and belonging to her Family she had much Piety of her own and was very vertuous by her own Acquisitions Her Piety nevertheless was not tepide and timerous her Vertues were none of those idle and Antick ones which amuse the most part of Women They were strong and couragious they acted continually and with vigour and this vigour was supported by a Generosity which might make a life Heroick if it had been placed in another Sex and in a Soveraign Condition She needed no less courage to resist the Assault and to acquit her self with honour of so perilous an Attempt which was made upon her She made answer to those that proposed to her an exchange of Laâ—cate and her Loyaltie for her husband That she owed her first and highest affections to her King and Fidelity And that she would not take them off to give them to her husband to whom she owed but second and inferiour ones That she loved him intirely and had great tenderness for him yet loved him in his degree and with order and that there was nothing remiss or weak in her tenderness That she understood better then any body the worth of her Husband That were he to be sold innocently and to be put to a Lawful ransom she would not only alienate her Lands and pawn her Jewels to redeem him but even rent out the labour of her hands and make money of her blood and death if she could compass it by her sweat and pains That nevertheless for this she would never alienate her Fidelity nor engage therein one single point of her Conscience And that if she should make so ill a bargain her husband would be the first breaker of it That he would never be perswaded to depart out of Prison without his honour nay he would never descend from a Scaffold nor ascend unto a Throne without it But should he forget his honour went she on yet I will never be unmindfull of mine I know too well the value of it nor will I ever dispossess my self thereof for any gain or loss which may arise from it I understand very well to what Marriage obligeth me and what I owe to my Family But I was not born a marryed Person as I am born a French-Woman And it shall never be said that to preserve a Family which was but yesterday and peradventure will not be to morrow I have laid open a Fort to Rebellion and contributed to the ruine of my Countrey The Confederates of the League being overcome and repulsed at this first Assault did not yet retire they continued the Battery for the space of seven weeks And every day they gave some new onset upon the Place through the heart of this generous Woman Sometimes they sware to make her Husband suffer all sorts of torments And they made her endure them all in her imagination with terrifying looks and far more frightfull words Sometimes they threatned to render him back to her by piece-meal And these threats were worse then Canon shots or Granadoes but they fell upon a heart which was stronger then the strongest Bulwarks and which would not have yielded either for Canon shot or for all their Granadoes In fine the Confederates of the League despaired of taking Laâ—cate by so well guarded a place and the dolefull and tragick execution which followed their despair clearly shewed that they spake in good earnest and that their threats were reall Monsieur de Barry was strangled in his Chamber by the hand of an Executioner And neither the Cord nor Engine wherewith he was strangled could not draw from his mouth any sign of irresolution nor one single word of weakness In History there are more glorious and famous Deaths then this but a more magnanimous heroick one hath not been seen Remarkable Deaths are not made so by the Grandeur of the Armes which destroy they arise from the greatness of Courage and the force of resolution and there are enough which will not yield before two hundred Piles and a battery of twelve Canon But there are few which render not themselves to the Rope of an Executioner Surely it were to be wished for the good of the State that we might have many Copies of this gallant Man and of this generous Woman If there were but one in every Town of the Kingdom it would be at least impregnable through coveteousness or fear The sending back the body of Monsieur de Barry did in a strange manner incense the Garrison In the first heat of anger and compassion the Soldiers transported by both ran unto the Governors house with a resolution to kill Monsieur de Loupian who was a Gentleman of quality and a particular Confident of the house of â—oyeâ—â—e Monsieur Montâ—â—rancy who kept him Prisoner being advertised of the taking of Monsieur de Barry had given him in charge to his wife that he might be responsible to her for the life of her husband and that by the right of Reprisals he might make satisfaction with his own life if the other miscarryed Doubtless there had been an end of him and all the credit of the League could not have saved him in this tumult if Madam de Barry had not been more generous and humane then is observed in the single order of Nature But she was so after a more pure and sublime manner and there was in her heart another kind of spirit and other principles differing from the spirit of the world and the Maximes of Morality She presented her self before this irritated Troop and spake so efficaciously and with so powerfull and perswasive a grace of Monsieur de Loupians Innocence of the Crime they would commit in making him undergo the penalty of a murther whereof he was not guilty of the punishment God would infallibly inflict upon this offence that she appeased their spirits and removed all spite and rage from their grief Addressing her self afterwards to her Son Heâ—â—dâ—s whom the soldiers had followed she proposed to him the Heroick constancy and the inviolable Fidelity of his Father The Patrimony of Glory which his death had purchased to their Family the stain which the unjustly spilt blood of Monsieur de Loupian would bring upon this still-fresh Glory the repentance which follows precipitated Anger and unlawful Revenges The Protection they ought to expect from him who makes himself to be called the Father of Orphans and the Defender of Widows And by these reasons fortifyed by her example and animated by a spirit of Vertue and Authority she saved this poor Gentleman and sent him back to Monsieur Montâ—â—rancy with a Convoy The History of Spain makes a great deal of noise about the Generosity of Gâ—â—â—an the Good who being summoned by the Moors either to deliver up Terissa which he defended or to be a Spectator of his Sons death who was a Prisoner in their hands would not become a Traitor to remain a Father and chose rather to preserve his Honour then his Race Truly
Mercy and Iudgement And what is aspiration and desire in their Oratory ought to be reduced to Order and Policy in the Body of the State In this sence it is said that Piety is an universal Good and for all uses And in what sence soever it be spoken the extent of this saying is at present filled up by the extent of your Piety which is the Generall Merit and the Common good of the Kingdom Is it not your Piety which hath forced heaven and overcome the resistance of yeers which hath obtained the fruit of Benediction the expectation and desire of the People after all their desires were exhausted and their hope and patience in a manner consumed Is it not this Piety which hath retained on our side both the Fortune which the death of the deceased King had set at liberty and the reputation which seemed ready to retire with Fortune Is it not this Piety which crowned the ashes of this good Prince and brought Victory to his Funerall which infused resolution and courage into the sorrow of France which shewed unto our Enemies couragious and formidable Tears and a bold and triumphant Sadnesse Is it not this Piety which hath made the Perfume wherewith our malicious Devils have been chased away which hath bound up the spirit of Discord fatall to Regencies and funestous to the Minorities of Princes Our fear Madam was that we did ask too much and did beleeve our wishes too great when we demanded a smooth and peaceable Regency for your Majestie and when we wished the King a Minority free from Rebellion and Troubles Yet what we behold at present Madam is far greater then our wishes and much exceeding our demands VVe see a Regency managed with Vigour and Addresse still attempting and prosperous A Regency which hath the splendor and reputation of the most Illustrious Reignes We behold a Minority Victorious and Conquering A Minority respected by Subjects and dreadfull to Enemies A Minority which is the hope and support of the Christian VVorld VVe see a VVoman who diverts bad blasts and changeth malignant Constellations A VVoman belov'd and follow'd by Fortune A VVoman the Superintendent and Directresse of Victory VVe behold a Child who hath the Credit and Reputation of Reigning Soveraigns VVho is the Arbitrator of Princes and the Master of Nations who ballances and decides the Affairs of Europe All these Prosperities Madam are after God the works of your Piety the fruit of your Devotions and the reward of your good Deeds Your Oratory is the common Fortresse and generall Magazine of our Frontiers It is the principall Peece of our Campes the most redoubtable to our Enemies In your Oratory that is formed which destroys their Engins and disorders their Designes that which takes in their Towns and defeats their Armies And all our Victories commence in your Cabinet through your Zeal and Prayer before the Conduct of Generals and the Valour of Souldiers compleat them in the Field By this way of Combatting you make a holy VVar and fight like a Christian Heroesse Thus the good Angels and blessed Souls fight in the behalf of Men Their Piety is their Valour and their Prayers are their Weapons And your Majestie who so profitably imployes this Victorious Piety and these combatting Devotions merits no lesse thereby the Name of Heroesse and the Title of Conqueress then if you exposed your Person to the labour and toil of Sieges to the perils and hazards of Battels Force is not so great as it is esteemed for being cloathed in Iron for handling fire and steel for making a breach with Canon-shot True and eminent Force is to defeat Armies by desiring their overthrow It is to demolish Citadels and Forts by bowing knees and lifting up hands to Heaven It is to take in Cities and to subject Nations by a Tear let fall a hundred Leagues from thence by a word which no man heareth Such was the Force of the Prophets Generals of the Hosts of God Such was that of Moses Gideon and Debora who led the Elements and Meteors to the Warres who had Nature and Fortune in their Troups who effected more by a signe given by their hands then could be performed with armed Nations and a whole world of Engins Such was the Force of the Victorious VVidow who vanquished all Assria encamped before a City and defeated it with a few sighes and tears It was like that of St. Hellen who overthrew Maxenâ—ius his Party by her good works Like that of Pulcheria whose Alms and Fastings were the principall weapons of two Raignes Like that of Câ—otilda who preserved Clodoueus ingaged in a disadvantagious Encounter and repulsed the Germans who poured down like a deluge upon their Frontiers And even at present Madam this Force is the same with that of your Piety which at the foot of Altars performes all the memorable Exploits of our field Armies And which even in your Closet gains Battels and takes Towns in all the parts of Europe But this commanding and Victorious Piety is not the onely Peece of your Regency It is assisted by Prodence and Justice by the Graces and Magnificence by all serviceable and delightfull Vertues And these Co-operating Vertues acting as they do in the Spirit and by the conduct of Piety which governs them are indeed of another Elevation then those which Act in the spirit of the World and by the direction of Morality That Prudence which the VVorld inspires is but a tutor'd and disciplin'd Malignity but a certain Venome tempered with Flegme and infused with method Your Majestie purified both within and without hath nothing of Malevolent or Imposture nothing of captious or double Dealing The lights of your VVisdom cannot be false comming from so high a Region and from so cleer a Source They cannot be defective Marching with so even a pace and levelling at so elevated an End nor cannot it be reproached as having either by mistake or weaknesse fixed it thoughts upon those mean and inferiour Ends which humane Prudence seeks in Time and within the limits of Matter Justice meerly Morall is to expresse it well but an authorized VVilfulnesse a wilde and cruell Habit which lawfully offends It s force is but a force of Obstinacy and unpliableness By striving to over-bend the Level it breaks it It snaps in two the line by endeavouring to hold it too straight And being often enough abused by the small distance between the extremity of right and the extremity of wrong It acts great cruelties where it thinks to produce great Examples Your Justice Madam illuminated and tempered by Piety which governs it is equally remote from those two Extreams It is truely forceable and entire but it is of a temperate and gentle Force It is of an Integrity like that of Laws which are far from Cruelty and harshnesse which are modest and respectfull And ordaining things with this Integrity and Force it commands Persons with respect and sweetens in them the sense of what may be
the most rigid in its Orders It cannot be said Madam that the Law is a leaden Rule in your hands It hath there all the evennesse and solidity it ought to have Nor can it be said to be a Rule of Iron It hath neither the weight nor roughnesse thereof nor breaks the things which will be no more then adjusted But there is no Law so rigorous which may not be sweetned by the Graces with which you Act. And Justice nay the most unflexible and vindicative Justice would alter its inclination and countenance and become milde and munificent in their Company In this I say much Madam and yet this much is but a part of what may be said VVe know the History of the first Domination the VVorld hath seen and consequently know that they were the Graces which tamed the cruelty of the first Men which imposed the yoak upon their necks which made them love bondage and chains However this yoak was yet but rough-drawn These chains were rude and and unpolished And the wonder is that the Graces which imposed them on Men were then but unexpert and half rustick Your Majesties Graces are of a higher Elevation and have another kinde of Force then those other They are such whose commands oblige and which are pleasing to those they binde They are such as alleviate duties and sweeten servitude such as know how to polish the Scepter and temper the over great resplendency of the Crown And Madam I shall not stick to say that lesse efficacious Graces then your own have sweetned Injustice and set a pleasing face upon Tyrannie The Importance is that these your Majesties Graces are not onelie modest and disciplined but Religious and entirely Christian Your Piety hath inspired them with devotion and zeal It hath sanctified them and sanctified your Prudence and Justice And this sanctification of the Graces Madam is not a vain intertainment of the mind nor an amazement of unimployed Reason Force is more necessarie thereto then to the melancholy austerity of retired Vertues Aud it cannot be but the effect of a continuall and obstinate labour of an ever firme and attentive soul to please without intermission to delight with seriousnesse to be still in good humour and of good example to gain hearts without making any unseemly Advances or hazarding one single word of Indiscretion Magnificence which is an other Vertue attending on great Fortunes and great Souls is governed like your Majesties Vertues by this directing and commanding Piety which is the Superintendent of your Life It is no new thing to see Magnificence at Court It is Originary of that Country There it hath its Theatres and Exercises And there is no private Person so well provided with whom it suffers not inconvenience and constraint But to speak truly Madam it is very rare to see at Court a well Ordered and Regular Magnificence purified from Pride and Haughtinesse cured of Ostentation and Excesse disingaged from sense and from the things it manageth And this Orderly Regular Spirituall and unclogged Magnificence hath an other kind of force then Frugality Modesty and Simplicity which are far remote from burthensome and ingaging Objects Soveraignty Madam hath a splendor which sutes with its own Condition It hath lights which belong unto its Dignitie and which you cannot lawfully extinguish The Vertues of your Fortune are of another Order and ought to have other Marks then those of your Person And by a disposal contrary to that of the Ark of Covenant which was only covered with skins and adorned within with Gold and Purple Your Majestie may well reserve Modesty for your Interior and Humility for your Sentiments but it owes Lustre and Pomp to your Dignity It owes a specious and splendid Exteriour to the eyes of the World This mixture of Splendour and Modesty and this alliance of appearing Majesty with a veiled Humility is the last form and consummation of Christian Magnificence And I know not Madam whether in the whole Course of your life there be any part wherein your Vertue is more vigorous or your Spirit acts more gallantly and with greater Force There is mauy times but a constrained and necessitated Moderation nothing but an artificial and ill-looked Poverty in what is stiled the Vertue and Power of private Persons That which is Humility under Sackcloth and is Abstinence in a Cloister would be peradventure Pride and Presumption under Purple Ambition and Avarice in a Palace True Power Madam consists in floating as you do above the abundance of your Condition and the plenitude of your Fortune It consists in conserving the elevation of your Soul and the Freedom of your Heart amidst an Infinity of Objects which sweetly ruine and bind with pleasure It consists in keeping your self in a posture of mind like that of the Cherubius on the Ark who amongst Gold and Pretious-stones in the midst of Purple and Perfumes turn not away their eyes from the Propitiatory In fine it consists in preserving the Purity of Intention and the Rectitude of sight in the most pompous and resplendent Actions and in Imitating the Planet-Râ—uliâ—g Intelligences which look onely upon God and aim at nothing but his Glory in the splendor of their Orbs and amidst the numerous Objects they convey unto us These Vertues Madam which are all Heroick and Royall have conjoyntly wrought upon the Statue erected unto You in the midst of this Gallery Magnificence hath furnished the Matter which is pretious and befitting the Merit and Reputation of the Work The Graces I mean the industrious and skilfull Graces have carved it and given it all the Lectures which a compleat Figure can receive from a perfect Modell Force hath received it from their hands and raised it upon its Basis. Justice hath graved the Inscription and Piety hath been the Overseer and Directresse of the whole Peece These Artists are none of the common Artificers nor their works any of the Vulgar ones Their hands transcend those of the Ancient Sculptors And the Eternity they are to give is a far different eternity from that of the Heroes in Marble and the Gods in Brasse All these Gods and Heroes framed by Men are long since dead and buried We scarce retain their dust some small fragments half consumed by time It belongs only to the Graces and Vertues to work for Eternity Not only Years but even Ages more injurious then Years treat their Works with respect And yet at this day in the Books and Memorialls of Worthy Men there are Ancient Pieces of their Modell which are as neat and entire as if they came but newly out of their hands The Portraitures they have made of your Majesty of what matter soever they be composed will be used with the same respect and esteem they will not be defaced and destroyed they will be entertained and multiplied by Time And Posterity even the least Curious yea the least Cultivated and rudest Nations will desire their Copy VVhiles these honours and this
