more Industriously Carefully and Prudently to Temper their Passions and Govern their Appetites than Men because there comes more Dishonour from their unruly Passions and Appetites than from Mens but for the most part VVomen are not Educated as they should be I mean those of Quality for their Education is onely to Dance Sing and Fiddle to write Complemental Letters to read Romances to speak some Language that is not their Native which Education is an Education of the Body and not of the Mind and shews that their Parents take more care of their Feet than their Head more of their VVords than their Reason more of their Musick than their Virtue more of their Beauty than their Honesty which methinks is strange as that their Friends and Parents should take more Care and be at greater Charge to Adorn their Bodies than to Indue their Minds to teach their Bodies Arts and not to Instruct their Minds with Understanding for this Education is more for outward Shew than inward Worth it makes the Body a Courtier and the Mind a Clown and oftentimes it makes their Body a Baud and their Mind a Courtesan for though the Body procures Lovers yet it is the Mind that is the Adulteress for if the Mind were Honest and Pure they would never be guilty of that Crime wherefore those Women are best bred whose Minds are civilest as being well Taught and Govern'd for the Mind will be Wild and Barbarous unless it be Inclosed with Study Instructed by Learning and Governed by Knowledg and Understanding for then the Inhabitants of the Mind will live Peaceably Happily Honestly and Honourably by which they will Rule and Govern their associate Appetites with Ease and Regularity and their Words as their Houshold Servants will be imployed Profitably But leaving the Lady C. R. and her Husband to Passion and Patience I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant XXVII MADAM YEsterday I employed my time in reading History and I find in my self an Envy or rather an Emulation towards Men for their Courage Prudence VVit and Eloquence as not to Fear Death to Rule Commonwealths and to Speak in a Friend's behalf or to Pacifie a Friend's Grief to Plead for his own Right or to Defend his own Cause by the Eloquence of Speech yet this is not in all Men for some men have Courage and no VVit and some have VVit and no Conduct and some have neither VVit Courage nor Conduct but mistake me not for I do not Envy or Emulate a Stubborn Obstinacy nor a Desperate Rashness nor an Inslaving Policy nor Fine VVords and Choice Phrases but to Fight Valiantly to Suffer Patiently to Govern Justly and to Speak Rationally Movingly Timely and Properly as to the purpose all which I fear Women are not Capable of and the Despair thereof makes me Envy or Emulate Men. But though I love Justice Best and trust to Valour Most yet I Admire Eloquence and would choose VVit for my Pastime Indeed Natural Orators that can speak on a Sudden and Extempore upon any Subject are Nature's Musicians moving the Passions to Harmony making Concords out of Discords Playing on the Soul with Delight And of all the Men I read of I Emulate Iulius Caesar most because he was a man that had all these Excellencies as Courage Prudence Wit and Eloquence in great Perfection insomuch as when I read of Iulius Caesar I cannot but wish that Nature and Fate had made me such a one as he was and sometimes I have that Courage as to think I should not be afraid of his Destiny so I might have as great a Fame But these wishes discover my Aspiring Desires and all those Desires are but Vain that cannot be Attained to yet although I cannot attain to Iulius Caesar's Fame it suffices me to have attained to your Favour and to the Honour to subscribe my self Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant XXVIII MADAM IN your last Letter you were pleased to Condemn me for Admiring Words so much as to prefer Eloquence before all other Musick but pray Madam mistake me not for I do not Admire the Words but the Sense Reason and Wit that is Exprest and made Known by Words neither do I Admire Formal Orators that speak Premeditated Orations but Natural Orators that can speak on a Sudden upon any Subject whose Words are as Sweet and Melting as Manna from Heaven and their Wit as Spreading and Refreshing as the Serene Air whose Understanding is as Clear as the Sun giving Light of Truth to all their Hearers who in case of Perswasion speak Sweetly in case of Reproof Seasonably and in all cases Effectually And Madam if you do Consider well you cannot chuse but Admire and Wonder at the Power of Eloquence for there is a strange hidden Mystery in Eloquence it hath a Magical Power over mankind for it Charms the Senses and Inchants the Mind and is of such a Commanding Power as it Forces the Will to Command the Actions of the Body and Soul to Do or to Suffer beyond their Natural Abilities and makes the Souls of men the Tongue 's Slaves for such is the power of an Eloquent Speech as it Binds the Judgement Blindfolds the Understanding and Deludes the Reason also it Softens the Obdurate Hearts and causes Dry Eyes to Weep and Dryes Wet Eyes from Tears also it Refines the Drossy Humours Polishes the Rough Passions Bridles the Unruly Appetites Reforms the Rude Manners and Calms the Troubled Minds it can Civilize the Life by Virtue and Inspire the Soul with Devotion On the other side it can Enrage the Thoughts to Madness and Cause the Soul to Despair The truth is it can make Men like Gods or Devils as having a Power beyond Nature Custom and Force for many times the Tongue hath been too Strong for the Sword and often carried away the Victory also it hath been too Subtil for the Laws as to Banish Right and to Condemn Truth and too hard for the Natures of Men making their Passions its Prisoners and since Eloquence hath such Power over Arms and Laws and Men as to make Peace or War to Compose or Dissolve Common-wealths to Dispose of Souls and Bodies of Mankind wherefore those men that are indued with such Eloquence and overflowing Wit are both to be Fear'd and Lov'd to be highly Advanced or utterly Banished for those whose Eloquent Wit out-runs their Honesty are to be Punished but those that employ their Eloquent Wit and Elegant Graces to the service of the Commonwealth are to be Esteemed Respected and Relied upon as Pillars of the Commonwealth But to conclude Wit makes a Ladder of Words to climb to Fame's high Tower and the Tongue carries men further than their Feet and builds them a Statelier and more Lasting Palace than their Hands and their Wit more than their Wealth doth Adorn it But now leaving Words and Wit I rely upon Love and Friendship and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant XXIX MADAM I Heard by your
Beasts do lye for Prey Or such a Lane where 's Foul and Dirty VVay And so of VVaters and each Dangerous place But I write not to any mans Disgrace Then Censure not my Satyr-wit for Crime Nor putting this Epistle into Rime SOCIABLE LETTERS I. MADAM YOu were pleas'd to desire that since we cannot converse Personally we should converse by Letters so as if we were speaking to each other discoursing our Opinions discovering our Designs asking and giving each other Advice also telling the several Accidents and several Imployments of our home-affairs and what visits we receive or entertainments we make and whom we visit and how we are entertaind what discourses we have in our gossiping-meetings and what reports we hear of publick affairs and of particular Persons and the like so that our Letters may present our personal meetings and associatings Truly Madam I take so much delight in your wise witty and virtuous Conversation as I could not pass my life more pleasing and delightfully wherefore I am never better pleased than when I am reading your Letters and when I am writing Letters to you for my mind and thoughts are all that while in your Company the truth is my mind and thoughts live alwayes with you although my person is at distance from you insomuch as if Souls die not as Bodies do my Soul will attend you when my Body lies in the grave and when we are both dead we may hope to have a Conversation of Souls where yours and mine will be doubly united first in Life and then in Death in which I shall eternally be Madam Your faithful Friend and humble Servant II. MADAM THe Lady C. E. ought not to be reproved for grieving for the loss of her Beauty for Beauty is the Light of our Sex which is Eclips'd in Middle age and Benighted in Old age wherein our Sex sits in Melancholy Darkness and the remembrance of Beauty past is as a displeasing Dream The truth is a young beautiful face is a Friend when as an old withered face is an Enemy the one causes Love the other Aversion yet I am not of Mrs. U. R.'s humour which had rather dye before her Beauty than that her Beauty should die before her for I had rather live with wrinkles than die with youth and had rather my face cloth'd with Time's sad mourning than with Death's white hue and surely it were better to follow the shadow of Beauty than that Beauty should go with the Corps to the Grave and I believe that Mrs. V. R. would do as the tale is of a woman that did wish and pray she might die before her Husband but when Death came she intreated him to spare her and take her Husband so that she would rather live without him than die for him But leaving this sad discourse of Age Wrinkles Ruin and Death I rest Madam Your very faithful Friend and Servant III. MADAM I Do not wonder there are great factions between the three families C. Y. O. by reason they have no business or imployment to busie their heads about and their servants followers have as little to do which makes them censure backbite and envy each other for Idleness and Poverty are the creators of Faction and Pride and Ambition the disturbers of Peace Wherefore Idleness should be banish'd out of every family which will also be a means to be rid of Poverty for Industry is the way to thrive Besides when men have something to do they will have the less time to talk for many words from discontented persons increase hate and make dissentions the truth is words for the most part make more discord than union and more enemies than friends wherefore Silence is more commendable than much Speaking for the liberty of the tongue doth rather express men's follies than make known their wit neither do many words argue much Judgement but as the old Saying is The greatest talkers are the least actors they being more apt to speak spitefully than to act mischievously another Saying is That musing men rather study to do evil than contemplate on good But I am not of that opinion for if men would think more and speak less the world of mankind would be more honest and wiser than they are for Thoughts beget Consideration Consideration begets Judgement Judgement begets Discretion Discretion begets Temperance and Temperance begets Peace in the Mind and Health in the Body for when men want Temperance they are subject to Insatiable Appetites unruly Passions and wandring Desires which causes Covetousness and Ambition and these cause Envy and Hate which makes Faction and Strife which Strife I leave to Busie Natures Restless Minds Vain Humours and Idle Fools and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant IV. MADAM THe other day was here the Lady I. O. to see me and her three Daughters which are call'd the three Graces the one is Black the other Brown the third White all three different coloured beauties also they are of