be crown'd Her vessells all with oyle doth ouerflow And ceased not vntill the woman said My vessells all are full and then it staid 51 Then came she to the man of God and told The blessings which she had receiu'd that day Eliah said straight let the oyle be sold Wherewith thou mai'st thy creditors go pay And as the Lord this day thy state hath blest So keepe thy selfe children with the rest 52 The faithfull Shunamite deserueth well To be recorded with this sacred crue Who did the holy man of God compell To eate with her at euery season due And seriously her husband doth inuite To build a roome where he might lodge all night 53 Wherefore Eliah prayed vnto the Lord She being barren and her husband olde To make her fruitfull and he doth accord The Prophet cald the Shunamite and told For this good deed which thou to me hast done Thou shalt conceiue eke bring forth a son 54 And in due time this miracle was wrought By his great power that rules the starrie skie A ioyfull sonne into the world she brought Which shortly after happened to die Hereby to show his loue doth neuer cease To life he doth this child from death release 55 What title shall I giue this happy Queene Whose sacred worth her state doth far exceed No eare hath heard nor waÌ„dring eye hath seen An act more bloudy then is here decreed Her people all should be destroyd and slain Whose prayer and fasting did their liues obtaine 56 Of Prouinces one hundred twenty seuen The Iews should die the King had giueÌ„ seald Which was opposed by the powerfull heauen And at this gracious Queenes request repeal'd And to a shamefull end the man she brought That should this bloudy massacre haue wrought 57 Thus Hester by the Lords out stretched arme Who neuer failes them that in him doe trust Preseru'd her people from this wofull harme And brought their foes euen down in the dust For as they thought the Iewes to deale withall The same reuenge vpon their heads did fall 58 When Sarah whom her fathers maides dispise Was ouercome with hearts oppressing griefe Vnto the Lord for succour strait she flies Who heard her prayer granted her releife And husband of his grace he doth ordaine which into mirth her mourning turn'd again 59 If wisdome valor worth and zeale were lost And this rare patterne onely did remaine The world can scarce of such another boast Whereby it might redeeme them all againe Who by her prayer obtain'd from Gods high hand To saue a Cittie and preserue a Land 60 First dust and ashes on her head she throwes And all in sackcloth she doth fast and pray Then into Olofernes campe she goes Where she this famous Captaine doth betray With courage stout wisdom rare she vs'd His head she brought which al the land excus'd 61 Then did she call the Elders of the Towne Saying behold what God for you hath done With stately wreathes they did her straight way crowne And euery where with shoutes of ioy did run The riches great of Olofernes tent With one accord they doe to her present 62 Thus while she was extold and magnifi'd Whom euery eie with wonder did behold Vnto the Temple of the Lord she hi'd And off'ring all this wealth of plate and gold With humble zeale before the Alter bowes Vnto the Lord thus perform'd her vowes 63 A mirrour of a chast religious wife Is faire Susanna being fore distrest Who rather chose to loose her dearest life Then yeild vnto the Elders vild request Loe thus resolu'd aloud for helpe did cry And false accus'd she is condemned to die 64 But see how God did graciously prouide To saue this woman by a childes decree Who did the Elders seuerally deuide And found them both in seuerall tales to be For which vnworthy deed their liues they pay To her great honor who they did betray 65 A woman more then wonderfull behold Whose resolutions so vndanted are As by no earthly power can be control'd More permanent then any fixed starre Within the Spheare of that celistiall round To whom fames trumpet giues the loudest sound 66 Seuen sons she had who by the Kings coÌ„mand Because they would not his behests obey To violate the custome of their land Were all adiudg'd their dearest liues to pay By sundry tortures which she seeing plaine Imboldned them still constant to remaine 67 When six of them the Tirant had destroy'd He wild his mother moue the seuenth to turne That so he might this cruell death auoid In stead whereof she bids him boldly burne And Martyr-like the Tirants rage defie Thus with his brothers he doth brauely die 68 Like Hecuba for death of Pryam old The mother now all tearmes of life defi'd VVith courage greater then Sheuola bold And thus this euer honored Martir di'd Where we wil leaue theÌ„ to the world to mourn And to our Grandame Eue againe returne 69 And there behold the race poore man had run VVhen God Angells did him both forsake Fit for precipice thou wert vndone And could'st no way a good attonment make Till this rare creature thou dispisest so VVas chosen out to mittigate thy woe 70 Assist me