acknowledgement of Posterity are in Expectation be pleased Madam that the most Noble and Illustrious Part of Antiquity may honour you in this Gallery This will be no impure and tumultuary Worship The honours which shall be rendred you by so many Wise by so many Magnanimous by so many gloriously chast Women will not be disavowed and unauthorized Such fair hands cannot present you but with most pure Incense nor make you other then beautifull and precious Crowns And nothing but just and melodious Acclamations nothing but a Harmony of Honour and Heroick Hymns can proceed from so many Soveraigne and well instructed Mouthes This Veneration will be common to the Illustrious of your Sex But those of your Race and Name will bring unto it a particular Zeal as they have a Duty a Part and Interests peculiar to themselves And in the Crowd of so many Heroesses which will presse to be seen by your Majesty the Blanches and Isabella's whether of Castile or Austria will make their Offerings and Vows remarkable amongst the rest Besides Madam they have a neerer Relation to you and owe you more then others And the honour they have to Revive in you and to be Irradiated by your Reputation is to them a second Life more Illustrious then the First It is to them a temporall Beatitude wherein they take more glory then in the eternity they enjoy in History But Madam the Honour which Heroick Women shall render you will not be like those Ceremonies of the good Goddesse wherein Men had no share VVe shall be admitted thereto in Common we shall mingle our Duties and Acclamations with theirs their Incense and our own shall make the same Persume their Hymns and ours shall make but one Consort Your Goodnesse Madam and our Duties your Vertues and the VVonders they have wrought will be the Subject of these Hymns The Prosperities and Victories of your Regency will be loudly sung And Peace which is the Crown of Prosperities and ought to be the End of Victories will be the close of our Songs and the accomplishment of your Praises Yes Madam this Victorious and Crowned Peace will be the reward of your Pietie and good VVorks It will be the fruit of the Zeal and Conduct of those two Princes who are so Beneficiall and Glorious either by the hazard of their Persons in the Field or by their Abilities and sincere Intentions in the Cabinet Counsell Their Example will infuse Force and Vigour into the Results of Counsell And so many judicious and sharp-witted Heads which compose this Illustrious Body will contribute to the Conclusion of this Important Affair the union of their Judgements and the harmony of their Lights The chief President of Justice that Christian and French Cato who might make up a whole Senate and whom we might oppose to the Ancient Republique will put his helping hand therto with that incorruptible Integrity and that unlimited Capacity which is the Hope and Ornament of this Reigne and will be the Example and Admiration of future Ages I hat other so just so well tempered so well composed and so charitable wise Person to whose care your Majesty hath committed the Administration of your Revenues will contribute thereto that generous and pure Integrity and that disinterressed and faithfull Zeal which have always carried him to the good of the State and the ease of the People And if he hath been able to sweeten the harshest part of his Ministery if he hath introduced Civility and good Offices into the Exchequer and reconciled the Graces with the Treasury well may he also sweeten the Asperity of Factions well may he contribute to the restauration of Tranquillity in the State and to the Reconciliation of Peace thorowout all Europe Here Madam I must not forget that so able and faithfull a Minister of State who assists you to sustain the burthen of Affairs He is one of our Chiefest hopes and will be one day one of the principall Instruments of the Peace we expect The spirit of Ancient Rome wherewith he is so abundantly endowed was a spirit of Direction and Counsel a spirit Superintendent over Victories and Arbitrator of Events Heretofore all known Nations and the whole world that was capable of Discipline submitted to the Manners and Impressions of this spirit It ordain'd with Authority and Soveraign Power both Peace and War It disposed the good and bad Fortunes of Kingdoms and made the temporall Destiny of Nations Now if this spirit was so soveraign and efficacious in rusticke Senators in half savage Consuls and in grosse and Illiterate Sages we cannot sear that it degenerats and grows weak in him who is the Senator of the Christian VVorld who is the Consul of a spirituall and sacred Republique who hath joyned acquired with naturall Lights who hath been polished both by Ecclesiastical and Civil Sciences The wheels of the State Madâ—m directed by this spirit must needs be â—rdered rightly and with addresse nor can the Genius and Purple of the Senate which succeeds the Ancient Senate but give Force and Dignity to our Affairs It is not prejudiciall Madam that this spirit be the spirit of Rome which was heretofore the Head of the Roman VVorld and which is at present the Head of the Christian. There is no member to which the spirits of the Head are strangers There is no Countrey where Wisdom and Fidelity are not naturall And moreover the most Noble and perfect things even those that have most Vertue and Force are not Originary of the places where they Act Great Rivers have their Sources three hundred Leagues from the Countreys they enrich and cultivate Fire Light and the spirit of the Planets which produce so great effects in the low Region of this VVorld are Originary of the Higher The Intelligences were not created in the Sphear they move The Angel-Guardians of this VVorld are not of this VVorld And your beautifull Soul Madam that Soul of yours so Noble and Munificent so Elevated and Royall is but a Guest and Passenger in the fair Body it governs It is not then Madam Inconvenient or contrary to Justice nor yet against Order that this rare Spirit should be to our Affairs what the Administring Spirits are to the Sphears and Provinces committed to their charge VVe thence cannot expect but a lesse defective and a more harmonious Conduct but an Administration more disingaged from matter and elevated above the clouds of Interest but a Tranquillity lesse casuall and more regular but a Prosperity more generall and of a larger Extent No Madam this Prosperity will not be a restrained and particular Prosperity Superiour Causes are not Nationall and propriatory they do no good which is not Universall And all Europe even the whole Christian World will have their share of it after France Thâ— Acknowledgement thereof will be also common and the Benedictions generall Your Majestie will receive Praises in every Language for it And in this consort of Praises Madam I may peradventure be so
happy as to raise my voice above the rest to give it a Body and light and to make it last with your Name and Memory So excellent a VVork should not be unadvisedly undertaken and in a bad season It should not be touched with a heavie and benummed hand It requires a calme and commodious Serenity as also fit and selected hours I hope to enjoy them Madam from the continuation of the fair dayes your Regency doth promise to us And I further hope that the Graces which ingage themselves in all that belongs to us setting their hands to this work together with the Muses will joyntly draw your Picture which shall resemble you as neer as is possible What I here offer you Madam is but a rough Draught of this Picture Your Majestie may see in little the height of my Designe and the greatnesse of my Zeal And this Earnest will manifest that by the common Obligation of our Order and by my particular inclinations I am as perfectly as any other Madam Your most humble most obedient and most faithful subject and servant PETER LE MOYNE Of the Society of JESVS THE PREFACE Of the AUTHOR I Have not undertaken this Gallery to present the issue of my own Brain a spectacle to the curious or an amusement to persons wanting employment The end I propose to my self is of greater use and of a higher Nature And according to the sense of the most inlightned amongst the Philosophers who conceived the Vertue of Women to be one of the prime pieces of Politick Felicity if my enterprise had such successe as it may have and I desire I should not think to have done less for the publick then the Founders of Academics and Colleges Fruits begin to receive corruption from the Earth And Rivers from their Springs There would be no impurity in Metals if there were none in the Mines All Figures would be exactâ—nd perfect if all the Moulds wherein they are cast were uniform and without defect And Vices would be rare amongst Men if Women of whom Men are borne were all indued with Prudence Let not good Antiquity and old Opinions be displeased that Liâ—urgâ—s was no very great Master in Policie who set down so many Rules for the Men of Sparta who imposed so many Laws and Chains upon them and abandoned Women to publick and authorized disorders to Liberties founded on Priviledge and erected into Custom It nothing avails to prune Trees if the Earth which bears them be left unmanur'd And in vain would a Physitian proceed with Method and by Aphorisms to the cure of a sick Head if he suffered had Humors and Indigestions in the Bodie which breed diseases in the Head Solomon understood it much better and this Divine and Inspired Morality which Wisdom her self taught him was another kinde of Morality then that carnal and licentious one which a counterfeit Devil and apparelled like a Nimph taught a Law Maker of Sparta This Wise man who was particularly chosen by Almighty God to be the universal Tutor of Mankinde and to read Lessons to all Conditions and Ages hath no lesse laboured for the instruction of Women then Men. He shewed himself no Niggard to them in 〈…〉 or Proverbs And his Parables are the Extracts of rectified Philosophie The holy Fathers who instruct us also in their 〈◊〉 when their Learning remâ—â—â—d with 〈◊〉 zeal 〈◊〉 great account of this little part of Moral Philosophie And the regular and uniform Works which they have lest of it shew cleerly that they allotted not thereunto their recreative and 〈◊〉 hours If there there be any place where their Doctrine is perspicuous and methodical where Eloquence is exact and vigorous where Zeal hath sweetnesse and Force where the Graces are instructive and edifying we must acknowledge it to be in that part of their Writings And these great Masters who behaved themselves so judiciouly in her other productions have displayed all their Art and employed all their Capacity therein Have acted there with their whole Spirit and poured forth all their Lights The School-Master of Clement of Alexandria speaks alwayes sublimely and like a great Doctor But when he undertakes to instruct Women he is not satisfied with the Height and Solidity of his Opinions but addes thereunto the Dignity of expression and the Magnificence of words He gives a Relish and Glosse to Sentences Cadence and Lustre to Periods And the mixture he makes of Profit and Pleasure is so just and fitly tempered as he seeme to say for delectation and divertisment all that be delivers for perswasion and instruction There is something of the same Greatnesse and Majestie in all the works of S. Chrysostome But this greatness is polished and cultivated and this Majestie hath certain Delicacies and particular Graces in all that he hath written for VVomen And not to say any thing of the Books he composed either to instruct or confirm Virgins or to comfort and fortifie Widows it sufficiently appears by the Letters he hath written to Olympiada that he dropped Gold from his Pen as well as from his Mouth And that he took particular care to polish this Gold and give it a new Lustre and fair forms when he employed it for Women The Fathers of the Latine Church have not less contributed to their Institution then those of the Greek Church And what they contributed thereunto is not laboured with less Art nor seasoned with less Grace Without citing the true works which S. Cyprian S. Jerom and S. Augustine have left us upon this Subject Every one knows that to Women their choicest Letters have been written I say those excellent and learned Letters which seem to contain whole Volumes in few Lines and great Books reduced into Epitomies S. Cyprian doth not appear an Affrican in those quaint Letters All the rudeness of his Countrey is sweetned in them They are set forth with all the Ornaments of his Rhetorick S. Jerom is not guilty in his of that Austerity who seems not to have written but in Choler Not only the tartnesse wherewith the Criticks reproach him is tempered but the very Thorns of his profession flourish in them And the Stones of his Desert are there precious As for S. Augustine what he hath composed there appears wonderful by the sweetnesse of his Spirit mixed with that of his Stile and he hath left in them as many Rayes of light as there be Sentences I say nothing of S. Ambrose who hath had Bees for his Nurses And who was to give a true Character of him an intelligent and discoursive Bee Every one knows that he hath inserted all the Honey of his Hive into the Books he composed for Virgins and into that he addressed to Widows The expressions therein are so pure so exquisite and delightful the sentences of choice and elaborate and there is every where so great a profusion of Flowers as he thought fit to justifie them by the Condition of those Persons to whom they were to be presented
Carver It is of the Suns own modeling that Illustrious and universall Artist which forms Mettalls and precious Stones And you may belieâ—e that having wrought a whole age to perfect it he hath not kept from thence that soveraign spirit and those pleasing Rayes which draw respect in dazeling the sight The greatest splendor and the chiefe glory thereof neverthelesse is derived to it from Debora who gave it her Name and chose it for the Seat of her Justice The Graces when she gives Audience under this Palme serve her son Herralds and Guards And at all the Decrees she pronounceth every lease seems pliable to crowne her words Surely also no woman was ever heard to speak more soveraingly nor with an Authority accompanied with more sweetnesse and efficacy Prophesie and Law were never expounded by a more powerfull Mouth And it is a wonder that all the Offices of Regal Dignity being so weighty and combersome are not felt by so beautifull a head She often gave Judgements and composed differences under this Palme At present she gives our Orders for the Combate and exhorts her Officers and within a few houres you shall see her upon the head of Troops joyning action to Command and contributing by her courage and example to the victory which she her self had prophesied Though you hear not her words and that even her voice doth not reach you yet her very Countenance is intelligible and perswasive Her Gesture and Looks give vigour and lustre to her speech And from her very eyes which are the two fairest peeces of her Eloquence there issues forth something I know not what of vigour and brightnesse which would make it self to be understood by the deafest persons and perswade the most incredulous which would even cast fire into the coldest and excite the most drowsie and stupid souls Barac and the other chief Commanders by hearing her took a second courage and a new zeal They fight already in desire and thought in the agitation of their hearts and with the fiercenesse of their looks The encounter is hot in their imagination and the vanquish'd enemies are forced to flie There is not a Souldier so ill armed there is not a Commander so little versed in war who hath not victorious visions who alone and without striking a blow puts not a whole Troop of Canaanites to flight who figures not to himself the possessing the Head of their General and the Crown of their King loaden with chains But as yet there is not one drop of blood shed in their imaginary Combats there is not a Launce broken nor a dart thrown And it would be fine sport to the enemies if they had no other defeat to fear There is another field of battel and other dangers which attend them they shall have no occasion to defend themselves at so great a distance and to fight against Apparitions And by a revolution which they expect not and humane Prudence cannot prevent their fortune which they believe to be so well established and guarded by so great a multitude of armed chariots and offensive engines will be suddenly ruined by two VVomen See how this Palme already crowns one of them she bears not onely the Name of Debora but seems to be animated by her spirit and to possesse like her a warlike soul and a prophetick Instinct Her verdant youth more gay and pleasing then ordinary is a presage of victory Her very arms embracing the Queen Regent applaud her promises and infuse courage into her Auditors You would say that they congratulate her approaching Triumph and demand for their share of the booty a Trophy of the arms of the enemies General But behold Debora armed and ready for the Combat her elevated arm testifies the impatience of her zeal and her heart appears already inflamed in her eyes and on her face Her grace neverthelesse is not altered by it her animosity is becoming and modest and from this little fiercenesse which is as the flower or cream of choler and a tincture of zeal added to her other natural attractives a third quality and a mixture of courage and sweetnesse is formed which will work a double effect upon the Enemie and at once and in an instant imprint in them both terrour and reverence SONNET DEBORA speaks A conquâ—ring Sybil I a Prophetesse With Voice and Arm serv'd Israel in distresse My Prophesies and brave exploits made Fame Through Idumea trumpet forth my Name My just Decrees beneath the Palme did cause My Words to be erected into Laws The Character to Kings and Judges given My brow did wear stampt by the band of Heaven What cannot Vertue do with Beauty grac'd My self without a purple Robe she plac'd In such a blest Regality as nere Knew what Conspiracies or Rebels were Without or Guard or Forts I was secure I did not make my Subjects necks endure The yoke of Cittadels but having gain'd Th' Affection of their Hearts I freely reignd ELOGIE OF DEBORA HISTORY doth not furnish us with a Gallant Woman more ancient then Debora to whom I give the first place in this Gallery She succeeded Moses and Joshua and inherited from the first the Spirit of Prophesie from the second Courage and military vertue and from both Authority and Magistracy Priesthood excepted she exercised all the Offices and filled up all the Dignities of that time and out of her divided graces a Prophet a Judge and Captain was formed Her Audiences had something I know not what of military she exercised there a kinde of field Magistracy and gave them under a Palme of her own Name which served her for a Tribunal of Triumph and crown'd her Decrees as well as her Victories God having chosen her to break the yoke of his people and to redeem them from the bondage of the Canaanites she assisted with her Person in the battel given them by Baraâ— and contributed her conduct predictions and courage to the glory of that day She contributed thereunto even her last hopes and though the were a Widow and that her husband had lest her but a spark of what remained to make use of a sacred word yet she hazarded in that fight with this spark the resource of her blood the foundation of her house and the seed of her posterity I speak according to the sence of the Doctors who believed that Barac was the Son of this excellent Mother that he became a Souldier and Captain under her discipline and had learn'd of her how to fight and overcome So that in his time to joyn my words with those of S. Ambrose a Widow was seen governing a holy Nation a Widow distributing rights and arbitrary duties a Widow mediating between God and his people a Widow ordaining peace and war a Widow directing combats and victories a Widow leading an Armie nay the Mother and Commandresse of the General of an Armie And the untractable and mutinous Jews whom no human prudence could govern in time of peace faint hearted and vanquish'd Jews whom
