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

CLVIII.

MADAM,

YOu were pleased to tell me in your last Letter, that the Lady D. M. and you were Fall'n out, about some Speeches she should

Speak in your Dispraise, and those, when you were not by to Answer for your self. Truly, Madam, I cannot Imagine what Fault she could perceive in your Ladiship, to Dispraise you, unless Envy have power to make Virtue Vice, Beauty Deformity, and to turn the Graces into Furies; But, Madam, I have often Observed, that Women with Women seldom Agree, for our Sex is so Self-loving, as we cannot Indure a Competitor, much less a Superiour, especially for Beauty, Wit, and Worth; Birth, Title, and Wealth are somewhat Easier to Indure, yet neither so well, but that we are apt to look a Squint upon them that Surpass us therein, and therefore the less Acquaintance we have with each other, the better, unless they be Chosen by an Immaculate, and Pure Sympathy, and Honour Knit the Knot of Friendship, otherwise the more Acquaintance we have, the more Ene∣mies we have; wherefore to Live Quietly, Peaceably, and Easily, is to be Strangers to our own Sex, and to Live Honourably, is to be Strangers to the Masculine Sex, for Masculine Acquaintance most commonly Causes Suspicion, and a Masculine Friendship never fails of an A∣spersion; wherefore a Retired Life is most Hap∣py, as being most Free from Censure, Scandals, Disputes, and Effeminate Quarrels, I mean not Retired from those we have Relation to, as by Nature, Birth, Marriage, Breeding, Obligation, and the like, for that were to be Buried Quick, but to be Retired from those we call Strangers,

such as we have no Relation to, or Obligation from; but our Sex is so far from Retirement, as they seek all Occasions, and let no Opportu∣ty slip, by which they can go to Publick Meet∣ings, or Private Visitings, or Home-Entertain∣ments, they will Ruin their Friends, Fortunes, or Fame, rather than Miss, or Want Company. But if this Letter were not written to you, but to another Lady, it were Probable that Lady would become my Enemy upon this Subject, as speaking so much against our Sex; wherefore there is Male-Gossipping, and Male-Brabling as well as Female, and there are more Effeminate Men than Masculine Women, that is, there are few Women so Wise as Men should be, and many Men as Foolish as Women can be; But now you may think me like a Priest of a Parish, that Exclames against his Parishioners Faults, but never Mentions his own, or perhaps hath the the same Faults, but thinks to Obscure them by speaking against them in other Persons; And therefore being already sensible of my Fault, in writing so Long a Letter to you, I do Beg your Pardon, only Subscribing my self,

Madam,

Your Ladiships faithful Friend and humble Servant.