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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60009	The illustrious history of women, or, A compendium of the many virtues that adorn the fair sex represented not only in lively and pathetical discourses grounded upon reason, but in sundry rare examples of virtuous love, piety, prudence, modesty, chastity, patience, hnmility [sic], temperance, conduct, constancy, and firmness of mind ... : with the prophesies and predictions of the Sybils ... : the whole work enrich'd and intermix'd with curious poetry and delicate fancie sutable to so charming a subject.	J. S. (John Shirley), fl. 1680-1702.	1686 (1686)	Wing S3508; ESTC R26238	56,658	194

the Almighty to save the World from desolation her virtues are for the most part admirable and no less her judgment and the other Intelectual faculties of her Soul That as I have prov'd being nothing Inferiour to that in which Man centers his largest Pride and Boast imagining it as it truly is a Ray of Essence a Effluence of his Maker Woman from her Infancy with pretty Smiles delights the World and Chears the hearts of her admiring Parents and as she grows Virtue takes its place well pleas'd to dwell in such a Fabrick and brings as her Attendants Modesty Sobriety and a wining Behaviour No sooner is Woman possess'd by Man in the happy State of Conubial Love but she furuishes him with a shower of Blessings wrap'd in soft Delights and deck'd in Chastest Charms mild and plyant is her Temper and her Cariage towards him decent and comely her Behaviour her Love is beyond Expression and her Tenderness such that she values him on whom her heart is plac'd equal with all but her imortal happiness as for her Life she counts it a Trifle and had rather loose it than her Honour she esteems nothing on Earth too good for her Beloved and inforces all her Charms to please and render him the happy Father of hopeful Children she is indeed his Internus Sensus his second self equally shareing his Joys and Afflictions and is not like a Swallow that sings to the morning wake of his prosperity and when the Winter of his Adversity comes takes her way upon the Winds to seek a warmer Sun her Smiles are not to be bought with Silver nor her Love to be purchac'd with Gold but are freely and intirely plac'd upon her Beloved great is her diligence to please him and as great her care not to offend him when he rejoyces she rejoyces when he is griev'd she is sad simpathising with him in all things and is the secret Cabinet in which he dare repose his Secrets and find them there as safe as in his Soul a Repository she is of his abstrusest thoughts and is ever tender of his honour nothing she thinks too good for him nor nothing she can do too much in Health she takes care for his necessaries and is wonderfully tractable in forwarding his Affairs in Sickness she is more studious for his Health then her Intrest and puts up her Prayers and Vows to Heaven for his recovery Expressing in all her actions a careful Love and Tenderness and in her Words a venerable Esteem so that without so great a virtue as Woman Man must be miserable and forlorn as to his temporal Condition nor ought he to esteem so great a Blessing unworthy his largest Thoughts nor render the Almighty less Tribute of Praise and Thanks-giving for bestowing that last best favour on him which could only compleat his earthly Felicity In making Woman Nature has been Lavish and shew'd her curious Art in Forming a Creature soft and tempting to allay the rough temper of Man by moderation and mildness as the Fluid Aire prevents the Firey Region from Calcinating the Earth and renders that outragious Element serviceable to Man-kind Great was the cunning Nature used or rather the God of Nature not to refer so great a Work to second causes in framing the lovely structure of the Softer Sex in every part proporting what by sight or touch might yield delight forgetting nothing that was admirable in it self or might be pleasing to those whose curions thoughts could scan the best Perfections wonder not then why the Sex is so admir'd by all the sages of the World yet not so much as real Worth commands in true desert as has been often intimated in the foregoing Pages why then should Man decline so great a Blessing why should not he who is so proud of being Rational use his Rationalty to a right end and by temporal Love founded on Virtue strive to raise his Soul to that which is Eternal endless and not dated by degrees of time a Love unalterable as Fate sounded on a commixture of Blessings in conversation with Angels Arch-Angels Cherubims and Seraphims Thrones Dominations Prince-doms Virtues and Powers all the Starry Quire of Brightness and Batitude and higher yet for Love is God and God is Love by it the order of the Visible World is maintain'd and things not visible to mortal Eyes supported in their sacred order and concordence 't is that which makes all truly happy and without it is no happiness in this World nor the World to come Then let us prize a Gift that is so fair So good so just that she our love should share To a degree too great to be