A COLLECTION OF LETTERS AND POEMS: Written by several Persons of Honour and Learning, Upon divers Important Subjects, to the Late Duke and Duchess OF NEW CASTLE.  
LONDON: Printed for Langly Curtis in Goat-Yard on Ludgate-Hill.  
MDCLXXVIII.   

LETTERS, etc.  
Hague, the 28 th'. of November, 1658. MADAM,  
ACcording to your Excellency's command, I have been of purpose at Leyden, and there delivered your Present into the hands of the Rector Magnificus (as we call him) of the University, who some days after hath made a solemn exhibition of it to the Lords Curators, in a public meeting of the whole Academical Senate, and, in their name, hath sent me the Letter here enclosed; by which I hope the faithful discharge of my Ambassage shall be testified, and give your Excellency occasion of further Employment to bestow upon the unworthy person,  
Madam, of Your Excellencies Humble and Obedient Servant, Huygens de Zulichem.  
This Letter came but even now from Leiden, so that I hope your Excellency will not suspect any negligence in me.  
ILLUSTRISSIMA DOMINA,  
OBtulit Bibliothecae publicae Zulichemi Dominus Divinum ingenii vestri foetûm qui sive prosà sive Carmine omnem admirationem excedit. Princeps ingenii, Princeps terrarum, Princeps foeminini sexus merito diceris. Abripitur foecunda tua erudito, per coelos, terras, maria, & quicquid in natura, vel civili vita, ullove Scientiarum genere, nobile occurrit. Ipsa Pallas Academiae nostrae praeses Tibi assurgit, gratiásque immensas provestro munere agit, & cum Imaginem vestram aspicit, se ipsam veluti in speculo intueri videtur. Vale  
Datae Lugduni Batavorum, XXVIII. Novem. MDCLVIII. Illustrissima Domina Virtutum vestrarum Admirator & Cultor summus, Antonius Thysius, Academiae Rector.  
EXCELLENTISSIMA DUX,  
Altar ferè mensis est, quòd votis omnibus expetitum munus Epistolas tuas accepimus: neque tamen intereà temporis ab officio cessavimus, sed vel in honore Nuncupationis nos jactavimus, vel obstupuimus in admiratione Operis, in quo multa tam acutè, tam aptè, tam elegantèr exponis, ne nec Venus, aut Lepor aliquid addant. Scilicèt hoc demùm animi, hoc consilii, hoc ingenii tui, hoc ejus est spei, quam annos aliquot jam sustines amplificandae Philosophiae. Name cave Te quaesumus, ne Cantabrigiae quenquam esse credas tam infacetum, & à Gratiis alienum, quem non mirificè delectent Literarum istarum amoenitates; Propterea, (quae felicissimè recludis) arcana Naturae non aliter atque secretiores Sacrorum ritus, & ceremonias Vniversi inspicimus, laudamus, amplectimur, & inter legendum etiam per paginas dispensamus oscula, sed ea quae soli Philosophi dare, & accipere Vestales ipsae nequaquàm erubescerent. Nondùm (quod scimus) Annalibus excidêre, neque certè per nos unquam excident erudita nomina, Aspasia Periclis, Odenati Zenobia, Polla Lucani, Boethii Rusticiana; quae tamen, si reviviscerent hodiè, adeò tecum (Inclyta Dux) de eruditionis palmâ non contenderent, at famae tuae potius ancillantes, solam Margaretam, consummatissimam Principem & agnoscerent, & positogenu certatim adorarent. Illae namque pluvias tantùm hic illie aquas collegêre: Tu perenni gurgite passim exundas: Illis interdùm adspirauêre Musae, quae suam in Te potestatem omnem ostendêre: Illae denique partitae sunt doctrinam: Tu studiorum omne genus versu, & prosâ non modò tetigisti, verum etiam tractâsti: nec alios tandèm indagationi tuae fines proposuisti, quam quos ipsa rerum Natura admittit; quamobrèm, etsi (velut Aquila in nubibus) quicquid venaris, capis, nusquam tamen major nobis, aut illustrior vidêre, quam in nuperis istis Sapientiae commissionibus etenim invidendâ planè dexteritate vel Tirones semitam ingressos reducis in viam; vel nitedulas è senticetis suis extrahis; vel hostes veritatis destringis & defricas, Heroina monstris ex orbe Scientiarum averruncandis genita. Perge (Dux invictissima) & (quo incoepisti successu) in hâc immortalitatis Palaestrâ Te (si placet) diutiùs exerce; Nos quidem ut antea semper, ita nunc quoque tanto tibi studio ubique favemus, ut majori non possimus.  
Cantabrigiae è frequenti Senatu 3 Nonas Maii. 1665. Celsitudini tuae addictissimi Procancellarius, reliquus que Senatus Academ. Cantabr.  
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS,  
WE have lately with extraordinary joy received the two testimonies of Your great mind and favour towards us, namely your Epistles and Poems, with which your Grace hath been pleased to honour us, both which we embrace with the same mind with which we do all Sublime and Excellent things, which so long as there is any Courtesy among men, do bring Fame to their Authors. In your Poesy we praise that Life and native Verdure, every way consistent with itself, Castalian like, it stands not still, nor boils over, but with a gentle Stream doth touch our Ears, and slide into our minds. In your Philosophy we praise that lightsome and piercing accuteness, nothing constrained, nothing obscure; you render all things clear and genuine, indeed nature truly natural: So difficult to men is nature and truth. Alas how do they vex and pursue her fleeing from them; others suppose her to be swallowed in Whirlepools, (as another Scylla or Charybdis) such a one indeed as they do commonly find to be of report or opinion: others grope for her in a vain Vacuity with the like success: yea, some there are which seek her among Ghosts and Goblins, as if she were some Witch, or Sorceress; some offer violence to her, and put her to the rack, and make her rather Lie then Confess. To your Grace she doth freely open and unbowel herself, fearing to be branded with incivility if she should deny; Your Grace only amongst Women owes nothing to Nature: for how much soever she hath graced you with an incomparable lustre in your Feature, or pregnancy of Wit, your Grace hath returned all of it in these Elegancies of Philosophy and Poesy, with a most excellent retaliation. Lastly, lest we should be further troublesome to your Grace, we wish we could speak out and publish to the World, what Thanks we conceive in our Minds for this so genuine and proper a Gift, so fraught with sweetest Elegancies; Then, though there be so vast a disproportion between your Grace's Favours and our Merits, our distance would be so much the less: Farewell most Noble Princess, long may your Grace live, who are an ornament to Learning, and a Patroness to the Learned and us, who are,  
Your Graces most devoted Servants in all Duty and Reverence, The Master and Fellows of the College of St. John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge.  
ILLUSTRISSIMA PRINCEPS,  
LIbros tuos eximios illos opidò & felicissimè Ingenii partum excepit nostrum hoc Collegium eâdem gaudii magnitudine, quâ olim Illustrissimi Principis Conjugis Tui adventum nos hîc convictu suo non dedignantis. In fatis est scilicet, aut potius haereditarium quoddam jus est Tuae familiae de Collegio nostro benè mereri. Dilatata Collegii Pomoeria, & pulcherrimo opere explicata murorum facies testantur eximium in literas amorem nobilissimae Salopiensis Comitissae, jam tunc virtutes tuas & Gentilitiam erga Musas bonitatem praeludio quodam augurantis. Illustrissimus quoque Conjux Tuus nos hîc Consortio suo cohonestavit, atque quantum gloriae nobis indè defluxisse putes, quòd illa quae hîc posuit Virtutum rudimenta in tam inviolatam Majestati Regiae etiam in adversissimis fidelitatem omniumque artium tanto illo Ordine dignarum scientiam excreverunt! Sed haec Tibi cum aliis Communis laus est, favere literis. At quòd Tu, Foemina scilicet Illustrissima, Aulae deliciis innutrita, non solùm faveas, sed & doceas qui sibi videntur eruditi: quòd non tantùm calleas omnes Tui Ordinis elegantias, sed etiam ingenuas nostri sermonis Veneres, & nihil insuper corum nescias quae scire laudi est; denique, quòd prima omnium non solùm Philosophiae spinosissimos calles pervagata es, sed emolliisti Sermonis Tui nitore, id quod doctissimis virorum minimâ ferè cum laude pertentatum; hoc Tuum solius decus est, hoc praeteritorum seculorum Foeminis, & praesèntis hujus Heroinis exprobabit hoc nostrum seculum: Vnum tancùm deest bellissimis Tuis scriptis, ut nimirum inter Cultissimas Orationes Tuas inscribatur una, quae gaudium nostrum ob honorem hunc à Te Collegio nuperrimè praestitum satis dignè eloqui possit. Digna enim es sola, quae cum Philosophiam tantoperè exornâsti, Teipsam exprimas: nos certè non possumus, quibus praeripuisti omnes Vernaculae linguae Elegantias, quósque adeò conjecisti in Latini sermonis antiquam, sed incultam Majestatem, ut Te, quam coràm alloqui erubescimus, è longinquo tutò veneremur. Vivas ergò, Illustrissima Princeps, in hujus seculi gloriam, Tui Sexûs honorem, nostri Invidiam, admirationem utriúsque; & felicissimos annos exigas etiam ultrà spem, non vota.  
Dat. è Coll. D. Joan. Cantab. 14 Cal. Jul. 1663. Obsequentissimorum Illustrissimae Excellentiae Tuae Cultorum Magistri & Sociorum Colleg. D. Joannis Evangelistae in Academia Cantabrigiensis.  
Excellentissimae Honoratissimaeque Dominae, Dominae Margaretae, Marchionissaes Novocastrensi.  
EXCELLENTISSIMA DOMINA,  
QVanta sit, quámque severa nobis ex dignatione Vestrâ concepta laetitia, si non aliunde testando simus, liceat exinde potissimùm indicari, quòd in hoc jucundissimo nobis officio gratitudinis exprimendae, & seriùs aliquantò versemur, & solliciti etiamnum simus. Ea siquidem est natura Beneficii, ut remunerandi vices desideret, Vestri autem nec fortuna reposcit, nec patitur Amplitudo. Quo fit, ut, munifici aliàs qui sumus, tantúmque honoris rependere soliti, quantum ipsi accipimus, eo quòd viros, caetera probatissimos, nostro qualicunque testimonio auctiores reddere videamur; Vestro tandem tam praecellenti munere donati, tenuitatem ultro nostram fateamur. Hoc interim gratulari nobis liceat felicitatis nostrae, eam esse Tibi cum Literis communem causam, ut nemo laudare beneficia Vestra, aut etiam exprimere pro dignitate possit, qui non & ipse commendatior exinde fuerit; adeò conjunctam habemus cum officio laudem, ut nec testari quantum debemus, ingrati possimus, nec quanta accepimus intelligere, nisi literati. Quae Tua singularis est bene merendi ratio, non solùm Amplitudine Vestrâ digna largiris, sed & simul efficis, quo tantis Tuis Auspiciis digni & nos aliquando simus: nec verò literis tantùm, quod una potes, patrocinium praestas, sed & arts Ipsa illustras, & quantum est ullibi scientiarum promoves felicitèr, & exornas. Ignosce nobis Illustrissima Marchionissa, si mirari identidem subeat, cui demum Tu, nósque adeo debemus pulcherimas istas & Tuas dotes; quî factum fuerit, ut nullo imbuente studiorum arbitrio, nullâ obstetricante Academiâ, in Foeminâ tandem conveniant, res caetera desjunctissimae, Eloquentia, Poesis, & Philosophia. Sanè, qui antiquos adeo miramur, eandem artium armorúmque praesidem Deam veneratos, quid de Te tandem sentiemus, quae Ipsa Tibi Minerva es & Athenae simul, Musae omnes juxta & Helicon, Aristoteles pariter ac Lycaeum? Profectò, two sumus, qui felicitatem citiùs nostram intelligere, quam exponere Tuam possumus, quae tam supra nostram est exprimendi copiam, quam est praesens ista qualiscunque adumbratio, extra fingendi necessitatem. Quo magis nostrâ referre credimus, quibus Te propriùs sentire datum est, testari aliquà, pro genio nostro, locique hujus (quo non est alius Tui studiosior) quo tandem animo, quibus studiis, quibúsque amplexibus Clarissima Tua opera excipimus & exosculamur. Qnod quidem officii nostri tam sincerè praestamus, quâm verè in amplissimam laudem cedit, magnae huic & florentissimae Societati, Te nobis habere propitiam, quam & tota commendat eruditio, & literatorum universus ordo suspicit, & veneratur. Tanti erat Excellentsssima Domina, Te primam exemplo Tuo ostendere, posse & Foeminas Philosoaphri. Vnum illud reliquum, in auctiorem Nominis Vestri famam optamus, testatiorésque virtutes Tuas, ut tot támque erudita Opera, tali aliquando idiomate donata exeant, quali inter Romanos Tullium & Maronem, inter Graios Platonem, & Demosthenem legimus, & miramur. Quod si contigerit usquam, Te facili in vota nostra, proventúmque literarum uberiorem, speramus, etiam & spondemus, brevi fore, ut ex ipso scientiarum incremento sentiat orbis, quam consecuta es Gloriae Aeternitatem.  
Dat. è Coll. Sanctae & Individuae Trinitatis, 2 Cal. Feb. 1663. 

Johan. Pearson, Magist. Coll.  
Clem. Nevil.  
Theod. Crosland.  
Geo. Chamberlain.  
Fran. Barton.  
Guliel. Lynnett.  
Gualt. Catsby.  
Richardus Stedman.  
Robertus Scott.    
To the Most Excellent and Most Honourable Lady, the Lady Margaret, Marchioness of Newcastle.  
MOST EXCELLENT LADY,  
HOw great and serious a joy doth arise to us from Your Excellency's Condescension, though we cannot otherwise make it appear; yet hence chiefly it may be showed, because in this most pleasing Duty of expressing our Thankfulness, we have been somewhat tardy, and are yet solicitous; for such is the nature of a good turn that it calls for a requital; but your Excellency's Fortune and Greatness doth neither require nor brook it, whence it comes to pass that we who are otherwise Bountiful, and are wont to return as much as we have received, because we may seem to render persons in other things most approved by our testimoney, such as it is, more allowable; at length being endowed with your most excellent Gift, we do freely acknowledge our deficiency. In the mean time we may justly pride ourselves in this, that your Excellency, as well as our Learning, is so much the cause of our Happiness, that none can commend your Gifts, or express their worth, but will himself thereby grow more commendable: therefore have we Praise and Duty joined, that we may not avouch how much we owe being unthankful, nor understand what we have received unless Learned: Your Excellency doth not only bestow Gifts worthy your Nobleness, but also thereby make way that we ourselves may, in time, be worthy of your so great Favours: which is a reason of well-deserving, proper only to yourself: neither indeed doth your Excellency only afford Patronage to Learning (which you only can do) but also make Arts more famous; and whatsoever there is any where of Sciences you do happily promote and adorn. Pardon us most Illustrious Marchioness if we often wonder to whom, at length, your Excellency, and we ourselves, do so much owe those excellent Arts, and your Excellency's Endowments; how it came to pass that Eloquence, Poetry, Philosophy, things otherwise most different, should without the help of a Tutor, without the Midwifery of an University, at length, agree in a Woman: Indeed we who wonder that the Ancients should adore the same tutelar Goddess both of Arts and Arms, what shall we think of your Excellency, who are both a Minerva and an Athens to yourself, the Muses as well as an Helicon, Aristotle as well as his Lycaeum? Indeed such is our condition that we can sooner understand our own happiness then express yours, which is so far beyond the highest of our expressions, as this present Description, such as it is, is beyond the necessity of a Fiction. We think it concerns us very much (who have the happiness to understand so much of your Excellency) some way to testify, according to our genius and that of this place, than which none can admire you more, with what mind, withwhat desires, with what real affections we do receive and embrace your most Excellent Works; which part of our duty we do as sincerely perform as it doth truly tend to the great honour of this flourishing Socitey, that we enjoy your Excellencies undeserved favour, whom all Learning doth commend, and all degrees of the Learned adore and honour. So much beyond Expectation it was (most Excellent Lady) that you the first of all, by your own example, should make it appear that even Women may be Philosophers. One thing we wish for, the enlargement of the fame of your Excellent name, and more signal virtues, that your most learned Works may appear in such a language in which we read and admire Tully and Maro amongst the Romans, Plato and Demosthenes amongst the Grecians. Which if it ever come to pass, we hope and also promise (your Excellency being willing) according to our desires, and the greater increase of Learning, that in a short time, by the very augmentation of Sciences the World may be sensible what Eternity of Glory your Excellency hath obtained.  
Given from the College of the Holy and undivided Trinity, the second of the Calends of Febr. 1663. 

John Pearson, Master.  
Clem. Nevil.  
Theod. Crosland.  
George Chamberlain.  
Francis Barton.  
William Lynnet.  
Walter Catesby.  
Richard Stedman.  
Robert Scott.    
MADAM,  
THe University of Cambridge, in their full Senate, have judged it a necessary duty to make known their sense of the high Favour which they received in the Present made to them of your most Excellent Volumes. This, expressed by their public Orator, approved by themselves, is committed to my care to convey, as being their unworthy Vicechancellor: under which title, also as Master of a small College, I stand in a double obligation for the same Present, to be  
Cambridge. S. M. Magd. Coll. July 13. 1663. Your Excellencies most Humble and most Devoted Servant, EDWARD RAINBOW.  
ILLUSTRISSIMA MARCHIONISSA,  
ETsi nobis in more familiarius nihil est, quam, ut homines omnes eruditionis, & virtutis famâ florentes, curâ, studióque nusquàm non prosequamur: singulari tamen, & praecipuo quodam impetu non modò gloriae tuae favemus, verumetiam Excellentissimam Heroinam, tanquam Coelo delapsam Sibyllam veneramur. Quip foemineae sortis egressa terminos, longè ultra mundum muliebrem sapis, & quicquid uspiàm Egregium, aut Divinum est intra mortales, id tuo Tibi jure vindicas. Sive stas in acie, sive exerces tribunalia, sive Carmen fundis, sive nodos explicas, nusquàm haeres, nusquam succumbis, Dux, Miles, Senator; Poeta, Philosophus, ac (ut verbo expediamus) una omnium instar. Tot igitur, & tantas, & tam exquisitas animi dotes admirata Cantabrigia nec tacere facilè nec ulteriùs se continere potest, quin exclamet.  
O Soror, o doctum quae sola es Foemina Nomen! (carmen enim effluit imprudenti.) Quod nisi nolueris, interrogare Te porrò cupimus, Ista tam laetae indolis, tam felicis ingenii, tam excelsi judicii flamma quo primùm incensa Numine, quibus adjuta flatibus, aut enutrita fomitibus effulget? An virili veste induta Marchionissa annos fortasse aliquot, idque Athenis inter Philosophos delituisti? An Regina rerum Phisophia (quae virorum conspectum verecundè fugit) soli Tibi se visendam exhibuit, virgineósque sinus omnes exposuit? An denique tuis in Aedibus sedem posuêre Gratiae, ne dubitemus alibi jam in Angliâ, quam Cantabrigiae, vel Oxonii tertiam vigere Academiam, ubi dictata, instillatáque Tibi ab Apolline Oracula, quasi sitientibus auribus ebibamus? Sed quoniam Te vel conditio Naturae, vel modestiae stola cohibet à Rostris, & Cathedrâ, Libros edis, quos partim nuncupas, partim dono Sororibus Academiis mittis. Nos quidem de magnitudine & animi, & beneficii tui Nobis gratulamur, geminúmque munus in Sacrario Sapientiae reponimus, ut in Sexûs honorem evolvant Posteri, habeántque quod Socraticarum omnium, & Pythagorearum Mulierum fragmentis praeferant.  
Dat. Cantab. è frequenti Senatu, quinto Idus Julii 1663. Amplitudinis, & honoris vestri studiosissimi Procancellarius, reliquusque Senatus Acad. Cant.   

LECTOR IN ALMAE MATRIS Armario DUM LIBROS EXCUTIS, Hic illic ingenia pervestigans sedulò, Non potes non EXOSCULARI Foetum PULCHERRIMUM INCOMPARABILIS Et (suprà quam cuidam credibile est) PHILOSOPHANTIS HEROINAE, D. MARGARETAE, MARCHIONISSAES Novocastrensis, Cui Suada Linguam, Pallas animum imbuit.  
Sed, quoniam Ipsa (per ingenuae frontis molitiem) inter Viros Sententiam dicere non sustinet, in imagine saltèm, & hâc altae Mentis Effigie aeternis debet interesse Nominibus.  
Illustrissimo Excellentissimo Nobilissimóque Principi Gulielmo Marchioni, & Comiti de Newcastle, etc.  
ILLUSTRISSIME PRINCEPS,  
MEritò olim jactavimus, Te hasce aliquandò Aedes, atque haec Musarum sacra coluisse. Cúmque ea, ut par erat, longè maxima, quae studiosis hominibus contingere possit, gloria videretur; vicisti ultrò spei votorúmque nostrorum fidem, & ad tantam superbiendi materiam amplius aliquid adjicere voluisti. Tibi utique parùm erat nos prima praeludentis ingenii, & tenera adhùc Virtutis incunabula ostentare potuisse; nisi ex Te etiam teneremus clarissima adultae jam confirmataeque Indolis monumenta. Dedignata est Mens illustris & generosa rebus argutis ac levibus nimium temporis absumere; quod facit tamen hodiè maxima scribentium pars, in opprobrium (ut videtur) ac contumeliam literarum: Tibi verò displicuit otiosa sedulitas: Meditatus es aliquid viro nobili ac strenuo non indignum, opúsque concinnâsti seculis omnibus profuturum. Opposuimus olim Gallis peditatûs vim, ac virorum robora; nunc Tuâ, Princeps Illustrissime, industriâ, equitandi etiam peritiâ superiores sumus: Tu illos suas, quibus unicè sibi placebant, arts edocuisti. Nec tamen aegrè fert Equestris natio Te hanc ei palmam praeripuisse; neque enim tantùm se in certamine minorem prositetur, verumetiam suo ore atque Linguâ se victam esse gloriatur. Et quidni illa Tibi ambo se cederet, qui nihil unquam mediocre potes? Poetarum miraculis fidem fecisti; Primus utique Pegasum, alatósque nobis Equos ostendisti, qui tandem humum spernunt, Tuáque pennâ in altum levati, per Virorum ora, ac super astra volitârunt. Vivent, atque in omni Seculorum memoria vigebunt Excellentiae vestrae scripta nobilissima, quantúmque honoris Platoni suo atque Aristoteli tribuunt homines umbratici, tantum Tibi concedent, Reges, virique toto orbe Illustrissimi. Gratissimis nuper animis Nobilissimae Conjugis Tuae labores accepimus: nunc Tuos pari ardore complectimur. Est hoc optandum maximè beneficiorum Conjugium; haec summa est animorum Concordia, quibus unicum est de nobis benè merendi Certamen. Exultantes recipimus Illustres Libros, eòsque inter Sacratiora Bibliothecae Monumenta recondemus. Intereà, propter iterata benevolentiae ac benignitatis indicia, Vobis gratias quas possumus maximas habemus, cunctáque longè felicissima omni votorum Religione exoptamus.  
Dat. è Coll. D. Joan. Evang. Cantabr. 6 Idus Decemb. 1663. Illustrissimae Vestrae Excellentiae Humillimi ac Devotissimi Clientes, Magister ac Socii Collegii D. Joannis Evang. Cantabr.  
ILLUSTRISSIMA PRINCEPS,  
DVo magnae mentis summaeque erga nos benevolentiae specimina Epistolas & Poemata (quibus nos Excellentia vestra redhonestare dignata est) nuper pleni gaudio accepimus: quae Vtráque eo animo amplectimur, quo Sublimia solemus & praeclara omnia, suis Auctoribus, donec inest hominibus humanitas meretissimam famam reportatura; In Poesi spiritum illum laudamus, leporémque nativum undique & aequabilem; nec stagnat Castalis, neque exastuat, leni fluore lambit aures, atque animis illabitur. In Philosophia lucidum & penetrans acumen nil coactum, nihil mysticum liquida das omnia & genuina; vere Naturalem Naturam. Difficilis vicis Natura, & Veritas: heu quamvexant illi persequuntúrque fugientem: Alii rapi eam fingunt in vorticibus, Scyllam quasi; aut Charibdim alteram, qualem etiam revera esse famae & existimationis non raro experiuntur: alii in vacuo palpunt & inani parili fortuna: imo sunt qui inter Daemones querunt & Genios', quasi sagae quaedam esset, aut venifica: nonnulli vim tentant, in igne torquent, coguntque seipsam mentiri potius, quam fateri: Tibi se ultro pandit & denudat penitus, rusticitatis notam, si negaret, reverita, sola videns (Illustrissima Domina) inter Foeminas quae Naturae nihil debes: quantum quantum enim Te decoravit, aut luce formae, aut indole ingenii id omne eidem rependisti in hisce Philosophiae & Poëseos elegantiis, pulcherrimâ talione. Denique Tibi porro molesti simus pro genuino hocce quo nos deceras pleno Venerum & gratiarum pignore utinam eloqui possimus gratias, quas ment concipimus; tunc ab ejus merito longo quamvis nihilo minùs intervallo, minori tamen distaremus. Vale (Nobilissima Heroina) & vive diu quae literas ornes & foveras literatos, & nos  
Illustrissimae Excellentiae Vestrae Cultu omni & officio observantissimos Magistrum & Socios Collegii D. Joannis Evangelistae in Academiâ Cantabrigiensi.  
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS.  
WE lately received, with abundance of delight and Complacency, those two tokens of your favour, with which your Grace hath been pleased, to honour us; Your Poems, and Philosophical Letters, both which we entertain and embrace with that careful respect, which is due to those high and noble undertake, which will procure in all ages (while men have any humanity) condign fame and renown to their Authors. In your Poems we admire that Life and Spirit, as also that Native, and Even Fancy, which, every where, is Conspicuous. Your Helicon is neither Pond nor Sea, but like a fair and deep River gently slides, and flows in upon your Readers. In your Philosophy there appears, every where, a clear and searching acuteness of Judgement, nothing forced, or Mysterious: All is plain and genuine, mere and natural Nature. We men find Nature and Truth very coy and sullen, alas how we vex, persecute, and chase her, who yet still outruns us: Some imagine her to be in Whirlpools and Quicksands, like another Scylla or Charybdis, and they find Her so now and then, in their shipwreck Credit and Reputation. Some grope for her in Vacuums and empty spaces, with a success not unlike their supposals. Some fancy her among Daemons and Spirits, as if she were a Witch: Others torment her in the Fire, or Rack her, and force her rather to Belie, then Confess herself. But she willingly shows herself all bare and naked to your Grace; Madam, you are one, if not the only one of your Sex, that owe Nature nothing; for whatever lustre and beauty of body or mind, she hath decked and enriched you withal, your Grace has largely recompensed her, and are perfectly quit with her in these your elegant Poems, and Philosophy. In a word, to be no longer troublesome to your Grace, we would we could but express what thankful acknowledgements we, in mind and thought, do conceive, for this twin-pledge of your Love, full of all Muses and Graces; then we should fall less, though still continually, short of so high a favour. May you live long, most Virtuous and Heroic Lady, to adorn, maintain, and nourish Learning, and Learned men, and Us, who are, in all offices of Honour and observance.  
Your Grace's bounden Servants, The Master and Fellows of St. John's Coll. in Cambridge.  
Excellentissimae Nobilissimaeque Principi, Margaretae Novi-Castriae Ducissaes.  
ILLUSTRISSIMA HEROINA,  
PAllida & exanguis haec chartula Sacratissimos Tuos amplexus summâ eáque debitâ veneratione solicitat, unde Promethei ad instar vitam & vigorem (Quae soles dare) ambitioso & laudabili furto surripiat: Quin haud vitio vertenda erit pia nostra nec inhonesta fraus, Quum spirare, & vivere oportet eam Epistolam, quae tanto Nomini inscripta aeternitatis aemula, & particeps affinitatis jure facta est. Nempe Tu Ea es divinior Artemisia, Quae Mausolo tuo non perpetuum certissimae mortis indicem, & monumentum solummodò extruere, sed vitam ipsam aeternitati inserere Praeclaros Animi motus sacri calami Impulsu continuare, Limpidos Corporis humores, & nobilem sanguinem ex benignâ Ingenii Tui venâ aeternum supplere, nec non eximia gesta & facinora ad vivum exprimere, coram sistere, & denuò agere valuisti: Exhibuisti nobis talem principem qualis ipse solus est, Cujus Imaginem à Te unicâ vel effingi, vel dignè delineari posse fateatur universus Philosophorum Chorus. Exhibuisti gratissimum orbi munus, praesentis saeculi decus & ornamentum, futuri Archetypum & elaboratum exemplar. Insuper videre est quam mirabili artificio (Laudatissimi Phidiae jure) conjunctissimo numini Illustrissimam Tuam intexuisti Imaginem, usque adeò intemperanti mortis occursu fabricam faciens, ut perpetuum Vestrum conjugium ab ipsà haud sejungi possit aut divelli. Quantâ animi devotione Ornantissimae Heroinae egregium munus amplexamur, sentire possumus, aptè exprimere (Quae Tua & propria Laus est) neutiquam confidimus: Digneris, quaesumus, ut donum Tuum tanquam caelitùs delapsum ancile duraturae felicitatis augurium & tesseram silentio (uti par est) veneretur Collegium nostrum, vel, quod majus, Vestrum.  


