London an uncertain Capâ—icious Monster which had too little Courage and too many Heads And he was induced to hope that he should find better Terms from Fortune then from so Inconstant and Wilde a Beast He Marched forth accompanied by his Wife the Duke of Somerset and all the Body of his Party And doubtless if he had not made the more haste to get out the least that could happen was to be shut up in the Tower of London and to behold from thence the Coronation of his Rival and the same Applauses which were before given him by all the People Edward himself though newly Crowned did not trust to the new Affection of this People and did not believe himself sure of any thing if he had not Fortune and Victory on his side He followed Henry by long Marches And Henry facing about the Armies gave each other so rude and forcible a Shock as Thirty thousand men fell on the Place Henry being totally Defeated saved himself in Scotland with the Queen And the Queen whose Heart was still Armed and Couragious passed over into France from whence a while after she returned into Scotland with two thousand Men commanded by Brezel Seneschal of Normandy Henry strengthened by this Succour and that wherewith Scotland his new Ally furnished him returned again into England with more Right and Courage then good Success He was again Defeated by the Marquis of Montagne who Commanded King Edwards Forces And his Overthrow was so great that the Queen was enforced to save her self in a Wood with her Son the Prince of Wales The Event shewed that Fortune expected her there to offer her an Affront Not being able to overcome her Honourably and deprive her of Courage by a fair War she undertook to dispossess her of it by the hands of a Murtherer And peradventure she had been there Assassinated if Fortune had not meant to sport yet longer with her and reserve her for other Outrages It was no novelty with her to Dispoil a poor Queen It is her usual Pastime in all Countries and at all times And nothing is seen every where but Ransack't Kings nothing but denuded Princes nothing but Rich Men impoverished who complain of her Robberies But it hath not yet hapned that a King much less a Queen should be so unworthily Treated Certain Villains who found her in a by-corner drawn by the Dignity of her Countenance and the sparkling of her Jewels and Garments Robbed her with so little Compassion and used such Brutish Violence towards her that if any thing delivered her out of their Hands it was the Quarrel which arose amongst them about the division of the Spoil Whilst they were fighting the Queen whom all these frightful Faces and so many naked Swords could neither Terrifie nor Amaze took up the Prince her Son in her arms and cast her self with him into the thickest part of the Forrest Another was found there whom evidently Fortune had placed in Ambush to do her more Injury then all that she had already suffered But the Grace and Majesty nay the Afflicted Graces and half naked Majesty were for this once more Powerful then Fortune The Queen seeing him approach advanced with a stedfast pace and a Countenance of Authority And presenting to him her Son whom she carried said to him in Soveraign Words and with a Commanding â—one Friend receive from my hand the Son of thy King and the Heir of the Kingdom I give thee the whole State to be carryed with him save them both from Rebellion and Fortune which pursue them She said no more the Graces and Majesty spake the rest And what is wonderfull the Graces without Ornament and Majesty without a Crown and Precious stones humbled this Barbarous Fellow and perswaded him that it was a Queen who spake to him He took the little Prince into his Armes and going before the Queen guided her so happily through by-ways as he presently brought her to the Sea side Truly this was a strange Game of Fortune or to speak more Christianly it was a pleasing Spectacle to Providence to behold a Great Queen Grand childe to so many Kings a Fugitive half naked and straying in a Forrest like a Vagabond following on foot a Thief who alone served for her Querries and Guards who was all her Train and Court and in this deplorable Condition which begot pitty even in Barbarity it self to conserve her Hopes and Resignation and still bless Providence in whose â—ight she had been Despoiled As soon as she came to the Sea shore she put her self with her Son into a Fishermans Boat which carried her to Slâ—ce from thence she passed into France and Loâ—â—â—â—e And through all places where she passed she was shewn to the People as a Celebrious May-game of Fortune as a Rich piece of Shipwrack as a great Head fallen off from a great Collossus But though this great Head were fallen yet it remained Entire The Wind which threw it down had only displaced it And likewise after her Fall she kept the Dignity of her former Features and the Majesty of her Countenance Edward also feared her more thus Fugitive and Devested as she was then he did all the House of Lancaster Supported by all Scotland and by an entire Moâ—eâ—e of England She raised all the money she could in France and repass'd the Sea under the Conduct of the Earl of Warwick who Irritated by the Attempt Edward had made upon the Chastity of his Daughter released Henry out of that Prison into which he had cast himself out of the Impatience he had to return into his Kingdom before his time and in a disguised Habit. This second Voyage of the poor Queen was not more Fortunate then the first she Arrived not in England but to be present at the Defeat of her Son and at the punishment of her Husband Her Son was overthrown in his first Advance and perished in the Battel of Teâ—xbury Her Husband was strangled in the Tower of London and had the Duke of Glacester for his Executioner As for the Queen Edward Confined her to a Prison where her Courage and Constancy Acted their last Part which was no less painfull then the former though done with less Noise and in Repose And it lasted till her Father King 〈◊〉 sent fifty thousand Crowns for her Ransom which set her at Liberty For my own part I could not close this Gallery with the Picture of a more Gallant and Couragious more Active and Patient more Resplendent or Exemplar Vertue You may finde Instruction there both for Low and High Conditions for Prosperous and Afflicted Fortunes for Men as well as Women Such as are upon the Earth and in the Low Story of the World will learn from hence to Content themselves with the Repose and Security of a mean Fortune which is not subject to Agitations and Falls and not to Affect Tumult and Storms which pass over their Heads Such as remain in the high Region will learn
LA GALERIE DES FEMMES FORTES THE GALLERY OF Heroick Women Written in French by PETER LE MOYNE of the Society of JESVS Translated into English by the MARQUESSE OF VVINCHESTER LONDON Printed by R. NORTON for HENRY SEILE over against S. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet M.DC.LII The Translators Address to the Ladies of this Nation LADIES ME Thinks I see your curious Eyes advancing apace to behold this Noveltie this fair Gallery of Heroick Women first erected in France to the Honour and instruction of your Sex and now transported into England upon the same Account These Gallant Heroesses repaired first from all the Regions of History to the Court of France to lay down their Crowns at the Queen Regents Feet This Ceremonie and Duty performed they had a desire to passe the Sea and inform themselves of the condition and state of this Island And finding no Queen here to whom they might render the same obedience they resolved to address themselves to you hoping to finde amongst such noble Company some Ladies who resemble them at least in part of their Vertues if not in all A Voyage of this Nature deserves the best Entertainment And the most sumptuous Feast you can set forth to such illustrious Guests in acknowledgement of the Honour they have done you by this Visit will be the pure oblation of your Hearts inflamed with a desire to follow their Glorious steps and imitate their Exemplar Vertues The conversation of such brave women cannot chuse but be most delightful and instructive to you and some of your hours I assure my self will be well imployed in