closing of the Shoulders the Stern is handled otherwise then the Oaâ— and other forces and hands are required for the Scepter then the Hatchet Women as well as Men may have these hands and forces Prudence and Magnanimity which are the two principal instruments of 〈◊〉 appertain to both sexes There is as much discourse concerning the sight and courage of the Female as of the Male Eagles The heart of a â—â—onesse is as great as the heart of a Lion And the female Palm as well as the male serves to make Crowns and support Trophies Women are accused of excesse inconstancy and weaknesse and notorious examples of them are alleadged which cannot be disavowed But surely 〈◊〉 proceed from persons and not from sexes and if we abandon reason to act by producing presidents and memorials I fear very much that the Catalogue of bad Princes will be found more ample and their actions more dark and staind with blood then those of bad Princesses Let us speak freely our Abab was little better then their Jevabâ—l not our Manasses then their Athalia our Tiberius and Caligula were not better then their Cleopatra and Messaline and three or four hours of 〈◊〉 reign proved more fatal to the Roman Empire then the whole life of his Mother Agrippina if we except the night of his conception and the day which brought him forth Women cannot only reproach us with the Monsters of our sex which dishonoured Diadems and sullyed Sceptres but may also alleadg the Vertues and Graces of their own which bore them with Dignity and managed them with addresse And not to introduce Amazons and others in the time of Fables which are the imaginary spaces of History Zenobia conserv'd the conquests of her husband Odenatus and stoutly upheld the Forces of the Empire Pulcheria governed under Theodocius and Marcian and had Vertue enough to supply the duties of two Emperours and to contribute unto the happinesse of two Reigns The Regency of Blâ—â—ch was more fortunate to France then all the lives of its slothful Kings But it is not needful to look so far back into History to finde women who have governed with wisdom and courage Some of them may be found there whose memory is very fresh and who but lately appeared upon the stage EXAMPLE Isabel Infanta of Spain Arch Dutchesse of the Low-Countreys I Hear daily that the same is said of Spaniards as of Hawks and it is a common saying That the Females are better then the Males but in my opinion the saying is biting and over sharp And it would savour much more of Civility to say with one of our Authors that great Queens and Women sit for commands are of Spain as great Kings and valiant Men are of France To alledg none but celebrious and remarkable example Blanch the Mother of S. Lewis Isabel the Wife of Ferdinand Margarite Daughter to Charles the fift and Isabel her Neece the Daughter of Philip the second are sufficiently illustrious and of credit enough to defend this truth And their bare Names without other discourse may be invincible Arguments and of soveraign Authority to such as would prove that the Princesses of Spain understand the Art of ruling powerfully and with a Majestical grace that they know how to manage the Scepter with address and that there is no Crown so weighty which is not well supported on their Heads I will reserve the two 〈◊〉 for another subject and content my self to give a touch with my Pensil upon the two last They are not as yet clean out of our sight and we have their pictures drawn to the life and their blood with their spirit in our good Queen their Neece Isabel the Intanta of Spain and Arch-Dutchesse of the Low-Countreys hath thown to what height the understanding of Women may advance in the Science of well governing And though fortune made her not a great Queen yet Vertue made her a Heroesse who gives place in nothing to those that make the greatest noise in History I shall not need to produce Testimonies thereupon or to cite Books and Authors Our whole Age is equally knowing in the life of this wise Princess her memory is publikely honoured in all the Courts of Europe nay even such as were no Friends to her House had for her the Castilian heart and the Flemish spirit They have applauded her in good earnest with handsfree from the Dominion of Spain and besides she is daily crowned at Paris and Leyden as well as at Madrid and Bruxels Her vertues were no shadowes nor parcels of vertues they were solid and perfect ones vertues for every use and of every form and Policie is acquainted with no vertues which had not in her all their force and extent Though they have all an affinity with each other yet all of them have not the same resemblance nor the same functions in the civil life There are some which are born with us and are as it were the advances and graces of Nature There are some which must be acquired and are the fruits of labour and study There are some which are strong and vigorous fit for action there are pleasing and polished ones which serve onely for shew The Infanta possessed them all and what most imports she had them all great and in a condition to practise them with splendor First she was born with this graceful Soveraignty and by natural right which hath its title and force upon the face of beautifull persons and this Soveraignty is a powerful and very useful piece when it is well managed it governs by the bare aspect the most harsh and least tractable hearts It softens the hardest commands and takes from them what is biting and vexatious it would infuse even mildenesse and grace into Tyranny Certainly it is not beauty which deliberates which judgeth which enacts Laws and Ordinances But the Common people for whom the most part of Laws and Ordinances are made is an Animal into which there enters more of the body then minde and which obeyes more by sense then reason Likewise it is true that this flower lasts not long and appears only in the Spring but saded Roses retain full a good odour And besides that the Infanta kept all her life time certain remnants beautiful enough of this first flower these very remnants were supported by so sweet and becoming a Majestie they were accompanied with so many graces and civilities and so many other flowers of the latter season were mixed with them as no body could well distinguish between them and those of Youth The Intellect is the eye of Wisdom and the guide of all vertues It is the chief Minister of Princes and their natural Counseller and Policie can effect nothing if it be not enlightned by it The Infanta's understanding was ranked amongst the most elevated and capable ones and could suffice for all the parts and duties of Government There were no affairs so vast or weighty which it did not comprehend and manage
and obedience when the Dutchess of Parma arrived there and there was then no speech of Factions or States Guex or Hereticks But this calm lasted not long And the Heresies of Germany and 〈◊〉 which had crept into those Provinces quickly drew thither Rebellion after the dissention This alteration of time gave work enough to the Governess but it was a glorious work and full of reputation wherein she had Kings for her Encouragers and was looked on by all Europe with astonishment It was likewise to the wise and speculative of that time a wonderful spectacle to see a woman wrastle alone against so great and dangerous a storm Yet she got the upper hand at last and after nine yeers of agitation she brought back the vessel into the Haven in despite of the windes and tides which had forced it out I say that she was to wrastle alone against the storm because the Councel it self had begun the trouble and the Ministers hired to save the vessel were the first that split it and made way for the waves Grauâ—â—lle Archbishop of Arraâ— whom King Philip had assigned to the Governeâ—s for an honourable Spye and a Pedagogue raised to the degree of a Minister of State gave her more jealousie and distrust then good advice and proved rather obstructive then assistant to her His Corrivals and Enemies accused him of all the ill had hapned Such as stood indifferent suspected him for raising a tumult in the vessel to the end the stern might be wholly left to himself As for the Prince of Orange the Earls of Iâ—â—mond and Hâ—rn the Marquesse of Berg and other Dâ—tch Lords being all declared enemies against Granville and secret Corrivals to each other all suspected of Rebellion and ill affected to the Domination of strangers they brought nothing to the Councel but a spirit of contradiction and confusion nothing but interested and partial opinions nothing but hidden conspiracies and open animosities By which means they more imbroyled then assisted the Governess and not daring either to reject or take their advice she might be truly said to be abandoned amongst all these guides because they were either â—uspected or disloyal and that it was equally dangerous either to leave or follow them Nevertheless she forcibly overcame all these difficulties she deâ—teâ—ously loosned her self from these incombrances And after diâ—erted and discovered conspiracies after extinguished and chastised â—â—ditions after the revolt of Towns reduced to obedience she chased away Rebellion and Heresie out of Flanders she sweetly and deâ—â—erously tyed up again the 〈◊〉 which gaped after liberty and had already broken a piece of his chain The States of Holland would have been at present but a Republick in Idea and Leyden would have been 〈…〉 to Spain as to Bruxels if King Philip had left for a longer time the Government unto the Dutchess of Parma Ruy 〈◊〉 and the Duke 〈◊〉 were indeed of this opinion Likewise none but indulgent and popular Ministers were ignorant that clemency is more persuasive and makeâ— it 〈◊〉 better obeyed then severity But the advice of Cardinal Spinosa and the Duke of Alâ—a carrying it against their opinions the King concluded upon the way of rigour and force The duke of Alâ—a being sent to put them in execution opened afresh with fire and sword those wounds which lenitives had closed up and what the dextentâ— and mildeness of a wise and obliging woman had re-established was â—â—â—ned by the violenceâ— of a bloody and rigorous Minister of State Philip to 〈◊〉 this errour resolved to send back the Dutchess into â—landeâ—â— which very earnestly demanded her believing that its cure could come from no other hand then hers But he desired it too late and out of season God thought that she had laboured enough and sufficiently overcome and therefore called her to give her repose and the crowns she had merited The Flemings being out of hope to have her Person conserved her Memory They honoured her in Publick and in their houses and whereas they had solemnly and with ringing of Bells thrown down that insolent and proud statue which the Duke of Alâ—a had caused to be set up in the Citadel of Antwerp they erected in their hearts which were stronger then Citadels a statue of pure esteem and glory to the Dutchess of Parma IAHEL 〈…〉 Iahel THERE is now an end of the Cananites and of their Fortune their Armie composed of so many Troops and Engins of war was defeated by the Israelites who are still pursuing the remainder of it And all the presages are deceitful nay even Prophesie it self is a lyer or their Empire shaken by this Blow will not much longer expect its fall the Earth is covered over with the bloody parcels of so formidable a Bodiâ— some of them have fallen upon all the Mountains and into all the Valleys of the Countrey and the stately Head thereof which hath hitherto rolled along happens to be broken in pieces by the Hand of this Woman It is Jahel who hath finished the overthrow of the Canaanites by the death of their General whom she killed with a Nail in her own â—ent where he had sheltred himself after the routing of his Armie she is still moved with the blow she so lately struck Certainly she could not have given a more hazardous one nor of greater consequence and the Age of our fore-fathers which was an Age of Miracles and of prodigious Adventures hath never seen any thing of like Courage nor of greater Fame The joy she felt at the successe of so high an enterprise adds new lustre to her eyes and a second grace to her face The confidence of her looks corresponds with the boldnesse of the Action her hands armed with the fatal Hammâ—r which proved of more force then the warlike Engines of the Enemies and performed more then all the Lances and Swords of the Israelites prepared themselves to gain a second Victory And yet her Hands all heated as they are with breaking the Chain and Yoak of Israel upon the Head of Sisera seem willing to give the like blow even unto the Ghost of the Cananean King whom her imagination hath brought Captive to her and loaden with Chains Neverthelesse Sisera wrastleth in vain against the Earth At the same time he pushes with his arms as it were to force her to give back and by a contrary effort he seems willing to carry her away with his head His heart strives within to succour the wounded part and not being able of himself to assist it with all the remainder of his force he conveyes thither Anger Rage and Despair These impotent and furious Passions appear confusedly and with horror on his face swollen with the blood and spirits which are there poured out from the whole bodie It would be hard to distinguish them by their proper features and by the Colours which are natural to them All of them have participated of the Anguish which is mingled with them and are grown either pale
with Death which entred by this wound or red with the blood which flowed from thence His eyes which to him had been ill Advisers and unfaithful guards and had suffered themselves to be surprised by beauty and sleep bewail the mortal errour they had committed and seem willing to cast forth with their blood and tears the pleasing poyson which they have taken in from the looks of Jâ—hel Besides they turn up and down in their last pains as if they sought her out to reproach her of Infidelity And the very sight of Debora and Barac hapning to be present at this Tragick spectacle increases their torment and begets in him a second confusion The victory of his Enemies proves a torment to him Death nay even such a death made it another death to him But the third yet more sensible and cruel death was that his enemies in his very presence and sight rejoyce at his death and at their victory Surely also this sight may be called the death of Sisera and the wound which he received therby in his heart though it cast forth no blood at all is yet more painful to him then that of his pierced head You would say that he is ready to dart out of his mouth a thousand Blasphemies against Heaven and as many Imprecations against Jahel But his voice is stifled with the presse of his passions and dies in his throat There issueth forth of it nothing but froth which is the blood of his inflamed rage and not being able to blaspheme with his tongue he blasphemeth with his countenance and the motion of his lips Debora and Barac look upon him in silence and with a kinde of Religious horror Astonishment which opens their mouth deprives them of breath and their stretched out hands seem willing to speak for their tongues that are tyed up The very servants which are of their Train are strucken with the like amazement and as if there were a charm in this spectacle it took from them their voice by gazing on it Sisera who could not astonish them by his valour and with a sword in his hand doth now amaze them by his punishment and with the Nail in his head And if all the people should be destroyed if the Ark it self were a captive and if the Cherubâ—â—s which guard it were prisoners there could not appear more Trouble in the minde of Barac nor more Emotion upon the face of Debora But this trouble and Emotion will be quickly followed with joy and every one resuming the Function which this spectacle hath suspended Debora inspired with the spirit of Prophesie shall sing a Hymn unto God of the wonders which have finished so great a war with the point of a nail and destroyed the Empire of the Canaanites with the stroke of a hammer and by the hand of a woman SONNET IN Jahels Bresta Hero's Soul survives Which prompts her modest thoughts to brave atchives Her flaming eyes declare with how much heat She did an Army in one Head defeat Sisera her strugling his black Soul doth groan That by a Womans hand he 's overthrown It quits his Breast amazed Rage conceives And in his Blood its wrath enkindled leaves Behold Man's â—ickle state how neer ally'd His Ruine is to his insulting Pride And with what ease this Ball is ev'ry way By Fortune racketed to finde her play She can advance him when in most despair As though she rais'd him with a puff of Air As strangly too without her VVheels full poise She by the pâ—â—cking of a Nail destroyes THE ELOGIE OF JAHEL JAHEL gave the last blow unto the Pride of the Canaanâ—â—es and finishing the victory which Debora had begun she shewed that God had chosen the hands of a Woman to break the yoke of his people Sisera the Lieutenant General of Jabin seeing his Army defeated by the Israelites saved himself aâ—oot in the Tent of Jahel But Death knows no Sanctuarâ— or place of Refuge And it is evident that she suffered him 〈…〉 in the heat of the conflict to kill him afterwards more at 〈◊〉 and at more leaâ—ure out of the Battel Jahel inspired by God 〈◊〉 And to quench the extream thiâ—â— which labour flight and 〈◊〉 had caused presented him with milk to drink There are some dangerous charities and courtesies whereof we must bewaâ—â— And sometimes the presence of Women have defeated those who could not be overcome by stratagems or armed Legions 〈…〉 together with the freshness of this drink having 〈…〉 unfortunate Sisera Jahel without noise pulled up one of the Nail wherewith her Tent was fastned and with the blow of a 〈…〉 to deep into his head as the Nail pierced it clean through and entred into the earth with his blood and Soul This Woman waâ— worth an Armie and a Nail in her hand effected that which ten thousand 〈◊〉 and as many Swords were not able to effect 〈◊〉 may well believe that this action was done by inspiration otherwâ—◠〈…〉 not have violated Hospitality which is naturally holy 〈…〉 to the Law of Nations She would not have corrupted 〈…〉 and favour not have staâ—nd it with blood and murther She would have at least respected the gentlenesse of her Sex and the sanctity of her Tent But it was Gods will on that day that two Women should work the Redemption of a whole Nation And that by this example they should teach posterity that great forces are not necessary to great Actions that the powers of the earth break asunder if never so little touched and that without framing Engines or rolling mountains there needs but one thrust to cause the fall of a Colessus A MORAL REFLECTION I Fear that if I propose the Example of Jahel to gallant women they will reject my proposition and abhor the blood and 〈◊〉 of this Precedent Nevertheless they may imitate her without violating the Lawâ— of Hospitality without exasperating the mildeness of their Sex without â—â—taging oâ— framing the 〈◊〉 with blood There are no more Canaanites to overcome not 〈◊〉 there another Sisera to vanquish But there are 〈…〉 there are commanding and 〈◊〉 Passion which are to the 〈…〉 at that day what Sisera and the Canaanites were heretofore to the Israelites Not only Men ought to take up arms against these spiritual 〈…〉 but even Women also must enter into this war and the 〈…〉 which they should hold with them would be a kinde of treason and 〈◊〉 Above all it there be any woman who hath entertained some Sisera in her 〈◊〉 who hath opened her heart and promised security unto some predominant Passion the ought to be advertised that this sort of charity is destructive and not to be 〈◊〉 in and that toward 〈…〉 mercy proves 〈◊〉 and fidelity scandalous and of dangerous example Saul was reproved for the 〈…〉 thrown to the king of the Amalekites and because he was pitiful out of â—â—ason and against the will of God he lost both â—rown and 〈…〉 Take heed of the liâ—e fault if you
and conquering Graces she is onely guarded with attractives and graceful charms but they are violent attractives and forcible charms She is equally dangerous and graceful and wounds even by that which delights Not onely her eyes are piercing and the lightning which God hath placed in them doth dazel the sight but even her very feet contributed to the victory and the eyes of her Buskins have surprized Holofernes by the eye and enslaved his Soul These arms though divinely reinforced and purified with a Heavenly ray could not have overcome alone They effected nothing but after prayer fasting and tears And though these which are spiritual and of an invisible temper have not wrought upon the sight of Holofernes yet they have done it upon the heart of God and opened a passage whereby Safety came upon his people and Death upon his enemies Judeth is ready to give a beginning to both The exterminating Angel who assists her puts not a Lance of Fire into her Hand nor the point of a Thunderbolt brought down from Heaven such noble weapons and descending from so great a height are not necessary for this execution And God doth not use to leave to the haughty the title of a glorious and renowned death He presents to her the sword of Holofernes and putting it into her Hand he setled confidence and boldnesse in her Heart You would take this fatal sword for the stroke of a Thunderbolt you would swear that it is all composed of lightning But these lightnings are not like those which are formed in the clouds they come to it from a Diamond and a Rubie whereof the â—ilt is composed and what lustre soever it receives from these fires of preâ—ious stones which adorn it it expects more from the innocence and vertue of this fair hand which is ready to imploy it You would say that it glittereth from the impatience it hath to be serviceable to a stroke which will be worth many Battels and which shall be heard by all Ages Judeth receives it couragiously and with confidence but her courage is far from fiercenesse and her confidence appears modest and submissive Her faith renewed in this perilous moment and her zeal breaking forth enlighten her face and diffuse themselves by her mouth And her eyes are lifted up toward Heaven as if they did shew the way to the prayers she sends thither in silence and accompanied with the spirit it of her tears There is nothing which so pure a soul and so holy tears may not obtain and the voice of this silence is too powerful and pressing not to be heard But though it were strong enough to penetrate Heaven and to make it self to be heard of God yet it reacheth not the ear of Holofernes Beast that he is he is far from waking at this voice he would not awake at that of Heaven though it should thunder with all its force He hath not only lost both spirit and motion but even his heaâ—ing and sight are bound up and he is more fastned by the fume of wine and the vapours of sleep then he would be by six great cords and as many chaâ—s Do not believe that in this plight he dreams of the taking of Bethulia or the sacking of Jerusalem that any Siege is laid or any battel fought in his Head No Armies are now there to lead nor Kingdoms to overcome Judeth is there alone what War Glory and Nabuchodonezer were before But it is not thâ—â— Judeth whom vertue zeal and these Angels have brought It is a Judeth not unlike a cheating dream which hath transformed a Heroeâ—s into a mincing Dame and this mincing and imaginary Judeth shall be suddenly overthrown by the 〈◊〉 and chast one The sword which you see in her hand shall do her Justice upon this cheating dream And all these vain Ideas shall be drowned in the blood of the Dreamer and shall fall with his Head Whilst the measures once more the greatness of her Enterprize and that her last tears demand of God courage and proportionâ—d forces the Angels who brought her thither remaâ—n as a Guard about her person at the door of the Tent. Her Angel Guardian lights her with a Torch and at the same time bowing down the Pike of Holofernes which he had seized on seems to assure her with his looks and gesture that he will second her if her hand should fail Observe the Action of these Angels who sport with a cask and Cuyrass There is a mysterie in their Action and what they sport at is the assurance and instruction of Judeth They break in pieces the Armer of Holofernes which was thought to be all composed of solid Fires and of well tempered and well hammer'd Inchantments and which was so long the general terrour of all Asia In breaking it they deride the infirmity of human powers and you see that they shew the pieces of it to Judeth to assure her that there is nothing to be feared having guards and seconds to whom Diamonds and Steel are but Glass and Tiffany As for those whom you see at the door of the Tent they stand there to chase away fear and apparitions from this Maid whom Judeth placed there for a Guard They remain in that place to repell the Devils Enemies of Gods people which might come to the aid of Holofernes Their arms though seemingly obscure are yet composed of a Celestial and most resplendant matter but because lightnings might issue from them which would awaken the whole Camp they themselves obscured them and suppressed all their light Neverthelesse this restraint is no longer needfull for them Behold Judeth coming forth with the â—ead of Holofernes and the Heart of all these different bodies which are half dead with wine and sleep and which shall quickly be dispatched by the Israelites The blood still reaks after the sword and where it passes the earth greedily drinks up the drops which fall from it You believe indeed that the joy of this Victory is not little in the heart of the Conqueresse It is there so great as it is dilated on her face and her eyes have received thereby a second fire with a new and accessory light It will suddenly appear far greater in Bethulia where the generous Widow is impatiently expected and to which place she is going to carry with the Head and Death of the Publick Enemy the life and freedom of all the people SONNET PRoud Holofern is laid the sun his light Hath mixt with darkness to commence the night Whose shadow Judeth for her veil doth take Lest with her Beauties lustre he should wake The sword which this chaste wonder doth advance Addes a fierce splendour to her Countenance And in this exigent to quell all Fear Thou speaks her Angel-Guardian in her ear Shrink thou not Judeth let thy Foe be sped He is already little lesse then dead For Sleep and Wine by their joynt forces have Begun thy Conquest and the Tyrants grave It would beseem thee ill to
