And verily methinks I have a mind to take my portion of it also; but yet not so as the Nurse did at my Neeces, who had toss’d up her bowls so bravely upon the good health of the Child-bed woman her Mistriss, that when she was going to swathe and feed the Child, instead of putting the spoon into the mouth, she thrust it under the chin, & sometimes against the breast; and then when she was about swathing of it; as it is commonly the custom to lay a wollen blanket and linnen bed together, she wrapt the poor Infant with its little naked body only in the blanket alone.

O thrice happy young Father, who have hitherto so nobly treated and entertained all your She Gossips, and had the audience of all their curious relations!  Now you will have the honour also of entertaining their husbands your He-Gossips, who will not be backward in doing of you reason out of the greatest bowl you will set before them, and talk as freely of a Py-corner merchandize.

Who is there now that doth not praise, and commend your manfull deeds to the highest?  Ha, ha, saith Master Laugh wel, that’s a Child! who ever saw a braver! there’s not the fellow on’t!  O my dearest, I have such a delight in this Child, that if we were but a little alone together, I’d cast you such another as if it were of the same mould.  Stay a little, stay a little, saith Master Fillup, it may be you would not run so strong a course.  Yet I saw once two Souldiers who were Batchelors, that were sitting in an evening drinking in an Alehouse, and talking lustily of the Bobbinjo trade; whereupon one of them said; Cocksbobs Jack if I had but a Wife, as well as another, I’d presently get her with Child of a brave boy.  Ho, ho, saith the t’other, it is an easie thing to get a Wife if one seek it.  If I would, I dare lay a wager on’t, I would be the Bridegroom within the space of two hours.  The other not beleeving him, they laid a wager between them for a bottle of Wine.  Hereupon one of them went out of dores just upon the striking of the clock; & hardly was gone a streets length, before he met with a bonny bouncing girl, who was going of an errand for her Mistris, and he presently laies her on board.  But she seemed to be very much offended, that an honest Maid going about her business in the evening, should be in this manner so encountred by a strange fellow, with a sword by his side.  Verily, Sweetheart, said he, you have a great deal of reason in all what you say; but you may certainly beleeve that it is an honest person who speaks to you, and only seeks an occasion to be acquainted with a virtuous good condition’d Maid.  My wearing of a sword, is because I am a Souldier, and am very well known by many honest people.  And truly, if you please to admit me this favour, you shall see and find me to be an honest man, and none of those that go about to ly and deceive any body; and indeed my intention & desire is to marry, to that end seeking nothing but an honest Maid, and I doubt not but that