be very sad and melancholy; at which the Empress was very much troubled,
and asked her the reason of her Melancholick humour? Truly, said the
Duchess to the Empress, (for between dear friends there's no
concealment, they being like several parts of one united body) my
Melancholy proceeds from an extream Ambition. The Empress asked, What
the height of her ambition was? The Duchess answered, That neither she
her self, nor no Creature in the World was able to know either the
height, depth, or breadth of her Ambition; but said she, my present
desire is, that I would be a great Princess. The Empress replied, so you
are; for you are a Princess of the fourth or fifth Degree, for a Duke or
Duchess is the highest title or honour that a subject can arrive to, as
being the next to a King's Title; and as for the name of a Prince of
Princess, it belongs to all that are adopted to the Crown; so that those
that can add a Crown to their Arms, are Princes, and therefore a Duke is
a Title above a Prince; for example, the Duke of Savoy, the Duke of
Florence, the Duke of Lorrain, as also Kings Brothers, are not called by
the name of Princes, but Dukes, this being the higher Title. 'Tis true,
answered the Duchess, unless it be Kings Eldest sons, and they are
created Princes. Yes, replied the Empress, but no soveraign does make a
subject equal to himself, such as Kings eldest sons partly are: And
although some Dukes be soveraigns, yet I have heard that a Prince by his
Title is soveraign, by reason the Title of a Prince is more a Title of
Honour, then of soveraignty; for, as I said before, it belongs to all
that are adopted to the Crown. Well, said the Duchess, setting aside
this dispute, my Ambition is, That I would fain be as you are, that is,
an Empress of a World, and I shall never be at quiet until I be one. I
love you so well, replied the Empress, that I wish with all my soul, you
had the fruition of your ambitious desire, and I shall not fail to give
you my best advice how to accomplish it; the best informers are the
Immaterial Spirits, and they'l soon tell you, Whether it be possible to
obtain your wish. But, said the Duchess, I have little acquaintance with
them, for I never knew any before the time you sent for me. They know
you, replied the Empress; for they told me of you, and were the means
and instrument of your coming hither: Wherefore I'le conferr with them,
and enquire whether there be not another World, whereof you may be
Empress as well as I am of this? No sooner had the Empress said this,
but some Immaterial Spirits came to visit her, of whom she inquired,
Whether there were but three Worlds in all, to wit, the Blazing World
where she was in, the World which she came from, and the World where the
Duchess lived? The Spirits answered, That there were more numerous
Worlds then the Stars which appeared in these three mentioned Worlds.
Then the Empress asked, Whether it was not possible that her dearest
friend the Duchess of Newcastle, might be Empress of one of them?
Although there be numerous, nay, infinite Worlds, answered the Spirits,
yet none is without Government. But is none of these Worlds so weak,
said she, that it may be surprized or conquered? The Spirits answered,
That Lucian's World of Lights, had been for some time in a snuff, but of
late years one Helmont had got it, who since he was Emperour of it, had
so strengthened the Immortal parts thereof with mortal out-works, as it
was for the present impregnable. said the Empress, If there be such an
Infinite number of Worlds, I am sure, not onely my friend, the Duchess,
but any other might obtain one. Yes, answered the Spirits, if those
Worlds were uninhabited; but they are as populous as this your Majesty
governs. Why, said the Empress, it is not possible to conquer a World.
