The life of the most honourable and vertuous lady the Lady Magdalen Viscountesse Montague / written ... by Richard Smith. And now translated into English, by C. F[ursdon]..

Of the Birth of the La. Magdalen Viscountesse Montague, and her Education vnder her Mother.

CHAP. 1.

THE most Ho.^ble and Vertuous Lady Magdalen Viscountesse Montague, was borne in England, of most Noble & Ca∣tholike parents, at Naward Castell, the Mansion-house of her Father, scituat in the County of Cumberland, not far from the borders of Scotland, the yeare of Christ 1538. the 20. of Ianuary. Her Father was William Lord Dacre, Baron of Ghisland, a man, besides the most an∣cient Nobility of his family, of such power and estate, as that he possessed seauen Baronyes (which scarce any No∣ble man of England euer had) and was of eminent autho∣rity in the North parts of England, and both himselfe and his ancestors of very famous esteeme in England, in regard of their notable prowesse in matters of warre, for the sa∣fety and honour of their Country. Neither was he of lesse

piety towards God, for when King Henry the VIII. cal∣ling a Parlament, purposed by the voyces of both Houses to renounce the obedience to the Church of Rome, and by an vnheard of President to arrogate vnto himselfe the ti∣tle of head of the Church of England, fearing least the Lord Dacre would not only refuse to assent vnto his lust, but by his example and authority would animate others to the defence of the ancient fayth, he tooke order to haue him called in question for treason; wherin notwithstanding he was easily declared innocent. And when afterwards the King told him, that by the consent of Parlament he was made Head of the English Church, and demaunded his opinion what he thought therof; scoffingly deriding the vanity of the King, he answered: Hereafter then when your Maiesty offendeth, you may absolue your selfe. Another time when Queene Elizabeth the daughter of Henry, excee∣ding her Father, endeauoured vtterly to exterminate Ca∣tholike Religion out of England, the Lord Dacre exhorted the Nobility not to giue consent to such an enormous act, and to certaine of them offered himselfe and his for∣ces for defence of the Catholique Religion. Her Mother was a woman of like Nobility and Piety, the daughter of N. Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury; whose ancestors for their most heroicall victories gotten in France, are exceeding famous both in the French & English Chronicles. And so terrible hath the name of Talbot byn heretofore vnto the French, that Mothers and nurses to still their crying chil∣dren, accustomed to say, Talbot comes. Of these most noble ancestors descended the La. Magdalen Montague, which I relate not, as though she did much esteeme therof, but because, though Nobility do not augment the valour of vertue, yet it doth adde a kind of lustre, and ornament vnto it, and maketh it to appeare more gracious in the sight of man. For, as we may say with the Poet:

Gratior est claro veniens de sanguine Virtus.

Vertue hath more grace, when it descends of noble race.

For as a pearle is of great price, though it be hidden vnder

the earth, or couered with ordure be trodden vnder foot; or to vse S. Hieromes words: A Iewell glittereth in loathsome matter, and the splendour of a most pure pearle shineth euen in dirt; yet it is more gracious and delectable, when it is set in gold. So vertue is very estimable with whatsoeuer ragged pouerty it is ioyned; but where it is vested with Nobility, as it were with purple, it doth mooue a greater admira∣tion; and as the Sunne in a cleare day dispersing the clou∣des, doth far and neere dilate the beames of his light. For as nothing appeareth more pleasing and beautifull to those that cast vp their eyes, then the heauens in a cleere night glittering with diuers starres: so to vs casting dow∣ne our sight, nothing appeareth more gracious, then No∣bility, adorned, and as it were glittering with diuers de∣grees of vertue. For Nobility illustrated with Vertues, is a heauen scituate on earth adorned with starres. Which in these times we may auerre to be so much the more true, as the coniunction of Vertue with Nobility is more rare. There was a time when Kings, Queenes, and Princes, men and women in England, as they excelled others in dignity, so did they endeauour to exceed them in vertue: whence we may find recorded among the Saints, neere twenty Kings of England, and as many Queenes, but of Kings children, Princes & noble persons more then may be nūbred. But now (O griefe) our Princes saruing from the fayth of their predecessors, the Nobility also (for the most part) degenerate from the piety of their ancestors. Wherfore this noble woman deserueth the greater prayse before God and men, who would not staine her Nobility with vices and impious heresie, but endeauoured with all her forces to adorne and illustrate it with vertues, and the purity of the Catholike fayth, as in the discourse of her life shall appeare. Till the thirteenth yeare of her age she had her education in her Fathers house, vnder the pious gouernment of her Mother, where although, as well in regard of her youthfull yeares, as by example of her si∣sters, and the custome of other Noble Virgins, as also by

the delight of the pastime, she might haue bin induced to the sports of hauking and hunting, she notwithstanding contemning all this pleasure, made choice by example of the B. Virgin, rather to abide in quiet repose at home, then after the manner of prophane Diana, by chasing wilde beasts and foule, to stray in the mountaines and forrests; & so without a teacher she fulfilled the counsaile which S. Hierome giueth to Virgins: Let her neuer goe forth, least those who wander about the citty do find her, least they strike, and wound her, and bereaue her of the veyle of her chastity.

Notes

• The Fa∣ther of the La. Mag∣dalen.
• His nobi∣lity.
• His piety.
• Sander. de schism. l. 1. p. 120.
• The Mo∣ther of the La. Mag∣dalen.
• Epist. 2••.
• Many ho∣ly Kings & Quee∣nes in En∣gland in time past.
• She delig∣teth not in hunting.
• Epist. ad Laet••…••….