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 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY 
 DISPOSED OF BY J. H. U. LIBRARY. 

 
 sK 

 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR KENELM DIGBY,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR KENELM DIGBY, 
 
 OF BY J. H, 
 
 GENTLEMAN OF THE BEDCHAMBER 
 
 TO 
 KING CHARLES THE FIRST. 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
 
 NOW FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT, 
 
 AN INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 :/ 
 
 SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET. 
 1827.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THERE is a charm in Autobiography under what- 
 ever form it may be presented to our notice, 
 which is too universally felt to require recom- 
 mendation ; hence, an apology for publishing for 
 the first time, from his own MS., an account of 
 the early part of the life of one of the most extra- 
 ordinary characters of his, or indeed of any age, 
 would it is presumed be wholly superfluous. 
 
 The name of SIR KENELM DIGBY is almost 
 synonymous with genius and eccentricity ; and his 
 marriage with the beautiful VENETIA STANLEY, 
 a lady of far purer birth than fame, has tended to 
 create a lively interest in all which relates to him. 
 Under feigned appellations, but to the greater pro- 
 portion of which there is no difficulty in giving a 
 key, Digby has detailed all the events of his life, 
 from his childhood until his victory over the 
 Venetian squadron at Scanderoon in June 1628; 
 and as the narrative was solely written from feel- 
 ings of affection for his wife, that celebrated 
 woman is the heroine of his tale.
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 That so curious an article should have hitherto 
 escaped the attention of his Biographers, is not 
 a little singular ; but it will be seen by the Me- 
 moir which it was necessary to prefix to it, that it 
 throws important light, not only upon Digby's 
 own character, but also upon the character and 
 conduct of Lady Venetia ; and many curious par- 
 ticulars will also be found of the most distin- 
 guished personages of their times. 
 
 As in the introductory account of Sir Kenelm 
 Digby, the question of the authenticity of the MS., 
 which is -preserved in the Harleian Collection in 
 the British Museum, No. 6758, is discussed, and 
 every particular concerning it stated, any farther 
 observations in this place are unnecessary. 
 
 June 1st, 1827.
 
 LIFE 
 
 SIR KENELM DIGBY. 
 
 THE difficulty of writing the life of so 
 diversified a genius as Sir Kenelm Digby, 
 has been justly considered a perilous task ; 
 and that difficulty is but little lessened by 
 the elaborate account of him in the " Bio- 
 graphia Britannica," or the concise but in- 
 comparable summary of his character by 
 Mr. Lodge.* In the former of those pro- 
 ductions, every fact which the industry of 
 more than one editor could collect is co- 
 piously detailed ; whilst the successful 
 manner in which the biographer who is 
 just alluded to, has selected all that is really 
 important concerning him, stated those de- 
 ductions which are to be made from his 
 
 * Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain, 
 with Biographical and Historical Memoirs. 
 
 b
 
 VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 conduct, and clothed his narration and re- 
 marks in the most polished and appro- 
 priate language, render it impossible that 
 this Memoir of him can excel the minute- 
 ness of the one, or equal the terseness, the 
 elegance, or the energy of the other. 
 
 Nor will the attempt even be made : for 
 the only hopes which can be entertained 
 that this article will possess claims to at- 
 tention of a different nature from former 
 notices of Digby, are founded upon the 
 curious particulars of his early life, and the 
 life of the beautiful Venetia Stanley, his 
 wife, which are presented under feigned 
 names in this volume; the few unpublished 
 letters which are introduced; and still 
 more, upon the incontrovertible truth that 
 scarcely two writers view the same facts in 
 one light, and that it is only by such re- 
 peated and various examinations of human 
 conduct that the real merits of mankind 
 can be discovered. 
 
 Thus then, all which has been printed 
 respecting Sir Kenelm Digby will be re- 
 lated in as brief a manner as is consistent 
 with the intention of giving a simple narra-
 
 INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 tive of his life ; but the little which has been 
 brought to light, either in this piece of 
 autobiography, or from other sources, will 
 be placed in that prominent view to which 
 their novelty, if not their interest, entitle 
 them. This is the more necessary, because, 
 if it be proved that what is already known 
 of him is consistent in the general features, 
 in probability, and in dates, with his ac- 
 count of transactions with which we now be- 
 come acquainted for the first time, the value 
 of his statements will be fully established. 
 Kenelm Digby was the eldest son of Sir 
 Everard Digby, one, and perhaps the most 
 respectable, of the fanatic conspirators of 
 the gunpowder treason, by Mary, daughter 
 and co-heiress of William Mulsho, of Got- 
 hurst, in Buckinghamshire, Esq. and was 
 scarcely three years of age when his father 
 expiated his crime upon the scaffold. The 
 precise day of his birth has been the subject 
 of far greater controversy than it deserved, 
 but there can be no just grounds for doubt- 
 ing that it occurred on the llth of Julie 3 , 
 1603. As his father was attainted, he says 
 he inherited nothing from him " but a foul 
 
 b2
 
 Vlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 stain in his blood :"* but such was not 
 strictly true ; for two of Sir EverarcTs ma- 
 nors, as well as his wife's property, having 
 been entailed, the crown was defeated in the 
 effort to take possession of them, and Digby 
 is considered to have inherited an estate of 
 3000/. per annum. His mother was a rigid 
 Catholic, but submitted, Mr. Lodge con- 
 siders, to her son being educated a Pro- 
 testant from obvious political reasons; 
 whilst his previous biographers conjecture 
 that he was taken from her care when very 
 young ; because at an early period he re- 
 nounced the faith of his ancestors, and was 
 placed under the tuition of Archbishop 
 Laud, then Dean of Gloucester. Be this as 
 it may, Digby is thought to have been 
 a Protestant until he formally returned to 
 the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church, 
 about the year 1638; but, as it will after- 
 ward be more fully pointed out, there are 
 reasons for believing that he was a Catholic 
 as early as 1623, in which case it may be 
 fairly doubted whether he was ever, in re- 
 ality, of any other religion. In 1618, when 
 
 * P. 32.
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 he was in his fifteenth year, he was sent to 
 Oxford, and entered of Gloucester-hall, 
 where the direction of his studies was com- 
 mitted to Mr. Thomas Allen, one of the 
 most eminent scholars of the time, who it is 
 said, accepted the task from affection for the 
 family of his pupil, and a high opinion of 
 his genius and capacity, rather than from 
 the ordinary motives of a college tutor. 
 Digby remained at the university but two 
 years, in which he obtained a splendid re- 
 putation. Early in 1621, he proceeded 
 on his travels, intending, if his own asser- 
 tion is to be believed, to study for some 
 time in the university of Paris;* but neither 
 of his biographers give any other account 
 of him between that year and 1623, when 
 he returned to England, than they gleaned 
 from a passage in one of his works, namely, 
 that he attended on the Prince of Wales, 
 afterward Charles the First, when his Royal 
 Highness was at Madrid. Of that inte- 
 resting period of Sir Kenelm's life, the en- 
 suing memoir presents many singular par- 
 ticulars, and as all of them which are ca- 
 
 * P. 79.
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 pable of proof are fully supported by evi- 
 dence, as well as by the general history of 
 the period, there seems to be no just 
 ground for suspecting the fidelity of the 
 outline, however much it may be necessary 
 to allow for the high colouring of the 
 picture. But, fortunately, the former only 
 is required for the purpose of filling up 
 the chasm. 
 
 As it is impossible to avail ourselves of 
 that information without alluding to the 
 fair individual who became identified with 
 Digby's fortunes, this is, perhaps, the most 
 convenient place for introducing her. 
 Venetia Stanley, to whose names one 
 writer has also added that of Anastatia,* 
 was one of the daughters, and, eventually, 
 co-heirs of Sir Edward Stanley, of Tonge 
 Castle in Shropshire, Knight of the Bath, 
 eldest son of Sir Thomas Stanley, Knt. 
 a younger son of Edward, third Earl of 
 Derby, K. G. and was born on the 19th of 
 December, 1600. Her mother was Lucy, 
 daughter and co^heiress of Thomas Percy, 
 seventh Earl of Northumberland, who, we 
 
 * Hutchin's History of Dorset.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 learn from this memoir, died when she was 
 but a few months old.* Truly, indeed, 
 might Digby boast that his Venetia was 
 " born of parents that, in the antiquity 
 and lustre of their houses and in the goods 
 of fortune, were inferior to none in Great 
 Britain rf- and that some of her ancestors 
 had exalted and pulled down Kings in 
 England, and that their successors still 
 have right to wear a regal crown upon 
 their princely temples ; W J an allusion to the 
 sovereignty of the Isle of Man, which was 
 then possessed by the Earls of Derby. 
 Her beauty and accomplishments equaled 
 the lustre of her birth, but her character 
 has been impeached in the most unquali- 
 fied terms, and it must be confessed that 
 there are many causes for believing in the 
 accusations. This delicate subject cannot 
 be passed over in silence, for as Digby 
 himself alludes to rumours against her 
 fame, the question demands that some 
 attention should be given to it ; but it is 
 first necessary to notice what he previously 
 says of her. 
 
 * P. 13. f Ibid. I P. 272.
 
 Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Sir Edward Stanley, he informs us, 
 though a negligent husband, was so much 
 afflicted at the loss of his wife, that he 
 resolved on passing his life in absolute 
 seclusion ; and therefore committed Ve- 
 netia to the care of the wife of one of his 
 relations, whose house was situated near 
 to that of Lady Digby. This naturally 
 produced frequent visits between the two 
 families, and Kenelm became known to 
 Venetia in his childhood, when a mutual 
 attachment arose, and which " grew with 
 their growth/' 
 
 After a few years had thus passed 
 away, Sir Edward Stanley sent for his 
 daughter to his own house; but upon the 
 marriage of the Princess Elizabeth with 
 the Count Palatine, which soon afterward 
 took place, he was summoned to the Court; 
 and, being desirous of shewing her " the 
 magnificent entertainments that are usual 
 at such times, and also being glad to let 
 the world now see that fame was nothing 
 too lavish in setting out her perfections/' 
 took Venetia with him to London ; where 
 " her beauty and discretion did soon draw
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 the eyes and thoughts of all men to ad- 
 miration."* 
 
 The royal alliance alluded to, occurred 
 in February, 1613, -when she was but little 
 more than thirteen years of age. To 
 Aubrey, her detractor, we are indebted 
 for the little which is known about her ; 
 and some parts of his statement agree with 
 Digby's, for he says, " She was a most 
 beautiful desirable creature, and, being 
 matura viro, was left by her father to live 
 with a tenant at Enston Abbey, in Oxford- 
 shire ; but, as private as that place was, it 
 seems her beauty could not lie hid/'-f 
 Enston is not more than thirty miles from 
 Gothurst, the seat of Lady Digby ; and 
 the only difference between the Memoir 
 and Aubrey on the subject of Venetians 
 residence is, that in the former the indi- 
 vidual to whose care she was intrusted, is 
 called her father's kinsman. 
 
 Her extraordinary beauty, we are told, 
 attracted the regard of Ursatius, one of the 
 
 * P. 21. 
 
 t Aubrey's Letters by Eminent Persons, vol. ii. p. 330, 
 note.
 
 XIV INTilODUCTION. 
 
 noblemen of the court, whose attentions, 
 however, proved fruitless in consequence of 
 her previous attachment to Digby. On her 
 return home, she related what had occurred 
 to her Governess, who being bribed by the 
 nobleman in question, advocated his cause 
 with much zeal ; and of course did all in 
 her power to depreciate his rival. In the 
 conversation between them, Digby makes 
 her give some account of his situation, and 
 adduces admirable reasons why his father's 
 attainder should not prejudice him in the 
 opinion of the world. 
 
 A defence is also offered of Sir Everard's 
 conduct, upon the ground that it did not 
 arise from ambition but mistaken zeal 
 for his country's liberties, and an inviolable 
 faith to his friend who had entrusted him 
 with a knowledge of the conspiracy. The 
 Governess, finding her efforts unavailing, 
 advised her noble employer to carry Ve- 
 netia off by stealth ; and under the idea of 
 meeting Digby, she was decoyed into his 
 hands, when she was conveyed to a house 
 in the country. Ursatius, of course, met 
 her there, but deceived by the idea that
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 she would ultimately consent to his suit, he 
 treated her with respect, though it would 
 appea rthat he addressed her in bed : but it 
 is not easy to reconcile this part of the nar- 
 rative with probability, for it seems that on 
 reaching this house, she retired to rest; 
 that in the evening Ursatius arrived and 
 entered her room, when a long conversa- 
 tion took place ; that in the midst of it 
 the housekeeper brought supper, no one 
 else being allowed to attend them; and that 
 after their meal, he led Venetia into a 
 garden. During the whole of this scene we 
 are not informed when she rose, or if Ursa- 
 tius once quitted the room, an inconsis- 
 tency which is the more remarkable, from 
 the connected manner in which the remain- 
 ing part of the Memoir is related. Ve- 
 netia, having gone to her chamber, me- 
 ditated her escape, which she effected 
 -by lowering herself out of the window, 
 and thence let herself down from the 
 garden wall. In her flight she was at- 
 tacked by a wolf, but was rescued by 
 Mardontius, a young nobleman who is 
 subsequently a conspicuous character in the
 
 XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tale. His servants escorted her to the 
 house of her relation Artesia, whose grand- 
 daughter is intended by Lady Digby and 
 that lady to be the wife of Kenelm. In an 
 interview between Artesia and Venetia, 
 the writer has introduced a description of 
 himself and his younger brother, John. 
 This sketch, though by no means remarkable 
 for modesty, is exceedingly faithful, arid 
 abundantly proves that Digby was well 
 acquainted with his own character : it is 
 also interesting for the compliments which 
 it contains to his tutor, Mr. Allen. Aubrey 
 says that Digby 's marriage was violently 
 opposed by his mother, on account of 
 Venetians immorality; but, though he ad- 
 mits that his mother was averse to his 
 attachment to her, he attributes it to 
 some unkind nesses which had passed 
 between Sir Everard Stanley and her, 
 and to its interfering with the other alli- 
 ance. The meetings between the lovers 
 at Artesia's house are then mentioned, with 
 an ample proportion of tender speeches 
 on both sides, in one of which Kenelm 
 informed her, that he had attained Lady
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV11 
 
 Digby's permission to travel for two or 
 three years, his chief object being to pre- 
 vent his marriage with the object of his 
 mother's choice, until he became of proper 
 age to dispose of himself, when he would 
 return and claim her hand. Venetia, 
 finding herself coldly treated by her 
 hostess in consequence of Kenelm's attach- 
 ment, returned to London, where she had 
 another interview with her lover, when 
 they exchanged tokens of regard. He 
 immediately proceeded to Paris, and re- 
 mained there until, he says, the plague 
 broke out, when he retired to Angers. 
 Notice is then taken of the state of France, 
 until the annihilation of the Queen's party 
 at the battle of the Pont de Ce, on the 
 8th of August 1620. Digby's account of 
 her Majesty tends to confirm the opinion 
 entertained of her lascivious conduct, for 
 not only does he charge her with a crimi- 
 nal connexion with the Marquis of Ancre, 
 but asserts, that having attracted her at- 
 tention at a masquerade at her court, 
 she fell deeply in love with himself. Her
 
 XV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 attempts to induce him to consent to her 
 overtures are detailed in far too glowing and 
 unambiguous language to admit of being 
 printed; but his constancy to Venetia served 
 as an impregnable bulwark to his virtue. 
 On escaping from her apartment, he met 
 the King's troops forcing their way to it, 
 and fearing the effects of her vengeance, he 
 caused it to be reported that he was killed 
 in the slaughter which ensued. 
 
 From Angers he went to Italy and 
 settled at Florence, whence he wrote to 
 Venetia to inform her of his health, but his 
 letters miscarried, and she consequently 
 gave credence to the news of his death. 
 Her grief is pourtrayed in the quaint elo- 
 quence for which Digby is distinguished ; 
 and having shut herself up from all society 
 excepting that of Mardontius who had 
 saved her life when escaping from Ursatius, 
 he became deeply enamoured of her beauty, 
 and pressed his suit with considerable 
 zeal. Though she refused his addresses, 
 Fame, " that monster which was begot of 
 some fiend in hell and feedeth itself upon
 
 INTRODUCTION. XIX 
 
 the infected breath of the base multitude," 
 reported that an improper intercourse 
 existed between them which Kenelm partly 
 attributes to his speaking more lavishly of 
 her favours than he had ground for. 
 
 The reports, however, induced her, at 
 the earnest request of her friends, to con- 
 sent to marry Mardontius, who caused 
 splendid preparations to be made for their 
 nuptials, and " had her portrait painted by 
 an excellent workman, which picture he 
 used to shew as a glorious trophy of her 
 conquered affections." 
 
 To return to Digby. All the letters 
 which he had written to her were, he 
 says, intercepted by his mother; and whilst 
 pondering on the cause of Venetians silence, 
 intelligence was brought him at Florence of 
 her approaching marriage, with the cause of 
 it, which " went much to the prejudice of 
 her honour/' The philosophy upon which 
 he prided himself was overwhelmed by the 
 tidings, and he gave unrestrained vent to 
 his rage and disappointment. Mardontius 
 proved faithless to his engagement being 
 momentarily inveigled in the country by
 
 XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 some rustic beauty, and Venetia treated 
 all his subsequent efforts to obtain her 
 hand with proper contempt. 
 
 At this period of his history, Digby says, 
 he pauses, because, " his future actions be- 
 came mingled with those of great princes." 
 John Digby, first Earl of Bristol, his dis- 
 tant relation, who was then at Madrid ne- 
 gotiating the marriage of Prince Charles, 
 having heard of Kenelm's reputation, 
 invited him to Spain, with which he com- 
 plied. On his journey, he says, he met a 
 Bramin, and we are favoured with a long 
 argument on the influence of the stars on 
 mankind, and similar mystical subjects; 
 and are told that the Magician conjured 
 up a spirit of Venetia, through whose 
 agency he became convinced that her 
 honour was unsullied, and that her faults 
 were only " a little indulgency of a gentle 
 nature which sprung from some indiscre- 
 tion, or rather want of experience, that 
 made her liable to censure/' He was re- 
 ceived by the Earl at Madrid with great 
 kindness, and supped with him on his ar- 
 rival ; but on his return to his house with
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXI 
 
 Leodivius, who appears to have been a son 
 of Lady Digby by her first husband Sir 
 John Dive, of Bromham in Bedfordshire, 
 Knight, they were waylaid by fifteen men 
 instigated by an individual who was jea- 
 lous of Leodivius. Digby killed two of the 
 assassins which fulfilled a prediction of the 
 spirit, who desired him to consider the 
 accomplishment of that prophecy as evi- 
 dence of the truth of what he had told 
 him of Venetians virtue. 
 
 Charles and the Duke of Buckingham's 
 romantic expedition to Spain is then 
 mentioned: it is said that they arrived at 
 Madrid the day after Digby 's rencontre, 
 and some curious facts are related about 
 the dispute between the Duke and the Earl 
 of Bristol. Kenelm was employed in these 
 negociations, and appears, from his influ- 
 ence with the Archbishop of Toledo, to 
 have facilitated the Ambassador's plans ; 
 and at his relation's desire, he attached him- 
 self to his Prince's service. A remark of 
 Lord Kensington, afterward Earl of Hol- 
 land, who was then at Madrid, on his in- 
 difference to the charms of the Spanish la- 
 
 c
 
 XX11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 dies, induced Digby to devote himself to a 
 distinguished beauty of the court, of whom 
 that nobleman was really enamoured, with 
 the view of convincing his Lordship of his 
 powers of conquest, if he chose to em ploy 
 them. His progress soon exceeded his 
 hopes, and her attachment made so much 
 noise, that news of it reached England and 
 the ears of Venetia. He was urged by his 
 friends to marry her, but his first attachment 
 was so firmly rooted in his heart as to render 
 him unable to listen to their advice ; nor 
 were the entreaties of the fair object her- 
 self attended with greater success. 
 
 At the suggestion of the Duke of Buck- 
 ingham, Charles determined to return to 
 England, notwithstanding that he sincerely 
 admired the Spanish Princess. The Duke's 
 conduct is censured in severe terms, and 
 after allowing for the partial view which 
 the writer was naturally inclined to take of 
 his relative's merits, there is some justice in 
 his charges. Kenelm was appointed to at- 
 tend the Prince on his return, who was re- 
 ceived in London, we are told, with every 
 demonstration of attachment ; but he says
 
 INTRODUCTION. XX111 
 
 he did not witness the joyful acclamations, 
 for no sooner had he landed, than he was 
 seized with a serious illness, which confined 
 him for several days. As no dates occur in 
 the Memoir, it may be necessary to observe 
 that Prince Charles disembarked at Ports- 
 mouth, according to an eye-witness, on 
 Sunday, the 5th of October, 1623, at nine 
 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The Duke of Buckingham's efforts to 
 prejudice the King against Lord Bristol, 
 and the political measures adopted after the 
 Prince's arrival, are then noticed, but the 
 account differs in nothing from the usual his- 
 tories of the period ,excepting that he defends 
 Bristol with a zeal which did him honour. 
 On entering London, Digby informs us 
 he accidentally met Venetia. Her beauty, 
 he says, seemed brighter than ever, " but 
 she sat so pensively on one side of the 
 coach by herself, as Apelles might have 
 taken her counterfeit to express Venus sor- 
 rowing for her beloved Adonis." Having 
 sent his servant to obtain her permission, 
 he waited upon her the next day, when she 
 explained every thing which had occurred
 
 XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in so satisfactory a manner, that he was con- 
 vinced he had treated her with injustice, and 
 their attachment was renewed with increas- 
 ed ardour ; but he was cautious, he adds, not 
 to pledge himself too far, in consequence 
 of the rumour respecting Mardontius. 
 
 Either from a belief in that report, or from 
 the overwhelming influence of those baser 
 feelings which but ill agreed with the phi- 
 losophy upon which he piqued himself, he 
 attempted to obtain possession of Venetians 
 person without the sanction of marriage. 
 Her indignation is described to have been 
 such as would become a paragon of chas- 
 tity, nor was it without signs of the deepest 
 repentance on his part, that he was again 
 admitted to her favour. From that time 
 their hearts were, he says, joined in a 
 fraternal affection, which " confuted the 
 opinion of those who consider that the laws 
 of a high and divine friendship cannot be 
 observed where a woman hath a part;" but 
 we shall presently see how long this platonic 
 regard continued. At that moment Mr. 
 Clerk, a gentleman of the Prince's bed- 
 chamber, fell deeply in love with Venetia,
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXV 
 
 but perceiving that it was not returned, he 
 entreated his friend Digby to intercede with 
 her on his behalf. Such was the high sense 
 which Kenelm entertained of the duties of 
 friendship, that " though he would rather 
 have died than seen her in any other man's 
 possession," yet he became Clerk's earnest 
 advocate ; but Venetia was deaf to his en- 
 treaties. From several folios, which it was 
 impossible to print, it seems that Digby 
 made another attempt upon the chastity of 
 his immaculate Venetia, for calling upon 
 her one morning before she had risen, he 
 entered her bed whilst she was asleep. Her 
 displeasure on discovering her situation, 
 Digby does not attempt to conceal, and 
 adduces his repulse as additional evidence 
 of her virtue, and consequently of the false- 
 hood of the reports against her character. 
 She of course ordered him to quit the place 
 he had so surreptitiously gained ; to which 
 he consented only, upon the condition that 
 she sang to him while he dressed himself. 
 Upon quitting her, he meditates for some 
 time upon the "miraculous perfections" 
 which he had seen, and concludes that she
 
 XXVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "was endowed with a most noble mind, a 
 sweet and virtuous disposition, a generous 
 heart, a full and large understanding, admira- 
 ble discretion and modesty and a true sense 
 of honour; all which were accompanied 
 with other virtues that serve to make a lady 
 complete; and these were lodged in so fair a 
 body, thatif shehad been in those times when 
 men committed idolatry, the world would 
 certainly have renounced the sun, the stars, 
 and all other their devotions, and with one 
 consent have adored her for their goddess/' 
 Few persons perhaps will be disposed 
 to consider Digby as a very competent 
 judge of " discretion and modesty ;" but 
 in every thing relating to the object of his 
 devotion, he seems to have laboured under 
 a perversion of intellect. It is doubtful, 
 however, if love had so completely affected 
 his judgment as to have induced him to 
 marry her, had not another feeling been 
 called into action ; but when ardent gra- 
 titude is added to affection, and the object 
 of both is one of the most beautiful crea- 
 tures, that ever adorned this earth, who is 
 there that can answer for his conduct ?
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXV11 
 
 Under such circumstances the very devia- 
 tion from propriety of a man uniting him- 
 self to a woman of suspicious or even of 
 immoral character, emanates from the best 
 feelings of the human heart; and that 
 which under ordinary circumstances justly 
 excites our contempt, assumes a very dif- 
 ferent complexion. If we cannot, or rather, 
 if from a regard to the best interests of so- 
 ciety we dare not applaud such an action, 
 it is at least difficult to view it with se- 
 verity. He informs us that having been 
 appointed to accompany the Duke of 
 Buckingham in his embassy to the French 
 Court, for the marriage between Prince 
 Charles and Henrietta Maria, and being 
 anxious to equip himself in a manner 
 which might evince his respect for his royal 
 master, his friends thought he would find 
 much difficulty in raising money at so 
 short a notice, adequate to the heavy ex- 
 penses which were necessary. To meet 
 his exigencies, however, Venetia, with true 
 womanly kindness, and that spontaneous 
 generosity which forms so noble a trait in 
 her sex, instantly pawned her jewels and
 
 XXV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 plate. " Having gathered a large sum," for 
 Digby shall relate it in his own words, 
 " she sent it to him, entreating him to make 
 use of it without cumbering his estate, 
 which, consisting of settled rents, would 
 soon quit a greater debt; and thus she 
 made him at once master of all she had, 
 or could hope for. This generous ac- 
 tion/' he adds, " sunk so deep into his 
 heart, that the previous obstacle to his 
 marriage," which arose from the dissuasions 
 of some of his friends, and particularly his 
 mother, was no longer allowed to prevail. 
 In contempt of the world's 
 
 -" dread laugh, 
 
 Which scarce the firm philosopher can scorn." 
 
 and in contempt too of his better judgment, 
 he resolved to make her his wife. If he may 
 be believed, his own feelings were not the 
 only impediment to his union,but that it was 
 opposed in a quarter where opposition was 
 least to be expected. Venetia, he tells us, 
 with a refinement of delicacy, refused to 
 marry one man when another possessed her 
 picture, given under a promise of marriage. 
 All Digby 's efforts to convince her that
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXIX 
 
 her opinions were erroneous, were unsuc- 
 cessful; and he was obliged, by challenging 
 Mardontius, to force him to restore it. 
 Without drawing his sword, he placed the 
 portrait in Digby's hands, accompanied by 
 a written declaration, that if ever he had 
 uttered a word derogatory to her honour, 
 he had falsely slandered her. 
 
 Here it becomes necessary to contrast 
 this account with the character which has 
 been given of Venetia Stanley by Aubrey. 
 He says, that " she had one if not more 
 children by the Earl of Dorset, who set- 
 tled on her an annuity of 500/. per annum, 
 which, after Sir Kenelm Digby married, 
 was unpaid by the Earl : Sir Kenelm sued 
 the Earl after marriage, and recovered it. 
 Sir Edmund Wyld had her picture, and, 
 you may imagine, was very familiar with 
 her. After her marriage she redeemed her 
 honour by her strict living ; she and her 
 husband were invited once a year by the 
 Earl of Dorset, when with much desire and 
 passion he beheld her, and only kissed her 
 hand ; Sir Kenelm being still by/' 
 
 These statements cannot be reconciled
 
 XXX ^TKODUCXION. 
 
 with the scrupulously delicate conduct im- 
 puted to her by Digby ; and we might be 
 inclined to doubt the justice of Aubrey's 
 assertions, were it not manifest from the 
 Memoir itself, that rumours, highly injurious 
 to her character, existed. Nor is it certain 
 that Digby disbelieved them ; for in the 
 elaborate defence of his marriage to the 
 Earl of Bristol, towards the end of the 
 volume, some passages will be found in 
 which he defends his union, notwithstand- 
 ing she might, previously to it, have for- 
 feited all claims to respect. His argu- 
 ments, however little they may convince, 
 are excessively ingenious, and display that 
 subtlety of intellect and profound casuistry 
 for which he was celebrated. Without 
 actually using the coarse expression as- 
 signed to him by Aubrey, " that a hand- 
 some lusty man, that was discreet, might 
 make a virtuous wife out of a brothel house/' 
 we find several remarks of a similar ten- 
 dency ; and so far does he carry his absurd 
 theory respecting the moral conduct of 
 women, that, in a passage which has been 
 necessarily suppressed, he contends that
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXI 
 
 their honour does not consist only in chas- 
 tity, and that cases may occur in which 
 it is justifiable for a man to consent to his 
 wife's pollution ! If these were Digby's real 
 opinions, they afford us a striking but me- 
 lancholy confirmation of the remark that 
 
 " Great genius is to madness near allied." 
 
 Upon the very critical question of that 
 lady's virtue it is almost impossible to 
 form a decisive opinion. The most serious 
 cause for suspecting it, is the manner in 
 which her husband has defended her; for 
 part, at least, of Aubrey's charges will not 
 bear even the slightest investigation. The 
 Earl of Dorset, by whom he says she had 
 one if not more children, was Richard Sack- 
 ville, the third Earl of Dorset,who was born 
 in March, 1589, and who in 1609 married 
 Ann the daughter and heiress of George 
 Earl of Cumberland. He was the son of Ro- 
 bert the second Earl, and was consequently 
 the grandson instead of the " eldest son 
 and heir to the Lord Treasurer ;" and as Ve- 
 netia Stanley was not born until December 
 J600, his connexion with her could not 
 have commenced long before her fifteenth
 
 XXX11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 year, at which time he had been six years 
 a husband. It is therefore, of course, pos- 
 sible that an improper attachment subsisted 
 between them some time between 16 16 
 and March 1624, when the Earl died ; but 
 the corroborating evidence of the fact, ad- 
 duced by Aubrey, that Digby, after his mar- 
 riage, sued Lord Dorset for the annuity 
 which he had settled upon her, and the 
 story of their dining with him once a year, 
 when he kissed her hand, &c. could only 
 have existed in that writer's imagination, 
 for the Earl actually died before Venetians 
 marriage ; nor is there any notice of 
 a trial of the kind, against his heirs or 
 executors, reported. Thus, then, as the 
 greater part of Aubrey's account is proved 
 to have been false, we may at least hesi- 
 tate in believing his other statements ; 
 especially as, independently of the Earl of 
 Dorset, they consist only of inferences. 
 Notwithstanding the equivocal nature of 
 Sir Kenelm's arguments in favour of his 
 wife's reputation, it must not be forgotten 
 that from some parts it would seem he was 
 fully impressed that the reports, which he
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXX111 
 
 admits were in circulation, were false ; that 
 her conduct towards him was marked by 
 the greatest delicacy and propriety ; and 
 that instead of eagerly burying her disho- 
 nour under the name of his wife, it was not 
 until he had restored to her a trifling pledge 
 of her former affection for another indivi- 
 dual, that she yielded to his urgent and 
 incessant entreaties to marry him. On 
 the other hand, we find that he himself 
 twice attempted to seduce her, and al- 
 though the repulse which he encountered 
 on both occasions might be adduced by 
 him as proof of her virtue, the effort speaks 
 but little in favour of his real opinion of it; 
 that his friends were violent in their disap- 
 probation of his marriage ; and more than 
 all, that in his defence of his union, instead 
 of solely resting upon her innocence, he 
 descends to such miserable sophistry as 
 that "she ought not to be less valued for 
 her former affection, since looking into the 
 reality of it, and finding it to be on worthy 
 grounds of her side, you must consent that 
 her innocence is not impeached ;" that " a 
 wise man should not confine himself to what
 
 XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 may be said of the past actions of his wife ;" 
 that her beauty, wit, and splendid descent 
 were far more essential objects ; that " if in- 
 discreet unstay edy outh, or rather childhood , 
 have at any time cast a mist over her judg- 
 ment, and so caused some innocent error in 
 any of her actions, the goodness of her na- 
 ture hath converted it into this benefit, that 
 she is fully warned and armed never to 
 incur the like;" that " what was done having 
 left nothing which could really be taken 
 hold of, it should not be considered so much 
 as the present state of the soul and mind;" 
 " that the clearest brooks have some mud/' 
 by the absurd and criminal opinions which 
 have been alluded to ; and similar prepos- 
 terous remarks. 
 
 They were, we are told , privately married ; 
 and as their eldest child was born in October 
 1625, the ceremony probably took place in 
 the January preceding, though at Digby 's 
 request it was kept secret from the world. 
 Their intercourse naturally gave rise to 
 observations, and his cousin Robert 
 Digby, who became the first Lord Digby 
 in Ireland, having remonstrated with him
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXV 
 
 on the subject, he entered into a long dis- 
 course in defence of the passion of Love ; 
 and afterwards at his request, described a 
 personal contest which had taken place 
 between him and an individual whom he 
 calls Famelicus, and who, like themselves, 
 was a gentleman of the Prince's bed- 
 chamber, but whose name it is impossible 
 to discover. This he explains at some 
 length, though it is only necessary to state 
 that, instigated by malice, the person 
 in question had asserted he had received the 
 last favour from Venetia, in consequence 
 of which Digby instantly challenged him. 
 Finding his life at stake, he confessed the 
 falsehood of hisslander,andconsequently ob- 
 tained thereputation of" anindiscreet, rash, 
 and dishonest co ward " whilst those who had 
 combined with him, but whose real names 
 are uncertain, were considered as " mali- 
 cious, unworthy, and cankered wretches/' 
 
 It is not a little extraordinary that Digby 
 should omit to mention, that on his return 
 from Spain he received the honour of 
 Knighthood, which was conferred upon 
 him on the 23d of October, 1623, at Lord
 
 XXXVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Montague's house at Hinchinbroke in the 
 presence of Prince Charles and the Duke 
 of Buckingham, when the King paid him 
 some high compliments on his erudition. 
 
 It must also have been about this time 
 that he discovered his celebrated sympa- 
 thetic powder ; and the omission of any no- 
 tice of it in his Memoirs, is not less singular. 
 The curious reader will find an ample ac- 
 count of it in Sir Kenelm's " Discourse 
 upon the Sympathetic Powder/' from 
 which a copious extract has been made in 
 the " Biographia Britannica ;" but it is 
 sufficient to observe of it here, that it con- 
 sisted of applying a certain mixture to any 
 thing which had received the blood of a 
 wounded person, who obtained instant 
 relief from the application, even if he 
 were not present. Digby says, he learnt 
 the secret from a friar in Italy, to whom he 
 had rendered some essential kindnesses ; 
 and an instance of its efficacy on Mr. 
 Howell is fully detailed. The circumstance 
 attracted the attention of King James and 
 the Court, and tended in no small degree 
 to his reputation.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXV11 
 
 Of his marriage, Sir Kenelm gives us 
 some curious particulars ; and we learn that 
 Lady Digby's confinement was hastened 
 by a fall from a horse. Her labour was 
 attended, he says, with great danger, from 
 her resolution to abide by his wish that it 
 might be kept secret; and he of course 
 seizes the opportunity of extolling her for- 
 titude and firmness. 
 
 As soon as she could be left with safety, 
 he returned to town, when the conversation 
 occurred between the Earl of Bristol and 
 himself, relative to Venetia, which has been 
 cited. It was interrupted, we are in- 
 formed, by the arrival of his Lordship's 
 solicitor, who came to report the judgment 
 which had just been pronounced relative to 
 the proceedings against him by the Court, 
 the enmity of which had, it is well known, 
 through the jealousy and hatred of Buck- 
 ingham, been powerfully excited against 
 him. At Sir Kenelm's request, the Earl 
 related the manner in which he had been 
 treated, from which it seems that as the 
 evidence of Sir Kenelm and Robert Digby 
 was necessary for his defence, Buckingham 
 
 d
 
 XXXV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 caused two of his kinsmen and dependants 
 to challenge them to meet them at some 
 place on the continent, with the view of 
 keeping them out of the way; that the 
 Digbys accordingly repaired thither; but 
 that the want of the personal testimony of 
 Kenelm was supplied by a letter which he 
 addressed to the Earl; and that, on his re- 
 turn, he boldly justified his own conduct 
 to the King. It is unnecessary to follow 
 Sir Kenelm through his vindication of the 
 Earl of Bristol, for that nobleman's con- 
 duct stands fair in the eyes of posterity. 
 
 At this period of his life, Digby says, he 
 deemed it necessary to prove to the world 
 that his devotion to Venetia had not lessen- 
 ed " the nobleness of his mind, nor abated 
 the edge of his active and vigorous spirits ;" 
 and he therefore resolved to undertake some 
 object which would both tend to his own 
 honour and the King's service. When 
 his Majesty knew his wishes, " he gave 
 him an extraordinary and very honourable 
 commission to take in hand a voyage by 
 sea." The commission in question is dated 
 on the 15th November, 3 Car. I. 1627, in
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXIX 
 
 which he is styled " Sir Kenelm Digby, 
 Knt. one of the Gentlemen of our Privy 
 Chamber/'* and on the 29th December 
 following he sailed with a small squadron. 
 He tells us, that so far from finding difficulty 
 in procuring followers, his greatest trouble 
 was to defend himself from the importunity 
 of those persons of rank who wished to ac- 
 company him. Though from the envy of 
 some and " the malignity of fortune/' he 
 met with serious obstacles to his design, san- 
 guine hopes were entertained of his success ; 
 hopes which, it will be seen, were not dis- 
 appointed. The affection of Venetia was 
 put to a severe trial by his departure, and 
 he eloquently describes their feelings on 
 the occasion. Besides the situation of 
 Gentleman of the Bedchamber, Digby is 
 said to have held those of a Commissioner 
 of the Navy, and a Governor of the Trinity 
 House. According to the most recent of 
 his biographers, whom it would be injustice 
 to the reader to quote in any other lan- 
 guage than his own, " On the accession 
 of Charles the First, Sir Kenelm Digby 
 
 * Foedera, tome xviii. p. 947. 
 
 d 2
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 became one of the chief ornaments of 
 Whitehall. Charles, who did not love 
 gaiety, highly esteemed him, however, for 
 his admirable talents ; but to the Queen, 
 who before her misfortunes had a very 
 lively disposition, he rendered himself in- 
 finitely agreeable, and she seems to have 
 conceived a friendship for him which lasted 
 through life. He was a party in all the 
 royal diversions, which indeed he fre- 
 quently planned and directed; and such 
 were the volubility of his spirits, and the 
 careless elegance of his manners, that it 
 should have seemed that he had been bred 
 from his infancy in a court/'* 
 
 Before he quitted England he acquainted 
 his friend, the Earl of Bristol, with his 
 marriage, who promised not only to shew 
 Lady Digby every possible respect and 
 attention during his absence, but to do 
 what might be in his power to justify it to 
 the world. On the day of his embarkation 
 Sir Kenelm received intimation of the 
 birth of his second son, John, which took 
 place on the 29th December, 1627 ; and 
 
 * Lodge's Illustrious Portraits.
 
 INTRODUCTION. x 
 
 he, in consequence, wrote to desire that 
 Venetia would no longer conceal their 
 union. The favourable prospects under 
 which Digby sailed, were of short conti- 
 nuance, for before he had been long at sea 
 a violent disease broke out in his ships, 
 which swept away a great part of his men. 
 His officers solicited him to return, but he 
 succeeded in convincing them that it was 
 wiser to persevere ; and a favourable wind 
 springing up, he proceeded on his voyage. 
 It is impossible to say what place he de- 
 signates under the name of Rhodes, where 
 he refreshed his people and refitted the fleet, 
 but most probably Sally, or some other port 
 on the coast of Barbary. From thence he 
 sailed in prosecution of the object of the ex- 
 pedition, which, he tells us, was to interrupt 
 the trade of the French in Spain and Por- 
 tugal, in silks and other commodities which 
 those countries produce; and by this means, 
 the English might gain it, and make " their 
 country the staple for the manufacture and 
 vent of so rich a traffic/' At Scanderoon, 
 " where was the period of his design," he 
 found a number of French and Venetian
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 vessels ; and the commanders of the latter, 
 not contented with declaring their resolution 
 to defend the French squadron, in conse- 
 quence of the treaty which existed between 
 France and Venice, insolently warned Digby 
 to quit the port, or they would sink his 
 ships. We are thus furnished with the 
 cause of the engagement, to which Ben 
 Johnson thus alludes, 
 
 " Witness thy action done at Scanderoon 
 Upon thy birth-day, the eleventh of June." 
 
 Having made every preparation for bat- 
 tle, he addressed his men in a speech, of 
 which he has taken care to give us the heads, 
 to excite their bravery, and then imme- 
 diately placed his own ship alongside of 
 that of the admiral of the enemy ; and his 
 example being followed by his captains, 
 they soon gained a complete victory. The 
 Venetians, he says, sent to beg a shameful 
 peace, and, at the same instant, he boarded 
 and took by force the French vessels; so 
 that, in a few hours, his triumph was com- 
 plete. \ 
 
 With this event, Sir Kenelm Digby 's 
 narrative ends ; but the explanation which
 
 INTRODUCTION. xliil 
 
 he has given of his motive for writing it, 
 and his wish that it might never be read 
 by others, is, perhaps, the most interesting 
 part of his lucubrations. He commences 
 with expressing a hope, that if by accident 
 the MS. should ever fall into any person's 
 hands but his own, " this last scrawl may 
 beg pardon for the rest/' His object in 
 composing the Memoir appears to have 
 been to preserve his virtue ; for, having been 
 separated from his fleet by a storm which 
 forced him into an island, which he calls 
 Milo, where he remained to repair his 
 ship, he was invited on shore by the chief 
 persons of the place; and his host, to 
 divert him from the retirement which he 
 courted, obligingly offered to interest some 
 ladies on his behalf, " who, in all ages, have 
 been known to be no niggards of their 
 favours," and which might, he says, have 
 been willingly accepted by an individual 
 in his situation, had he not had his thoughts 
 filled with the remembrance of so divine a 
 creature as his Venetia. To avoid, there- 
 fore, giving offence by a refusal, he pre- 
 tended to have man}' dispatches to write ;
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 but, as his facility in composition was 
 always very great, he observes, he soon 
 finished his letters, and then resolved to 
 commit to paper such events in his life as 
 related to the fair object of his contem- 
 plation. He then "gives warning before 
 hand, that no man hath reason to lose any 
 time in perusing so trivial a discourse of a 
 young and unstayed head, which was, at 
 the first, begun only for my own recreation, 
 and then continued, and since preserved 
 only for my own private content ;" and 
 concludes by requesting some friendly hand 
 to convert " these blotted sheets into a 
 clear flame/' should they survive him, 
 "which funeral fire will be welcome obse- 
 quies to my departed soul ; who, till then, 
 will be in continual fear that the world 
 may have occasion to renew the memory 
 of my indiscretion, and condemn me then 
 as much for want of judgment in writing, 
 as formerly it hath done for too deep 
 passion in my actions/' That the MS. 
 was not destroyed, is fortunate for those 
 who are gratified by perusing the descrip- 
 tion which genius gives of itself, as well as
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 for Digby's memory, as it contains many 
 facts highly creditable to his character, 
 and tends, in some degree, to redeem that 
 of his wife ; whilst much light is thrown by 
 it upon the early part of his career. As a 
 piece of autobiography it is, perhaps, one 
 of the most extraordinary which is extant, 
 and every line bears striking evidence of 
 the peculiar temper and still more singular 
 opinions of the writer. 
 
 The MS. which is called by Digby 
 "Loose Fan tasies," is in his own hand, and 
 contains proof of having been frequently 
 and most carefully revised. No other 
 liberty has been taken with it than to ex- 
 punge a few pages which the delicacy of 
 the present day would not allow of being 
 published ; but the narrative is never in- 
 terrupted by these omissions, for they con- 
 sist only of conversations or remarks that 
 occurred on occasions which are suffi- 
 ciently noticed either in this Introduction 
 or in the Memoir. 
 
 From that time until 1632, little is known 
 of Sir Kenelm Digby 's life ; but upon the 
 death of Lord Dorchester, one of the prin-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cipal Secretaries of State, in February in 
 that year, it was reported that he was to be 
 appointed to his office:* the rumour proved, 
 however, to be unfounded. 
 
 About that period he distinguished him- 
 self by an act which never fails to secure 
 posthumous fame, for his former tutor, Mr. 
 Thomas Allen, having then died, his valu- 
 able library came into his possession, and 
 which he soon afterwards presented to 
 the Bodleian. Some writers assert that 
 Digby purchased these books of Allen dur- 
 ing his life, though he generously allowed 
 him the use of them ; but, according to 
 Kippis, he obtained them under a bequest 
 in Allen's will. The discrepancy in these 
 statements is, however, set at rest by the 
 annexed letter to Sir Robert Cotton, in the 
 Cottonian collection, which is y it is believed, 
 for the first time printed, as we learn from 
 it that Mr. Allen informed Digby of his in- 
 tention to give them to him, and that he 
 requested Sir Robert to see that they were 
 conveyed to him in a legal manner. 
 
 * Ellis's Original Letters. Second Series, vol. iii. p. 266.
 
 INTRODUCTION. xlvii 
 
 To my Honourable Friend Sir Robert Cotton, at 
 his house in Westminster. 
 
 NOBLE SIR, 
 
 BY your permission I send you here enclosed two let- 
 ters for Oxford, one to Mr. James, the other to Mr. 
 Allen ; both which I beseech you let be sent under 
 your cover. If you think fit, you may please to take 
 notice to Mr. Allen, how I report myself to be much 
 beholden to him for his friendly giving me his books 
 and papers ; and to thank him in my behalf, and to 
 confirm his choice of me by such motives as may oc- 
 cur to you ; and to advise him to settle them in a direct 
 and legal manner. You may be bold to assure him, 
 that in my hands they will not be with less honourable 
 memory of him than in any man's else ; nor can they 
 be with any body that will gladlier communicate 
 them to them that can make use of them ; which are 
 the two ends he hath reason to look after in disposing 
 of them. And besides I believe he will say I have 
 not merited the least regard among his friends. I 
 pray you also write to Mr. James what you shall judge 
 may conduce by his endeavours to this my desire ; 
 whom I should be glad, if it may be done fitly, might 
 make a catalogue of all the books, papers, and instru- 
 ments ; and then might also be a witness to Mr. 
 Allen's giving them to me. All which I refer to your 
 wisdom and good directions. 
 