exprest Who of all Blessing Earth affords is best Who only Crowns all Earthly Flappiness And does Man-kind beyond his wishes bless A greater Blessing Heav'n never gave To Mortal Man but him that Man did save The Reasons why Mans Happiness is not compleat on Earth without the Charming Creature Woman AS for the necessity of the Beautious Sex it is evident not only for the sake of Generation but for that of Mutual Society Man without them being as a Solitary Traveller who Journeys through Wildernesses and Desarts where Rational Creatures seldome give his Eyes the plesure of beholding them though some may object that the Conversation of Man with Man is materialy sufficient I grant it is in general relating to indifferent affairs but where the Soul claims a closer Union than such Innocent diversions can alow that convers is of little moment Woman was taken from Man and therefore by a simpathy of Nature and a secret contraction of the better part she considers in being cruel to her temporal Original she is cruel to her self and in that cruellty offends her Maker unless a singular vow of Chastity interposes wherein her aime is to be a spotless Virgin that so she may follow the Lamb that has taken away Original Sin and given us leave and oppertunity to be Regenerate and Born again through Faith and Relyance on his meritorious Death and passion but to come nearer to the conclusion Eternal love ought to be our chief aim Life in our Saviours death we d●ly claim In his dear merits all our hopes must be Zone of our everlasting life is he A bright Meridian of Eternity But how came this great Mistery to pass Eternal Widom the Prime Author was The thing is deep and Mortal Minds are lost Heav'n nows alone what this dear Blessing cost Consider then and let us still adore Omnipotence which our weak nature bore Compassioning us he lay'd aside Known Glory dispising shame he dy'd ●●●'raign o're Death with Death he yet comply'd Having thus far discours'd I shall proceed to the Character of a Virtuous Woman in all her Capacities The GOLDEN CHARACTER Of a VIRTUOUS WOMAN In all her CAPACITIES IN this case three things are more immediately to be consider'd viz The Virgin State and those of Marriage and Widdow-hood and of these in their

AConquest here perhaps I wou'd not gain Ah lovely Pair you little think how nigh Sad ambushments of certain Death do lye When all the Bland delights that Charm you now Will leave you over-cast with Clouds of woe A Foe is Enter'd your great seat of Bliss Whose self unpittied pitty must Express For you who wrong'd me not did not a Rage ' Gainst him who plac'd you here my spleen ingage A hope of Conquest do's compell me now To doe what else though dam'd I wou'd not doe But to wave Fancy in so profound a mistery certain it is that this unhappy yielding of the fairest of Creatures to the subtill Alurements of the fallen Angel whose strength and wisdome though much debased is not to be coped with by mortal Might nor his powerful Temptations to be over-come without the immediate Divine assistance became a means of the Almighties further expressing his boundless Love to Man-kind in that great mistery of Godliness the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour a Mistery so stupendious and amazing that all the Host of Heaven all the blessed Hierarchies of Seraphims Cherubims Arch Angels and Angels contemplate and admire it so that not without reason was the first Created Woman called Eve a Name signifying life since from her decended that Glorious Virgin from whose spotless Womb proceeded the Fountain of life and immortality who wonderfully repaired our first deformity by condecending to take our Nature upon him and revenged our cause in breaking the Serpents head restoring us to an undoubted possibility of obtaining a more glorious Paradise than that from whence our first Parents fell Womans blest Seed to life prepar'd the way The glorious Path that leads to endless day To dazling Mansions to a place of Bliss That Eye ne'r saw nor Tongue cou'd e're express Then why should man her praises due decline Who is a Sphere wherein all Virtues shine Once the Recess of him that 's all Divine Nor does woman yet desist to retain an Aire of Paradise the place wherein she was formed in her Modesty and seemly Behaviour Innocence Piety and extradinary Love of sacred things as in sundry Examples are manifested nor does the transcendent Beautie existent in many signifie less then that woman is the most refined of all Creatures who deservedly pay respect of her as the Queen of all sublunary things and perfection of the Universe that perfection being properly termed the Divine Light shining on created Essence and beaming thence its luster by reflex to captivate the Heart to command a profound Awe and Reverence as if the perfections scattered in all other creatures were collected in her who is a draught of the Creation in miniature for this cause the Lyon nobly bold stands in Awe of her the Unicorn for love of her becomes a wilful captive nor has the unwieldie Elephant been less enamoured with the charming Sex nay Spirits infernal have been passionate