THE COMPARATION OF a Uyrgin and a Martyr.  
AN. M.D.XXXVII.   

¶ The preface. ¶ To the right worshipful Master john Ramsay, lord prior of Merton, Thomas Paynell, canon of Merton sendeth greeting.  
THis little and fruitful book, as you of your most gentile nature, desired me your obedient, I have translated into english, I fear some will say, much more gladly than counnyngly, and that my will was far more ready than my wit: but how so ever I have done, if it may please your lordship, I hold me well paid: for not only in this, but in all other things, my desire is, to do that, that may be acceptable to your good mind: other that be learned, & like not my translation, may set it forth in english more eloquently, and so do both great profit and pleasure to many one.  
Thus god preserve your lordship in good health.   

The compar. of a Vir. and Mar. ERASMUS ROTERO. TO the venerable college of virgins Machabeticas at Coleyne, sendeth greeting in Christ jesus, the son a virgin, and Crown of all virgins.  
YOUR DEVOUT minds good virgins do oft times provoke me, with your delicate and sweet presents, that I should by some manner of writing, not only celebrate and laud your most precious treasure, but also extol and commend unto you, your intent and purpose. In the tone ye be led by a certain religious desire, seeking nothing else but the glory of god, the which in his saints is very glorious: In In the t'other I perceive ye seek for spiritual gain, with your pleasant and sweet gifts, delighting the mouth, diligently labouring to obtain of me those things, that feed the soul: this is a very devout captation, a holy desire, a right wise and gainful change, and most comely and seemly for wise virgins: if I were the man that could bring forth any thing out of the secret coffers of holy Scripture, that might in like manner refresh your minds, as your gifts and presents do refresh my body. You err not in your affection, but you fail in your election: you love that that is best, but you chose not him, that can satisfy your holy desires. And yet because you shall not think me utterly unkind, I do not a little rejoice, to see in you (chosen virgins of god) this good mind, that is, thirsting nothing else but the glory of your spouse. For it is an evident and a sure token of a chaste wife, to reckon her husbands glory her own. For truly he, unto whom you are specially spoused, is above all the children of men the most goodliest, and in all his acts and deeds he is the most glorious: Though one would contemplate and behold on every side the wonderful frame of this world, yet shall he find him more glorious in the redeeming of the world, than in making thereof. 
Gen. 1.  He made the world, and the hole company of angels with turning of an hand: but with his precious blood he redeemed that that he made. The same wisdom, which is Christ jesus, and which also is the wonderful workman of this work, to th'intent to make a thing more marvelous, by divine craft he edified a house eternal, and a temple worthy for god, that is the Church, which he as a king most rich, did freshly garnish and ornate with all manner of spiritual ornamentis. For what is gold, silver, ivory, what is the smaragd, the Topase, the beryl, or the variable shining of precious stones, comparring them to the rich gifts of the holy ghost, which are prophecy, the gift of tongues, the virtue of working miracles, and the curing of infirmities, peace, purity, charity, and sufferance? This whole Edifice, made of lively stones, with a wonderful agreement couched together, riseth up to heaven, 
Act. 4.  Christ being the very corner stone, knyttethe fast together all the hole frame, that it can neither fall in ruin nor decay. These stones are the divers orders of saynctis. 
Pro. 3.  In this Temple he rejoiceth to dwell, like as he saith in an other place: My delectations are to be with the sons of men. He this magnificent Solomon glorifieth himself in these richesses: he is no where more marvelous, no where more glorious, than in his saynctis: to whom he hath vouchsafed this honour, to make them his own membres: and accepting them as his brethren, to make them heirs with him of the heavenly kingdom. He died for all: but yet his most glory and pleasure is in the bendis of Martyrs, and in the companies of virgins. These are the most precious jewels, of which the church of Christ doth so stately advance herself of, the which woteth not whereof to glory, but in the only gifts of her spouse. For what so ever thing is glorious in saynctis, the same is the gift of Christ. O good virgins, the delectations and ornamentis of your spouse, are diverse and variable. when he goth forth, he is beset about with sundry precious virtues, and with innumerable kinds of flowers: but the rosis of martyrs, and lilies of virgins, do most specially please and delight him. And no marvel, though he love that that he is himself, ye whereof he is the very fountain to all other. I am (saith he) Flos campi, 
Cant. 2.  the flower of the field, and the lylie of the valleys. He is the prince of martyrs, for through him martyrs are mighty and strong. He is the chief captain of virgins, for by him virgins do subdue the flesh, and the desires thereof. After that he descended down to the earth, and had spread abroad the fire of charity, winter passed away, and these fresh flowers sprouted up every where in our country. How scarce was virginity before? But after that Christ had once consecrate virginity, how many thousands of young men and women sprang up suddenly through out all the world, which willingly gave themselves to pure chastity for the kingdom of god? After that he, suffering death on the cross, had taught, that they were very happy, that would die for God's sake, how many swarms of men & women came forth, that willingly yea and gladly suffered death for the glory of Christ? Doubtless for this cause it is, that your spouse glorieth in the canticles, where he saith thus, Rise up, haaste you my sweet love and my fair dove, and come. For now winter is paste, the shower is gone, our ground is covered with fresh flowers.  
¶ How barren should our earth have been, if he the same heavenly son had not kindled our hartis with the heat his charity? if he had not watered our minds with the shower of his grace?  
