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

CXLIX.

MADAM,

I Am sorry to hear, as by your last Letter, that Mrs. B. U. is so Sick; Truly, I do believe, she takes too many Cordial Waters; if there were a Mean betwixt her Diet and mine, I be∣lieve it would be better for us both, for as I Quench out my Spirits by Over-cooling and Moistening Drinks, as VVater, and Clarified VVhay, so she Burns up hers, with too Hot, and Dry Cordials, as Hot VVaters; but the Fire of Life should neither be Burnt up, nor Quench∣ed out, although Quenching is less Dangerous than Burning out, for if the Fuel of Life be Burnt to Ashes, there is no hopes of Reinkindling that Fire again, by reason those Ashes are Insipid, and yield no Nourishing Food, nor Oily Flame, but if it be only Quenched out, and the Fuel Remaining, 'tis probable it may be Inlightened again with a few live Coals, that is two or three Spoons full of Cordial VVater, so as that which will Kill her, if she take too much of it, may in Extremity Cure me, if I take a little; the Fuel of Life are the Vital Parts, the Fire of Life are the Vital Spirits, the Fuel of the Vital Parts is Food, the Fuel of the Vital Spirits is Radical Moisture, which is an Oyly, or Bal∣samick Substance; when this Radical Moisture

is too Thin, it Quenches the Spirits out, and when it is Consumed with Excessive Heat, as being Burnt up, or Evaporated, there is nothing for the Spirits to Feed on. Thus Radical Moisture is the Prolonging, or De∣caying of Life, 'tis the Oyl to the Lamp of Life. But Mrs. B. U. Drinks not Cordials through an Appetite to those Strong Liquors, no more than I do Drink Tastless Water; But we being both Studious Persons, are Con∣ceited, for all Students are Conceited more or less, especially concerning their Diets, for Con∣templative Persons either Change oftener in the Course of their Diet, than Fantastical Persons in the Fashion of their Clothes, or be so Obstinate in one particular Diet, as nei∣ther Sense nor Reason shall be able to Per∣swade them from it, nay, they will rather Die in their Obstinacy; But I hope Mrs. B. V. will be Ruled, and none hath such Power to Perswade her as your Ladiship, neither is any one so Able to Advise her; And so leaving her to your Ladiships Advice, and Heavens Protection, I rest,

Madam,

Your Ladiships faithful Friend and Servant.