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ARRIE fortifie son Mary contre la Mort et par l'essay et l'exemple de la sienne, 〈…〉
qu'on meurt sans douleur, quand on meurt auec courage. 〈…〉Page 49Arria.
ARRIE fortifie son Mary contre la Mort et par l'essay et l'exemple de la sienne, 〈…〉 qu'on meurt sans douleur, quand on meurt auec courage. 〈…〉
WEE are come too late, and have lost the fairest piece of the most magnanimous action Rome hath ever seen: The Actors as you see are few in number, but all choice and famous ones: And what they doe in private, and with∣out noise, will be speedily carryed to Theatres and pub∣like Places, and wi•l receive Applauses from all free and Roman Hands.
You come not so far off, and are not so great a stranger to Rome, that you have heard no speech of Arria. She is a mo∣dern Copy of the ancient Vertue: she is a young woman, and hath the Features of the old Republike. Her Apparell and Speech sutes indeed with this time: but her Courage, Constancy, and Fidelity are of the Sabi•s Age. And though she lives under the Reign of Claudius the Simple, and in the Court of Messeline the Incontinent, yet nothing of this Reign, nor of this Court appears in her Manners: They are of Lu∣crecia's Age, or of some other far purer Time, and less remote from the primitive Vertue. Common Fame may have told you all that can be said of this womans Vertue: but it could not as yet inform you what you see of her Courage.
Page 50 Sh• returned long since from Dalmatia, following in a small Bark the Fortune and Ship of her Husband, who was led away Captive. You may have heard that he had been one of the Heads of the Scribonian Conspiracy; and that he h•d liberty to pass which way he pleased to Messalin and Narcissus. His wife perceiving him irresolute, between Fear and Courage, she her self took a couragious resolution, that she might fortifie him by her example, and teach him how to make choise of a Consular Death, and equall to the 〈◊〉 and Triumphs of his Ancestors. I could wish that we had been present at the Discourse which she newly had with him. VVe might have heard the Images of the Cicinna•s speak: we might have seen the memory of Cato and Brutus, and the glory of all the Defenders of Liberty laid before him to give him Courage.
To the force of so many Heroick reasons, and of so many magnanimous words, she added the force of her Example, which is far more Heroick and Magnanimous. And the mortall stroke she but even now gave her self, set a value up∣on her Reasons, and fortified them by a present Authority, and by a Personall and still-fresh Experiment. She exhorts him with her eyes, and countenance as you see: she exhorts him with her hand, with which she presents him a Dagger. But her most efficacious and pressing Exhortation is that of her wound, which is a mouth of good credit and belief; a mouth which can only say what it thinks, and nothing which it doth not perswade. This stream of blood which flows from thence, hath her voice and spirit: and this spent all warm, that it penetrates the heart of Cicinnas, dissipates his fears and coldness; stayes his trembling fits, and fortifies his weakness; and raises up there against Death a true Patrici∣man Vertue, of the Age of Liberty, and of the spirit of Rome.
Arria accompanies with the sweetness of her eyes the vi∣gour of this spirit: and the shadow of approaching Death was so far from obscuring them, that they never cast forth more fire; they never diffused so pure and penetrating a light. You believe peradventure that this is done by an Page 51 effusion which is naturall and common to all Torches which draw near their end. For my part I believe, and believe it with more probability, that this surplusage of light issues from the very soul of Arria, which shews it self openly by these fair Gates to the soul of Cicinna•, and exhorts it to •ally forth couragiously after her. But from what spring s•ever this pure and glorious effusion ariseth; it is certain that Cicinna is penetrated by it: and his soul, which fear had impri∣soned, being now inflamed and attracted by the power of this light, expects only the fatall stroke which was to set it at liberty.
To give this blow, Arria presents him a Dagger, still warm with her blood and courage. Love is the mediator of this commerce, and at the same time, and by the same inspiration infuseth courage into the mind of Arria, and resolution into the spirit of Cicinna. Take not this Love for one of those nice ones in whom Poppy causeth the head-ach, and who would not adventure to touch a Rose, unless it be disarmed: It is one of those couragious and magnanimous Loves, of those which have produced Heroes and Heroesses, of those which know no other Garlands but Helmets, no other Posies but Swords, of those which take delight in Frost and Rain
, in Chains and Prisons. And I am much mistaken if it be not the very same Love which led Euadne to the flaming pile of her Husband, which sparkled the Sword wherewith the true Dido guarded her self from a second Marriage: and which lately also cut off the Hair of the Vertuous Hypsicratea, put the Helmet on her head, and made a Queen become a Foot-soldier in the Army of Mithridates.
