Whose active skill at once could moove an hundred In every one a pen As many eyes As Iuno's Argus waking to devise Of her perfections onely Head Hands Sight In striving but to patterne her aright All though in their full vigour I should sinde Strucke on the suddaine Stupid Dull and Blinde Chaste Virgin Royall Queene belov'd and fear'd Much on the Earth admir'd to Heaven indeer'd Single and singular without another A Nurse to Belgia and to France a Mother Potent by Land sole Soveraigne of the Maine Antagonist to Rome the scourge of Spaine THE LAST OF THE THREE WOMEN WORTHIES AMONGST THE CHRISTIANS CALLED ELIZABETH QVEEN OF ENGLAND FRANCE AND IRELAND c. AS the most famous Painter of his Time Apelles to frame the picture of one Venus had aâ— once exposed to his view an hundred of the most choyce and exquisite Virgins of Greece to take from one the smoothest brow from a second the most sparkling eye a third the Rosiest colloured cheeke a fourth the best Corrall like lippe a fifth the sweetest dimpled chinne a sixth the daintiest swelling brest a seventh the whitest hand from another the most delicate foote and so of the rest and all to make the exact portrature of that Emergent goddesse so in the accurate expression of this rare Heroicke Elizabeth should I peruse all the ancient and Authenticke Histories and out of them select the lives of the most vertuous Ladyes for their rare and admirable indowments commended to posterity and perpetuity taking and extrâ—cting from them severally those sundry gifts and graces by which they were remarkeably eminent above others whether Piety or Virginâ—ll purity Beauty and bounty Majesty and magnanimity Language and learning polliticke Governement or practise of goodnesse pitty of forraâ—gne distressed nations or indulgence over her owne Natives c. Nay what praecelling vertue soever was commendable in any one particular or all in generall may without flattery be justly conferred on her Shee was the Daughter of King Henry the eighth of that name and of his second wife the Lady Anne Bullaine first created Marchionesse of Pembrooke and then espoused to the King the five and twentyeth day of Ianuary 1533. and upon Whitsunday next following at Westminster crowned Queene the seventh of September after shee was delivered of a faire Daughter to the great and unspeakeable joy both of the Prince and people shee was Christened the third day next ensuing being Wednesday in the Fryers Church in Greenewich in a Font of silver The old Dutchesse of Northfolke held the Babe Her Godfather was Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Metropolitane of all England her Godmothers the Dutchesse of Northfolke and the Marquionesse of Dorset both Widdowes Not long after the birth of this young Princesse a generall oath of Allegiance past through the Kingdome to support and maintaine the successive heires descending from the bodies of the King and Queene Anne lawfully begotten in the possession of the Crowne and Scepter and all Imperiall honours to them belonging by which Katherine of Spaine his former wife and the Princesse Mary their daughter were disabled to lay any claime at all to the Royall dignity and for this cause were the two young Ladies brought up a part which might be a reason also why there was such distance in their dispositions I have further read of this young Lady Elizabeth that there were pregnant hopes of her even in her Mothers conception Mercury being the starre which was at that season most predominant whose influence is sharpenesse of wit and ingenuity Iupiter at her birth being in conjunction with Venus and Soi with a favourable Aspect shining on either a doubtlesse presage that the Infant borne under that Constellation should bee faire and fortunate powerfull in warre yet a Patronesse of peace excellent in Learning exquisite in language in life honoured in death lamented who in her tender Infancy was said almost as soone to speake as to goe and that her words had sence as soone as sound and not being full foure yeares of age used every morning when shee opened her eyes to aske for her booke before shee called for bread and at all other times of the day was observed to bee more ready to pray then to prattle Queene Annes life being taken away by a violent death the morrow after the King was marryed to his third wife the Lady Iane Seymer daughter to Sir Iohn Seymer who on the twelfth day of October In the yeare of grace 1537. was at Hampton Court delivered of a Sonne whose Mother dyed the second day after much lamented and pittyed and the young Prince called Edward was the eighteenth of the same moneth created Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Chester the Father being so joyfull of his Sonne that hee cast a neglectfull eye on his two former daughters Mary and Elizabeth but the later of the two was in the first grace for when Mary was separated from comming neere the Court Elizabeth was admitted to keepe the young Prince company and from his Tutors received all such necessary documents that by her childish dictating unto him he might be the more capable to understand them and such was their proxinity in blood that it begot in them a mutuall and alternate affection insomuch that he no sooner knew her but he beganne to acknowledge her neither was their love the lesse comming from one loynes then had they issued from one and the same wombe being equally fortunate and unfortunate as having one Royall Father but either of them to be deprived of a mother and in that too having a kinde of mutuall correspondence that though her Mother suffered by the sword and his dyed in Child bed yet both indured violent and inforced deaths To cut off circumstance in the yeare one thousand five hundred forty sixe and of his raigne the thirty eighth King Henry the eighth expired the 28. of December and was the sixteenth day of February next following with great solemnity buryed at Windsor And upon the one and thirtyeth day of Ianuary was Prince Edward proclaimed King over all his Fathers Dominions and Realmes by the stile of Edward the sixth of that name and on the nineteenth of February he rode with his Vnckle Sir Edward Seymor Duke of Summerset and Lord Protector through the City of London And the day following was annoynted and Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas Craâ—mer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Metropolitane of all England who that day administred the holy Sacraments c. The King was no sooner Crowned but the Lady Elizabeth gave way to the present state neither continued they in that frequent familiarity as before for whereas in former time she loved him as a Brother her discretion now taught her to honour him as her King for though hee was a Prince of great meekenesse and modesty for that Royall Majesty which makes the difference betwixt the
