to enquire that seeing the Phancy is meerly a cognocivity of Faculties and the Women usually fix their thoughts on several and various Objects during the time of Conception and Gravidation how it comes to pass that we find not the Infant subject to more numerous Mutations according to the variety of the Impressions made by sundry Species in the Immagination to which the answer The reply to this will be easie if we well consider that if the matter were more seriously pondered we should not find the Immagination so seldome Active as is generally supposed for it is very probable that the resemblance of every Child whether with the Father Mother or any other person hath some near dependance upon some operation or other of the Mothers Phancy according as her Mind was with more or less intenseness fixed upon such or such an Object Yet again it is not every Act of the Phancy that is able to affect the formative power reciding in the Womb but only that which is strong and attended with the powerful Commotions of the Spirits and Humours in the Body so that there being not many Acts of the Phancy concomitated with the Enegrie of such commotions 'T is no wonder that Infants signally affected with the Mothers Phantasie are so few Womens Phancies in child-bearing further considered Women Indulging these kind of Phantasies only induce such Agitations of the Humours and Spirits as are requisite to affect the Foetus which are followed by violent Passions of a surprizing Fear or an earnest and longing desire for these are the most turbulent and impetuous Passions that the Mind is subject to which exciteing the tenuous Humours and Spirits in all parts of the Body cause both in the Infant and Mother remarkable Alterations of which we have sundry Instances Baptista Porta in his Natural Magick gives us an Account of a Woman who Amarously affecting a Marble Statue by frequent looking on it and frequently keeping it in her Mind brought forth a Son Plump Pale and of a glittering hue in every thing representing the Features of the Statue Fiâ—chus tells us and avers it for a Truth that a Woman brought forth a Daughter that had a well proportioned Body but for a Head only two Scallop-â—hells joyned to the Shoulders which the open'd at pleasure to receive her Sustenance 〈◊〉 lived in that condition Eleven I â—s and that which he says produced this Monster was the Mothers longing for Scallops during her being with Child not being able to procure any to satisfy her impatient Desires Women subject to these unaccountable longings as some call them though we have given you some reason for it afford as many strange Examples Delzio in his magical Disquisitions informs us of a Noble Lady was Nurse to a very Beautiful Prince then Dolphin of France whom she loved so above measure that she caused his Effigies to be drawn and carried it about with her scarce enduring it to be out of her sight whereupon it happened that she became Mother to a Child so like the Young Prince that the generality of the People could not distinguish them but by the difference of their Cloaths And as for the Passions of Fear Lâ—mnius tells us That a man surprizing a great Bellied Woman by suddenly placing before her a Picture of a Boy with a great Head she brought forth thereupon a Child of the same mis-shapen magnitude Many more of the like Nature we might mention but we suppose these Instances are sufficient to demonstrate that the Phancy when attended with an Attractive joy or sudden Fear hath power to alter the Confirmation and Complexion of the yielding Foetus and that there is little else required to have Handsom and Beautiful Children than being cautious in avoiding monstrous Objects and Stories which may distract the Phancy and in their stead the proposing of some Amiable Objects from which the Phantasie affecting it with a passionate tenderness may coppy out an Idea of perfect Beauty to communicate to the plastick Faculty whose chiefeâ—t care is to erect a stately Structure out of the rude Mass that lyes confused within the Womb. And these are the Learned Opinions of several Antient and excellent Physicians as Hypocrates Galâ—â— Laurentius Wierus Codroncâ—us and others whose Credit has been held unquestionable in most Ages Women Virtuous a great Happiness and Blessing to Men. Women that are truly Virtuous there cannot be too much said in their praise therefore whatsoever may have been already nearly touched on this is not improper A Virtuous Woman then is rightly termed the true Solace of a Mans Liâ—e this Sex even from their Infancy are aimiable and to be delighted in they Chear the Hearts of their Parents with their Innocent Smiles and as they grow up in Virtue are more Charming and Sweet in their Complacency Modesty Sobriety and a wining Behaviour add to their Beauties Her Carriage towards all is decent and Comly is her Behaviour In Marriage her Love is beyond Expression and her tenderness such that she values him on whom her Heart is fixed above all the valuable things on Earth unless it