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

CXI.

MADAM,

TH' other Day the Lord N. N. arguing with others that were in Company, said, he was of an Opinion that all the Stars were Suns, and that Every one of those Suns had such Planets above and below them, like as the Sun hath that gives this Earth light; others said, that then those Planets would be Seen, he Answered, they could not be Seen, for those Suns we call Fixt Stars were at such a Distance as they appear but like Stars, and their Planets having but Re∣flected Lights from those Suns could not be per∣ceived, by reason Reflected Lights are Faint and Dim in Comparison of Inherent Lights; also he was of an Opinion, that there were Many Worlds, and that those Worlds were Unaltera∣ble and Unchangeable, and therefore Eternal; Also he said, the several Kinds and Sorts of Creatures in those Worlds, as Animals, Vege∣tables, Minerals, and Elements were Eternal; but the Particulars of every Kind or Sort were Transmigrable or Transformable; whereupon others in the Company said, it could not be that those VVorlds were Eternal, for if they were, then they had no Beginning, and that could not be, by reason the VVorld seem'd to be Com∣posed, Made and Ordered by some Infinite Wisdome, causing such Method and Measures,

Proportions, Distinctions, Order, Exactness, Rule, Degrees and Decrees, all which could not be without Design, and by Chance; N. N. said, that if the World was Eternal, it was not made by Chance, for Chance proceeded from some Alteration, or Change of some Motions, and not from Eternity, for Eternity was not Subject to Chance, although Chance might be Subject to Eternity, and to prove the World and Worlds were Eternal, he said, the Funda∣mental Frame, Parts, Motions, and Form, were not Subject to Change, for they Continue One and the Same without any Alteration. Thus, Madam, the Sages Discoursed, but they percei∣ving I was very Attentive to their Discourse, they ask'd my Opinion, I answered, they had left no Room for another Opinion, for the World was Eternal or not Eternal, and they had given their Opinions of either side; then they desired me to be a Judg between their Opi∣nions, I said, such an Ignorant Woman as I will be a very unfit Judge, and though you be both Learned, and VVitty Men, yet you cannot Resolve the Question, it being impossible for a Small Part to Understand or Conceive the VVhole, and since neither you, nor all Man∣kind, were they joyn'd into one Soul, Body, or Brain, can possibly know whether the World had a Beginning or No Beginning, or if it had, VVhen it was Made, nor of What it was Made, nor for VVhat it was Made, nor what Power Made it, nor what the Power is that

Made it, nor whether it shall Last or Dissolve; wherefore said I, the best is to leave this Dis∣course, and Discourse of some other Subject that is more Sociable, as being more Conceiva∣ble: Then they Laugh'd, and said they would Discourse of VVomen, I said, I did believe they would find that VVomen were as Difficult to be Known and Understood as the Universe, but yet I thought they would find them more Sociable, at which Expression they made them∣selves very merry; but being my near Relative Friends, I took their Mirth in good part, as I hope you will do this Long Letter, Knowing the Length of my Letter is to Express my Obedience to your Commands, in which I shall prove my self,

Madam,

Your Faithful Servant.