alwayes can the purple violet smell Or Lillies bloome in whitenesse that excell The fragrant rose whose beautie we desire The leaues once falne shewes but a naked brire O thou most faire white heires come on apace And wrinckled furrowes which shall plow thy face So likewise Petronius Arbiter in one of his Satyres Quod solum formae decus est cecidere Capillae The onely beautie of her shape her haire Fell from her head her beautie to impaire Summer succeedes the Spring her Autumne chaceth And them sad Winter with his snow disgraceth Deceitfull Nature all these youthfull ioyes Thou gau'st vs first thou art the first destroyes Now the fruits and effects of this fraile beautie especially where a faire face meeteth with a corrupted mind I will next shew you by historie Achab by the persuasion of his faire wife Iesabell was the death of many of the Prophets of the Lord. Dalila was the confusion of Sampson the Strong Strange women brought Salomon the Wise to Idolatrie and to forget God Ioram a king of Israell at the instigation of Athalia committed many horrible outrages Helena's beautie was the occasion of that infinite slaughter betwixt the Greekes and Troians Pelops succeeding in the kingdome of Phrygia made warre vpon Oenomaus the father of Hyppodamia because being surprised with her beautie she was denyde him in marriage Another Hyppodamia the wife of Perithous was the occasion of that great Centauromachia or battaiâ—e betwixt the Centaures and the Lapithes for which Propertius calls her Ischomache of the greeke word Isco which signifieth Habeo and Mache Pugna his words are these Qualis Iscomache Lapithae genus Heroinae Centauris medio grata rapina mero Such as Iscomache that was Of the Lapythaean line She whom the Centaures would haue rapt Amidst their cups of wine Pericles for his loue to Aspasia made warre against the Samians For Chrisaeis the daughter of Chrises Priest to Apollo vitiated by Agamemnon a plague was sent amongst the Greekish host which ceased not till she was returned backe to her father for so writes Tortellius Lauiniaes beautie the daughter of King Latinus and the Queene Amata was cause of the combustion betwixt Turnus and Aeneas so saith Pontanus lib. 4. de Stellis Lysimachus the sonne of Agathocles poysoned his owne sonne Agathocles by whose fortunate hand he had receiued the honour and benefit of many glorious victories at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe the sister of Ptoloâ—teus Vollateran Iphis a youth of exquisite feature strangled himselfe because he was despised by the faire but cruell Anaxarite Archilâ—â—us king of Macedon was slaine by a young man called Crateua because hauing first promised him his faire daughter he after bestowed her vpon another The Poet Archilocus called Iambographus because Lycambes denyde him his daughter in marriage writes against him such bitter Iambicks that hee despaired and hanged himselfe therefore Ouid thus writes Post modo si perges in te mihi liber Iambus Tincta Licambaeo sanguiâ—e tela dabit If thou pursu'st me still my booke Iust vengeance shall implore And in Lambickes weapons yeeld Dipt in Lycambes gore Iustine in his 27 booke relates That Seleneus Callinicus king of Syria for exiling Berenice his steppe-mother sister to Ptolomaeus was by the same Ptolomaeus inuaded and prosecuted by armes Deiphebus after the death of Paris hauing marryed Hellen to which infortunate match her beautie had inuited him was by her treacherie not onely murdered but his body hackt and mangled being almost made one vniuersall wound Tortellius reports of one Euander the nephew of Pallas king of the Arcadians at the persuasion of his mother Nicostrate slew his owne father Orestes the sonne of Agamemum slew Pyrrhus the sonne of Achilles being surprised with the beautie of Hermione daughter to Menalâ—us and Helena Pteleras king of the Thebans was slaine by king Craeon being betrayde by his owne Polydices Cleopatra was the cause of that bloody warre betwixt Ptolomaeus Philopaser and her owne father Alexander king of Syria Idas and Lyncaeus the sons of Aphareus and Arbarne fought a great battaile neere to Sparta about the two faire daughters of Leucippus Phebe and Ilaira against Castor and Pollux both which were slaine in that battaile and perisht not by shipwracke as some write in the pursuite of Paris by sea for the rape of their sister Hellen Liuie lib. 36. writes of Antiochus who warring against Rome was so taken with the beautie of a Chalcidonian damsell that neglecting all warlike discipline to spend his time in dalliance with his wanton hee became a shamefull and dishonourable prey to the enemy Octauia the sister of Augustus being repudiated by Anthony was the occasion of a ciuill and intestine war The Poet Lucretius growing mad for the loue of a faire damsell dranke poyson and so dyed Tullia incited Tarquinius Superbus to kill her owne father Seruius Tullius Martia the strumpet caused Autonius Commodus the Emperour whose Concubine she was to bee slaine by a souldiour with whom shee had many times had lustfull congression Tytus Corrancanus being sent on embassie to Teuca queene of the Illyrians because hee spake to her freelie and boldlie she caused him to be put to death against the lawes of kingdomes and nations Liuius and Florus Vollateranus writes of one Rhodoricus king of the Gothes who because he stuprated the daughter of Iulianus who was Prefect in the Prouince of Tingitana the father of the rauisht virgin brought in the Moores and raised a warre which before it was ended was the death of seauen hundred thousand men Chilpericus the sonne of Clotharius was slaine by the instigation of his wife Fridegunda in his returne from hunting Luchinus a Count of Italy warred vpon Vgolinus Gonzaga because hee had adulterated his faire wife Isabella Vollateran Otratus king of Bohemia accused of sloath and cowardise by his wife Margarita for entering league with Rodulphus Caesar raised warre betwixt them in which her husband was defeated Gandulphus the Martyr for but counselling his wife to a more chast and temperate life was murdered betwixt her and the adulterer Of warres and many other mischiefes of which faire women haue beene the originall Ouid elegantly deliuers in 2 Eleg. thus concluding Vidi ego pro â—iuea pugnantes coniâ—ge tauros Spectatrix animos ipsa innenca dabat For a white heyfer I haue seene bulls sight Both gathering rage and courage from her sight At the building of Rome Romulus to people the cittie and get wiues for his souldiers caused them to rauish the Sabine women and damsells for which warre grew betwixt the two nations Of which Proper lib. 2. Cur exempla petam Gracum Tu criminis auâ—hâ—r Nutribus duro Romule lacte lupae c. What neede I from the Greekes examples aske Thou Romulus by a fell she-wolfe nurst To rape the Sabines
in despight or disgrace of her first purposed to cast herselfe from Leucate a high promontorie in Epyre downe into the Sea which she after did yet before she would attempt it she first in an Epistle thought by all the allurements of a womans wit to call him backe againe into his countrey which Ouid in her behalfe most feelingly hath exprest And since it lies so fitly in my way for the opening of the Historie I thus giue it English Ecquid vt aspecta est c. I st possible as soone as thou shalt see My charracter thou knowst it comes from mee Or else not reading of the authors name Could'st thou haue knowne from whence this short worke came Perhapes thou maist demand Why in this vaine I court thee that professe the Lyricke straine My lou 's to be bewept and that 's the reason No Barbit number suits this tragicke season I burne as doth the corne-fields set on fire When the rough East winds still blow high and higher Now Phaon the Typhoean fields are thine But greater flames than Aetnaes are now mine No true disposed numbers flow from hence The emptie worke of a distracted sence The Pirhian gyrle nor the Methimnian lasse Now please me not the Lesbians who surpasse Vil's Amithon vile Cidno too the faire So Atthis that did once appeare most rare And hundreds more with whom my sinn's not small Wretch thou alone inioyest the loues of all Thou hast a face and youth too fit for play Oh tempting face that did'st mine eyes betray Take Phoebus Faith vpon thee and his bow And from Apollo who can Phaon know Take hornes and 'bout thy temples wreaths of vine What 's he can say but th' art the god of Wine Phoebus lou'd Daphne Bacchus Gnosis bright Yet neither she nor she could Lyrickes write The nine Muse-sisters of my verse dispose And what my numbers are the whole world knowes Nor can my countrey-man Alcaeus more Than I though he in age stand rank't before Nor though his name sound louder can he raise Or from his Lyre or Country greater praise If niggard Nature haue denide things fit Yet what I want in shape I haue in wit My statur's low but know my name is high And bruited through all regions farre and nigh I am not faire what therein doe I lacke Andromida pleas'd Perfeus yet she blacke The whitest Doues with mingled colours make And the blacke Turtle will the Greene-bird take If none can be thought worthie of thy loue But such as shall thy like in beautie proue Young man despaire thou art for euer free None such ere was none such shall euer bee When first thou readst my Verses thou didst say I onely pleas'd and I was faire that way That I became my phrase and none so well Then did I sing wee louers all must tell And I remember thou 't is still my pride At euery Note didst on my lippes diuide Nay euen those kisses pleas'd thee wondrous well But most of all when I beneath thee fell My wantonnesse contented thee ' boue measure My nimble motion and words apt for pleasure Then when in confus'd rapture we both lay Fulnesse of ioy depriu'd all vse of plaâ— Now the Sicilian girles are thy new spoyle I le be of them and leaue the Lesbian sayle You Nisean mothers and faire daughters bred In Sicilie let him be banished From forth your earth nor let the many Lyes The smoothnesse of his false tongue can deuise Beguile your simple truth what to you â—e Speaks now h' hath spoke a thousand times