6
The History of
Book IV.
rents are this Nobleman's Vassals, of humble and low Calling; but so rich, as if the Goods of Nature had equalled those of their Fortunes, then should they have had nothing else to desire, nor I feared to see myself in the Misfortunes wherein I am now plunged; for perhaps, my Mishaps proceed from that of theirs, in not being nobly descended. True it is, that they are not so base, as they should therefore shame their Calling, nor To high as may check my Conceit, which persuades me that my Disasters proceed from their Lowness. In Conclusion, they are but Farmers, and plain People, but without any Touch or Spot of bad Blood; and, as we usually say, old rusty Christians, yet so rusty and ancient, as yet their Riches and magnificent Port gain them, by little and little, the Title of Gentility, yea, and of Worship also; altho' the Treasure and Nobility whereof they made most Price and Account was to have had me for their Daughter; And therefore, as well by reason that they had none other Heir than myself, as also because as affectionate Parents they held me most dear: I was one of the most made-of and cherished Daughters that ever Father brought up; I was the Mirror wherein they beheld themselves the Staff of their old Age, and the Subject to which they addressed all their Desires; from which, because they were most virtuous, mine did not stray an Inch; and even in the same Manner that I was Lady of their Minds, so was I also of their Goods. By me were Servants admitted or dismissed; the Notice and Account of what was sowed or reaped pas'd thorough my Hands, of the Oil mills, the Wine-presses, the Number of great and little Cattle, the Bee-hives; in fine, of all that which so rich a Farmer, as my Father was, had, or could have, I kept the Account, and was the Steward thereof, and Mistress, with such Care of my side, and Pleasure of theirs, as I cannot possibly endear it enough. The Times of Leisure that I had in the Day, after I had given what was necessary to the head Servants, and other Labourers, I did entertain in those Exercises which were both commendable and re-
quisite
