1 2 The Duchess of Newcastle 



the politicks, by tedious moral discourses, with long 

 observations upon the several sorts of government 

 that have been in Greece and Rome, and upon others 

 more modern ; I will neither endeavour to make show 

 of eloquence, making speeches that never was spoken, 

 nor pretend to great skill in war, by making moun- 

 tains of mole-hills, and telling romantical falsehoods 

 for historical truths; and much less will I write to 

 amuse my readers, in a mystical and allegorical style, 

 of the disloyal actions of the opposite party, of the 

 treacherous cowardise, envy and malice of some 

 persons, My Lord's enemies, and of the ingratitude 

 of some of his seeming friends; wherein I cannot 

 better obey his Lordship's commands to conceal 

 those things, then in leaving them quite out, as I do, 

 with submission to his Lordship's desire, from whom 

 I have learned patience to overcome my passions, and 

 discretion to yield to his prudence. 



Thus am I resolved to write, in a natural plain style, 

 without Latin sentences, moral instructions, politick 

 designs, feigned orations, or envious and malicious 

 exclamations, this short history of the loyal, heroick 

 and prudent actions of my noble Lord, as also of his 

 sufferings, losses, and ill-fortunes, which in honour 

 and conscience I could not suffer to be buried in 

 silence ; nor could I have undertaken so hard a task, 

 had not my love to his person, and to truth, been my 

 encourager and supporter. 



I might have made this book larger, in transcribing 

 (as is ordinary in histories) the several letters, full of 

 affection, and kind promises he received from His 

 Gracious Soveraign, Charles the First, and from his 

 Royal Consort, in the time he was in the actions of 

 war, as also since the war, from his dear soveraign 

 and master, Charles the Second; but many of the 



