AFter so many Proofs of our Affection as we have given you, little did we think you could have been so ungrateful, as thus publiquely to exclaim against us; we would freely excuse your modesty without an Apolo­gy, if you had really cause to complain; but your Reproach­es are as unjust as they are confident, and your Alliga­tions no less false in themselves than unbecoming your Sex. We appeal to all History, whether there were ever a more Amorous Age, and are confident Venus was never so much worshipped in Cyprus, as she has been of late amongst us: Formerly indeed the good Lasses were wont to expect the Teens, but you now adays prevent them.

We are not ignorant of those little Arts you menti­on, used by you to whedle us into Dotage; but we know also that for all your Angelical looks you are the Tay­lors [Page 4]Creatures as much as Natures; and owe your Ro­sie Complexions to the dressing box, we are partly sen­sible how many loathsome hereditary Diseases you de­rive from your wanton Mothers: and care not much for an everlasting Bed-fellow. We understand right well your treacherous Smiles, and your dissembling Tears too, which you have always ready at a Minutes warning. What Pride you take in the number of your Servants, and how subtlely you manage them to the best advantage; feeding all with e­qual hopes to make every one the freer of his presents. Thus you sit in Jacks Lap, and at the same instant tread Will on the Toe; sell a kind look to one for a Diamond Ring, and half a Kiss to another for a Rich Locket, or Bracelet; and then laugh at both the filly Fops, for be­ing bubbled so easily: well therefore may you reckon your Temptations amongst your Studies, but that the Soul and Gallantry of a Man should be basely prostitu­ted to them, is as ridiculous, as for an Eagle to stoop at Flies. We know not (to use your own Compari­son why a Woman should not be viewed with as little Ardour as an handsome Statue. For what is the Influ­ence of Flesh, as to the Eye, above that of Marble? When we come into a spacious Gallery variously be­hung with Curious pieces, we can walk it round, look on this Picture, and like it, then turn our Faces, and forget it in the Beauty of the next; why may we not do so with Women, since they upon the whole mat­ter are but Pictures too; and for the most part scurvily Painted? Not but that we could be content to trifle a­way our idle hours with you; and allow you the end of your Creation, as things born (Ad usum & lusum [Page 5]virorum) for our Pastimes and Delight; but you would have us passionately in Love with you (Heaven bless us) and not only so, but to put on the Marriage Shackles, a slavery worse than those miserable wretches suffer at Algiers, that tugg continually at the Oar. We could love you like any thing, no body knows how long, but for setling of Joynctures, and Coupling for ever and a day, for better, for worse (good Girls) we must therein beg your Diversion.

To be tyed for term of life like a Monkey by the Loyns to a Bed post, with the same Woman is a most uncon­scionable Proposall. Alas, 'Tis Variety that is the Mo­ther of delight, and never was there such a strong Sto­mach but would be cloy'd being confined perpetually to one Dish: Besides, it [...]eems an Infringement of the Li­berty of the Subject and a Violation of Natures Magna Charta we must tell you every one that wears a Petticoat is not capable nor merits the Affections of a man: nay, Commonly it may be said, That the fairest of your Sex (were a mixture of pure white and red, supposing it natural accomplishes the Face) are fitter for Mistresses than Wives and yield a more pleasing entertainment in a Belcony or Coach than Bed: Hence it is that so many Men repent their Bargains so soon, and with the same eagerness have in one years time studied both a Marri­age & a Divorce, having not more long'd to obtain, than having obtained to desert. Their hopes and their Loves perishing together, the fruition of the one proving the expiration of the other: on this occasion the Proverb of Honymoon came into the World; and if any can con­tinue a long affection for such, either the Man is extra­ordinary good, or the Woman exceeding cunning; [Page 6]or else he is a raw Novice, who having no experience of the Sex, imagins all to be as his Wife is; as the Roman Dame supposed all Mens Breath to stink (she having never kissed any else) because her Husbands did so: Nor are we therefore to be Reproached for our zealous Profession before Marriage, because few live up to them after it, or to be censured so bitterly for In­constancy, because we do not persist in our first affection, and declarations: for perhaps the pretty Lady is chan­ged, or does by surrender acquaint us with Discoveries, we neither knew, nor could make before; and there­fore being deceived, and knowing our selves to be so; that we should Act and Compart our selves, as if we were not so, is a Constraint every Mans Spirit cannot submit to, and to be excused as well as the princepal frailties whereunto Humane Nature is liable,

But we need not argue the case thus seriously, The plain Truth is, you would not be so fond of Marriage, but to gain the greater Liberty, & make the Fopps your Husbands Cloaks for your wanton Sallies, knowing how much soever you are rifled abroad, you lose nothing that they are like to miss when you come home, and that whoever you afford the pleasure of getting your Chil­dren, They must certainly be at the Charge of keeping them; Talk not then to us of making loves to your Virtues, if that be the only Charm, what need we lie with you. And though possibly it may be true that there may be some Virtue in some Women, yet we are pretty confident there is any such stock of it in any of you, as to make a Man run out of his Senses for the love of it; Nor think to fright us with your predictions that we shall doat on Dowdies at last, or marry Old Wo­men [Page 7]for their Mony, that are ready to be Hang'd for Witches, for their ugliness; For even that is better than your silly Beggarly Love-marriage which is both the Paradise and Purgatory of Fools. A Wife being in no case so allowable as for getting an Estate.

The pretense for propogation of posterity is insignifi­cant, for we humbly conceive more Children have been begat in these last 4000 years, for the sake of the means, than of the End. And though ‘Land must be Till'd, yet since there are enow, Drudges and Slaves'ith World what need we Plow.’

Let the good Common-wealths-men you talk of look to that, who have not Wit enough to distinguish be­tween the Embraces of a Wife, and the Charms of a Miss, whom you rail at out of meer Envy, because you cannot get Gallants your selves; yet do not dispair ab­solutely, If you will but be obliging and kind, wee'l free you from the dread of leading Apes in Hell, and perhaps when become well strucken in years, we may discend to the Folly of Wedlock with you, If you will in the mean time be good House-wives and scrape toge­ther losty Portions to Bribe us to it; and withall put us in good security that when we purchase you in Fee-tail, we shall not be lyable to the Rent Charge of a Gallant, nor the Encumbrance of the Horn, For to tell the naked [Page 8]Truth we have no great Stomach to marrying till we see other Mens Wives live honester.