Johan. Pearson, Magist. Coll.  
Geo. Chamberlain. V m.  
Clem. Nevil.  
Anth. Martial.  
Guliel. Bailiff.  
Richardus Stedman.  
Rob. Crane.  
Guliel. Lynnet.  
Rob. Scott.    
EXCELLENTISSIMA PRINCEPS,  
HIstoriam Viri tui quantivis pretii, Geniique plenum opus non modò exertissimâ manu accepimus, verum etiam à capite ad calcem incredibili voluptate, uti omnia tua jamdudùm evolvimus. Inter legendum verò non semel hic, illic circa numeros, periodósque substitimus, nunc stili, nunc argumenti, nunc denique compositionis elegantiâ detenti: ac quia togatis hominibus tuam illam tam artificem dextram tetigisse non licet, quod proximum est, audemus: hoc est Theatrum honoris, bipaténsque pugillar (in quo paginam utrámque facit Heros Novocastrensis) plus millies amplexamur. Neque tamen Chartae saepiùs imprimimus oscula, quam omnibus illa, singulisque Musis ingeminare nos existimamus. Nullum enim ingenii tui foetum exponere potes, quem non in usus suos, deliciásque & tollet Alma Cantabrigia, & (ut in partem quoque muneris admittat posteros) Bibliothecae Publicae tholo suspendet. Vivet igitur domi, militiaeque clarissimus Imperator, Téque (dum literis honor constabit) non impar gloria sequetur: itá raro, singularique exemplo facta dictis ubique aequas, & invictissimi Ducis res tanto scribis Spiritu, quanto pridem ab Ipso gestae fuerunt. Quodsi forsan Bellatores in arce Pallados olim quaerent (tàm ad Historiae fidem, quam ad exempli normam) consummatissimi Imperatoris imaginem, adumbratam illam invenient non in Cyro Xenophontis, sed in MARGARETAE GULIELMO. Hoc nomine Tibi nos debemus plurimum Eruditissima foeminarum; at non hoc uno nomine. Etenim in Studiis ubicunque jam nobis haeret aqua, praesentissimum Numen occurris: in Oratione si laboramus, verba dictas: si Poëticas fores pulsamus, recludis: Si condimus Historiam, à memoriâ es: Si Philosophos inter ambigimus, & involvimur, extricas: postremò, si studemus modò, fers opem supra verticem semper adstans Mulier divini admodum vultus, atque inexhausti vigoris. Hoc autem totum quid aliud est, quam modis omnibus addictam Tibi Cantabrigiam non solùm exercere, sed obruere beneficiis? Tot ergo magnificentiae tuae radios (quibus illustramur) quâ Nos unquam gratiarum actione, quibus Musarum opibus redimemus? Nisi forte quae D. Margaretae pectus, mentémque illam homine sublimiorem nunc habitant, hùc bonâ tuâ cum veniâ remigrent Veneres, Gratiaeque. Id si principali indulgentiâ concedas (Heroina) tuis vestigiis pro modulo insistemus, nervos omnes intendemus, totúmque Helicona ciebimus, ne Mars ille tuus sine vate, ac virtutum tantarum Latino praecone pugnâsse videatur.  
Cantabrigiae è frequenti Senatu 14 Cal. Januar. 1667. Eminentiae tuae addictissimi PROCANCELLARIVS reliquusque Senat. Acad. Cantab.  
MOST EXCELLENT PRINCESS,  
THat incomparable and most desired Book of your Grace's, containing the History of his Grace's Actions, in the late War, we have not only readily received but also perused and read over, as we are wont to do with whatsoever you write; yet in reading it we must acknowledge that we stopped often, because we could not but admire, every where, both the loftiness of the argument, and elegancy, and spruceness of the Style, and Composition; and in regard that at so great a distance we could not be admitted to the favour of kissing your Hand, we cease not to bestow ten thousand embraces upon every page of that Book, which hath so noble and immortal a subject as is his Grace the Duke of Newcastle; although your Grace can neither dictate nor publish any Work which the University of Cambridge will not own, and esteem, yet for this last Essay of your Graces we retain a most singular affection, and, in testimony thereof, lodge it in the richest Cabinet that we have, our public Liberary; for the perusal of the present, and succeeding generation, long therefore shall the most valiant, and renowned General live, and your Grace too with him, seeing you have written his enterprises with as great a spirit as he himself performed them; hereafter if generous and high born men; if men of War search our Library for a Model of a most accomplished General, they shall find it expressed to the life, not in Xenophon's Cyrus, but in the Duchess of Newcastles William. Most Excellent Princess, you have unspeakably obliged us all, but not in this respect alone, for whensoever we find ourselves non-plused in our Studies we repair to you, as to our Oracle, if we be to speak you dictate to us; if we knock at Apollo's door, you alone open to us; if we compose an History you are the Remembrancer; if we be confounded and puzzled among the Philosophers, you disentangle us, and assoil all our difficulties: in a word, whatsoever we attempt your Grace now vouchsafe's to stand by us, and suggest as a Lady of a most Princely personage, and of an inexhaustible vigour; and thus you do not only exercise, but oppress us with your nobleness; nor can we devise what return of thanks to make, unless those Muses and Graces (which have taken up their residence in your Breast) may, with your Grace's leave, retreat for a while to us. If your Grace think good so to favour us, we shall all of us, jointly and severally endeavour that hereafter his Excellency the great Duke of Newcastle may not want a Latin Poet, for the perpetuating of his Honour, and your Graces in foreign Countries.  
Cambridge Dec. 16. 1667. Most renowned Princess, Your Graces most devoted Servants, The VICECHANCELLOR and the whole Senate of the University of CAMBRIDGE  
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS,  
WE have received your Excellencies incomparable and most beneficial books with such grandeur and reverence of mind, as it is very fit we should, as a pledge and warrant of our future security; for seeing we are to Contend in a brutish world for life, much more for honour, with the reproaches of an illiterate age, as it were now despairing of attaining to any perfection in our weighty affairs, lest Cambridge, and Philosophy, and Learning should grow infamous, Your Excellency hath only brought it to pass, that we have hopes yet to live; the memory of our name being perpetuated in your Excellency's Books, which will not only survive our Universities, but hold date even with Time itself; and doubtless we shall live, for as much as it pleaseth you, most Excellent Princess, so long as either Name or Honour remains, either to Virtue or Books; and incontinently this age, by the reading of your Books, will lose its barbarity and rudeness, being made tame by the Elegancy both of your stile and matter: and moreover it will not judge us to be nobodies whom such an accomplished Princess hath not refused to make not only the Perusers, but even the Moderators, and Judges of her Works. So as the very worth of your Excellency's Books, hath brought us, being willing, altogether persuaded and convinced into a just admiration of your Excellency. However your Grace may see how much your Praises are impaired, not so much by the default of our Wit (though that be very great) as because you have the hap to live in such an unfortunate age. Ancient Greece itself, the sole Governness of all just merits and rewards, in the cause of such unparallelled virtues, would have spent herself in ten years' Panegyrics; neither would there be any cause why Isocrates should prefer his Athenians (though they were Minerva's Scholars) before Cambridge; to whom your Excellency (for such honour doth your Grace procure) doth kindle a new, yet never perishing, Light: Ancient Rome itself would have resolved all your Praises into Statues and Monuments of your name, by which there might arise continually Cornelia's, and if there were any other, therefore the Glory of their Age, and the Honour of your Sex, because your Excellency had not then a being, but reserved by the Author of all things, and born in after times for the honour, and ornament of this age in which we live. The Titles and Triumphs are long since obsolete, and worn out, the honour of Greece and Rome lives only in a little slender fame, and those Marbles inscribed with the names of so many of the Learned, are mouldered into dust, and yet all these live, and flourish in their due Praises, and are the survivors of all their admirers, and this Glory is only common to your Excellency, with those famous Worthies, that as neither the famous Statues, nor the applause of their admirers, nor the popular vote, but the solid Grace of their Works, and Virtue which is its own best Herald, doth declare their merits: So your Excellencies most unparallelled worth, and our thankful acknowledgement without the furniture of tumultuous applauses, hath set apart a place in our Library, that faithful Depository of Wits, for your Grace, where, according to our slender provision, which also the Custom of our Ancestors, by whom we are the better enabled, and our own ingenious confession, we do with great earnestness desire; we henceforth with acclamations that such an Illustrious Princess (reason being now restored, Philosophy confirmed, Envy conquered) doth esteem that in others which she honours in her own person; We will therefore that this, whatsoever it is, be the argument of a Grateful mind.  
Dated from our Coll. Octob. 6. 1667. Most Illustrious Princess, Your Excellencies most humble Servants, devoted to your Clemency and Honour, The Master and Fellows of St. John's Coll. in Cambridge.  
Eminentissimae, Celsissimaeque Principi D. Margaretae, Duci Novocastrensi.  
NOn mutamus Excellentissima Princeps; de Lucubrationibus tuis universis idem sentimus, quod de singulis; Singulas autem quantoperè miremur, ut Quamque beneficio tuo vidimus, aut perlegimus, neque Ipsa nescis, & nos aliàs judiciis certis non modo notum fecimus, verùm etiam in omnem occasionem intenti porrò faciemus. Hoc in Literas voluntas, hoc (quae tam latè se jam diffundit) Eruditio tua singularis à togatis Hominibus dudum exegit: Hoc Orationes, hoc Epistolae, hoc Numeri, Salésque, hoc Fundamenta; hoc postremò (quae Cantabrigiae tuae inscribis) subacti judicii, & lectionis penè infinitae Pericula meruêre. Quamvis enim ubique viget, & dum (humanitati locus ullus erit) vigebit Cantabrigia, tamen Illius perpetuitati multum adjiciet Librorum tuorum Aeternitas. Non igitur immeritò Te (doctissima foeminarum) de scriptis editis & amamus, & suspicimus, in illà Contemplationum Arce nos jactamus, quam Tu Posteritati stupendis operibus extruxisti. Clarissimè quidem inter Cives ad altissimum honoris apicem evectamicas; Sed (quod adhuc augustius est) omnem illam fortume magnitudinem immortalis ingenii felicitate ità superas, ut quae versare solemus exemplaria Graeca, Latináque missa jam facere, & tuâ Vnius sapientiâ contenti esse possimus. Quotiès enim in Philosophiam secedis, sola Magistri nullius in verba juras, sed in omni Doctorum familiâ laborans & subtilitèr expendis, & acutè discernis, & ad unguem castigas quicquid aut risit Democritus, aut flevit Hereclitus, aut deliravit Epicurus, aut tacuit Pythagoras, aut intellexit Aristoteles, aut ignoravit Arcesilas, nec omittis siquid Majorum inventis addidêre novi homines, Verulamius, Harvaeus, Cartesius, Galilaeus. Hoc (Eminentissima Dux) hoc demùm est heroicè Philosophari. Sed quò Nos Tecum rapis? Nam Principatum in Literis, tenes, nullis finibus circumscriptum; nec usquam Tibi desinit Natura rerum: at ultra Oceanum Mundus alter exurgit. Mundum illum flamantem loquimur, quem & luce tuâ incendis, & accuratiùs multò, quam olim, in Critia, Plato, describis. Ad eum modum in omni scientiarum genere si pergas sapere, certè mox id consequere, ut in posterum Margareta non ampliùs Heroinae, sed ipsius Philosophiae nomen habeatur. Sic, velut in antecessum audent sperare.  
Cantabrigiae è frequenti Senatu 5 Idus Octobr. 1668. Eminentiae tuae addictissimi PROCANCELLARIVs reliquusque Senat. Acad. Cantab.  
MOST EXCELLENT PRINCESS:  
OUr opinion is not in any wise altered; of all your Books in general we judge, as in reason and equity we must of every one of them: and what unspeakable esteem we have for every one of them, neither are you ignorant, nor may we (as we did, or hereafter shall receive any of them severally) forbear to publish to the World. This we think, and this, upon every occasion, we profess to be a return, that your Grace's affection to the Commonwealth of learning (together with your Personal advancement in all manner of Knowledge) hath, long ago, called for from all ingenious Scholars: This is a debt, which men of several professions pay you daily, in consideration of the pleasure and profit they reap from your Orations, your Epistles, your Comedies, and your Grounds: but especially we of Cambridge remember, and, with exceeding delight, peruse (the greatest Honour that of late hath been done by a Dedication to this Community) your most judicious and elaborate Observations upon Experimental Philosophy. For although we nothing doubt, but the University of Cambridge will flourish, whilst there is any regard in the World had to Learning, and Modesty, yet to the Perpetuity of so famous, and ancient a Corporation, we cannot but hope for an addition from the Eternity of your Labours. It is not therefore for nothing (most learned Princess) that far beyond what we can express, we renown and admire your Grace, looking ever and anon upon, and glorying in that immortal stately Fabric of Contemplation, which you have erected for the Wonder, as well as for Instruction of Posterity. It's true, our eyes are almost dazzled, when we presume to look up to that height of National honour, wherein you shine above most of your Sex. But (which is yet far more noble and Princely) the lustre of your Wit hath so surpassed the greatness of your Fortune, in glory, that we may now very plausibly throw away our other Greek, and Latin Authors, and be content to learn only, what you teach in proper and good English. For, when you retire to Study, you take (as we see) nothing at all upon trust; you sit down at no Philosophers Feet, but enquiring into the Mysteries of every Sect, you most exactly weigh, distinguish, and correct whatsoever Democritus laughed at, or Heraclitus wept, or Epicurus raved, or Pythagoras concealed, or Aristotle understood, or Arcesilas was ignorant of. Nor do you neglect, or omit, in case the Lord Verulam, or Harvey, or Des Cartes, or Galilaeus hath pretended to add to the achievements of the Ancients. This indeed, this it is (most eminent Duchess) to study, to resolve, to determine, like a Royal and Impartial Professor: But whither on the sudden have you transported us? For that Principality (which is yours) in Learning admits (it should seem) of no bounds, but in your happy and pregnant imagination alone. Nature is infinite; and you yourself, having nothing further to know in this, first discover, and then travel into another, World: we mean your Blazing World, which you enlighten with your own lustre, and describe to us far more accurately, then ever Plato in his Critias attempted. After this manner in all sorts of Sciences, if your Eminency proceed, Margaret will shortly pass, not only for the name of the Duchess of Newcastle, but also for the Cognizance of Philosophy. So we dare, as it were, before hand, hope, and promise ourselves, who study continually to be more and more (if it be possible) than we are already.  
Cambridge Oct. 10. 1668. Most renowned Princess, Your most humble and devoted Servants, The VICECHANCELLOR and the rest of the Senate of the University of CAMBRIDGE.  
Illustrissimae Excellentissimaeque Principi Margaretae Navo-Costrensi Ducissa.  
ILLUSTRISSIMA PRINCEPS,  
CVm jampridem nobis explorata penitúsque perspecta, sit singularis Amplitudinis Tuae natura quae sic est & multiplici eruditione ornata & insitâ humanitate imbuta, ut & possit propter maximam facultatem, & soleat propter summam benevolentiam de Literarum Cultoribus optimè mereri, committere certè noluimus quin utróque nomine obstricti alacriores hasce literas sempiternae observantiae indices Celsitudini Tuae offeremus; cujus eximia bonitas praeclarum hoc & peculiar habet, quòd nec ab amicis solicitando, nec precibus nostris rogando evocata est, sed suâ sponte effusa & ex se tota: rapitur nimirum ad quamvis sui similitudinem excellens quaeque indoles, & quicquid aliqualis praestantiae opinionem sustinet, veluti cognatum sibi, invitat, amplectitur, tuetur. quam magnificum hoc atque Tuum quòd disciplinas nostras Tuae jam venerationis exemplo augustiores reddidisti? Quanto illud cunctis titulis speciosius ibit in secula, quòd in ea generis claritate fortunaeque opulentiâ studia sic amas, ut pauperes solent? In quibus tam feliciter versaris, ut nemo ità literaturae vel deservire vel sufficere videatur, ut quotidie novi aliquid miraculi parias, ut Foemina Viris, Aulica Academicis doctrinae palmam praeripueris, ut singulis denique in sua cujusque laude praestantior evaseris. Ignosce obsecramus, si minum aliquem, ne Principem quidem nostram ipsa naturâ tantopere valere, aut propriis viribus in multiformes istas altissimásque cogitationes excitari atque erigi non credamus: amplissimam, illam mentem, per omnigenae disciplinae seriem latissimè patentem, necesse est divinitùs illustrari, docet nos ea tot tantarúmque rerum penè infinita comprehensio quantus Te coelestis spiritus habitator intrârit, & quam non simplex numen unicum hoc pectus ad universa scientiarum spatia laxaverit. Cúmque his auspitiis quicquid unquam volueris in artibus consecuta sis, cum liquidae veritatis notionem melior aliquis genius Principis nostrae beneficium forè decrevit, cúmque Tuum fuerit non argumentari, sed pronuntiare oracula; nihilominus (quae est Amplitudinis tuae verecundia) exquisitis rationibus asserere Tua placita & confirmare dignaris tanquam Tibi fides non debeatur, quasi assensum nostrum non aliqua religio constringat. Posthac certè nobis in isto genere vigiliarum ferias destinamus, & Philosophiae tandem metam prehendimus, cum Celsitudo Tua speculationem istam dignam existimaverit, cujus se curis imbueret, sibique propiùs addiceret: Etenim nihil non investigatum plenéque comprehensum dabit istius accuminis felix perspicatia, nihil non inventum cum Cantabrigiensibus suis communicabit istius candoris paratissima propensio. Ne tamen ignobilem interim quietem agere, aut desidiae litare videamur, reliquisti nobis difficillimam sanè Provinciam, gratulationem. Quip divinum quiddam Literarum Alumnis quod certò sequantur nunc adeptis lucubrationes Tuae jamdudum praestiterunt, in studiis scilicet tranquilitatem; ideóque nec cuiquam veterum Regum aut Imperatorum honestiorem unquam titulum erectum fuisse opinamur quam nos hic Gratiae Tuae ponendum cogitamus,  
MARGARETAE I. PHILOSOPHORUM PRINCIPI.  
Ob profligatos errores, sublata dogmatum dissidia & pacem reipublicae literariae restitutum.  
Dat. è Coll. S.S. & Individuae Trin. 3 Non. Octob. 1668. 

Johan. Pearson, Magist. Coll.  
Anth. Martial.  
Guliel. Lynnet.  
Richardus Stedman.  
Rob. Scott.  
Isaac Barrow.  
Joannes Hawkins.  
Robertus Moyle.  
Guliel. Corker.    
ILLUSTRISSIMA PRINCEPS,  
ACcepimus, eâ, quâ par fuit animi reverentiâ & honore tam grandis beneficii, Libros Tuos, id est, Incolumitatis nostrae archas & argumentum. Name, quum in hâc ultimâ obrutescentis mundi barbarie dimicandum sit nobis de Vitâ, nedum de Honore, cum tot illiteratis seculi dehonestamentis; ac quasi desperandum esset de summâ rerum nostrarum; nè vilissimi nominis forent Cantabrigia, Philosophia, Eruditio; Effecisti Vnica, ut putemus nos etiam porrò posse vivere, consignatâ nostri nominis memoriâ in Libris Tuis, etiam ultra Academias, & cum tempore aequabilitèr duraturis. Vivemus certè, quandoquidem ità Tibi placuerit, Illustrissima Princeps, quamdiu Virtuti & Libris constabit Honos; & simul ac Libros Tuos legendo Feritatem exuerit Isthoc seculum, tantâ rerum verborúmque elegantiâ cicuratum; aestimabit in-super, neque nihili prorsùs nos fuisse, quos ut Operum suorum Arbitros non recusaverit, Ornatissima Princeps, Ita ipsa Librorum dignitas volentes, persuasos omnimodò, victos bonâ fide traduxit in justissimam Tui admirationem. Vteunque tamen vides quantum laudum Tuarum deterendum sit, non tam ingenii nostris culpâ (licet nimiùm huc! & immane quantum tanta Dignitati imparit) quam quòd Nata sis in infelici hoc seculo Tantae Virtutis ergô exiliisset Graeciae antiqua illa, justissima meritorum aestimatrix in Panegyrica decennalia; neque esset cur Athenas suas, licet Minervae alumnas, praeponeret Isocrates Cantabrigiae, cui Tu tantum quippè honorem concilias, cui novem nec evenidam lucem accendis. Omnia sua Elogia Roma illa vetus explicâsset in statuas & Tui nominis Titulos, quibus assurgerent quotidiè Corneliae Liviae, & si quae aliae tunc fuerunt ideò seculi sui Decus, & sexûs Tui Gloria, quoniam Tu tunc temporis nec dum nata eras, sed Reservata à summo rerum Authore, & quasi comperendi nata in aetatis nostra felicitatem & ornamentum. Sed obsoleverunt dudum Tituli & Triumphi: periit quicquid fuit Graecia & Romae, nisi tenuis quaedam Fama: etiam ipsa quae magis durare putantur marmora, tot doctorum nominibus inscripta, dilapsa sunt in vagum pulverem, Vivunt tamem adhuc vigéntque ipsi Authores debitissimis suis laudibus superstites, & admiratoribus suis vivaciores. Et communis haec Tibi cum celeberimis illis mortuis constabit Gloria; quòd, ut illos non jam demonstrant statuarum elogia, admirantium applausus, & secunda populi admurmuratio; sed solidum doctrinae decus, & virtus ipsa suîmet Nomenclatrix: sic & meritissimum Decus Tuum & gratissima animi nostri attestatio, absque operoso illo gratulationum & applausuum apparatu, seliget Tibi locum in Bibliothecâ nostrâ, fidissimâ illâ ingeniorum custodiâ, & depositaria, ubi, quod tenuis res nostra nobis permittit, quod & mos majorum & per quos profecimus ingenua Confessio deposcit, nos subindè acclamabimus, Quod & (restitulâ in integrum Ratione, sirmatâ Philosophiâ, victâ Insidiâ) Literas in aliorum aestimet, in suâ Personâ nobilitet Illustrissima Heroina. Hoc igitur non ingrati animi indicium qualecunque esse voluimus.  
Illustrissima Princeps, Clementiae Tuae & Honori Devotissimi Clientuli, Praefectus Sociique Collegii D. Joannis Evangelistae. Cantabrigiae Eid. Octob. 6. 1668  
MADAM,  
BY the Bounty of several Benefactors, our Liberary is furnished with many large Volumes; yet we have none we so highly esteem, and are more proud of, than those written & given us by your Graces own hand. Jewels have their value crowded in a little room. The Sibyls Leaves as they became fewer advanced their price. Among pieces all so perfectly excellent, we dare not otherwise offer at a Comparison, then as the Subject leads and determins us. The Greatness and Miracle which hath appeared in the Life of the most Incomparable Duke of Newcastle, could not but raise, in your Grace thoughts answerable to so glorious a Theme, and give us at the same time, both Wonder and Delight, to read the History of that full-blown Virtue and Glory, which with us appeared first in their bud and Blossom. The next Glory to that of having done such Wonders, is to have writ them so well and exactly. And, had the Sex allowed it, Your Grace had done the same Actions, and left Despair to any other Pen to have reached, their height. A grateful mind, which we desire to Express, is the Prologue to our new Request: but our chief Trust and Confidence is in your own ready and natural inclinations to all Acts of Bounty and Charity. They that are cunning in the Art of Begging, are so well versed and studied in Faces, that among an hundred, they know which to let pass, and where to fix: they read at first sight the Characters and Dispositions of a ready and willing Goodness: and will sometimes pity them they Beg of, as carrying Faces apt to undo them into as low poverty as they themselves suffer. Though perhaps we have not so particular knowledge of those outward Lineaments which might encourage this confident address; yet the general Fame, besides our own knowledge, will not suffer us to be ignorant, of those of your great and generous Soul, which stays not for opportunities offered, but seeks them, and to know where it is wanting, is all the argument necessary to your noble Bounty. We are so unhappily engaged in Building, that we can neither leave off, nor go on without the help and assistance of others. Yet we could be content to change our design, and wholly leave what we have in hand, to erect a Statue to your Grace's Name and Memory. That as one Margaret stands with us famous to Posterity for her Zeal to promote the growth of Knowledge, which was then upon its recovery from a long and dark ignorance: so now your Grace appears with fairer advantage, being yourself, to the shame and reproach of our Sex, the great pattern and example of Learning. We despair of raising any more lasting Monument to your Name, than what already your Grace hath left with us. But, you will oblige here very many Beadsmen and Votaries, who will make it a great part of their study, that the famous Acts of your Charity and Bounty, may be read not only in Stones, but Men, who shall for ever bless your Memory, and pray for your Happiness. In which number your Grace will find at present  
Feb. 28. 1671. MADAM, Your Grace's most obliged and devoted Servants, The Master, Fellows, and Scholars of St. John's Coll. in the University of CAMBRIDGE.  
To the most Illustrious and Excellent Prince, the Lord Duke of Newcastle, etc.  
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,  
THat your Grace Might not want fresh occasions to oblige us, our College was not hitherto a finished Building, and we owe the perfection of our College to the late generous obligements of your Grace, when you honoured us with the Picture of the late Right Honourable Mary Countess of Shrewsbury, your most noble Aunt, and our second Found'ress. 'Tis true, we here have lodged hitherto with Conveniences, enough to attest the Generosity of your thrice noble Family, above as well our Expectations as Merits; and beyond what Learning durst promise itself from this Barbarous Age. Our College Walls are as strong, as our Noble Foundresses Designs were generous: and the Sun looks upon us still, but as he should, through no Crevices or Chinks, nor makes more day than we permit him to our melancholy Retirements. Nor would your Grace's Illustrious Aunt be now ashamed of that fair addition she made our College, if the durableness of the work can reflect any honour upon that generous Effort of her Charity. But we wanted the last advantage our present Buildings could rereive: the Effigies of the Noble Countess of Shrewsbury, which would at once, ennoble her Foundation, and our acknowledgements; and remind the curiosity of Strangers, that this Age hath not been barren of Illustrious Instances of Charity, and of our thankful resentments of so great Encouragements to Learning. Yea, my Lord, your Grace hath now instructed us, and may undeceive others: and the Statue of your Illustrious Aunt shall now encourage our Studies, and superintend over our Proficiency as her own Deputy: and we shall be ashamed to have lived unprofitably, and unanswerably to so noble a Benefaction; or that the Illustrious Countess of Shrewsbury should, amidst the Joys, wherein She is surrounded by a blessed Immortality, have the dissatisfaction to have loved Learning in vain, and have built us a Synagogue, and so nobly seconded the designs of the late most Serene Mother of K. Henry the seventh: 'Tis true we ought to have owned the Honour to have set up ere now the Statue of the most Noble Countess of Shrewsbury, but that which excuses all Immoralities, that which involved Kings, and Kingdoms, your most noble Family, and Learning, in one Common Desolation, the late Rebellion, hindered us till now: We could only look on with Sorrow, the place designed for the Effigies of your Grace's most Noble Aunt, and sigh that the barbarous wickedness of the times, which allowed no visible remembrance of Saints or Kings, should be able to defeat our Design, to perpetuate, in this nature, Her Memory, and our Acknowledgements: But, we dare be bold humbly to conceive, this our late thankfulness will be no disadvantage to her happy Memory, and that the Inscription of St. John's College upon her Statue, will hold even with the latest Date of time: and that it may not be the only miraculous Privilege of some Rivers, after they have enriched their neighbouring Banks, to dive suddenly into the Earth, for the space of some miles, and rise again into their former greatness, and acquire a newer, and more lasting glory, by being, so long, undiscovered: thus shall the most Noble Countess of Shrewsbury be not disadvantaged (as far as our weak pretences can reach) by this our post-fact Acknowledgements, but, like Majesty, by this distance of Years, command a greater Veneration. But if we dare pretend so much to honour the Memory of the Blessed now in Heaven, how shall we pay the Living, those that by so great Obligations have deserved all that we can pretend to of Gratitude and Esteem, amongst which, your Grace's Favours to our College hath entitled you the Principal. My Lord, to such we are poor in every thing but Prayers: and that your Grace may long live to be (as you are) the honour of this Age, your most Noble Family, and (which we take the boldness to be proud in) this College: that, by that Civility, whereby you have made even your misfortunes Illustrious, and Crowned Heads your Admirers, you may long unteach this Barbarous Age that brutish disaffection to Learning; that you may survive that envy which your Grace's Excellent Accomplishments as well as our little Learning hath attracted, is the Desire of  
May it please your Grace, Your Grace's most Devoted, Obliged, and humble Servants, The Master and Fellows of St. John's College.  
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE,  
IT would be a matter of great difficulty to recount your great Praises, but it would be an endless undertaking to set forth your Merits; how great your Grace's worth is in all parts of the World, especially this of England, may be conjectured, even from hence, in that although we may endeavour to reckon up your Grace's particular Favours towards us, yet are we no way able to express them: And yet to pass by your Grace's beneficence in silence, because we are altogether unable to answer the worth of it, would be to excuse ourselves from a less, and incur upon ourselves the gilt of a greater Crime; and so lest we should betray our ignorance in speaking or writing to be professedly ungrateful, something we must offer to your Grace though we fall never so much short of the greatness of your Merits; our devotion in attempting, may in part excuse our inability in performing, what we owe to your Grace: Pardon us great Sir if we devoutly admire those singular perfections, for the knowledge of which we are beholding to your Grace alone, whom when we admire for your Excellency in other Arts, we find that you alone are able to make your Horses if not altogether equal, yet but little inferior to their Keepers, we are convinced that your Industry together with your Skill is so available, that they almost seem worthy of the society of Men, and if they could but speak, as men do, we should hear them complaining that they are injured in not being accounted rational Creatures; when being taught by your Grace they are a safeguard in War and the greatest ornament of a Commonwealth in Peace. Go on therefore Great Sir who only art able to bring such great things to perfection: Long may your Grace live like yourself, that you may grace the World with your Inventions, assist the King with your Counsel, preserve your Country by your aid and Valour, and continue to honour us your most humble Servants with your Patronage.  


