Thus Men may vnderstand that all Heavenlie Gifts and Graces shew themselues farre more excellentlie in Women than in Men. And I neede not to make much adoe to proue that the Women are in no degree so greedie and avaricious as are vnhappie Men. And thus I durst appeale to everie honest Mans Conscience yet never-the-lesse I can hardlie passe by heere to tell you how Queene Semiramis approved this SEMIRAMIS DARIUS on King Darius for she caused build a costlie and Sumptuous Tombe vpon the which she caused write this Poesie Who so desireth gold silver much such Breake down this Tombe he shall find all And as King Darius happened to come that way and beholding the Tombe and reading the superscription hee caused open the same and on the innerside of the same stone was written thus Thou Gracelesse Man and full of Greedinesse That Women doe surpasse thee now confesse Hadst thou beene other but a catiue Wretch Thy Hands on dead Mens Tombes thou wouldst not stretch And so finding nothing within but dust and clay and seeing himselfe so farre deceaved this greedie Gluttonous Man departed looking as angrielyke as a March-Hare Eusebius in his Church Histories EUSEBIUS wryteth greatlie to the just Prayse of Women by the example of the Mother of Origen for manie Martyrs on ORIGEN a day beeing condemned to bee burnt by the Enemies of the Gospell of CHRIST this Origen was in the mynde voluntarilie and vnaccused to haue suffered death with them on the morrow But his Mother happie Woman beeing aware thereof came quyetlie into his Chamber the night before tooke away all his Cloathes So that when Origen rose in the morning with full resolution to sacrifice himselfe with the other Martyrs hee had nothing to put on and so was faine to tarrie in his Chamber a day or two till GOD changed his mynde and lived manie yeares after and proved an excellent instrument in propagating the Gospell of GOD as appeareth till this day by his worthie and holie Wrytings Yet before I conclude this Chapter I must rehearse vnto you two worthie Women who in excellencie of learning and Governament were not behinde anie Men that ever wee reade of The first of these was a Woman borne in England of Heroicke Parents and her selfe of a loftie spirit and subtill ingenious wit and having passed the English Schooles at home shee departed from England in Mans Cloathing and came to Athens which Citie at that tyme flowrished aboue all others in Learning and Policie in which she extraordinarilie studied and profited exceedinglie calling her selfe POPE IOHN Iohn And afterwardes comming to Rome shee taught and disputed openlie in the Schooles in the habite of a most graue Doctor and was so well lyked of that they thought her the paragon of that Age. And after the death of Leo the fourth of that name Pope of Rome about the yeare of our LORD 852. shee was chosen Pope of Rome and governed that Place with great wisdome in good Civilitie and happie Peace the space of three yeares two moneths and foure dayes and ended her lyfe with great Renowne Another rare wise and excellent Woman was Theodosia Empresse of Constantinople who through the basenesse of the Emperour her Husband who seeing Disturbances lykelie to fall out in his Empire cowardlie left all betooke himselfe to a Closter and became a Monke and lykewyse her Brother Zoc beeing slaine shee governed the Empyre her selfe and that so valiantlie and judiciouslie that she was out of measure beloved of her Subjects and feared of her Enemies all the dayes of her lyfe and departed this lyfe in peace about the yeare of CHRIST 1050. And to conclude this Chapter I speake thus much with pardon to the Women of these tymes to follow the Vertue of these their aforesayde predecessours To Vertue and to Honour once in Rome Two statelie Temples there erected was Where none might vnto Honours Temple come But first through Vertues Temple they must passe Which was an Embleme and a Document That wee by Vertue must true Honour win And that that Honour shall beâ— permanent Which onlie did from Vertue first begin Then sith these Women haue truâ— Vertue wun See yee with them the paths of Vertue run CHAPTER IV. Of the Valiantnesse Boldnesse and Cowrage of Women and of their Victorious Battells farre surpassing the engine or Cowrage of Man SUch Striplings as take pleasure as farre as they may to impeach the Honour and Credit of Women and to denye their rare perfection in everie excellent thing even aboue Man let such stand abacke I say and withdrawe themselues vnto these learned Authors who preferre the Valour Cowrage and bold-heartinesse of Women to all the Men that ever were and for this purpose let them with great reverence reade Ammianus Marcellinus Trogus Pompeius Justinus Orosius Diodorus Siculus Plinius Herodotus Curtius Solinus Pomponius Mela and manie others in the renowned Histories of the Amazones where it is clearlie showne that the just praise of Women in Martiall affaires also farre aboue Men hath sounded through the World Now these Amazones dwelt in Scythia this Scythia lying in North Asia the which now-adayes is called Tartaria whereby it is