Private Memoirs of Sir Kenelm Digby, Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King Charles the First

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MEMOIRS OF

SIR

KENELM

DIGBY,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS OF

SIR

KENELM DIGBY, OF BY

GENTLEMAN OF THE BEDCHAMBER TO

KING CHARLES THE FIRST.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

NOW

FIRST PUBLISHED

FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT,

AN INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR.

LONDON :/ SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET. 1827.

J. H,

PREFACE. THERE

a charm in Autobiography under whatever form it may be presented to our notice,

which

is

too universally

is

mendation the

first

felt to

require recom-

hence, an apology for publishing for time, from his own MS., an account of ;

the early part of the

life

of one of the most extra-

ordinary characters of his, or indeed of any age,

would

it is

presumed be wholly superfluous.

The name

of

SIR

KENELM DIGBY

synonymous with genius and

is

eccentricity

;

almost

and

his

marriage with the beautiful VENETIA STANLEY, a lady of far purer birth than fame, has tended to create a lively interest in all which relates to him.

Under feigned

appellations, but to the greater pro-

portion of which there

key,

Digby has

is

detailed

from his childhood

no all

until

giving a the events of his life, difficulty in

his

victory

over

the

Venetian squadron at Scanderoon in June 1628; and as the narrative was solely written from feelings

of affection

woman

is

for

his

the heroine of his

wife, tale.

that

celebrated

PREFACE.

IV

That so curious an

article

should have hitherto

escaped the attention of his Biographers, is not a little singular but it will be seen by the Me;

moir which

it

was necessary

to prefix to

it,

that

it

throws important light, not only upon Digby's character, but also upon the character and

own

conduct of Lady Venetia ; and many curious particulars will also be found of the most distinguished personages of their times.

As

in the introductory account of Sir

Kenelm

Digby, the question of the authenticity of the

which

is

MS.,

-preserved in the Harleian Collection in

the British

Museum, No. 6758,

is

discussed,

and

every particular concerning it stated, any farther observations in this place are unnecessary. June

1st,

1827.

LIFE

KENELM

SIR

THE

DIGBY.

difficulty of writing

diversified a genius as Sir

the

life

of so

Kenelm Digby,

has been justly considered a perilous task ; and that difficulty is but little lessened by the elaborate account of

him

in the

" Bio-

graphia Britannica," or the concise but incomparable summary of his character by

Mr. Lodge.*

In the former of those productions, every fact which the industry of more than one editor could collect is copiously

detailed

manner

in

;

whilst

the

successful

which the biographer who

just alluded to, has selected

that

all

is

is

really

important concerning him, stated those deductions which are to be made from his *

Portraits of Illustrious Personages

of

with Biographical and Historical Memoirs.

b

Great Britain,

INTRODUCTION.

VI

conduct, and clothed his narration and remarks in the most polished and appropriate language, render it impossible that this

Memoir

of him can excel the minute-

ness of the one, or equal the terseness, the elegance, or the energy of the other.

attempt even be made for the only hopes which can be entertained

Nor

will the

:

that this article will possess claims to attention of a different nature from former notices of Digby, are founded upon the curious particulars of his early life, and the

of the beautiful Venetia Stanley, his wife, which are presented under feigned life

names letters

volume; the few unpublished which are introduced; and still

in this

more, upon the incontrovertible truth that scarcely two writers view the same facts in

and that it is only by such repeated and various examinations of human conduct that the real merits of mankind can be discovered. Thus then, all which has been printed one

light,

respecting Sir

Kenelm Digby

lated in as brief a

manner

as

will is

be

re-

consistent

with the intention of giving a simple narra-

INTRODUCTION. tive of his life

brought to

;

but the

light,

little

Vll

which has been

either in this piece of

autobiography, or from other sources, will be placed in that prominent view to which their novelty, if not their interest, entitle

more necessary, because, if it be proved that what is already known of him is consistent in the general features, in probability, and in dates, with his account of transactions with which we now bethem.

This

is

the

come acquainted for

the

first

time, the value

of his statements will be fully established. Kenelm Digby was the eldest son of Sir

Everard Digby, one, and perhaps the most respectable, of the fanatic conspirators of the

gunpowder treason, by Mary, daughter and co-heiress of William Mulsho, of Gothurst, in Buckinghamshire, Esq. and was scarcely three years of age when his father expiated his crime upon the scaffold. The precise

day of his birth has been the subject

of far greater controversy than it deserved, but there can be no just grounds for doubt3

ing that it occurred on the llth of Julie , 1603. As his father was attainted, he says

he inherited nothing from him " but a foul

b2

INTRODUCTION.

Vlll

stain

in

blood :"* but such was not

his

strictly true

;

for

two of Sir EverarcTs ma-

nors, as well as his wife's property, having been entailed, the crown was defeated in the

of them, and Digby considered to have inherited an estate of

effort to take possession is

annum. His mother was a rigid Catholic, but submitted, Mr. Lodge con-

3000/. per

being educated a Proobvious political reasons;

siders, to her son

from

testant

whilst his previous biographers conjecture that he was taken from her care when very

because at an early period he reyoung nounced the faith of his ancestors, and was ;

placed

under the tuition of Archbishop

Laud, then Dean of Gloucester.

Be this

as

thought to have been a Protestant until he formally returned to it

may, Digby

the

is

bosom of the Roman Catholic Church,

about the year 1638; but, as it will afterward be more fully pointed out, there are reasons for believing that he was a Catholic as early as 1623, in which case it may be fairly

doubted whether he was ever, in re-

ality,

of any other religion. * P. 32.

In 1618, when

INTRODUCTION. he was

in his fifteenth year,

IX

he was sent to

Oxford, and entered of Gloucester-hall, where the direction of his studies was committed to Mr.

Thomas

Allen, one of the

most eminent scholars of the time, who it is said, accepted the task from affection for the family of his pupil, and a high opinion of his genius and capacity, rather than from the ordinary motives of a college tutor. Digby remained at the university but two years, in

putation.

on

which he obtained a splendid

Early in 1621, he proceeded

own

asser-

to be believed, to study for

some

his travels, intending, if his

tion

is

re-

time in the university of Paris;* but neither of his biographers give any other account of him between that year and 1623, when he returned to England, than they gleaned

from a passage in one of his works, namely, that he attended on the Prince of Wales,

when his Royal Madrid. Of that inte-

afterward Charles the First,

Highness was at

resting period of Sir Kenelm's

life,

the en-

memoir presents many singular particulars, and as all of them which are ca-

suing

*

P. 79.

INTRODUCTION.

X

pable of proof are fully supported by evidence, as well as by the general history of the period, there seems to be no just

ground

for suspecting the fidelity of the

however much

be necessary to allow for the high colouring of the picture. But, fortunately, the former only is required for the purpose of filling up outline,

it

may

the chasm.

As

impossible to avail ourselves of that information without alluding to the it is

fair individual

who became

identified with

Digby's fortunes, this is, perhaps, the most convenient place for introducing her. Venetia Stanley, to whose names one writer has also

added that of Anastatia,*

was one of the daughters, and, eventually,

Edward

Stanley, of Tonge Castle in Shropshire, Knight of the Bath, eldest son of Sir Thomas Stanley, Knt. co-heirs of Sir

a younger son of Edward, third Earl of Derby, K. G. and was born on the 19th of

December, 1600. Her mother was Lucy, daughter and co^heiress of Thomas Percy, seventh Earl of Northumberland, who, *

Hutchin's History of Dorset.

we

INTRODUCTION. learn from this memoir, died

but a few months old.*

XI

when she was

Truly, indeed,

might Digby boast that his Venetia was " born of parents that, in the antiquity

and

lustre of their houses

of fortune, were inferior

and in the goods to none in Great

and that some of her ancestors had exalted and pulled down Kings in England, and that their successors still have right to wear a regal crown upon W their princely temples ; J an allusion to the sovereignty of the Isle of Man, which was Britain

then

rf-

possessed

by the Earls of Derby.

Her beauty and accomplishments equaled the lustre of her birth, but her character has been impeached in the most unqualified terms, and it must be confessed that there are

many

causes for believing in the

This delicate subject cannot be passed over in silence, for as Digby himself alludes to rumours against her accusations.

the question demands that some attention should be given to it ; but it is first necessary to notice what he previously says of her.

fame,

* P. 13.

f Ibid.

I

P. 272.

INTRODUCTION.

Xll

Sir

Edward

he

Stanley,

informs

us,

though a negligent husband, was so much afflicted at the loss of his wife, that he resolved on seclusion

passing his life in absolute and therefore committed Ve-

;

netia to the care of the wife of one of his

whose house was situated near

relations,

to that of

Lady Digby.

This naturally

produced frequent visits between the two families, and Kenelm became known to Venetia in his childhood, when a mutual attachment arose, and which " grew with their growth/'

After

a

few

years

had thus

passed

Edward Stanley sent for away, daughter to his own house; but upon Sir

his

the

marriage of the Princess Elizabeth with the Count Palatine, which soon afterward took place, he was summoned to the Court; " the and, being desirous of shewing her magnificent entertainments that are usual at such times, and also being glad to let the world now see that fame was nothing too lavish in setting out her perfections/' took Venetia with him to London ; where

" her beauty and discretion did soon draw

INTRODUCTION. the eyes and thoughts of miration."*

all

Xlll

men

to ad-

The

royal alliance alluded to, occurred in February, 1613, -when she was but little

To years of age. Aubrey, her detractor, we are indebted for the little which is known about her ;

more than

thirteen

and some parts of his statement agree with " She was a most Digby's, for he says, beautiful

matura

desirable

viro,

was

with a tenant at shire

;

creature,

and,

being

by her father to live Enston Abbey, in Oxfordleft

but, as private as that place was,

it

seems her beauty could not lie hid/'-f Enston is not more than thirty miles from Gothurst, the seat of Lady Digby ; and the only difference between the Memoir

and Aubrey on the subject of Venetians residence

is,

that in the former the indi-

vidual to whose care she was intrusted,

is

called her father's kinsman.

Her extraordinary beauty, we

are told,

attracted the regard of Ursatius, one of the *

P. 21.

t Aubrey's Letters by Eminent Persons, vol. note.

ii.

p.

330,

XIV

INTilODUCTION.

noblemen of the court, whose

attentions,

however, proved consequence of her previous attachment to Digby. On her return home, she related what had occurred fruitless in

who being

bribed by the nobleman in question, advocated his cause with much zeal ; and of course did all in to her Governess,

her power to depreciate his conversation between them,

rival.

In the

Digby makes situation, and

her give some account of his adduces admirable reasons why his father's attainder should not prejudice opinion of the world.

A defence is also

him

in the

offered of Sir Everard's

conduct, upon the ground that it did not arise from ambition but mistaken zeal

and an inviolable friend who had entrusted him

for his country's liberties, faith to his

with a knowledge of the conspiracy. The Governess, finding her efforts unavailing, advised her noble employer to carry Venetia off by stealth ; and under the idea of meeting Digby, she was decoyed into his

hands, when she was conveyed to a house in the country. Ursatius, of course, met her there, but deceived by the idea that

INTRODUCTION.

XV

she would ultimately consent to his suit, he treated her with respect, though it would

appea rthat he addressed her

in

bed

:

but

it

not easy to reconcile this part of the narrative with probability, for it seems that on is

reaching this house, she retired to rest; that in the evening Ursatius arrived and entered her room, tion

took place

;

when a long conversathat in the midst of

it

the housekeeper brought supper, no one else being allowed to attend them; and that after

their

meal, he led Venetia into a

garden. During the whole of this scene we are not informed when she rose, or if Ursa-

once quitted the room, an inconsistency which is the more remarkable, from tius

the connected

manner in which

ing part of the

Memoir

is

the remain-

related.

Ve-

having gone to her chamber, meditated her escape, which she effected

netia,

-by lowering herself out of the window, and thence let herself down from the

garden wall. In her flight she was attacked by a wolf, but was rescued by Mardontius, a young nobleman who is subsequently a conspicuous character in the

INTRODUCTION.

XVI tale.

His servants escorted her to the

house of her relation Artesia, whose granddaughter is intended by Lady Digby and that lady to be the wife of Kenelm. In an interview between Artesia and Venetia,

the writer has introduced a description of himself and his younger brother, John.

This sketch, though by no means remarkable for

is

modesty,

exceedingly faithful, arid

abundantly proves that Digby was well acquainted with his own character

it is

:

compliments which

also interesting for the it contains to his tutor,

Mr. Allen.

Aubrey

Digby marriage was violently opposed by his mother, on account of Venetians immorality; but, though he ad-

says that

's

mits that

attachment

some

mother was averse

his

to

between

Sir

he attributes

her,

unkind nesses

to

which

Everard

had

his

it

to

passed

Stanley and

her,

and

to its interfering with the other alliance. The meetings between the lovers

at Artesia's house are then mentioned, with

an ample proportion of tender speeches on both sides, in one of which Kenelm informed her, that he had attained Lady

INTRODUCTION.

XV11

Digby's permission to travel for two or three years, his chief object being to prevent his marriage with the object of his mother's choice, until he became of proper

age to dispose of himself, when he would return and claim her hand. Venetia, finding herself coldly treated by her hostess in consequence of Kenelm's attach-

ment, returned to London, where she had another interview with her lover, when they exchanged tokens of regard.

He

immediately proceeded to Paris, and remained there until, he says, the plague broke

out,

Notice

is

when he

retired

to

Angers. then taken of the state of France, until the annihilation of the Queen's party

at the battle of the Pont de Ce, on the

8th of August 1620. Digby's account of her Majesty tends to confirm the opinion entertained of her lascivious conduct, for not only does he charge her with a criminal connexion with the

but

asserts, that

tention at a

she

fell

Marquis of Ancre,

having attracted her at-

masquerade

at

her court,

deeply in love with himself.

Her

INTRODUCTION.

XV111

attempts to induce him to consent to her overtures are detailed in far too glowing and to admit of being printed; but his constancy to Venetia served as an impregnable bulwark to his virtue.

unambiguous language

On

escaping from her apartment, he met

the King's troops forcing their way to it, and fearing the effects of her vengeance, he

caused

it

to be reported that

he was

killed

which ensued. From Angers he went to Italy and settled at Florence, whence he wrote to

in the slaughter

Venetia to inform her of letters miscarried,

his health,

but his

and she consequently news of his death.

gave credence to the

Her

grief is pourtrayed in the quaint eloquence for which Digby is distinguished ;

and having shut

up from all society excepting that of Mardontius who had saved her life when escaping from Ursatius, he became deeply enamoured of her beauty, and pressed his suit with considerable herself

Though she refused his addresses, " of Fame, that monster which was

zeal.

begot

some

fiend in hell

and feedeth

itself

upon

INTRODUCTION.

XIX

the infected breath of the base multitude," reported that an improper intercourse

them which Kenelm partly attributes to his speaking more lavishly of her favours than he had ground for. existed between

The

reports, however, induced her, at the earnest request of her friends, to con-

sent to

marry Mardontius, who caused

splendid preparations to be made for their " had her portrait painted by nuptials, and

an excellent workman, which picture he used to shew as a glorious trophy of her

conquered affections."

To

return to

Digby.

All

the letters

which he had written to her were, he says, intercepted by his mother; and whilst pondering on the cause of Venetians silence, intelligence was brought him at Florence of her approaching marriage, with the cause of " went much to the it, which prejudice of her honour/'

The philosophy upon which

he prided himself was overwhelmed by the tidings, and he gave unrestrained vent to

and disappointment. Mardontius proved faithless to his engagement being momentarily inveigled in the country by

his rage

INTRODUCTION.

XX

some

beauty, and Venetia treated his subsequent efforts to obtain her

all

rustic

hand with proper contempt.

At

of his history, Digby says, he pauses, because, " his future actions became mingled with those of great princes." this period

John Digby,

first

tant relation,

who

Earl of Bristol, his diswas then at Madrid ne-

gotiating the marriage of Prince Charles,

having invited

heard

of Kenelm's

him

to Spain, with

On

his journey,

reputation,

which he com-

he says, he met a Bramin, and we are favoured with a long argument on the influence of the stars on plied.

mankind, and similar mystical subjects; and are told that the Magician conjured up a spirit of Venetia, through whose agency he became convinced that her honour was unsullied, and that her faults were only " a little indulgency of a gentle nature which sprung from some indiscrerather want of experience, that her liable to censure/' He was re-

tion, or

made

Madrid with great kindness, and supped with him on his arceived by the Earl at

rival

;

but on his return to his house with

INTRODUCTION.

XXI

who appears to have been a son of Lady Digby by her first husband Sir John Dive, of Bromham in Bedfordshire, Knight, they were waylaid by fifteen men instigated by an individual who was jeaLeodivius,

lous of Leodivius. assassins spirit,

killed

two of the

a prediction of the desired him to consider the

which

who

Digby

fulfilled

accomplishment of that prophecy as evidence of the truth of what he had told

him of Venetians virtue. Charles and the Duke of Buckingham's romantic

expedition

mentioned:

it is

to

Spain

is

then

said that they arrived at

Madrid the day after Digby 's rencontre, and some curious facts are related about the dispute between the Duke and the Earl of Bristol. Kenelm was employed in these negociations, and appears, from his influence with the Archbishop of Toledo, to

have facilitated the Ambassador's plans ; and at his relation's desire, he attached himself to his Prince's service.

A

remark of

Lord Kensington, afterward Earl of Holland, who was then at Madrid, on his indifference to the charms of the Spanish lac

INTRODUCTION.

XX11 dies,

induced Digby to devote himself to a

distinguished beauty of the court, of whom that nobleman was really enamoured, with

the view of convincing his Lordship of his powers of conquest, if he chose to em ploy

His progress soon exceeded his hopes, and her attachment made so much noise, that news of it reached England and

them.

the ears of Venetia. friends to

He was

urged by his first attachment

marry her, but his

was so firmly rooted in his heart as to render him unable to listen to their advice ; nor were the entreaties of the

fair

object her-

with greater success. the suggestion of the Duke of Buck-

self attended

At

ingham, Charles determined to return to

England, notwithstanding that he sincerely admired the Spanish Princess. The Duke's conduct is censured in severe terms, and after allowing for the partial view which the writer was naturally inclined to take of his relative's merits, there his charges.

Kenelm was

some

justice in appointed to at-

is

tend the Prince on his return, who was received in London, we are told, with every

demonstration of attachment

;

but he says

INTRODUCTION.

XX111

he did not witness the joyful acclamations, for no sooner had he landed, than he was seized with a serious illness,

him

for several days.

which confined

As no dates occur

in

Memoir, it may be necessary to observe that Prince Charles disembarked at Portsmouth, according to an eye-witness, on the

Sunday, the 5th of October, 1623, at nine o'clock in the morning.

The Duke of Buckingham's efforts to prejudice the King against Lord Bristol, and the political measures adopted

after the

Prince's arrival, are then noticed, but the

account differs in nothing from the usual histories of the period ,excepting that he defends Bristol with a zeal

which did him honour.

On

entering London, Digby informs us he accidentally met Venetia. Her beauty,

he says, seemed brighter than ever, " but she sat so pensively on one side of the

coach by herself, as Apelles might have taken her counterfeit to express Venus sorrowing

for her beloved

Adonis."

Having

sent his servant to obtain her permission, he waited upon her the next day, when she

explained every thing which had occurred

INTRODUCTION.

XXIV

a manner, that he was convinced he had treated her with injustice, and

in so satisfactory

their

attachment was renewed with increas-

ed ardour ; but he was cautious, he adds, not to pledge himself too far, in consequence

of the rumour respecting Mardontius. Either from a belief in that report, or from the overwhelming influence of those baser feelings which but ill agreed with the phi-

losophy upon which he piqued himself, he

attempted to obtain possession of Venetians person without the sanction of marriage.

Her indignation

is

described to have been

such as would become a paragon of chastity, nor was it without signs of the deepest

repentance on his part, that he was again admitted to her favour. From that time

he says, joined in a fraternal affection, which " confuted the their hearts

were,

opinion of those who consider that the laws of a high and divine friendship cannot be

observed where a

woman

hath a part;" but

presently see how long this platonic regard continued. At that moment Mr. Clerk, a gentleman of the Prince's bed-

we shall

chamber,

fell

deeply

in love

with Venetia,

INTRODUCTION. but perceiving that entreated his friend her on his behalf.

it

XXV

was not returned, he

Digby to intercede with Such was the high sense

which Kenelm entertained of the duties of " friendship, that though he would rather

have died than seen her possession," yet he

advocate treaties.

;

in

any other man's

became

Clerk's earnest

but Venetia was deaf to his en-

From

several folios,

which

it

was

impossible to print, it seems that Digby made another attempt upon the chastity of

immaculate Venetia, for calling upon her one morning before she had risen, he entered her bed whilst she was asleep. Her his

displeasure on discovering her situation,

Digby does not attempt adduces

to conceal,

his repulse as additional

and

evidence

of her virtue, and consequently of the falsehood of the reports against her character.

She of course ordered him to quit the place he had so surreptitiously gained to which ;

he consented only, upon the condition that she sang to him while he dressed himself. quitting her, he meditates for some time upon the "miraculous perfections" which he had seen, and concludes that she

Upon

INTRODUCTION.

XXVI

"was endowed with a most noble mind, a sweet and virtuous disposition, a generous heart, a full and large understanding, admira-

and modesty and a true sense of honour; all which were accompanied with other virtues that serve to make a lady ble discretion

complete; and these were lodged in so fair a body, thatif shehad been in those times when

men committed

idolatry, the world

would

certainly have renounced the sun, the stars,

and

all

other their devotions, and with one

consent have adored her for their goddess/'

Few

persons perhaps will be disposed to consider Digby as a very competent

" discretion and judge of modesty

;"

but

in every thing relating to the object of his

devotion, he seems to have laboured under a perversion of intellect. It is doubtful,

had so completely affected his judgment as to have induced him to marry her, had not another feeling been called into action but when ardent gratitude is added to affection, and the object of both is one of the most beautiful creahowever,

if

love

;

tures, that

ever adorned this earth,

who

is

there that can answer for his conduct

?

INTRODUCTION.

XXV11

Under such circumstances the very deviation from propriety of a man uniting him-

woman

of suspicious or even of immoral character, emanates from the best self to

a

feelings of

the

human

heart;

and that

which under ordinary circumstances justly excites our contempt, assumes a very different complexion. If we cannot, or rather, if from a regard to the best interests of so-

we dare not applaud such an

ciety it is

at least difficult to view

verity.

He

appointed

it

action,

with se-

informs us that having been to accompany the Duke of

embassy to the French Court, for the marriage between Prince Charles and Henrietta Maria, and being

Buckingham

in his

equip himself in a manner which might evince his respect for his royal master, his friends thought he would find anxious to

much

raising money at so short a notice, adequate to the heavy exdifficulty

in

penses which were necessary. his exigencies,

To meet

however, Venetia, with true

womanly kindness, and

that spontaneous generosity which forms so noble a trait in her sex, instantly pawned her jewels and

INTRODUCTION.

XXV111

" plate.

Having gathered a shall

Digby

" she sent use of

it

large sum," for

own words, to him, entreating him to make relate

it

in

his

without cumbering his estate, which, consisting of settled rents, would soon quit a greater debt; and thus she it

made him

at once master of

or

could hope tion/' he adds,

all

she had,

This generous ac" sunk so deep into his for.

heart, that the

previous obstacle to his marriage," which arose from the dissuasions of some of his friends, and particularly his

mother, was no longer allowed to prevail. In contempt of the world's -"

Which

and

in

dread laugh, scarce the firm philosopher can scorn."

contempt too of

his better judgment,

he resolved to make her his wife. If he be believed,

may

own

feelings were not the only impediment to his union,but that it was opposed in a quarter where opposition was his

be expected. Venetia, he tells us, with a refinement of delicacy, refused to

least to

marry one man when another possessed her picture, given under a promise of marriage. All

Digby 's

efforts

to convince her

that

INTRODUCTION.

XXIX

her opinions were erroneous, were unsuc-

and he was obliged, by challenging Mardontius, to force him to restore it. cessful;

Without drawing

his sword,

he placed the

portrait in Digby's hands, accompanied by a written declaration, that if ever he had

uttered a

he had

to her honour,

falsely slandered her.

Here this

word derogatory

it

becomes necessary

to contrast

account with the character which has

been given of Venetia Stanley by Aubrey. He says, that " she had one if not more children tled

by the Earl of Dorset, who

set-

on her an annuity of 500/. per annum,

which, after Sir Kenelm Digby married, was unpaid by the Earl Sir Kenelm sued :

the Earl after marriage, and recovered

Edmund Wyld had her you may imagine, was very Sir

it.

picture, and, familiar with

After her marriage she redeemed her honour by her strict living ; she and her her.

husband were invited once a year by the Earl of Dorset, when with much desire and passion he beheld her, and only kissed her hand Sir Kenelm being still by/' ;

These statements cannot be reconciled

^TKODUCXION.

XXX

with the scrupulously delicate conduct imputed to her by Digby and we might be ;

inclined to doubt the justice of Aubrey's assertions, were it not manifest from the

Memoir itself, that rumours, highly injurious Nor is it certain to her character, existed. that

Digby

disbelieved

them

;

for in

the

elaborate defence of his marriage to the Earl of Bristol, towards the end of the

volume, some passages will be found in which he defends his union, notwithstanding she might, previously to feited all claims to respect.

ments, however

little

they

it,

may

have

for-

His arguconvince,

are excessively ingenious, and display that subtlety of intellect and profound casuistry for which he was celebrated. Without

actually using the coarse expression as" that a handsigned to him by Aubrey, some lusty man, that was discreet, might

make a virtuous wife out of a brothel house/' we find several remarks of a similar tendency

;

and

so far does he carry his absurd

theory respecting the moral conduct of women, that, in a passage which has been necessarily suppressed, he contends that

INTRODUCTION. their tity, it is

XXXI

honour does not consist only in chasand that cases may occur in which

justifiable for a

man

to consent to his

If these were Digby's real opinions, they afford us a striking but melancholy confirmation of the remark that wife's pollution

!

" Great genius

is

to

madness near

allied."

the very critical question of that virtue it is almost impossible to

Upon lady's

form a decisive opinion.

The most serious is the manner in

cause for suspecting it, which her husband has defended her; for part, at least, of

Aubrey's charges

will

not

bear even the slightest investigation. The Earl of Dorset, by whom he says she had one if not more children, was Richard Sackville,

the third Earl of Dorset,who was born

March, 1589, and who in 1609 married Ann the daughter and heiress of George Earl of Cumberland. He was the son of Ro-

in

bert the second Earl, and was consequently the grandson instead of the " eldest son

and heir

to the Lord Treasurer ;"

netia Stanley

was not born

until

and

as

Ve-

December

J600, his connexion with her could not

have commenced long before her fifteenth

INTRODUCTION.

XXX11

year, at which time he

a husband.

It

is

had been

six

years of course, postherefore,

an improper attachment subsisted between them some time between 16 16

sible that

and March 1624, when the Earl died

;

but

the corroborating evidence of the fact, adduced by Aubrey, that Digby, after his mar-

sued Lord Dorset for the annuity which he had settled upon her, and the riage,

story of their dining with him once a year, when he kissed her hand, &c. could only

have existed in that

writer's imagination,

for the Earl actually died before Venetians

marriage ; nor is there any notice of a trial of the kind, against his heirs or

Thus, then, as the greater part of Aubrey's account is proved to have been false, we may at least hesi-

executors, reported.

tate in

believing

his

other statements

;

especially as, independently of the Earl of Dorset, they consist only of inferences.

Notwithstanding the equivocal nature of Sir Kenelm's arguments in favour of his

must not be forgotten that from some parts it would seem he was

wife's reputation, it

fully

impressed that the reports, which he

INTRODUCTION.

XXX111

admits were in circulation, were false that her conduct towards him was marked by ;

the greatest delicacy and propriety ; and that instead of eagerly burying her dishonour under the name of his wife, it was not until

he had restored to her a

trifling

pledge

of her former affection for another individual, that she yielded to his urgent incessant entreaties to marry him.

the other hand,

twice attempted

we

find

that he

to seduce

her,

and

On

himself

and

al-

though the repulse which he encountered on both occasions might be adduced by

him

as proof of her virtue, the effort speaks but little in favour of his real opinion of it;

that his friends were violent in their disap-

probation of his marriage ; and more than all, that in his defence of his union, instead

of solely resting upon her innocence, he descends to such miserable sophistry as that "she ought not to be less valued for her former affection, since looking into the

and finding it to be on worthy grounds of her side, you must consent that

reality of

it,

not impeached ;" that " a should not confine himself to what

her innocence wise

man

is

INTRODUCTION.

XXXIV

may be said

of the past actions of his wife ;" that her beauty, wit, and splendid descent were far more essential objects ; that " if indiscreet unstay edy outh, or rather childhood ,

have at any time cast a mist over her judgment, and so caused some innocent error in

any of her actions, the goodness of her nature hath converted

it

into this benefit, that

warned and armed never to incur the like;" that " what was done having left nothing which could really be taken she

is

hold

of, it should

fully

not be considered so

as the present state of the soul

much

and mind;"

" that the clearest brooks have some mud/' criminal and absurd the by opinions which

have been alluded to

;

and similar prepos-

terous remarks.

They were, we are told and

,

privately married

as their eldest child was born in

;

October

1625, the ceremony probably took place in the January preceding, though at Digby 's request it was kept secret from the world. Their intercourse naturally gave rise to

and his Digby, who became the observations,

in Ireland,

cousin

Robert

Lord Digby having remonstrated with him first

INTRODUCTION.

XXXV

on the subject, he entered into a long

dis-

course in defence of the passion of Love ; and afterwards at his request, described a personal contest which had taken place between him and an individual whom he calls

was

Famelicus, and who, like themselves, a gentleman of the Prince's bed-

chamber, but whose name it is impossible to discover. This he explains at some only necessary to state that, instigated by malice, the person in question had asserted he had received the length, though

it is

favour from Venetia, in consequence of which Digby instantly challenged him.

last

Finding

his life at stake,

he confessed the

falsehood of hisslander,andconsequently obtained thereputation of" anindiscreet, rash, " and dishonest co ward whilst those who had

combined with him, but whose

real

names

are uncertain, were considered as " malicious, unworthy, and cankered wretches/'

not a

extraordinary that Digby should omit to mention, that on his return from Spain he received the honour of It

is

little

Knighthood, which was conferred upon him on the 23d of October, 1623, at Lord

INTRODUCTION.

XXXVI

Montague's house at Hinchinbroke presence of Prince Charles and the

in the

Duke

of Buckingham, when the King paid him some high compliments on his erudition. It

must

also

have been about

this

time

that he discovered his celebrated

sympathetic powder and the omission of any notice of it in his Memoirs, is not less singular. The curious reader will find an ample account of it in Sir Kenelm's " Discourse upon the Sympathetic Powder/' from which a copious extract has been made in ;

the " Biographia Britannica ;" but it is sufficient to observe of it here, that it con-

applying a certain mixture to any thing which had received the blood of a wounded person, who obtained instant

sisted of

relief

from the

application,

even

if

he

were not present. Digby says, he learnt the secret from a friar in Italy, to whom he

had rendered some

and Howell

an instance of is

essential kindnesses its

;

efficacy on Mr.

The circumstance of King James and

fully detailed.

attracted the attention

the Court, and tended in no small degree to his reputation.

INTRODUCTION.

XXXV11

marriage, Sir Kenelm gives us some curious particulars ; and we learn that

Of

his

Lady Digby's confinement was hastened by a fall from a horse. Her labour was attended, he says, with great danger, from her resolution to abide by his wish that it

might be kept secret; and he of course seizes the

titude

opportunity of extolling her for-

and firmness.

As soon

as she could be left with safety,

he returned to town, when the conversation occurred between the Earl of Bristol and himself, relative to Venetia, It

cited.

which has been

was interrupted, we are

in-

formed, by the arrival of his Lordship's

who came

to report the

judgment which had just been pronounced relative to the proceedings against him by the Court, the enmity of which had, it is well known, through the jealousy and hatred of Buckingham, been powerfully excited against solicitor,

At

Kenelm's request, the Earl related the manner in which he had been

him.

treated,

Sir

from which

it

seems that as the

Kenelm and Robert Digby was necessary for his defence, Buckingham

evidence of Sir

d

XXXV111

INTRODUCTION.

caused two of his kinsmen and dependants to challenge them to meet them at some place on the continent, with the view of

keeping them out of the way; that the Digbys accordingly repaired thither; but

want of the personal testimony of Kenelm was supplied by a letter which he addressed to the Earl; and that, on his return, he boldly justified his own conduct that the

It is unnecessary to follow to the King. Sir Kenelm through his vindication of the

Earl of Bristol, for that nobleman's conduct stands fair in the eyes of posterity.

At this period of his life, Digby says, he deemed it necessary to prove to the world that his devotion to Venetia

ed " the nobleness of

his

had not lessen-

mind, nor abated

the edge of his active and vigorous spirits ;" and he therefore resolved to undertake some

object which would both tend to his own honour and the King's service. When

" he gave Majesty knew his wishes, him an extraordinary and very honourable

his

commission to take in hand a voyage by The commission in question is dated sea." on the 15th November, 3 Car.

I.

1627, in

INTRODUCTION.

XXXIX

which he is styled " Sir Kenelm Digby, Knt. one of the Gentlemen of our Privy Chamber/'* and on the 29th December following he sailed with a small squadron. He tells us, that so far from finding difficulty in

procuring followers, his greatest trouble was to defend himself from the importunity of those persons of rank who wished to accompany him. Though from the envy of

some and " the malignity of fortune/' he met with serious obstacles to his design, sanguine hopes were entertained of his success ; hopes which, it will be seen, were not disappointed. The affection of Venetia was put to a severe trial by his departure, and he eloquently describes their feelings on the occasion.

Besides the situation of

Gentleman of the Bedchamber, Digby is said to have held those of a Commissioner of the Navy, and a Governor of the Trinity House. According to the most recent of his biographers,

whom

it

would be injustice

to the reader to quote in

guage than

his

"

own,

On

of Charles the First, Sir *

Foedera, tome

xviii.

d 2

any other lanthe accession

Kenelm Digby p. 947.

INTRODUCTION.

X

became one of the

chief

ornaments of

Whitehall.

who

did

Charles,

not

love

gaiety, highly esteemed him, however, for his admirable talents ; but to the Queen,

who

before her misfortunes had

a very lively disposition, he rendered himself infinitely agreeable, and she seems to have

conceived a friendship for him which lasted He was a party in all the through life. royal diversions, which indeed he frequently planned and directed; and such were the volubility of his spirits, and the careless elegance

of his manners, that

it

should have seemed that he had been bred

from

his infancy in a court/'*

Before he quitted England he acquainted his friend, the Earl of Bristol, with his

who promised not only to shew Lady Digby every possible respect and

marriage,

attention during

what might be

absence, but to do

in his

power to justify it to On the day of his embarkation

the world. Sir

his

Kenelm

received

intimation

of the

birth of his second son, John, which took

place on the 29th December, 1627 *

Lodge's Illustrious Portraits.

;

and

INTRODUCTION.

x

he, in consequence, wrote to desire that Venetia would no longer conceal their

The favourable

prospects under which Digby sailed, were of short continuance, for before he had been long at sea union.

a violent disease broke out in his ships, which swept away a great part of his men.

His

officers solicited

him

to return, but

he

succeeded in convincing them that it was wiser to persevere ; and a favourable wind springing up, he proceeded on his voyage. It is impossible to say what place he designates under the name of Rhodes, where he refreshed his people and refitted the fleet,

but most probably Sally, or some other port on the coast of Barbary. From thence he sailed in prosecution of the object of the ex-

pedition, which, he tells us, was to interrupt the trade of the French in Spain and Por-

and other commodities which those countries produce; and by this means, tugal, in silks

the English might gain it, and make " their country the staple for the manufacture and vent of so rich a traffic/' At Scanderoon,

" where was the period of his design," he found a number of French and Venetian

INTRODUCTION, vessels

;

and the commanders of the

latter,

not contented with declaring their resolution

French squadron, in consequence of the treaty which existed between France and Venice, insolently warned Digby

to defend the

to quit the port, or they would sink his are thus furnished with the ships.

We

cause of the engagement, to which

Johnson thus

Ben

alludes,

" Witness

Upon

thy action done at Scanderoon thy birth-day, the eleventh of June."

Having made every preparation tle,

he addressed his

men

for bat-

in a speech, of

which he has taken care to give us the heads, to excite their bravery, and then immediately placed his own ship alongside of that of the admiral of the enemy ; and his

example being followed by his captains, they soon gained a complete victory. The Venetians, he says, sent to beg a shameful peace, and, at the same instant, he boarded

and took by force the French vessels; so that, in a few hours, his triumph was complete.

With

\

this

narrative ends

event, Sir ;

Kenelm Digby 's

but the explanation which

INTRODUCTION.

xliil

he has given of his motive for writing it, and his wish that it might never be read by others, is, perhaps, the most interesting

He commences part of his lucubrations. with expressing a hope, that if by accident the MS. should ever fall into any person's hands but

his

own,

"

this last scrawl

may

beg pardon for the rest/' His object in composing the Memoir appears to have been to preserve his virtue ; for, having been separated from his fleet by a storm which forced him into an island, which he calls Milo, where he

remained to repair his ship, he was invited on shore by the chief persons of the place; and his host, to

him from the retirement which he courted, obligingly offered to interest some divert

on

"

who, in all ages, have been known to be no niggards of their

ladies

his behalf,

favours," and which might, he says, have been willingly accepted by an individual

had he not had his thoughts with the remembrance of so divine a

in his situation, filled

creature as his Venetia. fore, giving offence

by a

To

avoid, there-

refusal,

he pre-

tended to have man}' dispatches to write

;

INTRODUCTION. composition was always very great, he observes, he soon finished his letters, and then resolved to but, as

his

commit

to

facility in

paper such events

in his life as

related to the fair object of his contemHe then "gives warning before plation.

hand, that no man hath reason to lose any time in perusing so trivial a discourse of a

young and unstayed head, which was, the

first,

begun only

for

at

my own recreation,

and then continued, and since preserved only for my own private content ;" and concludes by requesting some friendly hand to

convert " these blotted sheets into a

clear

flame/'

should

"which

funeral

quies to

my

will

fire

they survive him, will be welcome obse-

departed soul ; who, till then, be in continual fear that the world

may have

occasion to renew the

memory

my indiscretion, and condemn me then as much for want of judgment in writing, as formerly it hath done for too deep That the MS. passion in my actions/' was not destroyed, is fortunate for those

of

who

are gratified

tion

which genius gives of

by perusing the descripitself,

as well as

INTRODUCTION. for

Digby's memory, as

it

contains

many

facts highly creditable to his character, and tends, in some degree, to redeem that

of his wife it

;

whilst

much

light

upon the early part of

is

thrown by

his career.