John Pearson Master of the Coll.  
Geo. Chamberlain Vice-Master.  
Clem. Nevil.  
Robert Boreman.  
William Bailiff  
Robert Crane.  
Humphrey Babington.  
Richard Stedman.  
Robert Scott.   Given from our College of the Holy and undivided Trinity, the fifth of the Calends of April 1663.  
Excellentissimo Honoratissimóque Domino, Domino Gulielmo Marchioni Novocastrensi, etc.  
EXCELLENTISSIME DOMINE,  
PVlchrè & prudenter Reges Clarissimos, solus qui referre potes, imitaris, cûm eodem optimè merendi study, tum nec minore largiendi facultate: Illis utique debemus amplissima haec Musarum sacraria, & reditus quibus fruimur, amplissimos: Quod optandum erat reliquum, Tu nobilissimâ nos arte donâsti, & humanis usibus longè commodissimâ. Eximiam proinde Nominis gloriam, utrique & meriti estis, & consecuti, & transmittendam in posteros felicissimam memoriam, in quantum durabunt marmora & eruditio. Patere, Vir Illustrissime, quantum Vestra potest insignis Humanitas, ut in laudes tam cumulatas, hoc insuper accedat debitissimum Tibi, quòd inter Heroas omnes, quos ab interitu certior Historicorum sides, aut Poetarum vindicat ingenium, vix Tibi unum in arte Tuâ imitandum habueris, neminem omnino conferendum habeas. Sanè, inter Deos, Antiqui celebrant Apollinem, ob isthanc fortè peritiam, praepositum Equis Solaribus custodem juxta ac moderatorem; At ille demum is erat, à quo perperam edoctus Phaethon tristissimas imprudentiae poenas dedit; quanto feliciorem habiturus exitum, si in Tua tempora incidisset. At etiam Apolline prior Neptunus, tutelaris idem Oceani & Equorum Deus, magno cum dedecore istius artis, praelatam sibi Pallada dolebat, & posthabitum oleae Pegasum suum, scilicet uno victus suffragio, clarissimam Athenas Vrbem, Minervae reliquit insigniendam. quam Tu Marino Numine dignior es, à quo, si contigisses medius, magnâ suâ cum gloria tulissent, & insignem Pallas repulsam, & felicius nomen Athenienses. Nec verò est, cur imperitos prorsus hâc in re fuisse Veteres, aut minus industrios, credamus; magna quidem ea sunt, quae de Pegaso, Cyllaro, Bucephalo, allisque, non oppidò multis, accepimus: Verùm illi solùm perficienda fuit res Equestris, qui efficere primus potuit, id quod Tu facis, ut nobilislimum animal, & post homines, omnium sagacissimum, rationis quodammodò particeps esset, & tantùm non humanâ dignum societate: Quod, si Poetarum Princeps nudum Equitis epitheton, consultissimo fortissimóque Viro dignum decus, & Nestori suo par crediderit, quo Te nomine insigniemus, Clarissime Marchio, eosdem & annos meritum quos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transegit, & meliorem, si contigerit usquam, famae Tuae praeconem. Quod solum nostrae opis est, magnos inter scientiarum instauratores Te merito suspicimus, & post divinam illam sanctissimi Regis, proximè reponimus Icones Tuas; Optimo quidem jure, ut, qui strenuus olim Regiae Majestatis assertor eras & vindex, eidem esses cum Rege Tuo, quantum in nobis est, aeternitati sacer: Id insuper vovemus alacres, magna nos & amplitudini Vestrae devotissima Societas; Ita Tu nobis usque faveas, Illustrissime Heros Apollinaris. & Musae omnes Marchionissa Tua.  
Dat. è Coll. S.S. & Individuae Trin. 4 Cal. Febr. 1663. 

Johan. Pearson, Magist. Coll.  
Clem. Nevil.  
Theod. Crosland.  
Anth. Martial.  
Georgius Chamberlain.  
Franciscus Barton.  
Robertus Crane.  
Guliel. Lynnet.  
Gualterus Catsby.    
MY LORD,  
BEsides the public acknowledgement of the great honour done to the University, in adorning their Library with your Excellencies own most exact, and renowned Works; The Duty of my place calls upon me to let your Honour know, that as this singular Grace, and Favour is highly resented by all; so by none more particularly acknowledged, and admired then, by  
K.C.C. Jan. 16. 1663. My LORD Your Excellencies most observant Servant 
 James Fletewood.  
ILLUSTRISSIME MARCHIO,  
MIrificè tenemur immensae laudis & Artis opere, quod nupèr imputâsti seculo, & Almae Cantabrigiae, dono dedisti; tantum enim, ac tam certum eruditionis argumentum & Academiae pergratum, & gloriâ tuâ dignum uno omnes ore agnoscimus: Nec alio fortasse Nobis, Posterisve opus erit Theatro, quo summâ cum veneratione tam Fortunae, quam Animi tui magnitudinem intueamur. Nomen quidem aliquod, decúsque olim in hoc studio fuit Xenophontis, & Balbi, & Simonis Atheniensis; ceterùm ex quo luculentissima res, Novocastrensis Methodus in lucem prodiit, Autores istos nec miramur admodum, nec desideramus, ne Veterum faeces cum hodierno flore miscere videamur. Si verò merito suo celebretur Thessalia, quòd Marti sacrum Animal effudit, Vlláne unquam Oratio Excellentissimo Marchioni par esse poterit, cujus ingenio non Equum jam aliquem singularem, sed Equestrem Scientiam totam debemus? Nondùm nobis (Invictissime Domine) nondùm excidére discrimina, quae totiès in acie Regiarum copiarum Ductor subiisti: Verùm quià virtutem, & fidem, & triumphos tuos abundè loquuntur, quotquot Heroas, & arma frequentant, nos Academicis spaciis innutriti, ac literarum omnium amantes in Equestri Apparatu toti sumus, ubi cuncta subtilitèr accuratè, expresséque arbitraris: Appellamus Aelios, ac Persios nostrates; appellamus etiam (si placet) Exteros, qui posthabitis ubique suis Magistris, Vnum Te consulunt, unum audiunt, unum versant, & suum quisque Quadrupedem ad nutum, obrussámque tuam castigant. Quantum ad Alumnos togae, & si ferè (quae fortunae nostrae malignitas est) vix ultra jumentum sapimus meritorium; tamen extremum Discipulorum tuorum agmen claudere non erubescimus, ab Hipparcho longè omnium humanissimo moniti, hodiè primùm in alieno foro peregrinamur, Circum ingredimur, in quatuordecim sedemus, equiria spectamus; neque tamen aut Xanthum, aut Cyllarum, aut Incitatum, aut Pegasum ipsum ampliùs, sed quem Tu seligis, alis, instruis, absolvis, Caballum admiramur,  
Cantabrigiae è frequenti Senatu 9 Cal. Februar. 1663. Excellentiae tuae addictissimi PROCANCELLARIVS reliquusque Senat. Acad. Cantab.  
ILLUSTRISSIME PRINCEPS,  
UT Tibi usque suppetat nova nobis benefaciendi materia, deerat quippe Collegio nostro necdum absoluto & ad fastigium bonâ fide perducto ultima manus, & exacti probè operis Complementum. Habitavimus quidem hucúsque, maximâ cum Tuae Illustrissimae Familiae Gloriâ, eleganter & splendidè satis, quantum è re nostrâ esset, & liceret per temporum Literis infensorum incuriam. Sustinent se fortiter satis muri nostri, nec ruinam minitantur, aut admittunt (nisi quà decet) solemn: nec dispuderet Illustrissimam Comitissam Salopiensem sui Operis, cujus firmitati in tam grande Collegii nostri Ornamentum tot anni suffragantur. Sed deerat adhùc, quae transeuntibus memoriam tanti beneficii refricaret; Honoratissimae Principis Effigies, & quasi Vicaria Inspectrix tanti aedisicii, nostraeque in bonis studiis profectionis. Et nostrî nos puduit vesci frugibus, nec arborem suspicere, unde tanta nobis beneficia decidebant. Ergo per Te licuit, Illustrissime Princeps, nobis non jure impingi posse Ingratitudinis notam: & jam ex voto collocata in Collegii nostri tholo nobilissimae Amitae tuae Effigies, nos animabit indies, quasi novus loci Genius, & tantae praesentiae Conscientia urgebit nos porrò in hoc literarum certamine, ne inutiles vixisse videamur, aut poeniteret olim Illustrissimam Heroinam, inter tot gaudia, quibus in Coelo jam fruitur, fecisse nobis haec otia, hanc Domum, alterámque à Serenissimâ P. M. Principe Margareta Fundatrice nostra habuisse hujus Collegii Procurationem. Et quidem, ne fecerimus hoc ante, & obsignatum Testati simus tanti beneficii gratitudinisque nostrae nomen, obstitit bellorum rabies infensa Principibus, Familiae Tuae, Literisque (Heu nimis) in universum omnibus. Licuit nobis tantùm inspicere defossum sat altè in sacris hisce aedibus locum Illustrissimae Mariae Salopiensis Statuae destinatum, & ingemiscere, tantum potuisse delirans in rabiem usque isthoc seculum in pientissimam Nobilissimae Foeminae memoriam, in Literas bonas nostrámque omnium Gratitudinem. Nec tamen deteretur aliquid de Illustrissimae Comitissae Gloria, dum nobis (serò licèt) detur esse Gratis, dum perennaverit Collegium nostrum, Honoratissimae Principis Statuae inscriptum: Et ne sola sint Fluviorum quorundam miracula, discurrere scilicet lato alveo in lascivientem riparum viriditatem, deindè subducere se ex oculis, & acto per oculta aliquorum millium cursu emergere rursùs, & vindicare sese in superiorem magnitudinem: emicabit meliùs post tot annorum intervallum Illustrissimae Comitissae fama, & quantum licet per gratissimam nostram beneficii in nos Ejus Commemorationem, majorem sibi conciliabit è longinquo Reverentiam. Si audeamus haec tantáque spondere in Mortuorum memoriam, quo ergò Tibi, Illustrissime Princeps, superstiti adhuc (bono cum Deo) satisfiet à nobis, cui tam solenne est, & haereditarium tot beneficiis Collegii nostri vota, & omnia Honoris suffragia demereri? Vt autem serum sit Lacrymosum illud alterum defuncti olim Herois celebrandi, & posteros nostros potius maneat officium; ut diù faveas nostro nomini; dedoceátque haec tempora immanem illam in Litter as feritatem summa illa Comitas Tua, quâ tot exteros Principes Tibi conciliâsti, expugnâsti Invidiam, nullum Tibi infensum reddidisti, nisi communem omnium hostem, in votis summè est,  
Illustrissime Princeps, Clementiae Tuae devotissimis Clientibus Magistro & Sociis Collegii D. Joannis Evangelistae in Academiâ Cantabrigiensi.  
MOST EMINENT PRINCE,  
ON whom to father the rare, and admirable Method of Horsemanship, that singular, and useful Invention, which hitherto so many Nations, and so many several Societies of men, and so many Commanders in chief, have earnestly desired, though Strangers peradventure may, yet of all men alive We of the University cannot be to seek; because every single line, that Apelles draws, serves us for a sufficient Character, and Cognizance of the Artificer: But in regard of our unfeigned, and unalterable Zeal for the Duke of Newcastles honour, We did heretofore (if your Highness remember) now and then entreat, and beseech you not to suppress any longer (than necessity required) so learned, and useful, and complete a Work. In that humble petition of ours whether we did as became us, or no, we determine not: only (with leave) we suppose that the reasonableness alone of our importunity prevailed at length with, and overcame a General otherwise absolute, and altogether invincible. Whereupon at this day (by your Princely favour) we see and with exceeding delight (as occasion is) peruse a second demonstration of your abilities, exposed now to public view, for the benefit of all generous and high-spirited men in Europe, so that no man hereafter may dream of any Person in any Place whatsoever, more Noble, or (in what part of Learning you please) more an accomplished Master, than your most Excellent self: for, as if in the former Volume you had only vouchsafed us a taste to whet our Stomaches, you now spread, and furnish a Royal Table with all sorts of Delicacies; you now gratify the appetite of your Countrymen; you now encounter, and answer the enquiry of Cambridge Philosophers, in whose judgement your last adventure seems always to be the most Glorious. If they will enter the Lists, and compare, we challenge not only these old Professors, Bellerophon, Sesostris, and Sarmenes, but also the later Authors of greatest account in France, and Italy, Pignatellus, Labrovius, and Grison. Let them altogether appear, and either they must immediately vanish, or else ingenuously blush that they are but once named in the same day with matchless Cavendish. And although they may seem, at first, somewhat more than ordinarily concerned, to be thus at length reduced, yet as soon as ever they hear the Name of Duke William, they bow to your Sovereignty, and falling infinitely short of your Glory, they confess you the most absolute and only Master, and themselves your Pupils. But why do we mention these several Dressers, when as (if we look abroad) we may daily see both Kings and Princes resorting to your Palace, condescending to sit at your Feet, and entreating you as their Oracle to declare unto them, first where and of what Race to choose a Horse for the Manage, and then how to Feed, and Order, and Mount, and to Work, and Raise, and Stay, and Ride in all Voltoes, and Corvetts, Forward, Backward, Sideways, on both hands, just as the Rider directs. For this same purpose, and in order only to be Matriculated into the Duke of Newcastles Academy, the renowned Cavaliers of all Orders attend, whether they be Knights of the Golden Fleece, in Burgundy, or the Knights of of St. Michael, in France, or the Knights of the Annunciation in Savoy, or the Knight's Bachelors, the Knights of the Bath, and the Knights of the Garter, in England: for all agree to learn of you, to Back, to Sat, and Ride, as you direct; and whensoever at a loss, or puzzled, or in dispute to acknowledge you the only Governor, and Dictator, and Umpire, and such a Master of Horse, as can (when you please) infuse sense, and reason not only into Men, but also into Brutes. Most deservedly therefore shall you (Great Sir) in your Book entertain, and exercise the Studies not only of this, but likewise of succeeding Generations, as we confidently presage, and promise ourselves, who are  
Cambridge, March. 13. 1667. Your Grace's most Humble and most Devoted Servants, The VICECHANCELLOR and the whole Senate of the University of Cambridge.  
EMINENTISSIME PRINCEPS,  
UN de sit equestris Methodus, Illa tot Gentibus, tot hominum contuberniis, tot Imperatoribus expetita Gaza, minimè omnium miramur; nam Apellem statim ex lineae subtilitate. Verùm, quia Te singularitèr adamamus, quod elucubratus es, laboriosum, & doctum Opus ne semper intra Vestae penetralia concluderes, saepè (si meministi) pluribúsque verbis interpellavimus: recténe, an perperàm, Ipse videris; certè postulationis nostrae aequitate victus es, & expugnatus tandèm Dux alias insuperabilis; hinc alterum videmus, & beneficio tuo obtinemus excellentis ingenii periculum, quod in Europae totius Theatro facere dignaris, No quis in posterum imaginetur Vno Te quicquam esse uspiàm aut generosius, aut (quâ parte velis) eruditius. Etenim quasi superiori Volumine salivam tantùm nobis movisses, Mensam nunc instruis uberiorem, nunc Civium quoque desiderium exples, nostraeque Philosophorum expectationi satisfacis, quibus proxima quaeque tua non possunt non videri consummatissima. Conferant se (neque enim repugnamus) non modò Veteres illi Bellerophon, Sesostris, Sarmenes; sed hesterni si placet) Domitores Itali, Gallive, Pignatellus, Labrovicus, Grison; quid? Velut Vmbrae diffugiunt; & quamvis in argumento nobili dolent sibi palmam praeripi, tamen, ubi Nomen audiunt Gulielmi Ducis, agnoscunt numen, longéque infra Cavendishi laudes jacentes, summum Illum, unicunque Magistrum, se verò contrà fatentur. Sed quorsùm tergeminos, Agitatores loquimur? cum Reges eliam, & Terrarum Domino cernamus ad Te convolantes, Te (praestantissime Moderator) affectantes, Te consulentes, interrogantésque, ut ab Origine primâ repetas, discernas, expendas quâ Regione, stirpéque veniat Bellator Sonipes, quomodo parandus, alendus, erudiendus, curandus, insiliendus, erigendus, admittendus, compescendus, & in omnem partem pro arbitrio flectendus; nec alio fine, quam ut in tuam Vnius Academiam adscribantur, limen jam tuum obsident sacri (quotquot in honore) Collegae, sive Aurei Velleris apud Burgundos, sive S. Michaelis apud Gallos', sive Annuntiationis apud Sabaudos, sive denique Periscelidis, aut Balnei, aut Ordinis Aurati in Patriâ: Nam tuum ad nutum se componunt, tuis auspiciis inscendunt, & equitant, & quotiescunque vel delirant, vel abditum aliquid, abstrusúmque quaerunt, omnibus, & singulis Tu Rector, Tu Thesaurus, Tu Dictator es, & Princeps juventutis, qui non hominibus jam ampliùs, sed Brutis ipsis mentem, animúmque inspiras. Quocirca tuis laboribus non solùm hujus seculi, verum etiam omnis aevi studia exercebis, quemadmodum in antecessum sibi pollicentur.  
Cantabrigiae è frequenti Senatu 3 Id. Martias 1667. Eminentiae tuae cupientissimi PROCANCELLARIVS reliquusque Senat. Acad. Cantab.  
Eminentissimo Illustrissimóque Principi, Gulielmo Duci, Marchioni, Comiti Novocastrensi, etc.  
EMINENTISSIME PRINCEPS,  
REcensere singulos quos nactus es Titulos operae res esset difficilioris, quos autem mereris prorsus infinitae; Publica Tua in Vniversum Orbem merita hunc nostrum praecipuè Britannicum quanta sint vel hinc licet conjicere, quòd privata in nos Tua pro dignitate exprimere soliciti etiamnùm simus neutiquam valeamus: Silentio tamen praeterire beneficia satis quia laudare non possumus, à leviori nos esset culpâ expedire majorisque criminis reatum contrahere, ingratos palàm profiteri, ne in dicendo rudes videamur. Tentandum igitur est aliquid etsi parum succedat, in magnis utique voluisse sat est; Voluntati licet impar sit potentia, impotentiam officiosa excusabit voluntas. Ignoscas itaque, Princeps Illustrissime, si devoti suspiciamus virtutes Tuas, quas vel novisse tibi uni omnes acceptum referimus; si mirari subeat tuae in caeteris potentiae praestantiam, qui vel Equos potis es reddere ipsorum custodibus si non omnino pares, parùm saltem inferiores; Tua in ipsos usque adeo cum arte valet industria quod tantùm non efficias ut humana societate digni videantur, quos nisi sola deficeret loquela, conquerentes audiremus se injuriâ rationis participes non haberi, quùm à Te edocti maximum in Republica sint Belli praesidium, maximum ibidem Pacis ornamentum. Solus ergò qui potes, tanta pergas perficere, Vive diu, tibimetipsi soli diúque similis, Ornes inventis Orbem, Consilio Regem juves, Patriam auxilio incolumen praestes, & nos Tui studiosissimos Tuo usque Patricinio tuearis.  
Dat. è Coll. S. S. & Individuae Trin. 5 Cal. April. 1668. 

Johan. Pearson, Magist. Coll.  
Georgius Chamberlain, Vm.  
Clem. Nevil.  
Rich. Boreman.  
Guliel. Bailiff.  
Robertus Crane.  
Humph. Babington.  
Rich. Stedman.  
Robertus Scott.    
Excellentissimo Invictissimóque Principi, Gulielmo Duci Novocastrensi, etc.  
ILLUSTRISSME CELSISSIMEQUE PRINCEPS,  
QVàm gratum animi cultum affectúmque, cum universa togatorum gens, tum Musae presertim DEO Triuni sacrae, Familiae Tuae debeant & enixè devovent, ut non tam ex verbis, quaelongo post linquis intervallo, quam ex causis, quarum Ipse Author es aestimare velis, à Clementia Tua demisse obsecramus. Enimvero, ut taceamus ingentia dona in literatos jugiter collata, tum praeclara ista, quibus, unà cum forulis nostris tantùm non succumbimus, volumina, novis nos urges & oneras gratiaum argumentis, beneficia beneficiis pertegis, & quo majus plenè excogitando non poteras, Teipsum donas. Quo quidem introeunte, videtur Bibliotheca nostra, Vestrae veluti Magnitudinis aemula, augustiorem multò speciem inducere; & ne quid adventûs desit solennitati, sponte sedibus suis se movent minorum gentium Heroës, certatim ad unum omnes assurgunt, & facto agmine in angustias ruunt, ut Tibi locum officiose cedant. Quos inter Antesignanus CAESAR, Britannorum olim hostis acerrimus, herbam Tibi promptissimè porrigit, priorem lubens agnoscit, & serò tandem intelligit difficilem fuisse de Insula nostra victoriam, utpote quae Tui similes, & Te tulerit. Sed defunctorum istae gratulationes, & superstiti etiamdum Principi minùs accommodatae: Quòd verò per ora hominum domi forisque volitas, quòd celebria Tua dicta, & res palàm gestae, omnium oculos aurèsque trahant, & tanquam syderum influxus ubique praestò sint, id imprimis Excellentissimae Heroinae MARGARETAE Tuae, tum fidelissimo Illius Interpreti meritissimò ferimus acceptum. O factum bene ut quae posteris aeternûm profutura sunt, ab oculatâ teste, & individuâ rerum Tuarum Sociâ exarata transmitterentur; ut quae orbe Terrarum conscio perpetrata sunt, linguâ gentibus communi celebrentur; ut totius denuò Europae Magnates Novo-Castrii Vitam tanquam virtutis omnigenae Exemplum, legant, suspiciant, imitentur. Quod nostrum est interea, DEUM Opt. Max. suppliciter oramus, Vt aetati Tuae quam plurimos porrò annos propitius adjiciat, quibus veneranda Principis Senectus, quasi redditâ juventute, revirescat, & uberrimam novae insuper Historiae materiem posteris suppeditet.  
Ità vovere indies non desinimus,  
Dat. Cantab. à Coll. S. S. atque Individ. Trin. Junii 19 1669. Celsitudini Vestrae devotissimi 

