Whose active skill at once could moove an hundred In every one a pen As many eyes As Iuno's Argus waking to devise Of her perfections onely Head Hands Sight In striving but to patterne her aright All though in their full vigour I should sinde Strucke on the suddaine Stupid Dull and Blinde Chaste Virgin Royall Queene belov'd and fear'd Much on the Earth admir'd to Heaven indeer'd Single and singular without another A Nurse to Belgia and to France a Mother Potent by Land sole Soveraigne of the Maine Antagonist to Rome the scourge of Spaine THE LAST OF THE THREE WOMEN WORTHIES AMONGST THE CHRISTIANS CALLED ELIZABETH QVEEN OF ENGLAND FRANCE AND IRELAND c. AS the most famous Painter of his Time Apelles to frame the picture of one Venus had aâ— once exposed to his view an hundred of the most choyce and exquisite Virgins of Greece to take from one the smoothest brow from a second the most sparkling eye a third the Rosiest colloured cheeke a fourth the best Corrall like lippe a fifth the sweetest dimpled chinne a sixth the daintiest swelling brest a seventh the whitest hand from another the most delicate foote and so of the rest and all to make the exact portrature of that Emergent goddesse so in the accurate expression of this rare Heroicke Elizabeth should I peruse all the ancient and Authenticke Histories and out of them select the lives of the most vertuous Ladyes for their rare and admirable indowments commended to posterity and perpetuity taking and extrâ—cting from them severally those sundry gifts and graces by which they were remarkeably eminent above others whether Piety or Virginâ—ll purity Beauty and bounty Majesty and magnanimity Language and learning polliticke Governement or practise of goodnesse pitty of forraâ—gne distressed nations or indulgence over her owne Natives c. Nay what praecelling vertue soever was commendable in any one particular or all in generall may without flattery be justly conferred on her Shee was the Daughter of King Henry the eighth of that name and of his second wife the Lady Anne Bullaine first created Marchionesse of Pembrooke and then espoused to the King the five and twentyeth day of Ianuary 1533. and upon Whitsunday next following at Westminster crowned Queene the seventh of September after shee was delivered of a faire Daughter to the great and unspeakeable joy both of the Prince and people shee was Christened the third day next ensuing being Wednesday in the Fryers Church in Greenewich in a Font of silver The old Dutchesse of Northfolke held the Babe Her Godfather was Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Metropolitane of all England her Godmothers the Dutchesse of Northfolke and the Marquionesse of Dorset both Widdowes Not long after the birth of this young Princesse a generall oath of Allegiance past through the Kingdome to support and maintaine the successive heires descending from the bodies of the King and Queene Anne lawfully begotten in the possession of the Crowne and Scepter and all Imperiall honours to them belonging by which Katherine of Spaine his former wife and the Princesse Mary their daughter were disabled to lay any claime at all to the Royall dignity and for this cause were the two young Ladies brought up a part which might be a reason also why there was such distance in their dispositions I have further read of this young Lady Elizabeth that there were pregnant hopes of her even in her Mothers conception Mercury being the starre which was at that season most predominant whose influence is sharpenesse of wit and ingenuity Iupiter at her birth being in conjunction with Venus and Soi with a favourable Aspect shining on either a doubtlesse presage that the Infant borne under that Constellation should bee faire and fortunate powerfull in warre yet a Patronesse of peace excellent in Learning exquisite in language in life honoured in death lamented who in her tender Infancy was said almost as soone to speake as to goe and that her words had sence as soone as sound and not being full foure yeares of age used every morning when shee opened her eyes to aske for her booke before shee called for bread and at all other times of the day was observed to bee more ready to pray then to prattle Queene Annes life being taken away by a violent death the morrow after the King was marryed to his third wife the Lady Iane Seymer daughter to Sir Iohn Seymer who on the twelfth day of October In the yeare of grace 1537. was at Hampton Court delivered of a Sonne whose Mother dyed the second day after much lamented and pittyed and the young Prince called Edward was the eighteenth of the same moneth created Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Chester the Father being so joyfull of his Sonne that hee cast a neglectfull eye on his two former daughters Mary and Elizabeth but the later of the two was in the first grace for when Mary was separated from comming neere the Court Elizabeth was admitted to keepe the young Prince company and from his Tutors received all such necessary documents that by her childish dictating unto him he might be the more capable to understand them and such was their proxinity in blood that it begot in them a mutuall and alternate affection insomuch that he no sooner knew her but he beganne to acknowledge her neither was their love the lesse comming from one loynes then had they issued from one and the same wombe being equally fortunate and unfortunate as having one Royall Father but either of them to be deprived of a mother and in that too having a kinde of mutuall correspondence that though her Mother suffered by the sword and his dyed in Child bed yet both indured violent and inforced deaths To cut off circumstance in the yeare one thousand five hundred forty sixe and of his raigne the thirty eighth King Henry the eighth expired the 28. of December and was the sixteenth day of February next following with great solemnity buryed at Windsor And upon the one and thirtyeth day of Ianuary was Prince Edward proclaimed King over all his Fathers Dominions and Realmes by the stile of Edward the sixth of that name and on the nineteenth of February he rode with his Vnckle Sir Edward Seymor Duke of Summerset and Lord Protector through the City of London And the day following was annoynted and Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas Craâ—mer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Metropolitane of all England who that day administred the holy Sacraments c. The King was no sooner Crowned but the Lady Elizabeth gave way to the present state neither continued they in that frequent familiarity as before for whereas in former time she loved him as a Brother her discretion now taught her to honour him as her King for though hee was a Prince of great meekenesse and modesty for that Royall Majesty which makes the difference betwixt the