must To prove my loves profession does not faine Thrust into th' world amid'st the Muses traine Who being Women and in number Nine And as of all mens honour worthy mine Would say I beare to vertue little love When the Nine worthy Women could not move Th' expression of a poore respest from me Let this then for my Pen the pleader be Withall I must confesse 't was my maine end To boast The Author 's my deserving Friend So avoucheth Steph. Bradwell To the worthy Reviver of these Nine Women worthies Master Thomas Heywood Gent. AMongst the many worthy to attend Thy worthy female and thy worth commend Let me present my love too to thy choice Of this great subject and th' eternall voyce Thy Pen has given their Ashes to thy flame Their second soule now when their towring fame Was well nie Buried with them to thine Art Thy cost thy care cloathing thier every part In all th'adorements of such eminent stories So as to reade almost to see their glories In their owne greatnesse acted friend thy straine In these these brave Viragoes of thy braine This Golden issue of thy Silver head Thy many such shall when thy bodi 's dead Live as thy lines now make them live for ever Pompe lives and dy's such worthie labours never Thomas Brewer To his worthy Friend Mr. Thomas Heywood on his Nine Female Worthies WIll neither rugged time nor vast expence Of thy unfathom'd fancy and cleare sence Perswade thee to leave off but thou wilt still Make all'twixt heaven hell flow from thy Quill Nay Heav'n it selfe and all those Angels there Those powr's and vertues will themselves declare Thy Genuine searching soule But these here Thy female Angels that doe grace this Spheare Thrice worthy worthy women whose great acts Immortallize their mem'ries and exacts Not thee alone but all the noblest wits That in the courts of truth and judgement sits To write their Legends But thy learned Pen That writ before their Story hath agen From thy owne workes substracted Nine to be The great example to posteritie I doe not flatter but I may admire To see fire turn'd t' Ashes returne to fire Thy age goes backward and thy Phaenix braine From the old Ashes is growne younge Againe George Estoutevile THE APPELLATION OF THE THREE IEWES DEbora the Prophetesse and a mother in Israel Iudeth of Bethulia the widdow of Manasses Ester the Queene of King Ahashuerosh and Neece to Mordecay the Iew. THE APPELLATION OF THE THREE GENTILES BOnduca or Boadicia the Dowager Queene of Prasutagus King of the Iceni one of the Kingdomes of the Brittish Scepterchy Penthisilaea the warlik Queen of the Amazons and friend to Hector of Troy Queen Artimesia wife to Mausolus King of Caria a Province in Greece scituate betwixt Lycia and Iania THE APPELLATION OF THE THREE CHRISTIANS ELphleda Daughter to King Alured and wife to Etheldredus Duke of Mercia or middle England Queene Margaret daughter to the King of Cecile and Hierusalem and wife to Henry the sixt King of England Elizabeth Queene of England France and Ireland c. Defender of the Faith DEBORAH HE that shall take in hand to speake at large Of womens prayse shall undergoe a charge Beyond supporture and he better were Take Atlas burden on him and to beare The Heavens upon his shoulders If then any Inquisitive bee why I amongst so many Am now that undertaker And shall aske Why to my selfe I durst assume this Taske I must appeale for answer to my rare Scarse patternd Patroness most learn'd most fayr Whom if these my unpolisht papers please It is a burden to be borne with ease Whose Approbations where soe'r Inscribd Shall passe a worke as currant as to have bribd All the Nine Sisters or invokt their ayde She now the sole out of so many made As for our worthy Iewesse now in quest The sequent Traectate can describe her best He that made man the womans Head that â—he Despis'd of her superiour might not-be Rais'd from her sex brave Dames by Text allowd Least she might prove dejected or he proud If any one this Maxime shall gaine say Let him but reade Barach and Deborah OF THE NINE VVORTHIES AMONGST WOMEN Three Iewes Three Gentiles Three Christians And first of DEBORAH TO Deborah I give the priority as first named in the holy text in which we reade of two of that name The one Rebeckahs Nurse the wife of Iacob who being dead was buried beneath Bâ—thel under an Oake which he called Alâ—on Bachuth or the Oake of Lamentation the other a Prophetesse the wife of Lapidothe who Iudged Israel the Argument of our ensuing Discourse The name Deborah in the originall implyeth a Word or a Bee neither was her name any way averse to her nature for as she was mellifluous in her tongue when she either pronounced the sacred oracles of God or sat upon any judicatory causes amongst his people so she had also a sting at all times upon any just occasion to wound and be revenged on his enemies the Cananiteâ— who then most barbarously and cruelly oppressed his owne chosen nation But the better to illustrate her history it is necessary that I give you a briefe relation of that estate in which Israel then stood Iosuah the sonne of Nun who succeeded Moses in the Empyre and was Captaine of the Lords people in his Masters place after the subduing and slaughter of one and thirty Kings and having divided the Land of Palastine amongst the twelve tribes of the Children of Israel by lots All his time and all the dayes of the Elders who were his Contemporaries and survivers and â—ad beene eye witnessâ—s of those great and stupendious woâ—kes which the Almighty had done for them served the Lord and were obedient unto his Commandements But he after he had lived an hundred and ten yeares expiring and being buried in the Coast of his inheritance all that generation being likewise gathered to their Fathers Another roâ—e after them who neither knew the Lord nor the great workes which hee had done for Israel In so much that they dwelt amongst the Cananites the Hittites the Amorites the Perizites the Hevites the Iebusites c. Taking their daughters to be their wives and giving their owne daughters to their sonnes and serving their gods which was contrary to the Commandement and the Law of Moses by which they incensed the wrath of the Lord which was now hot against them in â—o much that he delivered them into the hands of spoylers who spoyled them and sold them unto their enemies so that they were noâ— able to stand against those that hated them namely the Gentiles and Idolaters Notwithstanding which the Lord in his great mercy according to his oath sworne to their Fore-fathers the Patriarchs upon their least repentance and turning unto him raysed up some eminent amongst them whom they called Iudges who delivered them from the hands of their oppressors But