knowne from that Scythia which lyeth in Europe And the Amozones having no King but a Queene called Orithie together with ORITHIE a valiant Ladie whom the Queene made her Vice-Gerent called Antiope These two Women governed the Amazones so wyselie and valiantlie that they were feared of all their neyghbours So that Euristeus the Athenian King was compelled to intreat Great Hercules himselfe to put on his Armour and to helpe him against two Women forsooth who then so wiselie governed the Amazones that his bowles quaked for feare of them Now this Hercules beeing pricked with Ambition jealous of Honour greedie for preferment as commonlie Men haue ever beene hee assemall the forces that hee might and taking with him Theseus and other mightie Friends and assistants they imbarked themselues to sayle towards Scythia agaynst the Queene of the Amazones and after great Skaithe of their owne people are returned without victorie not daring to bide bargaine when the Queene in proper person came to giue them Battell but destroyed some of the Countrey with fire and so fled away lyke Men. But soone after that the Queene and her Forces followed over into Europe to bee avenged on the Gricks and on Euristeus where they made such havock on the Borders and Frontures of the Athenians that their King was faine to compone with the Queene and to buy her out of his Countrey Great Hercules being slayn In token whereof the Athenians hold him for their Patron till this day And a long time thereafter the Grecians going into Asia agaynst the Trojanes and Penthesilia then beeing successiue PENTHESILIA Queene to Orithie Queene of the Amazones shee levied a gallant Armie more Women than Men and came over and assisted the Trojanes in such sort that through her
The glory of Man Consisting in The Excellencie and Perfection of WOMAN CHAPTER I. Of the Creation of WOMAN and Her Perfection HOwbeit THVCYDIDES THVCYDIDES the Philosopher out of an heathnicke humour was of opinion That as the Women ought to bee good House-keepers and seldome seene abroad neyther should their good Name Fame nor Beautie goe farder than the threshold of their doores Yet worthie Plutarch PLUTARCH a Man farre more excellent in Wit Learning treating of the Excellencie of renowned Women agreeth with the learned Gorgias Leontanus and Gorgias â—eontanus sayeth That not onlie Her Beautie but also Her rare Vertues good Behavior comelie Manners and other angelicall Perfections should no wayes be smoothered But in the Orations of learned men made knowne even to the encowragement of Posteritie according to the Lawes of the ancient Romanes who held it for great impietie only to make the grossest halfe of Mankynde renowned and let the more excellent deeds of the Nobler sort bee buried in oblivion And therefore according to my slender Skill and abilitie I vow to doe my best herein though I presume nor to bee called absolutelie the Author hereof but by way of gathering together and truelie translating of learned mens just Tryalls and sound Iudgementes in the prayse of so rare glorious comelie wyse louelie perfect amiable and precious a Creature as is WOMAN the Crowne and Glorie of MAN even the Mother of all living Soules Neyther will I speake onlie of late tymes since the dayes of Annacus or Annac Deucals Deucalion but even froÌ„ the beginning and first creation of WOMAN whereby Her splendant Brightnesse maye shyne the clearer dazeling the dustie deeds of slalow-witted Man NOw it is sayd in the first and second Chapters of Genesis That the LORD created the first man Adam even of the dust and slyme of the earth breathing into his nostrils the breath of lyfe and so he became a living soule being innocent and perfectlie holie eveÌ„ according to the Image of GOD. Then marke That Man was made of a dead lumpe and of the worst of the earth And when GOD had put His owne Spirit therein and made it a comelie fayre yea holie and divine Creature then out of the same purified substance Hee made a more excellent Angelicall Creature even EVAH the Woman and Mother of vs all Here might justlie be showne innumerable Testimonies for the Honour and Prayse of Women from the verie creation vntill this day 1. That everie worke of GOD exceedeth excelleth and out-reacheth each other in greatnesse and goodnesse and still the last for to bee best 2. That Man was the cause of the Womans fall by neglecting her companie 3. That the Woman made denyall to eate of the forbidden Fruit and was overcome by great and subtile temptations and that Man verie impudentlie and vnadvysedlie without anie gayn-saying at the first offer tooke and ate and so verie rashlie brake the LORD'S Commandement 4. That whereas the Scripture sayeth that Wyues should bee subject to their Husbands is not meaned That therfore the Men are better than Women but in respect of Her Fall 5. That the fall of Evah was greatlie to the manifestation of the Glorie and Power of GOD yea and a most happie Fall to the Elected people of the LORD These I say with thousandes moe might heere truelie and playnlie bee proven but I omit the rest vntill my second worke of this qualitie