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Mrs. Betty is (I cannot by what means or methods imagine) grown mightily acquainted with what passes in the town; she knows all that matter of my lord such-a-one's leading my lady such-a-one out from the play; she is prodigiously acquainted, all of a sudden, with the world, and asked her sister Jane the other day in an argument, 'Dear sister, how should you know any thing, that hear nothing but what we do in our own family?' I do not much like her maid.

No. 6.] Wednesday, March 18, 1713.

I HAVE despatched my young women, and the town has them among them; it is necessary for the elucidation of my future discourses, which I desire may be denominated, as they are the precepts of a Guardian, Mr. Ironside's Precautions; I say it is, after what has been already declared, in the next place necessary to give an account of the males of this worthy family, whose annals I am writing. The affairs of women being chiefly domestic, and not made up of so many circumstances as the duties of

of the males under my care, in so few words as I did the explanation which regarded my wo

men.

Sir Harry Lizard, of the county of Northampton, son and heir of the late sir Marmaduke, is now entered upon the twenty-sixth year of his age, and is now at his seat in the country.

Mrs. Mary, the youngest daughter, whom they rally and call Mrs. Ironside, because I have named her the Sparkler, is the very quint-men arc, I fear I cannot despatch the account essence of good-nature and generosity; she is the perfect picture of her grandfather; and if one can imagine all good qualities which adorn human life become feminine, the seeds, nay, the blossom of them, are apparent in Mrs. Mary. It is a weakness I cannot get over, (for how ri diculous is a regard to the bodily perfections of a man who is dead) but I cannot resist my partiality to this child, for being so like her grandfather; how often have I turned from her, to hide the melting of my heart when she has been talking to me! I am sure the child has no skill in it, for artifice could not dwell under that visage;. but if I am absent a day from the family, she is sure to be at my lodging the next morning to know what is the matter. At the head of these children, who have very plentiful fortunes, provided they marry with mine and their mother's consent, is my lady Lizard; who, you cannot doubt, is very well visited. Sir William Oger, and his son almost at age, are frequently at our house on a double consideration. The knight is willing, (for so he very gallantly expresses himself) to marry the mother, or he will consent, whether that be so or not, that his son Oliver shall take any one of the daughters Noll likes best.

Mr. Rigburt, of the same county, who gives in his estate much larger, and his family more ancient, offers to deal with us for two daughters. Sir Harry Pandolf has writ word from his seat in the country, that he also is much inclined to an alliance with the Lizards, which he has declared in the following letter to my lady; she showed it me this morning.

'MADAM,

'I have heard your daughters very well spoken of: and though I have very great offers in my own neighbourhood, and heard the small-pox is very rife at London, I will send my eldest son to see them, provided that by your ladyship's answer, and your liking of the rent-roll which I send herewith, your ladyship assures me he shall have one of them, for I do not think to have my son refused by any woman; and so, madam, I conclude,

6 Your most humble servant,

HENRY PENDOLA.'

The estate at present in his hands is above three thousand a-year, after payment of taxes and all necessary charges whatsoever. He is a man of good understanding, but not at all what is usually called a man of shining parts. His virtues are much greater than accomplishments, as to his conversation. But when you come to consider his conduct with relation to his manners and fortune, it would be a very great injury not to allow him [to be] a very fine gentleman. It has been carefully provided in his education, that he should be very ready at calculations. This gives him a quick alarm inwardly upon all undertakings; and in a much shorter time than is usual with men who are not versed in business, he is master of the ques. tion before him, and can instantly inform himself with great exactness in the matter of profit or loss that shall arise from any thing proposed to him. The same capacity, joined to an honest nature, makes him very just to other men, as well as to himself. His payments are very punctual, and I dare answer he never did, or ever will, undertake any piece of building, or any ornamental improvement of his house, garden, park, or lands, before the money is in his own pocket wherewith he is to pay for such undertaking. He is too good to purchase labourers or artificers (as by this means he certainly could) at an under rate; but he has by this means what I think he deserves from his superior prudence, the choice of all who are most knowing and able to serve him. With his ready money, the builder, mason, and carpenter, are enabled to make their market of gentlemen in his neighbourhood, who inconsiderately employ them; and often pay their undertakers by sale of some of their land: whereas, were the lands on which those improvements are made, sold to the artificers, the buildings would be rated as lumber in the purchase. Sir Harry has for ever a year's income, to extend his charity,