the Queene and to Mordecai behold I have given Esther the house of Haman whom they have hanged upon the tree because hee presumed to lay hands upon the Iewes write ye also for them as it liketh you in my name and seale it with my Ring for the writings are written in my name and sealed with my Ring may no man revoke Then were the Kings Scribes called who wrote according to al that Mordecai did dictate unto them unto the Iewes and to the Princes and Captaines and Governours of the Provinces which were from India even unto Aethiopia an hundred and seven and twenty Provinces and unto every Province in such Letters and Language as was used amongst the people that lived therein which having sealed with the Kings Ring he sent them by posts on Horsebacke and those that rode upon beasts of price as Dromidaries and Mules in which the King granted liberty to the Iewes that in what Cities soever they were resident to assemble themselves together and stand for their lives and to roote out and destroy all the power of that people and that province which vexed them both men women and children and to make spoile of their goods so the posts went forth to execute the Kings Commandement and the decree was given in Shushan the pallace Then Mordecai went out from the King in Royall apparell of blew and white and with a great Crowne of gold upon his head and with a garment of fine linnen and purple and the Iewes in the City rejoyced and were glad to whom was come light and joy and gladnesse and honour and in all and every Province and in all and every City and place where the Kings Commandement and Decree was read there was great rejoycing a feast and a good day and many of the people of the Land became Iewes for the feare of the Nation fell upon them Now when this Decree grew neare to be put in execution in the day that their enemies hoped to have power over them It is worthy observation that Gods great providence turneth the joy of the wicked into sorrow and the teares of the godly into gladnesse for the Iewes gathered themselves together into their Cities throughout all the Dominions of King Abasuerus to lay hands on such as sought their dammage and no man durst withstand them for the feare of them fell upon all the people and the Rulers of the Provinces Princes Captaines and Officers of the King Exalted the Iewes did them honour and showed them friendship for the feare of Queene Esther and Mordecai was upon them For he still grew in favour power and honour greater and greater Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with the sword with slaughter and destruction and what seemed pleasing in their owne eyes unto all those who had conspired their death by the instigation of wicked Haman At Shushan they slew five hundred men as also the ten sonnes of Haman but they laid not their hands on the spoyle and their number was brought unto the King Who said unto Queene Esther thy people have slaine in Shushan the pallace five hundred men and the ten sonnes of Haman what have they done in the rest of the Provinces and what is thy petition further that it may be given thee or what is thy request moreover that it may be performed unto thee then said Esther if it please the King let it be granted also that they may hang upon the tree Hamans ten sonnes and the King gave present order that it should be so done The Iewes also that were in Shushan assembled themselves upon the foureteenth day of the moneth Adar and slew of their enemies three hundred men but they laid not their hands on the spoyle and the rest of the Iewes that were in the Kings provinces assembled themselves and stood up for their lives and slew them that hated them seventy and five thousand but on the spoyle laid they no hand So they kept solemne the foureteenth and the fifteenth dayes of the moneth Adar which was the twelfth moneth in memory of their great deliverance by the hand of Esther which dayes were turned unto them from sorrow unto joy and from mourning into a glad season to keepe them as dayes of solemnity and feasting in which they sent presents every man unto his neighbour and gifts to the poore Thus raigned shee a blessed Mother in Israel and Mordecai was the second man in the Kingdome next to Ahashuerosh who was great amongst the Iews and accepted of his Brethren who procured the wealth of his people and spake peaceably unto all his seede and whose dignity and honours done unto him by the King are written at large in the Booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Medâ—a and Persia. OF THE THREE WORTHIE WOMEN AMONG THE HEATHEN Whose Names are Bunduca Penthisilaea Artimethia BVNDVCA HOw much O Brittaine are we bound to thee Mother and Nurse of magnanimity Of which thou from antiquity hast lent Vnto all ages famous president Witnes this British Queen whose masculine spirit Shall to all future glorious fame inherit Beyond all tongues or pens who may be proud Not thunders voyce can speake it self more loud Of whom although our moderne Authors wrote But sparingly least they should seeme to dote Too much upon their Natives forraigne inke Hath beene so lavish it would make man thinke Her valour inexpressible Tacitus Made her his ample theame and to discusse Her gifts were Dio's labour Xiphiline With many others made her acts divine As above all womans performance farre To whom I onely leave this Character This British Queen whom just incensment fires Against the Roman Monarchy conspires And her revenge more hotly to pursue Of their best souldiers fourescore thousand slew Whose name all other glories might transcend Had not adverse fate crost her in the end THE FIRST OF THE THREE WOMEN WORTHIES AMONGST THE HEATHEN CALLED BVNDVCA THis Bunduca cald also by severall Authours Boodicia Boudicea Voadica and Bowndvica was the dowager Queen of Prasutagus King of the Iceni a Province which contained foure shires in England and was one of the prime of the Sceptarchy who all the time of his raigne remained in amity with the Romans and was reckoned amongst their sociall Kings who having disposed of his kingdome to Nero Caesar then Emperour and to his owne two daughters intending that having Caesar their guardian and in hope of his favour towards them receiving a childs part that they should be Queenes of their owne shires or co-partners after their Mother which being ratified by his last will and testament he deceased But the daughters poore Ladies found but a sorry partnership where the Lion was to make the partition For Neroeâ— Captaines and Officers exercised intollerable violence throughout the Kingdome and not the least upon them for the Pallace of Prasutagus their Father as also his great Riches which were abundant and long in gathering together with his