be her own Soul The loss of her Life she values not in Comparison of her Honour and Good Name and that her Husband may be kept in good Humour she makes it her business and study to please him using her utmost diligence and Enforcing all her Charms to render her self more pleasing in his Eyes Equally sharing in his Joys and in his Afflictions bears the most Sensible part Her Smiles are not to be bought with Silver nor her Love to be Purchased with Gold but are freely and entirely placed upon him she makes Choice for a Companion of her Happiness in a Marriage State and then they are aâ— fixed as the Center or like the Needle touched with the Load-stone will turn or stand still to no point but their beloved North She Sympatizes with him in all things and is even tender of his Honour nothing she thinks too good for him nor nothing that she reasonable can do too much in health she is very carefull to provide him necessaries that are convenient and commendable and if he falls upon his Bed of Languishing pressed down by some weighâ—y Sickness what greater comfort can he have in such a Condition than to find his Virtuous Wife double diligent and tractable in forwarding his Affairs she is more studious for his Health than her own Interest and puts up her Prayers and Vows to Heaven for his recovery In all her Actions Expressing a careful tenderness and Love and a venerable esteem in all her Words and Expressions Woman has found Nature Prodigal and Lavish in forming her so delicate a Creature that she confessed her Master-Piece and Nâ— plus ultra A Creature so soft and tempting to allay and Moderate with Mildness the rough and Rocky temper of Man that she make him happy therein whether he will or no great cunning did she use in proportioning every part forgetting
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
get twenty for their Daughters and make no Provision for their Sons by which means the Daughters seldom stay till fifteen and the young Men Marry the earlier to get themselves a Stock of Cattel which they are sure of with a Wife We find in several Parts of the World as in Thrace and Assyria that they were so possessed with an Opinion of the advantage of Marriage as occasion'd their making Laws for its Propagation And here that no Maids may be left unmarried either for want of Beauty Mony or Virtue I shall add the Project mention'd by a late Author to provide them with Husbands Which is as follows viz. That a Statute might be made obliging all Men from One and Twenty Years of Age to Marry or in Default to pay One Eighth Part Annually of their Yearly Income if they be Men of real Estates or One Eighth Part of the Interest of their Personal Estates if it amount to One Hundred per Annum of Real or to Four Hundred Personal as it shall be 〈◊〉 by Men appointed for that Affair and the same to be 〈◊〉 by all Single Women who 〈◊〉 their Fortunes in their Hands after that they arrive to in Age of Eighteen and the same to be paid by all 〈◊〉 and Widows who have 〈◊〉 Children the Widowers â—â—â— to pay after Sixty Years of Age nor the Widows after Forty and all these 〈◊〉 to continue as long as they are unmarried And because that Young Men are often 〈◊〉 from Marriage through Default of their Fathers 〈◊〉 the same Mulct shall be laid on the Father's Estate as if â—â— were the Son 's This Mony so rais'd to be disposed in every City and Country as they find see sir for Portions to young Maids who are under Forty Years of Age and Care taken that it be expended every Year so as no Bank to be kept and that no Portion be ever given to any who have been debaunched with such other Rules as may be prescribed These Kingdoms in their most happy days never saw a Law which made that immediate Provision for the meanest Soul in it as this will do for 't will set the Captive free whereas many are now born who have reason to continue the Lamentation they found out at their first Entrance into the World Our greatest Charity for the Poor is at most but to keep them so but this will be cloathing them with Wedding Garments and every Corner of the Land will rejoice with Nuptial Songs and undoubtedly if it be a Virtuous Act to relieve the Poor this must be greater to provide for them for the present and to prevent it in their Posterity I 'm sensible that some may be apt to raise Objections against this Proposal which to save the Trouble both of naming and answering them I think this Reply may serve for all That there can be no particular Injury done in this Matter which can stand in the least Competition with the Consideration of such Publick Good as both Reforming and Peopling of a Kingdom will necessarily amount to See a Book call'd Marriage Promoted Female Modety Occasion and our Nature are like two inordinate Lovers they seldom meet but they do sin together Man is his own Devil and oftentimes doth tempt himself So prone are we to Evil that it is not one of the least Instructions that doth advise us to beware of our selves Now an Excellent Virtue to restrain or check a Man