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serve his pleasures, or regale his friends. His servants, his cattle, his goods, speak their master a rich man. Those about his person, as his bailiff, the groom of his chamber, and his butler, have a cheerful, not a gay air: the servants below them seem to live in plenty, but not in wantonness. As sir Henry is a young man, and of an active disposition, his best figure is on horse-back. But before I speak of that, I should acquaint you, that during his infancy all the young gentlemen of the neighbourhood were welcome to a part of the house, which was called the school; where, at the charge of the family, there was a grammar-master, a plain sober man, maintained (with a salary, besides his diet, of fifty pounds a-year) to instruct all such children of gentlemen or lower people, as would partake of his education. As they grew up, they were allowed to ride out with him upon his horses. There were always ten or twelve for the saddle in readiness to attend him and his favourites, in the choice of whom he showed a good disposition, and distributed his kindness among them by turns, with great good-nature. All horses, both for the saddle and swift draught, were very well bitted, and a skilful rider, with a riding-house, wherein he (the riding master) commanded, had it in orders to teach any gen. tleman's son of the county that would please to learn that exercise. We found our account in this proceeding, as well in real profit, as in esteem and power in the country; for as the whole shire is now possessed by gentlemen who owe sir Harry a part of education which they all value themselves upon, (their horseman ship) they prefer his horses to all others, and it is ten per cent. in the price of a steed, which appears to come out of his riding-house.

in this, and has an admirable fancy in the dress of the riders; some admired country girl is to hold the prize, her lovers to trot, and not to mend their pace into a gallop when they are out-trotted by a rival; some known country wit to come upon the best pacer; these, and the like little joyful arts, gain him the love of all who do not know his worth, and the esteem of all who do. Sir Harry is no friend to the race-horse; he is of opinion it is inhuman, that animals should be put upon their utmost strength and mettle for our diversion only. However, not to be particular, he puts in for the queen's plate every year, with orders to his rider never to win or be distanced; and, like a good country gentleman, says, it is a fault in all ministries, that they encourage no kind of horses but those which are swift.

As I write lives, I dwell upon small matters. being of opinion with Plutarch, that little circumstances show the real man better than things of greater moment. But good economy is the characteristic of the Lizards. I remember a circumstance about six years ago, that gave me hopes he would one time or other make a figure in parliament; for he is a landed man, and considers his interest, though he is such, to be impaired or promoted according to the state of trade. When he was but twenty years old, I took an opportunity in his presence, to ask an intelligent woollen-draper, what he gave for his shop [at] the corner of Change-alley? The shop is, I believe, fourteen feet long, and eight broad. I was answered, Ninety pounds a year. I took no notice, but the thought descended into the breast of sir Harry, and I saw on his table the next morning, a computation of the value of land in an island, consisting of By this means it is, that sir Harry, as I was so many miles, with so many good ports; the going to say, makes the best figure on horse-value of each part of the said island, as it lay back; for his usual hours of being in the field are well known; and at those seasons the neighbouring gentlemen, his friends and schoolfellows, take a pleasure in giving him their company, with their servants well behaved, and horses well commanded.

I cannot enough applaud sir Harry for a partieular care in his horses. He not only bitts all which are ridden, but also all which are for the coach or swift draught, for grace adds mightily to the price of strength; and he finds his account in it at all markets, more especially for the coach or troop horses, of which that county produces the most strong and ostentatious. To keep up a breed for any use whatever, he gives plates for the best performing horse in every way in which that animal can be serviceable. There is such a prize for him that trots best, such for the best walker, such for the best galloper, such for the best pacer; then for him who draws most in such a time to such a place, then to him that carries best such a load on his back. He delights

to such ports, and produced such commodities. The whole of his working was to know why so few yards near the Change, was so much better than so many acres in Northamptonshire; and what those acres in Northamptonshire would be worth, were there no trade at all in this island.

It makes my heart ache, when I think of this young man, and consider upon what plain maxims, and in what ordinary methods men of estate may do good wherever they are seated, that so many should be what they are! It is certain, that the arts which purchase wealth or fame, will maintain them; and I attribute the splendour and long continuance of this family, to the felicity of having the genius of the founder of it run through al! his male line. Old sir Harry, the great-grandfather of this gentleman, has written in his own hand upon all the deeds which he ever signed, in the humour of that sententious age, this sentence, There are four good mothers, of whom are often born four unhappy daughters; truth be

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gets hatred, happiness pride, security danger, f earl of Leicester, and sir Thomas Smith. Sir and familiarity contempt.'

