After Dinner was ended, they paſt the reſt of the time in finging of Pſalmes, and expounding Chapters, while the Bridegroome and Bride looked very demurely each on other, and inſtead of making their legs walk in Dances to ſome Muſick, they ſate talking together to the edification of the ſimple. The Bride having now received (in a plentifull meaſure) ſundry Documents of wholſome inſtruction from her holy Bride-grome, (being nevertheleſſe halfe tyred with his tedious Expoſitions) roſe up made a low courteſie, and gave him thanks: but remembering her ſelfe of more materiall buſineſſe yet behind, ſhe ſolicited her Father upon his promiſe to her on the Wedding day, that ſhe (according to the new faſhion of Marriage) ſhould receive her own Portion: whereupon the Old man unlocking his Cloſet, brought out a long Bag full of old Angels and other Gold, which he had gotten out of Vinegar and Muſtard thoſe two eager Elements; (for he was a kind of a keene Chandler) the Gold ſtuck to his fingers like Bird-lime, loath he was to part with it as with his owne ſoule: but at laſt demurring, or rather doting on his Daughters future preferment with his new ſelected Son in Law, he began to ſpread his golden Pieces on the Table, and onely told them out, for they were all weight upon his certaine knowledge; ſo wiping his eyes, and indeed ready to weep at parting with his Gold, he called his Daughter unto him, delivered it, and bad her tell out the full ſomme, which he had been raking together many yeares induſtriouſly, as by turning the Muſtard-mill, ſerving halpeny-worths of Cheeſe, not halfe ſo long as his noſe, utttring off Huckſters ranke Butter and Egges halfe addle, as alſo by ſelling muſty Vinegar and mangy Tobacco: All which Hoord being now paid downe for his Daughters Portion, he deſired her Husband that his Daughter might have her will on her Wedding day, and (after the new Faſhion of Marriage) receive it into her owne cuſtody, for the uſe of him and his Heyres. The Bridegroome who was none of Father Wiſdomes Sons, and had his Religion onely in his demure Face, and horne-pipe Noſe, through which he ſpake ſnaffl • ngly to this purpoſe, That his Bride ſhould finger the Money now, as he intended to doe her at night: and ſo lent her a white Handkerchiefe to tye up his Father in Laws Gold; ſhe accordingly took the paines to draw it to her, and told againe the golden Story to her ſelfe. The Old man began now to recapitulate to all the Gueſts preſent▪ how he (with conſent of the Bride-groom his new created Son in Law, and according to the new forme of Marriage) had paid in to his Daughter 600. l. pound Portion, and ſo his care and promiſe in that point was ended. The Bride in the mean time was buſied in diſpoſing the Gold; ſhe put it up into a leathern bag and (throwing her Husband his Hand-kercher to wipe his noſe on, for he ſhould never ſee that money againe) ſhe carried away the Prize, and laid it up cloſe in her Cheſt: the Old man applauded his Daughters care ſaying, ſhe had made all cock-ſure; the Gueſts gave her likewiſe great commendation, and the Bridegroome Sir Toby thought the Gold ſafe enough for him and his faithfull generation. Having thus debated the matter a while, the Old-man knockt with his Braſill ſtaffe, for his Daughter tarryed long, and was doing ſomthing they little ſuſpected, to put a neat Plot upon them all; yet like an obedient piece of Virginity, ſhe came at his call, looking very cheerfully; the company were glad to ſee her ſo merry, thinking the conceit of that nights pleaſure to come, made her thus pleaſant: ſo the Old man the Bridegroom, and Gueſts began all to ſmile too though they had ſmall cauſe fort conſidering her purpoſe, which ſhe ſo cunningly diſſembled.