which if this bee jangled agaynst shall shortlie compeare even to the vtter shame of all the Fame-stayners of Women And thus I proceede in Their due and just Prayse Now it is sayd Genes 3. that the seed of the Woman should bruize the head GENE SIS 3. of the Serpent And by this Seed is meant our gracious Redeemer IESUS our Saviour Blessed for ever Amen And who so would rightlie vnderstand what Woman is vnto Man Shee is in verie deed the first chiefe essentiall Good and Perfect Benefit of GOD vnto Man For without that goodlie Creature Man had never bene perfected but in more miserable state on earth than anie beast for each of them had his Maike for his solace recreation and procreation Thus to conclude our first Chapter let none denye But that Woman is Man's Equall and more in every good poynt and formost part-taker of every Heavenlie Gift and Grace froÌ„ Aboue Being as sayd is composed both of the more excellent Substance and Qâ—alities And in Her as in a rare sumptuous costlie and precious Boothe or Shop and from Her doe shyne the beams of Beautie Comelinehe Constancie Vertue Prudencie Pietie Charitie and practise in good manners Farre exceeding grosse Man except indeed in strength wherein he exceedeth Woman mightilie to commit all manner of Crueltie and Naughtinesse and Shee the weaker Vessell both in bodie and mynd to commit anie evill And though Man seeme to brag of his strength yet let him know That what Man holdes hanges but by slender Twyne By sudden chance the strongest thinges declyne CHAPTER II. Of the fayre and goodlie Priviledges granted and given vnto Women even from the Beginning ALtho WOMEN had no farder Advantage of Men than sayde is alreadie to wit That Shee is made in fayre Paradyse and Man there-out and Of a good purified and liuelie substance and hee of a grosse heavie and dead matter This I saye might bee sufficient to stop the injurious wicked mouthes of such calumniators as are not worthie to be called The Sonnes but The Shame of Women And yet there will remayne a worlde full moe of perfectious Excellencies and vertuous Qualities to be found in Women farre excelling the grosse and churlish conditions of Men. The smallest part whereof to collect together and set downe in Print would be a Labyrinthiall and Herculean Travell Neyther could all the Paper in the worlde contayne Their Worthinesse nor the worlde contayne the Bookes which rightlie might be written In Their just Prayse And therefore I request you at this tyme to accept onelie of this my little Knot drawne out of other mens great Gardens No more but to signifie vnto the worlde the pretence of my good Will if possiblie my Power could bee amounted to the Spheare of my soaring Mynd Then for Brevities cause hearken well vnto these few yet notable Remembrances of Honourable Women in tymes past even to the encowragement of our gracious Matrons now-a-dayes yea and to Succession hereafter together with a strong Confutation of all gracelesse Vilependers of this renowned Sexe of Women Which sort of men may fitlie be compared with the worst sort of Serpents or Vipers which after generation having receaved lyfe in their mothers bellies gnaw and eate thorow their mothers side and so come foorth whereby of necessitie shee loseth her lyfe Firstlie then There was never such a wicked and vnjust Deed wrought by all the Women that ever were as was showne on our Saviour flat and directlie contrarie to the will counsell and disposition
of Women Reade consideratiuelie beholde how the Women advertised fore-warned yea exhorted the Men and expresslie forbade them To lay handes or MATTH 26. 19. haue adoe with JESVS proclayming and avowing Him To be righteous even as the trueth was indeed Yet vnhappie men would giue no credence to the Trueth but most madlie wickedlie and impudentlie even agaynst all equitie justice and reason they furiouslie proceeded in their madnesse and did not onlie Lay handes vpon the Just as it were to hold Him but for-sooth they bound Him buffeted Him mocked Him spitted vpon Him and with all the spyte the could they crowned Him even with a Crowne of sharpe Thorns Yea and left not off till as shamefullie and with the greatest ignominie they could invent They crucified the LORD of Glorie even betwixt two evill-doers Hee Himselfe having done no evill at all but was vnjustlie accused by such false men as themselues whome they had suborned to be false witnesses Hearken well ye Monsters because your sex rejected CHRIST betake you to your brother Barabbas who beeing guiltie yee saved and condemned the innocent IESUS who is the Brother of WOMEN For they cryed Saue Him saue Him but yee cryed Crucifie Him crucifie Him Yee prowde faynt-hearted men Matth. chap. 26. verse 69. 70 71. 72. 73. 74. Marke chap 14. verse 66. 67 68. 69. 70. 71. Luke chap. 22. verse 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. Iohn chap. 18. verse 17. 18 25. 26. 