had almost bene the destructiō of the whole Citie named Sheba the sonne of Bichri The Emperour Theodosius called the Youngest was so foolish that hee would put his Seale and subscription vnadvysedlie to anie Wrytinges that were brought vnto him without eyther reading or hearing the same Which his Sister Plucheria wyselie considering what great evill might ensue thereby she bethought her how she might happilie prevent all occasion of offence which might happen thorow her brother's simplicitie and to ingraff in him more deepe and solid vnderstanding So this Plucheria caused a fayre wryter PLUCHERIA to frame a goodlie Commission to looke vnto the contents whereof was That EVBOCE which was his owne Emperesse whom he beloved most dealy should be disherited of all her Dowrie and stripped of all fayre Cloathing and being wrapped in sacking should lye in a darke Dungeon seaven years And if shee lived that long then was shee ordayned to worke naked amongst the chayned slaues all the rest of her dayes This Decree the Emperour too rashly subscribed which was presentlie delivered vnto his Sister who came speedilie therewith vn-him desiring him that her name might also be incert in that Decree for companie for shee vowed to take a part of all thinges with the Empresse as well evill as good woe as weale yea and to liue and die with her The Emperour beeing amazed to heare his sister speake thus sayd My loving Sister what meane you I meane quoth she to liue and die with thy Wyfe whom thou hast cruelly condemned without knowing or asking the cause why And as one in a great furie throwing the wryting at him sayd moreover Haue there thyne own hand and Seale it can not now be mended but wryte downe my name also and we will goe to prison together for nothing but Death shall be able to part vs. And when hee saw and vnderstood the matter consideratiuelie hee cryed with a lowde voyce desiring GOD Man to forgiue him sent for the Empresse and on his knees shee falling about his neck halfe dead hee besought her to forgiue him which she willinglie granted And giving them both great thanks he never did so agayne The Duke of Castilia being imprisoned THE Dutches of CASTILIA for treason agaynst his brother the king his wyfe got leaue to visit him in Prison where shee chaunged Cloathes with him putting his vpon her and hers vpon him and sent him out of the Prison and tarried therein her selfe willing to suffer anie Torments yea to die for him if it had so fallen out But when the jaylour perceaved the matter hee told the king how that because his Majestie had given accesse to the Dutches of Castilia to come to her husband in Prison shee had beguiled them and sent him away in her cloathes and remayned in the Prison with his cloathes vpon her self and was verie willing to suffer whatsoever could bee layd to her husband's charge Which when the king vnderstood hee sent privatelie for her and caused his Queen giue her of her own rich Attire and sending his great Seale for her husband forgaue him freelie vpon good conditions and sent them home with great Honour Plutarch maketh mention of Pythius PLUTARCH in Lydia who would haue nothing done but making of Golde with all his people neglecting all manner of Husbandrie Huswyuerie and all other Occupations So that the whole land was overgone with Rubbish Briers and Thorns Which his wyse Wyfe well remarking and considering on a day her husband with the whole people being away to the making of Gold and shee at home with her maydes making readie their Dinner shee prepared the similitude of all manner of meat roast and sodden everie thing in its owne forme and colour and all of pure gold and nothing else Now her husband comming home hungrie from the Mynes with his great companie sate downe to Meat with well-prepared stomacks And drawing out their sharp Thittles hee to a dish and he to a dish but could not cut for all was Golde Whereat they took great delight for a short space but their bellies perswaded their eyes to somewhat else Then Pythius THE wyfe of PYTHIUS desired his wyfe to take that mea◠away and giue them others So shee brought other kyndes of Bread and Meat also of pure Golde still so long that hee was almost mad for hunger and began to chafe moste horriblie Wherevpon she replyed that she could giue him no other than his Countrey afforded and such as hee brought vnto her For sayde shee you haue forsaken Husbandrie our land lieth waste corns haue we none our beasts run wild vpō the mountayns traffique with other Nations haue wee none wherewithall then would ye haue me to satisfie your hunger or cloathe your nakednesse Golde onlie is the fruit of your handes eat it and bee filled put it on and bee cloathed therewith for I haue nought else to giue you And whyle they gazed one vpon another she ran and brought some other meat both grosse and not much of it wherewith they were fayne to be contented for that tyme. But afterwards Pythius took ever his wyues counsell about him employed his people in Husbandrie and all manner of Vertue made Golde also were Traffiquers with other Nations and so became a most flowrishing Countrey And all by the wisdome and fore-sight of his worthie WYFE. Thus Golde and All good Women can subdue And proue at all tymes to their Husbands true CHAPTER XI Of the constant steadfastnesse in Women not onlie suffering cruell Tormentes but also horrid Death for the Testimonie of IESVS CHRIST THe Allmightie our GOD who is the beginner of every good work doeth often tymes make choyse of weake Instruments and such as vnwyse men count fooles ever to manifest His great Power and make His Glorie knowne to all the worlde By abasing the worldlie wyse and turning their wisdome into follie By putting downe the mightie from their seate and exalting the humble and meeke By sending the rich empti◠away filling the hungrie with good things c. Which is more than manifest by an innumerable number of women who altho by nature they bee but weak vessels yet thorow influence frō Aboue manie of them haue proven more strong and steadfast in the worthiest and greatest Matters than anie men that ever were and especiallie in mayntayning defending of the true and Christian Fayth yea and suffered for the same not onlie tyrannicall torments but also cruell Death it selfe notwithstanding of the womanlie tendernesse of their most comlie proportionable featurall personages A Christian Mayd in France named Blandine in the great Persecution of BLANDINE CHRIST'S Members there vnder the Emperour Severus about the yeare of our LORD 178 was taken and bound to a Stake with strong threatninges to burne her or else to renounce the Christian Fayth But she continued rejoycinglie steadfast Then brought they wilde beastes to feede vpon her flesh and began to let them