 I was yesterday at the Court, where there was ho- 
 nourable mention of you at my Lord of Dorset's and 
 in the presence of my Lord Treasurer; which occa- 
 sion I failed not to take hold of to do you all the
 
 xlviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 right I could. And truly I must tell you that I find 
 very good inclinations towards you, and I attribute 
 the not clearing of your business only to a certain 
 slowness, that unless it be quickened now accom- 
 panieth all things; and that quickening must pro- 
 ceed mainly from yourself. Your friends can but dis- 
 pose things fairly, your own solicitation must be the 
 ground to move upon, and I doubt not but you will 
 have a fair passage. 
 
 In negotiating all which, and all things else that 
 may be of service to you, I will employ myself with 
 as much affection and heat as any servant you have. 
 I pray you excuse me, I wait not on you myself now, 
 for I am not very well and my coach is lame; within 
 a few days I will attend you, but I think I shall first 
 go to Court again where I will not omit to remember 
 serving you if I can. Thus kissing your hands, I rest, 
 Your humble Servant, 
 
 KENELM DIGBY.* 
 Charterhouse Yard, this present Thursday. 
 
 Whilst alluding to Digby's munificent 
 gift to the Bodleian Library, it is proper 
 to refer to a passage in his letter to Dr. 
 Langbaine, dated on the 7th November, 
 1654,-f relative to the conditions upon which 
 his present was to be enjoyed, because it 
 reflects immortal honour upon his memory. 
 
 Cotton, MSS. Vespasianus, F. xiii. f. 330. ORIGINAL. 
 f Printed in Aubrey's Letters.
 
 INTRODUCTION. xlix 
 
 It displays, in the most striking colours, 
 not merely his own love of science, but his 
 anxiety that every possible facility should 
 be given for its diffusion. With the true 
 clerical feeling of the seventeenth and 
 which unhappily is not quite extinct even 
 in the nineteenth century, some restric- 
 tions were proposed to be introduced, as 
 to the manner in which permission was to 
 be given for transcribing the MSS. which 
 seemed to the noble mind of the donor 
 to circumscribe the knowledge of their 
 contents. His remark on the subject de- 
 serves to be written in letters of gold. 
 
 " The propositions you sent me a tran- 
 script of, methinketh are very good ones ; 
 only toward the end of the sixth it seemeth 
 to me there is too great a restriction ; for 
 since all good things are the better the 
 more they are communicated, I see no 
 reason but that he who hath not conve- 
 nience to print what he hath copied, should 
 keep his transcript by him." 
 
 On the 1st of May, 1633, Sir Kenelm 
 Digby sustained an irreparable loss in the 
 death of his lovely wife. She died very
 
 1 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 suddenly, in her thirty-third year, and 
 such was the envy and malice by which he 
 was pursued, that it was even insinuated 
 that he had poisoned her from jealousy. 
 Upon opening her head very little brain 
 was found, which her husband is absurdly 
 reported to have imputed to her drinking 
 viper wine ; " but spiteful women/' adds 
 Aubrey, " would say it was a viper hus- 
 band who was jealous of her." Digby's 
 conduct on the occasion was as eccentric 
 as almost every other act of his life. He re- 
 tired to Gresham College, and amused him- 
 self with chemistry and the conversation of 
 the professor : " he wore there a long mourn- 
 ing cloak, a high-cornered hat, his beard un- 
 shorn, looked like a hermit, as signs of sor- 
 row for his beloved wife/' Lady Digby 
 was buried in Christ's church, near New- 
 gate, " in a brick vault/' Aubrey informs us, 
 " over which were three steps of black marble, 
 with four inscriptions in copper gilt, affixed 
 to it ; upon this altar was her bust of copper 
 gilt, all which, unless the vault, which was 
 only opened a little by the fall, is 'utterly 
 destroyed by the great conflagration.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 About 1675-6, as I was walking through 
 Newgate-street, I saw Dame Venetians bust 
 standing at a stall at the Golden Cross, a 
 brazier's shop. I presently remembered it, 
 but the fire had got off the gilding; but 
 taking notice of it to one that was with me, 
 I could never see it afterward exposed to the 
 street. They melted it down/' A mise- 
 rable engraving of the monument is inserted 
 in the " Antiquarian Repertory/' with the 
 following inscription, which was probably 
 only one of the four mentioned by Aubrey: 
 
 Mem. Sacrum. 
 
 Venetiae 
 
 Edwardi Stanley Equitis Honoratiss. Ord. 
 
 Balnei (Filii Thomae, Edwardi comitis Derbise 
 
 Filii) Filiae ac cohaeredi, ex Lucia Thomae 
 
 Comitis Northumbriae Filia et Cohaerede, 
 
 Posuit 
 Kenelmus Digby Eques Auratus 
 
 Cui quatuor Peperit Filios 
 
 Kenelmum Nat. vi. Octob. MDCXXY. 
 
 Joannem Nat. xxix. Decemb. MDCXXVII. 
 
 Everardum (in cunis Mortuum) Nat. xn. Jan. 
 
 MDCXXIX. 
 
 Georgium Nat. xvn. Jan. MDCXXXH. 
 Nataest Decemb. xix. MDC. 
 Denata Maii. i. MDCXXXIII.
 
 Hi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Quin lex eadem monet omnes 
 Gemitum dare sorte sub una 
 Cognataque funera nobis 
 Aliena in morte dolere. 
 
 Another of those inscriptions is thus given 
 in Collins' Peerage : 
 
 Insig: prseclariss. Dominse D. Venetise Digby 
 Familia Stanleyorum, Com. Darbise ex parte 
 Patris, et Perciorum, Com. Northumbriae 
 Materno.jure, aliisque quamplurimis Christian. 
 Orbis Principibus oriundae. 
 
 The famous Ben Johnson lived on terms 
 of great intimacy with Sir Kenelm and 
 Lady Digby, and after her death he com- 
 posed a long poem in honour of her, en- 
 titled "Eupheme," which occurs in his 
 works, and from which the subjoined is an 
 extract : 
 
 " She was in one a many parts of life ; 
 
 A tender mother, a discreeter wife, 
 
 A solemn mistress, and so good a friend, 
 
 So charitable to religious end 
 
 In all her petite actions so devote, 
 
 As her whole life was now become one note 
 
 6f piety and private holiness." 
 
 Whilst speaking of that distinguished
 
 INTRODUCTION. Jill 
 
 writer, a letter will be inserted relative to 
 him, to Doctor Duppa, afterwards Bishop 
 of Chichester, from Sir Kenelm Digby, in 
 consequence of the Doctor's intention of 
 collecting for publication all the compli- 
 mentary verses that had been written on 
 Johnson's decease, and which subsequently 
 appeared, under the title of " Johnsonius 
 Virbius." 
 
 To Doctor Duppa, the Dean of Christchurch, 
 and the Prince's Tutor. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I UNDERSTAND, with much gladness, you have been 
 careful to gather what has been written upon Mr. John- 
 son since his death. It is an office well beseeming that 
 excellent piety that all men know you by ; yet were 
 but half performed if you should let it rest here. As 
 your own tenderness towards that worthy man hath 
 made you seek to bathe yourself in his friends' tears, 
 so your humanity towards the public, which good men 
 rejoice to see you in the way so much to advance, 
 ought not to be satisfied until you have given it a pro- 
 priety in these collections. Besides, I believe, if care 
 of earthly things touch souls happily departed, that 
 these compositions delivered to the world by your 
 hand, will be more grateful obsequies to his great 
 ghost, than any other that could have been performed 
 at his tomb ; for no Court's decree can better establish 
 n lawful claimer in the secure possession of his right,
 
 v INTRODUCTION. , 
 
 than this will him of his laurel, which, when he lived, 
 he wore so high above all men's reach, as none could 
 touch, much less shake from off' his reverend head. I 
 am writing, by this private incitement of you unto so 
 just a work, to witness in a particular manner to your- 
 self, who loved him dearly, the great value and esteem 
 I have of this brave man ; the honour of his age ; and 
 he that set a period to the perfection of our language : 
 and will, as soon as I can do the like to the world, by 
 making it share with me in those excellent pieces, alas 
 that many of them are but pieces ! which he hath left be- 
 hind him, and that I keep religiously by me to that end. 
 I promise myself that your goodness and friendliness 
 to me will pardon me for that awhile diverting your 
 thoughts, that are continually busied about what is of 
 great consequence, knowing me to be, 
 
 Your most affectionate and humble servant.* 
 
 Early in 1636, Digby publicly reconciled 
 himself to the Church of Rome; and Arch- 
 bishop Laud's reply to the intimation which 
 he had given him that such was his resolu- 
 
 * Harleian MSS.4153, f. 21. The same volume contains 
 amongst several other articles by Digby, a copy of along let- 
 ter from him to Doctor Hakewill, Archdeacon of Surrey, dated 
 London, 1 3th May, 1635, acknowledging the receipt of a copy 
 of the last edition of the Doctor's work, and his letter of the 
 27th of April, in which Sir Kenelm says " he over-values the 
 mean present he had presumed to send to the University of 
 Oxford." He then criticises Hakewill's book, which appears 
 to have related to natural philosophy.
 
 INTRODUCTION. v 
 
 tion, is still extant. That admirable letter is 
 dated Lambeth, 27th March, 1636, and the 
 author of the article " Digby"in the " Bio- 
 graphia Britannica/' has copiously cited it. 
 It is there said that he had addressed to that 
 Prelate a long apology for his conduct ; and 
 of his abilities for polemical discussion, am- 
 ple proof exists in his " Conference with a 
 Lady about Choice of Religion/' and in his 
 Letters to Lord George Digby, eldest son of 
 the Earl of Bristol, on a similar subject, both 
 of which were written in 1638, when the for- 
 mer was published, but the latter were not 
 printed until 1651. If however the reliance 
 which has been placed on the following 
 Memoir be correct, it would appear that he 
 had embraced the Roman Catholic faith as 
 early as 1623 or 1624, even if he was ever 
 in fact of any other religion, for he not only 
 speaks of it in terms of approbation, and 
 insinuates that King James's chief motive 
 for wishing the alliance between Prince 
 Charles and a Princess of Spain, was "-to 
 unite his people with the rest of the ad- 
 joining Princes in the firm knot of con- 
 sciences, faith ; hoping/' he adds, " thus
 
 Ivi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 insensibly to bring in the general opinion, 
 and to overrun the new ones by the match, 
 the King of Egypt [Spain] being the prin- 
 cipal maintainer of that side ;"* but in 
 another place he says that the Earl of 
 Bristol employed him to negotiate with 
 the Archbishop of Toledo, in conse- 
 quence of his being highly esteemed by 
 that prelate, " principally because their 
 religion was the same."-f* Still more, when 
 pressed to attach himself to state affairs, 
 he expresses a wish that the Earl and he 
 may not long entertain different religious 
 opinions ; and then enters into a detailed 
 explanation of his tenets. J 
 
 For some time previous to 1641, Sir 
 Kenelm was in France, where he is said to 
 have been highly esteemed, and to have 
 employed himself in composing elaborate 
 treatises in defence of his religion ; but an 
 important event occurred to him whilst in 
 that country, which has escaped his pre- 
 vious biographers. 
 
 P. 115. The whole of Digby's statement relative to 
 James the First's religious opinions in that and the preceding 
 page, is very curious. 
 
 f P. 172. J P. 177, et seq.
 
 INTRODUCTION. Ivii 
 
 A very rare tract is extant, entitled " Sir 
 Kenelm Digby's Honour maintained by a 
 most courageous combat which he fought 
 with the Lord Mount le Ros, who by base 
 slanderous words reviled our King : also, 
 the true relation how he went to the King 
 of France who kindly entreated him, and 
 sent two hundred men to guard him as far 
 as Flanders. And now he is returned from 
 Banishment, and to his eternal honour 
 lives in England. Printed at London for 
 T. B. 1641." To this curious article a 
 rude woodcut is prefixed of two men en- 
 gaged in combat, and the sword of the 
 one is depicted as having pierced the body 
 of the other. As the tract is very short, 
 and affords information on a transaction 
 which is not generally known, a verbatim 
 copy of it is here given. 
 
 SIR KENELM DIGBY's HONOUR MAINTAINED. 
 
 FORTITUDE is one of the eleven moral virtues, of 
 which there be three sorts ; there is fortitude or valour, 
 which consists of rashness, which is to run wilfully 
 upon danger, having no possibility to be a conqueror. 
 Then there is an enforced valour, which is, when a 
 man must either kill or be killed.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Lastly, there is a temperate .valour : those men which 
 are endued with this sort of valour, will neither give 
 occasion to make abuse, neither will they take abuse, 
 but are ready at all points to defend their King* 
 Country, and their own persons, which is the only true 
 valour ; the other two sorts, though termed so, yet are 
 not, but rather seem to proceed from the loins of 
 cowardice ; for to be truly valiant, is to be truly ven- 
 turous, for, as I said before, that fortitude is a virtue, 
 and by virtue comes goodness ; wherefore consequently 
 to be valiant, is to be good. 
 
 Then let all admire the goodness of that most ho- 
 nourable Knight, Sir Kenelm Digby, which proceeded 
 from his valour, as I shall now declare. 
 
 It is scarce unknown to any how that he was exiled 
 from his, native soil, England, which made him often- 
 times thus to cry out, " Hei mihi, quod Domino non 
 licet ire meo, Woe is me, because it is unlawful for 
 me to see my Master," his King ; he kept his resi- 
 dence nigh to the court of France, where he was not 
 less respected for the report of his former valour, than 
 for the present affability and courtesy which he shewed 
 to all men ; " Omne solum sapienti patria est," to a 
 wise man every country is to him as his own native 
 country ; but as the quietest of men sometimes have 
 occasion for strife, so did it fall out with this worthy 
 Knight. 
 
 It was hi,s chance to be invited by a Lord of France 
 to dine with him, whither he went accompanied with 
 those servants he had. Very merry they all were for a 
 certain space; at length they fell to drinking of healths 
 to certain Kings, as to the King of France, the King
 
 INTRODUCTION. I'lX 
 
 of Spain, the King of Portugal, and divers others ; but 
 in the conclusion, the Lord which invited Sir Kenelm 
 Digby to dinner, presumptuously began a health to 
 the arrantest coward in the world, directing the cup 
 unto Sir Kenelm, who asked the Lord so soon as he 
 had drank, whom that was he did so term ? He bid him 
 pledge the health and he should know, which he did ; 
 then answered the French Lord, I meant your King of 
 England, at which the good Knight seemed very dis- 
 contented, knowing in what nature his Sovereign was 
 wronged, yet very wisely did he seem to pass it by until 
 dinner being ended : then did he desire the same Lord 
 the next day to come and dine with him, who pro- 
 mised him, upon his honour, that he would. 
 
 The next day Titan being in his greatest pomp, unto 
 Sir Kenelm's lodging this Lord came, who had enter- 
 tainment befitting his place ; neither did Sir Kenelm 
 seem to remember the former day's discontent, but was 
 very frolic and merry, and in the midst of dinner-time 
 desired them all to be bare, for he would begin a health 
 to the bravest King in the world. The French Lord 
 asked whom that was ? Sir Kenelm made answer that 
 when it had gone about he should know: well, about 
 it went, and then Sir Kenelm said that it was the 
 health of the bravest King in the world, which is the 
 King of England, my royal Master, for although my 
 body be banished from him, yet is my heart loyally 
 linked. The French Lord at those words seemed to 
 laugh, repeated the same words before mentioned. 
 Then was Sir Kenelm thoroughly moved in the behalf 
 of our Sovereign King Charles, whereupon he whis- 
 pered the Lord in the ear, telling him how that twice
 
 x INTRODUCTION. 
 
 he had reviled the best King in the world, in the 
 hearing of me, who am his faithful subject, wherefore 
 for satisfaction, I require a single combat of you, 
 where either you shall pay your life for your sauciness, 
 or I wilr sacrifice mine in the behalf of my King. The 
 French Lord being of a resolute spirit, condescended to 
 fight, the place was appointed ; dinner being ended, 
 they both arose from table, and privately went toge- 
 ther. Being in afield, off they plucked their doublets, 
 and out they drew their weapons. 
 
 Mars would have bashful been to have seen himself 
 by noble Digby there excelled, long work with the 
 contemptible French Lord, he would not make, for 
 fear lest any should lie in ambush and so he might 
 hazard his own life, wherefore in four bouts he run 
 his rapier into the French Lord's breast till it came 
 out of his throat again, which so scon as he had done, 
 away he fled to the Court of France, and made all 
 known to the King thereof, who said the proudest Lord 
 in France should not dare to revile his brother King. 
 
 A guard was presently chosen to conduct Sir Kenelm 
 unto Flanders, which they did, when he took shipping 
 for England, where he now is, where in peace and 
 quietness may he still remain. 
 
 As for the French Lord he was paid according to his 
 desert, and may all be so rewarded which shall dare to 
 revile the Lord's anointed, who suffers by other nations, 
 for the clemency he hath shewn to his own nation. 
 " Sed beati sunt pacifici," but blessed is the peace 
 maker ! good King for thy patience in this world there 
 are crowns of immortal glory laid in store for thee in 
 the world to come ; there shall rfot traitors dare to shew
 
 INTRODUCTION. x 
 
 their faces, nor shall perplexity proceed from the great 
 care of ruling of a kingdom. In the mean while may 
 more such noble Digbys increase, to rebuke all cursing 
 Achitophels, and reviling Rabshakeys. 
 
 Let God arise, and then shall the enemies of our 
 gracious King be sure to be scattered. 
 
 Now I conclude, commanding fame to show, 
 Brave Digby's worthy deed, that all may know 
 He loved his King, may all so loyal prove, 
 And like this Digby to their King shew love. 
 
 With that article, almost all the informa- 
 tion which has been discovered respecting 
 Sir Kenelm Digby, by his present bio- 
 grapher, unfortunately ends ; and as in 
 tracing his career to its close, no fact can 
 be stated but what has been already pub- 
 lished, the narrative will be concluded in 
 as brief a manner as possible. The reader 
 will find a minute relation of those points 
 which are now merely alluded to in the 
 " Biographia Britannica:" Wood's Athenae 
 Oxoniensis, Bayle, and some other writers 
 may also be consulted. 
 
 On the King's preparing to make war 
 against the Scots he called on his sub- 
 jects for their assistance, and which was 
 obeyed with alacrity by the wealthiest of
 
 Ixii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the Protestant Clergy and Laity. The 
 Queen, anxious that the Catholics should 
 not be remiss in following the example, in- 
 duced Sir Kenelm Digby and Mr. AValter 
 Montague to address a sort of circular 
 letter to excite them, which was distributed 
 throughout the kingdom and produced a 
 considerable sum. Though there can be 
 little doubt that this act emanated in pure 
 loyalty, it was so displeasing to the House of 
 Commons, that Sir Kenelm was in January, 
 1640, summoned to their bar and ques- 
 tioned on the subject. He answered with 
 that simplicity which is the surest indication 
 of truth ; and the Queen having interfered 
 in his behalf by a message to the House, 
 stating the share which she had in the trans- 
 action and her motives, the Commons ap- 
 peared for the time to be satisfied; but the 
 offence was not forgotten, for in the address 
 which they shortly afterward presented 
 to the King, praying him to remove the 
 Roman Catholics from about his person 
 and the Court, Digby and Montague were 
 particularly named. 
 
 Probably in consequence of tin's address,
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Sir Kenelm was obliged to quit England, 
 for we learn from the publication which has 
 just been inserted, that he was in exile about 
 the end of 1640, but that he had made his 
 peace and returned before the close of the 
 following year; though whether his recal was 
 produced by the spirited manner in which 
 he had vindicated the honour of his sove- 
 reign, or from some other cause, does not 
 appear. 
 
 Upon the breaking out of the civil war, 
 Digby was imprisoned by order of the Par- 
 liament, and was confined in Winchester 
 House until 1643, when he was released at 
 the intercesssion of the Queen-mother of 
 France, the lady whom in his Memoir he 
 represents to have been enamoured of him 
 about twenty years before, but whose ad- 
 vances he declined. Whether it was to the 
 recollection of the passion there imputed 
 to her, or to the high favour in which he 
 stood with the Queen of England her 
 daughter, or to both these causes, that he 
 was indebted for the favour, is uncertain ; 
 but the House returned a respectful answer 
 to her Majesty, and he was released upon
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the condition that he would promise, on 
 the faith of a Christian and the word of a 
 gentleman, "neither directly nor indirectly 
 to negociate, promote, consent unto, or 
 conceal any practice or design prejudicial 
 to the honour or safety of the Parliament," 
 an agreement which Mr. Lodge has justly 
 characterized as being more prudent than 
 honest, and that he should instantly quit 
 the realm. 
 
 The Lord Mayor of London also ad- 
 dressed a letter to the House, dated on the 
 27th of March, 1643, respecting Sir Ke- 
 nelm's commitment, and requesting that he 
 might be released ; but nothing was then 
 done.* 
 
 Before his departure he was strictly 
 examined by a committee, as to a suspected 
 correspondence between Archbishop Laud 
 and the Court of Rome; especially respect- 
 ing the offer of a Cardinal's hat to the 
 prelate. His answer was consistent not 
 only with the truth, but with what it was 
 little short of insanity to have doubted ; 
 for he assured his examiners that he be- 
 
 * Commons' Journals.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 lieved the Archbishop to be a very sincere 
 and learned Protestant. It is wholly im- 
 possible that a mind so constituted as that 
 of Sir Kenelm Digby, to whose " quick 
 bosom quiet" must have been indeed " a 
 hell," could have passed the term of his re- 
 straint without employment. Two pieces 
 at least, the one entitled " Observations on 
 Religio Medici," which was printed in 
 1643, and the other, his " Observations on 
 the 22nd Stanza -in the 9th Canto of the 
 second book of Spenser's Fairy Queen, 
 and addressed to Sir Edward Stradlinge," 
 published in 1644, were written at that time. 
 In France, Digby was received with 
 respect and affection ; for his talents, dis- 
 position, and conversation were peculiarly 
 calculated to excite those feelings in that 
 country. He passed great part of his time 
 at the court of the Queen Dowager, and in 
 the most polished society of Paris, but at 
 the same time a large portion of it was 
 devoted to study, for within a year after 
 his arrival, he published his greatest work, 
 " A Treatise of the Nature of Bodies, and 
 a Treatise declaring the operations and
 
 Ixvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 nature of man's soul, out of which the im- 
 mortality of reasonable souls is evinced." 
 
 In July, 1648, he lost his eldest son, 
 Kenelm, in the royal cause at St. Neot's ; 
 shortly before which event he returned to 
 England, and, after some difficulties, was, 
 we are told, allowed to compound for his 
 estate ; but he was still too obnoxious to 
 the Parliament to be permitted to remain, 
 and the Commons passed a resolution that 
 he should leave the kingdom, and that if he 
 was afterward found within it, without 
 leave of the House, he should forfeit both 
 his estate and his life. Nor, it will be seen, 
 were the suspicions entertained of his de- 
 signs, without some foundation. He was 
 again kindly received in France by Hen- 
 rietta Maria, Queen of England, who had 
 appointed him her Chancellor, a situation 
 which he held until his death ; and, soon 
 afterwards, he was sent by her Majesty into 
 Italy on a mission to Pope Innocent the 
 Tenth. The favour with which his Holi- 
 ness at first treated him was, according to 
 Aubrey, soon lost, in consequence of the 
 improper haughtiness and freedom which
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 he displayed towards the Pontiff. He says, 
 " he was mightily admired, but, after some 
 time, he grew high and hectored at his Holi- 
 ness, and gave him the lie. The Pope said 
 he was mad/' Wood adds, that the cause of 
 the quarrel was, that Digby " having made 
 a collection of money for the afflicted Ca- 
 tholics in England, he was found to be no 
 faithful steward in that matter/' That there 
 were many of Digby's actions which seem 
 to justify Innocent's opinion of the state of 
 his intellects, has been before hinted ; but 
 as it has been judiciously remarked, the 
 charge of rudeness was ill suited to the 
 general character of his temper and breed- 
 ing,* though, if his Holiness expressed the 
 opinion of his integrity which Wood im- 
 putes to him, there can be no difficulty in 
 believing that Digby would indignantly 
 resent such an accusation. At other 
 courts in Italy he was, however, treated 
 with marked consideration, as well from 
 his own merits as from respect to the 
 Queen his mistress ; and Lloyd asserts, 
 that " of one of the Princes, whereof it is 
 
 * Lodge.
 
 IxV'iii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 reported, that having no children, he was 
 very willing his wife should bring him a 
 Prince by Sir Kenelm, whom he imagined 
 the just measure of perfection/'* 
 
 Soon after Cromwell had dissolved the 
 Long Parliament and assumed the su- 
 preme power, Digby returned to England, 
 and, to the astonishment of all parties, 
 acquired some share of the Protector's 
 confidence. This extraordinary connexion 
 has, been at length explained ; and there 
 are good grounds for believing that he 
 had long been engaged in the attempt 
 to unite the Roman Catholics and the 
 enemies of monarchy, in one common 
 cause. Lord Byron, in a letter to the 
 Marquess of Ormond, dated at Caen on 
 the 1st of March, 16*49 says, " Sir Kenelm 
 Digby with some other Romanists, accom- 
 panied with one Watson, an Independent, 
 who hath brought them papers from Fair- 
 fax, is gone for England to join the inte- 
 rests of all the English papists with that 
 bloody party that murdered the King in 
 the opposition and extirpation of mo- 
 
 * Loyal Sufferers, p. 581.
 
 INTRODUCTION. Ixix 
 
 narchical government; or if that govern- 
 ment be thought fit, yet that it shall be by 
 election, and not by succession as formerly 
 provided ; that a free exercise of the 
 Romish religion be granted, and of all 
 other religions whatsoever, excepting that 
 which was established by law in the church 
 of England/' In the February preceding, 
 Secretary Nicholas enclosed a letter from 
 Dr. Winsted, a Catholic physician at 
 Rouen, of which the following is an 
 extract. 
 
 " Tuesday last arrived here Sir Kenelm 
 Digby from Paris, with divers young gen- 
 tlemen in his company ; only there was a 
 wry-necked fellow amongst them, which 
 Sir Kenelm recommended to my acquaint- 
 ance and care, as being, he said, in a con- 
 sumption ; and for that cure had changed 
 the air and came into France, but was 
 now going into England with an intention 
 to return within sixteen or twenty days, 
 and then would stay here or go into Lan- 
 guedoc for his health. Feeling his hand 
 and pulse, I assured him that he was in no 
 consumption, nor never had been. After- 
 
 f
 
 1XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ward I perceived that this was but a pre- 
 tence, and that he was an agent for that 
 accursed crew, his name Watson, scout- 
 master to the rebels. I spoke freely my 
 mind of the murder and the judgment that 
 was made here by the French ; his answer 
 was, that the French abhorred the fact in 
 general. I spared no sin to curse the 
 enemies of God and my King: I asked 
 Sir Kenehn Digby why he would go now 
 into England, considering the abomination 
 of that country? His answer was, that he 
 had not any means to subsist longer, and 
 if he went not now, he must starve. I an- 
 swered, it was the better choice to die, if he 
 remembered the obligations he had to the 
 Queen Regent of France, who took him 
 from those that would have destroyed him. 
 He answered, that the Queen Regent knew 
 of his going, and that he had the King of 
 France's pass, and would return again sud- 
 denly. I next pressed him to stay two or 
 three months : he replied, that by that time 
 all his business would be settled. I de- 
 sired him not to think to have from those 
 at London any liberation ; for that, for my
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 part, I had rather live in exile all the days 
 of my life, and suffer at Tyburn, than that 
 my public liberty to serve God should 
 spring from the bloody murderers of my 
 sovereign." 
 
 This design was probably the cause of the 
 hostility of the Long Parliament toward 
 Sir Kenelm, and to some extent, it explains 
 the attention shewn to him by the Pro- 
 tector ; whom, it may be inferred, he hoped 
 to persuade into his wishes. Certain it is, 
 however, that whatever might be the hopes 
 he received from Cromwell, Digby pro- 
 fessed to be devoted to his service ; a fact 
 not only manifested by the manner in 
 which the Protector treated him whilst he 
 was in England in lf)55, but by a letter 
 from Sir Kenelm to Secretary Thurloe, 
 dated Paris, 18th of March, 1656, in which, 
 after defending himself against the slander 
 of a Sir Robert Welsh, he says, " that what- 
 
 
 
 soever may be disliked by my Lord Pro- 
 tector and the council of state, must be 
 detested by me;" that his obligations to 
 his Highness were so great, that it would 
 be a crime in him to behave himself so 
 
 f 2
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 negligently as to give cause for any shadow 
 of the least suspicion, or to do any thing 
 that might require an excuse or apology ; 
 and, after similar professions of attachment, 
 he concludes, " my excuse is, that I should 
 think my heart was not an honest one, if 
 the blood about it were not warmed with 
 any the least imputation upon my respects 
 and my duty to his Highness, to whom I 
 owe so much/' 
 
 Upon Digby's conduct in this affair, it 
 is requisite to say a few words. Mr. Lodge 
 has execrated it in the strongest terms ; 
 and though he has imputed it to the true 
 cause, " a fervid affection to his religious 
 
 o 
 
 faith/' it is not altogether just to say, that 
 that motive furnishes " no extenuation/' 
 The treason, with which he charges him, 
 ought rather to be proved than assumed ; 
 for it must first be inquired to whom was 
 he treacherous? To his mistress the Queen? 
 Certainly not ; for in promoting the inte- 
 rests of the religion to which she was a 
 bigot, there can be no doubt that he ren- 
 dered her the most acceptable service ; 
 and so far from concurring in Kippis's re-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 mark, that " it is very strange that it did 
 not ruin him with the Queen Dowager," 
 the circumstance that he never lost her 
 good opinion, tends to establish the idea 
 that if he was not actually obeying her 
 commands in this instance, he was, at least, 
 acting under her sanction. The treachery 
 then could only be to Charles the Second ; 
 but as the religious tenets of that mo- 
 narch differed but little from those of his 
 mother, the only part of his proposition 
 which could be offensive to his Majesty, 
 was, that the monarchy should be elective 
 rather than hereditary. In 1649, when the 
 design is imputed to Digby, it is barely 
 possible for him to have had any other 
 idea than that the elected monarch should 
 be the individual who possessed the here- 
 ditary right to the throne ; hence he would 
 appear to be availing himself of the only 
 possible means which, at that time, pre- 
 sented themselves of restoring him : per- 
 haps wisely deeming, that when once seated 
 it would be an easy task to establish the 
 ancient order of the succession. It is true 
 that Digby 's subsequent favour with Crom-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 well, is not to be reconciled with such 
 views respecting Charles, but it does not 
 necessarily follow that all the motives as- 
 cribed to him by Lord Byron in 1649, con- 
 tinued to actuate him in 1655 
 
 Until the restoration, Sir Kenelm occu- 
 pied himself in travelling to various parts of 
 the Continent. He passed the summer of 
 1656 at Toulouse, and the next year we find 
 him at Montpelier, where he went partly 
 on account of his health, which was much 
 impaired by severe fits of the stone, and 
 partly because it contained several men of 
 learning, to whom he read his treatise on 
 the sympathetic powder and partook of 
 all the enjoyments which a communication 
 between the scientific and the learned sel- 
 dom fails to produce. In 1658 and 1659, 
 he was in different provinces of Lower 
 Germany and particularly in the Pala- 
 tinate, where, according to Sidney, who 
 hated him, he passed by the name of 
 Count Digby; but in 1660 he was again 
 in Paris, and in the next year returned 
 to England. All his biographers admit 
 that he was well received at Court, not-
 
 INTRODUCTION. IxXV 
 
 withstanding his conduct towards Crom- 
 well was far from being a secret, a fact 
 which powerfully supports the opinion 
 that his real designs were not so inimical 
 to the monarchical interest as has been 
 supposed. 
 
 Digby did not long survive the Restora- 
 tion, nor did he receive any political fa- 
 vours from the King, though he still en- 
 joyed his office of Chancellor to his mother. 
 On the incorporation of the Royal Society 
 in 1663, he was nominated one of the 
 Council, and, as long as his health permit- 
 ted, was constant in his attendance at its 
 meetings, and communicated several pa- 
 pers. At this time he resided at his house 
 in Covent Garden,* and passed his life in 
 the study of philosophy and mathematics, 
 or in the conversation of those who like 
 
 * Aubrey says, " the fair houses in Holborn, between 
 King's Street and Southampton Street (which broke off the 
 continuance of them) were built about 1633 by Sir Kenelm, 
 where he lived before the civil wars. Since the restoration 
 of Charles II. he lived in the last fair house westward in the 
 north portico of Covent Garden where my Lord Denzill, 
 Holies, lived since. He had a laboratory there. I think he died 
 in this houe. sed Qu."
 
 1XXV1 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 himself were ardently devoted to science* 
 and " established those literary assemblies 
 to which he had been accustomed in 
 France, and which he seems first to have 
 introduced into this country/'* Early in 
 January 1665, he meditated a journey to 
 Paris for the relief of his old disease, the 
 stone, upon which occasion he made his 
 will, but the disorder advanced too ra- 
 pidly to allow of his executing his inten- 
 tion, and he died in a violent paroxym on 
 his birth-day, the llth of June 1665, hav- 
 ing just completed his sixty-second year. 
 
 The contemporaries of Sir Kenelm 
 Digby as well as posterity have paid un- 
 qualified homage to his genius and eru- 
 dition: and whether contemplated as a 
 philosopher, a theologician, an orator, a 
 courtier, or a soldier, his exquisite talents 
 are alike conspicuous. Endowed by na- 
 ture with an understanding of great depth 
 and versatility, he studied almost every 
 branch of human science, and to whatever 
 he gave his attention, he illustrated and 
 adorned it. His philosophical specula- 
 
 * Lodge.
 
 INTRODUCTION. IxXVH 
 
 tions have survived the bickerings by which 
 they were assailed ; his solitary essay as 
 a military commander was crowned with 
 signal success; his eloquence is conspicu- 
 ous in every production of his pen ; and 
 to the extent of his knowledge of divinity, 
 his works on the subject bear ample tes- 
 timony. The politeness for which he was 
 eminent was not artificial, but arose from 
 the only true source, an amiable disposi- 
 tion; and in an age distinguished above 
 all others for political as well as polemical 
 controversy, he has the enviable merit of 
 having conveyed his arguments in lan- 
 guage wholly free from bigotry and personal 
 vituperation. But in the most comprehen- 
 sive meaning of the term, Sir Kenelm 
 Digby was a Gentleman. He understood 
 and exercised all the duties which belong to 
 that character ; nor in the exuberance of 
 the vanity in which he abounded, in the per- 
 secutions which he endured, or in the malice 
 by which he was assailed, are we informed 
 of one action of his life, with the excep- 
 tion of the conduct imputed to him by 
 Aubrey towards the Pope, which it is
 
 Ixxviil INTRODUCTION. 
 
 highly improbable ever occurred, is one 
 trace to be found of his having, even 
 for a moment, forgotten what he owed 
 to himself or to others. Besides the usual 
 learned attainments and those abstruse 
 pursuits in which he delighted, he was 
 master of six languages, and was well 
 skilled in the accomplishments of a cava- 
 lier of his times ; but his merits are best 
 summed up in the emphatic language of 
 one of his contemporaries, "he was the 
 magazine of all arts/' His person, like his 
 mind, was of gigantic proportions, and 
 Aubrey has recorded an anecdote illustra- 
 tive of his strength, but a grace, as natural 
 as it was inimitable, gave dignity to what- 
 ever he said or did, and conduct which 
 would have been considered affectation in 
 the generality of mankind, " was/' says 
 Lord Clarendon, whose words will be 
 cited, not on account of their elegance 
 merely, but because he was no partial 
 delineator, " marvellously graceful in him, 
 and seemed natural to his size and mould of 
 his person, to the gravity of his motion, 
 and the tune of his voice and delivery/'
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 From so splendid a character we turn 
 with regret to the darker shades by which 
 it was accompanied. Digby's faults 
 were part and parcel of the mind he 
 possessed. The usual attendants of genius, 
 eccentricity, almost approaching to mad- 
 ness, vanity, and unsteadiness were fre- 
 quently displayed in his opinions and con- 
 duct ; but of the treachery and dishonour 
 of which he has been accused, an attempt 
 has been made to exonerate him, be- 
 cause they seem wholly incompatible with 
 the uniform tenor of his life. Religious 
 zeal is, it is true, a powerful excitement, 
 and if he was really seduced by it into 
 a neglect of his temporal obligations, there 
 can be little doubt that the same aberra- 
 tion of judgment which he evinces in the 
 following pages on the subject of female 
 chastity, misled him upon the occasions in 
 question. There is a wide distinction be- 
 tween the errors into which mankind are 
 led by calculations of self-interest, and 
 those into which they fall from the dic- 
 tates of their honest but mistaken judg- 
 ments; and if Digby failed in his allegiance
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to his sovereign, it is only the benefit of 
 this distinction which is claimed for him. 
 His notions of honour were undoubtedly 
 sometimes false, but still they were his 
 sincere sentiments, and he accordingly 
 supported them by extraordinary and 
 even romantic means. Of the vices of 
 his age, the most serious which he shared 
 was that of duelling, for according to his 
 own statements he was engaged in several 
 before he attained his twenty-third year, 
 and in 1640 he fought another with Lord 
 Mont le Ros. But before closing this im- 
 perfect summary of his character, there is 
 one trait which perhaps proves him to 
 have been endowed with a mind far be- 
 yond the period in which he lived, his ar- 
 dent zeal not only for the acquisition, but 
 for the diffusion of knowledge. He printed 
 almost all which he wrote, and as we have 
 seen, in his present to the University of 
 Oxford, his only anxiety was that every 
 facility should be given for the publication 
 of the Manuscripts. 
 
 Allusion is made in the " Biographia 
 Britannica," to a " noble MS. which Sir
 
 INTRODUCTION. IxXXl 
 
 Kenelm caused to be collected at the ex- 
 pense of a thousand pounds, as well out of 
 private memorials as from public histories 
 and records in the Tower and elsewhere, 
 relating to the Digby family in all its 
 branches, but not knowing where it is to 
 be found/' <Scc. For the benefit of future 
 biographers of the family it will be ob- 
 served, that in 1766, Sir Joseph Ayloffe 
 exhibited that volume to the Society of 
 Antiquaries,* and that in 1794, it was in 
 the possession of W. Williams of Pendedw 
 in Wales, son of Richard Williams, Esq. 
 whose first wife, but by whom he had no 
 issue that survived, was a descendant of 
 Sir Kenelm.-f- 
 
 Many of his inedited letters are extant, 
 though but few of them are in the British 
 Museum. The MS. of his letter to Sir 
 Edward Stradlinge relative to the "Fairy 
 Queen," is however in that repository,which 
 also contains two other fragments on the 
 same subject, his addresses to the Earl of 
 
 * Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 64. part 2. p. 791, where it 
 is fully described. See also, p. 918. 
 
 t Ibid. vol. 65. part 2. pp. 743. 840. 1077.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Pembroke on Religion, some prayers, and 
 other articles well worthy of the perusal 
 of those who may wish to be acquainted 
 with all his productions. The little vo- 
 lume in which they are preserved, the Har- 
 leian MS. No. 4153, is handsomely bound, 
 and the minute observer of human motives 
 will discover in the ornaments strong evi- 
 dence of his affection for his wife; for 
 though many of the pieces were written 
 long after her decease, her arms are not 
 only impaled with his own on the cover, but 
 the book is stamped on the back with a junc- 
 tion of the letters K. V. and D. a trifling, 
 but far more impressive proof of his regard 
 for her memory than a volume of professions. 
 Sir Kenehn Digby made his Will on the 
 9th of January, l6Car. II. 1665, in which 
 he styles himself " Sir Kenelm Digby, of 
 Stoake Dry in the County of Rutland, 
 Knight, Chancellor to Henrietta Maria 
 Queen Dowager of England," and mentions 
 his intention of going to Paris for the cure 
 of a malady. If he died in England he 
 ordered his body to be buried in Christ 
 Church, London, in his vault of black
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 marble and copper, where his wife Dame 
 Venetia was interred, and desired that no 
 inscription should be placed on the tomb. 
 He gave all his lands in the county of 
 Hereford, " which he had lately purchased 
 of the Duke of Buckingham/' in Hunt- 
 ingdonshire, and all others in England, 
 France, or Frankfort on the Maine in 
 Germany, to Charles Cornwallis of High 
 Holborn in Middlesex, Esq. to be sold 
 for the payment of his debts, and ap- 
 pointed his friends Sir Richard Lloyd of 
 Denbigh, Knight, and John Austin of 
 London, Gent. Overseers, and the said 
 Charles Cornwallis, Esq. Executor of his 
 Will. By a codicil dated on the 22nd 
 May, 1665, he bequeathed to his friend 
 and kinsman George Earl of Bristol, a 
 burning glass; to his uncle Mr. George 
 Digby of Sandon in Staffordshire, a horse 
 or mare; and to his sister a mourning gown. 
 His library being in France, became on 
 his death the property of the French Mo- 
 narch, under the droitd'aubaine. It was sold 
 by the person to whom His Majesty gave it 
 for 10,000 crowns, and was purchased by the
 
 1XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Earl of Bristol. The following lines were 
 written on Sir Kenelm Digby, by R.Ferrar, 
 and which at least possess the merit of 
 being free from unmerited adulation. 
 
 Under this tomb the matchless Digby lies, 
 Digby the great, the valiant, and the wise ; 
 This age's wonder for his noble parts, 
 Skill'd in six tongues, and learned in all the arts. 
 Born on the day he died, the eleventh of June, 
 And that day bravely fought at Scanderoon. 
 It's rare that one and the same day should be 
 His day of birth, of death, of victory ! 
 
 The descendants of Sir Kenelm Digby 
 are easily traced. By Venetia Stanley he 
 had three sons and one daughter, Margery, 
 who married Edward Dudley of Clopton 
 in Northamptonshire, Esq. The sons were : 
 
 I. Kenelm Digby, born 6th October, 
 1625, killed at St. Neots, on the ?th of 
 July, 1648. He died unmarried. 
 
 II. John. 
 
 III. Everard, born 12 January, 1629, 
 died an infant. 
 
 IV. George, born 17 January, 1632, 
 [query 1632-3J but who appears to have 
 died young.
 
 INTRODUCTION. IxXXV 
 
 John Digby, the second son, was born 
 on the 29th December, 1627, and was 
 twice married ; first to Katherine daugh- 
 ter of Henry Earl of Arundel, who died 
 childless ; and secondly, to Margaret 
 daughter of Sir Ed ward Longueville of Wol- 
 verton in Buckinghamshire, Bart, by whom 
 he had two daughters, his coheiresses ; 
 namely, Margaret Maria, who became the 
 wife of Sir John Con way of Bodrythen in 
 Flintshire, and Charlotte Theophilia, who 
 married Richard Mostyn of Penbeddw in 
 the same county, Esq. by whom she had 
 seveal children, but her issue is extinct. 
 
 Lady Conway, besides a daughter Mar- 
 garet who was the wife of Sir Thomas 
 Longueville, Bart., had a son Henry Con- 
 way, who died in his father's lifetime, leav- 
 ing a sole daughter and heiress Honora, 
 who married Sir John Glynne, Bart, by 
 whom she had a large family. Their de- 
 scendants are, however, fully treated of in 
 Debrett's Baronetage; hence it is only 
 necessary to observe that Sir Stephen 
 Glynne, Bart, the great grandson of Sir 
 
 g
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 John Glynne and Honora Conway, is the 
 present representative of Sir Kenelm 
 Digby, and through Lady Venetia, of one 
 branch of the illustrious houses of Stanley 
 and Percy.
 
 PRIVATE KEY 
 
 MEMOIR OF SIR KENELM DIGBY. 
 
 The names thus marked * are copied from the account of the MS. in 
 the Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 Arete Lady Digby, Sir Kenelm's 
 
 mother; she was the daugh- 
 ter and heiress of William 
 Mulsho, Esq. 
 
 Artesia, widow of Auridonio Uncertain. 
 
 *Aristobulus John Digby.lst Earl of Bristol. 
 
 Prince of Achaia ...... .% . . King of Bohemia. 
 
 *Earl of Arcadia Henry Rich, Earl of Holland. 
 
 Babilinda Uncertain. 
 
 *Clericus Mr. Clerk. 
 
 Mufti of Egypt Query the Archbishop of 
 
 Toledo. 
 
 Faustina Uncertain, but Lady Venetia's 
 
 governess or waiting-wo- 
 man. 
 
 Famelicus Uncertain. 
 
 *Hephaestion George Villiers,Duke of Buck- 
 ingham. 
 
 Hydaspes Uncertain. 
 
 Leodivius Apparently the son of the 
 
 Countess of Bristol by her 
 first husband, Sir John 
 Dive of Bromham, Co. Bed- 
 ford ; but the pedigrees of 
 the Dive family are silent as 
 to the issue of that marriage. 
 
 Mauricana Uncertain, but the first lady of 
 
 the bed-chamber to the 
 Queen of Spain. 
 
 Mardontius Uncertain. 
 
 *King of Morea James the First. 
 
 Nearchus Sir Edw. Stanley, K. B., Lady 
 
 Venetia's father; his wife 
 was Lucy, daughter and 
 coheiress of Thomas Percy, 
 seventh Earl of Northum- 
 berland.
 
 Ixxxviii 
 
 Nugeutius Uncertain. 
 
 Oxicrane Uncertain, a relation of the 
 
 Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 Rogesilius Robert Digby, afterward cre- 
 ated Lord Digby, and an- 
 cestor of the present Earl 
 Digby. 
 
 Scanderbret Uncertain, a relation of the 
 
 Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 *Stelliana Lady Venetia Stanley, wife of 
 
 Sir Kenelm Digby. 
 
 *Theagenes Sir Kenelm Digby. 
 
 Ursatius Uncertain. 
 
 The individual spoken of in page 84, as the paramour of life 
 Queen of France, was the Marquess D'Ancre. 
 
 PLACES. 
 
 *Achaia Germany (Bohemia). 
 
 *Alexandria Madrid. 
 
 *Alexandretta Scanderoon. 
 
 Archiaepelago Uncertain. 
 
 *Attica France. 
 
 *Athens Paris, but afterward used also 
 
 for French, or France. - 
 
 Candle Uncertain. 
 
 *Corinth London. 
 
 *Cyprus Venice. 
 
 *Egypt Spain. 
 
 *Ephesus Florence. 
 
 Greece Europe. 
 
 *Ionia Italy. 
 