27. what thinke yee Was it a fit tyme for His Disciples to forsake Him in the Garden And did not His moste boasting Disciple Peter denye Him thryse in short tyme yea with cursing and swearing that he knew Him not 2. The Innocencie of Women and Guiltinesse of Men in this exceeding great Wickednesse is yet verie probable by these folowing Consequents Because the men were found too light and vnworthie therefore the LORD made choyse of Women to be the first Proclaymers and sounding Trumpets of His Glorious Resurrection The meane tyme His Men-disciples beeing too too forgetfull of what CHRIST had sayde vnto them manie tymes before concerning His Resurrection yet were they saythlesslie forgetfull and believed not But on the contrarie His Women-Disciples had great sayth remembred well His words wayted earnestlie for His rysing agayne and departed not from the Graue when as Matth. 18. Marke 16. Iohn 20. the light-brayned and shalow-witted men thought all was done and never to haue heard anie more of their Lord Dispersing themselues some to their former Trade of Fishing others tooke Iohn 21. verse 3. their journey into the Countrey and that vpon the Sabbath Day Yea some Marke chap. 16. verse 12. 13 of them would not belieue that the LORD was risen from the dead when it was tolde them of the rest no not when they saw the LORD Himselfe except they put their handes into His precious wounds and so if it had bene Iohn 20. verse 24. 25. 26. 27. possible to haue holden the LORD still in agonie 3. Beholde still the fayre Priviledges of Women by the example of Rachel Leah and manie others who were preferred before their husbaÌ„ds had the preeminence to name their children even as pleased themselues the great Patriarch Jaakob himselfe father of the twelue Tribes and many other Worthies being thereto silent 4. How can I worthilie anough expresse the prayse of Jaill the wyfe of IAEL Heber the Kennite who with her own hands and alone slue Sisera the Captayne of the Canaanitish hoste who in IUDGES 4. 18. deede had made great spoyle of the LORD'S People Beholde I saye That which manie thousands of men could not atchieue vnto it pleased thâ— LORD to perfect by a Woman as another worthie Penthesilia 5. Gracious Deborah judged Israeâ— DEBOHAR at that tyme bearing prerogatiue anâ— commandement over all Israell as weâ— IUDGES 5. Captaynes and Priestes as commoâ— people And the LORD blessed Israeâ— mightilie in her dayes 6. Look how farre more excellentlie IUDGES 13. 1. SAM 25. the Mother of Sampson behaved heâ— selfe both towardes GOD and Manâ— than did her churlish husband And with her let vs also joyne Gracious Abigaill ABIGAILL 7. See wyse Iudeth howe cowragiouslie IUDETH and valiantlie she slue Olofernus and by that meanes discomfited hundreth thousandes of the Assyrians whyle as the sillie faynt-hearted men were howling and lamenting within the besiedged Citie of Bethulia not once daring to offer to come foorth no not so much as once to looke over â—he Wall Sillie Cowards 8. Hearken yet vnto the true Recordes of the Royall Priviledges of Women Looke to the Countrey of Campaigne where that excellent order is yet from ancient tymes That if it please a Gentle-woman to marry with anie meane man by force of that marriage he is inacted a Gentle-man But if a Gentle-man marrie with a meane woman it is nothing so 9. Also worthie Plutarch reporteth PLUTARCH That it is ordayned in Gallia Celtica to the Honour of Women in respect of a League betwixt Hanniball the Celts That when as a Celt or Gall should complayne of anie injurie done vnto them by a Carthagenian the lords of Carthage were obliedged to heare the cause and make restitution for thâ— wrong But on the contrarie when Carthagenian had wronged a Gall oâ— Celt the Celtish women were judge therein even according to their worthie Discretion Thus were they hoâ—den in high and deserved Honour anâ— moste worthilie preferred before thâ— men of that Countrey 10. More-over The Troglodites of Aethiopia though a barbarous people as sayeth Bohem yet being governed BOHEM with Women as well at home as abroad in the Warres are victorious ritch renowned and feared of their neyghbouring enemies who are governed but with the vicious faynt-hearted effeminate cowardlie and luxurious men 11. Here to the prayse of women I cannot omit to rehearse what one truelie speaketh of the moste Happie Reygne of our Sacred Soveraygne ELIZABETH Queene of England France and Ireland true Defender of the Fayth c. Blessed Queene ELIZABETH sayeth hee a Princesse of Immortall Fame the Admiration of Her Sexe the Helper of all Nations the Patterne of Princes the Delight of Her People and Terrour of Her Enemies Borne to weare a temporall crowne on earth and to bee crowned with Eternall Glorie in Heaven Restored Iohn Taylor the Water Poët and mayntayned the true Religion constantlie Reposed Her onlie Trust in GOD confidentlie Held the Iesuits all Papists and other Hyrelinges at the Staffs ende steadfastlie Put Her Lawes in Execution resolutelie and yet without all crueltie Reygned manie years gloriouslie Departed this lyfe peaceablie And liveth in Heaven triumphantlie HER EPITAPH The Griefes the Feares the Terroures and the Toyles The Sleightes Trickes Snares that for Her lyfe were layd Popes Prisons Poysons Pistoles bloodie Broyles All these incompast Her poore harmlesse Mayd But Shee still trusting in Her Maker's Ayd Was aye defended by His Power Divyne Her Glorie
