I might not enter the bed of a Pagan the first night of my Nuptials but that I may imbrace a Christian for my Husband and Soveraign than which nothing can be more desirable to your most obedient Wife The King a little surprized told her It was not yet time to think of that matter though he would take the first opportunity to consider seriously of it and act accordingly his thoughts being now too much imploy'd in admiring her perfections to think of any thing else but however she need not scruple in the mean time to converse with a Pagan Husband since her own Law taught her That the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife Clotilda somewhat doubted whether she should imbrace his company till he had fulfill'd his promise but fearing to exasperate and make him quite reject Christianity she resolved to render him all marriage duties and endeavour to gain him by her prayers and good example The King observing her discreet carriage was very much pleased and respected her the more who finding she had an absolute Empire over his heart used her power with all kind of sweetness and complasance exercising her devotions with the greatest sincerity and constancy so that her Apartment seemed rather like an Oratory or Chappel than a place dedicated to vanity or pleasure which the King having very often observed it bred in him a very great inclination and reverence to her Religion and caused him more highly to honour her Person But upon occasion he would be objecting to her some difficulties that appeared in the Christian Religion as beleiving the Trinity and the Doctrine of a Crucified Jesus The threats of Judgment and promises of mercy in another life And therefore he thought it better to continue in his own Religion wherein he was educated and did not doubt but God would have mercy upon him since he practised to the best of his knowledg To this Clotilda answered That he ought not to be deterred by such seeming difficulties fince God who created the Soul of man hath made it capable of beleiving things above the reach of human reason and whose small understanding must submit to the Divine Wisdom and his finite knowledge must not think to equal that which is infinite since God alone is the immense Fountain of Goodness Wisdom and Knowledg That if his Majesty should promise a Servant what to his reason might seem impossible and incredible yet he is bound to beleive it without any reply as depending upon the Kings infallible word now if one smful mortal man doth thus exact faith of another why should you doubt says she what the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth has declared to be true Why should we not believe there are three Persons and one only God fince we dayly find our memory understainding and will make but one Soul Why should we scorn to adore a Crucified Man since nothing can more confirm our believe than that Consideration For if our blessed Saviour had come to subdue the World by Legions of Horses Armies as your Majesty conquers Kingdoms it would not have appeared so great a wonder but when only by sufferings and the cross he hath brought the greatest part of the World yea many Crowned heads under the Dominion of his Laws and Precepts this makes it appear that all is done only by the Almighty power of God since so little of man is seen in it I would therefore humbly beseech your Majesty no longer to defer your Baptism that you may be one of the most glorious Kings on earth that France ever enjoyed and happy in Heaven to all Eternity Clovis replyed that her persuasions and arguments were unanswerable and that his soul was convinced of the truth of what she had affirmed but Policy and Religion being different things he ought maturely to confider whether forsaking the Gods of his own Countrey who were worshipped by such a multitude of his Subjects might not occasion some rebellion or disturbance among his people in defence of their Old Religion Clotilda who found this one of the main obstacles of his Conversion briskly answered That his Nobility and People were already sufficiently convinc't of the falsity of their Idolatrous superstition and wanted nothing but his example and incouragement to declare their belief of the truth of the Christian Faith but that if it were otherwise yet he ought to encounter all difficulties and venture all dangers for the salvation of his Soul. These earnest sollicitations of the Queen being often renewed the King at length began seriously to consider the reasonableness of them and soon after Clotilda being delivered of a Son he permitted him to receive Christian Baptism but the Child dying soon after he told her Shewas too vehement in her Religion and that he feared the health of the Child was impaired by its being so soon Baptized The Queen answered that life and death were in the hands of God and this Infant was not so much to be lamented having now changed this vain life into that of Angels and that God if he pleased could yet bless their Royal Bed with a numerous issue and she was sure Baptism was no prejudice