 Ionian Islands Uncertain. 
 
 Lepanto Uncertain. 
 
 Marathon Angers. 
 
 Milo Uncertain. 
 
 *Morea England. 
 
 Peloponnesus Query Great Britain. 
 
 *Rhodes Uncertain, perhaps Sally, or 
 
 Algiers. 
 *Syria Portugal. 
 
 The town mentioned in page 85, is Blois.
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 NATURE, without other tutor, teacheth us 
 how all agents work for some precise end, 
 and to obtain that, do contribute all their 
 endeavours, and make use of all the means 
 that are within the reach of their power. 
 But, herein, natural agents that are guided 
 by an original necessity, have one great 
 advantage over those that have liberty of 
 election of the ends and means : for they 
 are levelled by a certain and never failing 
 rule which was given to all things when 
 their first being was given them, and from 
 the which they cannot depart nor swerve 
 without the immediate and express inte- 
 ressing of him that was their lawgiver, who 
 governs them with infinite justice, wisdom, 
 
 B
 
 2 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 and goodness. But these being composed 
 of such differing parts, that one may well 
 say they bear about within them a per- 
 petual civil war ; the rational part striving 
 to preserve her dignity and the superiority 
 due to her, as being the nobler substance ; 
 and the inferior part, wherein reign the 
 mists and clouds of various and inconstant 
 passions, aspiring to overshadow and dim 
 her brightness, and to range at liberty 
 without any curb, they are always in great 
 and almost inevitable hazard of miscarry- 
 ing, as well in the proposing to themselves 
 the worthiest end as in the election of the 
 sincere and true means to attain unto it. 
 Which hath made me many times retire 
 my looser thoughts within their own centre, 
 and with serious meditation fix them upon 
 this subject, through the desire I have had 
 to direct this my journey in a right way, 
 which is of so much importance, that the 
 least going astray out of the true path
 
 PRIVATE MRMOIRS. 3 
 
 brings a continual sickness to the mind, 
 and the greatest disorder that may be 
 among the senses ; the one being then 
 always in unquietness and a tedious ex- 
 pectation of the future, and never con- 
 tented with the present, like. to sick men 
 that being in a high fever do often change 
 their places and turn from one side to the 
 other, though with no ease or amendment ; 
 and the others grow mutinous and disobe- 
 dient, seeing that she who ought to be 
 their mistress and governess, is at war 
 within herself, and in as much distemper 
 as they can be in ; so that the smallest 
 errors whatsoever do turn into jarring dis- 
 sonances the music within man, which 
 consisting parts, when they keep exact time 
 together, frarneth the sweetest and most 
 pleasing harmony that may be. 
 
 At such times then as rny soul being 
 delivered of other outward distractions, 
 hath summoned all her faculties to attend
 
 4 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 this main business, the first consideration 
 that hath occurred to me hath been that 
 the peace and tranquillity of the mind 
 ought principally to be aimed at; the ob- 
 taining of which is an infallible token that 
 one is in the right way of attaining to 
 perfect happiness ; or rather, these two have 
 so straight and near a relation, as that the 
 one cannot be without the other : for this 
 ethereal form, which by the Almighty 
 Architect was breathed into us, can no 
 more rest when any thing concerning it is 
 out of the due harmony and proportion, 
 than a sensible body can when any of the 
 humours are distempered or unequally dis- 
 tributed ; and as a just mixture of these 
 causeth an entire and vigorous health of 
 the body, which is not so well discerned 
 by considering it positively in itself, as by 
 comparing the present state of it with those 
 that are sick ; so the due temperature of 
 the mind causeth the health of it and that
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 5 
 
 blessed rest that we all aim at ; which is 
 best discovered by conferring it with those 
 that are in the way of ruin, having lost the 
 load-star that should be their guide in the 
 troublesome and tempestuous seas of this 
 short and transitory life. 
 
 I have, therefore, gone about to examine 
 by myself the course and tenor of other 
 men's actions ; but in most of them I 
 have found such uncertainty and such 
 unstayedness, that I soon perceived there 
 was nothing to be gathered from them 
 for my direction, more than to avoid 
 treading in those paths where they walked. 
 But at length I perceived that that In- 
 finite Light, which illuminateth all things, 
 is never wanting to illustrate such a mind 
 as with due humility and diligence maketh 
 itself fit to receive it : for it was not 
 long before such an example occurred 
 to me, as satisfied me that in this life a 
 man may enjoy so much happiness, as
 
 O PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 without anxiety or desire of having any 
 thing besides what he possesseth, he may, 
 with a quiet and peaceable soul, rest with 
 full measure of content and bliss, that I 
 know not whether it be short of it in any 
 thing but the security of continuance. It 
 was the perfect friendship and noble love 
 of two generous persons, that seemed to be 
 born in this age by ordinance of heaven to 
 teach the world anew what it hath long for- 
 gotten, the mystery of loving with honour 
 and constancy, between a man and a 
 woman ; both of them in the vigour of 
 their youth, and both blessed by nature 
 with eminent endowments, as well of the 
 mind as of the body. 
 
 There are so many and so different cir- 
 cumstances requisite to form a perfect 
 example in this kind, that it is no wonder 
 though many ages produce not one com- 
 plete in all points ; the main defect of 
 which is oftentimes on the woman's part,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 7 
 
 through the weakness of that sex, which is 
 seldom, and almost but by miracle, capable 
 of so divine a thing as an assured constant 
 friendship, mingled with the fervent heat 
 of love and affection ; being that, for the 
 most part, this latter is of the nature of 
 violent things, which are but of short 
 durance ; and the other ought to march on 
 with a majestic, settled, and firm pace, 
 without any intermission, coldness, or 
 satiety. 
 
 And, besides, because that in exact 
 friendship, the wills of the two friends 
 
 AM 
 
 ought to be so drowned in one another, 
 like two flames which are joined, that 
 they become but one, which cannot be 
 unless the faculties of the understanding- 
 be equal, they guiding the actions of a 
 regulated will, it cometh to pass, for the 
 most part, that this halteth on the woman's 
 side, whose notions are not usually so high 
 and elevated as men's; and so it seldom
 
 8 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 happeneth that there is that society be- 
 tween them in the highest and deepest 
 speculations of the mind, which are con- 
 sequently the most pleasing, as is requisite 
 in a perfect friendship. Which reasons 
 have moved some to place the possibility 
 of such friendship only between man and 
 man ; but, certainly, if they had considered 
 how thus they leave out one half of man, 
 and indeed the first motive of affection, 
 being that the understanding can judge 
 only of what is represented to it by the 
 senses, whose objects are corporeal, they 
 would not have concluded their proposition 
 so definitely but that they would have left 
 this exception, to wit, unless a masculine 
 and heroic soul can be found informing 
 the body of a beautiful and fair woman, 
 so to make the blessing of friendship full 
 on every side by an entire and general 
 communication. 
 
 If, then, I should be asked where such
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 9 
 
 an example might be found, I must con- 
 fess that, besides this which I intend to 
 speak of, I could urge none; which it 
 seemeth the Infinite Wisdom, that dis- 
 poseth all things, deferred until this season, 
 wherein affections are so depraved that 
 they had need of the liveliest pattern 
 and most efficacious means to incite them 
 to mingle honour with their other joys : 
 that so they may entirely possess the height 
 of that happiness which this life can afford, 
 and which represented! notably the infinite 
 blessed state wherein the almighty God 
 reigneth, by uniting two persons, two 
 souls, two wills, in one; which by breath- 
 ing together produce a divine love ; and 
 then their bodies may justly strive to per- 
 petuate that essence by succession, whose 
 durance in themselves is limited : and thus 
 they become types of that trinity and unity 
 living in eternity, which infused the spirit 
 of life into him of whom all men derive
 
 10 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 themselves, and enjoy in security within 
 themselves the perfection of blessedness 
 and content. 
 
 The sweetness of my contemplations 
 have so of a sudden plunged me into an im- 
 mense ocean, that I can sail no longer in it 
 in the weak bark of human capacity and 
 reason ; therefore all that I can do to save 
 myself from shipwreck, will be to make 
 haste back to the shore ; where, betaking 
 myself to an easier task, I will set down 
 in the best manner that I can, the begin- 
 ning, progress, and consummation of that 
 excellent love which only makes me believe 
 that our pilgrimage in this world is not in- 
 differently laid upon all persons for a curse. 
 
 In the first place, it giveth me occasion 
 to acknowledge and admire the high and 
 transcendent operations of the celestial 
 bodies, which containing, and moving 
 about the universe, send their influence 
 every way and to all things ; and who, al-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 11 
 
 though they take not away the liberty of 
 free agents, yet do so strongly, though at 
 the first secretly and insensibly, work 
 upon their spiritual part by means of the 
 corporeal, that they get the mastery before 
 they be perceived ; and then it is too late 
 to make any resistance. For from what 
 other cause could proceed this strong knot 
 of affection, which being tied in tender 
 years before any mutual obligations could 
 help to confirm it, could not be torn asun- 
 der by long absence, the austerity of pa- 
 rents, other pretenders, false rumours, and 
 other the greatest difficulties and oppo- 
 sitions that could come to blast the bud- 
 ding blossoms of an infant love that hath 
 since brought forth so fair flowers and so 
 mature fruit ? Certainly the stars were at 
 the least the first movers ; who having or- 
 dained that from the affection of these two 
 the world might learn how to love, did link 
 together sundry remote causes to make
 
 12 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 them all concur in this one effect : and as 
 in sciences the first principles are abstruse 
 and inscrutable, but they being delivered 
 by an unquestionable authority and once 
 received, it is easy to extend them and to 
 build high and elevated conclusions upon 
 them ; even so, when the higher powers had 
 by a transcendant manner of operation 
 inclined the hearts of Theagenes and 
 Stelliana to the liking of one another, 
 then straight their understandings, their 
 wills, and all the faculties of their souls ap- 
 plied themselves with all the vehemence 
 that might be to frame a perfect love. 
 
 It is evident that their own election had 
 the least part in the beginning of it, for be- 
 fore they had the freedom of that or of judg- 
 ing this fire was kindled, it grew with them, 
 and the first word that they could speak, 
 being yet in the nurse's arms was, love: 
 which, taking deep root in their tender 
 hearts, and meeting with heroical souls,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 13 
 
 produced heroical and worthy effects, the 
 relation of which shall be the subject of 
 the ensuing discourse, wherein I will set 
 down, in the liveliest manner that I can, the 
 various fortunes that befell them before 
 they arrived to their wished period ; and 
 that in a plain style, and without endearing 
 any thing to the advancement of either of 
 them beyond the reality of truth; knowing 
 that in the first, if I should strive to do 
 otherwise, my mean abilities would come 
 far short of my desire ; and in the second, 
 I might seem, unto those that know how 
 near friends they are unto me, to have 
 looked upon them through the glass of af- 
 fection, and to have delivered them with 
 partiality. 
 
 To deduce then this narration from the 
 very beginning. Stelliana being born of 
 parents that in the antiquity and lustre of 
 their houses, and in the goods of fortune, 
 were inferior to none in all Peloponesus ;
 
 14 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 it pleased Heaven, when she was not many 
 months old, to take her mother from her, 
 deeming, as I think, the earth, and too 
 negligent a husband, not worthy of so di- 
 vine a blessing ; who dying left the good- 
 ness of her soul and the beauty of her body, 
 in both which she surpassed all others of 
 her time, to her infant daughter. 
 
 Nearchus then, for that was the name of 
 Stelliana's father, being like those that 
 through the weakness of their eyes are daz- 
 zled with too great a light, and are notable 
 to comprehend it until the absence of it 
 make them lament their loss; began then to 
 be sensible how happy he might formerly 
 have been by the unhappy state wherein he 
 found himself, being deprived of that jewel 
 whose loss would have made the world 
 poor, if out of her ashes another Phoenix 
 had not risen with greater splendour. And 
 then sorrow and discontented thoughts 
 beginning to take possession of his mind,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 15 
 
 the nature of which is to please themselves 
 in nothing but such objects as may feed 
 and increase them, he retired himself to 
 a private and recollected life, where with- 
 out the troubles that attend upon great 
 fortunes he might give free scope to his 
 melancholic fantasies: which to enjoy more 
 fully in the way that he desired, he judged 
 it expedient by removing his daughter from 
 him to take away such cumbers as might 
 disturb his course, since it was requisite 
 for the education due to her high birth to 
 have many about her, that would ill agree 
 with his affected solitariness. 
 
 Wherefore, as soon as she had attained 
 to such strength as that her remove might 
 be without danger, he sent her to a 
 kinsman of his, whose wife being a grave 
 and virtuous lady, had given him as- 
 surance that no care or diligence should 
 be wanting on her part to cultivate those 
 rare natural endowments which did al-
 
 16 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 ready shine through her tender age. Their 
 house in the country was near to that 
 where Arete the mother of Theagenes 
 lived, whose father was then dead, which 
 gave occasion of frequent interchang- 
 ing visits between her and Stelliana's 
 guardians, and the affection of the one to 
 her son, which would not suffer her to be 
 long without him, and the respect of the 
 others to their charge, which made them 
 glad to satisfy her, though yet childish 
 desires, in any thing they could, as in the 
 fondness of going abroad and such like, 
 was the cause that they seldom came to- 
 gether but that the two children had part 
 in the meeting: who the very first time 
 that ever they had sight of one another, 
 grew so fond of each other's company, that 
 all that saw them said assuredly that some- 
 thing above their tender capacity breathed 
 this sweet affection into their hearts. They 
 would mingle serious kisses among their
 
 PRIVATE MKMOIRS. 17 
 
 innocent sports : and whereas other chil- 
 dren of like age did delight in fond plays 
 and light toys, these two would spend the 
 day in looking upon each other's face, and 
 in accompanying these looks with gentle 
 sighs, which seemed to portend that much 
 sorrow was laid up for their more under- 
 standing years ; and if at any time they 
 happened to use such recreations as were 
 sortable to their age, they demeaned them- 
 selves therein so prettily and so affection- 
 ately, that one would have said, love was 
 grown a child again and took delight to 
 play with them. And when the time of 
 parting came, they would take their leaves 
 with such abundance of tears and sighs as 
 made it evident that so deep a sorrow could 
 not be borne and nursed in children's 
 breasts without a nobler cause than the 
 usual fondness in others. 
 
 But I should do wrong unto their riper 
 love, to insist too long upon these crude 
 
 c
 
 18 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 beginnings, therefore, with as much haste 
 as I can I will run these over, to come unto 
 the other that calls upon me to keep my- 
 self in breath and to summon together my 
 quickest spirits, that I may be able to re- 
 present it in as stately and majestic man- 
 ner as it deserves. Therefore what I 
 have already said shall suffice for their first 
 innocent years, whiles fortune seemed to 
 conspire with love to unite their hearts: 
 but they were scarcely arrived to the ma- 
 turity of judging why they loved, and not 
 to love still only because they loved, when 
 she turned about her inconstant wheel in 
 such sort that, if their fates had not been 
 written above in eternal characters, even 
 then their affections had been by a long 
 winter of absence nipped and destroyed 
 in their budding spring. For what is not 
 that able to do in so young hearts, that im- 
 mediately after have the overtures and pur- 
 suits of new and advantageous loves? Yet
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. ]$ 
 
 these kept their first fire alive ; and al- 
 though it may seem in the process of this 
 story that sometime it burned but faintly, 
 yet it was only that those coals wanting 
 fuel, wrought upon themselves, and by 
 their own violence covered themselves over 
 in a bed of ashes, which the first sight 
 raked away, and added plentiful matter to 
 cause a brighter flame than at any time 
 before. 
 
 To continue then where I left, Stelliana 
 being of such age that with her tender 
 hand she could scarcely reach to gather 
 the lowest fruit of the loaden boughs; 
 her father, that yielded daily more and 
 more to his discontents, and fainting under 
 the burden of them which age made to 
 seem heavier, sent for her back to his 
 own house, hoping that by the presence of 
 such a daughter, whom fame delivered to 
 excel in all things belonging to a lady of 
 her quality, and that inherited the perfec- 
 
 c 2
 
 20 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 tions of her deceased mother, whose loss 
 he lamented still as tenderly as at the first 
 day of her death, he might pass the rest 
 of his drooping days with some more con- 
 tent, and to have in her a lively image of 
 his virtuous wife, that being deeply en- 
 graved in his heart, did with the continual 
 exercise of his solitary thoughts upon that 
 one subject, almost wear it out and corrode 
 it through. 
 
 He then perceived that his expecta- 
 tions and desires were not frustrated ; for 
 Stelliana's sweet and gentle disposition, 
 that was like a rich soil to sow the best 
 grain in, striving to exceed in capacity 
 the good precepts that were delivered 
 her by those tutors which her guardian's 
 loving care with singular choice had placed 
 about her, had made her to exceed all 
 others of her age so far, as caused men 
 to doubt that the heavens meaned not to 
 lend her long unto the earth, since she had
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 21 
 
 already arrived to that maturity and per- 
 fection that most come short of when they 
 have past a long and tedious life : so that 
 she was ready to change this wearisome 
 pilgrimage for a happier crown before she 
 knew almost what it was to live. 
 
 He had not long enjoyed the fruits of 
 this blessed harvest, when the marriage of 
 the King of Morea's daughter with one of 
 the greatest princes of Achaya, invited all 
 men of eminency to the court, to contri- 
 bute their particular joys to the great and 
 public solemnities. Wherefore Nearchus 
 being desirous to give his daughter the 
 content of seeing the magnificent enter- 
 tainments that are usual at such times, and 
 also being glad to let the world now see 
 that fame was nothing too lavish in setting 
 out her perfections, took this occasion to 
 bring her to Corinth the metropolitan city, 
 where her beauty and discretion did soon 
 draw the eyes and thoughts of all men to
 
 22 PRIVATE MEMOIRS, 
 
 admiration : so that in this the example of 
 her was singular, that whereas the beauty 
 of other fair ladies used to grace and adorn 
 public feasts and assemblies, hers did so 
 far exceed all others as well in action as in 
 excellence, that it drew to her not only the 
 affections, but also the thoughts of all per- 
 sons, so that all things else that were pro- 
 vided with greatest splendour and curiosity, 
 passed by unregarded and neglected. 
 
 But here one may see how undeservedly 
 that is styled happiness, which subsisteth 
 only in the opinion of others; and how little 
 they are sensible of outward applause, that 
 have their heart fixed upon other objects ; 
 for in the midst of these joys where Stel- 
 liana was the jewel that crowned them all, 
 she could taste nothing that savoured of 
 content ; but as if happiness had been con- 
 fined to where Theagenes was, in his ab- 
 sence . she did languish and think those 
 hours tedious that obliged her by civil re-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 23 
 
 spect whiles she was in company to sus- 
 pend and interrupt her thoughts, whose true 
 centre he was and about which they only 
 desired to move. So that one day Ursatius, 
 a principal nobleman of the court, whose 
 heart was set on fire with the radiant 
 beams that sparkled from her eyes, took 
 the confidence to speak unto her as he sat 
 next to her at a masque, in this manner : 
 " Fair lady/' quoth he, " I shall begin to 
 endear myself to your knowledge by taxing 
 you with that which I am confident you 
 cannot excuse yourself of; for if by the 
 exterior lineaments of the face, and by the 
 habitude of the body, we may conjecture 
 the frame and temper of the mind, cer- 
 tainly yours must be endowed with such 
 perfections, that it is the>greatest injustice 
 and ingratitude that may be, for you to 
 imprison your thoughts in silence, and to 
 deny the happiness of your conversation 
 to those whose very souls depend upon
 
 24 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 every motion that you make : and so you 
 rob Him of the honour due to Him who is 
 the Author of all good ; and who in retri- 
 bution expecteth that they unto whom he 
 hath been most liberal of his favours, 
 should by due communication of them 
 most glorify him." 
 
 Stelliana, who was surprised by this un- 
 expected discourse of one that she knew 
 no otherwise but by name, and being dis- 
 turbed from her pleasing thoughts, was 
 some time before she could recollect her- 
 self: but after she had sate awhile as one 
 amazed, civility called upon her to return 
 some answer to him, that she knew was the 
 person of most respect and note about the 
 king ; wherefore at length with a modest 
 blush she thus replied to him : " Sir, if 
 nature had bestowed any exterior recom- 
 mendations upon me, as I cannot flatter 
 myself that she has, it would be most 
 discretion in me to rely upon the favour
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 25 
 
 that I might gain thereby ; since I am so 
 conscious of my other weaknesses, that 
 whensoever I should go about but to ex- 
 cuse them, I should belie any good opinion 
 that others might have entertained of me : 
 but in that you are pleased to express 
 more respect to me than any ways I can 
 deserve, I hold myself obliged to reduce 
 you out of error, though to my own disad- 
 vantage, by speaking to you ; whereby 
 through my rudeness I am sure you will 
 gather more arguments to make you 
 ashamed of what you say you have con- 
 ceived of me, than to confirm you in it." 
 " I shall never contradict you," replied he 
 then, " in any thing but in this ; since I 
 should acknowledge too great a dulness 
 and stupidity in myself, if I were not in 
 some measure capable of discerning those 
 rare perfections that shine in you, and 
 seeing them, if I did not love and admire 
 them; therefore I make an humble suit
 
 26 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 unto you, not that you will be pleased to 
 bestow any favour upon me, for I cannot 
 be so presumptuous as to beg any until I 
 have by some means shewn at least an af- 
 fectionate desire to deserve them, but that 
 you will give me leave to love and adore 
 you, and not be displeased that one of so 
 small merit as I am, should be so ambitious 
 as to style himself your humble servant." 
 He had scarcely made an end of saying 
 thus much, when one of the Maskers, they 
 having now ended their set dance, came 
 to take Stelliana by the hand, beseeching 
 her to follow him in a corrente ; which de- 
 livered her of the trouble of returning any 
 answer to Ursatius, otherwise than with a 
 disdainful look ; for going along with him 
 that had taken her out, the other's greedy 
 ears that expected the sweet sound of her 
 charming voice, were forced of a sudden to 
 resign all their spirits into his eyes, to con- 
 template her motions, that were so com-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 2? 
 
 posed of awful majesty and graceful agility, 
 that all the beholders being ravished with 
 delight, said, surely one of the Graces was 
 descended from heaven to honour these 
 nuptials. Which was the cause that when 
 they had seen how skilfully she kept time 
 with her feet to the music's sound, she 
 was suffered no more to return unto her 
 former seat : for it adding much to the 
 grace of good dancers to have their lady 
 observe due distances, and to move them- 
 selves, as it were, by consent in just pro- 
 portion, every one in their turn beseeched 
 the like favour of her that she had done to 
 their companion, before he could lead her 
 back unto her first place : yet in this they 
 deceived themselves; for her excellency 
 that would brook no partner, engrossed to 
 herself all the commendations, while they 
 had scarce any notice taken of them. But 
 she was wearied with her much exercise, 
 before the beholders could be satisfied with
 
 28 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 delight ; which made time glide away so 
 swiftly and unperceivably, that they heard 
 from abroad the watchful cock warn men 
 to rise up to their daily labours, before 
 they could persuade themselves it was time 
 to go to rest. But then the king adjourn- 
 ing the assembly and the continuance of 
 these recreations to the next night, every 
 one retired ; and Stelliana being returned 
 to her lodging, as she was making her un- 
 ready, related to the gentlewoman that 
 waited upon her in nature of governess, 
 what had passed at court, and what lan- 
 guage Ursatius had held to her. 
 
 Faustina, for that was the ancient gen- 
 tlewoman's name, who only did sit up that 
 night to help her lady to bed, was glad of 
 this o.ccasion to begin to perform that office 
 for Ursatius, that she had promised him ; 
 who from the first sight growing every 
 day more and more taken with Stelliana's 
 beauty, and deeming the honourable way of
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 29 
 
 procuring love by deserts to be too long and 
 tedious, had, with great gifts and greater 
 promises, won Faustina to assure him of 
 her assistance in his pursuit ; wherein he 
 had been so unhappy, that until this night 
 he could never get a fit opportunity to ex- 
 press himself a lover to whom he most de- 
 sired should know it. So that she then 
 interrupting her lady, said thus; " In troth, 
 madam, I wonder that you gave so cold an 
 entertainment to the respects of so noble 
 and deserving a gentleman as Ursatius, 
 who hath the fame of all those that are 
 about the court, to be the discreetest, the 
 most courteous, and the most generous 
 among all the noblemen in this kingdom ; 
 and that excelleth them as much in com- 
 pleteness of good parts and the graces of 
 nature, as he doth in the gifts of fortune, 
 and greatness of estate." "Dostthou then, 
 Faustina," answered her lady, " think that 
 any of these considerations can make me
 
 30 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 false to that affection, that in respect of 
 me had no beginning, for my memory 
 reacheth not to that time, and which I am 
 resolved shall die with me?" " In all things 
 else/' replied Faustina, " I have found you 
 so discreet, that you may be called the 
 mirror and shame of all the ladies of your 
 age. But in this, madam, pardon me if I 
 speak too boldly, methinks you have no 
 reason at all : for what unthrift would cast 
 away love upon one that is not sensible of it, 
 and regardeth it not ?" " Why do you say 
 so?" answered Stelliana. "If you could see 
 as far," quoth Faustina, "into what concern- 
 eth you most, as they that are but lookers 
 on, you should not need to ask this question, 
 and you would not sigh all day for Thea- 
 genes as you do ; for if you had no other 
 cause, methinks the passing of four entire 
 years without so much as hearing from him 
 should make you forget him as much as he 
 doth your love/* "Alas!" replied Stel-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 31 
 
 liana, " be not so unjust as to tax him with 
 what thou knowest he cannot remedy : it 
 is true, four years have passed, ah ! my 
 sorrow keeps too good account, since I 
 have seen him, or have heard from him : 
 but call not that his fault, which is caused 
 only by the rigour of our cruel parents; 
 you know it is so long since the time of 
 their unhappy falling out, who ever since 
 have had so watchful eyes over us, dis- 
 trusting our affections, that it hath been 
 impossible for so young lovers, that are not 
 yet acquainted with love's grossest sleights, 
 to find out any means to communicate 
 their passions ; and, therefore, I see it is 
 ordained by heaven that I must harbour 
 no other flame within my breast, since this 
 long absence and so many other oppositions 
 have not been able to smother this." 
 
 " Nay, but," said Faustina, interrupting 
 her, " let not passion blind you altogether ; 
 but consider what an advantageous change
 
 32 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 you may make in embracing Ursatius, 
 who in splendour of nobility, abundance 
 of riches, and favour with his prince, is 
 eminent above all others; for Theagenes, 
 who hath hardly escaped, by his mother's 
 extreme industry, with the scant relics of a 
 shipwrecked estate, and from his father 
 hath inherited nothing but a foul stain in 
 his blood for attempting to make a fatal 
 revolution in this state." 
 
 " Methinks, Faustina/' replied Stelliana, 
 " you speak in his prejudice with more 
 passion than you can accuse me of in 
 loving him ; for I have good reason for 
 this, but you have none to upbraid him 
 with another man's offence; for although 
 it be the custom of these times to lay a 
 punishment beyond death upon those that 
 conspire against their prince or their go- 
 vernment, that so by making it extend to 
 their posterity, it may, peradventure, deter 
 some, who would not be contained by
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIUS. 33 
 
 their own single danger, from attempting 
 upon their sacred persons, and from making 
 innovations in the laws; yet it seemeth to 
 be with this condition, that if the son in 
 himself deserve the contrary, he shall be 
 esteemed and cherished according to his 
 own merit, in which the father's offence is 
 then drowned ; so that it rather becomes 
 an incitation to him to do virtuous and 
 worthy actions, than any stain or blemish. 
 Besides this, to speak a little in his father's 
 behalf, all men know that it was no ma- 
 licious intent or ambitious desires that 
 brought him into that conspiracy ; but his 
 too inviolable faith to his friend, that had 
 trusted him with so dangerous a secret, 
 and his zeal to his country's ancient li- 
 berty ; which, being misled by those upon 
 whose advice he relied, was the cause of 
 overthrowing the most generous, discreet, 
 worthy, and hopeful gentleman that ever 
 this country brought forth : to which may 
 
 D
 
 34 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 be added, that the successful or ruinous 
 events of undertakings of that nature, do 
 for the most part guide the judgments that 
 vulgar men make of the honesty of their 
 intentions. And for his estate, although 
 it were much less than it is, yet it would 
 be plentiful enough for one that loveth 
 him for his better part, which is his mind ; 
 besides that I am so much beholden to 
 fortune, that I am myself mistress of so 
 much as may satisfy a heart that can con- 
 tent itself with conveniency, more than 
 which is excess and superfluity ; which is 
 too abject and mean a thing to enter into 
 the lowest thoughts of one that is ac- 
 quainted with the divine light of a noble 
 and heroical love, as mine is. Therefore I 
 am resolved, I will no longer be a patient 
 martyr ; but will speedily use some means 
 that he may hear from me, and I have 
 news of him." 
 
 Faustina perceiving her lady to grow
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 35 
 
 more passionate by contradiction, and 
 the guiltiness of her conscience making 
 her doubt that Stelliana saw too far 
 into her heart, thought it most expe- 
 dient for the present to give way to her 
 lady's vehemence; which she did, pro- 
 mising her best and faithful service to 
 procure her content, now that she per- 
 ceived clearly which way it was resolutely 
 bent. Which when she had said, and 
 Stelliana being laid down in her bed, and 
 the curtains drawn, wishing her good rest 
 and joyful dreams, with a low curtsey she 
 took her leave and went into her own 
 chamber ; into which, sleep had but an ill 
 welcome that night ; for her troubled and 
 divided thoughts kept her awake, until 
 after many doubts and consultations with 
 herself, at length she resolved upon a tra- 
 gedy, which, \\ith the first conveniency, 
 she intended to put in action. For co- 
 vetousness, that usually accompanieth aged 
 
 D 2
 
 36 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 women, who, from low and mean begin- 
 nings, come to have too weighty charges 
 committed to them, and whose minds, for 
 the most part, are then mercenary, as in 
 their youth their bodies were, had so in- 
 veigled Faustina with Ursatius's large 
 promises, that after long debate within 
 herself, at length she swallowed that golden 
 bait; and shutting her eyes to her own 
 infamy, and the betraying of her lady, she 
 resolved now not only to solicit her to her 
 dishonour by persuasions, as at first she 
 had proposed to herself, but, conceiving 
 that would be but time lost, her affection 
 being already so firmly grounded, she lay 
 contriving what artifice she might use to 
 deliver her up into her unworthy lover's 
 power. So that the next day, when her 
 lady's being in company gave her the li- 
 berty of going abroad, she went privately 
 to Ursatius's house ; unto whom she had 
 early in the morning sent a messenger to
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 37 
 
 desire him to stay at home, for that she 
 had business of importance to speak to him 
 of. He stayed, expecting her coming 
 with much impatience and many unquiet 
 thoughts ; yet his hopes outweighed his 
 fears, because he conceived she would not 
 make such haste to bring him ill news, 
 and that she came herself to gain the 
 reward of a joyful message; in which he 
 was the more confirmed by calling to mind 
 what passed between Stelliana and him 
 the last night, when he took it as an argu- 
 ment of much favour from her, that she 
 returned him no harsh answer, nor rude 
 check, for his bold insinuation : so apt men 
 are to flatter themselves with any shadows 
 or imaginations that may nourish in them 
 the hopes of what they vehemently desire. 
 But when Faustina was come and began 
 to speak to him, another passion banished 
 away the former ; so that before she had 
 half ended what she had to say, he burst
 
 38 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 out in this manner : " Ah ! then I see Heaven 
 envieth I should be happy ; in nothing 
 else it had power to disturb my joys ; 
 which now I perceive how low and 
 wretched they are, that one denial of a 
 scornful beauty is enough to make me mi- 
 serable ; I am resolved to take myself out 
 of fortune's power, and will go to the other 
 world to preach to damned souls that their 
 pains are but imaginary ones in respect of 
 theirs thatlivein the hellof love." "Why," 
 interrupted Faustina, " do you fall into 
 such despair ? I come to teach you how 
 you may be master of what you say you 
 love so much, if you would hear me/' 
 "Oh, Faustina !" replied Ursatius, " pardon 
 my sorrows that make all things intolerable 
 to me that do but cross my hopes of en- 
 joying the fairest Stelliana ; I say I love 
 her ; I will proclaim I love her ; and that 
 so much, that without her my life will be 
 but a curse and a vexation ; therefore make
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 39 
 
 haste and deliver, in short, the sentence of 
 my life or death." " Then hear," quoth 
 Faustina, " it is true I have gained nothing 
 out of her mouth that I may build much 
 hope upon of her consent to your suit." 
 " But," interrupted Ursatius, " without her 
 consent how can I ever be happy?" "You 
 will not hear me speak," continued Faus- 
 tina ; " who knows that her heart and her 
 tongue beat the same measure? The art of 
 dissimulation is born with women, who, 
 being by nature ordained to serve men, 
 grow to be tyrants when they see them 
 humble : therefore remember your own 
 strength, and, by faint wooing, do not bar 
 yourself of what you may be master of." 
 " And how should I be master of her," re- 
 plied Ursatius, " that would think it hap- 
 piness enough to do her any acceptable 
 service ?" " Nay/' quoth Faustina, " as 
 long as your ambitions are so low, I hold 
 it fittest for me to be silent, rather than to
 
 40 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 acquaint you with what I had contrived 
 for your content, which requireth reso- 
 lution and active spirits for the achieving 
 it." " You would do my love wrong/' 
 answered Ursatius, "if you should think 
 fear could detain me from any hazardous 
 enterprise, wherein assurance of obtaining 
 Stelliana were the period of it." " Follow 
 then but my directions/' said Faustina, 
 " and I will, before many days pass over 
 my head, put her into your hands by a 
 sleight that I have invented/' " But if it 
 be a plot of yours without consent on her 
 part/' replied Ursatius, " well may you 
 make me master of her body, but her 
 mind will then be farther frrfm me than 
 before ; for now the worst is that she does 
 not love me, and then she will have just 
 reason to hate me as much as I can love 
 her." 
 
 These, and many other speeches to like 
 effect, Faustina used to Ursatius, to wean
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 41 
 
 him from his respective love ; who, al- 
 though he were infinitely perplexed in the 
 very thought of offending whom he so 
 much desired to please, yet, on the other 
 side, seeing nothing but despair in his be- 
 half, or, at least, such difficulties that his 
 impatience would not let him seek to over- 
 come them in an honourable manner, he 
 resolved at length to embrace the offer that 
 Faustina made him to deliver Stellianainto 
 his hands without any resistance or noise. 
 Which, to effect according as she had con- 
 trived, she took one day occasion of speak- 
 ing unto her lady, as she sate in her wonted 
 manner, the sun of her beauty shining 
 through the clouds of sadness ; when, seem- 
 ing to bear a part with her in her sorrows, 
 towards whom she professed to have a 
 natural tenderness, as having been under 
 her charge and care from her infancy, she 
 promised her faith and secrecy in what- 
 soever might conduce to her content.
 
 42 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 Wherewith Stelliana, being much joyed, 
 gave her many thanks, and, after long de- 
 bate what was fittest to be done, they con- 
 cluded that Faustina should inquire after 
 Theagenes, and when she had fully in- 
 formed herself concerning him, that she 
 should send a discreet messenger to him, 
 with a letter from Stelliana. 
 
 As soon as this resolution was taken 
 between them, Faustina went abroad, and 
 returned not till night ; when, coming to 
 her lady with a cheerful countenance, the 
 messenger of good news, she told her 
 how gracious heaven was to her desires ; 
 for, having learned how Theagenes was 
 come the night before to the city, she had 
 sent a messenger to him, who took so fit 
 an opportunity of accosting him, that he 
 had large and private discourse with him ; 
 wherein he had concluded that the same 
 servant should come the next day about 
 sunset, to be his guide to the park, that is
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 43 
 
 three miles out of the city, if Stelliana 
 could have conveniency to come then to 
 meet him there. " How/' replied Stel- 
 liana, " should he put that in doubt? I 
 hope he measureth not my flames by his 
 own, when he maketh such a question ; for 
 no sea between, nor hell itself, should 
 .hinder me from running into those wished 
 arms/' The excess of her joy suffered her 
 not to make much expression of it in words; 
 for she was so full, that in striving to break 
 out, it locked itself faster in ; and as a weak 
 body faints under the strong physic that 
 is prescribed to bring it health, even so 
 her soul, that of a sudden was surprised 
 with so strong a passion, was not able to 
 resist ; but, striving to succour itself that 
 had most need, it retired all her faculties 
 to one centre, and left the fairest body that 
 ever was, destitute of due aid ; who, taking 
 it unkindly to be so forsaken, expressed 
 in her face a deadly heaviness, mingled
 
 44 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 with the heavenly sweetness of a tranced 
 angel that is ravished with the contem- 
 plation of his Creator's perfections, and 
 his own joys : and when she was come to 
 herself again, who could have seen her 
 thoughts, would have "said that the suf- 
 ferance which one undergoeth before they 
 attain unto it, exceedethfarthe good which, 
 even in wishes and hope, a lover can pro- 
 mise to himself. After she had passed this 
 night and part of the next day with much 
 unquietness, the declining sun, that was 
 ready to plunge himself into his lover's 
 bosom, summoned her to begin her journey 
 to hers : so that, taking Faustina with her, 
 she went to the back door of the garden, 
 where a coach with four horses stayed, 
 waiting for her ; Faustina having advised, 
 for less notice sake, not to make use of her 
 own, but to hire one: so that, under this 
 pretence, the coachman of Ursatius in a 
 disguised livery, with his horses, but a hired
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 45 
 
 coach, was there to begin the first act of 
 the ensuing tragedy. 
 
 She was scarce gone half way to the 
 appointed place, when five or six horsemen, 
 well mounted, overtook the coach ; who, 
 speaking to the coachman, that was in- 
 structed what to do, he stayed his horses, 
 and, two of them alighting, came into the 
 coach to her, and drawing their poignards, 
 threatened her with death if she cried out 
 or made any noise ; assuring her withal, 
 that from them she should receive no vio- 
 lence, if she would sit quietly : and there- 
 withal drew the curtains, that none might 
 see who was in the coach as they passed by. 
 
 In this agony of distracted thoughts, 
 that represented to her from what hopes of 
 bliss she was fallen into an abyss of sor- 
 row; and, fearing the worst that might 
 happen to an undefended maid that was 
 fallen into rude hands, she travelled till 
 near morning; when the coach staying,
 
 46 PRIVATE MEMOIRS'. 
 
 she was taken out, and led into a fair lodge 
 that stood in the middle of a pleasant lawn 
 environed with rich groves : and there an 
 ancient woman entertaining her with com- 
 fortable speeches, and the assurance of all 
 service intended to her, which she should 
 quickly perceive to be true, brought her 
 into a richly adorned chamber, advising 
 her to repose herself after so tedious and 
 troublesome a night as, of necessity, she 
 must have passed. 
 
 After she had helped her to bed, it 
 was some time before sleep could take 
 possession of her fair lids, but, at length, 
 it being the nature of extreme grief 
 to oppress the spirits, whereas a tole- 
 rable one doth but exasperate them, her 
 heart yielded to the weight of so heavy a 
 burden ; and death himself, grown tender 
 in seeing her affliction, sent his brother 
 sleep to charm her wearied eyes that else 
 would have been turned into a flood of
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 4? 
 
 tears, and to give some truce to her 
 abundant sorrow. Peradventure he might 
 at length have come himself to seize upon 
 so sweet a mansion, had not Ursatius, im- 
 patient of so long delay, towards the even- 
 ing, come in unto her, who, stumbling at 
 the opening of the door, which he might 
 have taken as an infallible presage of his 
 ensuing repulse, with the much noise 
 wakened her, and frighted away the other's 
 drowsy harbinger. She, hearing one come 
 into the chamber, rose up half way in her 
 bed, and then, by the glimmering of the 
 light that stole in between the chinks of 
 the drawn curtains, she perceived, as he 
 came near her, that it was Ursatius ; who, 
 kneeling down by her bed's side, after some 
 pause, began in this manner : " Before I 
 came into your presence, fairest Stelliana, 
 I had proposed to myself many things that 
 I would say to you, to excuse my deceiving 
 you in getting you hither ; but that di-
 
 48 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 vinity that is about you doth so astonish 
 me, that I forget all studied eloquence, 
 and am forced to betake myself to the 
 naked and simple expression of a faultering 
 tongue, that speaketh but the overboilings 
 of a passionate heart. What error I have 
 committed is caused by love ; he was my 
 guide, and hath brought me to that pass 
 that, without it be requited by yours, I 
 cannot live." " Alas !" replied Stelliana, 
 after a deep sigh, "how ill your deeds and 
 words sort together ! you mention love, but 
 perform the effects of extreme hatred ! you 
 sue to me for life, and in a treacherous 
 manner have brought mine into your 
 power ; but, howsoever, at least I have 
 this content remaining, that I shall find 
 out sundry ways to death, if you attempt 
 any thing upon my honour; the loss of 
 which I am resolved never to outlive : and 
 then my injured ghost shall be a perpetual 
 terror to your guilty soul, which I will so
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 49 
 
 pursue, that I will make you fly to hell to 
 save you from my more tormenting ven- 
 geance/' 
 
 Ursatius was so amazed, that he was 
 a long time before he replied any thing 
 to her resolute answer ; but, at length, 
 like one new coming out of a trance, he 
 called his spirits together, and strived what 
 he could to lessen the error he had com- 
 mitted, laying much of the fault upon 
 Faustina's instigations, and telling her how 
 she had been the plotter of all ; and that, 
 for his part, his intent was never to have 
 used violence; but that he gave way to 
 this action, seeing how negligent her father 
 was of her, that left her so young and in 
 the tuition of so false a servant, to live by 
 herself in a dissolute age, among such as 
 would daily make assaults upon Jier honour; 
 and besought her to consider herself mis- 
 tress of all that he had, for, in effect, she 
 should find it so ; and assured her that all 
 
 E
 
 50 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 the means he would use to obtain his de- 
 sires, should be love and service. 
 
 She then, that doubted this was but a 
 cunning invention of his, to try, first, if he 
 could win her consent by fair means, 
 thought it her best course not to overthrow 
 his hopes altogether, but SQ to suspend 
 them that she might gain time, wherein 
 only consisted the possibility of her safety, 
 and delay as long^as she could his proceed- 
 ing to any ruder attempt. AVherefore she 
 answered him, that in the state she was in, 
 and considering how he had injured her, she 
 could not believe that he intended really 
 what he said ; but when, by experience, 
 she should find him to love her as worthily 
 as he professed, that might be an induce- 
 ment to her to think better of him than 
 yet she did. While they were in their 
 discourse, the woman that Stelliana met 
 when she came into the lodge, brought in 
 supper; after which, none else being suf-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 51 
 
 fered to come in to attend them, Ursatius 
 taking Stelliana by the hand, led her down 
 the stairs into a garden that her chamber- 
 window looked into, all the several parts of 
 which she narrowly observed. At length, 
 the sun setting and a gummy dew begin- 
 ning to fall, Ursatius asked her if she was 
 not tired with walking, which intimation 
 of retiring she taking hold of, they returned 
 again to her chamber, that, by this time, 
 was dressed up, and the bed made to re- 
 ceive her; when Ursatius, perceiving that 
 she had a desire to betake herself to rest, 
 pretending that she laboured yet of her 
 late toil, he took his leave and wished her 
 a quiet and happy night, commanding the 
 old woman to attend diligently upon her ; 
 who, having helped her to bed, retired 
 herself into an inner chamber. 
 
 When Stelliana was alone, she gave 
 liberty to her sighs and tears, to lament 
 her cruel fate ; but, soon recollecting her- 
 
 E '2
 
 52 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 self, as conceiving those weak expressions 
 unworthy of her generous soul, as long as 
 there was any spark of hope left, she began 
 to cast with herself by what means she might 
 escape out of that tyrant's hands, whose 
 lustful fury, she was confident, could not be 
 long delayed, when he should perceive that 
 his respect won nothing but words from her. 
 She had observed how, in one corner of 
 the garden, there was an arbour seated 
 upon a mount which overlooked the wall ; 
 and, by that place she deemed that she 
 might, most fitly, take her flight. Where- 
 fore, when by her loud snoring, she per- 
 ceived that her guardian was fast asleep, 
 she rose with as little noise as she could, 
 and, tying her sheets together, made one 
 end of them fast to a bar in the window, 
 and by that let herself down so gently, 
 that she came to touch ground without any 
 hurt ; and then going straight to the ar- 
 bour, she got down the wall by making use
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 53 
 
 of her garters, as before she had done of 
 her sheets ; and then, finding herself at 
 liberty in the park, she directed her course 
 one certain way until she came to the pales, 
 which, with some difficulty, she climbed 
 over ; and then she wandered about large 
 fields and horrid woods, without meeting 
 with any highway or sign of habitation. 
 After she had weaned herself with going 
 long in much desolation, towards morning, 
 thinking herself now far enough from 
 Ursatius's lodge, to be safe from his pur- 
 suit, she sate her down to take some rest, 
 when a hungry wolf came rushing out of a 
 wood that was close by, and, perceiving 
 her by the increasing twilight, ran at her 
 with open mouth; whom, as soon as she 
 saw, fear made her run away ; but to little 
 purpose ; for he had soon overtaken her, 
 and, having got her down, would have 
 made that his prey, that was worthy to 
 sway the empire of the world. But, Oh!
 
 54 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 how unsearchable is the Providence of 
 heaven ! for Mardontius, a young noble- 
 man that lived not far from thence, having 
 been abroad all night to harbour a stag in 
 that wood, in which exercise he delighted 
 much, hearing the shrieks and doleful 
 cries that Stelliana made, ran speedily 
 thither; when, seeing that tragical specta- 
 cle, he made haste to rescue the distressed 
 lady ; and, while with one hand he drew 
 his cutlass, with the other he put his horn 
 to his mouth ; at the sound of which, se- 
 veral of his servants came to him, accom- 
 panied with strong and swift dogs. So 
 that, among them, they quickly made an 
 end of the unhappy beast, that yet was 
 happy in this, that he died in so high an 
 attempt. 
 