giving a serious Attention to the Stories of their renowned Actions and in reflecting chiefly on the examples of those Christan Heroesses who beautifie this rich Structure and contribute most to your Imitation Their gallantry is so perfect as you need not doubt but they will gladly suffer your noble Hands to take some Flowers out of their Garlands which if well applyed Crowns may be formed on them and one day placed upon your Heads by some worthy Person of our Countrey who taking notice of your Vertuous Carriages and improved Actions in this land of trial may hereafter erect a new Gallery in which your Statues and Names will remain a Spectacle of Honour and Imitation to Posterity I need say no more having given you sufficient matter of Emulation It is powerful in all great souls and observed to be particularly grafted in your Sex I will not then detain you any longer from entring into this resplendent Gallery but open the Doâ—r to you by this little tribute of Respect rendred to your fair Hands by Your most Humble Servant WINCHESTER The Authors Panegyrical Address to the Queen Regent MADAM THE Heroick Women assembled in this Gallery are come from all parts of History to lay down their Crowns at your Majesties Feet and to congratulate in common the Honour you have rendred to your Sex True it is Madam that all the Eyes of Europe are now fix'd on you And there are no Mouths so little Christian and so much ingaged elsewhere which do not seriously and sincerely applaud you However Madam I may say that the Company I present unto you will bring no confusion to the Feast They are Soveraign and Illustrious Women who have been like your self the choicest objects of their Ages They are Victorious Persons whom Vertue and Glory have Crowned with their own Hands And this must needs be a sweet satisfaction to you that so many Soveraign and Illustrious Women have descended from their Thrones and Theaters to become your Spectators The Sound and Acclamations of so many Heroesies who applaud you with their Hands cannot chuse but be a pleasing harmony to your Ears The chief thing Madam is that these Applauses are no Stage Representations that these Acclamations are no constrained or purchased Flatteries They are serious and legitimate Tributes which the vanquished pay to their Victress And you have vanquished them with so much Grace and Justice the Advantages you have over them are so charming and your emulation hath been so modest as there is not one amongst them who is not thankful and well pleasing with your Victory This Victory Madam so acceptable to the Vanquished is intirely Yours It is not of your Regency It is of your whole Person And though it be Peaceable and free from blood yet it is not inferiour to those tumultuary and bloudy Victories you have gained in the generall distemper of all Europe It is certainely your great glory to have overcome on the Rhein on the two Seas beyond the Alps and the Pyrenean Mountains But your Glory Madam is much greater by having ouercome in Histories and Annals in Heroick Ages and in the Region of great Examples And what noise soever is made by the Arm 's of France the Reputation of your Vertue Victorious over the Artemisias the Radaguna's and Pantbea's is far more illustrious and resplendent then the renown of your Fortune victorious over so many defeated Armies and reduced Fortresses I need not fear that any one will accuse me of flattery or reproach my words with hyperbolicall Excesse Heathen Vertues were never of the force or stature of Christian Vertues and amongst these later yours Madam are the most Vigorous and eminent they are Heroick and Soveraign Your Piety indeed is of another Elevation and Zeal then their affected shews of Devotion who limit to the circle of their Beads who referre all their Meditations to the modesty of their dresse and to a few tears squeezed out by force Your Piety amuseth not its self in making smoak in the house of God and trafficking with him by consuming Tapers and evaporating Perfumes It draws from the bottom of your heart the fire Incense and Victime of the Sacrifices it offers to his Divine Majesty And which is more acceptable to him then all the Gums of Land and Sea which is more pleasing to him then the bloud of slaughtered flocks it presents unto him the Contrition of a Soveraign heart the Humility of a Crowned head and the abasement and adoration of a humiliated and religious Authority This private Worship and these domestique Sacrifices make not her whole imployment she hath other more generall Practises and other Exercises exposed to the eyes of the world These Practises are Instructions which equall the worth of Laws And these Exercises are Examples which command She refers her particular devotions to the edification of the People She Prayes and Meditates for an infinity of Souls And the Propagation of Faith the Defence of the Church the safety of the Kingdom the Peace and Tranquillity of the whole Christian World are the points of her Meditation and the scope of her Prayers Publick persons ought thus to meditate and pray for the Publick Their Devotion should be a devotion of Order and their Zeal a zeal of Discipline They cannot vow any thing better then wholesome Laws and good Examples not any thing more holy then
part it is to loosen the soul from abject things and elevate it to God This elevation also being 〈◊〉 well undertaken and made without deviation is able alone to strengthen the minde and sufficeth without other Philosophie for all the duties of courage First all the Actions of life being subjected thereby to the eternal Law and applyed to soveraign Justice and to the essential and primitive Rule receive from thence an equal and constant evennesse and a â—ectitude incapable of deviation or infringement Secondly the soul approaching to God by this elevation and consequently illuminated by his â—â—ght and instructed in the orders established in the World by that Providence which governs it doth not repiningly and with frowardnesse receive that part of events which is assigned her she accomodates herself by degrees to the rules of this vast Family into which she is entred she performs her part of the consort and contributes at least her resignation to the designe of the great Workman and to the general harmonie of his Work Concerning Hazard and Fortune knowing very well that they are but Figures which Errour hath painted and set up and that none but Children and Ideots regard them she equally deâ—ides their favours and their threats And whatsoever happens to her of good or ill she receiveth it with the same satisfaction of Mind and acknowledgeth therein the care and goodness of the Father who sends it her Thirdly the soul is purified by this elevation and disburdens herself of matter And the neerer this elevation approaches her to God the stronger and more vigorous she is the purity also which she receives thereby is more exact and her disingagement more perfect she is thereby lesse capable of material passions and can raise her self to such a degree and unite herself so close and straightly to the first spirit that being made one spirit with him she forgets the allyance and interest of her body and assists indifferently and as a stranger to its sorrows and joyes In fine the Soul brought back by this elevation to the spring of life and led into the entrance of Eternity which is promised her learns to contemn these little Moments which roll within the Circle of time and mark out to every one the space and length of his life And so far is she from apprehending Death or being affrighted at the sight of its terrible Arms that she looks upon it as her Deliverer as that which was to break her Chainâ— and loosen her from the wheel of revolutions and human viâ—issitudes The Synagogue in its declining Age had in Salomona an Example of this Religious Fortitude The Church in her beginning had the like in S. Felicitas who was a Roman Salomona and who of seven Sons which God had given her and by her restored to him made seven Christian Maccabees In these last Ages in which Schismatical Tyrants have succeeded Idolatrous ones and unbridled and furious Heresie hath fought against the Church and Faith There hath been plenty of