and Her Greatnesse were displayd QUEENE ELIZABETH As farre as Sunne and Moone did ever shyne GOD'S mingled Service Shee did re-refyne From Romish Rubbish and from Humane Drosse Shee yearlie made the Pryde of Spayne declyne France and Belgia Shee saved from Losse Shee was Artes Patterne t' Armes Shee was a Patron Shee liv'd and died a Queene a Mayd a Matron CHAPTER III. Of the Excellencie of WOMEN whom GOD hath made the first Mothers of VERTVE and Instrumentall Finders-out of the most excellent and needfull things in the world MARCVS VARRO MARCUS VARRO testifieth That Women were the first Instruments and Finders-out of the most excellent and needfull things belonging vnto Mankynde to wit 1. The Unitie and Fellowship to dwell together in Townes Villages Freedomes and Congregations 2. That WOMEN were the first Inventers of LETTERS and Arte of Writing 3. That WOMEN are the first In-bringers and Ordayners of Lawes and Statutes Politicke Civill and Morall 4. That the comelie Arte of Barbarizing Shearing or Trimming of mens heads and beards first begunne with Women in Sicilia and brought from thence to Rome by Tirinius Rome having then beene inhabited 554 yeares without the seemlinesse of this Arte. 5. That WOMEN are the first Inventers of Horologies Dialls and Clockes which most comfortablie measure vnto vs the Day and Night into 24 parts Winter and Summer Then next vnto GOD to the glorie of Women bee it sayde That no more excellent and worthie things than these can bee in the world What can bee more precious vnto vs than LETTERS For without Letters the lyfe of man yea and his whole pilgrimage on earth would bee but a continuall death and an oblivious buriall Because nothing can bee done without Letters Letters are the pillars of everlasting Memorie Letters keepe fresh to our rememberance to day what hath beene done so manie thousand yeares agoe Letters preserue all thinges done in our tymes even vnto our posterities posteritie for ever Had it not beene for Letters Socrates Plato Aristotle Cato Theophrastes Virgill Ovid Cicero with the rest of the goodly fellowship of Philosophers yea most holie and wyse Fathers had not so highly beene in estimation with the world nor the world haue reaped such great beneficiall knowledge as it hath pleased GOD next vnto His great Mercies by their paynfull studies to our great ease to bestow vpon vs. But what neede I to speake of mortall men and of late tymes Are not the workes of GOD even from the beginning and His miraculous Wonders yet extant amongst vs yea together with His revealed Word and Will and all by the meanes of Immortall Letters whereof it pleased GOD to make illustrious WOMEN the first CARMENTA Author even Renowned Carmenta or by some Writers named Nicostrata the mother of Evander king of Arcadia For whose sake all men are bound to loue and honour Her Sexe giving GOD the praise who hath lent vnto Mankinde such an excellent exceeding great Benefite as are immortall Letters If anie would heere alleadge that PLINIUS Plinius with the authoritie of Epigenes would maintayn Letters to haue beene from the beginning of the Creation yet aboundance of ancient Writers are of the contrarie opinion amongst whom is the worthie learned Theophrastus who thinketh it no shame to THEOPHRASTUS confesse that the Ladie Leontia withstood him in the face in disputation before an Assemblie and quyte overthrew him and that by reason sayeth hee shee had the knowledge and practicall vse of Letters which himselfe was ignorant of at that tyme. And Saynct Hieronymus confesseth HIERONYMUS the lyke of a woman called Eustachius to the glorie of GOD in His great Mercies towards Womans Sexe bee it sayde And Aristotle sayeth that as Man ARISTOTLE commeth of the Woman even so doe all good things and all excellencie in knowledge of Sciences Learning and Vertue proceede also from the Woman vnto Man for his comfort And therefore Glorie bee to GOD for Her To proceede then in the just praise of women Women haue not onelie beene the first instrumentall finders of such things as are indeede the Royall Ornaments of Mankynds inward vnderstanding as were Letters aforesayde but also manie other necessaries without the which man had yet lived as in former tymes that is more lyke brute beasts than reasonable creatures had it not beene for the wittie helpe and painfull hand of vertuous woman For not onlie from the Creation till Noah but long after the Deludge Man lived on Achornes rootes barkes of trees and meale of such lyke thinges Till at the last Dame Ceres CERES found out the precious grain of Corne and consequentlie invented the making and baking of bread in the countreys of Greece Italie and Sicilie And therefore was shee called a Goddesse yea and holden for the same of all our learned Poëts even till this day Moreover it is soothlie sayde of the same Dame Ceres that shee was the first ordayner of good Statutes and maker of Civill Lawes without the which no Kingdome Cōmon-wealth Congregation or Housholde could stand And yet all this commeth immediatelie from GOD vnto Woman and GOD maketh her the Destributer thereof vnto man her other halfe And for my proofe