earth which had not obeyed his commandement and to that purpose called unto him Olophernes his chiefe Captaine and gave him a strickt Commission to execute the will of the great King and Lord of the whole earth for so he stiled himselfe Then went forth Olophernes from the presence of his Lord and called together all the Governours Captaines and Officers of the army of Ashur and selected an hoast of an hundred and twenty thousand foote with twelve thousand Archers on Horse backe besides Camels and Asses for burdens and Sheepe Goates and Oxen without number and victuall for every man in the army besides great store of treasure out of the Kings house with multitudes of strangers like swarmes of Grasse-hoppers which attended on the Army and to pertake with the Assyrians in the spoyle Who from the upper Cilicia even to Damascus overrunne many Nations robbed their Cities laid waste their Countries and put all their young men to the edge of the sword so that feare and trembling fell upon all the inhabitants of the Sea coasts who sent Ambassadors unto him and laid themselves prostrate to his mercy and after received him with Crownes Timbrels and Dances into their borders and Cities notwithstanding which he cut downe their woods set Garrisons in their chiefe Cities and tooke out of them their chosen men of warre destroyed all their gods commanding them to worship Nabuchodonosor onely and that all tongues and Tribes should call upon him as their God Now when the children of Israel who dwelt in Iudea had hard what was done unto the Nations they were greatly troubled for Ierusalem and the Temple for they were but newly returned from the Captivity therefore they sent into all the Coasts of Samaria and the bordering Cities And tooke all the toppes of the high mountaines and walled in their Villages and put in vittailes for the provision of warre And â—oachim the High Priest sent to them of Bethulia and the adjacent Cities exhorting them to keepe the passages of the mountaines for by them was an entry into Iudea but so narrow was the passage that two men could but elbow there at the most Then cryed they unto the Lord even every man of Israel their wives and their children all with one consent and fell downe before the Temple in sacke-cloath and ashes on their heads praying that hee would not give their children for a prey nor their wives for a spoyle nor the Cities of their Inheritance to destruction nor the sanctuary to pollution and reproach and a derision to the Heathen the High Priest also and the Levites stood before the Alter their loynes giâ—t with sacke-cloath and ashes upon their Miters and called upon the Lord who heard their prayer In this interim it was declared to the great Captaine of the Assyrian army that the Israelites had prepared for warre and shut the passage of the mountaines and laid impediments in the champion Country where with being exceedingly mooved he assembled all the Princes of Moab and the Captaines of Ammon and all the Governours of the Sea coast and demanded of them who that people were what their Cities and what the multitude of their army and why they alone have not come downe to submit themselves more then all the inhabitants of the West To whom Achior Captaine of the Ammonites replyed Let my Lord heare the words of his servant and I will declare unto thee the truth concerning this people and gave him a free relation of their estate from the beginning rehearsing punctually all those great wonders that God had done for them in delivering them from the Aegyptians slavery In dividing the red Sea and overwhelming Pharaoh and his hoast and destroying the nations before them c. Adding moreover that when they sinned not before their God they prospered but when they departed from his way they were destroyed in many battles and led Captives into strange Countries but now saith hee they are turned unto their God and are come up from the scattering wherein they were scattered and possesse Ierusalem where their Temple stands and dwell in the mountaines which were desolate therefore if they have now againe sinned they shall be easily overcome But if there be none iniquity found in this people let my Lord passe by them least the Lord whom they serve defend them and we become a reproch before all the world Whose words were no sooner ended but all the Captaines of the Hoast began greatly to murmur And would in their fury have slaine him but when the tumult was appeased Olofernes said unto Achior because thou hast prophesied amongst us this day that the people of Ierusalem is able to fight against us because their God is able to defend them and who is God but Nabuchodonosor therefore will I destroy them from the face of the earth and their God shall not deliver them but we will destroy them all as one man And thou Achior because thou hast spoken these words in the day of thine iniquity thou shalt see my face no more till I take vengeance of that people which is come from Aegypt and then shall the Iron of mine army and the multitude that serve mee passe through thy sides and thou shalt fall amongst their slaine nor shalt thou perish till thou beest destroyed with them Then commanded hee his servants concerning Achior that they should bring him before Bethulia bound and deliver him into the hands of the Israelites which was accordingly done then came the men of the City and loosed him and brought him into Bethulia and presented him unto the governours of the place which were Ozias the sonne of Micha of the Tribe of Simeon and Chabris the sonne of Gothoniel and Charmis the sonne of Melchiel who demaunded of him of all that was done of which he gave them ample satisfaction declaring unto them the purpose of Olofernes and the words he had spoken in the midst of the Princes of Ashur For which having first praysed God they comforted Achior and commended him greatly and Ozias tooke him into his house and made a feast to the Elders calling upon the God of Israel The next day Olophernes removed his whole army neere unto Bethulia and cut off all their Springs of water thinking without the hazard of his people to make them perish by thirst for so he was counselled and besieged the City for the space of foure and thirty dayes in which time all their places of water failed and their Cisternes were empty insomuch that they had not supply for one day so that their children swouned and their wives and young men failed and fel downe in the streetes so that they murmured against the Elders desiring them to deliver up the City to the enemy for it is better for us said they to be a spoyle unto them then to dye of thirst since the Lord hath delivered us into their hands which they prest upon them so urgently
grew in great hatred for the giving up of Normandy by appointment for which and other grievances the Duke of Yorke father to him who was after King Edward the fourth with other confederate Lords opposed the Queene and her faction of which mortall warre ensued The King being much instigated by this magnanimous Lady his Queene accompanyed with the Duke of Somerset with a great army tooke their journey towards the Marches of Wales being ascertained that the Duke of Yorke with sundry other Lords were up in Armes who understanding of the Kings comming with so great a power swarved from his Hoast and tooke his way towards London but because hee could not be received into the City to refresh his people he went over Kingstone Bridge and so into Kent where on a place cald Bremt heath he embatteld himselfe soone after came the King to Blacke-heath and did the like these two Armies affronting each other a motion was made to mediate a peace betwixt them to further which to the Duke were sent the Bishops of Winchester and Elye and the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury to whom the answer was that he intended no violence against the person of the King onely to remoove from about him some evill disposed persons by whose meanes his people was much oppressed and the Commons greatly impoverished the chiefest of which was the Duke of Somerset to satisfie whom it was concluded by the King that hee should be kept in durance to answer all such Articles as the Duke could object against him Vpon which promise made by the King the first day of March being thursday the Duke broke up his Campe and personally came to the Kings tent where he found the Duke of Sommerset at liberty and the next attending on the King and by the Queenes meanes the Duke of Yorke was sent to London where he remained in a sort a prisoner and more straitly had beene kept if present newes had not come that his Sonne Edward then Earle of Marsh was hastning up towards London with a strong power of Welsh and Marchmen which stroke so suddaine a terrour into the Queene and her Counsell that the Duke was set at large having liberty to retire himselfe into his owne country soone after by meanes of the Queene the Duke of Summerset was created Captaine of Callis which kindled a new fire in the Yorkists insomuch that the Duke being in the Marches of Wales called unto him the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury with divers other Lords Knights and Esquires and sufficiently strengthened himselfe and in Aprill made what speed he could towards London Which hearing the King and the Queene shee suddenly caused using the Kings name and Authority in all things a strong Army to be levyed entending to conveigh the King West-ward without incountring the Duke of Yorke In which were imployed the Dukes of Summerset and Buckingham the Earles of Stafford and Northumberland the Lord Clifford and others who held their journey towards Saint Albones which the Duke hearing coasted the Country and upon Thursday before Whitsunday tooke one end of the Towne where whilst motion of peace was treated on the one party the Earle of Warwicke with the March-men entered on the other and skirmished violently against the Kings people In conclusion the day fell to the Yorkists where that time was slaine the Duke of Sommerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clâ—fford with many other Noble Gentlemen which victory thus obtained by the Duke hee with great seeming honour and reverence the morrow following conveighed the King to London and lodged him in the Bishops pallace and soone after by a Parliament held at Westminster the Duke of Yorke was made Protector of England the Earle of Salisbury Chancellour and the Earle of Warwicke Captaine of Callis and all persons before neere unto the King remooved and the Queene and her Counsell who before ruled all both King and land utterly disabled for having voyce in either at all which her high Spirit seemed nothing daunted But with some Lords who secretly adhered unto her party she so far perswaded that in making the King insufficient it was such a dishonour to him and disgrace to the Realme that by pollicy and friendship shee caused the Duke of Yorke to be discharged of his Protectors place and the Earle of Salisbury from being Chancellour which was the cause of new combustion and finding as shee thought the City of London to favour more the Yorkists then her faction shee caused the King to remove thence to Coventry whether the Duke with the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury were sent for who in their way were so ambusht that with great difficulty they escaped from being surprised an other assembly of all the Lords was appointed at London where all of them were richly accompanyed and strongly attended where a seeming attonement was made betwixt them for joy of which upon our Ladyes day in Lent the King the Queene and Lords of both parties went in sollemne procession to Pauls But this smothered fire broke quickely into open flame I will let passe many of the circumstances and come to the matter The Duke of Yorke knowing the inveterate malice which the Queene bore unto him assembled his Friends and gathered a strong army of March-men and others in the beginning of the thirty eight yeare of the King and strongly encamped himselfe at Ludlow the Queene also gathered like strength to encounter the Duke unto whose aide the Earle of Warwicke sent a strong band of men from Callis in whose company one Andrew Trollop who the night before the incounter with the entire company of those Callis souldiers left the Dukes Hoast and went unto the Kings where they were joyfully received which much dismaide the Yorkists and the more because they were privy to all their counsell wherefore upon mature deliberation they resolved to flye and leave their Campe standing as if they had still kept the field the Duke with his two sons and some few others fled into Wales and so after into Ireland and there remained the other Lords of his confederacy tooke their way into Devonshire from thence they sayled into Garnesy and after to Callis In the morning when all this was knowne to the adverse party there was sending and running to all Ports and places to surprise these Lords but their pursuite came to late so that the Kings Army spoyled Ludlow and the Castles and tooke the Dutchesse of Yorke and her children and sent them to the Dutchesse of Buckingham her sister then were all the Yorkists proclaimed Rebels and Traitors and the young Duke of Summerset made by the Queene Captaine of Callis but notwithstanding all the Kings Authority joyned with hers hee could not be there received which was the cause of many skirmishes and much blood shed in which though the Lords lost many men yet they came dayly so thicke unto them