upon their enemy 64 Hamans ten sons hang'd 65 A memoriall for the Jewes great deliverance ib. Mordecai the second man in the kingdome ib. BONDVCA HEr severall appellations 70 Prasutagus her husband maketh Caesar Co-keyre with his Queene and daughters 71 The unjust proceedings of the Romans ib. Their barbarous lust and crueltie 72 Bunduca's person and condition ib. Reasons Inducing the Brittaines so rebell against the Romans 73 Swetonius Paulinus the Roman Generall ib. Bunduca's first insurrection 74 Her royall Army ib. Her habit in Battaile ib. The place where shee encampt 75 Her oration to her Souldiers ib. Her devision of the Romans 76 The goddesse Andate or victory 77 The providence of Paulinus Swetonius ib. The strength of the Romans in Brittaine 78 The estate of the Citie Comelodunum at that time 79 The estate of the Roman Colonies 80 The Citie demolished 81 Bunduca intercepteth the Roman expidition ib. She prosecuteth her victory ib. The demeaner of the Roman Generall 82 Virulam sackt and spoiled ib. The cruell behaviour of the inraged Brittains 83 The courage of the Roman Generall 84 The number of the Bunduca's Army ib. The place where she incamped 85 The time of the years ib. The martialling of the Roman Army 86 The proportion of a Legion ib. Bunduca in the Battaile 87 The order of her Battaile ib. She incourageth her Souldiers 88 The onset on both sides ib. A description of the Battaile 89 Valour on both sides ib. The Romans Victors 90 The Brittaines Army routed ib. The numbers slane on both sides 91 Of Bunduca after the battaile ib. Her death and place of buriall ib. Divers opinions concerning her place of enterrement ib. PENTHISILAEA OF Viragoes or women of masculine Spirit 96 Of Camilla Helerna Semiramis Zenobia 97 Hypsecratea Tomyris Teuca Maria Puteolana 98 Of the Amazons in generall 99 Their originall 100 Whence they derived their names 101 Marthesia Lampedo Orreta Antiope ib. Menelippe Penthifilaea 102 Securigera Vexillifera Peltifera 103 Penthisilaea's beauty ib. The death of Penthisilaea 104 Monithaea or Thalestris in the time of Alexander 105 The end of the Amazonean race ib. The manners of the Scithians 106 The custome of the Sarromates 107 Their Kings at their death 109 ARTIMESIA HEroicke women in all ages 112 Renowned women 113 The seaven wonders of the world and first of the Aegiptian Pyramids 114 Of King Cleopas and RhodopeÌ„ the second wonder 115 The third and fourth wonder 116 A fift wonder 117 The sixt wonder 118 The beautiful Pallace of Cyrus ib. A strange controversie betwixt the two Citties of Athens and Elis. ib. Phidias 118 The pleading of the Athenians 120 The stout answer of the Aelians 122 The seaventh wonder erected by Queene Artimesia ib. The gravers of King Mausolus Tombe 123 Rare builders and Architectors ib. Mausolea 124 The magnanimity of Queene Artimeâ—ia 125 Her brave demeanour in that great navall fight betwixt the Persians and the Grecians Xerxes his character of Queene Artimesia 126 ELPHLEDA OF comâ—ustions and 〈◊〉 women 132 Helena Hyppodamia Aspaâ—ia Poliâ—o Lavinia 133 Dejareira Nicostrate Polidices Lucretia ibid. Virginea Phaedra Martia Thais 134 A Catalogue of excellent and eminent women ib. Dominica Iuguldis 135 Glotildis Placida Pompâ—ia Paulinâ— Helena Monicha 136 Etheldredus raised the first Schoole in Oxford 137 King Alureds issue ib. A remarkable accident 138 The Danes defeated by stratagem 139 King Edwards numerous issue 140 Whence Spinsters came ib. The first proofe of Elphledas valour 141 Her monomachy and brave victory 142 Her valour and pietie 143 Her Acts buildings and repayring of decayed Cities ib. Her rare chastitie and of her daughter Elswina 144 Of chastitie and beautie 145 Further of her valour the Danes outrages and the death of Turbitillus 146 An emulation betwixt two women with a strange deliverance 147 Elphleda's death and further of her daughter 148 Her Epitaph 149 Her brother King Edwards victories and of King Ethelstane 150 Queene MARGARET A Preparation for her mariage 154 Her bringing over into England with her marriage to King Edward the sixt 155 She assumeth regall prerogative 156 The death of Humphrey Duke of Gloster with his Character 157 A Parliament at Lecester the death of the Marquesse of Suffolke 158 Blew-beard Iack Cade the birth of Prince Edward 159 The Queene the raiser of all combustions ib. The proceedings of the Duke of Yorke a peace betwixt the King and the Duke The Duke of Yorke sent to the Tower 160 Sommerset made Captaine of Callis new combustion by the Queenes partie 161 The battaile at Saint Albans the King prisoner the Duke of Yorke Protector and discharged of his Protectorship 162 Procession to Pauls and of Andrew Trollop 163 Iohn Dinham surpriseth the Kings Navy and Simon Mountford beheaded by the Yorkists 165 The bettaile at Northampton the King taken and Yorke lodged in the Kings Pallace 166 Yorke claimes the Crowne his pride the decree of the Parliament 167 The battaile of Wakefield the Duke of Yoâ—ke slaine 168 Another battaile at Saint Albans Prince Edward made King the Earle of Marsh raiseth new Forces 169 Edward Earle of Marsh made King the bloody battaile at Sherborne 170 Henry with his Queene flye into Scotland 171 Edward crowned Queene Margarets Army her distresse by Sea 172 Exam-field Henry tooke prisoner King Edward marrieth the Lady Grey 173 The Lady Bona the Duke of Clarens and Earle of Warwicke proclaimed Rebells 174 Henry Proclaymed King againe and Edward flyes the Land 175 Edward Lands in England possesseth Yorke King Henry surprized by Edward 176 The battaile at Barnet 177 Queene Margaret Lands in England the battaile at Teuxbury 178 Queene Margarets magnanimitie Prince Edward murdered by the Duke of Gloster 179 Queene Margaret sent into her countrey King Henries death and buriall 180 Queene ELIZABETH A Character of Queene Elizabeth 184 Her descent 185 Her birth baptisme Queene Katherine the mother and Mary her daughter disabled of all regall clayme 186 The Lady Elizabeths constellation infancie childhood 187 Prince Edward created Prince of Wales ibid. The great love betwixt Edward and Elizabeth brother and sister 188 The death of King Henry the eighth ibid. Prince Edward proclaymed King his Coronation 189 The Lady Elizabeths first suiters her modesty 190 The death of King Edward the sixt the Lady Jane proclaimed Queene 191 The Duke of Northumberland sent against the Lady Mary ib. Northumberland beheaded the deaths of the Duke of Suffolke the Lady Jane and Guilford Dudley 192 Mary proclaymed Queene ib. Her Coronation the Lady Elizabeths troubles 193 The Bishop of Winchester pursueth her life her committing to the Tower 194 Her cruell usage and patience King Philip favoureth her 195 An imposterous birth ib. King Phillip discovereth the plot his departure out of the Land 196 Observations concerning Q. Maries raigne Callis lost ib The death of Queene Mary the Lady Elizabeth proclaymed Queene 197 Her Coronation and how the state stood in the beginning of her raigne 198 King Phillip would marry Queene
