be crown'd Her vessells all with oyle doth ouerflow And ceased not vntill the woman said My vessells all are full and then it staid 51 Then came she to the man of God and told The blessings which she had receiu'd that day Eliah said straight let the oyle be sold Wherewith thou mai'st thy creditors go pay And as the Lord this day thy state hath blest So keepe thy selfe children with the rest 52 The faithfull Shunamite deserueth well To be recorded with this sacred crue Who did the holy man of God compell To eate with her at euery season due And seriously her husband doth inuite To build a roome where he might lodge all night 53 Wherefore Eliah prayed vnto the Lord She being barren and her husband olde To make her fruitfull and he doth accord The Prophet cald the Shunamite and told For this good deed which thou to me hast done Thou shalt conceiue eke bring forth a son 54 And in due time this miracle was wrought By his great power that rules the starrie skie A ioyfull sonne into the world she brought Which shortly after happened to die Hereby to show his loue doth neuer cease To life he doth this child from death release 55 What title shall I giue this happy Queene Whose sacred worth her state doth far exceed No eare hath heard nor waÌ„dring eye hath seen An act more bloudy then is here decreed Her people all should be destroyd and slain Whose prayer and fasting did their liues obtaine 56 Of Prouinces one hundred twenty seuen The Iews should die the King had giueÌ„ seald Which was opposed by the powerfull heauen And at this gracious Queenes request repeal'd And to a shamefull end the man she brought That should this bloudy massacre haue wrought 57 Thus Hester by the Lords out stretched arme Who neuer failes them that in him doe trust Preseru'd her people from this wofull harme And brought their foes euen down in the dust For as they thought the Iewes to deale withall The same reuenge vpon their heads did fall 58 When Sarah whom her fathers maides dispise Was ouercome with hearts oppressing griefe Vnto the Lord for succour strait she flies Who heard her prayer granted her releife And husband of his grace he doth ordaine which into mirth her mourning turn'd again 59 If wisdome valor worth and zeale were lost And this rare patterne onely did remaine The world can scarce of such another boast Whereby it might redeeme them all againe Who by her prayer obtain'd from Gods high hand To saue a Cittie and preserue a Land 60 First dust and ashes on her head she throwes And all in sackcloth she doth fast and pray Then into Olofernes campe she goes Where she this famous Captaine doth betray With courage stout wisdom rare she vs'd His head she brought which al the land excus'd 61 Then did she call the Elders of the Towne Saying behold what God for you hath done With stately wreathes they did her straight way crowne And euery where with shoutes of ioy did run The riches great of Olofernes tent With one accord they doe to her present 62 Thus while she was extold and magnifi'd Whom euery eie with wonder did behold Vnto the Temple of the Lord she hi'd And off'ring all this wealth of plate and gold With humble zeale before the Alter bowes Vnto the Lord thus perform'd her vowes 63 A mirrour of a chast religious wife Is faire Susanna being fore distrest Who rather chose to loose her dearest life Then yeild vnto the Elders vild request Loe thus resolu'd aloud for helpe did cry And false accus'd she is condemned to die 64 But see how God did graciously prouide To saue this woman by a childes decree Who did the Elders seuerally deuide And found them both in seuerall tales to be For which vnworthy deed their liues they pay To her great honor who they did betray 65 A woman more then wonderfull behold Whose resolutions so vndanted are As by no earthly power can be control'd More permanent then any fixed starre Within the Spheare of that celistiall round To whom fames trumpet giues the loudest sound 66 Seuen sons she had who by the Kings coÌ„mand Because they would not his behests obey To violate the custome of their land Were all adiudg'd their dearest liues to pay By sundry tortures which she seeing plaine Imboldned them still constant to remaine 67 When six of them the Tirant had destroy'd He wild his mother moue the seuenth to turne That so he might this cruell death auoid In stead whereof she bids him boldly burne And Martyr-like the Tirants rage defie