to him since it was an Ordinance and Appointment of Heaven and therefore being delivered of a second Son she conferred Baptism upon it as well as on the former which likewise dying soon after Clovis was more offended than before saying He believed that that water was fatal to Children and she should take care never to move him for the like liberty again Clotilda with a resolved mind alledged that if God should have made her barren he ought to have been contented and adore the divine providence and not to reflect upon the Baptism of Christians but upon her sins as the cause of the loss of her Children The King was fully pacified with this prudent return and at length became resolved to profevs Christianity which was hastened upon this occasion The Swevi a People of Germany passing the Rhine under the command of several Princes with design to root out the Gauls or French and ruin their new erected Monarchy Clovis with the assistance of some of his neighbours resolved to oppose their numerous Forces and a great Battel was fought near Collen where the King commanding in chief he was suddenly surrounded by his Enemies and in great danger of his life and though he performed the duty both of a great Captain and a valiant Souldier yet terror had so seized his flying Army that his affairs were in a very desperate posture when by the perfuasion of one of his chief Favourites he made a solemn Vow to God That if he returned victorious he would perform his promise made to the Queen and be Baptized a Christian and then calling aloud upon the God whom Clotilda worshipped for assistance and deliverance his Forces rallied and his Foes seemed to decline whom he so vigorously prosecuted that the Fields were all covered with dead bodies
Let all that dwell In Tents thy Act O Jael tell She brought him milk above his wish And butter in a princely dish A hammer and a nail she took And into Sisera's Temples strook He fell fell down unto the floor Lay where he fell bath'd in his gore Lay groveling on his feet and there His wretched Soul sigh'd into air His mother at her window staid And looking out from thence she said Why are his Chariot whee it so slow And don 't my Son in Triumph show When her wise Ladies standing by Yea she her self made this reply Have not their Swords yet won the day Have they not shar'd the wealthy prey Now every Souldier for his pains A Hebrew Dame or Virgin gains While Sisera choosing lays aside Rich Robes in various colours dy'd Rich Robes with curious needles wrought On either side from Phrygia brought The thread spun from the Silk-worms womb Such as a Conqueror become Great God! so perish all thy Foes Love such as love thee On let those Shine like the Sun when he displays I' th Orient his increasing Rays The History of the Valiant Judith WHen Holofernes by the proud command Of Nebuchadnezzar was sent the Land Of Israel to invade and overthrow Their Towns and Cities so to bring them low The Hearts of all were fill'd with fear and dread How such great force should be encountered Then Valiant Judith for her Countries sake Deliverance for them does undertake Couragiously the General she slays And Israels dying hopes doth thereby raise Who do their flying foes fiercely pursue And unto Judith render praises due THough the History of Judith is placed among the Apocryphal writings and not allowed to be canonical Scripture as not being delivered by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit yet it is thought by the learned that the matter thereof is true and the worthy and reverend Arch-bishop Usher in his Scripture Chronology sets it down as a matter very certain and that it happened in the year from the Creation 3348. in the raign of Manasseh King of Israel and before the birth of our Saviour about 652. Having premised this to incourage the reading the life of this famous Heroine not as a fiction or Romance but a story full of veracity I proceed Nothing feminine must be expected in this woman all her actions were manly and full of generosity and what was wanting in her Sex was fully recompenced in her Virtue and Valour her hand was triumphant in destroying above an hundred thousand men by cutting off only one head but her eye did much more than her hand that first conquered Holofernes and with a little ray of its flames burnt up a whole Army It was in the raign of Nebuchadnezzar King of Assyria that this female worthy lived who being elevated by the many victories and successes he had obtained his ambition sweld him so much that he resolved to afflict the whole earth and to destroy all the Gods of the Lands and oblige all Nations to worship him and that all Tongues and people should adore him only as God to prosecute this impious design he commanded Holofernes his Chief Captain to muster an Army of an hundred and twenty thousand foot and twelve thousand Horse with this mighty force this renowned General ruined all before him that made resistance and received those to mercy who desired peace and submitted to those idolatrous terms he required of them the motions of