A CATALOGUE OF VIRTVOUS WOMEN Recorded in the Old & New Testament.  
1 Cor. 7. 16. What knowest thou O Wife, whether thou shalt save thy Husband? Or how knowest thou O Man, whether thou shalt save thy Wife?  
LONDON, Printed by W. Godbid, for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little-Britain, 1671.   

To the Right Honourable the Lady Grace, Vicountess Chaworth; The Lady Margaret, Countess of Salisbury; The Lady Dorothy, Wife to Anthony, Son and Heir to the Right Honourable the Lord Ashley-Cooper; The Lady Elizabeth, Wife to the Right Honourable the Lord Annesley; The Lady Anne Manors, Daughters to the Right Honourable John Earl of Rutland, and the Lady Frances his worthy Countess lately Deceased.  
Right Honourable and renowned Ladies,  
THE favourable acceptation which this small present found with your Virtuous and Honourable Mother, encouraged me to communicate it to other Virt vous Ladies and Gentlewomen, who were very desirous of a Copy of it; which desires growing ample and importunate, made me weary of writing, and willing (though not ambitious) to impart it to the Press: Partly to Commemorate the Honourable acceptation and partly to congratulate and gratify the respects it found.  
Moreover, by much perusal, I perceived that I had left out many memorable Persons of high account in Holy Scriptures, wherefore to make all complete, and to leave a Living Monument of those Resplendent Virtues that are Recorded of the Female Sex, which will undoubtedly excite good Women to Godly imitation, I have presumed to make this Paper public for the Honour of that Sex which God hath so highly Honoured, as the most Acute Aretius observes upon the Pious women's coming first to the Sepulchre of our Saviour, Luk. 24. 1. Totum hoc ad gloriam Muliebris Sexus pertinere, That it did all belong to the glory of the Female Sex; and Learned Polanus saith on the same occasion, Syntag. Theol Christ. Page 149 at the letter C Column 1. Resurrectio Christi primum ab Angelo annunciata est mulieribus quia ●o●●it Deus sic ornare pietatem illarum quarum Zelus pro Gloria Christi fervidior erat quam Virorum. The resurrection of Christ (saith he) was first told by the Angel to the Women because their zeal for the Glory of Christ was hotter than the men's.  
Confiding therefore, that it cannot be condemned for flattery; (for none can inherit such Glory but they that imitate them) nor can it provoke envy o● disdain (which is so clear a record of the Holy Scriptures,) Neither doth it derogate from the man, but dignify him. (For as he is her head, so she is his glory, 1. Cor. 11. 3, 7. And a Virtuous woman is a Crown to her Husband, Prov. 12. 4.) I humbly crave your Honour's allowance and acceptation of the Publication, in your Noble and Religious Mother's stead, to whom the Dedication was designed: And so with supplications for your Honour's long Health and Happiness, I rest  
Your Honours duly devoted and most humble servant, William Barton.   

A CATALOGUE OF VIRTVOUS WOMEN Recorded in the Old & New Testament.  

'tIS a famous Character  
Which I oft have heard of Her,  
Corresponding to the Fame  
Of her Noble Father's Name.   

Thus Religion understood,  
Often runneth in a blood:  
And, for multitude we find  
Most-what of the woman▪ kind.   

This is still the true renown,  
Virtue! which puts envy down:  
So the Sacred Book defines  
All the Ancient Heroines.   

1 Pet. 3. 6. Gen▪ 17. 15.  
Sarah that obeyed the word  
Of her Dear, and called him Lord,  
Though her own Name mounts so high,  
And a like doth Signify.   

Gen. 27. 46. & Vers. 12.  
Good Rebeckah grieved to death  
With the Heathenish Dames of Heth:  
Wishing him the Princely place  
That was Principal in grace.   

Mat. 2. 18. Gen. 35. 19 Jer. 31. 15.  
Beauteous Rachel, whose sad cross,  
Lack of Children, seemed as loss:  
For as loss it wass resented,  
And as mournfully lamented.   