now ye sacred Sisters nine That I with reuerence may her praises sing VVho was elected by the powers deuine A sanctifi'd and blessed birth to bring VVhen man to sin was subiect to thrall Became a sweet redemption for vs all 71 For euer blessed be that glorious name Which God Angells haue pronounced blest FroÌ„ whose deare loins our happy Sauiour came That to the world brought loue ioy peace and rest And did not spare his precious bloud to spil Condemned mans saluation to fulfill 72 All honor praise and glory due be done To her whose seed hath conquered death hel A happy mother of a royall sonne Before whose throne she doth in glory dwell Where she with Angells Ark-angells sings Sweet haleluiah to the King of Kings 73 This blessed woman if I could not find An other subiect to defend their case Might well perswade men if they were not blind With enuious malice vold of humaine grace To striue as much their honor to maintaine As they pursue theÌ„ with such foule disdaine 74 A second Mary doth this first succeed Whose loue zeale throughout the world is spred The teares would make a marble heart to bleed VVhich for her deare deceased Lord she shed Deep plung'd in woes in sorows great opprest Her minde amaz'd her sences dispossest 75 In this sad passion to the place she goes VVhereas she thought our blessed Sauiour lay No pen so dolefull can expresse her woes VVhen she perceiu'd the body stolne away A fresh she wept down her head she hung Like lapwings that are robbed of their yong 76 The precious ointment that with her she brought That glorious body to imbâ—lme and keepe She nought respects since it was gon she
THE WORTH OF WOMEN LONDON Printed by William Iones dwelling in Red-crosse streete 1622. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE VERTVOVS AND TRVE RELIGIous Dame the Ladie ANNE WENTWORTH MAruell not Madam that I haue made choice Of you amongst all other Princely Dames Whose secret vertue challengeth each voice And my poore zeale beyond all ethers flames The first oblation of my morning Muse Lo here I offer at your sacred Shrine Which if you please but graciously peruse And sanctifie with those pure starres diuine Whose radiant rayes and bright reflecting flame May purifie the most impolisht rhime And bearing but the Liuery of your name Shall liue despight the cankred iawes of time And flourish like the euerliuing Bay When monuments of Marble shall decay Your Ladiships humble and deuoted seruaut Richard Ferrers To the curious Readers SVspend your iudgements censure not in haste But ere you iudge the first first see the last May 28. 1622. THE WORTH OF WOMEN 1 MY infant Muse that slept in silence long Resolu'd no more her vntun'd notes to sing Asham'd to heare the ignominous wrong Detracting idle heads did daily bring Vpon that noble sexe of women-kinde Prepar'd her selfe some Antidote to fince 2 Within an humble valley where she lay That was with loftie hils inuiron'd round Through which a pleasant christal brook did play With pibble stones that roled on the ground Where chirping birds melodiously did sing To entertaine the sweet refreshing Spring 3 There Philomela did bewaile the rape Of wicked Terius that incestuous King And louely Laeda in her Swan-like shape Hid her blacke foote vnder her snowie wing The matelesse Turtle you might also see Sit mourning by vpon a Willow tree 4 Vindictiue Progne by her selfe alone Vpon an old decayed Trunke did keepe Vnder the which Halcyone did moane Vpon a bush whose dolefull note was Weepe And Pyres daughters in those pleasant vaies Would oft be chattering prety wanton tales 5 From hence among the lowly Mirtle boughes Oretopt with Pines and loftie Cedars tall She pearcht her selfe and made a stately rouze Wherewith a quill she from her wing let fall Intending now to take a higher flight She bids me make a pen sit downe write 6 Which I obeying had no sooner done But all the carping-critick-squint-eyd rout Like dogs to carion did about me runne And fortie faults in twentie words found out Each seuerall humour must his censure giue And at their verdict I must die or liue 7 Their great god Momus did no sooner spie My books rich title but in heart repining Began to draw his goodly mouth awrie As if his worship had on Plaice bin dining Reades some few lines in a furious snuffe Casts it aside and sweares 't is simple stuffe 8 Which Zoilus straight snatcheth vp againe And viewing but a vertuous womans name Cries fie vpon this poore mans silly vaine To reade his booke it were a burning shame Whereat the rout of giddie headed geese Did all bestow at least a word a peece 9 One cries a woman is composde of feather Another sweares their faith is like the winde A third their zeale is made of frostie weather The fourth a chaste one neuer yet could finde A fig for these since better spirits know Saue ignorance true knowledge hath no fo 10 Emboldned thus my daring Muse goes on Attir'd with naked Truths vnspotted robe And Eagle-like