AN EPISTLE TO HER GRACE THE 

 DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE 



May it please your Grace, 



/ have been taught, and do believe, that obedience is 

 better then sacrifice ; and know, that both are due from 

 me to your Grace ; and since I have been so long in 

 obeying yoitr commands, I shall not presume to use any 

 arguments for my excuse, but rather chuse ingeniously 

 to confess my fault, and beg your Graces pardon. And 

 because forgiveness is a glory to the supreamest powers, 

 I will hope that your Grace by that great example will 

 make it yours. And now I htimbly take leave to represent 

 to your Grace, as faithfully and truly as my memory 

 will serve me, all my observations of the most memorable 

 actions, and honourable deportments of His Grace, 

 my most noble lord and master, William Duke of 

 Newcastle, in the execution and performance of the 

 trusts and high employments committed and commended 

 to his care and charge by three kings of England; 

 that is to say, King James, King Charles the First, of 

 ever blessed memory ; and our gracious King, Charles 

 the Second ; under whom he hath had the happiness to 

 live, and the honour to serve them in several capacities : 

 And because I humbly conceive, that it is not within the 

 intention of your Grace's commands, that I should give 

 you a particular relation of his Grace's high birth, his 

 noble and princely education and breeding, both at 



i8 



