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

CVII.

MADAM,

I Am Sorry to hear that Mr. C. D. is Dead, and for Mr. E. A. and R. G. who you say, were very Busie, or rather Troublesome to Him in his Sickness, in perswading him to make his Will and Settle his Estate, I must Confess, I wonder they would Intrude themselves into any man's Private Affairs unless they were De∣sired, or had any Interest therein, for though an Honourable Person will not Deny his Assistance where he can do a Worthy Service and is De∣sired thereto, yet he will not Press his Service,

for that were to disserve; But to be forwardly Officious and Busie in a Dying man's Affairs, as in Making, or Causing of Making Wills, or in Advising and Counselling a Sick man in matters Concerning his Estate, or about Debts, Lega∣cies, Annuities or the like, not being Invited or Desired thereunto by the Sick Person, it looks rather with a Covetous Face than a Friendly Heart, for though the Intention may be Honest without Self-ends, yet the Appearance is not so, for it Appears, as if he had a Desire, or did Hope, that the Sick man might make him his Execu∣tor or Administrator, at least to leave him a Le∣gacy for his Care, Acquaintance and Friendship; but the World is so Covetous and Greedy af∣ter Dead-men's Shoos, as the Saying is, that if any man have an Estate to leave behind him, when he is Sick or Dying, all his Friends and Acquaintance flock about him like a Company of Carrion-Crows, to a Dead Body, and all to De∣vour that Wealth he leaves, when as a Poor man may be Sick and Dye, and none Come neer to Help him; Thus we may perceive by the Course of the World, that it is not Charity to the Sick, nor Love to the Man, that brings Visitors or hath profered Service, but Love to the Wealth. But if all were of my Humour, the Rich should have the Fewest Visitors, for I, for fear any should Imagine me one of these Human or ra∣ther Inhuman Vultures, should never Visit the Sick, unless they were so Poor as they wanted Relief. Wherefore, good Madam, have a

Care of your Health, if you desire my Compa∣ny, lest when you are Sick, I should not Visit you, yet if I should, I would not bring Lawyers or Notaries to Trouble you, but I would bring you the most Experienced and Famous Physi∣cian I could get, to Cure you, for as long as Life lasts, no Indeavour ought to be Wanting, it be∣ing the part of a Friend to Regard the Life, not to Search into the Estate, and when a Friend is Dead, to Execute to the utmost of their Power their Friends Desires, and to Obey Punctually all their Commands they laid upon them whilst they Lived, and not to let them be Buri∣ed untill they were sure they are past Reviving, nor to be laid upon the Cold Ground, untill their Bodies are Colder than the Earth they are laid on; but, Madam, you are likelier to Live to do this Friendly Office for me, than I for you, by reason you are Healthfull, and I am Sickly, and Sickness is Death's Serjeant to Arrest Life, and the Grave is the Prison: Yet whilst I Live, I shall alwayes prove my self to be,

Madam,

Your Ladiships faithful Friend and Servant.