He knowing what was done lookt back to see And missing her askt who hath touched me 103 But she that knew what miracle was wrought VVith feare and trembling at his feete did fall And for his mercies sake she him besought To pardon her and therewith told him all He said O woman with a voice most free Great is thy faith and it hath saued thee 104 Next see the woman that in Canan dwelt By faith beleeues his mercies to obtaine How earnestly she with our Sauiour dealt Haue mercy on me Lord she cri'd amaine And heale my daughter being sore perplext VVho with a diuell cruelly is vext 105 He heard her well but did no answer make Till his Disciples said send her away She followed still and would not him forsake Though he to her with bitter words did say It is not lawfull woman I should giue To dogs the childrens bread whereby they liue 106 True Lord she said and yet the dogs doe eate The croms which from their masters tables fal And still for mercy she doth him intreate VVho wondred at her faith and said withall O happy wight with heauenly faith inspir'd Be it vnto thee as thou hast desir'd 107 And in that houre her daughter was made whole Vnto her euerlasting ioyes increase VVith faith as stedfast as the fixed Pole According to his will she went in peace Oh faith most rare the like hath not bin found Worthy in leaues of marble to be crown'd 108 The sinfull woman of the cittie Nain Doubts not by faith but she shal purchase grace And weeping at his backe she doth remaine A little while in most perplexed case Then down she falls and with a sea of teares His feete she washt and wipt them with her haires 109 Anointed them and gaue them many a kisse VVhere at the Pharise in himselfe did say VVhere he a Prophet as men say he is Hee 'd know this sinner and not let her stay When Iesus knew his thought Simon said he There is a question I must aske of thee 110 A certaine lender lent a little summe To one and to another lent a great But neither able when the time was come To pay forgaue them both their seueral debt Now which of these think'st thou will loue him better He answered I suppose the greater debter 111 VVell hast thou said our Sauiour then repli'd Seest thou this woman that by faith is led Yet since I came thou neither didst prouide To wash my feete nor yet anoint my head She hath done both no kisse of thee I got Thy faith is great ô woman goe in peace 112 Wherefore this woman thou dost here behold Whose firme beleife and constant faith is such As by no mans expression can be told Hath much forgiuen her for she loued much To her he said from sin I thee release Thy faith is great ô woman go in peace 113 Elizabeth old Zacharias wife A rare example wherein men may see The blessing followeth a religious life A faithfull woman she is found to be Whom God the Father by his Angells blest In barren age and with a sonne possest 104 A child adopted of his speciall grace And sanctifi'd euen in his mothers wombe Elect to goe before his glorious face And prophesie that he should after come To strengthen those whose faith was weake and fraile The glory of his people Israel 115 Old Anna then a sacred Prophetesse Who serued God with fasting night and day Came forth and did her blessed Lord confesse While yet within his mothers armes he lay Redemption preacht to her immortal fame To all that did beleeue in Iesus name 116 VVhen as our blessed Sauiour did cast out The feind wher with the dumb man was possest Incompast with a misbeleeuing rout Whose wicked thoughts their euill minds molest To whom whilst he did wholesome doctrine preach Which to amend their sinfull life did touch 117 A certaine woman lifted vp her voice And said the wombe had blest happy lucke That broght thee forth let those paps reioyce Which in thy infants daies did giue thee sucke This faithfull woman he doth well approue Among the rest with deere and tender loue 118 VVhich loue he doth most manifestly show By miracles he wrought from day to day First vnto Peters mother he doth goe Where of a feauer very sicke she lay And meerely of his grace it doth him please To cure her of that dangerous disease 119 The Ruler then most humbly him besought To heale his daughter in extreamest neede VVho now was at the point of death he thought And ere he came the maide was dead in deed But Iesus vnto Iairus spake and said Beleeue thou only and be not afraid 120 And forth with into Iairus house he goes VVhere did attend him many weeping eies The multitude first out of doores he throwes Then to the maide he went and said arise And she arose with feare and wonder great He strait commanded they should giue her meate 121 The woman like wise that was eighteene yeares Tormented with a most infernall spirit Bound altogether as most plaine appeares And could by no meanes lift herselfe vpright Our Sauiour seeing straight way did appease And freely freed her of that strong disease 122 He had compassion of