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world_n	church_n	part_n	visible_a	4,373	5	9.1099	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53044	The description of a new world, called the blazing-world written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princesse, the Duchess of Newcastle.	Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.; Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676.	1668 (1668)	Wing N850; ESTC R13228	80,921	168

was a Law and his power absolute But the Duchess pray'd the Empress to pardon her that she was of another mind for said she he cannot alter Mahomets Laws and Religion so that the Law and Church do govern the Emperor and not the Emperor them But replied the Empress he has power in some particulars as for example To place and displace Subjects in their particular Governments of Church and State and having that he has the Command both over Church and State and none dares oppose him 'T is true said the Duchess but if it pleases your Majesty we will go into that part of the World whence I came to wait on your Majesty and there you shall see as powerful a Monarch as the Grand Signior for though his Dominions are not of so large extent yet they are much stronger his Laws are easie and safe and he governs so justly and wisely that his Subjects are the happiest people of all the Nations or parts of that World This Monarch said the Empress I have a great mind to see Then they both went and in a short time arrived into his Dominions but coming into the Metropolitan City the Empress's Soul observed many Gallants go into an House and enquiring of the Duchess's Soul what House that was She told her It was one of the Theatres where Comedies and Tragedies were acted The Empress asked Whether they were real No said the Duchess they are feigned Then the Empress desired to enter into the Theatre and when she had seen the Play that was asked the Duchess asked her how she liked that Recreation I like it very well said the Empress but I observe that the Actors make a better show than the Spectators and the Scenes a better than the Actors and the Musick and Dancing is more pleasant and acceptable than the Play it self for I see the Scenes stand for Wit the Dancing for Humour and the Musick is the Chorus I am sorry replied the Duchess to hear your Majesty say so for if the Wits of this part of the World should hear you they would condemn you What said the Empress would they condemn me for preferring a natural Face before a Sign-post or a natural Humour before an artificial Dance or Musick before a true and profitable Relation As for Relation replied the Duchess our Poets defie and condemn it into a Chimney-corner fitter for old Womens Tales than Theatres Why said the Empress do not your Poets Actions comply with their Judgments For their Plays are composed of old Stories either of Greek or Roman or some new-found World The Duchess answered Her Majesty That it was true that all or most of their Plays were taken out of old Stories but yet they had new Actions which being joined to old Stories together with the addition of new Prologues Scenes Musick and Dancing made new Plays After this both the Souls went to the Court where all the Royal Family was together attended by the chief of the Nobles of their Dominions which made a very magnificent Show and when the Soul of the Empress viewed the King and Queen she seemed to be in a maze which the Duchess's Soul perceiving asked the Empress how she liked the King the Queen and all the Royal Race She answered that in all the Monarchs she had seen in that World she had not found so much Majesty and Affability mixt so exactly together that none did overshadow or eclipse the other and as for the Queen she said that Vertue sate Triumphant in her face and Piety was dwelling in her heart and that all the Royal Family seem'd to be endued with a Divine splendor but when she had heard the King discourse she believ'd that Mercury and Apollo had been his Coelestial Instructors and my dear Lord and Husband added the Duchess has been his Earthly Governor But after some short stay in the Court the Duchess's soul grew very Melancholy the Empress asking the cause of her sadness She told her That she had an extreme desire to converse with the soul of her Noble Lord and dear Husband and that she was impatient of a longer stay The Empress desired the Duchess to have but patience so long until the King the Queen and the Royal Family were retired and then she would bear her Company to her Lord and Husband's Soul who at that time lived in the Country some 112 miles off which she did and thus these two souls went towards those parts of the Kingdom where the Duke of Newcastle was But one thing I forgot all this while which is That although thoughts are the natural language of Souls yet by reason Souls cannot travel without Vehicles they use such language as the nature and propriety of their Vehicles require and the Vehicles of those two souls being made of the purest and finest sort of air and of a human shape This purity and fineness was the cause that they could neither be seen nor heard by any human Creature when as had they been of some grosser sort of Air the sound of that Air 's language would have been as perceptible as the blowing of Zephyrus And now to return to my former Story when the Empress's and Duchess's Soul were travelling into Nottinghamshire for that was the place where the Duke did