178 Life of the Duchess of Newcastle 



to appear to the best advantage, whilst I live in the view of the 

 public world, yet I could most willingly exclude myself, so as 

 never to see the face of any creature but my Lord as long as I 

 live, inclosing myself like an anchorite, wearing a frieze gown, 

 tied with a cord about my waist. But I hope my readers will 

 not think me vain for writing my life, since there have been 

 many that have done the like, as Caesar, Ovid, and many more, 

 both men and women, and I know no reason I may not do it 

 as well as they : but I verily believe some censuring readers 

 will scornfully say, why hath this Lady writ her own life ? 

 since none cares to know whose daughter she was or whose 

 wife she is, or how she was bred, or what fortunes she had, 

 or how she lived, or what humour or disposition she was of. 

 I answer that it is true, that 'tis to no purpose to the readers, 

 but it is to the authoress, because I write it for my own sake, 

 not theirs. Neither did I intend this piece for to delight, but 

 to divulge ; not to please the fancy, but to tell the truth, lest 

 after-ages should mistake, in not knowing I was daughter 

 to one Master Lucas of St. Johns, near Colchester, in Essex, 

 second wife to the Lord Marquis of Newcastle ; for my Lord 

 having had two wives, I might easily have been mistaken, 

 especially if I should die and my Lord marry again. 



