The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 2 · Biography 11
The Honourable the Lady Mary Armyne.
F. H. Van Houe. Sculp.
The Life and Death of the Lady Mary Armyne, who Dyed Anno Christi. 1675:
THIS Honourable and Excellent Lady, was a branch of one of the most Antient, Her Parentage.Noble and Illustrious Families in England, whether we look to Descent, Degree, or Actings; The Family of the Talbots, for a long Tract of time, Earls of Sbrewsbury, whose Heroick performances, both in Civil and Millitary Affairs, done by them in their Native Country, are upon Record to the perpetuating of their Names, and Renown.
But especially their Conquests, and Tryumphs in France were so signal, that the Memory of them continues until this day, and withal so dreadful, that Mothers quieted their crying Children by telling them that Talbot came. And to be Children of such Nobles, is Honourable, even in sacred Writ, (which usually overlooks such minute things) and especially when they are found in the way of Righteousness, as in this pious Lady.
As to her Feature and beauty, it was more considerable even unto old age, than in Her Beauty.most of her date in the world, by which we may judge what it was in the spring of her life. And
Gratior est Pulcro veniens è Corpore virtus.
That Virtue is of greater Grace,
That shineth through a Beauteous Face.
She was of a lively and Active Spirit; and herein she was much above ordinary▪ Active and Healthful.For even to the close of her days, she was very active and stirring; able to walk with agility and continuance, without help of hand, or staff.
As to her natural parts, she was quick, vivacious, and comprehensive in Judging Her Prudence.of things even to the last hour of her Life: Tho she was considerably above fourscore years old, yet could she discourse as rationally, the very day she died, as others can in the very flourish of their Age and Life: Neither yet was this only a lightning before her death; for she was the same all the time of her weakness even to the last. Now as Rationality raises men above Beasts; so the higher use that any have of it, the nearer they approach to the blessed Angels. And indeed these excellent endowments highly advance men beyond those imaginary ones of Riches, Honors, &c. And thus some of the old Philosophers (tho poor and mean in the World) did wonderfully transcend and excel the great Conquerors, whose Name were dreadful in the World. Thus have we a brief account of her Priviledges, and natural Accomplishments.
Next let us hear, and consider what her acquired parts and endowments were.
First, in general: She had attained to a great skill and dexterity in the knowledg of all those things which belonged to her Sex, Degree, and Place, which were very numerous, and therefore required such attainments as she had in an high measure arrived at, which also appeared in these perticulars.
1. She was not without some competent skill in more Languages than her Native Learning.Tongue: particularly, in the French and Latin.
2ly. She was considerably skilled in Divinity, and History. In Divinity, not only knowing practical things, but was very intelligent in matters National, and Polemical, or Controversal. In History she was well versed, not only in the Jewish and Roman Histories; but especially in the Historical part of the Sacred Scriptures, and Ecclesiastical affairs. And as to both of them, many may and do speak with much more confidence, but with far less Skill and Judgment, than she used to do.
3ly. She was one, who well understood how to manage her affairs and concern…▪ whether at a distance, or near at hand, to the best advantage, to the last of her days, Wisdom.and that without so much a… small miscarriages. Surely few were to be compared with her Ladyship herein.
4ly. She was of a very obliging deportment, and carriage to the utmost date of her life. In this she was a Critick: Few could excel or go beyond her. With her humble and courteous carriage and Speeches, she obliged all with whom she conversed, or had to do. For as she was the owner of an active Body, so of pertinent and pleasing speech, even to the end of her days, and this dexterity she used to imploy in the entertainment of her Friends and Visiters, both in health and sickness. And truly this peice of humanity, or candor, is a very lovely thing, much commended to us in the holy Scriptures, both of the Old, and New Testament.
As for Grace, without which all afore-mentioned had been but perishing accomplishments, only Ornaments in meer humanity. Some persons beyondsea men, have nervously attempted to prove, that it is only Religion, and not meer Reason that differenceth men from Beasts.
