pointed to meet in the morning, to be first instructed, and that for two reasons. First. As she herself was a woman, she would teach them first, lest the batchelors should be too hard for them before they had learned their lessons. Secondly, That young women should be first served in this, it being Horn-Fair-Day, many of the batchelors would be employed in the morning, in handing old citizen's young wives to the fair; and in the afternoon they might be at liberty. This was the determination of old Mother Bunch.
MOTHER BUNCH, &c.
NOW against the time appointed, old Mother Bunch decked up her house, neat and fine, and getting up early in the morning, placed herself in the closet, where her treasure lay.
Now the first that entered the room, was one Margery Loveman, a maltster's maid, who with a low courtsey, said, Good-morrow, Mother Bunch, I am come to partake of your bounty; for I hear you have a second time opened your Golden Closet of Curiosities, for the benefit of young lovers. Yes, Daughter, quoth Mother Bunch, so I have, and thou shalt partake of the same: Here is infallible rules and directions to guide you in all manner of love intrigues; also, how to know what sort of man you shall marry, and whither he will prove loving or not.
Dear Mother, these are things I fain would know; for, believe me, I have many sweet hearts, and I willingly chuse the best, lest I should marry in haste and repent at leisure. 'Tis true, I have near a hundred and fifty pounds to my portion, the great noise of which, has brought many sweethearts; for I have