different features statures and shapes yet all three so equally handsom that neither Judgment nor Reason can prefer one before another Also their behaviours are different the one is Majestical the other Gay and Aery the third Meek and Bashful yet all three graceful sweet and becoming Also their Wits are different the one Propounds well the other Argues well the third Resolves well all which make a harmony in discourse These three Ladies are resolv'd never to marry which makes many sad Lovers but whilst they were here in comes the Lord S. C. and discoursing with them at last he asks them whether they were seriously resolv'd never to marry they answered they were resolv'd never to marry But Ladies said he Consider Time wears out Youth and fades Beauty and then you will not be the three young fair Graces You say true my Lord answer'd one of them but when we leave to be the young fair Graces we shall then be the old wise Sibyls By this answer you may perceive that when our Sex cannot pretend to be Fair they will pretend to be Wise but it matters not what we pretend to if we be really Virtuous which I wish all our Sex may be and rest Madam Your very faithful Friend and Servant V. MADAM IN my opinion the marriage between Sir A. G. and Mrs. I. S. is no wayes agreeable wherefore not probable to be bless'd with a happy union though she is likelyer to be the happier of the two for 't is better to have an old doting fool than a wanton young filly but he will be very unhappy through Jealousie what with his Dotage and her Freedom which will be like fire and oyl to set his mind on a flame and burn out the lamp of his life Truly I did wonder when I heard they were married knowing her nature and his humour for she loves young masculine Company and he loves onely young female Companion so that he cannot enjoy her to himself unless she barr her self from
all other men for his sake which I believe she will not do for she will not bury her Beauty nor put her Wit to silence for the sake of her Husband for if I be not mistaken she will love a young Servant better than an old Husband nay if her Husband were young she would prefer variety of Servants before a single Husband insomuch that if she had been made when there was but One man as Adam she would have done like her Grand mother Eve as to have been courted by the Devil and would betray her Husband for the Devil's sake rather than want a Lover But leaving the discourse of Jealousie Age Courtship and Devils I rest Madam Your very faithful Fr. S. VI. MADAM IN your last Letter you sent me word that Sir F. O. was retir'd to write his own Life for he saies he knows no reason but he may write his own life as well as Guzman and since you desire my opinion of his intended work I can onely say that his Life for any thing I know to the contrary hath been as evil as Guzman's but whether his Wit be as good as Guzman's I knovv not yet I doubt the vvorst and to vvrite an Evil life vvithout VVit vvill be but a dull and tedious Story indeed so tedious and dull as I believe none will take the pains to read it unless he himself read of himself but it is to be hoped that he will be tir'd of himself and so desist from his self Story And if he do write his own Life it will be as a masking Dolphin or such like thing where the outside is painted past-board or canvas and the inside stuff'd with shreds of paper or dirty raggs scrap'd from dunghils and if he set his Picture before as a Frontispiece to his Book it will be like an ill-favour'd masking Vizzard But if he have any Friends surely they will perswade him to imploy his time about something else but some are so unhappy as they have nothing to imploy Time with they can waste Time but not imploy Time and as they waste Time so Time wasts them There 's a saying That men are born to live and live to dye but I think some are onely born to dye and not to live for they make small use of life and life makes small use of them so that in effect they were ready for the Grave as soon as they came forth from the Womb. Wherefore if Sir F. O. go forward with his work he will dig his Grave through the story of his Life and his Soul-less Wit will be buried therein But leaving his dead Wit to his paper Coffin and his unprofitable Labours to his black mourning Ink I rest Madam Your faithful Fr. and S. VII MADAM I Am sorry to hear Wit is so little known and understood that Sir W. T. should be thought Mad because he hath more Wit than other men indeed Wit should alwayes converse with Wit and Fools with Fools for Wit and Fools can never agree they understand not one another Wit flies beyond a Fools conceit or understanding for Wit is like an Eagle it hath a strong wing and flies high and far and when it doth descend it knocks a Fool on the head as an Eagle doth a Dotril or a Woodcock or such like Birds and surely the world was never so fill'd with Fools as it is in this age nor hath there been greater Errours or grosser Follies committed than there hath been in this age It is not an age like Augustus Caesar's when Wisdom reign'd and Wit flourished which was the cause of Plenty Peace throughout the whole world but in this age Debauchery is taken for Wit and Faction for Wisdom Treachery for Policy and drunken Quarrels for Valour Indeed the world is so foolishly Wicked basely Foolish that they are happiest who can withdraw themselves most from it But when I say the world I mean the world of Men or rather the Bodies of Men for there doth not seem to be many Rational Souls amongst them they are Soul-less men Bodies of men that have only Senses and Appetites or Sensual Appetites But you say every Particular complains of the world as I do in this Letter yet None helps to mend it Let me tell you Madam it is not in the power of every Particular nor in a number But the Chiefest persons must mend the world viz. they that govern the world or else the world will be out at the heels But in some ages the world is more tatter'd and torn than in other ages and in some ages the world is patch'd and piec'd but seldom new and suitable and it is oftener in a Fools-coat than in a Grave Cassock Wherefore leaving the motley I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant VIII MADAM YOu were pleas'd to invite me unto a Ball to divert my Melancholy Thoughts but they are not capable of your Charity for they are in too deep a Melancholy to be diverted like as bodies that are starved and almost dying for hunger so weak as they cannot feed at least that want strength to nourish or digest having not life enough to re-inkindle the vital fire which want of food hath neer put out Thus Madam I do not refuse your Charity but I am not capable to receive it Besides my very outward appearance would rather be an Obstruction to your Mirth than any Addition to your Pleasures and for me it would be very improper for a grieved heart weeping eyes sad countenance and black mourning garments will not be suitable with dancing legs In truth my leaden Spirits have soder'd up my Joynts so stiff that they will not move so agilly as is requir'd in Dancing I am fitter to sit upon a Grave than to tread measures on a Carpet and there is such an Antipathy in my mind to light Aires that they would sooner stop my Ears as Discord than enter into my Hearing as Harmony indeed my Senses are as closed or shut from the world and my Mind is benighted in Sorrow insomuch as I have not one lighted thought they are all put out with the memory of my Loss Thus Madam Memory hath made an Oblivion but though it hath buried for the present the worldly Joys of my Life yet it hath not buried my grateful Thanks for your Favours for which I am Madam Your most humble S. IX MADAM IN your last Letter I perceive that the Lady N. P. is an actor in some State-design or at least would be thought so for our Sex in this age is ambitious to be State-Ladies that they may be thought to be Wise Women but let us do what we can we shall prove our selves Fools for Wisdom is an enemy to our Sex or rather our Sex is an enemy to Wisdom 'T is true we are full of Designs and Plots and ready to side into Factions but Plotting Designing Factions belong nothing to Wisdom for Wisdom never intermeddles therein or therewith but renounces
world and views every corner and peirces into the very bowels of the Earth and their Sun-like Mind is the Light of their Thoughts like as the rest of the Planets receive light from the Sun so the Thoughts from the Mind and as the Sun hath Heat and Light so hath the Mind Reason and Knowledge and as the Sun inlivens several Creatures so their Mind conceives several Causes and Effects and creates several Fancies and as the Sun shews the World and the World of Creatures so the Mind finds and shews the Truth of Things But leaving them to true Knowledge Wisdom Wit and Happiness I rest Madam Your faithful Fr. and S. XV. MADAM YEsterday was the Lord N. W. to visit me where amongst other Discourses we talk'd of the Lady T. M. not sooner was her name mentioned but he seem'd to be rapt up into the third Heaven and from thence to descend to declare her Praises and to repeat his Expressions they were so extraordinary as they will not easily go out of my Memory so as you shall have them word for word First he said She was a Lady fit to be the Empress of the whole world for though Fortune had not given her a Temporal Imperial Crown Dignity and Title as neither by Inheritance Victory nor Choice nor had not advanced her to a Temporal Imperial Power nor placed her on a Temporal Imperial Throne nor held she a Temporal Imperial Scepter yet she was Crown'd at her Birth the Empress of her Sex for though Fortune had not Crown'd her Body yet Nature had Crown'd her Soul with a Celestial Crown made of Poetical Flame instead of Earthly Gold that Crown 's the Body and instead of Diamonds Pearls and other pretious Stones set in Golden Crowns her Celestial Crown was set with Understanding Judgement and Wit also with clear Distinguishings oriental Similizings and sparkling Fancies a Crown more glorious than Ariadne's Crown of Stars and though she was not advanced on a Temporal Imperial Throne yet she was set higher as on a Throne of Applause and though she possess'd not a Temporal Imperial Power nor held a Temporal Imperial Scepter yet she had a powerful Perswasion and the tongue of Eloquence and though she was not adorn'd with Imperial Robes yet she was adorn'd with Natural Beauty and though she had not a Temporal and Imperial Guard yet she was guarded with Virtue and though she was not attended waited and served with and by Temporal and Imperial Courtiers yet she was attended waited on and served by and with the sweet Graces and her Maids of Honour were the Muses and Fame's house was her Magnificent Palace Thus was she Royally Born and Divinely Anointed or Indued and Celestially Crown'd and may Reign in the memory of every Age and Nation to the world's end and not onely Reign but Reign Happily Gloriously and Famously But when he had said what I have related I could not chuse but smile to hear such Poetical commendations of a Woman doubting none of our Sex was worthy of such high and far-fetch'd Praises he ask'd me why I smil'd I told him I smil'd to observe how the Passion of Love had bribed his Tongue he said he was not guilty of partial Bribes but Justice had commanded his Tongue to speak the Truth I told him I was glad to find at least to hear that there was Justice in Men and Merit in Women as the one to Praise the