Thus with his brothers he doth brauely die 68 Like Hecuba for death of Pryam old The mother now all tearmes of life defi'd VVith courage greater then Sheuola bold And thus this euer honored Martir di'd Where we wil leaue theÌ„ to the world to mourn And to our Grandame Eue againe returne 69 And there behold the race poore man had run VVhen God Angells did him both forsake Fit for precipice thou wert vndone And could'st no way a good attonment make Till this rare creature thou dispisest so VVas chosen out to mittigate thy woe 70 Assist me now ye sacred Sisters nine That I with reuerence may her praises sing VVho was elected by the powers deuine A sanctifi'd and blessed birth to bring VVhen man to sin was subiect to thrall Became a sweet redemption for vs all 71 For euer blessed be that glorious name Which God Angells haue pronounced blest FroÌ„ whose deare loins our happy Sauiour came That to the world brought loue ioy peace and rest And did not spare his precious bloud to spil Condemned mans saluation to fulfill 72 All honor praise and glory due be done To her whose seed hath conquered death hel A happy mother of a royall sonne Before whose throne she doth in glory dwell Where she with Angells Ark-angells sings Sweet haleluiah to the King of Kings 73 This blessed woman if I could not find An other subiect to defend their case Might well perswade men if they were not blind With enuious malice vold of humaine grace To striue as much their honor to maintaine As they pursue theÌ„ with such foule disdaine 74 A second Mary doth this first succeed Whose loue zeale throughout the world is spred The teares would make a marble heart to bleed VVhich for her deare deceased Lord she shed Deep plung'd in woes in sorows great opprest Her minde amaz'd her sences dispossest 75 In this sad passion to the place she goes VVhereas she thought our blessed Sauiour lay No pen so dolefull can expresse her woes VVhen she perceiu'd the body stolne away A fresh she wept down her head she hung Like lapwings that are robbed of their yong 76 The precious ointment that with her she brought That glorious body to imbâ—lme and keepe She nought respects since it was gon she
till her time in ignorance did wander Yet afterwards acknowledge none their betters In History Philosophy or Phraise Of eloquence deseruing worthy praise 156 Aretha was in learning so profound That she in Athens publike schoole did read Philosophie with iudgment graue and sound VVherein she did the learnedst man exceed VVhose Auditors as Pollio doth declare Philosophers aboue a hundred were 157 VVhen Lucius Scilla was condemn'd to die Who falsely had three thousand Romains slaine That did vpon his word their liues relie His daughter Loelia did his life obtaine With one oration which she made in Rome Whereat the Senate did reuoke their doom 158 Senobia was in learning so repleate Both Greeke and Latin to her sons she taught And did a rare epitome repeate Of all the warres wherwith the East was fraught Athenian Pericles who soar'd so high Did from Aspasia learne Philosophie 159 Cornelia a famous Roman dame Such eloquent Epistles vs'd to write That Cicero a man of rarest fame Cōmends her workes with wonderful delight With Pallaes help to end rare Lucan broght The battaile Caesar and great Pompey fought 160 Alexandra the wife of Alexander In Iury liu'd a Bishop many yeares Whose learned wisdom like a wise commander Was reuerenc'd both of common-wealth and Peeres Dona the daughter of Pithagoras In sciences a famous scholler was 161 Two Gretian women deepely learn'd indeed The loue of Plato did so highly win That seated in his chaire about to read Before they came he seldome would begin In them saith he sage wisdom doth remaine And memory graue maxims to maintaine 162 In France a sect of women did remaine Cal'd Druides to whom Aurelian came From Rome to France their counsells to obtaine So much their wisdom was renownd by fame Mirrha Queene of Lydia men did call Agiant for her wit in stature small 163 In Rhodes a Roman and a Greeke fell out Who both desir'd their cuntries worth to raise The Greeke cōtest the Romans were more stout But vnto Greece for learning gaue the praise Wherin said he our women more doe know Then you in armes whereof you boast of so 164 Vpon which words a mortall warre insu'd 'Twixt Rome Carthage til the Rodians came VVho earnestly intreate they would conclude To make them empires