So far was this Daughter from tempting and assaulting him with the Ruines of his tottering House that she represented to him the importance of his suffering for that Cause that Men and Angels were Spectatours of his Victory that he had the Applause and Congratulation of the Church and that the Glory of his Family was raised to the Alliance of Martyrs She spake nothing to him which he knew not before but she said nothing which did not confirm him Old reasons received a new light from her Tears and issued with more vigour out of her Mouth And whether God placed in her Voice and upon her Lips some tincture of Divine Spirit whether pleasing persons have a natural Charm and an Eloquence without Art or that their sole presence is perswasive It seemed as if an Angel appearing to this Moor had inflamed him with more Zeal or infused into him more Light In fine having received the Sentence of Death after Fourteen Moneths of imprisonment and an illustrious and solemn Confession of his Faith made in the presence of all the Ministers of the Schism his good Daughter was willing to be a spectatâ—ess of his Combat and to fortifie her self by the Evidence of his Faith and with the last Act of his Constancie she expected him in his passage and went to imbrace him in the midst of the people who gave back out of respect and with their Admiration and Tears honoured so resolute and so examplar a Piety At these last imbraces the fervour of friendship mixed with that of Zeal ascending from her Heart to her Head caused some Tears to distill from her eyes But these were couragious Tears and such as heretofore the first Heroes of Christianity shed upon the wounds and Crowns either of their Fathers or Children still warme with Martyrdom After the execution of the impious sentence which had submitted this High Judge of Equity to the sword of a Hangman Margaret prepared her self to tender her last duties to the Bodie of her Father Concerning whose Head after it had served a whole Moneth for a spectacle of terrour upon London Bridge she bought it of the Executioner and caused it to be inchased in Silver to the end it might remain with his Writings the Relique of his Family and of her Domestick Devotion Notwithstanding this Devotion wanted not Accusers and was pursued by Justice It was made a crime of State that they might have a pretence to persecute Sir Thomas Moor even after his Death and cause that part of his Heart and Spirit which he had left to his Daughter to suffer a second Martyrdom She was made a Prisoner and examined before the Schismatical Tribunal But she shewed so much Constancie in prison she answered so prudently and with so great courage she made so resolute and a noble confession of her Faith that the Commissioners themselves being become her Admirers conceived it much fitter to send her back then to give a second Victory to her Father and multiply Martyrs and Crowns in his Family MARIAMNE 〈…〉 Mariamne THIS Terrace incompassed with â—allisters of Jasper belongs to the Palace of Herod And it can be no other then Mariamne who comes out of it with so much splendour and so sumptuously apparelled There needed no Diadem and Sceptre to make her known Her Dignitie is neither Artificial nor borrowed It is from her Person and not from her Fortune And her Heroick Stature her Majestical Countenance and soveraign Beauty came from the Maccabees as well as her Blood and Courage Can you believe seeing her so Beautiful and Resolute that she is going to Execution She goes thither most fair and undaunted as you see her And all the Graces and Vertues accompany her to that place Bloody and murtherous Judges suborned by her Husband Mother and Sister in Law come to give the Sentence of death against her She appeared before this Tribunal of Tyranny and Injustice with a Countenance of Authority and a Soveraignty of Heart equal to that of her Face You would have said that the Criminal was to pronounce the Decree and that the Lives of the Judges were in her Mouth But as good Intervals stay not with sweetned Tyrants nor with charmed Vipers so malice and poison quickly return to the Judges of Iniquity Their fury which Innocence and Beauty equally Imperious had chained up with respect is loosned and confirmed And they at last pronounced her Sentence but still with Fear and Trembling As if their Faces had accused their Consciences and given the Lye to their Tongues As if their very Tongues had retracted what was done their Palenesse and stammering made a Declaration contradictory to their Decree and justified condemned Innocence In what manner do you think she received this unjust Sentence and procured by her own Husband With more Equality of Spirit with more Indifferency then she could have received his Carresses And had it been but a feigned Death they pronounced against her she could not have appeared lesse moved She is come hither with all the Calmnesse of her Heart the Reproaches and Injuries of her wicked Step Mother who combined with her Enemies did not provoke her And had she gone to a publick Sacrifice or to some solemn Feast She could not have carried thither a better composed Modesty Since it is decreed that she must die she resolves to die resolutely and like a Macchabee And there will not only appear a Constancy in her Suffering but even a Dignity and Grace Pitty it is nevertheless that so perfect a Light should be extinguished at its high Noon and in the midst of its Carreer And the Mists must needs be very thick and malignant which could not be dissipated by it But we amuse our selves in bewailing her we lose her last splendour and the last examples of her Vertue She is already arrived at the Place of Execution And the envious Saloma hath so violently pressed the Execution that at the very instant I speak there is an end of poor Mariamne Herod himself is come too late to save her His Retraction was fruitlesse They left him not so much leasure as to suspend the wicked Sentence or to keep back even for one moment the Arm of the Executioner And repentant Love which brought him thither found nothing but sorrows to vent and unprofitable tears to shed Affrightment Horror and Despair entred into his Soul at the sight of Mariamne dead Spite Anger and Jelousie at the same time issued from thence And the marks of these Passions mix'd at their encounter caused this distemper in his Eyes and the Confusion you behold on his Face His Bodie half reversed and his arms extended follow the posture of his Soul which remains as it were in suspence between astonishment and aversion between the respect and horrour of these deplorable Reliques He was willing at once both to remove his sight from thence and to sacrifice himself upon them for the expiation of just blood by blood that was guilty And to
Pearls which were drowned in Bitternesse and abandoned to Tempests All her dayes were serene and all hours sweet and quiet under the Climate of France and by a Destiny contrary to that of Roses which have prickles onely upon their stalks and must be first gathered to be Honoured she was Happy and Honoured whilst she was a Maid and lived in the House of John Duke of Bourbon her Father The Tempest Bitterness and Tragical Revolution of her Life began from the very Moment of her Marriage with Peter the Cruel King of Castile Certainly also the Allyance was too unequal and the union too ill made between Innocency and Cruelty between a most pure Grace and a Devil composed of Blood and Durt Before Blanch went into Spain the Prince had no longer any Heart to give her Mary of Padilla was become Mistresse of it and whether it were by Conquest or Usurpation she reigned there so absolutely and with so great a Command as all the Authority of the Queen her Mother and all the Favour of Albuquerque her principal Counseller were needful to dispose him to the Consummation of the Marriage The Wedding was not celebrated it was tumultuary precipitated and done in silence without the least Shew or Pomp. It was rather a mournful Act then a Feast of Joy and if this forced Prince brought to it nothing but discontent and aversion the unfortunate Princesse assisted there with the Spirit of a Mourner and the Countenance of a Victime designed to Death They had not been two dayes together but Peter resolved to leave her He could not live content far off from his Heart and his Heart was in the Hands of his Mistresse who laid a charge against him for marrying Blanch and threatned him as a Rebel Subject and a fugitive Slave The Queen his Mother and his Aunt Elenor being advertised of his Designe replaced before his Eyes the wrath of an offended God the ill opinion of his scandalized People and the incensed Arms of France He loosneth himself from all these Chains he overcomes all these Obstacles and rides post where his Love or his wicked Devil called him After some Moneths dedicated to them both he returns to his Wife drawn by the earnest Intreaties of his Mother by the good Offices of Albuquerque by the Counsels and Sollicitations of his Grandeâ—â— But he returned to forsake her two dayes after and to give her by a second Divorce a second Wound more injurious and sensible then the former The noise of it was great and the History also saith that this so violent aversion was wrought on him by a Charm and that a Jewish Magitian corrupted by Mary of Padilla's Brothers fastned this Charm to a 〈◊〉 beset with rich Stones which Blanch had presented to the King But 〈◊〉 if a certain Person said that Love was a Sophister and a Mountebank I may well say that it was a powerful Sorcerer and a great Incaanter It knew how to pervert and corrupt â—ounder Heads and better tempered Hearts then that of this Prince without either Spels or Characters And whatever Men say of the power of Magick It knows no Hearbs more Efficacious nor can compound any Dâ—â—nk more to be feared then the depraved Habits of a Soul abandoned by God and delivered up to a reprobate Sense Whatever it be this Cruel King not only left his Wife a second time never to see her more but even Banished her to a little Place where he converted her Chamber into a Prison and assigned her as many Goalets and Spiâ—s as Guards And his Cruelty passed so far as he was deliberating whether he should appoint Commissioâ—ers to cause her to be put to Death Juridically and according to the forms of Law This barbarous and unjust Treatment of the Fairest and most Vertuous Princess of her Age was a Scandal to all Europe The Pope sent a Legat armed with Excommunications and Anathema's to set at Liberty oppressed Innocence and to punish the Incorrigible and Scandalous King The Princes of Castile and Aragon made a League with the Inhabitants of 〈◊〉 Cordona and other principal Cities and joyned in common their Offices and Arms. France offended with the Calamity of a Princesse of the Blood hastned to side with them Heaven it self took in hand this Cause And the King being a hunting a Spirit appeared to him in the shape of a hideous and frightful Shepherd which threatned him with Divine Vengeance if he recalled not his Wife All this did not mollifie the obdurate heart of this Prince On the contrary being perswaded that the Life of Blanch was the Fatal Fire-brand which nourished all these Fires and that they would be all extinguished with her He caused her to be impoisoned at Medina in Andaloâ—za where by a Couragious and Magnanimous Piety she knew so well how to joyn Devotion to Patience and Incense to Mirrhe as she sanctified her Prison and made it a House of Sacrifice and Prayer I know not whether any Princess was more perfect then this but in all appearance there was never any one lesse happy she was Espoused in Mourning she was a Widow during Marriage and the Wedding day which is 〈◊〉 for all others and makes Flowers to grow even upon the Chains of Slaves darkned her Diadem obscured her Purple and â—ielded her nothing but Smoak and â—horns But God would have her accomplished and pure and it was his good pleasure that Adversity and Constancy should give her the last Hand and that Princesses should learn by this Example that Martyrs may be made as well between Ballisters and under a Cloth of State as upon Scaffolds and Amphitheaters PANTHEE se deffaâ—â— de la vie pour sunire Abradate et 〈◊〉 aussi glorieusement son amour et de sa fidelité 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mort de son courage et de sa victoire 〈…〉 The Gallant Barbarian VVomen Panthea YOU see that it was a remarkable Day which proved Fatal to vanquished Lydia And which was like to prove no lesse to Victorious Persia. The Blood runs still from the Wounds of these two great Rivals And the Earth is covered all over with the pieces of their broken Armies But Lydia was not acquit for a little Blood and some sleight wounds She lost there her best Men and such as remained were put in Chains It is not yet known how Fortune and the Conquerers will despose of Craesus He was newly driven by Force into his Capital Citie And his Riches instead of fighting in his defence and preservation were taken and led Captives with him Persia also did not purchase this Important Victory at a cheap Rate she lost there much of her pure Blood and a great number of useful and precious lives Abradates was the most generally Lamented His Death though Illustrious obscured this fair Field and mingled Mourning with Triumph And even in the fruition of Victory it made victorious Cyrus to sigh and drew tears from his â—â—yes If we had come one moment sooner we
Prison as at length they were opened to her and obtained leave to see her Husband The apparition of an Angel invironed with fire and covered over with light could scarce have more dazled Gonzales then the arrival of disguised Sanchia had done After the first Embraces and the Tears that were mixt with them which supplyed the place of Words she acquainted him in few words with the occasion of her coming And conjured him to take the garment and liberty she had brought him and to leave her in exchange his Chains and Apparel nay his punishment and Death if it were decreed he should die This exchange being made he went out of Prison with the Garment and Heart of Sanchia And found the two Knights at the Gate who brought him to the place where his servants waited for him The next day the light discovered that charitable Fraud which the night had concealed The King of Leon on the sudden expressed an Anger which seemed never to be allayed without effusion of Blood But reason returning by degrees admiration succeeded his wrath He highly praised a deceipt so well meant and of so great example And having magnificently treated his Sister he sent her back to her husband with ceremonie and pomp and this Pomp served as a Triumph to Conjugal Love and the Fidelity of Women ARTEMISE 〈…〉 Artemisia THERE is nothing here but exceeds the measure of mean Spirits Nothing but transcends the Capacity of shallow Heads The Mausolaeum which you behold is one of the Worlds great Miracles Artemisia who caused it to be built is another far greater Miracle though not so vast nor wearieth so much the sight But both have wherewith to fill with her Renown as well the present as future Times Wherewith to furnish matter for new Fables And to serve in History for a spectacle of magnificence and prodigie to all Nations and Ages They are no common Architects which direct this sumptuous and stately structure Love is the undertaker and hath traced out the designe Magnificence presides in the Execution and all the Arts gathered together work there under her Command and by her Orders Surely it were needful to have a very vast apprehension and Eyes capable of great objects to contemplate at once these pendant Quarries wrought into Pillars And to behold at one View a whole Mountain of Jasper erected into an Obelisk Asia and Africa must be thereby exhausted and impoverished I do beleeve that at present there are left neither Marble in their Bosoms nor pretious Metals in their Veins And you there behold in Frizes Chapters and Ballisters all that the sun was able to produce rich and resplendent in many Ages Not only all the Treasures of the Earth have been exhausted to serve for this Enterprize but whole Colonies of workmen have been consumed therein And all those rich carved Pieces whereof your eyes partake in an instant and without trouble are the Invention and labour of the ablest heads and the most skilfull hands of Greece Leocarez who was the Authour and Father of the most exquisite Gods and of the most eminent Artists of these dayes imployed all his skill in that Statue which he made of one single Agate It hath no other colours then what the Stone brought with it from the Quarry And neverthelesse by a concurrence which exceeded the expectation of the VVorkman Nature so well mingled them and with so much equality and proportion that a Picture were it drawn by the hand of Apelles himself could not better resemble Mausolus Three Lamps framed of three large Rubies make a precious Fire fed with Balm under this Figure There is a fourth which is composed of a more noble matter which sends forth a cleerer and more resplendent flame though it be invisible It is the heart it self of Artemisia which burns alwayes equally and with the same fire and consumes before her Husbands Ghost still present to her eyes I observe that you have a long time fixed your sight particularly upon the face of this Colossus and upon the strange Characters it bears The Characters are Egyptian and Sacred The Subject is the Elogy of Mausolus expressed in figured and mysticall termes The mourning of his Widow and sorrows of his People are not there forgotten But all this as you may see is there onely in Epitome and in a cold and livelesse stile The most Magnificent even the most eloquent and faithfull Epitaph of Mausolus is in the heart of Artemisia Love and Death have grav'd it with their Pencils There is not a word in it which hath not both life and heat which doth not love and sigh which doth not resent and is not resented Is it not that which the Architect meant to expresse by this Love and Death which he hath couched at the Foot of the Obelisk Would you not say that these Characters were but newly ingraven and that they made all Passengers who shall read them to accompany with their sighs and Tears the Sighs of the Arts and the Tears of the Muses the sadnesse of the Metals and the mourning of the Marbles As for those two other Loves which close up the Ballisters they are numbred among those which have contributed their Cares and Labours to this vast Work They hold also the Square and Compass in their Hands And seem thereby willing to give Testimonie against the Errours of the ignorant who perswade themselves that Love can act nothing which is not tumultuous and irregular And that there is nothing but confusion and disorder in all its productions Love nevertheless whatsoever these ignorant persons may say of it is the superintent of Harmonies and Accords and the first inventer of Squares and Measures And I do not doubt but if some one of those people came hither he would presently avow that Love is more regular and better proportioned in this vast building then Philosophie ever was in the Tub of the Cynick Surely also it is wonderful to behold such regular Enormities and such adjusted proportions amidst so great excesse But nothing yet there appears save the first draughts of this proportion and evennesse And one must expect the last form of the whole Bodie to judge of the correspondencie between these enormous and monstruous parts which are the Temerities of Art the Exaggerations of Marble and Jasper And if I may say so the Hyperboles and Amplifications of Architecture We are not the only persons in whom so sumptuous and magnificent a mourning begets astonishment Those that you see at the Foot of the steps though they belong to the Court of Artemisia and are accustomed to the Majestie of her Designe and have their Mindes and Eyes as full of it as ours Some expresse their astonishment by their Gesture and seem to say that this Monument will one day draw all Europe to Asia and be an Heroick Temple where Magnificence and mourning Love and Death Artemisia and Mausolus will be honoured together and receive from Posterity an equal worship
