The Place of my Nativity was the Imperial Chamber of _Great Brittain_; my Father being an Haberdasher of small Wares; and had as much to do as most Men of that Calling; And whilst he liv'd, he gave me all that Education that the most Wealthy Citizens bestow upon their Daughters, he keeping me at Board at _Hackney-School_. And when grown up to Marriageable years I wanted not for store of Sweethearts, and some of them of very good Estates: and yet my Father thought none good enough. But he being one that was a great and zealous Stickler for the Parliament in opposition to the King, and thinking that _Charles Stuart_ (as then they call'd King _Charles_ the Second), would never be Restor'd, laid out his Money in Purchasing of Crown-Lands, having (as he thought) got a mighty Peniworth: But _Oliver_ being dead, and _Charles_ the Second coming in, all his Estate was lost; and he forc'd to abscond; the grief of which soon after broke his heart. My Father being dead, and his Estate lost by the Kings Restauration, my Mother quickly took me from the Boarding-School; and those whom I had scorn'd before, begun now to scorn me as much; my hopes of a good Portion being gone, my Sweet hearts quickly Vanish'd; but being a Young Maid and pretty handsome, an old rich Batchelor that had a kindness for me in my Father's Life-time, (whom both my Father and myself had then deny'd) thinking that in this Ebb of Fortune he might be more Successful in his Suit, again made his Addresses to me; and tho' I had as great an Aversation to him then as ever, yet he was mightily Encourag'd by my Mother; who thought in our decclining State, he might support our Family: And therefore she not only shew'd him all the Countenance he cou'd desire, her self, (for whom indeed he wou'd have been a fitter Match) but also charg'd me likewise to receive him well, for he must be my Husband. And when I told her I cou'd'nt love him, she call'd me Fool, saying, I shou'd Marry him first, and love him afterwards: And when I farther objected our Disparity in Age she answer'd with another Musty Proverb, _That 'twas good taking Shelter under an old Hedge_; and that it was far better being an Old Mans Darling, then a Young Mans Worldling: And tho' this didn't Satisfie me, yet I soon found I must have him or none; For having been brought up too high to make a working Tradesmans Wife, that Portion now was gone that should have helpt me to a better Husband. And therefore making a vertue of Necessity, I began to be more Complaisant to my Inamorato then I had been formerly; which quickly won his heart to that degree, that in a short time after we were married--And tho the first Night that I went to Bed with him, I was a Maid, and so knew nothing of that which a new Married couple ought to do, more then what Nature dictated; yet I then thought he went about his Business like a Fumbler, and did that little which he did, at such a rate, it had