concerning Dame DIODERE OVID. HERODITE VIRGIL Ceres I take to witnesse worthie Diodore in his sixt Booke Ovid in his fift Booke of Metamorphoses and Herodote the father of all Historicians in his sixt Booke And therefore Virgil in his Booke of Aeneids calleth Her Legifera that is Law-giver And this also doeth Plinius maintayne avouch PLINIUS in his seaventh Booke of Naturall Historie Now as the Corne and Meale making Bread baking was first found by a Woman Dame Ceres as said is so CERES ISIS is there another rare Dame called Isis who found out the way how to manure and plow the land And shortlie after other vertuous Women in Gallia haue invented the Siue and some others in Spaygne the Bolting-cloath as sayeth Plinius in his eyghteenth Booke More-over in the beginning Men lived most Barbarouslie Grosslie and Brutishlie having not wherewith to cover their nakednesse but the Shins of wilde Beasts and barks of Trees vntill the time that the Women found out the making of Cloath In which Arte Dame Tannaquil or as some TANNAQUIL call her Caja was extraordinarie painfull and expert and therefore is called the Goddesse of good House-wyues But the first that ever began to spinne Wooll was a comelie fayre and vertuous Virgine in the Countrey of Lydia called Arachne as testifieth Plinius ARACHNE and Ovid in his Metamorph. But I know not what would haue become of sillie Man had not Dame Pallas found our Flax and Hempe and PALLAS the invention of making of Linnen Cloath For I am sure that without Linnen Men would bee much fouler and vncleaner than Beasts so that his Habitation would bee more odious than the stall of Augia And these enormities are all prevented even by Women
Thus Men may vnderstand that all Heavenlie Gifts and Graces shew themselues farre more excellentlie in Women than in Men. And I neede not to make much adoe to proue that the Women are in no degree so greedie and avaricious as are vnhappie Men. And thus I durst appeale to everie honest Mans Conscience yet never-the-lesse I can hardlie passe by heere to tell you how Queene Semiramis approved this SEMIRAMIS DARIUS on King Darius for she caused build a costlie and Sumptuous Tombe vpon the which she caused write this Poesie Who so desireth gold silver much such Breake down this Tombe he shall find all And as King Darius happened to come that way and beholding the Tombe and reading the superscription hee caused open the same and on the innerside of the same stone was written thus Thou Gracelesse Man and full of Greedinesse That Women doe surpasse thee now confesse Hadst thou beene other but a catiue Wretch Thy Hands on dead Mens Tombes thou wouldst not stretch And so finding nothing within but dust and clay and seeing himselfe so farre deceaved this greedie Gluttonous Man departed looking as angrielyke as a March-Hare Eusebius in his Church Histories EUSEBIUS wryteth greatlie to the just Prayse of Women by the example of the Mother of Origen for manie Martyrs on ORIGEN a day beeing condemned to bee burnt by the Enemies of the Gospell of CHRIST this Origen was in the mynde voluntarilie and vnaccused to haue suffered death with them on the morrow But his Mother happie Woman beeing aware thereof came quyetlie into his Chamber the night before tooke away all his Cloathes So that when Origen rose in the morning with full resolution to sacrifice himselfe with the other Martyrs hee had nothing to put on and so was faine to tarrie in his Chamber a day or two till GOD changed his mynde and lived manie yeares after and proved an excellent instrument in propagating the Gospell of GOD as appeareth till this day by his worthie and holie Wrytings Yet before I conclude this Chapter I must rehearse vnto you two worthie Women who in excellencie of learning and Governament were not behinde anie Men that ever wee reade of The first of these was a Woman borne in England of Heroicke Parents and her selfe of a loftie spirit and subtill ingenious wit and having passed the English Schooles at home shee departed from England in Mans Cloathing and came to Athens which Citie at that tyme flowrished aboue all others in Learning and Policie in which she extraordinarilie studied and profited exceedinglie calling her selfe POPE IOHN Iohn And afterwardes comming to Rome shee taught and disputed openlie in the Schooles in the habite of a most graue Doctor and was so well lyked of that they thought her the paragon of that Age. And after the death of Leo the fourth of that name Pope of Rome about the yeare of our LORD 852. shee was chosen Pope of Rome and governed that Place with great wisdome in good Civilitie and happie Peace the space of three yeares two moneths and foure dayes and ended her lyfe with great Renowne Another rare wise and excellent Woman was Theodosia Empresse of Constantinople who through the basenesse of the Emperour her Husband who seeing Disturbances lykelie to fall out in his Empire cowardlie left all betooke himselfe to a Closter and became a Monke and lykewyse her Brother Zoc beeing slaine shee governed the Empyre her selfe and that so valiantlie and judiciouslie that she was out of measure beloved of her Subjects and feared of her Enemies all the dayes of her lyfe and departed this lyfe in peace about the yeare of CHRIST 1050. And to conclude this Chapter I speake thus much with pardon to the Women of these tymes to follow the Vertue of these their aforesayde predecessours To Vertue and to Honour once in Rome Two statelie Temples there erected was Where none might vnto Honours Temple come But first through Vertues Temple they must passe Which was an Embleme and a Document That wee by Vertue must true Honour win And that that Honour shall beâ— permanent Which onlie did from Vertue first begin Then sith these Women haue truâ— Vertue wun See yee with them the paths of Vertue run CHAPTER IV. Of the Valiantnesse Boldnesse and Cowrage of Women and of their Victorious Battells farre surpassing the engine or Cowrage of Man SUch