and without staining his hands with her Blood Although I have said that Women will not ascend in Troops to this high degree yet some there are who have arrived to this Pitch and gone thither more innocently and couragiously then Monima she whom I shall immediately produce will finde few equals She cannot be placed in too great a light nor upon too fair a Stage She cannot have too noble Spectators and History will never give her so many applauses and Crowns as she deserves EXAMPLE The Brave Hungarian THe Wound which Hungary received at the taking of Seget was great and dangerous And if God had not reached out his hand and upheld that Kingdom it was ready to perish by this wound The siege was famous by the presence of Solymon the second who began this last Expedition with five hundred thousand men and left the finishing of it to his Reputation and Fortune dying a few dayes before the taking of the place and almost in the sight of Victory It was not the Earl of Serins fault who defended the Town that Solymons Fortune and Reputation died not there with his Person and that Victory did not abandon him in this Action and remain to the Christians The Ladies of Seget did what service they could with their Jewels and Pearls which were converted into Money for the pay of the Garrison they served also there with their persons And by a Zeal much bolder then that of the Carthaginians who gave their hair to make Ropes for Engins of War they employed their Arms to the repairing of the Walls and exposed their Heads to the defence of the breaches and Gates At the last assault given by the Turks the Earl of Serin perceiving that the hour of perishing was at hand resolved to dye most magnificently and in Pomp and to give Lustre and Reputation to his Death He â—ought in an Imbroidered Sute and with a string of Diamonds tyed about his Hat having the keyes of the Town fastned to his Scarse and a hundred Crowns in his Pocket for that Souldier who should send him to Triumph in Heaven The History renders this testimony of his Death that it was a Triumphant and Victorious Death But though it was victorious yet it did not equal the Death of a Ladie of Siget who surpasseth all that is left us of the Memory of Heroick time She was a Woman of quality and one of the fairest but she was none of those languishing Beauties and without Vigour of those Beauties which resemble the stars of the North which have no activity and shine faintly and without heat She was vigorous and bold yet vigorous with sweetnesse and bold with a good Grace and Comlinesse Her Husband who loved her passionately and even to the degree of Jealousie scared nothing but her taking in the taking of Siget The Image of captivated and inchained Hungary nay of flaming and bloody Hungary was to his apprehension a lesse dreadful apparition then the Image of his Captive Wife To rid himself of this Fantome which followed him every where and to secure the Honour and Freedom of his Wife of whom he was more Jealous then of the Honour of Christianity and the Liberty of Europe He resolved to take her out of the World before the Victorious Turk should enter the City which was no longer able to resist and had too good hearts left to yield themselves This so Tragick and soul a resolution was no sooner fixed in his Minde but the slains thereof appeared even in his Eyes and upon his Face His Wife who was discreet and quick-sighted observed them and was touched therewith she pardoned his Jealousie in consideration of his Love And though she was fully prepared for death yet she did not desire a death which might make him a Criminal whom she loved more then her own life She took him aside and made him understand that his bad intention could not be hidden from her She was so dexterous as to draw the confession of it from his own mouth and upon his Confession she strongly and efficatiously represented to him the infamie which would remain to him from so Barbarous an Act and the Scandal which he would give to his Age and leave unto posterity I confesse said she that I owe you all my blood And behold me ready to give it without reserving one drop But have patience till some other come to shed it Do not fullie your hands with it stain neither your memory nor your soul therewith Do not inkindle an eternal fire by it For my part I apprehend far more Life then Death and all the Scimiters of the Turks cause in me far less fear then their most gentle and pretious Chain were it more sweet and pretious then the Diadem of the Sultanesse But permit me to die gloriously and with Reputation Do not dishonour the Repose which you seek Disparage not your good affection My Honour is not so desperate that it cannot be preserved but by a Crime You think to justifie your self by laying the blame upon Love You are much mistaken if you take it for a murderer Do not put the Dagger into its hands Do not solicit it to commit a murder and if you cannot restore it the goods you have received from it leave it at least its Reputation and do not envie its Innocencie An honourable Death is not so hard a thing to find in a Town taken by force There enter enough of them by Gates and Breaches Let us fallie forth together with Swords in our hands to chuse an illustrious and renowned end Let it be by fire or sword let it be short or lasting it imports not It will be sweet to me provided I dye a rival to your Valour and not a Victime to your Jealousie Having said this she caused her self to be compleatly armed and went out with a Sword in her hand and a Buckler upon her arm her Husband followed her armed with the like weapons and encouraged by her words and Example which gave him a second Heart and a new Spirit They went on boldly where fire noise and danger were greatest And as soon as they came to the place where they were to fight between the flaming Fire and the victorious Army They shewed by the wonders which they did that there is no valour like the valour of despairing Love and of Graces armed in defence of their Honour After a long and rude fight they were at last rather overpressed then overcome by a barbarous multitude irritated by their own losses and their resistance And feeling their strength stealing away with their Blood they gave each other their last imbraces and fell upon a heap of dead bodies which had been slain by their Hands They could not die more sweetly then in the fruition of their mutual Fidelity They could not have a more magnificent Tomb then their Arms and Victories Their souls which imbraced each other as well as their Bodies could not be severed by Death
Collatin and Lucrecius her good Father They being come with Brutus and Valerius their intimate Friends she with Tears related to them the sad Accident of her violated Chastity and having engaged them by Oath to Revenge it she on a sudden preventing their Excuses and foresight of her Intention struck her self to the Heart with a Dagger which she kept hid under her Gown Behold the last Act of this funestous Tragedy which will perchance have yet more sad sequels and you are come very seasonably to receive the last sights of the first Roman Heroesse She gave her self but one blow and all that were present received it A stream of blood ran from Lucrecia's VVound Streams of Tears flowed from her Husbands and Fathers VVound And of these tvvo sorts of VVounds I know not which is the deepest and most painfull I know not whether the blood comes more from the Center of the heart or whether it slides away with more resentment then the tears However it were Lucrecia appears well satisfied with the stroke she newly gave her self You would say that with her blood there issues forth something I know not what that is luminous and clears the dark clouds which the shame of the last night had left in her eyes and on her brow You would say that her Innocence and purity of heart are seen through her wound and her wound is to her as it were a new mouth which cals upon the eyes and perswades in silence Do you hear what this mouth eloquent without noise and perswasive without words uttereth It protests against the outrages and tiranny of the Tarquins it implores the revenge of Gods and Men and doubtless it will obtain it from them both and obtain it by the voice of her blood which is couragious and bold which is animated with indignation and justice which is full of a Roman spirit and vertue There is nothing seen effeminate or weak in her person nothing which is not either a proof of her innocence or a mark of her courage And though there were no other testimony for her yet her justification is clear and manifest in her looks in the ayr of her face and countenance The tincture of vertue is not there a superficial painting and an addition of art it is there interiour and natural it hath been still entertained by the effusions of her heart and the â—ayes of her soul And now that her soul hath abandoned it and that her heart pours it self out through her wound this fair tincture resists still the colour of death which effaces all the rest you will not believe that I say too much if I aver that it would neither submit to the stain of vice nor to the dye of impudence You may have seen bashfulness elsewhere All honest women have this tincture and the brown should have it as well as the fair You may have also observed modesty elsewhere it is a natural ornament and no costly dress which may be used by rich and poor But perhaps you may have never seen but upon this face a couragious bashfulness and a vigorous and heightned modesty This temper belongs to the ancient Heroesses who armed the Graces and led them forth to the wars Those of Lucrecia though not warlike appear not less bold and her beauty though brought up in the shade and under a veil hath no less vigour or courage Nevertheless this powerfull and couragious beauty begins to decay and these wounded Graces will quickly expire one after another Mean while it is apparent that the loss of their Honour doth more disorder them and is more sensible to them then the loss of life Their shame is still fresh and entire and fear is not yet come upon them Their blushes do not vanish though their spirits steal away with their blood and before they die of their wound they will expire with regret for having complyed with the last nights crime though they then assisted without being seen and by meer constraint Collatin who had the greatest loss by this accident seems the most afflicted He supports Lucrecia who sinks between his arms and he himself would need anothers arms if he were not sustained by wrath which came to the succour of his heart and inflamed his countenance Seised as he was with wrath and grief indignation and pitty he could not express himself but by his eyes and his tears since his voice failed him bid unto Lucrecia the last adieu and confirm to her the good opinion he had of her Innocence To this discourse of tears Lucrecia makes answer with blood and sighs She casts down her eyes upon her wound as if she meant to give a sign to Collatin to behold at least her naked heart through this gaping wound I believe that the last motion of her lips is an oath whereby she assures him that he shall find it free from the stains of her body that he shall meet there with no other image then his own nor any print of a forraign flame and that if there remain still any ashes of it they are the ashes of a lawfull fire which he alone hath inkindled and which is no less pure then the sacred fire of the Vestals Though there be nothing but spirit and breath in this oath yet it is understood by Collatin who makes the like protestation of fidelity for the future But it is only exprest in tears and sighs he hath forgotten all other terms And Lucrecia who yet well understands them accepts the protestation of his eyes and consigns it to her soul which carries it with joy to the other world Brutus who stands by makes a third protestation which is of a different form and will not be accomplished but with fire and sword The countenance you behold in him is not his ordinary meen The language he speaks is new to him and without doubt the Genius of Rome hapening to be present at this action appeared to him and inspired him to the full It is from his light this Romans eyes are ardent and his whole face as flaming fire It is with his spirit he is possessed and they are his words which issue forth of his mouth VVith one hand he holds the bloody Dagger which he but newly drew forth of Lucrecia's wound and seems to offer it as a sacrifice to the Genius that speaks to him the other he lifts to Heaven and accompanying with his voice and fire the voice and smoke of the chaste blood which distils from the fatall Dagger he vows to the Gods and his Country the ruin of the Tarquins and the extirpation of Soveraignty This new fire stayes not with him it passes to Valerius and Lucrecius the Father It dryes up the tears upon their Cheeks and sadness in their hearts and inkindles in place thereof an anger which is yet but a particular and domestick fire and such an one as will soon set Rome and all Italy in an universall flame These two grave Senators confirm by
of Tassus the very next day all other women would believe that it concerned their honour to be Gallants And the licentiousness of Ladies would be brought in fashion as well as their Apparell and Dresses It will nothing avail to oppose hereunto the example of Semiramis of Cleopatra and of other Princesses who have been couragious magnificent learned and expert and yet have not been very chaste I have said already that this stain was so much the baser as being placed upon a more precious matter and wrought with more art And if the integrity of Cato the Sensor and drunkard could not justily drunkenness I see not how the incontinence of Ladies will be justified by the valour of victorious and unchaste 〈◊〉 or by the spirit and generosity of the knowing and licentious the magnanimous and debauched Cleopatra Surely it is great pitty that so many Vertues have been so ill lodg'd and with so bad company And since the Holy Ghost hath compared fair women who are not wise to Sowe's adorned with bracelets of gold since a Philosopher hath said that fair ignorant persons were vessels of Allabraster fill'd with vineger we may also say by the same reason that these magnanimous debauched and these learned licentious women were full fraught vessels and loaden with dirt magnificent Pallaces and infected with Ordure and unwholsome air costly Monuments and filled with putrifaction And therefore we must conclude that modesty is a vertue necessary for Hercesses And that great Ladies have more interest in its conservation then those that are inferior to them both in birth and fortune The discourse by which Tassus endeavors to prove the contrary is scandalous And if I might be credited he would be condemned by the express sentence of all Ladies And his Author would be banished out of all Closets and Chambers as Poets his predecessors were heretofore out of the Commonwealth of Plato EXAMPLE Gondeberga of France Queen of Lumbardy THere are not only good reasons to alledge against the bad doctrine of Tassus but whole Volumes of examples to oppose against him And for two or three licentious women who have dishonoured Nobility and disparaged the Graces Historie might send Heroesses in Troops who have been chaste and magnanimous who have had the same degree of courage and modesty and have conserved the tincture of purity in the splendor of a soveraign Fortune I leave all the fabulous ones which are created by Poets and nourished by the Composers of Romances I leave even the true ones which are too far-fetch'd and appertain to forraign History and it satisfies me to produce a French woman who hath been more chaste and valiant then Lucrecia and will no less couragiously defend the honour of Ladies though I do not expose her with a sword in her hand nor represent her prepared to commit a murther Gondeberga a Princess of the blood of France and neer allyed to King Dagolert was born with all the Graces and Advantages she could receive from Nature Her Nobility was of a Race which had this quality of the Pome-Granad-â—â—ee that it bears no head that is not crowned and full of Heroick spirits Her beauty was soveraign by right of Nature which reigns without strong holds and Armies Her wit and courage might have made a Conqueror if it had been placed in another Sex Nevertheless it was a courage without cruelty 〈◊〉 was a wit tempered with sweetness and force And as for her vertue it was so pure and of so good odour as it penetrated all her actions and left no part of her life upon which detraction it self could colourably â—asten an untruth Being advantaged by this natural endowment which was more to be esteemed then all the Crowns Fortune could give her she was espoused to Arioldus King of Lombardy The first years of her marriage were happy and peaceable either by her carriage which was pleasing and dexterous or by the power of her vertue which wrought successfully upon Arioldus heart and disposed him sweetly to contribute his esteem and complacences to this domestick felicity Nevertheless as there be Serpents which are naturally enemies to fair Flowers and as Dogs do not bark against the Moon but when she is perfect and possesses all her light so there be jealous Devils who have a particular spite against pleasing and illustrious vertues and it was one of these infernal Spirits who impoysoned the mind of Arioldus and changed the happy state of Gondeberga She had in her service a young Lord native of Lombardy named Adalâ—â—sus a person of a gracefull aspect and full of courage who besides his exteriour gallantry had also that which was useful and serviceable in the Field But as the most part of Court Vertues to qualifie them rightly are but sportive and painted Vertues but poor ones which act the part of Queens and deformed ones with fair masks so this gracefull meen and great courage of Adalulsus covered a dangerous pride and an extream presumption lay hid under this Gallantry Nevertheless whether these defects were covered over with so curious a plaister and so artificially applyed as nothing of it appeared to the eyes of the Queen whether she suspected it to proceed rather out of Youth then any formed malice or that she really believed that vertues did lose nothing of their grace in the company of vices she did not forbear to have a singular esteem of him and to reserve those favours and kindnesses for him which she had for no body else These favours indeed were very innocent and pure and there was nothing undecent and immodest in these kindnesses But discretion was wanting and Gondeberga should not have trusted so much to her innocence and the purity of her intentions as not to remember that there is nothing so pure which may not be impurely interpreted and that even the spirit of Roses innocent as it is serves for matter of poyson to Spiders Moreover there are some men so vain and so well perswaded of their own merit as they cannot believe that a woman what preservatives soever she may carry about her and with what Vertues soever she is guarded can look upon them without forfeiting her liberty at first sight and her reason at the second And the extravagancy of some proceeds so far as to perswade themselves almost with the good man of the Comedy that the Dog-daies and the Southern wind which cause Feavors are less dangerous to women then their presence Adolulsus was one of these good people he easily believed that the esteem which Gondeberga expressed towards him proceeded from passion He took her civilities and favours for coloured Courtships and fore-runners of a vanquished Chastity which was willing to be summoned to the end it might surrender with Ceremony and according to the forms of War Adding temerity to this Vision he had the impudence to speak to her of Love and to violate Majesty by the impurity of his mouth and by the blasphemies of a sacrilegious
