I do not so much pity them that may be otherwise eased, but those alone that out of a strong temperament, innate constitution, are violently carried away with this torrent of inward humours, and though very modest of themselves, sober, religious, vertuous, and well-given (as many so distressed maids are) yet cannot make resistance, these grievances will appear, this malady will take place, and now manifestly shews it self, and may not otherwise be helped.

But where am I? Into what subject have I rushed? What have I to do with Nunnes, Maids, Virgins, Widows? I am a Batcheler my self, and lead a Monastick life in a Colledg, næ ego sane ineptus qui hæc dixerim, I confess ’tis an indecorum, and as Pallas a Virgin blushed, when Jupiter by chance spake of Love matters in her presence, and turn’d away her face; me reprimam, though my subject necessarily require it, I will say no more.

And yet I must and will say something more, add a word or two in gratiam Virginum & Viduarum, in favour of all such distressed parties, in commiseration of their present estate. And as I cannot chuse but condole their mishap that labour of this infirmitie, and are destitute of help in this case, so must I needs inveigh against them that are in fault, more then manifest causes, and as bitterly tax those tyrannizing Pseudopolititians, superstitious orders, rash vows, hard-hearted parents, guardians, unnaturall friends, allies (call them how you will) those careless and stupid overseers, that out of worldly respects, covetousness, supine negligence, their own private ends (cum sibi sit interim benè) can so severely reject, stubbornly neglect, and impiously contemn, without all remorse and pitie, the tears, sighs, groans, and grievous miseries of such poor Souls committed to their charge.

How odious and abominable are these superstitious and rash vows of Popish Monasteries, so to bind and inforce men and women to vow virginitie, to lead a single life against the laws of nature, opposite to religion, policie, and humanity, so to starve, to offer violence, to suppress the vigor of youth, by rigorous statutes, severe laws, vaine perswasions, to debar them of that, to which by their innate temperature they are so furiously inclined, urgently carried, and sometimes precipitated, even irresistably led, to the prejudice of their souls health, and good estate of body and mind: And all for base and private respects, to maintain their gross superstition, to inrich themselves and their territories as they falsly suppose, by hindering some marriages, that the world be not full of beggers, and their parishes pestered with Orphanes; stupid politicians, hæccine fieri flagitia? ought these things so to be carried?

better marry then burn, saith the Apostle, but they are otherwise perswaded. They will by all means quench their neighbours house if it be on fire, but that fire of lust which breaks out into such lamentable flames, they will not take notice of, their own bowels oftentimes, flesh and bloud shall so rage and burn, and they will not see it: miserum est, saith Austin, seipsum non miserescere, & they are miserable in the meane time, that cannot pity themselves, the common good of all, and per consequens their own estates.

For let them but consider what fearfull maladies, ferall diseases, gross inconveniences come to both sexes by this inforced temperance, it troubles me to think of, much more to relate those frequent aborts and murdring of infants in their Nunneries (read Kemnitius and others) their notorious fornications, those Spintrias, Tribadas, Ambubeias, &c. those rapes, incests, adulteries, masturbations, Sodomies, buggeries of Monkes and Friers. See Bales visitation of Abbies, Mercurialis, Rodericus à Castro, Peter Forestus, and divers physicians; I know their ordinarie Apologies and excuses for these things, sed viderint Politici, Medici, Theologi, I shall more opportunely meet with them elsewhere.

Illius viduæ, aut patronum Virginis hujus, Ne me forte putes, verbum non amplius addam.