in this worke of fame To whose request whē they had both agreed The noble Rhodians in this wise proceed 165 Ten Greacian women they in Rhodes ordaine VVith ten of Rome shall disputation hold which they with such rare learning did maintain In leaues of brasse deserues to be inrol'd For with the Rhodiās to their great renown with Lawrell wreathes these famous women crown'd 166 For sollid sentences and learning graue Vnto the Grecians they the praise decreed True eloquence they to the Romans gaue Wherin they thought they did the Greeks exceed But from each side such vertue rare did flow As mē could hardly who were victors know 167 The worthy Rodians in perpetuall praise That after ages might their vertues see To each of them a monument did raise VVhereby their loue shall intermixed be Twenty huge Pillers of victorious fame Whereon was writ each seuerall womans name 168 Two famous Theban virgins being told The Oracle had said they should enioy A conquest from the Orchymenians bold If two chast virgins should thēselues destroy Their country with victorious praise to kill Coragiously their dearest bloud they spill 169 Braue Celia that King Porsenna tooke VVith whom in hostage diuers virgins were With courage stout by night his camp forsook Gat horse and swame a riuer void of feare VVhereat the King amaz'd without delay Did raise his siege and went with shame away 170 Hermonia a Siracusan maid To saue her country did her life defie The wife of Asdruball was lesse afraid VVhen Scipio conquered then himselfe to die Great Mithridates wife and sisters three Shew'd farre lesse feare of death then he 171 Resolued Portia hearing this sad newes Her husband and her father both were slaine That tyrannizing sorrow should abuse Her noble spirit did so much disdaine The burning coales to eate she doth deuise Thus made herselfe a liuing sacrifice 172 The pride of Aegipt that most glorious Queen Did so much scorn great Caesars campe to grace With captine bands wher she shold ly between Dispaire and hope in a contemned case With poisoned Asps whose touch to death doth hie Brauely resolu'd she rather chose to die 173 Philip proclam'd at Scyo euery slaue That would come forth with his army hold With liberty their masters wiues should haue Which when the women heard like lions bold They sally out and to their great renowne Beate Phillip and his army from the towne 174 The Scyots by th' Egiptian sore opprest Vnarm'd to leaue the towne with them agree which when the womē heard they could not rest Vntill they made them change this base decree With sheild and speare vncloth'd they march away Telling their foes that this was their aray 175 Among the Amasons two Queens they chose The forraigne and domestique state to guide Abroad Marpesia did subdue their foes At home Lampeda all things did decide VVith equall iustice void of loue or hate VVhich made them florish in a happy state 176 Constantinople being round beset With furious Gothes that ment it to destroy The Empresse bold to the wall did get VVhere valiantly she did them so annoy That many by her noble hands did die The rest were forst to raise their siege fly 177 Simeramis deserues to be inrold In brasen leaues of euerlasting praise Who by her vallour like a Tygresse bold Her hardy foes inforst their campe to raise From Babilon they surely thought to take Which she with shame compeled them to forsake 178 Senobia forst Aurelian to confesse With whom a famous war she long maintain'd To conquer Xerxes was a taske far lesse Whose greatnesse with the name of feare was stain'd Thē stout Senobia who with speare sheild Came like the God of bataile to the field 179 Penthiselia that couragious queene Encountered braue Achilles hand to hand Then which a brauer combat nere was seene Hippolita stout Theseus did withstand In single fight their honors to maintaine VVhereby they did immortallglory gaine 180 The Queene of Carryall like the God of war Did chase the Rhodians like a hare with hounds Against whose valor nothing was a barre She burnt the wals sackt their cheifest townes Whereby she forst thē to her endlesse fame To build her image and inscribe her name 181 Immortall Tass◠thou canst neuer die So worthily Clornidaes fame to write Who boldly durst that champion braue defie Renowned Tancred euen at single fight And so perform'd that men could hardly know The conqueror suruiu'd his conquered foe 182 Vndanted Hector hadst thou liued now Howmuch thy hardest soule wold blush to see That earths great monarch should be made to bow And