out of diverse parts of England that their losse was not perceived In which interim one Iohn Dinham was sent with certaine ships to set upon the Kings Navy at Portsmouth who sped him so well that he tooke the Lord Rivers in his bed with the Lord Skales his son with other rich preys taking of the Kings Navy what shippes them best liked which some conjecture was not without the consent of the Mariners who bore a singular affection to the Earle of Warwicke With part of these ships the Earle of Warwicke sayled into Ireland to conferre with the Duke of Yorke about their re-entry into the Land and returned into Callis with safety in which time a Parliment was held at Coventry by Authority whereof the Duke of Yorke with the other Lords were attainted and their Lands and goods ceased to the Kings use then provision was made to defend the Havens and Ports and at Sandwich was ordained a new strength under the command of one Sir Simon Mountford that none should passe unto the aide of the Lords of which they having intelligence sent out another Navy unâ—o Sandwich and after long fight with the said Mountford tooke him and at a place called Ris-banke smote off his head after which the confederate Lords seeing what power they had with them and knowing that many hearts in England adhered to their faction after they had set Callis in order they prepared for England and landed at Dover and marching through Kent came to London the second day of Iuly where having well refreshed their people they sped them towards the King who was then at Coventry and awaited there with a sufficient army Who marching as farre as Northampton the ninth day of Iuly both hosts incountred where betwixt them was a blooddy battle fought but in the end the victory fell to the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury and the Kings host were utterly defeated and many of his Noblemen slaine amongst which were the Duke of Buckingham the Earle of Shrewsbury the Vicount Bewmount Lord Egremond and others and the King taken in the field after which victory by the Lords obtained they brought the King still keeping his estate up to London and lodged him in the Bishops pallace and sent newes of their happy successe to the Duke of Yorke who was at that time in Ireland A Parliament was then cald in the name of the King and holden at Westminster during which the Duke of Yorke upon the tenth day of October came to the City of Westminster and lodged him in the Kings pallace upon which a rumour rose that Henry should be deposed and the Duke of Yorke made King Whilst these things were thus in agitation the Duke came one day unto the Parliament Chamber and in the presence of the Lords sate him downe in the Kings Chaire and boldly made claime to the Crowne as his rightfull inheritance At which the Lords began to murmure as well his friends as others and after the matter was long disputed the Duke was perswaded to renounce that claime during the life of King Henry In all which time the Queene whom all these terrours could not daunt kept her selfe with the Lords of her party in the North and using the Kings name gathered a strong power which as she protested in the front of her Campe was to be revenged on the Kings Rebells and Enemies There is one thing worthy observation that during this Competitorship betwixt the King and the Duke though they lodged both within one pallace yet would he for no intercession or intreaty once visit the King which could be little lesse interpreted then an haughty and ambitious insolence To proceede it was after concluded by the Authority of the whole Parliament that King Henry should continue King all his naturall life but after his death Prince Edward his sonne to be made incapable of that Royall dignity but the Duke and his Heires to be Kings and he in the meane time to be made Protector and Regent of the Land and if at any time the King of his owne free will were disposed to resigne it should be to the Duke if he then lived or else to his Heires after him which on the Saturday next being the ninth day of November was proclaimed through the City And further because Queene Margaret with the Prince her Sonne the Dukes of Summerset and Exeter with divers other Lords kept her still in the North and came not up at the Kings sending it was concluded by the Lords there present that the Duke of Yorke with the Earle of Salisbury and others should raise an Army to fetch in the said Queene and Lords who hearing of their comming met with him neere unto Wakefield where was fought betwixt them a sharpe and bloody battle in which the Duke of Yorke was slaine with his young Sonne the Earle of Rutland with Sir Thomas Nevell sonne to the Earle of Salisbury and the Earle himselfe was taken alive and soone after beheaded It is said that the Duke of Yorke being sore wounded was brought before the Queene who in great derision and scorne placed him on a molehill instead of a Throne and put a Crowne of paper on his head for a Diadem and after she had sufficiently taunted his ambition caused him to be slaine this done with her victorious host shee made what speede shee could towards London and at Saint Albones was met by the Earle of Warwicke and the Duke of Northfolke who brought the King with them to the field where after a strong fight upon a Shrove-tuesday in the morning the Duke and Earles Army were routed and the King againe taken and brought unto the Queene The same day she caused her sonne Edward to be made Knight with other Gentlemen to the number of thirty persons The Queene being now in her former supreame command and thinking to sway all things as before at her owne pleasure newes were brought that Edward Earle of March eldest Sonne to the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Warwicke were met with a great strength of March-men and others and were speeding towards London which tidings compelled the King and Queene to retire them with their Army Northward the other taking this advantage entred the City the first weeke in Lent to whom resorted great numbers of Gentlemen from the South and East then was a great Counsell called of the Lords spirituall and temporall who after many argumenâ—s debated gave up this sentence that forasmuch as King Henry contrary to his honour and promise at the last parliament made and also that he was reputed unable and insufficient to governe the Realme by their generall assents he was thought worthy to be deposed and discharged of all royall dignity Then incontinently by the Authority of the said Counsell and consent of the Commons there present Edward the eldest son to the Duke of Yorke with an unanimous suffrage was
the whole Land And now was great expectation for the landing of Queene Margaret and her Sonne Prince Edward and great provision made through all the coast to oppose King Edwards landing who in a Parliament then called was proclaimed usurper of the Crowne and the Duke of Glocester his younger Brother Traytor and both of them attainted by the said Parliament then the Earle of Warwicke rid to Dover to have received Queene Margaret but was disappointed for the wind was to her so contrary that shee lay at the Sea side tarrying for a convenient passage from November till Aprill so that he was forced to returne without effecting his purpose In the beginning of which moneth Aprill King Edward landed in the North with a small number of Flemmings and others all which could scarse mâ—ke up a thousand and sped him towards Yorke making his Proclamations in the name of King Henry and protested to the people as he went that hee came for no other intent but to claime his antient inheritance the Dukedome of Yorke notwithstanding which the City denyde him admittance till he tooke an oath which having done they opened their gates unto him when after he had refreshed his Souldiers he held his way on towards London and having passed either favor of faire words the Lord Marquesse Montacut who lay with an Army in the way to interdict his journey seeing that his strength was greatly increased and that the people dayly flockt unto him hee then made proclamations in his owne name as King of England and held on his way to London where he was releeved and the same day hee rode to Saint Pauls Church and offred at the Altar which done hee went to the Bishops pallace where hee found King Henry allmost alone for all the Lords and others to save their owne lives had utterly forsaken him Then King Edward lodged himselfe where King Henry lay and committed him to strict keeping and rested himselfe till Easter Eve who hearing of his brothers comming and the other Lords with him with a strong host unto Saint Albones hee sped him thither and lay that night at Barnet whether the Duke of Clarence contrary to his oath made to the French King came with all the strength he had and reconciled himselfe to his Brother at which the Lords were much daunted yet by the comfort and incouragement of the Earle of Oxford they marched on to Barnet the foresaid Earle leading the van and there they strongly embattelled themselves Vpon the morrow being the foureteenth of Aprill and Easterday very earely in the morning the two hosts defied each other upon the one party were two Kings Edward and Henry who brought him with him to the battle Clarence and Glossester the Lord Barnes c. And upon the other was the Duke of Exeter the two Earles of Warwicke and Oxford the Marquesse Mountacute with many other men of note and name In which fight the Earle of Oxford quit himselfe so manfully that he quite routed that part of the field which hee set upon insomuch that newes was carryed to London King Edward had lost the day and if his Souldiers had kept their rankes and not falne to rifling most likely it had beene so But after long and cruell fight King Edward got the victory having slaine of his enemies the Marquesse Mountacute the Earle of Warwicke his brother with many others on the Kings party the Lord Barnes and upon both parties to the number of fifteene hundred and upwards the same after noone came King Edward to London and made his offring at Saint Pauls and after rode to Westminster and there lodged and King Henry was againe committed to the Tower where he remained till his death And now great preparation was made against the landing of Queene Margaret and her sonne who all this while had beene nere to the Sea side expecting a winde which after blew for her most infortunately yet was shee safely landed with an Army of French men and others and entered so farre within the Realme till shee came to a place called Teuxbury where the King met with her and after some resistance distressed and chased her whole company in which conflict many were slaine and their bodyes found dead in the place and shee her selfe with her sonne Edward both taken Prisoners and brought to the King whom shee fronted with a bold and an undaunted countenance and forgetting what shee was then a prisoner boldly spake to him as what shee had beene a commanding Princesse which the King not having the patience to indure commanded her from his presence The Prince also the true heire to his Mothers magnanimous spirit being not onely reprooved but somewhat villified by the King whose blood was not yet cooled since the late battle replyed unto him in a language best suiting his birth and the Sonne of such a Mother at which King Edward being highly mooved and beyond all patience incensed having then his Gantlet on for he had not yet put of his armour strucke him upon the face which blow was no sooner given but he was instantly dragged from the Kings presence and by the Duke of Glocester as same reports most tyrannously murthered and this hapned upon the fourth day of May. When the Queene heard of the death of her Sonne and the manner thereof the more to aggravate it great no question was her griefe but much greater and altogether inexpressible her rage and fury not having power to revenge her selfe upon her enemies this more tormenting her then the durance of the King her husband her owne captivity or the losse of her kingdome yet outwardly shee is said to have borne all these disasters with an incomparable magnanimity who was first conveighed to London and from thence with small attendance and lesse estate sent over into her owne Country and upon Assention Eve next ensuing the body of Henry the sixth late King was brought unreverently from the Tower through the high streetes of the City to Saint Pauls and there left for that night and the next morrow with bills and glaves as he was the day before brought from the Tower thither conveighed to Chertsey and without any sollemnity at all there interred of the manner of whose death there be divers reports but the common fame went that he was stab'd to death with a dagger by the bloody hand of Richard Duke of Glocester QVEENE ELIZABETH THis Virgin Soveraigne of our Maiden Isle On whom blind Fortune did both frowne and smile Great Honour and great Horrour did indure Not safe being Subject not being Queene secure Examine both It is not easily guest In which of them she did demeane her best And of those double Fates t is hard to know In which she did most dangers undergoe Had I more heads then Spanish Gerion he Who to one body had no lesse them three More hands then great Briareus to be wondred