wyselie and valiantlie haue preserved the cleannesse of Bodie haue not onlie ventred but also lost their lyues therefore And not onlie is this probable of Christian Women but also amongst the verie Heathen and Pagans are registrated aboundance of Women who did farre rather lose all the World yea lyfe and all before they would lose their Honour Sainct Hieronymus wryting against HIERONYMUS Joyinian telleth of very many Women who were of such cleanlie Condition Disposition and Qualitie that neither Goods Lyfe nor Death was in regarde with them to their vndefiled Honestie A THEBAN MAYD And a Mayde of Theban beeing ravished by a Macedonian corbed her heavie passions for a day or two till shee got occasion to slay him which shee valourouslie performed with her owne hands Then rejoycing greatly that GOD had given her strength to bee avenged on such a Villane shee with-drew her selfe to the Wildernesse where she lived solitarilie all her dayes Chiomara the wyfe of Ortiagent was CHIOMARA taken in battell by a Captayn who violentlie abused her But shortly after her ransom was sent and she was to depart homewards Now shee requested this Captayne to convoy her a little piece of her journey which he did verie willinglie And she having conspired his death with her servāts she drew him a little from the way whereof this Leacher grew verie amorous thinking to take his lustfull leaue of that fayre Ladie where foure of her servantes lay privilie who helde him fast while shee took off his head which she carried to her husband and threw it at his feete Whereat he being amazed sayd Thou wicked woman wherefore hast thou committed this treason Trueth and fidelitie ought to bee kept with our verie enemies Yes quoth she you say true but it is neyther Trueth nor Honestie for me to let anie man liue that hath lyen with mee except myne owne Husband Then her Lord vnderstanding the matter rightlie he loved her the more entirelie and he together with the whole Countrey hold her in great honour all her dayes A Lacedemonian Wyfe being straitlie persued by a leacherous Lubber answered him that shee could not giue that which was never her owne For quod shee whyle I was a Damosell my Virginitie pertayned to my Parentes and now it is myne owne Husbandes So this leacherous Logger-head left off his sute and tooke his Leaue without Farewell looking as though his nose had beene bleeding Reade I pray you Munsterus in MUNSTERUS GRANTZIO his Description of the World and also worthie Grantzio in the Chronicles of Germanie where men shall finde such plentie of the prayse of Women concerning Chastitie and such loathsomnesse in men concerning their detestable filthie viciousnesse that if there be anie spunke eyther of Grace or Shame left in them let them bow to women and cry Pecaavi and let all such as vnhappilie are fallen into that damnable fact of Blasphemie or rayling or scoffing agaynst Women eyther in word or writ let all such I say blush and bee ashamed and without speedie and publick repentance not onelie confuted but confounded for ever And thus in the just prayse of Women we proceede to another Subject For though I should aske vngratefull man Wherein haue Women not surpassed Men In Good They 'll answere mee I know not when CHAPTER X. Of the great and wonderfull Wisdome in WOMEN to the high Glorie of GOD and great Benefit of Man ANd if our wicked wayward and witlesse Vilependers of Womans Sexe could yet at last begin to consider and looke to the Right hand casting off that blind-board wherewith Satan the fat her of Envy hath so long over-syled blind-folded the eies of their Understanding then might they happilie even to their owne credit and advantage clearlie beholde and confesse the singular Grace of GOD in every degree and in greater measure proceeding more from WOMEN than from Men. And so beeing come to themselues and acknowledging their haynous transgression agaynst this Angelicall Sexe of Women they would not fayle to imitate the Poët Stesichoris who vnadvysedlie STESICHORIS in his verses had rayled agaynst fayre Helene of Greece but when hee IELEN rightlie vnderstood himselfe he recalled all what hee had eyther sayde or written before and wrote excellentlie in her prayse and cōmendation Then why may not mē of such qualitie with Stesichoris turne both Notes Coates since now-a-dayes so manie even of other qualities also willinglie adjoyne their Forces with them Nowe amongst all other gracious Ornaments and ornamentall Heavenlie Graces wherewith Women are accompanied is WISDOME and wherewith even from the Cradle they are still decored and cloathed as is moste manifest as well by the sacred Scriptures as all other true Histories both Ecclesiasticall and Civill And the rayling of men agaynst women showeth them to be the sonnes of cursed cursing Shimei who rayled on blessed blessing David And as David's Blessing returned to himselfe even so did Shimei's Cursing returne vnto himselfe also And so bee it vnto all those cursed men who implore not the