reside passing through the Forrest of Sherewood the Empress's Soul was very much delighted with it as being a dry plain and woody place very pleasant to travel in both in Winter and Summer for it is neither much dirty nor dusty at no time At last they arrived at Welbeck a House where the Duke dwell'd surrounded all with Wood so close and full that the Empress took great pleasure and delight therein and told the Duchess she never had observed more Wood in so little compass in any part of the Kingdom she had passed through The truth is said she there seems to be more Wood on the Seas she meaning the Ships than on the Land The Duchess told her The reason was that there had been a long Civil Warr in that Kingdom in which most of the best Timber-trees and Principal Palaces were ruined and destroyed and my dear Lord and Husband said she has lost by it half his Woods besides many Houses Land and movable Goods so that all the loss out of his particular Estate did amount to above Half a Million of Pounds I wish said the Empress he had some of the Gold that is in the Blazing-world to repair his losses The Duchess most humbly thank'd her Imperial Majesty for her kind wishes but said she Wishes will not repair his ruins however God has given my Noble Lord and Husband great Patience by which he bears all his losses and misfortunes At last they enter'd into the Duke's House an Habitation not so magnificent as useful and when the Empress saw it Has the Duke said she no other House but this Yes answered the Duchess some five miles from this place he has a very fine Castle called

her all the Veneration and Worship due to a Deity Her Accoustrement after she was made Empress was as followeth On her head she wore a Cap of Pearl and a Half-moon of Diamonds just before it on the top of her Crown came spreading over a broad Carbuncle cut in the form of the Sun her Coat was of Pearl mixt with blew Diamonds and frindged with red ●●●●● her Buskins and Sandals were of green Diamond 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 left hand she held a Buckler to sig●●● the ●●●ence of her Dominions which Buckler was made of that sort of Diamond as has several different Colours and being cut and made in the form of an Arch shewed like a Rain-bow In her right hand she carried a Spear made of a white Diamond cut like the tail of a Blazing-Star which signified that she was ready to assault those that proved her Enemies None was allowed to use or wear Gold but those of the Imperial Race which were the onely Nobles of the State nor durst any one wear Jewels but the Emperor the Emrpess and their Eldest Son notwithstanding that they had an infinite quantity both of Gold and precious Stones in that World for they had larger extents of Gold then our Arabian Sands their precious Stones were Rocks and their Diamonds of several Colours they used no Coyn but all their Traffick was by exchange of several Commodities Their Priests and Governors were Princes of the Imperial Blood and made Eunuches for that purpose and as for the ordinary sort of men in that part of the World where the Emperor resided they were of several Complexions not white black tawny olive or ash-coloured but some appear'd of an Azure some of a deep Purple some of a Grass-green some of a Scarlet some of an Orange-colour c. Which Colours and Complexions whether they were made by the bare reflection of light without the assistance of small particles or by the help of well-ranged and order'd Atoms or by a continual agitation of little Globules or by some pressing and re-acting motion I am not able to determine The rest of the Inhabitants of that World were men of several different sorts shapes figures dispositions and humors as I have already made mention heretofore some were Bear-men some Worm-men some Fish-or Mear-men otherwise called Syrens some Bird-men some Fly-men some Ant-men some Geese-men some Spider-men some Lice-men some Fox-men some Ape-men some Jack-daw-men some Magpie-men some Parrot-men some Satyrs some Gyants and many more which I cannot all remember and of these several sorts of men each followed such a profession as was most proper for the nature of their Species which the Empress encouraged them in especially those that had applied themselves to the study of several Arts and Sciences for they were as ingenious and witty in the invention of profitable and useful Arts as we are in our world nay more and to that end she erected Schools and founded several Societies The Bear-men were to be her Experimental Philosophers the Bird-men her Astronomers the Fly Worm and Fish-men her Natural Philosophers the Ape-men her Chymists the Satyrs her Galenick Physicians the Fox-men her Politicians the Spider-and Lice-men her Mathematicians the Jackdaw Magpie and Parrot-men her Orators and Logicians the Gyants her Architects c. But before all things she having got a Soveraign power from the Emperor over all the World desired to be informed both of the manner of their Religion and Government and to that end she called the Priests and States-men to give her an account of either Of the States-men she enquired first Why they had so few Laws To which they answered That many Laws made many Divisions which most commonly did breed Factions and at last brake out into open Wars Next she asked Why they preferred the Monarchical form of Government before any other They answered That as it was natural for one Body to have but one Head so it was also