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

CLXXVII.

MADAM,

YOu were pleased to Tell or Express in your last Letter, that I was Accused for some Words I had spoken concerning G. K. and L. O. which Words were Prejudicial to their

Great Affairs, and Dangetous Designs, as Doubt∣ing their Successes, and Slighting their Proceed∣ings; I confess I did Doubt of their Successes, and did not Approve of their Proceedings, but yet I did not Slight them, for then I should not have Mentioned them; and truly those Words I Spoke, were not through an Evil Design, or a Malicious Nature, but out of a Deep Conside∣ration of the Evil that was likely to Ensue both to their Honour, and Disadvantage of their Af∣fairs, and the Present and Future Condition of their most Approved Friends and Faithful Ser∣vants; and as for Doubting their Successes, in∣deed my Fear was the Ground of my Doubts, for perceiving no Visible Power, yet hearing of Present Action and Dangerous Adventures, and Hazard of their Persons, it made me rather Fear a Treachery, than Hope for a Victory, and I De∣clared my Opinion, by reason I had a near Rela∣tion to them, hoping it might make them Cir∣cumspect, and Cautious in their Adventures, as to Consider their own Weakness, and their Ene∣mies Power, and not Rashly to Venture Hand over Head, or rather Heels over Head, but to let Wisdom Counsel before Courage Fights, for though Hellish Furies, or Spiteful Fortune, may Disturb Human Wisdom for a time, yet Human VVisdom constantly Followed, doth Charm Hellish Furies in the End, Binding them within a Circle of Fear, and it makes Fortune's Wheel turn to Wisdoms own Bias; but had I Spoken Harsh, or Sharp words, they might well

Forgive me, because Love and not Hate Produ∣ced them, for many times False Hearts Produce Dissembling Words, in a Flattering Style, when∣as a True Heart sends forth Stormy Words, be∣ing Driven out by a Violent Passion of Fear; wherefore I Appeal to their Justice to Acquit me from an Evil Construction of my Good In∣tention. Neither were these Words Spoken in a Publick Assembly, but in my Private House, and to some Particular Persons, and every ones House is, or should be a Privileged Place, out of which Informers ought to be Banished, ra∣ther than the Owners Condemned or Accused; but what I said, I desired should be Told, for the Reasons before Mentioned, that my Opinion or VVords might Alter their Designs, for I did not desire my VVords should be according to the Old Saying, A Private Speech in a Sleepy Ear. But sometimes some may Speak so, as not only to desire their Speech should lie in a Sleepy Ear, but to be Buried under a Silent Tongue, & those Speeches ought not to be Dig∣ged up by the Memory, lest their VVandring and Restless Ghosts, or Spirits (for VVords are Incorporeal) should Affright the Present Times, or some Particular Persons, which, if their Incorporalities were not Molested with Repetitions, would Rest Quietly in the Pit or Grave of Oblivion; but if I have said any VVords that have Displeased those Per∣sons you Mention, which are my Dear and Near Relatives, pray them to Pardon me, since it

was a Superfluity of Love, which Overflow'd the Banks of Discretion, and made my Words Float on the Seas of Affection, without the Ballast of Judgment, or Guide of Prudence, which being Tossed on the Billows of Fear, and Storms of Imaginary Danger, I am likely to be Drown'd in Sorrow and Tears, as being Driven against their Displeasures, unless their Friend∣ship and near Relation Save me, and bring me to the Harbour of their Favour, which my Faith tells me they will, or otherwise tell them I will never Believe them more; But howsoe∣ver, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.