A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Baynard, (Anne)
Her father, observing her genius and natural propensity to learning, gave her a very liberal education, of which she made the best use.
"As for learning," says the Rev. J. Prude, in his funeral sermon, "whether it be to know and understand natural causes and events, the courses of the sun, moon, and stars, the qualities of herbs and plants; to be acquainted with the demonstrable varieties of the mathematics; the study of philosophy, the writings of the ancients, and that in their own proper language, without the help of an interpreter; these, and the like, are the most noble accomplishments of the human mind, and accordingly do bring great delight and satisfaction along with them; these things she was not only conversant in, but mistress of; and that to such a degree that very few of her sex did ever arrive at."
She took the greatest pains to perfect her knowledge in the Greek tongue, that she might with greater pleasure read St. Chrysostom in his own language. She was not satisfied with reading only; but composed, many things in the Latin tongue. She would often say, "It was a sin to be contented with a little knowledge." She was skilled in reasoning, and eager to maintain the pure principles of Christianity, against innovators and deists.
She used to say, "Human learning is worth nothing, unless as a hand-maid it leads us to the knowledge of Christ revealed in the gospel, as our Lord and Saviour."
She was a constant frequenter of the sacrament and prayers of the church; never missing, unless hindered by illness, to which, in the latter part of her life, she was very subject. She was fond of retirement, as it led her to think of death, which she regarded without dread, and loved to meditate upon. Her charity, which her circumstances bounded as to the sum, was always given with cheerfulness and alacrity. Whatever her allowance was, she laid aside a portion of it to charitable and pious uses. She had a love for the souls of her fellow creatures; and was heartily afflicted with the errors, follies, and vices of the age: to see that those who called themselves Christians, should, by bad principles and worse practice, dishonour their profession, and not only hazard their salvation, but that of their weak brother too, for whom Christ died. And this temper of mind made her not only importunate in her intercessions for the good of the world, but gave her courage and discretion above her years or sex, to benefit the souls of those she conversed with, by friendly reproof, good counsel, or some learned or pious discourse,"
Just before her death, she wished "that all young people might be exhorted to the practice of virtue, to increase their knowledge by the practice of philosophy, and, more especially, to read the great book of nature, wherein they might see the wisdom and power of the great Creator in the order of the universe, and in the production and preservation of all things. It would fix in their minds a love to so much perfection, frame a divine idea and an awful regard of God, which heightens devotion, lowers the spirit of pride, and gives a habit and disposition to his service; it makes us tremble at folly and profaneness, and commands reverence and prostration to his great and holy name."
"That women," says she, "are capable of such improvements, which will better their judgments and understandings, is past all doubt; would they but set to it in earnest, and spend but half of that time in study and thinking, which they do in visits, vanity, and folly, it would introduce a composure of mind, and lay a sound basis and ground work for wisdom and knowledge; by which they would be better enabled to serve God, and help their neighbours."
The character which Mr. Collier has given her, in his great Historical Dictionary, though short, is so comprehensive, as to take in some particulars not noticed by Mr. Prude. "Anne Baynard," says he, "for her prudence, piety, and learning, deserves to have her name perpetuated; being not only well skilled in the learned languages, but in all manner of learning and philosophy, without vanity or affectation. Her words were few, well chosen, and expressive. She was seldom seen to smile, being rather of a reserved and stoical disposition; which sect of philosophers she most affected; their doctrine, in most parts, seeming agreeable to her natural temper; for she never read or spake of them but with a sort of delight and pleasingness in her countenance: she had a contempt of the world, especially of the finery and gaiety of life: she had a great regard and veneration for the sacred name of God, and made it the whole business of her life to promote his honour and glory; and the great end of her study was, to encounter atheists and libertines, as may be seen by some severe satires written in the Latin tongue, in which language she had a great readiness and fluency of expression, which made a gentleman of no small parts and learning say to her,
"Anna gens solis mea, Annam gens Belgica jactet;
At superas Annas, Anna Baynarda, duas."