Sociable Letters 223 



Puritan who hath been to visit me this afternoon, 

 hath so tired me with her preaching discourse, as I 

 think I shall not recover my weary spirits and deafened 

 ears, this two dayes, unless a quiet sleep cure me. 

 Nay, she hath so filled my head with words, as I 

 doubt it will hinder my silent repose; howsoever I'le 

 try: and so taking my leave as going to bed, I rest. 

 Madam, 



Your faithful fr. and s. 



ON HER RETIRED LIFE 



Madam, — I heard by your last, that the Lady S. P. 

 was to visit you, where, amongst her other discourses 

 she spoke of me, and was pleased to censure and 

 condemn, as to censure the cause, and condemn the 

 manner of my life, saying, that I did either retire 

 out of a fantastick humour, or otherwise I was 

 constrained, in not having the liberty, that usually 

 other wives have, to go abroad, and receive what 

 \dsitors they please. But if she did but know the 

 sweet pleasures, and harmless delights I have by 

 this retirement, she would not have said what she 

 did; and to answer to what she said, this course of 

 life is by my own voluntary choice. For I have liberty 

 to do anything, or to go anywhere, or to keep any 

 company that discretion doth allow and honour 

 approve of; and though I may err in my discretion, 

 yet not in cases of honour, for had I not onely liberty, 

 but were perswaded or inticed by aU the world's 

 allurements, or were threatened with death, to do, 

 or act anything against honour, or to do any thing or 

 act, honour did not approve of, I would not do it ; nay, 

 I would die first. But in that which is called honour, 

 are many ingrediencies, as justice, chastity, truth, 