No, answered the Spirits, but, for the most part, Conquerers seldom
enjoy their conquest, for they being more feared then loved, most
commonly come to an untimely end. If you will but direct me, said the
Duchess to the Spirits, which World is easiest to be conquered, her
Majesty will assist me with Means, and I will trust to Fate and Fortune;
for I had rather die in the adventure of noble atchievements, then live
in obscure and sluggish security; since the by one, I may live in a
glorious Fame; and by the other I am buried in oblivion. The Spirits
answered, That the lives of Fame were like other lives; for some lasted
long, and some died soon. 'Tis true, said the Duchess; but yet the
shortest-liv'd Fame lasts longer then the longest life of Man. But,
replied the Spirits, if occasion does not serve you, you must content
your self to live without such atchievements that may gain you a Fame:
But we wonder, proceeded the Spirits, that you desire to be Empress of a
Terrestrial World, when as you can create your self a Cœlestial World if
you please. What, said the Empress, can any Mortal be a Creator? Yes,
answered the Spirits; for every human Creature can create an Immaterial
World fully inhabited by Immaterial Creatures, and populous of
Immaterial subjects, such as we are, and all this within the compass of
the head or scull; nay, not onely so, but he may create a World of what
fashion and Government he will, and give the Creatures thereof such
motions, figures, forms, colours, perceptions, &c. as he pleases, and
make Whirl-pools, Lights, Pressures, and Reactions, &c. as he thinks
best; nay, he may make a World full of Veins, Muscles, and Nerves, and
all these to move by one jolt or stroke: also he may alter that World as
often as he pleases, or change it from a Natural World, to an
Artificial; he may make a World of Ideas, a World of Atoms, a World of
Lights, or whatsoever his Fancy leads him to. And since it is in your
power to create such a World, What need you to venture life, reputation
and tranquility, to conquer a gross material World? For you can enjoy no
more of a material world then a particular Creature is able to enjoy,
which is but a small part, considering the compass of such a world; and
you may plainly observe it by your friend the Empress here, which
although she possesses a whole World, yet enjoys she but a part thereof;
neither is she so much acquainted with it, that she know all the places,
Countries, and Dominions she Governs. The truth is, a soveraign Monarch
has the general trouble; but the Subjects enjoy all the delights and
pleasures in parts, for it is impossible, that a Kingdom, nay, a
Country, should be injoyed by one person at once, except he take the
pains to travel into every part, and endure the inconveniencies of going
from one place to another? wherefore, since glory, delight, and pleasure
lives but in other mens opinions, and can neither add tranquility to
your mind nor give ease to your body, Why should you desire to be
Empress of a Material World, and be troubled with the cares that attend
Government? when as by creating a World within your self, you may enjoy
all both in whole and in parts, without controle or opposition; and may
make what World you please, and alter it when you please, and enjoy as
much pleasure and delight as a World can afford you? You have converted
me, said the Duchess to the Spirits, from my ambitious desire;
wherefore, I'le take your advice, reject and despise all the Worlds
without me, and create a World of my own. The Empress said, If I do make
such a world, then I shall be Mistress of two Worlds, one within, and
the other without me. That your Majesty may, said the Spirits; and so
left these two Ladies to create two Worlds within themselves: who did
also part from each other, until such time as they had brought their
Worlds to perfection. The Duchess of Newcastle was most earnest and
industrious to make her World, because she had none at present; and
first she resolved to frame it according to the opinion of Thales, but
she found her self so much troubled with Dæmons, that they would not
suffer her to take her own will, but forced her to obey their orders and
commands; which she being unwilling to do, left off from making a world
that way, and began to frame one according to Pythagoras's Doctrine; but
in the Creation thereof, she was so puzled with numbers, how to order
and compose the several parts, that she having no skill in Arithmetick,
was forced also to desist from the making of that World. Then she
intended to create a World according to the opinion of Plato; but she
found more trouble and difficulty in that, then in the two former; for
the numerous Idea's having no other motion but what was derived from her
mind, whence they did flow and issue out, made it a far harder business
to her, to impart motion to them, then Puppit-players have in giving
motion to every several Puppit; in so much, that her patience was not
able to endure the trouble which those Ideas caused her; wherefore she
annihilated also that World, and was resolved to make one according to
the Opinion of Epicurus; which she had no sooner begun, but the infinite
Atoms made such a mist, that it quite blinded the perception of her
mind; neither was she able to make a Vacuum as a receptacle for those
Atoms, or a place which they might retire into; so that partly for the
want of it, and of a good order and method, the confusion of those Atoms
produced such strange and monstrous figures, as did more affright then
delight her, and caused such a Chaos in her mind, as had almost
dissolved it. At last, having with much ado cleansed and cleared her
mind of these dusty and misty particles, she endeavored to create a
World according to Aristotle's Opinion; but remembring that her mind, as
most of the Learned hold it, was Immaterial, and that, according to
Aristotle's Principle, out of Nothing, Nothing could be made; she was
forced also to desist from that work, and then she fully resolved, not
to take any more patterns from the Ancient Philosophers, but to follow
the Opinions of the Moderns; and to that end, she endeavoured to make a
World according to Des Cartes Opinion; but when she had made the
Æthereal Globules, and set them a moving by a strong and lively
imagination, her mind became so dizzie with their extraordinary swift
turning round, that it almost put her into a swoon; for her thoughts,
but their constant tottering, did so stagger, as if they had all been
drunk: wherefore she dissolved that World, and began to make another,
according to Hobbs's Opinion; but when all the parts of this Imaginary
World came to press and drive each other, they seemed like a company of
Wolves that worry sheep, or like so many Dogs that hunt after Hares; and
when she found a re-action equal to those pressures, her mind was so
squeezed together, that her thoughts could neither move forward nor
backward, which caused such an horrible pain in her head, that although
she had dissolved that World, yet she could not, without much
difficulty, settle her mind, and free it from that pain which those
pressures and reactions had caused in it.