the widowes teares The which at Nain in Galile he did meete For her dead sonne exprest with many cares VVho now to death had pai'd his latest debt In such a measure he could not refraine To raise to life and giue him her againe 123 The Pharises and Scribes vnto him brought The woman in adultery was found T' intrap him said by Moses law she ought For to be stoned dead vnto the ground But Iesus said let him that hath no sinne To execute this vpright law begin 124 Whereat they all began to steale away Leauing her standing by her Lord alone VVho turn'd a out and vnto her did say VVoman where now are thy accusers gone No man is left she said was here before And I accuse thee not go sinne no more 125 His loue to women neuer can be told See how he doth the widowes mite commend Aboue them all that offered pearle and gold Saying from superfluitie they spend When she poore wight from penury was glad To offer to the Lord euen all she had 126 Ioanna with Susanna and the rest For there were with them many women more The which our blessed Sauiour dispossest Of wicked spirits being vexed sore Wherefore most gratefully they him besought He would accept the substance they had brought 127 Now last of all as to the crosse he goes To finnish there his dearest virall breath A multitude of people saw his woes But none saue women did lament his death They weepe and waile with shreekes and piteous cries As if they would pull vengeance frō the skies 128 Vpon those cursed misbeleeuing Iewes Their blessed Lord and Sauiour did betray And for reuenge on those that thus abuse
sought She sighes sobs doth not cease to weepe Like Niobe this wofull womans feares As if she would dissolue herselfe in teares 77 Then came the good Apostles to the graue Frō whēce they foūd his corpes cōuai'd away Feareing the Iewes were glad thēselues to saue And soone return'd not daring long to stay Whē Mary stil stood weeping at the tombe And would not stirre for deaths most cruell doome 78 But down her head she bowed into the graue Scarce giuing credit to her wofull sight Where loe at either corner of the caue She saw an Angell cloathed all in white Whereat agast she would a side haue stept Had they not spake askt her why she wept 79 For him I wept ful fraught with greife she said Whose like on earth shal neuer more be foūd VVhom cursed Iewes most cruelly betray'd And now haue stoln him frō this blessed groūd They comfort her say thy teares refraine For he thou seek'st is rais'd to life againe 80 But she continues still her wofull cheere And to her woes no comfort would allow Vntill our Sauiour did himselfe appeare And askt her woman wherefore weepest thou She taking him the Gardner sure to be Said sir if thou hast hid him giue him me 81 And Iesus answered Mary I am he Thou seekest so wherefore be not afraid Goe to my brethren and report of me That thou hast seene heard what I haue said And will them into Galile to goe VVhere I will shortly meete with them also 82 Twixt greife and ioy she stood amaz'd a while Then downe she falls and worships at his feet And with a louing entermixing smile VVith teares of mirth she doth our Sauior greet And to perform his wil with reuerence due She rose she went she ranne she rather flue 83 Vntill she came where the Apostles were Deep plung'd in sorow with griefe opprest To whom she did this ioyfull newes declare All she had heard and seene she there exprest VVhich done she strait returned back to find The company that she had left behind 84 Another sacred Mary with her came And with them also many women more For saue the Apostles to their lasting fame VVere none but women did his death deplore Earely they rose before the breake of day Meaning frō thence to take the corps away 85 A fourth most sacred woman of this name Doth with the rest preceding well agree A woman filled with religious fame At Iesus preaching she would euer be In humble maner seated at his feete To heare his wisdome his doctrine sweet 86 Her sister Martha must not be forgot A most renowned woman full of faith Whose loue vnto our Sauiour ceased not And as the holy Scripture plainly saith Christ Iesus likewise loued them againe Whō men would seem so slightly to disdain 87 One only brother these two sisters had Who accedentally fell sicke and di'd But hearing Christ was cōming they were glad For on his power these women much reli'd Which did alay and mittigate their griefe Hoping by him they might yet find releife 88 Martha went forth her louing Lord to meete And humbly prostrate at his feete she fell Saying ô Lord and my redeemer sweet Hadst thou bin here my brother had bin well But this I know vndoubted truth to be What ere thou askest God will giue it thee 89 Then Iesus said thy brother shall arise Yes at the resurrection Lord know I am the resurrection he repli'd Both of the liuing and the dead also Who this beleife shall stedrastly retaine Though he were dead yet shal