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136 her self upon her knees with Tears in her eyes, and humble Postures of Supplication moved so the Lyon to pity, that he rendered her the Child without hurting it, or the Mother of it.

27. I saw also here divers Palaces of Noblemen upon occasion of their Festine. For it is the Custom here in Winter to invite the Chief Ladies of the Town (Married Women only) to come to play at Cards in Winter Evenings for three or four hours space; and this one night in one Palace, another night in another Palace. Thither the Ladies go, and find the House open to all Comers and Goers both Ladies and Gentlemen, that are of any Garb. In every Chamber the Doors are set open, and for the most part you shall see eight, or ten Chambers on a floor, going out of one another, with a square Table holding eight Persons, as many Chairs, two silver Candlesticks with Wax Lights in them, and store of Lights round about the Room. At the hour appointed, Company being come, they sit down to play, a Cavalier sitting between every Lady, and all the Women as fine in Cloths and Jewels, as if they were going to a Ball. The Doors of all these Rooms being open, the light great, the Women glittering, and all glorious, you would take these Palaces to be the Enchanted Palaces of the Old King of the Mountains. Any Gentlemen may come into these Palaces and stand behind the Gamesters, and see both how modestly they play, and how little they play for. In the mean time there's a Side Chamber always open for Gentlemen to go into, and refresh themselves