Striplings as take pleasure as farre as they may to impeach the Honour and Credit of Women and to denye their rare perfection in everie excellent thing even aboue Man let such stand abacke I say and withdrawe themselues vnto these learned Authors who preferre the Valour Cowrage and bold-heartinesse of Women to all the Men that ever were and for this purpose let them with great reverence reade Ammianus Marcellinus Trogus Pompeius Justinus Orosius Diodorus Siculus Plinius Herodotus Curtius Solinus Pomponius Mela and manie others in the renowned Histories of the Amazones where it is clearlie showne that the just praise of Women in Martiall affaires also farre aboue Men hath sounded through the World Now these Amazones dwelt in Scythia this Scythia lying in North Asia the which now-adayes is called Tartaria whereby it is knowne from that Scythia which lyeth in Europe And the Amozones having no King but a Queene called Orithie together with ORITHIE a valiant Ladie whom the Queene made her Vice-Gerent called Antiope These two Women governed the Amazones so wyselie and valiantlie that they were feared of all their neyghbours So that Euristeus the Athenian King was compelled to intreat Great Hercules himselfe to put on his Armour and to helpe him against two Women forsooth who then so wiselie governed the Amazones that his bowles quaked for feare of them Now this Hercules beeing pricked with Ambition jealous of Honour greedie for preferment as commonlie Men haue ever beene hee assemall the forces that hee might and taking with him Theseus and other mightie Friends and assistants they imbarked themselues to sayle towards Scythia agaynst the Queene of the Amazones and after great Skaithe of their owne people are returned without victorie not daring to bide bargaine when the Queene in proper person came to giue them Battell but destroyed some of the Countrey with fire and so fled away lyke Men. But soone after that the Queene and her Forces followed over into Europe to bee avenged on the Gricks and on Euristeus where they made such havock on the Borders and Frontures of the Athenians that their King was faine to compone with the Queene and to buy her out of his Countrey Great Hercules being slayn In token whereof the Athenians hold him for their Patron till this day And a long time thereafter the Grecians going into Asia agaynst the Trojanes and Penthesilia then beeing successiue PENTHESILIA Queene to Orithie Queene of the Amazones shee levied a gallant Armie more Women than Men and came over and assisted the Trojanes in such sort that through her
stratagems and feats of Armes shee so defeated the Grecians that they were almost vtterlie vndone had it not beene for Achilles who subtillie deceaved that valiant Queene Penthesilia and shee PENTHESILIA was slayne in Battell wherethrough the rest returned home to their owne Countrey of Amazone choosing another Queene called Thalistris And this Thalistris governed and reygned THALISTRIS in great Wealth and prosperitie over the Amazones even in the dayes of Alexander the Great when as hee had Warres agaynst the Hircanites And whether for feare or loue I know not yet Alexander never molested the Amazones but helde their Queene in great estimation and reverence But after her decease when Men forsooth came to governe the Amazones all thinges went backwards agaynst them so that their Enemies prevayled and within short tyme that Kingdome was brought to nothing Againe the Emperour Claudius the second having Warres agaynst the Gothes and on a day beeing victorious over them in Battell himselfe in proper person perceaved some valiant fighting Souldioures amongst the Gothes exceeding manie others in cowrage which hee caused take aliue as prisoners but onlie ten in number And when their Armour was laide off these ten were perceaved to bee Women Whereat the Emperour stood greatlie amazed and gaue them great praise and rich Gifts judging them to haue beene descended of the valiant Amazones And lykewyse the Countrey of Francia Antartica is extraordinarilie well governed and defended even by Women till this day as wryteth Thevet THEVET ANGOMOZIN Angomozin in his Diversitie of Histories Hearken yet vnto Lactantius who famouslie commendeth the women of Lacedemonia who issued foorth of their Citie when their Enemies had most stronglie besiedged them and behaved themselues so victoriouslie that few of their Enemies escaped In testification whereof those worthie Lacedimonian Women even of the Golden Treasure of their Enemies they made a large Image of Venus in compleat Armour in token of their Victorie to an everlasting remembrance and encowragement to all succeeding Ages Neyther ought wee to passe by the Valiantnesse and Cowrage of the Women of Cimber who although their men were slayne to the number of one hundreth fourtie thousands by Catulus and Marius of Rome yet the Women proved more valiant and avenged the death of their Husbands choosing rather with them to die than to bee deflored of their Enemies And this came to passe more than 90. yeares before the comming of Christ Yet to proceede in the just prayse of Women Petrus Cirnitus writing of PETRUS CIRNITUS ZENOBIA Worthie Discipline in his 26. Booke and 14. Chapter sayeth that Zenobia Queene of Palmyren fought a cruell Battell agaynst the Emperour Aurelian and obtayned great victorie Yet because he thought her but a Woman hee made no great matter of it but wrote vnto her and bade her yeelde But shee having receaved his letter with a smiling Countenance Cowragious mynde answered him thus It must not bee with Messiues but with might of Armes if thou shalt obtayne aniething at my hands For let thy grosse vnderstanding bee assured that Cleopatra had rather want lyfe than CLEOPATRA AENEAS SYLVIUS Honour And Aeneas Sylvius who afterwardes was Pope and great Bishop of the holie Citie of Rome called Pius the second declareth at length that the land of Bealme was long time happilie governed by