raised them as lasting Monuments as men can pretend to In honour to whose worthy memories we shall adorn this Work with the Names of some modern Ladies that have been famous this way mostly of our own Nation Pembroâ—k may boast to have had Mar the Incomparable Sister of the famous sir Philip Sidher to it's Coanâ—â—â— whose Name and Memory shall ever have in his 〈◊〉 which was 〈…〉 Virtuous Inclinations to Poetry and other Ingenuities There is extant of her Writings the Tr. of Antonius and Albions Triumph some others are named but supposed to be lost or in private hands The Lady Mary Wroth the Virtuous wife of Sir Robert Wroth was an Emulatress of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia by her Vrania a Poetical History much of the same Nature being a very curious piece tho not meeting with the like general reception Ann Askew the Daughter of Sir William Askew of Lincolnshire is remembered among the Ingenious Ladies for divers things she wrote in Verse and Prose she is described to have been of a singular Beauty Virtue and Ingenuity but above all to be Admired for her Constancy and Courage in 〈◊〉 asserting the Protestant Religion against almost a whole Nation of Popery and Dâ—iâ—g for that Faith suffering as a glorious Martyr in the flames under the bloody Maryan Reign The Lady Bacon one of the four Daughters of Sir Anthony Cook The other Burleige the Ladies three were the Lady Russel and Killegrew of whose Genius in Poetry whatever hath been extant there is the Testimony of the famoâ—s Sir John Hâ—rrington on their Part who in his Alegacy upon the thirty seventh Book of his 〈◊〉 Orlando Fâ—riâ—◠〈◊〉 gives them all a very large Character for Learning and particularly for Poetry The Lady Elizabeth Carrew wrought the Tragedy of Mariam a very curious Piece Elizabethâ— Jioanna Westonia is by the Learned Farnby esteemed as a very Wife Ingenious Lady insomuch that for her Poetry and other Accomplishments he blushes not to rank her with Sir Thomas Moor Drury Alabaster and other English Writers of Latin Poetry The Lady Jane Gray Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk whom we have already mentioned took much delight in Divine Poetry almost as soon as she understood Letters Margaret Dutchess of New-castle a very Charitable and obliging Lady to the World very copiously imparted to publick view her Elaborate Works in three large Volumes one of Orations another of Philosophical Dramatick and other kind of Notions and Discourses and the third of Poetry not forgeting to make her own and her Lord's Fame live when Monuments shall crumble into Dust. And amongst those of lower rank tho no less excellent in this Art we find Mrs. Katharine Philips to whose worth in Poetry the Nation has deservedly given a large applause her Works are of a fresh date and worthy the peâ—â—sal of young Ladies to which for their more ample satisfaction we refer them Anae Brâ—â—dstreet a New-England Poetress who writ so curiously that she was called the tenth Muâ—e sprung up in America she amongst other things excellently described the four Elements the four Humours the four Ages the four Seasons and the four Monarchies Astera Behen a Dramatick Poetress whose well known Plays have been every taking she was a retained Poetress to one of the Theatresses and writ besides many curious Poems but what exceeded the rest was that famous one upon the Death of King Charles II. which notwithstanding divers were written by the best Poets of the age carried the Bays from them all in the Opinions of the Judicious so that we may see would Ladies bend their Talents this way they might be capable of equaling if not exceeding the men and one main advantage they would gain by it by being armed for the Encountering their Satyrâ— Pasquils Lampoons c. and by matching them not only in Vindicating their Sex but in exposing the â—olly and malice of their adversaries they would keep them in such awe that the number of false aspersions and câ—lumnies would be lessened and dwindling away by degrees they would at length be disencumbered of all unjust reproaches so that they would see a wonderful change and reformation in their manners by reducing the stubborn Sex to their former Placableness and setling them in a temper that may make them highly esteem what they once durst seem to dispise and trample on for what can it be imputed less when out of a fantastick or malitious Humour they libel Virtue and to make themselves a little pastime among Fools and Bussoons or to satisfy a spleen for being refused in their aspiring to what their Merits could no ways reasonably pretend they dip their Pâ—â—s in Gall and Wormwood and sprinkle it in a bitter manner to blot â—nd fully Modesty Chastity Sobriety Piety and all that can render a Woman lovely and admirable the which aspersion tho never so false is greedily suckle in with the common air by the ignorant and unthinking Vulgar and passes current because they hear not what the party can say in vindication of her self to undeceive them by detecting the bussoonery or malice of the Inditer which if ingeniously done would not only nonpluâ— but shame the scandaliser so that the arrows he shot to wound the Reputation of another would be forceably driven back upon himself and make him â—â—n able what it is to feel his own Weapons Points which would have only tickled his Fancy with a sit of laughter had they