See Diod. on Mat. 2. 16. etc. and Jer 31. 15.  
Thus by Faith she prophesied  
Of the Bethlehem Babes that died:  
Mothers tears, and children's blood  
Made a lamentable Blood.   

Gen. 30. 22. Ch. 41. 28, 36. Ch. 47. 25.  
Yet at length her Prayers obtained,  
Such a Seed as Ruled and Reigned:  
Joseph, Egypt's Foster Father,  
Who did large Provisions gather.   

1 Sam. 10. 21, 24. Gen. 48. 16. Ch. 49. 22.  
Benjamin, from whom did spring  
Israel's first exalted King:  
And from Joseph soon ensued  
Ephraim's populous multitude.   

Exod. 6. 20. ch. 2. 2. etc. 1. 21.  
Next is to be Registered  
Resolute good Jochebed,  
For, three months she hid her Son  
Th' Inquisition so to shun.   

Exod. 2. 4, 9 Heb. 11. 23.  
Miriam next, that lent her hand  
(Fearing not the King's Command,)  
To secure the Babe from slaughter,  
Kindly saved by Pharoahs' Daughter.   

Exod. 2. 9 etc.  
Whom the beauteous Babe did please▪  
Weeping in the Bulrushes.  
And her pity and her purse▪  
Hired for him an Hebrew Nurse.   

Ibidem.  
Witty Miriam calls her Mother  
To be Nurse unto her Brother:  
So the Serpent and the Dove  
Met alike in Miriam's Love.   

Micah. 6. 2. Numb. 36. 59  
So was she recorded One  
With her Brethren so well known:  
One in their Levitick Stock,  
One in Conduct of the Flock.   

Numb. 27. 3. ch. 36. 10.  
And the Daughters we must add  
Of the good Zelopehad:  
That were free from all Defection▪  
And still followed God's direction.   

Ch. 27. 4, 7—  
That could plead their own just right,  
well approved in Gods own sight:  
And a Precedent became  
For the Females rightful claim.   

Verse 8. See the Postscr. Note ●.  
And did prove Estates to fix  
With the true inheretrix:  
Which by Reason should withdraw,  
Th' Error of the Salic Law.   

Isa. 49. 23.  
For we find by Scripture search  
Nursing Mothers to the Church:  
And that Queens as well as Kings▪  
Are ord ordained to such high things.   

Josh. 15. 19 Psal. 87. 7.  
Acsah too that asked a blessing,  
Granted at her first addressing:  
Th' upper and the neither Springs,  
Which import far higher things.   

Ruth. 1. etc.  
Naomi for faith excelling,  
Whiles with hateful Heathens dwelling:  
And when plunged in deep distress  
Was upheld by Humbleness.   

Josh. 6. 17. Ruth▪ 1. 17. Mat 1. 8.  
Rahab too, and Virtuous Ruth,  
Converts that embraced the truth▪  
Both enroled by grace Divine  
In our Blessed Saviour's Line.   

Judg. 4. 4. etc.  
Deb'rah Wife of Lapidoth,  
Prophetess and Princess both:  
That arose by God's command  
As a Mother in the Land▪   

Vers. 14,—  
That did call a War, and carry it  
Spite of Siseras' Iron Chariot:  
And did startle (to the best)  
Brave Resolves in Barach's breast.   

Jndg. 4. 21. Ch. 5. 14.  
Jael too for courage crowned  
Nayling Sisera to the ground:  
Whose blessed honour did augment,  
Past all women's in the Tent.   

Judg. 13. 23. Heb. 11. 33.  
And the Wife of Manoah,  
Her good Husband's prop and stay:  
Mother of the Nazarite  
Magnified for faith and fight.   

1 Sam. 1. 18, 27. Ch. 2. 22.  
Hannah that revived by Prayer,  
And obtained a Son and Heir:  
Vowed him freely to the Lord,  
With her Husband's joint accord.   

Chap. 2. 1, 22. Luk. 1 46▪  
And presents him most complete  
With her Gratulation great:  
Whose inspired heart and tongue  
Hint the Holy Virgin's Song.   

