I Cannot ( notwithstanding the Grandeur of our Birth and State ) but have you frequent in our thoughts : and that I may not omit any opportunity to express my great respects to you , and your Misterious function , I have laid hold on this occasion to acquaint you with my welfare since my leaving England , and should be glad to hear from you of your decrease of your Monthly Bill of Mortality ; but now I think on 't I may sooner expect to see you here , or in some other Plantation , then to receive a line from you , if a Line — or so prevent it not .

Give me leave to tell you , that my sentence of Death was not more horrid and affrighting , than the sense and apprehension of my sudden and unavoidable Exile was grievous to me , and for a while insupportable , at length to make that present affliction the lighter , I considered how many before me had suffered the like banishment with an undaunted courage , patience , and matchless gallantry of Spirit .

Had I like witty wanton Ovid been ignorant of the cause of my exiling , I should have complain'd much more than I do , and should have consumed that time , ( which I now spend in Jollity ) in swelling the books of my Tristia to a greater bulk than his whole works . I had this consideration to comfort me beside ( and be ruled by me in this undeniable truth ) that it is much better to loose a liberty ( too dangerous to keep ) and run the risk and hazard of a long Voyage , than sail up Holborn and be cast away at Tiburn .

I speak not to one , but all , it is a general concern , from the lowest to the highest Class of your Famous University , ( vulgarly called the Whit or Naskin ) not one but ought to be timely instructed herein , as well Bulkers , Pads , Gilters , Files , Lifters , or others , by what other Names and Titles they are distinguished .

Expect not your Rogueries should be more winkt at , than those of your Predecessors : for know , as ye are those Pestilential Diseases which poison and infect the air in which you breath , and afflict the body of that Common-wealth which gave ye breath , so the wise Physitians thereof ( the Judges ) will take such care to free it continually from such maladies .

Some of you may be compared to superfluous Wens , which must be utterly cut off , some to Carbunckles , which must be burnt out with Cauterizing Buttons ; and others to redundant humours , which must be purg'd away into another climate , of which number I am one .

It is now high time for me to relate somewhat of my Voyage to Jamaica , and what hath happened to me since my arrival : I could not in reason expect much civility from the Commander or Seamen of the Ship , ( especially as then stood my condition ) yet contrary to all expectation I was treated like my self , I mean a Princess . When I saw my self slighted as the spurious brat of a Stocking-Mender , I applyed my self to the old refuge of my never Failing Wit , and tuneable tongue , by which means I obtain'd a commodious Cabbin , and whereas my Food before was so Salt I could have sooner fil'd my belly on the bruish of Egg-shells , or the skins of Flints than thereon ; I had now every other day Fresh provision .

Immediately after my Landing , I was received more like a victor , then a victim ; so far from being a slave to others , that I was continually encompassed with a crowding number of such , who strove who should pay me rhe greatest tribute of Love and Service . The Earth ( the Center of all heavy bodyes ) did not more strongly attract a Weighty Stone , thrown up into the Air , than the bare naming me drew all sorts of people from all parts of the Island , especially the looser sort of persons .

At first I wondred there to see so many of my acquaintance , but when I considered the cause of my own coming thither , my admiration ceased .

At present I am troubled with nothing but how I may answer the expectation of such of our old acquaintance who daily treat me profusely ; for such hath their success been in some late dangerous exploits that it hath blown their excesses to that height of expence , that they have almost delug'd this place in liquor .

Whilst I was with you I was never half so much afraid of being hang'd for any thing I should commit , as now to be drown'd in their overflowing cups : judge whether I am not much beholding to them , since they swear no Executioner shall have any thing to do with me ; for they intend ( themselves to kil me with kindness : hence you may conclude my bill of Fare is not scanted with an over frugal hand , neither are my pleasures stinted , I am Lorded o're by none , my Will unconfin'd to any ; as my delights are various , so is my food , my habit would not disparage my Lord were he here to obstruct my Happiness ; and now whilst I think of it , if any of you should meet him in your walks ( I think he need not fear you will pick his pocket ) present my service to his Lordship , and acquaint his Honour , I live more like my Lady now then ever I did , and am like to continue so . But knowing how overjoy'd he will be to hear how splendidly I live , pray do not too hastily tell him these good tidings , but by degrees , preparing him for the reception , least the suddain joy should transport him , and so his Honours health in danger of being prejudiced thereby . And when you have so done , in all humility tell his Lordship I 〈◇〉 his hands and he may —

I have not time to inlarge my self further , neither do I think it requis●●●●o tire your patienee at first ; but if my Bully-Ruffins on the one side surfet me not to death ; and you on the other make not too much hast to be hang'd , expect to hear of me again : in the mean time remember me to Pimps , Pads , Priggs , Bilkers , Bauds , Bulkers , Brushers , Broilers , and Brokers , ; not forgetting Filers , Gilters , and Night-walkers ; advising you and them with speed to mend your manners , as you shall answer it at your peril hanging like a Dog in a halter : I subscribe my self