not missâ—â— their aim some there are that have been met wiâ—hal and overmatch'd by such replies to their reflections that they have not only desisted to make any further attempts of that kind upon the Fair Sex but been so far shamed of their bâ—jaded Muse ever after that they dust not trust so much as a diâ—ick to pâ—ep abroad in the World unless in such an Owl-light of obscurity that only a Privado or Confident who handed it about could charge the Author with it Poetry at leasure hours is a very curious Recreation if it be on worthy Subjects nay it Elevates and Illuminates the Mind to an high degree of Befining it and spreads a comfortable heat through every part it is an enemy to sadness and melancholly and reaches at more than it can express it represents the Idea of things done many ages past so lively that the Readers immagine they see them present it has a power over tears and laughter and can compel them as occasion requires it exhilerates and brightens the Soul with number and harmony and is the very Soul of Eloquence it has an insinuating faculty to please the most sower and mâ—rose temper tho for Colour and show they may seem to be outwardly displeased at it therefore Ladies if it be used as you ought you cannot have a better Companion except Divinity in your Retirements As Pictures represent the Images of things to the Mind by the Eye Poetry must do it much livelier by the Ear and if such things as are
Kidneys Take of the middle rind of the Root of Asiâ— bruised two pound Juniper-Berries bruised three pound Venice-Tâ—â—pentine of the bell two pound and a half put these into twelve pints of Spring-water in a Glass-Vessel well closed and there let them purifie in Horse-doing three Months then distill them in Ashes and there will come forth an Oyl and a Water seperate the one from the other ten of twelve drop being taken of this Oyl every Morning in four or six spoonfuls of the said Water dissolves the Stone and Gravel in the Kidneys most wonderfully An excellent Water for the Worms Take of Worm-seeds bruised eight ounces the shaving of Harts-horn two ounces of Peach-flowers dry'd an ounce of Aloes bruised half an ounce pour on these the Waters of Tansie Rue Peach-flowers and of Wormwood of each a pint and half let them be digested in a Glass-Vessel three days then distill them cohobate this Water three times This Water may be given from half an ounce to three ounces according to the Age and Strength of the Person In the Second Part of the Ladies Dictionary I shall insert the Receipts of several pretious Waters and their Use which I have receiv'd from the Fair-Sex and which were never yet made publick Dells are young bucksom Wenches ripe and prone to Venery but have not yet been debauch'd Dresses for Persons of different Qualities There are Robes of Distinction which are clasped on Subordinate Magistrates both innocent and laudable in themselves and are expressive of the Dignity and Office of such as wear them Thus we read that Severus allowed his Judges Gowns to 〈◊〉 in publick Judgment and others to wear at home in their private Houses Our very Quakers were never so impudent to affront the Scarlet of the Judge or Praetor It is lawful and in some respects necessary that Kings Princes and Magistrates especially in the solemn Exercise of their proper and respective Offices be distinguished by their Robes from private Persons and from each other All civiliz'd Nations have so unanimously concurred in this Distinction that we may receive it as the dictate of Nature the vote of Universal Reason Jehosaphat wore his Royal Robes tho the wearing them once had like to have cost him dearer than the matter and making Solomon's outward Glory was the Admiration of the Queen of Sheba and yet when he shone in all his external Lustre and Splendor was not array'd like the Lily of the Field Mat. 6. which glorify'd only in the Bravery of Nature's own Spinning So short are the finest works of Art of the coursest manufacture and meanest pieces of the God of Nature The Famous Burleigh when at Night coming weary home from the Croud and Business of the Court and pulling off his Gown was usually heard to say to it Lye there Lord Treasurer And indeed when we remember what Cares the Robe of State are lined with we shall have little Reason to suspect those of much Pride that bear them The same dispensation doubtless extends to each Order and Decree of the Royal Household It being not so Honourable for Princes like him of the Air to be attended on by a Black-Guard When the Queen of the South took her tedious Journey to hear the Wisdom of Solomon 't is expresly said The attendance of his Ministers and their Apparel was so glorious that it ravish't away her Spirit passaest Ecstasin saith Junius there was no more spirit in her She fell into a trance to view so glittering a Court where the great King as the Sun the chief Ministers as the Planets of the first magnitude and each inferiour Officer as the minor Stars the very least had his Splendor but all together were as our Saviour expresseth it Solomon in all his Glory Surrounded with all his Nobles and Councellors and Attendants each one in his Sphere contributing to the Glory of so great a Constellation Indeed God arrayed Solomon in the brightest Robes of Royalty with full design to make him the most illussious Prince that he might unrobe him again and make him