At last, when the Duchess saw that no patterns would do her any good in
the framing of her World; she was resolved to make a World of her own
Invention, and this World was composed of sensitive and rational
self-moving Matter; indeed, it was composed onely of the Rational, which
is the subtilest and purest degree of Matter; for as the Sensitive did
move and act both to the perceptions and consistency of the body, so
this degree of Matter at the same point of time (for though the degrees
are mixt, yet the several parts may move several ways at one time) did
move to the Creation of the Imaginary World; which World after it was
made, appear'd so curious and full of variety, so well order'd and
wisely govern'd, that it cannot possibly be expressed by words, nor the
delight and pleasure which the Duchess took in making this World-of-her-own.
In the mean time the Empress was also making and dissolving several
Worlds in her own mind, and was so puzled, that she could not settle in
any of them; wherefore she sent for the Duchess, who being ready to wait
on the Empress, carried her beloved World along with her, and invited
the Empress's Soul to observe the Frame, Order and Government of it. Her
Majesty was so ravished with the perception of it, that her Soul desired
to live in the Duchess's World: But the Duchess advised her to make such
another World in her own mind; for, said she, your Majesty's mind is
full of rational corporeal motions; and the rational motions of my mind
shall assist you by the help of sensitive expressions, with the best
Instructions they are able to give you.
The Empress being thus perswaded by the Duchess to make an imaginary
World of her own, followed her advice; and after she had quite finished
it, and framed all kinds of Creatures proper and useful for it,
strengthened it with good Laws, and beautified it with Arts and
Sciences; having nothing else to do, unless she did dissolve her
Imaginary World, or made some alterations in the Blazing-World, she
lived in; which yet she could hardly do, by reason it was so well
ordered that it could not be mended; for it was governed without secret
and deceiving Policy; neither was there any ambitious, factions,
malicious detractions, civil dissentions, or home-bred quarrels,
divisions in Religion, Foreign Wars, &c. but all the people lived in a
peaceful society, united Tranquility, and Religious Conformity. she was
desirious to see the World the Duchess came from, and observe therein
the several sovereign Governments, Laws and Customs of several Nations.
The Duchess used all the means she could, to divert her from that
Journey, telling her, that the World she came from, was very much
disturbed with Factions, Divisions and Wars; but the Empress would not
be perswaded from her design; and lest the Emperor, or any of his
subjects should know of her travel, and obstruct her design; she sent
for some of the Spirits she had formerly conversed withal, and inquired
whether none of them could supply the place of her soul in her body at
such a time, when she was gone to travel into another World? They
answered, Yes, they could; for not onely one, said they, but many
Spirits may enter into your body, if you please. The Empress replied,
she desired but one Spirit to be Vice-Roy of her body in the absence of
her Soul, but it must be an honest and ingenious Spirit; and if it was
possible, a female Spirit. The Spirits told her, that there was no
difference of Sexes amongst them; but, said they, we will chuse an
honest and ingenious Spirit, and such a one as shall so resemble your
soul, that neither the Emperor, nor any of his Subjects, although the
most Divine, shall know whether it be your own soul, or not: which the
Empress was very glad at, and after the Spirits were gone, asked the
Duchess, how her body was supplied in the absence of her soul? who
answered Her Majesty, That her body, in the absence of her soul, was
governed by her sensitive and rational corporeal motions. Thus those two
Female Souls travelled together as lightly as two thoughts into the
Duchess her native World; and, which is remarkable, in a moment viewed
all the parts of it, and all the actions of all the Creatures therein,
especially did the Empress's Soul take much notice of the several
actions of humane Creatures in all the several Nations and parts of that
World, and wonder'd that for all there were so many several Nations,
Governments, Laws, Religions, Opinions, &c. they should all yet so