Heroick Women who have given examples of theâ—â— Fortitude and Religion Behold here one of Note and chosen amongst our Neighbours where we shall see a Woman an Exhortresse not of her Children but of her Father a Martyr A Woman above interest and Nature and equally victorious over Fortune and Death EXAMPLE Margaret Moor the Daughter of Sir Thomas Moor Lord Chancellor of England THere is no Person who hath not heard some Discourse of the Birth of the Schism in England and who knows not the Cruelties which followed that Incestuous and Tragical Love and that fatal Malice which of a Prostitute made a Queen and of an excommunicated Lay-man of a rotten and mutilated Member made a Soveraign Prelate without Unction and Order a Schismatical and Monstrous Head The Lord Chancellour Moor was one of the first and most noble Victims Immolated to Aâ—â—e of Bullen and to the Schism which was born of this unfortunate Marriage King Henry omitted no kinde of Temptation to gain this learned and wise old man who was grown white in the Service of the State and had spent fourty Years to the Honour of his Countrey and Time But all his temptations proved weak and his Offers as well as his Threats returned back to him without effect The Chancellor was stronger then all the Engins which were prepared against him the Prayers and Tears of his afflicted and mourning Kindred were not able to move him The Engins and Rage of an inflamed and furious Tyranny could not alter his resolution He had a Daughter called Margaret who was no lesse the Daughter of his Spirit then of his Body He had formed her with his Tongue and polished her with his Pen He had imprinted in her by degrees and in divers Figures the Flower of his Learning and the Spiritual part of his Soul And he that shall represent to his imagination an exact Graver and jealous of the perfection of his Work who should spend Dayes and Nights about some rare piece of Marble which he designes for one of the Muses or Graces will have a right imagination of the Cares and Assiduity which this good Father had shewn in the instruction of this excellent Daughter His Cares also proved successeful and his Assiduity was very fortunate And if it be a common saying that Books are the Children of their Authors one may well say that this Daughter was the most learned and polished Book which issued from the Minde of Sir Thomas Moor. His Vtopia and other Works which still live are but in one Language and of one matter That other Piece was both Greek and Latine Prose and Verse full of Philosophie and Historie Of all the Family of Sir Thomas Moor there was scarce any but this Woman learned and couragious who went not along with the Time not was pliable to Interest She was singularly beloved of her Father and a few Words of her Mouth accompanied with as many Tears would have battered him more dangerously then all the suborned Ministers of Henry and all the Engins of Schism Neverthelesse these so powerful words and these forcible Tears which might have shaken him were all imployed to confirm him Friendship and Tenderness fortified his â—aith and gave Courage to his Constancie And the Piety of the Daughter added to the Zeal of the Father and finished his Martyrdom Sir Thomas Moor being Prisoner in the Tower of London where he was visited by God alone and had commerce with none but the Muses which suffered with him his Couragious Margaret caused a forged Letter to be spread abroad in which she feignedly seemed willing to gain him to the Kings Will and procured leave by this innocent and charitable deceit both to see and serve him Being received into the Tower she left at the gate with the person she had taken upon her the resentments of Nature and the weaknesse of her Sex and entred with the pure Spirit of Christianity and with a couragious Faith prepared for the Combat
But let no man believe that there is a pride and presumption in this Science That it is one of those which turn the brain and cause Convulsions in the minde Let no man take it for a Mass of indisgested and tumultuary Notions for a collection of Fables and Histories learnt by roat It is Modest and Civil with vigour It is solid without ostentation and rudeness It conduceth to the conduct of life and the regulation of manners And it wants nothing of that which may give imployment and adress to the Muses Comeliness and Ornament to the Graces And of these two rare and learned Persons there may be made an illustrious Demonstration concerning the Capacity of Women And by the same reason that heretofore it hath been said that Athens was the Greece of Greece one may well say in reference to them that the House of 〈◊〉 is the Court of the Court I do not say of the interressed ambitious and corrupted Court I say of the ingenious and spiritual of the Gallant and Modest Court Nevertheless whatever I have said it is not my intention to summon Women to the Colledge I intend not to make Graduats of them nor convert their Needles and Distaffs into Astrolabes and Sphears I bear too much respect to the bounds which fever us And my question is only in order to what they may and not unto what they ought in the condition wherein things have been placed whether by the Order of Nature or by an immemorable Custom and as old as Nature her self But surely as I would not hold with those who should perform in their Closets all the Exercises and Functions of a Colledge Who should discourse only in Enthymema's and Syllogisms And should have nothing in their heads but the Ideas of Plato and the Atoms of Epicurus So cannot I sufficiently praise those which put themselves under the Discipline of that other practical and active Philosophy which illuminates the minde with her lights and fortifies it with her principles which establisheth Decency in Manners and Stability in Life which adjusts all Conditions and all Fortunes to her rules First if there be a question concerning Capacity it cannot be brought in dispute in relation to them Some have been found amongst them who have followed as close as any man the most sublime and speculative Philosophy who have run through all that may be open to Humane reason and have been more eminent then Sâ—â—rates and Plato and more ancient then Aristotle and Theophrastes Moreover this practical Philosophy is not of an unknown Country nor out of the Common Road It is not needful to have the wings and sight of an Eagle to approach her one may go thither a foot-pace and from all the Regions of the World from all the degrees of State and from all the orders of life She hath Disciples that are Soveraigns and Disciples that are Slaves And in her Schools King and Subject Rich and Poor Master and Servant have their assigned places according to the diversity of their Conditions and the difference of their Offices Besides the perfection of this Philosophy is not cumbersom nor subject to disorder She allowes all other Lawful professions and accommodates her self to all degrees of Fortune she gives Lessons for affairs and for the whole world she gives them also for repose and solitude And to learn these Lessons it is not necessary that a Woman should abandon the managing of her houshold affairs That she should be divorced from her Husband that she should renounce honest Pleasures and Civil Society That she should shut her self up in a Chamber hung with Maps and furnished with Sphears and Astrolabes Let us add that Moral Philosophy hath been given us to order our Passions to distinguish our Duties and Offices to teach the exercises of Vertue to guide us as by the hand to Beatitude And have not Womens Passions need of a Governess as well as Ours May they not be mistaken in their Offices and Duties Are they born so well instructed and perfect that they can learn Vertue without a Lesson or Method Are they so happy that they can attain to Be atitude by their own address and without a guid The injustice would be then extream to deprive them of this Philosophy the Governess of Passions the Mistress of Vertues and the necessary Guide for all those that pretend to Beatitude In fine Women as well as we are to defend themselves against the Gifts and Outrages of Fortune They are apt to Swellings and Convulsions which follow good and bad Accidents And