OF FOREST-TREES.
•S3
for gathering silk, and busying themselves in this sweet and easy chap. n.
employment^ as some do to get fourpence a day for hard work at hemp,flax, and wool, the reputation of Mulberries will spread in England andour plantations. X might say something like this of Saffron , which
k From this pafsage it appears that Mr. Evelyn was much difsatisfied with the educationof women in his days. The following extract from his -Mundus Muliebris, published in1690, will serve as a picture of the times, in which the manners of both sexes are paintedin strong colours:
“ The refined lady expects her servants and humble admirers should court her in theu forms and decencies of making love in fashion. In order to this you must often treatfi er at the play, the park, and the music; present her at the raffle; follow her to“ Tunbridge at the seasotx of drinking the waters, though you have no need of them41 yourself. You must improve all occasions of celebrating her shape, and how well the“ mode becomes her, though it be never so fantastical and ridiculous; that she sings like“ an angel; dances like a goddefs; and that you are charmed with her wit and beauty.—44 Above all, you must be sure to find some fault or imperfection.in all other ladies of the“ town, and to laugh at the fops like yourself. With this a little practice will qualify you for‘ 4 the conversation and mystery of the Ruelle; and if the whole morning be fpent between“ the glafs and the comb, that your peruke sit well and cravat strings be adjusted, as things
and fit you for the winter ball. Thus you see, young sparks, how the style and method of
“ wooing is quite changed, as well as the language, since the days of our forefathers, (of44 unhappy memory, simple and plain men as they were !) who courted and chose their wives44 for their modesty, frugality, keeping at home, good housewifery* and other economical44 virtues then in reputation. And when the young damsels ■ were taught all these in the44 country, and their parents’ houses, the portion they brought was more in virtue than44 money, and she was a richer match than one- who could have brought -a'million,- and“ nothing else to commend her. The presents which were made when all was concluded,44 were a ring, a necklace of pearl, and perhaps another fair jewel, the Iona j.larajihernalia“ of her prudent mother, whose nuptial kirtle gown and petticoat lasted as many“ anniversaries as-the happy couple lived together, and were at last bequeathed with44 a purse of old gold, rose nobles, spur-royals, and spankers, as an heir-loom to her grand-44 daughter. They-had cupboards of ancient useful plate, whole chests of damask for the44 table, and store of fine Holland, sheets (white as the driven snow, and fragrant of rose“ and lavender) for the bed, and the sturdy oaken bed-stead and furniture of the house“lasted one whole century; the-shovebboard and other long tables both in hall and44 parlour were as-fixed as the freehold ; nothing was moveable save joint-stools, the black-jacks, silver tankards, and bowls. And though many things fell out between the cup44 and the lip, when Nappy Ale, March Beer, Metheglin, Malmsey, and Old Sherry got41 the ascendant amongst the bluc-coats and badges, they sung Old Symon and Cheviot Chase,44 and danced Brave Arthur , and were able to draw a bow that made the proud Monsieur
Volume II.
II