Sociable Letters 291 



for persons of quality to suffer from any person. But 

 the visited and visitors do not alwayes know how to 

 behave themselves, for noble births may have mean 

 breeding, for some are nobly born and meanly bred, 

 and some are humbly born and nobly bred, and 

 some are nobly born and nobly bred, but those are 

 few, and some are neither well born nor well bred, 

 and those are many; but very few are bred so exactly, 

 as to know punctually how to behave themselves to 

 every particular person, and in every several company, 

 much less in every action of their life, which are almost 

 innumerous, and as different. Wherefore those are 

 most to be commended, that can go through the 

 course of their life with fewest errours ; a busie nature 

 is apt to commit most, and they that meddle least in 

 the affairs of the world, and are most sparing of speech, 

 commit fewest. 'Tis true, every living man commits 

 some, but those are happy that can reckon their 

 errours, that they are not past account. But if I write 

 my letter longer, I shall add one errour more to those 

 many that are past, although I am sure you will 

 pardon those wherewith I have offended you, as 

 believing they were not willingly, but ignorantly 

 committed by. Madam, 



Your faithful friend and servant. 



ON FEATHERS, MUFFS AND SWORDS 



Madam, — I shall not trouble you now to buy the 

 round of feathers that came out of France, for I have 

 one made here in this town both cheaper and better 

 than those were; but I have sent as many several 

 messages, or letters, concerning the cap and feathers. 