he liue again 90 Beleiu'st thou this Lord I beleeue it all And that thou art that Sonne of God now sent That should redeem poore sinful man frō thral If he beleeue becomming penitent O rare beleife and faith of women kind Proceeding from a pure vnspotted minde 91 Then backe she came and did her sister call Who hastely went forth her Lord to meete And with an heart opprest with griefe doth fal With bitter teares before her Sauiours feete And with a mournful voice O Lord she cri'd Had'st thou bin here my brother had not di'd 92 Be present with me euery wofull wight Whō doleful griefe hath turn'd to dust mold Euen in your saddest most mournfull plight Let me your gastly visages behold I may expresse the agonie he felt And marble hearts into compassion melt 93 VVhen in the spirit he did grone with paine VVhich did his sad and heauy heart molest How with a troubled soule he gron'd againe Oh wherewith can his torments be exprest VVho could not be disburthned of his cares Vntill his passion burst it selfe in teares 94 Oh the mine eyes to conduit pipes would turne I might his teares perpetually deplore VVeepe sinfull man do not cease to mourne Christs tears although thou neuer weptst before Shed now a teare from thy obdurate eye Or else hereafter be for euer dry 95 In this sad plight vnto the tombe He went VVhereas deceased Lazarus was laid VVhere first he pray'd to God which had him sent Then Lazarus come forth alow'd hee said who strait came forth boūd hand foote also Christ willed them to loose and let him goe 96 Who can expresse the faithful thanks they giue To magnifie this miracle he wrought Whereby they saw their dearest brother liue Which was a worke impossible they thought With ioyfull harts they doe not cease to sing Continuall anthems to their heauenly King 97 Now shortly after Iesus came againe To Maries house as he had done before With heauenly ioy she doth him entertaine Who for her brother lou'd him more more And as at meate with Lazarus he sat Vnder the table to his feete she gat 98 Whereon she doth a costly oile bestow VVherwith she washt those euer hallowed feet Too pure she thought on mortall groūd to go And kindly giues him many kisses sweet Not knowing how she shold her loue declare This done she takes and wipt them with her haire 99 But his Disciples murmuring him told This precious oile should be esteemed more VVhich for 3 hundred pence might haue bin sold And better far bin giuen to the poore But Iesus sharply them rebuking said Let her alone why trouble you the maid 100 The good that she had done he doth vnfold Saying the poore shall daily on you call But me you shortly shall no more behold She brought this balme to bury me withall Where ere mē preaching shal the Gospel name This shal be spoken to her lasting fame 101 The faith of women all men may behold As in this following subiect well appeares Who had a bloudy issue long and could Receiue no helpe by phisicke many yeares Beleeued if she might lesus garment touch She should be whole her faith zeale was such 102 With this strōg hope she thrust into the prease And touching but his very garments hemme Immediatly she felt the issue cease O famous faith in estimable iemme
This holy Lambe they neuer cease to pray Such gracious loue they did frō him obtain They know not how to show their loue againe 129 And after his decease the Apostles found Most vertuous women still in euery place Priscilla was a woman much renown'd VVho taught Apolloes rare heauenly grace For as this good Apostle plainly saith She tooke him home made him strong in faith 130 Saint Peter also doth as much commend Tabitha for her charitable deeds Of almes that she vnto the Lord did lend Which frō her loue vnto good works proceeds Who being dead by prayer he doth obtaine She is restored vnto life againe 131 Behold what wonders God by womē wroght As holy Paul doth worthily declare To Macedon he is by vision brought VVhere those that heard him only women were ' Mongst whom with admiration he doth tell Of Lydia who there did purple sell 132 A saithfull woman one that God ordain'd To saue a kingdome by her good desert VVho in the seruice of the Lord remain'd For it is said God opened her heart And she beleeu'd our words was baptiz'd With all her houshold as we them aduis'd 133 This done we were determined to goe Along the coasts to make some further tryall But she coniur'd vs not to leaue her so Her earnest suite would suffer no deniall And lo together as we went to pray A certaine virgin met vs on the way 134 Possessed with a spirit of diuining By which her master much aduantage got To vs she was with feruent zeale inclining And for her masters proffitt cared not She follow'd vs and cride these men are they That to saluation teach the ready way 135 And many daies continued in the same Till Paul was grieu'd for her and turn'd about And to the Spirit said in Iesus name I charge thee from this