Memoirs of Eminent Englishwomen (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1844. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... not only on themselves but their houses and posterity; but I shall not use any such discourse to your lordship, being so wise, so grave, so well and honourably disposed as indeed you are of yourself, if other evil counsel did not draw you to the contrary, who also shall not want their part in the plague--malum consilium consultori pessimum. "But some will say, in your lordship's behalf, that the countess is a sharp and bitter shreiv, and therefore like enough to shorten your life, if she should keep you company. If shrewdness and sharpness may be a just cause of separation, I think few men in England would keep their wives long; for it is a common jest, yet true in some sense, that there is but one shrew in all the world, and every man hath her. And I doubt not but your great wisdom and experience hath taught you to beare sometime with a woman as a weaker vessel; and yet, for the speeches I have had with her ladyship in that behalf, I durst pawn all my credit unto your lordship, and I need not bind myself in any great bond, she will bridle herself that way beyond the course of other women. Some will object great matters against her, that she hath sought to overthrow your whole house, &c., but their speech cannot carry any semblance of truth; she being your wife, your prosperity must needs profit her very much; and having joined her house with yours in marriage, your long life and honourable estate must needs glad her heart to the uttermost. If not for her own sake, for the issue of both your bodies, whom she loveth, I dare say, as her own life, and would not see by her own will to fall into decay, and rather think the separation to be a stain to your house and a danger to your life; for that God indeed is not well pleased with it, who will visit with death...