Joann. Pearson, Magist. Coll.  
Geo. Chamberlain, V. M.  
Clem. Nevil.  
Guliel. Bailiff.  
Rob. Crane.  
Humph. Babington.  
Guliel. Lynnet.  
Rich. Stedman.  
Jo. Hawkins.    
QVod usque adeò inclarescas, Illustrissime Princeps, quaeque dudum Nominis Vestri celebritas meritò videbatur summa, major quotidien fiat, seriò illud Tibi, illud & nobis, si per Te louse at, Collegium nos Vestrum Superbè gratulamur. Quin pateris, Heros Amplissime, otia Vestra nunquam non occupatissima & à nobis interpellari, inque tantâ omnium adeundi vos salutandique contentione, ne Tuorum, ne domesticos, humiles licèt, applausus dedigneris. Dum famam Vestram omnes ubique praedicant rapiúntque suas ad partes Nominis Vestri gloriam, dum Britannia sibi Te dum Academia vendicat, quidni & nos, quibus, utpote minoribus, tantum Patrocinium & deesse & deberi videatur, Te nostrum (quale nobis Decus & Ornamentum!) gloriemur? At nec fas est credere Amplitudinem Vestram ablatam nobis velle tam justam gloriandi Ansam, quum illud solum summis Vestris in nos Beneficiis egisse hucusque videaris, ne Tantus è nobis prodiisse Heros difficulter nimis olim crederetur. Versabamus manu animóque sedulo quae apud nos sui Ingenii Vestraeque vitae Gestorum Elegantissima Monumenta deposuerat, Serenissima Princeps Consors Vestra Praeclarissima, moramur singulis Paginis, Summa quaeque, hoc est, omnia notamus, haurimus oculis quae olim famâ nobis plurimum, non tamen satis innotuerant, dumque vivi vivum legimus, placidè persruimur, & nostro & posterorum bono; & cum illâ in Re toti sumus opportunè supervenit Praestantissimum Tui Testimonium Egregium illud hodiè Bibliothecae nostrae, imo Vestrae, Ornamentum. Accepimus Clarissime Ducum, hoc honoris & amoris Vestri Argumentum eà, quâ par erat & reverentiâ & gratitudine. Reposuimus Librum Illum inter reliquam Musarum supellectilem; nec erit in posterum qùod malè audiamus quasi ex literis emollescerent nimium hominum animi, & non è nobis prodiret quis quam nisi rebus gerendis ineptior, cum Tu, Fortissime Dux, ducis Musarum Choros, exerces juventutem Academicam, excitas animos, regulásque ponis, quibus ad ardua quaeque obeunda vel interlegendum assuefiant. Profuisti hucusque Patriae populóque Vestro factis usúque rerum, quod cum ulterius nec licet nec opus est, ea Tu inter Pacis otia documenta tradis, quibus transeunt ad posteros Vtiles arts; & ad quae hujus Saculi homines per Exemplum, ad ea posteri ex praecepto vestro instituantur: nec ullum profectò magno Principe Immortalitatem merituro dignius benefaciendi genus quam quod in posteros erogatur: Nondum Senuisti Praestantissime Dux, etsi emeritus, mereris tamen: Aciem instruis, disponis militem, exercitum ducis, & quicquid ad Victoriam docti Equi fortésque equites valuerunt unquam, & valuerunt plurimùm, illud Tu vel inter otia & ludos meditaris: firmasti imperium hominum, Animalque nobis impar & Potentissimum ad usus nostros Amplitudo vestra feliciter efformavit. Quin macte virtute Vestra Dux Optime; instrue Tu tua tempora, ut deponant hodiè homines omnem morum feritatem, vel se fateantur ultrò ipsis Brutis immaniores. Haec sunt otia Vestra; fruaris itaque Pace & Recessu illo, Serus in Coelum redeas, Sisque diu quod hodiè experimur, Ingens Britanniae decus, literarum praesidium, & perillustre antiquae virtutis exemplum pariter & firmamentum: Illa, prosperáque omnia Amplitudini Vestrae precamur.  
Devotissimi Tibi Magister & Socii Collegii D. Joannis Evangelistae in Academiâ Cantabrigiensi. Dat. è Collegio praedicto 3 Cal. Aprilis, 1668.  
VEstris imprimis auxiliis debemus, Illustrissime Princeps, quòd Nobilissima Domina, Salopiae Comitissa, justis suis apud nos honoribus, quibus diù fraudata est, gaudeat jam tandem, & triumphet. Te autem, cui meritò in Bello maximi, in pace optimi contigit titulus, apud Reges, summósque Principes Equestris statuae manet sedes, & expectat gloria. Tam magna praestitit Celsitudo Tua, ut in solâ virtute sperari possint praemia, & contenta sit tantùm meruisse. Nulli autem rectiùs sciunt, aut digniores sunt, qui respublicas administrent, quam qui vehementiùs aversantur & minimè volunt. Perduellium in Angliâ nullibi fiet mentio sine vestrinominis virtute & summâ laude, nec vel in dissitissimis terris tam horrificum belli fulmen latere potuit. Non mediocris nos honoris & superbiae tangit sensus, cum cogitemus ea apud nos olim scientiae, prudentiae, & invicti animi se prodidisse specimina, quae hodiè pleno elucescunt jubare. Magnus ex Illustrissimâ Familiâ contigit honos, qui autem è propriâ virtute sequitur longè adhuc major est. Clarum virtutis & gloriae facem, quam Celsitudini Tuae Parentes praetulerunt, lucidiorem tradet posteris. Superiores nostri ad nos detulerunt, quo animo & study nos simul & bonas literas, dum hîc moram traheres, prosequebaris; id insuper nos in posterum unicè curabimus, ut ea, quae hodiè de Te habetur opinio, incorrupta ad seros usque nepotos descendat, & diutissimè vivat. Vt autem egregia illa, quâ maximè gaudes et fulges inclarescat indies benefaciendi indoles, eam ipsis parietibus nostris inscribi obnixè petimus, utpotè quae hac ratione ultra mortalitatis fatum sit duratura, Eorum in numero nos sumus, quibus stultitiae nota inuritur, quòd aedificare caeperint, nesciunt autem persicere. utinam non ita verum esset infortunium, quod vetat quo minùs hoc in nos quadret infame dedecus. Nobis enim non contemnendam pecuniae summam testamento suo legavit vir quidam Optimus, quam huic usui destinavimus, ille autem, cujus fidei commissa erat fatis nuper cessit, & an cum illo sepulta prorsùs sit, nondum satis intellegimus. In luto igitur relicti, à Te, aliisque quibus propentior ad benignitatem animus est, ostiatim emendicare cogimur, ut miserè claudicanti jam operi aliquale saltem praestetis auxilium. Non magna meditamur, non invidiosa arte extructa, non excelsis & variegatis columnis suffulta, non caelatis laquearibus elaborata, nec marmore fulgentia designamus tecta. Quod aggredimur, non superbiae aut luxûs, sed necessitatis opus est. Extremi enim Collegii parietes miserè nutant, & hianti ore ruinas minantur, ita ut hoc quod novum est quasi fulcrum & pulvinar sibi postulâsse videantur. At angustiores insuper sedes nostrae sunt quam ut succrescenti Musarum soboli sufficiant. Quare, si benevolentia Vestra lapides cum Deucalione post tergum jaectt, numerosiores exurgent juvenes, atque adeò plures vestri Cultores. Det Deus integrum semper, quo jam gauds, animum, corpus agile & vividum, senectutem tardam, vel quae nihil habeat senectutis praeter ipsam prudentiam. Sic Precantur,  
Cal. Mart. 1671. Celsitudinis Vestrae humillimi Oratores, Magister, Socii & Scholar's Collegii Divi Johannis Evangelistae in Academià CANTABRIGIENSI,  
EMINENTISSIME PRINCEPS,  
NOn ubique locorum negliguntur, aut algent Musae; nam Tu foves indiès, & Almae Parenti studes adhuc: imò verò, constantèr adeo, prolixéque studes, ut quò voluntatem istam egregiam in aevum retineres, propter incredibilem naturae tuae benignitatem ne quidem sis admonendus; etenim sponte tuâ ruis in amplexus Academiae, nec ullum officii genus omittendum tibi censes. At in Literis honestandis, in exornandâ Virtute dum ita tempus omne tuum traducis, ad summam profectò laudem, gloriámque contendis: contendis autem (ut soles) magnis itineribus, & expedito planè cursu, quoniam Armarium Cantabrigiae non Hipparcho jam ampliùs, aut Effigie tuâ vernaculâ solùm, verùm etiam Latinis Commentariis locupletas: Commentarios illos intelligimus (si placet) accuratos, & sanè quam venustos, in quibus excellentissima Margareta perpetuam Rerum gestarum, Eventorumque tuorum Historiam conduit. Quanti verò apud nos ponderis sit exquisitissima Lucubratio, noli quaerere Dux eximie; neque enim Ipse nescis, & nos certè Oratione nostrâ nequimus explicare. Id potius nunc agimus, ut Theatrum illud Honoris eadem operâ Cantabrigiae, Tibi Seculóque gratulamur: Cantabrigiae primùm, nihil jucundius esse potest, quam Pericula & Labores evolvere Imperatoris tanti, quantus Ipse non Vnius jam Britanniae, sed omnium consensu gentium & es, & haberis: deinde. Tibi benè ominamur, quia Tibi (quod nec Achilli Homerico, nec Hectori Naeviano, contigit) ad memoriae dignitatem abundè sufficit à laudatissimâ Principe laudari, Quae Te non ita tamen Immortalitati commendavit, ut non ipsa quoque in Te commendando propriam Ingenii gratiam sit consecuta: postremò, gratulamur huic Seculo, quod penè solus illustras, qui vel solus (consummatissime Dux) quodlibet seculum illustrare posses.  
Cantabrigiae è frequenti Senatu 10 Cal. Junii 1669. Eminentiae tuae addictissimi PROCANCELLARIVS reliquusque Senat. Acad. Cantab.  
MOST EMINENT PRINCE,  
THat Scholars are not every where, nor altogether neglected, your Grace is one of our greatest Instances; for as occasion serves you condescend, and vouchsafe both to countenance, and encourage us. And this you do, as with all imaginable success, so likewise with such wonderful obligingness, and constancy, that for a continual instigation thereto (we see) you need not the least item from us; for that purpose the goodness of your own Nature, and the nobleness of your Spirit is abundantly sufficient. But whilst in this manner you regard Learning, and embellish Virtue, you give the World to know, that you are neither a Stranger to, nor unacquainted with the direct Road to Honour, and Glory; And thither indeed only you march with such expedition and conduct, that you have already (beyond what an University can write) enriched our public Treasury with some lasting Monuments of your Skill and Gallantry. Shall we beg leave to remember your Book of Horsemanship, which we love to peruse and boast of to Strangers? Or will you permit us, with all thankfulness, to name your last Favour, that accurate and faithful History (which the most Excellent Margaret hath writ) of your Life, and Actions? In what esteem the former Work is among us all, we have already declared; and what we think of the latter, ask us not (we pray you) most incomparable Duke; for you know very well, and we cannot, in any words of ours, sufficiently express. Only we presume at present to congratulate so fair a Theatre of Honour to the University of Cambridge, and to yourself, and to this whole Generation of men altogether: First, to the University, which cannot but with exceeding satisfaction read over the Atchivements, and Hazards of so famous a General, as you are, and as all Brave Men acknowledge you to be: for your own sake in the next place we rejoice, because (which neither Homer's Achilles, nor Xenophon's Cyrus, nor Naevius his Hector attained to) your Actions are registered by an unparrelled Princess, who yet hath not so transcribed your image, as not therein to interline, and insert a very legible Portraiture of her own Wit, and Parts: Last of all, we must needs be glad for the lustre, and advantage of this present Generation, which now almost shines alone in You, most accomplished Prince, who of yourself alone are sufficient to have ennobled any other Generation of men whatsoever. Long therefore may you live in this reputation. So we Pray, and remain,  
Cambridge, May 22. 1669. Most Excellent Prince, Your Graces most Humble and most Affectionate Servants, The VICECHANCELLOR and the whole Senate of the University of Cambridge.  
MADAM,  
THe worthy present which your Excellency hath been pleased to make me by Mr. Slaughter, hath strucken me into new admiration of your goodness and knowledge. The first, that you are pleased to retain so obliging a memory of a Person that can no ways merit so huge a Favour: And for the second, every Page in your excellent Book, affordeth abundant matter. I think myself exceeding happy that I live in the age which is blessed with the presence of so brave a Person as you are, Madam; who as you are the Ornament of this, will be the Envy of all future ones. But your Excellency loveth as little to hear your own Praises, as you do much to deserve the greatest. Therefore I will not adventure upon that impossible task, but shall reduce myself into my own Orb of Humility and thankfulness, for this great Honour you have been pleased to do me, assuring your Excellency with all, that you could not have deigned it to any man living, who is more than I am,  
Parish, June 9 1657. MADAM, Your Excellencies most Humble and most Obedient Servant, Kenelm Digby.  
I Crave leave of your Excellency, that I may present here my most humble and obliged Respects, to my Noble Lord, my Lord Marquis your Husband.  
MADAM,  
I received your Honour's Letter, and the Books according to your Command, and had not a fatal Sickness for a long time confined me to my Chamber, and made me unfit for any business, (and much more to Write to so Illustrious a person) I had long ere this returned my most humble, and hearty Thanks for that infinite Honour you were pleased to do me (a poor impertinent thing in Black) in deigning to write, and trust me with the distribution of your Favours (or magnificence rather) to the University. Your Books were received (as indeed they ought) with very much respect, and gratitude, and I am commanded by the several Colleges to return their humblest Thanks to your Honour. I inscribed every Book before I gave it to the respective Colleges, with such an Inscription as Posterity might know who was their Benefactor. For instance, that to Magdalene College, thus,  .... Liber Collegii Divae Magdalenae, ex Dono Illustrissimae Heroinae Margaretae Novocastrensis Marchionissaes, Authoris. 
What this signifies your Honour may easily know. I humbly beg your Honours Pardon for this confident, and (I fear) impertinent Scribble of,  
Q. Coll. Oxon. Mar. 24. 1655. MADAM, Your Honour's most Obliged Humble Servant, Thomas Barlow.  
MADAM,  
YOur Honour pleased to Command two Books (lately composed by your Excellency) to be sent to Cambridge, one to be placed in the Public Library there, and the other to be bestowed upon myself, your Honour's meanest Servant; It is and shall be my Care that this, together with that other formerly sent, may remain a Monument to Posterity of your Excellencies great worth and singular affection to our University, which I doubt not but will, forever, be most gratefully acknowledged, by such as shall frequent the Common Library, and especially by him whom this great Favour hath rendered  
Cambr. Octob. 22. 1656. Your Excellencies most Humble and Thankful Servant, William Moor.  
MADAM,  
I have received, from your Excellence, the Book you sent me by Mr. Benoist; which obliges me to trouble you with a short expression of my thanks, and of the sense I have of your extraordinary Favour. For tokens of this kind are not ordinarily sent but to such as pretend to the title as well as to the mind of Friends. I have already read so much of it (in that Book which my Lord of Devonshire has) as to give your Excellence an accout of it thus far, That it is filled throughout with more and truer Ideas of Virtue and Honour than any Book of morality I have read. And if some Comic Writer, by conversation with ill People, have been able to present Vices upon the Stage more ridiculously and immodestly, by which they take their rabble, I reckon that amongst your Praises. For that which most pleases lewd Spectators is nothing but subtle Cheating or Filch, which a high and noble mind endued with Virtue from its Infancy can never come to the knowledge of. I Rest  
Febr. 9 1661. Your Excellencies most humble Servant Thomas Hobbes.  
ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS,  
I Received (by the hand of your ingenious Servant) that most noble Present, (those excellent Books) you were pleased to send our College, and (the meanest of your most obliged and thankful Servants) myself. I confess I am (and for ever should be) amazed at your Excellency's condescension, your great charity and magnificence to things so far below you, did I not well know that the greatest goodness is most diffusive; that those Glorious Heavenly Bodies (even the Sun itself) dispense their Rays and benign Influences to Valleys and little Villages, to Shrubs and Volehills, as well as Mountains, or the tallest Cedars. I shall not call your Excellency's Books an addition to our private Library, but this a little accession to them; they being (like their Illustrious Author) a far greater Library of Arts and Ingenuity. Sure I am, even Bodlies' Library cannot boast of any such Donation, since King James sent his Royal Works, and those of his late Martyred Majesty were placed there, nor is like to do, till Kings and your Excellency, write and send again: whose parts are not (in a tedious way acquired, but infused; not got by Study, or a laborious industry, but given by the immediate and propitious Hand of Heaven, and therefore more Divine, like that first principle from whence they flow. We have a Manuscript Author in Bodlies' Library, who endeavours to show, That Women excel Men: your Excellency has proved what he proposed, has done what he endeavoured, and given a demonstrative argument to convince the otherwise unbelieving World. Your Works will be a just foundation of a lasting and immortal Honour to yourself; (but I fear) a reproach to our Sex and us, when Posterity shall consider, how little we have done with all our Reading and Industry, and how much your Excellency without them. I shall not endeavour (what this and after ages will) to commend your Writings (they are their own best Panegyrique) he that would do this well, should have the genius and elocution of their great Author. My only aim is, humbly to acknowledge a Debt I can never pay, and return the unfeigned thanks and gratitude of  
Q. Coll. Oxon. May 21. 1663. (Most Illustrious Princess) Your Excellencies most devoted and most humble Servant, Thomas Barlow.  
MADAM,  
I received (a fortnight ago) your Honour's Letter, and the Books you sent; one to the University Library, one to the Vicechancellor, and another to myself. Mr. Vicechancellor received your Book (as indeed he ought) with very much thankfulness, and sense of the great Civility you had done him, and commanded me to return his respects, and hearty Thanks, which he would have done himself, but that both he and his Family hath been sore visited with Sickness (for almost a whole year) so that he has not been (nor now is) in a condition to write. The like thanks, and (if possible) infinitely more, I must return in behalf of the University, and myself; being amazed at your goodness, and undeserved Kindness, that a person so Illustrious, and (for place and parts so) Eminent, should look upon so unconsiderable, and impertinent a thing in black, as I am, but that I know the Sun doth shine on Shrubs, as well as Cedars, and Princes many times cast their Favours upon persons infinitely below them; whence they can expect no return but gratitude; and when I fail to pay that Tribute (so justly due to your Honour) may I have your hate, which will be the greatest curse I am capable of. I have as yet only read one Story in your Book, and the Language, and Ingenuity of it, to me seems such, that I am persuaded the famous Monsieur Scudeny would wish himself the Author of it. If I mistake not I think I told you in my last, that I had a Manuscript Book in my keeping (for it was never yet Printed) which the Author entitles thus — women's Worth, or a Treatise proving by sundry reasons that Women excel Men. Many of my Sex will hardly believe it, yet I believe your Honour may prove the best Argument in the World to convince them of their infidelity. I humbly beg pardon for this rude and impertinent Scribble. That God Almighty would be pleased to bless you and all yours, is, and shall be, the constant Prayer, of  
MADAM, Q. Coll. Oxon. Sept. 3. 1656. Your Honour's most Obliged, Humble Beadsman 
 Thomas Barlow.  
MADAM,  
THat I have not long ere this made at least some slender return of the meanest Gratitude, a verbal acknowledgement, I take the greater boldness now at length to Apologise; for that it is in no small measure justly chargeable upon the Chain of those grand Favours, wherewith (as the Roman Lady of old, with Bracelets and Jewels) I have been, by your Excellency, overwhelmed into an Ecstasy. The truth of which is too much evidenced by an undeniable argument, that like such as are newly roused out of a Trance, not yet fully returned to myself, I now begin to talk Idly. Indeed I could not but deplore my own unhappiness; as equally racked between two hateful extremes, Ingratitude and Presumption, that can neither be silently grateful to so Noble a Benefactress, without too palpable and disingenuous unworthiness, nor verbally thankful to so Illustrious a Princess without a Solaecism; but that I am well assured your Excellencies Heroic Candour will at least connive at the most rude, if cordial and humble, expressions of a most devoted mind. And such (Madam) is that, I here with all submission present unto you, loaded with such various Instances of your signal Favours, as never can (except we could suppose your Illustrious self may) find out a Parallel. That so mean, so obscure a Person should have the Honour of receiving first into his custody so rich a Treasure, as the genuine Product and Issue of so Noble a Mind; and then be commanded to divulge this his Glory, by presenting them to a whole University in so Glorious a Name; that this Honour (a high Reward itself) should yet be further enhanced by a splendid Gift, truly worthy the Grandeur of the Donor, and that transmitted by that Golden Pen, which hath enriched the World with such excellent variety of inimitable Writings; that a poor scanty Study should swell into a Library, and become a Repository for such rich Volumes;— Pardon me (Madam) if at these reflections I wax proud, and be transported beyond the narrow compass of my contracted self. Your Excellency's Bounty (a true Transcript of the Divine) creates, what it cannot find, a worthiness in the Receiver, and ennobles him, whom it makes the object of generous Beneficence.  
What Honourable reception your Excellencies former Works (in the possession whereof each private Colledge-Library, as well as that public one of the University, justly prides itself, and boasts its riches) found amongst us, as (indeed) by very few Acknowledgements then signified: How much more acceptable these latter Volumes are, silence alone can best tell. Few durst before adventure upon so difficult a Task: and the Reason since that is more apparent and confirmed (if I may without profanation make use of the most Illustrious Lord Marquis his Expression) — None now dares write a Letter.—  
What concerns my most unworthy self, is, that I shall, in Testimony of my thankfulness, and as a perpetual monument of your Excellency's munificence to me when I die, transmit your noble Gift as a sacred Heyre-loom to my Family, and whilst I live, show your Princely Hand as the Letters-Patents of my greatest Honour, which is to have this leave of wholly devoting myself ever to be  
Illustrious Madam, Your Excellencies most Humble most Obedient, Obliged, and Unworthy Servant, and Vassal David Morton.  
Madam,  
SInce my last, I received by the hands of (your Grace's faithful Servant, and my worthy Friend) Dr. maine, two Copies of my Lord Duke's life, (writ by your Grace) one for our College, and another for myself. I cannot but admire your Grace's great goodness and condescension, your continued munificence and charity to us (excellent Virtues which I wish in all, but find in very few) which with all humility, and a deep sense of the very many Obligations laid upon us, we thankfully acknowledge. He who thinks to requite, undervalues your Grace's Favours; which (like your eminent parts and place) are too great to admit any proportionable returns from us, besides our constant Prayers and Gratitude; which (as in duty we stand bound) we shall duly pay. I have read your Grace's Book, which is writ with so much evenness and prospicuity of Style, so much truth and generous impartiality, as well becomes the (Illustrious persons most concerned, the) great Subject and Author of it. His Grace's high Birth and Fortune, his unstained Royalty to his Prince, his great Courage, and prudent Conduct, and such other his Graces eminent Virtues have deserved, and your Grace's Hand has built him a lasting Monument, which (when Pyramids of Brass and Marble perish, or, being Sacrilegiously removed and stolen, disappear) will transfer both your Names and Honours to all Posterity. That the good providence of Heaven would long preserve and prosper your Grace (the honour of your Sex, and by your unparalleled Virtues the reproach of ours) is the Prayer of  
Q. Coll. Oxon. Feb. 2. 1667. MADAM, Your Grace's most Obliged, Faithful and Humble Servant, Thomas Barlow  
MADAM,  
JE ne puis attribuer l'honneur que Vous m'avez fait de m'envoyer Vos oewres, qu'a ceque vous avez sceu qu'autres fois j'avois apporté icy d' Angleterre que ce qu'il y en avoit déja de publié. C'est, Madame, que j'honore infiniment la Vertu partout où je la descovure, & qu'elle est encore plus a admirer en Vostre Sex & dans les Personnes de Vostre quality, que dans le nostre, & parmis les scavants; Je la propose en exemple à toutes les Dames dont ja'y l'honneur de m'pprocher, & je prens maintenant la liberté, Madame, de vous feliciter du plaisir que vous avez d'eslever si fort vostre ame par dessus les autres, & de vous mesler si avant dans toutes les intrigues de l'Vnivers. C'est bien autre chose que de n'studier que celles d'une Cour, & que de ne choisir des ornamens que surune toileté. Dieu veville, Madam, qu'un si noble divertissement vous occupe tousjours, & que vous croyez ausi tousjours que je suis,  
A Paris le 3 d'Octob. 1669. MADAM, Vostre tres Humble & tres Obeissant Serviteur SORBIERE.  
Tres Haut & Puissant Prince  
CRoiroiton qu'il est possible que vostre tresillustre Altesse se pouvoit encore souvenir d'une si inutille creature que moy? depuis 25 ans que je suis retirée de Paris, & parmis les plus rudes attaques de la Fortune qu'avoient agitée vostre Altesse comme les tonneres & les Vents qui taschoient debrayler les forts Cedars du Lebanon, en maintenant la sainte cause, d'un des plus justes Roïs' que jamais a estés ou que jamais y sera. En li saint ceste histoire veritable de la vie de vostre Altesse faite par ceste Tresillustre, & Tres-verteus Princess, Madame la Duchess, j'avois de la peyne a retenir mes larmes, ayant esté moy mesme une triste spectateur de toute ce que passa à Paris & fidel intelligencier de tout ce que passoit en Flandre & la Holland jusques au retour de vostre Altesse en Angleterre; & je veu que toute ces travers de la Fortune, ne consista en autre chose qu'a une perpetuel combat, entre le voulloir & le pouvoir de vostre Altesse; L'une combattant pour l'establishement du Roy, par le depences inevitable qu'il falloit pour maintenir sa just cause, presque aux abois, non seulement, par le sequestration des immenses revenues des biens de vostre Altesse, mais par le constraint qu'on vous fit de vous retirer, a fin pour ensuitte de ruiner la cause du Roy par le ruin qu'on vous fit le premier; mais Dieu vous a suscitée des amiss, & vous avez un pouvoir plus ample qu'auparavant, & il a faite de vostre Altesse come Dieu fait à Job en restituant le decouple son saint nom soit louée & vous continue sa paix, & sa sainte Grace. Je leu aussy la Philosophie de la Haute & verteuse Princesse Madame la Duchess, veritablement Tres-curieuse; & en estate de faire honte à nostre miserable Philosophy de l'ecolle que n'est autre chose qu'un uray jeu des Cartes; consistantes en Sophisms & authorities mal citêes, la quelle a perdue la Theologie, & rendue la Medicine la Risée du Monde, et pire que l'Emperice: Et quoy que ie n'entend pas l'exercise du manage des chevaux non plus que le haut Almand; toutefois ces precepts me semble si Majesteux que touts les maistres du monde en doibt prendre example. C'est pour quoy je metteray ces Divines escrites dans le frontispiece de ma Bibliotheque, a fin que les enfants des mes enfants profiteroient de tout ces riches enseignments. Il reste maintenant que je remercie Tres-humblement vostre Tresillustre Altesse de la souvenance quelle volut avoir de moy, qui n'est pas tant triste de me voir reduittê a une si age que me deuroit donner craint a mourir citô, come de me voir approchant à un age si grand qui me pourroit fair incapable de rendre a vostre Altesse les services dignes de la memoire que je dois conserver dans mon ame pour demeurer eternellement,  
De Vostre Tresillustre Altesse le Tres-humble & Tres-obeissant Serviteur, D. AUISSONE.  
MADAM,  
WHen, in the Book which your Ladyship hath been pleased, by Mr. Benoist, to honour me with, I read so many Orations, upon so many several occasions, appropriated to so many several Persons, my admiration rises to so great a height, that I know not how to express it, yet when I consider that you, Madam, are the Author of them all, my Wonder then abates, the sight which I have had of your former Works, having raised my thoughts to anexpectation of as great a product, from your Ladyship's Pen, as this is: but when I think what thanks to return, for so great a Favour, I am quite at a stand, for were I as good a Poet, or Orator, as ever was, it were impossible, either in Prose or Poem, to set forth a sufficient gratitude. I find myself therefore, who have no Skill in either, obliged to say no more, but only to beg your Ladyship's acceptance of the Humble Thanks of,  
Bridgewater-house, Dec. 30. 1662. MADAM, Your Ladyship's most humble Servant J. BRIDGEWATER.  
MADAM,  
YOu have convinced the World, that your Sex can as well propagate Learning as our Species, and taught us justly to own all, from our Mother-Wit; 'Tis without the help of Classic Authors, Schools, or Languages, that you Madam, have composed your most excellent Poems, Plays, Fables, The World's Olio, Opinions Philosophical and Physical, which are the greatest Prize the Invention of Printing can boast of: That Admiration and Praise, which your Excellency merits, must be the study of Ages to come; which, by your Works, may be made more knowing. Hitherto the stolen Tales of Learning, which Scholars, painfully disingenuous, have, in several Ages, Translated from lost Languages, and entitled themselves the Authors, are not Rules to try the truth of your notions, nor means to clear them to us, but screen them from our captivated Apprehensions. Who means to Improve, Madam, by your discoveries, must study them alone, and freeing themselves of the Pains of Grammar Rules, tedious Methods, and the Fallacies of unproved Maxims, may arrive early at Truths, may know and be able to discourse things, not senseless Distinctions; and Philosophating, your way, from the visible effects of Nature, may soon know more than the Schools, make their Learning useful, and Bankrupt the Trade of Pedantry: That you have received, Madam, a Tribute of Applause from the Persons of most fame this Age affords; that Universities have done you Homage as the Queen of Sciences, will be the least of your Glory, whilst you instruct not them, but the Universe, not this alone, but succeeding Ages; and will have your Fame as oft renewed, as fresh Generations come to spy this World, by the light you leave them; which cannot be traduced, for its Parentage, being sprung from your Rational Soul alone, that borrowing nought from others, can have no Rival in Renown, but may challenge that singular Honour which all Ingenious Persons publish, and will be made Sacred to your memory, by the most learned, while I among the meanest shall live and die,  
Chelsey, Sept. 4. 1662. MADAM, Your Excellency's Highest Honourer and Humblest Servant CHARLES CHEYNE.  
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,  
I have, according to your commands, read your Excellency's Orations, and will not disobey your Excellence, in concealing my Opinion of them. Was it to condemn any thing, either in matter or the language, having your Excellencies Warrant for it, I would freely express it, and if it be otherwise, I beg your Excellency's Favour, that Truth may not pass for Courtship, as being to so great a Lady from so mean a man, it is in danger to be suspected, which your Excellence hath been pleased to foresee and forbid. I am, I confess, no great reader, of late, of new Books, having tried formerly, that to find in them the least Jewel it must be sifted out of a great deal of Rubbish, and the worst is, that their Authors take up Errors upon trust one from another, which the better they adorn with new dresses, the greater injury they do to mankind. To make up such Volumes out of Collections, as Bees gather Honey from this and that Flower, is rather laborious Industry than fine Wit; But to spin out of one's own Bowels, not Cobwebs as Spiders do, but rich Tissues of Gold and Silver, expresses a great Fancy well improved, with much thinking. As every man is not capable of so extraordinary Productions, so is not every Woman; but that Women are naturally as capable of it as Men, if not more, may easily be proved by making an exact comparison of both their Temperaments and Organs, which would be a discourse too long to be inserted in a Letter, and your Excellence hath so clearly decided that Question by your unimitable Works, that it saves sufficiently that trouble. The greatest Masters in Oratory having been necessitated to acknowledge, that the best art consists in hiding of it, it may be inferred, that it is yet better to have none at all, as a natural Amble is to be preferred to that which is got with Trammels, or the graceful Walking of a Gentleman more esteemed than the affected Demarch of a Dancer: and it is truly a very rare thing to be a great Scholar without being acquainted with the Universities, and Learned without the help of Teachers. As there is variety of Sciences, so there are several sorts of Capacities to acquire them, some proving excellent in one kind, some in another; but to be capable of all, as well Philosophy as Plays, and Poems as Orations, belongs only to a very few, whose Statues should be erected in all the eminent Places in the World, for their Glory, and our Admiration. I can hardly stop my Pen from describing what I have marked in general; for to set down my particular Observations, they are of so many extraordinary Things, that ordinary Terms (and I am capable of no other) cannot make them to be understood, and I am extreme sensible, that even what is commonly called Defect, here becomes comely, like some Moles in a beautiful Face, and that what seems strange at first, because it crosses the usual Methods of our Studies, gives at last occasion of amazement, to see your Excellency go so far in the way of knowledge, with standing still, in a manner, and that others should run continually like Squerils in a Cage, without advancing forwards; which happens, I believe because they dare not, or cannot go one step without Stilts, and your Excellence trusts to the goodness of your Legs, having been pleased to allow me the honour to read your Manuscript, I make no doubt but your Excellency will afford the patience to read this tedious Letter, which though it makes a very small sound, and a weak clapping of Hands, is a part of that great Applause the whole World gives to your Excellency, and a certain testimony, that I am out of Inclination, as well as Duty,  
London, Sept 4. 1662. MADAM, Your Excellencies most Humble most Obedient and most Faithful Servant, BENOIST.  
MADAM,  
HAd I returned you this Letter of Thanks, for the great Honour you did me in sending me your Plays, before I had read them, it would have looked like a piece of Flattery, and my Praise of you would have made me like a Blind man, who fell in love with a Beauty which he never saw. But having taken time to read them all over, and some of them more than once, I can now upon a clear Judgement assure your Ladyship, that my entertainment was so great, that I know not whether I read them or saw them Acted. For though the Plots, Acts, and Scenes, be dressed in several shapes, and have that which is the life of Pleasure, a musical variety, yet the Wit, and rich Composure of them is so much every where the same, that I fancied myself a Spectator in the perusal, and was doubtful, whether your Ladyship with your Book had not sent me the new Theatre too. I never in any Dramatic Writings met with more Honour and Virtue matched with more Sharpness and delight. Which had it come from such a Pen as Ben Jonson's, who was always pouring Oil into his Lamp, and owed most of his Excellencies to his laborious Industry and Art, I should the less wonder. But coming from a Quill held by a Lady's Hand, who made it not her Toil but Recreation to do rarely, confirms me in an Opinion which I have long held, That the best Art is nothing but the best Imitation of Nature; and that your Books are the true face, and others but the painted. Madam, as I look upon you as a great Princess, (for you are so) so that which renders you to be the Glory and happiest of your Sex, is that you can bring forth such Children of your Mind in a Wilderness, and in your Country Walks can choose all the Muses to be your Maids of Honour. And, truly, when I consider one part of your happiness more, which is, That you have a Noble Lord to be your Fellow-Poet, whose Harmonious Soul and Wit, is exactly tuned to yours, I have nothing left to wish, but to be allowed to remain  
Oxford, May 6, 1662. Your Ladyships true Honourer, Jasper maine.  
MOST HONOURED,  
I have waited long for a convenience to return my very humble gratitude to your Excellency, that the poor Church of Litchfield hath some hope in due time to receive some furtherance in its Reparation, from your noble munificence. I am one of those many, that are persuaded, that your Excellency spent more Treasure to maintain the Royal Cause, in the late Wars, besides the hazard of your Person, than any Subject in the three Realms; and am at wonder that it is not most eminently rewarded and repaid. My gracious Lord; I having been one from my youth addicted to the ingenuity of Poetry, whereof your Honour hath been a great Patron, did betake myself, thirteen years since, to write three Books in Verse, Latin and Heroick, to bewail the most barbarous murder committed upon the person of King Charles the Martyr. The work is long-since finished, and shall in due time be published; In the third Book thereof, mention being made of his Majesty's most Heroic Champions, these Verses following, set forth your Excellency as I was able;  
Quid Neo-Castrensis parat, audentissimus Heros,  
Musarum, Martisque decus, Mensaeque benignae?  
Cogit ab egelidis Boreae regionibus agmen  
Intrepidum, laethúmque volens pro Rege pacisci.  
Receive this Testimony, my very gracious Lord, from him that is willing to embalm your memory with due praise.  
Litchfield, Feb. 10. 1663. Your Excellencies Most Devoted Servant, Joh. Lich. & Coven.  
MADAM,  
I Gave your Grace not long since the trouble of a very large Letter, and know not whether I may wish it came safe, being afraid there was some kind of rudeness in so tedious a Scribble. I now send this to crave Pardon for the bold importunity of that; and to desire another addition to your Grace's Favours, which is, to honour the last Edition of my Witchcraft with your Illustrious Eye, and Acceptance. I suppose I have in it answered some of your Grace's Objections, and have added a Relation or two, which I am well assured of, and believe them good evidence of Fact. I have ordered that Book I have so long spoken of to be sent with it, if it can yet be procured; and implore your Grace's ingenious Candour in judging the faults of both. For that of Preexistence I have many things to say more about it, which I think not fit publicly to expose; your Grace may command my inmost sentiments of those matters which I shall be proud to impart to a Person of so great Honour and Judgement, being really  
Bath, Dec. 22. MADAM, Your Grace's Most Humbly Devoted Servant, Jos. Glanvill.  
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR,  
I held a long dispute within myself (most Noble, and most Honourable Madam) whether I should not incur the just censure of Condemnation, by this bold presumption of writing to your Ladyship, a person so noble, so courted, so admired, and I so obscure, that I could never brag of the happiness once to have seen, much less of being known to your Honour: my low condition on this hand, deterred me much, and on that your Illustrious Place, balanced with a gallantry of Spirit, well becoming your true Nobility, in birth and match: yet when I considered, in my mind, that your Honour was pleased to appear now in another dress, under the Veil of Books, I thought myself unworthy that exceeding Honour you have vouchsafed me, if I should not, at least, acknowledge, what I could never retaliate or express: And who can express the merit of that noble favour? The Heavenly Raptures of your Soul, composed with that elaborate skill, and beams of pure Wit, that your lines pass admiration? Were those Ancients now alive, who first discoursed of Atoms, Matter, Form, and other Ingredients of the World's Fabric, they would hang their Heads, confounded to see a Lady of most Honourable Extraction, in Prime of youth, amidst a thousand fasheries of greatness, say more of their own Mysteries, than they with all their worldly contempts, long Lives, Cells, and Solitary Retirements. Great Souls in the light of conversation, gain far more Knowledge, than mewed up cloisterers, and show more to the World; their Inventions shine more Orient, their Illuminations more Refulgent, though clothed in vulgar terms, their own people's Dialect: Few mount Fame's Chariot with borrowed Wings: and those old Philosophers too knew only their own Tongue Greek, as your Honour complains you only speak your Native English. Wherein they had some advantage of you, a Language more copious, round, and full, though the English can want no Elegance, Propriety, or Sweetness, when it flows from such a Mouth as yours, or drops from such a Pen. Go on then (most Honourable Madam) to bless the World, with these noble Infants of your Brain; give Posterity an example for after Ages, since former have given you none, but what you have outstripped: It were Impiety, to wish you less great, that Courtships might not defraud us of your Immortal monuments: No, be great still, Diminutions would but cool those Heroic Fires within you; let Fortune confer all her Gifts on you as Nature hath all her endowments,  
That you may raise your Muse to such a Pitch  
As all shall Gaze and Wonder at, none reach.  
And I assure you (most Noble Madam) you can never stand higher, or greater in the whole World's esteem than you now are, and ever shall be in the most deserved Veneration, of him who glorieth, to subscribe himself,  
Utrecht, Dec. 2. 1653. Most Honourable, and most Virtuous Lady Your Honour's most Humble and most Devoted Servant 
 Robert Creyghtone.  
May it please your Excellence, My ever Honoured, Most Noble Lord.  
WHen I last had the honour to kiss your Excellency's Hands at Antwerp, you were pleased to bestow on me, The Passions of the Soul, Written by the Noble Du Cartes, in Token of your singular Love and Respect to me: The Work Learned, the Author Renowned, rendered the Gift Eminent, but much more, conferred by so Honourable a Peer, upon so unconsiderable a creature, as myself: and all aught to have been vehement incentives to a thankful acknowledgement: yet hitherto your splendour, even in this your Eclipse, hath so prevailed over my modesty, that I buried your Favour not in Oblivion but Silence; thinking it well became my condition, rather to hold my peace, than speak below the merit, or slat the sublime dignity of the Person to whom I should speak. But now your Excellencies late accumulation of excessive Charity, in sending me by Dr. Morley, the Works of your most Honourable, Virtuous, and Learned Consort, hath chidd my Ingratitude unto a Blush beyond Confusion; and made me feel some of Du Cartes Passions, transferred from your first gift to your second: I should have consecrated all my pains, to your never dying Fame, as to a prime Patron of Learning, and I receive Books from you; Books rare and transcendent, distilled from the Brain of a most Noble Minerva, a Lady, your own Lady, whom delicacy of Education, height of Birth and Place, might well have exempted from such inferior employments: yet composed with so curious art, quick stile, refined airy notions, Words so proper elegant and delightful both in Verse and Prose, that I must ever admire the Harmony of her inspiring Soul: And thence reffecting on myself, blame my own unworthiness, who have spent more time at Universities, without any benefit to Posterity, than her Honour hath lived years in the World: so fresh and vigorous is her Fancy, so dull and superannuated mine: yet in this dejection of Mind, I am much refreshed, that your Excellence accounts me worthy to read her lines; you cast me down, and raise me up; cast me down by her Writings, which as I never expected, so I never hope to parallel, and you raise me, by the uncancelled estimation, which you still bear in memory of my mean self. It is your goodness (my ever Honoured Noble Lord) to peruse low things with Grace and Mercy, and the method of all Honourable Souls, to shine on Shrubs, that their Favours may higher advance in Prospect. You subjugate my Affections, as you do great Horses to your Managery. Napoli gli putedri, Roma scozzona gli huomini, the Italian Proverb goes; Naples tames Horses, and Rome Men: The Virtues of both reign in you: In the rare art of taming Horses you excel all mortals, and subdue Men by a no less wonderful Affability: that he must be out of the light of reputation, whom you have not particularly obliged, or pointed out with some mark of Honour: I triumph much in your respect of me, not that I have deserved it, but that you have vouchsafed it; and shall wish no longer to be blest, than I shall evermore endeavour to express myself in all things.  
