A farrago of several pieces being a supplement to his poems, characters, heroick pourtraits, letters, and other discourses formerly published by him / newly written by Richard Flecknoe.

OF NOBLE WOMEN.

I Know not under what Constellati∣on I was born, that it has alwayes been my Fortune to live amongst the best and noblest of woman-kind; but I am sure, she'as been a happy and fortunate one for me; for there I have seen nothing but honourable and vertu∣ous; there as in a Sanctuary I have liv'd, protected from the Vices of the Time; and there (if any where) I have found that saying true, That if vertue could be seen with mortal eyes 'twould ravish all with Admiration and Reverence.

I deny not, but vertue may likewise be found 'mongst men, but 'tis an Austere and Rigid one, not much different from that which you shall find in Cells, and Cloy∣sters, rather deterring with its rigour and austerity, then any ways attracting with sweetness and gentleness; besides, 'tis a quarrellous and contentious one, that would force every one to its opinion,

and for my part, like him in the Fable, if the Sun by its sweetness and Gentleness cannot do it, the wind certainly by Rufling and blustering, never shall.

Now amongst them, (on the contra∣ry) you find nothing but sweetness and gentleness, accompanied with such aw∣ful Majesty and Gravity, as whilst they attract to a certain distance, they there suspend you with Reverence and Admiration; nor needs there any frown∣ing looks to do it, since as one said well, Beauty is Regnum sine satellitio, a King∣dom that needs no force to guard it: if it guard not it self, all other force is vain; and frowning and ill looks will never do it. With good Reason then, they make all vertus of the Feminine Sex, since vertue in a fair Body, as Virgil says, is alwayes most grateful and becoming; and it implies a certain Congruity, that the richest Iewels shu'd be conserv'd in the fairest Cabinets; besides, there is a kind of necessity, as well for nobility of Form, as bloud; To be Good and Vertuous, not to degenerate from the stock and origine from whence they came.

This Testimony then, I will give of the Truth and Them, That I never saw greater Innocence, higher Honour, more Vertue, nor truer Chearfulness then a∣mongst them: and above all, none bet∣ter dispos'd for piety and devotion; with∣out which, all the rest would easily fall to ruine, and decay, like buildings, want∣ing their foundation. Mean time, I deny not, but there are many to be found who are not so; but then they are no longer to be counted noble nor beautiful; there being a certain baseness and de∣formity in vice, that deprives them both of Beauty and Nobleness, and like Traytors to their Soveraign Prince, degrades them of all the honour and dignity they had before.