with a mantle Who hoping that the worst was now past and his life in no further danger called unto her and sayd Give mee I pray thee a little water for my travaile hath made me very thirsty who fetched presently a bottle of milke and gave him to drinke with which having sufficiently refreshed himselfe he layd him downe againe and she againe covered him and as shee was departing from him hee called once more unto her saying stand I pray thee in the doore of the Tent and if any shall come and inquire of thee and say is any man here thou shalt answer him and say nay which having spoken being weary and over tyred in his flight he fell suddenly into a deepe and dead sleepe for so indeede it proved for he never awakned after Which she perceiving and being in heart an Israelite howsoever for necessities sake they with their whole Tribe complide with the Gentiles shee would not let slip so good an advantage but unwilling to let one of Gods enemies escape out of her hands like a bold virago shee tooke a nayle of the Tent in her hand and in the other an hammer and comming softly towards him she strooke the nayle into his temples and fastned it into the ground peircing his skull unto the braine with which wound he instantly expired Now Barak after the great hoast was defeated having intelligence which way Sisera was fled Iael came out to meete him and bespake him thus Come in with mee and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest who entring with her into the Tent she discovered unto him the body of Sisera which lay groveling on the earth dead and the nayle still sticking in his temples which object put him in mind of the words of Deborah when he denied to go into the field without her company that the honour of great Siseras death should be taken from him and bee conferd upon a woman which accordingly happened For Deborah in her song of thanksgiving after that great and miraculous victory over Sisera and his hoast giveth unto her this extraordinary character Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite shall be blessed above other women blessed shall she bee above women dwelling in Tents He asked water and shee gave him milke shee brought him butter in a Lordly dish shee put her hand to the nayle and her right hand to the workemans hammer with the hammer smote she Sisera shee smote off his head after shee had wounded and peirced his temples hee bowed him downe at her feete hee fell downe and lay still at her feet hee bowed him downe and fell and when hee had suncke downe hee lay there dead By which so often iteration of the same words she strived both to magnifie her act and eternize her memory Neither did this great honour done unto Iael any way take off or derogate from the merit and magnanimity of Deborah that any man need question which of them did better deserve the name of a Worthy The precedence and priority undoubtedly belonging to her who was a Prophetesse a Iudgesse and a mother in Israel the other onely a secondary minister and agent to have the will of the Almighty executed Deborah in person out-braving danger and standing the brunt of the battell against many thousands living Armed and awake and Iael onely taking the advantage of one single man flying trembling with feare and after to kill him sleeping I conclude of her with her owne words in her holy song after so glorious a conquest So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but they that love him shall be as the Sunne when he riseth in his might After which great discomfiture the Land had rest forty yeares IVDETH THe great Assyrian King puft up with pride Because no Prince was able to abide His potency in battle having subdu'd By his scarce to be numbred multitude All bordring Kingdomes at his mighty cost An hundred twenty dayes feasted his Host Then his chiefe Captaine Olophernes sent With a most puissant army with intent To sweepe all flesh from earth who had denayd To send him in his last great battle ayde He seekes to invade Iudea 'mongst the rest When of all other Cities most distrest Bethalmi was where Iudeth made abod Who in their great'st dispaire cald upon God And more their nations honour to advance Did undertake their free deliverance And when the spirits of the souldiers faild Put on a masculine spirit and prevaild Match me this woman amongst men who dar'd Against an Host invincible prepar'd For her whole nations ruine to invade That potent army singly with her maid And in her bold adventure so well sped To cut off and bring thence the Generals head OF IVDETH A SECOND WORTHY WOMAN AMONGST THE IEWES KING Nabuchodonosor and King Arphaxad were Contemporaries two mighty potent Princes the one raigned in Ninevey the great City over the Assyrians the other in Echbatane over the Medes A place as well strongly munified as most gloriously beautified It happened that King Nabuchodonosor purposed to make warre against King Arphaxad in the great Champian Countrey in the Coasts of Ragan and to that purpose hee assembled all those that dwelt in the Mountaines and by Euphrates Tigris and Hidaspes the Countries of Arioche the Elimeans the streames of Chelod with many other Nations and Languages He sent also into Persia and to all that dwelt in the West to Cilicia Damascus Libanus Antilibanus and all those that dwelt by the Sea coast and to all the people that are in Carmel in Galahaad in hither Galilee and the great field of Esdrelam and to all in Samaria and the Cities thereof and beyond Iordan unto Ierusalem c. But all the Inhabitans of these Countries despised the commandements of the King of the Assyrians neither would they come with him unto the battle but sent away his Embassadours sleightly and with dishonour therefore he was greatly incensed against all these Nations and swore by his Throne and Kingdome he would be avenged upon them and destroy all their inhabitants with the edge of the sword In which interim he marched in battle aray against the King of the Medes in the seventeenth yeare of his raigne and prevailed against him For he overthrew all the power of King Arphaxad his Infantry Horsemen and Chariots he woone all his Cities and entring Echbatâ—ne tooke the Towers defaced the streetes ruined the walls and turned the beauty thereof into shame Hee also surprised the King in the mountaines of Ragan and caused him to be thrust through with darts after which great victory he returned unto his owne City Ninivey Both he and all his Princes and Souldiers which were a great multitude where he passed the time in pleasure and jollity and banqueted his Hoast an hundred and twenty dayes During which triumphall feasting he communicated with those Princes and Nobles which were of his intimate counsell to destroy all flesh from the
honour of his great Majesty which continued for the space of an hundred and fourescore dayes which time being expired he made a second feast for the people that were found in the pallace of Shushan which continued seven dayes in the Court of the Garden of the Kings Pallace under an hanging of white greene and blew clothes fastened with cords of fine linnen and purple in silver rings and pillars of Marble the beds were of gold and of silver upon a pavement of porphyre and marble and alablaster and blew colour and their drinke was filled in vessels of gold and they changed vessell after vessell and there was royall wine in abundance according to the power of the King and their drinking was by order no man was compeld for the King had given a charge to all the officers of his house that every man should drinke according to his owne pleasure The Queene Vasthi made also a feast for the women in the royall house of the King now it happened that upon the seventh day which was the last of the feast that Ahasuerus being merry with Wine commanded the seven chiefe Eunuches that waited in his presence to bring the Queene before him with the Crowne Royall upon her head that he might shew the Princes and the People her beauty for shee was exceeding faire to looke upon but the Queene refused to come at the Kings sending for wherefore he was very angry and his wrath was kindled in him then the King said to thē wise men who knew the times and had experience in the Law and the Iudgements who were next him and saw the Kings face and sate the first in the Kingdome whose names were Carshena Shethar Admatha Tarshis Meres Marsena and Memucan what shall we doe unto the Queene according to the Law because shee hath refused to doe the Kings pleasure by the Commission of the Eunuches To which Memucan stood up and answered the Queene Vasthi hath not in this act of disobedience done evill unto the King onely but to all the Princes and to all the people of the Empire for this act of the Queene when it shall come abroad unto the women they shall by her example despise their husbands and say King Ahasuerus commanded the Queene Vasthi to be brought before him but she denyed to come So also shall the Princesses of Persia of Media and Chaldea say unto the Princes their Husbands which shall be the occasion of much despitefulnesse and wrath Obedience sheweth nurture but rebellion corrupt nature and whosoever obey their Superiours instruct their Inferiours The humble and obedient gaine honour but the stubborne and obstinate reproofe obedience formeth peace establisheth common weales and prevents disorders for obedience to the Law is the mainetenance of the Law c. Now therefore if it please the King let a Royall decree passe from him and let it be written amongst the Lawes of Persia and Media not to be transgressed that Queene Vasthi come no more into his presence but let the King dispose of her estate to her Companion who is better and more obedient then she which Decree when it shall be published through all your large Dominions the women shall give unto their husbands all due worship and honour which saying much pleased the King and the Princes and he did after the words of Memucan publishing unto all Nations and Languages that every man had power to beare rule in his owne house after these things when the Kings wrath was appeased those that ministred unto him said let them seeke for the King beautifull young Virgins and Officers be appointed through all his Provinces to bring them unto the pallace of Shushan and the maide that shall best please the King let her raigne in the stead of Vasthi and the saying pleased the King There was at that time in the City of Shushan a Iew whose name was Mordecai which implyeth bitter or Contrition who was the sonne of Iair the sonne of Shimei the sonne of Kish a man of Iemini who had beene carryed away in the captivity from Ierusalem with Ieconia King of Iudah by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babell who then had in his tuition Esther whom some call Hester or Hadassah his Vnckles daughter who was an Orphant without Father or Mother and was very faire and beautifull now when many Virgins were brought together into the pallace under the hand of Hege one of the Kings Eunuches Esther was found amongst them and the Maide pleased him and shee found favour in his sight Therefore hee caused her things for purification to bee given her speedily and seven comely maides out of the King house to attend her but shee did not shew this to her kindred or people for Mordecai had charged her to the contrary Now when the course of Esther the daughter of Abthail the Vnckle of Mordecai came that she should goe into the King shee desired nothing but what Hege gave unto her and she found favour in the eyes of all that beheld her who was taken in unto the King who loved her above all the women so that he set the Crowne of the Kingdome upon her head and made her Queene in the stead of Vasthi and made a great feast unto all his Princes and his servants and called it the feast of Esther after her name and gave rest unto all his Provinces and great gifts according to the power of a King In these dayes when Mordecai sate in the Kings gate too of the Kings Eunuches whose names were Bigthan and Teresh which kept the doore of the Chamber conspired together and intended to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus which was knowne unto Mordecai and he told it to Queene Esther and she certified the King thereof in Mordecha's name And when inquisition was made it was found to be so therefore they were both hanged on a tree and this was written in the Chonicles in the presence of the King After all these things it pleased the great King Ahasuerus to exalt Haman the sonne of Hammedatha the Agagite and set his seate above al the Princes that were with him insomuch that all the Kings servants that were at his the gate at his going out and comming in bowed unto him and did him reverence for so the King had commanded Mordecai onely bended not the knee nor made unto him any obeysance To whom the Kings servants said why transgressest thou the Kings commandement but he harkned not unto them therefore they told Haman of Mordecai and withall that he was of the nation of the Iewes Which when he understood he was full of indignation and wrath and thinking it too little to lay his hands on Mordecai onely he sought to destroy all the Iewes which were in the dominions of Ahasuerus and to sweepe them from the face of the earth and to that purpose hee came unto the King and said There is a people scattered and dispersed
amongst the nations throughout all the Provinces of thy Kingdomes and their lawes are diverse from all other people neither observe they their Kings lawes nor is it his profit to suffer them Therefore let it be written that they be destroyed and I will pay ten thousand tallents of silver by the hands of them thâ—t take charge of the businesse to bring into the Kings treasury To whom the King taking the Ring from his finger and giving it unto Haman said let the silver be thine and the people thine to doe with them as it shall seeme good in thine eyes Then were the Kings Scribes called and they writ according to all things which Haman did dictate unto them unto the Captaines and Chiefe Officers in every Province and the Letters were sealed with the Kings Signet and sent by Posts into all the Provinces to roote out kill and destroy all the Iewes young and old children and women in one day namely the thirteenth of the moneth Adar which is the twelfth moneth and to spoyle them as a prey and the Posts compelled by the Kings Commandement went forth and the writing was given at the pallace of Shushan and the King and Haman sate drinking together but the Iewes that were in the City were all at that time in great perplexity and trouble Which when it was related unto Mordecai he rent his cloathes and put on sacke-cloth and ashes and went into the middest of the City and cryed out with a great cry and a bitter and then came before the Kings gate but was not suffered to enter being clothed in sacke-cloth and in every Province and place where the Commission was read there was great sorrow and fasting and weeping and mourning and many of the Iewes lay in sacke-cloth and ashes then Esthers maids and the Eunuches told all these things unto her for which she was very heavy and sent rayment to cloathe Mordecai and to take his sack-cloth from him but he received it not then the Queene called Hatach the Eunuch and gave him a commandement to goe unto Mordecai and to know of him what and why such things were so Hatach went forth and met him at the gate to whom Mordecai punctually related all that had happened even to the least circumstance and gave him the coppy of the writing to shew unto Esther and charged her by him that she should goe in to the King and make humble supplication for her and her people Now when the Eunuch had delivered unto her the Coppy of the Commission and all that Mordecai had said unto him shee commanded him to returne unto him and say that whosoever man or woman came to the King into the inner Court not being called there is a law of his that all such shall dye except him to whom the King shall hold up his golden Scepter that he may live Now saide