no man hath a head so naturally strong that be can bear Prosperity without the Vertigo or Adversity without fainting and weakness Ought we to expect that Women should be preserved from all these infirmities by the meer strength of their Constitution that their heads should not turn round upon the top of the Wheel and amidst the perfumes of good Fortune that their hearts should not change their seats when they themselves shall change their Posture and that those hearts should stand after their owners fall There is no Constitution so well prepar'd nor of so good a temper from which this Constancy and Equality ought to be expected without the help of Moral Philosophy And therefore we must conclude that Philosophy is not only neither against the Decorum nor beyond the capacity of the second Sex but that she is an Ornament and a necessary support to it and that neither good nor gallant Women can be formed but according to the Designes and by the Rules of Morality All the vertuous and magnanimous Women which we admire in History have been modelled according to these Designes and compleated by these Rules We have known and do know also some who have the same features and are composed after the same manner And if I did not fear that some might accuse me of Flattery and Affectation I would here manifest that France hath at this time her Cornelia's and Porâ—â—â—s her 〈◊〉 and her 〈◊〉 But let us yield obedience to the Wise-man who forbids us to praise living Vertues And let us end this Dispute by an Example within the Memory of our Fathers in which we shall behold a learned Princess overcoming with an equal Courage both the temptations of good and the outrages of bad Fortune and by a more then Stoical Constancy bearing upon a Scaffold the same countenance which she had born upon a Throne EXAMPLE Of Jane Gray of Suffolk Queen of England HEnry the Eight being dead stain'd with the blood of those Martyrs which he had made and amidst the Ruines of the Church of England which he had overthrown Edward the Son of Scymer his third Wife succeeded to his Crown and Dominions But as there is no Seed so unhappy nor of so short a durance as that of wicked men so the Excommunication and Curse which had been Fulminated against the Father being fallen upon the Son this poor Prince died before he knew well how
to live And by a Will which he made through the perswassions of Dudley Duke of Northumberland Jane Gray was declared his Heir It may be said without detraction that this Will was dictated by Ambition But it may also be said without flattery that it was made in savour of the Graces and Vertues to the advantage of the Sciences and Muses And the Crown of England could not be placed upon a more beautiful head or which could do it more Honour then that of the Lady Iane. She was born with those Attractives and Charmes which seat a kinde of Soveraignty upon the face of the most beautiful Persons and which give a Natural Unction to them and a Diadem without gold or precious stones Her minde was endued with far more soveraign Attractives and with Charms of far greater force then her face And these native and adorning Graces were accompanied with other acquired and profitable ones which much increased their value and gave them a second tincture of goodness and a new lustre She spake both Greek and Latine as if she had been of Athens and Rome she had an exact knowledge of the Liberal Sciences and perfectly understood both kinds of Philosophy But that which is more to be esteemed then all her Philosophy more thâ—n all these Sciences and Tongues is that during the Raign of Vice and Liberty in the time of Henry the Eighth and after the scandal of Anne of Bullen she was possessed with the Modesty and Vertue of these blessed dayes when England was called the Country of Angels Nevertheless we must speak the truth All these so rare and highly pâ—â—â—ed qualities were not considered in the Will which was made in favour of Iane. Edward died as weak as he had lived He abandoned his last Testament to the will of the Duke of Northumberland as he had done all the rest and the Duke abused him in his death as he had done in his youth This ambitious Minister of State not being content with having Raigned without a Crown by the toleration of his Master to whom he had left but a specious Regality and a coloured Dignity perceiving a gate open by which Iane who was married to the Lord Guilford his fourth son might bring the Crown into his House he undertook to take it from the Kings sister and to set it upon her Head either by Right or Force To this effect he besieges the minde of this poor Prince already spent with his sickness and disquiered at the presence of death He was made believe that he could not in Conscience call to the Succession either Mary the daughter of Katherine of Aragon or Elizabeth daughter of Anne of Bullen He alledgeth against the first that being cut off the Royal Family by the Divorce of her Mother she could not be restored to it without condemning the Memory of the deceased King and without giving Credit and Authority to the Roman Tyranny He opposed against the other that being stained with the Adulteries and the punishment of her Mother she would fully the Honour and Dignity of the Crown if she had but touchd it From thence he concludes that Iane Gray descended from Henry the seventh by Mary heretofore Queen of France being the last drop of Royal blood which was sound yet pure and without stain he could not make another Heir without casting Fire into the Royal Family The Declaration was made for these reasons in favour of lane The Councel of four and twenty approve it notwithstanding the opposition of the Archbishop of Canterbury And two dayes after the King rendring up his soul Iane is declared Queen of England Her Father the Duke of Suffolk and the Duke of Northumberland Father to her Husband went to acquaint her with this news and prepare her to receive chearfully so great a Fortune This Fortune was the first dangerous Temperess against which Iane had need of Inspirations and helps from Philosophy And here it will be confessed that one ought to be supported by Philosophy That one ought to have a heart extreamly good and a strong head peece not to fall into a Trance at such news Reason ought to be very clear and the understanding very pure to recive without amazement so sudden and surprising a vapour I might also apprehend that I should not be believed but rather accused of an Hyperbole if I said that Iane received one of the greatest Crowns of the World with the same Moderation as if she had received a Posie of Violets Regality is not a present to be taken with heaviness and a negligent hand It is a kinde of humane Deification It is the 〈◊〉 between God and Man And even the Philosophers and Sages I mean austere Philosophers and unbyassed Sages have in all times esteemed it so much that Pythagâ—ras and Zeno the Patriarks of Stoicks and the most zealous Preachers of Indolence and Aspirity seeing themselves not called to Soveraignty by Fortune and not knowing how to attain to it by a straight and lawful way were so bold as to use violence and aspire to it by Tyrannie However I will not descend from so high a proposition I intend to go yet higher and will rise to something which is more eminent and more Heroick Iane would have received at least civilly and with thanks a Posie of Violets She absolutely refused the Crown of England And this so gallant and generous a refusal proceeded from a more Stoical soul then that of Zeno from a more Philosophical heart then that of Pythagoras Not that she did not well understand the value of this Crown which she refused Nor was she affrighted with so resplendent a Fortune as she would have been terrified by a luminous Fantosme presented before her eyes But she knew also that there was Weight and Thornes in this Crown And this Fortune with all its Glory and all these Charms did not tempt her not appeared to her so lovely as Justice Tranquility or Philosophy Solicited by the Supplications and Reasons of her Kindred and Husband who press'd her to consent to her greatness and not to reject a Felicity which is rare and never presents it self twice to the same Gate She answered t hat the Laws of the Kingdom and Natural right standing for the Kings Sisters she would beware of burthening her Head and Conscience with a Yoke which did belong to them that she understood the Infamy of those who had permitted the violation of Right to gain a Crown But it were to mock God and deride Justice to scruple at the stealing of a shilling and not at the Usurpation of a Crown Besides went she on I am not so young nor so little read in the guiles of Fortune to suffer my self to be taken by them If she inrich any one it is but to make him the subject of her spoil If she raise others it is but to please her self with their ruins What she adored but yesterday is to day her pastime And if I now