Heavens that All Blessing bee vpon WOMAN that MAN may get part Looke to the wisdome of Rebecca GENES 27. who procured her Husband Isaac his blessing vnto Iaakob her youngest son whereas Isaac himselfe was purposed that same verie day to haue bestowed it on Esau his eldest sonne For sillie man as he was blind of bodie so also in mynde and knewe not that it was the LORD'S doing as Rebecca knew that the elder must serue the younger Nowe the men may stay their boasting agaynst Women even by this example of Iaakob and Esau in pleading MATTH 26 of Antiquitie well remembering that the elder must serue the younger For they solde their birth-right for thirtie pieces of Silver and so became portioners with Barabbas that laudable seditious Murderer Agayne if Antiquitie of men may beare anie sway agaynst women I am assured the Devill is more ancient than men being before them And as much as man can thinke himselfe better than woman because he was first I thinke the Devill may as well think such like because Hee was before man I will say nothing heere of the Antiquitie of the Pope and Popish Religion till these mistie muggie vnwholsome vapours of Idolatrie which infect my brayne bee somewhat disabled by the reflex of Titan from his highest Spheare But let vs goe on to our Purpose in showing this great Gift of Wisdome in Women Wyse Abigaill is highlie to be commended and her churlish husband Naball greatlie to bee condemned for his vncharitable dealing with David in his great necessitie Wherby he had almost brought Destruction to himselfe and all his Familie yea and a horrible sinne 1. SAM 25. vpon David had not wyse Abigaill prevented the same in tyme. There was a wyse woman in the besiedged Citie of Abell of Bethmaachah sayeth the Scripture who delivered 2. SAM 20. the distressed Citie even by the confusion of one wicked man who
byte her tender corpse Yet neverthelesse shee shrunke not a jot but the faster that the Serpents did byte her the lowder she cryed I am a Christian I am a Christian looking vp and calling earnestlie to the GOD of Heaven to giue her strength and patience that shee might bee worthie to finish her lyfe to the Glorie of His Name Now her torments lasted so long and shee endured so steadfast that the verie Executioner stood amazed and cut off her head The spectators bewayled her with manie tears and manie at that same houre believed and were casten inte deepe Dungeons Another Virgine called Maxima MAXIMA being so horriblie tormented by Sason prince of Vandals and yet could not be vrged to forsake CHRIST hee let her goe free But manie others which were in Prison hee banished into the Yle of Capsur vnder the king of Mores where they preached the Gospell and afterwards were eaten with wilde people Maximine was a cruell Persecuter of the Christians and tooke his chiefe pleasure in devysing new tormenting Instruments to perplexe them with a languishing death But he was not busier to invent their Sorrow than they were earnestlie readie to suffer all that hee could imagine But especiallie the Women Amongst whom were Dorothea SO PHRONIA DOROTHEA and Sophronia who chose farre rather to drinke out the verie dreggs of the Cup of Death than anie wayes to shrinke a whit from the Confession of the true Fayth And the same GOD which strengthened these Women in all kynde of Martyrdome yea and in the pangues of Death for His Names sake wroght also in the heart of this Tyrant that he was overcome with the constant steadfastnesse in the Religion of these Women In so much that hee caused publish an Edict and proclaymed through all his Empyre That none should molest them in anie thing vpon poene of Death Thus wee clearlie beholde the extraordinarie great loving Mercies of our GOD towards Woman Sexe who hath stil so mightily assisted them even with His Divine Strength to suffer all whatsoever could bee layd vpon them without shrinking vnto the last period of Breath no not in Death it selfe And thus wee proceede The Church Historie maketh mention of an ancient Virgine of Alexandria whom the persecutioner tooke and drew out all her teeth and then A VIRGINE MARTYR her tongue also and brought her to the fire to bee burnt quicke And when they intreated her yet to forsake CHRIST shee resolutelie leaped into the fire and was burnt to powder about the yeare of our LORD 251. About which tyme also was a religious Woman called Coïnth vnnaturallie COÃNTH and filthilie drawne at a horse tayle thorow all the nookes of the Citie of Alexandria And yet continuing steadfast they rent her in pieces with vglie disguysed persons lyke Devils and Death himselfe Socrates telleth that a Temple was SOCRATES LIB 6. CAP. 33. erected in the towne of Edesse in Mesopotamia to the honour of GOD and the Apostle Sainct Thomas in the which the Christians vsed to assemble and offer their sacrifices of prayer prayse and thanksgiving vnto the GOD of Heaven Which when the Emperour Valens vnderstood who was an Arch-enemie to the servants of the true God and an accursed persuer of all such as professed the Name of IESUS hee was wrathfull towards Modestus the chiefe Captayne