At present this Love playes the Exhorter and Philoso∣pher, it speaks to Cicinna of liberty and glory, and animates him to follow the Example and Courage of his wife. You would say, that in guiding his hand to the Dagger which is offered him, she assures him, that it will cut off the ligaments of his soul without hurting him; that it hath been mollified in the bosome of Arria, and by the fire of her heart; that her blood hath qualified it, and take from thence all that it Page 52 had of malignity and sharpness: and that not only so No∣ble and Honourable a weapon as that, but even a Cord pre∣sented by the hand of so gallant a woman, would be more glorious then many Diadems wrought by the hand of For∣tune, and presented by those of Messaline.
Cicinna seems fully perswaded by these reasons, and con∣firms them by his gesture and countenance. He is no longer the same fearfull and irresolute man as before: He hath still the same head and body, but another heart is placed in this body, and another spirit in this head. He hath no longer any blood in his veins which is not Romane: All his thoughts are triumphant, and all his sentiments worthy of a Consul: and shortly his soul, greater then Fortune, and stronger then Death, will depart victorious over both, and re-unite it self to the soul of Arria.
This Example of constancy and conjugall Fidelity is very precious to Rome at this time: and no doubt but the young Arria and Trascus her Husband, who are spectators thereof, will make good use of it. They greedily and studiously col∣lect the circumstances thereof, and look upon it as the princi∣pal piece of their Patrimony. Truly it is wonderfull to be∣hold a wisdom at the age of eighteen; to behold maturity and youth in one and the same head. To see a woman cou∣ragious and constant; a woman grave and serious in an age of divertisements and pleasures. She conceives her self more rich from the lessons and examples of her mother, then from the succession of all the Consuls of her House: and three drops of her blood, and four syllables of her last words have something in them which is dearer to her then all the Pearls of her Ancestors. She likewise stores up these words, and layes up about her heart all that she can gather of his blood, and of the spirit which is mingled with it. Surely this must needs be her good Genius, who inspires her so timely to arm her self thereby: and she cannot choose but foresee the occa∣sions wherein it will be usefull to her to have conserved the memory of her Mother, and fortified her self with her Blood and Courage.
Page 53 Traseus was no less solicitous to reap benefit by this illu∣strious Example: The present misfortune of Cicinna is a pre∣sage to him of his future mishap: and not finding himself so weak as to crouch under the age, nor so powerfull as to alter it; he clearly sees that the least he can expect, is to be ruined by it after the rest. He restifies at least by his countenance that he will not fall cowardly, nor expect till they push him on: and all the rules of Phisiognomy are deceitfull, or he will be an Original of his time, and his death will have one day a place amongst the Heroick Examples.
SONNET.
ARRIA speaks.
Elogy of Arria.
IT is true that the Reign of the fift Caesar was but a perpetual Comedy: But the Interludes thereof were bloody and Tra••∣call: And cruelty was almost continually mixed there, with the loves of Messal••, and the Impostures of Nar•issa. The Spectators grew at length weary of so ill composed and represented a Scene: And some of the least patient, and most Couragious amongst them, resolved to force the Republike out of the hands of these Stage-Players. Nevertheless the Conspirators failing in the success they pro∣mised themselves, 〈◊〉, who was their Head, happened to be killed in 〈◊〉: And his Complices, abandoned by reason of his death, re∣mained in the power of the Beast, whom they had inraged.
Afterwards 〈◊〉, who was the most ingaged in the Plot, was appre∣hended and brought to Rome. The Couragious and Faithful Arria did not deliberate, whether she ought to follow him. It came not into her thoughts that Adversity was a Divorce: she did not believe that bad Fortune ought to be more powerful then Love; nor that it could Lawfully dissolve Marriages. On the contrary, she believed that she was the Wife of Cicinna, a Criminal and Prisoner, as she had been of Cicinna's a Favourite and Consul; and that she ought to have as great a share in his Chains and Punishments, as she had in his Fortunes and Glory. She accompanied him to the Ship: And at the instant of Imbarking, seeing her self put back by the Guards:
None being able to perswade these Barbarous People to receive her all entire, she did not forbear in spight of them, to imbark her spirit and heart with her Husband; and that she might follow him, at least in part, she put her Body into a Fishermans Bark, and exposed it to the Winds and Waves which carried away the rest. Fortune favoured so couragious a Fidelity: The Spirit and Body of Arria arrived at Rome at the same time: And being re-united at their arrival, did joyntly and with mutual cares sollicite the freedom of Cicinna. Her endeavours finding ill success, she resolved to die: And she sufficiently explained her self, by the reproach she used towards the wife of 〈◊〉 for surviving the death of her Hus∣band, slain in her bosom.