As a

piece of autobiography it is, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary which is extant,

and every

line bears striking

more

the peculiar temper and opinions of the writer.

still

The MS. which is "Loose Fan tasies," is in

called his

evidence of singular

by Digby

own hand, and

contains proof of having been frequently and most carefully revised. No other liberty has

been taken with

it

than to ex-

punge a few pages which the delicacy of the present day would not allow of being published

;

but the narrative

is

never in-

terrupted by these omissions, for they consist only of conversations or remarks that

occurred on

occasions

which are

suffi-

ciently noticed either in this Introduction or in the Memoir.

From

that time until 1632, little

is

known

Kenelm Digby 's life but upon the death of Lord Dorchester, one of the prinof Sir

;

INTRODUCTION. cipal Secretaries of State, in February in that year, it was reported that he was to be

appointed to his office:* the rumour proved, however, to be unfounded. About that period he distinguished himself

by an act which never

posthumous fame,

for his

fails

to secure

former tutor, Mr.

Thomas

Allen, having then died, his valuable library came into his possession, and which he soon afterwards presented to

the Bodleian.

Some

Digby purchased

writers assert that

these books of Allen dur-

though he generously allowed him the use of them ; but, according to Kippis, he obtained them under a bequest

ing his

life,

in Allen's will.

The discrepancy

in these

however, set at rest by the annexed letter to Sir Robert Cotton, in the statements

is,

Cottonian collection, which is y it is believed, for the first time printed, as we learn from it

that

Mr. Allen informed Digby of his

in-

tention to give them to him, and that he requested Sir Robert to see that they were

conveyed *

to

him

in a legal

Ellis's Original Letters.

manner.

Second Series,

vol.

iii.

p.

266.

INTRODUCTION.

xlvii

To my Honourable Friend Sir Robert Cotton, at his house in Westminster.

NOBLE

SIR,

BY

your permission I send you here enclosed two letters for Oxford, one to Mr. James, the other to Mr. both which

beseech you let be sent under your cover. If you think fit, you may please to take notice to Mr. Allen, how I report myself to be much Allen

;

I

beholden to him for his friendly giving me his books and papers ; and to thank him in my behalf, and to confirm his choice of cur to you

and

;

legal manner.

that in

me by such

and to advise him to

motives as

may

them in a

settle

You may be bold

oc-

direct

to assure him,

hands they will not be with less honourable of him than in any man's else ; nor can they

my

memory

be with any body

them

to

them

that will gladlier communicate that can make use of them ; which are

the two ends he hath reason to look after in disposing of them. And besides I believe he will say I have

not merited the least regard

among

his

friends.

I

Mr. James what you shall judge pray you conduce his endeavours to this my desire may by I whom should be glad, if it may be done fitly, might also write to

;

make

a catalogue of

all

the books, papers, and instru-

and then might also be a witness to Mr. ; Allen's giving them to me. All which I refer to your wisdom and good directions. ments

I was yesterday at the Court, where there was honourable mention of you at my Lord of Dorset's and in the presence of my Lord Treasurer; which occa-

sion

I

failed not to take

hold of to do you

all

the

INTRODUCTION.

xlviii

right I could. And truly I must tell very good inclinations towards you,

you that I find and I attribute

the not clearing of your business only to a certain slowness, that unless it be quickened now accom-

panieth all things; and that quickening must proceed mainly from yourself. Your friends can but dis-

pose things to

fairly, your own solicitation must be the move upon, and I doubt not but you will

ground have a fair passage. In negotiating all which, and all things else that may be of service to you, I will employ myself with as much affection and heat as any servant you have. pray you excuse me, I wait not on you myself now, am not very well and my coach is lame; within a few days I will attend you, but I think I shall first I

for I

go to Court again where serving you

if I

I will

not omit to remember

can. Thus kissing your hands,

I rest,

Your humble Servant, KENELM DIGBY.* Charterhouse Yard, this present Thursday.

Whilst alluding to Digby's munificent gift to the Bodleian Library, it is proper to refer to a passage in his letter to Dr.

Langbaine, dated on the 7th November, 1654,-f relative to the conditions upon which reflects

was

be enjoyed, because it immortal honour upon his memory.

his present

Cotton,

MSS.

to

Vespasianus, F.

f Printed

in

xiii. f.

330. ORIGINAL.

Aubrey's Letters.

INTRODUCTION. It displays, in the

most striking

xlix

colours,

not merely his own love of science, but his anxiety that every possible facility should be given for clerical

its

diffusion.

feeling

which unhappily in

With the

true

of the seventeenth and is

the nineteenth

not quite extinct even century, some restric-

were proposed to be introduced, as to the manner in which permission was to

tions

be given for transcribing the MSS. which seemed to the noble mind of the donor circumscribe the knowledge of their contents. His remark on the subject de-

to

serves to be written in letters of gold. " The propositions you sent me a tran-

methinketh are very good ones ; toward the end of the sixth it seemeth only to me there is too great a restriction ; for script of,

since

good things are the better the more they are communicated, I see no reason but that he who hath not convenience to print what he hath copied, should keep

all

his transcript

On

the 1st of

by him."

May,

1633, Sir

Kenelm

sustained an irreparable loss in the death of his lovely wife. She died very

Digby

INTRODUCTION.

1

suddenly, in her thirty-third year, and such was the envy and malice by which he

was pursued, that it was even insinuated that he had poisoned her from jealousy. Upon opening her head very little brain was found, which her husband is absurdly reported to have imputed to her drinking " but viper wine ; spiteful women/' adds

" would say it was a viper husband who was jealous of her." Digby's

Aubrey,

conduct on the occasion was as eccentric as almost every other act of his

life.

He re-

Gresham College, and amused himself with chemistry and the conversation of tired to

the professor " he wore there a long mourning cloak, a high-cornered hat, his beard un:

shorn, looked like a hermit, as signs of sorrow for his beloved wife/' Lady Digby

was buried in Christ's church, near New" in a brick vault/' Aubrey informs us, gate, " over which were three of black steps

marble,

with four inscriptions in copper gilt, affixed to it ; upon this altar was her bust of copper which, unless the vault, which was only opened a little by the fall, is 'utterly destroyed by the great conflagration. gilt, all

INTRODUCTION.

11

was walking through Newgate-street, I saw Dame Venetians bust standing at a stall at the Golden Cross, a

About 1675-6,

as I

brazier's shop.

I presently

but the

fire

had got

remembered

off the gilding;

it,

but

taking notice of it to one that was with me, I could never see it afterward exposed to the street.

They melted

it

down/'

A

mise-

rable engraving of the monument is inserted in the " Antiquarian Repertory/' with the

following inscription, which was probably only one of the four mentioned by Aubrey:

Mem. Sacrum. Venetiae

Edwardi Stanley Equitis Honoratiss. Ord. Balnei (Filii Thomae, Edwardi comitis Derbise Filii) Filiae

ac cohaeredi, ex Lucia Thomae

Comitis Northumbriae Filia et Cohaerede, Posuit

Kenelmus Digby Eques Auratus Cui quatuor Peperit Filios

Kenelmum Nat.

vi.

Octob.

MDCXXY.

Joannem Nat. xxix. Decemb. MDCXXVII. Everardum (in cunis Mortuum) Nat. xn. Jan. MDCXXIX. Georgium Nat. xvn. Jan. MDCXXXH. Nataest Decemb. xix. MDC. Denata Maii. i. MDCXXXIII.

INTRODUCTION.

Hi

Quin

lex

Gemitum

eadem monet omnes dare sorte sub una

Cognataque funera nobis Aliena in morte dolere.

Another of those inscriptions in Collins' Peerage Insig: prseclariss.

is

thus given

:

Dominse D. Venetise Digby

Familia Stanleyorum, Com. Darbise ex parte Patris, et Perciorum, Com. Northumbriae

Materno.jure, aliisque quamplurimis Christian. Orbis Principibus oriundae.

The famous Ben Johnson

lived

on terms

of great intimacy with Sir Kenelm and Lady Digby, and after her death he com-

posed a long poem in honour of her, entitled "Eupheme," which occurs in his works, and from which the subjoined extract

many parts of life tender mother, a discreeter wife,

A

solemn mistress, and so good a So charitable to religious end In

an

:

" She was in one a

A

is

all

;

friend,

her petite actions so devote,

As her whole life was now become one 6f piety and private holiness."

note

Whilst speaking of that distinguished

INTRODUCTION.

Jill

writer, a letter will be inserted relative to

him, to Doctor Duppa, afterwards Bishop of Chichester, from Sir Kenelm Digby, in

consequence of the Doctor's intention of collecting for publication all the complimentary verses that had been written on

Johnson's decease, and which subsequently " appeared, under the title of Johnsonius Virbius."

To Doctor Duppa, the Dean of Christchurch, and the Prince's Tutor. SIR,

much

gladness, you have been careful to gather what has been written upon Mr. Johnson since his death. It is an office well beseeming that I

UNDERSTAND,

with

excellent piety that all men know you by ; yet were but half performed if you should let it rest here. As

your own tenderness towards that worthy man hath made you seek to bathe yourself in his friends' tears, so your humanity towards the public, which good men rejoice to see you in the way so much to advance,

ought not to be

satisfied until

priety in these collections.

you have given

Besides,

I

it

a pro-

believe, if care

of earthly things touch souls happily departed, that these compositions delivered to the world by your

hand, will be more grateful obsequies to his great ghost, than any other that could have been performed at his tomb ; for no Court's decree can better establish n lawful claimer in the secure possession of his right,

INTRODUCTION.

v

,

than this will him of his laurel, which, when he lived, he wore so high above all men's reach, as none could touch,

am

much

writing,

less

by

shake from

his reverend head.

off'

this private incitement of

I

you unto so

just a work, to witness in a particular manner to yourself, who loved him dearly, the great value and esteem I have of this brave man ; the honour of his age ; and

he that

and

set a period to the perfection of our language

will, as

making

it

soon as

I

share with

:

can do the like to the world, by

me

in those excellent pieces, alas

that many of them are but pieces which he hath left behind him, and that I keep religiously by me to that end. !

I

promise myself that your goodness and friendliness me will pardon me for that awhile diverting your

to

thoughts, that are continually busied about what great consequence,

Your most

knowing me

affectionate

is

of

to be,

and humble servant.*

Early in 1636, Digby publicly reconciled himself to the Church of Rome; and Archbishop Laud's reply to the intimation which he had given him that such was his resolu*

Harleian

MSS.4153,

f.

21.

The same volume contains

amongst several other articles by Digby, a copy of along letter from him to Doctor Hakewill, Archdeacon of Surrey, dated London, 1 3th May, 1635, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the last edition of the Doctor's work, and his letter of the " he over-values the 27th of in which Sir Kenelm

April, says present he had presumed to send to the University of Oxford." He then criticises Hakewill's book, which appears

mean

to have related to natural philosophy.

INTRODUCTION.

v

That admirable letter is dated Lambeth, 27th March, 1636, and the tion, is

still

extant.

author of the article " Digby"in the " Biographia Britannica/' has copiously cited it. It is there said that

he had addressed to that

Prelate a long apology for his conduct

;

and

polemical discussion, am" Conference with a ple proof exists in his Lady about Choice of Religion/' and in his

of his

abilities for

Lord George Digby, eldest son of the Earl of Bristol, on a similar subject, both of which were written in 1638, when the forLetters to

mer was published, but the latter were not printed until 1651. If however the reliance which has been placed on the following

Memoir be

correct,

it

would appear that he

had embraced the Roman Catholic faith as early as 1623 or 1624, even if he was ever of any other religion, for he not only speaks of it in terms of approbation, and insinuates that King James's chief motive

in fact

wishing the alliance between Prince Charles and a Princess of Spain, was "-to unite his people with the rest of the ad-

for

joining Princes in the firm knot of consciences, faith

;

" thus hoping/' he adds,

INTRODUCTION.

Ivi

insensibly to bring in the general opinion, and to overrun the new ones by the match,

the

King of Egypt [Spain] being the

prin-

of that side ;"* but in cipal maintainer another place he says that the Earl of

employed him to negotiate with the Archbishop of Toledo, in consequence of his being highly esteemed by Bristol

that

" prelate,

religion was the

principally because same."-f*

Still

their

more, when

pressed to attach himself to state affairs, he expresses a wish that the Earl and he

not long entertain different religious opinions ; and then enters into a detailed

may

explanation of his tenets. J For some time previous to 1641, Sir Kenelm was in France, where he is said to

have been highly esteemed, and to have

employed himself

in

composing elaborate but an treatises in defence of his religion important event occurred to him whilst in ;

that country, which has escaped his previous biographers. The whole of Digby's statement relative to the First's religious opinions in that and the preceding page, is very curious. J P. 177, et seq. f P. 172. P. 115.

James

INTRODUCTION.

A very

rare tract

is

Ivii

" Sir extant, entitled

Kenelm Digby's Honour maintained by a most courageous combat which he fought with the Lord

Mount

le

Ros,

who by

base

King

also,

slanderous words reviled our the true relation

how he went

:

to the

King who kindly entreated him, and sent two hundred men to guard him as far as Flanders. And now he is returned from of France

Banishment, and to

his

eternal honour

England. Printed at London for To this curious article a T. B. 1641." lives in

prefixed of two men encombat, and the sword of the

rude woodcut

is

gaged in one is depicted as having pierced the body of the other.

As

the tract

is

very short, and affords information on a transaction

which

not generally known, a verbatim copy of it is here given. SIR

is

KENELM DIGBY's HONOUR MAINTAINED.

FORTITUDE

is

one of the eleven moral virtues, of

which there be three sorts

;

there

is

which consists of rashness, which upon danger, having no possibility

Then

man

fortitude or valour, is

to run wilfully

to be a conqueror.

an enforced valour, which must either kill or be killed. there

is

is,

when a

INTRODUCTION. Lastly, there

is

endued with

are

a temperate .valour

make

occasion to

:

men which

those

this sort of valour, will neither give

abuse, neither will they take abuse,

points to defend their King* Country, and their own persons, which is the only true valour ; the other two sorts, though termed so, yet are

but are ready at

not, but

seem

proceed from the loins of for to be truly valiant, is to be truly ven-

rather

cowardice

all

;

to

turous, for, as I said before, that fortitude is a virtue,

and by virtue comes goodness wherefore consequently to be valiant, is to be good. ;

Then

let all

admire the goodness of that most ho-

nourable Knight, Sir Kenelm Digby, which proceeded

from his valour, as It is scarce

from

I shall

to

times thus to cry out, licet ire

me

declare.

any how that he was exiled England, which made him often" Hei Domino non

unknown

his, native soil,

now

mihi,

Woe is me, because my Master," his King

meo,

quod it is

unlawful for

he kept his residence nigh to the court of France, where he was not less respected for the report of his former valour, than to see

;

for the present affability

to all

wise

men man

" ;

Omne

and courtesy which he shewed

solum sapienti patria is

to

him

as his

to a

est,"

own

native

every country country ; but as the quietest of men sometimes have occasion for strife, so did it fall out with this worthy

Knight.

was

chance to be invited by a Lord of France to dine with him, whither he went accompanied with It

hi,s

those servants he had.

Very merry they

all

were

for a

certain space; at length they fell to drinking of healths to certain Kings, as to the King of France, the King

INTRODUCTION.

I'lX

of Spain, the King of Portugal, and divers others ; but in the conclusion, the Lord which invited Sir Kenelm

Digby

to dinner,

presumptuously began a health to

the arrantest coward in the world, directing the cup unto Sir Kenelm, who asked the Lord so soon as he

had drank,

whom that was

he did so term ?

He bid him

pledge the health and he should know, which he did ; then answered the French Lord, I meant your King of

England, at which the good Knight seemed very discontented, knowing in what nature his Sovereign was wronged, yet very wisely did he seem to pass it by until dinner being ended then did he desire the same Lord :

come and dine with him, who promised him, upon his honour, that he would. The next day Titan being in his greatest pomp, unto

the next day to

Kenelm's lodging this Lord came, who had entertainment befitting his place ; neither did Sir Kenelm seem to remember the former day's discontent, but was

Sir

very frolic and merry, and in the midst of dinner-time desired them all to be bare, for he would begin a health

The French Lord Kenelm made answer that when it had gone about he should know: well, about it went, and then Sir Kenelm said that it was the to the bravest

asked

whom

King

in the world.

that was

health of the bravest

?

Sir

King

in the world,

which

is

the

although my King of England, my heart is be banished from him, loyally my body yet linked. The French Lord at those words seemed to laugh, repeated the same words before mentioned. Then was Sir Kenelm thoroughly moved in the behalf royal Master, for

of our Sovereign King Charles, whereupon he whispered the Lord in the ear, telling him how that twice

INTRODUCTION.

x

he had reviled the best King in the world, in the hearing of me, who am his faithful subject, wherefore for

a single combat of you,

satisfaction, I require

where either you

shall

pay your

life for

your sauciness,

or I wilr sacrifice mine in the behalf of

my King. The French Lord being of a resolute spirit, condescended to dinner being ended, fight, the place was appointed ;

they both arose from table, and privately went together. Being in afield, off they plucked their doublets, and out they drew their weapons. Mars would have bashful been to have seen himself

by noble Digby

there excelled, long

work with the

contemptible French Lord, he would not make, for fear lest any should lie in ambush and so he might

hazard his own

life,

his rapier into the

wherefore in four bouts he run

French Lord's breast

till it

came

out of his throat again, which so scon as he had done, away he fled to the Court of France, and made all

known in

to the

King thereof, who

France should not dare to

said the proudest

revile his brother

Lord

King.

A

guard was presently chosen to conduct Sir Kenelm unto Flanders, which they did, when he took shipping for England, where he now is, where in peace and quietness

As

may he

still

remain.

French Lord he was paid according to his and desert, may all be so rewarded which shall dare to for the

revile the Lord's anointed,

who

suffers

by other nations,

clemency he hath shewn to his own nation. " Sed beati sunt is the peace pacifici," but blessed world there this in maker good King for thy patience for the

!

are crowns of immortal glory laid in store for thee in

the world to

come

;

there shall

rfot traitors

dare to shew

INTRODUCTION.

x

their faces, nor shall perplexity proceed from the great In the mean while may care of ruling of a kingdom. more such noble Digbys increase, to rebuke all cursing

Achitophels, and reviling Rabshakeys. Let God arise, and then shall the enemies of our gracious

King be

Now I

sure to be scattered.

conclude,

commanding fame

Brave Digby's worthy deed, that

to

all

show,

may know

He loved his King, may all so loyal prove, And like this Digby to their King shew love.

With

that article, almost

all

the informa-

tion

which has been discovered respecting

Sir

Kenelm Digby, by

his

present bio-

grapher, unfortunately ends ; and as in tracing his career to its close, no fact can

be stated but what has been already published, the narrative will be concluded in as possible. The reader will find a minute relation of those points which are now merely alluded to in the

as brief a

"

manner

Biographia Britannica:" Wood's Athenae

Oxoniensis, Bayle, and some other writers may also be consulted.

On

the King's preparing to make war against the Scots he called on his subjects for their assistance, and which was obeyed with alacrity by the wealthiest of

INTRODUCTION.

Ixii

the Protestant Clergy and Laity. The Queen, anxious that the Catholics should

not be remiss in following the example, in-

duced Sir Kenelm Digby and Mr. AValter

Montague

to

address a sort of circular

them, which was distributed throughout the kingdom and produced a considerable sum. Though there can be letter to excite

little

doubt that

this act

emanated

in

pure loyalty, it was so displeasing to the House of Commons, that Sir Kenelm was in January, 1640,

summoned

and quesanswered with

to their bar

He tioned on the subject. that simplicity which is the surest indication

and the Queen having interfered in his behalf by a message to the House, stating the share which she had in the transof truth

;

action and her motives, the

peared

for the

time to be

Commons

satisfied;

apbut the

offence was not forgotten, for in the address

which they shortly afterward presented to the King, praying him to remove the

Roman

Catholics from about

his

person

and the Court, Digby and Montague were particularly named. Probably

in

consequence of tin's address,

INTRODUCTION.

Kenelm was obliged to quit England, for we learn from the publication which has Sir

just been inserted, that he was in exile about the end of 1640, but that he had made his

peace and returned before the close of the following year; though whether his recal was

produced by the spirited manner he had vindicated the honour of reign, or

in

which

his sove-

from some other cause, does not

appear. the breaking out of the civil war, was imprisoned by order of the Par-

Upon Digby

liament, and was confined in Winchester

House

until 1643,

when he was

released at

the intercesssion of the Queen-mother of

France, the lady

whom

in his

Memoir he

enamoured of him about twenty years before, but whose advances he declined. Whether it was to the

represents to have been

recollection of the passion there imputed to her, or to the high favour in which he

with the Queen of England her daughter, or to both these causes, that he

stood

was indebted for the favour, is uncertain ; but the House returned a respectful answer to her Majesty, and he was released upon

INTRODUCTION. the condition that he would promise, on the faith of a Christian and the word of a

gentleman, "neither directly nor indirectly to negociate, promote, consent unto, or conceal any practice or design prejudicial to the honour or safety of the Parliament," an agreement which Mr. Lodge has justly characterized as being more prudent than honest, and that he should instantly quit the realm.

The Lord Mayor of London

also ad-

dressed a letter to the House, dated on the

27th of March, 1643, respecting Sir Kenelm's commitment, and requesting that he

might be released

;

but nothing was then

done.*

Before

his

departure

he was

strictly

examined by a committee, as to a suspected correspondence between Archbishop Laud and the Court of Rome; especially respecting the offer of a Cardinal's hat to the His answer was consistent not prelate.

only with the truth, but with what it was little short of insanity to have doubted ; for

he assured *

his

examiners that he be-

Commons'

Journals.

INTRODUCTION. Archbishop to be a very sincere and learned Protestant. It is wholly imlieved the

possible that a mind so constituted as that of Sir Kenelm Digby, to whose " quick

bosom quiet" must have been indeed " a could have passed the term of his reTwo pieces straint without employment. " Observations on the one entitled at hell,"

least,

Medici," which was printed in " Observations on 1643, and the other, his the 22nd Stanza -in the 9th Canto of the Religio

second book of Spenser's Fairy Queen, and addressed to Sir Edward Stradlinge," published in 1644, were written at that time. In France, Digby was received with respect and affection for his talents, disposition, and conversation were peculiarly calculated to excite those feelings in that ;

country. He passed great part of his time at the court of the Queen Dowager, and in the most polished society of Paris, but at the same time a large portion of it was devoted to study, for within a year after his arrival,

"

he published

his greatest

A Treatise of the Nature

work, of Bodies, and

a Treatise declaring the operations and

INTRODUCTION.

Ixvi

nature of man's soul, out of which the immortality of reasonable souls is evinced."

In July, 1648, he

Kenelm,

lost his

in the royal cause at St. Neot's

shortly before

are told, allowed to

estate

;

;

which event he returned to

England, and, after some

we

eldest son,

but he was

difficulties,

compound

still

was,

for his

too obnoxious to

the Parliament to be permitted to remain, and the Commons passed a resolution that

he should leave the kingdom, and that if he was afterward found within it, without leave of the House, he should forfeit both his estate

and

his life.

Nor,

it will

be seen,

were the suspicions entertained of signs,

without some foundation.

his de-

He was

again kindly received in France by Henrietta Maria, Queen of England, who had

appointed him her Chancellor, a situation which he held until his death ; and, soon afterwards, he was sent by her Majesty into

on a mission to Pope Innocent the The favour with which his HoliTenth. ness at first treated him was, according to Italy

Aubrey, soon

consequence of the improper haughtiness and freedom which lost, in

INTRODUCTION. he displayed towards the Pontiff. He says, " he was mightily admired, but, after some time, he grew high and hectored at his Holi-

and gave him the lie. The Pope said he was mad/' Wood adds, that the cause of ness,

" Digby having made of money for the afflicted Ca-

the quarrel was, that

a collection tholics in faithful

England, he was found to be no

steward in that matter/' That there

were many of Digby's actions which seem to justify Innocent's opinion of the state of his intellects, has

been before hinted

;

but

has been judiciously remarked, the charge of rudeness was ill suited to the

as

it

general character of his temper and breeding,* though, if his Holiness expressed the

opinion of his integrity which Wood imputes to him, there can be no difficulty in believing that Digby would indignantly resent

such

an

accusation.

At other

courts in Italy he was, however, treated with marked consideration, as well from

own merits as from respect and Lloyd Queen his mistress

his

;

to

asserts,

that " of one of the Princes, whereof *

Lodge.

the

it

is

INTRODUCTION.

IxV'iii

reported, that having no children, he was very willing his wife should bring him a

Prince by Sir Kenelm, whom he imagined the just measure of perfection/'*

Soon

Cromwell had dissolved the Long Parliament and assumed the suafter

preme power, Digby returned

to

England,

and, to the astonishment of all parties, acquired some share of the Protector's

This extraordinary connexion

confidence.

has, been at length explained ; and there are good grounds for believing that he

had long been engaged in the attempt to unite the Roman Catholics and the enemies of monarchy,

in

one

common

Lord Byron, in a letter to the Marquess of Ormond, dated at Caen on the 1st of March, 16*49 says, " Sir Kenelm Digby with some other Romanists, accompanied with one Watson, an Independent, who hath brought them papers from Faircause.

fax,

is

gone

for

England

to join the inte-

the English papists with that bloody party that murdered the King in the opposition and extirpation of morests

of

all

*

Loyal Sufferers, p. 581.

INTRODUCTION.

Ixix

narchical government; or if that government be thought fit, yet that it shall be by election,

and not by succession

provided

;

that

a

free

as formerly

exercise

of

the

Romish

religion be granted, and of all other religions whatsoever, excepting that which was established by law in the church

of England/' In the February preceding, Secretary Nicholas enclosed a letter from

Dr. Winsted, a Catholic physician at Rouen, of which the following is an extract.

"

Tuesday last arrived here Sir Kenelm Digby from Paris, with divers young gentlemen in his company only there was a wry-necked fellow amongst them, which ;

Sir

Kenelm recommended

ance and care, as being, he

to

my acquaint-

said, in

a con-

sumption and for that cure had changed the air and came into France, but was ;

now going

England with an intention to return within sixteen or twenty days, and then would stay here or go into Languedoc for his health. Feeling his hand and pulse, I assured him that he was in no into

consumption, nor never had been. f

After-

INTRODUCTION.

1XX

was but a pretence, and that he was an agent for that accursed crew, his name Watson, scout-

ward

I perceived that this

master to the rebels.

mind of

I

spoke freely

the murder and the

my that

judgment was made here by the French his answer was, that the French abhorred the fact in ;

general.

I

enemies of Sir

spared

no

sin

to

curse the

God and my King:

I asked

Kenehn Digby why he would go now

into England, considering the abomination of that country? His answer was, that he

had not any means to subsist longer, and if he went not now, he must starve. I answered, it was the better choice to die, if he

remembered the

obligations he had to the

Queen Regent of France, who took him from those that would have destroyed him.

He answered, that

Queen Regent knew and that he had the King of the

of his going, France's pass, and would return again sudI next pressed him to stay two or denly. three months all

he replied, that by that time his business would be settled. I de-

sired

at

:

him not

London any

to think to

liberation

;

have from those for that, for

my

INTRODUCTION. part, I

of

my

had rather live in exile all the days life, and suffer at Tyburn, than that

public liberty to serve God should spring from the bloody murderers of my

my

sovereign."

This design was probably the cause of the hostility of the Long Parliament toward

Kenelm, and to some extent, it explains the attention shewn to him by the Protector whom, it may be inferred, he hoped Sir

;

Certain it is, to persuade into his wishes. however, that whatever might be the hopes

he received from Cromwell, Digby proa fact fessed to be devoted to his service ;

by the manner in which the Protector treated him whilst he not only

manifested

was in England in from Sir Kenelm

lf)55,

but by a letter

to Secretary Thurloe,

dated Paris, 18th of March, 1656,

in

which,

after defending himself against the slander

of a Sir Robert Welsh, he says, " that whatsoever may be disliked by my Lord Protector

and the council of

me;"

state,

must be

that his obligations to his Highness were so great, that it would be a crime in him to behave himself so

detested by

f 2

INTRODUCTION. negligently as to give cause for any shadow of the least suspicion, or to do any thing

that might require an excuse or apology ; and, after similar professions of attachment,

he concludes, "

my

think

my excuse

is,

that I should

heart was not an honest one,

the blood about

it

if

were not warmed with

any the least imputation upon my respects and my duty to his Highness, to whom I owe so much/' Digby's conduct in requisite to say a few words.

Upon

is

has execrated

this affair, it

Mr. Lodge

the strongest terms ; and though he has imputed it to the true " a fervid affection to his religious cause, o it

in

not altogether just to say, that " no extenuation/' that motive furnishes

faith/' it

is

The

treason, with which he charges him, ought rather to be proved than assumed ;

for it

must

first

he treacherous?

be inquired to

To

whom was

his mistress the

Queen?

Certainly not ; for in promoting the interests of the religion to which she was a bigot, there can be no doubt that he rendered her the most acceptable service ;

and so

far

from concurring

in Kippis's re-

INTRODUCTION. " it is mark, that very strange that it did not ruin him with the Queen Dowager," the circumstance that he never lost her

good opinion, tends to establish the idea that if he was not actually obeying her

commands

in this instance,

he was, at

least,

acting under her sanction. The treachery then could only be to Charles the Second ;

but as the religious tenets of that monarch differed but little from those of his mother, the only part of his proposition which could be offensive to his Majesty, was, that the monarchy should be elective rather than hereditary. In 1649, when the

imputed to Digby, it is barely possible for him to have had any other

design

is

idea than that the elected

monarch should

be the individual who possessed the hereditary right to the throne ; hence he would

appear to be availing himself of the only possible

means which,

at that time, pre-

sented themselves of restoring him perhaps wisely deeming, that when once seated :

it

would be an easy task to establish the

ancient order of the succession. that

It

is

true

Digby 's subsequent favour with Crom-

INTRODUCTION. well, is

not to be reconciled with

such

views respecting Charles, but it does not necessarily follow that all the motives ascribed to him by Lord Byron in 1649, continued to actuate him in 1655

Until the restoration, Sir Kenelm occupied himself in travelling to various parts of

He

passed the summer of 1656 at Toulouse, and the next year we find

the Continent.

at Montpelier, where he went partly account of his health, which was much

him on

impaired by severe fits of the stone, and partly because it contained several men of learning, to whom he read his treatise on the sympathetic powder and partook of

the enjoyments which a communication between the scientific and the learned selall

dom

to produce. In 1658 and 1659, in different provinces of Lower

fails

he was

Germany and

particularly in the Palatinate, where, according to Sidney, who

hated him, he passed by the name of Count Digby; but in 1660 he was again in Paris, and in the next year returned All his biographers admit England. that he was well received at Court, notto

INTRODUCTION.

IxXV

withstanding his conduct towards Cromwell was far from being a secret, a fact

which powerfully supports the opinion that his real designs were not so inimical to

the monarchical interest as has been

supposed. Digby did not long survive the Restoration, nor did he receive any political favours from the King, though he still enjoyed his office of Chancellor to his mother.

On

the incorporation of the Royal Society in 1663, he was nominated one of the

Council, and, as long as his health permitted, was constant in his attendance at its

meetings, and communicated several paAt this time he resided at his house pers.

Covent Garden,* and passed his life in the study of philosophy and mathematics,

in

who

or in the conversation of those *

Aubrey says,

"

the

fair

houses

in

Holborn,

like

between

King's Street and Southampton Street (which broke off the continuance of them) were built about 1633 by Sir Kenelm,

where he

lived before the civil wars.

of Charles

II.

north portico

he lived

of Covent

Holies, lived since. in this

houe.

in the last fair

He had

sed Qu."

Since the restoration

house westward

Garden where my Lord a laboratory there.

I

in the

Denzill,

think he died

INTRODUCTION.

1XXV1

himself were ardently devoted to science* and " established those literary assemblies to

which he

had been accustomed

in

France, and which he seems first to have introduced into this country/'* Early in

January 1665, he meditated a journey to Paris for the relief of his old disease, the

upon which occasion he made but the disorder advanced too

stone,

his

will,

ra-

pidly to allow of his executing his intention, and he died in a violent paroxym on

llth of June 1665, hav-

his birth-day, the

ing just completed his sixty-second year. The contemporaries of Sir Kenelm as well as posterity have paid unqualified homage to his genius and eru-

Digby

and whether contemplated as a philosopher, a theologician, an orator, a

dition:

courtier, or a soldier, his exquisite talents

are alike conspicuous. Endowed by nature with an understanding of great depth

and

he studied almost every branch of human science, and to whatever he gave his attention, he illustrated and versatility,

adorned

it.

His philosophical *

Lodge.

specula-

INTRODUCTION.

IxXVH

have survived the bickerings by which they were assailed ; his solitary essay as a military commander was crowned with tions

signal success; his eloquence is conspicuous in every production of his pen ; and

knowledge of divinity, his works on the subject bear ample testimony. The politeness for which he was eminent was not artificial, but arose from to the extent of his

the only true source, an amiable disposition;

and

an age distinguished above

in

others for political as well as polemical controversy, he has the enviable merit of

all

having conveyed

guage wholly

free

vituperation.

arguments in lanfrom bigotry and personal his

But

in the

most comprehen-

meaning of the term, Sir Kenelm Digby was a Gentleman. He understood and exercised all the duties which belong to sive

that character

;

nor in the

exuberance of

the vanity in which he abounded, in the persecutions which he endured, or in the malice

by which he was of one action of

assailed, are his life,

we informed

with the excep-

conduct imputed to him by Aubrey towards the Pope, which it is

tion of the

INTRODUCTION.

Ixxviil

highly improbable ever occurred, is one trace to be found of his having, even

a moment, forgotten what he owed to himself or to others. Besides the usual for

and those abstruse pursuits in which he delighted, he was master of six languages, and was well learned

attainments

accomplishments of a cavatimes ; but his merits are best

skilled in the lier

of his

summed up one of

his

emphatic language of contemporaries, "he was the in the

magazine of all arts/' His person, like his mind, was of gigantic proportions, and

Aubrey has recorded an anecdote

illustra-

tive of his strength, but a grace, as natural

was inimitable, gave dignity to whatever he said or did, and conduct which would have been considered affectation in the generality of mankind, " was/' says Lord Clarendon, whose words will be cited, not on account of their elegance as

it

but because he was no partial " delineator, marvellously graceful in him, and seemed natural to his size and mould of merely,

his person, to the gravity of his motion,

and the tune of

his voice

and delivery/'

INTRODUCTION.

From

so splendid a character

we

turn

with regret to the darker shades by which it

was

Digby's faults accompanied. part and parcel of the mind he

were

possessed.

The

usual attendants of genius,

eccentricity, almost approaching to

mad-

and unsteadiness were frequently displayed in his opinions and conduct but of the treachery and dishonour of which he has been accused, an attempt

ness, vanity,

;

has

made

been

to

exonerate him,

be-

cause they seem wholly incompatible with the uniform tenor of his life. Religious zeal

is,

and

if

true, a

powerful excitement, he was really seduced by it into it

is

a neglect of his temporal obligations, there can be little doubt that the same aberra-

judgment which he evinces in the following pages on the subject of female tion of

chastity, misled

him upon the occasions

in

There is a wide distinction bequestion. tween the errors into which mankind are by calculations of self-interest, and those into which they fall from the dic-

led

tates of their

ments; and

if

honest but mistaken judg-

Digby

failed in his allegiance

INTRODUCTION. to his sovereign, it is only the benefit of this distinction which is claimed for him.

His notions of honour were undoubtedly sometimes false, but still they were his sincere

sentiments,

and he

accordingly

supported them by extraordinary and even romantic means. Of the vices of his age, the

most

serious

which he shared

was that of duelling, for according to his own statements he was engaged in several before he attained his twenty-third year,

and

1640 he fought another with Lord le Ros. But before closing this im-

in

Mont

perfect

one

summary of

trait

his character, there

which perhaps proves him

have been endowed with a mind yond the period in which he lived,

is

to

far behis ar-

dent zeal not only for the acquisition, but for the diffusion of knowledge. He printed almost all which he wrote, and as we have the University of Oxford, his only anxiety was that every the publication facility should be given for seen, in his present to

of the Manuscripts. " Allusion is made in the Biographia " noble MS. which Sir a to Britannica,"

INTRODUCTION. Kenelm caused

IxXXl

to be collected at the ex-

pense of a thousand pounds, as well out of private memorials as from public histories

and records

in the

Tower and

elsewhere,

to the

Digby family in branches, but not knowing where

relating

be found/'

greatest injustice

and ingratitude that may

be, for

you silence, and

to

to imprison your thoughts in deny the happiness of your conversation to those

whose very

souls

depend upon

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

24

every motion that you

rob

Him

make

and so you

:

of the honour due to

the Author of

all

good

Him who

and who

;

been most

hath should

most

liberal

in retri-

whom

bution expecteth that they unto

is

he

of his favours,

by due communication of them

glorify him."