or Woman from running into Vice is Modesty I am perswaded many Women had been bad that are not so if they had not been bridled by a bashful Nature There are divers that have a Heart for Vice that have not a Face accordingly Surely the Graces sojourn with a blushing Virgin It is Recorded that the Daughter of Aristotle being asked which was the best Colour made answer That which Modesty produced in ingenious Spirits To blush at Vice is to let the World know that the Heart within hath an Inclination to Virtue Now to give a check to such immodest Women who proceed from the Acts of Uncleanness to Murder the illegitimate Off spring I shall for the information of these Ignorant Wantons give them a light of the following Act. An Act to prevent the Destroying and Murthering of Bastard Children WHereas many Leud Women that have been delivered of Bastard Children to avoid their Shame and to escape Punishment do secretly Bury or Conceal the Death of their Children and after if their Children be found dead the said Women do alledge that the said Child was born dead wheras it falleth out sometimes altho hardly it is to be proved that the said Child or Children were Murthered by said Women their Leâ—d Mothers or by their Assent or Procurement For the preventing therefore of this great Mischief be it Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That any Woman after one Month next ensuing the end of this Session of Parliament be delivered of any Issue of her Body Male or Female which being born alive should by the Laws of this Realm be a Bastard that she indeavour privately either by Drowning or secret Burying thereof or any other way either by her self or the procuring of others so to conceal the Death thereof as that it may not come to light whether it were born alive or not but he concealed in every such Case the said Mother so offending shall suffer Death as in Case of Murther except such Mother can make proof by one Witness at the least that the Child whose Death was by her so intended to be concealed was Born dead Modesty is one the most natural and most useful Tables of the Mind wherein one may presently read what is printed in the whole Volume Certainly a good Heart looks out thro' modest Eyes and gives an Answer to any that asks who is within with modest Words and dwells not at the sign of the Bush or Red-lattice or Painted-post A glorious Soul is above dresses and despiseth such as have no higher or other thoughts then what concern their gorget and their hair This preserves in tune and keeps the scale of Affections even This teaches a denying and preventing behaviour towards Tentations 1. Let the Carriage and Behaviour be modest Rebekah put on the Vail Gen. 24.64 when Abraham's Servant told her That the Man whom they saw coming towards them was his Master's Son to whom she was intended in Marriage Contrarily the Woman with the Attire of an Harlot of whom Sâ—omoâ— speaks Met a young Man and kissed him and with an impudent face she spake unto him Prov. â— 13. 2. Let the Language be modest Even Aristotle in his Politicks would have all Obsceness of words to be banished by the Law because when People take a liberty to speak ill they learn to do ill He would therefore have such as are Young neither to speak or hear any thing that is foul and if any be found faulty to be punished with stripes or some note of
is matter of Question and Dispute in Religion ever become the matter of a Vow He Vows very indiscreetly that makes a promise to God to live and dye in such an opinion in an Article not necessary nor certain or that upon confidence of his present Guide binds himself for ever to the Prosession of it but when his Reason or Understanding is more opened and â—â—lightned he may contradict 〈◊〉 may find not to be usefull or profitable but of some â—anger or necessity and in other cases especially in Marriage many in a humour occasioned by some disappointment or other have vowed never to alter their conditions yet we have seen in a short time they have been quite of another mindâ— the Temptation has been too strong for them and destroy'd their Vows which in such case had infinitely better have never been made And we are apt to believe that most of those Young Ladies who in an ill Humour by being crossed in Love or in some other Worldly Affairs or in a sudden fit of Zeal thrust themselves into Monasteries and vow a single Life are not many Months there before they repent their rashness and would unvow their Vows a thousand times to be at large in the World again There are some Vows that ought indeed never to be made it being a sin to vow them as Vows of perpetual hatred revenge bloodshed and the like which if kept is yet a greater sin and therefore since there is none of us have an absolute power over our selves and Passions it is good to be cautious how we vow at all Uncleanness Remedies against Vncleanness by somâ— may be thought an unfit subject considering our proposals in this undertaking but since we intend to be so candid did in it that it