Her Son-in-Law Thrascus alledged all that he could devise to per∣swade her to live: All that he could invent not prevailing with her:
All the violent Attempts which Arria made upon her soul, did not loosen the soul of Cicinna, nor perswaded it to depart Honourably out of the World, and without expecting the violence of his Enemies. She went at last to see him;
MORAL REFLECTION.
LEt Christian Ladies learn of this Idolatress, in what dis-interessed Love and conjugal Fidelity doth consist: Let them observe how many Combats she hath fought, and how many Victories she hath gained. She had a present and future Interest in his Possessions and Hopes. She was Young, Rich, and the friend of Messal••: She might have left her husband to Justice, and reserved her self for a better Fortune, and a more happy Marriage. Her Riches, her Beauty, her Youth were no Criminals: They had not conspired against the Prince: And it was not against them Commissioners were appointed, and Informations given. She rejected nevertheless, the Temptations of her Age and Interest. She listened only to her Fidelity and Love: And taught her whole Sex by her Example, that a good Woman hath no other Interest, then her Hu•band; that to her, there was but one Man in all the World; and that he dying, Riches, Youth and Beauty die to her.
Arria likewise reads a second Lesson to Women, which is no less impor∣tant, nor less useful then the first: she teacheth them how that Person is deceived, who said that Marriage was but a name of pleasure: And that even now adayes they are much mistaken, who believe it to be a commu∣nity of Goods and Fortunes. It is a name of Yoke and Affliction, a com∣munity of Evils and Troubles; a society of Cares and Labours. And it is fit that young Women should be advertized on the day of their Mar∣riage, that they are not to be Marryed only for that day, but for all the rest which are to follow, how stormy soever they may prove, and what unpleasing hours soever they may have. They ought to know, that with the person of their Husbands, they espouse all their present and future Fortunes; and that they are obliged to follow them, to what place soever the wind drives them, in what storm soever the Heavens pours down upon them. But this ve•ity will be more enlarged in the ensuing Question.
MORAL QVESTION.
Concerning the Duty of VVives towards Husbands in the time of 〈…〉 and Misfortunes.
I Could not as yet Divine, why Married Women are crowned, and 〈…〉 celebrated with so great pomp, and with so much joy. 〈…〉 properly, and without a figure; it is to adorn Slaves and 〈…〉 it is to lead them to Prison in pomp and jollity; it is 〈…〉 them with Ceremony and Musick. I am well read in the 〈…〉 Custom: I see very well that Time, Example, and the 〈…〉 People are for it But I know also, that Antiquity is neither all 〈…〉 Holy. The first Men may have left us their abuses as well as then 〈◊〉: And old Errours are not better conditioned then 〈…〉 are not justified by the crowd of those that commit them▪ It were 〈…〉 to the purpose, and of far better example, that the Wedding• of Christians should be grave and modest: That the Ceremony should be serious and frugal; and that instead of being an object of access and pleasure for new married Couples, it should be a Les∣son of Petience, and a preparative to Troubles. There would not be seen so many Rich persons ••umbred, nor so many Innocent Repentants. There would not so many complain of being caught by a specious bait; who curse the flowers under which so many thornes have been hid. They would have at least made trial of the burthen before they laid it on their shoulder• They would have measured the• forces with this yoke: They would have ••epared their courage, and head to bear it cheerfully.