generally agree in being Ambitious, Proud, Self-conceited, Vain,
Prodigal, Deceitful, Envious, Malicious, Unjust, Revengeful,
Irreligious, Factious, &c. she did also admire, that not any particular
State, Kingdom or Common-wealth, was contented with their own shares,
but endeavoured to encroach upon their Neighbours, and that their
greatest glory was in Plunder and Slaughter, and yet their victory's
less then their expences, and their losses more than their gains; but
their being overcome, in a manner their utter ruine: But that she
wonder'd most at, was, that they should prize or value dirt more then
mens lives, and vanity more then tranquility: for the Emperor of a
world, said she, injoys but a part, not the whole; so that his pleasure
consists in the Opinions of others. It is strange to me, answered the
Duchess, that you should say thus, being your self, an Empress of a
World; and not onely of a world, but of a peaceable, quiet, and obedient
world. 'Tis true, replied the Empress: but although it is a peaceable
and obedient world, yet the Government thereof is rather a trouble, then
a pleasure; for order cannot be without industry, contrivance, and
direction: besides, the Magnificent state, that great Princes keep or
ought to keep, is troublesome. Then by your Majestie's discourse, said
the Duchess, I perceive that the greatest happiness in all the Worlds
consist in Moderation: No doubt of it, replied the Empress; and after
these two souls had visited all the several places, Congregations and
Assemblies both in Religion and State, the several Courts of Judicature
and the like, in several Nations, the Empress said, That of all the
Monarchs of the several parts of the World, she had observed the
Grand-Seignior was the greatest; for his word was a Law, and his power
absolute. But the Duchess pray'd the Empress to pardon her that she was
of another mind; for, said she, he cannot alter Mahomets Laws and
Religion; so that the Law and Church do govern the Emperor, and not the
Emperor them. But, replied the Empress, he has power in some
particulars; as for example, To place and displace Subjects in their
particular Governments of Church and State; and having that, he has the
Command both over Church and State, and none dares oppose him. 'Tis
true, said the Duchess; but if it pleases your Majesty, we will go into
that part of the World whence I came to wait on your Majesty, and there
you shall see as powerful a Monarch as the Grand Signior; for though his
Dominions are not of so large extent, yet they are much stronger, his
Laws are easie and safe, and he governs so justly and wisely, that his
Subjects are the happiest people of all the Nations or parts of that
World. This Monarch, said the Empress, I have a great mind to see. Then
they both went, and in a short time arrived into his Dominions; but
coming into the Metropolitan City, the Empress's Soul observed many
Gallants go into an House; and enquiring of the Duchess's Soul, what
House that was? she told her, It was one of the Theatres where Comedies
and Tragedies were acted. The Empress asked, Whether they were real? No,
said the Duchess, they are feigned. Then the Empress desired to enter
into the Theatre; and when she had seen the Play that was asked, the
Duchess asked her how she liked that Recreation? I like it very well,
said the Empress; but I observe that the Actors make a better show than
the Spectators; and the Scenes a better than the Actors and the Musick
and Dancing is more pleasant and acceptable than the Play it self; for I
see, the Scenes stand for Wit, the Dancing for Humour, and the Musick is
the Chorus. I am sorry, replied the Duchess, to hear your Majesty say
so; for if the Wits of this part of the World should hear you, they
would condemn you. What, said the Empress, would they condemn me for
preferring a natural Face before a Sign-post; or a natural Humour before
an artificial Dance; or Musick before a true and profitable Relation? As
for Relation, replied the Duchess, our Poets defie and condemn it into a
Chimney-corner, fitter for old Womens Tales, than Theatres. Why, said
the Empress do not your Poets Actions comply with their Judgments? For
their Plays are composed of old Stories, either of Greek or Roman, or
some new-found World. The Duchess answered Her Majesty, That it was
true, that all or most of their Plays were taken out of old Stories; but
yet they had new Actions, which being joined to old Stories, together
with the addition of new Prologues, Scenes, Musick and Dancing, made new
Plays.