Stelliana,

who was

surprised by this un-

expected discourse of one that she knew

no otherwise but by name, and being disturbed from her pleasing thoughts, was

some time before she could

recollect her-

but after she had sate awhile as one

self:

amazed,

civility called

some answer

upon her

to him, that she

to return

knew was

the

person of most respect and note about the

wherefore at length with a modest " blush she thus replied to him Sir, if

king

;

:

nature had bestowed any exterior recom-

mendations upon me, as I cannot myself that she has, discretion in

me

it

to rely

flatter

would be most

upon the favour

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. that I might gain thereby

conscious of

my

25

since I

;

am

so

other weaknesses, that

whensoever I should go about but to excuse them, I should belie any good opinion that others might have entertained of

me

:

but in that you are pleased to express more respect to me than any ways I can deserve, I hold myself obliged to reduce

you out of

error,

my own

though to

vantage, by speaking to you

through

my more

gather

rudeness I

am

arguments

;

sure

to

disad-

whereby

you

will

make you

ashamed of what you say you have conceived of me, than to confirm you in it." " I shall never contradict you," replied he then,

"

in

any thing but

in this

;

since I

should acknowledge too great a dulness

and stupidity in myself, if I were not in some measure capable of discerning those rare

perfections

that shine

in

you, and

seeing them, if I did not love and admire

them; therefore

I

make an humble

suit

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

26

unto you, not that you

will

be pleased to

bestow any favour upon me, for I cannot be so presumptuous as to beg any until I

have by some means shewn at

least

an

af-

fectionate desire to deserve them, but that

you

will give

me

leave to love and adore

you, and not be displeased that one of so small merit as I

am, should be

as to style himself your

He had

scarcely

thus much,

so ambitious

humble

servant."

made an end of

when one of

saying

the Maskers, they

having now ended their set dance, came to take Stelliana

her to

by the hand, beseeching follow him in a corrente which de;

livered her of the trouble of returning

any

answer to Ursatius, otherwise than with a disdainful look

;

for going along with

him

that had taken her out, the other's greedy ears that expected the sweet sound of her

charming resign

all

voice,

were forced of a sudden to

their spirits into his eyes, to con-

template her motions, that were so com-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

2?

posed of awful majesty and graceful that

all

agility,

the beholders being ravished with

delight, said, surely

one of the Graces was

descended from heaven to honour these nuptials.

Which was

they had seen

how

the cause that

skilfully she

when

kept time

with her feet to the music's sound, she

was

suffered

former seat

:

no more to return unto her for it

adding much to the

grace of good dancers to have their lady

observe due distances, and to

move them-

by consent

in just pro-

selves, as it were,

portion, every one in their turn beseeched

the like favour of her that she had done to

companion, before he could lead her back unto her first place yet in this they their

:

deceived themselves;

for

her excellency

that would brook no partner, engrossed to herself all the commendations, while they

had scarce any notice taken of them. But she was wearied with her much exercise, before the beholders could be satisfied with

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

28 delight swiftly

which made time glide away so and unperceivably, that they heard ;

from abroad the watchful cock warn men to rise

up

to their daily

labours, before

they could persuade themselves to go to rest.

it

was time

But then the king adjourn-

ing the assembly and the continuance of these recreations to the next night, every

and Stelliana being returned her lodging, as she was making her un-

one retired to

ready,

;

related

to the

gentlewoman that

waited upon her in nature of governess,

what had passed at court, and what language Ursatius had held to her. Faustina, for that was the ancient gen-

tlewoman's name, who only did

sit

up that

night to help her lady to bed, was glad of this o.ccasion to

begin to perform that office

for Ursatius, that she

who from

the

first

had promised him

;

sight growing every

day more and more taken with

Stelliana's

beauty, and deeming the honourable

way of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

29

procuring love by deserts to be too long and

and greater promises, won Faustina to assure him of her assistance in his pursuit wherein he tedious, had, with great gifts

;

had been so unhappy, that until this night he could never get a fit opportunity to express himself a lover to sired should

know

I

he most de-

So that she then said thus; " In

it.

interrupting her lady,

madam,

whom

troth,

wonder that you gave

so cold

an

entertainment to the respects of so noble

and deserving a gentleman as Ursatius, who hath the fame of all those that are about the court, to be the discreetest, the

most courteous, and the most generous among all the noblemen in this kingdom ;

and that excelleth them pleteness of

as

much

in

com-

good parts and the graces of

nature, as he doth in the gifts of fortune,

and greatness of estate." "Dostthou then, " think that Faustina," answered her lady, any of these considerations can make me

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

30

false to that affection,

me had

that in respect of

no beginning,

reacheth not to that time, resolved shall die with

my memory and which I am

for

me?"

" In

all

things

" I have found replied Faustina, you

else/'

you may be

so discreet, that

mirror and shame of

But

age.

in this,

called the

the ladies of your

all

madam, pardon me

if I

speak too boldly, methinks you have no reason at

away

love

all

:

for

what

upon one

and regardeth so?" answered

unthrift

that

is

"

not ?"

it

would cast

not sensible of it,

Why

do you say

"If you could

Stelliana.

see

as far," quoth Faustina, "into what concern-

eth

you most,

as they that are but lookers

you should not need to ask this question, and you would not sigh all day for Theaon,

genes as you do

;

you had no other

for if

cause, methinks the passing of four entire

years without so

should

much

make you

doth your love/*

as hearing from

forget

him

as

much

"Alas!" replied

him

as he Stel-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

31

" be not so unjust as to tax him with what thou knowest he cannot remedy it

liana,

:

is

true, four years

have passed, ah

!

my

sorrow keeps too good account, since I have seen him, or have heard from him

:

but

call

not that his fault, which

is

caused

only by the rigour of our cruel parents;

you know

it

is

so long since the time of

unhappy falling out, who ever since have had so watchful eyes over us, dis-

their

trusting our affections, that

it

hath been

impossible for so young lovers, that are not

yet acquainted with love's grossest sleights, to find out

any means

their passions

;

to

communicate

and, therefore, I see

it

is

ordained by heaven that I must harbour

no other flame within

my

breast, since this

long absence and so many other oppositions

have not been able to smother " said

Nay, but,"

her,

"

let

this."

Faustina, interrupting

not passion blind you altogether ;

but consider what an advantageous change

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

32

you may make

in

embracing Ursatius, who in splendour of nobility, abundance of riches, and favour with his prince, is eminent above

who hath

all

others; for Theagenes,

hardly escaped, by his mother's

extreme industry, with the scant shipwrecked estate, and from

relics

his

of a

father

hath inherited nothing but a foul stain in his blood for

attempting to make a

fatal

revolution in this state."

" "

Methinks, Faustina/' replied Stelliana,

you speak

passion than

loving him this,

;

in

his

prejudice with more

you can accuse me of for I

have good reason

in for

but you have none to upbraid him

with another man's offence; for although it

be the custom of these times to lay a

punishment beyond death upon those that conspire against their prince or their go-

vernment, that so by making

it

extend to

may, peradventure, deter some, who would not be contained by their posterity,

it

PRIVATE MEMOIUS. their

own

upon

their sacred persons,

from attempting

single danger,

and from making the laws; yet it seemeth to

innovations in

be with

33

this condition, that if the

son in

himself deserve the contrary, he shall be

esteemed and cherished according to

own

his

merit, in which the father's offence

then drowned

;

so that

rather

it

is

becomes

an incitation to him to do virtuous and worthy actions, than any Besides

this, to

behalf, all licious

speak a

men know

intent

or

stain or blemish.

little in his father's

that

it

was no ma-

ambitious desires that

brought him into that conspiracy

;

but

his

too inviolable faith to his friend, that had trusted him with

and

his zeal

berty

;

so dangerous a secret,

to his country's ancient

li-

which, being misled by those upon

whose advice he

relied,

was the cause of

overthrowing the most generous, discreet, worthy, and hopeful gentleman that ever this

country brought forth

D

:

to

which may

34

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

be added, that the successful or ruinous events of undertakings of that nature, do for the

most part guide the judgments that

vulgar

men make

And were much less

of the honesty of their

intentions.

for his estate,

it

than

be plentiful enough

him

for

for his better part,

am am

besides that I fortune, that I

much

as

may

tent itself with

which

is

so

satisfy

it

is,

would

it

yet

one that loveth

which

his

is

mind

much beholden

;

to

myself mistress of so a heart that can con-

conveniency, more than

excess and superfluity

too abject and

although

mean a

;

which

is

thing to enter into

the lowest thoughts of one

that

is

ac-

quainted with the divine light of a noble

and heroical

am

love, as

mine

is.

Therefore I

no longer be a patient speedily use some means

resolved, I will

martyr

;

that he

but will

may

hear from

me, and

I

have

news of him." Faustina perceiving her lady to grow

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

35

more passionate by contradiction, and the guiltiness of her conscience making

her doubt

that

her heart,

into

saw

Stelliana

dient for the present to give lady's

far

most expe-

it

thought

too

way

vehemence; which she

to her

did,

pro-

mising her best and faithful service to

procure her content, ceived clearly which

now

way

it

that she per-

was resolutely

Which when she had

bent.

Stelliana being laid

down

said,

in her bed,

and

and

the curtains drawn, wishing her good rest

and joyful dreams, with a low curtsey she took her leave and went into her own

chamber

;

into which, sleep

welcome that night divided after

;

had but an

for her troubled

ill

and

thoughts kept her awake, until

many doubts and

consultations with

herself, at length she resolved

gedy, which,

\\ith

the

first

upon a

tra-

conveniency,

she intended to put in action.

For co-

vetousness, that usually accompanieth aged

D

2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

36

women, who, from low and mean beginnings, come to have too weighty charges committed

and whose minds,

to them,

for

the most part, are then mercenary, as in their

youth their bodies were, had so

veigled

Faustina

promises,

with

Ursatius's

that after long

in-

large

debate within

swallowed that golden

herself, at length she

and shutting her eyes to her own infamy, and the betraying of her lady, she bait;

resolved

now not only

to solicit her to her

dishonour by persuasions, as at

first

she

had proposed to herself, but, conceiving that would be but time lost, her affection being already so firmly grounded, she lay contriving what artifice she might use to deliver her

power.

up

into her

unworthy

lover's

So that the next day, when her

lady's being in

company gave her

the

li-

berty of going abroad, she went privately to Ursatius's house

early in the

;

unto

whom

she had

morning sent a messenger

to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. desire

him

to stay at

for that she

home,

had business of importance

37

to speak to

him

of.

He

with

much impatience and many unquiet

thoughts fears,

stayed,

;

expecting her

coming

yet his hopes outweighed his

because he conceived she would not

make such

haste to bring

him

and that she came herself

to

ill

news,

gain the

reward of a joyful message; in which he

was the more confirmed by calling to mind

what passed between Stelliana and him the last night, when he took it as an argu-

ment of much favour from

her, that she

returned him no harsh answer, nor rude

check, for his bold insinuation

:

so apt

men

are to flatter themselves with any shadows

or imaginations that

may

nourish in them

what they vehemently desire. But when Faustina was come and began the hopes of

to speak to him, another passion banished

away

the former

half ended

;

so that before she

what she had

had

to say, he burst

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

38

out in this manner "

Ah

:

it

had power

now

which

I

are,

scornful beauty

is

;

I

am

I see ;

Heaven

in nothing

disturb

to

my

how

perceive

wretched they

serable

then

be happy

envieth I should else

!

joys

;

and

low

that one denial of a to

enough

make me mi-

resolved to take myself out

of fortune's power, and will go to the other

world to preach to damned souls that their pains are but imaginary ones in respect of theirs thatlivein the hellof love."

"Why,"

" do interrupted Faustina,

fall

such despair

?

I

come

you

into

you how

to teach

you may be master of what you say you love so much, if you would hear me/'

"Oh, Faustina

!"

sorrows that

my to me

replied Ursatius,

make

all

that do but cross

so

;

I will

proclaim

I

pardon

things intolerable

my

joying the fairest Stelliana her

"

;

hopes of enI

love her

much, that without her

but a curse and a vexation

my ;

say I love ;

and that

life will

therefore

be

make

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

39

haste and deliver, in short, the sentence of

my

or death."

life

Faustina,

"

it is

" Then hear," quoth

true I have gained nothing

out of her mouth that I

may

hope upon of her consent to your "

much

build

suit."

" But," interrupted Ursatius, without her

consent will

tina

how can

not hear ;

I ever

me

be happy?"

"You

speak," continued Faus-

" who knows that her heart and her

tongue beat the same measure? The art of dissimulation is born with women, who, being by nature ordained to serve men,

grow to be tyrants when they see them humble therefore remember your own strength, and, by faint wooing, do not bar :

yourself of what you

"

may

be master of."

And how

should I be master of her," re" that would think it happlied Ursatius, piness enough to do her any acceptable service ?"

"

Nay/' quoth Faustina,

long as your ambitions are so low, it fittest

for

me

I

" as hold

to be silent, rather than to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

40

acquaint you with what I had contrived

your content, which requireth reso-

for

and active

lution

"

it."

spirits for the

You would do my

achieving

love wrong/'

answered Ursatius, "if you should think

me

fear could detain

from any hazardous

enterprise, wherein assurance of obtaining

Stelliana were the period of it."

then

but

" and I

my

my

will,

" Follow

directions/' said Faustina,

before

many days

pass over

head, put her into your hands by a " But if it that I have invented/'

sleight

be a plot of yours without consent on her " well

may you

part/' replied Ursatius,

make me master mind

will

before

;

of her body, but

then be farther frrfm

for

now

the worst

is

not love me, and then she reason to hate

me

as

much

me

her

than

that she does

have just as I can love

will

her."

These, and effect,

many

other speeches to like

Faustina used to Ursatius, to wean

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. him from

his

though he were

respective infinitely

love

al-

whom

he so

desired to please, yet, on the other

side, seeing

nothing but despair in his be-

half, or, at least,

such

impatience would not

come them

in

Faustina

difficulties that his let

him seek

to over-

an honourable manner, he

resolved at length to

his

who,

;

perplexed in the

very thought of offending

much

41

made him

embrace the

offer that

to deliver Stellianainto

hands without any resistance or

Which,

to effect

trived, she

noise.

according as she had con-

took one day occasion of speak-

ing unto her lady, as she sate in her wonted

manner, the sun of her beauty shining through the clouds of sadness

;

when, seem-

ing to bear a part with her in her sorrows,

towards

whom

she professed

to

have a

natural tenderness, as having been under

her charge and care from her infancy, she

promised her faith and secrecy soever

might conduce

to

her

in

what-

content.

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

42

Wherewith

Stelliana, being

much

joyed,

gave her many thanks, and, after long debate what was

be done, they con-

fittest to

cluded that Faustina should inquire after

Theagenes, and when she had fully in-

formed herself concerning him, that she should send a discreet messenger to him,

with a letter from Stelliana.

As soon

as this

resolution

was taken

between them, Faustina went abroad, and returned not

till

night

;

when, coming to

her lady with a cheerful countenance, the

messenger of good

news, she told

her

how

gracious heaven was to her desires

for,

having learned

come

;

how Theagenes was

the night before to the city, she

sent a messenger to him,

who took

had

so

fit

an opportunity of accosting him, that he had large and private discourse with him ; wherein he had concluded that the same servant should

come

the next day about

sunset, to be his guide to the park, that

is

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. miles out of the city,

three

if

43 Stelliana

come then

could have conveniency to " meet him there.

replied Stel-

How/'

" should he put that in doubt? I

liana,

hope he measureth not my flames by own, when he maketh such a question ;

no sea between, nor

me

.hinder

for she it

should

was so

locked

full,

expression of it in words; that in striving to break

itself faster in

;

and as a weak

under the strong physic that prescribed to bring it health, even so

body is

itself,

for

excess of her joy suffered her

make much

not to

hell

his

from running into those wished

The

arms/'

out,

to

faints

her soul, that of a sudden was surprised with so strong a passion, was not able to resist

;

but, striving to succour itself that

had most need, to

it

one centre, and

retired all her faculties left

the fairest

ever was, destitute of due aid

;

body that

who, taking

it

unkindly to be so forsaken, expressed

in

her face a deadly heaviness, mingled

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

44

with the heavenly sweetness of a tranced angel that

ravished with the contem-

is

plation of his Creator's his

own

joys

and

perfections,

and when she was come to

:

who could have

herself again,

thoughts, would

have

"said

seen her

that the suf-

ferance which one undergoeth before they attain unto

it,

exceedethfarthe good which,

even in wishes and hope, a lover can proAfter she had passed this

mise to himself.

night and part of the next day with

much

unquietness, the declining sun, that was

ready to plunge himself into his lover's

bosom, summoned her to begin her journey to hers

:

so that, taking Faustina with her,

she went to the back door of the garden,

where a coach with four horses stayed, waiting for her

;

Faustina having advised,

for less notice sake, not to

own, but

to hire

pretence, the

make

use of her

one: so that, under

coachman of Ursatius

this

in a

disguised livery, with his horses, but a hired

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. coach, was there to begin the

45 act of

first

the ensuing tragedy.

She was scarce gone half way to the appointed place, when five or six horsemen, well mounted, overtook the coach

;

who,

speaking to the coachman, that was instructed what to do, he stayed his horses,

and, two of them alighting,

coach

and drawing

to her,

threatened her with death

made any

or

that from

noise

;

came

into the

their poignards, if

she cried out

assuring her withal,

them she should receive no

lence, if she

would

sit

quietly

:

vio-

and there-

withal drew the curtains, that none might see

who was in

In

the coach as they passed by.

agony of distracted thoughts, that represented to her from what hopes of bliss

this

she was fallen into an abyss of sor-

row; and, fearing the worst that might happen to an undefended maid that was fallen

into rude hands, she travelled

near morning;

when

the coach

till

staying,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS'.

46

she was taken out, and led into a fair lodge that stood in the middle of a pleasant lawn

environed with rich groves ancient

woman

:

and there an

entertaining her with

fortable speeches,

com-

and the assurance of

all

service intended to her, which she should

quickly perceive to be true, brought her into a richly adorned chamber, advising

her to repose herself after so tedious and

troublesome a night

as,

of necessity, she

must have passed. After she had helped her

to

bed,

it

was some time before sleep could take possession of her fair lids, but, at length, the

nature

it

being

to

oppress the

extreme

grief

whereas a

tole-

of

spirits,

rable one doth but exasperate them, her

heart yielded to the weight of so heavy a

burden

;

and death himself, grown tender

in seeing her affliction, sent

sleep to

his

brother

charm her wearied eyes that

else

would have been turned into a flood of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and

tears,

to

some truce

give

abundant sorrow.

4? to

her

Peradventure he might

come

himself to seize upon

so sweet a mansion,

had not Ursatius, im-

at length have

patient of so long delay, towards the evening,

come

in unto her,

who, stumbling at

the opening of the door, which he might

have taken as an

infallible

ensuing

repulse,

with

wakened

her,

presage of his

the

much

noise

and frighted away the other's drowsy harbinger. She, hearing one come into the chamber, rose

up

half

way

in her

bed, and then, by the glimmering of the light that stole in

between the chinks of

drawn curtains, she perceived, as he came near her, that it was Ursatius who,

the

;

kneeling down by her bed's side, after some " Before I pause, began in this manner :

came I

I

into your presence, fairest Stelliana,

had proposed to myself many things that would say to you, to excuse my deceiving

you

in

getting

you

hither

;

but that di-

48

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

vinity that

is

me, that

and

am

about you doth so astonish

I forget

studied eloquence,

all

forced to betake myself to the

naked and simple expression of a

faultering

tongue, that speaketh but the overboilings

What

of a passionate heart.

committed

is

caused by love

guide, and hath brought

without

that,

cannot

live."

after a

words

deep

it

me

sue to

!"

"how

sort together

perform the

!

to that pass

your deeds and

you mention

effects of

for life,

ill

love, but

extreme hatred

and

power

but, howsoever, at

brought

!

you

in a treacherous

have

this

my

replied Stelliana,

manner ;

he was

;

be requited by yours, I

" Alas

sigh,

me

error I have

mine into

content remaining, that

out sundry ways to death,

if

least I

your

I have

shall find

you attempt

any thing upon my honour; the loss of which I am resolved never to outlive and :

then

my

terror to

injured ghost shall be a perpetual

your guilty

soul,

which

I will so

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. pursue, that I will save

you from

make you

my more

49

fly to hell to

tormenting ven-

geance/' Ursatius was so amazed, that he was

a long time before he replied any thing to like

her resolute answer

;

at length,

but,

one new coming out of a trance, he

called his spirits together,

and

strived

what

he could to lessen the error he had committed, laying

much

of the fault upon

Faustina's instigations, and telling her

she had been the plotter of for his part, his intent

all

;

and

was never

to

how that,

have

used violence; but that he gave way to this action, seeing

was of her, that

how

left

negligent her father

her so

young and

in

the tuition of so false a servant, to live by herself in a dissolute age,

among such

as

would daily make assaults upon Jier honour; and besought her to consider herself mistress of all

should find

that he had, for, in effect, she it

so

;

and assured her that E

all

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

50 the

means he would use

sires,

to obtain his de-

should be love and service.

She then, that doubted cunning invention of could win

her

this

was but a

his, to try, first, if

consent

by

fair

he

means,

thought it her best course not to overthrow his

hopes altogether, but SQ to suspend

them that she might gain

time, wherein

only consisted the possibility of her safety,

and delay

as long^as she could his proceed-

ing to any ruder attempt.

AVherefore she

answered him, that in the state she was

in,

and considering how he had injured her, she could not believe that he intended really

what he

said

;

but when, by experience,

she should find him to love her as worthily as he professed, that

ment

might be an induce-

to her to think better of

yet she did.

While they were

discourse, the

woman

when she came

him than in

that Stelliana

their

met

into the lodge, brought in

supper; after which, none else being suf-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. come

fered to

in to

51

attend them, Ursatius

taking Stelliana by the hand, led her

down

the stairs into a garden that her chamber-

window looked

into, all the several parts of

which she narrowly observed. the sun setting and a

ning to

fall,

At

length,

gummy dew

Ursatius asked her

if

begin-

she was

not tired with walking, which intimation of retiring she taking hold

of,

they returned

again to her chamber, that, by this time,

was dressed up, and the bed made to

re-

when Ursatius, perceiving that

ceive her;

she had a desire to betake herself to rest,

pretending that she laboured yet of her late toil,

he took his leave and wished her

a quiet and happy night, commanding the old

woman

to attend diligently

upon her

;

who, having helped her to bed, retired herself into an inner

When

Stelliana

chamber.

was

and

liberty to her sighs

her cruel fate

;

alone,

she

tears, to

gave

lament

but, soon recollecting herE

'2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

52

as conceiving those

self,

weak

expressions

unworthy of her generous soul, as long as there was any spark of hope left, she began what means she might escape out of that tyrant's hands, whose to cast with herself by

lustful fury, she

was confident, could not be

long delayed, when he should perceive that his respect

won nothing but words from

She had observed how,

in

the garden, there was an

her.

one corner of arbour seated

upon a mount which overlooked the wall ; and, by that place she deemed that she might, most

fitly,

take her

when by her loud

fore,

flight.

Where-

snoring, she per-

ceived that her guardian was fast asleep,

she rose with as

little

noise as she could,

and, tying her sheets together,

end of them

fast to a

and by that that she came hurt

;

let

bar in the window,

herself

to touch

down

down

so gently,

ground without any

and then going straight

bour, she got

made one

the wall by

to the ar-

making use

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

53

of her garters, as before she had done of her sheets

;

and then, finding herself at

liberty in the park, she directed her course

one certain way

until she

came

to the pales,

which, with some difficulty, she climbed over

;

fields

and then she wandered about large and horrid woods, without meeting

with any highway or sign of habitation.

After she had weaned herself with going

long in

much

desolation, towards morning,

herself

thinking

now

enough from

far

Ursatius's lodge, to be safe from his pursuit,

she sate her

down

to take

some

rest,

when a hungry wolf came rushing out of a wood that was close by, and, perceiving her by the increasing twilight, ran at her

with open mouth; saw, fear

made

purpose

for

;

her run

as soon as she

away

;

but to

little

he had soon overtaken her,

and, having got

made

whom,

her down, would have

that his prey, that was worthy to

sway the empire of the world.

But, Oh!

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

54

how

unsearchable

heaven

man

!

for

Providence of

the

is

Mardontius, a young noble-

that lived not far from thence, having

been abroad

all

night to harbour a stag in

that wood, in which exercise he delighted

much, hearing the that

cries

shrieks

Stelliana

made,

and

doleful

ran

speedily

thither; when, seeing that tragical spectacle,

he made haste to rescue the distressed

lady

;

and, while with one hand he drew

his cutlass, with the other he put his horn to his

mouth

;

at the

sound of which,

came

veral of his servants

to him,

accom-

panied with strong and swift dogs. that,

among them,

they quickly

se-

So

made an

end of the unhappy beast, that yet was happy in this, that he died in so high an attempt.

Then they took

the

lady

from

ground, that was almost dead with

the fear,

and from the wolfs merciless teeth had received

some wounds

in

several

places

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

o5

about her ; the pain of which, and

loss

of

blood, and her wearisome journey,

made

her almost faint

upon

:

so that, resting her

a green bank, she told Mardontius

who

she

was, and part of the adventures that had

and he having requited her with informing her of his name and quality, befallen her

:

stood as one amazed, sucking into his veins the

fire

of love, which was kindled at that

beauty, that

majesty

yet shined with admirable

through

her

But he had not been drew

his

bleeding so long,

wounds.

when she

thoughts another way, by asking

him what palace that was which they saw close by them, and could discern the rising sun gilding the tops of the highest turrets

and pinnacles about it? that an old lady, famous

He

answered her,

for her virtue

zeal in religion, dwelt there,

and

whose name

was Artesia.

"

"

widow of Auridonio ? whose

Artesia, the

house

is

What !"

replied Stelliana,

[Here a

line

and a half is

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

56

" It is " that

obliterated in the MS.~\

the same," answered Mardontius,

you mean."

see that, amidst

not abandoned

my

miseries,

Heaven hath

me

care of

all

all

wished to be in

Artesia being

woman, and one compassionate fore,

sir,

I shall

fortune hath

is

others, I should have

I

that,

my

for this

;

the place that, of ;

"I

said Stelliana,

"Then/'

my

am

kinswill

sure,

There-

late disasters.

not be ashamed, since

made me owe my

life

unto

you, to beg the favour of you to conduct

me

thither."

swered,

Whereunto, TVIardontius an-

" Fairest lady,

fortune that will

evil

attend you thither

;

come

shall

much

not permit

it

wait upon

is

some

to

pri-

me

servants

my

you, and see

my

me

very unfit for

to that house, but

there; and I hope, in shall

must lament

for there

vate cause that makes to

I

you

some other

safe

place, I

have the happiness to express the respect I bear unto you

;

and, in the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

mean

time, from this hour forwards, I

myself unto you

humble and

in the strictest ties

Sir, that

you use

consider

it

is

this

the custom of generous

it

more by con-

by receiving them

belongeth to

all

me

is

in

was, deemed

it

am

my power

requite/' Mardontius, that saw in

;

to ac-

occasions that I

more your debtor than plight she

To

language to me, when

ferring benefits, than

knowledge upon

of an

do not wonder,

I

souls to oblige themselves

but, howsoever,

vow

servant."

affectionate

which Stelliana replied, "

I

57

how

to

evil

uncivility to

therefore comany longer manding two of his servants to wait upon her to Artesia's house with the rest he

detain

her

;

;

stayed there expecting their return.

omit to describe the passages between Artesia and Stelliana at their first salutes, I

as I

do many other

particularities that are

not essential to this discourse

;

but time,

and Artesia's care, and her own good order,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

58

/

having made Stelliana well of her wounds, of which remained some light scars, one

evening as they two were walking in the garden, she purposely administered occasion to speak of Arete,

knowing that

be-

tween Artesia and her, there was a straight

and of long date, to the end that she might learn some news of The-

friendship,

agenes

:

who, gladly

falling

upon that sub-

ject, it

being the nature of most persons to

let the

tongue go willingly where the heart

spoke much in commendation of that lady ; extolling with what an ad-

draweth

it,

mirable wit and understanding she was en-

dued, and how, being

left

a widow in the

flower of her youth, accompanied with a flourishing beauty

yet she was so

and a

plentiful estate,

much wedded

to her dear

husband's love, that she neglected

advantageous

offers

suitors, that she

all

the

of earnest and great

might with the more liberty

perform the part of a careful mother to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

59

the clear pledges of their virgin affections.

" she had two " For by him," said Artesia, children,

who now, by

bringing them up in

tuous birth,

exercises,

her

industry in

all qualities

and

correspondent to

vir-

their

do give assured hopes that they

will

not degenerate from their father's worth,

nor give their mother cause to think that her great care in their education was

bestowed.

Yet they seem

to differ

in their natures, for the eldest,

ill

much

Theagenes,

although the great strength and well framing of his body,

make him apt

poral exercises, yet he

most

for

any cor-

pleaseth

himself

in the entertainments of the

mind,

so that having applied himself to the study

of philosophy, and other deepest sciences,

wherein he hath a preceptor in the house with him, famous beyond living, for solidness

ing, he I

is

all

men now

and generality of learn-

already grown so eminent, that

have heard them say, who have insight

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

60

that way, that

if

a lazy desire of ease or

ambition of public employments, or some other disturbance, do not interrupt this course,

fection

he

him

like to attain to great per-

is

at least I can discern thus

:

in

much,

that he hath such a temper of complexion

and

wit, that his friends

pray

God

for

it

that he

cannot keep

may

the youngest

take a right way,

itself in

will infallibly fall to

have reason to

mediocrity, but

some extreme.

But

composed of mildness and

is

sweetness of disposition, answerable to the

of a comely and

excellent form

body, yet so mingled

active

with courage and

strength of mind, that one will as

may expect he much exceed most men in being an

ornament of the court, and fairs, as

he

will

come

culative notions

enemy

much

:

in

martial af-

short of any, in spe-

for withal,

he

is

not an

though he be not naturally addicted to it. Their mother was to study,

ever dear to me," continued she, " and

if

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. I can effect

what

deavoured and

I

f)l

have affectionately en-

solicited,

we

be able

shall

to leave to our posterity the inheritance of

our affections as well as of our estates I

;

for

have laboured long, and Arete hath not

been wanting on her part, to join in marriage her eldest son,

and

my

grandchild

that

you see here; who,

me

not, besides that she shall

if partiality

great estate of her father's,

inherit a

much

be-

may shew

her

is

holding to nature, that she

deceive

so

among the fairest, when you are away mean ;" and with that she smiled.

face I

But

Stelliana

her with the for

it

seemed

Artesia's

but

was far from answering

like

cheerful

countenance,

to her that death

had from

her

through

shot

lips

impatience

of

heart

delay to

know

:

the

worst of what she feared called up her fainting spirits it

;

and made her

ask,

was that hindered the effecting

you two,"

"What it,

since

said she, " that are the guiders

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

62 of

it

are equally affected with the desire

"It

thereof/'

is,"

answered Artesia, ".the

backwardness of Theagenes; of which

his

mother one day complaining to me, told me what an answer he had made to her a little before, as she

had

scend to her just desire, *

him

solicited it

conde-

to

being so

much for

Madam/

quoth he, 'the greatest obligation that I have to you, and wherein you express your love most to me, his advantage.

is

the liberty that

this

you have

me

left to

in

main business of marriage, upon the

good or one's

evil success of

future

which, dependeth

happiness or misery

you are pleased

of

with me, as advising

most

for

my

and

to enter into discourse

since it

:

me what

will

be

good, I beseech you, give

me

leave to represent unto

you how it

is

a con-

dition that hath nothing but the entrance free; therefore in

deferred

till

wisdom

it

ought to be

one be in the fulness and vigour

of judgment to discern best in making a

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. fitting

choice

;

which cannot well be perBesides, to have

formed by attorney. complete in of

respects, the

all

first

conveniencies,

but

may make

which

a

divine

their souls

other bond doth their bodies confess that, although I

woman do

every

way

;

know

motives

flame in

deed only a

me

and

must

I

this gentle-

feel

of Heaven.

gift

resolve to

one as the

not yet

towards her, which

should consent to

must

affection,

deserve better for-

tune than I can bring her, I

sit still

is

And

make her my

inif I

wife, I

from any action,

as being arrived to the period of tion

it

should not be sordid wealth or other

it

this

63

my

ambi-

for the relations that follow marriage

:

are such a clog to an active mind, that is

it

impossible for one that hath not before

laid

a foundation for his

preferment, to

above the pitch that he then whereas as long as he remaineth sin-

raise himself is

in

gle

;

and

free, the

world seemeth to be at his

64

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

command

in choosing

to succeed best to him,

of which he

what course

and

like then to

is

is

like

in the process

have least

diffi-

Therefore as long as the weakness

culties.

of our estate obligeth you not yet to

sell

me

me

to repair that, I beseech

leave to look a

little

you give

while about me, and

to please myself awhile with flying

abroad

before I be put into the mewe/ So that/' " continued Artesia, by this speech of his,

and knowing

way

give

his mother's

his

to

desire,

whether what I have so will ever

leave

come

nothing

myself,

when

to

pass.

indulgence to I

doubt much

much

longed for

Yet, because I

unattempted) Arete

I last

saw

her, resolved that

she should bring him hither, to try grandchild's

him

to

silent

and

if

my

beauty can persuade

what yet he hath ever been averse ;

for they say that the blind

god shooting from fair eyes, doth sometimes prevail with stubborn hearts more than any reason or

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. discourse can

so that taking the offered

:

coming hither, who be here to-morrow, to communicate

occasion of will

65

with

my

my

son's

content of

my

nearest friends,

seeing so dear a son that hath been long

absent from me, I have invited her to house,

who

these two

I

or

my

expect will be here within three days,

together

with

Theagenes/' If

the

first

part of

Artesia's speech

brought doubts and fears to soul, the conclusion of it

was

Stelliana's

to

her like a

gentle gale of wind, that in a burning day

creepeth over sweet and flowery meads,

and breathes upon the languishing face of the faint traveller that is almost dead with heat.

It

was well that she had thus much

time before-hand to prepare herself to expect his coming; for

if

she had been sur-

prised with so joyful a sight,

it

had been

impossible for her to disguise her affections,

which mainly imported them both,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

66

and principally for Arete, that

there,

to be concealed

:

had long before perceived in her son to Stelliana, and

much

affection

being

now much

averse to

as well be-

it,

cause of some unkindnesses passed between

Nearchus and

might be a

her, as that it

disturbance to the other that she came about, and infinitely

desired;

did

with

watchful eyes, armed with longing, hatred,

and jealousy, continually observe all passages between her son and Stelliana so as ;

the two

first

days that they were together,

they could have no conveniency of free discourse

:

whilst their

fire

increasing

by

presence and each other's sight, the keeping of it in too narrow a room without any vent, almost smothered their hearts.

what

dull wit will not love refine,

tilize

with acutest inventions

?

But

and sub-

Much more

so docile a one as Theagenes's, whose breast

was now

become

love's

school, out of

which he might have read a learned lecture

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

And

to novice affections.

he,

6j

now burn-

ing with impatience, and fearing

lest, like

the loadstone, he should always point to his bright north star

to touch

without ever coming

he advised himself of a means

it,

to instruct Stelliana

how they might

have,

once before they parted, the liberty of breathing their souls' affections into one another; which was thus.

One day glove

fall,

ready in

as she

he took

his

had by accident it

let

her

up, and having a letter

hand, which he had written a day

and awaited an opportunity of delivering it, did thrust it into the glove, and before,

kissing

into

it

it,

gave her, who putting her hand

to pull

conceiving

it

;

felt

a paper there, which,

how it came

night, that she

ber

on,

and then

in,

she kept safe

retired into her

was

after she

was

in bed,

dismissed her servants, she read

till

cham-

and had

it

by the

help of the watch-light, which stood burning by her

:

and being thereby instructed i

2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

68

how

she should govern herself when the

occasion was presented to procure a

fit

and secure meeting, sleep stole upon her as she was entertaining her pleased thoughts with the hope of that blessed hour; which

happened to be the next day for Artesia and her son, and all the company that was :

at her house, were invited to hunt a stag in

the forest that was near adjoining in the

being

;

when

midst of the chase, and every

one attentive

to the sport, Stelliana, stay-

be among the hindmost, turned her horse down a ridins; o that led another ing

to

way than where which she did

in

the hounds had

gone,

such a manner, as those

were near her might conceive she

that

would have taken him up,

as being

weary

with a long chase, and not desirous to

low

it

farther,

but that he being hot and

impatient of the that

bit,

did perforce carry her

way when he was

other

;

fol-

diverted from the

[Here eight

lines are

PRIVATE -MEMOIRS.

6'9

being so far

obliterated.']

till

got from the rest of the

company ,"who

in

such a wild place could not find them out, they alighted and led their horses into a thicket,

grazed

where lying down whilst they

by them,

Stelliana,

opening her

coral lips which shewed, like the opening

of heaven

when

the

Lord of

it

sendeth

abroad some blessed angel to do a message of joy, began in this manner. "The confidence that I have of your respect,

dearest Theagenes, in thus exposing

honour into your hands,

is,

my my

without any

other, a sufficient testimony of the love I

bear you; yet because the remembrance

of past sorrows

is

the mother of present

I have joy, and that the relation of what V

suffered for to you,

your sake, for being constant

may make me

in

some measure

seem worthy of the return of your tion, I will, as briefly as I can,

sad story of the

affec-

run over the

widow hours

that

with

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

70

leaden feet have crept aver me, since I had the blessing of seeing you/' " You

would do too great a wrong,

fairest Stel-

" to liana," answered Theagenes,

my

clear

flame, if at least any injustice can proceed

from so divine a hand, in thinking that there were need of any other motive for

me

to love

and

you but

souls love

perfections,

for angels

yourself:

where they discover greatest

and

I

were too blind

not discern yours.

So that

if

I did

me, where

in

knowledge and understanding is the ground of a noble and spiritual love, other obligations are scarcely considerable

;

for that

knowledge and love have converted me into a part of you, and your goodness having united you to me,

you thanks

I

can no more

any merit towards me, than another man may thank himself for

give

for

doing himself a good turn

no action of yours can

upon

:

so that, in fine,

avail to gain

that affection which

is

more

already en-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. tirely

yours."