this dreadful host brought terror to the stoutest hearts and confusion to the weak and cowardly before it marches Noises Affrights and Threats after it Weepings Ruins and Desolations The report of this overflowing deluge of men came to the poor Israelites at Jerusalem which raised Sighs and Groans in the most obdurate Souls who being sensible of this furious tempest approaching their courage was dismaid their hands hang down and their tongues were silent having no other defence but their tears which they poured out abundantly in prospect of the Funerals of their Native Countrey At this time Manasseh was king of Jerusalem who not foreseeing any possibility of stoping this violent torrent or preventing the impending misery of his kingdom abandoned himself to sorrow and desperation but Joachim the High Priest who likewise executed the Office of a General used all possible means to revive the drooping Spirits of this disconsolate people he sends Messengers to all the Cities to furnish what men and provisions they were able to stop if possible the course of this barbarous enemy and to endeavour to take possession of the streights and narrow passages of the Mountains where a few might do great execution and thereby prevent their descent into the Plains where the multitude of their Forces would soon incompass and swallow all that opposed them He then commands publick supplications to be made to the Almighty and covers the Altar-of the Lord with Sackcloath and the Priests with Haircloth who with tears and fastings even the little children too prostrated themselves on the earth to implore the mercy of Heaven toward them but knowing that prayers without endeavours would be fruitless he visits all the Cities in person comforting the afflicted strengthning the weak and enlivening the dull thereby giving life and vigor to all the members of the body politick Holofernes having advice that the Jews made preparations to oppose him by force was filled with rage and disdain and called the Princes of Ammon Moab and the Governors of the Sea-coasts to him of whom he demanded what people they were who inhabited canaan what strength they had and who was their King that they presum'd to withstand them and would not come and submit themselves as the other Nations had done To whom Achor Prince of Ammon thus replyed If my Lord will not be angry I will give him a full Account of those people which dwell near the Hill Countreys without diminishing or concealing any thing of the truth Be it known to my Lord that they are originally descended from the Caldeans but separated themselves from them by reason of their Religion refusing to worship the Gods of their Fathers and adoring only one God the Maker of Heaven and Earth and departed into Mesopotamia where they continued many years but were at length commanded by their God to depart from thence and go into the Land of Canaan where they dwelt and multiplyed exceedingly increasing in Gold Silver Cattle and all the blessings of this life After this a terrible Famine happening in their Countrey they went down into Egypt to get food where they were kept alive and grew to a very great number insomuch that they began to be a terror to the Egyptians and that King endeavoured by all means to diminish them imposing cruel bondage upon them in making bricks thereby to bring them low upon which they cried to the Lord their God who revenged their wrongs by horrible plagues upon the Egyptians so that they were forced to let them go whithersoever they pleased
she undertook this mighty Action she retired to her closet and putting ashes on her head and sackcloth on her loyns prostrated her self to the earth and prayed earnestly to God in this manner O Lord the God of my Fathers to whom nothing is impossible look down upon the Armies of Assyria who exalt themselves against thee and glory in the strength and number of their Forces and let them know that thou art the God of Battels and the Lord of Hosts is thy name and that thou breakest in pieces the mighty powers of the earth with one glance of thy eyes Throw down their strength by thy Almighty arm and lift up that hand which hath made it self renowned from all ages by so many wonders as thou hast wrought against those that have opposed thy peculiar people Confound their pride and suffer them not to violate thy Temple pollute thy Sanctuary nor destroy thy Tabernacle where thy Glorious name resteth and is called upon by thy afflicted Servants Send thy wrath upon them and deliver into my hand who am a weak widdow the Commander of their Camp give me such eloquence and utterance that my words may prevail upon him to his destruction And since thy strength is not in the multitude of Souldiers nor in the valour of Horsemen make it now appear that thou canst save by the most weak and unlikely means and that thou who art the God of the distressed the helper of the oppressed the supporter of the most destitute and the Protector and Saviour of those that are without hope art able to bring down thy most haughty and presumptuous