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Life of Lady Magdalen Viscountess Montagu is in Stewart Books.
The Life of the Most Honourable and Vertvous Lady The Lady Magdalen Viscountesse Montague. Written in Latin, and published soone after her death, By Richard Smith, Doctour of Diuinity, And Her Confessour. And now translated into English, by C. Fursdon.
The most Hoble and Vertuous Lady Magdalen Viscountesse Montague, was borne in England, of most Noble & Catholike parents, at Naward Castell [Map], the Mansion-house of her Father, scituat in the County of Cumberland, not far from the borders of Scotland, the yeare of Christ 1538 the 20 of January. Her Father was William Lord Dacre, Baron of Ghisland (age 45), a man, besides the most ancient Nobility of his family, of such power and estate, as that he possessed seauen Baronyes (which scarce any Noble man of England ever had) and was of eminent authority in the North parts of England, and both himselfe and his ancestors of very famous esteeme in England, in regard of their notable prowesse in matters of warre, for the safety and honour of their Country.
And albeit those pangs were very violent and continuall from Thursday three of the clocke in the after noone, till almost midnight of the day following, which was the eight of Aprill [1608], when she [Magdalen Dacre Viscountess Montague (age 70)] gave up her Ghost; yet did she persevere with the same admirable patience and tranquillity of mind. In so much that the Friday morning, being asked how she had passed the precedēt night, she answered: The best of all that ever I passed. For the most prudent woman perceyued death to draw on, and that night to open unto her a day which was neuer to haue end. Whiles her senses continued, she prayed with us, & in one hand she held a Crosse till her forces fayled; in the other a hallowed light, which she held so fast euen after her death, that without force it could not be wrested from her. Her last words which could be understood, were those of our Saviour: Into thy hands (O Lord) I commend my spirit; which without any resistaance or reluctation she peaceably yielded up, a litle before midnight: at which time, as the Scripture sayth, There was a clamour made, Behold the bridegrome commeth, go ye forth to meet him: she with the holy women, within the Octaues of our Lords Resurrection, arose out of this valley of teares, & her lampe being prepared, entred, as we hope, with the Bridegrome to the Mariage. Her bowels were buryed at Battell where she dyed, in the monument of her husbands Father, and her body honorably caryed to Midhurst, and there layd in the Sepulcher of her husband.