelity and Truth to his Penelope; insomuch that he refused the Caresses of a Goddess for her sake, and to use the Expression of the best of Pagan Authors, vetulam suam praetulit Immortalitati, his old Woman was dearer to him than Immortality.

’Virtue is the next necessary Qualification for this domestick Character, as it naturally produces Constancy and mutual Esteem.  Thus Brutus and Porcia were more remarkable for Virtue and Affection than any others of the Age in which they lived.

’Good-Nature is a third necessary Ingredient in the Marriage-State, without which it would inevitably sower upon a thousand Occasions.  When Greatness of Mind is joined with this amiable Quality, it attracts the Admiration and Esteem of all who behold it.  Thus Caesar, not more remarkable for his Fortune and Valour than for his Humanity, stole into the Hearts of the Roman People, when breaking through the Custom, he pronounced an Oration at the Funeral of his first and best beloved Wife.

’Good-Nature is insufficient, unless it be steady and uniform, and accompanied with an Evenness of Temper, which is, above all things, to be preserved in this Friendship contracted for Life.  A Man must be easie within himself, before he can be so to his other self. Socrates, and Marcus Aurelius, are Instances of Men, who, by the Strength of Philosophy, having entirely composed their Minds, and subdued their Passions, are celebrated for good Husbands, notwithstanding the first was yoked with Xantippe, and the other with Faustina.  If the wedded Pair would but habituate themselves for the first Year to bear with one another’s Faults, the Difficulty would be pretty well conquer’d.  This mutual Sweetness of Temper and Complacency, was finely recommended in the Nuptial Ceremonies among the Heathens, who, when they sacrificed to Juno at that Solemnity, always tore out the Gaul from the Entrails of the Victim, and cast it behind the Altar.

’I shall conclude this Letter with a Passage out of Dr. Plot’s Natural History of Staffordshire, not only as it will serve to fill up your present Paper; but if I find my self in the Humour, may give Rise to another; I having by me an old Register, belonging to the Place here under-mentioned.’

Sir Philip de Somervile held the Manors of Whichenovre, Scirescot, Ridware, Netherton, and Cowlee, all in Com.  Stafford, of the Earls of Lancaster, by this memorable Service.  The said Sir Philip shall find, maintain, and sustain, one Bacon Flitch,