trac'd did me attend When they were gone to guide me to my end But envious Fortune in revenge did strive By cross Designs to keep me still alive My cruel Friends amidst this hot alarm By their offensive cares my hands disarm Therein obstructing like inhumane foes My passage to sweet Death whose gates they close But Love to give my Soul desired room Came with his Shafts to open me my Tomb And I for want of weapons to expire Swallow'd the Coals his Torch had set on fire The Elogy of Porcia THis Picture is of a magnanimous Woman who dies of Grief and Love and resolutely like a Stoick It is the famous Porcia who was the Rival of a Father Defender of the Publick Liberty and of a Husband the destroyer of Tyrannie And who renewed in the Age of Riot and Pleasure the Vertue and Severity of the Primitive Republick She was the daughter of Cato and the wise of Brutus Of the one she was born constant and invincible she became wise and learned from the other and had Vertue for her inheritance and Philosophy for her Dowry Her Husband ruminating upon the death of Caesar and the Deliverance of the oppressed Republick she deservâ—d to be admitted to the communication of this fatal secret and to assist his high thougâ—ts busied in contriving the Destiny of the Empire She conspired with him in heart and spirit she promised to send at least her desires her vows and zeal to the execution And since her Husband seemed to mistrust her silence and fidelity she made by one stroke of a dagger a great and painful wound in her thigh And thereby she shewed him what she was able to do against torments and gave him some of her blood in Hostage for her Constancy and Loyaltie After the death of Caesar and the ruine of Pompey's Faction Brutus having slain himself upon the bloody Body of the Republick defeated in the Philippian Plain Porcia dâ—ed not like him blaspheming against Vertue and repenting her self for having ever served it She continued her reverence to it to the last and honoured it with her last words Seeing her self besieged by her kindred which took from her all means of cutting asunder the tyes of her soul she resolved to kindle there a fire with burning Coals which she swallowed down Thus she set at liberty what remained of her Father and Husband And by her death the blood of the one and the heart of the other once more overcame Tyrannie MORAL REFLECTION WOmen ought to learn from this example that the fault cannot be charged upon their Sex that they are not valiant That their infirmities are vices of Custom and not any defect of Nature And that a great heart is no more discomposed by a tender body then is a great Intelligence by a beautiful Planet Doves would have the boldness of Eagles and Erins the courage of Lyons if their souls were of the same Species One may gather out of the same Example another instruction for Husbands Brutus was a man honest enough and a Philosopher able enough to read them a Lecture And they should not be ashamed to learn of him that Wives are given them for Assistants and Co-adjutresses that they ought to have a place for them as well in their Closets as Beds and to share with them in affairs no less then at Table And that capacity grows from imployment and fidelity from confidence Judgement proceeds from the head which is not changeable from the variety of that which covers it Augustus proposed nothing to the Senate upon which he had not deliberated with Liâ—ia who was as his Associate in the Empire and if one may say so his Domestick Colleague The Holyest of our Kings being a Prisoner to the Saracens would conclude nothing about his Freedom but with the consent of the Queen his Wife And under the Reign of Ferdinand Spain was not happy and victorious but by the prudence and courage of Isabella The ensuing Question will inform us whether Porcia were endued with generosity And whether women be capable thereof MORAL QVESTION VVhether VVomen be capable of an Eminent Generosity I Have been present at some Disputes undertaken upon this Question And sometimes it hath caused me to have innocent and pleasing quarrels with my Friends I have seen some who could not endure that a Woman should be commended for Generosity It is said they as if one should praise her for having a good seat on horse-back and for well handling her Arms It is as if one would set her forth with a Helmet or the skin of a Lion It were to confound the bounds which sever us and place disorder in Morality And a generous Woman is no less a Solecism then a Woman Doctor and a Woman Cavalier It is an incongruity almost as undecent as a bearded Woman To this I did Answer that Vertues having their seat in the Soul and needing only a good disposition of the Soul to operate belong to both Sexes That Generosity is one of those Vertues That the office of the Body and the action of its Members are not necessary to it That all its Functions are interiour and performed in the heart And that the heart of Man and Woman is of the same Matter and Form I added thereunto that the Comparison of Arms and Military Exercises concluded nothing against the Generosity of Women That all things are becoming to well-shaped persons and of a handsom aspect That Semiramâ—â— Hâ—psicrates and 〈◊〉 were as gracefully set forth with Helmets as with Crowns And that another as well known in Fables was not found unhandsom in the Lions skin which Hercules wore That besides that there have been women seen who knew how to manage a horse to throw a dart use their swords with a good grace No just comparison can be made nor a right consequence drawn from the exercises of the Body in reference to the Habits of the Soul That a Woman Doctor and a Woman Cavalier were but Errors of Grammar which do not violate Morality That Generosity not being fastened to the heart of a man as a beard is to his face it might belong without any incongruity or undecency to both Sexes To these Reasons which came to my minde and which I alledged tumultuary and without choice in like Disputes others of more weight and better prepared may be added upon meditation Generosity to define it rightly is a heighth of courage or an Elevation of minde whereby a soul raised above interest and profit is led inviolably and without deviation unto Duty which is labourious and to Gallantry which is painful and difficult in appearance And because this disposition taken in its usual foyle and in respect of matter scarce belongs to any but Great and Noble Persons the name of Generosity hath been given to it which is a name of Greatness and Nobility Whether then that we take Generosity materially and for that cream of good blood and pure Spirits which nourish
glorious effusion ariseth it is certain that Cicinna is penetrated by it and his soul which fear had imprisoned being now inflamed and attracted by the power of this light expects only the fatall stroke which was to set it at liberty To give this blow Arria presents him a Dagger still warm with her blood and courage Love is the mediator of this commerce and at the same time and by the same inspiration infuseth courage into the mind of Arria and resolution into the spirit of Cicinna Take not this Love for one of those nice ones in whom Poppy causeth the head-ach and who would not adventure to touch a Rose unless it be disarmed It is one of those couragious and magnanimous Loves of those which have produced Heroes and Heroesses of those which know no other Garlands but Helmets no other Posies but Swords of those which take delight in Frost and Rain in Chains and Prisons And I am much mistaken if it be not the very same Love which led Euadne to the flaming pile of her Husband which sparkled the Sword wherewith the true Dido guarded her self from a second Marriage and which lately also cut off the Hair of the Vertuous Hypsicratea put the Helmet on her head and made a Queen become a Foot-soldier in the Army of Mithridates At present this Love playes the Exhorter and Philosopher it speaks to Cicinna of liberty and glory and animates him to follow the Example and Courage of his wife You would say that in guiding his hand to the Dagger which is offered him she assures him that it will cut off the ligaments of his soul without hurting him that it hath been mollified in the bosome of Arria and by the fire of her heart that her blood hath qualified it and take from thence all that it had of malignity and sharpness and that not only so Noble and Honourable a weapon as that but even a Cord presented by the hand of so gallant a woman would be more glorious then many Diadems wrought by the hand of Fortune and presented by those of Messaline Cicinna seems fully perswaded by these reasons and confirms them by his gesture and countenance He is no longer the same fearfull and irresolute man as before He hath still the same head and body but another heart is placed in this body and another spirit in this head He hath no longer any blood in his veins which is not Romane All his thoughts are triumphant and all his sentiments worthy of a Consul and shortly his soul greater then Fortune and stronger then Death will depart victorious over both and re-unite it self to the soul of Arria This Example of constancy and conjugall Fidelity is very precious to Rome at this time and no doubt but the young Arria and Trascus her Husband who are spectators thereof will make good use of it They greedily and studiously collect the circumstances thereof and look upon it as the principal piece of their Patrimony Truly it is wonderfull to behold a wisdom at the age of eighteen to behold maturity and youth in one and the same head To see a woman couragious and constant a woman grave and serious in an age of divertisements and pleasures She conceives her self more rich from the lessons and examples of her mother then from the succession of all the Consuls of her House and three drops of her blood and four syllables of her last words have something in them which is dearer to her then all the Pearls of her Ancestors She likewise stores up these words and layes up about her heart all that she can gather of his blood and of the spirit which is mingled with it Surely this must needs be her good Genius who inspires her so timely to arm her self thereby and she cannot choose but foresee the occasions wherein it will be usefull to her to have conserved the memory of her Mother and fortified her self with her Blood and Courage Traseus was no less solicitous to reap benefit by this illustrious Example The present misfortune of Cicinna is a presage to him of his future mishap and not finding himself so weak as to crouch under the age nor so powerfull as to alter it he clearly sees that the least he can expect is to be ruined by it after the rest He restifies at least by his countenance that he will not fall cowardly nor expect till they push him on and all the rules of Phisiognomy are deceitfull or he will be an Original of his time and his death will have one day a place amongst the Heroick Examples SONNET ARRIA speaks ARria instructs her Husband by her wound That in a gallant Death no smart is found The Noble Blood which from her Bosome flows Of her Chaste Fire the heat and tincture shows Conjoynth with this blood of matchless worth A Fate-subduing Love hath issu'd forth Who thus Cicinna's coldness doth exhort To close thus gallant Scene with like effort Thy Honour now Cicinna is at slake No less then is thy Life then Courage take Beware lest abject fear restrain thy hand And put thy Glory to a shamefull stand Arria thy wound upon her self hath taâ—ne To her own Death she hath annext the pain Of thâ—â—e and by 〈…〉 extreamly rare Hath only leâ—t it's Glory to thy share Elogy of Arria IT is true that the Reign of the fift Caesar was but a perpetual Comedy But the Interludes thereof were bloody and Traâ—â—call And cruelty was almost continually mixed there with the loves of Messalâ—â— and the Impostures of Narâ—issa The Spectators grew at length weary of so ill composed and represented a Scene And some of the least patient and most Couragious amongst them resolved to force the Republike out of the hands of these Stage-Players Nevertheless the Conspirators failing in the success they promised themselves 〈◊〉 who was their Head happened to be killed in 〈◊〉 And his Complices abandoned by reason of his death remained in the power of the Beast whom they had inraged Afterwards 〈◊〉 who was the most ingaged in the Plot was apprehended and brought to Rome The Couragious and Faithful Arria did not deliberate whether she ought to follow him It came not into her thoughts that Adversity was a Divorce she did not believe that bad Fortune ought to be more powerful then Love nor that it could Lawfully dissolve Marriages On the contrary she believed that she was the Wife of Cicinna a Criminal and Prisoner as she had been of Cicinna's a Favourite and Consul and that she ought to have as great a share in his Chains and Punishments as she had in his Fortunes and Glory She accompanied him to the Ship And at the instant of Imbarking seeing her self put back by the Guards You will permit at least saith she that a Senator of an ancient Consulary Race may have some body to wait upon him during so long a Voyage I alone will supply the Places of his Attendants And the Ship will not be
all the last night could not sleep by reason of his disquiets and discontents Perez set at Liberty by this Device repaired to Henry the Great who received him with Honour And Iane Coello staied behinde in Spain esteemed by every one for her Courage and Fidelity I am the first that have shewn this Couragious and Faithful Woman to France And I now present her unto the Court to the end our Ladies may learn of her that great Expences and studied Excesses do not form a gallant Woman That so fair a Figure deserves better Lineaments and Colours That the Noblest blood of the World is obscure and wants lustre if Vertue doth not give it That Marriage is a Companion as well for bad Times and rugged Tracks as for fair Dayes and delightful Roads And that the affection of a good Woman should resemble Ivy which sticks close and inseparably to that Tree which it hath once imbraced never leaving it what snow soever falls upon it what wind soever shakes it what tempest soever bears it down PAVLINE 〈…〉 Paulina IS it one of the Graces or an wounded Amazon who dyes there standing and in the posture of a Conqueress She is truly a Grace even a manly and magnanimous Grace No Amazon unless a Philosophick and long Robâ—d Amazon She is the wise and vertuous Paulina who became a Stoick in the house of Seneca and resolves to die in his Company and by his Example You may have heard what common rumour hath published of Neros ingratitude and of the Fatal command of death he sent his Master This second Parricide no less scandalized the Senate and all the People then the first which is yet fresh and whose blood still reales upon the Earth And the impiety of the Tyrant after it had caused Agrippina to be murthered who had been twice his Mother and brought him no less into the Empire then into the world after it had put Seneca to death the Instructer of his youth and the Father of his spirit could not ascend higher if it rise not up against God himself if it fall not on Religion and holy things Though this last stroke fell only upon Seneca yet he is the only person that was not surprized with it and having often beheld the soul of Nero open and even to the bottom he ever indeed believed that figures of Rhetorick and sentences learnt by roat would not be more acknowledged then the Life and Empire he received from his Mother He received likewise that barbarous Order with a Tranquility truly Stoick and worthy the Reputation of his Sect. He did not appeal to the Senate he knew very well that the Senate is now but a Body divested of Power a dismembred Body and still bleeding of the wounds it had received from the Tyrant He did not implore Redress from the Laws they were all at present either banished or dead He was content to obey without noyse or delay and you could not arrive more seasonably to see a Stoick dying according to the forms and principles of his Profession Paulina would also shew that Constancy belonged to her Sex no less then to ours and that VVomen might be Philosophers without having commerce with Lycea and Portica without making Dilemmaes or Sylogismes She believed that being the one half of Seneca she might be couragious by his Courage and dye by the example of his Death as she had been enriched by his Riches and honoured by his Fortune Their Veins hapned to be opened by the same hand and Lancet Their blood and spirits were mixt together in their wounds And that of Seneca entring into the Arm of Paulina with the Lancet penetrated her very heart and seated it self about her soul. You see also that being instructed and fortified by this spirit which serves for a second reason and an accessory Courage she had the fortitude to expect death standing which is the last Act of Soveraign Vertue and the true posture of dying Heroes The blood streamed from her Arm with violence as if her soul pressed it to have the glory of going out the first And to behold the purest and most spirituall parts thereof which spurt up from the Bason into which it fell you would say that it takes a pride in the Nobleness of its Extraction and conceives it self too well descended to be spilt on the ground Paulina calmly and without the least alteration beholds it trickling down And saving that her Colour vanished away by degrees and Paleness succeeded as it doth to the last Rays of a fair day which dyes in a beautiful Cloud no change was to be seen in her Countenance Her Constancy is no savage Constancy It hath a serenity and Grace but it is a pale serenity and an expiring Grace She is more covetous of her Tears and Sighs then of her Blood and Life she prohibited her Eyes and Mouth to shew the least sign of weakness And a Statue of white Marble which should make a Fountain of its artificiall Veins could not have a more peaceable stability nor a more gracefull confidence This example is very rare but it is sad and cannot instruct the mind but by wounding the heart The steam of so Noble Blood draws almost tears from your eyes And it afflicts you that you are not able to save the fair remains of so beauteous a Life Let it no longer torment you The Tyrant advertised of Paulina's generous resolution sends Souldiers to hinder her Death and inforce her to live Not that he takes care of the Vertues or is willing to preserve the Graces which are ready to dye with her He is Nero in all his actions and doth no less mischief when he saves then when he kiâ—s It is because he delights to sever the best united hearts and to divide the fairest Couples It is because he takes pleasure in forcing inclinations and violating sympathies It is because he hath a desire to exercise upon friendships and souls an interiour and spirituall Tyranny It is because after the death of Seneca he will have the heart of Seneca in his power The Balisters of Porphiriâ— upon which you see him leaning is the same as they say on which lately at the noise and light of flaming Rome he sung the firing of Troy He speaks from thence to the Souldiers he sent to Paulina and commands them to make hast Though she had but two steps to make yet they will enforce her to retreat and fasten her again to life by binding up her wounds It were to be wished for the good of Rome that they had done as much to Seneca But if they had Swathes and Remedies to apply to him Nero could wish that they might be impoysoned Swathes and killing Remedies The last year he caused the same Remedies to be applyed to gallant Burrus his other Governour And doubt not but he will shortly send the like to Seneca if 〈◊〉 Soul make not the more haste to expire It is not the good old mans
Melancholy And by the ruine of her Prison she secures her Palace And that by the choice of a death which lasts but a moment and is sweetned and purified by Love She avoids a Widow-hood which is to Lovers a long and bitter death A death of the Heart and Minde a death which endures and makes it self felt as long as it lasteth Thereby in fine her Love enjoys the purest and highest satisfaction whereof it is capable Which is to produce it self entire To fill up the whole Extent that lies open to it to pass even to the utmost bounds and to the last Tryals Now so long as it advanceth not so far as death there still remains a great Vacâ—â—â—â— before it And the most important and perswasive point is yet wanting to Tryals Being assured by the Testimony of Holy Writ that Perfect and Consummated Love is only found in such as Sacrifice their Lives for those who are dear unto them Moreover this last and Supream Duty which Conjugal Love imposeth on Wives and which it may also impose on Husbands is not one of those Duties in 〈◊〉 and Speculation whereof no Example is seen but in Romances The Couragious Spanish Princess whose Picture I have newly drawn was not a Fantome of that Country And so many others so well known in true History were not born in the same Places as the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 I leave the Ancient and Forreign Dames to seekers of far-fetched Curiosities The French Lady whom I am to produce is of a Family good and rich enough to be an Honour to her Country and Age And such as treat of Modern Vertues as of the younger bâ—ood will learn at least by this Example that the younger Daughters of France are nothing inferiour to the eldest Daughters of Greece and Rome EXAMPLE Margaret of Foixe Dutchess of Espernon IT is no new thing to hear me Discourse of the bad Intelligence which is between Friendship and Fortune It hath always been believed that Greatness was too much Interessed and Propriatory to love really and that it had a certain Pride and Rigour which left no room for Tenderness and soft Passions It hath been said that Love and Majesty never dwell together That it rather affects a mean and quiet Condition then an elevation exposed to Winds and Tempests And they that have resembled it to a Bird have not made it flie with Eagles nor placed it upon the top of Cedars and the summet of Mountains They have ranked it amongst Bees which are Armed and live like it of the quintiscence of â—owers and of the pure Spirit of the Planets They have lodgd it amongst Rose Trees where there is Fire and Thorns like its own But whatever hath hitherto been believed or said Friendship and Vertue are not equally at variance with all great Fortunes There are Grandeurs very Affectionate and wel-Natured as well as Rude and Intractable And if the Lizard which walks only upon his hands as Solomon saith be so bold as to ascend even to the Palaces of Kings and to dwell with them as their Domestique We must not believe that Love which is Nobly Descended and to whom so excellent wings are given is only born for Cottages There are no Houses shut against it And it shall appear by this Example into what House soever Vertue introduceth it there is no Greatness which gives not place to it nor any Interest which obeys it not The Fortâ—ne of the deceased Duke of Esperâ—on hath been long admir'd throughout all France It was likewise Extraordinary and Wonderful and there was not only colour in the pieces which composed it but also Force and Solidity they were all great and Illustrious In my Judgement nevertheless the decealed Lady his Wife was the greatest and most Illustrious of all those pieces nay the strongest and most solid though it lasted not so long as the rest This great Lady possessed in an eminent degree all the Qualities which may conduce to the glory of a Family and the happiness of a Husband Her Nobility was of the first rank And I know not whether in all Europe there were any Soveraign Title or Crown wherein she had not a share But there is a Nobility which is proud and insolent yet hers was Modest and Civil The Titles of her House did not puff up her Mind And the Crowns of her Allies and Predecessors made her not receive others with scorn To this Nobleness of Blood was added the Nobleness of her Countenance and that Soveraignty of Natural Right and Ancient Descent which begets Majesty in Beautiful Persons but she was not of those fair Ones who erect their Soveraignty into Liberty and Tyranny Hers still remained within the limits of a lowly and exemplar Sobriety Detraction which is so bold in lying and findes out stains in the most Beautiful Planets had not one word to say against her Nevertheless her Vertue was no sullen Vertue she was none of those curst ones who have not a drop of good nature who know onely how to scratch and bite She was naturally milde and cultivated by study and the Graces had so well tempered what might perchance have been over tart in her as she gave content even where she was severe But all these rare qualities do not concern the subject we now treat of my Question is about Conjugal Love and the deceased Dutchess of Espernon hath given an Example thereof which equals the force of ancient Models There are even in these days Illustrious and Remarkable witnesses which speak not of it but in terms of Praise But what ever they say of her Esteem and respects of her Obedience and Cares of her good Offices and Complacences though they speak nothing thereof which is not Great and Exemplar yet it leaves not so high an Idea of this Love as the action of Angouâ—â—â—â— In that General Revolution which happened at Court in the year 1588. The Heads of the Leagâ—t raised all their Engines against the Duke of Espernâ—â— and used both openly and privately all sorts of endeavours to destroy him However he was not shaken so that these Engines did onely assault the favour and good will of his Prince But as soon as Calumny took hold of his Fidelity and that he was accused for holding intelligence with the King of Nâ—varre his good Master who till then had defended his own benefits and interpos'd between his Work and those envious Persons who designed his ruin withdrew his Protection and consented to the Plot which was laid to seiz on him in Angoâ—leme The enemies which he had in the Cabinet Councel entended the Kings consent even to his destruction And Orders were sent from the Court to the Magistrates of Angoâ—leme to bring him alive or dead The execution of this dangerous Plot was defer'd till the tenth of August and that day the Magistrate who was not ignorant how hard a chase he had to follow presented himself with two hundred selected and armed men to seiz