But what flourisheth fairer than the evangelical veer? What is more plentyfulle? what is more lovely? The rosis ruddy hew abideth not long, the beauty of the lily fadeth soon, whereon a certain pagan writeth thus: 
Neither smallage is lively,  
Nor yet the short Lylie.  But those fresh flowers, with which the Church is plentifully furnished, do never wither away. For Christ is the immortal lylie, & giveth immortal grace to his lilies. He is the Rose immortal, whose fresh and fair colour doth never fade, and the same perpetuity he giveth unto his. He is called Flos campi, that is the flower of the field, because of the jews. Fields be apt and meet for tillage. Among the jews he was died with his own precious blood, the which jews Moses and other prophets did ear and till, yet they could never cause them to bring forth such fruits as they looked fore. He was the lylie of the Ualleis among the thorny and untilled gentiles, to whom it is persuaded, that he became man, and was borne of the Virgin Marie without spot of sin. Surely he was the evangelical lily, that god the father so clothed, as never Solomon was arrayed in all his great glory. For why, neither Solomon, nor yet none other, was ever borne of a pure virgin, defiled with no spot of the first parent. Who so ever couple them self by faith to this lily, because they are made one flesh and one spirit with him, they are purged from filthy sins, they receive the fair white garment of innocency, and be also made Lilies. For so in the same place following saith the spouse, 
Cant. 2.  that nameth himself a lily: Like as the lylie is among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. what thing else is the lily among thorns? but a virgin among wives.  
¶ matrimony is an honest thing, but it is beset about with briars and thorns. For such as be married, saith Paul, 
1. Cor. 7.  shall have tribulations of the flesh. If any man doubt, whether matrimony have thorns, let him inquire of married women, what great griefs she endureth, that hath to her husband a froward fellow, a drunkard, a dicer, an adulterer, a waster, what dysplesures grow of kinsfolk, and what of wicked children, and than (if he think it best) let him deny a virgin to be a lylie among thorns? A virgin being free from the cares of this world, mindeth those things that pertain to our lord, how she may please him: She that is married, as it were hither and thither haled and plucked with divers and sundry cares, setteth her mind on many things.  
Surely all they that have taken on them to follow Christ, are lilies, but specially virgins. Among them he the marvelous spouse feedeth and taketh his delight, which is not entertained with every body. 
Cant. 2.  He is my dear darling and I his, which feedeth among the lilies, until the day break, and till the shadows be gone. Such flowers he gathereth, that he may make of them a garland that never withereth away in heaven: like as it is said in another place: 
Cant. 2.  My love is gone down into his garden, unto the sweet smelling beds, that he may refresh himself in the gardayns, and gather lilies. truly of those lilies speaketh the wise man saying, 
Eccl. 39  flourish you flowers as doth the lily, and give sweet savour, and spread out your bows in grace, sing a song of praise, and bless you our lord in his works. The spouse being a virgin, delighteth in virgin's songs. This is the new song, that the synagogue knew not, in the which she was cursed, that brought forth no children. But there are in the gospel innumerable, that sing a new song, which were redeemed from the earth, and called in to the fellowship of angels, because that they neither marry nor defile themself with women, 
Apoc. 14.  but follow the lamb, whither so ever he goeth, and are without spot before the throne of god.  
There be many without spot in the sight of men, but happy are they that appear such before the throne of god: happy are they, which to the laud of their new spouse, do sing a new song, inwardly rejoicing, and to themself demeaning great gladness, that they being pure and chaste, do sing pure and clean ballads in honour of their pure and clean spouse. And oft times your quire to their spouse singeth this melodious song:  
¶ O JESV the Crown of virgins, whom she thy mother conceived, which alone a virgin did bear, accept o moste meekest these our vows.  
¶ O what great purity is in this virgin, he the prince of virgins, and spouse and crown of virgins, was conceived of the heavenly spirit, and borne of a virgin, the glorious beauty of virginity not broken. Of wives the husband is the glory, but of virgin's christ is the glory: The which doth feed among lilies, compassed about with crowns of virgins, highting and adourning his spouses with glory, and yielding to them rewards. Your spouse is a shepherd, which gave his life for his sheep, and is yet still careful for his flock. For daily he saveth them, daily he calleth them home again that stray abroad, daily he cureth, and daily he feedeth them. He hath also his delectations, in which he taketh pleasure, he hath his near fellows, whom he calleth husbands, he hath his playfeeres young maidens, whom he calleth wives.  
In spiritual things there is no difference of sexes, but they are named and called after their age and merits. Christ hath but one spouse, which is the church, she hath many to accompany her, & every one of them may be called a spouse. The spouse self is but one, and yet hath he some, that he dearly loveth, to whom he committeth his wives, so that they also in manner may be called husbands. For if bishops mow rightously be called shepherds, sith there is but one shepherd our lord jesus, what shall than let them to be called husbands. The wives of this world, are stately and proud of the gifts and dignity of their husbands, they show and boast their gay garments and fresh array, for such as have no husbands seem as persons forsaken and destitute. But the spouse jesus, for the despised ornaments of this world, doth gaily height and adorn his spouses with doweries of the soul: for the glory of the flesh, which so soon vanisheth away, he giveth them immortal glory. truly to those spouses, which following the example of the high shepherd, and like valiant champions in defence of his flock, do not refuse to die, he giveth rewards. what rewards? not a garland of oaken leaves, or of laurel, not an image, or a title, or some other like reward, that the world for deeds worthily done is wont to give in recompense: but a garland evermore fresh and flourishing in heaven, and a name written in the book of life, that never shall be blotted out by no age. This delicious and pleasant spouse, delighteth most specially in this company, which for all that, loatheth no well disposed person, be he never so poor.  