Vtrecht, Dec. 2. 1653. My ever Honoured most noble Lord, Your Excellencies most Obliged, and most affectionate Servant, and Beadsman. Robert Creyghton.  
MADAM,  
I was very much surprised when your Servant saluted me from so Illustrious a personage; but when he produced those noble Volumes as an intended Testimony of your Ladyship's respect, the unexpectedness of so great an honour made me suspect the Messenger of a mistake, and that he presented me with what was meant fitter for the College, or at least to some more worthy and considerable person than myself. But he persisting still in the same story, my doubts were swallowed up into admiration of your Ladyship's singular and unparallelled goodness; which seems to me to be Corrival with the excellency of your Wit, and to seek an equal share of Glory in searching out Objects of such condescending Acts of Civility, and Bounty, in these obscure corners of Academical Retirement, as the other in piercing into the greatest difficulties and the most dark and obstruce Recesses of Philosophy. Madam I humbly crave Pardon for my boldness, and impatience that I offer so hastily to return thanks for so eminent a Favour, before I have well computed the value thereof, nor as yet fitly polished and adorned my Style, by a longer converse with your Ladyship's most Elegant and Ingenious Writings. But the cause of defects in this kind being so freely confessed, your noble cand or will be pleased to accept the rude reality of those speedy acknowledgements made by  
C.C.C. June 9 Thrice-Excellent Madam, Your Ladyship's most Humble and Thankful Admirer, Henry More.  
MADAM,  
IN you, the World hath an Illustrious Example of the truth of their Opinion, who hold, that no Virtue is single, but always accompanied with some (if not all) of its Fellows. For (to omit those many other Virtues, which seem to contend each with other, which shall render you conspicuous) to that general Charity of yours, whereby you daily oblige all mankind, in supplying the poverty of their Understandings with the Spiritual Alms of Knowledge; you have added an extraordinary Generosity, by enriching with your choice Volumes, the Libraries of some particular Persons, whom you are pleased to think capable of comprehending your curious Speculations therein contained. And in the number of these your Bowty hath given me a right to account myself. For which eminent Grace and Favour while I strive to show myself Grateful, I find my Faculties wholly taken up with Admiration: and that Reason I should make use of, to help me express my sentiments decently, is dimmed with the Glories of the Person to whom I address, If, therefore, I am not able to acquit myself of that Duty, as I ought; you are to reflect on the exceeding difficulty of it. Justice requires, you should pardon the Effects of that Transport and Astonishment, of which your Excellencies are the cause: and when I cannot advance the due Tribute of Thanks, you ought to admit my Homage of Acknowledgements.  
Your Wit, Madam, is above all Commendations; your Industry above Belief; your Labours, in Writing, above humane patience; your Curiosity above Imitation; your Notions above any, but your own Subtlety; and all above your Sex. Your Collections by the improvement they receive from your fertile Brain, become your own Productions: and those obscure Hints delivered to you in the Discourses of others, by passing through your lightsome Imagination, are turned into bright and full Discoveries. You solve Problems with more ease than others have proposed them: and your Pen hath this particular advantage, that it leaves no Darkness on the Paper besides that of the Ink. Where you treat of Arguments formerly handled by others, you either give them more light, or contract what they had before into a narrower and more familiar Compass; and upon all occasions you either produce new things, or speak old ones after a new manner; so that you stagger the truth of that saying of the wise Man, That nothing is new under the Sun. Your Expressions for the most part are Natural, yet Select; at once explaining and adorning your Matter: and they who read your Books with design to be informed in points of Philosophy, find themselves at the same time introduced also in Rhetoric. In a word; while you bring Reasons for the most admirable Works of Nature, you show yourself to be her greatest Miracle: and your prodigious Sagacity inclines even the Envious to believe, that all you need do to comprehend the most obstruse things, is only to think on them.  
This Language, Madam, is but the imperfect Echo of your merits; nor can any thing, but your modesty, hinder you from owning it so to be. However, I most humbly beseech you to hear it, as most proper to that high Honour and Veneration due to you from,  
London, May 3. 1663. Most incomparable Madam, Your Excellencies most humble Servant, Walt. Charleton.  
MADAM,  
YOur Books have here had a very honourable, and public Reception, and are not only placed in the private Libraries of every single College, but in the public also. Not without the Applause and Admiration of the Learned men of this Place, that one of your Sex, a great Princess, and not bred to the Arts with labour, and toil, as they are, should with so much excellent variety appear among us. And truly Madam when I consider the various Subjects you have passed through, it would pose me something to find a proper place in any Library for your Works to stand in, whether among the Orators, Poets, Philosophers, Statesmen, or Politicians, since every one of these may be ambitious to stand next you. Nor can I forbear to let your Ladyship know, that the two last Books which you were pleased to send to me, added to the former, which I had the honour to receive from you, are for their number my lesser Library, but for the value which I put upon the Noble Hand which drew the Lines, far the greater. Your Servant tells me you would willingly have some of them translated into the Catholic Language. Though it will be hard to make them speak so good Latin as they now do English, yet I have prevailed with an Ingenious Person of this College to undertake the Work when ever you shall please to assign his Task, whereby your Writings will be enabled to travel beyond the Seas, and spread themselves, both to your Honour, and the Honour of your Nation, as far as the Commonwealth of Learning reaches. How far your Ladyship will be served in this particular, when you are come to a resolution with your own Noble Thoughts, you may please to signify to  
MADAM, Your Ladyships real Honourer, And most Obliged Servant, Jasper maine. Christ Church in Oxford, May 20. 1663.  
MADAM,  
I Have the ill Fortune when I am bound to acknowledge a very high Obligation to your Excellence, at the same time also to stand in need of your Pardon, that I have done it no sooner. However, I wish I had the Skill to perform the one part as answerable to your merit and my duty, as I am confident of your goodness to give success unto the other. The Books you condescended to bestow upon me have turned a sorry Study into a rich Library, which are so much their own commendations (besides the gloss your Honourable Name must give them) that mine I fear may look like Injury and Rebatement to their Worth. I must not, Madam, be too bold with your hours, which you have devoted to better uses than the reading of such Papers; but with the tender of my humblest Thanks to your Excellence for the high Honour you have vouchsafed me, wishing you all the happiness of this, and the better life to come, I Rest,  
MADAM, Your most humble Servant, Thomas Tully. Edm. Hall, Oxon, June 30. 1663.  
MADAM,  
IN obedience to your Commands sent me by your Servant in his last Letter, I have put your Book of Tales into the Hand of a fit person to translate them into Latin as I think either University can afford. Being an exact Master of both Languages, and enabled with a Genius sit for such an undertaking. I have also read as much of your Poetry translated by a young Scholar as hath hitherto past his Pen. In some parts whereof I find him happy enough. But your Excellent Fancy expressing itself sometimes in Terms of Art, and Words only known to Philosophy, he tells me the hardest part of his Task will be how to find out current Roman Words to match them. To remove which difficulty, I have directed him to read Lucretius before he proceed farther; who having softened the most stubborn parts of Natural Philosophy, by making them run smoothly in his tuneable Verses, by an easy Imitation will teach him to do the like. Having in these two particulars most readily served you, I should return you my Studied Thanks, for the several Books you are pleased to send me, if they did not make me unhappy, by conversing with the Children of your Mind at so great a distance from the incomparable Parent. For I do assure your Excellency, I look upon Welbek, as long as you are there, not as a Noble House seated among solitary Groves, but as a perfect Court of Wit and Learning, where you have all the Muses for your Maids of Honour; and the best Philosophers, Statesmen, Orators, and Historians for your Counsellors: And all these for the Glory of your Sex, created from yourself. Had I the Art, like some here, to teach Birds to Speak, All the Fowls which fly in your Woods should presently be transformed to Nightingales, and taught Music enough to sing the praises of so great a Mistress. To whose Virtues I shall always remain,  
London, April 21. 1664. A most real Honourer And Devoted Servant, Jasper Maine.  
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,  
HAving received a Copy of your Works, for the use of the Library of Christ-Church, and another as a particular favour to myself; I hasten to make my acknowledgements for both: and must beg leave to say that your Excellency has found the way to make the Arts truly liberal, while you not only adorn them by your Culture, but propagate them by your munificent distribution. So that it will rest a Problem not easily to be resolved, whether you appear greater in your acquisitions or obliging: whether you instruct the World, or enrich it more? But it were an envious piece of curiosity, to labour in the Heraldry of your Virtues which are all greatest, because Yours: and are not to be the Subject of Contest, but Argument of Praise and Admiration: In particular manner they are such, to  
Your Excellencies Most Humble and Obliged Servant 
 Jo. Fell.  
MADAM,  
I Am very sorry that my unhappy Fate hath necessitated an unbecoming Slowness in acknowledging a Favour, that requires all possibilities of Gratitude, and exceeds them. But yet, had I nothing else to say in excuse of my no earlier return to the last Noble effects of your Grace's goodness, it were sufficient; That my sense of that mighty Honour was too big for my Pen; and when I began to speak my resentments of it, I found myself as unable to express them, as to deserve their occasion. Bet yet, Madam, this is not all the reason, for I was from home when your Grace's Present came, and have been so almost ever since; otherwise I had not added to my want of merit on other accounts, that also of appearing insensible, and defective in endeavours of acknowledgement; I must say endeavours, for my Gratitude can rise no higher. Since my receipt of your Grace's ingenious Works, I have, as my occasions would permit, cast my Eyes again into them, and I am sorry they cannot dwell there, where I find so pleasing, and so instructive an entertainment. And though I must crave your Pardon for dissenting from your Grace's Opinion in some things, I admire the quickness, and vigour of your Conceptions, in all: In which your Grace hath this peculiar among Authors that they are, in the strictest sense, your own, your Grace being indebted to nothing for them, but your own happy Wit, and Genius; a thing so uncommon even among the most celebrated Writers of our Sex, that it ought to be acknowledged with wonder in yours. And really, Madam, your Grace hath set us a pattern, that we ought to admire, but cannot imitate. And whereas you are pleased sometimes to mention your being no Scholar, as an excuse of defects, your modesty supposeth; By that acknowledgement you show our imperfections that pretend we are so, rather than discover any of your own.  
As for the last Trifle I was bold to present to your Grace's Eye, it is much indebted to the obliging reception you were pleased to afford it; and there is nothing that sets such a lustre on your Grace's great Wit, and Intellectual Perfections, as that sweet candour of your Spirit that renders you so accessible, even to your meanest admirers. Whereas your Grace is pleased to object against some part of the design of my Discourse, that it sets the perfection of the sense higher than that of Ratiocination; I humbly desire that your Grace would consider, that there are two sorts of Reasoning, viz. Those that the Mind advanceth from its own imbred Idaea's and native Store, such are all Metaphysical Contemplations. And those natural researches which are raised from experiment, and the objects of sense. The former are indeed most perfect when they are most abstracted from the grossness of things sensible, but the others are then most complete when they are most accommodated to them; and when they are not, they are Airy, and Fantastic. Now what I have said about those matters is to tie down the mind in Physical things, to consider Nature as it is, to lay a Foundation in sensible collections, and from thence to proceed to general Propositions, and Discourses. So that my aim is, that we may arise according to the order of nature by degrees from the exercise of our Senses, to that of our Reasons; which indeed is most noble and most perfect when it concludes aright, but not so when 'tis mistaken: And that it may so conclude and arrive to that perfection, it must begin in sense: And the more experiments our reasons have to work on, by so much they are the more likely to be certain in their conclusions, and consequently more perfect in their actings. But Madam, I doubt I begin to be tedious, and therefore, at present dare add no more, but that I am,  
Illustrious Madam, Your Grace's most Humble and most devoted Servant, Jos. Glanvill.  
MADAM,  
I Had not thus long deferred my dutiful Acknowledgements to your Ladyship for the Honour which I received, with your Ingenious Book of Orations; if I had not been in hopes to recommend my Gratitude by presenting your Ladyship with this Poem, lately Printed; and though it ought not to be ranked amongst those polished Pieces, which are derived to the World from your fair hands; yet, Madam, I cannot doubt of your candid Reception of it; since in that shining Circle of Graces, which Illustrates your Character, there is not any one more conspicuous, than your Generous Humility; which I am confident, will obtain my Pardon of your Ladyship for presuming to return you such a worthless Present, and Diverting you from those solid Entertainments, by which you so improve your Heroic Spirit, and honour the Commonwealth of Letters.  
Norwich, May 12. 1663. MADAM, I am with profound Respect Your Ladyships most Humble and most Obedient Servant S. Tuke.  
To the worthily Honoured Dr. Charleton, Physician in Ordinary to his MAJESTY.  
HONOURED SIR,  
HAving received the noble Present from Dr. Yerbury's hand, which you were pleased to recommend to his care; and with it, the very signal Favour of your obliging Letter; I hereby hasten to render my acknowledgements in reference to both, which yet must needs fall short, of being in any degree, a just return to either. I have in the enclosed attempted to speak mine, and the Universities Duties, and most grateful recognitions to my Lord Duke: but can only hope they may become acceptable from the advantage your Hand and Recommendation will give them: and indeed I shall the more need your Friendship herein, because I understand some Persons have, according to the method of ill Nature, pleased themselves in doing me unhandsome Offices, with the Excellent Princess her Grace. Whose great and piercing Understanding will, I hope, unravel their vile Arts, who can only recommend themselves by traducing others. Sir you will speak a great Truth, and do no less an Obligation both to this Place and me, if you shall be pleased to assure my Lord Duke and his incomparable Princess, that this University and myself have all imaginable gratitude for their Favours, and Veneration for their Persons: I shall with the same sincerity make profession of the just regard I bear yourself, and desire to be esteemed  
Dec. 26. SIR, Your most Faithful Hamble Servant, J. FELL.  
MADAM,  
I Received the Honour of your Graces last Letter; but have not time now for so large a return, as so ingenious a Discourse might justly require, only I cannot for bear intimating to your Grace, that I am not so fond a mechanist, as to suppose all the Phoenomena of the World to be raised merely by those Laws; but most of them perhaps by a Principle that is vital; And the Anima Mundi I take to be a very likely, and convenient Hypothesis. Of this I am ready to give your Grace an account, that you shall be pleased to permit it. But the business of this is somewhat of another nature, being to implore a Favour from your Grace, not upon mine own, but a public account. There is in this Place a Library erected, chiefly for the diversion of Gentlemen that come hither upon the occasion of the Bath. There are in it several worthy Authors, but it wants the great Honour and Ornament of the Illustrious Duchess of New-Castle's Works. I know, Madam, your Grace hath always writ out of a Principle of Noble Generosity, and Charity towards Mankind; and are very ready to dispense your Influence to those that need your Informations: To this I understand most of the considerable Libraries of England can bear a Testimony; and therefore I am bold upon the confidence I have in your Grace's goodness, to become an humble Solicitor in the behalf of ours, which will be very much ennobled by so glorious an Instance of your Grace's Favour, if you shall please to Honour it with those Ingenious Works, by which your Grace doth so much outshine your Sex, and many, that would be thought the greatest Wits, of ours. You see, Madam, what an apprehension I have of your Grace's Benignity and Candour, in that I can appear before your Grace in a request for a Favour to others, when I am myself so infinite a Debtor to those many obligations your Grace hath been pleased to lay upon me, for all which I have nothing to return, but the most humble and devout Acknowledgements, of,  
Bath, Octob. 13. Illustrious Madam, Your Grace's most Obedient And most Obliged Servant, Jos. Glanvill.  
MADAM,  
I Received a fresh obligation from your Grace in the excellent History you were pleased to order for me. In which your Grace hath done right to one of the most Illustrious Hero's of our Age, and erected a lasting Monument to his Virtue. And in it, Madam, your Grace hath sweetly and wonderfully twisted the Faithfulness of an Historian, with the Affections of a Wife; And your Illustrious Lord hath in this an Honour beyond the other great Subjects of History, That his Grace hath not only as much deserved to be Celebrated as they, But hath moreover the happiness of the nearest Relation to an Heroine, whose Pen is as Glorious as his Sword. And 'tis not easy to say which is really the greater Wonder, the Famous Loyalty of that great Person, or the uncommon Excellence of the Pen that described it. But I must take up from a Subject, in which, when I have said all I can, I shall be defective; and return to the last Letter wherewith your Grace was pleased to Honour me. For the business of Witches upon which your Grace reflects again in this, I have spoken many things more about it in some Additions to my Considerations, which I am now sending to the Press. As soon as that Discourse is extant, I shall beg your Grace's acceptance of it. In the interim those things may be superseded.  
By Lower Nature in my last, Madam, I meant, the mere Animal, and Plastic Faculties, whose violent Impetus is the cause of many of our irregularities and vices. As to the rest, I acquiesce in your Grace's Determinations; And whereas your Grace is pleased to Excuse the liberty of Arguings; 'tis Madam with me that which least of all things needs to be excused. For I profess the largest freedom of Discourse and Inquiry. As for violent and captious Disputes and Oppositions, I indeed much dislike the immodesty, and immoralities of them; But for free and ingenious exchange of the Reasons of our particular Sentiments, 'tis that which discovers Truth, improves Knowledge, and may be so managed as to be no disinterest to Charity. Your Grace Madam, I know is a Person of so much Honour and Judgement, as not to take any thing amiss from my liberty in expressing my apprehensions, which I use not to obtrude upon any, but to propose to their Consideration and Inquiries; and for myself there is nothing obligeth me more than the knowledge of variety of Conceptions. There is a Discourse of mine extant upon a Subject not very ordinary, which contains Notions which some excellent Persons have not despised, and are not usually met with in other Writings. I am enquiring after it for your Grace, and as soon as I can procure one (which is not very easy, that being out of Print) I shall submit it to your Grace's Judgement. I never saw that Book of Experimental Philosophy, which your Grace mentions. And to this, Madam, I have no more to add at present, but that I am  
Bath, Aug. 25. Your Grace's most Humble Honourer and Servant, Jos. Glanvill.  
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,  
IT was most fit and equal that as your great Name and Merit transcends the glories of other Persons; it should be also as singular in its Description; and have an Historian some way proportioned both in Honour and unparallelled Capacities to its self: which just felicity having happened to your Grace, by the Pen of your Illustrious Princess, it remained that one narrow dialect, should not confine that Relation to this our Island, which was to give Example to the Heroes of all Nations. And now that in this respect also, your Name is happily Consecrated to Eternity, We of this Place, are to look upon it as a signal Honour, to be made Sacrists to it: and to think it a particular Reward of our suffering in that cause, which you so gloriously asserted, and accompanied in its fall, to be judged a proper repository, for the Noblest History of its greatest and most busy transactions, and of the Person most gloriously concerned in them. And certainly while Oxford is an University of Loyalty, as well as Learning, which I hope it will never forget to be, your Grace's virtues and atchivements, will be their equal argument of Study, and Imitation: as now your Favours are of their most grateful recognition and acknowledgement: which in their behalf, with all possible Devotion, are laid at your Grace's Feet, by  
Dec. 26. Your Grace's Most Obedient most Humble, And most Faithful Servant, J. Fell.  
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,  
IT was my misfortune to be abroad in Kent when the Letter wherewith your Grace vouchsafed to Honour me, came to London. And therefore as I came late to taste the Pleasure of so high a Favour, I hope your Grace will permit me to plead that delay in excuse of this slow return of my most humble Acknowledgements and Thanks for it. My most Noble Lord (were it not known by experience that great Persons, and great Minds, are most apt to stoop from their own height, and own mean and inconsiderable services offered to them) I should say it was too low a Condescension in your Grace, to take notice of my readiness to comply with your Desires: Wherein (beside the discharge of my Duty) I did likewise serve the ends of my Ambition; it having ever been the Vanity of Soldiers to think themselves dignified by the Honours done to their General. This made me with great Delight employ myself in Designing that for your Grace, which I should be sorry to live to accomplish, being already unhappy enough, in Burying too many Princes. For the thing itself I am glad to see the King do that which is so decent and worthy of him, as to order your Grace a Tomb among the Kings, who have always been so near to him, and who stood up so close to his Father in extremity of Danger, and so bravely, that had not God designed to restore the Crown, in his own Miraculous way, it had certainly been done before by your Hand. However your Grace hath prepared for yourself a more Noble, and more lasting Monument, in the Fame of your Heroic Actions, of some of them I had the happiness to be an Eye-witness, upon which pretence I humbly beg the Honour to retain unto your Grace in the Quality of  
Bromley in Kent, July 2. 1671 My LORD, Your Grace's most Obedient Soldier and Servant, Joh. Roffen.  
To the Incomparable Princess, MARGARET, Duchess of NEWCASTLE.  
MADAM,  
AMong many other things, by which your Grace is pleased to distinguish yourself from other Writers, this seems to be not the least remarkable; that whereas they employ only their wit, labour, and time, in composing Books, You bestow also great sums of Money in Printing Yours: and not content to enrich our Heads alone, with your rare Notions, you go higher, and adorn our Libraries, with your elegant Volumes. To that general Charity, which disposeth you to benefit all Mankind, you have added a singular Bounty, whereby you oblige particular Persons: and out of a Nobleness peculiar to your Nature, you cause your Munificence to Rival your Industry.  
This, Madam, among many other your Excellencies, Gratitude commands me to acknowledge; Your Grace having been pleased to number me among those, whom you vouchsased to honour with such extraordinary Presents. For which I know not how to show myself duly thankful, otherwise than by celebrating your Generosity, and returning you some account of the good effects they wrought in me, while I perused them. Which considering the Noble End for which you wrote them, and my inability to make you a more proportionate retribution; will not, I hope, be unacceptable to you. To this purpose, therefore, I am bold to send your Grace this rude Paper. Which yet I design, not as a Panegyric of your worth (for what affects us with admiration, strikes us also with dumbness: and Stars are best discerned by their own lustre) but as a short Scheme of my own grateful Sentiments. And if I be not so happy, to deliver them in Language agreeable to the dignity of the Subject, I humbly beseech you to consider, that such occasions offer themselves very rarely; and that nothing is more difficult, than to make the Pen observe Decorum, where Reason is put into disorder, Justice, Madam, requires you should pardon the effects of that astonishment, whereof your Wonders are the cause.  
They tell us, that the End of all Books is either profit, or pleasure: but I think that distinction (as many other in the Schools) might well be spared: because, in truth, profit supposeth pleasure; and pleasure is the greatest profit; nor am I ashamed to profess, that in all my reading I have no other aim but pleasure. It will not then, I hope, Madam, be thought derogatory to the Profitableness of your Grace's Books, If I acknowledge myself to have received very great pleasure in reading them. And this pleasure was so charming, it so far transported me, as often to make me wish, you might never entertain a resolution of causing your works to be Translated into any other Language: that so all Ingenious Foreigners, invited by the Fame of your most delightful Writings, might be brought to do Honour to the English Tongue, by learning it on purpose to understand them. For I am zealous for the Reputation of my native Language, and of so communicative a temper, as to desire all men should participate of what I find delectable. Besides, I could not but remember, that I had known a great Man of our Nation, who studied Italian, only to acquaint himself with the Mathematics of Galileo, in his Del Movimento, and Saggiatore; and Spanish, merely out of love to the Incomparable History of Don Quixot: and was thereupon the more apt to promise myself that your Grace's Works, no less admirable in their kind, than either of those, would have the like influence upon some of the Bons Esprits beyond Sea. But this, Madam, was only my Wish: it is not now my Counsel. Should I here particularly recount to you, what the things were, that raised this so great delight in me, I should both offend by prolixity, and tacitly cast disparagement upon the rest. For,  
Pauperis est, numerare Pecus,  
He is but poor, who can account his Wealth:  
And what the witty Roman Stoic said of the excellent sayings of Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus and other Princes of that Sect, may be conveniently accommodated to the delightful Remarks every where occurring in your Books, viz. That no choice can be made, where all things are equally Eminent. However, because there is no satisfaction in Generals, and that Order is necessary to plainness: give me leave to divide my Text into three parts, your Natural Philosophy, your Morals, and your Poetry.  
For your NATURAL Philosophy; it is ingenious and free, and may be, for aught I know, Excellent: but give me leave, Madam, to confess, I have not yet been so happy, as to discover much therein that's Apodictical, or wherein I think myself much obliged to acquiesce. But, that may be the the fault of my own dull Brain: and Oracles have been after found true, that were at first Dark and Enigmatical. Again I am somewhat slow of belief also; a continual seeker: as conceiving, I have too much cause to be of Seneca's opinion, that Men may, indeed inquire and determine what is most probable, but God alone knows what's true, in the things of Nature. Nor am I single in this Sceptical Judgement. The ROYAL SOCIETY itself (the Tribunal of Philosophical Doctrines) is of a constitution exceedingly strict and rigid in the examination of Theories concerning Nature; no respecter of Persons or Authorities, where Verity is concerned; seldom, or never yielding assent without full conviction: and that's the Reason why it made choice of these three Words for its Motto, Nullius in verba.  
This Madam, can be no discredit to your Philosophy in particular, because common to all others: and he is a bold Man, who dares to exempt the Physics of Aristotle himself, or of Democritus, or Epicurus, or Des Cartes, or Mr. Hobbs, or any other hitherto known. For my part, Seriously, I should be loath to affirm, that they are any other but ingenious Comments of men's Wits upon the dark and inexplicable Text of the World; plausible Conjectures at best; and no less different, perhaps, from the true History of Nature, than Romances are from the true actions of Heroes. Nor will I adventure to determine, which of the two, Aristotle or your Grace, hath given us the best definition of the Humane Soul: He, when he calls it Entelechia; or you when you say, it is a Supernatural something, etc. So difficult is it to make a judgement of what seems incomprehensible.  
Nor are you to be discouraged, Madam, If your Philosophy have not the fate to be publicly read in all Universities of Europe, as your Grace, doubtless out of a most Heroic ambition to benefit Mankind, desires it should. For, while Men are Men, there will be different Interests, and consequently different Opinions: nor is the multitude of Followers a certain sign of the Soundness, but of the Gainfulness of any Doctrine. If, therefore, the World, which is obstinate (you know) and governed by prejudice, will not be induced to esteem, what you think useful; the blame lies not at your Door, and you ought to consolate yourself with this reflection; that you have sufficiently testified your good intentions, and done more than your Duty, in publishing your Conceptions. Besides, the Virtuosos of our English Universities have, of late years, proclaimed open War against the tyranny of Dogmatizing in any Art or Science: and as for those of the Roman Religion; there is, I fear me, but little hope, of making them your Proselytes. Because those canting Politicians, called Schoolmen, having made a new and particoloured Vest for the Church, of a kind of Drugget, consisting of the Thrums of Peripatetic Philosophy, cunningly interwoven among the Golden threads of the Christian Faith; and prevailed, upon Princes to make it Piacular for any Scholar to appear with his Judgement clad in any other Livery: it is not very unlikely, the Professors there will soon be brought to offend their Superiors, by laying aside the defence of Aristotle's Maxims, to assume the Patronage of New. So that in my silly conceit, as the Cabbage is observed to starve the Vine, if set too near: so the Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas and others of the same mystical Tribe, will hinder the growth of yours, in the same Ground.  
For your MORAL Philosophy (for so I take liberty to call your occasional Reflections upon the Actions, Manners, and Fortunes of Men) Your Grace has not, indeed tied up your Pen to the laborious rules of Method, or the formality of a new Systeme in Ethics: but (what is as well) you have opportunely, and under various heads, dispersed many useful remarks, concerning Prudence, as well Civil, as Domestic, in most of your Writings. And this, it may be presumed, you were pleased to do, not for want of Skill to reduce your rules of life into the order of dependence and connexion; but with design, to show your plenty, and surprise your Readers with good counsel even where they lest expect it. You chose rather to regale us with delicate Fictions, under the veil whereof wholesome instructions are neatly contrived, than to embarass and tyre us with the observation ofa long train of Precepts, which are never so effectual, as when naturally flowing from agreeable Instances and Examples: Your very interludes contain advisoes, and your digressions are seasonably instructive: like wise Husbandmen, you plant Fruit-Trees in your Hedgerows, and set Strawberries and Raspberries among your Roses and Lilies. This, Madam, is a piece of no small art, though not obvious to common Eyes: and if any dislike the course you have taken in thus scattering and disguising your Morals; I would have him asked this Question, Whether or no it be folly for a man to refuse to gather Oranges and Citrons, only because the trees that offer them, are not ranged in the Order of Cyrus' Quincunx? or whether a Nosegay be less fragrant, because plucked from Flowers growing dispersedly? To all who have read your Comical Tales, with the same purity of Mind, with which you wrote them, and are withal qualified to search into the Mythology of all your imaginary Dialogues: to all such, I say, it is evident, that you have drawn the Images of all the Virtues, on one hand, and their opposite Vices, on the other, so much to the life; that men, beholding them, must be, by grateful violence, compelled to love the Pulchritude of those, and abhor the deformity of these. Now, this, Madam, you could not have done had you not first had the Ideas of all Virtues within yourself: it being absolutely necessary for a Painter, first to conceive the form or similitude of the thing he intends to represent, in his own Imagination; and then to make the resemblance according to that form. So that in strictness of truth, those Pictures we call Originals, are but Copies, yea Copies of Copies: as being first drawn from the life in the fantasy, and after portrayed upon Tables. Besides this, your Grace is further happy, in that the Morals of your Pen are clearly exemplified in those of your Life; in which I have never heard any thing blamed, any thing disputed, unless whether it hath been more Innocent, or more Obliging. In fine, the Documents of both your Pen and Life seem to be so good, that whoever is able to moderate his Passions, and regulate his Actions by them, needs not to seek further after Happiness: nor need I fear to pronounce him arrived at such perfection, that it will not be easy for him to be brought to do ill, either out of Weakness, or out of Design.  
For your POETRY; therein your Grace hath more than a single advantage above others.  
First, Your Vein appears equally facile, equally free, and copious upon all occasions, in all sorts of arguments. The Buskin and the Sock are equally fit for your Muse's Legs. Your Fancy is too generous to be restrained: Your Invention too nimble to be fettered. Hence it is, that you do not always confine your Sense to Verse; nor your Verses to Rhythme; nor your Rhythme to the quantity and sounds of Syllables. Your Descriptions, Expressions, Similes, Allegories, Metaphors, Epithets, Numbers, all flow in upon you of their own accord, and in full Tides: and Verses stand ready minted in the Treasury of your Brain, as Tears in some women's Eyes, waiting to be called forth. So that in you is verified the Doctrine of Plato, in his Dialogue entitled Io; that Poesy is not a faculty proceeding from judgement, or acquired by labour and industry; but a certain divine Fury, or Enthusiasm, which scorning the control of Reason, transports the Spirit in Raptures, as Jove's Eagle did Ganymed, or as Witches are said to be wafted above the Clouds on the wings of their Familiars. Which is, perhaps, the ground of that old saying, nemo fit Poeta, no Poet is made, but born so: as the rage and liberty of a Poetic Genius gave occasion to paint Pegasus with Wings, in a flying posture, and without a Bridle.  
Secondly, In your whole Oglio of Poems, I find nothing which is not entirely Your own. Like good Housewives in the Country, you, make a Feast wholly of your own provisions: yea, even the Dressing, Sauces, and Garniture of the Dishes are Your own. And were Perilius Faustinus revived (he, who out of envy to the Glory of Virgil, made and published a large Catalogue of his Thefts from Homer and Hesiod) he could hardly discover so much as a single Verse borrowed, by you, from any Poet, ancient or modern. So circumspect you are to avoid being thought a Plagiary, that you walk not in beaten Paths, but decline even the rules and methods of your Predecessors, and scorn Imitation, as a kind of Theft. A commendation, Madam, due to very few, perhaps to none besides yourself. As your Grace, therefore, owes all your Poesy to the inspiration of your own happy Genius alone; so we owe all the Pleasure we are sensible of in reading your Poems, to you alone. I may have many rivals in these my thankful acknowledgements, you can have no Competitor in the Glory of their occasions.  
This double Felicity is augmented by the accession of two others, no less worthy admiration. One is, that as you have made yourself an Original, so are you likewise secure from being Copied. You have indeed, given the world an illustrious Example; but you have given what it cannot take, the Example being of that height, that it is hardly attainable. You provoke our Emulation, and at the same time cast us into despair. Your Poetical Fancies rather brave, than instruct our capacities: and by setting before our Eyes things inimitable, you vex our ambition, and oblige us to an unprofitable trouble.  
Another is, that you exceed all of your delicate Sex, not only in this age, but in all ages past. It would puzzle the best Historian to find your Parallel among the most famous Women: and in the Monuments of the Roman greatness, even while that Glorious Nation held the Empire as well of Virtue and Wit, as that of the World, I cannot meet with an Heroine, to whom I dare to compare you. There are, I confess, who tell us of a Noble Roman Lady, one Sulpitia, who composed a History of Domitian's times, in Hexametre Verses, and wrote many Elegant Poems besides; and who hath been highly celebrated by Martial, Tibullus, Sidonius Apollinaris, and of late by Scaliger also, as an eminent Pattern both of a chaste and Immaculate Life, and of a neat Poetical Wit: and once I had some thoughts of drawing a Parallel betwixt that Lady and your Grace. But, upon a second examination of the particular Remarks, wherein I had fancied the resemblance chiefly to consist; and a more serious review of the Story of her Life, and the remains of her Pen, (extant among the Fragments of Latin Poets, and usually annexed to Petronius Arbiter) I perceived, I could not proceed in that resolution, without disadvantage on your part, by a conference so unequal; and thereupon resumed my former cogitation, that your Grace's Statue ought to be placed alone, and at the upper end, in the Gallery of Heroic Women, and upon a Pedestal more advanced than the rest. We read not that Nature hath been so Prodigal of her choicest Largesses, as to produce two Cicero's, or two Virgil's, or two Ben Johnson's: why, then, should we seek after your Equal? It was their glory to be single: and it must be yours, to have no Peer, for aught we know, you are the First great Lady, that ever Wrote so much and so much of your own: and, for aught we can divine, you will also be the Last.  
These, Madam, are a few of those swarms of thoughts that crowded into my unquiet Head, when I proposed to myself to express some part at least of the great Honour and Reverence I owe your Grace. If I have so far obeyed the impulse of my Gratitude and Devotion, as to put them into Words, and offer them to your knowledge; it was not, I assure you, out of a vain conceit, that they were answerable either to your vast Merits, or to my Obligations; but merely upon Confidence, you would descend to exercise your Goodness and Candour, in receiving them as a simple recognition of both. And if I have suppressed the rest; it was out of good Manners, and a due fear of farther offending your Patience. I am not ignorant, Madam, that our Prayers to God, and our Addresses to Princes ought to be short. Resigning you, therefore, to the conversation of your own more ingenious and useful thoughts, and to the Tranquill Fruition of those intellectual pleasures, that continually spring up in you from the Virtues of your Life, and the Fame of your Writings; ay most humbly beg your favourable Interpretation of what I have here weakly said, and with all Submission imaginable, cast myself at your Feet, as becomes  
Your Graces, Just Honourer, and most Entirely Devoted Servant, Walter Charleton. From my House in Covent-Garden May 7. 1667.  
MADAM,  
I Had the Honour to hear so good Solutions given by your Excellency upon divers Questions moved in a whole Afternoon, you was pleased to bestow upon my unworthy Conversation, that I am turning to School with all speed, humbly beseeching your Excellence may be so bountiful towards my Ignorance, as to Instruct me about the Natural Reason of those Wonderful Glasses, which, as I told you, Madam, will fly into Powder, if one breaks but the least top of their tails: whereas without that way they are hardly to be broken by any weight or strength. The King of France is, as yet unresolved in the Question, notwithstanding he hath been curious to move it to an Assembly of the best Philosophers of Paris, the Microcosm of his Kingdom. Your Excellence hath no cause to apprehend the cracking blow of these little innoxious Guns. If you did, Madam, a Servant may hold them close in his Fist, and yourself can break the little end of their Tail without the least danger. But, as I was bold to tell your Excellence, I should be loath to believe any Female Fear should reign amongst so much over-masculine Wisdom, as the World doth admire in you. I pray God to bless your Excellence with a daily increase of it, and your worthy self to grant, that among those Admirers, I may strive to deserve, by way of my humble Service, the Honour to be accounted,  
Hague, March 12. 1657. MADAM, Your Excellencies most Humble and most Obedient Servant 
 Huygens de Zulichem.  
I have made bold to join unto these a couple of poor Epigrams I did meditate in my Journey hither, where your Excellencies Noble Tales were my best entertainment. I hope Madam, you will perceive the intention of them, through the Mist of a Language I do but harp and guess at.  
MOST EXCELLENT PRINCESS,  
THe Obligations by which your Grace has eminently engaged your Servants in particular, and in General the whole world, or at least the Judicious and Civil part of it, are so many and great, that to ennumerate them to this present Age may seem a large History, and to Generations to come a real Romance. The happiness was so great we received the last year, when we had, by your Grace's Permission, the Honour to pay our Duties to your happy self, that the Contemplation of it by your Grace's absence, adds the more to our Infelicity. But we shall not wholly despair to be restored to the same capacity of waiting on your Grace, which we are extremely ambitious of: In the mean time presenting my Wife's most humble Service to your Grace, I take the confidence to subscribe myself,  
April, 22. 1668. MADAM, Your Graces very great Honourer, And most Devoted Humble Servant, BERKLEY.  
MY LORD,  