 Then they took the lady from the 
 ground, that was almost dead with fear, 
 and from the wolfs merciless teeth had 
 received some wounds in several places
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. o5 
 
 about her ; the pain of which, and loss of 
 blood, and her wearisome journey, made 
 her almost faint : so that, resting her upon 
 a green bank, she told Mardontius who she 
 was, and part of the adventures that had 
 befallen her : and he having requited her 
 with informing her of his name and quality, 
 stood as one amazed, sucking into his veins 
 the fire of love, which was kindled at that 
 beauty, that yet shined with admirable 
 majesty through her bleeding wounds. 
 But he had not been so long, when she 
 drew his thoughts another way, by asking 
 him what palace that was which they saw 
 close by them, and could discern the rising 
 sun gilding the tops of the highest turrets 
 and pinnacles about it? He answered her, 
 that an old lady, famous for her virtue and 
 zeal in religion, dwelt there, whose name 
 was Artesia. " What !" replied Stelliana, 
 " Artesia, the widow of Auridonio ? whose 
 house is [Here a line and a half is
 
 56 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 obliterated in the MS.~\ " It is 
 
 the same," answered Mardontius, " that 
 you mean." "Then/' said Stelliana, "I 
 see that, amidst my miseries, Heaven hath 
 not abandoned all care of me ; for this is 
 the place that, of all others, I should have 
 wished to be in ; Artesia being my kins- 
 woman, and one that, I am sure, will 
 compassionate my late disasters. There- 
 fore, sir, I shall not be ashamed, since 
 fortune hath made me owe my life unto 
 you, to beg the favour of you to conduct 
 me thither." Whereunto, TVIardontius an- 
 swered, " Fairest lady, I must lament my 
 evil fortune that will not permit me to 
 attend you thither ; for there is some pri- 
 vate cause that makes it very unfit for me 
 to come to that house, but my servants 
 shall wait upon you, and see you safe 
 there; and I hope, in some other place, I 
 shall have the happiness to express the 
 much respect I bear unto you ; and, in the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 57 
 
 mean time, from this hour forwards, I vow 
 myself unto you in the strictest ties of an 
 humble and affectionate servant." To 
 which Stelliana replied, " I do not wonder, 
 Sir, that you use this language to me, when 
 I consider it is the custom of generous 
 souls to oblige themselves more by con- 
 ferring benefits, than by receiving them ; 
 but, howsoever, it belongeth to me to ac- 
 knowledge upon all occasions that I am 
 more your debtor than is in my power to 
 requite/' Mardontius, that saw in how evil 
 plight she was, deemed it uncivility to 
 detain her any longer ; therefore com- 
 manding two of his servants to wait upon 
 her to Artesia's house ; with the rest he 
 stayed there expecting their return. 
 
 I omit to describe the passages between 
 Artesia and Stelliana at their first salutes, 
 as I do many other particularities that are 
 not essential to this discourse ; but time, 
 and Artesia's care, and her own good order,
 
 58 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 / 
 
 having made Stelliana well of her wounds, 
 of which remained some light scars, one 
 evening as they two were walking in the 
 garden, she purposely administered occa- 
 sion to speak of Arete, knowing that be- 
 tween Artesia and her, there was a straight 
 friendship, and of long date, to the end 
 that she might learn some news of The- 
 agenes : who, gladly falling upon that sub- 
 ject, it being the nature of most persons to 
 let the tongue go willingly where the heart 
 draweth it, spoke much in commendation 
 of that lady ; extolling with what an ad- 
 mirable wit and understanding she was en- 
 dued, and how, being left a widow in the 
 flower of her youth, accompanied with a 
 flourishing beauty and a plentiful estate, 
 yet she was so much wedded to her dear 
 husband's love, that she neglected all the 
 advantageous offers of earnest and great 
 suitors, that she might with the more liberty 
 perform the part of a careful mother to
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 59 
 
 the clear pledges of their virgin affections. 
 " For by him," said Artesia, " she had two 
 children, who now, by her industry in 
 bringing them up in all qualities and vir- 
 tuous exercises, correspondent to their 
 birth, do give assured hopes that they will 
 not degenerate from their father's worth, 
 nor give their mother cause to think that 
 her great care in their education was ill 
 bestowed. Yet they seem to differ much 
 in their natures, for the eldest, Theagenes, 
 although the great strength and well fram- 
 ing of his body, make him apt for any cor- 
 poral exercises, yet he pleaseth himself 
 most in the entertainments of the mind, 
 so that having applied himself to the study 
 of philosophy, and other deepest sciences, 
 wherein he hath a preceptor in the house 
 with him, famous beyond all men now 
 living, for solidness and generality of learn- 
 ing, he is already grown so eminent, that 
 I have heard them say, who have insight
 
 60 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 that way, that if a lazy desire of ease or 
 ambition of public employments, or some 
 other disturbance, do not interrupt him in 
 this course, he is like to attain to great per- 
 fection : at least I can discern thus much, 
 that he hath such a temper of complexion 
 and wit, that his friends have reason to 
 pray God that he may take a right way, 
 for it cannot keep itself in mediocrity, but 
 will infallibly fall to some extreme. But 
 the youngest is composed of mildness and 
 sweetness of disposition, answerable to the 
 excellent form of a comely and active 
 body, yet so mingled with courage and 
 strength of mind, that one may expect he 
 will as much exceed most men in being an 
 ornament of the court, and in martial af- 
 fairs, as he will come short of any, in spe- 
 culative notions : for withal, he is not an 
 enemy to study, though he be not naturally 
 much addicted to it. Their mother was 
 ever dear to me," continued she, " and if
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. f)l 
 
 I can effect what I have affectionately en- 
 deavoured and solicited, we shall be able 
 to leave to our posterity the inheritance of 
 our affections as well as of our estates ; for 
 I have laboured long, and Arete hath not 
 been wanting on her part, to join in mar- 
 riage her eldest son, and my grandchild 
 that you see here; who, if partiality deceive 
 me not, besides that she shall inherit a 
 great estate of her father's, is so much be- 
 holding to nature, that she may shew her 
 face among the fairest, when you are away 
 I mean ;" and with that she smiled. 
 
 But Stelliana was far from answering 
 her with the like cheerful countenance, 
 for it seemed to her that death had from 
 Artesia's lips shot her heart through : 
 but impatience of delay to know the 
 worst of what she feared called up her 
 fainting spirits ; and made her ask, "What 
 it was that hindered the effecting it, since 
 you two," said she, " that are the guiders
 
 62 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 of it are equally affected with the desire 
 thereof/' "It is," answered Artesia, ".the 
 backwardness of Theagenes; of which his 
 mother one day complaining to me, told me 
 what an answer he had made to her a little 
 before, as she had solicited him to conde- 
 scend to her just desire, it being so much for 
 his advantage. * Madam/ quoth he, 'the 
 greatest obligation that I have to you, and 
 wherein you express your love most to me, 
 is the liberty that you have left to me in 
 this main business of marriage, upon the 
 good or evil success of which, dependeth 
 one's future happiness or misery : and 
 since you are pleased to enter into discourse 
 of it with me, as advising me what will be 
 most for my good, I beseech you, give me 
 leave to represent unto you how it is a con- 
 dition that hath nothing but the entrance 
 free; therefore in wisdom it ought to be 
 deferred till one be in the fulness and vigour 
 of judgment to discern best in making a
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 63 
 
 fitting choice ; which cannot well be per- 
 formed by attorney. Besides, to have it 
 complete in all respects, the first motives 
 of it should not be sordid wealth or other 
 conveniencies, but a divine affection, 
 which may make their souls one as the 
 other bond doth their bodies ; and I must 
 confess that, although I know this gentle- 
 woman do every way deserve better for- 
 tune than I can bring her, I feel not yet 
 this flame in me towards her, which is in- 
 deed only a gift of Heaven. And if I 
 should consent to make her my wife, I 
 must resolve to sit still from any action, 
 as being arrived to the period of my ambi- 
 tion : for the relations that follow marriage 
 are such a clog to an active mind, that it 
 is impossible for one that hath not before 
 laid a foundation for his preferment, to 
 raise himself above the pitch that he then 
 is in ; whereas as long as he remaineth sin- 
 gle and free, the world seemeth to be at his
 
 64 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 command in choosing what course is like 
 to succeed best to him, and in the process 
 of which he is like then to have least diffi- 
 culties. Therefore as long as the weakness 
 of our estate obligeth you not yet to sell 
 me to repair that, I beseech you give me 
 leave to look a little while about me, and 
 to please myself awhile with flying abroad 
 before I be put into the mewe/ So that/' 
 continued Artesia, " by this speech of his, 
 and knowing his mother's indulgence to 
 give way to his desire, I doubt much 
 whether what I have so much longed for 
 will ever come to pass. Yet, because I 
 leave nothing unattempted) Arete and 
 myself, when I last saw her, resolved that 
 she should bring him hither, to try if my 
 grandchild's silent beauty can persuade 
 him to what yet he hath ever been averse ; 
 for they say that the blind god shooting 
 from fair eyes, doth sometimes prevail with 
 stubborn hearts more than any reason or
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 65 
 
 discourse can : so that taking the offered 
 occasion of my son's coming hither, who 
 will be here to-morrow, to communicate 
 with my nearest friends, my content of 
 seeing so dear a son that hath been long 
 absent from me, I have invited her to my 
 house, who I expect will be here within 
 these two or three days, together with 
 Theagenes/' 
 
 If the first part of Artesia's speech 
 brought doubts and fears to Stelliana's 
 soul, the conclusion of it was to her like a 
 gentle gale of wind, that in a burning day 
 creepeth over sweet and flowery meads, 
 and breathes upon the languishing face of 
 the faint traveller that is almost dead with 
 heat. It was well that she had thus much 
 time before-hand to prepare herself to ex- 
 pect his coming; for if she had been sur- 
 prised with so joyful a sight, it had been 
 impossible for her to disguise her affec- 
 tions, which mainly imported them both,
 
 66 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 and principally there, to be concealed : 
 for Arete, that had long before perceived 
 much affection in her son to Stelliana, and 
 being now much averse to it, as well be- 
 cause of some unkindnesses passed between 
 Nearchus and her, as that it might be a 
 disturbance to the other that she came 
 about, and infinitely desired; did with 
 watchful eyes, armed with longing, hatred, 
 and jealousy, continually observe all pas- 
 sages between her son and Stelliana ; so as 
 the two first days that they were together, 
 they could have no conveniency of free 
 discourse : whilst their fire increasing by 
 presence and each other's sight, the keep- 
 ing of it in too narrow a room without any 
 vent, almost smothered their hearts. But 
 what dull wit will not love refine, and sub- 
 tilize with acutest inventions ? Much more 
 so docile a one as Theagenes's, whose breast 
 was now become love's school, out of 
 which he might have read a learned lecture
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 6j 
 
 to novice affections. And he, now burn- 
 ing with impatience, and fearing lest, like 
 the loadstone, he should always point to 
 his bright north star without ever coming 
 to touch it, he advised himself of a means 
 to instruct Stelliana how they might have, 
 once before they parted, the liberty of 
 breathing their souls' affections into one 
 another; which was thus. 
 
 One day as she had by accident let her 
 glove fall, he took it up, and having a letter 
 ready in his hand, which he had written a day 
 before, and awaited an opportunity of de- 
 livering it, did thrust it into the glove, and 
 kissing it, gave her, who putting her hand 
 into it to pull it on, felt a paper there, which, 
 conceiving how it came in, she kept safe till 
 night, that she was retired into her cham- 
 ber ; and then after she was in bed, and had 
 dismissed her servants, she read it by the 
 help of the watch-light, which stood burn- 
 ing by her : and being thereby instructed 
 
 i 2
 
 68 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 how she should govern herself when the 
 occasion was presented to procure a fit 
 and secure meeting, sleep stole upon her as 
 she was entertaining her pleased thoughts 
 with the hope of that blessed hour; which 
 happened to be the next day : for Artesia 
 and her son, and all the company that was 
 at her house, were invited to hunt a stag in 
 the forest that was near adjoining ; when 
 being in the midst of the chase, and every 
 one attentive to the sport, Stelliana, stay- 
 ing to be among the hindmost, turned 
 her horse down a ridins; that led another 
 
 o 
 
 way than where the hounds had gone, 
 which she did in such a manner, as those 
 that were near her might conceive she 
 would have taken him up, as being weary 
 with a long chase, and not desirous to fol- 
 low it farther, but that he being hot and 
 impatient of the bit, did perforce carry her 
 that way when he was diverted from the 
 other ; [Here eight lines are
 
 PRIVATE -MEMOIRS. 6'9 
 
 obliterated.'] till being so far 
 
 got from the rest of the company ,"who in 
 such a wild place could not find them out, 
 they alighted and led their horses into a 
 thicket, where lying down whilst they 
 grazed by them, Stelliana, opening her 
 coral lips which shewed, like the opening 
 of heaven when the Lord of it sendeth 
 abroad some blessed angel to do a message 
 of joy, began in this manner. "The con- 
 fidence that I have of your respect, my 
 dearest Theagenes, in thus exposing my 
 honour into your hands, is, without any 
 other, a sufficient testimony of the love I 
 bear you; yet because the remembrance 
 of past sorrows is the mother of present 
 joy, and that the relation of what I have 
 
 V 
 
 suffered for your sake, for being constant 
 to you, may make me in some measure 
 seem worthy of the return of your affec- 
 tion, I will, as briefly as I can, run over the 
 sad story of the widow hours that with
 
 70 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 leaden feet have crept aver me, since I 
 had the blessing of seeing you/' " You 
 would do too great a wrong, fairest Stel- 
 liana," answered Theagenes, " to my clear 
 flame, if at least any injustice can proceed 
 from so divine a hand, in thinking that 
 there were need of any other motive for 
 me to love you but yourself: for angels 
 and souls love where they discover greatest 
 perfections, and I were too blind if I did 
 not discern yours. So that in me, where 
 knowledge and understanding is the ground 
 of a noble and spiritual love, other obliga- 
 tions are scarcely considerable ; for that 
 knowledge and love have converted me 
 into a part of you, and your goodness 
 having united you to me, I can no more 
 give you thanks for any merit towards me, 
 than another man may thank himself for 
 doing himself a good turn : so that, in fine, 
 no action of yours can avail to gain more 
 upon that affection which is already en-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 71 
 
 tirely yours." "I must yield," replied 
 Stelliana, "in the manner of expression, to 
 you that have the advantages of wit and 
 learning to clothe your conceptions in the 
 gracefullest attire ; but in reality of love I 
 will never yield to you ; for I take Hjeaven 
 to witness, I have tasted of np joy in this 
 long night of absence, but what the 
 thoughts of you have brought me ; and 
 have ever resolved no longer to live than I 
 have had hope to enjoy your love/' "Oh, 
 think not," answered Theagenes, " that 
 when the heart speaks upon so serious and 
 high a theme, wit o? study can have any 
 share in the contexture of what one saith ; 
 lovers can speak as effectually in silence, 
 as by the help of weak words, which are 
 but the overflowings of a passionate heart ; 
 for intellectual substances communicate 
 themselves by their wills ; and mine is so 
 entirely drowned in yours, that it moveth 
 not but as you guide it. Yet dare I not
 
 ? PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 to contend with you who loveth most ; for 
 I know that as you surpass me in all ex- 
 cellent faculties of a worthy soul, so you 
 do in the perfection of love ; yet in this I 
 think I have much the advantage of you, 
 that I love you as well as I can, and 
 stretch all the powers of my soul to bring 
 my love to the highest pitch that I may, 
 since it hath a worthier object than it can 
 raise itself unto ; whereas, on the other side, 
 you not finding in me worth enough to 
 take up as much as you could bestow, 
 must go with reservation ; and thus I, by 
 soaring up to perfections above me, do 
 daily refine myself, whilst you are fain to 
 let yourself down, unless it be when your 
 contemplations, rolling like the heavens 
 about their own centre, do make yourself 
 their object/' "Fie, fie/' said Stelliana, 
 " stop that mouth, which were it any other 
 but whose it is, I would call it a sacrilegious 
 mouth, that thus blasphemeth against the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 73 
 
 saint that I adore/' And then went on 
 
 i?? 1*0 
 
 with the story of her passed troubles for 
 Theagenes; who, when she had ended, re- 
 quited her with his; the conclusion of 
 which being the earnest and daily solicita- 
 tion that his mother used to him to match 
 himself with Artesia's grandchild, he told her 
 how hitherto he had with delays, never using 
 any direct refusal, which might exasperate 
 her, prevented her rigorous pressing him to 
 it; and that he had also contrived to secure 
 himself for the future, in this manner. 
 
 By himself and others, upon whose 
 opinions Arete much relied, he had ob- 
 tained her leave to travel into foreign 
 parts for two or three years, that course 
 being usually followed in the education of 
 the youth of quality and eminency in 
 Morea, that by so conversing with several 
 nations, and observing the natures and 
 manners of men, they might enable them- 
 selves with good precepts, drawn from ex-
 
 74 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 perience, and by variety of observations 
 upon sundry and new emergent occasions, 
 learn to banish admiration, which for the 
 most part accompanieth homebred minds, 
 and is the daughter of ignorance : " Of 
 which fair pretences," said Theagenes, " I 
 will make my benefit to get myself free out 
 of these dangers, and then I will stay so 
 long abroad until riper years may in me 
 challenge the disposal of myself: then 
 shall I come home free from those fears that 
 now hold my soul in continual anguish; 
 and enjoying your favour, shall in one 
 short hour recompense all the torments 
 that I have already suffered, and till then 
 shall suffer, for your sake ; which happi- 
 ness, if my constancy be by heaven duly 
 rewarded, must outlast an age. But oh/' 
 continued he with a deep sigh, "something 
 within me whispers to my soul and biddeth 
 me take heed how I build the hopes of my 
 future joy and bliss upon the continuance
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. ?O 
 
 of a woman's affection during a long ab- 
 sence." " It is," replied Stelliana, " some 
 wicked fiend sent from the envious enemy 
 of mankind, that would kindle the tor- 
 menting fire of jealousy within your heart, 
 if any such fear as you speak of do breathe 
 there; therefore confidently pluck him 
 out from thence, for that sun that is now 
 declining to the west shall alter his course, 
 and rise where soon he will set, and his 
 beams, which are now the authors of life 
 and vegetation, shall dart cold poison and 
 destruction upon the world, before I suffer 
 my clear flame to burn dim, or the heat 
 that is in my breast to grow faint; but 
 who, alas ! can ascertain me that the de- 
 lights which you are going unto, and the 
 variety of great actions which will daily 
 take up your thoughts, and the rare beauty 
 of accomplished and ingenious ladies 
 which you shall see, may not in time make 
 you forget your love, your faith, to a poor
 
 76 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 maid that hath nothing to plead for her, 
 but her infinite love to you :" with the last 
 of which words, her declining lids did let 
 fall some drops of crystal upon her mo- 
 dest crimson cheeks, which shewed like 
 the morning dew upon a bed of roses that 
 seem to weep because the sun maketh no 
 more haste to display their beauty ; which 
 Theagenes drying with his lips, was some 
 time before he could frame this answer. 
 " Dearest lady and mistress, from the 
 knowledge of yourself you may have en- 
 tire certainty of my love and faith ; for 
 since the world hath nothing of greater 
 perfection than you are, you need not 
 doubt that the sight of a fairer object can 
 ever dispossess you of your right: besides, 
 the consideration of the nature of love 
 may quiet those thoughts, for it uniteth 
 and transformeth the lover into the object 
 beloved ; it is a free gift of the will of the 
 lover to the person beloved, making her
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 77 
 
 the mistress, and giving her absolute 
 power of it ; and the will having command 
 and sovereignty over all other faculties 
 and parts of a man, it carrieth them along 
 with it; so that his will being drowned 
 and converting itself into hers, the like 
 doth all the rest, and thus they become 
 one, by the transmutation of the lover into 
 the person beloved ; which action not be- 
 ing through natural constraint, nor violent 
 and painful, but free and voluntary, and 
 delightful, it is neither subject to the vicis- 
 situdes and changes of natural things, nor 
 to' be interrupted or destroyed by any 
 other means, but by the same will that 
 first freely gave it, which in me being now 
 yours as long as you will foster it and keep 
 the knot fast on your side, nothing can 
 untie it or wear it out : therefore continue 
 but what you are in respect of your love 
 to me, and neither time, nor distance, nor 
 other beauties, nor all the conspiracies of
 
 78 PRIVATE MEMOIRS 
 
 hell can make me other than what I am : 
 which is, and in that title I most glory 
 myself, your devoted slave." 
 
 With these and other pleasing dis- 
 courses of like nature, the two happy 
 lovers passed that afternoon, till the set- 
 ting sun going down in a cloud, seemed, as 
 being careful in their behalfs, to be angry 
 at their so long stay there ; which, by leav- 
 ing the rest of their company all that while, 
 might give new grounds of jealousies to 
 them that might think absence had worn 
 out all the print of their young and imma- 
 ture love : as indeed it did ; for although 
 they had framed a fair excuse to colour 
 their being away as the .... [Four lines 
 
 are here obliterated.'] she was so 
 
 far gone, and Theagenes, in humanity to 
 help her, beyond their knowledge in the 
 wild forest that they wandered up and 
 down as in a labyrinth, till by chance they 
 met a keeper that put them in a right
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 79 
 
 path ; yet Arete would not be persuaded 
 but that it might be some sparks of former 
 love were yet alive in her son's breast, 
 which by keeping him near the original 
 flame might soon cause a fire too great for 
 her to put out. Therefore, if before she 
 was slow, she now used all the diligence 
 she could to hasten her son's intended 
 journey to Athens, whither he was first to 
 go, to spend some time in study in that 
 university; and discovering her jealousy to 
 Artesia, who of her own nature was apt 
 enough to receive them, was a means that 
 she demeaned herself with such coldness 
 from thenceforward towards Stelliana, that 
 she, conjecturing the cause of it, did 
 shortly take a fair occasion of leaving her, 
 having first made her a noble present of a 
 jewel that would manifoldly countervail 
 her expenses in entertaining her ; and 
 from thence went to Corinth where she 
 might hope best to receive news of her
 
 80 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 Theagenes, and to have means to convey 
 hers unto him. 
 
 Their stars were so favourable to them 
 ,as to permit them to have there one in- 
 terview before the departure of Theagenes ; 
 when they both renewed the protestations 
 of their affections and vows of constancy ; 
 and Theagenes presented her with a dia- 
 mond ring which he used to wear, entreat- 
 ing her, whensoever she did cast her eyes 
 upon it, to conceive that it told her in his 
 behalf, that his heart would prove as hard 
 as that stone in the admittance of any new 
 affection ; and that his to her should be 
 as void of end as that circular figure was; 
 and she desired him to wear for her sake 
 a lock of her hair which she gave him ; the 
 splendour of which can be expressed by no 
 earthly thing, but it seemed as though a 
 stream of the sun's beams had been ga- 
 thered together and converted into a solid 
 substance. With this precious relic about
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 81 
 
 his arm, whose least hair was sufficient to 
 tie in bonds of love the greatest heart that 
 ever was informed with life. Theagenes 
 took his journey into Attica, and spent 
 some time in Athens, till the heat of the 
 year coming on, and the plague raging in 
 that populous city, so that all those that 
 had any possibility of subsistence in an- 
 other place, left it, he retired himself to a 
 little city called Marathon, inferior to 
 none in all that country for wholesomeness 
 of air, beauty of buildings, pleasure of 
 situation, abundance of provisions, and 
 courtesy of persons of quality that inhabit 
 there. He had not been long here, en- 
 joying the greatest content that any place 
 could afford him where Stelliana was not 
 present, but the warlike sound of horrid 
 arms, of neighing horses, and of loud 
 trumpets, proclaiming civil dissensions, 
 were heard there to fright away the sweet 
 tranquillity which reigned in this till then 
 
 G
 
 82 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 happy place: the occasion whereof will 
 not be displeasing to relate from the first 
 beginnings. 
 
 The King of Attica being a prince of 
 active spirits, and from his cradle trained 
 in wars, in which he was so fortunate that 
 he had thereby confirmed himself in his 
 kingdom, which had first long wrestled 
 with him, being weary of a long and dull 
 peace, had raised a formidable army, 
 which being every way complete in all 
 other preparations belonging thereunto, 
 and of most terror, because of himself that 
 commanded it; so great was his reputa- 
 tion. Greece and the neighbour world 
 trembled with the expectation where that 
 cloud would disburden itself, for he had 
 made none acquainted with his intentions : 
 when, in the midst of his great thoughts, 
 which certainly balanced empires, and at- 
 tended by his principal nobility, a poo r 
 mean vassal of his, whose name had never
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS* 83 
 
 been charactered in ink but for this fact, 
 so inglorious he was, delivered the world 
 of many fears, by thrusting a dagger into 
 the King's heart, as he was going in glory to 
 take a view of his army, and to crown his 
 wife queen with wonted ceremony ; in- 
 tending to leave her regent in his absence. 
 Thus all these vast preparations vanished, 
 and served for nothing but to express in 
 lively colours the frailty of human designs. 
 His son was immediately proclaimed and 
 crowned king, but being under age, the 
 power and management of affairs remained 
 with his mother, who, being a woman of 
 great judgment and strong parts, carried 
 business with a high hand ; which she 
 did the rather, because some of the princes 
 of Attica, being of turbulent spirits, seemed 
 to disdain her sex and the rule of a 
 stranger, she being daughter to the prince 
 of Ephesus. And having none there that 
 she might repose confidence in, she cast 
 
 G 2
 
 84 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 the beams of her favour upon a gentleman 
 of her country ; whom, from a younger 
 brother of an obscure family, she soon 
 raised to the highest degrees of honour 
 that a subject can attain unto. But he, 
 like one whose eyes were dazzled and 
 brain failed by being set in too high a 
 place, forgot his first beginnings, and grew 
 so insolent that the peers of Attica could 
 not brook his greatness ; and envy being 
 an inseparable companion to the fortune 
 of a favourite, it was more than whispered 
 abroad that he intended to possess himself 
 of that kingdom, and that the queen en- 
 tertained him in her favour chiefly to sa- 
 tisfy her loose and unchaste desires; to 
 which the great and untimely familiarity 
 that she used with him, and the comely 
 composure of his body seemed to give 
 credit. Whereupon some of the principal 
 of the nobility possessed the King with 
 fears of his own safety, and a deep appre-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 85 
 
 nension of his mother's dishonour, which 
 reflected upon him ; while the Queen and 
 her favourite nothing doubted the imma- 
 turity of his years and the slowness of his 
 nature to be any interruption to their de- 
 signs. But overmuch security was their 
 overthrow ; for by that means he got the 
 marquis into his power, and then by per- 
 forming an action of much resolution, he 
 gave testimony how slow natures, when 
 they are once thoroughly warmed, retain 
 that heat with much constancy ; for he 
 caused the marquis to be slain without 
 any form of process, and confined his mo- 
 ther to a little town two or three days' 
 journey from the court, with a strong 
 guard upon her. But what cannot fury 
 do in a woman's breast? for she, being im- 
 patient at her imprisonment, at the loss 
 of her friend, at the stain of her honour, 
 and at her sequestration from the govern- 
 ment, found soon a means to gain her
 
 86 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 liberty, by the assistance of one of the 
 princes of that country, that had been 
 very faithful to her husband, and was of 
 great power and in high reputation for a 
 soldier. Being at liberty, after many 
 treaties of accommodation, which in the 
 end proved of little effect, she retired her- 
 self to Marathon, where she was confident 
 of a strong party, intending there to raise 
 forces, which she gave out were to remove 
 some evil counsellors that were about the 
 King her son : for pretences of justice and 
 holiness are never wanting to any under- 
 taking, be it never so undue, wicked, and 
 unjust. Her hopes here failed not; for in 
 a small time, she had got together such an 
 army, as was deemed not only sufficient to 
 resist any violence the King could use, 
 but offeree enough, without the other suc- 
 cours which were daily expected, to set 
 upon him and work her own conditions : 
 yet the advice of the ancient soldiers pre-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 87 
 
 vailed, which was, to expect the coming 
 of the other troops, that they might jointly 
 go with an united and solid strength to 
 prosecute their designs : while in the mean 
 time the King, on his part, used all the 
 diligence that might be to levy forces. 
 But the Queen and her party conceived 
 his difficulties to be so great in that, and 
 themselves so secure in that place, which 
 was compassed in with rivers, and inacces- 
 sible when the bridges were broken down, 
 and the passages guarded, that they ex- 
 pected nothing less than the arrival of the 
 King : so that while she was to stay here 
 in expectance of her other troops, she en- 
 tertained herself with masques, feasts, 
 musics, and such other recreations as 
 might make time slide more pleasingly by 
 her [Here a portion of the Manu- 
 script is obliterated.] Theagenes, 
 
 coming one masque-night to the court 
 with the company that importuned him
 
 88 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 to go along with them, was by one of the 
 ladies, that had known him at Athens, 
 taken out to dance; in which he behaved 
 himself in such sort, that whether it were 
 the gracefulness of his gesture, wherein 
 the commendations of art was the least 
 thing he aimed at, or that the heavens had 
 ordained he should be the punisher of the 
 Queen's affections, she felt at the first, sight 
 of him a secret love, which soon grew so 
 violent that it made her forget her own 
 greatness, and compelled Theagenes, in 
 order to preserve his constancy for Stel- 
 liana, to quit the court; and he caused it 
 to be reported that he was murdered in the 
 tumult which arose in consequence of the 
 Queen having disbanded her forces, upon 
 her reconciliation with the King her son, 
 after the battle of Marathon. Soon after, he 
 transported himself over the sea into Ionia, 
 intending to spend some time in that plea- 
 sant climate, where the sun seemed to cast
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 89 
 
 more propitious beams than upon any other 
 place ; for in fruitfulness of the soil it may 
 well be termed the garden of the world ; 
 and the cities of it, which are many, being 
 every one under a several lord, the terri- 
 tories of them are so small, and the means 
 of extending themselves, by doing great 
 actions abroad, so little, that those who 
 have noble minds must apply themselves 
 to contemplative and academic studies, 
 wherein their spirits working upon them- 
 selves, they are so refined, that for matters 
 of wit, civility, and gentleness, these parts 
 may be the level for the rest of the world 
 
 > 
 
 to aim at. 
 
 Here Theagenes resolved to detain him- 
 self some time, as well to give himself the 
 content of noble and learned conversation, 
 as also to practise such exercises as befit a 
 gentleman to have learned, and are the 
 worthiest ornaments of a mind well fraught 
 with interior notions, to attain to per-
 
 90 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 fection, in which here is complete conve- 
 niency. Among all these towns, he chose 
 Ephesus for his settled abode; from whence, 
 at his first arrival, he wrote letters to Stel- 
 liana to advertise her of his health, and to 
 prevent the rumour of his death, which, 
 happily, might come to her ears. But 
 long and dear experience teacheth us that, 
 in this transitory life, the bad doth mani- 
 foldly exceed the good ; as, in this particu- 
 lar, it did : for those letters miscarried, and 
 the false news of his death was borne upon 
 the wings of fame with such speed, that, in 
 a very few days after the loss of the battle 
 at Marathon, it was known at Corinth, 
 where it found Stelliana labouring with 
 an impatient desire of hearing of him who * 
 was the only object of her loving thoughts. 
 It is too high a task for my rude pen to 
 draw any counterfeit of the deep sorrow 
 which then took possession of her heart ; 
 which was of such a heavy nature, that, at
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 91 
 
 the first, it locked up all her senses as in a 
 dull lethargy ; so that, with too deep a 
 sense, she became insensible of grief; but 
 after a while, when she seemed to waken 
 out of a dream by the heart's dispersing 
 abroad of the spirits to be the sad messen- 
 gers of this doleful news to the other fa- 
 culties of the soul, that they might bear 
 their part in due mourning, then did her 
 tongue frame such lamentable complaints, 
 as, to have heard them, would have con- 
 verted the most savage heart into a flood 
 of tears; and yet sorrow sate so sweetly 
 enthroned within her mournful eyes, as 
 would have made the lightest heart in love 
 with those blessed tears, that seemed like 
 the morning dews sprinkled upon Aurora's 
 face. " Alas !" would she say, " wherein have 
 I offended Death that he thus cruelly should 
 rob me of my dearest jewel ? yet, since 
 thy stroke is never to be recalled, 1 will 
 pardon thee, and, henceforward call thee
 
 92 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 courteous, if thou wilt level at me thy 
 leaden dart, that so I may be exempted 
 from all the miseries of this life which 
 remain to me, and follow my joys that are 
 gone before me into the other world : but, 
 oh ! it seemeth my love was weak, that 
 cannot call sorrow enough to break that 
 heart which ought to have lived only in my 
 Theagenes. However, if love and sorrow 
 cannot do it, nor death will come at a 
 wretch's call, fury and despair shall bring 
 my cursed life to a wished end ; and this 
 hand only, so often made happy with his 
 burning kisses, deserveth to be the instru- 
 ment of such a glorious act, as will bring 
 me to the enjoyment of my soul's delight, 
 where it will be out of the power of fortune 
 to cross or disturb my joys. There shall 
 our happy spirits wander in the Elysian 
 fields, and be united together with the 
 holy fire of divine love in that immense 
 and glorious flaming light, which compre-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 93 
 
 hendeth all things. But, ah ! me, whither 
 do my wandering fancies carry me into a 
 night of error? I know, alas ! I know too 
 well, that the gates which lead souls into 
 the region of bliss, are shut against them 
 that lay violent hands upon themselves ; 
 and good reason it is that they should be 
 tormented in eternal darkness, who, through 
 self-love, give up without order or leave 
 the custody of that fort, which God and 
 nature put them in to maintain : and look- 
 ing with the light of truth and not of 
 passion, what is it but self-love that maketh 
 me thus wish to die? He that I lament, is 
 doubtless enthroned in happiness among 
 the blessed angels that in this life he re- 
 sembled, and is labouring to get me to 
 him. Shall I then, with immature haste, 
 overthrow those joys which I have reason 
 to hope for? No, no; wretched heart, live 
 on till he call thee to a better state, and in 
 the mean time my life shall be a continual
 
 94 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 martyrdom, which, I hope, may purge and 
 refine such defects as are natural in me, and 
 make me worthy of that seat, which, I am 
 sure, he will provide for me." 
 
 With such incessant lamentations, pro- 
 ceeding from a deeply wounded soul, she 
 spent many days without any diminution 
 of sorrow; and, pretending indisposition 
 of health, admitted the visits of none but 
 Mardontius, who, as you have heard, saved 
 her from certain death, when she lay at 
 the mercy of the merciless wolf; who then, 
 at the first sight of her, drank into his 
 bowels the secret flames of a deep affection, 
 which, from that very instant, increased 
 upon him and grew so violent, that he 
 could not rest for thinking of her; and, 
 love making men industrious, he had im- 
 mediate notice when she went from Arte- 
 sia's house to Corinth, whither, with all 
 speed, he followed her, and applied himself 
 to her service with all the affectionate
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 95 
 
 demonstrations of extreme love, that a 
 young heart, deeply wounded, could ex- 
 press ; and had given her some knowledge 
 of the much that, for her sake, he endured, 
 and would have proceeded farther in the 
 begging of her favour, but that, in the 
 very beginning of his passionate discourse, 
 she interrupted him, and told him that, if 
 he did ever again use that language to her, 
 she should estrange herself from his sight 
 and friendship, to the which, if he gave 
 not occasion of the contrary, she held her- 
 self in gratitude obliged, as owing her life 
 unto him : and, therefore, ever since that 
 time, she had allotted him so much of her 
 esteem and good-will as a sister may bear 
 to a brother ; but that, for matter of affec- 
 tion, he should never hope for any, she not 
 being ashamed to confess ingenuously that 
 it was wholly and only vowed to Theagenes. 
 Wherefore Mardontius, that had been 
 long enough trained to the world to know
 
 96 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 that women's passions are not perpetual, 
 but that by how much more violent they 
 are, so much less durance they use to have, 
 gave over those solicitations which he yet 
 saw unseasonable, and would not venture 
 the loss of all by striving to make too 
 sudden a gain of all ; but, for the present, 
 contented himself with that part which 
 he had in her good esteem, hoping that 
 time, and the absence of Theagenes, and 
 many other accidents, might one day con- 
 vert it into affection; while he remained 
 vigilant to make use of all such opportuni- 
 ties of endearing himself to her as fortune, 
 or the revolution of woman's constancy, 
 might give him overtures of. And thus, 
 by pretending a respective and not affec- 
 tionate love ever after his check from her, 
 he had insinuated himself so far into her 
 good liking, that, afterward, when she re- 
 ceived the news of Theagenes's death, and 
 that the stormy violence of the first im-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 97 
 
 pression of grief was a little over, she 
 admitted him sometimes into her company, 
 when all other was troublesome and hateful 
 to her. He then, like one cunning in the 
 nature and qualities of passions, would not 
 bluntly oppose her sorrow, knowing that 
 such contrasting doth rather farther engage 
 and heat one in it, than any ways diminish 
 it; nor yet go about unseasonably to carry 
 her thoughts, by persuasion or mentioning 
 them, to contrary objects, as of content 
 and pleasure : but as a faithful physician 
 that is not able to purge away some bad 
 humour that, in an infirm body, oppressed 
 some particular part, doth use such medi- 
 cines as may mingle themselves with it, and 
 so carry it gently to serve some other 
 member, even so did he first seem to bear 
 a part with her in her grief, till he had got 
 so much credit with her, and insensibly 
 won such an inclination in her to like of 
 what he said and did, that, at length, she 
 
 u
 
 98 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 left her solitary lamenting by herself, and 
 took some contentment in condoling with 
 him her misfortune; and then, by following 
 diligently his begun practice of consolation 
 by diversion, he wrought her so iruch from 
 the sharpness of her grief, that she took 
 delight in his company ; and thus he took 
 the advantage of her sorrow, which had 
 made her heart tender and apt to receive a 
 deeper impression of liking and good-will 
 towards him than before ; which she denied 
 noi; to him, assuring him that, of all men 
 then living, she did, and had most reason 
 to respect him most ; with which she de- 
 sired him to content himself, and to seek 
 no farther from her, for that, ever since 
 Theagenes's death, her heart was also dead 
 to all passionate affections. 
 
 But, in the mean time, that monster 
 which was begot of some fiend in hell, and 
 feedeth itself upon the infected breaths of 
 the base multitude, Fame ! made a false
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 99 
 
 construction of her actions, and did spread 
 abroad a scandalous rumour of the fami- 
 liarity of Mardontius with her ; which, 
 perad venture, he also increased by speak- 
 ing more lavishly of her favours than he 
 had a real ground for ; thinking to do 
 himself honour, by making the world be- 
 lieve him to be dear to her that had en- 
 grossed to herself the whole heaven of 
 beauty, and was, accordingly, adored by 
 all those that had any spark of gentleness 
 or nobleness in their hearts; which rumour 
 being once on foot, it was too late for her, 
 that was so young, so beautiful, and at 
 liberty in the world, to suppress it, con- 
 sisting of a fantastic aerial body that ad- 
 mitteth no hold to be taken of it, nor can 
 be traced to the ground or author thereof; 
 but, having once gotten upon its wings, 
 subsisteth by its own lightness in weak 
 understandings, as the vulgar of men have, 
 who are not able to give any reason for 
 
 H 2
 
 100 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 what they believe. This fury then, that 
 will not spare innocence itself, made Stel- 
 liana her prey, whose soul was as white 
 and free from spot as virtue is ; so that the 
 greatest enemy she had, speaking most 
 sharply to her disadvantage, and truly, 
 could but have said, that if her sorrow for 
 Theagenes were grown more temperate 
 than at the first, it was only because that 
 it exceeded the bounds of what less noble 
 hearts could think, and still remained far 
 greater than was fit for a rational and well 
 tempered mind, that ought to have her will 
 and desires resigned to the will and ordi- 
 nance of the superior power; and had, in 
 the bitterness of it, made her so much 
 forget her wonted discretion, as through 
 too much indulgency to admit Mardon- 
 tius, who seemed to applaud her in it, to a 
 nearer familiarity than, in terms or rigour, 
 was fit for her, or than her affection did 
 really call him unto. But she was so deeply
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 101 
 
 engaged in this inconvenience before she 
 was aware, that Mardontius then with 
 much eagerness pressed to draw her from 
 her former resolution of solitariness, not 
 doubting now or fearing the effects of her 
 wonted frowns and rigour, when he inti- 
 mated any such desire of his ; and withal, 
 the nearest of her friends that had a quick 
 sense of her good, importuned her therein 
 as much as he could do ; both because it 
 was in secular respects such a fortune to 
 her, as she had no reason to refuse ; bat 
 most of all they represented to her, that 
 she had inconsiderately brought herself so 
 much upon the stage, and submitted her- 
 self to the world's censure for Mardontius's 
 sake, that she could not now retire from 
 him without much dishonour : which last 
 consideration weighed so much with her 
 above all others, that what neither love nor 
 his merits, nor no other motive could, the 
 sense of her honour, which she deemed
 
 102 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 much dearer than her Jif'e, won her unto : 
 so that after a year's, and more, lamenting 
 of her lost Theagenes, she gave a cold and 
 half constrained consent to condescend to 
 Mardontius's suit ; who then immediately 
 took care to provide, with much splendour 
 and magnificence, all things necessary to 
 give an honourable solemnity to their 
 nuptials ; having in the mean time begged 
 and obtained from her, leave to have her 
 picture drawn by an excellent workman ; 
 which, afterward, he used to shew as a 
 glorious trophy of her conquered affec- 
 tions. 
 
 All this while Theagenes, who had writ- 
 ten several letters to the goddess of his 
 devotions, the first of which miscarried, 
 and the rest were industriously intercepted 
 and suppressed by his mother, who was 
 jealous of his affection, wondered that he 
 had no return of any of them ; so that his 
 doubtful fears, and yet he knew not what
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 103 
 
 to doubt or fear, plunged him into a deep 
 melancholy, from which he daily, upon 
 sundry occasions, interpreted to himself 
 many sad presages of near ensuing disasters. 
 When, at length, the heart-breaking 
 news of Stelliana's approaching marriage 
 with Mardontius, was brought to him by a 
 gentleman that was lately come from Co- 
 rinth to Ephesus, intending to spend some 
 time there upon the same occasion that 
 Theagenes did ; who, taking it up but 
 upon public fame, delivered it with such 
 circumstances, as went much to the preju- 
 dice of her honour. Theagenes then quite 
 forgot the noble temper of his mind, which 
 being by nature composed of an excellent 
 mixture, and, besides, richly cultivated 
 with continual study and philosophical 
 precepts, did formerly stand in defiance 
 of fortune ; but now he was so overborne 
 with passion, that he might serve for a 
 clear example to all who may promise
 
 104 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 most of themselves, that none can be so 
 completely perfect in this life, nor armed 
 against the assaults of passions, but that 
 some one way or other there is an entrance 
 unto him left unguarded, whereby he may 
 be humbled and put in mind, at his own 
 cost, of the frailty of human nature. For 
 his soul was so overburdened with grief, 
 that his reason, and all that he knew and 
 could advise to others upon like occasions, 
 availed him nothing in his own behalf; but, 
 sinking under that insupportable weight, 
 he became equal with the lowest and 
 meanest natures; but he differed from them 
 much in the manner of expressing it, for, 
 whereas they for the most part yield to 
 tenderness, and bemoan themselves, taking 
 their disasters unkindly at fortune's hands ; 
 he, as soon as his shrunk heart began to 
 dilate itself, broke out into a torrent of 
 fury, cursing all womankind for Stelliana's 
 sake; and was so possessed with anger and
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 105 
 
 disdain, that, if nature had been in his 
 power, he would have turned the world 
 again into a dark chaos. " Oh ! miserable 
 condition," did he say, " of men that must, 
 through the unjust laws of nature, take 
 half their being from this unworthy sex ! 
 for how can I style it other, when she, for 
 whose sake alone I was in charity with the 
 rest, proveth false to her own honour, and 
 to me that loved her better than my own 
 soul? Injurious stars! why gave you so 
 fair and beautiful an outside to so foul and 
 deformed a mind? And what secret sin 
 have I committed so great, that I must be 
 made the idolater of such a dire portent? 
 Is it that as death and misery came upon 
 the generality of mankind by the seduce- 
 ment of one woman, so new ruins must, by 
 another, fall upon me, because I strive to 
 raise myself out of this original and fatal 
 hard condition? What do all my pious 
 resolutions now avail me, all my studies to
 
 106 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 draw me out of the mist of ignorance 
 wherein I was born, and to arm me against 
 the frailty of human nature, since at once 
 a woman's inconstancy hath overthrown, 
 and, like a ravenous fire, consumed all 
 those seeds of good that began to grow 
 within me? Oh weak aims and fond ambi- 
 tion of men, that so wretched a blast can 
 convert into smoke ! But whither doth my 
 passion carry my words cross to my under- 
 standing? for I know this can and hath, 
 with me, performed more than all the pre- 
 cepts of divinity and philosophy could ; 
 this hath framed a settled mind in me, of 
 an excellent temper, that neither desireth 
 nor feareth any thing, which they but 
 coldly aim at. Now all things and all for- 
 tunes are alike to me, for I wish not for 
 good nor fear bad, since she, for whose 
 sake I should do either, deserveth now 
 nothing but dire execrations from my af- 
 flicted and restless soul ; which yet my
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 10? 
 
 melting heart, whensoever I think on her, 
 will not permit me to utter, but smothereth 
 my just curses : yet, thus much I will 
 swear, and call heaven to witness, that, for 
 the future, I will have irreconcilable wars 
 with that perfidious sex ; and so blaze 
 through the world their un worthiness and 
 falsehood, that I hope their turn will come 
 to sue to men for their love, and, being 
 denied, despair and die. And thou, once 
 dear pledge of my lady's virgin affections, 
 but now the magical filtre of her enchant- 
 ing and siren-like beauty, thou canst wit- 
 ness how I have, day and night, ever since 
 I wore thee, sighed her name ; be now her 
 forerunner into the fire, that will one day 
 torment her traitorous soul ; and as thou 
 consumest there like a sacrifice to the in- 
 fernal furies, of whom only vengeance is 
 begged, and that thy grosser element 
 turneth into ashes, may thy lighter and 
 airy parts mingle itself with the wind, and
 
 108 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 tell her, from me, that when rage and 
 despair have severed my injured soul from 
 my cold limbs, my ghostly shadow shall 
 be every where present to her, and so 
 affright her guilty conscience, that she 
 shall gladly run to death to shelter her 
 from my greater plaguing her." And, as 
 he spoke these last words, he tore from his 
 arm the bracelet of her hair, which she had 
 given him, and threw it into the fire that 
 was in his chamber ; when that glorious 
 relic burning, shewed, by the blue and wan 
 colour of the flame, that it had sense, and 
 took his words unkindly in her behalf. 
 But sorrow and anger had so consumed 
 his spirits, that he could no longer frame 
 his voice into an articulate sound, but, 
 casting himself upon his bed, sighed out 
 the deep anguishes of his tormented soul 
 all that day and night, and the next. Oh ! 
 what would have become of StellianaY 
 tenderer heart, if she should have then
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 109 
 
 known in what plight he remained, and to 
 what extremities he was brought for her 
 sake? Certainly death would have taken 
 up the room both of love to him, and of 
 shame for her unfortunate error. But the 
 just heaven, whose judgments are inscru- 
 table, had ordained a happier end to these 
 noble lovers; and as it useth oftentimes to 
 effect the greatest actions by the most 
 unlikely means, so it made her consent to 
 marry Mardontius to be the first cause of 
 dissolving it. For he being a young man 
 of an unstayed spirit, though his much wit 
 could disguise that and many other of his 
 imperfections, and entertaining love no 
 farther than into his eyes, the eagerness of 
 his suit to her proceeded much from the 
 supposed difficulty of the task to gain her 
 consent, and win her from her former af- 
 fections ; which, when he had done, he 
 soon grew cold in prosecuting it to the 
 utmost and ceremonious performance ;
 
 110 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 and being then some time absent at his 
 own house in the country, to prepare it, as 
 he pretended, to receive her according to 
 her worth, his eyes were, during that ab- 
 sence, inveigled with a new rural beauty, 
 his heart delighting most in change, 
 whose favour he solicited with as much 
 fervour as ever he had done his late mis- 
 tress's. Which, when Stelliana heard of, 
 a generous disdain enflamed her heart, 
 which made her despise Mardontius, and 
 resolve to sequester herself from the con- 
 versation of men; since him, whom only 
 she loved with affection, was taken away 
 from her by the cruel fates, and he, whom 
 she had forced herself to like for other 
 respects, had taken himself from her by 
 his own unworthiness : from which reso- 
 lution of hers, no persuasion of her friends, 
 nor humble and self-accusing repentance 
 of Mardontius, could draw her. For he 
 then, being wakened out of his fond dream
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. Ill 
 
 of a second love by her just scorn, did 
 apply himself in the most affectionate 
 manner that he could to regain her favour, 
 not omitting any industry that might con- 
 duce thereunto : wherein he gave a full 
 testimony, that in sensual minds love is 
 armed, and, as it were, spurred on by diffi- 
 culties ; and groweth flat and languisheth 
 when it walketh in an easy path. But all 
 his endeavours proved vain in this second 
 suit ; so that Stelliana not only withdrew 
 her good liking from him as a person un- 
 worthy of it, but armed herself with hatred 
 against him, and answered all his visits 
 and courtesies with harsh affronts ; and 
 when he saw no other hope or remedy, he 
 was glad to intermit them, and leave to 
 time and his better fortune hereafter, to 
 mollify her heart, that was now so inflexibly 
 hard towards him. 
 