¶ There followeth in the foresaid hymn. Whither so ever thou goest, virgins do follow thee, and with laudes singing run still after thee, and with their sweet songs make pleasant noise. Concerning the fashion of the world it is an uncomely thing, to see a virgin willingly rounne after her spouse. But it were a fouler sight, to see many virgins follow one spouse. In things touching the soul, it is otherwise, for there is nothing more goodly, then to see many many virgins, that near accompany one spouse jesu. Nor it is no marvel, if they run after him, as they were wood, for love of their spouse. For he allureth them to him by secret enticements, whose loveliness passeth all human love. 
Psal. 44.  He is the feyrest among the children of men, flowing full of grace are his lips, the whose visage to behold angels esteem most high felicity. He breatheth with his sweet smelling savours on whom he wool, and they on whom he breatheth say: 
Cant. 1.  Draw me after thee, and we shall run in the odour of thy sweet smelling ointments. They can not run, except they be drawn: they can not love, except they be first loved: And they that be already drawn, desire to be more plentifully drawn: they that run, cover to run so fast, that they may approach yet more near to him that they love. truly they felt and perceived his lips to flow full of grace, the which say: 
joan. 6.  O lord whither shall we go? thou hast the words of everlasting life. Al they that profess the name of Christ, follow their shepherd jesus: but they all only his unseparable feres, do follow whither so ever he will go: they follow him even to the very beatings, they follow him even to the very persecution.  
¶ Our lord jesus, what time he was in this world, oft times led after him great and huge multitudes of all sortis of people: but when he should go to Jerusalem to be slain, few did accompany him, but yet fewer, when he bearing his Cross, went toward the Mount of Caluerey. But they which be the very fellows of the spouse, which be true virgins, could not at this point be plucked from their spouse. When he hang upon the cross, Peter, which was thought to have a wife, could no where be found, but the virgins, Marry the mother of jesus and Iohn, abode fast by the cross, the other women stood afar of, and beheld what was done. They follow then, ye and that gladly and willingly: nor they follow him not as dumb persons, but singing ballads, and making sweet melody.  
¶ They that be men's wives have no leisure to be in the dances, they have no leisure, no many times they have no lust to sing: they must please their husbands, they must chide and brawl with their maids and servants, & chastise their children. Our virgins, being free from all care and thought of this world, do nothing else, but in spiritual quires, sing sweet hymns to their spouse. For they ascribe nothing to themself, but give all the glory of their felicity to him, to whom only they own all things. He this lover delighteth in such manner songs, he will, he will his gifts to be song: he hateth the pharisees songis, I fast twice in the Saboth, I give the ten of my goods to the poor, I am not as other men be. The more chaste that a virgin is, the more shamefast she is. Here the voice of a very virgin: 
Luc. 1.  Behold the handmaid of our lord. And he hath seen the humility of his handmaid. In the canticles he calleth his spouse a dove. He desireth to behold her shape, and coveteth to here her voice: 
Cant. 2.  Come saith he, my dove out of the caves of the rocks, out of the holes of the wall: O let me see thy visage, and here thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and fair is thy face. The soul hath his face. The face is most specially esteemed and judged by the eyes: with the eyes we show & declare our intent: also with the eyes with out voice we signify the inward affections of our minds. The eye of a virgin is simple, she envieth not, she lieth not in await to deceive, she suspecteth none evil, she mindeth not ill. The face of such one delighteth the spouse, 
Can. 2.  which a little after saith thus: How fair art thou my love, how fair art thou? Thou haste doves eyes.  
¶ Here some will say, What sweetness is in the complaining and mourning voice of a dove, to delight and please a man with? The nightingale's voice should rather be called to this parable and similitude. The rare and vehement love maketh contynualle complaints, but yet pleasant and most acceptable to the spouse. Here a lamenting dove: I desire to be loosed, 
Phil. 1.  and to be with Christ. 
Rom. 7.  And again: O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? hearken what an other dove saith, Woe is me, 
Psal 119.  that I dwell so long in this world. 
Psal. 136.  And, By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered the Zion.  
¶ These lamentable voices and full of sighings, are most acceptable in the ears of the spouse, in such manner of songs he much delighteth.  
¶ And because they said, O merciful lord accept our vows, it is time, that they now express and declare, what they would opteyn of their spouse: Is it richesses, is it honours, is it pleasures, is it a kingdom, is it long life? For those things care have they none, for the vehement love of their spouse hath utterly brought them to despise those things. What is it than? we pray thee, increase our minds yet more largely, & grant, that we mow utterly be ignorant of all corruption. They acknowledge how great a treasure vyrgynitie is, that is, A clean mind in a body uncorrupt. They also acknowledge, that what so ever he hath given them, he will vouchsafe to increase it, and to heap benefit upon benefit. No virgin is so pure, which hath not, whereby she may yet profit. For you shall scarcely find any virgin, which to th'end the body may be undefiled, offendeth not otherwhile in thought. Nor true virginity resteth not only in the gift of chastity, but all vice of the mind is the corruption of this virginity. Who so ever swerveth from the true faith catholic, his virginity is defiled. 