impetuosity wherewith they passed along retreated disorderly into their Forts conceiving that it would not be safe for them to remain in their Tents Nevertheless the number of those that have no longer any need of Tents or VVorks is great enough And apparently if the landed Troops had given on at the same time upon all sides this dayes work had put an end to the Siege And this so stately Camp which had been for seven moneths the Prison of Orleans would become at present the Sepulchre of a good part of England But so great a work well deserved to be shewn distinctly and at leisure And to the end this imprisoned and despairing City might behold all the Valour of its Deliveress it was necessary that its Prison should not be broken but by track of time and by parcels This happy beginning is a certain presage of a far more fortunate Issue And the Earl of Dunois whom you see under the Gate with Lahire and the other Commanders is gone forth to congratulate with her aforehand Peradventure you may have never seen the face of this young Prince You have never then beheld the greatest Ornament of this Age and the fairest hope of Posterity Take time to observe him well Behold his gracefull carriage and the dignity of his whole Person Behold those Rayes of Majesty which have something I know not what of Royal and are dyed with the Purple of his Blood Behold the Nobleness of Aspect and ayr of a VVarriour which demonstrates his exteriour Courage and his remarkable Valour and acknowledge that he adds much to the name of Orleans and worthily supports the Greatness and Fortune thereof It is hoped that his Vertues will not die with him They will serve for other Ages and under other Reigns And all Predictions are false and Physiognomy is deceitfull or Princes shall be born from him who will be Heroes by Race and Valiant from Father to Son who will be one day the Honour of their Family by rendring Honour to France SONNET The PUCELLE speaks FAtal to England Fortunate to France Of th' one I curb'd the surly Arrogance And with my Lance the tott'ring Throne sustain'd Of th' other Realm whose Freedome I regain'd The smoakie Ordures of the burning Pile Could not my spotless Innocence defile And my opprobrious Death more mischief brought To those that cans'd it then my Arm that fought With Heart which did Heroickly aspire I under verdant Laurels kept entire My Body's flow'r and not unlike the Bee Was rich in Courage and in Chastitie On thâ— English Lions I did boldly press And chac'd them oft a Virgin Conqueress And gallantly defended with my Lance The Flowr-de-Luce which Crowns our Kings of France Elogy of Pucelle HISTORY which causeth it self to be stiled true and exact scatters nothing almost in every place but far fetch'd Falshoods and Fables Magnificently set forth and with Pomp. It only proposeth Pictures exceeding Natural Proportion nothing but Colosseses which seem to be made only to affright the belief of Readers and weary their sight There is nothing here of this Model or Statute All pure and naked Truth without exaggeration and ornament is here more taking then these Fables more magnificent and stately then these Colosseses The Maid of Orleans is not the Work of an Inventive and Deluding Fancy She is not composed of the same Matter with those Valiant Women set forth in Romances and by Poets Her Vertue was Sensible and Substantial She really effected in the Field all that others have done in Picture and in the brain of their Inventors Her Victories have not been like theirs which spake only by black'd Paper and spilt Inke The same Spirit which called from the Sheepfold the Conquerour of Gelia which chose a weak and unarmed Woman to defeat the Assyrians broken into Iudea and to tear its People out of the claws of Holifernes took this Maid from amidst the Flocks and sent her Fortified by his Vertue to raise up ruined France and to free it from the bondage of Strangers who would have dishonoured that Kingdom after they had pillag'd it He infused into her a Prophetick Spirit and a Conquering Heart He made a Debâ—â—â— and Iudith of her And heap'd together in her life all that in the time of Miracles appeared most rare and â—â—â—ustrious It did not suffice him to give her Courage and Conduct He sent her an Angel who laid his hands on her and this Imposition of hands was to her what the Ceremony of Instaulment is to new made Knights He instructed her in all the Exercises of War and taught her more in a moment then 〈◊〉 and Potâ—â—â— had learnt from Occurtences and Fortune The English also stood not before her Their Fortune which conceived it self already Victorious gave way to her Angel and what forcible endeavours soever they used to hinder her entry into Orleans she entred it in despite of them and deprived them of France by taking this City from them After several Fights wherein she was still Victorious she fell into the hands of her Enemies who treated her as a Criminal both in point of Religion and State and made her undergo the punishment of Hereticks and Sorcerers God was pleased thus to permit it to the end she might accomplish all the Duties of a gallant Woman and finish that part of a perfect Heroesse which she had begun That she might overcome by her Patience as she had done by her Valour And that the English might be no less defeated by her Death then by her Victories Besides this barbarous Injustice heightened their sins and drew upon them the wrath of God the Avenger of oppressed Innocence The Spirit of the Maid and her good Angel re-inkindled the War after he death Ever since the English had them on their backs they were vanquished by them in all Battels and beaten off in all Sieges And in fine to preserve themselves from these exterminating Spirits they were inforced to quit all that they 〈◊〉 â—â—vaded MORAL REFLECTION THere is a great difference between the Judgements of God and those of Men And we see few places where this difference is more expresse and better marked out then in the History of the Maid of Orleans God drew her out of a Village to inform us that he makes no distinction either of places or names that he esteems not men for their Coats of Arms and ancient Titles that the blood of a Prince and a Shepherd are of the same colour and matter That a Sheep-hook in his sight is of the same value as a Scepter And that both high and low as well as the Palme and Bush spring from the same Earth He chose her out of a weak Sex because he hath ever loved to overcome Pride by Weakness to throw down Colosseses with grains of Sand to fell Giants with Reeds He would manifest that the weakest and least Warlike hands are able to defend Scepters and support Thrones when he hath blessed them
in her hands it was never more universal nor extended to more uses nor to a larger compass Her Profusions did not slide away in unprofitable transitory Pomps They were not like Torrents which are onely for shew and last but a dayâ— They resembled Rivers which are fertile and durable they afforded staâ—e and solid riches and brought happiness to Nations and plenty to Ages And to say nothing of those which remained in Spain where they are still looked upon with astonishment The great Bible of 〈◊〉 which hath been so long the most ample and rich spectacle of learned men the most profitable and stately Ornament of our Libraries is no less the work of Isabella then of Cardinal Ximenes her Councellor This Eminent Princess first advanced this great enterprize and furnished of her own stock to those preparations which were requisite long before the Work was begunne But as there hath never been so bold an Undertaker who hath not had more bold Successors then himself and besides as the same Time which ruins on the one side the works of art doth perfect them on the other so the Bible of 〈◊〉 having raigned near upon threescore year and held the first 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 was deposed of its place by the Royal Bible which 〈◊〉 the second caused to be printed at Antwerp And very newly the Royall happened to be degraded by that which Monsieur Le lay after the labour of thirty years hath published with the generall Applause of all the learned It is true also that this enterprize was not the undertaking of a particular Person and of a mean Fortune It was of a Monarch nay of a sumptuous Monarch and addicted to Noble expences It was of a Soveraign and Magnificent Fortune And if this great Body of seven Languages remains 〈◊〉 to be shewn all intire to Posterity I know not whether the most credulous Posterity will ever believe that a single private Person of this Kingdom assisted onely by his Revenue and Generosity hath affected more then a King of Spain with all his Mountains of Silver and Springs of Gold with all his Mines and Indies But great Souls not great Estates are the things which perform great Actions It was requisite that the Regency of Anne of Austria should have 〈◊〉 advantage above the Raign of Isabella and Philip her Predecessor It was necessary that a moderate Fortune should give Emulation and Instruction to all the great Fortunes of Europe and that Princes and then Ministers should learn from a Private Person to be Christianly Magnificent with the Benediction of God and Men. Isabella was not onely Wise and Couragious Magnanimous Just and Magnificent But her Publick and Active Vertues were accompanied with other Domestick and Peaceable Ones which were not the less vigorous for making the less noise and had not the less merit in being less Regarded I set down her Devotion in this Last which had been remarkable in a Religious Woman her modestie and Civility which savoured nothing of the height of her quality her Patience which might have made a Heroess in a private Fortune Her Court was a School of Piety Purity and Modesty for the Maids of Honour which were Educated near her Person She was an Academy of Spirit and Honour for Cavaliers And from this Academy came that famous Gonzales of 〈◊〉 to whom Spain so liberal in Titles and Elogies gave the name of Great Captain as a reward for driving the Fortune of France out of the Kingdom of Naples Besides her Vertue was not one of those Stage Vertues which act not handsomly but before the World and in the eyes of men It was not one of those Mercenary and Interessed Vertues which serve not but upon good Terms and for great Wages and Pawn It was likewise sincere and acted as soveraignly and with as much order in Private as in the eyes of the Publick It was likewise steddy as well during a storm as in a calm and had not a different Countenance and Heart in Affliction then in Prosperity It hath been known by the report of her Attendants that in all her Child beds the pain of Delivery which is the Natural Torture of their Sex did never force a word of Complaint from her mouth Marvellous was the Moderation which made her suffer with the death of her Son the death of her Name and the Extirpation of her Race And certainly since there is no Tree which doth not bend and complain when a Branch is torn off from it by a Tempest though it be a wilde Tree though the Branch which is taken off be half rotten How much courage were necessary for a Mother not to be cast down by the blow which deprived her of such a Son which tore from her so noble a shoot and of so great hope A shoot which was to have extended it self to new Worlds and a new Nature She was so far from being dejected by this Accident that it â—earce gâ—ve her the least disquiet The gallant Woman prevailed in her minde above the good Mother And the news of this deplorable death being brought her in the Eve of her Daughter Isabella's Marriage with 〈◊〉 King of Portugal she knew so well how to seal up her heart She so handsomly fitted her Countenance to an Action for which so great Preparations were made that not a sigh escaped out of her Heart not a Tear fell from her Eyes which might cloud the Serenity of the Feast Her Constancy appeared no less by bearing with the publick Extravagancies of the Princess 〈◊〉 her Daughter who was sick of the Love of her Husband Philip. His truly was a Lawful Love and had received the Benediction of the Church Not only Bastard Loves are those which appear Monstrous but even Lawfull Ones which are Enormous and Irregular have scarce a better Aspect And the Fires which the Church hath blessed if they be not entertained with Moderation may no less offend the head and dazle with their smoak then the other The Love of Iaâ—â— was one of these Lawful disordered Loves It was one of these honest fires which heat too much and daâ—â— with their smoak And surely she must needs have been much dazled when she resolved to Imbark her self in the most bitter Season of the year and to expose her life her great belly and the hope of so many Kingdoms to the Winter and the Ocean that she might meet with her Husband who was 〈◊〉 into Handerâ— But Fonsâ—â—a Bishop of Burgos and 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Governour of 〈◊〉 having hindred her Imbarking neither Intreaties nor Reasons could prevail to bring her back to her Lodging She remained whole days and nights without Food or Sleep exposed to the Air and all the injuries thereof And assuredly she would have died on the ground if the Quâ—een her Mother had not brought her in all haste a Licence to commit her self to the penâ— of the Sea Nevertheless she escaped the Sea and Tempesluous Season But Jealousie escaped
Morality teach us that Chastity ought not to fight but in retiring that she puts her self in danger when she takes upon her to be Valiant and shews her Face to her Enemies that she cannot attain to Victory but by a Retreat even by Flight and a very quick and sudden Hight All this agrees with the Spirit of Transport which 〈◊〉 no kinde of Enemieâ— and attaquâ—s them all without knowing them which measures no Dangers not Precipices and fully casts it self upon both which 〈◊〉 not to any thing whatsoever no not to terrifying Death it 〈◊〉 in which all other things submit Thirdly Chastity is not one of these Vertues which are born for Action 〈…〉 and are only serviceable in a Tumult and Storm she is one of the Peacâ—ble and Sedentary Vertues she is a Lover of Repose and 〈◊〉 she hath the Innocence of Lambs and the meekness of Turtles she hath a Temper contrary to Lions and Eagles Of what use would then this Spirit of Transport be to Sedentary Vertue Of what use could it be in time of Repose and Retirement What would that Lamb do with this Heart of a Lion What would this Turtle do with the Violence of 〈…〉 All these Reasons are very good proofs that Chastity is a Vertue of its own Nature Reserved and a Friend to Repose But they do not prove that she is never Armed with Boldness that she never takes Courage that she is a ways concealed and still possessed with Fear There are some Occasions wherein she must of necessity alter her Humour and Carriage wherein she must express Resolution and Courage wherein she must Act even elevate her self and elevate her self with a Transport Doves which 〈…〉 Sweet and Innocent have yet their Sallies and Anger 's Patience which is at least as calm as Chastity becomes Furious when it is Wounded And that Spotless and Silent â—amb which came to Teach us Chastity and Patience ceaseth yet sometimes to be a Lamb and becomes a Lyon when he is provoked Let us say that this Heroick Spirit of Rapture is not necessary to Chastity when she is not assaulted and proposeth no Enemies to overcome not Crowns to obtain She is then permitted to remove far off from the Tumult She may decently affect Repose and participate without blame of the benefit of Peace Her condition in that State doth not differ from that Valour it self which is not continually provoked and Furious always covered over with Sweat and Blood And which useth not every day her Warlike hands and countenance her Spirit and Garments of Battel But when this Peaceable Chastity is Assaulted when Dangers and Enemies press her when she is reduced to the necessity of either rendâ—ing up her self or of vanquishing by some Extraordinary and Supernatural â—ffort where will she finde wherewith to carry on this extraordinary and Supernatural Violence if the Heroâ—ck 〈◊〉 whereof I speak do not inflame her if the Spirit of 〈◊〉 do not possess her it both do not transport her to what place would not her Fears and Restraints hurry her And even in this her Condition is likewise equal to that of true Valour which hath an other Countenance and an other Heart upon a Breach then in a Closet which marchâ—â—n with an other kinde of Action and Look to a day of Assault then to a day of Ceremony Let us only oppose hereunto that the Comparison is not equal between Chastity and Valour between a Peaceful and Sedentary vertue and one that is Warlike and Tumultuary Chastity hath her Wars and Combats And her Wars are more lasting and obâ—â—inate her Combats are more dangerous and labonous then those of Valour She hath likewise more need of Courage and Resolution as I have already shewn And consequently the Spirit of Transport which is the Spirit of Courage and Resolution is more necessary to her then to this Vertue of Fire and Sword And here the Bravo's and great Pretenders to Valour must not flatter themselves not think to obtain it by the fierceness of their Looks and the greatness of Words The honour of Chaste Women is not in a place of easier Access nor less Elevated then theirs Nature cannot 〈◊〉 thither by her own Forces The Senses know not the way to it and on what side soever this way lieth it is possessed by Enemies who use violence even in their satisfactions and terrifie by their Complacences and Caâ—esses On all sides and at every step there are Gins which are so much the more to be feared as their Bâ—â—â—s are more rich and their threds wrought with more silk and covered over with more Flowers Besides if we were to beware of nothing there but Flowers and Silk if we were only to defend our selves against Complacences and Caresses Yet there are sometimes Daggers hid under these Flowers and these Silken Threds become strangling Ropes These Enemies are not always Complacent and Courting They change their Art and Posture according to the Resistance which is made to them They imploy Iron where Gold is not powerful enough and where Sweetness is weak and Presents effect nothing they practise Cruelty they display terror and punishments I mean that Chast Women have not only pleasing but even terrifying and bloody Temptations They are not onely to defend themselves against Avaâ—ice and Voluptuousness but they are to overcome both Torture and Death it self I say Torture which is the invention of Tyrants and the practise of Executioners I say Death armed with all its Fires and Engines Is it credible that Chastity without using any extraordinary violence without moving or changing place can overcome all these Enemies whether Complacent or Barbarous That she is able to loosen her self from all these eyes and snates whether from those which allure or those which strangle That she is able to master all these temptations whether sweet or sparkling in which Gold and Precious Stones are imployed whether cruel and terrible practised with chains like those which Ioseph suffered with stones like those shewn to Susanna with a Scymitar like that which vanquished the Daughter of Paul 〈◊〉 Beheaded by Mahâ—â—et at the taking of 〈◊〉 Again is it credible that Chastity can be victorious over so many Adversaries and in so many Conflicts if she be not filled if she be not Penetrated by this Divine Fire by this supernatural Instinct by this Spirit which begets an 〈◊〉 and the Extasies of Heroick Vertue Nature is strong and Attractive Chastity must resist her Forces and loosen her self from her Allurements The senses stick close to those Interests which are Commodious to them and the Body hath a strange adherence to pleasure where flesh and blood bears a part Chastity must either sever the sences from these Interests and must break all that fastens the Body to these pleasures or she must voluntarily separate her self from the senses and break violently with the body Death hath cruel and frightfull Weapons It is accompanied with terrible and furious Attendants Chastity