as appears by the oft Espoused Maid who at last was free'd from her Daemonick lover Asmodeus and became the Lot of Tobits Son Abigals Beauty and Humility prevented Davids shedding Blood Queen Hester's Piety and matchless Beauty wrought deliverance to her People and turned the bloody decree upon the Man and his House that had promoted and procured it Judiths Beauty charmed the Pagan General into that security that wrought his ruin and the great delivery of her Countrey from the rage of the oppressing Sword restoring peace to Jacobs Heritage and after Jobs reiterated Tribulations miseries that Mortal man could never have undergone if not supported by a hand Divine the greatest Earthly recompence for his unparalel'd patience was that God blessed him with Daughters exceeding all other Women in Beauty which makes Solomon set a value on them above the price of Rubies and afirm He that findeth a good Wife findeth a good thing c. And the Author of the Ecclesiastes affirmeth that Husband blessed that is Husband of a good Wife So great has been the esteem of Female Virtue amongst the wisest of men in all Ages Holy writ stiling the Woman a Crown the glory of the Man c. Therefore she being the compleatment felicity and glory of Man it is highly reasonable she should be loved and esteemed as she truly deserves nay such was the esteem of this Sex that those who gave Names to the three principal parts of the World as Asia Europe and Africa seem to have derived them from the names of women thereby affording them a lasting memory not capable of end till time shall be no more Should we take a particular survey of the many Virtues of this Sex what Volume can contain them in their proper luster or set them forth at large what Rhetorick can Paint them to the life and not be found therein deficient If Chastity we prize it was a woman first vowed Virginity to her Maker If Prophecy the Sybils were strangely inspired but more immediately Mirriam the Sister of Moses c. If constancy and steadfast Love Ruth is a pattern to a Miracle If a firm grounded Faith the Widdow of Sarepta may justly take place who believed the Prophet in a thing to Humane Sense impossible If in a strong Belief Elizabeth the Wife of Zacharias and the Blessed Virgin If constancy in a Righteous cause and the contempt of Death rather than disobey the God that made us and the World be a Heroick virtue behold the Woman who encouraged her seven Sons to dye by the most exquisit Tortures and after ward with joy and patience submitted to the like her self If for those we have esteem whose sacred Charity extends to Souls let us consider the Lumbards next to that Saving Grace that put in with her pious and unwearied endeavors chiefly owe their conversion to the Christian Religion to Theodilina Daughter to a King of Bavaria the like do the Hungarians to Greisil Sister to the Emperour Henry the first and the same acknowledgment the Franks must make to Clotildis Daughter to a King of Burgundy Nor was the Virtuous Helena Daughter to King Colus and Wife to the Emperour Constantine careless not only to protect and succour the Christians but as far as in her lay to cause that growing Religion to take deep Root in all or most of the Provinces of the Empire In learning deep Sciences and Misteries of the profoundest degree if attainable by Humane Capacity Women have been found expert Nay in such rare Inventions as perhaps had yet remained in the dark Embrio of obscurity had not Female Wisdome snatched them thence and nursed them to maturity The Gracchi's Tongues by the industry of their Mother Cornelia were made fit Instruments of Eloquence not only to command the Listening Ears of Plebeans but those of Aged Senators through which Organs they stole the hearts of wavering Rome and bowed them to their intrest Nor was Istrinia Queen of Scythia less Industrious in Accomplishing her Son in that degree of Learning that he Eclipsed the Fame of his

Poetus having notice that her Husband was Condemned to dye yet liberty given him to choose his death she went to him and exhorted him to Breath his last with Constancy and Courage and after having taken a dear farewell she stab'd her self with a Knife she had hid under her Garments and drawing it out only said e're she fell dead at his Feet The wound I have made Paetus smarts not but that only which thou art about to give thy self Camer Oper. Subsic Upon this Extravegant effect of passionate love Martial made this Epigram When Arria to her Husband gave the Knife Which made the wound whereby she lost her life This wound dear Poetus grieves me not said she But that which thou must give thy self grieves me In the Reign of Vespasian the Gaules Rebell'd under the leading of Julius Sabinus But being reduced their Captain was sought for but having hid himself in the Monument of his Grand-Father to which none but two of his freed men were privy it was given out that he had poisoned himself and the better to colour it he caused his House to be set on fire that his Body might be supposed therein to be burnt his Wife Eponiva not knowing the contrary made great Sorrow incessantly Weeping and