sent for him and reproved him verie sharplie for suffering the Christians contrarie his will and commandement And gaue him charge on payne of Death and his whole posteritie that the next tyme that the Christians coveaned in Saynct Thomas Church hee should murder them all both young and olde Now this Modestus MODESTUS the chiefe Captayne was a good Man and sent private advertisement to the Christians that vpon their next awonted day of assemblie in Sainct Thomas Church none should bee found there who loved his lyfe Neverthelesse vpon their vsuall day they came to the Church in great numbers to say their Prayers and Modestus making a show to satisfie the Emperours evill purpose was marching thitherwards with a band of armed souldiours and seeing a Christian Woman with a chylde in her armes running towards the Church hee called her saying Vnhappie Woman that thou art whither art thou going Shee answered To the Temple of Saynct Thomas Hast thou not heard tell quoth hee that the Emperour hath commanded mee to slay all that are in the Temple to day Yes shee sayde and therefore I haste mee thitherwardes with my chylde that wee may die with the rest of our Brethren and Sisters This chiefe Captayne seeing the Woman so resolutelie bent with her little one to suffer for the Name of CHRIST returned with his souldiors to the Emperour tolde him what the Woman had sayde and desired rather to suffer Martyrdome himselfe with the Christians than to worke anie thing agaynst them Whereby the Emperour was put from his hellish purpose The Arch-bishop of Saleucia had a Sister called Tharbua who because she THARBUA would not renounce the fayth of IESUS was bound to a post and her Mayde to another and were cut in twayne in the middle with a Saw and never shrunke for the matter And vnder the Reygne of Emperour Adrian there was an holie wyse Matron called Sophia who had three daughters SOPHIâ— which shee saw cruellie executed for the Name of IESUS shee standing by and giving them cowrage to the last gaspe And beeing dead shee buried them with her owne handes without the Citie of Rome giving great prayse vnto GOD glorie and thanks who had made her so happie a Woman that the fruit of her Wombe was so respected of the LORD as to account them worthie to bee of the number of those that suffered for the Name and Glorie of the LORD IESUS But seeing it is not possible for me nor none else to registrate all the steadfast constant Women in Godlinesse Vertue Wisdome Learning Knowledge Cowrage Chastitie and manie other excellent perfections for indeed such a taske would fill the world full of Bookes and yet never bee ended Therefore at this tyme I thinke to conclude this my little Essay to the Honour of GOD and good Women with the ecclesiasticall Historie of the Maccabees Wee reade that two Women were brought in and accused for not observing the manners of the Gentiles because according to the Law of GOD they had circumcised their little ones which hanging on their Mothers breasts they hurried them shamefullie round about the Citie and then both Women and Infants were throwne headlongs downe from the Wall Agayne a Mother with her seaven Sonnes were cruellie and vnhumanelie tortured and also put to Death because they would not forsake the Law of GOD and their fathers And this part of Scripture testifieth That the Woman was marvelous aboue all and worthie of honourable memorie for when shee saw her seaven Sonnes slayne within one dayes space shee bare it with a good cowrage because of the hope
which shee had in the LORD But to vnderstand this Historie the better I pray you reade the seaventh Chapter of the second Booke of Maccabees where it is alreadie most excellentlie set downe even by the Spirit of GOD vnto whom I consecrate my selfe for ever recommend all good Women vnto whom next vnto God I dedicate my mynde since my might is not able to performe what my Muse would fayne amount vnto And to excuse my brevitie I must conclude with Master Taylor That The shortest Writ the greatest Wit affordes And greatest Wit consists in fewest wordes A false ECHO truelie answered The first Summonds Come ECHO I doe thee summon Tell mee truelie What is a Woman ECHO If worne shee is a Feather If wooed shee 's frostie weather If wonne the wind 's not slighter If vexed the Moone 's not lighter If lyen withall shee 's Apish If lyen with none shee 's snappish The ECHO thus replyed But yet mee thought it lyed The second Summonds Come ECHO I thee Summon Tell me once more What 's a Woman ECHO If fayre shee 's coy in courting If wittie loose in sporting If readie shee is loathing If naked shee is nothing If well belov'd shee scornes thee If not belov'd shee hornes thee The Answere And for all good Womens sake This Replye now doe I make If worne shee 's a jewell If wooed shee is not cruell If wonne the Rock's not surer If weyghed the Golde's not purer If lyen withall Delicious If lyen with none not vicious False ECHO goe you lye For this is a Woman truely And for your second Summon I answere for a Woman If fayre shee 's heavenlie Treasure If wittie shee 's all Pleasure If readie farre from