of the child was importunate vpoÌ„ Elisha to goe himself vnto her child said As the Lord liueth as thy soule liueth I wil not leaue thee vntil thou goe with me thine owne selfe wherupon Elisha theÌ„ arose went himselfe with her who met his maÌ„ Gehazi by the way returning from the child y t told him how he had layd the staffe vpon the face of the childe but he neither spake nor heard for all that neyther was he as yet awaked Wherfore Elisha weÌ„t forward on his iourney with the mother of the child when he came into the womaÌ„s house entred into his own chamber or lodging behold there he found the child dead layd vpon his bed TheÌ„ causing euery body to depart he shut the doore vpon himselfe the dead child prayed heartily vnto the Lord for the childs life After prayer he went vp lay vpon the child and put his mouth on the childes mouth his eyes vpon his eyes and his haÌ„ds vpon his hands stretched himselfe vpon him so y t at the last the flesh of the child waxed warme TheÌ„ he went from him walked vp down in the chaÌ„ber after went vp vpon the bed spread himselfe vpon the child agayn the secoÌ„d time then the child neesed vii times together opened his eies And when he saw the child restored to life he called to his maÌ„ bad him cal y e Shunamitesse his mother who being come vnto him he said vnto her heere take thy sonne with that for ioy reuerence she fel downe at his feet bowed her selfe to the ground then tooke vp her sonne went out and Elisha returned to Gilgall After this when the great famine was in the land of Israel it chaÌ„ced that Elishâ— came againe into this Shunamites house whose sonne he had restored to life and finding her now a widowe for her husband was dead hee prophesied vnto her the dearth of seuen yeeres to come willed her to prouide for her selfe in time saying vp and goe thou and thine house and soiourne where thou canst finde a commodious place to dwell in and whereas is plenty for the Lorde hath called for a Famine and it commeth also vpon the land for the space of vii yeeres And the woman arose and did after the counsell of the man of God went both shee and her houshold and soiourned in the land of the Philistins seuen yeeres And at the seuen yeeres end she returned out of the land of the Philistines home to Sunem her owne citie and countrie But so it was y t in her absence other naughty couetous persoÌ„s had takeÌ„ her house lands from her kept her out of her own possessions by force and disseason whereuppon she then poore widowe vrged through this wrong to come by her owne lawfully tooke her sonne with her and went out to complaine vnto the king Iehoram against those intruders and being come into the kings presence such was the woonderful prouidence of God that shee there found Gehazi the seruauâ—t of Elisha the man of God talking with the king as it fell out preparing an entrance indeede vnto her sute for the king being very desirous to heare of Gehazi of all the famous Actes and greate miracles done by Elisha his maister amongest all other thinges Gehazi tolde him howe that he had restored one dead to life and as he spake these wordes the woman knowing that he meant her sonne and wisely taking so good opportunity offered with that stept boldly vnto the king and called vpon him for her house and land wrongfully taken from her whom when Gehazi beheld and saw that she was his maisters hostesse of whoÌ„ he spake he presently to confirme his tale and former reporte sayde vnto the king My Lord O king this is the very same woman whom I spake off and this is her sonne whom my maister Elisha restored froÌ„ death to life And when the king asked the woman whether that were so or no she aunswdred that it was most true and that she was the woman indeede and the same was her sonne that was restored to life by Elisha Then the king without any further delay vpon the troth of y e matter known appoynted her an Eunuche or one amongst his chiefest officers and commaunded him to put her in possession of her owne agayne and to restore all that was hers together with all the fruites and profites of her landes since the day she left the citie or countrie euen vntill the time of her returne and so shee was iustly restored to that which was wrongfully withholden from her to her comfort and y â— glory of God that so graciously wrought in the heart of the king to doe her that good turne 2. King 4.8 c. 8.1 c. T Tekoitesse In Tekoah a citie of Iuda sometimes built by Rehoboam king of Israel and being sixe myles distant from Bethleem there dwelt a certayne subtile or wise woman whom Ioab Dauids captaine sent for to Ierusalem of purpose to vse her for a meanes to reconcile Absolom nowe out of Dauid the king his fathers fauour and a banished man for killing his brother Ammon that had defloured his sister Thamar And when she was come he being also a very suttle man taught her what to say and how by way of a parrable or darke phrase of speech she should describe vnto the king the death of Ammon by Absolom how she should best perswade the king to reconciliation saying I pray thee quoth he vnto her now put on mourning apparrell and annoynt not thy selfe with oyle but fayne thy selfe to mourne and to be as a widowe woman that hath now long mourned for the death of her husbaÌ„d and goe to the king and speake vnto him after this manner So the woman being thus taught her lesson before by Ioab what to say weÌ„t disguysed vnto king Dauid and falling prostrate before his feete vpon her face on the ground did her obeysance and said Helpe O king saue me desolate woman or els I perish The king seeing her in that woful plight said presently vnto her agayne woman what ayleth thee O my Lord quoth she I am indeed a widowe woman whose husbande is lately dead and thine handmayde had two sonnes who stroue and fought so long together in the field till the one slue the other because there was none to part them And now beholde the whole family is risen against thine handmayde and call vpon me saying Deliuer vs him that hath slayne his brother that he may be put to death for that his fact according to the law in reueÌ„ge of his brothers death which if I should do theÌ„ would they destroy the heire also of mine husband so they shal leaue to myne husbande neither name nor posteritie vpon the earth for that cause O king I am come to begge mercie pardon of thee for my sonne that is left
gouernment of all thinges vnder her mistresse and continually attended vpoÌ„ hir person insomuch as wheÌ„ her mistres went about her wonderful atteÌ„pt to destroy Olophernes the Lordes enemie she onlie went with her mistresse Iudith and carried the bagge of victuals and bottels of wine and oyle all the way making her prayers often together with her dame and kept her companie diligently till beeing so commaunded by Iudith her mistresse shee stood without the doore and wayted her comming while she went to praie alone and worke her feate against Holophernes Which being done and his head deliuered vnto Abra she put it in her wallet and so carried it after her mistresse to Bethulia the Citie Iudith 10.2.10.13.5.11 c. Note that this name Abra is onely read in the common or vulgar translation Achsah or Axa signifieth dect wanton the brenking or tearing asunder of the couering She was the daughter of Caleb whom according to his promise made before he gaue to Othniel the sonne of Kenez to wife and with her also the South countrie for her portion and preferment because he had smitten conquered Kiriath Sepher otherwise called Debir according to his request and desire and being now Othniels wife she moued with a little couetousnesse perswaded him to aske of her father a field that had springes in it because her south countrey was barren which she had But because her husbande tarrÃed long and somewhat neglected to satisfie this her request she tooke her Asse and rode her selfe vnto her father Caleb to requâ—st it and saide Geue me this blessing and graunt me this petition O my father thou hast geuen me the south Countrey but it is barren geue me also I pray thee a fielde that hath in it springes of water and is fruitfull And straight wayes Caleb graunted her request and gaue her a fruitfull fielde that had springes of water both beneath aboue to augment her portion and lyuing and for an inheritance to her and hers for euer as appeareth Iosua 15.16 Iudg 1.12.1 Chro. 2.49 Adah or Ada signifieth a company or congregation a witnesse or assemblie decked passing by a pray taken away c. Shee was one of the two wiues of Lamech the sonne of Methushael And the first woman that was coupled to a Concubine and had her marriage corrupted by pluralities of wiues her mates name was Zillah who seeing that all men hated their husband for his crueltie were sore afraide least he shoulde haue beene murthered and therefore gaue him good counsell and willed him to take heed and looke well to himselfe But he with great bragges and bigge boasting wordes currishly contemned their good and louing aduice to his owne hurt and their further discomfort This Adah also was the mother of Iabal the first inuenter of tentes and grasing and also of his brother Iuball the first inuenter of Instrumentes and musicke Genesis 4. 19.23 There was another woman after the flood called Adah which was the daughter of Elon and Hittite and one of the wiues of Esau vnto whom she bare a sonne called Eliphaz before the diuision made of the land betweene Iacob his brother and him Gen. 36.1.10 Ahinoam or Achinoam signifieth the brothers comlinesse or beautie She was the daughter of Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadecke the high Priest wife of king Saul mother of Ionathan that faithfull friend of Dauid in his persecutions whome Saule his father therefore much reuiled for taking Dauids part saying thou sonne of that wicked and rebellious woman thou that art euer contrarie vnto me as thy mother is 1. Sam 14.50.20.30 1. Chro. 6.8 There was an other woman called Ahinoam whiche was an Israelitesse borne and one of the wiues of Dauid that he had in his banishment and which was the mate or companion of Abigail with whom also she was taken prisoner and â—edde captiue away by the Amalekites out of Ziklag And after Dauid had by her his eldest sonne Ammon who afterward defiled his sister Thamar 1. Sam. 25.43 27. 3. 30.5.2 Sam. 13.1.14 Aholah or Oolla signifieth a mansion or dwelling in it selfe meaning Samaria which was the royall citie of Israell Aholibah or Ooliba signifieth my pauilion tent mansion or my brightnesse in her whereby is meant Ierusalem where Gods Temple was These were two sisters vnder whose names the holy Ghost doth set foorth the fornication that is to say the Idolatrie of Samaria and Hierusalem as appeareth in Ezech. 23.4 Aholibamah or Oolibama signifieth as before my pauilion some where my high pauilion or hall the brightnesse of the high one the height of the â—ent Shee was the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibion and one of the wiues of Esau vnto whom she bare three sonnes Iehus Ialeam Corah who became greate menne in the Worlde Gene. 36.2.5 Anah Answearing or singing She was the daughter of Zibeon the sister of Anah the first inuenter of Mules and the mother of the forenamed Aholibamah Gen. 36. 2. Anna signifieth his grace fauour or gracious fauourable mercifull Ladie resting freely giuing She was the wife of olde Tobie and bare vnto him a sonne called also Toby after his fathers name And being in captiuity with her husbande shee worshipped the true GOD and forsooke al Idolatry doing diligently good deedes as her husbande did euen to her owne further trouble and impouerishment for being threatned by the king to be slaine both she and her husband for burying the dead she together with her sonne her husband fledde away naked from Niniue and hid her selfe from the crueltie of Senacheribâ— So her goods being confiscate and she left very poore it pleased God yet at the last to restore her home to her house where also her husbande beyng stroken blynde and not able to get his and her liuing shee went dayly to the weauing worke and tooke weauers woorkes to doe and looke what liuing shee coulde get with the labour of her hande shee brought it home for shee laboured sore for her liuing And when on a time shee sent home her woorke to the owners one sent her a kidde more then her wages whiche shee had earned And when Tobie her blinde husbande hearde the kidde bleate he sayde to Anna from whence came that kydde is it not stollen restore it to the owners agayne for it is not lawfull to eate any thinge that is stollen Then was Anna angrye with her husbande Tobie and rebuked him as one whose trust in God was all in vayne like to Iobes wife casting him in the teeth with his good deeds saying these or the like wordes Where are nowe thine almes and thy righteousnesse become beholde they all appeare nowe in thee manifestly which her reproch and vpbrayding so grieued the good olde blynd man that taking it very heauily at his wiues hande he wepte and made his prayers with teares vnto God to haue mercie vpon him to forgiue his wife and to take that reproche away from him And God hearde his prayer and sent his Angell to cure
insomuch that hee perceiuing the Queene to faynte and fall downe before him and being moued with pittie towardes her carefully leapt out of his throne and tooke her in his armes till shee came to her selfe agayne and then comforted her with most louing woordes and sayde Ester what is the matter I am thy brother bee of good cheere thou shalt not die for our commaundement toucheth the commons and not thee come neere So Ester founde fauour in his sight and the king in signe that her comming was agreeable vnto him and not to the breache of the lawe helde out his golden Scepter that was in his hande and layde it vppon her necke and kissed her and sayde talke with mee Then sayde shee I sawe thee O Lorde as an Angel of God and myne heart was troubled for feare of thy maiestie for wonderfull art thou O Lorde and thy face is full of grace And as she was thus speaking vnto him shee fell downe againe before him for faintnesse Then the king being sore troubled did all that both hee and his seruauntes coulde to comfort her and the king helde out his septer againe vnto her whiche shee touched and layde her hand vpon the toppe thereof then the king sayd agayne vnto her Be of good comfort Ester feare nothing that is done against the Iewes for our decree shal not touche thee but tell me what wilt thou Queene Ester and what is thy request aske what thou wilt it shall be granted thee yea it shall be euen giuen vnto thee though it bee halfe my kingdome Then sayde Ester to the king nothing O king but that it woulde please your maiestie and Haman to come this day vnto the banquet of wine which I haue prepared To the which hee with Haman gladely went according to her desire and whilest he was banqueting with Hester he demaunded of her agayne the same question saying what is thy petition Ester that it may be giuen thee Oh quoth shee if it shal please your highnesse to giue me my petition and to fulfil my request then let my soueraigne Lord and Haman come once agayne to morrow to my banquet of wine and then I will certifie your grace of all that I require and declare what thing I demaund And on the morrowe when the king and Haman were come againe vnto her banquet he said again vnto the Q. now what is thy petition Ester that it may be giuen thee aske and it shal be performed euen to the halfe of my kingdome Then the Q. answered and sayd if I haue founde so much fauour in thy sight O king to haue my petition granted then I most humbly beseech thee graunt mee my life and the liues of all my people the Iewes whiche are not onely solde to be bondslaues yea I would to God it were no worse for then I would haue held my tongue but to be slayn and vtterly destroyed that all in one day which forceth me to speake boldely vnto thee Who is he saide the king and where is the man that dare presume to do such a deed Oh said Ester and if it shall please your maiestie to know the truth our great enemie and aduersary that hath conspired our death gotten out this decree against vs is euen this wicked man Haman here present whom your grace hath exalted so hie to honor estimation vnder you At which words of Hester Hamans conscience barked his heart quaked his body waxed wan pale his fleshe trembled and he was terribly afraid of the king Queens displeasure Yea the kings indignation was then so kindled against Haman at this the Q. complaint that he arose in an anger from the banquet and went into the pallace garden in whose absence Hamā whose conscience stil accused him perceiuing that there was some mischiefe a preparing for him of the king for his bloody cruel conspiracie fel down at the beds feet or couch wherevpon Ester sate and made humble request vnto her for his life And when the king came againe out of the garden found Haman fallen vpon the bed where Ester sat being therby more incensed against him he very angerly said what will he force the Q. also before my face which worde was no sooner proceeded forth of the kings mouth but it gaue his garde and seruantes occasion presently to laye handes vpon Haman and to couer his face as they vsed to doe vnto all that were out of the kings fauour who forthwith also at the kings commaundement went and hanged Haman therefore vpon the same Gallows y t he had prepared for to hāg Mordecay Esters cosin after whose death the very same day did the king giue vnto Ester the Queene all Hamans goodes and landes And Hester to preferre her deare kinsman Mordecay then tooke good occasion also to let the king vnderstande that hee was her neare kinsman wherevpon the king tooke off his ring which hee had taken from Hamā for the Queenes sake gaue it vnto Mordecay And when Ester had thus farre preuayled against Haman for her owne safetie shee gaue her cosin Mordecay al Hamans house as freely as it was giuen her to his preferment And afterward she falling downe prostrate at the kings feete with teares besought him to graunt her one requeste more which was that his grace woulde vtterly abolishe the wicked decrees which hee had made for the destruction of the Iewes her people saying if it please the king if I haue founde fauour in his sight or the thing be acceptable before him and that I please him let letters bee written and sent to all his prouinces to reuoke and countermande the letters of Hamans cruel deuise sent agaynst my people y e Iewes For els what good will it do me to liue if I shall suffer see y ◠euill to come vnto my people which was pretended Or howe can I suffer and see the destruction of my kinred So the king granted her request and she hauing obtayned the letters of countermande sealed with the kinges own signet and ring deliuered them to Mordecay who with all speede by postes conueyed them to all the prouinces in Percia and Medea to the great comfort of the Iewes and daunting of the enemies Yea the king for Esters sake not onely by the same his letters reuoked the former wicked decree but also he therein gaue commaundement leaue to euery Iewe to kill his enemie that purposed to kill them by meanes whereof Hamans ten sonnes also amongest diuers others in Sushan were slayne with the sword before the kings gate which being known vnto the king he sayd vnto Ester because he woulde satisfie her request to the full and gratifie her to the vttermoste if it were possible Thy countreymen and people the Iewes haue by force of my letters nowe slaine and destroyed euen in Sushan my pallace fiue hundred men besid the ten sonnes of Haman what trowest thou haue they then done in the rest of my
