; because it learns them alwaies such a curious
remembrance. And really it is almost impossible that the husband at
these rates can grow lean with it; because he as well as his wife sits
to be cram'd up too: And he can now with his dearest daily contrive
and practice what the Nurse shall make ready, that his Child-bed wife
may eat with a better appetite, and recover new strength again. I
would therefore advise the carefull Nurse as a friend, that she
should be sure to provide her self with the _Compleat Cook_, that she
might be the more ready to help the Child-bed woman to think upon what
she hath a mind to have made ready, for her brains are but very weak
yet; so that she cannot so quickly and easily remember at first what
is pleasantest and wholesomest to be eaten.

O thrice happy new Father that have gotten such a prudent diligent and
carefull Nurse for your Child-bed wife! what great Pleasure is this!
And behold, by this delicate eating and drinking, your Dearest begins
from day to day to grow stronger and stronger; insomuch that she
begins to throw the Pillow at you, to spur you up to be desirous of
coming to bed to her: Yea, she promiseth you, that before she is out
of Child-bed, she will make you possessor of another principal and
main Pleasure.

* * * * *

[Illustration: Folio 141. _Published by the Navarre Society, London._]

THE NINTH PLEASURE.

_Of the Gossips Feast._

Now, O new Father, you have had the possession of eight pleasures,
which undoubtedly have tickled you to some purpose.

But now there is a new one approaching, that will be as full of so
many joyfull delights and wishings of prosperity, as ever the first
and most famous hath been; for it seems as if your Child-bed wife
begins to be a weary of this lazy liquorish life, and to leave off her
grunting and groaning; because she now longs to be gadding up and down
the street, or standing at the dore with her Babe in her arms.

But before this can be done, you know that there ought to be a Gossips
Feast kept. To this end the Nurse must be sent abroad; and a serious
Counsel held, as if the Parliament of women were assembled, to consult
who shall be invited, and who not. 's Wounds, what a list of relations
and strange acquaintance are here sum'd up in a company together, to
be invited to the Gossipping Feast. 'Tis impossible, the Nurse can
ever do this all in one day; because she would not willingly miss a