Foes even by the hand of an impotent woman Remember thy Covenant O Lord give counsel to my heart words to my mouth and strength to my arm for the defence of thy House and People that all the Nations of the world may know there is no God like unto thee Having thus armed her self with her Prayers and Confidence in the God of Heaven she puts off her mourning and sackcloth and washes and adorns her self with Rings and Jewels to the best advantage so that she appeared exceeding amiable in the eyes of all though her virtues and graces were much the greater ornament to her and then having prepared meat and drink for her self and servant because she would not be polluted with the dainties of the Heathens she leaves her house and goes toward the gate of Bethulia where she finds Ozias and the Chiefs of the City Chabris and Charmis who seemed ravished with the lustre of her heavenly beauty yet inquired not into her design but implored the blessing of God upon her and the enterprize she had undertaken and the gates being opened she attended only by her maid went directly toward the Camp of the Assyrians all the people of the City looking after her as far as they could see As she went down the Mountain at break of day the Souldiers having discovered her ran presently to seize on so lovely a prize and were much surprized with the charms and splendor of her countenance and having inquired of her Countrey and present intentions she told them That she was a woman of Bethulia and that she had that night deserted the people of that miserable City who were obstinate to procure their own destruction from the triumphant arms of the Assyrians into whose hands they would at last certainly fall but that she would have no share in their crime hoping to escape their disasters also and that her business was to reveal to Holofernes a certain way how to take the City and all the Countrey round about without loss of a man. The Souldiers were amazed at her comeliness and discourse and assured her she had taken the only course to secure her life and honour and that their Lord would receive and entertain her with all manner of kindness and respect It may seem a rash attempt that a woman so handsom as Judith should venture her self and her honour to the rudeness of the dissolute Souldiers who propound to themselves the ravishing of women for one part of the reward of their dangers and toils in war And we may be apt to think that an honest woman would scarce expose her chastity to so many hazards and affronts although it were to save a City In humane reason this conduct of hers can hardly be defended but who dares condemn what seems to proceed from a manifest inspiration of Heaven which kept her as safe in the midst of the greatest seeming difficulties as if immured in the strongest Castle She was then conducted to the Tent of Holofernes who was leaning upon his Bed under a rich Canopy of State imbroidered with Gold Purple Emeralds and Jewels who having notice of her approach came to the door of his Tent with Silver Lamps before him Judith being come into his presence struck him and all his Attendants into admiration at her furprizing handsomness and being fallen at his feet he caused her to be instantly raised up and to incourage her treats her with incomparable sweetness assuring her That he was not terrible to any who would submit themselves to the obedience of his great Master Nebuchadnezzar the King of all the Earth neither would he have permitted a Sword to have been drawn against her Nation if according to their duty they had rendred their Towns to the arms of that Mighty Monarch and therefore desired her to inform him upon what account she had forsaken the City and was come to his Camp. Judith endeavoured to gratifie his request by this subtle Oration My Lord I am very well satisfied that the Great Nebuchadnezzar is ordained of God to be the King of the whole world and that all the strength of his Monarchy and management of his warlike affairs is included in your Person and conducted by your wisdom and policy for the safety and protection of the good and the chastisement of evil doers The valour and prudence of the worthy Holofernes is renowned through all the Earth who desires to be powerful only that he may be merciful of which all the Provinces which have fallen under his conquering arm have had comfortable experience As for the words which Achior declared to my Lord he hath repeated the same in the ears of the people of Bethulia thereby endeavouring to incourage them to defend themselves valiantly and what he hath said is most true and certain that the Israelites shall not be punished neither can the Sword prevail against them except they sin against their God But now their sin will overtake them and thereby make them an easy prey to their enemies for since their victuals and water fail them they are resolved to kill all their Cattel and to eat all things even those forbidden by their Law and not to spare those which were sanctified and reserved for the use of the Priests and service of the Temple whereby they will provoke their God to anger For this cause my Lord have