Women But because all Histories both Spirituall and Temporall as well olde as new make so much mention of the Valiantnesse Cowrage of Women I neede not to tarrie anie longer heerevpon but to goe forewardes in the due prayse of Women declaring to the World their other rare perfections also even to the astonishment and bashfulnesse of all their Gainsayers whatsoever And so I conclude this Chapter proceeding to another with this great encowragement to the Women now of our tymes and hereafter for ever Let their Example bee a Spurre to you That yee their worthie Vertues may persue Women they were and you are even as much They were Victorious you may even bee such They had great Cowrage guarded with good Skill Which Skill and Cowrage Fortune Grace and Will I doe implore th' Almightie to bestow On each of you the High and eke the low CHAPTER V. Of sundrie good Women who wittilie and valiantlie haue cleansed whole Countreys and Congregations of cruell Tyrants and Heretickes ANd if men haue obtained anie prayse and glorie on earth by mayntayning their Kingdomes Countreys Townes and other thinges of this world by the losse of limbes and lyues then I am assured that our worthie women haue deserved farre more happie fame prayse and renowne who haue not spared their vttermost endevours painful travels their goods children limbes nor lyfe in the defence of things Aboue as GODS true Religion and the holie Gospell of IESUS CHRIST It is sayde in the Booke of Judeth that when the pryde of Nabuchodonozor was puffed vp even to the Heavēs giving commandement vnto Olofernes chiefe captayne of his armie to bring the whole world vnder his subjection Where was ever heard tell of such lyke pryde in Women But what followed Forsooth the LORD sent holie Judeth into the campe of the Assyrians lying before Bethulia and tooke off the head of the tyrant Olofernes even with his owne sword whereby shee discomfited the hudge armie of the enemies of GODS People and preserved her citie But because I haue sayde somewhat heereof and of Deborah Jael before in my second Chapter therefore I goe forwards to others moe whose number is so infinite that this little volume can not contayne the hundreth part onlie I shall recite a few and so proceede to another subject even in the just prayse of Women bee it sayde Abimelech that Arch-tyrant murdered his threescore and ten Brethren destroyed the Citie of Sechem burnt IUDGES 8. 35. and 9. 1. 2. 3 4. c. the Counsell-house and sowed the Citie with salt And not content with this hee presentlie besiedged the Citie of Thebes and having chased the people into a strong Tower hee came to the doore thereof of purpose to set it on fyre with his owne cruell handes IUDGES 9. 56. 7 53. 54. 2. SAM 11. 21. But a certaine woman sayth the Scripture threw downe a piece of a Mill-stone vpon Abimelech's head so that his brayne pan was broken Then caused he a young man to thrust his sword thorow him and so hee died shamefullie In this same manner died also King Pyrrhus who lying in siedge before the Towne of Argoes a woman threw a stone vpon his head And being blinded with blood a womā caused a Souldiour called Zopyrus to run him thorow with a Speare And Plutarch in his booke of famous Women speaketh verie laudably of Aretaphilia who marvelouslie and ARETAPHILIA verie periculouslie delivered her owne Countrey from the tyrannie of Nicocrates and Leander both which she put to death and caused Calniam to bee burnt beeing the occasion of their tyrannie Stand yet abacke yee
wyselie and valiantlie haue preserved the cleannesse of Bodie haue not onlie ventred but also lost their lyues therefore And not onlie is this probable of Christian Women but also amongst the verie Heathen and Pagans are registrated aboundance of Women who did farre rather lose all the World yea lyfe and all before they would lose their Honour Sainct Hieronymus wryting against HIERONYMUS Joyinian telleth of very many Women who were of such cleanlie Condition Disposition and Qualitie that neither Goods Lyfe nor Death was in regarde with them to their vndefiled Honestie A THEBAN MAYD And a Mayde of Theban beeing ravished by a Macedonian corbed her heavie passions for a day or two till shee got occasion to slay him which shee valourouslie performed with her owne hands Then rejoycing greatly that GOD had given her strength to bee avenged on such a Villane shee with-drew her selfe to the Wildernesse where she lived solitarilie all her dayes Chiomara the wyfe of Ortiagent was CHIOMARA taken in battell by a Captayn who violentlie abused her But shortly after her ransom was sent and she was to depart homewards Now shee requested this Captayne to convoy her a little piece of her journey which he did verie willinglie And she having conspired his death with her servāts she drew him a little from the way whereof this Leacher grew verie amorous thinking to take his lustfull leaue of that fayre Ladie where foure of her servantes lay privilie who helde him fast while shee took off his head which she carried to her husband and threw it at his feete Whereat he being amazed sayd Thou wicked woman wherefore hast thou committed this treason Trueth and fidelitie ought to bee kept with our verie enemies Yes quoth she you say true but it is neyther Trueth nor Honestie for me to let anie man liue that hath lyen with mee except myne owne Husband Then her Lord vnderstanding the matter rightlie he loved her the more entirelie and he together with the whole Countrey hold her in great honour all her dayes A Lacedemonian Wyfe being straitlie persued by a leacherous Lubber answered him that shee could not giue that which was never her owne For quod shee whyle I was a Damosell my Virginitie pertayned to my Parentes and now it is myne owne Husbandes So this leacherous Logger-head left off his sute and tooke his Leaue without Farewell looking as though his nose had beene bleeding Reade I pray you Munsterus in MUNSTERUS GRANTZIO his Description