"I must

71

yield,"

replied

Stelliana, "in the manner of expression, to

you that have the advantages of wit and learning to clothe your conceptions in the gracefullest attire

;

but in reality of love I

never yield to you

will

;

for I take Hjeaven

to witness, I have tasted of

long

night

of

np joy in this but what the

absence,

thoughts of you have brought

have ever resolved no longer to

me live

than I

have had hope to enjoy your love/' think

not," answered

when

the heart speaks

and

;

"Oh,

" that Theagenes,

upon

so serious

and

high a theme, wit o? study can have any share in the contexture of what one saith

;

lovers can speak as effectually in silence, as

by the help of weak words, which are

but the overflowings of a passionate heart ; for

intellectual

substances

themselves by their wills entirely

drowned

;

communicate and mine

in yours, that it

not but as you guide

it.

is

so

moveth

Yet dare

I

not

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

?

to contend with

I

know

you who loveth most you surpass me

that as

cellent faculties of a

do

worthy

in the perfection of love

think I have I love

that

much

well as

stretch all the powers of

my

for

in all

ex-

soul, so

you

yet in this I

the advantage of you,

as

you

;

;

my

can, and

I

soul to bring

love to the highest pitch that I may,

since

it

hath a worthier object than

raise itself unto

you not

;

it

can

whereas, on the other side,

finding in

much

me

worth enough to

you could bestow, must go with reservation and thus I, by soaring up to perfections above me, do take up as

as

;

daily refine myself, whilst let

yourself down, unless

contemplations,

you are fain to it be when your the

rolling like

heavens

about their own centre, do make yourself their object/'

"

"Fie,

fie/' said

stop that mouth, which were

but whose

it is,

I

would

call it

it

Stelliana,

any other

a sacrilegious

mouth, that thus blasphemeth against the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. saint

And

that I adore/'

73

then went on i??

with the story of her passed troubles for

Theagenes; who, when she had ended, quited

her with his;

the

conclusion

re-

of

which being the earnest and daily solicitation that his mother used to him to match himself with Artesia's grandchild, he told her

how hitherto he had with any direct

refusal,

delays, never using

which might exasperate

her, prevented her rigorous pressing it;

and that he had

him

to

also contrived to secure

himself for the future, in this manner.

and

upon whose opinions Arete much relied, he had ob-

By

tained

himself

her

parts for

leave

to

others,

travel

into

foreign

two or three years, that course

being usually followed in the education of the youth

of quality and

eminency

in

Morea, that by so conversing with several nations, and observing the natures and manners of men, they might enable themselves with good precepts, drawn from ex-

1*0

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

74

and by variety of observations upon sundry and new emergent occasions, perience,

learn to banish admiration,

which

for the

most part accompanieth homebred minds, and is the daughter of ignorance " Of :

which

fair pretences," said

make my

will

Theagenes,

"I

benefit to get myself free out

of these dangers, and then I

will stay so

long abroad until riper years

may

challenge the shall I

now

disposal

come home

hold

my

free

in

of myself:

from those

me

then

fears that

soul in continual anguish;

and enjoying your favour, shall in one short hour recompense all the torments that I have already suffered, and

my

then

which happiconstancy be by heaven duly

shall suffer, for

ness, if

till

your sake

;

rewarded, must outlast an age.

But oh/'

continued he with a deep sigh, "something within

me

me

whispers to

take heed

how

my soul

I build the

future joy and bliss

and biddeth hopes of my

upon the continuance

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

?O

of a woman's affection during a long absence."

"

" some

It is," replied Stelliana,

wicked fiend sent from the envious enemy of mankind, that would kindle the tor-

menting

fire

of jealousy within your heart,

you speak of do breathe there; therefore confidently pluck him

if

any such

fear as

out from thence, for that sun that

is

now

declining to the west shall alter his course,

and

his

beams, which are now the authors of

life

and

rise

where soon he

and vegetation, destruction

my

will set,

shall dart cold poison

upon the world, before

and

I suffer

clear flame to burn dim, or the heat

that

is

my

in

breast to

can ascertain

grow

faint; but

me that

who,

alas

lights

which you are going unto, and the

!

the de-

variety of great actions which will daily

take up your thoughts, and the rare beauty of

accomplished

which you

shall see,

you forget your

and

may

love,

ingenious

ladies

not in time

make

your

faith, to

a poor

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

76

maid that hath nothing but her

infinite love to

to plead for her,

you

with the last

:"

of which words, her declining

some drops of

lids

did let

upon her modest crimson cheeks, which shewed like fall

the morning

crystal

dew upon a bed

of roses that

weep because the sun maketh no more haste to display their beauty which seem

to

;

Theagenes drying with his lips, was some time before he could frame this answer. " Dearest

lady and

mistress,

from

the

knowledge of yourself you may have entire certainty of my love and faith ; for since the world hath nothing

perfection

than

you

are,

doubt that the sight of a

of greater

you need not

fairer object

can

ever dispossess you of your right: besides, the consideration of the nature of love

may

quiet those thoughts, for

it

uniteth

and transformeth the lover into the object beloved

;

it is

a free gift of the will of the

lover to the person beloved,

making her

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. the

mistress,

and

77

her

giving

absolute

power of it and the will having command and sovereignty over all other faculties ;

and parts of a man, with

it;

one,

all

them along being drowned

carrieth

so that his will

and converting doth

it

into hers, the like

itself

and thus they become

the rest,

by the transmutation of the lover into

the person beloved

;

which action not be-

ing through natural constraint, nor violent

and painful, but delightful,

situdes to'

it is

and voluntary, and

free

neither subject to the vicis-

and changes of natural

be interrupted

or

things, nor

destroyed

by

any

other means, but by the same will that first

freely

gave

it,

which

yours as long as you

in

me

it

or wear

it

now

and keep nothing can

will foster it

the knot fast on your side, untie

being

out

:

therefore continue

but what you are in respect of your love to

me, and neither time, nor distance, nor

other beauties, nor

all

the conspiracies of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS

78 hell

can

which

make me and

is,

other than what I

am

:

most glory

in that title I

myself, your devoted slave."

With

these

of

courses

and

like

other

pleasing

two happy

the

nature,

dis-

lovers passed

that afternoon,

ting sun going

down

till

the set-

in a cloud, seemed, as

being careful in their behalfs, to be angry at their so long stay there

ing the rest of their

;

which, by leavall

company

that while,

might give new grounds of jealousies to them that might think absence had worn out

all

the print of their

ture love

young and imma-

as indeed it did

:

they had framed a their being

away

fair

as the

;

excuse to colour

....

[Four

lines

she was so

are here obliterated.'] far gone,

for although

and Theagenes,

in

humanity

to

help her, beyond their knowledge in the wild forest that they wandered

down

by chance they that put them in a right

as in a labyrinth,

met a keeper

up and

till

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. path

;

79

yet Arete would not be persuaded

but that

it

might be some sparks of former

love were yet

alive

in her son's breast,

which by keeping him near the original flame might soon cause a her to put out.

Therefore,

was slow, she now used she could to

hasten

too great for

fire

all

if

before she

the diligence

her son's intended

journey to Athens, whither he was go, to spend

some time

first

to

in study in that

university; and discovering her jealousy to Artesia,

enough she

who

of her

own nature was apt

to receive them,

demeaned

was a means that

herself with such coldness

from thenceforward towards Stelliana, that she,

conjecturing the

cause

of

it,

did

shortly take a fair occasion of leaving her,

made

her a noble present of a

jewel that would

manifoldly countervail

having

her

first

expenses in entertaining

her

;

and

from thence went to Corinth where she

might hope best to receive news of her

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

80

Theagenes, and to have means to convey hers unto him.

Their stars were so favourable to them ,as

to permit

them

to

have there one

in-

terview before the departure of Theagenes ;

when they both renewed the protestations of their affections and vows of constancy ; and Theagenes presented her with a diamond ring which he used to wear, entreating her, whensoever she did cast her eyes

upon

it,

to conceive that

it

told her in his

would prove as hard the admittance of any new

behalf, that his heart as that stone in affection

;

and that

his to her should

be

end as that circular figure was; and she desired him to wear for her sake as void of

a lock of her hair which she gave him

;

the

splendour of which can be expressed by no earthly thing, but

it

seemed

as

though a

stream of the sun's beams had been gathered together and converted into a solid

substance.

With

this precious relic

about

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. his

arm, whose least hair was

81

sufficient to

bonds of love the greatest heart that ever was informed with life. Theagenes tie in

took his journey into Attica, and spent

some time

in Athens,

till

the heat of the

year coming on, and the plague raging in that populous city, so that

had any

none

left it,

called

city

in all that

of air,

those that

possibility of subsistence in an-

other place, little

all

he retired himself to a

Marathon,

inferior

to

country for wholesomeness

beauty of buildings, pleasure of

situation,

abundance of provisions, and

courtesy of persons of quality that inhabit there.

He had

not been long here, en-

joying the greatest content that any place could afford him where Stelliana was not present, but the warlike sound of horrid

arms, of

neighing horses,

trumpets,

proclaiming

civil

and

of loud

dissensions,

were heard there to fright away the sweet tranquillity

which reigned in

G

this

till

then

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

82

the occasion whereof will

happy place:

not be displeasing to relate from the

first

beginnings.

The King of Attica being active spirits, in wars, in

and from

a prince of

his cradle trained

which he was so fortunate that

he had thereby confirmed himself in his kingdom, which had first long wrestled with him, being weary of a long and dull peace,

had

raised

a

formidable army,

which being every way complete in other preparations

and of most

terror,

commanded

it;

all

belonging thereunto,

because of himself that

so great

was

his reputa-

Greece and the neighbour world trembled with the expectation where that tion.

cloud would disburden

itself,

made none acquainted with when,

in the

for

he had

his intentions

midst of his great thoughts,

which certainly balanced empires, and

at-

tended by his principal nobility, a poo

mean

:

vassal of his,

r

whose name had never

PRIVATE MEMOIRS*

83

been charactered in ink but for

this fact,

so inglorious he was, delivered the world

of

by thrusting a dagger into the King's heart, as he was going in glory to

many

fears,

take a view of his army, and to crown his wife queen with

wonted ceremony

in-

;

tending to leave her regent in his absence.

Thus

all

these vast preparations vanished,

and served

for nothing

lively colours the frailty

but to express in of

human

designs.

His son was immediately proclaimed and

crowned king, but being under age, the power and management of affairs remained with his mother, who, being a

woman

of

judgment and strong parts, carried business with a high hand ; which she

great

did the rather, because some of the princes of Attica, being of turbulent spirits, seemed to

disdain

her

sex

and the

rule

of a

stranger, she being daughter to the prince

of Ephesus.

And

having none there that

she might repose confidence G 2

in,

she cast

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

84

the beams of her favour

of her country

upon a gentleman

whom, from a younger

;

brother of an obscure family, she soon raised to the highest degrees

that a subject can attain unto. like

one whose

of honour

But

eyes were dazzled

he,

and

brain failed by being set in too high a place, forgot his

first

beginnings, and grew

so insolent that the peers of Attica could

not brook his greatness

;

and envy being

an inseparable companion to the fortune of a favourite, it was more than whispered abroad that he intended to possess himself of that kingdom, and that the queen entertained tisfy

him

in her favour chiefly to sa-

her loose and unchaste desires;

to

which the great and untimely familiarity that she used with him, and the comely

body seemed to give Whereupon some of the principal

composure of credit.

his

of the nobility possessed the King with fears of his

own

safety,

and a deep appre-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

85

nension of his mother's dishonour, which reflected

Queen and nothing doubted the imma-

upon him

her favourite

turity of his years

;

while the

and the slowness of

his

nature to be any interruption to their de-

But overmuch

signs.

security

was

their

by that means he got the marquis into his power, and then by per-

overthrow

;

for

forming an action of

much

resolution, he

gave testimony how slow natures, when they are once thoroughly warmed, retain that heat with

caused the

much constancy

;

for

he

marquis to be slain without

any form of process, and confined his mother to a little town two or three days' journey

from

the court, with a strong

guard upon her.

do

in

But what cannot fury

a woman's breast? for she, being im-

patient at her imprisonment, at the loss

of her friend, at the stain of her honour,

and at her sequestration from the government, found soon a means to gain her

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

86

by the assistance of one of the princes of that country, that had been very faithful to her husband, and was of liberty,

great power and in high reputation for a

Being at

soldier.

treaties

liberty,

after

many

of accommodation, which in the

end proved of

little effect,

she retired her-

Marathon, where she was confident

self to

of a strong party, intending there to raise

which she gave out were to remove some evil counsellors that were about the

forces,

King her son

:

for pretences of justice

and

any undernever so undue, wicked, and

holiness are never wanting to

taking, be unjust.

it

Her hopes here

failed not; for in

a small time, she had got together such an

army, as was deemed not only resist

sufficient to

any violence the King could

use,

but offeree enough, without the other succours which were daily expected, to set

upon him and work her own conditions

:

yet the advice of the ancient soldiers pre-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

87

which was, to expect the coming

vailed,

of the other troops, that they might jointly go with an united and solid strength to prosecute their designs

:

while in the

time the King, on his part, used that might be to

diligence

mean

all

the

levy forces.

But the Queen and her party conceived his difficulties to be so great in that, and themselves so secure in that place, which

was compassed sible

when

in with rivers,

and inacces-

the bridges were broken

down,

and the passages guarded, that they expected nothing

King

less

than the arrival of the

so that while she was to stay here

:

in expectance of her other troops, she en-

tertained

musics,

herself with

and

such

might make time

other

slide

feasts,

as

recreations

more

pleasingly

by

[Here a portion of the Manu-

her script

masques,

is

coming one masque-night with the

Theagenes,

obliterated.]

company

to

the court

that importuned

him

88

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

go along with them, was by one of the ladies, that had known him at Athens, to

taken out to dance; in which he behaved himself in such sort, that whether

it

were

the gracefulness of his gesture, wherein the commendations of art was the least

thing he aimed

at,

or that the heavens

had

ordained he should be the punisher of the

Queen's affections, she

felt at

the

first,

sight

of him a secret love, which soon grew so violent that

greatness,

it

made

her forget her

own

and compelled Theagenes, in

order to preserve his constancy for Stelliana, to quit the court;

and he caused

it

to be reported that he was murdered in the

tumult which arose in consequence of the

Queen having disbanded

her forces,

upon

King her son, of Marathon. Soon after, he

her reconciliation with the after the battle

transported himself over the sea into Ionia,

intending to spend some time in that pleasant climate, where the sun seemed to cast

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

89

more propitious beams than upon any other place

for in fruitfulness of the soil

;

it

may

well be termed the garden of the world

and the

cities

of

it,

which are many, being

every one under a several lord, the tories of

them are

;

so small,

terri-

and the means

of extending themselves, by doing great actions

abroad, so

little,

that those

who

have noble minds must apply themselves to

contemplative and academic studies,

wherein their

spirits

working upon them-

selves, they are so refined, that for

matters

and gentleness, these parts

of wit,

civility,

may be

the level for the rest of the world

to

aim

>

at.

Here Theagenes resolved to detain himself some time, as well to give himself the content of noble and learned conversation, as also to practise such exercises as befit a

gentleman to have learned, and are the worthiest ornaments of a

mind

well fraught

with interior notions, to attain

to

per-

90

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

fection, in

which here

Among

niency.

Ephesus for his at his

all

complete convethese towns, he chose

settled

first arrival,

is

abode; from whence,

he wrote

letters to Stel-

and

liana to advertise her of his health,

to

prevent the rumour of his death, which,

come

happily, might

But

to her ears.

long and dear experience teacheth us that, in this transitory

life,

foldly exceed the

good

lar, it

did

:

the bad doth mani;

as, in this

particu-

for those letters miscarried,

the false news of his death was borne

and

upon

the wings of fame with such speed, that, in

a very few days after the loss of the battle at Marathon,

where

it

it

was known at Corinth,

found Stelliana labouring with

an impatient desire of hearing of him who

was the only object of her loving thoughts. It

is

too high a task for

my

rude pen to

draw any counterfeit of the deep sorrow which then took possession of her heart ; which was of such a heavy nature,

that, at

*

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. the

first, it

dull

locked up

lethargy

her senses as in a

so that, with too deep a

became

sense, she after

;

all

91

insensible of grief; but

a while, when she seemed to waken

out of a dream by the heart's dispersing

abroad of the

spirits to

gers of this doleful

be the sad messen-

news to the other

culties of the soul, that

their part in

fa-

they might bear

due mourning, then did her

tongue frame such lamentable complaints, as, to

have heard them, would have con-

verted the most savage heart into a flood

of tears; and yet sorrow sate so sweetly

enthroned within her mournful eyes, as

would have made the

lightest heart in love

with those blessed tears, that seemed like the morning dews sprinkled face.

" Alas !" would she " say, wherein have

I offended

rob

upon Aurora's

me

Death that he thus

of

thy stroke

my is

cruelly should

dearest jewel

?

yet, since

never to be recalled, 1 will

pardon thee, and, henceforward

call thee

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

92

courteous, if thou wilt level at

leaden dart, that so I

from

all

me

thy

may be exempted

the miseries of this

remain to me, and follow

life

which

joys that are

my

gone before me into the other world but, it seemeth my love was weak, that oh :

!

cannot

call

sorrow enough to break that

heart which ought to have lived only in

Theagenes.

cannot do

However, it,

if

my

love and sorrow

nor death

will

come

at a

wretch's call, fury and despair shall bring

my

cursed

hand only, burning

life

so often

;

made happy

kisses, deserveth to

ment of such a

me

end

to a wished

and

this

with his

be the instru-

glorious act, as will bring

to the

where

it

enjoyment of my soul's delight, will be out of the power of fortune

to cross or disturb

my

joys.

There

shall

our happy spirits wander in the Elysian fields,

holy

and be united together with the

fire

of divine love in that immense

and glorious flaming

light,

which compre-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. hendeth

do

my

all

But, ah

things.

me, whither

!

me

wandering fancies carry

night of error? I know, alas

93

!

into a

know

I

too

well, that the gates

which lead souls into

the region of

are shut against

bliss,

that lay violent hands

and good reason tormented self-love,

it

is

upon themselves

;

that they should be

in eternal darkness,

give

them

who, through

up without order

or leave

the custody of that fort, which

God and

nature put them in to maintain

and look-

:

ing with the light of truth and not of passion,

me

what

is it

but self-love that maketh

thus wish to die?

He

that I lament,

doubtless enthroned in happiness

the blessed angels that in this

sembled, and

him.

is

life

labouring to get

Shall I then, with

immature

is

among he

re-

me

to

haste,

overthrow those joys which I have reason

hope for? No, no; wretched heart, live on till he call thee to a better state, and in to

the

mean time

my

life shall

be a continual

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

94

martyrdom, which, refine

such defects as are natural in me, and

make me worthy sure,

may purge and

I hope,

he

will

of that seat, which, I

am

provide for me."

With such

incessant lamentations, pro-

ceeding from a deeply wounded soul, she spent

many days without any diminution

of sorrow; and, pretending indisposition of health, admitted the

visits

of none but

Mardontius, who, as you have heard, saved her from certain death, when she lay at the mercy of the merciless wolf; at the first sight of her,

who

then,

drank into

his

bowels the secret flames of a deep affection, which, from that very instant, increased

upon him and grew

so violent, that he

could not rest for thinking of her; and,

making men industrious, he had immediate notice when she went from Arte-

love

sia's

house to Corinth, whither, with

all

speed, he followed her, and applied himself to

her service with

all

the

affectionate

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

95

demonstrations of extreme love, that a

wounded, could ex-

young

heart, deeply

press

and had given her some knowledge

;

of the

much that,

for her sake,

he endured,

and would have proceeded farther

in the

begging of her favour, but that, in the very beginning of his passionate discourse, she interrupted him, and told him that,

if

he did ever again use that language to her, she should estrange herself from his sight

and

friendship, to the which, if

he gave

not occasion of the contrary, she held herself in gratitude obliged, as

unto him

:

life

and, therefore, ever since that

time, she had allotted

him

esteem and good-will as a to a brother tion,

owing her

;

so

much

sister

of her

may

but that, for matter of

he should never hope

bear

affec-

for any, she

not

being ashamed to confess ingenuously that it

was wholly and only vowed to Theagenes. Wherefore Mardontius, that had been

long enough trained to the world to

know

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

96

that women's passions are not perpetual,

but that by

much

are, so

how much more less

violent they

durance they use to have,

gave over those solicitations which he yet saw unseasonable, and would not venture the loss of

all

sudden a gain of

by all

striving ;

make

to

too

but, for the present,

contented himself with that part which

he had in her good esteem, hoping that time, and the absence of Theagenes, and

many vert

other accidents, might one day con-

it

into affection; while he remained

vigilant to ties

make

use of

all

such opportuni-

of endearing himself to her as fortune,

or the revolution of

woman's constancy,

And

thus,

by pretending a respective and not

affec-

might give him overtures

of.

tionate love ever after his check from her,

he had insinuated himself so far into her

good

liking, that, afterward,

when she

re-

ceived the news of Theagenes's death, and that the stormy violence of the

first

im-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. of grief was a

pression

little

97 over,

she

admitted him sometimes into her company,

when

other was troublesome and hateful

all

He

to her.

then, like one cunning in the

nature and qualities of passions, would not bluntly oppose her sorrow,

knowing that

such contrasting doth rather farther engage

and heat one it;

in

it,

than any ways diminish

nor yet go about unseasonably to carry

her thoughts, by persuasion or mentioning

them, to contrary objects, as of content

and pleasure that

is

:

but as a faithful physician

not able to purge away some bad

humour

that, in

some particular cines as so

may

carry

it

an infirm body, oppressed part, doth use such

mingle themselves with gently

member, even

to

first

a part with her in her grief, so

much

credit with her,

it,

and

some other

serve

so did he

medi-

seem

till

to bear

he had got

and insensibly

won such an

inclination in her to like of

what he

and did,

said

u

that, at length, she

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

98 left

her solitary lamenting by herself, and

took some contentment in condoling with

him her misfortune; and

then, by following

begun practice of consolation by diversion, he wrought her so iruch from diligently his

the sharpness of her grief, that she took delight in his

company

and thus he took

;

the advantage of her sorrow, which had

made

her heart tender and apt to receive a

deeper impression of liking and good-will towards him than before which she denied ;

noi; to

him, assuring him that, of

all

men

then living, she did, and had most reason to respect sired

him

him most

;

with which she de-

to content himself,

no farther from

and

to seek

her, for that, ever since

Theagenes's death, her heart was also dead to

all

passionate affections.

But, in the mean

time, that monster

which was begot of some

fiend in hell,

and

feedeth itself upon the infected breaths of the base multitude,

Fame

!

made

a false

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

99

construction of her actions, and did spread

abroad a scandalous rumour of the familiarity

Mardontius with her

of

which,

;

perad venture, he also increased by speaking more lavishly of her favours than he

had a

real

for

ground

;

thinking to do

himself honour, by making the world believe

him

grossed

be dear to her that had en-

to to

herself

the whole

heaven of

beauty, and was, accordingly, adored by all

those that had any spark of gentleness

or nobleness in their hearts; which rumour

being once on foot,

it

was too

late for her,

that was so young, so beautiful,

and at

liberty in the world, to suppress sisting of a fantastic aerial

con-

it,

body that ad-

mitteth no hold to be taken of

it,

nor can

be traced to the ground or author thereof; but, having

subsisteth

once gotten upon

by

its

own

weak

men

have,

are not able to give

H 2

wings,

lightness in

understandings, as the vulgar of

who

its

any reason

for

100

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

what they

believe.

will

not spare innocence

liana her prey,

and

This fury then, that

free

greatest

itself,

made

whose soul was

from spot as virtue

is

;

Stel-

as white

so that the

enemy she had, speaking most

sharply to her disadvantage, and truly,

could but have said, that

if

her sorrow for

Theagenes were grown more temperate than at the first, it was only because that it

exceeded the bounds of what

less

hearts could think,

and

greater than was

for a rational

fit

still

noble

remained

far

and well

tempered mind, that ought to have her will and desires resigned to the will and ordi-

nance of the superior power; and had, the bitterness of

it,

made

her so

in

much

wonted discretion, as through too much indulgency to admit Mardonforget her

tius,

who seemed

to

applaud her in

it,

to a

nearer familiarity than, in terms or rigour,

was

fit

for her, or than her affection did

really call

him unto.

But she was

so deeply

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

101

engaged in this inconvenience before she was aware, that Mardontius then with

much

eagerness pressed to draw her from

her former resolution of solitariness, not

doubting now or fearing the

effects

of her

wonted frowns and rigour, when he intimated any such desire of his and withal, ;

the nearest of her friends that had a quick sense of her good, importuned her therein as

much

was

as he could

do

in secular respects

;

both because

it

such a fortune to

her, as she

had no reason to refuse ; bat

most of

they represented to her, that

all

she had inconsiderately brought herself so

much upon

the stage, and submitted her-

self to the world's

censure for Mardontius's

sake, that she could not

now

him without much dishonour consideration weighed so

above

all

others, that

his merits,

retire

from

which

last

much with

her

:

what neither love nor

nor no other motive could, the

sense of her honour, which she

deemed

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

102

much

dearer than her

Jif'e,

won her unto

:

so that after a year's, and more, lamenting

of her lost Theagenes, she gave a cold and half constrained consent to condescend to

Mardontius's suit

;

who then immediately

took care to provide, with

and magnificence, give

an

nuptials

honourable ;

things necessary to

solemnity

her, leave to

their

have her

drawn by an excellent workman

which, afterward, he used glorious

to

having in the mean time begged

and obtained from picture

all

much splendour

to

;

shew as a

trophy of her conquered affec-

tions.

All this while Theagenes,

who had

writ-

ten several letters to the goddess of his

devotions, the

and the

rest

first

of which miscarried,

were industriously intercepted

and suppressed by

his

mother,

who was

jealous of his affection, wondered that he

had no return of any of them ; so that his doubtful fears, and yet he knew not what

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. to

doubt or

fear,

103

plunged him into a deep

melancholy, from which he daily, upon

sundry occasions, interpreted to himself

many sad

presages of near ensuing disasters. at

When, news of

length,

Stelliana's

the

heart-breaking

approaching marriage

with Mardontius, was brought to him by a

gentleman that was lately come from Corinth to Ephesus, intending to spend

some

time there upon the same occasion that

Theagenes did

who, taking

;

upon public fame, delivered circumstances, as went much

it

it

up but

with such

to the preju-

dice of her honour.

Theagenes then quite forgot the noble temper of his mind, which being by nature composed of an excellent

mixture, and,

besides,

with continual precepts, did

of fortune

;

study

richly

cultivated

and philosophical

formerly stand in defiance

but

now he was

so overborne

with passion, that he might serve for a clear

example

to

all

who may promise

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

104

most of themselves, that none can be completely perfect in

this life,

so

nor armed

against the assaults of passions, but that

some one way or other there is an entrance unto him left unguarded, whereby he may be humbled and put

in

cost, of the frailty of

human

his soul

mind, at

all

For

nature.

was so overburdened with

that his reason, and

own

his

that he

grief,

knew and

could advise to others upon like occasions, availed

him nothing

in his

own

behalf; but,

sinking under that insupportable weight,

became equal with the lowest and meanest natures; but he differed from them

he

much

in the

manner of expressing

it,

for,

whereas they for the most part yield to tenderness, and

bemoan

themselves, taking

their disasters unkindly at fortune's

he, as soon as his shrunk heart dilate itself,

hands

began

;

to

broke out into a torrent of

fury, cursing all

womankind

for Stelliana's

sake; and was so possessed with anger and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

105

had been

disdain, that, if nature

in

his

power, he would have turned the world "

Oh " of men

again into a dark chaos. condition," did he say,

miserable

!

that must,

through the unjust laws of nature, take half their being from this for

how can

I style it other,

whose sake alone

me

soul? fair

was

when

!

she, for

in charity with the

own honour, and better than my own

proveth false to her

rest,

to

I

unworthy sex

that loved her

stars!

Injurious

why gave you

and beautiful an outside

to so foul

And what

deformed a mind?

and

secret sin

have I committed so great, that

made

so

I

must be

the idolater of such a dire portent?

Is it that as

death and misery

came upon

mankind by the seducement of one woman, so new ruins must, by

the generality of

another, raise

fall

upon me, because

myself out of

hard condition? resolutions

now

I strive to

this original

What do

avail

me,

all

and

fatal

all

my

my

studies to

pious

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

106

draw

me

out

of the mist of ignorance

me

wherein I was born, and to arm the frailty of

human

against

nature, since at once

a woman's inconstancy hath overthrown, and, like a ravenous

fire,

consumed

all

those seeds of good that began to grow

me? Oh weak aims and fond ambi-

within tion of

men, that so wretched a

convert into smoke passion carry

my

standing? for I

!

blast

can

But whither doth

my

words cross to

know

this

my under-

can and hath,

with me, performed more than

all

the pre-

cepts of divinity and philosophy could this

;

hath framed a settled mind in me, of

an excellent temper, that neither desireth nor feareth any thing, which they but coldly aim at.

Now

all

things and

all for-

tunes are alike to me, for I wish not for

good nor

fear bad, since she, for

whose

sake I should do either, deserveth

nothing but dire execrations from flicted

and

restless soul

;

now

my

which yet

af-

my

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

10?

melting heart, whensoever I think on her,

me

will

not permit

my

just curses

:

to utter, but smothereth

yet,

much

thus

I

will

swear, and call heaven to witness, that, for

the future, I will have irreconcilable wars

with that

sex

perfidious

and so blaze

;

through the world their un worthiness and falsehood, that I to sue to

men

hope

their turn will

for their love, and, being

And

denied, despair and die.

dear pledge of

but

now

come

my

thou, once

lady's virgin affections,

the magical

filtre

of her enchant-

ing and siren-like beauty, thou canst witness I

how

I have,

day and night, ever since

wore thee, sighed her name

forerunner into the

fire,

like

fernal furies, of

whom

begged,

and

that

turneth into ashes,

a

be

now

her

that will one day

torment her traitorous soul

consumest there

;

;

and

as thou

sacrifice to the in-

only vengeance

thy

may

grosser

is

element

thy lighter and

airy parts mingle itself with the wind,

and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

108 tell

from me, that when

her,

rage

and

despair have severed

my

my

ghostly shadow shall

cold limbs,

my

injured soul from

be every where present to her, and so her guilty conscience,

affright

that

she

shall

gladly run to death to shelter her

from

my

greater plaguing her."

he spoke these

arm the

last

bracelet of her hair, which she

relic

his

as

words, he tore from his

given him, and threw

was in

And,

chamber

;

it

into the

when

fire

it

that

that glorious

burning, shewed, by the blue and

colour of the flame, that

had

wan

had sense, and

took his words unkindly in her

But sorrow and anger had

so

behalf.

consumed

he could no longer frame voice into an articulate sound, but,

his spirits, that his

casting himself

upon

his bed, sighed

out

the deep anguishes of his tormented soul all

that day and night,

and the next.

Oh

!

what would have become of StellianaY tenderer heart,

if

she should have

then

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

known

109

what plight he remained, and to what extremities he was brought for her in

sake? Certainly death would have taken

up the room both of love to him, and of shame for her unfortunate error. But the whose judgments are inscruhad ordained a happier end to these

just heaven, table,

noble lovers; and as effect

it

useth oftentimes to

the greatest actions

by the most

made

her consent to

unlikely means, so

it

marry Mardontius to be the dissolving

it.

first

cause of

For he being a young

of an unstayed

spirit,

though

could disguise that and

his

many

man

much

wit

other of his

and entertaining love no

imperfections,

farther than into his eyes, the eagerness of his suit to her

supposed

proceeded much from the

difficulty of the task to gain her

consent, and win her from her former affections

;

which, when he had done, he

soon grew cold in prosecuting

utmost

and

ceremonious

it

to the

performance

;

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

110

and being then some time absent

own house

in the country, to

at his

prepare

it,

as

he pretended, to receive her according to her worth, his eyes were, during that absence, inveigled with a his

heart

rural beauty,

most

delighting

whose favour he

new

solicited

in

change,

much

with as

fervour as ever he had done his late mistress's.

a

Which, when

Stelliana heard of,

generous disdain enflamed her heart,

which made her despise Mardontius, and resolve to sequester herself from the con-

versation of

men;

since him,

whom

she loved with affection, was taken

from her by the cruel

fates,

and he,

only

away

whom

she had forced herself to like for other

had taken himself from her by own unworthiness from which reso-

respects, his

:

no persuasion of her friends, nor humble and self-accusing repentance lution of hers,

of Mardontius, could draw her. then, being

For he

wakened out of his fond dream

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

Ill

of a second love by her just scorn, did himself in

apply

manner

the

most affectionate

that he could to regain her favour,

not omitting any industry that might con-

duce thereunto

wherein he gave a

:

full

testimony, that in sensual minds love

armed, and, culties

when his

;

it

as

it

were, spurred on by

;

diffi-

and groweth flat and languisheth walketh in an easy path. But all

endeavours proved vain in

suit

is

second

this

so that Stelliana not only withdrew

her good liking from him as a person un-

worthy of it, but armed herself with hatred against him, and answered all his visits

and

and courtesies with harsh

affronts

when he saw no other hope

or remedy, he

was glad time and

;

and leave

to intermit them,

to

his better fortune hereafter, to

mollify her heart, that was

now so inflexibly

hard towards him.

Having spun thus much of it is

time for

me now to take

a

this history, little

breath

;

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

112

and the rather, because that part of

it

I

am now come

to

that requireth freshest spirits

and best attention

to set

it

down

;

for

from

henceforward the fortunes of Theagenes

mingled themselves with, and had a part in the actions of great princes, and, but that they were guided

by a

secret working

of Divine Providence, did run in such a

way, as none could have expected that they would have had such a period of happiness as/at length, they attained unto:

which, by the following discourse, you will understand.

The King in years,

of

Morea being now

stricken

and having but one only son, was

moved by the nobles of the state to dispose of him in marriage in some fitting

daily

that if heaven blessed

him with

issue in his father's life-time, the

kingdom's

place;

quiet,

which had

:

dangerous

might hang by more than one to which advice the old king had

revolutions,

thread

lately passed

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

113

formerly been adverse, and by some that

knew

was imputed to

his nature it

'

[Two

lines

.....

obliterated.]

.

.

.

.

.....

should by

much

strength as

gain himself so

might curb him. But now the long experience that he had of the sweetness of his son's nature,

made him void

of suspicions

or apprehensions on that side

and the

;

great propagation of a sect of religion in his state, that affected popularity

munity, and were enemies to

and com-

all

govern-

ment and magistrates, made him doubt that, in time, it might grow dangerous and hard to suppress; therefore he, that was ever an

enemy

to proceedings of rigour

and open violence, and was an excellent master in

all sorts

to balance

the best

way

another

religion

that,

of subtilty, thought it

directly

which was indeed

stretching

to

the

utmost

it

by introducing opposite

nothing

unto but a

extremity, by

turbulent brains that affected singularity, 1

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

114

moderate tenets which

those

state professed,

the whole

when they severed them-

from the general society of belief which was formerly uniform through all

selves

Greece, and a great part of Asia and of Africa

;

and did afford

to captious persons

cause of cavil rather at the professors than the doctrine

;

which separation was em-

braced only by the provinces subject to the crown of Morea, and by the Ionian Islands,

and some others

in

the Archipe-

lago; and that rather for temporal respects,

than any great zeal in religion, although pretence did

that fair

colour the inno-

vations in their long received faith.

But

now

im-

those

respects

which weighed

portantly in this king's predecessor ceased

with him truth,

;

so that, either through love of

which he, being very learned, could

not but apprehend rightly, or fear of the

dangerous tenets of the increasing

sect, or

a desire not to be barred from the society

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

115

and communion of other princes, without which, he saw it was impossible for him or his successors

to

perform great and glo-

rious actions, as his ancestors

had done,

his

heart was vehemently bent to unite his

people

with

the

rest

of the

adjoining

princes in the firm knot of consciences, faith.

Which

yet he saw was not expe-

him to do by any direct means, therefore he deemed it his best to oblige dient for

the

King of Egypt

to him,

by the marriage

of his son to that king's daughter thus

:

hoping

insensibly to bring in

the general

opinion, and to overrun the

new ones by

that

match

;

the

King of Egypt being the

principal and most powerful maintainer of that side.

To which

negociation he chose

Aristobulus, a near kinsman of Theagenes,

who, in the reputation of solid wisdom and rigid honesty,

advanced

all

blemen that were of council

the other noto

him

;

and

from a younger brother, that had but a i

2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

116

small estate

left

him, though he were of a

noble house, had, by his raised himself

and

:

industry,

his fortunes to as

pitch as a subject

narchy

own

may aim unto

and that not by a

servile

in

high a

a mo-

manner,

or by multitude of offices, or by the direct

favour of his prince; but having, at the first,

which was

found means

to

his

greatest

difficulty,

make known

his

intel-

lectual abilities of serving his master, he

ever after, in a generous manner, raised

himself by degrees, and his

own

made

virtue, so that all

his

men

way with

concurred

in saying, that his preferments were

condign rewards scendant merits.

and

in justice

He

due to

but

his tran-

then, having public

secret instructions from the

King of

Morea, had been in Egypt, and in effect concluded the match between the two kings' children,

when the unexpected death

of the Egyptian king disordered all the former treaties, so that some time was lost

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. in

renewing of them

;

J

17

and he sent again

to

Alexandria to the young king, the lady's brother, to

have him confirm what

his

upon which employment he was, when the fame of Theagenes's hopefulness was spread from Ionia father consented unto

to

:

Egypt, between which two countries

there was continual

and

settled intercourse,

who had, with many

so that Aristobulus,

others of his friends, lamented his death,

much

;

and wisely

up of virtuous exercises of the mind

considering that as

youth

news

rejoiced in that

in

and body

is

at the

the

first

training

mainly necessary,

so to continue too long in such a school

a frustrating of the intent of that time which should be

it,

and

employed

loss

is

of

in the

practice of such acquired knowledge and

cunning

;

he therefore sent on purpose into

Ionia to invite him to

come

to

him

to

Alexandria, where he had plentiful means to put

him

in a

way of

benefiting himself,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

118

and making himself known in great actions and withal would not be a little glad to ;

have near him, one upon whose love and faith

rely

;

and resolution he might for

honour as

it

in

so firmly

marching in a path of a way by himself, which he did,

by

his

were, by main force

hew out of the

rock of virtue, and, being contrary to the current of those depraved times, he had

acquired himself

many and powerful

ene-

mies.