2. Cor. 11.  Of this pureness speaketh Paul, writing to the Corinthees: I have married you unto one man, to bring a chaste virgin unto Christ: But I fear, lest as the serpent beguiled Eve with his wiliness, even so your wits should be corrupted from the simpleness, which is in Christ jesu.  
¶ A virgin defiled with envy, backbiting, arrogancy, is wounded with corruption: Therefore they pray, that their most munificent spouse will vouchsafe to augment the gifts that he hath given them, and that he wool grant them to be utterly ignorant of all wounds of corruption. why say they utterly? That is neither in mind nor in body. what is to say of all? what so ever the human affection doth move and stir us to. This vow or request might seem unreasonable, ne were it that the spouse is almighty, and most faithful of his promise. He will not that his shall be only like unto him, but also he will them to be the self same. But let us admit, that no man in this life can attain to that, that the quire of virgins doth desire, yet the request of this most thankful choir shall not be made in vain. For that that they here through favour of their spouse are mindfulle of, shall in the resurrection chance them fully through their spouses augmenting.  
There are degrees in the Church militant, and so there be in the church triumphant. I wot not whether I have tarried you longer than I should have done in declaring this hymn: Truly I repent me not, sith it is saint Ambroses'. For beside all other argumentis, the word of three syllables in the end of every dimeter, showeth who is the author. wherein I suppose that man had not so much pleasure in the consent of the metre, as he delighted in the symbol of of the holy Trinity. The church the spouse of Christ hath many hymns, but I wot not whether there be any that sing with more joy and gladness of all persons, than they, which celebrate the spouse in the victories of Martyrs, or triumphs of virgins.  
¶ But now to return again to those two flowers, far passing all other most fragrant, the Rose and the Lily. Like as the death of Christ with his sweet odour drew many to the contempt and despising of this life: so the virginity of Christ alured many a one to the love of chastity. They that are drawn of him, being now themselves made flowers, have drawn other.  
Christ said to Peter: Follow me. 
joan. 21.  How many have followed Peter? Who denieth, but that we be much bound to the holy doctors, the which (every thing being in peace and rest) have taught us the way of our lord? But how many more hath the fragrant sweetness of the martyrs, drawn to the profession of the gospel? Yea how many more the example of virgins? It is a great thing, boldly and connyngely to dispute of the gospel: But the greatest point is, gladly to die for the gospel. It is a great thing, to despise and set nought by the glory and riches of this world, but it is far greater to mortify and slay the flesh with the concupiscencis thereof. And the church knoweth to whom she is bound. The church (next Christ) hath had none in more honour, than they, which willingly and gladly offered their bodies to be cruelly tormented, for the glory of their spouse, and for salvation of the flock, for the which he himself vouchsafed to die. They secondarily were had in honour, which willingly for the kingdom of god gave themself wholly to live chaste. what a great joy and gladness was it to all the Church, when a martyr constantly suffered death for Christis sake? And how great sorrow and lamentation, if any shrank back. Again, How greatly did the church rejoice, if a virgin, that might have been married to a man, would rather put on the holy vail of chastity, and couple herself to her spouse christ? And how great sorrow was there made, if any such did cast of her veil, and would be married to a man? Undoubted the loss of a thing, that is most dear, is very grievous. with what fervent love did christian men in time passed run to the ashes of Martyrs? How holy was the memory of them among all christian men, when daily old men, young men, honest matrons, and virgins, run thick and threefold to the prisons, as it were unto places consecrate to god: when they would kiss the chains, with which they were bound: when the sword, with which they were martyred, was reserved and kept among the holy relics? What memory is more joyful, & more high and holy to the church, than of Martyrs? When do men sing with greater gladness, than in their yearly feastis? The whose afflictions and pains the church calleth victories, their torments triumphs, their deaths births: nor in their celebrations is no manner mourning, but all things full of joy, full of gratulation, full of praising, full of mirth and sport. Nor the eloquence of excellent learned men hath been more showed or set forth in any argument, than in celebrating the laud and praise of martyrs and virgins. Herein Prudentius, in the kind of verses called Liricum carmen, exceeded the great eloquence of Pindarus, he passed the elegancy of Horace, not possisyble to be followed. Herein the trump both of the greeks and latins, soundeth out I wot not what far greater and more divine than verse heroical. In this argument, Chrysostomus, Cyprianus, Ambrose, Hieronymus, and many more than can be numbered, excel Cicero's abundant and flowing style. What thing may we conject to be the cause? Truly the magnitude of the martyrs did minister abundance of eloquence, the ferventness of their minds added strength to their words, and devotion alacrity. Of what matter so ever they writ, their style is plentiful and flowing, But as oft as they take in hand to indite of martyrs and virgins, now as it were by divine inspiration, they sown out, I wot not what thing far passing man's capacity. Those things are not done by man's study, but they are brought to pass by inspiration of the holy ghost, the which will his saints to be so glorified, in the which he desirously goeth about to be seen most glorious. We would grant those things to be done by man, ne were it that god (which inspireth the minds of good men) doth ornate the monuments of martyrs and virgins with so manifold miracles. For where are wicked spirits more tormented? where are more cured of grievous sicknesses and diseases that no physicians could heal?  