seeming friends both to the Israelites and the Canaanites so temporizing and complying betwixt the Gentiles and the Iewes that which way so ever the streame ranne or the winds blew hee sayled without damage for if the one prevailed he was safe if the other he was likewise secure yet was his heart wholly inclined to the good of the Children of Israel Now the flattering of an enemy is like the melody which the Syrens make who sing not to stirre up mirth but rather allure unto mishap and as a learned Philosopher observeth It is much better to have an open foe than a dissembling friend as appeared in the fall of this great Captaine Sisera Warre is of two sorts Civill and Forraigne that which they call Civill is meerely seditious and is indeed a speedy overthrow of all estates Kingdomes and Monarchies and the very seminary of all kinde of evils though never so execrable For it abandoneth all reverence to God and obedience to Magistrates it bredeth corruption of manners change of lawes and contempt of Iustice c. But Forraigne warre is that which Plato calleth a more generous or rather honourable contention and is then onely lawfull when it is undertooke either in the defence of true religion or to establish peace Indeed nothing can make warre just but necessity nor lawfull but when it is warranted by the word either for a Prince or people to defend their owne right or to repulse Gods enemies who are ever the opposites of truth I conclude with the Poet Nulla salus bello pacem te possimus omnes All Generals of Armies ought to have their courages guided by wisedome and their discretion armed with courage neither must their hardinesse darken their judgement nor their judgement extenuate their hardinesse besides they ought to bee valiant as not fearing death and confident as not wont to be overcome their feete ought to bee steddy their hands diligent their eyes watchfull and their hearts resolute all which this godly Matron and gratious mother in Israel with sweete oratory and her presence in the fields being a president of her unparraleld magnanimity had deepely imprest in the heart of Barak Now concerning Iabin the King of the Canaanites it proved to his great dishonour so that he had better to have studied to defend his owne Country by Iustice then to have sought to subdue other nations by Tyranny and it little profiteth any Prince to bee Lord of many kingdomes if on the otherside he become bond slave to many vices besides it is not possible that to a man of much pride fortune should bee long friendly The desire of coveting and having more is a vice common to such great men breding in them for the most part a brutish nature tempered with unsaciable cruelty Ambition eateth gold and drinketh blood seeking to climbe so high by other mens heads till at the length it breaketh its owne necke It may not altogether unproperly bee compared to a vapor which ascendeth high and being at the full height disapeareth and vanisheth into nothing for commonly those that strive to suppresse and supplant others in stead of honour and superiority purchase to themselves shame and indignitie So much touching the King Now thus briefly of his Captaine That Generall who is bloody minded and thirsteth after revenge is for the most part either sold by his souldiers or slaine by his enemies but I shorten this digression and come to the matter now in handling When Sisera had by his skouts and espials understood that Barak had gathered his forces and was gone up to Mount Tabor and there pitched his Tents hee like a carefull and vigilant Generall called for all his Chariots even nine hundred Chariots of Iron assembling all the people even from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river Kishon Now by the number of his Chariots it is easie to guesse of what an infinite multitude his Army did consist who confident in his owne strength and despising the weakenesse of the enemy waited in the vallies their descent from the Mount thinking to defeate and over runne them at an instant but the event happened quite contrary to his expectation For the Heroicke and masculine spirited Championesse knowing that the Lord never failed his owne people if they left their wicked wayes and turned unto him with unfaigned repentance came unto Barak and said seest thou this great and seeming invinceable Army which cover the plaines Country that invirons us feare not their foote their horse nor their Chariots up therefore for this is the day that the Lord hath delivered Sisera and the hoast of the Canaanites into thine hand Is not hee himselfe gone before thee to fight his owne battell Which words inspired such courage both into him and his souldiers howsoever weakely accommodated for so dangerous an adventure that with an unanimous resolution as if so many mil-stones had beene precipitated from an high hill they hurried downe Mount Tabor and fell upon the campe of the Gentiles with a sudden and violent assault being upon them ere they could scarse imagine them to bee neere them which strooke them with such a terror and amazement God having a hand therein that they were so farre from assaulting their enemies that they had not the power to use their weapons to defend themselves For too much feare openeth the way to desparation being destitute of reason and turning the greatest courage into pusillanimity and cowardize according to that of the Poet nos auxius omnia cogit quae possunt firei fact a putare timor Where feare once taketh impression in the heart what is easie to be done it maketh to appeare impossible In briefe Barak with his small Army of ten thousand rowted the great and puisant hoast of the Canaanites who destroyed all their Chariots of Iron and pursued the enemy even to Haroshoth with such an infinite slaughter that they all fell by the edge of the sword and not oneâ— them escaped alive In which tumultuous flight Sisera was compeld to alight from his Chariot and cowardly to save his desparate life fled away on foote and finding no place wherein to hide or shelter himselfe from the pursute of the Israelites he came at length tâ— the Tent of Iael the wife of Heber for peace was betwixt Iabin being of Hazor and betweene the families of the Kenites who looking out from her Tent and espying the great Commander Sisera late attended by so many Chariots now forced to goe upon his feete and hee that led into the field such an innumerable Army to have neither servant or so much as a Page to waite on him And no doubt having heard the successe of the battell shee went out to meete him and said Turne in to me my Lord turne in and feare not who glad of so good an opportunity to bee secured from the pursute of his enemies accepted of her friendly offer and entering into the Tent she covered him
