The Parliament of Ladies.
Secunda Pars
THE Ladies well affected, whom in my first, I told you were Assembled at Spring Garden, and upon emergent occasion, had adjourned their House, for that while they were imployed about the [...]ff [...]yres of the publ [...]cke, their Lords had a [...] to hunt forbi [...]den G [...]me; and ta [...] [...]ure consideration, that it is a su [...]e axiome, [...] begins at home, they held it convenient, to ad [...] for a certaine time; and h [...]ving reduced their L [...] to a privation to assemble [...] meet in Parliament a [...] b [...]fo [...]e: for that Ph [...]losophicall Lady, the Lady May had s [...]yd, that the acts of Governours, cannot p [...]ssibly have any strong influence upon the publicke, so long as things were not punctually p [...]rformed at home; but no sooner had the Ladies effected their wishes, and having by their earnest allurements, constrayned their Lords to hunt the game more often then they were willing to do, especially in their owne (—) berries, so sufficiently abated their affections to that sport, that they began to be altogether weary and tyred, vowing for the future, that to hunt their owne game, was enough and more, then the state of their bodies required; the Ladies with a great deal of jucundity and contentment, assembled themselves together againe.
[Page 2] In the first place they tooke into consideration, the sale of the Bishops Lands, and upon the Question resolved:
That the Bishopricke of Lincolne, of Worcester, of Ely, and Durham, should remayn intire; for that though the Bishops of those Sees, had in other matters of concernment, shewed themselves very averse, yet to the Ladies assembled, they had beene very free and cordiall, even to their utmost abilities, and had in some private performances, ayded them more strongly then any secular man whatsoever. That the Lady Denbigh should have power to instate the Bishop of Lincolne in his See, the Lady Middlesex the B [...]shop of Ely the Lady Scot the Bishop of Durham, the Lady Stanford the B [...]shop of Worcester, each of these L [...]d [...]es to have power respectively, to settle the sayd Bishops in their first and full power; and in c [...]se of resistance, to arme the well affected of the Country against those that shall make opposition: but with this proviso, that for the future, the sayd Ladies shall not ingrosse to themselves, all the performances of these Clergy men as before, but that their abilities shall be esteemed for the use of the whole House in generall.
Resolved upon the Question.
That the Lands and Revenews belonging to the Sees of Canterbury and Yorke be sold, to a molehill, for that the Bishops of those Diocesses, have from the beginning, beene observed to be nothing well affected to the desires of the House; and that no notable thing is recorded that they have ever done demonstratively, shewing their willingnesse and ability, but that they ever gathered money, and but seldome coverd (—).
[Page 3] That the Lady Oxford, the Lady May; and the Lady Tufton, be appointed and furnished with power to accomplish the Order of the house; and the rather, for that the extreame hate the sayd Ladies beare to those men, of what ranke soever, that were not willing, to their utmost abilities, to accomplish the will of the House, would be a sufficient instigation to incite them to proceed with vigor.
While these things were in agitation, in comes a Messenger from the House of Commons, desiring their Ladish [...]ps concurrence with an Order to be issued out by the authority of both Houses, viz. that all Malignant Ministers should be prohibited from entring into pulpets, for that many of them, contrary to a former expresse Order, preached each Sabbath day, both in City and Country, divulging doctrine of very dangerous consequence, and scandalous to the Houses; their Ladiships heereupon, fell into debate, and had much controverting about the word En [...]er, the Lady Barrington affirming, that the Commons by this, made an absolute intrenchment on their priviledges: for though to the Commons it would cause no detriment, yet to them the abridgement of Entrance, might occasion much sorrow and vexation, being one of their chiefe immunities; they therefore returned Answer, that they could not passe it, for that to divers of the Malignant Ministers, viz. Dr. Griffin, Mr. [...]ieve, Mr. Cady, cum multis aliis, they were infinitely ingaged, as to men that had entred their pulpits to their exceeding comforts, when as they were altogether destitute of consolation; the one at Abington, the other at Maidstone, the other at Stoke, upon which the businesse was waved, and proceeded no farther.
[Page 4] The House then appointed Committees, viz. the Lady Newport, the Lady Buckingham, and the Lady Carlile, to see to the compounding of Delinquents for their estates; the Lady Carlile, notwithstanding her age, and uglinesse, would not come to composition with Arundell, for his Delinquency in deserting and complying with the Lady Tuften: Captaine Edwards was also brought in for a Delinquent; but he ap [...]log [...]zed for himselfe, that he would not have forsaken the service of the State, and in particular of the Lady Newport, but that he observed that her (—) was like a well, alwaies exhausted with two buckets, for that he was no sooner out but Waller was in, and therefore he was the more to be excused, for that he left not the said Lady altogether destitute of a—&c.