to me And goddesse Erecina thou that do'st The barbarous rude Sicania honor most Aduise thy Poetesse by thy wit diuine And giue me counsell since thou know'st I am thine Can Fortune in this bitter course still run Vowes she to end those Ills she hath begun Six yeeres are past since my abortiâ—e grâ—nes Mourn'd and my teares wet my dead parents bones My needie brother as a second crosse Dotes on a strumpet suff'ring shame with losse Turn'd Pyrate prooues the Seas with sayle and oare And badly seekes wealth lost as ill before Because my faithfull counsaile that course rated My guerdon is that I by him am hated And least my endlesse torments should find ease My yong irregular daughter addes to these The last and great'st cause why I thus miscarrie Thou art my Barke still sayles with winds contrariâ— Behold my erst well-ord'red Locks mis-plac'd And those that in times past my temples grac'd Neglected are as if they were not mineâ— No precious gemmes vpon my fingers shine My habit 's vile my haire no Crispin weares Nor smell my Locks of sweet Arabian teares Whom should I seeke to please since â—ee's absent That was sole author of mine ornament My soft heart is with easie shafts imprest There 's still new cause to lodge loue in my brest Either because the Sisters three had force When I was borne to spin my thread so course Or this my studies in the Arts constraine Since soft Thalia doth infuse my braine What wonder if a youth of the first chinne Surprise me yeres which man to man might winne I was afraid least faire Aurora thou For Cephalus would'st steale him and I now Am still in feare for surely this had past But that thy first loue holds thee still so fast If Phoebus that spyes all things thee had seene Phaon in lasting slumbers cast had beene Venus had rapt him into heauen by this But that she fear'd Mars would haue made him his Thou that no child and yet scarce man appeares Best age the pride and glorie of thy yeares Returne vâ—to my bosome since of thee I beg not loue but that thou lou'd would'st bee Lo as I write teares from mine eyes amaine Still drop behold how they my paper staine Thy parting had beene gentler in words few Had'st thou but sayd Sweet Lesbian lasse adue Thou took'st with thee no parting kisse no teares I little dream't I was so neere my feares Of thine saue wrong I nothing haue no more Thou let that mooue thee all my loue dost store I gaue thee no command nor had that day Vnlesse some such Do not forget me pray By Loue that neuer can forsake that brest By our nine sacred sisters I protestâ— He 's gone when some but who I know not sayd For a long space both words and teares were stayd Mine eyes had banish't teares and greefe my tongue Through cold my heart vnto my ribs was clung My greefe retyr'd I gaâ— to beat my brest To teare my haire nor blush to walke vndrest Like carefull mothers who with loude exclaimes Beare their dead children to their funerall flames Charaxus walkes by lang hing too and fro And from my extasie his pleasures grow And which more shame vnto my sorrow giues Askes why this woman weepes her daughter liues But Shame and Loue are two the people stare To see my garments torne and brests vnbare Thou
that cause many women in their modestie rather suffered themselues to perish for want of helpe than that any man should bee seene or knowne to come about them Aboue all the Athenians were most curious that no seruant or woman should learne the art of Chyrurgerie There was a damosell of that cittie that was verie industrious in the search of such mysteries whose name was Agnodice but wanting meanes to attaine vnto that necessarie skill she caused her haire to be shorne and putting on the habit of a yong man got her selfe into the seruice of one Heirophilus a Phisitian and by her industrie and studie hauing attained to the deapth of his skill and the height of her own desires vpon a time hearing where a noble ladie was in child-birth in the middest of her painfull throwes she offered her selfe to her helpe whom the modest Ladie mistaking her Sex would by no persuasion suffer to come neere her till she was forced to strip her selfe before the women and to giue euident signes of her woman-hood After which shee had accesse to many proouing so fortunate that she grew verie famous In so much that being enuied by the colledge of the Phisitians shee was complained on to the Ariopagitae or the nobilitie of the Senat such in whose power it was to censure and determine of all causes and controuersies Agnodice thus conuented they pleaded against her youth and boldnesse accusing her rather a corrupter of their chastities than any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weakenesse onely of purpose to haue the companie and familiaritie of a loose and intemperate yong man They prest their accusations so farre that the Iudges were readie to proceede to sentence against herâ— when shee opening her brest before the Senat gaue manifest testimonie that she was no other than a woman at this the Phisitians the more incenst made the fact the more henious in regard that being a woman she durst enter into the search of that knowledge of which their Sex by the law was not capable The cause being once more readie to goe against her the noblest matrons of the cittie assembled themselues before the Senat and plainely told them they were rather enemies than husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had beene most studious for their generall health and safetie Their importancie so farre preuailed after the circumstances were truely considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free libertie granted to women to imploy themselues in those necessarie offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first cittie of Greece that freely admitted of Mid-wiues by the meanes of this damosell Agnodice Of Women that suffered Martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome vnder the tyrannie of Antonius the Emperour Her death was after this manner she was tyde by the armes and legges betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed downe for the purpose the bowes being slackned and let loose her bodie was tost into the ayre and so cruelly dissâ—uered limbe from limbe Anatholia a Virgin by the seuere commaund of Faustinianus the President was transpierst with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no persuasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes shee was commanded to be shut vp in a Iakes and there stifled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miseraby died Hyrene the Virgin because shee would not abiure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana vnder Iulian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the commaund of the tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in prison by the command of the Consâ—ll Quintianus Theodora a Virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyrannie of Dioclesian Iulia Countes of Eulalia suffered the same death vnder the President Diaconus Margaritu a maide and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoâ— the wife of Nicostratus was nayled vnto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gybbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Iulia Carthagensis because she would not bow to Idolls and adore the false heathen gods but was a constant professor of the true Christian faith was martyred after the selfe same manner Emerita the sister of Lucius king of England who had the honour to be called the first Christian king of this countrie shee suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being conuerted to the Faith by blessed saint George was therefore by the bloodie murderer her husbands owne hands strangled Maximianus the sonne of Dioclesian with his owne hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatrie shee prooued a conuertite to the true Christian Faith Flauia Domicilla a noble Ladie of Rome was banished into the Isle Pontia in the fifteenth yeare of the raigne of Domitian for no other reason but that shee constantly professed her selfe to bee a Christian. These two following suffered persecution vnder Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is sayd to wearie her tormentors patiently induring more than they could malitiously inflict in so much that before shee fainted they confessed themselues ouercome she readie still to suffer and beare when they had not blows to giue for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither haue I committed any euill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to bee so refreshed and comforted from aboue that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alteration euen to the last gaspe Biblis one that before through her womanish weakenesse had fainted for feare of torments comming to see her with others executed was so strengthened to behold their constancie that as it were awakened out of her former dreame and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall paines of Hell fire gaue vp her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionisius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons vp those that suffered martyrdome vnder Decius the Emperour Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idolls vnto which because she denied diuine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanly dragged her along the streets vpon the sharpe stones but when that could not preuaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Mill-stones that done shee was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lictors layd hands on Appolonia a Virgin