Lampes but tooke no oyle with them but the wise tooke oyle in their vessels with their Lampes nowe whiles the bridegroome tarried long all slumbered and slept at midnight there was a crye made saying behold the bridegrome commeth goe out to meete him Then al these virgins arose and trimmed their Lampes the foolish sayd to y e wise giue vs of your oyle for our Lampes are out quēched but the wise aunswered saying we feare least there will not bee ynough for vs and you too but goe you rather to them that sell and buy for your selues And whiles they went to buy beholde the bridegroome came in the meane while and they that were ready went with him to y e wedding and the gate was shut Afterwarde came also the other Uirgins saying Lord Lord open to vs but he answered and sayd verily I say vnto you I know you not watch therefore and let your loynes be girt about and your Lampes burning yea take heed watch praye for ye know neither the yeere day time nor houre when the sonne of man wil come to iudgement watch therefore I say watch pray Mat. 25.1 c. Luke 12.34 The names liues and actes of certaine other women not mencioned in Scripture but gathered out of the third booke of Machabees and Iosephus and other autentical Authors worthy to be read of all godly men and women for the affinitie they haue with some part of the Scripture ALexandra called also Cassandra was the daughter of Priamus and the wife of Alexāder king of the Iewes who in the 27. yeere of his raigne which was the third of his sicknes made an expedition into the land of Moab against a certaine citie called Ragaba to get it by force At which time because he was very sick weake his wife Alexandra the Queene like an honest and louing wife went with him fearing least he should dye by the way And as hee encamped himselfe against the citie and vrged it sore with assaultes his sicknesse increased vpon him more and more Wherfore his wife perceiuing y t he was like to die wept bitterly before him and sayde To whom shal I be so bold as to shew my face when thou art once dead seeyng thou hast wrought such mischiefe against the Pharisies whom all the lande fauoureth and following their traditions obey their institutions If they shal be disposed to wreek thēselues vpon me thy young children for that you in your merrie mood did hang vpon the gallous 800. of y e chiefe Pharisies in Ierusalem they shall haue ayde of all that dwell in the land The king answered weepe not nor shew any resemblance of pensiuenesse I will tell thee what thou shalt doe and if thou wilt followe my councell thou shalt prosper and raigne thou and thy children as thou wouldest desire Be it that I die there is no man in the worlde need knowe thereof tell thou euery man therefore that aske for mee that I am sicke and will not that any man come at me In the meane while annoynt season me with balmes fight with a courage against this citie till thou winne it and then returne to Ierusalem with ioye and beware thou put on no mourning apparrell nor weepe but bring bring me into Ierusalem and lay me vppon a bedde like a sicke man and after call together the chiefe of y e Pharisies bring thē where I am speake vnto them gently in this sort Alexander hath been euer your enemy I know it very well wherefore take him if ye list cast him into the fire or to the dogges or burie him it shal be at your choyse I know well they are pitiful men so ful of mercie that they will burie me honourably and shall appoynt some one of my sonnes whom they like best to be king The Queene did therefore as she was instructed of the king And when she had wonne Ragaba shee ioyfully returned to Ierusalem after that gathered togeather the elders of the Pharisies and spake to thē as the king had aduised her The Pharisies hearing that the king was dead and that his bodie was in their handes to doe withall what they list they aunsweared the Queene God forbid wee shoulde doe this vnto our Lorde the annoynted of GOD. Hee was the king and high Priest what though he were a sinner yet his death shal be an expiatiō for him of all his iniquities Therfore we will bewayle him mourne for him yea we will carrie his coffin our selues vppon our neckes burie him as it becommeth a kings Maiesty and so they did The time that he raigned was xxvii yeeres After him raigned his wife Alexandra in his steede for the Pharisies after they had finished the seuenth day of the mourning they committed the kingdome vnto her Shee had two sonnes by the king the elder was called Hircanus the other Aristobulus Hircanus was a iust man and a righteous but Aristobulus was the warriar and a man of prowesse Besides that of a familier and louing countenaunce hee fauoured also the learned men and followed their instruction But Hircanus his elder brother loued the Pharisies On a tyme therefore when the Queene sate in the throne of her kingdome shee called the Auncientes of the Pharisies before her honoured them and commaunded to release and sette at libertie all suche Pharisies as the king her husbande and her father in lawe had cast in prison and taking the Pharisies by the handes shee commaunded all Israell to obey their ordinaunces Then made shee Hircanus her sonne high Priest and Aristobulus Liefetenaunt of the warres She sent also to all the landes that her husbande and father in lawe Hircanus had subdued and demaunded the noble mens sonnes for the pledges whiche shee kept in Ierusalem So the Lorde gaue vnto the Queene quietnesse from all that were vnder hir subiection shee gaue also the Pharisies authoritye ouer the learned sorte putting them into their handes to order at their pleasure Whereuppon straight wayes they founde one Dogrus a greate manne amongest the learned sorte whome they slewe and muche people besides of the Auncientes of that sect so that the Sectaryes were in greate distresse They gathered themselues together therefore and came to Aristobulus the Liefetenaunt of the warres and with him they came to the Queene saying vnto her Thou knowest the enmitye that is betweene vs and the Pharisies whiche hate thy husbande and father in lawe yea and thy children also Wee were his men of warre that went with him in all his affayres and ayded him nowe thou hast geuen vs into their handes to bee murdered and banished out of the lande What will Hartam king of Arabia doe when hee heareth this that wee shall forsake thee Hee will come and reuenge him of all the battell that thy husbande fought against him Yea the Pharisies will take his parte and deliuer thee and thy children into his handes that there shall not bee left vnto
Christe many widdowes were in Israel in the daies of Elias when heauen was shut thrée yéeres and sixe monethes and the men dyed by reason of the great famine that was generally ouer all the land but vnto none of those widdowes was Elias the Prophet sent saue vnto a certaine poore widdowe in Sarepta a Citie of Sydon Luke 4.25 Whome God had commaunded there to sustaine him as 1. Kings 17.9 Honour widdowes that are widowes indéede that is take care for them that are left alone and haue no maner of worldlie meanes to helpe themselues with But if any widowe haue either children or nephewes let them her children friends and kinred learne first to shew godlinesse and kindnesse towardes their owne house and to recompence their kinred for that is an honest thing and acceptable before God Contrariwise if there be any that prouideth not for his owne and namely for them of his housholde and kinred he denieth the faith and is worse then an infidel 1. Tim. 5.3 Moreouer let not a widowe be taken into the number of those that shall haue the reliefe of the Congregation and be chargeable to the Church vnder threescore yeere old that hath béen the wife of one husband well reported of being continually giuen to euerie good worke And refuse the younger widowes But if any faithfull man or faithful woman haue widowes let them minister vnto them that is let the childe nourishe his mother being a widow or the kinsman or kinswomaÌ„ relieâ—e her poore kinswoman as nature bindeth them to their abilitie and let not the Church bée charged with relieuing such widowes that haue wealthie friends that there may be sufficient for them that are widowes indéede and lacke friendes and kinsfolkes all other worldly helpes and meanes to succour them 1. Tim. 5. all When the number of the Disciples grewe there arose a murmuring of the Grecians towards the Hebrwes because their widowes were neglected in the dailie ministring and distributing of the almes among the poore Acts. 6.1 Pure religion and vndefiled before God euen the father is this to visite the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersities and to kéepe himselfe vnspotted of the worlde Iames. 1.27 The Lorde accepteth not the person of the poore but hée heareth the prayer of the oppressed The most high despiseth not the desire of the fatherlesse nor the widowe when shee powreth out her prayer Doth not the teares runne downe the widdowes chéekes and her crie is against him that caused them or wrong theÌ„ out by violence iniurie and oppression for from her chéekes doe they goe vpp into heauen and the Lorde which heareth her doth accept them and put those teares into his bottell And the Lorde which is a Iudge of widowes will not bée slacke nor the almightie which is the God of vengeance will not tarrie long from them til he haue smitten in sunder the loines of the vnmercifull and auenged himselfe of the vngodly till he haue taken the multitude of the cruell and broken the scepter of the vnrighteous til he haue iudged the cause of the widow and comforted the fatherlesse and oppressed with his mercie and rewarded their enemies according to their déedes Eccle. 35.13 The dutie of olde women THe elder women likewise teache and exhort as mothers or matrones that they bée sober honest discréete sound in faith in loue and in patience and that they bée in suche behauiour as becommeth holinesse not false accusers nor giuen to much wine but teachers of honest things that they may be able both with doctrine and good example of life to instruct the young women to be sober minded also and that they loue their husbandes that they loue their childreÌ„ that they be discréet chaste kéeping at home not running to and fro without necessarie occasion which is a signe of lightnesse that they bee good vertuous and subiect to their husbands y t the word of God bée not euill spoken of c. Titus 2.3 Cast away prophane and olde wiues fables exercise your selues vnto godlinesse 1. Tim. 4.7 Yee shall not vse witchcraft nor obserue times Leuit. 19.26 Let none bee founde among you that maketh her sonne or her daughter to goe through the fire or that vseth witchcraft or is a regarder of times or a marker or obseruer of the flying of foules or a sorceresse or a charmer or that counsaileth with spirites or a soothsayer or that asketh counsaile of the dead as the witch of Endor did for all that doe such things are abhomination vnto the Lorde and shal be stoned to death Deut. 18.10.11 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue Exod. 22.18 Soothsaying witchcrafte and dreaming is but vanitie and a minde that is occupied with fancies is as a woman that trauelleth Eccle. 34.5 The witches children and the séede of the adultresse and the whoore are both alike abhominable and detestable to GOD. Esay 57.3 Thrée sortes of men or women my soule hateth and I vtterlie abhorre the life of them A poore woman that is proude and a riche woman that is a liar and an old woman that doteth in lust and is become an adultresse Eccle. 25.2 Age is a crowne of glory when it is founde in the way of righteousnesse and is ioined with vertue els the wickedder they are the more they are to bée abhorred Pro. 16.31 The crowne of the aged old folkes is to haue much experience and the feare of God is their glorie Eccle. 25.34 Oh howe comely a thing is wisdome vnto aged folke and vnderstanding and prudencie to men and women of honour Eccle. 25.4.5 Speake thou that art the elder for it becommeth thée but yet so that it be with sounde iudgement and hinder not musicke powre not out great sentences or words of importance where there is no audience shew not foorth wisdome out of time Eccle. 32.3 Oh howe pleasaunt a thing is it when gray headed folkes can behaue them selues iustlie and when the elders can giue good counsaile Eccle. 25.5 The bewtie of young women is their strength and the glory of the aged is the gray head Pro. 20.29 They that haue gathered nothing in their youth how should they finde reliefe sustenance in their age Eccle. 25.3 They that are olde in wicked life the sinnes that they committed in their youth shall come to light to their distruction as in Daniell 13. 52. appeareth in the storie of the two olde leacherous Iudges Though the wicked liue long yet shall they bée nothing regarded and their last age shal be without honour Wisd. 3.17 But though the righteous bee preuented with death yet shall hee bee at rest For the honourable age is not that which is of long time neither that which is measured by the number of yeeres but wisdome is the gray haire and an vndefiled life is the olde age Wisd. 4 7â— 8.9 Therefore better is a poore and wise childe then an old and foolish woman that will not bée admonished Eccle. 4.13
anger my wrath shall be poured vpon this place vpon man vpon beast vpon the trée of the fielde vpon the fruit of the ground and it shall burne and not be quenched And thou shalt not pray for this people neither lift vp crie or prayer for them neither intreate me for I wil not heare thée but wil surely punish their wickednes which remaine in their obstinacie against me and wil not obey my worde and worship mee according to the same Ierem. 7.17 c. Moreouer Ieremiah saide vnto al the people to al the women Heare the word of the Lord all Iudah that are in the land of Egipt thus speaketh the Lord of hosts the God of Israel saying Ye your wiues haue both spoken with your mothers and fulfilled with your hand saying we will performe our vowes y â— we haue vowed to burn incense to y e quéene of heauen to poure out drink offering to her c. as verses 16.17.18.19 ye may reade more at large in y e liues stories Ye wil performe your vowes do the things y t ye haue vowed wherinye haue coÌ„mitted double euil in making wicked vowes in performing the same after your owne vaine fancies Therefore c. Behold I haue sworn by my great name saith the Lord y t my name shal no more be called vpon by the mouth of any man of Iuda in all the land of Egipt saying the Lord liueth And beholde I will watch ouer theÌ„ for euill not for good all men of Iuda shal be consumed by the sworde and famine vntill they be vtterly destroied which declareth an horrible plague towards Idolaters séeing that God will not vouchsafe to haue his name once mencioned by such as haue poluted it and that their wiues shal be made widowes children fatherlesse c. Reade the whole chapter at large Iere. 44.25 c. The womeÌ„ that lay vp the things offered vnto Idols that bring gifts to the gods of siluer gold wood and cloath theÌ„selues with the garments of those images and y e meÌ„struous womeÌ„ or they in child-bed y t touch their sacrifice offered to these idols of gold siluer or stone Al such womeÌ„ that worship images I say for their idolatrie coÌ„mitted are full of reproofe and shal be vtterly confounded as yee may reade in Baruc. 