which is, above all things, to
be preserved in this Friendship contracted for Life. A Man must be
easie within himself, before he can be so to his other self.
_Socrates_, and _Marcus Aurelius_, are Instances of Men, who, by the
Strength of Philosophy, having entirely composed their Minds, and
subdued their Passions, are celebrated for good Husbands,
notwithstanding the first was yoked with _Xantippe_, and the other
with _Faustina_. If the wedded Pair would but habituate themselves for
the first Year to bear with one another's Faults, the Difficulty would
be pretty well conquer'd. This mutual Sweetness of Temper and
Complacency, was finely recommended in the Nuptial Ceremonies among
the Heathens, who, when they sacrificed to _Juno_ at that Solemnity,
always tore out the Gaul from the Entrails of the Victim, and cast it
behind the Altar.

'I shall conclude this Letter with a Passage out of Dr. _Plot's
Natural History of Staffordshire_, not only as it will serve to fill
up your present Paper; but if I find my self in the Humour, may give
Rise to another; I having by me an old Register, belonging to the
Place here under-mentioned.'

Sir _Philip de Somervile_ held the Manors of _Whichenovre,
Scirescot, Ridware, Netherton_, and _Cowlee_, all in _Com.
Stafford_, of the Earls of _Lancaster_, by this memorable Service.
The said Sir _Philip_ shall find, maintain, and sustain, one _Bacon
Flitch_, hanging in his Hall at _Whichenovre_ ready arrayed all
times of the Year, but in _Lent_, to be given to every Man or Woman
married, after the Day and the Year of their Marriage be past, in
Form following.

Whensoever that any one such before named will come to enquire for
the Bacon, in their own Person, they shall come to the Bailiff, or
to the Porter of the Lordship of _Whichenovre_, and shall say to
them in the manner as ensueth;

'Bayliff, or Porter, I doo you to know, that I am come for my self,
to demand one _Bacon Flyke_ hanging in the Hall of the Lord of
_Whichenovre_, after the Form thereunto belonging.'

After which Relation, the Bayliff or Porter shall assign a Day to
him, upon Promise by his Faith to return, and with him to bring
Twain of his Neighbours. And in the mean Time the said Bailiff shall
take with him Twain of the Freeholders of the Lordship of
_Whichenovre_, and they three shall go to the Manor o