Vaynties If naked shee is Daynties If well belov'd shee feares not If not belov'd shee cares not False ECHO goe you lye For this is a Woman truely The Conclusion BLest bee the Heavenlie Powers which brought to light This precious jemme call'd WOMAN Man's Delight This Free-borne Princesse Casket full of Treasure This solid Author of Man's wished Pleasure This harmlesse spotlesse Saynct not knowing evill A Goddesse though prowde man would proue a Devill Why Shee 's a Worke so purelie wrought that Nature Knew not whether 't was more adorn'd with Feature Or with chaste Honestie And this was Shee Fruit of whose wombe fred Man from Miserie For which Shee 's blest that Her Sexe Faults shall fall From small to lesse from lesse to none at all And therefore thus wee may defyne a WOMAN Shee 's louelie faythfull harmlesse false to no man Altho that Man as an incarnate Devill Of Her whom GOD made good would fayne make evill And if sweete Womens loue doe not Men cherish Those that contemne their Sexe with shame shall perish Epilogue THus to avoyde the imputation of Ingratitude which was holden for so haynous an Offence even amongst the Heathen that Periander of Corinth made a Law that whosoever was found vnthankefull having receaved anie Gift should bee put to death Therefore With lowlie Heart and eke with thankfull Mynde I sende my Labours to Good Woman-kynde Indeede what the loftinesse of the Argument requyreth I confesse I haue not attayned vnto Yet haue I bestowed such willing paynes as I was able to vndergoe but nowayes heerein can I satisfie my selfe to doe them Good Neverthelesse I shall holde my selfe recompensed to the full if by anie willingnesse I may reserue the Memorie of Honourable Women in relating the Trueth in Honestie and Wisedome Desiring no more but to find a place for a tyme amongst the pettie Writers of great matters thinking my paynes ever well bestowed if once well accepted no wayes taking vpon mee to Instruct but onelie to Remember Surelie if the poore Persians water in a potsheard was acceptable to the Emperour and an apple from a poore Pessant was receaved by Artaxerxes a great ARTAXERXES ALEXANDER Prince if Alexander tooke water courteouslie from a common Souldiours Helmet and our Saviour crowned the Widow with everlasting prayse for two mytes casten into the Treasurie Then am I assured that your generous dispositions will sparinglie censure and courteouslie receaue these my poore Endeavours Which howsoever they be they be yours so am I Ever wishing To buy the ABATEMENT of mine owne HONOUR with the ritch pryce of WOMANS TRUE GLORIE Concluding with Master GIBSON That It is no BOUNTIE which doth flow from STORE Who giues his Heart what Gift can hee giuE moRe THE Duetie of Husbands Drawne out of MASTER CARTER his Booke of Christian Common-Wealth EPHES. 5. 33. Let everie one of you so loue his Wyfe even as himselfe PROV 31. 11. 12. The Heart of Her Husband doeth safelie trust in Her For Shee will doe him good and not evill all the dayes of his lyfe TO All Good Husbands Good Husbands all receaue in thankfull part This Sacrifice which may my Will approue Upon the Altar of a faythfull Heart Consumed in the Flames of Zeale anâ— Loue. Let Honourable Woman liue for ever In all that Arte that Tyme that Fame can giue hER The Introduction PAtient IOB saying that the whole lyfe of Man was nothing else but a tyme of Temptations spake most fearfullie and yet most truelie for wee are tempted in our olde Age and in our Cradle wee are not free If anie evill bee set before vs wee are easilie provoked vnto it If wee abound with Adam in Paradise there may bee Death in that And if wee want with our Saviour in the Wildernesse there are Temptations in that also So subtile is Satan and so envyous is our Enemie to serue himselfe even vpon all occasions In the former age of the World hee wrought and prevayled with Men by bringing in Errours of Mynde and Doctrines of Devils to seduce the Church But now the cleare light of the Gospell beeing come in and Knowledge abounding hee laboureth to bring in Errour of lyfe and depravitie of Conversation for that notwithstanding men know their Masters will yet they performe it not that all meanes possible ought to bee vsed for the Reformation of these so notorious and knowne Evills yea everie man to put a hand to this worke amongst the number of which I haue brought foorth this my poore Talent to the fartherance thereof that wee married Men may stryue yet with our Arch-enemie and through the assistance of GOD'S Spirit giue him the foyle even by showing our vpright duetie towardes our Wyues and our wyues towards vs in the true loue and feare of GOD. As for these contentious objectours and barkers agaynst the Moone I weygh not Shepheardes Cow-heardes and Clownes haue writen good thinges yea Divyne matters Why then may not I show my good will desiring no other Reward nor Thankes for my paynes but onlie good acceptance And so I goe forwardes to thE WoRke The Duetie of Husbands THE FIRST CHAPTER THis Duetie of Husbands is sayd to bee the first Degree which GOD gaue vnto Man after his creation for when