The wiſhed night being come, they went all to Supper, but their bellies were ſo full of good cheere, that they could eat but little; but eſpecially the Bride, who was thought to faſt as Virgins uſe, being affraid at firſt to goe to bed to her Husband: but the Cobler eat till he was ready to burſt againe; for if a ſtitch had fallen in his guts, hee knew how to ſow them together againe: the other Gueſts alſo fell hardly toot tooth and naile; but the Old man only eat but little, for the parting with ſixe hundred pound in Gold had taken away his ſtomack. After they had ſate a while and talkt as formerly, they call'd for water to waſh, and a demure Grace being ſaid by the Old man, they all aroſe and ſate like Images of the new Reformation; till at laſt the Old man made a motion that all the Gueſts there preſent and himſelf ſhould accompany both the Bride and Bride groome to their Chamber, and there leave them; to which all agreed, and the young Couple were brought to their Bridall-Chamber accordingly: Now whether they had a ſpirituall Sack-poſſet or no according to the old Faſhion, I know not; but the Bride earneſtly beſought her Father and all the Gueſts preſent, that ſhe might make it in all points a new Faſhion'd Wedding, and therefore for ſome ſpeciall reaſons, deſired that her Sweet-heart and Bridegroome might go to bed firſt; it was granted and he pluckt off his cloathes and ſoone got within the ſheets; ſo her Father and the other Gueſts wiſhing them both good reſt, took leave and departed, not thinking what would afterward happen. No ſooner was the Company gone out, but the Bride made faſt the dore, as if ſhe would preſently come to bed to her Bridegroome, and began to undreſſe in a ſlow manner, delaying the time by looking in her glaſſe, whilſt her Bridegroome (grown very eager in his expectation) peeps wiſhfully through the Curtaines being all this while in a ſtanding Ague and call'd to her ſaying Sweet RUTH if thou loveſt me, make haſt and come away to bed; verily I have obeyed thy deſire in all things hitherto. The Bride g • ancing back her eye on him, ſeem'd fribbling awhile about untying her Petticote; now thought young Toby I beleeve indeed ſhe will come to bed imediately. But Oh, on a ſodaine her Prayer-Booke was miſſing, and ſhe made an excuſe to go downe to fetch it: ſtay Love ſayes Toby, Prayer-Books are abominable, I will inſtruct thee how to pray by the Spirit. But ſhe craved leave to fetch up one more peculier which her Mother gave her, and ſo flung out of the Chamber to ſeeke it, locking the dore faſt after her. The happy opportunity now ſuiting to her deſire, ſhe went ſecretly into another Room, put on a new gowne with all accoutremements neceſſary and (by the help of her Fathers man whom ſhe had acquainted with her Project) went forth reſolvedly to embrace her new Fortunes. All this while young Toby lay much amazed that his Bride on her Wedding night too, ſhould be ſo ſlow in her approach to his Bed, being impatient of further delay, roſe up haſtily, but finding the dore lockt faſt againſt him, cryed out the ſecond time, Sweet-beart where are you, what doe you meane by this? Come away and bring your Prayer-Booke with you: what doth make you ſtay ſo long? At laſt having no Anſwer, he knockt with a Bed ••• ffe, ſo loud, that up ſtarts the aged father, who comming to the Chamber found the dore lockt, and his Son Toby raging in his bed for lack of his new Bride; whereat being ſtrong in paſſion, he ſet h • s ſhoulder to the Wainſcot dore brake it open, reſolving his Son in law, that ſurely his Daughter was ſtollen out of the houſe but whither he knew not, onely he miſſed one of his men withall, and thence grew his greateſt ſuſpition.

The Old man and young Toby being ſtark mad at this diſaſter, ſeach'd all corners of the houſe but found nothing but a Letter which diſcovered at full, how ſhe had appointed to get her Portion, and marry with the Cavalier. Thus the Old man loſt his Daughter and 600. l. young Toby was made a Gregory in loſing his Bride; and this New-Faſhion'd Marriage is and will be talkt of round about the City: For never was the like trick ſhewed by the wit of a Woman on her Wedding-Day.