Letters and poems in honour of the incomparable princess, Margaret, Dutchess of Newcastle.

LETTERS, &c.

Hague, the 28^th. of November, 1658.

MADAM,

ACcording to your Excellencies com∣mand, I have been of purpose at Leyden, and there delivered your Present in∣to the hands of the Rector Magni∣ficus (as we call him) of the University, who some days after hath made a so∣lemn exhibition of it to the Lords Curators, in a pub∣lique meeting of the whole Academical Senate, and, in their name, hath sent me the Letter here enclosed; by which I hope the faithful discharge of my Am∣bassage shall be testified, and give your Excellency

occasion of further Employment to bestow upon the unworthy person, * 1.1

Madam, of Your Excellencies Humble and Obedient Servant,

Huygens de Zulichem.

ILLUSTRISSIMA DOMINA,

OBtulit Bibliothecae publicae Zulichemi Dominus Divinum ingenii vestri foetûm, qui sive pro sà sive Carmine omnem admirationem excedit. Princeps ingenii, Princeps terrarum, Princeps foeminini sexus me∣rito diceris. Abripitur foecunda tua erudito, per coelos, ter∣ras, maria, & quicquid in natura, vel civili vita, ullove Scientiarum genere, nobile occurrit. Ipsa Pallas Acade∣miae nostrae praeses Tibi assurgit, gratiásque immensas pro vestro munere agit, & cum Imaginem vestram aspicit, se ipsam veluti in speculo intueri videtur. Vale

Datae Lugduni Batavorun XXVIII. Novem. MDCLVIII.

Illustrissima Domina Virtutum vestrarum Admirator & Cultor summus,

Anthonius Thysius, Academiae Rector.

EXCELLENTISSIMA DUX,

ALter ferè mensis est quòd votis omnibus expetitum munus Epistolas tuas accepimus: neque tamen intereà temporis ab officio cessavimus, sed vel in honore Nuncupationis nos jactavimus, vel obstupuimus in admiratione Operis, in quo multa tam acutè, tam aptè, tam elegantèr exponis, ne nec Venus, aut Lepor aliquid addant. Scilicèt hoc demùm animi, hoc consilii, hoc ingenii tui, hoc ejus est spei, quam annos aliquot jam sustines amplifican∣dae Philosophiae. Nam cave Te quaesumus, ne Canta∣brigiae quenquam esse credas tam infacetum, & à Gra∣tiis alienum, quem non mirificè delectent Literarum ista∣rum amoenitates; Propterea, (quae felicissimè recludis) arcana Naturae non aliter atque secretiores Sacro∣rum ritus, & ceremonias Universi inspicimus, laudamus, amplectimur, & inter legendum etiam per paginas dispen∣samus oscula, sed ea quae soli Philosophi dare, & acci∣pere Vestales ipsae nequaquàm erubescerent. Nondùm (quod scimus) Annalibus excidêre, neque certè per nos unquam excident erudita nomina, Aspasia Periclis, Ode∣nati Zenobia, Polla Lucani, Boethii Rusticiana; quae tamen, si reviviscerent hodiè, adeò tecum (Inclyta Dux) de eruàitionis palmâ non contenderent, at famae tuae potiùs ancillantes, solam Margaretam, consummatissimam Prin∣cipem & agnoscerent, & posito genu certatìm adorarent. Illae namque pluvias tantùm hìc illìc aquas collegere: Tu perenni gurgite passim exundas: Illis interdùm adspira∣vêre Musae, quae suam in Te potestatem omnem osten∣dêre: Illae denique partitae sunt doctrinam: Tu studio∣rum omne genus versu, & prosâ non modò tetigisti, ve∣rum etiam tractâsti: nec alios tandèm indagationi tuae fi∣nes proposuisti, quàm quos ipsa rerum Natura admittit; quamobrèm, etsi (velut Aquila in nubibus) quicquid ve∣naris,

capis, nusquam tamen major nobis, aut illustrior vi∣dêre, quàm in nuperis istis Sapientiae commissionibus et∣enim invidendâ planè dexteritate vel Tirones semitam ingressos reducis in viam; vel nitedulas è senticetis suis extrahis; vel hostes veritatis destringis & defricas, He∣roina monstris ex orbe Scientiarum averruncandis genita. Perge (Dux invictissima) & (quo incoepisti successu) in hâc immortalitatis Palaestrâ Te (si placet) diutiùs exerce; Nos quidem ut antea semper, ita nunc quo∣que tanto tibi studio ubique favemus, ut majori non pos∣simus.