woman get thee out And it obey'd that all commanding power Departing from her at that instant houre 136 An other woman he doth straight recite He did in Athens at his preaching find Cald Damaris a most beleeuing wight VVith whom Triplena may be wel combin'd Triplena doth with Persiis well accord All faithfull women labouring in the Lord. 137 Amongst this crue he highly doth commend Phoebe a seruant of the Lord saith he For whom he doth vnto his brethren send That in the Lord we might receiued be And ayded by them in what ere she needs For she hath done most charitable deeds 138 The blest Euangelist Saint Iohn doth write Vnto a Lady whom he calles elect A virtuous woman who doth much delight The lawes of her Redeemer to respect And taught her children likewise to fulfill Our blessed Lord and Sauiours holy will 139 For which saith he I doe not onely loue This most renowned woman of our dayes But all those Saints that loue the truth approue Her zealous workes with euerlasting praise Which they in greater estimation hold Then Tagus wealth or Ophirs purest gold 140 Thus in this sacred booke of bookes we see The blesings God on women did bestow VVhich worthyly they did deserue saith he From whom such faith such loue such zeale did flow Such courage braue such resolutions rare As monuments of marble shall out weare 141 The histories that doe their praise recite In euery age so plentifull appeares That if I had ability to write I should not finish liuing Nestors yeares Such monumēts vnto their fame they build A magasine might with the bookes be fil'd 142 Yet to auoid the captious base report Of Puritant or Bible bearing poet As likewise to content the wiser sort On whom alone I freely doe bestow it I will insert of womens vertues rare A stanze or two what histories declare 143 For chastitie behold that Roman dame That proud Tarquinius basely did subdue Disdaining to out liue her forced shame Did in her dearest bloud her hands imbrew For which she is throwout the world renownd And by the pens of Lawreat Poets crown'd 144 Vnmatched Ouid doth as much commend Penelope Vlisses constant wife Whose widowed hands the hanging web doth rend Whilst he in Lacedemon leades his life Euen like the Turtle that hath lost his mate She doth bewaile her desolate estate 145 Vnspotted Daphue would not be allur'd By powerfull loue from whom amaine she flies When fainting breath her honors losse assur'd Alowd for chaste Dianaes helpe she cries Whose iust consent vnto her earnest prayer The lawrell doth perpetuall witnesse beare 146 The daughter faire of Agamemnon King Whose loue and beauty was desir'd of many Held chastitie so virtuous a thing That she would neuer condiscend to any But constantly their ardent suites deni'd And thus this spotlesse virgin liu'd and di'd 147 The virgin Lucia doth all praise exceed With whom the tirant King was far in loue VVhen she perceiu'd it was so sure decreed What friendship could not force at last shoud proue Her star-like eyes she to the tirant sent That thus she might her honors losse preuēt 148 Sage Fedons daughter doth amaze my minde VVhose father being at a banquent slaine By sauage men who likewise had combin'd This vertuous virgins chastitie to staine She to auoid this Tyrants fury fell Did headlong cast herselfe into a well 149 Saint Ambrose of Pelagia writes as much VVho with her famous sisters and her mother That no rude hād her honors worth might tuch Themselues did likewise in the water smother Such deare respect to chastitie they owe Their precious liues they doe for it bestow 150 The Lady Bona to her lasting honor Whose husband to the holy warres was sent Disguis'd to follow him she tooke vpon her Both shield speare mou'd with a chast intent Wher brauely she his faithles foes did threat And rescued him from many dangers great 151 Braue Francis Sforsas souldiers to him broght A virgin rare of birth beauty great Whom she with friendship prayer words besoght Then tyrant like the silly maide did threat But finding nothing could her honor staine With gifts praise he sent her home againe 152 The women of Tutonicaes request When noble Marius had their husband slaine VVas that they might haue leaue to spend the rest Of their vnhappy liues in Vestaes traine Where they like chastest turtles wold deplore Their fatall losse beholding men no more 153 In Rome a woman being made aquainted With treason was ' gainst Nero great conspir'd VVhereof she happened first to be attainted Of whom the Iudges all the rest inquired With cruell torments she her life did pay Yet neuer any party would betray 154 Renowned Loena did in sunder bite Her tongue and spit it in the tyrants face Because she would no secret bring to light For which th' Athenians to her lasting grace From whom such rare vnmatched virtue sprung A Lionesse set vp without a tong 155 Rare Nicostrata mother to Euander Did first vnto the Latins shew their letters VVho