shee I have not beene called to come before the King these thirty dayes so hee certified Mordecai of all the words which Queene Esther had spoken who said that they should answer her againe thus Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the Kings house more then all the rest of thy Nation for if thou holdest thy peace at this time comfort and deliverance shall appeare to us from some other place and person but thou and thy Fathers house shall assuredly perish yet who knoweth but thou art come into the Kingdome for such a purpose Then Esther commanded him to go backe againe to Mordecai and answer hiâ— thus goe and assemble all the Iewes in Shushan and fast yee for me and neither eate nor drinke any thing for the space of three dayes and nights I also and my Maides will fast likewise and afterward I will goe in to the King which is against the Law and if I perish I perish which having heard Mordecai departed and did according to all that the Queene had commanded him And on the third day she put on her Royall apparell and stood in the Court of the Kings pallace within over against the house and the King sate upon his throne of Majesty who when hee saw Esther the Queene standing in the Court shee found favour in his sight and he held out the golden Scepter that was in his hand so shee drew neere and touched the toppe of the Scepter to whom the King spake and saide what wilt thou Queene Esther and what is thy request It shall be granted thee even to the halfe of my kingdome Who humbly bowing unto him said if it please your high Majesty let the King and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for them To whom the King answered goe and cause Haman to make haste that he may come to the banquet of Queene Esther at which when they were sate the King said what is thy request I speake it againe it shall bee performed even to the halfe of my Kingdome To whom she replyed If I have found favour in the sight of the King and that it please him to grant my request let the King and Haman come to the banquet that I shall to morrow make ready and then I will declare what my petition is to the King So Haman departed thence joyfully but when he found Mordecai standing in the gate and that hee stood not up nor mooved unto him he was mightily incensed against him Notwithstanding for that time hee refrained himselfe and when he came home hee sent and invited his friends in the presence of Zeresh his wife and Haman told to them of the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and all the honours to which the King had exalted him and that hee had set him above all the Princes and servants of the King adding moreover that Esther the Queen suffred no man to come unto the banquet with the King save himselfe and to morrow saith he I am invited but all this doth nothing please mee whilst I see stubborne Mordecai sit at the gate of the pallace Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him let there be made a tree of fifty cubits high and to morrow speake unto the King that Mordecai may be hanged thereon then shalt thou goe joyfully with the King to the banquet and the motion pleased Haman who caused the gibbet to be erected Now it happened that the same night that the King slept not quietly and therefore commanded the Bookes of the Chronicles to be read before him in which it was found written what Mordecai had told of Bigthan and Teresh the Kings Eunuches keepers of the doore who sought to lay violent hands on the King Which having heard hee demanded what honour or what dignity had beene done unto him for that service to whom it was answered by his servants that nothing at all had beene done for him He thinking it most unworthy his imperiall dignity to receive so great a benefit as
his life and not to reward it asking what one of note was in the Court now Haman was newly come into the Inner Court of the Kings pallace to speake unto him that Mordecai might be hanged on the tree which he had prepared for him and his servants said Haman standeth in the Court and the King said let him come in who no sooner appeared before him but Ahasuerus spake unto him and said what shall be done unto the man whom the King will honour then Haman thinking in his heart to whom would the King doe honour more then to my selfe answered To him whom the King will honour let them bring forth Royall apparell such as the King useth to weare and the Horse on which hee rideth and let the Crowne Royall be set upon his head and let the rayment and the Horse be delivered by the hand of one of the Kings most noble Princes and let them apparel the man whom the King will honour and cause him to ride upon the Horse through the City and proclame before him saying thus shall it be done unto the man whom the King will honour Then said the King to Haman goe speedily and take the rayment and the Horse as thou haste saide with the royall Crowne and doe so unto Mordecai the Iew and see that thou let nothing faile of what thou hast spoken which how unpleasing it was to the Agagite may be easily conjectured since he was made the Minister and servant to doe such grace and honour to the man whom of all the men living he most hated but man purposeth and God disposeth who confoundeth the wicked in the mallice of their hearts and recompenseâ—h the innocence of the Righteous and upright man as well in the justice of his cause as to give the world a testimony how he never suffreth the innocent to fall nor the godly to perish Wee finde by proofe infallible that envy ayming at others still woundeth her selfe shee is blinde and can doe nothing but dispraise vertue she is the slime and Impostume of the soule a venome a poyson which consumeth the flesh and dryeth up the marrow in the bones it is a sicknesse growing from other mens happinesse shee barketh at the starres and spurnes at that which she cannot reach she is imagined by the Poets to dwell in a darke cave to be pale leane and looking a squint full of gall never rejoycing but in other mens harmes ever unquiet and continually tormenting her selfe shee maketh the body to be ill disposed and is called the feaver-hepticke of the Spirit and may be thus distinguished from hatred the one is secret the other is open and as griefe is a disease of the body so is shee a sickenesse of the soule Shee alwayes waites at vertues elbow but glory in the end erecteth that which envy in the beginning seekes to depresse as may appeare by the sequell For Haman whether pleased or displeased was forced to take the rayment and the Horse and brought him mounted through the streetes of the City and proclamed before him thus shall it be done to him whom the King will honour which done Mordecai went againe to the Kings gate but Haman hasted home to his house mourning and his head covered and told unto Zeresh his wife and to all his friends what had befalne him to whom after some pause they replyed If Mordecai be of the seede of the Iewes before whom thou hast begunne to fall thou shalt not prevaile against him but shall assuredly fall before him and whilst they were yet talking with him came the Kings Eunuches and invited him unto the banquet So the King and Haman sate downe with Queene Esther and the King said againe unto her what is thy petition that it may be given to thee and what is thy request who answered and said if I have found favour in thy sight O King and if it so please his high Majesty let my life be given me at my petition and the lives of my people at my request For wee are sold I and my people to be destroyed to be slaine and to perish but if wee were sold for servants and handmaides I should have held my tongue and beene silent although the adversary could not profiâ— the King so much by his mallice as hee should hinder him by the losse of my people Then King Ahasuerus saide unto Queene Esther who is he or where is hee that presumeth to doe thus who answered againe the adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman at which words Haman was startled and sore afraid before the King and the Queene then the King arose from the banquet of wine in his wrath and who knoweth not but that the anger of a Prince is like the lightning from the East and the threats of a King like the noyse of thunder and went into the Pallace Garden and Haman stood up to the Queene to make request for his life for his heart failed him because he saw there was a mischiefe prepared for him from the King Who when heÌ„ returned from the Garden into the house where they had drunke wine Haman was falne upon the bed where the Queene sate at which hee being incensed said and will he force the Queene also before me in the house which words were no sooner uttered but those which were attendants on the King covered Hamans face which was the manner of the Persians when any one was out of the Princes favour then Harbonah one of the chiefe Eunuches saide in the presence of the King behold there standeth yet the tree in Hamans house fifty cubits high which Haman had prepared for Mordecai that spake good for the King who said let him be hanged thereon so they hanged Haman on the tree which he had prepared for Mordecai and then the Kings wrath was appeased The same day did King Ahasuerus give the house of Haman to Queene Esther and Mordecai came and stood before the King for the Queene had told him of what neere alliance he was unto her and the King tooke off his Ring which he had before taken from Haman and gave it unto Mordecai and Esther set him over the house of Haman and shee spake yet more before the King and fell prostrate at his feete weeping and besought him that he would utterly abolish all those wicked decrees of Haman the Agagite and those inhumane devices which he had imagined against her people and the King held his golden Scepter towards her and shee arose from the earth and stood before him and said if it please the King and that it may be acceptable unto him let it be written that those Letters of Haman the sonne of Ammedatha be revoked which he wrote concerning the destruction of my Nation throughout all the Kings Provinces for how shall I suffer to see the evill that shall come unto my people or how can I indure the depopulation of my Kindred And the King said unto
the Queene and to Mordecai behold I have given Esther the house of Haman whom they have hanged upon the tree because hee presumed to lay hands upon the Iewes write ye also for them as it liketh you in my name and seale it with my Ring for the writings are written in my name and sealed with my Ring may no man revoke Then were the Kings Scribes called who wrote according to al that Mordecai did dictate unto them unto the Iewes and to the Princes and Captaines and Governours of the Provinces which were from India even unto Aethiopia an hundred and seven and twenty Provinces and unto every Province in such Letters and Language as was used amongst the people that lived therein which having sealed with the Kings Ring he sent them by posts on Horsebacke and those that rode upon beasts of price as Dromidaries and Mules in which the King granted liberty to the Iewes that in what Cities soever they were resident to assemble themselves together and stand for their lives and to roote out and destroy all the power of that people and that province which vexed them both men women and children and to make spoile of their goods so the posts went forth to execute the Kings Commandement and the decree was given in Shushan the pallace Then Mordecai went out from the King in Royall apparell of blew and white and with a great Crowne of gold upon his head and with a garment of fine linnen and purple and the Iewes in the City rejoyced and were glad to whom was come light and joy and gladnesse and honour and in all and every Province and in all and every City and place where the Kings Commandement and Decree was read there was great rejoycing a feast and a good day and many of the people of the Land became Iewes for the feare of the Nation fell upon them Now when this Decree grew neare to be put in execution in the day that their enemies hoped to have power over them It is worthy observation that Gods great providence turneth the joy of the wicked into sorrow and the teares of the godly into gladnesse for the Iewes gathered themselves together into their Cities throughout all the Dominions of King Abasuerus to lay hands on such as sought their dammage and no man durst withstand them for the feare of them fell upon all the people and the Rulers of the Provinces Princes Captaines and Officers of the King Exalted the Iewes did them honour and showed them friendship for the feare of Queene Esther and Mordecai was upon them For he still grew in favour power and honour greater and greater Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with the sword with slaughter and destruction and what seemed pleasing in their owne eyes unto all those who had conspired their death by the instigation of wicked Haman At Shushan they slew five hundred men as also the ten sonnes of Haman but they laid not their hands on the spoyle and their number was brought unto the King Who said unto Queene Esther thy people have slaine in Shushan the pallace five hundred men and the ten sonnes of Haman what have they done in the rest of the Provinces and what is thy petition further that it may be given thee or what is thy request moreover that it may be performed unto thee then said Esther if it please the King let it be granted also that they may hang upon the tree Hamans ten sonnes and the King gave present order that it should be so done The Iewes also that were in Shushan assembled themselves upon the foureteenth day of the moneth Adar and slew of their enemies three hundred men but they laid not their hands on the spoyle and the rest of the Iewes that were in the Kings provinces assembled themselves and stood up for their lives and slew them that hated them seventy and five thousand but on the spoyle laid they no hand So they kept solemne the foureteenth and the fifteenth dayes of the moneth Adar which was the twelfth moneth in memory of their great deliverance by the hand of Esther which dayes were turned unto them from sorrow unto joy and from mourning into a glad season to keepe them as dayes of solemnity and feasting in which they sent