What emperor, what king is he, with setting up of any images, titles, steeples, churches, collegis, commanding divine worships, did obtain so great honour ye in this world? Doubtless thus god doth honour his martyrs, the which seemed here poor abjects and wretched caitiffs. Thus he honoureth his virgins, the which being as deed to the world, set surely all their whole hope in their spouse jesu. And they also acknowledge, that what so ever they have, cometh all of the liberal gift of their spouse. But the glory of martyrs doth not lightly glitter and shine but after the death:  
where as virginity even in this life is full gay and glorious. For who is so barbarous, that will not favour a virgin? In the very mids of the ruffling wars the fierce and cruel enemy forbeareth virginity. And if we believe histories, the dumb beasts, ye the hugest, the wildest, & most cruel of them all, bear reverence unto vyrgynitie. How greatly did the Romans in old time honour the religious virgins, called virgins vestales? what a natural worship and glory of virginity is that, which idolaters do acknowledge, which the barbarous enemy doth reverence, which the dumb beasts do perceive, and to which the wild beasts obey? If so great honour be done to the virgins of this world, how moche more honourable is the virgin of Christ? O good virgin, take on the this holy pride, and repute what so ever pleasures or honours this world braggeth of, to be far under thy dignity. It is a holy thing to pride in your spouse, & a devout thing to glory in him, to whom you own all things.  
It is also a sure thing, trusting faithfully in him, to rise and rebel against the world, which braggyngly showeth forth his delectable pleasures. My mind is not at this time to write, what so ever may be said in the laud and praise of martyrs or virgins. You have the books of Cyprian, you have the books of Ambrose, of Tertullian and Hierome, of which the two last, were well near overmuch in admiration of virginity. For the excellency of virginity would not so be extolled, that the praise thereof should be an injury to chaste matrimony. I recite those things most noble virgins for this intent, that you may perceive how happy and fortunate your College is, the whose chance is to possess both those things, which she the rich spouse of Christ the church holdeth most special in this world. For you have in keeping those most fragrant and sweet roses, of the vii brethren of the Maccabees, and of their mother, the whose fecundity brought forth no children to her husband but to god, she fortunately redoubed the loss of her virginity, with the martyrdom of so many sons virgins. She being a virgin brought forth no fruit, for that of all women was given but to one, but yet she brought forth both virgins and martyrs. Of herself she could give none example of virginity, but she performed and did as much as lay in her to do. She taught her children to be virgins, she exhorted them to martyrdom, and would have suffered martyrdom before them, save that she feared their constancy, by reason of their tender youth. And so the glory of vyrginitie chanced not to the mother alike with the children, but touching the martyrdom, the laud of the mother is so much the more, in that she beholding the cruel torments, suffered in each of her little children, what so ever the cruel tormentors could do to the bodies of them. This is more stronger, then by turmenting at one's to be rid from all pain. For the parents are more cruelly tormented in the persecuting of their children than in themself. And that knoweth right well the witty cruelty of tyrants, which wrest out by turmenting of the children in their parent's sight, that they could by no manner of torments get of the parents. How oft saw she being a woman and a mother, her own flesh and bowels torren and rent to pieces? where was now the feeble freiltie of that kind? where was the tender love and pity that is wont to be more vehement in mothers then in men? Surely her devout affection to godward, overcame all human pity, and her fervent faith overcame the feebleness of womanhood. All hail most happy virago, which haste given example of fortitude to all men. All hail most fair little flowers of the church, which as ripe delicacies before your time, you have prevented the springe tide of the gospel, and have made a show of evangelical virtue, before the gospel was showed or known to the world. For as yet this voice of him, which being a virgin, is borne of a virgin, was not hard, 
Mat. 19  Blessed be they, that have given themself to live in chastity for the kingdom of god, And yet the same praise you by prevention have obtained afore hand. 
Mar. 16.  Nor this was not as yet hard, 
Mar. 8.  who so will be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me, but you as fore runners, did adumbrate Christis passion. And now your souls in heaven do follow the lamb, whither so ever he goeth: But as for your undefiled bodies (which were partners of your torments and pains, so in time to come you shall receive them to the fellowship of everlasting felicity) there was no place more comely nor more convenient to keep them in, than in a holy college of virgins.  
¶ Now to you good virgins, that be the keepers of this so great a treasure, my words do them address. You have in these young children both an example of chastity, which you ought to follow, & a crown of martyrdom, that you should extol, gloryfienge your spouse, which strove in them, which in them got the victory, which in them doth triumph. He hath in one self basket Lilies mingled with roses. The bright beauty of the tone striveth with the t'other, nor yet the tone is not dusked or defaced of the t'other: but the tone by reason the t'other is with him, doth the more gaily glitter and shine, like as when ivory (as one said) is mingled with purple, or when a shining precious stone is set in yolow gold. The strife is so doubtful, whether is more glorious a martyr or a virgin, that if the matter should be called in contention, I dare not boldly say, which of them should be preferred the tone before the t'other. Both the tone and the t'other are consecrate in Christ: but yet we are more bound to his cross and passion, than to his virginity. He giveth to them the honourable title of blessedness, which for the kingdom of god give themself to live in chastity: but yet he requireth the following of the cross. It seemeth a greater thing, that when he requireth it not, yet it maketh him blessed, that willingly will perform it. And in the time of persecution it is a right great thing, for the glory of god to have the mind alway prompt and ready to suffer all kinds of deaths.  