Cantabrigiae è frequenti Senatu 3 Nonas Maii. 1665.

Celsitudini tuae addictissimi Procancellarius, reliquusque Senatus Academ. Cantabr.

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS,

WE have lately with extraordinary joy re∣ceived the two testimonies of Your great mind and favor towards us, namely your Epistles and Poems, with which your Grace hath been pleased to honor us, both which we em∣brace with the same mind with which we do all Sub∣lime and Excellent things, which so long as there is any Curtesy among men, do bring Fame to their Au∣thors. In your Poesy we praise that Life and native Verdure, every way consistent with it self, Castalian like, it stands not still, nor boils over, but with a gen∣tle Stream doth touch our Ears, and slide into our minds. In your Philosophy we praise that lightsome and piercing accuteness, nothing constrained, nothing obscure; you render all things clear and genuine, in∣deed

nature truly natural: So difficult to men is nature and truth. Alas how do they vex and pur∣sue her fleeing from them; others suppose her to be swallowed in Whirlepools, (as another Scylla or Charibdis) such a one indeed as they do commonly find to be of report or opinion: others grope for her in a vain Vacuity with the like success: yea, some there are which seek her among Ghosts and Goblings, as if she were some Witch, or Sor∣ceress; some offer violence to her, and put her to the rack, and make her rather Lie then Confess. To your Grace she doth freely open and unbowel her self, fearing to be branded with incivility if she should deny; Your Grace only amongst Women owes nothing to Nature: for how much soever she hath graced you with an incomparable lustre in your Feature, or pregnancy of Wit, your Grace hath returned all of it in these Elegancies of Phi∣losophy and Poesie, with a most excellent retaliation. Lastly, lest we should be further troublesome to your Grace, we wish we could speak out and pub∣lish to the World, what Thanks we conceive in our Minds for this so genuine and proper a Gift, so fraught with sweetest Elegancies; Then, though there be so vast a disproportion between your Gra∣ces Favours and our Merits, our distance would be so much the less: Farewel most Noble Princess, long may your Grace live, who are an ornament to Learning, and a Patroness to the Learned and us, who are,

Your Graces most devoted Servants in all Duty and Reverence, The Master and Fellows of the Colledge of St. John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge.

ILLUSTRISSIMA PRINCEPS,

LIbros tuos eximios illos opido & felicissimè In∣genii partum excepit nostrum hoc Collegium eâdem gaudii magnitudine, quâ olim Illustris∣simi Principis Conjugis Tui adventum nos hîc con∣victu suo non dedignantis. In fatis est scilicet, aut potiùs haereditarium quoddam jus est Tuae familiae de Collegio nostro benè mereri. Dilatata Collegii Pomoeria, & pulcherrimo opere explicata murorum facies testantur eximium in literas amorem nobilissimae Salopiensis Co∣mitissae, jam tunc virtutes tuas & Gentilitiam erga Musas bonitatem praeludio quodam augurantis. Il∣lustrissimus quoque Conjux Tuus nos hîc Consortio suo cohonestavit, atque quantum gloriae nobis indè defluxisse putes, quòd illa quae hîc posuit Virtutum rudimenta in tam inviolatam Majestati Regiae etiam in adversis∣simis fidelitatem omniumque artium tanto illo Ordine dignarum scientiam excreverunt! Sed haec Tibi cum aliis Communis laus est, favere literis. At quòd Tu, Foemina scilicet Illustrissima, Aulae deliciis innutrita, non solùm faveas, sed & doceas qui sibi videntur eru∣diti: quòd non tantùm calleas omnes Tui Ordinis ele∣gantias, sed etiam ingenuas nosiri sermonis Veneres, & nihil insuper corum nescias quae scire laudi est; denique, quòd prima omnium non solùm Philosophiae spinosissimos calles pervagata es, sed emolliisti Sermo∣nis Tui nitore, id quod doctissimis virorum minimâ ferè cum laude pertentatum; hoc Tuum solius decus est, hoc praeteritorum seculorum Foeminis, & praesèntis hu∣jus Heroinis exprobabit hoc nostrum seculum: Unum tantùm deest bellissimis Tuis scriptis, ut nimirum inter Cultissimas Orationes Tuas inscribatur una, quae gau∣dium nostrum ob honorem hunc à Te Collegio nuperrimè