other to be Praise-worthy but I pray'd him to give me leave or to pardon me if I told him that his Speech shew'd or express'd him not a Temporal and Imperial Courtier as to praise one Lady to another and to give so many Praises to an absent Lady as to leave no Praises for the present Lady He pray'd me to pardon him that Errour and that hereafter he would alwayes Praise that Lady he was present with But Madam those Praises given the Lady T. M. had I been apt to Envy it had turn'd me all into Vinegar or dissolv'd me into Vitriol but being unspotted and free from that speckled Vice I am heighten'd with joy to hear any of our Sex so Celestial as to deserve a Celestial Praise And leaving you to the same Joy I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant XVI MADAM I Hope I have given the Lady D. A. no cause to believe I am not her Friend for though she hath been of Ps. and I of Ks. side yet I know no reason why that should make a difference betwixt us as to make us Enemies no more than cases of Conscience in Religion for one may be my very good Friend and yet not of my opinion every one's Conscience in Religion is betwixt God and themselves and it belongs to none other 'T is true I should be glad my Friend were of my opinion or if I thought my Friend's opinion were better than mine I would be of the same but it should be no breach of Friendship if our opinions were different since God is onely to be the Judg And as for the matter of Governments we Women understand them not yet if we did we are excluded from intermedling therewith and almost from being subject thereto we are not tied nor bound to State or Crown we are free not Sworn to Allegiance nor do we take the Oath of Supremacy we are not made Citizens of the Commonwealth we hold no Offices nor bear we any Authority therein we are accounted neither Useful in Peace nor Serviceable in War and if we be not Citizens in the Commonwealth I know no reason we should be Subjects to the Commonwealth And the truth is we are no Subjects unless it be to our Husbands and not alwayes to them for sometimes we usurp their Authority or else by flattery we get their good wills to govern but if Nature had not befriended us with Beauty and other good Graces to help us to insinuate our selves into men's Affections we should have been more inslaved than any other of Natur 's Creatures she hath made but Nature be thank'd she hath been so bountiful to us as we oftener inslave men than men inslave us they seem to govern the world but we really govern the world in that we govern men for what man is he that is not govern'd by a woman more or less None unless some dull Stoick or an old miserable Usurer or a cold old withered Batchelor or a half-starved Hermit and such like persons which are but here and there one And not only Wives and Mistresses have prevalent power with Men but Mothers Daughters Sisters Aunts Cousins nay Maid-Servants have many times a perswasive power with their Masters and a Land-lady with her Lodger or a she-Hostess with her he-Guest yet men will not believe this and 't is the better for us for by that we govern as it were by an insensible power so as men perceive not how they are Led Guided and Rul'd by the Feminine Sex But howsoever Madam the disturbance in
than to give Counsel for it is a wonder whenas young Counsellers keep Peace or young Generals be Conquerours and it makes them more Famous because not Usual especially when Fortune favours them as she doth many times their Rash Adventures or haughty and Ambitious Enterprises for good Fortune makes Youth appear more Glorious than Age but Fortune many times favours Youth as she favours Fools for a time and in the end leaves them to their own Ruin but where Fortune hath little or nothing to do as in wise Counsels there their Ignorance and Follies Passions and Partialities Factions and Emulations appear especially in the success of their Counsels wherefore Young men may better and more safely be trusted with an Army than a City for 't is more safe to leave them to Fortune than to trust them with Prudence for Young men can tell better how to make Wars than to keep Peace being easier to Lead an Army than to Rule a Kingdom to Fight a Battel than to Order a Commonwealth to Distribute Spoils than to Do Justice for Fortune hath more power in Victory than Right 'T is true sometimes there 's such a Concurrence and Conjunction in Affairs of State as also in Armies as the Wisest or Valiantest men cannot make better nor Fools nor Cowards worse which is the cause that many times Wise or Valiant men or both may be thought Fools and Cowards and Fools and Cowards Wise or Valiant men and many times Fools are too hard for Wise men by reason there be numbers of Fools for few Wise men nay numbers of Fools for One Wise man which Wise man may be buried in the Rubbish of Fools but if a Wise man be not overpower'd he treads down their Follies and Triumphs in Peace and Prosperity But Aged men most commonly are assisted and attended by Mercury and Pallas and Young men by Mars and Venus The truth is 't is against Sense and Reason that Young men can be so VVise or proper for Affairs of a Common-wealth either to Command Govern or Counsel as Aged men who have had long Experience and great Observations by Seeing Hearing and Knowing much so as there is nothing New or Unacquainted to them neither in Varieties Changes nor Chances for Nature Fortune and Time is their long Acquaintance by which they know the Appetites Passions Humours Dispositions Manners and Actions of Men with their Defects Errours and Imperfections also the Revolutions of Time the Casualties of Chance the Change of Fortune and the Natural Course Causes and Effects of several Things in the VVorld all which makes Aged men VVise and want of such Experience and Observation makes Young men Fools in comparison of Aged men for Young men can have but a Relative and not an Experienced Knowledge nor can they have very much by Relation or Reading having not time enough for Instruction Learning whereas Aged men have Read Heard Seen Convers'd and Acted in and of several Ages Societies Nations Men and Business also in several Places of several Subjects and several Matters to several Men at several Times But Young men are so Conceited and Opinionative of themselves as they think they neither want Wit Judgement Understanding nor Knowledge and that Antient men rather Dote than Know but though Young men cannot be Wise in Nature unless by Inspiration yet those are nearest to Wisdom that have been Bred up Instructed and Educated by Wise Age and so much Better and more Knowing they are than others which have been Bred Instructed and Educated by Young Pedants or Governours as the first shall be as Old men although but Young and the others shall be as Boyes when they are Young Men and Young Men when they are Old or rather Boyes all their life time although they should live long so that one may say Happy is Youth that lives with Age But leaving as well Aged as Young men to Knowledg and Ignorance Wisdom and Folly Prudence and Fortune I rest Madam Your very faithful Friend and Servant XXV MADAM THe Lady P. R. was to visit the Lady S. I. and other Ladies with her whose Conversation and Discourse was according to their Female Capacities and Understandings and when they were all gone the Lady S. Is. Husband ask'd his Wife why she did not Talk as the rest of the Ladies did especially the Lady P. R. so Loud and Impertinently She answered she had neither the Humour Breath Voice nor Wit to Speak so Long so Loud and so Much of nothing He said her Answer liked him well for he would not have his Wife so Bold so Rude and so Talking a Fool. Thus Madam we may perceive how Discourse in Conversation is Judged of and for the most part Condemned by the Hearers when perchance the Ladies imagine that they are Applauded and Commended for their Wit and Confident Behaviour for Self-love thinks all is well Said or Done that it self Speaks or Acts so that Self-love doth alwayes Approve it self and Dispraise others But leaving Self-love to Self-admiration and that Admiration to others Condemnation I rest Madam Your faithful Fr. S. XXVI MADAM VVE have no News here unless to hear that the Lady C. R. did beat her Husband and because she would have Witness enough she beat him in a Publick Assembly nay being a woman of none of the least Sizes but one of the largest and having Anger added to her Strength she did beat him Soundly and it is said that he did not resist her but endured Patiently whether he did it out of fear to shew his own VVeakness being not able to Encounter her or out of a Noble Nature not to Strike a VVoman I know not yet I believe the best and surely if he doth not or cannot tame her Spirits or bind her Hands or for Love will not leave her if she beat him Often he will have but a Sore life Indeed I was sorry when I heard of it not onely for the sake of our Sex but because she and he are persons of Dignity it belonging rather to mean-born and bred VVomen to do such unnatural Actions for certainly for a VVife to strike her Husband is as much if not more as for a Child to strike his Father besides it is a breach of Matrimonial Government not to Obey all their Husbands Commands but those Women that Strike or Cuckold their Husbands are Matrimonial Traitors for which they ought to be highly punished as for Blows they ought to be banished from their Husbands Bed House Family and for Adultery they ought to suffer Death and their Executioner ought to be their Husband 'T is true Passion will cause great Indiscretion VVomen are subject to Violent Passions which makes or causes them so often to err in VVords and Actions which when their Passion is over they are sorry for but unruly Passions are onely a cause of uncivil Words and rude Actions whereas Adultery is caused by unruly Appetites wherefore Women should be Instructed and Taught