6.27.28.29.32 If thy brother or thy sonne or thy daughter or thy wife that lieth in thy bosome or thy friend which is as thine owne soule entice thée secretly saying Let vs goe and serue other gods which neither thou nor thy fathers haue knowen c. Thou shalt not consent vnto him or her nor heare her neither shal thine eie pitie her nor shew her mercy nor kéepe her secrete but thou shalt kil her thine hand shal be first vpon her to put her to death then the hands of all the people and thou shalt stone her with stones that she die that al Israel may feare do no more such wickednes to go about to thrust thée away from the Lord thy God to worship him only Deut. 13.6 If there be found among you in any of your cities maÌ„ or woman y t hath wrought wickednes in the sight of y e Lord thy god in traÌ„sgressing his couenant hath gone serued other gods worshipped theÌ„ as the Sun or the Moone or any of the hoast of heauen which I haue not commanded and it bee told vnto thée that art the magistrate then shalt thou enquire diligently and if it be true and certaine that such abhominatioÌ„ is wrought in Israel Then shalt thou bring forth y â— man or that woman which haue coÌ„mitted that wicked thing vnto thy gates whether it be man or woman shalt stone them with stones till they die c. Deut. 17.2 The great whore of BabyloÌ„ y e mother of spiritual whoredoms idolatrie abhominatioÌ„s of the earth which womaÌ„ is drunkeÌ„ with the blood of the Saints Martyrs of Iesus Christ eueu she which is become the habitation of Diuels and the holde of al foule spirits a cage of euery vncleane hateful bird with whoÌ„ the kings of the earth haue coÌ„mitted spirituall fornication by idolatrie of whose golden cup ful of the wine of superstition wrath filthy pleasures al nations of y e earth haue drunkeÌ„ very déepe Finally she y t so proudly glorifieth herselfe liueth in pleasures She I say y t boasteth so gloriously arrogantly like a strumpet saith in her heart I â—itt being a quéene am no widow neither shal I sée any mourning EueÌ„ that proud whore of BabiloÌ„ I say shal sodenly fall downe to the ground be rewarded douâ—â— according to her idolatrous works be tormeÌ„ted with sorowe griefe yea therfore shall all her plagues come at once in one day euen death torment sorowe vexation and faâ—mine And all nations shall hate this idolatrous whore and make her desolate and strippe her naked and shall â—ate her fleshe to the bone and burne her vp altogether with fire For strong is the Lorde God which will condemne her And all her merchantes and louers the whole route of idolatrous men and women shall cast dust on their heades and make great lamentation for her fall howling roaring crying wéeping and wailing saying Alas alas the great citie Babylon the mightie Citie y t faire bewtifull woman alas how in one minute of an houre is thy iudgement come from the Lorde and she made desolate and confounded But O heauen reioyce at her destruction and O yée holy Apostles Prophetes and blessed Martyres of God whose blood hath béen cruelly shed by her in her triumph yée in her ouer throw and confusion for God hath giuen your iudgement on her and reuenged your cause in thus plaging and punishing her for her abhominations idolatrie and persecution Reuela 17.18 The women y e waxe wanton against Christ forgetting their vocation and breaking their first faith that is which leaue their charge and forsake their religion whiche they professe breake their faith and promise made to God and their husbandes to the great slaunder of the Church and dishonour of God and others euill example and that gad abrode idlie from house to house euermore learning and neuer learned like pratlers and busie bodies speaking thinges that are not comelie nor womaÌ„lie eueÌ„ such womeÌ„ I say which thus are turned backe after Satan irreligion and are waxen wanton against Christ haue the greaâ—er damnation and shall therefore bée iustly punished with euerlasting death 1. Tim. 5.11 c. Hast thou not seene this O sonne of man saith the Lord to Ezechiel how the women sitte in the temple mourning for TaÌ„muze the Prophete of the idols all the night long and worship the Sun with their faces towardes the East Hast thou séene this abhomination O thou sonne of man and is it a small thing to the house of Iuda to commit these
also before the yeeres of famine shee bare two sonnes called Manasses and Ephraim Gene. 41.15.50 Atarah or Athara or Araia â—ign the Lordes anger or heate a Crowne She was one of the wiues of Ierathmeel and the mother of Onam 1. Chro. 2.26 Athalia signi tyme for the Lorde his time an houre c. Shee was the daughter of Omri or as some will of Ahab which was the sonne of Omri eyther for that shee was brought vp still with Achab or for that shee imitated his maners in all kinde of Idolatrie Shee was also the wife of Iehoram king of Iuda whome shee corrupted greatly with her Idolatrie and vnto whome in the yeere of the worlde 3217. shee bare a sonne called Ahaziah which was Iehorams youngest sonne who also all his elder brethren being before slain by the Philistines succeeded his father Iehoram in the kingdome His mother Athalia entised him also to all wickednesse insomuch that the Lorde caused him to bee slayne by Iehu Then Athalia perceiuing that her sonne was dead shee in the yeere of the worlde 3239. tooke vpon her the rule and gouernement and to the intent that there shoulde bee none of that lynage of Iehosophat to rayne or make title to the crowne and that shee onely might vsurpe the gouernement and raigne quietly shee most cruelly murdered and destroyed all the seede and posteritie of Iehosophat and Ioram to whom the kingdome appertayned saue one for so it pleased God to vse the tyrannie of this wicked woman to destroy the whole family of Ahab onely Ioas the sonne of Ahaziah was stolen away and hid from her by Iehosheba as appeareth in her storie And when wicked Athalia had ruled the lande most cruelly sixe yeeres and had broken vp the house of God and bestowed vpon Balam and Idoles all thinges that were dedicated therein to the Lorde In the seuenth yere Ioas was brought forth by Iehoida the priest and proclaymed king Shee hearing that ranne into the Temple of the Lorde and there beholding Ioas crowned king shee rent her clothes and cried out treason treason But at the commaundement of Iehoida the priest the captayne and souldiers tooke her and caried her out of the Temple and slue her by the way as they went to the kinges house in the yeere of the world 3245. and this was the ende of that wicked idolatresse booddy woman Athalia 2. Kin. 8.18.26.11.1.2.15 2. chro 21.6.22.2.3.10 c. 24.6 Atossa was first the wife of king Cambyses afterward maried to king Darius Histaspis and maried the mother of Xerxis in the yeere of the worlde 3620. reade more in Ester For as some thinke this Atossa was Ester who first was the wife of Aâ—huerus and after his death became wife to Darius Histaspis vnto whom shee bare Xerxes the father of Artaxerxes in the yeere of the worlde 3621. Azuba or Asuba sig left or forsaken his strength in her Shee was the daughter of Silhi and the wife of Aha king of Iuda vnto whom she bare a sonne called Iehoshaphat that was also king of Iuda after his father 1. King 22.42 2. Chro. 20.31 There was another woman of this name which was the wife of Caleb and bare him diuers sonnes as appeareth 1. Chronicles 2.18 19. B Baara or Bara or Baraa sig a workemanshippe a bed a fire in wicked mynde in ill a companion in ioyes in feedyng in buildyng c. Shee was one of the wiues of Shaharaim whom with her mate Hushim he put away from him and tooke other 1. chro 8.8 Bashemath or Basemath â—ig sweete smelling spices destruction of death in discomforting Shee was the daughter of Elon an Hittite and one of the wiues of Esawe who with her mate Iudith was a griefe of minde to her good father and mother in lawe Isaak and Rebecca through her continuall disobedience and great rebellion Gen. 26.34 Bernice signifieth a hurtlesse Sonne a heauie victorie the weight of vanquishing finely moued or with choyse Shee was the daughter of Herode Agrippa borne in the yeere of the worlde 4170. and the naturall sister of king Agrippa and wife to Herode king of Chalcida her Grandfather And being entertayned of king Agrippa in his house as his wife also she went with him to Cesaria to salute Festus and to welcome him into the Countrey who was then but newly entered into his office of presideÌ„tship in the roome of Felix And when Paules matter should be heard before Agrippa she went with him also into the common hall where she was receiued with great pompe and there sate with Agrippa and the other gouernours all day to heare the examination of Paul before Festus the new President and beyng almost conuerted with her husband Agrippa at the wordes of Paule she together with the rest of the Gouernours arose and in secret conference iustified Paule as altogether innocent and most vnwoorthy of death or imprisonment Actes 25.13 23.26.30 Bethsheba or Bethsabe Bethzabe Bathshua or Bersabe signifieth the seuenth daughter or the daughter of an othe The daughter of fulnes of noise or thâ— daughter of saluation or the honourable or noble daughter She was the daughter of Eliam called also Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel 1. Chro. 3.5 and the wife of Uriah the Hittite which was with Ioab in king Dauids warres against the Moabites at Rabbath And on a tyme in the yeere of the worlde 3086. as Bethsabe was washing her selfe in her priuie garden alone it chaunced king Dauid to looke out at a windowe in his pallace as hee walked on the top or roofe thereof in the afternoone and seeing her to bee a very fayre woman he was presently so rauished with her beautie that forthwith hee sent for Bethsabe and shee comming vnto him hee lay with her committed adulterie with her so sent her home againe to her owne house Then shortly after shee perceiuing her selfe to be with childe and fearing least for that fact shee should be stoned to death according to Gods lawe sent Dauid the king worde thereof secretely Whereupon the king partly to hyde his owne fault and partly to saue the woman from daunger of the lawe sent for Urias her husband to come home from warres that hee might colour and father the matter by lying with his wife But when Dauid sawe that Urias woulde by no meanes company with his wife Bethsabe as he desired he returned him back againe to Ioab with a letter the contentes whereof caused Urias quickly to bee dispatched out of his life by the enemie And when Bethsabe heard that her husbande Urias was dead shee mourned for her husband so when the mourning was done Dauid sent for Bethsabe and to make her amendes hee tooke her into his house and shee became his wife and in the yeere of the world 3086. she brought foorth the same childe conceyued in adulterie being a sonne which liued not long but being stricken by God with a sore sickenesse for Dauids Bethsabes sinnes and punishement it died
him or hurt the person of Mordecay in this his conceiued malice displeasure taken against Mordecay hee mischieuously deuised to practise the destruction not only of Mordicay but euen of the queene al her people countrimen the Iewes y t were in the laÌ„d of Persia for his sake to y e end indeed he offred y t king a bag of 10. thousand talleÌ„ts which amounteth to a thousaÌ„d thousaÌ„d pounds or more treble the reuenue of the crown of this realm which being of the king yet refused he wtout it obteined secretly of the king through false lying tales diuellish perswasioÌ„s his letters to al the rulâ—rs of euery prouince y t they should roote out destroy al the Iewes both old and young meÌ„ womeÌ„ in one day only as vpon the xiii day of march next following which letters HamaÌ„ in al postâ—aste seÌ„ding down accordingly to euery prouince the rumour therof being spread far neere y â— deuised mischiefe not a little vexed Mordecay al y â— Iews his couÌ„treimeÌ„ in y e laÌ„d then Mordicay in sackcloth fastings great pâ—rplexety first made his prayers vnto almightie God for the safegarde of his people and mouing his people to doe the same often and feruently And then because he would aduertise Ester of this cruel decree and proclamation he came to the kings gate but because he was so cloathed in sackcloath he myght not be suffered to enter into the Courte Yet Esters Maydes Eunuches hearing his piteous outcryes lamentation of goodwill they bare vnto her wente and tolde her how her Cosin mourned in sackcloath with which newes she good woman being grieued at the heart was very heauy and sad and sent Mordecay her cosin better rayment to cloath himselfe withal and willed the messenger to take away his sackcloath from him but he receyued it not neyther would he cast off his attyre Then Ester called Hathach her Eunuch whome the King had appoynted to serue and attend vppon her and commanded him to goe out vnto Mordecay and know the matter cause of his mourning why he weÌ„t so clad in sackcloth who coÌ„ming to Mordecay vnderstanding the whole matter brought with him a copy of the letters procured by Haman against her and her people and delyuered it to queene Ester with this request from her cousin Mordecay y t she would presently vpon the receite therof al other things layde aparte goe to the King and make petition and supplycation before him for her peoples safetye and lyues or else they were al lyke to perishe So Ester hauing nowe knowledge of this deuillish decree at the first durst not satisfie the request of her cosin Mordecay but sent the same messenger Hathach backe againe vnto Mordecay to signifie vnto him that forasmuch as there was a lawe that no man or woman myght presume to goe vnto the King in his priuye chamber vncalled vnder payne of death but onelye he or she vnto whome the King helde out his scepter or golden rodde that therfore shee nowe hauing beene absent the space of thirtie dayes durste not presume to goe vnto the King vncalled for her lyfe but was afrayd of that daunger But when Mordecay receiued this answer from her he being nothing pleased therwith but somwhat moued with her too womanly tymerousnes and feare sent her this word againe by the same messenger saying Remember O queene the daies of thy low estate how thou wâ—s nourished vnder my hand think not with thy self O queene that thou shalt escape though thou bee in the Kinges house nowâ— so hye in his fauour more then all the rest of the Iewes and knowe that if thou hold thy peace at this tyme and dare not speake vnto the king for the life of thy kinsman and people that yet comforte and deliuerance shall appeare to the Iewes out of an other place for God will deliuer his though all other worldely meanes fayle them in their most neede but thou O Queene and thy fathers house shall perish Now then sith this Haman which is next vnto the king hath giuen sentence of death agaynst vs call thou therefore vppon the Lorde and goe in vnto the king and speake for vs vnto him and deliuer vs from death for who knoweth whether thou art called of God to come to this glorye and kingdome for to deliuer Gods Churche out of these present daungers Which letter or message when Ester receiued shee therewith being touched to farther remorse sent Mordecay woorde agayne that hee goe and assemble the Iewes to fast and pray publikely for her three dayes and three nightes that God woulde prosper her enterprise as shee and her maides woulde doe and then shee promised him that shee woulde put her life in daunger and goe vnto the king vncalled though it were contrary to the lawe and if I perishe quoth she I perishe yet will I referre the successe to God seeing it is for the glorye of his name and the deliueraunce of his Church So Mordecay departed and did according to all that Hester had commaunded him And Q. Hester also being nowe in great daunger of death resorted vnto the Lord and laying aside all her glorious apparel shee put on the garments of sighing and mourning and in stead of precious oyntments shee scattered ashes and dounge vpon her head Yea all the places of her ioy filled shee with teares and the haires that shee pluckt off And thus hauing greatly humbled her bodye with fasting shee made her lamentable petitions by praier vnto God for her peoples deliuerance as appeareth in the first Lampe page 46. And on the thirde day after that the Iewes had begunne to fast and pray when Ester also had ended her prayers shee layde awaye her mourning garmentes and put on her glorious and royalâ— apparell agayne and decked her selfe goodly after that shee had called vppon God which is the beholder and fauourer of all thinges and tooke two handemaides with her Upon the one shee leaned her selfe as one that was tender and faynt with fasting so long and the other followed her and bare vp the trayne of her vesture And so with a beautifull rose coloured face cheerefull looke and amiable countenaunce but yet with â—n heauie and troubled soule sorowful heart pensiue minde and weake body shee casting off all feare and putting her onely confidence and trust in God boldly went in thorow all the doores of the kings palace till shee came into his priuie chamber and there stoode before the king who sitting in his royall throne shining in all his princely robes of maiestie as one very terrible to beholde at the first lift vp his face and looked fiercely vpoÌ„ Ester the Q. which so daunted her womaÌ„ly courage that it made her presently for feare to fall downe and being very pale and faynt shee leande her selfe vpon the head of her mayde that went with her Neuerthelesse God turned the kinges minde that he became gentle and meeke
