290 The Duchess of Newcastle 



Lord, you, and your brother, do traffick so much with 

 Nature and art, as I shall be but as a pedlar; howbeit, 

 it is better to have some dealings than none at all and 

 I will rather trade with toyes, than starve for want of 

 a living, and in order to make my self capable, I have 

 bound my self prentice to My Lord, and am willing 

 to serve out my time, but My Lord is so generous, as 

 to give me my freedom, and I must also desire you 

 to give me at present so much freedom, as to subscribe 

 myself. Madam, 



Your very faithful friend and servant. 



ON VISITORS AND VISITED 



Madam, — ^As it was formerly the fashion, or custom 

 of those that received visits, if they were weary of 

 their visitors, to look in their watches, or to gape, or 

 to yawn; so now it is to have alwayes, or for the most 

 part, pen, ink, and paper lying upon the table in their 

 chamber, for an excuse they are writing letters; as 

 for the first, it is rude, and the last for the most part 

 is false. Wherefore methinks it would be an honester 

 and nobler custom to speak the truth, as to say, they 

 desire not to be visited, at such times as they would 

 not have company, or from such persons as they care 

 not for; or to tell them truly, that they cannot enter- 

 tain them, having some occasions which require their 

 attendance or imployment, or that they are not well, 

 and company would be troublesome to them. But to 

 receive their visits, and then not entertain them 

 handsomly, civilly, courteously, but dissemblingly, 

 carelessly or disrespectfully, is neither fit for persons 

 of quality to do to any company, if they will think 

 them worthy to receive a visit of them; neither fit 



