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

CLXXVI.

MADAM,

SOme Ladies th' other day did Visit me, and in their Discourse they spoke of the Duke of D. the Marquess of C. the Earl of F. and Vicount G. but I observed that in their Discourse they only gave them the Title of a Lord; 'Tis true, a Lord is a Noble Title, but yet the fore-men∣tioned Titles be of Higher Degrees, by which they ought to be Mentioned or Named; truly, in my Opinion, those Men or VVomen that do not give every Person their Highest Titles, are either Ill-bred, Foolish, or Spiteful, for it is through Envy, or a Low, Base Nature, to De∣tract, or Take from any one his Just Rights and Dues, but Noble, Generous, and Heroick Per∣sons, will rather give more than what is Due, than Lessen ones Due Rights, which shews,

such Persons have more Civility than others have Justice; the truth is, it is a kind of a Co∣senage, or Theft, to keep back the best Part of a Title, as to mention several Degrees of Men, and not to give them their due Titles of Ho∣nour; but if they should be so Uncivil to Knights and Doctors, as to Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, and Viscounts, there would be many Quarrels in this Nation; for a Knight would take it for an Affront to be call'd Master, and not Sir, and so a Doctor; but the most Ridiculous thing in this Nation is, that when any one asks a Poor Tradesman, as a Cobler, he will say, Pray Sir how doth your Lady? or, Remember my Ser∣vice to your Lady, meaning the Coblers Wife, which is as much in Extremes this way as th' o∣ther; But this Nation is apt to Run into Ex∣tremes, in which I leave them, and rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.