A TRUE RELATION 



OF MY 



BIRTH, BREEDING MD LIFE 

 By Margaret, Duchess of Newcastle 



My father was a gentleman, which title is grounded and given 

 by merit, not by princes ; and it is the act of time, not favour : 

 and though my father was not a peer of the realm, yet there 

 were few peers who had much greater estates, or lived more 

 noble therewith. Yet at that time great titles were to be 

 sold, and not at so high rates, but that his estate might have 

 easily purchased, and was pressed for to take ; but my father 

 did not esteem titles, unless they were gained by heroic actions, 

 and the kingdom being in a happy peace with all other nations, 

 and in itself being governed by a wise king, King James, there 

 was no employments for heroic spirits ; and towards the latter 

 end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, as soon as he came to man's 

 estate, he unfortunately killed one Mr. Brooks in a single duel. 

 For my father by the laws of honour could do no less than 

 call him to the field to question him for an injury he did him, 

 where their swords were to dispute, and one or both of their 

 lives to decide the argument, wherein my father had the 

 better ; and though my father by honour challenged him, 

 with valour fought him, and in justice killed him, yet he suff- 

 ered more than any person of quality usually doth in cases of 

 honour ; for though the laws be rigorous, yet the present 

 princes most commonly are gracious in those misfortunes, 

 especially to the injured : but my father found it not, for his 

 exile was from the time of his misfortunes to Queen Elizabeth's 

 death. For the Lord Cobham being then a great man with 

 Queen Elizabeth, and this gentleman, Mr. Brooks, a kind of 

 a favourite, and as I take it brother to the then Lord Cobham, 



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