refusing either Food or to be Comforted of which those that were private to his hiding told their Lord desiring him to take pitty on their Lady who was determined to die and in order thereto had abstained from all manner of Food for the space of three days by undeceiving her to save the Woman that lov'd him so well which was granted and she brought to the place where finding him alive she flew into his Arm● with all the eager Joys of a tender Wife and in that dolesome place lived with him nine years bringing forth Children But in the end the place of their Aboad was discover'd and they brought to Rome where this Virtious Lady shewing her Children to Vespasian Behold O Coesar saith she such as I have brought forth and Nourished in a Monument that thou mightest have more supplyants for● our lives But that Emperour banishing Compassion commanded them both to be slain The Lady joyfully dying with her Husband with whom she had been as it were Buryed so many years Lips Monit Clara Cervenda was one of the most Beautiful Virgins in all Bruges she Married one Bernard Valdaura a Man Aged and wonderfully Infirm by reason of the foul Disease he had contracted in his Youth and in the end growing so Ulcerous and so Naucious that the Chyrurgion fled the Scent of him yet this Tender Lady for the space of Twenty years continually watch'd and tended him not imagining any thing too dear for him and when their Money by that large Expence fail'd she sold her Jewels and wearing Apparel Disrobing and in a manner starving her self to support him So sacred to this virtuous Lady was the name of Husband and even of such a one as had brought her to Ruine and Misery nay when he was rotted away that his shatter'd Body could no longer retain his fleeting Soul she made great Lamentation and when some instead of comforting of her told her that God had done much in taking him away and for that reason they came to congratulate her She turned aside and would not hear them but with a mournful Voice wished for her Husband again and that she would give any thing in the world could she Retrieve him Being sought by many in Marriage her Answer was That she could 〈◊〉 meet with any whom she could love or like so well as her deceased Husband Camerar Oper Subsic So truly loving was this constant Dame That she deserves a place i' th Book of Fame Nor is Woman-kind only found such an admirable pattern to Man 〈◊〉 but the Sex has prov'd as faithful Woman to Woman as appears by the following Relation Bona a noble Virgin living in a Nunery contracted so great a Friendship with a Beautiful Maid not exceeding her in years that they appear'd to those that observed their actions to have but one Soul their affections were so united and met so exactly in every thing But so it happened to the unspeakable grief of Bona that Death in process of time with his Icey hand seiz'd upon her dear Companion the partner of her thoughts and only sharer of her best affections sealing her Eyes in Gloomy Night which caused a flood of pious grief to flow from the surviving Lady In the excess of which she earnestly beg'd she might not stay behind but that their Bodies might possess one Grave Although this was a rash wish yet it was answered For she e're the other was Buried dyed Insomuch that one Funeral Solemnity serv'd them both Marul Lib. 3. C. 3. Thus Love and Chastity together dy'd Ravish'd by Death they in one Grave abide How great likewise hath the love of Mothers been towards their Children which for Brevities say I shall instance but in two Examples Monica the Mother of Agustine whilst her Son in his Youth followed lewd Courses ceas'd not to Pray day and night for his Conversion and doubtless her Prayers were heard which may be gathered by the strangeness of his being made sensible of the dangerous condition he was in which occasioned St. Ambrose to comfort her in this wise It 's impossible says he that a Son of so many Prayers and Tears can miscarry Clarks Mir. For love to Souls all other love excells It must be Heaven where such an Angel dwells The Women of Carthage in the third Punick War when they understood the Senate had agree'd to send the noble Youths of that City into Sicily as a Hostage in consideration of a peace with the Romans so outragious was the sorrow of those Mothers whose Sons were so to be snatc'd from them that nothing was heard but Cryes Sighs and sad Laments and when they were going to Embarque they followed them in the like manner huging them in their strict Embraces with Countenances full of Care and Sadness to hinder their going as loath to take their sad farewell but finding they were snatch'd from them by the Officers who were to see them safe delivered and thrust on Bord as soon as the Ships put off many of those woeful Mothers leap'd into the Sea after them and were overwhelm'd by the Relentless Waves Sebel l. 3. c. 4. This sad Disaster occasioned the following Lines When as the two Renown'd Republiques Jar'd When Mighty Rome and Carthage long had War'd To try by dint of Sword which Fate design'd Mistress ot'h World and Ruler of Mankind Tir'd with the tedious bloodshed that Imbrew'd Europe and Affrica a Peace insu'd But Carthage often breaking 't was thought fit They should with speed their noble Touths commit For more security to Roman bands As Hostages but when to Foraign Lands The Woful Mothers knew their Sons must go What Scenes of sorrow did great Carthage show Nothing but Crys but Sighs and Groans were heard