IT is not Strange to me that your Grace is pleased to surprise me with such obliging civilities which are so essential to your Nature, and made customary by so many frequent Habits, that it were as difficult for your Grace not to do Acts like your great self, as it is for others (especially in this degenerating Age) to imitate yours. I return your Grace my most humble Thanks for the high Honour and Favour of your Books, received by myself, and Son, which are much to be valued by judicious Persons, for the worth contained therein, and rendered most Illustrious, for the great Author's sake, who will be much admired, not only by the present Age, but by all succession of Ages, as long as Loyalty, Sincerity, and high Acts of Honour are esteemed by Men, and have any attractive Power, My Lord, I most humbly beseech your Grace to believe me to be  
Berkeley-House at St. John's, April 22. 1668. Your Grace's high Honourer, And most Obedient Servant, BERKELEY.  
MY LORD,  
THe Right your Grace has to be a Supreme Patron of Poesy, is given you, from your Affection to the Muses, and the excellent merit of your own Compositions, which have so many ways beautified Poesy, and delighted our Theatres, as they have received from your Wit (if possible) equal Glory with your other Gallantries and Actions, which have so much honoured our Nation; for this Cause I must beg your Grace's Pardon, that I presume, to present you with this inconsiderable Poem of mine, of which (though I wanted not Inclination) I durst not adventure a direct Dedication to your Grace, with whom I had not the Honour of an Acquaintance sufficient to encourage such a boldness, as also some doubt, it might not deserve a Patronage from so excellent a Poet, which made me rather venture its public Dedication to this Honourable Person of my Alliance, I have mentioned before my Book, though this my private Address to your Grace, must be my greater Ambition, since you are not only a most accomplished Judge, but an Author: yet I presume to say that your Grace may challenge some concernment in this Poem, as it treats of the past Glory of our Ancestors; in which the Antiquity, and Honour of your Blood, could not but have a high Renown: and as your Grace has scarce a Parallel, in all Acts of Generosity, and Nobleness, so your Incomparable Lady, doth no less excel in her Quality, and Sex, (the unequalled Daughter of the Muses) besides all other her voluminous Productions, which complete the Wonder of her Name, to whom I have presumed to present, likewise, with your Lordship, a Book of my Poem, as an expression to both your Graces, how much you are Honoured by,  
May 3. 1669. My LORD Your Graces Very Humble Servant, Edward Howard.  
MADAM,  
I Owe it to your Grace's singular condescension, and goodness, that my Letters are not displeasing, and I see a great deal of Generosity, in your Grace's acceptance, of such mean things, as my slender stock of Knowledge can impart. As for your Inquiry about the Plastic Faculties; I Answer, that they are those, whereby the Body is form at first, and by which the Alimental Juices, are after, through the whole course of Life, orderly distributed for the purposes of growth and nutrition: But whether, as your Grace inquires, they are Faculties inherent, in the Soul, or are only Mechanical Motions of the Body I cannot determine certainly. But I rather incline to the Platonists, who will have the Soul to be the Body's Maker, and they affirm (as is ordinary; though with some diversity in the Names and Presentation) That there are three sorts of Faculties, which they Fancy as Analogous parts, or Regions in the Soul, (Viz.) The Mind, so they call the highest Faculties of abstract Reason, and Understanding, which is the First. The Second they call the Soul, (Viz.) as it is united to the Body, and exerciseth the operation of Sense. The Third, is the Image of the Soul, which is those Faculties, that are called Plastical, that move and turn the Body, but are devoid of Understanding, or Sense; Now how the Soul, which is Immaterial, can manage and order Corporeal Motions is a difficulty of which Philosophy as yet hath given no account, as I have particularly taken notice, and proved in my Sceptis Scientifica, but yet the thing ought not therefore to be denied, because the manner of the most obvious sensible things is to us unknown; And by this we can only prove, that we have yet no certain Theory of Nature: And, in good earnest, Madam, all that we can hope for, as yet, is but the History of things as they are, but to say how they are, to raise general Axioms, and to make Hypotheses, must, I think, be the happy privilege of succeeding Ages; when they shall have gained a larger account of the Phoenomena, which yet are too scant and defective to raise Theories upon: so that to be ingenious and confess freely, we have yet no such thing as Natural Philosophy; Natural History is all we can pretend to; and that too, as yet, is but in its Rudiments, the advance of it your Grace knows is the design and buisiness of the Royal Society; from whom we may reasonably at last expect better grounds for general Doctrines, than any the World yet hath been acquainted with; but this, Madam, is an excursion. I therefore return to your Grace's Letter, which inquires some things, about my Notion of the Souls Original: As to this I would not be understood to affirm peremptorily a thing, which the greatest part of Men, neither have, nor can receive, only I consider it as an Hypothesis, that may be taken up to satisfy those minds that are much troubled at the seeming inequalities of Providence; and whether true, or false, this I will take the boldness to be confident in, That the Doctrine of the Souls Praeexistence, doth best suit with the appearances of the World. And best Answers for the Divine Justice and Goodness, in all the affairs of Providence; In this Madam, I am a little Dogmatical, and this step further, I think I may take, without immodesty; That the Doctrine hath so much to say for itself, from Reason, and the highest Antiquity, as to render it fit to be considered, and indeed, since the two other ways, are confessedly desperate, methinks there should be no harm in examining this; which is all I pretend to. But particularly to your Grace's Quaery, Whether were Souls Created or Uncreated? I Answer, no doubt Created: But then I do not see how that follows, which your Grace is pleased to infer, Viz. That Sin was then Created, For our Souls in their State were Spotless and Innocent, as the Angels of God. That Mankind was so first, and fell by a voluntary Transgression, is the common Doctrine; and how we may suppose it was particularly in the way of Praeexistence, your Grace will see easily, when I shall have procured that Book of mine, I have mentioned, and promised your Grace, but cannot yet light on. The other part also of your Grace's Division: Viz. That if those Souls were Eternal, they are Gods; is I humbly conceive a mistake likewise, since though the World, had been Created from Eternity (which even the Schools confess possible) it had nevertheless been a Creature, by reason of its dependence upon another, for its being, and to have been produced, and yet from Eternity, is no absurdity, our Faith affirms it, in the Eternal Generation of the Son, and Procession of the Holy-Ghost, and to take an instance with which we may make more bold: If the Sun had been from Eternity no doubt it would have shone Eternally, and yet its Beams had been effects and dependent; And whereas your Grace saith again, That what is Immaterial is a God: I must here also take the boldness, to enter my Dissent to your Proposition; Indeed Mr. Hobbs denys all Immateriality to Created Being's, but I think upon grounds precarious and unsafe, That our Souls are Immaterial in their Natures, hath been sufficiently proved by some late Philosophers; particularly by the most learned Dr. H. Moor, and I also have done something about this, in my Book of Praeexistence, If your Grace demands my Reasons; they shall be ready at the least intimation, of those commands which I shall ever account a singular Honour to observe. For the antiquity of Praeexistence, which your Grace rightly observes, to be no certain Argument of the truth of it, I humbly say I have not alleged it, for a demonstration of the thing, but to take off the prejudice we are apt to have against all supposed Novelties, and to show that it is not so despicable, an Hypothesis but that several great minds of former times, even in the Ages of the best Antiquity have owned a kindness for it, and consequently that we cannot, without some immodesty, deny it a favourable hearing, But madam, I forget myself, and the consideration I ought to have of your Grace's Time and Patience, and therefore only add, that I am,  
Bath, Octob. 13. 1667. Illustrious Madam, Your Grace's Most Obedient Servant, Jos. Glanvill  
MY LORD,  
HAd I not been out of Town a great part of the last Summer, and almost all this Winter, I had written to your Grace long since. The Town might have furnished me with occasions of writing that had not been impertinent. For only to say that I am the humblest of your Grace's Servants, and that no man has a greater Honour for you than I have, would be Impertinent, since all that know me, know it of me already, and I hope your Grace believes it. But (my Lord) the Printing of the Humourists has given me a new occasion of troubling you, and desiring your Favour to be an Advocate, for me, to my Lady Duchess, to procure me her Pardon, and a favouroble reception of that little Comedy. My Lord, (as long as you are so great a Maecenas) it will be impossible to defend yourself from the Importunate Addresses of Poets: And Poetry is in such a declining condition, that it has need of such Noble Supporters as are at Welbeck: Your Grace saw this Comedy (before the Sting was taken out) and was pleased to approve it, which is to me more than the Plaudit of a Theatre: As it is, it stands more in need of Pardon, and Protection, which I hope your Grace, and my Lady Duchess will have the Mercy to afford it. I have (in this Play) only shown what I would do if I had the liberty to write a general satire, which (though it should really reflect upon no particular persons, yet) I find the Age is too faulty to endure it. If, for this reason, I were not tied to too great a strictness for a Poet, I should not despair of presenting you with something much more worth your view than this mangled Play; but all that I can do can never make any proportionable return to the favours, received from you, by,  
London, April 20. 1671. My LORD, Your Graces most Obliged Humble Servant, Tho. Shadwell.  
MADAM,  
I Am to beg your Graces Pardon for myself, and this imperfect Piece, for which I have borrowed the Patronage of your Name; I am not ignorant of the disadvantage that Name might appear with (before such a Trifle as this Play) if it were not too well known, and had been too often prefixed to excellent Pieces of your own to suffer any detraction now: This Dedication will only in some measure express the Honour that the Humblest of your Servants has for your Grace, and the Power you have to protect so defenceless a Poem. But (Madam) I confess it is too great a Presumption, for me, to hope that your Grace (that makes so good use of your time with your own Pen) can have so much to throw away as once to read this little offspring of mine: And (but that before I found not only Pardon for an Offence of this kind but encouragement) I should despair of having this forgiven. When none of all the Nobility of England gives encouragement to Wit, but my Lord Duke and your excellent self, you are pleased to receive favourably and encourage the very endeavours towards it: and under that notion this poor Play begs your Pardon and Reception. Though it met with opposition from the Malice of one party, yet several men of Wit were kind to it. But whatsoever opposition threatens that, or me, it can never prejudice either, if that be Protected by your Grace, and I be thought what I really am,  
London, April 20. 1671. MADAM, Your Grace's most Humbly Devoted Servant, Tho. Shadwell.  
MADAM,  
BEing an Hundred and fifty Miles from London, at a place called Chaddeston, near Manchester: I had an account, but the last Post, of the receipt of your Graces Noble present: otherwise you had received a more early Acknowledgement with my humble Thanks; which are all the return I can make for that, and many other Favours I have received from Welbeck: It had been Bounty enough (and as much as I could have expected) for your Grace to have Pardoned the presumption of my Dedication, which entitled you to the Patronage of so slight a thing: but to reward my Crime, is beyond expression Generous. Thus your Grace, like Heaven, rewards the intention without considering the imperfection of the Act. My Design was, in some measure, to testify my Gratitude, and the Honour I have for your Grace: but even this Acknowledgement has run me more in debt. Your Grace is thus resolved to be beforehand with all your Servants. Let them be never so diligent, your Benefits will outgo their Services; and they can never overtake your Bounty. ay, for my part, am in despair of ever coming near it: But nothing shall ever hinder me from making use of all occasions, I can lay hold on, to testify the great Honour I have for my Lord Duke, and your Grace, and that I am,  
MADAM, Your Grace's most Humble, and most Obedient Servant 
 Tho. Shadwell. May, 25. 1671.  
MADAM,  
COnsidering that the Divine Gods accept of Offerings, though never so trivial, when that their poor and obliged Creatures offer them with true Devotion, incourages me here, by your Favours and Goodness, to believe alike of your Ladyship, and to hope your Pardon and acceptance of this Sacrifice of Thanks, which in all Humility I thus Dedicate for the Honour of your Book, of which I dare not say I am now unworthy, since I find where it comes, it has the Efficacy of Great Seals, and Patents, to meliorate both Persons and Places, and such Esteem and Reverence as they come welcomed with, I must always and much more account due to your Ladyship's Orations, and to be Eternally paid by,  
MADAM, Your Ladyship's Most Devoted, Humble, and Obliged Servant, Bullingbrooke.  
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS,  
THough deprived so many years of your most Noble Presence, yet left your Grace so perfect an Idea in our Thoughts of your great Virtue, and those rare faculties of your Understanding, wherewith Nature hath adorned your Grace, so that we ever do admire the same, it being often our most pleasing delight to discourse thereof, besides the remembrance of your many great and undeserved Favours formerly received; and though we stand infinitely Obliged for the same unto your Grace, yet you are pleased to increase our Obligations, by Honouring us with the Noble Gift of five several Books together, of your Graces last Edition, which especially for what belongs to those Sublime matters of Natural Philosophy are only for the most Learned, and Judicious Understandings, and for us to admire, and keep them as a singular mark of your Graces great Benevolency toward us, and an Emblem of your high Perfections, after our Lives to be left as a Testimony of the same. In the mean time we humbly entreat your Grace to preserve us all in your good Opinion, and Honour me with a belief that I am as long as I live, to the utmost of my weak Ability,  
Your Graces, Most Humble and most Obedient Servant, J. Duartes. Antwerp, Octob. 20. 1671. My Sisters with the tender of their most Obedient Service, Humbly kiss your Grace's Hand.  
MADAM,  
UNto the Rich and Incomparable Present of your Excellency's Works, wherewith you have been pleased to Honour the University, I have, by the special appointment of Mr. Vicechancellor, given a just reception; which word I confess we could not use without being guilty of great rudeness, but that we have placed them by that Illustrious Piece wherewith his Excellency your Renowned Lord had before Honoured us, which is itself Incomparable. Indeed Madam, the University finds herself oppressed herein with so many Obligations in one, that She knows not where to begin her Acknowledgements; as considering, that not only her Repositories are dignified to be the Cabinet of so rich a Jewel, but that She is singled out by your Excellency, and valued above the rest of the World for her Approbation, and (as your Excellency pleases to style it) to be a Judge of it. Alas, Madam, that is an Office we dare not assume, not only without censure of Arrogance, but even of Impropriety; for seeing that every one is to be judged by their Peers, who shall undertake to be Judge of that that hath no Peer? We may see other things by the Light, but to perceive the Light itself we cannot call for another Light; so neither may this gallant Work be Judged but by its own Innate Excellency, and the splendour itself carries in it. No, Madam, 'tis Honour enough for us that we are taught by it, we will not usurp upon it; and shall count it our Pride and not our Shame to be outdone by so Transcendent an Example. We acknowledge that we are become instructed in the Sciences which our selves profess; Philosophy, Oratory, Physic, Poetry, we write them over our Doors, but we find them herein at a far cheaper rate sent home to those Doors, and that by a hardiness of Invention which your Excellency first hath showed unto the World, and that an easy one too, by sending us to that common and neglected Mistress, even Nature herself, to whose Benignity if we would confide (as your Excellency hath done) we should make far greater Progresses in the ways of Knowledge and Wisdom (as likewise your Excellency hath done) than through all the tedious Disciplines wherewith we are detained and vexed in our rugged Nurseries. Two things do justly leave us, Madam, under a surprise and admiration of your Excellencies great Production; First, that it should proceed from a Person of so high Honour and Fortune; for Ignorance in such things as those is appointed by the World unto such Estates, and thought a kind of Prerogative belonging unto Wealth: And next, that it should proceed from a Sex unaccustomed to, and commonly excused from such painful and elevated Inquisitions. For (as your Excellency hath observed) men do assign to your Sex nothing but vanities, and Trifles for their Portion, and under colour of Courtship do confine them in their Education only to some inferior Qualities, and so in effect but to a kind of delicate Barbarism: But herein your Excellency hath showed great Courage in breaking through that Obstruction, and by a Female and unusual Chivalry have rescued your whole Nation and Sex from the oppression and injury in this point, and of that great Giant, the World. For our part of your University, we must needs subscribe to your Excellency's judgement herein, for 'tis the Muses were esteemed our best Genius's and Sciences did choose unto themselves for their Deities not Patrons but Patronesses: and our Corporation of Learning, though it consist all of Men, yet when we would express it in the Abstract and in Picture we represent it by a Woman. And in fine, myself, Madam, (who am allowed the Honour to be the Custos of your immortal Donary) must be obliged to borrow from a Woman's Eloquence exemplified in the Work itself, whereby to express worthily the Resentments due unto it by those that have employed me, and particularly mine own, who am,  
May 20. 1663. MADAM, Your Excellencies most Humble and Devoted Servant, Thomas Lockey, Keeper of the Public Library.  
MADAM,  
EVer since I had the happiness to see any of your Grace's most ingenious Writings, I have felt a mighty Desire to speak my particular gratitude for those singular Composures to all which the World is obliged; And had attempted something towards it more than three years since, but that my acknowledgements miscarried in the way. I am, Madam, an Admirer of Rarities, and your Grace is really so great an one, that I cannot but endeavour some Testimony of a proportioned respect and wonder, though perhaps there may be Indecorum in the boldness of such unknown Addresses. I am sensible it can contribute nothing to your Grace's great stock of Fame to be acknowledged by inconsiderable Persons; But yet we must be just, and 'tis Religion to celebrate the Virtuous. And I know your Grace is too generous to contemn the offerings of the meanest Devoto's, upon the encouragement of which Belief I am bold to beg Favour and acceptance for a Trifle of mine that was designed for your Grace, as soon as it saw the Light, but could not find its way into the North. I should not have the confidence to present so mean a thing to so deep and Sagatious a Judgement, had I not an opinion of your Grace's Candour and Goodness, equal to my apprehension of your other Celebrated Perfections; and these are so Illustrious and so great, that our Sex would envy, did they not admire, and your own too, Madam, were they not universally concerned in the Honour. For your Grace hath convinced the World, by a great instance, that Women may be Philosophers, and, to a Degree fit for the Ambitious emulation of the most improved Masculine Spirits.  
But, Madam, 'tis time to beg your Graces Pardon for the rudeness of this bold intrusion; and I know, that grandeur and generosity of Mind that occasioned the fault, will forgive it to  
Bath, April 22. Illustrious Madam, The Humblest of your Grace's Admirers, and Servants, Jos. Glanvill.  
MADAM,  
THe greatest Favour I could have expected in Answer to my boldness, was but a pardon for the confidence of that intrusion; But that your Grace should so generously accept my Trifles, and make me so Glorious a return as I received in your most ingenious Letters, this, Madam, was an Honour as much beyond my expectation, as desert; and exceeds all my possibilities of acknowledgement. But if ever any thing happen within the reach of my endeavours, by which I may serve or gratify your Grace, I shall then give evidence of the great resentment I have of this condescension, and the Veneration which is due to a Person of so obliging and so unusual a Virtue. Your Grace, I know, is Nobly inquisitive, and hath a rich stock of generous Apprehensions; and Persons of this Character use to be pleased in the perusal of the variety of others Conceptions; And on this account I presume, that those notions I sometimes entertain myself with, may not be unacceptable, being not altogether of the road and common tract. And if your Grace please to permit, and pardon my Importunities, I shall take occasion to give you my sense of some things that are not of the meanest concernments. For the present I am obliged to answer the particulars of your Grace's Letter, in which your Grace hath very much obliged me by those arguments you are pleased to excuse; and to them I make this humble return.  
1. That whereas your Grace calls the Inducements to the belief of Witches, probable Arguments, I am apt, with submission, to think some of them to be as great demonstrations as matter of Fact can bear; being no less than the evidence of the Senses, and Oaths of sober Attestors, and the critical inquiries of Sagacious, and suspicious Persons; which Circumstances of Evidence, your grace knows, some of those Relations have to prove them. And there is a particular Story which is sufficiently famous, and of part of which I myself was a Witness, which I think is not subject to just Exception. 'Tis that of the Drum in the House of Mr. Mompesson of Tedworth in Wiltshire. Of this, Madam, I shall take an occasion to give your Grace a particular account, if you have not yet been acquainted with the circumstances of that unusual disturbance. But to confine myself now to your Grace's considerations on the subject; The second thing I observe, is,  
The intimation of an Argument against the Existence of Witches, because they are not mentioned by Christ, and his Apostles, concerning which I humbly desire your Grace to consider.  
1. That Negative Arguments from Scripture use not often to be of any great signification or validity. Our Saviour spoke as he had occasion, and the thousandth part of what he said, or what he did, is not recorded, as one Evangelist intimates. He said nothing of those large unknown Tracts of America, gives no intimations of the Existence of that numerous People, much less any instructions about their Conversion. He gives no particular account of the affairs and state of the other World, but only that general one, of the happiness of some, and the misery of others. He makes no discovery of the Magnalia of Art, or Nature, no not of those whereby the propagation of the Gospel might have been much advanced; viz. The Mystery of Printing, and the Magnet. And yet no one useth his Silence in these Instances as an Argument against the being of things, which are the evident Objects of Sense. I confess the omission of some of these particulars is pretty strange and unaccountable, and an argument of our Ignorance of the Reasons and Menages of Providence, but I suppose of nothing else; or if it were, I crave leave to add,  
2. That the Gospel is not without intimations of Sorcery, and contracts with evil Spirits. The malicious Jews said our Saviour did his Miracles by their assistance, He casts out Devils by Beelzebub. And he denys not the supposition or possibility of the thing in general, but clears himself by an appeal to the Actions of their own Children, whom they would not so severely criminate. And besides this,  
3. The Apostles had intimations plain enough of the being of Sorcery and Witchcraft, as seems to me evident from Gal. 3. 1. Gal. 5. 20. Rev. 9 21. Rev. 21. 8. Rev, 22. 15.  
'Tis very true as your Grace suggests, that Superstition and Ignorance of Causes make Men many times to impute the Effects of Art, and Nature, to Witchcraft and Diabolick Contract. And the Common People think God, or the Devil to be in every thing extraordinary. But yet, Madam, your Grace may please to consider, That there are things done by mean and despicable persons, transcending all the Arts of the most knowing and improved Virtuosos, and above all the Essays of known and ordinary Nature. So that we either must suppose that a sottish silly old Woman hath more knowledge of the intrigues of Art, and Nature, than the most exercised Artists, and Philosophers, or confess that those strange things they perform, are done by confoederacy with evil Spirits, who, no doubt, act those things by the ways and applications of Nature, though such as are to us unknown. This, Madam, is, I conceive, as much as is necessary to be said to the Argumentative part of your Graces excellent Letter.  
As for the following Periods, I am mostly of the same Opinion with your Grace, in the way that I understand them. Nature is in a continual motion (for there is no such thing as Rest in the World) and perhaps that is not purely Mechanical, but may, in great part (at least as to the beginnings and directions of it) be ascribed to the Soul of the World, which possibly is the great Archaeus that form's Plants, Animals, and other more curious Phoenomena. And there is no doubt but (as your Grace suggests) that much wickedness is caused by the mere impulse of Lower Nature; and I believe several Men are determined to Actions of Vice by the odness of their particular make and contexture. But whereas your Grace saith that nothing but God himself can be perfect, I cannot so well understand that. Absolutely so, and in all kinds, 'tis true, I grant it, but your Grace doth not seem to intend the proposition in that sense. And to be Perfect in a lower kind is but to have all the parts and faculties that are requisite to such a being, in that order, disposition, and all other circumstances which are suitable to its Idea, and proper for its respective ends. And in this sense I think all things are perfect in their first constitution; according to what your Grace saith afterwards, That [God cannot create any Imperfection, being absolute Perfection himself] which appositely fits mine, but I can not see how it so well consists with your Grace's former assertion, except it be intended to infer, That God made nothing; a Proposition which methinks your Grace should not own; but some things that follow seem to look that way, when you are pleased to say [Neither can I conceive how God could actually make or act any thing, either in a Mechanical manner, or a Free, being not locally moving] To which I humbly say that if your Grace doubts the possibility of the Creation out of nothing, I think I can speak some things as a Philosopher, that may render it reasonable. Nor is actual motion in the Deity necessary to his actions, since he is Immense and needs not local motion to render him present by his Essence, or his Virtue, to any place of the great Universe, being Eternally there by the Infinity of his being, and his Power. And whereas your Grace is pleased to say, that God is no Mechanic, I consent that He is not so properly, in that he needs not material Instruments to act by. But yet he hath made all things by a kind of Geometry; in Number, Weight, and Measure, saith the Holy Oracle. And there is a sort of Mathematics in all the Works of Nature.  
Thus, Madam, I have made bold with your Grace's Patience, in confidence of your Candour, and your goodness, which I implore, for the Pardon of this Voluminous Trouble. And in order to it, I have this to say, that I could not well have said less without having been wanting in some of your Grace's Periods; and there is something else, in which I despair of being ever able to say enough, and that is, to express how much I am,  
Illustrious Madam, Your Grace's Humble Admirer, and Devoted Servant, Jos. Glanvill. Bath, July 8.  
To the Right Honourable, the Lady MARGARET, Marchioness, of Newcastle.  
EXCELLENT MADAM,  
I Well know that the Generous never propose to themselves any other End of their Favours, besides Content, which necessarily results from the pursuance of their own Noble Inclinations, but only the Benefit of the Persons, upon whom they choose to confer them: and that therefore they usually select such Subjects, whereon to exercise their Beneficence, that seem more likely to husband it, by a silent Devotion, and modest Acknowledgement, than to abuse it, by attempting a Retribution. And this, Madam, both teacheth and assureth me; that though the Favour you were pleased to do me, in sending me one of your admirable Books, newly published, under the Elegant and most accommodate Title of The WORLD'S OLIO; be so eminent an one, as to require from me a more significant Expression of my Gratitude, than either my Wit, or Fortune, or Interest can ever be able to make: yet none can be more acceptable to you, than this, That I intent ever to continue your Debtor. So much, therefore, I here solemnly profess; and most faithfully promise you, that I never will, so much as in a wish for a Capacity of Retaliation, profane the Freedom of the Obligation your goodness moved you to lay upon me.  
But, not to state the Particulars of my Debt, at least in brief; might give you just cause to suspect, that I understand not the Value of what I have received. And, therefore, I humbly ask your leave, that I may acknowledge to you, that you have highly benefited me, in my Reputation, in my Understanding, in my Affections.  
First, I say you have benefited me in my Reputation; in that you have declared me capable of so singular an Honour, as to be in the number of those Persons, whom you thought worthy to receive so rich a Present, from so Noble a Hand. For me to have sat among the Multitude, whom your Stationer invites to feast upon your OLIO, had been proportionable enough to the degree of so ordinary a Judgement, as mine: but to be among those few, whom yourself had nominated for your Chief Guests, was a Grace infinitely above my Ambition.  
Secondly, You have benefited my Understanding; in that your Philosophical Fancies have furnished me with variety of such Novel Conceits, concerning sundry the most difficult Problems in Nature; as that if my Memory be but faithful enough to retain them, I shall never be unprovided of somewhat that is poignant and grateful, to entertain Curiosity withal: and whenever my own Reason is at a loss, how to investigate the Causes of some Natural Secret or other, I shall relieve the Company with some one pleasant and unheard of Conjecture of yours. So that by reading of your Philosophy, I have acquired thus much of advantage; that where I cannot Satisfy, I shall be sure to Delight: which is somewhat more than I dare promise from any other Discourses of the same Title; in so much as they generally leave the Mind in a kind of Anxiety and Regret, when ever they fail to afford it Satisfaction. And, certainly, if it be (as some hold) reasonable to allow, that the Fictions of Poets, and Romancists do usually take as strong hold of men's Minds, and Charm their Affections as powerfully, as the most Authentic Narrations of Historians; though the Reader well understands the Passages related by these, to be certain Truths, and the adventures described by Those, to be merely Imaginary; and this, because Delight is equal on both sides: if this, I say, be justifiable, that man can run but little hazard of his Judgement, who shall affirm, that your Supposition of Fairies in the Brain, and of our Thoughts being their Consults and Suggestions; and your opinion that the Fairies digging for Stones in the Quarries of the Teeth, to repair their decayed Tenements in the Head, is the Cause of the Toothache; are as worthy the hearing, as the most solid demonstrative Theory of any Philosopher whatever; insomuch as these may yield both as high and lasting a Delight as that. I say Delight as High and Lasting; for, to speak my Thoughts clearly, the Pleasure that ariseth from the comprehension of the most perfect and laborious Demonstration in Geometry, I never could find, either in height or duration, much to exceed that, which I have sometime been affected withal, at the recital of a Facetious Poetical Extravagancy, of which I had not afore heard. Nor do I believe, that the Raptures, and Exultations of Don Quixot were much inferior to that famous one of Archimed, which transported him out of himself, as well as out of the Bath, into a loud Exclamation, I have found it, I have found it. And the Reason of this Equality may be well enough thought, to consist chiefly in the unsatisfiedness of our Nature, which always hurrying our Minds on to Novelties, causeth us to put an equally cheap rate upon all things we think already in the possession of our Understanding; and to value acquest of a fresh, though perhaps useless, and absurd Opinion, above the calm fruition of ancient and irregular Maxims. But, this (Madam) being a Paradox, aught to have more room, than can be spread in a Letter, whose designed Argument is Thankfulness: and besides, should I adventure further, to avouch it, the same could not but much redound to my disadvantage; insomuch as it might render me suspected for something of a Scholar, and consequently incapable of the Honour and Pleasure of sometimes attending you, and hearing your more than ingenious Discourses. For as I remember, in one of your Prefaces, or Epistles to your Readers, you have been pleased expressly to declare; That you never Conversed, so much as one Hour, with any Philosopher, or Professed Scholar, in your whole Life: and that, doubtless, must have proceeded from your constant Aversion to such blunt Company; not from your want of opportunities to hear what they could say. Because, being always Educated among the Noblest, and most Knowing Persons of our Nation; you could hardly escape the Conversation of the most Learned in all the Arts and Sciences; unless you purposely withdrew yourself from their Society, or shut your Ears against their Discourses.  
But, Madam, among those, who have perused your Writings, I meet with a sort of Infidels, who refuse to believe, that you have always preserved yourself so free from the Contagion of Books, and Bookmen. And the Reason they give me, is this; that you frequently use many Terms of the Schools, and sometimes seem to have Imped the Wings of your highflying Fancy with sundry Feathers taken out of the Universities, or Nests of Divines, Philosophers, Physicians, Geometricians, Astronomers, and the rest of the Gowned Tribe. For instance, of Divines, when you speak of Praedestination, Free will, Transubstantiation, etc. Of Philosophers, when you mention Quantity, Discrete and Continued, the Universal and First Matter, Atoms, Elements, Motion, Dilatation, and Contraction, Rarefaction, and Cendensation, Meteors, etc. Of Physicians, when you distinguish of Choler, Phlegm, Melancholy, and Blood, and speak of the Circulation of the Blood, of Venricles in the Heart and Brain, of Veins, Arteries, and Nerves, and expatiate upon Fevers, Apoplexies, Convulsions, Droqsies, and divers other Diseases, with their particular Causes, Symptoms, and Cures: Of Geometricians, when you touch upon Triangles, Squares, Circles, Diameters, Circumferences, Centres, Lines, straight and crooked, and their proportions each to other, and that invincible Problem, the Quadrature of the Circle: Of Astronomers, when you speak of the Horizon, Meridian, Aequator, Zodiack, Ecliptic, Tropics, Poles of the World, and of the Ecliptic, and in a manner run over the whole Doctrine of the Sphere, representing the model of the Universe, and cast some transitory glances also upon the Doctrine Theorical concerning the Motions of the Orbs, and Planets. Nor can I, indeed, hope to dissolve the stifness of these men's unbelief; until I shall be better able to convince them, that all these Scholastical Terms and Notions may be brought into the World with us, and afterwards drawn forth of the Soul, by solitary Meditation, and the labour of ones own Thoughts; and are not rather instilled into it, and impressed upon it, by often Hearing, or Reading the Discourses of others, who profess those Arts and Sciences to which they belong, and for the more plain and methodical teaching whereof, they were first Invented and Recorded. But I fear me, while I insist thus particularly upon the Reason alleged by these men, in defence of their Diffidence, I may fall into the same danger, for the avoidance of which, I even now left my Paradox destitute of Assertion: and therefore I lay by that subject, and take up another more opportune and considerable, as to the discharge of my Duty, and confessing how many ways you have obliged me.  
I acknowledge, therefore, in the last place; that my Affections must own you for their Benefactress. For those many Moral Apothegms, and Satirical remarks upon the Manners of Men and Women, which you have frequently inspersed upon the Leaves of your Book, are so pathetically delivered, and with such vigour of proper and familiar Language pressed home to the Bosom of every man; as that that person must be irrecover ably lost in the darkness of Vice, who doth not, through thhm, clearly discern the Lustre and Amiableness of Virtue, and thereupon instantly abominate his former Deformities, and become your perfect Proselyte. When a Young, Noble, Beautiful, Witty, and Sprightly Lady, one on whom all the Pleasures of the World seem to be Enamoured, and in throngs offer themselves to be accepted and commanded by her; when such an one, I say is heard to Preach up Temperance, Abstinence, Modesty, Chastity, Solitude, and the suppression of all irregular sensual Appetites. What Sardanapalus is there, who must not blush at the memory of his Vicious Acts, and being convinced, that the delights of a Soul, well ordered according to the rules of Virtue and Honour, are infinitely more charming and desirable, than the most magnified Pleasures of the Body, swimming in an Ocean of Luxury, and Laciviousness; firmly resolve with himself, thenceforth to seek for Felicity, not in the short Titillations and Blandishments of the Senses, but in the Purity and constant Serenity of the Mind. Is it possible, that any of our Ladies, should retain her pretences of Platonic Love, or continue the practice of her petty Arts of Daubing and Painting, of Dissembling, Medisanse, and Detraction: after she hath once read your smart Invectives against them, and solid Arguments to show, that they may all be justly suspected for Bawds to procure and conceal the fruition of that Pleasure, which doth not consist in the admiring conversation of Souls, but in the close Conjunction of Bodies, and the satisfaction of that rank Appetite of the Flesh, commonly called Lust? In a word; what Sex, Age, Constitution, Condition is there, whose most secret Ulcers, the sharpness of your Wit and Pen hath not lanced open to the bottom; and afterward prescribed most easy and certain Remedies for the Cure of them? So that I may well conclude this Paragraph with saying that your Moral Essays contain wise Precepts enough in them, for the Reformation of the Age we live in, and that, certainly, is so bad that no Man need ever fear a worse.  
And, now, Incomparable Madam, having done my Homage to you, in token of what I hold by the tenure of your Wit and Bounty, it remains, that I humbly beg your Pardon for the rude and tedious manner of it. And that, I hope, you will grant me, when you have considered, that the Devotion may be sincere, where the Ceremonies are imperfect; and I have assured you, that I will never omit to pay you those Deuce of Thanks, and constant Observance, that belong to you, from me, as one whom your Goodness hath made,  
London, January 1. 1654. Your Eternal Honourer, and Faithful Servant, W. Charleton.  
To the most Illustrious, and most Excellent Princess, Margaret Duchess of Newcastle.  
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS,  
SEeing your Grace's singular Genius, hath long since been experienced, and fully discovered to us; for such as is both accomplished with all various Learning, and furnished with a Native Courtesy; that for its high abilities, it is able; and for its eminent Candour, it usually obtains infinitely upon the favourers of Learning: We obliged on both these accounts, were unwilling to incur so great a Crime, as not cheerfully to Consecrate to your Grace, these our Acknowledgements, as Arguments of our Eternal Observance. Your Grace's goodness having this, peculiar and above others, that 'tis neither forced by Solicitations of Friends, nor Importunities of Petitions, but voluntary and of its own accord flows out, and delivers itself. Truly every more than ordinary Spirit is powerfully drawn out to what is like itself, invites, embraceth, and preserves, whatever bears the name of any kind of Excellency, as allied to it. But how truly Magnificent is this of your Grace, that the Arts themselves, by your Grace's Example, are rendered more August and Venerable? How shall future Ages stoop under the weight of your Grace's Fame, that your Grace in that Nobility of Extract, and confluence of Fortune, should yet outvie in the Methods of Learning, even those, whose necessities must prompt them to diligence? Wherein your Grace hath made so happy a progress, that never any can more appear, a Devotist to, or Proficient in Learning: so that your Grace's teeming Brain is ever bringing forth some new Miracle: and though a Woman, yet hath merited the Diadem of Learning before Men; though a Courtier, yet before the Academics: In a word, wherein any one, is in any thing Excellent, yet is your Grace in that thing far more excellent. Nor can we believe, that any mortal Man, no not your Grace our Princess (with your Grace's Pardon) can from Nature's instinct, or humane strength be excited and raised to so manifold and profound Speculations. It must necessary, be that that most capacious Soul of your Grace, expatiating itself so far into all sorts of Learning, is Divinely inspired; that almost Infinite Comprehension of so many and so great Notions informs us, how great a measure of the Heavenly Spirit hath possessed your Grace; and that no single Deity hath enlarged this one Soul unto the Immense Tracts of all the Sciences. With these happy Omens hath your Grace reached unto, whatever in the Arts seemed good unto your Grace when some Diviner Genius of your Grace our Princess, judged the Notion of any clear Truth, would be beneficial. And whereas it was your Grace's Work, not to give Reasons, but Magisterially to Prononce, as from an Oracle; (yet such is your Grace's condescension) that all your Grace's Tenets are asserted and confirmed with most Cogent Arguments: as if we did not owe a Belief, and had not a certain Devotion obliging our Assent to your Grace's bare Assertion. Henceforth therefore do we Destiny our spare hours unto these kinds of Studies, and are reaching unto the perfection of Philosophy, seeing your Grace hath judged these Speculations such as are worthy your Grace's Intentions, and nearer Approximations: for such an happy clearness of Wit shall render every theng discoverable and fully to be comprehended, and that most free inclinination of your Grace's Candour will communicate every thing discovered to your Graces Cantabrigians. Yet lest we should give ourselves up to unworthy Ease, and Consecrate ourselves to Sloth, your Grace hath left us one very difficult Task, namely Thankfulness. Forasmuch then, through your Grace's Labours, Minerva's Pupils have now obtained that Divine thing, which they may, without error, pursue, to wit a calm repose in all our Studies; we therefore judge that a more Honourable Monument was never at any time erected, to any of the ancient Kings or Emperors, than what we here humbly dedicated to your Grace's worthy name and memory.  
To Margaret the First:  
Princess of Philosophers:  
Who hath dispelled Errors:  
Appeased the differences of Opinions:  
And restored Peace,  
To Learning's Commonwealth.  
From the College of the Sacred and Individual Trinity. Octob. 5. 1668.   

