200 The Duchess of Newcastle 



forced to* buy with a great composition before he 

 could enjoy any part thereof; so over I went, but 

 when I came there I found their hearts as hard as my 

 fortunes, and their natures as cruel as my miseries, 

 for they sold all My Lord's estate, which was a very 

 great one, and gave me not any part thereof, or any 

 allowance thereout, which few or no other was so 

 hardly dealt withall; indeed, I did not stand as a 

 beggar at the Parliament doore, for I never was at 

 the Parhamente House, nor stood I ever at the doore, 

 as I do know, or can remember, I am sure, not as a 

 petitioner, neither did I haunt the committees, for I 

 never was at any, as a petitioner, but one in my life, 

 which was called Gold-smiths'-hall, but I received 

 neither gold nor silver from them, only an absolute 

 refusall, I should have no share of My Lord's estate; 

 for my brother the Lord Lucas did claim in my behalf 

 such a part of My Lord's estate as wives had allowed 

 them, but they told him, that by reason I was married 

 since My Lord was made a delinquent, I could have 

 nothing, nor should have any thing, he being the 

 greatest traitor to the state, which was to be the most 

 loyall subject to his king and country. But I whisper- 

 ingly spoke to my brother to conduct me out of that 

 ungentlemanly place, so without speaking to them 

 one word good or bad, I returned to my lodgings, and 

 as that committee was the first, so was it the last, I 

 ever was at as a petitioner. 'Tis true I went some- 

 times to Drury House to inquire how the land was 

 sold, but no other ways, although some reported I 

 was at the Parliament House, and at this committee 

 and at that committee, and what I should say, and 

 how I was answered; but the customes of England 

 being changed as well as the laws, where women 

 become pleaders, attornies, petitioners and the like. 



