he
occasion ofttimes on both sides of the consuming much mony, and
therefore is little used by some Shopkeepers; leaving that to
Gentlemen to lose both time and mony, who therein seek their pastime,
delight and pleasure. And this is in like manner imitated by many
great Ladies, who are often so cruelly addicted to Card-playing, that
they somtimes value not, in one evening, the losing of very great
sums, and yet know how to maintain their respects therein very
prudently and gallantly; but in the mean while let the Millaner,
Linnen-Draper, Tailor, and Shoemaker run most miserably and shamefully
after them for moneys from one month to another, ofttimes from one
year to another, as if they came begging to them for a peece of bread;
and when they do pay them, it must not be taken notice of by their
Lords and husbands.

These generally use the greatest violence against the peace of the
Family; because this superfluous expence, and liberal disposition of
my Lady, is very seldom pleasing to my Lord, who little thought that
her Ladiship would have been such a spend-thrift of the Cash.

But since great Lords, as well as other meaner sorts of persons, are
shot and pierc'd by one and the same blind Cupid, they are in like
manner subject to such casualities of adversities and pleasures; and
every one perceives, when it is too late, what kind of election he
hath made; just as they do who begin a War, but before its half
finished are weary of it. Therefore

_To Battel be ye slow, but slower be to Wed,
For many do repent, untill that they be dead;
But if avoided then, by you it cannot be,
A thousand Counsellors will well deserve your Fee._

[Illustration: 60 _Published by the Navarre Society, London._]

THE FIFTH PLEASURE.

_Of Mens negligence of their affairs; whereby their Antic-tricks and
loss of time is discovered._

Verily the Women, being the weakest Vessels, are many times most
cruelly impeacht, when the Marriage-Ship sails not well before Wind
and Tide: just as if they, to whom is only given the charge of the
Family, care of the Kitchin, and nourishment of the Children, were the
occasioners of sad casualities and disasters in the Merchandizes and
Shop-keepings: When, on the contrary, the negligence of the Men is
many times so great, that if the Woman knew not how to carry her self
like a prudent _Abigail_, it would be impossible ever to bring the
Ship to a safe harbour, and to free it from Ship