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that in the venerable Church of S。 Marie la Neufue； on a Tuesday
morning； there being then no other person； after the hearing of divine
Service； in mourning habits （as the season required） returned thence
seven discrete young Gentlewomen； all allyed together； either by
friendship； neighbor…hood； or parentage。 She among them that was
most entred into yeares； exceeded not eight and twenty； and the
yongest was no lesse then eighteene； being of Noble descent； faire
forme； adorned with exquisite behaviour； and gracious modesty。
Their names I could report； if just occasion did not forbid it； in
regard of the occasions following by them related； and because times
heereafter shall not taxe them with reproofe； the lawes of pleasure
being more straited now adayes （for the matters before revealed）
then at that time they were； not onely to their yeares but to many
much riper。 Neither will I likewise minister matter to rash heades
（over…readie in censuring commendable life） any way to impaire the
honestie of Ladies； by their idle detracting speeches。 And
therefore； to the end that what each of them saith； may be
comprehended without confusion； I purpose to stile them by names；
wholly agreeing； or （in part） conformable to their qualities。 The
first and most aged； we will name Pampinea； the second Fiametta； the
third Philamena； the fourth Aemilia； the fift Lauretta； the sixt
Neiphila； and the last we terme （not without occasion） Elissa； or
Eliza。 All of them being assembled at a corner of the Church； not by
any deliberation formerly appointed； but meerely by accident； and
sitting； as it were in a round ring： after divers sighs severelly
delivered； they conferred on sundry matters answerable to the sad
qualitie of the time； and within a while after； Madam Pampinea began
in this manner。
Faire Ladies； you may （no doubt as well as I） have often heard； that
no injury is offered to any one； by such as make use but of their owne
right。 It is a thing naturall for everie one which is borne in this
World； to aide； conserve； and defend her life so long as shee can； and
this right hath bene so powerfully permitted； that although it hath
sometimes happened； that （to defend themselves） men have beene
slaine without any offence： yet Lawes have allowed it to be so； in
whose solicitude lieth the best living of all mortals。 How much more
honest and just is it then for us； and for every other well…disposed
person； to seeke for （without wronging any） and to practise all
remedies that wee can； for the conservation of our lives？ When I
well consider； what we have heere done this morning； and many other
already past （remembring （withall） what likewise is proper and
convenient for us：） I conceive （as all you may do the like） that
everie one of us hath a due respect of her selfe； and then I
mervaile not； but rather am much amazed （knowing none of us to be
deprived of a Womans best judgement） that wee seeke not after some
remedies for our selves； against that； which everie one among us；
ought （in reason） to feare。
Heere we meete and remaine （as it seemeth to mee） in no other
manner； then as if we would or should be witnesses； to all the dead
bodies at rest in their grave； or else to listen； when the religious
Sisters heere dwelling （whose number now are well…neere come to bee
none at all） sing Service at such houres as they ought to doe； or else
to acquaint all commers hither （by our mourning habits） with the
quality and quantitie of our hearts miseries。 And when we part
hence； we meete with none but dead bodies； or sicke persons
transported from one place to another； or else we see running thorow
the City （in most offensive fury） such as （by authoritie of publike
Lawes） were banished hence； onely for their bad and brutish
behaviour in contempt of those Lawes； because now they know； that
the executors of them are dead and sicke。 And if not these； more
lamentable spectacles present themselves to us； by the base
rascality of the City； who being fatted with our blood； tearme
themselves Grave…makers； and in meere contemptible mockeries of us；
are mounted on horsebacke； gallopping every where； reproaching us with
our losses and misfortunes； with lewd and dishonest songs： so that
we can heare nothing else but such and such are dead； and such and
such lie a dying： here hands wringing； and every where most
pittifull complaining。
If we returne home to our houses （I know not whether your case be
answerable to mine） when I can finde none of all my Family； but
onely my poore waiting Chamber…maide； so great are my feares； that the
very haire on my head declareth my amazement； and wheresoever I go
or sit downe； methinkes I see the ghostes and shadowes of deceased
friends； not with such lovely lookes as I was wont to behold them； but
with most horrid and dreadfull regards； newly stolne upon them I
know not how。 In these respects； both heere； else…where； and at home
in my house； methinkes I am alwaies ill； and much more （in mine owne
opinion） then any other body； not having meanes or place of
retirement； as all we have； and none to remaine heere but onely we。
Moreover； I have often heard it said； that in tarrying or departing；
no distinction is made in things honest or dishonest； onely appetite
will be served； and be they alone or in company； by day or night； they
do whatsoever their appetite desireth： not secular persons onely；
but such as are recluses； and shut up within Monasteries； breaking the
Lawes of obedience； and being addicted to pleasures of the flesh；
are become lascivious and dissolute； making the world beleeve； that
whatsoever is convenient for other women； is no way unbeseeming
them； as thinking in that manner to escape。
If it be so； as manifestly it maketh shew of it selfe； What do we
here？ What stay we for？ And whereon do we dreame？ Why are we more
respectlesse of our health； then all the rest of the Citizens？
Repute we our selves lesse precious then all the other？ Or do we
beleeve； that life is linked to our bodies with stronger chaines； then
to others； and that therefore we should not feare any thing that
hath power to offend us？ Wee erre therein； and are deceived。 What
brutishnesse were it in us； if we should urge any such beleefe？ So
often as we call to minde； what and how many gallant yong men and
women； have beene devoured by this cruell pestilence； we may evidently
observe a contrary argument。
Wherefore； to the end； that by being over…scrupulous and
carelesse； we fall not into such danger； whence when we would
（perhaps） we cannot recover our selves by any meanes： I thinke it
meete （if your judgement therein shall jumpe with mine） that all of us
as we are （at least； if we will doe as divers before us have done； and
yet dally endeavour to doe） shunning death by the honest example of
other； make our retreate to our Country houses； wherewith all of us
are sufficiently furnished； and there to delight our selves as best we
may； yet withou