I left that abominable City and am come as a Messenger from Heaven to give you this advice and to perform such an act that all the earth shall be astonished therewith for thy Servant is religious and worshippeth the God of Heaven every day and night and I will pray unto him to discover his will to me and to shew me when they have committed these sins against him that so I may inform you of the utmost time which is determined for this miserable Town and then you may march even to the very gates of Jerusalem and settle your Throne there since the people will deliver themselves up to you as sheep without a shepherd and a dog shall not open his mouth against you it being very reasonable that men and beasts should submit themselves to such a formidable power as is conducted by the hand of the most High and by the direction of his providence Holofernes who was before taken by the eyes was now charmed by the ears with the pleasantness of her discourse and admired her above all women in the world both for her beauty and wisdom promising that her God should be his God and that he will advance her to great dignities in the house of Nebuchadnezzar and make her renowned through all the earth And at the same time brings her into the Chambers of his Treasure and Magnificence and ordered her provisions both of meat and wine dayly from his own Table which she excused since her Law did not permit her to eat of any other Viands but her own which she had provided and brought along with her But what says Holofernes if your own store should be spent how shall we supply you Judith replies That she did not doubt but to accomplish the business she came about before that time After this she was conducted into a stately Tent where she reposed till midnight and toward the morning watch she sent to Holofernes that he would please to permit her to go out before day to address her prayers to God which he readily granted commanding his Guards to let her pass freely She went therefore in the silence of the night into the valley of Bethulia where she washed her self in a Fountain of water and then prayed earnestly to God that he would prosper her design for freeing her Countrey and again raise up their drooping spirits Having continued in the Camp three days watching an opportunity to execute her intended project behold a fit season was presented by Holofernes himself who would needs make a sumptuous banquet for his servants and familiars only to which he resolved to invite Judith as the chief Guest hoping that when she was merry he might obtain his desire of her since the Assyrians account it a great dishonour to a man to court a woman and not enjoy her And therefore he ordered one of his Eunuchs to wait upon her and impart his Masters pleasure to her and how far she was in his favour since he desired that very day to have her company at the magnificent Feast he had prepared which was the greatest honour she could ever receive and therefore ought to make no scruple of obeying but to be pleasant and free with him who had laid so great an obligation upon her Judith soon understood what his discourse tended to and readily answered That she was wholly disposed to perform his Lords commands and would have no other will but his And instantly adorns her self in the best manner to wound his heart with her graces and charms and passing into his Pavilion seats her self nigh unto him where she eats what she had provided and tells him she will now drink chearfully since she had cause to count this the most happy day of her whole life When Holofernes saw her so near him and alone his heart was wholly ravished with her beauty he thought himself the most fortunate man upon earth His passion did not permit him to speak much he was so extreamly moved He contented himself only with inviting her to be merry and drank large draughts to make himself so And Judith expressing her great content to see him in so good an humour he to please her as he thought drank so much more than ordinary that he was even dead with drunkenness and the fumes of the strong wine The Eunuch having the word to do his Office dismisses all the servants and Attendants and shuts the door upon his Master and Judith Holofernes lay sleeping upon his bed full of wine but Judith was never more wakeful she contemplates the gallant General lying in his drunken sleep and earnestly called upon God to prosper her bold undertaking for the exaltation of Israel and going to the pillars of the bed she takes down thence the sword of Holofernes and undauntedly drawing it she takes hold of the hair of his head and saying Strengthen my arm O Lord God of Israel this day she smote him twice upon the neck with all her force and with the last blow struck off his head throwing his body on the ground then pulling down the Canopy from the Pillars and giving it her Maid with the head she put it into her bag among the meat and both of them pass through the Army without being questioned the Officers having