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

CXXXVI.

MADAM,

YOu were pleased in your last Letter to De∣sire me to send you my Opinion of the Lady S. Ks. Sickness or Weakness, but truly, I should not be so Presumptuous of my own Judgment, as to give my Opinion, if I were not Commanded, or Desired so to do by your La∣diship, who hath Power to Command both my Mind and Body, to their Utmost Endeavours to Serve and Obey you. As for the Lady S. K. I believe her Disease comes from the Ostructi∣on of the Meseraick, and Liver Veins, which be∣ing Stop'd, either by Clammy Humours, or Dryness, or Sharpness, cannot Draw or Suck a Sufficient Nourishment, to Spread or Dilate to the Extreme parts, for Clammy or Slimy Humours Choak the Veins, by Sticking in the Mouth or Orifice of them; and Sharpness, or Bi••terness, Dries the Veins, and so Shrinks or Surfles them up, and Closes the Mouth of the Veins, so as they cannot readily Open them∣selves, to Draw or Suck in Sufficient Nourish∣ment, by which the Extreme parts Famish, and the Body becomes Foul and Impure, and it makes an Overflow in the Body, causing it to Swell out Big, for want of Passage or Vent, or else it causes an Unnatural Heat, which Dries

the Body into a Hectick Fever, Burning the Intrals, and Noble Vital parts with a Smother∣ing Heat, which Dries those Parts, like as Neats-Tongues, Bacon, and Hung Beef is Dryed in Smothering Smoak; or it sets those Humours, Gather'd, and Heap'd up, on a Flame, like a Stack of Wet Hay, or a Chest full of Wet Lin∣nen, wanting Vent to Breath out Vapor. Thus the Lady S. Ks. Body is Fat, and her Legs and Arms, Neck and Face, Lean, for those Parts that are next to the Mouth of the Veins, Nou∣rish, and grow rather too Big, as having more than Nature requires, for the Inward Parts are Doubly Fed, having the Food, not only that Belongs, or is Sufficient for them, but also that which Belongs to the Extreme Parts, as the Legs, Feet, Arms, Hands, Neck, and Face, so that a Stoppage of the Veins causes the Body to Swell, or Puff Outward, like as when ones Lips are Closed, and Ascending Vapor, or Forced Wind, Fills the Mouth, the Cheeks, and all the Face will Swell, and Puff out so much, as to be as Big as a Face and a Half; the same is with the Body, when the Mouths of the Sucking Veins are Stop'd; also it causes Vomitings, or Fluxes, for when the Veins are too Full of Wind, or Blood, or are Stop'd by Humour, or Dryness, the Body growing too full of Humour, Over-flows, and so Forces out a Passage, either at one, or both Ends of the Body, for the Veins being Over-full, can no more receive any Liquor into them, than when a Stomack is Over-fill'd with

Meat or Drink, but are Forced to Cast out what∣soever is Offer'd to them, so as the Veins become as an Over-charged Stomack, and when they are Stop'd, they are as if the Throat were Choak'd, or the Neck Strangled, and can receive Nothing, for not Any thing will Pass, which causes them to Cast back whatsoever is Offer'd to them, so that the Effect is as one, both of O∣ver-full, and Empty, Stop'd Veins, only Over-full Veins cause the Body to be Swell'd, and Puff'd, all over the Extreme Parts, as well as the Inward, or next Adjoyning Parts, whereas the Empty, Dry Veins, cause only the Inward, and Joyning Parts to the Mouths of the Veins to be Swell'd, or Puff'd out; but for Casting out from them, or Resisting, they are alike. Thus, Ma∣dam, I have Obeyed your Commands, in Wri∣ting to you my Opinion; and Begging your Pardon for being so Tedious in Explaning and Declaring it, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.