But when for their Embarquement they prepar'd The Storm grew loud each tender Mother run And in her arms Infolds her weeping Son Bathing his Cheecks in tears to add a Store To those that trick●'d from his Eys before But finding that the hard Decree was past And that this fare wel seem'd to be their last When from their arms their Darling● dears were forst And they from them by swelling waves Divorst Impatient to out-live so great a loss Such a heart breaking such a wounding Cross They plung'd themselves into the rowling deep And vainly strove to reach the flying Ship In which their Treasure was but that forbid By Neptune was and they In 's waves were hid Of Chastity And thus much for extraordinary Passion from which I shall proceed to Examples of wonderful Chastity the brightest Jewel that Adorns the Noble Sex As Bards of old Enobl'd for their Verse Victorious actions did alowd rehearse The conquest of great Nations and the praise Of those whose Valour truly claim'd the Bays So tell we now of Triumphs greater far Than e're atchived were by 'th God of War Or cou'd be boasted by that Thunderer A glorious conquest over Lawless love Triumphs that all the Chaster World approve So in their Spher's the Blessed Angels move Vnvalu'd Chastity Womans chief grace Next Lawful Passion we think fit to place And in this kind the Female Sex excell many of them prefering their Honour to life or all the glittering Glories of the Universe no prospect of Earthly happiness has been sufficient to Charm it from them as will appear Celdrana a Maid of Alexandria being Endowed with admirable Beauty which occasion'd a Troop of Lovers as it were to Beseige her each desirous of enjoying so fair a Treasure offering what might content a large Ambition but in vain for such were the Chast resolves of the renowned Virgin that the largest proffers could make no impression on her mind but perceiving her self continually pressed by her importunate admirers to shun their importunity she privately withdrew and leaving them confounded in their loves for want of the bright Idea they ador'd she hid her self in a solitary Cell surrounded with a multitude of Graves where after a tedious search being sound to the exceeding Joy of those that sought her when asked the meaning why she chose a place so doleful her reply was Thesaurum Chastitatis Servo Inter Arentes Calvarias Vnde Nula Flamma Eurumpit Amongst the Dead my Chastiti's secure There I preserve it in it's self most pure No sparks of lust the drowsie Graves immure Caus H. C. part 1. l. 3. Brasola of Diracchium an Illustrious Maid seiz'd by a Souldier who was about to commit violence on that Jewel that she mostly priz'd told him that if he would spare her in that case she in recompence would reveal to him a Secret more valuable than Gold such a one as would render him Victorious and Safe on all occasions by making him Invulnerable the Souldier believes flattering himself that after he had obtained this Benifit she would be as much at his mercy as before when leading him into a most delightful Garden and after a tedious search tasting a Herb that perhaps he had never seen before she with a chearful Voice told him it was the mighty Charm that would oppose the force of Steel and that he might be assured she did not flatter bared her Beautious Neck and offered the experiment at the hazard of her life the Souldier by this being more confirmed resolutely gave the blow that gave her rest in the wish'd Arms of Death Preserving by that means her spotless Fame Whilst her rash Foe who found himself to blame Confunded stood with horror grief and shame Lodov. Vives Christ Femin Istit Nor is the Storie related of the virtuous Euphrasia a Virgin of noble Extraction in Nicephor Eclez Hist unlike to this Where that Heroick Maid prefering Death Before the loss of Honour lost her Breath Lucia a lovely Virgin who for the Excellency of her Beauty was sought by divers but out of an Extraordinary love of Chastity would not shew the least inclination thereto which notwithstanding so Inflam'd a powerful Lord who had great Command in the City where she lived that after many Essays finding she could not be won by Entreaty he resolved to take her by Force and in order thereto sent divers Armed men to surprize her in her Fathers House who coming to the Gate and finding it shut threatned to make a general Slaughter and set all on Fire if she were not delivered she to prevent the danger that might befall others knowing the cruel Nature of him that had sent for her came forth and demanded who it was they sought desiring to know if any thing was in her power that would satisfie their Lord Yess said they in a flouting manner your Eyes have Captivated him he never can hove rest till he has gained them at which fetching a deep Sigh