to seek thy Freedom it expects thee there Gold is as hard as Iron A blow from these Vessels may as well break thy Chain in pieces as the stroke of a Sword and if thou art well resolved to dye there are Rocks for thee there is a Precipice at the corner of this Table God will pardon necessity and excuse so just a Violence He hath heretofore Inspired Crowned the like And the Church Honours those Saints which drowned themselves to purchase Salvation who have ascended into Heaven by a Precipice But what am I that attribute Inspirations to my self and rank my self amongst the Saints From whom have I learned to discern Spirits aâ—d their Motions Do I know of what colour that Spirit is who sollicites me And if he be a Spirit of Imposture and indisguise If what I take for Zeal be Despair Whither will this Despair carry me and under the Conduct of this Spirit of Imposture but to the Unhappy end of the Foolish Virgines Let us leave Uncertainty to the Providence of God since he is a Jealous God he will take into his care the Honour of his Spouses And if heretofore he deprived Fire of Heat and suspended the hunger of Lyons well may he extinguish if he please the Ardour of the Tyrant and suspend his Concupiscence This Resolution was followed with a Prayer which came more from her heart then her lips and into which there entred more Faith then Words However she was quickly interrupted by the Euâ—aâ—chs who came to bring her to Mahomet whose new Passion could allow him no Repose The contempt of his Captive had incensed him it troubled him that amongst the Ruins and Ashes of a Sack'd Town any thing should be found more powerful then his Victory greater and more sublime then his Fortune And he would not have it said that a Maid nay an Unarm'd and Inchained Maid had held out against him after the taking of so many places after the Defeat of so many Fleets and Armies Nevertheless he tempered himself in her Presence and renewed to her the same Promises augmented with boundless and unreserved Additions But this second Battery shook her as little as the former and as the Tyrant prepared himself to add Violence to his Promises the Couragious Maid put him back with a fierceness both in Countenance and Action which manifested that she was able to hold out against his Violence as against his Promises and that he could neither gain her by Composition nor Force It is very true that Love is Impatient and Stately upon Crowned Heads that it is soft and easily wounded in hearts accustomed to Overcome The Heart of Mahomet being mortally wounded by this Action gave way to Anger which is never more Furious or Terrible then when it comes in the Rear of a Potent Love And Mahomet Transported with this second Passion laid his hand upon his Cymeter and with one blow Crowned the Captive broke her Chain and struck off her Head This Victory was not in the time of the Primitive Church yet it is no less Illustrious then those of that Age. Mahomet the Conquerour was as Redoutable as Nero the Esseminate and his Tent was a Field of Battel no less dangerous then an Amphitheater Ladies ought to learn from hence that Heroick Chastity hath her Enthusiasms and Raptures And these Enthusiasms and Raptures ought to master all Fears and Hopes These Raptures ought to surmount all that is both Delightful and Terrifying But they ought never to Precipitate her if the Holy Ghost doth not transport her and if she be not excited by a Forreign Violence MARIE Stuart Reyne d'Escosse seussre le Martyre pour la Foy et par la constance 〈…〉 temps les exemples de l'ancienne Eâ—hse 〈…〉 Mary Stewart YOu will scarce believe what you are going to see And what testimony soever your eyes render to the truth of this Tragical Spectacle you will give them more then once the lye and suspect something of Illusion or Imposture Truly a holy Criminal and an executed Queen is a strange Fantome And it is a more prodigious thing then all the Prodigies in Fables to see three Kingdoms dishonoured upon a Scaffold To see a Head which hath born two Crowns laid under the Ax of an Executioner The Tragedy is not only Inhumane but Monstrous And yet England applauds this horrid Act which will be deplored by all Europe Mary heretofore Queen of France and at present Queen of Scotland goes to die upon a Scaffold after she was grown old in Prison Insolent and furious Heresie respects in this fair Head neither Regality which is a kinde of visible and commanding Divinity nor Beauty which is a Soveraignty by naturall Rights and a Domination without violence And what the most Barbarous Antiquity may not perchance have ever seen what the most credulous Posterity will peradventure never believe all the Vertues and Graces are violated in her Person and condemned to the same Punishment She goes couragiously to it and with a Countenance which bears still the mark of her Dignity and the Declaration of her Innocence She preserved them both after the loss of her Kingdom and Liberty and Fortune which deprived her of her Subjects and is going to deprive her of Life cannot deprive her Heart of Soveraignty nor her Looks of Authority They are not fastned to Her they are born with Her and create a Majesty independent on a Crown and Purple And thereby she will be no less a Queen upon a Scaffold then she hath been upon a Throne You do not behold in her those fair Rayes of Beauty and Youth which were heretofore the splendor and spectacle of the Loâ—vre which were the joy and serenity of all France But at least you see her not dejected by her mishap nor obscured by her bad Fortune Her greatness appears all entire now that the steps and footstool are taken from her And if her lights were then more pleasing and lively those at present are more vigorous and less apt to be extinguished Her Adversities have not only fortified but rendred her far greater and the Admirers of her Beauty who heretofore called her the Sun of the North and the Planet of the Sea did not foresee that her Vertue would resemble the Sun and Planets which appear greater through a Mist then in a most pure serenity and without a Cloud Her white Haires which you see are not occasioned by Age they proceed from Afflictions and Persecutions They are caused by unkind Kindred and bad Subjects They come from Elizabeth and her Ministers And if this be very unworthy it is little less strange that so beautifull a Head should grow white before its time under so many hands imployed to darken it But this whiteness is no dishonour to her nor lessens any thing of her Grace Innocence and VVisdom are of this colour And even Majesty it self is seen sometimes adorned thereby and rendred more Venerable and August Would you believe that