out this bond womaÌ„ her sonne for the sonne of the bond woman shal not be heire with my soÌ„ne Isaak which thing though it were grieuous vnto Abraham to do because hee tenderly loued Hagars sonne Ishmael yet being coÌ„manded by God to followe his wife Saras counsel therin y t rather for y t the promised seed should be counted from Isaak not from Ishmael also being coÌ„forted by God y t he would blesse Ismael also to a mightie people because he was of Abrahams seede Abraham obeyed the voyce of his wife Sara the next morning early sent Hagar her son away with bag bottel good prouision of victuals vpoÌ„ her back to shift for her selfe her child So Hagar being thus departed from Abraham with her young childe Ishmael in her armes gate her vnto the wildernesse of Beersheba where shee wandered so long vp and downe till all her prouision of meate and drinke was spent gone And wheÌ„ she saw no remedy but y t both she and the child must needs perish for lacke of sustenaunce shee in this great perplexitie renounced all naturall affection and distrusting in Gods prouidence notwithstanding that she had had good experience therof before time went and cast her childe Ishmael vnder a certayne tree behinde a bushe and went her selfe away from it and sate ouer agaynst it a farre off about a bowe shoote weeping and saying thus with her selfe I will not see the death of the childe but as shee sate thus a farre off mourning and lamenting for her sonne Behold God for his promise sake made before to Abraham and not because eyther shee then prayed for the childe as shee ought to haue done or that the childe it selfe had the capacitie and witte to pray for it selfe being so young sent his angell agayne euen from heauen which comforted her in this her miserie and wofull plight saying what ayleth thee Hagar feare not for God hath heard the voyce of the childe where hee lyeth Aryse take vp thy childe and holde him in thine armes and I will make of him a great people as I haue promised vnto Abraham So where as before shee coulde neyther see nor vse the meanes whiche was euen before her eyes God at this instant opening her eyes and Hagar nowe arose and sawe a wel of water wherevnto shee went and refreshed her selfe and filled her bottell with water and then ran to the boy and gaue it drinke thereof by which good prouidence of God both shee and her sonne were relieued and liued together a long time after to her great ioy and comfort And when her sonne came to mans state she then dwelling in y e wildernes of Paraâ— tooke him a wife out of the lande of Egypt Gene. 16.17.21 Haggith or Aggite signi holidayes yeerely feastes turning about merrie Shee was one of the vi wiues of Dauid that hee had in Hebron who there bare vnto him a sonne called Adoniah that afterwarde was put to death by his brother king Salomon for treason as appeareth in the storie of Abishag 2. Sam. 3.3 1. King 1.5 1. Chron. 3.3 Hannoch or Anna â—igni gâ—acions or mercifull his grace or fauour gracious Lady fauourable freely giuing resâ—ng c. She was the wife of Elkana an Ephrathiâ—e who beeing coupled with a mate called Penennah or Fenenna that was very fruitful she her selfe long barren without child yet because HaÌ„na was better beloued of her husband then her mate Penenna was although Penenna had more porcions and giftes giuen vnto her of her husbande when hee wente abroade and vnto her sonnes and daughters then Hannah had Therefore her aduersary mate Penenna did dayly vexe her sore by â—â—brayding her casting her in the teeth w t her barreÌ„nes yea as oft as went vp to the house of the Lorde to sacrifice and serue God her companion would so vexe her herewith to her great reproch that she would sitte and weepe and lament greatly in fasting and prayer in her house before she went out adores which when her husband perceiued he to comfort her said vnto her Hannah why weepest thou and why eatest thou not And why is thy heart thus troubled am not I thy louing husband better to thee then ten sonnes Let this suffice thee that I tenderly loue thee no lesse then if thou hadst manye children So Hanna to satisfie her husbands mynd did eate and drinke a little but yet beeing full of heauinesse that God had made her such a rayling stocke that she could not quietly eate nor drinke nor serue GOD as shee ought shee arose and went to the Temple of the Lorde in Siloe where the Arke then was to woorshippe GOD. And there beeyng tormented and troubled in minde shee made her heartie prayers vnto GOD with teares to geue her a sonne or manchild the forme of which prayer or vowe appeareth in the first Lampe of Uirginitie pag. 6. And as she continued praying very earnestly in the Temple before the Lorde it fortuned that Eli the high Priest as he sate there also marked her mouth and perceiuing her lippes onely to moue a little no voyce heard for she prayed mentally and secretly in her heart he thought she had bin dronken and said vnto her Thou woman how long wilt thou be dronken put away thy dronkennes from thee Then Hannah being further vexed in mind to see her selfe thus interrupted in her prayers and more slaundered by the rash iudgement of so graue a man could no lesse but make him this aunsweare in her excuse and sayd Nay my Lord I am not dronke neyther haue I drunken eyther wyne or strong drinke But I beyng a woman troubled in minde dexed in spirite I doe here powre out my sorowfull soule before the Lorde in mentall or secret prayer therefore doe not so rashly count thy handmayde to be the daughter of Beliall or a wicked woman for out of the abundance of the heauinesse and griefe of my heart haue I spoken hitherto Then goe in peace sayde Eli and the GOD of Israel graunt thy petitioÌ„ that thou hast asked And she knowing that y e prayers of others would be of force with God towardes her desired Ely to pray for her saying O let thine handmayden find grace in thy sight and be remembred in thy prayers offered vnto God And so reposing her selfe to the mercie of God and commending her self to Elyes prayers she departed cheerefully home to her house where she ate and dranke merrily and looked no more sad And shortly after God remembred her according to her petition so that in processe of time she conceyued by Elkana her husband and bare him a sonne in the yeere of the world 3000. or therabouts whose name she called Samuel because she begged him of God And when she had geuen her child sucke and brought him vp and weaned it she like a vertuous mother prepared a sacrifice and went to the temple of the Lord in Sylo with her
Huldah or Holdai holda or Olda signifieth the world or a weasell ruâ—f She was the wife of one Shallum the sonne of Tikuah the sonne of Harhas keeper of king Iosias wardrop And being a Prophetesse dwelling in Hierusalem in the colledge or place called the house of doctrine which was neere to the temple and where the learned assembled to intreate of the scriptures the doctrine of the Prophetes Iosua the king of Iuda vpon a time that is in y e yeere of the 3498. finding the booke of the law in the temple at the reformation thereof sent Helkiah the priest and Shaphane the Chaunceller with other noble meÌ„ of his counsell vnto this womaÌ„ Hulda the Prophetesse to coÌ„mune with her and enquire of the Lorde for him and his people concerning the booke of the law so found in the temple and read before him what shoulde be done therwith And when the messengers had done their errand the Prophetesse aunsweared them saying goe tell the man that sent you to me thus saieth the Lorde God of Israel beholde I will bring euill vppon this place and vppon the inhabiters thereof euen all the words of the booke which the king of Iudah read because they haue forsaken me and haue burnt incense vnto other Gods to anger me with all the workes of their handes and mens inuentions contrary to the worde of God my wrath also shal be kindled against this place and shall not be quenched for their abhominations But to the king of Iuda who sent you to enquire of the Lord so shal yee say vnto him Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel the wordes that thou hast heard read in that booke shall come to passe but because thine heart did melt and thou hast repented and humbled thy selfe before the Lorde when thou heardest what I spake against this place against the inhabitaÌ„ts of the same how they should be destroyed and accursed and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me I haue also heard it saith the Lord. Behold therefore I will gather thee vnto thy fathers and thou shalt be put in thy graue in peace and thine eyes shal not see all the euil that I wil bring vpon this place And so the messengers departed froÌ„ the propheâ—esse told the king what she said 2. King 22.14 Hushim or Husim signifieth hasting holding peace geuen to pleasuâ—e She was one of the wiues of Shaharaim of the tribe of Beniamine who bare him two sonnes called Ahitub and Elpaal and afterwarde with her mate Baare was put away from her husband 1. Chro. 8.8 11. I Iael or Iahel signifieth a Do or ascending or going vpward a smal Deare a Roe a Hynde the match of hart and hynd beginning She was the wife of one Hebar a Kenite which was of the children of Hobab Moses father in law and being a stranger yet worshipped the true God and ioyned with Israel in all things And when Iael in the yeere of the world 2766. had heard of the great ouerthrow of Sisera and how he fled and was comming towards her tent for succour she went out and met him saying Turne in my Lord turne into me and feare not so he being come into her tent or house asked her a litle water to quench his thirst and she brought him a bottell full of mylke And when he had well drunke thereof he laide him downe to sleepe and as she was couering him with mantles and clothes he prayed her to goe and â—tand at the dore of her tent and whosoeuer doth come and aske for any manâ— say I pray thee quoth he there is no man here And so when Sisara was fast a sleepe Iael beeing thereto prouoked by Gods spirite to take reuenge vpon the enemie of his people went softly vnto him with a nayle in the one hande and a hammer in the other and smote the nayle thorow the temples of his head and nayled him fast to the ground which done she went and stoode at her tent dore and seeing Baracke pursue Sisara she went and met him saying Come goe in with me I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest and so he folowed Iael who brought him into her tent where Sisara lay dead and the nayle in his temples And then he saw that a woman had the honour and not he and knew that the prophecie of Debora was truely fulfilled which she prophesied vnto him when she sayd Baracke this iourney that thou takest vpon thee now shal not be for thy honour for the Lord shal sel Sisara into the hand of a woman who shal take away the honor of the victory froÌ„ thee as it came to passe indeed Iudg. 4.17 18. c. For which valiant act of Iaels Deborah in her song of praise highly commended praised her saying Blessed shal Iael the wife of Heber be aboue other women dwelling in tents blessed shal she be aboue other women c. as you may read in the song at large in the first Lampe pag. 3. Iudg. 5.24 Iecholiah or Iecolia Iechelia Iecelia si the profiting or pâ—wer of the Lord. She was the wife of Amaziah king of Iuda and the mother of Uzziah called also Azanah king of Iuda 2. King 15.2 2. Chro. 26.3 Iehoaddan or Ioadan or Ioiadan sig the Lordes delight the Lords pleaâ—ure the Lords good season She was the wife of Ioash king of Iuda and mother to Amaziah king of Iuda 2. King 14.2.2 Chro. 25.1 Iehoshabeath or Iehosheba or Iehosabeth Iosabeth or Iosaba sig the fulnes of the Lord the Lordes othe or the seuenth of the Lord endewed She was the daughter of king Ioram or Iehora king of Israel sister to Ahaziah wife to Iehoiada y e high Priest or Bishop of y e Iewes And when Athalia her Grandmother went about cruelly to destroy the king her brothers seed by murder God for his promise sake made to the house of Dauid moued the heart of Iehosheba to preserue some â—eÌ„nant of that stocke whervpon she went and tooke Ioash the youngest sonne of Ahaziah her brother and stole away her young nephewe froÌ„ among the kings soÌ„nes that were appoynted to bee slayne hid both â—im and his nurse in her owne bedchamber with her husbands counsel and kept him from slaughter in the chamber where the Priests did lye neere the house of the Lorde the space of sixe yeeres so that he perished not with the rest of his brethren but after became king of the land and deposed his grandmother Athalia as appeareth in the life of Athalia 2. King 11.2.2 Chro. 22.10 Iehudiiah or Iudaia Iudea or Iudaea sig praysing graunting or acknowledging the Lorde She was the second wife of Ezrah and bare vnto him three sonnes Geret the father or Prince of Gedor Hebar the Prince of Socho the 3. Iekuthiel the Prince of Zanoah 1. Chro 4.18 Iemimah or Diem sig beautifull as the day or of long life Shee was one of the three beautifull daughters of Iob which
Leaprosie as white as snowe in the yeere of the worlde 2516. Then Moses partly for pittie to see his sister in such a lothsome case and partly at the earnest request and intercession of Aaron his brother who saide to Moses Alas my Lorde I beseech thee lay not the sinne vpon vs which we haue foolishly committed and wherein we haue sinned Let her not I pray thee be as a childe dead of whom the fleshe is halfe consumed when hee commeth out of his mothers wombe hauing as it were but skinne bone Moses besought the Lorde for his sister saying O Lorde I beseeche thee heale her nowe but the Lord made him aunsweare saying if her father in his anger and displeasure had spit in her face shoulde she not haue beene ashamed seuen dayes Let her be shut out of the host seuen dayes and after she shal be receiued So Miriam was shut out of the host seuen dayes as the Lorde commaunded and the people remoued not till Miriam was restored and receiued in againe into the host Finally in the yeere of the worlde 1554. when she had liued 119. yeeres after the birth of Moses and when Moses and the children of Israel were come into the desert of Sinai to the citie Cades fortie yeere after the departure out of the land of Egypt Myriam there dyed and was buried when shee had liued aboue a 130. yeeres Exod. 2.4.7.6.20 15.20 c. Num. 12.1 20.1 1. Chro. 6.3 Milcha Milcah or Melcha or Melea sig a Queene his Queene or aduiser fulfilling She was the daughter of Haram Abrahams youngest brother the sister of Lot and as some thinke of Sarai the wife of Abraham and also was the wife of Nahor Abrahams second brother so that her husband and her father were naturall brothers the sonnes of Terah and she her selfe neere vnto her husband who was her vncle which kynde of marriage was after forbidden by the lawe after she bare vnto her husband Nahor eight sonnes to wit Uz Buz. Kemuel that was afterwarde Prince of the Assyrians Chesed Hazo Pildash Iidlaph and Bethuel which was the father of Rebecca that afterward became wife to Isaack so Milcha was Rebeccaes grādmother her mates name was Reumah Gen. 11.29.22.20 There was another woman called Milcah whiche was one of the fiue daughters and coheires of Zelohehad of the tribe of Manasses as yee may reade in Mahlah her sisters storie Number 26.33.27 1.36 Molecheth signifieth a Queene She was the sister of Gilead and daughter of Machir and bare vnto her husband three sonnes called Ishbod Abiezer and Mahalah 1. Chro. 7.18 N Naamah or Naama signifieth comlinesse fayre beautifull or greatly mouing affliction She was the daughter of Lamech and Zillah and the sister of Tubalkain the cunning brasier and smith Gen. 4.22 There was another woman called Naamah which was an Ammonitesse one of the wiues of king Salomon who bare vnto him a sonne called Rehoboam that after was king of Iuda 1. Kings 14. 21. Naarah or Naara or Naari signifieth a puzill a damosell striking of or walking She was one of the two wiues of Ashur the father or Prince of Tekoa her mates name was Heleah and she bare vnto her husbande foure sonnes called Ahuzam Hepher Temeni and Haashtari 1. Chro. 4.36 Naomi or Noemi or Mara sig fayre comely or prouoking much or greatly assuring Bitter She was the wife of a certaine man called Elimelech dwelling in the land of Iuda in a citie called Bethlem and for because of the present dearth which was ouer all the lande of Iuda in the time that the Iudges ruled She went with her husband and her two sonnes called Mahlon and Chilion into the countrey of Moab to soiourne where in processe of time her husband first died and her two sonnes w t whom she remained being married to two of the Moabitish damosels to wit Orphah Ruth died there also So that Naomi which had dwelt in the land of Moab ten yeeres was now left desolate both of her husband and of her sonnes Then Naomy hearing how the Lord had visited her countrie againe with plentie returned from Moab homewardes againe her two daughters in lawe Orpha and Ruth bringing her on y e way in her iourney And when shee sawe they had gone a good way with her and coueted not to returne from her shee saide vnto them Goe nowe my daughters and returne eche of you vnto your mothers house and the Lorde deale as kindly with you as yee haue dealt with the dead men my sonnes and with mee their sorowfull mother And the Lorde graunt that you may finde rest eyther of you in the house of her husband and so kissed them to haue bid them farewell But when she saw that they wept and would not depart from her she sayde vnto them agayne returne my daughters I pray you for what cause will yee goe with me Are there anie moe children within my wombe to bee your husbandes Turne againe therefore I say and goe your way for I am too olde to haue an husband And if I should say I had hope of children or if I had an husband this night or had already borne sonnes Woulde yee tarrie for them till they were growen of age and refrayne from taking of husbandes so long No not so my daughters it greeueth mee much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me Then they wept altogether and Orpha kissed her mother in lawe and tooke her leaue and returned into her owne lande of Moab agayne But because it was Gods woonderfull prouidence that Ruth shoulde become one of his housholde shee abode still with Naomy But Naomy did all that shee could to perswade her likewise to depart and returne with her sister saying beholde thy sister in law is gone backe vnto her people and vnto her Gods returne thou also after her But when Naomy saw that for no entreaty Ruth would depart from her but was stedfastly mynded to goe on with her she left speaking vnto her And so when they came to Bethlehem Iuda which was about the beginning of barley haruest or in April where when her cōming was noysed abroad the women of the citie which saw Naomy knowing her to come of a great familie and to haue been of great reputation when she dwelt among them said one to another is not this Naomy Naomy saide shee call me not Naomy that is beautifull but call me Mara that is bitter for the almighty hath geuen mee much bitternes I went out full and the Lorde hath brought me againe emptie Why then call yee me Naomy seeing the Lord hath humbled me and the almighty hath brought me vnto aduersitie And so Naomy remayned in Bethleem Iuda her daughter in law Ruth with her where shee liued poorely by the corne that Ruth gleamed for her sustenaunce in the fieldes of Booz her husbande Elimelechs kinsman and when Ruth brought home the corne and tolde her where shee had it she
