EXAMPLE.

Theodelinda, Queen of Lumbardy.

IMpetuous Rivers which precipitate themselves with noise, stay Passen∣gers, and beget Spectators. And the quiet ones which gently and in silence 〈◊〉 those places through which they pass, scarce finde any one to behold them. Nevertheless these impetuous Rivers are dan∣gerous neighbours. They never do good which is not accompanied without some dammage: And their manner of enriching is common∣ly by ruine and waste. It is even so with Military and Calm Ver∣tues; both of them are serviceable and beneficial to the Publick: But the Military do not profit innocently and without prejudice. They only re∣pair those ruines which themselves have made: And the riches which they distribute are slained with Blood, and acquired by Rapine. However by reason they make a noise and act tumultuarily, men run from all parts of the World to see them. Their Memory receives Elogies in every Language, and Applauses from all sorts of hands; And their Images are preserved with honour in History. From thence comes it that all Writers make so glorious mention of Warlike women, and that on the contrary they scarce take notice of the Peace∣able, who have effected Good in a calm repose, and by wayes usual and proper to their Sex.

Th••••linda was one of these peaceable, obliging, and less famous Women: And perchance we should not have at present any picture of her, if the Great St▪ Gregory had not taken the paines to draw it with the same hand, wherewith he Administred the Sacrament, Blessed the People, and wrought Miracles. She was the Daughter of one 〈◊〉 King of 〈◊〉: And that which is very won∣derfull, though she were born in a half barbarous Age, and more then three hundred Leagues from the Roman Excellency and Learn∣ing, yet she equalled the Memory of the most Accomplished, and Learned of Ancient Rome. The chief thing is that her Science had no resemblance with those specious and superficial Sciences which serve only for shews she was pleasing and solid, she delighted be∣neficially, and with profit: and all the lights of her minde were beneficiall and fruitfull.

So perfect and so adorned a Vertue required a more glorious Theatre, and less distant from the eye of the world then 〈…〉 King of Lumbardy, enamoured with her reputation, sent a magnificent Em∣bassie Page  30 to the King her Father, to ask her in Marriage. And his Embassa∣dors being returned with satisfaction, he undertook upon their relation a great piece of Gallantry, and resolved to go disguised unto the Court of Ba∣v•••a, to be a Spectator of the wonders which Fame published of Theode∣linda. He saw her, he was vanquished by her; and returned more wound∣ed by her presence, then he had been by her reputation. A while after the Marriage was celebrated in great pomp at Milan: And there was nothing wanting to the happiness of their Marriage, but the lasting of it. But what help for this▪ Is there not some malignant Constellation which causeth the best Fortunes to be less constant and lasting then the bad? Hath not Time a spight chiefly to handsome lives, and beautifull Couples? And do we not see that Roses last but a day, and Thornes a whole year?

Nevertheless, this Marriage, which lasted so short a time, was to Lum∣bardy the beginning of a long and important happiness. Autharus who had War with 〈◊〉, being enforced to take the field, to stop the Con∣quests of the French, who were entred into his Country, Theodel•••a in the interim staid behinde, intrusted with the Government of the State. It was very difficult to have good success therein, being young, a stranger, and unacquainted with the Country. Notwithstanding she did undergo this Office with so good a grace; she governed so judiciously; and shewed so much courage and dexterity in the managing of Affairs, as she gained the approbation of all degrees: and in less then six moneths she became the absolute Mistress of all hearts. Not one remained free; not one which would not be hers. And by a strange revolution, at the same time that Au∣th•rus and Childebert fought for the Crown of Lumbardy, Theolelin••a van∣quished it without Arms, and took it innocently both from the Possessor and Pretender.

This was not done by a trick of Fortune: she is without motion, and may well be sported with, but can sport with no man. It was done by a particular design of Divine Providence, which was willing to prescribe a great imployment to the Vertue of 〈◊〉, and to make use of her for the good of the Church. In effect, Autharus dyed before the end of the War: and the Lumbardus not finding themselves strong enough for the French, made as Honourable an Accommodation as they could with Childebert. Their first care after the conclusion of Peace, was to choose a fit person to fill up the Throne, which Autharus dying without Children, left vacant. It is apparent that the Customes of Nations, the Interests of State, and the Pretentions of particular persons would have 〈◊〉 return in∣to Bar••ta. Her Vertue yet carryed it against Custome: the Graces made sure for her, and gained all the voyces on her side: and by a general consent her hands already accustomed to govern well, were judged the most pro∣per to mannage happily the interests of the State, and to divert with addresses the mischief which was feared from the ambition of par••••∣lar persons.