the Sixt King of England and by this Marriage the Truce was continued between two Neighbors the greatest Enemies in the whole World the most jealous of each other The poor Princess did not long enjoy the Repose she give to the Publike and it hapned to her as to Victims which bear the Sorrows of the People for whom they are Sacrificed The Nuptials were Celebrated at Nancy with great Preparations of Carâ—ousels and Tournaments according to the Mode of the 〈◊〉 of that time who were only acquainted with Valiant and Manly Delights with Pastimes which equalled Battels and produced 〈◊〉 Victories Wherein surely to speak this by the way they were more Cavaliers and Men at Arms then those of our days who know no other 〈◊〉 then Racing nor other Tournaments then Dancing who have â—ffeminated Magnificence and taken away from Sports and Divertiâ—ements all that they had of Noble and Military Margaret being passed into England found not there the same Sweetness and Tranquility she had left in France Not that she was one of those ill lodgâ—d Persons who have always either Rain or Smoak in their Houses And Her Marriage was none of those Tyrannical Yoaks and Torturing Chains which a certain Person wished to his Enemy instead of a Gibbet and â—alter She enjoyed at Home a most pure Calm and without Confusion and her Marriage felt nothing Heavy or Incommodious The King her Husband had all the Qualities of a good Man and a good Prince But being born under a very Contagious Constellation and of a very Malâ—volent Influence the Queen his Wife failed not to he involved therein and to have her share of the Poison and bad Fortune She patiently received all that fell upon her Besides she joyned Grace with Patience And being induâ—d with a pleasing Humour and a Gallant Spirit she made Answer to such as lamented her Condition That having taken upon her Marriage Day the Rose of England she ought to bear it intire and with all it s I horns Moreover King Henry had a great inclination to Repose and no Aversion to Pleasure The Mildness and Indifferency of his Spirit did not Correspond with the Functions of Regality which required Courage and Resolution Noise and Stirs made him wâ—y his Head and when things were in his own choice he contented himself to have Ease and Repose for his part and left to his Favourites and Ministers of State the Authority with the Trouble and Affairs with the Tumult This Soft and Slothful Life afflicted the Queen who had a High and Active Spirit Noble and Manly Thoughts and a Head as Capable to fill a Crown as any Prince of Her Time Not that she did not affect the Repose of her Husband and wished him his Hearts Content But her Love being Magnanimous and of the Complection of her Heart she would have rather liked in him a Glorious Activeness and accompanied with Dignity then this stupid Repose and these mis-becoming Eases which Dishonoured him Truly this Prince though otherwise good was not beloved by his Subjects And his Reputation bore the brunt of all the Faults of his Favourites and Ministers of State The Revolt of the Grandees the Seditions of the People the Mutinâ—es of the Mayor of London who was then a Popular Soveraign and a King of the third Estate and generally all the Disorders of his Kingdom were cloaked with this Pretence All these Commotions grieved the Queen But they did not affright her She hastned still with the first to the most wavering Places and where Power and Authority might stop any Disorder Her principal Effort was upon the Kings Spirit She continually represented to him and with Pressing and Efficacious Terms that the Repose of Kings consisted not in the softness of their Bed but in the stability of their Thrones That the Throne could not be secure if Esteem and Authority do not Support it And that Esteem which ariseth from Action and Authority which grows from Courage are lost by Sloth and Softness that Affairs are truly very ponderous but that this Weight procures the Stability of Affairs And that there could be nothing more Fickle and Tottering then a King who discharges himself of all that lies heavy upon him That it were to Act a very bad part to play the Titulâ—r King and to Reign by Agents and Deputies That Authority Substituted and out of its Place is weak and without vigour And the Scepter which hath Force and begets respect in the Hand of a Prince is easily broken in the hands of a Subject and Resembles a Scepter in a Play These and other like Remonstrances accompanied with the Eloquence of Beauty and the Perswasion of Love Fortified the Kings Spirit and made him take a firm Resolution to Reign for the Future without a Substitute and to Act of himself He Resumed that Authority which he had conâ—erred on his Uncle Hâ—â—pâ—â—y Duke of Glocester And he called back all Affairs to his own Conduct And thereby it appeared how Imployments Protect those whom they burthen And how Authority Supports and Settles those whom it Loads The poor Duke of Glocester was no sooner put out of Office and Authority but his Enemies which before did not so much as shake him did now overthrow him And within a short time after his â—all he was strangled in Prison by a Sudden and Illegâ—l â—â—â—cution The Faction of the White Rose which could not endure the Odour of the â—lower de â—uâ—e and beheld with regret a French Woman so absolute in England â—ailed not to charge her with the Contrivance of this Death Andâ—while after the Danger of Richard Earl of Warwick who was Assaulted neer London by the Kings Guards and thrust into the Tâ—ames gave Occasion and Authority to this Calumny The â—arl of Salisbury his Father and Richard Duke of York Head of the White Rose made thereupon several Manifests by Word of Mouth and Published in the Country and Cities that this piece was devised by the Queen who had undertaken to cut off the Arms of England and to deprive it with its best â—lood both of Strength and Spirit to the end she might deliver it up to France That she began not her Work amiss And that if the end of the Enterprise should Correspond with the beginning if the Great Ones did not look better to themselves then the Duke of Glocester and the Earl of Warwick had done in a short time not one drop of good Blood not one single Noble part would be left in the Body of the State The good Queen was very far from entring into these Tragical Thoughts And though she truly wished Authority and Power to the King her Husband yet she did not wish him such an Authority as might be hated and lamented not sâ—ch a Power as might cause Desolation and Ruines Besides less was it in her Thoughts to procure the Destruction of that â—ree upon which she her self was Grafted And if she bore much Affection to the Stem of
her Race which was in France she had much more for its Flower and Fruit which were in England She opposed nothing to these Rumors but the voice of her own Conscience which spake lowder then Calumny and justified her before God against the Impostures of Men. Nevertheless Calumny found so much Matter prepared to take Fire and blew so hotly and effectually upon this Matter as it grew into a great â—lame which was like to burn all England if France had known how to entertain it and make Advantage of this Occasion and Disorder The Accident befallen the Earl of Warwick and the new Authority of the Duke of Somerset served for a Pretence to Ambition and were the Specious and Superficial Causes of the War The Duke of York accompanied by the Earl of Salisbury and followed by all the Faction of the White Rose raised a powerful Army and ordered it to march directly to London The King took the Field on his part with the Party of the Red Rose and with all the Forces he could draw together The Battel was Fought at Northampton And God who is not pleased that just Right should always prevail and that Fortune should follow Vertue every where permitted the Royal Army to be Defeated and the King himself to be taken Prisoner by the Rebels The Duke of York grown insolent by his Victory brought him in Triumph to London and caused him to be shut up in the Tower Seeing himself secured on that side he put off his Mask of colourable Pretences wherewith he began the War And Represented to the Parliament the double Right his House and Fortune gave him to the Crown Force in like Occasions is a powerful Piece and Victory an Eloquent Advocate However the Parliament yielded not wholly to Force and Victory It respected the Vanquished Right and durst not Degrade Majesty though devested and loaden with Chains The Resolution of the Parliament was that during the Life of Henry the Duke should rest satisfied with the Title and Functions of Lieutenant General of the Kingdom and that the Crown should pass by Succession to his Son Edward Earl of Maâ—â—â—â— to the Exclusion of the House of Lancaster A greater Affliction could not befall the Queen she saw her Enemies upon the Throne the King her Husband in Prison and under the hands of an Executioner the Prince her Son publikely Degraded and Excluded from the Crown by a Solemn Decree All that could have Supported her in this Revolution