workemanship In Ceres right hand was the image of Victorie most curiouslie forged This Historie with many other is with much nimble and dextrous witte fabulated by Ouid to whose Metamorphesis I referre you In Ceres is figured to vs an exhortation to all men to bee carefull in the manuring and tilling of the Earth since Ceres is taken for the Earth the treasuresse of all riches whatsoeuer and iust is that vsurie and commendable which arriseth from thence for the fertilitie that growes that way is begot by the temperature of the weather and the industrie of mans labours Shee is therefore sayd to wander round about the earth and ouer the spatious Vniuerse because of the obliquitie of the signe-bearing circle and the progresse of the Sunne beneath that by which Sommer is in some parts of the world at all seasons of the yeare and elsewhere when not here Besides from hence this moralitie may bee collected No man vnpunished can despise the gods for miseries are the hand-maides of dishonestie therefore of force a wicked and irreligious man is subiect and incident to fall into many distresses and casualties therefore Pietie towards heauen Wisedome in managing our affaires and Thriftinesse in the disposing of our priuat fortunes are all requisite in an honest religious a parsimonious and well disposed man PROSERPINA THe daughter of Iupiter and Ceres shee was honoured in Cicilie of which Prouince shee was called Cicula of whom Seneca thus speakes Vidisti Siculae regna Proserpinae Hast thou seene the kingdomes of Sicilian Proserpine She is likewise called by Lucan Ennaea of the citie Enna Eloâ—uar immenso terrae sub pondere quae te Cintineant Ennaea dapes Shall I oh Ennaea discouer on what dainties thou feedest Beneath the huge waight of the Massie earth Manie fables of Proserpina haue bin introduc'd for our better instruction by the ancient Poets which is onely to expresse to vs the nature of the seedes and plants for Proserpina by whom is signified the Moone shining to vs one halfe of the moneth and lying the other halfe in the armes of her husband Pluto that is being halfe the yeare in Heauen and the other in Hell sixe moneths beneath the earth and as manie aboue so is it with the vertue of plants whose sappe for sixe moneths space is by reason of the subterren cold forc't and diffused vpward into the boughes and branches againe by the extreamitie of the Winters vpper cold it is compulsiuely driuen backe downeward into the roote beneath the earth for so doth nature impart her power and vertue to all creatures and naturall bodies whatsoeuer that they many obserue a mutualitie if I may tearme it so in their cooperation After the like manner is the day sorted out for our labours and affaires the night for our rest and repose So likewise in explicating the power of Luna or the Moone some call her the daughter of Hiperion or the Sunne because shee being Corpus diaphanes that is a bodie cristaline like reflectiue glasse transferres the light receiued from her father vpon the earth to vs for which cause she is called also the sister of the Sunne by the swiftnesse of her course her proper motions are declared To expresse her nature alwaies appearing to vs greater or lesser is to signifie her strength and multiplicitie of working therefore they alot her a garment of diuers and sundrie colours In attributing to her the double sexes of male and female as some haue commented the reason is in that as shee is woman shee infuseth an humor necessarie and profitable to the nutriment of all creatures in respect of her virile nature shee allowes a moderate and sensible heate much auailable to increase for without this heate in vaine were her opperation which is easily proued in all creatures that are pregnant and bringing foorth therefore shee is called Lucina as the goddesse that brings creatures to light She is likewise operatiue to corruption which is the reason that sicke men and such as are troubled with anie greeuous maladie are most in daunger of death in the criticall daies of the Moone NEMESIS SHee is the goddesse of Reuenge and Wrath and punisher of the proude and vaineglorious She had a Temple in Ramnus a towne in Attica from which shee tooke the name of Rhamnusia Aristotle by the passion of Indignation and affection of Commiseration saith Nemesis is figured and both of these tooke in the better part Indignation when good men are troubled and vexed to see bad men vse good things ill Commiseration to see honest and just men crost with the disasters of the world Plutarch in his booke de capienda ex hostibus vtilitate speaking how ridiculous it is for anie man to reproue another of that vice of which hee is himselfe guiltie or taint anie man for the least deformitie vnto which hee is subiect himselfe brings in Leo Bizantius a crooked back't fellow gybing at him because hee had a weakenesse and an infirmitie falne into his eies to him he thus answered Why dost thou mock me for this mischance by fortune when thou thy selfe carriest Nemesis vpon thy backe by nature Of what power this Nemesis was and how honoured manie Authors as well amongst the Greekes as the Latines haue laboured industriously to make manifest I will insist on few Ausonius from the Greeke interpreted this Epigram Me lapidem quondam Persae advexore trophaeum Vt fierem bello nunc Ego sum Nemesis Ac sicut Graecis victoribus asto trophaeum Punio sic Persas vaniloquos Nemesis The Persians tooke me hence long since From Greece a stone and vow To make me a warres-Trophy stand But Nemesis I am now But as I to the victor Greekes A Trophy now appeare The prating Persians Nemesis I punish with my feare The Historie from which both Epigrams are deriued Pausanias recites much after this manner From Marathon saith he some threescore leagues distant is Rhamnus a citie bordering vpon the Sea iust in the way to Oroxus by which stands the Temple of Nemesis a goddesse who is the ineuitable reuenger of such men as are haughtie proud and contumelious It seemes the barbarous Perseans vnder the name of Nemesis doe comprehend Indignatio for comming towards Marathon and despising the Athenians as not able to interpose their incurâ—ions They tooke a stone of white Marble as if they had alreadie obtained the victorie of which stone Phidias the excellent statuarie made the portraiture of Nemesis A faire crowne vpon her head with forrest harts carued about it and many small Imageries pourtraieng Victorie in her right hand a golden cuppe in which the Aethiopians were figured Some thinke her the daughter of Oceanus some of Iupiter others of Iustice. Ammianus Marcellinus in his booke of the deedes of the Emperour Gallus speakes to this effect These and such like things saith he Adrastia vnder whose name by a double signification we vnderstand Nemesis oft times workes in vs being a certaine sublime law
with the Seminarie and vitall powers of the Sunne makes them as new soules The Tetra that is the number of Foure supplying the bodie for she giues nothing after death who receiues towards generation The Sunne takes nothing from but receiues againe the mind which he giues the Moone both receiues and giues and composeth or makes and diuides when shee makes she is called Lucina when shee deuides Diana So of the three Parcae Atropos is placed about the Sunne as the beginning of this new birth Clotho is carried about the Sunne to collect and mingle Lachesis the last her office is vpon the Earth but these are riddles rather to trouble the braine than profit the vnderstanding Parcae the mother of these three sisters is said to bee the daughter of Necessitie doubtles the Ethick writers held these to bee most powerfull goddesses because all things borne or that had subsistance were thought to bee vnder their iurisdiction and power and therefore they were imagined by some to bee the daughters of Iupiter and Themis because as the Pithagorians taught Ioue gaue to euerie one a bodie and forme suitable to the merits or misdeeds of their former life or else because the diuine Wisedome allotted to euerie soule rewards or punishments as their good deedes or badde deserued the cause of which diuision the antient writers not truely vnderstanding appropriated all to Fate and the Parcae FVRIAE or the EVMEMIDES THose whom the Poets call Furiae Virgill tearmes the daughters of Night and Acheron Therefore Galtreus in his twelfth booke de Alexand. calls them by a fit Epithite Noctiginae Ego si dea sum qua nulla potentior inter Noctigenus si me vestram bene nost is alumnam If I a goddesse be of whom Amongst the night-borne none More potent is it 's well you knew Mee for your nurce alone By the same law Mantuan calls them Achecontiginae as borne of Acheron they are called by Lucan amongst the infernals Canes dogges Stigiasquae Canes in luce superna Destiluana In the vpper light I will forsake the Stigian dogges meaning the sisters Amongst mortalls they are called Furiae because they stirre vp and spur on rage and malice in the hearts of men They are called also Eumenides by an Antiphrasis in a contrarie sence for Eumenis signifieth Benevolens or well wishing therefore Ouid Eumenides tenuere faces de funere raptas Their temples and foreheads in steede of haire are sayd to crawle with snakes and serpents as witnesseth Catullus Statius Mantuanus in Appollon and others By Virgill they are called Dirae Vltricesque sedent in Limine dirae Lactantius in his sixt booke de Vero Culâ—u writes after this manner There be three affections or passions which precipitate men into all violent and facinerous actions therefore Poets calls them Furies Ire which couets reuenge Couetousnesse which desires riches and Lust whose itching appetite is after all vnlawfull pleasure The first of these Furies is called Alecto discouered by Virgill where he tearmes her Luctifica as making strife and contention The second is Tesiphone or Tisiphone the daughter of Acheron whom Ouid thus deliniates Nec mora Tesiphone madefactam sanguine sumit Importuna facem fluidoque cruore madentem Induitur pallam tortoquae incingiter angue Egrediturquae domo luctus comitatur cuntem Et pauor terror trepidoque insaniae vultu Importunate Tesiphone without delay makes speed And snatcheth vp a smoking brand which burning seemes to bleed A garment on her backe she throwes All gore about her wast A gyrdle of a wreathed snake In curl'd knots she makes fast So foorth she goes sad Mourning she Attends her at the gate Vpon her steps grim Terror Feare And troubled Madnesse waite Claudian in his booke of the praises of Stilico calls the third daughter of Acheron and Night Megaera so likewise Mantuan de Calam temporum lib. 2. The sacreds that