grew in great hatred for the giving up of Normandy by appointment for which and other grievances the Duke of Yorke father to him who was after King Edward the fourth with other confederate Lords opposed the Queene and her faction of which mortall warre ensued The King being much instigated by this magnanimous Lady his Queene accompanyed with the Duke of Somerset with a great army tooke their journey towards the Marches of Wales being ascertained that the Duke of Yorke with sundry other Lords were up in Armes who understanding of the Kings comming with so great a power swarved from his Hoast and tooke his way towards London but because hee could not be received into the City to refresh his people he went over Kingstone Bridge and so into Kent where on a place cald Bremt heath he embatteld himselfe soone after came the King to Blacke-heath and did the like these two Armies affronting each other a motion was made to mediate a peace betwixt them to further which to the Duke were sent the Bishops of Winchester and Elye and the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury to whom the answer was that he intended no violence against the person of the King onely to remoove from about him some evill disposed persons by whose meanes his people was much oppressed and the Commons greatly impoverished the chiefest of which was the Duke of Somerset to satisfie whom it was concluded by the King that hee should be kept in durance to answer all such Articles as the Duke could object against him Vpon which promise made by the King the first day of March being thursday the Duke broke up his Campe and personally came to the Kings tent where he found the Duke of Sommerset at liberty and the next attending on the King and by the Queenes meanes the Duke of Yorke was sent to London where he remained in a sort a prisoner and more straitly had beene kept if present newes had not come that his Sonne Edward then Earle of Marsh was hastning up towards London with a strong power of Welsh and Marchmen which stroke so suddaine a terrour into the Queene and her Counsell that the Duke was set at large having liberty to retire himselfe into his owne country soone after by meanes of the Queene the Duke of Summerset was created Captaine of Callis which kindled a new fire in the Yorkists insomuch that the Duke being in the Marches of Wales called unto him the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury with divers other Lords Knights and Esquires and sufficiently strengthened himselfe and in Aprill made what speed he could towards London Which hearing the King and the Queene shee suddenly caused using the Kings name and Authority in all things a strong Army to be levyed entending to conveigh the King West-ward without incountring the Duke of Yorke In which were imployed the Dukes of Summerset and Buckingham the Earles of Stafford and Northumberland the Lord Clifford and others who held their journey towards Saint Albones which the Duke hearing coasted the Country and upon Thursday before Whitsunday tooke one end of the Towne where whilst motion of peace was treated on the one party the Earle of Warwicke with the March-men entered on the other and skirmished violently against the Kings people In conclusion the day fell to the Yorkists where that time was slaine the Duke of Sommerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clâ—fford with many other Noble Gentlemen which victory thus obtained by the Duke hee with great seeming honour and reverence the morrow following conveighed the King to London and lodged him in the Bishops pallace and soone after by a Parliament held at Westminster the Duke of Yorke was made Protector of England the Earle of Salisbury Chancellour and the Earle of Warwicke Captaine of Callis and all persons before neere unto the King remooved and the Queene and her Counsell who before ruled all both King and land utterly disabled for having voyce in either at all which her high Spirit seemed nothing daunted But with some Lords who secretly adhered unto her party she so far perswaded that in making the King insufficient it was such a dishonour to him and disgrace to the Realme that by pollicy and friendship shee caused the Duke of Yorke to be discharged of his Protectors place and the Earle of Salisbury from being Chancellour which was the cause of new combustion and finding as shee thought the City of London to favour more the Yorkists then her faction shee caused the King to remove thence to Coventry whether the Duke with the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury were sent for who in their way were so ambusht that with great difficulty they escaped from being surprised an other assembly of all the Lords was appointed at London where all of them were richly accompanyed and strongly attended where a seeming attonement was made betwixt them for joy of which upon our Ladyes day in Lent the King the Queene and Lords of both parties went in sollemne procession to Pauls But this smothered fire broke quickely into open flame I will let passe many of the circumstances and come to the matter The Duke of Yorke knowing the inveterate malice which the Queene bore unto him assembled his Friends and gathered a strong army of March-men and others in the beginning of the thirty eight yeare of the King and strongly encamped himselfe at Ludlow the Queene also gathered like strength to encounter the Duke unto whose aide the Earle of Warwicke sent a strong band of men from Callis in whose company one Andrew Trollop who the night before the incounter with the entire company of those Callis souldiers left the Dukes Hoast and went unto the Kings where they were joyfully received which much dismaide the Yorkists and the more because they were privy to all their counsell wherefore upon mature deliberation they resolved to flye and leave their Campe standing as if they had still kept the field the Duke with his two sons and some few others fled into Wales and so after into Ireland and there remained the other Lords of his confederacy tooke their way into Devonshire from thence they sayled into Garnesy and after to Callis In the morning when all this was knowne to the adverse party there was sending and running to all Ports and places to surprise these Lords but their pursuite came to late so that the Kings Army spoyled Ludlow and the Castles and tooke the Dutchesse of Yorke and her children and sent them to the Dutchesse of Buckingham her sister then were all the Yorkists proclaimed Rebels and Traitors and the young Duke of Summerset made by the Queene Captaine of Callis but notwithstanding all the Kings Authority joyned with hers hee could not be there received which was the cause of many skirmishes and much blood shed in which though the Lords lost many men yet they came dayly so thicke unto them
