The gallery of heroick women written in French by Peter Le Moyne of the Society of Jesus ; translated into English by the Marquesse of Winchester.

A MORAL QUESTION.

Concerning the Choice which God hath made of Women for the pre∣servation of States reduced to Extremity.

IT is noted in the Book of Judges, and observed there as a wonder and prodig••••••, that meeknesse was once born of force, and that nou∣rishment 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of him that devout•• It is a wonder which 〈…〉〈…〉 of prodigie, and which nevertheless hath not been yet observed▪ that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is a portion of meekness, and that the hand•• accu∣sed to have been the Autho•••• of Death, have brought safety and given 〈◊〉〈◊〉. However, this second wonder is true, and no lesse surprizing then the first, not lesse proper to frame a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Problem, and a specious 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The examples thereof are likewise less 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and more known; 〈…〉〈…〉 to be seen of them almost in all the Regions of History; And God hath renewed them a•• often as he hath chosen the hand•• of Women other to establish tottering States, or to support their 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

The great wonder in this is, that God hath almost made this choice 〈…〉〈…〉 Counsels and Hope, and in the last confusion 〈…〉〈…〉 And in occasions wherein the Arms of the strong were 〈…〉〈…〉 Heads exhausted▪ he hath raised up Women, who 〈…〉〈…〉 the valiant and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who have taken away 〈…〉〈…〉 and the Sword held over the Head of Nations: who have chased away from surrendred ••owns Armies already victorious; who 〈…〉〈…〉 and Courage to vanquished King, who 〈…〉〈…〉 and fallen Crown. It suffi••••th to be∣lieve that such works are not done, but by the hand of God, and with much of hi•• spirit and by the Vertue of miracles. There are neverthe∣le•••• appearances and Reasons within the reach of out sight, which in this particular make good his Providence.

〈…〉〈…〉 Power appears therein more independant, and his Wisd••m 〈◊〉〈◊〉 infallible and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. There is very often De••eption in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thought, and mistake 〈…〉〈…〉 in our Terms. We take Force 〈…〉〈…〉 and that which we call Power, ought to be called 〈…〉〈…〉 and a Weaknesse with a great Train. 〈…〉〈…〉 was to be truly powerful, to take Towns, and overcome 〈…〉〈…〉 Canons and other Arm••, but with broken Po•••• and 〈…〉〈…〉 This were to be extraordinarily strong▪ not to throw 〈…〉〈…〉 with many Engine, but to break in 〈…〉〈…〉 with blowing on the ••ace of it; to ••leave a Mount••••n with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Snow. And the Art as well as the Courage of 〈…〉〈…〉 might be called Divine, who in the sight of a Storm should 〈…〉〈…〉 with ••ails of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and with a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Paper.

It ••utes very neer with the manner of Gods acting, when in the Tu∣mult of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and amidst the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of falling States, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Arms of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the Heads of Polititians, and makes choice of weak Women and tender Maids to subdue the victorious, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up the vanquiried, to support Ruines, and repair Shipwrack.

Secondly, he thereby 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his little of the God of Host▪ and a powerful Lord in War. He shews that Victory 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Subject that it follows 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Orders, and ob••••ves his Providence▪ And that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Com∣mon and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ma••••, and this blinde and gidd•• Fortune, of which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much reckoning to made, are but ••antom•••• of men. Invention. Thirdly he thereby reacheth Humility to the proud ones of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He reacheth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Conquerours and Haughty spirits, and makes them. 〈…〉〈…〉 that Crowns depend on his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and not on the strength of the•••• own Hand. That he takes them off at his pleasure from proud Heads to place them upon the Humble, That he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Crowns for Women as well as men, for Shepherds as well as Prin••••s and that upon what Head soever he placeth them, he still 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them.

In the fourth place, these wonders wrought from time to time by the hands of Women are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Acts, and illustrious instructions for the whole 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Thereby 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tongue are refuted and Ca∣lum••e 〈…〉〈…〉 second work of God 〈…〉〈…〉. Thereby Women 〈…〉〈…〉 have Heart of the ••ame matter▪ and as well denied 〈…〉〈…〉 not corrupt them▪ ••f they be not overcome by 〈◊〉〈◊〉. They learn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by that 〈…〉〈…〉 tender, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to wool and silk, 〈…〉〈…〉 Actions, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a long 〈…〉〈…〉 doth not 〈…〉〈…〉 Vertue, 〈…〉〈…〉 That to pre∣pare 〈…〉〈…〉 Courage and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adventures. They 〈…〉〈…〉 themselves, to overcome, and to begin the•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 and upon themselves. Jud••th was not victorious 〈…〉〈…〉, and without 〈…〉〈…〉 prepared her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••or it by 〈…〉〈…〉 and Domestick Combats, and this was not till she had over∣come pleasure, till she had chased away Pa••lion, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from her Heart, till ••he had 〈…〉〈…〉, driven away the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from before 〈…〉〈…〉.

Morecover, this is not the sole example of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kind: there are more even in 〈…〉〈…〉 and Nation, a long time before Judeth, Debora, and Ja••el 〈…〉〈…〉 people from the Tyranny of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Some years after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 preserved them from the Hands of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the general 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which was prepared for them thor••owout all Per••••••. Under the Reign of David▪ the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being besieged b•• Joab, and threatned with the 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ity, were delivered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the Pillage and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the Providence of a wise Woman, who perswaded them to clear the•• hands of a Rebel, who they had harboured, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Head over the Walls. This Head being thrown over effected

more then twenty thousand Arms and Engines could have done: Peace remained to the Abelites, and Joab without taking the Citie re∣treated with Victory.