of the World and also worthie Grantzio in the Chronicles of Germanie where men shall finde such plentie of the prayse of Women concerning Chastitie and such loathsomnesse in men concerning their detestable filthie viciousnesse that if there be anie spunke eyther of Grace or Shame left in them let them bow to women and cry Pecaavi and let all such as vnhappilie are fallen into that damnable fact of Blasphemie or rayling or scoffing agaynst Women eyther in word or writ let all such I say blush and bee ashamed and without speedie and publick repentance not onelie confuted but confounded for ever And thus in the just prayse of Women we proceede to another Subject For though I should aske vngratefull man Wherein haue Women not surpassed Men In Good They 'll answere mee I know not when CHAPTER X. Of the great and wonderfull Wisdome in WOMEN to the high Glorie of GOD and great Benefit of Man ANd if our wicked wayward and witlesse Vilependers of Womans Sexe could yet at last begin to consider and looke to the Right hand casting off that blind-board wherewith Satan the fat her of Envy hath so long over-syled blind-folded the eies of their Understanding then might they happilie even to their owne credit and advantage clearlie beholde and confesse the singular Grace of GOD in every degree and in greater measure proceeding more from WOMEN than from Men. And so beeing come to themselues and acknowledging their haynous transgression agaynst this Angelicall Sexe of Women they would not fayle to imitate the Poët Stesichoris who vnadvysedlie STESICHORIS in his verses had rayled agaynst fayre Helene of Greece but when hee IELEN rightlie vnderstood himselfe he recalled all what hee had eyther sayde or written before and wrote excellentlie in her prayse and cōmendation Then why may not mē of such qualitie with Stesichoris turne both Notes Coates since now-a-dayes so manie even of other qualities also willinglie adjoyne their Forces with them Nowe amongst all other gracious Ornaments and ornamentall Heavenlie Graces wherewith Women are accompanied is WISDOME and wherewith even from the Cradle they are still decored and cloathed as is moste manifest as well by the sacred Scriptures as all other true Histories both Ecclesiasticall and Civill And the rayling of men agaynst women showeth them to be the sonnes of cursed cursing Shimei who rayled on blessed blessing David And as David's Blessing returned to himselfe even so did Shimei's Cursing returne vnto himselfe also And so bee it vnto all those cursed men who implore not the Heavens that All Blessing bee vpon WOMAN that MAN may get part Looke to the wisdome of Rebecca GENES 27. who procured her Husband Isaac his blessing vnto Iaakob her youngest son whereas Isaac himselfe was purposed that same verie day to haue bestowed it on Esau his eldest sonne For sillie man as he was blind of bodie so also in mynde and knewe not that it was the LORD'S doing as Rebecca knew that the elder must serue the younger Nowe the men may stay their boasting agaynst Women even by this example of Iaakob and Esau in pleading MATTH 26 of Antiquitie well remembering that the elder must serue the younger For they solde their birth-right for thirtie pieces of Silver and so became portioners with Barabbas that laudable seditious Murderer Agayne if Antiquitie of men may beare anie sway agaynst women I am assured the Devill is more ancient than men being before them And as much as man can thinke himselfe better than woman because he was first I thinke the Devill may as well think such like because Hee was before man I will say nothing heere of the Antiquitie of the Pope and Popish Religion till these mistie muggie vnwholsome vapours of Idolatrie which infect my brayne bee somewhat disabled by the reflex of Titan from his highest Spheare But let vs goe on to our Purpose in showing this great Gift of Wisdome in Women Wyse Abigaill is highlie to be commended and her churlish husband Naball greatlie to bee condemned for his vncharitable dealing with David in his great necessitie Wherby he had almost brought Destruction to himselfe and all his Familie yea and a horrible sinne 1. SAM 25. vpon David had not wyse Abigaill prevented the same in tyme. There was a wyse woman in the besiedged Citie of Abell of Bethmaachah sayeth the Scripture who delivered 2. SAM 20. the distressed Citie even by the confusion of one wicked man who
byte her tender corpse Yet neverthelesse shee shrunke not a jot but the faster that the Serpents did byte her the lowder she cryed I am a Christian I am a Christian looking vp and calling earnestlie to the GOD of Heaven to giue her strength and patience that shee might bee worthie to finish her lyfe to the Glorie of His Name Now her torments lasted so long and shee endured so steadfast that the verie Executioner stood amazed and cut off her head The spectators bewayled her with manie tears and manie at that same houre believed and were casten inte deepe Dungeons Another Virgine called Maxima MAXIMA being so horriblie tormented by Sason prince of Vandals and yet could not be vrged to forsake CHRIST hee let her goe free But manie others which were in Prison hee banished into the Yle of Capsur vnder the king of Mores where they preached the Gospell and afterwards were eaten with wilde people Maximine was a cruell Persecuter of the Christians and tooke his chiefe pleasure in devysing new tormenting Instruments to perplexe them with a languishing death But he was not busier to invent their Sorrow than they were earnestlie readie to suffer all that hee could imagine But especiallie the Women Amongst whom were Dorothea SO PHRONIA DOROTHEA and Sophronia who chose farre rather to drinke out the verie dreggs of the Cup of Death than anie wayes to shrinke a whit from the Confession of the true Fayth And the same GOD which strengthened these Women in all kynde of Martyrdome yea and in the pangues of Death for His Names sake wroght also in the heart of