Cities and Towns in N. do Dislike their Governours and Government by reason the Commons strive to Out-brave the Nobles in their Building Garnishing Furnishing Adorning and Flourishing in Gold and Bravery for even the Mechanicks in this City and I believe in the rest are Suffer'd to have their Coaches Lacquies Pages Waiting-maides and to wear Rich and Glorious Garments Fashioning themselves in all things like the Nobles which causes Envy in the Nobility and Pride in the Commonalty the One to see their Inferiors Out-shine them the Other that they can Equal or Out-brave their Betters This Pride and Envy causes Murmur and Murmur causes Faction which may in time make an Alteration in the State and Government for when the Commons once get so High as to Justle the Nobility a thousand to one but the Nobles Fall and with them Royalty by reason they are the Pillars of Royalty or Royal Government Wherefore the Commons should be kept like Cattel in Inclosed Grounds and whensoever any did Break out of their Bounds they should be Impounded that is the Commons should be kept Strictly not to Exceed their Rank or Degree in Shew and Bravery but to Live according to their Qualities not according to their Wealth and those that will be so Presumptuous should be Imprison'd and Fined great Summs for that Presumption this would keep the Commons in Aw and the Nobles in Power to uphold Royal Government which is certainly the Best and Happiest Government as being most United by which the People becomes most Civil for Democracy is more Wild and Barbarous than Monarchy But this is fitter for Monarchs to Consider than for Women to Speak of and therefore leaving the One to the Other I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant LXVI MADAM I VVas so Surprised with the Lady A. Ns. Letter as I was Astonish'd it being such a Bitter and Angry Letter but she had Reason to be Angry because I had committed a very great Fault by a Mistake for I one day sitting a Musing with my own Thoughts was Considering and Pondering upon the natures of Mankind and Wondering with my Self why Nature should make all Men some wayes or other Defective either in Body or Mind or both for a Proof I Chose out One whom I thought the freest from Imperfections either in Mind or Body which was the Lady A. N. and I took Pen and Paper and Writ down all the Defects I could Think or had Observed in her and upon an other all the Excellencies she was Indued with by Nature Heaven and Education which last Pleased me so Well as I was resolved to send her a Copy in a Letter but when I was to send her the Letter both the Papers lying upon my Table together I mistook the right Paper that was in her Praise and sent that which was in her Dispraise never reading it when I sent it and when she did Receive it it seem'd she was in as much Amaze as I at her Answer but afterwards she fell into a very Angry Passion and in that Passion Writ me an Answer which I opened with great Joy thinking she had been very well pleased with my former Letter but when I did read it and had found out the mistake in sending the wrong Letter I was as if I had been Thunder-stricken my Blood flushing so violently into my Face as to my thinking my Eyes flash'd out fire like Lightning and after that there fell such a Showr of Tears as I am confident there were more Tears shed than Letters Written where I wish'd that every Letter might have been buried in the watery Womb or Toomb of every Tear but it was in Vain they being too fast fixt to be Drowned for they were fixt in her Memory and so in Mine but yet my Tears may wash out my Fault and my Love will ask her Pardon in the Humblest and Sorrowfull'st words as I can Speak Wherefore pray Madam make my Peace if you can go to her and speak for me and let her Know how it was for I dare not Write to her again and so in my stead Beg my Pardon for I dare swear by Heaven as I would have it guard my Innocency prove the Truth and save my Soul I am not guilty of a Crime to her for I was free from Malice or Envy or any Evill Design when I writ it and not only free from any Evill to her but I was full of Love and Admiration of her and I hope she will Pardon me since I onely writ it as a Philosopher and not as an Enemy and since there is none that lives but hath some Faults or Defects though she hath the Least and Fewer than any other of Natures Creatures and it is some Praise to have the Least but since we are all Guilty in one kind or other pray her to Pardon my Mistake and Philosophical Contemplation of her and so hoping a Good Success of your Petition in my Behalf I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant LXVII MADAM YOu were pleased in your last Letter to Ask my Opinion Judgement and Advice of that which you Spoke of when I last Saw you truly when any one asks my Opinion of Causes or Effects or my Judgment of Affairs or of any thing concerning the Actions of the World as their Successes to Good or Bad or Desires my Advice of any Concernment to Particulars let me tell you as first for Causes and Effects my Reason Studies and Observation Watches to find out the Cause by the Effects or to Foresee the Effects by the Causes and as for the Success of several Affairs and Actions in the World I put all the Probabilities in one Scale and all the Impossibilities or at least Unlikelyhoods in another and Weigh them both and which soever Scale Weighs Downward I give my Judgement and as for Advice to Particulars I Examin their Means Abilities Strength Power Right Truth and Justice according to all which I give my Advice for I Search the Bottom Stirring up the very Dregs or Fathoming the Depth like as Sailers cast their Line and Plummet to Fathom the Sea for fear of Quick-sands Shelves or the like and then Draw up their Line to see the Depth or at least take Notice how much the Line sinks down so do I concerning my Opinion Judgement or Advice but you must Pardon me if I give not my Judgment or Opinion in a Publick Letter concerning Publick Affairs in which I ought not to meddle being a Woman neither ought those of the Masculine Sex to give their Opinions or Judgments or Advices Publickly unless they were Desired and Required so to do as also not Impertinently Busily or Intrudingly to Meddle or Censure or Speak of that which they have nothing to do or at least where they cannot Help or Mend. But pray believe I am not so Vain as to think I can Reason Judg or Advise Wisely no I onely Endeavour or at least Desire so to do and since you
and S. LXXXVI MADAM IN your last Letter you did friendly Chide me for my Passionate Anger and for some Words I did speak in that Angry Passion I Confess my Error but yet you must Know that my Passion proceeded from Extreme Natural and Honest Love as to be Angry in Mind and Bitter and Sharp in Words to and of those I know by Experience and Practice to be Envious Spitefull Malicious and Ungratefull to those I do and ought dearly to Love and this made me Speak that which Discretion perchance did not Allow or Approve of although Honesty could not Forbid it but had it been in my Own particular Cause or Person I should neither have been Angry nor Bitter neither in Thoughts nor Words for I can easily pass over all Hate or Anger either in Words or Actions to my Self so they be neither Contumelious nor Impairably Dishonourable the First can proceed from none but my Superiors the Other from none but Bestial Ruffians As for my Superiours I count none my Superiours but those that Surpass me in Virue Grace Wisdome and Excellency of Mind except my Natural Parents and as for Rude Ruffians I am of such Quality as not to Keep such Company nor to be Unattended by Servants that Wait upon me or near my Call But I Confess my Indiscretion for Violent Passion doth neither gain Justice Right nor Truth of Malice VVrong and Falshood Yet I am obliged to you for your Love for you have shew'd more True Friendship in your Reproof than Feigned Friends do in their Flattery for which I am Madam Your Faithfull and most Humble Servant LXXXVI MADAM I Have Read Rs. Book which you were pleased to send me and it is written Learnedly Eloquently Wittily and Christianly for all which the Author is to be Applauded and Admired concerning the Truth Method and Ingenuity of the VVork and had he been a Divine by Order and Profession the Subject of his Book which is concerning the Scripture had been most Applaudable but being a Lay-man and not a Consecrated Church-man the Scripture was not a fit Theme for his Pen to work upon at least not in my Opinion for although I Keep strictly to the Church of England yet I think it not fit for a Lay-man to busie his Pen concerning the Scripture for it belongs only to Church-men to Study Interpret Expound Teach and Preach the Scripture and its an Usurpation for Lay-men to meddle in Church-mens Profession unless it be granted that a Lay-man have more VVit Reason Learning and Inspiration than all the Church-men have But truly Madam the Book is an Excellent Book in that Kind Only give me leave to tell you that to Defend Scripture is partly to express Faults in Scripture and to Dispute upon the Obscurities in Scripture is to Puzzle the Truth in Scripture But leaving Scripture to the Church-men and the Author to Fame I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant LXXXVII MADAM I Am Sorry Mrs. D. is so Despairingly Melancholy as not to be Comforted and I am the more Sorry that the Ground of her Despair is the Bible and Ignorant Interpreters such as rather Confound the Cleer Expressions therein than Clear the Dark and Mystical But many Pious persons have fall'n into the same Distemper through want of Deep Capacities Cleer Understandings and Sound Judgments to Interprete the Scripture or to Conceive the Spiritual Inspections and Elevations of the Purity of Christian Religion and all the several Opinions therein The Church of England is the Purest but yet it hath suffer'd the Scripture to be Read too Commonly which hath caused much Disturbance not only to Particular Persons but in the Church it self and hath lost much of the Dignity belonging to Church-men nay it hath so Discomposed the Church-Government as it is a wonder it should settle in its Centre again But the Church-men say they give Lay-men Leave for to Read the Scripture but not to Interprete it but the Leave of the First gives Leave to the Latter But Madam these Causes are not for our Sex to Discourse of wherefore we will rather Pray for our Afflicted Friend Mrs. D. and so taking my leave of you I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant LXXXVIII MADAM I Do not Wonder that the War in E. against O. hath no Better Success since there are such Petty Commanders and Mean Governors and I Fear the Warring designs of G. will have no Better fortune because the Generals which are to Command in Chief are not much Better than those that are to be Commanded neither for Skill Conduct Fame Title Friends Wealth nor Power in all which a General ought to Surpass those he Commands for they may be Good Souldiers for a Troop Regiment or Brigade which are not Skilfull or Fit for a General for to be a Good General doth not only require Skill and Courage but VVise Conduct and VVisdome is not found in every Souldiers brain besides a General must be a man of Note for an Inferiour Person will hardly be Obeyed for if he be not a man of Fame Title Worth and Merit every Under Commander will think himself as Good and fit to be a General as he and will scorn to be Commanded by his Equal Wherefore Superiors are only fit to be Commanders and Governours Besides a General or Governour must be full of Generosity free from Covetousness which Generosity seldom Cohabit's with Poverty or Inferiour Persons also they must be Just both to Punish and Reward Resolute to execute the one and Forward to perform the other But Officers Governours and Commanders are for the most part chosen by the means of Bribes Faction or Favour and not for Fitness VVorth and Merit which Causes so many Disorders Complaints and Rebellions for few Nations live long in Peace and most part of the World at least all Europe is at this time fill'd with bloody War and most Nations are forced to War with each other to Keep their Natives from Civil Dissentions But War is not a Subject proper for our Sex to discourse of although in the Ruines of War we suffer Equally with Men Wherefore leaving this Discourse of War I Conclude with Peace for I am Madam Your faithful Friend and humble Servant LXXXIX MADAM I Am Sorry to hear Mrs. C. L. is married to one She Dislikes so much as to profess she cannot Love her Husband and to Complain of her Parents for forcing her with Threats of Curses to that Match but it is to be hoped that Love will both begin and increase by Acquaintance and Society and his Kindness to her for he is reported to be a very Honest Good-natured man and then she will give her Parents Thanks for it is to be observed that Hot Amorous Lovers when they are Married their Affections grow Cooler and at last so Cold as to Dye Insensible so as the Marriage-bed proves the Grave of Love I mean of fond Amorous Love for certainly Amorous Lovers have Poetical