Praestitum satis dignè eloqui possit. Digna enim es sola, quae cùm Philosophiam tantoperè exornâsti, Te∣ipsam exprimas: nos certè non possumus, quibus prae∣ripuisti omnes Vernaculae linguae Elegantias, quôsque adeò conjecisti in Latini sermonis antiquam, sed incul∣tam Majestatem, ut Te, quam coràm alloqui erubesci∣mus, è longinquo tutò veneremur. Vivas ergò, Illu∣strissima Princeps, in hujus seculi gloriam, Tui Sexûs honorem, nostri Invidiam, admirationem utriúsque; & felicissimos annos exigas etiam ultrà spem, non vota.

Dat. è Coll. D. Joan. Cantab. 14 Cal. Jul. 1663.

Obsequentissimorum Illustrissimae Excellentiae Tuae Cultorum Magistri & Sociorum Colleg. D. Joannis Evangelistae in Academia Cantabrigiensis.

Excellentissimae Honoratissimaeque Dominae, Do∣minae Margaretae, Marchionissae Novo-Castrensi.

EXCELLENTISSIMA DOMINA,

Qvanta sit, quámque severa nobis ex dignati∣one Vestrâ concepta laetitia, si non aliunde te∣stando simus, liceat exinde potissimùm indicari, quòd in hoc jucundissimo nobis officio gratitudinis ex∣primendae, & seriùs aliquantò versemur, & solliciti etiamnum simus. Ea siquidem est natura Beneficii, ut remunerandi vices desideret, Vestri autem nec fortuna reposcit, nec patitur Amplitudo. Quo fit, ut, muni∣fici aliàs qui sumus, tantúmque honoris rependere soliti,

quantum ipsi accipimus, eo quòd viros, caetera proba∣tissimos, nostro qualicunque testimonio auctiores redde∣re videamur; Vestro tandem tam praecellenti munere donati, tenuitatem ultro nostram fateamur. Hoc in∣terim gratulari nobis liceat felicitatis nostrae, eam esse Tibi cum Literis communem causam, ut nemo laudare beneficia Vestra, aut etiam exprimere pro dignitate possit, qui non & ipse commendatior exinde fuerit; adeò conjunctam habemus cum officio laudem, ut nec testari quantum debemus, ingrati possimus, nec quanta accepimus intelligere, nisi literati. Quae Tua singu∣laris est bene merendi ratio, non solùm Amplitudine Vestrâ digna largiris, sed & simul efficis, quo tantis Tuis Auspiciis digni & nos aliquando simus: nec verò literis tantùm, quod una potes, patrocinium praestas, sed & artes Ipsa illustras, & quantum est ullibi scienti∣arum promoves felicitèr, & exornas. Ignosce nobis Illustrissima Marchionissa, si mirari identidem subeat, cui demum Tu, nósque adeo debemus pulcherimas istas & Tuas dotes; quî factum fuerit, ut nullo imbuente studiorum arbitrio, nullâ obstetricante Academiâ, in Foe∣minâ tandem conveniant, res caetera desjunctissimae, Eloquentia, Poesis, & Philosophia. Sanè, qui anti∣quos adeo miramur, eandem artium armorúmque prae∣sidem Deam veneratos, quid de Te tandem sentiemus, quae Ipsa Tibi Minerva es & Athenae simul, Musae omnes juxta & Helicon, Aristoteles pariter ac Ly∣caeum? Profectò, ii sumus, qui felicitatem citiùs no∣stram intelligere, quàm exponere Tuam possumus, quae tam supra nostram est exprimendi copiam, quàm est praesens ista qualiscunque adumbratio, extra fingen∣di necessitatem. Quo magis nostrâ referre credimus, quibus Te propriùs sentire datum est, testari aliquà, pro genio nostro, locique hujus (quo non est alius Tui