were made to these were by such as hauing escaped any dangerous desease or pestilent sickenesse had bin spared by the Fates and their sacrifices were onely done with a sad silence The priests were called Hesichidae of a Heroë called Hesicho to whom before the solemnitie a Ramme was still offered as Polemo witnesseth in that worke he writ to Eratosthenes It was held a prophanation saith he for any of the meaner sort of people to haue accesse to these ceremonies onely to these Hesichides whose familie was onely acceptable to these seuere goddesses and in all their oblations had the principall prime place and precedence Their chappell is neere to Cidonium by the Nine ports All such as sacrificed to them were in blacke vestures and they were alwaies celebrated in the night season as it is manifest by Apollonius Indutam obscuram per noctem vestibus atris By night their sable habits they put on To them was slaine and offered a cole-blacke ewe and great with young readie to yeane neither was there any wine vsed in their sacrifices which were called Nephalia Now because no man should haue hope to hide and conceale his owne guilt and wickednes to the three seuere judges of Hell were giuen these three ministers which some cal by the name of Erinnae which signifies the prickes and stings of Conscience the parents of which they were borne importing so much for there is no greater torture or deeper piercing than a mans owne sentence against himselfe And compendiously to shut vp all the antient writers would by these signifie vnto vs That to a good and just man only all things are safe that innocencie and integritie alone make men feareles and constant against all the mutabilities of fortune since the like torments of Mind troubles of Conscience still attend on all such as are impure and dishonest Thus hauing past ouer the goddesses Coelestial Marine and Infernal the goddesses Selectae Terrestrial and others least my discourse might grow too tedious by appearing dull and heauie and besides in regard that my purpose is aimed at many or most of that sexe of what estate and condition soeuer to make my worke more succinct and compendious and to spare you some reading and my selfe more labour I will deliuer you a multiplicitie of histories tales in few namely in a short Epitome giue you the arguments of all the Fables in Ouids Metamorphosis which for your better content I shall expresse to you in verse and with that conclude my first booke called Clio. An abstract of all the Fables in the fifteene bookes of Ouids Metamorphosis as they follow in the Poëm CHaos into foure elements deuided Each one into their seuerall place is guided And for their sundrie creatures Roomth prepare Th' inhabitants of th' Earth Sea Heauens and Aire Of earth and water man is first begot And the foure ages next succeede by lot Gold Siluer next third Brasse the fourth of yron In last of which the Giants seed inuiron The spatious earth and are become the head Of Nations of their spilt blood
behold the feathers of the Iay or Parrat with the admirable varietie of the Feasant and Peacock What Rose in the cheeke can counteruaile the Rose of the garden or what azure veine in the temples the blew flower of the field Come to outward habit or ornament what woman doth better become the richest attyre though fetcht from the farthest parts of the world than the Panther his staynes and the Leopard his pleasing and delightfull spots Are not the Fishes as beautifull in their siluer-shining skales and the terrible Dragon as glorious in his golden armour as women apparrelled in cloth of Bodkin or Tissue What is she that exceeds the Doue or Swan in whitenesse or the Pyne or Cedar in straitnesse Let me heare her voyce that can compare with the Nightingale in sweetnesse or behold that eye that can looke vpon the Sunne with the Eagles Why should you faire ones then be prowd of any thing that are by other creatures exceeded in all things Besides eâ—en the choysest beautie amongst you being once enioyed is the lesse esteemed Souldiers hauing vanquisht their enemies hang vp their armes Sea-men that haue attayned their harbour fold vp their sayles The choysest dainties are loathsome to such as haue filled their stomacks and Wine is a burthen to him that hath satiated his thirst Nobilitie of birth is a thing honorable but you are not beholding to your selues for it but your ancestors Riches and Plentie are excellent but they are the gifts of Fortune therefore subiect to change and casualtie Prayse and Honor is venerable but withall vnstable Health is precious but subiect to sicknesse and infirmitie Strength an excellent gift and blessing but neither free from age nor disease Beautie is admirable aboue all and yet subiect to all onely Learning Knowledge Art and Vertue are aboue the enuie of change or mallice of Fortune Neither are you women solely beautifull We reade in Martial lib. 1. of a boy called Achillas of admirable feature of Acanthus whom the gods at his death in memorie of his exquisite forme changed into a flower that still beares his name Amongst the Romans Scipio surnamed Demetrius and amongst the Greekes Alcibiades carryed the Palme from women who as Plutarch in his life reports of him was not onely wondered at in his youth but admired in his age his grace and comelinesse still growing with him Formosum pastor Coridon ardebat Alexim The shepheard Coridon doted on the faire Alexis Saxo Gramaticus speakes of Alphus the sonne of Gygarus whose haires exceeded the brightnesse of Siluer Amaratus was changed into a sweet-smelling flower after his death Calentius speakes of Amphimâ—don thus Formosum Phiale prius arserat Amphimedonta Amphimedon Phiales maxima cura fuâ—t Phiale was enamored of Amphimedon the faire Amphimedon of Phiale became the greatest care Antinous Bithinieus was a youth of that admirable beautie and feature that Adrian the Emperour was enamoured of him in whose memorie he erected a Temple in Mantinea and built a cittie by the riuer Nilus he caused his effigies to be stamped vpon his owne coine therefore Hieronimus as Vollaterranus reports calls him the Emperour Adrians concubine Asterius was the sonne of Ceres a yong man of a singular forme but altogether abstenious from the loue of women whom Ouid in Ilium remembres Astur is celebrated by Virgil Sequitur pulcherimus Astur Astur equo fidens versicoloribus armis The fairest Astur follows next in field Astur that trusts vnto his horse ans particoloured shield Atis the Phrigian youth was for his fairenesse beloued of the mother of the gods Virgill speakes of Auentinus in these words Victoresque ostentat equos satus Hercule pulcro Pulcher Auentinus Faire Auentinus he that of faire Hercules was borne Boasts of his conquering steedes Batillus was the fauourite or sweet-heart of Anacreon the Poet of whom Pontanâ—s de Stellis Amatum a vate Batillum Pictum oculis fuscumque coma roseumque labellis The Poet of Batillus was enamoured With painted eyes browne haire and lips like Roses red By the way Sure there was a great dearth of beautie in those dayes amongst women when boyes and catamites were so doted on by men Bellerephon was not onely affected by Sthenobaea the wife of Pretus king of the Argiues but doted on by Venus Of Castor and Pollux the two faire Tindarides Ouid. lib. 6. thus writes At gemini nondum Coelestia sidera fratres Ambo conspicâ—i niue candidioribus ambo Vectabantur equis The two twinne brothers not as yet accounted 'Mongst the coelestiall starres conspicuous bâ—th Vpon two steeds whiter than snow were mounted c. The yong boy Cestus Martiall thus commends Quanta tua est probitus c. How great thy honesty thy fame as rare Oh sweete child Cestus thou that may'st comparâ— With Theseus sonne did bright Diana see Thee naked once inamoured she would be And tyce thee to some pleasant â—iuers brim There strip her selfe and teach thee how to swim Democles an Athenian youth was of that pulchritude that he was called by all men Pulcher Democles and that which seldome meets with beautie of that rare temperance that when king Demetrius plucked him to haue made him a prostitute to his vnlawfull and beastly lusts to shun his embraces he leaped into a caldron of seething hot liquor and there drowned himselfe Plutarch in Demetrio Diadumenus the cup-bearer to Augustus was of that admirable feature that in the contention which was made at Elis he carried the palme both from men and women Volateran For no other cause was Ganimede sayd to fill Nectar to Iupiter than for his eligancie of forme Galetes was a youth of that excellent feature and so indeered to Ptolomaeus that when diuerse malefactors and for great crimes were led to execution onely at his entreatie hee spared their liues Hypoclides the sonne of Thysander as Herodotus relates was excellent aboue all the Athenians for wealth and beautie Of Hyas the sonne of Atlas and Aethra Ouid 5. de Fast. Nondum stabat Atlas humeros oneratus Olimpo Cum satus est forma conspiciendus Hias Olimpas weight did not as yet Great Atlas backe adorne When as the louely Hyas of Conspicuous shape was borne Hylas the sonne of Hyadamus was not onely indeered to Hercules but doted on by the nymphs called Driades Iulus the sonne of Aeneas and Creusa was taken for Cupid the sonne of Venus Iuuencus was the minion of Catullus as Lygurinus was to Horace so likewise Lycus of whom he thus speakes Et Lycum nigris oculis nigroque Crine decorum Lycus rare Both for his blacke eyes and his blacke sleeke haire Some thing more freely he speakes of the Pulchritude of Nearchus in Carm. and his Odes Of Nireus the sonne of Caropus and Alaga Homer speakes at large as Horace likewise in Carm. and Epedo Tibullus commends his Marathis Maximinus that his head being mangled and bloodie yet notwithstanding in death it looked admirable Marcellus the sonne of