beholds the dazeling Sunne Euen in the Apogean of his globe To teach these Criticks that haue err'd in this To know hereafter what a woman is 11 Know then the woman God did first create And with the man in Paradise did place Was for an helpe when he was desolate Coequall with him in the state of grace Out strait cries the multitude 't was she That pluckt the fruit frō the forbidden tree 12 Euen heere this rable haue deuis'd a lie The Serpent pluckt she gaue the man to eate VVho had free will this weake attempt to flie Knowing the heauy vengeance God did threat VVhat time soeuer hee this fruite did taste That he should die the death be displac't 13 Which surely followed for when God did call For Adam as he vsually had done He now perceiuing his most wretched fall From his all-seeing presence would haue run But finding no escape cry'd out and said I heard thy voice O Lord and was afraid 14 VVhy hast thou eate of the forbidden tree Which I cōmanded thee thou shouldst not stir He said the woman hath deceiued me She pleades the Serpent had beguilled her Whē God in iustice saw their fault was euen Both with a curse from Paradise were driuen 15 Yet shortly after see how God did blesse Obedient Sarah Abrahams faithfull wife And fruitfull made her aged barrennesse Euen in her latter dying daies of life A son she doth conceiue within her wom be From whom shall Kings realmes nations come 16 A blessed mother of a chosen sonne VVith whom the Lord hath promised he will Establish his couenant now beguune VVhich Isack is ordained to fulsill And as with him saith God I haue decreed So after him for euer with his seed 17 This promise God inuiolate will hold Which to confirme he doth Rebeccha chuse A vertuous woman more esteem'd then gold Whom Isack for his wife doth not refuse From Esau she the blessing did obtaine To Iacob where the couenant doth remaine 18 And as to Isack so did God prouide For Iacob faithfull women full of zeale Rahell and Leah are to him affi'de With whom the Lord most graciously doth deale For being barren by their prayers conceiue Childrē which they vnto successe shal leaue 19 Though wicked Pharoh strictly did command The Mid wiues all men children to destroy This practise they would neuer take in hand But did his vild iniunction disobey And durst no child of his deare life depriue But fearing God preseru'd them all aliue 20 Whereat the King with anger them pursues Saying How durst you my cōmandmēt break Which matter they so wisely did excuse As that the King had not a word to speake Wherfore God prosper'd thē in all things wel And built thē houses wherin they might dwel 21 Now see how God miraculously wrought By Pharohs daughter this poore child to saue Who vnto her by stratagem was brought Euen by the mercie of a senslesse waue She fearing nought her father 's sterne decree Gaue straight cōmand it should preserued be 22 And by the secret prouidence of God This infant to his mother doth commend The miracle effected by his rod His poore oppressed people to defend The Oceans parting testifieth most Wherein did perish Pharoh and his hoast 23 Behold the Lord a woman chuseth out In all the towne his secret Spies to hide Who being straight examin'd thereabout With constant zeale she seruently denide And closely them into a roofe conuayd Who otherwise their liues had surely payd 24 And euen about the deadest time of night Out at a window she
doth them conuay And to the woods aduisd them take their flight That so the spies might misse them on the way For which good deed as God had thē inspir'd They faithfully performe what she desir'd 25 His care of women he doth here expresse With speciall charge the widowes to defend And not to hurt the children fatherlesse For I shall heare saith he their cries ascend Then with the sword I wil your liues bereaue And children orphants with your widows leaue 26 A most renowned woman next we find A famous Iudge and sacred Prophetesse She vnto euery Israelite assign'd His equall portion were it more or lesse Vnder a Palme in Ephraim she abode And iudg'd according to the will of God 27 To field she doth the Prophet Barak call Against the King of Canans mightie band Foretelling him that Sisera should fall For God will surely giue him to thine hand And Barak answering said I will not go Except thou likewise go with me also 28 Then Deborah with Barak went along Vnto mount Tabor where a while they stay Till Sisera with men and chariots strong Did call him downe where Deborah did say To Barak feare not God for thee doth fight And Sisera this day shall put to flight 29 But to a woman he shall giue the fame For thy weake faith which else thee was due The wife of Heber Iael was her name That with a naile this famous Captaine slue For which the Lord hath said she shal be blest Aboue all women that in tents doe rest 30 Thus God deliuered Canan to the hands Of Israel to Deborahs great fame Who while their townes depopulated stands An happy