the most experienc'd Preacher that all Princes to the Worlds end might have the Word of a King to assure them how much vanity attends the Courts of the most Magnificent Potentates and how little satisfaction or SoulAcquiescence himself had found in all the Grandeurs of State But above all how remarkable is the crowding of at least forty Dukes of the Progeny of Esau whom God hated into one short Chapter justling them together three or four into one line seven or eight of them into two Duke Teman Duke Omar Duke Zepho Duke Kenaz c. their whole story lost in the air of an empty Title their Persons and Hopes entred together in the dark vault of eternal Oblivion while yet above a dozen Chapters are proved in the deciphering out the Excellencies of but one younger Son of a Plain man that dwelt in Tents and gives us the exact memories of his whole life and actions to the Grave Gen 37. to 50. However we may judge charitably of those whom rather Reason and Necessity of State than any natural Inclination to the folly does exact from them a more gay and splendid Appearance and Dress Dairies c. I must now speak something of Dayries for the better satisfaction of the Gentlewomen both in City and Country that so the one might the better understand the practice in the Country and the other being delighted with her own experience may give a full consent to the Truth of what we shall deliver In the first place the Kinâ— must be of the best Choice and Breed that can poâ—â—â—bly be procured the larger the Cow is the better she is The Signs of a Cow that gives good Milk are a wreathed Horn a thin Neck and a full Udder But above all things the good Housewife must be sure the Bull be of as good a Breed as the Kine themselves And it is very good counsel that if at any time you buy any Kine to increase your Dairy you must be careful that they do not come from a Soil that is more fruitful than your own but that rather they come into a better Pasture for then they will prosper and thrive with you when otherwise they will pine away and fall into Diseases as Piâ—ing of Blood and other Inconveniences Those Kine are said to give most Milk which have but lately Calved If a Cow gives at once but one Gallon at a time and that constantly she may pass very well for a good Milch Cow The best time for a Cow to Calve in is the latter end of February and in the Months of March and April for then the Grass is either coming on or springeth up in 〈…〉 goodness The best and most approved hours for â—â—lâ—ing are in the Spring and â—ummer betwixt five and six in the Morning and about 〈◊〉 of the Clock in the Evening And remember it is the worst 〈…〉 that can 〈…〉 Cow half
that aspiring Priest with the Queen that he was not so much as Repremanded for goâ—ng about to Murder under a pretext of Law the best of Princesses and Sister to his Soveraign Every day they Laboured to bring her to destruction for no other reason but that she was a Protestant Once the boards were fir'd under her Lodgings and whilst she was at Woodstock under the Guard of one Sir Henry Beddingfield whom she called her Goaler a Russian belonging to him attempted to murther her but was prevented At another time Gardiner sent one to dispatch her but Beddingfield being gone to London had left strict order with his Brother that none should see or speak with her till his return So that the Villain fearing his Bloody purpose was discovered returned without success Her Sister dying and she coming to the Crown never was Queen or King more beloved by Subjects nor shined more Glorious in the Actions of a Reign And when her Clandestin Enemies were defeated they brought by their Solicitations the power of Spain against her whose Invincible Armada was destroyed almost without fighting upon the rumour of this Invasion She led her Army into the Field in Person And riding through her Camp at Tilbury with her Leaders-Staff She made this Encouraging Oration worthy of so Heroick a Queen Even my Good People We have been perswaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we commit our selves to Armed Multitudes for fear of Treachery but I assure you I do not desire to live to mistrust my Faithful and Loving People Let Tyrants fear I have ever so well behaved my self that under God I have always placed my Chief Strength and Safeguard in the Loyal Hearts and Good Wills of my Subjects And therefore I am come among you as you see at this times Not for my Recreation and Disport but being resolved in the midst and heat of the Battel to Live or Dye among you to lay down for my God and for my Kingdom and for my People mine Honour and my Blood Even in the Dust. I well know that I have the Body but of a Weak and Feeble Woman but I have a Heart of a King yea of a King of England too And I think it a Scorn that Parma or Spain or any Prince in Europe should dare to Invade the Borders of my Realm to which rather than any Dishonour shall grow by me I my self will take up Arms I will be your General and Judge and the Rewarder of every one of your Virtues in the Field I know already for your forwardness you have deserved Rewards and Crowns and We do assure you on the word of a Princess that shall be duly paid 〈◊〉 In the mean time my â—eutenant General Leicester shall be in my stead than whom never Princess Commanded a more Noble and Worshire Subject not doubting but by your obedience to your General