Now, you must know, that this celebrated lady is, ’tis true, of the——­family, whence her title of honourable; but is indeed so celebrated, that every fluttering coxcomb in town can give some account of her, even before she was in keeping of the Duke of——­who had cast her on the town he had robbed of her.

In short, she is quite a common woman; has no fortune at all, as one may say, only a small jointure incumbered; and is much in debt.  She is a shrew into the bargain, and the poor wretch is a father already; for he has already had a girl of three years old (her husband has been dead seven) brought him home, which he knew nothing of, nor even inquired, whether his widow had a child!—­And he is now paying the mother’s debts, and trying to make the best of his bargain.

This is the fruit of a London journey, so long desired by him, and his fluttering about there with his new title.

He was drawn in by a brother of his lady, and a friend of that brother’s, two town sharpers, gamesters, and bullies.  Poor Sir Joseph Wittol!  This was his case, and his character, it seems, in London.

Shall I present you with a curiosity?  “Tis a copy of his letter to his uncle, who had, as you may well think, lost all patience with him, on occasion of this abominable folly.

“MY LORD DAVERS,

“For iff you will not call me neffew, I have no reason to call you unkell; surely you forgett who it was you held up your kane to:  I have as little reason to valew you displeassure, as you have me:  for I am, God be thanked, a lord and a pere of the realme, as well as you; and as to youre nott owneing me, nor your brother B. not looking upon me, I care not a fardinge:  and, bad as you think I have done, I have marry’d a woman of family.  Take thatt among you!

“As to your personal abuses of her, take care whatt you say.  You know the stattute will defend us as well as you.—­And, besides, she has a brother that won’t lett her good name be called in question.—­Mind thatt!

“Some thinges I wish had been otherwise—­perhapps I do.—­What then?—­Must you, my lord, make more mischiefe, and adde to my plagues, iff I have any?—­Is this your unkelship?

“Butt I shan’t want youre advice.  I have as good an estate as you have, and am as much a lord as yourselfe.—­Why the devill then, am I to be treated as I am?—­Why the plague—­But I won’t sware neither.  I desire not to see you, any more than you doe me, I can tell you thatt.  And iff we ever meet under one roofe with my likeing, it must be at the House of Peeres where I shall be upon a parr with you in every thing, that’s my cumfurte.

“As to Lady Davers, I desire not to see her ladyship; for she was always plaguy nimbel with her fingers; but, lett my false stepp be what itt will, I have in other respectes, marry’d a lady who is as well descended as herseife, and no disparagement neither; so have nott thatt to answer for to her pride; and who has as good a spiritt too, if they were to come face to face, or I am mistaken:  nor will shee take affmntes from any one.  So my lord, leave mee to make the best of my matters, as I will of youres.  So no more, but that I am youre servante, H.