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

CC.

Dear Sister Pye,

DIstance of Place, nor Length of Time, cannot Lessen my Natural, or rather Supernatural

Affection to you, for certainly my Love for you is more than a Sisters Love, nay, such a Love, as when I Lived with you, it could not choose but be somwhat Troublesome, by reason my Love was Accompanied with such Fears, as it would neither let you Rest, Pray, nor Eat in Quiet, for though it was a Watchful Love, yet it was a Fearful Love, for I remember I have oftentimes Waked you out of your Sleep, when you did Sleep Quietly, with Soft Breathing, fearing you had been Dead, and oftener have I laid my Face over your Mouth, to feel if you Breath'd, insomuch as I have kept my Self Wa∣king, to Watch your Sleeps, and as Trouble∣some I was to you concerning your Feeding, as I was in your Sleeping, for I was Afraid that that which was to Nourish you, should Kill you, and I remember, I was so doubtful of eve∣ry Meat you did eat, as you were used to tell me, I was Sancapancha's Doctor; Neither could I let you Pray in Quiet, for I have of∣ten Knock'd at your Closet door, when I thought you were Longer at your Prayers than Usual, or at least, I did think the time Longer, so as I could not forbear to ask you how you did, and whether you were Well, and many the like Impertinencies which my Extraordinary Love Troubled you with, of which Trouble you are now Quit, living so far asunder; But though I am too far off to Watch, yet I Pray for your Health and Long Life, and though I thought it was impossible I could Love any

Creature better than you, yet I find by Expe∣rience I do, for since I am Married, I Love my Husband a Degree above you, yet howso∣ever, my several Affections are like God and Nature, both Infinite, and if Love Lives in the Soul, and the Soul never Dies, my several Af∣fections may be Eternal. But you may say, if my Love was so Troublesome to you, what is it to my Husband? I must tell you, I have some more Discretion now than I had then, and though Extraordinary Love will hardly Allow, or Admit Discretion, yet Reason doth Per∣swade Love, and brings many Arguments not to be Impertinently Troublesom; but though I do not ask my Husband so many Impertinent Questions as I did you, yet my Love to him is not less Watchful, Careful, and Fearful, but ra∣ther more, if more can be, and all the Powers and Endeavours of my Life are ready to Serve him and you, only he must be Served first, which I am confident you will take no Exception at, but Approve of, for you are a Wife, and know what the Love to a Husband is, and so leaving you to your Beloved Husband, I rest,

Your most Affectionate Sister.