she desired to retire saying she would satisfie him in that particular which being ranted she went to her Chamber and seeing her self in a straite that she either must use some extraordinary way or her unspotted Chastity would be Sacrificed to the Lust of a Man she hated thus addressing her self to her Glass she began to utter her sorrow Ah! my Eyes said she are you then guilty I know the reservedness and simplicity of your Glances nor have I in that kind any Remorse of Conscience but howsoever be you appear to me not Innocent enough since you have kindled fire in the heart of a Man whose hatred I ever esteemed more than his love Quench Quench then with your Blood the flame you have raised whereupon with a hand piously cruel she forced h●r Eye-balls from their bleeding Orbs and sent them to those who waited for her to bear them as a cruel pre●ent to their Master upon notice of which astonished and confounded within himself he fled to a Monastery and there spent the remainder of his days Rad in Viridoria Caus H. C. part 1. Thus she deform'd her self to Gloom confin'd To save the lovely Beauty of the Mind Acciolin of Padua in the year 1253 surprizing the City of Bassian in which City Blanch Ruba fighting for the defence of her People her Husband being before slain she was taken Disarm'd and violently drag'd before the Conquerer who Eyeing her admirable Perfections with Presents Entreaties and Threats for a time endeavour'd to alure her to Lascivious Embraces but the noble Matron being rather resolv'd t● die than to yield up her honour to the Murtherer of her Lord sound means whilst those were careless who had her in charge to cast her self headlong out of the Gallery wherein she was by which fall although she greatly Bruis'd her self yet by the Care of the Physicians and Chyrurgeons she recover'd and then was caus'd to be bound Na●ed in a posture that the Lustful Acciolin not regarding her Cries and Entreaties forc'd

her Hair that had till that 〈◊〉 cove●ed her Modesty when find●●● her labouring Soul upon the Wi●●● she Breath'd it forth in praise to 〈◊〉 Maker Acts and Mon. Go Pious Maid may your Exam●●● be Prais'd and admir'd to all posterity The Palm is hers nor can she mi●●● Crown Who for the sake of Christ her life 〈◊〉 down No Mixture Crown of Pearl of Gold and Cares Such as below an Earthly Monarch wares But a bright Diadem of Beaming Stars Agnes an Honourable young Virgin being accus'd of professing the Christian Religion and not denying it when Interogated by the Judge he threatned her with most Exquisit Torments unless she would Worship the Gods of the Heathens but Arm'd with a Christian Faith she told him she fear'd no Tortures as being willing to suffer all manner of Torments even Death it self for the sake of him that was able to raise her at the last day Well said the Judge though you value not the Pain yet I doubt not but you have a great esteem for your Virginity and Chastity and it is my intent to thrust you into the Stews if you refuse to Sacrifice to our Gods notwithstanding she persisted to inveigh against their pretended Deities using many Arguments to convince the Heathen of his Error which made several wicked Fellows urge him to put the Beautiful Virgin into their possession that they might use her at their discretion which occasioned her to tell them that Christ was not forgetful of those that are his neither would he leave her destitute of his help and assistance but would be always ready to protect and defend Modest and Chast Virgins and thereupon turning to the Judge she told him He might freely bath his Sword in her Blood but should no defile her Body She had no sooner utter'd these words but shameless as he was he commanded she should be bound stark Naked to a Post at a Corner of a street whereat the greatest part of the People being sorry and asham'd to behold an Innocent Virgin in the tender Bloom of her Age exposed to such Ignominy Some turn'd away their Heads and others hid their Faces as they pass'd by but one impudent Fellow Scoffing at the helpless Maid and Gazing on her Nakedness in derision was blasted with a flash of Lightning and thereby lost his sight upon which signal Judgment she Sung praise to god for remembring her in her distress of which the Judge having notice ordered the Executioner to dispatch her who coming towards her with his drawn Sword she was nothing daunted but on the contrary greatly rejoyc'd saying O this is he that I love and fain would meet and not longer to protract my desire I will willingly receive his Sword in my Bosome O Eternal God vouchsafe to open the Gates of Heaven to a Soul that seeketh thee and then Kneeling down as well as her confinement would permit she had her Head stricken off her Soul through that wide Wound ●inding a passage to Eternal Rest Celebrate her praises O ye Virtuous amongst the Nations and let not such Christian Examples enter into the Gloomy Region of Obliveon Nor less deserves the Memory of the Virtuous Eugena Daughter to Philippus President of Alexandria who died under the Heathen Persecution for the Sacred Profession by most Exquisit Torments but with a