Page  31 The Crown was solemnly delivered up to her: And from that time she began to Reign of her self; and by the right of her Vertue, which is the fairest right of Kings, and the most illustrious claim which can enter into their 〈◊〉. Surely this cannot be paralleld in History▪ And there would need a very perswasive vertue and of great authority to effect it. They must be Graces of a high expectation, and of a fair carriage, which could gain with so much ease upon great Ambitious Men, and a merce∣nary People; and procure the unitement of them both, in the choice of a Woman and a Stranger Being satisfied of her dexterity and capacity, they invested her with absolute Power and Soveraignty without restriction. They did not imitate those that binde their Princes upon their Thrones, who tye their hands to the Scepter which they make them bear, and take from them dispolute of the same Authority which they give them. They only declare unto her that if after the having tryed the weight of Re∣gality, she should think fit to share it with a Husband; they wished that she world seek no Forreign assistance, but settle her affection upon some person of that Kingdom.

Confirmed by this proposition, and by the advice of her Councel, she cast her eyes upon 〈◊〉 Duke of Th•••n, and divided with him her Person and Regality. This 〈◊〉 was a young Prince of a handsom aspect and of 〈◊〉 courage, who was endued with all the Qualities fit to undertake and overcome: And it was to be •eared, le•t Fortune, which he might court, should raise him to the Throne, had not 〈◊〉 pre∣vented her. Not content to have made him a great King, she undertook to make him a Catholick King, and to withdraw him out of the slavery of the Arian Heresie. This was evidently an enterprize of greater labour and of longer time, then all those which are performed with iron and sil∣ver Engines, with •leets and Armed Nations. Nevertheless she accom∣plished it by her cares and good offices, with Prayers and •ears. Her Prayers drew upon 〈◊〉 the light of Heaven: And every Tear proved a perswasive reason to him, which all the Arian Doctors were never able to answer.

Her conquest reacheth farther then one individual soul, though it were a Soveraign one and raised above others. It was more ample and of grea∣ter advantage to the Church. The chief Noblemen of the Kingdom, and almost the whole People being converted by the Conversion of their new King, submitted with him to the zeal and piety of their good Queen: And this zeal was so 〈◊〉 is, and of so great authority, this piety was so efficacious and victorious, that in a very short time all 〈◊〉, and the Provinces subject to it, abjured Arianism, and became Catholique, by the industry of a Woman She effected much more and advanced the ••tivity of her zeal, and the victories of her piety to a higher degree. Adalulsus had increased his sins and dominions by the violated rights of the Church, and by usurped Lands. He had thrown Catholique Bishops out of their Seas, and introduced into the sheepfold disguised Thieves, publike impoi∣soners, and Doctors of Error and Pestilence. The vertuous Queen enjoyed Page  32 no repose till the good Pastors were recalled; till the Church was re-established in her Rights and Honors; and till restitution was made her 〈◊〉 the •ands which impetuous and bold Heresie had taken from her.

These actions did not proceed from an unprofitable and idle Vertue: The most couragious and warlike ones did never act so vigorously, and with so much success. And all the Crowns gained by the valiant Women in this History were never worth so much as a flowre of Theodelind's Crown. The great Saint Gregory, who governed the Church at that time, under∣stood the weight and importance of her Services: And being willing to reader her publike and lasting thanks for them, he Dedicated his Dia∣logues to her by a Preface, wherein she triumphs to this day: and where∣in there i• not a word which is not worth a Statue erected to her Vertue.

Some time after the E•ark of Ravenna did over-run the Territories of Agilulsus, and took in some Places which lay convenient for him, and were ill guarded. This ••on, which was become more gentle, yet had not suf∣fered himself to be enchained, quickly found again his Teeth and Claws, and hastened to take revenge. All things tended to a perilous and scanda∣lous War; and not only the E•ark•at of Ravenna, but even the Patrimony of Saint Peter was in danger, if 〈◊〉, gained by Saint Gregory, had not extinguished by her dexterity and Tears the fire which already began to be inkindled. Thereby she preserved liberty to the Church and sacred things: she freed the Church from her yoke: she brake in pieces the Chaines prepared for the successor of the Apostles, and chased away the Barbarians from before Rome. Her whole life was thus powerfull: And I know not whether there ever passed away one hour of it which was not beneficiall both to the Publike and particular persons. The most Magni∣ficent Churches were built by her: and what is more to be prized then many erected Churches, was, that by her cares and good offices Lumbardy re-entred into the Church. But we must not make a whole Book of one Example▪ And I have sufficiently discoursed of it, to encourage the Vertue of Women, to give them a holy and profitable Emulation, to withdraw them from idleness; to make them understand, that Christian Conquests, Conversions of People, Heroick Works, and great Crowns belong as well to their Sex as ou•s.