This day a Petition came from the Lady Waller, desiring that she might be restored againe to her place in the House, pro [...]esting that she was well affected, though her Knight were fled away with Maynard, and Massey; but it was alledged against her, that she was utterly [...]ncapable of sitting in Parliament, for that while her Knight with Glin, and Stapleton, were indeavouring a new war, she also was found in armes under Col. Pointz; but upon her importunity, the businesse was put off for another dayes hearing.
The House then tooke into consideration the impious act of the Lady Powland, who changing the English, for French ayre, had entred into a Monastery, & was become a Nunne: the House considering the great prejudice that this her example might produce, voted her guilty of high [Page 5] Tre [...]son, and that whensoever shee should be taken, shee should suffer as a Traytor; and to prevent the like danger, for the future, made this ensuing Order, and then adjourned for that day.
The Ladies Assembled in Parliament, taking into consideration the late Act of the Lady Powland, who contrary to the Law of nature, and sense of the house, hath forsaken the society of men, to be a recluse, o [...] c [...]oistered Nunne, and not without griefe beholding the effects, which such an example may occasion, doe order, and decree, that the said Lady Powland for her fact so committed, shall suffer death without mercy, if she ever be taken: and for the future, they ordaine that none shal be so hardy as to attempt the like, under paine of forfeiting life and estate; but shall to their u [...]most abilities strive to increase and multiply, and for their incouragement therein, it is by these presents ordained by the Ladies Assembled in Parliament, that the Females of great Brittaine sh [...]ll have free leave, and license in case of their husbands disability, to use the performances of their eldest servant, and if he faile, of their neere neighbour, and this without scruple or question.
The Ladies assembling againe the next day, The first businesse was a report from the Committee for Delinquents estates, who named in the first place, the right Honorable, the Lord Mountague, who was impeached for a Delinquent to the house, and had deserted the Lady [Page 6] Virrian, and had allied himselfe to the Lady Kirbe; but the house taking into consideration his former speciall services to many of them in generall, and in particular to the Lady Bedford, and the Lady Stamford, the Lady Stamford avouching that he was a man well gifted, and had a large tallent, and one that had indured many dangerous incounters in the service of the house, and had been in the Chyrurgions hands, they therefore ordered that his delinquency should be taken off, and he to have free leave to be at the service of the Lady Kirbe, &c.
It was moved then, by the learned Lady, the Lady May, that the day of humiliation might be appointed to implore a blessing on the indeavours of men, and that they might be inabled to goe through stitch with their undertakings, and become every day more and more active, which was passed, and a Messenger sent to the Commons for their concurrence.
Their Ladiships then received word that a Messenger waited at the doore, sent from the house of Commons, to wit, Mr. Howard, and Mrs. Glescoth, who being admitted in, delivered their bill, which was to desire their concurrence to a Petition with Propositions to be sent to his Majesty for a safe and well grounded peace, which their Ladiships passed, and ordered the Lady Thinne and the Lady May, to joyne with two of the House of Commons, and they joyntly to be urgent upon his Majesty to signe the Propositions, and so for that day adjourned their house.
[Page 7] The next day the house being met, a Petition was delivered, intituled the humble Petition of many thousands of Citizens Wives, in and about the City of London, the substance of which was, that whereas divers weake persons were crept into places, beyond their abilitie, and had undertaken that which the Petitioners found by common experience, they were not able to performe, they therefore desired that men of abler parts, and greater abilities, might be put in their roomes; which would be to the Petitioners infinite advantage, the house having heard their Petition, ordered hearty thankes to be given them, for their good affections to the State, and that the Lady Devonshire, the Lady Middlesex, and the Lady Bullinbrooke, should be a Committee appointed to consider of this businesse.
It was then mooved by the Lady Norton, that a day of thanksgiving might be appointed for the Armies happy entrance into the City without tumult, for the exceeding great indeavours of the Commanders of the Army to pleasure the house, thankes returned to Sir Thomas Fairefax for his many able performances in the service of the Lady Denbigh, to Cromwell for his valiant charging performed in the service of the Lady Newport, which Order being sent to the Commons for their concurrence, they sent it back with their assent and additions; that thankes also should be given, that they had so fairely drawne their necks out of the collar, and had laid the weight of their owne crimes, upon the backs of Waller, Massey, and Pointz, leaving those lesse interressed in the impeachment then themselves in the lurch; Mr. Craddock desired to preach [Page 8] in the forenoone▪ but the Sermon to be in English, and not in Welsh, and notice to be given him that he should have care not to blurt out the language of the Cambro-Brittanians, instead of the Romans, as he did once at St. Michaels Cornehill; Mr. Case to be in the afternoone, and that he be desired to pray with his eyes open, and not to offer up his orisons blindly, that is to say, with hipocriticall confidence, and that Mrs. Cooke be prohibited from accompanying him three dayes afore, lest he suffer some diminution of memory.