Clesiphon A fifth wonder Chares Lyndius The sixth wonder Aelians The Pallace of Cyrus Memnon A remarkeable controversie A law among the Grecians Phidias A cruell and an injust sentence The plea of the Athenians The answer of â—he Elians The seventh wonder Scopas Briay Tymothius Leocares Rare buildings and Architectors A glorious tombe built by Simon the High Priest Mausolea The magnanimity of Queene Artimesia Xerxes Her demeanor in the Navall fight The Greekes prime Commanders Xerxes his character of Queene Artimesia Of turbulent and combustious women Helena Hippodamie Aspatia Teuca Polizo Lavinia Dejaneira Nicostrate Polidices Lucretia Virginia Phedra Martia Thais A briefe catalogue of eminent and excellent women Dominica Iuguldis Clotildis Placida Pompeia Paulina Helena Monica Elpheda The first Schoole in Oxford Mercia Ethelâ—ida King Alareds issue A remarkeable accident The Danes defeated by stratagem The day well divided Elpheda too as Virago King Edwards Royall and numerous issue Spinster from whence it came A Nunne ravisht The first profe of Elphedaes valour Her monomachy A brave victory Her valour and piety The death of Etheldredus Elphedaes Acts Buildings c. and reparations of decayed Cities Her rare Chastity Elswinâ— Chastity Beauty Further of Elphedaes valour The outrages of the Danes Turbetillus defeated An Emlation betwixt two women A strange deliverance Elphedaes death Elphedaes Daughter Her Epitaph King Edward subdued the two Kings of Scotland and Wales King Ethelstane Preparation for a marriage The Lady Margaret brought over into England The marriage of the King to the Lady Margaret An unprofitable match The Queene assumes regall prerogative Humphrey Duke of Glocester the Kings Vnckle His death A true character of Duke Humphrey A Parliament at Lecester The death of the Marquesse of Suffolke Blew-beard Iacke Cade The birth of Prince Edward The Queene the instigator of all combustions The proceeding of the Duke of Yorke A Peace mediated betwixt the King and the Duke The Duke of Yorke sent to the Tower The Earle of March soone to the Duke of Yorke Summerset created Captaine of Caâ—is A new combustion Lords of the Queenes party The battle at Saint Alâ—ones The Kings prison The Duke of Yorke Protector Yorke discharged of his Protectorship Procession to Pauls Andrew Trollope Yorkes flight and his Army dissolved The Dutchesse of Yorke prisoner and Ludlow spoyled The Yorkists proclaimed Traitors Iohn Dinham surprised the Kings Navy Simon Mountford beheaded by the Yorkists The Yorkâ—sts land in England The battle at Northampton The Kings host discomfitted The King taken Yorke lodgeth in the Kings Pallace Yorke layeth claime to the Crowne The Queenes magnanimity Yorks pride The decree of the Parliament The battle of Wakefield The Duke of Yorke slaine Another battle at Saint Albons Prince Edward made Knight Edward Earle of March raiseth new forces Henry thought worthy to be deposed Edward Earle of March made King The bloody battle at Towton or Shirborne Henry with his Queene flye into Scotland Henry in all his actions most infortunate The Coronation of King Edward the fourth of that name Queene Margarets Army Margaret distressed by Sea Exham field Henry tooke Prisoner King Edward marryeth Elizabeth Gray The Lady Bova The Duke of Clarens and Earle of Warwicke proclamed Rebels Henry againe proclaimed King King Edward flyes the land Henry received as King Strange alteration in the state Glocester who was after Richard the third Edward landeth in England He maketh his Proclamations in the name of King Henry Edward possesseth Yorke Henry surprised by Edward The Earle of Oxford leadeth the Van. The Battle at Barnet Lords slaine in the battle Queene Margaret landeth in England The battle at Teuxbury Margaret with the Prince her son taken Her magnanimity Prince Edward murthered by the Duke of Glocester Queene Margaret sent into her owne Country The death of Henry His buriall A Character of Queene Elizabeth Her descent Her birth Her Baptisme An oath of Allegiance taken Katherine the mother and Mary the daughter disabled of allâ— regall claime Vnder what Constellation she was borne Her Infancy Her Childhood Queene Anne dead Prince Edward borne Created Prince of Wales An alternate affâ—ction betweene the Prince and his sister Elizabeth The death of King Henry the eighth Prince Edward proclâ—imed King His Coronation Her retirement into the Country Her first suiter His name is conceald Her Virgin modesty The death of King Edward the sixth The Lady Iane Gray proclaimed Queene The Duke of Northumberland sent against the Lady Mary Northumberland beheaded The deaths of Suffolke the Lady Ianâ— and Guâ—lford Dudley Mary proclamed Queene Her Coronation The troubles of the Lady Elizabeth Her danger greater in her solitude then in her soveraigntie The reasons Winchester infidiateth her life Doctor Guin and Doctor Wendiffe Her committing to the Tower Her hard usage Her infinite dangers Her great patience King Phillip favoureth the Lady Elizabeth An imposterous birth King Phillip discovereth the plot Triumphs for the supposed heyre King Phillips departure out of the Land His returne Observations concerning Queene Maries raigne Callis lost The death of Queene Mary Lady Elizabeth proclaymed Her Coronation How the state stood in the beginning of her raigne King Phillip a suiter to marry Queene Elizabeth Great prepaâ—ation of the French to invade England A weake ground to support so great a title Sebastian Marteguinus two forward Spaine France and Scotland combine against Queene Elizabeth Her debilities Her prudent preparations Arthur Poole incouraged by the Guisians c. New invasions tâ—eatned The Bull of Pope Pius Quintus A rebellion in the North. Duke D'Alva Man purposeth God disposeth Dakers revolt from the Queene Bakers Forces routed by the Lord Hunsden Commotions in Ireland Spanish Plots Eighty eight Domestick conspiracies Discovered Prevented Don Iohn of Austria aymes at the Crowne of England and Scotland One brother crosseth the other England aymed at by all The death of Don Iohn Captaine Thomas Stukeley Brave boasts Tempting titles Stukeley slaine in the great battaile of Alcazer Nicolas Saunders a pestilent Traytor Sam. Iosephus The unpittied death of the rebells Divers other conspirators Bernardinus Mendoza base proceeding Cardinall Alan and others Doctor Parry The foureteene traytors Queene Elizabeths confidence in the Almightie A rare spirit in a Princesse The death of the foureteen Traytors The French Embassador The Spanish Armado The Navie stiled invincible defeated Doctor Lopes his treason His death Her Majesties deportment in the Campe at Tilbury The next yeare she assaulted Lysbone The treason of Edward Squire A miraculous preservation A Character of Queene Elizabeth
