1 68 Life of the Duchess of Newcastle 



being changed as well as the laws, where women become 

 pleaders, attornies, petitioners, and the like, running about 

 with their several causes, complaining of their several griev- 

 ances, exclaiming against their several enemies, bragging of 

 their several favours they receive from the powerful, thus 

 trafficking with idle words bring in false reports and vain dis- 

 course. For the truth is, our sex doth nothing but jostle for 

 the pre-eminence of words (I mean not for speaking well, 

 but speaking much) as they do for the pre-eminence of place, 

 words rushing against words, thwarting and crossing each 

 other, and pulling with reproaches, striving to throw each other 

 down with disgrace, thinking to advance themselves thereby. 

 But if our sex would but well consider, and rationally ponder, 

 they will perceive and find, that it is neither words nor place 

 that can advance them, but worth and merit. Nor can words 

 or place disgrace them, but inconstancy and boldness : for 

 an honest heart, a noble soul, a chaste life, and a true speaking 

 tongue, is the throne, sceptre, crown, and footstool that ad- 

 vances them to an honourable renown. I mean not noble, 

 virtuous, discreet, and worthy persons whom necessity did 

 enforce to submit, comply, and follow their own suits, but such 

 as had nothing to lose, but made it their trade to solicit. But 

 I despairing, being positively denied at Goldsmiths' Hall (be- 

 sides, I had a firm faith, or strong opinion, that the pains was 

 more than the gains), and being unpractised in public employ- 

 ments, unlearned in their uncouth ways, ignorant of the 

 humours and dispositions of those persons to whom I was to 

 address my suit, and not knowing where the power lay, and 

 being not a good flatterer, I did not trouble myself or petition 

 my enemies. Besides I am naturally bashful, not that I am 

 ashamed of my mind or body, my birth or breeding, my 

 actions or fortunes, for my bashfulness is my nature, not for 

 any crime, and though I have strived and reasoned with my- 

 self, yet that which is inbred I find is difficult to root out. But 

 I do not find that my bashfulness is concerned with the qualities 

 of the persons, but the number ; for were I to enter amongst 

 a company of Lazaruses, I should be as much out of counten- 

 ance as if they were all Caesars or Alexanders, Cleopatras or 

 Queen Didos. Neither do I find my bashfulness riseth so often 

 in blushes, as contracts my spirits to a chill paleness. But 

 the best of it is, most commonly it soon vanisheth away, and 