Theagenes receiving this friendly invitation, and all places being now indifferent unto him, for he received joy in

nothing, since she, in it,

whom

he had placed

was become the cause of

grief,

his sharpest

he did soon condescend to comply

with Aristobulus's kind request

though he

had

banished

;

from

and,

al-

him

all

wishes and desires of good to himself since

he was frustrated of sired

it,

it

where he only de-

yet his generous heart represented

to him, that

it

would be meanness

in

him

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. not to employ, for others' lents

which

God and

bestowed upon him.

profit,

119 those ta-

had

better nature

Wherefore with

this

mind, but overclouded with sorrow and

deep melancholy, he began Alexandria, going the

and the

first

his

journey for

part of

it

by

by sea. In the continuance of which, it was his fortune to fall

land,

rest

company of a Brachman of India, who shaped his course the same way that he did which man, as his name giveth into the

;

him out

to be, was one of those that the

Indians held in great veneration for their professed sanctity and deep knowledge of

the

most hidden mysteries of theology

and of nature

;

in

which

exceeded most of

this priest

his time,

of theirs

and yet was

possessed with such an ardent desire of bettering

his

knowledge, that when he

conceived he had attained to the complete

understanding of such learning as was in practice

among them, he

left his

own

na-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

120 live

country and friends, and travelled into

the western parts of the world to partake

of what sciences flourished there. this

man

then, Theagenes,

whose mind yet

was not altogether out of love with lectual notions, entered into liarity,

With

much

intel-

fami-

whereby he had daily more cause

not only to admire his wisdom, but withal his

so

grave conversation was mingled with

much

grace and with such attractive

sweetness, that he grew very affectionate

seemed that the good man was no whit behindhand with

to him, wherein it

old

Theagenes

;

one day, as they

so that

rid

together behind the rest of the company,

being grown confident that what he spoke with reverence would be well taken, he " I have said thus to him found, worthy :

Theagenes, so much nobleness and generousness in you, accompanied with such friendliness to

me

thank

when

my

stars

that I have reason to first

they

made me fall

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

121

company but withal I have upon occasions observed so much sadness and

into your

;

deep conceived grief

to sit

upon your brow,

dear affection to you, which

that

my

will

excuse

my

I

hope

presumption, hath often-

now

times called upon me, and forceth me, to beseech you,

if

at length

you may,

to

communicate the cause of it unto me; that knowing

may them I

it,

avail to ;

may

if

my

ad.vice or

endeavours

service, I

may employ

do you

or at the least, if I cannot help you,

condole with you your misfortunes."

" Reverend Sir/' answered then Theagenes with a deep sigh, "any thing concerning

me

is

not worthy your thoughts,

which are always employed high speculations

;

in divine

but since you descend

so low as to take notice of the

parel of

thus

my

much

you that

and

afflicted

mind,

outward ap-

I will give

you

satisfaction herein, as to tell

my

misfortunes are such as

not in the power of any

man

to

it is

remedy

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

122

them

and then

;

is

it

not reason that so

desertless a consideration should

draw an

unprofitable compassion from

you to disquiet joy that your mind resteth

turb that

in."

happy you

will

lar,

give

" f

But," replied the priest, "if

not acquaint

me

leave to

me

with the particu-

tell

you

in general,

that no accident can be so bad in this

but that the to turn

it

celestial bodies

their adversities with it

doth

have power

and when men bear

to good;

stant minds,

life,

in

temperate and cona manner challenge

of justice that they reward his patience with

"Ah/* then

that blessing/'

out Theagenes, "

if

cried

those superior lights

had the rule of men's actions and fortunes, then should not I that have deserved the best of goods, I speak tion

and only

it

without ostenta-

for truth's sake,

warded with the worst of blind chance

evils

be now ;

but

re-

it is

that governeth the world,

which mingleth and

shuffleth men's

good

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and bad actions, and

their

butions, in fatal darkness,

them

buteth

"

with

You cannot

swered the cause

;

what

it

condign

and then

distri-

error."

promiscuous

Brachman,

you

"in

own

your

me know

will let

that thus afflicteth you, I doubt

make you evidently of what you now said, and

not but to error

retri-

be a competent judge/' an-

therefore, if is

123

the

see

confess

that not chance, but the heavens and stars this

govern

world, which are

books of fate

the

whose secret characters

;

and influence, but few, divinely can read

inspired,

in the true sense that their

gave them." " of

only

" I

am

Creator

glad," replied Thea-

any diversion to draw iny thoughts from the corrosive object that but now night and day they feed upon

genes,

;

particularly, that your discourse hath of-

fered a

means not only of doing

also to inform

my

that,

but

ignorance: therefore I

beseech you mention no more that which

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

124 I were

happy

if I

instruction give

that fate

could forget

me leave

to

;

.

but for

my

oppose you

you say the stars are the books of which seemeth to imply such a ne;

human actions

cessity in

natural ones, that

it

as well as in other

overthroweth quite

the liberty of the will, which certainly

the only pre-eminence that in,

man

and that we are taught to

tion of yours,"

can glory

believe,

and

answered the Brachman,

"is the subject of a large dispute, which too long

now

is

" This objec-

see evidently to be true/'

to be

handled

;

the principal heads of

of yourself draw

it;

is

but for your

satisfaction, I will briefly run over

may

in

some of

from which you

many

other conclu-

Know then that the infinite wisdom Him who created all things, and dis-

sions.

of

posed them with admirable sweetness, did

frame

this

such an

world and

artificial

and disagreeing

all

that

is

in it in

order, that contrariety

qualities

is

the only knot

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. of this perfect concord is

;

125

in the elements it

apparent, and in the virtual qualities of

simples, where

and water, poisons and heat and cold, dry ness and

antidotes,

fire

moisture, are always equally found

;

as

also in all things O whatsoever of this sublu-

nary world, which, consisting of several creatures of differing degrees of perfection,

do serve us as so many steps to ascend the knowledge of what is above us.

more admirable order and wisdom cannot be

God

hath also used

fuller

conceived, it

souls; in which one tire liberty

cessity,

A

of divine therefore

in the superior crea-

the noblest of which are

tures,

to

may

human

consider an en-

together with a constrained ne-

which no way impeach or hinder

one another; for to these he gave a capacity of the greatest perfection

that ;>ny

creature

power of

may

possess, to wit, the

uniting themselves

His

eternal

and

by blessed infinite

vision

essence;

to

the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

126

means of attaining

to the which,

is

due

only to free actions; which liberty, as

it

hath relation to us and to our actions,

is

and without

entire in the highest degree,

any constraint at

all

:

but

tion to the prescience of all

to

eternity

whom

knoweth

nothing

is

all

if

we have

rela-

God, who from

earthly things, and

past or to come, but

present, then I say that our actions are

all

included within a necessity of being con-

formable to God's knowledge, which cannot

err.

This knowledge, then, of God,

is

a law or prescript for the coming to pass of

all

things, be they either the actions of

free agents, or future contingents, or the

and vicissitudes of natural agents: changes * o o but He that framed nature doth but sel-

dom, and that

deep and mysterious cause, interpose Himself immediately in for

any thing, but leaveth the course of all things to that rule which in the beginning of things he prescribed

;

that

is,

that in-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. feriors

be

should

guided by their

unto

subaltern

superiors

;

127

the

and

heaven,

then, and stars being so in respect of us,

not only in place but in dignity, in duration, in quantity, in quality,

of substance,

and

in purity

agreeable to reason that

it is

they by their influence do govern this inferior world/'

"

Certainly/' replied Theagenes,

discourse tlety

;

is full

of

much

"

your

learning and sub-

but the prescience of

God

being

such a vast abyss and immense ocean, that

whosoever reason,

saileth in it

cannot choose

wreck, I think

it

will

by the compass of but

suffer

ship-

be our best to row

along the shore, where without danger

may examine

we

that part of this question

that concerneth only ourselves. Therefore, if there

be any natural and philosophical

reason to confirm the doctrine of the stars

being the cause and fore-she wers of men's fortunes and future contingents, I shall be

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

128

glad to understand

it

from you

sundry of them there concur so ral

and

different accidents

some one

me how

effect, that it

;

for in

many

seve-

to bring forth

cannot sink into

a general cause, as I conceive the

heaven to be at the most, can extend " It is the itself to so

many

generality

particulars/'

and vast comprehension,"

re-

" of the cause that plied the Indian priest, enfoldeth the great effects

;

me

which only concerneth

and

not

have

science of agents,

particular

but since you have confined

to that part will

number of

me

touch upon the pre-

God, that

who

us,

is

the rule of free

are subordinate to

it,

I

must

also, in the following discourse, set aside

those

actions

upon the

that

depend immediately

liberty of the will;

and

for the

influence of the heavens into the elements

and elementated substances which causeth alterations in the

and

several

humours

seasons

of

of

man's body,

the years,

and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and dearths, and

plenty,

it is

pestilence,

so evident to sense, that I shall not need to speak of

it

therefore,

;

to

future contingencies depend

which only remaineth for will

say this

effect,

upon them, to treat of, I

that as every cause hath of

;

some

necessity

me

prove that

effect subsequent, so every

with like necessity, implieth a pre-

cedent cause, they being relatives since no

man can deny

and

;

that accidents

and

future contingents are the effects of some-

examine what may be

thing, let us

cause.

Such

as

free-will enter

for at

their

depend immediately upon

not into this consideration,

the beginning

we excepted them.

The operations of elementated agents

are

necessary and constrained, and extendeth

no

than

farther

to

natural

alterations

when agents and patients meet,

so that

men's fortunes and contingent actions arc out

ot their

them

?

Is

what then can govern blind chance, as you seemed

sphere

it

;

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

130

even now in some passion to intimate, that without reason, or knowledge, or attention,

shaketh so

various accidents

many

out of her lap? Truly this objection deserveth no reply, since

it

is

evident with

what exact order God hath disposed all things else, and therefore certainly would not leave

man alone

dition, to

be guided by such a blind and

monstrous guide

;

in so miserable a con-

nor

is

it

consentaneous

unto reason, to think that angels and devils

do interpose themselves in our ordinary and familiar actions, since the first are ex-

God, and that only when they may be the means of some great and and the other do spiritual good unto us

pressly sent by

;

maliciously intrude themselves only

when

they have hope to work our misery and

remaineth then only that the heavens and stars must of necessity be allowed

ruin

:

by us

it

to

be the causes of

all

contingent

accidents, and the authors of our fortunes

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and

131

whereby the liberty of the

will

doth not immediately and expressly

re-

actions,

pugn and

wrestle against the disposition

of the heavens will

which

;

I

admit no farther of

this latter

am

this doctrine

and undeniable

to be so few, that it

sure you, that

than

part, will grant

may be a

question

whether there be really any such or no, or that this be only an abstracted speculation

And why

of the understanding.

any man make

difficulty to

this virtue in the stars, since

should

acknowledge somewhere it

must be granted, seeing the notorious fects and excellencies that they have

ef-

in

other things, as I have already touched

?

Surely those glorious and vast bodies were

not

made and endued with a constant mo-

tion only

Then to

let

for

me conclude

meaner

meteors

men

vain

with

lights, as to

drawn

to

gaze upon

this,

?

that since

comets, and other

from low and

putrified

places of the rarth,of whose infectious and K

'J

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

132

they consist, and

vapours

pestilent

then set on

fire in

the

air,

we by

are

daily ex-

perience attribute the ominous presages of the death of kings, of revolutions of empires,

wars,

and such other dire difficulty

dearths,

pestilence, famine, effects

;

without

let us

acknowledge a nobler operation

in these glorious bodies that are the

cient causes of the other

and having ad-

;

mitted them for causes, you

who hath

effi-

will

grant that

the knowledge of their nature,

may, by calculating their motions

for time

to come, prognosticate their effects/'

" I would to God/' said then Theagenes, " that you were as well pleased in instructing me, as I

you

;

am

delighted in learning of

then would I desire the clearing of

a matter which you touched upon discourse, since I

much

must confess

satisfied in this

rations of the stars;

I

in this

remain

concerning the ope-

and

I

not be abruptly moved by

conceive

it will

me now,

con-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

133

sidering that the practice which dependeth

upon the

knowledge of what I

theorical

desire to be informed of, hath a near afto the science

finity

we may

of the stars; and,

credit rumour,

is

if

often joined to

by the professors of the other, when that " Let no other moproveth defective."

it

tive," replied the

being weary of

Brachman,

my

" but your

ignorant discourses de-

you from proposing any doubt you have unto me, and I shall strive the best tain

that

I

can to deliver the knowledge of

truth unto

you

wherein, although I must

;

acknowledge myself to have been but a weak proficient, yet the desire I have to answer your expectation of me,

I find

doth

exalt ray soul to higher notions than other-

wise

it

would have

;

so that if I speak

any

thing to the purpose, you are the cause of it,

and

ceive,"

I

must thank you replied

teous language

for it/'

Theagenes, is

" I per-

" that

cour-

not confined to princes'

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

134

palaces, since you,

things

who have

ever studied

and not words, are so complete a

master therein

;

but in you I

am

sure

it

proceedeth from a nobler cause than either affectation or

custom

modesty, which

panion to

is

it

;

is

your inherent

an inseparable

virtue, that in

lesseneth yourself as

com-

your own opinion

much

as others ad-

mire and esteem you, of which number I will

presume to place myself in the foremost rank. But to express, in short, what

you to instruct me in, you may remember how even now you it is

that I desire

intimated

that

angels and devils in our actions trary, in

my

;

upon some occasions do interpose themselves

which

is

a doctrine so con-

opinion, to the rule of reason,

that I must confess I cannot

capable of

it.

make myself

I will let pass the opera-

you seemed to say, messengers and effecters

tions of angels, which,

were sent to us as of God's

will,

because I

will

not treat of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

135

and extraordinary Divine which all things are easy but

the immediate

Power, to

my

:

be against the power

shall

arguments

of action of the infernal spirits upon any material substance

duced by

who, you say, are

;

own

their

in-

malicious will to dis-

turb our quiet, or to do us hurt.

But

be-

go any farther, I desire to know yonr opinion whether it be in their natural fore I

power

to

do the

least action that

may

be

imagined upon any corporeal object, or so

much

as to

appear to our eyesight, either

by deluding our sense or assuming a tastic

the

body of

"

air?"

Brachman, doubt of

"

if I

fan-

Surely," answered

should entertain the

I should

repugn too grossly against the authority of innumerable classical writers and believed histories, least

it,

and against daily experience; and

if

you

do, I will undertake to reduce you with

ease and suddenly out of this error first, I

shall

:

but

be glad to understand your

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

136

may make you

reasons, that

of a different

" That which you urge of

belief."

many

confident stories of this nature recorded

by grave authors/' replied Theagenes, " would weigh much with me, if I had not express and evident demonstration against

what they deliver; but

as for daily ex-

perience, I attribute nothing at since I will yield to

none

all

to that,

in industry

and

curiosity to satisfy myself herein, but yet

never could

;

and have been

so conversant

with deceits in this kind, wherein

men false

strive

many

by a strong but depraved and to deceive

imagination

themselves,

that I dare credit nothing that I see not myself.

I will

may work upon that

souls

and

not deny but that a

spirits

man's mind, by reason

they are comprehended

under the same degree and kind of substance but bodies and spirits are of so ;

contrary a nature, that there can be no

communion between them

;

for in all ac-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

137

must be a proportionate means of operation between the agent and the tions there

patient,

among

which

in

substances

spiritual

themselves I conceive to be the un-

derstanding

and

will

;

and of material

ones, in living creatures the senses,

and

in

other bodies the primary qualities of the

material forms spirits I

;

but between bodies and

cannot conceive what

tie

of conjunction there can be think I

may

so

:

safely conclude,

can neither appear

to

or

means that I

that they

nor assume

us,

bodies, nor cause tempests or impressions in the air, nor speak or cause

any sound,

nor transport any thing, the least material

atom

in

the world, from place to place,

nor do any hurt at reprobate that

is."

all

to the

"

I

most wretched

must

confess," an-

swered the Brachman, after some pause, " that the use is

argument you

very subtle,

and seemeth to proceed from strength of reason but much and different things ;

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

may

be replied to

it,

as that there

neral spirit of the world, which

is

a ge-

a means

is

of uniting together intellectual substances

and material ones

;

and of conveying the

powers of the one to the other by participating with them both in some quality; or that there is some such knot between

them

as

is

between the body and soul of

man, which we evidently see are joined together, but know not by what means ; or rather

we may

say, that there

not in

is

nature any pure spirit but God, but that angels, souls of

men, and

devils

are

all

comprehended within the general definition of a body, yet withal they are of such a subtle,

incorruptible,

and

refined

sub-

stance beyond elementary bodies, that in

respect of them, those

termed spiritual; the difficulty

is

may seem and be

which being granted,

then easily dissolved. But

answer to your objection by reason, would but beget a tedious to speak farther in

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and unprofitable dispute affirm

any thing

;

since

definitely,

139

we cannot

or otherwise

than by guess, of things above us, and that it is

to

power, as I said to you before,

my

in

shew you by

and undeniable ex-

lively

perience that what you

which I the more

freely offer

true

is

impugn

;

unto you,

because methought you said you had long in vain

but

sought to satisfy yourself herein,

yet never

could

boldly do for you, affect so

therefore

:

whom

much, what

I

that do but

informed

tell

be

of,

my

me what you it

will

have reason to

to another I

not acknowledge to be in

I

would

power

;

so

desire to be

never so remote, or in

what form you would have a spirit appear unto you, and your wish shall be undoubtedly

and

"Your

accomplished." credit,"

eth as

me, as

answered Theagenes, " weigh-

much

my

authority

with

me

senses can

;

to beget

belief in

therefore I will

now

no longer question the possibility of these

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

140 things will

;

with which credence I think

be best for us both that

it

I rest satisfied,

since I conceive that such an experiment

you speak of, will require long time to perfect it, and many troublesome prepara-

as

tions,

and be dangerous

in the effecting

it,

through the rebellious contumacy of the infernal spirits,

which only

be at men's command,

if

I

conceive to

" If

any be."

no other respect detain you," replied the

Brachman,

me

" these excuses shall not

waive the satisfying your curiosity, for

they weigh not at that

make

all

all

with me.

It is true

those things which you mentioned,

do happen when there

is

no ground

laid

beforehand for such an experiment ; but he is a weak man that will destroy that masterpiece which with

much

labour he

hath brought to pass, when for the present

he hath no more use of every

occasion

wholly anew

;

must

when

and so upon begin that work

after

it,

much

patience,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

141

and by abstracting my thoughts from sensual objects, and raising my spirit up to that height that I could

make

right use of

those powerful names which this art teach-

and obedient apparition then, by virtue of the same

eth, I got a real

as I desired

names,

;

bound the spirit that

I

I

had called

had prepared of purpose, and always carry about with me and that I no sooner open and into a hallowed

book which

I

:

call

him by

his

name, which

is

well

known

me, but he presently obeyeth whatsoever I command and thus without any to

:

unlawful pact or wicked

cometh

who

to

have him

of his

means, a

his slave

own nature

is

man

and servant, his

chiefest

enemy. Therefore now I have told you what I can do, there remaineth but that

you express your filled."

The

will,

and

I will see

it

ful-

horror of the thought to have

any communication, though at never so great a distance, with infernal spirits,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

142

made Theagenes remain some time

in sus-

pense; but in the end, the seeing of the

means mind

so near

him

to satisfy his anxious

in the particulars of

what he yet but

obscurely and generally understood, did so stir

up and inflame

his restless thoughts,

beyond the learned curiosity of being informed of the truth herein, which the other did in a manner drown,

ceed

it,

that he

now

it

forgot

and addressed

did so far ex-

other re-

all

speech in this manner to the Indian magician " This spects,

his

:

last obligation,

cating with

me

reverend Sir, in communithe most recluse mysteries

of your profound sciences, exceedeth possibility of thanks

;

but you

my

may judge

what a deep sense I have of it, since that alone shall draw from me the confession of what formerly your much urging me could not, and which nothing but my solitary pillow, continually wet with tears,

or

my

abundant

some sequestered desert

place,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. have heard of

my

me

eternal

strived to

served.

I

:

mean

Lend

the sad cause

though I

sorrow, which,

disguise yet

story of long

thus

tell

145

straight ob-

you

then your ears to the short

and remediless

My

beginneth.

whom now by you

grief:

which

malevolent

stars,

instructed, I believe

rule men's fortunes

and actions by

influence,

my

engaged

fairest lady that ever

tresses to the less

I lived,

do

their

to the

affections

displayed her golden

beautiful sun.

and she awhile

in

me,

if

In her with the

magic of her enchanting looks she had not also sucked in the art of

tion

and

deceit.

affections,

To her

and she hers

I

to

deep dissimula-

vowed

me

;

my

which vows

were renewed between us when I her,

and

virgin

last left

and with her the best part of my soul all

change, serious

my I

joys;

but since, ah! cursed

hear that she hath forgot her

and

religious

protestations,

hath entertained into her

false

and

breast a

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

144

new

and im-

affection, with dishonourable

pure flames. It

is

but a wild and imperfect

that hath yet

relation

come

to

me, but

such as did at the instant almost strike dead, and hath

my

Now my

life.

not confine

may

made me

it

desire

me

ever since hate is,

since

you do

within any bounds, that I

be particularly informed of

all

pas-

sages concerning her since I last saw her so that I

yet

may

may be

either

;

from the truth, which

disguised or overshadowed to

me, draw some ground of comfort, at least of less sorrow, or else have a per-

knowledge of her unworthiness and misery, since suspended and uncertain

fecter

my

is

thoughts

happen

the greatest anguish that can

to the mind.

This, then,

my sorrow, and the sum He had scarce drawn desire."

is

the

cause of

of what

I

his sor-

rowful relation to an end, which was interrupted with such deep sighs, as though his heart

would have followed

his

words,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS, when a

the Magician

little

drew out of his bosom

book enclosed

and the leaves of

membraneous

145

in a leaden

made of the

it

of

skins

cover,

and

thin

unborn

lambs,

which were inscribed with various

figures,

and pentacles and sigils of sundry colours ; which opening, he said, " Now I will confirm

what

I

have spoken, and give you

complete satisfaction

whereunto

all

in

what you

request,

circumstances are propitious;

the day being clear

and serene, the sun

having got the victory of

all

the obscure

clouds that this morning would have dark-

ened

his

beams, and the place where we

chance now to be

we cannot wish a

in so opportune,

better."

With

that, they

from their horses, and went alighted o distance out of the path,

Brachman kept

his eyes

magical characters of sacred

all

his, as

book, and murmured L

the

fixed

some

the trees

among

that grew thick there, while

that

way

the

upon the

he called to

it,

himself

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

146

words of a strange sound. But they had not gone far when Theagenes of a sudden stopped, and held the

Priest

that was

going forwards, and pointed to him with his

hand

to

that object that stayed his

was a lady sitting upon a broken trunk of a dead and rotten tree, in a pensteps. It

sive posture, so that but part of her face

was discovered to them, but the general composure of her limbs was so admirable, that Theagenes doubted whether

goddess or a diant hair

human

creature.

it

were a

Her

ra-

upon her white shoulders, and together with them, was

hung

dishevelled

covered with a thin

veil

that from

the

crown of her head reached to the ground, through which they shined as the sun doth through a pale cloud, and sometimes without that eclipsing shade did send out direct

and unbroken beams, and so doubled the

day of beauty gentle

air,

;

which was caused by a

that, as being jealous of that

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. senseless veil, did

blow

14?

ever and anon

it

away, and played with those bright hairs, adding new curled waves to those that

made

nature

might discern

mixed sit

;

In her

there. lilies

and

fair face

roses

enthroned in sweet majesty

as being niggardly of casting

heart-piercing

modest and

lids,

theirs

;

admirably

lips the rose

but in her

;

alone did

her eyes,

away

beams, were hid

which so veiled

one

by

their

her

love's treasure

her swelling breast did expose

to view of greedy

eyes his

naked and

miraculous snow, where love, though he

were frozen, would recover heat again; part of her swelling

bosom appeared, but

the greater part an envious vest did cover;

her

cheek reposed

upon

her alabaster

hand, and her courteous sleeve discovered

most part of her

fair

arm, which rested

upon her knee, while she' with her sighs seemed to talk with her own thoughts. Whether she then wept or no h6 Could not

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

148

well discern, but

might perceive her cheeks moist with a precious dew, and the hairs of her eyelids bedecked with orient pearls,

which seemed

summer shower

gentle shineth.

He remained awhile as in

fair sight,

to the

nearer

the

while

through astonishment at

and

drops of a

like the pleasing

this

a trance

unexpected

the Magician

till

sun

coming

melancholy lady, she, as

though she had been diverted from train of her meditations

the

by the noise that

he made in coming towards her, turning her head that way, rose suddenly up, and then Theagenes knew the face of his once beloved

overclouded with there looked

do

in

which seemed

Stelliana,

grief,

more

to

be

but so that sorrow

lovely than joy could

any other place.

strange conflict within

He

then

felt

a

himself between

love and disdain, each of which by turns set their ensigns in his face as

better in his heart

;

they had the

sometimes

fire

would

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

149

sparkle in his eyes, and his enflamed looks give evident sign of the anger that boiled

within him; but then straight a congealed paleness would witness his repentance for his

But

former rash thoughts.

the most

humane

and how could

that his heart ful object

was

end

passion got the victory,

for certainly a true love

hate;

in the

can never turn to

it

be otherwise, but

must yield when the powerin his

presence, which could

not banish love, though

it

were eclipsed

with sorrow, in so long an absence, and

having so seeming a just cause

Not being

?

able then any longer to contain himself, he

ran towards her, and kneeling down, of-

snowy hand, and was bespeak, when a greater wonder

fered to take her

ginning to

drew him

to silent admiration

;

for

when

he thought he had taken her by the hand, he found that he grasped nothing but air,

which discourteously braces

;

fled

from his em-

as also three several times that he

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

150

strived to take hold of the

many

ceived.

But then

him and

this

his

of her gar-

times he found himself de-

ment, so

to

hem

raising

Brachman coming him up, told him how

the

was nothing but a vision procured by art, and that that spirit should answer

him

to whatsoever he

demanded

;

and that

form to make him appear in, to the end that he might judge by the true he chose

this

resemblance of her countenance and pos-

and temper of her mind ; to have been really such

ture, the quality

which he said

ever since the news of his death, and that

the greatness of her sorrow was the origin

and cause of her misfortune and tion.

his afflic-

" Theagenes then cried out,

I

now

believe that infernal spirits can transform

themselves into the appearance of angels

of light; and since you would take upon

you the shape of such a one, you have done discreetly to choose hers that is the perfectest

work

that

God

hath created."

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

Then he began

to question the spirit con-

whom he

cerning her

151

represented, and had

a large relation of what you have already

which he as greedily listened unto, as the poor prisoner at the bar doth heard

to

;

all

an unexpected sentence of absolution

that the judge favourably pronounceth in his

cause

;

could not

he evidently saw that she

for

be accused of an

mind, or of a depraved stant affection

;

will,

but that

it

unworthy

or of incon-

was the unjust-

ness of fortune, or, at the worst, a little in-

dulgency of a gentle nature which sprung from some indiscretion, or rather want of experience, that sure.

made

her liable to cen-

After he had satisfied himself in

every particular, and that he could bethink himself no

more

to ask, he felt his

heart swell with a tender passion which

even melted

it,

and made him

as

one

drunk with joy, understanding that her soul was pure and her mind the same that

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

152

he ever believed fection

fears, the

edge of

that gave him this relation in

wavering

which way

;

was

but as he reirresolute

himself,

sway, the "

belief should

his

it

spoke thus again to him

Although be denied both to blessed angels and to

spirit it

joy was

when he considered who

off,

mained

his

af-

with

being always accompanied

doubts and taken

But strong

to be.

it

know

us, to

:

the secrets of hearts and the

simple meditations of the soul within

itself;

yet when the thoughts go beyond those

and

bounds, 7

make anv of

the interior

*

senses the seat of their agitation, then they

are plain

now

and manifest

to us

so that I

;

read in thy fantasy and

know

thy

doubts and fears as well as thyself; and the

little

words.

It

credit

thou dost

might

satisfy thee to

to

my

know

that

give

those powerful exorcisms that have bound

me where

I

am, do

ence and truth

;

also bind

me

to obedi-

but thou shalt have a

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. more material testimony that I

to witness for

know and speak

within a few days

truth,

therefore,

;

153

me

and that

when thou

shaltfind thyself in the midst of a troop of

armed men, and having no other weapon but thy sword, shall wound most of them, and save thy own principal of

them

life :

by

killing two, the

then remember that I

have foretold thre of

and believe what

it,

I

have said of Stclliana's integrity, and that in

despite

of

all

oppositions and

both

your strongest resolutions, you two must be joined in one sacred knot; for none

can change, though awhile they may struggle with fate/*

And

with that he sud-

denly vanished out of

their

sight,

the

Brachman having formally licensed him, and shut his book, when he perceived by the silence of Theagenes that he had no

more to

ask.

was not long before the accomplishment of what this spirit prophesied, purIt

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

154

him a ogreater confidence in the that he had said for after Theagenes

chased rest

in

:

had embarked himself

to follow

on

his in-

tended journey, a favourable wind in a short time

brought him to

Alexandria

;

whither he sent a servant one day before

him

to provide

him a convenient house

near the Ambassador's, and other neces-

and the next day came thither himself, and the first thing he did was to saries

go

;

kiss

bulus,

the hand of his kinsman Aristo-

who

received him with

all

the de-

monstration of joy and honour that might be,

and caused him

him

;

with

after

many

to stay supper with

which he sent

his son Leodivius,

of his servants and torches, to

accompany him to his lodging, which was not far off. But the night had slided so insensibly

away while they were

pleasing conversation,

it

in

their

being the nature

of long absence of dear friends to cause at their first encounter

much

greediness of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

155

enjoying each other, that when they came out of the house they found the streets quiet and no living

them the

;

creature

stirring

in

and the moon, which was then near

full,

shining out

a clear light

upon

them, so that the coolness and solitude

was the greatest sign that it was not noonWherefore they caused the lights day. and other servants to stay

there,

who then

could serve but for vain magnificence, and

Theagenes sent

his servants to his lodging

before, while he,

and Leodivius, and an-

other gentleman, that Leodivius took with

him

accompany him, that he might not return all alone to his father's house, came to

softly after,

sucking in the fresh

air,

and

pleasing themselves in the coolness of the night which succeeded a hot day,

then

in

the beginning of the

it

summer

being :

but

were entertaining themselves in some gentle discourse, a rare voice, accom-

as they

panied

with a sweet

instrument, called

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

156

while with

their ears to silent attention, their eyes

them-

they sought to inform

where the person was that sung, when they saw a gentlewoman in a loose and selves

night habit, that stood in an open

window

supported like a gallery with bars of iron, with a lute in her hand, which with excellent skill she

made

to

keep time with her

divine voice, and that issued out of as fair

a body, by what they could judge at that light,

only there seemed to

so

sit

much

sadness upon her beautiful face, that one

might judge she herself took in

her

own

little

pleasure

The

soul-ravishing harmony.

three spectators remained attentive to this fair sight

and sweet music, Leodivius only

knowing who she was, who coming a nearer towards the window, fifteen

armed, as

the

moon

shining

dent, rushed violence,

out upon

and with

men

upon

bucklers and coats of mail did

little all

their

make

evi-

him with much

their

drawn

swords

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

made

many

so

furious blows

157

and thrusts

at him, that if his better genius had not

defended him

had been impossible that

it

he could have outlived that minute he, nothing at

all

;

but

dismayed, drew his sword,

and struck the foremost of them such a blow upon the head, that

if it

had not been

armed with a good cap of steel, certainly he should have received no more cumber from that

man

such that

it

;

yet the weight of

made

it

was

the Egyptian run reel-

ing backwards two or three steps, and the blade, not able to sustain such

broke in

many

pieces, so that nothing but

the hilts remained

who

a force,

in

Leodivius's hand

seeing himself thus disarmed,

denly

recollected

his

spirits,

;

sud-

and using

short discourse within himself, resolved, as

being o his best, to run to his father's house to call for assistance to bring off in safety his

kinsman and

false

his other friend,

whose

sword served him in the same manner

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

158

as Leodivius's

had done, as though they

had conspired to betray their masters in

Here one might see

their greatest need.

differing effects

from

like causes, for a like

resolute valour without astonishment that

caused Leodivius to run discreetly away for succour, caused

him

to stand

still

in

the place where his sword broke, defend-

ing his enemies' blows with the piece that

remained in

his

hand, as being ashamed to

leave Theagenes in the midst of so that strived to take his

life

from him

he was soon out of danger by pressing beyond him,

whom

many :

but

all their

they saw dis-

armed, to come to Theagenes, who had interposed himself between Leodivius and

them that followed him, of which the master of all these bravos

was one, so that the

him engaged in a fierce battle, came to assist him. Theagenes

rest seeing

they

all

then found himself in great perplexity, for

having retired to a narrow place of the

PHIVATE MEMOIRS. street, that

he might keep his assailants

in front before tises

his

159 all

him, the overhanging pen-

took away the light of the moon, and

enemies having at the top of their

bucklers

artificial lanterns

whose

light

cast only forwards by their being

was

made

with an iron plate on that side towards the holders, so that their bodies remained in

darkness, had not only the advantage of seeing

him when he could not see them,

but also dazzled and with the

offended his

many near lights, which made him

mistake those objects that dimly he cerned.

eyes

The number of

his enemies,

dis-

and

the disparity of the weapons, might have

given him just cause to seek the saving of his life rather

by the swiftness of

than by an obstinate defence did not value

think that

it

it

;

his legs

but he, that

at so high a rate as to

could warrant such an action,

resolved rather to die in the midst of his

enemies, than to do any thing that might

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

160

be interpreted to proceed from fear with which resolution he made good the place :

he stood

and whensoever any of them

in,

were too bold in coming o near him, he entertained them with such rude welcomes,

had

that

they

make

a second return.

little

encouragement to

After Theagenes had remained some time thus beating

ing

many

down

their

swords and wound-

of them, and shewing wonderful

and not transported va-

effects of a settled

and that their beginning to slack their fury in pressing upon him gave a little freelour,

dom

to his thoughts, all his spirits being

before united in

how

his

heart and hands, he

must certainly be some mistake that made him to be thus treated considered

it

by men that he knew not, and to whom he was sure he in his particular could have given no offence, being but that day arrived

parts

at ;

Alexandria

from

very remote

wherefore he spoke to them in the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. best

manner he could,

make

to

l6l

himself un-

derstood in a tongue that he was not well

master

of,

him

use

and asked what moved them

to

was

a

so

discourteously

that

stranger there, and was not guilty of hav-

ing injured any of them

of

his,

to

;

which words

one that seemed to be of the best

quality

among them, by

a cassock em-

broidered with gold which he wore over his

jack of mail, answered him with

"

fury in this manner.

much

Villain, thou liest,

thou hast done rne wrong which cannot be satisfied

with

thy example

less

let

than thy

life

;

and by

the rest of thy lascivious

countrymen learn to shun those gentlewomen where other men have interest, as they would do houses infected with the plague, or the

thunder

that

These words put

God's vengeance/'

patience out of Theagenes's that

now he dispensed

with fury than art

executeth

but

;

M

his his

breast,

all

so

blows rather

hand was so

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

162

exercised in the perfectest rules of true art,

that without his endeavours or taking no-

never failed of making exactly re-

tice, it

gulated motions, which had such force im-

parted to them by a just anger, that few of

them were made his enemies, that

But

in vain.

at length

had bought with much

of their blood the knowledge of his power

and strength, attempted to do that behind him, which they durst not to his face ; for

some of them running down a little lane that was near the place where they fought,

made a

circuit

and came

to assault

Thea-

genes behind, which he perceived by a

blow upon

his shoulders

that the fearful giver of

hensive

lest

it

it

hand

seemed

was so appre-

laid it

on so

softly

did him no hurt, but served to warn

him of the danger he was perceiving himself thus side,

it

Theagenes should turn about,

that his quaking

that

but

:

summoned

in.

He

beset on

all his spirits

then every

to serve

him

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. at this his so great necessity, to cut

them, that so

wrought

his

it

own

might

thickest of

appear that he

liberty in despite of their

strongest oppositions, did thrust at

and choosing

way through the

his

163

make

a quick

him that was nearest before him,

which entering within his weapons before he was aware that he had occasion to

ward

it,

Theagenes accompanied

it

with

the whole weight of his body, running on so violently, as the other's jack not giving

way, and

sword not yielding, he bore him down, and running over him made

him serve nel.

He

his

for a bridge to cross the

ken-

being thus acquit of their be-

sieging him, began to retire himself with

a settled pace towards the Ambassador's house, but in such a manner, that though

him one way his face looked another, and his hands sent for-

his

feet

carried

wards many bloody messages of his angry spirit; but one of them pressed so eagerly

M

2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

164

and unwarily upon him, that as he lifted up his sword to make a blowatTheagenes, he avoided

it

with a gentle motion of his

body, and gave him such a strong reverse

upon the head, that finding it disarmed, for he had lost his iron cap with much stirring in the scuffle,

and face

his ;

it

divided

upon

under

two

whom Theagenes rid

parts,

in with his left leg,

himself master

own

turned,

himself of his fiercest

enemy, and stepping

with his

in

brains flew into his neighbour's

having thus

made

it

of his sword, and

did run him into the belly

his jack, so that

he

fell

down, wit-

nessing with a deep groan that his at her last minute.

The

life

was

other Egyptians

by that knew him to be their master, for whose quarrel only they all fought, so that they left Theagenes, and all of them attended to succour their wounded lord but

all

;

too late, for without ever speaking,

he gave up

his

ghost in their arms

:

while

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

165

means Theagenes, who received but little hurt, had time to walk leisurely by

this

to the

Ambassador's house, from whence,

upon the alarm that Leodivius gave, many were coming to his rescue with such arms they could recover

as, hastily,

whose "coming so late, them half way, was, that of

;

the cause

he met

for

was long before Leodivius, though he knocked and

called aloud,

it

could get the gates open

for all in the house

;

were gone to take their

rest.