1. Sam. 4. 19  
And the Wife of Phinehas,  
For a Zealous Saint she was,  
More lamenting Israel's fall,  
Than her own loss, life and all.   

1. Sam. 4. 20.  
Troubled that the Ark was taken▪  
Israel's glory so forsaken:  
Calls her dear Child Ichabod,  
Grieving for the Ark of God.   

1 Sam. 25. 18, 31.  
Abigail that durst engage  
To subdue a Soldier's rage,  
Courted David, sought and served him,  
From a rash Revenge preserved him.   

Verse▪ 23.  
Wins him with Civility,  
Wisdom and Humility:  
Of his greatness prophesied▪  
And e'er long became his Bride.   

2 Sam. 20. 16.  
And that peaceable good spirit▪  
Of immortal fame and Merit:  
She that at the Siege of Abel  
Carried all so amicable.   

Ibidem.  
Talking with the Royal Captain,  
Of the fears the Town was wrapped in▪  
How, said she, canst thou take joy  
God's Inheritance to destroy?   

Ibidem.  
Far from me be such a fury,  
Said the Captain, I▪ le assure ye:  
Only Sheba's body bring,  
That hath clashed against the King.   

Ibidem.  
Then she treats with all the Town▪  
Cries the Traitorous Rebel down,  
Gets his head cast o'er the wall,  
And forthwith appeaseth all.   

Pro. 31. 1. Mat. 1. 6.  
And the Queen we count upon.  
That instructed Solomon:  
Princess in the Royal Line,  
Prompting Oracles Divine.   

1 King 10. 1. Mat. 12. 42.  
And the Queen of famous Note,  
That did come from parts remote  
In her zeal to seek the Lord;  
As both Testaments record.   

Ibidem.  
That with Solomon did consult,  
Ask Questions difficult:  
And the Heaven-inspired King  
Answered her to every thing.   

Ibidem.  
That admired the Works she saw,  
And his Oeconomick Law:  
Most of all his rare Ascent  
As he to the Temple went.   

Ibidem.  
'Tis a true report said she  
Which at home I heard of thee▪  
But by what I now behold,  
Lo! the one half was not told.   

Ibidem. Verse 9  
Blessed be the Lord thy God,  
And thy People I applaud,  
That such Oracles may hear,  
From a Prince to them so near.   

1 Kings 17. 13.  
She that first Elijah fed  
With the last bit of her bread:  
But by faith which she embraced,  
Neither Meal nor Oil did waste.   

2 Kings 4. 6.  
And that faithful Widow too  
That had vessels not enough  
To contain the Liquor filled,  
Which by Miracle distilled.   

2 Kings 4 36. Heb. 11. 35.  
And the Shunamites good Wife  
Who received her Dead to Life:  
Whom Elisha did requite  
That did such a Guest invite.   

2 Kings 5. 1.  
And the little Captive Maid  
From her native Land conveyed,  
That did wait on Naaman's Wife,  
And put fair to end the strife.   

Vers. 3, 24.  
Would to God (said she) my Master  
Were (in spite of all disaster)  
With the Prophet, that doth dwell  
In Samarias' CITADEL.   

Vers. 3. 14, 15.  
For he would undoubtedly  
Cure him of his Leprosy:  
So he went and was made whole  
Both in Body and in Soul.   

2 Chr. 34. 22, 26. Mat. 1. 10.  
Hulldah dwelling in the College,  
Perfect in prophetic knowledge:  
That did comfort King Josiah,  
(Grandchild to King Hezekiah▪)   

Vers. 28. 24.  
And assured his peaceful end,  
For even death must stand his Friend:  
Though God's wrathful indignation  
Scorched the following Generation.   

Vers. 25.  
And the Prophetess was bold  
To denounce the wrath foretold:  
For their sin so far incensed,  
That the wrath could not be quenched.   

Ester 4. 14.  
Royal Ester, most religious,  
Born as for a time prodigious:  
With her Maidens mourned and prayed,  
Staked her life for Israel's aid.   