cannot as we conceive be offensive to the Chaste and Modest as far as we shall think convenient to touch upon it so we hope we may give caution sufficient to the Unwary to detect and avoid it when therefore a Temptation of Lust assault such they must not resist it by heaping up Arguments against it and disputing with it considering its offer and its danger but rather fly from it that is think not at all of it but lay aside all consideration concerning it and turn away from it by any sevear and laudable thought or business St. Hierome very prudently reproves the Gentile Superstition who pictured the Virgin Deity armed with a Shield and Lance as if Charity could not be defended without War and Contention no no on â—hâ— contrary this Enemy is to be treated otherwise if you hear it break into Language to dispute with you it proves dangerous and is in the way to ruine you and the verâ— Arguments you go about to Answer leave a relish upon the Tongue one maâ— happen â—o be burned by going too near the Fire though but to squench a Flaming House and by taking pitch from your Cloaths you may defile your Fingers In the next place avoid iâ—leness and fill up all the spaces of your time with Devotion honâ—st Employment or laudable Recreations for Lust usually intrudes at vacant Hours and fills up the space where it finds emptiness where the Body is at ease and the Soul unimploy'd in things becoming its excellent Nature for there are but few easie Healthful and idle Peâ—sons but this Temptation worâ—s upon either in Thought or Action give therefore no Eâ—tertainment to the beginning and first motions of it but labour to silence the secret whispers of the Spirit of Impurity and if so you can totally suppress it it dies This Cocâ—atrice is easily crushed in the Shell but if that be neglected and grows iâ— soon becomes a destroying Serpent St. Hurome tells us that the Son of King Nicomeâ—es who was a Mirror of Chastity falling into the hands of his Enemies they thought they could no way so severely punish him as to male him renonce that Virtue he so highly prized and valued himself upon and therefore finding solicitations anâ— the Baits of Beauty they laid before his Eyes haâ— no effect they put him into a soft Bed perfumed and strowed with Flowers and keeping him in it by a constrâ—ineâ— violence set a fair Courtâ—zan to do the office of an Infernal Spirit viz. to tempt and allure him to her Lacivious Embraces using to that end all the wanton Artifices of her impuâ—e Calling to inflame him with lustfull Desires but the chaste young Prince disdaining her Impudence and to shew at once his Manly fortitudâ— Constancy and detestation bit off his Tongue and spit together with the Blood that flowed from the Wound in her Face which so dashed the impudent Creature out of Countenance that she retired and left him as one invincible Use fâ—â—quently an earnest Prayer if the Spirit of uncleanness asâ—ault you waking or lascivious dreams trust not your self too much to muse alone but converse with chaste and sober persons flye the Conversation of the Loose and Labidinous implore the King of Purities the first of Virgins the Eternal God who is of an essential Purity that he would be pleased to rebuke and cast out the Unclean Spirit sor besides the Blessing of Prayer by way of Reward it hath a Natural Virtue to restrain this Vice because â— Prayer against it shews an â—â—willingness to Act it and so long as we heartily pray against it our desires are secured and then the Temptation looses its force and there is much reason and great advantage in the use of this Instrument becausâ— that the main thing in this Affair to be secured is the â—linde for upon that it works as knowing the Body is not capable of acting a sin without iâ—s concurrence for if the Body be rebellious so the Minâ— be chaste let it do its worst it caâ—not injure youâ— therefore the proper Cure or avoidance is by application to the Spirit and securities of the mind which can be no ways so well be secured as by frequent and fervent Prayers sobe Resolutions and sevear Discourses and setting before your Eyes the Examples of those that have lead and do lead chaste and sober Lives Vanity and â—â—â—ccration in Ladies considered Vanity we must confess though too much affected by some young Ladies thinking it something becoming upon many occasions when indeed it is in the Eyes of the Judicious quite the contrary and to it may properly be joyned Aâ—â—â—ctatioâ— the one may properly be termed the Mother and the other the Daughter the first is the sin and the latter the punishment Vanity may be termed the Root of Self-love and Affectation the Branches that sprout from it consider then that the World often changeth the right of distributing Applause and Esteem so where it is assumed by a single Authority the World grows angry and leaves not persecuting till it has had its Revenge and if by the greatness of the penalty we may be allowed to measure a fault there are few of a larger Magnitude than Vanity it brings us