DAmaris Page , as is conjectured , was born about the Year 1601. and as it is thought in the Month of March because she was used to sturdy storms and bitter blasts which that Month is much subject unto she was in her time a woman of very great fame , for the Seamen had spread her name abroad into all the countrys of Europe , Asia , Africa and America , and the Isle of P●nes also , in which Country she was had in very great repute and Veneration by the Inhabitants ther●of , for those notable qualiti●s wi●● which she was indowed . Now there is ●o●e that is famous for all things but only for some particular . Dr. Faustus was very famous for being a conjurer Hind and Ha●nam were famous for their ●hievery , Dr. ●r — was much noted for his skill in a Pispot , Martin Parker was famous for making of Ballads , and Squire Dun got a great name for his excellent skil and dexterity in the riding knot , whereby in half an hours time he would cure a Man of the Squinancy , as he d●d often experiment at that terrib●e Tripple Tiburni●n ●●ee that stands in the Road betwixt London and Paddington a Gentleman of my acquaintance was very f●mous for his skill in Tobacco-stoppers , and another that I knew got a great name for his admirable dext●rity in making of N●●●●ra●k●n●d ●m 〈◇〉 great a●● metropolitan ● . — was most notably famous for keeping a house of , what shall I call it , for it had divers names , some called it the Seamans whirlpool , others Venus Bower , Cupids Pest-house , the Chyrurgions friend , the Hectors Office , a Vaulting-School , the amorous Chace , a Brothel , a Stew the huck-strings Accademy , the hole in the Wall , &c. But the down-right Seaman when he was gotten three quarters drunk , would call it in plain English , a Bawdy-house .

And therefore though she kept great hospitality , she could not be said to keep a good house , and though she had many Female servants she kept few Maids , dealing much in brittle Ware that were often subject to cracks and fla●● , whom the Chyrurgion was forced to play the Tinker with in mending them the other materials belonging to her house , were a clos● Box with a side bed to kennel in , clean linnen , sweet powder , paint , p●tches , plaister , pint bottles of Wine at two shilling a bottle , Stepony , R●spberry-ale , Cock-ale , Cakes , a Barrel of Beer , a tub of new ale , a G●●lo● o● Strong-water , two Gallons of Brandy , Cans , Black pots , Pipes ready ●●lled with stinking instead of Spanish . Tobacco ; Cards , a Pits-pot , and a piece of crotched chalk that should make two scores at once for the greater felerity in writing .

And though some have reported her to be of a very hasty ●roward peevish disposition , yet we know contrarily that she wa● indued with a great stock of patience , as was evidently manifested when the unruly rabble on Easter Holy-days defaced her mansion of pleasure ; breaking her goods , cutting in pieces her beds , making the feathers to fly about the streets , yet notwithstanding she were thus wronged , she was not heard to give them any bad words , but contrarily called them good gentlemen and pray gentlemen , with other Sugar-candy words , nothing savouring of scolding brangling , or impatiency at all .

But though she had some vertues , certainly she had more vices , then any Smith hath to work withall , for she would lye ( in her bed every night she would scold , but that she learned of her neighbours ; she would drink , and eat too , else could she not have lived so long : she would talk , for she was not tongue-tied , yet was she very just of her word , for if she promised to help a man with a wh — she would not help him to an honest woman .

And though some may think she got her living very lightly , and with much case , yet certainly they were greatly mistaken ; for besides the rigour of the Laws which them of her occupation are liable unto , as Imprisonments , Cartings , and the like , there was besides great charges for Fines and Fees to Justices Clarks , Beadles , and such other inferiour reliques of Authority ; beside● a great deal of charge for white and red to empayer decayed Nature , and to hide the furrows and wrinkles of old age , which should they have appeared , might have been very detrimental to one of her profession : and therefore whatsoever some may think , a B — doth not get her iiving with so much ease as the world supposeth , nor i● that adventure of her danger of Ca●ting to be slighted .

Now I would not have any one to be mistaken , to think because our Damaris died at Ratcl●ff-High way , that she was the old woman that was drowned there a Forth ght ago ; No , be it known to you that she feared more burning then drowning ; and besides too , wearing Cork-shooe● , she was so light-heel'd , that had she been thrown into the water , she would not have sunk .

No doubt but her ambition was very great in striving to imitate the examples of some former great Potentates and Noblemen , who upon the committing of some heighnous Crimes , to expiate heir sinnes , as they thought , would build Monastaries and Religious houses ; which as that well-languag'd Historian Mr. Speed thinks , their foundations being lin'd in blood . or as bad matters was one great cause of their downfall in the time of King Henry the Eigth , so she was very charitable to the Poor whiles she lived , which yet I may speak not as any ways blaming her , and , as I am informed , at her death gave , amongst other Legacies , mony to buy Smocks for a hundred poor Seamans widdows , an example of which I wish many that detested her life would practice at their Deaths .

She dyed on Saturday morning the 9th day of this instant October , and was with a great concourse of people attending her Corp , buried ●t St. Georges in Southwark on Sunday following in the afternoon , where now she rests in the Grave secure from a Shrove-tuesday rous , or E●ster-holydays vexation .