Chap. 7. 6.  
Coped with Haman, got the day,  
Which advanced Mordecay:  
And if any Women be  
Types of Christ, 'tis such as she.   

Thus the Testament hath told  
Worthy Women of the Old:  
Now great Ladies take a view  
Of the Worthies of the New.   

Luk. 1. 6. Vers. 44.  
First Elizabeth admire,  
Whose Obedience was entire:  
Whose sweet Babe within her Womb  
Leaped for joy that Christ was come.   

Luk. 2. 37. Chap. 7. 38.  
Aged Anna that did pray  
Instantly both night and day:  
Marry that did weep as fast,  
Till her tears all price surpassed.   

Luk. 10. 39  
Th' other Mary we must mention,  
Who to Christ gave great attention:  
For the better part she chose,  
That which she could never lose.   

John 11. 2. Mat. 26 13.  
This was also she that shed  
Precious Spikenard on his head▪  
Which to such account did come  
As must pass through Christendom.   

Luk. 11. 38. John 11. 5.  
And good Martha must be numbered,  
Though with two much care encumbered:  
One expressly said to be  
Loved of Christ among the three.   

John 11. 22.  
For she was a sound Believer,  
Though her Brother's death did grieve her:  
And (confiding) told our Lord  
He could raise him at a Word.   

Mark. 12 44. 2 Cor. 9 7.  
And the Widow whose Gratuity  
Passed the Rich men's Superfluity:  
Though two Mites was all her living,  
So much prized is cheerful Giving.   

Mark 7. 26. Mat. 15. 20.  
And the Greek Syro-Phoenician  
Who so pressed her bold petition:  
Term of Dog she overcomes,  
Dogs (said she) may eat the crumbs.   

Ibidem.  
So she stoutl▪ stood the trial,  
And misdoubted no Denial:  
For she knew she should prevail,  
And her Faith did never fail.   

Matt 9 20.  
Such a Faith did Christ avouch  
Hers to be that stole a touch:  
For, said that believing Soul,  
If I touch I shall be whole.   

John 4. 26.  
She of Sychar made acquainted  
With Messias, (Gods Anointed)  
She made all the Town to know,  
They believed and found it so.   

John 19 25. Luk. 2. 35.  
And of them that so surpass  
Was the Wife of Cleophas,  
Sympathising in the smart,  
That did pierce the Virgin's heart▪   

Ibidem. See Postcript Note the third.  
And the Virgin's Sister there,  
That did like affection bear:  
And Salome, who likewise  
Did so strongly Sympathise.   

Luk. 8. 2. Mat. 27. 46.  
And that Godly Convert then  
Called Mary Magdalen:  
Who last served our Saviour stain,  
And first saw him raised again.   

Acts 9 39 ch. 17. 34.  
Tabytha that did prepare  
Garments for the poor to wear:  
Damaris that clavae to Paul  
When the Learned neglected all.   

Acts 12. 14.  
Rhoda that knew Peter's Voice,  
And thereat did so rejoice,  
That she strait ran in, and said,  
Here's the Man for whom we prayed.   

Acts 16. 14. etc.  
She whose heart the Lord did open  
To attend to what was spoken:  
And her heart set open (to teach her,)  
Sets her house so to the Preacher.   

Rom. 16. 8.  
Phoebe that did service pay  
To the Church of Cenchrea:  
And Priscilla that did purchase  
Thanks of all the Gentile-Churches.   

Ver. 6, 12.  
Marry too, a Saint illustrious,  
And for Saints dear sakes▪ Industrious:  
So Tryphaena's Works import,  
And Triphosa's came not short.   

2 Tim. 1. 5. ch. 3. 15.  
Lois, next (as Scripture saith)  
In whom dwelled unfeigned faith:  
And Eunice praised as high,  
Which two trained up Timothy.   

2 John 1. etc.  
And the Lady called Elect  
With the Robes of Virtue decked:  
And her Children from their youth  
Walking steadfast in the Truth.   