seeming friends both to the Israelites and the Canaanites so temporizing and complying betwixt the Gentiles and the Iewes that which way so ever the streame ranne or the winds blew hee sayled without damage for if the one prevailed he was safe if the other he was likewise secure yet was his heart wholly inclined to the good of the Children of Israel Now the flattering of an enemy is like the melody which the Syrens make who sing not to stirre up mirth but rather allure unto mishap and as a learned Philosopher observeth It is much better to have an open foe than a dissembling friend as appeared in the fall of this great Captaine Sisera Warre is of two sorts Civill and Forraigne that which they call Civill is meerely seditious and is indeed a speedy overthrow of all estates Kingdomes and Monarchies and the very seminary of all kinde of evils though never so execrable For it abandoneth all reverence to God and obedience to Magistrates it bredeth corruption of manners change of lawes and contempt of Iustice c. But Forraigne warre is that which Plato calleth a more generous or rather honourable contention and is then onely lawfull when it is undertooke either in the defence of true religion or to establish peace Indeed nothing can make warre just but necessity nor lawfull but when it is warranted by the word either for a Prince or people to defend their owne right or to repulse Gods enemies who are ever the opposites of truth I conclude with the Poet Nulla salus bello pacem te possimus omnes All Generals of Armies ought to have their courages guided by wisedome and their discretion armed with courage neither must their hardinesse darken their judgement nor their judgement extenuate their hardinesse besides they ought to bee valiant as not fearing death and confident as not wont to be overcome their feete ought to bee steddy their hands diligent their eyes watchfull and their hearts resolute all which this godly Matron and gratious mother in Israel with sweete oratory and her presence in the fields being a president of her unparraleld magnanimity had deepely imprest in the heart of Barak Now concerning Iabin the King of the Canaanites it proved to his great dishonour so that he had better to have studied to defend his owne Country by Iustice then to have sought to subdue other nations by Tyranny and it little profiteth any Prince to bee Lord of many kingdomes if on the otherside he become bond slave to many vices besides it is not possible that to a man of much pride fortune should bee long friendly The desire of coveting and having more is a vice common to such great men breding in them for the most part a brutish nature tempered with unsaciable cruelty Ambition eateth gold and drinketh blood seeking to climbe so high by other mens heads till at the length it breaketh its owne necke It may not altogether unproperly bee compared to a vapor which ascendeth high and being at the full height disapeareth and vanisheth into nothing for commonly those that strive to suppresse and supplant others in stead of honour and superiority purchase to themselves shame and indignitie So much touching the King Now thus briefly of his Captaine That Generall who is bloody minded and thirsteth after revenge is for the most part either sold by his souldiers or slaine by his enemies but I shorten this digression and come to the matter now in handling When Sisera had by his skouts and espials understood that Barak had gathered his forces and was gone up to Mount Tabor and there pitched his Tents hee like a carefull and vigilant Generall called for all his Chariots even nine hundred Chariots of Iron assembling all the people even from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river Kishon Now by the number of his Chariots it is easie to guesse of what an infinite multitude his Army did consist who confident in his owne strength and despising the weakenesse of the enemy waited in the vallies their descent from the Mount thinking to defeate and over runne them at an instant but the event happened quite contrary to his expectation For the Heroicke and masculine spirited Championesse knowing that the Lord never failed his owne people if they left their wicked wayes and turned unto him with unfaigned repentance came unto Barak and said seest thou this great and seeming invinceable Army which cover the plaines Country that invirons us feare not their foote their horse nor their Chariots up therefore for this is the day that the Lord hath delivered Sisera and the hoast of the Canaanites into thine hand Is not hee himselfe gone before thee to fight his owne battell Which words inspired such courage both into him and his souldiers howsoever weakely accommodated for so dangerous an adventure that with an unanimous resolution as if so many mil-stones had beene precipitated from an high hill they hurried downe Mount Tabor and fell upon the campe of the Gentiles with a sudden and violent assault being upon them ere they could scarse imagine them to bee neere them which strooke them with such a terror and amazement God having a hand therein that they were so farre from assaulting their enemies that they had not the power to use their weapons to defend themselves For too much feare openeth the way to desparation being destitute of reason and turning the greatest courage into pusillanimity and cowardize according to that of the Poet nos auxius omnia cogit quae possunt firei fact a putare timor Where feare once taketh impression in the heart what is easie to be done it maketh to appeare impossible In briefe Barak with his small Army of ten thousand rowted the great and puisant hoast of the Canaanites who destroyed all their Chariots of Iron and pursued the enemy even to Haroshoth with such an infinite slaughter that they all fell by the edge of the sword and not oneâ— them escaped alive In which tumultuous flight Sisera was compeld to alight from his Chariot and cowardly to save his desparate life fled away on foote and finding no place wherein to hide or shelter himselfe from the pursute of the Israelites he came at length tâ— the Tent of Iael the wife of Heber for peace was betwixt Iabin being of Hazor and betweene the families of the Kenites who looking out from her Tent and espying the great Commander Sisera late attended by so many Chariots now forced to goe upon his feete and hee that led into the field such an innumerable Army to have neither servant or so much as a Page to waite on him And no doubt having heard the successe of the battell shee went out to meete him and said Turne in to me my Lord turne in and feare not who glad of so good an opportunity to bee secured from the pursute of his enemies accepted of her friendly offer and entering into the Tent she covered him
