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

CXXXV.

MADAM,

I Am not of the Opinion, that the Planets have an Influence or Power on the Fortunes, or any Outward Accidents of Men, as that such shall be Slaves, and such Kings, such be Rich, and

such Poor, such be Kill'd in the Wars, and such Drown'd, or Killd with a Stone falling on their Heads; such be Burnt, such Hang'd, and such Escape those and the like Dangers; such Men and Women shall Love, and Marry, and such not, also how many Husbands such a Woman shall have, and such a one shall have None, and so for Men, Mistresses and Wives, for Advance∣ment and Disgraces, Honours and Dignities, Of∣fices and Authorities, and for all manner of For∣tunes or Accidents, I say, I believe the Planets are not the Causes of these Outward Effects; but as I believe the Stars and Planets have an Influ∣ence upon the Bodies of men, as their Bodies have on the Planets and Elements, so they may have an Influence upon the Humours in the Bo∣dy, as upon Phlegm, Choler, Melancholy, Blood, and the like, and they may Work Effects either for Health, Sickness, Pains, and Sores, Rheums, and the like. But I am in Dispute with my self, whether they also have an Influence, or Work several Effects upon the Minds of Men, as upon their Bodies; and when I Consider the various Inconstancies of Mens Minds, and the Alterati∣ons and Changes which are in Mens Minds, I think they are Moved and Altered according to the Motions, and Influences, and Effects of each Planet, or Star. For if we do Observe, not only their Thoughts, Passions and Affections Vary and Alter Minutely, Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly, but also their Capacities, Conceptions, Judgments,

Understandings, Opinions, and VVit; for most have Deeper Capacities, Higher Conceptions, Sounder Judgments, Clearer Understandings, Probabler Opinions, and Quicker Wits, at some, than at other times, as at some times they may be thought Wise men, and at other times mere Fools, sometimes they will speak very Wittily, at other times mere Nonsense, or at least, Words without Wit, sometimes they will be able to give as Wise Counsel as Nestor, Ulysses, or Achitophel, at other times, they are neither able to give, nor to take Counsel; some∣times they Conceive, and Understand Readily and Clearly, whatsoever is Conceivable and Understandable by Mankind, at other times they are as if they had not Sense and Reason; The like for the Qualities, Passions, Affections, and Virtues of the Mind; as at some times they are very Valiant, at other times mere Cowards; sometimes Nobly Generous, other times Basely Covetous; sometimes Uprightly Just, other times Wrongfully Unjust; sometimes very Compassionate, other times very Cruel, or Un∣charitable; sometimes so Angry, as to be so Fu∣rious that none dare Speak to them, at other times so Patient, as to suffer any one to Pull them by the Nose; sometimes they Love to Death, and sometimes they Hate to Death, one and the same thing; and this is Usual, and Ge∣neral amongst Mankind, which makes me lean to the Opinion, that the Stars and the Planets have an Influence upon the Minds of Men; but

I am absolutely of the Opinion, that they have no Influence or Power on the Educations of Mankind, no more than they have on the For∣tunes or Accidents of and to Mankind; for in those men that are Educated throughly Well, and Wisely, the Effects of Education are too Strong for the Effects of the Stars or Planets, so that some men may be Constantly Prudent, Just, Valiant, Generous, Understanding, Judicious, VVitty, and VVise. Also the Effects of Edu∣cation, and the Effects of the Planets, may be Crossing, and Opposing each other, and then the Strongest Effects bear away the Vi∣ctory, whether to Good or Ill; and this is the reason of Long Debates, Doubts, and Considerations, ere some men come to Con∣clusions or Resolutions; and truly, I think the Senses have as great an Influence upon the Mind, as the Stars and Planets have, as Fair Objects, Melodious Sounds, Sweet Savours, and Delicious Touches, have as great an Influ∣ence upon the Mind, and Cause as Various and Strong Effects, as the Stars and Planets do, or can. But leaving the Stars, Planets, Education, and the Senses to their Influences, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.

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