to spie and view the land of Iericho came and lodged in her house so it was that their comming was bewrayed by some vnto the king of Iericho whereuppon he sent straight wayes vnto Rahab saying bring foorth the men y t are come to thee and entred into thy house for they be spyes and are come to search out al our lād But Rahab hauing brought these two men of Israel her gests vp into the top or roofe of her house there hid them couered them with stalkes of flaxe spread abroad ouer them aunsweared the kings messengers saying there came men vnto me indeed but I wist not whence they were and when they shut the gate in the dark y t men went out and slipt away but whither they went I wote not folowe yee after them quickly for yee shall ouertake them So while they beleeuing her wordes went in all hast pursued after the two mē towards Iordan and sought them in the foords and ditches Rahab assoone as they were gone out of her house shut the gates vppon them and before y e two men that were hyd aboue vnder y e flaxe were asleepe she ran vp vnto them where they lay and sayd vnto them I know that the Lord hath geuen you y e land y t the feare of you is fallen vpon vs and that all the inhabitauntes of the Lorde faynt before you For wee haue hearde howe the Lorde dryed vp the water of the redde sea before you when yee came out of Egypt and what ye did vnto y e two kings of the Ammonites that were on the other side Iordan vnto Seon and to Og whom ye vtterly destroyed and when we heard it our hearts did faint and there remayned no more courage in any of vs because of you for the Lord your God he is the God of heauen aboue and in earth beneath Nowe therefore I pray you sweare vnto me by y e Lord that as I haue shewed you mercie you will also shewe mercie vnto my fathers house and geue me a true token that yee will saue aliue my father and my mother and my brethren and my sisters and all that they haue and that yee will deliuer our soules from death And the men aunswered her and sayde we warrant thee in paine of our liues and sweare vnto you that if yee vtter not this our businesse we when the Lord hath geuen vs the Land will deale mercifully and truely with thee and thy fathers house and kinred as thou hast requested Then Rahab dwelling well for that purpose let these two men down by a corde through a backe window in her house ouer the towne wall and sayd vnto them Goe you into the mountaynes which are neere vnto the citie least the pursuers meete with you and there hyde your selues three dayes vntill the pursuers be returned and then afterward may yee goe your way safely And the men thanking her for her curtesie towards them sayde vnto her We shal be blamelesse and discharged of this our othe which thou hast made vs sweare if thou doest performe this condition following that we shall make for so shalte thou and thine be deliuered namely the condition is this beholde thou shalt bynde this corde of red threed wherewith wee are let downe in this windowe and shalt bring thy father and thy mother thy brethren and all thy fathers houshold home to thee that when we come into the land we may by this signe and token of the red threed hanging in the wyndow know thy house And whosoeuer then doth goe out of thine house into the streete he shal be guilty of his owne death and we guiltlesse of our othe but who soeuer shal keepe within thine house his blood shall be on our heades if any hand violently touch him this condition if yee keepe yee shal be all safe as we haue promised but contrariwise if yee vtter these our secretes or condition to others by side so y t they likewise should thinke to escape our handes together with you by this meanes then at your owne perils be it for we will then be quyte of the othe and promise which thou hast made vs to sweare vnto thee Wel quoth Rahab according to your words and condition so be it So she sent them away who hid themselues in the mountaines 3. dayes and when they were gone she bound the red threed or scarlet coloured corde whereby she let them downe about the mallines of the window and went and gathered her father her brethren friends and kinred vnto her house to be preserued therein in the day of the destruction of y t city Iericho as the men had promised and condicioned with her Now shortly after when Iosua w t his host came besieged y e city Iericho before he destroyed the city hee being mindefull of Rahabs good turne done vnto his 2. men gaue his souldiers and men a great charge concerning Rahab by name saying The citie is appointed of God as an execrable thing to be destroyed with all that are therein onelie Rahab the harlot shall liue shee and all that are with her in her house For shee hidde and preserued the two messengers that wee sente to spyie out the lande And after when by the handes of GOD onlie without mans force the walles of Iericho fell downe and Iosua entred into the citie to take the spoyle and kill man woman and childe still remembred Rahab and saide vnto his two men whom shee preserued Goe into the harlots house and bring out thence the woman Rahab and al that she hath as yee sware vnto her So the young men that were the two spyes went directly to Rahabs house by meanes of the red threed that houng at her window for a signe and brought out Rahab her father and her mother her brethren her familie and al that she had and put them without the host of Israel because it was not lawfull for Rahab and her companie being straungers to dwell among the Israelites till they were purified and when Rahab and hers were thus according to promise carried out of the citie and preserued aliue Iosua set the citie Iericho a fire and burnt vp all therein So Iosua saued Rahab the harlot her fathers housholde and all y t she had because she had hid the messengers which he had sent to spie out y t land or rather as Saint Paule saith By faith this harlot Rahab perished not with them which obeyed not when she had receyued the spies peaceablie Wherin appeareth the great mercie of God that in so great cōmō a destruction he would vouchsafe to draw such a miserable sinner as this Rahab the harlot was voyd of all good works onely by faith to repent and confesse his name as shee did to both hers and others saluation for her sake For after this shee being a Gentile or Heathen dwelt in Israel and there was married to Salmon Prince of y e tribe of Iuda and bare vnto him
beeing come into Pharaos court in Egypt the Princes and Courtiers of the Egyptians behelde her beautie and commended her vnto Pharao to be a very faire woman Whereupon Sara was straight way caught vp and taken into Pharaos house to be his wife who intreated Abraham well for her sake and inriched him greatly with sheepe Beeues Asses Camels and men seruants and maide seruantes But the Lorde tooke the defence of the poore stranger against a mightie king and as hee is euer carefull ouer his so did hee preserue Sara cleane and vndefiled and from beeing defloured by the king or his princes but plagued Pharao and al his house with great plagues that could not be cured but by the prayers of Abraham and that because hee had violently taken Sara Abrahams wife from him to defloure her Which when Pharao felt and sawe then hee called Abraham and saide why hast thou done this vnto mee and why didst thou not tell mee plainely that shee was thy wife But callest her sister which made me take her to bee my wife Nowe therefore beholde thy wife take her and goe thy way So when shee was restored home to Abraham againe honest pure and vnpolluted to the intente none shoulde hurt either Sarai or Abraham her husbande gaue his men charge and commandement to conduct them safe out of his countrie with all that they had After this Sara nowe being come into the land of Canaan and hauing been long barren and perceiuing that the Lord had restrained her from bearing of children as she that had respect to Gods couenant and promise made before vnto her husband that one which should come out of his owne loynes should bee his heire according to his request in earnest prayer that his seede should be as the starres in the skie for number c. She gaue her husband Abrahā leaue to take Hagar her Egyptian maide to wife saying Behold now the Lorde hath restrained mee from childe bearing I pray thee go in vnto my maide it may be that I shall receiue a childe by her Wherein note that Sarai offended God in binding his power to the common order of nature by giuing her young maide Hagar to her husband to wife as though God could not giue her children in her olde age So Abraham did as shee bad him and her maide Hagar conceiued with childe brought foorth a sonne called Ismael But when Sara saw herselfe despised of her maid that had conceiued which punishment God suffered to fall vpon Sara to declare what they gaine that attempt any thing against the worde of God Then she made her complaint vnto Abraham said Thou doest me wrong I haue giuen my maid into thy bozome and she seeth that she hath conceiued and I am despised in her eyes the Lorde iudge betweene thee and me Behold quoth Abraham thy maid is in thy hande and power doe with her as it pleaseth thee Then Sara dealt roughly with Hagar her maid was so quick sharpe with her that she made her run away Neuerthelesse at the humble submission of Hagar Sara receiued her againe After this it pleased God to renewe his promise and couenant made with Abraham her husband concerning the issue that he should haue of the body of Sarai his wife whose name God then changed with her husbands and called Sarah that before was Sarai And to that ende when God sent his three Angels to renew the same promise to Sarah herselfe in the plaine of Mamre shee courteously entertained those three Angels and made them a feast in her tent and as she stood behind the tent dore and heard the Angels say vnto her husband Abraham Lo Sarah thy wife shall haue a soone Shee rather hauing respect to the order of nature because she being well stricken in age and very olde euen fourescore and tenne yeere olde insomuch that it ceased to be with her after the maner of women that is past childe bearing Then beleeuing the promise of God so often made and repeated and thinking it impossible for her to haue a childe she I say then laughed within her selfe said Is it of a suretie y t I shall haue a sonne Shal I now giue my selfe to lust being old my Lord is old also 1. Pet. 3.6 And when she had talked thus with her selfe the Angel of the Lord seeing the distrust of Sara at the first saide vnto her husband Abraham wherefore did Sarah thus laugh as though quoth he it were a hard thing for the Lord to performe his promise Then she being asked the question reproued for her incredulitie of the Angell denied it saying I laughed not for shee was afraide but the Angell said it is not so for thou laughedst Afterward Sara going frō Mamre soiourning in y e land of Gerar among the Philistines It chanced y t Abimelech y e king of Gerar hearing of her wonderful beautie sent tooke Sara away frō her hushusband of purpose to haue lyen w t her But God whoeuer most greatly detesteth y e breach of marriage by dreame or vision in y e same night before y t euer he had come neere her or touched her reuealed vnto Abime Behold thou art but dead because of the womā which thou hast taken for shee is a mans wife whereunto Abimelech as one failing by ignorance and not doing euill of purpose nor thinking to doe any man harme made his excuse to God againe and said for himselfe thus Lord wilt thou slay euen the righteous nation saide not hee that is Abrahā vnto me Shee is my sister yea and shee herselfe saide hee is my brother which fault she had now twise fallen into such is mans frailtie with an vpright minde and innocent handes haue I done this I knowe it saide God that thou didst so but yet I kept thee also that thou shouldest not sinne against mee therefore suffered I not thee to touch her now therefore deliuer the man his wife againe For he meaning Abraham her husband is a Prophet and he shal pray for thee that thou maiest liue but if thou deliuer her not againe be sure that thou shalt die the death and all that thou hast Then Abimelech in all hast very early in the morning called for Abraham and said vnto him what hast thou done vnto vs and wherein haue I haue offended thee that thou hast brought on me my kingdom this great sin Thou hast done this vnto mee by calling thy wife sister that ought not to bee done Because quoth Abraham I thought this with my selfe surely the feare of God is not in this place and they will slay mee for my wiues sake therefore did I call her sister yet in very deede shee is my sister that is my cosin germane for shee is the daughter of my father that is of my fathers brother But not the daughter of my mother and she is my wife And that shee calleth mee brother is but of a couenant of kindnesse that
was priuily made long agoe betwixt her and mee in all places where we became Then Abimelech the king gaue Abraham beeues sheepe men seruants and maide seruants and greatly inriched him also restored vnto him Sarah his wife giuing him leaue to depart and dwell where hee woulde in his Dominion but before Sara departed as God had suffered this Heathen king to doe vnto her husbande so nowe hee reproued Sarah his wife also for her dissembling lying Behold I haue giuen thy brother a thousand peeces of siluer beholde he is in the vaile of thine enemies to all that are with thee and to all others as if he had said Sara seeing God hath giuen thee an husbande as a vaile or defence yea such a head as with whom thou maiest bee preserued from all dangers thou hast done euill to vse this dissimulation with mee in calling him thy brother that is indeede thine husbande Then Abraham prayed vnto God for Abimelech God heard his yrayer and healed Abimelech and his wife and his maid seruants so that they conceaued afterwarde and bare children for before the Lorde had taken away from them the gift of conceauing and shut vp euery wombe in the house of Abimelech because of Sara Abrahams wife Now the Lord visited Sara while shee was in the land of the Philistines at Gerar so that shee through faith receiued strength to conceaue seede and brought foorth a sonne in her olde age at the time appointed of God according as he had promised by the Angel because she iudged him faithfull that had promised So that of one woman euen of her y t was as one dead past age there sprang so many as y e starres of the skie in multitude as the sand in the Sea shore which is innumerable Heb. 11.11 12. And Abraham called his sonnes name Isaack and when the childe was borne shee accused her self of ingratitude in that shee did not beleeue the Almightie and said God hath made me to reioyce all that heare will reioyce with mee who woulde haue said to Abraham that Sara should haue giuen children sucke for I haue borne him a sonne in his olde age After this when Sara saw and perceiued Ismael the sonne of Hagar her maide as he plaied with Isaak mocking and deriding Gods promises made to Isaak which the Apostle to the Galathians 4.29 calleth persecution she complained thereof vnto Abraham and saide Put away or cast out this bond maid and her sonne for the sonne of this bond woman shall not bee heire with my sonne Isaak Which thing was very greeuous in Abrahams sight because hee loued Ismael But God saide vnto Abraham Let it not greeue thee for the childes sake or his mother but in all that Sara shall say vnto thee heare her voyce for in Isaak shall thy seede bee blessed that is the promised seed shal be counted from thy sonne Isaak borne of Sarah and not from Ismael Rom. 9.9 Then Abraham followed his wife Saraes counsaile and put away Hagar and her sonne foorth of his house who after liued in the wildernesse of Paran and troubled Sara no more Finally when Sara was an hundred and seuen and twentie yeeres olde in the yeere of the worlde 2145. she died in Kyriath-arba otherwise called Hebron in the land of Canaan and was buried in the double caue of the field Machpelah ouer against Mamre which is Hebron which Abraham her husband bought of the sonnes Heath called the Hittites of purpose to bury Sara for whose death he greatly lamented and mourned after her to be a place of common buriall for all his her posteritie for euer And after the death of Sarai Abraham tooke him another wife called Keturah by whom he had diuers sonnes Gen. 11.29 12.5.13 c 13.1.16.17.15.21 18.6,9.11.12 c. 20. 21. 1.2 c. till verse 15. 23.1 reade Iosephus fol. 180.181 Sarra or Sara sig my princehood a prince and as before in Sarai She was the only daughter of one Raguel and Anna or Edna that dwelt in Rages otherwise called Ecbatane a Citie of the Medes where Sarra hauing had seuen husbandes one after another in her fathers house the men before they had lien with her were all one after another by Gods prouidence and permission who had reserued Sara to be wife for young Tobie as afterwarde shall appeare slaine by the euill spirite or Diuell called Asmodius to the great discomfort and heauinesse of the young woman and her friendes And yet to aggrauate her sorrowe and griefe the more Beholde her fathers maides when shee did correct them for their faultes woulde slaunder her cheek and reproue her on this wise saying Doest thou not know that thou hast strangled thine husbandes Thou hast had nowe seuen husbands neither wast thou named after any of them Wherefore doest thou beate vs for them if they bee dead goe thy way hence to them and God let vs neuer see sonne nor daughter of thee more vppon earth thou killer of thine husbandes wilte thou slay vs also as thou hast slaine seuen men When Sara hearde these wordes shee was very sorowfull so that shee thought to haue strangled her selfe But beeing better aduised shee saide with her selfe I am the onely daughter of my father and if I doe this I shall slaunder him and shall bring his age to the graue with sorrow Whereupon shee cast aside all suche wicked and vngodly thoughtes as at the first oppressed her and in great pacience betooke her selfe to fasting and prayer with all deuotion and godlinesse in so muche as in the midst of her griefe and affliction shee got her vp to an high chamber of her house where shee continued three dayes and three nights without meate and drinke in heartie prayer towarde the windowe beseeching God with teares that hee would vouchsafe to loose and deliuer her from this rebuke or els to take her out of the earth saying as before in the first Lampe of Uirginitie Page 39. After prayer shee came downe from her chamber and praysed the Lorde And note that at the very same instant that shee made her prayers old Tobie also made his prayers to God beeing rebuked of his wife Anna and both their prayers came together and were heard receiued also at one time before God who thereupon to both their comfortes sent his good Angel Raphael to heale them both that is to take away the blindnesse of Tobie and to giue Sarra for a wife to Tobias the sonne of Tobit and to binde Asmodius the euill spirite because shee belonged to young Tobie by right For young Tobie being sent by his father to Rages where Sara dwelt conducted all the way by the Angell Raphael when they were come neere to Rages the Angell saide to the young man Brother to day wee shall lodge with Raguel who is thy cosin hee also hath one only daughtâ—r named Sarra I will speake for her that shee may be giuen thee for a wife for to thee doth