earth which had not obeyed his commandement and to that purpose called unto him Olophernes his chiefe Captaine and gave him a strickt Commission to execute the will of the great King and Lord of the whole earth for so he stiled himselfe Then went forth Olophernes from the presence of his Lord and called together all the Governours Captaines and Officers of the army of Ashur and selected an hoast of an hundred and twenty thousand foote with twelve thousand Archers on Horse backe besides Camels and Asses for burdens and Sheepe Goates and Oxen without number and victuall for every man in the army besides great store of treasure out of the Kings house with multitudes of strangers like swarmes of Grasse-hoppers which attended on the Army and to pertake with the Assyrians in the spoyle Who from the upper Cilicia even to Damascus overrunne many Nations robbed their Cities laid waste their Countries and put all their young men to the edge of the sword so that feare and trembling fell upon all the inhabitants of the Sea coasts who sent Ambassadors unto him and laid themselves prostrate to his mercy and after received him with Crownes Timbrels and Dances into their borders and Cities notwithstanding which he cut downe their woods set Garrisons in their chiefe Cities and tooke out of them their chosen men of warre destroyed all their gods commanding them to worship Nabuchodonosor onely and that all tongues and Tribes should call upon him as their God Now when the children of Israel who dwelt in Iudea had hard what was done unto the Nations they were greatly troubled for Ierusalem and the Temple for they were but newly returned from the Captivity therefore they sent into all the Coasts of Samaria and the bordering Cities And tooke all the toppes of the high mountaines and walled in their Villages and put in vittailes for the provision of warre And â—oachim the High Priest sent to them of Bethulia and the adjacent Cities exhorting them to keepe the passages of the mountaines for by them was an entry into Iudea but so narrow was the passage that two men could but elbow there at the most Then cryed they unto the Lord even every man of Israel their wives and their children all with one consent and fell downe before the Temple in sacke-cloath and ashes on their heads praying that hee would not give their children for a prey nor their wives for a spoyle nor the Cities of their Inheritance to destruction nor the sanctuary to pollution and reproach and a derision to the Heathen the High Priest also and the Levites stood before the Alter their loynes giâ—t with sacke-cloath and ashes upon their Miters and called upon the Lord who heard their prayer In this interim it was declared to the great Captaine of the Assyrian army that the Israelites had prepared for warre and shut the passage of the mountaines and laid impediments in the champion Country where with being exceedingly mooved he assembled all the Princes of Moab and the Captaines of Ammon and all the Governours of the Sea coast and demanded of them who that people were what their Cities and what the multitude of their army and why they alone have not come downe to submit themselves more then all the inhabitants of the West To whom Achior Captaine of the Ammonites replyed Let my Lord heare the words of his servant and I will declare unto thee the truth concerning this people and gave him a free relation of their estate from the beginning rehearsing punctually all those great wonders that God had done for them in delivering them from the Aegyptians slavery In dividing the red Sea and overwhelming Pharaoh and his hoast and destroying the nations before them c. Adding moreover that when they sinned not before their God they prospered but when they departed from his way they were destroyed in many battles and led Captives into strange Countries but now saith hee they are turned unto their God and are come up from the scattering wherein they were scattered and possesse Ierusalem where their Temple stands and dwell in the mountaines which were desolate therefore if they have now againe sinned they shall be easily overcome But if there be none iniquity found in this people let my Lord passe by them least the Lord whom they serve defend them and we become a reproch before all the world Whose words were no sooner ended but all the Captaines of the Hoast began greatly to murmur And would in their fury have slaine him but when the tumult was appeased Olofernes said unto Achior because thou hast prophesied amongst us this day that the people of Ierusalem is able to fight against us because their God is able to defend them and who is God but Nabuchodonosor therefore will I destroy them from the face of the earth and their God shall not deliver them but we will destroy them all as one man And thou Achior because thou hast spoken these words in the day of thine iniquity thou shalt see my face no more till I take vengeance of that people which is come from Aegypt and then shall the Iron of mine army and the multitude that serve mee passe through thy sides and thou shalt fall amongst their slaine nor shalt thou perish till thou beest destroyed with them Then commanded hee his servants concerning Achior that they should bring him before Bethulia bound and deliver him into the hands of the Israelites which was accordingly done then came the men of the City and loosed him and brought him into Bethulia and presented him unto the governours of the place which were Ozias the sonne of Micha of the Tribe of Simeon and Chabris the sonne of Gothoniel and Charmis the sonne of Melchiel who demaunded of him of all that was done of which he gave them ample satisfaction declaring unto them the purpose of Olofernes and the words he had spoken in the midst of the Princes of Ashur For which having first praysed God they comforted Achior and commended him greatly and Ozias tooke him into his house and made a feast to the Elders calling upon the God of Israel The next day Olophernes removed his whole army neere unto Bethulia and cut off all their Springs of water thinking without the hazard of his people to make them perish by thirst for so he was counselled and besieged the City for the space of foure and thirty dayes in which time all their places of water failed and their Cisternes were empty insomuch that they had not supply for one day so that their children swouned and their wives and young men failed and fel downe in the streetes so that they murmured against the Elders desiring them to deliver up the City to the enemy for it is better for us said they to be a spoyle unto them then to dye of thirst since the Lord hath delivered us into their hands which they prest upon them so urgently