〈◊〉 even as I say, and it is profitable to be often said; to the end Igno∣rance may not give way to Decent. Marriage is not what it appears afar off and 〈◊〉. It hath not only more thornes then flowers, and more bad then good moments: Not only the dayes of mourning and 〈…〉 there longer and more numerous then the Festival ones: But what is more strange, there is not one thorn, which causes not a double 〈…〉 one single touch. There is not one bad moment, which is not reckoned 〈◊〉 No day of mourning or vexation, which is not double I mean that a married Woman besides her particular thornes and pains which 〈◊〉 proper to her, ought over and above, and by the obligation of 〈…〉, to burthen her self with the troubles and afflictions of her Hu•band. She ought to expose her self to the same dangers, and to 〈◊〉 of the same storms. It is not allowed her to be at quiet, whilst 〈…〉 him: She cannot handsomly shelter her self from the 〈◊〉 which are cast against him: She ought to be tossed up and down with him, to have her share in all the strokes be receives; to bleed at all his wounds. And this is according to Justice▪ and Law, even natural Justice and the fundamental Law of Marriage.
Page 59 First, If we consider the End which God proposed to himself in the Creation of Woman; we shall finde that she was given to Man to be his Domestique assistant, a neer Co-adjutress, and of the same Birth with him. Now it is certain that assistances and services are not necessary for any body in time of Prosperity. Good Fortune hath no need of comfort or support; of having her Tears dryed up, or her Blood stanched. It is not for her, Oyles and Balm is provided, that Plaisters and Seat clothes are made: She hath a sound Body and a free Minde: She is equally dis∣charged from all that is Burthensom and Afflicting. It is only to bad Fortune, Charity and Compassion, I eniti•es and Remedies are necessary. She is always either Sick or Wounded in some part: Her eyes are never dry; her Wounds are never closed; and at all times, she hath need of a Preparative and Consolation, of a Physitian and Philosopher. Women, who are Naturally Assistants to Men, and their Co-adjutresses by Divine Institution, appertain more to their Husbands when Suffering and Persecuted, then when Happy and in Favour. And surely their Offices would not be very important, not their Cares very considerable and use∣full, if they should be willing to be accommodated with their Husbands Riches, and Illustrious with their Dignity and Glory; if they should free∣ly offer themselves to accompany them in Purple, and under a Canopy of State; if they should make no difficulty to share in their Feasts, and to re∣ceive with them the gifts of Fortune: And yet when those Feasts were over, and another Fortune arrived; they should become Strangers in their Houses, and to their Husbands; they should be unwilling to suffer with them one drop of rain; they should not speak to them but at distance, and with a scornfull gesture, as if the very •ight of their Husbands portended mischief, and that even their shadow were become in∣fectious.
Let us add for a second Reason, That as at the Creation of Woman, God considered the incommodities of Solitude, & the need man had of a Com∣panion and Assistant; so he considered what was wanting to his entire Perfection, and would not that so noble a Work, and begun with so much Art, should remain Defective, and like those rough-drawn pieces in which there is nothing formed but the Head. He then Created Woman, and gave her to Man, not only as an Officious and Affectionate Co-adjut•••s; but as a second Moity, and as a necessary part to his Perfection. God having formed and joyned together these two Pieces, he declared in express terms that his Design was, that they should make but one Body: And it is in this sense the words of Saint Paul ought to be understood, when he saith, Man is the 〈◊〉 of the Woman. This second Reason is yet more precise and pressing then the former▪ And wives thereby are more straightly obliged to take part in either Fortune of their Husbands. And certainly if a Calm and Tempest be common to those that sayl in the same Vessel: If all the Persons of one house have the same days and nights and suffer joyntly all the inequalities of Seasons: The Community doubtless ought to be more entire, and better linked together between the parts of the same Body: and Page 60 this would be strange and seem Monstrous, if their Sentiments were not equal, and their Compassion mutual: But it would truly exceed all that is strange and exorbitant, if in the Compound, which is made of Wife and Husband, whilst that part which Governs is in Mourning and Affliction, the other which is subject should be jocund, and play the Wanton, and would leave off nothing of her Ornaments or Pleasures: If the Body of a Wounded and bleeding Head were delightfully adorned, covered over with Perfumes, and loadon with Flowers: If a Wife would make one at all Meetings of Pleasure, and take her share in all Divertisements, whilst her Husband suffers the rack of the Sciatica, and the torture of the Stone.