He knowing what was done lookt back to see And missing her askt who hath touched me 103 But she that knew what miracle was wrought VVith feare and trembling at his feete did fall And for his mercies sake she him besought To pardon her and therewith told him all He said O woman with a voice most free Great is thy faith and it hath saued thee 104 Next see the woman that in Canan dwelt By faith beleeues his mercies to obtaine How earnestly she with our Sauiour dealt Haue mercy on me Lord she cri'd amaine And heale my daughter being sore perplext VVho with a diuell cruelly is vext 105 He heard her well but did no answer make Till his Disciples said send her away She followed still and would not him forsake Though he to her with bitter words did say It is not lawfull woman I should giue To dogs the childrens bread whereby they liue 106 True Lord she said and yet the dogs doe eate The croms which from their masters tables fal And still for mercy she doth him intreate VVho wondred at her faith and said withall O happy wight with heauenly faith inspir'd Be it vnto thee as thou hast desir'd 107 And in that houre her daughter was made whole Vnto her euerlasting ioyes increase VVith faith as stedfast as the fixed Pole According to his will she went in peace Oh faith most rare the like hath not bin found Worthy in leaues of marble to be crown'd 108 The sinfull woman of the cittie Nain Doubts not by faith but she shal purchase grace And weeping at his backe she doth remaine A little while in most perplexed case Then down she falls and with a sea of teares His feete she washt and wipt them with her haires 109 Anointed them and gaue them many a kisse VVhere at the Pharise in himselfe did say VVhere he a Prophet as men say he is Hee 'd know this sinner and not let her stay When Iesus knew his thought Simon said he There is a question I must aske of thee 110 A certaine lender lent a little summe To one and to another lent a great But neither able when the time was come To pay forgaue them both their seueral debt Now which of these think'st thou will loue him better He answered I suppose the greater debter 111 VVell hast thou said our Sauiour then repli'd Seest thou this woman that by faith is led Yet since I came thou neither didst prouide To wash my feete nor yet anoint my head She hath done both no kisse of thee I got Thy faith is great ô woman goe in peace 112 Wherefore this woman thou dost here behold Whose firme beleife and constant faith is such As by no mans expression can be told Hath much forgiuen her for she loued much To her he said from sin I thee release Thy faith is great ô woman go in peace 113 Elizabeth old Zacharias wife A rare example wherein men may see The blessing followeth a religious life A faithfull woman she is found to be Whom God the Father by his Angells blest In barren age and with a sonne possest 104 A child adopted of his speciall grace And sanctifi'd euen in his mothers wombe Elect to goe before his glorious face And prophesie that he should after come To strengthen those whose faith was weake and fraile The glory of his people Israel 115 Old Anna then a sacred Prophetesse Who serued God with fasting night and day Came forth and did her blessed Lord confesse While yet within his mothers armes he lay Redemption preacht to her immortal fame To all that did beleeue in Iesus name 116 VVhen as our blessed Sauiour did cast out The feind wher with the dumb man was possest Incompast with a misbeleeuing rout Whose wicked thoughts their euill minds molest To whom whilst he did wholesome doctrine preach Which to amend their sinfull life did touch 117 A certaine woman lifted vp her voice And said the wombe had blest happy lucke That broght thee forth let those paps reioyce Which in thy infants daies did giue thee sucke This faithfull woman he doth well approue Among the rest with deere and tender loue 118 VVhich loue he doth most manifestly show By miracles he wrought from day to day First vnto Peters mother he doth goe Where of a feauer very sicke she lay And meerely of his grace it doth him please To cure her of that dangerous disease 119 The Ruler then most humbly him besought To heale his daughter in extreamest neede VVho now was at the point of death he thought And ere he came the maide was dead in deed