POEMS, etc.  

To the most Illustrious and most Excellent Princess, The Marchioness of NEWCASTLE. After the reading of her Incomparable POEMS.  
MADAM,  

WIth so much Wonder we are struck  
When we begin to read your matchless Book;  
A while your own excess of Merit stays  
Our forward Pens, and does suspend your Praise;  
Till time our minds does gently recompose,  
Alleys this Wonder, and our Duty shows;  
Instructs us how your Virtues to Proclaim,  
And what we ought to pay to your great Fame;  
Your Fame which in your Country has no Bounds!  
But wheresoever Learning's known, it sounds.   

Those Grace's Nature did till now divide,  
Your Sex's Glory, and our Sex's Pride,  
Are joined in you, and all to you submit,  
The brightest Beauty, and the sharpest Wit;  
No Faction here, or fiercer Envy sways,  
They give you Myrtle, while we offer Bays;  
What Mortal dares dispute those Wreath's with you?  
Armed thus with Lightning and with Thunder too.   

This made the great New-Castle's Heart your prize;  
Your Charming Soul, and your Victorious Eyes,  
Had only power his Martial mind to tame,  
And raise in his Heroic Breast a Flame;  
A Flame, which with his Courage still aspires,  
As if Immortal Fuel fed those Fires:  
This mighty Chief, and your great self made One,  
Together the same Race of Glory run;  
Together on the Wings of Fame you move,  
Like yours his Virtue, and like his your Love.   

While we, your Praise endeavouring to rehearse,  
Pay that great Duty, in our humble Verse,  
Such as may justly move your anger; you  
Like Heaven forgive them, and accept them too:  
But what we cannot, your brave Hero pays,  
He builds those Monuments we strive to raise;  
Such, as to after Ages shall make known,  
While he Records your deathless Fame, his own;  
So when an Artist some rare Beauty draws,  
Both in our Wonder share, and our Applause;  
His Skill, from time, secures the Glorious Dame,  
And makes himself Immortal in her Fame.   
George Etherege.   

To her Excellency the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle, on Her Incomparable Works.  
MADAM,  

WHen with stolen Metaphors we would display  
Those Glorious Lights which rule our Night and Day,  
We call them Lamps and Spangles, and suborn  
Our Wits t'obscure, what we cannot adorn:  
But when some fading Beauty haunts our Eyes  
Tempting to Praise, what Greatest Souls Despise,  
We can advance the Phrase all smoothly runs,  
Her Cheeks are Roses, and her Eyes are Suns.   

Great Virtues only by themselves are praised;  
What's highest higher by no Art is raised:  
'Tis proper only to our Imperfections  
To need, or to admit, our Wit's Protections.   

Were your Pen's Noble Issue such small things,  
As the fine Poet to his Mistress sings:  
Or else such pretty Babies as are sent  
Out from the labouring Press, to Compliment  
Our Childish Age; which nothing so well pleases  
As Lisping, Weakness, and Wit's Diseases:  
Then I, perhaps amongst the rest might waste  
Some Paper, to be your Encomiast;  
And, in the present mode; pick Crumbs and Scraps  
From Sirs that wear their Phancyes in their Caps,  
And Cook a Mess of Bombast to delude  
And glut at once the gaping multitude.   

But 'tis your Wit's prerogative to be  
As far above all Praise as Flattery:  
And since you have said All, we boldly may  
Excuse ourselves, you've left us nought to say.  
In every Line you give us we descry  
Your Panaegyrick, our Apology:  
Where all's so well like you, that to conceive  
Aught but our wonder may admittance have,  
Is to suppose, you either cannot see  
Our meanness, or will veil your Majesty.   

Then he betrays your Name whoever essays  
To load it with vain Epithets of Praise:  
Who seems to understand all you have writ,  
T'advance his own, doth much abase your Wit.   

Madam we're in a maze: such Glories can  
Not be beheld by what is only Man.  
When you are pleased to work new Miracles  
We'll see and read what's yours and nothing else:  
When you give Eyes as well as Light, when you  
With Language will on us new Tongues bestow,  
When you can make us write just as you do;  
We'll learn to praise your Works: But sure it is  
Impossible; you can do all but this.   

'Tis equally absurd for us to guests  
We e'er should do so much or you ought less.   

Thanks for our Freedom from the learned Thrall  
Of thrice-three Mistresses; you're One and All:  
Those antique wits which erest would not be seen,  
But in a mist of obscure Tongues which Screen  
More Follies far than Fancies, are become  
Like their own Pump'd-out Oracles all dumb;  
Great Aristotle and his greater 
Plato▪  Master  
With their long rabble have the same disaster.  
These Paper-Armies Bodly's Goal contains  
Your Captives are, fretting in Iron Chains.   

One Lady's pregnant Brain has slain whole hosts  
Of Rabbis, and quite laid their Paper ghosts,  
Which haunted all our Studies, and perplexed  
Our wearied thoughts with a Motheaten Text.   

Who would not give a life that he might live  
In the next Age, to see the Learned strive  
Whose Margin should strut biggest with your Name  
Who raise up highest Pyramids of Fame  
Over your peaceful Ashes; may it be  
Such Phoenixes can know mortality.   

Was it her modesty (for she's a Woman)  
Made Nature Coy, and show herself to no man?  
She walked in Vizors till she met with you.   

What wonder if she did retir'dness vow  
And to our Ruffian Sex showed Nun that late  
Unveiled to your Sex; and but one of that?  
You need not fear to die, she needs must live  
Herself, whose Noble Office 'tis to give  
Life to our late Posterity: each line  
Of yours must be their Oracle, your Shrine.   

Your Images the work of your own Pen  
Shall frustrate all the courteous Cheats of men,  
Pronouncing all your true adorers blest  
Without the help of Conjuror or Priest.   

Be merciful to Captives (Madam) and  
Kill not all those that bend at your Command.  
Your softest Sex your Noble Order shall  
Vote all such cruelty Apocryphal.   

You have subdued the World of Learning, spare  
At least so much alive as may declare  
Who was the Conqueror; that all may know  
Whatever survives is owing all to you.   

You have outdone what's mortal; Imitate  
Those Powers above which to maintain their state  
Let some poor vassals live, and worshipped are  
Not by whom they destroy, but whom they spare.   

Then sheathe your Conquering Pen since nothing now  
Remains unvanquished but your Works and you.    

On her Grace the Duchess of Newcastles Closet.  

WHat place is this? looks like some Sacred Cell  
Where holy Hermits anciently did dwell,  
And never ceased Importunating Heaven  
Till some great Blessing unto Earth was given;  
Is this a Lady's Closet? ' tcannot be,  
For nothing here of vanity you see;  
Nothing of Curiosity nor Pride,  
As all your Lady's Closets have beside;  
No mirror here in all the Room you find;  
Unless it be the mirror of the Mind,  
Nor Pencil here is found, nor Paint again  
But only of her Ink and of her Pen.  
Which renders her an Hundred times more fair  
Than they with all their Paints and Pencils are:  
Here she is Rapt, here falls in Ecstasy  
With studying high and deep Philosophy:  
Here these clear Lights descend into her Mind  
Which, by Reflection, in her Books you find,  
And those high Notions and Ideas too,  
Which, but herself, no Woman ever knew,  
Whence she's their chiefest Ornament and Grace,  
And Glory of our times: Hail Sacred Place!  
To which the World in after times shall come,  
As unto Homer's Shrine, or Virgil's Tomb,  
honouring the Walls in which she made abode,  
The Air she breathed and Ground whereon she trod,  
Counting him happy, who but sees the Place  
And happier who least Relic of her has;  
For whose Sole Inkhorn they as much would bid  
As once for Epicletus' they did.   

Thus Fame shall Celebrate, and thus again  
The Arts shall honour her, who honoured them,  
Whilst others who in other things did trust  
Shall, after Death, lie in forgotten Dust.    

To the Illustrious Princess, Margaret, Duchess of Newcastle, on Her Incomparable Works.  