One may also say, the better to establish this Duty, and perswade it more efficaciously, that amongst all kinds of Friendships, there is not any so straight, not better linked together then that of Marriage. It is not exteri∣our and superficial, like other Amities: Nor is it upheld like those by civil Tyes, which are weak, and break asunder if never so little touched. It is an Union of the whole Soul and Body; the Tyes thereof are firm and solid. There is Nature and Grace in it: The whole Person is fastned therewith; and Time, which wears out Brass and Steel, cannot dissolve them. Now Friendship, as every one knows, is a Community of Sentiments, and Wills, of Joyes and Afflictions, of good and evil Fortunes. We are further adver∣tised by the Wife, that blessings cannot 〈◊〉 there but after evils: And that good Fortune ought not to have any place there, but as succeeding to the bad. Whereupon we may remember the words of Seneca, who saith, that such Persons understand not Friendship, as seek in a Friend a merry and Table Companion, a Solicitor of 〈◊〉▪ an Agent of favour, a Mediator of Fortune: That we must seek out a Person with whom we may cheer∣fully enter into Prison, whose Bondage and Chains we bear; A man in whose company we suffer Shipwrack without exclaiming against the Pla∣nets, or complaining of the Tempest; A man for whom we endure the Wrack without pain, for whom we die smiling and with Joy. And if common Friendship, which is free and superficial, and supported only by Nature, hath so painful Duties, and so heavy and hazardous burthens, what must be the Duties and Burthens of the Friendship of Marriage, which is so interiour and necessary, which hath the assistance of God, and the Ver∣tue of the Sacrament; which is sustained by Nature, and fortified by Grace? Can it be either Interessed or Timerous, with any Decency? can it hand∣somly express a niceness can it apprehend sorrow and death? can it avoid bad Fortune?
I might also affirm, that this Duty is reckoned amongst the comely qua∣lities of a Wife, and the honour of a Family; and that no baser perspective can be seen in a house, then a sick and afflicted Husband, and a gossiping and tricked up Wife. This defect wounds generally all eyes: and there are no Pictures in Italy, not Forreign Landschaps: there are no Ancient or Mo∣dern Figures can rectifie it. Honor and decency is not only concerned therein, but even contentment and satisfaction. And as hands touch ten∣derly a sick and wounded head, and as it is a torment to them if they be Page 61 hindred from easing its pain, and touching its wounds: so a good wife, who hath a heart truly fixed, who is indu•d and penetrated by the Grace of the Sacrament, cannot have a purer satisfaction, then to suffer with her hus∣band. And should even good Fortune her self tye her hands and feet to detain her by force with her, and should hinder her from following her persecuted and unfortunate husband; good Fortune would be abhorred by her with all her kindnesses: and were her tyes made of Crowns and Diadems, they would be unsupportable to her.
For these reasons Ar••a accompanyed Cicinna to death after she had fol∣lowed him through rocks and tempests. 〈◊〉 dyed couragiously with S•bi•, after she had lived nine years enterred with him: Hypsicratea hardned the tenderness of her Sex and condition, made the Graces and Beauty war∣like, that she might accompany Mit•ridates, pursued by the Romans and Fortune: And generally all the faithfull Women in ancient times have per∣formed the famous and exemplar actions which we behold with applause in History.
EXAMPLE.
Jane Coe•lo, the VVife of Anthony Perez, Secretary to Philip the Second.
THe memory of Anthony Perez ought still to be fresh at Court: We have seen him there a long time ago in Person: And every day we see him there in his Relations and Letters▪ I know not whether the name of his wife be so well known there: but I know very well that this is the first time she appears in that place: And peradventure she would never have come, if I had not brought her thither: It is convenient ne∣vertheless that she should come and make her self known there: She will there not only contract no bad habits, nor will her vertue be altered by it: but she will give also good examples to our Ladies, and read them Lectures of Fidelity and Constancy. She will teach them, that Marriage is not a society of Pastimes and Traffick; that the Duties thereof do not alter with seasons; that its Tyes ought neither to be broken asunder, nor loosened by Fortune. She will teach them, that they ought to be the same to their ruined and unfortunate Husbands, as to those that are raised up to honours, and in favour; that they ought to love them as dearly under a Chain, as under a Crown; that they ought to bear respect to their ruines, even to the pieces of their Shipwracks, and to the instruments of their Punishments.
