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

CCXI.

MADAM,

AS I began this Book with those Letters to you, so I will End it, hoping you will Par∣don me for Mixing some other Letters with those to your self, for the Assurance and Belief of your Pardon Perswaded me to do it, they are only to my Near and Dear Relations, and Kind and Obliging Friends. But, Madam, I know your Nature and Friendship is such, that what is Fit and Convenient for me to do, you will Approve, and upon that ground, I am Con∣fident you will not be Angry with me, that I do not Joyn the Answers to those Letters, where∣in you were pleased to Propound several Phi∣losophical Questions to me to Resolve, to this Book, for truly, Madam, they are so many, and my Answers to them so Long, that if I should have Joyned them to these, it would have been as a Type, or Resemblance of Infi∣nite Nature, and I am careful not to be too Te∣dious, or Wearisom to my Readers. Besides, the said Letters containing nothing but Philo∣sophical

Questions and Answers, are not so Fit or Proper for this Book, wherein are only De∣scribed Humors; wherefore I am Resolved to put your Philosophical Questions and my An∣swers in a Book by themselves. 'Tis true, ma∣ny of your Questions are Subtiler than I have Wit to Answer, but according to my Duty, and the Laws of Friendship, I have done as much as I was able, and more I hope you do not Ex∣pect, and therefore, though I have not An∣swer'd them so well as I should have done, and have more reason to fear rather to be Censured, than to hope for any Applause for Publishing them, yet I am satisfied that I have Answer'd your Desire, for I had rather the World should Condemn me for a Fool, than you for the Breach, or but a Neglect in Friendship, for as long as I Live I shall Prove my self,

Madam,

Your constant Friend and faithful Servant.