xxvi Editor's Preface 



generally missing. In one of the very numerous prefaces she 

 prides herself on the tendency of her fictions, and condemns 

 the romances of the day. ' As for those tales I name Roman- 

 cicall, I would not have my readers think I writ them, either 

 to please or to make foolish whining lovers, for it is a humour 

 of all humours I have an aversion to ; but my endeavour is to 

 express the sweetness of Virtue, and the Graces, and to dress 

 and adorn them in the best expressions I can. . . Neither 

 do I know the rule or method of Romancy writing ; for 

 I never read a Romancy Book throughout in all my life, I 

 mean such as I take to be Romances, wherein little is writ 

 which ought to be practised, but rather shunned as foolish 

 amorosities, and desperate follies, not noble love's discreet 

 virtues, and true valour. The most I ever read of Romances 

 was but part of three books, as the three parts of one, and the 

 half of the two others. And if I thought those tales I call my 

 Romancicall Tales, should or could neither benefit the life, 

 nor delight the mind of my readers, no more than those pieces 

 of Romances I read did me, I would never suffer them to be 

 printed. . . Likewise if I could think that any of my writings 

 should create amorous thoughts in idle brains, I would make 

 blots instead of letters ; but I hope this work of mine w r ill 

 rather quench amorous passions than inflame them, and beget 

 chaste thoughts, nourish love of Virtue, kindle humane Pity, 

 warm Charity, increase Civility, strengthen fainting Patience, 

 encourage noble Industry, crown Merit, instruct Life, and 

 recreate Time.' 



The book entitled The World's Olio is a collection of essays, 

 observations, and aphorisms, published in 1655, with a second 

 edition dated 1671 (London, folio). The CCXI Sociable Letters, 

 published in 1664 (London, folio), consist of descriptions 

 of imaginary scenes, persons, and conversations, with one or 

 two letters to real persons intermixed, and one or two on 

 critical subjects, such as the works of Shakespeare and Daven- 

 ant. A still more curious proof of the versatility of the 

 Duchess is the volume called Orations of Divers Sorts accommo- 

 dated to Divers Places (first edition 1662, London, folio ; second 

 1668, do. do.). It contains orations for all times and places — 

 for funerals, for weddings, for law courts and battlefields, 

 speeches seditious and loyal, some to stir up mutiny, some to 

 prevent civil war, some for and some against taxes, speeches 