This wife and Couragious Woman was of the House of Coello, who held an Honorable rank amongst the Illustrious Families of Spain. But Page 62 Nobility without Vertue is but the half of a good Woman. It is a precious matter to which fair Features and a perfect Figure is wanting. Jane Coello was not one of these shapeless and defective Nobles: she was none of these rich and rude lumps; of these Marbles which are only esteemed for the Name and Antiquity of the Quarry from whence they come: All the features of a good Woman were compleated in her, as the matter was there pure and precious: And her Vertue was properly to her Nobility, what an exact and regular Figure is unto a rare piece of Marble.
By espousing Anthony Perez, she thought not only to have married a Secretary, and the Favourite of a Prince, a Minister of State, and a great man in expectation; but she believed to have Espoused all that Anthony Perez was, and could be; And prepared her self to Love him, in what condition soever Fortune might place him. If all wives entred into Mar∣riage with the same foresight and preparation: If in the Ceremony of their Nuptials, and when they are to pronounce this word of Engagement and Servitude, this great Word which cannot be retracted, they did give them∣selves up in such sort, to what is apparently Rich and Glorious: that they still reserve themselves for what is poor and infirm, to which either may be reduced, 〈◊〉 behinde the Favourite and the Grandee, they did consider the misfortunes and ruins which might happen to them; there would be found more solid pleasure, and more true satisfaction, less disgusts out of Fancy, and less considerable complaints in Marriages: Bad Fortune would not disunite so many Couples, nor make so many Divorces: And Wives equally prepared for the misfortunes and prosperities of their Husbands, would not change then hearts towards them upon every blast of wind; no• would have so many different faces as are seen in the Moon. Iane Coello was not subject to this inequality of heart, nor to these varieties of looks. She doth not alter them with bad times, because bad times produced no change in her Husband: And knowing that it was Perez whom she had married, and not a Favourite and Minister of State, she was the same to Perez Criminal and a Prisoner, as to Perez the Confident and Secretary of Philip.
History indeed speaks of the favour and credit of this Anthony Perez, and gives sufficient testimony that his Credit was not a credit acquired at random, and by meer chance. He served a long time in the place of Secre∣tary of State to Philip the second, the ablest Prince of his Age, and the most knowing in the Science of Princes. He understood all his Policies, and lived neer those Springs by which this King governed so many King∣doms. He was acquainted with the secret of that fatal Cabinet-Councel where so many Battels and S•eges were designed; where Europe was assault∣ed on all sides, and new Territories invaded. And without doubt he was not an unprofitable piece in this Cabinet; and his hand very often set a going, de•terously and with success, those Springs which gave motion to so many Engines. But as Fortune never makes a gift of her Person, though sometimes she lends it: And as the Court is not a Heaven in which fixed Stars are seen; so Anthony Perez fell in his turn from this high Page 63 •levation, and passed suddenly, and without ••dium from favour into disgrace.
Some have written, that the murther of Secretary Escoredo was the cause of his misfortune. But those have seen but the outside of Affairs, and have taken the Watch for the Spring. We ought rather to believe the Speculatives of the I scurial, from whom we have learnt by tradition that the death of Escoredo, made away by the secret order of King Philip, was indeed the pretence for imprisoning Perez. But the concurrence of Philip and Perez in the love of the Princess of Floby was the true cause of it. Nature had accomplished with extraordinary Care both the minde and body of this Princess: but she had formed but one of her eyes; whe∣ther she disparted to make her a second like to the first; whether she would have her rese•ble therein the Day, which hath but one; whether as Perez himself spake it to Henry the Great, she apprehended, if she had two eyes, she might infi•e the whole World. However it were, this De∣fect did not hinder her from subjecting a Prince, who boasted of having two World, under his subjection, and of reigning as long as the Sun shines. And the Malignant Constellation of Anthony Perez designed, that his inclination should concur with that of his Master.
Truly that Concurrence is very perilous; and the danger so much the more certain, as Fortune appears more favourable, and gives there the •a••est hopes. In all times it hath been preached to Courtiers, and in all seasons it will be unprofitably preached to them without amendment. There are some arrogant and teme•arious Loves, which give a bold shock to Crowns and Scepters, which take delight in making Honourable and Soveraign Rivals, which are like that vain-glorious Youth, who would wrastle and run with none but Kings. But these arrogant and temerarious Loves are subject to cruel Tragedies: And not long since, remarkable and sad examples have been seen of them amongst our Neighbors.