presents every man unto his neighbour and gifts to the poore Thus raigned shee a blessed Mother in Israel and Mordecai was the second man in the Kingdome next to Ahashuerosh who was great amongst the Iews and accepted of his Brethren who procured the wealth of his people and spake peaceably unto all his seede and whose dignity and honours done unto him by the King are written at large in the Booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Medâ—a and Persia. OF THE THREE WORTHIE WOMEN AMONG THE HEATHEN Whose Names are Bunduca Penthisilaea Artimethia BVNDVCA HOw much O Brittaine are we bound to thee Mother and Nurse of magnanimity Of which thou from antiquity hast lent Vnto all ages famous president Witnes this British Queen whose masculine spirit Shall to all future glorious fame inherit Beyond all tongues or pens who may be proud Not thunders voyce can speake it self more loud Of whom although our moderne Authors wrote But sparingly least they should seeme to dote Too much upon their Natives forraigne inke Hath beene so lavish it would make man thinke Her valour inexpressible Tacitus Made her his ample theame and to discusse Her gifts were Dio's labour Xiphiline With many others made her acts divine As above all womans performance farre To whom I onely leave this Character This British Queen whom just incensment fires Against the Roman Monarchy conspires And her revenge more hotly to pursue Of their best souldiers fourescore thousand slew Whose name all other glories might transcend Had not adverse fate crost her in the end THE FIRST OF THE THREE WOMEN WORTHIES AMONGST THE HEATHEN CALLED BVNDVCA THis Bunduca cald also by severall Authours Boodicia Boudicea Voadica and Bowndvica was the dowager Queen of Prasutagus King of the Iceni a Province which contained foure shires in England and was one of the prime of the Sceptarchy who all the time of his raigne remained in amity with the Romans and was reckoned amongst their sociall Kings who having disposed of his kingdome to Nero Caesar then Emperour and to his owne two daughters intending that having Caesar their guardian and in hope of his favour towards them receiving a childs part that they should be Queenes of their owne shires or co-partners after their Mother which being ratified by his last will and testament he deceased But the daughters poore Ladies found but a sorry partnership where the Lion was to make the partition For Neroeâ— Captaines and Officers exercised intollerable violence throughout the Kingdome and not the least upon them for the Pallace of Prasutagus their Father as also his great Riches which were abundant and long in gathering together with his
others but 〈◊〉 â—aturall Scythians I meane the most ancient of whom I spake before have all things amongst themselves common saving their swords and their quaffing bowles those they reserve as peculiar to themselves Their Wives and their Children they hold promiscuously begot the one knowledge no certaine Fathers and the other acknowledging no constant husbands they were in the originall a most simple people and most observant in the exact lawes of justice as allotting suum cuique i. to every man his owne but falling of from that regularity they grew as violent in the contrary extreame as observing none at all Forsoone after they grew to that inhumane barbarisme that whosoever of any forraigne Nation came within their confines they cut off his nose as a marke to distinguish him from the rest of their Nation They are naturally inclined to wrath and anger and betwixt them and the Sauramates this one thing is common that they sacrifice their living wives at the obsequies of the dead husbands they wholly studdy grasse and cattle but neglect Tillage and graine as feeding upon rootes rather then bread their habit or attire is the skinnes of wilde beasts which being tanned they weare the hairy side outwards that to the Foe they may seeme the more terrible Theft they abhorre because they have all the gs amongst them free and common Drunkennesse is frâ—quent amongst them in somuch that to be toxt with Wine to give it the more emphaticall expression the Latine saith Scithissare which is the same with Inebriari In their sollemne feasts their custome is to have a great massie bowle brimmed with Wine to be carryed from man to man in which none is suffered to drinke who cannot give account of the slaughter of some enemy and hee that hath slaine most hath the honour to drinke deepâ—st they have neither walled Townes nor Cities but whether soever they travell they carry their houses in Waggons or Chariots along with them Images Altars and Temples they abhorre onely such as are dedicate to Mars they imbrace wood they have scarce any or none at all and therefore such cattle as they kill they eate the flesh sod or rosted with a fire made of the bones in any set battle the first enemy they surprise they first kill him and then quaffe healths the one to another in his blood Those are most honoured amongst theÌ„m who can give account that by his owne hand he hath slaine most of the enemies and of theÌ„ contrary those that have done no facinorious act they extreamely vilifie When the King shall command any man to death all his male children under goe the like censure but the wife and daughters are free in all contracts and covenants they drinke the one to the other in wine mixt with blood and such compacts are held inviolable no slave is admitted or mercenary man to attend upon the supreame Majesty who being dead fifty of the prime who attended him are strangled and as many of his best horse who are also buryed with him in his sepulchre ARTIMESIA OF this brave Carian Queene my pen's at strife Whether she better Widdow was or Wife In both there 's none that reads her can deny But she observ'd her true Conjugall tye For Chastity or Valour those fam'd most Cannâ—t before her least precedence boast In either who shall strive her to surmount Needes must they come farre short in their account For who so reades Herodotus shall finde She was of such a chaste Heroicke minde That both in peace and warre she was like glorious In the Court Famous in the Campe Victorious Who to her Country till her time obscure Hath left a Name for ever to indure For all the monuments on Vertue plac't No Envy can demolish nor Time waste But they shall brave all Ages to ensue Whose Attributes I summe up in these few Three hundred thousand Persians this brave Queene In a great Navall conflict fought betweene Them and the Greekes out shin'd yet honoured most For one of the seaven wonders at her cost Erected to Posterity which rariety Shee built to expresse her true Conjugall Piety OF ARTIMESIA QVEENE OF CARIA A THIRD HEROICK CHAMPIONESSE AMONGST THE HEATHEN ALmost all places but most sure I am all ages have brought forth brave and illustrious women renowned for sundry Vertues and qualities as also severall Countries for instance we read of a Semiramis amongst the Assyrians a Camilla of the Volscians a Thomyris of the Scithians an Hester of the Persians a Cleopatra of the Egiptians a Zenobia of the Palmirians an Amalasantha of the Gothes a Theolinda of the Longobards a Radegunda of the Frankes or Galls a Bunduca of the Brittaines a Maria of the Hungarians an Isabella of the Spaniards a Cassiope of the Ethiopians an Harpalice of the Amazones an Hippolite of the Magnesians an Electra of the Thebans a Teuca of the Illyrians a Lucresse amongst the Romans a Inturna of the Rutilians a Cassandane of the Medes a Cassandra of the Trojans an Hermodice among the Lidians a Penelope amongst the Larissaeans a Dido of the Carthaginians c. And of others promiscuously thus Andromache the Wife of Hector Creusa of Enaeus Monima of Mithridates Erfilia of Romulus Herpilida of Aristotle Amastrix of Xerxes Hotina of Trajanus Atossa of Darius Portia of Brutus Pyrha of Deucalion Euridice of Orpheus and this our Artimesia of Mousolus c. She was the Daughter of King Lydamnius her Paternall blood shee derived from Halicarnassus the prime City of Caria her Maternall from Creâ—te now Caria hath its name from Capitalis i. a head Country but as others would have it from King Cara who first reduc't it to a Monarchy and is scituate in Greece upon one side of the mountane Taurus betwixt the two Regions of Licia and Ionia this illustrious Lady as well for her Conjugall Love and Chastity as for her Heroicke Spirit and magnanimity is worthily remembred to all Posterity There are said to be Septem orbes miracula i. seven wonders of the World who for their state magnimity and cost deserved a prime admiration above all others of which her pompous and most magnificent structure was not the least upon this just occasion I will as briefely as I can render them unto you in order the first were â—he Egiptian Pyramides built upon square stones below but sharpe and pointed above which the Egiptian Kings erected over their Tombes and Funerall Monuments as well in a vaine ostentation of their Riches as to set their people upon imployment to keepe them from sloth and idlenesse one of which was built of one entire stone which either grew or was made in their owne Country in Longitude an hundred forty and three foote in Altitude threescore and two a second was maâ—e of stone fetcht from Arabia which sixe hundred thousand men were twenty yeares in building three others there were which from their first foundation till they were compleately
he received two sonnes Edmond and Eldred and two daughters Edburga and Edgina thus was he blest with a numerous Issue setting all his sonnes to Schoole to teach them knowledge in the Liberall Arts but the Ladies his daughters to spinne and card wooll taking his president from Charles of France surnamed the Conquerour from which even our greatest Ladyes nay even Princesses themselves if they be either cited in Court or arraigned upon any Capitoll offence they are indited by the name of such an one Spinster to this day About the first yeare of his raigne one Clito Ethelwaldus a neere kinsman to the King rebelled against him and strengthned himselfe at a place called Win-burne neere unto Bathe and tooke thence perforce a beautifull Nunne and with her fled unto the Danes who then had peaceably seated themselves in Northumberland animating them by very pregnant and perswasive reasons to take armes in his behalfe against the King his Nephew who notwithstanding so hotly pursued him that hee was compelled to forsake that Country quite leaving the Nun behind him and for his safety flye into France so that the King with drew his forces and left off his pursuite restoring the Nunne unto the same cloyster from whence she was violently taken In all which expeditions this brave Heroina with Etheldredus her Husband Duke of Mercia assisted the King her Brother as also in that which followeth being highly extolled above many other prime Commanders for her forward and excellent service The next yeare following this Clito before spoken off with a crew of Frenchmen landed in the East part of England and gathered unto him all the Danes of that Country robbing and pillaging all the Townes and Villages as they marched onwards especially those about Crekingsford and Crickland and after passed the River of Thames and spoyled all the Lands neere unto Bradenstuake and so from thence retyred themselves into Hast Anglia which were the two Counties of Northfolke and Suffolke But the King with his sister made after them with all possible speed making havocke of all those Lands which they then held of him by composition from the River of Owse as farre as the borders of Saint Edmonds bury and soone after the two hosts encountered where a bloody battle was fought to the great losse of both sides in which conflict Elpheda fought hand to hand with Clito and though sundred by the multitude yet came off with the best the event was that Clito with many of the Danes were slaine and left dead in the field and the King and his Sister shared in the honour of the day Those that survived were forced to seeke and sue for peace upon condition that they should keepe themselves within the bounds to them limitted and moreover pay an annuall tribute for all those grounds they held of the King In the twelfth yeare of this Edwards raigne the Danes repenting of those Covenants before made as thinking it an impairing to their honour assembled a mighty hoast with which the King and his sister met in Stafordshire at a place called Toten-hall and soone after at Wodnesfield at which two places they slew two Kings two Earles and divers Commanders of note besides many thousands of the Danes of which the Chronocles afford us no exact number most of which came out of the Country of Northumberland where they had beene peaceably seated This excellent Lady was as Religious as Valiant who amongst other of her pious acts prevailed so farre with her Husband that they betwixt them at their proper charge translated the bones of King Oswal who had beene Cannonized for a Saint from Bradony to Glocester and there erected a faire and beautifull Monastery dedicated to the honour of Saint Peter soone after which for it presently ensued the last battle before spoken of dyed Etheldredus Duke of Mercia or middle England after whose expiration the King having had so long proofe of his Sisters love valour and wisdome conferred on her the sole and entire rule and governement of that Country in as ample possession as her Lord had before injoyed it the City of London only excepted which he reserved to be under his owne patronage Of this masculine Spirited Lady to reckon up all her vertues would aske long circumstance but I will particularize unto you some few of those brave deedes she hath left memorable to all posterity as building and repairing many Townes Cities and Castles as Tamworth besides Lychfield Stafford Warwicke Shrowsbury Watersbury and Eldesbury in the Forrest besides Chester shee erected also a Castle in the North end of Mercia upon the River cald Merce in the Saxon tongue Ramcofan and since Runcora shee also built a bridge over the River Severne called Brimsbury Bridge she more over both by her purse and wisdome greatly assisted the King her Brother as well in the mannaging the affaires of the Realme as in erecting sundry Forts and Cittadels as the strong Castle of Hereford in the edge of Wales and in repairing the wals and City of Chester by the Danes much defaced which he much inlarged so that the Castle which was before without the Walles is from his time even to this day contained within them It is further reported of her that after she had once prooved the paine of travaile in Child birth shee for ever after abandoned the bed and embraces of the Duke her Husband saying it was neither convenient nor seemely for a Kings Daughter and Sister to a King to expose her selfe to any such lust full action which might beget those pangs and throws which women were inforced to indure in travell a rare continence and not found in many and that was one prime occasion why after the birth of her sole and onely Daughter Elswina she left all other effeminacies and applying her selfe unto the condition of those turbulent and combustious times became a stout and warlike Virago whose example could not chuse but put courage into the most dastardly cowards beholding a woman so valiant Of her rare continence and vowed chastity too much cannot be spoke in her praise for Chastity as Solon defineth it is the beauty of the soule the grace of the body and peace of the minde it is a vertue alwayes companion with fortitude and as it is both in Virginity and the Widdowed much approoved so even in Wedlocke it cannot be but commendable and as idlenesse is the greatest enemy unto it so by being in continuall action is to oppose it abstinence from fleshly lusts are best tryed in extremity and in the end crowned with eternity for let the body be never so faire without that it cannot be truely cald beautifull Beauty may be compared to the flowers of the Spring which soone fade but Chastity to the starres of Heaven which last ever for with the reines of reason it curbeth the rage of lust The greatest honour conferd upon women without that is