order to let them go as usually to prayers Having passed the Camp they went up the Mourtain of Bethulia and arriving at the City gates before morning she cryed to the Centinel afar off to open the gates with all speed since God had done worders for Israel and had appeared in a strange manner for their deliverance from their enemies The people hearing her voice soon let her in and ran to give notice to Ozias and the Rulers all the inhabitants both great and small coming together to hear what tidings she had brought whom they looked upon as a lost woman and like one come from the other world and having made a great fire to give light to the Assembly they stood round about her who spake thus in the midst of them with a loud voice Praise God praise ye the Lord I say who never forsakes his own but hath by me this day accomplished his promise to his chosen people and hath by me and by my hands slain the common enemy of our Nation this very night She then drew out of the bag the horrible head of Holofernes all pale and bloudy which she shewed to them all adding Behold the head of the Capt. Gen. of the Armies of Assur and then spreading abroad his Pavilion Behold said she the Canopy wherein he reposed himself in his drunkenness and where the Lord smote him by the hand of a woman It is the living God alone that hath preserved me from all danger in this most perillous attempt and though my countenance hath been his ruin yet I take that God whose Angel hath been my guard to witness he hath not offered me the least shame nor reproach To God be all the glory
whose mercy and goodness endures forever The people were even transported with joy at this unexpected deliverance and seeing the dismal head only by torch-light were almost perswaded it was but a dream But that the multitude which saw the same thing confirmed them their eyes were not deluded They therefore shouted with praises to the God of Heaven the only worker of Miracles and then turning to Judith they gave her a thousand thanks and blessings for being the instrument of so marvellous a salvation that day Then Ozias the Prince of the people of Israel in Bethulia spake thus to her Blessed be you O Daughter and most excellent above all the women in the Earth and praised be the great Creator of Heaven and Earth who hath assisted your Victorious arm for the destruction of the principal of our Enemies whereby you have rendred your name immortal to all ages to come and shall be had in admiration by all that have any sense of the wonderful works of God while the world endures since none can forget how little you valued your own life and honour so that you might thereby free your Nation from the inevitable ruin which seemed to hang over their heads After this Achior was called to whom shewing the head of Holofernes and assuring him that what he had affirmed of the might power of the God of Israel was now fully verified since he that had vowed their total desolation was now no more and their great Commander Holofernes was himself without a head Achior was even astonisht at her words and action and with the surprize fell down into a swound but at length recovering he threw himself at her feet with so much reverence as was near to adoration and by her means was more confirmed in the true Religion and he with all the people shouted and gave glory to God with a loud voice Judith to perfect her Conquest advised the people to place the head upon one of the highest Towers of the City and in the morning to make a salley out upon the Assyrians who at the alarum would presently run to the Tent of Holofernes to awake him and finding what had happened would be extreamly amazed and sell their lives at a cheap rate and might be pursued and utterly destroyed out of all their Coasts with very little damage to themselves This was put in execution and the Captains instantly repaired to the Generals Tent to receive orders desiring Bagoas the Eunuch to wake their Lord since the Israelitish slaves had presumed to make a sally upon them tho to their own destruction The Eunuch after long tarrying at last ventred in and coming near the bed and hearing no body stir he at length opened the curtains thinking he had still slept with Judith but instead thereof found the dead body cast on the floor and his head taken from him At this fight he cryed out aloud and became so furious that he rent his cloths and went in a rage to Judiths apartment threatning her with a thousand deaths but missing her there he sent out many frightful Schreeches among the People and declared aloud That the Slaves had dealt treacherously with them and that one Hebrew woman had brought shame and confusion upon the House of Nebuchadnezzar who had slain Holofernes and left his carcase without a head All ran to behold this dismal Spectacle and the whole camp was filled with horror astonishment and despair Tears and howling had taken possession of the whole Army when at the same time the head of Holofernes appeared upon one of the Towers of Bethulia which so astonished the Assyrians that they