Anthony Perez, who was in other things so judicious and prudent, did not in this make use of his Judgement, nor advised with his Prudence. He loved the Princess Floby with Philip: And perchance▪ to his misfortune, he was better beloved by her then Philip. He had a pleasing and affable Wit: he Wrote gallantly both in Prose and Verse. He had an excellent gift in composing a Letter: he translated well a Sonnet and Stanza. His Services favoured not of Authority, nor resembled Obligations. The Graces and Muses, which are attractive and perswasive, spake to his Mi∣stress in his behalf. And Philip had for himself but a dazling, and incom∣modious greatness; and that Majestly which tortures Love, and imprisons the Graces. This good Fortune, if I may stile it so, was the ruine of Perez▪ Philip chose rather to part with a good Servant, then to endure a Rival more happy then himself. And the death of Escoredo happening in this con∣juncture, he put Perez in a Place, where he had leasure to learn, that it is a dangerous thing to stand in competition with his Master.
His Couragious and Faithful Wise, did not account her self a Widow by the fall of her Husband: she did not believe that his Imprisonment Page 64 had set her at Liberty: The Princess of Floby was no corrosive to her, and she did not rejoyce in her minde with Philip, for having with one stroke freed her from a Rival, and himself from a Competitor. These thoughts of Liberty would have become a tatling Dame, who might have had a loosned spirit, and a Widdowed heart in an engaged Body: And an ••••tated Jealousie might have been satiated with these bitter ima∣ginations and these desires of Revenge.
Fortified by these considerations, she made her self a prisoner with Perez. and reserved to her self so much liberty as he wanted; to solicite their common friends; to implore from time to time the goodness of the King; to employ by intervals the credit and favour of tears and supplica∣tions for the inlargement of her Husband. Behold how many Combats she fought, how many Victo••es she gained in this single action! She overcame Jealousie, which is the most powerful and dangerous enemy of Women She deprived her self of liberty and repose, which are na∣tural and inherent Blessings; Blessings which are not parted with, but by extream violence. She subdued Avarice, by the continual profusions she was enforced to make, to render the Gaolers and Guards plyable, in giving them their fill. She was stronger then a Prison, rigorous and terrible by reason of its incommodity, but far more rigorous and terrible in respect of the Princes anger, which had banished all pitty from thence, which had re-inforced the Gates, and redoubled the obscurities thereof; which had added a new hardness to the Iron and Walls. In fine, she was victo∣rious over tortures and death it self, exposing her self as she did to both, by the boldness she shewed in conveying her Husband out of Prison, and in deceiving the expectation and anger of the Prince. Truly this boldness was very Ingenious and Witty: And Love was not only resolute in this action, but a Deceiver in good earnest, and without scandal. Notwith∣standing Page 65 all this, the Couragious Woman would have answered with her head, both for the Inventions of her boldness, and the deceits of her Love, if Philip had consulted with the jealousie he had of his Authority, and of his Mistress.
Anthony Perez seeing all wayes barred up against hope; and that not one single Ray of mercy appeared from the Escurial, resolved by the advice of his Wife to seek of himself an end to his Miseries, without importuning any more unpowerful Intercessors, and a deaf Clemency. The reso∣lution was, that Iane Coello should procure a Womans Garment to be secretly brought, and that Perez in the evening might go forth with her disguised in this attire, and mingled with the Women of her Train. The Plot took effect as they had designed it: Iane Coello went forth, accom∣panied with this new Attendant, and intreated the Guards, with gold in her hand, to permit her Husband to take some rest, who all the last night could not sleep by reason of his disquiets and discontents. Perez set at Liberty by this Device, repaired to Henry the Great, who received him with Honour. And Iane Coello staied behinde in Spain, esteemed by every one for her Courage and Fidelity.
I am the first that have shewn this Couragious and Faithful Wo∣man to France: And I now present her unto the Court, to the end our Ladies may learn of her, that great Expences and studied Excesses do not form a gallant Woman: That so fair a Figure deserves better Lineaments and Colours: That the Noblest blood of the World is obscure, and wants lustre, if Vertue doth not give it. That Marriage is a Companion as well for bad Times, and rugged Tracks, as for fair Dayes, and delightful Roads: And that the affection of a good Woman should resemble Ivy, which sticks close and inseparably to that Tree which it hath once imbraced, never leaving it, what snow soever falls upon it, what wind soever shakes it, what tempest soever bears it down.