the Diuel Asmodeus bound him sent him into the wildernes of the higher Egypt And after that they were both shut in Tobias rose out of the bed said vnto the virgin vp sister Sara arise let vs make our prayer vnto God that hee would haue pitie on vs to day to morrowe and the thirde day for these three nightes will wee ioyne or reconcile our selues to God and when the thirde holy night is past wee shall ioyne together in the duetie of marriage For wee are the children of holy men and wee may not come together as the Heathen that knowe not God Then shee arose and they stood vp both together and besought God earnestly that he would preserue them praying and saying as in the first Lampe of Uirginitie And after their prayer ended they went to bed and slept both together that night But Raguel Saraes father thinking Tobias was dead as the other seuen made a graue for him and purposing to haue buryed him secretly the same night that none shoulde haue knowen of it Hee sent his maide into the chamber to see whether hee were dead or aliue who comming into the chamber and finding them both safe and sounde fast a sleepe together brought good tidings again to Raguel and tolde him that Tobias was aliue which caused Raguell not a little to reioyce and prayse the Lorde because hee had mercye on them two which were the only begotten children of their fathers And after commaunding the graue to bee filled vp he made a greate wedding feast which hee kept for ioy 14. dayes and gaue halfe of his goods to Tobie towardes the marriage of his daughter Sarra assuring the rest vnto him her by writing after his and his wiues death So after the fourteene dayes expired in the which space Tobias begate his wife with childe When Raguel by no intreatie coulde persuade Tobie to carry any longer from his sorrowfull father mother that long expected his returne He deliuered his daughter Saâ—ra vnto him together with her portion and so sent her away from him with health and ioy and with his blessing saying The God of heauen make you my children to prosper before I die And with this exhortation giuen to Sarra his daughter saying Honor thy father and mother in lawe which are now thy parents that I may heare good report of thee Also see thou loue thine husband and rule well thine houshold keeping them in good order that thou mayest shewe thy selfe faultlesse and so kissed them and tooke his leaue of them And to Tobias her mother Edna gaue this charge concerning Sarra saying The Lorde of heauen restore thee my deare brother and graunt that I may see thy children of my daughter Sarra that I may reioyce before the Lorde Beholde now I commit to thee my daughter as a pledge doe not intreate her euill So shee imbraced her daughter kissed her let her goe So Sarra went with her husband to Niniuie there dwelt with her husbandes father olde Tobie and where after his her mother in lawes death she returned againe with her husband to Ecbatan to her owne father there dwelt with him while he and her mother liued and after their death which was in the yeere of the world 3456. she inherited al their substance there liued died with her husband before y e destructioÌ„ of Niniuie Tob. 3.7.6.10 c. 7.8.9.6.10.10 c. 11.1.14.13 Serah or Sarah or Sarai sig the same that Sarah doth She was the daughter of Asher the second sonne of Iacob begotten of Zilpa his concubine and the handmaid of Lea and sister to Beriah Isui Iesuah and Iimnah the sonnes of Asher her father Gen. 46.17 Num. 26 46. 1. Chro. 7.30 Sherah or Seera or Seerah or Sara sig the same also that Sara doth She was the daughter of Ephraim or as some thinke his Niece daughter of Manasses who being a noble woman and riche in possessions built to her perpetuall fame three great cities in Gezar in y e lande of Ephraim her father and gaue vnto them seuerall names the one being called Bethhoron the neather the second Bethhoron the vpper the third Uzzen Sheerah after her owne name 1. Chr. 7.24 Which cities being afterward taken spoyled by Pharo king of Egypt were giuen by him for a present vnto his daughter king Salomons wife and after repaired and fortified againe by Salomon as appeareth 1. King 9.16 2. Chro 8.5 Shelomith or Selomith Salomith sig a peacefull woman or perfect or recompensing She was the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan became wife to an Egyptian by whom she bare a sonne that afterward was the first y t euer was imprisoned and stoned to death for blaspheming of the Lord by swearing or despiting God in a fray or mutinie that hee made with another man of Israel vpon which occasion God among other made this lawe for euer to remaine against all blasphemers That whosoeuer curseth his God should be punished and beare his sinne and he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord should bee put to death for it But this lawe being nowe out of vse the more is the pitie it woundeth the heartes of the godly to heare the blasphemers in euery place in this wicked age of the worlde without any publike reproofe or penall punishment inflicted by the Magistrate so crucifie Christe againe and rente his most precious members asunder one froÌ„ another by rapping out of infinite vgly and most horrible othes and execrable cursings to the great disglory of God the prophanation of his sacred law too too much offence of the godlie and zealous Christian. There was another woman called Shelomith or Salomith or Selomith which was the daughter of Zerubbabell the sonne of Pedaiah and nephew of Zalathiell which came of the stocke of Dauid of whose line or stock Christ came also she was sister to Meshullam Hananiah 1. Chr. 3. 19. Shimrath or Semath or Semaath sig hearing obeying She was an Ammotish woman and mother to Zabad who with his fellowe Ieho zabed traiterously killed his master king Ioash and was therefore iustly slaine and put to death by Amaziah the king after the death of his father whom they slue 2. Chr. 24.25.26.25.2 Shimrith or Simrith or Semarith sig shee is warned hard as a Diamond a thorne dregges Shee was a Moabitish woman and mother of Iehozabat the other traiterous seruaÌ„t of king Ioash who with his fellowe zabad the sonne of Shimrath before most vilanously conspired together and slue their master king Ioas as hee lay sicke in his bed but afterwarde for this his blooddie fact hee suffered the condigne punishment of shamefull death by the handes of Amaziah the king and sonne of Ioah as appeareth 2. Chr. 24.25.26 25.2 Shiphrah or Siphrah or Sephora sig faire fairenes pleasing a sparrowe his birde a Trumpet wel doing goodnes early a Goat She with her companion Puah were two of the most famous and
chiefest midwiues of the Hebrue women in the lande of Egypt vnto whom king Pharao in his cruel rage against the Israelites and the children of God gaue this commandement saying when yee doe the office of a midwife to the women of the Hebrues or Israelites and set them on their stooles or seates whereupon they satte in trauelling of childe If it be a sonne then ye shall kill him but if it be a daughter theÌ„ let her liue Notwithstanding these two midwiues feared God more then the king did not murther the infants of the women of Israel in y e birth as y t bloody butcher king Pharao had coÌ„maÌ„ded theÌ„ But coÌ„trariwise preserued y e meÌ„ children still aliue which wheÌ„ y t tyrant the king vnderstood he sent for these two good midwiues rebuked theÌ„ saying why haue ye preserued aliue y e meÌ„ childreÌ„ coÌ„trary to my coÌ„mandment But the Midwiues made their excuse and answered the king saying Because O king quoth they the Hebrue women are not like the women of Egypt for they are more strong and sturdie women and liuelie and quicklie deliuered yer the Midwiues come at them Which answere the tyrannous king well allowing of when he saw he could not preuaile by that craft he burst foorth to open rage against Gods people and commaunded all his people that they should cast euery man childe of the Hebrue women into the riuer but to reserue euery maidechilde aliue But as touching this act of Shiprah and her fellow Midwife as their disobedience heerein to the king was lawfull enough so their dissembling and lying in their excuse so vnto him was euill howbeit because the Midwiues feared God therefore God made them houses and prospered them that is God rewarded their constancie not their lying and blessed and increased the families both of the Midwiues and of the Israelites by their meanes so that the people of Israel multiplied and were very mightie Yea by their meanes that notable member of Gods Church and holy man of God Moses was preserued by whom God deliuered his people out of the oppression and slauery of that Tyrant Pharo to his vtter destruction in the redde Sea Exod. 1.15.16 c. Shuah or Sua or Suaa sig crying sauing mightie honorable regardful of the sauiour lowlinesse studie speech budding praier She was a Cananitish woman borne the daughter of one Suah or as some thinke of Hirah an Addulamite and became the wife of Iudah the sonne of Iacob which affinitie notwithstanding was condemned of God so shee bare vnto Iuda three sonnes Er Onan and Shelah at a place called Chezib But because her two eldest sonnes were both wicked men in the sight of the Lorde therefore the Lorde slue them both to her great griefe And in processe of time shee also died after whose death her husband Iudah committed horrible incest with her daughter in lawe Tamar the wife of Er her eldest sonne to the slander of the Church and offence of the godlie as ye may reade Gen. 28. 1. Chro. 2.3 There was another woman called Shuah which was the daughter of Hebar the sonne of Beriah the sonne of Ashur and who also was the sister of Iaphlet Shomer and Hotham 1. Chr. 7.32 Susanna or Suesâ—hanna sig a Lilly a Rose Mirth his Lilly grace or Lady her grace and good behauiour louely fauourable c. Shee was the daughter of Helchias of the tribe of Iuda and wife of Ioachim a very great riche man and of high reputation and honour among the Iewes in Babylon where hee dwelt Nowe shee beeing a very fayre woman well brought vp and instructed by her parentes in the law of Moses one y t feared God In the same first yere that she was married there were two Iudges made of y e Ancients of the people which resorted muche to her husbande Ioachims house because hee was the most honorable of all others and all they of the Iewes which had any thing to doe in the lawe came thither also vnto them to haue their matters hearde and decided These two Iudges beeing wicked men were so wounded with the loue of Susanna and burned so in lust towards her both at one time vnwitting one to the other that they wist not what to doe but neither durst tel the other his grief nor yet for shame vtter their inordinate dotage and lust vnto her And so on a day when they had sate long in Ioachims house about matters of the lawe and waited for to haue their purpose on Susanna and coulde not they brake vp and went home to dinner And at their returne againe togethers the one brake to y e other their whole minds appointed a time when they mighte take her alone And when they had espied out a conuenient time y t Susanna went into a faire garden that shee had adioyning vnto her house as her manner was there to walke euer about noone when her husbandes Clients were all gone home to dinner with two of her maidens onelie accompanying her there to walke wash herselfe in the heate of the day Behold these two olde lechers hid them selues in the garden against her comming And assoone as her maidens had shut the garden or orcharde dore and were gone for oyle and sope for their mistres as shee had commaunded them These two wicked Elders or lecherous Iudges who had lyen there priuilie hid vnknowen to Susanna and her maidens like two neighing horsses came vpon her now beeing all alone and saide Beholde the garden dores are nowe shut that no man can see vs and wee burne in loue with thee therefore consent vnto vs and lye with vs if thou willt not wee will beare wtinesse against thee that a young man was in the Orchard with thee and y t therefore thou sentest away thy maydens from thee because thou wouldest commit adultery with him And then Susanna sighed and saide Alas I am in trouble on euery side for if I followe your mindes and doe the thing it will bee my death And if on the other side I consent not vnto you nor doe it not yet can I not escape your handes Well it is better for mee to fall into your handes without the deede doing then to sinne in the sight of y e Lord by doing it And with that shee cryed out vpon them with a loude voice And the olde lechers cryed out as fast against her which clamour on both parties was so great that it was hard among her seruants without which ranne to the garden dore and burst it open for hast to see what the matter was And when the seruants had heard the elders false report of Susanna they beeing a little too hastie in beleeuyng so false a reporte of their mistres were greatly ashamed of her for there was neuer suche a report made of Susanna before So on the morrowe after these two wicked Iudges full of mischeuous imaginations againste Susanna came to Ioachim her husbandes house as the manner
so vnnaturallye with his owne sister to the terrour of all Athiestes vngodly wretches incestuous lyuers that abounde in these dayes so greatlye in all places abroad and runne headlonge to their own damnation without anye shame remorce or conuersion without dread eyther of Gods vengeaunce to lyght vppon them in this worlde or of the deuilles tormentes to vexe them in the worlde to come 2. Sam. 13. all Tamar the daughter of Absolon was a verye fayre woman also to looke vppon shee had a sister called Maacha which was the wife of Roboam king of Iuda and best beloued of all his wiues and Concubynes as appeareth in her storie 2. Sam. 14.27 2. Chron. 11.20 1. Kings 15.2 Taphath or Tapheth or Taphet dropping a drop a prety one Shee was the daughter of king Salomon and wife to Abinadab one of his xii chief officers and purueiours for his victuals in the countrie or region of Dor. 1. Kings 4.11 Timna or Thimna or Thamna signi an image shape a numbring telling forbidding fayling faythfull perfectnesse c. Shee was the Concubine of Eliphaze the sonne of Esawe and mother of Amaleck of whome came the curssed Amalekites Gene. 36.12 There was an other woman called Thimna which was the daughter of Seir an Horite and sister to Lotan one of the chife and mighty Princes of the Horites with whome Esaw grew in affinitie Gene. 36.22 1. Chro. 1.39 Tirzah or Thirza or Thersa signi pleasing well liking contenting willing sweete running Shee was the youngest of the fiue daughters and coheires of zelophead the sonne of Hephir of the tribe of Manasses the sonne of Ioseph of her read more in her eldest sister Mahlahs storie Numbe 26. 