Spoken to them Neither do I wonder that Others in Great Authority and Power will Advance Some Persons when they have but a New Acquaintance or rather a Sight of them to Place and Office and before they are Setled in their Offices Displace them again without any Reason or Knowledge either of Advancing or Displacing Nor do I wonder Others will be so in Love for two or three Dayes as they almost Sigh out their Breath of Life for their Wished Desires and a Day or two after Reproach or Laugh at those they were so much in Love with as they Desired their Favour more than Heaven All this I say I do not VVonder at Observing and Perceiving the Inconstant Natures of Mankind But I wonder to Perceive or Find any one to be Constant Seven Years or One Year much more to be Constant their Whole Life time for Constancy is as Seldom or Rarely Seen as a Blazing Star Indeed Constancy in this World is somewhat like a Blazing Star it Lasts for a time and then Goes out for it is not as the Fix'd Stars but rather as the Wandring Planets though truly I am constantly Fix'd to be Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXIX MADAM I Give you many Thanks for your Counsel and Advice concerning my Health for certainly an Over-studious Mind doth Wast the Body which is the Cause for the most part that Painful Students are Lean for the Mind Feeds as much upon the Body as the Body upon Meat But truly I am sometimes in a Dispute with my self whether it be better to live a Long and Idle than a Short but Profitable Life that is to Imploy a Little time Well or to Wast a Great Deal of Time to no Purpose and I Conclude that a Little Good is better than Nothing or better than a Sum of Evil for 't is better through Industry to Leave a Little to After Age than Die so Poor as to Leave Nothing no not so much as After Ages may say there Liv'd such a one in Former Ages than to Die and be quite Forgotten and therefore should I live out the Course of Nature or could live so Long as Methusalem when the Time were Past it would seem as Nothing and perchance I should be as Unwilling to Die then as if I Died in my Youth so that a Long and a Short time of Life is as one and the same 'T is true Death is Terrible to Think of but in Death no Terrour Remains so as it is Life that is Painful both to the Body and Mind and not Death for the Mind in Life is Fearful and the Body is seldom at Ease But howsoever I will endeavour Madam so to Divide the time of my Bodily Life as to Imploy part of my Time for Health and part for Fame and all for Gods Favour and when I Die I will Bequeath my Soul to Heaven my Fame to Time and my Body to Earth there to be Dissolved and Transformed as Nature Pleases for to her it belongs I do not much Care nor Trouble my Thoughts to think where I shall be Buried when Dead or into what part of the Earth I shall be Thrown but if I could have my Wish I Would my Dust might be Inurned and mix'd with the Dust of those I Love Best although I think they would not Remain Long together for I did observe that in this last War the Urns of the Dead were Digged up their Dust Dispersed and their Bones Thrown about and I suppose that in all Civil or Home-wars such Inhuman Acts are Committed wherefore it is but a Folly to be Troubled and Concerned where they shall be Buried or for their Graves or to Bestow much Cost on their Tombes since not only Time but VVars will Ruin them But Madam lest I should make you Melancholy with Discoursing of so sad Subjects as Death and Graves Bones and Dust I leave you to Livelier and Pleasanter Thoughts and Conversation and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXX MADAM YOu were pleased to tell me in your last Letter that Many have desired your Charity which have been Ruined by these last Civil VVars and that they who before this time were able to Relieve many with their Wealth now do Want Relief themselves by which we may know that neither Riches nor Peace is Permanent and many are not only Ruin'd in their Estates and Banished their Native Country but Forsaken of their Friends which is a terrible Misery but Misery and Friends seldom keep together and it is to be observed that a Civil VVar doth not only Abolish Laws Dissolve Government and Destroy the Plenty of a Kingdom but it doth Unknit the Knot of Friendship and Dissolve Natural Affections for in Civil VVar Brothers against Brothers Fathers against Sons and Sons against Fathers become Enemies and Spill each others Blood Triumphing on their Graves for when a Kingdom is Inflamed with Civil War the Minds of all the People are in a Fever of Fury or a Furious Fever of Cruelty which by nothing but Letting Blood by the Surgeon of VVar can be Cured and that not a Little but Most must Bleed ere there will be a Perfect Cure It is the Plague of the Mind as well as the Plague of the Body for the Minds of Men are Infected with Covetous Desires Ambitious Designs Treacherous Plots and Murderous Intentions and so General it is that Few Minds escape the Infection which shews it proceeds from the Malignity of the Air or the Influence of some Raging Planet and if so it proceeds from a Natural Cause although it be an Unnatural War or else it proceeds from Unwise Government where many Errours gather into a Mass or Tumor of Evil which Rises into Blisters of Discontents and then Breaks out into Civil War or else Heaven sends it to Punish the Sins of the People Besides it is to be observed that Vices Increase in a Civil War by reason Civil Government is in Disorder Civil Magistrates Corrupted Civil Laws Abolished Civil Manners and Decent Customs Banished and in their Places is Rapine Robbing Stabbing Treachery and Falshood all the Evil Passions and Debauch'd Appetites are let Loose to take their Liberty But this is so commonly Known to those that have seen a Civil War as I should not have needed to Mention it although those that have Liv'd alwayes in Peace will not Believe it but I have Suffered so much in it as the Loss of some of my Nearest and Dearest Friends and the Ruin of those that did Remain that I may desire to Forget it Wherefore leaving this sad Discourse I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXXI MADAM IN your last Letter you were pleased to tell me that the Lady E. E. and the Lady A. A. are alwayes Quarrelling with each other when they Meet and Rail on each other when they are Asunder and their Husbands in the Behalf of their Wives do the like But I Wonder they should do so whenas they are
the Body to be Swell'd and Puff'd all over the Extreme Parts as well as the Inward or next Adjoyning Parts whereas the Empty Dry Veins cause only the Inward and Joyning Parts to the Mouths of the Veins to be Swell'd or Puff'd out but for Casting out from them or Resisting they are alike Thus Madam I have Obeyed your Commands in Writing to you my Opinion and Begging your Pardon for being so Tedious in Explaning and Declaring it I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXXXVII MADAM YOu were pleased to tell me in your Letter how much out of Countenance you were being Surprised with a Visit you Expected not Truly Madam I am very Sensible of your Pain insomuch as methinks I Feel what you Suffered for I my self have been and am still so Troubled with that Imperfection if it may be call'd one that I have been often so out of Countenance as I have not only Pitied my self but others have Pitied me which is a Condition I would not be in and the Thoughts that Bashfulness leaves in the Mind are as great an Affliction as the Mind can have for a Crimeless Defect for 't is no Crime to be Bashful nor a Disgrace neither to the Life nor Soul although it be a Disadvantage to the Person for Bashfulness Works divers Effects upon the Body and in the Mind As for the Mind it Disturbs the Thoughts so much as the Thoughts are all in a Confused Disorder and not any one Thought moves Regularly neither will they Suffer the Words to pass out of the Mouth or if they do they are Uttered without Sense nay sometimes in no Language being but Pieces of Words or Pieces of the Letters of Words and others quite contrary will speak so Much and Fast as none can Understand what they Say or would Say Indeed so Fast as they make neither Stop nor Distinction Again others will Speak so Shrill and Loud as it Deafens the Ears of the Hearers and others so Soft and Low as it cannot be Heard what they Say and some when they are out of Countenance will Laugh at every Word they Speak or is Spoken to them although the Subject be so Sad and Lamentable as it is proper to be attended with Tears And for the Body when the Mind is Bashful it hath Divers and Several Misbecoming Motions as in some their neather Lip will so Quiver as it will Draw quite Awry like as in a Convulsion and in some their Eyes will so Squint as they can see nothing Perfectly and some will Shake their Heads so much as if they had the Shaking Palsie and in some their Legs will so Tremble as they can hardly bear up the Body from falling and some their whole Body will be as if they were in a Cold Fit of an Ague and others when they are out of Countenance have such a Suppressing of Spirits as they are forced often to Humm to raise them up and others when they are out of Countenance will look so Pale as if they were Departing with Life and on the Contrary others will be so Red having a Torrent of Blushes Flow to their Face that they will appear as if they were Drunk and that it were the Spirits of Wine which made that Firy and Flaming Colour and many other Misbecoming Countenances and several Misbecoming Garbs Postures Motions and Senseless Words which are not to be Express'd But howsoever a Bashful Countenance Expresses a Sensible Mind and a Modest Nature and not a Guiltiness of Crimes for those that are so Bold as to Commit a Crime will not want Confidence to Out-face it VVherefore Madam let not your Bashful Behaviour be a Disturbance to your Harmless Thoughts and Virtuous Life to which Thoughts and Life I leave you and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXXXVIII MADAM YOu did once before your last Letter Desire me to give my Opinion concerning the Influence of the Stars I did so and now you Desire my Opinion again which if I do I may chance to Contradict my self But truly I believe the Planets or Stars have no more Influence upon the Bodies Minds and Natures of Men than one Creature hath upon another or several Creatures upon one or one upon more for though the Bodies Humours Constitutions and Minds of Men are subject to Alterations and Changes yet it is from their Principal Natures as from the Nature of Mankind and we see by Experience and Observation that the Planets have not Power over Laws Customs and Education which are more Firmly Setled than to be Altered by the Various Effects of the Stars and Planets which Laws Customs and Educations have Power over the Appetites Passions and Constitutions of Men. But we may observe that the Effects of the Planets Vary Perpetually for if they were Constant in their Effects there would be no Change or Alteration and if they had an Absolute Power over the rest of Nature's Works as many think or as others say onely over Mankind their Cross Effects or Influences would make such a Confusion as it would make an Utter Destruction of that they have Power of which would Cross and Hinder Natures Methodical Proceedings and certain Rules and Decrees by which she Governs unless you will say the Stars or Planets are the Fates and Destinies to all Mankind if so there needs no Education Laws or Justice but the Stars and Planets are too Inconstant and Changing to Decree and Destinate any thing for there is no Assurance or Certainty in the Effects or Influence of the Stars and Planets there is more Assurance in the Educations and Customs of Men and Custom and Education hath Stronger Effects for Custom and Education can Alter the Unaptness in Natural Capacities and Understandings the Dull Dispositions Froward or Evil Passions of the Mind also it oftentimes Tempers the Irregular Humours of the Body and can Restrain the Unsatiable Appetites of the Body and Senses and Long Custom Alters the Nature of Men Besides Healthful and Strong Constitutions will become Sick and Faint with Debaucheries and Irregularities and Sick and Weak Constitutions will grow Healthful and Strong with Temperance and Regularity also Education makes a Man a Thief and a Thief an Honest Man and it is Fortune that makes Kings and Beggars and not the Planets for all that are Born at one point of Time have not the same Fortune as when a King is Born or else there would be thousands of Kings so many Children being Born at the same point of Time Likewise all that were Born in such or such a point of Time would be Poets Natural Philosophers and the like whereas there are as Few of them as of Kings also all that are Born in such a point of Time would be Wise Just and Prudent men according to the Influence of the Stars but if so I believe there would be more Wise and Just men than there are whereas now for One Wise man there are Millions of Fools Besides it would