After this, both the Souls went to the Court, where all the Royal Family
was together, attended by the chief of the Nobles of their Dominions,
which made a very magnificent Show; and when the Soul of the Empress
viewed the King and Queen, she seemed to be in a maze, which the
Duchess's Soul perceiving, asked the Empress how she liked the King, the
Queen, and all the Royal Race? she answered, that in all the Monarchs
she had seen in that World, she had not found so much Majesty and
Affability mixt so exactly together, that none did overshadow or eclipse
the other; and as for the Queen, she said that Vertue sat Triumphant in
her face, and Piety was dwelling in her heart; and that all the Royal
Family seem'd to be endued with a Divine splendor: but when she had
heard the King discourse, she believ'd that Mercury and Apollo had been
his Cœlestial Instructors; and, my dear Lord and Husband, added the
Duchess, has been his Earthly Governor. But after some short stay in the
Court, the Duchess's soul grew very Melancholy; the Empress asking the
cause of her sadness? she told her, That she had an extreme desire to
converse with the soul of her Noble Lord and dear Husband, and that she
was inpatient of a longer stay. The Empress desired the Duchess to have
but patience so long, until the King, the Queen, and the Royal Family
were retired, and then she would bear her Company to her Lord and
Husband's Soul, who at that time lived in the Country some 112 miles
off; which she did: and thus these two souls went towards those parts of
the Kingdom where the Duke of Newcastle was.
But one thing I forgot all this while, which is, That although thoughts
are the natural language of Souls; yet by reason Souls cannot travel
without Vehicles, they use such language as the nature and propriety of
their Vehicles require, and the Vehicles of those two souls being made
of the purest and finest sort of air, and of a human shape: This purity
and fineness was the cause that they could neither be seen nor heard by
any human Creature; when as, had they been of some grosser sort of Air,
the sound of the Air's language would have been as perceptible as the
blowing of Zephyrus.
And now to return to my former Story; when the Empress's and Duchess's
Soul were travelling into Nottinghamshire, (for that was the place where
the Duke did reside) passing through the Forrest of sherewood, the
Empress's Soul was very much delighted with it, as being a dry, plain
and woody place, very pleasant to travel in, both in Winter and Summer;
for it is neither much dirty nor dusty at no time: At last they arrived
at Welbeck, a House where the Duke dwell'd, surrounded all with Wood, so
close and full, that the Empress took great pleasure and delight
therein, and told the Duchess she never had observed more Wood in so
little compass in any part of the Kingdom she had passed through. The
truth is, said she, there seems to be more Wood on the Seas (she meaning
the Ships) than on the Land. The Duchess told her, The reason was, that
there had been a long Civil Warr in that Kingdom, in which most of the
best Timber-trees and Principal Palaces were ruined and destroyed; and
my dear Lord and Husband, said she, has lost by it half his Woods,
besides many Houses, Land, and movable Goods; so that all the loss out
of his particular Estate, did amount to above Half a Million of Pounds.
