Woman’s Wit, or Love’s Disguises, a drama by S. Knowles (1838). Hero Sutton loved Sir Valentine de Grey, but offended him by waltzing with Lord Athunree. To win him back she assumed the disguise of a Quakeress, called herself Ruth, and pretended to be Hero’s cousin. Sir Valentine fell in love with Ruth, and then found out that Ruth and Hero were one and the same person. The secondary plot is that of Helen and Walsingham, lovers. Walsingham thought Helen had played the wanton with Lord Athunree, and he abandoned her. Whereupon Helen assumed the garb of a young man named Eustace, became friends with Walsingham, said she was Helen’s brother; but in the brother he discovers Helen herself, and learnt that he had been wholly misled by appearances.
Women (The Nine Worthy): (1) Minerva, (2) Semiramis, (3) Tomyris, (4) Jael, (5) Debŏrah, (6) Judith, (7) Britomart, (8) Elizabeth or Isabella of Aragon, (9) Johanna of Naples.
By’r lady, maist story-man, I am well afraid thou hast done with thy talke. I had rather have herd something sayd of gentle and meeke women, for it is euill examples to let them understand of such studye manlye women as those have been which erewhile thou hast tolde of. They are quicke enow, I warrant you, noweadays, to take hart-a-grace, and dare make warre with their husbandes. I would not vor the price o’ my coate, that Jone, my wife had herd this yeare; she would haue carried away your tales of the nine worthy women a dele zoner than our minister’s tales anent Sarah, Rebekah, Ruth, and the ministering women, I warrant you.--John Ferne, Dialogue on Heraldry (“Columel’s reply to Torquatus”).
⁂ “Hart-a-grace,” a hart permitted by royal proclamation to run free and unharmed for ever, because it has been hunted by a king or queen.
Women of Abandoned Morals.
Barbara of Cilley, second wife of the Emperor Sigismund, called “The Messalīna of Germany.”
Berri (Madame de), wife of the Duc de Berri (youngest grandson of Louis XIV.).
Catherine II. of Russia, called “The Modern Messalina” (1729-1796).
Giovanna or Jean of Naples. Her first love was James, count of March, who was beheaded. Her second was Camicioli, whom she put to death. Her next was Alfonso of Aragon. Her fourth was Louis d’Anjou, who died. Her fifth was René, the brother of Louis.
Isabelle of Bavaria, wife of Charles VI., and mistress of the duke of Burgundy.