Word was brought in that Mr. Peters stood at the doore, and had a message of import to relate to the house, who immediately commanded him to be brought in; who after obeisance told them, that he gave thankes to God, who had appointed him to be the happy Messenger of blisfull newes, to wit, that Digby was againe reconciled to the Lady Tuften, and once more doted upon this painted face, which newes because it highly pleased the house; they ordered Mr. Peters twenty pounds for a gratuity, and that he should prepare himselfe to preach before them the next Fast day; for that they intended then to be very merry.
A Paper was drawne up, and sent to the Synod, by especiall order from the House, desiring them to give a speedy answer to the satisfaction of the house, to these following questions.
[Page 9] F [...]rst, what is meant by that place where it is said, and Iud [...]h went in unto her, and lay with her, and why there is such a Tautology?
Secondly, by what meanes came it to passe that Lot was able to performe the act of generation with his two Daughters, and to ply his businesse so notably, as to get them with child, and yet not know when they lay downe, nor when they rose up?
The Messenger bearing this Order to the Assembly, they returned answer, that they would give a solution to these Queries with all convenient speede.
A complaint was brought in against one Paul Best, who had broached many damnable, and hereticall Doctrines, amongst the rest one was, that women were uncapable of eternity, as wanting that immortall substance, which was injected into Adam, to wit the soule; and his reason was, for that he read that God breathed into Adam, and he became a living soule; but woman was made of man, participating only of his earthly substance, no mention of any soule infused into her; for he said woman was ordained only for the earth, but man only for heaven, and this he said was the reason that women were so sensuall of such ravenous, and infatiate appetites, being like other creatures only of the earth, earthly: the house having heard the contents of the complaint, became greatly inraged, and ordered that the bookes or pamphlets, which the said Paul Best had compiled, and divulged, maintaining this errour, should be gathered together, [Page 10] and openly burnt by the common hangman, himselfe to be kept close Prisoner till further order, and in the meane time a Declaration to be set forth evidently proving that women have soules; the chiefe argument to be this, that seeing the Divell is a spirit without a body, and yet is c [...]p [...]ble of eternity; so women being bodies without soules, may also be capable of eternity.
Then the Ladies tooke into consideration the great decay of Males, occasioned by the late unnaturall warre, and therefore ordered.
It is by these presents Ordered and Decreed, by the Ladies assembled in Parliament, That forasmuch, as by the late unnaturall Warre, many men of great abilities and able performances, were cut off, not only to the prejudice of this House, but of the whole Kingdome, as by severall Petitions from many thousands of unsupplied Women, may appeare: Be it therefore Ordered and Ordayned, for the more speedy replenishing of the Kingdome, that it shall be lawfull, for the time to come, for any Woman Venereously inclined, and capable of more then is put upon her, to use the ayd and assistance, not onely of the men of her owne Nation, but also of any other Forraigner, [Page 11] whether Frnchman, Spaniard, or German, to the end there may be aspeedy supply of Males for those were lately massacred, and the Kingdome furnished with able and active men,
The H [...]use then adjourned for that day, and on the morrow assembled againe, where the first thing they [...]ell upon, was, a Complaint th [...] was made against Players, who contrary to an Ordinance, had se [...] up shop againe, and [...]cted divers P [...]ayes, at the two hous [...]s, th [...] Fortune, and Salisbury Court. Whereupon it was demanded what Plaies they were, and answer being given, that one of them was the scornefull Lady, the house tooke it in high disdaine, and as an absolute contemp of their power; and therefore ordered that Alderman Atkins should make a journey on purpose to suppresse them; and also ordered that an Act sh [...]uld be passed to prohibit that Play to be herafter acted; but divers Ladies were offended at this Order, intended for the supp [...]essing of Playes, as the Lady Munmouth who lik't Sir Iohn Suck [...]ins play so well, that she p [...]wned her Jewels to maintayne his backe: and the Lady Stanford, Franke Beaumonts Play so well, setting his Scornfull Lady aside, shee would often admit him in, when her Lord was kept at staves end: a great confusion happening about this businesse of Playes, they at length concluded, that a Committee of Ladies should [Page 12] be chosen on purpose to consider of this businesse.
Their Ladiships then taking into considerations, the many pressing affayres which they were like to lie under, Ordered, that Dr. Strickland, and Dr. Burges, (a man furnished with a large talent) and Doctor Chamber laine, should be Assistants to the House, that so the Ladies might receive such comfortable distillations, as those worthy men were able to affoord them.
In the last place, the Ladies being to adjourne, for some Months, sent to the Assembly of Divines, to know whether they had according to their desires, wrote any thing tending to the solution of the Questions by them propounded; but Answer being returned, that the Assembly of Divines were now in deepe Consultation, to proove that the two lewd Elders, who tempted Susanna to wickednesse, might have a Dispensation from the Nationall Assembly; the Ladies were content to bee resolved at their leysure: and having Ordered these their proceedings to bee Printed and Published, adjourned their House.