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
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
her Counsell whom shee best trusted and because her very pallace grew distastefull unto her without the consociety of her dead Lord shee utterly abandoned it nay her very Country growing as irke some to her as her pallace after she had given order for the erecting of her Husbands monument shee purposed for a time to forsake it and seeke out for some forraigne adventures It happened at that time Xerxes the great Persian Monarch ambitiously ayming to reduce all Greece under his Scepter and subjection having gathered an innumerable host by Land and a seeming invincible Navy by Sea shee adhering unto his party rigged and manned three ships of her owne of which she her selfe was Archithalassa or Armirall her people that tooke part with her in that adventure were Carians or Halicarnassians Coeans of the Isle Coos Nysimiaus and Calydinians and being thus plenally accomodated she put her selfe under the patronage of the Persian Emperour It would aske too long a circumstance to discourse of the whole navall conflict I will onely deliver unto you so much as concerneth the person of Artimesis who so valiantly did beare her selfe in that blooddy fight that her ships knowne by their flagges and streamers were eminent above all others of the Persians both for defence and offence for her small squadron more dangered the Greekish Navy then ten times their number notwithstanding which her brave opposition the Persians were vanquisht and the Greekes though against infinite odds the glorious victors in which Marine honour the Eginita had the first place and the Athenians the second and of the Commanders Policrates of Egineta and of the Athenians Eumena Anagyrasius and Aminius Palenaus who above all others most hotly pursued Artimesia in her flight but when hee had found that she was too swift of saile for him he sent other light vessels after proclaiming ten thousand Drachnes to him that could take her alive as holding it an indignity that a woman should give such an affront to their A thenian Navy notwithstanding al she with some few others escaped and safely arrived at Phalerum On the contrary part Herodatus in his Vrunia thus reports of her that Xerxes himselfe beholding how bravely above all in his fleet shee in her ship behaved her selfe even at that time when his Navy was almost quite defeated one who knew the vessell by the colours answered it was Queene Artimesia he fetching a deepe sigh uttered these words Viri quidem extiterant mibi femina femina autem viri i. All my men this day have proved themselves women and the women onely shewed themselves to be men And so much concerning Artimesia who as in her life time she was gloriously famous so after death even to all perpetuity shall survive famously glorious c. OF THE THREE WORTHIE WOMEN AMONG THE CHRISTIANS Whose Names are Elpheda Queene Margaret Queene Elizabeth ELPHEDA HEr royall birth my Muse dares not to smoother A great Kings Daughter a great King her Brother Who though she never to that height arriv'd To be stil'd Queene yet was she Prince-like wiv'd Her Husband Duke of Mercia which we Number amongst the Brittish Sceptarche By which a Kingdomes name it after gaind When as at once seven Kings in Brittaine raignd Which bred this war like Lady nâ—re the place Whence brave Bunduca doth derive her race I should but Antedate her life to tell How and in what this Lady did excell Not possible it is that one small page Should comprehend the wonder of her age And therefore further to expresse her glory I must referre the Reader to her story For that as of the rest is still the chiefe Of my intent yet thus of her in briefe Brittish Elpheda of the Saxon race To none of all the former neede give place Who for her Masculine Spirit much honour gaines In many battles fought against the Danes And might with any of her Sex compare As being Religious Valiant Wise and Faire THE FIRST OF THE THREE WOMEN WORTHIES AMONGST THE CHRISTIANS CALLED ELPHEDA AMongst so many reckoned up for their Valour and Vertue It shall not be amisse to present the Reader with a commemoration of some who have beene the occasion of much combustion and trouble Helena was the cause of the Trojan warres and Pelops succeeding in the Kingdome of Phrigia brought an army against King Oenimaus because hee denyed unto him his daughter Hippodamia of whom he was greatly inamored the Poet Arcbillus an Iambicke Writer writ so bitterly against Lycambes because he refused to give him his Daughter in marriage that upon the reading of them he presently hanged himselfe and Pericles at the instigation of his concubine Aspatia made warre upon the Sabines and subdued them to the Milesians we read also of Teuca Queene of the Illirians who because Titus Cornucanus then Ambassadour from the Romans delivered unto her a bold and peremptory message commanded him to be slaine in her presence against the Law of Armes which was the ground of much blood-shed and slaughter Menelaus being dead Megapenthus and Nicastratus the sonnes of Orestes pursued Helena cause of the tenne yeares warre betwixt the Trojans and Greekes into the Island of Rhodes In hope to shelter her selfe under the patronage of Triptolemus of whom Polizo his wife growing jealous shee caused her to be strangled for so writes Voletaranus Lavinia the daughter of King Latinus and Amata the Queene were the sole occasion of so many bloody conflicts betwixt the Trojans and the Rutilians and lastly of the death of Turnus slaine by Aeneas Dejaneira was the motive to the duell betwixt Hercules and Achelous and of the conflict with Nessus the Centaur and after of his owne death by sending him the shirt which was poysoned Evander Nephew to Pallas King of the Arcadians at the instigation of his Mother Nicostrate slew his owne Father and Ptelerus King of the Thebans by the treason of his owne daughter Polidices was betraid into the hands of Creon and slaine Lucretia being violated by Sextus Tarquinius after long warre was the cause that the Romans regained their liberty and Virginia the daughter of Virginius that the governement of the Triumviri was utterly abrogated Hippolitus being falsly accused by his step-mother Phedra for unlawfully attempting to corrupt her chastity flying his Fathers fury was hurld from his Chariot and being bruised with the fall perished Martia the strumpet of Antonius Commodus the Emperour betraide him into the hands of a Groome on whom she doted by whom he was trecherously slaine Alexander the great at the instigation of Thais the prostitute caused the great City Persepolis to be burned be with his owne hands giving the first fire and then his Concubines after Octavia the sister of Augustus Caesar being repudiated by M. Anrony was the occasion of a civill warre and Antiochus warring against the Romans by his effemiary and dotage
