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

I.

MADAM,

YOu were pleas'd to desire, that, since we cannot converse Personally, we should converse by Letters, so as if we were speaking to each other, discoursing our Opinions, discover∣ing our Designs, asking and giving each other Advice, also telling the several Accidents, and several Imployments of our home-affairs, and what visits we receive, or entertainments we make, and whom we visit, and how we are entertaind, what discourses we have in our gossiping-meetings, and what reports we hear of publick affairs, and of particular Per∣sons, and the like; so that our Letters may present our personal meetings and asso∣ciatings. Truly, Madam, I take so much de∣light in your wise, witty, and virtuous Con∣versation, as I could not pass my life more plea∣sing

and delightfully; wherefore I am never better pleased, than when I am reading your Letters, and when I am writing Letters to you; for my mind and thoughts are all that while in your Company: the truth is, my mind and thoughts live alwayes with you, although my person is at distance from you; insomuch, as, if Souls die not as Bodies do, my Soul will attend you when my Body lies in the grave; and when we are both dead, we may hope to have a Con∣versation of Souls, where yours and mine will be doubly united, first in Life, and then in Death, in which I shall eternally be,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and humble Servant.