I wish, said the Empress, he had some of the Gold that is in the
Blazing-World, to repair his losses. The Duchess most humbly thank'd her
Imperial Majesty for her kind wishes; but, said she, Wishes will not
repair his ruins: however, God has given my Noble Lord and Husband great
Patience, by which he bears all his losses and misfortunes. As last they
enter'd into the Duke's House, an Habitation not so magnificent as
useful; and when the Empress saw it, Has the Duke, said she, no other
House but this? Yes, answered the Duchess, some five miles from this
place he has a very fine Castle called Bolesover. That place, then, said
the Empress, I desire to see. Alas, replied the Duchess, it is but a
naked House, and uncloath'd of all Furniture. However, said the Empress,
I may see the manner of its structure and building. That you may,
replied the Duchess, and as they were thus discoursing, the Duke came
out of the House into the Court, to see his Horses of Manage; whom when
the Duchess's Soul perceived, she was so overjoyed, that her Aereal
Vehicle became so splendorous, as if it had been enlightned by the Sun;
by which we may perceive, that the passions of Souls or Spirits can
alter their bodily Vehicles. Then these two Ladies Spirits went close to
him, but he could not perceive them; and after the Empress had observed
that Art of Mannage, she was much pleased with it, and commended it as a
noble pastime, and an exercise fit and proper for noble and heroick
Persons. But when the Duke was gone into the house again, those two
Souls followed him; where the Empress observing, that he went to the
exercise of the sword, and was such an excellent and unparallel'd Master
thereof, she was as much pleased with that exercise, as she was with the
former: But the Duchess's Soul being troubled, that her dear Lord and
Husband used such a violent exercise before meat, for fear of
overheating himself, without any consideration of the Empress's Soul,
left her Æreal Vehicle, and entred into her Lord. The Empress's Soul
perceiving this, did the like: And then the Duke had three Souls in one
Body; and had there been some such Souls more, the Duke would have been
like the Grand-Signior in his Seraglio, onely it would have been a
Platonick Seraglio. But the Duke's Soul being wise, honest, witty,
complaisant and noble, afforded such delight and pleasure to the
Empress's Soul by his conversation, that these two souls became
enamoured of each other; which the Duchess's soul perceiving, grew
jealous at first, but then considering that no Adultery could be
committed amongst Platonick Lovers, and that Platonism, was Divine, as
being derived from Divine Plato, cast forth of her mind that Idea of
Jealousie. Then the Conversation of these three souls was so pleasant,
that it cannot be expressed; for the Duke's Soul entertained the
Empress's Soul with Scenes, songs, Musick, witty Discourses, pleasant
Recreations, and all kinds of harmless sports, so that the time passed
away faster than they expected. At last a Spirit came and told the
Empress, That although neither the Emperor nor any of his Subjects knew
that her Soul was absent; yet the Emperor's Soul was so sad and
melancholy for want of His own beloved Soul, that all the Imperial Court
took notice of it. Wherefore he advised the Empress's Soul to return
into the Blazing-World, into her own Body she left there; which both the
Duke's and Duchess's Soul was very sorry for, and wished that, if it had
been possible, the Empress's Soul might have stayed a longer time with
them; but seeing it could not be otherwise, they pacified themselves.
But before the Empress returned into the Blazing-World, the Duchess
desired a Favour of her, to wit, That she would be pleased to make an
Agreement between her Noble Lord, and Fortune. Why, said the Empress,
are they Enemies? Yes, answered the Duchess, and they have been so ever
since I have been his Wife: nay, I have heard my Lord say, That she hath
crossed him in all things, ever since he could remember. I am sorry for
that, replied the Empress; but I cannot discourse with Fortune, without
the help of an Immaterial Spirit, and that cannot be done in this World;
for I have no Fly nor Bird-men here, to send into the Region of the Air,
where, for the most part, their Habitations are. The Duchess said, she
would entreat her Lord to send an Attorney or Lawyer to plead his Cause.
Fortune will bribe them, replied the Empress, and so the Duke may chance
to be cast: Wherefore the best way will be, for the Duke to chuse a
Friend on his side, and let Fortune chuse another, and try whether by
this means it be possible to compose the Difference. The Duchess said,
They will never come to an agreement, unless there be a Judg or Umpire
to decide the Case. A Judg, replied the Empress, is easie to be had; but
to get an Impartial Judg, is a thing so difficult, that I doubt we shall
hardly find one; for there is none to be had, neither in Nature, nor in
Hell, but onely from Heaven; and how to get such a Divine and Celestial
Judg, I cannot tell: Nevertheless, if you will go along with me into the
Blazing-World, I'le try what may be done. 'Tis my duty, said the
Duchess, to wait on your Majesty, and I shall most willingly do it, for
I have no other interest to consider. Then the Duchess spake to the Duke
concerning the difference between him and Fortune, and how it was her
desire that they might be friends. The Duke answered, That for his part
he had always with great industry sought her friendship, but as yet he