mother she to them became For many kings went forth with her to fight And Israell grew happy in her sight 31 A cheerful song she with the King doth strait Vnto her God with warbled notes record Hearken ô Kings giue eare you Princes great The mountaines melted from before the Lord Yea euen Sinai at his voice did melt The heauens did drop the earth his thunder felt 32 The wife of Monoah being barren long God by his Angells most diuinely blest With such a sonne as is not found among The Nazarites with heauenly strength possest Where with he shal begin to break the bands And Israell saue from the Philistians hands 33 Now Monoah as the Angell did commaund Vnto the Alter with his offering came Where while it burnt his wife he did stand The Angell loe ascended in the flame And Monoah told his wife there standing by We haue seene God and wee shal surely die 34 The faithfull woman comforts him and saies And if the Lord intended vs to kill He would not then accept the thanks praise Wee offer here according to his will Now God did blesse this child to be a man And made him mighty in the host of Dan. 35 Of Naomy and Ruth what tongue can tell The tender loue they each to other beare Together would they goe together dwell Together they the Lord did serue and feare Together they would laugh together cry Together liue and eke together die 36 And Naomy with feruent zeale did pray Vnto the Lord that of his mercie great He would on Ruth his louing fauour lay Who heard her prayer from his tribunall seate And graciously his blessings he bestowes As she was gleaning in the field of Boez 37 A mightie man with riches great possest VVhom God inspired with an ardent flame Of faithfull loue which could not be supprest Vntill an husband he to Ruth became Frō whō by his decree whose acts are wise A blessed generation doth arise 38 A liuely patterne of rare faith indeed In barren Hannah we may here behold With teares which frō a contrite heart proceed Vnto the Lord she doth her griefe vnfold VVith feruent prayer she might a son obtain Vowing to giue him to the Lord againe 39 God heard her praier and granted her request She doth conceiue and eke bring forth a sonne Wch brought her discontēted thoughts to rest She magnifide the Lord for what was done And to the Altar where all knees do bow She brought the child there performd her vow 40 A true Idea of a vertuous wife In Abigail is worthily exprest VVho by her wisedome sau'd her husbands life From Dauids iust reuenge and all the rest Whē he had vowd of Nabals house there shal Not one be left to pisse against the wall 41 And shortly after God did Nabal smite VVith sicknesse whereof presently he died Then Dauid said Blest be the God of might That hath my hands to shed his blood denide By her aduice whose loue he now pursues And for her vertue to his wife doth chuse 42 Vnspotted Tamar in a brothers power On whō she thought she might her life depend Whilst he inhumanely did her defloure See how she mourns for what she cānot mend Her clothes the rent dust ashes throws Vpon her head thus desolate she goes 43 Bathsheba by the Prophet is inspir'd To moue the King that Salomon might raigne Alone no doubt the highest heauens desir'd Ordaining her the subiect to obtaine VVhich well appear'd by his diuine successe God did with wisedom riches honor blesse 44 So rare that from the wild Arabian south The Queene of Sheha iournied many daie s To learne sage wisdom frō that sapie nt mouth To her immortall euerlasting praise which whē she did with wonder great behold She gaue him spices precious stones gold 45 And blest saith she be God which doth delight In thee O King and of his mercy great That so his people may be iudg'd aright Hath thee inuested in the iudgment seate This womā shal saith God in iudgment rise Against those people did their Lord despise 46 How highly God of women doth esteeme The widow of Sarepta sheweth plaine which widow poore the Lord doth worthy deeme The holy man Eliah to fustaine When famine sore the country did oppresse By miracle he doth this woman blesse 47 A little oyle she had within a cruse And meale likewise to make a cake withall VVhereby herselfe she iustly doth excuse Vnto the Prophet who for bread doth call Loe this is all is left my sonne and I VVhich I am dressing we may eate and die 48 Eliah said woman be not afraid Make first a cake and bring it vnto me The meale is in thy barrell God hath said Nor yet the oyle shall euer wasted be Vntil the time the Lord doth send forth raine The earth with plenty to possesse againe 49 And she vnto Eliah brought a cake Then for her selfe sonne did likewise dresse And many daies did this prouision make And yet her meale and oyle was not the lesse And to confirm her faith stil more more Her sonne deceast he doth to life restore 50 An other widow straight the Lord hath found On whom he doth most plenteously bestow A miracle for euer to
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