 Having spun thus much of this history, 
 it is time for me now to take a little breath ;
 
 112 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 and the rather, because I am now come to 
 that part of it that requireth freshest spirits 
 and best attention to set it down ; for from 
 henceforward the fortunes of Theagenes 
 mingled themselves with, and had a part 
 in the actions of great princes, and, but 
 that they were guided by a secret working 
 of Divine Providence, did run in such a 
 way, as none could have expected that 
 they would have had such a period of hap- 
 piness as/at length, they attained unto: 
 which, by the following discourse, you will 
 understand. 
 
 The King of Morea being now stricken 
 in years, and having but one only son, was 
 daily moved by the nobles of the state to 
 dispose of him in marriage in some fitting 
 place; that if heaven blessed him with 
 issue in his father's life-time, the kingdom's 
 quiet, which had lately passed dangerous 
 revolutions, might hang by more than one 
 thread : to which advice the old king had
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 113 
 
 formerly been adverse, and by some that 
 knew his nature it was imputed to . . . . 
 [Two ' lines obliterated.] ..... should by 
 ..... gain himself so much strength as 
 might curb him. But now the long expe- 
 rience that he had of the sweetness of his 
 son's nature, made him void of suspicions 
 or apprehensions on that side ; and the 
 great propagation of a sect of religion in 
 his state, that affected popularity and com- 
 munity, and were enemies to all govern- 
 ment and magistrates, made him doubt 
 that, in time, it might grow dangerous and 
 hard to suppress; therefore he, that was 
 ever an enemy to proceedings of rigour 
 and open violence, and was an excellent 
 master in all sorts of subtilty, thought it 
 the best way to balance it by introducing 
 another religion directly opposite unto 
 that, which was indeed nothing but a 
 stretching to the utmost extremity, by 
 turbulent brains that affected singularity, 
 
 1
 
 114 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 those moderate tenets which the whole 
 state professed, when they severed them- 
 selves from the general society of belief 
 which was formerly uniform through all 
 Greece, and a great part of Asia and of 
 Africa ; and did afford to captious persons 
 cause of cavil rather at the professors than 
 the doctrine ; which separation was em- 
 braced only by the provinces subject to 
 the crown of Morea, and by the Ionian 
 Islands, and some others in the Archipe- 
 lago; and that rather for temporal respects, 
 than any great zeal in religion, although 
 that fair pretence did colour the inno- 
 vations in their long received faith. But 
 now those respects which weighed im- 
 portantly in this king's predecessor ceased 
 with him ; so that, either through love of 
 truth, which he, being very learned, could 
 not but apprehend rightly, or fear of the 
 dangerous tenets of the increasing sect, or 
 a desire not to be barred from the society
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 115 
 
 and communion of other princes, without 
 which, he saw it was impossible for him or 
 his successors to perform great and glo- 
 rious actions, as his ancestors had done, his 
 heart was vehemently bent to unite his 
 people with the rest of the adjoining 
 princes in the firm knot of consciences, 
 faith. Which yet he saw was not expe- 
 dient for him to do by any direct means, 
 therefore he deemed it his best to oblige 
 the King of Egypt to him, by the marriage 
 of his son to that king's daughter : hoping 
 thus insensibly to bring in the general 
 opinion, and to overrun the new ones by 
 that match ; the King of Egypt being the 
 principal and most powerful maintainer of 
 that side. To which negociation he chose 
 Aristobulus, a near kinsman of Theagenes, 
 who, in the reputation of solid wisdom and 
 rigid honesty, advanced all the other no- 
 blemen that were of council to him ; and 
 from a younger brother, that had but a 
 
 i 2
 
 116 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 small estate left him, though he were of a 
 noble house, had, by his own industry, 
 raised himself and his fortunes to as high a 
 pitch as a subject may aim unto in a mo- 
 narchy : and that not by a servile manner, 
 or by multitude of offices, or by the direct 
 favour of his prince; but having, at the 
 first, which was his greatest difficulty, 
 found means to make known his intel- 
 lectual abilities of serving his master, he 
 ever after, in a generous manner, raised 
 himself by degrees, and made his way with 
 his own virtue, so that all men concurred 
 in saying, that his preferments were but 
 condign rewards in justice due to his tran- 
 scendant merits. He then, having public 
 and secret instructions from the King of 
 Morea, had been in Egypt, and in effect 
 concluded the match between the two 
 kings' children, when the unexpected death 
 of the Egyptian king disordered all the 
 former treaties, so that some time was lost
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. J 17 
 
 in renewing of them ; and he sent again to 
 Alexandria to the young king, the lady's 
 brother, to have him confirm what his 
 father consented unto : upon which em- 
 ployment he was, when the fame of The- 
 agenes's hopefulness was spread from Ionia 
 to Egypt, between which two countries 
 there was continual and settled intercourse, 
 so that Aristobulus, who had, with many 
 others of his friends, lamented his death, 
 much rejoiced in that news ; and wisely 
 considering that as the training up of 
 youth in virtuous exercises of the mind 
 and body is at the first mainly necessary, 
 so to continue too long in such a school is 
 a frustrating of the intent of it, and loss of 
 that time which should be employed in the 
 practice of such acquired knowledge and 
 cunning ; he therefore sent on purpose into 
 Ionia to invite him to come to him to 
 Alexandria, where he had plentiful means 
 to put him in a way of benefiting himself,
 
 118 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 and making himself known in great actions ; 
 and withal would not be a little glad to 
 have near him, one upon whose love and 
 faith and resolution he might so firmly 
 rely ; for by his marching in a path of 
 honour in a way by himself, which he did, 
 as it were, by main force hew out of the 
 rock of virtue, and, being contrary to the 
 current of those depraved times, he had 
 acquired himself many and powerful ene- 
 mies. Theagenes receiving this friendly 
 invitation, and all places being now indif- 
 ferent unto him, for he received joy in 
 nothing, since she, in whom he had placed 
 it, was become the cause of his sharpest 
 grief, he did soon condescend to comply 
 with Aristobulus's kind request ; and, al- 
 though he had banished from him all 
 wishes and desires of good to himself since 
 he was frustrated of it where he only de- 
 sired it, yet his generous heart represented 
 to him, that it would be meanness in him
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 119 
 
 not to employ, for others' profit, those ta- 
 lents which God and better nature had 
 bestowed upon him. Wherefore with this 
 mind, but overclouded with sorrow and 
 deep melancholy, he began his journey for 
 Alexandria, going the first part of it by 
 land, and the rest by sea. In the conti- 
 nuance of which, it was his fortune to fall 
 into the company of a Brachman of India, 
 who shaped his course the same way that 
 he did ; which man, as his name giveth 
 him out to be, was one of those that the 
 Indians held in great veneration for their 
 professed sanctity and deep knowledge of 
 the most hidden mysteries of theology 
 and of nature ; in which this priest of theirs 
 exceeded most of his time, and yet was 
 possessed with such an ardent desire of 
 bettering his knowledge, that when he 
 conceived he had attained to the complete 
 understanding of such learning as was in 
 practice among them, he left his own na-
 
 120 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 live country and friends, and travelled into 
 the western parts of the world to partake 
 of what sciences flourished there. With 
 this man then, Theagenes, whose mind yet 
 was not altogether out of love with intel- 
 lectual notions, entered into much fami- 
 liarity, whereby he had daily more cause 
 not only to admire his wisdom, but withal 
 his grave conversation was mingled with 
 so much grace and with such attractive 
 sweetness, that he grew very affectionate 
 to him, wherein it seemed that the good 
 old man was no whit behindhand with 
 Theagenes ; so that one day, as they rid 
 together behind the rest of the company, 
 being grown confident that what he spoke 
 with reverence would be well taken, he 
 said thus to him : " I have found, worthy 
 Theagenes, so much nobleness and gene- 
 rousness in you, accompanied with such 
 friendliness to me that I have reason to 
 thank my stars when first they made me fall
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 121 
 
 into your company ; but withal I have upon 
 occasions observed so much sadness and 
 deep conceived grief to sit upon your brow, 
 that my dear affection to you, which I hope 
 will excuse my presumption, hath often- 
 times called upon me, and now at length 
 forceth me, to beseech you, if you may, to 
 communicate the cause of it unto me; that 
 knowing it, if my ad.vice or endeavours 
 may avail to do you service, I may employ 
 them ; or at the least, if I cannot help you, 
 I may condole with you your misfortunes." 
 " Reverend Sir/' answered then Thea- 
 genes with a deep sigh, "any thing con- 
 cerning me is not worthy your thoughts, 
 which are always employed in divine and 
 high speculations ; but since you descend 
 so low as to take notice of the outward ap- 
 parel of my afflicted mind, I will give you 
 thus much satisfaction herein, as to tell 
 you that my misfortunes are such as it is 
 not in the power of any man to remedy
 
 122 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 them ; and then it is not reason that so 
 desertless a consideration should draw an 
 unprofitable compassion from you to dis- 
 turb that quiet joy that your mind resteth 
 happy in." f " But," replied the priest, "if 
 you will not acquaint me with the particu- 
 lar, give me leave to tell you in general, 
 that no accident can be so bad in this life, 
 but that the celestial bodies have power 
 to turn it to good; and when men bear 
 their adversities with temperate and con- 
 stant minds, it doth in a manner challenge 
 of justice that they reward his patience 
 with that blessing/' "Ah/* then cried 
 out Theagenes, " if those superior lights 
 had the rule of men's actions and fortunes, 
 then should not I that have deserved the 
 best of goods, I speak it without ostenta- 
 tion and only for truth's sake, be now re- 
 warded with the worst of evils ; but it is 
 blind chance that governeth the world, 
 which mingleth and shuffleth men's good
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 123 
 
 and bad actions, and their condign retri- 
 butions, in fatal darkness, and then distri- 
 buteth them with promiscuous error." 
 " You cannot be a competent judge/' an- 
 swered the Brachman, "in your own 
 cause ; therefore, if you will let me know 
 what it is that thus afflicteth you, I doubt 
 not but to make you evidently see the 
 error of what you now said, and confess 
 that not chance, but the heavens and stars 
 govern this world, which are the only 
 books of fate ; whose secret characters 
 and influence, but few, divinely inspired, 
 can read in the true sense that their Creator 
 gave them." " I am glad," replied Thea- 
 genes, " of any diversion to draw iny 
 thoughts from the corrosive object that 
 night and day they feed upon ; but now 
 particularly, that your discourse hath of- 
 fered a means not only of doing that, but 
 also to inform my ignorance: therefore I 
 beseech you mention no more that which
 
 124 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 I were happy if I could forget ; . but for my 
 instruction give me leave to oppose you in 
 that you say the stars are the books of 
 fate ; which seemeth to imply such a ne- 
 cessity in human actions as well as in other 
 natural ones, that it overthroweth quite 
 the liberty of the will, which certainly is 
 the only pre-eminence that man can glory 
 in, and that we are taught to believe, and 
 see evidently to be true/' " This objec- 
 tion of yours," answered the Brachman, 
 "is the subject of a large dispute, which is 
 too long now to be handled ; but for your 
 satisfaction, I will briefly run over some of 
 the principal heads of it; from which you 
 may of yourself draw many other conclu- 
 sions. Know then that the infinite wisdom 
 of Him who created all things, and dis- 
 posed them with admirable sweetness, did 
 frame this world and all that is in it in 
 such an artificial order, that contrariety 
 and disagreeing qualities is the only knot
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 125 
 
 of this perfect concord ; in the elements it 
 is apparent, and in the virtual qualities of 
 simples, where fire and water, poisons and 
 antidotes, heat and cold, dry ness and 
 moisture, are always equally found ; as 
 also in all things whatsoever of this sublu- 
 
 O 
 
 nary world, which, consisting of several 
 creatures of differing degrees of perfection, 
 do serve us as so many steps to ascend to 
 the knowledge of what is above us. A 
 more admirable order and fuller of divine 
 wisdom cannot be conceived, therefore 
 God hath also used it in the superior crea- 
 tures, the noblest of which are human 
 souls; in which one may consider an en- 
 tire liberty together with a constrained ne- 
 cessity, which no way impeach or hinder 
 one another; for to these he gave a capa- 
 city of the greatest perfection that ;>ny 
 creature may possess, to wit, the power of 
 uniting themselves by blessed vision to 
 His eternal and infinite essence; the
 
 126 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 means of attaining to the which, is due 
 only to free actions; which liberty, as it 
 hath relation to us and to our actions, is 
 entire in the highest degree, and without 
 any constraint at all : but if we have rela- 
 tion to the prescience of God, who from 
 all eternity knoweth all earthly things, and 
 to whom nothing is past or to come, but 
 all present, then I say that our actions are 
 included within a necessity of being con- 
 formable to God's knowledge, which can- 
 not err. This knowledge, then, of God, is 
 a law or prescript for the coming to pass 
 of all things, be they either the actions of 
 free agents, or future contingents, or the 
 changes and vicissitudes of natural agents: 
 
 o o * 
 
 but He that framed nature doth but sel- 
 dom, and that for deep and mysterious 
 cause, interpose Himself immediately in 
 any thing, but leaveth the course of all 
 things to that rule which in the beginning 
 of things he prescribed ; that is, that in-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 127 
 
 feriors should be subaltern unto and 
 guided by their superiors ; the heaven, 
 then, and stars being so in respect of us, 
 not only in place but in dignity, in dura- 
 tion, in quantity, in quality, and in purity 
 of substance, it is agreeable to reason that 
 they by their influence do govern this in- 
 ferior world/' 
 
 " Certainly/' replied Theagenes, " your 
 discourse is full of much learning and sub- 
 tlety ; but the prescience of God being 
 such a vast abyss and immense ocean, that 
 whosoever saileth in it by the compass of 
 reason, cannot choose but suffer ship- 
 wreck, I think it will be our best to row 
 along the shore, where without danger we 
 may examine that part of this question 
 that concerneth only ourselves. Therefore, 
 if there be any natural and philosophical 
 reason to confirm the doctrine of the stars 
 being the cause and fore-she wers of men's 
 fortunes and future contingents, I shall be
 
 128 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 glad to understand it from you ; for in 
 sundry of them there concur so many seve- 
 ral and different accidents to bring forth 
 some one effect, that it cannot sink into 
 me how a general cause, as I conceive the 
 heaven to be at the most, can extend 
 itself to so many particulars/' " It is the 
 generality and vast comprehension," re- 
 plied the Indian priest, " of the cause that 
 enfoldeth the great number of particular 
 effects ; but since you have confined me 
 to that part which only concerneth us, and 
 will not have me touch upon the pre- 
 science of God, that is the rule of free 
 agents, who are subordinate to it, I must 
 also, in the following discourse, set aside 
 those actions that depend immediately 
 upon the liberty of the will; and for the 
 influence of the heavens into the elements 
 and elementated substances which causeth 
 alterations in the humours of man's body, 
 and several seasons of the years, and
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 plenty, and dearths, and pestilence, it is 
 so evident to sense, that I shall not need 
 to speak of it ; therefore, to prove that 
 future contingencies depend upon them, 
 which only remaineth for me to treat of, I 
 will say this ; that as every cause hath of 
 necessity some effect subsequent, so every 
 effect, with like necessity, implieth a pre- 
 cedent cause, they being relatives ; and 
 since no man can deny that accidents and 
 future contingents are the effects of some- 
 thing, let us examine what may be their 
 cause. Such as depend immediately upon 
 free-will enter not into this consideration, 
 for at the beginning we excepted them. 
 The operations of elementated agents are 
 necessary and constrained, and extendeth 
 no farther than to natural alterations 
 when agents and patients meet, so that 
 men's fortunes and contingent actions arc 
 out ot their sphere ; what then can govern 
 them ? Is it blind chance, as you seemed
 
 130 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 even now in some passion to intimate, that 
 without reason, or knowledge, or atten- 
 tion, shaketh so many various accidents 
 out of her lap? Truly this objection de- 
 serveth no reply, since it is evident with 
 what exact order God hath disposed all 
 things else, and therefore certainly would 
 not leave man alone in so miserable a con- 
 dition, to be guided by such a blind and 
 monstrous guide ; nor is it consentaneous 
 unto reason, to think that angels and devils 
 do interpose themselves in our ordinary 
 and familiar actions, since the first are ex- 
 pressly sent by God, and that only when 
 they may be the means of some great and 
 spiritual good unto us ; and the other do 
 maliciously intrude themselves only when 
 they have hope to work our misery and 
 ruin : it remaineth then only that the hea- 
 vens and stars must of necessity be allowed 
 by us to be the causes of all contingent 
 accidents, and the authors of our fortunes
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 131 
 
 and actions, whereby the liberty of the will 
 doth not immediately and expressly re- 
 pugn and wrestle against the disposition 
 of the heavens ; which I am sure you, that 
 will admit no farther of this doctrine than 
 this latter and undeniable part, will grant 
 to be so few, that it may be a question 
 whether there be really any such or no, or 
 that this be only an abstracted speculation 
 of the understanding. And why should 
 any man make difficulty to acknowledge 
 this virtue in the stars, since somewhere it 
 must be granted, seeing the notorious ef- 
 fects and excellencies that they have in 
 other things, as I have already touched ? 
 Surely those glorious and vast bodies were 
 not made and endued with a constant mo- 
 tion only for vain men to gaze upon ? 
 Then let me conclude with this, that since 
 to meaner lights, as to comets, and other 
 meteors drawn from low and putrified 
 places of the rarth,of whose infectious and 
 
 K 'J
 
 132 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 pestilent vapours they consist, and are 
 then set on fire in the air, we by daily ex- 
 perience attribute the ominous presages of 
 the death of kings, of revolutions of em- 
 pires, wars, pestilence, famine, dearths, 
 and such other dire effects ; let us without 
 difficulty acknowledge a nobler operation 
 in these glorious bodies that are the effi- 
 cient causes of the other ; and having ad- 
 mitted them for causes, you will grant that 
 who hath the knowledge of their nature, 
 may, by calculating their motions for time 
 to come, prognosticate their effects/' 
 
 " I would to God/' said then Theagenes, 
 " that you were as well pleased in instruct- 
 ing me, as I am delighted in learning of 
 you ; then would I desire the clearing of 
 a matter which you touched upon in this 
 discourse, since I must confess I remain 
 much satisfied in this concerning the ope- 
 rations of the stars; and I conceive it will 
 not be abruptly moved by me now, con-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 133 
 
 sidering that the practice which dependeth 
 upon the theorical knowledge of what I 
 desire to be informed of, hath a near af- 
 finity to the science of the stars; and, if 
 we may credit rumour, is often joined to 
 it by the professors of the other, when that 
 proveth defective." " Let no other mo- 
 tive," replied the Brachman, " but your 
 being weary of my ignorant discourses de- 
 tain you from proposing any doubt you 
 have unto me, and I shall strive the best 
 that I can to deliver the knowledge of 
 truth unto you ; wherein, although I must 
 acknowledge myself to have been but a 
 weak proficient, yet the desire I have to 
 answer your expectation of me, I find doth 
 exalt ray soul to higher notions than other- 
 wise it would have ; so that if I speak any 
 thing to the purpose, you are the cause of 
 it, and I must thank you for it/' " I per- 
 ceive," replied Theagenes, " that cour- 
 teous language is not confined to princes'
 
 134 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 palaces, since you, who have ever studied 
 things and not words, are so complete a 
 master therein ; but in you I am sure it 
 proceedeth from a nobler cause than either 
 affectation or custom ; it is your inherent 
 modesty, which is an inseparable com- 
 panion to virtue, that in your own opinion 
 lesseneth yourself as much as others ad- 
 mire and esteem you, of which number I 
 will presume to place myself in the fore- 
 most rank. But to express, in short, what 
 it is that I desire you to instruct me in, 
 you may remember how even now you 
 intimated that upon some occasions 
 angels and devils do interpose themselves 
 in our actions ; which is a doctrine so con- 
 trary, in my opinion, to the rule of reason, 
 that I must confess I cannot make myself 
 capable of it. I will let pass the opera- 
 tions of angels, which, you seemed to say, 
 were sent to us as messengers and effecters 
 of God's will, because I will not treat of
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 135 
 
 the immediate and extraordinary Divine 
 Power, to which all things are easy : but 
 my arguments shall be against the power 
 of action of the infernal spirits upon any 
 material substance ; who, you say, are in- 
 duced by their own malicious will to dis- 
 turb our quiet, or to do us hurt. But be- 
 fore I go any farther, I desire to know 
 yonr opinion whether it be in their natural 
 power to do the least action that may be 
 imagined upon any corporeal object, or so 
 much as to appear to our eyesight, either 
 by deluding our sense or assuming a fan- 
 tastic body of air?" " Surely," answered 
 the Brachman, " if I should entertain the 
 least doubt of it, I should repugn too 
 grossly against the authority of innumera- 
 ble classical writers and believed histories, 
 and against daily experience; and if you 
 do, I will undertake to reduce you with 
 ease and suddenly out of this error : but 
 first, I shall be glad to understand your
 
 136 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 reasons, that may make you of a different 
 belief." " That which you urge of many 
 confident stories of this nature recorded 
 by grave authors/' replied Theagenes, 
 " would weigh much with me, if I had not 
 express and evident demonstration against 
 what they deliver; but as for daily ex- 
 perience, I attribute nothing at all to that, 
 since I will yield to none in industry and 
 curiosity to satisfy myself herein, but yet 
 never could ; and have been so conversant 
 with deceits in this kind, wherein many 
 men strive by a strong but depraved and 
 false imagination to deceive themselves, 
 that I dare credit nothing that I see not 
 myself. I will not deny but that spirits 
 may work upon a man's mind, by reason 
 that souls and they are comprehended 
 under the same degree and kind of sub- 
 stance ; but bodies and spirits are of so 
 contrary a nature, that there can be no 
 communion between them ; for in all ac-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 137 
 
 tions there must be a proportionate means 
 of operation between the agent and the 
 patient, which in spiritual substances 
 among themselves I conceive to be the un- 
 derstanding and will ; and of material 
 ones, in living creatures the senses, and in 
 other bodies the primary qualities of the 
 material forms ; but between bodies and 
 spirits I cannot conceive what tie or means 
 of conjunction there can be : so that I 
 think I may safely conclude, that they 
 can neither appear to us, nor assume 
 bodies, nor cause tempests or impressions 
 in the air, nor speak or cause any sound, 
 nor transport any thing, the least material 
 atom in the world, from place to place, 
 nor do any hurt at all to the most wretched 
 reprobate that is." " I must confess," an- 
 swered the Brachman, after some pause, 
 " that the argument you use is very subtle, 
 and seemeth to proceed from strength of 
 reason ; but much and different things
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 may be replied to it, as that there is a ge- 
 neral spirit of the world, which is a means 
 of uniting together intellectual substances 
 and material ones ; and of conveying the 
 powers of the one to the other by partici- 
 pating with them both in some quality; or 
 that there is some such knot between 
 them as is between the body and soul of 
 man, which we evidently see are joined 
 together, but know not by what means ; 
 or rather we may say, that there is not in 
 nature any pure spirit but God, but that 
 angels, souls of men, and devils are all 
 comprehended within the general definition 
 of a body, yet withal they are of such a 
 subtle, incorruptible, and refined sub- 
 stance beyond elementary bodies, that in 
 respect of them, those may seem and be 
 termed spiritual; which being granted, 
 the difficulty is then easily dissolved. But 
 to speak farther in answer to your objec- 
 tion by reason, would but beget a tedious
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 139 
 
 and unprofitable dispute ; since we cannot 
 affirm any thing definitely, or otherwise 
 than by guess, of things above us, and that 
 it is in my power, as I said to you before, 
 to shew you by lively and undeniable ex- 
 perience that what you impugn is true ; 
 which I the more freely offer unto you, 
 because methought you said you had long 
 in vain sought to satisfy yourself herein, 
 but yet never could : therefore I will 
 boldly do for you, whom I have reason to 
 affect so much, what to another I would 
 not acknowledge to be in my power ; so 
 that do but tell me what you desire to be 
 informed of, be it never so remote, or in 
 what form you would have a spirit appear 
 unto you, and your wish shall be undoubt- 
 edly accomplished." "Your authority 
 and credit," answered Theagenes, " weigh- 
 eth as much with me to beget belief in 
 me, as my senses can ; therefore I will now 
 no longer question the possibility of these
 
 140 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 things ; with which credence I think it 
 will be best for us both that I rest satisfied, 
 since I conceive that such an experiment 
 as you speak of, will require long time to 
 perfect it, and many troublesome prepara- 
 tions, and be dangerous in the effecting it, 
 through the rebellious contumacy of the 
 infernal spirits, which only I conceive to 
 be at men's command, if any be." " If 
 no other respect detain you," replied the 
 Brachman, " these excuses shall not make 
 me waive the satisfying your curiosity, for 
 they weigh not at all with me. It is true 
 that all those things which you mentioned, 
 do happen when there is no ground laid 
 beforehand for such an experiment ; but 
 he is a weak man that will destroy that 
 masterpiece which with much labour he 
 hath brought to pass, when for the present 
 he hath no more use of it, and so upon 
 every occasion must begin that work 
 wholly anew ; when after much patience,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 141 
 
 and by abstracting my thoughts from sen- 
 sual objects, and raising my spirit up to 
 that height that I could make right use of 
 those powerful names which this art teach- 
 eth, I got a real and obedient apparition 
 as I desired ; then, by virtue of the same 
 names, I bound the spirit that I had called 
 into a hallowed book which I had pre- 
 pared of purpose, and always carry about 
 with me : and that I no sooner open and 
 call him by his name, which is well known 
 to me, but he presently obeyeth what- 
 soever I command : and thus without any 
 unlawful pact or wicked means, a man 
 cometh to have him his slave and servant, 
 who of his own nature is his chiefest 
 enemy. Therefore now I have told you 
 what I can do, there remaineth but that 
 you express your will, and I will see it ful- 
 filled." The horror of the thought to have 
 any communication, though at never so 
 great a distance, with infernal spirits,
 
 142 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 made Theagenes remain some time in sus- 
 pense; but in the end, the seeing of the 
 means so near him to satisfy his anxious 
 mind in the particulars of what he yet but 
 obscurely and generally understood, did so 
 stir up and inflame his restless thoughts, 
 beyond the learned curiosity of being in- 
 formed of the truth herein, which the other 
 did in a manner drown, it did so far ex- 
 ceed it, that he now forgot all other re- 
 spects, and addressed his speech in this 
 manner to the Indian magician : " This 
 last obligation, reverend Sir, in communi- 
 cating with me the most recluse mysteries 
 of your profound sciences, exceedeth my 
 possibility of thanks ; but you may judge 
 what a deep sense I have of it, since that 
 alone shall draw from me the confession of 
 what formerly your much urging me could 
 not, and which nothing but my solitary 
 pillow, continually wet with my abundant 
 tears, or some sequestered desert place,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 145 
 
 have heard me tell : I mean the sad cause 
 of my eternal sorrow, which, though I 
 strived to disguise yet you straight ob- 
 served. Lend then your ears to the short 
 story of long and remediless grief: which 
 thus beginneth. My malevolent stars, 
 whom now by you instructed, I believe do 
 rule men's fortunes and actions by their 
 influence, engaged my affections to the 
 fairest lady that ever displayed her golden 
 tresses to the less beautiful sun. In her 
 I lived, and she awhile in me, if with the 
 magic of her enchanting looks she had not 
 also sucked in the art of deep dissimula- 
 tion and deceit. To her I vowed my virgin 
 affections, and she hers to me ; which vows 
 were renewed between us when I last left 
 her, and with her the best part of my soul 
 and all my joys; but since, ah! cursed 
 change, I hear that she hath forgot her 
 serious and religious protestations, and 
 hath entertained into her false breast a
 
 144 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 new affection, with dishonourable and im- 
 pure flames. It is but a wild and imperfect 
 relation that hath yet come to me, but 
 such as did at the instant almost strike me 
 dead, and hath made me ever since hate 
 my life. Now my desire is, since you do 
 not confine it within any bounds, that I 
 may be particularly informed of all pas- 
 sages concerning her since I last saw her ; 
 so that I may either from the truth, which 
 yet may be disguised or overshadowed to 
 me, draw some ground of comfort, at 
 least of less sorrow, or else have a per- 
 fecter knowledge of her unworthiness and 
 my misery, since suspended and uncertain 
 thoughts is the greatest anguish that can 
 happen to the mind. This, then, is the 
 cause of my sorrow, and the sum of what 
 I desire." He had scarce drawn his sor- 
 rowful relation to an end, which was in- 
 terrupted with such deep sighs, as though 
 his heart would have followed his words,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS, 145 
 
 when the Magician drew out of his bosom 
 a little book enclosed in a leaden cover, 
 and the leaves of it made of the thin and 
 membraneous skins of unborn lambs, 
 which were inscribed with various figures, 
 and pentacles and sigils of sundry colours ; 
 which opening, he said, " Now I will con- 
 firm what I have spoken, and give you 
 complete satisfaction in what you request, 
 whereunto all circumstances are propitious; 
 the day being clear and serene, the sun 
 having got the victory of all the obscure 
 clouds that this morning would have dark- 
 ened his beams, and the place where we 
 chance now to be in so opportune, that 
 we cannot wish a better." With that, they 
 alighted from their horses, and went some 
 
 o 
 
 distance out of the path, among the trees 
 that grew thick there, while all the way the 
 Brachman kept his eyes fixed upon the 
 magical characters of his, as he called it, 
 sacred book, and murmured to himself 
 
 L
 
 146 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 words of a strange sound. But they had 
 not gone far when Theagenes of a sudden 
 stopped, and held the Priest that was 
 going forwards, and pointed to him with 
 his hand to that object that stayed his 
 steps. It was a lady sitting upon a broken 
 trunk of a dead and rotten tree, in a pen- 
 sive posture, so that but part of her face 
 was discovered to them, but the general 
 composure of her limbs was so admirable, 
 that Theagenes doubted whether it were a 
 goddess or a human creature. Her ra- 
 diant hair hung dishevelled upon her white 
 shoulders, and together with them, was 
 covered with a thin veil that from the 
 crown of her head reached to the ground, 
 through which they shined as the sun doth 
 through a pale cloud, and sometimes with- 
 out that eclipsing shade did send out direct 
 and unbroken beams, and so doubled the 
 day of beauty ; which was caused by a 
 gentle air, that, as being jealous of that
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 14? 
 
 senseless veil, did blow it ever and anon 
 away, and played with those bright hairs, 
 adding new curled waves to those that 
 nature made there. In her fair face one 
 might discern lilies and roses admirably 
 mixed ; but in her lips the rose alone did 
 sit enthroned in sweet majesty ; her eyes, 
 as being niggardly of casting away their 
 heart-piercing beams, were hid by her 
 modest lids, which so veiled love's treasure 
 and theirs ; her swelling breast did expose 
 to view of greedy eyes his naked and 
 miraculous snow, where love, though he 
 were frozen, would recover heat again; 
 part of her swelling bosom appeared, but 
 the greater part an envious vest did cover; 
 her cheek reposed upon her alabaster 
 hand, and her courteous sleeve discovered 
 most part of her fair arm, which rested 
 upon her knee, while she' with her sighs 
 seemed to talk with her own thoughts. 
 Whether she then wept or no h6 Could not
 
 148 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 well discern, but might perceive her cheeks 
 moist with a precious dew, and the hairs 
 of her eyelids bedecked with orient pearls, 
 which seemed like the pleasing drops of a 
 gentle summer shower while the sun 
 shineth. He remained awhile as in a trance 
 through astonishment at this unexpected 
 and fair sight, till the Magician coming 
 nearer to the melancholy lady, she, as 
 though she had been diverted from the 
 train of her meditations by the noise that 
 he made in coming towards her, turning 
 her head that way, rose suddenly up, and 
 then Theagenes knew the face of his once 
 beloved Stelliana, which seemed to be 
 overclouded with grief, but so that sorrow 
 there looked more lovely than joy could 
 do in any other place. He then felt a 
 strange conflict within himself between 
 love and disdain, each of which by turns 
 set their ensigns in his face as they had the 
 better in his heart ; sometimes fire would
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 149 
 
 sparkle in his eyes, and his enflamed looks 
 give evident sign of the anger that boiled 
 within him; but then straight a congealed 
 paleness would witness his repentance for 
 his former rash thoughts. But in the end 
 the most humane passion got the victory, 
 for certainly a true love can never turn to 
 hate; and how could it be otherwise, but 
 that his heart must yield when the power- 
 ful object was in his presence, which could 
 not banish love, though it were eclipsed 
 with sorrow, in so long an absence, and 
 having so seeming a just cause ? Not being 
 able then any longer to contain himself, he 
 ran towards her, and kneeling down, of- 
 fered to take her snowy hand, and was be- 
 ginning to speak, when a greater wonder 
 drew him to silent admiration ; for when 
 he thought he had taken her by the hand, 
 he found that he grasped nothing but air, 
 which discourteously fled from his em- 
 braces ; as also three several times that he
 
 150 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 strived to take hold of the hem of her gar- 
 ment, so many times he found himself de- 
 ceived. But then the Brachman coming 
 to him and raising him up, told him how 
 this was nothing but a vision procured by 
 his art, and that that spirit should answer 
 him to whatsoever he demanded ; and that 
 he chose this form to make him appear in, 
 to the end that he might judge by the true 
 resemblance of her countenance and pos- 
 ture, the quality and temper of her mind ; 
 which he said to have been really such 
 ever since the news of his death, and that 
 the greatness of her sorrow was the origin 
 and cause of her misfortune and his afflic- 
 tion. Theagenes then cried out, " I now 
 believe that infernal spirits can transform 
 themselves into the appearance of angels 
 of light; and since you would take upon 
 you the shape of such a one, you have 
 done discreetly to choose hers that is the 
 perfectest work that God hath created."
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 151 
 
 Then he began to question the spirit con- 
 cerning her whom he represented, and had 
 a large relation of what you have already 
 heard ; all which he as greedily listened 
 unto, as the poor prisoner at the bar doth 
 to an unexpected sentence of absolution 
 that the judge favourably pronounceth in 
 his cause ; for he evidently saw that she 
 could not be accused of an unworthy 
 mind, or of a depraved will, or of incon- 
 stant affection ; but that it was the unjust- 
 ness of fortune, or, at the worst, a little in- 
 dulgency of a gentle nature which sprung 
 from some indiscretion, or rather want of 
 experience, that made her liable to cen- 
 sure. After he had satisfied himself in 
 every particular, and that he could be- 
 think himself no more to ask, he felt his 
 heart swell with a tender passion which 
 even melted it, and made him as one 
 drunk with joy, understanding that her 
 soul was pure and her mind the same that
 
 152 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 he ever believed it to be. But strong af- 
 fection being always accompanied with 
 doubts and fears, the edge of his joy was 
 taken off, when he considered who it was 
 that gave him this relation ; but as he re- 
 mained wavering in himself, irresolute 
 which way his belief should sway, the 
 spirit spoke thus again to him : " Although 
 it be denied both to blessed angels and to 
 us, to know the secrets of hearts and the 
 simple meditations of the soul within itself; 
 yet when the thoughts go beyond those 
 bounds, and make anv of the interior 
 
 7 * 
 
 senses the seat of their agitation, then they 
 are plain and manifest to us ; so that I 
 now read in thy fantasy and know thy 
 doubts and fears as well as thyself; and 
 the little credit thou dost give to my 
 words. It might satisfy thee to know that 
 those powerful exorcisms that have bound 
 me where I am, do also bind me to obedi- 
 ence and truth ; but thou shalt have a
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 153 
 
 more material testimony to witness for me 
 that I know and speak truth, and that 
 within a few days ; therefore, when thou 
 shaltfind thyself in the midst of a troop of 
 armed men, and having no other weapon 
 but thy sword, shall wound most of them, 
 and save thy own life by killing two, the 
 principal of them : then remember that I 
 have foretold thre of it, and believe what I 
 have said of Stclliana's integrity, and that 
 in despite of all oppositions and both 
 your strongest resolutions, you two must 
 be joined in one sacred knot; for none 
 can change, though awhile they may strug- 
 gle with fate/* And with that he sud- 
 denly vanished out of their sight, the 
 Brachman having formally licensed him, 
 and shut his book, when he perceived by 
 the silence of Theagenes that he had no 
 more to ask. 
 
 It was not long before the accomplish- 
 ment of what this spirit prophesied, pur-
 
 154 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 chased in him a greater confidence in the 
 
 o 
 
 rest that he had said : for after Theagenes 
 had embarked himself to follow on his in- 
 tended journey, a favourable wind in a 
 short time brought him to Alexandria ; 
 whither he sent a servant one day before 
 him to provide him a convenient house 
 near the Ambassador's, and other neces- 
 saries ; and the next day came thither 
 himself, and the first thing he did was to 
 go kiss the hand of his kinsman Aristo- 
 bulus, who received him with all the de- 
 monstration of joy and honour that might 
 be, and caused him to stay supper with 
 him ; after which he sent his son Leodivius, 
 with many of his servants and torches, to 
 accompany him to his lodging, which was 
 not far off. But the night had slided so 
 insensibly away while they were in their 
 pleasing conversation, it being the nature 
 of long absence of dear friends to cause at 
 their first encounter much greediness of
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 155 
 
 enjoying each other, that when they came 
 out of the house they found the streets 
 quiet and no living creature stirring in 
 them ; and the moon, which was then near 
 the full, shining out a clear light upon 
 them, so that the coolness and solitude 
 was the greatest sign that it was not noon- 
 day. Wherefore they caused the lights 
 and other servants to stay there, who then 
 could serve but for vain magnificence, and 
 Theagenes sent his servants to his lodging 
 before, while he, and Leodivius, and an- 
 other gentleman, that Leodivius took with 
 him to accompany him, that he might not 
 return all alone to his father's house, came 
 softly after, sucking in the fresh air, and 
 pleasing themselves in the coolness of the 
 night which succeeded a hot day, it being 
 then in the beginning of the summer : but 
 as they were entertaining themselves in 
 some gentle discourse, a rare voice, accom- 
 panied with a sweet instrument, called
 
 156 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 their ears to silent attention, while with 
 their eyes they sought to inform them- 
 selves where the person was that sung, 
 when they saw a gentlewoman in a loose and 
 night habit, that stood in an open window 
 supported like a gallery with bars of iron, 
 with a lute in her hand, which with excel- 
 lent skill she made to keep time with her 
 divine voice, and that issued out of as fair 
 a body, by what they could judge at that 
 light, only there seemed to sit so much 
 sadness upon her beautiful face, that one 
 might judge she herself took little pleasure 
 in her own soul-ravishing harmony. The 
 three spectators remained attentive to this 
 fair sight and sweet music, Leodivius only 
 knowing who she was, who coming a little 
 nearer towards the window, fifteen men all 
 armed, as the moon shining upon their 
 bucklers and coats of mail did make evi- 
 dent, rushed out upon him with much 
 violence, and with their drawn swords
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 157 
 
 made so many furious blows and thrusts 
 at him, that if his better genius had not 
 defended him it had been impossible that 
 he could have outlived that minute ; but 
 he, nothing at all dismayed, drew his sword, 
 and struck the foremost of them such a 
 blow upon the head, that if it had not been 
 armed with a good cap of steel, certainly 
 he should have received no more cumber 
 from that man ; yet the weight of it was 
 such that it made the Egyptian run reel- 
 ing backwards two or three steps, and the 
 blade, not able to sustain such a force, 
 broke in many pieces, so that nothing but 
 the hilts remained in Leodivius's hand ; 
 who seeing himself thus disarmed, sud- 
 denly recollected his spirits, and using 
 short discourse within himself, resolved, as 
 being his best, to run to his father's house 
 
 o 
 
 to call for assistance to bring off in safety 
 his kinsman and his other friend, whose 
 false sword served him in the same manner
 
 158 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 as Leodivius's had done, as though they 
 had conspired to betray their masters in 
 their greatest need. Here one might see 
 differing effects from like causes, for a like 
 resolute valour without astonishment that 
 caused Leodivius to run discreetly away 
 for succour, caused him to stand still in 
 the place where his sword broke, defend- 
 ing his enemies' blows with the piece that 
 remained in his hand, as being ashamed to 
 leave Theagenes in the midst of so many 
 that strived to take his life from him : but 
 he was soon out of danger by all their 
 pressing beyond him, whom they saw dis- 
 armed, to come to Theagenes, who had 
 interposed himself between Leodivius and 
 them that followed him, of which the mas- 
 ter of all these bravos was one, so that the 
 rest seeing him engaged in a fierce battle, 
 they all came to assist him. Theagenes 
 then found himself in great perplexity, for 
 having retired to a narrow place of the
 
 PHIVATE MEMOIRS. 159 
 
 street, that he might keep his assailants all 
 in front before him, the overhanging pen- 
 tises took away the light of the moon, and 
 his enemies having at the top of their 
 bucklers artificial lanterns whose light was 
 cast only forwards by their being made 
 with an iron plate on that side towards the 
 holders, so that their bodies remained in 
 darkness, had not only the advantage of 
 seeing him when he could not see them, 
 but also dazzled and offended his eyes 
 with the many near lights, which made him 
 mistake those objects that dimly he dis- 
 cerned. The number of his enemies, and 
 the disparity of the weapons, might have 
 given him just cause to seek the saving of 
 his life rather by the swiftness of his legs 
 than by an obstinate defence ; but he, that 
 did not value it at so high a rate as to 
 think that it could warrant such an action, 
 resolved rather to die in the midst of his 
 enemies, than to do any thing that might
 
 160 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 be interpreted to proceed from fear : with 
 which resolution he made good the place 
 he stood in, and whensoever any of them 
 were too bold in coming near him, he en- 
 
 o 
 
 tertained them with such rude welcomes, 
 that they had little encouragement to 
 make a second return. 
 