was either fallen or tottering And except her Courage and Hopes which Fortune was not able to cast down there was nothing about her but Shipwrack'd pieces of a ruined Greatness But afflicted Vertue doth not waste her self in outcryes and tearing her hair She knows how to Discipline Affliction and animate Grief she knows how to set together broken pieces and contest with Ruins The Couragious Queen made this use of it And instead of exhausting her self by vain Complaints and Superfluous Tears Instead of Imputing her Mishap to the Planets or accusing Fortune she thought to overcome in Despite of the Planets and Fortune and began to Levy new Troops To supply the Defect of Money which she wanted the grace of her Speech and Countenance served in lieu of Pay to the Souldiers And this Honourable Payment left a sting in the most benummed Souls and infused Boldness into the most Fearful Not believing that she might handsomly commit to Lieutenants an Affair which concerned the Freedom of the King her Husband and the Destiny of her House she resolved to take part in the Danger and attempt in Person against Fortune She put her self then in the Head of her Army and marched directly to York where the Forces of the Enemy were Encamped England never saw an Army which had a more Beautiful Leader Noâ— did it ever see any one Fight with more Courage The Duke of York who Mustered above Ten thousand Men perswading himself that he might purchase a young Queen at a cheap Rate went to meet her against the advice of his Commanders and presently exposed the Business to a general Battel It cannot be express'd what the Queen effected by the Greatness and Courage of her Words by the fire of her Eyes by the boldness of her Looks and of her whole Person She infused Courage Ardour and Impetuosity into her People She seemed to give even Sense Activity and Address to their Weapons If Victory her self had Marched before them in the Equipage and Lightnings which our Imagination ascribe to her she could not have done more The Rebels received a total Overthrow The Duke of York taken with his Son the Earl of Rutland and the Earl of 〈◊〉 passed through the hands of the Executioner Their Heads were exposed upon the Walls of York on the point of three Spears To the end the Example might make a greater shew and be the more Famous and that Rebellion might be instructed afar off and with the more Terrour A Crown of Paper begitting the Dukes Head was the particular Mark and Punishment of his vain Pretensions This first Victory raised the Queens Heart without Impriding it And the new Greatness she added to it was a Solid and Modest Greatness a Greatness of Designs and Hopes and no puffed up and vain-glorious Greatness Not being able to think her self Victorious as long as the King her Husband remained a Prisoner she resolved to pass through all Dangers to break open his Prison or expire at the Gate This Resolution taken she steers her course towards London Meets the Earl of Warwick who led a gallant Army and augmented by the Defeat of the Earl of 〈◊〉 Couragiously Attaquâ—s and Routs him enters London Crowned with two Victories draws her Husband out of the Tower and replaceth him upon the Throne with the general Applause of the People Certainly if there be no Victories so pleasing as those which are blessed by the Unhappy and whereat Captives rejoyce even in their Prisons and â—â—ons surely it was with a sweet and pleasing Transport that this Victorious Princess broke her Husbands Chains drew him out of Prison and replaced the Crown upon his Head And whatever is said in order to the Glory of Ancient Triumphants though they entred Rome with more Pomp and Tumult yet certainly they did not enter with a more Pure or Lawful Joy then that of Margaret when she entred the Tower of London But the Joy of this World hath wings as well as Fortune And like her rides much way and lodges in few Places Scarce was Henry well acquainted with Liberty and his new Kingdom scarce was he replaced upon his Throne when he understood that all the Thorns of the White 〈◊〉 were not pluckt out And that Edward Earl of March Heir to the Ambition of his Father the Duke of York and Successor to his Enterprises advanced with a Powerful Army to finish what his Father had but rough-drawn He was not advised to expect him not to confide in the People of
not to make so great Account of an Embroideâ—ed and Tottering Greatness exposed to Tempests and Precipices Famous by its Shipwracks and Ruins And when they shall perceive that only Glittering things are subject to be broken that elevated Ones are liable to Falls and such as are swoln up do only burst asunder they will be affrighted with that which is the matter of their Vanity and will apprehend their Splendor Elevation and Pride Moreover Prosperous Fortunes are advertised hereby of their own Inconstancy and Frailty and the Unhappy of the Patience they ought to have and of the Merits they may Acquire In fine Men and Women of what Gold or Earth soever their Fortunes are Composed and in what Story soever of the World they are lodged ought to be instructed by this Example that no Condition or lazy Vertue can be Priviledged in this Life That the Carreer of Adversities is open to all sort of Persons That Providence Assigns to every one the Rank and Function which is proper to him That there is no Victory which is not preceded by some Combat and that it is a very great shame that Christians should endure so many Afflictions and expose themselves to so many Dangers for a handfull of Flowers which last but a day for a Perfume which is dispersed by the first blast of Wind for a Crown of Glass which may break every moment And that for Insatiable and endless Delights and for a Solid and Eternal Glory they should fear to endure but the pricking of a Thorne THE END A TABLE Of the Pictures Morall Questions and Examples The Gallant JEVVS Dâ—â—ORAH Page 1. Her Elogy p. 5. Moral Question Whether Women be capable of Government p. 7. Examples Isabella 〈◊〉 of Spain Arch-Dutchess of the Low-Countries p. 9. Margaret of Austria Dutchess of Parma Governess of the Low-Countries p. 17. JAEL p. 19. Her Elogy p. 22. Moral Question Whether there were Infidelity on the Actiâ—â— of Jael p. 24. Example Jone of Beusort Queen of Scotland Catharine Douglas p. 26. JUDITH p. 29. Her Elogy p. 34. Moral Question Concerning the choice which God hath made of Women for the preservation of States reduced to Extremity p. 36. Example Marulla of Scilimena p. 38. SALOMONA p. 41. Her Elogy p. 46. Moral Question Whether Religion be the principal Vertue of a gallent Woman p. 47. Example Margaret Moore the Daughter of Sir Thomas Moore Lord Chancelour of England p. 49. MARIAMNE p. 53. Her Elogy p. 57. Moral Question Why the most perfect Women be commonly the least Fortunate p. 59. Example Blanche of Bourbon Queen of Castle p. 61. The Gallant Barbarian Women PANTHEA p. 63. Her Elogy p. 68. Moral Question Concerning the order which a gallant Woman ought to observe in Conjugal Love p. 69. Example Indegonda and Clotilda of France p. 72. CAMMA p. 77. Her Elogy p. 81. Moral Question Why Conjugal Love is more Faithful in Women thâ—â— in Men p. 82. Example Sanchia of Navar p. 85. ARTEMISIA p. 91. Her Elogy p. 95. Moral Question In what manner a gallant Woman should mourn and what ought to be the Duties of her Widdowboâ—d p. 96. Example Blanche of Castile Queen Regent of France p. 98. MONIMA p. 103. Her Elogy p. 108. Moral Question VVhether it appertains to the duty of a gallant VVoman to expose her life to satisfie the minde of a jealous Husband p. 110. Example the brâ—ve Hâ—â—garian p. 112. ZENOâ—IA p. 115. Her Elogy p. 120. Moral Question Whether Women be capable of Military Vertues p. 122. Example Jone of Flanders Couâ—tesâ— of Monâ—fort p. 125. The Gallant Roman Women LUCRECIA p. 1. Her Elogy p. 7. Moral Question Whether Chastity belongs to the honour of Herâ—â—sses and great Ladies p. 8. Example Gondeberga of France Queen of Lombardy p. 11. CLOELIA p. 17. Her Elogy p. 23. Moral Question VVhether the Vertue of VVomen â—e as beneficial to the Publick as that of Man p. 25. Example Theodelinda Queen of Lombardy p. 29. PORCIA p 33. Her Elogy p. 38. Moral Question VVhether VVomen be