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

An Oration against some Historians, or Wri∣ters of State-affairs, or Policy.

Fellow Citizens,

VVE have some Men amongst us, that seem to desire to be States-men, and because they are not States-men in Practice, they are States-men in Books, VVriting of State affairs; but how do they VVrite? not like VVife, but like Learned men; not to Teach men what is Best to be done, but what Evil hath been done, which is a Relation of Past, not an In∣struction to Future Actions. The truth is, they make an Hash of many several Authors, taken out of several Pieces, to make up a Dish to pre∣sent to their Readers, in Hope they may Inrich

their Host, if not with Preferment, yet with Praise; But surely those are Hungry, Half Star∣ved Guest, that can Feed with a Gusto on such Broken Meat, although Skilfully Drest; and these Cooks of Other mens Meat, which are Writers out of Other mens Works, are not only Unprofitable, but Cumbersome in the State or Common-wealth, filling our Libraries and Heads with Repetition of old Authors in new Styles, yet were they the Authors or first Wri∣ters of such Books, as treat of State-affairs, they would do more Hurt than Good, and rather make Division than Unity, Warr than Peace; for instead of Declaring the Policy of State, they Teach men to be Politick against the State; and it is to be Observed, that much VVriting of that Nature makes much Trouble, wherein the Pen doth more mischief than the Sword, wit∣ness Controversies, that make Atheism; for the more Ignorant a people are, the more Devout and Obedient they are to God and his Deputies, which are Magistrates; VVherefore it were very Requisite, that all such Books should be Burnt, and all such VVriters Silenced, or at least none should write of States-affairs, but those the State allows or Authorises.