natural for a Politick body to have but one Governor and that a Common-wealth which had many Governors was like a Monster with many Heads Besides said they a Monarchy is a divine form of Government and agrees most with our Religion For as there is but one God whom we all unanimously worship and adore with one Faith so we are resolved to have but one Emperor to whom we all submit with one obedience Then the Empress seeing that the several sorts of her Subjects had each their Churches apart asked the Priests whether they were of several Religions They answered her Majesty That there was no more but one Religion in all that World nor no diversity of opinions in that same Religion for though there were several sorts of men yet had they all but one opinion concerning the Worship and Adoration of God The Empress asked them Whether they were Jews Turks or Christians We do not know said they what Religions those are but we do all unanimously acknowledg worship and adore the Onely Omnipotenr and Eternal God with all reverence submission and duty Again the Empress enquired Whether they had several Forms of Worship They answered No For our Devotion and Worship consists onely in Prayers which we frame according to our several Necessities in Petitions Humiliations Thanksgiving c. Truly replied the Empress I thought you had been either Jews or Turks because I never perceived any Women in your Congregations But what is the reason you bar them from your religious Assemblies It is not fit said they that Men and Women should be promiscuously together in time of Religious Worship for their company hinders Devotion and makes many instead of praying to God direct their Devotion to their Mistresses But asked the Empress Have they no Congregation of their own to perform the duties of Divine Worship as well as Men No answered they but they stay at home and say their Prayers by themselves in their Closets Then the Empress desir'd to know the reason why the Priests and Governors of their World were made Eunuchs They answer'd To keep them from Marriage For Women and Children most commonly make disturbance both in Church and State But said she Women and Children have no Employment in Church or State 'T is true answer'd they but although they are not admitted to publick Employments yet are they so prevalent with their Husbands and Parents that many times by their importunate perswasions they cause as much nay more mischief secretly then if they had the management of publick Affairs The Empress having received an information of what concerned both Church and State passed some time in viewing the Imperial Palace where she admired much the skil and ingenuity of the Architects and enquired of them first Why they built their Houses no higher then two stories from the Ground They answered her Majesty That the lower their Buildings were the less were they subject either to the heat of the Sun or Wind Tempest Decay c. Then she desired to know the reason why they

to be all in a flaming-fire The other Chappel which was lined with the Star-stone did onely cast a splendorous and comfortable light both the Chappels stood upon Pillars just in the middle of a round Cloyster which was dark as night neither was there any other light within them but what came from the Fire-and Star-stone and being every where open allowed to all that were within the compass of the Cloyster a free prospect into them besides they were so artificially contrived that they did both move in a Circle about their own Centres without intermission contrary ways In the Chappel which was lined with the Fire-stone the Empress preached Sermons of Terror to the wicked and told them of the punishments for their sins to wit That after this life they should be tormented in an everlasting Fire But in the other Chappel lined with the Star-stone she preached Sermons of Comfort to those that repented of their sins and were troubled at their own wickedness Neither did the heat of the flame in the least hinder her for the Fire-stone did not cast so great a heat but the Empress was able to endure it by reason the water which was poured on the Stone by its own self-motion turned into a flaming-fire occasioned by the natural motions of the Stone which made the flame weaker then if it had been fed by some other kind of fuel the other Chappel where the Star-Stone was although it did cast a great light yet was it without all heat and the Empress appear'd like an Angel in it and as that Chappel was an embleme of Hell so this was an embleme of Heaven And thus the Empress by Art and her own Ingenuity did not onely convert the Blazing-World to her own Religion but kept them in a constant belief without inforcement or blood-shed for she knew well that belief was a thing not to be forced or pressed upon the people but to be instilled into their minds by gentle perswasions and after this manner she encouraged them also in all other duties and employments for Fear though it makes people obey yet does it not last so long nor is it so sure a means to keep them to their duties as Love Last of all when she saw that both Church and State was now in a well-ordered and setled condition her thoughts reflected upon the World she came from and though she had a great desire to know the condition of the same yet could she advise no manner of way how to gain any knowledg thereof at last after many serious considerations she conceived that it was impossible to be done by