Thread by @Helenreflects

In Blazing-world (Cavendish, 1666) we first have the Empress listen to all her experts (bear-men, parrot-men, worm-men etc). After that, she begins to institute changes and this is very interesting because she does social engineering. This is my drawing of her two chapels 2/

"[she] builded two Chappels one above another; the one she lined throughout with Diamonds; but the other she resolved to line with the Star-stone...that Chappel where the Fire-stone was, appear all in flame, she had by the means of Artificial pipes, water conveighed into it" 2/

The Empress establishes a religion modeled on her own (she comes from a "parallel universe" and her world is not ours!). She also made "up a Congregation of Women, whereof she intended to be the head her self, and to instruct them in the several points of her Religion" 3/

"the Women, which generally had quick wits, subtile conceptions, clear understandings, and solid judgments, became, in a short time, very devout and zealous Sisters; for the Empress had an excellent gift of Preaching," --this is a proto-feminist conception of religion 4/

Where women can have gender equality as preachers. She then uses her technological ingenuity (received from her scientific experts) to design these 2 chapels on top of each other, one with a kind of artificial fire that is fed by a water pipe system 5/

The other of a calmer clearer gemstones. These are what social scientists such as @wgervais call "creds" or credibility-enhancing displays. The fake fire instills a terror of hell, the calm star stones inspire people to want to do better 6/

It may seem to readers today to not be very gentle to try to instill religious constancy by making people scared of Hell. But this needs to be seen in the context of early modern period, which was marked by bloody religious warfare 7/

"The Empress, by Art, and her own Ingenuity, did not onely convert the Blazing-World to her own Religion, but kept them in a constant belief, without inforcement or blood-shed; for she knew well, that belief was a thing not to be forced or pressed upon the people..." 8/

"but to be instilled into their minds by gentle perswasions" Here then follows what I believe (but I am not sure I am right, @gwen_h_marshall @nescio13 @KennethLPearce might know) a clear ref to Machiavellian politics of passion/persuasion 9/:

"...for Fear, though it makes people obey, yet does it not last so long, nor is it so sure a means to keep them to their duties, as Love."--this seems to me a counterargument against the Machiavellian dictum that fear is a more powerful motivator 10/

while it may be, love is ultimately more durable (in religion, statecraft etc). For this image, I drew inspiration from the Mexican-Spanish painter Remedios Varo, rather than from 17th century imagery. /end