the grief of which soon after broke his heart.  My Father being dead, and his Estate lost by the Kings Restauration, my Mother quickly took me from the Boarding-School; and those whom I had scorn’d before, begun now to scorn me as much; my hopes of a good Portion being gone, my Sweet hearts quickly Vanish’d; but being a Young Maid and pretty handsome, an old rich Batchelor that had a kindness for me in my Father’s Life-time, (whom both my Father and myself had then deny’d) thinking that in this Ebb of Fortune he might be more Successful in his Suit, again made his Addresses to me; and tho’ I had as great an Aversation to him then as ever, yet he was mightily Encourag’d by my Mother; who thought in our decclining State, he might support our Family:  And therefore she not only shew’d him all the Countenance he cou’d desire, her self, (for whom indeed he wou’d have been a fitter Match) but also charg’d me likewise to receive him well, for he must be my Husband.  And when I told her I cou’d’nt love him, she call’d me Fool, saying, I shou’d Marry him first, and love him afterwards:  And when I farther objected our Disparity in Age she answer’d with another Musty Proverb, That ’twas good taking Shelter under an old Hedge; and that it was far better being an Old Mans Darling, then a Young Mans Worldling:  And tho’ this didn’t Satisfie me, yet I soon found I must have him or none; For having been brought up too high to make a working Tradesmans Wife, that Portion now was gone that should have helpt me to a better Husband.  And therefore making a vertue of Necessity, I began to be more Complaisant to my Inamorato then I had been formerly; which quickly won his heart to that degree, that in a short time after we were married—­And tho the first Night that I went to Bed with him, I was a Maid, and so knew nothing of that which a new Married couple ought to do, more then what Nature dictated; yet I then thought he went about his Business like a Fumbler, and did that little which he did, at such a rate, it had almost as good have been let alone; for what he did, serv’d only to stir up in me greater Desire for what he couldn’t do.  I found the exercise he offer’d at, had something in it that was very pleasing, which in the heighth of the Encounter I was disappointed in.  And I must own, that I found this a very sensible Affliction, and caus’d in me a greater Aversion to my Husband than I had before:  And therefore I resolv’d to try what those venereal Recreations were; I had but an imperfect Taste of, as soon as I could get an opportunity.

Nor did I wait long before my good Fortune put one in my hand; For my Husband’s Prentice, a handsome brisk young Man (who had but about two years time to serve) I had observ’d was very sweet upon my Maid, who was handsome enough; and having observed that he courted her, I used to watch them, and by that means knew both the time and place of their Courtship; where they used to spend some hours in an Evening when the shop was shut, according as they could find