But times have like as the See hath, his tranquillities and quiet caumes. And other while one may leefully escape the persecutors hands. But if one be driven to the last extremity, the death of the body is the end of grievous torments, and the beginning of felicity. A virgin hath a long and a perpetual strife with her household enemy, the which she can neither lawfully slay, nor escape by flight. This household foe is the flesh, the which whether we will or will not, we must carry about, now and then rebelling against the spirit. And that it shall not seem easy to any man to subdue this enemy, we have red of those that were overcome with wanton enticements of the flesh, the which could not be vanquished with the very terror and dread of death.  
¶ Hitherto our collation hath pondered, whether of those two should be more stronger: but me seemeth that virginity in this, is the happier, that (as I by occasion said afore) the flower of martyrdom, doth not freshly spread & flourish, but after death: where as virginity hath her bright beauty, her fair fragrancy, her grace and dignity in this world. Uirgynytie is the flower of the soul and mind, but in the visage, in the eyes, and in all the whole state of the body, there shineth a certain angelical pureness, and a flourishing clearness, not acquainted with old age, here as it were minding & thinking to be, that all we look fore after this life, which live devoutly and godly in christ jesu. The mind whole and uncorrupt sparpleth abroad in the body her vigour and strength, like as the mind infect with vices showeth in manner a glimmering light, or rather maketh a grisly show in the self shape of the body. For carnal pleasure is a fowl blemish to a man's own body. Why do not the bodies of good blessed men wax old in the resurrection? because now the soul shall rule them, which woteth not what old age meaneth. As death cometh of sin, so doth sickness and age. Take sin away, and age shall seem the less: and if age chance to come, it shall chance more flourishing. And therefore a virgin receiveth now in this world some part of her felicity, exhibiting in this mortal body a certain spece or fachion of the immortality to come. The princes of this world are no more careful for their soldiers, than they be for the thing that they come of, of the which when need requireth, they gather young soldiers, the which thing if it should fail, how should they furnish an army? And now for a certain years there hath been no such persecution under christian princes, as was used in time passed under Nero, Domitian, julian, and Maxentius.  
But whether the Christian faith be in better caase under these or no, it lieth not in me to define, surely by them it was drawn into a narrow point. But how so ever it be, if there should again chance persecution, the which would require a martyr, where is it more likely that such a company should be gathered, than of them the which despising all the falls flattering vanities of this world, have consecrated themselves holly to jesus the celestial spouse, the which willingly have crucified their flesh together with the vicis and concupiscencis thereof, and for the love of their spouse, have contemned and set at nought that same pleasure, for the favour of which only many mortal men desiren evermore here to live. A true virgin doth differre very little from a martyr. A martyr suffereth the executioner to mangle his flesh: a virgin daily doth with good will mortify her flesh, she being in manner a tormentor of herself. It is somewhat more mastery to tame an enemy taken, than to kill him. A martyr delivereth his body to be persecuted: A virgin keepeth her body in low subjection, and maketh it obedient unto the spirit. wherefore shall the virgin of Christ tremble and fear the handling of the executioner? Shall she require richesses, delicacies, worldly pomp, worldly wealth, or worldly pleasures, which causen other to be very loath to leave this life? All these things she hath now clean forsaken. Shall not she, which loveth nothing in this world, which is deed to the world, whose life is only Christ, which daily maketh her turtyls mournings, coveting to be nearer joined to her dear beloved spouse, & to be embraced & clipped of him, will she not (I say) gladly deꝑt out of this wretched body, in the which she woteth well she travaileth as a pilgrim far from her lord? what men have suffered the torments of martyrdom more marvelously and strongly than virgin Martyrs, Agnes, Cecilia, Agatha, and other their fellows innumerable? And therefore when a virgin is delivered to the executioner, she doth not begin her martyrdom, but maketh an end of that that she began long before. If those things seem to any man over hard high and difficile, let him remember, that the profession of a virgin is above the powers of man, and equal with the dignity of angels. But all they that wear black veils, are not virgins. For like as they (according to saint Paul's doctrine) which are true widows in deed, 
1. Timo. 5.  be discerned from those, which by a wrong name are called widows: and as that widow, which liveth in delights of this world, is said to be dead: right so a virgin, which loveth any other thing in this world than her spouse, is not a virgin. There are in the gospel wise virgins, 
Mat. 25.  which by manifold works of mercy and pity, have so provided for themself, that oil in their lamps shall not fail: there are in like manner foolish virgins. And Hieremie bewaileth such unwise virgins: 
Tren. 1.  for the dignity of this name is nothing meet and agreeable for her, the which although her body hath not been touched of man, yet her mind hath been defiled and spotted with filthy and unclean thoughts. She that liveth single against her will, is married: and she that would be corrupted, if she might leefully, is already corrupted. It is a thing of greatest difficulty, to repress and keep down all cogitations and inward thinkings of a wavering mind: and yet against them assailing, there must be defence made with prayers, reading of holy books, fastings, devout and godly occupations: for why to assent to them is very poison. Eva the first virgin, did common and talk with the serpent, and thereof sprang all evils: her eyes were not chaste, the which the wanton intycement of the flattering apple did adulterate and defile. The gay costly apparel, the painted face, the pleasant and merry inditings of young men, the proper knacks and gifts sent to and fro, are plain tokens and signs that virginity dieth. For whose pleasure doth a virgin ones dedicate to Christ, ornate and trim herself? Why doth she covet the company of young men, the which took on her the veil of religion because the world should not see and behold that that was consecrate to the spouse Christ.  
A woman that is married, doth deck & trim herself to please her husbands eyes: but why should a virgin that is married to Christ make herself gorgeous and gay for any earthly man's pleasure?  