fled and scattered themselves round about the City every one seeking safety in running away and none durst trust another The Israelites pursued with all manner of briskness and vigor making a great noise that their number might appear considerable though there needed no great force to vanquish run-a-ways All the neighbouring Cities came in to take part of the spoil and to pillage their routed enemies whom they cut off with a most dreadful slaughter and the booty in the Camp was so prodigious that the people were thirty days in dividing it The rich moveables of Gold Silver Pearls and Jewels found in Holofernes Tent were all presented to Judith with the praises and acclamations of the multitude who unanimously applauded her as the glory of Jerusalem the joy of Israel the honour of her people the gallant woman the chast and valiant Princess by whose hand God had done great things in delivering his people and whose fame should live to eternal Ages The women of Israel likewise assembled themselves to meet and bless her dancing before her with branches of Olive in their hands whereof they composed a Garland which they put upon her head and then Judith leading the dance before them proceeded toward her own house all the men of Israel following in their armour with garlands on their heads and songs in their mouths Judith likewith made the following song of Praise and Thanksgiving which all the people sang after her SIng to the Lord my God sing praise A new Psalm to him sing Exalt his glorious name always He is our God and King. The Armies he to pieces breaks Of those that are his Foes He me delivered from their hands Who did me round inclose Assur with thousands from the North Came Israel to assail And by his multitudes did not doubt Against them to prevail He boasted he our Towns would burn And our young men destroy Women and Virgins ravish and Our Infants make a prey But they have disappointed been By the Almighty Lord. A womans hand did them withstand They fled with one accord Their Great Commander did not fall By any Giants power 'T was Judiths beauty him inthrall'd And brought his fatal hour For her oppressed people she Her mourning laid aside And to surprize his amorous eyes Her Person beautified Her Charms over his Soul prevail'd And ravished his sight He 's made a Prisoner to her face She is his Hearts delight The Sword quite through his neck did pass And parted it asunder The Persians at her boldness quake The Medes thereat did wonder Th' Afflicted then did shout for joy Thy weak Ones cry'd aloud The Foes astonisht were ' cause God Had overthrown the proud The Young men have them pierced through And wounded them in Fight The Fugitives fiercely they pursue And slay their men of Might I unto God new Songs will sing O Lord thou art most Glorious In power thou art Wonderful Invincible Victorious Let all the Creatures worship thee At whose word made were they At thy voice they created were None thee can disobey The Fountains shall be mov'd at thee The Rocks shall melted be Yet merciful thou art to those That serve and worship thee All Sacrifice and Offerings Unto thee are but small But those that fear the Lord their God To Honour he will call Wo to the Nations that advance Themselves
blessed Saviour denying him to be equal with God the Father and in prosecution of this impious design she spared no pains nor endeavours using both Flattery and Threats to induce her to comply thereto insinuating That God might as well be worshipt in one Religion as another and that she ought to conform her self to the usages and customs of the place wherein she was especially since thereby she would very much oblige the King and create greater respect in him toward her That she was not come into Spain to give but receive Laws and to exercise obedience That her husband could never faithfully love her if she entertained any other Sentiments Opinions or Sacraments than himself ' That she could never expect to reign happily over a People who were of a contrary Faith to hers That she should not fear the reproaches of her own Countreymen who would count her very indiscreet not to comply with the times and that if for small matters some great men would be perswaded to renounce their former Religious Observances much more might she be excused in her conformity to the Truth when the reward thereof was no less than a Kingdom With such pungent motives and arguments as these this wicked woman did continually afflict the ears of this innocent Princess who nothing moved therewith replyed That if she persisted in these discourses she would for the future take all occasions to avoid her company since nothing could be less grateful to her than using so many subtilties to remove her from her Faith from which she was resolved never to recede during her life yea though the utmost torments were inflicted on her to force a renunciation And therewith going hastily out of her Chamber Gosiniha was very much offended yet concealing her anger resolved to attempt her once more not without hope of prevailing and having