Caphisus and Lyriope was so faire that the nymphes were surprised with his beautie Endimion was beloued of the Moone Val Flaccus lib. 8. Latmius Aestiua residet venator in vmbra Dignus amore Deae The Latmian swaine sits in the Summer shade Worthie the loue of that coelestiall maide In Ephestion was that maiesticall beautie that the wife of king Darius saluted him for Alexander for his exqusite forme hee was especially beloued of Alexander Virgill commends the shape of Eurialus the sonne of Nisus So Nysus king of the Megarenses was sayd to haue haires of gold they were of such splendor Statius commends Parthenopaus the sonne of Meleager and Atalanta or as some write of Mars and Menalippâ— Caelius Ouid and others celebrate Phaon the beloued of Sappho the Poetesse for the fairest of the world Phedrus Fliensis who was the familiar of Socrates and Plato was for exquisite shape compelled to be prostituted by the baud his maister Of Pyramus Ouid thus speakes Metamorph. lib. 4. Pyramus Thisbe Iuuenem Pulcherimus alter Yong Pyramus and Thisbe he Of all the yong men fairest And she of all the Easterne world Of louelie gyrles the rarest c. Spurinae was a youth of such an alluring beautie that when he could neither reserue himselfe from suit of men or importunities of women hee deformed his owne beautie with scratches and wounds to preserue his owne chastitie Valer. Max. de Verecundis Magnes Smyrnaeus was the most beautifull of his age and so acceptable to Gyges king of Lydia that when his parents cut off his delicate and faire haire somewhat to take off the kings affection the king was so incensed that for that cause alone he made warre against the Magnesians Pauson apud Volater The Poet Musaeus celebrates the rare forme of Leander a youth of Abidos beloued of Hero As Virgill doth the like of Lausus the son of Mezentius Aeneid lib. 7. Herodotus speaking of Xerxes sayth that he had in his armie sixtie eight miriades of men yet amongst them all hee was the beautifullest of face and tallest of stature I could reckon vp others as Pelops Idas Iason Artaxerxes Cyrus Troilus Patroclus Hymene the least of them a prince the minion to a king or the deerely beloued of some queene or goddesse This is onely to put you in mind women That though you haue ingrossed a great portion of beautie yet you are not possest of all since not onely men but diuerse other creatures share with you neither haue I introduced these to derogate any thing from your worths onely to abate some of that ambition or selfeloue which is commonly attendant vpon beautie One thing for your grace I haue read in the Spanish Cronicle of an exquisit ladie the like I did neuer of any excellent man Queene Isabell the wife of Henrie sirnamed the Humble being attyring her selfe in her window against which the Sunne shined somewhat hot it is crediblie reported that the beames of the Sunne set her curled lockes on fire some held it as a prodigie others alluded it to her miraculous beautie some thought that one pane or other in the window was of the nature of a burning glasse and that was the cause others imputed it to certain oyles and sweet vnguents with which the Queens and great ladies vse to dresse their haire howsoeuer if their Cronicle speake truth most certaine it is that her lust made greater combustion in the land than the Sunne had power to commit vpon her haire I haue one thing more to instance to your grace and so I will conclude my discourse An Embassador being to be entertained in the court of queen Elizabeth where the greatest state was still obserued he first passed through a lane of the guard in their rich coats next through the gentlemen pentioners and so through all the greater officers the Lords Eaâ—les and Counsell The Queene sat then in state at the vpper end of a long gallerie which when the Embassador should enter the great Ladies of either side richly attired were placed through the middest of whom as he passed along he as amased at the stare or admiring at their beauties cast his eye first on one side then on the other and that not without some pause as if hee had beene to take a particular surueigh of all their features but by degrees comming vp towards the Queene who fat like Diana amongst her nymphs or Ariadne in her crowne of starres instated aboue the lesser lights to giue him entertainement and obseruing his eyes still to wander she thus bespake him Auerte occulos ne videas vanitatem i. Turne away your eyes least you behold vanitie to whom hee suddenly replyde Imo potius mirabilia opera Dei i. Nay rather the wonderfull workes of God Since then you are such rather let your vertuous actions beautifie than your vitious deeds any way disgrace his so great and glorious workemanship Of Faire Women OF these Herodica shall haue the first place Niceus in his booke de Rebus Arcad relates That one Cypselus purposing to rayse a new Colonie erected a faire and goodly citie in a spacious Playne bordering vpon the riuer Alphaeus to which place multitudes of the Parrhasians came to inhabite At the same time was a Groue and an Altar celebrated with much pompe and solemnitie to Elusina Ceres with an annuall feast at this publike meeting was a contention Which of all the women was censured to be the fairest The first that had the prioritie and Palme for beautie bestowed vpon her was Herodica the wife of Cypselus Zenophon apud Coelium lib. 7. cap. 53. speakes of Panthaea the wife of Abraditus a nobleman of Persia whom Cyrus hauing defeated the armie of the Assyrians and spoyled their tents tooke captiue Abraditus at that time being absent as not long before employed vpon an Embassie to the Bactrians in which interim Panthaea was in the custodie of a nobleman of Media called Araspes who affirmed of her to the king with great admiration of her feature and beautie That in all Asia her like was not to be seene or found Paulus Diaconus writes of Theodole a Roman Ladie of that admirable splendour that shee attracted the eyes of all men that but glanced that way to dwell vpon her with wonder her haire was bright and yellow which when she pleased to vnloose and let fall about her shoulders it couered her from the crowne to the heele A large description he makes of her perfections howsoeuer most certaine it is that the king Cambeoles was extreamely entangled in the snares of her beautie Saxo Gramaticus in his Danish historie commemorates one Suabilda a Queene in all the lineaments both of bodie and face to be of that rare pulchritude that being doomed vnto a wretched and miserable death and bound with thongs of leather to be trod vpon by the hoofes of wild horses her beautie struck such an impression euen in those vnreasonable creatures that
pittied her grauitie or suspected her innocence did not cause her to be instantly strangled according to the rigor of her sentence At the importunacie of the daughter he gaue her leaue to visit and comfort her mother but narrowly searcht before her entrance into the prison least shee should carrie with her any food or sustenance to her reliefe rather desiring she should perish by famine and dye that way than himselfe to haue any violent hand in her execution The daughter hauing dayly accesse to the mother who now had past ouer more dayes than the keeper thought was possible by nature and wondering in himselfe how she should draw her thred of life out to that length without any meanes to maintaine it hee casting a more curious eye vpon the young woman and watching her might perceiue how shee first drew out one breast and after another with her owne milke relieuing her mothers famine At the noueltie of so strange and rare a spectacle being amazed he carryed newes thereof to the Triumvir he to the Praetor the Praetor he related it to the Consuls they brought it before the Senate who to recompence what was good in the daughter pardoned all that was before thought ill in the mother For what will not loue deuise or whither true zeale not penetrate What more vnheard or vnexpected thing could be apprehended than for a mother to be fed from the breasts of her daughter Who would not imagine this to be against nature but that we see by proofe true naturall pietie transcends all bounds and limits The like of this we may read of in Plinie of another young marryed woman who when her father Cimon was afflicted with the same sentence and subiect to the like durance prolonged his life from her breasts for which she deserues to be equally memorized Our Parents in no dangers or necessities are to be by vs abandoned and that by the example of Aeneas in whose person Virgil thus speakes as to his father Anchises Aeneid 2. Eia age chare pater ceruici imponere nostrae Ipse subibo numeris nec me labor iste grauabit c. Come my deare father and get vp for see No burthen to my shoulders you can bee No weight at all and hap what can betide One danger or one safetie wee 'l abide Sabellic lib. 3. cap. 6. remembers vs of Rusticana a noble Matron of Rome and the daughter of Synnarchus who with his brother Boetius the famous Philosopher being put to death by Theodoricus king of the Gothes Shee after the Tirants miserable end was the cause that all his Statues in Rome were demollished and ruined purposing vtterly if it were possible to extirpe his memorie that was the inhuman murderer of her father for which fact of hers being called in question before king Totila who succeeded him she was so far from excuse or deniall that she approued the deed with all constancie whose noble magnanimitie resolution prooued more auailable to her saftie than any timerous euasion could haue done for he not only dismissed her vnpunished but highly applauded and commended Fulgos. Sabellicus and Egnatius writing of Alboinus king of the Longobards who at his first enterance into Italie hauing subdued and slaine Turismundus whom some call Cunimundus sonne to Cunimundus king of the Gepidanes and after taken his daughter Rosamunda to wife the Historie sayth hee made a bole of her fathers skull in which one night hauing drunke somewhat lauishly he caused it to be filled with wine and sent to Rosamunda then in her chamber with this message Commend me to my Queene and say I command her to drinke with her father The Ladie though shee knew him to be slaine by the Longobards receiuing his death by a common casualtie and chance of war and by this assuring her selfe that he fell by the hand of her husband betwixt filiall dutie and coniugall loue being for a