The next day the cause of this quarrel was known which was, that a nobleman ;

of that country, having interest in a gentle-

woman

that lived not far from Aristobulus's

house, was jealous of Leodivius,

who had

carried his affections too publicly

;

this night

so that

he had forced her to sing in the

window where Leodivius saw by that means to entice him

her,

to

hoping

come near

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

166

to her, while he lay in

ambush,

heard, to take his

from him.

This action

made the name

known not only whither

it

life

as

of Theagenes

Egypt, but in Morea; was daily carried and related in

by sundry mouths, who were

many

you have

with

filled

other high commendations added to

the fame of his valour

;

so that

it

was not

long before Stelliana had news that Thea-

genes was not dead

lamented the

loss

;

who,

if

of him, had

before she

now

as

much

reason to renew the lamentations of her

own

misfortunes, which, she feared, would

make

her eternally to lose him, though his

other friends had found him again

;

and

thus, in the midst of all their joy, she alone

remained in clouds of sorrow.

But before

I

engage

my

pen in con-

tinuing the sad story of her griefs,

not be amiss that I to.

set

down how

it

it will

came

pass that there was then such frequent

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

16?

between Morea and Egypt, things done in Alexandria came

intercourse that

all

to be so suddenly

known

at Corinth.

Aristobulus having, through his wise and

prudent negotiation, concluded the marriage between the

King of Morea's

and the King of Egypt's

sister,

son,

had wrought

into the treaty thereof conditions of so

much advantage for tion, who was the doubted that it,

if

his side, that

old

Hephres-

King's favourite,

he alone had the honour of

he should gain thereby so

much

strength

that he might in time be able to contest in greatness with him,

eye of his

rising,

who had

ever a jealous

and did himself

only by his master's favour perceiving it

now

;

subsist

wherefore,

that any delay would

make

too late to prevent these fears, he re-

solved to

make

use of the King's affection

towards him, and taking that business out of the hands of Aristobulus, that he had so

much

laboured in with happy success, to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

168

attribute to himself the honour of effecting

whereupon he procured for himself an extraordinary commission of embassage,

it:

with

full

power

to

do what he thought

fit

in this treaty, which, to colour his actions,

he pretended to be

full

of difficulties

to strengthen his proceedings,

and

;

to

and have

a favourable witness of what he should do,

he carried the Prince into Egypt,

much,

if

wh

with him

he loved him

not more than his father, where,

after a laborious

and dangerous journey,

they arrived safe the day after Theagenes's

which possessing all men with wonder, and he finding many friends that came

fight:

to attend the Prince, they did both write

and many that were daily sent with advertisements from his son to

the relation of

it,

the old King, did carry the news of

it

to

Corinth, where Stelliana, sequestering herself

from

all

company, did spend her sad

days and widow nights

in continual

weep-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. ing

;

for

169

when she looked upon her own

had just cause to fear that Theagenes's affection was withdrawn from her; and when she considered his, from actions, she

whom

in so long time as she

had been

absent, she had never received any letter,

she fully believed

it

so that the conti-

:

nuance of sorrow brought her, at length, to this pass, that she seemed to be neither desirous nor capable of comfort

;

and

all

things were indifferent to her almost broken

Mardontius she did hate with

heart, only

as

much

bitterness as so sweet a soul could

entertain, as

being the cause of

all

her

who, being inflamed by her disdains, did now again renew his suit to

misfortunes

;

her with more violence than ever he had

done before, and cursed himself

for throw-

ing away, like a prodigal wretch, the jewel

which he would now

sell

giving clear testimony soul, like

himself to buy

how

love in a

;

weak

a river that wanteth banks to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

170

keep

it

in,

languisheth

when

it

meeteth

with no impediments.

In the mean time the Prince being at Alexandria, the Egyptian counsellors, for

them only the ungentle using of the Prince was to be attributed, the King

to

being very young, were so

little

sensible of

the great obligation that his Highness did

put upon them by trusting

his person

with

great confidence to them, that they sought to to

make advantage of his being there, and draw him to new and harder conditions,

especially in matters of religion, than be-

fore were agreed upon.

Whereupon He-

phaestion taxed Aristobulusfor having given

undue advertisements

making the matter he found

it

to be

:

in his letters

home,

better than, in effect,

but Aristobulus shewed

and him the original writings signed by the King and his council before to the Prince

their

new

coming

;

so that

difficulties only. to

he attributed these Hephsestion's pre-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and

cipitate journey

his rash bringing the

Prince along with him of

theirs,

which difference

;

affections

their

finding

171

much

alienated before, did, at length, break out into

an open enmity, which was the cause

of overthrowing so great a business, that,

by

effecting

would have brought notable both the crowns, and by the

it,

blessings to

miscarrying hath since caused great miseto

ries

lying

them both. his

upon

For Hephaestion, retwo masters' favours, and

making use of the strength of

his

com-

mission, excluded Aristobulus totally from

any part soever he

in

his negociations,

and when-

though with never so

offered,

much humility, any counsel unto the Prince, he would oppose

it,

and do contrary

only for the giver's sake.

was so affectionate to that these fronts his

to

Yet Aristobulus

his Lord's service,

and many other unworthy

moved him

to

it,

no passion

advice delivered in

;

af-

but since

public did hurt

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

172

rather than good, he desisted from that,

advance

and laboured, by

secret ways, to

his master's ends,

although he was sure that

no honour or thanks could redound from thence unto himself, knowing that good actions

reward

themselves

in

the

very

doing, and that virtue ought to be loved

only for herself, and not for any other

In particular, he laboured

respect.

with the Mufti of the Egyptians, chief

man

tate the

who

much is

the

in ecclesiastical affairs, to facili-

new

difficulties,

to

whom

he em-

most part, having learned by long experience that an acceptable messenger doth much advance any

ployed Theagenes

business

;

for

for the

he understood that he was

very welcome to the Mufti both for the strait

friendship that he had with

some

of his nearest kinsmen in Ionia, of whence

he was, and received

letters

from them by

Theagenes, but, principally, because their religion

was the same, which was but

rare,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

1?3

and therefore by him the more esteemed, among the Moreans. One time, among the

when Theagenes came from thence, and related how he had behaved himself in

rest,

what he went about, Aristobulus applauding much the well carriage of it, and rejoicing in the

happy

these words unto him.

comfort to me, see that I

"

my much

a very great

It is

loved cousin, to

have a kinsman, to

many bonds

tied with so

respect as I

am

addressed

success,

whom

am

I

of affection and

to you, that

God and

na-

ture have been so liberal unto us to confer

upon him such excellent abilities of the mind as they have upon you so that I do ;

not

know wherein any man may

that

you are

short.

justly say

I will only accuse for-

tune that hath given you your education in a religion that

is

contrary to what

which reigneth in Peloponnesus; gion, to us that are born there,

now

little

re-

and have

our acquaintance, friends, and estates there,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

174 is

all

of larger extent and of more weight than I have ever been an

the world besides.

enemy

use persuasions in

to

faith, or to seek

by argument

matters of

to bring

any

one to the belief of mine; since that in this

matter where reason falleth so far

short,

it is

easier to raise scruples than to

quiet them, like those unskilful conjurors that cannot lay the rebellious spirits that

they have called

God may be long

:

but

if

my

take effect, I hope different

in

prayers to

we

opinions

;

shall not

knowing would be

how much

to

in which I

do not think that any man

your advantage it for you to conform yourself to these times,

likely to

is

go beyond you in having honour-

able and great employments from

your

you may win yourself much honour, and illustrate our whole faPrince, whereby

mily, if that only consideration

prove an impediment/' genes replied

in this

do not

Whereunto Thea-

manner

" :

My

own

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

175

much honoured Lord, are so me who am daily conversant

imperfections,

apparent to

with them, that although I dare not admit the least thought of taxing your judgment,

yet I find that you look upon

me

the glass of affection, which

maketh

things in ness

me

through all

that are of the colour of good-

to appear

much

greater and fairer

than, in reality, they are

;

but

my

aim

shall

be to raise up myself to that image and idea you have conceived of me, and so

make myself the

worthier of that good will

which you are pleased to bear me, and hath, on my side, yet no other tie but a deep and affectionate reverence goodness and worth.

to

your

But, in particular,

whereas you intimate that I should be framed in such a mould as that I may be fit

for the service of

of state, find in

and

affairs

must confess ingenuously, that I myself no inclination at all that I

way and, ;

my King

indeed,

my

education hath been

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

176

1

hitherto

very contrary thereunto, for

have conversed the most part of ray time with the gentler Muses,

or, at the

least,

grounded my chief delight in them, who are enemies to the troubles and disquiets that accompany an active life yet withal, :

I will

gave

never be so ungrateful to

me

God

that

a soul, and to the world in which

I live, as though I were born only to myself,

that I will refuse service to

any offered means of doing

God, the King,

my

or

T

Countr}

but, certainly, I will never lose the rest that I

may

happy

enjoy by anxious seeking

those occasions, which, withal, I

when

I

have met

may peradventure be un6t

I conceive the surest

way

for.

to leave the

is

disposing of one's course of

mind and a quiet

to the

life

Divine Providence, and for the bear an even

;

rest,

soul,

to

which

and only can make one happy in any But for what you fortune or vocation. will,

speak concerning religion,

I

shall say as

PRIVATE MKMOIRS. you

we may not be long

did, that I wish

different opinions

;

177 in

but I mean, by your

embracing of mine, not I of yours and to the end that you may judge whether I do ;

it

with reason or no, I

will deliver to

in general the qualities of

mine; and

you I

am

confident that neither you nor any rational

man

will

and

principal consideration,

then

condemn them.

The

first

and of the

most importance, I conceive to be, that all honour and glory be given to that general and omnipotent Cause of causes whom all nations adore to err if

we

;

wherein

we

are not likely

look but into our owri hearts,

which are the temples he delighteth most in, and then worship that Author of nature according as we find written there

whosoever doth thus, though they in the

knowledge of

all

;

fall

and short

other mysteries, I

cannot but judge charitably that God's mercies

will

of ignorance.

supply for their other defects In the next place,

I

conceive

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

178

an indispensable obligation that all they who are born in this part of the world, do it

receive the

first

press-money that

spiritual

he hath ordained, under whose standard

we

and then, that they believe the general and continually received tenets that, without dispute, all men do are to fight

:

agree upon, and were impiety to doubt

Then, besides reasons

tell

spiritual ones,

me, that

of.

many temporal

necessary the go-

it is

vernment of the church should be monarchical, niable,

and the authority of

although I

peril of

but, withal, I think

it

itself

within

fit

its

this

who have

themselves exa-

may by

mine things without contain

unde-

not stretch

will

with such rigour, but that they, ability to judge,

it

damnation

that

own

it

;

should

limits,

and

not put forth a proud hand to grasp temporal government, or to control and depose

whose persons are sacred by being God's anointed, and are only liable to his

kings,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

1?9

immediate correction, unless peradventure it be in such commonwealths where the people have an interest, and receive their

Prince conditionally

and, therefore, cer-

;

no power on earth can absolve subjects from their due and natural obetainly

dience to them.

Lastly, for other lesser

points, I conceive the safest off all passion, all

humility to the Creator of

faith

is

to put

one's will with

and reining

and begging the

all

things,

of grace and of true

light

from him, to believe that which one

educated

in,

another that

and not is

man would be self,

way

is

to think the worse of

of different opinions, for no so malicious against him-

as in so important a business to

do

against what his understanding and conscience do dictate to part, I

am

will confess

him

;

and, for

my

so free from partiality that I plainly, I

doubt many errors

have crept in among us, principally by two causes; the one in that when many

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

180

barbarous nations did overrun the parts

where the true

faith

that they plucked

by the

roots

;

up

was professed, and learning, as

it

were,

in the next age, in the infancy

of the recovery of

it,

some men, with an

ignorant and unlearned zeal, taught some

such erroneous doctrine, as since the best wits

and greatest scholars do

strive to de-

fend, out of reverence to antiquity

now

the other, in that

:

and

of late since the

separation of the churches, there hath been so

much way

passion,

given to the bitterness of

and the

spirit

of contradiction

hath prevailed so much, that some of the

most learned men have stretched some tenets

beyond what, I think, themselves And I doubt not but this ingebelieved.

nuous confession of mine,

will

draw from

you a like acknowledgment of many errors on your side, sprung from like causes.

Then

to conclude

swer to the

my

last part

speech with an an-

of yours, I shall think

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. I

have done very well

if I

181

can bring myself

upon even terms with the world, considering the misfortunes that have accompanied

me from my rest

very cradle; and with the

of our family shall and do rejoice,

by your virtuous and heroic actions, have added unto it much honour that

you,

and splendour/'

Thus Aristobulus and Theagenes spent some time in discourses of this nature, the conclusion of which was, that Aristobulus

persuaded

his

kinsman to apply himself

industriously to the service of the Prince,

of

whom

he gave

this character.

"That he

loved and practised justice in the highest

degree ; was free from passions, and moderate

and temperate

in all his desires

;

of a

quick apprehension and solid judgment* accompanied with much modesty ; very pious and devout, and capable of counsel in all occasions that

occurred to him

;

and

very constant in his resolutions when, after

PRIVATE MEMOIRS

182

mature deliberation, he had proposed to himself what course to take; and, in

fine,

was of such an excellent mixture, that

it

was not to be doubted but he would be a glorious Prince, if the goodness of his na-

ture did not incline

through

affection,

him

by

to be

won upon,

bad counsellors."

Which testimony given of him by one that knew him from his infancy, and the daily seeing him do singular

all

grace,

benignity to

all

princely exercises with

and

his

affableness

and

men, made Theagenes

in

a short time not only dedicate his ordinary

attendance to him, but also all

the faculties of his soul

:

his heart

and

so that he did

set himself forward in the noblest

manner

that he could, and was inferior to none in

magnificent expenses, whereby he might

make

the Prince take notice

how

desirous

he was to do him honour there, and to favour

gain

his

about

his person

;

and

for

his

diligence

he soon got the style of a

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

But

careful servant.

all

the glories of the

and the beauty of the

court,

which shined continually

his quarrel to

ladies there,

like

so

many

make him forget, or sweeten

could not

stars,

183

womankind

in general, for

which gave occasion to the Earl of Arcadia, who was Captain of the King of Morea's guard, and a complete Stelliana's sake

:

and noted

courtier,

for applying himself

very affectionately to the service of ladies, to speak thus liarity

them

their fami-

warranting any thing that either of

said to the other.

" When thinks

I

abilities

any lady daily

one day to him,

I look

upon you, Theagenes, me-

enough that telleth me your might win you the affection of

see

;

pass

seeming to

but when

I consider

how you

by the fairest faces without have any sense of the divine

beams of beauty that shine there, I begin to doubt that the fault proceedeth from your mind, which,

I

understand, hath been

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

184 trained

up continually

in scholastical spe-

and hath always conversed with books at such times as you have not exer-

culations,

cised your

in the use of

body

arms and

managing of horses, and such other disciplines as become a gentleman and a soldier; so that I see there

best and most

may

be excess in the

commendable

that in a moderation

these,

things, for

may be

es-

teemed chief ornaments, do beget either a dull stupidity or a rude barbarousness in

those that adore them too affectionately

and

;

doubt much that from one of these

I

two causes doth proceed your having no mistress here, where so much beauty reigneth

:

but I shall

before

fail

much

we go from hence,

of I

my

tainly

it

is

that

;

if,

do not wean

you from your learned modesty, or your martial wildness

aim,

civilize

one of which cer-

maketh your heart so

rebellious against the

power of

Which when he had

said,

fair eyes."

accompanying

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. his

words with smiles, Theagenes answered

him sure

no

185

in this

me

"

manner

:

should not cen-

before you are certain that I have

mistress,

and

feel

not in

heat of love's flames collect

You

from

my

;

my

breast the

which you cannot

concealing them, since

you may have a familiar example in the deepest waters, whose streams slide away with least noise confess that

I

;

but, if

owe this

it

were

should

so, I

blessing to the sacred

Muses, which proceedeth then neither from dulness nor want of confidence, as you

seem to intimate, but rather ravishing delight which withal

that

retire

it is

the soul-

they feed

themselves

into

them their

sanctuary, that makcth them despise other pleasures as being

much below them.

because you shall not think that

I

But

make

use of this for an excuse, I will do as the

famous Syracusan mathematician did, who was long before he could be drawn to let

down

his

knowledge, which soared high

in

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

186

spiritual speculations abstracted

from gross

matter, and in subtle demonstrations, so

low as to employ instruments, but his

knowledge

making mechanical

in

it

when he did make use of geometry that way, he

in

effected with the greatest ease that be,

and as

it

might

were playing, such admirable

things as seemed miracles to the ignorant vulgar,

who judge by

their senses without

and yet he despised all those conclusions so much, that he would going any farther

;

not leave one word of mention of them to posterity.

In like manner, to reduce you

out of your error, I

will, for

a while, make

truce with higher contemplations, and let

down my judgment

make

to

love to a

mistress; in which I dare, beforehand, pro-

mise myself such success, ture,

you

shall

servant of the

and, because I

new

that, for the fu-

have no cause to pity any

Muses "will

for learned

leave

modesty

you no colour

;

for

exceptions, I will apply myself to the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. service of that great

you continually

and

sigh,

fair

16?

whom

lady for

because you receive

from her so small encouragement to conthat

tinue

yours

;

and

that

my

me,

it

hitherto

am

unlucky affection of

so confident of the favour

learned patronesses

being their

may

procure

custom to insinuate

themselves with secret sweetness into the

most

rebellious

minds, and to tame the

hardest hearts, as I

am

nothing at

all

de-

terred with the consideration that she

is

the greatest lady of Egypt, and the richest,

and of the noblest family, and favour with the

enemy

Queen

;

and, hitherto, an

to all intimations of love.

because

my

glorious

by having a worthy

conquest

may be

engage you to continue your

you

see

in highest

me

But,

the

more

rival,

I will

suit, lest

when

to have got the start of you,

you may give over your course, pretending the change of your affection, when, indeed, it is

the barrenness of your hopes

:

there^

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

188 fore

name what wager you

will

venture

upon the success of our loves, which the most fortunate man therein shall win, and the Prince shall be our judge/'

This over-

made by Theagenes with some earnestness, pleased the Earl very well, who ordered

ture,

the quality of the wager should be at the discretion

loser's

;

he being confident to

have the advantage

was

passion feigned

;

real,

in his

and

suit,

the

since his

other's

but

besides that, in every respect for

the mysteries of the court and of winning ladies' affections,

wherein he had long ex-

perience with ha'ppy success, he preferred himself

much

before Theagenes,

who was

yet scarce entered into his apprentissage there.

But what cannot continual industry

bring to pass? and especially with

whose

hearts, for the

most

women,

part, to those

that can take the true height of them, are

made

of gentle and yielding substance?

Certainly

it

supplieth for

all

defects, even

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. the

want of

was evident

love, as

189

The-

in

whose personated affection won such a real one from Mauricana, that

agenes's suit

;

she lived only in him

:

and

this

she ex-

pressed in such a public manner, that the Earl,

who had never

seen towards himself

from her other than the dainful

mistress,

acknowledge

not

a dis-

choose

and giving over

but

his fruit-

yielded the loss of his wager to

less labour,

Theagenes

it,

could

effects of

who,

;

till

then, never omitted

any occasion of endearing himself into the For whenaffection of his princely lady. soever she went abroad, he was the next to

attend her chair

;

if

she went to any place

of devotion, he went too, himself so there as saint that he

came

if

but behaved

she were the only

in pilgrimage

unto

;

if

she were a spectator to any public enter-

tainment, as of tilting or the there

make

himself

by wearing the

known

like,

he would

for her servant

livery of her colours,

and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

190

clothing his servants correspondency

;

and

any comedy or masque at the court where she was present, he would teach his

at

dumb

eyes in their

language to beg her

favours so effectually, that

times in

many

public conferring them upon him, she did

exceed that reserved ness which

among

is

the ladies of those parts

she was not a

little

knew no more of

censured by

lady, the

And

dearness with

first

;

so that

many

that

her but by the outward

face of her actions.

Theagenes's

practised

the fame of this

so

of the bedchamber

great to the

Queen, and of a vast wealth, was soon dispersed through his friends, it

added

it

all

wrought

Morea

;

where, with

different effects: for

to Stelliana's

deep sorrow, who,

though she neither hoped nor desired anything for herself, so broken was her heart, yet she

felt

a kind of repining that another

should enjoy that place which was once her's,

and that her misfortunes had made

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. her lose

and others of

;

his friends,

whose

was accompanied with fondness,

affection

were grieved in the midst of

their joy for

good hap, doubting that the advantages which she would bring him, if he married

his

her,

would cause him

to settle himself with

her in that country, whereby they should

But the

lose him.

discrcetest of those

that loved him, not only rejoiced at his fortune, but advised

him

to

him and daily

delay no time in effecting what

they understood she

much

was to marry her; but

how

solicited

if

desired,

they had

which

known

opposite the motions of his

were to

heart

exterior demonstrations,

his

and

what was the ground of them, they would never have lost time about this fruitless counsel.

In

mean season

the

great differences

arose between the Egyptian

King and the

Prince of Morea, and their ministers; of all

which

.

.

.

.

the vices of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

192

phajstion were the originary causes

for

;

he

having o excluded Aristobulus from the ma-

naging of affairs, would have them carried and concluded only between the Egyptian favourite

and himself: but

it

soon appeared

how unequally they were matched,

for the

one having been always trained up

in a

constant way of state businesses, and Hephaestion having never attended to other

than courtly exercises, and to give himself delight,

and

to so

much

of business as con-

cerned the satisfying of his

will or avarice,

was soon overreached by the Egyptian, and reduced into such disadvantageous straits, that

he could not recover himself

out of them but by falling out with him

and

this,

added

to

some other

vices of his,

by the immodest and love of tisfy it

women, wherein he

;

insatiable

strived to sa-

himself without respect to fame, that

imported him to conceal

from,

made him grow

to be

his affections

much hated

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and scorned ceiving,

in that court

;

193

which he per-

and having received some

bitter

affront in matter of his mistresses, he

grew

into a rancorous detestation of the causers

of them, and resolved to set up his rest

upon the overthrowing those

and

treaties,

breaking the peace between those crowns

;

foreseeing that otherwise he could not avoid his

own

ruin.

Whereupon he wrought

so

much

with

the Prince, that he gave his consent to return

into

hastily

shewed that

Morea, wherein

he

his affection to his friend pre-

vailed above his

own judgment, and above

his love to his mistress, for

to express to

some

he sticked not

that were about

him

that he saw no other reason for his sudden

departure, more than Hephaestion's earnest solicitation

much

;

and

that

sweetness, and so

he

discerned

many

so

perfections,

accompanied with excellent beauty, in the King's sister, that he conceived no lady in o

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

194

the world so worthy of his affections as

she was.

But

above

these

all

the other respect prevailed so noble a testimony he

;

gave of a Prince's constancy in his friendloved ship ; for many conceived that he Hepha3stion only

because he had

once

chosen to love him, and not because he still

judged that he deserved

it.

Among

the rest that provided to attend the Prince in his return,

Theagenes was one; which

was no sooner known by Mauricana but she sent for him, and there used

powerful means to divert

endearing

affection to him,

the

this his intention

that an entreating beauty

sometimes

all

her

is

mistress of;

own extreme

which she would

raise in

value by recounting the scornful disdains

wherewith she had paid great Princes* loves then by taxing him with falsehood ;

and treachery, to

make

inhuman

it

in inveigling

away her heart

serve only for a trophy of his

cruelty

;

then by representing the

PRIVATE MEMOIR^S. advantages which his match with her would bring him

;

but most of

all

she relied upon

the force of her fair eyes and charming

when she saw that nothing would prevail for the obtaining of the main looks

but

:

of her desire, she sought at least to win

time for the present, hoping that when the Prince was gone, she might the more easily

work

his heart to her desires,

and therefore

only sued to him to stay while the stormy

made

season

it

unsafe to pass the seas

that in that while she might, by little,

teach her soul

how to

at once.

and

bear her future

misery, and not be plunged into all

little

;

it

unkindly

But Theagenes, whose very

bowels were then even torn in pieces be-

tween a sad constancy and tender pity, strived

and

all

he could to sweeten her passions,

to excuse the expression of his affec-

tions,

which he said that he perceived she

mistook, for that he never

otherwise than

in a

made approaches

courtly manner, as de-

o 2

PKLVATE MKMOIKS.

196

siring to be called her knight,

he would

still

service that

it

maintain by

which

all

title

the real

might challenge from him,

and should attend mindful with singular delight of the great favour she had done

him ; but that

his affections

had once been,

though unfortunately, engaged elsewhere with too great force, to place them upon

any other object; and that, for the present, he was obliged to attend the Prince his master, into whose service, in an honour-

now

able place, he was

But

received.

that he could say availed no

more

all

to the

cure of her mind, than the speeches of ignorant standers-by do, to bring health to

one that

lieth

burning in a violent fever

so that,

when he

left

wedded

to sorrow

and despair

long

after, seeing

whom left

;

remained

her, she ;

and not

she could not have him

only she thought worthy of her, she

the world, that afforded to her but a

constant succession of continual torments,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and consecrated the worthier spouse,

197

rest of her

among

days to a

other vestal virgins

of noble quality.

The winds and

seas

seemed

to rejoice in

the Prince's return, and to delight in the glorious

them ;

for they

have a

fair

in the first

was

that

navy

all

committed

conspired to

to

make him

who, disembarking port that he could fetch, took passage

;

post horses, that with the greater speed he

might give his father the content of seeing him ; who was at Corinth, longing to hear

good news of him, which he himself was the

first

messenger

there, that city

Upon

of.

made

all

his arrival

the affectionate

demonstrations of a hearty and unfeigned

joy that could be imagined, for the safe return of their ful lord,

of

much

faith the

whom

much

loved and most hope-

they feared was in a place

danger, and with a king in vvhose

people had

little

confidence,

the like did the country throughout

and ;

so

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

198

was apparent that no Prince could be dearer to his subjects than he was, and that

it

therefore had

all his

enemies,

ness could admit of any, fear

when they saw

union between the

if his

much

good-

reason to

so firm a knot

and

commander and

the

But Theagenes could not be a

obeyers.

witness of the joyful acclamations that ac-

companied his master to the court for he had no sooner set his feet upon the shore, ;

but that a great indisposition took him,

which hindered

his

journey thither, and

the attendance on his lord for some days.

In the

mean time Hephaestion knowing,

that the vulgar sort of the disaffected

to the

alliance

kingdom were with

Egypt,

and that there could be no better way to break that treaty than to make them judges of

it,

who would be

as

partial

hearers as he could be a relater, he prevailed so

made

much

with the King, that

he

a general convocation of the three

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. kingdom, consisting of the clergy, the nobility, and some chosen persons to represent the body of the comestates of the

mons, to give their advice in this weighty which he opened to them, making affair ;

a narration from the beginning to that present,

how

matters stood between the

all

King of Egypt and mingled

many

his master,

with

falsities

wrested the appearances of to a false sense

;

wherein he truths,

many

and

things

so that the assembly was

so inflamed with fury against that king,

and possessed with faith

belief that there

in his proceedings, that

was no

they unani-

mously besought the King of Morea to break off

all

treaties with that perfidious

nation, as they termed

them war

;

and denounce

promising their real assistance

as well in serving all of

need were, as tions than

it,

in

them

making

in person, if

larger contribu-

could be paralleled by any ex-

ample of subjects

to their

King

;

whereof

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. they immediately

made

a liberal

begin-

ning, in hope that their entreaties would

prove effectual. declining age

The

old

King

made him now

then, whose

desire to live

in quiet, resigned over all business to his

son,

and to the conduct of Hephaestion,

who

presently

set

it

in such a

way

as

might win him applause at home, though at the cost of his master's honour abroad ;

and caused Aristobulus of Egypt,

whom

to

in his public relation

had laden with many as

well

to

be sent for out

satisfy

false

the

he

accusations,

bitterness

of his

malice against him, as to provide for his

own to

safety, since it

make

was necessary

for

him

the appearance of the fault and

betraying the state, which he pretended,

upon somebody ; and the whole negotiation had been carried between to light

Aristobulus and himself.

Through

desire

then to do good offices for his kinsman, that he had so

much

reason

to

respect,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and

to clear, as

much

as in

him

honour, that was

much traduced

men's

Theagenes

opinions,

Corinth than

haste to

lay,4iis in

most

made more

his indisposition

and the day the sun, that was

would well give way unto that he arrived there,

201

:

then taking his leave of the northern signs to go his progress to his farthest south-

ward declination, shined out more comfortable

and glorious beams than

it

had

done of many days before; which was the reason that out in

many

their

persons of quality

coaches into

came

the fields

to

refresh their spirits, with sucking in the free

and warmed

air.

Among whom

Stel-

was one, whose sight surprised and astonished Theagenes, like one come sud-

liana

denly from a dark prison to too great a light, who met her directing of her course abroad, even as he was entering in at the After so long absence gates of the city. her beauty seemed brighter to him than

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

202

when he left her in

:

but she sate so pensively

one side of the coach by

herself, as

Apelles might have taken her counterfeit to express

Adonis

Venus sorrowing

for her beloved

yet howsoever by her habits and

:

her sadness, her brighter beams might seem to be in part eclipsed, they did nevertheless disperse

themselves so forcibly abroad,

that the sun seemed to

grow pale

at her

dazzled

with

a

greater light than his own, and

wept

so

appearance,

bitter a

had

as

being

shower to see that an earthly face

the

victory of his, which

now

for

shame he hid behind a cloud, that she was constrained

to

return

back,

while her

coach, that was honoured with carrying

might be esteemed much nobler than that studded with carbuncles, and hya-

her,

cinths,

which Aurora

sitteth in,

when from

her beautiful tresses she shaketh upon the earth the delightful morning dews that she

hath gathered in the moist ocean.

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

203

Theagenes was no sooner alighted at his lodging, hut that he sent a servant to find out Stelliana's, and to receive her leave that he might

come

her, whither he

the next day to visit

went at the

appointed

time, with resolution only to please himself in so fair

a sight, deeming her unwor-

thy of his more serious affection,

conceived

made But

to

whom

he

had so soon forgot her vows him at his going out of Morea.

he did unjustly in censuring her before he heard her defence from her surely,

own mouth

;

and

in her presence he

had

cause to fear that by so great a light

might succeed to him as fly,

his

that through his

own

it

to the indiscreet

fondness, burneth

wings by playing with the flame.

It is too great for

tions of their hearts

me

to describe the

and

souls at their

mofirst

meeting nor can it be conceived by any but such as have loved in a divine manner, ;

and have had

their affections

suspended by

PRIVATE MEMOIRS

204

misfortunes and mistakes

:

therefore I will

mention the subject of their discourse, which was the challenging each only

other of

much unkindness

;

she him, for

not giving her timely advertisement of his health,

which would have prevented the

inconveniences grown

death

and he

;

credit to fections

it,

by

his

rumoured

her, for giving too

and

sudden

so soon bestowing her af-

upon another; whereunto both of

them used

their best

endeavours to

dis-

charge themselves and fasten the blame

upon the other; but in conclusion they both saw that there was more of misfortune in

it,

than of fault on either side

:

which was the cause that Theagenes made often visits to her, and she willingly received them

gage

:

yet he, resolving not to en-

his affections too far, the first

knot

being by her broken, because of the doubtful rumour that Mardontius had once had

much

interest

in

her

affections.

But

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

205

withal her excessive beauty and gracefulness did so win

upon his senses, that after some time, when he thought he had reestablished himself in a good place of her

he attempted her to consent

well-liking,

to

his

with

an

all

and prosecuted his suit the vehemence and subtlety that

passion,

earnest

could use,

and well experienced lover without mention of any pro-

vision to her

honour

which she no sooner

;

perceived, but that her heart swelling with

a noble anger and disdain, she banished him from her presence, and it was a long time before he could take off that hard sentence, though he daily offered

her indignation

much

up

sorrow and unfeign-

ed signs of deep repentance, which, end, so soul,

much

to

in

the

prevailed with her generous

which yet was

full

of affection and

did but resent his disrespect as her honour

claimed of her, that

she admitted

again into her favour, and

made

as

him

much

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

206

demonstration of their hearts

and

fection,

it

as before

were joined

in

:

a fraternal

manner of

their

now

so that

living,

each

towards other, confuted the opinion those

who

divine

of

hold that the laws of a high and

cannot

friendship

where a woman hath a In the

af-

mean

be

observed

part.

time, Clericius, that was

of the Prince's bedchamber, and esteemed to

be in

his favour

became an earnest him was

to her

more than any

there,

suitor to her to receive

husband

;

but by her refusal

justly punished for his disdain of other

women

:

for

he was so hard to please in

the choice of "a wife, that of

tageous overtures

many advanwhich had been made

unto him, he would accept of none; but declared himself that until he

with such a

woman

as both for

did

meet

mind and

body, he could wish nothing to be mended in her,

he would

live

tainly, his resolution

a single

life.

being such,

Cer-

if Stel-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. had not been born

liana

in

this age,

he

would never have known what love had been

but when he had grown into her ac-

:

quaintance, then he said that he believed

nature had been oversparing of her blessings to all

heap

all

other

women, on purpose

to

imaginable perfections upon one,

power might be the more adWhen he saw that by himself he

so that her

mired.

could not prevail in obtaining what he so

much

desired, he discovered the violence

of his passions to Theagenes, there being

much by

entireness between them, begotten

their daily conversation in their both

serving the

same master, and knowing that

he sued not to her for himself, but that withal he had an interest in her in an ho-

nourable way, he beseeched him, with the greatest adjurations that might be, to en-

deavour himself

may

perceive

in his behalf.

Here one

what a divine thing the

obligation of friendship

is

in

a generous

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

208

and gentle heart ; for Theagenes, that would rather have consented to the loss of his life

than to see her in another man's

possession, his flames daily increasing, be-

came himself a mediator

for his friend, to

gain him that content that would cause

himself eternal sorrow in a cold self of his

:

which he did not

manner, as only to acquit himpromise, but used and urged all

the arguments that he could to win Stelliana to this match, so

much

to her advan-

But

in temporal respects.

tage

all

the

answer that he could get from her, was a flat

denial, alleging that she

tie herself to

any man

of love and affection

;

would never

in other

knot than

and that her misfor-

tunes had broken and deadened her heart that way.

The

latter part

genes heard with cause

it

much

of which, Theaimpatience, be-

concerned him so nearly, and did

put her in mind how once otherwise,

when they

it

was much

lived so happily

and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

209

joyed only in each other; which caused Stelliana in like

man; and

him by

to

change

suitor for another

yet she professed more good-

any one

to

to tax his

now become a

that was

will

manner

else,

infinite if

at

degrees least

a created

heart be capable of such extreme tances

;

tented,

with which he rested

and

much

manner

in the best

than

dis-

con-

that he

could, excused himself of his unwilling im-

portunity for his friend,

how

little

whom he

he could prevail

informed

in his suit.

//

In the

by

mean time

sinister

Hephaestion, having

means broken the peace and

alliance with Egypt,

likewise so for the

be secure

sought

to provide

future that he might

they would

not piece again,

whereunto he 'knew the old king to be

much

inclined

;

and therefore he endea-

voured to engage the Prince in some other place, that so there might be an impossibility

of his returning to treat of the for-

f

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

210

mer match

and considering that there is a perpetual jealousy between the crowns of Athens and of Egypt, lest either should ;

deemed

increase in power, he

draw that

the most

King of Athens for hoping also by this means to Prince with more affection into

expedient to his sister;

it

solicit the

the league that was

King of Egypt. negotiation

making against the

Whereupon,

should

be

desiring the

speedy

and

ef-

he resolved to go in person upon embassage, and therefore made the

fectual, this

noblest preparations that might be for his

journey, correspondent

to

such an

em-

ployment, and befitting the favourite of

King as he served who, to do him the more grace, appointed several of so great a

his

own

;

servants

and of

most eminent quality,

to

his sons, of the

accompany him

among which, Theagenes was

one,

;

who

had given evident demonstrations, that he would be

upon other

like public occasions

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

211

behind none in doing his master and nation

honour, and in this he was nothing

short of

what he formerly had done

;

but

the time of making provision to defray such

great and extraordinary expenses was so

many of his friends thought he would be much troubled before he could short, that

a sum of money, as he was

raise so great

upon the sudden

to lay out

;

which com-

ing to Stelliana's notice, she greatly rejoiced that she

make

had

so apt an occasion to

expression of the

would do

much

Theagenes, were

for

that it

she

in her

power, and presently took up money upon the best jewels and plate that she had, and

engaged such lands as were hers, either in present or in reversion, and having gathered together a large sum, she sent

it

to

Theagenes, entreating him to make use of it

without cumbering his estate, which

consisting of settled rents, would soon quit

a greater debt

;

and thus she made him p 2

at

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

212

once master of for.

she had or could hope

all

This generous action of hers sunk so

deep into

his heart, that it

was

like the

throwing in of a great weight into a scale

was before so equally balanced as one could not guess which way it would in-

that

and so bringeth that side suddenly down for before he suffered a continual cline,

;

conflict in himself

tion of her

worth and perfections, and the

dissuasions of larly of his

at the

between the considera-

some of his

mother, who, as you understood

beginning of

this

discourse,

match with

ever averse to his

But now

friends, particu-

was

Stelliana.

that besides the contemplation

of those excellencies in general, he had

such a clear demonstration of the applying them by her affection to his particular, for greater could

trusted

him with

not be than all

;

have

her estate and for-

tune, his heart yielded,

get her for his wife

to

and he resolved

and those

to

difficulties

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. which before opposed

now overcome, like

that

this

213

action

being

did quicken his resolution,

water that being thrown upon a it

cannot extinguish, rnaketh

with greater violence.

it

fire

burn

But when he had

declared his intention and desire to Stelliana,

much

he

received

from

her an answer

contrary to what he expected

effect of

which was a

the

;

flat refusal,

pro-

nounced with much settledness and a congrounded by her upon supposed reason and a strange construction of love to him which yet she could not stant gravity,

;

deliver without

many

tears,

bewailing her

misfortune that brought her to these terms, that to be constant to her honour, though

and

therein she had no witness but herself, to

be the surer of her dearest

friend's affec-

must deny the just that she loved above her own tion, she

suit of life,

him

and

re-

fuse that offer that in respect of the world

would be most honourable

to her,

and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

214

whereto her

wishes were

bent than his

more strongly

for she

acknowledged ingenuously how she had once given her ;

consent to marry Mardontius, and, upon

upon both

the assurance of that, passed sides,

ture,

had given him leave to have her picwhich he still kept, and therefore she

would never

man

that one

suffer

should

possess her, and another such a gage of a

former, though half-constrained, affection

and

-

that

Theagenes,

hereafter, if

colder

thoughts,

the heat and edge of his pas-

sion should be

give

in

somewhat abated, might

another interpretation to her past

actions than

now he

deem her not

so

did,

and peradventure

worthy of

his affection

and respect.