your Concord in the Camp and your Valour in the Field We shall shortly have a famous Victory over these Enemies of my God of my Kingdom and of my People Elizabeth our Famous Queen when the Fleet she sent against Spain was ready to set Sail made this Pious Prayer for their Success which for an Example to others we have inserted Elizabeth Queen of England her Prayer MOst Omnipotent Maker and Guider of the World that only Searchest and Fathomest the bottom of our Hearts and in thom 〈◊〉 the true Originals of all 〈◊〉 intended Actions that by thy foresight do'st truely discerâ— how that no Malice of Revenge nor requital of Injury 〈◊〉 desire of Blood-shed nor greediness of Gain hath bred 〈◊〉 Resolution of setting forth 〈◊〉 Army and Navy but a careful Providence and way Watch that no neglect of Foâ—â— or over-surety of Heaven might breed either Danger 〈◊〉 us or Glory to them 〈◊〉 being our true Grounds 〈◊〉 humbly beseech thee with bended knees to prosper this great Work and with the best 〈◊〉 winds guide the Voyage speed the Victory and make the Return to be the Advancement of thy Glory the Triumph of their Fame and a means of surety to the Realm with the least loss of English Blood To these Devout Petition 's Lord give thy Blessed Grant c. Nor was this Prayer fruitless for the Fleet in a short time returned with Victory and Rich Spoils taken from the Enemy in divers places and were always Triumphant on the Ocean during her Reign Ever it was observed in this Great and Glorious Queen that in all her Victories and Successes she was never swelled or pussed with Ambition or vain Glory but Atributing nothing to herself Gave all the Glory to God 〈◊〉 is the alone Giver of Victories who by weak things can Confound the Insulting Pride and Boasts of Power and by a few lay Innumerable Armies in the Dust. Elizabeth Couper An Example of Christian Courage and Piety Elizabeth Couper being a very Religious Woman in the way of the Reformed Worship in King Edward the Sixths Reign Was however afterwards through Temptation Perswasion and Fear prevailed with to Sign a Recantation at St. Andrews Church in Norwich after which she scarce got home before she found her Spirits so afflicted that she was scarce able to support herself and the Agony of her Mind all that Night she was restless and though she prayed to God she could find no sweet influence of his Holy Spirit refreshing her afflicted Soul She laboured under this anguish for a time but perceiving it increased upon her more and more even almost to be Intolerable she resolved rather to hazard her life than to continue under the Almighties displeasure and so went to the same Church and openly Renounced her Recantation for which she was sent to Prison and soon after found herself full of Joy and so continued with a Christian Courage till she Sealed the Testimony of her Faith with her Blood Elizabeth a King of Hungaries Daughter and Wife to Lewis the Landigrave of Tharengia Amidst the Pomps and Glories that Replenished the Court was so Humble Modest and Meek that she put off her costly Apparel and in disguise made it her Business to Visit and Relieve the Necessities of the Poor and when she went to her Devotions she laid aside her Greatness and declining from her State went and kneeled among the poorer sort of People After the death of her Husband she retired from Populous Cities with a small Train of Attendance and even thinking them too many quited all and 〈◊〉 her Fathers House that the King of Heaven might be delighted in her Beauty She went on a Pilgrimage giving her Riches and Ornaments to relieve the necessities of the Poor except so much as built for their relief an Hospital and some small matter to endow it wherein she in Person upon her return Ministered to the Sick and was very diligent that nothing should be wanting that might contribute to their Relief and Recovery Her Father â—â—ill being on the Regal
it as first jump into their empty Sculls It being presumed that when the distance was so great the Advance must be on her side or the other would not have had presumption enough to attempt it so that she is rather blamed than pittyed too frequently we must confess such matches have been clapt up and proved very unforâ—â—â—â—te VViddows the premises seriously weighed and considered ought if they intend for marriage to be very deliberate and cautious in their choice for when Virgins who are not presumed so capable of Understanding and therefore sooner deceived are acquitted they will be censured if they miscarry therefore it is their main concern well to Ballance their minds and to see that their Passion gain not the Ascendant over their reason Let them likewise consider their Opinions in point of Religion for that many times though it should be the very cement of Peace and Union manâ— times makes a difference and opens wide breaches to disputes and those to jarring and those jarrings let in discontent It is certainly very uncomfortable that those who have so closely combined all their other Interests should in the greatest be disunited when one House and one Bed holds those which one Church cannot And then again another Mischief is the Servants according to their different perswasions bandy into Leagues and Parties so that it terribly shakes if not uttterly destroys the Concord that should create a happiness in the Family We find another particular in which any