time destracted the bond of affection towards her father preuailed aboue those nuptiall fetters in which she was tyde to her Lord in so much that to reuenge the death of the one she resolued to take away the life of the other to bring which about she deuised this proiect she had obserued one Hemegildus a noble man amongst the Lumbards to bee surprised with the loue of one of her waiting gentlewomen with whom she dealt so far that when her maid had promised to giue this Hemegildus meeting in a priuate and darke chamber she her selfe supplyde the place of her seruant after which congression she caused lightes to be brought in that he might know with whom he had had carnall companie and what certeine preiudice he had therein incurred protesting withall that vnlesse he would ioyne with her in the death of the king shee would accuse him of rape and outrage The Lumbard to preuent his own disaster vndertooke his soueraignes death which was accordingly betwixt them performed The murder done they fled together to Rauenna she preferring the reuenge of a slaughtered father before the life of a husband the title of a Queene State Soueraigntie or any other worldly dignitie whatsoeuer Something is not amisse to be spoken in this place concerning the loue of mothers towards their children which as Plutarch in his Grec Apotheg saith was excellently obserued in Themistocles Prince of the Athenians who was wont to say That hee knew no reason but that his young sonne whom his mother most dotingly affected should haue more power and commaâ—nd than any one man in Greece whatsoeuer and being demanded the reason hee thus answered Athens sayth he commands all Greece I Themistocles haue predominance ouer Athens my wife ouer-swayes me â—nd my sonne ouer-rules his mother Olympias the mother of Alexander caused Iollaes graue to be ript vp who was Butler to her sonne and his bones to be scattered abroad raging against him in death on whom in his life time shee could not be reuenged on for the death of her sonne to whom this Iollas was said to haue ministred poyson Agrippina the mother of Domitius Nero by all meanes and industrie possible labouring to confirme the Empire vnto her sonne enquired of the Chaldaeans and Astrologers Whether by their calculations they could find if he should liue to be created Caesar who returned her this answer That they found indeed by their Art that he should be Emperour but withall that he should be the death of his mother To whom she answered Inter-ficiat modo Imperet i. I care not though he kill me so I may but liue to see him raigne Sab. lib. 3. cap. 4. The same Author tells vs that in the second Punick warre the Romanes being ouerthrowne with infinite slaughter in the battailes fought at Thrasiamenus Cannas many that were reported to be assuredly dead escaping with life after their funeralls had beene lamented returning home vnexpectedly to their mothers such infinite ioy oppressed them at once that as if sinking beneath too
fortitude that they after grew vnresistable Answerable to the facunditie and eloquence of the Poet Tyrtaeus was that of Amesia a modest Roman Ladie who being of a great crime accused and readie to incurre the sentence of the Praetor shee in a great confluence stept vp amongst the people and without any Aduocate pleaded her owne Cause so effectually and strongly that by the publique Suffrage shee was freed and acquit from all aspersions whatsoeuer Which shee did with such a manly yet modest constancie that from that time forward shee was called Androgine Valer. Maxim Lib. 8. cap. 3. Equall to her was Hortensia the daughter of Q. Hortensius shee when the Roman Matrons had a grieuous fine imposed vpon them by the Tribunes and when all the Lawyers and Orators were afraid to â—aâ—e vpon them the patronage of their Cause this discreet Ladie in person pleaded before the Triumuirate in the behalfe of the women which shee did boldly and happily for as one hereditarie to her fathers eloquence shee preuailed so farre that the greatest part of the mulct imposed vpon them was instantly remitted Differing from their Modesties was that of Caia Affrania the wife of Lycinius Bructio a woman prompt and apt for all contention and discord and in all troubles and controuersies still pleaded her owne Cases before the Praetor Not that shee wanted the helpe of an Aduocat but rather to expresse her owne impudence whose common rayling and loquacitie before the Bench grew to that scandall that it almost stretcht to the iniurie of the whole Sex insomuch that if any woman were iustly taxed with boldnesse or irregularitie shee in the way of a Prouerbe was branded with the name of Affrania Her spleene extended euen to Caius Caesar Tertius as likewise to M. Seruilius the Consull My Author leaues her with this Character That it is much better to enquire when such a Monster dyed than curiously to be inquisitiue when or of whom she was borne Val. Max. Lib. 8. cap. 3. From Orators I come to Sophists and from Declamers to Disputants It is reported of Caecilia the chast Roman Virgin being married against her will to a noble gentleman called Valerianus when they were left together in the Bride-chamber shee with her strong reasons and prompt arguments discoursed and disputed with him in the patronage and defence of her Virginitie prouing vnto him from the Scriptures how iustly vowed Chastitie is more acceptable in the eyes of the great Maker than Marriage insomuch that notwithstanding his heat of youth meeting with a tempting and prouoking beautie the conuenience of opportunitie time and place with the lawfulnesse of the act established by the Ceremonies of the Church yet he at her intercession not onely abstained from that time to offer her any force or violence but euer after both betwixt themselues vowing lasting Virginitie She likewise when Tiburtius the brother to Valerianus contended with her in disputation refuted the Opinions then generally held concerning the idolatrous worship of the false Pagan godsâ— so that hauing conuinced him with vndenyable Propositions hee turned a zealous Conuertiâ—e to the true Christian Faith Catherina Alexandria vnder the Tyrannie of Maxentius argued with all the best and cunningest Sophists of those dayes stoutly and constantly maintaining the Faith of the Gospell and sillogistically refuting all their schismaticall Opinions causing many of them to deliuer vp their names to the sincere profession of Christianitie In her appeared how the wisedome of the world gaue place and submitted to the Diuine knowledge insomuch that notwithstanding all the Sillogisticall cunning and Sophisticall Dilemmaes in which they were elaborately practised they were forced to yeeld and submit to the authoritie of a plaine Virgins tongue her wit and reason being illuminated with Diuine knowledge from aboue Marull Lib. 5. cap. 6. Guido Bit. in his Catalogue of Philosophers reports Diodorus Socraticus to haue had fiue daughters all Disputants and skilfull in Logicke Hypparchia the sister of Megocles and wife to Crates Cynicus shee with one Sophisme put to silence Theodorus surnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quod faciâ—nâ— Theodorus non diceretur iniuste facere idem si faciat Hypparchia non diceretur iniuste facere i. That which Theodorus doing he is not said to doe vniustly If Hypparchia doe the same shee is not said to doe vniustly To which when hee granted shee added this But Theodorus beating himselfe is not said to doe vniustly Ergo If Hipparchia beat Theodorus shee cannot doe vniustly To this Theodorus made no answere but in snatching vp his Cloake and leauing the place hee taunted her in a Greeke lambicke Verse which was to this purpose Why shee being a woman would trouble her selfe with such Disciplines as are solely appertaining vnto men thus saying Radios apud Telas reliqui femina To whom shee replyed Thinkest thou I haue beene ill counsailed if that time which I might haue past vpon the Loome or Distasse I haue spent in the attaining of the liberall Arts and Disciplines Of Debora of the Tribe of Ephraim her wisedome and her Propheâ—ies in which she excelled the holy Scriptures giues ample testimonie as likewise of Mary the sister of Moses Anna the Prophetesse and others I procced to such as haue beene studied and practised as well in Theologie as Philosophie Of Women studious in Diuinitie TAbiola a Roman matron was verie laborious in the reading and vnderstanding of the sacred Scriptures she was frequent in the old Prophets the Gospells and the Psalmes of Dauid which shee had almost ad vnguem and by roat her continuall reading practised her in a more perfect knowledge shee was of that reuerent respect amongst the learned that Saint Ierome vouchsafed to dedicate a booke vnto her intituled de Vesta Sacer dotali Marcella Romana for her industrie in the Scriptures in which she was zealously trauelled was in many of Saint Ieromes Epistles saluted by name Hee writ a booke to her De mundi Contemplu i. Of the contempt of the world another of the ten names by which God is called amongst the Hebrewes a third of our Faith and the doctrine of the Heretikes a fourth of Blasphemie against the holie Ghost a fifth of the studie of Theophilus bishop of Alexandria with diuers others The same Saint Ierome witnesseth of Eustochium the daughter of one Paula a Roman matron who was excellently practised in the Greeke and Latin Dialects as also in the Hebrew Charracter in so much that shee in her time was called The new Prodigie of the World she gaue her studie cheefly to meditation vpon the Scriptures in so much that shee read the Psalmes of Dauid familiarlie and without the least hesitation Anastatia the scholler to Crisogâ—nus the Martyr and wife of Publius Romanus who faining a counterfeit disease sequestred himselfe from her and quite abandoned her bed shee writ certaine Epistles to her Maister and Tutor Crisogonus in which shee complained