This honourable Lady was of a holy, and exemplary Life. She used to affirm, that a holy Life, and Graces of the Gospel did far excel, and were more dignifying than Birth, Estate, and then all the great and shining Titles which the World could bestow. She was of the mind, and judgment of that godly Emperor Theodosius, who used to say, that he accounted himself more honoured by being a Christian than by being Emperor of Rome: And she used to say, That what Saint Paul affirmeth, was a great Truth, upon her long Observation and Experience: Not many Wise Men after the Flesh, not many mighty, not many Noble are called, [1 Cor. 1. 26.] She was also often heard to affirm: That the new Birth deserves to be (as undoubtedly it is) in highest, and greatest esteem. Born, not of blood, nor of the will of the Flesh, nor of the will of Man, but of God, [1 Joh. 1. 13.]
Through Gods goodness this pious and excellent Lady was not like a fair house with an ill inhabitant, but had a noble Soul, which dignified all her other excellencies. The many other things raised her to an high pitch of greatness, yet none did so much honour, and beautifie her as her Religion. And that which made it the more Orient, and splendid was its Regularity, Universality and Perseverence.
More particularly, her Religion and Grace appeared in these six things.
1. In that she loved it in others. She loved those that led a godly and gracious life: And Saint John makes this an infallible mark or Testimony of a gracious Person: By this we know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren. He that loveth not his Brother abideth in darkness, [1 John 3. 14.] She affected not, nor indeed could be at ease in evil and bad company. She could, in a good measure say with the holy Prophet David, The Saints, and they that Excel, in these is all my delight, [Psal. 16. 3.] And I am a companion to all them that fear thee, &c. [Psal. 119.] She loved holiness, not only in those of her Family (choosing her Servants by this Standard) But also in Strangers, which was a good Evidence that she loved it for its own sake.
2. In that she really endeavoured to promote and advance Religion in others, not only by Counsel, Conference, Admonition, Exhortation, &c. But also by many gracious Letters written with her own Hands; She used to give good Books to some, and Money to others to draw on, and encourage them in their progress towards the Kingdom of Heaven. She gave large yearly Contributions to promote the carrying on of the work begun in New England for the Conversion of the poor Indians in those parts: And this she continued, even to her dying day. And of the success of that undertaking, she had an annual Account to her rejoycing.
When that fatal Bartholomew day came, wherein so many hundreds of godly, able, and painful Ministers were ejected, to the undoing of themselves, their Wives, and Children, and all other ways being prohibited whereby they might get a subsistance; out of Sympathy, and commiseration of their sad, and deplorable Condition, some few days after, she came to Mr. Edm. Calamy, and brought him five hundred pounds (at which time I also was with him) to be distributed among the most indigent, and necessitous Families of them.
She was ready to embrace, yea joyful for any opportunity of serving God in publick or private, upon ordinary, or extraordinary occasions. She could truly say with the holy Prophet David: I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord, [Psal. 122. 1.] She was as eagerly bent, and forward to joyn in holy duties, and Ordinances, as others are, or can be to run after worldly Vanities.
She did highly reverence, and esteem godly Minsters, yea, she had great respect to such of them as were of the lower Form, and of meaner Gifts, if she observed them to be serious, and industrious. She demeaned her self with very much gravity, and humility in Gods house of Prayer. She never mentioned the Names of God or of Christ, but with a reverential awe upon her Spirit.
Her Speeches and discourse alwayes dropped as an Hony-comb: It was always savoury, and seasoned with Salt, fit to Minister grace to the Hearers, according to Saint Pauls advise, Col. 4. 6.
She was frequent and constant in giving to Charitable uses. She in her life time, erected, and endowed some Alms-houses in three several Counties: And upon special occasions, gave away many large sums of money upon charitable accounts. She was not weary in well doing whilst she lived, and at her death, she left Forty pounds per annum for Fourscore and Nineteen years for the like uses.
She was always constant in her secret devotions of reading the Sacred Scripture (wherein was her delight) and other choice Books; And private Prayer, at least twice a Day, which course she continued to the close of her dayes.
In her last sickness whereof she died, she shewed some notable Testimonies of the sincerity of her Graces, and Religion.