could never obtain it, for she had always been his Enemy. However, said
he, I'le try and send my two Friends, Prudence and Honesty, to plead my
Cause. Then these two Friends went with the Duchess and the Empress into
the Blazing-World; (for it is to be observed, that they are somewhat
like Spirits, because they are Immaterial, although their actions are
corporeal:) and after their arrival there, when the Empress had
refreshed her self, and rejoiced with the Emperor, she sent her Fly-men
for some of the Spirits, and desired their assistance, to compose the
difference between Fortune, and the Duke of Newcastle. But they told her
Majesty, That Fortune was so inconstant, that although she would perhaps
promise to hear their Cause pleaded, yet it was a thousand to one,
whether she would ever have the patience to do it: Nevertheless, upon
Her Majestie's request, they tried their utmost, and at last prevailed
with Fortune so far, that she chose Folly and Rashness, for her Friends,
but they could not agree in chusing a Judg; until at last, with much
ado, they concluded, that Truth should hear, and decide the cause. Thus
all being prepared, and the time appointed, both the Empress and
Duchess's Soul went to hear them plead; and when all the Immaterial
Company was met, Fortune standing upon a Golden-Globe, made this
following Speech:
Noble Friends, We are met here to hear a Cause pleaded concerning the
difference between the Duke of Newcastle, and my self; and though I am
willing upon the perswasions of the Ambassadors of the Empress, the
Immaterial Spirits, to yield to it, yet it had been fit, the Duke's Soul
should be present also, to speak for her self; but since she is not
here, I shall declare my self to his Wife, and his Friends, as also to
my Friends, especially the Empress, to whom I shall chiefly direct my
Speech. First, I desire your Imperial Majesty may know, that this Duke
who complains or exclaims so much against me, hath been always my enemy;
for he has preferred Honesty and Prudence before me, and slighted all my
favours; nay, not onely thus, but he did fight against me, and preferred
his Innocence before my Power. His Friends Honesty and Prudence, said he
most scornfully, are more to be regarded, than Inconstant Fortune, who
is onely a friend to Fools and Knaves; for which neglect and scorn,
whether I have not just reason to be his enemy, your Majesty may judg
your self.
After Fortune had thus ended her Speech, the Duchess's Soul rose from
her seat, and spake to the Immaterial Assembly in this manner:
Noble Friends, I think it fit, by your leave, to answer Lady Fortune in
the behalf of my Noble Lord and Husband, since he is not here himself;
and since you have heard her complaint concerning the choice my Lord
made of his Friends, and the neglect and disrespect he seemed to cast
upon her; give me leave to answer, that, first concerning the Choice of
his Friends, He has proved himself a wise man in it; and as for the
disrespect and rudeness her Ladiship accuses him of, I dare say he is so
much a Gentleman, that I am confident he would never slight, scorn or
disrespect any of the Female Sex in all his life time; but was such a
servant and Champion for them, that he ventured Life and Estate in their
service; but being of an honest, as well as an honourable Nature, he
could not trust Fortune with that which he preferred above his life,
which was his Reputation, by reason Fortune did not side with those that
were honest and honourable, but renounced them; and since he could not
be of both sides, he chose to be of that which was agreeable both to his
Conscience, Nature and Education; for which choice Fortune did not onely
declare her self his open Enemy, but fought with him in several Battels;
nay, many times, hand to hand; at last, she being a Powerful Princess,
and as some believe, a Deity, overcame him, and cast him into a
Banishment, where she kept him in great misery, ruined his Estate, and
took away from him most of his Friends; nay, even when she favoured many
that were against her, she still frowned on him; all which he endured
with the greatest patience, and with that respect to Lady Fortune, that
he did never in the least endeavour to disoblige any of her Favourites,
but was onely sorry that he, an honest man, could find no favor in her
Court; and since he did never injure any of those she favoured, he
neither was an enemy to her Ladiship, but gave her always that respect
and worship which belonged to her power and dignity, and is still ready
at any time honestly and prudently to serve her; he onely begs, her
Ladiship would be his friend for the future, as she hath been his enemy
in times past.
As soon as the Duchess's Speech was ended, Folly and Rashness started
up, and both spake so thick and fast at once, that not onely the
Assembly, but themselves were not able to understand each other: At
which Fortune was somewhat out of countenance; and commanded them either
to speak singly, or be silent: But Prudence told her Ladiship, she
should command them to speak wisely, as well as singly; otherwise, said
she, it were best for them not to speak at all: Which Fortune resented
very ill, and told Prudence, she was too bold; and then commanded Folly
to declare what she would have made known: but her Speech was so
foolish, mixt with such Non-sense, that none knew what to make of it;
besides, it was so tedious, that Fortune bid her to be silent; and
commanded Rashness to speak for her, who began after this manner: