_The Child and Wife being both now in a fit condition, the Child was to be Christned; the trouble of getting or procuring God-Fathers and God-Mothers was little trouble to him, for he had too great an acquaintance to be unprovided of choice of them. But the charge of that Ceremony was very chargeable. There were Glovs for the Midwife, Deputy-Midwife, Nurses, Servitors, and all his Servants; and such costly Services for the women, as cost him many a sigh to consider of it. And this being over, his house was every day filled with Gossipings, who although, as is usual, they brought the meat, yet he found the sawce, which was always as chargeable as the rest. And he was used to say on these occasions, that although the Guests brought their own Victuals, yet he that laid the Cloth paid the greatest share. There was such revelling and noise, such laughing and merry-making, that his head was so disordered, that he neglected and could not keep his accounts in their usual method._ _But as all times run on and will have their period, so this time had an end, but his Charge had none; for his wife being able to sit up and appear to her Gossips, in that posture She was to be provided with a new morning-Gown, and Sattin Cloke to sit up in; and no sooner was that made, but order was given for a new Tabbee-Gown, and Sattin-Petticoat for her to go abroad in, it being, as they told him, a beggerly business to permit his wife to wear old Clothes at her first going abroad; and the Exchange was examined for all the newest fashion’d appurtenances, that in every thing she might appear like his wife; and all this they told him, must necessarily be done for his Credit. Although he knew it was more for his profit and Credit too to be furnished with large bags full of ready money to pay people on his necessary occasions, yet he was forced to empty some of them in these extravagant vanities. A great Feast being made on that day moneth that his wife was brought to bed, and she being then Churched, and having walked abroad to shew her self in her new Clothes, at night he thought he should quietly have gone to bed to her, but he was forbidden that by the Nurse, because forsooth, all the groaning-Cheese was not eaten up, but he being willing to put an end to all these fooleries together; and hoping this was the last of them, compounded with her, and so he had admittance._ And thus was all this great troublesom and chargeable business ended. Thus (continued Mrs. _Jane_) was the charge and trouble of this business over, but the continued Charge and trouble that his Wife still put him to on all occasions did not cease, but did so afflict and torment him, that he often wished himself unmarried. CHAP. XX.