Hereupon Theagenes used the guments he could termed to

;

to

best ar-

certify her,

as he

wrong judgment, representing her how his reason was the same that at it,

any time

it

would be, and

his

knowledge

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

215

of her actions being already complete, his

judging of them could not alter; and that

he did not admit of the is

gar

guided by, who

opinion, but examined to their reality; tion,

level that the vul-

wholly ruled by

is

all

things according

and therefore

whose root was

his affec-

in her virtues,

and did

not spring from any blind passion, was not liable to any intervals of heat or cold.

And

that for Mardontius, she

that promise, he

first

for the picture that

was

breaking

it,

free of

and

as

he had, she could not

punish him more than in letting him

re-

by him, that so he might continually be put in mind of those joys that his folly bereaved him of, and live, like tain

it

damned

whose greatest misery this is, in perpetual despair and curse himBut when Theagenes perceived that self. the

all

souls,

he said could not

move

her fixed mind,

but rather increased her sorrow, he ceased to

solicit

her

any more

for

that time,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

216

hoping that afterward he might find a more propitious hour for his suit ; which to facilitate

all

by

the

means that he

by a genfight with him

could, he sent to Mardontius,

tleman, to challenge him to till

one of them were de-

life,

for that the earth could

in mortal duel

prived of their

not bear them both at once; unto whom,

when they were

in the field

together, he

declared at large the cause of his enmity

with him, taking upon him to be the re-

venger of the wrong he had done to Stelliana,

and by sending him

world, to

ing

make But

her.

that he would for that if

out

of the

a way to himself of gain-

Mardontius

told

him,

not fight in this quarrel,

he had done her any wrong

she had herself too

rigorously punished

and by rejecting him after repentance, made him the only sufferer

him

it

;

for

it,

and that

his life could

be no object

his

for for

Theagenes's enjoying her, since he could

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

217

pretend no interest in her, which if he could have done he would not have

los

her when he loved her equal with his

own

soul,

and

strived to regain her as

he could for heaven if it,

and

;

she would not give

he would restore

as

for the picture,

him

leave to keep

to her

it

much

by Thea-

genes's conveyance, together with a declara-

tion under his

own hand, of what he had

already said, and that his tongue spoke false if ever it uttered

any thing to her

dis-

honour, and a disclaiming of ever having

had any

beyond what the laws of modesty and honour would permit her. With the performance of which, and interest in her,

the restitution of the picture, Theagenes rested satisfied, seeing that he could not

prevail with

him

to

draw

his sword,

and

that, indeed, the cause of this desire to

was taken away by this proceeding and writing of Mardontius which made him fight

;

deem him

too unworthy to be his enemy.

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

218

Theagenes having had a main part of the

this success,

difficulties

and

on Stel-

being thus taken away, without

liana's side

hazard of blood, through the meanness of Mardontius's spirit, he re-

any

loss or

turned to her with

much

joy through the

confidence he had that

now he

no more obstacles

what he so much

longed for

:

in

should find

but her heart was so settled fixed

by being long

upon her melancholy

resolutions of living for the future a solitary life, that

although

now

the principal

causes of them ceased, yet, like water that

being

made to

boil, will

cool though the

fire

not grow suddenly

be taken from

it,

she

could not so soon relent or slacken her rigour, that he

might from thence draw to

himself any ground of hopes. Whereupon,

much

after

solicitation

and not prevailing,

through despair he read upon himself a

doom

of

much

affliction,

as

the

unfor-

tunate and wretched souls shall do in the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. last

day

219

the heaviest part of which shall

;

be their perpetual banishment from the blessed sight of

God and ;

in like

manner

he made a vow, that after he had taken leave

now

his

of her, he would never see her

more, nor Morea for her sake, but would

wander

like a lost

man through

the rest of

the world, seeing that hereabouts he could

meet with nothing but sad objects that would continually put him in mind of the happiness that he had sight of her

missed;

would be but

and the

like the punish-

ment of Tantalus, to increase in him the desire of what he must never enjoy. To which expression of sorrow made by him, although it were by reflection stronger in might be but the violence of a passion which might in time be

her, yet thinking

it

calmed, or at the least diverted,

if it

met

not with a serious opposition, she answered in

this

manner,

clearing her face

gentle smiles, a habit far differing

with

from

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

220

" Cer-

what her mind was clothed with. Theagenes,

tainly,

as

if

you love me

you would have me

believe,

are no less cross in teaching

express

me

it,

as

much

your

stars

you how

than you say mine are in making

take the resolution of ending

in a single

to

and

retired

life,

my

days

for the which,

you cannot deny but that I had reason and if now that may be pretended to ;

cease, yet

hath so sunk into

it

like a thick

dye

long bathed,

that

in it

which

it

my

hath been

can take no other

colour or impression ; but I think

not give

me

heart,

the example of any

you can-

man, that

through the abundance of their love to

any lady who loved them as you know that I do you, which I take God to witness

is

as

much

as ever sister did a brother,

did take a resolution and confirm

vow of never

it

with a

seeing her more. Is absence,

then, the most expedient

means

to increase

or confirm affections? or peradventure

is

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. it,

that

221

so well acquainted with

you are

foreign parts, that all places are alike to

you content, and those best liked of you, where you shall not be in

you

to afford

danger to have

true zeal to check your

my

and tax you of inconstancy and ingratitude ?" Then after some pause,

loose delights,

and changing her forced countenance into the livery of her mind, not being

able

longer to continue her dissimulation, she

proceeded thus

" If

and

that

you were grown weary of loving me, you would have been more gentle to have deceived

me me

a

:

so,

and by degrees have instructed wind in again my affection and

little,

to

loosen to the

it

from you, which now

utmost scope that

extend unto done, to

;

but indeed,

make my

my it

is

stretched

heart can is

unkindly

love the cause of your

inconstancy, and to cast off into an ocean

of sorrow the near-sinking vessel of

my

fortune and content, which held but by

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

222

one anchor, and now must needs shipwreck for your sake."

The

suffer

last

of

which words she sighed out with such a flood of tears, true witnesses of her bleeding heart, that was

so deeply

wounded

with what Theagenes had said, although at the

first

she strived to disguise

that

it,

who thought no sorrow could have ceeded his, was now fain to lay

he,

exthe

thought of that aside, to attend to mitigate hers as

;

it

but his bowels were so shut up and

were congealed with

grief, that it

was

a long time before he could frame to himself

any

distinct conceptions,

and then be-

fore he could apparel those in

during which profound sides,

and

silence

interrupted only with

tears, their hearts did

fit

words

;

on both

some

sighs

melt with ten-

heap of snow opposed to the sunbeams, and then, being endued with derness, like a

love's

magnetical virtue, each of them re-

solved to themselves to admit of no

mo-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

223

tions but such as were conformable to the

which could not be long between them, for nothing is

other's desires

concealed

;

hid to the divine light of.lovers' flames,

by

which they see and talk with each other's thoughts,

so

that

of a sudden

a most

bright and glorious day of joy rose out of

the lap of their late dusky and clouded

night of sorrow

;

and

as the

sunbeams

illu-

minate the whole hemisphere at one instant, so this

mutual consent of

banished immediately

all

their wills

dark and un-

couth shadows of discontent, and made things, even their

own

all

tears, smile

upon

their joys

with

them.

And

then

to

crown

ceremony which might make them permanent and holy, the minister of those that

rites

joined their hands in that sacred knot

which had long before knit their affections, and wtis now equally welcome on both

sides.

But Theagenes, being

there-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

224

unto moved by sundry weighty respects, desired Stelliana,

and the

then present, to conceal

which she

for his sake,

and

ance of the reasons, unto, although

might ting

reflect

him

till

it

it

that were

rest

for

some time

;

for the import-

readily consented

were discovered

upon her honour

it

for admit-

to a greater familiarity than be-

longed to any but a husband.

But

their affection could not

be carried

with such caution, Theagenes neither desiring

more than

that the certainty of the

main should not be precisely known, but that many mouths were filled with various discourses of their familiarity,

commended,

others censured

and some

them

for

it,

according to the rule that every one had

framed to themselves for their own actions.

Among whom

Rogesilius,

who was

Aristobulus's nephew, and between

and Theagenes was strait

contracted

friendship, mainly

a

whom very

condemning

his

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. friend for his too

much indulgency

passions, having one fall

upon

this

225

theme

day a

fit

to his

occasion to

were talking

as they

together alone, spoke to him in this

ner: the

"I am

so bold, dear

friendship

hearts

together,

which

hath

that

without being asked

cousin,

upon

linked

our

dare adventure

I

my

man-

advice, to deliver

you

my

opinion in what I believe most

men

else

would shun the very mentioning

My much love to you will

thereof to you. to

serve

discharge

me

of

since the nature of that

complete perfection

and then one

when they

obstacle in

which,

I

the

is

in the

to desire all

person beloved,

most encouraged

see there

way

must give

:

this

to use

may conduce

endeavours that

all their

that,

is

presumption,

in

is

to

but a small

conformity to

testimony of you

without adulation, that in

all

qualities be-

longing to a generous and worthy gentle-

man, you may be a pattern to Q

all

those

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

226

that I have ever for

known, were

it

not only

continuance in one action, which doth,

I will not say eclipse, but,

much

alloy, in

splendour of the

ray opinion,

the

Every one

sharp-sighted in other men's

is

while

errors,

garded

;

and

their

own

by unre-

pass

this I believe to

rest.

be the rea-

son that I can look into any of yours, be it

never so

little,

which you scarce take

notice of; for if you did, certainly I con-

you to be endued with such strength of mind that you could and would soon Another reason why this in correct it. ceive

you is which

so obvious to every man's discovery, in

less

worthy

persons

would

scarcely be seen, or at least not imputed to

a crime,

is

the other excellencies wherein

you surpass the vulgar;

so that

it

fareth

with you as with the richest jewels, wherein

a

small

value

;

which a

blemish falleth

and little

much

with the fairest stain

is

of their

colours, in

soon perceived.

I

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. will

me

not use

many

to that place,

22?

circumstances to bring

where

I

am

ready expect me, since upon

sure

you

strict

al-

exa-

mination of yourself you can find yourself

open but upon one side, that is, to the assaults of a woman's beauty, that to

lie

have found in you a tenderer heart in sisting

them than

I should have promised

you when

to myself of

re-

I consider the con-

stancy and stayedness of your other actions.

Neither

will I

use

many words

to

dissuade you from that affection wherein

you have, as since I

it

know

were, lain,

some time asleep,

the quickness and excellency

of your wit to be such, that will furnish

you with much better reasons than any I can use to wean you from it, if you will but once enter into the impartial consideration of

you

in

you not

it

;

only give

me

leave to put

mind of your honour, entreating to let

it

suffer

shipwreck in the

ruinous ocean of sense and pleasure, which

Q 2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

228

at the best tiety is

ever accompanied with sa-

is

and repentance.

the weakest of

some good

all

how

Consider

passions,

love

and whereas

resulteth out of all others, the

least evils of this,

mind, to make

it

to abastardise

the

effeminate, unfit for

any

is

worthy action, and so wholly and anxiously employed in low desires, that

think of nothing else as long as sessed with this fever.

Then

it

rise

it is

can pos-

up out

of this dream, and receive wonted vigour into your heroic spirits, which I will confess at least to

ened of late

in

know you

have been slack-

their operations

:

and

if

humanity be so forcible in you that you must pay some dues to that sex which you receive half your being from, let

it

be at

main scope thereof your own pleasure; which certainly groweth

large,

and

flat

by

and

is

height/'

the

being

confined to

by variety raised

one object,

to his

greatest

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. ended

Rogesilius having thus

229 his

dis-

course, which contained precisely the pre-

that his

cepts

his friend

answer

:

as

was guided by,

some meditation upon had spoken, made him this

" I have reason, worthy Rogesilius,

to esteem myself the,

life

after

Theagenes,

what

own

happy

in

two respects;

one in that having so judicious a friend

you

my weakso much partiality in my behalf,

are,

nesses with

he can look upon

as not thereby to lessen his affection to

me;

the other, that the herd of ignorant men,

which never spared any one, were he never so perfect, can find nothing in me to fasten

upon with

disgraceful censures but that

which, being duly examined,

may

perad-

venture deserve praise, at least pardon. I will deliver to

you what

I conceive

is fit

to be said in defence of such affection as

you

so

much exclaim

against,

and

will

make you the judge, whether I am in error or no, when you have heard my reasons,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

230 which

I confess will

be out of the path and

reach of the vulgar, as tions are or

consider

it

wise men's ac-

all

But

ought to be. a

little

by

first let

us

and

their ordinary

familiar scale, which, I think, will afford

me some

excuse. It

them

an undoubted principle, that

for

is

then received

among all

men, the perfectest that ever were, are subject to errors and have their vices, 'quisque suos patimur manes/ and they are the best that are the least this

life

all

ill

to be

things ought

for in

:

judged

comparatively; and as that body which

hath been afflicted with

evil

humours,

may

be said to be in health when they grow all from their several places to one head, and discharge themselves by one

danger ; so that

man

that,

way of

little

having lived in

the stormy sea of various passions, as

men do come

all

or have done, can at length over-

the multitude of them, and

them away by one that is not of a

purge

virulent

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. it

nature, though

may

cause some remission

and some kind of relaxation of the mind, commendations, and none

truly deserveth

but unjust judges will too sharply censure that person for not overcoming the last, be-

cause he was able to get the mastery of the others; like the

unworthy multitude that

condemneth a Captain of treason, for failing in one only attempt, because he hath

much

gotten so cessful

ones,

reputation in other suc-

that

all

things appear not

only possible, but easy to him,

if

he apply

himself industriously to effect them.

then this love that you so

much

against, be the only fault that

me, certainly

may be

it

other worse passions^

and

all

it, is,

that

it is

the

ill

found with

to

be the vent

But examine that

it

it

for in

you can say of

not active in doing good,

and benumbeth those employed

inveigh

deserveth excuse, since

understood

itself,

is

If

spirits that

in heroic actions.

might be

What

a weak

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

232 accusation

this

is

or rather

commendation?

!

for

we

is it

not a

see that in this

world the bad doth so exceed the good,

both in number and weight, and our nature AS so prone to the worst, that they deserve praise

who

from doing badly,

refrain

though they contain themselves from doing good; and indeed, he is said to do well that doth not

virtue being principally

ill,

the abstaining from vice.

And where you

say that I have sometimes lain asleep this

you say, in effect, have been some time happy, and

affection, therein

that I

behaved myself

and

discreetly, since the peace

tranquillity of the

the wisest is

men aim

at,

mind and

fore, that

be

that which

and gentle

is

so pleasing

sleep: there-

any man inveigheth with

ness against it

is

in this life that

so full of troubles, nothing

to us, as a quiet

if

m

me

any,

bitter-

for this so slender fault, is

greater; and then

because they it

find

no

happeneth to them

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. as to those

'-233

whose eyes grow soon weary

and ache by looking too steadfastly upon little

and scarce sensible

shall

I

that

which

But

objects.

content myself with pardon for is

a merit to God, and to

my

nature? No, I will not purchase

peace

so unworthily, and betray so noble a cause,

cenby owing that to others' favourable a sures, which reason will give me after short conflict against opinion, the mother

Hear then,

of error.

and then till it

that

let

its

own venom

that I adore, and

being, form, and order to

me

of Love,

dumb, and

slander grow

burst with

God

my defence ;

swell

and may

who hatb given

all

things, inspire

to speak high things in his behalf, as

much

out of the

common

the pitch of vulgar saint to in his

whom my

conceptions, as the

devotions are addressed

heaven outshineth

" Thus then

I

path and above

begin

:

all

other beauties.

In the infinite and

eternal Essence that hath created us to his

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

234 likeness,

and made our souls

his lively

we may consider two supreme

images,

powers, the understanding and the will;

by the in

first

of which he exerciseth himself

and contemplation of own perfections and by the second

the knowledge

his

;

produceth such an excellent love of what

he understandeth, that

it

becometh another

person of the same substance and essence with himself: this

the blessed state of

is

the divinity, to have eternally the under-

standing replenished with notions of infinite perfection,

and

to

have the

taken up entirely

in

will continually

loving and

being

beloved; which causeth a perfect joy in this

happy and

eternal society. This, then,

being laid as a foundation to what I intend to

prove, and

it

being undoubtedly

ceived, that rational creatures

re-

ought, as

near as they can, to conform themselves, in all

their actions,

of which

to

this divine light,

our souls are living

sparkles;

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. let

us examine what

ration

to

it is

the highest ope-

and most resembling

man can busy

that

is

233

his Creator's,

himself in

?

Certainly

employ our understanding about

the objects of greatest perfection that is

capable

of,

and the

will in loving

this last action, or rather gift,

truly

ours,

;

;

can only and is

and removed out of the

power of fortune, but the will, and the first original love

such

be termed our own, since nothing

entirely

it

liberty of the

of that,

is

and that faculty which bestoweth

it

being spiritual,

it

is

gift

never weary with

continuing this action, but of necessity

always giving, and so always loving.

is

Our

main care ought to be then, since this free gift of the will must ever be given, that it be well and orderly bestowed

;

and here the

other faculty of the rational soul, which the understanding, cometh sister in

that

making a

always

fit

striveth

choice: to

to

help

it is

is

her

a flame

ascend, and

to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

236

embrace objects of greatest perfection, but to

employ

itself

about God,

directly

wanteth capacity, there being an

it

infinite

distance between the Creator and a crea-

one being limited in her actions, and the other like a most resplendent sun ture, the

that dazzleth all eyes that look

besides his own.

The next

that claimeth loVe,

is

real object, then,

men's souls that con-

form themselves to the

among which

upon him

rules

of virtue;

the perfectest do, of due,

require the greatest proportion, and herein

we

pay, as near as

Creator, by loving

we

can, our debt to our

him

in his image, since

we cannot understand and own

love

him

in his

bright nature and essence so fully as

we ought which

is

to do.

In the

first

consideration,

of souls simply in themselves,

all

some may be endued and greater perfections

are alike, but that

with more virtue than others;

but of the second, which

is

of souls as they are in bodies, nature step-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. peth in and telleth

us, that since all those

spiritual substances are of the in themselves,

and

23?

same nature

and have the same powers convenient for the eter-

faculties, it is

nizing of the species, that

men

should

make

choice of those that are lodged in female habitations; and from

her rules without

weighty cause, none ought to swerve.

In

the choice then of this, as the outward form

giveth a taste of the interior nature, so

long conversation

and

observing

those

actions that issue from the mind, do afford

a sure ground for one to make a complete judgment thereof; in both which considerations, I say, that I

am

sure that I have reason to

have made a happy election.

" Let us then go on in

this speculation

:

have already shewed how understanding and love are the natural operations of a

I

reasonable creature; and this

a gift that of his

last,

which

is

own nature must always

be bestowed, being the only thing that

is

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. really in our

power to bestow, it is the worthiest and the noblest that can be and deserveth the greatest retributhat can be ftiade; which can be

given, tion

condignly done only with paying

Our

coin of the same nature. care then must be

it

with

principal

to confer this present

only upon that which deserveth

it,

and

may repay it. Withal, consider how much a man derogateth from himself and abaseth himself in placing this gift elsewhere, and

somewhere

must be placed, as upon

it

honour, power, wealth, sensual delights, or the like, since

it is

evident, that nothing

is

so noble, as that which beareth the true

image of God for the nature of love is to convert and transform the lover into the :

object beloved

;

and according to the worth

and excellency of

that, or to the imperfec-

man

a

tions or defects of

it,

impaireth himself.

This

love

is

an entire free

is

bettereth or

proved in that

gift,

as

being the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. action

of a free

and although

and unconfirmed

so truly one's

it is

and bestowed with shch a it

maketh him

to

the absolute master of

under

domination

his

full

whom it,

and to

will

hath

jurisdic tion in

whom

it is is

given

wholly

and power; will

and

with

it,

power, command,

man,

it

folio vveth that

one giveth love, one giveth also and their whole self; and thus by

their will

love one

all

own,

liberality,

and

being that love carrieth the

and that the

will;

must of necessity be given

it

somewhere, yet

that

239

united to what one loveth, and

is

converted and transferred into the nature

and dominion thereof. " To draw then this discourse clusion

:

to a con-

the love of a virtuous soul dwell-

ing in a

fair

and perfect body,

noblest and worthiest action that a

master of:

it

;

the

man

is

exerciseth in due

manner that

God and

nature hath

superior talent that

given him

is

and by choosing a perfecter

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. object than himself to love,

exalteth

it

and

refineth those seeds of goodness that are in

him, and although he should not find any completely perfect, yet this heroic effect of

it

would not be

the nature of love to

frustrated, since it

make

is

the lover believe

possible perfections in the person be-

all

loved,

and

that he

idea

that

to

hath

framed to himself, he raiseth himself up. And when this divine gift, which obligeth the person beloved that it

may

be,

is

debt

the deepest

in

repaid in such

manner

as

ought to be, which can be only by

returning the

like

then the lover

love,

reapeth the fruit of this action, which perfect

joy;

and

that

blessing that our nature

sorrow last

is

the

is is

is

greatest

capable

of, as

the greatest misery, which at the

must necessarily

follow

those that

miss of this joy by erring in the bestowing of this

gift,

although

before they take

notice

it

of

may be it,

like

long the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and wretched

unfortunate

greatest torment

divine joy, that

who place

And

this

that

it

is

whose

souls,

be deprived of the

to

is

241

the inheritance of

upon a

their love

them

right object.

joy and content of lovers, besides

is

the highest and noblest that

we

can possess, is also the securest, and placed, as

it

were, in sanctuary, out of the hands of

fortune and change is

in ourselves,

exterior

thing

we

please:

make

to

wills

it

the

is

to himself

hope then that you that

it

it

will

weakest of

is

the true

when he

aim

to

master of

now no

all

it

which we govern

it

and

list.

I

longer call

passions,

produceth so noble effects; that

complete,

man ought

since that himself

he can give

it

therefore, this

happiness that a wise at,

ground of

and we need the help of no

dependeth upon our as

for the

;

which

nor believe

doth effeminate the mind, or relent

it

from the prosecution of heroic and virtuous actions, since the nature of

R

it is

to raise it

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

942

up

to the perfectest notions,

any generous heart were

and

do worthy things,

to

but to recommend him unto the

it

esteem of her that he adoreth. satiety

inciteth

and repentance, they are

And

for

qualities

not incident to spiritual actions, as I understand the fruition and joy begotten by

noble love to be for the most part;

this

but accompanieth inseparably that gross and material enjoying which you recom-

mend

to

me

to extinguish or to mitigate

divine flame.

my

Therefore,

discourse, which m,ay

but

is

seem tedious

am

now harbour a more

nion of I

this

to you,

a theme that I should never be weary

to enlarge myself upon, I will

after

my

affection than

having proved

confident

you

favourable opi-

you did before ;

how noble

a thing love

is,

and how necessary to make a man completely happy, and that in the object of

mine there sure

you

is

so

will say,

much who

perfection, as I

am

are yet an indifferent

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

243

and unpassionate judge, that she deserveth it

beyond

women

all

that

I have

you or

ever known/'

Whether Rogesilius were with

this

satisfied or

he did

discourse,

riot

at

no all

express by any words; but after a long

and profound not thinking

silence or*

both

sides,

he

good manners to oppose farther what he saw had taken so deep & root in his friend's heart and being deit

;

sirous to divert

Theagenes from the tram

of his deep and serious meditations, that still

continued rolling about the heads of

what he had spoken, Stelliana being continually the centre of all the motions effort

heart,

began a new conference, and desired

him the passages of out between Famelicus, One that

Theagenes to a falling

relate to

served the king in the same place that he did,

an

and him, whereof he had imperfect knowledge

by uncertain rumour

:

u 2

yet but

delivered

him

whereupon Thea-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

244

in this genes to satisfy his curiosity, began

manner. " To

you a full understanding of the it was injury that was done me, and why done me, I most take the beginning of this give

discourse a

little

higher than the abrupt

what passed between Famelicus and me, since he was but the indiscreet relation of

You may

instrument of others' malice.

then be pleased to understand, that be-

tween Nugentius, whom you know to be so powerful and of so much esteem in his

own

country, and myself, there hath been

heretofore liarity

ness

and

sighed

in the

would

my

invectives

differences, jiot so

more than, while

affectionate

strive either

my

fami-

time of our most dear-

as in opinions,

out

and

friendship

we never had other

much

from

;

great

I

flames,

he

to win

me

by counsel

devotions, or at least, by bitter

and

taunts, seek

ashamed of the

to

condition of

make me a

loving

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. martyr which

I lived in.

245

But the

little

God, which the common people thinketh to be blind, was not long before he revenged this

blasphemy of

how weak

his,

and made him see and

the eyes of vulgar

cold

reason are to look upon a sun of beauty; for he kindled

he soon that

felt

most

such a

all

lovers

breast that

fire in his

the tormenting passions

do but weakly

feign,

and

was so coldly requited by her whom he adored, that from all her actions he might gather to himself rather matter of despair,

And

than of any comfort or content.

judgment that was every

inflicted

in this furious heat,

this bitter poison, in the

and drunk

presence of him

he had so often taxed of

loving; for one I

upon him, was

so proportionable to his sin, that

way

he sucked

whom

were

the

summer evening

entertaining

pleasure,

upon the

wherein

Stelliana

ourselves,

river,

and

folly for

as he

and

for

our

we met a boat Babilinda

were

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

246 both

sitting together, listening to a

song

accompanied with excellent music that they had brought out with them, having and calm evening to I that had recreation in this kind.

allotted this pleasant their

my

eyes armed with love, discerned afar

off

who was

in

the

boat, which

scarce

being able to bear that heaven of perfection,

did sink under her burden, and yet

the water seemed to run pleasantly about her,

and smile that

it

was so honoured,

while at every stroke the oars made, one

would think

it

dissolved into tears for her

spon gliding away.

But Nugentius of a

sudden, grew like one amazed, or that had

unheedly looked upon forming head, and

it

the

stone-trans-

was a long time before

he could frame any word, and only gave evidence of his passions by his deep sighs

he found

it

first sight,

true that love

and that some

is

:

begotten at the

light or disdainful

action of a conquering beauty

is

able to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

24?

subdue and tame the sternest and wildest heart that

as he afterward confessed

is; for,

and disorderly which of a sudden

to me, a certain scornful

putting off of her displayed

the

of Babilinda's

lightnings

and wounded him

eyes, dazzled his,

very soul.

veil,

But when

to the

after a long suit

he

found that he could not warm the cold

and frozen heart of her that he so much loved, a foul passion crept into his bosom,

that usually accompanieth none but

minds that are conscious their

own

worth,

little

jealous that the cause so

little

her

weak

to themselves of

and made him

why

Babilinda was

favourable to him, proceeded from

much respect

to

me; which, indeed, had

no other ground but the devoting of my services to Stelliana, to whom she saw they were

pleasing,

and

friendship between tinual familiarity,

there

being

much

them two, and a conshe endeavoured what

she could to do fair offices on both sides,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

248 which

is

and by

the property of this

means

I

all

gentle natures;

came

to

be

much

beholden to her, she seeing that the obliging

me

in this

manner was

of her friend in

many

would not

also the obliging

things that her bash-

let

her do, although she

desired them, unless

she were half con-

fulness

But indeed Babilinda's

strained thereto.

want of

affection to

Nugentius proceeded from other causes, whereof the one was her

young and yet wild

heart, unacquainted

with the very colour of passionate affection,

which yet could take pleasure effects

of her

fair

to see the

eyes upon others' yield-

ing ones; and the other, a certain fretting disposition of Nugentius, which

made him

unapt to purchase and win love; for he was of such an impatient nature, that when he found any obstacles

would

always

murmur

in his desires,

against

he

fortune,

accuse the malice of the times, and in-

would creasing his torment,

consume him-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. self in vain

249

complaints; so that his spirit -

seemed always to delight in travail and affliction, by which means his suit and

company became to Babilinda,

tedious and troublesome

which otherwise her discre-

would have caused her

tion

much

of,

esteem

to

considering the reputation and

dignity of the person that applied himself to

But

her service.

cause of his estrange

little

me

he,

mistaking the

success, bent

all

his wit to

from Babilinda's company,

which he saw could not be effected as long as the affection continued

between Stelliana

and me, they two being continually together, and therefore his first plpt was to set us two at variance: whereto fortune presented him a the

who

fit

bitterness

occasion, by working

of

Familicus's

upon

passion;

loving Stelliana violently, and

making once some indiscreet expression of it, had received from her a public and weighty affront,

which made him convert

all

his

PRIVATE MEMOIKS.

250

affection into rage

and desire of revenge.

Herein Hydaspes concurred with Nugentins,

me,

who you know was once very dear for

he hated her mortally, because that

she had

discovered to

me

a very trea-

cherous action of his against me, to

he professed and owed for

to

much

whom

friendship

;

he, thinking to settle himself in her

favour by displacing me,

whom

he con-

ceived to be the only hinderer of his desires,

sought to disgrace

and so

to

me

to her in private,

insinuate himself by

my

ruin

These two then, with

into her grace.

all

the subtlety that they could use, wrought

upon Famelicus

to

say, that*

he had

re-

ceived from Stelliana such friendship and

kindnesses as none but her, at least in-

tended, husband ought to be partaker of: assuring him that they would govern the business so that he should never be ques* This passage has been substituted believe that Stelliana that her modesty."

for

" he had reason to

was not so modest as she seemed, and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

251

tioned for what he said, and

that they

knew me

to

be of such a hot

and so

spirit

violent in things that concerned

my

ho-

nour, that upon this rumour, which they

would cunningly insinuate examination

farther

familiarity,

and cast

to

me, without

should leave her

I

off her

friendship

;

which Famelicus desired as much as they,

knowing that above all other things this would most afflict Stelliana, against whom he was now grown rancorously

spiteful,

that he would have been content to

her even through his

own body.

discerning their malice afar

oft*,

wound But

I,

disguised

as well as I could the sense that I

had of

Nugcntius and Hydaspes's relation to me, and behaved myself in such sort that they doubted not but that in

impression should

;

lest

if

me I

as

it

they

took such desired

had done otherwise

it it

might have made them spin a farther web to embroil

me

more.

But

as soon

as I

PHIVATE MEMOIRS.

252

had quitted myself of

troublesome

their

company, without giving time to avail himself of

any new

him

delays, I challenged

upon him with

my

life,

that

all

my

subtleties

to

what he had

by

make good

said concern-

which

;

and that

she ever despised him

way

Famelicus

sword and hazard of

ing Stelliana was false well to be so,

to

;

I

in his

but

I

knew very particular

judged

this

of proceeding was requisite both to

and myself, because that knowledge would not be sufficient to lead other right her

men's

beliefs, unless

made him

with his

give himself the

did more than that, for

own mouth lie.

I

But he

when he saw

his

and that nothing less than that or an ingenuous and full confession

life

at stake,

just anger, he

would

satisfy

ledged

how he had no ground

my

for suspicion, in all that

that his

own

gested to

him

acknow-

of truth, or

he had said

hatred to her had

first

;

but sug-

to injure her in the deepest

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. manner

that he could,

253

and then the malice

of Nugentius and Hydaspes blowed the coals in his breast, this

unworthy and

till

it

broke out into which, he

false slander; X

averred, and said he would maintain with his

life,

was wholly

their plot

and then

:

re-

lated all the particularities which I have told

you, whereby himself hath got the repute of

an indiscreet,

rash,

and dishonest coward;

and the other two, the esteem

of mali-

and cankered wretches."

cious, unworthy,

After these and some other discourses,

Theagenes, taking leave of Rogesilius, went to his

own

lodging, where he

news that much

afflicted

met with

him, and yet de-

and heroic example of fortitude and constancy in a woman's

livering such a rich

breast, that I ralleled with

doubt whether

any

of so

much

him,

that would

in this

age

it

;

can be paand, withal,

affection in his Stelliana to

not only endure with

magnanimity intolerable torments

for his

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

2.54

sake, but even give

puting

up her

life

without

only to satisfy a desire of his

it,

without any interest on her side

joyed as

dis-

much

;

that he

midst of his soul-

in the

breaking anguish, as a heart can do that

is

in suspense

and doubt of the safety of the

person that

it

For by a mes-

loveth most.

senger that was sent to him with exceeding haste from Stelliana,

who

been some time, at her

was, and had

father's

house in

the country, he understood how, by a

fall

from a horse as she was riding abroad the night before to take the ceived

some

speechless as she

bruises,

home

came

air,

she had re-

and being brought

into her chamber, as soon

to herself again, she

fell

sud-

denly into labour of childbirth, she wanting then some few days of her expected time

which unhappy accident disordered

all

;

the

long and discreet preparations that were

maturely

them

made and

for her

fit

contrived by both of

delivery

:

for the next

day

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

255

she intended, by coach, which she had with her, to

and

fit

come

where a private place, and due attendance, was proto Corinth,

vided for her lying-in

mained at her

and she had

;

father's all the

re-

time that

her swelling burden might betray her to strangers' curious eyes,

to the last period that

and was now come was

it

safe for her to

But hereby one may take themselves a lesson, how weak all the

continue there. to

wisest propositions of

God

men

are,

and that

reserveth to himself the right of dis-

posing

all

things; and then,

when

to

human

understandings a business seemeth to be

upon worst terms, he raiseth from the weakest and least regarded subjects, means to rectify

all

again.

For what,

in all ap-

pearance, could be weaker than the tenderness of a delicate lady that never

what hardness meant,

to encounter with

dangers, torments, nay, even death

and to outface suspicion

knew

?

for thus

it

itself,

hap-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

256 pened with

Stelliana,

who, choosing rather

and any other extremity, the least point to what The-

to suffer death

than to

fail

in

agenes desired of her, and what she had

promised to him, resolved never to acquaint

any one

in

what

was while she

state she

more than one servant she had, who was privy to what was between Thehad

life,

And

agenes and her.

thus, with the help

of that one fearful and unexperienced maid, she was delivered of a fair son after a long

and dangerous labour, like to ajid

in

which she had

have perished for want of due help

yet she bore

and high

it

;

with such a strange

resolution, that, being troubled

by times with the visits of her careful father and others that lived in the house, she never betrayed any part of her pain by

weak

crying, or so

much

as

any languish-

But before Theagenes could ing sighs. come to her, who, upon the first news of her danger,

made

all

possible haste thither,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

25?

she had been so long in the hands of tor-

ment, that her

and

spirits

began then to

faint,

to yield themselves to a misty night,

when, of a sudden,

his sight

brought new

strength and vigour to her dismayed senses so that she, of her side, fering,

and

he,

on

his,

;

by undaunted

suf-

by providing

dis-

due carriage of all things, wherein he had no easy task, they both behaved themselves in such sort, that she creetly for the

soon

recovered

strength,

not so

her

perfect

health

and

and the cause of her sickness was

much

as suspected.

And,

if

before,

any one might have jealousies what state she was in, and might doubt the notice of pretending to be indisposed,

her

first

this

was now cleared, since what was done

would seem impossible, and

not

to

believed by any that did not

know

it

all

be

was

done.

Theagenes having remained there till she was perfectly re-established in her

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

258

health, returned to Corinth

;

and then Aris-

tobulus, taking occasion of this his late

and so long and public having been with her, to represent to him the wrong that he did himself in this affection, and how much it

did prejudice his esteem, did, in a grave

and friendly manner, persuade him to cast it

from him, and to banish so weak a

passion out of his breast

"I have, of

this effect.

cousin, observed in

from

for

yourself,

you I

using words to

;

my

late,

worthy

a great difference

know

the

natural

temper of your mind, and the solidness of your judgment to be such, that when you do any thing otherwise than reason would dictate to you,

you

suffer force

you give too

violent passion,

which,

much scope unto

in the

lessen

not altogether

much,

reputation

of

if

if

from some

way you

discretion

and

are, will lose, the

prudence

which you have gotten among all that know you. I need seek no farther for

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

259

arguments to prove what I say, than to entreat you to look a

little

into yourself,

and then you cannot choose but acknow-

how you now

ledge,

upon the

studies

scarcely cast an eye

which, heretofore, you

much

applied yourself unto with

and no

less benefit

to increase

:

eagerness

that your endeavours

upon your master's favour and

grace are mainly slackened, which

if

you

had made right use of, in all probability your rank and fortunes might, by this have been

time,

most self

ranked with

the fore-

and that you do not put yourforward into great and honourable ;

actions with that zeal and vigour that

have done.

you

All which effects of a weak-

ened and decayed mind,

I

can attribute

no other cause but your having entertained into your breast a servile affection,

to

which, wheresoever

generous

spirits,

it

entereth,

and freezeth

is

a clog to

all

heroic

thoughts in their very births, and overs

2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

260

throweth the worthiest resolutions will

cause any

the world least a

;

man

and

to sink in the value of

begetting, if not contempt, at

mean esteem,

especially

when

conferred upon one that hath been in

;

it is

known

hers to have been formerly engaged to

another, and hath lived altogether at

berty under her

own conduct

li-

in the world.

you not to sit still in idleaim at worthy fortunes to

It belongeth to ness,

but to

strive to

raise

your house, and to gain

some advantageous match

:

whereas, in

all

probability,

these will not only not in-

crease, but

lessen

your estate

;

since in

your mother's disposal is a great part of what shall be yours if you displease her not, and you know that she is mainly averse to

this.

I appeal to yourself that

you see the truth of what I say so evident, as, whatsoever you may answer me, your wit can but find arguments to evade

my

pressing you, and not to satisfy yourself.

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. Then

at length yield to reason,

the world say, that

all

261

and

let

not

your understanding,

your knowledge, your learning, the vigour of your mind, and the well training of it up in virtuous actions,

cannot defend you from

the snares of beauty."