But Iesus vnto Iairus spake and said Beleeue thou only and be not afraid 120 And forth with into Iairus house he goes VVhere did attend him many weeping eies The multitude first out of doores he throwes Then to the maide he went and said arise And she arose with feare and wonder great He strait commanded they should giue her meate 121 The woman like wise that was eighteene yeares Tormented with a most infernall spirit Bound altogether as most plaine appeares And could by no meanes lift herselfe vpright Our Sauiour seeing straight way did appease And freely freed her of that strong disease 122 He had compassion of the widowes teares The which at Nain in Galile he did meete For her dead sonne exprest with many cares VVho now to death had pai'd his latest debt In such a measure he could not refraine To raise to life and giue him her againe 123 The Pharises and Scribes vnto him brought The woman in adultery was found T' intrap him said by Moses law she ought For to be stoned dead vnto the ground But Iesus said let him that hath no sinne To execute this vpright law begin 124 Whereat they all began to steale away Leauing her standing by her Lord alone VVho turn'd a out and vnto her did say VVoman where now are thy accusers gone No man is left she said was here before And I accuse thee not go sinne no more 125 His loue to women neuer can be told See how he doth the widowes mite commend Aboue them all that offered pearle and gold Saying from superfluitie they spend When she poore wight from penury was glad To offer to the Lord euen all she had 126 Ioanna with Susanna and the rest For there were with them many women more The which our blessed Sauiour dispossest Of wicked spirits being vexed sore Wherefore most gratefully they him besought He would accept the substance they had brought 127 Now last of all as to the crosse he goes To finnish there his dearest virall breath A multitude of people saw his woes But none saue women did lament his death They weepe and waile with shreekes and piteous cries As if they would pull vengeance frō the skies 128 Vpon those cursed misbeleeuing Iewes Their blessed Lord and Sauiour did betray And for reuenge on those that thus abuse
This holy Lambe they neuer cease to pray Such gracious loue they did frō him obtain They know not how to show their loue againe 129 And after his decease the Apostles found Most vertuous women still in euery place Priscilla was a woman much renown'd VVho taught Apolloes rare heauenly grace For as this good Apostle plainly saith She tooke him home made him strong in faith 130 Saint Peter also doth as much commend Tabitha for her charitable deeds Of almes that she vnto the Lord did lend Which frō her loue vnto good works proceeds Who being dead by prayer he doth obtaine She is restored vnto life againe 131 Behold what wonders God by womē wroght As holy Paul doth worthily declare To Macedon he is by vision brought VVhere those that heard him only women were ' Mongst whom with admiration he doth tell Of Lydia who there did purple sell 132 A saithfull woman one that God ordain'd To saue a kingdome by her good desert VVho in the seruice of the Lord remain'd For it is said God opened her heart And she beleeu'd our words was baptiz'd With all her houshold as we them aduis'd 133 This done we were determined to goe Along the coasts to make some further tryall But she coniur'd vs not to leaue her so Her earnest suite would suffer no deniall And lo together as we went to pray A certaine virgin met vs on the way 134 Possessed with a spirit of diuining By which her master much aduantage got To vs she was with feruent zeale inclining And for her masters proffitt cared not She follow'd vs and cride these men are they That to saluation teach the ready way 135 And many daies continued in the same Till Paul was grieu'd for her and turn'd about And to the Spirit said in Iesus name I charge thee from this woman get thee out And it obey'd that all commanding power Departing from her at that instant houre 136 An other woman he doth straight recite He did in Athens at his preaching find Cald Damaris a most beleeuing wight VVith whom Triplena may be wel combin'd Triplena doth with Persiis well accord All faithfull women labouring in the Lord. 137 Amongst this crue he highly doth commend Phoebe a seruant of the Lord saith he For whom he doth vnto his brethren send That in the Lord we might receiued be And