but like a Mandrakes Apple faire in shew and poyson in taste it is the seale of Grace the staffe of Devotion the glory of life the comfort in death which when it is joyned with Humility and Charity they may be called the three vertues of the soule I come now to the thirteenth of this King Edwards raigne and the first or second at the most of her Widdow-hood at which time a great Navy of Danes which in the time of King Alured were beaten from the coast and forced to flye into France now returned and sayled about the West Country and landing in diverse places tooke sundry preies at their best advantage and then retyred themselves into their shippes againe and amongst other of their direptions they spoyled a towne called Irchinfield from which place they tooke a Bishop and carryed him aboord their ships whom they soone after ransomed for forty pounds sterling but as soone as the King and his Noble Sister had intelligens of these out-rages he assembled his Forces and they sped them West-ward by Land and sent out a Navy by Sea of which the Danes hearing they cowardly quit the Land and fled into Ireland And therefore to prevent the like inconveniences to which the Realme in those dayes was much subject the King by the advise of his fellow Championesse built a Castle at the mouth of the River Avon and another at Buckingham and a third neare unto it and after returned into Northamptonshire and gave battle to the Danes who had there planted themselves under a great Duke cald Turbetillus whom they utterly defeated and had of them an honourable victory It is further Recorded of this Martiall Virago that she without the ayde of her Brother gathered her Knights together and where the Welsh-men made invation into the Land about Brecknocke shee valiantly opposed them in all violent Hostility and amongst other prisoners and preyes surprised the Queene of their Country who came in person to the field and thinking to aspire unto her fame came farre short of her Forture The yeare following which was the foureteenth of the Kings raigne hee caused to be erected or at the least reedified the Townes of Torsetor and Wigmore Vtterly demolishing a strong and famous Castle which the Danes for their security and defence had built at Temesford The same yeare also this Noble Lady won the Towne of Derby from the power of the Danes in which assault they put her to that hard adventure that foure Knights which were called the guardians of her Corps were slaine close by her yet shee notwithstanding by her great valour escaped and after so many perils hazards battles and conflicts in all which both for magnanimity and action shee out did the most and equalled the best death which durst not looke upon her in her Armour as being frighted at the terrour of her angry countenance stole upon her unawares when her plumed helmet victorious sword and impenetrable Curace was laid by arrested her by the hand of his minister sickenesse and then taking the advantage of her infirmity and weakenesse strucke her dead about the Summer Solstice which is the middle of Iune Who was much lamented by the King and the Commons and her body with great solemnity interred in the Monastery of Saint Peters which the Duke her Lord and shee had before erected in Glocester which was after in the troublesome combustions of the Danes quite raced and demolished but in the processe of time againe reedified by Aldredus Bishop both of Yorke and Worcester who was loath that the memory of so magnanimous a Lady should be drowned in Lethe and not her monument remaine to all posterity This excellent Lady being dead her young daughter Elswina was possessed of all her seigniory for a season having a like principality with her mother who preceaded her and was stiled Princesse of Mercia or middle England but the King her Vnckle taking the affaire into his more mature consideration by the advice of his Nobles thought it to be too great a burden for her to support especially her indisposition comming so farre short of the wisedome and valour of her Mother and therefore discharged and dispossessed her thereof annexing it to the Crowne and making it a prime limbe of the body of his Kingdome which though it was done with some contention and difficulty yet the King prevailed in his purpose allotting unto her the Townes of Notingham Tom-woorth and Derby expecting shee would have defended them in as brave and warlike a manner as her Mother before her had done but finding the contrary he tooke them also from her and reduced them into his owne subjection Henry Arch-bishop of Huntington an Histriographer and Poet such as those times afforded wrote much of the Chronicles of England and composed many Elegies and Ditties of this noble Lady Elpheda of which these ensuing are a part Caesars triumphs were not so much to praise As was of Elpheda that shields so oft did raise Against her enemies this noble vanqueresse Virago whose vertues can I not expresse These amongst others are remembred by Fabiam one of our English Chronologers whom in this briefe tractate for the contractednesse used in his Annals I have strived to imitate King Edward in the death of his Royall sister Elpheda having lost his chiefe supportresse yet notwithstanding builded a new Towne directly over against old Nothingham and made a faire Bridge to make a passage betwixt them of whom Marianus the Scot William of Malmsbury and Henry of Huntington further report that he subdued the two Kings of Scotland and Wales who about the twentieth yeare of his raigne elected and acknowledged him for their Lord and Patron Hee also in the North part of Mercia by the River Merce built a City or Towne called Thylwall and after repaired the City of Mouchester which had beene much defaced by the Danes after which and many other his structures and noble atchievements which would appeare too tedious here to relate He finally expired having raigned in great honour and trouble at Tarringdon in the twenty fourth yeare of his raigne and from thence his body was conveighed to Winchester and interred in the Monastery of Saint Swithine leaving behinde him divers Sonners of which Ethelstane was the eldest and succeeded in the Throne Imperiall who began his raigne over the greatest part of England in the yeare of grace nine hundred and twenty five and in the third yeare of Rodolphus King of France this Ethelstane much beautified the tombe of his Aunt Elpheda and is said to be the first annointed King of this Land c. QVEENE MARGARET QVeene Margarets Father as all pens agree King of Ierusalem and Sicilee Had neither Crowne nor Country th' Annals say And what 's command where none are to obey Yet those meere timpanous Titles Suffolke drew Twixt her and the sixt Henry to pursue A speedy match mauger the prae-contract Tweene
elected King and being royally accompanyed to Westminster was invested in the Throne and tooke possion of the Crowne thence by the Clergy he was conveighed in sollemne procession to Saint Edmunds shrine and there offered as King receiving the Homage and â—ealty of all the Lords there present c. Then was great provision made for the North against the Queene and her partisans the Earle of Warwicke upon a Saturday in the beginning of March with a great puissance of people departed from London Northward and on the Wednesday following the Kings Infantry followed and upon Fryday next after being the tenth of March the King rode through the City with a great band of men passing Bishopsgate and so holding on his journey sped him so well that he with the rest of his Forces met with their enemies at a Village nine miles and an halfe on this side Yorke called Towton or Shirborne Vpon Palme sunday he gave them battle which was fought with such eagernesse and fury that in the field and in the chase were slaine of the Queenes party thirty thousand men besides those of speciall note and name amongst which are numbred the Earle of Northumberland the Earle of Westmerland the Lord Clifford the Lord Egremond Sir Andrew Trollop who had before revolted with his Callis Souldiers from the Yorkists at Ludlow with divers others there were taken also the Earle of Willshire or Devonshire who was sent to Yorke and there after beheaded of which bloody conflict and irrecoverable losse Henry and Margaret having notice they with their sonne Edward the Duke of Summerset the Lord Rosse and others in all hast fled towards Scotland and the King upon the morrow with much of his people entred into Yorke and there kept his Easter Thus the most infortunate Prince Henry of whom it is truely observed that he was never personally in any battle but it was lost when he had raigned full thirty eight yeares sixe months and odde dayes and that Heroycall Lady Margaret whom even this last disaster could not daunt was forc't to flye whilst King Edward having setled all the affaires in the North under the charge of the Earle of Warwicke visited all the Countryes South and East and about the beginning of Iune came to his Mannor of Sheene since called Richmond in which time of his abode there provision was made for his royall Coronation Then upon the twenty seventh of the same moneth being Fryday hee rode to the Tower of London attended by the Lord Major and his Brethren and upon the morrow being Saturday he made twenty eight Knights of the Bathe and foure more after the same afternoone he was with great solemnity conveyed through the City those two and thirty Knights riding before him in blew gownes and hoods and upon the morrow being Sunday and Saint Peters day with great triumph Crowned and annoynâ—ed by the Archbishop of Canterbury c. In the second yeare of this King Margaret late Queene came out of France into Scotland and thence into England with an Army of Frenchmen and Scots of which King Edward having notice he sped him into the North with a strong Army at the rumour of which by reason of the cowardice of her Souldiers she was forced to disband and flye and tooke a small ship intending to saile into France but by reason of a great tempest shee was forced to leave her owne barke and take a small Fisher-boate by meanes of which shee landed at Barwicke and came unto the Scottish King where shee heard her barke perished in the tempest in which shee had great riches and treasure notwithstanding at her instigation the yeare after shee with her Husband invaded England with a great Army of Scottish men which hearing then the Lord Montague Brother to the Earle of Warwicke he assembled the Northerne men and gave them battle at a place calld Exham and there routed them chasing Henry so nere that he surprized certaine of his followers habited in Iackets of blew Velvet garnished with Crownes of gold and fretted with pearle and other rich stones notwithstanding his so narrow escape in the end of the same yeare hee was taken in a wood in the North Country by one named Cantlow and presented to the King who sent him as Prisoner to the Tower where he remained a long time after Some few moneths before this King Edward at a place called Graston neere unto Stony Stratford upon the first day of May secretly espoused Elizabeth late wife of Sir Iohn Grey Knight who was slaine at Towton field neere unto Yorke at which marriage were present none save themselves the Dutchesse of Bedford her Mother two Gentlewoman and one Gentleman who the next yeare after upon Whitsunday was with great sollemnity Crowned at Westminster which marriage was the occassion of much trouble in the Land of which I am loath long to insist as unwilling to meddle with any impertinences not genuine with the particular actions and fortunes of the Queene Margaret the subject now in hand Yet thus farre I must travell in the History to informe you that the Earle of Warwicke was before sent into France to treate about a marriage betwixt the King and the Lady Bova who by reason of the former match thought himselfe much disparaged and dishonoured therefore hee withdrew himselfe from the King and confedered unto him the Duke of Clarens who had before marryed his daughter and notwithstanding the King sent peaceably unto them as desiring reconsilement yet they sayled into France solliciting the ayde of Lewis the eleventh who by reason of the former affront concerning the Lady Bova gladly condiscended to their request where they consulted with Queene Margaret and the Earle of Oxford for their returne into England in which meane space King Edward commanded them to be proclaimed as Rebels and Traitours throughout the Realme In the tenth yeare of the King and the month of Sceptember the Duke of Clarence the Earles of Warwicke Pembrooke and Oxford with others landed at Dertmouth in Devonshire and made Proclamations in the name of King Henry to whom much people desirous of innovation resorted and drew towards the King then being in the North who having with him but small strength and of them too those whom hee durst scarse trust he with the Duke of Gloster the Lord Hastings and a few others tooke the next way towards the Washes in Lincolneshire and with great danger not without the losse of some of his company got over into Flanders and sped thence to Charles Duke of Burgoine who had before marryed his sister where he rested for a season meane space the Duke of Clarence and the other Lords drew nere unto the City and after rode unto the Tower and withall honour and reverence brought out King Henry and conveighed him to Saint Pauls and lodged him in the Bishops pallace who was generally admitted and taken for King through