that Ozias said unto them my brethren be of good courage let us yet waite five dayes in which time the Lord our God may turne his mercy towards us for he will not forsake us in the end and if these passe without helpe and succour from above we will doe according to your saying with which words he appeased them for the present and separated them every one unto his charge Now when Iudeth heard thereof who was once the wife of Manasses and after his death had continued a Widdow for the space of three yeares and foure moneths in which time shee wore sackecloath and her mourning apparell and fasted all the dayes of her Widdow-hood save the day before the Sabbath and the Sabbaths and the day before the new Moone and in the feasts and sollemne dayes of the house of Israel who was of a goodly countenance and very beautifull having great plenty of gold silver and Iewels with men-servants and maide-servants and cattell of whom there was none could give any evill report for shee feared God greatly Shee I say hearing how the people had murmured against the governours and that Ozias had sworne unto them to deliver the City unto the Assyrians within five dayes she sent her maide who had the governement of all that shee had to call Ozias Chabris and Charmis the ancients of the people who came unto her and she greeted them thus Oh you the governours of the Inhabitants of Bethulia the words which you have spoken before the people this day are not right for who are you that have tempted God and set your selves in his place amongst the children of men For if he will not helpe us within these five dayes Hath hee not power to defend us when hee will Do not you therefore binde the counsels of the Lord our God for hee is not as man to be threatned neither as the sonne of man to be brought unto Iudgment c. To whom Ozias replyed All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken with a good heart and there is none that is able to resist thy words but the people were thirsty and compelled us to doe as wee have done and have brought us to an oath which wee may not transgresse therefore pray for us because thou art an holy woman that the Lord may send us raine to fill our Cisternes and that wee may saint no more then saide Iudeth unto them Heare me for I will doe an act which shall be declared in all successive ages to the children of our nation you shall stand this night in the gate and I will goe forth with mine handmaid and within the dayes that you have promised to deliver the City to the Enemy the Lord will visit Israel by mine hand but inquire not of mine act for I will not declare it unto you till you see the event Then saide Ozias and the Princes unto her goe in peace and the Lord God be before thee to take vengeance on our enemies so they left her and went unâ—o their charge Then Iudeth after she had prayed unto the Lord rose from her knees and calling her maide went downe into the house and casting off her sackecloath and putting of the garments of her Widdow-hood she washed her body and annointed her with sweet oyntment and dressed the haire of her head and put a rich attire upon it and cloathed her selfe with the garments of gladnesse even those with which shee was decked in the dayes of Manasses her husband and shee put slippers on her feete and adorned her with bracelets and sleeves and rings and eare-rings and decked her selfe bravely to allure the eyes of all that should behold her and she gave her maide a bottle of wine and a pot of oyle and filled a scrip with flower and dryed figges and fine bread and wrapped all together and laide them upon her thus she went downe unto the gate and when they saw how her face was changed and her garments altered they marvelled greatly at her wonderfull beauty and saide unto her the God of our Fathers give thee favour and accomplish thine enterprize to the glory of the children of Israel and to the exaltation of Ierusalem and the Temple which said she commanded the gates of the City to be opened Then went she forth with her maide and the men of the City looked after her till they could see her no more who came into the valley and the first watch of the Assyrian army met her demanding of her of what people shee was whence shee came and whether she was then bound who answered she was a woman of the Hebrewes and fled from them to save her life because shee assuredly knew that they should bee utterly consumed desiring them to bring her before the great Captaine Olofernes to whom she would shew a way how to winne all the Mountaines without hazarding the life of any one of his servants which hearing they chose out an hundred men and prepared a Chariot for her and her maide and brought her to the tent of the Generall and they marvelled at her great beauty and wondred at her Nation because of Her At that time Olofernes rested upon his bed under a Canopy woven with purple and gold Emeraulds and other pretious stones who at the newes of her comming came to the entry of the tent and they carryed lamps of silver before him Now when Iudeth saw him she fell on her face and did him reverence but his servants tooke her up and he said unto her Woman be of good comfort and feare not but tell me wherefore thou art fled from thy people For none shall hurt thee but intreate thee as one of the servants of my Lord King Nabuchodonosor To which she answered receive the words of thy servant and suffer thine hand maide to speake in thy presence wee have heard of thy wisdome and of thy prudent spirit and it is declared through the whole earth that thou onely art excellent in all the Kingdome of a wonderfull knowledge and in feates of warre marvellous Now as concerning that which Achior did speake in thy counsell Wee have heard his words in the presence of the Elders of Bethulia and doe not thou reject them but set them in thine heart for they were most true there is no punishment against our people nor can the sword or speare prevaile against them unlesse they sinne against their God which they are now about to doe for because their victuals faile and their water is wasted they are compelled to consume all things which their God hath forbidden them to eate by his Lawes which when they doe they shall be given unto thee to be destroyed the same day wherefore I thine handmaide am fled from their presence for thy servant worshippeth the God that made Heaven and Earth and now let me remaine with thee and goe out in the night into the valley and I will pray unto my God that he will reveale