 After Theagenes had remained some time 
 thus beating down their swords and wound- 
 ing many of them, and shewing wonderful 
 effects of a settled and not transported va- 
 lour, and that their beginning to slack their 
 fury in pressing upon him gave a little free- 
 dom to his thoughts, all his spirits being 
 before united in his heart and hands, he 
 considered how it must certainly be some 
 mistake that made him to be thus treated 
 by men that he knew not, and to whom he 
 was sure he in his particular could have 
 given no offence, being but that day ar- 
 rived at Alexandria from very remote 
 parts ; wherefore he spoke to them in the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. l6l 
 
 best manner he could, to make himself un- 
 derstood in a tongue that he was not well 
 master of, and asked what moved them to 
 use him so discourteously that was a 
 stranger there, and was not guilty of hav- 
 ing injured any of them ; to which words 
 of his, one that seemed to be of the best 
 quality among them, by a cassock em- 
 broidered with gold which he wore over 
 his jack of mail, answered him with much 
 fury in this manner. " Villain, thou liest, 
 thou hast done rne wrong which cannot be 
 satisfied with less than thy life ; and by 
 thy example let the rest of thy lascivious 
 countrymen learn to shun those gentle- 
 women where other men have interest, as 
 they would do houses infected with the 
 plague, or the thunder that executeth 
 God's vengeance/' These words put all 
 patience out of Theagenes's breast, so 
 that now he dispensed his blows rather 
 with fury than art ; but his hand was so 
 
 M
 
 162 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 exercised in the perfectest rules of true art, 
 that without his endeavours or taking no- 
 tice, it never failed of making exactly re- 
 gulated motions, which had such force im- 
 parted to them by a just anger, that few of 
 them were made in vain. But at length 
 his enemies, that had bought with much 
 of their blood the knowledge of his power 
 and strength, attempted to do that behind 
 him, which they durst not to his face ; for 
 some of them running down a little lane 
 that was near the place where they fought, 
 made a circuit and came to assault Thea- 
 genes behind, which he perceived by a 
 blow upon his shoulders : but it seemed 
 that the fearful giver of it was so appre- 
 hensive lest Theagenes should turn about, 
 that his quaking hand laid it on so softly 
 that it did him no hurt, but served to warn 
 him of the danger he was in. He then 
 perceiving himself thus beset on every 
 side, summoned all his spirits to serve him
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 163 
 
 at this his so great necessity, and choosing 
 to cut his way through the thickest of 
 them, that so it might appear that he 
 wrought his own liberty in despite of their 
 strongest oppositions, did make a quick 
 thrust at him that was nearest before him, 
 which entering within his weapons before 
 he was aware that he had occasion to 
 ward it, Theagenes accompanied it with 
 the whole weight of his body, running on 
 so violently, as the other's jack not giving 
 way, and his sword not yielding, he bore 
 him down, and running over him made 
 him serve for a bridge to cross the ken- 
 nel. He being thus acquit of their be- 
 sieging him, began to retire himself with 
 a settled pace towards the Ambassador's 
 house, but in such a manner, that though 
 his feet carried him one way his face 
 looked another, and his hands sent for- 
 wards many bloody messages of his angry 
 spirit; but one of them pressed so eagerly 
 
 M 2
 
 164 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 and unwarily upon him, that as he lifted 
 up his sword to make a blowatTheagenes, 
 he avoided it with a gentle motion of his 
 body, and gave him such a strong reverse 
 upon the head, that finding it disarmed, 
 for he had lost his iron cap with much stir- 
 ring in the scuffle, it divided it in two parts, 
 and his brains flew into his neighbour's 
 face ; upon whom Theagenes turned, 
 having thus rid himself of his fiercest 
 enemy, and stepping in with his left leg, 
 made himself master of his sword, and 
 with his own did run him into the belly 
 under his jack, so that he fell down, wit- 
 nessing with a deep groan that his life was 
 at her last minute. The other Egyptians 
 by that knew him to be their master, for 
 whose quarrel only they all fought, so that 
 they left Theagenes, and all of them at- 
 tended to succour their wounded lord ; 
 but all too late, for without ever speaking, 
 he gave up his ghost in their arms : while
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 165 
 
 by this means Theagenes, who received 
 but little hurt, had time to walk leisurely 
 to the Ambassador's house, from whence, 
 upon the alarm that Leodivius gave, many 
 were coming to his rescue with such arms 
 as, hastily, they could recover ; the cause 
 of whose "coming so late, for he met 
 them half way, was, that it was long 
 before Leodivius, though he knocked and 
 called aloud, could get the gates open ; 
 for all in the house were gone to take their 
 rest. 
 
 The next day the cause of this quarrel 
 was known ; which was, that a nobleman 
 of that country, having interest in a gentle- 
 woman that lived not far from Aristobulus's 
 house, was jealous of Leodivius, who had 
 carried his affections too publicly ; so that 
 this night he had forced her to sing in the 
 window where Leodivius saw her, hoping 
 by that means to entice him to come near
 
 166 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 to her, while he lay in ambush, as you have 
 heard, to take his life from him. 
 
 This action made the name of Theagenes 
 known not only in Egypt, but in Morea; 
 whither it was daily carried and related 
 by sundry mouths, who were filled with 
 many other high commendations added to 
 the fame of his valour ; so that it was not 
 long before Stelliana had news that Thea- 
 genes was not dead ; who, if before she 
 lamented the loss of him, had now as much 
 reason to renew the lamentations of her 
 own misfortunes, which, she feared, would 
 make her eternally to lose him, though his 
 other friends had found him again ; and 
 thus, in the midst of all their joy, she alone 
 remained in clouds of sorrow. 
 
 But before I engage my pen in con- 
 tinuing the sad story of her griefs, it will 
 not be amiss that I set down how it came 
 to. pass that there was then such frequent
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 16? 
 
 intercourse between Morea and Egypt, 
 that all things done in Alexandria came 
 to be so suddenly known at Corinth. 
 
 Aristobulus having, through his wise and 
 prudent negotiation, concluded the mar- 
 riage between the King of Morea's son, 
 and the King of Egypt's sister, had wrought 
 into the treaty thereof conditions of so 
 much advantage for his side, that Hephres- 
 tion, who was the old King's favourite, 
 doubted that if he alone had the honour of 
 it, he should gain thereby so much strength 
 that he might in time be able to contest in 
 greatness with him, who had ever a jealous 
 eye of his rising, and did himself subsist 
 only by his master's favour ; wherefore, 
 perceiving now that any delay would make 
 it too late to prevent these fears, he re- 
 solved to make use of the King's affection 
 towards him, and taking that business out 
 of the hands of Aristobulus, that he had so 
 much laboured in with happy success, to
 
 168 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 attribute to himself the honour of effecting 
 it: whereupon he procured for himself an 
 extraordinary commission of embassage, 
 with full power to do what he thought fit 
 in this treaty, which, to colour his actions, 
 he pretended to be full of difficulties ; and 
 to strengthen his proceedings, and to have 
 a favourable witness of what he should do, 
 
 he carried the Prince with him 
 
 into Egypt, wh he loved him 
 
 much, if not more than his father, where, 
 after a laborious and dangerous journey, 
 they arrived safe the day after Theagenes's 
 fight: which possessing all men with won- 
 der, and he finding many friends that came 
 to attend the Prince, they did both write 
 the relation of it, and many that were daily 
 sent with advertisements from his son to 
 the old King, did carry the news of it to 
 Corinth, where Stelliana, sequestering her- 
 self from all company, did spend her sad 
 days and widow nights in continual weep-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 169 
 
 ing ; for when she looked upon her own 
 actions, she had just cause to fear that 
 Theagenes's affection was withdrawn from 
 her; and when she considered his, from 
 whom in so long time as she had been 
 absent, she had never received any letter, 
 she fully believed it : so that the conti- 
 nuance of sorrow brought her, at length, to 
 this pass, that she seemed to be neither 
 desirous nor capable of comfort ; and all 
 things were indifferent to her almost broken 
 heart, only Mardontius she did hate with 
 as much bitterness as so sweet a soul could 
 entertain, as being the cause of all her 
 misfortunes ; who, being inflamed by her 
 disdains, did now again renew his suit to 
 her with more violence than ever he had 
 done before, and cursed himself for throw- 
 ing away, like a prodigal wretch, the jewel 
 which he would now sell himself to buy ; 
 giving clear testimony how love in a weak 
 soul, like a river that wanteth banks to
 
 170 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 keep it in, languisheth when it meeteth 
 with no impediments. 
 
 In the mean time the Prince being at 
 Alexandria, the Egyptian counsellors, for 
 to them only the ungentle using of the 
 Prince was to be attributed, the King 
 being very young, were so little sensible of 
 the great obligation that his Highness did 
 put upon them by trusting his person with 
 great confidence to them, that they sought 
 to make advantage of his being there, and 
 to draw him to new and harder conditions, 
 especially in matters of religion, than be- 
 fore were agreed upon. Whereupon He- 
 phaestion taxed Aristobulusfor having given 
 undue advertisements in his letters home, 
 making the matter better than, in effect, 
 he found it to be : but Aristobulus shewed 
 to the Prince and him the original writings 
 signed by the King and his council before 
 their coming ; so that he attributed these 
 new difficulties only. to Hephsestion's pre-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 171 
 
 cipitate journey and his rash bringing the 
 Prince along with him ; which difference 
 of theirs, finding their affections much 
 alienated before, did, at length, break out 
 into an open enmity, which was the cause 
 of overthrowing so great a business, that, 
 by effecting it, would have brought notable 
 blessings to both the crowns, and by the 
 miscarrying hath since caused great mise- 
 ries to them both. For Hephaestion, re- 
 lying upon his two masters' favours, and 
 making use of the strength of his com- 
 mission, excluded Aristobulus totally from 
 any part in his negociations, and when- 
 soever he offered, though with never so 
 much humility, any counsel unto the Prince, 
 he would oppose it, and do contrary to it, 
 only for the giver's sake. Yet Aristobulus 
 was so affectionate to his Lord's service, 
 that these and many other unworthy af- 
 fronts moved him to no passion ; but since 
 his advice delivered in public did hurt
 
 172 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 rather than good, he desisted from that, 
 and laboured, by secret ways, to advance 
 his master's ends, although he was sure that 
 no honour or thanks could redound from 
 thence unto himself, knowing that good 
 actions reward themselves in the very 
 doing, and that virtue ought to be loved 
 only for herself, and not for any other 
 respect. In particular, he laboured much 
 with the Mufti of the Egyptians, who is the 
 chief man in ecclesiastical affairs, to facili- 
 tate the new difficulties, to whom he em- 
 ployed Theagenes for the most part, having 
 learned by long experience that an accept- 
 able messenger doth much advance any 
 business ; for he understood that he was 
 very welcome to the Mufti both for the 
 strait friendship that he had with some 
 of his nearest kinsmen in Ionia, of whence 
 he was, and received letters from them by 
 Theagenes, but, principally, because their 
 religion was the same, which was but rare,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 1?3 
 
 and therefore by him the more esteemed, 
 among the Moreans. One time, among the 
 rest, when Theagenes came from thence, 
 and related how he had behaved himself in 
 what he went about, Aristobulus applaud- 
 ing much the well carriage of it, and re- 
 joicing in the happy success, addressed 
 these words unto him. " It is a very great 
 comfort to me, my much loved cousin, to 
 see that I have a kinsman, to whom I am 
 tied with so many bonds of affection and 
 respect as I am to you, that God and na- 
 ture have been so liberal unto us to confer 
 upon him such excellent abilities of the 
 mind as they have upon you ; so that I do 
 not know wherein any man may justly say 
 that you are short. I will only accuse for- 
 tune that hath given you your education 
 in a religion that is contrary to what now 
 reigneth in Peloponnesus; which little re- 
 gion, to us that are born there, and have 
 our acquaintance, friends, and estates there,
 
 174 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 is of larger extent and of more weight than 
 all the world besides. I have ever been an 
 enemy to use persuasions in matters of 
 faith, or to seek by argument to bring any 
 one to the belief of mine; since that in 
 this matter where reason falleth so far 
 short, it is easier to raise scruples than to 
 quiet them, like those unskilful conjurors 
 that cannot lay the rebellious spirits that 
 they have called : but if my prayers to 
 God may take effect, I hope we shall not 
 be long in different opinions ; knowing 
 how much to your advantage it would be 
 for you to conform yourself to these times, 
 in which I do not think that any man is 
 likely to go beyond you in having honour- 
 able and great employments from your 
 Prince, whereby you may win yourself 
 much honour, and illustrate our whole fa- 
 mily, if that only consideration do not 
 prove an impediment/' Whereunto Thea- 
 genes replied in this manner : " My own
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 175 
 
 imperfections, much honoured Lord, are so 
 apparent to me who am daily conversant 
 with them, that although I dare not admit 
 the least thought of taxing your judgment, 
 yet I find that you look upon me through 
 the glass of affection, which maketh all 
 things in me that are of the colour of good- 
 ness to appear much greater and fairer 
 than, in reality, they are ; but my aim shall 
 be to raise up myself to that image and 
 idea you have conceived of me, and so 
 make myself the worthier of that good will 
 which you are pleased to bear me, and 
 hath, on my side, yet no other tie but a 
 deep and affectionate reverence to your 
 goodness and worth. But, in particular, 
 whereas you intimate that I should be 
 framed in such a mould as that I may be 
 fit for the service of my King and affairs 
 of state, I must confess ingenuously, that I 
 find in myself no inclination at all that 
 way ; and, indeed, my education hath been
 
 176 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 very contrary thereunto, for hitherto 1 
 have conversed the most part of ray time 
 with the gentler Muses, or, at the least, 
 grounded my chief delight in them, who 
 are enemies to the troubles and disquiets 
 that accompany an active life : yet withal, 
 I will never be so ungrateful to God that 
 gave me a soul, and to the world in which 
 I live, as though I were born only to myself, 
 that I will refuse any offered means of doing 
 service to God, the King, or my Countr} T ; 
 but, certainly, I will never lose the happy 
 rest that I may enjoy by anxious seeking 
 those occasions, which, when I have met 
 withal, I may peradventure be un6t for. 
 I conceive the surest way is to leave the 
 disposing of one's course of life to the 
 Divine Providence, and for the rest, to 
 bear an even mind and a quiet soul, which 
 will, and only can make one happy in any 
 fortune or vocation. But for what you 
 speak concerning religion, I shall say as
 
 PRIVATE MKMOIRS. 177 
 
 you did, that I wish we may not be long in 
 different opinions ; but I mean, by your 
 embracing of mine, not I of yours ; and to 
 the end that you may judge whether I do 
 it with reason or no, I will deliver to you 
 in general the qualities of mine; and I am 
 confident that neither you nor any rational 
 man will then condemn them. The first 
 and principal consideration, and of the 
 most importance, I conceive to be, that all 
 honour and glory be given to that general 
 and omnipotent Cause of causes whom all 
 nations adore ; wherein we are not likely 
 to err if we look but into our owri hearts, 
 which are the temples he delighteth most 
 in, and then worship that Author of nature 
 according as we find written there ; and 
 whosoever doth thus, though they fall short 
 in the knowledge of all other mysteries, I 
 cannot but judge charitably that God's 
 mercies will supply for their other defects 
 of ignorance. In the next place, I conceive
 
 178 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 it an indispensable obligation that all they 
 who are born in this part of the world, do 
 receive the first spiritual press-money that 
 he hath ordained, under whose standard 
 we are to fight : and then, that they be- 
 lieve the general and continually received 
 tenets that, without dispute, all men do 
 agree upon, and were impiety to doubt of. 
 Then, besides spiritual ones, many temporal 
 reasons tell me, that it is necessary the go- 
 vernment of the church should be mo- 
 narchical, and the authority of it unde- 
 niable, although I will not stretch this 
 with such rigour, but that they, who have 
 ability to judge, may by themselves exa- 
 mine things without peril of damnation ; 
 but, withal, I think it fit that it should 
 contain itself within its own limits, and 
 not put forth a proud hand to grasp tem- 
 poral government, or to control and depose 
 kings, whose persons are sacred by being 
 God's anointed, and are only liable to his
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 1?9 
 
 immediate correction, unless peradventure 
 it be in such commonwealths where the 
 people have an interest, and receive their 
 Prince conditionally ; and, therefore, cer- 
 tainly no power on earth can absolve 
 subjects from their due and natural obe- 
 dience to them. Lastly, for other lesser 
 points, I conceive the safest way is to put 
 off all passion, and reining one's will with 
 all humility to the Creator of all things, 
 and begging the light of grace and of true 
 faith from him, to believe that which one is 
 educated in, and not to think the worse of 
 another that is of different opinions, for no 
 man would be so malicious against him- 
 self, as in so important a business to do 
 against what his understanding and con- 
 science do dictate to him ; and, for my 
 part, I am so free from partiality that I 
 will confess plainly, I doubt many errors 
 have crept in among us, principally by 
 two causes; the one in that when many
 
 180 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 barbarous nations did overrun the parts 
 where the true faith was professed, and 
 that they plucked up learning, as it were, 
 by the roots ; in the next age, in the infancy 
 of the recovery of it, some men, with an 
 ignorant and unlearned zeal, taught some 
 such erroneous doctrine, as since the best 
 wits and greatest scholars do strive to de- 
 fend, out of reverence to antiquity : and 
 the other, in that now of late since the 
 separation of the churches, there hath been 
 so much way given to the bitterness of 
 passion, and the spirit of contradiction 
 hath prevailed so much, that some of the 
 most learned men have stretched some 
 tenets beyond what, I think, themselves 
 believed. And I doubt not but this inge- 
 nuous confession of mine, will draw from 
 you a like acknowledgment of many errors 
 on your side, sprung from like causes. 
 Then to conclude my speech with an an- 
 swer to the last part of yours, I shall think
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 181 
 
 I have done very well if I can bring myself 
 upon even terms with the world, consider- 
 ing the misfortunes that have accompanied 
 me from my very cradle; and with the 
 rest of our family shall and do rejoice, 
 that you, by your virtuous and heroic 
 actions, have added unto it much honour 
 and splendour/' 
 
 Thus Aristobulus and Theagenes spent 
 some time in discourses of this nature, the 
 conclusion of which was, that Aristobulus 
 persuaded his kinsman to apply himself 
 industriously to the service of the Prince, 
 of whom he gave this character. "That he 
 loved and practised justice in the highest 
 degree ; was free from passions, and mode- 
 rate and temperate in all his desires ; of a 
 quick apprehension and solid judgment* 
 accompanied with much modesty ; very 
 pious and devout, and capable of counsel 
 in all occasions that occurred to him ; and 
 very constant in his resolutions when, after
 
 182 PRIVATE MEMOIRS 
 
 mature deliberation, he had proposed to 
 himself what course to take; and, in fine, 
 was of such an excellent mixture, that it 
 was not to be doubted but he would be a 
 glorious Prince, if the goodness of his na- 
 ture did not incline him to be won upon, 
 through affection, by bad counsellors." 
 Which testimony given of him by one that 
 knew him from his infancy, and the daily 
 seeing him do all princely exercises with 
 singular grace, and his affableness and 
 benignity to all men, made Theagenes in 
 a short time not only dedicate his ordinary 
 attendance to him, but also his heart and 
 all the faculties of his soul : so that he did 
 set himself forward in the noblest manner 
 that he could, and was inferior to none in 
 magnificent expenses, whereby he might 
 make the Prince take notice how desirous 
 he was to do him honour there, and to 
 gain his favour ; and for his diligence 
 about his person he soon got the style of a
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 183 
 
 careful servant. But all the glories of the 
 court, and the beauty of the ladies there, 
 which shined continually like so many 
 stars, could not make him forget, or sweeten 
 his quarrel to womankind in general, for 
 Stelliana's sake : which gave occasion to 
 the Earl of Arcadia, who was Captain of 
 the King of Morea's guard, and a complete 
 courtier, and noted for applying himself 
 very affectionately to the service of ladies, 
 to speak thus one day to him, their fami- 
 liarity warranting any thing that either of 
 them said to the other. 
 
 " When I look upon you, Theagenes, me- 
 thinks I see enough that telleth me your 
 abilities might win you the affection of 
 any lady ; but when I consider how you 
 daily pass by the fairest faces without 
 seeming to have any sense of the divine 
 beams of beauty that shine there, I begin 
 to doubt that the fault proceedeth from 
 your mind, which, I understand, hath been
 
 184 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 trained up continually in scholastical spe- 
 culations, and hath always conversed with 
 books at such times as you have not exer- 
 cised your body in the use of arms and 
 managing of horses, and such other disci- 
 plines as become a gentleman and a soldier; 
 so that I see there may be excess in the 
 best and most commendable things, for 
 these, that in a moderation may be es- 
 teemed chief ornaments, do beget either a 
 dull stupidity or a rude barbarousness in 
 those that adore them too affectionately ; 
 and I doubt much that from one of these 
 two causes doth proceed your having no 
 mistress here, where so much beauty reign- 
 eth : but I shall fail much of my aim, if, 
 before we go from hence, I do not wean 
 you from your learned modesty, or civilize 
 your martial wildness ; one of which cer- 
 tainly it is that maketh your heart so 
 rebellious against the power of fair eyes." 
 Which when he had said, accompanying
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 185 
 
 his words with smiles, Theagenes answered 
 him in this manner : " You should not cen- 
 sure me before you are certain that I have 
 no mistress, and feel not in my breast the 
 heat of love's flames ; which you cannot 
 collect from my concealing them, since 
 you may have a familiar example in the 
 deepest waters, whose streams slide away 
 with least noise ; but, if it were so, I should 
 confess that I owe this blessing to the sacred 
 Muses, which proceedeth then neither from 
 dulness nor want of confidence, as you 
 seem to intimate, but rather it is the soul- 
 ravishing delight which they feed them 
 withal that retire themselves into their 
 sanctuary, that makcth them despise other 
 pleasures as being much below them. But 
 because you shall not think that I make 
 use of this for an excuse, I will do as the 
 famous Syracusan mathematician did, who 
 was long before he could be drawn to let 
 down his knowledge, which soared high in
 
 186 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 spiritual speculations abstracted from gross 
 matter, and in subtle demonstrations, so 
 low as to employ it in making mechanical 
 instruments, but when he did make use of 
 his knowledge in geometry that way, he 
 effected with the greatest ease that might 
 be, and as it were playing, such admirable 
 things as seemed miracles to the ignorant 
 vulgar, who judge by their senses without 
 going any farther ; and yet he despised all 
 those conclusions so much, that he would 
 not leave one word of mention of them to 
 posterity. In like manner, to reduce you 
 out of your error, I will, for a while, make 
 truce with higher contemplations, and let 
 down my judgment to make love to a 
 mistress; in which I dare, beforehand, pro- 
 mise myself such success, that, for the fu- 
 ture, you shall have no cause to pity any 
 servant of the Muses for learned modesty ; 
 and, because I "will leave you no colour for 
 new exceptions, I will apply myself to the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 16? 
 
 service of that great and fair lady for whom 
 you continually sigh, because you receive 
 from her so small encouragement to con- 
 tinue that hitherto unlucky affection of 
 yours ; and am so confident of the favour 
 that my learned patronesses may procure 
 me, it being their custom to insinuate 
 themselves with secret sweetness into the 
 most rebellious minds, and to tame the 
 hardest hearts, as I am nothing at all de- 
 terred with the consideration that she is 
 the greatest lady of Egypt, and the richest, 
 and of the noblest family, and in highest 
 favour with the Queen ; and, hitherto, an 
 enemy to all intimations of love. But, 
 because my conquest may be the more 
 glorious by having a worthy rival, I will 
 engage you to continue your suit, lest when 
 you see me to have got the start of you, 
 you may give over your course, pretending 
 the change of your affection, when, indeed, 
 it is the barrenness of your hopes : there^
 
 188 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 fore name what wager you will venture 
 upon the success of our loves, which the 
 most fortunate man therein shall win, and 
 the Prince shall be our judge/' This over- 
 ture, made by Theagenes with some earnest- 
 ness, pleased the Earl very well, who ordered 
 the quality of the wager should be at the 
 loser's discretion ; he being confident to 
 have the advantage in his suit, since his 
 passion was real, and the other's but 
 feigned ; besides that, in every respect for 
 the mysteries of the court and of winning 
 ladies' affections, wherein he had long ex- 
 perience with ha'ppy success, he preferred 
 himself much before Theagenes, who was 
 yet scarce entered into his apprentissage 
 there. But what cannot continual industry 
 bring to pass? and especially with women, 
 whose hearts, for the most part, to those 
 that can take the true height of them, are 
 made of gentle and yielding substance? 
 Certainly it supplieth for all defects, even
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 189 
 
 the want of love, as was evident in The- 
 agenes's suit ; whose personated affection 
 won such a real one from Mauricana, that 
 she lived only in him : and this she ex- 
 pressed in such a public manner, that the 
 Earl, who had never seen towards himself 
 from her other than the effects of a dis- 
 dainful mistress, could not choose but 
 acknowledge it, and giving over his fruit- 
 less labour, yielded the loss of his wager to 
 Theagenes ; who, till then, never omitted 
 any occasion of endearing himself into the 
 affection of his princely lady. For when- 
 soever she went abroad, he was the next to 
 attend her chair ; if she went to any place 
 of devotion, he went too, but behaved 
 himself so there as if she were the only 
 saint that he came in pilgrimage unto ; if 
 she were a spectator to any public enter- 
 tainment, as of tilting or the like, he would 
 there make himself known for her servant 
 by wearing the livery of her colours, and
 
 190 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 clothing his servants correspondency ; and 
 at any comedy or masque at the court 
 where she was present, he would teach his 
 eyes in their dumb language to beg her 
 favours so effectually, that many times in 
 public conferring them upon him, she did 
 exceed that reserved ness which is practised 
 among the ladies of those parts ; so that 
 she was not a little censured by many that 
 knew no more of her but by the outward 
 face of her actions. And the fame of 
 Theagenes's dearness with this so great 
 lady, the first of the bedchamber to the 
 Queen, and of a vast wealth, was soon 
 dispersed through all Morea ; where, with 
 his friends, it wrought different effects: for 
 it added to Stelliana's deep sorrow, who, 
 though she neither hoped nor desired any- 
 thing for herself, so broken was her heart, 
 yet she felt a kind of repining that another 
 should enjoy that place which was once 
 her's, and that her misfortunes had made
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 her lose ; and others of his friends, whose 
 affection was accompanied with fondness, 
 were grieved in the midst of their joy for 
 his good hap, doubting that the advantages 
 which she would bring him, if he married 
 her, would cause him to settle himself with 
 her in that country, whereby they should 
 lose him. But the discrcetest of those 
 that loved him, not only rejoiced at his 
 fortune, but advised him and daily solicited 
 him to delay no time in effecting what 
 they understood she much desired, which 
 was to marry her; but if they had known 
 how opposite the motions of his heart 
 were to his exterior demonstrations, and 
 what was the ground of them, they would 
 never have lost time about this fruitless 
 counsel. 
 
 In the mean season great differences 
 arose between the Egyptian King and the 
 Prince of Morea, and their ministers; of 
 all which . . . . the vices of
 
 192 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 phajstion were the originary causes ; for he 
 having excluded Aristobulus from the ma- 
 
 o 
 
 naging of affairs, would have them carried 
 and concluded only between the Egyptian 
 favourite and himself: but it soon appeared 
 how unequally they were matched, for the 
 one having been always trained up in a 
 constant way of state businesses, and He- 
 phaestion having never attended to other 
 than courtly exercises, and to give himself 
 delight, and to so much of business as con- 
 cerned the satisfying of his will or avarice, 
 was soon overreached by the Egyptian, 
 and reduced into such disadvantageous 
 straits, that he could not recover himself 
 out of them but by falling out with him ; 
 and this, added to some other vices of his, 
 
 by the immodest and insatiable 
 
 love of women, wherein he strived to sa- 
 tisfy himself without respect to fame, that 
 it imported him to conceal his affections 
 from, made him grow to be much hated
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 193 
 
 and scorned in that court ; which he per- 
 ceiving, and having received some bitter 
 affront in matter of his mistresses, he grew 
 into a rancorous detestation of the causers 
 of them, and resolved to set up his rest 
 upon the overthrowing those treaties, and 
 breaking the peace between those crowns ; 
 foreseeing that otherwise he could not avoid 
 his own ruin. 
 
 Whereupon he wrought so much with 
 the Prince, that he gave his consent to 
 return hastily into Morea, wherein he 
 shewed that his affection to his friend pre- 
 vailed above his own judgment, and above 
 his love to his mistress, for he sticked not 
 to express to some that were about him 
 that he saw no other reason for his sudden 
 departure, more than Hephaestion's earnest 
 solicitation ; and that he discerned so 
 much sweetness, and so many perfections, 
 accompanied with excellent beauty, in the 
 King's sister, that he conceived no lady in 
 
 o
 
 194 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 the world so worthy of his affections as 
 she was. But the other respect prevailed 
 above all these ; so noble a testimony he 
 gave of a Prince's constancy in his friend- 
 ship ; for many conceived that he loved 
 Hepha3stion only because he had once 
 chosen to love him, and not because he 
 still judged that he deserved it. Among 
 the rest that provided to attend the Prince 
 in his return, Theagenes was one; which 
 was no sooner known by Mauricana but 
 she sent for him, and there used all the 
 powerful means to divert this his intention 
 that an entreating beauty is mistress of; 
 sometimes endearing her own extreme 
 affection to him, which she would raise in 
 value by recounting the scornful disdains 
 wherewith she had paid great Princes* 
 loves ; then by taxing him with falsehood 
 and treachery, in inveigling away her heart 
 to make it serve only for a trophy of his 
 inhuman cruelty ; then by representing the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIR^S. 
 
 advantages which his match with her would 
 bring him ; but most of all she relied upon 
 the force of her fair eyes and charming 
 looks : but when she saw that nothing 
 would prevail for the obtaining of the main 
 of her desire, she sought at least to win 
 time for the present, hoping that when the 
 Prince was gone, she might the more easily 
 work his heart to her desires, and therefore 
 only sued to him to stay while the stormy 
 season made it unsafe to pass the seas ; 
 that in that while she might, by little and 
 little, teach her soul how to bear her future 
 misery, and not be plunged into it unkindly 
 all at once. But Theagenes, whose very 
 bowels were then even torn in pieces be- 
 tween a sad constancy and tender pity, 
 strived all he could to sweeten her passions, 
 and to excuse the expression of his affec- 
 tions, which he said that he perceived she 
 mistook, for that he never made approaches 
 otherwise than in a courtly manner, as de- 
 
 o 2
 
 196 PKLVATE MKMOIKS. 
 
 siring to be called her knight, which title 
 he would still maintain by all the real 
 service that it might challenge from him, 
 and should attend mindful with singular 
 delight of the great favour she had done 
 him ; but that his affections had once been, 
 though unfortunately, engaged elsewhere 
 with too great force, to place them upon 
 any other object; and that, for the present, 
 he was obliged to attend the Prince his 
 master, into whose service, in an honour- 
 able place, he was now received. But all 
 that he could say availed no more to the 
 cure of her mind, than the speeches of 
 ignorant standers-by do, to bring health to 
 one that lieth burning in a violent fever ; 
 so that, when he left her, she remained 
 wedded to sorrow and despair ; and not 
 long after, seeing she could not have him 
 whom only she thought worthy of her, she 
 left the world, that afforded to her but a 
 constant succession of continual torments,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 197 
 
 and consecrated the rest of her days to a 
 worthier spouse, among other vestal virgins 
 of noble quality. 
 
 The winds and seas seemed to rejoice in 
 the Prince's return, and to delight in the 
 glorious navy that was committed to 
 them ; for they all conspired to make him 
 have a fair passage ; who, disembarking 
 in the first port that he could fetch, took 
 post horses, that with the greater speed he 
 might give his father the content of seeing 
 him ; who was at Corinth, longing to hear 
 good news of him, which he himself was 
 the first messenger of. Upon his arrival 
 there, that city made all the affectionate 
 demonstrations of a hearty and unfeigned 
 joy that could be imagined, for the safe 
 return of their much loved and most hope- 
 ful lord, whom they feared was in a place 
 of much danger, and with a king in vvhose 
 faith the people had little confidence, and 
 the like did the country throughout ; so
 
 198 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 that it was apparent that no Prince could 
 be dearer to his subjects than he was, and 
 therefore had all his enemies, if his good- 
 ness could admit of any, much reason to 
 fear when they saw so firm a knot and 
 union between the commander and the 
 obeyers. But Theagenes could not be a 
 witness of the joyful acclamations that ac- 
 companied his master to the court ; for he 
 had no sooner set his feet upon the shore, 
 but that a great indisposition took him, 
 which hindered his journey thither, and 
 the attendance on his lord for some days. 
 In the mean time Hephaestion knowing, 
 that the vulgar sort of the kingdom were 
 disaffected to the alliance with Egypt, 
 and that there could be no better way to 
 break that treaty than to make them 
 judges of it, who would be as partial 
 hearers as he could be a relater, he pre- 
 vailed so much with the King, that he 
 made a general convocation of the three
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 estates of the kingdom, consisting of the 
 clergy, the nobility, and some chosen per- 
 sons to represent the body of the com- 
 mons, to give their advice in this weighty 
 affair ; which he opened to them, making 
 a narration from the beginning to that 
 present, how all matters stood between the 
 King of Egypt and his master, wherein he 
 mingled many falsities with truths, and 
 wrested the appearances of many things 
 to a false sense ; so that the assembly was 
 so inflamed with fury against that king, 
 and possessed with belief that there was no 
 faith in his proceedings, that they unani- 
 mously besought the King of Morea to 
 break off all treaties with that perfidious 
 nation, as they termed it, and denounce 
 them war ; promising their real assistance 
 as well in serving all of them in person, if 
 need were, as in making larger contribu- 
 tions than could be paralleled by any ex- 
 ample of subjects to their King ; whereof
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 they immediately made a liberal begin- 
 ning, in hope that their entreaties would 
 prove effectual. The old King then, whose 
 declining age made him now desire to live 
 in quiet, resigned over all business to his 
 son, and to the conduct of Hephaestion, 
 who presently set it in such a way as 
 might win him applause at home, though 
 at the cost of his master's honour abroad ; 
 and caused Aristobulus to be sent for out 
 of Egypt, whom in his public relation he 
 had laden with many false accusations, 
 as well to satisfy the bitterness of his 
 malice against him, as to provide for his 
 own safety, since it was necessary for him 
 to make the appearance of the fault and 
 betraying the state, which he pretended, 
 to light upon somebody ; and the whole 
 negotiation had been carried between 
 Aristobulus and himself. Through desire 
 then to do good offices for his kinsman, 
 that he had so much reason to respect,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 201 
 
 and to clear, as much as in him lay,4iis 
 honour, that was much traduced in most 
 men's opinions, Theagenes made more 
 haste to Corinth than his indisposition 
 would well give way unto : and the day 
 that he arrived there, the sun, that was 
 then taking his leave of the northern signs 
 to go his progress to his farthest south- 
 ward declination, shined out more com- 
 fortable and glorious beams than it had 
 done of many days before; which was the 
 reason that many persons of quality came 
 out in their coaches into the fields to 
 refresh their spirits, with sucking in the 
 free and warmed air. Among whom Stel- 
 liana was one, whose sight surprised and 
 astonished Theagenes, like one come sud- 
 denly from a dark prison to too great a 
 light, who met her directing of her course 
 abroad, even as he was entering in at the 
 gates of the city. After so long absence 
 her beauty seemed brighter to him than
 
 202 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 when he left her : but she sate so pensively 
 in one side of the coach by herself, as 
 Apelles might have taken her counterfeit 
 to express Venus sorrowing for her beloved 
 Adonis : yet howsoever by her habits and 
 her sadness, her brighter beams might seem 
 to be in part eclipsed, they did neverthe- 
 less disperse themselves so forcibly abroad, 
 that the sun seemed to grow pale at her 
 appearance, as being dazzled with a 
 greater light than his own, and wept so 
 bitter a shower to see that an earthly face 
 had the victory of his, which now for 
 shame he hid behind a cloud, that she was 
 constrained to return back, while her 
 coach, that was honoured with carrying 
 her, might be esteemed much nobler than 
 that studded with carbuncles, and hya- 
 cinths, which Aurora sitteth in, when from 
 her beautiful tresses she shaketh upon the 
 earth the delightful morning dews that she 
 hath gathered in the moist ocean.
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 203 
 
 Theagenes was no sooner alighted at his 
 lodging, hut that he sent a servant to find 
 out Stelliana's, and to receive her leave 
 that he might come the next day to visit 
 her, whither he went at the appointed 
 time, with resolution only to please him- 
 self in so fair a sight, deeming her unwor- 
 thy of his more serious affection, whom he 
 conceived had so soon forgot her vows 
 made to him at his going out of Morea. 
 But surely, he did unjustly in censuring 
 her before he heard her defence from her 
 own mouth ; and in her presence he had 
 cause to fear that by so great a light it 
 might succeed to him as to the indiscreet 
 fly, that through his own fondness, burneth 
 his wings by playing with the flame. 
 
 It is too great for me to describe the mo- 
 tions of their hearts and souls at their first 
 meeting ; nor can it be conceived by any 
 but such as have loved in a divine manner, 
 and have had their affections suspended by
 
 204 PRIVATE MEMOIRS 
 
 misfortunes and mistakes : therefore I will 
 only mention the subject of their dis- 
 course, which was the challenging each 
 other of much unkindness ; she him, for 
 not giving her timely advertisement of his 
 health, which would have prevented the 
 inconveniences grown by his rumoured 
 death ; and he her, for giving too sudden 
 credit to it, and so soon bestowing her af- 
 fections upon another; whereunto both of 
 them used their best endeavours to dis- 
 charge themselves and fasten the blame 
 upon the other; but in conclusion they 
 both saw that there was more of misfor- 
 tune in it, than of fault on either side : 
 which was the cause that Theagenes made 
 often visits to her, and she willingly re- 
 ceived them : yet he, resolving not to en- 
 gage his affections too far, the first knot 
 being by her broken, because of the doubt- 
 ful rumour that Mardontius had once had 
 much interest in her affections. But
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 205 
 
 withal her excessive beauty and graceful- 
 ness did so win upon his senses, that after 
 some time, when he thought he had re- 
 established himself in a good place of her 
 well-liking, he attempted her to consent 
 to his passion, and prosecuted his suit 
 with all the vehemence and subtlety that 
 an earnest and well experienced lover 
 could use, without mention of any pro- 
 vision to her honour ; which she no sooner 
 perceived, but that her heart swelling with 
 a noble anger and disdain, she banished 
 him from her presence, and it was a long 
 time before he could take off that hard 
 sentence, though he daily offered up to 
 her indignation much sorrow and unfeign- 
 ed signs of deep repentance, which, in the 
 end, so much prevailed with her generous 
 soul, which yet was full of affection and 
 did but resent his disrespect as her honour 
 claimed of her, that she admitted him 
 again into her favour, and made as much
 
 206 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 demonstration of it as before : so that now 
 their hearts were joined in a fraternal af- 
 fection, and their manner of living, each 
 towards other, confuted the opinion of 
 those who hold that the laws of a high and 
 divine friendship cannot be observed 
 where a woman hath a part. 
 
 In the mean time, Clericius, that was 
 of the Prince's bedchamber, and esteemed 
 to be in his favour more than any there, 
 became an earnest suitor to her to receive 
 him to her husband ; but by her refusal 
 was justly punished for his disdain of other 
 women : for he was so hard to please in 
 the choice of "a wife, that of many advan- 
 tageous overtures which had been made 
 unto him, he would accept of none; but 
 declared himself that until he did meet 
 with such a woman as both for mind and 
 body, he could wish nothing to be mended 
 in her, he would live a single life. Cer- 
 tainly, his resolution being such, if Stel-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 liana had not been born in this age, he 
 would never have known what love had 
 been : but when he had grown into her ac- 
 quaintance, then he said that he believed 
 nature had been oversparing of her bless- 
 ings to all other women, on purpose to 
 heap all imaginable perfections upon one, 
 so that her power might be the more ad- 
 mired. When he saw that by himself he 
 could not prevail in obtaining what he so 
 much desired, he discovered the violence 
 of his passions to Theagenes, there being 
 much entireness between them, begotten 
 by their daily conversation in their both 
 serving the same master, and knowing that 
 he sued not to her for himself, but that 
 withal he had an interest in her in an ho- 
 nourable way, he beseeched him, with the 
 greatest adjurations that might be, to en- 
 deavour himself in his behalf. Here one 
 may perceive what a divine thing the 
 obligation of friendship is in a generous
 
 208 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 and gentle heart ; for Theagenes, that 
 would rather have consented to the loss of 
 his life than to see her in another man's 
 possession, his flames daily increasing, be- 
 came himself a mediator for his friend, to 
 gain him that content that would cause 
 himself eternal sorrow : which he did not 
 in a cold manner, as only to acquit him- 
 self of his promise, but used and urged all 
 the arguments that he could to win Stel- 
 liana to this match, so much to her advan- 
 tage in temporal respects. But all the 
 answer that he could get from her, was a 
 flat denial, alleging that she would never 
 tie herself to any man in other knot than 
 of love and affection ; and that her misfor- 
 tunes had broken and deadened her heart 
 that way. The latter part of which, Thea- 
 genes heard with much impatience, be- 
 cause it concerned him so nearly, and did 
 put her in mind how once it was much 
 otherwise, when they lived so happily and
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 209 
 
 joyed only in each other; which caused 
 Stelliana in like manner to tax his change 
 that was now become a suitor for another 
 man; and yet she professed more good- 
 will to him by infinite degrees than 
 to any one else, if at least a created 
 heart be capable of such extreme dis- 
 tances ; with which he rested much con- 
 tented, and in the best manner that he 
 could, excused himself of his unwilling im- 
 portunity for his friend, whom he informed 
 
 how little he could prevail in his suit. 
 
 // f 
 
 In the mean time Hephaestion, having 
 by sinister means broken the peace and 
 alliance with Egypt, sought to provide 
 likewise so for the future that he might 
 be secure they would not piece again, 
 whereunto he 'knew the old king to be 
 much inclined ; and therefore he endea- 
 voured to engage the Prince in some other 
 place, that so there might be an impossi- 
 bility of his returning to treat of the for-
 
 210 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 mer match ; and considering that there is 
 a perpetual jealousy between the crowns 
 of Athens and of Egypt, lest either should 
 increase in power, he deemed it the most 
 expedient to solicit the King of Athens for 
 his sister; hoping also by this means to 
 draw that Prince with more affection into 
 the league that was making against the 
 King of Egypt. Whereupon, desiring the 
 negotiation should be speedy and ef- 
 fectual, he resolved to go in person upon 
 this embassage, and therefore made the 
 noblest preparations that might be for his 
 journey, correspondent to such an em- 
 ployment, and befitting the favourite of 
 so great a King as he served ; who, to do 
 him the more grace, appointed several of 
 his own servants and of his sons, of the 
 most eminent quality, to accompany him ; 
 among which, Theagenes was one, who 
 upon other like public occasions had given 
 evident demonstrations, that he would be
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 211 
 
 behind none in doing his master and na- 
 tion honour, and in this he was nothing 
 short of what he formerly had done ; but 
 the time of making provision to defray such 
 great and extraordinary expenses was so 
 short, that many of his friends thought he 
 would be much troubled before he could 
 raise so great a sum of money, as he was 
 upon the sudden to lay out ; which com- 
 ing to Stelliana's notice, she greatly re- 
 joiced that she had so apt an occasion to 
 make expression of the much that she 
 would do for Theagenes, were it in her 
 power, and presently took up money upon 
 the best jewels and plate that she had, and 
 engaged such lands as were hers, either in 
 present or in reversion, and having ga- 
 thered together a large sum, she sent it to 
 Theagenes, entreating him to make use of 
 it without cumbering his estate, which 
 consisting of settled rents, would soon quit 
 a greater debt ; and thus she made him at 
 p 2
 
 212 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 once master of all she had or could hope 
 for. This generous action of hers sunk so 
 deep into his heart, that it was like the 
 throwing in of a great weight into a scale 
 that was before so equally balanced as one 
 could not guess which way it would in- 
 cline, and so bringeth that side suddenly 
 down ; for before he suffered a continual 
 conflict in himself between the considera- 
 tion of her worth and perfections, and the 
 dissuasions of some of his friends, particu- 
 larly of his mother, who, as you understood 
 at the beginning of this discourse, was 
 ever averse to his match with Stelliana. 
 But now that besides the contemplation 
 of those excellencies in general, he had 
 such a clear demonstration of the apply- 
 ing them by her affection to his particular, 
 for greater could not be than to have 
 trusted him with all her estate and for- 
 tune, his heart yielded, and he resolved to 
 get her for his wife ; and those difficulties
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 213 
 
 which before opposed this action being 
 now overcome, did quicken his resolution, 
 like water that being thrown upon a fire 
 that it cannot extinguish, rnaketh it burn 
 with greater violence. But when he had 
 declared his intention and desire to Stel- 
 liana, he received from her an answer 
 much contrary to what he expected ; the 
 effect of which was a flat refusal, pro- 
 nounced with much settledness and a con- 
 stant gravity, grounded by her upon sup- 
 posed reason and a strange construction 
 of love to him ; which yet she could not 
 deliver without many tears, bewailing her 
 misfortune that brought her to these terms, 
 that to be constant to her honour, though 
 therein she had no witness but herself, and 
 to be the surer of her dearest friend's affec- 
 tion, she must deny the just suit of him 
 that she loved above her own life, and re- 
 fuse that offer that in respect of the world 
 would be most honourable to her, and
 
 214 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 whereto her wishes were more strongly 
 bent than his ; for she acknowledged in- 
 genuously how she had once given her 
 consent to marry Mardontius, and, upon 
 the assurance of that, passed upon both 
 sides, had given him leave to have her pic- 
 ture, which he still kept, and therefore she 
 would never suffer that one man should 
 possess her, and another such a gage of a 
 former, though half-constrained, affection ; 
 and - that hereafter, in colder thoughts, 
 Theagenes, if the heat and edge of his pas- 
 sion should be somewhat abated, might 
 give another interpretation to her past 
 actions than now he did, and peradventure 
 deem her not so worthy of his affection 
 and respect. 
 
 Hereupon Theagenes used the best ar- 
 guments he could to certify her, as he 
 termed it, wrong judgment, representing 
 to her how his reason was the same that at 
 any time it would be, and his knowledge
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 215 
 
 of her actions being already complete, his 
 judging of them could not alter; and that 
 he did not admit of the level that the vul- 
 gar is guided by, who is wholly ruled by 
 opinion, but examined all things according 
 to their reality; and therefore his affec- 
 tion, whose root was in her virtues, and did 
 not spring from any blind passion, was 
 not liable to any intervals of heat or cold. 
 And that for Mardontius, she was free of 
 that promise, he first breaking it, and as 
 for the picture that he had, she could not 
 punish him more than in letting him re- 
 tain it by him, that so he might conti- 
 nually be put in mind of those joys that 
 his folly bereaved him of, and live, like 
 the damned souls, whose greatest misery 
 this is, in perpetual despair and curse him- 
 self. But when Theagenes perceived that 
 all he said could not move her fixed mind, 
 but rather increased her sorrow, he ceased 
 to solicit her any more for that time,
 
 216 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 hoping that afterward he might find a 
 more propitious hour for his suit ; which 
 to facilitate by all the means that he 
 could, he sent to Mardontius, by a gen- 
 tleman, to challenge him to fight with him 
 in mortal duel till one of them were de- 
 prived of their life, for that the earth could 
 not bear them both at once; unto whom, 
 when they were in the field together, he 
 declared at large the cause of his enmity 
 with him, taking upon him to be the re- 
 venger of the wrong he had done to Stel- 
 liana, and by sending him out of the 
 world, to make a way to himself of gain- 
 ing her. But Mardontius told him, 
 that he would not fight in this quarrel, 
 for that if he had done her any wrong 
 she had herself too rigorously punished 
 him for it, and by rejecting him after his 
 repentance, made him the only sufferer for 
 it ; and that his life could be no object for 
 Theagenes's enjoying her, since he could
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 217 
 
 pretend no interest in her, which if he 
 could have done he would not have los 
 her when he loved her equal with his own 
 soul, and strived to regain her as much as 
 he could for heaven ; and for the picture, 
 if she would not give him leave to keep 
 it, he would restore it to her by Thea- 
 genes's conveyance, together with a declara- 
 tion under his own hand, of what he had 
 already said, and that his tongue spoke 
 false if ever it uttered any thing to her dis- 
 honour, and a disclaiming of ever having 
 had any interest in her, beyond what the 
 laws of modesty and honour would permit 
 her. With the performance of which, and 
 the restitution of the picture, Theagenes 
 rested satisfied, seeing that he could not 
 prevail with him to draw his sword, and 
 that, indeed, the cause of this desire to 
 fight was taken away by this proceeding and 
 writing of Mardontius ; which made him 
 deem him too unworthy to be his enemy.
 