Pudding and in my Opinion it is too much Hast that Spoils it for Good Ingredients VVell ordered cannot be Amiss But Madam having had no Practice I cannot have much Skill in these Meats and 't is Probable my Cook can give better Reasons than I can yet howsoever to Obey your Commands I have given you my Opinion and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CLXI MADAM YOu desire my Opinion whether there be a Vacuum or not I have written of it in my Former Books as in my Poems Olio and Philosophical Opinions and cannot write More nor Better of it than I have done there unless I had more Learning or Judgment or VVit or Conceptions or Understanding but yet to Satisfie you I 'le send you the same Opinion or but little different which is that if there were no Vacuum but that all the Universe were full only the Gross Bodies Moved in the Thin Bodies as is held by many they do then the Places of each Solid or Bulky Body must be fitted just to their Measures and their Places must be Supplied so as when they Move the Liquid or Rare Bodies must Contract and Dilate according to the Motion of those Bulky Bodies to fill up their former Places or following Places and to Contract to make Room and Place for those Solid and Grosser Bodies otherwise there would be a Vacuum or a Stoppage of all Natural Motions But I cannot conceive how the Thin or Rare Matter can Contract or Dilate if there be no Vacuum for to my Reason there must be a Space to Dilate and Contract into so as the Rare Parts must be Porous to Contract and there must be Empty Places or Space to Dilate and if they say the Space or Place is the Place or Space where the Solid Bodies were in which they fill up as soon as they Moved out yet the Space or Place must be Empty before the Rare Bodies Enter for two Bodies cannot be in one Place at one Time and if the Great or Solid Bodies leave no Places or Spaces but alwayes Move in Full Matter I cannot Imagine how they should Move if all Places be Full although they should move in Rare or Thin Matter for as I said the Thin Matter must be Porous to Contract and Dilate to make VVay or Fill up for if there were not Pores or Spongy or Hollow Spaces and Places that which is Liquid and Rare would be as Firm as Brass or Glass nay more for those no doubt are Porous for if there were no Vacuum every part would be Press'd and Joyn'd into a Firm Body or Substance nay surely there would be great Confusion amongst all the Works of Nature But why may not Dilatation and Contraction cause Vacuum to be sometimes more and sometimes less But one would think there were no Vacuum in Nature because Nature is Forced or seems to be so as to make VVay for Life by Death as if she had no Room or Space for Life but what was caused by Death But leaving these Empty and Filling Opinions I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CLXII MADAM REmember when we were very young Maids one day we were Discoursing about Lovers and we did injoyn each other to Confess who Profess'd to Love us and whom we Loved and I Confess'd I only was in Love with three Dead men which were Dead long before my time the one was Caesar for his Valour the second Ovid for his Wit and the third was our Countryman Shakespear for his Comical and Tragical Humour but soon after we both Married two VVorthy men and I will leave you to your own Husband for you best know what he is As for my Husband I know him to have the Valour of Caesar the Fancy and VVit of Ovid and the Tragical especially Comical Art of Shakespear in truth he is as far beyond Shakespear for Comical Humour as Shakespear beyond an Ordinary Poet in that way also he is the Best Heroick Poet in this Age nay in my Judgment in any for I have seen him make Twenty Songs upon one Theme or Subject as Musick and not one Song like another and for Comedies he Hits or Meets or Imitates the Humours of Men so Justly as he seems to go even with Nature Indeed he is such a Person that I Glory more to be his Wife than Livia to be Augustus's Wife or had I been Titus's Wife who was call'd the Delight of Mankind although I never heard he had any for in my Opinion he is as Wise a man as Augustus and of as Sweet a Nature as Titus all which is my Happiness in any Condition of Worldly Fortune in which Happiness I know you Rejoyce and this Rejoyce proves us Inseparable Friends CLXIII MADAM YOu were pleased to desire me to let my Steward receive five hundred Pounds for you here in this Town but you must have a little Patience for they will pay no Mony although it be Due until these Christmass Holy-dayes be past I know not whether they are so Strict as to Receive none methinks they should be apt to Take for they are all busie in Entertainments Eating Drinking and Feasting but I observe some things which I wonder at viz. that Mony should pass or move so Slowly in Matters or Affairs of Right and Due as Debts Rewards and Gratitudes or concerning Honour as Generosity or for Heaven's sake as Charity whenas in Causes of Injustice and Wrong as in Bribes or Wars or for Vice and Vanity as for Unlawful Love Gaming Drinking Gluttonous Feasting Vain shews and Superfluous Bravery it runs about with that Swift Speed that there is no Catching hold of as to Stay it but it seems to be the Minds of Men that hold it from going forth to Good and Noble Uses and the Appetites of Men that make it run to Base Wicked Vain and Foolish Imployments so that we may perceive that the Appetites have more Power to do Evil than the Mind hath Will to do Good But Madam my Will hath a Mind to Serve you although I have not Means nor Power to do it yet in what I can your Ladiship shall alwayes find me Your most faithful Friend and Servant CLXIV MADAM IN your last Letter you writ that your Imployment was to read the History of King Charles the First written by S. A. give me leave to tell you Madam you lose your time in reading that History for it is only a number of Weekly Gazets Compiled into a History wherein are more Falshoods than Truth for he being Mean and Poor had not Wealth nor Power to Inform himself Truly of every Particular Action much less of their Designs but you tell me he mentions an Entertainment my Lord made the King where he sayes it cost 5000 l. or thereabout Condemning another Writer of the same Subject for saying it cost more let me tell you Madam that neither of them was my Lords Steward nor Treasurer to know the Expences but only what they
that the more Words we used in Prayer the Worse they were Accepted for I thought a Silent Adoration was better Accepted of God than a Self-conceited Babling Then she ask'd me if I thought one might not be Refined by Tempering their Passions and Appetites or by Banishing the Worst of them from the Soul and Body to that Degree as to be a Deity or so Divine as to be above the Nature of Man I said no for put the case Men could turn Brass or Iron or such gross Metals into Gold and Refine that Gold into its height of Purity yet it would be but a Metal still so likewise the most Refined Man would be but Human still he would be still a Man and not a God nay take the Best of Godly Men such as have been Refined by Grace Prayer and Fasting to a degree of Saints yet they were but Human and Men still so long as the Body and Soul were joyn'd together but when they were Separated what the Soul would be whether a God a Devil a Spirit or Nothing I could not tell with that she Lifted up her Eyes and Departed from me Believing I was one of the Wicked and Reprobate not capable of a Saving Grace so as I believe she will not come near me again lest her Purity should be Defiled in my Company I believe the next news we shall hear of her will be that she is become a Preaching Sister I know not what Oratory the Spirit will Inspire her with otherwise I believe she will make no Eloquent Sermons but I think those of her Calling do defie Eloquence for the more Non-sense they Deliver the more they are Admired by their Godly Fraternity But leaving her to her Self-denying I return to Acknowledg my self Madam Your very faithful Friend and Servant LII MADAM I Do not wonder that there are Pimps or Bawds for Base Vices and Wicked Baseness are too Frequent in this Age to be Wonder'd at and certainly the like is in every Age for the Composition of Mankind is not so Pure but there are both Scum and Dregs the which are for the most part the Inferiour sort of People but which I wonder at is that the Lord P. B. should be a Pimp and the Lady B. B. a Bawd Persons of such Quality where it was more likely that some Inferiour Persons should Pimp and Bawd for Them that they should be so Low as to Pimp and Bawd for Others But perchance some can tell that they do make use of such Inferiour Persons for their Own turn as they are for the turn of Others howsoever the Actions of this Lord and Lady shew that their Births were better than their Breeding or that Fortune hath Favour'd them more with Titles than Nature hath Indued them with Noble Dispositions and thus having more Honour from Fortune than Nature more Antiquity by Birth than Virtue by Breeding 't is the Cause that the Practice of their Lives is not answerable to the Degree of their Dignities but for the most part such Base Actions are produced either out of Extreme Poverty or Covetousness of Presents or Ambition of Preferments for Bauding and Pimping is seldom done Gratis But those that are truly Noble that is have Noble Souls and Honourable Natures can never be Forced Perswaded or Inticed to do a Base Action insomuch as they will rather choose to do a more Wicked Action as we hold it which is not mixt with Baseness as Heroically to Kill themselves than Basely Betray Chastity and Beastly Procure Wanton Amours for where Honour and Virtue takes a thorow Possession they never leave their Habitation no more than my