Whose active skill at once could moove an hundred In every one a pen As many eyes As Iuno's Argus waking to devise Of her perfections onely Head Hands Sight In striving but to patterne her aright All though in their full vigour I should sinde Strucke on the suddaine Stupid Dull and Blinde Chaste Virgin Royall Queene belov'd and fear'd Much on the Earth admir'd to Heaven indeer'd Single and singular without another A Nurse to Belgia and to France a Mother Potent by Land sole Soveraigne of the Maine Antagonist to Rome the scourge of Spaine THE LAST OF THE THREE WOMEN WORTHIES AMONGST THE CHRISTIANS CALLED ELIZABETH QVEEN OF ENGLAND FRANCE AND IRELAND c. AS the most famous Painter of his Time Apelles to frame the picture of one Venus had aâ— once exposed to his view an hundred of the most choyce and exquisite Virgins of Greece to take from one the smoothest brow from a second the most sparkling eye a third the Rosiest colloured cheeke a fourth the best Corrall like lippe a fifth the sweetest dimpled chinne a sixth the daintiest swelling brest a seventh the whitest hand from another the most delicate foote and so of the rest and all to make the exact portrature of that Emergent goddesse so in the accurate expression of this rare Heroicke Elizabeth should I peruse all the ancient and Authenticke Histories and out of them select the lives of the most vertuous Ladyes for their rare and admirable indowments commended to posterity and perpetuity taking and extrâ—cting from them severally those sundry gifts and graces by which they were remarkeably eminent above others whether Piety or Virginâ—ll purity Beauty and bounty Majesty and magnanimity Language and learning polliticke Governement or practise of goodnesse pitty of forraâ—gne distressed nations or indulgence over her owne Natives c. Nay what praecelling vertue soever was commendable in any one particular or all in generall may without flattery be justly conferred on her Shee was the Daughter of King Henry the eighth of that name and of his second wife the Lady Anne Bullaine first created Marchionesse of Pembrooke and then espoused to the King the five and twentyeth day of Ianuary 1533. and upon Whitsunday next following at Westminster crowned Queene the seventh of September after shee was delivered of a faire Daughter to the great and unspeakeable joy both of the Prince and people shee was Christened the third day next ensuing being Wednesday in the Fryers Church in Greenewich in a Font of silver The old Dutchesse of Northfolke held the Babe Her Godfather was Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Metropolitane of all England her Godmothers the Dutchesse of Northfolke and the Marquionesse of Dorset both Widdowes Not long after the birth of this young Princesse a generall oath of Allegiance past through the Kingdome to support and maintaine the successive heires descending from the bodies of the King and Queene Anne lawfully begotten in the possession of the Crowne and Scepter and all Imperiall honours to them belonging by which Katherine of Spaine his former wife and the Princesse Mary their daughter were disabled to lay any claime at all to the Royall dignity and for this cause were the two young Ladies brought up a part which might be a reason also why there was such distance in their dispositions I have further read of this young Lady Elizabeth that there were pregnant hopes of her even in her Mothers conception Mercury being the starre which was at that season most predominant whose influence is sharpenesse of wit and ingenuity Iupiter at her birth being in conjunction with Venus and Soi with a favourable Aspect shining on either a doubtlesse presage that the Infant borne under that Constellation should bee faire and fortunate powerfull in warre yet a Patronesse of peace excellent in Learning exquisite in language in life honoured in death lamented who in her tender Infancy was said almost as soone to speake as to goe and that her words had sence as soone as sound and not being full foure yeares of age used every morning when shee opened her eyes to aske for her booke before shee called for bread and at all other times of the day was observed to bee more ready to pray then to prattle Queene Annes life being taken away by a violent death the morrow after the King was marryed to his third wife the Lady Iane Seymer daughter to Sir Iohn Seymer who on the twelfth day of October In the yeare of grace 1537. was at Hampton Court delivered of a Sonne whose Mother dyed the second day after much lamented and pittyed and the young Prince called Edward was the eighteenth of the same moneth created Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Chester the Father being so joyfull of his Sonne that hee cast a neglectfull eye on his two former daughters Mary and Elizabeth but the later of the two was in the first grace for when Mary was separated from comming neere the Court Elizabeth was admitted to keepe the young Prince company and from his Tutors received all such necessary documents that by her childish dictating unto him he might be the more capable to understand them and such was their proxinity in blood that it begot in them a mutuall and alternate affection insomuch that he no sooner knew her but he beganne to acknowledge her neither was their love the lesse comming from one loynes then had they issued from one and the same wombe being equally fortunate and unfortunate as having one Royall Father but either of them to be deprived of a mother and in that too having a kinde of mutuall correspondence that though her Mother suffered by the sword and his dyed in Child bed yet both indured violent and inforced deaths To cut off circumstance in the yeare one thousand five hundred forty sixe and of his raigne the thirty eighth King Henry the eighth expired the 28. of December and was the sixteenth day of February next following with great solemnity buryed at Windsor And upon the one and thirtyeth day of Ianuary was Prince Edward proclaimed King over all his Fathers Dominions and Realmes by the stile of Edward the sixth of that name and on the nineteenth of February he rode with his Vnckle Sir Edward Seymor Duke of Summerset and Lord Protector through the City of London And the day following was annoynted and Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas Craâ—mer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Metropolitane of all England who that day administred the holy Sacraments c. The King was no sooner Crowned but the Lady Elizabeth gave way to the present state neither continued they in that frequent familiarity as before for whereas in former time she loved him as a Brother her discretion now taught her to honour him as her King for though hee was a Prince of great meekenesse and modesty for that Royall Majesty which makes the difference betwixt the
avaritious wretch whose motto was Quid labitis undertaking was like a perfidious Traytour soone after drawne hangd and quarterd Let me not here forget the Campe at Tilbery in which her Majestie was in person and that if the Spaniard had prevailed by Sea to have given him battaile by land appearing in the head of her Troopes and incouraging her Souldiers habited like an Amazonian Queene Buskind and plumed having a golden Truncheon Gantlet and Gorget Armes sufficient to expresse her high and magnanimous spirit who when she understood the proud enemie was utterly defeated and that her English soyle was too hot for any invaders to tread upon she dissolved her Campe. And to shew how much she vilefied their former undertakings and how little she feared what they might attempt thence after the very next yeare following shee sent an Army into Portugall invading the invaders and braving her much daunted enemy even in his owne dominions I conclude all her miraculous preservations with that of Edward Squire one belonging to the Queenes stable who being in Spaine received from one Walpoole a Iesuite a strong and mortiferous confection in a bladder to poyson the Pummell of her Saddle who after his returne wayting his opportunitie and by reason of his place and former acquaintance not being suspected when her Majestie was to take horse he came openly with a smiling countenance in the presence of many and having prickt the bladder wearing a thicke can'd glove clapt his hand upon the Pummell of the Saddle and with a chearefull voyce sayd God save the Queene wherein it pleased God as mine author saith to take his word not his meaning for by Gods great providence neither in mounting nor alighting nor all the way she rode shee once touched the Pummell For which attempt he by his voluntary confession was convicted and condemned Thus have I described unto you a Vestall for virginitie a Mirrour of Majestie no lesse celebrated for religious pietie then regall dignitie with no afflictions afrighted no disasters daunted to her friends a mother her foes a terrour maliciously pursued miraculously preserved of women the wonder of Princesse the Paravant Elizabeth FINIS A briefe Index or Table of the Contents in the Premises In the life of DEBORAH WHat this Deborah was Page 5. The Etimoligy of her name p. 6 Her Character ibid. In what estate Israel stood in her time ibid. Ioshuahs victories with the manner of his death ib. Israels Idolatry p. 7 Gods great mercy towards them ib. The Iudges ib. Israels Tryall ib. Baalaim and Asheroth p. 8 Of Cushan Kishataim King of Aram. ib. Othnill the sonne of Kenâ—z ib. Eglon King of Moab ib. Ehud the sonne of Gera who slew Eglon ib. Shamgar the sonne of Anath ib. The Israelites ingratitude towards God p. 9 The tiranny of Iabin King of Canaan ib. Deborah a Iudgesse in Israel p. 10 The place where she dwelt ib. Her speech to Barack the sonne of Abinoham ib. Baracks timerousnesse p. 11. Deborah's magnanimitie ib. The muster of the two Tribes of Nepthali and Zebulon ibid. Of Heber the Kenite p. 12 His temporisings betwixt the Israelites and the Cananites ib. The dangerous effects of warre p. 13 The office of a Generall ib. The fruits of tyranny p. 14 The nature of Ambition ib. Of Sysera and his preparation for warre p. 15 Mount Tabor ib. The River Kishon ib. Deborah incourageth Baruck before the battaile ib. The effects of feare p. 16 Syseras Army roâ—ted ib. He flying comes to the Tent of Jael the wife of Hebar ib. Her entertainment of Sysera p. 17 His feare being in her tent ib. Jâ—el killeth Sisera p. 19 Debora and Jael compared for their masculine vertue ib. IVDETH OF the two Kings Nabuchodonozer and Arphaxad p. 22 The two great Cities of Ninivie and Echbatane ib. The nomination of sundry Rivers p. 23 Nabuchodonozers commandment despised ib. King Arphaxad discomfited and slaine ib. Nebuchodonozer after his victory feasteth his boast an hundred and twentie dayes p. 24 Holophernes his chiefe Captaine and his Army ib. The magnificent provision of his boast ib. His tyranny p. 25 Nabuchodonozer proclaymed a God ib. The preparations of Israel against Holophernes ib. Joachim the high Priest ib. The Israelites prayer and repentance p. 26. Achior Captaine of the Amorites ib. His speech to Holophernes p. 27 The blasphemy of Holophernes ib. Achior brought into Bethulia p. 28 Ozias Chabris and Charmis Governors of Bethulia ib. Achior comforted and feasted by the Elders ib. The great distresse of Bethulia p. 29 Judeth the widdow of Manaffes ib. Her zeale and abstinence p. 30 She reproacheth the Elders of Bethulia ib. The reply of Ozias to Judeth p. 31 She changeth her garments of widdow-hood ib. Her wonderfull beautie p. 32 Her mayde ib. Judeth brought before Holophernes p. 33 Her speech to him ib. The answer of Holophernes p. 35 She is brought into his Tent. ib. The feast of Holophernes to his servants p. 36 Bagoas the Evenuch ib. Holophernes infidiateth her chastitie ib. She eateth and drinketh in his presence p. 37 Holophernes overcome with wine ib. Holophernes slaine by Judeth p. 38 Judeth with her maid come backe to Bethulia ib. Her counsell to the Governours p. 39 Achiors extasie at the sight of the head of Holophernes ib. Holophernes found without an head p. 40 The Assirians disheartned ib. Their buast utterly discomfited p. 41 The High Priests and the Eldersblesse Judeth ib. Their honour done to her for their miraculous 〈◊〉 p. 42 Judeths thanksgiving and offering ib. Her age and death p. 43 ESTHER WHat Ahashueras was p. 46 His great feast to his Princes p. 47. His feast to the people ib. Queene Vasthis feast 48. Her contempt of the Kings command ib. Memucans censure of Vasthi ib. A decree against the Queene 49 Who Mordecai was 50 Who Esther or Hadasha was ib. Esther received into the Kings Pallace ib. Esther crowned Queene 51 Treason against the King discovered by Mordecai ib. The exaltation of Haman Mordecai bendeth not the knee to Haman ib. Hamans purpose utterly to supplant the Jewes 52 The decree sealed for the destruction of the Jewes 53 Mordecai's sorrow for his people ib. Queene Esther comforteth her Vnckle Mordecai 54 Queene Esthers fast 55 Queene Esther appeares before the King and finds favour ib. The King and Haman invited to her banquet 56 Hamans hate to Mordecai ib. His pride and confidence ib. Haman maketh a Gibbet fiftie foote high to hang Mordecai 57 Gods providence to preserve his people ib. Pride catchâ— in her owne net 58 Haman is force to honour Mordecai ib. What envie is 59 The King and Haman at Esthers banquet 60 Esthers request to the King ib. Hamans pride turned into base feare 61 Haman hanged on the gallowes prepared for Mordecai ib. Esthers petition for the Jewes 62 The decree against the Jewes broken ib. Libertie granted to the Jewes 63 Mordecai's royall apparell ib. The Jewes revenge