any other means then by the help of Imm●terial Spirits wherefore she made a Convocation of the most learned witty and ingenious of all the forementioned sorts of Men and desired to know of them whether there were any Immaterial Spirits in their World First she enquired of the Worm-men whether they had perceived some within the Earth They answered her Majesty That they never knew of any such Creatures for whatsoever did dwell within the Earth said they was imbodied and material Then she asked the Fly-men whether they had observed any in the Air for you having numerous Eyes said she will be more able to perceive them than any other Creatures To which they answered her Majesty That although Spirits being immaterial could not be perceived by the Worm-men in the Earth yet they perceived that such Creatures did lodg in the Vehicles of the Air. Then the Empress asked Whether they could speak to them and whether they did understand each other The Fly-men answered That those Spirits were always cloth'd in some sort or other of Material Garments which Garments were their Bodies made for the most part of Air and when occasion served they could put on any other sort of substances but yet they could not put these substances into any form or shape as they pleased The Empress asked the Fly-men whether it was possible that she could be acquainted and have some conferences with them They answered They did verily believe she might Hereupon the Empress commanded the Fly-men to ask some of the Spirits Whether they would be pleased to give her a Visit This they did and after the Spirits had presented themselves to the Empress in what shapes or forms I cannot exactly tell after some few Complements that passed between them the Empress told the Spirits that she questioned not but they did know how she was a stranger in that World and by what miraculous means she was arrived there and since she had a great desire to know the condition of the World she came from her request to the Spirits was To give her some Information thereof especially of those parts of the World where she was born bred and educated as also of her particular friends and acquaintance all which the Spirits did according to her desire At last after a great many conferences and particular intelligences which the Spirits gave the Empress to her great satisfaction and content she enquired after the most famous Students Writers and Experimental Philosophers in that World which they gave her a full relation of amongst the rest she enquired Whether there were none that had found out yet the Jews Cabbala Several have endeavoured it answered the Spirits but those that came nearest although themselves denied it were one Dr. Dee and one Edward Kelly the one representing Moses and the other Aaron for Kelly was to Dr. d ee as Aaron to Moses but yet they proved at last but meer Cheats and were described by one of their own Country-men a famous Poet named Ben. Johnson in a Play call'd The Alchymist where he expressed Kelly by Capt. Face and d ee by Dr. Subtle and their two Wives by Doll Common and the Widow by the Spaniard in the Play he meant the Spanish Ambassador and by Sir Epicure Mammon a Polish Lord. The Empress remembred that she had seen the Play and asked the Spirits whom he meant by the name of Ananias Some Zealous Brethren answered they in Holland Germany and several other places Then she asked them Who was meant by the Druggist Truly answered the Spirits We have forgot it being so long since it was made and acted What replied the Empress Can Spirits forget Yes said the Spirits for what is past is onely kept in memory if it be not recorded I did believe said the Empress That Spirits had no need of Memory or Remembrance and could not be subject to Forgetfulness How can we answered they give an account of things present if we had no Memory but especially of things past unrecorded if we had no Remembrance Said the Empress By present Knowledg and Understanding The Spirits answered That present Knowledg and Understanding was of actions or things present not of past But said the Empress you know what is to come without Memory or Remembrance and therefore you may know what is past without memory and remembrance They answered That

has to walk upon the Waters and to destroy whatever she pleases not onely whole Nations but a whole World The Empress expressed to her own Country-men who were also her Interpreters to the rest of the Princes that were present That she would give them an Entertainment at the darkest time of Night Which being come the Fire-Stones were lighted which made both Air and Seas appear of a bright shining flame insomuch that they put all Spectators into an extream fright who verily believed they should all be destroyed which the Empress perceiving caused all the Lights of the Fire-Stones to be put out and onely shewed her self in her Garments of Light The Bird-men carried her upon their backs into the Air and there she appear'd as glorious as the Sun Then she was set down upon the Seas again and presently there was heard the most melodious and sweetest Consort of Voices as ever was heard out of the Seas which was made by the Fish-men this Consort was answered by another made by the Bird-men in the Air so that it seem'd as if Sea and Air had spoke and answered each other by way of Singing-Dialogues or after the manner of those Playes that are acted by singing-Voices But when it was upon break of day the Empress