unto mee when this is to be done then I will come and shew it thee and thou shalt goe forth with all thine Army and I will leade thee through the midst of Iudea till thou come before Ierusalem and I will set thy Throne in the midst thereof and thou shalt drive â—hem as sheepe that have no shepheard and not a dogge shall barke against thee for these things have beene declared unto mee according to my foreknowledge and I am sent to shew thee Which words greatly pleased Olofernes and his servants who marvelled at her wisdome and said there is no such woman in the world both for beauty and wisdome Moreover Olofernes replyed God hath done this to send thee before the people that strength might be in our hands and destruction upon them that despise my Lord. Thou art both beautifull in thy countenance and witty in thy words If thou doe as thou hast spoken thy God shall be my God thou shalt dwell in the house of Nabuchodonosor and shall bee renouned through the whole earth then he commanded to bring her in where his treasures were and that they should prepare for her of his owne meate and his owne Wine who said unto him I may neither eate nor drinke of them least there should be an offence For I can suffice my selfe with the provision that I have brought but hee replyed if those things thou hast should faile how should wee give thee the like for there is none with us of thy Nation to which she answered as thy soule liveth thy handmaide shall not spend those things that I have before the Lord worke by mine hand what he hath determined Then the servants of Olofernes brought her into the tent and she slept there till midnight and rose at the morning watch and sent unto Olofernes saying let my Lord command that thine handmaid may goe forth to prayer who presently gave order to his guard that they should not stay her thus she abode in the Campe three dayes and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia and washed her selfe in a Fountaine in the water by the Campe and when she came out she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel that he would direct her way to the exaltation of the children of her people so she returned and remained pure in the Tent untill she ate her meate at evening In the fourth day Olofernes made a feast to his owne servants onely and saide to Bagoas the Eunuch goe call the Hebrew Woman that is with thee that shee may come and feast with us for it were a shame for us to let such a beauty alone and not talke with her For if wee tempt not her chastity shee will mocke us who came unto her and said make no difficulty to goe in unto my Lord and to be honoured in his presence and to drinke wine with us joyfully and to be intreated as one of the daughters of the children of Assur which remaine in the house of Nabuchodonosor who answered him againe who am I that I should gainesay my Lord so shee a rose and trimmed her with garments and with all the ornaments that belong to women and her maide went and spread forth her skinnes on the ground over against the place where Olofernes sate whose heart was ravished and his spirits mooved and hee greatly desired her company for he waited to insidiate her chastity from the day that he had first seene her who said unto her drinke now and be merry with us who answered and saide I drinke now my Lord because my state is exalted this day more then ever then shee ate and dranke before him such things as her maide had prepared And Olofernes rejoyced because of her and dranke more wine than he had ever done at one time since the day of his birth The evening being come his servants made haste to depart and Bagoas shut his Tent without and dismissed all from the presence of his Lord but Iudeth was left alone in the tent and Olofernes was stretched upon his bed for the feast had beene long and hee was filled with much wine Now Iudeth had commanded her maid to stand without and attend her comming forth as she had done dayly for shee said shee would anon goe forth to prayers and had spoken to Bagoas to that purpose Then Iudeth standing by the bed came to the post which was at the head of Olofernes and tooke downe his Faulchion and laid hold of the haire of his head and said strengthen mee O Lord God of Israel this day then she smote twice upon his necke with all her strength and tooke his head from him and roulled his body downe from the bed and pulled down the Canope from the Pillars and after went forth and gave the head to her maide who put it in her scrip of meate so they went together as their custome was to prayer and pressing through the Tents past about by the Valley and so up to the Mountaine of Bethulia and knocked at the Gates thereof Then Iudeth said to the watchmen open to me the gate Now when the men of the City heard her voyce they made haste to goe downe and called the Elders and they ranne altogether both small and great for it was beyond their expectation that shee should returne so they opened the gate and received her and made a great fire for a light and stood about them two then she spake unto them with a loud voyce and said praise God prayse the Lord for he hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel but by my hand hath this night destroyed his enemies so shee tooke the head out of the scrip and showed it them saying behold the head of Olofernes the great Captaine of the Army of Assur and behold the Canopie under which he lay in his drunkennesse the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman as the Lord liveth who kept mee in the way which I went my beauty hath deceived him to his destruction yet hath he not committed with me any sinne then all the people were astonished and blessed the Lord and Ozias said unto her O daughter blessed art thou of the most high God above all the women of the earth surely this thine hope shall never depart out of the hearts of men for they shall remember the power of God for ever c. Then said Iudeth unto them heare me also my brethren take this head and hang it upon the highest turret of your walls and as soon as the morning appeares take every valiant man his weapon in his hand set a Captaine over them as if you would goe downe into the field towards the watch of the Assyrians but goe not downe Then they shall runne to the tent of Olofernes but shall not finde him and feare shall fall upon them and they shall flye before your face So you and all that inhabite the coasts