Sonne and the Father distinguisheth betwixt the Sister and the Brother for they which had lived in great familiarity now meete not but at distance which proceeded not from his will but the Majesty of state the death of the Father which raised him to the Crowne Remooved her from the Court into the Country in which retirement being nobly attended by divers voluntary Ladies and Gentlewomen as also her owne traine and houshold servants shee led there though a more solitary yet a more safe and contented life and being there setled shee received to adde unto her revenue many private gifts with often visits sent from the King who was very indulgent over her honour and health Scarse was shee full foureteene yeares of age when her second Vnckle Seymor Brother to the Lord Protector and Lord High Admirall of England brought her a Princely suiter richly habited aud nobly attended who after much importunity both by himselfe and friends finding himselfe by her modest repulses and cold answers crost in his purpose setled in his minde though not satisfied in her denyall retyred himselfe into his Country The first unwelcome motion of marriage was a cause why she studyed a more retyred life as being seldome seene abroad and if at any time the King her Brother had sent to injoy her company at Court shee made there no longer stay then to know his Highnesse pleasure and make tender of her duty and service and that done with all convenient speede tooke her journey backe into the Country where shee spent the entire season of her Brothers raigne who the sixth day of Iuly in the sixteenth yeare of hiâ— age and the seventh of his Princely governement departed the world at Greenewich The two Vnckles of the King the onely Supporters on which the safety of his Minority leaned being cut off by violent deaths It was a generall feare through out the Kingdome that the Nephew should not survive long after them which accordingly happened for the two great Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke being in the prime and sole authority concluded a match betwixt the Lord Guildford Dudley Sonne to Northumberland and the Lady Gray Daughter to Suffolke thinking thereby to disable both the Sisters Mary and Elizabeth from any claime to the Crowne and therefore the fourth day after the Kings death the Lady Iane was proclaimed Queene The Lady Mary being then at Framingham was much perplexed with that newes especially when shee heard it was done by the consent of the whole Nobiliâ—y to whom the Suffolke men assembled themselves offring her their volentary assistance to attaine unto her lawfull inheritance which bruited at Wort The Duke of Northumberland having a large and strong Commission granted him from the body of the whole Counsell raised an Army to suppresse both her and her Assassinates which was no sooner advanced but the Lords repenting of so great an injury done to the late Kings Sister â—ent a Countermaund after him and when he thought himselfe in his greatest security the nobility forsaking him and the Commons abandoniâ—g him being at Cambridge saving his sonnes and some few servants he was left alone where he proclaimed the Lady Mary Queene in the open Market place Notwithstanding he was arrested in Kings Colledge of high Treason and from thence was brought up to the Tower where upon the Hill at the common Execution place he lost his head the twelfth of August next ensuing the like fate happened to the Duke of Suffolke not many weekes after as also to the sweete young couple the Lord Guilford Dudly and the Lady Iane Grey of whose much lamented deathes I cannot now insist The Lady Mary was proclaimed by the Suffolkemen Queene at Framingham the twentyeth of Iuly and the third of August next went by water to take possession of the Tower her sister the Lady Elizabeth whom shee had before sent for out of the Country accompanying her in the Barge from the Tower shee rode through London towards the Pallace at Westminster The Lady Elizabeth to whom all this time shee showed a pleasant and gracious countenance rid in a Chariot next after her drawne by six white Horses trapt in cloath of Silver the Open Chariot being covered over with the same in which sate onely to accompany her the Lady Anne of Cleave The first day of October Mary was crowned Queene at Westminster by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester the Lady Elizabeth being most Princesse-like attended and present at her sisters Coronation I come now to her troubles and notwithstanding her many and miraculous dangers and deliverances being an absolute Princesse yet greater were the difficulties shee past being a Prisoner then those the which the Pope menac'st her with his Bulls abroad now the Popes agents seeke to supplant her with their power at home and then her adversaries were Alians now her opposites are natives Then forraigne Kings sought to invade her now a moderne Queene laboureth to intrap her they strangers she a sister She lived then at freedome and without their jurisdiction shee lives now a captive subject to an incensed sisters indignation she was then attended by her Nobilitie and grave Counsellours she hath now none to converse with her but Keepers and Jaylours she in her soveraigntie never stirred abroad without a strong guard of tall Yeomen and Gentlemen Pentioners shee now is kept within close prisoner waited on onely by rude and unmannerly white and blacke coate Souldiers But having before published a tractate of this excellent Lady intituled from her cradle to her Crowne I will now onely give you a briefe nomination of these passages most pertinent to this project now in hand referring the Reader for his better satisfaction to the discourse before remembred Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and other Romists offended with her Religion laboured not onely to supplant her from the Queenes love but if possible to deprive her of her life possessing the Queene that shee was consenting unto Sir Thomas Wyats insurrection therefore a strict Commission was sent downe to Ashridge where she then sojourned and lay extreamly sicke where the Lords the Commissioners besieged the house with Souldiers entred her Bed-chamber without leave And notwithstanding two learned Doctors affirmed she could not bee removed without danger of life the next morning hoysted her into an Horslitter towards London Being arived at Court for foureteene dayes confin'd to her chamber no acquaintance to confer with her no friend to comfort her whereafter she was strictly examined and sharpely reprooved and notwithstanding nothing could be proved against her commanded to the Tower by water and at such a time when in shooting the Bridge the Barge grated against the Arches being in great danger of splitting her landing at the Traytors staires her churlish entertainment her keeping close prisoner her Family dissolved her servants discharged her frights by day her terrours by