First, In the servour of her Spirit to continue in well doing even to the last of her life.
Secondly, In her breathing after Christ, and desiring to be dissolved and to be with him, which is best of all.
Thirdly, In her warm, and bleeding sense of the low estate and condition of Religion, and the Profession of it in the World. Her heart trembled for the Ark of God, as did Eli's, 1 Sam. 4. 13.
Fourthly, In her submission to the Divine Will and Disposal. She freely offered up her self to her great Lord and Owner, to do with her, as for Life or Death, as he pleased.
Fifthly, In her peace of Conscience, and freedom from Satanical Molestations and Temptations. In former Sicknesses she had enjoyed much serenity, but never had a more peaceable and submiss frame of soul than at this time. So that in her that Text of Scripture was made plain and true. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the End of that man is peace, Psal. 37. 37.
Sixthly, In the strength of her Faith, appearing by her commending Christ as the highest, and most proper Cordial in a fainting hour when all comforts forsake us, which were some of her last words before her death.
Seventhly, In the continuance of her fervent Prayers, in the midst whereof she resigned up her Spirit unto God.
A Learned, and Experienced Minister, who lived not far from her, was sometimes with her. The occasion of his going, and his business with her, cannot be better expressed then in his own words, which I will therefore here set down.
Tho (saith he) I was seldom with her my self, yet these fifteen years I lived so near unto her, as that I might easily have heard the noise of Fame, if she had laid under any manner of scandal: But such was her holy and blameless Life, that obtrectation it self durst not so much as nibble at it.
That little converse I had with her gave me opportunity to know her more intimately, than many, that did but see her blameless, and pious Conversation. For her business with me was no other than to open the State of her Soul, and to confess her infirmities, and to produce her evidences for Heaven, and to desire my Judgment of them, together with my Counsel for her further strength and comfort: And to ask my advice concerning such works of publick Good, which she charitably intended, and did afterwards liberally perform.
Upon trial I found that she had a safe and well setled State of Soul; not free from all degrees of Fears, and lesser doubtings of her self: And far from a presumptuous, unhumbled, and self-justifying. But her evidences were sound, and her discerning of them was so clear and sure, as enabled her to conclude her Right to everlasting Life, and so with the greater peace to think on Death: which, as she had opened to me not long before, so did she it over again at large in her Sickness, not many days before her Death.
At which time, after complaints for such imperfections of Grace as were her trouble, she professed the full Dedication of her self to God, her firm consent to the terms of his Covenant, and her longings after perfect holiness, and her trust in the Merits and Mediation of her Redeemer.
After this those about her had some hopes of her recovery, but she hearing of Mr. Baxters troubles, sent her Servant to him to hear of his Case, before whose return to her, she was dead.
As she lived to God, so God gave her a long life accompanied with many and great Mercies. Tho she had been long troubled with a sore and dangerous disease [voiding Stones by the Intestines, supposed to come from the Ga…] and which had painful, and perilous Paroxyms, and Critical Fits; yet it pleased God in her later years to give her great ease, and freedom from it. Tho it is not unlike, that it was the Root of that fainting Aguishness which put a period to her days. Yet to near the fourscourth year of her Age she served God in competent health, and serenity of mind.
Tho she sprang from an Ancient and Honourable Family, inclined to the Romish Sect, yet God was her Teacher, and did confirm her, not only in the Protestant Religion, but also in the true love of practice, and seriousness in that Religion which she pro…est. She was not like those deluded Formalists, who contend most furiously for this Religion against that, or for that against this, while in truth they are of none. And with zealous Papists, or zealous Protestants, or zealous in more singular Sects, but will never be perswaded to be zealous Christians. They will furiously Persecute, or at least Reproach those that are not of their Church, or Side, or Way, as Erroneous, Irreligious Persons, while nothing can prevail with them to be themselves on Christs side against the Flesh, the World, and the Devil, &c.