Virtue, and Wit's great Magazine,  
Accept an Offering to your Shrine,  
Whose wondrous Raptures needs must raise  
All Souls to Poetry or Praise:  
With such Amazement I was struck,  
(Madam) when first I read your Book,  
To see your Sex with so great Parts,  
Treat of all Sciences and Arts,  
As if Inspired i'th' Times of Old,  
When Poetry all things foretold.  
That Waller, Denham, and the Wits,  
Who write such mighty things by fits;  
I did expect should all at least,  
Have sent in Presents to the Feast,  
But that they choose to write no more,  
Shows they re outdone and so give o'er,  
Though 'tis allowed their luck was such,  
They did Coin Mettle that held Touch,  
Like Min'ralists, they sprung a Vein  
Of Oar, they could not long maintain;  
Your Pregnant Brain does every day  
Spring Mines of Gold, without allay,  
The Dross you so Refine that we,  
Only the purer Mettle see,  
Yours is th' Elixir of true Wit,  
Because it finds all Subjects fit.  
Had Spencer lived your Works t'have seen,  
You must have been his Fairy-Queen.  
Great Virgil would have thought it due,  
Not to name Dido Queen, but You.  
And had you lived when Ovid writ  
You'd been the Subject of his Wit;  
He would have made a richer Piece  
Of you, than Helen fair of Greece.  
You've all that's blest in humane kind,  
In outward form, and in your mind:  
When you with Beauty do invite,  
Your Virtue checks proud Appetite.  
Some Ladies think they're born in vain  
Unless they Teem; your fruitful Brain  
Brings better issue; here's the odds,  
They please but Men, you please the Gods.  
Strange Power 'tis you Govern by,  
What Nature asks you can deny:  
Great Miracle in what you do,  
That can Charm Men and Angels too;  
Th'honour and envy of our Age,  
That write for Gownsmen, and the Stage;  
Though you speak to us in one Tongue,  
You seem all Languages t'have known,  
And Secrets to the World reveal,  
As if the Gods did sometimes steal,  
To tell you News, and from above  
You knew all passages of Love,  
We must conclude 'tis only thence  
You can have your Intelligence,  
By which our Knowledge you so raise,  
You merit Crowns, that ask but Bays.    

To the most Accomplished and Incomparable Princess, The Duchess of New Castle her Grace.  

MAdam, 'tis you whom both in Form and Mind,  
Nature has favoured 'bove all Female kind,  
You have been constant from the first of Youth  
To Friendship, Justice, Chastity and Truth,  
Wit in your Childhood did begin to reign,  
And like the Tide came flowing in amain,  
Wherein such high Conceptions did lie,  
As raised a new and true Philosophy.  
Things Natural and Moral you have writ,  
And both in Scenes and Poems showed your Wit,  
Letters and Dialogues declare your Fame,  
In History you Eternalise the Name  
Of your Dear Lord, when truly you relate  
His Loyal Actions for the King and State;  
All this makes you admired and envied too,  
'Cause you've done more than any yet could do,  
In you the Glory of your Sex does shine,  
And all perfections in your Soul combine,  
What ever is thought Virtue's found in you,  
Your mind is high, and yet 'tis humble too;  
Not Pride (as Envy styles it) but a Flame  
More noble strives t'immortalize your Fame,  
For you do stoop to those of low descent,  
And with compassion to their Case resent,  
Which Fortune Frowns upon: How can there be  
A nobler Mind and nearer Deity?  
Nay Fortune seeing how Nature favoured you,  
To her Perfections added Honour too;  
Thus Honour, Beauty, Wit, and Virtue joined,  
Made you the greatest Wonder of your Kind,  
Let none presume to draw your Picture then  
For you surpass all th'u'rt and Skill of Men,  
Who e'er looks on you with a stricter view  
Sees nature's chiefest masterpiece in You.    

To the Glory of her Sex, the most Illustrious Princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle, upon her most admirable Works.  

NOw let enfranchised Ladies learn to write,  
And not Paint white, and red, but black, and white,  
Their Bodkins turn to Pens, to Lines their Locks,  
And let the Inkhorn be their Dressing-box:  
Since, Madam, you have Scaled the walls of Fame,  
And made a Breach where never Female came.  
Had Men no Wit, or had the World no Books,  
Yet here's enough to please the curious looks  
Of Every Reader: such a General Strain,  
Would reinstruct the School-boy-world again,  
Philosophers and Poets were of old  
The two great Lights, that humane minds controlled;  
The one t'adorn, the other to explain,  
Thus Learning's Empire then was cut in twain.  
But Universal Wit and Reason joyn's  
To make you Queen: nor can your sacred Lines  
Without a Paradox be well expressed  
Truth never was so naked, nor so dressed.  
Majestic Quill! that keeps our minds in Awe,  
For Reason's Kingdom knows no Salic Law,  
Or if that Law was ever framed 'twas then  
When Women held the Distaff not the Pen.  
The Court the City, Schools and Camp agree,  
Welbeck to make an University,  
Of Wit and Honour, which has been the Stage,  
Since 'twas your Lords the Hero of this Age;  
Whose Noble Soul is Steward to great Parts,  
And does dispense his Reasons and his Arts,  
His Wit and Power, his Greatness, and his Sense,  
With as much Freedom, and Magnificence,  
As when our English Jove became his Guest,  
And did receive a more than Humane Feast.  
With Arts of Wit, he mixes those of Force  
And Pegasus is his old Managed Horse.  
No wonder he excels all other Men,  
They but Nine Muses had, and he has Ten.  
A Lady whose Immortal Pen transfers,  
To our Sex Shame and Envy, Fame to hers;  
Whose Genius traces Wit through all her ways  
In abstruse Notions, Poems, and in Plays.  
Then why should we the mouldy Records keep  
Of Plautus, or disturb Ben Johnson's Sleep?  
The Silent Woman Famous heretofore  
Has been, but now the Writing Lady more.    

On the Duchess of Newcastle her Grace.  
MADAM,  

WHilst others study Books, I study you,  
And can b'Experience this affirm for true,  
Of all your Sex you have the greatest worth  
As ever yet these later times brought forth,  
And I have Studied many, and some such  
As former times could hardly better much,  
Your Soul so Spiritual it doth appear  
Framed for some Angel of a higher Sphere,  
However 'twas infused, I know not how,  
Into a mortal Body here below,  
Aspiring restlessly like Fire and Flame  
To mount again to th'Sphere from whenc it came,  
So nobly active as it doth by Truth,  
As by the World the Macedoniau Youth,  
As soon as y'ave o'ercome and Conquered one,  
You grieve there are not more to overcome,  
There being nothing so Sublime and High  
But you can reach in all Philosophy;  
Nor so profound and deep again, but you  
With ease, can dive and penetrate into,  
Your Virtues being so infinite, I find  
When I consider but your Soul and Mind,  
'Twere easier for me never to begin  
Than ever to give o'er when once I'm in;  
Which whosoever should go about to tell,  
Might number all the Stars of Heaven as well,  
The blades of Grass upon Earth's spacious Plain,  
Or Sands the Sea's vast Bosom does contain.   

But as your greatest Beauties have their moles,  
So some small faults are still in greatest Souls,  
And I shall tell you, Madam, what they be,  
T'acquit myself, o'th' Crime of Plattery:  
'Tis an Ambition above mortal state,  
And Mind with Glory never satiate,  
Without which Glory and Ambition  
No noble Action yet was ever done,  
So avidious and so Covetous of Fame,  
As only for Eternising their Name  
They, as the Phoenix life to's young does give,  
Would be content to die that that might live.  
But now I'll tell what my opinion is  
Of Fame (and pardon if I Judge amiss:)  
Fame's but a shadow of great action,  
And but the Echo of't when we are gone,  
Than whose Trumpet no Music is more sweet  
Nor none's alive more pleased with hearing it,  
But I don't know what pleasure I should have,  
When I am dead with Music at my Grave.    

An Elegy upon the death of the Incomparable Princess Margaret Duchess of Newcastle.  

HEnceforth be Dumb, ye Oracles of Wit;  
Ye humbly must to Fate submit:  
How soon must ye decline! How low must fall!  
Since She is gone who did Inspire ye all?  
Her Books are the best Patterns for the Pen,  
Her Person was the best of Subjects too;  
In Wit and Sense She did excel all Men;  
And all her Sex in Virtue did outgo.   

Though Grief affords some Floquence,  
Henceforth expect but little Sense;  
For, since she's gone, all we can do  
Will but the Pangs of Dying-writers show.   

When the bright Ruler of the Day  
Th' Horizon of his Presence has bereft  
Some feeble streaks of Light are left,  
Yet darkness soon must come, and all that light decay.   

Our Sun's forever set, we have no hope  
Of this as of the other Sun's return:  
We all in Darkness must forever grope,  
And we for ever must in Tears her absence mourn.   

Philosopher's must wander in the dark;  
Now they of Truth can find no certain mark;  
Since She their surest Guide is gone away,  
They cannot choose but miserably stray.   

All did depend on Her, but She on none,  
For her Philosophy was all her own.   

She never did to the poor Refuge fly  
Of Occult Quality or Sympathy.   

She could a Reason for each Cause present,  
Not trusting wholly to Experiment,  
No Principles from others she purloined,  
But wisely Practise she with Speculation joined.   

None was more good, and once none was more fair:  
She was not as most of her frail Sex are;  
Who have Fruitful Wombs but Baren Brains,  
She left the best Remains:  
Though we no Issue of her Body find  
Yet she hath left behind  
The Nobler Issue of her mighty Mind;  
Learning she needed not, nor yet despised:  
Though from herself all Arts she knew;  
The truly Learned she nobly Patronised,  
And every Artist, she encouraged too.   

Let all her Sex fashion by her their Lives:  
She was the best of Women, best of Wives.   

There Lord Sh'was warm and loving as the Spring,  
But to all others cold as Winter's Ice,  
Her sight on all a shivering awe did bring,  
And nipped, at first, all vain attempts of Vice;  
But though in Love she bore a Noble pride,  
She to each Skilful man of Art  
Her Conversation freely doth impart,  
And to all others civil was beside.   

But we by praising thus provoke our Grief  
Which never can expect Relief,  
Nor can the most luxurious Praise  
(Though penned with Art that might deserve the Bays.)   

Nor all which we can think afford  
Ease to her much lamenting Lord:  
Whose loss does now by far outvie  
All he yet e'er sustained  
Yet he once lost much more for Loyalty  
Than any Subject, and much less has gained;  
This noble half she left behind  
Who by her much lamented death must find  
Too great a Trial for the greatest Mind.   

Oh what Expedient can there be  
Found to support his Magnanimity!  
The best of Husbands, and the noblest Peer;  
The best of Generals, best of Subjects too,  
Whose Arts in Peace as well as War appear:  
He knows how to advise, and how to do;  
His Prudence and his Courage might uphold  
The most decayed and crippled State,  
And rescue it from the Jaws of Fate:  
His Body may, but Mind, can ne'er be old;  
Him she has left, and from our sight is hurled  
And Gloriously shines in the true Blazing World.   
Thomas Shadwell.   

An Elegy on the Death of the Incomparable Duchess of NEWCASTLE.  

IF with due honour you would Solemnize  
The great Newcastles Funeral Obsequies  
Let every Science in close-mourning stand  
About the Hearse, with Cypress in her hand:  
Philosophy herself shall hold the Pall,  
(She's the chief Mourner at this Funeral)  
Philosophy which well the Poets drew  
With women's Features; here we find it true,  
Nature, whose Lovers (in their Courtship rude)  
Into her Privy-Chambers did intrude,  
Out of her own Sex modestly one chose,  
To whom herself she naked did disclose:  
Who all her wonders did so well explain,  
That she the only wonder did remain.   

Let Rhetoric, the powerful Siren there  
Dressed in her richest Livery appear;  
Dressed in those Robes which Tully to her gave  
When the World's Mistrels Rome, he made her Slave;  
Or the strong Reason of Newcastles Books,  
Vveaved with the Charming softness of her Looks:  
But yet her weakness let her here confess,  
Her Silence best this Sorrow does express.   

The Muses Her in lasting Tears shall steep,  
The Graces mourn, and Comedy shall weep:  
And thousand Cupids sigh forth mournful Airs,  
And wish for Eyes, to ease their Grief by Tears.  
Let them their Bows in sign of honour wave,  
And with their Torches light her to her Grave.  
Nor will they this attendance her deny,  
Those Torches first were lighted at her Eye.  
Who now their unarmed Deities will dread?  
Their Magazine is now demolished.  
Yet did not her Muse kindle unchaste Fires,  
That Heavenly Cupid Heavenly Thoughts inspires:  
No Kitchen-flames before her Beams would burn,  
And wanton Love did to Devotion turn.  
Thus Sol at once lifts up the Lamp of Day,  
And warms at once, and bids the Persian Pray.  
Great Issue of Nature's united Powers!  
Glory of your Sex, and Disgrace of ours!  
Which shall I call the greater Prodigy,  
That you were such, or being such could Die?  
Did Nature fear lest that thy boundless Mind  
For future search should nothing leave behind?  
Or did you take this flight to Heaven to see  
How it with Thy fair Model did agree?  
whate'er the cause; Joy rings through every Sphere;  
And Heaven more Heaven is since you came there.  
None in it with more Native Lustre shine,  
Or livelier do reflect the light Divine.  
Such spotless Innocence in that Bosom lies,  
Eve thinks she brought you forth in Paradise:  
For that first crime left not a lesser trace  
On any Breast of all her numerous Race;  
Excepting one, whom you sit next to there,  
Who her Creator in her Womb did bear:  
And with her too almost you may contend,  
What He Created you did Comprehend.  
Blessed Soul, who dwellest in Essential Light,  
Direct us lost in Ignorance, and Night!  
Whilst we with grateful Offerings, what before  
We all admired, do humbly now adore.   
Knightly Chetwood, Coll. Regal. Cant.   

In Obitum Margaretae Ducissae Novo-Castrensis.  
BArbara iam sileat, sileat quoque Graia vetustas,  
Nec jactet fidas Itala terra nurus:  
Hanc unam attonitum non mendax Fama per Orbem  
Centeno potius debuit ore loqui:  
Dulcè cauâ Sapphô testudine flebat amorem,  
Sed nec pulchra satis, sed néque casta fuit:  
Haec toto numeris animóque, & corpore constat,  
Vitaetiam castis consonat ipsa modis.  
Arsit sida suum Letho quóque Portia Brutum,  
Caesaris at tinctus Sanguine Brutus erat:  
Hujus dum Regem sequitur per Bella Maritus,  
Per medios Ignes Ipsa secuta Virum.  
Mausolum epotum taceat Regina, sub imo  
Viventem vivens Haec quoque corde tulit:  
Pensile nec Tumuli jactet; 
Vitam ejus deseripsit.  monumenta Mariti  
Duratura magis condidit isla sui.  
Natorum numero Niobe non provocet Illam,  
Nec specie, Niobes quae Dea stravit opes:  
Bis septem è gravido, ceu Jupiter, Illa cerebro  
Pignora dat; (decuit sic peperisse Deam)  
Pignora ceu speculo totum referentia mundum,  
Non nisi cum Mundo pignora digna Mori,  
Ah! cur non placuit Tibi vivae Academia sedes,  
(Ceu 
Qui fuit è Coll. Johannes Cantabr.  Ducis) ut jactet nomine Granta tuo!  
Invidit sexus; jam Filia non potes esse,  
E Fama titulus nec foret ille Tuâ.  
At dum pauperibus legâsti Scripta Camoenis  
Ditia, dum Mammas exeris usque Tuas,  
(Nunc eniam super Astra faves) Academia Mater  
Te Matrem posthàc est habitura suam  
Knightly Chetwood, Coll. Regal. Cantabr.   

Upon the Death of the Illustrious and Incomparable Lady, Margaret Duchess of New Castle.  

1.  
DEath! thou hast done thy worst, we dread not now  
The threatenings of thy angry Brow.  
By thy last victory we're hardened grown,  
Learned to despise thy malice, scorn, and frown.  
Thy saucy Power is so great,  
That we like Slaves are become desperate.   

2.  
Since brave Newcastles Duchess thou hast slain,  
We base Mortals to complain  
Think it a crime, die we would rather all,  
That so we might attend her Funeral,  
Wait on her, when her Soul takes flight  
Into the Mansions of Eternal Light.   

3.  
Within her Breast such throngs of Virtues grew  
That they their Prison overthrew,  
And being vexed at this same sottish Age  
Where dull Impertinence so much does rage,  
Their Fetters broke they upwards high  
In hopes to find there better company.   

4.  
She scorned those trifles which her Sex adore,  
Which they vain Fools do value more  
Than inward worth, would not like them misspend  
That little time which God to her did lend.  
It was her only business here  
To dress her Soul, and make it fine appear.   

5.  
Her powerful reason awed enticing sense,  
Taught Rebel-thoughts Obedience.  
When stupid matter would unruly prove,  
Instructed it, more calmly how to move.  
External Pleasures she thought Sin,  
Compared with those Delights which dwell within.   

6.  
So vast a knowledge ne'er was yet confined  
Within one single Woman's Mind  
Her Fancy it was strong, so great her Wit,  
That nothing but her Judgement equalled it:  
When e'er she spoke the winged crew  
Of pretty Notions straight about her flew.   

7.  
What e'er she pleased with ease she overcame,  
Learning before her time was lame,  
Nature was dressed but slovenly till she  
Made it so spruce by her Philosophy.  
It heretofore in Tatters went,  
Is grown Gentile now, and can Compliment.   

8.  
Had she but lived when blind Antiquity  
Called what it pleased a Deity.  
She would have quite engrossed the Worship Trade,  
Jove and his Kindred had been Bankrupts made.  
They must have Starved without Relief,  
Pined to Mortality, and Died with Grief.   

9  
Rome where Divinity was sold so cheap,  
Who Temples built on every heap  
Of dirt and rubbish, would have quickly sent  
Its Mungril-Gods all into Banishment.  
Told them 'twas manners to give place  
To one of a more noble Heavenly Race.   

10.  
How well did Providence her real worth  
Declare to th'World and set it forth,  
When it in ties of Holy Wedlock joined  
The best of Men to th'best of Womankind.  
And suffered fair Lucasia's Charms  
To vanquish and subdue the God of Arms.   

11.  
The mighty Cavendish could only prove  
A Husband to the Queen of Love,  
Heaven would have had her sooner, 'twas in strife  
Whether she should Die first, or be his Wife.  
At length resigned its right to show  
How much to his great merits it did owe.   

12.  
What Joy above at her arrival there?  
The Angels crowd to welcome her.  
And big with wonder all pay Reverence  
Unto a Soul of so much Excellence,  
A Soul so pure, so bright all o'er,  
That they the like had never seen before.    

To the Duke.  
YOur pardon, Sir, if striving to express  
Perfections which in her were numberless,  
I vainly mine own weakness do betray,  
And show how little foolish Rhithms can pay  
To her vast Merits, which like th'Ocean stretch  
And drown what e'er dares come within their reach.  
For if to tell of with due Praise her Fame,  
And as I ought her Virtues to Proclaim:  
She would have had me rightly understood  
She must have been less Worthy and less Good.    

On the Death of the most Illustrious Princess, the Lady Duchess of NEWCASTLE.  

An EPITAPH.  

SHe's Dead, and here she lies; the vulgar cry:  
Fools know not that great Wits can never die.  
She sleeps; nay, that's too much: As well could she  
Admit of Death, as such a Lethargy.  
Yet say she Sleep, her very Dreams outvie  
All our Grave Lectures of Philosophy.  
Perhaps she Rests; 'tis time for her: but O!  
What Fates attend her Rest poor Mortals know.  
Tired with this World's Impertinence, she's come  
For privacy to this Retiring-Room:  
The place we call her Tomb, where she doth lie,  
But 'tis her Closet, our great Library.  
Howe'er, she hath withdrawn herself from hence,  
And our Wits Freeze, robbed of her Influence.  
Like breathless Statues, here we stand all dumb,  
Not one wise word to set upon her Tomb.  
The brightest Sun blind Moles must never see;  
So she seems dead because we senseless be.  
Her sprightly Soul, full of Aethereal Fires,  
Up far above our Regions now aspires,  
To seek new Game, since all things here below  
Grew stale, and nothing left she did not know.  
Her Fantasies heat had scorched all Subjects, hurled  
The Universe into the Blazing-World:  
And having nought out of herself do do,  
She soon too active for her Body grew.  
Spirits are not confined, out thence she flashes,  
And leaves her house consumed to these few ashes.  
Puff then broiled Chemist, wrangle out thy Fire,  
Th' Elixyr's fled: and till thou canst inspire  
These silent Ashes with new Form, restore  
Us such a Phoenix as we had before;  
In spite of thy big words, we standers by  
Shall call thee fool, and thy fine Art a Lie.  
Be gone thou silly Poet, and invoke  
The Destinies, thy Muses all are broke,  
Cannot inspire thee longer, but by stealth  
Out of her Books the Muse's Commonwealth.  
This Ladies learned Dust which here doth lie  
Hath drunk thy boasted Helicon quite dry.  
Bring, old and new Philosophers, your Art,  
Rip up Dame Nature's Bowels, pierce her Heart.  
Alas, all's now too late, here's nothing left,  
Her early Industry hath you bereft  
Of all her Jewels, and your Wits at once;  
And bids you this new title wear, Grave-Dunce.  
She could not else have gone to rest so soon,  
Who never paused before her work was done.  
All Nature's Treasure in this Tomb doth lie,  
If you would find it. Fool's despair and die.   

Here lies that noblest Lady, whose great name  
Hath choked the Muses, and hath glutted Fame.  
A Name! All Poetry is mute to hear it,  
This hardest Marble here doth sweat to bear it.  
And did not yet the Sacred Ashes live,  
And better words to Stones, than Men have, give.  
We could not know that here enclosed lies,  
The wonder of admired Mysteries.  
Arts, Sciences, Muses, and Graces all  
Comprised in one Golden Manual.  
If thou wouldst know more of her, search for it  
Amongst the many Wonders which she writ.  
If out of those thou canst not spell and frame  
Th'Illustrious Duchess of Newcastles Name,  
Thou hast but one help left thee, in a word,  
Consult the Living-Oracle, her Lord.  
'Tis Treason against Wit for any one  
To speak her name at length, but him alone:  
Seeing in him, and him alone, we find  
Whatever she of Wit hath left behind.  
And Wit this Lady-Wonder shall survive  
Whilst this great Prince of Honour is alive.  
Yea, may He live, till we can weary grow  
Of all that Nature in one piece can show;  
Wit might seem larger whilst in Two it shone,  
'Tis stronger now contracted into One.  
Whilst by his Courtesy she had engrossed  
So much, the honour of our Sex seemed lost:  
Wit was Hermaphrodite, when One in Twain;  
But now 'tis only Masculine again.   
Clement Ellis, Minister.   

Tumulus Nobilissimae, Illustrissimaeque Principis, Margaretae Ducissae Novi-Castri.  
QVis Deus extremum possit prohibere dolorem,  
cum Dea sublimi tendit in Aslra fugâ?  
Pectore lacteolo condatur ferreus ensis,  
Et non purpureo Sanguine tinctus erit?  
Alta cadat Cedrus, nemorosae gloria Sylvae,  
Non tamen ad Coelos diriget ora fragor?  
Quid vetet, ut Saevi perculsus imagine fati  
Non gemat, & nubes dissipet usque suas?  
Lampade victrici dum transfert Foemina morti,  
(Foemina, cui nomen non nisi gemma fuit,)  
Vnica, virtutum comitatus, vita, sallisque,  
Graviter officiis consuluisse suis.  
Hoc fuit innuptae decus, obseruâsse parentes;  
Vxoris, Domini non violàsse torum.  
Non dolus aut ferrum, mollis facundia, nec vis  
Surripuit nuptam Conjugis è gremio.  
Sed sitiens mortis telum divortia fingit,  
Et, quod non poterant caetera fata, facit.  
Occidit illa, suis decus, omnibus altera Pallas,  
Deliciae, Musis, Coelitibúsque comes,  
Nunquid in aeternum vivet post Funera Virtus?  
Nunquid eruditi fama superstes erit?  
Qui poterit vivae tolli virtutis Imago?  
Ardentem Pallas non superare rogum?  
Num febris calor insanae praecordia vellit?  
Et Canis aestivus viscera caeca vorat?  
Nostrarum extinguet Lachrimarum copia morbum,  
Mortis & immerget spicula saeva dolor.  
Frigida Sublimem repetunt Cruciamina Mentem?  
Vitalesque aurae deseruêre focum?  
En nostri in tantam Dominam flagrantia Zeli  
Scintillas reparat, Religióque fovet.  
Certè igitur fatis nondum concessit iniquis  
Foemina, quae nullo crimine tincta fuit.  
Non ita jampridem divinitùs acta Creatrix  
(Vnius est summi, posse creare, Dei.)  
Ex nihilo sinxit diversa volumina Coeli,  
Mundum alium, stabiles fixit utrinque Polos.  
Huic se transmisit Solio, quia pulchrior illi  
Virtutum est facies, formáque lucidior;  
quam quae vel lippis vulgus dignetur ocellis;  
Aut nostro immeritos praebeat Orbe dies:  
Sic nimia Phoebus nè vi perstringeret Orbem,  
In Clymenis gremium nocte silente redit.  
Huc se transmisit, ne longa absentia Mundum  
Jam tum constructum verteret in cineres.  
Istum dura Fames torqueret, crapula nostrum,  
Aequales si non tendat utrique manus.  
Ne tantam invidiam pariat, quòd inhospita tecta  
Linquat, pernici Pectore summa petens;  
Haec non contineat spatiosam angustia mentem,  
Quae velit influxum reddere utrique solo.  
Indulsit nostris sua quaeque Volumina terris,  
Nunc alios Orbes hisce beare cupit.  
Vtque sciant omnes, quantùm sciat omnia, sese  
Translalit, expressam Numinis effigiem.  
ANDERTON.   

In Illustrissimam Dominam Margaretam, Novi-Castri Ducissam,  
EPITAPHIUM.  
SIste Paulisper gradum, Viator,  
Non longùm moreris erit necesse:  
Legenti licet currere,  
Currenti licet legere,  
Vtrique intelligere,  
Quòd hic sita est  
Lectissima Foemina,  
Domina Margareta,  
Neo-Castrensis Ducissa.  
Nobilitate verè Aulicâ,  
Eruditione verè Academica,  
Pietate verè Coelicâ,  
Praedita & dotata.  
Animo virili, super sexum,  
Sapientiâ senili supra aetatem,  
Ingenio entheo, supra sortem,  
Afflata & imbuta.  
Quam licèt ex hoc nostro discas Vixisse,  
In suis tamen scriptis edisces Vivere,  
Scilicet in Vitâ quam scripsit, Mariti,  
Suam quoque perpetuare.  
Quam licèt Bona Opera,  
Moralia, Evangelica,  
Ad arces Coelorum avolantem secuta sint.  
Literata tamen  
Philosophica, Historica, Poëtica,  
In Terris spirantem & commorantem referunt,  
Servabuntque superstitem.  
Fuit  
Florentissimi Mariti, Vxor Splendidissima,  
Bellicosi viri, Doctissima Matrona,  
Armati Ducis, Togata Ducissa,  
Quam si habuisset Socrates Vxorem,  
Plato ejus Philosophiam, non literis mandâsset.  
Quae si habuisset Caesarem Maritum,  
Ille non sua Gesta suâ manû scripsisset.  
Illa ipsa Socratis Dicta Enarrâsset. Caesaris Facta Fidelitèr, Feliciter,  
Qualem si Martialis mordax speravisset sibi,  
Nunquam non Doctissimam Conjugem optâsset.  
Quam modò, Historias omnes callentem,  
Curtúmque torquere Enthymema potentem,  
Rebúsque honestis Finem Vltimum imponentem,  
Cúmque Homero Maronem comparantem.  
Vtrumque imitantem,  
Vidisset Satyricus, non frontem corrugâsset,  
Non intollerabilem Vxorem,  
Sed Raram in Terris Avem, dixisset.  
Vitam In Aulâ Regiâ, Honoratam, Egit. In Minervae Castris, Eruditam, In Ecclesiâ Dei, devotam, Domi, Contemplativam, Foris, Activam, Piè, Placidè, Pacatè Mortem Mortalinatae, Expectatam, Obiit. Philosophiae deditae, non formidatam, Ad Christianam spem vocatae, exoptatam, Laetè, Tranquillè, Beatè, Quâ translata est  
A meditatione purâ, ad Perfectam Visionem,  
A creaturis contemplandis ad intuendum Creatorem,  
A Poëtarum camoenis, ad Angelorum Hymnos,  
Ab Aulà Terrenâ, ad Curiam Coelestem.  
Libros Suos, sobolem Suam, ad utramque Academiam  
Misit, at ad dandam non capiendam doctrinam.  
Quibus Bibliothecas publicas ditavit,  
Quae Ipsa Bibliotheca Animata fuit.  
Opera illius fuere suum pretium,  
Labores illius suum praemium.  
Dedit, ut Herodotus unum Librum,  
Singulis Musarum unum volumen.  
Quae cum sunt ingressa Bibliothecam Joannensem,  
(Solam nobis ex officio memorandam Bibliothecam)  
quam densum obviam uênit agmen salutantium?  
Quae cum sua ibidem subsellia petebant,  
quam grande fuit certamen locum cedentium  
Vitam Conjugis, quam scripsit, ad suas Parallelas  
Apposuit Plutarch, & locum apparavit.  
Philosophia, quam scripsit, se Veteribus adjungi  
Modestè non dignata, ad Recentiores concessit.  
Poëtas omnes singulósque unicè dilexit,  
Omnésque singulósque suo ordine visitavit.  
Indigna est loco isti catenâ alligari,  
Ad quem sibi adeò liberè accessum rogavit.  
Anima Ejus regnat in Choro Beatorum,  
Corpus (vides) jacet hîc in Choro Poëtarum. Illa Ipsa,  
Vt in Annulo gemma, utrobique refulget.  
At Tu, quisquis es, Viator,  
Orandus es Lachrymulis  
Tuis, pro merito, novum  
Heliconis hîc Rivum dare,  
Vbi Musis jam fecerunt novum  
Tota Poëtarum tumuli Parnassum.  
Tho. Brown, Coll. Joan. Cantab.   
FINIS.