33.27.1.36.11 Triphena signi both one thing as meaning returning a nise woman a cleere delicate and fine dame Triphosa signi both one thing as meaning returning a nise woman a cleere delicate and fine dame These were two certeine godlye women to whome among other godly women S. Paule in his Epistle to the Romans for their diligent labour in the Gospell sendeth greeting saying salute Triphena and Triphosa which women laboured in the Lord. Rom. 16.12 V Uashti or Uasti or Uasthi signi drinking bibbing doubling putting flaxe on the distaffe Shee was the wife of Ahasuerus otherwise called Artaxersis or Cambysis king of Persia And when on a time shee made a great and princely feaste and bankette of wine for all the women of the Citie of Susan in the royal house of the king her husbande as hee likewise did at the same time vnto all the men to shew his magnificence and glorye of his kingdome So it was that the king her husband being merye with wine sent certeine noble men about him and commaunded them to bring Queene Uashti before him with the crown royall vpon her head that hee might shewe the people and the Princes there assembled at the feaste her bewtie for shee was a verye fayre and goodlye woman to looke vppon But the Queene Uashti refused to come vnto him at the king her husbands commaundement Therfore y e king being very angry with her in the 3. yeere of his raigne and in the yeere of the world 2610. called 7. Princes of Persia Media whiche were of his priuie Councell together and sayde vnto them What shall we doe vnto Queene Uashti according to the law because she did not obey our commaundement nor come vnto vs when we sent for her by commission geuen to y e Eunuches The Memuchan one of his seuē chiefe Counsellers gaue this aduice and counsell and saide The Queene Uashti by her disobedience hath not onelie done euill against the king but against all the Princes and people that are in the Prouinces of the king for thereby hath she giuen an example to all the women in the land to doe the like vnto their husbands For it cannot be chosen but that the act and disobedience of the Queene shall come abroade into the eares of all women both Princesses and other so that they shall by her euill example dare to displease their husbands yea and despise them also in their owne conceytes and opinions and arrogantly shall say Loe the king Ahasuerus commaunded Uashti the Queene to be brought in before him but she came not at his sending for nor obeyed him So shall the Princesses and noble women of Persia and Media this day take first occasion hereof to doe the like And say also vnto all the kings and Princes whē they heare of the act of y e Queene as she did then also the rest of the inferiour women in y e land wil by continuance doe the same By which occasion much despitefulnesse and wrath shall arise and shal be ingendred may intend if this example goe vnpunished in Uasty if it please the king therefore let a royal decree be enacted and proceede from him and let it be written and registred for a lawe inuiolable and neuer to be transgressed in the statutes of Persia and Media that Uasti be diuorced and come no more before the king and let the king giue her royall estate vnto another of her companions that is better then she and more worthye to bee made Queene in her steede And when this decree or statute of the king shal be made and published by proclamation throughout all his kingdome then shall all women both great and smal feare to offend their husbāds by following Uasties euill example and shall geue their husbandes more due honour reuerence and obedience at the least if not for loue as they ought yet for feare of further punishment by the lawe as they are compelled Which wise and graue aduise of his priuy counsell so pleased the king and the Princes that the king straight wayes followed the same and put it in execution So that the Queene Uashti was diuorced from the king Hester receiued in her place and after y e law statute made y e king sent from his court letters in diuers lāguages to publishe the same law statute in all his prouinces and to euery people after their language straightly charging cōmanding y t euery man should beare rule in his own house y t euery wife shoulde be subiect to her husband at his commandement Hester 1.9 c. Zebudah or zebida sig edowed dowment She was the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah wife of Iosiah king of Iuda and mother of Eliakim otherwise called Ioiakim whō Pharao Necho made king deposed Iehoahaz 2. King 23.36 Zeresh or Sares sig a roote a smal chaine a forraine misery or inheritance a seuered misery or heritage a rundel or crowne of vnhappines or of inheritance She was the wife of y t proude and ambitious man Haman who whē he was exalted by Assuerus y e king in steed of acknowledging his change and humbling himselfe waxed so ambitious and disdaynefull and cruel that because Mordicay a Iewe woulde not doe any reuerence vnto him he wrought all the spyte
it more greeuously that their mother had so often mocked him so he caused her youÌ„gest sonne to be most cruelly handled put to death then any of his brethreÌ„ And last of all after her sonnes were this all slayne and martyred She also their mother suffered death martyrdome paciently constantly holily dyed in the same opinion and religion for mainteining of the law of God 2. Mach. 7. Ioseph fol. 202. Machabites There were also before these two other women of the Machabites who because they had circumcised their sonnes according to Gods law contrary to the commandement of this cruell tyrant Antiochus were brought forth with the babes haÌ„ging at their breasts and after they had ledde them rounde about the Citie for example to others they were cruelly â—ast downe headlong ouer the walles with their children sucking at their breasts so both mothers and babes perished and were most butcherly slayne martyred for the lawes of their God 1. Mach. â— 63â—2 Mach. 6.10 N Widowe of Nahim In the Citie of Nahim a Towne of Galilie in the tribe of Isachar hard by Tyberias there was a certayne widowe who hauing but one onely sonne left her to comfort her after the death of her husband it pleased God that it fell sicke and dyed And as she was following the corse out of the gates of the Citie to the buriall so it was that Iesus by Gods prouidence came and met her and when the Lorde saw her mourne and take her sonnes death so heauily as she had great cause he had compassion on her and sayde vnto her Woman weepe not and commaunding them that bare the corse to stand stil hee went and touched y e coffin sayde vnto her dead sonne Young man I say vnto thee arise with y t onely word of Christ her dead sonne sate vpright in y â— coffin and began to speake Then Iesus delâ—uered him to his mother to her great comfort and his euerlasting glory Luke 7.11.12.13 P Pathroitesse In Pathros a Citie of Egypt there were certaine superstitious and Idolatrous women of the Iewes who when they heard the Prophete Ieremy from the mouth of the Lord preach vnto them there reproue theÌ„ for their Idolatry with many threatnings of Gods plagues to light vpon them vnlesse they did turne and repent in time These wicked women standing by set light by the threatninges of the Lorde vttered by his Prophet and most impudently answered Ieremias saying The worde that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lorde we will not heare it of thee But we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offeringes vnto her as we haue done both we and our fathers our kings and our Princes in the citie of Iudah and in the streetes of Ierusalem for then had we plenty of victuals and were wel and felt no euill But since we left of to burn incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offerings vnto her we haue had scarcenes of all things and haue been consumed by the sworde by famine And when we burne incense to the Querne of heauen and powred out drinke offerings vnto her did we make hâ—r cakes to make her glad and powre out drinke offeringes vnto her without our husbandes consent as if they shoulde say no wee did it by their sufferance where we may learne howe great daunger it is for the husbands to permitte their wiues to doe anye thing whereof they bee not assured by Gods woorde for if they doe their wiues thereby will take occasion to iustifie their doinges as these supersticious women here did for which folly wickednesse in the wife the husband shal assuredly giue an account before God who wil not onelie punish the women but their husbands also which haue suffered this superstition and errour in their wiues without reprehension Then the Prophet Ieremy perceiuing these Idolatrous women to esteeme religion by their bellie and so greatly to dishonour God by attributing his woorkes to their Idolles and seeyng their extreeme madnesse and impudencie that they were fallen into by declyning froÌ„ GOD to followe their owne fancies euen to iustifie their idolatry and wickednesse in woorshipping the sunne moone and starres against GOD and his Prophetes The Prophete I say spake againe vnto the women and their husbandes gaue them this aunsweare and sayde Heare the woorde of the Lorde yee women thus saieth the Lorde Forasmuch as yee and your wiues haue committed double euill in making wicked vowes in performing the same spoken with your mouthes and fulfilled them with your handes saying We will performe the vowes that we haue vowed to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to powre out drinke offerings vnto her Therfore beholde I haue sworne saith the Lord by my great name that my name shall bee no more called vppon by the mouth of any man or woman in Iudah in the land of Egypt as to say the Lorde liueth yea beholde I will watche ouer them for euill and not for good and all the men women children of Iuda y t are in Egypt shal be consumed by y e sword famine til they be vtterly destroyed c. Iere. 44. Also Ier. saieth y t in Babylon there were certaine superstitious Idolatrous women and the menstruous women and they that lay in childbed came and brought giftes to the Idols of siluer gold and wood touched the sacrifices offered to Idolles whiche giftes so offered the Priests gaue vnto their wiues to cloath them and their children and to lay vp to vse at their pleasure but vnto the poore and sicke they gaue nothing Baruc. 6.27.28.29.32 Pharaos daughter Pharaos daughter after that her father the king of Egypt had moste cruelly caused the Hebrewe women to cast their men children into the water to be drowned vpon a tyme went downe to washe her selfe in the same Riuer whereinto their children were throwen and as she walked by the Riuer side she espied an Arke or Cradell of wickar lying among the bulrushes and sent one of her maydes that were there with her to fetch it and draw it out of the water and wheÌ„ they brought it vnto her shee opened it and when shee sawe therein a fayre young babe and a man childe and heard it crie and make pitious mone for the mother and sustenance shee had compassion on it and saide surely this is one of the Hebrues children Then the childs sister Miriam standing a farre off to watche what woulde become of the childe seeing it so taken vp by women ran vnto them and not reuealing vnto them whose childe it was saide to Pharaos daughter shal I goe and call vnto thee a nurse of the Hebrewe women to nurse the childe yea quoth Pharaos daughter goe So the mayde went and called Iochebed hers and the childes mother to whom Pharaos daughter sayde Take this childe away
horsemen and footemen with a mightie plague Iudg. 14.15 Sareptesse In Sarepta a towne in Syria or citie in Sydon There was a certain widow dwelling who in the time of the great famine that theÌ„ was in the citie countrey in y e yere of the world 3220. by Gods prouideÌ„ce on a time went out of the gats to gather stickes to make a fire to dresse her meat whoÌ„ when Eliah y e prophet y t God had sent thither saw he called her vnto him said bring me I pray thee a litle water in a vessell y t I may drinke And as she was going to fet it he called to her and said bring me also I pray thee a morsell of bread in thine hand As the Lord thy God liueth quoth she I haue not a cake but euen an handefull of meale in a barrell and a litle oyle in a cruise and behold I am gathering a few sticks for to go in dresse it for me my sonne that wee may eate it die for there is no hope of any more sustenance the famine is so great TheÌ„ Elisha said vnto her feare not woman come do as thou hast said but make me thereof a litle cake first of all and bring it vnto me afterward make for thee thy sonne For thus saith the Lord God of Israel The meale in the barrell shall not be wasted neither shall the oyle in the cruise be diminished vnto the time that the Lorde send rayne vpon the earth and so take away the drought which was the cause of the famine So shee went and did as Eliah bad her she did eate so did he and her house for a certayne time euen till hee had rayne and foode on the earth The barrell of meale wasted not nor the oyle was spent out of the cruise according to the worde of the Lorde which he spake by the hande of Eliah where we see that God receiueth no benefite for the vse of his saintes and seruaontes but he promiseth and performeth a most ample recompence to the giuer for the same After all this God to trie whither this widowe had learned by his mercifull prouidence to make him her onely stay and comforte stroke her sonne that hee fell sicke and his sicknesse was so sore that there was no breath left in him Then shee being very sorowfull sayde to Eliah what haue I to doe with thee O thou man of God art thou come vnto mee to call my sinnes to remembraunce and to slay my sonne when Eliah heard his hostes thus burden him he being afrayde least Gods name shoulde haue been blasphemed and his ministerie contemned except God shoulde haue continued his mercies as hee had begunne them towardes her especially while hee there remayned sayd vnto her Giue me thy sonne and with that tooke him out of her armes and bosome carried him vp into his chamber where he lay and layde him vpon his owne bedde And then called vnto the Lorde by feruent prayer and sayde O Lorde my God hast thou punished also this widowe with when I soiourne by killing her sonne So hee stretched him selfe vpon the childe three times and called vnto the Lorde saying O Lorde my God I pray thee let this childes soule come into him agayne And the Lorde hearde the prayer of Eliah and the soule of the childe came into him agayne and he reuiued Then Eliah brought the child down out of his chamber into the house and deliuered him to his mother saying beholde thy sonne liueth Nowe I knowe quoth shee that thou art the man of GOD and that the worde of the Lorde in thy mouth is true so harde a thing it was for her to depende on God except shee sawe and was confirmed by a myracle 1. Kinges 17. 9. c. Of this widowe our Sauiour Christe specially maketh mention in Saint Luke where hee sayeth I tell you of a trueth manye widowes were in Israel in the dayes of Elias when heauen was shutte three yeeres and sixe monethes and when men dyed through the great famine that was dispersed ouer all the lande but vnto none of theÌ„ was Elias sent saue vnto a certaine widowe in Sarepta a Citie of Sydon For vnto him God saide vp Eliah and get thee to Sarepta which is in Sydon and remaine there for beholde I haue commaunded a widow there to sustayne thee 1. King 17.9 which example Christ among other brought forth vnto the despising Iewes to shewe them that God oftentimes preferreth the straunger to them of the houshold and that for their pride and disdaine the grace of God shoulde be taken from them and giuen to other Luke 4.25.26 Sylomitesse In Silo a citie in Canaan in the tribe of Ephraim it was a custome and maner among the maidens and virgins once euery yeere to go and meete altogether in a certayne place on the North side of Bethell there to daunce and sing Psalmes and songes of Gods workes among them selues without the companie of men And when on a time the Israelites in the quarrell of the Leuites wife that was most vilanously abused in her bodie to death by certaine wicked men of the Beniamites as ye may read in her story had almost destroyed all the whole tribe of Beniamin their brethren man woman and childe in battell and against these fewe that were left had made a rashe vowe and othe among them selues that none should euer after giue his daughter to any of the Beniamites to wife in detestation of the fact committed against that harlot the Leuites wife They being very sory therfore partly for the preseruation of that tribe and partly for the keeping of that othe deuised neuerthelesse secretly this meanes how to marie those vi hundred Beniamites that were left vnto certaine of their daughters And first they deuised that because none of the inhabitatants of Iabish Gilead were at the making of that rashe othe therfore they thought their daughters might safely be giuen vnto the Beniamits to wiues therevpon sent an host of twelue thousande valiant men of Israel to destroy the Citie Iabish man woman and children with the sword for their disobedience in not comming to the Parliament or making of that othe with this charge onely to reserue the virgins vnslayne that had neuer lien with men Who sacking the citie accordingly and killing all the males and women that had lien by men there founde foure hundred maydens virgins that had knowne no man by lying with any male and those they brought vnto the host congregation to Siloh who presently sent for the Beniamits gaue them wiues of those virgins so farre as the nuÌ„ber would reach vnto But when they saw that they had not ynough for them and that there lacked yet 2. hundred moe then they tooke thought saying how shall we do for wiues to the remnant for y e women of Benâ—iamin are destroyed the inheritance of the tribe of Beniamine be reserued preserued not destroyed