Wit her Graces and Magnificence Her Picture requires far better Colours and more Artificial Touches It must be drawn after another manner then that of 〈◊〉 and Cleopatra Other Incense must be burnt and other Crowns placed before a Martyr then upon the Altar of an Idol Besides all these Titles are equivocal Terms and properly signifie neither Vertue nor Vice Magnanimous Persons are not always Nobly born And a great Courage is not ever of a great House Cedars and Palms grow in Vallies Broom and Fern-Brakes are found upon Mountains Beauty is rarely Innocent And Graces are Flowers which may have an ill odour and grow in a bad Soyl. Concerning the Elevation and Lights of the Minde they are common both to Vertuous and Wicked Persons And oftentimes we see Comets which have more Fire and are more elevated then great Planets In like manner Magnificence is a Vertue which may prove unfaithful and Heretical which may be Imprudent and condemned with the Foolish Virgins And we know that the Piramides of Egypt and other like Wonders have been erected by debauchâ—d Women Let us then lay aside equivocal Titles and ambiguous Elogies We have Proper and Formal ones Let us not say that Mary Stewart was descended from a continued Line of Kings But let us say that she had a more generous Heart a more Royal Soul and Soveraign Reason then all the Crowned Kings from whom she derives her Extraction Let us not esteem her for Beauty which is common to the Rose and the Poppy to Chaste and Lascivious Women but for a Vertuous and Disciplined Beauty of good Odour and Example Let us neither praise her Graces nor her Wâ—t but let us commend the Reservedness and Modesty of her Graces Let us praise the Discretion Sweetness and Moderation of her Minde And let us not speak of her Liberalities or say that they were judicious and well Ordered that they were choice and disposed with Method Let us say that she understood the Art and Secret of a Benefit that she knew how to give with Heart and Spirit with her Countenance and Looks And that after Fortune had taken all from her she continued to be magnificent in Desire and Affection and to make great Presents with slight things The French Muses who lived in her time failed not to praise this part of her Vertues which had been beneficial to them and done honour to Learning And truly they would have shewed themselves very ungratefull if they had not praised Her It was no fault of this good Princess that they were not all Rich and at their Ease that they were not all Apparelled in Cloth of Gold and lodged in the Lourre She Treated them familiarly and as her Companions she recreated her self with them in Prose and Verse and the Sport never ended without some Present which closed up the Cadence and Periods and rendred the Stanâ—a's harmonious Concerning Courage which was her Predominant Vertue and gave her a place in this Gallery it appeared in France Scotland and England In France she resisted Prosperity and vanquished Excess and Pleasures which some have conceived much harder to overcome then Grief and Afflictions She preserved her self from the Corruptions of the Court and from the unwholsom blasts which are ingendred by ease and which attend a plentifull â—ortune She conserved her Innocence in Greatness And what is little less then new Created Planets she shewed much Modesty under a great Crown and upon the highest Throne of the World a most eminent Devotion and a Consummated Piety But because Vertue happy and at ease is in a continual Violence and that violent things cannot last but by Miracle God who made choice of this Princess and would have her all entitâ— withdrew her out of Prosperity which in length of time might have corrupted her and delivered her up to Adversity which Treated her as a Carver Treats Marble And depriving her sometimes of one thing and sometimes of another compleated the â—igure of the Heroick Woman which was yet but rough-drawn in her Being returned into Scotland a Widow to Francis the Second and to his Fortune And her Youth joyned with the Supplications of her People and Reason of State having obliged her once more to Marry that which ought to have been her Support proved the cause of her Ruine Heresie imaged at the Zeal she bore to the Conservation of the Catholique Faith cast Fire into the Royal House to make it pass more easily from thence into the Church Calumny Ambition and Jealousie prepared the Fuel for this Fire and inkindled the Matter But the good Queen having quenched it by her Prudence and Address Heresie which sought to Reign by some one of its Faction blew up the King her Husband by a Mine Besides some endeavoured to blemish her with being the Contriver of this Fire and Mine And they slandered her very Mourning and made her guilty of her second Widowhood This Calumny proved a harsh Tryal to her Yet it was but an Essay and as it were an Advance of the Disorders and Mischiefs which ensued And no Tragedy appears so Confused as the life of this good Princess All her days were marked with some Revolt and Conspiracy They were Celebâ—â—ous by some Combat or Flight There was nothing wanting to her but a Crown of Martyrdom and God gave it her in England after a Conflict of nineteen years rendred in several Prisons and determined at last upon a Scaâ—â—old which was more Glorious to her then the Thrones she had lost MORAL REFLECTION THis Picture moves Compassion and is of great Example There is much to Deplore yet more to Imitate And for the Instruction of eminent Fortunes and the Consolation of mean Ones Greatness is there Innocent and Unhappy Mary Stewart conserved her Innocence under two Crowns And in the Vastness of two Kingdoms which she lost one after the other she was much longer a Christian and with more Constancy then a Queen On the one side this teacheth elevated Persons that there is no Condition estranged from God nor any Fortune rejected by him provided it be just That the Unction which makes Kings and Queens doth not efface that which Forms Saints and Holy Women That Palaces and stately Mansions are not out of the Road of Heaven That though Piety Modesty and Patience reside not usually at Court yet they are no strangers there And that Vertue is more Perswasive and Exemplar upon a Throne then in the Tub of the Cynick Likewise on the other side they should learn from the Afflictions of this great Queen to make less Account of Diadems which are torn in pieces of Scepters which are broken and of Thrones which tumble down if never so little touch'd by Fortune then of the Grace of God which was a Purple Robe that remained to this devested Queen an Unction which is not obscured in her Prison nor effaced with her Blood A Crown which cannot be taken off with the Head She was not only an Innocent
us to be purified before we present our selves to this Feast And those Souls doubtless are the most happy which arrive there perfectly cleansed Besides that they are not made to wait at the Gate they have Purity here at a cheaper rate then in that Country The fire of Adversity what hand soever inkindles it what winde soever blows it is not by much so ardent as the Fire of Purgatory And we are better Treated by Tribulation nay by the most severe and harsh can be imagined then by these purifying Devils which as a Holy Father saith Act the same thing upon Souls as Fullers do upon Stuffs which are put out to be Dyed This so entire and perfect Purity ought to be accompanied with all the Features of an exact and compleat Beauty And this Beauty also ought to be Royallie endowed and to have a large stock of Riches Now the Beauty of a Soul which is beloved of God and his Holy Angels is not formed with Paint and Plaister with Silk and Flowers She is framed by Maladies and Wounds and her most delicate Painting ought to be composed both of Blood Tears and Ashes The Beauty of St. Teâ—la was formed by Fire and the Claws of Lions That of St. Apolloâ—â—â— by Flines with which her teeth were broken That of St. Cicilâ—â— by the boiling water of a Furnace That of St Cathâ—rine by a Sword and a Wheel And generally there is no Beauty in Heaven which Adversity hath not made and Patience adorned As for those Riches which should make up the Dowry of this Beauty they are not the Fruit of a sweet Life nor the Revenue of Pleasure and Pastime The very Riches of the Earth even those gross and Material Riches which belong to the lowest Story of the World are Fruits of Adversity and arrive to us from the Tribulations and Afflictions of Nature Pearls and Coral are found in the Element of Tempests and Bitterness Precious Stones are taken out of Precipices and Rocks Gold and Silver are born Prisoners and in Dungeons And if they be drawn out of their dark holes it is to make them pass through Iron and Fire it is to make them suffer all the Punishments of Criminals Certainly if Terrestrial and meer Imaginary Riches are the Fruits of Labour and the Daughters of Adversity it would not be Just that the Riches of the Minde which form the Great Saints of the Kingdom of God and the quiet Possessors of Eternity should be the reward of Idleness and the Heritage of Delights These Spiritual Riches then are the Inheritance and Revenue of Adversity And consequently this harsh and Laborious Adversity is more Beneficial to great Ladies then Prosperity which stain's and infect's them which sometimes even impoyson's and strangles them Surely they would be very nice if they did bear their good Fortune impatiently and with complaints if they were wounded by their Ornaments if they groaned under the Matter of their Crowns Since Adversity is sent them by the Bridegroom to prepare them for his Wedding It is very just that at least so good an Office should make them rellish the rudeness of its Hands and the severity of its Countenance Surely they would weep with a very ill Grace if they lamented that pressure which adornes them Because it loads them with Gold and Jewels because it pricks them by fastening on them Garlands and Crowns They suffer indeed the Fortune on their Heads and the Rack on their Bodies they expose themselves to Iron and Fire to appear Beautiful in the eyes of men And it would be truly a great shame that they should please God with less Trouble and more at their Ease But here is enough to justifie the Providence of God and to shew to Vertuous and Afflicted Ladies how highly they ought to esteem the Grace and Riches of Tribulation It remains to confirm them by a second Example which hath the same Features and almost the same Colours as the first and I hope it will have no less Force nor prove less perswasive though it be less fresh and more remote from our sight EXAMPLE Margaret of Anjou Queen of England IT is true that Crowns are great Ornaments to Beautiful Heads Nevertheless they are Ornaments which Pain more then they Adorn. And I very much doubt that no Person would burthen himself with them if their Thorns were visible However their Thorns are not so well hid but that some of their Points still appear And besides the secret Rack and Interiour Crosses which great Fortunes endure there are likewise Exteriour and Publick Ones upon which by a particular Order of Divine Providence they are Tormented in the sight of the World for the Instruction of the People who are present at their Sufferings And in this Point the People ought to be advertised that these Punishments of Great Persons are not always Ordained for great Crimes Riches are seen without Vice as Gold without Brass There are Great Persons who like Great Planets have much Light and very few Blemishes And yet very often the Crosses of these Grandees are more harsh and heavy then those of Violent and Impious Rich Men then those of Bloody and Tyrannical Great Ones God Ordains it in this manner as I said before to prepare them for Crowns by Patience and to leave unto Great Men under Persecution and to Great Ladies under Affliction Examples of their Rank and Models of their Condition And because there is an unmoveable Patience which suffers quietly and without Action and a stirring and laborâ—ous Patience which adds Action to Sufferance it is just that after the having given a Queen of Scotland for a President of the first I should give a Queen of England for the second Margaret of 〈◊〉 Daughter to Reâ—â— King of Sicily was one of the most Raâ—e and Perfect Princesâ—es of her Age And her Perfections most Rare as they were received not respected from adverse Fortune She was descended from the most eminent Race of the World Reeds are not beaten down by Tempests but the Branches of great Trees She was one of the Fairest and most Spiritual But the Planets which are so Beautiful and Governed by pure Spirits have their Defections and Eclipses they are persecuted by Mists and dark Clouds by Imprecations and Calumnies She was Liberal and Beneficent Is there any Bounty more lasting then that of Springs more delated then that of Rivers Is there a greater Inclination to do good then that of the â—arth And yet we see that stones are cast into publike Springâ— and that all sorts of Ordures are thrown into Rivers We see that the â—arth is beaten with Storms trodden upon by Animals torn up by men impoverish'd and denuded once every year There was nothing then strange and against the course of the World in the Afflictions of â—o Noble so Beautiful so Able and Magnificent a Princess and Fortune did nothing against Her whereof she had not Publike Examples in Nature She was Married to Henry
the Sixt King of England and by this Marriage the Truce was continued between two Neighbors the greatest Enemies in the whole World the most jealous of each other The poor Princess did not long enjoy the Repose she give to the Publike and it hapned to her as to Victims which bear the Sorrows of the People for whom they are Sacrificed The Nuptials were Celebrated at Nancy with great Preparations of Carâ—ousels and Tournaments according to the Mode of the 〈◊〉 of that time who were only acquainted with Valiant and Manly Delights with Pastimes which equalled Battels and produced 〈◊〉 Victories Wherein surely to speak this by the way they were more Cavaliers and Men at Arms then those of our days who know no other 〈◊〉 then Racing nor other Tournaments then Dancing who have â—ffeminated Magnificence and taken away from Sports and Divertiâ—ements all that they had of Noble and Military Margaret being passed into England found not there the same Sweetness and Tranquility she had left in France Not that she was one of those ill lodgâ—d Persons who have always either Rain or Smoak in their Houses And Her Marriage was none of those Tyrannical Yoaks and Torturing Chains which a certain Person wished to his Enemy instead of a Gibbet and â—alter She enjoyed at Home a most pure Calm and without Confusion and her Marriage felt nothing Heavy or Incommodious The King her Husband had all the Qualities of a good Man and a good Prince But being born under a very Contagious Constellation and of a very Malâ—volent Influence the Queen his Wife failed not to he involved therein and to have her share of the Poison and bad Fortune She patiently received all that fell upon her Besides she joyned Grace with Patience And being induâ—d with a pleasing Humour and a Gallant Spirit she made Answer to such as lamented her Condition That having taken upon her Marriage Day the Rose of England she ought to bear it intire and with all it s I horns Moreover King Henry had a great inclination to Repose and no Aversion to Pleasure The Mildness and Indifferency of his Spirit did not Correspond with the Functions of Regality which required Courage and Resolution Noise and Stirs made him wâ—y his Head and when things were in his own choice he contented himself to have Ease and Repose for his part and left to his Favourites and Ministers of State the Authority with the Trouble and Affairs with the Tumult This Soft and Slothful Life afflicted the Queen who had a High and Active Spirit Noble and Manly Thoughts and a Head as Capable to fill a Crown as any Prince of Her Time Not that she did not affect the Repose of her Husband and wished him his Hearts Content But her Love being Magnanimous and of the Complection of her Heart she would have rather liked in him a Glorious Activeness and accompanied with Dignity then this stupid Repose and these mis-becoming Eases which Dishonoured him Truly this Prince though otherwise good was not beloved by his Subjects And his Reputation bore the brunt of all the Faults of his Favourites and Ministers of State The Revolt of the Grandees the Seditions of the People the Mutinâ—es of the Mayor of London who was then a Popular Soveraign and a King of the third Estate and generally all the Disorders of his Kingdom were cloaked with this Pretence All these Commotions grieved the Queen But they did not affright her She hastned still with the first to the most wavering Places and where Power and Authority might stop any Disorder Her principal Effort was upon the Kings Spirit She continually represented to him and with Pressing and Efficacious Terms that the Repose of Kings consisted not in the softness of their Bed but in the stability of their Thrones That the Throne could not be secure if Esteem and Authority do not Support it And that Esteem which ariseth from Action and Authority which grows from Courage are lost by Sloth and Softness that Affairs are truly very ponderous but that this Weight procures the Stability of Affairs And that there could be nothing more Fickle and Tottering then a King who discharges himself of all that lies heavy upon him That it were to Act a very bad part to play the Titulâ—r King and to Reign by Agents and Deputies That Authority Substituted and out of its Place is weak and without vigour And the Scepter which hath Force and begets respect in the Hand of a Prince is easily broken in the hands of a Subject and Resembles a Scepter in a Play These and other like Remonstrances accompanied with the Eloquence of Beauty and the Perswasion of Love Fortified the Kings Spirit and made him take a firm Resolution to Reign for the Future without a Substitute and to Act of himself He Resumed that Authority which he had conâ—erred on his Uncle Hâ—â—pâ—â—y Duke of Glocester And he called back all Affairs to his own Conduct And thereby it appeared how Imployments Protect those whom they burthen And how Authority Supports and Settles those whom it Loads The poor Duke of Glocester was no sooner put out of Office and Authority but his Enemies which before did not so much as shake him did now overthrow him And within a short time after his â—all he was strangled in Prison by a Sudden and Illegâ—l â—â—â—cution The Faction of the White Rose which could not endure the Odour of the â—lower de â—uâ—e and beheld with regret a French Woman so absolute in England â—ailed not to charge her with the Contrivance of this Death Andâ—while after the Danger of Richard Earl of Warwick who was Assaulted neer London by the Kings Guards and thrust into the Tâ—ames gave Occasion and Authority to this Calumny The â—arl of Salisbury his Father and Richard Duke of York Head of the White Rose made thereupon several Manifests by Word of Mouth and Published in the Country and Cities that this piece was devised by the Queen who had undertaken to cut off the Arms of England and to deprive it with its best â—lood both of Strength and Spirit to the end she might deliver it up to France That she began not her Work amiss And that if the end of the Enterprise should Correspond with the beginning if the Great Ones did not look better to themselves then the Duke of Glocester and the Earl of Warwick had done in a short time not one drop of good Blood not one single Noble part would be left in the Body of the State The good Queen was very far from entring into these Tragical Thoughts And though she truly wished Authority and Power to the King her Husband yet she did not wish him such an Authority as might be hated and lamented not sâ—ch a Power as might cause Desolation and Ruines Besides less was it in her Thoughts to procure the Destruction of that â—ree upon which she her self was Grafted And if she bore much Affection to the Stem of