of Israel shall pursue and overthrow them But first call unto me Achior the Ammonite who was presently fetcht from the house of Ozias and when he saw the head of Olofernes in the hand of one of the people he sunke downe to the earth for his spirit failed him but after he was taken up he laide himselfe downe at Iudeths feete who seeing all things that God had done to Israel beleeved in him unfainedly was circumcised and joyned himselfe to the house of Israel In the morning all things being ended according as Iudeth had directed and that the Bethulians were come downe by bands unto the straits of the mountaines the Assyrians seeing them sent to their Captaines who went to the Governours and Rulers and came to the Generalls tent and intreated them to waken Olofernes For these slaves said they are come downe against us unto battle Then went Bagoas unto the Tent doore and knocked for he had thought hee slept with Iudeth but when none answered hee opened the doore and went into the chamber and found him cast upon the floore and his head was taken from him Therefore he cryed with a loud voyce and after went into the Tent of Iudeth but found her not and then he ranne unto the Captaines and people with a loud acclamation and said a woman of the Hebrewes hath brought shame upon the hoast of King Nabuchodonosor for behold Olofernes lyeth upon the ground without an head which when they heard their hearts were wonderfully troubled and there was a great noyse through the army So that feare and trembling fell upon them all and as men amazed they fled every way both by the Valleyes and the Mountaines then the children of Israel rushed out upon them And Ozâ—as sent to all the Coasts of Iudea that all should come freely upon the enemy to destroy them Which when they heard they fell upon them together they came also from Ierusalem and the mountaines for they were told what was done in the Campe of their enemies and they that were in Galahad and Galilee chased them with a great slaughter till they came to Damascus and the rest of them of Bethulia fell upon the Campe of Assur and spoyled it and were greatly enritched and the Israelites who returned from the slaughter had the rest and the Villages and Cityes that were in the Mountaines and the Plaines had a great booty Then Ioachim the High Priest and the Elders of Ierusalem came to see Iudeth and to salute her and blessed her with one accord saying thou art the exaltation of Ierusalem the glory of Israel and the great rejoycing of our Nation blessed bee thou of the Almighty Lord for ever and all the people said Amen And they spoyled the campe for the space of thirty dayes and gave to Iudeth the Tent of Olofernes and all his silver beds and basins and all his stuffe and she tooke it and laid it upon her Mules and made ready her Chariots and laide them thereon then came all the women of Israel to see her and blessed her and made a dance amongst them for her and shee tooke branches in her hand and gave unto the women which were with her they also crowned her with Ollives and the maide that was with her and she went before the people in the dance and all the men of Israel followed after in their Armour with Crownes and Songs c. Then Iudeth beganne a song of thankesgiving unto the Lord who had saved his people by so great and miraculous a deliverance and after they went up to Ierusalem to worship the Lord and when the people were pacified they offered their burnt offerings and their free offrings and their gifts Iudeth also offered all the stuffe of Olofernes which the people had given her and gave the Canopie which shee had taken from his bed for an oblation to the Lord so the people rejoyced in Ierusalem for the sanctuary for the space of three moneths and Iudeth remained with them after that every one returned to their owne inheritance and Iudeth went to Bethulia and kept in her owne possession and was for that time honorable in her Country and many desired her in marriage but none had her company all the daies of her life after Manasses her husband was dead and gathered to his Fathers But she increased more and more in honour and waxed old in her husbands house being an hundred and five yeares old and made her mayde free and shee dyed in Bethulia and they buryed her in the grave of her husband Manasses and all the house of Israel lamented her seven daies and before she expired shee distributed her goods to all them that were of the next of kin to her husband and to her owne kindred and there was none that made the childen of Israel any more affraid in the dayes of Iudeth nor a long time after ESTHER INstead of Vasthi a proud insolent Queene Esther a captiv'd Virgin is next seene In the throne Royall and being there plac't By King Ahashuerus lov'd and grac't Who when all other earths assistance fail'd Her beauty so far with the King prevail'd Ioyn'd with her prayer and fasting she redeemd All her sad Nation then most dis-esteemd And for her Vnckle Mordecai 'cause he Denide to Hamman both his cap and knee The Agagite when he his ruine sought Was forc't to doe him honour above thought This God can doe who by their prudence sav'd His chosen people when they most were brav'd And thus destruction threaten'd on the lives Of the sad Iewes their children and their wives Powrd on their enemies heads who shal with staÌ„d When God himselfe the quarrel takes in hand Hamman a gallowes makes fifty foote high Where he doth threaten to hang Mordecai On which he after with his ten sons dy'de So sentenc't by the King the fruites of pride And swolne ambition such was their sad fate Whilst Mordecai and she guide the whole state OF ESTHER A THIRD WORTHY WOMAN AMONGST THE IEWES BEcause of the diversity of names by which they used to title their Kings and the supputation of yeares in which the Hebrewes and the Greekes do much vary divers Authours write diversly touching Ahashuerus some thinke him to have beene Darius the sonne of Histaspâ—is called also Artaxerxes but it may appeare by the Prophet Daniel Chap. 6. v. 1. and Chap. 9. v. 1. that he was Darius soveraigne Monarch over the Medes Persians and Chaldeans the Sonne of Astiages called also Ahasuerus which was a name of honour and signified Great Chiefe or Chiefe head who raigned from India even unto Aethiopia over an hundred and seven and twenty Provinces This Ahasuerus in the third yeare of his raigne sate upon his royall throne in the pallace of Shushan and made a great feast unto all his Princes and Servants and to the Captaines and Governours of the Provinces to shew the riches and glory of his Kingdome and the