These words, with others of spoken by Aristobulus with

like nature,

much

authority

and seriousness, through which yet shined

much

affection, did

the very soul

;

pierce Theagenes to

who was

distracted

and torn

asunder between his love and obligations to her that he loved better than himself,

and

his reverence

to

him

that he loved

and respected as a father, and that had, above all men else, given him solid demonstrations of a worthy friendship.

But,

at length, his spirits unfolding themselves

out of the net of deep and amazed sorrow,

he replied to him in this manner. " Although my chiefest study, since I have had the ability of discerning and

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

262 judging, free

my

honoured

my mind

been to

lord, hath

from that servitude in which

most men's are

which

fettered,

to relish

is,

things by other men's opinions; and that I have strived

to attain

to so perfect

a

liberty herein, as not to value whatsoever

others

may

censure

me

long as I

of, as

am

conscious to myself that I do according to the prescripts of nature and reason

:

yet

the affectionate reverence that I bear unto

you, doth so waken so deeply

my

wound

sense and

it

when you pass the condemning

sentence of dislike upon considering

it is

not in

the tenor of them, since

and the form of

it

to

my actions, my power to

that, alter

we owe our being

Heaven,

I

do wish

myself out of the world, to the end that I

might take away the occasion of your censure, and yet not be false to that affection, which, next to all

my

faith to

God,

things else, deepest rooted in

But

since I

know how

is

above

my

soul.

vain such wishes

263 and how deaf unto wretches'

are, is,

that

our

is

calls

the last and only physician of

he all

contain myself from sighing

evils, I will

out such weak expressions of a# fainting

mind

;

and

can, give

such

sort,

you account of I

as

manner that

the best

will, in

my

defend

may

I

opinions in

my

actions

depending thereon which, I confess, will not be a regular answer to what you have ;

spoken, nor, as

it

but, I hope, will

ought to be,

form

;

be an effectual though

disjointed one: and, for I

in

my

excuse herein,

must beseech you to consider that the

business I shall speak of,

the whole tenor of

my

dependeth, and that a judge, that

I

I

life

plead

account

not him satisfaction

;

is

that whereon

and happiness it

before such

all lost if I

give

which causeth such

an eagerness in me, and such a desire to omit nothing that may serve for my defence, that

siderations

many and

very different con-

do present themselves unto me

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

264 at the I

same time,

so that, in this confusion,

know beforehand

for

me

that

it

will

be impossible

to speak things in order;

my several

and

I fear

and numerous conceptions

clog the issue, that, in striving each

will so

to get out

first,

they will

stifle

and suffocate

one another, and thus, before they can

grow

to

any strength and vigour, receive

their death in the very place of their sud-

den and immature birth those

who shall have

or, at best, that

;

come

better fates, will

out so maimed, as they

will

express too

much

my

cause, that I

to the prejudice of

suffer great

unquietness within.

To

begin

then in answering that which you

first

urge as a sign of

life,

and so I

to

my

impaired train of

proceed successively to the

must acknowledge that

much

I

rest,

have studied so

as to be very well informed that

knowledge of one's

is

self,

no

comparable to the knowledge and that all other learning is

vain which teacheth not to better the mind,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

265

and that the deepest speculations are but they be not employed to

difficult trifles, if

guide men's actions in the path of virtue,

and directed to gain peace and tranquillity to the soul; and that their labour is very

who

ridiculous,

strive to

make

their

me-

mory the storehouse of many infructuous

And

notions.

for being cold in thrusting

myself into great actions, such as usually entice

whose

away the spirits

affections of

young men,

unstayed through the

are

intemperate heat of their boiling blood, I

hope

I shall

those that

be pardoned at the

know how happy

a thing

live to one's self; for, certainly,

thing in this world one's leisure for

from

the

inward

;

and when we depart

contentments that we pleasure, desire of

and are glutted with the that our life bccometh tedious,

things,

present, so

to

no exterior

may always enjoy at our own we are then tormented with the future

it is

by

worthy the exchanging

is

it

least

and we

taste nothing but vexations.

conceive that

all

live happily, as this life

men

most men

which

naturally desire to

;

but in the chase of

steer different courses,

and the greatest part

my

lose it in seeking it

part, I esteem

that

life

:

blessed,

led according to nature;

is

I

being the greatest blessing

can afford us

this state

for

'

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

266

which

cannot be, unless the mind be vigorous

and sound, out of the reach of

fortune's

power, free from admiration or being con^ fined to other men's opinions,

and

whom

nothing can extol or depress, and knoweth

no greater good than what he can give himself: and the contrary of this to be,

when we

let

rumours take so deep im-

pression in us, as to cause us to alter our resolutions

we come

and curb our

to live not

desires,

whereby

by reason, but accord-

ing to example and to the opinion that will

be entertained of us

servitudes

is

the

;

greatest,

which of

men

all

obliging

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

26?

themselves to believe the most voices, and enthralling their understandings

ments to

other

me

weary of persecuting I

little

the

I value their

believe they will soon

I

censures,

And when

errors.

know how

world shall

and judg-

with them

;

grow which

do not through obstinacy or stupidity of

nature, but for the vanity that I observe in all their

proceedings

that he

is

thought

so,

;

and because

know

not happy or unhappy that

is

but he only that feeleth and

But

thinketh himself so. that you,

I

who have

I

wonder much

so elevated a soul,

should judge according to their rule, and so

heavily

condemn

which you take notice sible for

me

of,

to disguise.

and

refineth

it

not posit,

young man's

straying and wandering courses,

mind and

is

I feel this in

that, besides the settling of a

the

me

the affection in

it

polisheth

by causing

it

to

work upon itself, and to neglect all things that conduce not to the bettering or to the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

268

quiet and peace of all

it

;

which

far

exceedeth

the favours that fortune can heap

me,

for they are

hand

to take

touch or disturb one's

in her inconstant

always

away

again, but nothing can

this, if

one betray not

This diverteth the mind from

self.

weaker and meaner passions, and with excess of joy

;

cautious in choosing it,

and then

it is

and honest man to

if

you

nephew

upon

you

;

filleth it

only one ought to be

upon whom

to place

the true office of a wise

which

will

will call to

be more clear

mind what your

the other day related to you,

how

proved to him that love is the noblest action that human nature can extend itself I

unto.

I

am

sure this hath corrected

many

and natural imperfections which had deep seeds in me; and the like will do in any one that desireth to appear infirmities

worthy to her that he so highly affecteth, and, therefore, calleth often his passions to

a

strict

account before the tribunal of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. reason.

But, setting aside

all

269 other argu-

ments, I will confess ingenuously that I

and cannot but love her

love Stelliana,

her perfections merit let

it

:

but for the present

those pass, and be not displeased with

me that I and I am

say I love her because she

The

I.

stars that are

affections, :

how

free soever

our

is

she,

above

and our reason, have a great stroke

be

;

in

wills

us,

our

may

but, withal, add her extreme affection

me, and then suppose I could master my own, and withdraw it, yet how unge-

to

nerous should I be, and with what heart

could I endure to break her heart that loveth

me

better than herself,

hath obliged

me

to

do the

and that

like

towards

her? for noble minds are more touched with the joy and sorrow that happeneth to their dear friends, than with their

especially it.

when they

own

are the procurers of

But why should you or the world

much

;

inveigh against

my

so

choosing her?

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

2?0

Their judgments are

accompanied with

vanity, let not yours be so

;

but examine

her actions thoroughly, before you con-

demn

For you can give no solid reason why she should be less valued for her.

her former affection, since, looking into the reality of

it,

and finding

it

be on

to

worthy grounds of her side, you must consent that her innocence is not impeached.

But

let

us consider how, in this so im-

portant business of marriage, one ought not to confine himself to the temporal respects of estate.

It is

a bargain in which

posterity hath the greatest interest riches are of

several others.

;

and

an inferior consideration to

We

see

what care

is

used

even in beasts for the breeding of a good race;

men

much more

it is

then in the breeding of

to be cared for that the parents

be well chosen, for the children take after them. as

A man

may be

ought to choose such a wife

observant and virtuous while

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

2?

1

he hath her, which none can promise to himself of one that he knoweth not perfectly

conversation,

long

through

and

whose

will is

not wholly in his power by

love

indeed

this

all

:

the rest, and

one thing outweigheth the highest obligation

is

and challenge th the greatest A main retribution that is in one's power. that

may

be,

part of which

is,

to

undergo any censure

for the beloved's sake; ticular, I

do most

which,

joyfully,

and

glad of the means to express in imitation of

Him

to

my param highly

in

my

affection,

whom we

all

owe

our salvation, who was not contented with only suffering pain, or dying to effect that great work, of

power

to have

infinite worlds,

whom

one only tear was of

washed away the

sins

of

but to shew his burning

love and charity to us, would be the object

of the highest and most reproachful infa-

mies that were ever done to any man. wise

man

A

should not confine himself to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

272

what may be said of the past actions of his wife, and we see it is little regarded by the greatest part and the most solid nations of

the world

but in choosing her, he ought

:

to see that she

be nobly descended, beau-

to please him, well

tiful

children, of a

good

endowed with good then

it will

be

a good wife.

me

rant

know

in

formed to bear

wit, sweet disposition, parts,

his fault if

and love him

he

make

;

her not

These qualities would warchoosing Stelliana

;

for

you

by both her parents she descendeth from the noblest houses of Greece; that

and of her ancestors there have been that have exalted and pulled down Kings in

Morea, and some of them might, and their successors still have right to wear a regal crown upon their princely temples. This match, into so noble and great families, doth not only add

strength and

friends for the present, but the ties

of

it

is

inherited

by

many

commodi-

one's children

;

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

2?3

and those women that are of most honourable blood, are most sensible of dishonour-

become most

able things, and so

tractable

and obedient to their husbands where requisite.

much, is

so

For her beauty

since

my weak

much above

need not say

I

expression of

that

it

the power of words to

describe,

would but

am

you conceive of it.

sure,

it is

sully the idea that, I

In her being

well formed to bear children there can be

no doubt, since she

in

is

things so

all

exactly composed by the perfect rules of

wise nature, as no

much

man can

as an unessential scape.

intimate so

The

excel-

lency of her wit I cannot describe better

than in saying,

it

is

a masculine and

gorous one, and every to her fair outside

;

in nothing but her

cannot deserve

it.

her disposition

is

vi-

way correspondent

and can be impeached

much

And

loving

me

that

the sweetness of

such, that through the

virulent malice of this age, T

it

hath been

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

274

the only cause of

all

her misfortunes.

And,

good parts are such as may be expected to be harboured in a worthy lady that is born with all the ad-

in conclusion, her

vantages of nature, and hath been brought

due industry and care. Conthen what a happiness it is to have

up with sider

all

such a wife as in her, together with all the other commodities of marriage, one may enjoy the sweetness of a

have the means all

full

friendship,

to disburden one's self of

most important affairs receive counsel, be blessed with the con-

cares, in

faithful

tent of a pleasing conversation,

very countenance

will

and whose

comfort one, and,

without fears or scruples, leave the conduct of one's family to her

known

doubting her conscience

own.

And, on the other

less

side,

discretion,

than one's look with

impartial eyes upon the weaknesses and

imperfections of most

whether

it

women, and

tell

me

be not a misery, for any respect

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

275

whatsoever, to be tied in perpetual chains to

one of the vulgar stamp?

in

them one

nothing but a continual incon-

shall see

stancy and succession of fond and vain

humours and ;

certainly, in our conversation

with such, our loss of time can never be

redeemed

to our profit.

Whosoever mar-

rieth her that, being past her years of inno-

cent ignorance,

is

beaten to the world and

entered in the school of experience, and

bringeth a good estate with her, shall find

her proud, subtle, crafty, importune, and

and may doubt her loyalty with cause and before that age, their

fastidious, sufficient

simplicity

;

is

so thick, that, besides their

husbands beiog answerable for all their follies, I doubt whether the forming of

them

to one's (desire, be worth the pains

that one liana

is

must take

both

in the

in

it.

Whereas

SteL-

vigour of her age, to

bear strotDg and healthful children, and to

support the pains and travails that accomT 2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. pany that condition, and hath a mind so

moulded

to

my

hand, as I

know not

in

what part of it to desire any amendment and if indiscreet unstayed youth, or rather :

childhood, have at any time cast a mist

over her judgment, and so caused some

innocent error in any of her actions, the

goodness of her nature hath converted into this benefit, that she

is

fully

and armed never to incur the then since time

nothing of

itself

it

warned

like

and

:

away and leaveth behind it that we can

flieth

really take hold of,

what

is

done

in that

should not be considered in judging the

nature of free and voluntary agents, so

much

as the present state of the soul

of the mind.

and

It is true that in this life

we

cannot enter into the judgment of such substances by other means than by their effects,

and

as they express themselves in

their exterior actions

us from erring,

;

but withal, to keep

we ought

to look into the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

2?7

main stock of them, the constantest, the

and those that are done upon judgment since, in some particular one, se-

latest,

;

veral things

may concur

make

to

it

seem

of a different piece from the whole contexture of one's life; and but

jectures can be

made

of what one doth

before the intellectual part full

strength

;

for they

mould that are now are

all

stories

natures,

of

weak con-

is

were once

saints

;

to his

grown

brittle

and how

full

men and women, whose

when they have attained

age, have differed

to

mature

much from what

their

younger years did promise. And let it be remembered that the clearest brooks that are,

have some mud, but which

all defile

will

not at

the pureness of the stream if

be not indiscreetly

stirred,

and then too

hath so shallow a bottom, that slideth away.

What

subject, methinks,

that there

is

I

it

it

it

quickly

have said upon

maketh

it

this

very evident

great difference in this election

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

278

between what nature teacheth us and what the laws of opinion prescribe. all

wise

men

will

me

esteem

make mine according

I believe

the better,

to the first

;

if I

and then

whatsoever the vulgar shall certainly

may think of me, I be much happier than they

that censure me.

The

man

wisest

that

ever was, setting aside those that are mentioned in sacred writ, and that

first

philosophy to morality, and whose

conformable to for a

maxim,

reduced life

was

his doctrine, delivereth it

that to the

end a man may be

happy, he ought to permit himself sometimes to be esteemed a fool. The actions Of the highest and noblest rank of men,

move

like

many

times in a motion of retrogradation

and

the superior heavenly bodies,

as long as I can

myself, I will

march

at ease

;

by

never suffer to be carried

away from myself by the throng.

I

know

the worst that can be objected against her

whom

I

have

made

choice

of,

and more

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. than any

man

judgment

will

else

doth

;

and

279

if I

err,

much

be in fault as

affection, so that I shall neither

as

my my

be laughed

at for being deceived, nor pitied for mis-

condemned infirmity

in

be

this quality are to

Actions of

taking.

them that do them through

and weakness, but not

in those

do them out of a superiority and strength of mind ; and I have so great that

confidence of myself as to think, that

doing a thing of

this

my

nature should, to the

vulgar sort, warrant the goodness of

it.

The

to

best

inform one's for that in

zias

self, first,

may be

another

judge of any action

to

way

of him that did it;

a virtue in one man, which

may be a

Cato and Ra-

vice.

won immortal fame of

tude for

killing

others that have

is,

virtuous forti-

themselves

done the

;

like

but

many

through de-

some other unworthy passion, have drowned their names in perpetual

spair,

or

infamy.

And who

will

censure that

vir-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

280

tuous Cato for his indulgence to himself, in

drinking wine oftentimes in so large a pro-

man it would He did it not

portion, that in a less worthy

be esteemed a great vice?

through imbecility, but the rules that

his

judgment prescribed to himself allowed it, and then he valued not what others would censure of him for

This I speak in

it.

respect of the opinion of other men,

who

should judge actions, good or bad, accord-

ing to the grounds of them

of

my

;

but, in respect

own, the certain knowledge that I

whom

I so

doth sufficiently warrant

my

have of her worth

insis't it,

ones,

affection; so as,

defence of this action of mine, to

upon the quality of

wherein I

much

affect,

much wrong

that I will never do her so in the

much

may

differing

and not

of her virtue, virtuous in

set

my judgment

down

rules for

of

myself

from the vulgarly received to rely

upon the excellency which maketh the action

itself.

And

her having lived at

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

281

and by her own guidance in the world, for which you tax her, methinks is

liberty

a commendation, and she ought to be the

more esteemed

for

it

;

since that keeping

upon fair terms amidst so many dangers and in that state, it is evident that

herself

her virtues are her own, and

not con-

strained nor dissembled, nor will ever alter their current.

" But from whence do you gather that

my

endeavours to increase upon

ter's

am

my

mas-

grace and favour are slackened

?

I

not guilty to myself of any heats or

colds this way, nor would I

should be in me.

manent

is

;

there

In the service of one's

Prince, to proceed

temper

that

with

constancy

certainly the best

and

and most per-

but so as rather to engage one's of public duty than by

self in the offices

any other respect for thus one shall both be a faithful and affectionate servant, and :

yet preserve one's

own

liberty,

which

I

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

282

much

prefer

can arrive fortune,

before any good fortune that to

me

;

and measure

and indeed, it,

I value

not according to

the height, but according to the facility of it,

and

this

perad venture

in substance or titles I

But

mine.

if

is

the reason

why

have not bettered else

nobody

trouble

will

themselves upon this consideration more

than I do myself,

import thought

most, shall

whom

not

in reason it should

one

anxious

single

be cast away upon

it.

For

judge more nobly of those that neglect honours, than of those that seek them ; I

them a degree above what the others aim at ; and I have set down my

this elevateth

rest,

where piety forbiddeth not,

according to nature, then

power

to

it is

in

make myself happy and

to live

my own to give

good to myself. I am above fortune, which others have need of; I can reduce

my

occasions to

what

is

in

my

power; mores cuique suifingunt fortunam, and thus

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. I shall

283

neither fear nor desire any thing

:

which two passions are the greatest torments in this life, and bring the mind into greatest

am

servitude.

not such an

or to honours that

I

if

But with

enemy

to

all

this,

an active

I

life,

they were offered me, but

would then accept of them, and

avoid no employment for the dangers or troubles that

my

may accompany

them,

if

by

being so employed and advanced I

may become

fitter

to

do service to

my

my country, and friends which being so, my other affection will be no impediment to my undertaking any public Prince,

;

and great action when I shall see a fit season, and that good is likely to result of it, although I must confess that retiredness

would afford me much more

solid content,

especially in these depraved times;

cannot keep sening

me

me back from them

in

the esteem of

my

and by

it

les-

master,

since he cannot choose but think well of

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

284 that

man who sheweth

such an effect of

his

loyalty and good nature, that no respects

make him

whatsoever can loveth.

And

as

make

account of the

owe her

well, if they

mother, I

duty that

filial

but parents would

;

he

perish in that hour that I

may

I

my

concerning

wish that I light

false to her

do very

have discreet children, that in

things mainly

importing

them

not

will

abandon themselves, to examine thoroughly

how

far their jurisdiction reacheth before

they stretch

it

Our

to extremities.

retri-

bution ought to be proportionable to our debt, but our souls and intellectual parts

we owe immediately

to

God, and

what dependeth thereon

human

jurisdiction

arrived to the tion,

it

to use

full

;

is

therefore

subaltern to no

so that

when one

is

years of mature discre-

were a kind of tyranny

in a parent,

more than counsel or reason

in in-

clining or diverting the child in disposing

of himself.

And

howsoever she

may

dis-

-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

285

pose of her estate, T shall not be moved therewith, nor shall let

much more,

were

enter into consideration with

the content of

may

it

though

it,

my mind

although

;

and

say, that I think she

would do most wisely not

all

this I

parents

to innovate nor

any thing that the general laws of the which cercountry ordain and intend

alter

;

tainly,

providing for inconveniencies,

in

reach farther and see deeper than any single is

judgment can

besides that,

;

said, there is a reciprocal

rents to children, which

is

when

all

duty of pa-

enough

for

an

obsequious child to have but intimated especially to a wise

"Then

for

;

man.

an advantageous match which

you recommend

to

me

to seek,

which

can any be

the estate

you consider that she doth and may bring

with

no mean one.

comparable to

her,' is

this,

if

tents that are in marriages

poral

conveniences

!

O

the flat con-

made

certainly

for tem-

one must

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

286

what one would take

affectionately desire

much

In

pleasure to enjoy.

our mutual desires

will

make each

happy, and our fervent loves strongly

upon those

choice

my

that shall

other

will reflect

come of

us,

adding that increase to natural affection,

and consequently

who

our joys in

to

also, in all reason, will

them

;

be replenished

with the goodness and beauty of her that

There

bore them.

is

no man certainly

that seeth so far as I do into these content-

ments and as

blessings,

but

vehemently as I do

this

difference

;

between

will desire

but there us, that

want courage and resolution and defend them; and I deem weakness

may be

they to

it

may

possess

a greater

to disguise one's passions than

to entertain them. shall

them

never drive

rules that I

me

Other men's opinions from maintaining the

have prescribed to myself;

then since this so mainly importeth happiness, I will not

fail

my

to justify myself

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. to the world for giving

tions

;

way

and then, although

the opinion of times, yet I

my

to

affec-

not gain

may

wisdom

suitable to these

I shall

have the ancients

hope

in that I seek to get a habitude

my friends,

that breedeth delight,

I

28?

full

and

pleasure

and banish

from

far

my

interior

considera-

tion those things that are without

me, to

the end that not being afraid of the censures of the world, I life

in

may

not drown

But

perpetual disquiet.

have said

to that effect,

other men's fantasies too solid meat for

;

do not

submissive

me,

let

way

and

their desires in I

me

I will

I

be like

I will

ten-

pro-

a more gentle, or rather if

;

it

weak stomachs and

they will not absolve

them pardon me ;

so indulgent to action,

in

what

relish to

and that

der teeth, as the vulgar's are,

ceed with them

if

my

let

my

as to pass

not

fail

any thing

by

their else.

cannot persuade myself that

friends be this

one

hopes or

Although I

am

in

an

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

288

error in this, yet since others believe

make me

will

strive to

it, it

behave myself so

in all things else, that I

may

rectify

my-

to that ef-

self in their

good opinion, and,

fect, strain

myself in virtuous actions be-

yond what otherwise If

be a

it

fault in

me, yet

them

greater injustice in

may be good

that

I should

ever threw

ment

for

away a

himself; then

it is

fair

and

still

rich gar-

some one

in

man

reason that no

but

man but

himself about

it;

search into me,

let

myself should trouble they will

all

what discreet

;

importeth no

It

if

condemn

to

having a small spot

corner of it?

yet

would be a

it

besides, for so small a

mixture of the contrary

man

have done.

them remember, that

in

the

choice of

friends those are to be esteemed

good that

none are

positively

are the 'least

and

good

;

evil,

let

ill,

if all

since

men have something

of

them examine the nature and

weight of what

evil

is

inherent to every

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. one, and

And

if

make

289

choice accordingly.

their

herein I strive not to better myself,

them conceive the cause proceedeth as much out of my design as out of my weaklet

ness, for I

of

thor

have learned, and from an au-

unquestionable

even the mending of a state the disordering I yield

me

more

that

authority,

not worth

is

and troubling

it.

And

if

to the tempest that carrieth

away, than some may

like of, let

them

consider that a ship tossed in a violent

storm maketh

wind

man a

;

fairest

weather before the

wherefore I judge

to force

civil

war

and

it folly

for

any

strain his nature, to raise

within himself.

Besides, I

care not for mending myself by halves

with

me

if

any thing be awry,

let all

:

that

hangeth upon that string be so too. If my affection be a fault, I must confess I cannot help

it,

conduct of the

for herein stars,

we

are under the

and then

go about to prescribe u

it

I will

limits

;

never

and sure

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

290 it

better to have

is

than

all

I will

think

one's

some

evil increased,

good troubled.

say this in

who hath

my own

But withal

behalf, that I

given testimony of wisdom

in other things, shall

never be accounted a

when he can give himself a good account of them and they fool for his affections

;

that live in the

of after ages, shall

memory

not be judged by their loves, but by their other actions. those,

Let them

and cover

in

this, as

me

look upon

they did in an-

cient times that sold a good horse

;

they

covered those parts of him that were not essential to

be observed

in

judging of his

goodness, lest they might carry away the buyer's eye

from marking the principal

limbs, by the which

judgment of the this

may be till

one wav

let

;

make

a

rest.

Howsoever, since

liable to

dispute, whether I

have done well or sentences

they might

ill,

let

men suspend

the event

them follow

their

give the verdict that wise man's

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

291

advice that would have none judge of another's happiness in

this,

future

censure

life,

till

after his death

me by

;

and

the tenor of

my

wherein I dare boldly promise

to myself that, whensoever I shall

avow

her for such, she will prove an exact pattern of a virtuous wife,

man; and

this

and

I of

a happy

not through any prophetic

revelation or credulous fantasy, but infallible

grounds and the certain

ledge of her nature, which will

be

my

fault if she

would have her ; and her

life will

belie

I

is

upon know-

such that

it

prove not as I

am

confident that

any rumour that may have

been spread abroad to her disadvantage by malicious persons, and believed by others that take up their opinions

" To end then

this

upon trust. long, and I fear

te-

me put you and much es-

dious, discourse of mine, let in

mind, how some ancient

teemed philosophers were of opinion, that a man of vigorous spirits and of a clrai u 2

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

292

understanding might not only love, but

own

without blame use the liberty of his election

and

the

inclinations,

artificial

minds,

who

by the dim

And

eth in controversy what

him

in the

can never deem

light of their

while is

:

remain-

it

and

at least

for

my

that without

my

it

do

part,

those humours very vain

that are very pleasing, since content true seasoning of

man

best for a

mean time

whatpleaseth him most I

that. limited

are not able to judge of things

feeble nature.

to do, let

and

;

ordinances are only for weak

truly as they are

own

to op-

original rules of nature against

vulgar laws and customs

and

and ought

all

is

the

other blessings, and

they are

all

nothing, nor

actions

by other men's censures, which hurt not at all when they are neg-

guide

lected flicted

I shall

or patiently endured, nor

when they condemn me be free from

most men

live in,

who

;

be

af-

and thus

the servitude that are

more troubled

PRIVATE MEMOIHS.

293

by the opinions of evils than by their real essence and then the world shall see that ;

my

happiness and content

is

not propor-

make of

tioned to the estimation that they it,

which

away

will

but to what I truly enjoy and

;

in myself,

ever.

which

And

racter of

me

soon be forgotten and vanish

will

me

for

to express fully the exact cha-

my mind

leave to

remain with

feel

in this particular, give

make

use of the sententious

poet's words, though applied to

my

pur-

pose somewhat differing from his sense,

where he saith

:

Praetulerim delirus inersque videri

Dum mea Quam

And

delectent mala me, vel denique fallant,

HORAT.

sapere et ringi.

then I

entreat

will

them

to think

me as I do of others which is, that no man of a competent understanding and

of

;

judgment

is

to be

lamented or pitied for

finding any means,

please

and

whatsoever

satisfy himself."

it

be, to

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

294

Aristobulus perceiving that Theageries

had made an end of what he intended

to

say by his silence, which was accompanied with a modest blush that seemed to speak for him, that

he could not teach

his sense

such a stern confidence as in his discourse

he attributed to himself, he was beginning

frame a reply thereunto, and to display many fallacies, as he termed them, in his to

speech, which could not defend him to a

sharp and

severe judgment, and would

only serve

him

more

plausibly,

to

when

deceive himself the their conference

was

interrupted by the coming in unto them of Aristobulus's solicitor of his causes,

who

being even then alighted out of his coach,

made

haste

to

acquaint his Lord with

what had passed that day before the great judges of the kingdom, who were posely assembled by the king's

all

pur-

command-

ment, to deliver their opinions in some weighty

point

concerning

his

business,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. and the tween

was

suit that

his

still

depending be-

Majesty and him

when Aristobulus had

of

;

whom,

the

received

much

information of as

295

full

as he could tell

him, he turned to Theagenes, and to him expressed, with

much

bitterness of sense,

the high injuries and oppressions that were

done him, which

away to

his

for

memory

the

of the former theme

which he had

the

took

present

bent his

eagerly

and Theagenes being glad of any occasion of diversion, and of keeping thoughts

;

him from returning unto

it,

did, as well

out of that respect as also out of a desire to inform his

best friend's to give

knowledge perfectly of his important affairs, desire him

him leave

to understand

from him

the true state that his business was in at

present

;

of which he had but rude and

imperfect

notions,

by reason of

his late

absence out of the kingdom, and since return

his

having

been

till

now

in

his

the

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

296

which being a subject that Aristobulus was never weary to discourse of, country

;

he willingly condescended and began in this manner.

to his

desire,

" If I should

hand of justice, though never unjustly carried, it would be some con-

perish by the so

solation to

since

by that means,

should have a

least, I

my

me;

fit

at the

occasion to

make

innocence, or rather meritoriousness,

known away

to the world

;

but to be consumed

insensibly under

heavy oppression,

and not to be able to procure that my reasons and defence may be once heard, is certainly the greatest affliction to a

happen

man

of spirit

;

that can

and

I

have

learned by dear experience that passive

valour

and

a rarer

is

it

is

less

endowment than

active,

troublesome to a generous

nature to expose himself into hazards than to endure injuries

the

first

;

which made

me

take

occasion that was offered, to pro-

duce mine into

public

view,

and

lose

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. all

29?

respect since none was maintained to

me; and

that was in the time of the last

general convocation of the three estates,

the wrongs

of subjects being at such a

time willingly heard and redressed

the

;

cause of which assembly, as

it

known

not be dis-

to few, so I think

it will

is

pleasing to you to understand from

truly

me

;

which yet I dare not affirm to be certain, but I had the knowledge of it from a good hand, and

my own

distance from the court

and the business of that maketh me that

rated.^

I

[Here nearly two pages are oblitekings, that were as

shamefully performed, he was fain to call

an assembly of the general estates to lieve

the

forces.

in

raising

new

But the people being generally

discontented

he found

wants

King's

re-

it

with

manifold

oppressions,

not so easy a task as he ex-

he desired pected, to win them to what

and during

his

and

:

their altercations, I

*/,/

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

298

took hold of

opportunity to accuse

this

him of transcendent crimes

preme court of

justice,

much

merly kept with

that

su-

having been

for-

to

industry from

all

King him-

other tribunals, and from the self.

You were

a main witness to prove

much

of what

had

I

later matters since

to say, especially of

my coming from

Egypt,

you having been the only negotiant long

treaty,

both

between

in a

Hephaestion

and me, and the old King and me with which good Prince you had no sooner ;

brought but

all

blasted

my my by

business

upon good terms, great and fair hopes were his

untimely death

;

of which

Hephaestion being very apprehensive, he

wrought so that Scanderbret and Oxicrane, kinsmen and dependents of his, did take an occasion to challenge gesilius

means

and you to cause

my nephew Ro-

to fight in duel,

by

this

your absence at such a

time as I might need your assistance.

I

PRIVATE MEMOIUS. must confess heard you

I

was much troubled when

were

I

the

gone to Lepanto, for

appointed

place

299

your combat, and

could have wished that your wit and sub-

you when you deceived watchful officers of the port, and those,

tleties

the

had

warned

failed

too, to get passage over the seas

but that part of tion to myself

my

and

care, which

my

had

;

rela-

business, was soon

quieted when I received the letter that

you sent me, wherein you shewed the heedful affection that you had to my good, and did much

avail

me

in

my

defence;

which was so strong, and did so much

re-

upon some things of high consequence, which I could not avoid mention-

flect

ing,

my

life

and honour lying

at the stake,

that soon after the producing of your letter,

when

I delivered in

my

accusations

against Hephaestion in form, the assembly

was abruptly dissolved, as you found

your return

;

when,

if

it

at

you had not had

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

300

much constancy and

well thought of by the

whom you

and been

resolution,

King your master,

boldly went at your

first

landing without any mediator, you

had

to

certainly

been

was lamented by part, I found

defence of

and accordingly your friends. For my

ruined, all

no other

my

effect of the strong

innocency, but that

it

ex-

asperated his Majesty against me, who, I think, was not, before that time of this to

me

unfortunate and unavoidable contesta-

tion, evilly affected in his

cerning

my

cause

hath sought

and

;

my

judgment con-

since, Hephaestion

destruction

by

all

the

means he could, by bringing me upon unequal terms into other courts of justice,

and

sifting all

my

actions from the

day that I entered into service.

ritoriousness,

speak

it

being

thus

old master's

my

But my innocence,

first

or rather

urged,

without ostentation,

is

I

me-

may

such and

so apparent, that at length they are forced

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. to let the cause

fall

;

and

301

this I

now un-

derstand to be the opinion of the judges that

met to-day about

my

business, al-

though for the accusers' honour they dare not publish

it."

This relation was the text of courses

genes

;

many

dis-

between Aristobulus and Theabut

it

growing

late they took leave

of each other, while Theagenes,

all

the

way

was going homewards, reflected with anxious thoughts upon what Aristo-

that he

bulus had so freely, and with the spirit of a friend,

spoken to him

and being

many

own

behalf;

into his chamber, after

retired

discourses in his understanding, he

concluded that

it

employ himself that might

how

in his

was necessary

for

him

to

some generous action

in

give testimony to the world

his affections

had nothing impaired

the nobleness of his mind, nor abated the

edge of that

his active

and vigorous

spirits,

any private engagements should

nor in

302

P

It

1

V ATE

him be a warrant

MEM

1 11 S

to idleness.

.

Whereupon

he resolved to undertake speedily something that might tend to the King's ser-

and gain himself honour and experience ; which when he made known to the vice,

King,

his

Majesty gave him an extraordi-

nary and very honourable commission to take in hand a voyage by sea; for the

which he made very

effectual

and

preparations, in such sort that

all

diligent

that

saw

them did from thence prognosticate good success of what he went about ; which was the cause that he had so many, and persons of quality, that endeared them-

be admitted into

selves to

that his

his

greatest trouble was

company, to defend

himself from their importunity; others,

ploy

times

upon

all their fall

company.

whereas

like occasion, are fain to

endeavours, and they

short, to

But

his

win

main

men

em-

many

into their

difficulty

was to

persuade Stelliana to take his departure

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. affection

made

so that she

would

whose extreme

patiently,

her very averse unto

it,

303

accompany her abundant

ever and anon

"Is

tears with such

words as

sible that the

day can come wherein

these.

it

pos-

sight doth offend your eyes, or that

my you

should find such amiableness in dangers

and tempests, as to hate

my

committed

what have

O my

it?

and beyond

ble, that

me from

to alienate

win and preserve dition,

What

presence?

tion, or rather,

them

for the gaining of

I

have I

sin

affec-

your

not done to

unhappy con-

others most misera-

all

dependeth upon the inconstancy

and mutability of others* minds, which, as it

changeth,

I

am

still

causes of deep sorrow

yet

let this

!

engaged

If not for

in

new

my sake,

innocent part of you persuade

you not to leave him a distressed orphan, and me a desolate widow, to lament your long, or peradventure perpetual absence.

Consider that although heretofore

it

PRIVATE MEMOlilS.

304

your single power to dispose of yourself, yet now I have an interest in you,

in

which to

I will

never be so cruel to myself as

and without

relinquish;

you

my

consent,

infringe the eternal laws of justice to

undertake such an action, and therefore

have reason to expect from above rather heavy judgments than blessings to accom-

Much

it."

pany

to this effect she spoke,

wounded with

issuing from a heart deeply affection

and

in himself the tiful

his

grief; while

en chanting

effects

and beloved woman's soul

almost

chain that

fettered

came from

tears,

of,

of a beau-

and had

the

in

her fair

he no sooner was aware

felt

Theagenes

lips,

golden

which

but the sense

of his honour came to his thoughts, and banished

all

weak tenderness out of

his

heart, so that he remained

unmoveable

his

he

resolutions,

although

could

in

not

choose but grieve extremely at her sorrow,

whom

he loved

above

all

temporal

re-

PRIVATE MEMOIRS. spects,

and make use of

all

305

the arguments

that he could bethink himself, to induce

her to endure his short absence with patience,

solation

and that might serve ;

acquainting her with the motives

that induced age,

for her con-

him

to undertake this vov-

and making her

I

see that although for

might be troublesome to her to endure, yet that hereafter it would be the present

it

the cause of both their complete happiness, since that

he was resolved to

himself to a private

life,

retire

where, removed

from the cumbersome distractions of the court or city, he might without any interruption enjoy the quiet blessings of her

sweet conversation, and would then attend to

nothing but to love, to ease, and to

tranquillity

:

but that

if

abruptly and of a sudden,

he should do it

it

could not be

without the impeachment of his honour

and worldly dignity ; and that therefore he chose this way to make a leisurely,

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

306 secure,

and honourable

retreat,

and

as

it

were with displayed ensigns, which, after such an action that would give testimony of his courage and resolution,

would say

men

all

be made through judgment

to

and highness of a mind despising what the vulgar holdeth most dear and in greatest admiration,

and not

through

shameful, lazy, or uxorious

a

weak,

humour

therefore he desired her that she

and

;

would

not with her sorrow give him the sad presage of some great ensuing disaster.

which discourse of could not

so

his,

Upon

although Stelliana

suddenly wean her

from the sense of passionate discretion taught her to

grief,

heart

yet her

contain the ex-

and by affording her consent to what he had resolved upon, shewed pression of

how

it,

her will depended wholly upon

his,

howsoever her desires and affections might be repugnant to it when she considered

any danger he might incur.

PRIVATE MEMOIRS.

30?

Theagenes then having with incredible diligence got his

all

things in readiness for

voyage, and with equal constancy and

magnanimity overcome the many difficulties and oppositions that occurred to him, some of them wrought by a powerful envious hand, as well as by the malignity

men thought would

of fortune, which most

have disordered and overthrown

his de-

signs; and having taken leave of friends, the last

going aboard

whom his

all

his

he visited, as he was

was Aristobulus,

ship,

who

then desired him to inform him truly

and

free

from suspense, whether he were

married or no: because that, he said, his great familiarity with Stelliana, and her entertaining of

it,

did

make most men

believe

he was, and yet his not public avowing did

make him doubt

it.

it

Whereupon

Theagenes acknowledged ingenuously that he was, but that if he had not asked him he would not have told x