studiosior) quo tandem animo, quibus studiis, quibús∣que amplexibus Clarissima Tua opera excipimus & ex∣osculamur. Quod quidem officii nostri tam sincerè prae∣stamus, quâm verè in amplissimam laudem cedit, mag∣nae huic & florentissimae Societati, Te nobis habere pro∣pitiam, quam & tota commendat eruditio, & litera∣torum universus ordo suspicit, & veneratur. Tanti erat Excellentsssima Domina, Te primam exemplo Tuo ostendere, posse & Foeminas Philosoaphri. Unum illud reliquum, in auctiorem Nominis Vestri famam optamus, testatiorésque virtutes Tuas, ut tot támque erudita Opera, tali aliquando idiomate donata exeant, quali inter Romanos Tullium & Maronem, inter Graios Platonem, & Demosthenem legimus, & mi∣ramur. Quod si contigerit usquam, Te facili in vota nostra, proventúmque literarum uberiorem, speramus, etiam & spondemus, brevi fore, ut ex ipso scientiarum incremento sentiat orbis, quam consecuta es Gloriae Aeternitatem.

Dat. è Coll. Sanctae & Individuae Trinitatis, 2 Cal. Feb. 1663.

Johan. Pearson, Magist. Coll.

Clem. Nevil.

Theod. Crosland.

Geo. Chamberlaine.

Fran. Barton.

Guliel. Lynnett.

Gualt. Catsby.

Richardus Stedman.

Robertus Scott.

To the Most Excellent and Most Honourable Lady, the Lady Margaret, Marchioness of Newcastle.

MOST EXCELLENT LADY,

HOw great and serious a joy doth arise to us from Your Excellencies Condescenti∣on, though we cannot otherwise make it appear; yet hence chiefly it may be shewed, be∣cause in this most pleasing Duty of expressing our Thankfulness, we have been somewhat tardy, and are yet solicitous; for such is the nature of a good turne that it calls for a requital; but your Excel∣lencies Fortune and Greatness doth neither require nor brook it, whence it comes to pass that we who are otherwise Bountiful, and are wont to return as much as we have received, because we may seem to render persons in other things most approved by our testemony, such as it is, more allowable; at length being endowed with your most excellent Gift, we do freely acknowledge our deficiency. In the mean time we may justly pride our selves in this, that your Excellency, as well as our Learning, is so much the cause of our Happiness, that none can commend your Gifts, or express their worth, but will himself thereby grow more commendable: therefore have we Praise and Duty joyned, that we may not avouch how much we owe being un∣thankful, nor understand what we have received unless Learned: Your Excellency doth not only bestow Gifts worthy your Nobleness, but also there∣by make way that we our selves may, in time, be worthy of your so great Favors: which is a reason of well-deserving, proper only to your self: neither

indeed doth your Excellency only afford Patronage to Learning (which you only can do) but also make Arts more famous; and whatsoever there is any where of Sciences you do happily promote and adorne. Pardon us most Illustrious Marchioness if we often wonder to whom, at length, your Excel∣lency, and we our selves, do so much owe those excellent Arts, and your Excellencies Endowments; how it came to pass that Eloquence, Poetry, Phi∣losophy, things otherwise most different, should without the help of a Tutor, without the Mid∣wifery of an University, at length, agree in a Woman: Indeed we who wonder that the Antients should adore the same tutelar Godess both of Arts and Arms, what shall we think of your Excellency, who are both a Minerva and an Athens to your self, the Muses as well as an Helicon, Aristotle as well as his Lycaeum? Indeed such is our condition that we can sooner understand our own happiness then express yours, which is so far beyond the high∣est of our expressions, as this present Description, such as it is, is beyond the necessity of a Fiction. We think it concerns us very much (who have the happiness to understand so much of your Excellency) some way to testify, according to our genius and that of this place, then which none can admire you more, with what mind, withwhat desires, with what real affections we do receive and em∣brace your most Excellent Works; which part of our duty we do as sincerely perform as it doth truly tend to the great honour of this florishing So∣citey, that we enjoy your Excellencies undeserved favour, whom all Learning doth commend, and all degrees of the Learned adore and honor. So much

beyond Expectation it was (most Excellent Lady) that you the first of all, by your own example, should make it appear that even Women may be Philo∣sophers. One thing we wish for, the enlargement of the fame of your Excellent name, and more signal vertues, that your most learned Works may appear in such a language in which we read and admire Tully and Maro amongst the Romans, Plato and Demosthenes amongst the Grecians. Which if it ever come to pass, we hope and also pro∣mise (your Excellency being willing) accord∣ing to our desires, and the greater increase of Learn∣ing, that in a short time, by the very augmentation of Sciences the World may be sensible what Eternity of Glory your Excellency hath obtained.

