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

CVI.

MADAM,

I Know not whether I shall give you Thanks for the Present of Fruits you sent me; By which Present, give me Leave to Tell you, you did Tempt me to Eat a Forbidden fruit, as the Serpent in Paradise did our great Grand∣mother Eve, for though I was not Forbidden to Eat of that Fruit by God, yet Nature did For∣bid me, saying, I should be cast from Health in∣to Sickness, and be Condemned to the Painfull labour of Physick; but it hath given me Know∣ledge as to Know and Perceive my own VVeakness, both for Constitution of Body, and Reason of Mind, that it could not Govern my Appetite with Temperance, and I must have suffer'd the Torments of a Hot burning Feaver, had not Letting Blood Saved and Redeemed me there from. Thus, Madam, your Kind Friend∣ship hath been a Devil to me, only you wanted a Devils Design, which is a Desire Hurtfull to Deceive, and you wanted the Malice, though not the Evil Effect. But some may think, this is a strange Style, or Conversation of Friendship, as to call my Friend a Devil, but my Friend being of a Divine Nature and a God-like VVisdome, knows that an Evill Effect may Proceed from a Good Intention as her Present shews; also she Knows that I her Friend Love and Honour her

Intention, though I Rail and Exclame against the Effect, so that in the Effect and Intention of Friendship, we are as Intire and Loving Friends as ever we were, neither do true Friends take Exceptions at Words, knowing their Souls are so United, as not to be Divided neither in Life nor Death; But, pray Madam, if you send me any more Fruit, send me Good Advice with it, as to Advise me not to Eat so much as to make my self Sick; Howsoever, I will leave it to your Better Judgment, and rest,

Madam,

Your faithfull Friend and Servant.