wanted not for store of Sweethearts, and some of them of very good Estates:
and yet my Father thought none good enough. But he being one that was a
great and zealous Stickler for the Parliament in opposition to the King,
and thinking that _Charles Stuart_ (as then they call'd King _Charles_ the
Second), would never be Restor'd, laid out his Money in Purchasing of
Crown-Lands, having (as he thought) got a mighty Peniworth: But _Oliver_
being dead, and _Charles_ the Second coming in, all his Estate was lost;
and he forc'd to abscond; 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