the World, as to fpoil a good Face only to comply with its Tyrannick Customs: No, Madam, take care to preferve your Beauty, and then let the World fay what it pleases, your Ladyship may be revenged upon the World whene'er you fee fit. I am refolved, anfwers the, to be intirely govern'd by you, therefore tell me frankly what fort of a Course you'd have me fteer; Why, Madam, faies I, in the first place forget the Defunct; and in order to bring that about, relieve Nature, to which you have been fo long unmerciful, with the moft exquifite Meats and the moft generous Wines. Upon Condition you'll fup with me, cries our afflicted Lady, I will fubmit to your prescription. But why fhould I trouble your Grace with a Narration of every Particular! In short, we had a noble Regale that Evening in her Bed-chamber, and our good Widow push'd the Glass fo ftrenuously about, that her Comforter (meaning my felf) could hardly find the way to his Coach. To conclude this Farce, (which I am afraid begins now to be too tedious to your Grace) this Phenix of her Sex, this Pattern of Conjugal Fidelity, two Mornings ago was marry'd to a smooth-chin'dEnfign of Count Trautmandorf's Regiment, that had not a farthing in the World but his Pay to depend upon: I affifted at the Ceremony, tho' I little imagin'd the Lady would take the Matrimonial Receit fo foon.

I was the eafier perfwaded to give your Grace a large Account of this Tragi-comedy, not only

because

because I wanted better Matter to entertain you with at this Lazy Conjuncture, but also to fhow your Grace, that not only Ephefus in ancient, and England in later Times have afforded fuch fantaftical Widows, but even Germany it felf, where, if the Ladies have not more Virtue than thofe of their Sex in other Countries, yet they pretend at leaft a greater Management of the butfide of it. Ve

1. HI

By my laft Pacquet from England among a heap of naufeous Trash, I received the Three Dukes of Dunable, which is really fo monftrous and infipid that I am forry Lapland or Livonia had not the Honour of producing it, but if I did Penance in reading it, I rejoyced to hear that it was fo foleinnly interr'd to the Tune of Catcalls. The 'Squire of Alfatia However, which came by the following Poft, made me fome amends for the curfed impertinence of the Three Dukes; and my witty Friend Sir C-S-y's Bellamira gave me that intire Satisfaction that I cannot read it over too often.

#

They tell me my old Acquaintance Mr. Dryden has left off the Theatre, and wholly applies himfelf to the Study of the Controverfies between the two Churches. Pray Heaven! this ftrange alteration in him portends nothing difaftrous to the State; but I have all along obferved, That Poets do Religion as littlé Service by drawing their Pens for it, as the Divines do Poetry by pretending to Verfification.

But I forget how troublefome I have been to your Grace, I fhall therefore conclude with affuring you that I am, and to the laft Moment of my Life fhall be, ambitious of being,.

My LORD,

Tour Grace's moft obedient,

and moft obliged Servant,
G. Etherege,
THE

Duke of BUCKINGHAM's

SPEECHES

IN

PARLIAMENT.

To which is added,

A compleat Collection of the most remarkable Speeches, Debates, and Conferences of the most eminent Statef men on both fides, in the Houfes of Lords and Commons, from the Year 1640, to the present Time.

LONDON:
Printed in the Year MDCC XIV.

CCXIV.

The Duke of Buckingham's Speech in the House of Commons, upon occafion of fome Questions propofed by them to His Grace.

T

Together with his Reply thereunto, in relation to feveral Mifmanagements of State Affairs, by Advice of fome of the Miniftry, January 14. 1673.

HE Duke of Buckingham being called into the Houfe, after having given his Refpects to the Speaker, and of each Hand, and behind him, expreffes himself

in these Words:

Mr. Speaker,

I Give the House my humble Thanks for the Honour you twice done me, efpecially exprefling my felf fo ill Yesterday. O 3

I hope