Courage out-facing the Terror of Death Acts and Mon c. A hundred more than these I could name but having promis'd Brevity I shall goe on to other Embellishments of the Sex And since Fame's Ensigne's thus far born unfurl'd Those Virtues tell that must oblige the World Your worthy Names shall next in order stand Who from Oblivion with a Giving hand Brought Charity the Glory of the Land Of Liberality In this case I shall Instance but two Examples of Female Liberality which stand as Monuments of that Sexes Generosity The most virtuous Lady the Lady Mary Ramsey once Wise to Sr. Thomas Ramsey joyning with him after his Death Asured in Land 243 pound p. Annum to Christs-Hospital that object of Charity and seminary of good Education to the uses following viz. To the Schoolmaster of Hempstead Annually twenty pounds to the Master and Usher of Christs-Church Annually twenty pounds to ten poor Widdows besides Apparel and Houses Annually twenty pounds to two Poor viz. a Man a Woman during life to each fifty-three Shillings and four Pence to two Fellows in Peter House in Cambridg and four Scholers yearly forty pounds to St. Bartholomews Hospital ten pounds to St. Peters the Poor in London St. Andrews Vndershaft St. Mary Wolnoth ten pounds to Newga●e Ludghte the Compters ten pounds to Christs Hospital after the Expiration of certain Leases there will come p. Annum one hundred and twenty pounds to six Scholars in Oxford twenty pounds to six Scholars in Cambridge twenty pounds to ten Maimed Soldiers twenty pounds for two Sermons two pounds to the Poor of Christ-Church Parish fifty Shillings to the Poor of the Company of Drapers yearly ten pounds ten Poor Womens Gouns ten Poor Soldiers Coats Shoos and Caps All these to continue Annually Willets Synops Papis p. 1229. Mrs. Alice Owen founded an Hospital and Free-School at Islington gave to the Vniversity Library at Oxford two hundred pounds Founded one Fellow-Ship and Scholar-Ship in Emanuel Coledg to Christs Hospital sixty pounds to give twelve Pence Weekly to the Poor of Islington sixty pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence she gave to Beautifie the Cloisters in Christs Hospital to a School-house at Edmonton twenty pounds to the Parish of Condover in Shrop-shire fifty pounds to buy a great Bell the Building of Alms-houses for ten poor Women and the purchasing the Lands lay'd to it cost her one thousand four hundred and fifteen pounds and the Building the Schools there three hundred sixty one pounds she gave likewise certain Annual Sums of Moneys to Preachers not Benificed and to the Prisons in her life time by her last Will twenty pounds yearly to Islington School to Preachers thirty five pounds to the Parish of Basishaw twenty pounds to the Prisons eight pound to the Company of Brewers in Linnen Plate and Money one hundred pounds the Sum Total of the Money not reconing the Annuity of twenty two pounds Amounts to about two thousand three hundred and twenty pounds a Charity Extraordinary in a private Gentlewoman yet this she did out of Christian Zeal to promote Learning and relieve the Poor though at her Death she had twenty two Children and Childrens Children for all which she plentifully provided Willet's Synops Papisme P. 1240. These great Examples who 'd but imitate Treasures lay'd up in Heaven 's a vast Estate A Mine that no profuseness can Exhaust And will repay ten thousand times the cost Of Humility Nor does Humility shine less bright even to a wonder in the Softer Sex Humility the Basts on which rest Those Blooming actions that must make us blest Great pattern of true worth which do's subdue The sternest

by Scipio the Roman Consul yielded her self up to Massinissa an African Prince and Confederate of the Romans Entreating him that she might not be put into the power of the Roman Senate he promis'd to be her Protecter and in consideration fo her amazing Beauty Marri'd her having been contracted to her before her Marriage with Syphax but it coming to the Ears of Scipio he let him understand that the Romans had a Title to her Head and that she was a mischievous Enemy to the People of Rome and therefore requir'd him not to commit a great offence upon little reason The King confounded within himself at this news Blush'd and Wept for a time but in sine promis'd to be Govern'd by Scipio he went to his Royal Pavillion where having given his sorrow vent he call'd a trusty Servant and by his hand sent a Cup of Poison to his Beloved Sophonisba with these Expressions viz. That gladly he would have had her to live with him as his Wife but since they who had power to hinder him of his desire would not yield thereto he had sent her a Cup that sho●ld prevent her falling into their hands alive willing her to remember her Birth and high Estate which would direct her to take Orders for her self At the Receipt of the Message and Potion of Death the Couragious Queen nothing daunted reply'd That if her Husband had no better Present for his new Wife she must accept of this Adding she might have died more honourable if she had not Wedded so late before her Funeral and thereupon drunk off the deadly Potion