But she was not addicted to Sects, or Novelties upon pretence of rising to the highest Form; but she truly took the heigth of her Religion to consist in the heigth of Love to God and Man, and in close and constant obedience unto Christ, and confidence in his Mediation. And they that do so with all their hearts shall have sound and durable Comfort, which will bear them up both in Life and in Death: Whilst the formal, Dogmatical, and superstitious Hypocrite, hath a Consolation which will live, and die with his prosperity, or which is heartless and delusory, as living but on the flattery of himself or of his party.
Tho according to her Rank, she lived in the Decency of a plentiful Estate, it was accompanied with Humility, and lowliness of mind. Her Prudence, Sobriety, and Gravity were very Exemplary; and her Impartiality in loving all that were truly Christians was signal. Yet she much disliked their Divisions, and contentious wranglings. She was not of their mind, who take it to be a mark of Christs Disciples, to be Accusers of the Brethren, and to Reproach, and Villifie, and Persecute his Disciples, and to deny them tobe his, that they may do these things with less dishonor, and remorse.
She took it to be no countenancing of Schism (as some do) to relieve such Servants of Christ in their distress, as men accuse and afflict as Schismaticks, tho she was an Adversary to real Schism. When she first heard of above eighteen hundred Ministers ejected, and silenced, Anno Christi 1662, and deprived of all ways, and means of subsistance for themselves and families, She gave freely a considerable Sum of money towards the relieving of the most necessitous of them (as I have shewed before) and the good works which she did before her death, we hope will live, and declare themselves, and be an encouragement to others, that are intrusted by God with Riches, to follow her Example, and so make themselves Friends of the Mammon of Ʋnrighteousness.
To live as this honourable, and excellent Lady did, in Gravity, Prudence, Humility Temperance, and in a Charitable, Peaceable, impartial Religiousness; Studying the, Realities, even God and her Redeemer, Grace, and Glory, and her own Heart, and Duty, and how to do Good, and to prepare for her day of account, will prove more safe, and comfortable at the last, than the Proud, Wrathful, Turbulent Religion of such, as strive to set up the Church and Christ (they mean in truth themselves) by Persecution, or Division, by hurting or destroying their Fellow Christians, or Reproaching them, and avoiding them, as unworthy their Communion, &c.
Upon the much lamented Death of the Truly Honourable, very aged, and singularly pious Lady, the Lady MARY ARMINE.
HAil Mary full of Grace, 'bove women blest;
A Name more rich in Saints than all the rest;
An Army of them fam'd in sacred Story:
All good, none bad, an unparallel'd Glory!
The blessed Virgin well may lead the Van:
Next follows Mary the Bethanian:
Next Mary, Wife of Cleophas: Another
Mary was of James and Joses Mother
How much is spoke of Mary M…gdalen?
Of Mary, John, Marks Mother, we read agen.
At Rome a Mary commended by Saint Paul;
All Saints; yet not to pray unto at all.
A Mary was the Mother of our Lord.
A Mary 'twas laid up in heart his word.
A Mary 'twas that chose the better part.
A Mary 'twas that wept with broken heart.
A Mary 'twas that did anoint Christs feet:
A Mary pour'd on's Head the Spicknard sweet.
At Christs Cross standing Maries three I find.
When others fled, they were not so unkind.
Christ dead, interr'd, at the Sepulchre door
Two Maries stand, I find no Women more.
So that from Cradle to the Passion:
From Passion to the Resurrection:
From Resurrection to the Ascention,
Observe you may a Mary still was one.
The Army of such Ladies so Divine,
This Lady, said, I'le follow, they all Ar-mine.
Lady Elect! in whom there did combine
So many Maries, might'st say all Ar-mine.
Thou Mother, Sister, Spouse wa'st of the Lord,
In that in Heart and Life thou kept'st his Word.
With th' other Mary, chose the better part:
With Mary Magd'len had'st a most tender heart.
On Christ a Mary spent all that she could:
Tho others grudg'd, more if she had she would.
To th' Head above could'st not, on the feet below
Thou did'st not spare much cost for to bestow.
Thy name a precious Ointment, and the Armies
Of Saints, and Angels are the Lady Armines.
Now God and Christ are thine, and what's Divine
In Heavens enjoyment. Blest Soul! Now All are thine:
Jo. Sheffield.