ended her Entertainment and at full day-light all the Princes perceived that she went into the Ship wherein the Prince and Monarch of her Native Country was the King of ESFI with whom she had several Conferences and having assured Him of the readiness of her Assistance whensoever he required it telling Him withal That she wanted no Intelligence she went forth again upon the Waters and being in the midst of the Circle made by those Ships that were present she desired them to draw somewhat nearer that they might hear her speak which being done she declared her self in this following manner Great Heroick and Famous Monarchs I come hither to assist the King of ESFI against his Enemies He being unjustly assaulted by many several Nations which would fain take away His Hereditary Rights and Prerogatives of the Narrow Seas at which Unjustice Heaven was much displeased and for the Injuries He received from His Enemies rewarded Him with an Absolute Power so that now he is become the Head-Monarch of all this World which Power though you may envy yet you can no wayes hinder Him for all those that endeavour to resist His Power shall onely get Loss for their Labour and no Victory for their Profit VVherefore my advice to you all is To pay him Tribute justly and truly that you may live Peaceably and Happily and be rewarded with the Blessings of Heaven which I wish you from my Soul After the Empress had thus finished her Speech to the Princes of the several Nations of that World she desired that their Ships might fall back which being done her own Fleet came into the Circle without any visible assistance of Sails or Tide and her self being entred into her own Ship the whole Fleet sunk immediately into the bottom of the Seas and left all the Spectators in a deep amazement neither would she suffer any of her Ships to come above the Waters until she arrived into the Blazing-World In time of the Voyage both the Empress's and Duchess's Soul were very gay and merry and sometimes they would converse very seriously with each other Amongst the rest of their discourses the Duchess said she wondred much at one thing which was That since her Majesty had found out a passage out of the Blazing-World into the World she came from she did not enrich that part of the World where she was born at least her own Family though she had enough to enrich the whole World The Empress's Soul answered That she loved her Native Countrey and her own Family as well as any Creature could do and that this was the reason why she would not enrich them for said she not only particular Families or Nations but all the World their Natures are such that much Gold and great store of Riches makes them mad insomuch as they endeavour to destroy each other for Gold or Riches sake The reason thereof is said the Duchess that they have too little Gold and Riches which makes them so eager to have it No replied the Empress's Soul their particular Covetousness is beyond all the wealth of the richest World and the more Riches they have the more Covetous they are for their Covetousness is Infinite But said she I would there could a Passage be found out of the Blazing-World into the VVorld whence you came and I would willingly give you as much Riches as you desir'd The Duchess's Soul gave her Majesty humble thanks for her great Favour and told her that she was not covetous nor desir'd any more wealth than what her Lord and Husband had before the Civil-VVarrs Neither said she should I desire it for my own but my Lord's Posterities sake VVell said the Empress I 'le command my Fish-men to use all their Skill and Industry to find out a Passage into that VVorld which your Lord and Husband is in I do verily believe answered the Duchess that there will be no Passage found into that VVorld but if there were any I should not Petition your Majesty for Gold and Jewels but only for the Elixir that grows in the midst of the Golden Sands for to preserve Life and Health but without a Passage it is impossible to carry away any of it for whatsoever is Material cannot travel like Immaterial Beings such as Souls and Spirits are Neither do Souls require any such thing that might revive them or prolong their Lives by reason they are unalterable for were Souls like Bodies then my Soul might have had the benefit of that Natural Elixir that grows in your Blazing-World I wish earnestly said the Empress that a Passage might be found and then both your Lord and your self should neither want Wealth nor Long-life nay I love you so well that I would make you as Great and Powerful a Monarchess as I am of the Blazing-World The Duchess's Soul humbly thank'd her Majesty and told her That she acknowledged and esteemed her Love beyond all things that are in Nature After this Discourse they had many other Conferences which for brevity's sake I 'le forbear to rehearse At last after several Questions which the Empress's Soul asked the Duchess she desired to know the reason why she did take such delight when she was joyned to her Body in being singular both in Accoustrements Behaviour and Discourse The Duchess's Soul answered She confessed that it was extravagant and beyond what was usual and ordinary but yet her ambition being such that she would not be like others in any thing if it were possible I endeavour said she to be as singular as I can for it argues but a mean Nature to imitate others and though I do not love to be imitated if I can possibly avoid it yet rather than