that bereav'd her of her life Reighs Hist World Great thoughts long strugl'd in her Royal Breast Till fear of Bondage fear of Death surprest And that her Birth and Nobleness might be An argument she scorn'd Captivitie That she could die she let the Romans see And to say somewhat further much to the same purpose a Christian Matron falling in Travel in Prison where she was confin'd by the Persecutors upon the Account of her Religion Express'd some sence of Sorrow which being over-hear'd by her Enemies they demanded if in that case she was so sensible what would she be when she came to the flames Ah! said she I suffer this as a miserable woman under those sorrows that are lay'd upon me for my sins but then I shall suffer a● a Christian for the sake of Christ Camer Oper. Subsisiv c. So different is the cause of Pain os● found That what some think the most the least do's wound Of Modesty Nor is the Wonderous though becoming and seemly Modesty wherewith some are possess'd a less Adornment than what has been premis'd A Virtuous Modesty do's Beauty grace And make the Charms more lovely i● each Face It makes the Roses with the Lillies joyn The sweet Carnation with the Gessamine Nay further yet it do's a Factor prove To barter hearts and trade in chastest love Nothing more winns there 's nothing sooner can Than Female Modesty alure Fond Man And this Sex exceeds not only in Action but in Speech and Guesture ●ome having chosen rather to under●oe severe Punishments than to do ●r be Concious of any Immodest Acti●n Martia Daughter of Varo one of ●e bravest Female Wits of her time ●eing skill'd in divers Arts but more ●urious in that Excellent one of Limn●●g to the life yet no entreaty or re●ard could prevail with her to por●●ay or paint the Counterfait of a Man ●r Woman Naked least thereby she ●●ould offend against the Rules of Mo●●sty so concious was she though 〈◊〉 a thing most Innocent in its self ●ast in should meet with a wrong con●●ruction or she therein give a bad Example to others Caus Treat 〈◊〉 Passion Nor only in Life but as we ma● say in Death it self has this R●● been observ'd as appears by the M●ther of Alexander the great nam● Olimpias For Cassander having co●manded her to be slain as soon as t●● Executioner sent to dispatch her h●● inform'd her of his Message she to●● especial care so to wrap up her self 〈◊〉 her Robes that when she should fa● no part of her Body should be dis●●ver'd but what might beseem a M●dest Matron And in the like man●died the Wife of Pantheus wh● doom'd to Death by Ptolomeus King Aegypt Fulgos l. 4. Mand●slo in his Travels tells us 〈◊〉 a Young Gentlewoman in Japan w●● by accident breaking Wind as she a● tended at the Table was posses● with such a sence of Shame that i●mediately hiding her Face she depa●●ed and so far resented that Indecen●● she as altogether undesirous to surv●● it in a Rage bit off one of her Nip●● which inflaming her Breast stru●● her to the heart with a mortal Pain ●nd so ended she her days Mandelo's Travels L. 2. P. 190. And yet stranger are the effects of Modesty as it appears in the story of ●he Milesian Virgins who out of some ●d humour were many of them pos●ess'd with a desire of laying violent ●ands on themseves by strangling ●nd although they were narrowly ●atch'd by their Friends yet some ●f them found opportunity to effect 〈◊〉 which made their Parents attri●ute it to the Divine displeasure and ●ere at a loss which way to appease ●he offended Deitie When one of ●he Sages proposed a Remedy which ●t first was suppos'd Indesicient but ●rov'd an Expedient to prevent that ●isorder which was That every Ma●d who so Violated her life should 〈◊〉 a spectakle of Derision be carry'd Na●●d through the Principal City which ●eing confirm'd by a Decree the ●ear of the shame after Death wrought 〈◊〉 effectually that for the future they ●esisted from that unadvis'd and un●mely Expulsion of Life Modesty in that case having a greater sway with them than the fear of Death Caus H. C. Tom. 1. L. 2. Aluilda the Beautiful Daughter of Suiardus a King of the Goths was possess'd with such Bashfulness that for the most part she Veild her Face as not being willing to expose her Modest Blushes which commonly flulsh'd in her fair Cheeks at the sight of Man Olaus Mag. L. 5. C. 18. So much the sence of Modesty ha● wrought That it has Wonders to Perfectio● brought A spark it is of Native Innocence Dwelt with our Parents e're they gav● offence E're shameless sin in Eden did commence Of Temperance For Temperance this Sex has been wonderfully Esteem'd in all Nations as the Enemy of Luxury which is one main reason why they are generally more Healthful than Men and exceed them in the Prologation of their lives affecting in all things a Modest Neatness and Decency Order and Comliness being their proper Attribute Nature in this Expresses them refin'd In choicest Molds she casts fair Woman-kind As for the powerful effests of their Charming Beauty they are so Universally known especially to Lovers that in vain it would be to Endeavour a fuller satisfaction than each Idea of hose Angelick Creatures forms in the Fancy of him by whom she