upon their enemy 64 Hamans ten sons hang'd 65 A memoriall for the Jewes great deliverance ib. Mordecai the second man in the kingdome ib. BONDVCA HEr severall appellations 70 Prasutagus her husband maketh Caesar Co-keyre with his Queene and daughters 71 The unjust proceedings of the Romans ib. Their barbarous lust and crueltie 72 Bunduca's person and condition ib. Reasons Inducing the Brittaines so rebell against the Romans 73 Swetonius Paulinus the Roman Generall ib. Bunduca's first insurrection 74 Her royall Army ib. Her habit in Battaile ib. The place where shee encampt 75 Her oration to her Souldiers ib. Her devision of the Romans 76 The goddesse Andate or victory 77 The providence of Paulinus Swetonius ib. The strength of the Romans in Brittaine 78 The estate of the Citie Comelodunum at that time 79 The estate of the Roman Colonies 80 The Citie demolished 81 Bunduca intercepteth the Roman expidition ib. She prosecuteth her victory ib. The demeaner of the Roman Generall 82 Virulam sackt and spoiled ib. The cruell behaviour of the inraged Brittains 83 The courage of the Roman Generall 84 The number of the Bunduca's Army ib. The place where she incamped 85 The time of the years ib. The martialling of the Roman Army 86 The proportion of a Legion ib. Bunduca in the Battaile 87 The order of her Battaile ib. She incourageth her Souldiers 88 The onset on both sides ib. A description of the Battaile 89 Valour on both sides ib. The Romans Victors 90 The Brittaines Army routed ib. The numbers slane on both sides 91 Of Bunduca after the battaile ib. Her death and place of buriall ib. Divers opinions concerning her place of enterrement ib. PENTHISILAEA OF Viragoes or women of masculine Spirit 96 Of Camilla Helerna Semiramis Zenobia 97 Hypsecratea Tomyris Teuca Maria Puteolana 98 Of the Amazons in generall 99 Their originall 100 Whence they derived their names 101 Marthesia Lampedo Orreta Antiope ib. Menelippe Penthifilaea 102 Securigera Vexillifera Peltifera 103 Penthisilaea's beauty ib. The death of Penthisilaea 104 Monithaea or Thalestris in the time of Alexander 105 The end of the Amazonean race ib. The manners of the Scithians 106 The custome of the Sarromates 107 Their Kings at their death 109 ARTIMESIA HEroicke women in all ages 112 Renowned women 113 The seaven wonders of the world and first of the Aegiptian Pyramids 114 Of King Cleopas and RhodopeÌ„ the second wonder 115 The third and fourth wonder 116 A fift wonder 117 The sixt wonder 118 The beautiful Pallace of Cyrus ib. A strange controversie betwixt the two Citties of Athens and Elis. ib. Phidias 118 The pleading of the Athenians 120 The stout answer of the Aelians 122 The seaventh wonder erected by Queene Artimesia ib. The gravers of King Mausolus Tombe 123 Rare builders and Architectors ib. Mausolea 124 The magnanimity of Queene Artimeâ—ia 125 Her brave demeanour in that great navall fight betwixt the Persians and the Grecians Xerxes his character of Queene Artimesia 126 ELPHLEDA OF comâ—ustions and 〈◊〉 women 132 Helena Hyppodamia Aspaâ—ia Poliâ—o Lavinia 133 Dejareira Nicostrate Polidices Lucretia ibid. Virginea Phaedra Martia Thais 134 A Catalogue of excellent and eminent women ib. Dominica Iuguldis 135 Glotildis Placida Pompâ—ia Paulinâ— Helena Monicha 136 Etheldredus raised the first Schoole in Oxford 137 King Alureds issue ib. A remarkable accident 138 The Danes defeated by stratagem 139 King Edwards numerous issue 140 Whence Spinsters came ib. The first proofe of Elphledas valour 141 Her monomachy and brave victory 142 Her valour and pietie 143 Her Acts buildings and repayring of decayed Cities ib. Her rare chastitie and of her daughter Elswina 144 Of chastitie and beautie 145 Further of her valour the Danes outrages and the death of Turbitillus 146 An emulation betwixt two women with a strange deliverance 147 Elphleda's death and further of her daughter 148 Her Epitaph 149 Her brother King Edwards victories and of King Ethelstane 150 Queene MARGARET A Preparation for her mariage 154 Her bringing over into England with her marriage to King Edward the sixt 155 She assumeth regall prerogative 156 The death of Humphrey Duke of Gloster with his Character 157 A Parliament at Lecester the death of the Marquesse of Suffolke 158 Blew-beard Iack Cade the birth of Prince Edward 159 The Queene the raiser of all combustions ib. The proceedings of the Duke of Yorke a peace betwixt the King and the Duke The Duke of Yorke sent to the Tower 160 Sommerset made Captaine of Callis new combustion by the Queenes partie 161 The battaile at Saint Albans the King prisoner the Duke of Yorke Protector and discharged of his Protectorship 162 Procession to Pauls and of Andrew Trollop 163 Iohn Dinham surpriseth the Kings Navy and Simon Mountford beheaded by the Yorkists 165 The bettaile at Northampton the King taken and Yorke lodged in the Kings Pallace 166 Yorke claimes the Crowne his pride the decree of the Parliament 167 The battaile of Wakefield the Duke of Yoâ—ke slaine 168 Another battaile at Saint Albans Prince Edward made King the Earle of Marsh raiseth new Forces 169 Edward Earle of Marsh made King the bloody battaile at Sherborne 170 Henry with his Queene flye into Scotland 171 Edward crowned Queene Margarets Army her distresse by Sea 172 Exam-field Henry tooke prisoner King Edward marrieth the Lady Grey 173 The Lady Bona the Duke of Clarens and Earle of Warwicke proclaimed Rebells 174 Henry Proclaymed King againe and Edward flyes the Land 175 Edward Lands in England possesseth Yorke King Henry surprized by Edward 176 The battaile at Barnet 177 Queene Margaret Lands in England the battaile at Teuxbury 178 Queene Margarets magnanimitie Prince Edward murdered by the Duke of Gloster 179 Queene Margaret sent into her countrey King Henries death and buriall 180 Queene ELIZABETH A Character of Queene Elizabeth 184 Her descent 185 Her birth baptisme Queene Katherine the mother and Mary her daughter disabled of all regall clayme 186 The Lady Elizabeths constellation infancie childhood 187 Prince Edward created Prince of Wales ibid. The great love betwixt Edward and Elizabeth brother and sister 188 The death of King Henry the eighth ibid. Prince Edward proclaymed King his Coronation 189 The Lady Elizabeths first suiters her modesty 190 The death of King Edward the sixt the Lady Jane proclaimed Queene 191 The Duke of Northumberland sent against the Lady Mary ib. Northumberland beheaded the deaths of the Duke of Suffolke the Lady Jane and Guilford Dudley 192 Mary proclaymed Queene ib. Her Coronation the Lady Elizabeths troubles 193 The Bishop of Winchester pursueth her life her committing to the Tower 194 Her cruell usage and patience King Philip favoureth her 195 An imposterous birth ib. King Phillip discovereth the plot his departure out of the Land 196 Observations concerning Q. Maries raigne Callis lost ib The death of Queene Mary the Lady Elizabeth proclaymed Queene 197 Her Coronation and how the state stood in the beginning of her raigne 198 King Phillip would marry Queene
Clesiphon A fifth wonder Chares Lyndius The sixth wonder Aelians The Pallace of Cyrus Memnon A remarkeable controversie A law among the Grecians Phidias A cruell and an injust sentence The plea of the Athenians The answer of â—he Elians The seventh wonder Scopas Briay Tymothius Leocares Rare buildings and Architectors A glorious tombe built by Simon the High Priest Mausolea The magnanimity of Queene Artimesia Xerxes Her demeanor in the Navall fight The Greekes prime Commanders Xerxes his character of Queene Artimesia Of turbulent and combustious women Helena Hippodamie Aspatia Teuca Polizo Lavinia Dejaneira Nicostrate Polidices Lucretia Virginia Phedra Martia Thais A briefe catalogue of eminent and excellent women Dominica Iuguldis Clotildis Placida Pompeia Paulina Helena Monica Elpheda The first Schoole in Oxford Mercia Ethelâ—ida King Alareds issue A remarkeable accident The Danes defeated by stratagem The day well divided Elpheda too as Virago King Edwards Royall and numerous issue Spinster from whence it came A Nunne ravisht The first profe of Elphedaes valour Her monomachy A brave victory Her valour and piety The death of Etheldredus Elphedaes Acts Buildings c. and reparations of decayed Cities Her rare Chastity Elswinâ— Chastity Beauty Further of Elphedaes valour The outrages of the Danes Turbetillus defeated An Emlation betwixt two women A strange deliverance Elphedaes death Elphedaes Daughter Her Epitaph King Edward subdued the two Kings of Scotland and Wales King Ethelstane Preparation for a marriage The Lady Margaret brought over into England The marriage of the King to the Lady Margaret An unprofitable match The Queene assumes regall prerogative Humphrey Duke of Glocester the Kings Vnckle His death A true character of Duke Humphrey A Parliament at Lecester The death of the Marquesse of Suffolke Blew-beard Iacke Cade The birth of Prince Edward The Queene the instigator of all combustions The proceeding of the Duke of Yorke A Peace mediated betwixt the King and the Duke The Duke of Yorke sent to the Tower The Earle of March soone to the Duke of Yorke Summerset created Captaine of Caâ—is A new combustion Lords of the Queenes party The battle at Saint Alâ—ones The Kings prison The Duke of Yorke Protector Yorke discharged of his Protectorship Procession to Pauls Andrew Trollope Yorkes flight and his Army dissolved The Dutchesse of Yorke prisoner and Ludlow spoyled The Yorkists proclaimed Traitors Iohn Dinham surprised the Kings Navy Simon Mountford beheaded by the Yorkists The Yorkâ—sts land in England The battle at Northampton The Kings host discomfitted The King taken Yorke lodgeth in the Kings Pallace Yorke layeth claime to the Crowne The Queenes magnanimity Yorks pride The decree of the Parliament The battle of Wakefield The Duke of Yorke slaine Another battle at Saint Albons Prince Edward made Knight Edward Earle of March raiseth new forces Henry thought worthy to be deposed Edward Earle of March made King The bloody battle at Towton or Shirborne Henry with his Queene flye into Scotland Henry in all his actions most infortunate The Coronation of King Edward the fourth of that name Queene Margarets Army Margaret distressed by Sea Exham field Henry tooke Prisoner King Edward marryeth Elizabeth Gray The Lady Bova The Duke of Clarens and Earle of Warwicke proclamed Rebels Henry againe proclaimed King King Edward flyes the land Henry received as King Strange alteration in the state Glocester who was after Richard the third Edward landeth in England He maketh his Proclamations in the name of King Henry Edward possesseth Yorke Henry surprised by Edward The Earle of Oxford leadeth the Van. The Battle at Barnet Lords slaine in the battle Queene Margaret landeth in England The battle at Teuxbury Margaret with the Prince her son taken Her magnanimity Prince Edward murthered by the Duke of Glocester Queene Margaret sent into her owne Country The death of Henry His buriall A Character of Queene Elizabeth Her descent Her birth Her Baptisme An oath of Allegiance taken Katherine the mother and Mary the daughter disabled of allâ— regall claime Vnder what Constellation she was borne Her Infancy Her Childhood Queene Anne dead Prince Edward borne Created Prince of Wales An alternate affâ—ction betweene the Prince and his sister Elizabeth The death of King Henry the eighth Prince Edward proclâ—imed King His Coronation Her retirement into the Country Her first suiter His name is conceald Her Virgin modesty The death of King Edward the sixth The Lady Iane Gray proclaimed Queene The Duke of Northumberland sent against the Lady Mary Northumberland beheaded The deaths of Suffolke the Lady Ianâ— and Guâ—lford Dudley Mary proclamed Queene Her Coronation The troubles of the Lady Elizabeth Her danger greater in her solitude then in her soveraigntie The reasons Winchester infidiateth her life Doctor Guin and Doctor Wendiffe Her committing to the Tower Her hard usage Her infinite dangers Her great patience King Phillip favoureth the Lady Elizabeth An imposterous birth King Phillip discovereth the plot Triumphs for the supposed heyre King Phillips departure out of the Land His returne Observations concerning Queene Maries raigne Callis lost The death of Queene Mary Lady Elizabeth proclaymed Her Coronation How the state stood in the beginning of her raigne King Phillip a suiter to marry Queene Elizabeth Great prepaâ—ation of the French to invade England A weake ground to support so great a title Sebastian Marteguinus two forward Spaine France and Scotland combine against Queene Elizabeth Her debilities Her prudent preparations Arthur Poole incouraged by the Guisians c. New invasions tâ—eatned The Bull of Pope Pius Quintus A rebellion in the North. Duke D'Alva Man purposeth God disposeth Dakers revolt from the Queene Bakers Forces routed by the Lord Hunsden Commotions in Ireland Spanish Plots Eighty eight Domestick conspiracies Discovered Prevented Don Iohn of Austria aymes at the Crowne of England and Scotland One brother crosseth the other England aymed at by all The death of Don Iohn Captaine Thomas Stukeley Brave boasts Tempting titles Stukeley slaine in the great battaile of Alcazer Nicolas Saunders a pestilent Traytor Sam. Iosephus The unpittied death of the rebells Divers other conspirators Bernardinus Mendoza base proceeding Cardinall Alan and others Doctor Parry The foureteene traytors Queene Elizabeths confidence in the Almightie A rare spirit in a Princesse The death of the foureteen Traytors The French Embassador The Spanish Armado The Navie stiled invincible defeated Doctor Lopes his treason His death Her Majesties deportment in the Campe at Tilbury The next yeare she assaulted Lysbone The treason of Edward Squire A miraculous preservation A Character of Queene Elizabeth