this Tyrant that he was overcome with the constant steadfastnesse in the Religion of these Women In so much that hee caused publish an Edict and proclaymed through all his Empyre That none should molest them in anie thing vpon poene of Death Thus wee clearlie beholde the extraordinarie great loving Mercies of our GOD towards Woman Sexe who hath stil so mightily assisted them even with His Divine Strength to suffer all whatsoever could bee layd vpon them without shrinking vnto the last period of Breath no not in Death it selfe And thus wee proceede The Church Historie maketh mention of an ancient Virgine of Alexandria whom the persecutioner tooke and drew out all her teeth and then A VIRGINE MARTYR her tongue also and brought her to the fire to bee burnt quicke And when they intreated her yet to forsake CHRIST shee resolutelie leaped into the fire and was burnt to powder about the yeare of our LORD 251. About which tyme also was a religious Woman called Coïnth vnnaturallie COÃNTH and filthilie drawne at a horse tayle thorow all the nookes of the Citie of Alexandria And yet continuing steadfast they rent her in pieces with vglie disguysed persons lyke Devils and Death himselfe Socrates telleth that a Temple was SOCRATES LIB 6. CAP. 33. erected in the towne of Edesse in Mesopotamia to the honour of GOD and the Apostle Sainct Thomas in the which the Christians vsed to assemble and offer their sacrifices of prayer prayse and thanksgiving vnto the GOD of Heaven Which when the Emperour Valens vnderstood who was an Arch-enemie to the servants of the true God and an accursed persuer of all such as professed the Name of IESUS hee was wrathfull towards Modestus the chiefe Captayne sent for him and reproved him verie sharplie for suffering the Christians contrarie his will and commandement And gaue him charge on payne of Death and his whole posteritie that the next tyme that the Christians coveaned in Saynct Thomas Church hee should murder them all both young and olde Now this Modestus MODESTUS the chiefe Captayne was a good Man and sent private advertisement to the Christians that vpon their next awonted day of assemblie in Sainct Thomas Church none should bee found there who loved his lyfe Neverthelesse vpon their vsuall day they came to the Church in great numbers to say their Prayers and Modestus making a show to satisfie the Emperours evill purpose was marching thitherwards with a band of armed souldiours and seeing a Christian Woman with a chylde in her armes running towards the Church hee called her saying Vnhappie Woman that thou art whither art thou going Shee answered To the Temple of Saynct Thomas Hast thou not heard tell quoth hee that the Emperour hath commanded mee to slay all that are in the Temple to day Yes shee sayde and therefore I haste mee thitherwardes with my chylde that wee may die with the rest of our Brethren and Sisters This chiefe Captayne seeing the Woman so resolutelie bent with her little one to suffer for the Name of CHRIST returned with his souldiors to the Emperour tolde him what the Woman had sayde and desired rather to suffer Martyrdome himselfe with the Christians than to worke anie thing agaynst them Whereby the Emperour was put from his hellish purpose The Arch-bishop of Saleucia had a Sister called Tharbua who because she THARBUA would not renounce the fayth of IESUS was bound to a post and her Mayde to another and were cut in twayne in the middle with a Saw and never shrunke for the matter And vnder the Reygne of Emperour Adrian there was an holie wyse Matron called Sophia who had three daughters SOPHIâ— which shee saw cruellie executed for the Name of IESUS shee standing by and giving them cowrage to the last gaspe And beeing dead shee buried them with her owne handes without the Citie of Rome giving great prayse vnto GOD glorie and thanks who had made her so happie a Woman that the fruit of her Wombe was so respected of the LORD as to account them worthie to bee of the number of those that suffered for the Name and Glorie of the LORD IESUS But seeing it is not possible for me nor none else to registrate all the steadfast constant Women in Godlinesse Vertue Wisdome Learning Knowledge Cowrage Chastitie and manie other excellent perfections for indeed such a taske would fill the world full of Bookes and yet never bee ended Therefore at this tyme I thinke to conclude this my little Essay to the Honour of GOD and good Women with the ecclesiasticall Historie of the Maccabees Wee reade that two Women were brought in and accused for not observing the manners of the Gentiles because according to the Law of GOD they had circumcised their little ones which hanging on their Mothers breasts they hurried them shamefullie round about the Citie and then both Women and Infants were throwne headlongs downe from the Wall Agayne a Mother with her seaven Sonnes were cruellie and vnhumanelie tortured and also put to Death because they would not forsake the Law of GOD and their fathers And this part of Scripture testifieth That the Woman was marvelous aboue all and worthie of honourable memorie for when shee saw her seaven Sonnes slayne within one dayes space shee bare it with a good cowrage because of the hope