out of diverse parts of England that their losse was not perceived In which interim one Iohn Dinham was sent with certaine ships to set upon the Kings Navy at Portsmouth who sped him so well that he tooke the Lord Rivers in his bed with the Lord Skales his son with other rich preys taking of the Kings Navy what shippes them best liked which some conjecture was not without the consent of the Mariners who bore a singular affection to the Earle of Warwicke With part of these ships the Earle of Warwicke sayled into Ireland to conferre with the Duke of Yorke about their re-entry into the Land and returned into Callis with safety in which time a Parliment was held at Coventry by Authority whereof the Duke of Yorke with the other Lords were attainted and their Lands and goods ceased to the Kings use then provision was made to defend the Havens and Ports and at Sandwich was ordained a new strength under the command of one Sir Simon Mountford that none should passe unto the aide of the Lords of which they having intelligence sent out another Navy unâ—o Sandwich and after long fight with the said Mountford tooke him and at a place called Ris-banke smote off his head after which the confederate Lords seeing what power they had with them and knowing that many hearts in England adhered to their faction after they had set Callis in order they prepared for England and landed at Dover and marching through Kent came to London the second day of Iuly where having well refreshed their people they sped them towards the King who was then at Coventry and awaited there with a sufficient army Who marching as farre as Northampton the ninth day of Iuly both hosts incountred where betwixt them was a blooddy battle fought but in the end the victory fell to the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury and the Kings host were utterly defeated and many of his Noblemen slaine amongst which were the Duke of Buckingham the Earle of Shrewsbury the Vicount Bewmount Lord Egremond and others and the King taken in the field after which victory by the Lords obtained they brought the King still keeping his estate up to London and lodged him in the Bishops pallace and sent newes of their happy successe to the Duke of Yorke who was at that time in Ireland A Parliament was then cald in the name of the King and holden at Westminster during which the Duke of Yorke upon the tenth day of October came to the City of Westminster and lodged him in the Kings pallace upon which a rumour rose that Henry should be deposed and the Duke of Yorke made King Whilst these things were thus in agitation the Duke came one day unto the Parliament Chamber and in the presence of the Lords sate him downe in the Kings Chaire and boldly made claime to the Crowne as his rightfull inheritance At which the Lords began to murmure as well his friends as others and after the matter was long disputed the Duke was perswaded to renounce that claime during the life of King Henry In all which time the Queene whom all these terrours could not daunt kept her selfe with the Lords of her party in the North and using the Kings name gathered a strong power which as she protested in the front of her Campe was to be revenged on the Kings Rebells and Enemies There is one thing worthy observation that during this Competitorship betwixt the King and the Duke though they lodged both within one pallace yet would he for no intercession or intreaty once visit the King which could be little lesse interpreted then an haughty and ambitious insolence To proceede it was after concluded by the Authority of the whole Parliament that King Henry should continue King all his naturall life but after his death Prince Edward his sonne to be made incapable of that Royall dignity but the Duke and his Heires to be Kings and he in the meane time to be made Protector and Regent of the Land and if at any time the King of his owne free will were disposed to resigne it should be to the Duke if he then lived or else to his Heires after him which on the Saturday next being the ninth day of November was proclaimed through the City And further because Queene Margaret with the Prince her Sonne the Dukes of Summerset and Exeter with divers other Lords kept her still in the North and came not up at the Kings sending it was concluded by the Lords there present that the Duke of Yorke with the Earle of Salisbury and others should raise an Army to fetch in the said Queene and Lords who hearing of their comming met with him neere unto Wakefield where was fought betwixt them a sharpe and bloody battle in which the Duke of Yorke was slaine with his young Sonne the Earle of Rutland with Sir Thomas Nevell sonne to the Earle of Salisbury and the Earle himselfe was taken alive and soone after beheaded It is said that the Duke of Yorke being sore wounded was brought before the Queene who in great derision and scorne placed him on a molehill instead of a Throne and put a Crowne of paper on his head for a Diadem and after she had sufficiently taunted his ambition caused him to be slaine this done with her victorious host shee made what speede shee could towards London and at Saint Albones was met by the Earle of Warwicke and the Duke of Northfolke who brought the King with them to the field where after a strong fight upon a Shrove-tuesday in the morning the Duke and Earles Army were routed and the King againe taken and brought unto the Queene The same day she caused her sonne Edward to be made Knight with other Gentlemen to the number of thirty persons The Queene being now in her former supreame command and thinking to sway all things as before at her owne pleasure newes were brought that Edward Earle of March eldest Sonne to the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Warwicke were met with a great strength of March-men and others and were speeding towards London which tidings compelled the King and Queene to retire them with their Army Northward the other taking this advantage entred the City the first weeke in Lent to whom resorted great numbers of Gentlemen from the South and East then was a great Counsell called of the Lords spirituall and temporall who after many argumenâ—s debated gave up this sentence that forasmuch as King Henry contrary to his honour and promise at the last parliament made and also that he was reputed unable and insufficient to governe the Realme by their generall assents he was thought worthy to be deposed and discharged of all royall dignity Then incontinently by the Authority of the said Counsell and consent of the Commons there present Edward the eldest son to the Duke of Yorke with an unanimous suffrage was
