CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

UPON HER EXCELLENCY THE AUTHORESS.

THis Lady only to her self she VVrites, And all her Letters to her self Indites; For in her self so many Creatures be, Like many Commonwealths, yet all Agree. Man's Head's a VVorld, where Thoughts are Born and Bred, And Reason's Emperour in every Head; But in all Heads doth not a Caesar Reign, A VVise Augustus hath not every Brain, And Reason in some Brains from Rule's put out By Mad, Rebellious Thoughts, and Factious Rout; And Great Disorder in such Brains will be, Not any Thought with Reason will Agree; But in her Brain doth Reason Govern well, Not any Thought 'gainst Reason doth Rebell, But doth Obey what Reason doth Command, When 'tis his Will, doth Travel Sea and Land, As some do Travel out to Kingdomes far, And Guided are by Observation's Star, They bring Intelligence from every State, Their Peace, their Wars, their Factions, and their Hate, And into every City Travel free, Relate their Customs, Trafficks, Policy, Observe each Magistrate, their Formal Face, And what Authority they bear, or Place, Whether they Covetously do Extort, Or are Ambitious, giving Bribes at Court,

To Raise to Places, or to Hide their Crime, For thus Men do to Wealth and Office Clime; And some into the Churches go to see Who Kneels in Pray'r, or comes for Company, Who Courts his Mistress as his only Saint, Implores her Favour, and makes his Complaint Be Known, Or who doth turn her eyes about, To shew her Face, or seek a Lover out; And some to Balls, and Masks, and Playes do go, And some do Crowd to see a Pagan Shew, And some within Kings Courts do get a Place, Observe the Grandeur, and the Courtly Grace, The Ceremony and Splendor of a Court, Their Playes, Balls, Masks, and every several Sport, And all their Amorous Courtships which they make, And how the Ladies do each Courtship take, The Antick Postures of the Younger Race, Their Mimick Gestures, and Affected Pace, Their Amorous Smiles, and Glancing Wanton Eyes, All which do Noble Souls Hate and Despise; And some amongst the Privy-Counsel get, Where round a Table Prince and Nobles sit, Hear what they say, Observe their Cross Debates, And mark which speaks through Faction, or which Hates Some Lord that is in Favour more than he, For in States Matters seldom they Agree. And thus Her Thoughts, the Creatures of her Mind, Do Travel through the World amongst Mankind, And then Return, and to the Mind do bring All the Relations of each several thing; And Observation Guides them back again To Reason, their Great King, that's in the Brain: Then Contemplation calls the Senses straight, Which Ready are, and Diligently Wait, Commanding Two these Letters for to Write, Touch in the Hand, as also the Eye-sight, These Two the Soul's Clerks are, which do Inscribe, And Write all Truly down, having no Bribe.