which shee had in the LORD But to vnderstand this Historie the better I pray you reade the seaventh Chapter of the second Booke of Maccabees where it is alreadie most excellentlie set downe even by the Spirit of GOD vnto whom I consecrate my selfe for ever recommend all good Women vnto whom next vnto God I dedicate my mynde since my might is not able to performe what my Muse would fayne amount vnto And to excuse my brevitie I must conclude with Master Taylor That The shortest Writ the greatest Wit affordes And greatest Wit consists in fewest wordes A false ECHO truelie answered The first Summonds Come ECHO I doe thee summon Tell mee truelie What is a Woman ECHO If worne shee is a Feather If wooed shee 's frostie weather If wonne the wind 's not slighter If vexed the Moone 's not lighter If lyen withall shee 's Apish If lyen with none shee 's snappish The ECHO thus replyed But yet mee thought it lyed The second Summonds Come ECHO I thee Summon Tell me once more What 's a Woman ECHO If fayre shee 's coy in courting If wittie loose in sporting If readie shee is loathing If naked shee is nothing If well belov'd shee scornes thee If not belov'd shee hornes thee The Answere And for all good Womens sake This Replye now doe I make If worne shee 's a jewell If wooed shee is not cruell If wonne the Rock's not surer If weyghed the Golde's not purer If lyen withall Delicious If lyen with none not vicious False ECHO goe you lye For this is a Woman truely And for your second Summon I answere for a Woman If fayre shee 's heavenlie Treasure If wittie shee 's all Pleasure If readie farre from Vaynties If naked shee is Daynties If well belov'd shee feares not If not belov'd shee cares not False ECHO goe you lye For this is a Woman truely The Conclusion BLest bee the Heavenlie Powers which brought to light This precious jemme call'd WOMAN Man's Delight This Free-borne Princesse Casket full of Treasure This solid Author of Man's wished Pleasure This harmlesse spotlesse Saynct not knowing evill A Goddesse though prowde man would proue a Devill Why Shee 's a Worke so purelie wrought that Nature Knew not whether 't was more adorn'd with Feature Or with chaste Honestie And this was Shee Fruit of whose wombe fred Man from Miserie For which Shee 's blest that Her Sexe Faults shall fall From small to lesse from lesse to none at all And therefore thus wee may defyne a WOMAN Shee 's louelie faythfull harmlesse false to no man Altho that Man as an incarnate Devill Of Her whom GOD made good would fayne make evill And if sweete Womens loue doe not Men cherish Those that contemne their Sexe with shame shall perish Epilogue THus to avoyde the imputation of Ingratitude which was holden for so haynous an Offence even amongst the Heathen that Periander of Corinth made a Law that whosoever was found vnthankefull having receaved anie Gift should bee put to death Therefore With lowlie Heart and eke with thankfull Mynde I sende my Labours to Good Woman-kynde Indeede what the loftinesse of the Argument requyreth I confesse I haue not attayned vnto Yet haue I bestowed such willing paynes as I was able to vndergoe but nowayes heerein can I satisfie my selfe to doe them Good Neverthelesse I shall holde my selfe recompensed to the full if by anie willingnesse I may reserue the Memorie of Honourable Women in relating the Trueth in Honestie and Wisedome Desiring no more but to find a place for a tyme amongst the pettie Writers of great matters thinking my paynes ever well bestowed if once well accepted no wayes taking vpon mee to Instruct but onelie to Remember Surelie if the poore Persians water in a potsheard was acceptable to the Emperour and an apple from a poore Pessant was receaved by Artaxerxes a great ARTAXERXES ALEXANDER Prince if Alexander tooke water courteouslie from a common Souldiours Helmet and our Saviour crowned the Widow with everlasting prayse for two mytes casten into the Treasurie Then am I assured that your generous dispositions will sparinglie censure and courteouslie receaue these my poore Endeavours Which howsoever they be they be yours so am I Ever wishing To buy the ABATEMENT of mine owne HONOUR with the ritch pryce of WOMANS TRUE GLORIE Concluding with Master GIBSON That It is no BOUNTIE which doth flow from STORE Who giues his Heart what Gift can hee giuE moRe THE Duetie of Husbands Drawne out of MASTER CARTER his Booke of Christian Common-Wealth EPHES. 5. 33. Let everie one of you so loue his Wyfe even as himselfe PROV 31. 11. 12. The Heart of Her Husband doeth safelie trust in Her For Shee will doe him good and not evill all the dayes of his lyfe TO All Good Husbands Good Husbands all receaue in thankfull part This Sacrifice which may my Will approue Upon the Altar of a faythfull Heart Consumed in the Flames of Zeale anâ— Loue. Let Honourable Woman liue for ever In all that Arte that Tyme that Fame can giue hER The Introduction PAtient IOB saying that the whole lyfe of Man was nothing else but a tyme of Temptations spake most fearfullie and yet most truelie for wee are tempted in our olde Age and in our Cradle wee are not free If anie evill bee set before vs wee are easilie provoked vnto it If wee abound with Adam in Paradise there may bee Death in that And if wee want with our Saviour in the Wildernesse there are Temptations in that also So subtile is Satan and so envyous is our Enemie to serue himselfe even vpon all occasions In the former age of the World hee wrought and prevayled with Men by bringing in Errours of Mynde and Doctrines of Devils to seduce the Church But now the cleare light of the Gospell beeing come in and Knowledge abounding hee laboureth to bring in Errour of lyfe and depravitie of Conversation for that notwithstanding men know their Masters will yet they performe it not that all meanes possible ought to bee vsed for the Reformation of these so notorious and knowne Evills yea everie man to put a hand to this worke amongst the number of which I haue brought foorth this my poore Talent to the fartherance thereof that wee married Men may stryue yet with our Arch-enemie and through the assistance of GOD'S Spirit giue him the foyle even by showing our vpright duetie towardes our Wyues and our wyues towards vs in the true loue and feare of GOD. As for these contentious objectours and barkers agaynst the Moone I weygh not Shepheardes Cow-heardes and Clownes haue writen good thinges yea Divyne matters Why then may not I show my good will desiring no other Reward nor Thankes for my paynes but onlie good acceptance And so I goe forwardes to thE WoRke The Duetie of Husbands THE FIRST CHAPTER THis Duetie of Husbands is sayd to bee the first Degree which GOD gaue vnto Man after his creation for when