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
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
and Vertuous but an Unhappy and Persecuted Queen And thereby she teacheth both Great Rich Ladies that there is no Quality Priviledged in this Life The Purple of Soveraigns hath its Thornes as well as that of Roses Great Fortunes and great Structures have their Storms Elevated Heads have their Tears as Mountains have their Waters And whatever Ambition makes us believe the greatest Sufferers are not upon Wheels They sit upon Thrones invironed with Ballisters In fine the ill Rumors which have been spred of Mary Stewart and the Insolence of Calumny which hath disfigured her teach those of her Sex and Condition that no Vertue nor Crown is free from detraction Dogs indeed bark against the Moon which is so pure Frogs croak against the Sun which is so beneficial and resplendent Monstrous Figures and the names of Beasts have been imposed on the Vertues of â—eaven And there is no Illustrious Planeâ— which hath not been accused of some Crime However they take no Revenge And what stains soever are laid upon them What Vapours soever arise to them from the Earth they cease not to do good to the Impostors which dishonour them they forbear not to inlighten the Earth which obscures them There are other Considerations to be made here upon the Providences of God upon the Adversities of suffering Vertues and aâ—â—â—isted Innocence upon the Blessings and Advantages of these Adversities But these Considerations are too Important and too useful to be shut up in so narrow a compass They require more Leisure and Extent And if whole Volumes should be imployed therein I need not fear that the subsequent Question would be cast away MORAL QVESTION Whether Great Ladies in Prosperity be not in a better Condition then Those in Affliction IT is not only now adays that men finde something to alledge against the Works of God and that his Providence hath need of an Apology In all Times there have been Impious Censurers and Blaspheming Criticks who have sought out Defects in the Fairest Pieces of the World and Disorder in the Conduct and Motions thereof The greatest and most â—nsupportable Disorder in the opinion of these conceited Men is that which they observe in the distribution of the Blessings and Misfortunes of this Life If we believe them in this Point there is nothing but Trouble and â—onfusion nothing but unjust and irregular Hazards nothing but tumulâ—uâ—ry and misplaced Fortunes Hail fallâ—s equally upon the Harvest of the Good and Wicked Thunder beats down Churches and spares Placeâ— of Debauchery Winds are not more propitious nor the Sea more calm and favoâ—â—ble to Pilgrims of the Holy Sepulchre then to those of 〈◊〉 And it often happens that a Turk escapes the same Rock upon which a Christian suffers Shipwrack They adde hereunto that Violence is always Rich and Honoured and Integrity ever Necessitous and Despised They discover under the Feet of Proud and Prodigal Rich men the Blood Substance and Livelihood of the Poor which dye of Hunger They shew the Places and quote the Times where happy and Crowned Injustice made advantage of its Impiety and Reigned with the contempt of God and Men whilst Innocence loaden with Chains and Executed exhibited upon a Scaffold a Spectacle of its own Dishonour and Punishment It is true that such Tragedies have been often seen And lately also 〈◊〉 produced one very like in the Person of Mary Stewart England and Scotland 〈◊〉 thereto with very different Passions And France saw it 〈◊〉 off with Sighs and Tears The Picture of this History with which this Gallery is finished gives me occasion to justifie here the Divine Providence in the Conduct of this Innocent Princess to disclose to great Ladies under Affliction and Sufferance the Riches which are hidden in Tribulations and to perswade them that they are more happy and in a better condition in sufferance then if they remained in a continued prosperity I suppose that it is more advantagious to Women for whom I write to be apparelled with Vertue then Vice to be of the chosen number Of those whom God particularly cherishes and prepares to Glory then to be left in the Crowd without mark or degree without right or pretence to the future And I believe that I have reason to suppose it because I write not under the Law of the Alâ—â—oran nor in the time of Fables I write under the Law of the Gospel and in the Age of Truth And what I write will be read by Christian Women and not by Sulâ—â—â—esses It will be read by 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 and not by Stratâ—nicâ—â—s by Clâ—opatra's by Messaâ—â—â—s Now Adversity is the proper state of Vertue and Vertuous persons It is the most commodious and favourable Treatment which God can use towards those precious Souls which he cherishes with Paternal Love and which he hath withdrawn out of the Crowd It is the Legal Ornament and preparation of that Righteousness which he requires in his Spouses And these their Advantages of Adversity deserve at least that we should not cast an ill look upon it if we have not a mind to cherish it They will deserve that we should receive it with patience if we have not the Courage to meet it and rejoyce at its arrival First it is certain that bad times are the most proper for Vertue Her good seasons are produced by Hayl-storms and Wind by War and Tempests And if Adversity be not her Mother she is at least her Nurse and Governess You may see some smooth-faced adjusted and simpering Dame set out with holyed Grains and Chaplets disguised with a constrained Modesty and with Tears squeezed out by force And this dissembling Creature would have her self taken for Vertue But you must not be mistaken in her she is not Vertue She is a counterfeit which would fain imitate her but doth it unhandsomly which Apes her yet hath not one hair of her Head by which to resemble her Vertue as some imagine is not an idle quality and addicted to case A habit made for shew composed of Countenances It is a laborious and active quality It is a Warlike and Victorious habit And wise men to whom heretofore she appeared never saw her unarmed they never saw her but amidst Thorns and upon Mountains They conceived that her Pallace was built with shipwrackt pieces with the remnants of burnt house with great Oaks blacked and beaten down by storms of Thunder She must be furnished then with Contrarieties that she may labour She must find resistance which may exercise her and give force to the vigour of her action And if she had no Adversity nor Adversaries if all her hours were serene and all her dayes dayes of Peace against whom would she offer Combat In what season would she gain Victories Upon what Title would she demand Crowns This concerns the generall duty of all sorts of Vertues I say even of those which are only industrious which only labour exteriourly and in a Mechanick way which are limited by