capable of an eminent Generosity p. 39. Example Francis Cezely the Lady of Baâ—â—y p. 42. ARRIA page 49. Her Elogy p. 55. Moral Question Concerning the Duty of 〈…〉 Husbands in the â—â—ne of their Distresses and Misfortunes p 58. Example Jone Coello VVife of Anthony Peâ—ez Secretary to Philip the 〈◊〉 page 61. PAULINA page 67. Her Elogy p 72. Moral Question Whether Women be capable of 〈◊〉 Philosophy p. 73. Example Of Jane Gray of Suffolk Queen of England p. 78. The Gallant Christian Women THe French JUDITH p. 85. Her Elogy p 91. Moral Question Whether more Resolutiâ—n and Courage be required to make a Man Valiant then to make a Woman Chasteâ— p. 93. Example Blanche of Rossy p. 97. ELEONOR of Castile Princess of Wales p. 101. Her Elogy p. 107. Moral Question Whether it appertains to the Duty and Fidelity of Women to expose themselves to death for their Husbands p. 106. Example Margaret of Foâ—xe Dutchess of Elpernon p. 114. The Maid of ORLEANS p. 119. Her Elogy p. 125. Moral Question Whether Women may pretend to Heroick Vertue p 127. Example Isabella Queen of Castile p. 132. The Victorious Captive p. 139. Her Elogy p. 145. Moral Question Whether an Heroick Transport be necessary to the Perfection of a Womans Chastity p. 147. Example The Chaste Venetian p. 152. MARY STEWART p. 159. Her Elogy p. 165. Moral Question Whether great Ladies in Prosperity be not in a better Condition then those in Adversity p. 168. Example Margaret of Anjoâ— Queen of England pag. 173. 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us to be purified before we present our selves to this Feast And those Souls doubtless are the most happy which arrive there perfectly cleansed Besides that they are not made to wait at the Gate they have Purity here at a cheaper rate then in that Country The fire of Adversity what hand soever inkindles it what winde soever blows it is not by much so ardent as the Fire of Purgatory And we are better Treated by Tribulation nay by the most severe and harsh can be imagined then by these purifying Devils which as a Holy Father saith Act the same thing upon Souls as Fullers do upon Stuffs which are put out to be Dyed This so entire and perfect Purity ought to be accompanied with all the Features of an exact and compleat Beauty And this Beauty also ought to be Royallie endowed and to have a large stock of Riches Now the Beauty of a Soul which is beloved of God and his Holy Angels is not formed with Paint and Plaister with Silk and Flowers She is framed by Maladies and Wounds and her most delicate Painting ought to be composed both of Blood Tears and Ashes The Beauty of St. Teâ—la was formed by Fire and the Claws of Lions That of St. Apolloâ—â—â— by Flines with which her teeth were broken That of St. Cicilâ—â— by the boiling water of a Furnace That of St Cathâ—rine by a Sword and a Wheel And generally there is no Beauty in Heaven which Adversity hath not made and Patience adorned As for those Riches which should make up the Dowry of this Beauty they are not the Fruit of a sweet Life nor the Revenue of Pleasure and Pastime The very Riches of the Earth even those gross and Material Riches which belong to the lowest Story of the World are Fruits of Adversity and arrive to us from the Tribulations and Afflictions of Nature Pearls and Coral are found in the Element of Tempests and Bitterness Precious Stones are taken out of Precipices and Rocks Gold and Silver are born Prisoners and in Dungeons And if they be drawn out of their dark holes it is to make them pass through Iron and Fire it is to make them suffer all the Punishments of Criminals Certainly if Terrestrial and meer Imaginary Riches are the Fruits of Labour and the Daughters of Adversity it would not be Just that the Riches of the Minde which form the Great Saints of the Kingdom of God and the quiet Possessors of Eternity should be the reward of Idleness and the Heritage of Delights These Spiritual Riches then are the Inheritance and Revenue of Adversity And consequently this harsh and Laborious Adversity is more Beneficial to great Ladies then Prosperity which stain's and infect's them which sometimes even impoyson's and strangles them Surely they would be very nice if they did bear their good Fortune impatiently and with complaints if they were wounded by their Ornaments if they groaned under the Matter of their Crowns Since Adversity is sent them by the Bridegroom to prepare them for his Wedding It is very just that at least so good an Office should make them rellish the rudeness of its Hands and the severity of its Countenance Surely they would weep with a very ill Grace if they lamented that pressure which adornes them Because it loads them with Gold and Jewels because it pricks them by fastening on them Garlands and Crowns They suffer indeed the Fortune on their Heads and the Rack on their Bodies they expose themselves to Iron and Fire to appear Beautiful in the eyes of men And it would be truly a great shame that they should please God with less Trouble and more at their Ease But here is enough to justifie the Providence of God and to shew to Vertuous and Afflicted Ladies how highly they ought to esteem the Grace and Riches of Tribulation It remains to confirm them by a second Example which hath the same Features and almost the same Colours as the first and I hope it will have no less Force nor prove less perswasive though it be less fresh and more remote from our sight EXAMPLE Margaret of Anjou Queen of England IT is true that Crowns are great Ornaments to Beautiful Heads Nevertheless they are Ornaments which Pain more then they Adorn. And I very much doubt that no Person would burthen himself with them if their Thorns were visible However their Thorns are not so well hid but that some of their Points still appear And besides the secret Rack and Interiour Crosses which great Fortunes endure there are likewise Exteriour and Publick Ones upon which by a particular Order of Divine Providence they are Tormented in the sight of the World for the Instruction of the People who are present at their Sufferings And in this Point the People ought to be advertised that these Punishments of Great Persons are not always Ordained for great Crimes Riches are seen without Vice as Gold without Brass There are Great Persons who like Great Planets have much Light and very few Blemishes And yet very often the Crosses of these Grandees are more harsh and heavy then those of Violent and Impious Rich Men then those of Bloody and Tyrannical Great Ones God Ordains it in this manner as I said before to prepare them for Crowns by Patience and to leave unto Great Men under Persecution and to Great Ladies under Affliction Examples of their Rank and Models of their Condition And because there is an unmoveable Patience which suffers quietly and without Action and a stirring and laborâ—ous Patience which adds Action to Sufferance it is just that after the having given a Queen of Scotland for a President of the first I should give a Queen of England for the second Margaret of 〈◊〉 Daughter to Reâ—â— King of Sicily was one of the most Raâ—e and Perfect Princesâ—es of her Age And her Perfections most Rare as they were received not respected from adverse Fortune She was descended from the most eminent Race of the World Reeds are not beaten down by Tempests but the Branches of great Trees She was one of the Fairest and most Spiritual But the Planets which are so Beautiful and Governed by pure Spirits have their Defections and Eclipses they are persecuted by Mists and dark Clouds by Imprecations and Calumnies She was Liberal and Beneficent Is there any Bounty more lasting then that of Springs more delated then that of Rivers Is there a greater Inclination to do good then that of the â—arth And yet we see that stones are cast into publike Springâ— and that all sorts of Ordures are thrown into Rivers We see that the â—arth is beaten with Storms trodden upon by Animals torn up by men impoverish'd and denuded once every year There was nothing then strange and against the course of the World in the Afflictions of â—o Noble so Beautiful so Able and Magnificent a Princess and Fortune did nothing against Her whereof she had not Publike Examples in Nature She was Married to Henry