continued their priuate meetings in so much that custome bred impudence and suspition certaine proofe of their incestuous consocietie At length it comes to the eare of him that had contracted her with attestation of the truth thereof he though he feared the greatnesse of Leucippus his knowne valor and popular fauour yet his spirit could not brooke so vnspeakeable an iniurie he acquaints this nouell to his father and certaine noble friends of his amongst whom it was concluded by all iointly to informe Xanthius of his daughters inchastitie but for their owne safetie knowing the potencie of Leucippus to conceale the name of the adulterer They repaire to him and informe him of the businesse intreating his secrecie till he be himselfe eye-witnesse of his daughters dishonor The father at this newes is inraged but armes himselfe with inforced patience much longing to know that libidonous wretch who had dishonoured his familie The incestuous meeting was watcht and discouered and word brought to Xanthius that now was the time to apprehend them he calls for lights and attended with her accusers purposes to inuade the chamber great noise is made she affrighted rises and before they came to the doore opens it slips by thinking to flie and hide her selfe the father supposing her to be the adulterer pursues her and pierceth her through with his sword By this Leucippus starts vp and with his sword in his hand hearing her last dying shreeke prepares himselfe for her rescue he is incountred by his father whom in the distraction of the sodaine affright he vnaduisedly assaulted and slew The mother disturbed with the noise hasts to the place where she heard the tumult was and seeing her husband and daughter slaine betwixt the horridnesse of the sight and apprehension of her owne guilt fell downe sodainely and expired And these are the lamentable effects of Incest the father to kill his owne daughter the sonne his father and the mother the cause of all to die sodainely without the least thought of repentance These things so infortunately happening Leucippus caused their bodies to be nobly interred when forsaking his fathers house in Thessalie he made an expedition into Creet but being repulst from thence by the inhabitants he made for Ephesia where he tooke perforce a citie in the prouince of Cretinaea and after inhabited it It is said that Leucophria the daughter of Mandrolita grew innamored of him and betrayed the citie into his hands who after maried her and was ruler thereof This historie is remembred by Pâ—rthenius de Amatorijs cap. 5. Of incest betwixt the father and daughter Ouid lib. Metam speakes of whose verses with what modestie I can I will giue you the English of and so end with this argument Accipit obscoeno genitor suà ◠viscera lecto Virgeneosque metus leâ—â—t Hortaturque timentem c. Into his obscene bed the father takes His trembling daughter much of her he makes Who pants beneath him ' bids her not to feare But be of bolder courage and take cheare Full of her fathers sinnes loath to betray The horrid act by night she steales away Fraught that came thither emptie for her wombe Is now of impious incest made the Tombe Next to the sinne I will place the punishment Iacob blessing his children said to Reuben Thou shalt be poured out like water thine excellencie is gone because thou hast defiled thy fathers bed Genes 49. Absolon went in to his fathers concubines and soone after was slaine by the hand of Ioab Kings 2.16 18. Of later times I will instance one Nicolaus Estensis Marquesse of Ferrara who hauing notice that his sonne Hugo a toward and hopefull young gentleman had borne himselfe more wantonly than reuerence and modestie required in the presence of his stepmother Parisia of the familie of Malatestae and not willing rashly either to reprooue or accuse them he watcht them so narrowly by his intelligencers and spies that he had certaine and infallible testimonie of their incestuous meetings for which setting aside all coniugall affection or paternall pittie he caused them first to be cast in strict and close prison and after vpon more mature deliberation to be arraigned where they were conuicted and lost their heads with all the rest that had beene conscious of the act Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 1. I will borrow leaue to insert heare one remarkable punishment done vpon a Iew at Prague in Bohemia in the yeare 1530 who being taken in adulterie with a Christian woman they compelled him to stand in a tonne pitched within they boared a hole in which they forced him to put in that part with which he had offended iust by him was placed a knife without edge blunted for the purpose and there he stood loose saue fastened by the part aforesaid fire being giuen he was forced through the torment of the heat with that edgelesse knife to cut away that pars virilis and ran away bleeding after whom they set fierce mastifes who worried him to death and after tore him to peeces Lychost in Theatro Human. vitae Of Adulterie THe wife of Argento-Coxus Calidonius being tanted by Iulia Augusta because it was the custome of their countrie for the noble men and women promiscuously to mixe themselues together and to make their appointments openly without blushing to her thus answered I much commend the custome of our countrie aboue yours we Calidonians desire consocietie with our equals in birth and qualitie to satisfie the necessarie duties belonging to loue and affections and that publickely when your Roman Ladies professing outward temperance and chastititie prostitute your selues priuatly to your base groomes and vassals The same is reported to haue beene spoken by a Brittish woman Dion Nicaeus Xiphilin in vita seueri Her words were verified as in many others that I could heere produce so in the French Queene Fredigunda who though she infinitly flattered the King Chilpericus her husband outwardly yet she inwardly affected one Laudricus to whom she communicated her person and honour these in the Kings absence were scarce to be found asunder in so much that Chilperick himselfe could not more freely command her person by his power than the other by his loose and intemperate effeminacies It happened the king being on hunting and leauing the Chase before his houre stole suddainely vpon his Queene and comming behind her as shee was taking her Prospect into the Garden sportingly toucht her vpon the head with the Switch hee had then in his hand without speaking shee not dreaming of the kings so suddaine returne and thinking it had beene her priuate friend without looking backe Well sweet-heart Landricus saith shee you will neuer leaue this fooling and turning towards him withall discouered the king who onely biting his lippe departed in silence Shee fearing the kings distaste and consequently his reuenge sends for Landricus and as if the king had beene the offendor betwixt them two conspired his death and within few
settled an enmitie against all Vices your publike enemies as hee did against the Persians the forraine inuaders you shall vndoubtedly after the Battaile of the Mind constantly fought against all barbarous temptations be ranked equall with him in all his triumphs It is likewise recorded of Isaus an Assyrian Sophist who in his youth being giuen to all voluptuousnesse and effeminate delicacies but comming to riper vnderstanding assumed to himselfe a wonderous continencie of life and austeritie in all his actions insomuch that a familiar friend of his seeing a beautifull young woman passe by and asking him If shee were not a faire one To him hee answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Desij laborare de oculis i. I am no more sicke of sore eyes To another that demanded What Fish of Fowle was most pleasant to the taste hee replyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. I haue forgot to looke after them and proceeded I perceiue that I then gathered all my Fruits out of the Garden of Tantalus insinuating vnto vs that all those vaine Pleasures and Delights of which Youth is so much enamored are nothing else but shadowes and dreames such as Tantalus is said to be fed with Of seuerall degrees of Inchastities and of their Punishments PHilip of Macedon making warre against the Thebans Aeropus and Damasippus two of his cheefe captaines had hyred a mercenarie strumpet and kept her in one of their tents which the king hearing he not onely cashiered them from their commaunds but banished them his kingdome Polynaeus lib. 4. In Germanie Chastitie and Modestie is held in that reuerent respect that no meane Artificer though of the basest trade that is will entertaine a Bastard into his seruice or teach him his science neither in the Accademies will they permit any such to take degree in schooles though it be a strange seueritie against innocent children who gaue no consent to the sinnes of their parents yet it is a meane to curbe the liberties of men and women deterring them from the like offences Aeneus Siluius lib. 1. of the sayings and deeds of king Alphonsus tells vs of one Manes Florentinus who being taken in forbidden congression with a strumpet was adiudged to pennance which was not altogether as our custome in England is to stand in a white sheete but naked all saue a linnen garment from his wast to his knees after the fashion of Bases the Priests comming to strip him in the Vestrie would haue put vpon him that roabe to couer his shame which hee no way would admit but was constantly resolued to stand as our phrase is starke naked but when the church officers demanded of him If he were not ashamed to shew his virile parts in such a publike assemblie especially where there were so many Virgins married Wiues and widow Women he answered Minime gentium nam pudenda haec quae peccauerunt ea potissimum dare panas decet i. By no meanes quoth he most fit it is that those shamefull things that haue offended and brought me to this shame should likewise doe open penance Pontius Offidianus a knight of Rome after he had found by infallable signes his daughters virginitie to be dispoyled and vitiated by Fannius Saturnius her schoole-maister was not content to extend his iust rage vpon his seruant and punish him with death but hee also slew his daughter who rather desired to celebrat her vntimely exequies than follow her to her contaminated Nuptialls Val. lib. 6. cap. 