Memoirs 213 



to the best advantage, whilest I live in the view of 

 the pubhc world, yet I could most wiUingly exclude 

 myself, so as never to see the face of any creature 

 but My Lord, as long as I live ; inclosing myself like 

 an anchoret, wearing a frize gown, tied with a cord 

 about my waste. 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 Cesar, 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 dehght, 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 dye and My Lord 

 marry again. 