Rom. 16. 15. Phil. 4. 3. 2 John 13.  
Some but named are set down,  
And a Name is some Renown:  
Here a Sister, there a Wife,  
Owned in the Book of Life.   

Phil. 4. 3. Luk. 8. 3.  
Women then as well as men  
Have their praise by Scripture Pen:  
Women of their substance lent  
To our Lord with one assent.   

Luk. 8. 3.  
One of these was good Susanna,  
And the Noble Dame Joanna  
(Herod's Stewards Wife) was one,  
And a many more unknown.   

Luk. 23. 27. Vers. 4●. 55.  
Women did with mournful breath,  
Most of all lament his death:  
Women at his Grave did grieve  
On the Sacred Sabbaths Eve.   

Luk. 23. 50. chap. 24. 1.  
And that past, they did not fear  
To embalm his Body there:  
And had there the best inspection,  
First, into his Resurrection.   

Acts 17. 4, 12.  
Lastly, to give all their due,  
Famous Women, and not few,  
Were converted, and straight way  
At the Gospel's spring of day.   

Wherefore to conclude the story  
Of this Faithful Female glory,  
One thing more I must annex  
In the Honour of your Sex.   

Mat. 1. 27. Luk. 1. 44, 48.  
One of yours excelled all other,  
That was both a Maid and Mother▪  
Whom all Generations shall  
Blessed Virgin-Mother call.   

Luk. 1. 32. Vers. 46.  
Mother of Almighty God,  
Celebrated all abroad:  
Yet was she of meek behaviour  
Magnifying Christ our Saviour.   

Heb. 1. 6. Luk. 2. 10.  
Whom all Angels evermore  
Are commanded to adore,  
And with joy they all obey,  
Witness this Triumphant Day.   
FINIS.   

The Postscript.  
NOte 1. For the distich in Italian Character page 2. Take this following if you think it fit, 
Infants (of both Sexes some)  
Suffered bloody Martydom.   
Though some Interpreters say, that the Male Children only suffered; but that could hardly be: See the text in Jer. 31. 18. and Reverend Bishop Hall, in his Contemplations of Herod and the Infants, saith thus: All the Infants of Bethlehem shall suffer for this one.  
Note 2. The Salic Law is a Law of France, whereby the Crown of France cannot fall to a Woman; The Original and Injustice of it, and how confuted and condemned from this Precedent of Zelopohads Daughters, Num. 27. and 36 chap. See in Dr. Heylins' Description of the World, Edition 8. in Quarto, Pag. 80. and in the Edition in Folio, Pag. 177.  
Note 3. Some take the Virgin Mary's Sister, spoken of John 19 25. to be the same with the Wife of Cleophas; for thus the Text expresseth it, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. His Mother, and his Mother's Sister, Mary the Wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. And Calvin construes it, that this Mary (called her Sister) was her Cousin, and might be the Daughter of Cleophas, for any thing said in the Text, and the Translators put it in a different Character; But Aretius distinguisheth them, Adest Mater Christi, adest Soror ejus, Adsunt aliae duae Mariae, Uxor Cleophae & Magdalenae. There was present (saith he) the Mother of Christ, there was present her Sister, there were present two other Maries, the Wife of Cleophas, and Magdalene.   

The PRINTER to the READER.  
THE Author was more willing to the Publication of this Epigram that he might give notice of the Publication of Two Centuries of Select Hymns Collected out of several Chapters of the Holy Bible. And said to be printed for the Author (for this turn) because they had been printed without his consent by an imperfect Copy, which wanted above fifty of the choice Chapter- Hymns, and the Psalm▪ Hymns printed in that Book are far more estranged from the true Copy, as will shortly appear.  
The Books put out by the Author are sold for 1 s. a piece plain, at the Three Daggers in Fleetstreet, and at the Pelican in Little-Britain; And are printed without any fault but what the Reader may amend by his own discretion, save that the first of the Errata hath 63 for 68 and the last Greek word in the Title page hath the Aspiration (in some Copies) turned the wrong way.  
FINIS.