by a thousand protestations of kindness and affection endeavoured to make up the breach she at length more earnestly pressed her with many urgent reasons to be again baptized after the Arrian manner which Andegona absolutely refused prudently replying That thanks be to God she was already baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and that if the water of the Arrian Baptism should be cast on her head though she loved her hair as well as any woman need yet she would pluck it off yea tear the Skin along with it that had been defiled with such an abomination This was the last effort Gosintha made and judging her self extreamly affronted at this resolute reply she left Andegona foaming with Rage and Threats That since she refused the Arrian Baptism she should be baptized in another manner which should wash her from head to foot And returning again soon after she barbarously dragged this poor Princess about by the hair of the head and then abusing her to the loss of bloud she commanded two or three of her waiting women to strip her stark naked and bind her with cords and in this posture to throw her into a pool of water in a very cold season of the year It was a miserable spectacle to see the daughter of a King who was so lately received with such Triumphs and Rejoicings thus cruelly treated in the same place Gosintha who stood at the brink of the Pool to behold this unworthy execution ordered her to be drencht in the water by degrees that she might be more sensible of the peircing cold and often repeated these words If you will confess you are an Arrian you are safe and shall be presently released from your misery But the couragious Princess who had not so great an apprehension of death as fear to be seen naked cryed out aloud I am a Christian an Orthodox Christian take away my life if you will yet shall neither fire nor water force me to gainsay or renounce my Profession Gosintha finding all her attempts in vain at length suffered her to come out and put on her garments admiring and envying the constancy and greatness of her Soul which no tortures could shake or disturb Ermangild utterly ignorant of what had passed perceiving his Princess somewhat pale and disorder'd by this rough usage asked whether she were discomposed either in body or mind which she prudently endeavoured to conceal as not worthy his notice but by the manner of her discourse finding she had received some sensible affront he made a strict scrutiny of those who were able to inform him who soon related the cruel indignity his Mother-in-law Gosintha had put upon her which raised his passion to such an height that he had certainly torn that wicked Queen in pieces had not the fear of God and the charming Eloquence of his wife somewhat pacified his fury The Virtuous Andegona fell at his feet beseeching him not to precipitate himself and her likewise into inevitable danger by any extremities so that at length they concluded to remove from the Court to Sevil which was given him as a Patrimony by his Father for his present subsistance Whither being retired they fully enjoyed those delights which had been in some measure obstructed by this ill accident Ermangild believing himself the happiest of all mortals in beholding so many Virtues in so great a beauty And the modesty and piety wherewith she had managed her last disgrace made him think he could not sufficiently adore so much goodness Andegona observing what power she had over her husband by the repeated instances of his tender affection and being now without fear of a Step-mother resolved to improve this opportunity for the good of his Soul and sollicited him seriously to renounce his Arrianism and imbrace true Christianity by insisting on the falsness and unreasonableness of this opinion so derogatory to the honour of the Son of God and Saviour of the World the author of it being a wicked Priest who was made a Bishop out of mere spight and was rejected and solemnly condemned in a Council of three hundred and eighteen Bishops And that it had been remarkt that all the Arrian Kings round about had come to unhappy ends and it might be feared Spain could not escape the vengeance of Heaven unless it were purged from these pestilent errors Ermangild could not well resist the strength of truth and love both assaulting him at once in the same Person and therefore took time to deliberate Whereupon the good Princess prevail'd with him to confer with a famous Bishop who so well managed the Spirit of this gallant Prince that by divine assistance and the continual sollicitations and prayers of Andegona who moved Heaven and Earth for his conversion he at length renounced his error and became an Orthodox Christian Lenigild the Father having notice hereof was exceedingly displeased and Gosintha his Wife was not wanting to inflame him against his son however not willing presently to bring things to extremity knowing the greatness of his Spirit and that many of the Nobility were ready to ingage in his cause He sent
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