14 The Duchess of Newcastle 



Good fortune is such an idol of the world, and is so 

 like the golden calf worshipped by the Israelites, that 

 those arch-rebels never wanted astrologers to foretel 

 them good success in all their enterprises, nor poets 

 to sing their praises, nor orators for panegyricks; 

 nay, which is worse, nor historians neither, to record 

 their valour in fighting, and wisdom in governing. 

 But being, so much as I am, above base profit, or any 

 preferment whatsoever, I cannot fear to be suspected 

 of flattery, in declaring to the world the merits, 

 wealth, power, loyalty, and fortunes of my noble 

 Lord, who hath done great actions, suffered great 

 losses, endured a long banishment, for his loyalty to 

 his King and countrey; and leads now, like another 

 Scipio, a quiet count rey-life. If notwithstanding all 

 this, any should say, that those who write histories of 

 themselves, and their own actions, or of their own 

 party, or instruct and inform those that write them 

 are partial to themselves; I answer, that it is very 

 improbable, worthy persons, who having done great, 

 noble and heroick exploits, deserving to be recorded, 

 should be so vain, as to write false histories; but if 

 they do, it proves but their folly ; for truth can never 

 be concealed, and so it will be more for their disgrace, 

 then for their honour or fame. I fear not any such 

 blemishes in this present History, for I am not con- 

 scious of any such crime as partiality or falsehood, 

 but write it whilest my noble Lord is yet alive, and 

 at such a time where truth may be declared, and 

 falsehood contradicted; and I challenge any one 

 (although I be a woman) to contradict any thing that 

 I have set down, or prove it to be otherwise then 

 truth; for be there never so many contradictions, 

 truth will conquer all at last. 



Concerning My Lord's actions in war, which are 



