LXXXVIII.
MADAM,
I Do not Wonder that the War in E. against O. hath no Better Success, since there are such Petty Commanders and Mean Gover∣nors,
CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.
About this Item
- Title
- CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.
- Author
- Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.
- Publication
- London :: Printed by William Wilson ...,
- M.DC.LXIV [1664]
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- Cite this Item
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"CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53064.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 15, 2024.
Pages
Page 174
and I Fear the Warring designs of G. will have no Better fortune, because the Generals, which are to Command in Chief, are not much Better than those that are to be Commanded, neither for Skill, Conduct, Fame, Title, Friends, Wealth nor Power, in all which a Ge∣neral ought to Surpass those he Commands, for they may be Good Souldiers for a Troop, Re∣giment or Brigade, which are not Skilfull or Fit for a General, for to be a Good General, doth not only require Skill and Courage, but VVise Conduct, and VVisdome is not found in every Souldiers brain; besides, a General must be a man of Note, for an Inferiour Person will hardly be Obeyed, for if he be not a man of Fame, Title, Worth and Merit, every Under Com∣mander will think himself as Good and fit to be a General as he, and will scorn to be Comman∣ded by his Equal; Wherefore Superiors are only fit to be Commanders and Governours: Besides, a General or Governour must be full of Generosity, free from Covetousness, which Generosity seldom Cohabit's with Poverty or Inferiour Persons; also they must be Just; both to Punish and Reward, Resolute to execute the one, and Forward to perform the other. But Officers, Governours and Commanders are for the most part chosen by the means of Bribes, Faction or Favour, and not for Fitness, VVorth and Merit, which Causes so many Disorders, Complaints and Rebellions, for few Nations live long in Peace, and most part of the World, at
Page 175
least all Europe is at this time fill'd with bloody War, and most Nations are forced to War with each other to Keep their Natives from Civil Dissentions. But War is not a Subject proper for our Sex to discourse of, although in the Ru∣ines of War we suffer Equally with Men; Wherefore leaving this Discourse of War I Conclude with Peace, for I am,
Madam,
Your faithful Friend and humble Servant.