 218 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 Theagenes having had this success, and 
 a main part of the difficulties on Stel- 
 liana's side being thus taken away, without 
 any loss or hazard of blood, through the 
 meanness of Mardontius's spirit, he re- 
 turned to her with much joy through the 
 confidence he had that now he should find 
 no more obstacles in what he so much 
 longed for : but her heart was so settled 
 by being long fixed upon her melancholy 
 resolutions of living for the future a so- 
 litary life, that although now the principal 
 causes of them ceased, yet, like water that 
 being made to boil, will not grow suddenly 
 cool though the fire be taken from it, she 
 could not so soon relent or slacken her 
 rigour, that he might from thence draw to 
 himself any ground of hopes. Whereupon, 
 after much solicitation and not prevailing, 
 through despair he read upon himself a 
 doom of much affliction, as the unfor- 
 tunate and wretched souls shall do in the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 219 
 
 last day ; the heaviest part of which shall 
 be their perpetual banishment from the 
 blessed sight of God ; and in like manner 
 he made a vow, that after he had taken his 
 leave now of her, he would never see her 
 more, nor Morea for her sake, but would 
 wander like a lost man through the rest of 
 the world, seeing that hereabouts he could 
 meet with nothing but sad objects that 
 would continually put him in mind of the 
 happiness that he had missed; and the 
 sight of her would be but like the punish- 
 ment of Tantalus, to increase in him the 
 desire of what he must never enjoy. To 
 which expression of sorrow made by him, 
 although it were by reflection stronger in 
 her, yet thinking it might be but the vio- 
 lence of a passion which might in time be 
 calmed, or at the least diverted, if it met 
 not with a serious opposition, she answered 
 in this manner, clearing her face with 
 gentle smiles, a habit far differing from
 
 220 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 what her mind was clothed with. " Cer- 
 tainly, Theagenes, if you love me as much 
 as you would have me believe, your stars 
 are no less cross in teaching you how to 
 express it, than you say mine are in making 
 me take the resolution of ending my days 
 in a single and retired life, for the which, 
 you cannot deny but that I had reason ; 
 and if now that may be pretended to 
 cease, yet it hath so sunk into my heart, 
 like a thick dye in which it hath been 
 long bathed, that it can take no other 
 colour or impression ; but I think you can- 
 not give me the example of any man, that 
 through the abundance of their love to 
 any lady who loved them as you know 
 that I do you, which I take God to wit- 
 ness is as much as ever sister did a brother, 
 did take a resolution and confirm it with a 
 vow of never seeing her more. Is absence, 
 then, the most expedient means to increase 
 or confirm affections? or peradventure is
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 221 
 
 it, that you are so well acquainted with 
 foreign parts, that all places are alike to 
 you to afford you content, and those best 
 liked of you, where you shall not be in 
 danger to have my true zeal to check your 
 loose delights, and tax you of inconstancy 
 and ingratitude ?" Then after some pause, 
 and changing her forced countenance into 
 the livery of her mind, not being able 
 longer to continue her dissimulation, she 
 proceeded thus : " If so, and that you 
 were grown weary of loving me, you would 
 have been more gentle to have deceived 
 me a little, and by degrees have instructed 
 me to wind in again my affection and 
 loosen it from you, which now is stretched 
 to the utmost scope that my heart can 
 extend unto ; but indeed, it is unkindly 
 done, to make my love the cause of your 
 inconstancy, and to cast off into an ocean 
 of sorrow the near-sinking vessel of my 
 fortune and content, which held but by
 
 222 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 one anchor, and now must needs suffer 
 shipwreck for your sake." The last of 
 which words she sighed out with such a 
 flood of tears, true witnesses of her bleed- 
 ing heart, that was so deeply wounded 
 with what Theagenes had said, although 
 at the first she strived to disguise it, that 
 he, who thought no sorrow could have ex- 
 ceeded his, was now fain to lay the 
 thought of that aside, to attend to mitigate 
 hers ; but his bowels were so shut up and 
 as it were congealed with grief, that it was 
 a long time before he could frame to him- 
 self any distinct conceptions, and then be- 
 fore he could apparel those in fit words ; 
 during which profound silence on both 
 sides, interrupted only with some sighs 
 and tears, their hearts did melt with ten- 
 derness, like a heap of snow opposed to the 
 sunbeams, and then, being endued with 
 love's magnetical virtue, each of them re- 
 solved to themselves to admit of no mo-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 223 
 
 tions but such as were conformable to the 
 other's desires ; which could not be long 
 concealed between them, for nothing is 
 hid to the divine light of.lovers' flames, by 
 which they see and talk with each other's 
 thoughts, so that of a sudden a most 
 bright and glorious day of joy rose out of 
 the lap of their late dusky and clouded 
 night of sorrow ; and as the sunbeams illu- 
 minate the whole hemisphere at one in- 
 stant, so this mutual consent of their wills 
 banished immediately all dark and un- 
 couth shadows of discontent, and made all 
 things, even their own tears, smile upon 
 them. 
 
 And then to crown their joys with 
 that ceremony which might make them 
 permanent and holy, the minister of those 
 rites joined their hands in that sacred knot 
 which had long before knit their affec- 
 tions, and wtis now equally welcome on 
 both sides. But Theagenes, being there-
 
 224 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 unto moved by sundry weighty respects, 
 desired Stelliana, and the rest that were 
 then present, to conceal it for some time ; 
 which she for his sake, and for the import- 
 ance of the reasons, readily consented 
 unto, although till it were discovered it 
 might reflect upon her honour for admit- 
 ting him to a greater familiarity than be- 
 longed to any but a husband. 
 
 But their affection could not be carried 
 with such caution, Theagenes neither de- 
 siring more than that the certainty of the 
 main should not be precisely known, but 
 that many mouths were filled with various 
 discourses of their familiarity, and some 
 commended, others censured them for it, 
 according to the rule that every one had 
 framed to themselves for their own ac- 
 tions. Among whom Rogesilius, who was 
 Aristobulus's nephew, and between whom 
 and Theagenes was contracted a very 
 strait friendship, mainly condemning his
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 225 
 
 friend for his too much indulgency to his 
 passions, having one day a fit occasion to 
 fall upon this theme as they were talking 
 together alone, spoke to him in this man- 
 ner: "I am so bold, dear cousin, upon 
 the friendship which hath linked our 
 hearts together, that I dare adventure 
 without being asked my advice, to deliver 
 you my opinion in what I believe most 
 men else would shun the very mentioning 
 thereof to you. My much love to you will 
 serve to discharge me of presumption, 
 since the nature of that is to desire all 
 complete perfection in the person beloved, 
 and then one is most encouraged to use 
 all their endeavours that may conduce to 
 that, when they see there is but a small 
 obstacle in the way : in conformity to 
 which, I must give this testimony of you 
 without adulation, that in all qualities be- 
 longing to a generous and worthy gentle- 
 man, you may be a pattern to all those 
 
 Q
 
 226 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 that I have ever known, were it not only 
 for continuance in one action, which doth, 
 I will not say eclipse, but, much alloy, in 
 ray opinion, the splendour of the rest. 
 Every one is sharp-sighted in other men's 
 errors, while their own pass by unre- 
 garded ; and this I believe to be the rea- 
 son that I can look into any of yours, be 
 it never so little, which you scarce take 
 notice of; for if you did, certainly I con- 
 ceive you to be endued with such strength 
 of mind that you could and would soon 
 correct it. Another reason why this in 
 you is so obvious to every man's discovery, 
 which in less worthy persons would 
 scarcely be seen, or at least not imputed to 
 a crime, is the other excellencies wherein 
 you surpass the vulgar; so that it fareth 
 with you as with the richest jewels, wherein 
 a small blemish falleth much of their 
 value ; and with the fairest colours, in 
 which a little stain is soon perceived. I
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 22? 
 
 will not use many circumstances to bring 
 me to that place, where I am sure you al- 
 ready expect me, since upon strict exa- 
 mination of yourself you can find yourself 
 to lie open but upon one side, that is, to 
 the assaults of a woman's beauty, that 
 have found in you a tenderer heart in re- 
 sisting them than I should have promised 
 to myself of you when I consider the con- 
 stancy and stayedness of your other ac- 
 tions. Neither will I use many words to 
 dissuade you from that affection wherein 
 you have, as it were, lain, some time asleep, 
 since I know the quickness and excellency 
 of your wit to be such, that will furnish 
 you with much better reasons than any I 
 can use to wean you from it, if you will 
 but once enter into the impartial consi- 
 deration of it ; only give me leave to put 
 you in mind of your honour, entreating 
 you not to let it suffer shipwreck in the 
 ruinous ocean of sense and pleasure, which 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 at the best is ever accompanied with sa- 
 tiety and repentance. Consider how love 
 is the weakest of all passions, and whereas 
 some good resulteth out of all others, the 
 least evils of this, is to abastardise the 
 mind, to make it effeminate, unfit for any 
 worthy action, and so wholly and anxi- 
 ously employed in low desires, that it can 
 think of nothing else as long as it is pos- 
 sessed with this fever. Then rise up out 
 of this dream, and receive wonted vigour 
 into your heroic spirits, which I know you 
 will confess at least to have been slack- 
 ened of late in their operations : and if 
 humanity be so forcible in you that you 
 must pay some dues to that sex which you 
 receive half your being from, let it be at 
 large, and the main scope thereof your 
 own pleasure; which certainly groweth 
 flat by being confined to one object, 
 and is by variety raised to his greatest 
 height/'
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 229 
 
 Rogesilius having thus ended his dis- 
 course, which contained precisely the pre- 
 cepts that his own life was guided by, 
 Theagenes, after some meditation upon 
 what his friend had spoken, made him this 
 answer : " I have reason, worthy Rogesilius, 
 to esteem myself happy in two respects; 
 the, one in that having so judicious a friend 
 as you are, he can look upon my weak- 
 nesses with so much partiality in my behalf, 
 as not thereby to lessen his affection to me; 
 the other, that the herd of ignorant men, 
 which never spared any one, were he never 
 so perfect, can find nothing in me to fasten 
 upon with disgraceful censures but that 
 which, being duly examined, may perad- 
 venture deserve praise, at least pardon. 
 I will deliver to you what I conceive is fit 
 to be said in defence of such affection as 
 you so much exclaim against, and will 
 make you the judge, whether I am in error 
 or no, when you have heard my reasons,
 
 230 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 which I confess will be out of the path and 
 reach of the vulgar, as all wise men's ac- 
 tions are or ought to be. But first let us 
 consider it a little by their ordinary and 
 familiar scale, which, I think, will afford 
 me some excuse. It is then received among 
 them for an undoubted principle, that all 
 men, the perfectest that ever were, are 
 subject to errors and have their vices, 
 'quisque suos patimur manes/ and they 
 are the best that are the least ill : for in 
 this life all things ought to be judged 
 comparatively; and as that body which 
 hath been afflicted with evil humours, may 
 be said to be in health when they grow all 
 from their several places to one head, and 
 discharge themselves by one way of little 
 danger ; so that man that, having lived in 
 the stormy sea of various passions, as all 
 men do or have done, can at length over- 
 come the multitude of them, and purge 
 them away by one that is not of a virulent
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 nature, though it may cause some remission 
 and some kind of relaxation of the mind, 
 truly deserveth commendations, and none 
 but unjust judges will too sharply censure 
 that person for not overcoming the last, be- 
 cause he was able to get the mastery of the 
 others; like the unworthy multitude that 
 condemneth a Captain of treason, for fail- 
 ing in one only attempt, because he hath 
 gotten so much reputation in other suc- 
 cessful ones, that all things appear not 
 only possible, but easy to him, if he apply 
 himself industriously to effect them. If 
 then this love that you so much inveigh 
 against, be the only fault that is found with 
 me, certainly it deserveth excuse, since it 
 may be understood to be the vent for 
 other worse passions^ But examine it in 
 itself, and all the ill that you can say of 
 it, is, that it is not active in doing good, 
 and benumbeth those spirits that might be 
 employed in heroic actions. What a weak
 
 232 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 accusation is this ! or rather is it not a 
 commendation? for we see that in this 
 world the bad doth so exceed the good, 
 both in number and weight, and our na- 
 ture AS so prone to the worst, that they de- 
 serve praise who refrain from doing badly, 
 though they contain themselves from doing 
 good; and indeed, he is said to do well 
 that doth not ill, virtue being principally 
 the abstaining from vice. And where you 
 say that I have sometimes lain asleep m 
 this affection, therein you say, in effect, 
 that I have been some time happy, and 
 behaved myself discreetly, since the peace 
 and tranquillity of the mind is that which 
 the wisest men aim at, and in this life that 
 is so full of troubles, nothing is so pleasing 
 to us, as a quiet and gentle sleep: there- 
 fore, that any man inveigheth with bitter- 
 ness against me for this so slender fault, 
 if it be any, is because they find no 
 greater; and then it happeneth to them
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. '-233 
 
 as to those whose eyes grow soon weary 
 and ache by looking too steadfastly upon 
 little and scarce sensible objects. But 
 shall I content myself with pardon for 
 that which is a merit to God, and to 
 nature? No, I will not purchase my peace 
 so unworthily, and betray so noble a cause, 
 by owing that to others' favourable cen- 
 sures, which reason will give me after a 
 short conflict against opinion, the mother 
 of error. Hear then, my defence of Love, 
 and then let slander grow dumb, and swell 
 till it burst with its own venom ; and may 
 that God that I adore, and who hatb given 
 being, form, and order to all things, inspire 
 me to speak high things in his behalf, as 
 much out of the common path and above 
 the pitch of vulgar conceptions, as the 
 saint to whom my devotions are addressed 
 in his heaven outshineth all other beauties. 
 " Thus then I begin : In the infinite and 
 eternal Essence that hath created us to his
 
 234 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 likeness, and made our souls his lively 
 images, we may consider two supreme 
 powers, the understanding and the will; 
 by the first of which he exerciseth himself 
 in the knowledge and contemplation of 
 his own perfections ; and by the second 
 produceth such an excellent love of what 
 he understandeth, that it becometh another 
 person of the same substance and essence 
 with himself: this is the blessed state of 
 the divinity, to have eternally the under- 
 standing replenished with notions of infinite 
 perfection, and to have the will continually 
 taken up entirely in loving and being 
 beloved; which causeth a perfect joy in 
 this happy and eternal society. This, then, 
 being laid as a foundation to what I intend 
 to prove, and it being undoubtedly re- 
 ceived, that rational creatures ought, as 
 near as they can, to conform themselves, 
 in all their actions, to this divine light, 
 of which our souls are living sparkles;
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 233 
 
 let us examine what is the highest ope- 
 ration and most resembling his Creator's, 
 that man can busy himself in ? Certainly 
 it is to employ our understanding about 
 the objects of greatest perfection that it 
 is capable of, and the will in loving such ; 
 this last action, or rather gift, can only and 
 truly be termed our own, since nothing is 
 entirely ours, and removed out of the 
 power of fortune, but the liberty of the 
 will, and the first original gift of that, is 
 love ; and that faculty which bestoweth it 
 being spiritual, it is never weary with 
 continuing this action, but of necessity is 
 always giving, and so always loving. Our 
 main care ought to be then, since this free 
 gift of the will must ever be given, that it 
 be well and orderly bestowed ; and here the 
 other faculty of the rational soul, which is 
 the understanding, cometh to help her 
 sister in making a fit choice: it is a flame 
 that always striveth to ascend, and to
 
 236 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 embrace objects of greatest perfection, but 
 to employ itself directly about God, it 
 wanteth capacity, there being an infinite 
 distance between the Creator and a crea- 
 ture, the one being limited in her actions, 
 and the other like a most resplendent sun 
 that dazzleth all eyes that look upon him 
 besides his own. The next real object, then, 
 that claimeth loVe, is men's souls that con- 
 form themselves to the rules of virtue; 
 among which the perfectest do, of due, 
 require the greatest proportion, and herein 
 we pay, as near as we can, our debt to our 
 Creator, by loving him in his image, since 
 we cannot understand and love him in his 
 own bright nature and essence so fully as 
 we ought to do. In the first consideration, 
 which is of souls simply in themselves, all 
 are alike, but that some may be endued 
 with more virtue and greater perfections 
 than others; but of the second, which is 
 of souls as they are in bodies, nature step-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 23? 
 
 peth in and telleth us, that since all those 
 spiritual substances are of the same nature 
 in themselves, and have the same powers 
 and faculties, it is convenient for the eter- 
 nizing of the species, that men should make 
 choice of those that are lodged in female 
 habitations; and from her rules without 
 weighty cause, none ought to swerve. In 
 the choice then of this, as the outward form 
 giveth a taste of the interior nature, so 
 long conversation and observing those 
 actions that issue from the mind, do afford 
 a sure ground for one to make a complete 
 judgment thereof; in both which consi- 
 derations, I am sure that I have reason to 
 say, that I have made a happy election. 
 
 " Let us then go on in this speculation : 
 I have already shewed how understanding 
 and love are the natural operations of a 
 reasonable creature; and this last, which is 
 a gift that of his own nature must always 
 be bestowed, being the only thing that is
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 really in our power to bestow, it is the 
 worthiest and the noblest that can be 
 given, and deserveth the greatest retribu- 
 tion that can be ftiade; which can be 
 condignly done only with paying it with 
 coin of the same nature. Our principal 
 care then must be to confer this present 
 only upon that which deserveth it, and 
 may repay it. Withal, consider how much 
 a man derogateth from himself and abaseth 
 himself in placing this gift elsewhere, and 
 somewhere it must be placed, as upon 
 honour, power, wealth, sensual delights, or 
 the like, since it is evident, that nothing is 
 so noble, as that which beareth the true 
 image of God : for the nature of love is to 
 convert and transform the lover into the 
 object beloved ; and according to the worth 
 and excellency of that, or to the imperfec- 
 tions or defects of it, a man bettereth or 
 impaireth himself. This is proved in that 
 love is an entire free gift, as being the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 239 
 
 action of a free and unconfirmed will; 
 and although it must of necessity be given 
 somewhere, yet it is so truly one's own, 
 and bestowed with shch a full liberality, 
 that it maketh him to whom it is given 
 the absolute master of it, and is wholly 
 under his domination and power; and 
 being that love carrieth the will with it, 
 and that the will hath all power, command, 
 and jurisdic tion in man, it folio vveth that 
 to whom one giveth love, one giveth also 
 their will and their whole self; and thus by 
 love one is united to what one loveth, and 
 converted and transferred into the nature 
 and dominion thereof. 
 
 " To draw then this discourse to a con- 
 clusion : the love of a virtuous soul dwell- 
 ing in a fair and perfect body, is the 
 noblest and worthiest action that a man is 
 master of: it exerciseth in due manner that 
 superior talent that God and nature hath 
 given him ; and by choosing a perfecter
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 object than himself to love, it exalteth and 
 refineth those seeds of goodness that are in 
 him, and although he should not find any 
 completely perfect, yet this heroic effect 
 of it would not be frustrated, since it is 
 the nature of love to make the lover believe 
 all possible perfections in the person be- 
 loved, and to that idea that he hath 
 framed to himself, he raiseth himself up. 
 And when this divine gift, which obligeth 
 the person beloved in the deepest debt 
 that may be, is repaid in such manner as 
 it ought to be, which can be only by 
 returning the like love, then the lover 
 reapeth the fruit of this action, which is 
 perfect joy; and that is the greatest 
 blessing that our nature is capable of, as 
 sorrow is the greatest misery, which at the 
 last must necessarily follow those that 
 miss of this joy by erring in the bestow- 
 ing of this gift, although it may be long 
 before they take notice of it, like the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 241 
 
 unfortunate and wretched souls, whose 
 greatest torment is to be deprived of the 
 divine joy, that is the inheritance of them 
 who place their love upon a right object. 
 And this joy and content of lovers, besides 
 that it is the highest and noblest that we 
 can possess, is also the securest, and placed, 
 as it were, in sanctuary, out of the hands of 
 fortune and change ; for the ground of it 
 is in ourselves, and we need the help of no 
 exterior thing to make it complete, it 
 dependeth upon our wills which we govern 
 as we please: therefore, this is the true 
 happiness that a wise man ought to aim 
 at, since that himself is master of it and 
 he can give it to himself when he list. I 
 hope then that you will now no longer call 
 that the weakest of all passions, which 
 produceth so noble effects; nor believe 
 that it doth effeminate the mind, or relent it 
 from the prosecution of heroic and virtuous 
 actions, since the nature of it is to raise it 
 
 R
 
 942 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 up to the perfectest notions, and inciteth 
 any generous heart to do worthy things, 
 were it but to recommend him unto the 
 esteem of her that he adoreth. And for 
 satiety and repentance, they are qualities 
 not incident to spiritual actions, as I un- 
 derstand the fruition and joy begotten by 
 this noble love to be for the most part; 
 but accompanieth inseparably that gross 
 and material enjoying which you recom- 
 mend to me to extinguish or to mitigate 
 my divine flame. Therefore, after this 
 discourse, which m,ay seem tedious to you, 
 but is a theme that I should never be weary 
 to enlarge myself upon, I am confident you 
 will now harbour a more favourable opi- 
 nion of my affection than you did before ; 
 I having proved how noble a thing love is, 
 and how necessary to make a man com- 
 pletely happy, and that in the object of 
 mine there is so much perfection, as I am 
 sure you will say, who are yet an indifferent
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 243 
 
 and unpassionate judge, that she deserveth 
 it beyond all women that you or I have 
 ever known/' 
 
 Whether Rogesilius were satisfied or no 
 with this discourse, he did riot at all 
 express by any words; but after a long 
 and profound silence or* both sides, he 
 not thinking it good manners to oppose 
 farther what he saw had taken so deep & 
 root in his friend's heart ; and being de- 
 sirous to divert Theagenes from the tram 
 of his deep and serious meditations, that 
 still continued rolling about the heads of 
 what he had spoken, Stelliana being con- 
 tinually the centre of all the motions effort 
 heart, began a new conference, and desired 
 Theagenes to relate to him the passages of 
 a falling out between Famelicus, One that 
 served the king in the same place that he 
 did, and him, whereof he had yet but 
 an imperfect knowledge delivered him 
 by uncertain rumour : whereupon Thea- 
 u 2
 
 244 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 genes to satisfy his curiosity, began in this 
 manner. 
 
 " To give you a full understanding of the 
 injury that was done me, and why it was 
 done me, I most take the beginning of this 
 discourse a little higher than the abrupt 
 relation of what passed between Famelicus 
 and me, since he was but the indiscreet 
 instrument of others' malice. You may 
 then be pleased to understand, that be- 
 tween Nugentius, whom you know to be 
 so powerful and of so much esteem in his 
 own country, and myself, there hath been 
 heretofore great friendship and fami- 
 liarity ; and in the time of our most dear- 
 ness we never had other differences, jiot so 
 much as in opinions, more than, while I 
 sighed out my affectionate flames, he 
 would strive either by counsel to win me 
 from my devotions, or at least, by bitter 
 invectives and taunts, seek to make me 
 ashamed of the condition of a loving
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 245 
 
 martyr which I lived in. But the little 
 God, which the common people thinketh to 
 be blind, was not long before he revenged 
 this blasphemy of his, and made him see 
 how weak the eyes of vulgar and cold 
 reason are to look upon a sun of beauty; 
 for he kindled such a fire in his breast that 
 he soon felt all the tormenting passions 
 that most lovers do but weakly feign, and 
 was so coldly requited by her whom he 
 adored, that from all her actions he might 
 gather to himself rather matter of despair, 
 than of any comfort or content. And the 
 judgment that was inflicted upon him, was 
 every way so proportionable to his sin, that 
 he sucked in this furious heat, and drunk 
 this bitter poison, in the presence of him 
 whom he had so often taxed of folly for 
 loving; for one summer evening as he and 
 I were entertaining ourselves, for our 
 pleasure, upon the river, we met a boat 
 wherein Stelliana and Babilinda were
 
 246 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 both sitting together, listening to a song 
 accompanied with excellent music that 
 they had brought out with them, having 
 allotted this pleasant and calm evening to 
 their recreation in this kind. I that had 
 my eyes armed with love, discerned afar 
 off who was in the boat, which scarce 
 being able to bear that heaven of perfec- 
 tion, did sink under her burden, and yet 
 the water seemed to run pleasantly about 
 her, and smile that it was so honoured, 
 while at every stroke the oars made, one 
 would think it dissolved into tears for her 
 spon gliding away. But Nugentius of a 
 sudden, grew like one amazed, or that had 
 unheedly looked upon the stone-trans- 
 forming head, and it was a long time before 
 he could frame any word, and only gave 
 evidence of his passions by his deep sighs : 
 he found it true that love is begotten at the 
 first sight, and that some light or disdainful 
 action of a conquering beauty is able to
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 24? 
 
 subdue and tame the sternest and wildest 
 heart that is; for, as he afterward confessed 
 to me, a certain scornful and disorderly 
 putting off of her veil, which of a sudden 
 displayed the lightnings of Babilinda's 
 eyes, dazzled his, and wounded him to the 
 very soul. But when after a long suit he 
 found that he could not warm the cold 
 and frozen heart of her that he so much 
 loved, a foul passion crept into his bosom, 
 that usually accompanieth none but weak 
 minds that are conscious to themselves of 
 their own little worth, and made him 
 jealous that the cause why Babilinda was 
 so little favourable to him, proceeded from 
 her much respect to me; which, indeed, had 
 no other ground but the devoting of my 
 services to Stelliana, to whom she saw they 
 were pleasing, and there being much 
 friendship between them two, and a con- 
 tinual familiarity, she endeavoured what 
 she could to do fair offices on both sides,
 
 248 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 which is the property of all gentle natures; 
 and by this means I came to be much 
 beholden to her, she seeing that the oblig- 
 ing me in this manner was also the obliging 
 of her friend in many things that her bash- 
 fulness would not let her do, although she 
 desired them, unless she were half con- 
 strained thereto. But indeed Babilinda's 
 want of affection to Nugentius proceeded 
 from other causes, whereof the one was her 
 young and yet wild heart, unacquainted 
 with the very colour of passionate affection, 
 which yet could take pleasure to see the 
 effects of her fair eyes upon others' yield- 
 ing ones; and the other, a certain fretting 
 disposition of Nugentius, which made him 
 unapt to purchase and win love; for he 
 was of such an impatient nature, that when 
 he found any obstacles in his desires, he 
 would always murmur against fortune, 
 accuse the malice of the times, and in- 
 creasing his torment, would consume him-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 249 
 
 self in vain complaints; so that his spirit 
 
 - 
 seemed always to delight in travail and 
 
 affliction, by which means his suit and 
 company became tedious and troublesome 
 to Babilinda, which otherwise her discre- 
 tion would have caused her to esteem 
 much of, considering the reputation and 
 dignity of the person that applied himself 
 to her service. But he, mistaking the 
 cause of his little success, bent all his wit to 
 estrange me from Babilinda's company, 
 which he saw could not be effected as long 
 as the affection continued between Stelliana 
 and me, they two being continually toge- 
 ther, and therefore his first plpt was to set 
 us two at variance: whereto fortune pre- 
 sented him a fit occasion, by working upon 
 the bitterness of Familicus's passion; 
 who loving Stelliana violently, and making 
 once some indiscreet expression of it, had 
 received from her a public and weighty 
 affront, which made him convert all his
 
 250 PRIVATE MEMOIKS. 
 
 affection into rage and desire of revenge. 
 Herein Hydaspes concurred with Nugen- 
 tins, who you know was once very dear to 
 me, for he hated her mortally, because that 
 she had discovered to me a very trea- 
 cherous action of his against me, to whom 
 he professed and owed much friendship ; 
 for he, thinking to settle himself in her 
 favour by displacing me, whom he con- 
 ceived to be the only hinderer of his desires, 
 sought to disgrace me to her in private, 
 and so to insinuate himself by my ruin 
 into her grace. These two then, with all 
 the subtlety that they could use, wrought 
 upon Famelicus to say, that* he had re- 
 ceived from Stelliana such friendship and 
 kindnesses as none but her, at least in- 
 tended, husband ought to be partaker of: 
 assuring him that they would govern the 
 business so that he should never be ques- 
 
 * This passage has been substituted for " he had reason to 
 believe that Stelliana was not so modest as she seemed, and 
 that her modesty."
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 251 
 
 tioned for what he said, and that they 
 knew me to be of such a hot spirit and so 
 violent in things that concerned my ho- 
 nour, that upon this rumour, which they 
 would cunningly insinuate to me, without 
 farther examination I should leave her 
 familiarity, and cast off her friendship ; 
 which Famelicus desired as much as they, 
 knowing that above all other things this 
 would most afflict Stelliana, against whom 
 he was now grown rancorously spiteful, 
 that he would have been content to wound 
 her even through his own body. But I, 
 discerning their malice afar oft*, disguised 
 as well as I could the sense that I had of 
 Nugcntius and Hydaspes's relation to 
 me, and behaved myself in such sort that 
 they doubted not but that it took such 
 impression in me as they desired it 
 
 should ; lest if I had done otherwise it 
 
 
 
 might have made them spin a farther web 
 to embroil me more. But as soon as I
 
 252 PHIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 had quitted myself of their troublesome 
 company, without giving time to Famelicus 
 to avail himself of any new subtleties by 
 delays, I challenged him to make good 
 upon him with my sword and hazard of 
 my life, that all what he had said concern- 
 ing Stelliana was false ; which I knew very 
 well to be so, and that in his particular 
 she ever despised him ; but I judged this 
 way of proceeding was requisite both to 
 right her and myself, because that know- 
 ledge would not be sufficient to lead other 
 men's beliefs, unless with his own mouth I 
 made him give himself the lie. But he 
 did more than that, for when he saw his 
 life at stake, and that nothing less than 
 that or an ingenuous and full confession 
 would satisfy my just anger, he acknow- 
 ledged how he had no ground of truth, or 
 for suspicion, in all that he had said ; but 
 that his own hatred to her had first sug- 
 gested to him to injure her in the deepest
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 253 
 
 manner that he could, and then the malice 
 of Nugentius and Hydaspes blowed the 
 coals in his breast, till it broke out into 
 this unworthy and false slander; which, he 
 
 X 
 
 averred, and said he would maintain with 
 his life, was wholly their plot : and then re- 
 lated all the particularities which I have told 
 you, whereby himself hath got the repute of 
 an indiscreet, rash, and dishonest coward; 
 and the other two, the esteem of mali- 
 cious, unworthy, and cankered wretches." 
 After these and some other discourses, 
 Theagenes, taking leave of Rogesilius, went 
 to his own lodging, where he met with 
 news that much afflicted him, and yet de- 
 livering such a rich and heroic example of 
 fortitude and constancy in a woman's 
 breast, that I doubt whether it can be pa- 
 ralleled with any in this age ; and, withal, 
 of so much affection in his Stelliana to 
 him, that would not only endure with 
 magnanimity intolerable torments for his
 
 2.54 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 sake, but even give up her life without dis- 
 puting it, only to satisfy a desire of his 
 without any interest on her side ; that he 
 joyed as much in the midst of his soul- 
 breaking anguish, as a heart can do that is 
 in suspense and doubt of the safety of the 
 person that it loveth most. For by a mes- 
 senger that was sent to him with exceeding 
 haste from Stelliana, who was, and had 
 been some time, at her father's house in 
 the country, he understood how, by a fall 
 from a horse as she was riding abroad the 
 night before to take the air, she had re- 
 ceived some bruises, and being brought 
 speechless home into her chamber, as soon 
 as she came to herself again, she fell sud- 
 denly into labour of childbirth, she wanting 
 then some few days of her expected time ; 
 which unhappy accident disordered all the 
 long and discreet preparations that were 
 maturely made and contrived by both of 
 them for her fit delivery : for the next day
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 255 
 
 she intended, by coach, which she had with 
 her, to come to Corinth, where a private 
 and fit place, and due attendance, was pro- 
 vided for her lying-in ; and she had re- 
 mained at her father's all the time that 
 her swelling burden might betray her to 
 strangers' curious eyes, and was now come 
 to the last period that it was safe for her to 
 continue there. But hereby one may take 
 to themselves a lesson, how weak all the 
 wisest propositions of men are, and that 
 God reserveth to himself the right of dis- 
 posing all things; and then, when to human 
 understandings a business seemeth to be 
 upon worst terms, he raiseth from the 
 weakest and least regarded subjects, means 
 to rectify all again. For what, in all ap- 
 pearance, could be weaker than the tender- 
 ness of a delicate lady that never knew 
 what hardness meant, to encounter with 
 dangers, torments, nay, even death itself, 
 and to outface suspicion ? for thus it hap-
 
 256 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 pened with Stelliana, who, choosing rather 
 to suffer death and any other extremity, 
 than to fail in the least point to what The- 
 agenes desired of her, and what she had 
 promised to him, resolved never to acquaint 
 any one in what state she was while she 
 had life, more than one servant she had, 
 who was privy to what was between The- 
 agenes and her. And thus, with the help 
 of that one fearful and unexperienced maid, 
 she was delivered of a fair son after a long 
 and dangerous labour, in which she had 
 like to have perished for want of due help ; 
 ajid yet she bore it with such a strange 
 and high resolution, that, being troubled 
 by times with the visits of her careful 
 father and others that lived in the house, 
 she never betrayed any part of her pain by 
 weak crying, or so much as any languish- 
 ing sighs. But before Theagenes could 
 come to her, who, upon the first news of 
 her danger, made all possible haste thither,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 25? 
 
 she had been so long in the hands of tor- 
 ment, that her spirits began then to faint, 
 and to yield themselves to a misty night, 
 when, of a sudden, his sight brought new 
 strength and vigour to her dismayed senses ; 
 so that she, of her side, by undaunted suf- 
 fering, and he, on his, by providing dis- 
 creetly for the due carriage of all things, 
 wherein he had no easy task, they both 
 behaved themselves in such sort, that she 
 soon recovered her perfect health and 
 strength, and the cause of her sickness was 
 not so much as suspected. And, if before, 
 any one might have jealousies what state 
 she was in, and might doubt the notice of 
 her first pretending to be indisposed, all 
 this was now cleared, since what was done 
 would seem impossible, and not to be 
 believed by any that did not know it was 
 done. 
 
 Theagenes having remained there till 
 she was perfectly re-established in her
 
 258 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 health, returned to Corinth ; and then Aris- 
 tobulus, taking occasion of this his late 
 and so long and public having been with 
 her, to represent to him the wrong that he 
 did himself in this affection, and how much 
 it did prejudice his esteem, did, in a grave 
 and friendly manner, persuade him to cast 
 it from him, and to banish so weak a 
 passion out of his breast ; using words to 
 this effect. " I have, of late, my worthy 
 cousin, observed in you a great difference 
 from yourself, for I know the natural 
 temper of your mind, and the solidness of 
 your judgment to be such, that when you 
 do any thing otherwise than reason would 
 dictate to you, you suffer force from some 
 violent passion, which, if you give too 
 much scope unto in the way you are, will 
 lessen much, if not altogether lose, the 
 reputation of discretion and prudence 
 which you have gotten among all that 
 know you. I need seek no farther for
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 259 
 
 arguments to prove what I say, than to 
 entreat you to look a little into yourself, 
 and then you cannot choose but acknow- 
 ledge, how you now scarcely cast an eye 
 upon the studies which, heretofore, you 
 applied yourself unto with much eagerness 
 and no less benefit : that your endeavours 
 to increase upon your master's favour and 
 grace are mainly slackened, which if you 
 had made right use of, in all probability 
 your rank and fortunes might, by this 
 time, have been ranked with the fore- 
 most ; and that you do not put your- 
 self forward into great and honourable 
 actions with that zeal and vigour that you 
 have done. All which effects of a weak- 
 ened and decayed mind, I can attribute 
 to no other cause but your having enter- 
 tained into your breast a servile affection, 
 which, wheresoever it entereth, is a clog to 
 generous spirits, and freezeth all heroic 
 thoughts in their very births, and over- 
 
 s 2
 
 260 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 throweth the worthiest resolutions ; and 
 will cause any man to sink in the value of 
 the world ; begetting, if not contempt, at 
 least a mean esteem, especially when it is 
 conferred upon one that hath been known 
 in hers to have been formerly engaged to 
 another, and hath lived altogether at li- 
 berty under her own conduct in the world. 
 It belongeth to you not to sit still in idle- 
 ness, but to aim at worthy fortunes to 
 strive to raise your house, and to gain 
 some advantageous match : whereas, in all 
 probability, these will not only not in- 
 crease, but lessen your estate ; since in 
 your mother's disposal is a great part of 
 what shall be yours if you displease her 
 not, and you know that she is mainly 
 averse to this. I appeal to yourself that 
 you see the truth of what I say so evident, 
 as, whatsoever you may answer me, your 
 wit can but find arguments to evade my 
 pressing you, and not to satisfy yourself.
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 261 
 
 Then at length yield to reason, and let not 
 the world say, that all your understanding, 
 your knowledge, your learning, the vigour 
 of your mind, and the well training of it up 
 in virtuous actions, cannot defend you from 
 the snares of beauty." 
 
 These words, with others of like nature, 
 spoken by Aristobulus with much authority 
 and seriousness, through which yet shined 
 much affection, did pierce Theagenes to 
 the very soul ; who was distracted and torn 
 asunder between his love and obligations 
 to her that he loved better than himself, 
 and his reverence to him that he loved 
 and respected as a father, and that had, 
 above all men else, given him solid de- 
 monstrations of a worthy friendship. But, 
 at length, his spirits unfolding themselves 
 out of the net of deep and amazed sorrow, 
 he replied to him in this manner. 
 
 " Although my chiefest study, since I 
 have had the ability of discerning and
 
 262 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 judging, my honoured lord, hath been to 
 free my mind from that servitude in which 
 most men's are fettered, which is, to relish 
 things by other men's opinions; and that 
 I have strived to attain to so perfect a 
 liberty herein, as not to value whatsoever 
 others may censure me of, as long as I am 
 conscious to myself that I do according to 
 the prescripts of nature and reason : yet 
 the affectionate reverence that I bear unto 
 you, doth so waken my sense and wound it 
 so deeply when you pass the condemning 
 sentence of dislike upon my actions, that, 
 considering it is not in my power to alter 
 the tenor of them, since we owe our being 
 and the form of it to Heaven, I do wish 
 myself out of the world, to the end that I 
 might take away the occasion of your cen- 
 sure, and yet not be false to that affection, 
 which, next to my faith to God, is above 
 all things else, deepest rooted in my soul. 
 But since I know how vain such wishes
 
 263 
 
 are, and how deaf unto wretches' calls he 
 is, that is the last and only physician of all 
 our evils, I will contain myself from sighing 
 out such weak expressions of a # fainting 
 mind ; and will, in the best manner that I 
 can, give you account of my opinions in 
 such sort, as I may defend my actions 
 depending thereon ; which, I confess, will 
 not be a regular answer to what you have 
 spoken, nor, as it ought to be, in form ; 
 but, I hope, will be an effectual though 
 disjointed one: and, for my excuse herein, 
 I must beseech you to consider that the 
 business I shall speak of, is that whereon 
 the whole tenor of my life and happiness 
 dependeth, and that I plead it before such 
 a judge, that I account all lost if I give 
 not him satisfaction ; which causeth such 
 an eagerness in me, and such a desire to 
 omit nothing that may serve for my de- 
 fence, that many and very different con- 
 siderations do present themselves unto me
 
 264 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 at the same time, so that, in this confusion, 
 I know beforehand it will be impossible 
 for me to speak things in order; and I fear 
 that my several and numerous conceptions 
 will so clog the issue, that, in striving each 
 to get out first, they will stifle and suffocate 
 one another, and thus, before they can 
 grow to any strength and vigour, receive 
 their death in the very place of their sud- 
 den and immature birth ; or, at best, that 
 those who shall have better fates, will come 
 out so maimed, as they will express too 
 much to the prejudice of my cause, that I 
 suffer great unquietness within. To begin 
 then in answering that which you first 
 urge as a sign of my impaired train of life, 
 and so to proceed successively to the rest, 
 I must acknowledge that I have studied so 
 much as to be very well informed that no 
 knowledge is comparable to the knowledge 
 of one's self, and that all other learning is 
 vain which teacheth not to better the mind,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 265 
 
 and that the deepest speculations are but 
 difficult trifles, if they be not employed to 
 guide men's actions in the path of virtue, 
 and directed to gain peace and tranquillity 
 to the soul; and that their labour is very 
 ridiculous, who strive to make their me- 
 mory the storehouse of many infructuous 
 notions. And for being cold in thrusting 
 myself into great actions, such as usually 
 entice away the affections of young men, 
 whose spirits are unstayed through the 
 intemperate heat of their boiling blood, I 
 hope I shall be pardoned at the least by 
 those that know how happy a thing it is to 
 live to one's self; for, certainly, no exterior 
 thing in this world is worthy the exchanging 
 one's leisure for it ; and when we depart 
 from the inward contentments that we 
 may always enjoy at our own pleasure, 
 we are then tormented with the desire of 
 future things, and are glutted with the 
 present, so that our life bccometh tedious,
 
 266 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. ' 
 
 and we taste nothing but vexations. I 
 conceive that all men naturally desire to 
 live happily, as being the greatest blessing 
 this life can afford us ; but in the chase of 
 this state most men steer different courses, 
 and the greatest part lose it in seeking it : 
 for my part, I esteem that life blessed, 
 which is led according to nature; which 
 cannot be, unless the mind be vigorous 
 and sound, out of the reach of fortune's 
 power, free from admiration or being con^ 
 fined to other men's opinions, and whom 
 nothing can extol or depress, and knoweth 
 no greater good than what he can give 
 himself: and the contrary of this to be, 
 when we let rumours take so deep im- 
 pression in us, as to cause us to alter our 
 resolutions and curb our desires, whereby 
 we come to live not by reason, but accord- 
 ing to example and to the opinion that 
 will be entertained of us ; which of all 
 servitudes is the greatest, men obliging
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 26? 
 
 themselves to believe the most voices, and 
 enthralling their understandings and judg- 
 ments to other errors. And when the 
 world shall know how little I value their 
 censures, I believe they will soon grow 
 weary of persecuting me with them ; which 
 I do not through obstinacy or stupidity of 
 nature, but for the vanity that I observe in 
 all their proceedings ; and because I know 
 that he is not happy or unhappy that is 
 thought so, but he only that feeleth and 
 thinketh himself so. But I wonder much 
 that you, who have so elevated a soul, 
 should judge according to their rule, and 
 so heavily condemn the affection in me 
 which you take notice of, and is not pos- 
 sible for me to disguise. I feel this in it, 
 that, besides the settling of a young man's 
 straying and wandering courses, it polisheth 
 the mind and refineth it by causing it to 
 work upon itself, and to neglect all things 
 that conduce not to the bettering or to the
 
 268 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 quiet and peace of it ; which far exceedeth 
 all the favours that fortune can heap upon 
 me, for they are always in her inconstant 
 hand to take away again, but nothing can 
 touch or disturb this, if one betray not 
 one's self. This diverteth the mind from 
 weaker and meaner passions, and filleth it 
 with excess of joy ; only one ought to be 
 cautious in choosing upon whom to place 
 it, and then it is the true office of a wise 
 and honest man ; which will be more clear 
 to you if you will call to mind what your 
 nephew the other day related to you, how 
 I proved to him that love is the noblest 
 action that human nature can extend itself 
 unto. I am sure this hath corrected many 
 infirmities and natural imperfections which 
 had deep seeds in me; and the like will 
 do in any one that desireth to appear 
 worthy to her that he so highly affecteth, 
 and, therefore, calleth often his passions to 
 a strict account before the tribunal of
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 269 
 
 reason. But, setting aside all other argu- 
 ments, I will confess ingenuously that I 
 love Stelliana, and cannot but love her ; 
 her perfections merit it : but for the present 
 let those pass, and be not displeased with 
 me that I say I love her because she is she, 
 and I am I. The stars that are above us, 
 and our reason, have a great stroke in our 
 affections, how free soever our wills may 
 be : but, withal, add her extreme affection 
 to me, and then suppose I could master 
 my own, and withdraw it, yet how unge- 
 nerous should I be, and with what heart 
 could I endure to break her heart that 
 loveth me better than herself, and that 
 hath obliged me to do the like towards 
 her? for noble minds are more touched 
 with the joy and sorrow that happeneth to 
 their dear friends, than with their own ; 
 especially when they are the procurers of 
 it. But why should you or the world so 
 much inveigh against my choosing her?
 
