n Passports, in his Letters, in his Commissions which he
charged me with: It is very impudent and rude to speak so of a Man,
who is of a good Family, who has had the honour of being employed for
almost twenty years, and whom a great Prince and a King have not
disdain'd to use as Councellor of State.

_He was_ (continues Sir _W._) _a French Monk who had lately quitted
his Frock for a Petticoat_. Here is a reproach which ill becomes an
Ambassador of a Monarch, who is Defender of the Faith, and of the
Protestant Religion; of one who declared so openly at _Nimeguen_, that
he would have nothing to do with the Pope's _Nuncio_. I do not know,
my Lord, that it is a disgrace to be a Monk; and much less, to have
been one formerly: There are indeed amongst them, as well as amongst
the rest of Mankind, some miserable Wretches, of a mean Birth, and of
a disorderly and infamous Life; People of no use, without Honour, and
without Reputation: Sir _W.T._ thought, without doubt, that I was of
that Number; but there are likewise several very famous for the
Sanctity of their Lives, of an extraordinary Merit, and of the
greatest Quality, Sons of Princes and Kings, and Kings themselves, and
Popes: But if this sort of Life is not now, as formerly it was, so
certain a Character of a good and honest Man, do's Sir _W._ think he
can dishonour me, in reproaching me for leaving a Profession which
himself thinks so contemptible, for a _Petticoat_?

It will not be material in this place to say how I was engaged therein
in my tender years. There is nothing more usual in _France_, _Spain_
and _Italy_, where ancient Houses do sacrifice a good part of their
Families in Monasteries; 'tis a Maxim, to say the truth, most cruel
and horrid.

Neither will I relate how, and after what manner I came out of it;
however, it was not for a Petticoat. I have remained several years
without so much as having any inclination to it; and it hath been
apparent that I have had much a-do, and was very much unresolved as to
this Choice.

There was too great advantage to throw off my Frock for the Petticoat
that I have taken, not to do it. It is a Petticoat of a Scotch Stuff,
and which hath been a greater Ornament, and done the Crown of
_England_ more good than Sir _W._ himself; if he do not know it, the
History of _England_ and _Scotland_ in these late Times may inform
him. I shall enlarge no further, that I may not engage my self to
publish the Misfortunes and Disorders