the whole Land And now was great expectation for the landing of Queene Margaret and her Sonne Prince Edward and great provision made through all the coast to oppose King Edwards landing who in a Parliament then called was proclaimed usurper of the Crowne and the Duke of Glocester his younger Brother Traytor and both of them attainted by the said Parliament then the Earle of Warwicke rid to Dover to have received Queene Margaret but was disappointed for the wind was to her so contrary that shee lay at the Sea side tarrying for a convenient passage from November till Aprill so that he was forced to returne without effecting his purpose In the beginning of which moneth Aprill King Edward landed in the North with a small number of Flemmings and others all which could scarse mâ—ke up a thousand and sped him towards Yorke making his Proclamations in the name of King Henry and protested to the people as he went that hee came for no other intent but to claime his antient inheritance the Dukedome of Yorke notwithstanding which the City denyde him admittance till he tooke an oath which having done they opened their gates unto him when after he had refreshed his Souldiers he held his way on towards London and having passed either favor of faire words the Lord Marquesse Montacut who lay with an Army in the way to interdict his journey seeing that his strength was greatly increased and that the people dayly flockt unto him hee then made proclamations in his owne name as King of England and held on his way to London where he was releeved and the same day hee rode to Saint Pauls Church and offred at the Altar which done hee went to the Bishops pallace where hee found King Henry allmost alone for all the Lords and others to save their owne lives had utterly forsaken him Then King Edward lodged himselfe where King Henry lay and committed him to strict keeping and rested himselfe till Easter Eve who hearing of his brothers comming and the other Lords with him with a strong host unto Saint Albones hee sped him thither and lay that night at Barnet whether the Duke of Clarence contrary to his oath made to the French King came with all the strength he had and reconciled himselfe to his Brother at which the Lords were much daunted yet by the comfort and incouragement of the Earle of Oxford they marched on to Barnet the foresaid Earle leading the van and there they strongly embattelled themselves Vpon the morrow being the foureteenth of Aprill and Easterday very earely in the morning the two hosts defied each other upon the one party were two Kings Edward and Henry who brought him with him to the battle Clarence and Glossester the Lord Barnes c. And upon the other was the Duke of Exeter the two Earles of Warwicke and Oxford the Marquesse Mountacute with many other men of note and name In which fight the Earle of Oxford quit himselfe so manfully that he quite routed that part of the field which hee set upon insomuch that newes was carryed to London King Edward had lost the day and if his Souldiers had kept their rankes and not falne to rifling most likely it had beene so But after long and cruell fight King Edward got the victory having slaine of his enemies the Marquesse Mountacute the Earle of Warwicke his brother with many others on the Kings party the Lord Barnes and upon both parties to the number of fifteene hundred and upwards the same after noone came King Edward to London and made his offring at Saint Pauls and after rode to Westminster and there lodged and King Henry was againe committed to the Tower where he remained till his death And now great preparation was made against the landing of Queene Margaret and her sonne who all this while had beene nere to the Sea side expecting a winde which after blew for her most infortunately yet was shee safely landed with an Army of French men and others and entered so farre within the Realme till shee came to a place called Teuxbury where the King met with her and after some resistance distressed and chased her whole company in which conflict many were slaine and their bodyes found dead in the place and shee her selfe with her sonne Edward both taken Prisoners and brought to the King whom shee fronted with a bold and an undaunted countenance and forgetting what shee was then a prisoner boldly spake to him as what shee had beene a commanding Princesse which the King not having the patience to indure commanded her from his presence The Prince also the true heire to his Mothers magnanimous spirit being not onely reprooved but somewhat villified by the King whose blood was not yet cooled since the late battle replyed unto him in a language best suiting his birth and the Sonne of such a Mother at which King Edward being highly mooved and beyond all patience incensed having then his Gantlet on for he had not yet put of his armour strucke him upon the face which blow was no sooner given but he was instantly dragged from the Kings presence and by the Duke of Glocester as same reports most tyrannously murthered and this hapned upon the fourth day of May. When the Queene heard of the death of her Sonne and the manner thereof the more to aggravate it great no question was her griefe but much greater and altogether inexpressible her rage and fury not having power to revenge her selfe upon her enemies this more tormenting her then the durance of the King her husband her owne captivity or the losse of her kingdome yet outwardly shee is said to have borne all these disasters with an incomparable magnanimity who was first conveighed to London and from thence with small attendance and lesse estate sent over into her owne Country and upon Assention Eve next ensuing the body of Henry the sixth late King was brought unreverently from the Tower through the high streetes of the City to Saint Pauls and there left for that night and the next morrow with bills and glaves as he was the day before brought from the Tower thither conveighed to Chertsey and without any sollemnity at all there interred of the manner of whose death there be divers reports but the common fame went that he was stab'd to death with a dagger by the bloody hand of Richard Duke of Glocester QVEENE ELIZABETH THis Virgin Soveraigne of our Maiden Isle On whom blind Fortune did both frowne and smile Great Honour and great Horrour did indure Not safe being Subject not being Queene secure Examine both It is not easily guest In which of them she did demeane her best And of those double Fates t is hard to know In which she did most dangers undergoe Had I more heads then Spanish Gerion he Who to one body had no lesse them three More hands then great Briareus to be wondred