Hark what she should say by the mouth of a learned poet, but a pagan, 
For whom should I make me fair & gay,  
Or whom to please, do my diligennce  
When of him, that of my fresh array  
The only cause is, I have the absence.   
If she so did neglect to make her fresh, because her husband was absent: how dare a virgin make herself frisk & galtard in this world, the whose spouse is in heaven? To what intent doth she that is ones betrothed to Christ, stand looking in a glass? Yea she should contemplate and behold herself in the clear fountain of holy scripture. Why doth she array herself in those garments, with which he is offended? This cleanliness in the eyes of your spouse are very dirty spots, this bright beauty but sluttish beggary, these sweet savours but stinking smells. He loveth a pure spirit, a clean soul, and a well painted mind. What so ever the world hath, it is theirs, that make themself gorgeous and gay for the world: the virgin of Christ is more richly arrayed with despising of those things, than with the abundance of them. She is more comely appareled with her hears clipped of, & her holy veil, than any bride trimmed in silks, gold, precious stones, and purple. For the dissembled beauty, set out with feigned colours, hath ever been disallowed of the gentiles. The spouse of Christ hath as many fresh garments, that make her gay in the sight of god, as she for her spouses sake despised ornaments of this world, for precious stones she is ornated and decked with virtues, in stead of pourpull she hath charity, for gold, wisdom, for feigned colours simpleness of mind, for silks chastity and shamefastness: for broochs and jewels, sobrenes and temperance in all her words and deeds. The fair beauty of chastity can not be defiled with sluttish garments.  
¶ It doth appear by old monuments and writings, how high and how laudable a preise it was for virgins, to wash the feet of miserable creatures, to wash poor folks clothes, to attend upon sick folk and serve them lowly, and for the love of Christ to handle and touch their bodies full of sores and botches. A virgin slubbered & soiled with those things, is most fair and beautiful in the sight of Christ. But for so moche as the institution of holy and devout virgins, is now otherwise, let them strive among themselves in the offices and works of charity, and prepare with their hands, wherewith they may help and secure the poor and needy. And if it hap a virgin at some time to have communication with secular persons, let this be her study, that they may go away from her amended by her talking, and she herself nothing appaireth. Let the example of the first virgin make you more wary and sly, the which being corrupted by speaking with the serpent, threw herself into lamentable misery. A young man with his sliper countenance, with his wanton eyes, and with his rebaud tongue, is worse than any serpent. See that you follow the new virgin, leader and princess of your institution, she talketh not with the serpent, but being close shut within her secret chaumbres, talketh with the angel, and thereof began all our health. A virgin that talketh with an unchaste young man, speaketh with a serpent. A virgin which with devout vows and prayers calleth upon god, which hath her meditation in holy books, speaketh with the angel, or rather with her spouse. Whether of these two is most sure? whether is more honest? whether is more magnificent?  
Wherefore if at any time the desire of those things, the which as right sweet & noble the world braggyngely boasteth, shall tikyl your minds: call to remembrance as the truth is, that you have not foregone those things, but to your great lucre to have made a change. And therefore there is nothing more unfortunate than those, which letted by carnal lusts, can neither use the commodities of this world, which they most desire, nor yet their own pleasures. The worldly virgins have their play fellows, they have their ornaments, their sports and pastimes, their songs and their dances, but these things such as they be, they have no longer than their fresh flourishing and tender youth endureth. But as all these things are to the virgins of christ true and inward pleasures, so they be everlasting. These worldly virgins setting a side the garland of virginity, do take and put upon them the mantel of marriage, without doubt (as saint Paul saith) a plain token of bondage and thraldom. But virgins dedicate to god, be alway kept close for their spouse, lest the world an adulteror should see them. For jesus is a jealous lover, he can not suffer to have his deer darlings set and showed forth to the sight of the world. But whether is it more pleasant and more wealthy to be the hand maid of a married man, 
Luc. 1.  or the hand maid of Christ? Ecce inquit, ancilla domini, Behold (saith she) the hand maid of our lord. Who so ever is truly the hand maid of our lord, is lady of the world. O good virgin, interpretate what thing thy veil betokeneth, it is the sign of a kingdom, and not of bondage. They that are veiled and covered for their husbands pleasures, do profess a worldly bondage. Nor the commandment of married men, good virgins, is not always light and easy. Often times where you wend to have had husbands, you chance upon masters hard to please, upon such as are froward and never contented, upon such as be cursed and knavish, upon dicers, drunkerdes, riotttous spenders, upon such as be greatly indebted, upon such as be scabbed and scurvy, upon frantic fellows, and upon fighters, besides many other more grievous and wicked conditions or diseases, which I speak not of. More over there followeth care of the household, care of children, business of kinsfolk and friends, strife in the world, lack of children, burying of husbands. For why the affliction of the flesh is of no simple sort, the which saint Paul signifieth unto them, that will rather choose wedlock than virginity. My purpose is not now by reason of this declamation to descrive, what so ever grief or incommodity followeth marriage. And yet to learn them by experience is but a wretched wisdom: better it were to come by the knowledge of them by reading the books of learned men. But in case you will not give credence to learned men's writings, than call unto you good virgin one of them, the whose chance was to be very well and welthylye married, and desire her, that she will vouchsafe to tell and declare to you the true story of her marriage: you shall here such reckonings, that you shall nothing repent you of your purpose.  