Given from the Colledge of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, the second of the Calends of Febr. 1663.

John Pearson, Master.

Clem. Nevill.

Theod. Crosland.

George Chamberlaine.

Francis Barton.

William Lynnet.

Walter Catesby.

Richard Stedman.

Robert Scott.

MADAM,

THe University of Cambridge, in their full Senate, have judged it a necessary duty to make known their sense of the high Favour which they received in the Present made to

them of your most Excellent Volumes. This, ex∣pressed by their publick Orator, approved by them∣selves, is committed to my care to convey, as being their unworthy Vicechancellor: under which title, also as Master of a small Colledge, I stand in a double obligation for the same Present, to be

Cambridge. S. M. Magd. Coll. July 13. 1663.

Your Excellencies most Humble and most Devoted Servant,

EDWARD RAINBOWE.

ILLUSTRISSIMA MARCHIONISSA,

ETsi nobis in more familiarius nihil est, quàm ut homines omnes eruditionis, & virtutis famâ florentes, curâ, studióque nusquàm non prosequa∣mur: singulari tamen, & praecipuo quodam impetu non modò gloriae tuae favemus, verumetiam Excellentissimam Heroinam, tanquam Coelo delapsam Sibyllam venera∣mur. Quippe foemineae sortis egressa terminos, longè ultra mundum muliebrem sapis, & quicquid uspiàm Egregium, aut Divinum est intra mortales, id tuo Tibi jure vindicas. Sive stas in acie, sive exerces tribu∣nalia, sive Carmen fundis, sive nodos explicas, nusquàm haeres, nusquam succumbis, Dux, Miles, Senator; Poeta, Philosophus, ac (ut verbo expediamus) Una om∣nium instar. Tot igitur, & tantas, & tam exquisitas animi dotes admirata Cantabrigia nec tacere facilè nec ulteriùs se continere potest, quin exclamet.

O Soror, ô doctum quae sola es Foemina Nomen! (carmen enim effluit imprudenti.) Quod nisi nolueris, interrogare Te porrò cupimus, Ista tam laetae indolis,

tam felicis ingenii, tam excelsi judicii flamma quo prî∣mùm incensa Numine, quibus adjuta flatibus, aut e∣nutrita fomitibus effulget? An virili veste induta Marchionissa annos fortasse aliquot, idque Athenis inter Philosophos delituisti? An Regina rerum Phi∣sophia (quae virorum conspectum verecundè fugit) soli Tibi se visendam exhibuit, virgineósque sinus omnes exposuit? An denique tuis in Aedibus sedem posuêre Gratiae, ne dubitemus alibi jam in Angliâ, quàm Can∣tabrigiae, vel Oxonii tertiam vigere Academiam, ubi dictata, instillatáque Tibi ab Apolline Oracula, quasi sitientibus auribus ebibamus? Sed quoniam Te vel con∣ditio Naturae, vel modestiae stola cohibet à Rostris, & Cathedrâ, Libros edis, quos partìm nuncupas, par∣tim dono Sororibus Academiis mittis. Nos quidem de magnitudine & animi, & beneficii tui Nobis gra∣tulamur, geminúmque munus in Sacrario Sapientiae re∣ponimus, ut in Sexûs honorem evolvant Posteri, habe∣ántque quod Socraticarum omnium, & Pythagorea∣rum Mulierum fragmentis praeferant.

Dat. Cantab. è frequenti Senatu, quinto Idus Julii 1663.

Amplitudinis, & honoris vestri studiosissimi Procancellarius, reliquus{que} Senatus Acad. Cant.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This Letter came but even now from Leiden, so that I hope your Excellency will not suspect any negligence in me.