great disproportion is to be avoided and that is inequality of Years for the Humours of Age and Youth so widely differ that extraordâ—nary skill is required to compose the discord into a harmony when an Old Man Marries a young Woman here is usually Jealousies on the one part and loathings on the other and if there be not a large degree in both or at least in one party of discretion there must unavoidably follow perpetual disagreements which by a suitable choice might be avoided But in this case that does not often happen among those we are now speaking of we confess the Avarice of Parents many times force Virgins upon such Matches but Widdows who for the most part are at their own discretion to chuse rarely make such Elections commonly the inequality falling on the other side they to satisfy their Desires Allure young Men to them with their Riches yet soon see their Folly in doing it and are punished for their dorage It is indeed strange that those who should be preparing to make their Beds in the Dust should think of a Nuptial Couch A Philosopher being demanded what was the fittest time for Marrying gravely replyed The young should not Marry yet and the Old not at all The Wise Man considering the Follies and deplorable condition of such Doaters asks the question viz. Who will pity a Châ—rmer when bitten by a Serpent Eccl. 12.13 How can any one of years if Reason be consulted flatter her self with her feeble Charms to fix the giddy Appetite of Youth but when these things are transacted Reason is not called to the Council Lust and an Infatiable desire joyned with Folly and precipitated rashness and give their Votes to humour a present Appetite no fatal Warnings the Carier to misery yet one would think but thinking here in this case has no time allowed to applâ— it self seriously to deliberatâ— that a multiplicity of unhappy presidents might caution her she that accidentally falls down an undiscovered Precipice gains compassion in her Disaster but she that sees the danger before her looks down and sees the dreadful bottom strewed with mangled Carcasses of many that have fallen thence and yet wilfully casts her self down the blame extinguishes the pitty and she that casts her self away in such a Match betrays not less but more wilfulness How many misfortunes of miserable Women present themselves to her View like the wreâ—ks of tattered Vessels spit upon the â—ock and if notwithstanding all that has been said she will needs stear her Course on purpose to run the same Fate none to envy her the ship wrack she Courts Age we allow ought to be honoured and esteemed when it acts with prudence suitable to the veneration properly due to it for as Solomon says the Hoary Head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of righteousness Widdows in years when they act thus we must confess are in so high a Frenzy that we can hardly believe but it must have some rooting in the Habit and Constitution of the Mind some lightness of Humour other must generate it before it can so giddly turn in their Brains those therefore that will secure themselves from the Effect must substract the cause How preposterous is it think you to see an Old Woman delight in and doating on gaudy Trisles more seemly for her Grand-Children to see her with Spectacles reading Romances or Love-stories to be at Masquerades and Dances when she is only fit to Act Antiquaries these are contradictions of Nature to hear others again wishing themselves young that it is odds but within a while they will perswade themselves they are so and tearing off the Marks where Fifty or Sixty are written and write Fifteen those who thus manage their Widdowhood have more reason to bewale it at last then at first as having experimentally found the mischief of being left to their own Guidance But pardon us Ladies if we have touched too sharply on this matter we are Conscious there are a great many Virtuous Widdows that take sober measures Marrying discreetly or spending their days in Devotion and good works â—elighting to bring up their Children in the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of Wisdom Women Admirable for Sundays Virtue After Dinners Solicitations of the Emperours and other great Potentates Ambassadours to the Pious Heroick and ever Renowned Queen Elizabeth for the Tolleration or the Popish Religion in her Kingdom she silenced their Importunities with this weightly and reasonable Answer viz. That to let them have Churches by the others she could not with the safety of the Common Wealth and without the wounding of her Honour and Conscience c. for what ever Doctrine is contrary to Godliness is dangerous in a State and opens a door to all Mischief and Wickedness and therefore Popery beâ—â—ing that stamp she resolved not to allow the publick Exercise of it in her Dominious Ann The Beautiful and Virtuous Wife of King Henry the Eight and Mother to Queen Elizabeth was condemned upon the false accusation of some Popish Favourites who secretly Envyed to sâ—e a Lutheran Queen ascend the Throne and therefore resolved to change it into a Scaffold the which when she ascended with Courage and Modesty where there were but few dry Eyes besides her she said that the King was constant in advancing her for a private Gentlewoman had raised her to the Honour of a countess then a Marchioness and lastly to the highest of Earthly Honour even to be his