 2?0 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 Their judgments are accompanied with 
 vanity, let not yours be so ; but examine 
 her actions thoroughly, before you con- 
 demn her. For you can give no solid 
 reason why she should be less valued for 
 her former affection, since, looking into 
 the reality of it, and finding it to be on 
 worthy grounds of her side, you must con- 
 sent that her innocence is not impeached. 
 But let us consider how, in this so im- 
 portant business of marriage, one ought 
 not to confine himself to the temporal re- 
 spects of estate. It is a bargain in which 
 posterity hath the greatest interest ; and 
 riches are of an inferior consideration to 
 several others. We see what care is used 
 even in beasts for the breeding of a good 
 race; much more then in the breeding of 
 men it is to be cared for that the parents 
 be well chosen, for the children take after 
 them. A man ought to choose such a wife 
 as may be observant and virtuous while
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 2? 1 
 
 he hath her, which none can promise to 
 himself of one that he knoweth not per- 
 fectly through long conversation, and 
 whose will is not wholly in his power by 
 love : indeed this one thing outweigheth 
 all the rest, and is the highest obligation 
 that may be, and challenge th the greatest 
 retribution that is in one's power. A main 
 part of which is, to undergo any censure 
 for the beloved's sake; which, in my par- 
 ticular, I do most joyfully, and am highly 
 glad of the means to express my affection, 
 in imitation of Him to whom we all owe 
 our salvation, who was not contented with 
 only suffering pain, or dying to effect that 
 great work, of whom one only tear was of 
 power to have washed away the sins of 
 infinite worlds, but to shew his burning 
 love and charity to us, would be the object 
 of the highest and most reproachful infa- 
 mies that were ever done to any man. A 
 wise man should not confine himself to
 
 272 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 what may be said of the past actions of his 
 wife, and we see it is little regarded by the 
 greatest part and the most solid nations of 
 the world : but in choosing her, he ought 
 to see that she be nobly descended, beau- 
 tiful to please him, well formed to bear 
 children, of a good wit, sweet disposition, 
 endowed with good parts, and love him ; 
 then it will be his fault if he make her not 
 a good wife. These qualities would war- 
 rant me in choosing Stelliana ; for you 
 know that by both her parents she de- 
 scendeth from the noblest houses of Greece; 
 and of her ancestors there have been that 
 have exalted and pulled down Kings in 
 Morea, and some of them might, and their 
 successors still have right to wear a regal 
 crown upon their princely temples. This 
 match, into so noble and great families, 
 doth not only add strength and many 
 friends for the present, but the commodi- 
 ties of it is inherited by one's children ;
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 2?3 
 
 and those women that are of most honour- 
 able blood, are most sensible of dishonour- 
 able things, and so become most tractable 
 and obedient to their husbands where it is 
 requisite. For her beauty I need not say 
 much, since my weak expression of it that 
 is so much above the power of words to 
 describe, would but sully the idea that, I 
 am sure, you conceive of it. In her being 
 well formed to bear children there can be 
 no doubt, since she is in all things so 
 exactly composed by the perfect rules of 
 wise nature, as no man can intimate so 
 much as an unessential scape. The excel- 
 lency of her wit I cannot describe better 
 than in saying, it is a masculine and vi- 
 gorous one, and every way correspondent 
 to her fair outside ; and can be impeached 
 in nothing but her much loving me that 
 cannot deserve it. And the sweetness of 
 her disposition is such, that through the 
 virulent malice of this age, it hath been 
 
 T
 
 274 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 the only cause of all her misfortunes. And, 
 in conclusion, her good parts are such as 
 may be expected to be harboured in a 
 worthy lady that is born with all the ad- 
 vantages of nature, and hath been brought 
 up with all due industry and care. Con- 
 sider then what a happiness it is to have 
 such a wife as in her, together with all the 
 other commodities of marriage, one may 
 enjoy the sweetness of a full friendship, 
 have the means to disburden one's self of 
 all cares, in most important affairs receive 
 faithful counsel, be blessed with the con- 
 tent of a pleasing conversation, and whose 
 very countenance will comfort one, and, 
 without fears or scruples, leave the conduct 
 of one's family to her known discretion, 
 doubting her conscience less than one's 
 own. And, on the other side, look with 
 impartial eyes upon the weaknesses and 
 imperfections of most women, and tell me 
 whether it be not a misery, for any respect
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 275 
 
 whatsoever, to be tied in perpetual chains 
 to one of the vulgar stamp? in them one 
 shall see nothing but a continual incon- 
 stancy and succession of fond and vain 
 humours ; and certainly, in our conversation 
 with such, our loss of time can never be 
 redeemed to our profit. Whosoever mar- 
 rieth her that, being past her years of inno- 
 cent ignorance, is beaten to the world and 
 entered in the school of experience, and 
 bringeth a good estate with her, shall find 
 her proud, subtle, crafty, importune, and 
 fastidious, and may doubt her loyalty with 
 sufficient cause ; and before that age, their 
 simplicity is so thick, that, besides their 
 husbands beiog answerable for all their 
 follies, I doubt whether the forming of 
 them to one's (desire, be worth the pains 
 that one must take in it. Whereas SteL- 
 liana is both in the vigour of her age, to 
 bear strotDg and healthful children, and to 
 support the pains and travails that accom- 
 T 2
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 pany that condition, and hath a mind so 
 moulded to my hand, as I know not in 
 what part of it to desire any amendment : 
 and if indiscreet unstayed youth, or rather 
 childhood, have at any time cast a mist 
 over her judgment, and so caused some 
 innocent error in any of her actions, the 
 goodness of her nature hath converted it 
 into this benefit, that she is fully warned 
 and armed never to incur the like : and 
 then since time flieth away and leaveth 
 nothing of itself behind it that we can 
 really take hold of, what is done in that 
 should not be considered in judging the 
 nature of free and voluntary agents, so 
 much as the present state of the soul and 
 of the mind. It is true that in this life we 
 cannot enter into the judgment of such 
 substances by other means than by their 
 effects, and as they express themselves in 
 their exterior actions ; but withal, to keep 
 us from erring, we ought to look into the
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 2?7 
 
 main stock of them, the constantest, the 
 latest, and those that are done upon judg- 
 ment ; since, in some particular one, se- 
 veral things may concur to make it seem 
 of a different piece from the whole con- 
 texture of one's life; and but weak con- 
 jectures can be made of what one doth 
 before the intellectual part is grown to his 
 full strength ; for they were once brittle 
 mould that are now saints ; and how full 
 are all stories of men and women, whose 
 natures, when they have attained to mature 
 age, have differed much from what their 
 younger years did promise. And let it be 
 remembered that the clearest brooks that 
 are, have some mud, but which will not at 
 all defile the pureness of the stream if it 
 be not indiscreetly stirred, and then too it 
 hath so shallow a bottom, that it quickly 
 slideth away. What I have said upon this 
 subject, methinks, maketh it very evident 
 that there is great difference in this election
 
 278 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 between what nature teacheth us and what 
 the laws of opinion prescribe. I believe 
 all wise men will esteem me the better, if I 
 make mine according to the first ; and then 
 whatsoever the vulgar may think of me, I 
 shall certainly be much happier than they 
 that censure me. The wisest man that 
 ever was, setting aside those that are men- 
 tioned in sacred writ, and that first reduced 
 philosophy to morality, and whose life was 
 conformable to his doctrine, delivereth it 
 for a maxim, that to the end a man may be 
 happy, he ought to permit himself some- 
 times to be esteemed a fool. The actions 
 Of the highest and noblest rank of men, 
 move like the superior heavenly bodies, 
 many times in a motion of retrogradation ; 
 and as long as I can march at ease by 
 myself, I will never suffer to be carried 
 away from myself by the throng. I know 
 the worst that can be objected against her 
 whom I have made choice of, and more
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 279 
 
 than any man else doth ; and if I err, my 
 judgment will be in fault as much as my 
 affection, so that I shall neither be laughed 
 at for being deceived, nor pitied for mis- 
 taking. Actions of this quality are to be 
 condemned in them that do them through 
 infirmity and weakness, but not in those 
 that do them out of a superiority and 
 strength of mind ; and I have so great 
 confidence of myself as to think, that my 
 doing a thing of this nature should, to the 
 vulgar sort, warrant the goodness of it. 
 The best way to judge of any action is, to 
 inform one's self, first, of him that did it; 
 for that may be a virtue in one man, which 
 in another may be a vice. Cato and Ra- 
 zias won immortal fame of virtuous forti- 
 tude for killing themselves ; but many 
 others that have done the like through de- 
 spair, or some other unworthy passion, 
 have drowned their names in perpetual 
 infamy. And who will censure that vir-
 
 280 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 tuous Cato for his indulgence to himself, in 
 drinking wine oftentimes in so large a pro- 
 portion, that in a less worthy man it would 
 be esteemed a great vice? He did it not 
 through imbecility, but the rules that his 
 judgment prescribed to himself allowed it, 
 and then he valued not what others would 
 censure of him for it. This I speak in 
 respect of the opinion of other men, who 
 should judge actions, good or bad, accord- 
 ing to the grounds of them ; but, in respect 
 of my own, the certain knowledge that I 
 have of her worth whom I so much affect, 
 doth sufficiently warrant my affection; so 
 that I will never do her so much wrong as, 
 in the defence of this action of mine, to 
 insis't upon the quality of my judgment of 
 it, wherein I may set down rules for myself 
 much differing from the vulgarly received 
 ones, and not to rely upon the excellency 
 of her virtue, which maketh the action 
 virtuous in itself. And her having lived at
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 281 
 
 liberty and by her own guidance in the 
 world, for which you tax her, methinks is 
 a commendation, and she ought to be the 
 more esteemed for it ; since that keeping 
 herself upon fair terms amidst so many 
 dangers and in that state, it is evident that 
 her virtues are her own, and not con- 
 strained nor dissembled, nor will ever alter 
 their current. 
 
 " But from whence do you gather that 
 my endeavours to increase upon my mas- 
 ter's grace and favour are slackened ? I 
 am not guilty to myself of any heats or 
 colds this way, nor would I that there 
 should be in me. In the service of one's 
 Prince, to proceed with constancy and 
 temper is certainly the best and most per- 
 manent ; but so as rather to engage one's 
 self in the offices of public duty than by 
 any other respect : for thus one shall both 
 be a faithful and affectionate servant, and 
 yet preserve one's own liberty, which I
 
 282 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 prefer much before any good fortune that 
 can arrive to me ; and indeed, I value 
 fortune, and measure it, not according to 
 the height, but according to the facility of 
 it, and this perad venture is the reason why 
 in substance or titles I have not bettered 
 mine. But if nobody else will trouble 
 themselves upon this consideration more 
 than I do myself, whom in reason it should 
 import most, not one single anxious 
 thought shall be cast away upon it. For 
 I judge more nobly of those that neglect 
 honours, than of those that seek them ; 
 this elevateth them a degree above what 
 the others aim at ; and I have set down my 
 rest, where piety forbiddeth not, to live 
 according to nature, then it is in my own 
 power to make myself happy and to give 
 good to myself. I am above fortune, 
 which others have need of; I can reduce 
 my occasions to what is in my power; 
 mores cuique suifingunt fortunam, and thus
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 283 
 
 I shall neither fear nor desire any thing : 
 which two passions are the greatest tor- 
 ments in this life, and bring the mind into 
 greatest servitude. But with all this, I 
 am not such an enemy to an active life, 
 or to honours if they were offered me, but 
 that I would then accept of them, and 
 avoid no employment for the dangers or 
 troubles that may accompany them, if by 
 my being so employed and advanced I 
 may become fitter to do service to my 
 Prince, my country, and friends ; which 
 being so, my other affection will be no im- 
 pediment to my undertaking any public 
 and great action when I shall see a fit sea- 
 son, and that good is likely to result of it, 
 although I must confess that retiredness 
 would afford me much more solid content, 
 especially in these depraved times; and it 
 cannot keep me back from them by les- 
 sening me in the esteem of my master, 
 since he cannot choose but think well of
 
 284 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 that man who sheweth such an effect of his 
 loyalty and good nature, that no respects 
 whatsoever can make him false to her he 
 loveth. And as concerning my mother, I 
 wish that I may perish in that hour that I 
 make light account of the filial duty that 
 I owe her ; but parents would do very 
 well, if they have discreet children, that in 
 things mainly importing them will not 
 abandon themselves, to examine thoroughly 
 how far their jurisdiction reacheth before 
 they stretch it to extremities. Our retri- 
 bution ought to be proportionable to our 
 debt, but our souls and intellectual parts 
 we owe immediately to God, and therefore 
 what dependeth thereon is subaltern to no - 
 human jurisdiction ; so that when one is 
 arrived to the full years of mature discre- 
 tion, it were a kind of tyranny in a parent, 
 to use more than counsel or reason in in- 
 clining or diverting the child in disposing 
 of himself. And howsoever she may dis-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 285 
 
 pose of her estate, T shall not be moved 
 therewith, nor shall let it, though it were 
 much more, enter into consideration with 
 the content of my mind ; although this I 
 may say, that I think she and all parents 
 would do most wisely not to innovate nor 
 alter any thing that the general laws of the 
 country ordain and intend ; which cer- 
 tainly, in providing for inconveniencies, 
 reach farther and see deeper than any sin- 
 gle judgment can ; besides that, when all 
 is said, there is a reciprocal duty of pa- 
 rents to children, which is enough for an 
 obsequious child to have but intimated ; 
 especially to a wise man. 
 
 "Then for an advantageous match which 
 you recommend to me to seek, can any be 
 comparable to this, which if you consider 
 the estate that she doth and may bring 
 with her,' is no mean one. O the flat con- 
 tents that are in marriages made for tem- 
 poral conveniences ! certainly one must
 
 286 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 affectionately desire what one would take 
 much pleasure to enjoy. In my choice 
 our mutual desires will make each other 
 happy, and our fervent loves will reflect 
 strongly upon those that shall come of us, 
 adding that increase to natural affection, 
 and consequently to our joys in them ; 
 who also, in all reason, will be replenished 
 with the goodness and beauty of her that 
 bore them. There is no man certainly 
 that seeth so far as I do into these content- 
 ments and blessings, but will desire them 
 as vehemently as I do ; but there may be 
 this difference between us, that they may 
 want courage and resolution to possess 
 and defend them; and I deem it a greater 
 weakness to disguise one's passions than 
 to entertain them. Other men's opinions 
 shall never drive me from maintaining the 
 rules that I have prescribed to myself; 
 then since this so mainly importeth my 
 happiness, I will not fail to justify myself
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 28? 
 
 to the world for giving way to my affec- 
 tions ; and then, although I may not gain 
 the opinion of wisdom suitable to these 
 times, yet I hope I shall have the ancients 
 my friends, in that I seek to get a habitude 
 that breedeth full pleasure and interior 
 delight, and banish far from my considera- 
 tion those things that are without me, to 
 the end that not being afraid of the cen- 
 sures of the world, I may not drown my 
 life in perpetual disquiet. But if what I 
 have said to that effect, do not relish to 
 other men's fantasies ; and that it be like 
 too solid meat for weak stomachs and ten- 
 der teeth, as the vulgar's are, I will pro- 
 ceed with them in a more gentle, or rather 
 submissive way ; if they will not absolve 
 me, let them pardon me ; let my friends be 
 so indulgent to me as to pass by this one 
 action, and I will not fail their hopes or 
 their desires in any thing else. Although 
 I cannot persuade myself that I am in an
 
 288 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 error in this, yet since others believe it, it 
 will make me strive to behave myself so 
 in all things else, that I may rectify my- 
 self in their good opinion, and, to that ef- 
 fect, strain myself in virtuous actions be- 
 yond what otherwise I should have done. 
 If it be a fault in me, yet it would be a 
 greater injustice in them to condemn all 
 that may be good besides, for so small a 
 mixture of the contrary ; what discreet 
 man ever threw away a fair and rich gar- 
 ment for having a small spot in some one 
 corner of it? It importeth no man but 
 himself; then it is reason that no man but 
 myself should trouble himself about it; 
 yet if they will still search into me, let 
 them remember, that in the choice of 
 friends those are to be esteemed good that 
 are the 'least ill, since none are positively 
 good ; and if all men have something of 
 evil, let them examine the nature and 
 weight of what evil is inherent to every
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 289 
 
 one, and make their choice accordingly. 
 And if herein I strive not to better myself, 
 let them conceive the cause proceedeth as 
 much out of my design as out of my weak- 
 ness, for I have learned, and from an au- 
 thor of unquestionable authority, that 
 even the mending of a state is not worth 
 the disordering and troubling it. And if 
 I yield more to the tempest that carrieth 
 me away, than some may like of, let them 
 consider that a ship tossed in a violent 
 storm maketh fairest weather before the 
 wind ; wherefore I judge it folly for any 
 man to force and strain his nature, to raise 
 a civil war within himself. Besides, I 
 care not for mending myself by halves : 
 with me if any thing be awry, let all that 
 hangeth upon that string be so too. If 
 my affection be a fault, I must confess I 
 cannot help it, for herein we are under the 
 conduct of the stars, and then I will never 
 go about to prescribe it limits ; and sure 
 
 u
 
 290 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 it is better to have some evil increased, 
 than all one's good troubled. But withal 
 I will say this in my own behalf, that I 
 think who hath given testimony of wisdom 
 in other things, shall never be accounted a 
 fool for his affections when he can give 
 himself a good account of them ; and they 
 that live in the memory of after ages, shall 
 not be judged by their loves, but by their 
 other actions. Let them in me look upon 
 those, and cover this, as they did in an- 
 cient times that sold a good horse ; they 
 covered those parts of him that were not 
 essential to be observed in judging of his 
 goodness, lest they might carry away the 
 buyer's eye from marking the principal 
 limbs, by the which they might make a 
 judgment of the rest. Howsoever, since 
 this may be liable to dispute, whether I 
 have done well or ill, let men suspend their 
 sentences till the event give the verdict 
 one wav ; let them follow that wise man's
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 291 
 
 advice that would have none judge of an- 
 other's happiness till after his death ; and 
 in this, censure me by the tenor of my 
 future life, wherein I dare boldly promise 
 to myself that, whensoever I shall avow 
 her for such, she will prove an exact pat- 
 tern of a virtuous wife, and I of a happy 
 man; and this not through any prophetic 
 revelation or credulous fantasy, but upon 
 infallible grounds and the certain know- 
 ledge of her nature, which is such that it 
 will be my fault if she prove not as I 
 would have her ; and I am confident that 
 her life will belie any rumour that may have 
 been spread abroad to her disadvantage by 
 malicious persons, and believed by others 
 that take up their opinions upon trust. 
 
 " To end then this long, and I fear te- 
 dious, discourse of mine, let me put you 
 in mind, how some ancient and much es- 
 teemed philosophers were of opinion, that 
 a man of vigorous spirits and of a clrai 
 u 2
 
 292 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 understanding might not only love, but 
 without blame use the liberty of his own 
 election and inclinations, and ought to op- 
 the original rules of nature against 
 vulgar laws and customs ; and that. limited 
 and artificial ordinances are only for weak 
 minds, who are not able to judge of things 
 truly as they are by the dim light of their 
 own feeble nature. And while it remain- 
 eth in controversy what is best for a man 
 to do, let him in the mean time at least do 
 whatpleaseth him most : and for my part, 
 I can never deem those humours very vain 
 that are very pleasing, since content is the 
 true seasoning of all other blessings, and 
 that without it they are all nothing, nor 
 guide my actions by other men's censures, 
 which hurt not at all when they are neg- 
 lected or patiently endured, nor be af- 
 flicted when they condemn me ; and thus 
 I shall be free from the servitude that 
 most men live in, who are more troubled
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIHS. 293 
 
 by the opinions of evils than by their real 
 essence ; and then the world shall see that 
 my happiness and content is not propor- 
 tioned to the estimation that they make of 
 it, which will soon be forgotten and vanish 
 away ; but to what I truly enjoy and feel 
 in myself, which will remain with me for 
 ever. And to express fully the exact cha- 
 racter of my mind in this particular, give 
 me leave to make use of the sententious 
 poet's words, though applied to my pur- 
 pose somewhat differing from his sense, 
 where he saith : 
 
 Praetulerim delirus inersque videri 
 
 Dum mea delectent mala me, vel denique fallant, 
 Quam sapere et ringi. HORAT. 
 
 And then I will entreat them to think 
 of me as I do of others ; which is, that no 
 man of a competent understanding and 
 judgment is to be lamented or pitied for 
 finding any means, whatsoever it be, to 
 please and satisfy himself."
 
 294 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 Aristobulus perceiving that Theageries 
 had made an end of what he intended to 
 say by his silence, which was accompanied 
 with a modest blush that seemed to speak 
 for him, that he could not teach his sense 
 such a stern confidence as in his discourse 
 he attributed to himself, he was beginning 
 to frame a reply thereunto, and to display 
 many fallacies, as he termed them, in his 
 speech, which could not defend him to a 
 sharp and severe judgment, and would 
 only serve him to deceive himself the 
 more plausibly, when their conference was 
 interrupted by the coming in unto them of 
 Aristobulus's solicitor of his causes, who 
 being even then alighted out of his coach, 
 made haste to acquaint his Lord with 
 what had passed that day before the great 
 judges of the kingdom, who were all pur- 
 posely assembled by the king's command- 
 ment, to deliver their opinions in some 
 weighty point concerning his business,
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 295 
 
 and the suit that was still depending be- 
 tween his Majesty and him ; of whom, 
 when Aristobulus had received the full 
 information of as much as he could tell 
 him, he turned to Theagenes, and to him 
 expressed, with much bitterness of sense, 
 the high injuries and oppressions that were 
 done him, which for the present took 
 away his memory of the former theme 
 to the which he had eagerly bent his 
 thoughts ; and Theagenes being glad of 
 any occasion of diversion, and of keeping 
 him from returning unto it, did, as well 
 out of that respect as also out of a desire 
 to inform his knowledge perfectly of his 
 best friend's important affairs, desire him 
 to give him leave to understand from him 
 the true state that his business was in at 
 present ; of which he had but rude and 
 imperfect notions, by reason of his late 
 absence out of the kingdom, and since his 
 return his having been till now in the
 
 296 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 country ; which being a subject that Aris- 
 tobulus was never weary to discourse of, 
 he willingly condescended to his desire, 
 and began in this manner. " If I should 
 perish by the hand of justice, though never 
 so unjustly carried, it would be some con- 
 solation to me; since by that means, at the 
 least, I should have a fit occasion to make 
 my innocence, or rather meritoriousness, 
 known to the world ; but to be consumed 
 away insensibly under heavy oppression, 
 and not to be able to procure that my rea- 
 sons and defence may be once heard, is 
 certainly the greatest affliction that can 
 happen to a man of spirit ; and I have 
 learned by dear experience that passive 
 valour is a rarer endowment than active, 
 and it is less troublesome to a generous 
 nature to expose himself into hazards than 
 to endure injuries ; which made me take 
 the first occasion that was offered, to pro- 
 duce mine into public view, and lose
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 29? 
 
 all respect since none was maintained to 
 me; and that was in the time of the last 
 general convocation of the three estates, 
 the wrongs of subjects being at such a 
 time willingly heard and redressed ; the 
 cause of which assembly, as it is truly 
 known to few, so I think it will not be dis- 
 pleasing to you to understand from me ; 
 which yet I dare not affirm to be certain, 
 but I had the knowledge of it from a good 
 hand, and my own distance from the court 
 and the business of that maketh me that I */,/ 
 [Here nearly two pages are oblite- 
 rated.^ kings, that were as 
 
 shamefully performed, he was fain to call 
 an assembly of the general estates to re- 
 lieve the King's wants in raising new 
 forces. But the people being generally 
 discontented with manifold oppressions, 
 he found it not so easy a task as he ex- 
 pected, to win them to what he desired : 
 and during his and their altercations, I
 
 298 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 took hold of this opportunity to accuse 
 him of transcendent crimes to that su- 
 preme court of justice, having been for- 
 merly kept with much industry from all 
 other tribunals, and from the King him- 
 self. You were a main witness to prove 
 much of what I had to say, especially of 
 later matters since my coming from Egypt, 
 you having been the only negotiant in a 
 long treaty, both between Hephaestion 
 and me, and the old King and me ; with 
 which good Prince you had no sooner 
 brought my business upon good terms, 
 but all my great and fair hopes were 
 blasted by his untimely death ; of which 
 Hephaestion being very apprehensive, he 
 wrought so that Scanderbret and Oxicrane, 
 kinsmen and dependents of his, did take 
 an occasion to challenge my nephew Ro- 
 gesilius and you to fight in duel, by this 
 means to cause your absence at such a 
 time as I might need your assistance. I
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIUS. 299 
 
 must confess I was much troubled when I 
 heard you were gone to Lepanto, the 
 place appointed for your combat, and 
 could have wished that your wit and sub- 
 tleties had failed you when you deceived 
 the watchful officers of the port, and those, 
 warned too, to get passage over the seas ; 
 but that part of my care, which had rela- 
 tion to myself and my business, was soon 
 quieted when I received the letter that 
 you sent me, wherein you shewed the 
 heedful affection that you had to my good, 
 and did much avail me in my defence; 
 which was so strong, and did so much re- 
 flect upon some things of high conse- 
 quence, which I could not avoid mention- 
 ing, my life and honour lying at the stake, 
 that soon after the producing of your let- 
 ter, when I delivered in my accusations 
 against Hephaestion in form, the assembly 
 was abruptly dissolved, as you found it at 
 your return ; when, if you had not had
 
 300 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 much constancy and resolution, and been 
 well thought of by the King your master, 
 to whom you boldly went at your first 
 landing without any mediator, you had 
 certainly been ruined, and accordingly 
 was lamented by all your friends. For my 
 part, I found no other effect of the strong 
 defence of my innocency, but that it ex- 
 asperated his Majesty against me, who, I 
 think, was not, before that time of this to 
 me unfortunate and unavoidable contesta- 
 tion, evilly affected in his judgment con- 
 cerning my cause ; and since, Hephaestion 
 hath sought my destruction by all the 
 means he could, by bringing me upon un- 
 equal terms into other courts of justice, 
 and sifting all my actions from the first 
 day that I entered into my old master's 
 service. But my innocence, or rather me- 
 ritoriousness, being thus urged, I may 
 speak it without ostentation, is such and 
 so apparent, that at length they are forced
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 301 
 
 to let the cause fall ; and this I now un- 
 derstand to be the opinion of the judges 
 that met to-day about my business, al- 
 though for the accusers' honour they dare 
 not publish it." 
 
 This relation was the text of many dis- 
 courses between Aristobulus and Thea- 
 genes ; but it growing late they took leave 
 of each other, while Theagenes, all the way 
 that he was going homewards, reflected 
 with anxious thoughts upon what Aristo- 
 bulus had so freely, and with the spirit of a 
 friend, spoken to him in his own behalf; 
 and being retired into his chamber, after 
 many discourses in his understanding, he 
 concluded that it was necessary for him to 
 employ himself in some generous action 
 that might give testimony to the world 
 how his affections had nothing impaired 
 the nobleness of his mind, nor abated the 
 edge of his active and vigorous spirits, nor 
 that any private engagements should in
 
 302 P It 1 V ATE M E M 1 11 S . 
 
 him be a warrant to idleness. Whereupon 
 he resolved to undertake speedily some- 
 thing that might tend to the King's ser- 
 vice, and gain himself honour and experi- 
 ence ; which when he made known to the 
 King, his Majesty gave him an extraordi- 
 nary and very honourable commission to 
 take in hand a voyage by sea; for the 
 which he made very effectual and diligent 
 preparations, in such sort that all that saw 
 them did from thence prognosticate good 
 success of what he went about ; which 
 was the cause that he had so many, and 
 persons of quality, that endeared them- 
 selves to be admitted into his company, 
 that his greatest trouble was to defend 
 himself from their importunity; whereas 
 others, upon like occasion, are fain to em- 
 ploy all their endeavours, and they many 
 times fall short, to win men into their 
 company. But his main difficulty was to 
 persuade Stelliana to take his departure
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 303 
 
 patiently, whose extreme affection made 
 her very averse unto it, so that she would 
 ever and anon accompany her abundant 
 tears with such words as these. "Is it pos- 
 sible that the day can come wherein my 
 sight doth offend your eyes, or that you 
 should find such amiableness in dangers 
 and tempests, as for the gaining of them 
 to hate my presence? What sin have I 
 committed to alienate me from your affec- 
 tion, or rather, what have I not done to 
 win and preserve it? O my unhappy con- 
 dition, and beyond all others most misera- 
 ble, that dependeth upon the inconstancy 
 and mutability of others* minds, which, as 
 it changeth, I am still engaged in new 
 causes of deep sorrow ! If not for my sake, 
 yet let this innocent part of you persuade 
 you not to leave him a distressed orphan, 
 and me a desolate widow, to lament your 
 long, or peradventure perpetual absence. 
 Consider that although heretofore it
 
 304 PRIVATE MEMOlilS. 
 
 in your single power to dispose of your- 
 self, yet now I have an interest in you, 
 which I will never be so cruel to myself as 
 to relinquish; and without my consent, 
 you infringe the eternal laws of justice to 
 undertake such an action, and therefore 
 have reason to expect from above rather 
 heavy judgments than blessings to accom- 
 pany it." Much to this effect she spoke, 
 issuing from a heart deeply wounded with 
 affection and grief; while Theagenes felt 
 in himself the en chanting effects of a beau- 
 tiful and beloved woman's tears, and had 
 his soul almost fettered in the golden 
 chain that came from her fair lips, which 
 he no sooner was aware of, but the sense 
 of his honour came to his thoughts, and 
 banished all weak tenderness out of his 
 heart, so that he remained unmoveable in 
 his resolutions, although he could not 
 choose but grieve extremely at her sorrow, 
 whom he loved above all temporal re-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 305 
 
 spects, and make use of all the arguments 
 that he could bethink himself, to induce 
 her to endure his short absence with pa- 
 tience, and that might serve for her con- 
 solation ; acquainting her with the motives 
 that induced him to undertake this vov- 
 
 I 
 
 age, and making her see that although for 
 the present it might be troublesome to her 
 to endure, yet that hereafter it would be 
 the cause of both their complete happi- 
 ness, since that he was resolved to retire 
 himself to a private life, where, removed 
 from the cumbersome distractions of the 
 court or city, he might without any inter- 
 ruption enjoy the quiet blessings of her 
 sweet conversation, and would then attend 
 to nothing but to love, to ease, and to 
 tranquillity : but that if he should do it 
 abruptly and of a sudden, it could not be 
 without the impeachment of his honour 
 and worldly dignity ; and that therefore 
 he chose this way to make a leisurely,
 
 306 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 secure, and honourable retreat, and as it 
 were with displayed ensigns, which, after 
 such an action that would give testimony 
 of his courage and resolution, all men 
 would say to be made through judgment 
 and highness of a mind despising what the 
 vulgar holdeth most dear and in greatest 
 admiration, and not through a weak, 
 shameful, lazy, or uxorious humour ; and 
 therefore he desired her that she would 
 not with her sorrow give him the sad pre- 
 sage of some great ensuing disaster. Upon 
 which discourse of his, although Stelliana 
 could not so suddenly wean her heart 
 from the sense of passionate grief, yet her 
 discretion taught her to contain the ex- 
 pression of it, and by affording her con- 
 sent to what he had resolved upon, shewed 
 how her will depended wholly upon his, 
 howsoever her desires and affections might 
 be repugnant to it when she considered 
 any danger he might incur.
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 30? 
 
 Theagenes then having with incredible 
 diligence got all things in readiness for 
 his voyage, and with equal constancy and 
 magnanimity overcome the many diffi- 
 culties and oppositions that occurred to 
 him, some of them wrought by a powerful 
 envious hand, as well as by the malignity 
 of fortune, which most men thought would 
 have disordered and overthrown his de- 
 signs; and having taken leave of all his 
 friends, the last whom he visited, as he was 
 going aboard his ship, was Aristobulus, 
 who then desired him to inform him truly 
 and free from suspense, whether he were 
 married or no: because that, he said, his 
 great familiarity with Stelliana, and her en- 
 tertaining of it, did make most men believe 
 he was, and yet his not public avowing it 
 did make him doubt it. Whereupon 
 Theagenes acknowledged ingenuously that 
 he was, but that if he had not asked him 
 he would not have told it him, since it was 
 
 x <2
 
 308 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 against his disposition to be the deliverer 
 of news to his friends that would be dis- 
 pleasing to them, and he apparently saw 
 that he did not approve of this match ; 
 and that the reason why he did not at the 
 first publicly avow it to the world were 
 many, as the interests of estate, both in 
 respect of her friends and his own, wherein 
 it imported him much to have some things 
 settled before it should be certainly 
 known ; and that his familiarity with her 
 which held mens' opinions in suspense and 
 
 doubt [Here two pages are 
 
 obliterated. ~\ 
 
 All which being understood by Aristo- 
 bulus, he told him that the same friendly 
 affection which had formerly moved him 
 to dissuade him from this match, did now 
 call upon him to co-operate with his ends 
 and to do him service as much as he could ; 
 therefore he bade him rest confident that 
 in the time of his absence he would pay
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 309 
 
 to his wife the same respect that he had 
 ever done to him, and would employ his 
 best talents to justify his action and to 
 make others approve it. For the which 
 Theagenes rendered him condign thanks, 
 and at his parting from him, entreated him 
 to believe that he would behave himself 
 in such sort in this voyage, that howsoever 
 fortune might deal with him, he would be 
 sure to win himself honour, without a good 
 share of which he would never return : 
 and that although she should do her worst 
 to him, he would triumph over it all with 
 a glorious death. After which being 
 spoken, he went into his coach, to go to 
 the port where his ships stayed in readiness 
 for him, and wanted only his presence and 
 a fair wind to set sail ; which he brought 
 with him, that gave liberty to many other 
 vessels that had been a long time wind- 
 bound there: and tiie same day that he 
 embarked himself, he had news by a post
 
 310 PRIVATE MEMOIRS 
 
 sent on purpose to him, of his wife's 
 delivery of a second and hopeful 1 son, 
 whereupon he gave order to her to conceal 
 their marriage no longer. So that from 
 these auspicious beginnings he might have 
 taken to himself the presage of successful 
 proceedings; but the envious arbiter of 
 men's actions, who will suffer one in this 
 life to taste nothing pure, did all of a 
 sudden so overwhelm this prosperous en- 
 trance with a sea of bitterness, that from 
 the strange difference of estate which 
 twenty days caused in Theagenes's fleet, 
 one might see too evidently how uncon- 
 stantly she moveth her wheel ; for he had 
 been but a while at sea, when with a settled 
 contrary wind, there came among his men 
 such a violent pestilential disease, and 
 raged with such fury, that in a few 
 days he was reduced to such extremity 
 that there were scarce men enough upon 
 any important occasion to trim the sails.
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 311 
 
 For the nature of it being such, that from 
 those who were infected with it, it took 
 hold of others that were in perfect health, 
 Jike fire when it is joined to combustible 
 matter, if they did but come within dis- 
 tance of each other's breath, or touch any 
 part of their garments, it came to pass 
 that in a very short time almost all were 
 possessed with it, by reason of the great 
 number of men enclosed in a small room ; 
 and although every one strived to avoid 
 those that were sick, whereby they died in 
 much desolation without any help, yet the 
 infection was so rooted in the ship that 
 they could not fly from it : and if natural 
 affection to his friend or charity moved 
 any one to be so tender as to do another 
 the offices belonging to a sick man, many 
 times with a sudden death he prevented 
 the other's languishing one; and by this 
 means it happened often that dead bodies 
 lay many days in their cabins and hamacas,
 
 312 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 nobody daring to go overlook them, and 
 much less to throw the noisome car- 
 cases overboard, until their intolerable 
 stink discovered them : but sometimes 
 there were of mean fellows that would come 
 to steal what they found about the bodies 
 of those that were of better quality, and 
 then by their own sudden death in the 
 same place, they would bewray their theft. 
 But that which of all others seemed to 
 cause most compassion, was the furious 
 madness of most of those who were near 
 their end,, the sickness then taking their 
 brain ; and those were in so great 
 abundance that there were scarce men 
 enough to keep them from running over- 
 board, or from creeping out of the ports, 
 the extreme heat of their disease being 
 such that they desired all refreshings, and 
 their depraved fantasy made them believe 
 the sea to be a spacious and pleasant green 
 meadow. This extremity of evil taught
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 313 
 
 the meanest rank of people what the no- 
 blest of philosophy can scarcely do to the 
 most elevated minds, that is, a most resu- 
 pine patience in their sufferance; the 
 familiarity and inevitableness of which 
 made them in the end not to apprehend or 
 fear it. But then all the principal officers 
 of the fleet, that were more sensible of the 
 loss of the whole than of their own danger, 
 came with one consent to Theagenes, to 
 represent to him how it was impossible for 
 him to keep the sea and subsist many 
 hours Jonger, since the mortality was now 
 grown very great, and that there were 
 scarce whole men enough to sail his ship, 
 and the quality of the sickness was so ma- 
 lignant, that they whom in the morning 
 one would have judged most healthful were 
 many times dispatched into the other world 
 before night ; therefore they advised and 
 besought him to bear up the helm and 
 return home, deeming it much better rather
 
 314 PEIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 to bring the ships back, although the 
 voyage were overthrown, than through an 
 indiscreet obstinacy to let them, and all in 
 them, perish in the sea. But Theagenes, 
 that had a much deeper sense of his ho- 
 nour than of his life and safety, and yet 
 was so highly compassionate of their great 
 evils that he prayed continually, that all 
 the punishments for his or their sins due 
 unto the divine justice^ might fall upon his 
 single head, represented to them how in 
 probability the worst counsel they could 
 take would be to return home, since that 
 was now the farthest place of distance that 
 they could go unto, and the long hanging 
 of the winds contrary, was an evident sign 
 that they would shortly veer about to their 
 advantage, that way also being their natural 
 and constant course. Wherefore he told 
 them absolutely, that he would expect 
 with patience the happy hour of a fair 
 gale, and desired them no longer to
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 315 
 
 persuade him to do what he had set his 
 rest upon that he would not ; but to concur 
 with him in prayer to the superior powers 
 to favour their designs as they were ho- 
 nourable and just. And within a few hours, 
 God having sufficiently tried their patience 
 and constancy, the unconstant element 
 filled his sails with prosperous breath, and 
 he did put into Rhodes to relieve his men 
 and take in supplies of many things that 
 were wanting. Where during his stay he 
 temporised so discreetly with the headiness 
 of that barbarous people, and wrought 
 himself so much into their good opinion 
 and affection, that he not only procured 
 for himself all that he stood in need of, but 
 settled a very good correspendence between 
 the state of Morea and them, which before 
 was upon exceeding bad terms, and yet 
 imported the Moreans much, and redeemed 
 many Morean captives that had lived there 
 ii long time in miserable servitude. After
 
 316 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 which he did put to sea again, in prosecu- 
 tion of his former design, which was of a 
 high consequence to the King his master's 
 service, it being to interrupt the great 
 trade of the Athenians in Syria and Egypt 
 for silks and other commodities which 
 those countries yield, that by this means 
 the Moreans might gain it, and make their 
 country the staple for the manufacture and 
 vent of so rich a traffic. And by the way 
 as he sailed on, he met with sundry vessels 
 upon the sea, whom he stayed and exa- 
 mined, and with them all shewed singular 
 examples of justice; and particularly with 
 those that were enemies, of humanity and 
 clemency. But when he came to Alexan- 
 dretta, where was the period of his design, 
 he found there a great strength of Athenian 
 vessels, and some Cyprian ones, that did not 
 content themselves with saying that they 
 would defend their companions and friends, 
 there being a straight league Athens and
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 31J 
 
 Cyprus, but also warned him to go imme- 
 diately out of the port, or otherwise they 
 would sink his ships; so presumptuously 
 confident they were of their formidable 
 vessels, which were made with such admi- 
 rable force and art, that until this hour no 
 ships durst ever attempt to resist them. 
 But Theagenes, that thought valiant deeds 
 would be the best answer to their vain 
 words, and that, doubting such entertain- 
 ment, had made exact preparations for a 
 fight, as one that, deemed caution with 
 valour to be the first step to victory ; call- 
 ing his chief men together, made an oration 
 to them, such a one as the shortness of the 
 time permitted, calling to their minds their 
 past victories that they had gloriously ob- 
 tained together, and how they had been 
 absolute lords of the sea in all places 
 where yet they came ; and representing to 
 them how their enemies had nothing but a 
 loud airy name, not won by any proper
 
 318 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 merit, but given to the force of their vessels, 
 which would be of no effect if not well ma- 
 naged, and would only serve to add glory 
 to his victory ; whereas they had all won 
 honour by their heroic actions, and every 
 one of them deserved to command a navy; 
 and the vast multitude of his enemies would 
 but beget confusion, whereas he knew the 
 names and worth of every one of his, and 
 they were all trained up to his discipline 
 and to the sudden and true understanding 
 of his commands; and therefore bade them 
 go on to a certain conquest, praying God 
 that if himself were here to end his life, 
 yet his fleet might return safe home, and 
 he be brought back not in a funeral 
 but in a triumphal pomp. Which being 
 spoken with notable vigour and alacrity of 
 courage, that was enough to assure the 
 faintest heart, he begun the charge with 
 his own admiral ship against that of the 
 enemy's, and in like manner every one of
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 319 
 
 his fleet took to task an adversary, who did 
 not long hold out, but after the loss of 
 many men, and their vessels being upon 
 terms of sinking, if the fight had continued 
 any longer to keep them from mending 
 their leaks, wherein it appeared what dis- 
 creet fury could do against men that had 
 more confidence in their floating castles 
 and in their multitude than in their own 
 virtue. The Cyprians sent an humble mes- 
 sage to beg a shameful peace ; and at the 
 same instant he boarded and took by force 
 the Athenian vessels, so that in a few hours 
 he got a glorious victory, and gave testi- 
 mony to the world, that a discreet and 
 stayed valour is not to be resisted in what 
 it undertaketh, although at the first sight it 
 may seem to attempt things with much 
 disadvantage.
 
 320 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 IF these loose papers should have the 
 fortune to fall into any man's hands, to the 
 which they were never designed, I desire 
 that this last scrawl may beg pardon for 
 the rest; all which I am so far from justi- 
 fying, that I know the only way to preserve 
 me from censure, is the not owning of them. 
 But since the remembrance of the original 
 cause that hath drawn these lines from me, 
 is so sweet, that I cannot choose but 
 nourish whatsoever refresheth it in me, 
 which appeared in that I had not the 
 power to sacrifice these trifles in the fire, 
 whereunto my judgment had condemned 
 them; and that if ever they come to be 
 seen by any, their author and scope cannot
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 321 
 
 choose but be known, my follies being 
 therein so lively expressed, that no hand 
 but my own could have traced them so 
 exactly, I will ingenuously confess how 1 
 came to spend any time upon so vain a 
 subject, hoping that I may in some mea- 
 sure be excused when it shall be known 
 that in the weaving of this loose web, 
 which was done without any art or care, I 
 employed only the few empty spaces of 
 tedious hours, which would have been in 
 danger to have been worse rilled if I had 
 not taken hold of this occasion of diversion, 
 which my continual thoughts administered 
 me. You that read, then, may take notice 
 that after a long and violent storm, which 
 took me between Rhodes and Candie, and 
 separated from me all the vessels of my 
 fleet, it was my misfortune to fall in with 
 the island of Milo ; where, while I stayed 
 to mend the defects of a leaky ship, and
 
 322 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 to expect the relics of the tempest's fury, 
 I was courteously invited ashore by a per- 
 son of quality of that place; whereunto, 
 when I had settled my important business 
 in a good train, I willingly condescended, 
 being very confident of the friendliness of 
 that people, but more in the strength that 
 I had there, which was such, that they had 
 more reason to beware doing me any 
 displeasure, than I to fear any attempt of 
 theirs ; and hoping, that through the plea- 
 santness of that place and the conveniences 
 of the shore, I might somewhat refresh 
 myself, who was then much distempered in 
 body and suffered great affliction in my 
 mind. But more time passing before my 
 other ships came thither to me than in 
 reason I could expect, and my books, 
 which use to be my faithful and never fail- 
 ing companions, being all left aboard 
 through the negligence, or rather mistake
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 323 
 
 of my servant, who thought I would not 
 have stayed longer than one night ashore, 
 I passed my time there with much solitude, 
 and my best entertainment was with my 
 own thoughts ; which being contrary to 
 the manner of most men, unless it be when 
 melancholy hath seized their minds, who 
 deem no state delightful that is not quick- 
 ened by exterior pleasures, I soon perceived 
 that my courteous host was much troubled 
 at my retirement, and omitted nothing that 
 might avail to divert me from it; and 
 among other things, made me a liberal 
 offer to interest me in the good graces of 
 several of the most noted beauties of that 
 place, who in all ages have been known to 
 be no niggards of their favours, which 
 might peradventure have been welcomely 
 accepted by another that had like me had 
 youth, strength, and a long time of being 
 at sea to excuse him if he had yielded
 
 324 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 to such a temptation. But I, that had 
 fresh in my soul, the idea of so divine and 
 virtuous a beauty, that others*, in balance 
 with her's, did but serve to shew the weak- 
 ness and misery of their sex, thought it no 
 mastery to overcome it : but yet was in 
 some perplexity how to refuse my friend's 
 courtesy, without seeming uncivil. In the 
 end, after some debate with myself, I con- 
 cluded that the best way for me would 
 be to pretend some serious business, which 
 of necessity did call upon me to write many 
 dispatches, and into several places; and 
 thus, without his offence or suspicion, I 
 might enjoy solitude and liberty. Indeed, 
 
 X 
 
 iny pretence was not altogether a feigned 
 one, many extraordinary accidents having 
 involved me in several intricacies, but my 
 facility of setting down on paper my low 
 conceptions having been ever very great, I 
 soon made an end of what concerned bu-
 
 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 siness, and then continuing my former 
 method of contemplation, which I did with 
 the more devotion, having overcome the 
 late assault, I soon found that one's 
 thoughts and mind may outwork them- 
 selves by being too eagerly and too long 
 fixed upon one object, and withal, many 
 times the memory of some passages which 
 afforded me great delight, stole unex- 
 pectedly upon me, I having of long time 
 before forgotten them, and being then fear- 
 ful of doing the like again : which was the 
 cause that having pen, ink, and paper by 
 me, I deemed it both a good diversion for 
 the present, and pains that would hereafter 
 administer me much* content, to set down 
 in writing my wandering fantasies as they 
 presented themselves to me ; which I did 
 suddenly in loose sheets of borrowed paper, 
 and that in not so full a manner as might 
 be intelligible to any other; but so that to
 
 326 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 me, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
 all the dependencies of them, it might 
 serve for an index to reduce the rest into 
 my remembrance. Wherefore I give warn- 
 ing beforehand, that no man hath reason 
 to lose any time in perusing so trivial a 
 discourse of a young and unstayed head as 
 this is; which was at the first begun only 
 for my own recreation, and then continued 
 and since preserved only for my own pri- 
 vate content. If my endeavours of keep- 
 ing it from all men's view will not prevail, 
 as I doubt not but they will, then 
 this advertisement of mine is vain, and will 
 perish in as much darkness as I desire the 
 papers may they it accompanieth. But 
 since no man is so sure of any thing that is 
 out of himself, but that for the future some 
 accident may alter or cross what he hath 
 disposed, though never so probably con- 
 trived, I thought fit, since that I intend to
 
 327 
 
 keep them awhile by me, to please myself 
 in looking back upon my past and sweet 
 errors, to say thus much in my own excuse, 
 to the end that I may not be thought to 
 have grown unto such a height of immo- 
 desty, as to desire that my follies may after 
 me remain upon record. Therefore, who- 
 soever it is that may meet with this, after 
 some fatal shot may have taken me out of 
 the world, I entreat him to do me this 
 last friendly office, to be the executioner of 
 my first intentions herein, and convert 
 these blotted sheets into a clear flame; 
 which funeral fire will be welcome obse- 
 quies to my departed soul, who till then 
 will be in continual fear that the world 
 may have occasion to renew the memory of 
 my indiscretion, and condemn me then as 
 much for want of judgment in writing, as 
 formerly it hath done for too deep passion 
 in my actions. For the present I will say
 
 328 PRIVATE MEMOIRS. 
 
 no more; but will continue my prayers to 
 God for a fair wind, to bring me once 
 again to see that person whose memory 
 begot this discourse. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Printed by J. F. DOVF, St. John's Square.
 
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