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With speedy step life posts away.

I THIS morning did myself the honour to visit lady Lizard, and took my chair at the tea-table, at the upper end of which that graceful woman, with her daughters about her, appeared to me with greater dignity than ever any figure, either of Venus attended by the graces, Diana with her nymphs, or any other celestial who owes her being to poetry.

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Thomas writes a letter to sir Francis Walsingham, full of learned gallantry, wherein you may observe he promises himself the French king's brother (who it seems was but a cold lover) would be quickened by seeing the queen in person, who was then in the thirty-ninth year of her age. A certain sobriety in thoughts, words, and action, which was the praise of that age, kept the fire of love alive; and it burnt so equally, that it warmed and preserved, without tormenting and consuming our beings. The letter I mention is as follows:

"To the Right Worshipful Mr. Francis Walsingham, Ambassador, resident in France.

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"SIR,

The discourse we had there, none being present but our own family, consisted of private I am sorry that so good a matter should, matters, which tended to the establishment of upon so nice a point, be deferred. We may say these young ladies in the world. My lady, 1 that the lover will do little, if he will not take observed, had a mind to make mention of the the pains once ace to see his love; but she must proposal to Mrs. Jane, of which she is very first say yea, before he see her, or she him: fond, and I as much avoided, as being equally twenty ways might be devised why he might against it; but it is by no means proper the come over, and be welcome, and possibly do young ladies should observe we ever dissent; more in an hour than he may in two years. therefore I turned the discourse, by saying, 'it Cupido ille qui vincit omnia, in oculos insidet, was time enough to think of marrying a young et ex oculis ejaculatur, et in oculos utriusque lady, who was but three-and-twenty, ten years videndo non solum, ut ait poeta, fæmina virum. hence.' The whole table was alarmed at the scd vir fæminam;' that powerful being Cupid, assertion, and the Sparkler scalded her fingers, who conquers all things, resides in the eyes, by leaning suddenly forward to look in my he sends out all his darts from the eyes: by face: but my business at present was to make throwing glances at the eyes (according to the my court to the mother; therefore, without poet) not only the woman captivates the man, regarding the resentment in the looks of the but also the man the woman. What force, children, Madam,' said I, ' there is a petulant I pray you, can hearsay,' and 'I think, and and hasty manner practised in this age, in hur- I trust,' do in comparison of that 'cùm præsens rying away the life of woman, and confining præsentem tuetur et alloquitur, et furore forthe grace and principal action of it to those sitan amoris ductus, amplectitur,' when they years wherein reason and discretion are most face to face see and converse with each other, feeble, humour and passion most powerful. and the lover in a ecstacy, not to be comFrom the time a young woman of quality has manded, snatches an embrace, and saith to first appeared in the drawing-room, raised a himself, and openly that she may hear, Tewhisper and curiosity of the men about her, neone te me, an etiamnum somno volunt fæhad her health drank in gay companies, and minæ videri cogi ad id quod maximum capiunt?' distinguished at public assemblies: I say, ma- Are you in my arms, my fair one, or do we both dam, if within three or four years of her first dream, and will women even in their sleep seem appearance in town, she is not disposed of, forced to what they most desire? If we be cold, her beauty is grown familiar, her eyes are dis- it is our part, besides the person, the sex rearmed, and we seldom after hear her men- quireth it. Why are you cold? Is it not a tioned but with indifference. What doubles young man's part to be bold, courageous, and my grief on this occasion is, that the more to adventure? If he should have, he should discreetly the lady behaves herself, the sooner have but honorificam repulsam;' even a reis her glory extinguished. Now, madam, if pulse here is glorious: the worst that can be merit had a greater weight in our thoughts, said of him is but as of Phaeton, Quam si non when we form to ourselves agreeable charac- tenuit magnis tamen excidit ausis: though he ters of women, men would think, in making could not command the chariot of the sun, his their choices, of such as would take care of, as fall from it was illustrious. So far as I conceive, well as supply children for, the nursery. It Hæc est sola nostra anchora, hæc jacenda est was not thus in the illustrious days of good in nobis alea' this is our only anchor, this die queen Elizabeth. I was this morning turning must be thrown. In our instability, ' Unum over a folio, called, The Complete Ambassador, momentum est uno momento perfectum facconsisting chiefly of letters from lord Burleigh, | tum, ac dictum stabilitatem facere potest?

