Orations of divers sorts accommodated to divers places written by the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

An Oration against those that lay an Aspersion upon the Retirement of Noble men.

Noble Citizens,

VVE have some Ill-natured people a∣mongst us, that indeavour to turn all other mens Actions, but their own, to the worst Sense or Construction; as for Example, some of our Nobles retire to their Country Habitations, for which those Ill-natured or Foolish persons Exclame against them, both in Books and Spee∣ches, as that they Retire through Pride, Ambi∣tion, and Revenge, being Discontented they are not the Chief Ministers of State, Rulers in Go∣vernment, or Counsellers for Advices; also they would make their harmless Country Recrea∣tions, as Hunting, Hawking, Racing, and the like Sports, as also Hospitality, Dangerous De∣signs, which is unjustly Censured, and wickedly Wrested, to pull out the Right and Truth, to place Falshood, when as it may be easily known, that most of our Nobles, which Retire out of this

Metropolitan City to their Country Houses, Retire either for Pleasure, Profit, Quiet, or Health, or all; for it is manifest, that in a very Great and Populous City, there is nothing but Trouble, Expenses, Noise, and oftentimes Ma∣lignant Diseases, all which some Ill-natured men and Pretending Politicians would have theem suffer rather than to avoid. But those men that are so Wise, to choose the Best, are not Afraid of a Bawling Pen or Tongue, and seldom Consider or Regard what they Write or Speak, and if they do, they only give such Find-faults Pity or a Scorn. But put the Case, Noble Citizens, that some Noble men did Retire out of some just Discontent, as for Example, ima∣gine this Kingdome or Monarchy had been in a long Civil Warr, and some Noble men had not only been so Loyal, as never to Adhere to the Rebels, but had Serv'd their Prince to the last of their Power, Ventured their Lives, Lost their Estates, and had Indured great misery in a long Banishment, and after an Agreement of Peace, and the Proof of their Honesty and Loyalty, should be Neglected or Affronted, instead of Reward and Favour; if these Forsaken and Ruined, although Honest Persons, should Retire from Court and City into the Country, to be∣wail their Misfortunes in solitary Groans, or to pick up their scattered Goods, broken Inheri∣tance, and tattered States, or to restore their Half∣dying Posterity to some time of Life, should they be Rail'd and Exclamed against? can Hea∣ven

Bless a State or Kingdom, that will suffer such Uncharitableness and Inhumanity? or can Nature suffer her most Noble-minded Crea∣tures to stay in the presence of Publick Affronts, Disgraces, and Neglects, and not humbly turn their Faces from them, or Honestly indeavour not to Trouble those, that have a desire to Please? and if by their Wise Prudence, those Retired Persons can afford themselves some Harmless Recreations to mix and temper their Over-care∣full and Industrious Labours, they ought not to be Condemned for it; for God and Nature mixes Good and Evil, and the greatest Grief hath some Refreshment of Ease, and the hardest La∣bours some Rest, but only these Find-faults are Restless, through Envy and Ambition, hoping by their Busie Heads, Restless Pens, and Abusive Exclamations, to rise to Promotion and Prefer∣ment, and though they pretend to Discover Se∣ditions, they are the only Authors of Factions and Seditions. Wherefore it would be very fit, Noble Citizens, that our Ministers of State and Magistrates should Silence such bold Persons, that dare Censure our Nobles private and parti∣cular Actions; for if they should have that Li∣berty, they would in time Censure this Go∣vernment and our Governours of State and Common-wealth, and who can fore-see, but that the Common Rout or People might take their Factions or Ill-natured or Medling Dispo∣sitions for Wisdome?