Friendship with your Ladiship for I am and will ever be Madam Your Ladiships faithful Friend and humble Servant LIII MADAM MRs. W. S. doth not Approve of Sir C. R. she absolutely Refuses him for a Husband she sayes he is Effeminate and she Hates an Effeminate Man as Nature Abhors Vacuity she sayes she had rather have a Debauch'd Man for a Husband by reason Debauchery had some Courage although the worst part of Courage for it durst Encounter Fevers Gouts Stone Pox and many the like Diseases not but that Effeminacy and Debauchery are sometimes joyn'd in one Person but not commonly but she sayes she will never Marry unless she may have a Valiant Wise man such a man that will not Rashly or Foolishly Quarrel but Warily and Resolutely Fight that doth not onely measure his Sword but his Quarrel by the Length and Breadth of Honour a man that is not outwardly Formal but inwardly Rational that weighs not his Words by the Number but by the Sense whose Actions are Levelled by the Rule of Honesty and Prudence such a Man she will have for a Husband The Lady P. E. hearing her said she could help her to an Husband that had the Reputation of Valour and Wisdom but he was Severe Mrs. W. S. said she had rather a Severe Wise man than a Facil Fool but said the Lady P. E. if you have this man he will keep you strictly to a Wife's Obedience she said she was Content were he never so Severe nay did his Severity extend to the Verge of Cruelty for she had rather be Beaten by a Wise man than Kiss'd by a Fool But leaving her at this time without a Husband's Kisses or Blows I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant LIV. MADAM TH' other day the Lady D. C. and the Lady G. B. came to Visit me and being both met together as Visitants they fell into a Discourse of History and so of former Times and Persons of both Sexes at last they fell into a Discourse of Married Wives giving their Opinions of Good and Bad Wives that had lived in former Ages and the Lady D. C. said that Lucretia was the Best Wife that ever History mentioned in that she Kill'd her self to save her Husbands Honour being a Dishonour for a Husband to have an Abused as a Ravished Wife for though her Husband was not a Cuckold through her free Consent yet was he a Cuckold through her Inforcement which was a Dishonour in the second Degree The Lady G. B. said that though she did believe Lucretia was a very Chast Woman and a Virtuous and Loving Wife yet whether she Kill'd her self to save her Husbands Honour of her Own she could not Judge unless she had the Effect of a God to know the Minds and Thoughts of human Creatures for perchance Lucretia might know or verily believe that when her Husband should come to know the dishonourable Abuse that was done unto her he would have Kill'd her himself not so much through a Jealous mistrust of her but for the Dishonour or Disgrace of the Abuse and if so then the Cause of Lucretia's Killing her self was as much through Prudence Wisdom as through Virtue for in Killing her self she gain'd an Immortal Fame for Dying by her Own hand she seem'd Innocent whereas had she Dyed by her Husband's hand
or command the World being Censorious would have thought her a Criminal wherefore since Lucretia must Dye she chose the best way to Dye by her own voluntary Act but had Lucretia been Unmarried said she and had been so Abused she had been a Fool to have Kill'd her self before she had endeavoured to have Kill'd her Abuser for it would be more Justice to have Kill'd the Murderer of her Honour than to have Murdered her Innocent Self onely the Revenge ought in Honour to have been Executed in some Publick Place and Assembly and then the Private Abuse Declared if it had not been Known already But these two Ladies arguing whether Lucretia Kill'd her self for her Husband's Honour of for her Own at last grew so Earnest in their Discourse as they fell to Quarrel with each other in such a Fury they were as they were ready to Beat one another nay I was afraid they would have Kill'd each other and for fear of that Mischief I was forced to be a Defender of both standing between them and making Orations to the one and then to the other at last I intreated them to Temper their Passions and to Allay their Anger and give me leave Ladies said I to ask you what Lucretia was to either of you was she of your Acquaintance or Kindred or Friend or Neighbour or Nation and if she was none of these as it was very probable she was not Living and Dying in an Age so long afore this nay so long as the Truth might Rationally be questioned if not of the Person yet of the Manner of the Action for perchance the clear Truth was never Recorded Falshood having been written in Histories of much later Times than that of Lucretia therefore Allay your Passions for why should you two Ladies fall out and become Enemies for Lucretia's sake whom you never knew or heard of but as in an old Wife's Tale which is an old History But howsoever Good Ladies said I leave Lucretia to live and dye in History and be you two Friends in present Life Abuse not your selves with Rage concerning Tarquin's Abusing Lucretia with Lust. Thus talking to them at last I calmed their Passions and made them Friends again but making Peace between them I spent more Breath and Spirits than the Peace of two Foolish at least Cholerick Ladies was worth for although there is an old Saying Happy is the Peace-maker yet I am happy I am quit at this present of their Company and that I can subscribe my self Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant LV. MADAM YOu were pleased in your last Letter to tell me that you had been in the Country and that you did almost Envy the Peasants for living so Merrily it is a sign Madam they live Happily for Mirth seldom dwells with Troubles and Discontents neither doth Riches nor Grandeur live so Easily as that Unconcerned Freedom that is in Low and Mean Fortunes and Persons for the Ceremony of Grandeur is Constrain'd and bound with Forms and Rules and a great Estate and high Fortune is not so easily manag'd as a Less a Little is easily order'd where Much doth require Time Care Wisdom and Study as Considerations but Poor Mean Peasants that live by their Labour are for the most part Happier and Pleasanter than great Rich Persons that live in Luxury and Idleness for Idle Time is Tedious and Luxury is Unwholsom whereas Labour is Healthful and Recreative and surely Country Huswives take more Pleasure in Milking their Cows making their Butter and Cheese and feeding their Poultry than great Ladies do in Painting Curling and Adorning themselves also they have more Quiet Peaceable Minds and Thoughts for they never or seldom look in a Glass to view their Faces they regard not their Complexions nor observe their Decayes they Defie Time's Ruins of their Beauties they are not Peevish and Froward if they look not as Well one day as another a Pimple or Spot in their Skin Tortures not their Minds they fear not the Sun's Heat but Out-face the Sun's Power they break not their Sleeps to think of Fashions but Work Hard to Sleep Soundly they lie not in Sweats to clear their Complexions but rise to Sweat to get them Food their Appetites are not Queazie with Surfeits but Sharp'ned with Fasting they relish with more Savour their Ordinary Course Fare than those who are Pamper'd do their Delicious Rarities and for their Mirth and Pastimes they take more Delight and true Pleasure and are more Inwardly Pleased and Outwardly Merry at their Wakes than the great Ladies at their Balls and though they Dance not with such Art and Measure yet they Dance with more Pleasure and Delight they cast not Envious Spiteful Eyes at each other but meet Friendly and Lovingly But great Ladies at Publick Meetings take not such true Pleasures for their Envy at each others Beauty and Bravery Disturbs their Pastimes and Obstructs their Mirth they rather grow Peevish and Froward through Envy than Loving and Kind through Society so that whereas the Countrey Peasants meet with such Kind Hearts and Unconcerned Freedom as they Unite in Friendly Jollity and Depart with Neighbourly Love the Greater sort of Persons meet with Constrain'd Ceremony Converse with Formality and for the most part Depart with Enmity and this is not onely amongst Women but amongst Men for there is amongst the Better sort a greater Strife for Bravery than for Courtesie for Place than Friendship and in their Societies there is more Vain-glory than Pleasure more Pride than Mirth and more Vanity than true Content yet in one thing the Better Sort of Men as the Nobles and Gentry are to be Commended which is that though they are oftener Drunken and more Debauch'd than Peasants having more Means to maintain their Debaucheries yet at such times as at great Assemblies they keep themselves more Sober and Temperate than Peasants do which are for the most part Drunk at their Departing But to Judg between the Peasantry and Nobles for Happiness I believe where there 's One Noble that is truly Happy there are a Hundred Peasants not that there be More Peasants than Nobles but that they are More Happy number for number as having not the Envy Ambition Pride Vain-glory to Cross Trouble Vex them as Nobles have when I say Nobles I mean those that have been Ennobled by Time as well as Title as the Gentry But Madam I am not a fit Judg for the several Sorts or Degrees or Courses of Lives or Actions of Mankind as to Judg which is Happiest for Happiness lives not in Outward Shew or Concourse but Inwardly in the Mind and the Minds of Men are too Obscure to be Known and too Various and Inconstant to Fix a Belief in them and since we cannot Know our Selves how should we know Others Besides Pleasure and true Delight lives in every one 's own Delectation but let me tell you my Delectation is to prove my self Madam Your faithful Fr. and S. LVI