1. Pub. Attilius Philiscus notwithstanding in his youth hee was compelled by his master to prostitute his owne bodye to vnnaturall lusts for bruitish and vnthriuing gaine yet after prooued a seuere father for finding his daughter to haue corrupted her virginall chastitie hee slew her with his owne hand How sacred then may wee imagine and conceiue puritie and temperance was held in Rome when such as had professed base prostitution in their youth became iudges and punishers therof euen vpon their owne children in their age Val. Max. lib. 6. c. 1. Appius Claudius Regillanus the most eminent amongst the Decemviri so doted on Virginia the daughter of Virginius a Centurion who was then in the campe at Algidus that he suborned a seruant of his to seise her claim her as his bondwoman and bring the cause to be decided before him needs must the businesse passe on his side beeing both the accuser and the iudge The father being certified of these proceedings by Icilius a hopefull young gentleman before contracted vnto her leauing his charge abroad repaires to the citie and appearing before the iudgement seat sees his owne lawfull daughter taken both from himselfe and betrothed husband and conferred vpon another as his slaue and bondwoman The iudgement being past he desires leaue to speake with his daughter apart it was granted him by the Court who slew her with his owne hand then taking vp her bodie and lifting it vpon his shoulders posted with that lamentable burden to the campe and incited the souldiers to reuenge Liuie Volater lib. 14. cap. 2. Antropol Quintus Fabius Seruilianus hauing his daughters chastitie in suspition first deliuered her to death and after punished himselfe with voluntarie banishment The punishment of these inchastities is by the Poets to the life illustrated in the fable of Titius the sonne of Terra who intending to stuperate Latona was by Apollo slaine with an arrow and being thrust down into Hell and chained to a rocke his Liuer and Heart is perpetually tyred on by a rauenous Vulture who still renewes his inceasible torments Virgill lib. Aeneid 6. vnder the person of Titius would pourtray vnto vs the vnquiet conscience which though sometimes it may be at a seeming peace yet the torment by beeing still renewed dayly increaseth and gnawes the heart-strings of all such persons as to themselues are guiltie Of Witches and the Punishment due to them VIncentius cites this following Historie from Guillerimus in Specul Histor. lib. 26. cap. 26. which also Iohannes Wyerius Ranulphus and others commemorats an English woman that dwelt at a towne called Barkley in England being a Witch yet not being much suspected liued in indifferent good opinion amongst her neighbours and beeing feasting vpon a time abroad and wonderous pleasant in companie shee had a tame crow which she had brought vp that would be familiar with her and sit vpon her shoulder and prate to her in the best language it could she at this feast the Table being readie to be drawne sported with her which spake to her more plainely than it vsed some wordes which shee better than the rest of the companie vnderstood at which suddenly her knife dropped out of her hand her colour changed the blood forsooke her cheâ—kes and shee looked pale readie to sinke downe and fetching some inward suspires and grones shee at length broke forth into this language Woe is mee my plow is now entred into the last furrow for this day I shall heare of some great
feigned teare c. Somewhat to this purpose spake Terentius in his Adelphis Duxi vxorem quam ibi non miseriam vidi c. I made choice of a wife with iudgement sound What miserie haue I not therein found Children are borne they proue my second care They should be comforts that my corsiues are For her and them I studie to prouide And to that purpose all my times's applyde To keepe her pleas'd and raise their poore estate And what 's my meede for all but scorne and hate And so much for Gunnora It seemes the Emperor Valentinianus was neither well read in Iuuenall nor Terrens He when his wife commended vnto him the beautie of the Ladie Iustina tooke her to his bed and for her sake made a law That it should be lawfull for any man to marrie two wiues It is read of Herod the Great that he had nine wiues and was diuorsed from them all only for the loue of Mariamnes neice to Hircanus for whose sake he caused himselfe to bee circumcised and turned to the faith of the Iewes he begot on her Alexander and Aristobulus on Dosides Antipater on Metheta Archelaus on Cleopatra Philip and Herodes Antipas he that was afterward called Tetrarch one of the foure princes Aristobulus that was Herodes sonne begotten on Beronica the daughter of his own Aunt called Saloma he begot the great Agrippa Aristobulus Herod that was strooke by the Angell also on the aforesaid Beronica hee begot two daughters Mariamnes Herodias who was after Philips wife that was Vncle to Aristobulus neuerthelesse whilest Philip was yet aliue Herodias became wife to his brother Herod At length there fell debate betwixt her Mariamnes and Saloma Herods sister Herod by the instigation of Saloma slew Hyrcanus the Priest and after Ionathas the brother of Mariamnes who against the law hee had caused to be consecrated Priest at the age of seuenteene yeares After that he caused Mariamnes to bee put to death with the husband of his sister Saloma pretending that Hyrcanus and Ihonathas had adulterated his sister After these murders Herod grew madde for the loue of Mariamnes who was held to bee the fairest Ladie then liuing innocently put to death He then tooke againe his wife Dosides and her sonne Antipater to fauour sending Alexander and Aristobulus the sons of Mariamnes to Rome to be instructed in the best litterature whom after hee caused to be slaine And these were the fruites of Adulterous and Incestuous marriages Of Women that haue come by strange Deaths THere are many kinds of deaths I will include them all within two heades Violent and Voluntarie the Violent is when either it comes accidentally or when we would liue and cannot the Voluntarie is when we may liue and will not and in this wee may include the blesseddest of all deaths Martyrdome I will begin with the first and because gold is a mettall that all degrees callings trades mysteries and professions of either Sex especially acquire after I will therefore first exemplifie them that haue dyed golden deaths Of the Mistresse of Brennus Of Tarpeia and Acco a Roman Matron OF Midas the rich king and of his golden wish I presume you are not ignorant and therefore in vaine it were to insist vpon his historieâ— my businesse is at this time with women Brennus an Englishman and the yonger brother to Belinus both sonnes of Donwallo was by reason of composition with his brother with whom hee had beene competitor in the kingdome disposed into France and leading an armie of the Galls inuaded forreine countries as Germanie Italie sacking Rome and piercing Greece In so much that his glorie stretched so farre that the French Croniclers would take him quite from vs and called him Rex Gallorum witnesse Plutarch in his seuenteenth Paralel This Brennus spoyling and wasting Asia came to besiege Ephesus where falling in loue with a wanton of that cittie he grew so inward with her that vpon promise of reward shee vowed to deliuer the cittie into his hands the conditions were that he being possest of the Towne should deliuer into her safe custodie as many jewells rings and as much treasure as should counteruaile so great a benefit to which he assented The towne deliuered and he being victor shee attended her reward when Brennus commanded all his souldiers from the first to the last to cast what gold or siluer or iewells they had got in the spoyle of the cittie into her lap which amounted to such an infinite masse that with the weight thereof she was suffocated and prest to death This Clitiphon deliuers in his first booke Rerum Gallicar to answere which Aristides Melesius in Italicis speakes of Tarpeia a noble Virgin or at least nobly descended and one of the keepers of the Capitoll she in the warre betwixt the Sabines and the Romans couenanted with king Tatius then the publike enemie to giue him safe accesse into the mountaine Tarpeia so hee would for a reward but possese her of all the gold and iewells which his souldiers the Sabines had then about them This shee performing they were likewise willing to keepe their promise but withall loathing the couetousnesse of the woman threw so much of the spoyle and treasure vpon her that they buried her in their riches and she expired amiddest a huge Magozin But remarkable aboue these is the old woman Acco or Acca who hauing done an extraordinarie courtesie for the cittie of Romeâ— they knew not better how to requite her than knowing her auaritious disposition to giue her free libertie to goe into the common treasurie and take thence as much gold as she could carrie The wretched woman ouerioyed with this donatiue entered the place to make her packe or burden which was either so little she would not beare or so great she could not carrie and swetting and striuing beneath the burden so expired The like though somthing a more violent death died the Emperour Galba who in his life time being insatiate of gold as being couetous aboue all the Emperours before him they powred moulten gold downe his throat to confirme in him that old Adage Quâ—lis vita finis ita The like was read of the rich Roman Crassus Of such as haue died in child-byrth THough of these be infinites and dayly seene amongst vs yet it is not altogether amisse to speake someting though neuer so little which may haâ—e reference to antiquitie Volaterranus remembers vs of Tulliota the daughter of Marcus Cicero who being first placed with Dolobella and after with Piso Crassipides died in child-bed The like Suetonius puts vs in minde of Iunia Claudilla who was daughter to the most noble Marcus Sillanus and wife to the Emperor Caius Calligula who died after the same manner Higinus in his two hundred threescore and fourth Fable tells this tale In the old time sayth he there were no midwiues at all and for