Now lay before your eyes, the examples of virgins, the whose chance was most unluckily and unwelthily to be bestowed & married, of which there is a huge great company: and think thus, that what, so ever chanced to them, might chance to you. What so ever yvelles, what so ever calamities and miseries chance to them, that be married to a mortal man, can in no wise hurt or grieve those, the which truly, the which with heart and mind marry themself to the immortal spouse jesu. Believe me, your spouse jesus is in nothing sorowfulle or heavy, but in all things pleasant and lovely. He seemed some time to have neither fair shape nor goodly beauty, but he was never more lovely, than when for the love of his spouse he did upon him that same shape and form. What maid is she, that would not make far much more of her wooer, if he being a noble man's son, would forsake his father's riches & treasure, & clothed with a homely husbands weed, would run to her cottage, being a poor maid to the intent to obtain her to his wife? But what if he refuse not to be grievously wounded in hasting him to come to his entirely beloved spouse? Should not he, so poorly clothed and all bloody with his wounds, seem more lovely? without doubt he should so seem to her that loveth him. Now than think with yourselves, whether your spouse should with a stately countenance be of you disdained, which for your sake left his father's most royal palace, descended down into this world, and cloaking and hiding the majesty of his divine nature, took upon him the shape and form of a servant, 
Phil. 1.  humbling himself to the very igmony and shame of the cross. A monastery to a virgin that loveth her spouse, is not a prison (as some sklaunderously do say) but it is a paradise. It is not leeful for you to wander and walk about whither your lust leadeth you: pardie this thing for virgins is neither sure urenor honest, and therefore you should not desire it. Except peradventure the example of Dina pleaseth you. Uirgynitie is neither sorowfulle nor heavy, but a pleasant thing. Uyrgynitie hath her fair orchards to walk in holy scripture, in the which she may sport and play among that most goodly company of her spouse. O good lord with what manner company? With Tecla, with Cecilia, with Agatha, with Theodora, with Eustochio, and other innumerable. Also virginity hath her spiritual garlands, made and wrought with fresh flowers of divers virtues: she hath her sweet pommaunders and savours, so that virgins may say with saint Paul, Bonus odor sumus deo in omni loco, That is to say, We be a good savour unto god in every place. Also the spouse hath his delicate and sweet spiritual pomanders, of which the fragrant sweetness excelleth all aromatic savours. what is more amiable than the name of jesus? His name is a sweet smelling savour, that is sparpled abroad. The virgins being drawn with that savour, to follow him as fast as they can run, what tediousness can they have or feel in this life?  
¶ A virgin also hath her sweet pommaunder, wherewith in like manner she pleaseth her spouse.  
Dum esset, 
Cant. 1.  inquit, rex in accubitu suo, not dus mea dedit odorem suum, That is to say, when the king sat at his table, he smelled my sweet nardus. 
Mar. 14.  And in the gospel when that Christ should be married to his spouse the Church, the woman sinner powered sweet smelling ointments upon him.  
Uyrgyns have their haps of David, they have the Psalter, they have their songs and spiritual hymns, with which in their hartis they sing continually to god, giving thanks, lauding and beseeching, and sometime with dulce and soft sighings desiring the presence of their spouse, if he at any time absent himself for a season: for otherwhile he declineth and passeth forth by, not to the intent he will leave them, but to redintegrate and renew his love with them. What thing have these worldly virgins, be they never so fortunate, that may be compared to these solaces and pleasures? The place can not seem straight and narrow to them, to whom within a short space after the unmeasurableness of heaven is opened: nor they can not think themself to be sklenderlye accompanied, to whom within a little while shall chance, to be in the fellowship and company of all saints. Why should I not say within a little while? For how long I pray you, is all the whole time of this present life? in case it happen a man to live till he be very old: which thing to how many doth it chance? Wherefore good virgins, acknowledge your felicity and wealth, and look that you have no spite nor envy, that the world hath his jugglings of vain delights and pleasures, acknowledge your dignity, and look not you for the sluttish and filthy merchandise of the world. He saith, 
Cant. 1.  Nis ite cognoveris pulcherrima inter foeminas, O most feyrest among women, but if thou know thyself. The spouse thretteneth his virgins, unless they will acknowledge their blessedness. But they acknowledge it not, which repent, that they have bound themselves to live a holy chaste life, nor they which gape and look after worldly vanities and pleasures. call unto your remembrance, to whom you be spoused, and love and stick to him with all your very hearts, in whom ones you have all things the which are joyful and magnificent. Let the example of the most holy young men animate and courage you to be constant, the which shall a great deal the more rejoice & be glad, that their bodies as pledges be reserved & kept in your College, if they mow perceive, that you be followers of those their virtues, with the which they pleased god. They ornate and garnyshe your religious company: so in like manner see that you with integrity of life and most pure and honest conversations hight them again.  
They chase rather to suffer many and divers kinds of torments and pains, then they would once taaste hoggis flesh. Look that you repute & think it to be hoggis flesh, what so ever is displesant to your spouse. If you will be emulaters and followers of this most goodly conflict, you shall be part takers of their glory, by the help of your spouse Christ jesus, which with the father and the holy ghost liveth and reigneth eternally.  
AMEN. ¶ Thus endeth the comparation of a virgin and a Martyr.   

LON. DINI IN AEDIBUS THOMAE BERTHELETI REGII IMPRESSORIS.  
CUM PRIVILEGIO.