shew the Stars to have more Power and greater Influence to Produce Fools Knaves Slaves and Beggars than Wise Just Free and Rich Noble men and if the Planets had no Power over the Fortunes nor over the Minds of Men but over the Bodies of Men then the Influence the Soul hath on the Body would Contradict the Influence of the Planets and the Planets Influence would Contradict the Influence of the Soul so as by their Crossness the Body would be Perpetually Tortured and the Mind Disquieted and if the Planets had an Influence over the Soul and Body then we would be Good and Bad Wicked and Pious Valiant and Cowards Sick and Well Hungry and Dry or otherwise have no Appetite according as the Planets please or according to their Influences also all men would be Good and Bad Sick and Well Wise and Fools Valiant and Cowardly just at one time as the Sign or Influence is so that all men under the Domination of such Stars or Planets would be alike at one Minute and if all Men should Like or Love one Woman at one Minute and Time or all Women one Man that is as many as See her or him that Woman would have more Servants and Suters than she could Please or Answer and the Man more Mistresses than the Great Turk Also if it were according to the Dominion of the Planets thousands on a Sudden would be Inspired with Poetical Raptures and soon after be Dull and Stupid Dolts whenas that Influence Changed but I believe there is greater Influence from one Nation on another according to Interest Strength and Potency and so from one Man to another according to Interest Power and Authority than the Stars and Planets have on Several Nations and Several and Particular Men which Produces greater Effects than the Planets Effects and Influences can do not but that I believe the Planets can Work as Sudden Effects nay far Suddener and Immediate as we see by the Effects of the Heat and Light of the Sun but I believe that Beauty and Wit have a greater Influence upon the Passions of the Mind and Senses and Appetites of the Body than the Stars and why may not we think as well that the Actions especially the General Actions of men might have as great an Influence or Power over the Stars and Planets as the Stars and Planets are thought to have over Men for I see no reason to the contrary since they are Fellow Creatures and not Gods But surely every several part and particle in Nature hath an Influence on each other from which are produced several Effects and Effects have Influence upon Effects some on some and some on others or perchance they have all a Working Effect to each other as many Grains of Corn are ground for one Loaf of Bread many several Materials go to one House many several Families to one Commonwealth many several Nations to one World and many several Worlds to one Universe Thus Madam I have Obeyed your second Command concerning the Influences of the Stars and Planets as I did your first but in this Later Discourse I seem to have no Belief that the Stars have an Influence over the Bodies or Minds no more than the Bodies or Minds have over the Planets and so over Fortune Education Laws Custom and the like whereas in my Former Letter I said they had over the Body and was apt to Believe they had also over the Mind but since I Writ the Former Letter concerning this Subject I have thought of it more than I had then and Believe every Creature hath some Influence to each other But I leave both Letters and the Opinions and Arguments written therein to your Better Judgment and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXXXIX MADAM I Am sorry to hear that Sir S. K. is so full of the Dropsie as to be Dying indeed the Dropsie is a Disease that Quenches out the Fire or Flame of Life as a Torch Candle or Lamp having more Water than Radical Oyl or Vital Heat so that one may say those that are full of the Dropsie have a River or Sea in their Body they are Drown'd not with VVater VVithout but VVithin them it is an Inward Deluge and a Dropsical Body is like Noah's Flood wherein the Inward Parts are as the several Nations and the Animal Spirits as the People Drown'd therein but the Soul as Noah is Saved in the Ark of Heaven and at the Day of Judgment is to be Restored to the Bodily World again But leaving this Similizing Dropsie pro 〈…〉 m Divers Causes as sometimes through 〈…〉 ometimes through an Hot and sometimes through a Cold Cause some Dropsie through a VVasting Cause some through an Obstructive and some through a Superfluous Cause In some the Effects may be Cured by Altering or Removing the Causes in others the Cause is Essential not to be Removed but by Death and so not to be Cured in Life but whatsoever the Cause be whether Curable or Incurable the best Remedy either to Prolong the Life of the Diseased Body or to Cure those that are Curable is to make Issues which as Sluces Drain the Water out of the Body or so much as to keep it from Overflowing or they are like Taps set to Barrels full of Liquor which runs forth at the Tap-holes But there must not only be One Sluce or Tap-hole but Two or Three to Vent the Superfluity of the Water that Comes or is Bred in the Body 'T is true I have heard those that have Issues say they are somewhat Troublesome but yet they are not so Troublesom as a Swell'd Unwieldy Bulk or Sick and Indisposed Body But by your Letter I perceive that Sir S. Ks. Body is so much Overflowed as it cannot be Drained so soon as to Save his Life but it will be Drowned and Overwhelmed in the Whirlpool of Death And so leaving his Soul to God I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXL MADAM YOu writ in your last Letter that the Lady G. D. takes Cooling Julips in the Morning and Cordials when she goes to Bed to Digest Crude Humours but my Reason says she is in an Errour as for Example Dry Wood and Wet Wood or Sear Wood and Green Wood although there should be put much Fire to the Green or Wet VVood it will not hastily Burn nay such VVood doth oftener put Out the Fire than the Fire doth Inkindle the VVood for the moist Vapors that Issue or are Drawn forth by the Heat of the Fire do Destroy that Heat that Drew those Vapors out whereas on the other side Dry or Sear VVood when Kindled and all of a Firy Flame fling but a little VVater on it and it will Quench out the Flaming Fire The like are the Bodies of Mankind they are easier Cooled when Inflamed Applying Cooling Liquors as Julips Ptisan Barly Water and the like than to Heat them with Cordials when they are full of Raw Crude and Waterish Humours
for Fevers although Violent if they Proceed from no other Cause but a Supernatural Heat are Sooner and Easier Cured than Cold Palsies and other Cold Diseases wherefore it is better to take Hot things first and Coolling after than to take Hot things after Cooling for Hot thinps after Cooling do rather make a Smothering Heat than a Concocting Digesting or Expelling Heat so as it only fills the Body full of Vapors like as Wet or Green Fuel fills a Room with Smoak but a Healthful Body must neither be too Hot nor too Cold nor too Dry nor too Moist And so leaving the Lady D. G. to her Julips and Cordials I rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXLI MADAM I Was sorry to hear you intended to return into E. for I know that nothing but Necessity could Force you thither although your Native Country having been so Unnaturally Bereaved of all your Maintenance by the Covetous Purloyning of your Unnatural Countrymen and left to Seek in a Wandring Condition Fortunes Favour which is as Inconstant as they are Cruel but I perceive by your staying that Journy that Fortune as Inconstant as she Usually is yet hath had more Pity and Compassion of your Sufferings than they who keep you from the Extremity of Misery they have Exposed you to yet those who have your Estate cannot be much Happier although you never have it again for they cannot Enjoy it Long the Longest Life being but Short and there is an Old Saying VVe cannot Carry our VVorldly goods to the Grave indeed Death hath no Use of them nor Life so much Pleasure as Trouble with them the truth is 't is best to have no more than for Necessity a Superfluity most commonly runs into Luxury which causes Painful Diseases in the Body Restless Desires in the Mind and Hinders the Life from that Sweet Repose it would have in a Satisfactory Temperance and in a Moderate Fortune and surely it is the Best and Happiest Life to be neither Oppress'd with Riches nor Distress'd with Poverty and if Heaven Bless us from the Misery of the one we shall not have cause to Repine at the Loss of the other thus it is likely those may Suffer more that have Robbed you of your great Estate by their Griping and Accusing Consciences and Uncertain Possessions than you that are Robbed of all but what they could not get as your Virtuous Nature your Honourable Mind your Peaceable Thoughts and Heavens Protection to which I leave you and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXLII MADAM IT is to be Observed that most Men and VVomen are so Busie to find out other Mens or VVomens Faults as they Forget their own and when they Perceive any Faults in others they are so Joy'd as their Tongues are like Trumpets to Sound out their Reproach also they are Busie in the Inquiry of others Misfortunes but never Consider the Same or some other Misfortunes may Light upon them also they are Busie to Inquire of every Particular Persons Private Affairs as their VVealth Ordering their Families their Pleasures or their Discontents nay of every Person or Thing that Concerns them not but these Busie Natures or Humours Dwell with Idle Persons as the most part of the Gentry and not with Laborious nay with the most Foolish of the Gentry not with the VVisest of them for VVise men never Inquire into other mens Affairs that Concern them not nor Meddle with other mens Faults if they Touch them not they VVish VVell to All but Regard Nothing but their own Affairs they let other men Suffer for their own Crimes and will have a care that they may not be guilty of Crimes to Suffer for they will Inquire how Provision is Sold when they are to Buy not what their Neighbours Spend they go not to Sessions or Assizes to hear the Accusations or Condemnations unless they be Commanded or Call'd nor do they Inquire what Thieves are Hang'd or how many but are careful that no Thief may Rob them and if they be Country-Gentlemen and not Courtiers they Inquire not what Masks Balls and Playes are at the Court but what Hawks and Hounds are in the Country for their own Sports and Exercises and if they be Wise Courtiers although not Wise Men they do not Inquire what Wakes and Fairs there are in the Country but what Offices or Places they may Beg neither do Wise Citizens Inquire after Hawks and Hounds in the Contry nor what Mode-Congies are at the Court nor of the Courtiers Amours but they Inquire after their Merchandizes and how they may Sell off their Wares and what Fairs to send them to indeed they will Inquire after a Courtier if he Ow them Mony Neither do Wise Farmers Inquire after the Price of Sattin but how the Market goes for Corn nor do their VVives Inquire how Paint is Sold but what Cheesemongers will Buy their Cheeses and Pots of Butter wherefore in my Opinion Societies should be apart by themselves like several Commonwealths Courtiers should only Converse with Courtiers or Courtly Persons and Country Gentlemen with Country Gentlemen Citizens with Citizens Farmers with Farmers and I think they do so at least are most pleased with the Conversation of their own likeness Also Statesmen should only Converse with Statesmen Learned men with Learned men Wits with Wits or else their Wit will be Lost indeed Societies should be Chosen and not Mix'd and every Society should Move in its own Sphere for the truth is in Mix'd Societies is Confusion of Tongues of Wits of Capacities and the like But lest I should make a Confusion of VVords in this Letter I take my leave of you and rest Madam Your faithful Friend and Servant CXLIII MADAM I Heard the Ship was Drown'd wherein the man was that had the Charge and Care of my Playes to carry them into E. to be Printed I being then in A. which when I heard I was extremely Troubled and if I had not had the Original of them by me truly I should have been much Afflicted and accounted the Loss of my Twenty Playes as the Loss of Twenty Lives for in my Mind I should have Died Twenty Deaths which would have been a great Torment or I should have been near the Fate of those Playes and almost Drown'd in Salt Tears as they in the Salt Sea but they are Destinated to Live and I hope I in them when my Body is Dead and Turned to Dust But I am so Prudent and Careful of my Poor Labours which are my Writing Works as I alwayes keep the Copies of them safely with me until they are Printed and then I Commit the Originals to the Fire like Parents which are willing to Die whenas they are sure of their Childrens Lives knowing when they are Old and past Breeding they are but Useless in this World But howsoever their Paper Bodies are Consumed like as the Roman Emperours in Funeral Flames I cannot say an Eagle Flies out of them or that they