on a Chalcidonian Damsell lost all his honour giving way to the enemy for an easie victory of these and the like we thus read Ovid Elegiar lib. 2. nisirapta fuisset Tyndaris Europa pax Asiaeque foret Femina silvestres Lapit has populumque biformem c. But for the rape made of the Spartian Queene Europe and Asia still in peace had beene Woman and Wine that blooddy banquet made In which the two shap't Centaurs did invade The Lapithes who doubly text with lust And the grapes juyce lay tumbling in the dust In Latin's kingdome for his Iustice praisd Woman a second Trojan tumult raisd Two buls I have seene for a faire heifer fight With lustfull fire inraged at her sight c. But contrary to these diverse of the same sex though not in that great number have beene very eminent in advancing both the profit and honour of their Nations as Dominica the wife of the Emperour Valence with her great eloquence and hazard of her person withall pacified the barbarous Goths from sacking and utterly subverting Constantinople the Metropolis of the Grecian Empire Iuguldis the sister of Childebert King of France by her Arguments and earnest sollicitations brought her Husband Hermogillus the Sonne of Lemigildus King of the Goths quite to abjure all paganisme and sincerely to professe the true Christian Religion Clotildis Queene of France after the like manner brought her Husband Clodoveus the son of Chilpericke to the profession of the faith In the yeare of grace three hundred and twelve Autaulphus King of the Goths laid his seige against Rome to assault it at least if not to spoyle it and to change the name thereof and for Roma to call it Gothia But Placida the wife of Honorius with her sweete perswasive language so insinuated into the ferocity of his barbarous diposition that she caused him to relent and quite altering his bloody purpose to raise the siege and leave the City in safety Pompeia Paulina wrought the like upon the tyrannous disposition of the Emperour Iulianus her husband causing him to take of those taxes and heavy impositions which he had with great rigour laid upon his people To which number may be added Helena the Mother of Constantine and Monica the Mother of Saint Augustine and some others and not the least meriting this Lady Elpheda the subject of our present treatise Whose Father Aluredus whom some of our Chronologers call Alphredus the fourth Sonne to Adolphus and Brother to Etheldredus late King began his raigne over the West Saxons and divers other Provinces of England in the yeare of Grace eight hundred threescore and twelve and in the thirtyeth yeare of Charles surnamed the Bald King of France It is written of him that he was twelve yeares of age before he was taught to know any Letter but after by his great industry he not onely excelled in learning his brothers but many others who were before him in time Hee was the first raised a Schoole in Oxford and gave that Towne great freedomes and Immunities He caused also many Lawes to be translated out of the Brittish tongue into the Saxons Especially the Mercean Lawes which Mercia was an absolute Kingdome called also middle England he was further a very skillfull Architector as having great knowledge in building and for hunting and hawking hee was able to instruct any but needed direction from none hee was of a comely stature and faire both of countenance and condition and of all his other children the best beloved of his Father He when he came to maturity espoused a noble Lady whose name was Etheluida by whom he had two sons Edward surnamed the elder and a second called Egelward Elpheda whom he after marryed to Etheldredus whom hee made Duke or Prince of Mercia the second was called Ethelgota he made a Nunrie or Votaresse and the third had to name Elphrida all his children as well daughters as sonnes he caused to be diligently instructed in the art of grammer so much he affected learning and was in many battles victorious over the Danes who often and in sundry places invaded the Land and tyrannized therein and amongst many other his Heroyicke acts one passage I cannot omit being so remarkeable Being in one battle much overset by reason of the multitude of his enemies he was forced with a small traine to hide himselfe in the wooddy Country about Summerset shire and had no other food save such as hee could provide by hunting and fishing yet at length being better comforted he began to shew himselfe more publicke and at large so that dayly there resorted unto him men out of Wiltshire Summerset shire Hampeshire and other places of the Kingdome so that in Processe of time he was strongly accompanied and much better accommodated then the Danes any way dreamed of upon a time the King in person tooke upon him the habit of a Bard or Musician and with his Harpe or some such instrument he entered the Tents and Pavilions of the Danes and sung unto them many pleasant Ballads and Ditties which greatly delighted them in which interim he espyed their sloth and idlenesse tooke full view of their hoast their strength and how it was ordered and withall discovered much of their Counsell and purposes and after returned unto his owne company who with some chosen men fell upon them in the night and utterly defeated and routed them having ever after the upper hand of his enemies It is further remembred of him that hee divided the night and day into three parts if he were not otherwise hindered and molested by his enemies whereof eight houres he spent in study and other eight in Almes deeds and prayer and the remainder in his dyet exercise and affaires of the Realme he raigned three and twenty yeares and dyed a notable and most memorable president to all that should hereafter sit on the throne of Majesty whom succeeded his son Edward Brother to this our Elpheda who though he was lower degreed then his Father in Arts and Literature yet excelled him in state and Majesty This high spirited Virago quite abandoning all softnesse and effeminacy betooke herselfe wholly to the practice of Armes by which she grew famously glorious assisting her Brother in all those great conflicts against the Danes but ere I come to give you a particular character of the sister let it be held no unnecessary digression to speake somewhat of the King her Brother who by his first wife named Edwina had a Sonne called Ethelstane who after succeeded him in the Throne By his second wife two Sonnes Edredus and Edwinus and seven daughters of which the eldest named Alnuda or Almida he marryed to the Emperour Otto the first of that name and Algina the second to Charles King of France surnamed the simple and the youngest of his daughters to Lewis King of Guien By his third wife Ethelswida