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Friday, March 20, 1713.

Animum rege

Govern the mind.

Hor. Lib. 1. Ep. ii. 62.

Though my lady was in very good humour, upon the insinuation that, according to the No. 8.] Elizabeth scheme, she was but just advanced above the character of a girl; I found the rest of the company as much disheartened, that they were still but mere girls. I went on, therefore, to attribute the immature marriages A GUARDIAN cannot bestow his time in any which are solemnized in our days to the im- office more suitable to his character, than in portunity of the men, which made it impos-representing the disasters to which we are exsible for young ladies to remain virgins so long as they wished from their own inclinations, and the freedom of a single life.

There is no time of our life, under what character soever, in which men can wholly divest themselves of an ambition to be in the favour of women. Cardan, a grave philosopher and physician, confesses in one of his chapters, that though he had suffered poverty, repulses, calumnies, and a long series of afflictions, he never was thoroughly dejected, and impatient of life itself, but under a calamity which he suffered from the beginning of his twenty-first to the end of his thirtieth year. He tells us, that the raillery he suffered from others, and the contempt which he had of himself, were afflictions beyond expression. I mention this only as an argument extorted from this good and grave man, to support my opinion of the irresistible power of women. He adds in the same chapter, that there are ten thousand afflictions and disasters attend the passion itself; that an idle word imprudently repeated by a fair woman, and vast expenses to support her folly and vanity, every day reduce men to poverty and death; but he makes them of little consideration to the miserable and insignificant condition of being incapable of their favour.

posed by the irregularity of our passions. I think I speak of this matter in a way not yet taken notice of, when I observe that they make men do things unworthy of those very passions. I shall illustrate this by a story I have lately read in the Royal Commentaries of Peru, wherein you behold an oppressor a most contemptible creature after his power is at an end; and a person he oppressed so wholly intent upon revenge till he had obtained it, that in the pursuit of it he utterly neglected his own safety; but when that motive of revenge was at an end, returned to a sense of danger, in such a manner as to be unable to lay hold of occasions which offered themselves for certain security, and expose himself from fear to apparent hazard. The motives which I speak of are not indeed so much to be called passions, as ill habits arising from passions, such as pride and revenge, which are improvements of our infirmities, and are, methinks, but scorn and anger regularly conducted. But to my story.

Licenciado Esquivel, governor of the city Potocsi, commanded two hundred men to march out of that garrison towards the kingdom of Tucman, with strict orders to use no Indians in carrying their baggage, and placed himself at a convenient station without the gates, to observe how his orders were put in execution; he found they were wholly neglected, and that Indians were laden with the baggage of the Spaniards, but thought fit to let them march

I make no manner of difficulty of professing I am not surprised that the author has expressed himself after this manner, with relation to love the heroic chastity so frequently professed by humorists of the fair sex, generally ends in an unworthy choice, after having over-by till the last rank of all came up, out of which looked overtures to their advantage. It is for he seized one man called Aguire, who had two this reason that I would endeavour to direct, Indians laden with his goods. Within few days and not pretend to eradicate the inclinations after he was taken in arrest, he was sentenced of the sexes to each other. Daily experience to receive two hundred stripes. Aguire represhows us, that the most rude rustic grows hu- sented by his friends, that he was the brother of mane as soon as he is inspired by this passion; a gentleman, who had in his country an estate, it gives a new grace to our manners, a new with vassalage of Indians, and hoped his birth dignity to our minds, a new visage to our per- would exempt him from a punishment of so much sons. Whether we are inclined to liberal arts, indignity. Licenciado persisted in the kind of to arms, or address in our exercise, our im- punishment he had already pronounced; upon provement is hastened by a particular object which Aguire petitioned that it might be altered whom we would please. Cheerfulness, gentle-to one that he should not survive; and though ness, fortitude, liberality, magnificence, and all a gentleman, and from that quality not liable to