ayded by them in what ere she needs For she hath done most charitable deeds 138 The blest Euangelist Saint Iohn doth write Vnto a Lady whom he calles elect A virtuous woman who doth much delight The lawes of her Redeemer to respect And taught her children likewise to fulfill Our blessed Lord and Sauiours holy will 139 For which saith he I doe not onely loue This most renowned woman of our dayes But all those Saints that loue the truth approue Her zealous workes with euerlasting praise Which they in greater estimation hold Then Tagus wealth or Ophirs purest gold 140 Thus in this sacred booke of bookes we see The blesings God on women did bestow VVhich worthyly they did deserue saith he From whom such faith such loue such zeale did flow Such courage braue such resolutions rare As monuments of marble shall out weare 141 The histories that doe their praise recite In euery age so plentifull appeares That if I had ability to write I should not finish liuing Nestors yeares Such monumēts vnto their fame they build A magasine might with the bookes be fil'd 142 Yet to auoid the captious base report Of Puritant or Bible bearing poet As likewise to content the wiser sort On whom alone I freely doe bestow it I will insert of womens vertues rare A stanze or two what histories declare 143 For chastitie behold that Roman dame That proud Tarquinius basely did subdue Disdaining to out liue her forced shame Did in her dearest bloud her hands imbrew For which she is throwout the world renownd And by the pens of Lawreat Poets crown'd 144 Vnmatched Ouid doth as much commend Penelope Vlisses constant wife Whose widowed hands the hanging web doth rend Whilst he in Lacedemon leades his life Euen like the Turtle that hath lost his mate She doth bewaile her desolate estate 145 Vnspotted Daphue would not be allur'd By powerfull loue from whom amaine she flies When fainting breath her honors losse assur'd Alowd for chaste Dianaes helpe she cries Whose iust consent vnto her earnest prayer The lawrell doth perpetuall witnesse beare 146 The daughter faire of Agamemnon King Whose loue and beauty was desir'd of many Held chastitie so virtuous a thing That she would neuer condiscend to any But constantly their ardent suites deni'd And thus this spotlesse virgin liu'd and di'd 147 The virgin Lucia doth all praise exceed With whom the tirant King was far in loue VVhen she perceiu'd it was so sure decreed What friendship could not force at last shoud proue Her star-like eyes she to the tirant sent That thus she might her honors losse preuēt 148 Sage Fedons daughter doth amaze my minde VVhose father being at a banquent slaine By sauage men who likewise had combin'd This vertuous virgins chastitie to staine She to auoid this Tyrants fury fell Did headlong cast herselfe into a well 149 Saint Ambrose of Pelagia writes as much VVho with her famous sisters and her mother That no rude hād her honors worth might tuch Themselues did likewise in the water smother Such deare respect to chastitie they owe Their precious liues they doe for it bestow 150 The Lady Bona to her lasting honor Whose husband to the holy warres was sent Disguis'd to follow him she tooke vpon her Both shield speare mou'd with a chast intent Wher brauely she his faithles foes did threat And rescued him from many dangers great 151 Braue Francis Sforsas souldiers to him broght A virgin rare of birth beauty great Whom she with friendship prayer words besoght Then tyrant like the silly maide did threat But finding nothing could her honor staine With gifts praise he sent her home againe 152 The women of Tutonicaes request When noble Marius had their husband slaine VVas that they might haue leaue to spend the rest Of their vnhappy liues in Vestaes traine Where they like chastest turtles wold deplore Their fatall losse beholding men no more 153 In Rome a woman being made aquainted With treason was ' gainst Nero great conspir'd VVhereof she happened first to be attainted Of whom the Iudges all the rest inquired With cruell torments she her life did pay Yet neuer any party would betray 154 Renowned Loena did in sunder bite Her tongue and spit it in the tyrants face Because she would no secret bring to light For which th' Athenians to her lasting grace From whom such rare vnmatched virtue sprung A Lionesse set vp without a tong 155 Rare Nicostrata mother to Euander Did first vnto the Latins shew their letters VVho