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

LXVII.

MADAM,

YOu were pleased in your last Letter to Ask my Opinion, Judgement, and Advice of that which you Spoke of when I last Saw you; truly, when any one asks my Opinion of Cau∣ses or Effects, or my Judgment of Affairs, or of any thing concerning the Actions of the World, as their Successes to Good or Bad, or Desires my Advice of any Concernment to Particulars, let me tell you, as first, for Causes and Effects, my Reason Studies, and Observation Watches, to find out the Cause by the Effects, or to Foresee the Effects by the Causes; and as for the Suc∣cess of several Affairs and Actions in the World, I put all the Probabilities in one Scale, and all the Impossibilities, or at least Unlikely∣hoods, in another, and Weigh them both, and which soever Scale Weighs Downward, I give my Judgement; and as for Advice to Particu∣lars, I Examin their Means, Abilities, Strength,

Power, Right, Truth, and Justice, according to all which I give my Advice, for I Search the Bottom, Stirring up the very Dregs, or Fathom∣ing the Depth; like as Sailers cast their Line and Plummet to Fathom the Sea, for fear of Quick-sands, Shelves, or the like, and then Draw up their Line to see the Depth, or at least take Notice how much the Line sinks down; so do I concerning my Opinion, Judgement, or Ad∣vice; but you must Pardon me if I give not my Judgment or Opinion in a Publick Letter, con∣cerning Publick Affairs, in which I ought not to meddle, being a Woman; neither ought those of the Masculine Sex to give their Opinions, or Judgments, or Advices Publickly, unless they were Desired and Required so to do, as also not Impertinently, Busily, or Intrudingly, to Med∣dle, or Censure, or Speak of that which they have nothing to do, or at least, where they can∣not Help or Mend. But pray believe, I am not so Vain as to think I can Reason, Judg, or Advise Wisely, no, I onely Endeavour, or at least, De∣sire so to do; and since you have not mentioned under your hand-writing, that which you would have me give my Opinion, Judgment, or Advice of, I will not give it under my hand, but leave it till such time as we Meet, for Friends may Talk as freely as Think, fearing no Trea∣thery, and so I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Fr. and S.