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suffer so ignominious a death, humbly besought | voured to avoid his enemy, and took a journey
his excellency that he might be hanged. But of three or four hundred leagues from him,
though Licenciado appeared all his life, before supposing that Aguire would not pursue him
he came into power, a person of an easy and at such a distance; but Esquivel's flight did but
tractable disposition, he was so changed by his increase Aguire's speed in following. The first
office, that these applications from the unfor- journey which Esquivel took was to the city
tunate Aguire did but the more gratify his in- Los Reyes, being three hundred and twenty
solence; and during the very time of their leagues distant; but in less than fifteen days
mediation for the prisoner, he insulted them Aguire was there with him; whereupon Es-
also, by commanding with a haughty tone, that quivel took another flight, as far as to the city
his orders should be executed that very instant. of Quito, being four hundred leagues distant
This, as it is usual on such occasions, made from Los Reyes; but in a little more than
the whole town flock together; but the prin- twenty days Aguire was again with him; which
cipal inhabitants, abhorring the severity of Li- being intimated to Esquivel, he took another
cenciado, and pitying a gentleman in the con- leap as far as Cozco, which is five hundred
dition of Aguire, went in a body, and besought leagues from Quito; but in a few days after he
the governor to suspend, if not remit the pu- arrived there, came also Aguire, travelling all
nishment. Their importunities prevailed on the way on foot, without shoes or stockings,
him to defer the execution for eight days; but saying, 'that it became not the condition of a
when they came to the prison with his warrant, whipt rascal to travel on horseback, or appear
they found Aguire already brought forth, strip- amongst men.' In this manner did Aguire
ped, and mounted on an ass, which is the pos- haunt and pursue Esquivel for three years and
ture wherein the basest criminals are whipped four months; who being now tired and wearied
in that city. His friends cried out, 'Take him with so many long and tedious journies, resolved
off, take him off,' and proclaimed their order to fix his abode at Cozco, where he believed
for suspending his punishment; but the youth, that Aguire would scarce adventure to attempt
when he heard that it was only put off for eight any thing against him, for fear of the judge
days, rejected the favour, and said, 'All my who governed that city, who was a severe man,
endeavours have been to keep myself from impartial and inflexible in all his proceedings;
mounting this beast, and from the shame of and accordingly took a lodging in the middle
being seen naked; but since things are come of the street of the great church, where he
thus far, let the sentence proceed, which will lived with great care and caution, wearing a
be less than the fears and apprehensions I shall coat of mail under his upper coat, and went
have in these eight days ensuing; besides, I always armed with his sword and dagger, which
shall not need to give further trouble to my are weapons not agreeable to his profession.
friends for intercession on my behalf, which is .However Aguire followed hither also, and hav-
as likely to be ineffectual as what hath alreadying in vain dogged him from place to place,
passed.' After he had said this, the ass was
whipped forward, and Aguire ran the gantlet
according to the sentence. The calm manner
in which he resigned himself, when he found
his disgrace must be, and the scorn of dallying
with it under a suspension of a few days,
which mercy was but another form of the go-
vernor's cruelty, made it visible that he took
comfort in some secret resolution to avenge
the affront.

After this indignity, Aguire could not be persuaded (though the inhabitants of Potocsi often importuned him from the spirit they saw in him) to go upon any military undertaking, but excused himself with a modest sadness in his countenance, saying, 'that after such a shame as his was, death must be his only remedy and consolation, which he would endeavour to obtain as soon as possible.'

day after day, he resolved to make the attempt upon him in his own house, which he entered, and wandered from room to room, till at last he came into his study where Licenciado lay on a couch asleep. Aguire stabbed him with his dagger with great tranquillity, and very leizurely wounded him in other parts of the body, which were not covered with his coat of mail. He went out of the house in safety; but as his resentment was sated, he now began to reflect upon the inexorable temper of the governor of the place. Under this apprehension he had not composure enough to fly to a sanctuary, which was near the place where he committed the fact; but ran into the street, frantic and distracted, proclaiming him. self a criminal, by crying out, 'Hide me, hide me.'

The wretched fate and poor behaviour o. Under this melancholy he remained in Peru, Licenciado, in flying his country to avoid the until the time in which the office of Esquivel same person whom he had before treated with expired; after which, like a desperate man, be so much insolence, and the high resentment of pursued and followed him, watching an oppor a man so inconsiderable as Aguire, when much tunity to kill him, and wipe off the shame of injured, are good admonitions to little spirits the late affront. Esquivel, being informed of in exalted stations, to take care how they treat this desperate resolution by his friends, endea-brave men in low condition.

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