Hircanus the king and his sonne Alexander thy husbaÌ„d any name or remnant at all The Queene gaue them no woorde to aunsweare whereat Aristobulus her sonne was angry and letted not to vtter to his mothers face but shee woulde not heare him Wherefore Aristobulus counselled the Sectaries to goe their wayes and departe out of Ierusalem to choose them Cities in the lande of Iuda where they might dwell with their honoure and not to suffer them selues to bee slayne vnder the Pharisies handes Wherefore departing from Ierusalem they dwelte in the Cities of Iuda Not long after this it fortuned the Queene fell sore sicke that shee was like to dye Whereof when Aristobulus hearde hee feared least the Pharisies woulde make his brother Hircanus king and at lengthe apprehende him wherefore hee fledde awaye by night to the Cities of the Sadduces to bee their heade and make warre vppon his brother if hee woulde presume to raygne Hee came therefore to the Prince of the Sadduces called Galustius who was a good manne of warre And after he hadde gathered a stronge armie of the Saduces his mother the Queene sent vnto him y t hee shoulde returne vnto her which he would not doe but rather went to warre vppon the nations that dwelt about him where he wanne twentie Cities and gotte him greate renowne thereby Nowe as the Queene his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chiefe Pharisies came vnto her with her sonne Hircanus weeping before her and saying howe they were afraide of her sonne Aristobulus who if he shoulde come into Ierusalem and take it hee woulde deliuer them vp into the handes of the Sadduces Unto whom shee aunsweared I am as you see at the poynt of death not able to talke muche with you There is heere in my house greate treasure that my husbande and my father gathered and their Parentes kinges of the posteritie of Chasmonani take that vnto you and make my sonne Hircanus king ouer you If Aristobulus will perturbe him and make warre agaynst him yee may wage men of warre therewith and succour him as you thinke good And euen with this shee faynted and dyed and was buried amongest her people after she had reigned nine yeeres ouer Israel Iosephus fol. 21. 22.23.24.75 There was another woman of this name called Alexandra whiche was the daughter of Hircanus the king of Israel and sonne to the afore named Alexandra and when shee hearde that her father Hircanus was taken prisoner depriued of his kingdome and ledde away captiue by Antigonus into Persia shee with her daughter Marimy that shee had by Alexander the sonne of Aristobulus her vncle went towardes Rome where by the way Herode mette with her and her daughter and brought them agayne into the lande of Israell where hee tooke Marimy her daughter to wife and solemnized the marriage with her in the mount of Galilee for there the chiefe of all Israell dwelt and so became king of Ierusalem Afterwarde when her father Hircanus was released and came home to Ierusalem Herode her sonne in lawe came out to meete him embraced him and kissed him after brought him into his house and feasted him daylie calling him his father before all menne albeeit in his hearte hee conspired to murder him And that knewe Alexandra his daughter and mother in lawe to Herode who opened it vnto Hircanus her Father but hee woulde not credite her at the first till on a time hee perceiued the matter cleare to be so then deuised he how to flie to Maloc king of Arabia but before he could get away Herode so handled y e matter that he was accused put to death wrongfully by this meanes Herod was the better established in his kingdome After hee had thus dispatched Hircanus his wiues progenitour father of Alexandra his mother in law and had deposed Haniel from the office of the high Priesthoode and preferred his wiues brother Aristobulus to that dignitie Which he did to quiet his wife and to fulfill his mother in lawes mynde Notwithstanding this Alexandra his wiues mother was not content nor satisfied for the death of her father was such a greefe but alwayes spake snappishly to the king that hee committed her to ward Then she wrote to Cleopatra Queene of Egypt and wife to Marcus Antonius a Noble man of Rome declaring vnto her all the mischiefe that Herode had done to the posteritie of Chasmonanie and desiring her of ayde To whom Cleopatra made this aunsweare if thou canst finde the meanes to come to me secretly thou shalt perceiue what I will doe for thee When Alexandra had read the letter shee sent to Aristobulus her sonne the high Priest shewing him that shee woulde flye to the Sea Iapho and from thence woulde take shipping into Egypt perswading him also to flie with her We will sayth shee make two coffers one for mee another for thee and wee will with rewardes allure our seruauntes to carrye vs out priuilye whereby wee may flye to saue our liues This their deuise was pecceyued of one of Herodes seruauntes who foorthwith made the king priuye vnto it The king commaunded his seruaunt that bewrayed them that when they did conueye their coffers they shoulde bring them to him whiche the seruaunt did So when the coffers were brought to the kinges presence hee caused them to bee opened and tooke out Alexandra and her sonne Aristobulus to whome the king spake sharpely and rebuked them sore But Alexandra aunsweared him againe as short insomuche that the king moued with anger flaÌ„g awaye from her into his chamber saying It is better to sitte solitarye in a corner of the house then with a brawling or scoulding woman in an open place The king dissembled the matter and shewed outwardly no great displeasure whatsoeuer he did inwardly But a yeere after the king fearing sore y t the Israelites woulde in the ende restore the kingdome vnto Aristobulus and the children of their fathers he perceyuing euery mans heart to be so inclined to Aristobulus for his vertue and godlinesse sake wickedly deuised and secretly concluded at a feast made to Aristobulus and all his Nobles that certayne of his owne seruants beeing disposed to goe and swimme in Iordan shoulde desire Aristobulus the young man to goe and bathe with them in Iordan and then and there to drowne him So Aristobulus coÌ„tinuing swimming with the kings seruants till sunne setting when it began to be darke they drowned him amongst them Wherof when tydings came to the court it was wel knowen that he was dead all the people made great lamentation for him but chiefly Marimy his sister and Alexandra the young mans mother she could in no wise be comforted Yea and although she sawe the king himselfe also to weepe and make great mone for it repented him that he had done so wicked an act yet all the people knew wel iâ—ough that y e thing was procured by him Insomuch that Alexandra his mother in law letted not to tel it him to
his face that he was the murtherer of her husbande and her father and now last of all of her sonne to whoÌ„ the king aunsweared neither good nor bad From that day forewardes there was perpetuall hatred betweene Alexandra and Marimy and Riparim the mother of Herode and Salumith her sister that came of base and seruile blood After this Salulumith on a time perceiuing that the king detested Marimy tooke occasion to accuse Marimy of treason and that shee woulde poyson the king her husband which the king too lightly beleeuing to bee true at her false report commaunded Marimy to be brought foorth and to be beheaded in the citie And as she was brought foorth vnto the market place of the citie all the women of the citie followed her Alexandra her mother also cursed and rated at her saying come out thou y t hast abhorred conspired against the Lord. Alexandra wept also as though it had byn for the wickednes that her daughter had committed thinking surely to please the king by that meanes and to bleare his eyes if peraduenture he might suffer her to liue til she might haue opportunity to poyson him but all would not helpe for Marimy for all this was guiltlesse beheadded and put to death by the king her husband as you may reade more in her history Then the king repenting him of her death for loue of her he fel sick and being at deaths doore Alexandra his mother in law sought meanes how to poyson him which being vttered to the king he commanded to apprehend her to kil her which was done accordingly So was Alexandra also beheaded and put to death as appeareth in Iosephus fo 35.38.40.41.42.45.46.56 Anna of this name there haue bin many noble women one was a Iewe wife of Elcana and mother of Samuel as yee may reade in the Scripture another was an old widow prophetesse in Ierusalem in Christes time c. y e 3. was daughter to Isachar of y e tribe of Leui or as Damascen saith of y e tribe of Iuda was married to Ioachim of y e same tribe which being long barren at last brought foorth y e blessed virgin Mary after the death of Ioachim she was married to Cleophas and after his death to Solome Cooper in his dictionary Damascen Aristobulus wife the Queene vpon a false report geuen out against her good brother in lawe Antigonus commaunded him to be cruelly put to death in prison without knowledge of the king her husbands and his brothers mynd which cruell murder blooddy fact of hers hastened her husbands death speedily for being very sick before now for thought died Ioseph fol. 17. Afterward when her sonne Alexander fled to Alexandria and there was narrowly besieged pursued by Gabinius a Romain with a stroÌ„g army she like a good mother went forth to Gabinius weeping and besought him y t he would not destroy her sonne so for her sake Gabinius spared her sonne Alexander did him no harme Ioseph fol. 30. Arsinoe was the daughter of Ptolome sister to Philopater who going to warres against Antiochus w t her brother Philopater as they fought fiercely together Arsinoe weÌ„t diligeÌ„tly about her meÌ„ weeping pitifully with her haire about her shoulders desired theÌ„ y t they woulde helpe her fight valiaÌ„tly promising to giue vnto euery of their wiues childreÌ„ if she had the victory 2. pounds of gold Thus by her meanes it came to passe y t their enimies were ouerthrowen her brother Philopater got y e victory ouer Antiochus as yee may reade more at large in the 3. booke of the Machabees fol. 1.2 3. Beronice who was sister vnto king Agrippa wheÌ„ she came by chance to Ierusalem of deuotion to visite the holie place sawe one Florus president aâ—d captayne of the Romaines most greeuously and violently to oppresse the people of the Iewes and for payment of exactions and tollage to slaye manye of them euen at the entraunce of the Temple Shee came foorth weeping vnto Florus that furious wretche and besought him to bee fauourable and spare the people for shee pitied them very greatly but Florus relented nothing But when she was departed from him he flouted and mocked her although she wâ—re the kings sister and that in the temple of the Lord to her great discomfort Afterward Eliasar the seditious people hauing gotten y e rule of the citie Ierusalem not only furiously set a fire the king Agrippas house and all therin but Beronices house also the kings sister they burnt to the ground deuided the spoyle amoÌ„gst them as yee may reade in Iosephus fol. 64.68 Cleopatra Queene of Egypt wife vnto Marcus Antonius a noble man of Rome hauing receyued letters of ayde from Alexandra made this comfortable aunsweare agayne in another letter If thou canst finde the meanes to come to me secretly thou shalt perceyue what I will doe for thee After this Marcus Antonius her husband being made next vnto the Emperour Augustus and sent by him to warre vpon the kings of the West countries as hee that raigned in Egypt nowe by his wiues Cleopatras prouocation hee rebelled against Octauian Augustus his maister and made warre with him both by Sea and by land and ioyned in league with Herode king of the Iewes But at the last her husband being slain and dead by Octauians host comming by ship to the Isle of Rhodes Herode escaped hauing reconciled him selfe to Octauian Then they went both together towards Egypt to be reuenged vpon Cleopatra as she that was the only cause of her husbands conspiracie and rebellion by inciting him therevnto But saith Iosepus that wicked woman when she saw her city to be ouercome put out her most precious apparrel sitting vpoÌ„ y e throne of her kingdome commaunded a Uiper to be brought vnto her which assoone as she had suffered to sting her brest she died As Octauian Augustus came to the place saw her sit there he reioyced that he might be reuenged of her coÌ„manded to thrust her from her throne but wheÌ„ they came to her found her dead it displeased Octauian the Emperor and grieued him very sore Iosph 40.44 Deboras saith Iosephus a prophitesse by her prayer brought to passe great health in Israell so did diuers other iust and godly women which by their prayers obteyned many thinges at Gods hand Iosephus fol. 184. Hyrcanus wife the Queene being a widowe was banished from Ierusalem by her owne sonne Aristobulus together with Alexander her youngest sonne Ioseph fol. 17. Hasmonais maide being very well beloued of one Herod the seruant also of the said Hasmonai that killed her maister and the whole familie saue this maide whom he loued and vsurped the kingdome ouer Israel When shee sawe that her maister and all his familie were dead and shee onely left aliue shee distrusting Herodès crueltie went and clymed vp to the toppe of an house saying There is no body left aliue of my
of her father whom a litle before hee most wickedly had put to death Yet afterwarde such was his priuie malice to his wiues stocke that this Herode procured the sayde Aristobulus to bee cruelly drowned by Herods seruāts Of whose death when Marimi vnderstoode certaynely shee greatly bewayled his death and coulde in no wise be comforted and from that day forwardes could neuer abide Kiparim her mother in law nor her sister in lawe Salumyth that came of base and seruill blood For Marimy cast in their teeth to their faces that they were not of the seede of Israel but prophane vnholy and of base byrth Notwithstanding Herode loued Marimi as his life wherefore hee woulde neuer displease her as long as shee liued nor say so much to her as why sayest thou so to my mother and sister whiche his hot loue was afterwarde turned to hate for when Herode went after Octauian the Emperor and his maister against whom he had conspired and rebelled with presentes to be reconciled vnto him as hee set forwardes hee called Ioseph his brother in lawe and commaunded him that if Octauian the Emperour put him to death as hee doubted then he shoulde poyson Marimi his wife for sayde Herode it is not seemely for kinges that any meane and base man shoulde marrie with a kinges widowe and sleepe with her vpon a kinges bedde So when Herode was gone on his iourney in the meane while Ioseph her brother in lawe disclosed vnto Marimi all that the king her husbande had commaunded him and how that if it so fortuned him to be put to death by Augustus the Emperour that he shoulde poyson her Wherevpon Marimi conceiued a greater hatred towardes the king her husbande insomuch that when the king was returned in safetie sound and with honour also from Octauian Augustus the Emperour and that all his men and whole housholde reioyced greatly Marimi onely shewed no good countenance of gladnesse no not when the king him selfe tolde howe greatly he was magnified and honoured of Octauian but alwayes shee was sadde Salumith the kings sister perceiuing that Marimi so vexed the king shee tolde him howe Ioseph her husbande had lien with Marimi while he was with Augustus But Herode say what shee could gaue no credite to her wordes knowing that shee enuied Marimi and spake of malice vntill at lengh he asked the cause of Marimi why shee reioyced not as other did when he returned in safetie from Augustus but was euer sadde whiche shewed her to haue some rancor and malice in her heart towardes him Shee aunswered thou hast saide heretofore that thou louedst mee aboue all thine other wiues and concubines yet thou diddest will Ioseph thy sisters husbande to poyson mee When Herode heard this hee was exceedingly abashed that Ioseph had disclosed his secrete and beganne to mistrust with him selfe that which Salumith had before told him that hee had slept with his wife in deede and vpon that had detected that secrete therefore he departed out of his place in a great anger and rage Whereby Salumith perceiued that he detested Marimi and therefore shee accused her further suborning false accusers and forgers of lies to witnesse that Marimi woulde haue poysoned the king whereof shee had diuers presumptions also by her countenaunce Shee added more ouer if thou saith shee to the king let her scape thus shee will speedily destroy thee and bereaue thee of thy kingdome The Lawe giueth this counsell if any man goe about to murder thee preuent him and slay him first with this and such like wordes shee so moued the king that he commaunded to bring Marimi foorth and to be beheaded in the high streete of the citie And as shee was brought foorth vnto the markette place of the Citie all the women of the Citie followed her Alexandra her mother also cursed and rayled at her saying come out thou that hast abhorred thy husband and conspired against thy Lord which she did not of malice but of pollicie to pacifie the kinges wrath against her daughter whom she knewe to be innocent of that fact wrongfully accused as in y e story of Alexandra appeareth But Marimi thus going to execution held her peace looked neither to the right hande nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that shee was innocent in deede and thought and therefore God woulde render her a good rewarde in the worlde to come Wherefore shee bared her necke without feare and they cut off her head shedding the innocent blood But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestilence in the house of Herode so that his chiefest seruaunts his Noble women and concubines died sore thereof Yea throughout all Iudea raigned the pestilence vehemently which affliction all Israel knewe well inough chaunced vnto them for the blood of Marimi They cryed therefore vnto the Lorde saying wilt thou for the offence of one man deale so cruelly with the whole congregation And the Lorde tooke pitie therefore vppon the Lande and withdrewe the plague from the people at their earnest petitions The king repented him also that hee had so rashly shedde the innocent blood of so deere a wife without cause and loue of her so grew in his heart that he was sicke and at deathes dore for griefe of minde This Marimi had by Herode two sonnes the one called Alexander the other Aristobulus Read more in Alexandra her storie Ioseph fol. 35.40.42.43.44.45 46.56 Miriam was a certayne notable riche woman at Ierusalem of a Noble house her dwelling was beyonde Iordane who when shee perceyued the warres to growe more and more in the tyme of Uaspasian the Emperour and the siege at Ierusalem to be very great sore shee came vp with her neighbours to Ierusalem bringing with her not onely her men seruauntes and women seruauntes and all her whole familie but also her goodes and riches which were very great When the hungar was grieuous at Ierusalem and the sedicious went from house to house to seeke meate they came also to this womans house and tooke away from her by force all that euer shee had left her nothing remayning By this meanes shee was oppressed with verye great hungar so that shee wished her selfe out of the worlde but her time was yet come to die Wherefore that shee might slake her hungar and sustaine her life shee beganne to scrape in the chaffe and dust for beastes dounge but coulde finde none Shee had one sonne and when shee sawe the famine waxe greater and greater vpon her shee layde aside all womanhood and mercie and tooke vpon her an horrible cruelty For when she heard her boy weepe and aske for meate which shee had not to giue him shee sayde vnto him What shall I doe my sonne For the wrath of God hath inuironed the whole citie in euery corner thereof famine raigneth without the citie the sworde killeth vp all within we stand in feare of